Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-08-21

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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] Burcu: Holding a five-party conference on the guarantees in New York is difficult for the time being, but not impossible

[02] Sennaroglu: "The water will reach TRNC on October 28"

[03] Sertoglu: The discussions with the CFA (KOP) will be speeded up

[04] KIB-TEK chairman and TDP leader criticized Yildiz's recent statement on the electricity issue

[05] Forty persons were arrested yesterday after a bloody fight in occupied Famagusta

[06] ERA Turkey, a real estate company, obtained the authority to open offices in the whole of Cyprus

[07] Davutoglu's efforts to form a caretaker government

[08] CHP: One man's ego dragging Turkey to re-election

[09] Turkey's National Security Council to convene September 2

[10] TAVAK research foundation: High hopes for Turkey's full EU bid

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Burcu: Holding a five-party conference on the guarantees in New York is difficult for the time being, but not impossible

In statements to Kibris, Burcu noted that Akinci will most probably visit New York and added: "It was our target and hope to come to a stage in the negotiations process at which a five-party summit could be held during this visit. Even though this hope and target of ours are difficult, we are reserving them. The developments during the forthcoming one month process and the distance to be covered will show whether this is possible. Now it seems difficult, but it is not impossible".

Burcu said that Akinci aims at holding contacts at the highest possible level in New York, like in every other visit abroad. He noted that the work for Akinci's contacts is continuing and when the contacts are clarified, detailed information will be given on them.

The paper writes that Akinci is expected to meet with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Recalling that President Anastasiades will be visiting New York in the same period, Burcu said: "Various comments are being made in the public opinion saying that some contacts will be held separately and some will be held jointly. This issue has not been clarified yet. Both leaders may hold their contacts separately. If it is considered to be necessary and there is a possibility, the environment for meetings together will be secured. This is what could be said at this stage".

Referring to the possibility of a social meeting between the leaders, Burcu pointed out that this could be held when the programs [of the leaders] are known.

As regards the possibility of Akinci holding contacts in Washington as well, Burcu said: "The USA is an important and powerful state of the world. In case opportunity is created at this stage, we want to visit Washington as well. However, it should not be forgotten that the period of esteemed president's visit to New York, coincides with the session of the UN General Assembly. Therefore, the USA, with the capacity of the host, will be having intensive contacts at all levels. We do not know yet whether they will create the chance for us".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Sennaroglu: "The water will reach TRNC on October 28"

During the meeting, Sennaroglu reiterated that the water will reach the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on October 28. He stressed that they will try to use it all without wasting even a drop.

Eroglu, for his part, said that he witnessed on August 7, the placing of the last water pipeline in the sea. He reiterated that around 75 million cubic meters of water will be sent to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus from a dam in southern Turkey via a pipeline, adding that the water project, which includes a water treatment plant and water tanks, will cost 1.6 billion Turkish liras (576.3 million dollars).

(DPs)

[03] Sertoglu: The discussions with the CFA (KOP) will be speeded up

Noting that the "federation's" new "statute" is in harmony with FIFA's and UEFA's criteria, the paper writes that Sertoglu said that their hands had been tied up for a period of 6-7 months because the "statutes" were waiting for approval. "Now we will continue from the point we had been left and speed up this issue", Sertoglu told Kibris.

According to Sertoglu, the "federation's" councilor, Jerome Champagne will visit the occupied area of Cyprus within the forthcoming days and after KOP's chairman Costakis Koutsokoumnis returns from his vacations, they will hold a meeting with him.

The paper reports that the "federation's officials" aim at meeting with FIFA's president the soonest and adds: "The first job to be done is the establishment of a Steering Committee. The committee will discuss the issue of how the relation with KOP will be established. The Committee will be comprised of four Turkish members, four Greek members and one FIFA representative".

(I/Ts.)

