Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-08-05

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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 Turkish Prime Minister thinks Turkey can turn the EU back to the Middle Ages with military occupations, casus belli, signing an agreement while at the same time rendering it void with a declaration.

[02] CUMHURIYET: Ankara wills start lobbying.

[03] Rauf Denktas´ son continues hurling threats against the victims of the barbaric Turkish invasion who are still under the yoke of the Turkish military occupation.

[04] Who will command the Turkish Armed Forces in the next decade.

[05] Gul presents Turkey´s work on the Armenian genocide issue.

[06] Al-Qaida magazine issued in Istanbul to be collected by court order.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in SABAH assesses reports that 1,000 Al-Qaida supporters are being monitored in Istanbul.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister thinks Turkey can turn the EU back to the Middle Ages with military occupations, casus belli, signing an agreement while at the same time rendering it void with a declaration

Dear friends, I must first say that it is out of the question for us to consider or discuss any new conditions in connection with the 3 October [EU] negotiation process. The decision concerning the 3 October negotiation process was made on 17 December, and there is no question of introducing any additional conditions. As it happens, there was the question of our extending the Customs Union to incorporate the additional 10 countries, and we have fulfilled this condition through the supplementary protocol that we signed.

The statement made by the French prime minister and by Mr. Chirac -- and I must say that I regret this - when he called to congratulate us on 17 December, Mr. Chirac told me the following on the telephone: This does not constitute political recognition. I agree with the term president, with Mr. Schroeder, and with Mr. Barroso.

However, statements like these are unfortunately being issued now. These are truly regrettable. We would not want things to be conducted in this manner. From now on, we will continue to make our preparations for 3 October. Both the mutual work conducted by the experts and the foreign ministers meetings scheduled for 1-2 September will accelerate the process. Similarly, our chief negotiator is continuing his work in Europe. God willing, we will begin the negotiations on 3 October. We have nothing in mind other than the negotiations.

On the same day NTV television reported that Ankara is disturbed by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's statement concerning Turkey's EU accession process. Turkey undertook initiatives through its Paris Embassy and Foreign Ministry in this regard.

Turkish Ambassador to Paris Uluc Ozulker sought clarifications from the French authorities in connection with de Villepin's statement that the negotiations cannot begin unless Turkey recognizes Cyprus. The same question was posed unofficially to the French Embassy officials in Ankara by the EU Department officials in the Foreign Ministry. No clarifications were offered, however, on the part of France.

Ankara is of the opinion that Cyprus cannot be presented as a new condition for Turkey, and it continues to believe that the negotiations will begin on 3 October.

[02] CUMHURIYET: Ankara wills start lobbying

The paper reports that Turkey will ask help from the EU member states so that the Negotiation Framework Document shall not be changed.

Within this framework, Turkey will demand, first from the term Presidency Britain and other EU countries, to remove completely the Cyprus paragraph and to reject the Cyprus and France´s demand during the 18 August COREPER and on 1-2 September EU Foreign Ministers´Council meetings. CUMHURIYET invoking Turkish Foreign Ministry sources reports: This is a document one-sidedly prepared by the EU, therefore we do not want an expression which might have negative effect on Turkey to be added to. We will do all we could so that this will not happen. However, it is out of the question to directly make proposal or introduce changes.

The same sources added that to this end efforts have started within the EU member countries. Within this framework, the Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and the Chief negotiator Ali Babacan will start visiting EU member countries. CUMHURIYET further reports that Turkey officially has demanded explanation from the French government regarding French Prime Minister De Villepin´s statement.

[03] Rauf Denktas´ son continues hurling threats against the victims of the barbaric Turkish invasion who are still under the yoke of the Turkish military occupation

He added that EU officials gave the necessary response to the statement of French Premier Dominique De Villepin about Cyprus. Stressing that Turkey and the occupation regime would continue to take the right steps with determination, Denktas said that "if EU decides not to start accession talks with Turkey, this will be the loss of EU."

Denktas said that the negative attitude and initiatives of the Greek Cypriot side would also continue during the process of EU-Turkey accession talks.

The resumption of Cyprus talks depended on the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, said Denktas, adding: "Our meetings in Ankara have been the confirmation of the fact that the relations between Turkey and `TRNC´ (occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) will continue after the signing of the additional protocol."

"Papadopoulos won't return to table if the isolation of `TRNC´ is not lifted as promised by the world," Denktas said, adding that Greek Cypriots had time until February 2008 for an opening on the way to settlement. "If Greek Cypriots try to take an initiative for settlement until that period, it is OK. If not, our unilateral efforts for settlement will come onto the agenda," he added.

Mr Denktas concluded: "Papadopoulos revealed clearly what they wanted to do with the changes they have asked to be made in Annan Plan. We can easily see that Papadopoulos tries to legalize the changes on 13 constitutional articles which the Greek Cypriots tried to make in 1964."

[04] Who will command the Turkish Armed Forces in the next decade

The military cadre, who will serve as the Chief of the General Staff successively in the next 10 years after General Hilmi Ozkok retires next year, have been named by the Supreme Military Council [YAS].

Ozkok will be succeeded by General Yasar Buyukanit and General Ilker Basbug will be named as Chief of General Staff after Buyukanit if the current traditions in the military are observed.

According to the decisions made by the Supreme Military Council, which have also been approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the new command structure of the Armed Forces is made of the following generals:

Chief of the General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok; Deputy Chief of the General Staff General Isik Kosaner.

Commander of the Ground Forces General Yasar Buyukanit; Staff Commander of the Ground Forces General Ergin Saygun.

Commander of Air Force General Faruk Comert.

