Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-12-04

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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 will hold contacts in Brussels and Holland aiming at the removal of the isolation.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation to Brussels to have a series of contacts with EU officials on the isolations.

[03] Turkish Justice Minister Huseyin Celik: The TRNC had a 60% growth in four years time.

[04] The Office of the Turkish Chief of the General Staff denied press reports that it warned Foreign Minister Gul on Cyprus.

[05] Turkish Cypriot who argues that he had drawn the flag of the Republic of Cyprus files a lawsuit against the Republic; He admits that he signed no agreement with President Makarios.

[06] Statements by British Transport Department official on the issue of direct flights to the occupied areas.

[07] Matt Bryza: It is not fair to make a connection between Turkeys European Union membership negotiations process and the issue of ports.

[08] The Prime Minister of the country that occupies EU territory militarily and tramples upon the human rights of the Greek Cypriot EU citizens calls on the Europeans to start behaving as Europeans.

[09] VAKIT newspaper on the rumours of a military takeover in Turkey.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist supports that TSK is preparing to issue statement about Coup allegations.

[11] Columnist in THE NEW ANATOLIAN assesses developments in Turkish politics after the Popes visit to Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat will hold contacts in Brussels and Holland aiming at the removal of the isolation

(MHY)

[02] The Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation to Brussels to have a series of contacts with EU officials on the isolations

(MHY)

[03] Turkish Justice Minister Huseyin Celik: The TRNC had a 60% growth in four years time

(MHY)

[04] The Office of the Turkish Chief of the General Staff denied press reports that it warned Foreign Minister Gul on Cyprus

(MHY)

[05] Turkish Cypriot who argues that he had drawn the flag of the Republic of Cyprus files a lawsuit against the Republic; He admits that he signed no agreement with President Makarios

The paper reports that Mr Guney demands from the Republic of Cyprus either to compensate him or to stop using the flag.

Asked why he decided to file a lawsuit after 46 years, he said, inter alia, the following: Many years passed. I retired, but the negotiations between Clerides and Denktas were going on. I was thinking that perhaps everything will be arranged and that this flag will represent both communities, like in the past, and it will be used. After a while, however, I understood that the Greek Cypriots do no want us and wished to administrate the Republic by themselves. Then, I began to think if their intention is this, then why they did not take permission from me. Because now there is no republic such as the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic was established in 1960 and I made this flag in 1960, but I made it for both communities. I drew this flag for the Republic which was shared between Dr Kucuk and Makarios and represented both communities. At this moment a republic, which does not exist, is using this flag without having taken permission from me. This republic, however, collapsed in 1963. Furthermore, you do not want us. Then why do you use my flag? I filed a lawsuit saying either do not use it or pay compensation. My lawyer is 100 % sure that we will win.

Noting that the trial has began a year ago and that he consulted with no official in the Turkish Cypriot side when he was filing the lawsuit, Mr Guney said that no one gave support to him, but at the same time no one criticized him or tried to prevent him.

Asked about his lawyer he said: My lawyer is a Greek Cypriot lawyer named Marios Georgiou. He has been a judge for twelve years. He is an experienced person.

Asked on how he found this lawyer he noted: He found me through mediators. He is a DYSI supporter. He reached me through mediators. He was very sure of himself. And I accepted.

When the reporter of KIBRIS asked him whether or not he had made an agreement with President Makarios while he handed over the flag to him, Mr Guney said:

No, we had not made an agreement. Neither did I sign anything. I brought the flag and they took it and accepted it. They even said: We want you to make three collection stamps and the coat of arms of the republic. And this coat of arms is used now on the buttons of the policemen, on their hats and the official documents and letters. Of course the lawsuit I have filed includes this coat of arms as well and not only the flag. Makarios said: In the future we will satisfy you economically. This was the discussion conducted between us. After that Makarios died, the negotiations continued, but that flag and the promises were forgotten.

Replying to a question regarding the sum of 10 Cyprus pounds per month which had allegedly been promised to him by President Makarios, Mr Guney argued that Makarios promised him this money and added, inter alia, the following: I, however, did not take that money. Of course I was a teacher. My aim was not taking money. I did not make this job for money. Therefore, I had no expectation. Actually, I am still not expecting, but at least I want my right to be accepted. .

(I/Ts.)

[06] Statements by British Transport Department official on the issue of direct flights to the occupied areas

An application by Cyprus Turkish Airlines for permission to fly direct between Ercan (occupied Tymbou) and the UK is being weighed up by Britain´s Civil Aviation Authority.

The approach was revealed at the weekend by (self-styled) President Mehmet Ali Talat, and British officials confirmed this week that it was being evaluated and rejected suggestions in the Greek Cypriot press that it had already been turned down.

David Stewart, spokesman for the British Department of Transport, told CYPRUS TODAY that no reply had been given yet to the CTA application.

