Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-08-16

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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: "No meaning for negotiations is left after the Greek Cypriots' unwillingness to share the federal administration was once more seen"

[02] The self-styled foreign ministry issued a statement regarding the second phase of the Turkish invasion to Cyprus

[03] Change of names in occupied Kokkina region by the "security forces commanderships"

[04] Ataoglu: "We have no intention of being a wedge in front of the motherland"

[05] "Time to think outside of the box on the Cyprus issue"

[06] An "Independent Cyprus March" was held in the occupied part of Nicosia

[07] Seven new "citizenships" were "granted" by the breakaway regime

[08] "Association of keeping alive Rauf R. Denktas ideas" calls Akinci to work for the recognition of the "TRNC"

[09] Two noncommissioned officers brothers were arrested within the framework of the FETO operations in the occupied area of Cyprus

[10] Three thousand persons "applied for work permit" in the breakaway regime

[11] Erdogan, Macron discuss Syria, Iraq by phone

[12] Turkish commentary views AKP, Erdogan policy on party's founding anniversary

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: "No meaning for negotiations is left after the Greek Cypriots' unwillingness to share the federal administration was once more seen"

Addressing a commemoration ceremony for the above-mentioned victims the day before yesterday, Akinci described the identification as "important" because the victims will have a burial place at which their relatives could honor them. He said that such events should not be forgotten not for keeping the feelings of hatred and enmity alive but for avoiding their repetition. He claimed:

"In whichever framework we will shape our future, however we will name it, we are obliged to establish a peaceful relation on these lands. We will continue living on this island as two equal entities. There is no other way. Neither we can throw all Greek Cypriots into the sea, nor we have or had such intention, nor do they have the power to do this. This had been attempted in the past but it was shown that it could not be done. It is not possible at all for this to happen from now on. We will draw our future by taking measures for ensuring this".

Moreover, Akinci alleged that no meaning for negotiations is left after the "unwillingness" of the Greek Cypriots to share a federal administration with the Turkish Cypriots was once more seen. He claimed: "It will not continue in this manner. Ways for new meetings within a framework will somehow be searched and found. In whichever framework the conditions for living together are found in the future, whatever their name will be, lessons from what was experienced will definitely be taken and the according behavior will be exhibited".

(I/Ts.)

[02] The self-styled foreign ministry issued a statement regarding the second phase of the Turkish invasion to Cyprus

A written statement released by the "ministry", claimed that that "motherland Turkey as a result of the 1974 Greek coup had used its rights and obligations stemming from international agreements and intervened in the island on the 20th of July 1974 and added that as a result of the two phased peace operation of Turkey the Turkish Cypriot people found the chance to live in peace and security on their lands".

Alleging that the timely intervention of Turkey did not only prevented the annexation of Cyprus with Greece but also laid the foundations of democracy on the island, the statement claimed that "the Turkish Cypriot people had also reached peace, safety and stability as a result of Turkey's intervention".

"Everyone should know that we will not let the peace atmosphere which was established as a result of great struggles since 1974 to be damaged" the statement claimed.

"Even if a solution could be reached between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots with the framework of new modalities, the presence of the Turkish military forces on the island will remain as the most important factor which will maintain the security of the Turkish Cypriot side" the statement alleged and claimed that "the unjust accusations which blames Turkey for the collapse of the Cyprus conference held in Crans-Montana were unacceptable".

The statement also alleged that on the contrary of these claims, the international community had also observed that the Turkish Cypriot side and motherland Turkey had showed constructive and good will efforts throughout the process and added that the only reason for the failure of the Crans-Montana Conference was the Greek Cypriot strategy which denied sharing authority with the Turkish Cypriots on the basis of political equality and aimed to enroot its international recognition by bringing the process to a halt.

The statement also invited the Greek Cypriot side to find ways of having good neighbourhood and living side by side in peace with Turkish Cypriots instead of asserting unrealistic claims.

[03] Change of names in occupied Kokkina region by the "security forces commanderships"

The "commandership" began working on the 8th of August 2016 to change the geographical place names in the region with the names of the "martyrs who died in the area".

"The geographical names have been replaced with the names of the heroes who came from Turkey during the years of struggle and fought for the Turkish Cypriot people and to protect the area", Bayrak broadcast.

The "commandership" further alleged that despite some news in social media the names had not been changed with district names from Turkey. "It also called on the public not to believe in such nonsense and reiterated that they wanted to glorify those who gave their lives in the region".

