Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-11-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Afrika: Instruction by Erdogan: Take everyone back

[02] Sozcu: Azeri Minister Elmar Mammedyarov: There will be an important development for you

[03] Illegal migrants come to the government controlled areas of Cyprus through the occupied areas via Rokka Bastion on which there is a guard of the Turkish army

[04] The German FDP wants to develop relations with the DP of Mr Serdar Denktas

[05] Danish MPs of Turkish origin promise to support the issue of northern Cyprus

[06] The Turkish Cypriots are not considering to adopt the euro

[07] Church for rent for 5 YTL

[08] The self-styled minister of economy and tourism Erdogan Sanlidag participated in the 23rd meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation

[09] Soyer stated that the ferry services between Syria and occupied Cyprus cannot be stopped

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] From the Turkish Press of 17 and 18 November 2007

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Afrika: Instruction by Erdogan: Take everyone back

It is alleged that Erdogan, who reacted strongly to the fact that the citizenship has been taken away from the citizens of the Republic of Turkey in the TRNC with a court decision, gave to Talat the instruction: Take everyone back.

The paper publishes statements by the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer who said: The court decision encompasses many valuable people. Now we shall give again the citizenship to these people, we shall correct the mistake.

The paper adds the following:

It is alleged that the chairman of Ankara Chamber of Trade, Sinan Aygun is included among those to whom the citizenship will be returned. In the TRNC legal circles, the situation is described as a complete scandal and a legal crime. Meanwhile, the citizens evaluate the incident as the last whip of the administration of Turkey in northern Cyprus. The fact that Talat and the CTP made a step backwards in front of Ankaras pressure caused a new disappointment.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.11.07) refers to the same issue under the title Will those who did it get away with it?

The paper writes, inter alia, the following:

The citizenship of 156 out of 223 persons which had been granted with 15 different decisions of the Council of Ministers has been annulled by the court on the grounds that it was given in an irregular and illegal manner. The attention has been turned to the then Council of Ministers. The steps, which the justice will make regarding the ministers under Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu are a matter of curiosity.

The paper wonders how a person from Mardin became a person from Pafos and refers to Seyithan Tunc, who has been born in Turkeys city of Mardin, but he was granted an identity card of the breakaway regime which was saying that the Cypriot city of Pafos was his place of birth.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Sozcu: Azeri Minister Elmar Mammedyarov: There will be an important development for you

Mr Avci exchanged views with Mr Mammedyarov on the further development of the relations between the two countries, adds the paper. Another issue which they discussed was the representation of the breakaway regime in Baku. The representative of the TRNC in the Azeri capital, Zeki Gazioglu was also attending the meeting.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot Sozcu newspaper (19.11.07) refers to the meeting between Mr Avci and Mr Memmedyarov under the title Azeri Minister Elmar Mammedyarov: There will be an important development for you.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot Yeni Duzen newspaper (19.11.07) reports that Mr Avci returned from Azerbaijan to Turkey and afterwards to the occupied areas of the island with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat on Turkish Prime Minister Erdogans airplane.

Under the title They discussed Cyprus on air, notes that during their return from Azerbaijan, Mr Erdogan and Mr Talat discussed the Cyprus problem in the airplane.

In statements after his return to Turkey, Mr Erdogan reminded that they met with Mr Talat during the Assembly and added that on the return trip they discussed issues on a national and international basis regarding the TRNC. The paper reports that addressing the Assembly, Mr Talat had said that we do not want much, we want only our rights.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Illegal migrants come to the government controlled areas of Cyprus through the occupied areas via Rokka Bastion on which there is a guard of the Turkish army

The paper notes that the illegal migrants come to the occupied areas of the island from Syria, Iraq, Bangladesh, Georgia and Iran. The paper refers to the issue under the title Pass Free from Yigitler Burcu! and points out that Yigitler Burcu has been handed over to those conducting smuggling of people.

The paper refers to the initials of the names of three persons from Turkey who are dealing with the above-mentioned smuggling: S from Mersin, C from Hatay and M from Antep.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The German FDP wants to develop relations with the DP of Mr Serdar Denktas

The FDP has already begun its contacts with Mr Denktas. Invoking sources close to FDP in Berlin, the paper notes that a delegation of the FDP visited the occupied areas of Cyprus last week, met with Mr Denktas and discussed with him their future cooperation. The German liberals stated that in 2008 they will visit the DP and representatives of the DP will visit Germany.

