Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-11-01

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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] Akinci will meet with Turkish Cypriot political parties

[02] The discussions of the occupation regime's "budget" to be launched on November 9

[03] Figures on the occupation regime's "imports and exports"

[04] BKP criticized the government for not adopting the winter time

[05] KTOS calls on the "ministry of education" to act against the Quran lessons

[06] Reactions about the Greek signboard towards Apostolos Andreas Monastery

[07] Screening in the sheep and cattle diseases in the occupied area of Cyprus

[08] The Turkish police detained editor-in-chief, columnists and executives of daily Cumhuriyet

[09] Opposition slams detention of Cumhuriyet journalists and calls for joint struggle against raid

[10] Turkish Cypriot press: "Erdogan's fascism hit 'Cumhuriyet' newspaper"

[11] Columnist: "More Turkish journalists in jail, and not just that…"

[12] A quarrel between the government and the opposition has intensified as the AKP has presented presidential models to Erdogan

[13] Turkey's state of emergency decrees are unlawful: Turkish Bar Association head

[14] Turkey to start issuing biometric passports in line with EU deal

[15] Turkey's exports and imports fell in September; exports to Egypt on the rise

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci will meet with Turkish Cypriot political parties

According to the paper, Akinci will meet with delegations from leaders and representatives of the political parties that are represented in the "assembly".

(CS)

[02] The discussions of the occupation regime's "budget" to be launched on November 9

According to the paper, the "budget" of the occupation regime for 2017 envisages to be 5 billion TL. Comparing with the budget of 2016, there is an increase of 11.42%, writes the paper, adding that the "budget deficit" is envisaged to be 193 million 500 thousand TL.

Also, according to the paper, there is an increase of 6,96% on the cost of personnel, reaching to 1 billion 566 million 292 thousand TL. The so-called ministry of finance and the so-called deputy prime ministry have the biggest share in the "budget" with 1 billion 237 million 56 thousand 100 TL, showing an increase of 24,82%, followed by the "ministry of "economy and energy" with 1 billion 63 million 856 thousand 100 TL and the so-called ministry of education and culture with 656 million 968 thousand 300 TL.

Also, the "budget" for the "ministry of health" envisaged to be 331 million 155 thousand 100 TL, for the "ministry of agriculture and natural resources" 221 million 656 thousand 400 TL, for the "ministry of interior" 220 million 593 thousand 700 TL, for the "ministry of labour and social insurance", 196 million 3 thousand 700 TL, for the "ministry of communication and transportation" 154 million 12 thousand TL, for the "ministry of tourism and environment" 126 million 531 thousand 400 TL, for the "prime ministry" 93 million 528 thousand 300 TL, for the "foreign ministry" 50 million 309 thousand 500 TL, for the "presidency" 28 million 993 thousand 200 TL and for the "assembly" 23 million 274 thousand TL.

(AK)

[03] Figures on the occupation regime's "imports and exports"

According to the statistical figures provided by the so-called trade department, while the "imports" during the first 8 months of 2015 had reached to 952,2 million dollars, the "imports for the same period of 2016 dropped by 2% and thus reached to 902,2 million dollars. Also, the drop on "exports" has reached to 15% and from 90.4 million dollars that was in 2015, it fall down to 76.7 million dollars in 2016.

(AK)

[04] BKP criticized the government for not adopting the winter time

The party noted that this an "anomaly" and accused the "government" for following the decision taken by the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development Party (AKP)

(CS)

[05] KTOS calls on the "ministry of education" to act against the Quran lessons

The Trade Union called on the so-called ministry to react against this development which as KTOS noted "is against the culture of the Turkish Cypriot community".

(CS)

[06] Reactions about the Greek signboard towards Apostolos Andreas Monastery

The paper, who publishes a photo of the signboard, alleges that many persons reacted at social media over this issue, asking if the Greek Cypriots have "jurisdiction" in the area.

(CS)

[07] Screening in the sheep and cattle diseases in the occupied area of Cyprus

The "director" of the "veterinary department", Huseyin Ataben said that they have launched this project against the diseases with the financial and technical support of the EU and that this is the first time such a broad screening is held in the occupied area of Cyprus. He said that the information acquired during the controls will be shared with the EU and therefore from now on the occupied area of Cyprus will not be included in the list of "countries with unknown animal status" by the EU. He noted: "The work, which has been launched, plays a significant role in the registration of halloumi. After the registration is taken, the most important issue, to which the EU countries will pay attention, is the health situation of the animals the milk of which is used. Therefore, these works are extremely important for being able to trade with the EU countries on the issue of halloumi".

(I/Ts.)

