Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-02-10

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] Eleven more mass graves of Greek Cypriots murdered during and after the Turkish invasion were shown by the Turkish side.

[02] Gul alleges that the Turkish Army, which filled Cyprus with mass graves of innocent Greek Cypriots, is in Cyprus according to international agreements.

[03] The Russian Ambassador to Cyprus met with the Peace and Democracy Movement leader.

[04] Socialist Group: We wish Turkish Cypriots to join the EU".

[05] Talat to meet with the President of the EU Commission.

[06] Turkey is still carrying out legal and technical assessment to the Ankara Protocol for the Customs Union with the new EU members.

[07] Taking advantage of the tolerance of the civilized world about the occupation of Cyprus the Turkish PTT is making permanent its services to the occupation troops.

[08] Unsal Ozbilneler admits that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen will gain from using Larnaka port within the framework of the amended Green Line Regulation.

[09] The vast majority of the Turks support full EU membership.

[10] Turkey is starting to make use of EU funds. Human Rights hot line to be financed by the EU.

[11] The Turkish Foreign Ministry speaks of irregularities in the Iraqi elections while Turkey for 30 years is trying to force minority rule with 40,000 Turkish troops

[12] With the investment of 1.5 million Euro by German investor the City Royal Hotel was opened in occupied Lekfosia

[13] Turkey is waiting for a "gesture" from Washington before deciding on the use of Incirlik for Iraq by the USA

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in Ozgur Politika argues that Turkey thought it would find a way out in every dilemma relying on its strategic importance and that it cannot get anywhere with its policies of threat and blackmail

[15] Turkish Cypriot columnists accuse the occupation regime for its stance on the murder of the Guzelyurtlu family and admit that Turkey is responsible for the occupied part of Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eleven more mass graves of Greek Cypriots murdered during and after the Turkish invasion were shown by the Turkish side

Statements regarding this humanitarian issue were made by Mr Hakki Onen, a lawyer, one of the assistants of Mr Rustem Tatar, who represents the Turkish side in the Committee on Missing Persons, established under UN auspices since 1981 to determine the fate of persons missing since the Turkish invasion of 1974 or who disappeared long after the cessation of hostilities in the areas under the control of the Turkish army.

Mr Onen said the information regarding the eleven new mass graves was reliable, it was a result of research conducted by a team of retired police officers, and added: "Together with the location of the graves information is given on how many persons could be buried there. The team referred to is continuing its research work for grave locations and if new places are spotted everything will be conveyed to the Committee on Missing Persons.

At this moment there is no issue of opening new graves on the agenda. In order to open graves it is especially necessary to finalize where the DNA tests will be carried out. The excavations at Trachonas were not for digging out bones, but whether there were graves or not".

The paper also reports that the Turkish Cypriot member in the Committee of Missing Persons, Mr Rustem Tatar, is in Strasbourg with the aim of providing information to the Delegations Committee of the Council of Europe, which is responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the missing persons issue.

Finally, according to HALKIN SESI, another assistant to Mr Tatar in the Committee, the so-called Director for Political Affairs and Political Planning of the pseudoministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahmet Erdengiz, is in London on a special visit.

[02] Gul alleges that the Turkish Army, which filled Cyprus with mass graves of innocent Greek Cypriots, is in Cyprus according to international agreements

"Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul strongly reacted to the criticism Greek Cypriot main opposition DYSI [Democratic Rally Party] leader Nicos Anastasiades levelled against the Turkish military forces. Gul accused Anastasiades of engaging in cheap activities. Gul said that he found the disclosures by the Greek Cypriot main opposition leader, who arrived in Turkey at the invitation of the ruling Justice and Development Party, very disgusting and inappropriate. Gul noted that a difference of views does not exist between the Government and the Turkish Army. Stressing that the presence of the Turkish military forces in Cyprus is in accordance with the will of the Government and the National Assembly, he noted that he will convey his views to Anastasiades when he holds talks with him tomorrow.

Asserting that the invitation extended to Nicos Anastasiades to visit Turkey should be seen as a factor that confirms that Turkey is open to dialogue and supports the solution of the Cyprus problem, Gul noted that the Greek Cypriot side will not be recognized until a final solution is found.

It will be recalled that Anastasiades argued in a statement he made to the press that the Turkish military forces are opposed to their Government's positive steps. He claimed that the military forces created the impression that they play a more important role than the politicians in Turkey."

[03] The Russian Ambassador to Cyprus met with the Peace and Democracy Movement leader

During the meeting which lasted almost an hour, Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriots could not be punished because the Greek Cypriots said "No" during the 24 April referendum.

