Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-06-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat to meet the German Foreign Minister.

[02] German court has reportedly recognized the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[03] Statements by Hasan Ercakica.

[04] Soyer says that Annans letter to Talat silenced President Papadopoulos.

[05] Prisoners escaped from the illegal regime´s central prison; three of them were arrested in the free areas of Cyprus.

[06] Serdar Denktas is to visit Istanbul for contacts with the Turkish Government.

[07] Turkish President to discuss the Cyprus problem during his visits to Israel and Russia.

[08] Foreign tour operators in occupied Cyprus.

[09] International campaign is launched for Ayia Sophia church to open as an Orthodox Church.

[10] Turkey´s Ministry of Education allows headscarved women to take part in exams.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in HURRIYET newspaper argues that the latest crisis in Turkey is a silly scenario.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat to meet the German Foreign Minister

Mr Ozkok first gives an account of the behind-the-stage preparation of Fridays meeting where Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogans advisor Cuneyd Zapsu, who is fluent in German, played a major role. Mr Ozkok insists that the meeting will take place within an official framework but this does not mean Germanys recognition of the illegal regime.

He claims that Mr Zapsu used a fine diplomacy in convincing Germans to meet with Talat. The argument Mr Zapsu used , according to Mr Ozkok, was that the Turkish Cypriots who said yes during the 24 April referendum were punished and the Greek Cypriots, hence President Papadopoulos, who rejected the referendum were rewarded.

He says that Zapsus first contacts started two months ago as unofficial meeting attempts. And these contacts were kept secret in order not to give the Greek Cypriots the chance to foil the meeting.

Mr Ozkok thinks that Friday´s meeting is an important event because after Britain, Germany which is a major power within the EU, conveys a serious message to President Papadopoulos that if he continues his intransigent stance this could pave the way that leads to the recognition of the TRNC. The meeting will take place at an official guest house of the German foreign ministry.

Mr Ozkok concludes by saying that at the Talat- Steinmeier meeting Mr Saban Disli and not Mr Zapsu will be present because the latter has no official position.

(MHY)

[02] German court has reportedly recognized the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

KIBRIS reports that Peter Frazen, a German citizen who had been accused of attempting to buy Yesilada Bank in the occupied areas of Cyprus and had also been wanted by Interpol for fraud, is being tried in Germany. Upon a request of the Court of Munich seven officials from the TRNC went to Germany in April and testified in the investigation. Four policemen, the public prosecutor Ergul Kizilokgil, the lawyer Serhan Cinar and the head of the Inspection and Investigation Committee of TRNCs so-called Central Bank Turker Deler participated in the delegation, which visited Germany between 10 and 15 April. The expenses of their tickets and visa were met by the German Court. The expenses for their stay in Germany were covered from the budget of the ministry of finance upon a decision of the Council of Ministers and the budget of the Police Directorate. Mr Cinar traveled on his own expenses.

According to the paper, the lawyer of Mr Frazen objected to the fact that the delegation from the occupied areas would testify and said that there is no country named TRNC and that these witnesses cannot testify. The Court of Munich, reports KIBRIS, said that there is a country named TRNC and these witnesses are officials of the TRNC and allowed the hearing of all the witnesses.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Statements by Hasan Ercakica

Speaking at his weekly press conference this morning, Mr Ercakica said the unfounded claim by the Government Spokesman is a sign of the fact that Mr Lilikas is having illusions.

Topics of discussion at such a meeting will be limited, and there will also be the need to declare support to the proposed setting up of the bicommunal committees he said, in response to a question.

Mr Ercakica said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Mehmet Ali Talat is ready and willing to meet the President Papadopoulos anytime anywhere - be it - for an informal chat to a cup of coffee, or, as part of the proposed negotiations for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

Pointing to the suggestions that a chapter by chapter solution to the Cyprus problem may prove to be a better method to try resolving the Cyprus problem; Mr Ercakica underpinned the need for a just, speedy and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, which, he stressed, gives willingness a pivotal role in such a search for peace in Cyprus.

He reminded how Mr Mehmet Ali Talat has been stressing the need for a suitable atmosphere to be created for the conditions to push forward a peace settlement in Cyprus.

