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Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review-05.06.18

 

No. 106/18                                                                                                                      

 

Contents

 

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

1. Increased interest by foreigners to buy property in the occupied area of Cyprus

2. Turkey’s SP: “We are abandoning Cyprus step by step”

3. Erdogan signed the economic “protocol” for 2018

4. Annual inflation in May reached 16,67%

5. Erhurman explains why the regime annulled the allocation of land to ITU

6. KTOS criticizes the organized tours of students to Dardanelle

B. Turkish Press

1. Turkey and US endorse Syria road map

2. Turkish forces advance on PKK headquarters in northern Iraq to eradicate leadership

3. Bozdag says that it is their duty to find these soldiers’ links to FETO and bring them back to Turkey

4. Turkish opposition agree to work on ‘strengthening parliamentary system’

5. Turkey’s inflation hits 12.15% as lira plunges

 

A. Turkish Cypriot Press

 

1. Increased interest by foreigners to buy property in the occupied area of Cyprus    

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (05.06.18) reports that foreign investors prefer the occupied northern part of Cyprus for buying houses abroad. According to data published by the paper, except for persons from Turkey, citizens of Russia, Britain, Ukraine and Iran are mainly the foreigners who purchase property in the occupied area of Cyprus.

During the period 2015-17, 18,391 houses, 473 workplaces and 11,276 plots of land were purchased by foreigners in the occupied area of Cyprus. The Russians mainly prefer occupied Famagusta and Trikomo areas. During the above-mentioned period, Russian citizens purchased 35 houses in occupied Famagusta and 112 in occupied Trikomo. Occupied Keryneia and Famagusta are high in the preferences of citizens from Britain, who bought 758 houses in Keryneia, 160 in Famagusta and 40 in Trikomo. British citizens also bought 14 plots of land and one workplace. Iranian citizens bought 120 houses in the same period and Ukrainian citizens 70. 

Foreigners have shown no interest for occupied Morfou area, in which only seven houses and five pots of land were sold to “TRNC citizens” in the above-mentioned period.

(I/Ts.) 

 

2. Turkey’s SP: “We are abandoning Cyprus step by step”    

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (05.06.18) reports that Temel Karamollaoglu, chairman of the Felicity Party (SP) and candidate in the presidential elections which will be held in Turkey on 24 June, has criticized the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government on the economic situation of the country. He argued:

If Turkey is convicted to foreign debt as regards its current situation, others will try to make it do some things. We are abandoning Cyprus step by step. We are withdrawing our troops. This is not acceptable”.

(I/Ts.)

 

3. Erdogan signed the economic “protocol” for 2018

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (05.06.18) reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the “economic protocol” between Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus for 2018. The “protocol” provides for Turkey granting the breakaway regime 2 billion 187 million 186 thousand Turkish liras (TL) in 2018. The “protocol”, which includes donations and credits, was announced by the “development and economic cooperation office” of the so-called embassy of Turkey in the occupied part of Nicosia. The paper writes that 1 billion 50 million TL will be donations.

(I/Ts.)

 

4. Annual inflation in May reached 16,67%    

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (05.06.18) reports that according to data announced by the “state planning organization” (“DPO”), the consumer price index in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by 3,65% in May in comparison to April.

Odul Muhtaroglu, “DPO’s” “permanent undersecretary”, said that inflation in May 2018 increased by 3,65% in comparison to April 2018, by 8,91% in comparison to December 2017 and by 16,78% in comparison to May 2017. The average prices of 365 products which are included in the consumer price index increased and the average prices of 40 products decreased.

(I/Ts.)

 

5. Erhurman explains why the regime annulled the allocation of land to ITU     

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.06.18) reports that speaking yesterday at the “assembly”, Tufan Erhurman, self-styled prime minister in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, replied to criticism regarding the annulment of the allocation of land to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) to build a campus in the occupied area of Cyprus.

Erhurman said that ITU’s rector told them that if Turkey did not give them money, it would not be possible for them to make such an investment. Erhurman noted also that they discussed the issue with officials from Turkey, who said “there is no such project, annul the allocation of land”.

(I/Ts.)  

 

6. KTOS criticizes the organized tours of students to Dardanelle

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.06.18) reports that Turkish Cypriot teachers’ trade union (KTOS) has condemned the continuation of the tours of students from the occupied area of Cyprus to Canakkale (Dardanelle), Turkey, and accused the self-styled ministry of education of remaining silent to this situation. In a written statement issued by Sener Elcil, KTOS’ general secretary, it is said that the main aim of the tours, which are organized by the so-called youth and sports directorate established by the “embassy” of Turkey in the occupied part of Nicosia, is to transfer money to companies which support the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“Taking 5,500 students from Cyprus to the Dardanelle under the name of cultural tour is a project of transferring money to the AKP and assimilating the Turkish Cypriot community”, Elcil argued adding that an official who serves as “director of youth and sports” in the Turkish “embassy” in the occupied part of Nicosia is carrying out this work by threatening the self-styled ministry of education with money. Elcil said that the Turkish Cypriot “authorities” do not even have a say on this money allegedly given by Turkey and added that the Turkish “embassy” distributes this budget given by Turkey to companies which are AKP supporters.

(I/Ts.)       

 

B. Turkish Press

 

1. Turkey and US endorse Syria road map

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.06.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-us-endorse-syria-road-map-132782), Turkey and the United States have endorsed a road map over the withdrawal of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij province of Syria after months-long negotiations, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced after the meeting between the two sides’ Foreign Ministers in Washington on June 4.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in their first encounter in Washington D.C. to primarily finalize a joint work to end a bilateral dispute over the presence of the YPG troops in Manbij.

