Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-09-23

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Avci departed for New York in order to participate in the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly and the annual coordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC

[02] Soyer reiterates the Turkish Cypriot view that their target is reaching a solution with the guarantees of Turkey

[03] UBP leader states that they want an agreement based on the environment created in 1974, alleging that there is peace and solution in Cyprus

[04] The Economic Organizations Platform has been established in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[05] Olli Rehn to visit both Ankara and Cyprus in October

[06] Gazioglu hosted farewell dinner to foreign ambassadors in Ankara

[07] Delegations of KSP and TDP met yesterday in the framework of the campaign entitled Anti-Imperialistic United Front

[08] Reports by the Turkish Cypriot press on the Orams case

[09] The illegal regime to extend works for its promotion

[10] Omer Adal and Mehmet Ali Talat sends a plan B to the CFA, rejecting their membership

[11] Exhibition on Turkish Cypriots history to be displayed in London

[12] Panic for AIDS for two Cameroon girls who visited occupied Cyprus

[13] Kontrat Municipality of Moldova to participate in the Carob Festival

[14] Twenty-seven dairy farms were affected by brucellosis

[15] Details on Babacan-Rices meeting in New York. Rice: Turkey is an excellent ally

[16] The USA to continue its efforts on pursuing Turkey to re-open Halki seminary

[17] Turkish court bans newspaper for publishing pro-Kurdish views

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[18] From the Turkish Press of 22 September 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Avci departed for New York in order to participate in the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly and the annual coordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC

According to a statement issued by his ministry, Mr Avci is expected to meet with OICs general secretary, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Turkish officials, UN high ranking officials, US officials and ministers of foreign affairs of the OIC member-countries.

Mr Avci will also meet with representatives of the press at the UN headquarters and brief the international press on the negotiating process in Cyprus which started on 3 September. Mr Avci is expected to address the annual coordination meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference which will be realized at the UN headquarters on 26 September. He will return to the occupied areas of the island on 28 September.

Meanwhile, before departing for the US, Mr Avci alleged that the statements by President Demetris Christofias regarding the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat are harming the spirit of the negotiations and are undermining the process. He alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side is committed to the parameters and the principles determined in the negotiations which are being held within the framework of the good offices mission of the UN. On the other hand we see that the Greek Cypriot leadership is not acting with the same spirit, he claimed. Mr Avci alleged that from the statements of President Christofias it is understood that the Greek Cypriot leadership is not much in a hurry for a solution and that the Greek Cypriot side has no intention of contributing positively to the negotiating process and make a new partnership with the Turkish Cypriot side in the near future.

(I/Ts)

[02] Soyer reiterates the Turkish Cypriot view that their target is reaching a solution with the guarantees of Turkey

Under the title The target is solution with guarantees, the paper writes that Mr Soyer argued that the process for the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people with political equality on these lands encompasses a struggle with different content in every period of the history. He said that the content needs to be modified in every condition and claimed that the only thing that does not change is that the Turkish Cypriots have equal rights with the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus, they are equal partners and they want to continue their own communal cultural existence in every changing condition.

Mr Soyer argued that a new situation was created with the intervention of Turkey on 20 July 1974 in the direction of its rights in the 1960 Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee after the coup of July the 15th aimed at the unification of the island with Greece.

(I/Ts)

[03] UBP leader states that they want an agreement based on the environment created in 1974, alleging that there is peace and solution in Cyprus

Mr Ertugruloglu said that they cannot make concessions from their sovereign existence and the guarantees of Turkey. He claimed that the concession on the territorial issue cannot go further than a border adjustment and added that they want an agreement based on the environment created in 1974.

We shall not give our territory away, the TRNC is what is fundamental, he claimed and described as dangerous the sharing of sovereignty. He alleged that the policy of a two-state federal structure is deceiving the people.

The TRNC should be our first priority as political parties of the TRNC. We will be taken into consideration as much seriously as we strengthen the TRNC, he alleged and accused President Christofias of leading the process as if he is making fun of the Turkish Cypriots and of using delaying tactics.

