Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-03-03

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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] PM Yildirim will illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus on 9 March

[02] Akinci's contacts in the sidelines of the Islamabad summit

[03] A "vote of censure" was submitted against the UBP-DP "government"; Early "elections" are asked for 2 July 2017

[04] The "peace and solution platform" sent a letter to Guterres

[05] Syrian refugees were arrested in occupied Famagusta

[06] Data on the banking sector in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] "KIB-TEK general director" warns that the power plants will stop operating if a new fuel contract is not signed

[08] Turkey's Justice Minister cancels Germany visit in protest; Turkey summons German Ambassador over cancelled meeting

[09] Erdogan: "Manbij is Turkey's next target in Syria"; 'No' votes will benefit the PKK'

[10] Erdogan: "The Generals should press charges to those who call them 'tourists'"

[11] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkish democracy at risk of returning to pre-1789 French revolution conditions"

[12] HDP launches 'no' vote campaign for charter referendum

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] PM Yildirim will illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus on 9 March

Yildirim's schedule will be very heavy in March and April because he will be holding rallies in support of the "yes" vote in the 16 April referendum almost every day in various areas of Turkey, but he will interrupt this program for one day to illegally visit the occupied area of Cyprus. On 10 March Yildirim will participate in a rally in the area of Duzce.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Akinci's contacts in the sidelines of the Islamabad summit

Akinci and Akca discussed ways to improve the relations between the breakaway regime and ECO. (TR. Note: Akca was the "ambassador" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus until recently).

Akinci also paid a visit to the "TRNC representation office" in Islamabad and held a meeting with the "TRNC Islamabad representative" Mehmet Davulcu and received information about the work carried out by the "representation office".

In addition, Akinci's wife Meral Akinci "represented" the "TRNC" in the "Summit for the development of woman", which was organized with the participation of the wives of the leaders that participated in the ECO summit, under the auspices of the President of Pakistan's wife, Begum Kalsum Navaz.

(CS)

[03] A "vote of censure" was submitted against the UBP-DP "government"; Early "elections" are asked for 2 July 2017

Turfan Erhurman, chairman of the CTP, stated that their "vote of censure" includes the establishment of an "interim government" for holding "early elections" and recalled of self-styled prime minister Ozgurgun's statement saying that if the opposition submitted a proposal for "early elections" his party would support it. CTP's proposal was signed by the TDP and Mehmet Cakici, independent "deputy".

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (03.03.17) reports that TDP's proposal provides for holding "early elections" on 2 July 2017. Cemal Ozyigit, chairman of the TDP, stated that the "country" should be led to "elections" and the will of the "people" should be reflected in the ballot boxes.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (03.03.17) reports that all eyes are turned to the stance of the "independent deputies". In order for any proposal to pass from the "assembly", it must secure 26 positive votes, writes the paper adding that the UBP has 18 "seats", the DP 5 "seats", the CTP 20 "seats", the TDP 2 "seats" and the "independent deputies" 5 "seats". Hasan Tacoy, "independent deputy", said that he will decide on what he will do regarding the "early elections" after seeing the decision of the partners in the "coalition government". Tacoy noted that he will vote against the "vote of censure". Onder Sennaroglu, also an 'independent deputy", said that he will act according to the wish of the public opinion and the political parties in case they want 'early elections". According to the paper, Sennaroglu did not say clearly what stance he will follow regarding CTP's 'vote of censure".

Under the title "'There is no election'", Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (03.03.17) reports that Serdar Denktas, chairman of the DP and "deputy prime minister", told the paper that there will be no "elections" until 2018. "There are many things to be done in the country and for this reason we will continue our way in a stable manner", he said. Asked to comment on Ozgurgun's statement challenging the "opposition" for "early elections', Denktas replied: "If our partner says we should go for elections for totally different reasons, this will also be irresponsibility. However, as far as I know, there is no such a thing".

(I/Ts.)

[04] The "peace and solution platform" sent a letter to Guterres

The platform called on the UN Secretary General to help re-establish trust between the two sides.

The members of the "platform" visited yesterday the UN Special Adviser to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide presenting him with a letter addressed to the Secretary General.

The letter stated that the current crisis in the talks showed the importance of the leaders' courage and will in taking determined steps towards reaching a federal settlement.

