Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Two Turkish Cypriot politicians Ozker Ozgur and Salih Miroglu died yesterday in occupied Cyprus.

[02] The self-styled council of ministers amends the law regarding the Compensations Committee; Talat says they could not amend the constitution.

[03] Five self-styled MPs of the Democratic Party are against the amendment of the article 159 of the constitution.

[04] The self-styled Minister of Economy and Tourism will attend a meeting of the Tourism Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

[05] The leader of the United Cyprus Party Izzet Izcan paid a visit to the peace and Democracy Movement of Mustafa Akinci.

[06] Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met with African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Qumar Konare.

[07] Toros-2005 military exercises to be held in occupied Cyprus between 23-25 of November.

[08] The self-styled TRNC handball team is invited by Kosovo to take part in a tournament.

[09] MILLIYET: Naked Protest from TRNC.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist in CUMHURIYET assesses the political developments in 2006 in Turkey in view of the presidential elections.

[11] Serhat Incirli: The man whose monument should be erected.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Two Turkish Cypriot politicians Ozker Ozgur and Salih Miroglu died yesterday in occupied Cyprus

KIBRIS writes that Ozker Ozgur who was the chairman of the Republican Turkish party for 20 years and was the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the United Cyprus Party, struggled with cancer for the last 9 months and died yesterday afternoon at his house in occupied Lefkosia.

The paper notes that Ozgur struggled through all his life for the interests of the Turkish Cypriots, for equality, freedom and peace.

The last person who visited Ozgur was the General Secretary of AKEL Dimitris Christofias, who visited Ozgur at his house last Monday. After Ozgurs death yesterday afternoon, a lot of persons visited his house. Among them were the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat along with his wife Oya, the self-styled prime minister Ferdi Soyer, some self-styled ministers and self-styled deputies of the parliament and lots of relatives and friends.

Commenting on Ozgurs death Mr Talat stated that his death caused a great sorrow and noted that Ozgur was a teacher in the schools, the politics, the love, the happiness and the struggles of the Turkish Cypriots. On his part Mr Soyer stated that Ozgur will always be remembered with great respect and noted that a special person was lost that cannot be replaced. .

In addition, the general secretary of the National Unity Party (NUP) of Dervis Eroglu, Salih Miroglu, died yesterday evening after having a hard attack. Miroglu was delivering a speech at a meeting of his party in occupied Famagusta when he had the heard attack and he died after he was transferred at the hospital. Miroglu was a candidate for the NUP leadership at the elections to be held at the general assembly of the party on the 24th of December.

(C/S)

[02] The self-styled council of ministers amends the law regarding the Compensations Committee; Talat says they could not amend the constitution

According to the draft-law, which has also been published in the so-called official gazette of the self-styled TRNC, in case a Greek Cypriot demands his occupied property, the property could be returned provided that no title deed was given for it and it is not putting in danger the public order. Otherwise, the return of the property is postponed until after a solution to the Cyprus problem is reached.

The paper writes that the draft-law includes paying compensations for both the immovable and the movable properties. When the draft-law becomes a law and gets into effect, the so-called Law for Compensating the Immovable Properties, prepared two years ago and which provides only for compensations, will be abolished.

HALKIN SESI writes, inter alia, the following:

The draft-law, which is prepared with the goal of carrying out the requirements of the international law in the TRNCs proprietorship regime and of being accepted as internal legal means by the European Court of Human Rights, provides for the creation of a committee which will work as a court and at least two of its members will be foreigners. In accordance with the draft-law, these two foreign members could not be citizens of the guarantor countries, as they cannot also be Turkish or Greek Cypriots. The draft-law, which was approved at the Council of Ministers and published in the official gazette, will get into effect after it is approved at the Republican Assembly.

Meanwhile, referring to the issue, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmer Ali Talat said that the draft-law was prepared as a result of long work and in consultation with international jurists.

Asked whether or not an amendment of the law without changing the relevant article of the self-styled constitution is possible, Mr Talat replied: It would be better and easier to act if an amendment in the constitution was made. However, for a constitutional amendment a majority of two thirds is needed in the Parliament. There is no green light that this could be achieved. And the legal amendment will be enough for an arrangement on this issue.

The paper writes that the draft-law was named Draft law regarding the Return, the Exchange and the Compensation of the Immovable Properties entering into the scope of the paragraphs (b) and (c) of the sub-paragraph 1 of the 159 article of the Constitution and the Movable Properties belonging to those who had been forced to migrate from the Northern Part of Cyprus before 13 February 1975.

