Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-08-26

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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] Cavusoglu: There is a positive atmosphere for a solution in Cyprus and determination in both sides

[02] Colak: Both sides in Cyprus show good will for a solution; Bozkir: Turkey's priority is the Turkish Cypriots' freedom

[03] Burcu: Intense programme for the negotiators up to the leaders' meeting

[04] Columnist: The army prevents the opening of the crossing point in Deryneia area; Akinci cannot remain silent on this issue

[05] The Turkish Cypriot municipality of the occupied part of Nicosia will reactivate its membership to the OICC

[06] A folklore dance group from occupied Trikomo participated in the International Folklore Festival in Romania

[07] Major political parties boycott interim power-sharing government ahead of election

[08] Demirtas: Self-rule claims in eastern Turkey are legitimate

[09] Poll shows AKP short of votes needed to form government alone

[10] Gendarmerie command to open disciplinary proceedings against mourning lieutenant colonel

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu: There is a positive atmosphere for a solution in Cyprus and determination in both sides

In statements after signing a "memorandum of understanding" for cooperation in the field of information technologies, Cavusoglu reiterated the Turkish allegation that Turkey has always been supporting the negotiating process in Cyprus and a just and lasting solution. He said: "We wish for the positive atmosphere we are seeing on the island to be used well and we hope that this will be reflected to the solution. We wish for this process to be intensified and continue. We are seeing this determination in both sides and we are happy for this".

Cavusoglu noted that during their meeting they discussed the ongoing negotiating process in Cyprus and pointed out that for the first time the two sides on the island are working intensively in spite of the summer vacations. Arguing that "important distance" has been covered during this work, Cavusoglu said that their hopes increase by the fact that issues on which agreement had not been reached were discussed and progress was achieved on these issues.

The Turkish Minister underlined the importance of the support of the international community, the EU and Greece to this process and argued that this support should be "visible".

Cavusoglu said that their economic and political support to the "TRNC", as he described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, will continue and that they are offering technical support for strengthening all the "institutions" of the breakaway regime. He described the "memorandum" signed yesterday as an example of this support.

Cavusoglu further announced that the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Naci Koru will illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus within the forthcoming days to discuss the details of the support Turkey will offer to the self-styled foreign ministry.

Recalling Colak's meetings with President Erdogan, Prime Minister Davutoglu and EU Affairs Minister Bozkir, Cavusoglu said that they will together continue their efforts for the lifting of the so-called isolation of the breakaway regime. He noted that the regime has 24 "representation offices" in 20 countries and leaders or politicians from third countries visit the occupied area of Cyprus. He added that Turkey's "cooperation and support" will continue in all fields internationally and especially in the breakaway regime's membership in international organizations.

Colak, on her part, said that a "new Cyprus", which will be created after the solution, will be a member of the EU. "Even though the Greek Cypriot side has completed its efforts in this direction, we as Turkish Cypriots have a lot of work to do", she argued adding that they see Turkey's experience on this issue as a "point for cooperation".

Referring to the "memorandum of understanding" signed between Turkey and the regime, Colak said that this is a product of their solidarity and consensus. "We need such contributions and openings either there is a solution [to the Cyprus problem] or not", she added.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (26.08.15) reports that Colak met also with Davutoglu and Erdogan yesterday.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Colak: Both sides in Cyprus show good will for a solution; Bozkir: Turkey's priority is the Turkish Cypriots' freedom

In her statements, Colak said that an important opportunity for finding a solution has been created and that "both sides of the island show an approach of good will". "Determination and political will for a solution is seen in both sides", she noted adding that "we see that an important opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem is created after many years".

Colak said that Turkey's experience in its EU accession process is important for the Turkish Cypriots and added that "our priority has always been the harmonization of the Turkish Cypriots with the EU, either a solution [to the Cyprus problem] is reached or not".

Bozkir, on his part, argued that the Cyprus problem has reached a "more hopeful point" than the other problems of the region and added that with Colak they would evaluate the EU accession process and the latest developments in the occupied area of Cyprus. Bozkir alleged that the freedom of the Turkish Cypriots, taking the place they "deserve" in the world and finding a solution to the Cyprus problem are Turkey's first priorities. "We attach importance to the position that the solution of the Cyprus problem has come today after many years", he said.

