Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-12-29

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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] Five or six political parties in the occupied area of Cyprus to be able to "enter parliament" according to the last public survey conducted by Gezici

[02] Self-styled foreign ministry: "A two-state solution may come into the agenda"

[03] Articles in the Turkish Cypriot media reports on tension in the Mediterranean

[04] Ozgurgun: "Cyprus talks with the same parameters is a waste of time"

[05] Ozersay: "We should be imprisoned again at the negotiating table

[06] Warning by the "higher election board" for two years imprisonment to those trying to "gain votes" with illegal methods

[07] Allegations said that efforts were exerted to postpone the "scheduled new year celebrations" at the "Hala Sultan theological school"

[08] "Figures" on the occupation regime's imports and exports for the third quarter of the year

[09] Turkey and the US end months-long visa row

[10] The CoE to examine latest decree laws in Turkey

[11] Aksener signals the possibility of snap elections in Turkey in 2018

[12] MHP to cleanse all Gulenists from party by 2019 elections

[13] Cavusoglu met with his Japanese counterpart in Ankara

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Five or six political parties in the occupied area of Cyprus to be able to "enter parliament" according to the last public survey conducted by Gezici

According to the results of the survey, five or six political parties would receive a percentage higher than the "election threshold" of 5% to enter into the "assembly", if "elections" were held today. These parties are the following: National Unity Party (UBP) 35,3%, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) 26,1%, People's Party (HP) 13,9%, Social Democracy Party (TDP) 6,3% and Democratic Party (DP) 8.9%. The Revival Party (YDP) which is the settler's party under Arikli would remain to 5,3%, the Communal Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG) to 3,4% and the Nationalist Democracy Party (MDP) to 0.8%

Asked what they had voted in the "parliamentary elections" in 2013, the participants in the survey replied: UBP 27,22% %, CTP 38,58%, DP 22,57%, TDP 7,43%, BKP 2,46% and Other 1,73%.

Meanwhile, the following table presents the survey results including the undecided voters:

Distribution of votes for the participants' party preference today

If "general parliamentary elections" were to take place today, which party would you vote for?] % % Distribution of Mixed and Undecided votes &

National Unity Party (UBP) 23,11 29,04 35,3%

Republican Turkish Party (CTP) 17,07 21,45 26,1

People's Party (HP) 9,12 11,46 13,9

Social Democracy Party (TDP) 4,12 5,18 6,3

Communal Liberation Party – New Forces (TKP-YG 2,23 2,81 3,4

Democratic Party (DP) 5,86 7,36 8,9

Revival Party (YDP) 3,46 4,34 5,3

Nationalist Democracy Party (MDP) 0,52 0,66 0,8

Mixed vote 17,7 17,7 -----

Undecided voters 16,8 -------- -----

Total 100 100 100

The statistic confidence bounds acceptance deviation of the survey is within +-3.1.

(AK)

[02] Self-styled foreign ministry: "A two-state solution may come into the agenda"

In a written statement issued yesterday by the "foreign ministry", it is claimed that "the ministry watches amazedly the Greek Cypriot administration of south Cyprus (as the Republic of Cyprus is being referred) to continue its hydrocarbon activities in the East Mediterranean despite all the warnings made to them until today, and to overlook the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, joint owners of the island, on the natural resources".

The statement also claimed: "The beginning of a new drilling activity is the latest example of these illegal steps and is a repetition of the mistakes made in the past", adding that "their unilateral steps show that the Greek Cypriot side consider itself as the only legitimate owner of the island".

The statement further alleged that the main reason of the failure of the Conference on Cyprus on July this year despite all the Turkish Cypriot side's constructive efforts is the Greek Cypriot side. "We would like to use this unfortunate occasion to once again remind that the Turkish Cypriot people, as joint owners of the island, have legitimate and equal rights in the natural resources of the island. It is therefore required to seek the approval of the Turkish Cypriots before any exploration or drilling activity takes place", the statement read.

The statement further alleged that the best way to contribute towards a just and lasting Cyprus solution would be to "freeze hydrocarbon activities around the island" or to proceed with exploration through a 'mutually agreed framework'. "If this approach is not taken, the Turkish Cypriot side, alongside motherland and guarantor Turkey, will take all necessary measures to secure our rights and interests," the statement concluded.

