Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-07-16

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after his meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Berlin

[02] Babacan: Securing the safety and the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots and protecting the equilibrium and the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean are the two main strategic targets of Turkey

[03] Baykal criticized Talat for his agreement in principle with President Christofias on the issue of a single sovereignty and single citizenship

[04] Zeki Sezer: The problem in Cyprus was solved 34 years ago

[05] Turkey prohibits the Turkish Cypriots to travel through its sea and airports using passports and identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] Report by Ortam on the issue of Turkish Cypriot properties in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[07] The preparations for the celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus are continuing

[08] Yonluer said the illegal visit of Erdogan to the occupied areas will give them strength

[09] Avci describes the four main parameters on the Cyprus problem

[10] Turkish Cypriot unions express their support to Talats efforts on Cyprus

[11] KTOEOS is asking for a real population census to be carried out in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[12] The self-styled minister of environment admits that the worst situation regarding the stone quarries exists in occupied Kythrea area

[13] Serdar Denktas alleges that the self-styled government went bankrupt and that its end is coming closer; 100 persons left the DP in occupied Keryneia

[14] FOGEM will represent the occupied areas of Cyprus in a festival which will take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina

[15] The occupation regime did not allow an EU citizen to cross over to the occupied areas of Cyprus

[16] Turkey to donate 30 Million Euro to Kosovo

[17] Turkey to test locally developed laser-guided missile

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[18] Turkey subdued on crossed Cyprus lines

[19] From the Turkish Press of 15 July 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after his meeting with the UN Secretary-General in Berlin

Mr Talat said that Mr Ban heard his views on this issue and noted that his views are positive. Most probably the views of Christofias were also positive, said Mr Talat reminding that the UN Secretary-General has appointed a special advisor. Therefore, this also is showing that he sees that the problem will enter into the way of its solution, he added.

Asked about his expectations from the European countries and especially from the German government, Mr Talat said that he did not hold any contact with the German government and added that his visit to Berlin was only for meeting the UN Secretary-General. He went on and said: Of course we have expectations from the EU. Our expectation is to provide us technical support and furthermore, to encourage the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of the solution. Of course, you know that is not possible for the EU to play a directly impartial role as long as the Greek Cypriot administration is its member and as long as Greece supports it unconditionally.

Asked to comment on the increasing efforts of the German government regarding the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat said that this is something which should happen earlier and reminded that Germany and all the EU countries supported the Annan Plan.

Mr Talat alleged, inter alia, the following: They said that those who opposed this plan would pay a heavy price, but in spite of this those who oppose it did not pay a price. Furthermore, they continued their stance until now. ...France as well should behave more impartially and objectively. Because when the Annan Plan was rejected by the Greek Cypriots, the most serious and meaningful reaction came from the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, however, this had no continuation.

Responding to a question on whether the Annan Plan will be taken as basis of the negotiations in the future, Mr Talat noted: The solution of this problem has been left by the UN to the sides in Cyprus. Of course in the end there is the accumulated work of the UN. We are carrying out a negotiation taking into consideration this accumulated work. In this, naturally, there is the Annan Plan as well from our point of view. No one can deny the Annan Plan, but if you are asking me whether we are discussing the Annan Plan, the answer is no.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Babacan: Securing the safety and the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots and protecting the equilibrium and the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean are the two main strategic targets of Turkey

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Ambassadors Conference yesterday at Bilkent Hotel in Ankara, Mr Babacan noted that securing the safety and the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people and protecting the equilibrium and the stability in the Eastern Mediterranean are the two main strategic targets of Turkey.

We will continue to support the efforts which will be exerted for reaching a comprehensive solution in Cyprus within the framework of the established parameters of the UN, he said.

According to Milliyet newspaper (16.07.08), the Turkish Foreign Ministry has organized a four-day conference, in which all the Turkish ambassadors accredited abroad and the ambassadors at the foreign ministry together with the sectional and departmental heads and some retired ambassadors are taking part.

The paper reports that the conference Turkeys Foreign Policy: Orientations and Priorities was addressed by the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who listed Turkeys foreign policy priorities until 2023, the date Republic of Turkey will celebrate its 100th anniversary of its establishment. More than 200 diplomats are taking part in the conference.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.07.08) reported the following from Ankara:

Turkey's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Turkey should be a leading country in the areas of production, investment, technology, innovation, finance, energy and tourism in parallel with the country's bid for full membership to EU.

