Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-03-24

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The leaders of the two communities of Cyprus met in the Buffer zone

[02] How the Turkish Press covered the meeting between the President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

[03] Ozdil Nami ammounced Moller´s successor

[04] Turgay Avci stresses that there will be no concessions from political equality

[05] Soyer met with an SDP delegation from Bavaria

[06] Turkish Cypriot protest with No to the occupation reacting to the change of the name of the Caglayan Park

[07] The common work for the cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC municipalities started today in occupied Cyprus

[08] Turkish Cypriot Agency for Development and Investments announced that 80 investment applications have been made to YAGA since October

[09] Baykal accuses the AKP of establishing its own Deep State

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Source close to Talat and Turkish analysts on the meeting between the two leaders last Friday

[11] Turkish Cypriot columnist: The issue of how authorized Talat is during the negotiating procedure should be clarified both in North Nicosia and Ankara

[12] From the Turkish Press of 21 March 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The leaders of the two communities of Cyprus met in the Buffer zone

Technical committees and working groups will be set up, Michael Moeller, the chief of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Mission and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus, told reporters after Talat-Christofias meeting at his residence in the buffer zone.

Moeller said leaders will meet again if required.

President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias agreed Friday to start comprehensive talks after 3 months within the scope of the good-will mission of the United Nations.

The meeting took place at the residence of Michael Moeller, the chief of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Mission and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Cyprus in the buffer zone. Talat said they targeted a comprehensive solution in the shortest time. Christofias in his part said, "we hope that we, two old friends, will not turn into enemies at the end of the talks."

Talat and Christofias also agreed to open Lokmaci border crossing in Lefkosia to mutual passages soon.

[02] How the Turkish Press covered the meeting between the President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

Milliyet reports on the meeting under the front page title A new page in Cyprus and writes that the meeting between President Christofias and Mr. Talat lasted for three hours. The two leaders, as the paper writes, agreed to begin comprehensive negotiations and announced the opening of the Ledra Street after overcoming some technical problems.

Sefa Karahasan, Milliyets correspondent in occupied Lefkosia reports on the two leaders meeting under the title A new start, while Semih Idiz, writes inter alia under the title In spite of the new hope, caution is needed in Cyprus in his column:

The leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Demetris Christofias used words which echoed hope in his statement to BBC before yesterdays meeting with the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat.

But the real work starts now. Because the positive atmosphere created during the beginning of this new procedure is necessary to be continued during the discussions on the truly difficult and complicated issues.

At the same time, the Greek Cypriot side is now known to have an extreme allergy to the Annan Plan. If they do not want the revitalization of the Annan Plan, it is necessary to be understood (by the Greek Cypriots) that concepts like bi-zonality, bi-communality and political equality which are included in the basis of this plan, are components of any kind of solution.

Hurriyet reports on the meeting under the titles The comrades agreed, Ledra Street is opening, M. Ali Talat got what he wanted.

On the issue, the paper also reports under the title Do not make concession without sovereignty on a statement made to Hurriyet by the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas. Mr. Denktash made to Mehmet Ali Talat the greatest warning not to give up sovereignty, writes the paper. The state to be established must be set up on two sovereign states. The TRNC must be kept alive, Denktash said and added: Christofias must completely abandon the views of him being the only leader of a known state and member-country of the EU. Otherwise, he cannot negotiate with Talat on equal footing. During all negotiations Christofias must not have contacts with other countries using this attribute. Otherwise, there is no equality.

Christofias and Talats meeting is reported in Sabah newspaper under the title A big step for peace in the island after 40 years the two leaders gave a message of friendship The world to know that we are friends.

Sabah further writes on the agreement of the Ledra Street opening under the title After 45 years Lokmaci (Ledra Street) can open, while Stelios Berberakis, the papers correspondent in Athens, reports on the issue under the title The gate will open by April 10th.

(ML)

[03] Ozdil Nami ammounced Moller´s successor

The special aide to President Mehmet Ali Talat- Ozdil Nami has announced that Elizabeth Spehar will be on temporary duty as the UN Special Representative to Cyprus, as Michael Mollers term of duty expires at the end of this month.

Mrs Spehar, who is in charge of political affairs at the UN, is expected to arrive in Cyprus next week.

