Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-08-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish military is preparing a new National Security Policy document.

[02] NPM is preparing an action plan to liberate Tekogul.

[03] CLP accuses Rauf Denktas for the bankrupted banks.

[04] Pseudogovernment/s debt to the Providence Fund reaches the 100 trillion liras.

[05] Suspect for murder in Turkey arrested in occupied Cyprus.

[06] Bearded men are no allowed to swim.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Columnist in HURRIYET calls on the Turkish Armed Forces to reduce expenditures.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish military is preparing a new National Security Policy document Lale Sariibrahimoglu, writing in Turkish Daily News (8.8.01) reports the following:

The new document has come at a time when Mesut Yilmaz, the chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and deputy prime minister, made a controversial statement during the party convention held in Ankara last weekend. Yilmaz opened a debate over the national security syndrome of Turkey, entering yet another dispute with the Turkish military. Yilmaz has argued that democratization and human rights were being held up by the national security syndrome which has been busying itself with internal threats rather than the preservation of the nation against outside threats. Observers believe that Yilmaz, who has been participating in the military dominated NSC meetings, has been aware of the new security policy document of the military which has once again also concentrated on internal threat perceptions.

The fact that Yilmaz and his party have been surrounded by graft charges as part of the White Energy operation conducted by paramilitary forces and which has forced his Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer to resign a few months ago, shadows Yilmaz's rhetoric for democratization. His latest controversial statement over the national security syndrome has been seen by many as an attempt by Yilmaz once again to cover up the graft allegations surrounding his party.

The new document is said to have also retained once again its adherence to the nationalism of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (Turkey's founder) rather than the nationalistic movements that might imply pan-Turkic movements. This has been described as the military's opposition to the nationalism pursued by the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), one of the tri-party coalition government and which has recruited several retired generals to the party ranks.

On foreign policy issues, the new policy document is said to be favouring developing ties with the south and southeastern neighbours of Syria, Iran and Iraq provided that Turkey's national security interests have been safeguarded. However, the new document clarifies that Turkey's policies on the Middle East should not be under an Arab mortgage.

The National Security Policy document, meanwhile, is reported to be favouring the continuation of close military ties with Israel.

Turkey is trying to resolve issues with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. Despite improved ties with Damascus after Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan's 1999 departure from Syria and subsequent capture, the unresolved dispute over the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, of which Turkey controls the taps, is a source of friction with Syria and Iraq.

Turkey is still cautious about Iran, its southeastern neighbour, because of its perceived support for the PKK and the radical Islamist Turkish Hizbullah. On the issue of Kurdish language the document reiterates once again its opposition to allowing the Kurdish language to be spoken while favouring the use of local languages related to the areas.

The document stresses lesser threat perceptions from conventional weapons, thus, necessitating the army to also concentrate on inner threats.

The military's April 1997 National Security Policy document came on the eve of the overthrow of the Islamist-led coalition government through what has been described by its architects as a post-modern coup.

The fact that there has not been much change in the contents of the 1997 document compared with the 2001, has surprised some observers, who have also drawn attention to the fact that the economic crisis has not been elaborated in the new document despite the military's recent statements raising concerns over the issue.

In fact the military's continued concerns over extreme fundamentalism and separatism have been reflected recently by top generals on many occasions despite a growing uneasiness even among the business sector of the military's reluctance to move towards democratization.

For example, Turkey's once state oriented Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) urged in its latest report for the adaptation of the military dominated NSC to EU standards while calling also for Kurdish education.

At a presidential reception on Jan. 16, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu said the armed forces would "if necessary, fight Islamic fundamentalism for another 1,000 years." On PKK terrorism, similarly, Kivrikoglu said, "The fight against terror will continue even if one terrorist is left."

[02] NPM is preparing an action plan to liberate Tekogul

According to other confidential sources, reports "Avrupa", NPM is preparing to call for a National Congress in the coming days. It is planned that 5000 persons will participate in the National Congress and that 50 persons will be invited from every district. Immediately after the National Congress, a Constituent Assembly consisting of 250 persons will be established.According to this plan, this Assembly will scrutinize the current "government" and the following "assembly".

Meanwhile, it was learned that in order to "enlighten" the members of NPM they organize for some time now seminars at the headquarters of NPM. During the meeting of NPM, which was held on 3 August, the order was given to "prepare to oppose the agreement". At the headquarters of NPM they have already stored information regarding "traitors" of the community and they have also prepared files on the same issue. It was also learned that only Taner Etkin, Aydin Akkurt and Ismail Sabahattin, the leaders of NPM, have access to these "top secret" files.

In this way the possibility of a "mole" acting within NPM was ruled out. Also during the latest meeting of NPM a specimen of the handwriting of the participants was taken, because there was a suspicion that information was leaked outside.