He went on and said that he believed that Russia as the UN Security Council permanent member, from the very beginning was supporting a federal settlement in Cyprus, and that Russia could contribute to the Turkish Cypriots attempt to open to the world and become part of the international community within the framework of the International Law.

Akinci went on and said that, as for the Annan Plan a negotiation process within a specified timeframe, is in question and that, during this negotiations, issues such as opening of more crossing points, clearing of mine fields, missing persons, Varosha, Tymbou and Famagusta Port will be taken up.

In his turn the Russian ambassador said that the Cyprus problem has entered into an important process, and that if both sides were ready, the UN Secretary-General should come in and the negotiations process should start again. He added that Russia will contribute to this. The Russian ambassador was accompanied in his visit by Mr Valery Maslin, counsellor at the Embassy of the Russian Federation.

[04] Socialist Group: We wish Turkish Cypriots to join the EU"

Stressing that they prefer a united Cyprus to join the EU, Wiersma added that, within this framework they wanted the Turkish Cypriots to join the EU.

Four European Parliament socialists who visited Cyprus between 4-6 February, had series of contacts in the free areas as well in the occupied areas.

[05] Talat to meet with the President of the EU Commission

As the paper writes Mr Talat stated that he received a letter from Mr Barroso in which the President of the EU Commission asked for a meeting with him, however, the date of the meeting has not been fixed yet. Mr Talat noted that the meeting will take place when officials of the European Union arrange a date and then he will go to Brussels to see the President of the EU Commission.

[06] Turkey is still carrying out legal and technical assessment to the Ankara Protocol for the Customs Union with the new EU members

[07] Taking advantage of the tolerance of the civilized world about the occupation of Cyprus the Turkish PTT is making permanent its services to the occupation troops

Insisting that the Turkish press has not been echoing the truth about Cyprus and conveying the wrong impression to Europe, Denktas said that "the press gives the impression that the Turkish public is not passionate about Cyprus" but that he has "seen this passion during his own visits [to Turkey]."

Stating that "the bargaining power of the Turkish government would increase if Europe was aware of this," Denktas said: "The press is pursuing a policy of cut and run. It thinks it is helping the Turkish government but it is in fact undercutting the bargaining power of the Turkish government." He continued: "For years the Cyprus problem stood on a solid foundation because the press largely echoed the passion of the Turkish nation in the past. Now everything is being done to weaken this foundation."

Noting that the Greek Cypriots have made an agreement conditional upon the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from the island, Denktas said that this would be the end of Cyprus. He said that [Turkish Cypriots] would be in a very difficult position if the guarantee agreement is rescinded and the balance between Turkey and Greece over Cyprus is spoiled. He continued: "We hope that our people are slowly seeing the realities and that they will realize the importance of independence and take a posture in favor of independence. We will see this in the elections."

Disclosing that the Turkish troops did not invade Cyprus to save the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Denktas said: "The Peace Operation and the sacrifices Turkey made for all these years were not solely for the purpose of saving 200,000 Turkish Cypriots. Turkey also has strategic interests, and it came to the island to defend its interests that were affirmed by the 1960 agreements."

On his part PTT Director General Ibrahim Sahin briefed Mr Denktas about his delegation's visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus. Sahin said that his agency will identify and fix problems in military mail and that new containers designed to deliver military mail to their recipients more effectively and a new vehicle will arrive in the occupied areas in a week.

Sahin said that plans are under way to include the pseudostate´s postal service in the online system and that this will make sending money easier. He added that there are also plans to implement in the pseudostate the registered postal automation system that has been installed in 24 provinces in Turkey.

Sahin said that steps that are needed to eliminate all problems between the puppet regime´s and Turkish postal services were discussed and that reciprocal solutions will be developed.

[08] Unsal Ozbilneler admits that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen will gain from using Larnaka port within the framework of the amended Green Line Regulation

In statements to the paper, Mr Ozbilenler argued, however, that accepting this would mean "playing" President Papadopoulos' "game" and alleged that the President of the Republic by accepting "a not workable Green Line Regulation", wanted to stop the demands of the Turkish Cypriots for direct trade.

Mr Ozbilenler claimed, inter alia, the following: "If we want to export citrus fruits to the EU countries, we have to use the Greek Cypriot ports, as it is mentioned in the Green Line Regulation. If we do this, then we shall fall into Papadopoulos' trap and we shall be facing the danger of loosing forever the Direct Trade Regulation".

