Erkmen was speaking on the European Court of Human Rights latest decision regarding the application of Andriani Ιoannou.

He said that the ECHR's decision had become final after the Turkish side had not filed an appeal against the court ruling, ordering the "commission" to pay the applicant €7,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage and €6,325 in respect of costs and expenses, within three months from the date on which the judgment became final.

Erkmen pointed out the court's ruling was specific to the case and did not mean the effectiveness of the "commission" can be questioned. "Within the framework of Article 35 of the European Convention of Human Rights, the IPC continues to serve as an effective domestic remedy for Greek Cypriot property claims" he said.

However, Turkish Cypriot daily Detay newspaper, (27.03.18) writes that the data posted on the website of the "Immovable property commission" are not in accordance with the statements of Erkmen.

According to this data, 6,401 applications by Greek Cypriots have been submitted since 2006 and during the next 12 years from that date until today, only 1,079 applications were finalized.

According to this date, the payments that were made refer to applications that the compensation price was not very high. It also shows that 268 million sterling pounds were paid for compensations to Greek Cypriots until today.

[04] Afrika "trial" begins on 7 May – Kibris' editor-in-chief was deceived to become a witness of the "prosecution"

Meanwhile, Ali Baturay, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris' editor-in-chief writes in his column today (27.03.18) that two "police officers" visited him a couple of months ago after a call he had received by a friend. The "police" asked him some things regarding the work of an editor-in-chief and whether an editor-in-chief is responsible for the caricatures published in a paper. Under the title "They say we are witnesses in the case filed against Afrika and we had no idea about it", Baturay reports that afterwards he understood that the "police" would use this information in the "trial" against Afrika and Sener Levent. He notes also that yesterday Sener Levent called and told him that he and Kibris' caricaturist Utku Karsu were included in the list of witnesses against Afrika. Baturay writes that the "police" did not tell them that they visited them to include them in the list of witnesses of the "prosecution" in the Afrika case, that is, "they deceived us, they tricked us". Baturay says that he does not accept to be a witness against Afrika and that if they told him that the purpose of the meeting would be to make him a witness against Afrika, he would not have accepted to meet with the "police".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Reactions against the political expansion of the AKP in the occupied area of Cyprus

The chairman of BKP, Izzet Izcan said in the statement that the intensive expansion of the AKP party in the "TRNC" has taken threatening dimensions and constitutes a threat for the Turkish Cypriot community's identity and existence.

"After the opening of AKP central office, AKP has started opening district offices and also youth offices. It is unacceptable to utilize media organs in order to make propaganda", said Izcan, pointing out that there is no other country in the world which permits to another country to politically administrate it.

Izcan called on the so-called government and the other political parties which are represented in "parliament" to clarify their stance towards the "political organization of the AKP-MHP coalition in the TRNC".

On the same issue, the "general secretary" of the "independence road organization" Munur Rahvancioglu, wondered whether it is "legal or not for a political party in Turkey to open representation offices in the TRNC and to establish youth brunches".

In a written statement, Rahvancioglu accused the so-called ministry of interior "of not showing the necessary sensitivity towards the implementation of the law". Rahvancioglu called on the "ministry to explain on which laws and regulations the AKP has given approval to establish a representation office in Cyprus and a youth organization". He further explained that even though the "independence road organization" has sent a letter to the "ministry" on February 9 demanding a briefing by the "ministry" on this issue, they have not received a response yet.

Moreover, in a commentary in Turkish daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (27.03.18), columnist Cenk Mutluyakali argues that it is not the first time that a political party is opening a representation office in another country, supporting that this can happen since Turkey has "voters in the TRNC".

Providing as an example the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) which both have "representation offices abroad", the columnist supports that "it is not bad for a political party to be politically organized in another country providing that it does not have any effects in the internal situation of this country".