Speaking at a conference in Ankara, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey attached a special importance to Africa in its opening policy. He added that it was the right time to develop economic and commercial relations with the African continent which grew over the world average in 2002-2007 period.

Babacan said that trade volume with the continent reached 13 billion USD in the end of 2007. He added that Turkey aimed to increase this figure over 50 billion USD by 2012. Babacan said that Turkey would open 15 new embassies in Africa in the next few years.

Babacan said that the first "Turkey-Africa cooperation summit" would take place in Istanbul in August. He added that 54 countries were expected to be represented in the summit.

Babacan also said that Turkey was regularly increasing its assistance to underdeveloped and developing countries each year, adding that this figure reached nearly 2.5 billion USD in the end of 2007.

Regarding global warming issue, Babacan said that Turkey, due to its geographical location, was among the countries which would firstly be affected from negative results of global warming. He added that Turkey decided to sign Kyoto Protocol.

Babacan also said that the second forum meeting of Alliance of Civilizations Initiative would take place in Istanbul in April 2009. He added that this would be an important opportunity for Turkey.

Babacan said that the initiative, which was launched jointly by Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodrigues, had become a UN initiative now. He added that currently more than 80 countries and international organizations took part in friendship group of Alliance of Civilizations Initiative.

In regard to the Turkish tourism sector, Babacan said Turkey's share in the world tourism market has been growing remarkably. Turkey hosted more than 21 million tourists in 2007 and this figure could increase to 25 million tourists in 2008, he said.

Turkey aimed to benefit from opportunities of globalization and boost its relations with neighbouring countries, he stated.

[03] Baykal criticized Talat for his agreement in principle with President Christofias on the issue of a single sovereignty and single citizenship

Addressing yesterday the parliamentary group of his party at the Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Mr Baykal alleged the following:

Such an agreement could have only one result. The meaning of this is the TRNC to join the Greek Cypriot administration which represents the state of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot people to be degraded to minority by being put under the Greek Cypriot dominance. To whom does the single sovereignty belong? Whose is the sovereignty in the single state? Is it the TRNCs sovereignty? When the sovereignty is reduced to one, what will happen to the TRNC, the TRNC citizens? They will be turned into minority. If this happens, the Turkish Army will be withdrawn and the Treaty of Guarantees will be considered non-valid. This situation will cause the elimination in one go of the gains acquired by the Turkish nation as a return of all its sacrifices for Cyprus and the strategic supply road of Turkey in the south, which is of vital importance, will be surrounded.

Mr Baykal argued that the media and the officials in Turkey did not show the slightest interest, in spite of the fact that the most important historic developments are experienced in Cyprus during the last period.

Mr Baykal alleged that the fact that the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said nothing on this agreement is causing sorrow and claimed that the agreement is 100 percent in conflict with the principles of the Cyprus policy declared by the National Security Council of Turkey on 24 April 2008.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Zeki Sezer: The problem in Cyprus was solved 34 years ago

Pointing out to the sensitivity of his party for the TRNC, the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Sezer said that the flag of the TRNC is waving in the wind in front of the building of the DSP 365 days every year. The TRNC will live forever together with Turkey, he claimed.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkey prohibits the Turkish Cypriots to travel through its sea and airports using passports and identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus

According to the paper, the above regulation caused several problems for a large number of Turkish Cypriot families in their effort to depart from Turkey due to the fact that they have not been informed about the above regulation.

The paper writes that the regulation, which has been agreed and signed by Turkey and the government of the breakaway regime, caused the reaction of the Turkish Cypriots. It also writes that the above regulation will encourage Turkish Cypriots to travel through the airport of Larnaca.

Finally, the paper writes that Turkey and the government of the breakaway regime put into practice the above regulation showing as pretext the fact that the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not allow the use of the passports of the Republic of Cyprus by the people who want to use the illegal airports and seaports of the occupied area of the island.

