Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-01-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Milliyet : "Erdogan´s sensitive message"

[02] Israel will reportedly begin direct trade with the occupied areas of Cyprus

[03] A Turkish Cypriot businessman is participating in the delegation that traveled with Prime Minister Erdogan to Russia

[04] Akinci says that in case the basis of the Annan Plan is lost the Turkish Cypriots will get fewer rights than they had in 1960

[05] Turks consider "Positive" the EU Summit decision on Cyprus

[06] Abizaid in Turkey on Tuesday

[07] AFRIKA supports that interest-free loans given to small business are connected with the forthcoming pseudo elections

[08] Selcuk Ozceada to participate in the EU arbitrators committee

[09] The pseudostate´s imports were raised to 58.2% and the exports were raised to 23.2%.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Ilter Turkmen analyses Turkey´s Middle East policy

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Milliyet : "Erdogan´s sensitive message"

The letter sent from the Prime Minister´s office to the NSCGS, refers to the Article 117 of the Turkish Constitution which stipulates that "The Council of Ministers is responsible before the Turkish Grand National Assembly in maintaining the National Security."

[02] Israel will reportedly begin direct trade with the occupied areas of Cyprus

During a conversation he had with journalists, Mr Gunduz noted that Israel will begin trade with the occupied part of Cyprus. Asked whether or not this would mean recognition of the self-declared "TRNC", Mr Gunduz responded: "No, this is not recognition. The wish of Turkey is not this".

[03] A Turkish Cypriot businessman is participating in the delegation that traveled with Prime Minister Erdogan to Russia

The paper notes that this is the first time that Turkey invited a representative of the Turkish Cypriots to a visit abroad. During his visit to Moscow, Mr Erdogan will be accompanied by five Ministers, 500 businessmen and 90 journalists.

Mr Tunar has said that during his visit to Moscow he would undertake initiatives in the direction of lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and the beginning of the direct trade with the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, KIBRISLI reports that in statements during a dinner he gave last night in honor of Mr Erdogan, the Russian President Bladimir Putin said, inter alia, the following: "We shall continue our talks tomorrow. We shall meet with businessmen from the Turkish world. Your visit will be very intensive. I hope that your visit is as much successful as intensive".

[04] Akinci says that in case the basis of the Annan Plan is lost the Turkish Cypriots will get fewer rights than they had in 1960

In statements during a meeting with a delegation of the Association of the Development and Improvement of Morfou which visited him in order to ask for his support for a project it had prepared, Mr Akinci said that the people who would change place according to the provisions of the Annan Plan are those who feel the most uncertainty for the future. Mr Akinci noted that giving importance and priority to these people was a condition.

Mr Akinci expressed the opinion that the Turkish Cypriots must struggle so that the basis of the Annan Plan is not lost, because otherwise the rights left for them will be less than those they had in 1960. Time makes this easier to happen, he argued.

Noting that his party does not approve the "wait and see" policy, Mr Akinci pointed out that the Turkish side had to follow a proactive policy. Expressing the opinion that all steps made in Cyprus must be in accordance with the international law, he added: "The substance of the Annan Plan was to adapt us to the international law. The opponents of the solution who do not want the Annan Plan did not want it because they were afraid of this".

Furthermore, in his statements the chairman of the Association of the Development and Improvement of Morfou, Hakan Kunday expressed the belief that the Turkish side must make short term, medium term and long term openings without abandoning the basis of the Annan Plan on the basis of the international law.

Mr Kunday noted that in the direction of this opinion their association organized a workshop in November 2004 and reached the conclusion that the solution in Cyprus could be only on the basis of the Annan Plan.

[05] Turks consider "Positive" the EU Summit decision on Cyprus

The paper also publishes the results of the poll regarding the party preference of those who live in urban areas as follows:

61.3% Justice and Development Party

12.9% Republican People´s Party

6.5% Nationalist Action Party

6% DEHAP (Democratic People´s Party - pro - Kurdish)

3.5% True Path Party

[06] Abizaid in Turkey on Tuesday

Abizaid´s visit is reported to be not linked with a tripartite meeting on Tuesday in the Turkish capital between representatives of Turkey, the US and Iraq that is to deal with the presence of the Kurdish group the PKK/Kongra-Gel in Northern Iraq. Abizaid is scheduled to hold meetings with the Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Ilker Basbug and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The US general´s region of control includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

Moreover, Turkish mainland daily MILLIYET newspaper (11.01.05), reports under banner headlines "Iran is on the USA - Turkey Agenda" and says that today's visit of general Abizaid to Ankara and his meeting with National Security Council General Secretary (NSCGS) Yigit Alpogan are very important. The paper says that in the light of the preparation of Turkey´s National Security Policy Document (NSPD) by the NSCGS and Iran´s nuclear program, which is considered in the NSPD as a primary threat, the US General will receive first hand information on this issue.

The paper add that US sources in Ankara have said: "It would not be a surprise if General Abisaid and Alpogan take up Iran´s potential nuclear threat".

