Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-11-17

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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] Cavusoglu admits that they exert efforts for the recognition of the breakaway regime

[02] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister: "The Cyprus problem is at a turning point"

[03] Akinci visits Ankara and London ? The "UDI" was celebrated in Europe and the USA

[04] Aksener: "The Cyprus problem is Turkey's national case"

[05] Elcil: Akdag violates international law and all the Cypriots' rights

[06] Bagis argues that the breakaway regime's "citizenship" could not be granted without Turkey's official permission

[07] Bagis "TRNC citizenship" was discussed in the Turkish Assembly

[08] Restoration works has started for Lala Mustafa mosque and Selimiye mosque

[09] A symposium on the "Turkish-Islamic Culture on islands" is being held

[10] The state television of Azerbaijan broadcast a 99-minute documentary "about the atrocities against ten Turkish Cypriots"

[11] Turkey-Russia-Iran Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Antalya Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu says

[12] Turkish FM: Ankara seeks alternatives as US delays defense equipment:

[13] Gov't signals pre-election alliance for 2019 elections

[14] Turkey's AKP said fears losing Istanbul and Ankara in 2019 elections

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Cavusoglu admits that they exert efforts for the recognition of the breakaway regime

According to Anadolu news agency, presenting the budget of his ministry for 2018 at the relevant parliamentary committee, Cavusoglu said that the Turkish side is holding consultations as to what will happen regarding the Cyprus problem and that Turkey, as guarantor power, will do its bit for reaching a solution through dialogue and diplomacy.

Cavusoglu reiterated the allegation that at Crans Montana it was seen that the Greek Cypriot side did not want a solution and that the UN and EU member countries saw the efforts exerted by the Turkish side for the solution, which "are sincerely mentioned at every platform". He alleged: "While we want a solution in Cyprus, we exert efforts for lifting the TRNC's isolation, for opening more of its representation offices and for its passports to become valid in more countries".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister: "The Cyprus problem is at a turning point"

Speaking during a reception in Ankara on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the breakaway regime's unilateral declaration of independence (UDI), Cavusoglu alleged that regardless of the negotiating process aimed at finding a solution to the problem, Turkey's main priority is the stable development of the "TRNC", as he described the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Cavusoglu alleged also that with the "UDI" the Turkish Cypriot "people" safeguarded their "indispensable rights" and proved to the whole world that they are determined to continue their "holy struggle for freedom".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Akinci visits Ankara and London ? The "UDI" was celebrated in Europe and the USA

The "UDI" was also celebrated with receptions in cities such as London, Stockholm, Washington and Geneva.

The Turkish Ambassador to London and many British and Turkish invitees attended the reception in the British capital. Addressing the reception, Zehra Basaran, the breakaway regime's "representative", said that Akinci will visit London next week to hold contacts with the Turkish Cypriot community living there.

American Senators and members of some diplomatic missions participated in the reception in Washington.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Aksener: "The Cyprus problem is Turkey's national case"

In her message, Aksener claimed that "the TRNC is an example of a modern state with pluralistic and competitive democratic governance based on the superiority of law of human rights". She further argued that "the TRNC is also at the same time the guarantee of a permanent peace and stability in the region and a guarantee for the Turkish Cypriot people to live in freedom".

Claiming that the Good party sees the Cyprus issue as Turkey's "national case", Aksener evaluated "the relations between Turkey and the TRNC as those of one nation and two equal sovereign states".

(DPs)

[05] Elcil: Akdag violates international law and all the Cypriots' rights

Akdag stated that the Cyprus negations' failure was due to the attitude of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side.

Elcil stated that Akdag chose to ignore the political assimilation Turkey applies towards the Turkish Cypriot community and the fact that all the Turkish governments try to unite the northern part of Cyprus with Turkey. "It is Turkey that takes all the decision regarding northern Cyprus", Elcil stated, adding that Akdag gave the message that Turkey will continue to violate international law and all the Cypriots' rights.