[09] The vast majority of the Turks support full EU membership

The results of the survey, under the title: ''Citizens' Perspectives on EU Membership'' were made public today. Accordingly, only 16.2% of the interviewees expressed their opposition to Turkey's accession to the EU.

While 77.5% of the male citizens voted in favor of Turkey's membership, the percentage of women supporting Turkey's membership remained at 63.1%. Only 17.1% of men and 15.3% of women opposed to Turkey's membership.

[10] Turkey is starting to make use of EU funds. Human Rights hot line to be financed by the EU

The telephone number, expected to be a 3-digit one, will be available for use throughout Turkey in September.

''We have been working on the toll-free human rights hot-line for the past one year. The three digit number will be accessible from all Turkish cities and will help citizens to relay their complaints and wishes on human rights issues,'' said Bicak.

Dr. Bicak indicated that his office recently asked for bids for the telephone project. ''The telephone hot-line will cost about 300,000 Euros and will be financed by the European Union,'' said Bicak.

In an exclusive interview with the A.A, Dr. Bicak stressed that his office is constantly in pursuit of protecting and promoting human rights in Turkey.

''Our activities focus on four points. One of our priorities is to work and cooperate with other government agencies to promote a greater understanding of human rights at public and private institutions,'' remarked Bicak.

Bicak further stressed that his office tries to bring human rights standards to the international level. ''We scrutinize every complaint carefully'' he said.

Bicak told the A.A correspondent that his office works in coordination with 930 human rights councils throughout Turkey. ''To this day, we have printed 500,000 posters and banners, 200,000 brochures and recorded films to promote a better understanding of human rights in Turkey,'' expressed Bicak.

According to Bicak, at a time when Turkey is preparing to start entry talks with the EU, the issue of human rights deserves the highest attention.

Currently, individuals can get in touch with any of the 930 centers in Turkey to file complaints on human rights. ''We are working on a web based project and will soon officially establish a 3-digit phone line that will be free to callers. Our citizens will be able to call this number and talk directly to experts in their own city,'' said Bicak.

In addition to filing complaints on the phone, Turks will also be able to report their complaints or wishes through the internet. ''Once a complaint is filed, we will investigate the issue and report back to the citizen involved,'' indicated Bicak.

Bicak also mentioned that the provincial human rights councils act as a ''jury.'' ''Our councils are comprised of 16 members. Out of these 16 individuals, only two are public officials. The others come from NGO's and private groups. Such councils make decisions based on the majority of votes.''

[11] The Turkish Foreign Ministry speaks of irregularities in the Iraqi elections while Turkey for 30 years is trying to force minority rule with 40,000 Turkish troops

"There were irregularities in Iraq's general election, which would result in some elements of the Iraqi society being under-represented in the new parliament, a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Ankara was saddened by the low participation rates in the Iraqi poll, and that steps should be taken to address this imbalance, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said during a regular press briefing.

It was important to show Iraq, its people and the world that one does not get results with irregularities, Tan said

"We do not believe that the results of the election will reflect real the representational proportions in the parliament," Tan said.

Tan also denied suggestions that Ankara's sensitivities over Kirkuk were interfering with the domestic affairs of Iraq.

"As the closest neighbour to Iraq we feel the fire there with its all heat and we certainly have the right to be interested," he said.

When asked about what Ankara would do about Kirkuk, Tan said that the first thing was to see the results. He avoided saying what could come after that".

[12] With the investment of 1.5 million Euro by German investor the City Royal Hotel was opened in occupied Lekfosia

The paper publishes pictures from the inauguration ceremony which was conducted by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, and adds: "As a result of a big investment the "City Royal Hotel and Casino" deserves to become the best quality hotel of Lefkosia. `President´ Rauf Denktas, who inaugurated the hotel, which was put to service again with investment of about 1.5 million Euro, was amazed'"

The owner of the hotel is German investor Dr Karlhenz Krebs, who stated that he will continue his investments in the `TRNC´ (areas of Cyprus occupied by 40,000 fully equipped Turkish troops since 1974), while its General Manager is Mr Sergio Cingrijla (name as spelled).

[13] Turkey is waiting for a "gesture" from Washington before deciding on the use of Incirlik for Iraq by the USA

According to NTV, Turkey and the United States have been discussing the issue of Incirlik in connection with Iraq ever since the end of 2003. Earlier, Turkey rejected certain unrealistic US demands regarding the future use of Incirlik. One of those demands concerned the transfer to Incirlik of two fleets of F16's, 24 in all, currently stationed in Spangdahlem base in Germany. Turkey also rejected the US request to have US planes carry out training flights over Konya.

