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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-11Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No.131/06 11.07.06[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] HALKIN SESI: Turkey is against the technical committeesUnder the above title Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (11.07.06) reports the following on its front page regarding Ankaras stance on the results of the meeting between President Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat last Saturday:Turkey which evaluated the results of Talat-Papadopoulos meeting, opposed to the discussion of issues related to the solution of the Cyprus problem at the technical committees. Turkey, which believes that that the technical committees will not be able to contribute to the confidence building climate, has stated that the issues regarding the solution must be discussed on the basis of the Annan Plan. In its inside pages the paper publishes statements made by the Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Namik Tan who noted that Turkey believed that the technical committees would contribute to the climate of confidence between the two sides on the island and described the meeting between the leaders of the two communities as positive step. We believe that the consultations to be made on the issues regarding the overall solution must be discussed on the basis of the Annan Plan, he said and added that they shared the views expressed by Mr Talat during his statements after his meeting with President Papadopoulos. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (11.07.06) reports that the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul has also described the meeting between President Papadopoulos and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, as a positive step. I see the meeting between the two leaders in Cyprus as a positive step, said Mr Gul who was responding to questions on the airplane while returning from Iran, where he attended a meeting on Iraq. Mr Gul said that he believed that the work of the technical committees will contribute to the improvement of the atmosphere of confidence between the two sides. We think that consultations aiming at finding a comprehensive solution should be undertaken within the framework of the UN Secretary Generals overall solution plan, that is the Annan plan. We share and support the views expressed by the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat at the news conference he held after the meeting, he added. (I/Ts.) [02] Reaction on the meeting between President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali TalatIllegal BAYRAK television (10/07/06) broadcast that reaction continued to last Saturdays meeting between Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos. The Cyprus President and the Turkish Cypriot leader agreed during the meeting on the need for an immediate resumption of the Cyprus negotiations process with the aim of brining about a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.The leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), self-styled Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, said its been made clear during the meeting that the venue to negotiate a solution to the Cyprus problem is the United Nations. Referring to the meeting as a first positive step towards a solution of the problem, Mr Soyer said the continuation of the Cyprus problem is impossible. Speaking on illegal BRT, Mr Soyer said any future talks between the two sides should take place on the basis of the Annan Plan, adding that Saturdays meeting was useful in reframing the basis for the talks. Reminding that the 5-point declaration issued at the end of the meeting had stated that a comprehensive settlement of the problem is desirable and possible and should not be further delayed, Mr Soyer said this is a message which exposed those who have been playing for time and the continuation of the status quo. Welcoming the leaders decision to set up technical committees to deal with day-to-day issues, he underlined the need for the two leaders to discuss the essence of the problem. Complaining that the Greek Cypriot side has been working to make the Cyprus problem an issue for the EU after joining the bloc, he accused Greek Cypriots of trying to change the islands bi-communal character and bring about a solution to the problem through the Republic of Cyprus by usurping the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. He claimed that one of the reasons behind the current deadlock on the Cyprus issue was the Greek Cypriot sides refusal to accept the Turkish Cypriot side as its interlocutor. Explaining that the aim of the talks is to bring about a win-win solution to the Cyprus problem, he said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue its positive approach towards a settlement. Moreover, the leader of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun, commenting on the same issue, called the meeting a positive step towards a solution. Speaking on illegal BRT, Mr Ozgurgun said the meeting between Mr Talat and Mr Papadopoulos took place as part of an initiative by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan towards the resumption of the Cyprus issue before leaving his office. Mr Ozgurgun noted that his party supports talks between the two leaders but added that any settlement should be based on a bi-communal and bi-zonal framework respectful to the political equality of the two sides. Mr Ozgurgun also expressed his partys support for the