Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-10-26

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 / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: A common education committee to promote peace must be established in the framework of the Cyprus talks

[02] Burcu: The clear majority and turning the agreement into an EU primary law should be red lines for all Turkish Cypriots

[03] Colak called on everyone to support the Cyprus talks

[04] New US Ambassador: The benefit of a Cyprus solution will be great

[05] Erbakan called on Turkey to make economic investments in the occupation regime to achieve its further development

[06] Toros: The discussions on the population are unnecessary, bi-zonality is the important thing

[07] Only 730 cases out of 6,223 were concluded by the breakaway regime's "Property Compensation Commission"

[08] The occupation regime was represented at the 29th session of the Committee of Regional and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe

[09] A delegation of the "assembly" participated in the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat

[10] The personal loans in the occupied area of Cyprus exceeded 3,5 billion Turkish liras

[11] An international summit to take place at the illegal GAU university

[12] 174 thousands 454 vehicles in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[13] Only half of the 3 million Turkish expats voted in Turkey's general election

[14] Davutoglu: Don't leave me in the hands of Bahceli, Kilicdaroglu; Bahceli: MHP ready to form coalition government with AKP, CHP

[15] CHP leader: Turkey should not be Europe's 'concentration camp'

[16] Analysis: Drop in consumer confidence may reflect in the ballot box

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci: A common education committee to promote peace must be established in the framework of the Cyprus talks

Akinci made these statements during a meeting he held with the "Cyprus Educational Research Union".

He further stated that efforts are exerted towards this direction but the committee has not been established yet. He also claimed that the education system in "south Cyprus" is not peaceful while there are inefficiencies in the educational system in the "north".

"A culture of peace must be established so that we will be able to have a common future in Cyprus", Akinci stated.

(CS)

[02] Burcu: The clear majority and turning the agreement into an EU primary law should be red lines for all Turkish Cypriots

Referring to the Confidence Building Measures, Burcu alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side has done everything it could and noted: "We have completed all our efforts. We have absolutely no obstacle. We are waiting from our interlocutor to take steps".

Burcu argued that they experience no problem with the Turkish occupation army in Deryneia crossing point and that when the works are completed, both Deryneia and Apliki crossing points will open.

Burcu said that during the meetings they hold with the officials from Turkey, the latter always "motivate" them in the direction of the solution of the Cyprus problem. "Mr Akinci has exhibited and continues this stance from the past until today", he argued.

Referring to the negotiations process, Burcu said that they are not discussing the issues of guarantees and the territory and that these issues will be discussed "when the day comes". He noted that the maps which are being distributed are false and that they have not held a meeting on the territorial adjustment.

Touching upon the return of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha to its legal owners, Burcu said that the international community wants a quick solution and with the election of Akinci and the response of President Anastasiades, the focus is on the comprehensive solution.

Burcu argued that the issues of the clear majority [in the north part of federal Cyprus] and turning the agreement into a primary law of the EU, and should be red lines for all the Turkish Cypriots. He said: "The entire community should be relaxed on this issue, it should feel safe, it should see these criteria, because there are the experiences of the past [?]. Our people must easily say 'yes' to the solution".

Noting that his statements should not be misunderstood, he added: "I am not saying that no Greek Cypriots will come among us. Thousands of them will come, but we will have the clear majority."

Finally, Burcu reiterated the Turkish view that after the solution, all the "TRNC citizens", will become citizens of the federal state.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Colak called on everyone to support the Cyprus talks

In the opening speech of the "Turkish Foreign Policy Certificate Program" organized by the "lifelong training centre" of "Near East University" ("YDU"), Colak said that everyone is a student especially on the issue of foreign relations due to the fact that the agenda of foreign relations is changing continuously. She also stressed the importance of the certificate program and wished success.

Underling the importance of the island of Cyprus and Turkey's geographic and physical importance, Colak explained the balances in the field of power, strategy and trade in the region. Referring to her recent contacts in France, Colak claimed that she witnessed a policy in France like "Don't see, don't listen and don't understand the Turkish Cypriots", and criticized this.

