"No: 177, 6 June 2017, it is well known that Turkey is ready for the reconvening of the Conference on Cyprus held in Geneva on 12 January 2017, without preconditions. We continue to be determined to reach a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.

Within this framework, we consider the remarks made by the UN Secretary-General following his meeting in New York on 4 June with the Turkish Cypriot Leader and the Greek Cypriot Leader as a step towards the conclusion of the process.

As also underlined by H.E. Mr. Mustafa Ak?nc?, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, upon his return today (6 June) to the Island, the Secretary-General's remarks reflect the understanding that there is a need to reconvene the Conference on Cyprus in the month of June without any preconditions.

In fact, particular emphasis is laid in the Secretary-General's remarks on the principles that "all issues will be discussed interdependently" and that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed", through a direct reference to the Leaders' Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014.

This being the case, the fact that the contents of the UN Secretary-General's remarks have begun to be distorted by the Greek Cypriot side before the ink is even dry, and claims are being made that the preconditions put forth by the Greek Cypriot leader have been accepted, clearly demonstrate yet again the Greek Cypriot side's lack of sincerity and the absence of political will for a settlement.

That the contents of these remarks, which conveyed to the public the agreement reached during the meeting of the Leaders with the UN Secretary-General, have been distorted and misinterpreted by the Greek Cypriot side so as to serve their domestic policy interests, only reinforces doubts regarding the intention of the Greek Cypriot side to establish a new partnership with the Turkish Cypriot side on the basis of political equality.

If the aim of reconvening the Conference on Cyprus is to make use of this final opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement and successfully conclude the negotiation process that has been continuing on the Island for over two years, then all the participants need to adopt the constructive attitude that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are displaying, reflecting a sincere will for a settlement."

[03] Yildirim: We continue to believe that a lasting peace could be secured in Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[04] Political parties and NGOs in the occupation regime protested against the so-called government's actions

The protest was supported by the Social Democracy Party (TDP), the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP), the Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants Union (KTAMS), the Turkish Cypriot Teacher's trade union (KTOS), the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), DEV-Is, DAU-SEN and GUC-SEN.

The parties and NGOs in a joint declaration criticized the "government's stance and actions" in the fields of education, health and social life, while at the same time expressed dissatisfaction over the illegal distribution of the "TRNC's citizenship" which causes increase on the population, creates internal problems to the community and complicates the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The statement underlines further that the imposition policies followed by the "UBP-DP coalition government" aims on the one hand to dispel the Turkish Cypriot community and assimilate it with Turkey and on the other to lead the efforts for the solution on the Cyprus problem to a deadlock.

The statement called the Turkish Cypriot community to resist and oppose to the imposition policies of the so-called government.

Meanwhile, the same paper writes that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) will organize today a protest and a press conference in front of the building of the so-called ministry of interior.

According to a written statement issued by BKP, the party will protest for the irregularities committed by the so-called government and for the continuation of "granting the TRNC citizenship" which threatens the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community.

(AK)

[05] Erdogan: Turkey disapproves of sanctions on Qatar; CHP urges gov't to remain neutral in ongoing Gulf row

"These developments, coming at a time when we need solidarity and cooperation more than ever, are no good for any country in the region."

Erdogan's remarks came as he addressed a fast-breaking iftar dinner organized by his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in the capital Ankara.

On Tuesday the President also continued his diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions between Qatar and the countries which have accused it of supporting terrorism.

According to presidential sources, Erdogan had phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Jordan's King Abdullah II, and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

These followed Monday phone calls with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Erdogan told the leaders that regional problems should be solved through dialogue, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

If needed, Turkey stands ready to do whatever it can, Erdogan said.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 06.06.17) reported that main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has urged the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to remain neutral in an ongoing diplomatic crisis of a number of Arab nations' cutting ties with Qatar on June 5.

"Turkey should not take sides between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Our basic policy in the Arab world should be avoiding being a part of the ongoing wars. To take a side means to be a side in the problem. To be neutral will mean becoming a part of the solution," K?l?cdaroglu said in Parliament on June 6.

"Qatar should stop supporting the Muslim Brotherhood," Kilicdaroglu said, adding that the AKP government should refrain from "politics that would support the Muslim Brotherhood on that subject".

"The AKP is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood; the leader of the AKP has been the first [to do that]. It is very dangerous. They should immediately cease their support," he said.