(A/K)

[06] Report by Ortam on the issue of Turkish Cypriot properties in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the paper, the above development is considered to be an element against the Turkish Cypriot side during the negotiations between the two leaders for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

It is noted that the sales of Turkish Cypriot properties in the Greek Cypriot side to Greek Cypriots before the starting of negotiations between Talat and Christofias on 1 September and the continuous increase of these sales will further increase the problems on the property issue, adds the paper.

The paper refers to the example of the sale of a property in Agios Theodoros village belonging to two Turkish Cypriots with the initials B.D. and H.K., who live now in England, to Greek Cypriots for the amount of 46.000 pounds sterling.

(A/K)

[07] The preparations for the celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus are continuing

The Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan will pay an illegal visit to occupied Cyprus for the celebrations along with a delegation consisting of Turkish ministers and other Turkish officials.

The celebrations will start on the noon of the 19th of July with 21 artillery fires and with a speech that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, will deliver at the illegal Bayrak television. The official parade will take place on the 20th of July at the Dr Fazil Kucuk Boulevard in occupied Lefkosia. In the ceremony both Talat and Erdogan will deliver a speech.

According to the paper, the Acrobatic Team of the Turkish Air Forces, the Turkish Stars, will arrive, like every year, in occupied Cyprus, for a show.

Within the framework of the celebration a football match will take place between a team of the self-styled assembly of the occupation regime and a football team of the Turkish Assembly in which the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will be participating.

(CS)

[08] Yonluer said the illegal visit of Erdogan to the occupied areas will give them strength

In statements yesterday, Mr Yonluer pointed out to the importance of the visit during a period when crucial developments are taking place in Turkey. With his visit the esteemed Prime Minister will once more reiterate how justified and appropriate the 1974 Peace Operation was, alleged Mr Yonluer adding that they will never accept the guarantees of Turkey to be watered down.

Referring to the recent statement by the self-styled prime minister Soyer that they had asked 200 million new Turkish liras from Turkey, but Ankara refused to give them this money, Mr Yonluer reminded that in the past Mr Soyer was saying that they would never ask money from Turkey. He accused Mr Soyer of being inconsistent.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Avci describes the four main parameters on the Cyprus problem

Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has emphasized that the establishment of single sovereignty in Cyprus will only be possible with the existence of two equal constituent states.

The Foreign Minister issued the statements at a ceremony organized in Girne to welcome new members joining his Freedom and Reform Party (ORP).

Pointing out that no foreign policy or economic investment can successfully be developed without Turkeys support, Mr Avci said even those who had different views on the issue have come to realize the fact that there will be no TRNC without motherland Turkey.

Foreign Minister Avci described the four main parameters of the solution of the Cyprus problem as two equal constituent states, bi-zonality, political equality of two peoples of the island and the active guarantee of Turkey.

Complaining that the Greek Cypriot Leader has been taking initiatives to stop ferry services between the Syrian city of Latakia and the TRNC, Avci said that the TRNC ports are accepted as legal and defined ferry trips to Latakia as a door opening to the world.

[10] Turkish Cypriot unions express their support to Talats efforts on Cyprus

A group of 13 trade unions have expressed support to the agreement in principle reached between the two leaders on the issues of single sovereignty and citizenship.

The trade unions issued a joint statement today expressing their support to the ongoing process to find a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

The statement pointed out that the formula on which the Annan Plan, approved by an overwhelming majority of the Turkish Cypriots people, was in fact based on the idea of a United Federal Cyprus Republic based on single sovereignty to be shared by both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

The joint statement also underlined the need to start comprehensive negotiations as soon as possible for the reunification of the island.

Explaining that circles opposing a settlement had started voicing their cliché expressions , the statement read As organizations which support a solution on the basis of the Turkish Cypriot peoples will, we are determined to do what is necessary in order for a solution to the Cyprus problem. We shall continue our struggle until a United Federal Cyprus is created.

Meanwhile in a separate statement, the Cyprus Turkish Public Servants Union- Kamu-Sen too has expressed support to President Mehmet Ali Talat in the struggle towards establishing a new federal partnership state in Cyprus, which is to be formed by two constituent states of equal status on the basis of a bi-zonal order and political equality.

In a written statement, the Kamu-Sen President Mehmet Ozkardas said the Union will continue to support the President in the struggle towards making the whole island part of the European Union.

