Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-07-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Occupation army general: Those who are after the illusion of creating a united Cyprus should realize that there will be no return to the past

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot politicians viewed President Papadopoulos invitation to meet with Mr Talat

[03] FAO´s Central Asia Sub-Regional office in Ankara. Statements by Diouf, Erdogan and Eker

[04] SEEBRIG headquarters were relocated to Istanbul

[05] EU to construct seventeen schools in Diyarbakir

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[06] From the Turkish Press on the elections

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Occupation army general: Those who are after the illusion of creating a united Cyprus should realize that there will be no return to the past

Speaking during a hand over and banner exchanging ceremony of the 1st Infantry Regiment and the 4th Infantry Regiment the commander of the occupation Army said: Recently domestic and foreign circles and some institutions have started acting insolently against the Turkish Armed Forces and the Security Forces and we are following these developments with great attention and sensitivity.

Other Turkish Cypriot papers reported the same news with the following titles:

AFRIKA: The General again meddled: You should forget about the United Cyprus

VOLKAN: United Cyprus is an illusion

GUNES: No return to the past in Cyprus

KIBRISLI: No return to the past

VATAN: Solution lesson from the commander

YENIDUZEN: Those who are after the illusion of creating a united Cyprus should realize that there will be no return to the past.

On the same issue, illegal Bayrak television (11.07.07) broadcast the following:

The hand over ceremony of the 1st and 4th Infantry Regiments of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces was held last night.

During the ceremony which was held in Gulseren Training Camp, the Commander of the 1st Infantry Regiment Staff Colonel Turgay Bulent Gokturk handed over his command to Staff Colonel Veli Tarakci.

Also at the ceremony, the Commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment Staff Colonel Mehmet Soganci handed over his command to Staff Colonel Kader Kencer.

(MHY)

[02] How the Turkish Cypriot politicians viewed President Papadopoulos invitation to meet with Mr Talat

The leader of the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici said that the call is related to the election process. The General Secretary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet Izcan said that they consider positive the call made by Mr Papadopoulos. However, he said as far as they are concerned the call has two reasons. One is the forthcoming presidential elections and the second the ever increasing International pressure to put the 8 July agreement into practice. The Republican Turkish Party United Forces (CTP-BG) deputy Kadri Fellahoglou said that Mr Papadopoulos is not in favour of a solution in Cyprus. He said that the President made this call because of the increasing international pressure on him or the elections in the Government controlled areas of Cyprus. Despite this and whatever intentions he has, I consider this call positive. To have a meeting is better that not to have a meeting. After all there will be a solution. This issue will be settled on the UN basis, Fellahoglu concluded. The National Unity Party (UBP) General Secretary Nazim Cavoushoglou declared that they did not consider Papadopouloss call sincere. He said that they consider this call election related. Similar views were expressed by the Democratic Party (DP) General Secretary Ertugrul Hasipoglu.

Moreover, illegal Bayrak television (11.07.07) broadcast the following:

The leader of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) Tahsin Ertugruloglu has announced that his party is not against President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos meeting.

Speaking at a press conference organized at the Republics Assembly today, Mr Ertugruloglu evaluated the Cyprus issue.

The leader of the main opposite National Unity Party Tahsin Ertugruloglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side had to sit at the negotiating table whilst keeping in mind the realities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and must show that they are willing to come to an agreement on the Cyprus issue.

What is important is for the meeting not to take place just for the sake of a meeting taking place, but for what is being discussed. What is in question is the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Here Mr Ertugruloglu said that at the point reached in the Cyprus issue the time had come for everyone to protect the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus just like his party has been saying for the past 20 years.

(MHY)

[03] FAO´s Central Asia Sub-Regional office in Ankara. Statements by Diouf, Erdogan and Eker

Jacques Diouf, Director-General of Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, said Wednesday that the organization considers Turkey as a country that should support others in its region and wants Turkey to be its major partner in this part of the world.

Holding a press conference in Istanbul before the opening of FAO's Central Asia Sub-Regional Office in Ankara, Diouf said they held talks with several countries that wanted to house this office but they decided to open the office in Turkey since they are pleased with opportunities and facilities Turkey provided. Diouf said that they are working with Turkey on several projects such as crop augmentation and diversification, livestock, protection of several species. He also said FAO experts on several fields, such as agriculture policy, agricultural investments, grain production, livestock, forestry and fishery, will be working at the sub-regional office.