[04] KIB-TEK chairman and TDP leader criticized Yildiz's recent statement on the electricity issue

Yildiz stated yesterday that they wanted to transfer electricity to Cyprus through the private sector and that they have been preparing a master plan for the entire island for 3-4 years.

Commenting on Yildiz's statement, Akim stated that he does not understand how Turkey prepares projects on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus and added: "The reference of the Minister to the preparation of a master plan which will provide services to both sides in the island, creates question marks in respect to international relations? On the other hand, don't the Turkish Cypriots have any right to speak? What kind of approach is this, what sort of international relation is this?", Akim wondered.

Akim stated further that the statements made by Yildiz that in case their plans are implemented, the prices of electricity in the occupied area of Cyprus will fall, is completely untrue and accused him for trying to mislead the public.

Akim added also that they are completely unaware of the master plan that Yildiz referred to and stated that in consultations with an international company, they have prepared a "feasibility" study the results of which said that the transferring of electricity from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus via cables will not be worth implementing.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (21.08.15) reports on statements by the chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Cemal Ozyigit who commented on Yildiz's latest statements on electricity.

Ozyigit noted that in spite of the fact that two months ago the so-called electricity authorities had made a profit, today it is in debt and an increase on prices seem inevitable.

Speaking on a TV program on Ada TV, Ozyigit pointed to the drop in prices in the "south", as he called the Republic of Cyprus due to the fall in petrol prices and said that the picture in the "north" is quite the opposite.

Ozyigit explained also that they do not oppose to the transferring of electricity from Turkey but he pointed out to the need to have the administration of the electricity and the water to be transferred.

(AK)

[05] Forty persons were arrested yesterday after a bloody fight in occupied Famagusta

Referring to the background of the story, Afrika notes that Ismet Felek's gang had beaten Turkish Cypriot businessman Ali Ucanok in July last year and broke his chin, nose and collarbones. The gang had then been kept in custody for one day and afterwards was set free on bail.

The case, which had not been examined for one year, was examined yesterday, but it was postponed again. After the postponement and when the four defendants were exiting the "court", they were attacked by Ali Ucanok's men. A person named Ozcan Hangun succeeded in removing the gun of a "police officer" who was trying to separate the two groups during the fight and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire because it was secured.

Afterwards, Ismet Felek and his men raided into the hospital where Kamil Ucanok was under medical observation, attacked him and broke his nose. Felek's 15 men and Ucanok's 24 men were arrested. Ismet Felek and Ali Ucanok were among the arrested persons.

The paper reports that the "court's" "slacking off" in this issue led to this point and that the "victims" in this case gave the punishment which the "judge" did not give by delaying one year. The paper holds the "attorney general" of the breakaway regime responsible of the incidents happened yesterday in occupied Famagusta and calls on him to resign.

(I/Ts.)

[06] ERA Turkey, a real estate company, obtained the authority to open offices in the whole of Cyprus

(DPs)

[07] Davutoglu's efforts to form a caretaker government

"Ahead of August 23 deadline, let us do our job by taking the decision for a government [and] early election inside the Parliament without the need for the President's decree," Davutoglu told a press conference at his party's headquarters in capital Ankara. "I am ready to sit at the table according to the agenda, time and place [the two parties' leaders] want," said Davutoglu.

Both leaders have announced they would not name cabinet members for a caretaker government.

In the case that the deadline expires without a government, either President Erdogan or the Parliament may decide to hold a new election.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister also touched on ongoing terror acts across the country and vowed to take "all kinds of measures" to protect democracy.

"We will not allow suspension of democracy in Turkey," said Davutoglu and expressed resolution in the face of terrorist attacks, most of which the Turkish Armed Forces have said were carried out by outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).

Davutoglu indicated that forming a government with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), in the absence of the CHP and MHP, would be a "constitutional obligation".

He reiterated that he will name the HDP cabinet members himself, a practice, he said, which is in accordance with the Constitution, although the party said it will seek to name its Ministers on its own.

