Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-09-07

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci's written statement regarding FETO investigations in the breakaway regime

[02] Buskuvutcu accused Akinci and the so-called government for putting obstacles to the FETO investigations in the "TRNC"

[03] "Economic circles" in the breakaway regime worry over businessmen's involvement with FETO

[04] "Akinci opened a war with the government"

[05] Denktas: "A new implementation is coming on the citizenship issue"

[06] Erdogan: "The EU 'must say clearly' if it doesn't want Turkey"

[07] Simsek: "Turkey will stay in the EU Customs Union despite Berlin"

[08] "EU bid nonissue in Turkish-German crisis"

[09] Erdogan will allegedly choose 'surprise names' as Vice-Presidents for 2019 elections

[10] Over 350,000 on probation in Turkey for having links with FETO

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci's written statement regarding FETO investigations in the breakaway regime

He further stated that the "TRNC presidency" has not had in its hand the list (TR. Note: with FETO linked members) mentioned in the news and added that this important procedure should not overcome the limits of the "law" and should take place without conflicting from the sense of "justice".

Akinci said that the necessary punishment is required by law and justice for those involved on the July 15 coup in Turkey. "Our country should not turn into a place that any terrorist organization can nest. It is the responsibility of the TRNC state to carry out the necessary actions in the case of the determination of the mentioned organization", he stated.

He went on adding that it is of utmost importance to eliminate the infiltrations to the "police" "established" to combat crime and criminals. "In such a progress the importance of staying within the law is even greater. […]. It is also a social duty to prevent misrepresentation of various speculations falsehoods", he said.

Noting that "the units conducting the investigation as well as all the institutions, especially the media, should be alert to the extrajudicial executions and prisoner approaches", he said: "Even a single innocent man should not be deprived of his liberty and his future should not be dimmed. Justice is necessary for everyone".

"I believe that the authorities carrying out the investigation are going to make the necessary illumination in light of the demands of the public to meet the information needs and in certain measures without harming the legal process and the rights of the suspects who have not yet been brought before the judiciary. This important process should be meticulously fulfilling the duty of everyone and of no sense of responsibility in order to reach a fair result without going beyond the limits of law and deviating from the sense of justice", he stated.

(CS)

[02] Buskuvutcu accused Akinci and the so-called government for putting obstacles to the FETO investigations in the "TRNC"

Referring to the case of the "leader" of the "religious affairs department" who is accused of having links with FETO, Buskuvutcu stated that they do not understand the insistence of Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci to refuse stripping Atalay from his "duties".

(AK)

[03] "Economic circles" in the breakaway regime worry over businessmen's involvement with FETO

The chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Fikri Toros stated that they have not been informed about the issue and they receive related information about businessmen's involvement with FETO by the press. He also stated that is refrained from making any statements or evaluation until he has confirmation about the reports.

The chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Artisans and Craftsmen (KTEZO)" Mahmur Kanber stated that the "state" must determine those who are linked with FETO so that innocent persons not to be accused.

The chairman of the "Businessmen Association" (ISAD) Dengiz Kursat said that no one should be under suspicion and the truth must come to light.

(CS)

[04] "Akinci opened a war with the government"

Issuing a statement on the issue, Akinci stressed that this "appointment" is not right and not according to the prestige of the "institutions".

The paper notes that the opposition parties were against this "appointment" and had called Akinci not to "validate" it.

(CS)

[05] Denktas: "A new implementation is coming on the citizenship issue"

According to Denktas, the persons who will be "granted" the "ada card-island card" will be able to take advantage of all "citizenship rights excluding the right to vote and be voted".

(AK)

[06] Erdogan: "The EU 'must say clearly' if it doesn't want Turkey"

"We want EU bodies and European countries to be sincere and real in their policies on Turkey," Erdogan said at a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) meeting on September 6.

"Take this decision as soon as possible. If you cannot tolerate the current shape of Turkey's relationship with the EU, then declare [an end to it] and do it bravely. That will help everyone see your real face," Erdogan stated, recalling German Chancellor Angela Merkel's statement that Berlin will ask other EU leaders to either suspend or end Turkish accession process in October.

Erdogan also accused the EU of implementing "hypocrisy and political immorality" when it comes to ties with Ankara.

