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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-11-21Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-21.11.18 No. 224/18 21.11.18 Contents[A] Turkish Cypriot Press
[B] Turkish Press
[A] Turkish Cypriot Press[01] Aksener: "Cyprus is Turkish and will remain Turkish"Turkish Cypriot daily Haberal Kibrisli newspaper (21.11.18) reports that the leader of the Iyi (Good) Party in Turkey, Meral Aksener, speaking yesterday to the parliamentary group of her party, referred, inter alia, to the natural gas issue in the Eastern Mediterranean, claiming that the "imperialist powers and those who cooperate with them are preparing new colludes over the natural gas in Cyprus".Aksener further said: "I am calling out those imperialist powers and those who are cooperating with them, aiming to create new conspiracies in Cyprus over the issue of the natural resources and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean. If it is necessary, Ayse will go on holidays again. Cyprus is Turkish and will remain Turkish", Aksener alleged. (AK) [02] Ulucay delivered a speech at TURKPA summit and met with YildirimTurkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (21.11.18) reports that the "speaker" of the so-called assembly, Teberukken Ulucay, delivered yesterday a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA), which he was attending upon an invitation by the Speaker of the Turkish Assembly Binali Yildirim.In his speech, Ulucay stated, inter alia, that the two "peoples" in Cyprus should cooperate and act jointly in all fields, including the issue of the natural gas, realizing at the same time their common fate. Accusing the Greek Cypriot side of not showing the necessary sincerity so that the half- a- century ongoing negotiation talks would yield a positive outcome, Ulucay alleged that the Greek Cypriot side lacks of political will. He further claimed that the international community is responsible to explain to the Greek Cypriot side that the comfort they feel with the current status quo is not viable and also to explain to them that the continuation of their intransigent attitude includes risks not only for the island but also for the whole region. "The Cyprus Problem cannot be solved through open-ended negotiations which will drag on endlessly, but through a result oriented, time-tabled, short and intensified negotiations process. This could be possible as long as a positive response is given to the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey's reconciliatory policy and as long as the Greek Cypriot side gives up its intransigent policies," Ulucay further claimed, adding further the following: "All technical and legal negotiations needed for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution which will be based on the political equality of the two sides have been conducted. What are missing are the political will, leadership and courage. We, as the Turkish Cypriot side are ready and will continue to show the necessary courage and leadership" Ulucay alleged. Referring to the issue of hydrocarbons during his speech, he argued that all resources on the island belong to the "two peoples", and supported that "all initiatives taken without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side are unlawful. "Unfortunately, the Greek Cypriot side continues to undertake unilateral steps towards this issue. This approach included new risks. The licenses provided by the Greek Cypriot sector to international companies in the Exclusive Economic Zone declared unilaterally by the Greek Cypriot side and all its activities held there are unlawful, void and do not serve peace. The consent of the Turkish Cypriot people who are a primary component and equal partners on the island, was not given when these actions were taken. The Turkish Cypriots will not refrain from protecting the lawful rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people or from developing a policy and taking the necessary steps", Ulucay further alleged. "My hope, expectation and wish is that common sense will prevail and that the two sides will act with a consciousness of a common fate and cooperation on the hydrocarbon issue and in other fields" Ulucay added. Pointing out that recently President Nicos Anastasiades attempted to question the "Turkish Cypriot people's political equality and active participation in decision making mechanisms", he claimed that such attempts hidden under the excuse of functionality, would not yield an outcome. Also, referring to the so-called unjust embargoes "imposed" on the Turkish Cypriot "people", Ulucay called on the participant countries to help for the lifting of these "unjust embargoes". On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television
(21.11.18-http://www.brtk.net/?englishposts=ulucay-speaks-at-turkpa-meeting)
broadcast that on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish
Speaking Countries, Ulucay held a 45 minute meeting with the Speaker of
the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Binali Y?ld?rm.
Once the meeting was completed, Ulucay and Yildirim announced that they
had agreed to establish working groups between the "parliaments of the
two countries".
(AK)
In the statement of the "ministry" it was claimed the that Greek Cypriot
side continues to create tension in the Denia and Filia area with planned
provocations.
According to the statement of the "foreign ministry" which obtained
information by Turkish Cypriot farmers and the occupation army, yesterday
morning, 11 Greek Cypriots entered the buffer zone with 6 civilian
vehicles and having with them members of the Greek Cypriot press went
up to the "TRNC borders" violating" the buffer zone.
