Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-07-14

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Talat: "Neither the CTP is the old CTP, nor the UBP is the old UBP"

[02] The press sees reactions in both the CTP and UBP to the establishment of a "coalition government"

[03] Cakici: Turkey wants the establishment of a CTP - UBP "coalition government"; Turkey's "aid delegation" is like a "shadow cabinet"

[04] Tunali said that CTP acts under Ankara's instructions

[05] A visit to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

[06] "GAU" has students from 103 different countries

[07] Davutoglu discusses coalition with Kilicdaroglu: Erdogan asks for a strong government soon

[08] Turkey's Constitutional Court blocks government's decision to close prep schools

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Talat: "Neither the CTP is the old CTP, nor the UBP is the old UBP"

In statements to a program broadcast live on illegal BRT yesterday morning, Talat said that the works towards the establishment of a coalition "government" will be completed in the next few days.

Stating that the "government program" which will be based on "principles" is going to be ready today or tomorrow, Talat explained that the coalition "government" with DP failed to fulfil the majority of its goals. "We need a stable viable economy and an agriculture policy. The important thing is to give priority on the pilot sectors of the budget?A wide base government is very important both for the economy and the solution of the Cyprus problem", Talat said.

Replying to the accusations towards the decision of forming a coalition "government" with UBP, Talat said that in order to meet their goals, they should be rationalistic and follow serious policies. The CTP-UG has never been an enemy party of another party. Since 1994, it formed a coalition government with a party which belongs to the same philosophy-world with UBP. Neither the CTP-UG is the old CTP, nor is UBP the old UBP. Our party experienced a lot of difficulties whilst it was in power. I have the belief that the new government to be formed will be a successful one", Talat added.

Briefing the goals of the new "government" to be formed, Talat said that amongst them is the lifting of the partisanship policy on employment procedures, reforms in economy, important projects in tourism education sectors, the increase of the quality at "universities" and others.

Pointing out to the distance which seems to exist towards the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem, Talat stressed the need to make preparations in the fields of politics, democracy and economy.

(AK)

[02] The press sees reactions in both the CTP and UBP to the establishment of a "coalition government"

According to Yeni Duzen, the points on which disagreement exists within the UBP are the following: 1) unionism in the private sector, 2) the reference to a "single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international identity" in the solution of the Cyprus problem, 3) the provision for having "autonomous institutions" and not "privatizing" the "public institutions", 4) binding the "police" to "civilian authority" and 5) the numerically equal distribution of five "ministries" to each party is not equal in content. Some "UBP deputies" insist on including the principles of their party as well in the "governmental protocol".

Meanwhile, Ergun Serdaroglu, UBP "deputy" in occupied Keryneia, said after the meeting that some "retouches" were made to the "program", not because any problem exists, but in order to clarify some issues. He noted that they discussed the five "ministries" the UBP will take and the relevant "departments".

Faiz Sucuoglu, UBP "deputy" in occupied Nicosia, said that they discussed the [CTP] proposals and the proposals which the UBP will submit to the CTP and described the meeting as "positive and mature".

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (14.07.15) reports that statements made by "influential officials" from both parties show that "they cannot digest" the "coalition" between CTP and UBP.

CTP's former general secretary, Kutlay Erk has said that "a government with the UBP is not a coalition which I could digest" and added that they will enter into this "coalition" for the "future of the country".

CTP's former general secretary, Asim Akansoy had recently told Kibris Postasi that the "coalition" with the UBP will not be an "easy experiment". He said that their "coalition government" with the Democratic Party had not worked productively adding that they should wait and see in practice how they will cooperate with the UBP.

CTP's former "deputy" and "minister" Sonay Adem said that problems exist within the members of both parties as regards their "coalition", adding however that the "way out for this country" is the cooperation between these two parties.

The paper also publishes statements by UBP "deputies" Ersin Tatar and Zorlu Tore, who oppose a "coalition government" with the CTP.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Cakici: Turkey wants the establishment of a CTP - UBP "coalition government"; Turkey's "aid delegation" is like a "shadow cabinet"

In statements to Ada television, Cakici described Turkey's "aid delegation" as "a shadow cabinet" and argued that the CTP "has committed suicide today" by cooperating with the UBP. He noted that Turkey's "aid delegation" will not be questioning the decisions of the CTP-UBP "coalition" and that Turkey wants the establishment of such a "coalition".