Colak noted that many diplomats came and left for the solution in Cyprus and Cyprus has been seen as the "cemetery" of the diplomats who did not succeed a Cyprus settlement. She added that the ongoing efforts on this field (Cyprus talks) carry a hope that these will be successful.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that Colak also met with a delegation from the New European Business Confederation (UNITEE) headed by its President Dr Adem Kumcu, who is currently in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in order to participate in a conference as guests of the "Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Council".

During the meeting, Kumcu expressed his satisfaction for the new process in the Cyprus talks, adding that they follow the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and the "coalition government" regarding the negotiation process for a Cyprus settlement. He stressed that they are ready to contribute to the Cyprus settlement.

Colak, for her part, said that the international contacts of the non-governmental organizations (NGO's) are very important in term of the voice of the Turkish Cypriots to be able to be heard in the world. For this reason, she added that she wishes to work and to have close contact with the NGO's.

(DPs)

[04] New US Ambassador: The benefit of a Cyprus solution will be great

Doherty stated that the benefit of safeguarding a solution in Cyprus will be great and so it will be if the two sides learn to live together in the island. She also said that a solution of the Cyprus problem will set a great example to the world.

She went on and added that the solution procedure is a procedure for the Cypriots and said that women have a different point of view and this can bring greater possibilities for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

(CS)

[05] Erbakan called on Turkey to make economic investments in the occupation regime to achieve its further development

"Turkey should carry out strong economic investment in order to provide employment. It should play an active role for the development of the TRNC so that it would be able to stand on its own feet", Erbakan added.

Alleging that the Turkish Cypriot community had to confront the policy of vanishment followed by the Greek Cypriot side and the "bloodshed" followed the incidents occurred in the island in 1963 and afterwards, he described as a "turning point" for the history of the Cyprus cause the "20th of July peace operation in Cyprus", as he called the Turkish invasion in the island.

Erbakan accused also the Greek Cypriot side for following an opportunism policy especially after 2004, when it unilaterally became an EU member and alleged that the Greek Cypriot side's aim was always to dissolve the "TRNC".

Referring to a speech delivered at the UN Headquarters by the Special Adviser of the Secretary General on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide who has said that 'they want to achieve to have one Cyprus, which will have one sovereignty and will be functioning under the umbrella of one federal structure', Erbakan said that Eide has stated openly that they want the re-establishment of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus. "This would mean the abolition of the TRNC and that the Turkish Cypriots will lose all their rights preserved after 1974 and will be left in the mercy of the Greek Cypriot authorities."

(AK)

[06] Toros: The discussions on the population are unnecessary, bi-zonality is the important thing

"We are referring to a federal, EU member country in which liberality will be fundamental", he said adding that this is one of the three principles for which the EU is mainly interested. He said: "How you can control liberality? How you can even attempt to control it? The important thing here is bi-zonality. Bi-zonality is very important [?] I continuously see the federal structures. We must very well know what we are debating. In every federal structure the federal provinces, areas and states are divided from each other with clear lines. It is absolutely necessary for the situation to be in this manner. After this is in this manner, what is the importance of how many persons live in north Cyprus or the Turkish Cypriot founding state or whatever our name is, and from which race [these persons come]? I find this to be very unnecessary. And I think that it constitutes a contradiction [?]".

Toros expressed the view that every businessman who finds your laws "sympathetic" and your conditions of living appropriate "is welcome to my administration". He argued that the businesspeople are the steam engine of the society.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Only 730 cases out of 6,223 were concluded by the breakaway regime's "Property Compensation Commission"

Mustafa alleged that solving the property issue "with individual methods is very dangerous" and added that the courts and the committees which will be established after the property categories are determined will demand evidence during the individual applications searching for rights due to property violations. "As a result of this, our properties remained in the south will fall into the arms of the Greek Cypriot administration and remain in their mercy and you will also experience the injustice derived from the psychological and economic pressures as the people from Vroisha", he claimed.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The occupation regime was represented at the 29th session of the Committee of Regional and Local Authorities of the Council of Europe

In statements on the issue, Benli said: "Our struggle yielded to a result, we have been represented at the Council of Europe on the level we deserve; our representation at the Council of Europe will be permanent".

