Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-06-30

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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 Cypriot leader views agenda of 1st July meeting with President Christofias

[02] Ercakica stated that the Greek Cypriot side is hurting the negotiation by using the Greek Cypriot press to impose its will

[03] Ertugruloglu called on Talat to be careful as regards tomorrows meeting with President Demetris Christofias

[04] Turkish journalists write about mistrust between the two communities on the eve of the meeting between Christofias-Talat

[05] Are the UBP and the DP going to be united?

[06] The President of the autonomous Gagauz Republic departed from occupied Cyprus on Sunday

[07] 250 Syrian tourists in 10 days

[08] Water to be transferred from Turkey to occupied Cyprus

[09] The first regular general assembly of the English Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce took place in the UK.

[10] The TRNC national cyclist team participated in the 5th Waldkirchen 24-hour bicycle mountain race in Germany under the TRNC flag

[11] The Maronite representative in the House of Representatives said Maronites should be allowed to return to their occupied villages

[12] German journalist visited the Martyrs Families and Fighters Association

[13] A public survey in Turkey shows an increase in the percentages of AKP

[14] New political party founded in Turkey

[15] Academic faces sacking for describing Turks as the new Jews

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] From the Turkish Press of 28 and 29 June 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot leader views agenda of 1st July meeting with President Christofias

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the issue of starting talks on the essence of Cyprus problem would be on the agenda of his meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias.

The two leaders will meet next Tuesday [1 July 2008] to review the work being carried out by working groups and technical committees established to prepare the ground for fully-fledged negotiations to bring about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

The meeting will be the second since the 21st March Agreement agreed between the two sides.

President Talat -who is in Istanbul for various contacts- was speaking at a program on Samanyolu Haber channel.

The President said that he believes in Mr Christofias' sincerity on the start of negotiations, but added that he isn't sure whether the Greek Cypriot Leader will be successful or not.

Mr Talat reminded that it was decided on the 21st of March -when the two leaders held their first meeting- that the fully-fledged negotiations would start three months from that date but complained that Mr Christofias and his team have been stating that the start of talks depends on how much progress will be achieved by working groups and technical committees.

He also pointed out that the Greek Cypriot Leader and he reached agreement on a bi-zonal federation based on the political equality at their previous meeting on the 23rd of May.

Reminding that Britain and the Greek Cypriot Administration have signed a memorandum to repair their relations, he accused Mr Christofias of acting in cooperation with Britain to erode the agreement reached between the two sides in Cyprus.

The President noted that issues on which working groups and technical committees reached agreement were announced on the 20th of June.Mr Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot People feel the need for Turkey's support because of the continuation of isolation.

Greek Cypriots have been enjoying the support of Greece and the European Union. They unjustly usurped the 'Republic of Cyprus' and the whole world sees this usurpation as legitimate'. Their difficulty is that every single step that they would take would mean a concession, the President said.Earlier, Mr Talat said any political instability that may emerge in Turkey could have a negative impact on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.The President also reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Side's will to start the fully-edged negotiations and underlined the importance of protecting the rights and interest of the Turkish Cypriot People during the negotiations process.Talat also pointed out that a political settlement on the island was also important for Turkey's EU Accession Process.

[02] Ercakica stated that the Greek Cypriot side is hurting the negotiation by using the Greek Cypriot press to impose its will

(CS)

[03] Ertugruloglu called on Talat to be careful as regards tomorrows meeting with President Demetris Christofias

The UBP chairman, who issued a written statement, also stated that despite the fact that the aim and the tactics of the Greek Cypriot side became obvious, President Talat shows weakness to do the right thing in order to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

(CS)

[04] Turkish journalists write about mistrust between the two communities on the eve of the meeting between Christofias-Talat

Columnist Semih Idiz, in Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (30.06.08), under the title A crisis of profound trust in Cyprus, writes that he was with a delegation of the Eurasia Strategic Research Centre (ASAM) in the occupied part of Cyprus last week as guests of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. He summarizes his contacts he had with one word insecurity, not only between the south and the north but there is a crisis of security among all. 1) According to Denktas camp, which is the opposition, Talat and Soyer will sell the Cyprus and on this issue, they do not trust the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The father Denktas, who has taken as terrible offense the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan An opportunity window has been opened in Cyprus, says This is not an opportunity window, it is a suicide window. The son Denktas claims that he does not feel anymore the heaviness of Ankara in the island. He complained openly for this reason to Turkeys Foreign Ministry.

2) Talat is obliged to talk with caution. If you look at what he says, he does not trust his 30 years comrade Christofias. He was also very angry when the Britain signed the memorandum with the Greek Cypriot sector on June 5. He said that Britain showed that it took a side against the Turkish Cypriots with this memorandum which was made a hell of a mess in the North Cyprus, adding that because of this there is lack of confidence.

3) Greek Cypriots do not trust Turkey. In case Talat and Christofias reach an agreement, they believe that Ankara will ruin it, and if the government accepts it, then the Turkish Armed Forces will not take it into account.

(DPs)

[05] Are the UBP and the DP going to be united?

