Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-05-23

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians comment on the results of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus

[03] Ozgurgun delivers a speech on the Cyprus problem

[04] Kucuk reacts to Turkish Cypriots participating in the Cypriot parliamentary elections

[05] Serdar Denktas criticizes the Turkish Cypriot voters of the May 22 parliamentary elections

[06] "Citizenship" to 9.736 people was given in eight years

[07] Kucuk goes to London

[08] Atalay said that the religious element should be strengthened in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[09] More plots of land were "distributed" in occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] The Turkish press on the Cyprus 2011 Parliamentary Elections

[11] MHP board members resign over video blackmail scandal

[12] "Report puts blame for Turkey's current account debt on budget deficit"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

The papers refer also to a fire at Cratos Hotel in occupied Keryneia and the attack against three journalists who tried to cover the event, statements by the head of the so-called religious affairs department, the issue of the population and the persons who were given the "citizenship" of the regime, and the visit of Irsen Kucuk to London.

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians comment on the results of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus

Kucuk noted that he preserves his view that ruling AKEL party "might assess its decline" in the elections and change its stance on the Cyprus problem. He said that the results were not a surprise for them and estimated that the ruling coalition in the government-controlled areas will continue, but its future work will be influenced.

According to Illegal Bayrak television (23.05.11, online), Ferdi Sabit Soyer, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), pointed out to the votes which ELAM party took in the elections. "Even though the number seems small, it could be important in the future", he argued claiming that "this percentage of a right-wing extremist and fascist party should be carefully examined by the political parties" in the occupied part of Cyprus. Soyer said it seems that no change will happen in the Cyprus Government and added that the President of DIKO will not want to give up the post of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), also commented on the results of the elections. In statements to illegal Bayrak he said: "DIKO will now start assessing the result. It seems that hard debates will happen. It seems that this tension will negatively influence the Government as well. This will weaken Christofias".

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar published comments by political party leaders on the election results in the Republic of Cyprus.

In statements to Haberdar, Soyer claimed that if the post of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is won by DIKO, DISY, EDEK and EVRO.KO, this will not be a pleasant situation, because these parties oppose a federal solution in Cyprus.

Cakici told Haberdar that the decrease in DIKO's seats in the parliament makes the relations between this party and AKEL more difficult. He argued that President Christofias is weakened at the negotiating table.

Serdar Denktas, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), said that the results of the public opinion polls showed that DISY would win and this was the result of the elections. He expressed the view that the other parties will not permit DISY to elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He argued that the general policy in the government-controlled area will not change and that the current policy will continue.

Turgay Avci, chairman of the Freedom and Reform party (ORP), said that the important thing is to see how the alliances for electing the Speaker of the House of Representatives will be formed. He argued that the alliances to be formed will be decisive for the 2013 presidential elections.

(I/Ts.)

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris covers the issue under the title: "The expected result in the south" and reports that the Democratic Rally Party (DISY) finished first and left-wing AKEL second in the elections. The paper points out that "fascistic ELAM party could not elect an MP". The paper devotes four pages to the elections.

Under the banner front-page title: "No surprise happened", daily Halkin Sesi refers to the number of the MPs elected by each party and writes that according to the results, it is estimated that the coalition between ruling AKEL and DIKO parties will continue. The paper writes that these two parties elected half of the MPs in the new parliament. In two of its inside pages, Halkin Sesi gives details on the results and the statements made during the voting.

Daily Yeni Duzen covers the issue on its front page and two inside pages under the title "DISY is the winner of the elections". The paper refers also to the first statements by the President of DISY after the election results under the title: "Anastasiades pointed to the 2013 Presidential Elections!"

Daily Star Kibris covers the issue under the title: "DISY is the winner of the elections in the south".

Daily Vatan and Gunes refer to the results of the elections under the title: "DISY is the first party". Gunes publishes views expressed by "political observers", who argued that the general balances have not changed with these results and pointed out to the bargaining to be conducted for the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the alliances for the Presidential Elections in 2013.

Under the title: "DISY 34.5%, AKEL 32.55%", Kibrisli reports that "observers" argue that the results of the elections will not influence the negotiating process in the island.

