Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-09-17 (fwd)

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat said that very important difficulties and problems are ahead of us in the process for peace and solution

[02] The chairman of the high court admitted that they cannot stop narcotics; The attorney general said that they have no laws regarding human trafficking

[03] More illegal migrants arrived in the occupied areas of Cyprus from Syria

[04] The UBP argued that it is wrong to discuss the property issue as an issue of human rights of the one side only

[05] Hasan Ercakica: The spokesmen of the Greek Cypriot side launched a campaign reminding the expression saying that the thief shouts to frighten the house owner

[06] Izcan noted that Talat violates continuously the decision for not making statements and pointed out that this is not an approach with good intentions

[07] Soyer met with the new ambassador of the USA. to Lefkosia

[08] Avci visits Ankara to hold contacts with Premier Erdogan and be interviewed by media organizations

[09] Gen. Basbug signals a new era in military-media relations

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From Bello Turko to Gardasimu

[11] From the Turkish Press of 16 September 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat said that very important difficulties and problems are ahead of us in the process for peace and solution

Mr Talat alleged that the fact that the Turkish Cypriots were isolated from the world did not prevent the judicial system in the occupied areas from advancing in parallel to the international law and added that this should continue in the ensuing process. Mr Talat complained for the fact that the so-called 1985 constitution of the breakaway regime cannot change and added: We have made such a constitution which no one can touch as if it is a holy book.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The chairman of the high court admitted that they cannot stop narcotics; The attorney general said that they have no laws regarding human trafficking

The increase in the crimes regarding narcotics is striking and worrying, he said and complained over the fact that they could not stop the increase in these crimes in spite of the heavier punishments imposed during the past few years.

Furthermore, Kibris reports that addressing the same ceremony, Askan Ilgen, self-styled attorney general, said that the percentage of the crimes in the occupied areas is high according to their population. He noted that serious increase was observed in crimes such as falsification of documents, narcotics and thefts. Mr Ilgen said that there are gaps in the laws, the punishments are far from being deterrent or they are not in harmony with the conditions of today. He noted that they conveyed the shortcomings and the problems to the necessary authorities.

Mr Ilgen pointed out to the importance of the laws prepared within the framework of the harmonization with the EU and said that the law for the prevention of the laundering of money acquired with criminal actions has passed from the assembly. He said that this year a great deficiency will be overcome with the entering into effect of the draft-laws regarding the human trafficking and the gambling. Mr Ilgen said that 293 illegal migrants were arrested in year 2006 and added that last year this number increased to 362. During the first eight months of 2008 this number increased to 484. He pointed out that currently there is no law on the issue of the human trafficking.

(I/Ts.)

[03] More illegal migrants arrived in the occupied areas of Cyprus from Syria

(I/Ts.)

[04] The UBP argued that it is wrong to discuss the property issue as an issue of human rights of the one side only

The UBP claimed that if the problem is discussed outside this perception, the settlement of the matter on the basis of sovereignty and equality between two states will be pushed into deadlock. The party said that it is not possible for the Turkish Cypriots to accept the Protocol 10 signed between the EU and the Greek Cypriots, as it refers to the government of the Republic of Cyprus. It alleged that this protocol means that the Turkish Cypriots will become protected minority and the Greek Cypriot sovereignty will be spread into the north of the island. The UBP claimed that the CTP and Mr Talat are insisting to walk on a wrong path and invite the dream of the Greek Cypriots to spread their sovereignty over the entire island under the name of united Cyprus.

The UBP alleged that an example of these wrong practices is the Orams case and added that the only responsible for a possible negative decision or opinion expressed at the European Court of Justice will be Mr Talat and the CTP. The UBP accused also the Turkish Cypriot leader and the CTP of lack of vision and of committing mistakes on the issue of the decrees.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Hasan Ercakica: The spokesmen of the Greek Cypriot side launched a campaign reminding the expression saying that the thief shouts to frighten the house owner

He argued: The Cyprus problem is a problem which will be solved with mutual concessions. If the Greek Cypriot side is alleging that it has no other concession to make, it is meaningless for it to be at the negotiating table. The Greek Cypriot side must leave aside running after manipulations and take its place at the negotiating table with seriousness.

Mr Ercakica argued that the claims that the principle of not making statements regarding the negotiations has been violated have the character of documents of the ill-will of the Greek Cypriot side.

Mr Ercakica said that Mr Talat made a proposal on this issue during the meeting of 11 September and added that the Greek Cypriot side met this silently. He noted that Mr Talat considered this as a decision taken on this issue.

