Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-07-18

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan will visit the occupied areas accompanied with eleven ministers

[02] Ekenoglu met with Turkish MPs who are illegally visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

[03] German MPs of Turkish origin refused an invitation to participate in celebrations of for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

[04] Avci called on the UK and the USA to put pressure on the Greek Cypriot side for the solution of the Cyprus problem

[05] The UHH called on Talat to correct his mistake regarding the single sovereignty and single citizenship

[06] British MPs met with the self-styled mayor of occupied Famagusta

[07] The recession in the economy of the breakaway regime has reportedly started to influence negatively every part of the community; Criticism by Cakici

[08] Statements by the Turkish settler minister of environment and natural resources of the breakaway regime on the disaster of occupied Pentathaktylos Mountains

[09] The number of the Greek Cypriots who travel to Turkey through the occupied areas has reportedly increased

[10] Yeni Duzen reports that the citizenship of the regime has been given to persons involved in crimes in Turkey

[11] Constitutional Court Rapporteur said that the AKP should not be closed down

[12] US official held contacts in Ankara

[13] FM Babacan met with African Unions chairperson

[14] Turksat 3A was put into operation

[15] OECD published an economic survey regarding Turkey for 2008

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] From the Turkish Press of 17 July 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan will visit the occupied areas accompanied with eleven ministers

He alleged: We shall continue from now on as well our constructive and pro-peace stance and we are determined on this issue. I hope that this weekend we shall be in northern Cyprus with a crowded team and there either with opening ceremonies or with celebrations we shall give the people of our race who live in northern Cyprus a very different motivation, a very different excitement.

Meanwhile, under the banner headline The Turkish council of ministers meets in the TRNC, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (18.07.08) reports in its front page that the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an illegal visit to occupied Cyprus today at 18:30 hours for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion of the island along with a delegation consisting of eleven instead of six Turkish ministers, as published before, and other Turkish officials.

Invoking reliable sources, the paper reports that, with this action Mr Erdogan aims to send a political message to the world and adds that the Turkish prime minister and his delegation are planning to make a mini-session of the council of ministers in the occupied areas of Cyprus for taking important decisions on the Cyprus problem. The paper writes that Mr Erdogan and his delegation will stay in a luxurious hotel in Keryneia.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (18.07.08) reports that Mr Erdogan will attend the opening ceremony of Ada TV television and Ada radio station.

(I/Ts.-A/K)

[02] Ekenoglu met with Turkish MPs who are illegally visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr Ekenoglu pointed out to the importance of the football match and added that because of the so-called embargoes the Turkish Cypriot football teams cannot play even with teams from Turkey. She also referred to the so-called cultural embargoes imposed on the TRNC and argued that in case the isolations are lifted they will be able to stand on their own feet.

(I/Ts.)

[03] German MPs of Turkish origin refused an invitation to participate in celebrations of for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

Commenting on the issue, Ozan Ceyhun, former European MP, described as unfortunate the fact that the MPs will not participated in the celebrations in the occupied areas of Cyprus, despite the fact that they had accepted the invitation before. Mr Ceyhun stated that their decision might be related to political reasons.

(C/S.)

[04] Avci called on the UK and the USA to put pressure on the Greek Cypriot side for the solution of the Cyprus problem

Mr Avci also referred to the internal political situation in the occupation regime and criticized the Democratic Party (DP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) and noted that time is needed for changes to take place. He also stated that the self-styled MP, Mr Alanli, who resigned from the UBP, is very close to join the ORP.

Evaluating the negotiations between the two leaders in Cyprus, Mr Avci stated that the occupation regime continues its foreign policy with Turkey and noted that the Turkish side, together with motherland Turkey do not discuss the issues of two regions, the political equality of the two peoples, two equal founding states and Turkeys guarantees.

Referring to the criticism on the issue of the single sovereignty and single citizenship, Mr Avci said that there can be no state with two sovereignties in the United Nations and that in case an agreement in the international arena takes place a single sovereignty will be born from two equal founding states. He argued that a partnership will be established by two equals. We are referring to a partnership in the basis of the political equality of the two peoples, he stated.