Mr Ertugruloglu alleged the following: If we go for an agreement which is reducing 1974 to nothing, we shall head towards elimination. There is both peace and solution on this island. What is lacking is an agreement. If an agreement is possible in this environment, we accept it. Otherwise, this will be heading towards annihilation, not the solution.

Reporting on the press conference given by Mr Ertugruloglu, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (23.09.08) argues that the MPs and the mayors of the party did not show respect to their leader with their presence at the press conference. The paper reports that according to some rumors from the backstage of the UBP, the former chairman of the UBP Dervis Eroglu would withdraw his candidature for the presidency of the party during the congress in November. According to the rumors, this would happen after interventions from Turkey. It is said that these rumors are coming from the front of Mr Ertugruloglu, who, however, is rejecting these allegations. The paper publishes the names and pictures of the MPs and mayors from the UBP and writes who supports Mr Eroglu and who supports Mr Ertugruloglu for the presidency of the party.

(I/Ts)

[04] The Economic Organizations Platform has been established in the occupied areas of Cyprus

In statements before the signing of the protocol, Hasan Ince, chairman of the KTTO, said that this is a concrete proof of the contribution they will have in the development of the economic life in the occupied areas. He noted that they established this platform with the aim of having a stronger voice and to be taken more seriously into consideration. He added, however, that the real aim of this platform was not putting forward economic demands. He explained that in the new negotiating process, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat feels the need for strong unity and support.

(I/Ts)

[05] Olli Rehn to visit both Ankara and Cyprus in October

(I/Ts)

[06] Gazioglu hosted farewell dinner to foreign ambassadors in Ankara

The TRNC Ambassador to Ankara Tamer Gazioglu whose term of office ends- hosted a fast breaking dinner and a farewell reception in the Turkish capital at the week-end.

The Ambassador hosted a fast breaking dinner for ambassadors of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference.

The Argentine Ambassador Sebastian Bruno Marcos presented a silver tray to the outgoing Ambassador Gazioglu on behalf of all ambassadors attending the dinner at the Swiss Hotel.

In a short address at the dinner, Mr Gazioglu underlined the need to maintain friendship and cooperation among Islamic countries.

Thanking the Ambassadors for their close cooperation with him during his term in office, he wished a happy and healthy Ramadan and Bayram to all Muslims.

Turkish State Minister Murat Basesgioglu, charge daffaires, the Chief of the Turkish Foreign Ministrys Cyprus Desk Berki Dibek and some other guests were also present at the dinner, which was followed by the farewell reception.

[07] Delegations of KSP and TDP met yesterday in the framework of the campaign entitled Anti-Imperialistic United Front

(I/Ts)

[08] Reports by the Turkish Cypriot press on the Orams case

Yeni Volkan continues its reference to the issue on 23.09.08 under the title Who are the lawyers with whom Kandounas met in the TRNC? The paper argues that Mr Kandounas, the lawyer of the Greek Cypriot refugee Meletis Apostolides, was crossing over to the occupied areas of the island often and holding meetings with some lawyers who were close to the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. According to the paper, these meetings were held before the decision for the appointment of a Greek judge as head of the committee of judges for the Orams case at the ECJ. The paper reports that the lawyers who were assigned with the duty of defending this case in Britain and were supporters of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), with the approval of Mr Talat, supported the demand of Mr Kandounas for taking the case to the ECJ.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (23.09.08) publishes a commentary by Mehmet Salih Bayramoglu under the title The Orams disaster is being materialized. Mr Bayramoglu refers to statements allegedly made by Mr Kandounas a year ago. According to Mr Bayramoglu Mr Kandounas said: We had no chance of winning at the British courts. However, we shall find a way and secure the case to be taken to the European Court of Justice. We are sure that we shall win the case there.

(I/Ts.)

[09] The illegal regime to extend works for its promotion

The Minister of Economy and Tourism, Erdogan Sanlidag, has stated that works being carried out for the promotion of the TRNC tourism for the 2009 will be extended.

