TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 105/15 09.06.2015
1. Akinci’s spokesperson comments on the negotiators’
meeting
2. Turkish Cypriot politicians evaluated the results of
the Turkish Parliament Elections
3. How Turkey's next government will be formed
4. The coalition scenarios on Ankara’s agenda
5. Yorgancioglu said that he will continue to be in
politics after stepping down as CTP’s leader and “prime minister”
6. A delegation of
the “assembly” in Strasbourg
7. “The permanent residence permit draft bill” in the
“official gazette”
8. The illegal DAU to host the “3rd Turkish-Italian
Constitutional Law Conference”
9. The “chamber of civil engineers” was represented in
ECCE’ general meeting in Italy
10. An International Bikers Festival to take place in
occupied Keryneia
11. Turkey recalls its Ambassador to Brazil over Armenian
genocide legislation
12. Russia to sell Akkuyu shares in 2016
1. Akinci’s
spokesperson comments on the negotiators’ meeting
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 09.06.15), the Turkish Cypriot Negotiator OzdilNami and the Greek
Cypriot Negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis met yesterday at Ledra Palace Hotel in
the Buffer zone in Lefkosia as part of the negotiations process aimed at
finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
Evaluating the meeting to “BRT”, Turkish
Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s spokesperson BarisBurcu said that the
negotiators’ meeting was held between 9am and 1pm.
He added
that during the meeting the negotiators discussed the bringing to life as well
as implementation of the confidence building measures which were announced at
the last leaders’ meeting.
“During today’s meeting, the negotiators
showed an understanding for making the necessary technical preparations for
speeding up the process and remaining committed to the political will put
forward by the leaders. Later they tried to finalize the issues discussed
earlier” Burcu said.
He also
added that the negotiators had looked into several methodologies in order to
work faster and more efficiently. The negotiators will come together
again tomorrow and on Friday, the 12th of June.
2. Turkish Cypriot politicians
evaluated the results of the Turkish Parliament Elections
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (09.06.15) reports that
the uncertainty occurred in Turkey after the results of the Parliamentary
Elections held on Sunday 7 in Turkey and their influenced on the Cyprus
negotiation and Cyprus.
The self-styled speaker of the assembly SibelSiber stated that it is
very early to evaluated Turkey’s election results and how this will affect
Cyprus. “It is very early for us. It is them who first must make an evaluation
of the results”, she stated.
The general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP) KenanAtun
expressed the hope a stable coalition government to be established in Turkey
soon. He said that Turkey follows a certain policy in Cyprus which is proactive
and gained benefits during the time DervisEroglu was the leader of the Turkish
Cypriot community. “I do not see a big chance on Turkey’s Cyprus policy”, he
said.
The former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat stated that an
uncertainty has been created after the result and expressed the hope that the
newly established government in Turkey will protect the negotiation process in
Cyprus.
The chairman of Democratic Party (DP) SerdarDenktas refused to evaluate
the election results. “It is not our place to make such evaluations”, he
stated. However, DP general secretary Hasan tacoy stated that the results
showed the will of the Turkish people and added that his party supports this
will.
The chairman of the Communal Democracy Party CemalOzyigit stated that
the entering of the pro-Kurdish party in the parliament is very important and a
democratic development for Turkey. “We want a Turkey that will support Mustafa
Akinci for the negotiations”, he stated.
Finally, the chairman of the United Cyprus Party IzzetIzcan stated that
a democratized Turkey will help towards the solution of the Cyprus problem.
(CS)
3. How
Turkey's next government will be formed
According to Ankara Anatolia news agency
(08.06.15), after no party achieved a parliamentary majority, Turkey faces three options -- coalition, a
minority government or snap elections under an interim government.
As no political party managed to achieve a
majority on Sunday’s general election in Turkey, the country is expected to see
a period of negotiation to decide the next steps in forming a government.
The Justice and Development (AK) Party led
by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu came in first in the fourth consecutive
general elections to secure the largest number of votes – 41% -- and to claim
258 seats in the Grand National Assembly, 18 short of a simple majority.
The second-placed Republican People’s Party
(CHP) saw 132 Deputies elected while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and
the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) both won 80 seats.
Although the initial count has been
completed, the figures still need to be verified by the Supreme Election
Council, which could take up to 12 days. Once the final results are announced,
the Deputies of the 25th Grand National Assembly must be sworn in within five
days. The process is expected to be completed by June 20.
The next stage sees the new lawmakers
select a Parliament Speaker, the 27th in the history of the Republic of Turkey,
by secret ballot.
Given the political makeup of the new
assembly, this may not be as straightforward as in the recent past when the AK
Party enjoyed a majority.
A first round of voting requires the
Speaker to be selected by two-thirds of Deputies, or 376 votes. If no candidate
achieves this, a second round can be passed by the candidate receiving a simple
majority of 276 votes. If there is still no winner, the candidate with the
largest number of votes in the third round will be selected.