It is at this point that the importance of the need to end the Turkish Cypriot sides international `isolation´ is seen he said.

[04] Soyer says that Annans letter to Talat silenced President Papadopoulos

Mr Soyer writes that the letter that Mr Annan sent to Talat has made President Papadopoulos, who is a supporter of the status quo in the south, who says that the Cyprus problem should be discussed on the basis of a European solution and who tries to escape from the UN and the UN solution Plan and who made dreams of osmosis, to be silenced.

Mr Soyer also stated that the yes vote of the Turkish Cypriots has determined the final shape of the Cyprus problem. This letter and these lines clearly state that the Turkish Cypriots are the basic force for the solution in Cyprus and that the continuation of this is of a vital importance for our people and country, he wrote.

(C/S)

[05] Prisoners escaped from the illegal regime´s central prison; three of them were arrested in the free areas of Cyprus

Three of the five fugitives Kudret Celebi, Mucahit Yanarates and 0brahim Uslu are reported to have been captured by the Cyprus police in the free areas of Cyprus where they fled immediately after escaping from prison.

The other two fugitives, Erkut Latif and Mahmut Uslu are still at large.

Kudret Celebi and Erkut Latif were being kept under arrest in connection with the rape of a teenager girl earlier this year.

Their trial is still continuing in the Gazimagusa (occupied Famagusta) district court.

The self-styled Interior Ministry Undersecretary Ali Alnar told the BRT that a massive police operation is underway to find the two men still on the run.

He said efforts are underway to get the three men extradited to the TRNC this has been confirmed by Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer who said that work is already underway to bring back the three men.

Mr Soyer said the efforts towards that end include political contacts with the Cyprus Government.

He said the breakout is yet another indication of the need to introduce additional security measures in the Lefkosia Central Prison.

He said the government will focus on the issue.

[06] Serdar Denktas is to visit Istanbul for contacts with the Turkish Government

Mr Denktas will be meeting with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and the Minister of State Abdullatif Sener.

On Thursday, Mr Denktas will fly to Istanbul where he will meet with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Meanwhile, the President of the main opposition National Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun flies to Istanbul tomorrow to meet with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[07] Turkish President to discuss the Cyprus problem during his visits to Israel and Russia

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will seek support for the Cyprus issue during his official visits to Israel which begins today and to Russia later this month. Pointing out that Turkey is doing its best for a just settlement on the island, Sezer will ask the countries to back lifting the international embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. (Breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus).

Another topic to be taken up during his talks will be the dispute over Irans nuclear program. He is expected to express Turkeys desire for a region free of nuclear weapons. During his two-day stay in the Mideast, Mr Sezer is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Mosche Katsav and President Ehud Olmert.

He will not meet with Palestines Hamas leaders, but only Palestinian Premier Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party. In addition, Mr Sezer is set to travel to Moscow on June 25 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

[08] Foreign tour operators in occupied Cyprus

The paper further reports that a touristic campaign has been launched in cooperation with Tez Tour, Fellahoglu Tourism and Zodeia Producers Union, based on the Turkish-Russian partnership.

On the same issue, Mr Ismail Gunaydin of the Tez Tour, stated that Cyprus is an attractive destination for vacations, especially among the Russian tourists, while the manager of Fellahoglu Turizm, Mr Ahmet Yildirim, said that every year 200,000 Russians are visiting the free areas of Cyprus.

According to the paper, this is the second visit that foreign tour operators conduct to the occupied Cyprus within 15 days upon an invitation by Tez Tour. During the first visit, 83 foreign tour operators from five countries had come to the occupied part of Cyprus.

(M/L)

[09] International campaign is launched for Ayia Sophia church to open as an Orthodox Church

Mr Spyrou, who legally formed the "Free Ayia Sophia Council" in New York City last week, has said that his goal is to make the ancient edifice into the "center of the kingdom of Orthodoxy." Said Mr Spyrou: "Just as millions of Catholics go to Rome, and millions of Muslims go to Mecca, and millions of Jewish people go to Jerusalem, we Orthodox, no matter where we are from, should be able to pray at the Ayia Sophia."