At the moment, the two countries are discussing the usage of Incirlik base by US forces as a logistics centre. The issue was taken up during the Ankara visits of General Abuzaid, US Central Forces Commander; and of Douglas Feith, under secretary of defense for policy.

It was learned that the United States wants to be given a blank check so that it can use the base for logistic purposes everywhere and for every operation. Turkey, however, wants the base used only for specific purposes, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, at a time when Turkey is seriously concerned about Iraq, there are psychological barriers before reaching a positive decision in connection with Incirlik. Turkish officials are saying that to remove these barriers, it would be beneficial for the United States to make certain gestures in connection with Iraq and the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan].

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in Ozgur Politika argues that Turkey thought it would find a way out in every dilemma relying on its strategic importance and that it cannot get anywhere with its policies of threat and blackmail

"A fracturing is taking place in the foreign policy that Turkey has maintained for the past 150 years. Turkey, which had thought that it would be able, by relying on its strategic importance, to find a way out in every dilemma, is now seeing that this weapon no longer opens every door. The agitation now being seen essentially results from this, since it has based both its domestic and its foreign policies on an assumption that, it was believed, would open every door. Since it did not have a policy that was based on internal balances, it has now been caught unprepared by developments that have taken place.

Turkey is both conservative and lazy in terms of generating policies. Its geography was profitable, just like the oil of the Arabs, during the period of the Cold War and the conflict among the large states. It thus lived like a rentier, without suffering the inconvenience of generating new policies. This lifestyle, like that of a wastrel heir, is now coming to an end. The politicians and those circles that should feel responsibility, however, do not yet seem to have accepted this reality.

Even if some aspects of the old world yet continue, a new world is in fact taking shape. No power will any longer be able to continue living on its own little islands of hegemony. All the various powers will take their places in mutual interdependence on one or another level of the world's balances of power. Consequently, the period of fighting all sorts of wars for the old system's islets of hegemony is over. Even if conflicts of interest take place today as well, the goal of these is not to create islets of hegemony. Turkey has to recognize this and restructure its lifestyle, which is based on the inter-state conflicts of the old system, in accord with the conditions of the world and the new balances that will be established.

The commotion over Kirkuk is the expression of a mindset created by the fact that the old way no longer works. And it is also, essentially, the result of [Turkey's] inability to resolve its own Kurdish problem. If it had been able to resolve its own Kurdish problem to some degree, it would not be in such desperate policy straits. If a state follows such a neurotic policy, it means it is caught up in serious political impasses.

Should Turkey not resolve its Kurdish problem, not only will it be unable to generate new policies, but it will also commit continual policy errors.

Everyone must realize that Turkey cannot intervene in South Kurdistan. If it should, it will become caught in a quagmire, both internally and externally, from which it will be unable to escape. Indeed, even the most chauvinistic writers are saying that Turkey cannot do this. In the past, the United States was far away, and as a result its collaborationist supporer in the region were very important. Although these collaborationists are still important, it is now in the region itself. It is now present itself, in a big way, at the center of the politics in question. As a result, it itself determines what sort of role it will assign to what actor in the region. And Turkey knows as well that the KDP [Kurdistan Democratic Party] and PUK [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan] are walking on the current balances. Consequently, the addressee of the challenges is the United States.

So is Turkey challenging the United States? Everyone knows that this is not going to happen. So why all the noise and commotion? The JDP [Ruling Justice and Development Party] is in fact playing one of the classical political tricks. Turkey, realizing that it is not going to be able to do much of anything in Kirkuk and Iraq, is playing for the elimination of KONGRA-GEL [People's Congress of Kurdistan] and the guerrillas in order to make up for losing out here. If the JDP manages this, it will declare itself successful. And it shows its mercantilistic politics in this as well.

The JDP thinks that, by keeping up the pressure on the United States and the Southern [i.e., Iraqi] Kurds, it will be able, over the middle term, to get them to move against KONGRA-GEL and the guerrillas. And the United States and the Southern Kurdish parties, for their part, are conveying the message that this might happen in the future in order to get Turkey to concur in and support their own policies.

It is a question of the United States engaging in bargaining of this type in exchange for Turkey's taking a stance against Iran. It is certain that the United States sees isolating and pressuring Iran as important from the standpoint of achieving results in Iraq. Should Turkey not resolve its Kurdish issue, it will be unable to escape the position of being a country that is manipulated on account of this soft underbelly. For, it is known that Turkey is sensitive in terms of the Kurdish issue not just domestically, but in Iraq and Iran as well.