Mr Ozkardas said his Union welcome the agreement reached between the two leaders in Cyprus on single sovereignty, citizenship and international identity.

He said the agreement had been a demand of the Turkish Cypriot People who voted YES for the Annan Peace Plan during the 2004 referenda.

The Kamu-Sen President reiterated the Unions commitment towards taking action together with other civil society organisations, which share the same view, in order to make the Turkish Cypriot Peoples will for peace come to life.

[11] KTOEOS is asking for a real population census to be carried out in the occupied areas of Cyprus

In a statement issued by Tahir Gokcebel, general secretary of KTOEOS, a reference is made to a statistic research conducted by the Nicosia District Office and it is noted that this research has shown the chaos created in the occupied areas due to the fact that it has been turned into a place where everybody can enter freely. Mr Gokcebel argued that the foreign visitors do not commit so many crimes in other places of the world.

(I/Ts.)

[12] The self-styled minister of environment admits that the worst situation regarding the stone quarries exists in occupied Kythrea area

Mr Gokmen said that the stone quarries will be taken under control and added that the worst situation is experienced in the occupied Kythrea area. The paper notes that Mr Gokmen blamed the so-called roads department for the situation in the above-mentioned area.

Referring to the dust on the trees because of the stone quarries, Mr Gokmen argued that the problem exists due to the lack of water. He said that they might consider closing down the stone quarries until water is found. Referring to Ipsaro Hill, Mr Gokmen said that the permits for gypsum plaster might be postponed so that a new examination is carried out. He argued that the CTP-ORP self-styled government gave only three such permits, while within the period 2002-2007 five permits had been given for Ipsaro area.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (16.07.08) refers to the statement of Mr Gokmen under the title The minister said that for now he will see and reports that he refrained for making a definite statement on the stone quarries.

(I/Ts.)

[13] Serdar Denktas alleges that the self-styled government went bankrupt and that its end is coming closer; 100 persons left the DP in occupied Keryneia

Two years passed since then. Within this period unbelievable anomaly and disorder is experienced in the economic, political and social life. He argued that the DP is candidate of becoming the first party in the elections.

However, Turkish Cypriot daily Sozcu newspaper (16.07.08), mouthpiece of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), reports that 100 members of the Democratic Party in occupied Keryneia have abandoned the party and joined the ORP.

The paper refers to the issue under the title The DPs Keryneia organization collapsed and notes that important members of the DP were among those who left the party.

(I/Ts.)

[14] FOGEM will represent the occupied areas of Cyprus in a festival which will take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina

(I/Ts.)

[15] The occupation regime did not allow an EU citizen to cross over to the occupied areas of Cyprus

When Mr Ryberg went to the Louroudjina barricade with his two daughters in order to visit the village, he was told by the occupation regime that you cannot enter.

Mr Ryberg told the paper that he felt very sad and disappointed after this development and stated that he had in his hands an album with pictures taken in the period he served in Louroudjina, hoping to find some friends. He also said that the decision of the breakaway regime is illogical especially nowadays when there are no borders in the whole world.

(C/S)

[16] Turkey to donate 30 Million Euro to Kosovo

Turkey committed to donate 30 million Euro to Kosovo for 2009-2011 period, stated Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

The ministry said that Turkey committed to donate 30 million Euro to Kosovo during Donors Conference for Kosovo which was hosted by European Commission in Brussels on July 11th, 2008.

The ministry also said that Turkey would continue to support and assist Kosovo which it had been doing since 1999.

[17] Turkey to test locally developed laser-guided missile

Turkey plans to test its first locally developed 6 km long laser guided missile code-named Cirit (Jereed) later this month at a military training range in Sereflikochisar near Ankara, local defence industry sources close to the project have said.

The Turkish Defence Ministry signed a $28 million contract with Roketsan several years ago for the development of the missile, planned for mounting on attack helicopters that Turkey will manufacture jointly with Italy's AgustaWestland.

The Cirit missile will be launched from a US-made AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter in Turkey's inventory and if the test succeeds its serial production will begin, the same sources told Today's Zaman.

It is not known whether Roketsan received foreign assistance in developing the missile, but its local manufacture comes at a time when Ankara has increased emphasis on the local development of arms systems to reduce foreign dependency and boost the poor defence industry infrastructure.

