TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No.
48/17
10.03.17
1.
A joint press conference by Akinci and Yildirim
2.
Yildirim alleges that every “yes” vote in Turkey’s referendum will strengthen
the “TRNC”
3.
Yildirim: “It was known from the very beginning that there was a crisis of
confidence”
4.
How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the illegal visit of the Turkish Prime
Minister
5.
Columnist slams Akinci for not returning to the negotiations
6.
Celik: “Two separate founding states is our condition”
7.
Ozgurgun will deliver a speech on the Cyprus problem at Aydin
University
8.
Cakici announced that 67 more persons joined the
TKP-YG
9.
Yeditepe University may open a campus in occupied
Trikomo
10.
Savasan: “We expect a 20% increase on the number of German tourists this
year”
11.
Columnist wonders if Ankara is losing political ground in
Syria
12.
Turkey, Russia to hold cooperation meeting after two-year
delay
13.
Cavusoglu: “Venice Commission’s report on charter changes ‘not acceptable’”, he
will go to Netherlands
14.
Referendum split within MHP produces attacks
15.
Turkey’s Supreme Court strips HDP co-chair of party
membership
16.
Survey shows that “no” vote will prevail in the referendum for the
constitutional amendments
1.
A joint press conference by Akinci and Yildirim
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.03.17), Turkish Prime Minister
Binali Yildirim, who paid an illegal one day visit yesterday at the occupied
area of Cyprus, reiterated yesterday that the negotiations process aimed at
finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem cannot linger on in an
open-ended fashion.
In
a joint press conference following a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akinci, Yildirim said: “We will continue our efforts to find a fair,
permanent, comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem”.
Yildirim
was accompanied by his wife Semiha Yildirim, the Turkish Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, the Turkish Minister for Forestry and Water
Works Veysel Eroglu, the Turkish Minister for Transportation, Maritime and
Communication Ahmet Arslan and the AKP Party’s Deputy leader Ahmet
Sorgun.
Speaking
first at the joint press conference, Akinci said that Turkey’s close interest
in the negotiations process continues despite the current crisis in the
talks.
Akinci
stated that the Turkish Cypriot side’s greatest expectation is for the Greek
Cypriot side to correct the “grave mistake” of the Enosis vote claiming that
“showing that they can correct this mistake would help rebuild the eroding trust
between the two peoples”.
Reacting
against the meeting between the Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and
President Jean Claude Junker of the European Commission, Akinci alleged that the
Greek Cypriot side is exploiting the issue of creating a Turkish-Greek balance
in Cyprus, “which is described as four freedoms” and added: “It is impossible to
understand why Anastasiades would go and provoke the
EU”.
Claiming
that although the Turkish Cypriot side has a strong will to solve the Cyprus
problem, they are not seeking a solution at all costs, Akinci also warned
that the energy issue can lead to new tensions in the region unless there is a
solution.
Akinci
stressed that the “TRNC” will continue on its way, improving and developing
itself, in the event the two sides fail to reach a federal settlement. He
warned that an absence to reach a settlement will only pave the way for a two
state solution in the future.
Yildirim,
for his part, described the Enosis vote as “unfortunate”,
and said that it came at a sensitive time when the “Greek Cypriot side should
have put forward a strong desire for a comprehensive solution”. He further
claimed: “Instead of correcting this mistake… the Greek Cypriot side is
continuing to adopt an aggressive stance that ignores the sensitivities of the
Turkish Cypriots. (…) It is obvious that this attitude cannot take the
negotiations process forward.”
A
solution is only possible “if the mentality, which doesn’t see Turkish Cypriots
as co-owners of the island, is completely changed”, Yildirim
argued.
“A
comprehensive solution is possible only if the idea of an equal partnership and
faith in a common future are embraced. It is important that this understanding
is instilled in the minds of younger generations”, Yildirim
argued.
Yildirim
also said that Turkey will continue to support the “TRNC’s” efforts towards
reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem but
reiterated that the talks could not continue open-ended and that the time had
come to exercise a clear will on the matter.
“Turkey,
independent of the negotiations process, shall continue to be by the side of the
Turkish Cypriots under all conditions as well as to do its part for regional
stability, security and development”, he said.
2.
