Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-03-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan: "A UN-Based Cyprus Solution".

[02] Talat says that the decisions of the Greek Cypriots on the issue of the properties bind only themselves.

[03] A delegation of the "Store International" firm, which arrived at the pseudostate from Moscow, is searching for investment opportunities in occupied Cyprus.

[04] Ozker Ozgur was sent urgently to London for medical examination.

[05] Newroz celebration: "Kurds call for Democratic Confederalism".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that the ruling islamic party is facing internal problems.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan: "A UN-Based Cyprus Solution"

In a statement he issued after the meeting, Erdogan said that the political will necessary for the Ankara agreement will be displayed before 3 October.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Erdogan recalled that Turkey and Greece are two guarantor countries and noted that they had the political will necessary to achieve a solution. Explaining that the real process concerning the Cyprus solution will gain momentum after the so-called presidential elections on 17 April, Erdogan expressed the hope for Mehmet Ali Talat, the so-called prime minister, and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos to work together after this date.

Recalling their wish as Turkey for a solution, Erdogan underlined the preference for a solution within the framework of the United Nations.

Erdogan said that Greece continued to extend support to Turkey's EU membership bid.

Recalling that Karamanlis was the first to invite the Justice and Development Party [JDP] as an observer to the European People's Party, Erdogan added that Karamanlis pledged his support for the JDP to become a member.

Noting that the volume of trade and tourism between Turkey and Greece was discussed at dinner as well, Erdogan expressed the hope for the volume of bilateral trade, which stands at $1.8 billion at present, to go up to $5 billion in a short time.

[02] Talat says that the decisions of the Greek Cypriots on the issue of the properties bind only themselves

In statements during a meeting yesterday with the KAR-IS Confederation trade union, Mr Talat commented on the decision of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the foreigners that buy occupied Greek Cypriot properties.

Responding to a question, Mr Talat said that the issue of the properties is a part of the Cyprus problem and alleged that the Greek Cypriot side uses many ways in order to detach the attention from the fact that the government called on the people to vote "no' at the referendum.

Mr Talat argued that the issue of the properties is a political problem and not a legal one and expressed the opinion that the efforts to solve a political issue in a legal way will not be successful.

Mr Talat claimed the following:

"I believe that the Greek Cypriot side exerts efforts in vain. By making laws in their Parliament they cannot put onto a new basis the proprietorship regime, which is the most important element of a solution plan that was rejected as a result of their saying no. This is an effort in vain. Perhaps they are doing it in order to put more pressure on the world, perhaps in order to confuse it.

The Greek Cypriot Parliament may decide anything. It is free to do so, but its authority is limited in Southern Cyprus. Let it take any decision it likes and make any law it wishes. It has no authority on the north part of Cyprus. We are the ones who administrate the northern part of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are. The competent organs of the TRNC are. Therefore, let it take any decision it wishes. This binds the South. It is limited in the South. It has not very much value from the world's point of view because they said no in the referendum. The world sees the proprietorship regime, which is a part of the Cyprus problem, as a political issue".

[03] A delegation of the "Store International" firm, which arrived at the pseudostate from Moscow, is searching for investment opportunities in occupied Cyprus

According to the paper "Store International" is a firm which has various tourism investments in many countries of the world, including the USA, Holland, Belgium and France.

The delegation arrived in the pseudostate at the illegal Tympou airport through Moscow, using a private plane, after an invitation by the Turkish businessman Mr Ahmet Arken, the owner of the Savoy Company Ltd. The paper writes that the visit drew a lot of interest and among the persons, who welcomed the group at occupied Tymbou airport, was the permanent undersecretary of the so-called ministry of public works and transportation, Mr Sener Cagnan. The delegation will leave from the pseudostate today.

Mr Bouttcher stated upon his arrival that he is visiting the pseudostate primarily for pleasure as well as for business. He said that he will look for investment possibilities in "north Cyprus" and added that he follows the developments in the investment area here and in Europe. "We've been seeing the changes in north Cyprus and we hope that they will continue in this direction", he said.

According to Mr Ahmet Arken, who stated that he cooperated with the "Store International" for works outside of occupied Cyprus, the delegation will have talks with his company today on the issue of a partnership, as regards the "Ottoman Palace", a five stars hotel which is under construction in the centre of occupied Kyrenia.

[04] Ozker Ozgur was sent urgently to London for medical examination

[05] Newroz celebration: "Kurds call for Democratic Confederalism"

The keynote speaker of the meeting was Leyla Zana former DEP deputy who was jailed for her pro-Kurdish stance, who proposed that the governors of the provinces be elected by the people of each province. Zana´s opening phrase was "we are partners of everything of this country". She said that denial of the Kurdish identity for 80 years had no results, and called on the Turkish government to change its stance.