Murad Bayar, undersecretary of the Undersecretariat for the Defence Industry (SSM), a civilian arms procurement agency, stated early this month that the local production share of defence industry products are planned to reach 50 percent next year, two years earlier than expectations.

Bayar previously set the target for increasing local shares in defence industry production from 25 percent in 2003 to 50 percent by 2011.

In an interview with the semi-official Anatolia news agency on July 8, Bayar stated that local shares in the defence industry production had currently reached 42 percent.

In the meantime, it is not known whether the Parliament will set up a commission to probe allegations of corruption levelled by the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the $3 billion attack and tactical reconnaissance helicopter (ATAK) tender contracted to Italy's AgustaWestland.

The MND released a statement on July 2 denying the allegations.

Turkey's long-awaited ATAK project was launched on June 24 at a ceremony at Turkish Aerospace Industries' (TA0) Akinci facilities near Ankara. The project envisages the joint production with AgustaWestland of 50 helicopters, with an option for another 41, at prime contractor TA0's facilities. The platform will be based on the Italian A 129 attack helicopter and be designated the T 129.

Cirit, planned to be tested later this month before the term of the duty of Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit expires in August, was developed for the attack helicopters.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[18] Turkey subdued on crossed Cyprus lines

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to participate in the July 20 Peace and Freedom ceremonies in northern Cyprus. The latest developments on the island are expected to set the agenda for talks between Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot officials.

Erdogan, who will fly to northern Cyprus late Friday, will meet with Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and Foreign Minister Turgay Avci.

Turkey's silence regarding the ongoing talks between Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias has been raising questions. Although Turkish officials have yet to officially comment on the recent compromise between the Cypriot leaders, the tentative agreement, based on single sovereignty and citizenship, runs contrary to Ankara's long-standing position.

Rival leaders in Cyprus met in Nicosia on July 1 to lay the groundwork for historic negotiations to reunify the divided island. After four-and-a-half hours of talks described as difficult, Talat and Christofias agreed, in principle, that any settlement should involve a single state with common citizenship for all Cypriots.

Opponents argue that this recent compromise falls short of even the U.N.-backed Annan plan and violates red lines previously established by the Turkish side.

The details of the issue are expected to take shape once full-fledged negotiations between Cypriot leaders get under way, which are expected in September. Some observers believe the reason behind Ankara's cautious silence may be Turkey's belief that the process of comprehensive negotiations is ongoing and possible interference may be too early.

Others, however, say Turkey's current position is surprising given the prompt reactions from Ankara in 2004 when the Annan plan was put to separate referenda on both parts of the island. At that time, the Turkish government campaigned for the U.N. blueprint, something that gave the Turkish side an upper hand in its relations with the European Union.

Also, the political uncertainty in Turkey is considered to be another reason preventing Ankara from speaking out about developments on the divided island. The court case seeking to outlaw the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and a series of arrests concerning a shadowy group dubbed Ergenekon, may have pushed the Cyprus problem into the periphery of Turkey's agenda. Still, Ankara is exerting maximum efforts to maintain its pro-reunification image abroad.

Despite all, the ongoing silence in the capital does not deter Turkish Foreign Ministry officials from making a reference to existing U.N. parameters, while pointing to a final solution in Cyprus. Last week, Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin's emphasis on a bi-zonal and bi-communal solution, as specified in the Annan plan, was seen as reiterating Turkey's position. Nevertheless, Ankara's approach toward a political settlement in Cyprus and the negotiations directly depend on how the court case against the AKP will be concluded, according to observers.

[19] From the Turkish Press of 15 July 2008

a) Closure Case Against Ruling Party:

A report entitled "Report about the closure case about to be finished" in Milliyet says that Osman Can, rapporteur of the Constitutional Court, is expected to submit his report about the closure case against the Justice and Development Party to the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court by the end of the week.