Mr Sanlidag was speaking at Buyuk Han while having inspections during shooting of a promotion film prepared by the Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation.

In line with the protocol signed between the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the BRT, the promotion films will be consisted of 6 fragments with different time-spans.

The Minister told BRT reporter that the aim of the project is to promote the TRNC with its history, culture and its nature.

Also speaking, the BRT Director Ahmet Okan said that the project is the one which has been waiting to be put into force for a long time adding that the corporation is taking part in this project with an experienced team.

Besides the films, a photo album called Prestige is being prepared by the photographer Gazi Yuksel to be used at the promotions.

[10] Omer Adal and Mehmet Ali Talat sends a plan B to the CFA, rejecting their membership

Mr Adal participated in a program on KIBRIS TV television station on Sunday night by phone. He explained that in spite of the fact that he was in favor of Plan A, after their meeting at the office of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, they were left in a situation of sending the Plan B, which rejects membership to the CFA and leaves the issue to be depended on the political developments.

(I/Ts)

[11] Exhibition on Turkish Cypriots history to be displayed in London

400 Years of Heritage exhibition, displaying many documents belonging to Turkish Cypriot history and culture, will be opened in London. The exhibition, including 50 works of art, will remain open between October 1-4, 2008 in London Foreign Press Association.

[12] Panic for AIDS for two Cameroon girls who visited occupied Cyprus

(I/Ts)

[13] Kontrat Municipality of Moldova to participate in the Carob Festival

(CS)

[14] Twenty-seven dairy farms were affected by brucellosis

(CS)

[15] Details on Babacan-Rices meeting in New York. Rice: Turkey is an excellent ally

Answering a question of a foreign journalist before meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Rice said that Turkey had been an excellent ally of the United States in many crises, including the recent Caucasus crisis.

Turkey is an important country in the region for a peaceful Caucasus, Rice stressed.

Babacan's meeting with Rice began at 1845 hours (Turkish local time) and lasted around 40 minutes.

Ali Babacan will continue to hold talks in New York where he is attending the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.09.08) reported from New York that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan's meeting with his U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice on Monday focused on the recent developments in the Caucasus, sources said.

Babacan provided information on the Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Platform to Rice during their meeting.

"Babacan and Rice discussed Turkish-U.S. relations, cooperation against the terrorist organization PKK and the recent developments in the Caucasus," said Burak Ozugergin, Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Armenia also came up during Babacan's meeting with Rice, Ozugergin said.

Babacan and Rice did not discuss Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the term 2009-2010.

[16] The USA to continue its efforts on pursuing Turkey to re-open Halki seminary

The Turkish government has repeatedly pledged to reopen the Halki (Heybeliada) Greek Orthodox seminary in Istanbul, but has so far failed to keep its promise, a senior U.S. official has said. John Hanford, ambassador-at-large for religious freedom at the U.S. State Department said the United States had been urging and would continue to urge Turkey to reopen the theological university based on Istanbul's Heybeliada Island. "I have personally raised them with the ambassador to Turkey. Our embassy continues to urge the government of Turkey to address these issues, to permit the opening of the Halki seminary, to further expand religious freedom in general," Hanford said, speaking at a news conference late Friday for the release of the department's annual report on international religious freedoms. "President (George W.) Bush has raised this with Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan." The Halki seminary was closed in 1971, and is an ongoing diplomatic issue between Turkey and Greece and the United States. Hanford also complained that Turkey has not recognized the Istanbul Orthodox Patriarchate as the "ecumenical," or religious leader, of the world's Greek Orthodox Christians. The State Department's report said Turkey generally respected religious freedom, but that there were still some restrictions on religious minorities and on the practice of Islam.