[06] EU Ambassador: "EU to allocate 3 billion euro for refugees by 2017"

The 3 billion-euro fund for the 2016-17 term, which Brussels proposed to help Syrian refugees in Turkey, will be contracted by the end of year, EU Ambassador to Ankara Christian Berger told the Hurriyet Daily News on June 6.

"By the end of this year, we will know exactly what we are doing with these three billion euro and we will have contracted almost the entire amount of money by the end of this year," Berger said.

"For the last 10 months there has been debate about what EU is doing in response to the refugee crisis," he said, pointing to the bureaucratic burden and complexity of the process for the allocation of the fund in response to complaints from the Turkish authorities. He stressed that despite the red tape, the allocation of EU funds in Turkey was the best in terms of speed and amount compared to his experience elsewhere in the world so far.

The money is part of the EU-Turkey migration deal of March 2016 meant to stop asylum seekers from reaching Greece.

The migrant deal saw Turkey promised aid, visa-free travel for its nationals and accelerated EU membership talks in return for its help in reducing the flow of migrants crossing to Europe.

"I have been working for the European Commission for 20 years. What we have done last year and two months since March 2016 I've never seen anywhere else in the world, in terms of speed and the money that is spent and contracted," Berger stated.

"The requirements and the bureaucracy are heavy. Our responsibility and accountability vis-a-vis member states and parliaments is very time consuming. It also has to be done hand in hand with the Turkish administration. We have two administrations that have to match up. So from the administrative point of view it's a heavy operation," he added.

Berger recalled that the return of Syrian refugees in Turkey will take time, referring to worldwide statistics from the UNHCR that the average return of refugees takes 15 years. "One of the reasons why many of the Syrians stay in Hatay is because it's very close to home. I'm pretty sure that many of those people will go home in the end," he said.

[07] Former PM Davutoglu: "Values of Turkey's ruling AKP rapidly weakening"

"We witnessed an incident called the 'Pelican Briefing'. Unfortunately, this was done against many figures from the AKP," Davutoglu said in an interview on the Kanal 24 TV station.

The "Pelican Brief" was an anonymous Wordpress blog post that was published online on May 1, 2016, written by a man who claimed to be a staunch supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It alleged that Davutoglu had "betrayed" Erdogan by not pushing hard enough for the executive presidential system and also by "collaborating with the West and its Trojan horses [inside Turkey] who want to topple the chief". Davutoglu resigned several days later, leaving his post to Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m.

"The AKP is rapidly weakening its own values. Reputation assassinations are being conducted. What saddened us most was the silence of our friends on the issue," Davutoglu said, adding that similar attempts were being directed at the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), Mehmet Gormez.

Meanwhile, Davutoglu and former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ar?nc did not attend an iftar fast-breaking meal hosted by Prime Minister Y?ld?r?m in Ankara on June 5.

Y?ld?r?m had sent an invitation to former AKP lawmakers who were on duty between the 22nd and 26th terms for the iftar meal. Some 1,200 guests attended the event and two seats were reserved at Y?ld?r?m's table for Davutoglu and Ar?nc but these remained empty.

Also on June 5, an Ankara court ordered the arrest of Ar?nc's son-in-law, Ekrem Yeter, after police detained him as a part of an ongoing investigation into the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO).

[08] Bahceli criticizes gov't over de-naturalization move

"Rushing to denaturalize these traitors is both hasty and illogical. All these people must appear before Turkish justice. They should pay the price for July 15 and their betrayal should be punished," Bahceli said on June 6, addressing his party group at Parliament.

His comments came after the Interior Ministry issued a notice for 130 people abroad, who are being investigated on terror charges and crimes against the constitutional order, to be denaturalized unless they return and apply to the relevant institutions in Turkey within a three-month period.

Bahceli also urged for the ongoing trials on the coup attempt to be finalized in a short period of time, arguing that "the crime is clear, the perpetrators are clear, the betrayal is visible."

[09] Germany approves plan to withdraw troops from Turkey's Incirlik air base

On June 6, Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m said the German government can "remove its troops however it wants" and the decision has "nothing to do with Turkey," adding that German soldiers' probably leaving from the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey would be of little consequence.

"There is no decision we have taken on this. They can have it their own way," Y?ld?r?m told reporters.