[04] Ataoglu: "We have no intention of being a wedge in front of the motherland"

Furthermore, Ataoglu said that they could not bring Israeli tourists to the occupied area of Cyprus through Turkey in spite of their efforts and added that they bring them through the government-controlled area of the island. "Am I very relaxed? No I am not. I am aware of the fact that I might always and everywhere come face to face with the Greek Cypriots", he claimed.

Referring to the number of tourists who visited the occupied area of Cyprus in 2017, Ataoglu claimed that there was an increase in the accommodations and 42% in the number of those staying overnight comparing to 2016. He recalled that they had set as target an increase of 50% in 2017 comparing to 2016 and added that they are heading towards achieving this target. He noted that the number of their beds reached 22 thousand. Ataoglu further alleged that an increase of 12% was observed this year in the number of passengers traveling to the occupied area through sea and air and an increase of 11,3% in the number of those crossing over into the occupied area by land.

(I/Ts.)

[05] "Time to think outside of the box on the Cyprus issue"

"In 2004, the UN negotiated the Annan Plan for Cyprus. The Turkish side had accepted the return of the Guzelyurt (Morphu) region which was almost entirely inhabited by Greek Cypriots before the division of the island.

Interestingly, the majority of the Turks living in Guzelyurt had voted "yes" even though they knew that would mean their displacement if the plan were to be accepted by both sides, which was not the case as the Greek Cypriots said "no."

In the last round of negotiations in Switzerland, Morphu was one of the most contentious issues since the Turkish side was not willing to let Guzelyurt go back under Greek Cypriot administration. With the collapse of the talks, Greek Cypriots are expected to resume negotiations after next year's presidential elections.

Let's imagine a scenario in which the Turkish Cypriots were to accept to resume talks next year and at one stage the issue of Guzelyurt came to the agenda. "There is no longer the need to talk about Guzelyurt because there is no need for its return," Turkish Cypriot negotiators could tell their Greek counterparts. "All of the Greek Cypriots who had property in Guzelyurt have been compensated. This is not an issue. There are now very few left [those who have not accepted to apply to us because of your threats] who still have property in Guzelyurt, but their numbers are so few that Guzelyurt's return can no longer be justified." And thus, you take Guzelyurt out of the equation.

Can this imaginary scenario become real? "Yes, it can," say the experts. "And it can happen under European Union law," they add, recalling the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Indeed, the ECHR's 2010 decision that recognized the property claims process set up in Turkish Cyprus as an effective domestic remedy provided an immense opportunity to the Turkish side to solve the property issue.

The Immovable Property Commission established in the mid-2000's to evaluate the Greek Cypriots' claims had initially been met with skepticism in the southern part of the island and in fact, the Greek Cypriot administration had tried to discourage its citizens from applying to the commission by labelling those who did as "traitors." Yet, with its initial decisions the commission earned the recognition of the Euro court in 2010 as an effective remedy which told all the Greek Cypriot applicants to Strasbourg to first apply to the commission in Turkish Cyprus and come back only after exhausting this remedy.

That actually destroyed Greek Cypriot plans to make Turkey kneel following the European court's 1996 decision sentencing Turkey to pay compensation to a Greek Cypriot who had property in the north. After that decision called the Loizidou case, thousands of Greek Cypriots with properties in the north applied to the court in Strasbourg which would have resulted with billions of Euros in compensation paid by Turkey.

The immovable property commission had been set up in order to precisely prevent that storm from coming and the court's 2010 Demopoulos decision was a turning point as it accepted the workings of the commission as an effective remedy.

That led to a rapid hike in the number of applications to the commission in Turkish Cyprus. But with the prospect of peace talks the commission's work has slowed down and that suited Turkish governments which did not want to earmark such a budget for Cyprus. The commission's work actually came to a standstill a few years ago as Turkey completely stopped the flow of money leading to a sharp drop in the number of applications from South Cyprus.

Following the collapse of the peace talks in Switzerland, the three political parties present in the Turkish Cypriot parliament decided to revive the commission, according to the press reports from the island.

Instead of solving the property issue via negotiations with the Greek Cypriots, they seem set to solve it according to European law.

There are more than 5,000 applications in front of the commission. In contrast to its initial stages when the commission did not have a specific priority, why not give precedence to the hundreds of applications coming from Guzelyurt's former Greek Cypriot residents? Once you compensate them and there are no longer any claims from the Greek Cypriot side, the above scenario can become real.

