According to a press release by the "parliament press office", the "chairman of the YKK" Olgun Ustun conveyed the council's expectations regarding the preparation of a new "law on public and private broadcasting" in line with EU norms and regulations, as well as information regarding the council's initiatives for representation abroad.

Ulucay for his part said that "they were showing the necessary sensitivity on laws needed by the council", adding that the "High Broadcasting Council had a very important mission to ensure that broadcasts in the country were conducted under a code of ethics and within the framework of the laws".

He further noted that "MPs who are representing the TRNC at the European Parliament will be holding a series of contacts and launching a number of initiatives for the Council's representation abroad as well as membership".

[06] Ataoglu announces the launching of ferryboat lines between occupied Keryneia and Alanya

Ataoglu added that Turkey and the "TRNC" are taking important steps on the tourism sector and claimed that they are expecting the occupied Keryneia-Alanya ferryboat lines to have a positive direct reflection on tourism.

He further argued that the lines will ease all tourists who are visiting Turkey to visit the "TRNC" as well. He explained that special packages for tourists who visit Turkey are including also visiting the "TRNC" with ferryboat lines.

(AK)

[B] Turkish Press

[01] Cavusoglu: Turkey halts readmission deal with Greece

Addressing a news conference in Antalya, Cavusoglu said: "The government in Greece wants to solve this issue. But we can clearly see that there has been great pressure from the West. There is a migrant deal with the EU, this is in effect. And there is a bilateral readmission deal with Greece; we have now suspended that deal." (A readmission protocol between Greece and Turkey was signed in 2002 to combat illegal migration.)

Cavusoglu said further action regarding Greece will be taken keeping in mind recent court decisions.

[02] Aksener says she will prevent the sale of Cyprus

Delivering a speech at a rally in Yalova on June 7, Aksener referred also to Cyprus by saying: "I keep asking about Cyprus. (�) Did you sell it? Did you not sell it? Of course, we will prevent this sale. Because Cyprus is not our daughter land, is our heart."

[03] Erdogan says state of emergency may be lifted after elections

Speaking at a live interview on CNN Turk news channel, Erdogan said his government will discuss in detail and make necessary assessments to lift the state of emergency imposed following the deadly coup attempt on July 15, 2016. "Our fight against the Gulenist Terror Group continues with the same tempo as day one," Erdogan said.

(�)

Erdogan also said that the Turkish military will strike PKK camps in the mountains of northern Iraq in Qandil, Sinjar, and Makhmur if the Iraqi central government does not clear the area of militants. He added that Turkey may strike Qandil "at any moment one evening".

On Wednesday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said an anti-terror operation on Qandil is not a distant target for Turkey, and drew attention to significance of this operation in maintaining Turkey's internal security. "[Southeastern] Diyarbak?r is not free as long as [the PKK headquarters in] Qandil stands there," Soylu said in an interview with NTV television.

Several reports suggested yesterday that PKK high-ranking terrorists have started to leave Qandil amid fears of the military offensive. (�)

[04] Survey: Rising number of Turks believes 'peaceful divorce' is good for Cyprus

Some 40% of the respondents of the poll, conducted each year by Istanbul's Kadir Has University, said the Cyprus problem should be solved based on the creation of two independent states. This marks a sharp increase compared to last year's 27.7%.

Nearly 37% of the respondents of the poll opted for the creation of a bi-zonal bi-communal federal Cyprus state, as opposed to 41.5% last year, which might reflect a frustration towards the latest failed attempts to find a federal solution to the divided island.

Some 24.4% of the respondents said "Turkish Cyprus" should be annexed to Turkey, a significant drop from last year's 36%.

And 42% said Turkey should recognize "Turkish Cyprus" when the problem is solved, a drop from 63% last year. The number of those who said Turkey should unconditionally recognize "Turkish Cyprus" remained at around 12%, reflecting a continuing pattern in the same poll, which has been conducted for the fifth time. (�)

[05] Gezici and Remres' latest surveys on the presidential elections in Turkey

On the question which candidate would they vote if the presidential elections were held this Sunday, the 48.7% of the respondents said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the 25.8% Muharrem Ince, the 14.4% Meral Aksener, the 10.1% Selahattin Demirtas, the 0.6% Temel Karamollaoglu and the 0.4% Dogu Perincek.

