Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-09-20

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The commander of the Turkish occupation army visits the Fighters Association

[02] CTP and the Free Party to form the new self-styled government

[03] Hasan Ercakica expresses the Turkish Cypriot sides readiness to accept Mollers proposals

[04] Erdil Nami began his contacts in Brussels

[05] The Turkish Cypriots will participate in the N.F.-Board VIVA World Cup 6. A new show by the breakaway regime in London

[07] The TGNA is debating EU harmonization laws

[08] The EU Commission suspends the declaration of the report on Turkey

[09] The Arab Writers Union is visiting occupied Cyprus

[10] Egyptians and Syrians were arrested by the Police

[11] British think-tank examines the relations between Turkey and Iran in the perspective of a nuclear race

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist in Zaman argues that the latest events in Turkey appear each time Turkey is obliged to take steps in the direction of democracy and stresses that the film has grown tiring

[13] Columnist in TDN assesses the latest situation in occupied Cyprus

[14] Awful developments in the TRNC

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The commander of the Turkish occupation army visits the Fighters Association

In statements during the meeting, the chairman of the Association Alaettin Aydin said that the association has 1360 members and that 1105 fighters are married to Turkish Cypriots. He noted that they are a community of 6.500 persons.

On his part, General Kivrikoglu said that there is no discrimination between those from Turkey and those from Cyprus on the Island and alleged that Turkey and the TRNC are tied to each other like the nail and the flesh.

(I/Ts.)

[02] CTP and the Free Party to form the new self-styled government

Delegations from the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces and the newly formed Freedom and Reform Party have announced that they have agreed in principle on the formation of a new coalition government.

The two parties announced that they would be meeting again tomorrow to finalize the remaining details on the new government protocol.

The meeting which took place at the CTP-BG headquarters in Lefkosia was headed by the Secretary General of the CTP-BG Omer Kalyoncu and the Leader of the Freedom and Reform Party Turgay Avci.

Speaking after the two and a half hour long meeting, the CTP-BG Secretary-General Omer Kalyoncu said that good progress had been achieved during todays meeting, adding that a final agreement will be reached on the new government protocol following another meeting with the Freedom and Reform Party tomorrow afternoon.

Also speaking, the Deputy leader of the Freedom and Reform Party- Mustafa Gokmen described the meeting with the CTP-BG as a useful one and added that the two parties had agreed in principle on the new government protocol. Mr Gokmen said his partys goal was to present a good model of government to the public.

The two parties will be coming together again at 2 oclock tomorrow afternoon to resume their work on the government protocol including the distribution of ministries.

[03] Hasan Ercakica expresses the Turkish Cypriot sides readiness to accept Mollers proposals

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has announced that the Turkish Cypriot Side will accept the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Cyprus- Michael Mollers proposals to put an end to the current deadlock on the 8th of July process.

Speaking during his weekly press conference today, Mr Ercakica accused the Greek Cypriot Administration of using its European Union membership against the Turkish Cypriot People.

The Presidential Spokesperson explained that the recent statements made by the Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos clearly demonstrated that the Greek Cypriot Administration was not willing to restart the comprehensive negotiations process aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. He also accused the Greek Cypriot Administration of using its EU membership to buy time.

Mr Ercakica reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Sides commitment to the 8th of July set of principles and announced that the Turkish Cypriot Side will give a positive reply to the proposals put forward by the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller which aimed at breaking the current deadlock on the 8th of July process.

He added that the UN Representatives proposals included substantive issues, time deadlines and methods regarding the work of the technical committees.

Accusing the AKEL leader - Speaker of the Greek Cypriot House of Representatives - Dimitres Christofias of trying to portray Turkey as the only actor on the Cyprus issue, he explained that Mr Christofias was trying to create the impression that the Turkish Cypriot side had a passive role on the issue.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot people had voted for the Annan Plan and therefore proved their willingness for a solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Ercakica stated that the Greek Cypriot Administration was the reason for the Greek Cypriot rejection of the Plan which left the Cyprus problem unsolved.

Complaining that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to link Turkeys EU membership process with a solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr Ercakica stated that the Turkish Cypriot side sees and accepts the 8th of July process as means to create a basis for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

[04] Erdil Nami began his contacts in Brussels

The President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce Erdil Nami, who is in Brussels as guest of the European Parliaments High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriot Community, began his contacts today.

Within his contacts, Mr Nami met with the members of the European Councils Permanent Representatives Committee COREPER.

Mr Nami also attended a meeting of the High Level Contact Group where he presented a report prepared by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce.

[05] The Turkish Cypriots will participate in the N.F.-Board VIVA World

The Turkish Cypriot Football Federation has decided not to host the tournament. According to the General Secretary of N.F.-Board, Jean-Luc Kit, the fixtures for N.F.-Board VIVA World Cup will be drawn on 30 September during the general assembly of the organization in Holland.

