Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-01-31

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a statement objecting to the Cyprus Government bilateral agreements on oil and natural gas exploration

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered Turkeys Foreign Ministry announcement

[03] Statements on the agreement between the Republic of Cyprus with its neighbouring countries on the oil and natural gas issue

[04] Tasos Tzionis and Rasit Pertev visited the Anthropology Laboratory located in the Buffer zone

[05] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

[06] Onder Sennaroglu returns to occupied Cyprus after completing his contacts in Brussels

[07] US Congressman promises efforts to encourage Europeans to start economic relations with occupied Cyprus

[08] The Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs discusses EU ties with Turkish governmental officials

[09] Columnist in Turkish HURRIYET interviews the Turkish Prime Minister

[10] Turkey to host the next African Summit in June

[11] Ali Erel sent a letter to the German permanent representative to the EU

[12] ECHR ruling: No violation of rights on the Turkish 10% election threshold

[13] Turks are the 5th-largest minority in Switzerland

[14] The Turkish Cypriot soccer team Famagusta Turkish Power played a friendly game with a Croatian team

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[15] VOLKAN columnist threatens with war

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a statement objecting to the Cyprus Government bilateral agreements on oil and natural gas exploration

The Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the entire island (Cyprus), and therefore the laws it passes regarding sea management zones and its agreements with other countries do not bind Turkey, said the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Releasing a statement, the ministry indicated that the countries and companies, which think of launching oil and natural gas exploration under null and void licenses to be given by the Greek Cypriot administration, should take into consideration the sensitivity of the situation and will of Turkish Cypriots who are the other founder nation on the island.

These countries and companies should not launch any initiatives that may have a negative impact on the settlement of Cyprus problem, the MFA noted.

The ministry pointed out that the Greek Cypriot administration has been trying to sign bilateral agreements with the countries in the East Mediterranean on sea management zones since 2003.

"TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and our country have objected to these initiatives from the outset, and argued that continental shelf or economic zone limitation in the East Mediterranean ---a semi-closed sea--- can only be possible with arrangements which can be done by all concerned countries and which take into consideration rights and interests of all parties," it said.

However, the MFA recalled that the Greek Cypriot administration signed an economic zone limitation agreement with Egypt on February 17th, 2003. That this agreement is not acknowledged by Turkey was notified to not only Egyptian authorities but also to the UN, the ministry's statement read out.

The ministry said that Turkey continues talks with Egypt regarding this matter.

On the other hand, the ministry said that talks were held with Lebanese prime minister and foreign minister after Turkey learned that the Greek Cypriot administration is having negotiations with Lebanon regarding a similar agreement.

"However, it has been learned that the agreement was signed on January 17th, 2007 and Lebanese authorities were called on to explain the content of the agreement. We asked Lebanon not to enforce this agreement," the MFA statement pointed out.

Turkey thinks that it will be beneficial to draw attention to the legal and political dimensions of this matter upon the news stories that the Greek Cypriot parliament adopted a law enabling oil exploration around Cyprus.

"As TRNC also announced, it also has rights and authorities regarding the territorial waters of Cyprus. Moreover, the Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the entire island; and therefore, the laws it passes regarding sea management zones and its agreements with other countries do not bind us," the MFA statement emphasized.

"Also, it should be remembered that Turkey also has legitimate rights and interests in East Mediterranean. And, some of the territorial waters which are subject to the bilateral agreements the Greek Cypriot administration wants to make, are a part of these rights and interests. Turkey is determined to protect its rights and interests in the East Mediterranean, and will never allow them to be harmed," the ministry added.

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered Turkeys Foreign Ministry announcement

The leading first page of Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SES0 newspaper (31.01.07) reports that Turkey s Foreign Ministry announced that Turkey is determined to protect its rights and interests in the eastern Mediterranean and will not allow attempts to erode them. Ankara also added that the Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the whole island.

Under the banner headline Ultimatum, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (31.01.07) in its front page reports that Turkey reacted strongly to Greek Cypriots initiative to search for oil.

CUMHURIYET publishes a television-interview of the leader of Democrat Party (DP), Serdar Denktas, where he evaluates the oil crisis. Mr Serdar Denktas said that he noted in 2003 the problems that would have arisen from the oil and natural gas resources, but no one has given attention to his warnings.

CYPRUS TIMES, under the banner headline Ankara warns Tassos oil partners, reports that Turkey warned Lebanon and Egypt on Tuesday not to press ahead with oil and gas exploration deals signed with Cyprus, saying Turkey and Turkish Cypriots had rights in the region.