Speaking to the BRT newsroom, Mr Nami also announced that the UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe will also arrive in Cyprus for a series of contacts in the first week of April.

[04] Turgay Avci stresses that there will be no concessions from political equality

The Leader of the Freedom and Reform Party, Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has said the Turkish Cypriot side which has returned to the negotiating table looking for a solution based on political equality, will never give any concessions on this factor.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus together with Motherland Turkey will continue on its path, he added.

Speaking during a visit he made to the Gazimagosa [occupied Famagusta] region today, Mr Avci said the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to strengthen its economy no matter what the outcome of the Cyprus negotiations process.

Noting that everyone is aware that the Cyprus issue is a part of Turkeys national politics, Foreign Minister Avci said that the Turkish Cypriot people are always ready to return to the negotiating table to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[05] Soyer met with an SDP delegation from Bavaria

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has received a delegation of Social Democratic Party officials from the German Bavaria state.

Speaking during the meeting, the Premier said that the European Union made a mistake by accepting South Cyprus as a member before the solution of the Cyprus problem.

`But, we are still working hard to encourage them (Greek Cypriots) towards a solution`, he said.

Mr Soyer stated that the Turkish Cypriots deserve to be part of the European Union but said that they are being kept out of the economic, commercial and cultural life of Europe as a result of isolation on them.

Mr Soyer also said that mutual visits are helping the two countries to understand each other and to improve bilateral relations.

For his part, the TRNC Honorary Representative in Munich Uli Piller said the delegation wanted to have on the spot inspections during its stay in North Cyprus.

[06] Turkish Cypriot protest with No to the occupation reacting to the change of the name of the Caglayan Park

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (24.03.08) reports on the same issue under the title No to the assimilation and writes that a protest took place yesterday in occupied Lefkosia by a group of young persons who were reacting against the change of the name of the Caglayan Park. Noting that the Lefkosia Caglayan Park was turned into Ankara Caglayan Park, as from yesterday, Afrika notes that the Baraka Cultural Center, along with a group of other persons, organized a protest at the area that the ceremony for the opening of the park was taking place. The protestors carried banners in which the following slogans were written: No to the assimilation, Here is Lefkosia, no Ankara, Gokcek, hands off from our parks, No to the occupation.

In a written statement the Baraka Cultural Center notes that the names of villages and places have started to change since 1958 and accused the Turkish Cypriot leadership of denying the past. The Baraka Cultural Center also notes they want to continue living in this land; therefore they are against the assimilation.

The paper also writes that Cemal Bulutoglulari, the self-styled mayor of occupied Lefkosia, criticized the protests and said: Did they want us to put Athens in the name of the Park? The name of this Park will be Ankara Park so long as the motherland remains in our side.

Kibris writes that Mr Bulutoglurari suggested to the Mayor of Ankara, Melih Goksek, to organize Cyprus days in Ankara. Mr Bulutoglulari, who was speaking at the SES TV stated, inter alia, that the Ankara days in Cyprus, which took place during the weekend, were of a great success, therefore he said they must try to do Cyprus days in Ankara.

(CS)

[07] The common work for the cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC municipalities started today in occupied Cyprus

(CS)

[08] Turkish Cypriot Agency for Development and Investments announced that 80 investment applications have been made to YAGA since October

The distribution of the investment applications were as follows: 28 investment applications for industry, 30 for tourism, nine for services, five for education, five for health and three for agriculture. As regards the parties that showed interest for investments, 51 investment applications were from the TRNC, nine from Turkey, ten from foreigners, six TRNC-foreign partnerships and four from Cypriots who live abroad.

(CS)

[09] Baykal accuses the AKP of establishing its own Deep State

Baykal, speaking yesterday at his party's parliamentary group, said Turkey is caught up in conflicts and tension that aren't normally encountered in democratic countries. "It had already been revealed that the government they formed after the elections would not bring any good to the country," he said.

"We see that the AK Party has reached the stage of harvesting the fruits of its long-standing staffing process. Apparently, the AK Party is trying to build its own deep state. Of course, the deep state will need its own laws and constitution. It will also need a judiciary. We will shortly find ourselves in a crisis triggered by these efforts. Turkey is being dragged into a very dangerous atmosphere of conflict. This process is not one in harmony with democracy or a state of law," noted Baykal.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[10] Source close to Talat and Turkish analysts on the meeting between the two leaders last Friday

In the absence of full mutual confidence on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which has been ethnically divided for decades, "cautious optimism" has often been as a useful expression to resort to when the issue is a new round of talks between leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples.