Noting that Turkey has made significant progress in agriculture, Diouf said they have agreed with Turkey on Turkish support to countries in Central Asia within the framework of FAO's South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiative.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia (11.07.07) reported the following from Ankara:

"Today, overeating --besides starvation and malnutrition-- has also become an important problem worldwide. UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) should include overeating in its agenda," said Turkish Agriculture & Rural Affairs Minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker, who inaugurated UN FAO's Central Asia Sub-Regional Office in Ankara, on Wednesday.

Noting that FAO undertakes important missions like fight against starvation and poverty, Eker said that nearly 850 million people in the world are faced with starvation or malnutrition in the 21st century, thus FAO has still many missions to accomplish.

He recalled that overeating is also an important problem, adding that today, overeating is not a problem of just industrialized countries but also of developing and underdeveloped countries.

"I believe FAO must focus on overeating and malnutrition issues, and carry these problems to international platform," he stressed.

Noting that it is difficult to govern FAO (which serves 189 countries) from one centre, Eker said that thus, sub-regional offices are started to be inaugurated. He added that through the office which is opened in Ankara, Turkey has become a country which helps others, and not receiving help. Under FAO's Central Asia Sub-Regional Office in Ankara, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey will cooperate in areas pursuant to rural development, food safety and agriculture.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Central Asia Sub-Regional Office of Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Ankara.

Erdogan pointed out that FAO has been fighting with altruism to eradicate hunger and poverty, and improve the quality of life of the world people since 1947.

Erdogan noted that today FAO has started a pioneering initiative with Turkey to contribute to the agricultural development of Central Asia and emphasized that an environment friendly agricultural development was one of the top priorities for the future of humanity.

Erdogan stated that FAO and Turkey joined their efforts to serve this purpose. "Turkey and FAO have decided to aid agricultural projects in Central Asian countries through this office. We know well that 850 million people suffer from under nutrition in the world. Although there is abundance of food enough for everyone, under nutrition and hunger affect one out of every 7 people. Therefore under nutrition and hunger are among the most urgent problems of our age," said Erdogan.

[04] SEEBRIG headquarters were relocated to Istanbul

The South-eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) Headquarters was relocated to Istanbul from Constanta, Romania.

Releasing a statement in its web-site, Turkish General Staff said on Tuesday that the location of the Brigade's HQ was on a four-year rotational basis in compliance with the Agreement on Multinational Peace Force South-Eastern Europe (MPFSEE). Istanbul will host the SEEBRIG HQ from 2007 to 2011.

A ceremony will take place in Istanbul in the coming days for the relocation.

SEEBRIG is a regional, multinational and military organization formed by seven southeast European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey) on September 31st, 1999.

It aims at further developing cooperation and dialog among the countries of south-eastern Europe, contributing to regional security and stability, and fostering good neighbourly relations among the countries.

The HQ will be relocated to Greece in 2011.

[05] EU to construct seventeen schools in Diyarbakir

The European Union (EU) will build 17 elementary schools in south-eastern city of Diyarbakir within the scope of a project to support basic education in Turkey, Ahmet Ozmen, the coordinator of the project in the city, said on Tuesday.

Three of the schools have already been constructed, Ozmen told A.A correspondent.

According to Ozmen, these three schools will be handed over to Turkish National Education Ministry by a ceremony to be held on Wednesday with participation of Richard Beckem, the director of the project in the EU.

Ozmen said that there are 21 classes in these three schools built in Tavuklu, Guzelkoy and Kirklardagi villages.

"The other 14 schools will be constructed soon, and be opened in the new education year," he added.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[06] From the Turkish Press on the elections

According to an article by Derya Sazak in MILLIYET, Foreign Minister Gul has affirmed that his presidential candidacy is still relevant and that he is opposed to the election of a president from outside the parliament. Relating conversations with Gul aboard the plane taking them to Justice and Development Party, (AKP), rallies in Kilis and Mardin, the columnist concludes that the foreign minister does not intend to "sacrifice" himself. "Gul will wait for the results of the elections, and if the new parliament cannot elect a president, he will try to have the referendum advanced so that the people can elect the new president. He will not withdraw his candidacy," Sazak writes.

TURKISH DAILY NEWS newspaper reports that Gul and Erdogan are split over the presidency, that "the prime minister has changed his mind on Gul's candidacy while the foreign minister argues that he is still running for president."

On his part also in TURKISH DAILY NEWS Mehmet Ali Birand argues the opposite, saying Erdogan has not given up on Gul and his latest declarations about electing a president from outside the parliament are mere words. In his commentary in the TURKISH DAILY NEWS, Birand also urges the army to discharge all its retired officers and even commanders who have been involved in illegal gang or Mafia activities, because they hurt the Turkish Armed Forces' image.

