Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-01-12

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CONTENTS

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] All eyes are turned to Denktas for a "coalition government"- Scenarios and statements

[02] New Cyprus Party criticized the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister

[03] "Turkish Cypriot chamber of Industry": "Let's talk about the presidential system"

[04] A delegation of the of Municipalities Council of Hungary is visiting the breakaway regime

[05] The breakaway regime is taking part in a tourism fair in Holland

[06] Turkey issues travel warning for citizens visiting US in retaliatory move

[07] Erdogan warns US that no one may establish a new state in northern Syria

[08] Erdogan and Putin discussed Syria and bilateral ties over the phone

[09] K?l?cdaroglu met with the EU Ambassadors in Ankara

[10] Turkey dismisses over 260 officials with new decree

[11] Turkey's top court rules to release two jailed journalists

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] All eyes are turned to Denktas for a "coalition government"- Scenarios and statements

The paper reports that the decision to be taken by DP's chairman, Serdar Denktas, who has been authorized by the party's council to carry out consultations for a possible "coalition government", is expected with interest. Denktas said that he will meet with everybody and closed the door to no one. It is alleged that Denktas is offended by the UBP, but he thinks that the condition of "legal proceedings", which is put forward for the establishment of a CTP-HP-TDP-DP four party "coalition government", will influence some members of his party and therefore he is hesitating to form such a "coalition".

It is said that the target is for the CTP-HP-TDP-DP four-party "coalition" to be a "technocrats' government", just like the one established under Sibel Siber in 2013. It is also argued that during the first contacts, the parties agreed that no "deputy" will be appointed as "minister" in the new "cabinet" and that TDP's Huseyin Angoilemli, the oldest "deputy", will become "prime minister".

According to the paper, some think that there could be a third option other than a three-party or a four-party "government". It is alleged that it is possible for an UBP-HP "coalition government" to be established, since, in spite of the fact that HP's chairman Kudret Ozersay opposes such an option, some members of the HP seem positive to a "coalition" with the UBP.

Referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.01.18) reports that after the information that secret meetings for establishing an UBP-HP "coalition government" was published, Tolga Atakan, HP's general secretary, stated that the allegation for an UBP-HP "coalition" is untrue and that this is not possible for the moment. Noting that the "official process" is starting today, Atakan denied that they had held a meeting with the UBP and added that they did not receive such an invitation.

Asked to comment on Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's recent statements [by which he had expressed the wish for a "government" to be established quickly and pointed out that no party should be excluded from a possible "coalition"] and on the allegations that these statements referred to the HP, Atakan argued that they do not think that the statements referred to their party, as they were not made for them. He recalled that many parties have said that they would not establish a "government" in the one or the other manner. "Therefore", he claimed, "the statement is not for us, it is just a wish, we view it in this framework".

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (12.01.18) refers to the ongoing process and notes that the only formula for establishing a right-wing "government" is the UBP-DP-YDP "coalition", which has 26 "seats" in the self-styled assembly. In statements to ADA TV, Faiz Sucuoglu, "deputy" with the UBP, did not exclude the above-mentioned cooperation and challenged the parties which have said that they will not cooperate with the UBP by claiming that if it is necessary, the UBP will remain in the "opposition" and that a four-party "coalition" will lead the UBP to establish a "government" alone as a result of "elections", which will be held after six months. He also argued that the DP and YDP see positively their cooperation with the UBP.

Furthermore, YDP's chairman, Erhan Arikli stated that they could consent to cooperating either with the right-wing or the left-wing parties on the condition that new "elections" will be held and the "elections law" will be revised.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (12.01.18) reports that Cemal Ozyigit, told illegal Bayrak television that his party sees positively the establishment of a four-party "coalition government", which will exclude the UBP and the YDP, adding that a "government" should be established the soonest because of the problems which must urgently be solved and the "traffic" which will begin in the Cyprus problem after the presidential elections in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[02] New Cyprus Party criticized the statements of Turkish Foreign Minister

Kanatli said that "Cavusoglu asked the Turkish Cypriot politicians to stop saying that they will not participate in a certain coalition government" and added that "this is a clear order and a message sent to the public".

(CS)

[03] "Turkish Cypriot chamber of Industry": "Let's talk about the presidential system"

According to a statement issued by "KTSO", "because every 2-3 years general elections are taking place and new governments are established in the TRNC the discussion of adopting the presidential system must begin. It also stated that is ready to facilitate this discussion.

(CS)

[04] A delegation of the of Municipalities Council of Hungary is visiting the breakaway regime

Speaking during the meeting, Siber claimed that the "TRNC is under an unjust isolation which is not compatible with the cultural and social relations". The "chairman of the Turkish Cypriot municipalities union" Ahmet Benli who was also present at the meeting claimed that the Hungarian delegation's visit took place through "diplomatic channels".

(CS)

[05] The breakaway regime is taking part in a tourism fair in Holland

According to the paper, more than 117,000 persons visited last years' fair.