establishment of technical committees but added that talks should also be held on the essence of the problem, warning that step-by-step discussions could take too long. The leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), Mr Mehmet Cakici said that the Turkish Cypriot side is the only side which is really working towards bringing about a solution to the Cyprus problem, expressing the view that Saturdays meeting will not open the way for a lasting solution. Mr Cakici said Britain and the United States who say they are in support of a solution to the problem - do not put enough pressure on the Greek Cypriot side and do not pursue the necessary policies which will help solve the problem. He also accused Turkey of not pushing hard enough for a solution to the problem. On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (11/07/06) reports that Mr Cakici said also that the Committees can discuss technical problems but he does not believe that they can achieve steps that will ensure a swift solution. He added that the technical committees are perceived as buying time for the negotiations. The paper reports that the Turkish Cypriot political parties UBP, DP and BDH support the view that the Committees are not enough to find a comprehensive solution for the Cyprus problem. (DPs) [03] Talat is meeting with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot political parties todayIllegal BAYRAK television (10.07.06) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is meeting with leaders and representatives of political parties with seats in self-styled parliament today to brief them on the results of his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos at the week-end. The meeting will start at half past three in the afternoon.[04] Rauf Denktas reacts against the meetings of Talat and Papadopoulos with Gambari and invites the Turkish Cypriot parties to a meetingTurkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (11.07.06) reports that Rauf Denktas called on the Turkish Cypriot Parties and organisations who support the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) to a meeting next Thursday in order to discus the latest developments of the Cyprus problem, after the coming of the UN Undersecretary- General for Political Affair, Mr Ibrahim Gambari to the island.Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Denktas stated that he feels very anxious because of the state that the Cyprus problem has come and because a green light was lit for the beginning again of the talks. Because I am the person who saw this scenario for 30 years, he said. Referring to the meeting of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos with the UN Undersecretary- General for Political Affair, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, Mr Denktas criticised the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat of bringing suggestions to Mr Gambari without these suggestions passed from the self-styled parliament. Mr Denktas also stated that federation has been left behind and that the Greek Cypriots have proved this two hundred percent. He stated that the necessary equality balance has not been able to be established for a federation and he noted that the decision of the self-styled parliament and of the Turkish assembly is confederation but suddenly suggestions are made for federation. Mr Denktas stated further that he sent a letter to many institutions in order to gather on Thursday 13th of July at 11 in the morning at the Saray hotel in occupied Lefkosia. He stated that the meeting is open to all the institutions which support the TRNC, including the political parties. Mr Denktas has prepared draft report under the title TRNC report on the 20th July 2006, which will be opened to the participants at the Thursday meeting. [05] Erdogan will reportedly visit the occupied Kaprass peninsulaTurkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (11.07.06) reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to come to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the Island, will visit Karpass peninsula on the third and last day of his stay.The paper notes that Mr Erdogan will talk with people living in Karpass and attend the opening ceremony of a school. According to the draft of the program of Mr Erdogans visit to the occupied areas of the Island, he will arrive here in the evening of 19 of July. The paper writes that Kaprass was one of the most important points of the agenda at the talks conducted under the auspices of the UN in 2004 the city of Burgenstock, in Switzerland. (I/Ts.) [06] Turkish Cypriots want a special status for the area of TilliriaUnder the title Special status for Tilliria, like Karpass, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (11.07.06) reports that the chairman of the Association for Solidarity with the people coming from Tilliria area, Mr Erdogan Ozbalikci has said that Tilliria is the area where the Turkish Cypriots have the most legal title deeds for the land and the widest coast line and asked for a special status to be secured for the region.Mr Ozbalikci criticized the Turkish Cypriot leadership for not explaining to the world the unjust treatment and the occupation which the Turkish Cypriots from Tilliria suffered in 1964. He noted that they support the opening of four crossing points in the area: the crossing points of Limnitis, Mansura, Kokkina and Pachyammos villages. He expressed the opinion that supporting the opening of these four crossing points, the rehabilitation of the Turkish Cypriots from Tilliria who want to return to this area