Benli further said that the respectable representation of the Turkish Cypriot local authorities at the congress as well as the improvement of Turkey's status has produced very important results for them.

(AK)

[09] A delegation of the "assembly" participated in the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat

The delegation consists of the "deputy" with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Dogus Derya, "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP) Erdal Ozcenk, "deputy" with the Democratic Party (DP) Hakan Dincyurek and the "deputy" with the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Huseyin Angolemli. It participated in the 11th Parliament Round table meeting of the conference.

(CS)

[10] The personal loans in the occupied area of Cyprus exceeded 3,5 billion Turkish liras

As of September 2015, the personal loans reached three billion and 582 million Turkish Liras (TL). Based on the number of the population announced after the population census of the so-called state planning organization, the per capita personal loans in September 2010 had been 6,759 TL. This number increased by 164% in September 2015 and reached 17,818 TL. This amount was 8,990 TL in 2011, 10,013 TL in 2012, 16,038 in 2013 and 16,267 in 2014.

According to the data, 267 million TL of personal and credit card loans could not be paid and the cases have been led to "court". Per capita loan amount which is matter in dispute reached 1,328 TL.

It is noted that the population of the occupied area of Cyprus [Translator's note: The TRNC citizens as they are called] had been announced to be 178,031 in 2006 and 190,494 in 2011. This number has been calculated to be 187,999 in 2010 and 200,971 in 2015.

(I/Ts.)

[11] An international summit to take place at the illegal GAU university

The congress which is to take place on November 28, is co-organized by the illegal GAU, the International Diplomat's Union and the European Businessmen Club. Directors and CEOs from several companies from the EU, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Republic of Cyprus (Greek Cypriot side), Egypt, Qatar and Russia are expected to attend the summit.

The paper writes that the summit will be organized under the auspices of the so-called prime minister Omer Kalyoncu.

In statements on the issue, Kalyoncu stressed the importance of the organization of the summit, in a period as he said that we are close to a solution due to the Cyprus negotiation talks which are in progress.

Pointing out to the geo-strategic importance of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Kalyoncu added that Cyprus is also a very important energy corridor in the region. "The organization of this summit in the TRNC, will contribute to the revitalization of the economy and to the taking of more diplomatic steps towards the peace in the island", Kalyoncu added.

(AK)

[12] 174 thousands 454 vehicles in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

According to data from the "Motor vehicle registration department", there are 174 thousands 454 active vehicles. The 17% (26,106 vehicles) of these is not registered.

(DPs)

[13] Only half of the 3 million Turkish expats voted in Turkey's general election

Commentators have speculated that the reasons why Turkish expats chose not to vote are that many of them reside far from polling stations and the government's failure to keep its promises to solve the problems regarding education, issues on the status of the Kurdish language and dual citizenship.

A total of 2,895,885 Turkish citizens living abroad were able to vote starting on Oct. 8, with polling stations set up at 113 Turkish diplomatic missions in 54 countries. Turkish expats' voting participation rate reached 45%, surpassing that of the June 7 election.

In some Western European countries where a large number of Turkish citizens live, the voting participation rate reached 50%. As many as 650,000 Turkish nationals voted in Germany alone. According to a recent decision by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), ballot boxes at customs gates at the Turkish border will remain open until 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

According to the "Gurbetin Oylar?" (Votes from Abroad) initiative, which aims to sustain an impartial, transparent and fair environment for Turkish citizens to vote abroad, around 5% of the total vote count in the general election could come from Turkish citizens living abroad, which could have a huge effect on the result.

The ballot boxes from foreign countries will be brought to Turkey in sealed bags in airplanes assigned for the purpose. The counting process will start in Ankara on Nov. 1, at the same time as the counting of ballot boxes in Turkey.