During the meeting posters of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is in Turkish jail serving life sentence and posters demanding establishment of confederalism together with the flag used by the Kurds in north Iraq and the posters demanding establishment of "Democratic Confederalism" were everywhere. The Democratic Confederation aims at brining together the Kurds of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey under a single roof.

The paper further reports that 150 foreign guests among them ambassadors, journalists and European Parliament members had attended the meeting. HURRIYET reports that Police continuously filmed the foreign guests.

Norway´s Ambassdor to Turkey, Hans Wilhelm Longra, who was in Diyarbakir attending the celebrations, referring to the slogans chanted by the people said that slogans carry an important place in the democratization process of the country.

Jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan´s sisters were also among the guests of the meeting.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia (21.03.05), referring to Newroz celebrations throughout Turkey on 20.03.05, reports that Newroz celebrations were called off in the central city of Sivas after a landslide buried 15 people under mud on March 17th.

During the celebration in the central city of Eskisehir on Sunday, clash erupted between security forces and a group of demonstrators. A policeman was injured. Security forces detained 10 people.

Seven Italian citizens attended Newroz celebrations in the eastern city of Bingol. They sang and danced together with local people.

More than 50 thousand persons attended the celebrations in the Eastern city of Van.

In the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, police discovered petrol bombs inside a bag left close to the site of Newroz celebrations. The bag was apparently dumped by participants who realized they would be searched by police before being allowed into the site.

In Istanbul, some 30,000 persons crammed into a square surrounded by security forces. In Ankara, some 2,000 participants danced, sang and jumped over fires, symbolically burning away past impurities. Both demonstrations ended peacefully.

Leyla Zana, the former deputy of the banned DEP, attended the celebration in southeastern city of Sanliurfa. Speaking at the celebration, Zana said that they would not allow an atmosphere of violence. She also criticized the use of force by police during a demonstration in Istanbul on March 6th to mark the International Women´s Day.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that the ruling islamic party is facing internal problems

"Intra-party tensions and the failure to utilize the opportunity created by a huge majority is expected to impact the ruling party.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) seems to have entered a period of self-examination, with many deputies considering what to do next. While a string of resignations has seemingly had no effect on the party, what the party leadership does next might be too much for those who have their doubts.

After Culture Minister Erkan Mumcu's resignation from the JDP the public started to expect a flood of resignations. There is a great possibility that the resignations will continue. Domestic and foreign media have reported on it, which leads one to assume that the process of the dissolution of the JDP has started.

Before trying to understand the happenings within the JDP, one needs to find out what are the problems of the party. The JDP was a merger of various factions pushed together due to an impasse in Turkish politics. While there were many experienced politicians within it, the members were from different classes, backgrounds and had very different points of view. The huge support they received was more due to the stalemate in Turkish politics than the victory of a serious political movement that could provide answers to Turkey's problems. If the JDP had utilized the opportunity created by this state of affairs and had formulated a constructive practical political stance, it could have gradually unified the disparate groups under its roof.

However, since coming to power, the JDP gave the impression that it was just a new version of old Turkish politics. Even though it notes that it was responsible for significant progress on the matters of the economy and the journey toward the European Union, the JDP government failed to realize that Turkey's problems necessitated more than superficial demagogy.

The JDP government, which ignored all the warnings on this matter, now faces a similar position as past governments.

If the necessary economic, political, social, legal and democratic reforms were implemented, the JDP could have garnered the people's support to overcome all the obstacles.

Consequently, solid domestic support could have produced a determined and effective foreign policy in line with Turkey's vision.

Failure to take advantage of the situation, or the perception of it, had an impact on the party's internal dynamics.

Groups within the JDP:

One can divide the JDP into five separate groups. One group includes the people who sincerely contributed to the foundation of the JDP. Even in the worst of times, these people are not expected to leave the party. Unfortunately, this group does not constitute the majority.

Everybody is aware of the other groups. The deputies with a Nationalist Action Party (NAP) background attract special attention. They are said to number 27. These deputies are expected to reassess their JDP memberships after the government takes concrete steps on controversial issues like Armenia and Cyprus.

Deputies with a Motherland Party (MP) and True Path Party (TPP) background are now between a rock and a hard place. It's too early to follow Mumcu, but if they wait, it may be too late. They are expected to act cautiously. This group is said to number 80. What concerns party leadership is not their number, but the effects on the party their resignations would have.

In addition to groups with different priorities, the JDP is also troubled by the open power play between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, which is the main reason why the government has failed to appoint a chief negotiator for the EU accession process. When there are so many different groups within a single party, a major cabinet reshuffle becomes that much harder".

/SK

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