[05] Danish MPs of Turkish origin promise to support the issue of northern Cyprus

The two women told Star Kibris that they will continue to give their support to the issue of northern Cyprus and fill the gap created by the fact that Huseyin Arac, another person of Turkish origin was not elected. Mrs Akdogan stated that she wants to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus when she has the chance.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The Turkish Cypriots are not considering to adopt the euro

The head of the self-styled central bank, Ahmet Tugay pointed out that the deposits in Cyprus pounds in the banks of the occupied areas are 4.3 million and added that there will be no problem when this money is automatically turned into euro, because the amount is too small.

He said that the economy of the breakaway regime will not be influenced from the fact that the Republic of Cyprus will adopt the euro, because the Turkish Cypriots carry out most of their trade with Turkey.

Asked to evaluate the views arguing that the Turkish Cypriots should adopt the euro, Mr Tugay responded: We have no such agenda.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Church for rent for 5 YTL

Great scandal, great disgrace, great disrespect for the faiths! A church in Edremit village [occupied Trimithi village] has been leased by the Efkav Administration for 5 YTL [New Turkish Liras] annually in order to be used as shop. While the Greek Cypriot television stations have made news of this story, the sensitive citizen Aktan Hizir, who drew attention to what is happening, is being threatened.

An incident we witnessed the other day has made us say it is beyond limit now. Edremit village (Karmi), the area which is mostly preferred by the foreigners in the island because of the historic structure of Girne [occupied Keryneia], has become a scene of an unbelievable event. The church located in Edremit has been leased by the Vakiflar [Evkaf religious foundation] Administration. The last drop that caused the glass to overflow was the fact that the persons who leased the church put in it ceramic ovens and industrial cylinders. Aktan Hizir, who operates a shop for presents opposite the church, has made impressive statements to our newspaper regarding the issue. Stating that he was unable to find out who and how they leased this place, in spite of the fact that after the opening of the gates it was said that all the churches and the historical monuments would be protected, Hizir said: Whom are they renting to and whom does the property they are renting belong to? In his statement Hizir noted that one and a half years ago some persons came here and told him that they would make a job with ceramics in the church. Hizir, who stated that they lined up on the benches the ceramics they brought, noted that he conveyed this issue to the head of the village. Underlining that the head of the village said you do nothing, I will take the key, Hizir said that this has not been done.

Hizir added the following: I have submitted a complaint on this issue to the necessary places. And they had the police to carry out investigation for me, because I was against this business. The police said to me: They posses a four-page contract, you can do nothing. After this I prepared the posters you are seeing (They write in English, Greek and Turkish that they will turn this church into a shop). The persons who leased it are the owners of the ceramic shop named Dizayn 74. When I told them that I would complain about them, they said: Complain wherever you like, we have a contract. They are so confident of themselves. And I have complained to the Greek Cypriots. A Greek Cypriot television came and took pictures. If we do the same to your mosques, will you like it? they said to me. This had a lot of sense..

[08] The self-styled minister of economy and tourism Erdogan Sanlidag participated in the 23rd meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation

The Minister of Economy and Tourism Erdogan Sanlidag has said that the Cyprus Problem has entered a new phase following the 2004 referendum.

He said that a new situation had emerged following the outcome of the referendum in which the Turkish Cypriot people had approved the UN sponsored plan while a majority of Greek Cypriots had voted against it.

Speaking at the 23rd meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation which got underway in Istanbul yesterday, the TRNC Economy and Tourism Minister pointed out that the TRNC has been attending the meetings of OIC under the title of Turkish Cypriot State in line with a decision taken by the organization in 2004.

He said that organization gave out an important message to the international community by allowing Turkish Cypriot representation within the OIC.

Pointing out that trade and commerce between Islamic countries and the TRNC was still not at the desired level, Mr. Sanlidag said that they were determined to work to that end.

The Economy and Tourism Ministry also called on all Islamic Countries to improve political, economic and cultural relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

In addition, illegal BAYRAK (19.11.07) broadcast the following on the same issue:

The Minister of Economy and Tourism Erdogan Sanlidag who is in Istanbul to attend the 23rd meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Standing Committee for Economic & Commercial Cooperation is carrying out contacts on the sidelines of his visit.