[08] The Turkish police detained editor-in-chief, columnists and executives of daily Cumhuriyet

According to a list published on Cumhuriyet's website, detention warrants were issued for 15 journalists, including executive board members of the Cumhuriyet Foundation. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office said the operation was based on accusations that the suspects were "committing crimes on behalf of the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)."

Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, Turhan Gunay, Hikmet Cetinkaya, Ayd?n Engin, Guray Oz, Musa Kart, Bulent Utku, Mustafa Kemal Gungor, Onder Celik, Bulent Yener and Eser Sevinc were all detained by the police.

Columnist Kadri Gursel and accountant Gunseli Ozaltay were still being sought for detention, while journalist Nebil Ozgenturk and Cumhuriyet foundation executive board chair Ak?n Atalay, also sought for detention, were reported to be overseas.

A detention notice was also issued for former Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief Can Dundar, who went abroad following his conviction earlier this year in a case related to the newspaper's report on the alleged transfer of weapons by Turkey's intelligence agency to rebels in Syria.

The house of another writer, Orhan Erinc, was searched but he was not detained due to his age.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that the detention warrants issued against daily Cumhuriyet's employees only targeted the daily's foundation board members and were a result of a probe initiated by Istanbul prosecutors on Aug. 18.

Saying today's operations were the outcome of an investigation that began months ago, Kurtulmus added that the legal proceedings were part of an ongoing process and that it would not be correct to express any opinion during the current process.

Today's detentions, however, involved names who are not just members of the Cumhuriyet Foundation's Executive Board but also journalists working at the daily.

[09] Opposition slams detention of Cumhuriyet journalists and calls for joint struggle against raid

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu visited Cumhuriyet's Ankara Bureau and met with bureau chief Erdem Gul and reporters to express his support and solidarity with the newspaper, which is targeted over alleged "links with terror organizations". "We will altogether struggle against this", K?l?cdaroglu told Gul during the visit.

In a statement issued after his visit to Cumhuriyet, the CHP head slammed the government for "turning the July 15 coup attempt into an opportunity to crack down on intellectuals, writers and journalists".

"They are trying to change the constitutional order through state of emergency decree laws. A big responsibility is on the shoulders of the Constitutional Court. If it had accepted our appeal [for the annulment of decree laws breaching the constitution], none of this would have happened," Kilicdaroglu said.

Describing Cumhuriyet as one of Turkey's most important newspapers, he called on all intellectuals, journalists, writers to defend the newspapers against oppressors. "Don't forget that if you keep silent now, you will be next", Kilicdaroglu said.

Meawhile, Selahattin Demirtas, co-leader of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), criticized the detention of the Cumhuriyet journalists, saying the move was part of ongoing pressure against all dissidents in Turkey, following the arrest of the HDP co-mayors Gultan K?sanak and F?rat Anl? in Diyarbak?r and former MP Ayla Akat Ata.

"There is no fair trial. If there was, we would think our friends would be acquitted. But this is a political operation. The operation against Cumhuriyet newspaper is part of this pressure," Demirtas said.

"I agree [with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] that the 'world is bigger than five'. But Turkey is also bigger than Erdogan and the AKP. He should not forget this," he said, referring to the president's condemnation of the five-member U.N. Security Council.

[10] Turkish Cypriot press: "Erdogan's fascism hit 'Cumhuriyet' newspaper"

Hikmet Cetinkaya, Aydin Engin, Guray Oz and caricaturists Musa Kart and Hakan Kara are among the arrested journalists. When 75-year-old Aydin Engin was asked by a journalist whether he wanted to state anything, he replied: "I am employed in Cumhuriyet. Is this not enough?" Moreover, an arrest warrant was issued against Cumhuriyet's editor Can Dundar because he is abroad. Today Cumhuriyet is issued under the front-page banner title "We are not surrendered".

Afrika reports also that the Turkish Cypriot press workers trade union (Basin-Sen) strongly condemned the operation against Cumhuriyet and the arrests, describing them as "another blow against the freedom of the press".

Under the title "Cumhuriyet coup in Turkey", Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (01.11.16) recalls that Cumhuriyet is "Kemal Ataturk's newspaper" and reports that it is accused of making propaganda in favor of Fethullah Gulen (FETO) organization and the PKK. According to Havadis, Ataturk was the one who named Cumhuriyet and determined the principles of its publication. Cumhuriyet "supports the republic and secularism for 92 years", notes Havadis adding that many of its columnists have been murdered by "Islamic terrorists".

The operation against Cumhuriyet has caused many reactions inside and outside Turkey. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said that "this is a counter-coup" and that "we will resist all together". A protest rally was held in front of Cumhuriyet's headquarters in Istanbul.

