Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-07-26

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP and DP delegations discussed issues arising from the current coalition government.

[02] Statements by Hasan Ercakica: The Turkish Cypriot side will be ready by the end of the week regarding the technical committees.

[03] Turkish Authorities refuse Austrian plane on a humanitarian flight from Larnaca to use Turkish airspace.

[04] Talat attended the change of command at the 4th Infantry Regiment of the occupation army.

[05] Cem Ozdemir: Any derailment in Turkeys EU membership process will mean a catastrophe for the Greek Cypriot side.

[06] Pakistani entered a first degree restricted military zone in his efforts to enter the free areas of Cyprus.

[07] President Sezer met his Hungarian counterpart: Cyprus problem discussed.

[B] COMMNETARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that if the ECHR recognizes the compensation mechanism in the north as domestic law that will be an important step on gaining more legitimacy.

[09] Turkeys role in the Greater Eurasia Project as in the Greater Middle East and North Africa Project is assessed. Article by the Acting President of TUSAM.

[10] The voices saying let us postpone it on the Cyprus issue increase.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP and DP delegations discussed issues arising from the current coalition government

During the three-hour meeting, which was held at the Democrat Party headquarters, the parties´ delegations agreed to set up four different technical committees on education, agriculture, industry and electricity.

The delegations also reached consensus on the need for the foreign policy to be lobbied abroad with the coordination of the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister and the President.

At the end of the meeting, the Republican Turkish Party General-Secretary Omer Kalyoncu said that no discussions were held on any possible change in the cabinet.

For his part, the Democrat Party General-Secretary Ertugrul Hasipoglu said that the two parties exchanged views on all outstanding issues concerning the coalition government.

The delegations also agreed to hold further discussions later, in the light of the possible findings of the committees. The next meeting between the two parties´ representatives is scheduled for Monday morning, the 7th of August, at the CTP headquarters.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (26.07.06) reports that the President of the DP, Serdar Denktas, stated that the doors of his party are open if the resigned parliamentarian member from the National Unity Party, Erden Ozaskin, wishes to join DP. On the other hand, the President of UBP, Huseyin Ozgurgun stated that Ozaskin´s resignation from their party was a surprise for them and that they were informed about it from the press. He also stated that they do not expect any new resignations from the party.

Erden Ozaskin was elected as a parliamentary representative in occupied Famagusta.

The paper also reports that the negotiations among the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), and the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) for a merger are still continuing.

(M/L)

[02] Statements by Hasan Ercakica: The Turkish Cypriot side will be ready by the end of the week regarding the technical committees

Mr Ercakica referred to the latest developments concerning the establishment of the bi-communal technical committees, problems faced by Turkish Cypriots at the checkpoints and human trafficking.

Mr Ercakica reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Sides readiness to discuss the opening of a checkpoint at Ledra Street and said that if the footbridge was the only obstacle to resume talks on the issue, the TRNC government would be ready to look into ways to solve this problem.

Commenting on statements made by the Minister of Public Order, Mr Sophoclis Sophocleus, that controls at the checkpoints will be tightened, Mr Ercakica reacted by saying that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus waged a determined struggle in tackling all kinds of crime and added that it was ready to cooperate with anyone on any issue.

Mr Ercakica warned that the TRNC may not be able to protect its citizens who face problems when crossing into the free territories of the Republic of Cyprus and added that the Turkish Cypriots who confronted any problems while in South Cyprus could face unfair treatment at the hands of the Cyprus government.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (26.07.06) reports that Mr Ercakica claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side is taking very seriously the new procedure which has started on July the 8th, and that with the contribution of both the political parties and Turkey, a list of issues concerning the substance of the Cyprus problem and the technical committees is being prepared and is expected to be competed by the end of the week.

Mr Ercakica also stated that Mr Talat proposed the Confidence Building Measures´ package, which does not include measures of vital importance, but some suggestions in order to facilitate the life of the two administrations and to improve their relations.

(M/L)

[03] Turkish Authorities refuse Austrian plane on an humanitarian flight from Larnaca to use Turkish airspace

(MHY)

[04] Talat attended the change of command at the 4th Infantry Regiment of the occupation army

Transfer of Colours and a handover ceremony at the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces took place yesterday evening.

The regiments commander - Staff Colonel Mehmet Ineci handed over his duties to the new commander, Staff Colonel Mehmet Soganci.