“They considered the recommendations of the Turkey-U.S. Working Group on Syria pertaining to the future of our bilateral cooperation in Syria on issues of mutual interest, to include taking steps to ensure the security and stability in Manbij. They endorsed a Road Map to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting their agreement to closely follow developments on the ground,” read joint statement issued following the meeting on June 4.

It did not unveil details of the road map but it’s believed that it stipulates the withdrawal of the YPG from Manbij and the joint control of the city by Turkish and American troops. The road map includes a certain timeline that suggests the withdrawal of the YPG within 30 days after the beginning of the implementation of this road map. (…)

The statement underlined the reaffirmation by Turkey and the U.S. to “remain committed to addressing their common concerns in a spirit of allied partnership.”

The two Ministers exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues and reaffirmed their joint resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, it said.

“Minister Çavuşoğlu and Secretary Pompeo also discussed Turkey-U.S. relations and agreed to hold further meetings of the working group mechanism to resolve current outstanding issues in the bilateral relationship. An initial session of the Working Group on Judicial and Other Issues took place immediately after the meeting of the Minister and the Secretary,” read the joint statement.

 

2. Turkish forces advance on PKK headquarters in northern Iraq to eradicate leadership

According to Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (05.06.18, https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2018/06/05/turkish-forces-advance-on-pkk-headquarters-in-northern-iraq-to-eradicate-leadership), the Turkish army has pushed about 25 kilometers into northern Iraq toward Mount Qandil to eliminate the PKK terrorist organization's leadership. The move is part of efforts to completely eradicate the terrorist group's presence in the region. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said yesterday that Turkey could soon launch an anti-terror operation on the mountain, stressing that it is not a matter of tactical concerns but a matter of timing. "Qandil is no longer a faraway goal for us," Soylu told Anadolu Agency (AA). Mount Qandil, roughly located 40 km southeast of Turkey's border with Iraq's Irbil province, is regarded as a very crucial target for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) since it has long been used by as headquarters by the PKK and its Iranian affiliate, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK). (…)

 Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also said on Saturday that Turkey has set up 11 regional bases in northern Iraq and doubled the presence of its troops, adding that the objective of recent military operations is eliminating PKK threats before it reaches the border.

The TSK has not yet announced details of the ongoing operations, however, several pictures circulating on social media showed the presence of Special Forces in villages close to Qandil. Turkish officers were also seen in videos meeting with Kurdish locals in a village in northern Iraq. (…)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that counterterrorism operation in Afrin had been successfully carried out and "now it is time for Qandil".

 

3. Bozdag says that it is their duty to find these soldiers’ links to FETO and bring them back to Turkey

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (04.06.18,  https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkey-could-launch-op-against-pkk-terror-hq/1165575), Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, commented on the eight Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece. He decried Greece’s failure to return them to Turkey it has “provided them various opportunities and protections”.

“No matter what they do, it is our duty to find these soldiers’ links to FETO and bring them back to Turkey regardless of wherever they go,” he added.

 

4. Turkish opposition agree to work on ‘strengthening parliamentary system’

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-opposition-agree-to-work-on-strengthening-parliamentary-system-132777), opposition alliance agreed to intensify talks to prepare a roadmap for the post-election period in order to ensure “a strong parliamentary system”, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and İYİ (Good) Party leaders stated after a meeting.

“The electorate is expecting us to build a strengthened parliamentary system, in which democracy is fully implemented and Parliament is strong,” said İYİ Party leader Meral Aksener, after visiting CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu at the CHP headquarters on June 4.

(…)

Aksener stated in a joint press conference after visiting Kilicdaroglu that she had proposed to form a commission to work intensively in the following week to prepare a road-map for the “parliamentary democracy”. (…) She added that the CHP had agreed to the proposal and that she had also spoken with SP leader Temel Karamollaoğlu and DP leader Gültekin Uysal.

Kilicdaroglu said the main opposition appreciated Aksener’s effort to build a commission on this mission. “We will do whatever is necessary for this proposal. Together, we will think about how to re-build the democratic parliamentary system, how to strengthen the Parliament, how to ensure the independence of the judiciary and lawmakers, and to strip the judicial system of the coup law,” Kilicdaroglu added.

A commission with three representatives from four parties will be formed before the June 24 elections. The work is planned to finish within a week.

The opposition parties in the alliance are against the constitutional amendment, which was approved in the 2017 referendum bringing a new executive system, which grants sweeping authorities to the President-elect.

Arguing that the amendment will harm the principle of separation of powers between the judiciary, execution and legislation, the opposition pledges “to strengthen the parliamentary system” in the future Parliament in the event that the Nation Alliance gains majority.

 

5. Turkey’s inflation hits 12.15% as lira plunges

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (04.06.18, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-annual-inflation-at-10-85-pct-in-april-132754), Turkey’s annual inflation hit its highest level in six months, fuelled by a slump in the Turkish currency that led to an emergency hike in interest rates.

The consumer price index (CPI) was 12.15% on year in May, accelerating from April’s 10.85% reading, data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK) showed on June 4.

Clothing prices rose 5.21% and transport prices 2.32% in May, driving the CPI rise, the TÜİK data showed. The highest annual increase was 20.02% in transportation. (…)

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek sought to play down the rise, saying that “to a large extent” it reflected base effects as well as oil price and currency movements.

 

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TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs / AM)