Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-10-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas says they will explain the Cyprus problem to the Islamic countries.

[02] Denktas criticizes the «economic package».

[03] Denktas meets Eroglu and Cosar; economic matters discussed.

[04] The so-called Assembly Speaker repeats the Turkish side's intransigent views.

[05] Demonstrations in the occupied area.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Turkey's role in the new world order.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas says they will explain the Cyprus problem to the Islamic countries

Talking yesterday after his weekly meeting with the so-called "Prime Minister" Dervish Eroglu and the "Minister" responsible for the Economy, Salih Cosar, Mr Denktas commented on the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides, that Cyprus is preparing a plan aiming at not permitting the recognition of the pseudostate. Addressing, Mr Kasoulides Mr Denktas asked whether he thinks that he would create an army with the support of the whole world to fight Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

Furthermore, Mr Denktas repeated his proposal for discussing the Cyprus problem with the Greek Cypriot side at an international forum and alleged that an agreement in Cyprus passes through the "Greek Cypriots` accepting that they are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots".

Denktas said the following: ".We don`t think that the Islamic countries know the events in Cyprus. There are some Islamic countries, which have been eroded by the Greek Cypriot propaganda. According to this propaganda the Turkish Cypriots are a minority and they are trying to divide the state. Turkey is helping the partionists by occupying Cyprus for its own interests. .We have to warn the Secretariat of the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO). The Greek Cypriots have not been able to obtain Cyprus by the terror, by killing us, by burying us in massive graves, destroying our 107 mosques, by keeping us in enclave for years and rejecting our rights. .If they are clever let them come to solve the problem with us on the basis of two states.".

[02] Denktas criticizes the "economic package"

Talking yesterday after a meeting with a delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Farmers Union (TCFU), Mr Denktas argued that the farmers must have a bank of their own according to their special needs and conditions.

The delegation led by Alican Kabakci, chairman of TCFU, expressed to Mr. Denktas their disagreement on proposals made in the package about some issues, such as the changing definition of the producer and the obligation about the following and uncultivated land.

[03] Denktas meets Eroglu and Cosar; economic matters discussed

After the meeting, Mr Eroglu announced that the agreement for transferring to the pseudostate a new installment of the 350 million US dollars financial aid by Turkey is to be signed within the next few days.

Mr Eroglu said that they also discussed the economic issues after the US-led attacks against Afghanistan and problems that may occur.

"The increase of the foreign exchange rate, especially after this war, unfortunately caused more problems to the economy of the `TRNC/, which had anyway been in a difficult situation", noted Mr Eroglu adding that they have signed agreements with Turkey in order to overcome these problems.

[04] The so-called Assembly Speaker repeats the Turkish side's intransigent views

During the meeting Serter repeated the known allegations of the occupation regime that on the island there are two "states". He also commented on the statements made by President Mr Clerides and President of the House of Representatives Mr Christofias that "we shall definitely reach our goals with the help of Greece and other countries" by saying that they are determined to keep the "TRNC" alive and that the goals of the Greek Cypriot side has not changed. They are still after Enosis, Serter alleged.

Serter claimed that the Cyprus problem did not begin in 1974, but in 1878 when the control of Cyprus was handed over from the Ottoman Empire to the British.

[05] Demonstrations in the occupied area

The Turkish Cypriot Animal Breeders Union made a protest yesterday in front of the buildings of the so-called Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. The chairman of the Union, Ali Osman Can said that they poured the milk in front of the building as a protest against the so-called ministry, who has not replied yet to their demands.

A delegation of the Citrus Producers Association, headed by their chairman Izzet Kombos yesterday visited the so-called state minister and deputy prime minister responsible for economic affairs Salih Cosar. The citrus producers asked from Cosar to seek solutions to their problems.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Turkey's role in the new world order

«The US reprisals to the terror attacks on September 11 brought up the agenda of Turkey's military role and a new scramble for resources in the world. The initial reaction was that Turkey's strategic significance would be highlighted and a wider appreciation of its battle against terrorism would emerge.

The view that Turkey would have a more prominent place in any new world order has waned after the US-led attacks on Afghanistan. According to public surveys in September, 48 percent of the public said that the new period will enhance Turkey's strategic significance, while in October only 26 percent said so. While 77 percent said in September that Turkey's home battle against terrorism would receive wide support, the figure went down to 45 percent this month.

It seems that Turkey's losses from a possible engagement in war are belatedly realized and a more balanced picture is emerging.

We got nothing in return

While the unwarranted optimism about Turkey as a rising star declines, it is also claimed that the deep cause of the war is the conflict over Central Asian energy resources, where Turkey is set out to lose. It is maintained that the viability of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, a cherished Turkish project, may decline in the light of the last development.

Prof. Izzettin Onder recalls that Turkey sided with the US during the Gulf war in 1999, acted loyally and voluntarily cut the flow of oil from the Yumurtalik pipeline between Turkey and Iraq - without prompting from the UN - but that its losses of $30 billion was not compensated, Onder points out that the US has a strong hand this time, and one of its cards is the economic crisis in Turkey.

Alternative to Baku-Ceyhan

Onder says that Turkey will not benefit from sending soldiers to Afghanistan, and the situation will not change even if it sends an entire army. He argues that in its war against the periphery, central capital wants to control energy resources in the region and use them against its foes. This is why the EU and Russia are siding with the US. With Turkey's contribution, the US could have controlled the energy that will flow to Europe through Baku-Ceyhan, which would have been an important advantage.

Turkey was significant in this context, but if the US establishes itself in Afghanistan or Pakistan after this war, Central Asian crude oil can go to Europe through Afghanistan-Pakistan-India rather than Baku-Ceyhan. Turkey will then be totally eclipsed.

Onder recalls why Turkey had had significance for the western bloc during the cold war. He said during the cold war period, which left its mark on the history of real socialism, Turkey was significant as part of the green belt of Islamic countries conceived to counter threats from the former USSR.

Onder does not agree with the view that the US will seek a more prominent role for Turkey in the new period and develop closer ties with this country, while at the same time moving away from Israel. Onder says if this had been the case, the US would have sought to keep Turkey out of the war, but the reverse seemed to be happening.

Turkey's role

Onder says the following about the role that may be carved for Turkey in the new world order. He points out that Turkey has not been on good terms with the Arab world since Ottoman times and the war of independence early in the last century. If Turkey enters the war on the side of the US at a time when relations with the Arab world ameliorated to some extent, it will lose the little leverage it has, suggests Onder.

Onder argues that if the US had wanted to see a stronger Turkey in the region, it would not have wanted Turkey to enter the war: «The US would not have used the military base in Incirlik or asked for military or logistic support. Turkey would have indicated its support for the US by denouncing terror, but it would not have joined the war. It would have said the Arab world that it sided with the US, which had been the subject of a terrorist attack. The Arab world would have understood this».

Onder says as Turkey loses its strategic significance and becomes a periphery country, it is harder than ever for it to go to the negotiating table with the US. He points out that the US may do as much as pardoning Turkey's military equipment debt and provide financial support but argues that even this will not be enough for turkey to emerge from the economic crisis: «Turkey can overcome the crisis temporarily with fiscal support, but it would still be in the same morass in structural terms. Mid and Long-term measures are called to solve the crisis permanently», he added.

Onder speculates that the US will not put Iraq on its hit-list after Afghanistan, as this may turn out to be an embarrassment. He says this would mean the US overextending itself and possibly antagonizing China and Russia.»

KV/SK

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