Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-11-07

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Soyer after his return from Turkey

[02] HAK-IS Labour Confederation of Turkey will promote the Turkish Cypriot tourism

[03] Cemal Bulutoglullari gave a press conference on the project for the replacement of water pipe-line in occupied Lefkosia

[04] The remains of two more missing person have been identified

[05] TDP calls for sincerity in the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem

[06] Dervis Eroglu, sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected US President, Mr Barrack Obama

[07] A public survey from Turkey

[08] Hasan Ince, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade called on Turkish business circles to cooperate in the field of investment

[09] He rented it for one million 600 thousand sterling Pounds, it will hand it over for 20 million sterling

[10] Mustafa Ozbek denies allegations that he has purchased for himself property from the Provident Fund the Denktas period

[11] EU to speed up Nabucco project

[12] Turkey moves to host trilateral summit with Armenia, Azerbaijan

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITIORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 06 November 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Soyer after his return from Turkey

The paper also writes that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktas was in the same flight with Mr. Soyer and his delegation, during their way-back to the occupied areas.

Evaluating his contacts at a press conference at the illegal Tymbou airport, the self-styled prime minister said that he had useful contacts with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Minister of State responsible for Cyprus Affairs Cemil Cicek.

Mr. Soyer said that during their contacts with Turkish officials, they evaluated the Cyprus problem and they had the opportunity to witness the continuation of Turkeys full support to the ongoing negotiations process in Cyprus. He then stressed that they are pleased with the fact that they share the same views with the Turkish officials on reaching a positive result in the negotiations process before the elections for the European Parliament and putting the text agreed by the two leaders into vote before the both peoples of Cyprus.

Mr. Soyer said also that during his contacts in Ankara, the Turkish officials expressed also their support to the projects in order to overcome growing economic crisis with the minimum cost. Soyer then added that those projects will be clarified the coming days.

The self-styled prime minister declared also that during his contacts in Turkey, he expressed to the Turkish officials their views and thoughts about the steps that could be made for the development of the sectors of tourism, industry, trade, agriculture, construction and other sectors. He added that a technical work will be carried out on these issues, which will be clarified soon.

Noting that the economic and social problems being faced in the occupied areas of Cyprus were also discussed with Turkish officials, Mr Soyer denied the claims that they went to Ankara to ask for money to cover the budget deficit. He then reminded that the 2009 budget which reached to the amount of 2 billion 600 million NTL, was already submitted to the assembly last week.

Touching upon the matter of the election of Mr. Barack Obama in the US Presidency, Mr. Soyer said that the election of Mr. Obama is perceived as a very important change worldwide.

Moreover, the self-styled Prime Minister explained that with the Turkish officials they exchanged views on how to improve the investment and employment situations in the occupied areas and on how to help their integration into the international community.

Mr. Soyer went on and said that the future of the community is the most important thing for them and stressed that they will do whatever they can for the development of the economy and the public sector.

(AK)

[02] HAK-IS Labour Confederation of Turkey will promote the Turkish Cypriot tourism

Mr. Salim Uslu came to the island for signing a protocol under the so-called name Cooperation Protocol for the Briefing and for the Promoting of the tourism of the TRNC, aiming to contribute to the promotion of the tourism of the occupation regime.

During the meetings, Mr. Salim Uslu stated that they are working for 6 months on the protocol they signed with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and added that as a part of the protocol, their trade union confederation will work to promote the breakaway regime in the fields of tourism and culture.

Receiving the delegation, Mrs. Fatma Ekenoglu expressed her happiness for the visit of the HAK-IS delegation in the occupied areas and stressed the important process the occupied areas of Cyprus are experiencing and the important role of cultural understanding during this period. Mrs. Ekenoglu pointed out to the important role of the NGO´s not only in the occupied areas but worldwide as well and to their role in the openings of the Turkish Cypriot community to the world.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that during the signing of the protocol the self-styled minister of economy and tourism Mr. Erdogan Sanlidag said, inter alia, that with the singing of the protocol their contacts and relations with HAK-IS will be more frequent from know on. He also expressed the belief that the protocol which aims at promoting of the tourism of the occupied areas will also contribute to the efforts for the lifting of the so-called embargoes.

According to the paper, Mr. Mehmet Ozkardas, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Public Servants Trade Union (KAMU-SEN) participated also in the singing ceremony of the protocol.

