Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-04-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] KIBRIS refers to amendments of the citizenship law reminding that even a parliamentary committee had not been able to access to information it wanted in 1999

[02] Soyer says that a Turkish Cypriot delegation will visit Brussels and plan the new stage of the harmonization with the acquis communautaire

[03] Nami and Ozgurgun are pleased with Rene van der Lindens frequent reference to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; Efforts for Talats being invited to PACE

[04] The Turkish side exerts pressure on the Socialist Group on the issue of the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP

[05] Pertev says that the German term presidency did not want to discuss the details of the Direct Trade Regulation during their meeting

[06] Avci is visiting Italy

[07] Children and teachers from many countries are visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] More migrants were arrested in the occupied areas

[09] Uzun says that the fitting of the electricity power plant has been completed

[10] The breakaway regime participates in a tourism fair in Baku

[11] The breakaway regime participates in an educational fair in Dubai

[12] Another effort by the breakaway regime to be upgraded

[13] Warnings issued by Germany and the UN to countries not to participate in the International Conference on Natural Disasters and Emergency Situations organised in occupied Cyprus

[14] Gul to discuss the Cyprus problem with his Greek and Russian counterparts in Belgrade

[15] New distribution of seats in the Turkish Parliament

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[16] The Turkish Press on the Presidential election in Turkey

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] KIBRIS refers to amendments of the citizenship law reminding that even a parliamentary committee had not been able to access to information it wanted in 1999

In statements to the paper, the self-styled minister of internal affairs, Ozkan Murat said that according to a draft-law which will be submitted to the assembly, the period of five years stay in the occupied areas of Cyprus will not be sufficient for someone to acquire the citizenship of the breakaway regime.

With the new arrangement a continuous residence permit for five years will be granted to those who take work permit for five years and after ten years these persons will acquire the right to apply for the citizenship of the regime. The authority on this issue will belong to the council of ministers not to the ministry of internal affairs.

Mr Murat said that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) government gave the citizenship to 41 persons in three years with decisions by the ministry of internal affairs or the council of ministers. He noted that they have annulled the citizenship given before the elections in 2003 to 1563 persons.

The number of those who acquired the citizenship in our period of three years because of the law is 1803, he said.

The paper reminds that the parliament had decided to establish a committee which conducted a research on the issue of the citizenship in 1999. Even this committee had not been able to have access to the information it wanted, notes KIBRIS adding that according to the report prepared by this committee, 48.816 persons had been granted the citizenship of the breakaway regime in the period 1974 - 1999. In a research conducted 25 months later, it was established that this number increased to 51.400, because another 2.584 persons were given the citizenship.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Soyer says that a Turkish Cypriot delegation will visit Brussels and plan the new stage of the harmonization with the acquis communautaire

In statements yesterday before entering into the meeting of the council of ministers, Mr Soyer noted that the TRNC, breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, is in a stage of a significant economic growth. And a support program was needed in order for this development to be sustainable and be able to satisfy the basic needs of the people, he said and added that to this end a protocol encompassing the period 2007-2009 had been signed with Turkey , with which the Turkish Cypriots have historical bonds.

He noted: This is not an imposition by no one. It is the point of satisfying the basic need of our own people aiming at advancing to the EU standards for which the Turkish Cypriot people showed its will in the procedure for the solution and which is the basic target.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot YENIDUZEN newspaper (19.04.07) refers on its front page to Soyers statements and quotes him saying that within the coming days a Turkish Cypriot delegation, which will plan the new stage of the harmonization with the acquis communautaire, will visit Brussels. Mr Soyer noted that the restructuring of the public sector continuous step by step.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Nami and Ozgurgun are pleased with Rene van der Lindens frequent reference to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots; Efforts for Talats being invited to PACE

Responding to questions of Ankara Anatolia news agency, Erdil Nami, Turkish Cypriot MP with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), who would participate in the meeting, described as positive this initiative by Mr Linden and pointed out that the latter brings very often to the agenda the issue of the lifting of the isolations on the self-styled TRNC.