Yildirim alleges that every “yes” vote in Turkey’s referendum will strengthen
the “TRNC”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.03.17) reports that addressing a rally
held last night in the occupied part of Nicosia within the framework of the
campaign for the 16 April referendum in Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Binali
Yildirim has asked from the Turkish settlers living in the occupied area of
Cyprus to vote “yes” to constitutional amendments in Turkey and alleged that
“every vote in favor of yes will strengthen the TRNC”.
Yildirim
claimed that when Cyprus smiles, Turkey also smiles and that Cyprus’ tranquility
is Turkey’s tranquility and argued that under any circumstances “the prayers and
the support of 80 million children of the country” will be with Cyprus. He
further alleged that a strong and successful Turkey stands by the “TRNC’s” side
and that Turkey is interested in Cyprus and produces solutions to its problems.
Yildirim
argued that as AKP administration they tripled Turkey’s power and at the same
time they developed the “TRNC” by “donating” many projects to their kinsmen in
Cyprus. “Every year we separate an important amount for this place in
order for the TRNC’s infrastructure and socioeconomic structure to develop”, he
noted recalling that with President Erdogan’s instructions they materialized the
project of transferring water from Turkey to the occupied area of Cyprus.
Referring
to the Turkish settlers living in the occupied area of Cyprus, Yildirim said:
“We are exerting a big effort for the solution of the problems you experience
and for you to have a quiet peaceful life. We know the problems, the
difficulties of our brothers, who came and settled here from Turkey. We are step
by step solving these problems in cooperation with northern Cyprus and we will
continue solving them”.
Referring
to the Cyprus problem, Yildirim alleged that in spite of the stagnancy in the
negotiations, Turkey continues to support a fair, lasting and comprehensive
solution, which will secure equal and fair administration of the Turkish
Cypriots, and guarantee the safety of their life and
property.
Claiming
that everybody who has a conscious knows very well why the negotiations were
interrupted, he alleged: “Turkey’s and TRNC’s will for a solution is there and
is full from the very beginning. The Greek Cypriot side is the one which
continues to consider the Turkish side as minority. For 60 years now enosis
continues to exist in their heads”.
Turkish
Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (10.03.17) refers to the same event
under the title “The UBP said yes this time” and reports that two
“ministers” coming from the National Unity Party (UBP), Sunat Atun and Kemal
Durust participated in the rally and called on the Turkish citizens living in
the occupied area of Cyprus to vote “yes” in the referendum.
(I/Ts.)
3.
Yildirim: “It was known from the very beginning that there was a crisis of
confidence”
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.03.17), the Turkish Prime Minister
Binali Yildirim, who paid a one day illegal visit yesterday in the occupied area
of the Republic of Cyprus, met with the self-styled prime minister of the
breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus Huseyin
Ozgurgun.
Speaking
during the meeting, Yildirim said that Turkey has a long standing relationship
with the “TRNC” [editor’s note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus]. He stressed that Turkey includes the “TRNC” when
planning every step or endeavour and added: “This is something that has
existed for years”.
Also
touching upon the Cyprus negotiations process, Yildirim argued that the talks
had entered a crisis due to a lack of trust and claimed: “The tyre eventually
burst. It was known from the very beginning that there was a crisis of
confidence. The Turkish Cypriot side was the constructive side from the very
beginning. We too supported this process. The Enosis vote clearly revealed that
the Greek Cypriot side is not mentally ready for a
settlement”.
Yildirim
however stressed that “the TRNC is not desperate or without options”,
by
adding: “North Cyprus will continue on its way. Turkey will always
continue to be by the side of the just cause of the Turkish
Cypriots”.
Ozgurgun,
for his part, said that the “TRNC” had and will continue to carry out important
projects with Turkey.
Moreover,
Yildirim, who also met with the self-styled assembly speaker Sibel Siber,
explained his reasons for his visit to the occupied area of
Cyprus.
Siber,
for her part, said that such visits are useful in terms of further developing
relations between their two “countries”. She further alleged: “There is much to
be done domestically. All we need is to be motivated. We need to strengthen and
improve our internal structure despite the negative impact of the embargoes.
This is why your experiences are important for us”.
4.
How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the illegal visit of the Turkish Prime
Minister
All
the Turkish Cypriot newspapers report today (10.03.17) about the visit of the
Turkish Prime Minister Binaly Yildirim to the breakaway regime as well as the
joint conference he held with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
Yeni
Duzen reports
on the issue under the title: “For the love of TRNC” and writes that Akinci
stated among other things that if there is no solution they will continue with
the road of “TRNC”.