(DPs)

[03] Articles in the Turkish Cypriot media reports on tension in the Mediterranean

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (29.12.17), under the title "Turkey is sending Barbaros" on its front page, reports that the natural gas deposits on the Cyprus coasts brought once again the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides face to face. The paper further reports that while the Saipem oil platform belonging to the Greek Cypriots has entered Cyprus' area, Turkey is sending its Barbaros seismic research vessel into the area too.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (29.12.17), under the title "A new tension in Cyprus", reports: "The drilling vessel, which departed from Norway at the beginning of December, entered the Aegean Sea from southern Greece and is expected to be in Istanbul on Sunday". After the arrival of DeepSea Metro II to Istanbul, a takeover ceremony is planned. At the ceremony, self-styled minister of energy Sunat Atun will also attend.

The paper also recalls the statements by Turkey's Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who announced that after seismic vessel Barbaros Hayrettin Pasa will send to Mediterranean and the Black Sea the DeepSea Metro II to conduct national drilling explorations. Albayrak also alleged that no one should consider the East Mediterranean as his father's property, adding that their drilling will disturb some people.

(DPs)

[04] Ozgurgun: "Cyprus talks with the same parameters is a waste of time"

Ozgurgun also argued that the electricity project is ready and the electricity from "motherland" will reach the occupied area of Cyprus with cable in the coming period.

(DPs)

[05] Ozersay: "We should be imprisoned again at the negotiating table

(DPs)

[06] Warning by the "higher election board" for two years imprisonment to those trying to "gain votes" with illegal methods

The paper reports on the SMS message which the so-called foreign minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu has sent recently to Turkish settlers who have been recently "granted" the regime's "citizenship" wishing them "for the new citizenship which they have obtained" to be for the good of their "country" and their "people".

In the same message Ertugruloglu recalled that he is number 9 in National Unity Party's list in the occupied part of Nicosia during the forthcoming "elections".

Also, Bulut Akacan, candidate with the National Unity Party (UBP) in occupied Keryneia area for the forthcoming "parliamentary elections", has started distributing packages of coffee, on which he wrote that "one coffee has memories for forty years" and he is the candidate number three with the UBP in occupied Keryneia.

(AK)

[07] Allegations said that efforts were exerted to postpone the "scheduled new year celebrations" at the "Hala Sultan theological school"

According to the allegations, some "teachers" at the "theological school" attempted to put pressure to the "members of the students' council" to postpone the "scheduled" for today "new year celebrations". The same allegations say that the "teachers" tried to prevent the "bus' drivers" who transferred the "students" to the "school" for the "celebrations", while, at the same time the "teachers" threatened the "students" with punishment if they would attend the "celebrations".

In statements to the paper, the "director" of the "Hala Sultan theological school" denied the allegations and claimed that no problems were experienced at the "school" and that the "celebrations" will take place as scheduled.

(AK)

[08] "Figures" on the occupation regime's imports and exports for the third quarter of the year

According to the figures, the "exports" in July and August reached to 15,2 million dollars while the "imports" reached to 127,4 million dollars. The paper reports that the biggest part of both imports and exports is with Turkey. With Turkey holding the biggest share of imports, Turkey's share of imports until the end of July reached 60,3%. Also, the total share of imports from EU countries increase by 2,8% points in 2016 while by the end of July 2017 it has been reduced by 0,9% and came down to 20%.

(AK)

[09] Turkey and the US end months-long visa row

The US Embassy in Ankara and the Turkish Embassy in Washington issued separate statements on their Twitter accounts announcing the end of visa restrictions that were in place since early November. The US visa imposition began after Turkey arrested Metin Topuz, a local employee working as a liaison of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, over terrorism charges and alleged links to the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO).

"Since October, the Government of Turkey has adhered to the high-level assurances it provided to the United States that there are no additional local employees of our Mission in Turkey under investigation, that local staff of our Embassy and Consulates will not be detained or arrested for performing their officials duties – including communicating with Turkish officials also working in an official capacity – and that Turkish authorities will inform the US Government in advance if the Government of Turkey intends to detain or arrest any member of our local staff in the future," read the statement issued by the US Embassy in Ankara.

It announced that the Department of State is confident that "the security posture has improved sufficiently to allow for the full resumption of visa services in Turkey".

"We continue to have serious concerns about the existing allegations against arrested local employees of our Mission in Turkey. We are also concerned about cases against U.S. citizens who have been arrested under the state of emergency. US officials will continue to engage with their Turkish counterparts to seek a satisfactory resolution of these cases," it added.

Meanwhile, after this development, the Turkish lira gained value against the U.S. dollar on Thursday shortly after the US Embassy in Ankara announced full resumption of visa services for Turkish citizens.

The dollar/lira exchange rate dropped more than 1 percent to trade below 3.77 by around 6 p.m. local time (1500GMT), down from 3.8240 at Wednesday's close.