The spokesmen of the Greek Cypriot side launched a campaign reminding the expression saying that the thief shouts to frighten the house owner, he claimed. He argued that the statements of Mr Talat to TRT television had no relation with the content of the negotiations. Ercakica alleged: The statements of Talat were related to the general situation of the Cyprus problem and it is our primary duty to inform the public about our evaluations on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Izcan noted that Talat violates continuously the decision for not making statements and pointed out that this is not an approach with good intentions

(I/Ts.)

[07] Soyer met with the new ambassador of the USA to Lefkosia

(C/S)

[08] Avci visits Ankara to hold contacts with Premier Erdogan and be interviewed by media organizations

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Turgay Avci, departed from Lefkosia on Tuesday and is on his way to Ankara.

Avci would attend a fast breaking dinner with Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

While in Ankara, Avci would be interviewed by several media organizations.

[09] Gen. Basbug signals a new era in military-media relations

Turkey will face a more transparent military in the coming term, editor-in-chiefs and Ankara representatives of Turkish newspapers said after talks held with Basbug in the "Communication meeting" in Ankara.

"Basbug said from now on the military would give information to the public around the clock, and weekly press conferences would be held at the General Staff Headquarters," journalists who attended the meeting said.

Basbug signaled a style change in relations with the media, but reiterated that the army would remain sensitive on the issues of secularism and unitary state, they added.

He also urged everybody not to create politics out of the military and the victims of terror.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From Bello Turko to Gardasimu

The full text of the column is as follows:

Actually the Turkish troops should withdraw from the island without waiting to reach to a solution.

Its presence renders harm to the political thesis of the Turkish Cypriots. It serves to the strengthening of the idea that the existing problem is between the Greek Cypriots and Turkey.

It creates the impression that the real arbiter on the negotiation table is Turkey and not the Turkish Cypriots. Some legitimate demands of the Turkish Cypriots turn into illegitimate demands under the shadow of the presence of the Turkish Army.

The Greek Cypriot side believes that because of Turkeys pressure, it is unable to reach an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots.

As a result of this, frequently, voices like: Ankara should let Talat at ease are heard from the south.

As long as the Turkish troops are here we cannot convince anyone that the Turkish Cypriots have their political will.

Whether there is a problem between the two communities living on the island and whether they have the capability of solving these problems, if there are, could be ascertained if the Turkish troops withdraw from here.

We could learn the real stance and the feelings of the Greek Cypriots towards the Turkish Cypriots, only then, when the Turkish troops withdraw from the island.

Acting as peace volunteer under the shadow of the power of the army becomes artificial and superficial

When forty thousand Turkish troops are here, we can not find out who wants peace and who does not, who favors political equality and who does not and who considers the other as brother and who does not

We have to admit that the presence of the Turkish troops in the island, lent strength to the Turkish Cypriots in their relations with the Greek Cypriots, and because of the presence of the Turkish troops the Greek Cypriots started holding the Turkish Cypriots in esteem

Relations were established between the two communities, which were hardly encountered in the period before 1974

Just look into 1960s

The relation at that time between the Greek Cypriot employer and the Turkish Cypriot employee is different than the relation today

The Stupid Turk (Bello Turko) in the course of time became my brother (gardasimu)

The treatment at that time meted out to a Turkish Cypriot at the government offices compared to todays treatment is very different

In 1971 I used the Nicosia airport for my travels abroad

The Greek Cypriots customs officials had meted out to me the Turkish treatment

In order to be sure about the good will of the other side, and know that the different treatment we are receiving today is not because of the presence of the Turkish troops, the withdrawal of the army from here is necessary. Through the withdrawal of the Turkish troops it is possible to test the sincerity of the stance that after 1974 Enosis is abandoned.

The Turkish Cypriots should never be afraid of this

The Turkish Cypriots should prove that they stand on their own two feet, with their own strength The Turkish Cypriots should regain their self-confidence.

Whether there are people among the Greek Cypriots who are still ready for a new war madness, and they are waiting for the Turkish troops to leave the island. One has to give them this chance in order to make them to see what kind of disappointment they will experience.

As a matter of fact the waters will not calm if this illusion is not destroyed.

The withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island will provide innumerable benefits to all of us.

And it will be more beneficial if Turkey does this now rather than after the solution

If the troops withdraw, the sides will understand best each others real intentions on the negotiations table.

The Turkish Cypriots should get rid of the psychosis that they will be an easy prey if the troops leave

Is it easy to deserve freedom and independence without having the right to speak?