It also pointed to the need for the two communities and the leaders to be supported in order to overcome the current crisis.

Stating that the current crisis in the talks had emerged as a result of mutual distrust, the letter said that a solution would only be possible by recreating an atmosphere of trust through confidence building measures.

It added that assisting in the implementation of confidence building measures that the two sides have already agreed to was essential.

[05] Syrian refugees were arrested in occupied Famagusta

According to the paper, the Syrian refugees paid in total 14,500 dollars to the smugglers in order to bring them in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus. The refugees were transferred with a boat from Mersin, Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus. A "warrant" was issued against them while the mother and her three children were transferred to a hotel.

(CS)

[06] Data on the banking sector in the occupied area of Cyprus

In the end of 2016, 22 banks with 232 branches and 3,044 employees were operating in the occupied area of Cyprus. The deposits increased by 19,24% reaching 16 billion 635 million TL, while the loans reached 12 billion 763 million with an increase of 14,28%. The credits with delayed installments were 785,3 million TL in September 2016 and reached 842,5 million in December of the same year.

(I/Ts.)

[07] "KIB-TEK general director" warns that the power plants will stop operating if a new fuel contract is not signed

Stressing that the fuel contract expired on February 18, 2017, Erdogan said that they could only extended the existing contract on fuel for two more months, but he warned that if there is no new contract, then the power plants will stop operating.

(DPs)

[08] Turkey's Justice Minister cancels Germany visit in protest; Turkey summons German Ambassador over cancelled meeting

Bozdag slammed German authorities for cancelling the hall meeting at short notice, which was scheduled for Thursday in the southern German town of Gaggenau. "It is unacceptable that the German authorities are not tolerating a meeting of the Turkish community, while they are always lecturing everyone on human rights, democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression, and criticizing them about their deficits in these areas," Bozdag told reporters in Strasbourg, France.

Bozdag said, following today's incident, he decided to cancel a planned meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, who had requested a meeting with him in Karlsruhe on Thursday. "I have called off our meeting with Germany's Justice Minister, after the cancellation of the gathering in Gaggenau. This meeting will not take place, we will return to Turkey," he said.

The municipality of Gaggenau revoked its permission for the meeting earlier Thursday citing concerns of overcrowding. The event was organized by the Union of European Turkish Democrats, or UETD.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (03.03.17) reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned the German Ambassador to Ankara Martin Erdmann, over the cancellation of a meeting between Turkey's Justice Minister and Turkish citizens in Germany on March 2, according to a Ministry source.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said that Erdmann was called to the Ministry in relation with the developments which led the municipality of the southern German town of Gaggenau to revoke permission for a hall meeting between Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag and members of the Turkish community scheduled for earlier March 2.

Erdmann was called upon the order of Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the source said, adding that the Deputy Undersecretary Mehmet Kemal Bozay expressed Turkey's discomfort over the incident.

Also, The Turkish government on Thursday summoned Germany's Ambassador to protest against the cancellation of rallies in the country in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a diplomatic source said.

"Our discomfort and our reaction to these developments have been communicated in person to the German ambassador who was summoned this evening to the (Foreign) Ministry," a senior Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

[09] Erdogan: "Manbij is Turkey's next target in Syria"; 'No' votes will benefit the PKK'

Talking with journalists in the presidential plane during his return trip from Pakistan, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey shall not allow an independent terrorist state to be present along its border.

''After the liberation of al-Bab from Daesh terrorists, Turkey's new target in Syria is Manbij. Manbij is a city which belongs to Arabs, and the SDF must also not be in Raqqa,'' Erdogan said.

Answering a question regarding the U.S. support to the SDF, Erdogan noted that the new Trump administration does not seem to have yet reached a final decision as to how the operation to free Raqqa from Daesh should be organized.

''Their Chief of Staff [U.S. General Joseph Dunford], and the new head of the CIA [Mike Pompeo] came to Turkey and we also told them that the SDF must be excluded from the Raqqa operation. It is impossible that Turkey accepts the presence of armed terrorists along its borders,'' Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that, if needed, Turkey can cooperate with Russia for this purpose, while also noting that Turkey does not plan on settling in Syria permanently.

(…)

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (02.03.17) reported that Erdogan alleged also that voting against constitutional changes that will bring about the executive presidential system will "benefit the [outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party] PKK," and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) aims to underline this throughout its campaign.