The Greek Cypriot group was removed with difficulty from the region by
a UN police patrol after the "security forces" (the occupation army)
informed the UN officials about the situation.
Claiming that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to create an artificial
crisis in the region, the "foreign ministry" stated": "We follow the
developments with a sense of serenity and we call on the officials of
the Greek Cypriot side to refrain from using the villagers as a propaganda
tool", the statement said.
(CS)
Referring to Erdogan's statement that EHRC's decision was not binding for
Turkey, Turmen recalled Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution and noted:
"It is binding. Turkey has signed the Convention. It has accepted that
the decisions taken according to the European Convention on Human Rights
are binding. Not respecting the decision will have legal and political
consequences".
Turmen noted that it was the first time that Turkey was convicted under
Article 18 of the Convention. He added:
"This is very important. The Court has decided that the continuation of
Demirtas' detention derives from political reasons. This is important not
only for Demirtas, but also for the court and Turkey as well. Because
in the decision, it is stressed that this constitutes a threat for
Turkish democracy. It is stressed that this is a behavior contrary to the
principle of pluralism and, by indirectly referring to the independence of
jurisdiction, it is stressed that the decision was taken due to political
pressure. [?]"
Noting that the ECHR referred to democracy in Turkey, Turmen said that
another important aspect of the decision was that it found that Demirtas'
detention had limited his right to be elected and the citizens' right
to vote.
(I/Ts.)
He made these statements speaking yesterday at a joint press conference
with the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry", which had launched a
discount campaign in a bid to ease the impact of the current economic
crisis in the breakaway regime.
He also said that imports of the breakaway regime stood to 1,8 billion
dollars in 2017 and exports to around 106 million dollars. He also said
that most of the goods imported to the breakaway regime were from Turkey,
and added that the only way to reduce the foreign trade deficit was to
produce more and higher quality goods.
He also said that imports from Turkey were up to 1 billion dollars
but exports to Turkey were 64 millions dollars, adding that exports
to Turkey covered 64% of the "TRNC exports".
(CS)
Speaking during the visit, Talip Atalay, the head of "Department of
Religious Affairs", called on Muslims to unite in good deeds.
(CS)
According to the paper, after the general congress of the party, the
party's central committee and the members of the disciplinary council
of the party would be further determined.
(AK)
"The decisions delivered by the ECHR do not bind us," Erdogan was quoted
on Nov. 20 as saying by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
The court called on Turkey to release Demirtas, saying his detention
since 2016 on terror charges was aimed at "stifling pluralism".
Demirtas, one of two former co-leaders of the Kurdish problem-focused
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was arrested in November 2016 over his
alleged links to the illegal PKK. At the time of his arrest he was a
member of the Turkish Parliament.
The court in the French city of Strasbourg said it accepted that Demirtas
had been arrested on "reasonable suspicion" of committing a crime, but
said the reasons given for keeping him behind bars were not "sufficient"
and constituted "an unjustified interference with the free expression
of the opinion of the people".
It found that the extension of his detention, particularly during a
referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers and later
a presidential election, were aimed at "stifling pluralism and limiting
freedom of political debate, which was at the very core of the concept
of a democratic society".
"The court therefore held, unanimously, that the respondent state was to
take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicant's pre-trial
detention," it added.
Demirtas, 45, is charged with a string of offences, including terrorist
propaganda, for which he faces up to 142 years' imprisonment if
convicted. Demirtas denies all the charges and claims the case against
him is politically motivated.
"Let's see the ruling first. The judicial authority that held [Demirtas's]
trial will respond with a new ruling," Turkey's Justice Minister
Abdulhamit Gul said on Nov. 20.
Erdogan applied to the ECHR for the first time regarding his imprisonment
for 10 months and his pecuniary punishment of 177 million Turkish lira by
Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM), because of a poem he had recited on
12 December 1997. On 21 April 1998, DGM decided that Erdogan had committed
the crime of "inciting people to enmity and hostility over religious and
racial difference". Erdogan's punishment was approved on 24 September 1998
and after that he applied to the ECHR in 1999 demanding a "fair trial".
