Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-03-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the report adopted yesterday by the European Parliament.

[02] Disagreement in the occupied areas of Cyprus on the financial aid of the EU; Turkish Cypriot columnist says EU officials have a three-stage plan for granting the aid.

[03] Ferdi Sabit Soyer: We share Ankaras stance as regards the UN Secretary Generals Cyprus Special Representative Michael Moller.

[04] The US Ambassador to Nicosia is visiting today the self-styled assembly in occupied Lefkosia.

[05] Durduran critical of the census which will take place in occupied Cyprus.

[06] Gul held talks with his Tunisian counterpart. He continues to call the occupation of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops as isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

[07] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish and Paraguayan Foreign Ministers after meeting in Ankara.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] The Turkish army tells conscripts the Greek Orthodox Patriarchade is working to destroy Turkey.

[09] Poll conducted by a pro-Islamic AKP newspaper draws reaction from Turkish politicians.

[10] MILLIYET: Tolerance in Turkey Declines.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the report adopted yesterday by the European Parliament

KIBRIS, under the title The direct trade to be realized, notes that ten reports call on the European Council to continue the efforts regarding the Direct Trade Regulation. It points out that the European Parliament rejected a proposal for amendment in the report providing for relating the realization of the above-mentioned regulation to the opening of the Turkish ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus. EP circles commented on the issue and said that The Greek Cypriots were prevented from putting preconditions to the direct trade regulation, notes KIBRIS, which on its front page refers also to the provision of the report stressing that Turkey recognizing all EU member states is necessary for its accession process. The paper writes also that the report notes that Turkey must open its ports and airports to Cyprus.

AFRIKA, under the title The EU said to Turkey open your ports, but it did not say withdraw your army and refugees, writes that the amendment providing for the withdrawal of the Turkish army and the Turkish settlers from Cyprus was rejected by the EP.

YENIDUZEN refers to the issue under the title The EP rejected the proposal for the withdrawal of army from northern Cyprus.

HALKIN SESI and VATAN note that The report of the EP on the enlargement was adopted.

CUMHURIYET refers to the issue under the title Rejection of the demand for withdrawal of army and refugees.

GUNES reports that the EP adopts one by one conditions which will mean recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Disagreement in the occupied areas of Cyprus on the financial aid of the EU; Turkish Cypriot columnist says EU officials have a three-stage plan for granting the aid

In statements to the editor-in-chief of the paper, Mr Soyer noted that the important thing for them is to have relations with the EU at a level of principals and not the financial dimension of the issue. The policies built on the rejection, have remained in the past, argued Mr Soyer and added that there is a clear policy they have determined with the self-styled presidency and Turkey. He said that the vision of breaking the relations of the Turkish Cypriots with the EU belongs to those who support that the non-solution is the solution in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, YENI DUZEN also reports that in statements to illegal Bayrak television, the chairman of the Democratic Party and self-styled Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Serdar Denktas said that there is not a split in the government, but there is the signal that there will be one.

He said that their main problem is the financial aid protocol and added that what is important is the political aspect of the issue and not the financial. Accepting the money will mean entering under the guardianship of the Greek Cypriot side, he argued stressing that they had reacted against the statements of the advisor at the presidency, Rasit Pertev, who stated that the money will be accepted, because there is no joint policy determined by the presidency and the government on this issue.

Furthermore, the presidency issued a written statement, noting that all the initiatives, meetings and statements of Mr Pertev on the issue of the financial aid were made within the framework of instructions given by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat.

Meanwhile, the paper notes that the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) expressed the opinion that the financial aid from the EU should be accepted.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (17.03.06) wonders what Mr Serdar Denktas will do now when the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Mr Talat and the pro-CTP KTTO state that they will accept the money from the EU. Will he remain a spectator or will he withdraw (from the government), wonders VOLKAN, noting that organizations such as the TMT Association are against the Turkish Cypriots accepting the EU money.

