Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-11-13

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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] Akinci alleges that the connection of the GSM networks is prevented by the Greek Cypriots

[02] Colak continues her contacts in Brussels

[03] Famagusta Initiative accuses the occupation regime of unwillingness on the opening of the Deryneia crossing point

[04] So-called foreign ministry issued a written statement on the opening of Deryneia and Lefka/Apliki crossing points

[05] Hudaoglu: "The TRNC is defended at the negotiations"

[06] "KTIAK"'s delegation held contacts in Berlin and Hamburg

[07] Yilmaz: If there are mutually good intentions, permanent peace can be reached in Cyprus

[08] Data about the number of Turkish Cypriot immigrants

[09] YSK released the official results of November 1 snap elections

[10] Turkish government's new Cabinet expected to be announced next week

[11] Silvan district of Diyabakir turned into a battlefield; A curfew has been imposed since the day after the elections; HDP's Deputy attacked

[12] Police raid media critical to the government

[13] Former HDP Deputy was banned to leave Turkey due to speeches she delivered in the past

[14] Turkish columnist expresses the view that the AKP government aims to control all media in Turkey for getting a positive result on a presidential system referendum

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci alleges that the connection of the GSM networks is prevented by the Greek Cypriots

"We long for a political spring in Cyprus, a geographic solution", argued Akinci adding that efforts are exerted to reach a solution having as starting point the "reality" of the two communities and the two areas, which already exist in the island.

Noting that the Joint Statement of 11 February refers to the bi-communality and bi-zonality, Akinci expressed the view that this reality is the basis of the negotiating process. Akinci argued that the water brought from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus, the natural gas found in the island's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the interconnected electricity system are "elements which will contribute to the peoples' being able to live together". He alleged that this view is considered to be positive and constructive not only by Turkey, but by "other areas of the world as well".

Finally, he noted that their aim is to complete the negotiations before May 2016 and that he is not pessimistic on the issue of the solution, but because of some negative things that came up, he does not want to draw a "rosy picture".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Colak continues her contacts in Brussels

The paper writes that Colak held various meetings in Brussels. Among others she met with Ivo Vajgl, Slovakian member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group (ALDE), Ilhan Kucuk, who is member both of ALDE and of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Reimer Boge, German Deputy of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), Vierros Villeneuve Permanent Representative of Finland in Brussels and Frank Engel, member of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).

(CS)

[03] Famagusta Initiative accuses the occupation regime of unwillingness on the opening of the Deryneia crossing point

In a statement signed by Okan Dagli, the Initiative argues that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) ? National Unity Party (UBP) self-styled government insists on undertaking no initiative on the issue of the opening of crossing points.

Dagli noted that no concrete steps have been taken until now on the issue of materializing the confidence building measures (CBM), according to the joint declaration. He said that the Initiative and the people living in the area are disappointed especially on the issue of the opening of the Deryneia crossing point.

Dagli accused the self-styled government of not announcing any timetable and of issuing no "serious statement" especially on the issue of the Deryneia ? Famagusta crossing point, for which the UN had confirmed that no problem is left and the only thing needed for the opening of the crossing point is the completion of the infrastructure.

Describing as "thought provoking" the self-styled government's unwillingness on the opening of crossing points, Dagli warned that in case no step is taken on the issue about which the people of Famagusta and the area are "very sensitive", they will show the necessary reaction without taking into consideration political parties or political tendencies, just like they did during the protest held in May.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (13.11.15) points out that the Initiative is actually criticizing the stance of the major "coalition partner", the CTP. According to the paper, the statement notes, inter alia, the following:

"The stance of the CTP president Mr Mehmet Ali Talat who since the issue of the opening of Famagusta-Deryneia crossing point came onto the agenda tried to throw the ball to the military authorities has created a negative effect on us. Another example of the government's unwillingness is the fact that the Prime Minister Mr Omer Kalyoncu said absolutely nothing on the issue in front of this stance by Mr Talat, who in speeches on various occasions, is still putting forward his lack of political will and unwillingness, in spite of the fact that every kind of technical problems have been overcome".

The paper writes also that Gurdal Hudaoglu, Akinci's adviser, stated yesterday that there is no political problem for the opening of new crossing points and that the routes are known. He noted that the technical infrastructure should be completed quickly.

(I/Ts.)

[04] So-called foreign ministry issued a written statement on the opening of Deryneia and Lefka/Apliki crossing points

The statement said, inter alia, that an important progress has been achieved towards the works for the opening of the Deryneia and Lefka-Apliki crossing points, that the works for sweeping the mines continues and that they held contacts with various EU officials in order to obtain the necessary financial sources.

