TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 112/15 18.06.2015
1.Akinci: The screening process has been completed, we will
start the main negotiations on June 29
2. The Russian Ambassador and the
British High Commissioner met with Akıncı
3. CTP central administrative
board allocated duties; Kalyoncu’s name among those discussed for the next
“prime minister”
4. Turkish Cypriot couple who
were charged for hoisting the Cyprus Republic flag were acquitted
5.KTOS: Some school books include
chauvinistic, sexist, militarist, nationalistic and racist rhetoric
6. The breakaway regime has
rented a firefighter helicopter from Turkey
7. Turkey declares three days of
national mourning for Demirel
8. AKP and MHP discuss conditions
of coalition behind closed doors
1. Akinci: The screening process has been completed,
we will start the main negotiations on June 29
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis (18.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci said that the screening process in the negotiations has been
completed and announced that the negotiations on the substantive issues will
start on June 29.
Speaking
to the press after meeting with President Nicos Anastasiades and the UN Special
Adviser Espen Barth Eide, Akinci said that the duty, which was given to the
negotiators on May 15, was completed. He explained that they asked from the
negotiators to determine what the sides’ positions are in what issues within
the framework of the joint declaration of February 11, 2014. Akinci noted that
the negotiators presented some of their assessments earlier and the remainder
during yesterday’s meeting, and added: “We now have issues which have been
written in bold and which we can describe as Akinci-Anastasiades convergences.
On those issues we couldn’t agree on, the Turkish side’s views are worded in
red and the Greek Cypriot side’s views are worded in blue and these are under
different chapters. Now it’s time for the leaders to participate in the process
more actively. We can say that we will start the main negotiations as of 29th
of June”.
Akinci
also expressed his determination to move forward without delay and to achieve
further progress towards reaching a comprehensive settlement and added: “It
does not serve the purpose of either side to waste more time”. He also said
that the common aim is to establish as soon as possible a federal structure,
which will be accepted by both sides in Cyprus, which will set free the future
generations from this uncertainty, which will place the Turkish Cypriot
community in the international law and will be formed by two founding states.
Briefing
about the work on the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which is carried out
in parallel to the negotiations process, Akinci said that some of these have
been put into implementation. He said that other will be announced when the
time comes.
He
also announced that they had formulated a mandate for the new committee on
gender equality and had appointed its members.
Responding
to reporters’ questions, Akinci said that work on electricity and mobile phones
is still continuing.
(DPs)
2. The Russian Ambassador and
the British High Commissioner met with Akıncı
Illegal Bayrak television (18.06.15) broadcast that foreign diplomats continue their visits to
the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı as the Cyprus negotiations process
intensifies.
Akinci met today separately with
the Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Stanislav V. Osadchiy and the British High
Commissioner to Cyprus Ric Todd.
The latest developments on the
Cyprus Problem and the negotiations process were discussed during the meetingswhich were closed to the press.
The “president’s coordinator for foreign relations”
Deniz Birinci was also present at the meetings.
3.CTP central administrative
board allocated duties; Kalyoncu’s name among those discussed for the next
“prime minister”
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (18.06.15)
reports that the new CTP “central administrative board” convened last night
under the leadership of Talat in order to appoint duties in the board.
According to a press statement, Erdogan Sorakin was
appointed as organizational secretary; Ali Karavezirler as finance secretary.
The other positions in the board are as follows:
Urun Solyali – Press and Public Affairs
Muhittin Tolga Ozsaglam – Foreign Relations secretary
Pembe Avsaroglu – Local government secretary
Emel Kisi – Education secretary
Ahmet Barcin – Civil society secretary
Fazilet Ozdenefe and Cemil Saricizmeli were not
appointed due to other responsibilities they have.
Meanwhile, the chairman of CTP
Mehmet Ali Talat has said that they will be preparing the government program
first before they begin coalition discussions.
Speaking to illegal TAK news
agency concerning the new “government” to be formed and the process to be
followed, Talat said he wanted to follow a different path. “The first was to
establish the government program ahead of beginning coalition talks. As to who
will be the next Prime Minister”, Talat said that this was a party decision and
added that they would be conferring with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci.
Also, Turkish Cypriot daily
Havadis newspaper (18.06.15) reports that after the conclusion of the CTP-BG
congress, their eyes are turned towards the new “government” and the new “prime
minister”.
The paper writes that amongst the
names which are discussed within the CTP after the party’s “administration
board” formation is that of the “deputy” in occupied Keryneia, Omer Kalyoncu.