It seems this is also the case following a meeting that took place on Friday between Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

During their first meeting since the new Greek Cypriot leader was elected last month, Christofias and Talat agreed to relaunch reunification talks. Michael Moller, the UN special representative in Cyprus, who hosted the meeting between the two men in UN-controlled territory splitting Nicosia, announced that "the leaders have agreed to meet three months from now."

Reunification talks stalled in 2004 when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN settlement blueprint drafted by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that was overwhelmingly accepted by the Turkish Cypriots. Greek Cyprus joined the European Union soon after, and Brussels recognizes the Greek Cypriot-controlled government in the south as the island's sole authority.

Also on Friday Moller said the two sides had agreed to set up committees to discuss issues and that the two leaders would then meet in three months to examine progress and then start full-fledged negotiations.

His brief announcement has apparently left a bitter taste for a senior Turkish Cypriot official who said he believed Talat has walked into a precarious situation, which he dubbed "the July 8 ambush."

The two Cypriot sides agreed in 2006 to look at an incremental approach to negotiations, but that too has stalled because of disputes over its agenda. Talat's last encounter with Christofias' predecessor, Tassos Papadopoulos, ended in failure in September 2007.

While citing "the July 8 ambush," the Turkish Cypriot source close to Talat's office was referring to the fact that following September 2007 the Greeks and Turks have remained far apart even on how to recommence negotiations. Turkish Cypriots want to work from the principles of the Annan plan, whereas Greek Cypriots refer to the July 8, 2006 agreement which outlines procedures for talks but cites no details.

Moller's reference to committees necessarily brought to mind the fact that on July 8, 2006, the two sides had agreed on a twin-track process under which technical committees would try to resolve day-to-day issues -- such as environmental protection, missing persons and policing -- while more problematic core questions -- such as the presence of Turkish troops on the island, people's property rights, territorial concessions and governance in a united Cyprus -- would be tackled in parallel.

Three months for substantial ground?

"The mountain gave birth to a mouse. What did Talat agree on? He basically agreed on the July 8 agreement, which was at the time used as a tool by Papadopoulos from sitting around a negotiating table with Turkish Cypriots. Leaving the next meeting hanging in the air via bringing a deadline of three months spells offering Christofias these three months served on a golden tray. No substantial groundwork has been laid and there is no need to be an oracle to guess whether such ground will emerge following these three months," the same source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Sunday's Zaman, in remarks clearly reflecting his disappointment.

When asked why Talat had to cave in to such a position despite all of these facts, the official said there were many reasons bringing the Turkish Cypriot side to this position and cited one of these as a "loss of focus on the Cyprus issue in Ankara due to its own domestic problems," whereas for Athens, the Cyprus issue prevailed as its top priority on its foreign policy agenda.

"The Turkish side's hand was up in the air ready to shake with the Greek Cypriot side during Papadopoulos' term; this is how the picture was described by Ankara. Yet Ankara couldn't make use of that prolonged period of time to promoting the Turkish Cypriot case in the international arena along which the Turkish Cypriot side's hand was up in the air. Then, first came the July 8 process in the form of a fait accompli by then UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari. And eventually when a so-called hand by the Greek Cypriot side, Christofias, was extended to shake the Turkish Cypriot hand, the Turkish side couldn't say 'no'."

Nevertheless, Associate Professor Mensur Akgün, director of the foreign policy program at the Istanbul based-Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), played down the worries expressed by the Turkish Cypriot official.

"The upcoming three-month period will serve as a confidence-building measure not for the Turkish Cypriot side, but for the Greek Cypriot side," Akgün told Sunday's Zaman, in apparent reference to one of the set of principles once declared by Gambari.

"Commitment to ensure that the 'right atmosphere' prevails is necessary for this process to be successful. In connection to this, confidence-building measures are essential, both in terms of improving the atmosphere and improving the life of all Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Also in connection with this, the so-called 'blame game' must be ended," Gambari said at the time.

"And following the three-month-long period, technical committees will make progress in designing parameters of the new period," Akgün said. "The sides will eventually have to focus on the parameters of April 24, 2004, at the end of these three months," he stressed, referring to the exact date of the simultaneous referenda on the Annan plan.

