Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-04-19

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[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci's message on the results of the constitutional referendum in Turkey

[02] Ozgurgun congratulates Erdogan and Yildirim for the results of the constitutional referendum in Turkey

[03] Putin congratulated Erdogan over referendum win

[04] Trump and Erdogan to meet in Washington in May

[05] Kalin: "Europeans in mourning after Turkey's Yes victory"

[06] Turkey's Supreme Election Board to assess referendum appeals until noon

[07] Turkish Foreign Minister blasts OSCE referendum report

[08] Cavusoglu: Turkey-EU ties going through difficult phase

[09] Commentary: "The most interesting coalition in Turkey's political history"

[10] Erdogan set to visit China in May to join 'Belt and Road Summit'

[11] Court accepted indictment on Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper

[12] Ertugruloglu held contacts in Oman

[13] Reactions by the breakaway regime on reportedly prevention by the Cyprus government to children to participate in celebrations in the occupied area of Cyprus

[14] Turkish Cypriot BID-GED became member of the European Draught Confederation

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci's message on the results of the constitutional referendum in Turkey

In a written statement, Akinci said that Turkey is a united whole for the Turkish Cypriots together with those who voted "yes" and those who voted "no" in the referendum and that Turkey is important for them as a whole. According to Akinci, the fact that the percentages of "yes' and "no" votes are close to each other is important for the democratic dialogue, which will be carried out in Turkey's political life.

Akinci concluded by saying that the Turkish Cypriots will continue to exert efforts in close consultation with Turkey for the solution of the Cyprus problem, as they did in the past.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun congratulates Erdogan and Yildirim for the results of the constitutional referendum in Turkey

In a written message, Ozgurgun expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the referendum had been held in "a climate of respect and tranquillity" and that "the people expressed their free will" in the ballot boxes.

Ozgurgun wished also for the new period, which will start with the implementation of the constitutional amendments, to be good for the Turkish people and the region.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Putin congratulated Erdogan over referendum win

Putin telephoned Erdogan to congratulate him over the win of the "yes" side in the referendum, state-run Anadolu Agency said, quoting presidential sources.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin congratulated Erdogan for the "successful carrying out" of the referendum.

According to Anadolu Agency, Putin and Erdogan emphasized the importance of normalizing ties, which are still recovering after a Turkish jet shot down a Russian war plane over the Syrian border in 2015.

The two leaders also noted the importance of maintaining a cease-fire in Syria jointly brokered by Ankara and Moscow, it added.

The Kremlin said the cease-fire needed to be reinforced as well as the twin talks processes based in Astana and Geneva.

Both sides also emphasized the importance of an "unpartisan" investigation into the suspected chemical attack in Syria earlier this month, the Kremlin said.

Ankara has said the deadly nerve agent sarin was used by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, an opinion not shared by Russia.

Some analysts are predicting Ankara will move closer toward Moscow after the referendum as increased strains emerge in its relations with the European Union.

[04] Trump and Erdogan to meet in Washington in May

Cavusoglu held a phone conversation with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson late April 18 after Trump and Erdogan's phone call.

"Mr Trump called our President to congratulate him on the referendum results. They discussed bilateral relations and have agreed to meet in Washington. We, as the Foreign Ministers, will determine the appropriate dates for the meeting," Cavusoglu said at a press conference in Ankara on April 19.

Cavusoglu said the two leaders have agreed to come together before the NATO Summit that will take place in late May in Brussels.

[05] Kalin: "Europeans in mourning after Turkey's Yes victory"

"Some Europeans, who would have celebrated and praised Turkish democracy if 'Yes' had gotten [only] 49%, today are in mourning. We are not surprised," claimed Ibrahim Kalin on his official Twitter account.

[06] Turkey's Supreme Election Board to assess referendum appeals until noon

"We are going to evaluate the objections before noon," Sadi Guven told reporters in Ankara Wednesday morning.

According to unofficial results, the Yes campaign won with 51.41%, while the No votes stood at 48.59%. Voter turnout was 85.46%.

However, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) challenged the result.