Mr. Sanlidag met separately with the Turkish Minister of State Nazim Ekrem, Syrian Minister for Economy Amer Lutfi, Azerbaijan Minister for Economic Development Haydar Babayev and the President of the Islamic Development Bank Mohamed Ali.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism bureau Mr. Sanlidag said that efforts to develop and strengthen ties between the TRNC, the O.I.C Secretariat and Islamic countries were bearing its fruits.

Touching upon the ferry services that have started taking place between Syria and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus after a 30 year break, Mr. Sanlidag expressed the belief that these services will in turn help the Republic build closer relations with Middle Eastern countries and the Gulf.

The Minister for Economy and Tourism also called on all Islamic Countries to support the Turkish Cypriot people in their just cause, so that the Turkish Cypriot people can take their rightful place in the international community.

[09] Soyer stated that the ferry services between Syria and occupied Cyprus cannot be stopped

In statements he made to Star Kibris, Mr Soyer stated, inter alia, that troubles are not expected to come up regarding the ferry services and added that for the time being the power of the Greek Cypriot is not strong enough to stop them. He went on and stated that the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to stop the ferry services are an insult both to the TRNC and Syria.

Mr Soyer said that the European Union did not take seriously the reactions of the Greek Cypriot side on the issue and stated that the EU stated that the ports of Keryneia, Famagusta and Karavostasi are not illegal. There is no decision for imposing embargo on these three ports neither from the UN, nor from the EU, he stated and added that Syria will not stop the ferry services.

(CS)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 17 and 18 November 2007

a) Operations Against the PKK Closure of DTP: A Dogan News Agency report datelined Tunceli, Hakkari, and Sirnak in Istanbul Milliyet (17.11.07) announces that "a large-scale operation with the participation of 8,000 troops has been launched against approximately 60 PKK members who came to Tunceli after fleeing the operations in Sirnak and Hakkari." The report adds that the army "continues to transfer troops and equipment to the region for a possible cross-border operation against the PKK."

According to a report in Istanbul Vatan (17.11.07), a Pollmark survey conducted on 17-20 October in 12 cities with 3,000 respondents shows that 81.2 percent of the Turkish people support a cross-border operation. Opposing the operation are 13 percent of the respondents. A similar survey conducted in July, the report notes, indicated that 45.8 percent favoured an operation, with 43 percent opposing it. Furthermore, the October survey shows that the support for EU accession is 51 percent, while 86.4 percent view the United States in a negative light.

Vatan (17.11.07) details the points included in the indictment prepared by Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, chief public prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, petitioning the Constitutional Court to close down the Democratic Society Party, (DTP). According to the report by Kemal Goktas, the indictment states that the DTP was established under the instructions of PKK's Abdullah Ocalan and works against the integrity of the country. The indictment calls for a five-year political ban against 221 DTP members, eight of them members of parliament.

In reaction to the closure suit, DTP Chairman Nurettin Demirtas said "this is not a surprise." According to a report in Vatan (17.11.07), Demirtas held a news conference with other DTP deputies, declaring that the case will adversely affect the EU accession process and charged that "Turkey was turned into a graveyard of political parties." Party whip Selahattin Demirtas, in turn, stated: "If the closure will solve the problem and stop the bloodshed, let them satisfy us and we will disband our own party and leave the parliament."

Commenting on the closure bid, in Milliyet (17.11.07) columnist Derya Sazak laments that "another page is added to our democracy's history full of 'prohibitions and closures.'" Despite the expectations that the DTP's entry into the National Assembly would help to solve the Kurdish problem politically, the PKK practically declared war and tried to force Turkey to conduct a cross-border operation, Sazak argues in his column. The DTP, in turn, Sazak maintains, failed to distance itself from the PKK, and it refuses to accept that "the actual element that prevents them from conducting politics in parliament is the PKK and the PKK is also harming the Kurds by causing continuous bloodshed." Expressing the hope that the closure bid will be turned down by the Constitutional Court, Sazak says: "We believe that party closures do not constitute a solution." If the DTP continues this way, anyway it will lose its "legitimacy to represent," Sazak concludes.