Writing on the same topic in HURRIYET, Cuneyt Ulsever maintains that "the Erdogan-Gul conflict that is being revealed is yielding tactical results in favour of the AKP." In an article, the columnist asserts that by proposing to reach a consensus with the opposition on a presidential candidate, Erdogan is playing the role of a moderate, while Gul incites the hurt feelings of the people -hurt because of the issue around a quorum of 367- by insisting on his candidacy.

"The AKP is pursuing an intelligent tactic, playing the role of a victim and of a conciliator at the same time," Ulsever says, "and I find the AKP's general propaganda strategy successful."

In an article in the same daily, Ahmet Hakan announces that a recent conversation with a high-ranking AKP official revealed that the party will nominate not Gul, but Mehmet Saglam, as its new presidential candidate. Referring to Saglam's biography, Hakan informs that the would-be candidate was appointed chairman of the Higher Education Council by the late President Ozal; he served as deputy from the True Path Party under Ciller; he was education minister during the 28 February crisis; he has been a respected AKP member ever since 2002; "he is both an Ataturkist and a nationalist conservative;" he has not had any links to the National View movement; and his wife does not wear a headscarf. Ahmet Hakan argues that there is no reason why Saglam should not win.

Taha Akyol of MILLIYET relates a conversation he had with Abdullatif Sener yesterday, (10 July), saying that the former minister has signed a contract with Hacettepe University in Ankara and will teach economics there as of September this year. In an article, Akyol argues that many different circles in Turkey would have welcomed Sener's presidency, but Sener himself does not seem to be interested in that. He may be a loss for Turkish politics, but he is surely a gain for Turkish academia, Akyol writes.

MILLIYET carries the second of an unspecified number of instalments of an article by Omer Erdil on the influence of religious sects over political groups and the parties they will support in the 22 July general elections. According to the second instalment, the "Yeni Asyacilar" (New Asians) which make up the second largest branch of the Nurcu sect will vote for the Democratic Party, (DP). Mehmet Kutlular, leader of this branch, criticizes the AKP and the Republican People's Party, (CHP). Erdil explains that Hasan Galip Kuscuoglu, head of the second largest group of the Kadiri sect, says his followers will vote for the AKP. The largest group in the Kadiri sect is led by Haydar Bas who is also leader of the Independent Turkey Party, BTP. Naturally, Erdil writes, the followers of Bas will vote for the BTP.

In an editorial in the TURKISH DAILY NEWS, Yusuf Kanli views two polls conducted in 79 of Turkey's 81 provinces, excluding Istanbul and Ankara, and concludes that the elections will probably produce an AKP-led coalition government.

Referring to HURRIYET correspondents' reports and impressions from all of Turkey's provinces, Ertugrul Ozkok, a columnist in the same daily, writes that the conclusion would be that the AKP will lose a great number of seats in parliament and that it may not be able to establish a one-party government. In his commentary, Ozkok disagrees, however, saying he would not bet on this conclusion because a very different picture may emerge on the morning of 23 July. "I believe," he says, "that the AKP will emerge as the first party and it will win sufficient seats to be able to form a government on its own." Ozkok also believes that the CHP will get more votes than in the last elections but will get fewer seats in parliament in relation to the AKP. According to the columnist, "the MHP [Nationalist Action Party] will exceed the threshold and enter parliament".

In an article in REFERANS, Cengiz Candar expresses the view that one of the obvious results of the 22 July elections will be "the ideological expiration" of the CHP. Candar criticizes the CHP for declaring that it is willing to form a coalition with the MHP after the elections, and for its antidemocratic stand on the role of the military in politics, on ethnic and religious identities, on the minorities issue, on Cyprus, and on the issue of a cross-border operation into Iraq.

In an article in SABAH, Erdal Safak faults the MHP, the People's Ascent Party, the Great Unity Party, and the GP for vowing to bring capital punishment back. That would mean an end to Turkey's dream of joining the EU, the columnist argues. Furthermore, he adds, it would be wrong to conduct a referendum on issues that would move Turkey away from democracy and modern values, just because the public is in favour. "Wouldn't such a referendum turn into a sort of communal lynching in Turkey?" he asks, adding: "There ought to be a limit to populism and demagogy."

Under the headline, "They sell lies for YTL 1," YENI SAFAK runs a front-page report which highlights remarks by Prime Minister Erdogan accusing opposition leaders of making false pre-election promises "because they do not have anything else to say to the people."

