Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 17-04-27

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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] Akinci criticized the fact that Anastasiades referred the "Enosis bill" to the Supreme Court

[02] Burcu condemned Bulut remarks

[03] Ozgurgun's "office" on Bulut's remarks

[04] How the Turkish Cypriot parties reacted to Bulut's statements

[05] Turkish Cypriot columnists assess Yigit Bulut's statements

[06] Erel: Cyprus negotiations were sacrificed for the Turkish referendum

[07] Over 9,000 Turkish police officers suspended over suspected links to Gulen

[08] AKP and MHP Deputies to boycott Council of Europe sessions

[09] Commentary: "Training the police or a paramilitary force?"

[10] Main opposition to appeal referendum result at European court

[11] The Commander of the British Forces in Cyprus visited the Commander of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces"

[12] Atun announced that "Hellim has been declared as a regulated product through the Hellim Executive Order"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Akinci criticized the fact that Anastasiades referred the "Enosis bill" to the Supreme Court

In a written statement issued yesterday, Akinci claimed that despite Mr. Anastasiades' hope breaking behaviour, the Turkish Cypriot side will participate in the leaders' meetings which are pencilled in for the May 2nd, 11th and 17th.

Akinci accused Anastasiades of not respecting the efforts of opposition party AKEL and ruling party DISY to restart the negotiations after amending the controversial Enosis day bill.

The new law has been referred to the Cyprus Supreme Court by Anastasiades to rule whether it is constitutional.

"In the same manner he showed disrespect to the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot community, this behaviour does not correspond to the spirit of the negotiations and the conviction of the Greek Cypriot community" he said.

The statement went on to say that it was with disappointment that the Turkish Cypriots see that Mr Anastasiades is behaving in a manner which reveals his intentions both as far as the Enosis day matter is concerned, and as far as the negotiations are concerned. "It is becoming clear that as the elections in the south are drawing nearer, Anastasiades is pulling away from a solution", he alleged.

The statement continued saying that "despite Mr. Anastasiades' disappointing behaviour, the Turkish Cypriot side will participate in the leaders' meetings which are scheduled for May 2nd, 11th and 17th.

"As always, we will continue to work with all our good intentions, focusing on getting a result and we will continue to be constructive. However, it is not enough to have good will from just the one side" the statement claimed.

[02] Burcu condemned Bulut remarks

Baris Burcu, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's spokesman, described Bulut's remarks against the "TRNC" and the Turkish Cypriot "people" inappropriate and unfitting.

The Chief Turkish Presidential Adviser Yigit Bulut had claimed in summary that the "TRNC" (editor's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) is an "overseas province" of Turkey and that the "Turkish Cypriot state and government officials are on Turkey's payroll".

Pointing out that it was not the first time that Bulut has made such comments before describing them as "half serious" and "filled with historical inaccuracies", Burcu called on the public to "not take them seriously."

Burcu said: "The position we are putting forward with Turkey's support, is that we need to create a bi-communal Federal Cyprus with two constituent states, which will secure political equality, our freedom and security".

Stating that it is a source of sadness to see that the "TRNC" is unable to stand on its own feet, Burcu said that to claim that the "TRNC" is an "overseas province" of Turkey is an unacceptable situation which deeply hurt the Turkish Cypriot "people".

He said that the notion of an "overseas province" is outdated and has no place within Turkey's modern political and national pact.

[03] Ozgurgun's "office" on Bulut's remarks

The statement alleged that Bulut's remarks only reflect his personal views and that to attach importance to these remarks are unnecessary, meaningless and a waste of time.

"To attach great importance to these remarks which Mr Bulut stated were of a personal nature and to create an agenda as if these remarks were of an official nature is unnecessary, meaningless and a waste of time. It is important not to perceive such personal views which ignore the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot people as the official view and position of the Republic of Turkey", the statement claimed.

[04] How the Turkish Cypriot parties reacted to Bulut's statements

The chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman, stated that Bulut's statements are testing the limits of his patience. "Nobody has the right to play games with the dignity of the Turkish Cypriot people", Erhurman stated, and warned that the kindness of the Turkish Cypriots should not be understood in the wrong way.

The chairman of the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) Cemal Ozyigit stated that Bulut crossed the lines and on top of this his statements consisted of many lies since Bulut falsely claimed that Turkey provides water and electricity to the Greek Cypriots and pays for the expenses of the Turkish Cypriots. Ozyigit wondered if Bulut's statements are expressing his own personal beliefs or are the results of a change of politics regarding his party (AKP). Ozyigit also stated that his party is against the annexation, the enosis and the division of Cyprus.

The chairman of the People's Party (HP) Kudret Ozersay, stated that Turkey has no right to turn Cyprus into Turkey's province. He also said that Bulut's statements only help towards hurting the relations between the "peoples of the two countries" and are disrespectful towards the Turkish Cypriots.

The chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan also said that Bulut did not show respect towards the Turkish Cypriots and added that this shows exactly that those who attack the "northern part" of Cyprus are having the mentality of the occupation. He also said that their duty is to protect the identity and the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The deputy chairman of the Revival Party (YDP) Sunalp Dervis Sencer stated that "the TRNC is the oldest Turkish state after Turkey" and accused the Turkish governments of creating a false economic system in the breakaway regime.

Finally, Kibris Postasi (27.04.17) reports that Serdar Denktas, so-called deputy prime minister, did not make any public statements on the issue; however he sent a letter to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan via the "Turkish embassy" to Cyprus. According to the paper, Denktas believes that the right method to handle the issue is to send a letter in which his concerns and views are expressed.

(CS)

[05] Turkish Cypriot columnists assess Yigit Bulut's statements

In his column in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper Ali Baturay reports, inter alia, the following:

"[?] We are angry at Yigit Bulut, but let us speak frankly. Were there not times in this country, during which the president, the prime minister and the parliament have been turned into a zero, just like Bulut said? We are angry at Yigit Bulut because he said that we should have a governor, but are there not times that the word of Turkey's ambassador to Nicosia is heard more than everything else and he became more competent than the above-mentioned authorities? Do not deny it, such times came. And they came a lot of times. Many in Turkey think like Bulut, but they are polite and do not say this to us in our face. Yigit Bulut indirectly tells us that the TRNC does not exist. In your view, does it exist? And if it does, how much it exists? If it exists, behold, Yigit Bulut shows us how it looks even from Turkey. It is our right to be offended, [?] angry, and our dignity to be heart. We are humans, but we owe Yigit Bulut thanks, because Yigit Bulut reminded to us once more that we need the solution in this country and that the current system cannot continue. [?]"

Writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper, Ulas Baris describes as "funny on the one hand and late on the other" the reactions to Bulut's statements from the occupied area of Cyprus, which, he says, is a place that has "Mersin 10, Turkey" as its post code, all the Turkish "ambassadors" except for one-two behaved like "governors", cannot appoint a Turkish Cypriot "director" at the "central bank", its "police" are bound to the army of another country and cannot have a Turkish Cypriot commander of this army. "Why do you get angry to the reality that we are a province", he wonders and notes:

"You are a province. You always were. They had you built this system 'for being administrated' in order to hide the conditions of the occupation created here in 1974. [?] While you were going around here and there, we were holding rallies in the streets under the slogan 'No to Entering with identity Cards'. We were reacting to the population transferred to the country. We have seen the CHP and the DSP. Now we are seeing the AKP. They have not difference when it comes to us. The administration in Turkey behaved to us in the same way in the past and it is behaving to us in the same way now. Therefore, while I and others like me were giving this struggle, you were enjoying your day. [?]"

Writing in Turkish Cypriot Havadis newspaper, Basaran Duzgun recalls the so-called "Cyprus Recoupment Plan" prepared by Turkey in the 1950's. He notes that the late Adnan Menderes headed this effort and wonders whether President Erdogan, who is Menderes' admirer, wants to complete his work, which remained unfinished and occupy the entire island. Duzgun expresses the view that Erdogan should make a statement on the issue.

Turkish Cypriot Afrika newspaper argues that "if Yigit Bulut says something, this means that Tayyip Erdogan says this", since Bulut can say nothing with which Erdogan does not agree. The paper notes, inter alia, the following: "Do our politicians not know this? Is it possible not to know it? However, it suits them to pretend that they do not know it, because slamming Erdogan is not the same as slamming Yigit Bulut. Erdogan makes Bulut saying what he thinks and then he sits and watches us with joy. [?]"

Finally, Sami Ozuslu writes in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper that it is not possible a person having the title of "Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser" to express his own views and argues that the aim of Bulut's statements was to say things which Erdogan has in the back of his mind, but does not want to say them himself. The columnist expresses the view that no one knows how the process in Cyprus will evolve and that the tension in the area will increase. He also argues that Cyprus is heading towards the division and perhaps the annexation to Turkey and notes that the "forces which support peace do not show any serious resistance and objection" to this. According to Ozuslu, the address of the reactions should be Erdogan and not Bulut.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Erel: Cyprus negotiations were sacrificed for the Turkish referendum

Erel, who was speaking during a television show on the latest developments of the Turkish referendum, also said that the outcome of the voting was "yes" but the Cyprus negotiations were sacrificed for it.

Referring to Barbaros's research in Cyprus waters, as a "game" of Turkey for internal use, Erel said that the USA will not be afraid by Barbaros of Turkey; therefore Turkey cannot prevent the drillings in the south.