Facts and fait accompli

Prominent foreign policy analyst Sami Kohen also sounded hopeful concerning the result of the Friday meeting, though he underlined that this was yet again cautious optimism.

"A window of opportunity has been opened. Even if they are not big, certain steps have been taken and the actors have changed. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side seems to be feeling itself obliged to act in a pragmatic manner since they are apparently afraid of a permanent division of the island," Kohen told Sunday's Zaman. "The results were the best possible result; we couldn't have expected anything more than that as a starter," he added.

Turning back to the dark side of the coin, a stern warning came from the same Turkish Cypriot official: "The biggest problem for the Turkish Cypriots is economic pressure due to the international isolation imposed on them. Resources provided by Turkey are no longer sufficient given that Turkey has itself been experiencing a difficult period. My concern is about what will happen after the three months pass. While all of these facts are on one side, if additionally a process is started on a reunification plan which is not profitable for us at all and if we are eventually asked to take this plan to the Turkish Cypriots for a vote, then I'm afraid Turkey may all of a sudden find itself losing the Cyprus case. I believe the Turkish Cypriots will face another fait accompli."

[11] Turkish Cypriot columnist: The issue of how authorized Talat is during the negotiating procedure should be clarified both in North Nicosia and Ankara

At the end of the meeting yesterday we reached the point expected before the meeting. The two leaders approached the issues positively.

Talat and Christofias began well yesterday. I hope what follows will be the same as yesterday. Will Talat and Christofias be left at ease at the negotiating table? I saw the reflections in the television in Turkey after the negotiations yesterday. The title which bothered me the most was: The comrades met.

This could be carried up to the point of The communists met and different winds may blow in the public opinion in Turkey.

At the negotiating table, Talat is not as comfortable as Christofias as regards the taking of decisions. The issue of how authorized Talat is during the negotiating procedure should be clarified both in Northern Nicosia and Ankara. While the cheque of Christofias can be cashed with one signature only, the cheque of Talat is not yet with one signature. In case Talat becomes at least as authorized as Christofias, the profit will be much more. Let no one have any doubt for it. Otherwise, Talat will live very difficult days during the negotiating process.

[12] From the Turkish Press of 21 March 2008

a) Turkish-US Relations in view of Cheney Visit: Assessing Turkey's importance for Washington in an article in Milliyet (21.03.08), Hasan Cemal summarizes the reasons for this importance in four points. The writer declares that the first reason is stability in Iraq. Washington is in favor of Turkey maintaining good relations with the north Iraqi Kurds. According to Cemal, the second reason is that Washington wishes to have Turkey as an ally and as a balancing force against Iran in the region. Thirdly, Washington is concerned that, given its strategic position from the viewpoint of the energy sources in the region, Turkey might lean toward Russia. As for the final reason, Cemal asserts that Washington is interested in a stable and democratic Turkey within NATO and on its way to being an EU member.

In an article entitled "Through our own free will" in Hurriyet (21.03.08), Oktay Eksi maintains that the developments are proceeding in line with the scenario written in advance. Pointing out that the permission granted to launch the cross-border operation and Talabani's subsequent visit to Ankara is now to be followed by the visit of US Vice President Cheney, whom he describes as the architect of the Iraq policy, Eksi ridicules the Greater Middle East Project. The writer further details the issues that will be discussed during Cheney's Ankara visit, mocking the fact that Turkey might consent to all these issues "through its own free will."

A column by Murat Yetkin in Radikal (21.03.08) questions which issues will have priority on US Vice President Cheney's agenda during the Ankara talks.

In an article entitled "Forcing Turkey to start an apocalyptic war", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul poses the question whether US Vice President Dick Cheney will be able to persuade the Turkish military to deploy more troops to Afghanistan, adding that Washington will certainly not be satisfied by a Turkish response to the effect of "we can send new soldiers but we do not want to deploy combat troops." He goes on to claim that while the agenda of Cheney's upcoming visit to Ankara includes the situation in Afghanistan and the possibility of Pakistan's nuclear weapons being seized by anti-US groups, "the real issue will be Iran. ... That sinister man is coming with plans to cause a regional war, chaos, and a nuclear nightmare."

