TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S
No. 108/15 12.06.2015
1. Statements by Akinci on the Cyprus problem
2. Akıncı met with the so-called municipalities union and supported the management of water to be under their authority
3. A “parliamentary delegation” of the so-called assembly held contacts in Strasbourg
4. The KTSO announced the establishment of the “Turkish Cypriot economy’s committee”
5. Statements by Ulker Fahri on the implementation of common car insurance at the crossing points
6. Erdogan calls for a new government as soon as possible
7. Davutoglu warns of divisions if AKP is left out
8. Columnist analyses the results of the Ipsos survey on the latest Turkey’s elections
1.Statements by Akinci on the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.06.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, in statements yesterday during a cocktail which took place on the occasion of the “26th Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally”, referred, inter alia, to the Cyprus problem and said: “When the Cyprus problem is solved, a large number of crossing points and ports will open and also a lot of problems which seem as unsolvable will be solved. However, I consider that we should exert efforts so that we achieve to solve some things without postponing them until after a solution. This is the message I received from here tonight”, Akinci said.
(AK)
2. Akıncı met with the so-called municipalities union and supported the management of water to be under their authority
According to illegal Bayrak television (12.06.15) the “Turkish Cypriot municipality union” within the framework of its visits to “state and government officials”, met today with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in order to promote its project for the management of potable and waste water.
The “chairman” of the “union” Ahmet Benli and his accompanying delegation presented to Akıncı the project prepared by the “municipalities union” regarding the management of the potable and waste water in the “TRNC”.
Pointing to the importance of the water to be brought to the “TRNC” form Turkey, Benli noted that a debate on the management of the water had started with the water transfer project from Turkey.
Explaining that the project for the management of the water had been prepared following a decision taken by the “municipalities union”, Benli expressed his strong conviction that the “TRNC municipalities” should be responsible for the management of the water.
Also speaking during the visit, the Mayor of the occupied part of Lefkosia Mehmet Harmancı reminded that the municipality is not a member of the “municipalities union” but added that he also believes that the management of the water to be transferred from Turkey should be under the authority of the “municipalities:.
For his part, Akıncı stated that bringing water to the “TRNC” from Turkey is extremely important but added that protecting and preserving the island’s own water resources is even more important.
“This does not mean we are against the water transfer project but it means we must not lose sight of our main responsibilities” Akıncı said.
Reminding that 75 million cubic metres of water will be transferred to the TRNC from Turkey annually, he pointed out that the management of the water should be under the authority of the 28 “municipalities in the country”.
3. A “parliamentary delegation” of the so-called assembly held contacts in Strasbourg
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (12.06.15) reports that a “parliamentary delegation” of the so-called assembly held contacts in Strasburg and bilateral meetings with EPMs from several groups at the European Parliament (EP), the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, the Greens and the European Conservatives and Reformists.
According to a statement issued by the “assembly”, the delegation composed by Armagan Candan, “deputy” with the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG), Ersan Saner, “deputy” with the National Unity Party (UBP) and Fikri Ataoglu, “deputy” with the Democratic Party-National Forces (DP-UG).
Within the framework of its contacts in Strasburg, the delegation brought into the agenda the Cyprus negotiation talks, the issue of the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the EP as well as their expectations from the EU on how it can contribute to the efforts exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
The delegation stressed during their contacts the need to evaluate well the opportunity appeared for the solution of the Cyprus problem and do all necessary so that not to be lost. It also underlined the Turkish Cypriot willingness and will-power to contribute to the efforts exerted for reaching a federal solution within a reasonable time.
The delegation conveyed also its views as regards the EP’s Progress Report on Turkey. It described as positive the reference in the report concerning the support of the EP to the solution process in Cyprus.
Moreover, the delegation informed the EPMs concerning the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by both leaders in the island.
The paper reports also that Candan, has attended and delivered a speech at the meeting of the Socialist and Democrats group at the EP, since, the CTP, attends the meetings as an observer member.
