Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 19-06-06

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

[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Columnist argues that the biggest obstacle to the Cyprus settlement is Israel

[02] Akansoy argues that there are a lot of differences between UBP and HP

[03] The self-styled minister of tourism said that 2020 will be the year of tourism for the breakaway regime- Motives for new investmentó are offered by the "government"

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkish Defense Ìinister vows to eliminate terrorists in N Iraq

[02] "Yet another messy decision by YSK ahead of Istanbul polls"

[03] Turkish-origin politician launches new party in Austria

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[A] Turkish Cypriot Press

[01] Columnist argues that the biggest obstacle to the Cyprus settlement is Israel

Under the title "Whose is Cyprus?", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (06.06.19), on its front page publishes a commentary by Husnu Mahalli, columnist in the Turkish daily Sozcu. Columnist Mahalli, who is considered an expert on Middle East issues, in his following commentary, claims that the biggest obstacle to the Cyprus settlement is Israel:

"(…) Israel, since its establishment in 1948, has shown great interest in Cyprus and is making special efforts to prevent the solution. A United Cyprus or a Cyprus connected to Greece or Turkey does not serve the purpose of Israel".

According to columnist Mahalli, Israel does not neglect the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, adding that Israel is constructing and operating a marina at the far right end of the island, only 80km away from Mersin. He further writes: "If you remember how advanced their technology is, it is not difficult to predict what Israelis can dial in these numbers. In addition to this, it is known that Israelis also purchase vast land in the TRNC [Tran. note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus], built vacation sites, the Turkish Jews also partner with TRNC citizens and want to revive memories of at least 600 years. What I want to say is that the danger in Cyprus is not the Greek Cypriots or Greece but Israel. Because behind Israel is the United States, Britain and France. All of them eye the trillions of cubic meters of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean. The natural gas and oil of Cyprus, Israel, Palestine (Gazza), Lebanon, Egypt and Syri a. Everyone writes many war scenarios for this region."

[02] Akansoy argues that there are a lot of differences between UBP and HP

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Haberci (06.06.19), the "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Asim Akansoy, in statements to the paper, said that the "government program" and the road map of the "new coalition government" between the National Unity Party (UBP) and the People's Party (HP) is not clear. He added that there are serious differences between the two political parties, stressing that it will be very difficult to achieve compliance between them. Akansoy futher said that one of the problems that they have to face soon is the issue with "KIB-TEK", the "Turkish Cypriot electricity authority".

Akansoy reiterated that he believes that the Cyprus problem and the upcoming "presidential elections" are behind the latest developments of forming a new "government".

(DPs)

[03] The self-styled minister of tourism said that 2020 will be the year of tourism for the breakaway regime- Motives for new investmentó are offered by the "government"

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.06.19) reports that the self-styled minister of tourism Unal Ustel, referred to his "ministry's" goals for the future and stated that 2020 will be the year of tourism for the breakaway regime.

Ustel who was speaking during a television program of Bayrak, said that the number of tourist visiting the breakaway regime was reduced , arguing that this is the reason of transportation lacking. He also said that they will hold contacts with Turkey in order to increase charter flight destinations and to reduce flight taxes. He also said that after the Ramadan holidays he will hold contacts with "officials" from the tourism sector and added that their aim is to fulfil the goal of "2 million tourists and 2 billion dollars income". He added that they will also exert efforts to intensify the promotion of the tourism of the breakaway regime using social media and participating in tourism fairs and tourism events. Ustel also said that the new "government" pays a lot of attention to tourism.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (06.06.19) also reports that the breakaway regime is giving motivation for investments to foreign businessmen on the area of tourism. Among the motives is reduction in various taxes.

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[B] Turkish Press

[01] Turkish Defense Ìinister vows to eliminate terrorists in N Iraq

Hurriyet Daily News (06.06.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/defense-minister-vows-to-eliminate-terrorists-in-n-iraq-143960) reports that the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on June 5 vowed to destroy all shelters used by the illegal PKK group in Hakurk in northern Iraq and clear the region of terrorists.

"We will not leave the area until the last terrorist is neutralized. We will get out all of the terrorists," the Minister said, speaking to soldiers at Buyuktoprakl? military base located in the Derecik district of southwestern Hakkari province near the border with Iraq.