[07] AFRIKA supports that interest-free loans given to small business are connected with the forthcoming pseudo elections

As the paper writes applications for interest-free loans have started to be submitted in Vakiflar and Akdeniz Garanti banks in occupied Cyprus. The loan will be given to persons who want to repair restaurants, small business and unfinished constructions in order to rent these constructions to students. The loans will last for five years and the application period starts from the 4th of January and will last for three months. It has been decided that 25,000 USA dollars will be given for restaurants and 20,000 for the other purposes.

The paper notes that the decision for this development was taken by the so-called council of ministers of Mehmet Ali Talat's "government" and supports that it is connected with the forthcoming February so-called elections.

[08] Selcuk Ozceada to participate in the EU arbitrators committee

[09] The pseudostate´s imports were raised to 58.2% and the exports were raised to 23.2%.

According to the figures given by the so-called economy and tourism ministry of the occupation regime, the pseudostate imported goods worth 660 million USA dollars while it exported goods worth 54 million dollars. These figures refer to the first 10 months of the year 2004. The figures show that there was an increased both in imports and exports. Compared to 2003 figures, the imports were raised to 58.2% and reached the amount of 659.9 million USA dollars. In addition, the exports were raised to 23.2% and reached the amount of 54,235 million USA dollars, compared to the 2003 figures.

The paper notes that the importation of vehicles was increased by 121% in the year 2004 and writes that vehicles worth 105.184.170 USA dollars were imported in occupied Cyprus. Compared to 2003 figures vehicles worth 47.659.091 USA dollars were imported in the pseudostate. The paper also writes that among the things that were imported to the occupation regime last year were iron and other construction materials, fuel, medicines and vehicles' spare parts.

Based on the numbers given by the so-called economy and tourism ministry of the occupation regime, Turkey is in the first place among the countries that the pseudostate imports goods from, since for the ten first months of the year 2004 the pseudostate imported goods worth 404, 572, 486 USA dollars from Turkey. Second comes the EU countries from which the pseudostate imported goods worth 168.086.760 USA dollars, third comes countries of the Far East with 21.753.65, following by other European countries with 5,967,607 USA dollars and other countries from other places of the world.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Ilter Turkmen analyses Turkey´s Middle East policy

The results that have been achieved in relations with Syria, our neighbor, constitute the best example. Similarly, relations with our neighbor, Iran, have been improved to a significant degree despite the problems that emanate from the regime in Tehran.

Compared with the past, we are engaged in far more dialogue and cooperation with the other countries as well. It might be that we need to open up more to the Gulf countries. As for relations with Israel, it would be more advisable to keep them within more limited and realistic dimensions than today.

The picture is a little more complicated regarding the approach to regional issues and conflicts. We have remained rather indifferent, for some reason, to Iran's policy on the development of enriched uranium, which could be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons, and middle and long-range missiles. We should, however, have felt the biggest concern over the possession of weapons of mass destruction by a neighboring country, irrespective of the fact that its stand might not be hostile toward Turkey.

At the present stage, Iran's nuclear programs have been put under international control, at least for a temporary period. If, however, Iran fails to fulfill its obligations fully, the United States might move directly, or give the green light to Israel, to destroy the nuclear installations in Iran by air [strikes]. In such a case, what will our reaction be? We cannot fail to react if the United States assigns the mission to Israel. An attempt on the part of Israel to act as the gendarmerie of the entire area will create a serious problem.

It cannot be argued that the parameters of our policy on Iraq have been drawn in a consistent manner. This might be excused up to a point because it is not definite whether elections will be held in Iraq. Moreover, no one is able to forecast the picture we shall encounter if elections are held. Although it might be taken for granted that Iraq will preserve its territorial integrity in appearance, it is possible that, in actual fact, a division will materialize.

One cannot predict what Kirkuk's status will be either. Turkey should seriously consider how it will adjust its reaction to the possible developments. It appears that we have no means at our disposal other than diplomacy and economic sanctions. Pointing to what [second president of Turkey] Ismet Inonu once told him, "Take over Mosul when the conditions are suitable," [former prime minister] Bulent Ecevit recommends that Turkey should intervene militarily in Northern Iraq.

It is not very clear as to how we could carry out such an intervention despite the presence of the US forces there. Even in the absence of the US forces, it is definite that the political, military, and economic consequences of an intervention in Iraq would be tragic, and our EU policy would suddenly collapse.

There was much talk about Turkey's possible contribution to the peace process during Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's visit to Israel and Palestine. The statements were fine, but what Turkey could do exactly is uncertain. As a matter of fact, we cannot, and should not, engage in a pro-active policy on this issue.

Even if we join the sponsors of the road map, as the Palestinians wish, the situation will not be any different. Don't the EU, Russia, and the UN remain in the background despite the fact that they are part of the "Quartet?" A solution would not be possible as long as the US policy of full support for Israel and Israel's basic way of thinking do not change. A mediation to be undertaken before the political balances change could backfire.

We should always bear in mind our priorities in our Middle East policy, and should not distance ourselves from realism. We have closely observed the kind of dangerous situation the United States has encountered for having closed its eyes to the realities."

EG/

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