The "ministry" said in the statement that the opening of the two crossing points is a priority issue for the "government" and pointed out that that the "government" has shown a strong political will in order to achieve the opening of the crossing points the soonest possible.

The "ministry" dismissed also some claims published in the press concerning this issue and supported that those reports published derived from the lack of knowledge towards this matter.

The statement recalled that an agreement has been reached between the two leaders in the framework of the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) towards the opening of Deryneia and Lefka-Apliki crossing point and added that the "government" has launched works in both areas without any delay, after the technical committees discussed this issue.

According to the statement, all related organizations are in full cooperation will international organizations concerning the issue of finding the necessary financial resources that will be used for the infrastructure and the broadening and the asphalt of the road.

The statement added that in spite of the fact that the works for the cleaning of mines in the area which are carrying out in cooperation with UN's experts were expected to be completed by the end of December, due to their coordinated efforts, they are expected to be completed in November.

As the statement said, the process of certification which is necessary to be done in accordance to the international implementations for Deryneia and Lefka areas in order to be able to be opened for civilian uses, is still continuing.

(AK)

[05] Hudaoglu: "The TRNC is defended at the negotiations"

He stated that the new state that will emerge after a solution is reached, will be established by the two constituent states. As the Greek Cypriots should not say that the Republic of Cyprus will be turned into something else, the Turkish Cypriots should not say this about the "TRNC" as well, he stated. There is not such a thing. He also said that the Turkish Cypriots will be reflected politically equal with their administration, mechanism and institutions.

Hudaoglu also stated that within 4-5 days the official reports of the negotiations will be translated in Turkish so that the members of the "assembly' or any other related "institution" to have access to the documents. Hudaoglu criticized some "deputies" who stated that there are hidden issues as regards the negotiations and also said that there are not informed about the negotiations progress. He said that they can have access to the information they want soon.

(CS)

[06] "KTIAK"'s delegation held contacts in Berlin and Hamburg

According to the paper, the delegation explained to Brunner the political and economic situation in the "TRNC", while at the same time they had the chance to exchange views on the recent developments on the Cyprus problem.

Speaking during the meeting, Brunner said that "great things could be achieved with small steps" and pointed out to the importance of the works that the NGO's in Germany can do abroad.

Stating that they are informed about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, Brunner said that the "TRNC" should be ready for after the solution period. He then stressed the "need for the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot governments" to have equal seats in the federation to be formed in a possible solution and added that the USA and the EU will provide financial contribution to the country after the solution.

Brunner stated further the following: "The TRNC for years now has not experienced the EU's gaming rules, it has experienced Turkey's gaming rules. For this reason, the TRNC, prior to the solution, should make the necessary preparation in all issues. The NGO's in the country and the politicians should do all necessary towards this issue".

Stressing the need for the two communities to focus on the connective elements in the island, Brunner added that the financial issue or the military issue could be solved under the auspices of NATO.

The so-called Cyprus Turkish Businessmen's Council invited Brunner and other German Deputies to visit Cyprus.

(AK)

[07] Yilmaz: If there are mutually good intentions, permanent peace can be reached in Cyprus

Speaking during the reception, the Speaker of the Grand National Turkish Assembly Ismet Yilmaz, stated that if there are mutually good intentions in Cyprus, permanent peace can be reached in the island. "This is our desire", he stated. He went on and alleged that in the past the Turkish Cypriots experienced many difficulties and injustices; however he said things are much improved nowadays due to Turkey's assistance.

Speaking on the same event, the "TRNC ambassador to Ankara", Fazil Can said that "if Turkey is strong then the TRNC is also strong". He also referred to the project of water transfer from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus and said that it demonstrates the economic and technological power of Turkey.

(CS)

[08] Data about the number of Turkish Cypriot immigrants

According to Kasapoglu, around 30 thousand Turkish Cypriots have emigrated from Cyprus between 1917-1955; however, after 1974 the numbers of the immigrants increased and during the last 41 years 60 thousand Turkish Cypriots immigrated from the island. Kasapoglu also claimed that if the number of Turkish Cypriots who immigrated since 1917 is calculated, then the number of Turkish Cypriots living abroad will reach 600 thousands. He also said that despite this number, there are only 50 thousand Turkish Cypriots who are holders of the "TRNC identity".

The paper also writes that the majority of the Turkish Cypriots immigrated mostly to the UK and Turkey, followed by Australia and Canada. Less people immigrated to the USA and even less to some European countries, like Germany, Holland and Italy.

