He also said that the "Turkish Cypriot people and motherland Turkey had entered a sensitive period in light of the recent developments as well as the deadlock on the Cyprus problem".

[06] The so-called government is criticized for the "economic package measures"

Referring especially to the "measure" announced by the so-called government to receive 5% allowance on the minimum wage for the children of the "workers who are working in the TRNC with working and residence permit", Buyukyilmaz described this measure as unethical and inhuman and called on the so-called government to remove it immediately. "We call on the government to remove the article 23 from the economic package since it is meaningless, inhuman and unethical. Taking into consideration that the 80% of the workers with working permit in the country are citizens of the Turkish Republic, we realize in fact against whom is this measure was taken for", Buyukyilmaz argued.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (15.08.18) reported that the chairman of the opposition National Unity Party (UBP) in the occupied area of Cyprus, Huseyin Ozgurgun, condemned the so-called government for the package of economic measures announced, saying that this is insufficient. Ozgurgun said that they have experienced several crises in the past, including several crises in the Cyprus problem and argued that it is not the "assembly" that should handle this crisis but the "government".

Speaking yesterday during the "extraordinary meeting" of the so-called assembly, Ozgurgun said that they experience an emergency period and called on the so-called government to implement even "bitter recipe" measures in order to overpass the economic crisis.

(AK)

[07] KTOEOS calls the European Commission and the European Parliament to support the Turkish Cypriot students who study in the EU

Pointing out to the economic destruction experienced in the "TRNC" due to the remarkable decrease of the value of the TL against foreign currencies which derives from the social and political policies followed by the AKP power in Turkey, Eylem underlined the problems with currency experienced not only by the students who study in the "TRNC" but also with the students who study abroad.

Eylem announced also that he had sent a letter to the Representative of the European Commission in Cyprus Ierotheos Papadopoulos and the Head of the European Parliament in Cyprus Andreas Kettis, asking for an appointments in order to discuss possible proposals and measures that could be taken in order to provide solution to the problems experienced by Turkish Cypriot students who study abroad related with the foreign currency crisis.

Eylem announced also that among the proposals they have for the Turkish Cypriot students who study in EU countries is to "provide scholarships with private statues to the Turkish Cypriot students who study in EU countries and to provide them the opportunity to be granted with loans and credits in order to be able to cover their house rent and personal expenses".

Eylem has called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to support and back the Turkish Cypriots, claiming that they are for long-years victims of the non-solution in Cyprus, were divested from the rights deriving from the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU, were not being able to be completely benefited as EU citizens and were abandoned to their fate with the "unilateral" accession of Cyprus to the EU.

(AK)

[08] Ersin Tatar announced his "candidacy" for the UBP's leadership

Stressing the need for the party's general congress date to be determined the soonest possible; Tatar said that "the party needs a better leadership".

Meanwhile, according to the paper, the party's central committee is expected to convene today in order to determine the date of the party's next general congress.

(AK)

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkish court rejects US pastor's appeal to end arrest

Recently, the court had allowed Brunson to be moved from jail and placed him under house arrest in view of his "health problems".

Brunson is charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.

[02] Turkey agrees with Russia over partial lifting of visas

Speaking at a dinner on the sidelines of the 10th Ambassadors' Conference in the Turkish capital, Mevlut Cavusoglu said he had discussions Tuesday with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the lifting of visas for Turkish citizens and also exchanged views on Syria and Idlib.

"Of course our desire is the total lifting of visas," Cavusoglu said.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said Sunday in a statement that Moscow is "willing" to lift the visa regime in some categories for Turkish citizens.

Following Turkey's shooting down of an intruding Russian military jet over the Turkey-Syria border in November 2015, Russia imposed a range of unilateral sanctions on Turkey, including a ban on food imports and an end to visa-free travel.

On visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in EU countries, Cavusoglu said ongoing efforts would be intensified on the matter.

"We will meet with our teams, including [Turkey's] new Deputy Foreign Ministers and the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, in the coming days," he added.

Turning to relations with the U.S., Cavusoglu said that despite differences between the two sides, Turkey is open to resolving matters in a diplomatic way.

"Despite everything, we are open to discussing everything as an equal partner in order to resolve all existing problems, but on one condition: There will be no threatening language."

Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington's imposition of sanctions on two government Ministers for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.

Cavusoglu also said that Turkey and the U.S. can solve everything by coming together and talking."We are all for it," he added.

[03] Qatar to make direct investment of $15B in Turkey

"Qatar has pledged $15 billion of direct investments in Turkey," tweeted Ibrahim Kalin after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar's Emir, in the capital Ankara.

"Turkish-Qatari relations are based on solid foundations of true friendship and solidarity," Kalin added.

According to the Turkish presidential press office, Erdogan and al-Thani also exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments during their three-hour meeting.