(CS)

[06] Bagis argues that the breakaway regime's "citizenship" could not be granted without Turkey's official permission

"No one should look for conspiracy behind this", he claimed in statements to Turkish Posta newspaper. Bagis argued that he had defended the "daughter country", as he described the occupied area of Cyprus, in international organizations such as the European parliament, the EU etc. and added that he visits the occupied area of Cyprus often because he is a member of the "board of trustees" of a "university".

He alleged:

"[?] Many persons from Turkey receive double citizenship in order to support the TRNC. In any case I have been supporting for years our daughter land at international platforms, the European Parliament, the EU, the Council, [and] the Commission. I am a member of the board of trustees of a university in the TRNC. Therefore I go and come often. The prime minister is my friend. Upon his invitation I have filed such an application, with Turkey's full knowledge and support. In any case, the citizenship of the TRNC is a privilege which cannot be given without the Republic of Turkey's official permission. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[07] Bagis "TRNC citizenship" was discussed in the Turkish Assembly

Noting that Bagis already has US citizenship, Ozcan wonders how has the "sudden love" of Bagis towards the "TRNC" emerged. Ozcan also stated that the breakaway regime is not a member of Interpol; therefore if Interpol takes a decision, this does not affect the "TRNC citizens". "We are considering the issue with suspicion", he stated.

(CS)

[08] Restoration works has started for Lala Mustafa mosque and Selimiye mosque

Speaking to Kibris, Fuat Asimli, the director of "antiquities and museums department" stated that they went out for tenders regarding the restorations.

(CS)

[09] A symposium on the "Turkish-Islamic Culture on islands" is being held

The first speaker at the symposium was Prof. Dr. Oguz Karakartal, teacher at the illegal European University of Lefka, who argued that the Turkish-Islamic culture on the islands should be the theme of films, books etc. He alleged that the seminar will be useful from the point of view of creating awareness.

(I/Ts.)

[10] The state television of Azerbaijan broadcast a 99-minute documentary "about the atrocities against ten Turkish Cypriots"

The documentary with the title: " The real history: Greek atrocities and Turkish martyrs", was about the "massacre and atrocities" against the Turkish Cypriots, the paper writes.

(CS)

[11] Turkey-Russia-Iran Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Antalya Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu says

The meeting comes before the planned Sochi summit on November 22.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the Russian Black Sea resort city to hold a trilateral meeting with Iran and Russia regarding the Syrian crisis and focus on a possible political solution.

Erdogan was previously in Russia on Nov. 13 to discuss the Astana process.

[12] Turkish FM: Ankara seeks alternatives as US delays defense equipment

"Unfortunately the U.S. has delayed giving us defense equipment we urgently need to fight terrorism because of 'internal issues," an official Foreign Ministry booklet written to inform parliament mentioned.

For this reason Turkey needs to solve the shortage by other means, and is looking to expand national production, said the Ministry.

The U.S., which is home to the world's most advanced technology, has been Turkey's top supplier of defense equipment for many years, primarily because the two countries are both NATO allies, the defense said.

Although the Turkish government has recently announced the completion of the purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles, talks on the transfer of technology are still at the negotiating table.

Ankara is also discussing a further deal with a European consortium. "We are also making preliminary agreements with the EUROSAM consortium in order to develop, produce and secure our own sources of air defense systems," Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said.

[13] Gov't signals pre-election alliance for 2019 elections

"With 50 percent plus one [vote for presidency], political stability is achieved. . In this respect, when we take this into consideration and pre-election alliance can be considered. It can be discussed ," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists on his return flight from Qatar late Nov. 15.

The current election law does not allow political parties to form pre-election alliances. The government has to change the law in a bid to harmonize it with constitutional amendments.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli had suggested the current electoral threshold be lowered, with concerns that his party could remain below 10 percent in upcoming polls in 2019.

But Erdogan had said there are no legislative efforts aimed to reducing the electoral threshold.

"In my opinion, it can be said that it is early for such a discussion. But as a country, we have experience on the threshold issue. We have to look at the issue as an issue of economic and financial stability," he said, adding that for the 2019 elections, a political alliance can be formed to overcome the issue.

"It is something that our relevant institutions should work on and make the necessary evaluations. The steps that can be taken can be assessed later," he added.