[14] Davutoglu: Don't leave me in the hands of Bahceli, Kilicdaroglu; Bahceli: MHP ready to form coalition government with AKP, CHP

"Don't leave me in the hands of Bahceli and Kilicdaroglu," said Davutoglu, addressing AKP supporters in Istanbul's Yenikap? neighbourhood in a rally on Oct. 25. (?) Referring to his meetings with the opposition party leaders, the Prime Minister asked his supporters to increase his votes so that he could form a single party government.

Meanwhile, HDN (online, 25.10.15), under the title "MHP ready to form coalition government with AKP, CHP", reported that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has announced its readiness to form a coalition government with either the ruling or social democrat opposition party after next week's elections in a bid to break the public's perception of his party's unconstructive stance in the aftermath of June 7 polls.

"I declare from now on that we are ready to form a coalition government with every party except the HDP [People's Democratic Party]," MHP head Devlet Bahceli said Oct. 25 in Ankara.

(?)

Claiming that the MHP would become the government in the Nov. 1 polls, Bahceli lashed out at the AKP for its tolerant policies towards terrorist organizations, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). "Our national security policies have collapsed due to the irresponsible policies of the AKP. The danger is very big. We have never witnessed such a cowardly government", he said.

[15] CHP leader: Turkey should not be Europe's 'concentration camp'

"Turkey should not become Europe's concentration camp. We cannot accept that. Let aside 3 billion euro, even if the European countries offer to give 13 billion euro, Turkey should not accept becoming the 'concentration camp' of Europe," said Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu speaking to Hurriyet daily on a plane heading from Istanbul to the eastern province of Malatya.

"The European countries are telling Turkey that 'we will give you the money, you will keep the Syrians.' This is not acceptable or ethical," said Kilicdaroglu. CHP leader was referring to the EU's recent offer to give Turkey three billion euro ($3.3 billion) a year and eased visa travel for Turks in return for cooperation in stemming the flow of migrants.

Recalling that more than 2 million Syrians have taken shelter in Turkey fleeing civil war, Kilicdaroglu said that the CHP will make efforts to bring peace in Syria. "Syrians in Turkey will themselves return to their countries when peace will come", he added.

The CHP leader also criticized the government for its foreign policy and vowed to end the "flow of arms from Turkey to Syria", if his party comes to power after the Nov. 1 snap elections in Turkey. "If we come to the power, our first job will be halting the transportation of arms from Turkey to Syria. We will cut the links of radical organizations in [Syria] with our country. Then we will work for peace," Kilicdaroglu added.

[16] Analysis: Drop in consumer confidence may reflect in the ballot box

The consumer confidence index (CCI) is an indicator that measures the confidence of consumers on markets and generally on the economic situation; it also shows the expectations of the consumer for the future, as well as its spending and saving tendencies. The CCI is determined according to the Consumer Trend Survey, done monthly by the Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) and Central Bank. It is released by TUIK every month.

Because of the scarcity of data, we can only start from 2007 to assess the relationship of the CCI and election results. When we review the CCI and election result relationship in those years, we see that when the CCI is high, more votes are cast for the AKP; when the confidence is down, votes are also down. While Turkey is going to the polls again on Nov. 1, there is deterioration in the confidence of the consumer. It is now wondered whether this dissatisfaction will reflect in the ballot box partially or completely.

(?)

It is now a generally accepted statement that the AKP is not only a "government" but is actually in the process of building a "regime."

The AKP's voter support of the past 13 years is the most important factor legitimizing the regime. The AKP came to power with 34% of the votes on Nov. 3, 2002, and increased its votes every year. There was a slight drop in the 2009 local elections; otherwise, it went from 30% to 40% to the brink of 50% and started falling in 2015.

Political Islam, parties of which did not reach the 20th percentile in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, seized power in 2002 with 34%, increasing its votes every year and thus building an Islamic regime. The biggest role in this was the economic growth and economic background.

