Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-08-01

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan's Gaza visit postponed due to turmoil in Egypt

[02] Palestinian foundation to be established in Turkey

[03] Turkish Police fire water cannons and tear gas to disperse demo for gas canister-hit teenager fighting for life

[04] US Representatives sent a letter to Gul criticizing Erdogan's "anti-Semitic" statements

[05] The detention of DHKP-C members on a boat off Chios island

[06] The Commanders expected to be appointed by Turkey's Supreme Military Council

[07] Eroglu's claims: "There must be a deadline for the negotiations; Turkish side lost its patience"

[08] Quarrel in UBP starts again; Many candidates for its presidency

[09] Akansoy says the 2013-15 economic "protocol" will be re-examined; Cavusoglu does not exclude a "coalition" with CTP-BG

[10] The "election campaign" cost of CTP and BKP; after the Bayram the new "government"

[11] KTOS explains its view that nobody won in the "elections"

[12] Serdar denied that he met with Erdogan prior to the "elections"

[13] Oil spill threatens the coasts of occupied Famagusta bay

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan's Gaza visit postponed due to turmoil in Egypt

0
brahim Kal1
n, chief advisor to Erdogan, said via his Twitter account that the visit has been delayed due to the prolonged crisis in Egypt. The Turkish Prime Minister was expected to visit Gaza in mid-June, but the trip was postponed due to the Gezi protests.

When Erdogan planned to go to the coastal city in early July, the coup in Egypt changed his plans and led to another delay.

[02] Palestinian foundation to be established in Turkey

The establishment of the foundation will be announced during a fast-breaking dinner on Friday in Istanbul, hosted by Mehmet G?rmez, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag.

"The foundation will be a nongovernmental organization, which will not be under the supervision of either Turkey or the Palestinian Authorities," said sources related to the Palestinian Embassy in Ankara.

The Turkish government is planning to make a specific donation in support of the foundation. The new institution is expected to allocate the money this year for the benefit of families of Palestinian prisoners, the press release said.

[03] Turkish Police fire water cannons and tear gas to disperse demo for gas canister-hit teenager fighting for life

Berkin Elvan was not a protester but a by-stander who was attacked after stepping out to buy bread during a police intervention in Istanbul's Okmeydan1
neighbourhood on June 15.

Hundreds turned out to show their support in a demonstration called by the young protester's family, seeking justice and action against those officers who fired the gas canister. Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker Sezgin Tanr1
kulu also attended the protest.

Elvan's condition is critical due to an infection, the family had said in their call for protest. However, riot police stationed around the Taksim area started to use water cannons after the protesters refused to disperse.

Scuffles occurred when police officers tried to push protesters to the entrance of the pedestrian 0
stiklal Street. The parents of the injured teenager, Sami and G?ls?m Elvan, who had read a written statement, were trapped inside the crowd.

The mother who broke down and cried saying, "I only want my son back," was laboriously calmed by protesters. Officers were chasing demonstrators who have escaped into the side streets, Hurriyet reported. A protester has been injured and taken to hospital after being hit by an "unidentified object" on the head, the report also said. An officer was also reportedly firing rubber bullets from the top of an armoured police vehicle.

Police have not allowed demonstrations in Taksim Square, despite having reopened Gezi Park in the second week of July.

[04] US Representatives sent a letter to Gul criticizing Erdogan's "anti-Semitic" statements

The letter requested Gul to publically condemn "the anti-Semitic rhetoric" of government officials. The signatories noted that another letter had been written a few months ago asking Erdogan to retract his statement that compared Zionism to a "crime against humanity," without success.

They also argued that Erdogan's accusations of an "interest rate lobby" engineering the Gezi protests were implicitly targeting Jews, recalling that Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay had openly stated that the "Jewish diaspora" was behind the recent unrest in Turkey.

The letter was prepared on the initiative of Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Florida) and Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina) and signed by Congressmen from both the Democrat and Republican parties.

[05] The detention of DHKP-C members on a boat off Chios island

Turkish daily Milliyet (01.08.13), under the title "USA ruined the bloody plan", reports that Turkish National Intelligence (MIT) informed the Greek security about the whereabouts of Hasan Biber 3 days before his seizure. The daily said the intelligence from Turkey was actually transmitted by the United States to Greece, regarding the boat which was heading for Istanbul to launch acts of terror against AK Party headquarters and security points.

[06] The Commanders expected to be appointed by Turkey's Supreme Military Council

In addition to Prime Minister Erdogan, Chief of the General Staff Necdet Ozel, Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz, and nine generals and one admiral who are members of YAS will attend the council meeting that will be held at General Staff Headquarters. The council will discuss the promotions and appointments of 103 generals and admirals (of whom 15 are under arrest) in the Land, Air, and Naval Forces Commands and the General Command of the Gendarmerie.

