Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-09-10

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] Erdogan: The strengthening of the existence of the TRNC in the international field is the main target of the policy we implement as government in Cyprus

[02] Cemil Cicek: Turkeys policy for Cyprus does not change according to the government and the parties

[03] Ercakica says that the Turkish side is not under pressure regarding the Cyprus problem

[04] The government has reportedly given behind the scenes promises to Turkish companies which want to build hotels in Karpass peninsula

[05] British officials have reportedly held secret meetings in the occupied Mesaoria area accompanied by a self-styled minister

[06] KTOS will send 20 teachers to Poland; Cooperation with other five countries as of the end of September is on its agenda

[07] A member of the brains team of the DP resigns; He will reportedly join the ORP or the party to be established by Mr Yonluer

[08] Talat opens a new holiday village in the occupied Karavas area

[09] The Turkish Cypriot press gives wide coverage to the quarrels during the election period in the Republic of Cyprus

[10] Reactions to the results of the meeting between President Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat

[11] Statements by the Italian Foreign Minister Massimo DŽAlema during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan

[12] Gul to host distinguished European policymakers, supporters of Turkeys EU course, at the Cankaya

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[13] The Turkish Press on 7, 8 and 9 September 2007

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan: The strengthening of the existence of the TRNC in the international field is the main target of the policy we implement as government in Cyprus

The strengthening of the existence of the TRNC in the international field and the protection of the equilibriums in the Eastern Mediterranean constitutes the main target of the policy we implement as government in Cyprus. No one says anymore that the Turks are those who do not want an agreement in Cyprus. Thanks God, we succeeded this and we will continue to follow the same line from now on as well together with the TRNC authorities. Support the TRNC. Everything is getting better every day. Reaching the best is in our hand and we have to intensify our efforts in this direction. The constructions sector may go up and down from time to time, but it does not stop. If the actions are carried out having this in mind, no crisis will be created. It is not right to panic. I know that the electric lines are old. When they are replaced completely the problem will cease to exist. We have to be patient. We are almost there.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Cemil Cicek: Turkeys policy for Cyprus does not change according to the government and the parties

Our only goal as motherland is the peace and tranquillity of our brothers living on the island, to increase their prosperity and not to let the problems of the past to be repeated. We are not going to take into consideration what everybody thinks. The TRNC exists and it has a president, a parliament, a government, courts, police and all its institutions function. There is no difficulty which we will not be able to overcome by continuing our cooperation with its administrators. Turkey has the power to fulfil all the responsibilities it has undertaken regarding the roads, the electricity, the other infrastructure and the safety of our brothers. Turkeys policy for Cyprus does not change according to the government and the parties. The TRNC is a state which has proved its existence and we recognize it. Turkey and the TRNC have proved to the world that they want a solution. Their interlocutors should behave in the same manner. If they do not, everybody will follow his own way.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ercakica says that the Turkish side is not under pressure regarding the Cyprus problem

Mr Ercakica argued that they need an interlocutor who knows what he wants for the solution of the Cyprus problem and has the support of political power. Mr Ercakica alleged that President Papadopoulos did not say what he wants from the 8 July procedure, while the Turkish side stated clearly that it wants the process to be speeded up and the preparation period to be shortened. He said that after the 5 September meeting he had a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary - Generals special representative, Mr Michael Moller, but he did not tell him whether or not he is working on a concrete plan.

Mr Ercakica claimed that south Cyprus is exerting efforts to create the impression that the Turkish side is under pressure, but this is not true. He alleged that the pressure should be directed towards President Papadopoulos. Mr Ercakica expressed the opinion that the fact that Mr Moller said at the 5 September meeting that the demand of the Turkish side for shortening the preparation period is not contrary to the 8 July procedure shows that exerting pressure on the Turkish Cypriot side is out of the question.

