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Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-10.05.18

 

No. 89/18                                                                                                                         

 

Contents

 

Α. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Eroglu’s daughter to be a candidate with Denkta’s party for “Lefkosia municipality”

2. Ozgurgun says that Gencay Eroglu’s candidacy is not a move against him

3. The regime’s medium term economic and social goals for 2018-2020 were announced

4. The Famagusta Initiative calls both leaders in Cyprus to meet and accept the Guterres framework as a strategic agreement

5. BKP demands the return of the fenced off city of Varosha to its legal owners and the opening of the illegal Tymbou airport

6. The convicted suspects for Afrika incidents were released, but will go to trial for other crimes

7.  Volkan ownership goes to Direnis Basin Yayin Ltd

 

B. Turkish Press

1.  The Presidential candidates in Turkish elections officially announced

2. Erdogan, Cavusoglu and Celik issue statements to mark Europe Day

3. Erdogan due to the UK

4. CHP candidate İnce visits jailed HDP candidate Demirtaş in Edirne Prison

 

Α. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Eroglu’s daughter to be a candidate with Denkta’s party for “Lefkosia municipality”

Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (10.05.18) reports that Gencay Eroglu, the daughter of the former  Turkish Cypriot leader and former chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP) Dervis Eroglu will run as candidate with the Democrat Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas for the forthcoming “municipality elections” to be held on June 24. Gencay Eroglu will be the DP’s candidate for the position of the “mayor of Lefkosia”.

The paper, which writes that this is a “surprise candidate” for the DP, reports that  Gencay Eroglu stated that all the conditions were right for her candidacy and she could not denied the proposal made to her.

Commenting on the issue, Gokhal Altiner, writes in his daily column Kulis (Backstage) in Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi (10.05.18) that this development shows that there is a rift in the Eroglu family between Dervis Eroglu and his daughter. He also writes that Gencay Eroglu’s candidacy will make the candidacy of Hasan Ertoglu with the UBP for the same position very difficult. As he claims, many UBP supporters will not vote for UBP’s candidate but for Eroglus’ daughter instead.

(CS)

2. Ozgurgun says that Gencay Eroglu’s candidacy is not a move against him

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (10.05.18) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, chairman of the National Unity Party (UBP), has said that he does not consider as a move or an operation against him the candidature of Gencay Eroglu with the Democratic Party (DP) for the “municipality” of the occupied part of Nicosia during the “local elections” to be held on 24 June in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus. [Translator’s note: Gencay Eroglu is the daughter of former Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, who is the founder and honorary chairman of the UBP].

Replying to questions yesterday during a visit to Havadis’ offices, Ozgurgun described Gencay Eroglu as an “estimable bureaucrat” and argued: “There are no eternal friendships and eternal enmities in politics, anything can happen”.

Ozgurgun also said that if the congress of the UBP, which is planned for this year, is held without quarrels and peacefully, he or another member of the party will be nominated as UBP’s candidate for the “presidential elections” in 2020. “During the presidential elections, the party must definitely achieve a success. I will not become an independent candidate”, he added.

(I/Ts.)    

 

3. The regime’s medium term economic and social goals for 2018-2020 were announced

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.05.18) reports that the “medium term draft program 2018-2020” which was prepared by the breakaway regime’s “state planning organization” was announced yesterday. The program includes the targets, principles and policies of the breakaway regime for the period 2018-2020 on economic and social issues. The draft-program will be discussed tomorrow during a meeting of the so-called economic and social council. 

One target is for the economic growth to reach 5% this year and in 2019 and increase to 5,5% in 2020. Another target is for the GDP, which was 11,6 billion Turkish liras (TL) in 2016 and it is estimated to increase to 13,8 billion TL in 2017, to reach 21,5 billion TL in the end of 2020.

Moreover, employment is expected to reach 133,342 in 2020 from 120,999 in 2017 and the workforce’s participation [in the labor market] to increase from 51,2% to 51,4%. The target is to decrease the unemployment rate, which was 5,8% in 2017, to 5% in the end of the program.

Furthermore, it is provided for the imports, which were 1 billion 557 million 200 thousand US dollars in 216, to increase to 2 billion 132 million 200 thousand dollars in 2020, while the exports to reach 124 million 600 thousand dollars in 2020 from 105 million 500 thousand. The target is for the import/export ratio to be 5,8%.

In addition, the net income from tourism, which was 739,4 million dollars in the end of 2016, is expected to reach 972 million 700 thousand dollars in 2020. On the other hand the net income from the higher education, which was 694 million 800 thousand TL in 2016, is expected to increase to 910 million 700 thousand TL in 2020.

Inflation rate, which was 14,68% in 2017, is estimated to fall to 8,7% in the end of 2020.

(I/Ts.)   

 

4. The Famagusta Initiative calls both leaders in Cyprus to meet and accept the Guterres framework as a strategic agreement

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.05.18) reports that the Famagusta Initiative issued a written statement and called on both leaders, the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and President Nikos Anastasiades to meet and discuss the Guterres framework and to come to a conclusion and accept it as a strategic agreement.