General Necdet Ozel is expected to remain Chief of the General Staff until August 2015. Admiral Murat Bilgel, Commander of the Naval Forces; General Hayri Kivrikoglu, Commander of the Land Forces; and General Mehmet Erten, Commander of the Air Forces are expected to go into retirement.

Existing customs will have to change with regard to the Naval Forces Command in this year's YAS meeting because there are no full admirals left to appoint as force commander. According to custom, the person who serves as Commander of the Fleet for two years is appointed as Commander of the Naval Forces. However, because of the resignation of Admiral Nusret Guner as Commander of the Fleet, this custom cannot be applied in this year's YAS meeting.

Instead, there are two alternatives: First, the term of office of Admiral Bilgel may be extended for another year and a vice admiral may be promoted [to the rank of full admiral] and appointed as the Commander of the Fleet.

In the second alternative, Admiral Bilgel may be sent into retirement and Vice Admiral Bulent Bostancioglu, the current Northern Naval Zone Commander who will be promoted to the rank of full admiral, may be directly appointed as Commander of the Naval Forces to replace Bilgel. However, if this course is taken the rank of the Commander of the Fleet will have to be reduced to vice admiral.

A similar situation exists in the Air Forces Command. Lieutenant General Abidin Unal, who is slated for promotion this year, is expected to be appointed Commander of the Air Forces. According to military custom, the Commander of the War Academies is appointed as Commander of the Air Forces. However, last year, Lieutenant General Raif Akbas, who comes from the Land Forces, was appointed as Commander of the War Academies.

According to rumors circulating in anterooms, the appointment of Abidin Unal as Commander of the Air Forces is considered certain. Similarly, General Bekir Kalyoncu, currently General Commander of the Gendarmerie, is expected to be appointed as Commander of the Land Forces.

If Kalyoncu is appointed as Commander of the Land Forces, he will become the strongest candidate to become the next Chief of the General Staff. If this happens, he will have a clear shot at becoming Chief of the General Staff for two years starting in 2015.

Decisions taken at this year's YAS meeting will also clarify the status of officers who remain under arrest in connection with the Ergenekon, "Sledgehammer," and military espionage trials. At present, 15 generals and admirals and 235 commissioned and noncommissioned officers are under arrest.

In the previous YAS meeting, the status of the detained generals was frozen and these officers were not promoted. At this YAS meeting, detained generals and admirals who have reached retirement age are expected to be sent into retirement and the status of the others is expected to remain frozen. Within that framework, detained YAS members General Bilgin Balanli and General Nusret Tasdelen may be sent into retirement this year.

[07] Eroglu's claims: "There must be a deadline for the negotiations; Turkish side lost its patience"

Eroglu issued a statement on the anniversary of the "1 August communal resistance". The 55th anniversary of the establishment of the terrorist Turkish Resistance Association (TMT), the 37th anniversary of the establishment of the command of the so-called security forces and Cyprus' conquest by the Ottomans in 1571, are also celebrated on August 1.

Eroglu claimed that the Turkish side is ready to continue the October negotiations "with consciousness and determination" and added that a deadline is necessary so that a result can come out from the negotiations.

He also alleged that no one has the right to keep the Turkish Cypriots under "isolation and embargo" and added that their patience has run out.

[08] Quarrel in UBP starts again; Many candidates for its presidency

According to Havadis all eyes are turned to party chairman Irsen Kucuk's resignation, after which the process for the UBP congress will start. Havadis argues that a group in the UBP supports that an administration in the party which Eroglu could not control should continue. Even though many names are discussed for the presidency of the UBP, the "two names who are coming into prominence" are Tahsin Ertugruloglu, as the candidate of those who are against Eroglu, and Sunat Atun, as the candidate supported by Eroglu.

Havadis quotes Atun as saying that the message of the "elections" should be perceived and that "people" told the UBP to be renovated, to select young people for its administration and demand "power" again. He said that especially people from Famagusta urge him to become president of the party and added that he would evaluate this pressure.

The paper writes that Irsen Kucuk had told the organs of the party that he would resign on the condition that UBP would hold a congress having only one candidate for its presidency.