Mr Spyrou's efforts include a web site, www.freeagiasophia.org, which has reportedly received visits by 30 thousand people over the last few days. Mr Spyrou insists that his group's efforts to turn the Ayia Sophia back into a working church will employ legal methods, and that they are not considering a signature campaign.

[10] Turkey´s Ministry of Education allows headscarved women to take part in exams

The regulatory change has been in effect since April 19, reports said on Monday, with 20 such examinations taking place. The ministry said the examinations would take into account the specifications listed by each institution, adding that if the institution in question requires that the entrant not wear a headscarf, that stipulation would be applied.

It was also reported that no headscarved entrant had been allowed into the examinations since April 20.

The tests that were held since April 20 were all for state institutions and that consequently the headscarf ban applied.

The Education Ministry said the change was made for special institutions and mass education programs.

The Education Ministry administers the following examinations: High School Student Selection test, Open University and Open High School test, driver's license test, promotion tests held for state and private institutions in accordance with an agreement signed, tests for special security personnel, and as part of the mass education program, the ministry also holds tests in certain areas such as computers, literacy and sewing.

Ministry officials said the headscarf ban was not imposed on tests for private institutions, emphasizing the fact that the regulatory change applied to tests carried out for bodies outside the state.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in HURRIYET newspaper argues that the latest crisis in Turkey is a silly scenario

For the past 15 days, we have been watching as conspiracy antics spread in every direction in this country. The play unfolding before our eyes has had us all saying "This is just too much this time." The latest act has been the "discovery of an undercover gang/group," and the simultaneous delivery of details about this group to various newspapers in top secret yellow envelops. No doubt it was assumed the details would all be believed and then printed up the next day. Thank God some of our journalism counterparts decided to push this "yellow envelope" business to the front of the news, informing society of what was really happening. That is the level of stupidity of this play, a play which has attempted to make chumps of us all, that has unfolded before our eyes. The scenario has been enough to "make even the crows laugh."

Yes, but what are the less-funny elements of this comedy? Well, this crude scenario has succeeded in dividing the society at large. Unbelievably, this much of a vulgar, base, crudely-enacted scenario has actually plunged us into more tension. And I see this as the real threat. How is it though that, watching this play which would make "even the crows laugh," we separated into different camps? How is it that we swallowed this provocation, which has now brought our country's administration, military, and various departments to the point of staring at each other in suspicion? These are questions which we all need to think about.

Still, there are some advantages to the period started by the bloody attack on the Council of State. The last few weeks have seen Turkish society's most unhealthy face emerge to the forefront. We have all observed the real lessons that our politicians need to learn. We have all seen and understood now the threats inherent in those marginal factions of our society which make their livelihoods from selling their conspiracy theories to the communities around them. In short, these recent events have been a crushing defeat for all those who subscribe to and attempt to spread conspiracy theories in Turkey. What has unfolded has managed to confuse even more their already confused minds. There is another important fact which has emerged along with these events. We now see the lengths that some will go to in order to create tension and difficulty in our society. Our political system has thus lived out its own "Hurricane Katrina." And now is the time to figure out what the damage is, and start repairing. Everyone needs to start sweeping in front of their own homes.

As a citizen of Turkey, I am sure of this: The military will take care of the part of the problem which concerns them with full seriousness. There will most certainly be fines, penalties, punishments for their current and former members that are or were involved in these "gangs" or groups. As for the civilians involved, I am not so sure.

For example, we had always heard that there were those in the police forces who were involved in these "gangs," and now we have seen that is the case. I wonder whether punishments in the police forces will be meted out? Will the Prime Minister pick out those who misled him and do what needs to be done? He certainly needs to.....

But there is another very important job which must be done too: a capable diagnosis of the situation must be made. The gang itself may have been broken up, but they have discovered our society's weakest side. So, even the simplest of conspiracy theories has been enough to bring us, as a society, to the edge. First, we have to get rid of this weakness of ours. We have to work on the aspects of our society which unify us, rather than divide us. We must strengthen ourselves against these marginal people who know how to provoke us, and who interpret democracy as being hostility between the state and the military. Yes, in terms of damage assessment, these our first goals.

/SK

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