"You want Guzelyurt?" would ask Turkish Cypriot negotiators to their Greek counterparts. "But the property structure has changed in Guzelyurt. You are asking 'how so?' Well, by the will of your own citizens. They were compensated and they no longer have any claim to property in the region; so, there are no justifiable grounds on discussing its return."

Wouldn't that be an "easy fix?" To say so would be an exaggeration. But this could be a very expensive, yet very legal fix to the decades old problem."

[06] An "Independent Cyprus March" was held in the occupied part of Nicosia

According to a statement issued by the Independence Road, within the framework of the activity they marched towards the UK embassy, the US councilor's office and Turkey's so-called embassy in the occupied part of Nicosia. The protestors left a banner in front of the British embassy saying "Imperialist", a banner in front of the US councilor's office saying "Against Occupations" and a banner in front of the Turkish "embassy saying "Independent Cyprus".

In a statement they issued they expressed the view that Cyprus was divided with NATO's imperialist interventions and is still under the occupation of imperialism. They noted that they will continue "thinking, producing and marching for an independent Cyprus until victory".

(I/Ts.)

[07] Seven new "citizenships" were "granted" by the breakaway regime

According to the paper the "decision" was taken during the August 7 meeting of the "council of ministers".

The names of the new "citizens" are published in the paper.

(CS)

[08] "Association of keeping alive Rauf R. Denktas ideas" calls Akinci to work for the recognition of the "TRNC"

Commenting on the failed Crans Montana summit, Akca said that Akinci should take the necessary steps and along with the "assembly" to cancel all the "decisions" regarding reaching a federal solution in Cyprus and to work towards the recognition of the "TRNC" and the lifting of the "isolations".

(CS)

[09] Two noncommissioned officers brothers were arrested within the framework of the FETO operations in the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper recalled that the "police" found books in a well during an investigation in a vacant plot of land in occupied Famagusta area. It is believed that the books belong to the arrested noncommissioned officers. The suspects will remain in custody for three days.

The paper writes that those who had bought and read Fethullah Gulen's books when the relations between FETO and President Erdogan were good do not know how they will destroy these books now.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (15.08.17) Cenk Mutluyakali wondered whether books or newspapers could become a "crime element" and described this kind of thinking as "very dark and fanatical". "We are living these in our country", he noted and added that such developments may not be viewed as odd in Turkey, in which the field of democracy and freedom becomes narrower, fear prevails and the country is covered by darkness, but "we are not obliged to verbatim copy everything which exists there".

Noting that even the books of Hitler, who is held responsible for the death of more than 10 million people, are still sold in Germany, Mutluyakali expressed the view that a book is not evidence regardless of its writer and that "murderers, dictators, criminals, gangsters and suspects are one thing and books are another".

(I/Ts.)

[10] Three thousand persons "applied for work permit" in the breakaway regime

According to the paper, there is lack of personnel at the "ministry of labor" and as a result the persons who applied for "work permit" are waiting for over a month for their "applications" to be examined.

(CS)

[11] Erdogan, Macron discuss Syria, Iraq by phone

The two leaders exchanged views over regional issues and bilateral relations, according to Turkish presidential sources.

Erdogan and Macron also stressed on the significance of fighting against terrorism and the latest developments in Syria and Iraq.

[12] Turkish commentary views AKP, Erdogan policy on party's founding anniversary

"Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) celebrates its 16th anniversary in Ankara today, Aug. 14.

I was there when the party was founded by former Istanbul mayor Tayyip Erdogan as an offspring of the Islamic-conservative Milli Gorus movement led by Necmettin Erbakan.

One of the men among the party founders particularly drew my attention. As a political journalist, I already knew most of the faces of the founders. I had known Abdullah Gul for many years as Erbakan's foreign policy voice and I knew Bulent Arinc as a stubborn lawyer and parliamentary spokesperson. I also knew Huseyin Celik, who joined the AK Parti from the center-right True Part Party (DYP), and seasoned diplomat Yasar Yakis.

But I did not know the young man with a shy smile on his face, Ali Babacan, who was announced as being the AK Parti member responsible for economic policy. I remember thinking that none of the parties in the fragile three-party coalition trying to cope with a heavy economic crisis had such young people in their executive bodies.

Voters showed boldly in the November 2002 election that they had no confidence left in any of the five parties at parliament. They opted to elect the newly founded AK Parti as the government, with the Republican People's Party (CHP) as the opposition, (after the latter was punished and left out of parliament in the 1999 election).

Babacan became treasury minister and continued the ambitious financial program of Kemal Dervis, an international economist who was invited to Turkey by the previous government to save the country from the economic crisis. It worked.

