TURKISH CYPRIOT AND
TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
1. President Anastasiades and Dervis Eroglu
will meet on Monday
2. Erdogan has reportedly supported the
provisional agreement on the unification of Cyprus football
3. Davutoglu discusses
Cyprus with the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN; He says Turkey has a
two-legged policy on Cyprus
4. Eroglu reiterated his well-known positions
in the 3rd World Cyprus Turks Congress
5.
Talat: Both sides should be flexible
6. Izcan:
All the international players want a Cyprus settlement
7. The regime extends
for two more years the period for applying to the “Property Compensation
Commission”
8. The breakaway regime is ready to share water
from Turkey with the Republic of Cyprus
9.
Suat Kilic: We support “TRNC’s” decision on football
10. Kasif:
the plans for the “Tymvou airport” will change completely
11. Files regarding
the “Turkish Cypriot Judo Hapkido and Kickbox Federation” sent to international
Judo organization for recognition
12. Gul: Turkey's involvement in Cyprus gas
reserves project would contribute to the resolution Cyprus problem
13. Yildiz: Turkey aims to double energy use in
10 Years
14. Lebanese PM makes surprise visit to meet with Erdogan for regional talks
15. AKP is punishing those who criticize its decisions regarding prep schools’ closure
14. Lebanese PM makes surprise visit to meet with Erdogan for regional talks
15. AKP is punishing those who criticize its decisions regarding prep schools’ closure
1. President
Anastasiades and Dervis Eroglu will meet on Monday
Under the title “Important step for the
negotiations”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.11.13) reports
President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will meet
on Monday 25 November, 2013. Noting that this is their first meeting after
almost seven months, the paper writes that, according to a statement issued by
Eroglu’s office, the special representatives of the leaders and their teams
will also participate in the meeting,which will be held at 18.30 o’ clock at
Chateau Status restaurant in the buffer zone.
The statement said that the idea for a meeting
between the leaders came up during their telephone conversation when Eroglu
called to express his and Turkish Cypriot community’s condolences to President
Anastasiades for late President Clerides death. The statement goes on and says
that afterwards the representatives of the leaders discussed and agreed on the
details of the meeting.
Eroglu’s statement describes the realization of
the meeting as “a positive development in the direction of the continuation of
the full-fledged negotiations within the framework of the UN Secretary-General’s
good offices mission from the point they had been left, something which was the
expectation of the Turkish Cypriot side for a long time”.
(I/Ts.)
2. Erdogan has
reportedly supported the provisional agreement on the unification of Cyprus football
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen
newspaper (22.11.13) reports the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has described as “positive step” the provisional agreement regarding the
unification of football in Cyprus signed on 5 November, 2013 in Zurich between
the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), the Turkish Cypriot so-called football
federation, FIFA and UEFA. In statements to Russian Rosiskayia Gazeta
newspaper, Erdogan noted that he wanted to see this step’s influences in the
political process on the island.
According to Yeni Duzen, Erdogan
said, inter alia, the following on Cyprus in the above-mentioned statements:
“South Cyprus knows what north Cyprus will say.
In the same manner north Cyprus knows what south Cyprus will say. Let us all sit
at the negotiating table and put an end to this issue. Perhaps at the end we
will have a united island. Because when it is said that Cyprus is in the EU,
reference is not made to a united island. In the past few days, an agreement
was signed between the football federation of north Cyprus and the football
federation of South Cyprus on the issue of representing the entire island and
participating in the football events as a single team. I want to see the
positive influences of this step in the political process as well”.
Meanwhile, referring to the same
statements, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (22.11.13) reports that Erdogan said
that the guarantor powers and the two sides in Cyprus should work until a
solution is reached on the Cyprus problem.
Erdogan noted that during the last
meeting of G-20 in Saint Petersburg, he discussed the Cyprus problem with the
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to whom he submitted his “solution proposal”
as regards the Cyprus problem, recalling that the effort in this direction “has
taken too long”.