"If I say 'no,' my vote will be going to Kandil. If I say 'no,' this country will head to instability. If I say 'no,' my vote will go to a place where there is no atmosphere of trust," Erdogan also told reporters on his return from Pakistan.

"Kandil says its vote is 'no' and it is encouraging 'no' votes. We cannot ignore that. We have to dwell on this issue. This terrorist organization has taken 35,000 lives so far. If such an organization says 'no,' we have to inform our public about that," Erdogan also said.

(…)

[10] Erdogan: "The Generals should press charges to those who call them 'tourists'"

Speaking to reports on his return from Pakistan to Turkey on March 2, Erdogan argued: "The (above mentioned) article wonders how can the Chief of General staff travel abroad with me? How can they travel abroad (…) They (Generals) do not know the world. They have compared their visit to Imia islets as a tourist trip. In my opinion, the Chief of General Staff together with the Commanders-in-chief of armed forces should press charges against to those who make such comparisons. You cannot indicate even a Chief of General Staff as a tourist".

(DPs)

[11] Kilicdaroglu: "Turkish democracy at risk of returning to pre-1789 French revolution conditions"

"[If the changes are approved] democracy will to a large extent be suspended. Everything will be decided by one man ... Parliament will lose its ability to legislate. Decisions on the structure and functions of the state will be made solely by the President. From all these perspectives, Turkish democracy will return to the conditions of before the French Revolution," Kilicdaroglu told the members of the International Media Freedom mission on March 2.

The mission is composed of a number of prominent press institutions like the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), and organized a tour to Turkey to show solidarity with imprisoned journalists and their families.

In his address to the mission, K?l?cdaroglu said that "around 90%" of the Turkish media was under the government's control, but even this is not enough for the government.

"The state of media freedom in Turkey is one of the most worrying areas. In a country where media is unfree, so are the people, because it means their right to be informed has been taken away," he added.

Kilicdaroglu told the mission that over 150 journalists are today behind bars "without even knowing what they are accused of.

"Depriving journalists of their freedoms gives Turkey the image of an undemocratic country. In the 21st century, imprisoning a journalist for criticizing the government is a shame on democracy," Kilicdaroglu also said. "The justice system in Turkey is also under the control of the government and there could not be so many journalists in prison if the judiciary was independent, Kilicdaroglu further added.

"The pressure imposed by the government prevents the judiciary from issuing independent verdicts. Judges and members of the judiciary are afraid of being accused of being a member of [the Fethullahist Terror Organization] FETO if they don't order the imprisonment [of dissidents]," he said.

Also, describing the government's actions since the failed July 2016 coup attempt as a "civilian coup" because of the massive purge of bureaucrats and arrest of thousands of people including journalists and academics, Kilicdaroglu said that Turkey faces the prospect of turning into a "party state."

"Turkey is going to referendum under these conditions. Citizens and civil society organizations are not allowed to freely campaign for 'no,' even though the government and all state offices have begun campaigning. These are very hard conditions but we'll secure a 'No' in the ballot box. We'll bring democracy to our country, however much they impose pressure on us," he stated.

Kilicdaroglu also recalled that he met a delegation from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) last week and requested an observation mission for the upcoming referendum. "We hope the government accepts this OSCE mission," he said.

(…)

[12] HDP launches 'no' vote campaign for charter referendum

HDP spokesperson Osman Baydemir, who took his post late last month after former speaker Ayhan Bilgen was arrested, spoke at the Istanbul meeting along with the party's Deputy parliamentary group chair. At the meeting, they read out the names of 13 jailed lawmakers of the HDP, the second largest opposition party in the Turkish Parliament.

HDP Deputy S?rr? Sureyya Onder spoke in Izmir and connected to the hall in Istanbul via video conference. He repeated a 2015 quote from Selahattin Demirtas, one of the party's two jailed co-chairs along with Figen Yuksedag.

"We will not make you the President," said Onder, referencing a speech by Demirtas in Parliament ahead of the July 7, 2015 election, which failed to yield a one-party or coalition government. The HDP entered that election as a single party – not with independent candidates – and managed to surpass the 10% threshold, netting 13.1% and sending 80 Deputies to the 550-seat Parliament.

(…) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK / AM)

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