(AK)

[03] Cemal Bulutoglullari gave a press conference on the project for the replacement of water pipe-line in occupied Lefkosia

(AK)

[04] The remains of two more missing person have been identified

Test conducted on the remains unearthened in the occupied Karpasia District earlier this year revealed that these remains belonged to two Turkish Cypriots missing in 1964.The remains were identified as belonging to Ali Musa and Abdullah Emirzade who were missing in 1964 at the Agios Andronikos-Galinoporni road in Karpasia. Kibris reports that the funeral will be held on Saturday in the occupied areas.

(AK)

[05] TDP calls for sincerity in the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem

Mrs Samani argued that the mistakes committed over the time have caused great losses to the Turkish Cypriots and warned that if the ongoing negotiations result in a deadlock again, the consequences will be irreparable.

Pointing out to the importance of the negotiating process between President Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Mrs Samani said that the aim should never be the policy of negotiating pretending that you want to solve the problem. This process should also not be an artificial activity for Turkeys EU accession course in 2009, she noted.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Dervis Eroglu, sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected US President, Mr Barrack Obama

(EA)

[07] A public survey from Turkey

The columnist writes in his article that he had a telephone conversation yesterday with a journalist, a close friend of him from Turkey who gave him the results of a public survey he had in his hands which according to him carried out in Turkey 15 days ago by an important organization. The public opinion shows the results of the power of the parties on the forthcoming elections in the occupied areas.

The results of the public survey are the following:

UBP (National Unity Party): 34.2%

CTP (Republican Turkish Party): 33. 4%

DP (Democratic Party): 9.6%

TDP (Social Democracy Party): 9.4%

ORP (Freedom and Reform Party): 9.1%

OTHERS: 4.3%.

(AK)

[08] Hasan Ince, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade called on Turkish business circles to cooperate in the field of investment

(AK)

[09] He rented it for one million 600 thousand Sterling Pounds, it will hand it over for 20 million sterling

The paper writes that that according to some older claims, Besim Tibuk came to an understanding with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolommeo to hand over the Mare Monte Hotel and the 352 donums land to the Greek Cypriot Church after the solution of the Cyprus problem, without creating any problems.

However, according to some new allegations, Besim Tibuk, who has not made any investments at the Mare Monte Hotel and the land around it, is getting ready to hand over the hotel and the 352 donums land to a Jewish businessman for the amount of 20 million Sterling Pounds. According to the same claims, the Jewish businessman has close relations with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolommeo. In addition, the Jewish businessman has allegedly met with Archipishop Chrysostomos B when the latter visited Istanbul.

(CS)

[10] Mustafa Ozbek denies allegations that he has purchased for himself property from the Provident Fund the Denktas period

(CS)

[11] EU to speed up Nabucco project

EU's energy chief said Thursday that the Union would accelerate the Nabucco project, a pipeline project to pump Asian natural gas from Turkey to Europe.

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs held talks with Turkish energy officials in capital Ankara. Piebalgs stressed Turkey's importance for the project and said that talks were going well with Turkey.

The 3,300-kilometer Nabucco project is a planned natural gas pipeline that will transport natural gas from Turkey to Austria, via Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. It will run from Erzurum in Turkey to Baumgarten an der March, a major natural gas hub in Austria.

Around 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year will be transported to Europe after the Nabucco project is completed.

Turkish energy officials said EU and Turkey could sign a transit deal by the end of this year, adding that the Union attaches great importance to the project as EU leaders do not want to be energy dependent on Russia.

The Nabucco project is also supported by the United States as it would be an alternative to natural gas supply from Russia, biggest supplier of Europe.

[12] Turkey moves to host trilateral summit with Armenia, Azerbaijan

Following a landmark visit to Yerevan, where he watched a World Cup qualifying match between the national teams of the two countries in September, President Abdullah Gul is readying to take another bold step to contribute to regional peace in the Caucasus by soon hosting a trilateral summit with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Gul, who introduced his proposal for the trilateral meeting during his meeting with Azerbaijan's visiting President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, received a positive response from the Azerbaijani leader, diplomatic sources told Today's Zaman yesterday.

Gul's initiative follows another meeting between Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan hosted in Moscow over the weekend by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. There, Aliyev and Sarksyan agreed to develop confidence-building measures as they search for a way to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Gul has already voiced support for the Moscow talks and expressed hope that it will be followed by other steps, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry, separately, said that a network of relations based on cooperation and mutual trust within the framework of Turkey's proposal for a regional platform could build confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Turkish side will convey its proposal for a trilateral summit to the Armenian side. The exact date and venue of the meeting will be decided later; however, Istanbul has been mentioned as the probable venue.