On Tuesday, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu slammed the Supreme Election Board's decision to count unsealed ballots in the referendum.

Kilicdaroglu said he respected the nation's will but the decision on unsealed ballots had overshadowed the results.

"The rule of a match cannot be changed while the match is being played, this is a universal rule," he said.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 18.04.17), under the title "Main opposition CHP appeals to election watchdog to nullify referendum", reports that Turkey's main opposition party and scores of citizens have appealed to the election watchdog for the annulment of a critical referendum that resulted in a narrow win for the government, arguing that unsealed ballot papers and envelopes were counted in open violation of the law.

"This referendum will be recalled as the 'unsealed election.' The only thing that needs to be done with regard to this referendum, which has lost its legitimacy, is its annulment," Bulent Tezcan, the deputy leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), told reporters after he officially submitted a petition for the annulment to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) on April 18.

The petition of the CHP cited a number of irregularities during both the voting and counting processes for the April 16 referendum, specifically underlining that the YSK's decision to count unsealed ballot papers as valid increased suspicions of fraud.

The CHP also recalled that an amendment to the Election Law in 2010 stipulated that unsealed ballot papers were not valid, meaning that the YSK openly breached the law.

Along with the CHP, 700 citizens applied individually to the YSK for the annulment of the referendum, making a queue before the premises of the election watchdog. Erdal Aksunger, another Deputy leader of the CHP, visited YSK head Sadi Guven in his office to technically explain the reasons of their appeal.

The YSK did not comment on the CHP's appeal for the annulment but Guven had earlier defended their decision on the grounds that they have counted unsealed ballot papers in previous elections in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But he did not cite the amendment on the law in 2010.

Like the CHP, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which also campaigned for the "no" side in the referendum, slammed the YSK and called the polls questionable.

HDP spokesperson and Sanl?urfa MP Osman Baydemir said the YSK refused to accept unstamped votes as valid in 2014 in the Guroymak district of the eastern province of Bitlis, thus paving way for the elections to be rerun.

Meanwhile, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has also said in a statement released late on April 17 that a last-minute decision by Turkey's electoral board to allow unstamped ballots in the April 16 constitutional referendum was "clearly against the law", preventing proper records being kept and potentially impacting the result, "With this illegal decision, ballot box councils [officials at polling stations] were misled into believing that the use of unstamped ballots was appropriate".

"The YSK announcement ? led to irregularities and the prevention of records that could uncover irregularities," it stated.

Referring to the 79th article of the constitution, the TBB said it expected the YSK to now realize its constitutional responsibilities in evaluating complaints.

[07] Turkish Foreign Minister blasts OSCE referendum report

In an interview on state news channel TRT, he argued that OSCE members had attended 'No' campaigns before the referendum.

On Monday, the OSCE said a "lack of equal opportunities, one-sided media coverage and limitations on fundamental freedoms" had created an "unlevelled playing field" for Turkey's constitutional referendum.

"In general, the referendum did not live up to Council of Europe standards. The legal framework was inadequate for the holding of a genuinely democratic process," said Cezar Florin Preda, head of the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Cavusoglu said visiting OSCE delegation "did not come with good intentions this time and made political remarks, rather than technical [ones]."

"The draft report they prepared has a lot of false technical data, showing that they are biased," claimed Cavusoglu adding: "Being anti-Islam has become synonymous with being anti-Turkey."

[08] Cavusoglu: Turkey-EU ties going through difficult phase

"Our relations are going through a difficult phase, as the attitude of the EU and some European countries has been a great disappointment," he told Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

"Instead of receiving solidarity and support, Turkey has faced unfair criticism concerning measures it took in the aftermath of the aborted coup," he said.

(?)

"It is also disappointing for us to see that Turkey very often becomes an issue in domestic politics of some European countries, particularly during election campaigns," he said.

"Issues related to Turkey appear in some European media on a daily basis and predominantly from a very negative point of view," he said.

"Political obstacles in the way of our EU accession process are another factor, which causes difficulties in European-Turkish relations. EU membership remains a priority for us," the Foreign Minister said.

