Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-06-26

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The National Unity Party completed its contacts in Brussels

[02] Mehmet Caglar, representative of the assembly to the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE had a meeting with the Cyprus Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE, Joachim Horster.

[03] Turkish and Turkish Cypriot businessmen are discussing ways of making further investments in the occupied part of Cyprus

[04] The business world calls for help

[05] Yonluer accused the sel-styled government of dragging the people in occupied Cyprus into poverty

[06] Claims by Turkish Cypriot professors that based on the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus illegal universities should participate in the Erasmus prorgam

[07] A delegation of the French L Express magazine visited the Martyrs Museum at the Martyrs Families and Victim Fighters Association

[08] European Lawmakers will form a group to support Turkey's EU bid

[09] President approves law enabling TRT to broadcast in foreign languages

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish press of 25 June 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The National Unity Party completed its contacts in Brussels

In statements Mr Ertugruloglu, asking for the world to produce a more realistic policy in the Cyprus problem, said that in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus is recognized and in starting from this framework no solution can come out from the negotiations.

According to the paper the chairman of the UBP stated that the Greek Cypriot sector, as he called the Republic of Cyprus, wants the withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island, however the Turkish army brought peace and calm in the island. Mr Ertugruloglu said that he conveyed to the European MPs his thoughts on the issue and reminded them of previous events. He also told them that the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots are unjust and against the human rights.

Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (26.06.08) reports in its first page that the delegation of the National Unity Party (UBP), headed by the Partys chairman, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, which was holding contacts in Brussels, is returning to the TRNC. Speaking at the ABHaber internet site, Mr Tahsin Ertugruloglu stated that the embargoes are EUs shame.

(CS)

[02] Mehmet Caglar, representative of the assembly to the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE had a meeting with the Cyprus Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE, Joachim Horster.

Mr Caglar also said that there are some issues in the report which do not please the Turkish side and which can been seen and can be changed, like the Bologna process and the issue of the changing of the Turkish Cypriot history books.

(CS)

[03] Turkish and Turkish Cypriot businessmen are discussing ways of making further investments in the occupied part of Cyprus

A delegation from the Samsun Chamber of Commerce and Industry is in the TRNC for discussions on ways of making further investments in the Republic. The delegation first visited the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry this morning. During the meeting, a cooperation protocol was signed between the two chambers.

Speaking before the signing of the protocol, the President of Chamber of Industry Salih Tunar said their aim is to develop North Cyprus economy. Mr Tunar said Turkish businessmen will hold bilateral discussions with Turkish Cypriot businessmen tomorrow to look into prospects for joint investments in the Republic.

Later, the 40-strong delegation was received by the Minister of Economy and Tourism Erdogan Sanlidag who pointed out that Turkey has always been providing support to the Turkish Cypriot people in all fields.

He added that cooperation between Turkish Cypriot and Turkish businessmen from Samsun will make great contributions to the economy.

The visiting businessmen also paid visits to President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosia Turkekul Kurttekin.

In the afternoon, the Turkish businessmen delegation held discussions with officials from the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce.

Tomorrow, the Turkish businessmen will come together with officials from the Cyprus Turkish Constructors Union, Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry and Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce at a meeting in Girne [occupied Keryneia] where the TRNC Investment Development Agency will make a presentation, titled Investment Opportunities in the TRNC.

[04] The business world calls for help

The chairman of the Building Constructors Union Cafer Gurcafer stated that the economy in occupied Cyprus is heading to disaster and added that the Union demanded the creation of a platform, consisting of the political parties and the civil society organizations, which will aim at finding a solution to the problems.

On her part the chairman of the Businesswomens Association, Senay Ekingen stated that the various parties must act so that a solution is found. As she said, the economy must not be tied to the state.

Under the title Bureaucracy appalls the investors, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (26.06.08) reports in its first page that a conference organized by the Investment Development Agency (YAGA) has revealed that bureaucracy in occupied Cyprus is the main obstacle towards the much needed investments in occupied Cyprus.

(CS)

[05] Yonluer accused the sel-styled government of dragging the people in occupied Cyprus into poverty

Mr Yonluer went on and stated that the Greek Cypriot side does not want a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem and that despite the fact that the government is aware of this, it continues to deceive the people in occupied Cyprus.