Meanwhile, writing in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot YENI DUZEN newspaper (17.03.06) Turkish Cypriot columnist Hasan Ercakica expresses the view that the EU Financial Aid Regulation has created new possibilities for struggle and difficulties for the Turkish Cypriots. He, inter alia, notes the following:

The Financial Aid Regulation adopted by the EU aiming at binding the aid to the Turkish Cypriots to some rules, caused a new debate in northern Cyprus. While the advisor at the Presidency, Rasit Pertev states that the money given from the EU with this aim will be accepted, the coalition partner, chairman of the Democratic Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serdar Denktas noted that there is no government decision on the issue of taking this financial aid.

As far as we were able to know, EU representatives have launched various meetings with the EU Center, the function of which is bound to the Prime Ministry, and the KTTO officials aiming at determining under what conditions the financial aid will be realized.

During these works the EU officials Alessandra Viezzer and Andrea Battista, noting that they are anticipate for three stages for the application of the EU aid, said that the first is the opening of an office in northern Cyprus. It is provided that this office will start functioning in the beginning of May. As second stage is planned the granting of the amount of 25 million euros to small business enterprises in northern Cyprus through the UNDP which is an organization bound to the United Nations. In the third stage big projects will be evaluated. Because the approval of the EU Commission is needed for projects over five million euros, it is expected that various difficulties will come up on this issue. These difficulties will of course be deriving from the obstacles by the Greek Cypriot side.

In spite of these statements by the EU officials, in the Turkish Cypriot side there is the worry that the approval of the Greek Cypriot side will be asked for the projects which will be prepared. Both the official authorities and civilian organizations such as the KTTO note that they have the tendency not to accept the aid which could be bound on such an approval.

The Turkish Cypriots came onto the international political scene by supporting the solution of the Cyprus problem. This new policy led us to both new struggle possibilities and to new difficulties and dangers. A careless step might cause difficult results, which we will not be able to make up in the future. However, the rejection policy puts us out of the political procedures and leads to the result of our not being present at the political scene.

There is no easy road or a shortcut leading to the target. We have to wage this difficult struggle and it seems that the practices regarding the Financial Aid Regulation are a part of this difficult struggle.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ferdi Sabit Soyer: We share Ankaras stance as regards the UN Secretary Generals Cyprus Special Representative Michael Moller

Claiming that the Turkish Governments refusal to let the Danish diplomat go to Ankara was based on just reasons, Soyer said that as TRNC they always were in dialogue with the UN Secretary General. However, he added, the joint communiqué published at the end of the Paris talks between Kofi Annan and President Papadopoulos has cast a shadow over this dialogue.

He went on and said that they have asked explanations as regards the Paris communiqué and until this explanation comes their view as regards Mr Moller will not change.

Referring to the establishment of technical committees agreed upon in Paris, Mr Soyer claimed that this proposal was originally the idea of Mr Talat and in Paris this had been exploited.

(¥)

[04] The US Ambassador to Nicosia is visiting today the self-styled assembly in occupied Lefkosia

Mr Schlicher will have a meeting with the speaker of the assembly, Mrs Fatma Ekenoglu.

As the paper writes, Mr Schlicher will be the first ambassador, besides the ambassador of Turkey in the breakaway regime, who will visit the self-styled assembly.

According to the paper, these are the positive results from the peace policy which started with the yes that the Turkish Cypriots said at the referendum and led Mehmet Ali Talat to the presidency.

(C/S)

[05] Durduran critical of the census which will take place in occupied Cyprus

Mr Durduran stated that it is not possible to accept a result of a census which does not take into consideration the social classes, the number of the non-Cypriots who became Cypriots, the number of the Cypriots who immigrated and which supposedly is conducted in response to a request from the rest of world.

[06] Gul held talks with his Tunisian counterpart. He continues to call the occupation of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops as isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, is in Tunisia. Gul asked for Tunisia's support for Turkey's efforts to lift the sanctions against the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ [`TRNC´] and for Turkey's membership in the UN Security Council [UNSC] in 2009.

On the first day of his three-day visit to Tunisia, Gul met with Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah. After the two ministers held a tete-a-tete meeting, the delegations of the two countries sat down to negotiations. At the meeting, Gul asked for Tunisia's support in lifting the sanctions against the `TRNC´. Gul also asked for Tunisia's support for Turkey's efforts to join the UNSC in 2009.

The two delegations also discussed the need to increase the volume of trade between the two countries, and especially the easier terms to be granted to Turkish businessmen who will invest in the fields of tourism and textile in Tunisia.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the occupied areas of Cyprus).