The handover ceremony was held at the 4th Infantry Regiment yesterday evening, attended by President Mehmet Ali Talat, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Tevfik Ozkilic and the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus Lieutenant General Hasan Memisoglu.

The regiments history, and biographies of Staff Colonel Mehmet Ineci and Staff Colonel Mehmet Soganci were read out during the ceremony.

Later, Staff Colonel Mehmet Ineci handed over his duties to the new commander, Staff Colonel Mehmet Soganci.

Colonel Ineci, in the meantime, has been appointed as the Head of Investigation at the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces.

President Mehmet Ali Talat, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Tevfik Ozkilic and the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus Lieutenant General Hasan Memisoglu presented shields to Staff Colonel Mehmet Ineci for his successful services as the Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment.

The ceremony ended with a parade.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up and maintained by the Turkish Republic in occupied Northern Cyprus with 40,000 fully equipped Turkish troops).

[05] Cem Ozdemir: Any derailment in Turkey´s EU membership process, will mean a catastrophe for the Greek Cypriot side

Cem Ozdemir a member of the European Parliament and the High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriot side, has warned that any derailment in Turkeys EU membership process will mean a catastrophe for the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr Ozdemir is quoted by the A.B. News agency as having expressed the view that no one wants such a derailment to take place by the end of this year as some expect to happen, and that the Greek Cypriot South Cyprus too should not be wanting it, either.

A Turkey turning its back on the European Union will not be in the interest of Greece or South Cyprus he said, expressing the view that the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos should after all decide on whether or not he wants to divide the island for good.

[06] Pakistani entered a first degree restricted military zone in his efforts to enter the free areas of Cyprus

According to information given by the puppet regimes police, the Pakistani transgressed a first degree restricted military area.

Moreover, todays HALKIN SESI newspaper reports that the self-styled presidential spokesman, Mr Hasan Ercakica, said that during the period March 2000 - March 2006, 768 illegal persons entered the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. 354 of them were of Syrian origin, 220 from Iraq and 107 were of Turkish origin.

[07] President Sezer met his Hungarian counterpart: Cyprus problem discussed

During the meeting President Sezer briefed his Hungarian counterpart on the Cyprus problem.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Hungarian president Loszlo Solyom said his country supports the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annans plan as a basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem providing motivation for more action to help solve the problem.

[B] COMMNETARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that if the ECHR recognizes the compensation mechanism in the north as domestic law, that will be an important step on gaining more legitimacy

My introduction to the Cyprus issue was when war planes flew by the beach of the hotel in Alanya in 1974 where I had a summer job. Thirty-two years afterwards, I was on the island to watch the Turkish Stars Flight Team's show.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, six ministers, 14 deputies including Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission chairman were present at this year's 20 July ceremony. The three-day visit of such a big delegation and the attendance for the first time of the prime minister were strong messages. However, that was not all. In a statement he gave to Bayrak television, Erdogan said something both Turkey and Turkish Cypriots think but never express. In reference to the Annan plan being null and void if one side rejected it, he said: The Annan plan is no longer part of the legal process. The U.N. was not mentioning the plan since the press release following the meeting of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan with Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos in February. The Republic of Cyprus and Greece had already buried it as well. With the United States seemingly willing to forget it, one more was added to the list of failed Cyprus settlement plans. This means we are in the post-Annan plan era.

And now the new reference document is the Set of Principles agreed upon, following U.N. Department for Political Affairs's chief and Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari's early July meetings with Papadopoulos and Talat.

New rule of the game: UN Set of Principles:

Here are the principles:

1. Commitment to the unification of Cyprus based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.

2. Recognition of the fact that the status quo is unacceptable and that its prolongation would have negative consequences for the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

3. Commitment to the proposition that a comprehensive settlement is both desirable and possible, and should not be further delayed.

4. Agreement to begin a process immediately, involving bi-communal discussion of issues that affects the day to day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both of which will contribute to a comprehensive settlement.

5. Commitment to ensure that the right atmosphere prevails for this process to be successful. In that connection, confidence-building measures are essential, both in terms of improving the atmosphere and improving the life of all Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Also in that connection, an end must be put to the so-called blame game.