This attitude of the president of PACE pleases us, he noted. Mr Nami said also that they are exerting efforts for a year now so that the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat is invited to the meetings of the general Assembly of PACE.

Furthermore, the National Unity Party (UBP) MP, Huseyin Ozgurgun, who would also participate in the meeting, said that the fact that the meeting would be held in a four-party format was important. He noted that Turkey and Greeces contribution to the solution of the Cyprus problem is absolutely needed.

He also described as positive Mr Lindens initiatives and added that Mr Talats being invited to the general assembly of PACE within this framework is important.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The Turkish side exerts pressure on the Socialist Group on the issue of the representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP

Sources close to the Socialist group said that the situation is due to the fact that the group does not really know what it wants regarding the occupied part of Cyprus. The sources told ABHaber that the Greek and Greek Cypriot parliamentarians exert a lot of pressure on the MEPs of their fellow European parties, that there is a great sympathy for the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat in the Socialist group and that many German MEPs in the group are closer to the Greek Cypriot positions.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Pertev says that the German term presidency did not want to discuss the details of the Direct Trade Regulation during their meeting

Pertev departed for Istanbul yesterday after the meeting. Responding to questions of illegal TAK news agency, Mr Pertev said that during the meeting they expressed their views and expectations on the Direct Trade Regulation.

He said that they had held twice a common evaluation on the issue in Berlin with the German term presidency and argued that the fact that this time they had a three-party meeting in Brussels with the participation of European Commission officials as well was important. He noted that upon a demand by the German term presidency they had not discussed the regulation in details and pointed out that it is early to say whether or not the efforts are satisfactory.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Avci is visiting Italy

Mr Avci will hold meetings with Franco Marini, president of the Italian Senate, Lamberto Dini, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Umberto Ranieri chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian House of Representatives. During his stay in Italy, Mr Avci will give interviews to various Italian media.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Children and teachers from many countries are visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[08] More migrants were arrested in the occupied areas

(I/Ts.)

[09] Uzun says that the fitting of the electricity power plant has been completed

(I/Ts.)

[10] The breakaway regime participates in a tourism fair in Baku

(I/Ts.)

[11] The breakaway regime participates in an educational fair in Dubai

(I/Ts.)

[12] Another effort by the breakaway regime to be upgraded

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot CUMHURIYET newspaper (19.04.07) refers to the issue under the banner front page title And now veto by the Greek Cypriots for the education! The paper reports that the Greek Cypriots, as it describes the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Cyprus, opposed the participation of the self-styled minister of education, Canan Oztoprak in the meeting of the Ministers of Education to be held on 28 May in Malta as an observer.

(I/Ts.)

[13] Warnings issued by Germany and the UN to countries not to participate in the International Conference on Natural Disasters and Emergency Situations organised in occupied Cyprus

The paper writes that the United Nations, which gave a plaque to the Defence Organization of the Turkish Occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus, in order to thank it for its efforts in the Pakistan earthquake, issued a warning to the UN member countries saying We gave the plaque by mistake, do not participate in the conference. As the paper writes, the United Nations announced that the plaque and the letter given by the Human Aid Coordination Office of the UN to the team of the TRNC civil defence because it participated in the 17 days of searching and rescuing works after the earthquake which took place in Pakistan in 2005 and because of its extraordinary efforts, were given by mistake and called on their members, in writing, not to participate in the conference.

Thomas Peter, deputy president of the UN office, stated in the written warning sent to the UN member countries: We gave by mistake the letter and the plaque for thanking them because of the operations during the earthquake in Pakistan. They are not valid.

The Embassy of the German EU presidency to Ankara issued a verbal warning to the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs in the occupied areas, which sent an invitation to the member countries of the EU to participate in the conference: We do not recognise you. Therefore, do not send this kind of invitations. We will call on the member countries not to participate. The paper writes that despite the warnings almost 200 scientists and representatives from 36 countries, including Germany, Japan, UK, Bulgaria and Sweden, participated in the conference. The paper also writes that speaking in the name of the Red Crescent, Ahmet Mete Isikara, reacted against the involvement of politics in the participation of foreign scientists in the conference and against the scientific works.