and the withdrawal of the Greek Cypriot military positions from these villages will secure more benefits to the Turkish community. He added, inter alia, the following: We, as Turks coming from Tilliria, want from our administration to rapidly take this issue to the international arena. When we had talks with many officials from Turkey and saw the importance they still attach to the area of Tilliria, we were both surprised and pleased. . According to Mr Ozbalikci representatives from Cyprus as well will participate in the forum which will take place in Berlin between 10 and 20 August 2006 regarding the refugees who had been forced to abandon their homes in the 20th century after the Second World War. (I/Ts.) [07] Belgian Senator in favour of lifting the embargoes on Turkish CypriotsTurkish Cypriot KIBRIS newspaper (11.07.06) reports that Fatma Pehlivan, Senator from the region of Gent in Belgium who is of Turkish origin and is visiting occupied Cyprus as a guest of the Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU), has prepared a proposal for lifting the political and economic embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots.Referring to the proposal, Ms Pehlivan said that they will raise the issue in the session of the parliament in October and they exert efforts to get the proposals, prepared by three parties approved. This decision is symbolic, it is a political message This decision made by the national parliament could be brought, where this is necessary, onto the agenda and pressures could be exerted, she said. These statements where made during a press conference held yesterday at the Union of Foreign Press in occupied Cyprus, where Ms Pehlivan pointed out the benefits of the protocol signed between the DAU and the Belgian Gent University. In accordance with the protocol, students of the Turkish origin living in Belgium will be able to attend the DAU for studies. According to the paper, Ms Pehlivan is the senator who managed to persuade the Belgian Parliament for its decision in favour of lifting the cultural restriction towards the illegal regime in Cyprus and the protection of the cultural heritage in occupied Famagusta. (M/L) [08] The Turkish Parliament may be summoned in summer for EU reformsTurkish Daily News (10.07.06) publishes that the Turkish government may summon the Turkish Parliament -- which is already on summer recess -- for an emergency meeting with the aim of passing certain European Union harmonization laws before the autumn, when the EU Commission will release a key progress report on Turkey.The Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, speaking to reporters on Sunday in Tehran where he participated a meeting of Iraq's neighbours, said that the Turkish government could summon Parliament to legislate the rest of the Ninth Harmonization Package, CNN-Türk reported. Nobody wants a train crash to take place on the path to the EU, Gül said, in reference to a phenomenon widely referred to by EU officials. [09] Turkey ratifies agreement with US on civilian nuclear cooperationTurkish Daily News (10.07.06) publishes that the Turkish Cabinet has approved a civilian nuclear power agreement that was signed with the United States in 2000 but not implemented until now, the Anatolia news agency reported.The ratification of the deal was published in Turkish Official Gazette on Sunday. Under the deal the United States would provide nuclear power to Turkey while building in safeguards for the non-proliferation of weapons, the Official Gazette said. Turkey plans to build three nuclear power plants by 2015 and the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will soon begin work with Turkish energy authorities to coordinate a safe and proper start for the nuclear program. During his visit to Ankara last week, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei lent support for Turkey's nuclear project, saying its decision to build nuclear power plants was a logical one given its growing energy needs and limited amount of natural energy sources. In June 2005, Turkey and the United States signed a cooperation agreement, consolidating the two countries' efforts in working to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Late in May, Turkey hosted a joint military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which U.S. officials have described as a demonstration of a determination to stop missile and nuclear technology from reaching Turkey's neighbour Iran and other countries. Since it was first proposed by U.S. President George W. Bush in May 2003, the number of countries supporting the PSI exceeds 70, and several others cooperate on an informal basis. Turkey declared its support for the initiative in December 2003. Under the PSI participants agree to take effective measures to interdict the transfer or transport of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials. The PSI envisions states working cooperatively, employing their national capabilities to develop a broad range of legal, diplomatic, economic, military and other tools to interdict shipments of such items. [B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS[10] A man known as Turgut Yaar (Çavlan)F. Devrim writing in Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (11/07/06) under the title A man known as Turgut Yaar (Çavlan) says the following:Turgut Yaar (Çavlan)& Lived for years in the South& Years before
the crossings were opened When he was living in the South he forged
documents and counterfeiting signatures he sold immovable property
that belonged to the Turkish Cypriots.