The paper writes that 170 newspapers magazines, TV stations and news agencies have been closed down after the coup of 15 July 2016.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Columnist: "More Turkish journalists in jail, and not just that…"

"Journalists in Turkey started the week with the early bird news on Oct. 31 that yet another colleague had been taken into police custody after a raid on his house.

Murat Sabuncu has been the editor-in-chief of the influential centre-left daily Cumhuriyet since Sept. 1, after the resignation of Can Dundar following an armed attack outside the Istanbul courthouse where he had been summoned for yet another investigation.

Dundar, who is now in Germany, was prosecuted over a report Cumhuriyet had run in 2015 about documents claiming Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT) was transporting arms to rebels fighting against the Bashar al-Assad regime back in 2014. The government believes the entire story was a plot by prosecutors and gendarmerie officers loyal to Fethullah Gulen, the Islamist preacher living in the U.S. who is now seen as the mastermind of the bloody military coup attempt of July 15, 2016. Prosecutors accuse Dundar and Cumhuriyet's Ankara bureau Chief Erdem Gul of revealing state secrets under the manipulation of Gulen's network. They were released from prison pending appeal in February 2016 after spending 92 days in jail.

Now, according to the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office, Sabuncu and 10 colleagues are accused of helping – "without being a member" - the propaganda of two organizations: The Gulen network (or as the government and prosecutors call it, the Fethullahist Terror Organization), and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

There is no use trying to understand the logic behind accusing Turkey's oldest newspaper - a flagship of secularist and Kemalist traditions - of assisting a coup-plotting Islamist network and a secessionist Kurdish network. The first book unveiling and criticizing the Gulen network, which I first read years ago, was written by Hikmet Cetinkaya, who is now detained over allegedly assisting Gulen.

Government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus has claimed that the prosecution has nothing to do with Cumhuriyet's critical publications, but rather the foundation that owns it. But that thesis fails in the cases of Sabuncu, Ayd?n Engin and Kadri Gursel, the latter being two prominent columnists – now detained - who are not members of the Cumhuriyet Foundation board.

The Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) has denounced the move as a "coup against the freedom of the press". Protesting the detentions, social democratic main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of trying to "establish its own Baathist regime".

When I heard about the detention of Sabuncu, I called up Gul to try to understand what was going on. "Well, I'm still outside prison, brother", he said, summarizing the psychology of journalists in Turkey these days.

That psychology is not limited to the press. One of the government's State of Emergency decree laws on Oct. 28 said all university rectors from now on would be appointed by the President. Just weeks after President Tayyip Erdogan hosted the opening of the judicial year in the presidential palace, which was criticized by the opposition as a further example of political influence over the courts, Erdogan now has more control over academia.

The arrests of the co-mayors of Diyarbak?r, Gulten K?sanak and F?rat Anl?, together with a former MP, Ayla Akat of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), on accusations of helping and facilitating the PKK, have further raised the bar of tension.

In addition, Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m have repeatedly vowed to bring back the death penalty to the Turkish Constitution. This may well bring in some additional populist votes, despite warnings that such a move could lead to Turkey being further isolated from the European democratic system.

It is clear that it was the Gulenists who committed the bloody coup attempt of July 15. But it also seems that President Erdogan and the AKP are trying their best to use sympathy in the post-coup attempt atmosphere as leverage to further endorse their power."

[12] A quarrel between the government and the opposition has intensified as the AKP has presented presidential models to Erdogan

A quarrel between the government and the opposition has intensified as the ruling party has presented presidential models to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking an executive presidency.

"They say, 'Turkey will be divided if the presidential system is introduced.' In fact, Turkey is at risk of being divided in the event it does not shift to a presidential system," he said Oct. 30.

"I explicitly say it: the presidential [system] will exist within the unitary system. Nobody can say the presidential system will bring about a [federal] state system or divisions," he said in an address to Justice and Development Party (AKP) colleagues at a meeting in Istanbul.

Y?ld?r?m's statement came as a response to Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?cdaroglu who warned the government that a shift to a presidential system would divide the country.

The row between K?l?cdaroglu and Y?ld?r?m has escalated as the ruling party accelerated its work on drafting a new constitution that includes a change to the executive presidential system.

"The President was elected by the people, therefore he has political responsibility," Y?ld?r?m said. "What needs to be done is to make the de facto situation compatible with the existing constitution. Let's all make these changes in our constitution, including the presidential system, together."

In the meantime, the AKP submitted a constitutional draft to Erdogan, daily Hurriyet has learned from sources. The first draft, which was submitted to Erdogan last week, included 30 statutory provisions on a presidential system including the related provisions.