The application has not been rejected. We received a letter from the legal representatives of CTA, proposing to change their operating permits so that they can have direct flights between the UK and Ercan, said Stewart.

It is a complicated issue and we are now looking into the details of the letter before responding.

Mr Stewart said there was no time scale set out for a response, but the department would try to answer as soon as possible after the UK government looked into the legal implications and details of the issue.

Should CTA be granted permission for direct flights, it will not mean an automatic opening to all airlines of the UK-Ercan route.

If other airlines want to apply they can do, but since CTA applied, the reaction of the UK government will solely affect their operations, said Mr Stewart. He indicated that it was up to each airline to apply for an extension or amendment to their individual permits.

Mr Talat made his revelation at the opening ceremony of CTA´s new sales and reservations office in Gaziantep, Turkey an event also attended by the Turkish Minister of State Kursat Tuzmen and chairman of the Turkish Commodity Exchanges, Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

Before leaving Gaziantep on Sunday, Mr Talat again spoke about the application, saying the European Union and Britain were being given an opportunity to live up to their own promises to Turkish Cypriots before and after the 2004 Annan Plan referendum.

Answering reporters´ questions, Mr Talat said the application had been made after intense discussions on ways of establishing direct flights to and from Ercan, and a study into the legal aspects of the issue.

We believe that there is no legal obstacle preventing direct flights, and the issue is purely a political one, he said.

[07] Matt Bryza: It is not fair to make a connection between Turkeys European Union membership negotiations process and the issue of ports

The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza has said it is not fair to make a connection between Turkeys European Union membership negotiations process and the issue of ports, but added that the EU Commissions recommendation report which envisages the suspension of talks with Turkey on eight chapters is apparent.

In an interview with a Turkish newspaper, Mr Bryza said his country is trying to encourage both sides in Cyprus to restart negotiations.

Pointing to the fact that the Greek Cypriot Administration (Republic of Cyprus) is a member of the EU, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza stated that Turkey has to take steps in line with the Unions requests if it wants to become a member and said the EU Commissions decision to suspend talks with Turkey on eight chapters is clear.

He expressed satisfaction that a train crash hasnt occurred and hoped that Turkey-EU negotiations would continue with a determined speed.

Answering a question on the EUs promise to lift the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People, Mr Bryza accepted the fact that the EU initiatives taken towards this goal have been symbolic but added that the approval of financial assistance to North Cyprus has been a part of this undertaking.

Mr Bryza also called on the diplomats to work for a solution regarding direct trade with the North.

He added that the US will accredit a special coordinator to Cyprus if negotiations on the Cyprus issue restart under the United Nations framework.

[08] The Prime Minister of the country that occupies EU territory militarily and tramples upon the human rights of the Greek Cypriot EU citizens calls on the Europeans to start behaving as Europeans

(C/S)

[09] VAKIT newspaper on the rumours of a military takeover in Turkey

He argues that given her "special friendship" with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza, Baran is talking about a military takeover supported and "sponsored" by the current "neo-con" administration. He asks whether potential "putchists" in Turkey cannot see what implications a change of government in the United States would have for a coup in Turkey and warns that a takeover would cause a popular uprising within a few months.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist supports that TSK is preparing to issue statement about Coup allegations

The Newsweek magazine [published an article that] offered a prediction: "There is a 50 percent probability that the [Turkish] military will stage a coup in 2007." Interestingly enough, Zeyno Baran, the author of the article, based her prediction on talks with "senior commanders." According to this bizarre allegation, "half" of the senior commanders with whom the writer supposedly talked said that they are preparing for a military takeover.

We are following the ramifications of this allegation, which has been put in the shade by the Pope's visit. Political party leaders, who would be at the receiving end of a coup one way or another, are voicing their protests. Chief among them is the prime minister, who is stressing that "the person who wrote that article does not have a concept of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law." The leaders of the DYP [True Path Party], the ANAP [Motherland Party], the CHP [Republican People's Party] and other party leaders are criticizing the author of the said article in the same vein.

However, nobody (as far as I have been able to ascertain) is inviting the General Staff to express its reaction in this matter. The article in question makes the unseemly allegation-prediction that the General Staff is preparing to commit a constitutional offense with a 50 percent probability. We thought for starters that this "amazing allegation" would upset Deputy Chief of Staff General Ergin Saygun the most after General Yasar Buyukanit. One must have been upset because he is at the top of the army, while the other, that is Mr Saygun, must have been upset because he went to Washington as chairman of a military delegation a short time ago.