Bozkir noted that Turkey has always been exerting efforts in the direction of the "elements necessary for the solution of the Cyprus problem not being transferred" into its EU accession process. He argued: "If the elements which will make the solution in the island possible were transferred into out EU accession process, the 14 chapters would not have been blocked today. Perhaps the process would have proceeded more quickly today, but our priority is our Turkish Cypriot brothers, it is Cyprus. If reference is made to the solution in Cyprus today, this derives from the fact that Turkey has never sacrificed the Cyprus problem".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Burcu: Intense programme for the negotiators up to the leaders' meeting

According to the paper, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's spokesman Baris Burcu, in statements to the Turkish Cypriot news agency "TAK", announced that the UN Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide will arrive in the island on the August 31.

Burcu noted that an intense timetable for the meetings of the negotiators has been scheduled. He added that an intense process in the level of both the negotiators and the technical committees is expected. Meanwhile, the negotiators are set to meet every day until Monday apart from the weekend.

According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.08.15), the agenda of the leaders' meeting will be determined according to the outcome of the five meetings to be held between the negotiators. The negotiators, who will focus mainly on the property issue, may also discuss issues related to other chapters if time permits.

(DPs)

[04] Columnist: The army prevents the opening of the crossing point in Deryneia area; Akinci cannot remain silent on this issue

Noting that according to the press, a problem as regards the route of the road exists, Baris recalls that the Greek Cypriots say that the existing road is appropriate, while the Turkish side proposes "alternative roads", because of "security and other reasons". Pointing out that Dr. Okan Dagli, member of the Famagusta Initiative, has recently stated that the existing road is appropriate and that political will is needed for the opening of the crossing point, Baris writes:

"[…] Who is [needed to show] this political will? President Mustafa Akinci himself. Very well, where this political will is deriving from? From the approximately 60% which he secured in 26 April's elections. That is, the only thing needed for president Akinci opening this gate is the political will. Let us stand here. Is the TRNC a normal system? No, it is not. Why? Because, regardless of how much this is denied here, there is another political will over the known political will. If you like you can call it Ankara, if you like you can call it the army, but this is the situation in which we are. In my view, if the esteemed president is prevented in the manner I have tried to explain in the very beginning of this article by the above-mentioned political will, he has no other option than coming out and explaining this openly to the people. Or when this issue came onto the agenda from the very beginning, he should have said to his interlocutor 'I do not have the authority to open this gate my friend' [...]. However, he spoke and said that the gate would open the soonest.

I and people who think like me had actually understood months earlier that problems would have been experienced in this gate, when Varosha was burning and our authorities were watching from far away. […]

Varosha is a military zone under the army's control. […] The political will has no say in the military zones. Therefore, the army is the main competent authority in the Deryneia gate issue. […]"

Baris notes that since the expectations [in the Cyprus problem] have been increased so much, they have to face some issues and expresses the view that Akinci could behave in the manner similar to which the former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat had acted prior to the opening of the Ledra Street crossing point. He concludes saying: "Mr Akinci must urgently decide: he will either open the gate giving the message to his Greek Cypriot interlocutors that 'I have political will' or he will shelve the issue with a move that will be tantamount to 'I cannot disobey the higher authorities'. It is not possible to remain silent on this issue".

(I/Ts.)

[05] The Turkish Cypriot municipality of the occupied part of Nicosia will reactivate its membership to the OICC

The reactivation of the "Nicosia Turkish Municipality's" membership to the Organisation was discussed at a meeting.

According to a press release by the "Nicosia Turkish Municipality's", Harmanci and Kad? discussed the municipality's membership to the organisation.

An agreement was reached at the lunch to reactivate the municipality's membership.

Harmanci also briefed Kadi on the economic difficulties experienced by the "municipality" and asked for concrete support from the OICC in overcoming these problems.

For his part, Kadi said that he will be dealing with the issue closely and will take up the issue with OICC members once the "Nicosia Turkish municipality's" membership is reactivated.

The Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities is an international non- governmental and non-profitable Organization which is an affiliate member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

[06] A folklore dance group from occupied Trikomo participated in the International Folklore Festival in Romania

(DPs)

[07] Major political parties boycott interim power-sharing government ahead of election

Two of the three opposition parties represented in Parliament -- the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- once again announced on Tuesday that they would not be part of the government to be in place until the early election.

After being given the mandate by the President, Davutoglu urged the opposition to take part in the government.

In a call to the opposition party leaders, Davutoglu said at a press conference at his party's headquarters that he is ready to discuss the issue with the party leaders. "I invite all to act responsibly," he said.