(I/Ts.)

[06] A new show by the breakaway regime in London

The group, which will travel to London, will consist of 82 persons. The paper writes that Erhan Basay, General Secretary of the KTFF departed for London this morning and that guests who will attend the match will be met at the VIP room.

Turkish Cypriot daily GÜNE^ newspaper (20.09.06) reports that self-styled Prime Minster Soyer wants to turn this trip into a show and that he is preparing to go to London in order to watch the match. It adds that the cost of the whole issue will be 70 thousand dollars.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The TGNA is debating EU harmonization laws

The parliamentary session began at 3:00 pm., and MPs started discussing bills and laws within the scope of the ninth EU adjustment package.

Private education institution bill, housing bill, vocational competence agency bill, insemination bill, ombudsman bill, foundations bill, Turkish Court of Accounts bill, and bill on ratification of the protocol to the European Social Charter are among the laws MPs would debate.

The parliament aims to pass these bills before October 1st.

On the same issue, A.A. (19.09.06) reported the following from Ankara: Amendment of article 301 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) is not on the agenda, Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told reporters on Tuesday.

When asked whether there are any plans to amend article 301, Cicek said: Such an amendment is not on today's agenda of the Parliament.

On the other hand, when reminded the claims about the health condition of Abdullah Ocalan, head of PKK terrorist organization, Cicek said that the claims are baseless.

[08] The EU Commission suspends the declaration of the report on Turkey

The European Commission has postponed Turkeys progress report which was scheduled to be released on the 24th of next month.

The statement came from the EU Commissioner on Enlargement Olli Rehns spokesperson- Kristina Nagy who said that the report will be declared at a later date-the 8th of November.

Kristina Nagy- the spokesperson of the EU Commissioner on Enlargement Olli Rehn, has stated that the EU Commission postponed the publishing of the progress report on Turkey due to changes on the agenda.

Observers say that the Commissions decision to postpone the report lies under the fact that the work on Western Balkans has been extended.

It is said that the Commission is also waiting on the outcome of Turkeys new reform package before making a fair assessment.

Meanwhile, reports issuing Bulgaria and Romania will be released on the 26th of this month as scheduled.

[09] The Arab Writers Union is visiting occupied Cyprus

The delegation paid a visit yesterday to the self-styled president of the TRNC Mehmet Ali Talat. Receiving the delegation Mr Talat stated, inter alia, that the Turkish Cypriots are isolated from the world but as a people who wants to become united with the world, they hope that their relations with the Arabs will be a beginning to this opening procedure.

On his part, Mr Orsam stated that they have cultural relations with Cyprus which are founded hundreds of years ago and that they will do everything they can for these relations to be strengthened. He also stated that they want to translate the work of some Turkish Cypriot writers into Arabic and that the book of Ismail Bozkurt, which refers to the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots, is one of these books.

According to the paper, the Arab Writers Union consists of journalists, writers and poets from 18 Arab countries. The members of the Union try to strengthen the cultural relations between countries.

(C/S)

[10] Syrian and Egyptians were arrested by the Police

(M/L)

[11] British think-tank examines the relations between Turkey and Iran in the perspective of a nuclear race

A new report states building Turkeys nuclear capacity in the long-term is a logical and credible option for dealing with Iran, which has long been on the worlds agenda for its nuclear activities.

The report titled Iran, Its Neighbours and The Regional Crises published by Chatham House, a British think-tank, cites Turkey may join the nuclear race with Iran in order to maintain its regional power in the face of a potentially nuclear armed Iran.

To the Turks, diplomacy and military action seem for the moment to be ineffective mechanisms to thwart Iranian ambitions for nuclear weaponry. Furthermore, Turkey does not wish to see additional instability in the Middle East beyond Iraq nor hostile relations with its Iranian neighbour. Building Turkish nuclear capability appears to be the only logical and credible long-term option at present, the report read.

The report includes a summary of Turkish-Iranian relations and points out that these bilateral relationships, which were frosty and strained following the 1979 revolution, started to improve after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, and mentions trade and cooperation on security issues have increased since.

Despite the warming relations, Turkish foreign policy and defence establishments are uneasy about Iranian acquisition of nuclear technology, the report said. Turkey fears that a nuclear Iran may upset the delicate balance of power in a combustible region, where no single country looks dominant.

At the same time, it does not wish to undermine the recent improvement in bilateral relations with Iran.

Given this delicate balancing act, Turkey has supported diplomatic efforts, especially by the EU troika. But the Turkish Republic has declared unequivocally that its territory or airspace will not be used in any military operations against Iraq, the report read.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist in Zaman argues that the latest events in Turkey appear each time Turkey is obliged to take steps in the direction of democracy and stresses that the film has grown tiring

A screenplay we are familiar with is once again on the agenda. This one rivals the "Inek Saban" [screen name of a now deceased comedian] films on the subject of repetition. It competes head to head with "Hababam Sinifi" [a comedy written in the 1960's on a class of older students who never graduate] which has been broadcast with double-digit frequencies and has broken television rating records.