(CS)

[09] YSK released the official results of November 1 snap elections

Polling stations were established in 54 countries and 113 representation offices around the globe, Guven said, noting that over 85% of eligible voters participated in the elections.

Guven noted that fewer problems were encountered during the elections as the number of invalid votes diminished, more observers were trained and no electricity cuts were reported.

According to the announcements, the AKP won the highest number of seats in the parliament with 317 Deputies. It was followed by the CHP (134), HDP (59) and MHP (40).

A total of 16 parties attended the elections.

[10] Turkish government's new Cabinet expected to be announced next week

Accordingly, members of the National Assembly will take their oaths on November 17 and President Recep Tayyip Erdoran will give the mandate to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form the new government on the same day.

The new Cabinet is expected to be announced on November 18, on the anniversary of the formation of the very first AKP government by its then-leader, former President Abdullah Gul, in 2002. Prominent party members have attached importance to this date, interpreting it as a "return to the foundational spirit" of the party.

The last round of ongoing talks between the Presidency and Prime Ministry regarding the new Cabinet will be held on late November 17.

The Cabinet is likely to include: Binali Y?ld?r?m, Numan Kurtulmus, Faruk Celik, Omer Celik, Mehmet Ozhaseki, Ali Babacan, Cevdet Y?lmaz, Bekir Bozdag, Nihat Zeybekci, Nurettin Canikli, Tugrul Turkes and Cemil Cicek, if he is not elected as Parliament Speaker.

Unlike previously, Erdogan will not wait for the election of the new Parliament Speaker, which will take place on November 22, while the oldest parliament member, Deniz Baykal, will preside over the first session.

The candidates for Parliament Speaker are Ismet Y?lmaz, Ismail Kahraman and Cemil Cicek.

As is custom, members of the Parliament Speaker's Office will be elected in parallel to the procedure for forming the government.

While the new assembly is electing its Speaker on November 22, the AKP will also be working to form various parliamentary commissions. As the preparation of the 2016 Central Governance Budget Law will not be possible within such a short period of time, the AKP will draft a "temporary budget" for the first quarter of 2016 and Parliament will begin deliberations over the 2016 Central Governance Budget Law in January, although these deliberations are customarily held in December.

[11] Silvan district of Diyabakir turned into a battlefield; A curfew has been imposed since the day after the elections; HDP's Deputy attacked

Gunshots can constantly be heard in Silvan due to the ongoing clashes in the city, where six civilians, a soldier and a police officer have been killed since the curfew was imposed.

In the latest fatal attack, the terrorists targeted an armored police vehicle in the district on Wednesday, killing one policeman and injuring another. The media reports say a group of terrorists attacked the vehicle along the Diyarbak?r Highway with rockets.

Local residents are suffering from a lack of food and water because of the days-long curfew amid the continuing violence. Locals are concerned about their lives. In three neighborhoods -- Mescit, Tekel and Konak -- where the clashes intensify, the Internet and telephones are not working. There are armored police vehicles and tanks on almost every street in those neighborhoods. Thousands of people living in there have left their homes feeling that they are no longer safe.

Nearly 20,000 locals are believed to have left the district so far since late July. Most of those went to provinces such as Batman Mersin, Istanbul and Izmir. However, the Dogan news agency says the number of migrated locals stands at 10,000.

(?)

The Diyarbak?r Governor's Office released a written statement on Wednesday, stating that five PKK militants have been killed during the ongoing operations in Silvan. The governor's office stated that the Silvan District Governor's Office has been distributing food and bread to the residents living in the three neighborhoods where the clashes are, adding that those locals whose houses were damaged have been also provided accommodation by the district governor's office.

Meanwhile, as the paper points out, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chairwoman Figen Yuksekdag and several other pro-Kurdish lawmakers went to Silvan to carry out examinations in the district. Hundreds of HDP supporters as well as the lawmakers gathered in front of the Silvan Municipality's building on Thursday to march in the three neighborhoods that are under curfew. However, they were stopped by a police intervention. The police used tear gas and water cannons against the lawmakers and protesters. Yuksekdag and the other Deputies -- Idris Baluken, Huda Kaya, Ahmet Y?ld?r?m, Caglar Demirel, Nursel Y?ld?r?m, Ertugrul Kurkcu and Altan Tan -- resisted the police intervention. However, the police did not allow the group to march to the three neighborhoods despite the efforts of the Deputies to convince them otherwise.