[03] CLP accuses Rauf Denktas for the bankrupted banks

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Ziya notes that when his party participated in the pseudogovernment they undertook initiatives for the solution of the depositors` problems and had in this direction some contacts with officials from Turkey. However, added Mr Ziya, these efforts produced no result, because of the negative attitude of Mr Denktas.

«Under the circumstances which existed then Mr Denktas saw the depositors` problem and our 60 thousand citizens who suffered, as a potential power which could overthrow the NUP - CLP government», underlines the CLP official, adding that the Turkish Cypriot leader «used all means in order to prevent the solution of the depositors` problem and tried to influence the officials from Turkey» to reject the CLP`s proposals.

[04] Pseudogovernment`s debt to the Providence Fund reaches the 100 trillion liras

The paper writes that every day the money in the Fund is getting less because the current pseudogovernment continues the «unfair and unjust policy» applied during the period of National Unity Party (NUP) - Communal Liberation Party (CLP) pseudogovernment.

Halkin Sesi notes that «the justified reactions of the workers have gradually started to increase».

[05] Suspect for murder in Turkey arrested in occupied Cyprus

According to the paper, Dikyar has been handed over to the Turkish police. The victim was Dikyar`s brother-in-law and vice president of the True Path Party (TPP) in Antalia.

[06] Bearded men are not allowed to swim

«As it is known, the Turkish army, which settled in our country since 1974, got possession of the houses and properties abandoned by the Greek Cypriots as well as of some houses and land belonging to Turkish Cypriots.

The beaches used by people have since some years passed into the hands of those making money from them or to the army.

One place people living in the east of TRNC have shown great interest in was «Cukur Galif». This year, the army sit various rules for those locals or foreigners who come to the beach to swim or relax.

One compatriot named Metin Inanci called our paper and explained what he went through:

`For years I go to this beach. Yesterday my brother-in-law came to us as our guest. All together we went to Cukur Galif. We went into the sea. We just started to swim when a sergeant major came to the shore and took us out of the water. We came all out of the water. He told us that we are not allowed to swim. We were curious and asked for the reason. Because my brother-in-law had a beard like an islamist fundamentalist and this being contrary to the rules by order of the Command of the Security Forces we were forbidden from swimming.

Many compatriots reacted to the fact that the army forced us out of the water and prevent us from swimming.

I call on the Commanders of the Security Forces, General Mendi, who applied such rules here. Are all the things you have done not enough? If the order (Ferman) (Tr. Note: Ottoman Sultan/s decree) is from the general do not forget that this country/s beaches, mountains and plains are ours/».

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Columnist in HURRIYET calls on the Turkish Armed Forces to reduce expenditures

The commentary, under the title «Tough Days in Store for TAF» is as follows: «Just as the economic crisis has hit everywhere in Turkey, so the Turkish Armed Forces [TAF] is going to be equally affected. From now on, everybody is going to be watching the TAF's expenditures. There need to be significant changes in attitude in order to comply with conditions.

Turkey has become poor and will get poorer still. The economic crisis brought upon us by the errors of those governing us requires all of us to tighten our belts.

All the important people and institutions in this country like teachers, scientists, universities and hospitals have all fallen on hard times. Their budgets are being slashed and their expenditures pruned. Wages are not being increased as desired.

National Security takes the biggest slice of the budget.

As they had their fingers well and truly on the pulse of the public during the first months of the crisis, the TAF immediately cancelled certain projects planned for the future. It led the way in belt tightening.

However, ensuing developments, not least the Turkish Telecommunications business, increased the scale and depth of the crisis.

The crisis is going to affect us all for the next two or three -- at least -- years to come.

Whether it likes it or not, the TAF is going to be affected.

What makes things tough is that conditions have changed.

The public no longer sees the East-West conflict of old. There is no communist threat.

Workers Party of Kurdistan terrorism has all but dropped out of our daily lives.

The tension caused by religious fundamentalism is over.

External threats are significantly reduced.

It is now extremely difficult to talk of war in the Aegean. The Turkish-Greek rapprochement has started a process that means no return to the former years.

Cyprus no longer poses a threat of war.

The Iraq-Syria-Iran trio have had their wings broken and now represent only a "low level" threat to Turkey.

Under such circumstances, the public are going to be examining TAF expenditures far more carefully.

The TAF is going to have its expenditures compared to those of the ministries of Education, Health and the Interior. Those personnel serving in these areas are going to want their own situations to be on a par with the security services.

The TAF is going to come under pressure to tighten its belt while not losing any of its strength. It is going to become necessary to bring down its share of the ever-shrinking 2002 budget. This in turn will require vision, military acumen, and pragmatic spending.

The General Staff is an institution that pays close attention to these public sensitivities. Its approach from now on will carry great importance. They are going to set an example to the other state institutions.

We are certain the TAF is going to pull through with flying colours».

KV/SK

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