In an article entitled "A tough decision about Afghanistan," Milliyet (22.03.08) columnist Sami Kohen says that the Turkish Government will make a critical decision about whether or not Turkish combat troops will be sent to south Afghanistan in order to fight against the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida. Pointing out that US Vice President Dick Cheney who will arrive in Ankara on 24 March said during his visit to Afghanistan that he would ask allied countries to send combat troops, Kohen comments: "In brief, Turkey has to ponder about the decision that it will make in response to that proposal which will be formally made in the next couple of days."

A report entitled " Cheney's bag: Heavy or light for Turkey?" in Sunday's Zaman (23.03.08) quotes Professor Mustafa Kibaroglu who lectures in Bilkent University in Ankara as saying that energy will be the top issue to be discussed during the upcoming visit of US Vice President Dick Cheney to Turkey.

b) Meeting between President Christofias and Mr Talat: In an article entitled "Caution is needed in Cyprus despite new hopes," in Milliyet (22.03.08) columnist Semih Idiz says that a positive atmosphere which emerged after the meeting held between Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday should be maintained during discussions about thorny and complicated issues. He comments: "This exercise can yield meaningful results only if the working groups and the technical committee which the leaders agreed to set up take an approach beneficial to both sides rather than making political gains at the expense of the other side." Idiz also notes that the Greek Cypriots should understand that recognizing the political equality of two separate communities on the island is indispensable for reaching a settlement.

Under the headline, "New hope for solution in Cyprus: Ledra Street crossing to be opened," Zaman (22.03.08) publishes a front-page report which asserts that Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have decided to open the Ledra street crossing in a "concrete step" toward introducing a solution to the Cyprus issue.

c) Ergenekon: Under the banner headline, "Second wave in Ergenekon," Yeni Safak (22.03.08) publishes a front-page report which outlines the developments involving the detention of some 12 people including Labor Party leader Dogu Perincek, senior Cumhuriyet columnist Ilhan Selcuk, and former Istanbul University Rector Kemal Alemdaroglu as part of the investigation into the "terrorist Ergenekon group."

In an "exclusive" report entitled "Henry Kissinger came for number one," Yeni Safak (22.03.08) quotes Tuncay Guney, a "fugitive journalist" who is known for "the confessions he made regarding the activities of Ergenekon when he was taken into custody in 2001, as saying that the purpose of Henry Kissinger's visit to Turkey last year was to meet with the "number one" of Ergenekon.

A report in Vakit (22.03.08) entitled "Sezer could be asked to give a statement [to the Police], Too," asserts that the detention of Ilhan Selcuk has caused public attention to turn to Ahmet Necdet Sezer, with whom Selcuk used to be very "chummy" during the former's presidency.

In an article entitled "Deep State found at last: Ergenekon" in Vakit (22.03.08) Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya contrasts Republican People's Party, CHP, leader Deniz Baykal's statements referring to the closure lawsuit against the AKP as an objective, legal, and responsible move with his remarks yesterday sharply criticizing the detention of Ilhan Selcuk, Dogu Perincek, and Kemal Alemdaroglu as an unacceptable development. He also claims that Baykal's assertion in response to the latest detentions that the AKP is "establishing its own deep state" amounts to a confirmation that "Ergenekon is the deep state."

In an article entitled "Watch out" in Vakit (22.03.08) columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak warns that anti-AKP groups could engineer political assassinations and try to instigate civil conflict in the next few weeks to provoke a military takeover. He claims that "putschists" do not have even a "one-in-a-thousand" chance of staging a successful coup and that "if they attempt something crazy, they will become the architects of one of the most dramatic adventures in Turkey's republican history and this period will come to a tragic end." Dilipak also expresses approval of "the detention of coup instigators."

In an article entitled "Are you aware that this is only the tip of the iceberg?", Yeni Safak (23.03.08) columnist Tamer Korkmaz says that questionable procedures followed during the detention of Selcuk and others in connection with the Ergenekon case should not conceal the fact that there is an illegal organization which has been attempting to incite the military to stage a coup. Pointing out that the government is determined to reveal facts about that organization and that other figures in the higher echelons of the organization will also be taken for questioning, Korkmaz adds that the court request filed by the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, was actually intended to hinder the ongoing investigation against Ergenekon.

EG/

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