TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 130/15 14.07.2015
1.
Talat: “Neither the CTP is the old CTP, nor the UBP is the old UBP”
2.
The press sees reactions in both the CTP and UBP to the establishment of a
“coalition government”
3.
Cakici: Turkey wants the establishment of a CTP - UBP “coalition government”;
Turkey’s “aid delegation” is like a “shadow cabinet”
4.
Tunali said that CTP acts under Ankara’s instructions
5.
A visit to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca
6.
“GAU” has students from 103 different countries
7.
Davutoglu discusses coalition with Kilicdaroglu: Erdogan asks for a strong
government soon
8.
Turkey’s Constitutional Court blocks government's decision to close prep
schools
1.Talat:
“Neither the CTP is the old CTP, nor the UBP is the old UBP”
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi
newspaper (14.07.15) under the title: “Neither
the CTP is the old CTP, nor the UBP is the old UBP”, reports on statements
by the chairman of the Republican
Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-UG) Mehmet Ali Talat who replied to the
criticism towards the formation of a coalition “government” between the
CTP-UBP.
In statements to a program broadcast
live on illegal BRT yesterday morning, Talat said that the works towards the
establishment of a coalition “government” will be completed in the next few
days.
Stating
that the “government program” which will be based on “principles” is going to
be ready today or tomorrow, Talat explained that the coalition “government”
with DP failed to fulfil the majority of its goals. “We need a stable viable
economy and an agriculture policy. The important thing is to give priority on
the pilot sectors of the budget…A wide base government is very important both
for the economy and the solution of the Cyprus problem”,
Talat said.
Replying
to the accusations towards the decision of forming a coalition “government”
with UBP, Talat said that in order to meet their goals, they should be
rationalistic and follow serious policies. The CTP-UG has never been an enemy
party of another party. Since 1994, it formed a coalition government with a
party which belongs to the same philosophy-world with UBP. Neither the CTP-UG
is the old CTP, nor is UBP the old UBP. Our party experienced a lot of
difficulties whilst it was in power. I
have the belief that the new government to be formed will be a successful one”,Talat
added.
Briefing the goals of the new
“government” to be formed, Talat said that amongst them is the lifting of the
partisanship policy on employment procedures, reforms in economy, important
projects in tourism education sectors, the increase of the quality at
“universities” and others.
Pointing out to the distance which seems
to exist towards the issue of the solution of the Cyprus problem, Talat
stressed the need to make preparations in the fields of politics, democracy and
economy.
(AK)
2. The
press sees reactions in both the CTP and UBP to the establishment of a “coalition
government”
Turkish Cypriot daily YeniDuzen newspaper
(14.07.15) reports that the National
Unity Party (UBP) discussed again yesterday the draft proposal for a “coalition
government program” with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). Tension was
experienced during the meeting which lasted for three hours because of the
opposition of some party members to the “coalition” with the CTP.
According to YeniDuzen, the points on which
disagreement exists within the UBP are the following: 1) unionism in the
private sector, 2) the reference to a “single sovereignty, single citizenship
and single international identity” in the solution of the Cyprus problem, 3)
the provision for having “autonomous institutions” and not “privatizing” the
“public institutions”, 4) binding the “police” to “civilian authority” and 5)
the numerically equal distribution of five “ministries” to each party is not
equal in content. Some “UBP deputies”
insist on including the principles of their party as well in the “governmental
protocol”.
Meanwhile, Ergun Serdaroglu, UBP “deputy”
in occupied Keryneia, said after the meeting that some “retouches” were made to
the “program”, not because any problem exists, but in order to clarify some
issues. He noted that they discussed the five “ministries” the UBP will take
and the relevant “departments”.
FaizSucuoglu, UBP “deputy” in occupied
Nicosia, said that they discussed the [CTP] proposals and the proposals which
the UBP will submit to the CTP and described the meeting as “positive and
mature”.
Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (14.07.15) reports
that statements made by “influential officials” from both parties show that
“they cannot digest” the “coalition” between CTP and UBP.
CTP’s former general secretary, KutlayErk has said that “a government with
the UBP is not a coalition which I could digest” and added that they will enter
into this “coalition” for the “future of the country”.
CTP’s former general secretary, AsimAkansoy had recently told Kibris
Postasi that the “coalition” with the UBP will not be an “easy experiment”.
He said that their “coalition government” with the Democratic Party had not
worked productively adding that they should wait and see in practice how they
will cooperate with the UBP.
CTP’s former “deputy” and “minister” SonayAdem said that problems exist within
the members of both parties as regards their “coalition”, adding however
that the “way out for this country” is the cooperation between these two
parties.
The paper also publishes statements by UBP “deputies” Ersin Tatar and Zorlu Tore,
who oppose a “coalition government” with the CTP.
(I/Ts.)
3. Cakici:
Turkey wants the establishment of a CTP - UBP “coalition government”; Turkey’s
“aid delegation” is like a “shadow cabinet”
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper
(14.07.15) reports that Mehmet Cakici,
self-styled deputy with the Social Democracy Party (TDP) in occupied Nicosia, has said that the reason of the Republican
Turkish Party (CTP) establishing a “coalition government” with the National
Unity Party (UBP) and not with its current “coalition partner”, the Democratic
Party-National Forces (DP-UG), is the latter’s recent dispute with Turkey’s
“aid delegation” in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
In statements to Ada television, Cakici described Turkey’s “aid delegation”
as “a shadow cabinet” and argued that the CTP “has committed suicide today”
by cooperating with the UBP. He noted that Turkey’s “aid delegation” will not
be questioning the decisions of the CTP-UBP “coalition” and that Turkey wants the establishment of such a
“coalition”.
Recalling that the DP-UG has stated that
Turkey’s “aid delegation” should be abolished, Cakici said:“Turkey’s aid delegation is like a shadow
council of ministers. When our municipalities and associations need money and
go to the embassy, they beg. The members of the delegation see themselves as
ministers, not as public servants”.
Cakici argued that the reason for CTP
agreeing with the UBP which wanted five “ministries”, in spite of the fact that
the DP-UG had accepted to take only three “ministries”, is the fact that the CTP is in harmony with Turkey’s “aid delegation” and
CTP chairman Talat’s policy that “the UBP has changed”.
Cakici expressed the view that the aid of
Turkey’s delegation should be given to the regime through the “ministries” and
reiterated that the only real reason for
the establishment of a CTP-UBP “coalition government” is the “embargo” of
Turkey’s aid delegation” to a CTP-DP “coalition”.
(I/Ts.)
4.Tunali
said that CTP acts under Ankara’s instructions
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi
newspaper (01.08.14) reports that TozunTunali,
chairman of the Social Democrat Party (SDP), in statements yesterday concerning
the preparations for a coalition “government” between CTP-BG and UBP, said,
inter alia, that they have the suspicion that the decision of CTP to choose the
UBP, which is a copy of DP, as its coalition partner, was taken after Ankara’s
orders.
Tunali
called the chairman of CTP, Mehmet Ali Talat to explain openly to the public
the reasons for their decision to form a “coalition” with UBP. According to
Tunali, Ankara is annoyed by DP’s hard rhetoric on the issue of the “Turkey’s
Aid Delegation” and it is for this reason that it does not want to see the DP
in the “government”.
Tunali
continued and called Talat to state openly whether it is Ankara that does not
want DP and added that they have the strong belief that CTP acts under the
instructions of Ankara.
(AK)
5. A
visit to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (14.07.15)
reports that the so-called religious affairs department announced that a visit
to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca will be held on July 21.
According to a press release, those who
want to attend the visit, which will be limited to a thousand people, should
submit their names and other necessary information to the “department” by the
15th of July.
