Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-07-16

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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 will visit the breakaway regime for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus

[02] Battleships of the Turkish Navy to arrive in the breakaway regime for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

[03] Eide met with Ozyigit

[04] A "coalition protocol" between CTP and UBP was signed

[05] The new "government's" position on the Cyprus problem

[06] Reactions to the establishment of a CTP-UBP "coalition government"

[07] The breakaway regime's current deficit for 2014 is the lowest of the last three years

[08] Luxembourg Foreign Minister: Opening of Chapter 17 on economic policy as part of Turkey's bid for EU membership is a possibility

[09] Davutoglu visited HDP; coalition with CHP is the only option; AKP is in favour of lowering the 10% election threshold

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Erdogan will visit the breakaway regime for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus

According to the paper, Erdogan will hold meetings during his visits with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and so-called officials of the newly established "government" in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

(CS)

[02] Battleships of the Turkish Navy to arrive in the breakaway regime for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

The TCG Gokceada Frigate of the Turkish Naval Forces which will anchor off the coast of occupied Keryneia, the TCG I Inonu Submarine and TCG Bora Assault Boat which will dock at the harbour of occupied Keryneia and the TCG Bozcaada Covette which will dock at the occupied Famagusta harbour.

In addition, the Turkish Air Force's aerobatic display team ? the Turkish Stars will also be performing a show in occupied Keryneia on Sunday from 6pm.

(CS)

[03] Eide met with Ozyigit

According to the paper, Eide referred during the meeting to the on-going Cyprus negotiations, stating that they are "difficult but important". He noted however that he is optimistic about the result and added that his hopes increase every time a meeting between the two leaders in Cyprus is completed.

He also said that it is vital to reach a modern agreement which would take the island forward as a united federal Cyprus. Eide said he accepted that there are many issues to discuss still but he believed this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Ozyigit pointed out that hope towards a solution had increased with Mustafa Akinci's "election". Noting that the EU Commission President was visiting the island, Ozyigit said these initiatives would pave the way for positive results in the coming period.

(CS)

[04] A "coalition protocol" between CTP and UBP was signed

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Talat said that the protocol is consisting of three chapters: "Government's working order", "TRNC Assembly's working order and coordination" and "The distribution of the ministries". Noting that the "coalition government" has been approved by the "presidency", Talat said that the protocol will be submitted to the "assembly", which will hold an extraordinary meeting today in order to put into effect. He added that the "government programme" will be submitted to the "assembly" the latest in a week.

Noting that the "government" will make reforms, Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot "people" has wanted this to happen, but it could not be materialized due to "weak governments" or other reasons. He stressed that they will put them into practice, explaining that the aim of the "coalition government" is to achieve important reforms, including the "constitution", to take the necessary measures in order to reach a sustained economic structure and to support the ongoing Cyprus talks.

Ozgurgun, for his part, said that the protocol between CTP and UBP is a milestone in their political history in order to overcome the serious problems of the period. Noting that they have to carry out important work, Ozgurgun said that they have to do hard work.

(DPs)

[05] The new "government's" position on the Cyprus problem

Kalyoncu stated that in the protocol of the new "government" it is stated clearly that it supports the negotiation for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He said that things are going on well, no problem has occurred so far and the former "foreign minister" Nami is now on the side of the Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci as negotiator.

Kalyoncu also asked for the members of the two parties to evaluate positively the coalition "government" and added that he asks for the everyone's support so that to prepare the society for a better future.

(CS)

[06] Reactions to the establishment of a CTP-UBP "coalition government"

Meanwhile, referring to the same issue, Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), has expressed the view that the CTP-UBP self-styled government will be a "government of destruction and poverty". In a written statement issued yesterday, Izcan said that the two parties have established a "coalition government" to protect the status quo and "materialize the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) package".

(I/Ts.)

[07] The breakaway regime's current deficit for 2014 is the lowest of the last three years

According to the balance of payments' report, the foreign trade was 122.4 million dollars in 2012, 120.7 million dollars in 2013 and 134 million dollars in 2014.

The imports, on the other hand, were 1,705.3 million dollars in 2012, 1,699.4 million dollars in 2013 and 1,784.3 million dollars in 2014. The rate of the exports in comparison to the imports was 7.2% in 2012, 7.1% in 2013 and 7.5% in 2014. The foreign trade deficit was 1,582.9 million dollars in 2012, 1,578.7 million dollars in 2013 and 1,650.3 in 2014.