How much should we trust in this document that is vague apart from on the concept of political equality, and does obligate neither side, especially the Greek Cypriot government, on anything? It seems more like a statement of goodwill. Observers say Papadopoulos can only sign a document that he won't take seriously and by signing it has escaped the danger of being branded as the side that is running away from the negotiation table, and consequently guaranteeing a victory in the presidential race of 2008. Moreover, the fact that the United Nations will elect a new Secretary-General at the end of the year and Gambari is quite foreign to the issue, does not make the U.N. a well-situated facilitator.

At the end of the day, the parties have neither agreed on the issues to be discussed nor does the set of principles mention anything about issues like mixed marriages, children of the settlers and the constructions done on the Greek Cypriot lands in the north, which affect the daily lives of the people. Actually, the U.N. delusion hides the concrete European dimension behind it.

Cyprus: An issue for EU, even reluctantly:

As we constantly note, the Cyprus file is primarily a European matter. Even if Europe doesn't want to be involved, it is an EU matter. It also can't be separated from Turkey's EU process. A mistake may have been committed by admitting a divided island, but the Republic of Cyprus is now an EU member with equal rights to other members and Turkey is negotiating for membership with the union's 25 members, including Cyprus.

If the government is willing really to untie the Cyprus issue and our EU process as some claim, Parliament should immediately ratify and apply the customs unions' additional protocol without expecting anything in return. What's extraordinary is that the EU and the Republic of Cyprus, just like our government, claim the opening of our ports is not connected to the financial assistance and direct trading privileges to be granted to the north of the island. However, they immediately add that if Maras (occupied Varosha) is returned and Magusa (occupied Famagusta) port is jointly managed, they will withdraw their objections to the start of assistance and direct trade.

Actually Turkey will not open its ports and Greek Cypriots do not accept direct trade without something in return. This means, our EU process and the Cyprus issue are directly linked to each other. Consequently, the issue is not a technical, but a political one.

Let's see where EU is:

I had recently mentioned the European Commission's preparations to establish an office in the north of Cyprus in order to manage the 259 million euros in financial assistance. In a last minute manoeuvre, the Republic of Cyprus has managed to prevent the opening of the bureau and the allocation of the 38 million euros of aid planned to be spent this year. What was surprising is that the release of this fund only necessitates a qualified majority.

Additionally, Greek Cypriots are working to disprove the Turkish precondition on the direct trade regulations to open its ports to Greek Cypriot ships and planes. They are trying to argue that the current Green Line Regulation is enough for the north to have commercial links to the world. In other words, they are saying that it is only them who can make trade with the rest of the world, forgetting once again that the free commerce of the north will prepare its financial independence also from Turkey.

In short, the Republic of Cyprus is continuing its successful policy of Determining the EU's Cyprus and gradually Turkey policies in accordance with its interests.

In this context, we need to compare the 259 million euro assistance that the EU will give to the north in 2004-2006 with the financial aid protocol signed during Erdogan's visit that promises assistance of 938 million euros for 2007-2009.

State rapidly being legitimized:

The Greek Cypriot policy on Cyprus and against Turkey's EU membership may seem as if they are winning, but the results don't agree. The de facto state in northern Cyprus is becoming more and more legitimate due to Papadopoulos' maximalist and aggressive stance and the EU's lack of interest. If the European Court of Human Rights recognizes the compensation mechanism in the north as a domestic law that will be an important step on gaining more legitimacy. The per capita national income has already jumped to $10,000 due to the building frenzy resulting from the Annan Plan referendum and the compensation clauses mentioned in it.

Despite these on the ground developments, it is still possible to find a solution inspired by the autonomous region examples in EU countries and transforming it into a federal structure. What's interesting is a solution will favour the Greek side as much as it will the Turkish side.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) is gaining legitimacy and Greek Cypriot policies against Turkey's membership process only lead to the postponing of the opening of certain chapters. If the EU doesn't want to sever its relations with Turkey, the additional protocol problem will be overcome through direct trade. After this happens, if the Greek Cypriots still have certain hopes in the north and want to live together like Europeans, the only solution seems to be a federation based on strong regions.

[09] Turkey´s role in the Greater Eurasia Project as in the Greater Middle East and North Africa Project is assessed. Article by the Acting President of TUSAM

The Eurasian geography, over which the great powers have been fiercely fighting since the beginning of the 1990s in the pursuit of their economic interests and in which they aim at exporting their own institutional systems and socio-cultural understandings, obviously bears vital importance for Turkey as well.

