In a statement evaluating the decision of the Cyprus House of Representatives on 1950 Enosis plebiscite, CTP said that both the decision itself and its implementation were extremely wrong and unacceptable.

According to the party, it would be wrong to evaluate this decision as just untimely and that doing so would only be trying to rectify a mistake with another mistake.

While the statement urged the Greek Cypriot leader to do his part in correcting this mistake immediately, it pointed out that the decision had harmed the negotiations process.

Stating that a serious effort had been put forward in the Cyprus negotiations process to this date and that important progress had been reached, the CTP statement said that great injustice would be committed against both Turkish and Greek Cypriots if all these efforts were wasted.

The statement also called on the two leaders to establish a mechanism for communication, to use a language which will restore the atmosphere of trust at the negotiating table and to transform the current situation into an opportunity to bring to the agenda the need for peace education to be used against those who oppose a settlement.

[07] Durduran called the two leaders to return to the negotiating table

Expressing the view that it is not right to toughen your stance and put preconditions instead of trying to smooth down the situation, Durduran said: "The Turkish Cypriot side should not do this. By threatening for the future and behaving like this, someone is possible to think that it was expecting for this chance to utilize it".

Explaining that it should not be forgotten that there will not be other opportunity for the creation of a United Cyprus, Durduran recalled the threat of the change of the demographic structure of the island and added that if no solution is found, Cyprus would continuously experience several problems and would become a place which will always hope for help.

Stressing the need for the solution of the Cyprus problem not to be victimized by "political games", Durduran called the two leaders to return the soonest possible to the negotiating table.

(AK)

[08] AKP Deputy said that there are 100 thousand Turkish voters in the occupied area of Cyprus

Oz, who is currently in the occupied area of Cyprus with a committee, announced that the number of Turkish voters in the "TRNC" is around to 100 thousands, who can go to the polls.

Explaining that he is in the "TRNC" as the election affairs committee of AKP, Oz said that they are making efforts so the turnout in the referendum to be high. He further said that there are 100 thousand voters in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and 50 thousand university students. Noting that they, as AKP, attach importance to the youth, Oz explained that in this context, they are meeting with university students and informing them regarding the voter registration.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (23.02.17) reports that asked by the paper whether a rally will be held or not in the occupied area of Cyprus for Turkey's constitutional referendum, Oz replied that Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim expressed such a desire, but at this stage he does not know when it will be held, adding that it will be clarified in an advanced stage.

(DPs)

[09] A stolen Ottoman sword found at the British museum

The paper further reports that this sword is now at the British museum. The general director of EVKAF Ibrahim Benter said that they will try to bring back the historical sword. He added that by using all the diplomatic channels they will ask the return of the sword. The sword will be on the market for the price of 15 million sterling.

(DPs)

[10] Turkey to EU: No summit, no progress

"There can be no progress [in ties between Turkey and the European Union] without a proper Turkey-EU summit," Celik told a group of journalists travelling with him to Warsaw for official talks on Feb. 22.

Turkey has long called on the EU to hold a high-level summit to revise issues of concern to both sides, especially on the implementation of the March 18, 2016, migrant agreement. Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m conveyed Ankara's message to the EU on the need to update the political framework during a trip to Malta, the EU's term president, last week.

Turkey's message included two important points, Celik said. "First, this summit should be held in the first half of this year. Second, it should not introduce theoretical perspectives but concrete progress. This summit should not be limited to issues related to Turkey's struggle against terrorism or migration. We want to see what can be produced in Turkey's accession process, as well as grant visa exemptions to Turkish nationals."

Although Turkey has fulfilled its obligations stemming from a March 2016 agreement, it needs to be seen whether the EU really wants to continue the deal or wishes to abandon it, Celik said.

Recalling that the EU was in a process of abolishing visa requirements for the nationals of Ukraine, Georgia and Kosovo, Celik said: "If the criteria is about security, there is no doubt that Turkey is much stronger in fulfilling it. There is no solid reason for not providing a visa exemption to Turkey."