(DPs)
6. “GAU”
has students from 103 different countries
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (14.07.15)
reports that the self-styled vice-chancellor CEO of the illegal Keryneia
American University (“GAU”) Assist. Prof. Dr AsımVehbi, participating in
programme at TRT channel, explained the higher education in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus. He noted that “GAU” has 30 years of academic past
and is the first university at the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. He
also said that they have established campuses in England, USA, Hong Kong,
Turkey and Moldova.
Noting that the population in the occupied
area of the Republic of Cyprus is around 300,000 and the students around
75,000, Vehbi said that “GAU” at the moment is a “global university” with
students from 103 different countries.
(DPs)
7. Davutoglu
discusses coalition with Kilicdaroglu: Erdogan asks for a strong government
soon
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online,
14.07.15), under the title “AKP, CHP highlight need for strong government”,
reports that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) have echoed each other, with both emphasizing the utmost
need to form “a strong government” for the sake of the country in separate
remarks delivered following a meeting between the leaders of the two parties
during which they tested the waters for a possible “grand coalition”.
“I stated Turkey cannot tolerate even a
minute without a government and that we want the formation of a strong
government which is based on strong foundations and mutual confidence”, Prime
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of the AKP said at a press conference following a
meeting with CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu on July 13.
“He [Kilicdaroglu] also expressed his
opinions in this framework and, likewise, emphasized ‘a strong government.’ I
see that, firstly within this framework, we have reached a common understanding
for resuming these talks”, Davutoglu said.
Describing the meeting at the CHP
headquarters as “warm and constructive”, Davutoglu indicated that a
psychological threshold between the two parties that received the most votes in
the June 7 elections had been passed during the meeting.
Delivering remarks on behalf of his party
shortly after Davutoglu’s press conference, CHP Deputy Chair HalukKoc noted
that the Prime Minister had already summarized the result of the meeting. “Building
of a mutual confidence is needed. Flaws that were observed during past
practices need to be eliminated. These were discussed”, Koc said. “On the issue
of will, both sides have underlined that Turkey needs to take up the coming
years with a strong government profile.”
With his meeting with Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli scheduled for July 14 and a meeting with
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and
FigenYuksekdag scheduled for July 15, Davutoglu reiterated that he plans to
complete the first round of talks before Eid al-Fitr, the three-day long
Islamic holiday starting July 17.
In the meantime, however, a delegation from
the AKP and the CHP will continue holding “exploratory talks”, according to
Davutoglu. He said that he wished to have the same kind of “exploratory” talks
with other parties too before holding a second round of talks after Eid
al-Fitr.
“These are not negotiations of a coalition
on which an agreement is accomplished. These are preliminary meetings aimed at
an accurate understanding between the parties ahead of a negotiation,”
Davutoglu said. “If there is a ground for a government partnership negotiation,
it will be revealed during the second round”.
Tourism and Culture Minister ÖmerÇelik of
the AKP and Koç of CHP will serve as so-called “contact points” of their
parties during the exploratory talks.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency
(13.07.15) reports that Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan said on Monday
that Turkey needs a government that can take important decisions and implement
them strongly and added: “A coalition government should be formed with this
understanding”.
8. Turkey’s
Constitutional Court blocks government's decision to close prep schools
According to Turkish daily Sabah (online,
14.07.15), Turkey's Constitutional Court blocked on Monday the government's
decision to close prep schools, a popular recruiting spot for the Gulen
Movement. The Court's decision was accepted by a large majority.
Opposition parties had applied to the
Constitutional Court, the top judicial authority with the power to cancel laws,
for the abolition of the regulations to close prep schools. The court heard
National Education Ministry officials and prep school operators on Sunday and
issued its final verdict on Monday, not giving the green light to prep schools'
closure.
If the Court had given the green light,
"Dershanes" (prep schools) were to be closed by September 2015 in
line with the new regulations that came in after a 2013 decision by the
government to shut down the schools permanently all across the country.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(DPs/
LF)