Kibris
reports
on the issue under the title: “Equality, freedom and security are conditions”,
and notes that Yildirim and Akinci stated that these three conditions are a must
towards the solution.
Under
the title: “Correct the mistake”, Havadis said that Yildirim called on
the Greek Cypriot side to correct the mistake it made regarding the the decision
of the Cyprus House of Representatives for commemoration of the 1950 plebiscite
in favor of the unification of Cyprus with Greece (enosis) in
schools.
Kibris
Postasi:
“Yildirim: The tyre finally burst. Akinci: The two sides will have to follow a
two-state solution if they have to”.
Under
the title: “Common manner”, Diyalog writes that both Yildirim and Akinci
issued a common statement warning the Greek Cypriot side for the establishment
of two separate states.
Detay
reports
on the issue under the title: “Akinci: If there is no way the road of TRNC will
continue”.
Yeni
Bakis:
“Yildirim: Enosis plebiscite is a misfortune”.
Volkan:
“Akinci and Yildirim sent a clear message to the world: TRNC road will
continue”.
Afrika:
“TRNC will continue its road with progress”.
Vatan:
“Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister organized a meeting in Cyprus”.
Demokrat
Bakis:
“Cyprus has decided”.
Star
Kibris:
“There is no trust in energy”.
Gunes:
“Strong Turkey, strong TRNC”.
Ortam:
“One side calls for dialogue, the other side says that the tyre blow out”.
Halkin
Sesi:
“The TRNC is not helpless”.
(CS)
5.
Columnist slams Akinci for not returning to the negotiations
Under
the title “Is it not enough Mr Akinci?” columnist Huseyin Ekmekci
in Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (10.03.17) refers to the
decision of the Cyprus House of Representatives regarding the commemoration of
the 1950 plebiscite in the schools and the reactions which this decision has
caused by everyone in the occupied area of Cyprus and reports, inter alia, the
following:
“[…]
The Turkish Cypriot leadership also reacted to this. Including even by not
going to the [negotiating] table. However, it is enough. After the
decision Mr Akinci has made statements 15 times. […] Sometimes twice in a
day. By continuously hardening his language. I think that nothing
is left which has not been understood on this issue. We did not go to the
table. Think that the table has been dissolved. What Anastasiades said is there.
‘It is unacceptable’. ‘It cannot be implemented’. None of these helped. Mustafa
Akinci says: ‘Change it or take a decision which will prevent it’. While
Akinci says this, Anastasiades finds it difficult to take a step. He has
many times said that he does not want to be put into the place of someone who
‘takes orders from the north’.
However,
is the intention to return to the table or not? Mr Akinci should decide
this.
There is a great difference between saying ‘I will return to the table’ and I
want to return to the table. I am sorry, but I see that there is no wish for
taking a step before the referendum process in Turkey ends. And this is what I
am afraid of the most.
Yesterday
I received the information that Eide’s efforts are going well and that the two
leaders will be at the table after 1-2 weeks. However… the situation and the
stances continue in a manner which causes tension of the climate. Mavroyiannis’
behaviors which underestimate and look down upon the Turkish side continue. And
Mr Akinci, whenever microphones are extended to him, lists the statements which
we have learned by heart. Is it not enough? He takes Mevlut Cavusoglu
by his side. He takes Turkey’s Prime Minister. He continues. We are really
sick and tired of the blame games. […] Mr Akinci must put an end now to
the blame games. Either he knows something or this much work will go in
vain. I am worried”.
(I/Ts.)
6.
Celik: “Two separate founding states is our condition”
Under
the title “Our condition is two separate founding states”, Turkish Cypriot daily
Haberal Kibrisli newspaper (10.03.17) reports that Turkey’s EU Minister Omer
Celik, in exclusive statements to Ankara Anatolia news agency, addressing the
EU, accused the Union for unilaterally accepting “south Cyprus” as a full member
and alleged that this had made the problem in the island more complicated.
“Before solving your border disputes and before solving the problems that exist
with north Cyprus, you accepted south Cyprus as a full member of the Union and
in fact you made this problem [means the Cyprus problem] more complicated. You
keep constantly indicate things to Turkey and north Cyprus but in fact, you
should make indications to south Cyprus and Greece. The approach ‘we are an EU
member country and north Cyprus should join the Union with us’ does not exist
and will never be accepted. This could happen only on the basis of the parameter
of the two founding states”, Celik alleged.