His words come amid a bitter dispute between Ankara and Berlin, and follow German Chancellor Angela Merkel's vow to put an end to Turkish accession process after consultations with other EU countries in October, after the German parliamentary elections.

"It's the EU that has to take steps now. They will either keep their promises, pave the way to [Turkey's] accession process and fulfill their requirements stemming from our agreement about irregular migration [into Europe] or they will say 'We don't want to continue our path with Turkey.' There is no other option. We will disappoint those who are trying to use Turkey as a tool in election campaigns," Erdogan added.

Accusing the EU of not keeping its promises, Erdogan supported that Turkey's spending on Syrian refugees exceeded $30 billion so far.

"They have also failed on visa issue. Even Latin American countries have been granted to access to the Schengen area while this has not been provided to us," he said.

Noting that Turkey's official state policy has not yet given up the EU membership bid, Erdogan claimed that Turkey "firmly fulfilled requirements from the very beginning of its candidacy." "It is not acceptable for us to be subjected to the EU's accusations while it does not fulfill its promises," Erdogan said.

He complained that Turkey has become a major theme in elections in European countries including the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and now Germany. "It's clear that this kind of politics, entirely focused on myself and Turkey, will make no positive contribution to these European countries. But I ask this: How will these politicians be able to look me in the eyes?" Erdogan said.

"What has Erdogan done to you? Is this election being held in Turkey or in Germany? Mind you own business. Don't mess with us," he added.

Reiterating his previous call on Turkish nationals who are eligible to vote in Germany, Erdogan urged them not to vote for political parties that are "enemies of Turkey."

"The conditions in Europe are no different from those of pre-World War II," Erdogan claimed, recalling an earlier row between the two countries over his comparison of the German government's policies to Nazism.

"You are implementing the same as what Nazism did. Why are you disturbed? I'm not saying: 'You are Nazis and facists.' But I draw the picture. This is Nazism and fascism. That's what you are doing," he said.

[07] Simsek: "Turkey will stay in the EU Customs Union despite Berlin"

Speaking on the state-run channel TRT Haber, Simsek stated that he believes many countries in the EU will act with common sense."Turkey hasn't been a burden on anyone so far. Europe's future without Turkey is unthinkable," he added and further claimed: "I believe a great many sensible leaders will keep this case in their minds and keep off this dangerous path because it would harm everyone. In this scenario everyone loses. Both Turkey and the EU would suffer harm."

On Turkish-EU relations, Simsek said that Turkey is not a new actor in Europe and expressed astonishment at how it is being used as domestic politic fodder in some European countries.

"Hopefully things will be in good sense once the election atmosphere ends," after this fall's German and Austrian polls, he said, adding that efforts to poison the ties and atmosphere between Turkey and the EU should be blocked.

Separately, Simsek stated that the millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey are having a big impact on Turkish cities, and Turkey is looking to minimize the impact through infrastructure investments and measures for various services including education and health.

Turkey now hosts some 3 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world. The country has spent around $25 billion helping and sheltering refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Simsek's remarks follow German Chancellor Angela Merkel's statement last month about possibly suspending Turkish-EU talks on updating the Customs Union.

(…)

[08] "EU bid nonissue in Turkish-German crisis"

"In addition to being the first female German chancellor, the first to have grown up in the former East Germany, the youngest German chancellor since the Second World War, Angela Merkel is also the first born after World War Two.

She might also go down in history to be the first German politician to suffer amnesia about an electoral campaign promise that lasted for more than a decade. Before being elected in 2005, Merkel said in an unequivocal manner that she was against Turkey's membership to the European Union and that she will work to have a privileged partnership between the EU and Turkey.

As she had to share power with the Social Democrats in her first tenure, the compromising formula she found was to avoid obstructing membership talks, arguing for the principle of pacta sund servanda (agreements must be kept). By 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy, who was against Turkey's membership, won the French elections and did the job for Merkel, partially blocking the talks.

Following Sarkozy's defeat in the 2012 membership, talks were set for a revival, and even visa exemption negotiations had started. With a clear majority in parliament in her second term, Merkel did not take a step to block the reactivation of the membership process. Did she foresee the break of the mass protests in the summer of 2013 (known as the Gezi Park events) that speeded the government's slide into authoritarian rule and set Turkey-EU relations on an ever-deteriorating course?