In the preamble of the draft-law, it is said that the ECHR decided that the provisions of the above-mentioned law are contrary to the article 1 of the Supplementary Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is also noted that in the decision for the Greek Cypriot refugee Xenides Arestis case, the ECHR decided that the so-called Compensations Committee established with the law 49/2003 was not an effective internal legal means and that an arrangement according to the European Convention on Human Rights is needed so that this committee is accepted as an internal legal means.

I/Ts.

[03] Five self-styled MPs of the Democratic Party are against the amendment of the article 159 of the constitution

Mrs Hatice Faydali said: The state has given title deeds to its citizens and it must support the title deeds it gave. There could be no country without territory and flag. No one has the power to change the article 159. if needed, we will sit and discuss this with Turkey and determine a common attitude.

Mr Ertugrul Hasipoglu said: I strongly oppose to the amendment of this article. Amending the article 159 is not possible. There could be some difficulties at the ECHR, but these could be overcome together with our motherland Turkey.

Mr Mehmet Tancer said: Article 159 is an article that binds our people with the land. I am definitely against the revocation of this article.

Mr Mustafa Arabacioglu said: I am strongly against this. Bringing it onto the agenda and discussing it is wrong and very dangerous. Bringing it onto the agenda and discussing it is damaging the faith of our people to the state.

Mr Mustafa Gokmen said: The lifting of article 159 is unacceptable. Otherwise, this would be tantamount to raising a white flag and to the end of the TRNC.

(I.Ts)

[04] The self-styled Minister of Economy and Tourism will attend a meeting of the Tourism Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference

According to a statement issued by the self-styled Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Mr Deniz will attend tomorrows opening ceremony of the 21st meeting of the OICs Economic and Commercial Cooperation Permanent Committee which is to be held within the framework of the First International Islamic Countries Tourism Fair in Istanbul. Mr Deniz will also attend a dinner that the Turkish State Minister Abdullatif Sener will give in honour of representatives from OIC member countries.

Dervis Kemal Deniz will be accompanied by the self-styled Ministry Undersecretary Mehmet Basel, the self-styled Ministry Director Orcun Kamali as well as the self-styled Head of the Tourism Information and Marketing Office Hasan Artuner and Adviser to the Ministry Vedat Yorucu.

Meanwhile, Mr Deniz will also take part in the 1st Tourism Fair of the International Islamic Countries that will be held between 24-26 November in Istanbul. He will return to the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus on the 26th of November.

(DPs)

[05] The leader of the United Cyprus Party Izzet Izcan paid a visit to the peace and Democracy Movement of Mustafa Akinci

Mr Izcan briefed the Peace and Democracy Movement officials on the meetings he held last week both with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Tassos Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat.

At the meeting Mr Izzet Izcan said that the Greek Cypriot side has presented its suggestions to the United Nations, both in written and oral form and added that the Turkish Cypriot side has been informed about this. Mr Izcan also said that some of the suggestions made by the Turkish Cypriot side are in President Papadopoulos hands.

Mr Izcan went on and said that they are trying to search what can be done on the Cyprus issue in cooperation with other pro-solution parties. Stating that both Mr Talat and Mr Papadopoulos have said to him that they are ready to meet under the framework of the United Nations, Mr. 0zcan said however that the date for the meeting still remains at large.

Peace and Democracy Movement Leader Mustafa Akinci, on his part, said the Turkish Cypriots should refuse the policy of delaying the issue and should take an initiative for a solution.

(D/Ps)

[06] Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met with African Union Commission Chairman Alpha Qumar Konare

Mr Gul and African Union Commission Chairman Mr Alpha Qumar Konare held a joint news conference after their bilateral meeting in Ankara on Tuesday. Turkey joined the African Union in 2005 as an observer.

Noting that Turkey declared 2005 'African Year', Mr Gul said: "TIKA (Turkish International Cooperation Agency) opened an office in Addis Ababa. This shows how Turkey is sensitive towards humanitarian problems of the continent. We will contribute to the solution of these problems. Also Turkish police and soldiers were assigned to peacekeeping missions in several African countries."

"Turkey is eager to develop its economic and political relations with Africa," Gul added.

Mr Konare, in his part, said that Turkey's democratic and stable structure will play a significant role to solve Africa's problems. Mr Konare also said that Turkey is highly active in economics and security in African countries.

[07] Toros-2005 military exercises to be held in occupied Cyprus between 23-25 of November

A Security Forces spokesman in the OTRC said on Monday that the exercises would start on November 23rd.