However this film is not at all funny. On the contrary it is a drama built on anguish. It features minor changes in a screenplay that is laden with blood, tears, and intrigue but comes with a completely new cast of characters. We are long past the point of saying "we have seen this film before." We are tired of it.

The film reappears like a ghost to dash our hopes every time a step is taken in the direction of democratic and economic liberalization. Let us review the film strip from the time the Ticani [religious order active in the 1940's and 1950's] attacked scores of Ataturk statues one night [in the late 1940's] and vanished into the thin air as soon as the laws were toughened "as required." Recall the demonstrations that went as far as roughing up Prime Minister Menderes in Kizilay Square (in May 1960).

Think about the antidemocratic actions caused by the junta leaders who induced youth to detonate bombs in the streets "like popcorn" prior to 12 March (1970). Take a look at the 12 September (1980) climate where coffee-shops attended by leftists and rightists were both sprayed with bullets from the same gun and the fraternal war which ended abruptly on 13 September. Pay attention to the rationales for the straitjacket called "12 September legislation" we were made to wear. Just as we began to believe that such times were over we witnessed the storm that was created in a coup on 28 February (1997). The dream of democracy was brought to an end with a new nightmare.

These days we sense once again attempts to resurrect the "good fellows." The PKK's terrorism is surging as if it has received the "start" command. The prime minister's bus is stoned, and there are allegations that knife-wielding assailants have infiltrated his entourage. A preacher is murdered in a mosque and his murderer is killed in suspicious circumstances. You might think that the Carsamba quarter (of Istanbul), which reporters use to satisfy their need for photographs of robed men and covered women, has just been discovered. Victims have been turned into culprits with a quickness of hand that would be the envy of professional magicians. Residents of (Carsamba), who mind their own business and whose only "crime" is wearing beards and robes, are suddenly portrayed as the country's most ferocious gangsters.

Two news items that have not received the public attention they deserve demonstrate the spuriousness of the artificial storm that has been stirred up. The daily Sabah had an interview with Neriman Memis, who has served as the district head of Carsamba for the last nine years. The Sabah correspondent described her as a (woman) whose "miniskirt, white shoes, tight tee shirt, and makeup are in sharp contrast with the image of this district." Ms Memis is also the district head of Bayram Ali Ozturk, the preacher who was murdered in the mosque. She said in the interview: "If the hodja (Ozturk) wished he could have told his community 'not to vote for a woman,' and I would not have won the election. However that did not happen." Ms Memis also put a damper on the "twilight zone" screenplay that some circles want to write: "This is a place where all types of people live. Nobody bothers anyone. No one interferes with how you are dressed. I am one example of that. During the month of Ramadan members of the community come and ask me for lists of poor people so that they can help them. We give them our lists without making any distinctions between those who cover their heads and those who do not." It is evident that the people who are being used to arouse paranoia are a hundred years ahead of the "slogan democrats" in terms of their attitudes toward people whose way of life is different from theirs.

The second important news item was published in Zaman yesterday. The person who made the allegations that were carried in media headlines for many days has apparently made some interesting remarks. Muzaffer Ergin alleged that US President Bush issued a declaration about him and that he was offered citizenship by four countries, including Greece, when Turkey did not show any interest in him. If anyone hopes to gain anything from screenplays built on the testimony of this person .

I do not know if the screenplay writers are not as good as they were in the past or if we have become too cynical. One thing is certain though: This film has grown tiring.

[13] Columnist in TDN assesses the latest situation in occupied Cyprus

People sometimes find themselves in very awkward situations. Someone is making strong accusations against someone else. The entire media run the accusations, but nobody thinks that professional ethics necessitate giving the accused a chance to defend themselves. Both people involved in one such controversy are my personal friends.

One is my schoolmate from an English college; someone I grew up with, though he is one year older than me. He is the son of a great personality, Rauf Denkta, who I consider as important in my life as my own father. He is Serdar Denkta, the outgoing foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

The other? He is no stranger to me, either. We were kids on the same street; we grew up together; we had our circumcision ceremony together; we consider each other brothers and he is few years younger than I. He is Ahmet Yönlüer, the head of the Turkish Cypriot Religious Affairs Department.

By coincidence, I was in Krynica, Poland, together with Serdar Denkta attending an international conference when the latest political crisis in northern Cyprus erupted. For the past year there had been attempts by Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer at a Cabinet reshuffle and a change in the number of seats allocated to the two coalition parties. He believed that the four seats in the 11-member Cabinet for the Democratic Party (DP) of Serdar were too many and that his Republican Turks' Party (ÇTP) should have more ministerial positions. Thus, when I first heard about resignations from the National Unity Party (UBP) and Serdar's, I thought the CTP was creating a new coalition partner that would agree to a smaller number of ministerial positions. Then, talking with Serdar Denkta, I started developing an understanding that the whole operation was aimed at getting rid of the conservative Denkta factor preventing a compromise in Cyprus and thus blocking Turkey's EU accession process.

