Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 15-04-20

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The results of the 1st round of the "elections" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] Statements after the "elections'" results; Eroglu and Akinci are determining their strategy for the second round

[03] How columnists comment on the results of the first round of the "elections" of 19 April 2015

[04] Six newspapers confiscated and one TV channel was closed down during yesterday's "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus

[05] Toros: The registration of halloumi-hellim cheese has been postponed until an inspection mechanism is created in the occupied area of Cyprus

[06] Racist protest from Azeri students in the occupied area of Cyprus

[07] Toros supports the idea of opening up a bi-communal university in the UN controlled buffer zone

[08] Cavusoglu: Erdogan and Obama to inaugurate Turkish mosque in Maryland

[09] CHP outlines ambitious election manifesto, prioritizes fight against poverty

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The results of the 1st round of the "elections" in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Dervis Eroglu, the present Turkish Cypriot leader and the independent "candidate" Mustafa Akinci will run for the post in the second round on next Sunday, 26 April 2015.

The independent "candidate" Dervis Eroglu" supported by the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP) gathered 28.18% of the votes, while the independent "candidate" Mustafa Akinci supported by the Social Democracy Party (TDP) and the United Cyprus Party (BKP) received 26.92% of the votes.

Sibel Siber, "candidate" of the Republican Turkish Party ? United Forces (CTP-BG), run third with only 22.54% of the votes. Meanwhile, the independent "candidate" Kudret Ozersay received 21.23% of the votes.

The paper also reports that the voters' turnout was the lowest of the "election history" of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus with only 62.34% of 176.916 "eligible voters". It is reported that in 1990, there was the highest turnout with 93.48%.

According to data by "YSK", in 1976, there was 88.6%; in 1981 there was 74.8% turnout; in 1985 there was 85.7%; in 1995, there was 85.13% in the first round and 80.12% in the second round. The turnout in 2000 was 81.02%, in 2005 was 69.58% and in 2010 was 76.3%.

It is the third time that there will be a second round in the "presidential elections". There were also second rounds in 1995 and in 2000. In 1995, the race was between Rauf Denktas and Dervis Eroglu, where Denktas won. In 2000, the race was again between Denktas and Eroglu, where Eroglu withdrew from the second round and Denktas was declared winner without "elections".

Following are the total results announced by the Higher Election Board (YSK):

There were 176,915 "registered voters" and 693 ballot boxes.

Dervis Eroglu: 28.18%

Mustafa Akinci: 26.92 %

Sibel Siber: 22.54

Kudret Ozersay: 21.23

Mustafa Onurer: 0.39

Arif Salih Kirdag: 0.49

Mustafa Ulas: 0.24

The results of the "elections" according to the "districts":

Occupied district of Nicosia

Ballot boxes: 213

Number of voters: 55,764

Number who voted: 35,592 ? 63.83%

Mustafa Akinci: 10,894 ? 31.27%

Kudret Ozersay: 8,091 ? 23.23%

Dervis Eroglu: 7,971 ? 22.88%

Sibel Siber: 7,427 ? 21.32%

Mustafa Onurer: 135 ? 0.39%

Mustafa Ulas: 107 ? 0.31%

Arif Salih Kirdag: 212 ? 0.61%

Occupied district of Famagusta:

Ballot boxes: 178

Number of voters: 45.993

Number who voted: 28,171 ? 61.25%

Dervis Eroglu: 8,723 ? 31.83%

Kudret Ozersay: 6,177 ? 22.54%

Sibel Siber: 6,379 ? 23.28%

Mustafa Akinci: 5,849 ? 21.34%

Arif Salih Kirdag: 118? 0.43%

Mustafa Onurer: 102 ? 0.37%

Mustafa Ulas: 55 ? 0.2%

Occupied district of Keryneia

Ballot boxes: 140

Number of voters: 35,397

Number who voted: 21,472 ? 60.66%

Mustafa Akinci: 5,824 ? 27.61%

Kudret Ozersay: 5,410 ? 25.65%

Dervis Eroglu: 5,400 ? 25.6%

Sibel Siber: 4,264 ? 20.21%

Arif Salih Kirdag: 94? 0.45%

Mustafa Onurer: 68 ? 0.32%

Mustafa Ulas: 35 ? 0.17%

Occupied district of Morphou

Ballot boxes: 84

Number of voters: 20,811

Number who voted: 13,293 ? 63.87%

Mustafa Akinci: 4,219 ? 32.47%

Dervis Eroglu: 3,990 ? 30.7%

Sibel Siber: 3,033 ? 23.34%

Kudret Ozersay: 1,586 ? 12.2%

Arif Salih Kirdag: 70? 0.54%

Mustafa Onurer: 69 ? 0.53%

Mustafa Ulas: 28 ? 0.22%

Occupied district of Trikomo

Ballot boxes: 78

Number of voters: 18.951

Number who voted: 11,770 ? 62.11%

Dervis Eroglu: 4,272 ? 37.47%

Sibel Siber: 3,184 ? 27.92%

Mustafa Akinci: 2,220 ? 19.47%

Kudret Ozersay: 1,609 ? 14.11%

Mustafa Onurer: 49 ? 0.43%

Arif Salih Kirdag: 37? 0.32%

Mustafa Ulas: 31 ? 0.27%

(DPs)

[02] Statements after the "elections'" results; Eroglu and Akinci are determining their strategy for the second round

Dervis Eroglu, who passed in the second round, said that if there had been a bigger turnout, these "elections" would have finished this Sunday and called on those who did not go to the ballots in the first round to do so in the second one. He went on and added that the period ahead is critical since the Cyprus negotiations will be re-launched in May and added that a person who will represent the rights of the "TRNC and the TRNC people" must be elected. He said that as regards himself he has faith and experience on the issue and added that those who believe in the future of the "TRNC" and want Turkey's guaranteed to continue must vote for him.

As regards the strategy he will follow in order to select votes for the second round, Eroglu said that he will meet with the parties that support him and he will determine their plan. However, he will also hold contacts with Kudret Ozersay and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

On his part, Serdar Denktas the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) which supported Eroglu for the elections expressed the belief that Eroglu will definitely be the winner of the second round.

Mustafa Akinci, who also passed in the second round, noted that the elections results showed that the "people need change". Akinci who delivered a speech after the results were announced, stated that the Turkish Cypriot community has passed a difficult test with this "election". Reminding that his main focus is finding a solution to the Cyprus problem Akinci said that he will do everything he can to reach a settlement which will benefit both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities equally. "This island's people, both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have suffered a great deal of pain. Here tonight I promise to do everything I can on my part to reach a solution that will allow all of us to live peacefully with each other as brothers and sisters ", he stated.

According to the paper, Akinci also said that he will hold meetings today with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and with Kudret Ozersay and he will ask for their support and co-operation for the second round of the "elections".

CTP candidate Sibel Siber stated that the election had been a democratic one; she wished the two candidates who have gone through to the second round all the best.

The chairman of CTP and self-styled prime minister Ozkan Yorgancioglu stated that his party did not expect the outcome of the "elections" and added that CTP will convene today in order to decide which candidate will support in the second round. According to Havadis, CTP is expected to support Mustafa Akinci.

On his part, Kudret Ozersay stated that the persons who voted for him can cast freely a vote to any of the two candidates passed in the second round of the "elections".

(CS)

[03] How columnists comment on the results of the first round of the "elections" of 19 April 2015

"[?] The results of the first round of the elections did not surprise me. There is nothing abnormal in the ranking, but the results are not very normal. Their most interesting characteristic is the fact that all four important candidates remained under 30%. In our view the first message which the elections gave is the following: According to the votes which the candidate of the government's major coalition partner secured, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has experienced a heavy loss of blood and its position in the government has been shaken! And this means early elections. If the candidate of a party which is in the government concludes the elections a little bit in front of Ozersay, who had no organization [to back him], it is meaningless for this party to remain in power!

If we begin from the end, the real winner of the elections is Kudret Ozersay. Ozersay, the votes of whose were estimated around 10% during the election campaign, has doubled this number and as of today the way for him to establish a new formation is opened. If we leave aside the questions as to whether there had been interference after some mayors, members of the National Unity Party (UBP), expressed their support to Ozersay two days before the elections, a new procedure is about to begin in politics and it must begin! [?]