Following the parliamentary selection,
attention turns to forming a government, perhaps the trickiest dilemma facing
Turkey’s representatives.
The country faces three options -- a
coalition government, a minority government or snap elections under the care of
an interim government.
President RecepTayyip Erdogan, who led the
AK Party as Prime Minister for 11 years, will initially ask the AK Party, as the
largest party, to form a government.
If Davutoglu is unable to form a coalition
with any of the other three parties -- and none have indicated they would be
willing to join the AK Party in government -- tradition dictates the President
should offer the second-placed party the chance to create an administration.
If neither the AK Party nor the CHP can
form a government within 45 days, the President must call for a fresh election
and appoint a Prime Minister within five days to form an interim government
consisting of representatives from all four parties according to their number
of Deputies.
Once this interim government has been
approved by a parliamentary vote of confidence, the assembly will be dissolved
and the election process restarted.
4. The
coalition scenarios on Ankara’s agenda
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
09.06.15) reports that the unexpected nearly 10-point decline in votes for the
Justice and Development Party (AKP), which cost it its parliamentary majority,
has prompted feverish speculation in Ankara about possible coalition scenarios,
with an AKP-led government option appearing to prevail among others.
Forming a coalition government will take
some time due to legal procedures. It is
not sure whether or not Erdogan will give Davutoglu the mandate to form a
government on June 9, although there is no legal restriction to him doing so.
However, the President may wait for the official finalization of the election
results, which Supreme Election Board (YSK) head SadiGuven said would take up
to 12 days due to various appeals for recounts in a number of constituencies.
As is
required by Turkish laws and political customs, President Erdogan is expected
to give the mandate to Davutoglu, as the head of the party with most seats in
parliament. Turkey’s 63rd government must be formed within 45 days of the
mandate being given, which pushes Davutoglu to act as swiftly as possible and
to engage in coalition negotiations with other political parties. The
President has the right to take the country to early polls if political parties
fail to form a government within 45 days.
As senior AKP officials have underlined,
the party will likely be the main partner in a coalition government with either
the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 132 seats, the Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) with 80 seats, or the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) with 80 seats.
There is also a possibility of the AKP
forming a minority government with support being given by one of these parties
on certain conditions, but this is thought to be the least likely scenario.
CHP or
MHP?
As the HDP
has categorically underlined that it will not form a coalition government with
the AKP, eyes have now turned to the two other parties, whose initial
statements appear to have left doors open to the ruling party. One
difference between the CHP and the MHP is that the former is against going to
early polls while the latter has openly challenged the AKP for early elections.
The CHP leadership has underlined that the
message delivered by Turkish voters was for parties to form a coalition
government and not to leave the country without a government. A coalition between the AKP and the CHP
would be considered a broad-based coalition government, as the total seats of
the parties add up to 390, a majority of more than two thirds of parliament.
Under any condition, it seems likely that
reducing the controversial national election threshold from 10% will also
constitute one of central points of debate during coalition negotiations.
A three-party coalition?
An AKP-MHP
coalition would have 338 seats at parliament, enough to take a constitutional
amendment to a referendum in the event that the two parties can agree. Such a
coalition is seen by many as more likely than an AKP-CHP coalition, as the base
of both the AKP and the MHP overlap on a number of issues.
Another
option is a coalition that excludes the AKP, composed of all three smaller
parties, or composed of the CHP and the MHP with occasional outside support
from the HDP. For this scenario to come into play,
Davutoglu must fail in his attempt to form the government and the President
must give the mandate to CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
5. Yorgancioglu
said that he will continue to be in politics after stepping down as CTP’s
leader and “prime minister”
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 08.06.15), the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and self-styled
prime minister OzkanYorgancioglu said
that he will continue to be in politics after his party’s extraordinary
congress next Sunday and will be ready to take any duty his party gives him. Yorgancioglu
had announced earlier that he is stepping down as the party’s leader and “prime
minister”.
In an interview to “TAK news agency”,
Yorgancioglu said that he is not resentful against anyone within the party and
that all his efforts have been concentrated towards serving the Turkish Cypriot
people and his party.
Stating that all parties can experience
growth pains and that problems can grow even further as long as decisions taken
by the parties, authorized bodies are not followed, Yorgancioglu said that the
CTP-BG had been relatively successful in the mid-term “elections” for the
“municipality” in the occupied part of Nicosia as well as the early
“parliamentary elections”.
He, however, pointed out that the party has
lost the race for the “municipalities” in occupied Keryneia, Famagusta and
Nicosia in last year’s “local elections” despite winning in 14 other smaller
“municipalities”.
Pointing out that a similar debate has been
held regarding the “presidential elections” held in April, Yorgancioglu said
that he believes that SibelSiber who was endorsed by the party assembly was not
supported enough.