The harshest criticism against Kucuk has been made by Ertugrul Hasipoglu, former chairman of the party, who could not be "elected" in occupied Famagusta during the recent "parliamentary elections" of the 28th of July, 2013. Accusing Eroglu's interference in the developments in the UBP, Hasipoglu said that they had seen the same "film" in 1992 as well, when the then Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas had supported nine "MPs" of the UBP who established the Democratic Party (DP). Now, he added, Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu supported the eight "MPs" who joined the DP. Noting that Kucuk has no other alternative but to resign, Hasipoglu accused Kucuk of not being able to handle the crisis and of leading the party into this situation.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (01.08.13) reports that Kucuk has not yet resigned from the post of the president of the UBP in spite of his defeat in the "elections" and that he is looking for ways to enter into the "assembly" again. Kucuk thinks that Faiz Sucuoglu should run for UBP's "candidate" in the "municipal elections", which are planned for next year. In case Sucuoglu is "elected", "by election" should be held for his "seat" at the "parliament" and Kucuk plans to become a "candidate" for this "seat", writes the paper adding that UBP's organizations were very angry with Kucuk's stance and started collecting signatures for removing him from his post.

Kucuk postponed a meeting of UBP's administrative council planned for today, writes Afrika noting that the name of the new president of the party is expected to be determined at this meeting.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Akansoy says the 2013-15 economic "protocol" will be re-examined; Cavusoglu does not exclude a "coalition" with CTP-BG

In statements made yesterday, Akansoy noted that they would reexamine the "2013-15 Economic Protocol" and that the actual aim was to demand its revision taking into consideration the interests of the Turkish Cypriots. He said that in the "elections" the "people" clearly showed that they were not satisfied with this economic program.

Akansoy referred also to the Cyprus problem and argued that "very serious developments" will happen as of October on the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that they see that the recent statement made by the US President "increased the anticipation for serious activity" on the issue.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (01.08.13) reports that the administrative council of the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG) convened last night and gave the chairman of the party, Serdar Denktas, the authority of holding discussions aiming at the establishment of a "coalition government".

Furthermore, according to Halkin Sesi (01.08.13), Nazim Cavusoglu, "MP" with the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that his party could establish a "coalition government" with the CTP-BG adding that there was no hostility between the two parties. Cavusoglu pointed out, however, that the CTP expects to establish a "coalition government" with the DP. He noted that the CTP will try to establish a "government" because it came first in the "elections" and added that the UBP should "quickly complete its homework". He said that Irsen Kucuk will resign from the post of the chairman of the UBP and now the timing of this resignation is being discussed. He noted that the UBP lost the "elections" not because of its actions as a "government" but because of the problems experienced within the party and the process that led to its last congress.

Expressing his views on the Cyprus problem, Cavusoglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot "people" were thirsty for an agreement and that they were punished for years with what he described as "unjust embargoes and isolations". He claimed: "Our duty is to meet at the same point with the world and increase the level of happiness of our people. We are looking at the Cyprus problem not by having the view that the Turkish army should be withdrawn, but as our people meeting with the world. We have been thirsty for a sustainable structure on the basis of two equal states. However, unfortunately, we do not think that the Greek Cypriot side is ready for this. Especially the Greek Cypriot youth is still being raised as supporters of EOKA".

(I/Ts.)

[10] The "election campaign" cost of CTP and BKP; after the Bayram the new "government"

On the other hand, United Cyprus Party ? Communal Existence Forces (BKP-TVG) spent only 16.434 TL for their "election campaign".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (01.08.13) reports that the self-styled high electoral council (YSK) announced the provisional election results regarding the "early parliamentary elections". The "YSK" will examine now the objections regarding the "elections, and these objections will be taken up by the "authorized committees" before the official results are published in the "official gazette" of the breakaway regime.

According to Nevvar Nolan, self-styled chairman of the high electoral council, once the investigation has been completed the official results will be published in the "official gazette", which will be on the 8th of August, after the Bayram holiday.

Nolan also said that once the official results have been published in the "official gazette", 10 days after this date at 10am, the self-styled general assembly of the parliament will convene with the newly elected "deputies". During the gathering which will be led by the eldest "deputy", the newly elected "deputies" will be sworn in. The first legislative session of the 8th term of the self-styled parliament will begin with the swearing in ceremony on the 1st of September.

[11] KTOS explains its view that nobody won in the "elections"

Pointing out that the "new parliament of the regime was formed" last Sunday, Elcil noted that a political victory will be achieved when the structure in the occupied area of Cyprus becomes a system in which the Turkish Cypriots will administrate themselves and their political will is respected. He pointed out that the current system has been created by the governments in Ankara and their collaborators. He noted that this regime is depended on Turkey and that the political will [of the Turkish Cypriots] is mortgaged. He said that what is important is to see whether the political parties would implement the positions included in their "pre-election" programs.

(I/Ts.)

[12] Serdar denied that he met with Erdogan prior to the "elections"

Denktas wondered why he should have hidden the meeting if this happened, adding that he has never avoided meeting with Turkey's officials.

[13] Oil spill threatens the coast of occupied Famagusta bay

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