(AK)
4. The KTSO announced the establishment of the “Turkish Cypriot economy’s committee”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (12.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTSO) has announced yesterday the establishment of a committee called the “Turkish Cypriot economy’s committee” which aims to contribute to the efforts exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.
According to the paper, the committee aims to watch closely the efforts exerted for the solution to the Cyprus problem and provide any kind of support and the necessary cooperation to the other actors related with the solution process. The committee will provide also its proposals and views as regards the formation of the Turkish Cypriot economy after the solution.
The committee aims also to work in order to inform the Turkish Cypriot “people” concerning the progress of the negotiation talks and the benefits and advantages of a possible solution in Cyprus.
The KTSO in a written statement said that their decision to establish the above mentioned committee increases the possibilities for reaching to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution.
(AK)
5. Statements by Ulker Fahri on the implementation of common car insurance at the crossing points
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (12.06.15) reports on statements by Ulker Fahri, “chairman” of the “Union of north Cyprus Insurance and Reassurance Companies”, who has stated to the paper that their aim is, together with the opening of new crossing points between the “north” and the “south”, the “common car insurance” to be implemented.
Fahri reminded that this proposal was submitted to the Greek Cypriot Ministry of Interior and to Insurance Companies in the “south” during Eroglu’s term in “presidency”. Fahri, however, said that he is pessimistic about the implementation of this practice before a solution is reached on the Cyprus problem.
Referring to the regulation that exists in the EU which envisages that if someone makes car insurance in an EU country, this insurance is valid in all EU countries, Fahri explained that the “TRNC” is excluded from that, since it is not an EU territory, and thus, it follows the procedures exist in third counties.
Explaining that after Akinci’s election in the “presidency” the issue of common insurance was brought again into the agenda, Fahri said that the issue has not yet put forward for discussion and added that he considers that this issue is not possible to be solved without the solution of the Cyprus problem.
“I hope that a political solution on the Cyprus problem will be found the soonest possible. Only with peace in Cyprus we will be able to solve all this matters”, added Fahri.
(AK)
6. Erdogan calls for a new government as soon as possible
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.06.15), Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his first public remarks since the general elections, has said a new government should be formed "as soon as possible".
Addressing a graduation ceremony of international students in Ankara on Thursday, Erdogan said: "Everyone should put aside their egos and avoid the onus of leaving Turkey without a government and a leader".
The President also called for respecting the will of the Turkish people. "The election result reflects the national will; everybody should respect it. The results show that no single party majority is available. I hope every political party evaluates the results carefully," he added.
About the coalition options available to the political parties, Erdogan hoped that the parties would choose a path of settlement within constitutional boundaries instead of crisis. The President also pledged to carry out his duty during the coalition talks process, saying: "The result without (a single party) majority does not mean Turkey will be left ungoverned".
"Anybody who leaves Turkey without a government cannot answer to our nation or to our history," he said.
On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 12.06.15) reports that Erdogan recalled that he was elected as President in August 2014 during the country’s first-ever presidential election by popular vote, suggesting the form of his election had put a “much bigger responsibility” on his shoulders.
Referring to his meeting with Baykal, Erdogan said that he initiated the meeting out of this responsibility and preferred to meet Baykal because he was most senior Deputy-elect.
As the elder of the house, Baykal will lead parliament’s first session following the election and he was officially meeting Erdogan to discuss the reopening. But coalition alternatives came onto the agenda, according to what Baykal told reporters after the meeting.
Referring to his meeting with Baykal, Erdogan said that he assured during the meeting he would do his part to resume this process without any interruption.
The President particularly underlined ongoing economic investments and said that any setback would harm those investments which belong to “the nation”.
7. Davutoglu warns of divisions if AKP is left out
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (11.06.15), a post-election political equation without the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will give way to ethnic and sectarian divides, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has warned.