(C/S.)

[05] The UHH called on Talat to correct his mistake regarding the single sovereignty and single citizenship

In statements yesterday during a press conference, Mr Etkin urged Mr Talat to exhibit a determined stance at the negotiating table and exert efforts to protect and look after the existence of a sovereign state and the rights based on sovereignty. He alleged that there was no change in the target and the tactics of the Greek Cypriots after the election of President Christofias and that the Greek Cypriots are proceeding towards their target in the way they know.

(I/Ts.)

[06] British MPs met with the self-styled mayor of occupied Famagusta

(A/K.)

[07] The recession in the economy of the breakaway regime has reportedly started to influence negatively every part of the community; Criticism by Cakici

Invoking the views of experts, Kibris notes that within the coming days more people will be included in the list of those to whom a prohibition for issuing a check is imposed.

Economists Unal Akifler, Hurrem Tulga and Mustafa Gunduz said that in case the situation continues, bankruptcies will begin. However, Ayse Donmezer said that she does not expect an economic crisis and expressed the view that the policy of providence in the economy should be supported by the regime.

Unal Akifler expressed the opinion that the economic recession and the high interest rates are two of the reasons of the increase in the number of those to whom a prohibition for issuing a check is imposed.

Paying an interest rate of 25-30 % in return of an inflation rate of 10 % is something terrifying, he said. Mr Akifler noted that the high interest rates are deriving from the Turkish lira and pointed out that the boom in the construction sector, which had boosted the economy, is now replaced by recession.

Kibris reports also that Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democrat Party (TDP), has criticized the recent statements made by the self-styled minister Soyer and the minister of finance, Ahmet Uzun on the economic issues. In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Cakici said that the above-mentioned statements are a sign of lack of planning, inconsistency and incapability.

Mr Cakici noted that during the period when Mr Soyer said that he did not want money from Turkey, the sum of 95 trillion Turkish liras was given by Turkey for closing the budget deficit of the breakaway regime. He added that Soyer himself confessed that they have twice asked 200 trillion Turkish liras from Turkey. Mr Cakici said that according to the financial protocol signed between the breakaway regime and Turkey for 2007, Ankara gave 220 trillion Turkish liras and pointed out that the required 200 trillion Turkish liras was an additional amount. Mr Cakici argued that the government led the economy to bankruptcy.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Statements by the Turkish settler minister of environment and natural resources of the breakaway regime on the disaster of occupied Pentathaktylos Mountains

In statements at a press conference at the assembly, Mr Gokmen blamed the so-called roads department for the situation and said: I compare the Pentathaltylos with a very beautiful woman with few teeth scattered here and there.

Mr Gokmen noted that most of the stone quarries are located in the area above occupied Kythrea and said that since 2004 no permit was granted for the stone quarries of the road department in that area. He added that they warned them on this issue and said that they would close down these quarries in case the criteria are not fulfilled.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The number of the Greek Cypriots who travel to Turkey through the occupied areas has reportedly increased

However, in case they apply to the so-called Turkish embassy to Nicosia or any other embassy, they can acquire the one-month visa free of charge. Mr Nadir Sarimsakci, director of Akfer Denizcilik maritime company, said that they carry ten thousand passengers every month to the occupied areas of Cyprus from Turkey and that the number of those who are carried back to Turkey is also ten thousands.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Yeni Duzen reports that the citizenship of the regime has been given to persons involved in crimes in Turkey

The paper reports that the situation of Gulatay raised many questions. The spokesman of the council of ministers, Salih Usar, self-styled minister of public works and transport, stated that they decided to annul the citizenship of Semih Tufan Gulatay, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison by the Ankara State Security Court and remained 4.5 years in jail.

Usar said that the decision for granting the citizenship to Gulatay was taken on 20 May 1993 and added that Gulatay was given the citizenship without any recommendation by the then minister who was responsible for these matters.