According to inside circles in the party, no proposal has been made yet to Kalyoncu
to undertake the post of “prime minister”. However, the paper adds that as
soon as the routine procedures within the party will be completed, Talat will hold a meeting with Kalyoncu to
exchange views on the possibility to undertake the post of the “prime
minister”.
In statements on the issue, Kalyoncu stated that he
had no proposal for undertaking the “prime ministry” and added that it is too
early to discuss about this matter.
(…)
(AK)
4. Turkish Cypriot couple who
were charged for hoisting the Cyprus Republic flag wereacquitted
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.06.15)
reports that the Turkish Cypriot couple Koray and Cinel Basdogrultmaci who were
charged for hoisting the Cyprus Republic flag outside their shop in occupied
Famagusta were acquitted.
The couple was arrested on June 2013 for flying three
flags of the Republic of Cyprus outside their home and shop in occupied
Famagusta and they faced charges of disturbing the peace, not recognizing the
breakaway regime and conspiracy. According to the “court decision”, it is not
illegal to hoist the flag of the Republic of Cyprus since this is among the
couple’s right of freedom.
According to the paper, the case may be referred to
the so-called “Supreme Court” by the prosecutor within the next fourteen days.
(CS)
5.KTOS: Some school books
include chauvinistic, sexist, militarist, nationalistic and racist
rhetoric
Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (18.06.15)
reports that the general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot primary school
teachers’ trade union (KTOS), Sener
Elcil has said that the problems which KTOS has been putting forward since 1999
in the field of education were increased. Speaking yesterday at a press
conference, Elcil noted that some school
books in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus include militarist,
sexist, chauvinistic, nationalistic and racist rhetoric.
Referring to the problems which the education in the
occupied area of Cyprus is facing, Elcil said that there are no teachers in the
“special education centers” because the
so-called law has not passed, that the
system is operating with teachers coming from Turkey, while 73 teachers having
the “citizenship” of the breakaway regime are unemployed. He noted that at first stage there is need
for 40 teachers in the primary schools, 24 teachers in the pre-primary
education and 78 guidance counselors. He added that the number of the teachers
needed in the special education has not been determined yet.
Referring to the infrastructure problems in the
schools, Elcil argued that the schools
are facing such problems because financial resources are not allocated,
noting that they are expecting that deficiencies such as laboratories,
libraries, playing grounds and sports halls will be overcome.
Elcil also said that 12 million
Turkish liras (TL) were spent this year for the restoration of 62 schools,
while the cost of the mosque in occupied Mia Milia area was 75 million TL.
(I/Ts.)
6. The breakaway regime has
rented a firefighter helicopter from Turkey
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (18.06.15)
reports that the breakaway regime has rented a firefighter helicopter from
Turkey for the period between June 29 – October 15.
According to the paper, the rent will cost 937,400 dollars and the helicopter will
operate for 100 minutes every day in order to inspect areas under fire hazard.
(CS)
7. Turkey declares three days
of national mourning for Demirel
Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (17.06.15)
reported that Turkey and the “TRNC” have declared as of today, three days of
national mourning over the passing of former Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel.
According to the paper, the Turkish and the “TRNC’s
flags” will be displayed at half-mast.
Demirel's state funeral will be held in Ankara on June
19.
(AK)
Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (18.06.15) reports that
a possible coalition between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and
the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has been deemed as the most
suitable alliance to form a government by political analysts since the election
results became clear, is allegedly on the table. The two parties are reportedly
holding unofficial talks for a negotiation over a coalition.
The MHP, which initially closed its doors to both the
AK Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), softened its stance on a
coalition with AKP but maintained its stringent attitude toward siding with the
HDP. Now there are reports claiming that behind closed doors the MHP and the AK
Party are trying to make a deal on a couple of issues and the fresh rumor is
that MHP wants nine ministries to be run by the party. It has also been
reported that the AK Party insists on holding the Justice and Interior
Ministries. The AK Party is allegedly trying to learn which ministries the MHP
would demand in the case of a coalition between the two. The MHP demanded nine
ministries including the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, Education
Ministry and Foreign Ministry. However, the AK Party, which has been diligently
fighting against the "parallel structure," a reference to the Gülen
Movement, which allegedly infiltrated key government bodies such as the
judiciary and police, insists that the Justice Ministry should remain under the
operation of the AK Party in order to continue its struggle against the
organization.
Allegedly, the AK Party has proposed to the MHP the Speaker's
office, two deputy chairmanships and three ministries. If a deal is not
brokered between the AK Party and the MHP, the AK Party will knock on the door
of the Republican People's Party (CHP). The partnership of the duo, which is
backed by business circles, does not appear very likely, given the slew of
stipulations by the latter.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(AC/
AM)