Erdogan said that he told Ban
Ki-moon that the process which started with former UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan continued with himself (Ban Ki-moon), but no solution is found. In spite
of all these, he added, the leaders of “south Cyprus” and “north Cyprus”, as he
described the Republic of Cyprus and the breakaway regime in the occupied area
of the island, could sit at the negotiating table and exert efforts for the
solution. Noting that as guarantor powers they could also participate in this
effort, Erdogan added: “As Turkey, Greece and Britain let us take place in this
effort and end our meeting by solving this long lasting problem… I am proposing
not to end the efforts until a solution is found”.
Erdogan went on and said that sincerity
and leaving preconditions aside are needed for “the efficient solution” of this
problem. Arguing that both sides know what each other will say, Erdogan noted
that for this reason there is no need to “delude each other”. He argued that
everyone should be forced to sit at the negotiating table and put a “sound end”
to this problem. He noted that a “whole Cyprus” should come out as a result of
this process.
Erdogan said that when reference to
Cyprus is made in the EU, what is meant is not the whole island. He added: “A
‘Green Line’ is still dividing Cyprus in two. Therefore, it appears that they
deceive themselves”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Davutoglu discusses Cyprus with the
Deputy Secretary-General of the UN; He says Turkey has a two-legged policy on
Cyprus
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.11.13) reports the Turkish Foreign Minister,
Ahmet Davutoglu met yesterday in Istanbul with the Deputy Secretary-General of
the United Nations, Jan Eliasson. In his statements before the meeting,
Davutoglu referred to the Cyprus problem and said that there is a window of
opportunity for a solution in the future, that this opportunity should not be
lost and that Turkey supports the efforts of the UN in this direction.
On his
part, the Deputy Secretary – General noted that they are also uneasy because of
the delay of the solution and that the UN Secretary-General’s special adviser
for Cyprus, Alexander Downer is exerting intensive efforts to revive the
process.
Davutoglu described Eliasson as his
“close friend” and added that they are working very closely. He noted that
during their meeting they would have the opportunity to discuss all issues,
including Syria. He said that they want to make Istanbul a UN city and added
that Eliasson and Ban Ki-moon offer them a great support on this issue.
Meanwhile, addressing the Turkish
Grand National Assembly (TGNA) within the framework of the discussions of his
ministry’s budget, Davutoglu made a presentation on the changes in the
international situation during the past one year and the developments on the
main principles in the Turkish foreign policy. He noted that they faced
difficulties with Syria, “south Cyprus” [as he described the Republic Cyprus]
and Armenia. He added that they follow a two-legged policy on the Cyprus
problem. On the one hand they are strengthening the “TRNC”, breakaway regime in
the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, he said, and on the other they
allegedly encourage the peace talks on the island.
Davutoglu said that an opportunity
was created after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus and
added: “As soon as the negotiations between the leaders in Cyprus start, the
representative of the TRNC will visit Athens and the representative of the
Greek administration of south Cyprus will visit Ankara and we will conduct
activities that will further increase these relations. We want to accelerate
the negotiations process within the forthcoming months”.
Davutoglu noted that while all these happened,
they have strengthened the “TRNC”. He added that the number of the
“representation offices” of the breakaway regime abroad has reached twenty and
per capita income increased from 4.409 dollars in 2002 to 16.000 dollars now.
(I/Ts.)
4. Eroglu
reiterated his well-known positions in the 3rd World Cyprus Turks Congress
Illegal Bayrak television (21.11.13) broadcast
that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu delivered a speech at the 3rd
World Cyprus Turks Congress which was held in occupied Keryneia.
“We as the Turkish Cypriots are not condemned
to continue negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side. We will not and cannot
sit for another 50 years at the negotiating table”, he said. He went on and added that UN had stated that
a small window of opportunity still remained and he accused the Greek Cypriot side of not returning to the negotiating table for 9 months
now.
“They are insisting on a joint statement. They
want a joint agreement that will contain everything they desire and no mention
of what we want will be given room”, Eroglu claimed.
“We are all for a solution based on political
equality one that will safeguard our sovereignty and also bi-zonal federation
that will continue the guarantee agreements”, he concluded.