In a potential caretaker government, the AK Party is likely to have 12 Ministers; the CHP to have seven while the MHP and the HDP will have three ministers each, according to number of seats in Parliament.

The Turkish Constitution stipulates that the number of cabinet members to be taken from political party groups shall be determined by the Parliament's Speaker and communicated to the Prime Minister.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 20.08.15), under the title "AKP avoids giving HDP key seats in interim gov't", reported that Davutoglu's call to form an interim government did not include the HDP, the only party in Parliament that said it would send Ministers to an interim government.

The AKP assumes that no Ministries or portfolios that involve national security will be allocated to the HDP.

In addition to the Prime Minister and the Justice, Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers are also members of the National Security Council (MGK), which brings together Turkey's civilian and military leaders.

Thus, the AKP plans to avoid potential handicaps by not including any Deputy Prime Ministry post in the election government, paving the way for a 22-seat cabinet.

The incumbent, 26-seat cabinet is composed of the Prime Minister, four Deputy Prime Ministers and 21 Executive Ministries.

If the AKP cannot go ahead with the plan, it will attempt to postpone the upcoming regular bimonthly meeting of the MGK as the interim government will be in power only until the election, which is expected to be held in early November.

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, meanwhile, reiterated his party's willingness to be part of an interim government. "Our taking part in an election government is not meant to be a partner in the AKP's government," Demirtas said, in remarks published in daily Haberturk on Aug. 20.

[08] CHP: One man's ego dragging Turkey to re-election

"May God be my witness, I did my best," the CHP leader told daily Hurriyet. He accused Erdogan of "resuming terrorism so that he could impose a presidential system".

The President wants to inculcate the sense that without him, the country cannot survive, Kilicdaroglu said. If Turkey goes to new elections, the CHP will reap the biggest advantage, according to Kilicdaroglu.

Ultimately, the election is just an exercise to satisfy Erdogan's ego, Kilicdaroglu said. "They are going to elections, but they also seek a partner at the same time. What they seek is a partner for the project that Erdogan is imposing", he added.

Kilicdaroglu was also critical of Bahceli and Davutoglu for not speaking out against Erdogan because the President did not give the mandate to the CHP to form a government. "This means support for one who is violating democracy," Kilicdaroglu said.

[09] Turkey's National Security Council to convene September 2

A regular bimonthly meeting of the National Security Council (MGK), which brings together Turkey's top civilian and military leaders and is chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will be held on Sept. 2, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on August 20, noting that the meeting would focus on "domestic and external developments".

The September 2 meeting of the MGK will be the first meeting to be attended by the new top brass of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), which was appointed in early August during a meeting of the Supreme Military Council (YAS).

[10] TAVAK research foundation: High hopes for Turkey's full EU bid

Responding to the question of whether Turkey will be able to become a full member of the EU during the seven-year EU budget term between 2020 and 2027, 51% of participants answered "yes", while 31% answered "no". The remaining 18% said that Turkey will never become a full member. The study said that the time period is given as such because large countries like Turkey can only be accepted into the EU during seven-year budget terms.

When asked which country is the most prominent obstacle to Turkey's full membership, 51% of those surveyed claimed it was Germany, as was also the case in 2014. France, which previously was considered the country most opposed until Francois Hollande's election as President in 2012, is believed to be the country providing the largest obstacle by 20% of those surveyed. Additionally, 4% believed that the Republic of Cyprus constituted the strongest opposition and 25% indicated other countries.

The study says that there is no significant change in the Turkish government's efforts regarding the EU, however, 53% of the participants said that the government's efforts toward becoming a full member was insufficient while 37% demanded more serious steps toward it. Furthermore, the research suggests that the Turkish citizens do not perceive any other alternative to the EU and they believe that the opposition of EU countries to Turkey's full membership is due to Islamophobia or anti-Islamic notions. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs/ AM)

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