The CTP leader also pointed out that his
party currently has a successful track record in “parliament”, drafting 113
laws in 22 months and passing more “legislation” than the previous 5 year UBP
term.
He also
expressed the view that it is not possible for the CTP to stay out of the new
“government” which will be formed after the congress on the 14th of June.
6. A delegation of the “assembly” in
Strasbourg
According to illegal Bayrak television
(online, 08.06.15), a delegation from the so-called assembly of the breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus is in Strasbourg for a
series of contacts.
The delegation, which consists of the
Republican Turkish party – United Forces (CTP-BG) “deputy” ArmaganCandan, the
National Unity Party (UBP) “deputy”
HamzaErsan Saner and Democrat Party National Forces (DPUG) “deputy”
FikriAtaoglu is attending the European Parliament meetings in Strasbourg.
The meetings will be held between 8th and
11th of June.
7.“The permanent residence permit draft bill” in
the “official gazette”
Turkish Cypriot
daily Ortam newspaper (09.06.15) reports
that the “permanent residence permit draft bill”, has been published in the
“official gazette” of the occupation regime in June 5, in order for the people
to get informed about its context.
According to the
paper, all natural and legal persons can convey their views and proposals to
the “assembly” concerning the “draft bill” within a period of 20 days.
The “draft bill” envisages amongst other that
foreigners who are living in the “TRNC” with working permit for 6 years, have
the right to apply to be entitled the “permanent residence permit” of the
occupation regime as soon as they fill the 6th year of their stay in
the “TRNC”.
The “draft bill”
aims to provide easiness in “daily lives” of the “foreigners” who are living in
the occupied area of Cyprus.
(AK)
8.The illegal DAU to host the “3rd Turkish-Italian
Constitutional Law Conference”
Turkish Cypriot
daily HaberalKibrisli (09.06.15) reports that the “Law Faculty” of the illegal Eastern
Mediterranean University (DAU) will host the “3rd Turkish-Italian
Constitutional Law Conference” which is co-organized by the illegal DAU, the
Ankara University and the Bologna University.
The two-day
conference will take place between June 9-10. Participants and speakers from
Turkey, the occupation regime and the Bologna University will attend the
conference.
Meanwhile, on
June 8, a “collaboration protocol” was singed between the illegal DAU and the Bologna
University, aiming to facilitate the productive relations between the two “universities”.
The protocol
includes student, researcher and academic staff exchanges between the two “universities”
as well as the establishment of joint programs between the law faculties of
both institutions.
In statements on
the issue, the “rector” of “DAU”, Prof. DrOsam expressed his pleasure in
establishing a collaboration agreement between the two “universities”.
(AK)
9.The “chamber of civil engineers” was represented
in ECCE’ general meeting in Italy
Turkish Cypriot
daily Dialog newspaper (09.06.15) reports that the “chamber of civil engineers”
has attended the 61st general meeting of the European Council of
Civil Engineers (ECCE) which took place in Napoli, Italy.
According to the
paper, the “chamber of civil engineers” was represented by its “chairman”
SeranAysal, who is also a permanent member of the Council and the “general
secretary” Bora Kutruza.
(AK)
10.An International Bikers Festival to
take place in occupied Keryneia
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (09.06.15) reports that
the 1st Turkish Riders Bikers festival will take place in occupied
Keryneia on June 12-14.
The paper writes that bikers from Turkey, the UK, Germany and the USA
along with famous bikers from all over the world will participate in the
festival.
(CS)
11. Turkey
recalls its Ambassador to Brazil over Armenian genocide legislation
Turkish daily Today’s Zaman (online,
09.06.15) reports that the Turkish
Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it had recalled its Ambassador to Brazil
for consultation, after the Latin American country's Senate passed legislation
recognizing the massacre of Armenians during World War I in Turkey as genocide.
The Ministry also summoned Brazil's Ambassador
to Ankara on June 3 over the matter, it said in an emailed statement.
"We view the decision by the Brazilian
Senate that distorts reality and overlooks the law as irresponsible and we
condemn it", the Foreign Ministry said.
12. Russia
to sell Akkuyu shares in 2016
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
08.06.15), having started to make preparations for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power
Plant to be built in the Turkish city of Mersin, Russia will wait until 2016
before selling shares of the project. FuadAkhundov, the general manager of
Akkuyu Nuclear, which is going to be completely built by Russia's state-run
corporation Rosatom, said share sales in the project would start next year. "Rosatom will remain as the principal
shareholder of Akkuyu, which will be owned 100% by Russia. We plan to sell 49%
of it in 2016. We are planning an organization in which international
investors, including Turkish companies, will be invited", said Akhundov.Akkuyu
Nuclear Power Plant, which will have 4,800 megawatt of installed capacity, is
going to cost nearly $20 billion. Akhundov said the project is going to create
$6-8 billion in business volume for Turkish companies and Russia has so far
invested $3 billion.
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