Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-05-30

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Akinci is allegedly concerned but not surprised by President Anastasiades' reply on the Guterres Framework

[02] UBP seeks for answers by Akinci on the Guterres Framework

[03] KTOEOS reacts against retered General Basbug's statement

[04] Countdown for the "local elections": 111 candidates for 28 "municipalities"

[05] The Revival Party "will apply to court for the 174 persons whose citizenship was cancelled"

[06] "The Keryneia Initiative" complains on the construction of a new hotel in the occupied town of Keryneia

[B] Turkish Press

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Turkey confident over delivery of F-35s despite US Congress move

[02] Erdogan and Putin speak on phone, stress 'importance of using local currencies in bilateral trade'

[03] Merkel invites Erdogan to Berlin after the elections

[04] Erdogan files criminal complaint against Ince over Gulen allegation

[05] HDP presidential candidate Demirtas files an appeal with top court against his arrest

[06] Remres opinion poll on the upcoming Presidential elections in Turkey

[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Akinci is allegedly concerned but not surprised by President Anastasiades' reply on the Guterres Framework

In a written statement issued today, Akinci expressed his sorrow due to the fact that after giving no positive reply for one month, the day before yesterday President Anastasiades had allegedly categorically rejected his proposal of 30 April 2018 for turning the Guterres Framework into a strategic package agreement without watering it down. "Even though Mr Anastasiades has repeatedly said since the Crans Montana that he accepts the Guterres Framework, it was once again shown that the situation is not as such in reality", he claimed.

Referring to President Anastasiades' interview published the day before yesterday in "Phileleftheros" newspaper, Akinci alleged that with these statements President Anastasiades once more rejected the political equality and the effective participation of the sides in the administration and reiterated that he wants a system in which decisions will be taken with a simple majority. "With this stance, the Greek Cypriot leader shows that he prefers the continuation of the status quo on the island, in spite of the fact that he says the opposite", Akinci alleged arguing that the views expressed in the letters sent by President Anastasiades to the UNSG were outside the Guterres Framework, in spite of the fact that reference was made to the framework of the 30th of June.

Akinci concludes by claiming:

"Of course I feel sad because this important step which I have taken remained without a response again this time, like it happened in the previous examples. This step was an initiative undertaken, knowing [our] historic responsibility, for Cyprus as a whole to be able to reach a better future in peace and both communities to live in equality, freedom and security. I believe that it is absolutely necessary for the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots who say that they want a solution in Cyprus and their organizations and at the same time the international community, and mainly the UN and the EU, to objectively evaluate this situation".

(I/Ts.)

[02] UBP seeks for answers by Akinci on the Guterres Framework

Hasipoglu claimed that questions have been raised because of the timing of Akinci's statement, as it followed the illegal visit paid by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to the occupied area of Cyprus, the way by which it was made, as it has not been discussed at the breakaway regime's "assembly" and the ambiguity of its content.

Noting that Akinci refers to a document bearing the date of 30 June while the Greek Cypriot side to a document with the date of 4 July, Hasipoglu argued that Akinci has still not explained to the "people" the reference included in the document of the 30th of June that the guarantees cannot continue, what he understands from the Guterres Framework and under which conditions they could return to the negotiating table.

Hasipoglu recalled also recent statements made by President Anastasiades to "Phileleftheros" newspaper and called on Akinci to at least reply to the questions asked through this interview.

(I/Ts.)

[03] KTOEOS reacts against retered General Basbug's statement

In a statement issued yesterday by KTOEOS' chairperson, Selma Eylem it is noted that the above-mentioned treaties are supplements to the Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. "The sovereignty given to the established Republic cannot be transferred to the guarantors with a supplementary agreement", notes Eylem adding that the aim of the Treaties was to guarantee the Republic of Cyprus and to prohibit enosis and division.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Countdown for the "local elections": 111 candidates for 28 "municipalities"

Six candidates will run in the occupied part of Nicosia municipality: Mehmet Harmanci (current mayor, supported by the Social Democracy Party – TDP), Gencay Eroglu (supported by the Democratic Party – DP), Hasan Sertoglu (supported by the National Unity Party – UBP), Mehmet Unal Bay (supported by the settlers' Revival Party – YDP) and two independent candidates (Cetin Sadeli and Arif Salih Kirdag).

Four candidates will run for the occupied Famagusta "municipality": Erol Adalier (supported by the Republican Turkish Party – CTP) and three independent candidates (current "mayor" Ismail Arter, Huseyin Nurcin and Ulas Gokce).

Seven candidates will run for the occupied Keryneia "municipality": Birol Karaman (supported by the CTP) and six independent candidates (current "mayor" Nidai Gungordu, Omer Dalgakiran, Sumer Aygin, Ersoy Karaaziz, Akin Aki and Turgut Serdar).