The paper writes that this meeting gave the signal for the unification of the two parties. Mr Bulutoglulari was member of the UBP in the past. The paper wonders whether after this meeting the basis for the establishment of the National Democratic Movement was founded.

(CS)

[06] The President of the autonomous Gagauz Republic departed from occupied Cyprus on Sunday

He also said that the cooperation of the autonomous Gagauz Republic with the illegal Near East University will be continued and increased and added that the university will be a bridge between Gagauz and the TRNC.

(CS)

[07] 250 Syrian tourists in 10 days

Zeina Tabbaa, the director of the Tabbaa Tourism and Travel Agency said that 250 Syrian tourists arrived in the last ten days in the TRNC with the ferry services which are taking place on Mondays and Thursdays with the Akgunler 3 ferry boat which belongs to the Akgunler Maritime Firm.

She also added that their aim is to safeguard that the number of Syrian tourists who will do vacations in the TRNC reach two thousands during the summer season.

(CS)

[08] Water to be transferred from Turkey to occupied Cyprus

According to the paper, both the government in Turkey and the occupation regime approved the project. The paper also reports that this project came on the agenda since the project of bringing water from Turkey with pipes will be delayed for at least three more years. The businessman Ali Ozman Safa, who gave information about the project, stated that the installation which was built for transferring water with tanker from Turkey to Libya will be used. He noted that the infrastructure studies for the installation in the occupied areas have been intensified.

(CS)

[09] The first regular general assembly of the English Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce took place in the UK.

(CS)

[10] The TRNC national cyclist team participated in the 5th Waldkirchen 24-hour bicycle mountain race in Germany under the TRNC flag

(CS)

[11] The Maronite representative in the House of Representatives said Maronites should be allowed to return to their occupied villages

He noted that in spite of the fact that they said yes to the Annan Plan in order to gain their property and political representation rights and maintain their existence, the future of the Maronite population is uncertain on the island because of the Greek Cypriot rejection to the plan. He said that the Maronites have no right to vote or to speak in the House of Representatives and therefore they have no political influence.

Mr Hadjiroussos accused the Turkish occupation army of turning the properties of the Maronites in the occupied Karpasha and Asomatos villages into military camps and of not allowing the Maronites to see their houses there and conduct their religious rituals.

(I/Ts.)

[12] German journalist visited the Martyrs Families and Fighters Association

According to a statement issued by the association, the German journalist was visiting the free areas of the Republic and crossed over to the occupied areas. Mr Ersan said that they showed to the German journalist the museum of their association and replied to questions regarding the missing persons. They also briefed him on the events in the years 1956-1974.

(I/Ts.)

[13] A public survey in Turkey shows an increase in the percentages of AKP

(DPs)

[14] New political party founded in Turkey

Referring to the establishment of the New Party, a report in Turkish Hurriyet newspaper in English (28.06.08), however, raises the question whether this party can replace the AKP since its emblem is a sun. Although there is no official connection between the New Party and the ruling AKP, the report recalls previous news items to the effect that a new party to be established to replace the AKP would use the sun at its emblem.

[15] Academic faces sacking for describing Turks as the new Jews

The head of the Center for Turkish Studies Foundation, or TAM, is facing the sack for describing Turks as the New Jews of Europe in an article he wrote for business daily Referans.

In the article, which headlined one of the articles of the May 19 edition with the controversial title, Europe's new Jews, TAM Director Faruk Sen said 5.2 million Turks living in Europe faced discrimination, adding that, As a member of this Turkish community that faces these attacks, I condemn the injustice perpetrated against Turkish citizens of Jewish, Armenian or Greek extraction in Turkey.

The article was aiming to support Turkish businessman of Jewish extraction Ishak Alaton, who in an interview with journalist Nagehan Alci complained about state sponsored anti-Semitism in Turkey. Sen ended his article by saying, We, as European Turks, know your value to our country. As Europe's new Jews, your 5.2- million comrades in Europe understand you the best. Don't allow the anti-Semitic attitudes of certain groups in Turkey to upset you, we, as the Turkish nation and Europe's new Jews are behind you.

Once Sen's comments appeared in the German media, there was serious reaction, which resulted in Sen having to issue an apology arguing that he was misunderstood. Meanwhile, TAM's three-person executive board initiated Sen's dismissal process.

Since June 24, the first running of the story by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the opinion editorial has become the most discussed matter in Germany, said Sen. There are comments that Jews were being insulted in the article, he noted.

It took Alaton himself to go to the representatives of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Süddeutche Zeitung, and Tagespiegel in Turkey and explain that it was all a misunderstanding and that the article was written in support of Jews in Turkey to quell some of the pressure on Sen.

Still Sen was called to Germany for dismissal, despite the fact that Jewish groups in Germany also issued statements in support of Sen. This reaction is entirely political. Members with Christian Democrat links want someone close as the director, said Sen.