[06] Claims by Turkish Cypriot professors that based on the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus illegal universities should participate in the Erasmus prorgam

On the issue, the head of the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences of the illegal Near East University, Dr. Ilkay Salihoglu stated that the illegal universities established in occupied Cyprus are affiliated to a full member of the union, therefore, it is their constitutional right to participate in the Erasmus program.

(ML)

[07] A delegation of the French L Express magazine visited the Martyrs Museum at the Martyrs Families and Victim Fighters Association

(CS)

[08] European Lawmakers will form a group to support Turkey's EU bid

A number of European lawmakers have moved to set up a group within the European Parliament to promote Turkey's accession to the European Union.

The EP members, under an initiative by Turkish-descent German socialist Vural Oger, are planning to complete the groundwork within two to three months and formally launch the Turkey Friendship Group for the next legislative period.

The group would aim at removing prejudices of both sides on Turkey's EU membership and to head off possible worsening of Turkey-EU relations under French term presidency.

The initiative also includes EP Liberals head Graham Watson, German socialist Jo Leinen, Lithuanian socialist Justas Paleckis, Hungarian liberal Istvan Szent-Ivanyi and Turkish-descent Bulgarian EP member Metin Kazak.

[09] President approves law enabling TRT to broadcast in foreign languages

Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved on Wednesday a law, enabling the state-run Turkish Radio & Television Corp. (TRT) to broadcast in different languages and dialects other than Turkish.

Under the law, TRT will also be able to employ foreign nationals under contract.The law allows the national public broadcaster of Turkey to sign contracts, agreements or protocols with other radios and TV channels broadcasting in Turkey. TRT can sell news reports and video footages to local, regional and national TV channels.

The prime minister's approval will be required for contracts, agreements or protocols between TRT and international radio and TVs.

TRT was founded in 1964 as the national public broadcaster of Turkey. It was the only television and radio provider in 'Anatolia' for years before the introduction of the first commercial radio in 1990, and the first commercial television in 1992. TRT broadcasts around the world, especially in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish press of 25 June 2008

a) Erdogan-Basbug Meeting

According to Milliyet, the "surprise" meeting on the evening of 24 June held between Prime Minister Erdogan and General Ilker Basbug, commander of the Ground Forces, took place upon the request of Erdogan. A statement issued by the Press Center of the Prime Minister's Office says that measures against terror and certain issues that were included on the country's agenda in recent days were discussed and assessed at the meeting. The report further draws attention to the fact that the meeting was held soon after the slander campaign launched against General Basbug in the press and prior to the Supreme Military Council, YAS, meeting to be held in August in which General Basbug is expected to take over the Office of the Chief of the General Staff from General Buyukanit.

A report entitled "A Critical Meeting" in Vatan highlights the same meeting and details the three questions raised in Ankara's backstage. Why did the prime minister choose to meet with the Ground Forces commander instead of the Chief of the General Staff? Does this meeting attest to the fact that the army action plan was prepared by the Ground Forces outside the knowledge of the Chief of Staff? Was the secret meeting held between the commander of the Ground Forces and Osman Paksut, the deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court, one of the reasons for the meeting between the prime minister and the commander of the Ground Forces and was this secret meeting one of the issues discussed during the Erdogan-Basbug meeting?

Under the headline, "Two-hour meeting after the storm," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which asserts that Prime Minister Erdogan held a two-hour one-to-one meeting with Land Forces Commander General Ilker Basbug yesterday amid controversy over Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Osman Paksut's "secret visit" to Basbug some time ago and the military document recently disclosed by the Taraf daily.

b) AKP Deputy Leader Firat's Remarks

In an article in Milliyet, Fikret Bila relates an interview he held with Justice and Development Party, AKP, deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat who defends his remarks to The New York Times to the effect that the Turkish nation has been traumatized by Ataturk's reforms. Defending his statement to the US daily, which was interpreted as an opposition to Ataturk's reforms, Firat counters this interpretation saying that only a section of his statement to the daily was published and that there were mistakes in the translation of the published section leading to misinterpretation. Pointing out that he only drew attention to a social phenomenon and that he fully supports Ataturk's reforms and the republic, Firat reminds Bila that his grandfather was a member of the Assembly that established the republic.