Only three candidates will run for the occupied Morfou "municipality": current "mayor" Mahmut Ozcinar (supported by the UBP), Osman Bizcan (supported by the CTP) and independent Yalcin Cemal.

Three candidates will run for occupied Lefka "municipality' as well: Aziz Kaya (supported by the CTP), Fehmi Camlikoglu (supported by the People's Party – HP) and Timucin Pirgalioglu (supported by the UBP).

Five candidates will run for occupied Trikomo "municipality": Hasan Sadikoglu (supported by the UBP), Cemaliye Soganci (supported by the TDP) and three independent candidates (Fikter Civisilili, Oktay Guney and Halil Ibrahim Orun).

(I/Ts.)

[05] The Revival Party "will apply to court for the 174 persons whose citizenship was cancelled"

In a written statement, Zaroglu explained that "they will apply to the court for the 174 persons whose citizenship was cancelled".

(DPs)

[06] "The Keryneia Initiative" complains on the construction of a new hotel in the occupied town of Keryneia

The "Keryneia Initiative", in a press conference yesterday, announced that "the 15-acre public plot, which was next to the Kaya Palazzo hotel, was given for the construction of a 6-storey, five star hotel, with capacity of 500 beds".

In a statement, the Initiative argued that it is unacceptable without informing the civil organizations and the people who live nearly to get such decisions. They also complained that the "authorities have not given any answers to the activists and the representatives of Keryneia Initiative regarding the problems that the previous construction caused and now a new hotel will be built".

(DPs)

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkey confident over delivery of F-35s despite US Congress move

"I have no concerns. Because this is a substantial legal agreement that includes the joint production of some materials. We have made our payments regularly and this deal has nothing to do with our procurement of the S-400s," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a group of reporters late on May 29.

Turkey is an important NATO member and wants to meet its need for weapons from its allies, Cavusoglu said, while urging allied countries not to create arbitrary blockages on these issues. "If I need such weapons, I will certainly procure my immediate needs from somewhere. But I do not think there will be a problem. In many resolutions that stipulate sanctions, the Congress leaves the last word to the administration," he said.

Turkey will receive its first F-35 fighters from the U.S. on June 21.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (30.05.18, https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/05/30/turkey-will-meet-needs-elsewhere-if-us-does-not-sell-f-35-jets-fm-says) reports that Cavusoglu, speaking to reporters on a return flight from a visit to Germany, said that Turkey will look for alternatives. He noted that a roadmap will be drawn at the meeting with U.S. counterpart Mike Pompeo on June 4.

He further noted that Turkey's Ambassador to Washington, who had been recalled for consultations after Israeli forces killed Palestinian protesters in Gaza earlier this month, would return to Washington.

[02] Erdogan and Putin speak on phone, stress 'importance of using local currencies in bilateral trade'

The two held the call to discuss Syria, energy and economic relations, Reuters reported, citing a Turkish presidential source.

They also reportedly discussed Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is scheduled to go into operation in 2023, and the TurkStream pipeline project. Putin said he was pleased with the "advancements" in the conversation the report said.

[03] Merkel invites Erdogan to Berlin after the elections

Speaking to media during his visit at Germany's northern city of Dusseldorf for the commemoration ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the racist arson attack in Germany's Solingen city, Mevlut Cavusoglu said he will deliver the invitation to the Turkish President. He added that the invitation by Merkel came during their meeting at the commemoration ceremony.

During his visit, Cavusoglu also met his German counterpart Heiko Maas. The two Foreign Ministers also laid flowers at the Solingen attack monument.

On the same issue, Cavusoglu, marking the 25th anniversary of a deadly racist attack in Germany, called for unity in the fight against racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.

"Today, the only goal I have in attending this ceremony is to once again condemn with you all kinds of negative currents or distorted mentalities -- including racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia -- and to give a united message to fight it," Mevlut Cavusoglu told a commemoration ceremony in Dusseldorf.

"It is our duty to draw the necessary lessons from this tragedy, to be able to stand as one body to combat racism, to take effective measures against xenophobia to prevent them from being repeated again," he added.

[04] Erdogan files criminal complaint against Ince over Gulen allegation

Erdogan's lawyer, Huseyin Ayd?n, filed a lawsuit against Ince for "insulting the President", demanding non-pecuniary damages worth 100,000 Turkish Liras on May 29.

"The allegations of the accused amount to a serious violation of the President's personal rights and are completely baseless," the complaint letter read.

"It is out of the question that there was any permission from any individual or organization, including the individual [Gulen] that the accused alleged," the letter added.

The complaint came after Ince alleged on May 25 in a televised interview that Erdogan visited Gulen in Pennsylvania and "asked permission" to form ruling AKP. Gulen is a former close ally of Erdogan and the AKP but his network is now widely believed to have been behind the July 2016 coup attempt.