Siber's candidature was a mistake from the very beginning, but she was nominated and the smack down was inevitable. It is obvious that the quarrel between the 'mustached and the non-mustached persons' within the CTP is still continuing and the basis of the party could not congest the fact that Siber had been among the founders of the Democratic Party (DP). [?]

Mustafa Akinci might not have taken as much votes as Mehmet Harmanci [in Nicosia], but if we look at the whole country, he achieved a big success. During the election campaign he kept ahead the 'Cypriotism image' and even though he did not full achieve his target because of his standing up against Turkey, he has acquired a big advantage! If he had drawn a milder and softer picture in the [TV] programs and especially if his party was more organized, he would be in the first place now. [?]

The votes secured by Eroglu should be interpreted by two ways. The total votes of the UBP and the DP are around 50%, but Eroglu remained at 28%! Even though a reduction in Eroglu's votes was caused due to the settling of accounts during [UBP's] congress, the fact that he is not accepted in the basis of the DP and lastly the emergence of Kudret Ozersay, being at the first place is always a success because he was the candidate who had been attacked the most".

Commenting on the same results, columnist Sami Ozuslu writes in Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (20.04.15) that Akinci will be directed towards securing the support of the CTP voters and partly from those who have voted for Ozersay. He notes: "Eroglu, on his part, has no party to which he could be directed. He will try to gain the right wing voters who voted Ozersay and those resentful [voters] who did not go to the ballot box. CTP supporting Akinci is inevitable, it bears historic importance and in any case prime minister and [CTP] president Yorgancioglu had given a clear message in this direction in the beginning of the elections. And the statements made after the last night's result show that CTP will fully support Akinci. In any case, this is the correct thing to do. And even if the CTP takes an opposite decision, its basis will not listen to it. [?] Those who gained from the results of the first round are Akinci, the parties TDP and BKP which supported him, and Ozersay. [?]"

(I/Ts.)

[04] Six newspapers confiscated and one TV channel was closed down during yesterday's "elections" in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, three out of the six newspapers which were seized are the Turkish newspapers Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet and Zaman, while the other three are the Turkish Cypriot newspapers Detay, Kibris Postasi and Afrika.

The paper writes also that the Turkish Cypriot channel Ada TV closed down for a while with the excuse of not complying with the "election restrictions".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (19.04.15) under the front-page title: "Bon Appetit! How many votes for bulgur?" [Translator's note: Bulgur is the traditional dried crushed wheat which is used mainly in Middle Eastern cooking], reports that 24 hours prior to the "elections", some people in the occupied area of Cyprus were distributing plastic bags with food to several neighborhoods in the occupied part of Lefkosia with the aim to attract votes.

The paper writes that similar practices were observed in "elections" in the past in order to buy off the voters and adds that in spite of this, no investigation was made.

(AK)

[05] Toros: The registration of halloumi-hellim cheese has been postponed until an inspection mechanism is created in the occupied area of Cyprus

Toros said that the stage during which the EU Commission was evaluating the application submitted by the Republic of Cyprus' Ministry of Agriculture ended in January and alleged:

"As required by the procedure, after the completion of this evaluation, the EU Commission sent it for the opinion of the [EU Commission's] Legal Service. In spite of the fact that this application has been made on behalf of the entire island of Cyprus, the inspection mechanism of the north of the island, that is, for the Turkish Cypriot hellim producers has not been mentioned in the application. About two months ago, an opinion was produced by the legal service. According to this, a decision was taken that this registration will not be concluded and it will not be published in the official gazette before the establishment of an inspection mechanism which is missing in this application and the Turkish Cypriot hellim producers who are in the north of the island are included".

According to Toros, this decision is satisfactory and "means that the inspection mechanism of the Republic of Cyprus which has submitted the application will not encompass the producers here because the Republic does not exercise effective control in the north". "Therefore, this application will be concluded, if a separate inspection mechanism which could directly report to the EU is established in the north", he argued.