Then followed accusations against Ahmet Yönlüer that he had offered bribes to at least one of the three UBP deputies, who resigned from the party, reportedly acting on instructions from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) or its deputy chairman, ^aban Dili.

As the claims by the Denkta front were known to everyone, I called Yönlüer yesterday and asked What the hell is going on there? I will not comment on what Yönlüer said but will summarize his answer for our readers.

First, Yönlüer said that as a top bureaucrat of northern Cyprus it was his right to be involved in politics. He said he is now accused of being involved in politics but that the same people accusing him now were thankful at the last elections when he actively supported them and even delivered statements at the rallies they organized.

Since he was appointed the head of the Religious Affairs Department some 18 months ago, Yönlüer has reorganized religious affairs, helped increase religious education, brought Koran courses under the supervision of the Education Ministry and spared no effort in raising the religious and national understanding of Turkish Cypriot youth.

Thanks to father Denkta and his son, as well as the former Dervi Erolu governments, Turkish Cypriot youth had become totally unaware of their religion and nationality. I am trying to bring back patriotism and religion, he said.

Regarding claims that he offered a $600,000 bribe to an UBP deputy to resign from the party and join the new party, said to be established along the lines of Turkey's AKP, Yönlüer said those who made such a claim must substantiate their claims. There is no such thing, he insisted.

As to allegations that he was being guided by Dili, Yönlüer said he was in constant contact not only with Dili, who is the foreign relations executive of the ruling party but with other officials of the AKP, opposition politicians and local administrators in Turkey who have been trying to solve many problems of the Turkish Cypriots, whether it be health assistance or a scholarship for needy students.

Lastly, the Religious Affairs Department has some 130 imams serving at Turkish Cypriot mosques. Yönlüer said the imams had expressed solidarity with him, consider the current developments an attack on the religious awakening he represents and are prepared to resign from their posts if such attacks on him continue.

As I said, I will not comment on this. Anyhow, I am a little bit confused. What's clear, however, is the fact that something serious is going on in northern Cyprus. Is it really an AKP coup against Turkish Cypriot nationalists? Or are the Turkish Cypriot conservatives reacting to a new Islamist-nationalist formation, like the AKP, in northern Cyprus?

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a puppet regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the territories of Cyprus occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops)

[14] Awful developments in the TRNC

Those who have read my articles on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) know that I don't approve of the policies followed by the Denktas family. I am the first person in the media to describe their policy as no solution is the solution.

However, there have been certain developments on the island that I cannot accept. Undemocratic means have been used to get rid of the Denktas family.

According to newspapers, Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas, who was pushed out of the coalition after the recent political confusion in the TRNC, said that Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Saban Disli played a part in the transfer of deputies from his party and the Republican Turks Party (CTP) to form the Freedom and Reform Party (ÖRP) and added that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's name was also mentioned.

According to claims, the same political games played in Turkey are now being repeated in the TRNC.

Religion and politics, always kept separate in the TRNC, are now bound together. TRNC Religious Affairs head Ahmet Yonluer's initiative is resulting in a religion-politics coalition on the island. According to claims, Yonluer is trying to found a party like the AKP. According to an even more worrying claim, Yonluer offered DP deputies $ 600,000 in order for them to leave their party.

The TRNC costs Turkey $1 million a day. As a result, Turkey has some say in what goes on there. For example, Turkey usually tries to influence elections in the TRNC. On the other hand, Turkey never abandons the TRNC even though this means the future of 72 million people is put at risk for only 200,000.

However, if the above claims are right, Turkey has never before intervened in the TRNC's national will so blatantly.

Turkey has always tried to turn the TRNC into a smaller version of itself. On the other hand, the people on the island try to protect some of the values left on from the British colonial era.

Top of these values comes democratic will. For the Turks on the island, democracy means much more than it does to Turks in Anatolia. The Turks on the island never used to mix religion with politics, unlike us.

They could always differentiate between being competitors and being enemies. Even though they may fight each other during elections, this never spoils friendships.

Secularism has always been the governing system on the island. The religious affairs director never had powers outside his office. However, now we are hearing from sources, besides Serdar Denktas, that Yonluer has become deeply involved in the political scene in the TRNC.

He has close contacts with all the politicians and is trying to persuade them to quit their parties and join new ones. What's even worse is the claim that money has been changing hands.

For many years, the TRNC was governed by the principle no solution is the solution. However, the means to rid the island of this should not be undemocratic or immoral.

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