Columnist Taha Akyol, in Milliyet (17.11.07), also expresses his opposition to party closures, headlining: "It is wrong to close down parties!" In his commentary, Akyol declares this position even "as a writer who has been vehemently criticizing the DTP for days." Akyol maintains that closing the DTP "will only please the radicals! It will rescue the party from the corner it has been squeezed into! It will fan ethnic nationalism because of the feelings of injustice that it will create!" Closing the DTP will push the party outside the parliament toward "extraparliamentary political actions," something that the PKK wanted to do according to Akyol. The columnist adds: "Closing a party offsets the function of democracy that consists of integrating radicals into the system."

Writing in Hurriyet (17.11.07) in an article, Enis Berberoglu analyses the effect of the closure case against the DTP on the "game plan" of the Justice and Development Party, and possibly of the Turkish Armed Forces. The prime minister and his team, Berberoglu contends, are aiming to totally isolate the PKK both among the domestic and world public opinions, and to this end, they are trying to force the DTP to distance itself from the PKK. "Therefore, the DTP's closure would leave the political leg of this new period lame," and possibly provide material for the foreign circles who have so far refrained from opposing a possible military intervention against north Iraq.

Erdal Safak in Sabah (17.11.07) characterizes the closure suit against the DTP as a "holiday gift for the hawks" in the party. In his column, Safak suggests that these hawks tried very hard to bring about this outcome. They issued statements knowingly and deliberately, Safak adds, "because the order to have the party closed down came from Imrali." According to Safak, the moderates in the DTP like Ahmet Turk, Aysel Tugluk, and Sirri Sakik were ousted from the party leadership in a bid to bring about a party policy that will force the state to regard Ocalan as its interlocutor. Despite everything, Safak concludes, "we believe that the DTP's closure will be unfortunate," because in this way the PKK will have killed at least two birds with one stone. The "pessimism" that Ankara is obstructing politics will reinforce grassroots support for the PKK.

An article entitled "The Kurdish issue on the road to Kartepe" in Yeni Safak (17.11.07) by columnist Yasin Aktay finds Prime Minister Erdogan and his aide Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat's remarks announcing that they will not let Parliament be used as a means of "lynching" the DTP, "enormously encouraging in the name of political wisdom and foresight." He claims that the 11-year imprisonment of some of the former pro-Kurdish Democracy Party, (DEP), deputies only served to place Turkey under a paralyzing international "political siege," adding that the expulsion of the DTP from Parliament would strengthen the PKK and provide the DTP with legitimacy.

An article entitled "A hopeful wait" in Yeni Safak (17.11.07) by columnist Fehmi Koru asserts that the DTP is trying to provoke the authorities into closing down this party in the expectation that it will be able to cooperate with the West in trying to represent Turkey as a country which does not allow the political expression of certain ideas and arguing that it is normal in such a country for certain groups to resort to violence. In explaining why this plan is not realistic, Koru claims that Turkey has taken important steps toward promoting basic rights and freedoms as part of its EU membership bid.

An article entitled "Gul should not be late in assuming his role as a guarantor of harmony among state institutions", in Vakit (17.11.07) by columnist Selahaddin Cakirgil accuses Chief Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya of disregarding the need to maintain social order and putting on a show of power against the Government in launching closure proceedings against the DTP. He also criticizes Foreign Minister Ali Babacan for "excluding the DTP" from his visits to the representatives of opposition groups in Parliament to provide them with information about some of the latest developments. Cakirgil argues that under the circumstances, the onus is on President Gul as head of state to step in to set "the picture of disorderliness" within the state caused by these developments to rights by reminding the officials involved of the range of their authority.

In an article entitled "Two incidents in Ankara: Petition to CHP, handcuffs for DTP" in Vakit (17.11.07) Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya argues that the launch of closure proceedings against the DTP will play into the hands of this party by possibly enabling it to avoid defeat in the next local elections by exploiting the public perception in the southeast that the "libertarian" AKP is responsible for the closure of this party.

An article entitled "DTP's political strategy", in Today's Zaman (17.11.07) by columnist Mehmet Kamis argues that the PKK owes its "survival" in the southeast to "the declaration of a state of emergency and the escalating tension" and that the bureaucratic establishment has "offered the kiss of life the PKK needed desperately" in taking steps to close down the DTP.