What brought the AKP to power in 2002 were not its economic pledges. What made the voter chose the AKP was mostly the consequences of the bitter pill that the 59th coalition government of 1999-2002 had to resort to overcome the 2001 crisis.

The coalition government, led by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, partnered with the central right Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), Democratic Party (DP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). It experienced the 2001 crisis because of problems built up through the 1990s.

The central left, central right parties and the MHP brought Kemal Dervis to steer the economy through the 2001 crisis; a bitter IMF-controlled pill was introduced and as a result, the implementers of this bitter pill paid a heavy cost in the 2002 elections. At the same time, they left "boneless" public financing, the infrastructure for privatization and a functioning relationship with the IMF to the neoliberal AKP, set up by the Gul-Erdogan duo breaking away from the Welfare Party (RP).

The world of the 2002-2007 period also helped this rectified economy. The AKP government coincided with major liquidity abundance in the world just before the global crisis, which meant plenty of external resources and high growth ? even though it created the current account deficit. Those masses who had suffered in 2001 voted for the AKP over and over again when there was no reasonable alternative. The AKP, on the other hand, having found the unique climate to implement their regime scenarios, started building a regime full throttle.

The AKP inherited the vital IMF/Kemal Dervis-produced reforms in banking, public sector, privatization in 2002. Inflation was rapidly dropping, and with price stability, a reformed Turkey climate coincided with the abundance of international liquidity, launching a rapid foreign investment inflow. The foreign capital inflow, which was not even $1 billion in the Ozal era of 1980s, reached only $4 billion in the coalition governments' era of 1990s but it averaged nearly $30 billion in the first five years of AKP rule.

The uninterrupted growth from 2003 to 2007 reflected in the CCI, thus in votes. In May 2007, the CCI was up to 82.3. In the elections of the same month, the AKP won 46.6% votes.

The economy felt a tremor in 2008 with the effect of the global crisis. The real effect of the crisis was felt in 2009; that year, the economy shrank 5%. Foreign investors withdrew. Economic shrinkage and increasing inflation shook the consumer. The CCI was measured 61.6 in March 2009. Local elections the same month reflected in the votes and the AKP received 38.3% of the votes, 8.3 points less than 2007.

The 2009 crisis was diverted through measures taken with the mobilization of the public budget without deepening and without further settling. The return of the foreign investor was achieved. With the annual average of $60 billion foreign money inflow in 2010 and 2011, a shocking growth rate of 9%t was reached. Under these conditions, by mid-2011, the confidence of the consumer peaked with 83.2, bringing 49.8% of the votes for the AKP.

The 2011 growth raised consumer satisfaction and AKP votes but with the low foreign exchange rate, the current account deficit exploded. In light of the high deficit, the AKP had to cool down the economy; it geared down and finished the year with 2% growth. In 2013, only 4% growth was achieved. The tempo of growth fell again in 2014 to 2.9%.

Political fragilities were added to economic fragilities. The rising terror of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and Syria and its image of closeness with the AKP added geopolitical risks to existing ones. This outlook pulled down the country's credibility, prompting foreigners to leave rapidly.

In the 2014 local elections, the AKP received 43.4% votes, some 6.4 points less than 2011. In the same month, the CCI was 72.7, some 10 points less than its 2011 level.

Before the June elections, the CCI dropped to 66.4 and the AKP received 40.9%. This was drop of 6.5 points in CCI and 2.5 points in votes.

In September, the CCI was down to 58.5 and in October, it went up to 62.8. It is some 4 points below the index in June. Non-agricultural unemployment, inflation, drop in real salaries, concern in the payback of consumer loans, political instability, a climate of war, the Ankara massacre with more than 100 deaths, high tension, negative news from the outside world and anxiety for the future all contribute to the drop.

If the relationship between CCI and votes continue as it previously has, then the AKP will only reach 41% of the votes, which will not give the AKP an opportunity at one-party rule. A coalition will become inevitable." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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

(DPs/ AM)

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