"The summit may take place in a few months," a Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Today's Zaman.

With observers assuming that Turkey's proposal for such a summit is also related to its proactive drive toward handling of Armenian genocide allegations, the summit is likely to take place before April 24, -- the day which Armenians commemorate anniversary of the alleged genocide. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told Today's Zaman that the decision concerning the meeting's venue and date was up to Turkey, adding that agenda of the trilateral summit didn't necessarily have to be limited to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Issues related to all parties can be discussed during the meeting, the minister said, while also reiterating support for Turkey's proposal to establish a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform.

Turkey's proposal came following a brief war between Georgia and Russia in August, and it aims to bring Turkey, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan and Georgia together around the same table.

Gul, meanwhile, accepted an invitation extended by Aliyev to participate in an international energy summit to be held in Baku on Nov. 14. This will be Gül's third visit to Azerbaijan since being elected president in August 2007. Heads of state from Bulgaria, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Ukraine as well as representatives from the European Union and the United States are expected to participate in the summit.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITIORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 06 November 2008

a) Obamas election

Under the banner headline, "Obama," Yeni Safak publishes a report which refers to Barack Obama's election as the United States' new president as "a black revolution." According to the report, "Rosa Park's dream has become reality now that black citizens in the United States, who had to give up their seats to white people on buses in the 1940s, have become the occupier of the number one seat in the United States." The headline mimics a sigh of relief.

In an article entitled "The three meanings of a world with Obama", Yeni Safak columnist Ali Bayramoglu discusses the importance of Obama's election as the United States 44th president from three perspectives: as an event that marks the end of the Bush era in the United States, as a watershed signifying that "the limits of freedom can exceed the limits of the imagination" given that it was not possible some 50 years ago even to imagine that a black person could become president in this country, and as a development brought about by expectations in both the United States and other countries of a more peaceful, a more humane, and a more equitable world.

In an article entitled "Obama as an image", Yeni Safak columnist Akif Emre issues the following "reminder" to those who expect that the United States will switch to a peaceful foreign policy in the wake of Obama's election: "The current US policies associated largely with the neo-cons are being implemented as state policies. Let us not forget that the theoretical and strategic preparations for the developments that followed 9/11 were undertaken in an era of democratic presidents."

In an article entitled "Obama and victory: Who has won?", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul asserts that Obama's election has increased hopes for a change in the "confrontational, aggressive, exclusionary, and destructive foreign policy mentality represented by the Bush administration," adding that "we will have to wait and see ... whether the true winner of the election is Obama or black people or Muslims and supporters of democracy, or supporters of change or America itself."

In an article entitled "American voters' message to us", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru warns that Turkey is increasingly ceasing to be a country whose presence could inspire the new Democratic US president with confidence when he looks at the world map in the Oval Office, because in seeking solutions to the southeast issue it fails to make a clear distinction between terrorism and "the problem represented by the sociological realities" in the region. He urges the ruling AKP to "respond to the reality of a world with Obama" by starting to wave "the flag of change once more."

In an article entitled "And Obama wins", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that Obama's "magnificent" win is in large part the result of widespread "hatred of Bush" caused by the US policy toward Afghanistan, Iraq, "Palestine," and Iran as well as by the "Zionist plots" and "Evangelical frenzy" associated with the Bush administration and the latest financial crisis. He warns of what he describes as the dangerously high level of the expectations from Obama, asserting that "realities cannot entirely correspond to dreams." He also asks how "the American deep state" will respond to Obama's victory and "whether they will let him live."

Under the headline, "America opts for change," Zaman publishes a report which refers to Obama's win in the US presidential election as a "historic victory." Published as part of this story is a report entitled "Erdogan Adds Obama to Washington Program," which asserts that Prime Minister Erdogan is planning to meet with Obama during his forthcoming four-day visit to the United States starting on 13 November.

A report entitled "Iraq set to be first testing ground with Obama" quotes "experts" commenting on Obama's election in the United States as saying that the US Democrats will opt for a diplomatic rather than military solution in Iraq and that for this reason Turkey should brace itself for all sorts of scenarios including the partition of Iraq.

In a commentary entitled "Americans' choice and Turkey", Zaman writer Beril Dedeoglu argues that if the demand for change signified by Obama's election is the expression of a global necessity, it is unthinkable for Turkey to dissociate itself from this change, adding that for this reason Ankara will need to redefine the framework of domestic and foreign policy and replace its current policy instruments because "only in this way can the kind of reciprocity and multilateralism envisioned by Obama be achieved in Turkish-US relations." She also advises Ankara against devoting the next four years in relations with Washington solely to an effort to prevent Obama from placing the Armenian genocide claims on the US agenda.