Speaking to the press following the police intervention in Silvan, Yuksekdag said: "There is currently barbarity taking place here." Yuksekdag stated that some of the lawmakers were exposed to physical violence by the police during the intervention and warned that tension is escalating in the district. She also said that the attacks are taking place not only in the three neighborhoods under curfew, but also in other parts of the district. She added that there are many locals who were injured in the attacks.

Calling the operation conducted in Silvan "an extermination campaign," Yuksekdag said that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has lost its legitimacy due to its violent policies.

Protests were held against the curfew in Silvan in various parts of Turkey on Thursday. A group of students held a protest at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul's Sisli district on Thursday. The police intervened in the protest to disperse the students. A number of students were detained by the police.

(?)

[12] Police raid media critical to the government

The raid came amidst rumors that the media group was among the government's targets after another critical media group was seized late last month. The police raid on the three critical media outlets was carried out over claims that the Ozgur Bugun daily -- which was launched after trustees were appointed to the Bugun daily's administration in a controversial decision -- was being printed at a printing house belonging to the Zaman daily.

Although police were expected to search only the printing house of the daily based on a court decision to that effect, they returned to the building after an "anonymous call" and searched the newsrooms of Zaman, Today's Zaman and the Aksiyon weekly, journalists in the building said.

The Zaman daily's lawyer, Ali Odabas?, said there was no court warrant to search the Zaman building, adding that the police came to the daily over a complaint by the Bugun daily's lawyers that the Ozgur Bugun daily was being printed at Zaman headquarters.

(?.)

[13] Former HDP Deputy was banned to leave Turkey due to speeches she delivered in the past

Tuncel, who is also the Spokesperson for the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), was transferred to the prosecutor's office in Bak?rkoy after testifying at the airport.

Announcing her detainment on her Twitter account, Tuncel said a ban on leaving the country was imposed on her due to the speeches she delivered between 2010 and 2013. "The issuance of a warrant before a service of summons is a political decision by the public prosecutor," Tuncel tweeted.

Tuncel was released following her testimony while the ban on leaving the country remains in effect.

[14] Turkish columnist expresses the view that the AKP government aims to control all media in Turkey for getting a positive result on a presidential system referendum

"Polling companies keep asking participants the same question over and over again: 'Would you say yes if there was a referendum on the presidential system?'

Adil Gur, the owner of the A&G research company, declared that according to its survey in December 2014 and January 2015, 70% of respondents said no. He concludes that the Turkish public is against the presidential system.

A report by another polling company, Konsensus, says the same thing in different words: 'We have been asking this question since 2010. Turkish people do not want a presidential system. In September 2014, 67 % of respondents said they are against a presidential system. Also, 55 % of Justice and Development (AK Party) voters are against this system'.

ADY AR polling company said its February and April surveys show that 65-70% of the public is against the presidential system.

Metropoll, a survey company, says it has asked the same question of its respondents 10 times in the last three years. The last survey was in September and the support for a presidential system was 32%.

I am giving you these numbers to show a simple fact. The people in Turkey are definitely against a presidential system. Even the majority of AK Party supporters oppose this kind of governmental system.

The Turkish public may not know so many practical details about such a governmental system. But they instinctively know that if Turkey replaces its parliamentarian system with a presidential one, it would only mean in practice a one-man system, an open dictatorship.

Actually, what the AK Party is offering as a presidential system is merely the introduction of a sultan into a system bearing the name of a President. The President in a presidential system envisaged by certain authorities of the AK Party would even has the power to create his own laws. Well, as you may know, the presidential system in the classical sense of the word is based on the rigid separation of powers. In the AK Party's case, there is no separation, only the unification of powers.

Not only because of what this so-called Turkish style presidential system envisages on paper, but also realities in Turkey show that this President, who of course would be the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would become a dictator in practice. No media would exist that could or would limit him, and no judiciary would dare to inspect his actions and decisions.

As you may well be aware, before the June 7 election, the presidential system was the number one item on the agenda. Since the AK Party lost a significant portion of its votes in that election, we did heard barely a murmur about the presidential system during the November 1 election campaign.

However, after this month's election we have suddenly started to hear AK Party spokespeople talking about a presidential system. The Spokesperson of the President even talked about holding a referendum on the presidential system.

When all surveys show that the people in Turkey are strongly against the presidential system, how do AK Party figures dare to suggest the holding of a referendum on this subject? They must be thinking that public opinion will change from a negative one to a positive one on presidential system. But how?

Just look at the recent onslaught on the media, the seizing of the Ipek Media Group, attacks on Zaman and others in this context.

If they have all the media on their side, could they get a different result on a referendum on the presidential system? I believe somebody in power thinks so". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(AK/ AM)

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