Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-06-01

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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] Statements by Premier Yildirim at Esenboga Airport before departing for his illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

[02] Hudaoglu: "Anastasiades' stance will be extremely important for overcoming the crisis"

[03] Ak?nc? spoke with HDP's Demirtas over the phone after the fighting erupted at occupied Lefka

[04] Soyer criticizes Akinci for saying that division will be strengthened in Cyprus if a solution is not reached within 2016

[05] Turfan Erhurman will be the sole candidate for the position of the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party

[06] Reactions to the regime's attempt to put limitations on the right to protest

[07] So-called "security forces" employees complained about the restrictions to cross to the free areas only three times per month

[08] So-called ministers of education and tourism due to Antalya for contacts

[09] "Caner Gonyeli search and rescue exercise" will be conducted June 6-9

[10] The water from Turkey will be distributed to occupied Lefkosia and Famagusta for three days

[11] Erdogan and Yildirim raised concerns with Merkel over German draft bill on 'genocide'

[12] Erdogan: "Downing of Russian jet 'a pilot's mistake'"

[13] Turkey's EU Minister is carrying out contacts in Brussels

[14] Erdogan's anti-birth control remarks draw angry reactions

[15] "Once again, it's 'directionless' Turkey"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Statements by Premier Yildirim at Esenboga Airport before departing for his illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus

"We have absolutely no problem in the relations with Cyprus. Our point of view for Cyprus is very clear. We are acting on the principle that whatever exists in Turkey the same will exist in Cyprus from the point of view of the prosperity and the future of our Cypriot brothers. There is a problem in Cyprus that continues for many years. A solution should be found to this problem. The story is long. I am not going to tell it. As Turkey we have always attached importance to the solution. We have taken every kind of constructive measure. Unfortunately no promise given in the past was kept. There are ongoing negotiations now. What is their basis? One bi-communal state. What is the question that should be asked when you establish a bi-communal state? Are the two communities represented equally? As Turkey we will support the negotiations until the end, but the following should also be known: The slightest wrong treatment to our Cyprus brothers is a wrong treatment made to Turkey. This should be known as a notice. I wish for my visit to conduce to good things."

(I/Ts.)

[02] Hudaoglu: "Anastasiades' stance will be extremely important for overcoming the crisis"

Hudaoglu reminded that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci had recently completed his first year in office and that he had clearly reflected the Turkish Cypriot side's desire and commitment towards a solution at the negotiating table.

Claiming the recent crisis had cast a shadow on the momentum of the talks, Hudaoglu said that the negotiations were at a critical juncture. "We are at a critical point and the Greek Cypriot leader's next step will be crucial and detrimental for the future of the talks. Was it a simple outburst or is it something which will reflect on the talks in the long term?"", Hudaoglu asked.

He, however, alleged that the timing of the crisis was thought provoking as it had irrupted just a day after the elections in "south Cyprus".

"Was it the result of disappointment from the talks or was it a part of another strategy, it is hard to say at this point. However, we shall continue to maintain our constructive and positive stance. We shall wait to see if Mr. Anastasiades will bring things back on track. If the crisis is solved and everything goes back to normal, I don't think we should be too pessimistic regarding a settlement before the end of 2016", Hudaoglu argued.

[03] Ak?nc? spoke with HDP's Demirtas over the phone after the fighting erupted at occupied Lefka

According to a statement issued by the HDP's press office, Ak?nc? and Demirtas had spoken on the phone on May 30, the day of the fighting, with both sides reaffirming their wish to ensure the safety of all students in "northern Cyprus".

"The president [Ak?nc?] said all necessary precautions were being taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident and called for support to ensure the serenity of all," the statement said, adding that Demirtas expressed his concern over rising tensions.

"Demirtas said all efforts would be made in collaboration to ensure the peace and safety of all students," it added.

The conversation came after hundreds of Turkish nationalist and pro-Kurdish students clashed with stones, sharp objects and iron bars in the early hours of May 29. Seven people were reportedly injured in the fight, which also damaged university buildings.

[04] Soyer criticizes Akinci for saying that division will be strengthened in Cyprus if a solution is not reached within 2016

In statements yesterday on a television program, Soyer said that he does not believe that Akinci's messages are healthy, in spite of the fact they were given for constituting a motive both within the Turkish Cypriot community and their interlocutor. Soyer argued:

"It is said the following: If [there are some who] will succeed, these are Akinci and Anastasiades, people who know what has happened in the past, representatives of two generations who lived the past. Messages are also given such as that from now on generations which do not know each other will not be able to succeed in this issue. Both these messages are wrong".