On
the Cyprus problem, Celik added also the following: “The Cyprus problem is a
national cause for us. From the period of the Annan plan until today we have
exhibited a political will on this national cause. The decision for the
celebration of Enosis plebiscite is contrary to the spirit of solution and also
is against the entire effort of the Cyprus negotiations. This should be
regulated the soonest possible”, Celik said.
(AK)
7.
Ozgurgun will deliver a speech on the Cyprus problem at Aydin
University
According
to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.03.17), self-styled prime minister
Huseyin Ozgurgun is in Istanbul as guest of the Aydın
University.
During
his one day visit in Istanbul, Ozgurgun will give a conference on the Cyprus
issue at the university. He will also watch the European Cup quarter final
basketball match of the “Near East University” (“YDU”) at the Caferağa Sports
Hall.
Ozgurgun
will return to the occupied area of the Republic of Cyrus tonight after
completing his contacts in Istanbul.
8.
Cakici announced that 67 more persons joined the TKP-YG
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (10.03.17) reports that the founding chairman
of the Communal Liberation Party-New Forces (TKP-YG) Mehmet Cakici announced
yesterday in a written statement that 67 more persons have joined the party.
Referring
to the Cyprus problem, Cakici stated that the expectation of the Turkish Cypriot
community is to reach to a federal solution on the Cyprus problem. “Thus, our
demand is for the negotiation talks to resume from the point they were left in
order to be able to reach to a result the soonest possible”.
(AK)
9.
Yeditepe University may open a campus in occupied
Trikomo
Turkish
Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (18.03.17) reports that self-styled minister of
agriculture and natural resources Nazim Cavusoglu, who is currently carrying out
contacts and inspections in Istanbul, visited also Yeditepe University
accompanied by the so-called mayor of occupied village of Trikomo Hasan
Sadikoglu. The visit was in the framework of efforts to open a branch of
Yeditepe University in the occupied village of Trikomo. The Dean of Yeditepe
University Bedrettin Dalan said that they have been always thinking to make
investments in the occupied area of Cyprus and for this reason they will visit
the “TRNC” on April in order to make inspections in the occupied
Trikomo.
Moreover,
according to illegal Bayrak television (online, 10.03.17), Cavusoglu also held
contacts in Istanbul with the aim of further developing organic agriculture and
increasing the variety of organically grown produce in the
“TRNC”.
He
said “we need more organic markets or more aisles at supermarkets which sell
organic products. We need to increase the culture and sale of organic products
in order to further develop organic production in the
TRNC.”
Cavusoglu
also added that they will allow the import of all organic products which are not
being produced in the “country”.
Stating
that they will pave the way for the production of organic chicken and eggs in
the “TRNC”, he said there should be a variety of 208 organic products at
supermarkets or other shops which sell organic products.
10.
Savasan: “We expect a 20% increase on the number of German tourists this
year”
Turkish
Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (10.03.17) reports that the
“representatives” of the so-called ministry of tourism and environment who are
still attending the ITB Berlin Tourism Fair, in statements to the paper, alleged
that they expect an increase of 20% on the number of German tourists who will be
“visiting” the occupation regime this year.
Speaking
on the issue, Ahmet Savasan, “chairman” of the “TRNC’s health council”, said
that “under the umbrella of the ministry”, they had the opportunity in the
framework of the fair to promote the occupation regime’s culture and health
tourism. Savasan added further that as “health tourism council” they will be
signing today “new health tourism agreements” with five countries, while at the
same time they will undertake new important steps towards bringing “health
patients” in the occupied area of Cyprus.
(AK)
11.
Columnist wonders if Ankara is losing political ground in
Syria
Columnist
Murat Yetkin, writing in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.03.17),
under the title “Is Ankara losing political ground in Syria?” publishes the
following commentary:
“When
the news hit the wires on March 7 about a surprise meeting in Turkey between the
Turkish, American and Russian top generals on Syria and Iraq, there were
suggestions that there might be room for a joint strategy where Turkish concerns
would be met, even if not fully. Gen. Hulusi Akar of the Chief of Turkish
General Staff hosted Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Staff,
and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed
Forces, in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya for two days and had bilateral
and trilateral meetings with their staffs for two days.