Before the crossings were opened there were lawsuits filed against him
and trails took place. Some Turkish Cypriots, whose properties in Ay
Theodoros village were sold with documents forged in Britain, took him
to the court through the UN before the crossings were opened.
Turgut Yaar (Çavlan) together with his lawyer Vladimir Vladimiru with
whom he was cooperating were sentenced and jailed before the crossings
were opened&
He was fortunate because the crossings were closed at that time and
some of those who suffered losses did not dare to cross into the south
and testify against him in the court.
As a result of this, with insufficient evidence he stayed only 20 days
in the jail and then discharged. After coming out of the jail Mr.Turgut
and his friends continued their activities from the point where they
left
Meanwhile Mr.Turguts wife continued her job at the States broadcasting
company RIK It is obvious that he has the backing of the Big People a
mafia that deals with property speculation whose one foot is in
Britain. He has also collaborators in the North.
Then the crossings opened& Those who thought that if the crossings are
opened Turgut Yaar s (Çavlan) business would suffer and the Republic
of Cyprus which is an EU member country would arrest him and bring him
before justice, were greatly disillusioned
This time he started living both in the North and in the South Things
became easer for him
Both the TRNC and the Republic of Cyprus were encouraging him
He was holding very strong power of attorneys in his hand
He was so fearless that he was claiming that people, who in the last
30 years never crossed into south, had crossed into the south signed
and gave him power of attorney before the notary public and donated
him all their property in South.
The testimonies taken by the Cyprus police were there left in a
corner.
Signature samples sent by Cyprus police for forensic checking never
came back
And the court cases which were alleged to be continued never concluded
Mr. Turgut continued to carry out his activities, in the North as
Turgut Çavlan and in the south as Turgut Yaar.
Those who were working with him, his lawyer, other lawyers who were
working with him and the Greek Cypriot notary public all of them were
free and continued their activities&
On the other hand a lot of people who suffered lose continued to
suffer&
When the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) came to power, Mr. Turgut Yaar
(Çavlan) gain credit as an old RTP member& His sister Hatice Çavlan who
is known for her close relations with the CTP was appointed as
chairwoman of the Vakifs Administration.
After getting two million Sterling Pounds loan from banks whose
administrations were taken over by the CTP people, Mr. Turgut, with his
partners, started building hotels on the property belonging to the
Greek Cypriots on the shores of Salamis.
The reason the Turkish Cypriot architect Osman Sarper is arrested and
put into jail in the south is that he has designed houses on the land
belonging to the Greek Cypriots in the North.
Turgut Yaar (Çavlan) s hotel advertised in the KIBRISLI newspaper as
well is built on the Greek Cypriot land and the land near the hotel as
well belonged to the Greek Cypriots on which he built houses in which
the hotel s staff will live.
Why nobody bothering Turgut Yaar (Çavlan) who is living in the South
and building hotels on the property belonging to the Greek Cypriots in
the North?
Most probably he has strong backers both in the North and the South?
MHY
. The document: The "Shared Vision" document that Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul and his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice announced in
Washington last week defines the Turkish-American relationship, which
has had its ups and downs in recent years, as a "strategic
partnership". The document, which lays out a broad framework for
cooperation, is important both as a point of reference and as a
declaration of intentions. But the real value of the document will be
determined by the extent to which the provisions on paper find
expression in the policies of the two countries.
Public opinion: The document is directed primarily toward Turkish
public opinion. US Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried engages in
self-criticism by saying "We should have been able to establish better
communications with the Turks during the past five years"; meanwhile,
Gul complains about anti-American rhetoric being used for purposes of
political and economic populism in Turkey. If the gulf between the
expression on paper of strong solidarity and our society's negative
view of the United States cannot be overcome, the utility of the
document will remain limited. The government has to be able to stand up
forthrightly for both the letter and the spirit of the document.
