Denktas who had two stents placed in one of his arteries was discharged from the hospital this morning.

Denktas had been admitted to hospital on Saturday night following complaints of chest pains. In a statement regarding his condition, so-called minister of health Filiz Besim said that Denktas was doing fine.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? spoke with Denktas over the phone yesterday wishing him a speedy recovery.

[08] Ancient artefacts found in the occupied village of Pigi

(DPs)

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Erdogan held an election rally in Bosnia Herzegovina

"The reason I am here [now] is that I received this intelligence," Erdogan told reporters in Sarajevo, speaking alongside his Bosnian counterpart.

"Such threats and operations will not stop us from going forward. We will continue on our path," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag May 19 warned of possible "assassination threats" against Erdogan during his visit to Bosnia on May 20.

"We are aware that there are circles that are uncomfortable with such a great leader, a man with a cause. We are aware that they want to get rid of our President. These assassination threats are not new, they have always been there," Bozdag tweeted.

"But Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not a man who would be afraid of death threats, or who would turn away from his path and his cause," he added.

Meanwhile, speaking in Sarajevo, Erdogan once again slammed Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Islamic preacher who Ankara accuses of masterminding the July 2016 coup attempt, which left at least 250 people dead and many more injured.

"FETO is trying to survive like an octopus that has its arms wrapped around all departments of the government," Erdogan said, referring to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), which Ankara says is a terror network led by Gulen from Pennsylvania.

"Our fight in this regard requires a great amount of effort," he said. "We expect FETO's presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina to come to an end as a result of mutual efforts. We are open to all kinds of cooperation," he added.

Erdogan arrived in Bosnia yesterday to hold a rally ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections next month.

Speaking at the rally, he told the crowd that "on June 24 voters will not only be choosing a President and Deputies. At the same time we will be making a choice for our country's upcoming century."

"What I request of you is that you take an active role in the political parties in the countries where you live. Those Parliaments should not only host those who are betraying their country. You should also take your place there. Turkish society has that power," he added.

The capital Sarajevo was chosen for the event after countries such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have barred.

(…)

[02] CHP's announces his election manifesto; Reference on the Cyprus problem

Ince unveiled his election manifesto on May 19, the 99th anniversary of the launch of the War of Independence by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey in Samsun, a Black Sea costal city from where Ataturk started a three-year war against occupying forces in 1919.

"The first step to be taken for the rule of law will be the removal of state of emergency rule. Necessary reforms and regulations will be made for the relevant state institutions, particularly the Constitutional Court, to fulfil their duty of carrying out impartial and democratic inspection. Competent and impartial judges will be able to inspect elected officials," reads Ince's manifesto.

The Judges' and Prosecutors' Board (HSK) will be re-composed and the Justice Minister and undersecretary of the Justice Ministry will not take place in the new composition of the board, it adds.

The manifesto stresses the importance of a new Constitution that will re-institute a strong parliamentary system on the basis of an effective system of separation of powers.

"Our indispensable objective is to apply democracy with all its norms and institutions and without interruption. Some administrative powers currently in the hands of the central government will be handed to local administrations," it states.

Ince's manifesto notes that Turkey is fighting against a number of terrorist organizations including the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO), the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It stresses that these organizations pose a threat to Turkey's democracy, national unity and security and the fight against them will "continue without hesitation."

The manifesto cited five main pillars on which Ince's presidency will focus, with the objective of "healing the problems of the Turkish people and re-establishing the tarnished values of the Republic of Turkey."

The first pillar, the Justice Pillar, will deal with the problems in the field of rule of law. The Democracy Pillar will be based on strengthening fundamental rights and freedoms, on societal peace, pluralism and free media. The Economy Pillar envisages the continued growth of the Turkish economy and fair distribution of resources. The Foreign Policy Pillar promises to adopt a policy based on introducing peace and security to Turkey. The Education Pillar focuses on boosting Turkey's standards to the level of more developed countries.

Meanwhile, Ince's manifesto prioritizes reconciliation between different parts of Turkey's polarized society.

"Brotherhood, peace, comfort and love will be our guiding values. We will win the presidency and we will get the majority at parliament. Then we will immediately launch works to repair the damage done so far," it states.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (19.05.18-http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/979095/Muharreminceninsecimmanifestosununtammetni.html) reported that Ince's manifesto prioritizes the normalization of Turkey's ties with the western countries that the EU based on Turkey's national interests. It also points out the following: "We will negotiate with the EU until the end and we will not allow for Turkey's EU negotiation talks to be suspended. We will be conscious of the fact that Europe also needs Turkey".

On the Cyprus problem, Ince's manifesto underlines that their goal would be a fair and urgent solution of the Cyprus problem.

