Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-10-08

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas/ health good after heart operation. His adviser denies committees will start work this week.

[02] Ankara Anatolia gives details of the expected EU Commission Report on Turkey.

[03] The pseudostate/s cabinet endorsed the Partnership Council decisions. Wage and social benefits increases as of 1st November.

[04] RTUK temporarily bans broadcasts of Uzan/s two radio stations.

[05] Hatemi: Universal rules of law should be applied.

[06] Eroglu says the Turkish Cypriot side wishes for the creation of a "new partnership" in Cyprus.

[07] Patriotic Unity Movement and United Cyprus Party on Cyprus problem.

[08] Commander of the Occupation Forces toured around Karpass.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that the Turkish Cypriots abandoned their villages in 1963 after receiving "a command from above"

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas/ health good after heart operation. His adviser denies committees will start work this week

The surgery lasted shorter than expected. It was very successful. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oz, who performed the surgery, came to where we were waiting soon after the operation and congratulated us. We also extended our congratulations to him. He showed us the three aorta valves that were removed from Denktas' heart. Naturally, they were replaced by new artificial ones. There was serious calcification in the valves, especially in two of them. Prof. Oz told us that the operation was very successful. He also told us that there were no other problems with Denktas' heart. He reiterated his diagnosis that Mr Denktas will not have any heart difficulties in the period ahead of us. The head of the hospital and Prof. Oz will hold a joint news conference later. They will brief the reporters here. This is the situation.

I would like to add something else. In the news headlines it was mentioned that two committees were set up in the talks held in New York. At the moment, actually what is important for me is Denktas/ health. However, I would like to add the following in order to prevent any misunderstandings. It is about the news that the two committees might begin work within this week. This is not the case. Prof. Soysal is currently in New York. So am I. I will probably return to Cyprus this weekend. Work on the establishment of these committees and on the files will begin after I return. Therefore, it is out of the question for these committees to meet within this week. I would like to point this out in order to prevent a misunderstanding.

[02] Ankara Anatolia gives details of the expected EU Commission Report on Turkey

Evaluations of the EU Commission, regarding Turkey, did not mention setting a date for Turkey to start full membership negotiations, yet appreciated the reforms fulfilled in Turkey. However, the EU Commission defended that Turkey has not fully met the Copenhagen criteria.

Among the examples that were given, it was claimed that the Turkish Armed Forces intervened in civilian administration.

The Commission sources, while evaluating the contents of the draft report, pointed out that only technical analysis was made about Turkey, and reiterated that setting a date for Turkey to start full membership negotiations was a ``political decision`` that will be taken by the heads of government and state at the Copenhagen Summit.

It was stated that the EU Commission did not adopt an attitude in this respect, and that they pushed the ball to the EU governments.

Some diplomats and journalists in Brussels criticized the Commission`s attitude in not giving clear messages to Turkey, and expressed concerns that the Copenhagen summit could turn into a Turkey summit and may result in failure.

The EU Commission officials said any decision about Turkey was ``political``, and insist on seeing the results of November 3 elections.

It was reported that the paragraph, referring to Turkey`s negotiation membership date, is not expected to be mentioned in the European Union (EU) Commission Progress Report that will be announced on October 9.

The paragraph in the Progress Report, regardeing the initiation of the negotiation process with Turkey, is expected to be left empty not to cause reactions both in the EU and in Turkey.

The EU preferred to wait for the elections on November 3 and the approach of the new government to reach a clear decision to initiate full membership negotiations.

According to this, the Commission will cover the approach of the new government about the EU, and leave the final decision in this respect to Copenhagen summit.

The Progress Report broadly mentions violations in Turkey and the deficiencies in implementation. On the Cyprus problem, it says Cyprus was among the candidates which will be an EU member a the first stage. However, it added that the direct talks process on the island should continue, and that the good offices mission of the U.N. Secretary-General should be supported.

The report also said Turkey took a very important step in the harmonization with the EU, however that torture still remained a serious problem in the country. The case of young people from Manisa was shown as example to this.

Ankara Anatolia also reported that Michael Leigh, the European Union (EU) Commission`s General Director for enlargement, held contacts in Ankara about the progress report on Monday.

Leigh met with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary for EU affairs Akin Alptuna and later held a meeting with Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

Sources said that Leigh informed Ziyal about the Progress Report to be announced on Wednesday and noted that they did not give any political decision in the report and they were unbiased.

Asking Turkey to see the positive parts of the report, Leigh said that the view that the EU wanted a solution to the Cyprus question was also expressed in the report.

Sources noted that Ziyal said that Turkey wanted a solution to be found in Cyprus and hoped that the report was prepared in a neutral way.

Ziyal also stated that Turkey`s conjuncture and developments recorded in Turkey should not be ignored.

Leigh was accompanied by European Commission`s Representative to Turkey Hansjorg Kretschmer during his contacts.