(DPs)

[03] Statements on the agreement between the Republic of Cyprus with its neighbouring countries on the oil and natural gas issue

Under the title Soyer: The dominant understanding of the Greek Cypriots may bring conflict onto the agenda, the paper writes that Mr Soyer visited yesterday the occupied area of Morfou and addressing the people referred, inter alia, to the agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and its neighbouring countries on the above-mentioned issue.

Soyer argued that if the Cyprus problem had been solved on the basis of the Annan Plan, the debate which is taking place today would not have been on the agenda. Because the Cyprus problem exists, such a conflict environment has been created, he added.

HALKIN SESI reports also that the self-styled Minister of Foreign Affairs of the breakaway regime, Turgay Avci argued that the above-mentioned agreements have absolutely no validity from the point of view of the TRNC and do not bind the Turkish Cypriots.

In a written statement, Mr Avci said that these developments have the potential of leading the relation between the sides to tension. Mr Avci called on the Greek Cypriot side to put an end to the efforts which could harm the perspective of reaching a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.

He alleged that limiting the continental shelf or the exclusive economic zone in the Mediterranean Sea is possible only with arrangements which take into consideration the rights and the interests of all the countries and the sides. In this situation, it is necessary to stress once more that the only authority in the territories of North Cyprus and our territorial waters is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is the only representative of the Turkish Cypriot people, claimed Avci.

Meanwhile, HALKIN SESI further reports that commenting on the statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat that hot developments could take place if the Greek Cypriots undertake an initiative on the issue of searching oil and natural gas, Mehmet Cakici, general Secretary of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), said: Instead of threatening the Greek Cypriots, Mr Talat must defend the communal rights deriving from the 1960 agreements. The threatening statements is not a language that the Europeans understand.

Mr Cakici noted that such statements contribute to further growing the distance between the two communities and not to bringing them closer.

Furthermore, the paper notes that a statement on the developments was issued yesterday by the Pensioner Non-commissioned Officers Association who call on the Greek Cypriots not to put pressure on the patience of the Turkish nation.

Turkish Cypriot daily CUMHURIYET newspaper (31.01.07) reports that Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party (DP) referred to the same issue in statements on a television program. Denktas said that from 2003 he had warned about the problems which exist today, but nobody took seriously into consideration his warnings. Mr Denktas alleged, inter alia, the following: Turkey will not sit and watch this agreement to enter into effect. It is an issue of losing its rights in the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, Turkey must use its position as guarantor power and direct the international relations.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue in Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (31.01.07), Arif Hasan Tahsin reminds the results of the recent public opinion poll according to which 65 % of the inhabitants of the occupied areas support the two state solution in Cyprus and only 20 % said that they are in favour of a federal solution.

Mr Tahsin adds: On the one hand you will follow a policy which forces 65 % of you to say no to the unification and only 20 % yes and on the other you will claim rights in the Greek Cypriot State in the south. Lets say that oil is found in the sea of the 5 mile area in Kerynia. Will you share it with the Greek Cypriots? On the one hand you will draw borders and say I am sovereign here and not recognize any right to the other side within the borders you drew and, on the other hand, you will consider yourselves a partner in the wealth which remained and was created within the borders of those who left to the other side.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Tasos Tzionis and Rasit Pertev visited the Anthropology Laboratory located in the Buffer zone

The Presidential Undersecretary Rasit Pertev and Tasos Tzionis-an aid to the Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos visited today the Anthropology Laboratory located in the Buffer zone.

Speaking to the TAK news agency during the visit, the Presidential Undersecretary said they had been briefed during todays visit on the works and progress achieved by the Laboratory.

Stating that he was due to meet with Mr. Tzionis within the framework of the 8th of July Process in the coming days, Mr. Pertev complained that he and Mr. Tzionis had failed to achieve the desired progress during the meetings despite running behind schedule.

[05] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press conference

The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Sides support and commitment towards putting into effect the 8th of July Gambari process.

He said that attempts by the Greek Cypriot leader to avoid meeting with President Mehmet Ali Talat was against the 8th of July set of principles.

The Presidential spokesmans words came during his weekly press briefing at the Presidential Palace in Lefkosia.

Speaking to reporters, the Presidential spokesman reminded that the Turkish Cypriot Side had on numerous occasions proven its determination towards finding a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

He said that the Gambari process was an initiative that was launched by the Turkish Cypriot Side in good faith to achieve the goal of finding a settlement but added that this did not mean that the Turkish Cypriot Side will allow itself to be falsely accused or will allow the Greek Cypriot Side to manipulate the process.