He argued that the fact that President Papadopoulos is in a difficult situation is shown also by the criticism exerted by AKELs General Secretary, Demetris Christofias who accused Mr Papadopoulos of holding the meeting with Mr Talat without the necessary preparation and said that the meeting should be held after the presidential elections.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The government has reportedly given behind the scenes promises to Turkish companies which want to build hotels in Karpass peninsula

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (10.09.07), under the title Shut up Johnny, refers to the statements made by Peter Millet, the British High Commissioner to Nicosia, published recently in the Turkish Cypriot press on the issue of conveying electricity to the occupied Rizokarpasso area. The statements were made to illegal TAK news agency. The paper writes that people living in Karpass accused Mr Millet and the representatives of the USA and the EU in Cyprus of interfering in TRNCs internal affairs.

Volkan alleges that the aim of Mr Millet is the return of Karpass to the Greek Cypriots and calls on the self-styled Prime Minister Soyer to state who gives orders to illegal TAK and why without any reason it published statements of Mr Millet on the issue of conveying electricity to Kaprass.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (10.09.07), under the title Secret calculations in Karpass, reports that as it is alleged the government has promised behind the scenes to various Turkish and other foreign companies to give them permits for constructing hotels and make other investments.

The paper argues that promises on the issue are especially given to four firms from Turkey and that these promises concern the construction of hotels at Golden Sand, one of the most beautiful beaches of Karpass. Among the Turkish businessmen who are interested to invest in the area are the owners of Artemis Hotel.

It is said that the owner of Kaya Company is a relative of Abdullatif Sener, former Turkish State Minister responsible for Cyprus. It is alleged that the construction of hotels in Karpass will prevent the return of the area to the Greek Cypriots in a possible agreement regarding the Cyprus problem.

The paper notes that another allegation is that the Turkish embassy to the occupied part of Nicosia is also active on the issue and that it will exert pressures on the government in favour of investments in the Karpass by Turkey and foreign firms after the electricity is transmitted to the area.

(I/Ts.)

[05] British officials have reportedly held secret meetings in the occupied Mesaoria area accompanied by a self-styled minister

The paper wonders why the meetings were held behind closed doors, why they met only with the head of the villages and why the government gave permission for these meetings.

(I/Ts.)

[06] KTOS will send 20 teachers to Poland; Cooperation with other five countries as of the end of September is on its agenda

In a statement issued yesterday Mustafa Ozhur, KTOS Education Secretary, said that their cooperation with Poland is only the beginning and that their target is to cooperate with trade unions from other countries. Noting that such events will follow in the future aiming at the opening of the Turkish Cypriots to the world and at making their voice heard, Mr Ozhur added:

We want them to come to our country just like we go to theirs, to get to know our educational system and at the same time to see our political struggle.

Mr Ozhur stated that cooperation with Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Azerbaijan and Israel as of the end of September is on their agenda.

(I/Ts.)

[07] A member of the brains team of the DP resigns; He will reportedly join the ORP or the party to be established by Mr Yonluer

Mr Akay was closely cooperating with the chairman of the DP, Mr Serdar Denktas and he was a member of the brains team of the party. Close friends of Mr Akay said that he told them that the reason of his resignation is the fact that the party stayed behind in the democratic process, that it was not able to become a liberal democratic party and its policy could not contribute to democracy.

He argued that the person who prevents all these is Mustafa Arabacioglu, general secretary of the DP.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (10.09.07) refers to the issue and reports that sources close to the DP said that Mr Akay resigned because he is holding negotiations in order to join either the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) or the new party which will be established by the former head of the religious affairs, Mr Yonluer.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Talat opens a new holiday village in the occupied Karavas area

Such investments, he added, will strengthen the economy of the country and we could become competitive with the economy of the south. He argued that this will decrease the isolations and strengthen the position of the Turkish side at the negotiating table.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The Turkish Cypriot press gives wide coverage to the quarrels during the election period in the Republic of Cyprus

Kibris publishes also the reply by President Papadopoulos and writes that the candidates for the presidential elections are quarrelling about the 5th of September meeting.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (10.09.07) refers to the issue on its front page under the title They started quarrelling (with each other).

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (10.09.07) refers to the issue under the title Tension for the 5th of September.

The rest of the Turkish Cypriot press is also referring to the issue today.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Reactions to the results of the meeting between President Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat

The Secretary General of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Omer Kalyoncu has said that he does not find the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos criticisms made against the Turkish Cyprus side following Wednesdays meeting as surprising.

