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

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish State Minister Tuzmen: The isolations will be lifted sooner or later

[02] Talat called on the Turkic world to help change the Russian position on the Cyprus problem

[03] Ercakica keeps accusing the Greek Cypriot side and argues that Russia is not willing to play a constructive role in the Cyprus problem

[04] Soyer says that they are preparing for discussions on disengagement in the buffer zone; Akinci wants Ledra Street and Limnitis to be opened by the end of the year

[05] A new public opinion poll by KADEM

[06] Bulutoglulari meets with the Italian Ambassador to Nicosia. He wishes the twining of occupied Lefkosia with Italian city

[07] A Japanese diplomat meets with a delegation of the ORP

[08] Volkan reacts against a Turkish Cypriot journalist in Toplum Postasi who opposes to the two-state solution in Cyprus

[09] Turkish Generals accuse the West for supporting the PKK

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: In the long-run the Cyprus deadlock could also be influenced by the outcome in Kosovo

[11] From the Turkish Press of 11 December 2007

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish State Minister Tuzmen: The isolations will be lifted sooner or later

He noted that the Turkic republics should increase the volume of trade among them and launch direct flights. Mr Tuzmen pointed out that the world trade is passing through the Mediterranean Sea and that the trade over Asia could now be opened to the whole world through Turkey and the TRNC.

The paper notes that more than 80 academicians from nine Turkic republics and independent republics are participating in the forum. Delegates from countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan participate in the forum.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Talat called on the Turkic world to help change the Russian position on the Cyprus problem

He has not only been content with not visiting us, but at the same time he made statements which saddened us, he noted. Mr Talat argued that the fact that such a big country like Russia unconditionally supports the Greek Cypriot side is saddening.

Our request from the Turkic world is to help us to change this stance of Russia, by using their influence and authority, he added. Mr Talat alleged that the situation of the TRNC is unacceptable and added that the Turkic world can give the power and the motivation to the Turkish Cypriots in the form of support, so that they are saved from this isolation.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ercakica keeps accusing the Greek Cypriot side and argues that Russia is not willing to play a constructive role in the Cyprus problem

In statements yesterday during his weekly briefing, Mr Ercakica alleged that President Papadopoulos is trying to abolish the basis for the negotiations. He claimed that President Papadopoulos has openly stated that he would not participate in a search for a solution on the basis of the Annan Plan. He alleged that the President of the Republic admitted that all his activities in the past few years aimed at getting rid of this plan.

Mr Ercakica also claimed that Mr Papadopoulos has shown the will to throw into the garbage all the experience obtained after great efforts.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Soyer says that they are preparing for discussions on disengagement in the buffer zone; Akinci wants Ledra Street and Limnitis to be opened by the end of the year

Mr Soyer noted that the government, the presidency and the security forces will reach a result together on this issue and that they will share this result with the public. He said that within the next few days they will submit to the assembly this work carried out within the scope of all the military zones. Mr Soyer said also that all the necessary work for the opening of the Ledra Street area (Lokmaci) crossing point in Nicosia will be done.

Under the title Mustafa Akinci: Let us open Lokmaci this New Year, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (12.12.07) reports that Mr Mustafa Akinci, MP with the Communal Democracy Party (TDP), has pointed out that in the recent UN report it is noted that the Ledra Street and the Limnitis crossing points are under the control of the Turkish army. Speaking at the assembly, Mr Akinci asked for the opening of the above mentioned crossing points. He argued: Unfortunately, Turkey is not in a hurry for a solution no matter what in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot side as well is not in a hurry.

(I/Ts.)

[05] A new public opinion poll by KADEM

According to the results, the percentages of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) decreased to 36 %, which means that the party lost 10-15 % of its votes compared to the 2005 elections.

The National Unity Party (UBP) is supported by 34 % of the participants in the poll, while in the previous elections the party secured 32%. The percentages of the other parties are the following: Democratic Party (DP) 10.5 % (in the elections of 2005 it secured 13 %), Communal Democracy Party (TDP) 10.5%, Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) 7 % and others 2.5 %. Parties such as the United Cyprus Party (BKP), the Cyprus Socialist Party (KSP), the National Justice Party (MAP) and the New Party (YP) are below 1%.

