19/6/15

TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW




TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C O N T E N T S



No. 113/15                                                                                        19.06.2015
1. Nami: The actual negotiations will start now 
2. Todd: UK is pleased with the negotiation process
3. Amanda Sloat met with Mustafa Akinci
4. Akinci and Yorgancioglu to attend Demirel’s funeral
5. Afrika criticizes Akinci for participating in Demirel’s funeral
6. Another church in the breakaway regime is on ruins
7. Ulucay: We are a part of the Republic of Cyprus
8.  Turkey's new Parliament to convene on June 23 as final election results announced
9. CHP starts considering AK Party option for coalition; HDP ready to lend support to ‘grand coalition’ between AKP, CHP


1. Nami: The actual negotiations will start now 
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.06.15) reports that the Turkish Cypriot negotiator, Ozdil Nami has said that the difficult negotiations have not started yet and added that what they have been doing until now was to “take the picture of the existing situation”. In statements to Kanal Sim television, Nami said yesterday that the actual thorny negotiations will start now. “It seems that an important positive climate has been secured”, he noted adding that this positive climate and putting all positive things in a basket is important from the point of view of the relations not becoming severe when the thorny negotiations start.

Referring to the forthcoming substantial negotiations, Nami said that the prepared convergences documents will be taken up within a certain discipline and that during the process one or the other side may want to prepare a new document.

Noting that the UN is expressing great satisfaction with the current climate in the negotiations, Nami added that they also say that in most of the places the negotiations start positively and afterwards problems come up. “For this reason they continuously give the message that it would be useful for us to proceed speedily”, he argued pointing out that both sides are ready to proceed quickly.  

Expressing the hope to achieve convergences and visit New York in September, Nami said that “perhaps in September in New York, we will have the opportunity to discuss guarantees as well in an environment in which the guarantor powers will also be present”.He argued that he sees that such target ‘started to be formed in the Greek Cypriot side as well”.

Asked about the possibility of having a referendum by the end of the year, Nami replied that the substantial negotiations will just begin and it is early to say such a thing. Recalling Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci’s statement that the process should last for months and not for years, Nami noted that “this issue should not be delayed for a long time” and underlined that “there are two negotiating teams which work with great sacrifice and good will and there is a window of opportunity”.  

Nami pointed out that the target is to find a comprehensive solution and that both community leaders stress this at every opportunity. He expressed the view that the confidence building measures (CBM) do not speed the negotiations up, but they could be used as “means to reflect the positive climate at the negotiating table”. 

Noting that two leaders who share the same vision and trust each other exist at the negotiating table, Nami said that “the CBM are important from the point of view of increasing the faith of both communities and achieving motivation at the negotiating table”.

Nami argued that the new practice implemented by the breakaway regime at the crossing points indicates in a concrete manner that some things are changing and added that the new process increases the perception that solution could be produced to long lasting problems.  

Replying to a question on the opening of the crossing points at Apliki and Deryneia areas, Nami said that there is no target as to the date on which these crossing points will open, but the political decision has been taken and none of the sides is in favor of further postponement. He noted that a serious work should be made for the opening of crossing points and added that the negotiators are focused on the comprehensive solution. “This is our priority”, he said.

Replying to another question, Nami noted that the issues of the occupied fenced off city of Varosha and the illegal Tymbou airport are not in their priorities and that more “practical issues” will be included in the priorities of the leaders as regards the CBM.
(I/Ts.)  

2. Todd: UK is pleased with the negotiation process
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.06.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met with the British High Commissioner to Cyprus Ric Todd.

Speaking to Kibris after his meeting with Akinci,  Todd stated that the UK is very pleased with the process of the Cyprus negotiation and added that the UK will do everything possible to offer assistance on the negotiation procedure. “We are willing to offer help, we support the work of Eide and of both leaders in Cyprus”, he stated.
(CS)

3. Amanda Sloat met with Mustafa Akinci
According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi Daily News (online, 19.06.15), Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met yesterday with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Amanda Sloat. No statements were issued before or after the meeting.

4. Akinci and Yorgancioglu to attend Demirel’s funeral
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (19.06.15) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and the self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu will attend the funeral of the 9th Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. The funeral service will be held today
(CS)

5. Afrika criticizes Akinci for participating in Demirel’s funeral
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (19.06.15) criticizes Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for participating in the funeral of the 9th President of Turkey, Suleyman Demirel.

The paper writes that the “officials” of the breakaway regime are participating in the funeral in the “highest level” , since Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, “prime minister” Ozkan Yorgancioulu and former  Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have already went to Turkey for the funeral service.

