Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-10-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Experts say Ecevit government is Achilles heel of Turkey.

[02] The Turkish public against sending troops abroad.

[03] Denktas reiterates that Morphou will not be returned to its legal owners.

[04] Another company has gone bankrupt in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[05] Credit Bank to be liquidated.

[06] Tansu Ciller in the occupied areas for eight hours.

[07] A cooperation protocol was signed between the so-called «TRNC» and Kazakhstan.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] The Cyprus problem among the reasons why Turkey co-operates with the US.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Experts say Deceit government is Achilles heel of Turkey

Experts polled by the Turkish Daily News said that the three-way coalition government of the Democratic Left Party (DLP), the Nationalist Action Party (NAP) and the Motherland Party (MP) have left Turkey facing the biggest economic crisis of its history and its foreign policy is ill designed.

Former Ambassador Inal Batu said some see the new situation as a third world war and others perceive it as a war against terrorism, and added that Turkey was caught in the whirlwind with a very bad government. Batu recalled that Turkey had suffered a major economic and social crisis because of the government's errors. "The crisis in which we find ourselves leaves Turkey vulnerable to all kinds of pressure. The government did poorly in economics and committed major errors in foreign policy. Just as in the letter to Bush, we see a government that is always faltering and indecisive."

Weak government Batu said that in a world where political leaders are engaged in an ongoing dialogue, the Turkish government watched from the sidelines instead of playing an active role. Batu pointed out that there are not any leaders in the government that have the power and energy to carry out the requisites of modern diplomacy.

Batu, a long time ambassador to Pakistan, said the people of that country feel admiration and friendship for Turkey, and argued that even Pakistan is cross with the government for its erroneous policies. He said it took a fortnight for Pakistan's President Gen. Parvaz Musharraf to make an appointment with Turkish minister Sukru Sina Gurel, and the whole meeting lasted a quarter of an hour. Batu argued that this was caused by the glaring errors in the government's foreign policy.

Reflecting on whether "Turkey would have come to this point if this government had been successful," Batu said he had huge concerns about Turkey's future. He added that he has no more hope and no group has confidence in the government anymore.

'We alienated Pakistan' Batu said the following about the capacity of the Turkish government to cope with the current situation.

"My first reaction to the attack on Sept. 11 was that we were caught with an inept government. All the worries I have had since Sept. 11 are being realized. This is not only my worry, it is shared by everyone. The lack of confidence in the government is clear, the situation of the people is clear.

"It is as if Turkey was ravaged by a fire. We alienated Pakistan and our relations with Uzbekistan are very cold. Everyone is worried about what may happen if the war spreads to Iraq, the business community is in a panic. It is said that Turkey will sink if Iraq is bombed. If we had a strong economy, would we have been so worried?"

Turkey's misfortune

Former Foreign Minister Ilter Turkmen said the foreign policies pursued by Turkey after the attacks on Sept. 11 are erroneous. Explaining that Turkey turned a cold shoulder to Pakistan's president Musharraf from the beginning, Turkmen said: "Turkey was allergic to Musharraf and turned a cold shoulder on Pakistan. Was it that Saddam Husein, the president of Iraq, was good, while Musharraf was bad? Turkey committed major mistakes in its Pakistan policy.

"I don't see anyone in this government who can follow the active policies called by these events. All of the coalition leaders have weak spots. It is highly unfortunate that Turkey was caught in this period with the current government."

Advantages of silence

Economics professor Osman Altug said the government, which was not successful in economics, also committed major mistakes in foreign policy. Altug pointed out that the balance of power in the world would be predetermined, but the Turkish government does not inform the public about the new conjecture. He commented that the government's attitude was mistaken but was useful to Turkey.

Altug said that if the government had been more vocal, its statements could have been misunderstood, creating general unease. "All of the economic indicators give alarm. The budget deficit widens, the foreign trade balance deteriorates, the banking system is still weak, the economy shrinks, employment falls, and interest increases simultaneously with foreign currency prices. The economy gives alarm signals. We often saw in the recent past that when the prime ministers or one of the ministers talk, the [economic] balances are disrupted in Turkey. This is why it is to Turkey's advantage that the government should remain silent."

[02] The Turkish public against sending troops abroad

«The public opinion poll realized jointly by the Strategic Mori Political and Social Research Group and CNN Turk TV, set forth that 75 percent of the Turkish people oppose sending soldiers abroad. According to the research, 52.1 percent of the people do not support the operation in Afghanistan and 63.1 percent do not want Turkey to be the command centre in this operation.

The poll conducted by the CNN Turk TV and the Strategic Mori Political and Social Research Group was conducted among 310 persons over 18 years of age. The polling was realized on 9 October in a total of 12 provinces including Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Istanbul, Izmir, Konya, Samsun and Trabzon. The questions asked in the polling to the citizens and their answers are as follows:

To what extent do you support the military operation started by the United States in Afghanistan?

- I do not support it at all: 52.1 percent

- I do not support it very much: 8.7 percent

- I support it somewhat: 17.1 percent

- I support it completely: 17.8 percent

To what degree do you support Turkey's being a command centre for this operation?

- I do not support it at all: 63.1 percent

- I do not support it very much: 7.8 percent

- I support it somewhat: 12.0 percent

- I support it completely: 9.7 percent

Do you support Turkey's sending soldiers [abroad]?

- I do not support it at all: 75.1 percent

- I do not support it very much: 4.9 percent

- I support it somewhat: 7.4 percent

- I support it completely: 8.1 percent

According to you how will the developments related to this incident affect Turkey?