"There was one more person along with Erdogan. I am keeping this name secret for his own safety for now, but I will reveal it after I become President," Ince said on May 25.

Erdogan responded to the claims on May 28, calling on Ince to prove his allegations. "If you said I formed the AKP after I asked permission from Pennsylvania, you have to prove it. Such a thing is out of the question," Erdogan said in a rally in the western province of Manisa.

Ince repeated the allegations on May 29 at a public rally in the northeastern province of Trabzon, saying "the person who travelled with [Erdogan]" was the one who told him about the trip. "The person who you were very close with back then told me that you travelled together. I am not saying that person's name in order to protect him. We will give the details after June 24," he added.

[05] HDP presidential candidate Demirtas files an appeal with top court against his arrest

After his appeal for release was rejected by the Ankara 19th Penal Court of Peace on May 21, Demirtas took the case to the top court through his lawyers, the agency reported.

The former HDP co-chair's lawyers had taken the case to the upper court of the Ankara 20th Heavy Penal Court, which again rejected an appeal for his release in a ruling on May 24.

In its ruling, the court said there was "strong evidence" against Demirtas that could be "tampered with", Dogan News Agency reported.

Demirtas has been in jail for a year-and-a-half on a variety of charges in a number of cases, and faces a jail sentence of up to 142 years if convicted. He was nominated by the HDP as its presidential candidate earlier this month and is running for the presidency from his prison cell.

In his appeals notice, Demirtas said it is a violation of his rights that he is imprisoned as a presidential candidate, and that he also has the right to elect and get elected.

The appeal filed with the Constitutional Court states Demirtas's continued jailing further overshadows the legitimacy of the elections.

Meanwhile, the HDP has applied to the Justice Ministry, seeking permission for Demirtas to join a special election debate show on Fox TV via a pay phone in prison.

The party seeks authorization for Demirtas to communicate with the media and take part in television shows, news website Bianet reported.

A former human rights lawyer, Demirtas is one of Turkey's best-known politicians, winning votes beyond his core Kurdish constituency in the 2015 elections. Prosecutors charge that he and hundreds of other detained HDP members are tied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The HDP is the second-largest opposition party in the Turkish Parliament.

[06] Remres opinion poll on the upcoming Presidential elections in Turkey

According to the results of the latest election survey announced by Remres Research Company, there will be two rounds in the upcoming presidential elections. The voting rate of the People's Alliance (Cumhur Ittifaki) and the Nation Alliance (Millet Ittifaki) will be almost the same. According to the figures, the undecided voters and the voters of HDP (People's Democracy Party) will decide "who will become the President".

According to the results, Cumhur Ittifak? will receive 37.8% of the votes on Jun. 24, while Millet Ittifak? polled 37.7% before the reallocation of 'don't know' votes. The HDP will receive 9.9%. The undecided voters will be 7.1%, those who will not vote 7.2% and others 0.3%. The results, after the reallocation of the "undecided voters" will change as follows:

Cumhur Ittifaki: 43.9%

Millet Ittifaki: 43.7%

HDP: 12.1%

Others: 0.3%

Asking the respondents which party will vote if there were elections this Sunday without alliance, the 33.3% said they would vote for Justice and Development Party (AKP), 19.4% for Republican People's Party (CHP), 12.3% for Good Party (IYI Party), the 8.7% for the People's Democracy Party (HDP), the 3.5% for Felicity Party (FP), the 1.4% for others, the 8.4% are the undecided voters and the 8.3% those who will not cast a vote.

Respondent to the question which candidate do you prefer in the first round, the results before the reallocation of the "undecided voters" are as follows:

R.T. Erdogan: 36.2%

M.Ince: 21.3%

M. Aksener: 14.9%

S.Demirtas: 9.9%

T. Karmollaoglu: 3.5%

D.Perincek:0.2%

Undecided Voters: 7.8%

I will not cast a vote: 6.2%

The results after the reallocation of the "undecided voters" are as follows:

R.T. Erdogan: 42.2%

M.Ince: 24.6%

M. Aksener: 16.9%

S.Demirtas: 12.3%

T. Karmollaoglu: 3.8%

D.Perincek:0.2%

According to the results of the resurvey, Muharrem Ince has more chances to go to the second round than Meral Aksener.

Asked to choose between Erdogan and Ince at the second round, the 42.2% of the respondents said Erdogan, the 41.9 % said Ince, the 9.4% were undecided and the 6.5% did not cast a vote.

If Erdogan and Aksener were in the second round, the results will be the following:

Erdogan: 42.1%

Aksener:40.1%

Undecided voters: 6.8%

I will not vote: 11%

(DPs)

..

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs / AM)

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