CHP spokesman Haluk Koc said at a press conference the same day that the AK Party dragged the country to a snap election under Erdogan's tutelage despite the CHP's efforts to join forces with the AK Party in a coalition government.

According to the Constitution, all parties in Parliament should be represented in an interim government in proportion to the number of Deputies each party has in Parliament.

The AK Party is expected to receive 11 ministries in the interim government, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) three, while the CHP will get six ministers and the MHP three, if they were to agree to be part of the government.

If no CHP and MHP Deputies accept to be part of the interim government, then impartial persons -- that is, independent figures from within or outside Parliament -- will be appointed in accordance with the quota granted to the two parties.

Davutoglu said that he will request those Deputies to whom he offers a post in government to get back to him with an answer within a "reasonable period of time" as the government needs to be formed within five days.

With the President's call for an early election having been published in the Official Gazette late on Monday, a power-sharing interim government has to be formed within five days, that is, by Saturday night.

Davutoglu said that he is required to offer individual deputies to take part in the interim power-sharing government despite some opposition parties' refusal to be part of the government.

"As per the Constitution, I cannot assign independent figures [in the government] without first proposing the Deputies of the political parties [to be part of the government] ", Davutoglu said.

Upon the selection of Nov. 1 as the early election date, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli has accused the top election authority of acting on instructions by President Erdogan.

Only the pro-Kurdish HDP has accepted to be part of the interim government. Ayhan Bilgen, HDP spokesperson, once again confirmed on Tuesday that his party would be part of the interim government. "We see taking part in the interim Cabinet as a responsibility for our voters, [although] we see plans to exclude us [from Cabinet]. We consider being part of Cabinet as our responsibility towards peace in society," Bilgen said at a press conference.

[08] Demirtas: Self-rule claims in eastern Turkey are legitimate

"There is nothing more legitimate than the nation's self-rule. It is also part of our party's program: If we come to power, or proceed a negotiation with a ruling party, we suggest autonomy as a political model officially," Demirtas said. Mayors of some provinces in eastern Turkey have recently declared "self-rule" in violation of the constitutional order. The Mayors of two districts in south-eastern Diyarbak?r province, Sur Co-Mayor Seyid Narin and Silvan Co-Mayor Yuksel Bodakci, were arrested for the autonomy declarations they made.

Demirtas added that to call the nation's demand of autonomy as illegal is against the HDP's program. He said: "Our difference is that no guns should be used. The HDP's peace resolution is on this democratic political approach. So, the autonomy announced by the public [in eastern Turkey] should be respected."

[09] Poll shows AKP short of votes needed to form government alone

According to the Metropoll survey, backing for the secular main opposition CHP was at 25.5%, the nationalist MHP at 15.7% and the pro-Kurdish HDP at 14.7% - a rise in its support from 13.1% in June.

"It seems like the snap elections will not generate a different political situation from the election on June 7", Ozer Sencar, the chairman of Metropoll, wrote in the survey report.

Metropoll said the survey was carried out between August 14-16 and involved 2,520 people.

[10] Gendarmerie command to open disciplinary proceedings against mourning lieutenant colonel

Lieutenant Colonel Mehmet Alkan, the elder brother of slain soldier Ali Alkan, directly targeted politicians during the funeral, questioning the reasons behind the latest outbreaks of violence. "Why do those who have been saying 'solution' since yesterday now say war?" Alkan asked. "Who is his [Ali Alkan's] murderer?"

Following the outburst, which was caught on camera, sources told Hurriyet that the Gendarmerie General Command is set to start disciplinary proceedings in accordance with internal procedures. "Initiating disciplinary proceedings is standard operating procedure. Testifying during proceedings does not imply that a person is guilty. The lieutenant colonel will explain what happened. It is wise to wait until the proceedings are over," one source stated.

When asked for his opinion, Mehmet Alkan said there "wasn't much more to say. I am leaving the rest to God. What more can I say?" he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to Hurriyet, Interior Minister Sebahattin Ozturk suggested that the lieutenant colonel's reaction was "understandable but wrong". "We need to see his brother as a martyr. When I consider his comments in that light, I understand. But it is still not right for a person in uniform to make such political comments," Ozturk said.

On Aug. 25, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also commented on Alkan's protest during a press conference, shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally appointed him to form an interim government.

"I believe he uttered those words in pain, which is a humane response. Although we understand the pain, we must still preserve dignity during these hard times", Davutoglu said. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ AM)

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