Erdogan applied to the ECHR for the second time in 2002, after
Diyarbakir's 3rd DGM declined the request he had submitted in 2001
asking for his criminal record to be expunged in order to be able to
run as candidate in the parliamentary elections. Erdogan had based his
application on the position that the crime for which he was sentenced had
been abolished within the framework of the EU Adjustment Laws. Erdogan's
lawyers had argued in their application that the Turkish Court's decision
was a political one, claiming that it was limiting his individual freedoms
and that it was preventing people's will by illegal means.
Erdogan applied to the ECHR for the third time in September 2002
regarding the decision of the Turkish Supreme Election Council saying
that he could not become a Member of the Parliament.
After becoming prime minister in 2003, Erdogan withdrew all applications
he had made to the ECHR.
The journalist reports that on 13 March 2017 Erdogan had brought on to the
agenda the issue of applying to the ECHR for the last time. Referring to
the behavior of the Netherlands towards Turkish Ministers and mainly the
Family Affairs Minister, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, Erdogan had alleged that
the behavior was not in harmony with the EU acquis and the Declaration
of Human Rights and said that Turkey would apply to the ECHR.
(I/Ts.)
"We expect a joint solution between the island's Turkish and Greek
Cypriots based on UN decisions", he stated.
Yildirim added that Turkey had contributed to the UN and EU efforts on
the Cyprus problem positively and would continue doing so in the future.
He said the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" has been fighting
for its people's welfare and happiness for 35 years, since it declared
independence.
Speaking to reporters in Washington following meeting with U.S. Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo, Cavusoglu said that Turkey has shared the latest
information on the Khashoggi killing with the United States and repeated
Ankara's stance that the truth had to come out on who gave the orders to
kill the journalist. Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist
who was a critic of the Saudi government run by Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.11.18
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-fm-un-must-unite-to-tackle-polarization-139009)
reports that Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urged the UN on
Nov. 19 to unite to counter hatred and polarization around the world.
Cavusoglu spoke at the opening of the 8th Global Forum of the United
Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), an initiative created in 2005
by the late former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and co-sponsored by
Turkey and Spain.
"Lets unite on the need and dedication to tackle extremism and
polarization," Cavusoglu said, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
"We should demonstrate continued resolve and political will to counter the
prejudice, exclusion, polarization and hatred around the world," he added.
The UNAOC works to explore the roots of polarization by addressing
priority areas of education, youth, migration and media.
Cavusoglu emphasized that when it comes to migration, "xenophobia, racism,
discrimination, anti-Islam sentiments and hatred against Muslims" are
on the rise with increased migrants flowing into Europe.
Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, the official said:
"We'll be asking for an update on the reform [from Turkey]. You'll
remember that the Reform Action Group gathered in August and said they
would like to carry reform on the basis of EU and Council of Europe
standards and norms. The next meeting of the action group is already in
mid-December. We would like to get an update [to see where Turkey is]."
The official held a meeting with journalists to discuss an upcoming
visit to Ankara by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU
Neighborhood Policy Minister Johannes Hahn.
He said the EU cautiously welcomed the reform action group outcome in
August seeking to overhaul the judiciary and forming a new human rights
action plan.
Yilmaz was dismissed on Tuesday for violating the party bylaw by appearing
on television without permission. His case had been referred to the
party's disciplinary committee.
In a recent appearance, Yilmaz suggested that the Muslim call to prayer,
or adhan, should be changed from Arabic to Turkish. His remarks were
slammed by the party administration as well as CHP lawmakers.
Following the party decision, Yilmaz held a press conference in the
parliament describing the move "as a betrayal". "I see it [the decision]
as an injustice by a party which is in search of justice and law,"
he said. He added that the Turkish nation would judge the party decision.
The election calendar being prepared by the Supreme Election Council
will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. According to the calendar which
is expected to be announced shortly, the council will firstly disclose
the political parties that may enter the elections.
Pre-election restrictions are projected to start 10 days ahead of the
elections, on March 21.
A week before the elections, the distribution of voter notification
cards will be completed.
Election campaigning will end on the evening of March 30, a day before
the election.
Last elections in Turkey were presidential and parliamentary elections
which were held on June 24 this year.
In addition, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.11.18
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-signals-alliance-with-mhp-for-local-elections-139040)
reports that the grassroots of the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will likely desire the
benefits of an alliance of the two political parties in the upcoming
local elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Nov. 20.
"There is no problem with the People's Alliance [between the AKP and the
MHP] as you can hear from the statements of the two sides. We will have
a chance to discuss the election alliance too," he told reporters.
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/EH)
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