(AK)

[03] Meral Aksener vows to lift the state of emergency if elected

"The state of emergency will be lifted the day after I'm elected," Aksener said, addressing thousands who had gathered for a weekly airing of broadcaster Halk TV's interview program.

"I will find a trustworthy logistics firm," she said, declaring her objectives set to be accomplished on June 24 if she gets elected in the snap polls. "I will move back all historic objects taken to the palace from the Cankaya Mansion and that belong to this nation and the state," said Aksener, adding that afterwards, reconstruction will begin".

Aksener also vowed she would cancel the privatization of Turkey's sugar factories on her first day in office. This is another contentious topic that has led to the protesting of factory workers in the streets since its announcement late February.

"We will remove [the Supreme Council of Education]," she promised.

"We will launch a program to give unemployment wages to the youth," she added, declaring her economic promises.

The presidential candidate also said 80% of the debts of citizens and students with low wages would be erased through certain criteria, while the remaining debt would be paid with deferred payments up to 10 years.

Furthermore, Aksener vowed to reopen the military high schools, including the Kuleli and Maltepe schools in Istanbul, and Is?klar in the north-eastern province of Bursa, which were all shut down as part of the measures taken in the country following the deadly coup attempt of July 15, 2016 and which were deemed as protective measures taken for the security of the country.

She also said she would like to dismiss the legislation that proposes the separation of universities.

Aksener said further that she has travelled through 61 cities in the course of six months since launching the IYI Party on Oct. 25, 3017 and promised to reinstall the parliamentarian system back in the country.

The presidential elections that will be held on June 24 will be critical for Turkey as the executive presidential system approved by the constitutional amendments will be fully in effect after the President is elected.

On May 5, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), IYI Party, Felicity Party (SP) and Democrat Party signed a declaration marking a four-way election alliance called the "Nation Alliance," pledging to "remove polarization, instil independence of the judiciary and ensure basic rights and freedoms." The AKP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have also formed what they call a "People's Alliance" and are jointly supporting Erdogan in the election.

Aksener vowed on May 18 that she and her party would support any presidential runner against Erdogan on June 24.

"I am the only person [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] is afraid of," she said, showing evidence that her rallies are not broadcasted on Turkish media providers.

"Erdogan chooses his opponents. He then frames them and then kicks them out," said the candidate.

"There is only one candidate who does not fit that action plan and that is Meral Aksener," she added.

[04] Akar urges Greece not to make 'miscalculations' over Aegean

"We can conduct operations in Afrin [in northwest Syria]. We can conduct operations in [Turkey's] east and southeast. If necessary, we will fulfil any duty that may be assigned to us in the Mediterranean and in the Aegean without hesitation. No one should make any miscalculation on this issue," Akar was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu Agency on May 20.

Akar was speaking during a visit to the TCG Gaziantep battleship, which is taking part in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) White Strom military exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. He was accompanied by the force commanders of the land, navy and air forces.

He did not openly mention Greece but his remarks clearly referred to the country, as there has long been tension between the two NATO members over sovereignty claims on a number of disputed islets in the Aegean Sea. Akar recently held an in-person meeting with his Greek counterpart Adm. Evangelos Apostolakis at the NATO headquarters on the margins of a NATO meeting.

"What is essential is good neighbourly relations, friendship and respect for human rights and international law. We are expressing our views on this issue at appropriate platforms. But we have always expressed that we are ready to use all the authorities pledged to us unfalteringly if dialogue and cooperation do not work," Akar said.

He also underlined that Turkey is also "closely following developments in the Black Sea" and is in constant talks with the littoral countries for the security and the stability of the region.

"Our fight against the terrorism continues with determination through 365 days of the year at the same intensity and pace. Our efforts are to finish the job after neutralizing the last terrorist," Akar stated, also referring to ongoing operations in the Idlib, Afrin and al-Bab areas of Syria.

"There are a number of land mines and improvised explosive devices in Afrin. Our works to clear Afrin of these are continuing," he said, also praising the role of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

"The FSA has shown great heroism and has achieved great successes," he said.

"Our operation [in Afrin] has been completed without any damage given to any innocent person thanks to our sensitively crafted plans, unlike other countries present in Syria. Despite this a very serious smear campaign has been conducted [against Turkey]. To understand that smear campaign, it is sufficient to compare the situation in post-operation Afrin with post-operation Mosul, Aleppo, Raqqa and East Ghouta," Akar said.

He further noted that Turkey has "suffered a lot" because of the July 2016 coup attempt. The network of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, widely believed to have been behind the coup attempt.

"However, after this treason we have become stronger. We see we are getting much stronger as we are cleaning the army of members of the [Fethullahist Terror Organization] FETO. All elements of the armed forces have fulfilled their duties heartily and with much more success compared to past performances," Akar said.

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(AK/ AM)

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