Erdogan also answered questions concerning his speech on Nov. 10, the 79th anniversary of the passing of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in which he praised Ataturk as the founder of the Republic and the leader of the independence war.

"I stressed in my speech that there should not be taboos in Turkey. To love Ataturk is one thing while practicing Ataturkism is something else. This is what we are trying to explain," he said.

He slammed opposition parties for criticizing him for not using the name Ataturk, but instead referring to him as just Mustafa Kemal, calling on the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to "read Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk."

"They say that I do not use the name Ataturk. There is no such thing. There are places where I use, it there are some where I don't," he said.

[14] Turkey's AKP said fears losing Istanbul and Ankara in 2019 elections

"The AKP [Justice and Development Party] which is assessing the "No" outcome in the April 16 referendum in Istanbul and Ankara, is discussing the option to hold "general elections prior to local elections" in order to secure "50% + 1" of the votes.

MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] Chairman Devlet Bahceli has opened the 10 percent electoral threshold to discussion, but the AKP's agenda is set to the timing of elections rather than the threshold. The idea to hold early presidential elections in 2018 is being voiced in the AKP due to fears that a defeat in Istanbul and Ankara could cause the general elections to be lost as well. However, whenever there is a debate about early elections, the spokespersons of the ruling party insist elections will be held on time. In this case, local elections will be held first in March 2019, and presidential and parliamentary elections will follow in November.

MHP leader Bahceli also said that he did not want early elections, saying that the 10 percent minimum electoral threshold should be lowered. Bahceli has not been able to draw its unofficial partner AKP's attention to the issue of the electoral threshold so far. This is because for the AKP, the calculations for the timing of the election, referred to as "the most critical elections since the 2002 elections which brought AKP to power," is far more pressing than the threshold issue. In the AKP, a new "risk area" has been identified for the two upcoming elections to be held consecutively in 2019. This risk came up because local elections are scheduled to be held prior to the general elections if the latter is held on time and not early. The risk is expressed as "the loss of Istanbul and Ankara." Serious concerns about losing the Istanbul and Ankara metropolitan municipalities have been voiced for the first time since 2002, when the AKP came to power. Maybe even since 1994 when the RP [Welfare Party] which had been shut down won the municipalities.

The most important indicator of the said risk is the April 16 referendum outcome in Istanbul and Ankara. "No" votes in both cities had surpassed the "yes" in the referendum. In particular, the subsequent decline in the polls and the continuing tendency of the urban-conservative-young voters to move away from the AKP caused alarm for Istanbul and Ankara. Later, the forced resignation of the Istanbul and Ankara mayors with reference to the "metal fatigue" metaphor increased intraparty concerns about the increasing disorder in the party organization and grassroots. The poor record of the MHP in past local elections and the fact that it lost a significant portion of its voters to the "no" block gave rise to the assessment that even a possible alliance with this party could not eliminate the risk associated with Istanbul and Ankara.

Messages to the effect that the CHP and other constituent parties of the "no" bloc in the referendum could act jointly also influenced this approach in AKP. Good Party Chairman Meral Aksener announced her goal of running for "President," and this was interpreted as a sign that her party would act together with the opposition bloc in local elections. The fact that the CHP [Republican People's Party] is contemplating nominating candidates that will get votes from other parties as well, and that the HDP [Peoples' Democratic Party] is sharing a similar position, forced the AKP to conclude that "To win major metropolises like Istanbul and Ankara in the local elections will require getting 50%+1 of the votes, just like the presidential election."

All these assessments led to the conclusion that the loss of Istanbul and Ankara in the local elections set to be held in March 2019 could overturn all plans. This gave voice to concerns that the loss of Istanbul and Ankara could trigger a "domino effect" that would create a sense of "we are losing" to spread and pave the way for a defeat in the presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2019. To eliminate all these risks, formulas for holding the general elections prior to local elections were discussed, in contrast to the CHP's proposal to hold early "local elections." According to one formula, "Erdogan will be elected President in the event of early general elections. Going into local elections with such momentum could bring victory in Istanbul and Ankara if strong figures are nominated."

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(CS / AM)

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