"There is a loss of trust toward the EU in Turkey, stemming from the EU's latest attitude. But we are still expecting positive concrete steps to overcome the confidence crisis," Cavusoglu said.

"Within this framework, we expect the blockages to be lifted, visa liberalization to be granted and all other commitments that the EU has made to be met," he said. "Yet despite these difficulties, possibilities do exist to put our relations back on a positive track."

Cavusoglu said Turkey would "certainly reciprocate if it is met with good intentions, as well as a positive and constructive approach by the European partners and the EU."

He also said the further improvement of the Customs Union presented a "vital opportunity" to advance Turkey-EU relations.

"This process will be in the interest of both sides and should not be blocked by political hindrances and short-sighted goals of domestic politics," he said.

"The EU is now in a process of self-review and integration of cultures and civilizations," he added. "This process can also be utilized for self-criticism and reform with a view to becoming a stronger entity in world politics."

Turkey, the Foreign Minister said, "is ready to contribute to this process as a reliable partner."

As for last year's migrant deal with Europe, Cavusoglu said: "The March 18 agreement, which has been a success story in the fight against irregular migration, works as a result of Turkey's tremendous efforts."

"Among other things, visa liberalization for Turkish citizens was one of the commitments to be addressed by the EU in 2016", Cavusoglu said.

"We've been undergoing the visa liberalization process since 2013 and have fulfilled almost all conditional benchmarks. This was acknowledged by the European Commission in its report dated May 2016. However, we see no will on the EU's side to move forward on this issue; this is also the case with other commitments it made," he said.

"We have prepared a working plan for the preparations to be made for the remaining benchmarks," Cavusoglu said and added: "We will present this plan to the EU, which will in turn constitute Turkey's final proposal in order to complete the visa liberalization process".

"If the EU does not give a green light on this issue, we will be obliged to review the heavy burden we assumed in the Aegean Sea," he concluded.

[09] Commentary: "The most interesting coalition in Turkey's political history"

"Let's approach the referendum results from a simple mathematical perspective.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) received 23.68 million votes (49.4%) in the Nov. 1, 2015, elections, enabling it to form the government. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) votes declined to 5. 69 million (11.9%). In the Nov. 1 elections, the total number of votes of the two parties who joined hands in the "yes" front was 29.37 million, or 61.3% of the electorate.

Yet it has been seen once again that two plus two does not always make four in politics. If you consider that the "yes" votes remained at around 25.16 million, these two parties have lost 4.22 million votes compared to the November elections.

In addition, let's not forget that the number of voters increased from 56.95 million to 58.37 million.

The number of votes registered increased by 1.2 million compared to the Nov. 1 elections.

An important part of this 4.2 million joined the "no" camp. Obviously everyone is curious to know how much of that loss comes from the MHP and AKP. At any rate, both parties have seen a significant vote loss.

Let's look at the Republican People's Party (CHP). The CHP got 12.11 million votes (25.3%) in the November elections. The Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) got 5.15 million votes (10.7%). The total of their votes makes 17.26 million.

However, the "no" votes reached 23.78 million, good for a 6.5 million increase. This is 2.3 million votes more than the 4.2 million loss from the AKP-MHP duo. Part of this increase might stem from the rise in the number of voters. One can also guess that some other smaller parties might have joined the "no" camp.

This general situation in the country is valid for the cities as well. In several cities, the "yes" votes coming from the ballot box is significantly below the total votes received by the MHP and AKP in previous elections.

Let's examine this in the Kayseri example. In the Nov. 1 elections, the AKP got 528,000 votes and the MHP got 148,000 votes, together making 676,000. Yet the "yes" votes remained at 557,000. We understand that 119,000 people who had previously cast their votes for the AKP or MHP cast "no" votes to a large extend.

The CHP received a little bit over 98,000 while the HDP received a little bit over 10,000 votes. The total number of the votes received by the two was 109,000. The "no" votes exceeded that number and reached 265,000. It is obvious that in addition to the factor of the new electorate, a shift from AKP and MHP votes played an important role in the increase of 159,000.