In addition, Bayrak also reported that delivering the inaugural speech at the
congress the Chairman of the congress Vedat Celik informed the participants
regarding the foundations workings and summarized their aim as wanting to bring
Turkish Cypriots who are living abroad, under the one roof.
Touching upon the situation of Turkish Cypriots
living in Cyprus Celik alleged the following: “The Turkish Cypriots have been
subjected to live under inhumane condition for the past fifty years and even
though they voted in favor of the Annan plan they are still being subjected to
embargoes. We are here to promote the existence of the Turkish Cypriots to the
world’.
Touching upon the Cyprus problem he expressed
the view that the only way to come to an agreement would be one based on
sovereignty and a confederate structure.
“Foreign ministers undersecretary” Hilmi Akil
read out self-styled foreign minister Ozdil Nami’s statement during the
session.
Next, Democrat Party (DP) Representative Serhat
Kotak alleged the DP will only accept a
solution that safeguards all the rights of the Turkish Cypriots including their
right to self-determination, based on equal sovereignty and Turkey’s active and
effective guarantees.
Self-styled parliamentary speaker Sibel Siber
said that the weakest point in the 50 year history of the Cyprus issue was
lobbying.
5. Talat:
Both sides should be flexible
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (22.11.13)
reports that former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, commenting on
several issues including the Cyprus problem in a television programme, said
that both sides should be ready to act with flexibility for the Cyprus
settlement.
Evaluating the latest stage of the Cyprus
problem, Talat noted that the reciprocal statements have become harden the last
days, wondering: “If you introduce with mutual and certain lines what the
solution will be even before the resumption of the Cyprus talks, what will you
discuss?”.
Asked to comment what will prevent the
Greek Cypriots, whose property has been returned by the “immovable property
commission”, to settle down to their own houses, Talat said that the settlement
issues may be discussed again, adding that there are some alternatives,
however, it is not right to talk about them outside the negotiation table.
Talat also said that Turkey’s Foreign
Ministry’s announcement regarding a new plan was expected, claiming that this
announcement means that Turkey is ready for solution. He noted: “The important
thing is the Greek Cypriot side to be ready,” touching the importance of the EU
member countries to be incentive.
Noting that both sides can make
concessions, Talat said: “I prefer the word flexible instead of the word
concession”. He went on saying that he is amazed that how the joint declaration
could not be prepared and he queries how a comprehensive solution could be done
fair when this joint declaration could even be prepared.
Commenting on the developments regarding
the football in the island, Talat argued that the views of FIFA become flexible
after the referenda of the Annan plan. He argued that according to the
provisional agreement on football, the so-called Turkish Cypriot Football
Federation (KTFF) will participate in the CFA (Cyprus Football Association) General
Assembly, adding that the breakaway regime should be supportive. He also said
that they should not be the ones who close the door and they should also obtain
the maximum of the gains before disposing it.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan
(22.11.13) reports that Mehmet Ali Talat, delivering a speech at the 3rd
“World Cyprus Turks Congress” which was held in occupied Keryneia, said that
the Cyprus problem, which is an old problem, has been internationalized. He
added: “For this reason, we cannot find a solution by ourselves. The Turkish and
Greek Cypriots cannot solve the problem by discussing it between them”. Talat
argued that the solution of the problem will be an international one.
Referring to the Cyprus talks, Talat said
he believes that the Cyprus problem can be solved. He argued that the “TRNC”
will replace as an equal side of the founding share in a solution and the aim
to exalt the “TRNC” will become reality.
6. Izcan:
All the international players want a Cyprus settlement
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika
(13.11.13), leader of the Cyprus United Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan said that all
the international players ask the solution of the Cyprus problem, adding that
Turkey, USA, and EU will protect their own interests and try to prevent a
crisis that could rise at the negotiation process.
Commenting on the latest political
developments at a television programme, Izcan said that for USA it is important
the shipping of natural gas and oilreserves found in Cyprus to be materialized
in a secure way, for this reason, they want the shipping to be made through
Turkey.
