Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-10-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Head of the EU Commission delegation in Ankara stresses that the member states will decide on Turkey´s refusal to recognize EU member Republic of Cyprus.

[02] The murderer of Solomos Solomou, Kenan Akin, who is wanted by Interpol, goes around the world and conducts smuggling; He is arrested in Istanbul.

[03] Gul says there are positive developments for the Turkish side on the issue of the Financial Aid and Direct Trade Regulations.

[04] Talat says Turkey's EU accession course will seriously influence Cyprus and argues that Turkey could make no step on Cyprus until December.

[05] Exclusive interview of the British Foreign Secretary Straw to NTV television.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in AFRIKA warns of dangers for world peace in the future because the occupiers of Cyprus and Israel are praised by Europe and the USA.

[07] Expert analyses the increase in the Turkish population in view of Turkey´s EU perspective.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Head of the EU Commission delegation in Ankara stresses that the member states will decide on Turkey´s refusal to recognize EU member Republic of Cyprus

Kretschmer said: ''The Progress Report is a positive report for Turkey and there is a positive atmosphere regarding the report in news stories of international agencies and statements of Turkish officials.''

Upon a question regarding torture, Kretschmer said: ''As it was mentioned in the report, torture in Turkey is not on a systematic level any more and it is applied sporadically. Ankara should end torture completely.''

Regarding religious freedoms, Kretschmer said that there are some problems such as non-Muslims cannot purchase properties and Turkey did not allow religious education. He added: ''We expect Turkey to launch legal initiatives to resolve those problems.''

When asked whether Turkey can start entry talks if it does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, Kretschmer said that EU member countries would make a decision on this matter and it was not the duty of the Commission.

Upon another question, Kretschmer said that Turkey made significant progress about cultural rights of Kurds but it had to do more in terms of international standards. Start of the broadcast and education in mother tongue was a very positive step and formed the 'beginning', Kretschmer said and noted that reforms in this area should continue.

[02] The murderer of Solomos Solomou, Kenan Akin, who is wanted by Interpol, goes around the world and conducts smuggling; He is arrested in Istanbul

Under the banner front-page title "Kenan Akin arrested in Istanbul for smuggling", the paper writes the following:

"Former minister of agriculture and forests, Kenan Akin was arrested while trying to get into Turkey two suitcases full of smuggled mobile phones from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. While Kenan Akin was arrested, Hifzi Tarik, who had been allegedly used as a courier during the smuggling event, was put under surveillance by the police. It has been announced that Kenan Akin brought the mobile phones from Hong Kong via Cyprus.

The teams of the Directorate of the Financial Office, which had acquired the information that the mobile phones would have illegally been brought to the TRNC, organized an operation at the Ataturk Airport. During the operation, Kenan Akin, former minister of agriculture and forests of the `TRNC´, was arrested having in his possession two suitcases with one thousand Nokia brand mobile phones.

The police, which continued the operation on the basis of Akin's testimony, put under surveillance Hifzi Tarik as well, to whom Akin would deliver the smuggled mobile phones.

While the interrogation of Akin and Tarik was going on, it was announced that Akin brought the mobile phones from Hong Kong via Cyprus.

Subtitle: Kanan Akin's lawyer contacted KIBRIS

Meanwhile, Tayfun Baysal, Kenan Akin's lawyer contacted KIBRIS last night and said he wanted to make a statement. Noting that he was calling from Istanbul, lawyer Baysal alleged that 'Kenan Akin got into trouble while trying to make a favor'. According to the allegation of lawyer Tayfun Baysal, a person named Hifzi Tarik asked Kenan Akin's help at the airport saying: 'I have too many suitcases; could you pass these two suitcases for me'? Akin accepted to pass these two suitcases from the customs, as if they were his own, without knowing what they had inside them.

Tayfun Baysal said that Hifzi Tarik accepted his crime and that Kenan Akin will be set free today.

Subtitle: In his political life he remained always on the agenda with various events

Kenan Akin, who began his political life with the New Birth Party (NBP) and became an MP as a result of NBP's unification with the Democratic Party, was subsequently appointed minister of agriculture and forests by this party. For a period he was the chairman of the Nationalist Justice Party (NJP). Later he resigned from NJP and, according to the political backstage, he joined the National Unity Party (NUP).

The name of Kenan Akin was involved in the incident of 'granting the citizenship to Chinese persons' when he was a minister.