Commenting on the issue, Afrika columnist Sener Levent writes that his paths with Akinci are separating now that he is attending Demirel’s funeral:
“Here, now our paths are separating with Mustafa. His road is to Ankara…to the funeral of Suleyman Demirel…”, writes Levent and criticizes Akinci for walking behind the coffin of a man known as the enemy of leftists and of workers, who committed political crimes and supported Rauf Denktas’ policy on Cyprus. 
(CS)

6. Another church in the breakaway regime is in ruins
Under the title “Disgrace”, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (19.06.15) reports about a monastery in occupied Vouno village and writes that it is in a very bad condition since a place which is a part of Cyprus heritage is full of  garbage and is not respected by the breakaway regime.
The paper writes that the monastery is in ruins, its windows are broken and that  there are garbage of broken bottles and food inside.  The building is falling apart, writes the paper, wondering what the “officials” are doing as regards the island’s culture heritage.
(CS)

7. Ulucay: We are a part of the Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot Kibris Ada Haber news website (12.06.15) reported that the self-styled minister of interior, TeberrukenUlucay has said that the Turkish Cypriots are also part of the Republic of Cyprus. During a program on Diyalog TV, he was asked by journalist AytugTurkkan to comment on the “trial” against the couple in Famafusta who opened a flag of the Republic of Cyprus. Ulucay replied:

“[…] We do not know what the decision of the court will be. However, at this point I can say that the flag of the Republic of Cyprus is the flag of the common Republic established by both communities in 1960. We are also a part of the Republic of Cyprus indirectly. Moreover, individually we are anyway part of the Republic of Cyprus”.  
(I/Ts.)

8. Turkey's new Parliament to convene on June 23 as final election results announced
According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 19.06.15), Turkey’s top election body has eventually announced the final results of the June 7 general election, prompting all eyes to turn to the first sitting of the new Parliament after the announcement of the results, on June 23.

According to results announced on June 18 by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), voter turnout was 83.92%. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) received 40.66% of the total, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) won 25.13%, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) won 16.45% and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) won 12.96%.

Accordingly, the AKP will have 258 seats in the 550-seat Parliament, the CHP will have 132, while the MHP and the HDP will each have 80 seats.

The AKP therefore failed to secure the majority in the 550-seat parliament required to rule alone.

Following the announcement of the official results, the newly elected members of the 25th term of Parliament of the Republic of Turkey will gather. on June 23. The oath-taking ceremony at first sitting will be chaired by the oldest deputy, assisted by the six youngest Deputies as secretaries.

The oldest Deputy in the new Parliament will be Deniz Baykal, the former head of the CHP, who will serve until Parliament elects a Speaker.

Candidates to hold the Speaker’s seat from among the Deputies must submit their bids within five days after the first sitting. The Speaker will then elected by secret ballot by parliamentarians.

In the first two ballots, two-thirds of the total number of Deputies, and in the third ballot, an absolute majority of the total number of Deputies, is required. If an absolute majority cannot be obtained in the third ballot, a fourth ballot takes place between the two candidates who obtained the highest number of votes. In the fourth ballot, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes is elected Speaker.

This process must be completed within five days of the nomination of candidates.

As is required by Turkish laws and political customs, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to give the mandate to form a government to AKP leader Ahmet 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.

The newly formed government must carry a vote of confidence in Parliament in order to stay in office.

The government program will be debated and a vote of confidence will be held in a plenary session of the parliament. If the newly formed government fails to obtain the confidence of a simple majority of Deputies present in the plenary, it is dismissed from the office.

9. CHP starts considering AK Party option for coalition; HDP ready to lend support to ‘grand coalition’ between AKP, CHP
Turkish daily Sabah (online, 19.06.15) reports that Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu has given a green light for allying with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to form a government after the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli dashed the hopes of a coalition bloc that would include the CHP, MHP and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Kilicdaroglu, who said he preferred the partnership of the trio to form a government, had to give up after Bahceli reiterated he would not be part of a plan that involves the HDP.

Kilicdaroglu has convened the Mayors from his party to discuss possible coalition options that the CHP can lean toward and held a five-hour meeting on Thursday. Pointing out that the voters asked the parties to "come to terms" in the polls, Kilicdaroglu said that the CHP is determined to hold the "historical responsibility" given to them by the citizens.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 19.06.15) reports that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has announced that it is ready to back a so-called grand coalition government that would be formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) on the condition that the coalition embraces their party’s principles, too.
“So far, we haven’t had any official or unofficial meetings for coalition talks. Our door is open to every party,” HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas told reporters on June 18.“If the AKP and the CHP form a coalition in a way that would embrace our principles too, then we would lend support from the outside,” he said.
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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION
(CS/ AM)