The success of the AK Parti was in its difference from Erbakan's line, particularly related in two main points:

1) For traditional Islamic movements in Turkey, the market economy was evil. But the AK Parti vowed to integrate Turkey more deeply in the market economy, both domestically and internationally.

2) For traditional Islamic movements in Turkey, the European Union was a "Christian club." But Erdogan vowed to do everything possible for EU membership, which he said would be good for the economy and for democracy, providing a shield against the political enthusiasm of secularists in the military and the judiciary.

That motivation enabled the AK Parti to complete nine constitutional amendments and three fundamental code changes within the framework of EU harmonization in 2003-2004, without the need to go to a referendum, thanks to the cooperation of the CHP in parliament.

As a journalist observing parliament's general assembly back then, it was striking to see how the AK Parti rows were almost all dark-haired and the CHP rows were almost all gray or white-haired. Clearly, the AK Parti represented a younger generation of politicians. Women remained heavily underrepresented, though in number there were more on the AK Parti list.

Today, the outlook is quite different. It is true that a younger generation is coming and more women are on the lists of both parties, as well as on the list of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). But there is a reason why Erdogan has recently been complaining about "professional deformation" in his party among those who have "served in executive positions for too long."

In fact, most of the key figures present at the establishment of the AK Parti are no longer in influential positions; indeed, some are no longer even in the party. For example, Yak?s was expelled from the party as a columnist in – the now shuttered - Zaman newspaper, which was a voice of the now-illegal network of U.S.-resident Islamist preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding the July 15, 2016 military coup attempt. Back in 2002-2012, Gulen was among Erdogan's closest allies against the secularist establishment. This alliance turned out to be Erdogan's biggest mistake, for which he has asked for forgiveness from voters.

Arinc, as the second name behind Erdogan in the founding triumvirate, is now also out of the picture after serving as parliamentary speaker and deputy prime minister. The third of the triumvirate, Gul, is half-willingly retired from politics after serving as president.

Babacan has been out of the picture for a couple of years now, after his authority on the economy was curbed by politicians who wanted more populist policies that could be turned into votes.

Once the AK Parti's alliance with Gulen started breaking down in 2012, Turkey's economic and democratic situation started to deteriorate, mainly due to the expansion of energy on internal fights. Erdogan started to be accused of shifting into an authoritarian mode – particularly with the effect of Turkish policy regarding the Syria civil war - and fewer investments started to pour in. A dialogue process in pursuit of a political solution to the Kurdish problem collapsed and the democratic picture deteriorated further due to the state of emergency declared after the 2016 military coup attempt.

Under that state of emergency Erdogan called a referendum with the help of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), in order to bestow the presidency with executive powers. The "yes" side prevailed by a narrow margin in the April 2017 referendum, despite objections from the CHP opposition, and Erdogan is now the head of state and the head of the AK Parti.

But as a result of the same referendum, Erdogan needs 50 percent plus 1 vote to get re-elected in 2019 and also to keep the AK Parti's domination of parliament. In a recent speech, he recalled that in 2002 the AK Parti managed to get power with only 34 percent of the votes, but neither that nor the 49.5 percent won in the November 2015 would be enough to get power any more.

In foreign policy and the economy, Erdogan has so far managed to cope with the situation by changing the tone of his rhetoric but largely staying in line with Western policies.

There are a number of examples of this. For instance, Erdogan continues to accuse Germany of trying to undermine Ankara, but has correctly accepted a NATO formula for a visit of German MPs to the NATO base in Konya. He also calls on all Muslims to visit Jerusalem in support of the Haram al-Sharif against the Israeli government's measures, but by doing so he also promotes tourism from Turkey to Israel. The Foreign Ministry has slammed the U.S. over statements pointing at al-Qaeda activities in Syria near the Turkish border, but the government has also closed the border gate due to increased al-Qaeda activity on the Syrian side. Most recently, on Aug. 13 Erdogan inaugurated a production plant in Turkey of Coca-Cola, which had previously been denounced by Islamists as a "Zionist brand."

If this pattern persists, the government's recent flirtation with the Russians on S-400 defense systems may well end up in a strategic deal being struck for American or European systems.

However, maneuvering in diplomacy and investments is one thing, attracting votes is something else entirely. That is proving a difficult job, as Erdogan says he is trying to "cleanse" the party of unwanted elements on the one hand while also trying to increase its votes on the other.

On the 16th anniversary of his AK Party, that is the task that Erdogan finds himself engaged in."

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(CS / AM)

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