Rejecting Firat's defense that his remarks were misinterpreted in an article in Hurriyet, Oktay Eksi argues that Firat has brought shame on his grandfather who, he assures us, had voted in favor of the reforms while serving as a deputy. Referring to Firat's remarks that he just made an observation, Eksi argues that his statement to the US daily goes beyond an observation and announces his opposition to the Ataturk reforms.

Focusing on Firat's remarks in his column in Ortadogu, Orhan Karakas argues that although the AKP might, on paper, seem to be a party established in line with the Constitution and the laws, it is actually a party that has been formed through the partnership of those who take an issue with the Republic and the Turkish nation. Viewing Firat's remarks as another piece of evidence of the true intentions of the AKP, Karakas writes: "The 47-percent-vote has caused the curtain behind which they were hiding to fall down and has revealed the true face of the AKP." Agreeing with the fact that the Turkish nation has undergone a trauma, Karakas claims that, however, this trauma was not caused by the reforms of Ataturk as claimed by Firat, but by the actions of the AKP that has managed to divide Turkey and to erode the values of the republic.

Assessing Erdogan's move to prevent Firat from addressing the AKP Central Executive Council meeting regarding his remarks concerning the trauma caused by Ataturk's reforms, Gungor Mengi in Vatan says that he does not view it as a sign of softening on the part of the prime minister. In his column, Mengi says that Erdogan prevented the opening of a discussion on Ataturk and his reforms not because he is loyal to those values, but because he is aware that many within the 47 percent electorate who voted for the AKP will not be forgiving a betrayal of those values. Pointing out that Erdogan also omitted a section in his address written in reply to Nationalist Action Party, MHP, leader Bahceli's call for Erdogan's resignation, Mengi argues that neither can this gesture be interpreted as a sign that the prime minister has mellowed. The writer assesses that it was a precaution considering that the MHP, which was the AKP's strategic partner in the presidential elections and the constitutional amendments concerning the headdress, might be needed again in the future.

Describing to the discussions generated by Firat's remarks as a tempest in a tea cup in an article in Radikal Ismet Berkan writes that, as always, we focused on who made the remarks and now what was said. Referring to Firat's observation that Ataturk's reforms on attire and the alphabet caused a trauma, Berkan defends Firat saying that he made a simple and obvious observation asking whether anyone can claim that the attire and alphabet reforms were not traumatic at the time. He further points out that Firat did not make a value judgment on the reforms but disapproved of the manner in which they were implemented.

Hikmet Bila in Cumhuriyet mockingly agrees with Firat's observations that the Ataturk reforms were traumatic. In his column, Bila makes a few corrections to these observations saying that they were traumatic for the royal court and its entourage that robbed the people for centuries, for those who claimed to be the representatives of God on earth, for those who rejected science and technology and exalted the religious scholars, for those who deprived 97 percent of the population of an education, for those who saw fit a second-class status for women, for those who wrapped women in chadors, and finally for those who aimed at using these reactionary stands in a bid to seize power.

Assessing the remarks about trauma mentioned by Firat in a column in the Turkish Daily News, Yusuf Kanli mentions the various traumas felt by the Turkish nation such as the trauma of terror, the trauma of the 1999 Marmara quake, and the trauma of anti-Turkish stand adopted by the EU. Maintaining that Firat, the prime minister, and other senior figures of the ruling party are all suffering from a serious "closure phobia" and a resulting trauma, Kanli writes: "Firat's words testify to why the AKP is facing a closure case."

Under the banner headline, "A trauma caused by 5,000 executions," Vakit carries a front-page report which defies "those who maintain that the [Kemalist] revolutions did not traumatize the people" to "disclose the minutes of the Independence Courts, which sent as many as 5,000 people to the gallows" over 1920-23. [AKP Deputy Chairman Mir Dengir Mehmet Firat recently claimed that the Kemalist reforms had caused a social trauma.]

In an article entitled "Turkish press is senselessly digging democracy's grave", Today's Zaman columnist Yavuz Baydar asserts that the "fabricated storm" of accusations from the Dogan news media against AKP Deputy Chairman Firat over his remarks to The New York Times about the Kemalist revolutions makes more sense in light of the military plan disclosed by Taraf to bring the media into line with the Turkish Armed Forces.

EG/

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