[03] The pseudostate/s cabinet endorsed the Partnership Council decisions. Wage and social benefits increases as of 1st November

The pseudo-cabinet also decided to bring about increases to the social security pensions and benefits and to the wages of the so-called public sector employees, as follows:

Social Security Pensions 30% Social Security Benefits 50%

The wage increases will range from 4.6% to 25% according to the salary scale.

In addition to the increases every two months the cost of living allowance will be added to the wages.

The increases will take effect as of 1st November and they will be extended to the 13th salary as well.

In statements after the pseudo-cabinet/s meeting, its spokesman and so-called Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Salih Miroglu, said that funds totaling 3 billion TL will be made available to the real sector of the economy through the so-called Development Bank, with the aim of reviving the economy.

[04] RTUK temporarily bans broadcasts of Uzan's two radio stations

The broadcasts of Kral FM and Metro FM were to be temporarily banned as of Monday midnight.

RTUK ruled that these two radio stations breached a law barring broadcasts that are "biased" and that "infringe equal opportunity rights." The board added that these stations were not showing a wide range of political views.

The broadcasting watchdog recently blacked out three TV stations belonging to the Uzan family, Star, Star Max and Kanal 6 on the same grounds.

Political advertisements on radio and television were banned ahead of November 3 polls, but stations belonging to the Uzan family have been dedicating long broadcast spots to Uzan's speeches at Youth Party (YP) rallies.

Although Uzan's Youth Party was only launched over the summer, a recent opinion poll suggested it could become one of only three parties to pass the 10 percent election threshold required to have a seat in Parliament. Uzan's family owns Turkey's second-largest mobile telephone network, Telsim.

[05] Hatemi: Universal rules of law should be applied

"Two supplementary paragraphs were added to the first article of the law on foundations with law No. 4771 as of August 3, 2002. Besides, a third supplementary article was added to the decree in the power of law on the General Directorate for Foundations' duties.

The first supplementary article stated that all minority foundations, irrespective of whether they have a charter, are entitled to own real estate property with permission from the Cabinet. In fact, this article, indicated as a reform and met with minority foundations' pleasure, has worsened the legal situation more than that of the past because a provisional law enforced on the eve of World War I clearly announced minority foundations' right to own real estate property. The Lusanne Treaty also confirmed this. The 1935 Law for foundations enacted before did not abolish this right, admitted with the provisional law, and approved the confirmation of estate property without discussion on behalf of minority foundations. Even, it did not mention the six-month process on the provisional law. Minority foundations did not face an evident obstacle regarding the estate property right, claimed to be won through ownership in accordance with the Provisional Law No. 639 until Law No. 903 was enacted in 1967. However, Law No. 903 revived the institution under the name of foundation via changing the Civil Law's articles which do not have an immediate application. A principle, inspired from the private associations' law saying that a foundation based on the name of domestic, religion and race cannot be established, was enacted in order to prevent foundations' use of racial and religious names instead of the one in Civil Law and saying that "a foundation against law and moral cannot be established." But, the foundations established on behalf of Islamic minority communities were granted permission for a short period of time. Provisional Law No. 74/2 was just applied to the nation and religious names excluding Turkish or Islamic ones. Afterwards, especially after February 28, 1997, closure and dismissal cases, have continued up to date, were filed against new foundations belonging to Sunni foundations with headlines such as "religious foundations taken into custody" were reflected in the papers. Alewite foundations, which have been willfully blind to impropriety since 1997, have faced the same intolerance in the last year.

As for Christian and Jewish minority foundations, there were no legal obstacles in the previous law. The new paragraph, despite looking like an expansion, went back from the previous law because a Non-muslim minority foundations' right to own estate or property depended on the Cabinet's permission. However, it did not stop inequality as Turkish and Muslim foundations did not need to obtain permission from the Cabinet, but brought legal support.

With the second supplementary paragraph, a registration rule was enacted on the condition of application in six months regarding owning a real estate right, but the law for foundations did not take this period to register real estate property into account, either. Obstacles faced by minority foundations were due to administration applications and doctrines against the Constitution and law and which were adopted by suggestions of some separatist bureaucratic circles, so this means a legal support, not an improvement.

In other words, these supplementary articles were not advantageous at all for minority foundations. The legal situation is worse than that of the past. But, one could have guessed the results of such regulations. Now, when looked through the regulations' text which is not officially published yet, one can see a goal making impossible using the opportunities provided by law as they are against the Lausanne Treaty, especially universal laws' principles, European Human Rights' (EHR) laws and the equality principle in the Constitution.

First of all, regulations using the term "foundations given a minority status" created an inequality among foundations and violated the equality principle for the second time. For instance, Assyrian citizens, no matter to which sect they belong, face a reply saying: "You are not a minority. You are not under the protection of Lausanne.

You will not benefit from law amendments even if you are attached to the Directorate General for Foundations. You also cannot benefit from the position of foundations established by other Muslims following the Civil Law." However, the Lausanne Treaty mentions Non-muslim foundations. Jewish citizens said that they were not related to Lausanne and added that their foundations should be like those founded by the Muslim Turkish, but then, they saw that the application was not proper, so they gave up.