The
purpose of meeting was explained by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım as an
effort to coordinate the fight against terror and not let any accidents occur in
the meantime. Yet Turkish expectations were clear.
Turkey
objects to U.S. cooperation with the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia in
the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), or DAESH, in
Syria.
The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) which is regarded
as the Syria extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The
PKK, a designated terrorist organization according to Turkey and the U.S., has
been battling Turkey for the last three decades. President Tayyip Erdogan and
other Turkish officials have been saying for a long time that if the U.S. would
abandon cooperation with the YPG, then Turkey and the Syrian Arab rebels who are
supported by Turkey would fully cooperate to take the key Syrian city of Raqqa
from ISIL. In order to camouflage the U.S. dependence on the YPG, a Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) was formed with the participation of a few Arab tribes
and, in such a fashion; the town of Manbij was retaken from ISIL. The YPG
presence in Manbij has been a matter of conflict between the two NATO allies
since it was retaken in August 2016.
Last
week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu said the Turkish Armed Forces,
together with the Free Syria Army (FSA) rebels who have been conducting the
Euphrates Shield Operation in Syria against ISIL since August 2016, could march
on Manbij if the YPG did not withdraw.
Ironically
enough, the answer came in a Russian statement. The Russians said that the YPG
would evacuate the positions in and around Manbij to Syrian regime forces under
their control. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made his move in
order not to let the Kurdish card in Syria fall into American hands. Before a
Kurdish conference organized in Moscow on Feb. 15, where the PYD was also
invited, a Russian draft for a constitution for the “new Syria” included the
possibility of a Kurdish autonomy in Syria.
The
Russian move for Manbij came two days before the Antalya meeting. The Antalya
meeting of the three generals ended without a joint statement. But as soon as
the meeting was over, Mark Toner, the spokesman for the U.S. State Department,
said they would continue to support the YPG in the fight against ISIL. The U.S.
would continue to designate the PKK as terrorists, despite knowing the organic
links in between, but would not call the YPG as terrorists. On March 9, Toner’s
remarks were posed to Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın, who said:
“Detailed talks were carried out for Raqqa. No decision has been made yet.”
Kalın was probably referring to an expected statement from U.S. President Donald
Trump.
On
the same day came the news of the American deployment of artillery units to
Syria in preparations for the Raqqa operation, which implied that the U.S. may
not ask for Turkish cooperation in order not to cause further complications. And
also the “safe zone” in Syria that Turkey has been asking for from the
international community could well be established by the Jordanian border, not
the Turkish one.
The
Russians have not remained idle either. Photos showing Russian troops reportedly
around Manbij with SDF badges were released via social media as if to give the
“We are here, no traffic accidents, remember” message.
Erdoğan
is going to Moscow today on March 10 to meet Putin. The government sources
informed the press that the issues of Syria, the YPG and the purchase of S-400
defense systems would be on the agenda. But the Russian government informed
Russian media a day before the Antalya meetings that energy issues would be
discussed, notably the Turkish Stream pipeline to carry Russian gas to southern
Europe and the construction of another nuclear power plant in Turkey. Different
agendas it seems.
It
is true that the final decisions regarding the anti-ISIL fight in Syria have not
been revealed yet. But the indications so far show that the Turkish thesis of
singling out the YPG might be losing ground, even though Ankara’s fingers remain
crossed.”
12.
Turkey, Russia to hold cooperation meeting after two-year
delay
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 9.03.17), Russia and Turkey’s
respective Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will meet on
March 10 for the sixth meeting of their bilateral high-level cooperation council
in Moscow, as relations continue on the delicate path of normalization
following a spat over Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet in 2015 that led to the
cancelation of the meeting later that year.
Prime
Minister Binali Yıldırım had a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart,
Dmitry Medvedev, on March 9 to discuss the meeting, with Medvedev saying he had
signed a decree allowing some agricultural products to be exported from Turkey
to Russia, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Foreign
Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak,
Defense Minister Fikri Işık, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Agriculture
Minister Faruk Çelik, Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı, Transport and
Maritime Affairs Minister Ahmet Arslan and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ will
also be included in the Turkish delegation, while Chief of General Staff Gen.
Hulusi Akar will also participate in the visit.
Erdogan
plans to discuss the issues of Iraq and Syria in detail during his meeting with
Putin, spokesperson İbrahim Kalın told reporters on March 9, adding that the
outcomes of the recent Antalya meeting of the top generals of the United States,
Turkey and Russia would also be assessed.