The Famagusta Initiative, as an NGO which supports a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal solution in Cyprus based on the political equality of the two communities, describes the position expressed by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on the Guterres framework as very important. “The document submitted by the UN’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, despite of the fact that it does not have the character of an official document and taking into consideration the parameters put forward, could be accepted as a basis for an appropriate solution, provided that it will answer to the worries of both sides, it will give answers to the sensitive issues related with security and guarantees and to the worries of the Turkish Cypriots on the issue of the political equality”. “The document has been formed with the involvement of the leaders of the two communities and also of Turkey, Greece and the UK. In that respect, it could be considered as a document which could become accepted as a strategic agreement for an urgent solution of the Cyprus problem, provided that it will be well-balanced and will meet all the worries of sides”, adds the statement.

The Famagusta Initiative calls on the UN to announce the document the soonest possible, since it considers that by announcing it, the two sides would refrain from mutual accusations and at the same time those who intend to demonize the document will be prevented from doing so.

(AK)

 

 5. BKP demands the return of the fenced off city of Varosha to its legal owners and the opening of the illegal Tymbou airport 

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (10.05.18) under the title: “BKP: We demand the return of Maras (Varosha) to its legal owners and the opening of Ercan”, reports that the United Cyprus Party (BKP) issuing a written statement, pointed out that the “unjust treatment against both the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot refugees continues due to the non-solution of the Cyprus problem”. The BKP called both sides to undertake steps that will bring the two communities close together and will increase cooperation between them.

Referring to the visit of the delegation of the European Parliament to the occupied Famagusta and the protest that took place there, the BKP said in the statement that “the return of the [fence off city of Varosha-Maras] to its legal owners and the opening of the Famagusta and the illegal Tymbou airports in accordance with the international law, will contribute positively not only to the inter-communal ties but also to the solution of the Cyprus problem in general. “The organization of protest actions by fanatic cirlces against the delegation of Deputies from the European Parliament, with the approval of the four-party coalition government, the CTP, the HP, the DP and the TDP, does not contribute at all to the solution of the Cyprus problem”, read the statement. “We call on the government to give up backing fanatic and racist actions”, added the BKP, calling on the “government” to give explanations why it did not permit the EMPs to enter the “fenced off city of Varosha” and to explain what they are afraid of.

“Cyprus’ future is the solution, peace and democracy”, added the statement by BKP describing the so-called foreign minister Kudret Ozersay’ recent statements on the issue as shameful.

(AK) 

 

6. The convicted suspects for Afrika incidents were released, but will go to trial for other crimes

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.05.18) reports that Ahmet Turkmen and Umit Tas, who unfurled a flag in the roof of the “parliament” showing their reaction to the publication of Afrika newspaper during the incidents on January 22, will go to trial on May 17 at the “Nicosia district court”.

Meanwhile, Ahmet Turkmen and Umit Tas, who were among the six suspects sentenced six and three months  for attempting to attack the building as well the workers in the newspaper during the incidents against Afrika newspaper were released by taking advantage the “conditional release law” at the beginning of May.

The paper also reports that Abdulhadi Dogan, who was convicted for four months sentence for Afrika incidents, was also release. However, he was taken to the “court” for carrying a gun at the illegal airport of Tumbou on September 15 , 2017, and was found guilty. He will pay a fine of 3 thousand TL.  

(DPs)

 

 7.  Volkan ownership goes to Direnis Basin Yayin Ltd

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (09.05.18) reported that the “district court of Lefkosia” decided that the ownership of the newspaper VOLKAN belongs to Huseyin Macit Yusuf and Aydin Akkurt cannot anymore publish a newspaper with the name “Volkan”.

As it was known, Aydin Akkurt by seizing the name “Volkan”, which belongs to Direnis Basin Yayin Ltd, was publishing a newspaper with the same name.

The newspaper Volkan has started publishing from May 9th 2018 under the ownership of Direnis Basin Yayin Ltd and Aydin Akkurt has started publishing a new newspaper with the name “yeniden Nacak” (Translator’s note: the name of the newspaper means “again hatchet”. Nacak, which means hatchet, was a newspaper circulated in Cyprus in the 50’s).

(DPs)

 

B. Turkish Press

 

1.  The Presidential candidates in Turkish elections officially announced

Turkish daily Sabah (10.05.18 https://www.dailysabah.com/elections/2018/05/09/presidential-candidates-in-turkish-elections-officially-announced) reports that the total number of the  presidential candidates increased to six on Wednesday, after three out of four presidential candidates whose parties do not have a parliamentary group passed the 100,000-signature threshold to enter the presidential elections scheduled for June 24. The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) officially announced the candidates later in the day.

According to Article 101 of the Constitution, a candidate for the presidential elections should either be nominated by political party groups in Parliament, meaning at least 20 Deputies, or by political parties that obtained at least 5% of the vote in the last parliamentary elections or by 100,000 voters.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Muharrem İnce and pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş were nominated as presidential candidates by parliamentary groups of their political parties. Leaders of the Felicity Party (SP), Temel Karamollaoğlu; the Good Party (İP), Meral Akşener; the Patriotic Party (VP), Doğu Perinçek; and the Justice Party (AP), Vecdet Öz; appealed to become candidates by collecting the necessary number of signatures. Yesterday was the last day of the five-day period for giving signatures.