Referring to the Turkish Cypriots, who with
their “separatist policies” have dragged them to bankruptcy, Izcan said that
these nationalists, who defend the “TRNC” status, have condemned the Turkish
Cypriots to live in isolation.
Izcan said: “These defenders of the status,
who describe themselves as nationalists, carry passports of the Republic of
Cyprus in their pockets. When they use these passports, osmosis cannot happen
until the solution of the Cyprus problem, but when we reach an agreement with
the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) and we acknowledge the chance to our
youth to play sports in the international fields, then osmosis happens”. Izcan
suggested that, the Turkish Cypriots should support taking some steps that will
dissolve their isolation with the implementation of confidence building
measuresin order to reach a comprehensive solution. Izcan added that their duty
is to support the implementation of the confidence building measures, which
will be taken parallel to the completion of the negotiation process and will
surmount the problems that they face.
7. The regime
extends for two more years the period for applying to the “Property
Compensation Commission”
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (22.11.13)
reports the so-called parliamentary committee for legal and political affairs
of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus, convened yesterday and
adopted unanimously a “draft-law” as regards the “Property Compensation
Commission” established by Turkey in the occupied area of Cyprus. The
“draft-law’ extends for two more
years the period for which applications could be submitted to the commission.
The period for applying to the commission would end on 21 December, 2013.
According to the paper, with the amendment in the “law”, they aim at proving
groundless the “allegations” that the commission is a non-influential local
remedy for compensating a limited number of applications.
(I/Ts.)
8.The breakaway
regime is ready to share water from Turkey with the Republic of Cyprus
Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.11.13) reports
that the self-styled natural resources minister Hamit Bakirci gave an interview
to Ankara Anatolia, stating that the low water reserves in the world urges the
countries to form their own water policies and use their water wisely.
"Projects such as the 'Water Provision Project' become more important in
countries with very low water supply like ours," said Bakirci.
The water to come to occupied Cyprus from
Turkey via "Water Provision Project" - a project consisted of
under-the-sea pipelines that will carry water from Turkey to the breakaway
regime - can be called "peace water" he said, adding that "Water
is a problem of southern Cyprus as well and we can share our water with them if
a deal is reached."
Bakirci underlined that the breakaway regime is
very content for Turkey's help on the water issue by saying, "with this
help, we know that the relation with our motherland (Turkey) will go on
forever."
9. Suat
Kilic: We support “TRNC’s” decision on football
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet
(22.11.13), Turkey’s Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kilic said that they
will support the decision that the administration of “TRNC” (transl. note: the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) will take on
the issue of football progress.
During a meeting with the so-called deputy
prime minister Serdar Denktas, Kilic claimed that the “embargoes” imposed on
the island are illegal and immoral, arguing “Whatever decision the TRNC
authorities take regarding the development of football in the island, we will
endeavour that this decision will be materialized.”
Denktas, for his part, argued that as
federation they will not accept to take part as member under the Greek Cypriot
administration.
10. Kasif:
the plans for the “Tymvou airport” will change completely
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (22.11.13)
reports that self-styled minister of public works and communication Ahmet Kasif
said that the plans for the occupied airport of Tymvou will change completely,
during his visit to the paper.
Kasif said that the project will be
implemented as a continuation of the existing building; otherwise it cannot be
implemented at all. He added that a tunnel is necessary for the building, which
will be built in front of the existing building.
Kasif said that they haven’t delivered to the
company, which has taken the contract for the occupied airport of Tymvou, the
place that the terminal will be built, adding that because of this, some delays
have occurred. In case the present project won’t change, then they should
invest 50 million TL for the army transfer. He concluded by saying that in case
of annulment of the contract, they will have to face legal problems.
11. Files regarding
the “Turkish Cypriot Judo Hapkido and Kickbox Federation” sent to international
Judo organization for recognition
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper
(22.11.13) reports that the “Turkish Cypriot Judo Hapkido and Kickbox
Federation” renewed its cooperation protocol with the Judo Federation of Turkey
which is currently visiting occupied Cyprus and held contacts with “officials”.
