The statement from the "Cyprus Turkish security forces" said that the "visits" to the navy warship had been extended due to high public interest.

The ship is open to public visits between 10am and 4pm.

[09] CHP submits documents on offshore allegations

The documents submitted on December 4 to the Ankara Prosecutor's Office by CHP Deputy Chair and Spokesperson Bulent Tezcan included a bank receipt, SWIFT messages and founding certificates for Bellway Ltd.

The submission came amid a bitter spat between the CHP and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's accusations last week that Erdogan's circles, including his family members, have conducted lucrative money transactions in the tax haven Isle of Man.

Kilicdaroglu initially brandished the documents during the CHP's parliamentary group meeting on Nov. 28, accusing five people - including Erdogan's son Burak Erdogan, his brother Mustafa Erdogan and three others - of engaging in money trafficking estimated at around $15 million through the company.

AKP officials reacted angrily to the accusations and denied them, urging CHP officials to either publicize the documents or hand them to the prosecutors.

Erdogan accused K?l?cdaroglu of "lying," saying "there was no money sent abroad … On the contrary, the money was sent within [Turkey]."

"They had sold their existing companies," he said, adding that his lawyers had filed a legal complaint against Kilicdaroglu demanding non-pecuniary damages worth 1.5 million Turkish Liras.

CHP Spokesperson Tezcan showed the original documents in a press conference on Dec. 2, saying that if the money was sent to Erdogan's close circle rather than the company "it would mean either money laundering or tax evasion."

The Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office also launched an investigation following the spat, requesting the original documents from the main opposition party for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the AKP Spokesman Bekir Bozdag called on Kilicdaroglu to resign on Dec. 4, saying the documents that Tezcan showed "proves that the CHP's initial argument is false."

"These documents prove that neither our President nor anybody from his family sent a dime to any company in the Isle of Man," Bozdag said after the cabinet meeting.

Kilicdaroglu initially argued that Erdogan's close circle "sent money to an off-shore company" but these receipts "show that there was no money sent," he added.

"These documents are evidence showing that Kilicdaroglu is a slanderer," he said, demanding the CHP leader's resignation.

"Mr. Kilicdaroglu, who is dishonorable now? Who is the slanderer? Who is the liar?" he added.

However, CHP Deputy Group Chair Ozgur Ozel said that Kilicdaroglu would make a new statement on Dec. 5 concerning the Iranian-Turkish trader Reza Zarrab who is currently a key witness in a New York trial of a former Turkish state bank official.

[10] Erdogan clarifies remarks criticizing businessmen for 'moving assets abroad'

"I do not have any instructions for the restriction on capital flows," Erdogan said at a meeting in Ankara on December 4.

"Turkey is bound to a free market economy. Everyone in Turkey has the right to transfer money abroad since 1989 and this right is in place today," he said.

At a rally in the southeastern Anatolian town of Mus, Erdogan had said that he had information that some business people had made an effort to move their assets abroad and asked Cabinet members to deal with this issue.

Erdogan subsequently said his words had been "misinterpreted," underlining that he had referred to a small group of businessmen who intended to move their assets because they do not trust the state of the Turkish economy.

"We are proud of the investments made by our business people when we see them in the countries we visit. All companies - local and foreign - continue their operations in integrity with the global financial system," Erdogan stressed.

"We cannot say a word against those who move sources abroad for investment, seeking exports or trade," he added.

Erdogan repeated his calls to Turkish business people to adopt a "national stance" at a time when Turkey is going through "difficult days and economic pressure."

"When will our business people defend their country, if not today? No offense, but a business person who does not defend his or her country today is not a national one," he said.

Erdogan also stated that people linked to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen who have moved their resources from Turkey abroad "are already traitors."

[11] Turkey warns that possible US move to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital will be a 'disaster'

"If other steps are taken for Jerusalem, whose status is under protection by international agreements, the outcome will be disastrous," Bozdag said, speaking after a Cabinet meeting.

"Such a move would entirely abolish the peace process and pave the way for new uneasiness," he said, adding that unforeseen and open ended incidents could come up.

"Neither Israelis nor Palestinians nor others would benefit from such a move", Bozdag said, adding also the following: "International agreements and United Nations Resolutions require the protection of Jerusalem's status, and the U.N. has a separate commitment to maintain this status. Turkey reminds everyone once again of their responsibilities and commitments at this point," he said.

[12] "Erdogan is poised to survive the Zarrab affair"

"Many people in Turkey are wondering whether confessions by Reza Zarrab, revealing how he bribed government and state officials to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Iran, will harm President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan's name was mentioned in the court in New York, but only in passing and on the basis of a second hand account. Zarrab said that the former Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, who Zarrab alleges he showered with bribes, told him that Erdogan instructed two state banks to cooperate with him

Experienced U.S. court reporters found it curious that the judge made no issue of this claim and let the proceedings simply move on. Whether this is normal or not, it strengthened the hand of those claiming that this is a politically motivated case. The judge could have reminded the jury that what Zarrab said about Erdogan was second hand information, but he didn't.

Regardless of how this case proceeds, Erdogan has a good chance of being able to turn it to his advantage, having seen what Zarrab's best shot against him is. If Zarrab had a better shot he would clearly not have held back.

Erdogan is right when he says that U.S. sanctions are not binding on Turkey because they are not sanctions agreed on by the U.N. That is what he is basing his argument in this case on. His weakness, however, is that people are not really concerned with this issue.

What they really want to know is whether Zarrab's allegations that Erdogan's former Ministers, starting with Caglayan, as well as the head of a state bank, received tens of millions of dollars in bribes.

The people accused by Zarrab were indicted and some – including Zarrab himself – were arrested on similar charges in Turkey in December 2013. These cases were promptly dropped after the government intervened, claiming that they had been initiated by supporters in the judiciary of Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher accused of masterminding the July 2016 military coup attempt.

This turns out to be the trap that Erdogan and his government have fallen into. Almost everyone today agrees that if Zarrab and the others accused in 2013, had been tried in Turkey, matters would not have come to a head in the U.S. as they have done today.

However, if those accused by Zarrab in New York face new indictments in Turkey, Erdogan could save the day for himself. But there is an obvious question that comes to mind at this point: What if those indicted in Turkey implicate Erdogan or members of his family?

The judiciary in Turkey today is under executive control. The ruling party has an active and effective propaganda apparatus in place. Erdogan has a dedicated following that believes he has achieved an Islamic revolution of sorts in Turkey, which could be rolled back if he leaves the scene.

With all of this working for him, Erdogan will easily be able to survive this affair at home. Ironically Zarrab, who is now also the subject of indictments in Turkey, is also set to survive it.

There are reports in the U.S. media that he is likely to have been promised residency in U.S., after he serves any sentence. He may not even receive any sentence, but if he does it is likely to be minimal given his cooperation with the prosecution.

So the only fall guy will be Mehmet Hakan Atilla, the former deputy head of state lender Halkbank. Atilla is now the only one being tried in New York and - by Zarrab's own admission - he did not even receive any bribes, but rather was forced to follow orders from above.

Unless, that is, Erdogan issues an order for those accused of taking bribes in Turkey to also be pursued, even if they were let off in 2013. Former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is the only member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who has come out to say this should happen.

Zarrab has now spilled all the beans that the Turks are interested in. All eyes in the country will now be turned to what happens to those accused by him in Turkey.

How Erdogan manages this process will be politically critical".

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

https://www.pio.gov.cy/moi/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/EDB254ABD6F3EAE1C225816F00425E83?OpenDocument

(AK / AM)

Copyright (C) 2017 Press and Information Office, All rights reserved.

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article