Celik also said Turkey's ongoing struggle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in al-Bab, Manbij and elsewhere in Syria was part of an effort to ensure the security of European capitals from terrorists.

"Turkey was able to clear its borders of DAESH all alone while a coalition of 60 countries failed to do so. These borders are NATO borders as well and have been cleared of terrorists," he said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIL.

Celik also drew attention to the EU's decision not to invite negotiating countries to the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty, which will be held in Rome on March 25.

Expressing Ankara's disturbance, Celik said: "They said they have not invited the United Kingdom either. This reflects the EU's lack of vision. Putting countries that are negotiating to be admitted to the EU and, therefore see their future inside the EU, and the U.K., which decided to exit it, into the same basket is a clear collapse of vision."

The meeting, which is being organized by European Council President Donald Tusk, will be attended by the heads of state and governments of EU countries on March 25 in Italy.

Ties between Ankara and Brussels became increasingly tense last year after the European Parliament issued a recommendation to the EU to cut ongoing negotiations with Turkey upon Rapporteur Kati Piri's report.

When asked about Piri's presence in Ankara for official talks, Celik said he refused to give an appointment to her on the grounds that she was solely reflecting the position of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and was failing to draft a balanced text on Turkey.

"She should not report as if she is the spokeswomen of the HDP. Her reports are only the translation of HDP officials' routine statements into English," Celik said, calling on her to contribute to the Turkey-EU relationship and not damage it.

Still, Celik said Turkey's new EU ambassador, Faruk Kaymakc?, had related that Piri will exercise a more balanced position in her future works.

Celik also said a note on Turkey's upcoming referendum had been given to EU officials during Y?ld?r?m's meetings last weekend in Germany. The EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, demanded information on the content of the constitutional changes at a meeting that took place at around midnight, Celik said, underlining that the note was prepared and given to EU officials the following morning.

[11] Erdogan, Trump could meet in person before May

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Ibrahim Kalin said the two leaders were almost definitely going to meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit but efforts focused on getting them together even before that.

As both leaders will be at the summit, there must be a meeting, he said specifying that officials from both countries were working to organize a meeting before May.

He also confirmed that Erdogan would visit Russia in March to join a Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council.

Erdogan will also pay a return visit to Pakistan, the spokesman said, referring to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Ankara, in which he will meet the Turkish President later on Wednesday.

[12] Yildirim: "Yes or no, Turkey will continue on its path after vote"

"Either 'yes' or 'no' could prevail in the referendum. If the 'no' votes prevail, we will continue," Y?ld?r?m told a group of journalists in a meeting at the Cankaya Mansion in Ankara on Feb. 22, adding that "the country won't be divided" by either result. […]

Noting that he does not rely on polls "unless he does them himself," Y?ld?r?m said everyone would learn what will happen on April 16. "We accept whatever the people will vote for with great pleasure. That's what's meaningful for us," he added.

During the meeting, Y?ld?r?m said they were defending the executive presidential system but that the CHP wanted to strengthen the parliamentary system. "Both could've happened. I told [CHP leader Kemal] Kilicdaroglu to bring both to the public, but he didn't want to," he said.

He also stated that the Turkish government would consider the deportation of the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen from the U.S. as a positive move if there is no direct extradition.

Touching on strategic relations with the U.S., Y?ld?r?m said they will continue in Syria and Ankara has "serious coordination with the new administration."

Responding to questions on whether close coordination with the U.S. has a negative effect on relations with Russia, Y?ld?r?m said "we can get along with both."

"Our relations with the U.S. are different from our relations with Russia. They are not alternatives to each other. We can get along with both," he added.

Yildirim also stated that Turkey's plan to launch the Raqqa offensive aims "to dry terror at its source and destroy it."