Pointing out that the 8th of July process also envisaged a meeting between the two leaders on the island, Mr. Ercakica said that it was meaningless for the Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos to avoid such an encounter.

He added that this would be in violation of the set of principles agreed between the two leaders then.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot Administration was continuing to use the title of the so-called Cyprus Republic to its advantage, the Presidential spokesman said that the proof of this is the Greek Cypriot Foreign Ministers attempt to use a simple chat with the UN Secretary General while in Paris to promote the idea that the Cyprus Problem can be solved through talks between the Greek Cypriot Side and the UN.

As for the reports that the Greek Cypriot Administration is issuing some kind of property rights to those using Turkish Cypriot property in South Cyprus, the TRNC presidential spokesman said this is a further development showing that the property issue will, eventually, have to be resolved as part of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

[06] Onder Sennaroglu returns to occupied Cyprus after completing his contacts in Brussels

The Minister of Agriculture Onder Sennaroglu has returned to the Republic at the end of his contacts in Brussels.

The Minister, who visited Brussels after receiving an invitation from EU officials, had exchanged views with EU officials on issues concerning his Ministry.

The Minister of Agriculture Onder Sennaroglu and an accompanying delegation who had a week long discussions with EU officials returned to the Republic.

In a written statement, the Minister said that he had had intense discussions with EU officials on issues concerning his Ministry, especially on rural development, agriculture and stockbreeding.

He added that an evaluation was also made on progress made in the Republic until now in adopting the EU acquis communautaire.

Noting that he had had an opportunity to hold discussions with officials from the European Commission, Mr Sennaroglu said he explained the problems being faced by the Turkish Cypriot People because of the continuation of its international isolation.

[07] US Congressman promises efforts to encourage Europeans to start economic relations with occupied Cyprus

US Democratic Member of Congress Robert Wexler said that he would do everything to improve US-Turkey relations.

A reception was held in New York for the congressman, a senior Member of the International Relations Committee and co-founder of the Caucus on US-Turkish Relations. Wexler spoke at the reception saying that Americans see Turkey as a part of Europe, and as the new chairman of the sub-committee on Europe, he will emphasize the most positive aspects of US-Turkey relations.

Wexler said: To be honest, I am going to address the Cyprus issue while emphasizing the injustices, especially the economic boycott, taking place in Northern Cyprus. Americans have to play a role in encouraging Europeans to start economic relations with Northern Cyprus.

When asked about the proposed Armenian genocide bill, Wexler responded by saying that proposed laws are brought forth to Congress every year. Emphasizing that the most important item on the USs agenda was Iraq, he added the 0ncirlik airbase--in Southern Turkey-- was used for planes carrying non perishable food items and materials, so in this context the US should maintain good relations with Turkey otherwise US national interests and safety may suffer. Congressman Wexler added this was the most essential message that would be relayed to US Congress Members.

[08] The Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs discusses EU ties with Turkish governmental officials

Turkish State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said Tuesday that Turkey will keep on going forward in all of 35 chapters of Turkey-EU membership talks.

"We will carry them out according to our priorities and timing," Babacan told reporters after his meeting with Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom in Ankara.

Babacan stated that they discussed the course of relations with EU for 2007.

"In the next period, the time that EU feels ready for Turkey will be more important than Turkey's readiness for EU membership," said Babacan.

Reminding that Turkey-EU relations entered a new period following EU resolution last December (to suspend talks on eight chapters), Babacan said they would continue working on the opening and closing of chapters with determination.

"After the December summit, we received invitation letters for three separate chapters (enterprise and industrial policy, statistics, economic and monetary policy). That means, all 27 members reached an agreement on starting negotiations with Turkey on these chapters without any opening criteria," he said.

Babacan noted that with its magnitude, Turkey is a country that could change the perception for the EU in the world.

On the other hand, Swedish Minister Malmstrom spoke in support of Turkey's bid to join the EU and said they want to see Turkey in the EU family.

Malmstrom said it was very impressive for her to see economic growth, development and the level of prosperity in Turkey.

Malmstrom congratulated the Turkish government and parliament for reforms carried out in EU process.

Yasar Yakis, chairman of Turkish Parliamentary EU Adjustment Commission, had a meeting with Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom and her delegation in the Turkish parliament on Tuesday.

"We do not expect Turkey's EU membership to happen without fulfilling criteria. We know we are not excellent at freedom, democracy and human rights," Yakis told reporters before their meeting.

Yakis said reforms in Turkey will be carried out for the sake of Turkish people.

Touching on the Cyprus issue, Yakis said lifting the economic embargo on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a political promise by the European Union.

On the other hand, Malmstrom said the majority of Swedish people want to see Turkey in the EU.

