Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-06-16

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] Cakici accuses the breakaway regime of racism in the field of education and of dealing a blow to the efforts for finding a solution in Cyprus

[02] "Expect a surprising initiative from AKP"

[03] "Denktas is pessimistic"

[04] German Minister carried out contacts in the occupied area

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[05] Hugh Pope calls on Turkey to directly engage talks with the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Davutoglu visited the Syrian refugee camps

[07] "YSK decision for redistribution of seats is controversial"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Cakici accuses the breakaway regime of racism in the field of education and of dealing a blow to the efforts for finding a solution in Cyprus

In a statement yesterday, Cakici noted that only as racism and discrimination he could describe the fact that the Turkish Cypriot students studying in international schools in the free area of Cyprus, such as the English School and the American Academy, are not given the right to enter into universities in Turkey with their GCE A level exams. Cakici said that punishing these students in this manner is unacceptable and contrary to human rights.

Cakici pointed out that the children and some relatives of the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and some UBP "ministers" and "deputies" benefited from the passport of the Republic of Cyprus in order to be able to study cheaply. He added that the universities in Turkey accept Greek Cypriot students who studied in the colleges of the government-controlled area of Cyprus and wondered what purpose is served by not giving this right to the Turkish Cypriots who study in the free area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cakici also criticized the statement made recently by the self-styled minister of education Kemal Durust that "Turkey is free not to accept those who study in a country which it does not recognize". He noted that Durust's statement is not in harmony with the truth. He added: "If Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, why sport clubs from Turkey play official matches with teams of a country they do not recognize? Why does Turkey permit trade? Why are MPs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) visiting south Cyprus? Why the flag of the Republic of Cyprus is hoisted on official buildings?"

Cakici argued that the decision regarding not permitting to Turkish Cypriot students studying in the free area of Cyprus to enter into Turkish universities with their GCE A level exams will harm Turkey's relations with the EU.

Noting that this decision deals a blow to the efforts for finding a solution in Cyprus, Cakici concluded: "On the one hand you will talk about solution and peace and on the other you will pose obstacles in practice. It is not possible for us to understand and approve this".

(I/Ts.)

[02] "Expect a surprising initiative from AKP"

"All the governments of Turkey have been supporting illegal population or entrance [of Turkish citizens] with their ID card, because they want to increase the population in Cyprus," said Angolemli and added that in all his contacts with Turkish officials or Prime Ministers he was asked not to criticize this subject.

Furthermore, he said that all illegal immigrants should be arrested and send back to their country and that the proposed "white card" measures are pointless. He pointed out the fact that the "police" is controlled by the army and said that this also constitutes a problem because the "police" follows its commander's orders and not the "government's" thus the "government" cannot any longer implement an operation and deport the illegal immigrants, as TDP did in 1986 when they were in the coalition "government."

Angolemli concluded saying that their "country" is very different compared to other countries, because it has a small population and is not recognized. Therefore it should implement its own policies regarding the population and not be overshadowed by other countries. Also, he said that there is no need for new "citizenships" to be given, because these will lead their community to extinction, and drew the line to the "citizenships" given to Turkish settlers from 1974-1986.

[03] "Denktas is pessimistic"

Denktas claimed that the future of the "TRNC" could shape up if Turkey's market opened for them, therefore the Turks have no right to taunt the Turkish Cypriots regarding Turkey's aid to "TRNC's" budget. "If however they open it and we cannot manage again, then they will have the right," he said. He also argued that the implemented package of measures is not appropriate for them, because the experts that prepared it have not taken into consideration that they are under "embargo," that Turkey does not open its market and that there is lack of balance in the prices between the occupied part and the free area.

Moreover, Denktas criticized the UBP "government" and sees that within this year there will be early elections. He placed the breaking point of the current "government" around October, based on previous statements by Cemil Cicek that "in October the TRNC bankrupts".

[04] German Minister carried out contacts in the occupied area

Speaking during the meeting, Ms Pieper said she understood well how the people in the island felt as her own country Germany was once a divided country.

Expressing the hope that Cyprus, will follow in Germany's footsteps to become the next reunified country in the European Union, Ms Pieper said that she was in Cyprus to build bridges between the two peoples of the island.

Also speaking at the meeting, the President of the Goethe Institute Klaus-Dieter Lehmann expressed the belief that the Goethe Institute, which has been operational in Cyprus since 1999 offering language education as well as housing cultural and artistic activities, could offer new approaches in line with requests of NGOs.

Pieper also visited an art exhibition at the Naci Talat Foundation Peace and Friendship House, where artworks by 26 local and foreign artists are being displayed.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[05] Hugh Pope calls on Turkey to directly engage talks with the Republic of Cyprus

Pope, inter alia, referred to the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU process. He alleged that the European Union (EU) behaves badly towards Turkey, but as he said, this process offers great benefits to Turkey and that Turkey should revive the process. He added that the EU process is something that deserves to be continued even in the sense that the EU is unprincipled, even two-faced.