[10] The CoE to examine latest decree laws in Turkey

CoE Director of Communications Daniel Holtgen has told Hurriyet Daily News that amid concerns that the decrees enforce terror and coup suspects to wear uniforms in courts and grant impunity to civilians who fought against the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and its aftermath.

The body is monitoring whether the latest state of emergency decrees are compatible with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), Holtgen said on December 28.

"At this stage, there's only an assessment on the new decree laws, because there are some issues. Secondly, depending on the assessment, it's likely that we will be in touch with the Turkish authorities to ask for further information and clarification," said Holtgen, who is also the spokesperson of CoE Secretary-General Thornborn Jagland.

"Depending on that, thirdly, we may see need for further dialogue and suggestions with the Turkish authorities," Holtgen added. .

[11] Aksener signals the possibility of snap elections in Turkey in 2018

"I anticipate the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on July 15, 2018. It falls on a Sunday, that is the expectation," Aksener told journalists on December 28.

Turkey is scheduled to hold three elections in 2019, and the change in the governance system, stipulated by the constitutional amendments approved in the April referendum, will fully be in effect after the presidential elections and parliamentary elections.

"President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will never hold local elections before the general elections. Because they receive fewer votes in local elections," Aksener said.

Stressing that the IYI Party will present its own candidate in the presidential elections, she said she wants to form an alliance with the liberal Democratic Party (DP) and conservative opposition Felicity Party (SP).

"We will not form an alliance with the CHP in the first round, because in the presidential elections, all parties have to present their own candidates. The IYI Party has an ambition. The moment that you form an alliance with the CHP, our votes will disappear," she said.

"We might support the CHP's candidate if their nominee passes to the second round," Aksener said.

Aksener, who was once a Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy, argues that her party covers the center right-wing political scene in Turkey with her new party.

She said further that the party's preliminary researches indicate a positive outlook for her party in the western, eastern and southeastern provinces of Turkey.

"In Turkey's west, people are going back and forth between the AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party] and the CHP, while in Turkey's southeast, they are swinging between the AKP and HDP [Peoples' Democratic Party]," she said, adding that the MHP's alliance with the AKP in the April referendum had a negative impact on the MHP's votes.

Aksener said also that she is not expecting an alliance between the MHP and the AKP in the upcoming elections because MHP leader Devlet Bahceli "would not want to sit in the AKP's seats in Parliament."

Her comments came amid a discussion in Turkey on whether the two parties will form an alliance in the elections.

"Erdogan might offer 60 to 70 seats to the MHP. But if I know Bahceli well, he will not sit on an AKP seat and won't let any other MHP figures either," she said.

[12] MHP to cleanse all Gulenists from party by 2019 elections

Having finished a local congress ahead of the Ordinary Grand Congress scheduled for March 18, 2018, the MHP has also buckled down to work toward the 2019 local and general elections as well as the presidential race.

The party has so far completed 76 provincial and 803 district congresses. The MHP will now focus on getting prepared for the 2019 elections. Eradicating the FETO threat within the party will reportedly be the top priority for MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli.

Bahceli previously signaled a clean-up process when he said he knew who was affiliated with the terrorist group. "There may be members in administrations in Anatolia. They must have infiltrated among provincial heads," he said.

In line with the MHP chairman's call, some figures were not included on the lists at provincial and district congresses. The party will continue its detection of Gulenists in the party, who will then be expelled.

(…)

"[The goal] … is to turn it into an 'operational party' by using our movement in accordance with their political interests and dragging it into the streets," Bahceli said and claimed that FETO was trying to seize the nationalist party.

(…)

[13] Cavusoglu met with his Japanese counterpart in Ankara

"We have shared our common will to establish closer relations with Japan not only on the Syria matter but also on other humanitarian matters as well," Cavusoglu said during a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono to Ankara.

Cavusoglu added: "We want to enhance our relations to the level of this friendship in all areas, especially in the economy and politics."

The planned construction of a nuclear power plant at Sinop on the Black Sea coast, which includes a French-Japanese consortium, is a Turkish key project involving Japan.

Cavusoglu said also that "important steps" with Japan would be made next year. "I will also pay visit to Japan in the forthcoming period and our Economy Minister and Energy Minister will visit Japan."

Speaking at the joint news conference, Kono praised Turkey's regional leadership, singling out the Syrian refugee crisis.

He announced further a Japan-Turkey Security Council Meeting next year that would look at counter-terrorism policies.

Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Kono for nearly an hour.

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