According to a front-page "news analysis" entitled "Obama era to bring more US pressure on reforms, Armenia," Barack Obama's "landslide victory" is "likely to spell a definite end for the long-held Turkish policy of dealing with Armenian claims of genocide through counter-measures to suppress pro-genocide resolutions in Congress."

In an article entitled "A veiled Obama", Bugun columnist Ahmet Tasgetiren argues that Obama's election signifies the end of "racial discrimination" in the United States. He also asserts that a Turkish version of Barack Obama in the form of a woman wearing an Islamic headscarf could not even be elected to Parliament even if she had a dozen diplomas including one from Harvard "let alone" being elected as president or prime minister.

An editorial in Istanbul Milliyet views the disrupted US relations in the world during the "Bush era" and notes that Barack Obama will have to repair the damage. Stressing that Obama is convinced that the United States stands to gain from Turkey's pro-Western approach, it notes: However, the promise Obama made in the past to support the resolution on the Armenian genocide claims might create a problem in Turkey-US relations. Nevertheless, a crisis between the new US administration and Turkey on the matter at such an early stage will be unfortunate. The editorial says that the future of Turkey's relations with the new administration in Washing look good and that Turkey should welcome Obama's election if his administration will create a peaceful situation in the world.

Writing in the same newspaper, Metin Munir says in a column that the majority of the people in the United States expect Senator Obama to end the "Bush nightmare" and reverse the negative trend it created against the United States in the world. Focusing on the situation in Turkey, he argues: Obama's election showed that the United States continues to be unchallenged in recreating itself. Regarding Turkey, it has proved that it cannot achieve that.

Melih Asik wonders whether Senator Obama's election will change the situation in the world. In a column in the same newspaper he notes: Obama said that he will draw up a calendar for withdrawal from Iraq and hold talks with Iran. However, he has not said anything in connection with ending the wars in the world. He said that he will shift the weight of the war to Afghanistan. He owns a house and a car and has a family. He does not seem to have significant ambitions. To what extent can he be able to hold the ropes and resist against the merchants of death?

According to a column by Fikret Bila in Milliyet, Senator Obama's election is a victory not only for the African Americans in the country but also for the white American people. Senator Obama might be able to realize a significant change if he changes the course of the United States from war to peace and makes significant initiatives to support peace, justice, and human rights.

Taha Akyol describes Senator Obama's election in a column in the same newspaper as a significant victory. Stressing that the election of an African American in the United States is a very important development, he notes: Obama's election in a community that has strong racist traditions is a historic development that shows the importance that is attached to the effort that is made to obstruct racism and strengthen the principle of equality.

Semih Idiz in Milliyet expresses the view that Senator Obama's election is a sign of a significant change in the United States. In a column, he argues that the relations between Turkey and the United States might improve because of the situation in Iraq and says: We are convinced that from Turkey's point of view, the Obama administration will be more auspicious, compared with its predecessor. Considering the present situation, an opportunity exists to improve the relations between the two countries.

According to a commentary by Sami Kohen in the same newspaper, Senator Obama's election can be seen almost like a significant reform in the United States. Stressing that Obama's concept of "social state" created many expectations in the people, Kohen views the relations between Turkey and the United States, saying: Obama is a politician who is not very familiar with Turkey. Joseph Biden is a senator who has confronted Turkey on matters related to the Armenians, Kurds, and Cyprus. Considering that, problems might arise between Washington and Ankara. However, Obama will probably realize Turkey's importance and the way the United States needs Turkey and quickly move to take the necessary measures. Washington's new foreign policy might create an opportunity to establish a stronger basis for the relations between the two countries, regardless of the problems that might emerge in the near future.

A written statement by TUSIAD [Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen] welcomes Senator Obama's victory and says that the election campaign in the United States sets an example to the entire world from the point of view of the use of individual and collective freedoms. Senator Obama's election shows the tolerance and sense of reconciliation in the American community. Turkey must take the democratic culture that was displayed during the presidential elections in the United States as an example.

Hadi Uluengin argues that Senator Obama will be taking over serious problems from the Bush administration when he assumes his new responsibilities as the new president. In a column, he focuses on the problems the United States is confronted with in the world and expresses the hope that "the cowboy from Texas," who will be leaving behind an ultra superpower confronted with serious problems, avoids taking steps that might darken Obama's future before he transfers his office to him.