[…] The columnist supports that the main reasons for the reactions expressed against ΑΚΠ opening offices in the "TRNC" are the following:

Due to its mentality of being the Conquest (Fetih)

Due to its intervening stance

Due to the transferring of "population"

Due to its "effective intervention" into politics

Due to its stance "the one who pays the piper calls the tune"

Since it disclaims our "will-power"

The columnist goes on and writes that there are of course other realities about their ties with Turkey. "Whatever are the Turkish Cypriots' reactions against Turkey, they feel love and respect for Turkey. Turkey has contributed a lot here. All new investments in northern Cyprus have Turkey's signature. […]The Cypriot people have accepted the importance of Turkey's contribution and existence. And this is the problem, contrary to this "acceptance", they, however reject Turkey's subjugator and hegemony approaches. Considering the island's identity as insignificant cannot be accepted", the columnist writes.

(AK)

[06] Turkey not considering any moves against Russia, Deputy PM Bozdag says

"There is currently positive and good relations between Turkey and Russia. In this sense, Turkey is not planning on taking any decisions against Russia," said Bozdag after a cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

Also on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy condemned the poisoning of the ex-Russian spy, dubbing the use of chemical weapons a "crime against humanity."

"Turkey considers the use of chemical weapons as a crime against humanity and views the attack in the U.K. as such and condemns it," he said in a statement.

"Turkey joined the North Atlantic Council statement on March the 14th. Turkey's views on this attack were also expressed in the OSCE, the Conference on Disarmament and the Council of Europe," he added.

Calling for an investigation into the incident, Aksoy also said the perpetrators should be brought to justice as soon as possible.

On Monday, 15 EU member states expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in an orchestrated reaction, over the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

[07] Bozdag and Celik reacted agains Austria's Kurz statements

Speaking ahead of President Erdogan's summit meeting with EU leaders in the Bulgarian city of Varna, and after the weekly cabinet meeting in Ankara, Bozdag said he did not deem Kurz's comments significant, adding that Turkey would continue to mind its own business and not waste time on such discussion.

Calling Kurz young and inexperienced in state affairs, Bozdag said he has yet to understand the importance of Turkey, especially for Europe, Austria and their futures.

In an interview with Welt Magazine on Monday, Kurz said the EU should end negotiations with Turkey concerning Ankara's long-running accession talks for membership in the bloc.

Regarding the statements by Austrian Chancellor Kurz that the talks on membership between the EU and Turkey should be ended, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik said "We continue our work despite persons like Chancellor Kurz. We are working to produce the positive agendas needed by the world and our region."

[08] Bozkir stated that the US Congress may not approve the purchase of F-35 if Turkey purchase the S-400 from Russia

Bozkir further stated that the above approach in the US Congress is not a threat but it's a "way of using an iron hand in a velvet glove". Bozkir added that the S-400 is one thing and the F-35 is another. He explained that their cooperation with the USA regarding the implementation of the F-35 project concerns Turkey not only for its own security but also for the security of NATO as well.

(AK)

[09] Turkish Commentary: Media to be 'One Voice' after Dogan sale, arbitrary censorship to propagate

"The media was monopolized by pro-government groups. The RTUK [Radio and Television Supreme Council] regulation for the internet became a law. The media professional organization, in turn, issued a call to wage a struggle for democracy against the 'one voice'.

The representatives of TGS [Journalists Union of Turkey], TGC [Turkish Journalists' Association], and DISK Basin-Is [Confederation of Progressive Unions of Turkey] have issued the following warning in their assessment of the steps undertaken to create a 'one-voice media: "In the aftermath of this sale, a large number of journalists will join the ranks of unemployed journalists. Arbitrary censorships will continue in layers. It will be much more difficult to reach the truth. We have to stand up for the right to information and independent media.

Agreement has been reached for the sale of Turkey's biggest media group, the Dogan Media Group, to pro-government Demiroren Group. In the announcement it issued on the sale, Dogan Holding said: "We have initiated talks regarding the sale of all of our components, which operate in the print and visual media, to the Demiroren Holding on an operating value of $1.1 billion and a share value of $890 million."