The constitutional draft of the presidential regime change would set presidential and parliamentary elections in 2019 while granting three additional powers to Erdogan until the elections. "The parliamentary and presidential elections will be held at the same time", Y?ld?r?m said Oct. 31.

The transitional period was one of the areas of concern about the new constitutional change since it was not certain if the authorities of the existing president would remain within the previous constitutional boundaries or not. The draft answers the question by introducing temporary provisions which grant three additional authority to Erdogan until the elections.

If the public approve the constitutional draft in a referendum, Erdogan will immediately have the authority to chair the ministerial cabinet, assign and dismiss Ministers and restore his link with the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The draft will also grant Erdogan with all presidential authorities assigned by the new constitution. According to the draft, the President will be the head of the state and the executive. Domestic and foreign policies will be implemented by the President who will also continue to hold the title of supreme military commander. The president will have the ability to approve and veto laws legislated by parliament and to go to a referendum.

[13] Turkey's state of emergency decrees are unlawful: Turkish Bar Association head

"What's being done is unlawful and neglectful," Feyzioglu told journalists on Oct. 30, saying Parliament is being "ignored with the state of emergency decrees". "It is against the Constitution for state of emergency decrees to make permanent changes in the law", he added.

According to the latest state of emergency decree laws issued late on Oct. 29, restrictions were introduced against all those who are charged with "terrorism," "coup plotting" or any crime against the state. Such suspects' meetings with their lawyers will be listened to and recorded. The authorities will be able to seize documents used in meetings between the suspects and their lawyer, will be able to end those meetings immediately, and will also be able to limit the days and hours of the meetings. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will also be able to ban meetings between suspects and their lawyers for six months.

Feyzioglu particularly slammed the new authority granted to record meetings between lawyers and suspects.

"The state of emergency was declared because of the coup attempt. Were meetings between lawyers and suspects the reason for the coup? Of course not. Someone should explain why you want to record these meetings. Why are you limiting these meetings?" he said.

"You can't fight against criminal organizations by making Turkey itself a convict at the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR]," the TTB head added.

[14] Turkey to start issuing biometric passports in line with EU deal

The process follows a recent statutory decree, which changed the institution in charge of issuing passports from the police to the Civil Registration Directorate. According to reports, the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality will now be in charge of not only issuing passports but also driving licenses.

The existing passports in Turkey were not compatible with EU regulations because they lack biometric data.

New passports will have chips containing biometric data, fingerprints, as well as the passport holder's name, last name, place and date of birth, nationality, passport number and gender.

The use of biometric passports containing fingerprint information is necessary for travelers wishing to benefit from visa-free access under the scope of a deal signed between Turkey and EU. Turkish citizens have till the end of the year to change their passports.

[15] Turkey's exports and imports fell in September; exports to Egypt on the rise

This decrease left the country with a trade deficit of $4.4 billion for the month, up by 14.1% compared with September 2015, TurkStat said.

The institute valued the country's exports in July at almost $11 billion, which is a 5.6% decrease year-on-year. Imports also declined to $15.4 billion, a 0.7% decrease.

Turkey's exports declined by 2.7% to $104.2 billion in the first nine months of this year, from $107.2 billion in the same period last year, it said.

The country's exports to the EU, Turkey's main trading partner, increased slightly by 0.4% in September to $5.4 billion.

Germany was the largest receiver of Turkish goods in September, which was worth $1.13 billion; U.K. followed with $784 million imports from Turkey.

Turkey imported over $2.2 billion worth of goods from China in September. Germany was the second-largest exporter to the country, with over $1.66 billion for the month and Russia came in third with over $1 billion.

Meanwhile, AA reports that Turkey's exports to Africa in the last five years have tripled compared to its worldwide export volume, according to data gleaned from the Turkish Statistical Institute.

Exports to African nations increased by 20.5% between 2011 and 2015, while Turkey's overall export volume to the whole world rose by only 7%. Exports to African countries soared to $12.5 billion in 2015 from $10.33 billion in 2011, while imports from the continent decreased by 25% to reach almost $5 billion within the same period.

The total value of Turkey's exports was $144 billion in 2015 compared to $134.9 billion in 2011.

Egypt was the first destination for Turkish goods worth $16.6 billion in the last five years followed by Algeria ($9.2 billion), Libya ($9.1B), Morocco ($5.9B) and Tunisia ($4.2B). Most of the goods exported to African nations were iron and steel products.

Egypt once again topped the list of Turkey's importing countries with $7.3 billion. South Africa came in second with $6.8 billion followed by Algeria ($4.5B), Morocco ($3.9B) and Tunisia ($1B). Main items imported from African countries were oil and gas.

Turkey's foreign trade volume with Africa totalled $93.8 billion between 2011 and 2015. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/AM)

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