Furthermore, Soyer described as "wrong" President Anastasiades' stance upon Akinci's visit to Istanbul and his participation in a dinner hosted for heads of states and governments. He reiterated the Turkish allegation that the Greek Cypriots "usurped" the Republic of Cyprus against the Turkish Cypriots and that the bi-communal character of the Republic had suffered a blow. "While we are supporting this, we express the position that in the new conditions it is turned into a bi-zonal, bi-communal Federal Republic in which two founding states are participating having political equality", he said.

Recalling Akinci's statement that a single text has been created on the property issue, Soyer claimed that there was a lack of sensitivity by the pro-solution forces towards this statement. "Is this the way by which we will help the solution? We should put this forward", he argued noting that they should enlightened the community on this issue. "It is Mr Akinci's duty to share with the community the developments as regards this issue", he said arguing that this basis should not be lost because if there is a single text on the property, this is an event which brings us closer to the final summit.

Referring to a statement made by the leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Serdar Denktas that holding a referendum in 2016 seems inevitable, Soyer said that this statement means that Denktas has started from now the preparations for rejecting the agreement text knowing that he could not prevent an agreement from happening.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turfan Erhurman will be the sole candidate for the position of the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party

Commenting on his candidacy, Erhurman said that CTP will continue its struggle under a leftist idelology and values and that his candidacy during this critical period carries a lot of responsibility.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (01.06.16) writes that during the congress of the Republican Turkish Party that was held on May 22, it was decided that the addition "United Forces" next to the party's name to be abandoned. Moreover the color of the party's logo will also change from green to red.

(CS)

[06] Reactions to the regime's attempt to put limitations on the right to protest

The party argued that the "government" is taking from now measures trying to prevent or reduce to the minimum level the reaction of "broad public masses" against the "economic protocol", which it is preparing to sign and provides for giving away properties of the community and mainly the "telecommunication authority", the "electricity authority" and the ports.

Meanwhile, the paper also reports that the Trade Union Platform is holding a march today to the "interior ministry" in order to protest on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[07] So-called "security forces" employees complained about the restrictions to cross to the free areas only three times per month

This was made known after an email arrived at the paper's main email address by a person who works at the "security forces" who is complaining that this restriction is against the employees' human rights.

According to this person, "security forces" employees can travel to Turkey any given day but restrictions are applied to them when they want to cross to the Republic of Cyprus' free areas.

(CS)

[08] So-called ministers of education and tourism due to Antalya for contacts

As part of their contacts in the Turkish city, the two "ministers" will be meeting with the Governor of Antalya, the Mayor of the city, the Rector of the Antalya Akdeniz University, representatives from the Journalist Society and the General Coordinator of the Expo 2016 Antalya Agency.

Berova and Ataoglu will also visit the Expo 2016 Fair which aims transforming Antalya into a tourism capital.

They will also make inspections and coordinated work at the Cyprus Culture House and Garden at the Expo Fair Ground.

Berova and Ataoglu will also be meeting with representatives from the tourism and industry sectors.

[09] "Caner Gonyeli search and rescue exercise" will be conducted June 6-9

(DPs)

[10] The water from Turkey will be distributed to occupied Lefkosia and Famagusta for three days

Cavusoglu also clarified that they conveyed to Turkey during their contacts all the concerns of the "municipalities". He added that their proposal to the "municipality" of the occupied part of Lefkosia to use the old pipes for the transportation of the water was accepted.

(DPs)

[11] Erdogan and Yildirim raised concerns with Merkel over German draft bill on 'genocide'

The bill is due to be voted at Parliament on June 2, and Erdogan warned of negative effects on "economic, political and military" relations between Turkey and Germany if it is passed.

"I think all these will be considered," Erdogan said during a press briefing on May 31, declining to comment further on a "decision that has not been made yet."

Erdogan recalled that there are 3 million Turkish-origin citizens living in Germany and bilateral relations are today at a very high level.

Meanwhile, Merkel has called Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m in order to congratulate him on his new post, while the latter used the occasion to also voice Ankara's uneasiness over the Bundestag's plans to recognize the World War I killings of Anatolian Armenians as genocide.

Sources from the Turkish Prime Minister's Office told the state-run Anadolu Agency late on May 30, that during his telephone talk with Merkel, Yildirim emphasized the following: "That the initiative at the German Parliament, which contains baseless and unfair judgments concerning the 1915 incidents, is being followed with concern by both our government and millions of Turkish citizens living in our country and Germany, and that we expect the government and the Parliament of Germany to show a prudent approach on this issue," the sources said.

(?)

[12] Erdogan: "Downing of Russian jet 'a pilot's mistake'"

The incident precipitated a major row between Ankara and Moscow, with the latter imposing several economic sanctions on Turkey in return.

"It is really thought-provoking that our relations with Mr. [Vladimir] Putin came to the current level from a very different point and [he] sacrificed Turkey due to a mistake or fault by a pilot," Erdogan said.