Commander of Naval Forces Admiral Yener Karahanoglu; Navy Commander Admiral Metin Atac..

Gendarmerie General Commander General Fevzi Turkeri.

First Army Commander General Ilker Basbug.

Second Army Commander General Sukru Sariisik.

Third Army Commander General Orhan Yoney.

Aegean Army Commander General Fethi Tuncel.

EDOK Commander General Ismail Kocman.

Military Academies Commander General Aydogan Babaoglu.

Some of the generals appointed by the Supreme Military Council will serve as the Chief of the General Staff consecutively by 2010 unless there is a deviation from the military's traditions. Commander of the Army General Buyukanit will replace Ozkok, when he retires in 2006. Buyukanit, who will hold office for two years, will be succeeded by General Basbug, who will serve as Chief of the General Staff between 2008 and 2010. General Isik Kosaner is expected to be appointed Chief of the General Staff in 2010.

[05] Gul presents Turkey´s work on the Armenian genocide issue

We have published a number of books refuting the allegations of Armenians, and sent them to decision-making mechanisms, parliamentarians, academicians, journalists, universities, libraries and the other relevant institutions in the world through our embassies."

"Also, books and articles of both Turkish and foreign academicians were distributed to the relevant circles. The MFA holds a series of seminars and conferences with the participation of Turkish and foreign scientists in countries where Armenian lobby is active, with the aim of informing public opinion," he said.

Gul added: "As a member of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and as a regional actor in southern Caucasia, Turkey has been making active contributions to efforts to resolve the Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia from the very beginning of the dispute."

"Turkey closely monitors developments about Azerbaijani refugees who were forced to leave their homes due to the occupation of Upper Karabakh by Armenia. In addition to our aid, we pursue an active policy in order to draw attention of the international community to the issue," he said.

Gul said that Turkey had been sending aid to Azerbaijani refugees since 1993.

"Recently, the World Food Program (WFP) released a statement that they needed 10 million USD to meet urgent requirements of Azerbaijani refugees, and that despite all the aids, those refugees had still been living under extremely difficult conditions. Our government have been evaluating additional aids under the statement of the WFP," Gul concluded.

[06] Al-Qaida magazine issued in Istanbul to be collected by court order

Our correspondent has learned that the prosecutor requested the collection of the magazine in line with Article 25 of the Press Law, and the court agreed.

Under Article 25 of the Press Law, a judge can order the collection of publications that violate the law, on condition that he/she launches an investigation and legal proceedings.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in SABAH assesses reports that 1,000 Al-Qaida supporters are being monitored in Istanbul

Turkey has been holding discussions on the recently revived terrorism for days. The world, in turn, has talked about the bombs that exploded in London first and in Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt later. Terrorism was the common enemy. At a time when both Turkey and the world were holding discussions on combating terrorism, attention was drawn to an important point: The manner in which the press takes up and presents the issue.

Yesterday the VATAN newspaper displayed an understanding that should be carefully be monitored and that should be educational in this regard.

The headline of the newspaper in question read exactly as follows: "Some 1,000 Al-Qa'ida supporters are under surveillance in Istanbul." If the newspaper had published this headline on its own behalf, we would not be able to make any comments. However, the newspaper based this report on the statement of Istanbul Deputy Police Chief Sammaz Demirtas. As you all know civil servants are obliged to receive permission from their superiors for giving interviews. This means that Deputy Police Chief Demirtas issued this statement with the permission of Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu.

There is a saying: "The rumors about something are worse than the actual happening." Is it not true that to issue such a statement at a time when both the world and Turkey are sitting on thorns is very irresponsible? Look at this statement: "The attacks launched in London and then in Egypt have shown that the wave of terrorism is shifting toward the east. I expect al-Qa'ida to undertake an action in Turkey by November." Hang on Mr. Deputy Chief. Why do you not say the name of the place? This way, no one will go there.

Turkey discussed this stand at length only last week. State officials called upon the press to act responsibly. So, why has Minister Aksu given his deputy chief permission to issue such a statement? What is the meaning of this? The truth is that the details provided by Deputy Police Chief Sammaz Demirtas are even more amazing. Demirtas said the following: "The earlier attacks showed that they are targeting foreigners and citizens of foreign countries. Consequently, I don't think that the buses or the subway are under threat." What do you think is the meaning of this? Even if the terrorists have not thought about this, Demirtas is openly giving them ideas. Currently, on what grounds will state officials ask the press to act responsibly? We are in high season in terms of tourism. Is it not true that issuing a statement to the effect that "especially foreigners are being targeted" will create the environment that the terrorists want to create? Istanbul Deputy Police Chief Sammaz Demirtas goes even one step further and, almost as if this is a success story in the intelligence field, he says the following: "We are monitoring 1,000 people in Istanbul whom we believe to have Al-Qa'ida connections." I am really curious to know how Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu assessed the statement that "1,000 people are being monitored."

If Al-Qa'ida is "strong" enough to establish connections with 1,000 people in Turkey, our situation is truly "grave." What is even graver is this unfortunate statement.

Did Deputy Chief of Staff Ilker Basbug not underline how the details that were given in the news presentations last week contributed to terrorism? Did he not demand support from the press? I cannot believe that the officials of the state issued such a statement less than one week after Basbug's statement.

If the state, which exists to prevent terrorism, spreads the fear of terrorism, it no longer has the right to turn to the press and to say: "You should also carry out your responsibilities."

The police can evaluate the intelligence reports within itself and it may determine the actions that should be taken on the basis of these reports. The intelligence

information that is obtained may be serious and even grave.

The police's duty is to take the necessary action, and not to inform the public.

It is not the duty of the police to issue statements that will destroy the psychological balance of the public.

/SK

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