In his address to the AKP's provincial heads at the party headquarters in Ankara on Thursday, Davutoglu said: "A [post-election] political equation excluding the AKP, though out of the question, will lead to a scene where politics is defined by ethnic and sectarian divides".
Davutoglu highlighted the fact that the Republican People's Party (CHP) was unable to win a single seat from 37 out of 81 Turkish provinces, while the AKP won seats from every corner of the country except five provinces. "A party [CHP] which lacks representation in 37 provinces cannot claim the right to rule the country," he said.
"All must acknowledge that this scene [after the elections] has proved the impossibility of Turkish politics without the AKP", said the Prime Minister.
8. Columnist analyses the results of the Ipsos survey on the latest Turkey’s elections
Columnist Murat Yetkin, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 12.06.15), under the title “Trust issues between Turkish parties hamper coalition formation”, reports the following:
“Turkish voters did not allow any of the four parties in the next parliament to form a government on its own in the June 7 elections, but deep trust issues between the parties do not immediately allow for very easy solutions to a possible coalition.
A survey carried out by Ipsos for CNN Turk after the elections showed that the highest probability (nearly 48%) for a government was a coalition between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The survey’s next probable coalition was between the Republican People’s Party (CHP), MHP and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) with 32%, followed by an AKP-CHP coalition with 23% and an AKP-HDP one with 2%.
But a quick examination of parties’ positions makes it clear that none of those scenarios are easy and some are almost impossible.
For example, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s AKP, which lost its parliament majority through the elections, simply rules out a coalition with the HDP.
Davutoglu’s first choice is actually the MHP. But the MHP has conditions. Its leader Devlet Bahceli sees President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the real loser of the elections, since Bahceli has put his credibility forward during the elections and does not want Erdogan to get involved in government politics in any way. He also asks Davutoglu to immediately stop the Kurdish peace process, which could force him a lot.
On the other hand, the HDP, which has been mediating the talks between the Davutoglu government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) both with its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan and military headquarters in Iraq’s Kandil Mountains, asks Davutoglu - or any possible government - to resume the talks immediately.
The HDP co-chairman Selahattin Demirtas made it clear that they would not be a part of any coalition but could give outside support to non-AKP formulas.
A coalition with the MHP is the CHP’s first option as well. But they do not sum up to 276 Deputies, the number necessary for a vote of confidence. But the MHP reject outright the idea of being in the same coalition with the HDP, or even in a coalition with the CHP if it could survive with the outside support of the HDP.
According to reports, during a meeting of the AKP executive body on June 7, an assessment was made that the AKP could work in better harmony with the MHP in a coalition but could better produce solutions to Turkey’s problems with the CHP, a typical hearts or minds problem.
The CHP, on the other hand, do not want to share the government with the AKP, which they have been accusing of corruption and misconduct for the last 13 years; they need to have some sort of guarantee about the re-opening of certain corruption files, such as those belonging to the four ex-ministers who were forced to resign by Erdogan late 2013, in order to explain it to AKP’s grassroots. The CHP is also absolutely against Erdogan’s interference in politics. That is why Erdogan’s move to get into contact with CHP’s former leader Deniz Baykal did not make Kemal Kilicdaroglu, its current leader, very happy; on the contrary, it triggered a debate within the party, as the move was seen as something making Erdogan’s involvement a legitimate one.
Despite a clear message by Davutoglu on June 10, acknowledging that the voters have refused a shift to a presidential system and Turkey must keep moving with the current system, Erdogan in his first public speech on June 11 after the elections made remarks on the current political situation and coalition talks.
“It is not impossible to get into a coalition with them,” a CHP source who asked not to be named. “But we do not trust them, even if everything is written down in a protocol. They have cheated us before on many occasions.”
But Davutoglu’s need to also stay in government to keep his party chair in the August congress and be a part of the government could work the same way for Kilicdaroglu, who could not reach his elections targets. This is a factor that could empower the logical solution versus the sentimental one. Yet again, it seems it is not going to be very easy.”
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