When he was an MP Akin hit the lawyer Tevfik Pilli and beat a doctor at the Famagusta State Hospital with the excuse that he had not taken good care of one of his relatives. Because of his immunity, however, he was not tried for these incidents.

Kenan Akin, who is considered responsible for killing the Greek Cypriot youth Solomos Solomou who climbed on the mast of the Turkish flag during the Derynia incidents, is wanted with the red bulletin of Interpol upon initiatives of the Greek Cypriot administration".

[03] Gul says there are positive developments for the Turkish side on the issue of the Financial Aid and Direct Trade Regulations

During statements he made after a meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Mrs Laila Frievalds, Mr Gul was reminded of the statement by the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who said after their meeting in Ankara a decision had been taken on the issue of the financial aid. Mr Gul argued that there were some efforts for completely separating these two regulations from each other and making them "meaningless" and added: "Discussions were held regarding these (regulations) and as (the British Foreign Secretary) Straw said, some positive decisions are taken".

[04] Talat says Turkey's EU accession course will seriously influence Cyprus and argues that Turkey could make no step on Cyprus until December

In statements assessing the EU Commission's progress report on Turkey, Mr Talat expressed the opinion that Turkey's EU accession course will have "very serious influence" on Cyprus. Mr talat noted that the reference to Cyprus is limited in the report and added that Turkey "got the fruits of the Turkish Cypriots saying YES in the referendum".

Expressing the opinion that the solution of the Cyprus problem is inevitable, Mr Talat said: "The EU process is a dynamic process. We will face both dangers and opportunities. We have to set forward new political vision in order to use this process in our favour". He noted that they are for some time now working on a new strategy together with Turkey, but he refrained from disclosing any details.

"May be until December there will not be any important developments, but afterwards there will be a very speedy process", he pointed out and added: "Therefore we have the responsibility to turn a new policy into our common policy in the new conditions. We must formulate the dynamic process into our favor. We have to make some very serious steps together with Turkey. If we do not make steps, we shall return to the Republic of Cyprus together with the accession of Turkey to the EU".

Responding to questions, Mr Talat argued:

"There is no step Turkey could make on Cyprus until December. Openings could be made regarding other issues, but there is nothing else to be asked from Turkey on the Cyprus issue... The Greek Cypriots have rejected the withdrawal of troops and the return of Varosha to them. The withdrawal of some troops is not related with the solution of the problem. 'This is a demand that the Greek Cypriots are trying to put forward. The discussion of this by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots is useless. The issue of opening Varosha under TRNC control could be discussed but everything has its price. The Greek Cypriots always want some things in their favour. Such a thing cannot be done".

[05] Exclusive interview of the British Foreign Secretary Straw to NTV television

Mr Straw stated that steps must be taken regarding the lifting of the so-called isolation placed on the pseudostate. However he sent the message that his country cannot take "a unilateral step" before an agreement is made within the EU. "We must admit that things will be very difficult until the 17th of December, but later we can reach a common ground", he said.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in AFRIKA warns of dangers for world peace in the future because the occupiers of Cyprus and Israel are praised by Europe and the USA

"Probably this is the unprecedented event that happened in the history. Europe, which is considered as the continent being the cradle of human rights, freedom and democracy, is praising a country that for thirty years is occupying another country.

It declares that Turkey is the side that supports peace and that really wants peace in Cyprus!

Is there any other great happiness than this for an occupier? On top of it the prime minister of the occupying country stands up, takes the floor and scorns the people whose land he is occupying, for the fact that they said 'no' in the referendum.

For what purpose, nobody knows, Verheugen's love for Turkey puffed off extraordinarily. He is very happy watching this picture' Prodi as well is happy'

They embrace each other in such a way as though it is not Turkey but they who have won the victory.

It is one of their happiest moments reflected on the cameras.

While Europe approves Turkey's occupation in Cyprus a similar scenario is being staged at the UN at the same time. That is the draft resolution at the Security Council that calls on the Israelis to hold their bloody operations at the Gaza strip and the USA veto to this draft resolution claiming that it is 'biased and not balanced'. The draft resolution which is approved by 11 members of the Security Council did not pass with the USA veto. With its veto the USA is giving the green light for the killings, crimes and for the occupation.

As you noticed in the new world order 'occupation' is in demand and respected'

Europe praises Turkey and the USA Israel'

And on top of it, the irony is that it is claimed that those who are occupiers are those who really want peace more than those who are under occupation'

The major newspapers and famous television stations whose impartiality is under serious doubt join in this chorus '

Oppression and cruelty could, for some time to come, be presented in the world as 'peace' but not forever.