An article entitled "To thwart the sinister plan" in Milli Gazete (17.11.07) by columnist Sakir Tarim argues that the developments triggered by the killing of some 12 Turkish servicemen in a PKK ambush on 21 October are the result of an international plan masterminded by the United States to change the maps of some 22 states in the Middle East. He claims that Turkey should rely on "Islamic brotherhood" in trying to foil foreign efforts to fuel ethnic unrest in this country.

In a commentary entitled "Southeast picture" in Sabah (18.11.07), Soli Ozel refers to the Metropoll survey, whose results showed that only one percent of the Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin may choose to move to northern Iraq if an independent Kurdish is founded there. Explaining that in the aftermath of the Bush-Erdogan meeting and the US statements on PKK, "Turkey can undertake new initiatives on the Kurdish issue in the event that it can manage the coming period correctly," Ozel adds: "For this to happen, the Kurdish issue, Kurdishness, and the terrorism issues should be taken up separately. Putting the correct diagnosis to the issue depends on sound facts." Stressing the importance of a "correct diagnosis," Ozel notes that the "appropriate step is to close the DTP [Democratic Society Party], which can pose obstacles against the turning of the political wheels, and lift the parliamentary immunities of the deputies." "In this way," Ozel adds, "its own public will isolate the DTP for circumventing politics and giving bonus to violence." Soli concludes his commentary by noting the results of the Metropoll survey, which show that the majority of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin in southeast Anatolia do not even want an independent Kurdish state."

Writing in Hurriyet (18.11.07), Mehmet Barlas reports on the recent change introduced by the Ministry of Defense to the Turkish Armed Forces regulations. According to the regulation published on the Official Gazette, retired generals are being asked to talk less after the comments of several retired generals on terrorist organization PKK and the cross-border operation disturbed the government and the TSK. According to the mentioned regulation, retired army officers, who deliver statements or write books on their term of office, may be banned to enter officer's clubs and social facilities by the Office of the Chief of General Staff.

In an article entitled "Censor, shut down, and silence! I like this 'Democracy,'" Vakit (18.11.07) columnist Hasan Karakaya criticizes the military's decision to revise its internal regulation in order to prevent retired officers from making statements about their years in the military. After summarizing criticism and opinions expressed by retired Major General Orhan Pamukoglu about the reasons behind the failure to put an end to the PKK's terror campaign, Karakaya asks: Should not his advice and criticism be taken into consideration? What does the General Staff do instead? It threatens those commanders with a ban to enter officers' clubs. But, how long could we conceal facts by banning political parties and silencing retired generals?"

A report in Zaman (18.11.07) entitled "Critical meeting ahead of cross-border operation" says that Minister of Interior Besir Atalay will today chair a meeting to be held in Diyarbakir and attended by the governors of ten provinces in the southeastern part of Turkey as well as the commanders of military units stationed in the region in order to discuss measures to be taken ahead of a possible military operation and its possible consequences.

b) Military Intervention in Politics:

Under the headline, "Yes, let everybody mind their own business," Vakit (17.11.07) publishes a front-page report which quotes "NGO representatives" as saying the following in connection with Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug's recent message that "everybody should mind their own business" in response to questions about a cross-border operation into northern Iraq: "Quite right. The general should mind his own business, too, and not violate the limits of his authority [by making political statements, etc]."

In an article in Zaman (17.11.07) entitled "Why the military should not interfere in politics by columnist Sahin Alpay argues that the disclosures made by a number of retired generals in a series of interviews they gave to Milliyet columnist Fikret Bila indicate the need for the political authority to make sure the army does its own business if a repetition of the "grave mistakes" made in dealing with the "Kurdish issue" is to be avoided. Alpay also claims that Prime Minister Erdogan faces a choice between taking the initiative in addressing the Kurdish question and "submitting to infeasible military solutions like others before him."

In an article entitled "Those who attempt to divide us actually strengthen us", in Yeni Safak (18.11.07) by columnist Fehmi Koru praises Chief of the Ground Forces General Ilker Basbug for saying that everybody should mind his own business which Koru describes as a piece of advice that should be taken into consideration by all establishments, and particularly the Turkish Armed Forces. Koru says: "General Basbug's statement could also be perceived as a signal that the military is preparing itself for remaining within the boundaries defined by the system. This is the right choice because being preoccupied with things which do not concern it, can lead to weakness in areas coming under its own responsibility."

EG/

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