The statistical error is plus/minus 3.86 %, notes the paper pointing out that when the percentages of those polled who have not decided which party to vote for and those who have not replied are not distributed to the parties, the results will be the following: CTP 23.8 %, UBP 21.8 %, DP 7 %, TDP 7 % and ORP 4.4%.

According to the 31.6 % of the participants in the poll, the most important problem in the country is unemployment. 30.4 % believe that the most important problem is inflation/ increase in the prices, 27.3 % the international position of the TRNC, 12.3 % the increase in the use of drugs and 10.5 % the relations with the Greek Cypriot sector.

Other problems mentioned were the following: The traffic problem, the relations with the EU, the inequity in taxes, the problem with the electricity, the lack of educational services, the water problem, and the increase in the criminality, the insufficient health services and the uncertainty in the country.

A 46.6 % thinks that the CTP-ORP coalition government is not successful, 16% that it is successful and 35.1 % said that the government was neither successful nor unsuccessful. Asked why they think that the government is unsuccessful, the participants in the poll said that it does not keep its promises, it is not competent in absolutely no field, it does not provide services to the people etc.

Asked to state whether they like a lot or like the party leaders, the participants in the poll replied the following: Ferdi Sabit Soyer: I like a lot 10.2 %, I like 45.8 %, Mehmet Cakici I like a lot 7.2 %, I like 36.9 %, Tahsin Ertugruloglu I like a lot 3.5 %,I like 38.6% , Serdar Denktas I like a lot 4%, I like 37.4 % and Turgay Avci I like a lot 4.6 %, I like 34.2 %.

Asked about their opinion on the political system applied in the occupied areas of the island, 16 % of the participants in the poll said that the current system should continue, 14.3 % said that the current system should continue with powers given to the president of the republic, 35.6 % said that they should switch over to the presidential system and 34 % noted that they could not express any opinion on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Bulutoglulari meets with the Italian Ambassador to Nicosia. He wishes the twining of occupied Lefkosia with Italian city.

(I/Ts.)

[07] A Japanese diplomat meets with a delegation of the ORP

(I/Ts.)

[08] Volkan reacts against a Turkish Cypriot journalist in Toplum Postasi who opposes to the two-state solution in Cyprus

Alkan Caglar, a columnist in Toplum Postasi newspaper, which according to Volkan is the mouthpiece of the Republican Turkish Party in London, has sent a letter to the British newspaper noting that the impressions of Mr Taylor were wrong and that those who want the two-state solution are the settlers brought illegally from Turkey. Mr Caglar, instead of calling Mr Talat president he used the word mister and noted that the Turks are imposing embargo on themselves, writes Volkan.

In its 6 December 2007 edition Londra Toplum Postasi published Mr Alkan Chaglar´s letter, excerpt of which is as follows: These settlers illegally shipped over by Turkey to deliberately change the demographic character of Cyprus and disenfranchise native Turkish Cypriots are naturally against reunification since they know that they would be forced to return to Turkey. Naturally, they would prefer a two-state solution.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish Generals accuse the West for supporting the PKK

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said on Tuesday that acts of terrorism have been both politicized and legalized in recent years, pointing to the presence of deputies from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Parliament.

Buyukanit delivered a speech at a symposium titled "Prevention of Economic and Ideological Support for the PKK/Kongra-Gel," organized by the Turkish General Staff Military History Archives and Strategic Studies Institute (ATASE) on Tuesday in the capital. He noted that domestic and foreign support flowing to the terrorist organization is an interaction and stated that acts of terror perpetrated by separatist and terrorist groups has recently been politicized and legalized, in particular reference to deputies from the pro-Kurdish DTP in Parliament.

Stating that the objective of the symposium is to curb psychological and financial support to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Buyukanit noted, It is not easy to find ways to prevent resources from going to the terrorist organization because it is supported by domestic and foreign entities.

He underlined that foreign support for the separatist organization comes to a large extent from northern Iraq, adding: Domestic and foreign support trigger each other. If the terrorist organization was not supported by internal dynamics, the scope of foreign support to members of the separatist group would not be that large. In other words, domestic support leads foreign sources to support the terrorist organization.

Noting that countries around the world have squandered significant opportunities on the path to the restoration of peace and the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, Buyukanit said: Now such concepts serve the interests of terrorist organizations. These concepts are of vital importance to foreign countries. When they hear members of a terrorist organization dwelling on such concepts, they believe that that the terrorist group is right in its fight.

