Turkish Press Review

ISTANBUL

Monday's papers cover Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s remarks on Russia and the main Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s move to refer a member of parliament to a higher disciplinary body for expulsion.

“Russia commits ethnic cleansing [in Syria],” was YENI SAFAK’s front-page headline, citing Davutoglu as saying that Moscow was violating the rights of Turkmens, Arabs, Kurds and Sunnis.

“Russia has been trying to leave two options: The [Assad] regime or Daesh. [Russia] supposes that [Turkey] will submit to the regime,” Davutoglu told reporters during a return trip from Kazakhstan, according to YENI SAFAK.

HABERTURK reported that Davutoglu likened resistance in Aleppo to that of the Red Army against Nazi Germany during Siege of Stalingrad.

Backed by allied militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and supported by Russian airstrikes, Syrian government forces have made a number of advances on rebel-held towns near Aleppo, most recently taking cities to the north -- cutting rebel supply lines to Turkey.

Due to the military offensive, tens of thousands of Syrians are on their way towards Turkey from camps to the north of Aleppo.

German leader Angela Merkel will visit Ankara on Monday for talks with the Turkish government on Syria and the refugee crisis triggered by the conflict.

“[Europe] cannot stay out of immigration,” was HURRIYET’s headline.

The daily reported that Merkel said in her weekly address that Europe should be ready to accept asylum seekers from Turkish territory, adding that the continent cannot stay out of this.

Papers also covered an internal controversy at the main opposition CHP party.

“Nazliaka faces expulsion,” was MILLIYET’s headline on a report that the party’s management decided to refer a member of parliament for Ankara, Aylin Nazliaka, to a higher disciplinary body for possible expulsion.

The daily reported that 54 deputies out of 60 ruled in favor of the move.

The vote was held after Nazliaka claimed a CHP deputy had removed a poster of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s founding father, from his wall.

The party launched an internal investigation into Nazliaka’s claim.

HURRIYET reported that Necati Yilmaz, another Ankara deputy, said he was the person accused by Nazliaka. Yilmaz denied his colleague’s allegation during a Sunday meeting of the party.

“In tears,” was HABERTURK’s headline, reporting that Nazliaka defended herself after the vote.

“This incident is as true as my name,” she told a news conference.

In economic news, financial paper DUNYA claimed that Turkish banks have suffered a $56 billion loss during the last three years.

DUNYA wrote: “In 2012, the value of financial sectors was around $107 billion on Borsa Istanbul. In 2015, this value decreased to $51 billion.”