Noting that Ankara is obliged to implement the Additional Protocol that foresees the opening of its ports to Cyprus, Pope said that Turkey should stop hiding behind the Cyprus problem and enter into dialogue with the Greek Cypriots. He said: "The biggest mistake of Turkey is that it does not discuss with the Greek Cypriots. It cannot be a solution while the Greek Cypriots do not realise that Turkey really desires a solution. And this can only be achieved by coming to Ankara and discuss with Turkey. The same problem is valid for Ankara as well. The Greek Cypriots should feel comfortable, in order for normalisation to exist. I believe that when they feel secure, they will get out of that nationalist shell that they live in."

[06] Davutoglu visited the Syrian refugee camps

Davutoglu went to Hatay, near the Turkish-Syrian border where he visited the shelter tents on the Turkish side, and observed the situation of the Syrian refugees waiting on the other side of the border.

Before leaving for Hatay, the Foreign Minister was asked if Turkey would accept any more Syrians if their numbers exceeded 10.000. "For us, the Syrians are people who have a common future and destiny with us. Therefore, it is out of the question to close the door to our Syrian brothers after 10.000 [people]," Davutoglu told reporters. "However, when this turns into a big wave, it also has the potential to become a regional and an international matter."

Davutoglu also said he would discuss the latest developments in Syria and the rest of the region with Turkey's Ambassadors to Middle Eastern countries, who are expected to gather in Ankara on Thursday.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met the Syrian President's special envoy, Hasan Turkmani, in Ankara on Wednesday in an effort to improve relations with the Syrian administration that have soured over the mounting crackdown in that country, which has caused a tide of refugees to flee into Turkey. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Abdulfettah Ammura is accompanying Turkmani on his visit.

Arriving in Ankara, Turkmani told reporters that he would discuss relations between Turkey and Syria, and congratulated Erdogan on his victory in the June 12 general election. Turkmani also said that the Syrian people who had fled to Turkey to escape violence in their country were "guests" in Turkey.

[07] "YSK decision for redistribution of seats is controversial"

After the decision, the number of seats for 28 election districts decreased, whereas the number of seats increased in 14 districts.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won around 47% of the vote in the 2007 general elections and 341 seats in Parliament. The party increased its vote to 50% on Sunday's elections but the number of its seats has dropped to 326.

The opposite happened for the Republican People's Party (CHP). Although the party only slightly increased the percentage of votes it received, there has been a significant rise in the number of seats it received in Parliament. The CHP received 21% of the vote in the 2007 general elections and won 112 seats. On Sunday's elections, the party received 26% of the vote and gained 135 deputies.

The YSK's redistricting efforts make it difficult for political parties to come to power alone, thereby forcing them to form coalition governments.

The fact that the YSK redrew the electoral boundaries only six months before the elections is also a subject of controversy as amendments made to the Election Law can only be put into effect one year after its approval.

Associate Professor Yusuf Tekin, a political analyst, explained the reasoning behind the YSK's controversial moves as its being distant from the sensitivities of the public. "With its latest decisions, the YSK is perpetuating military tutelage in Turkey. Instead of trying to ensure the widest public participation in the elections, the YSK is doing the opposite," complained Tekin.

According to G?ltekin Avc1
, a former prosecutor, the YSK has openly revealed that it is a biased institution with the decision it made before the elections for the redistribution of seats.

"The YSK revealed its institutional ideology with its decision to redistribute seats in provinces. The loss of seats of a party which received the support of 50% of the nation is unacceptable. The YSK served as the trap which has been set up to prevent the AKP from obtaining the majority it needs to rewrite the Constitution," said Avc1
.

Uluda
University Professor Ali Ya
ar Sar1
bay joined the critics of the YSK and said the loss of the number of seats of a political party which increased its vote to 50% is a tragicomic situation.

Sar1
bay also noted that the YSK's practices strengthen a belief in the society that there is a bloc against the AK Party, adding that a new Constitution that will be prepared with the contribution of the opposition parties and civilian society will help to better reflect the nation's will in the rule of the country.

In March, the YSK rejected earlier demands from Turkish citizens residing abroad to be able to vote at Embassies or Consulates in their countries of residence, which is cited as another reason behind the drop in the number of seats of the AKP.

The decision drew the ire of around 2.5 million Turkish expats who were eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections of June 12.

The YSK announced that Turkish expatriates can only vote in the general elections at customs gates, causing displeasure among Turks in many countries. Only about 10% of Turkey's 2.5 million expats make the effort to go to the border to cast their vote. The YSK said it cannot allow electronic voting at Turkish missions abroad yet because the infrastructure for it is not in place.

Of the Turkish expats who cast their votes at customs, 60% voted for AKP; if the YSK had allowed the Turkish expats to vote in Embassies and Consulates in the countries they reside, this could have increased the number of seats won by the AKP. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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