A "TRNC pavilion" is in place at the fair where the visitors can be informed about tourism in the breakaway regime. The "ministry's" statement alleges that more tourists from Holland visited the "TRNC" after efforts exerted to attract visitors last year.

(CS)

[06] Turkey issues travel warning for citizens visiting US in retaliatory move

"We observe an increasing number of terror plots and acts of violence in the United States," the Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the attacks can be in the form of vehicles ramming pedestrians, bomb attacks, armed terror attacks and may be in city centers, cultural activities, metro stations, public buildings, prayer centers and even school campuses.

The U.S. has recently experienced attacks in Ohio University, Forth Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, Minnesota's Dar Al-Farooq Mosque and a Texas church, as well as cars ploughing into people in Charlottesville and New York. The latest was a bomb attack in a New York metro on Dec. 12.

The Ministry said that these were attacks carried out by far-right and racist groups, urging its citizens to take precautions during their travels

The move comes after the U.S. on January 11 urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Turkey "due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions."

[07] Erdogan warns US that no one may establish a new state in northern Syria

"No one should dare to establish a new state there. They will pay the price for it, if needs be. We are fully prepared," Erdogan said, addressing a meeting of neighborhood heads (muhtars) at the presidential palace in Ankara.

In response to the U.S.'s arming of the Syrian Kurdiah People's Protection Units (YPG), a group associated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in northern Syria, Erdogan said that a "strategic partner should not act in this way."

(…)

[08] Erdogan and Putin discussed Syria and bilateral ties over the phone

According to the same sources, during the conversation, Erdogan told Putin that ceasing regime attack on civilians in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib, Syria is key for the success of the Astana peace process and an upcoming Syria conference in Sochi, Russia.

They also discussed the ongoing Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant and Turkish Stream projects as well as other aspects of energy sector cooperation.

The two leaders also voiced their willingness to further improve bilateral ties in every area.

Erdogan and Putin also spoke about a meeting of the Turkey-Russia High-Level Cooperation Council set for later this year.

The Syria conference on Sochi is set to be held on January 29-30 with the participation of about 1,700 people.

[09] K?l?cdaroglu met with the EU Ambassadors in Ankara

In the meeting, the Ambassadors discussed Turkey's foreign and internal policy. CHP Deputy leader Ozturk Y?lmaz and European Union's Turkey delegation head Ambassador Christian Berger were present at the meeting.

"In the meeting, topics like Turkey-EU relations, the possibility of early elections, possible alliances and legislative harmonization were discussed," Y?lmaz said.

Y?lmaz added that Turkey's relationships with Russia, the EU and the United States were discussed extensively. The CHP expressed their efforts to reinstate Turkey's harmonization with EU values, democracy, human rights and superiority of law.

Y?lmaz also answered questions from reporters concerning the assessments from Ambassadors about political alliances for Turkey's upcoming presidential elections in 2019.

"The AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party] and the MHP [Nationalist Movement Party] had announced an alliance, as well as the BBP [Great Union Party] leader. The Ambassadors asked questions about these issues," he said.

The CHP leader also assessed EU-Turkey relations as French President Emmanuel Macron suggested an alternative for Turkey's membership to the union last week during Erdogan's visit to France.

"We do not dream of EU membership for Turkey when the law has been suspended and the country has surrendered to a state of emergency. But when we reinstate democracy and law, we will not think of anything but full membership," K?licdaroglu said, according to a source.

[10] Turkey dismisses over 260 officials with new decree

The new statutory decree was published in the Official Gazette on Friday.

Under the decree, 48 personnel from the Turkish Armed Forces -- including 44 soldiers-- were expelled.

Among the dismissed, 18, including 16 soldiers, were from land, and 30 others, including 28 soldiers, were from naval forces.

The new decree also reinstated 1,823 people who had been dismissed from their jobs for allegedly using the ByLock app, an encrypted mobile phone application used by FETO members to communicate during and after the defeated coup attempt.

Among the reinstated, 81 personnel were from land, while 20 personnel were from naval forces, and 22 others were from the air force.

Reinstatements came after the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's office said on Dec. 27 that 11,480 GSM number users were found to have been directed to the ByLock app "without their will".

The ByLock was used by FETO members before and during last year's defeated coup attempt.

[11] Turkey's top court rules to release two jailed journalists

Lawyer Veysel Ok, who made the application to the Constitutional Court on behalf of Sahin Alpay, said that the top court's decision could stand out as a milestone for journalist trials in Turkey.

"This ruling, which was the first application of its kind after the failed coup attempt, should set a precedent for all trials," said Ok.

"I hope this ruling is the first step towards broader rights of freedom of expression in the country," he added.

The two journalists, who have both been in prison for more than a year, were jailed in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt.

Both Altan and Alpay have been accused of "links to terrorist groups" and "attempting to overthrow the government," charges they have denied.

(…)

Around 145 journalists are in jail, according to the Turkish Journalists' Association.

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