She also noted that the word "absorption" is unacceptable. Malmstrom said they prefer "integration" instead of that.

[09] Columnist in Turkish HURRIYET interviews the Turkish Prime Minister

Question: You spoke about the deep state; how deep are you talking?

Answer: That depends on how good you are at making soundings. Deep state has become a tradition; this expression has been used since Ottoman times. We can say that it is gangs formed within state institutions. This kind of structure does exist. We have paid the price both as a state and as a nation for not tackling these kinds of connections until now. As the executive we can only go so far. These incidents have to be tackled jointly by the executive, the legislative and the judiciary working together.

Question: In the past a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission would have been set up to look into these kinds of incidents and the overall picture would be looked at.

Answer: Parliamentary Inquiry Commissions achieve nothing. The step we have taken in Trabzon as the executive is this one's step. Removing the Provincial Governor from his post and sending in the civil service inspectors is an attempt to form some infrastructure. Some fast moving work has been embarked on. Once the inspectors have finished their work we will look at what kind of correspondence took place and whether or not the necessary interventions were made. This could leap somewhere else. We are getting to grips with this together with the ministries of Justice and the Interior.

Question: Will the failure of Semdinli to yield a result lead to more such incidents?

Answer: The result in Semdinli may not have satisfied everybody. The judiciary passed its verdict. The final ruling has not been given yet. After Semdinli a whole load of gang incidents emerged. The Sauna and Atabey gangs emerged. I have already talked about the Maliye gang. They must have questioned me 1,115 times in one day. We have to tackle the gang connections within the institutions with resolve.

Question: Might these incidents have anything to do with the presidential elections?

Answer: There may well be efforts to influence the election that will be held within Parliament. Most recently there was the incident on the Gallipoli Lapeski ferry boat. It appears to have been an individual incident. I wonder, was it? He used to be a specialist sergeant until he got thrown out. I do not know what the prosecution decided. You cannot simply throw it aside saying it was an individual thing.

Question: It is said that the administrators in Trabzon had a structure that you were critical of.

Answer: You lay off a man. He appeals and the Council of State reinstates him. How are you to work? The principle of separation of the estates has to work on the basis of solidarity. Unity and integrity must not be allowed to weaken.

Question: There are reports that the person who coaxed the Hrant Dink murder was in contact with the police.

Answer: You are talking about Erhan Tuncel. He has been arrested. We cannot know what he will say after the verdict. That would be meddling in the judicial process.

Question: The kind of nationalism you do not like is on the rise in the Black Sea.

Answer: We have been treating the Black Sea with sensitivity since Samsun. Terrorism wants to get down to the coast. The provincial governors, police chiefs and Gendarmerie commanders in the region need to be very strong and work together in dialogue. It is no coincidence that Trabzon was chosen. It is my town and during my speech at a rally there they threw eggs at me. A guy walks in from one door and out from another. We should not have to rebuild democracy and freedoms from scratch. We have to succeed in this.

Question: Did you mean the judiciary when you said a guy enters through one door and leaves via another?

Answer: In order for him to be picked up the egg has to hit me. Is it a crime for me to be prime minister? He is picked up, questioned and released. I am badly insulted. We sue. Insult becomes criticism. They swore and cursed. You can call the prime minister spineless and that is not an insult. They talk about partisan staffing. It is important to see under whose rule partisan staffing has taken place and how.

Question: Ayse Bohurler's criticism of nationalism at the Kizilcahamam camp made the papers.

Answer: What Ayse Bohurler said has no relevance to the news that was shown outside. What is important is what you understand by nationalism. True nationalism does not mean saying, "I love my nation." It means serving your nation. That means the citizens giving their votes. That is why AKP [Justice and Development Party] votes are rising. You cannot get by saying, "I love my country." If you love your country what have you done about it? You stayed in power for three-and-a-half years, what have you done, show them. I shall show them. There has been a leap between two periods that cannot be compared. I say this in full confidence. You do not see that in the media. How much space did the Bolu Tunnel take up? There are many people who may not even be aware of its existence.

Question: So, you are saying that from the point of view of service you are more nationalist?

Answer: Absolutely. In terms of service we are more nationalist. Everything else is verbal nationalism only. Love it or get out. Is this ever used? What does this mean? "I love it" so stay; "I do not love it" so leave. Are you the one behind this? Is this not discrimination? Those expressions cannot be used in the name of the nation. The supra-identity is constitutional citizenship. There are six ethnic elements. I gave a speech in Parliament in which I quoted from Ataturk. The best definition is there. Let us all use that one. Deniz Baykal does not want to understand. When he accepts it he will be at odds with Ataturk.