He said that the Greek Cypriot Side which had secured unilateral European Union membership was playing for time.

The CTP secretary General was evaluating the Greek Cypriot sides criticisms over the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and especially President Mehmet Ali Talat to the BRT.

Explaining that the 8-july agreement brokered last year was a 5-point agreement which clearly stated that the status quo was unacceptable and which underlined the need to find an urgent and just solution to the Cyprus problem, Mr. Kalyoncu said President Talats proposal to solve the Cyprus problem by the end of 2008 was a suggestion in place.

He also noted that in response to Mr. Papadopoulos objections, the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Representative to Cyprus Michael Moller had made it openly clear that setting deadlines or timetables was not against the Gambari process.

Reminding that there is an ongoing election process in South Cyprus, the CTP Secretary General accused the Greek Cypriot leader of preventing AKEL from acting freely with the previous coalition government in the South.

Moreover, illegal Bayrak television (09.09.0) broadcast the following:

The Secretary General of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP) Nazim Cavusoglu has said the 8th of July process on which the Greek Cypriot Side insists remaining committed to is a process aimed at reducing the Turkish Cypriot peoples rights to a state much worse than was envisaged in the UN-sponsored Annan Plan.

He said that criticisms made against the Turkish Cypriot Side following Wednesdays meeting was not surprising as everyone knew in advance that the meeting was part of a scenario where no agreement would be reached.

Evaluating the 5th September meeting to the BRT, Mr. Cavusoglu said that Wednesdays meeting between the two leaders was a complete scenario, something he added, which they had predicted in advanced.

The statement issued following the 3-hour long meeting thus confirms that the meeting was a complete failure, he said, adding that the 5 September meeting served an important purpose by demonstrating that it was extremely difficult to achieve to find a solution on the island.

Citing the Greek Cypriot Sides intransigence and their perception of the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation as an invasion as being the two main reasons for the failure to solve the Cyprus Problem, the UBP Secretary General said that it was still the Greek Cypriot Administrations greatest goal to control the whole island.

Stating that there was a common perception on both sides of the island that Demetris Hristofias if elected as Greek Cypriot leader would contribute towards a political settlement, Mr. Cavusoglu reminded that the AKEL leader too had rejected the UN-sponsored Annan Plan.

As long as the Greek Cypriot Side continues its current stance, a political settlement on the island will be impossible, no matter who is elected to the Greek Cypriot leadership, said Cavusoglu.

He said that Papadopoulos who had refused to meet with Talat for the last 14 months had met purely for the sake of his election campaign.

This is why we do not expect any progress on the 8th July process or any other process for that matter, he said, adding that all the political parties in the Republic should act together when formulating foreign policy and holding talks on the Cyprus Problem.

[11] Statements by the Italian Foreign Minister Massimo DŽAlema during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan

The Italian Foreign Minister Massimo DAlema has reiterated that the place for a solution to the Cyprus problem is the United Nations.

The statement was made during his meeting with his Turkish counterpart and the Chief Negotiator with the EU Ali Babacan in the Viana do Castelo city of Portugal, following the EU Foreign Ministers meeting held there.The agenda of the meeting was topped by the Cyprus issue and Turkeys EU membership process.

Touching upon the recent developments taking place on the Cyprus issue with Mr Babacan, Massimo DAlema stressed that the place for a solution in Cyprus is not the EU but the UN.

[12] Gul to host distinguished European policymakers, supporters of Turkeys EU course, at the Cankaya

ICT is chaired by the former Finnish President Marttii Ahtisaari. ICT members including the Italian International Trade and European Affairs Minister, Emma Bonino, the former French Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, the former Dutch Foreign Minister, Hans Van Den Broek, the former Austrian Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs, Albert Rohan and the former Polish Foreign Minister, Bronishlaw Geremek are also going to attend the meeting.

As the paper notes, Abdullah Gul is expected to give to the ICT members the message that Turkey will continue with the EU reforms and will follow with determination its top goal -the EU membership.

On the same issue, Turkish daily Todays Zaman newspaper (10.09.07) reports the following:

With former Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul becoming the new president of a European Union candidate country, the Cankaya Palace is becoming a new address for deepening and diversifying Turkey's efforts in becoming a member of the 27-nation bloc.