- It will increase Turkey's importance politically: 25.9 percent

- It will decrease Turkey's importance politically: 24.9 percent

- There will be no change: 31.7 percent

Is the operation of the United States an operation against the Islamic countries or is it a fight against terrorism?

- It is an operation against the Islamic countries: 29.8 percent

- It is a fight against terrorism: 58.3 percent

To what extent do you approve of the attitude of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in these developments?

- I approve a lot: 23.0 percent

- I approve somewhat: 25.6 percent

- I do not approve much: 11.6 percent

- I do not approve at all: 16.8 percent

Do you think that the general economic conditions in Turkey will remain as before, or will they become better or worse?

- They will be worse: 68.3 percent

- They will remain the same: 9.4 percent

- They will be better: 12.6 percent.»

[03] Denktas reiterates that Morphou will not be returned to its legal owners

Speaking at the unveiling of the bust of the late Turkish Cypriot leader and first Vice-President of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Fazil Kucuk in Morphou's "Liberation" High School, Mr Denktas said that they make busts of Dr Kucuk and Kemal Ataturk in Morphou, because they do not intend to give the area back to the Greek Cypriots.

"So when today we unveil the bust of our leader Dr. Kucuk, you, the citizens of Morphou, must be relieved", continued Mr. Denktas claiming that making busts, universities and other "state" buildings in Morphou means that the area is Turkish.

[04] Another company has gone bankrupt in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The paper writes that Bixi Cola was established 43 years ago and produced beverages.

[05] Credit Bank to be liquidated

The paper writes that the liquidation of the bank and the "legal" measures against those responsible for its bankruptcy have been postponed for 18 months. As it is known the bigger shareholder of Kredi Bankasi is Salih Boyaci, Serdar Denktas' father-in-law.

"Avrupa" writes, among other things, the following: "It has been known that yesterday Ankara, which insisted on not liquidating Kredi Bankasi, finally pressed the button. Ankara gave ultimatum to those concerned here saying 'Proceed with liquidation or else from now on there will be no money for the depositors and the employees'. After this initiative of Ankara those who insisted on protecting Boyaci were forced to retread. Yesterday's developments paved the way for new changes in the plan for paying the depositors. As it is known, in statements he made two days ago, Salih Cosar had said that the depositors would take the last four installments for this year within the first week of November. After yesterday's developments it was announced that the depositors would be paid today.".

[06] Tansu Ciller in the occupied areas for eight hours

Ciller will also deliver a speech at the inaugural ceremony on "The Latest Developments in the world and Turkey". She is accompanied by deputies of TPP and by a group of Turkish journalists among whom are Yavuz Donat and Metin Munir from Sabah, Derya Sazak from Milliyet and others.

Ciller will return to Turkey at 7.00 p.m. tonight.

[07] A cooperation protocol was signed between the so-called "TRNC" and Kazakhstan

The issues covered by the cooperation protocol are: exchange of academic staff and students as well as exchange of academic information and publications; the organization of joint academic programmes and mutual activities of amateur artists and folklore groups.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] The Cyprus problem among the reasons why Turkey co-operates with the US

«If you are not living in America these days you cannot even imagine how sensitised the public has become. The U.S. public and the Bush administration's reaction to any kind of criticism or "neutral approach" is exactly the same way the Turkish public had rejected such things during the time of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terror.

For America there is only one factor that matters: "Are you with us? If you are not with us that means you are against us."

There is an old Turkish saying: "The fire burns the place where it falls," meaning that a calamity only really affects its immediate victim.

What we had said when the PKK terror hit us, the Americans are now saying: Be on our side if you are a "friend indeed" at a time we are a "friend in need."

Besides, Turkey does boast here of being a "friend indeed."

It is out of the question for Turkey to give a negative reply when Washington asks Turkey what kind of military support it would be capable of providing "should that be necessary." This is because Turkey has no choice other than to do it.

What would you expect Turkey to do if:

1) Turkey is seeking $9 billion to keep afloat with a bankrupt economy,

2) If you are forcing the doors of the White House in an effort to have the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline built,

3) If you have to get America's backing on the Cyprus issue,

4) If your only way out on the European army issue is to secure Washington's support,

5) If you are using the United States to gain admission into the European Union,

6) And if the United States is the only card you hold in your hands to prevent Northern Iraq from becoming an independent Kurdish state?

I want to ask you all what would you do.

What about the old bills?

Furthermore, there are some old bills... * Who stood by Turkey during the fight involving the Kurdish problem? * Who found the PKK's Abdullah Ocalan and returned him to Turkey? * Who chose to turn a blind eye when we crossed into Iraq? * Who played a significant role in the European Union acknowledging Turkey as a "candidate"?

Now let us take a look at today's facts

* All these years Turkey has opposed terrorism. It launched the biggest campaign on this issue. How can it view it differently now? * Can the Sept. 11 incident have a different rationale? Can terrorism be considered to have any justifiable aspect? * Those who do not want to sacrifice Turkish troops for the sake of America should not forget that we sent Turkish troops to die in Korea in 1952 merely in the name of national interests.

What should we do?

At this stage Turkey must well take into consideration its "national interests" and take its place at the side of America in the framework of its "national interests."

Besides, we should not forget that the United States is not demanding from us anything we cannot do. It is not asking for our people to go to death blindly as in Korea or to fight its own war for it. It merely wants to benefit from our experience. No one should let himself to be taken advantage of. On the other hand, one has to be realistic.»

KV/SK

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