"We should be involved in developing ties for sure and returning them to [where they were]," he said.

Still, Erdogan said he did not understand what manner of "first step" Turkey should take to repair ties.

However, he did not elaborate on the nature of such a mistake or whether it belonged to a Russian or Turkish pilot.

[13] Turkey's EU Minister is carrying out contacts in Brussels

EU Minister Celik will also deliver a speech at the "European Business Summit".

(DPs)

[14] Erdogan's anti-birth control remarks draw angry reactions

"The most natural right of women in Turkey, which is a democratic country, is reproductive rights. This encompasses a woman being able to choose when she wants children, and how many," the Turkish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (TJOD) said in a statement, underlining that they were "compelled" to make a statement after Erdogan's remarks against birth control in Muslim countries.

"The TJOD slammed Erdogan statements as a "violation of women's rights," adding that birth control methods must not be abandoned. "Involuntary pregnancies result in unwanted abortions," it said.

"When there is no birth control, there will be a rise in involuntary pregnancies and this will cause a rise in abortions. If abortions also become illegal, maternal mortality will increase because people will resort to what we call 'under the counter' methods," it added, expressing alarm that illegal abortions may emerge as a risky birth control mechanism.

Also, Turkish Women's Union Head Sema Kendirci also criticized Erdogan's remarks, stressing that the Constitution defines family planning as among the duties of the state.

"Article 41 of the Constitution defines the teaching and application of family planning as a duty. Who on earth could have the right to pressure families into having more children than they can provide for?" Kendirci said, speaking to BBC Turkish.

She also criticized Erdogan's mention of Islam as a yardstick, saying it must only be up to a family to decide whether they will or will not use birth control.

"There is no way we can approve discussing this issue based on a religious perspective," Kendirci added.

(?)

[15] "Once again, it's 'directionless' Turkey"

The findings of the most recent survey by Istanbul's Kadir Has University, measuring Turks' foreign policy perceptions, depict little meaningful deviation from the most previous findings.

For instance, among the Turks who think their country will become a full member of the European Union, the average anticipation for full accession is 8.1 years (meaning membership in summer 2024), denoting quite a big deviation from British Prime Minister David Cameron's "Year 3000" forecast ? a divergence of just 976 years.

It was a simple twist of fate in confirming Mr. Cameron's pessimism that the first public speech of the new EU minister noted that 'the EU is not Turkey's sole option'. Maybe. But what are the options?

In the past year, the percentage of Turks who support EU membership rose from 42.4%(2015) to 61.8% (2016). Great news! Or it could have been so. According to the same research, 66.7% of Turks do not believe their country will ever become a member of the rich club. That pessimism was shared by 47.6% in 2015. So, more Turks want EU membership and much fewer think it will ever happen.

What, then, should Turkey do? Which bloc should it align its foreign policy with? A total of 18.8% cited NATO-United States, the highest. Reasonable. But then 44.1% of Turks cited the U.S. as a threat to their country, making the Americans the second highest. Interesting mix of sentiments: More Turks want their foreign policy to be aligned with the second biggest threat to their country. But there is more.

The best foreign policy alternative to the EU, after NATO-US, is the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) ? probably because its name contains the word "Islamic" ? at 17.6%. But then 69.6% of Turks think that the biggest threat to their country is the Middle East, home to scores of OIC members. Again, aligning foreign policy with a major threat? How would that be possible?

But the Turks' third best option looks more amusing than the first two. In the same survey, Turks cited Russia as the third best option in terms of aligning their country's foreign policy at 14.8%, while simultaneously citing the country as the third biggest threat to their country at 34.9%.

Customarily, one of the most difficult questions in similar surveys is the one that asks Turks which foreign country is their country's best friend. In the 1970s, most Turks would cite Pakistan and Libya ? Pakistan is still an option. Then some politician coined the term "one nation, two states" in reference to Turkey and Azerbaijan. This one is still very popular. In this year's survey, 59.3% of Turks cited Azerbaijan as Turkey's best friend.

It is intriguing why they did not cite the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), an independent state recognized by Turkey only. Do Turks not recognize the TRNC as an independent state? If they do, have they ever been curious about why their country's best friend, Azerbaijan, has meticulously avoided recognizing the Turkish statelet of the bitter-lemon island?

Perhaps that may be too much to ask for when they cite the top three threats in their list of best foreign policy options.

Once again, the Turks are confused. They privately feel alienated and directionless. The centuries-old proverb that 'the only friend of a Turk is a Turk' must be tormenting their souls. Fortunately, there is Azerbaijan: one nation, two states! But it remains a mystery as to why the Turks would not want their country to align its foreign policy with Azerbaijan". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(AK / AM)

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