Now, this is the question: Did the subject of a coup come up at the meeting between Hudson Institute fellow Zeyno Baran and the Deputy Chief of Staff? In other words, did Baran ask the chairman of the delegation any of the versions of the question, "Will you stage a coup?" Was she bold enough to make such a query? Baran's latest statement along the lines of, "I concluded from what he said that the military definitely does not intend to stage a coup" is remarkable. Before we forget, Zafer Mutlu's [step] daughter Zeynep Baran even - supposedly - inferred from our general's attitude that the military is under pressure from civilians. We can see how Baran has started little by little to backpedal on the allegation she made a short while ago that she had concluded on the basis of conversations with senior officers that there is a 50 percent probability of a military takeover. She did not talk with senior officers but with low-ranking officers. She talked with low-ranking officers but wrote, by mistake, that she had talked with senior officers. Apparently, the writer was covertly cautioned.

This is a confusing situation no matter how you look at it. In order that the confusion could be cleared up, the public expects the General Staff, which will take part even in the debate over the headscarf issue as it sees fit, to issue a statement about this extremely striking claim or prediction. There is another expectation expressed by [Yeni Safak columnist] Taha Kivanc's question of "whether the General Staff will start an investigation." Indeed, the General Staff's reaction to this allegation is more important than that of party leaders, who would be the injured party in the event of a coup. I sounded out a few sources yesterday. The TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] will be issuing a statement about the issue soon - a statement which will point out that certain quarters are making public allegations intended to discredit the TSK, which derives its strength from the great Turkish nation, and which will state the military's commitment to the secular and democratic republic. As for the investigation, that will be launched, too, according to what I hear.

President Sezer's comrade Ilhan Selcuk discussed the question "What will the military do? Will it intervene to defend the secular republic" in his article [in Cumhuriyet] yesterday. And he proceeded to say: "The question was posed by a US magazine. Yet what difference would it have made had it not been asked? These are topics that everybody in Turkey is discussing openly or secretly." This is interesting, too. "Everybody is discussing the possibility of a coup?" Is "everybody" really doing so? For example, is Sezer discussing it? Are "senior officers" discussing it, as Baran claims? Incidentally, Ilhan Selcuk makes a threat in his article: "If a just, equal, pressure-free, and proper election is what is wanted in 2007, the date should be brought forward and the country should go to the polls before the presidential elections." Or else? If the president is elected by this parliament, will there be at least a post-modern coup? It appears that the General Staff had better respond to this claim, too.

[11] Columnist in THE NEW ANATOLIAN assesses developments in Turkish politics after the Popes visit to Turkey

The papal visit is over. As was easily predicted before, his trip ended without any problems. And even though it's not formal yet, the European Union put the Cyprus brake on Turkey's accession talks, as was expected.

Now we're back to Turkey's own plate of issues. It's not terribly complicated (!). It only includes economic problems, corruption, next year's presidential election, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism problem, Iraq, Iran, fundamentalist movements, etc.

Since our daily problems are many and our capacity is limited, we're not very interested in whether Pluto is a planet or not.

The papal visit did a great deal to improve the health of people living in Ankara and Istanbul. During his stay almost all of the main traffic arteries were closed in these two cities, so our people had to walk. Now our bodies are stronger than they were before the visit. And as a result, just like in the proverb "Sound body, sound mind," people have started thinking about our daily problems in a much better way.

If the Pope came here again a couple more times, the people of Turkey would definitely be stronger than oxen and smarter than Bertrand Russell.

We're okay, to tell you the truth.

But the environmental conditions are not. Environmental conditions put a lot of burdens on our shoulders.

For instance, the harsh winter is about to come and that's why utility bills are rising and rising. If it wasn't winter, utilities would have been cheaper. Who can we blame? Winter, of course.

Another example is transportation. We don't have enough roads to go around in this huge city called Istanbul. There are two main "highways" in the city. One is called the E-5. I always wonder why people call it a "road." Because none of the drivers goes anywhere, they just sit there for hours and hours pretending they're moving. Again, who can we blame? The hills, of course.

There are forest areas around the city. They serve as the "lungs" to the 14 million people unfortunately living here. Some crooks are cutting trees to get construction areas by bribing officials and using gangsters, etc. The interesting point is that these bandits aren't blamed by the people of this city, other than few intellectuals. Their lungs are being destroyed but our people don't care. We might call this "suicide syndrome," but it would be redundant since living in this city is already an attempt to commit suicide in a slow way.

I was talking about what's on Turkey's plate.

Our European Union accession is at a stalemate. As long as the Greek Cypriot vessels are cut out of at least $5 billion worth of maritime trade through Turkey, we won't be able to negotiate related items with the EU. I've been writing that for almost a year. Frankly I expected a stronger decision from EU. At least they didn't kick us from the table entirely.

How about fundamentalism?

What happened to the "headscarf protests"? What happened to the Friday protests? They were part of our life. Now there's a deep silence on that front, as if all those problems were solved.

I think many problems of our society will go into hibernation for a while.

/SK

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