In an article entitled "A Small Move: Compromise", YENI SAFAK columnist Fehmi Koru argues that Prime Minister Erdogan's disclosure that the ruling AKP could seek a compromise on who will become Turkey's next president is a message to potential AKP supporters who might cast their votes in favour of another party in the forthcoming election that unless the AKP manages to win 367 seats in Parliament, it might not be able to have Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul elected as president. After explaining parenthetically that public support for Gul's presidential candidacy has a generic quality that goes beyond party loyalties, Koru asserts that Erdogan's latest move has also served to prove that Republican People's Party, CHP, leader Deniz Baykal has not been sincere in insisting on a compromise solution to the issue of presidency.

Under the banner headline, "Sener unacceptable, too," VAKIT carries a front-page report which accuses CHP leader Baykal of switching from a rhetoric of compromise to one of coercion over the topic of presidency in starting to say that the next president should be someone outside of Parliament. According to the report, Baykal had earlier given the green light to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener's possible nomination as president.

In an article entitled "Since Baykal is 10 Years Older Than Bahceli", VAKIT columnist A. Ihsan Karahasanoglu asserts that Nationalist Action Party, leader Devlet Bahceli is preparing to have Baykal elected as prime minister by establishing a coalition with the CHP just as he got late Democratic Left Party, DSP, leader Bulent Ecevit nominated as prime minister by becoming a coalition partner with the DSP in 1999. Karahasanoglu quotes a passage from Bahceli's statement of his reasons on a recent television program for treating Ecevit deferentially ["Mr Ecevit was prime minister of Turkey for one thing. For another he was a well-regarded personality in Turkish political life. For a third, he was my elder"] and claims that Bahceli will cite the same reasons in responding to possible criticisms of what promises to be his tendency to behave obsequiously toward the CHP leader.

In an article entitled "CHP=MHP", VAKIT columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak comments on recent political advertisements in the CUMHURIYET daily promoting a CHP-MHP coalition. He claims that the same quarters that set the CHP and MHP against one another in the past as part of their efforts to start a rightist-leftist conflict in this country that would make it possible for them to intervene as a "savior" are now encouraging a "deep alliance" between "neo-nationalists and nationalists" for the same purpose. He also claims that a campaign to enable the MHP to pass the ten-percent threshold is being conducted at the expense of the Democratic Party, DP, and the Youth Party, GP.

In an article entitled "Turkish Baathism's Search for a New Synthesis", ZAMAN columnist Mumtazer Turkone accuses Cumhuriyet columnist Ilhan Selcuk, "a spokesman for Turkish Baathism," of trying to legitimize as ugly, repulsive, and disgusting a thing" as minority rule over the majority in "praising" the MHP in his recent articles as part of his bid to prepare the ground for a CHP-MHP coalition government. Turkone argues that Selcuk's endorsement of a possible CHP-MHP alliance only means that "the elite minority" in Turkey is going out of its way to retain its hold on power.

In an article entitled "Baykal stops beating around the bush", ZAMAN columnist Tamer Korkmaz asserts that Baykal's reaction to Erdogan's disclosure of a compromise plan for the presidency has revealed that the CHP leader wants the next president to be somebody like Sezer who does not want the state to be reconciled with the nation and will provoke polarization through his practices. Korkmaz warns that it would be politically disastrous for Erdogan to accept Baykal's offer and claims that the AKP should advance its own agenda even though this might entail yet another parliamentary election rather than acceding to an "imposition" that is being represented as a compromise. He also disputes the argument that Erdogan's latest remarks mean that he has given up the notion of nominating Gul as president.

In an article entitled "Turkey Parties", ZAMAN columnist Ali Bulac asserts that the forthcoming election is being fought between "civilian politics" and "anti-democratic" forces and that in this sense siding with the AKP has become synonymous with supporting "civilian politics." He also claims that the CHP and MHP do not qualify as "Turkey parties" because they are unable to hold election rallies farther east than the province of Sivas.

In an article entitled "He says he will seek compromise", MILLI GAZETE columnist Zeki Ceyhan asserts that Prime Minister Erdogan should explain why he did not seek compromise with other parties over the issue of presidency before and allowed a "political crisis" to break out over this topic by insisting on nominating an AKP member as president. Ceyhan asks whether Erdogan might have purposely brought on this crisis to weaken "rivals" within the AKP like Abdullah Gul and claims that the lack of references to Gul's candidacy in Erdogan's latest statement lends credence to this possibility.

Finally in an article under the title: "PKK takes election break", BUGUN columnist Emin Pazarci asserts that the PKK has established a virtual "election headquarters" in northern Iraq as part of its efforts to influence voter opinion in the southeast and that it is trying to enable as many Kurdish independent candidates as possible to enter Parliament.

EG/

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