The fact that the U.S. has taken much interest in Eurasia, which bridges Europe to Asia, and has included it into the Greater Middle East Project, inspires some strategists to dwell on the Greater Eurasia Project. Located at the center of Eurasia, Turkey should at once benefit from its economic and strategic advantages granted by its unique geographical position and develop new policies concerning the region, which will certainly undergo significant socio-cultural changes in the coming years. Turkey needs to reassess its own geography in this way.

Extremely open to external influences, the Eurasian region has been experiencing a sudden cultural shock common to all peoples that found themselves independent unexpectedly and unprepared consequent to the termination of long-lasting Soviet pressure. Yet, they have been suffering considerable hardship while trying to accord their institutional settings in tune with the new world order and democratic practices. These are the two prominent characteristics of the region. At this stage, it appears imperative to judge accurately this current situation, understand the past and present state of affairs in the region by taking into account both the history and recent restructuring of Eurasia and thus draw some useful conclusions.

Retrospectively, first of all, the countries in the region, mainly due to the power asymmetry caused by their geopolitical situation, were no more than semi-colonies within a centre-periphery relation during the bi-polar era. In this respect, almost all states in the Eurasian geography had to develop external relations based on one-sided dependence, primarily to the USSR. In other words, most of the so-called axis countries of the Cold War were, in varying degrees, related to and dependent at different levels on either the United States or the USSR, which in this context constituted the centre. Once emancipated from this one-sided dependence in the post-Cold War era, these states had to come to terms with their disadvantage of power asymmetry. After years of dependence on another state, the Eurasian countries then found themselves in the position to survive on their own. Thus, multilateral alliances and regional co-operation projects have gained much importance.

At this point, it is necessary to elaborate on the regional interests, goals and designs of the United States, which is generally seen as the only global factor, and those of other countries, which are inclined to share the United States' global power.

Soft war fought by the imperialist states in the region:

At a quick glance of the novel political trends, one would see that the Greater Middle East and North Africa Project of the United States unfolds to an American Eurasianism. Today, consequent to a shift in its rationale, the United States seems to ground its strategies in the notion of land power and thus aims to extend its support, through land forces, to the Anglo-Saxon naval civilization, which is in fact greatly under American control. This scheme of acquiring territorial dominance in Eurasia points to a new phase in American policy, reinforcing the United States' uniqueness as a superpower. After years of dependence on another country, the Eurasian states, in the post-Cold War era, have acknowledged the fact that they now have to take care of themselves.

The regional cooperation initiatives and multi-dimensional alliances have gained significance for them. Nevertheless, due to their socio-cultural characteristics, these countries have at the same time gone through a change of consumer practices and a complete cultural shock. Taking notice of the newly-emerging demands in these countries, the Western powers have set their eyes on the region to make the most of the situation. Of course, what these Western powers possess as the instrument of influence is not delimited to their communication means. The influence created by military and economic institutions such as NATO is an important factor in this respect. It is plausible to note here that the eastward enlargement of NATO, which is an efficient power under American control, poses a potential threat to not only Russia but Europe as well. The American tendency first to control certain states militarily and then to shape them culturally has become a common practice of the United States. The United States desires that NATO operates on that principle. This fact may even lead to the Americanization of Europe and give way to a very effective cultural imperialism.

Moreover, such usage of NATO by the United States may harm the way that Europe is perceived globally and thus weaken the EU in the international arena. One point worthy of mentioning in this context is that when compared with the Eastern culture or Russian hegemony, the Western culture may appear more appealing to the peoples of Eurasia, which are targeted in the war of economic and cultural influence -- or, as one may say, in the competition of distorting their cultures, societal values or simply their way of living.

Turkey and Russia:

Nonetheless, it is important to underline here that Russia and Turkey, both of which are at once European and Asian, have the potential to come up with more realistic approaches towards the region's peoples in compliance with their values, habits and cultures. Both granted with the advantage of geographical proximity, both states could be influential upon the socio-cultural setting of the region with much lesser effort. On accounts that Russia, as an Asiatic power, leans towards the West and Turkey shows the same orientation, these two countries both have an upper hand in the Western attempts at socio-cultural shaping of the region's peoples. Russia, which has nowadays returned eastwards via the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, is fully aware of such an advantage. Unfortunately, however, Turkey, like in any other matter, is throwing its historical chance away by not appreciating this potential. Turkey cannot currently put into motion a Eurasian project because the government does not seem to take interest in the issue and, second, the geographical distance between Eurasia and Turkey sometimes breaks up the communication. Similarly, it is a great disadvantage that Turkey does not share a common border with Azerbaijan. In order that our country rules out such a disadvantage and plays a remarkable role in the region, it is necessary to ally with Azerbaijan and keep constant the currently tense Armenian-Georgian relations on the verge of crisis.