According to the results, a 12.8% of the respondents are still undecided and when these voters are examined, it is showed that they are composed of AKP and MHP voters.

Meanwhile, Remres research company (07.06.18, http://www.mynet.com/haber/secim/secim-sonuclarina-iliskin-en-son-anket-remres-in-anketine-gore-hangi-parti-ne-kadar-oy-aliyor-24-haziran-secim-anketi-en-yeni-secim-anketi-secim-anketleri-4178346-1) has also presented its latest survey, which was conducted with 4,482 persons, in 28 provinces between May 28 and June3.

According to Remres' results, the People's Alliance (Cumhur Ittifaki) receives 44.2% , the Nation Alliance (Millet Ittifak) receives 44% and HDP 11.5%. In the first round of the elections, Erdogan will get 41.7%, Ince 26.1%, Aksener 16.7%, Demirtas 11.4% and Karamollaoglu 3.9%.

(DPs)

[06] Kilicdaroglu again fined for 'insulting' President Erdogan

The June 7 ruling was based on a complaint filed by Erdogan over Kilicdaroglu's claim that the President and some of his relatives have transferred large amounts of money into low-tax offshore accounts in the Isle of Man. Erdogan had demanded 1.5 million liras in compensation.

Kilicdaroglu stated late last year that the President's close circle engaged in multi-million dollar traffic through an off-shore company in the tax haven Isle of Man, later providing receipts of the transfers too.

The latest "insult" case against the CHP leader is the latest in a series of such criminal investigations into Kilicdaroglu, including one launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Dec. 6. (�)

[07] Over 2,000 suspects given jail terms in Turkey coup trials

The trials are taking place throughout Turkey and include people from various professions and backgrounds. (�)

[08] Commentary: "A different concept will be applied in Qandil"

"There have previously been other operations in Iraq's Qandil Mountains, the headquarters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). (�) However, this time, we are talking about a new operation.

Not only is an operation being conducted, but after removing the PKK, there are plans to establish bases in the Qandil Mountains. (�)

The Turkish military has been advancing towards Qandil by establishing bases in strategic locations for the last three months and creating passageways for itself. (�) A big operation is being prepared for Qandil.(�)

The operation will run in coordination with the United States. But, what will the U.S. gain from this? It has been said for some time that the U.S. has been trying to break ties between the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). If you remember, U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis had talked about having the YPG fight against the PKK during his meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli.

In his statement regarding the operation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had said "There will be a four-way cooperation between Turkey, the U.S., Baghdad, and Arbil" against the PKK in northern Iraq.

It is understood that a different dialogue is being maintained with Iran. Because without cooperation with Iran, the Qandil operation will be insufficient, as part of Qandil is on land that belongs to Iran. PKK leaders Cemil Bay?k and Murat Karay?lan are said to be utilizing sheltered areas on the Iranian side.

From its planning to execution, we are facing a different operation this time.

1- Qandil is being targeted as it is the headquarters of the PKK.

2- In the first stage, ties between Qandil and Turkey are being severed. The Turkish military has been establishing bases on passageways the PKK has been using to enter Turkey.

3- The big Qandil operation, as was the case in the Euphrates Shield Operation and "Operation Olive Branch," is being planned in two stages.

4- The PKK's training quarters, communication, headquarters, and ammunition depots, and shelters will be destroyed in air operations, which will last for days. The organization's infrastructure will be destroyed.

5- Following air operations, a ground offensive is expected to take place, with the support of artillery fire. During the period of the operation, war planes and artillery fires are expected to provide continuous support to the ground units as needed.

This time, there is a different Qandil plan on the table. After Qandil is cleared of the PKK, a plan different from what has been applied so far will be executed. Temporary bases will be established in Qandil so the PKK cannot return. This way, Qandil will no longer belong to the PKK but will be a Turkish military base.(�)"

..

TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

(DPs / AM)

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