His words followed Germany's announcement that it will have to remove its troops and surveillance aircrafts based in the Incirlik base after Turkey repeatedly refused to allow German lawmakers to visit the base.

[10] Commentary: "Incirlik row may raise questions on Turkey's NATO role"

"In this part of the world many things happen with no easy answers and no resolutions.

On June 5, powerful Arab nations under the leadership of Saudi Arabia imposed harsh sanctions on Qatar. (…).

Also on June 5, Turkey said "no" to German lawmakers who wanted to visit their troops at the Incirlik air base. (…)

Again on the same day, as the spokesperson of the Syrian Democratic Forces, (SDF) (…) announced, a long-awaited operation to recapture Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) had begun.

One way or another, all these developments are related to each other, which makes the picture even more complicated and puzzled. Let me single out for consideration just one of the important issues: The ongoing Incirlik crisis between Ankara and Berlin.

Germany deployed six Tornado surveillance aircrafts and around 250 troops to Turkey in January 2016 in order to contribute to the anti-ISIL fight carried out by the 65-member international coalition. According to the German Constitution, the German army is subordinate to the German Parliament and its activities are under strict control of elected lawmakers. The German Parliament's Defence Committee therefore pays regular visits to foreign bases where German troops are stationed.

The first crisis between Turkey and Germany over a request to visit the base took place in mid-2016 after the Bundestag approved a Resolution recognizing the 1915 mass killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Turkey blocked a visit to the base in reaction to this move and the issue could only be resolved after a meeting between President Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during G20 Summit in China in the fall.

This time, the situation is graver. Turkey accuses Germany of granting asylum to hundreds of Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) members allegedly linked with the July 2016 coup attempt. Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m once described Germany as the "hub" of the FETO organization in Europe, from where it is conducting "anti-Turkey activities."

Germany's inefficiency in stopping the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on its soil, as Foreign Minister Gabriel has also acknowledged, puts additional hurdles in front of building trustworthy ties between Ankara and Berlin.

To top it all, tension between the two countries before Turkey's April 16 referendum, when Germany shut its doors to Turkish government members who wanted to campaign for nearly three million Turks living in the country, has shaken the foundation of bilateral relations. Some Turkish leaders accused Germany of supporting opposition parties and of openly campaigning for "No" in the referendum.

This is this picture that led Gabriel to say that the removal of troops is just a part of disagreements between the two countries.

There is no doubt that both countries need to be much more sincere and willing to mend ties, and that Germany should be more efficient and cooperative in the anti-terror struggle. However, there are many other things that Turkey should also do if it wants to enjoy normal relations with its allies.

In an age where terror is the number one enemy of humanity and where the fight against terror comes at the top of the agenda of all countries and international organizations, utmost attention should be paid to keeping security partnerships and alliances unaffected by troubled bilateral tensions.

Otherwise, one could reasonably ask why Turkey still allows the presence of United States troops and aircrafts at the Incirlik base despite the fact that Washington has remained indifferent to Turkey's request for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the mastermind of the coup attempt and top terrorist for Turkey, and despite the fact the U.S. is providing weapons to the YPG, a terror organization with undeniable links to the PKK, despite insistent Turkish warnings.

It should also be noted that Germany's moving out of the Turkish military base, for relocation in a non-NATO country, will be assessed and analysed with regard to Turkey's commitments to the world's most important military alliance."

[11] One thousand pilgrims to pray to the Hala Sultan mosque

According to the statement, those who want to participate to the organized visit should pay the amount of 40TL until June 14.

(AK)

[12] More "state land" given to a so-called ministry for a new education institution

Replying to a question issued by the paper regarding this subject, the so-called minister of education and culture Ozdemir Berova confirmed that the plot was "given" to his ministry for the building of a "professional education campus". Berova denied information that the plot was "given" to a firm and stated that due to a "decision" of the "council of ministers", on December 2016, the area was "given" to the "ministry" for education purposes.

(CS)

[13] Tourism in the breakaway regime increased 41%

He also alleged that hotels have 70% occupancy during winter months, after a long period that reservations were low.

Ataoglu made these statements during a meeting of the so-called assembly where he referred to various issues regarding tourism in the occupied area of Cyprus.

He went on adding that initiatives will be taken regarding the cleaning of the environment and the shores in the breakaway regime.

(CS)

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(DPs / AM)

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