Moreover, it is essential for Turkey, which is 75 percent dependent on external energy suppliers, to exercise socio-cultural influence over the region by making use of its historical legacy and thus to access more easily Eurasian natural resources. Nevertheless, it should here be emphasized that Russia as Turkey's potential, alternatively, ally or rival in the region and its version of Eurasianism is nothing to be underestimated.

Firstly, it is clearly a fact that the Russian Orthodoxy, which is in essence a strict belief with nationalistic implications, plays an important role in this region. As its economy enhances, Russia is soon going to employ more coercive measures within its Eurasianism. Particularly, the Central Asian republics, in which Russian culture has been already fiercely maintained as the dominant power, will be aimed at. Thus, Russia will succeed in cutting loose the peoples of the region from the increasing American influence. Yet, it will do this systematically in order to challenge the United States, which is the prominent global power. The Eurasian geography, in that sense, opens to the impact of the interplay of various ethnic, religious, cultural and socio-economic factors and this situation could lead to a change in the perceptions of sovereignty and unity in the region.

[10] The voices saying let us postpone it on the Cyprus issue increase

This might be surprising for the Turkish public opinion, but the general climate in the European Parliament, contrary to the impression in Turkey, is that no step backwards should be made from the promises given to Ankara.

If the general climate for Turkey in the Parliament, including the Christian Democrats who are regarded as the group which opposes the most, was summarized in a sentence, this would be: There is no wish for making a step backwards from the promise given to Turkey regarding the full accession.

It is believed that suspending or stopping the process by the EU with various reasons would cause a great loss of trust and prestige. The MPs who oppose Turkeys accession know that they will remain a minority if they come today with a draft decision which questions Turkeys accession.

If we need to summarize, in case a railway accident happens in the negotiations with Turkey, the important part of the parliamentarians prefer this to derive from Turkey and not themselves.

I live among the Parliamentarians every day and when they see me, very naturally, the issue comes to Turkey. The point I noticed is the lack of great enthusiasm on the issue of the privileged partnership. Yes, they are discussing among themselves, they deliver speeches, but they realize that this is very difficult. I think that the main problem derives from the fact that there is no alternative policy for Turkey in Europe.

The open support to Turkeys membership is 80 % of the MPs in the Socialists, the Liberals and the Greens. I could say that in the Left and Conservative Groups this support is 50 %. There is a common attitude, which reaches to unanimity, regarding the issues of democracy in Turkey, the human rights, the minorities, the social rights, the situation of the Kurds and the womens rights.

As for the Cyprus issue the minds are very confused.

In Autumn (the issue of) Turkey will be discussed again. The voting for the Eurlings report will take place in September, the Commissions Progress Report will be published in October and finally Turkey will be the most important issue on the agenda of the Summit in December. The Parliamentarians, just like the governments, do not know what attitude they will take.

A part of them wants Turkey to fulfill the promise it has given and apply the customs union. Another part of them understands the right points of Turkey and consider Papadopoulos to be the main problem.

On the other hand, they cannot prevent the Greek Cypriots who got hold of the full membership. The Greek Cypriots are looking for support using expressions such as we are also a member of the club and we have the right for solidarity, our territory, that is a part of the EU, is still under occupation. It is seen that the minds of the Greek Cypriot Parliamentarians are also confused.

If we look at what it is whispered in the corridors, the tendency of postponing the Cyprus issue until the end of 2007 is increased. The approach saying If we cannot solve it, let us at least postpone it, but let us not suspend the negotiations is becoming prevalent. It is true that everybody expects a Cyprus crisis with Turkey, but the majority of the parliamentarians think that this will be a mini crisis.

As you would understand, no one can predict in a clear manner what will happen in the forthcoming days. There is no doubt, however, that hot days are expecting us.

(I/Ts.)

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