Only one way out from the political dead-end is visible for Turkey. Turkey cannot get anywhere with its politics of threats and blackmail vis-à-vis South Kurdistan. And they [i.e., the Turks] see this themselves. So the solution lies elsewhere. And this is to resolve the Kurdish problem without delay. KONGRA-GEL's solution package is an important chance and opportunity for this. Otherwise, the more a Turkey that persists in its old policies struggles, the lower it will sink. But if it resolves its Kurdish problem, South Kurdistan and Kirkuk will cease to create concern, and it will even become a friendly country that has influence in South Kurdistan and Kirkuk.

If Turkey indeed sees its own Kurds as brothers, then why are not the Kurds in Iraq as close to Turkey as the Turkomans are? Turkey has to realize that the Kurds are asking themselves just this question, and are realizing just how Turkey approaches them.

Turkey should give up bargaining over KONGRA-GEL and the guerrillas with the United States and the Kurdish parties of the South by making such a fuss over Kirkuk. The problems cannot be resolved in this way. Time will be lost, and the Kurdish issue will only be further inflamed and new political and economic crises encountered. We once again call upon Turkey to show common sense, and to take steps on the Kurdish issue without further delay".

[15] Turkish Cypriot columnists accuse the occupation regime for its stance on the murder of the Guzelyurtlu family and admit that Turkey is responsible for the occupied part of Cyprus

"'They have behaved as if they are not interested at all in this crime, the political dimensions of which are bigger than it is assumed. Our political parties did not care if the suspects are handed over to southern Cyprus or if they are set free. It is understood that no one wants to touch such thorny issues. They prefer to walk around a garden with roses without thorns and gather votes. If these elections were conducted in another country and in a democratic environment, no one of the parties participating in these elections would get the threshold limit.

The murder of Elmas Guzelyurtlu is not an ordinary crime. The person that has brutally been murdered with his family had strong relations with politicians in our country. Who can deny that this crime has political dimensions as well, whoever are its perpetrators? '

The Turkish side, which set the suspects free, cannot get away saying that 'the Greek Cypriots did not give the evidence and thus we are forced to set them free'. The suspects should be taken to the place where the evidence is and not the evidence to the place where the suspects are. There is only one legal state and one legal citizenship in Cyprus. Consoling ourselves saying that we are a separate state has no use. No one in the world shows respect to this. Even Turkey does not accept it.

As soon as the suspects were set free the Greek Cypriot side gave its message to the world. Tassos Papadopoulos exploded saying that 'northern Cyprus is lair of outlaws'. '"

Furthermore, commenting on the statement of President Papadopoulos who said that Turkey is responsible for the occupied areas of Cyprus and that the Turkish army gives the orders to the so-called police of the occupation regime, Basaran Duzgun, editor-in-chief of KIBRIS (10.02.05) admits that the Turkish army is responsible for the occupied part of Cyprus.

Mr Duzgun writes, inter alia, the following:

"The Greek Cypriot administration burdens Turkey with the responsibility of everything that happens in the northern part of Cyprus. Many countries in the world behave in the same way. As much as Turkey and Northern Cyprus oppose to this saying that 'there is a democratically elected administration in the northern part of Cyprus', this does not convince not only the foreigners but even ourselves, because the European Court of Human Rights held Turkey responsible in the case filed by Titina Loizidou who cannot use her property in Kyrenia and convicted Turkey to pay a compensation. Turkey accepted this responsibility and paid the money.

The leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, Tassos Papadopoulos has conducted direct bargain with Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces on the issue of cleaning the minefields, which the United Nations and the European Union warmly support. The Turkish Armed Forces are responsible for the border in the north of the Green Line in Cyprus. Papadopoulos, in a statement regarding the fact that the suspects for the murder of Guzelyurtlu have been set free burdened the responsibility to Turkey. '

The words he used and the logic put forward may annoy some people, but is the image we give to the world from Northern Cyprus different?

In the bargain for the cleaning of the minefields the government of the TRNC had no say. I am not talking about being informed within the framework of the good relations, but the `TRNC´ officials are not even a side in this. Just like they are not a side in the Loizidou case or in the opening of new gates or in other issues. The police of the `TRNC´ are on paper bound to the Prime Ministry of the `TRNC´, but they really take orders from a general appointed by the Turkish Armed Forces. Not only in the police, but in many institutions and organizations the word of the Turkish Cypriots does not pass. '

Those who have created the status quo in the northern part of Cyprus after 1974 are insisting to have the same stance. This insistence leads the Turkish Cypriots into the position of not being able to administrate their own country, and Turkey, which is being modernized and changing, into being 'an occupier'. '".

/SK

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