Sen, a respected academic on Turkish issues in Europe, has been the director of TAM for the past 23 years.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] From the Turkish Press of 28 and 29 June 2008

a) On Fethullah Gulen

According to a report by Ahu Ozyurt in Milliyet (28.06.08), Fethullah Gulen, who had claimed that he had no links to the schools generally known as the "Gulen schools" in his defense in the suit filed against him for "establishing an unarmed terror organization" in Turkey, has now claimed the opposite in his appeal of a US court decision rejecting the issuance of a Green Card. The report adds that in the suit State Security Court Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel filed against Gulen in 1999, the indictment was built on the schools and companies claimed to have belonged to Gulen. While Gulen's lawyers claimed in the case filed in Turkey that Gulen's interest in the schools was limited to "only a spiritual support," his lawyers in the United States are now claiming that the "Gulen schools are providing a secular education in all corners of the world." According to the report, the US defense also states that in the 80ies Gulen developed a special educational system that incorporated Islamic values into non-secular activities and made use of education for a "dialogue between religions."

Assessing the US rejection of Gulen's request for a Green Card in his column in Vatan (28.06.08), Can Atakli finds it strange that Gulen's application was rejected despite the fact that references were forthcoming from many prominent personalities in the United States. It seems as though the United States is doing all in its power to ensure Gulen's return to Turkey, Atakli writes and asks why this is so.

On his part Yusuf Kanli, in his column in the Turkish Daily News (28.06.08), draws attention to the coincidence that the United States rejected Gulen's Green Card application precisely at a time when the Turkish court acquitted him of charges that he was the leader of an organization aimed at toppling the secular regime, thus enabling him to return to Turkey.

In an article entitled "Gulen must come with a happy face", in Yeni Safak (28.06.08) columnist Fehmi Koru criticizes US judicial authorities for bringing unfounded charges against Fethullah Gulen, leader of the Gulen community who lives in the United States. Koru argues that there is no difference between the reasons cited by a US district attorney who reportedly charged Gulen with infringing visa procedures and Turkish authorities who forced Gulen to live in exile. He also notes that Gulen is accused of having organic ties with the United States in spite of the fact that he has to cope with various problems created by US authorities.

In Zaman (28.06.08) a report entitled "There is neither an indictment nor a judgment against him quotes Gulen's lawyer Orhan Erdemli as denying reports that US authorities had refused to grant residence permit to Fethullah Gulen. He says: "The process related to our application for a residence permit still continues and there is no final court decision." He also emphasizes that Gulen is not required to leave the United States.

In an article entitled "Rights and wrongs in Gulen's visa case", in Zaman (28.06.08) Washington correspondent Ali Aslan says that no legal proceeding has been instituted by the US Government against Gulen and his application for a green card has not been rejected. He notes that Gulen filed a lawsuit against the US Immigration Bureau after it turned down his request for obtaining a legal status granted to foreign nationals who have outstanding achievments in the field of education in order to support his application for permanent residence. Aslan concludes by saying that Gulen's visa status will be decided by a US judge who will examine the pleadings of both sides.

Columnist Kadri Gursel charges that the report on "The Rise of Political Islam in Turkey" written by the RAND Corporation was really the brainchild of the Fethullah Gulen community. In an article in Milliyet (28.06.08), Gursel argues that the idea to write the report came to co-author Angel Rabasa when the visited Turkey on the invitation of the "Rumi Forum" of which Gulen is the honorary chairman. The columnist finds that the RAND report "contributes to the political interests of the Islamist movement in Turkey," and that "Pentagon sponsored the report, rather than create it, because the aim was to make the report serious and legitimate by using the name of the Pentagon." One of the conclusions the columnist reaches based on this report is that the Fethullah Gulen community has become very influential in Washington.

b) On US nuclear weapons in Turkey

According to a report in Ortadogu (28.06.08), Turkey "has become the nuclear depot of the United States in Europe." The report claims that there are at least 50 US nuclear weapons at Incirlik Base. According to a report published by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the United States keeps 240 nuclear weapons in six bases in Europe, and Italy and Incirlik have the highest concentration of US nuclear weapons with 90 of those weapons.

A report by Engin Esen in Cumhuriyet (28.06.08) states that an inspection conducted by the US Air Force indicates that the nuclear weapons at Incirlik Base are not being kept in secure conditions. According to Hans Kristensen, a nuclear weapons expert, there are deficiencies in the security of nuclear bombs at Incirlik Base.

In an article in Radikal (28.06.08), Oral Calislar refers to recent reports that highlight the existence of a large number of US nuclear weapons in Incirlik base. Calislar argues that nobody in Turkey seems to mind this situation. He says: "We discern double standards here; those who create the impression that they are challenging the United States in connection with the Kurdish problem, the relations with the EU and the Cyprus problem, remain silent when it comes to this dangerous base. How long will these nuclear weapons remain in our country? How long will the Incirlik military base be used as a base of attack against our neighbors? We are waiting for the government and the General Staff to answer these questions."

In an article entitled "Atom for peace" in Vakit (29.06.08) columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that the real threat to global peace is posed by the United States and Israel rather than Iran and Syria. Noting that the United States plans to attack Iran and Syria in order to flex its muscles and to demonstrate its deterrent power, Dilipak comments: "All countries in the region and global peace will be targeted despite the conviction that Iran and Syria will be its primary targets. Turkey mast dismantles the United States' nuclear weapons on its soil before becoming the epicenter of a nuclear Armageddon."

EG/

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