Subtitle: Secularism woes

"The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion, but constitutional provisions regarding the integrity and existence of the secular state restrict these rights," the repot said. "The government generally respects religious freedom in practice; however, the government imposes limitations on Islamic and other religious groups andsignificant restrictions on Islamic religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities, for the stated reason of preserving the 'secular state,'" the State Department said. Referring to tensions on secularism-related matters, the State Department report said: "Secularists in the military, judiciary, and other branches ofthe bureaucracy continued to wage campaigns against what they label as Islamic fundamentalism. These groups view religious fundamentalism as athreat to the secular state. The National Security Council and Turkish General Staff categorize religious fundamentalism as a threat to public safety." It recalled that in February parliament passed constitutional amendments designed to lift a ban against wearing Islamic headscarves at university campuses. But in June the Constitutional Court ruled that the amendments violated the secular nature of the state and were therefore unconstitutional. It also recalled that the chief prosecutor in March sought the closure of Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, on charges that the party had become "the focus of anti-secularism." The report covered the period between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, though the report failed to mention that in late July the Constitutional Court opted against a ban of the AKP. It said minority religious groups also faced difficulties in worshipping, registering with the government, and training their followers. The Alevi community also had complaints over discrimination suffered by the sect, it said. The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 requires an annual review by the State Department of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation of countries that have "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom" during the reporting period as "countries of particular concern." This year's list of countries of particular concern included Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

[17] Turkish court bans newspaper for publishing pro-Kurdish views

Istanbuls 9th High Criminal Court has banned the circulation of the newspaper Alternatif for one month on the grounds that it published statements on behalf of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL (Kurdish Workers Party). Alternatif had begun its life in May.

The court concluded the application by the Office of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor to have the September 20 issue of the newspaper seized on the same day that it was filed and the newspapers sale and circulation were banned.

The two articles for which the newspaper was banned were titled They can meet with the Democratic Society Party for solving the problem and Claim your mother tongue, first one expressing the opinions of Abdullah Ocalan, leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), who is in prison for life, and the second one Murat Karayilans, another high-level PKK official.

In the article, Ocalan says that he was given medicine that helped his breathing, but was being subjected to many disciplinary punishments for provoking people with his messages, and another punishment was on its way.

Ocalan is quoted in the article as saying I am warning the people against the cultural genocide and the dangers; I express my opinions. They want me to hand over the people to them, without resisting&

In the other article, Karay1lan mainly talks about the issue of mother tongue and announces that he supports those who show their reaction to the ban on Kurdish and the cultural genocide policies.

Cevat Dusun, license holder and chief editor for the newspapers Alternatif and Gelecek, says that they will not give up even though both newspapers were banned three times altogether.

We will continue publishing the facts. We will not compromise our principles. Our publishing policy is necessary for Turkeys democratization. We will not deprive our readers of our goals and their right to information.

Starting its life on May 19, the newspaper had already received its first banning of one month a week later.

Since January 2007 twelve newspapers have been banned: Gundem six times, Guncel three times, Gercek and Demokrasi twice each, Yedinci Gun six times, Haftaya Bak1 three times, Yasamda Demokrasi once, Toplumsal Demokrasi twice, Oteki Bakis once, Yeni Bak1 once, Gelecek, which started its life in May 2008, once, and Alternatif twice.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[18] From the Turkish Press of 22 September 2008

a) Global economic crisis/Impact on Turkish economy:

Assessing the Bush administration's $700 billion rescue package, Ali Agaoglu in an article in Vatan stresses that the fact that the US Administration is trying to stabilize the markets with "a socialist package" will encourage other major companies to declare bankruptcy and will lead to "moral deterioration."

Also referring to the US Administration's rescue plan, Sabah's Omer Taspinar in an article says: "It will be unrealistic to expect a miracle from the US Treasury's most recent rescue plan as long as the structural problems in the US economy continue." Drawing attention to the record-level budged deficit in the United States, Taspinar analyzes the background of the economic crisis.

It was tested whether Europe will replace the United States, whether the euro will replace the dollar, and whether Russia and China have gotten very strong and it was eventually seen that the most trustworthy treasury is the US Treasury, says Suleyman Yasar in an article in Taraf, adding: "It has been revealed that it is unrealistic for the European currency to replace the US dollar. This detail should not be disregarded in the economic and political analyses in the period ahead. Otherwise it will be possible to reach wrong economic and political decisions."