Cuneyt Ulsever believes that Senator Obama's election significantly strengthened democracy in the world. In a column in Istanbul Hurriyet, he focuses on Turkey's relations with the United States and urges the officials to take steps to make Washington realize Turkey's importance even before Barack Obama takes over the presidential office on 20 January. He expresses the view that the people in the United States have elected a new leader for the world and notes: The United States gained nothing from the "Bush era." I hope that the new era will see the United States as a great imperial country.

In a column in Istanbul Sabah, Meliha Okur argues that a new world order will definitely be created with Barack Obama in power in the United States. She believes that the dollar will strength and measures will be taken to facilitate borrowing in the US financial sector. Focusing on Russia, Okur believes that its economy will be confronted with problems because of the low rate of production and notes: Russia is trying to become a superpower. It has played a different card in the Caucasus. The way that country behaves should be watched.

Ergun Babahan believes that the world will not be more fair and support equality just because Senator Obama has been elected in the United States. In a column in the same newspaper, he notes: However, more importance will be attached to democracy and human rights. Expressing the view that Turkey might be a more influential US ally in the region during the Obama era, he asserts: We hope that he will not disappoint the American people and the entire world and that the America Obama will hand over to the new president who will replace him will be better than the America he will take over.

According to a column by Murat Yetkin in Istanbul Radikal, the American people should be congratulated for electing Senator Obama. He notes that his election showed that the majority of the American people have now distanced themselves from racial discrimination in their political preferences.

Hasan Celal Guzel describes Senator Obama's election as "Kunta Kinte's victory in the United States." He notes: The formula of the white Americans, WASP (white, ango-saxon, protestant), has been shattered. Obama's election as the new President of the United States is a serious blow to racial discrimination in that country. Focusing on Turkey's relations with the United States, he expresses the view that the US officials will avoid establishing anti-democratic relations with Ankara as they have done so in the past.

Cuneyt Arcayurek believes that Senator Obama might not follow the policies of his predecessors when he takes over the presidential office in the United States. Stressing in a column in Istanbul Cumhuriyet that the democrats in the United States maintain a different approach toward Turkey, he recalls a statement in Senator Obama's election manifesto to the effect that he views the improvement of the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey as an important target and asks whether he will decide to use it to promote US interests in the Middle East. Arcayurek also asks whether Obama will continue to support the concept of moderate Islam in Turkey and the AKP [Justice and Development Party] administration, which he says, makes an effort to undermine the basic principles of secularism in the country.

Writing in Istanbul Vatan, Mutlu Tonbekci lauds the election of Senator Obama as the next President of the United States. In a 400-word column, she agrees that he is not a well-known politician in the world but says that his election will affect the WASP culture in the United States.

In a column in Istanbul Taraf, Yasemin Congar describes Obama's election as a significant victory for the oppressed people in the United States. However, she notes: But, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was wrong to say when he congratulated Barack Obama that the racial discrimination in the United States has ended. Actually, Obama's election showed that the United States can end the racial discrimination in the country.

According to a column by Onder Aytac and Emre Ulusu in the same newspaper, some of the elite state officials in Turkey are dissatisfied with Senator Obama's election because they will not be able to influence Washington on various issues, including the Armenian genocide claims, as they used to do so in the past. The column says that Obama's advisers will be well-informed on Turkey and they will have the initiative in the relations between the two countries.

Yusuf Kanli, in an editorial in the Istanbul Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review Online in English, welcomes Obama's victory but fears that" what course the U.S. and the international political order will take after Obama's takeover of the White House is totally unpredictable." While lauding the change that may bring a sigh of relief to the United States and to the world, Kanli warns Ankara that Obama's position on Cyprus and the Armenian issue may be different from that of his predecessor. Kanli goes on to say: "From the aggrieved Chechens to the Kurds and other nationalities, independence or autonomy aspiring minorities and groups, the election victory of the 'Black American,' and the campaign pledges of that 'Black American' that he would commit himself to 'change,' will boost hopes and aspirations for an improved change. It will be difficult and painful to either contain or deliver the aspirations of these 'black' people. Failing to deliver these aspirations and compelling these fresh high hopes to become social disappointment, on the other hand, will increase tensions everywhere. The question is, since the U.S. can undertake such big change, can't others do it as well? Despite the bleak history of black people in the U.S., American people have demonstrated their capability to change and adapt themselves to change by electing Obama to the highest office in their country... Are we, the Europeans and others ready as well to undertake such radical change?"

/ES

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