(MHY)

[11] From the Turkish Press of 16 September 2008

a) Lighthouse scandal case:

In an article in Hurriyet, Ertugrul Ozkok refers to the threats Prime Minister Erdogan made to Aydin Dogan of the Dogan Media Group saying that "from now on he will be treated like an ordinary citizen. Stressing that this is exactly what Dogan wants, Ozkok asks the prime minister whether Ahmet Calik will also be treated as an ordinary citizen. Detailing the preferential treatment the Calik Group received regarding the Ceyhan-Israeli pipeline project, Ozkok reminds the reader about the link between Erdogan's son-in-law and the Calik Group.

Referring to the Deniz Feneri Lighthouse charity fraud case in the first section of his column in Hurriyet, Yalcin Bayer points out to the link between Prime Minister Erdogan and Mehmet Gurhan, director of Kanal 7 in Europe who is one of the suspects accused of laundering 41 million Euros raised in donations in Germany. Detailing the link between Erdogan and Zahit Akman, director of the Radio and Television High Council (RTUK), and Kanal 7 owner Zekeriya Kahraman who are also accused of acting as couriers in the same case, Bayer argues that the truth can no longer be hidden and the agenda changed

The Lighthouse case and the allegations it entails did not receive the focus they deserve because of the attempts made by the prime minister to show the Dogan Group as the culprit, states Fikret Bila in his article in Milliyet. The writer points out that the allegations regarding the irregularities are based on the indictment and documents submitted to the Frankfurt court, adding that the truth will be revealed soon with the decision to be adopted by the German court. Bila concludes by stating that it will soon be obvious that Erdogan's attempts to link the issue to Aydin Dogan and the Dogan Group have no basis whatsoever.

Assessing the rise of Islamist Movements in the world since the 80ies in an article in Vatan, Rusen Cakir says that they have targeted the poor masses showing the administrations as the primary source of their dire circumstances. Noting the resistance of existing regimes against integrating Islamist movements into the system, Cakir shows Turkey as an exception to the rule and points out the involvement of the Islamist cadres in irregularities. Underlining the general belief that these irregularities were not aimed at personal gains but for a "greater cause," the writer argues that the Lighthouse case has for the first time caused the Islamist community to question "what is happening." Cakir writes: "In short, this scandal has exceeded Kanal 7, Zekeriya Kahraman, Zahid Akman, Tayyip Erdogan, and the AKP and it has enveloped the entire Islamist movement." In conclusion, Cakir makes the following observation: "We can easily say that the Islamist sector will have to pay an extremely heavy price for the Lighthouse case."

Summing up the facts revealed in the Lighthouse case in an article in Vatan, Gungor Mengi says that he now understands the extreme anger felt by Erdogan towards the media that has been reporting on the issue as well as the threats he has been issuing. Accusing the Turkish politicians of trying to protect the suspects in the case instead of defending those who have been swindled, Mengi warns AKP administrators that irregularities involving faith and religion cannot be forgotten as easily as irregularities concerning real estate. Recalling the remarks made by Bulent Arinc damning those who have been involved in these irregularities, the writer hopes that he will not regret his malediction.

Commenting on the Aydin Dogan's offer to hold a live TV debate with Prime Minister Erdogan and the ongoing Erdogan-Dogan controversy in an article in the Turkish Daily News, Yusuf Kanli believes that Erdogan's attacks are self-destructive in view of the fact that the AKP's popularity has plunged to 35 percent. Kanli states that the premier's offensive is hurting the interests of the Dogan group as well, since the value of the shares of Dogan Holding companies has also plunged at the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Criticizing the accusations the prime minister had been leveling against Aydin Dogan in an article in Ortadogu, Mustafa Ertekin asks: "Is Mr. Dogan not a media boss and a businessman who provides employment and food and pays taxes in this country? Whether he has made mistakes is an entirely different issue. However, provincial congresses are not the venue for such disclosures. Nor should they be the subject of the prime minister's policies." Ertekin goes on to point out the contradiction between the prime minister's angry statements and threats directed against the media and the messages of unity being conveying from the Sogut Festival. Reminding the country's leaders that Turkey's real agenda consists of terror, irregularities, and poverty, Ertekin calls on the government to heed the signs of alarm and to try and solve the country's problems instead of blaming the media for them.

Under the banner headline, "One witness no more reliable than the other," Vakit runs a front-page report asserting that it has turned out that the International Press Institute, which criticized Prime Minister Erdogan for his recent statements against the Dogan media group, has close ties with the Dogan group.