While discussions around the announcement were under way, the law on RTUK supervision over the internet was passed in the TBMM [Turkish Grand National Assembly]. As of now, RTUK can impose a broadcasting ban on video contents as well. A Criminal Court of Peace judge can make a ruling in 24 hours upon a request by RTUK without a hearing. This ruling can be objected according to the rules of the Criminal Court Law.

The media professional organization, which assessed both developments, and representatives of political parties issued a call to "own the truth and stand up against one voice."

TGC President Turgay Olcayto made the following assessment with regard the recent developments: "We are fast moving into a one voice, one party administration." Oltayco continued: "Every kind of effort is under way to stop journalism's breath in Turkey. To this end, the government is taking speedy steps to establish a one-voice media. One of these efforts is the ban and supervision imposed on internet. This will kill the internet; in other words, the social media. Another development, which will make journalism very difficult, is the sale of the Dogan Media Group. With this sale, it looks like many journalists will join the ranks of the army of the unemployed. In particular, those ofmy colleagues who focused on critical journalism will find it very difficult to find another position. The situation of those dailies that are known for critical journalism will become increasingly difficult. In fact, a very valuable colleague called me in the morning and left the following mes sage after not reaching me: "My condolences on our profession." Actually, I extend my condolences to all of us, with the departure of Hurriyet even though Hurriyet was sort of close to the government. It assumed a significant place, however, in the news sector and due to its past. We have continuously written about this issue, but unfortunately our colleagues insisted on not understanding. Nobody made a reaction. Today, we are face to face with the realities. Indeed, we are speedily moving toward a one voice, one party administration."

TGS general organization secretary Mustafa Kuleli, in turn, said the following: "21 March was the last day for our traditional media. This day, which symbolizes the arrival of spring and rebirth, can also be a milestone in a new beginning for all of us. First the bad news: Finally, the media in Turkey gathered around one hand. After the one man regime takes over the Dogan Media Holding companies, a blander, dry, and less boisterous media environment will have been created. The existing work practices of the opposition media will become less productive after Dogan News Agency and its distribution company Yay-Sat is taken over by Demiroren. It could be a large number of media workers will be dismissed and it also could be that some of them will not be able to find work for a long time. This darkest hour of the night, however, can also be seen as the time closest to the rising of the sun. Let no journalist think that they are alone. The Union is always with them both in their good and bad days.

The requisite of a license for all the audio-visual broadcasts over the internet and the RTUK supervision may be discouraging. It should not be forgotten, however, that the internet environment has always found a way to surmount such censorship mechanisms. As long as the internet maintains its non-center based essence, the intention of those such as RTUK, which seek to control the media with a local supervision mechanism, will consist of nothing but an archaic and ridiculous whim."

In his assessment to our daily, DISK Basin-Is Chairman Faruk Eren said the following: "They want that not even one contrarian voice be uttered, that not even one word be said against the irregularities during the elections. The sale of the Dogan Group, in particular, cannot be said to be a profitable transaction. It is a sale, which was cooked up by the government. It is a very tragic thing that the Dogan Group was sold. Actually, the Dogan Group was not really engaged in opposition. We watched the wretchedness of the debates broadcast on televisions. It seems that they could not even tolerate this much. Under these circumstances, there are only a couple of channels from which the public can learn the truth. Only a couple of dailies such as Evrensel, Cumhuriyet, and BirGun, internet sites, and one or two television channels are left to learn the truth. The dailies are under a great deal of pressure. It seems that apart from Cumhuriyet, Evrensel and BirGun'den everything is on trial. Internet was the only channel and there are efforts to have an institution such as RTUK impose an arbitrary supervision on it. It is becoming apparent that in the very near future, arbitrary censorship will increasingly propagate. As a union, we issue the following call to the people: "Stand up to your right to information and the independent media (Cumhuriyet, Evrensel, BirGun). Otherwise, it will be very easy to be deceived.""

..

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/ AM)

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