(CS)

[14] Gul to discuss the Cyprus problem with his Greek and Russian counterparts in Belgrade

Gul had to cancel his visit to Athens twice, in December and in late March, due to a political chill between the two countries. It will be an important meeting, said a high-level Turkish diplomatic source, noting that Minister Gul will also have some other bilateral meetings.

Bakoyannis and Gul will likely to talk about Turkey's European Union process, direct trade regulations for Turkish Cypriots and other bilateral issues including Aegean and Western Thrace disagreements.

In Belgrade, foreign ministers from Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries will gather for a handover ceremony. Serbia will hand the term presidency to Turkey during a one-day meeting. Gul is also expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. They will discuss a wide range of issues, said the same source. Iraq and northern Iraq, the recent conflict between Ankara and Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, Cyprus, Iran and the situation in the Caucuses will be on the two ministers' agenda.

During the BSEC ministerial summit, a symbolic inauguration of the Black Sea Highway circling the Black Sea will also be made. Numerous trucks will depart from Belgrade for a journey that will end in Istanbul on June 25 after completing a tour around the Black Sea.

The 12 member-BSEC will mark its 15th anniversary during a heads of government level summit in Istanbul in June.

[15] New distribution of seats in the Turkish Parliament

The distribution of seats at parliament is as follows:

AKP: 354

CHP: 152

ANAVATAN: 20

DYP: 4

SHP: 1

HYP: 1

GP: 1

Independent: 9

Vacant: 8 Total: 550

AKP (Justice and Development Party), ANAVATAN (Motherland Party), DYP (True Path Party), SHP (Socialist People's Party), HYP (People's Rise Party), GP (Young Party).

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[16] The Turkish Press on the Presidential election in Turkey

In a report entitled "I Guess that Erdogan will not be a candidate" Hurriyet quotes Arzuhan Dogan, chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association, as saying during a television program that economic and political instability may occur over the medium term if a person who does not pay attention to society's concerns is elected as president. She says: "My personal feeling is that Erdogan will not be a candidate. If, however, he announces his candidacy, he should exercise maximum care in order to fulfil his responsibilities as president because the public obviously has serious concerns."

In an article under the title: "There is only one possibility about Cankaya [President's Office]," Hurriyet columnist Yalcin Dogan argues that Erdogan's mood observed during his meetings with MPs from the ruling Justice and Development Party, (AKP), indicated that he was determined to announce his candidacy for president. According to rumours, he notes, Erdogan has already prepared his speech to be delivered in Parliament after his election and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will take over as prime minister. Dogan comments: "The news conference which General Buyukanit held last week, President's Sezer's speech, and the big rally seem to have changed Erdogan's mind. He disregards objections raised by millions of people and key establishments to his candidacy."

In an article under the title: "Will Turkey be relegated to the second League?" Hurriyet columnist Mehmet Yilmaz argues that Erdogan's election as president could play into the hands of opponents of Turkey's accession to the EU in Europe. He says: "Such a development would solidify the opinion that Turkey is actually a part of the Arab world and that it belongs to the East rather than the West."

In an article under the title: "Agar and Mumcu did not give guarantees about 367," Milliyet columnist Fikret Bila writes that True Path Party, (DYP), leader Mehmet Agar and Motherland Party, (ANAP), leader Erkan Mumcu declined to promise during meetings they held with Erdogan yesterday that DYP and ANAP deputies would be present in a plenary session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly to be held in order to elect the next president so that the outcome of the voting would not be nullified by the Constitutional Court on the grounds that the necessary quorum represented by 367 MPs had not been achieved.

In another article entitled "Hope rather than fear," Milliyet columnist Hasan Cemal says that he disagrees with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's recent statement that the secular system in Turkey is facing the biggest threat in its history probably due to his conviction that Erdogan has a hidden agenda which, Cemal argues, is unconvincing. Noting that he also disagrees with the opinion that Erdogan should not be elected as president simply because his wife wears headscarf, Cemal says: "Tolerating differences and finding alternatives to the AKP while respecting voters' choices and Parliament's will is the only solution. You should trust Turkey and nurture your hopes for future rather than your fears."