Civilians will be allowed to watch maneuvers on November 25th.

[08] The self-styled TRNC handball team is invited by Kosovo to take part in a tournament

European Handball Federation (EHF) member Kosovo invited the TRNC, as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, to take part in the tournament that will be held between 24-27 November.

Noting that they are very satisfied with the invitation, the officials of the TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus) Handball Federation said: The invitation to this organization with three other members of the EHF gratified us a lot. We hope that after this tournament, the EHF will open all the international games to us.

Subtitle: Turkey works behind the scene

The Chairman of Turkeys Handball Federation, Mr Tarik Cengiz said: For a long time now, we have made intensive efforts at the EHF to secure membership for the TRNC. Seven months ago, we asked, as Turkey, that Kosovo becomes a member. Our proposal was accepted and today Kosovo is an official member. We brought to the EHF the same proposal for the TRNC. At the EHF, the proposal is taken very seriously. I am sure that shortly, the TRNC will become an official member. We want this tournament in Kosovo to be the first step towards membership. We desire in this way to break the embargo and to free the TRNC national team from isolation.

(DPs)

[09] MILLIYET: Naked Protest from TRNC

The paper reports that within the framework of the campaign to put an end to the sports embargo in the north Cyprus, an Human Rights Group in London the Embargoed, has decided to take nude photos of the Turkish Cypriot football players.

Six football players from north Cyprus and six players from London will take part in the nude poster called Balls to Embargo.

The spokesman of the Association of the Embargoed, Ipek Ozerim, said that this is the first ring of the protest chain directed to FIFA, that imposes segregation. The self-styled chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus, Niyazi Okutan, said that nude photos of the football players will be exhibited during the activities organized by the Association of the Embargoed to take place on 10-11 December 2005.

Okutan added that on 30 November, there will be the selection of the nude players.

(MHY)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist in CUMHURIYET assesses the political developments in 2006 in Turkey in view of the presidential elections

It is possible to summarize the most important message of the CHP's [Republican People's Party] last congress as follows: "Be ready for early elections." It has already become obvious that 2006 will be a complicated year in terms of Turkey. Presidential elections will be held in 2006. According to the current picture of the TBMM [Turkish Grand National Assembly], the number of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] is enough for electing the president.

And it appears that this is why all hell will break loose. It is true that reactions that can be summarized as "someone whose wife wears an Islamic headdress cannot become president" will gradually escalate in the period ahead. Early elections are therefore a formula suggested by certain circles as a solution to this problem.

The calculations are being made as follows: The numbers in the TBMM may change after early elections that will be held prior to the presidential elections. Given that the AKP has been worn out as a ruling party, it may lose its majority in the TBMM. If the MHP [Nationalist Action Party] and the DYP [True Path Party] exceed the 10% election threshold, the MHP, the CHP, and the DYP may act together in the presidential elections.

According to the Constitution it is possible to hold early elections only if the TBMM reaches a decision in this regard. Therefore, with the current numbers only the AKP may reach this decision. We know that the AKP has not been in favor of early elections so far. In all their statements, AKP administrators note that the elections are held once in five years and that the next elections will be held as scheduled, in the fall of 2007.

Under such circumstances, how can the CHP force the AKP to hold early elections? According to an argument, if all the CHP deputies resign, there will be a vacuum in the TBMM and as a result, the AKP may be forced to hold early elections. Given that approximately one third of the TBMM will resign, at least bi-elections will become inevitable. If, presidential elections are held at the TBMM only with the participation of the AKP deputies, these elections will be considered flawed.

We are building all this on hypotheses. Will the CHP agree to totally withdraw from the TBMM prior to the presidential elections in order to ensure the renewal of the TBMM? There is no doubt that the approach that will be adopted by ANAP [Motherland Party] which has recently established a faction in the assembly may also become important at this point. The surveys show that with its current popularity rate ANAP will remain below the election threshold. Furthermore, it is difficult to guess from now what parties such as the DYP and the SHP [Social Democratic People's Party] which are represented in the TBMM will do.

The call for "being ready for the elections" that was issued by the CHP's congress points to a situation that should be taken seriously. As we approach the presidential elections the tension and the pressure in this regard may intensify. In Turkey politics is conducted on constantly tense grounds, anyway. The bombings and the raids that have recently been conducted by the PKK in the southeast also intensify the political tension.