[07] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish and Paraguayan Foreign Ministers after meeting in Ankara

The Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has reiterated Turkeys support to finding a solution to the Cyprus Problem on the basis of the Annan Plan within the UN Secretary-Generals good offices mission.

Speaking during a joint press conference with the visiting Paraguayan Foreign Minister Leila Rasid, the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said he found the opportunity to convey to his Paraguayan counterpart the latest developments on the Cyprus Problem.

Mr Gul added that the Paraguayan Foreign Minister welcomed Ankaras new initiative on the Cyprus Issue aimed at breaking the current deadlock and the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations process on the basis of the Annan Plan.

For her part, the Paraguayan Foreign Minister congratulated Mr Gul for his efforts and expressed the hope that Turkeys new Action Plan on Cyprus will be in the interest of both sides on the island.

Asked what Paraguays position was concerning the international isolation of North Cyprus, Ms. Rasid said that her country was against the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people and added that Paraguay was ready to do everything to help put an end to this.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] The Turkish army tells conscripts the Greek Orthodox Patriarchade is working to destroy Turkey

I would very much like the commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces to read and evaluate this column carefully.

I have thought long and hard about whether or not to write it.

But when I read the indictment written about Ground Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit, the goals of which were plain and clear, I decided to write it. I hope that, after the experience of this event, they will better understand the things I am going to write below.

At the end of last summer, the son of a friend whom I had known for many years did his abbreviated [in return for payment] military service and returned to the country in which he lives.

After returning, he sent me an e-mail message.

Let me state at the outset that this is not a young man who has any ideological obsessions. He is bound by very strong ties to his fatherland, Turkey. He has a capability for very sound and impartial judgment.

But he evidently encountered certain events during the course of his abbreviated military service that greatly shook his attachment to the Turkish Armed Forces.

Do not misunderstand, I am not talking about any mistreatment. He is referring to the "doctrinal training" that was given to himself and his colleagues throughout their military service.

Some commanders assigned by the General Staff evidently gave them lengthy briefings. In these briefings, views opposing European Union membership were evidently imposed in an overt way.

It was explained that the Fener [Greek Orthodox] Patriarchate is an institution inimical to Turkey, and is working to destroy Turkey.

Very harsh statements were used with regard to certain allied countries. It was claimed that Christians are engaged in missionary activities in Turkey, and that this is a subversive activity.

It was not just these things, but also the style that was employed, that very much alienated my friend's son. The label of "traitor" was applied to those individuals who defend the European Union. The expression "Ali Kemal" [referring to a writer who had opposed the Turkish War of Independence] was used for journalists who defended it.

As I said, these are things conveyed by a young man whose good sense I trust completely, and about whose patriotism I have not the slightest doubt.

While I was still unable to get over the impact of the things he related, yet another acquaintance told me similar things. A relative of his had come back from doing military service and had witnessed the same doctrinal addresses.

In fact, things had gone even further, and expressions were reportedly used regarding the owners of certain respected companies in Turkey that only a fanatical leftist or rightist in the 1970s mode would ever say.

Both young men said that they had been deeply disappointed. But their really striking observations were as follows:

"The styles of these commanders who gave us these briefings and of certain extremist religious [dinci] newspapers were very similar."

When I became the Managing Editor of HURRIYET on 22 Mart 1990, I gave two directives.

The first was for no one to take pictures of bearded men after every Friday prayer and bring me reports of "Black Friday".

My second directive was as follows:

"I do not want to see ugly pictures of Turkish soldiers in this newspaper."

I would like what I have written today to be evaluated within this framework.

I would like to learn the answer to the following question:

Are these briefings being conducted with the knowledge of the Office of the Chief of the General Staff or do they reflect the personal mentalities of the commanders in question?

Our commanders were justifiably very unhappy with the indictment prepared by the Van prosecutor, which is full of arbitrary statements.

On this topic, they even got support from newspapers and writers with religious sensitivities whom they considered to be in opposition to themselves.

For this reason, I say: If the things said in the indictment disturbed our commanders, they themselves must also act more carefully with regard to the other institutions and members of society.