Toros said that the biggest concern which they express during their lobbying activities is regarding the inspection procedure being dependent on the Republic of Cyprus. "The evaluations ended and the geographic registration is suspended at the moment", he argued. Toros described this as a "good development", but claimed that they are not happy because the procedure is not completed and the halloumi-hellim cheese is produced in many countries outside Cyprus such as Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany and some Middle East countries.

Toros described as "false information" the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nikos Kouyialis that everything is completed and the translation into 25 languages is currently taking place now.

Toros said that the Republic of Cyprus exercise no effective control in the occupied northern part of the island and this is why the financial aid from the EU is not given to the Turkish Cypriots through the Ministry of Finance, the "Green Line Regulation" is needed, the TAIEX missions are going to the occupied area of the island and not the government-controlled area and Turkish Cypriot task Force exists in the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Racist protest from Azeri students in the occupied area of Cyprus

According to the paper, around 300 Azeri students held a racist protest prior to the performance against the main actor of the play Aret Vartanya who is of Armenian origin.

The so-called police arrived in the scene where it arrested a group of students.

(AK)

[07] Toros supports the idea of opening up a bi-communal university in the UN controlled buffer zone

Fikri Toros, Chairman of the KTTO, said that they are very excited about the idea.

The issue came up during a visit paid to the acting "Rector of the Eastern Mediterranean University" ("DAU") Prof. Dr Necdet Osam by Toros and an accompanying delegation.

Speaking during the visit, Toros argued that establishing such a university in Cyprus would contribute to fostering and developing relations between the two sides on the island.

"Creating such a university which will offer courses on human rights, history, language, literature and religion would be extremely valuable in bringing the two sides on the island closer", he said.

Toros added that the Chamber is prepared to do all it can to support the initiative.

(DPs)

[08] Cavusoglu: Erdogan and Obama to inaugurate Turkish mosque in Maryland

Mevlut Cavusoglu, on a three-day visit to Washington, visited the centre that also has a middle-sized mosque, and lunched with representatives from the American Muslim community.

"During a phone call, President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan asked President (Barack) Obama to accompany him in opening the centre together and President Obama accepted his offer 'in principle'," Cavusoglu told the representatives.

If Obama's schedule allows at the time of the opening, he will accompany Erdogan.

Cavusoglu said that the centre has been constructed as a place where all Muslims in the U.S. can come together and worship freely.

[09] CHP outlines ambitious election manifesto, prioritizes fight against poverty

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), announced his party's manifesto under the title of "A Liveable Turkey" and introduced his parliamentary candidates on April 19 in Ankara with the participation of more than 5,000 enthusiastic party colleagues.

Introducing a four-legged strategy for the realization of his promise, Kilicdaroglu said that the first section is to ensure that Turkey will become one of the top 20 countries on the Human Development Index. "Our current rank is 69. Our objective is to move Turkey forward and to place it among the first 20 countries. Can we make it? Yes, we can," he said.

In a bid to do so, the CHP will push for democracy and freedoms, introduce the Political Ethics Act and reduce the election threshold from the current 10%, among many other measures, Kilicdaroglu said.

Likewise, the CHP will seriously deal with the Kurdish question, Kilicdaroglu said. The right address for the resolution of the problem is Parliament, the CHP leader said, while the manifesto suggested establishing a national inter-party commission to carry out the process.

The second leg of the strategy is to implement numerous measures to turn the country into a competitive economic actor by exiting the "middle income and middle technology trap".

Kilicdaroglu promised to abolish the High Education Board [YOK], another remainder of the Sept. 12 [1980] coup.

The CHP also promised to create employment for 1 million Turks through economic policies that envisage the creation of more jobs at a moment when official figures suggest more than 11% of the country is unemployed.

The third leg of the CHP strategy is to reinforce a constitutional principle of the "social state" to provide a fair distribution of the national wealth that has been severely damaged over the 13-year rule of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

For the sustainability of a liveable Turkey, Kilicdaroglu said that the last leg is to establish a strong state with strong institutions free from the interventions of politics. "It's not enough to establish democracy. It should be rooted. For this, the governments will not intervene into the affairs of independent institutions like the Central Bank and others."

Kilicdaroglu also published a to-do list for the first 100 days and 12 months of a CHP administration.

(DPs) TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

(DPs/ AM)

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