Daily Afrika covers the issue under the title: "DISY cut first the tape" and reports that four parties, including ELAM, could not pass the threshold for entering into the House of Representatives.

Daily Ortam refers to the developments under the title: "DISY came out [first] from the ballot box" and notes that ten parties competed in the election race.

Daily Yeni Volkan covers the elections using as title a statement made by President Christofias, who before casting his vote, said that "we will continue the struggle for a single state, single sovereignty and single identity".

Daily Haberdar refers to the results of the elections under the title: "The majority belongs to DISY now".

Demokrat Bakis makes no reference to the elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozgurgun delivers a speech on the Cyprus problem

Ozgurgun said that the bitter experiences of the past should not be forgotten and detailed the history of the Cyprus issue. Furthermore, he named the political equality of the two "people", equal status of the two founding "states", undiluted bi-zonality and active guarantee of Turkey as the main targets of the new partnership.

Touching upon the Annan Plan process, Ozgurgun said that important developments took place during the process as the self determination rights of the two "peoples" of the island were discussed and the unjustness of the "isolation" on the Cyprus Turkish "people" was also realized.

Ozgurgun repeated that the EU did not fulfill its promises towards the Turkish Cypriots who had approved the 2004 Annan Plan in Cyprus and reminded that two seats had been given to Turkish Cypriots at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe without the right to vote and that the "TRNC" was accepted to the OIC as observatory member under the name of "Cyprus Turkish State" as envisaged on the Annan Plan.

He also provided information about the negotiations process and pointed the property issue as the most difficult topic. "We want the continuation of the guarantee system, however the Greek Cypriot side is rejecting this by claiming that the guarantee system is an old-fashioned system" Ozgurgun also added.

[04] Kucuk reacts to Turkish Cypriots participating in the Cypriot parliamentary elections

In a statement through the "prime minister's office", he recalled a press report that 544 Turkish Cypriots, who are believed to live in south Cyprus, will vote in the Greek Cypriot elections on 22 May and said: "Considering that one has to be a permanent resident to vote in the elections in the south and that, according to our constitution, a person has to live in the TRNC for three years to have the right to elect or be elected, the inclusion of those, who will vote in south Cyprus, in the TRNC electoral catalogue will be unconstitutional. In view of the importance of the matter, I wish to stress that I believe the High Election Council will finalize its investigation and make the necessary arrangements in a short time."

[05] Serdar Denktas criticizes the Turkish Cypriot voters of the May 22 parliamentary elections

[06] "Citizenship" to 9.736 people was given in eight years

YearWomen gained the "citizenship" due to their husbandMen gained the "citizenship" due to their wife People gained the "citizenship" with "ministry approval"Spouse and children of those gained the "citizenship" with "ministry approval" People gained the "citizenship" with the approval of the "council of ministers"Spouse and children of those gained the "citizenship" with the approval of the "council of ministers"Total20031701612566652691611.682200420216931480215595820053662201471171021.177200656829252368941.2032007678392817616891.35920087944700937831.447200952533894414349642010226148568769436292011135751354634317Total3.6642.2653792.3064276959.736

[07] Kucuk goes to London

[08] Atalay said that the religious element should be strengthened in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Atalay said that the Turkish Cypriot community is Muslim and there is no need of making them Muslims, adding that there are no difficulties as concerns religion and everyone is free in his/her religious believes.

Referring to the Church in the government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus, Atalay said that "the Church in the south is a very strong institution", adding that the so-called ministry of religious affairs should also be strengthened in order to be able to represent in the best way the "TRNC".

Noting that the "TRNC is a cosmic/ secular community", Atalay said that he also wants a "secular" religious affairs department. He added that the personnel working at the "religious affairs department" should be trained, explaining that at the moment, there are 185 active mosques in the occupied area employing 253 religious officers. However, Atalay said that only 22 are permanent employees. He noted that 77 are elementary school graduates and only 52 have graduated from the vocational religious schools (Imam Hatip schools). He stressed that the majority are not even "TRNC citizens".

Referring to the summer religious courses, Atalay said that these courses will be organized again during the summer with the cooperation of the "ministry of education".