In an article Hurriyet's Erdal Saglam criticizes the ministers in charge of the economy for not taking the necessary measures in the face of the global economic crisis.

Drawing attention to the importance of the messages that will be issued by the prime minister in the midst of the global economic crisis, Okan Muderrisoglu in a report in Sabah calls on Erdogan to answer questions on the impact of the global crisis on Turkey, the measures that will be taken, whether a new program will be made with the IMF, and how the local elections will be overcome with the rising inflation rate and the dropping growth rate.

In an interview conducted by Sabah's Ecevit Kilic, Suleyman Yasar, economist and faculty member at the Istanbul University talks about the economic crisis in the United States, whether the current economic crisis will lead to a world order that is not led by the United States, the fate of the US dollar in 2009, and the impact of the global economic crisis on Turkish banks.

b) Closure suit against the DTP:

Referring to the closure suit against the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Tarhan Erdem in an article in Radikal recalls that the DTP has openly announced that it is impossible to achieve any goals with the use of terrorism. The DTP merely calls for human rights that are in line with the EU standards, notes Erdem, adding: "If this party is closed, a new Kurdish party will be established. In the next elections deputies who will be elected with the votes of our Kurdish citizens will once again enter the assembly. However this time the new party and the new deputies will stand closer to the terrorist organization and to division. I do not know how to say this: We should not be in favor of the DTP's closure and the Constitutional Court should not close it!"

c) New Constitution:

A tyranny of the majority will eventually develop whenever a coalition of a single party holds power for long, says Yusuf Kanli in an article in Turkish Daily News and draws attention to the lack of an active opposition in Turkey. Kanli stresses that a new democratic constitution and a clearly stated bill of rights will be the most important safeguard against such tyranny.

d) Developments related to the Ergenekon case:

Under the headline, "Released in sleep after 78 days," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which says that the Istanbul Ninth High Criminal Court decided yesterday to release Retired Gendarmerie Commander Sener Eruygur, a suspect in the Ergenekon probe, after Eruygur was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage sustained in a fall in prison.

Also front-paged is a report entitled "Ertugrul could have won an Oscar," which quotes Mehmet Barlas, chief columnist for the Sabah newspaper, as saying that Hurriyet lost some 30,000 readers when it "gagged" Emin Colasan, causing Hurriyet Editor-in-Chief Ertugrul Ozkok to assume Colasan's role as a critic of the Erdogan government with the result that the entire editorial board of Hurriyet began to sound like Colasan. This report is continued in the form of an interview with Barlas, who responds to questions about the latest row between Prime Minister Erdogan and Dogan media group owner Aydin Dogan.

Vakit publishes also a front-paged report entitled "Ergenekon tactic," which expresses doubt about the truth of the "allegation" that Sener Eruygur is suffering from a brain hemorrhage and implies that Eruygur's hospitalization was a ploy to bring about his release.

In an article entitled "Not being able to see the forest for the tree" also Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak warns that attributing all crimes committed in Turkey to Ergenekon, as he claims the public is being encouraged to do, could "prevent us from seeing the larger picture," which includes "at least 40 other networks like Ergenekon." He claims that the Turkish "deep state" appears to be trying to make sure that the Ergenekon investigation remains limited to this network so that it can arrange for other similar groups to plan and stage a coup when the right time arrives. He also asserts that those detained in the operation so far are "a drop in the bucket," adding that the extensions of Ergenekon within the military, the news media, the judiciary, the Directorate of Religious Affairs, and universities are still at large.

Under the banner headline, "PKK established by Ergenekon," Bugun publishes a front-page report which quotes Bulent Orakoglu, former chief of the police intelligence, as having said on a program on the Kanalturk television channel that organizations like the PKK, DEV-SOL, Hizbullah, and Hizbuttahrir were established by Ergenekon and that Abdullah Ocalan himself is a member of the Ergenekon network.

EG/

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