Dialogue: The most beneficial aspect of the document is its foreseeing
various dialogue mechanisms. It is not expanded upon in the document,
but the two sides' creation of special channels focused on critical
issues is essential. In general, the future of Iraq, and in particular
the Kurdish autonomy, the PKK presence, and Kirkuk, come at the head of
these issues. Taking inspiration from last month's report by the
Council on Foreign Relations [CFR], a broader dialogue forum should be
created that, in addition to the tripartite Turkish-Iraqi-US mechanism,
also includes the Iraqi Kurdish leaders, and in which both civilians as
well as military officials participate.
Qandil [Mountain in Iraq]: The document's citing the goal of
"combating the PKK" is important. But Gul as well, who said he saw the
Americans as "embarrassed on the PKK issue", knows quite well that as
long as concrete measures are not taken against the PKK in Northern
Iraq, this goal will not be fully implemented. According to the
Americans, the organization must be pacified in the first phase, and
its political, military, and financial influence in the region must be
thwarted. It is stated that the step that will facilitate the PKK's
expulsion from Iraq will be the implementation of a "new and feasible
'return home' arrangement".
The Middle East: Ankara's becoming involved in order to relax the
tension between Israel and Palestine has been appreciated in
Washington. Professor Ahmet Davutoglu's meeting with Syrian Head of
State Bashar al-Asad in order to get him to put pressure on HAMAS
[Islamic Resistance Movement] political leader Khalid Mish'al also
impacted the Gul-Rice agenda. Even so, there are very different views
towards HAMAS and the reasons for its recent ascendancy between Ankara,
which says "It was right for us to host Mish'al, and we will meet with
him again; indeed, there is demand for this in the region", and
Washington. While Israel (and the United States) on the one hand want
Ankara's help, they are also, on the other hand, uncomfortable with the
"anti-Israel" tone of statements coming out of Ankara. Turkey could, at
the end of this crisis, gather points in Washington thanks to its
closeness to both Asad and Mish'al, and thus put its signature onto an
irony of the current situation. But the ground is slippery; those
members of the AKP [ruling Justice and Development Party] who are
now saying that "We have been proved right on
the HAMAS issue" could at any moment find themselves in a skid that
would distance themselves a bit further from the United States and
cause them to be identified a bit more with the "Islamist" identity.
Iran: Gul's contacts aimed at getting Tehran to abandon its efforts to
acquire nuclear weapons are welcome with Washington. But US officials
are also warning Turkey not to re-interpret the conditions of the
international package that has been offered to Tehran. From the
standpoint of the United States, "The things discussed between [EU
Secretary General Javier] Solana and [Iranian Chief nuclear negotiator
Ali] Larijani are fundamental"; as for Gul's impressions, "They are
useful because they were obtained face to face with the Iranians."
Cyprus: For us, the most "stellar" sentence in the joint document is
the sentence that stresses the determination to end the isolation of
Northern Cyprus. It is essential that the United States take new steps
on this path, and push for ideas similar to that of the "Free Zone on
the Green Line". Washington, which does not want Turkey to have a
"train wreck" on the path to the EU, does not have the luxury of
remaining passive on the Cyprus issue.
Rice: It was proven once again last week that Rice is the patron in
Washington of Turkish-American cooperation. And Rice, due to her
closeness to President [George W.] Bush and her gradually placing an
increasing stamp on foreign policy, is not a patron to be
underestimated.
The atmosphere: Despite this, what one of Turkey's diplomats most
familiar with Washington said during the Gul visit should be noted: "I
saw the atmosphere as negative. Rice is standing up for it [i.e., the
relationship with Turkey], but I heard the Turkish-American friendship
being questioned by everyone everywhere, apart from her. To tell the
truth, I would have expected the atmosphere to have been much milder."
[Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan: Gul, who took up once again the
Prime Minister's request for an appointment [i.e., to visit
Washington], said that the visit will take place "in the
September-to-October timeframe". Erdogan's visit to the United States
will also be impacted by the political environment in Turkey. As long
as the Prime Minister is perceived as the subject of the domestic
tension, Bush as well will put distance between them.
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