The entire Turkish nation should be very careful in its acts. Terrorism has been both politicized and legalized, he said.

Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun, on the other hand, stated that the stance of certain countries, including Turkey's allies, encourages members of the outlawed PKK in their terrorist activities, while noting that financial and psychological support flowing to the terrorist organization should be cut to curb such activities.

In his speech, Saygun noted that the stance adopted by certain countries, including Turkey's allies, is the most crucial factor that paves the way for members of the terrorist organization to find safe havens and continue their armed attacks.

Noting that financial, psychological and military support going to terrorist organizations should be obstructed to flush out members of those groups, Saygun stressed that all countries need to contribute to the worldwide struggle against acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians by armed terrorist organizations.

Saygun stated that the United States, the European Union and NATO have recently pledged to help Turkey crack down on the PKK separatist organization. The EU has taken significant and promising steps to contribute to Turkey's fight against the PKK terrorist group in the last few weeks. But we also see that conferences that spread the propaganda of the terrorist organization in question are organized in the European Parliament and in the French and UK parliaments by members and proponents of the separatist group, he said.

Saygun stressed that such conferences encourage members and proponents of the terrorist organization to support bloody attacks waged by the PKK and provide political support for the terrorist organization. We cannot understand why some countries still continue to call members of the terrorist group 'PKK guerillas,' 'armed fighters' and 'Ankara dissidents'.

Saygun noted that the PKK receives financial aid from European countries where it conducts illegal operations such as drug and human trafficking.

Steps taken by Turkey in its fight against terrorism are criticized by European countries for reasons of human rights, but these countries forget that they take stricter measures against terrorist organizations when necessary. Though all European countries remain silent in the face of tough measures taken to curb terrorist attacks waged against their countries, they are critical of a court case opened to close down a political party that explicitly supports a terrorist organization, he said.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: In the long-run the Cyprus deadlock could also be influenced by the outcome in Kosovo

We are witnessing the final stage of the disintegration in Yugoslavia. Recent developments as a matter of fact are the final curtain of a bloody process taking start in Kosovo. Back then, the head of the Serbian Federal State and the champion of the Serbian nationalism the late Slobodan Milosevic announced Serbia will never give up on Kosovo, during a famous speech for the 600th anniversary of the Ottoman-Serbian war that took place in Gazimestan, Kosovo. The following year he annulled the autonomy granted to Kosovo during Tito's reign. In the same period Yugoslavia had her share in the course of events, just like all political structures disintegrating in central Europe following the end of the Cold War. To that Milosevic reacted by forcing the Yugoslav army dominated by Serbs on to other federal states for the formation of a Greater Serbia. The Yugoslav wars therefore began and finally ended in 1995, but the Kosovo issue remained unsolved. With the Dayton Agreement Serbs shifted their attention to Kosovo but largely lost the case at the end of clashes that lasted three years. Following the NATO led airborne operation in 1999; the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) took over the administration of the province. Since then Kosovo, in a state of no war, no peace has witnessed a deepening Albanian autonomy. However, this status quo is not viable anymore and a lasting solution seems necessary. Today the Kosovo issue, in a way, exposed the parties of the Cold War to each other. Russia, as the prime supporter of Serbia, and the United States, leading the Western countries defending the independence of Kosovo, are on opposite sides. Except Republic of Cyprus and Greece, the European Union sides with the U.S. As in the 19th century, Russia today is the guardian of Slav/orthodox states and communities and since 1999 has backed Serbs in the Kosovo issue at any rate.

Process of independence

It will not be easy for Kosovo to declare independence unilaterally. On November 30 the troika, consisting of EU, Russia and the U.S. together with Martti Ahtisaari, the U.N. Special Envoy for Kosovo, announced the last round of talks was inconclusive. Since then parties are making loud threats of war. On the diplomatic front, the Russian veto threat means that it won't be easy to go beyond the Security Council Resolution 1244 stating Kosovo is part of Serbia. Neither the Ahtisaari proposed plan of supervised independence that the pro-Serbia group rejected will be easy to implement. Yesterday first the EU General Affairs Council then the U.N. Secretary-General has been briefed on the latest developments. Normally the Kosovo Quint consisting of France, Germany, Italy, U.K. and the U.S., will start to implement Ahtisaari's proposal to lead Kosovo to independence by May 2008. In the EU summit to be held this Friday, the subject will be included in the conclusions. The new Kosovar government that will be formed in January is expected to declare its intention for independence in accordance with the Ahtisaari Plan. From there on 120-day independence calendar will begin and the Quint should make its presence felt so as to work efficiently with Russia, Serbia, NATO and the U.N. in order to prevent any further disruption. Along this line, the initialization of an EU SAA (Stabilization and Association Agreement) on November 7, 2007 with Serbia was not a coincidence. In the transitional period the EU faces a great deal of challenges. We will see how the Union will manage a potential crisis, taking place in Europe. Indeed firstly the EU-27 should support the declaration of intention on independence.