The picture that was revealed in Semdinli has once again exposed that certain forces within the state are keeping busy. Meanwhile, the talks with the EU may trigger certain factors that may intensify the tension at home.

Bombs have been exploding in the cities lately. Tomorrow it will be more difficult to guess what the circles that want the tension to intensify will do. Does Turkey have the political actors who are able to manage such a crisis? For example, can the government manage such a crisis?

The election of presidents has always built up the tension in Turkey. The presidential elections have always incited internal disputes. Let us not forget that the TBMM's failure to elect a president had constituted one of the most important reasons behind the 12 September military coup d'etat.

The discussions that will focus on the presidential elections will appear on the agenda in the months ahead. It appears that as we approach the presidential elections the tension will further intensify. Will early elections be held? It is impossible to guess the answer to this question from now. Nonetheless, regardless of whether or not elections are held, the identity of the president will constitute the center of domestic politics in Turkey.

The basic danger that raises concern is that the tension that will begin with the discussions of "he should become president" and "he should not become president" may lead to outcomes that may harm political stability and the parliamentarian regime. Is it possible to reach a national consensus in this regard? Is there need for a national consensus? Such questions stand before us and they should be urgently answered.

Apparently we have entered a new period that will be full of critical, complicated, and complex problems. Let us see how the process will develop.

[11] Serhat Incirli: The man whose monument should be erected

Mr Incirli, calling late Ozgur as Ozker Hoca (Ozker the teacher) because Mr Ozgur was a teacher and everybody used to call him as Ozker Hoca as a sign of respect.

Incirli recalled his tet-a-tet meeting in 1986 in Ankara and his last meeting last year in London in a hospital room overlooking the Thames River where Mr Ozgur went for treatment.

Our last tet-a-tet meeting took place at a hospital room overlooking the Thames River in London. For the first time I have heard from him his proposal to erect a joint monument for those Greek and Turkish Cypriot martyrs who lost their lives in their struggle to make Cyprus a common homeland.

We had discussed the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) (Mr Ozgur was one of the founder and 20 years chairman of the RTP until he was ousted from the Party in 1996) and unfortunately also discussed the RTP´s change of course in making Cyprus a common homeland

He was having difficulty to criticize the RTP because he loved his former party as his child, but, he never forgave the betrayal committed by party leadership

Incirli criticizes this indifference exhibited against Mr Ozgur by the new RTP leadership and says:

The northern part of Cyprus is under occupation. Turkish Armed Forces, deep State and intelligence units keep the North Cyprus under their control.

It is very difficult for a politician in north Cyprus to think about his wishes let alone about saying and doing what he wishes.

And Ozker Hoca, as well got his share from the `state´ when he became deputy prime minister

In north Cyprus if one sits on a chair others acquire his control. The first condition to hold power in the north Cyprus, is to obey to the very end to those who acquire this control.

Incirli goes on and writes that the National Unity Party (NUP) and Democrat Party (DP) happily welcomes and digested the occupation thus were able to maintain for a long time the chair.

On the other hand the communal Liberation Party (CLP), Akinci and all the others, from the moment they slightly raised their voice they were immediately toppled. What I want to say is that it is not possible to play the parliamentary democracy under the occupation.

Ozker Hoca as well was unable to play that game.

Incirli praises Mr Ozgur as statesman and he says that despite all pressure and negative propaganda Ozker Hoca never deviated from his line and the teaching that `Cyprus is the common homeland of the Cypriots´. This is the major success and very serious contribution of Ozker Hoca to this island He very seriously advocated the Cypriotism as the supra-identity.

AKEL has a lot to learn regarding Cypriotism-supra-identity from Ozker Hoca, Incirli stress. He then criticizes those who toppled Mr Ozgur from the RTP and made him to leave the party and acquired the RTP´s leadership. Incirli added: In few years time they abandoned suddenly the slogan `Cyprus is our common homeland´ and started conveying messages with Turkish army caps on their heads. Mehmet Ali Talat once said on board a Turkish warship with a Turkish

Army cap on his head and a Turkish general next to him: `Let Tassos

Papadopoulos come and see who is sovereign in the sea in the north´. At that moment the policy `Cyprus is our common homeland´ was surrendered. In fact the message there was: Here it is Talat as well is finished, here it is the proof of the surrender´.

Seerhat Incirli concludes by saying: My last call is for those who still consider Cyprus their common homeland; Are you looking for somebody to erect his monument? You do not need to look for Ozker Hoca, he is standing in front of you.

(MHY)

/SK

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