Question: Once the presidential elections are over are you thinking about moving the general election forward?

Answer: The Supreme Elections Council chairman has changed. There have been elections in 60 days, 90 days and 120 days. The average is 90 days. My colleagues are discussing this and doing the necessary studies. Information will be gathered for the time period. Our desire is a fully democratic election without objections and to achieve a result in the shortest possible time. If the 25 year age limit arrangement is not an obstacle to making an election decision after the presidential elections then the timetable can be adjusted by taking seasonal conditions into account. Otherwise we cannot do this.

[10] Turkey to host the next African Summit in June

Erdogan visited a poor neighbourhood around the Sheraton Hotel after his bilateral talks at the UN building.

"I am feeling ashamed of my humanity when I see such places," said Erdogan after seeing the dramatic sight at the neighbourhood.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Erdogan said the problems in Africa were immense and should be dealt internationally.

Erdogan also said they would host an African summit in Turkey in June.

Later, Erdogan left Ethiopia for Ankara.

[11] Ali Erel sent a letter to the German permanent representative to the EU

[12] ECHR ruling: No violation of rights on the Turkish 10% election threshold

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided that there had been no violation of right to free elections in a case filed against Turkey concerning the application of a 10 percent threshold in the parliamentary elections.

The court held the decision by 5 votes to 2.

"The Court accepted that the purpose of the measure was to avoid excessive parliamentary fragmentation and reinforce government stability, regard being had in particular to the period of instability which Turkey had been through in the 1970s," said the ECHR in its reasoned verdict.

Resul Sadak and Mehmet Yumak had filed a case in the ECHR claiming that despite the fact that they won 45,95 percent of the votes in Sirnak at the parliamentary elections on November 3rd 2002, they were not elected.

Sadak and Yumak had based their assertion on the claim that the application of a 10 percent threshold at the parliamentary elections was a violation of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights regarding the right to free elections.

[13] Turks are the 5th-largest minority in Switzerland

According to results from the Turkey Studies Centre Foundation (TAM), there are 121,000 Turks living in Switzerland, 45,000 of them citizens.

Turks are the fifth-largest immigrant group in Switzerland, behind Italians, Portuguese, Germans and citizens of the former Serbia-Montenegro. The Turkish-origin population increased 19-fold from the 1930s to the 1970s due to immigration of workers. The number of Turks in Switzerland without citizenship reached 83,124 in 2004. But the population relapsed for the first time in 2005 when the number shrank to 75,903.

The number of those taking Swiss citizenship was the reason for the population relapse, said Kadir Ugur, TAM's UN Economic and Social Council representative in Geneva.

Turks with Swiss citizenship represent one-third of today's Turkish population in Switzerland. The trend of accepting Swiss citizenship shows that Turks will be closely involved in the matters of Switzerland in the future.

The Turkish community represents 1.6 percent of Switzerland's population. Switzerland has the highest population of Turks in Europe after Germany, Holland and Austria. Between 2000 and 2005, an average of 1,700 Turks immigrated to Switzerland.

Turkey Studies Center Foundation President Faruk Sen said that the change, brought mainly by male workers during the early years of immigration, had shifted to native population growth.

While the male-female ratio of a population within a country equalizes, there is a rapid heterogeneous change in community life, Sen said.

[14] The Turkish Cypriot soccer team Famagusta Turkish Power played a friendly game with a Croatian team

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[15] VOLKAN columnist threatens with war

Ismail in an arrogant manner threatens the Cyprus government saying that Turkey will not let the Greek Cypriots to sit on 400 Billion USD worth of energy source and control this source.

He goes on and says: According to the 1960 Treaties Turkey and the TRNC have legitimate rights in the Mediterranean sea not only between the TRNC and Turkey but between Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt.

He then urges the Turkish government and the pseudo-state based on these treaties to take action: If need be it should be announced that if the drilling operations start this will be considered CASUS BELLI.

Claiming that the Cyprus problem, after this discovery of rich petrol reserves has changed face and it is no more a problem between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, From now on more powerful ones will be involved and they will try to have a share, therefore, they will do everything possible so that the Cyprus problem will take the shape they want, Ismail declares.

He concludes by saying: If need be war let there be a war. If need be a permanent division let there be a division. If need be terrorism and assassinations against those who resist, let there be terrorism and assassinations. If need be dictatorship let there be a dictatorship. In other words what has happened or is happening in the Gulf and in the Middle East will be happening in Cyprus in the near future the elephants will fight and the turf will be destroyed.

EG/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article