The Republic of Cyprus and Greece are frosty with the assumption that Kosovo may set a precedent for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As part of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and with the cooperation of the Kosovo Force of NATO (KFOR), formation of a rule of law mission is foreseen. However, this too faces the Cyprus obstacle for Turkey objects to the inclusion of Greek Cypriot police units in the mission, based on an agreement signed in 2002. It is likely to overcome the deadlock by excluding the Greek Cypriot police. Independence of Kosovo would have an immediate effect on the fragile balances in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the long-run the Cyprus deadlock could also be influenced by the outcome in Kosovo. Finally the effect of these processes, although certainly with different outcomes, on the Kurdish issue should not be underestimated either.

[11] From the Turkish Press of 11 December 2007

a) Kurdish Issue: Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the CHP (Republican People's Party) leader Deniz Baykal's statement during his visit to the Milliyet office in Ankara yesterday on the serious consequences of an amnesty for the PKK terrorists. In his column in Milliyet he quotes Baykal as saying: An effort is made for a new arrangement to bring down the PKK from the mountains. It has created the impression that it will be like an amnesty law. The consequences of an amnesty will be very serious. Bila says that Baykal expressed the view that the struggle against terror should be a national issue and that the government making new arrangements by itself in connection with the problem because of its majority in the parliament will be wrong.

On his part Milliyet columnist Hasan Cemal supports Prime Minister Erdogan's effort to deal with the PKK and solve the Kurdish problem in the country. In his column, he lauds the cooperation between Erdogan, President Gul, and General Staff on the Kurdish issue. Cemal criticizes CHP leader Deniz Baykal and MHP (Nationalist Action Party) leader Devlet Bahceli for opposing the government's new initiative. He notes: "It will be useful to say that the approach Baykal and Bahceli adopted on the matter, which is not surprising, is just unfortunate."

In a column in Vatan columnist Bilal Cetin also focuses on the effort made for a new arrangement to bring down the PKK from the mountains. He notes that the arrangement will not be an amnesty for the PKK terrorists but will facilitate the return of the militants who have not been involved in terrorist activities to social life. However, he asserts that the new arrangement will not be enough to break the backbone of the PKK and expresses the conviction that economic measures have to be taken in southeastern Turkey to solve the problems of the people.

In an article "Pro-Status quo opposition", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru takes issue with Republican People's Party, (CHP), leader Deniz Baykal over his criticisms on a recent television program of the AKP's preparations to pass a "return home bill" intended to encourage the members of the PKK to hand themselves over to Turkish authorities. Koru claims that Baykal's "only correct remark" on this program - that "there is a political project behind terrorism" - contradicted his reasons for objecting to such a bill. He asserts that since the PKK cannot be persuaded to give up its project to partition Turkey, "the right approach should be to convince its militants to desert the PKK" by passing such legislation. He also accuses the Opposition of endorsing a status quo that allows the PKK to maintain its existence and its capacity for creating trouble for Turkey.

Under the headline, "Families step in, Some 155 PKK members return home in a Year," Zaman publishes a front-page report which asserts that some 155 PKK militants have surrendered to police and gendarmerie forces in the past one year as a result of a project jointly conducted by the Government and the military to persuade the parents of PKK members to get their children to abandon the terrorist organization.

In an article entitled "Returning home", Zaman columnist Mustafa Unal argues that a "return home bill" for the PKK of the sort the Erdogan government is said to be pondering would obviously speed up the disintegration of the terrorist group. He also calls on opposition leaders to see such legislation as an important component of the "multi-dimensional" fight against terrorism rather than giving "emotional reactions" to it.