This week, Gul will host members of a prestigious independent group formed by distinguished European policymakers to examine both the challenges and opportunities presented by Turkey's membership in the EU. The Independent Commission on Turkey (ICT), which is chaired by former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, was formed in 2004 by a group of former prominent statesmen of some EU countries to examine arguments and explore the potential benefits and challenges of Turkey's membership in the EU. ICT members including Italian International Trade and European Affairs Minister Emma Bonino will hold talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who is also Turkey's chief EU negotiator. The commission is made up of former heads of state and government, foreign ministers and European commissioners, along with other Europeans who have previously held high positions in public office. Bonino will also hold bilateral talks in Ankara with her counterpart, State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen.

(ML)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[13] The Turkish Press on 7, 8 and 9 September 2007

On the British Foreign Secretary's visit, in an article in the Turkish Daily News (07.09.07), Murat Yetkin contends that Foreign Secretary Miliband visited Turkey not only to express support for the Justice and Development Party, AKP, government, but also to launch a "detailed and fine-tuned British project" based on the exploration of "points of overlap among religions and cultures and their transformation into constructive politics."

Writing in Referans (07.09.07), Cengiz Candar views Miliband's comments on Turkey's strengthened democracy, stressing that this is what he, (Candar), has been saying for the past few months. In his article, the columnist argues that the more Turkey proves its democratic identity, the more it becomes modern, and the more difficult it becomes for certain EU circles to erect obstacles before its membership. "The Turkish wind may have started to blow in the EU skies once again," Candar states.

An article under the title ""British Minister visits Turkey," in Today's Zaman (08.09.07) columnist Abdulhamit Bilici highlights the visit paid by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband to Turkey and says: "His speech focused on showing that Britain's support of Turkey's prospective EU membership was a state policy."

Under the headline, "Winds of war along Turkish border," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which highlights the "shocking" allegation that the Israeli warplanes that are said to have bombed the Raqqah district of Syria yesterday took off from bases in Turkey. According to the report, Prime Minister Erdogan has denied the allegations.

An article entitled "Syrian Airspace means Turkish Airspace", Yeni Safak (08.09.07) by columnist Hakan Albayrak criticizes the Turkish Government for remaining indifferent to alleged violation of Syrian airspace by Israeli fighter jets although there is effectively a strategic cooperation between Turkey and Syria. Emphasizing that the Turkish Government and President Abdullah Gul should strongly protest when there is any threat posed to Iran or Syria in order to prevent an armed confrontation in the region, Albayrak says: "There is a very serious allegation that the Israeli fighters had taken off from an airport in Turkey. What if somebody attempts to explain Turkey's silence with that allegation? We need to hear an explanation."

Milliyet newspaper (09.09.07) reports that the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu'allim has decided to visit Turkey to find out if the Israeli warplanes used the Turkish airspace for ejecting their fuel tanks after bombing Syria. The report quotes the Turkish Foreign Ministry as saying that Walid's visit is not related to the Syrian-Israeli tension and that he will be visiting Turkey to simply congratulate Gul and the new Turkish government. The report adds that in the meantime Turkey has requested diplomatic explanation from Israel over the ejection of fuel tanks near the Hassa district of Hatay.

Yeni Safak (09.09.07) reports under the title "A sudden visit to Ankara" that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu'allim will arrive in Ankara for an unscheduled visit as tension mounts in the region after Israeli jets allegedly violated Turkish airspace and bombarded northern Syria. The report says that the Turkish General Staff did not make any statement about the incident despite evidence showing that fuel tanks found in a village near the border were dropped by Israeli fighters. According to the report, Turkish officials have advised the Syrian Government not to retaliate against the Israeli attack in order to avoid a possible US reprisal.

Finally, under the headline "Have Israeli warplanes taken off from Konya?" Milli Gazete (09.09.07) carries a front-page report which draws attention to suspicions that Israeli fighters which reportedly bombarded northern Syria might have taken off from a military base in Konya during annual military exercises called "Anatolian Eagle" which started on 3 September.

EG/

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