(CS)

[07] Over 9,000 Turkish police officers suspended over suspected links to Gulen

Earlier in the day, more than 1,000 suspected Gulenists in the police were detained in simultaneous early-morning raids across Turkey, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.

"Some 1,009 'secret imams' in 72 provinces have been taken into custody so far," Soylu said in Ankara. "This is an important step for the Republic of Turkey."

The detentions came as part of an operation coordinated by 8,500 officers targeting the alleged Gulenist infiltration of the police in all 81 of Turkey's provinces.

The operations were carried out as part of a probe led by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The nationwide hunt for other suspects is continuing.

Tens of thousands of public service workers have been purged since the July 15, 2016, coup attempt.

[08] AKP and MHP Deputies to boycott Council of Europe sessions

Talip Kucukcan, who is also an AKP lawmaker, told Anadolu Agency his party and MHP lawmakers decided not to participate in PACE's plenary sessions following the council's scandalous decision on Turkey.

"PACE made a scandal decision... I strongly condemn this decision. The decision to put Turkey on PACE's monitoring watch list is extremely wrong and I reject it," Kucukcan alleged. "It is a decision that encourages terrorists and putschist," he claimed.

He further alleged that it justifies those who attempt to overthrow the Turkish government, assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and those who do not see the PKK terrorist group as a threat.

Turkey's PACE delegation consists of 18 members, including 10 Deputies from AKP, 1 from MHP, 5 from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and 2 from opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

[09] Commentary: "Training the police or a paramilitary force?"

"The oath taken by women police cadets at the Police Training Center (POMEM) in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat has been raised in a parliamentary question by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Zeynep Alt?ok. I watched the oath-taking ceremony on YouTube. Not only in Yozgat, but in other police training centres, there are videos of the same oath being taken.

The oath starts with the basmala, "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." It continues with pledges to Allah, the Quran, the prophets, the flag and arms. They promise the martyrs that they will sleep comfortably because they will take revenge on their behalf. "Revenge, revenge; let revenge be forever. If we forget, let our blood dry up [three times]. God protect the Turk [three times]. Amen [three times]."

In fact, the official wording of the oath, the one I found on the web, is a pledge to the Constitution, to Ataturk's principles and reforms, to Turkish nationalism as described in the Constitution and to the laws of the republic. It promises to serve impartially and be based on equality; respect for human rights; constitutional principles; a national, democratic and secular state, as well as the rule of law.

Apparently, the new text of the oath has unofficially been rewritten to be suitable to the "spirit of the time."

In the Republic of Turkey, the duty of the police is definite. Within the framework of what the Constitution and laws order, their job is to provide security and order, prevent crime and serve as judicial police in the interrogations of prosecutors.

"Taking revenge" is not among them because a modern state of law does not take revenge on anyone. Revenge is a concept seen in primitive tribal orders.

Police take an oath to abide by the constitution and laws and conduct their duties within that framework.

By the way, the Republic of Turkey, according to the constitution, is not only a state of law but at the same time, a secular state. The police of a secular state cannot start their oath with the basmala.

A secular state does not differentiate among its citizens based on their religion and belief; thus it is only normal to have members of other faiths or people with no faith within the police force. Forcing them to take an oath as a member of another faith is both against the European Convention of Human Rights and our Constitution.

Are the police training centres training police for the state of law or are they aiming to form a paramilitary organization? (?)"

[10] Main opposition to appeal referendum result at European court

Speaking to reporters at the Republican People's Party's (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, spokeswoman Selin Sayek Boke said: "We faced illegal referendum results after seeing an unverified election. Our priority is standing up for the legal rights of all citizens. Thus, we would like to announce that we will soon apply to the ECHR" to annul the referendum result.

The party has taken issue with a ruling by the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) to count unsealed ballots. Following an unsuccessful appeal to the board, the Council of State -- Turkey's highest administrative court -- Tuesday rejected the CHP's petition to annul the results.

It is unclear if the ECHR has standing to void the results.

[11] The Commander of the British Forces in Cyprus visited the Commander of the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces"

A statement issued by the "Cyprus Turkish Security Forces" stated that the visit was a "courtesy visit".

[12] Atun announced that "Hellim has been declared as a regulated product through the Hellim Executive Order"

The "executive order" aims to introduce market and quality controls on all Hellim products.

The "ministry for economy and energy" prepared the "Hellim Executive Order" and presented it to the "council of ministers" which in turn "approved the order".

Atun said that "the officers from the trade department's internal trade, price, quality and supervising branch will carry out inspections on all hellim products which have been identified as a product of designated origin". He also reminded that "within the framework of the protection of traditional product names by law, Hellim was declared a traditional product".

Atun also gave information regarding the details of the "Hellim Executive Order".

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