In an article entitled "Open letter to the Prime Minister about the media", Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay explains where he disagrees with Prime Minister Erdogan in the latest dispute between the Government and the Dogan media group over the Lighthouse case. He describes the corruption scandal involving Lighthouse as a very grave affair, adding that the prime minister would have been expected to immediately call for an investigation to find out who is responsible for this "disgrace." He also warns Erdogan about what he describes as a widespread public impression that "you are trying to create pro-government media outlets."

In an article entitled "They will not stop before closing down the AKP", Milli Gazete columnist Kamil Yesil asserts that the allegations linking the Erdogan government to the corruption case against the Lighthouse foundation are part of an attempt to create new grounds for closing down the AKP.

In an article entitled "What the Prime Minister could not disclose", Bugun columnist Erhan Celik comments on allegations that Prime Minister Erdogan refrained from disclosing the entirety of the letter by businessman Aydin Dogan, that he recently made public property, because it includes references to Turkey's "secret constitution."

b) Kurdish issue:

According to a report in Milliyet, Ali Askin, a member of the AKP Tunceli Administrative Council and a businessman, has been kidnapped by PKK members. Askin, who arrived at the sand quarry he owns on the banks of the Pulumur Stream in Tunceli's Inonu Quarter in the evening, was threatened with weapons by two PKK members who also arrived at the quarry and was kidnapped. The report adds that an operation has been launched against the PKK in the rural regions of Gulec village where the PKK members are believed to have taken Askin.

Commenting on the lack of interest in the Democratic Society Party, (DTP), closure case in an article in Sabah, Ergun Babahan says: "Above all, there is a reality that we have to accept: Kurdish demands will not end with the closure of the DTP. Violence will not end with the closure of the DTP." Pointing out to the existence of the Kurds and their demands from the Turkish Republic, Babahan argues that the closure of the DTP will not cause the Kurdish problem to disappear. Stressing the importance of ensuring that these demands are expressed within the framework of the democratic system, Babahan believes that any development that will give the impression to the Kurdish people that its vote and its views are meaningless and insignificant should be prevented.

In an article in Radikal, Oral Calislar writes: "You may close down parties. If, however, that party is based on a political reality and represents a social and cultural characteristic, the closure of that party does not eliminate that reality. In conclusion, a new party is established in place of the one that has been closed, and the political struggle continues from the point where it was left off." Calislar continues: "Actually it does not resume from the point where it was left off. Each closure case sends negative signals to the Kurds who are faced with a dilemma." These signals prompt violence, Calislar argues, adding that the solution can either be based on politics or violence. "Both political trends are the products of the Kurdish problem. The difference lies in the way the problem is expressed and the methods for a solution." Noting that the closure of the DTP will sideline those who wish to solve the problem on a political platform, Calislar says that parties such as the DTP are an expression of a social reality. Referring to the AKP goal of winning in the southeast in the local elections, the writer says: "The Kurdish problem is one of identity. The Kurdish identity is a regional identity and an election victory in that region will not eliminate the problem."

Pointing out that today the DTP will present its verbal defense to the Constitutional Court, Erdal Safak in Sabah newspaper expresses the belief that the situation of the DTP actually reflects the "dramatic dilemma of Kurdish politicians." In his column, Safak describes this dilemma between the creation of policies in line with the PKK and Ocalan, a stand that takes the DTP toward a closure, and the expression of independence from the PKK with unrealistic demands of a federation and autonomy which marginalizes the party. Showing the People's Toil Party (HEP), as the only party that was able to overcome this dilemma, Safak argues that had HEP not been closed, Turkey would have been at a very different point at the moment. Recalling that Ahmet Turk presented HEP's verbal defense to the Constitutional Court in 1993, Safak notes that as the leader of the DTP Turk will once again be presenting a verbal defense to the Court today. DTP officials, who based their written defense on a judicial foundation, will be basing their verbal defense on a "political" one, Safak notes, adding that their verbal defense will incorporate the Kurdish question, its solutions, and the DTP mission on the issue.

Finally, in a commentary entitled "What will happen if the DTP is closed?", Zaman writer Bejan Matur argues that if the Constitutional Court does not close down the Democratic Society Party, (DTP), this will strengthen democratic tendencies in Kurdish politics, adding that conversely, the moderate wing of the DTP will be eliminated if the DTP is shut down. She also argues that voter choice between the ruling AKP and the DTP in elections in the southeast should stop being a choice between the state and the PKK and that if the Constitutional Court decides in the DTP's favor in the ongoing lawsuit against this party, voters in the southeast will start choosing between a liberal rightist party that proposes a democratic solution to the "Kurdish issue" and a leftist party that proposes a democratic solution to the same problem.

EG/

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