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (21.05.11), in its front page under the title "Atalay: Some persons don't know even to pray", reports that Atalay said that only 1% of the children in the government controlled areas have never entered a church, adding, however, that in the occupied area, 38% of the children have never been into a mosque.

[09] More plots of land were "distributed" in occupied Cyprus

Speaking at the ceremony, Cavusolgu said that the "distribution" was made in the framework of a programme followed by the UBP "government" to help youngsters for their settling down. He added that with the "distribution" of "title deeds" every Friday, the youngsters and their families have been saved from giving money to buy land.

On his part, Kucuk, inter alia, said that they will continue the "distribution" of land, adding that every house that will be built on these plots of land "will be a seal on the national cause".

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] The Turkish press on the Cyprus 2011 Parliamentary Elections

Aksam and Zaman report on the elections and publish news from the Ankara Anatolia news agency under the title: "The Greek Cypriot side went to the ballot"

Hurriyet: "Main opposition takes victory in the Greek Cypriot side"

Milliyet: "The Greek Cypriot side elected DISY"

Cumhuriyet: "The Greek Cypriot side announced the election results"

[11] MHP board members resign over video blackmail scandal

Justice and Development Party is widely expected to secure a third consecutive victory in the election, with opinion polls putting its level of support at around 45%. But the second wave of resignations from the MHP could affect the parliamentary arithmetic -- it is not certain that the MHP will exceed the 10% threshold needed to retain their place in parliament.

Support for the MHP is around 10%-15%, pollsters say. It was unclear whether the video controversy and resignations would affect its support among voters. The MHP has some 70 seats in the 550 seat parliament. The failure of the MHP to enter parliament could benefit the AK Party, with disenchanted MHP voters potentially turning to other right-wing parties.

MHP leader Devlet Bah?eli, who appeared deflated on Saturday as he addressed an election rally of several thousand similarly despondent looking supporters in the central Turkish province of Nev
ehir, put a brave face on the resignations. "Those who have resigned may have been aiming to make it easier for the party. We are continuing our struggle," he said before the rally.

The MHP resignations were triggered by the broadcast on a website of secretly filmed videos which purportedly showed senior members of the party involved in extra-marital affairs and making politically compromising statements. The latest resignations brought to 10 the number of senior MHP party members to resign over the video scandal.

The "Different Idealism" website, an allusion to the "Idealist" movement which forms the backbone of MHP support, had threatened to broadcast further compromising video recordings if party leader Bah?eli did not resign by a deadline of May 18. It was not clear who was behind the website.

Ankara Anatolia news agency said that deputy chairmen Osman ?ak1
r, ?mit ^
afak and Mehmet Ekici, along with General-Secretary Cihan Pa?ac1
and his deputy Mehmet Taytak resigned their party membership and candidacies to be members of parliament. Another deputy chairman, Deniz B?l?kba
1
, subsequently added his resignation.

[12] "Report puts blame for Turkey's current account debt on budget deficit"

Turkey's February budget produced a surplus of 988 million Turkish Liras, following a deficit of 2.3 billion liras a year earlier. Some 80% of the gap is financed by foreign "short-term resources," the report prepared by Sarp Kalkan of TEPAV said. "The government's measures to raise private sector savings to fight the deficit meant searching for solutions at the wrong places. [?] Even if these measures are implemented successfully, only one fourth of the problem might be overcome, the report said. "To put it more clearly, some three fourths of the current account deficit derives from the budget gap."

The Turkish Government is aiming for a budget deficit of 33.5 billion liras this year, or about 2.8% of gross domestic product, after reaching its budget goals in 2010. Turkey's trade deficit of nearly $61 billion is a little above the sum of a total of $43.6 billion of budget deficit and $13 billion of private sector deficit, the report noted.

"The sustainability of the current account deficit is directly related with the country's ability to earn foreign currency. [?] From this point of view, the ratio of the current account deficit to the exports of goods and services that raise foreign exchange, tourism, construction or transportation for example, is a very important indicator," said the report.

The report showed that the gap's ratio to these actions stood between 25% and 30% before the crises in 1994, 2001 and 2008 and fell fast after the first two crisis periods.During the recovery period after the 2008 crisis, the deficit started rising in unusual terms, raising the gap ratio with foreign currency activities to 37.6%. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article