He noted that Gulatay visited the occupied areas of Cyprus on 25 July 1993 for the first time and took the documents for his citizenship on 26 July, without the necessary procedures to take place.

The paper reminds that its columnist, Sami Ozuslu in his article the day before yesterday referred also to the case of Sinan Aygun, chairman of Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), who was given the citizenship of the breakaway regime without filing an application, with a false address, with incomplete documents and insufficient signatures. He notes that hundreds of people known for their hawkish views, similar to Mr Aygun, were given the citizenship of the regime by the past governments.

(I/Ts.)

[11] Constitutional Court Rapporteur said that the AKP should not be closed down

(MHY)

[12] US official held contacts in Ankara

Moreover, Turkish daily Bugun newspaper (18.07.08) referring to US Presidents National Security Advisor Stephen Hadleys contacts in Ankara and the arrival of Irans Foreign Minister Manucehr Mottaki for a working visit upon invitation by his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, says that the visits draw the attention to the fact that they coincide with the reports that the USA wants to soften its relations with Iran.

Turkish daily Hurriyet (18.07.08) referring to the same issue, reports that there are rumors that Turkey might act as mediator between the USA and Iran.

(MHY)

[13] FM Babacan met with African Unions chairperson

Turkey's foreign minister reaffirmed on Thursday Turkey's readiness to solve Iran nuclear program controversy.

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey was ready to do everything necessary to solve the controversy through dialogue.

Turkey is in good dialogue with six countries that have presented a new package of proposals to Iran, and also it has a good dialogue with its neighbor Iran, Babacan told a joint press conference with Jean Ping, chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, in Ankara.

Babacan told reporters that his Iranian counterpart Manuchehr Motaki would visit the Turkish capital on Friday, and he would discuss many issues, including nuclear program with the Iranian foreign minister.

Turkey has always supported the solution of Iran's nuclear program controversy through dialogue, and therefore it continues talks with all parties, he said.

Referring to Turkey's cooperation with Africa, Babacan said that Turkish non-governmental organizations were active in many African countries and Turkish businessmen were particularly working in North Africa.

We are looking at the continent of Africa with a long-term and lasting approach, not with a short-term perspective, Babacan told reporters. Babacan said he was hopeful that Turkey and Africa could cooperate in many areas thanks to fast-growing Turkish economy and Turkey's increasing political influence in the world and high potential in the continent of Africa. Also speaking in the press conference, Ping said that Turkey and Africa should have a multi-lateral cooperation, from which they could have mutual benefits. Ping said that Turkey could contribute to efforts to end regional disputes, and disputes in his continent (Africa), and added that the commission's aim was to launch long-term cooperation that was not affected by internal policies. The African Union is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 53 African nations. Established on July 9, 2002, its objectives are to accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent; to promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and its peoples; to achieve peace and security in Africa; and to promote democratic institutions, good governance and human rights.

The Commission of the African Union acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union. It consists of a number of commissioners dealing with different areas of policy. The Commission is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

[14] Turksat 3A was put into operation

Turkey's new generation communication satellite Turksat 3A has begun giving service after being located in the orbit of "42 degree east".

Launched from the Kourou base of French Guiana on June 13th, the satellite was located in the orbit after being controlled by ground stations.

The satellite, which replaced Turksat 1C satellite, will serve in a vast geography covering Turkey, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

Based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2, Turksat 3A was fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders. The Turksat 3A has 3 uplink and 2 downlink beams.

Turksat 3A satellite will enable Turksat to offer telecommunication services as well as direct TV broadcasting services though a broader area than its existing satellites.

Turksat 3A's Turkey coverage has been specially designed to provide very efficient gain for broadband applications like VSAT services giving customers low-cost, up-link systems.

[15] OECD published an economic survey regarding Turkey for 2008

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published Thursday "Economic Survey of Turkey for 2008".