Actually, it is not important to wrongly interpret rules of the Lausanne Treaty, doing nothing more than reflecting the universal principles of law which are in force now. The important ones are the basic rules reflected in the Lausanne Treaty as well as in some texts of the Constitution. These regulations comprised of the rules which might bring about an application against the universal law.

The fifth article demands an application to the Regional Directorate for Foundations and several bureaucratic documents. Among these documents, there is an agreeable one obtained from related public institutions or foundations. It is clearly seen that they will lose the things they possess let alone dream of having a right to own real estate property.

As for Article 8, it is not difficult to guess that the permission by the Cabinet will be granted for a couple of foundations which are supported by international power circles and other applications will be refused.

Until adaptation amendments on track to the EU become legal, there is no hope to get back real estate properties which were confiscated. However, when this law was enacted, minority foundations were hopeful enough.

To sum up, justice is based on property. The equality principle cannot be violated. Rights demanded by minority foundations are individuals' basic rights. It should not be a matter of debate to restrict or abolish them as our welfare in the long-term hinges on adherence to rules. Lawyers and intellectuals who are conscious do not request these regulations and applications for accession to the EU because they are statements of the Constitution, signed international documents and the European Human Rights Declaration. From the philosophical point, these are the rules based on universal moral, that is why, they should not be ignored or suspended.

[06] Eroglu says the Turkish Cypriot side wishes for the creation of a "new partnership" in Cyprus

Speaking yesterday during a meeting with Ali Erel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, expressed the opinion that in order to achieve the creation of a new partnership the views of the sides must come together at one point. "We still are far away from this point", he added noting that the UN Secretary - General's using the above-mentioned expression was very important for the Turkish Cypriots.

[07] Patriotic Unity Movement and United Cyprus Party on Cyprus problem

Mr Keskiner said that in every meeting that took place regarding the Cyprus problem in the past, until nowadays, Mr Denktas and ruling circles in Turkey made uncompromising statements and exhibited a negative attitude. He also accused them of showing the same attitude towards the present effort made for a solution in the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile AFRIKA (08.10.02) reports that Izzet Izcan, the General Secretary of the newly founded "United Cyprus Party" (UCP), said that Denktas must resign from being a negotiator in the Cyprus talks. Mr Izcan said that the powers that are against the status quo in Cyprus, must force Rauf Denktas to resign from his duties as the negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Mr Izcan wished Mr Denktas good health regarding the heart operation he underwent on Monday.

[08] The Commander of the Occupation Forces toured around Karpass

According to the paper the Commander of the Occupation Forces visited nine villages in Karpass Peninsula where he talked to the villagers and listened to their problems. He has offered to help some poor people and also offered to help other people to solve various problems they face in the peninsula.

The occupation commander visited the following villages: Patriki, Leonarisso, Vasili, Lythrangomi, Vathylakas, Kilanemos, Melanagra and Ayia Trias.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that the Turkish Cypriots abandoned their villages in 1963 after receiving "a command from above"

".Our family is displaced. I remember the 1963 events very well. While the Ayios Sozomenos village was on fire, the people of our village were migrating to Louroudjina village, which is very near to ours. It was not really very necessary for our villagers to migrate, but because the command came from a high place it was applied immediately.

Nearly forty years passed since 1963. As all Cypriots, the people of our village were spread all over the world and all over Cyprus. Those who are in Northern Cyprus now live in Argaki village. Some of our people returned to Potamia. We have not heard any complaint form those who went there. They continue living together with the Greek Cypriots the way they used to live before 1974. They have no economic problems. All of them work. They have no complaints either with the order of things or with the administration. They have no problems such as the cost of living and the unemployment.

On the other hand take a look at the situation of those who settled in Argaki after 1974. I see them every time I go to the village. The youth are unemployed and have no hope for the future. Those who can emigrate they do it. Those who cannot do it spend their day at the coffee shops of the village.

Do you know what I say when I see the situation in Potamia and Argaki? I say that all the Turkish Cypriots pay the price of their salvation to their saviour. They suffer, they have difficulties, but they show no reaction at all. They do not complain.

After all, we the islanders do not feel enmity towards anyone. We put up with everything, because we are such people. As my grandfather used to say, we let Him who is above to judge.

I have not seen my village for 28 years. My children have never seen it. I do not know whether or not they would be able to see it from now on, because it is forbidden to us to move from the one half of our country to the other. If we do this, those who have put this ban, take us to the courts they have created and punish us. Besides, (they take us) to the military court. Today we are again taken to the military court. We cannot choose not to go, we are on bail for 10 billion liras. We are going to be tried as civilians at the military courts created by our saviour! Here you are the independent TRNC. Everything comes from its mother. And what was really our fault? Was it insulting and deriding the spiritual personality of the Command?".

/SK

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article