In an article entitled "Nobody could really come to power in this country without solving the Kurdish issue", Zaman columnist Ihsan Dagi argues that if the ruling AKP has started to take "determined" steps to solve the "Kurdish issue," it is actually because it has realized that Turkey will not achieve normalization and that the political authority itself will not be allowed to govern this country as long the said problem remains unsolved. He claims that the Erdogan government appears to have drawn the correct lessons from the recent upsurge of PKK terrorism, which demonstrated once again that the Kurdish issue has a "controlling function" over governments in Turkey.

In an article entitled "Fresh but once again controversial amnesty attempt", Today's Zaman columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu claims that "the latest attempt to convince PKK members not involved in attacks to come down from the mountains will likely remain ineffective as long as it does not involve a comprehensive amnesty, covering the senior members of the PKK ..."

In an article under the title "An offspring State project", Milli Gazete columnist Hasan Unal warns of what he describes as the pitfalls of a US-Israeli project to unite Turkey with an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq. He claims that in order to secure Turkey's approval for this undertaking, the architects of the project represent the plan as one that will enable Turkey to lay claim to Kirkuk oil. In explaining why the plan is nothing but a "ploy" to partition Turkey, Unal asserts that the project would destroy Turkey's nation-state structure by allowing the "puppet state" in northern Iraq to "grow like a malignant tumor inside us."

b) Appointment of new Education Council Chairman: A report entitled "A libertarian Chairman for YOK" by Zaman writers Suleyman Kurt and Ibrahim Asalioglu claims that President Gul's appointment of Professor Yusuf Ziya Ozcan as the new chairman of the Higher Education Council, (YOK), is being referred to as a development that marks a new period in the YOK. According to the report, Ozcan is known in the academic world for his lack of an ideological stance and his predominantly "scholarly" attitude.

Under the headline, "Do not be a Prohibitionist," Milli Gazete publishes a front-page report which asserts that the people expect Professor Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, the new YOK Chairman, to start a new period in Turkey when freedoms in universities are broadened, pressures and coercion are ended, and tensions decrease. The report highlights Ozcan's earlier remark dismissing "fears" about Muslim headscarves as unfounded and asserting that lifting the headscarf ban in universities would help establish a more liberal democracy.

In an article entitled "Could the YOK Chairman act like a 'Libertarian' person?", Bugun columnist Hakan Aygun cites a Constitutional Court ruling, declaring Muslim headscarves a "political symbol" and forbidding it in universities and other "public" places, as a major obstacle to new legislation removing the restrictions on headscarves during Professor Ozcan's term as YOK Chairman.

c) Economy: Commenting on the economic situation in Milliyet, Hursit Gunes warns that the figures disclosed on economic growth indicate that Turkey will not be able to maintain last year's achievement in 2007. In his column, he recalls the fall in production in many fields and notes: GNP increased by 5.7 percent during the first nine months in 2006. It totaled four percent in the same period this year. That is a fall in performance which cannot be ignored. The government will not realize that it has been unable to control growth for the first time. Agreeing that global developments have had a bearing on growth in Turkey, he warns: We are still at the beginning. Growth in Turkey will suffer harder blows as global developments become more serious. Gunes adds a table to his column to outline fall in production in the agricultural, industrial fields, and financial fields as well as in housing and GNP during the past two years.

According to a report in Istanbul Milliyet, Turkey will export 100 Cobra armored tactical-wheeled vehicles for $39 million. The vehicles are produced by the Otocar Company and exports will start in the last quarter of 2008 and end in the first quarter of 2009.

In a report in Istanbul Aksam, Mutlu Colgecen says that the Kalekalip and Baykjar Machinery Companies will deliver the first mini unmanned reconnaissance planes to the Turkish military forces (TSK) at the end of 2008. He notes that the TSK will use the planes, which have a range of 15-20 km, to monitor terrorist activities on the mountains in southeastern Turkey. The planes will be equipped with two cameras. One of them will take photographs and the other will provide live coverage of target areas.

d) Illegal Immigration:

According to a short report by Soneer Gurel in Istanbul Hurriyet, the police arrested 670,945 illegal immigrants in Turkey in 12 years. Some 3.9 million New Turkish Lira were allocated to feed, accommodate, and transport 51,983 illegal immigrants in 2006. Some 4.4 million new Turkish lira were allocated to feed, accommodate and extradite 38,823 illegal immigrants in 2007.

EG/

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