Whether helped by Sarkozy or President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who became disinterested with the EU, Merkel did not have to take a direct step to obstruct Turkey's membership talks. Ironically, finding no allies within the EU to handle the refugee flow, she stroke a deal with Erdogan in 2015, promising to revive membership talks in exchange of stopping refugees at Turkish borders. Although she became the target of criticism for letting down the refugees and for striking a deal with an "anti-democratic leader," the deal worked; Turkey delivered and that increased Merkel's domestic support ratings.

Amid deteriorating bilateral relations, she is currently put under pressure to take a step against Turkey. Ironically, no one is asking her to cancel the deal with Turkey; neither has she pledged to do so. But under electoral campaign pressure she said she will ask the EU to take a position to halt accession talks.

This is just empty rhetoric. Even if she were to look as if she will ask EU leaders to halt talks, she knows she will not get unanimity within the bloc for such a decision, nor would she want such an outcome.

In short, Turkish-EU relations are not at stake. It keeps coming up; because they are in a way expendable. They are in a coma, and pulling the plug won't gain much to the Europeans, while Erdogan will use such a decision to further consolidate his constituency.

What is at stake is Turkish-German political relations. Interestingly, in contrast to the tension between France and Turkey, Turkish-German economic relations are not suffering from the current crisis. In addition to Sarkozy's hostile attitude to Turkey's EU bid, France's decision to criminalize the denial of Armenian Genocide claims had led the government to impose an economic embargo on France, keeping French companies out of big tenders. No such decision is in practice with Germany, even though the German Parliament passed a resolution last June recognizing genocide claims.

While the decision which Ankara believes Merkel did not do much to fight against did strike nerves with the government, the aftermath of the July 2016 coup attempt overshadowed that decision. Relations took a nose dive in the aftermath of the July coup attempt because the German reaction during and after the coup led Erdogan to conclude that Germany would rather want him to disappear from the political scene.

No sign of solidarity or support came from Germany during the coup attempt.

In addition, Erdogan was banned two weeks later from addressing his supporters via video at a rally in Cologne, at the same place where the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) leadership in the Qandil Mountains in Iraq faced no difficulty in doing the same. On top of all that, the Gulenist suspect of the coup attempt found safe haven in Germany, which turned down Turkey's request for both extradition of suspects and a clamp down of the Gulenist network in the country. All these have increased Erdogan's perception of hostility to his rule from Germany.

So this is a very deep crisis that will not be left behind easily once elections in Germany are over. It has become clear that keeping some Germans hostage in Turkish prisons will not make a change in the German stance. So it will be highly interesting to see what course of action the two governments will take in the aftermath of the elections".

[09] Erdogan will allegedly choose 'surprise names' as Vice-Presidents for 2019 elections

The names brought to the foreground include the current leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli and Tansu Ciller, Turkey's first female Prime Minister who served between 1993 and 1996.

The AKP's move came after the party instructed new researchers to determine voters' priorities in an attempt to win over the rest of the society for the 2019 elections. In recent surveys, the party's vote was indicated to be around 46-48%, below the 50% threshold, which puts the presidential candidates into the second round at least.

Accordingly, the party is undertaking various efforts to exceed 50% of the votes in the upcoming elections, and one of the ways to realize this goal is allegedly for Erdogan's vice-presidents to be "surprise names."

The reason why Ciller's name has been going around is indicated by the former Prime Minister's frequent invitations to presidential programs, especially throughout the last periods. But the biggest handicap of this scenario is that in case Ciller is appointed Vice-President, the AKP would lose votes from the country's Kurdish-origin population, according to various comments.

Additionally, in a move to attract young voters to the party, the AKP has also been reported to be appointing "young Presidents and young party executives" at local levels.

[10] Over 350,000 on probation in Turkey for having links with FETO

Another 280,675 suspects are awaiting trial outside jails on judicial control orders, as the investigations into their cases continue, according to the Ministry. These suspects have travel bans and are obliged within specific periods to give signatures at police stations. An additional 71 people have been given house arrest instead of imprisonment.

More individuals have recently been released early from prison after the number imprisoned exceeded 200,000 due to the ongoing investigations into the suspected Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO)-linked individuals.

(…) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(AK /AM)

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