[09] Poll conducted by a pro-islamic AKP newspaper draws reaction from Turkish politicians

The outcome of the opinion poll focusing on which political party would emerge victorious if a general election were to be held today, which was conducted by Pollmark Arastirma for YENI SAFAK, has not satisfied anybody. Even the AKP [Justice and Development Party] has expressed its doubts about the reliability of the survey, arguing that it would gain 46 percent of the poll, while the DYP [True Path Party] and the Motherland Party [ANAP] urged the AKP to call an early election if it is really convinced that it would win the next general election.

The outcome of the survey conducted for YENI SAFAK, which showed that the AKP would rank first and get 42.7 percent of the votes while the CHP [Republican People's Party] and the MHP [Nationalist Action Party] would follow the AKP with 17.2 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively, and thus win seats in the National Assembly, drew different reactions from the political parties. Even the AKP, which, according to the survey, would poll eight percent higher as compared with its showing in the general election held in 2002, argued that it would poll 46 percent instead.

Nevzat Ercan (DYP deputy leader): "The DYP is in constant touch with people and regularly organizes rallies. We hold meetings with people in villages, townships, and cities. In other words, we actually conduct the most comprehensive survey by talking with citizens. If those results reflect the actual situation, then let us hold an early election and analyze the actual results. We all know that a publicity campaign is being maintained to support the ruling party. I believe that a reliable survey could only be conducted by directly sounding out people on political issues."

Saffet Arikan Beduk (DYP deputy leader): "The figures revealed by those polls do not actually reflect the real situation in Turkey. We travel to every corner of Anatolia and those figures do not correspond to reality. The poll in question does not reflect the public's opinion correctly. If there are some people, who believe that its results are reliable, then we are ready to go to the polls, which is the only solution. The public is in favor of holding an election as soon as possible. People do not trust artificial opinion polls, which are based on the rosy pictures of the virtual world."

Omer Abusoglu (ANAP deputy whip): "The outcome of the survey, which indicates that the AKP would poll 43%, is an exaggeration and a baloney. The popularity ratings of the political parties were different in the results of other polls submitted to us and the AKP. The ANAP will be the third party winning seats in the National Assembly."

Mehmet Sandir (MHP deputy leader): "YENI SAFAK´s poll says that the AKP would poll 42 percent but the Prime Minister has said that it was not true. We also have the results of some opinion polls. We are witnessing a constant rise in popular support for our party. The MHP intends to form a majority government after the next election and it will get enough votes to achieve that goal. If those polls are reliable and they are courageous enough, we urge them to call an early election. So, everybody would see the actual situation."

Mehmet Sevigen (CHP Deputy Secretary General): "Those who have conducted the survey in question are not in touch with the real world. They should talk with the man in the street. How could the AKP's popularity rating rise at a time when the poor are in such a miserable situation? If the AKP believes that the outcome of the poll is reliable and has enough courage, it should call an early election. It polled 34% on 3 November 2002 and it should gain 44% of the poll in an early election."

Salih Kapusuz (AKP deputy whip): "In my view, it is highly unlikely that the MHP will surmount the election threshold. According to the results of the opinion polls conducted for the AKP, only the AKP and the CHP could win votes enough to surmount the election threshold and the MHP would not be able to do that. Our popular support is actually higher and it is somewhere between 43 and 46 percent. I could not see any figure about the number of undecided voters in the poll."

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek: "The poll conducted for YENI SAFAK and others taken for my party have revealed similar results, which were encouraging for our party. Those results indicate that the AKP has not experienced any erosion in its popular support unlike other majority governments."

[10] MILLIYET: Tolerance in Turkey Declines

According to the poll, religious beliefs have a significant bearing on the decisions the people make when they vote for those who run for party leaderships, make friends, and choose their spouses.

MILLIYET newspaper in its today issue (17.03.06) publishes evaluations of yesterdays poll. Professor Hakan Yilmaz (Political scientist) who conducted the survey said that the results showed that the communal culture on which secularism is based is facing problems.

In her turn Prof., Nur Vergin ( Sociologist) warns that Turkey is shifting from traditional society qualities to that of conservative community qualities. This is indicative of going towards prohibitive inclination. We are face to face with a society where everybody is upset from everybody.

/SK

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