Akar, accompanied by ôçå Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Guler, Army Commander Gen. Umit Dundar, Navy Commander Adm. Adnan Ozbal and Air Force Commander Gen. Hasan Kucukakyuz, visited the Buyuktoprakl? military base.

The commanders inspected the base and then received a briefing regarding operations of the base. They congratulated the soldiers and commanders deployed there on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. The military base is among the closest Turkish military facilities inside Turkey's borders to the operation zone in northern Iraq's Hakurk where "Operation Claw" has been ongoing since May 27.

The military offensive aims to eliminate the logistical assets of terrorists in the area, which is used for sneaking into Turkey. It began with artillery shelling, supported by airstrikes and commando operations.

Akar said the region where the Buyuktoprakl? military base is located is now entirely under the control of the Turkish army, and "Operation Claw" is a follow-up offensive. "In addition, we are making and will continue to make whatever is necessary to protect our nation's rights and law in our seas [and] in the sky without interruption," he said.

[02] "Yet another messy decision by YSK ahead of Istanbul polls"

Under the above title, Sekan Demirtas publishes the following article in Hurriyet Daily News (05.06.19 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/serkan-demirtas/yet-another-messy-decision-by-ysk-ahead-of-istanbul-polls-143944):

"With less than 20 days to go before the Istanbul re-run elections, the latest decision by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) has created yet another controversy over the safety of polls and has drawn reactions from political parties.

As can be recalled, the YSK annulled Istanbul polls on the much-disputed grounds that a number of polling station officials were not civil servants contrary to the law.

Parallel to the YSK's probe, a number of criminal investigations have been launched against some of the provincial heads of the YSK in Istanbul as they were responsible for choosing the polling station officials.

In the light of these investigations, an appeal was made by the YSK's Sisli district to the central decision-making body of the YSK to ask whether those provincial heads under investigation will be tasked with again selecting polling station officials, or will they be substituted.

The YSK's answer was apparent. In line with existing laws and regulations, substituting heads of YSK's provincial bodies and their staff was out of the question.

That means all those who were responsible for scores of irregularities that led to the annulment of Istanbul elections are and will continue to be on duty to serve in one of Turkey's most sensitive and important polls, slated for June 23.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also serves as chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), told reporters early June 4 that there were still issues not clarified in the YSK's decision.

"I think there is misunderstanding", he said, recalling that his party has made another appeal on the same matter.

President Erdogan underlined that the Judges and Prosecutors Council ( HSK) has the right to reshuffle judges while hinting that necessary steps would be taken by both the HSK and the YSK. The opposition's reaction to the recent ruling was much more profound and strong.

"The YSK is denying its own justification (for the cancellation of Istanbul elections)," deputy leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Muharrem Erkek said on June 3.

Recalling that the YSK had also withdrawn its criminal complaints against some of the provincial heads, Erkek asked: "This means that there is no crime (in regards to the Istanbul polls). So why did you annul the elections?"

CHP's candidate for Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who won the March 31 polls with a minor difference of votes against the AKP's Binali Y?ld?r?m, was also furious at the YSK.

"By giving this decision, they have declared openly that the justification they have issued (for cancelling Istanbul votes) has no meaning at all. Our democracy has received a major blow," he stated.

This latest decision by the YSK makes the political and legal situation even messier ahead of the Istanbul elections. Concerns over the safety of the polls will increase as a result of this legal complication at the hands of the YSK.

It's also unfortunate to observe an intensified political pressure on the election watchdog, which causes further disputed moves every passing day.

Under these conditions, it's becoming harder to forecast where this chain of erroneous and scandalous decisions by the YSK will lead Turkey."

[03] Turkish-origin politician launches new party in Austria

Ankara Anatolia news agency (05.06.19 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/turkish-origin-politician-launches-new-party-in-austria/1497663) reports that a Turkish-origin politician has launched a new party in Austria that will speak for the underrepresented.

The Social Austria of the Future (SOZ) party was launched to speak for those who are underrepresented, Hakan Gordu, head of the party said at a news conference in Vienna on Wednesday. SOZ aims to take part in 2020 local elections in Vienna, Gordu added.

Far-right policies are driven by well-known political parties and organizations, he said, added that SOZ party also aims to fight against far-right policies. "We are not an immigrant party. We are not immigrants, we were born here and we are Austrians," Gordu said.

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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