The non-governmental organizations which are under the US and Europe's hegemony one day could come against them, because no one could stand so much oppression. The approval of this oppression as 'peace' will serve for nothing but strengthening the nationalist activities. The world soon will enter into waging a new liberation struggle process. This will be different than the liberation struggles of 20th century. The real struggle will be given not against the occupiers that came from outside but against their domestic quislings.

Is it possible to think otherwise?"

[07] Expert analyses the increase in the Turkish population in view of Turkey´s EU perspective

"Turkey's population was 13.6 million in 1927 according to the census, which was performed 4-years after the establishment of the Republic. Beginning with the 1935 census, subsequent population censuses were undertaken at 5-year intervals. The year 2000 population census shows that although the population growth rate in Turkey is falling, the total population of 65 million shows that the country's population has more than quadrupled since the founding of the republic.

Inter-censal estimates of population have been around 20-25 per thousand since the 1970s. The latest estimate of the population growth rate was 21.7 per thousand for the 1985-1990 period. The fluctuations have been particularly striking in the last two decades, owing their origins to varying rates of decline in fertility and mortality rates, as well as to changes/reversals in migration trends: Turkish workers' emigration to Western Europe in the 1960s has been largely replaced by population movements to other countries, and a new trend of an inflow of population from neighboring countries has been observed in the last decade.

The year 2000 population census shows that the growth rate in Turkey is falling. It reached 14 per thousand by 2000 and according to projections, it will reach 11 per thousand by 2010 when the population will be 76 million (State Planning Organization, 2001).

Turkey has a relatively young population as a result of past high fertility and declining mortality rates. A third of the population is under 15 years of age, 45 percent of the population is under the age of 40 while the proportion of elderly is quite low. However, fertility has experienced dramatic declines in recent years. In the early 1970s, the total fertility rate (which is the total number of children that a woman has during her reproductive age) was around 5.5 children per woman, whereas the 2000 census shows it fell to 2.5 children. The crude birth rate is estimated at 22 per thousand in the mid-1990s. Therefore, Turkey has gone through a significant demographic change in recent years. The change will continue in the coming years. The implications of such trends with a view to Turkey's entry into the European Union are well worth reviewing and this is one of the reasons why we are holding a conference on October 11-12, 2004.

It is claimed that Turkish membership would change the EU "Christian Club" forever and that this is the reason why Europeans do not want Turkey to be a member. If Turkey joins the EU, there will be more mosque-going Muslims in Europe than church-attending Christians. In about a decade, Turkey's population will have outstripped Germany's and under a new population-based voting system, Turkey would have as many votes as Europe's smallest 18 countries combined in the Council of Ministers which is the most powerful institution of the Union.

We can have two arguments on this point. Turkey is the only democratic and secular country in this region. If the EU does not want to have a conflict between civilizations the cleverest approach would be to accept Turkey in the EU, a country which has good relations with both civilizations and would be a bridge between the west and east, so to speak. They will thus be rid of the reputation of being a "Christian Club" and also bring cultural diversity into the EU. Additionally, a young population like Turkey's will be a boost for the manpower and economy of Europe and also increase the productivity of the economy. This is accepted as a fact by many economist in Europe.

Although we know that some Europeans fear an influx of cheap labour, that is precisely why the EU needs Turkey as much Turkey needs Europe. The population in Europe is aging while the young Turkish population can really help boost the economy. But on the other hand, if Europe is really scared of an influx of Turks, there can be a limitation clause of mobility of Turkish workers in the entry agreement for a certain period of time.

Zeynep Atikkan, in an article in Aksam, on September 30, 2004 said: "Dr. Eckart D. Stratenschulte believes that the German people are very conservative and we are champions of fear but fear does not change facts. In the German army there are 6,000 Muslims" which proves the argument that times have changed and one has to face the music rather than be afraid of an influx of Muslims to Europe.

Owen Matthews in Newsweek's May 3, 2004 edition said: "The EU population is aging and shrinking while Turkey's 70 million population is young and growing at a staggering 2.3 percent annually. With old Europe and voters increasingly clinging to traditional values, however, it's debatable whether such rational talk of economics and shared democratic values will in the end carry the day." I do not agree with him because the population growth rate is falling in Turkey and reached 14 per thousand by 2000 and according to predictions, it will reach 11 per thousand by 2010 when the population will be 78 million.

In summary Turkey's accession to the European Union will do more good for Europe than harm in the long run".

/SK

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