The protocol was renewed for three years.
According to the paper, the head of the Turkish
Jude Federation Fatih Uysal referred to the initiatives of recognition of the
Turkish Cypriot Judo Hapkido and Kick box Federation” and said that the files
of the federation were sent to the International Judo Federation (IJF) and to
the European Judo Federation (EJF). “The necessary efforts for the recognition
of the Turkish Cypriot Judo Hapkido and Kick box Federation will be made”,
Uysal stated.
(TR. Note: Hapkido is a Korean martial art)
12. Gul: Turkey's
involvement in Cyprus gas reserves project would contribute to the resolution
Cyprus problem
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.11.13)
reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that Turkey's role in
supplying energy is vital for the European Union's energy security, urging the
union to consider Turkey's key position during accession talks.
"You must closely follow the middle- and
long-term strategic projects developed to carry Caucasian, Central Asian and
Middle Eastern natural gas ... to Europe through Turkey. We believe these
projects will help the consolidation of Europe's security, stability and
welfare, in addition to maintaining our energy security," the president
said in a speech delivered on the first of the two-day Atlantic Council Energy
and Economy Summit organized in Istanbul.
Expressing his regret that the energy chapter
in the negotiations between the EU and Turkey had not yet begun, Gul called on
the union to step up to the plate regarding the issue.
"I believe it's important to underline that
energy is one of the blocked chapters in our membership negotiations with the
EU. Despite our efforts, this is a great contradiction and is unfortunate. No
doubt, the side that should resolve this contradiction is the EU," he
said.
Stressing that the country's geographical
location put it in the heart of the continent's energy sources, Gul also said
Turkey would be the most reasonable and feasible route through which to carry
resources recently discovered in the eastern Mediterranean, which are estimated
to be more than 3.5 trillion cubic meters.
“Turkey has begun to voice its eagerness to be
involved in the transportation of natural gas reserves discovered by Greek
Cyprus and Israel to Europe, which has been seeking to diversify its energy
sources to relieve dependency on Russia” Hurriyet reports. According to Gul, Turkey's involvement in
such a project would contribute to the resolution of regional problems,
including the Cyprus problem.
Considering Turkey has had rough relations with
both of those countries, many analysts warn against the challenges of such an
alliance in terms of the economy.
Reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily
Saban newspaper (22.11.13) reports that speaking at the same summit, Gul stated
that due to Turkey’s geographical location, Turkey would be the most reasonable
and feasible route through which to carry resources recently discovered in Cyprus,
which are estimated to be more than 3.5
trillion cubic meters.
13. Yildiz: Turkey
aims to double energy use in 10 Years
Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.11.13) reports
that Turkey’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz speaking
at the 5th Atlantic Council Energy and Economic Summit in Grand Tarabya Hotel
in Istanbul, said that they aimed to
double Turkey's energy usage in next ten years. Yildiz noted its monetary
equivalent was around $118 billion in investing terms.
The minister also stressed an investment of
$17.9 trillion should be made by world’s states as 1.3 billion people have
still not met with electricity and energy.
Reminding that renewable energy resources,
energy efficiency and several other issues were debated in recent meeting of International
Energy Agency, Yildiz stressed their model partnership with US would continue
in several energy projects also at the technological level.
Yildiz noted for the normalization of Iraq and
the increase of its incomes as a whole, the projects must be developed without
making any division between the north, south, east and west of the country. Turkey’s
agreements with central Iraqi government and its contracts with the northern
regional part of Iraqi government were attached to the “normalization process
of Iraq.”
14. Lebanese PM
makes surprise visit to meet with Erdogan for regional talks
Turkish dailyToday's Zaman (21.11.13) reports that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati paid a surprise visit to Ankara, where he met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday for talks on bilateral ties and, more importantly, the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly the security situation in his country.
Turkish dailyToday's Zaman (21.11.13) reports that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati paid a surprise visit to Ankara, where he met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday for talks on bilateral ties and, more importantly, the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly the security situation in his country.