Turkey
and Russia are currently coordinating their military activities in Syria,
especially around the town of al-Bab, which the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army
(FSA) has seized from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). There is
an ongoing effort to prevent a military standoff between FSA fighters and the
Syrian army south of the town, as well as a potential Turkish-Syrian
confrontation.
However,
Russia’s cooperation with the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and
the Democratic Union Party (PYD) has frustrated Ankara, with Moscow proposing a
draft constitution to Syrian opposition groups in Astana including “cultural
autonomy” for the Kurdish population of the country and hosting PYD
representatives in Moscow after allowing them to open a representative office in
the country.
The
parties will sign several agreements, Kalın said, adding that discussions will
also include process that have launched since normalization in June 2015, but
not completed yet. The spokesperson was referring Russia’s resistance to clearly
lifting restrictions on trade and economy.
Turkey
has urged Russia to make a discount in the price of natural gas imported by
Turkey, lift all prohibitions on the exports of Turkish agricultural products to
Russia, waive visas for business leaders and tourists and increase the number of
work permits for Turkish nationals in Russia. Moscow has been lifting sanctions
on Turkey that were imposed after the jet crisis, but Moscow has only been
taking gradual steps.
While
there were around 40,000 Turkish citizens in Russia before the crisis, the
number has been reduced to 13,000 due to the visa and other subsequent
restrictions.
Turkey
has proposed to Russia that its nationals be allowed to travel to Turkey without
passports and only with their identity cards, Cavusoglu told journalists on
March 9.
Cavusoglu hinted that Moscow would lift trade sanctions on agricultural exports
from Turkey to Russia, as well as ease visa procedures for Turkish business
people and truck drivers.
A
cooperation agreement in the field of mining, as well as a memorandum on the
creation of a joint investment fund between the Russian Direct Investment Fund
and Turkish Investment Fund are among the documents that will be inked during
the meeting. The two countries will also declare a joint year of culture and
tourism in 2019.
Turkey
earlier proposed to Russia that they conduct trade in their local
currencies.
Zeybekci told reporters on March 9 that the Turkish and Russian officials from
central banks have discussed the issue and that a swap treaty was close to being
completed and could even be signed during the visit to Russia.
“We
see that the pace is the opposite of the rhetoric of ‘normalize as soon as
possible,’” Zeybekci said.
After
the start of the normalization process, Russia removed sanctions on some
products, particularly on citrus fruits, but the majority of the sanctions
remain in place.
The
Turkish Stream and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant are also expected to be part
of the energy discussions.
The Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline project agreement between Turkey and
Russia was signed in October 2016 and ratified by Putin on Feb.
7.
13.
Cavusoglu: “Venice Commission’s report on charter changes ‘not acceptable’”,
he will go to Netherlands
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.03.17), a report prepared by
the Venice Commission that is set to be released next week examining Turkey’s
constitutional amendments will not be acceptable, a senior Turkish government
official has said, criticizing the Council of Europe’s advisory board of
drafting it with political agenda.
“We
will reject [the report] of the institution, which is tasked to write a report
on legal points of view, if it delivers a political view. It should not be
politicized,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said March 9.
He
also slammed the commission for leaking some parts of the report to the media.
“This report is not acceptable to us after all these,” he said.
German
media cited that the draft report was harshly criticizing the constitutional
amendments and urging it would bring a one-man rule in Turkey, as the Venice
Commission is expected to publicize its work next week.
“What
one-man rule? Isn’t there one-man rule in the United States or other countries?”
he said, stressing that the new proposed system was introducing effective checks
and balances as well as the separation of powers.
Cavusoglu
also responded to the Venice Commission’s criticism that the referendum should
not be held under the state of emergency, saying “France has a state of
emergency, too. France can elect the president under state of emergency but when
it comes to Turkey, it’s a crisis. This is double standards and
hypocrisy.”
Meanwhile,
the paper referred to the planned rally in the Netherlands, which was barred by
Dutch officials, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying, “The Netherlands is not
a place for other countries’ election rallies”. Rutte added on Facebook: “We
believe that the Dutch public space is not the place for political campaigns of
other countries”.
Turkey
will not succumb to “fascists and racists” like Dutch nationalist politician
Geert Wilders, Cavusoglu also said. “I will go to the Netherlands, no such
obstacle can stop us... We will not succumb to fascists and racists like
Wilders,” Cavusoglu told reporters.