In an interview Wednesday with Anadolu Agency, Qatar's Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al-Shafi said: "The state of Qatar is always proactive in supporting its Turkish brothers."

Al-Thani's visit, the diplomat said, "will serve to confirm the close links between the Qatari and Turkish people and their common positions vis-a-vis the many challenges they face."

He added: "Our strong relations with the Republic of Turkey enjoy a special status among our people."

Tweeting later on Wednesday, al-Thani said: "We are together with Turkey and our brothers there, who stand by Qatar and problems of the Ummah."

Al-Thani said they have announced an investment project package worth $15 billion in Turkey which has a "productive, strong and solid economy".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his meeting with al-Thani was "very productive and positive".

Erdogan thanked the Emir and the Qatari people for standing with Turkey.

"Our relations with friendly and brotherly country Qatar will continue to strengthen in many areas," the president wrote on his Twitter account.

In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (16.08.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-lira-rebounds-after-qatar-pledges-15-billion-135851) reports that the Turkish lira is rebounding after Qatar pledged US$15 billion in investments to help Turkey's economy.

The currency strengthened some 3 % against the dollar on Aug. 16, trading at around 5.75 per dollar, hours before Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister is scheduled to reassure international investors about the economy.

The lira had nosedived in recent weeks, hitting 7.24 last week, amid a diplomatic and trade dispute with the United States.

The currency recovered after authorities took steps to help bank liquidity and limit swap transactions.

Moreover, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (15,08.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/talks-with-us-to-continue-if-it-shows-constructive-stance-turkey-135823) also reported that Turkey's presidential spokesman said that he expected problems with the United States, which battered lira, to be resolved but Washington must stop trying to influence Turkey's judiciary.

Ibrahim Kal?n told a news conference that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will speak to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Aug. 15 and with French President Emmanuel Macron on Aug. 16 about Turkey's ongoing row with the U.S.

The request for talks with Erdogan came from German and French leaders, Kal?n stated.

Kal?n said that Turkey would exercise its rights if the U.S. does not deliver F-35 jets to Ankara.

The lira, which gained some strength against the dollar on Aug. 15, would continue to recover, he added. "We see that an improvement [in Turkish Lira's value] has begun thanks to the measures our state has adopted. We do not support a trade war."

[04] Turkey's Erdogan, Merkel discuss developments on phone

The two leaders confirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation through mutual high-level visits and contacts, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Erdogan and Merkel agreed that Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier will meet in the coming days.

They also discussed recent developments, as well as Erdogan's upcoming official visit to Germany set for Sept. 28-29. Erdogan last paid Berlin an official visit in 2014.

Merkel also stressed that the strength of the Turkish economy is important for Germany.

She told a news conference on Monday that an "economically prosperous Turkey" serves Germany's interests.

[05] Turkey increases tariffs on U.S.-origin products

The decree, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, doubled Turkish tariffs on passenger cars to 120 %, on alcoholic drinks to 140 % and on leaf tobacco to 60 %.

Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter that the tariffs on certain products were increased "within the framework of the principle of reciprocity in retaliation for the conscious economic attacks by the United States."

Turkey has accused the U.S. of waging an "economic war" as part of a plot to harm the country.

Washington has imposed financial sanctions on two Turkish Ministers and doubled steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, as U.S. President Donald Trump tries to secure the release Andrew Brunson, an American pastor being tried in Turkey on espionage and terrorism-related charges.

The decision to impose new tariffs came a day after President Erdogan said Turkey would boycott U.S. electronic goods, singling out iPhones. He suggested Turks would buy local or Korean phones instead, although it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

According to IMF statistics, the U.S. was the fourth largest source of imports to Turkey in 2017 with $12 billion of imports. Turkey's exports to the U.S. in 2017 amounted to $8.7 billion, making it Turkey's fifth-largest export market.

[06] Turkish court releases two Greek soldiers

Lieutenant Aggelos Mitretodis and non-commissioned officer Dimitros Kouklatzis were detained on March 2 at a military zone in the western Turkish province of Edirne's Pazarkule district, which hosts a border gate with Greece.

A local court in Edirne ruled for their arrest and refused the two soldiers' subsequent pleas for release, citing suspicions of illegal entry and attempted military espionage.

The soldiers told the prosecutors shortly after their arrest that they mistakenly crossed the border after getting lost in the fog.

The Turkish court held its monthly hearing Aug. 14 on whether to release the soldiers from custody.

According to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, the judge ruled for the two soldiers' release, pending trial. They have not yet been indicted.

The arrest of the soldiers had strained bilateral ties between Ankara and Athens, who are already at loggerheads over the exploration of gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

The court decision comes weeks after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met in Brussels on the sidelines of a NATO summit and agreed to focus on efforts to reduce tensions in the Aegean.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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