From whichever way you look at it; the grouping that participated in the "no" campaign has perhaps established one of the most interesting alliances in Turkey's political history.

In this alliance, we can count the CHP; HDP, a crowd that opposed the "yes" vote of the MHP leadership, AKP voters who have deviated from their party line and certain segments which have different political tendencies other than the four parties. Republicans, nationalists, conservatives, supporters of the Kurdish political movement and many several other groups have come together and created a political impact of a critical mass.

Here, each group might have said "no" for different reasons. The concern to protect the future of the republic of a CHP supporter was perhaps replaced by the questions of an AKP partisan about the presidential system. But we can say that an opposing stance against the presidential system and the authoritarianism identified with it, as well as democratic concerns, have become an important common denominator for all these groups.

When looked from that perspective, an important threshold which has revealed the maturity of Turkey's democratic tradition has been overcome.

In fact, sociologist Sencer Ayata provided this analysis published in daily BirGun:

"I think this referendum is perhaps the biggest step toward the development of a democratic civil society in Turkey. The 'no' movement has been the most important democratic experience. It is the first time that different segments in favour of freedoms in Turkey have established such a wide spectrum."

No doubt, the value of this democratic entity does not change the truth that the "yes" front won at the ballot box.

The critical issue here is how President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will use the political power he acquired through the referendum against the other half of the country which disagrees with him. Will Erdogan take into consideration the message given by the "no" voters and move toward consensus and endorse a unifying rhetoric; or will he totally ignore that segment with a "winner takes it all" approach?

The answer to that question carries big importance in terms of the future of societal peace and political stability."

[10] Erdogan set to visit China in May to join 'Belt and Road Summit'

"Our President will visit China to participate in the 'Belt and the Road Summit' in Beijing on May 14 and 15, responding to an invitation by Chinese President Xi [Jinping]," Turkes said, following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Liu Yandong in Ankara on April 18.

"Belt and Road" consists of six economic collaboration routes that would affect 60 countries, potentially including Turkey.

The "Belt and Road" refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

The Turkish-Chinese relations are constantly improving, Turkes said on April 19.

[11] Court accepted indictment on Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper

The Istanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court accepted the 274-page indictment, with the former editor-in-chief of the daily, Can Dundar, named as the prime suspect by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on April 4.

The first hearing of the case will be held on July 24 at Istanbul's Caglayan courthouse and will continue until July 27.

The charges directed at the suspects include "membership of an armed terrorist organization" and "helping an armed terrorist organization while not being a member of it."

Prosecutors are seeking between 7.5 and 15 years in prison sentence for Dundar, editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, IPI Board Member Kadri Gursel, Ayd?n Engin, Bulent Yener and Gunseli Ozaltay for "helping an armed terrorist organization while not being a member".

CEO of the daily Ak?n Atalay, Mehmet Orhan Erinc and Onder Celik are charged with "helping an armed terrorist organization while not being a member" and "abusing trust," with the prosecutor demanding between 11.5 and 43 years in jail for them.

Between 9.5 and 29 years in jail are demanded for Bulent Utku, caricaturist Musa Kart, Hakan Karasinir, Mustafa Kemal Gungor and Hikmet Aslan Cetinkaya on the same charges as those directed at Atalay, Erinc and Celik.

In addition, the prosecutor sought between 7.5 and 15 years in prison for journalist Ahmet S?k for "helping and being a member of the PKK and the DHKP/C."

S?k and journalist Nedim Sener were jailed as part of the controversial Oda TV case in 2011. Both spent more than a year in prison while awaiting trial before the publication of S?k's book, titled "The Imam's Army," which focused on the Gulen movement's followers within the police and the judiciary at a time when the movement and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were close. The duo was eventually freed on March 12, 2012.

S?k was again arrested on Dec. 30, 2016 over several tweets and articles for daily Cumhuriyet.

The indictment stated that daily Cumhuriyet started its publishing life upon the orders of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, but around 2013 "it was seized" by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETO/PDY), widely believed to have been behind the July 15, 2016 military coup attempt.