According to Muhtaroglu, the income from tourism and the higher education increased in 2014. The net income from tourism was 571.9 million dollars in 2012, 613.4 million dollars in 2013 and 679.4 million dollars in 2014. The net income from higher education was 412.8 million dollars in 2012, 535.6 dollars in 2013 and 589.8 million dollars in 2014.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Luxembourg Foreign Minister: Opening of Chapter 17 on economic policy as part of Turkey's bid for EU membership is a possibility

Speaking at the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament in Brussels, Asselborn said: "It is possible for Chapter 17 on Economic Policy to be opened soon". He added: "We are expecting a new government to be formed soon in Turkey. We will pragmatically and constructively strengthen EU and Turkey relations."

Asselborn also said that there had been improvements in terms of the ongoing Cyprus talks.

[09] Davutoglu visited HDP; coalition with CHP is the only option; AKP is in favour of lowering the 10% election threshold

Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Davutoglu's visit to the headquarters of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on July 15 was the third and last stop of his tour of other parties in a quest to form a coalition government. It was also the longest meeting so far, as it took longer than Davutoglu's meetings with both Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli earlier this week.

The long-stalled peace process dominated messages separately delivered by Davutoglu and HDP executives following their meeting, with the former choosing to place greater emphasis on the need to end the justification of violence for the sake of democracy.

"Disarmament will happen in Turkey one way or another. Let's together make this happen. You make a call and then let all arms in Turkey be handed over," Davutoglu said at a press conference after the two-hour meeting.

His meeting with the party, which is focused on the Kurdish problem, came shortly after HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas called on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to lay down its arms against Turkey, but also stressed that his call was not enough for a final solution.

"The way to stop the PKK from being a threat is through negotiations. If it is up to our call, I would make a call every now and then ... It's not up to a call, but I am making a call here: The PKK must absolutely lay down arms against Turkey," Demirtas said on private broadcaster Haberturk late July 14.

Davutoglu described Demirtas' call as "right" and "good", arguing that it reflected the grassroots' will as well.

Referring to their meeting, Davutoglu quoted Demirtas as saying, "As democracy grows, arms should gradually decrease to a minimum and then to zero". He also said that although significant democratic reforms had been made in the AKP's 13-year reign, there had been no disarmament.

According to Davutoglu, if the peace process is to resume, then the HDP must have clout and make a contribution to disarmament; otherwise, the party will have no role to play in the process.

Meanwhile, the AKP leader said he considered the HDP's rhetoric had changed for the better since the June 7 election results showed the need for a coalition government. "At today's meeting, too, their approach was as, 'We are ready to discuss everything with the AKP'. Having this approach is appropriate," Davutoglu said.

On the same issue, under the title "One option left on the table for coalition after first round of talks", Turkish daily Sabah (online, 16.05.15) reports that the AK Party's options for a coalition have slimmed down to one, a coalition with the CHP, after it has been made clear that neither the MHP nor HDP will be part of a coalition. The next round of talks will determine the final picture, but Turkey is likely to head back to the polls as the odds of compromise between the two parties have been considered very low.

Davutoglu, speaking after his meeting with HDP co-chairs Demirtas and Yuksekdag, said neither party is considering a partnership. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli, maintained his previous stance not to be part of a coalition, reiterating his view on the matter to Davutoglu during their talks on Tuesday. Together, it leaves only one remaining option viable, which is a coalition with the CHP. The CHP has kept its door ajar to a coalition with the AKP but this option too could prove to be a hard task, as there is slim chance of a consensus on terms both parties insist on.

Meanwhile, Sabah also reports that Davutoglu said on Wednesday that the AKP is in favour of lowering the 10% election threshold that political parties in Turkey need to receive in order to be represented in the parliament.

Speaking in a televised interview broadcasted on Turkish private channel NTV, Davutoglu said that AK Party will propose to lower the threshold in the coalition talks, reminding that AKP had already offered to remove it entirely during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Prime Ministry post.

Answering whether AK Party would prefer a possible snap election rather than forming a coalition government with the other political parties, Davutoglu said that the party's priority is to form a government and added that AKP would easily pave the way for a snap election by letting the tension increase within Turkey if their intention was 'not being a part of the coalition'.

A lowering of the current 10% election threshold was already offered by the AK Party in 2013 as part of the reforms that were announced as a democratization package on Sept. 30, 2013.

The AK Party proposed three alternatives in the democratization package ? maintaining the 10% threshold, reducing it to 5% or removing the threshold altogether and fully implementing the single-member district system. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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(DPs/ LF)

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