In a commentary article entitled "I also believe that he will not announce his candidacy," Sabah columnist Fatih Altayli quotes DYP leader Agar as saying that he advised Erdogan to also meet with Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal about the upcoming presidential election. Responding to Altayli's question as to whether Erdogan will announce his candidacy, Agar says: "I share your conviction that you have mentioned in your column yesterday. I think that he will probably not announce his candidacy. This is the impression I have gained, but I am not sure whether it will prove to be true."

In an article entitled "He is almost elected as 'President,'" Sabah columnist Yavuz Donat says that a speech delivered by Erdogan in a meeting of his party's parliamentary delegation yesterday sounded like a valedictory address and it seems that he is determined to become president.

On his part Cumhuriyet columnist Ilhan Selcuk argues in an editorial entitled "A Convicted and Controversial President?" that Erdogan's election as president would plunge Turkey into chaos. Pointing out that the President, Chief of the General Staff, and people attending a pro-secularism rally in Ankara demonstrated that they were aware of the danger facing the regime. Selcuk says: "'Potential' in Turkey has turned into 'kinetic' energy in the rally held on 14 April. A political movement which would transform it into 'synergy' would overcome all problems."

A report entitled "An early election may be held if Prime Minister is Elected as President" in Referans quotes Minister of Industry and Trade Ali Coskun as saying that the upcoming general election may be held in September rather than November if Erdogan is elected as president.

In an article entitled "Erdogan's Choice", Yeni Safak columnist Mustafa Karaalioglu takes issue with "the widespread conviction" that Prime Minister Erdogan has already made up his mind to run for president and is merely playing for time before announcing his decision. He argues that remarks by Erdogan emphasizing that he does not aspire to high office and that nobody's candidacy is certain yet do not amount to political manoeuvrings, but reflect his sincere concerns in an ongoing decision process about the implications of his possible nomination for the future performance of his party as well as for his own political authority.

In an article entitled "An analysis of the Tandogan Rally", Yeni Safak columnist Kursat Bumin asserts that the 14 April protest rally in Ankara against Erdogan's possible nomination as president indicated public suspicions and concerns about the ruling AKP's agenda that the Government would be well-advised to address. Bumin argues that partisan practices on the AKP's part as revealed in bureaucratic appointments constitute one of the major causes of such concerns and cites the developments concerning the nomination of a director-general for the TRT as an instance illustrating the Government's unwillingness to "share" political power with different sections of society.

Under the headline, "Consensus on Common Sense," Vakit publishes a front-page report which lauds True Path Party, (DYP), leader Mehmet Agar and Motherland Party, (ANAP), leader Erkan Mumcu for saying they will do whatever the law requires them to as regards the parliamentary voting for the presidential election at their meetings with Erdogan yesterday.

In an article entitled "Unity on the Left", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that the increased accusations of coup-plotting against the main opposition Republican People's Party, (CHP), in the wake of the Ankara rally have provided a "historic opportunity" for unity on the Left, adding that there is a blatant lack of a leftist movement in Turkey that really supports democracy and human rights and freedoms. He claims that a New Leftist movement that will redefine the Left and clarify the Left's relationship with socialism, social democracy, secularism, Kemalism as well as with religion is inevitable. He also predicts that Erdogan will announce an early election at the end of August or the beginning of September as soon as he has been elected as president.

In an article entitled "Do not distort it, Zaman columnist A. Turan Alkan accuses the organizers of the 14 April rally of placing the emphasis on national values like the Turkish flag, the Republic, Ataturk, and independence in such a manner as to treat non-participants in the rally who are attached to the said values although they do not share the worldview of the protestors as members of a hostile camp. Alkan argues that the use of national symbols and concepts during the rally had a divisive rather than unifying effect because of this and voices his concern that these symbols will one day come to be perceived as the logo of neo-nationalist groups.

Finally, in an article entitled "Who will become President?", Milli Gazete columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan quotes an unidentified source as saying that the next president will be the former Chief of Staff, general Hilmi Ozkok.

EG/

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