"Upon Can Dundar assuming his post, the daily entered another path diverting from the aims of its establishment," the indictment read. "It became a defender and protector of [FETO/PDY, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party/ Kurdistan Communities Union (PKK/KCK) and the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C)].

"By concealing the acts of terrorist organizations, Cumhuriyet far exceeded the right to make news or comments including heavy criticism, which is provided by freedom of press principles and universal law," it added.

"Cumhuriyet started an intense perception operation, targeting the government of the Turkish Republic and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by using asymmetrical war tactics," it also said, claiming that the newspaper "provided a basis for illegal politics."

According to the indictment, Cumhuriyet "tried to legitimize the acts of the PKK terrorist organization".

"FETO/PDY, which used [closed] daily Taraf before, chose daily Cumhuriyet to service some information and documents," the indictment said, referring to Cumhuriyet's report on footage of Turkish intelligence trucks bound for Syria in early 2014.

The indictment also noted that some of the suspects "had contact with users" of the ByLock smartphone application, which came to prominence after it emerged that FETO members had used it to communicate.

[12] Ertugruloglu held contacts in Oman

Ertugruloglu visited the Turkish Embassy to Muscat and held a meeting with the Turkish Ambassador, with whom he discussed the promotion of the breakaway regime in Oman, especially on the issues of tourism, commerce and higher education. Ertugruloglu visited also the regime's "representation office" in Muscat and was briefed about its activities.

Meanwhile, Mustafa Lakatamyali, "undersecretary" at the self-styled foreign ministry, who is participating in Ertugruloglu's delegation, met with Oman's Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ahmet Al Dheeb, with whom he discussed the relations and the cooperation between the two "countries" in the fields of commerce and tourism.

(I/Ts.)

[13] Reactions by the breakaway regime on reportedly prevention by the Cyprus government to children to participate in celebrations in the occupied area of Cyprus

The incident was condemned by the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) and the self-styled acting foreign minister, the "minister of labour and social security" Ersan Saner.

In a statement issued, Saner claimed that "the Greek Cypriot administration (editor's note: as he refers to the Cyprus government) could not even tolerate children taking part in cultural celebrations in the TRNC" and argued that it is impossible to understand the Greek Cypriot side's actions at a time when the negotiations had entered a critical phase.

"It is not possible for us to accept what has been done to the group of children and their instructors. A serious question mark stands as to how we are going to mend our relations with the Greek Cypriot administration who prevented the children from crossing into the TRNC to take part in children's day celebrations", he alleged.

On the same issue, the so-called ministry of national education and culture has strongly condemned the Greek Cypriot side for preventing children who came to the island via South Cyprus (editor's note: the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus) to attend the 19th International Children's Festival from crossing over to the "TRNC".

A statement issued by the "ministry" stated that it was difficult to understand efforts to sabotage such a meaningful and important day dedicated to all children across the world. It alleged that "the Greek Cypriot administration has once again demonstrated its fanatical mentality".

The statement stressed that sending the children back to their countries by preventing them from taking part in the children's festival was an unacceptable act. "Whatever the excuse, it is high time the world sees and acknowledges the Greek Cypriot Administration's intolerance and prejudice towards the Turkish Cypriots at every platform or organisation. The appropriate response should be given immediately" the statement alleged.

"How are we to further develop relations with the Greek Cypriot Administration, who prevented children who came to Cyprus only to attend a children's festival?" the statement asked.

[14] Turkish Cypriot BID-GED became member of the European Draught Confederation

After the latest development, Behcet Celebi, chairman of the association, alleged that with this membership "the embargoes in [the field of] draught have been broken". He argued that it is extremely important for the "state officials", businessmen and the whole "people" to support their membership in these organizations so that the Turkish Cypriot draught players are able to participate in international organizations in the name of the "country".

The paper writes that "north Cyprus" is taking place at EDC's webpage as the organization's 28th member. Information regarding BID-GED is published on EDC's webpage together with a picture from the occupied port of Keryneia.

(I/Ts.)

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