Recalling that the DP-UG has stated that Turkey's "aid delegation" should be abolished, Cakici said: "Turkey's aid delegation is like a shadow council of ministers. When our municipalities and associations need money and go to the embassy, they beg. The members of the delegation see themselves as ministers, not as public servants".

Cakici argued that the reason for CTP agreeing with the UBP which wanted five "ministries", in spite of the fact that the DP-UG had accepted to take only three "ministries", is the fact that the CTP is in harmony with Turkey's "aid delegation" and CTP chairman Talat's policy that "the UBP has changed".

Cakici expressed the view that the aid of Turkey's delegation should be given to the regime through the "ministries" and reiterated that the only real reason for the establishment of a CTP-UBP "coalition government" is the "embargo" of Turkey's aid delegation" to a CTP-DP "coalition".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Tunali said that CTP acts under Ankara's instructions

Tunali called the chairman of CTP, Mehmet Ali Talat to explain openly to the public the reasons for their decision to form a "coalition" with UBP. According to Tunali, Ankara is annoyed by DP's hard rhetoric on the issue of the "Turkey's Aid Delegation" and it is for this reason that it does not want to see the DP in the "government".

Tunali continued and called Talat to state openly whether it is Ankara that does not want DP and added that they have the strong belief that CTP acts under the instructions of Ankara.

(AK)

[05] A visit to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

According to a press release, those who want to attend the visit, which will be limited to a thousand people, should submit their names and other necessary information to the "department" by the 15th of July.

(DPs)

[06] "GAU" has students from 103 different countries

Noting that the population in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus is around 300,000 and the students around 75,000, Vehbi said that "GAU" at the moment is a "global university" with students from 103 different countries.

(DPs)

[07] Davutoglu discusses coalition with Kilicdaroglu: Erdogan asks for a strong government soon

"I stated Turkey cannot tolerate even a minute without a government and that we want the formation of a strong government which is based on strong foundations and mutual confidence", Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of the AKP said at a press conference following a meeting with CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on July 13.

"He [Kilicdaroglu] also expressed his opinions in this framework and, likewise, emphasized 'a strong government.' I see that, firstly within this framework, we have reached a common understanding for resuming these talks", Davutoglu said.

Describing the meeting at the CHP headquarters as "warm and constructive", Davutoglu indicated that a psychological threshold between the two parties that received the most votes in the June 7 elections had been passed during the meeting.

Delivering remarks on behalf of his party shortly after Davutoglu's press conference, CHP Deputy Chair Haluk Koc noted that the Prime Minister had already summarized the result of the meeting. "Building of a mutual confidence is needed. Flaws that were observed during past practices need to be eliminated. These were discussed", Koc said. "On the issue of will, both sides have underlined that Turkey needs to take up the coming years with a strong government profile."

With his meeting with Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli scheduled for July 14 and a meeting with Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag scheduled for July 15, Davutoglu reiterated that he plans to complete the first round of talks before Eid al-Fitr, the three-day long Islamic holiday starting July 17.

In the meantime, however, a delegation from the AKP and the CHP will continue holding "exploratory talks", according to Davutoglu. He said that he wished to have the same kind of "exploratory" talks with other parties too before holding a second round of talks after Eid al-Fitr.

"These are not negotiations of a coalition on which an agreement is accomplished. These are preliminary meetings aimed at an accurate understanding between the parties ahead of a negotiation," Davutoglu said. "If there is a ground for a government partnership negotiation, it will be revealed during the second round".

Tourism and Culture Minister Omer Celik of the AKP and Koc of CHP will serve as so-called "contact points" of their parties during the exploratory talks.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (13.07.15) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey needs a government that can take important decisions and implement them strongly and added: "A coalition government should be formed with this understanding".

[08] Turkey's Constitutional Court blocks government's decision to close prep schools

Opposition parties had applied to the Constitutional Court, the top judicial authority with the power to cancel laws, for the abolition of the regulations to close prep schools. The court heard National Education Ministry officials and prep school operators on Sunday and issued its final verdict on Monday, not giving the green light to prep schools' closure.

If the Court had given the green light, "Dershanes" (prep schools) were to be closed by September 2015 in line with the new regulations that came in after a 2013 decision by the government to shut down the schools permanently all across the country. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ LF)

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