According to information obtained from Lebanese
sources, Mikati visited Ankara to have a working lunch with Erdogan and to
discuss several issues concerning the two countries. Security cooperation
between Beirut and Ankara, which is concerned that the escalating situation in
war-torn Syria could affect Lebanon, was expected to be the main topic in the
agenda of the meeting.
Arab diplomatic sources told Today's Zaman that
the instability in Lebanon and the Sunni-Shiite conflict in the politically
volatile country would dominate the talks, adding that the Lebanese side would
appeal for Turkey's help for mediation between conflicting sides in the
country.
Mikati is visiting Turkey for the first time
after the release of two Turkish pilots who were kidnapped in Beirut by
militants in early August and were freed in mid-October as part of a three-way
deal that saw nine Lebanese pilgrims abducted in Syria released from captivity.
When asked whether the visit was related to the latest bombings near the Iranian
Embassy in Beirut, a Lebanese senior diplomat replied that in addition to the
security situation in Lebanon, the issue of the Turkish pilots and the Syrian
crisis would be on the agenda.
The visit also comes after Tuesday's bombings
near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut which killed at least 23 people, including
the Iranian cultural attaché, wounding scores more and causing severe damage to
the embassy and nearby buildings.
15. AKP is punishing
those who criticize its decisions regarding prep schools’ closure
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman newspaper
(21.11.13) reports that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) referred Kutahya deputy İdris Bal -- who
opposed the government's planned closure of prep schools (dershanes) -- to the
party's disciplinary board for expulsion on Thursday.
A statement released by the AK Party said that
Bal was referred to the disciplinary board on the grounds of "giving speeches
that conflict with party politics," implying that it may have been due to
tweets Bal sent last week.
Kutahya deputy Bal last Thursday tweeted his
opinion that prep schools serve an important purpose in leveling educational
disparities. In another tweet he added: “A private company cannot be opened or
shut down under orders. As the market will not work as per orders, this structure
will continue underground.”
While Bal's expulsion process continues, other
AK Party deputies have also raised their voices against the government plan to
shut down prep schools. Two deputies from the AK Party have rallied against the
draft law on prep schools, claiming that it would violate the right to free
enterprise and the right to an education.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed
on Wednesday the government's earlier announcement that it is working on
legislation to shut down all existing prep schools, arguing that they operate
as a second education system. Opponents of the plan have noted that the
existence of prep schools is a consequence of the many inadequacies of Turkey's
schools and education system, and said that by offering tutoring at affordable
prices, prep schools help low-income students enter university.
In addition the paper also reports that Turkey's
state media regulatory body has denied a claim that it is considering a hefty
fine for media reports that criticize the government as part of an intense
debate over the closure of prep schools.
Taraf said in its report that the experts of
the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) have already started to inspect
media reports they deem as critical of a government move to shut down prep
schools.
RTUK said in a statement on Thursday that the
watchdog routinely monitors broadcasts and that it may resort to legal recourse
to deal with violations of media rules. But it denied in the Taraf report that
special attention is being given to the prep school debate. “Reports in this
regard are completely false,” the statement concluded.
Finally, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (22.11.13)
reports that Bulent Kenes, the editor-in-chief of English daily Today's Zaman,
has become the target of a smear campaign on social media for his stance on the
government's plans to shut down prep schools and stories in his paper criticizing
some government policies.
The latest criticism against Kenes stems from
his strong opposition to the closure of the courses that prepare students for
high school and university entrance tests. A hashtag that demanded Kenes be
removed from his post became a trending topic on Twitter last week.
Kenes was first targeted due to the stories
published in Today's Zaman during the Gezi protests in June and the following
weeks. A poll published by the daily in mid-June that said the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) votes dropped to 35 percent drew anger from the
party's supporters.
"Unfortunately, the lynching campaigns in
the media have recently become a part of my life," Kenes told the Hurriyet
Daily News yesterday.
----------------------------------------------------
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
/X.CHR.