14.
Referendum split within MHP produces attacks
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 10.03.17), a split within the
opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) regarding the April 16 referendum
that will decide whether the current parliamentary system should be replaced
with an executive presidency has deepened with attacks against party
dissidents.
While
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli is campaigning for a “yes” vote, the dissidents are
endorsing a “no” vote at events around the country.
A
hall being used by MHP dissidents Umit Ozdag, who was expelled from the party
and is now an independent lawmaker from Gaziantep, and Yusuf Halacoglu, an MHP
lawmaker from Kayseri, was attacked by a group late on March 8 in the Silifke
district of the southern province of Mersin.
The
dissidents were about to speak as part of their “no” campaign for the upcoming
referendum on a presidential system when the group entered the
hall.
Ozdag
and Halacoglu were ushered out of the hall as part of security measures, as the
group shouted slogans supporting Bahceli.
“The
real leader of the movement is Devlet Bahceli,” the group of nearly a hundred
people shouted while smashing objects in the hall.
A
number of police officers were dispatched to the area and the lawmakers were
able to make their speeches after the group was dispersed.
Speaking
about the incident, Halaçoğlu said such attacks “won’t discourage
them”.
“If
they think that we will be discouraged by these actions, they’re wrong. We
didn’t take the road for the governance of one person. We are in this for the
continuity of the Turkish Republic’s parliamentary system and values,” Halaçoğlu
told OdaTV, adding that “they swore to protect the
charter.”
“Is
it a crime to defend this constitution? We swore on our honour to protect this
charter,” he added.
Ozdag,
meanwhile, said that “there was open negligence by the police in the
incident.”
MHP
dissidents have previously announced that they had formed a group to campaign
for a “no” vote in the April 16 referendum. The committee is led by Akşener,
Oğan, Koray Aydın and Özdağ, who all tried to run for the MHP leadership last
year but saw their attempt stymied by their party and the court
system.
15.
Turkey’s Supreme Court strips HDP co-chair of party
membership
According
to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 09.03.17), Turkey’s Supreme
Court has striped opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Figen
Yuksekdag of her party membership.
Her
membership to the party and information regarding her duty records were dropped
from the Supreme Court’s registration records, according to a notification sent
to the HDP from the Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office’s Parties
Records Bureau, with the signature of the Supreme Court Deputy Chief Public
Prosecutor.
Following
the court’s decision, the party released a statement, saying they will make the
“necessary appeals against the decision in domestic and international
law”.
“Electing,
being elected and the right to engage in political activities are among the most
basic political rights, which were regulated in the 67th article of the
Constitution. The framework of those rights was regulated with laws,
particularly with Political Parties Law,” the statement said on March 9.
Yuksekdag,
who has been in jail since Nov. 4, 2016 on terror charges, previously lost her
parliamentary status for a prison sentence she received in a previous
case.
16.
Survey shows that “no” vote will prevail in the referendum for the
constitutional amendments
Turkish
daily Cumhuriyet newspaper (10.03.17) publishes an opinion poll conducted by
the Avrasya Research Firm between 3-9 of March 2017 in 26 provinces of Turkey
with a sample of 8,120 persons.
Asked
what they will vote for the referendum for amending the current Constitution of
Turkey, the persons replied as follows:
No:
57,57%
Yes:
42,43%
According
to the survey’s results, if elections were held today in Turkey the parties will
receive the following percentages:
Justice
and Development Party (AKP): 45,23%.
Republican
People’s Party (CHP): 31,58%
People’s
Democracy Party (HDP): 10,32%
Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP): 9,68%
Others:
3,19%
Asked
if there is a need for the establishment of a new central-right party, the
persons asked said:
Yes:
60,1%
No:
39,4%
Asked
who the leader of this party could be, they replied the
following:
Meral
Aksener:
40,2%
Abdullah
Gul:
21,2%
Ali
Babacan:
10,8%
Sinan
Ogan:
9,1%
Unit
Ozdag:
8%
Others:
10,7%
Asked
if they would vote for a party that Meral Aksener would established, they
replied the following:
Perhaps
I would vote for it:
38,1%
Definitely
I would not vote for it: 35,8%
Definitely
I would vote for it:
12,3%
Undecided:
13,8%
(CS)
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TURKISH
AFFAIRS SECTION