While Akşener and Karamollaoğlu collected enough signatures in the first days, Perinçek barely passed the 100,000 threshold on Wednesday. Öz failed to collect sufficient signatures and lost the right to enter the presidential elections. The candidates will try to garner more than 50% of the total votes to be elected in the first round. If none of the candidates succeed, the two candidates with the most votes in the first round will compete in second round.

 

2. Erdogan, Cavusoglu and Celik issue statements to mark Europe Day

Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.05.18) reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a statement marking Europe Day on May 9, saying the European Union is "bound to remain an incomplete project without Turkey in it as a full member."

Europe Day, also known as the Schuman Day, is observed on May 9 each year to mark the Schuman Declaration in 1950 that proposed the formation of a European Coal and Steel Community, the predecessor to the EU.

Erdogan, in a written statement, said that although the EU has become "a model for political integration" it is destined to remain incomplete until taking Turkey as a full-fledged member.

"As global uncertainties increase each day in today's world, the EU is facing serious challenges on global values such as human rights, the rule of law, democracy, equality, and justice, values on which it claims to have been built upon," he said.

Erdogan claimed that the biggest threat to the future of the union is "posed by Europe itself," drawing attention to widespread "discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia throughout the continent."

"Turkey's full membership aside from its economic, political and social contributions, will offer the greatest opportunity to the union in its fight against these threats," he said.

In addition, Yeni Safak (09.05.18) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister on Wednesday issued a message marking the Europe Day and called on the European Union to continue its enlargement policy.

"...Enlargement has been the EU's single most successful policy for spreading its founding values. It is vital that the EU continues this policy in the period ahead," Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a statement.

Europe Day marks the presentation of the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950 -- a proposal for the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community.

Underscoring that the Schuman Declaration marked its 68 years, Cavusoglu said: "Turkey is a European country geographically and historically, and has contributed to the security, stability and prosperity of the continent. Our country, which is also institutionally part of Europe, continues to make the necessary efforts towards full membership to the EU."

Cavusoglu stressed that the "EU is drifting away from its own founding values" and said "extremist trends such as discrimination, xenophobia and Islamophobia...causes disappointment and concerns in the wider Europe which shares common values with the EU."

He urged the EU to distance itself from "discrimination and populism" and return "to the unifying and inclusive approach that lies at the heart of the Union."

"Turkey, as a candidate country, is hoping that the EU overcomes the challenges it is faced with. In this context, Turkey is open to all ideas of sincere and meaningful cooperation with the EU in line with our common interests," he added.

Separately, Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik in a written statement on Wednesday stressed the importance of the  Schuman Declaration and said: "...[the EU] has been a unique example of inspiration to not only the citizens of the Union but also to the international community via its common policies that influence all aspects of social life."

Celik also drew attention toward the crises within the Union and said: "Though it is currently experiencing a trauma, the EU will be protected as long as it maintains its strong and deeply rooted values and principles."

He urged the EU to put aside its prejudices, fears and return to its core values.

"The EU must well understand that the path for it to overcome crisis passes from Turkey's membership," he added.

He urged the EU to be objective, fair and have willingness to build a joint future in Turkey's path to full membership.

 

3. Erdogan due to the UK

Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (10.05.18-http://www.milliyet.com.tr/Yazdir.aspx?aType=HaberDetayPrint&ArticleID=2665566) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the UK between May 13-15.

According to the paper, Erdogan will meet with the British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth.

(AK)

 

4. CHP candidate İnce visits jailed HDP candidate Demirtaş in Edirne Prison

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (10.05.18 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/chp-candidate-ince-visits-jailed-hdp-candidate-demirtas-in-edirne-prison-131555) reports that main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) presidential candidate Muharrem İnce visited Selahattin Demirtaş, the jailed former co-leader and presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), at Edirne Prison on May 9.

As part of his bid to visit all candidates in the presidential race, İnce visited Demirtaş ahead of a scheduled rally in the western province of Edirne.

The CHP candidate for the snap presidential election vowed on May 7 to pay a courtesy visit to all fellow candidates and has already visited İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener and Felicity Party (SP) leader Temel Karamollaoğlu.

Demirtaş has been in jail since November 2016 as part of a case in which he is being tried for “leading a terrorist organization.”

Tight security measures were taken outside the prison during İnce’s visit. Other participants and reporters were stopped around 4 kilometers from the prison.

Only lawyers were able to enter the jail with İnce.

The meeting between İnce and Demirtaş lasted for around one hour.

“The visit by İnce carries more than a political message. It is an example of human solidarity. No matter who wins in the end, we contribute to the social consensus and the culture of peace. I thank İnce for the visit and the solidarity he has shown,” Demirtaş said in a written statement posted on Twitter by the HDP quarters.

“I wished him [Demirtaş] good luck,” İnce said during a public rally he held in Edirne following his visit to the jailed candidate.

 

 

……………………

 

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(CS/ AM)