The report said Turkey needed to maintain structural reforms and fiscal discipline in order to continue the fiscal discipline and economic growth. OECD regarded the institutional and structural reforms implemented by the Turkish government in the aftermath of 2001 crisis as far-reaching and said it underpinned an unprecedented period of high growth which lasted until 2007. However, the report said, recently tensions arose and growth slowed down as a result of loss of competitiveness in large areas of the economy, the deterioration of international conditions, and a weakening of confidence domestically. OECD argued that new government initiatives to strengthen the macroeconomic policy framework, and upgrade the competitiveness of industry and its capacity to create jobs, would help the economy resume a stronger growth course.

According to the OECD report, following are the main challenges awaiting Turkish economy in the future: Preserving the gains of fiscal consolidation and making fiscal policy more compatible with higher growth; resuming disinflation and better aligning structural policies as well as fiscal policy with the inflation targeting framework; reducing barriers to formal employment in order to mobilise the productivity potential and improve the resilience of the Turkish economy.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] From the Turkish Press of 17 July 2008

a) Closure Case Against the AKP:

According to a report entitled "Rapporteur: Closure Case Should be Dismissed" in Milliyet, Osman Can, rapporteur of the Constitutional Court, has said in his report about the closure case that the ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, should not be closed down because it has not resorted to violence and its officials only expressed their opinions. The report also argued that legislation about headscarf should not be a reason for closure.

In an article entitled "Myth and Law," Milliyet columnist Taha Akyol focuses on the concept of "moderate Islam" which was cited by the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals in his indictment against the AKP. The prosecutor, Akyol notes, described the AKP as a political party intending to establish a regime based on sharia by using the concept of moderate Islam as a tool with support provided by the United States and the EU. Stressing that the United States and European countries favor moderate Islam, Akyol goes on to say: "Their objective is, however, not to turn Turkey into a 'moderate Islamic regime' or a theocracy based on a moderate interpretation of sharia. On the contrary, they intend to ensure that secularism spreads to whole Muslim world while supporting secular tendencies in Muslim countries."

In an article entitled "I do not think that the possibility of closure has diminished," Vatan columnist Rusen Cakir says that he disagrees with Mark Parris, former US Ambassador to Turkey, who said in a meeting held in Washington that the possibility of finding a solution that would prevent the AKP from being banned has increased in the past one month. He says: "Parris and others who share his views may believe that the Ergenekon investigation is being used as a bargaining chip to prevent the AKP's closure and that groups which are in favor banning the party would panic and back down due to their fears that the probe may be deepened. Recently, I met many people who were of the same opinion and told them that the justices of the Constitutional Court would not cast their votes by taking account of the Ergenekon probe. I said: 'A justice who would normally vote for the AKP's closure would not change his mind because of Ergenekon. Instead, he would fervently support its closure."

In an article entitled "If the EU process stops, it will never start again", Yeni Safak columnist Yasin Dogan warns that if the EU suspends or stops membership negotiations with Turkey in response to the possible closure of the ruling AKP, the future of Turkey-EU relations will be full of unknowns because a unanimous vote would be necessary to restart accession talks and it would be very difficult to obtain it from a decision mechanism that includes members opposed to Turkey.

b) Ergenekon Investigation:

In an article entitled "Expectation created about Ergenekon," Milliyet columnist Fikret Bila points out that information leaked by judicial authorities to some journalists led to the conclusion that the investigation against the shadowy organization called Ergenekon will reveal connections between various terrorist organizations as well as the perpetrators of many assassinations carried out in the past couple of decades. According to those reports, Bila notes, units made up of people with different political opinions have functioned within Ergenekon without being aware of each other. Reminding that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin said that reports which appeared in the press about the probe did not correspond to reality, Bila comments: "What will happen if reports which were published after Engin's statement do not correspond to reality just like those published before or were at least exaggerated? If that proves to be the case, the public prosecutor must enlighten the public."

Taraf carries two reports about the military and restructuring plans of Ergenekon which highlight the organizational structure of the organization consisting of an intelligence command, intelligence analysis and assessment command, operations command, and an internal investigation command. According to the reports, Ergenekon planned to fund its operations through illegal transfer of money from bank accounts, to assassinate politicians in collaboration with terrorist organizations, and to gather intelligence in order to topple the government. Taraf reports also the claim that the organization planned to hire physicians, lawyers, psychologists, and prostitutes as secret agents.