In an article entitled "This is Political Drudgery", Yeni Safak columnist Akif Emre discusses the question of how a ruling party in Turkey that faces imminent closure can undertake a crackdown unprecedented in the history of the Republic against an illegal network that includes retired generals. Emre argues that the latest developments in Turkey cannot be viewed independently of the question of what role has been assigned to Turkey in the global system by the capitalist world and the United States in particular. He goes on to assert that Washington appears to have taken advantage of the closure lawsuit against the AKP to try to achieve certain political and economic goals and that the AKP seems to have consented to an arrangement that will allow it to avoid closure in return for aligning itself with the United States' Mideast policies and having its powers reduced significantly.

b) New Leadership of Democratic Society Party, DTP:

A report entitled "Doves To Lead DTP Again" in Hurriyet says that Ahmet Turk and his allies who are known as doves within the DTP have emerged victorious from a two-day meeting held in Diyarbakir ahead of the party's national convention to be held in Ankara on the weekend. According to the report, the meeting produced a decision to nominate Turk as the party's new leader while the hawkish wing led by Emine Ayna, acting leader of the party, backed down after coming under strong criticism for causing a rift within the DTP.

c) Ergenekon Investigation:

In an article entitled "There is a coup in the shelf," Milliyet columnist Melih Asik points out that defendants in the Ergenekon case are accused of setting up a terrorist organization in order to overthrow the government, inciting people to rebel against the government, and encouraging the military to disobey the government. He comments: "Those plans would allegedly be carried out by 86 people, including retired soldiers, journalists, academics, businessmen, and some unemployed people who hardly know each other. Their weapons consisted of 86 grenades. Could those crimes have been committed by 86 people half of whom have been retired by using such a small quantity of weapons? It remains to be seen how the indictment will convince judges and the public."

In an article entitled "One bomb and many perpetrators," Hurriyet columnist Enis Berberoglu says that three public prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon probe will probably base their accusations on the organization's alleged role in an armed attack at the headquarters of the Council of State and bomb attacks against Cumhuriyet newspapers. Pointing out that a court in Ankara which tried the assassin who killed three judges of the Council of State concluded three months ago that there was no evidence proving that Ergenekon was involved in the attack and that a statement made by a convict in return for a reduction of his prison term was not found reliable, Berberoglu says: "It seems that the Ergenekon indictment is based on attacks against the Council of State and Cumhuriyet. It remains to be seen whether the court in Istanbul will accept a part of the indictment about Ergenekon in spite of the judgment handed down by the Ankara court."

In an article entitled "Attack against the Council of State and the indictments," Sabah columnist Ergun Babahan points out that there are two different indictments issued about the armed attack against the Council of State. He says: "According to one of those indictments, there is no connection between the attack on the Council of State and bomb attacks launched against Cumhuriyet. The second indictment, however, says that those two attacks were linked with each other and were primarily aimed at creating chaos and setting the stage for a military coup. Considering that two public prosecutors using the same information have reached totally opposite conclusions, it is clear that there is something wrong in our justice system and we are facing a problem that should be investigated by the Ministry of Justice."

In an article entitled "A crime organization," Taraf columnist Ahmet Altan says that he was shocked to hear that suspects in the Ergenekon case were being accused of being involved in various assassinations and bomb attacks. He says: "A crime organization which asserts that it upholds Kemalism and advocates a military coup in the name of Kemalism has assassinated a Kemalist writer. It hired a hit man to assassinate a judge in order to create suspicions about an Islamist party. It hired assailants to throw bombs at the headquarters of Cumhuriyet which is the staunchest supporter of Kemalism."

Under the banner headline, "Tip of the iceberg," Vakit runs a front-page report which quotes "jurists" as saying that the indictment against Ergenekon unveiled yesterday is "only the tip of the iceberg" and that "the nucleus of the terrorist organization" will be revealed in an additional indictment.

In an article entitled "What kind of a military?", Zaman columnist Ihsan Dagi warns that unless the Ergenekon probe throws light on the so-called "coup journals," it will cease to be an opportunity to put a number of coup plotters on trial, expose certain "putschists," and reinforce democracy and the rule of law. He also claims that certain recently disclosed documents and the "confessions" of a number of retired military officials suggest that the army has become the scene of an internal power struggle and that the top command of the Turkish Armed Forces, TSK, remains as deeply involved in political "games" as it was a century ago. He argues that Article 35 of Internal Service Law should be amended immediately if the TSK is to be restructured so as to become a modern military focused on its true job.

EG/

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