[12] Turkish opposition slams government over HDP co-leader's loss of seat

"It might work for you for today. You may get political benefit from it. But you are bringing down all conventions, traditions and democracy to the ground," Sezgin Tanrikulu, a main opposition Republican People's Party Istanbul lawmaker, said Feb. 21.

"I hope this will not pave the way for similar practices in the future," he said.

His comments came after Yuksekdag, who has been in jail for three months on terror-related charges, was stripped of her seat in Parliament for a prison sentence she received regarding terror propaganda that was made on Nov. 27, 2013, and approved by the Supreme Court on Sept. 22, 2016.

Her parliamentary status was dismissed after a Prime Ministry motion regarding Yuksekdag's sentencing was read out loud by the parliamentary speaker. The motion had been in the hand of Parliament for over five months.

According to the Constitution, the loss of the parliamentary seat "through a final judicial sentence or deprivation of legal capacity, shall take effect after the final court decision in the matter has been communicated to the plenary" of the parliament, without the necessity for a vote.

Tanr?kulu slammed Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Aysenur Bahcekap?l? for reading out the ministry's motion, saying that in previous cases, speakers have used their initiative to hold the motion until the end of the term as a matter of parliamentary tradition for immunity.

CHP Deputy Group Spokesperson Engin Altay also criticized the implementation of the parliamentary procedure.

"There is an unethical picture here," Altay said in Parliament on Feb. 21.

"You are presenting a document to the information of the General Assembly here under the 84th Article of the Constitution concerning the loss of the parliamentary membership of the leader of a political party but that political party has a group here; these friends need to be notified beforehand," he said.

HDP Mardin MP and law professor Mithat Sancar said the procedure was against the Constitution.

He said Yuksekdag's conviction for "terror propaganda" was not within the scope of the related constitutional framework since it was not included in the list of crimes that obstruct one's eligibility to be a Deputy and that the sentence had to last for more than a year to result in an MP being stripped of his or her membership.

"Even the reading of this motion in the General Assembly violates the constitution," Sancar said.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim answered question concerning Yuksekdag's situation, hinting at similar sanctions against other HDP lawmakers.

"Regardless of who it is, whenever someone is given a definite penalty, their situation will be read out in Parliament. This is what will happen from now on," Y?ld?r?m said Feb. 22.

Yuksekdag, who was a lawmaker from the eastern province of Van, was arrested on Nov. 4, 2016, over her alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). She currently faces over 80 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the Diyarbakir Chief Prosecutor's Office has demanded up to 38.5 years in prison for HDP Diyarbak?r lawmaker Altan Tan, who was taken into custody as part of a terrorism-related investigation.

[13] Headscarves now permitted in Turkish army

According to new ministry regulations, female soldiers can wear headscarves underneath their caps or berets as long as they are the same colour as their uniform and are without patterns.

In 2013, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party lifted a ban on headscarves in Turkey's civil service as part of a broader democratization package.

The regulation not only includes regular women military officers and non-commissioned officers but also women military cadets.

The move will come into force after being published in the Official Gazette.

[14] Court accepts indictment against Turkish fashion designer Sansal over 'inciting hatred'

The court has ordered for the continuation of Sansal's detention and demanded one to three years in jail over charges of "inciting hatred and hostility among the public."

The court has clarified a previous indictment that was returned, which demanded three years in jail for Sansal, who was arrested on charges of "inciting hate among the public" in social media posts and video footage in which he "insulted" Turkey, on the grounds that the indictment had "inconsistencies."

The indictment against Sansal, who was deported from the breakaway regime and arrested in Turkey for social media posts shared in the early hours of Jan. 1, was not accepted by the court.

The court noted that the indictment claimed one of Sansal's tweets was sent from Istanbul, though the suspect was in Cyprus at the time.

It also said the content of the charge was "inciting hatred among the public," but the offense that referred him to the court for arrest, "insulting the Turkish nation," was also included in the file. This would create confusion in any trial, it ruled.

[15] New working hours at "public offices"