A report entitled "A message from the government to the Military" in Hurriyet quotes Sinan Aygun, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce who was temporarily detained in connection with the Ergenekon probe, as saying that he did not respond to questions about his telephone conversation with a friend during his interrogation by the police and a public prosecutor because it was a state secret. According to the report, Aygun informed his friend who is believed to be a senior member of the Cabinet that he had conveyed his message to Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit in a meeting they held on 1 May 2008.

In an article entitled "Kivrikoglu's intervention," Sabah columnist Nazli Ilicak argues that efforts to manipulate politics or to influence appointment of generals within the military should also be interpreted as a coup attempt. Ilicak also notes that Ergenekon changed its vision in 1999 and decided to lay emphasis on safeguarding Kemalist principles against separatism and fundamentalism. She says: "Bombs would explode in Semdinli so that the authoritarian regime in the region could be maintained and an armed attack would be carried out against the judges of the Council of State so that people attending their funeral could protest the government. Ergenekon is an organization ascribing great importance to psychological warfare comprising the media. We will see this more clearly during the judicial process."

In an article entitled "It is true that Ecevit faced interventions," Radikal columnist Murat Yetkin writes about press reports saying that Ergenekon is accused of carrying out subversive activities not only against the AKP, but also against late Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit when he was leading a coalition government. He says: "I do not know whether the organization called Ergenekon was actually behind those activities. But, some high-ranking soldiers put pressure on Ecevit in 2001 in forder to force him to step down. I directly witnessed that attempt which could be described as an intervention in politics although it stopped of short of a turning into a military coup."

A report entitled "Coup diaries were leaked by Ozden's son" in Vatan highlights an article written by Fatih Altayli who quotes a high-ranking military official as saying that Burak Ornek, son of retired Admiral Ozden Ornek, might have leaked recorded conversations that his father had had with some of his colleagues during his tenure which were later highlighted as Admiral Ornek's diary in the press. The same source also asserts that Burak Ornek has close ties with an arms dealer selling defense systems to NATO.

Under the banner headline, "PKK would be finished in a month if Ergenekon wanted It," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which quotes Tuncay Guney, "whose disclosures caused the Ergenekon probe to be launched," as saying that "all hell would break loose" if the Ergenekon-PKK link were to be disclosed and that there would be an inner conflict within the PKK that would cause its dissolution within a few months. The report further quotes Guney as saying that Ergenekon's leadership consists of four "official" and four "civilian" individuals and that retired generals Hursit Tolon and Sener Eruygur, who have been sent to prison as part of the investigation, are among "the top four."

In an article entitle "Agarta, Ergenekon, Nazism, Dabbah [Beast]", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul criticizes the way in which the Ergenekon network has been associated with a number of historical myths dating back 15,000 years in such a way to promote a misguided public perception of the members of this organization as legendary figures.

In an article entitled "The rest is a matter of detail", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru asserts that when their trial begins, the suspects in the Ergenekon case are likely to represent themselves as patriots who did whatever they did for the sake of the country much in the same way as the members of the Italian "Gladio" used the "pretext" of patriotism to try to justify their deeds.

In its front-paged report entitled "Ergenekon in church," Vakit illustrates photographs showing that some leading members of the "terrorist" Ergenekon used the Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate building as their "headquarters" and that they frequently held "council meetings" there and took part in "religious ceremonies."

In an article entitled "Ergenekon and the CHP", Zaman columnist Mumtazer Turkone blasts the Republican People's Party, CHP, for "defending" the Ergenekon network and "trying to establish political control" over the judicial process against Ergenekon regardless of evidence indicating that this is an organization that resorted to "terrorism" in order to set the stage for a military coup. He also reiterates his argument that the CHP stands in the same relation to Ergenekon as the Democratic Society Party, DTP, does to the terrorist PKK.

EG/

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