Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-12-09

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

[A] NEWS

[01] Talat and the commander of the occupation army received the wishes of the people for the Feast of the Sacrifice; Statements by Talat

[02] Eroglu argues that Turkey supported the yes vote in the referendum on the Annan Plan because it knew that the Greek Cypriots would reject the plan

[03] Soyer defends his government against the accusations of the opposition

[04] Rauf Denktas urges the Turkish leaders to make up their decisions regarding their stances on Cyprus

[05] Two Greek Cypriots casino habitués were arrested in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[06] Adal said that FIFA told them that they either have to accept their membership to the CFA or continue to play football by themselves

[07] The Czech Ambassador to Ankara on Turkeys EU course

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 08 December 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat and the commander of the occupation army received the wishes of the people for the Feast of the Sacrifice; Statements by Talat

The paper reports, inter alia, the following: By noting that it has never been easy to overcome the problems, President Talat said that the Cyprus problem could be solved on the basis of the United Nations and in the direction of the parameters which came to the surface in the on-going process and stressed that the whole world knows that this will be a new partnership of two founding states of equal status based on bi-zonality and the political equality of the two peoples.

Responding to a question, Mr Talat wished early recovery to the former President of the Republic, Tassos Papadopoulos and said that he knows that Mr Papadopoulos is in the intensive care and he is not in a position to receive visitors. He noted that at the moment he is not planning to visit Mr Papadopoulos.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (09.12.08) refers to Mr Talats statements under the title There is no other way than the two founding states and reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader called on the Greek Cypriot side to come to the right course.

Vatan reports that the lieutenant general Akin Zorlu, commander of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus, received yesterday the congratulations of the people on the occasion of the Feast of the Sacrifice at the night club of the Turkish occupation army in Nicosia. General Zorlu distributed presents to children.

Finally, Kibris reports that President Christofias issued a statement congratulating the Turkish Cypriots on the occasion of the Feast of the Sacrifice.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu argues that Turkey supported the yes vote in the referendum on the Annan Plan because it knew that the Greek Cypriots would reject the plan

Is the confederation not a kind of federation? Could the confederation not be a form of solution? Why should we remain committed to federation in the form the Greek Cypriots want it? Has it not come to the surface that the Greek Cypriots want a unitary state while referring to federation? Does one state or two states exist now, according to your opinion? If the sovereignty of the TRNC could not be made an issue of debate, as president Talat stressed in his speech at Dr. Fazil Kucuk Bulevard on 20 July 2008 (and we believe that this should definitely be so), does this not mean that the new State which will be established in Cyprus, that is the United Cyprus, will be a confederation? In fact, if you noticed, the Greek Cypriot officials evaluate what Mr Talat has put onto the table until now as he wants confederation and protest about him to the world in the same manner as they did with us. Negotiations are held for 40 years. The two leaders at the table know very well each other. In that case either a result should be reached or they should not tight our hands any more. If we are a people with the right of the self-determination- and according to the UBP we are- we have the right to agree as well as the right not to agree. We have the right for the unification as well as the right for the separation.

Responding to another question on how he sees the relations with Turkey and how he considers to balance the fact that Turkey says that it supports Mr Talats vision for a solution, Mr Eroglu said that Turkey is their Motherland, that their relations with Turkey are of vital importance and that he is the chairman of a party which has established the most warm and sincere relations with Turkey and was criticized for this.

Referring to the Annan Plan period, Mr Eroglu said: The events during the Annan Plan process are an experience both for Motherland Turkey and for us. However, while evaluating that period, it is useful not to forget that Motherland Turkey exerted intensive efforts for getting a yes from us, having as starting point the fact that no would come out from the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Soyer defends his government against the accusations of the opposition

Responding to the criticism against his so-called government, Mr Soyer noted that from 1 January 2004 until today since the CTP is the major partner in all the governments, the GDP increased from $975 million to $3.5 billion, the total fixed capital investments increased to $2.5 billion in four years while they were $500 million, a thermoelectric power plant in the capacity of 120 megawatt was established, a new power plant in the capacity of 100 megawatt was added to it, 117-kilometers of high voltage lines, tens of transformers and hospitals were built.

He noted also that another success of his party is the fact that they continued their way on the path of the solution of the Cyprus problem, in spite of all the negative developments. He said that another success is the fact that they continue their openings to the world and Europe with their president and managed to launch the negotiations for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem on the UN basis.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Rauf Denktas urges the Turkish leaders to make up their decisions regarding their stances on Cyprus

Mr Denktas stated that he could not understand the policies on Cyprus. In addition he said that the leaders in Turkey on every occasion state that in the island there exist two different states and two different democracies. Specifically, he said: They say that there are two different people, two different states and the guarantees of Turkey. But they also say that they support the common people, common sovereignty and the common state formula in the ongoing negotiations. We are confused by hearing these. [They must choose] Either this or that.

(EA)

[05] Two Greek Cypriots casino habitués were arrested in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The paper writes that during a control performed in the car of a Greek Cypriot named Georgios Filippou, the so-called police have found 24 cartridges belonging to a hunting gun. Georgios Filippou was taken under custody for two days. At 23:15 hours of the same day, one more Greek Cypriot named Panayiotis Yiorgallis was arrested by the so-called police under the same charge. Panayiotis Yiorgallis was also taken under custody for two days. According to the paper, Filippou and Yiorgallis were set free after paying a bail of 2,000 and 5,000 New Turkish Liras (YTL) respectively.

(ML)

[06] Adal said that FIFA told them that they either have to accept their membership to the CFA or continue to play football by themselves

Mr. Adal added the following: FIFA stated very clearly that if we want to make openings abroad, then we should certainly become members of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA). We have two choices. Either become members of KOP and develop our football until a solution is found, or we do not accept to become members of CFA and continue to play by ourselves in same manner.

Mr. Adal then said that as so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation, they do not have anything to lose from this protocol. He noted also that a four-member committee formed by representatives from FIFA, UEFA, the CFA and the Turkish Cypriot side will be taking all the decisions regarding the Turkish Cypriots. He then added that the issue will be on the agenda of the meeting of FIFA which will be held on 18 December in Tokyo and the Turkish Cypriots will be either be invited to a meeting in Zurich on 3 February or the decisions will communicated to them. Mr. Adal then said that in case they accept to become member of the CFA, the committee might be established in March and start working.

(A/K)

[07] The Czech Ambassador to Ankara on Turkeys EU course

Inter alia, Mrs Filipi stated that the interest of the Turkish people towards the EU has been reduced and this is understood. The Czech Republic is a great supporter to this issue. With each passing day the EU becomes of age and has the need of some fresh ideas. If it was up to me, I would accept Turkey to the EU today or tomorrow. We also want to accelerate the political process during our Presidency. Certainly you are a proud nation and we know that you will not knock on the door for years.

(EA)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 08 December 2008

a) Local Elections:

In an article in Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (08.12.08), Nazli Ilicak views the recent allegations of fraud made by the Republican People's Party, CHP, regarding the six-million increases in the number of voters for the coming local elections. Pointing out that fraud is unlikely, Ilicak maintains that the increase stems from the change in the system of registering voters. Recalling that the High Election Board will investigate the appeals submitted by citizens, she adds that double voting is impossible since the citizens' ID numbers are registered when voting.

In Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (08.12.08), Taha Akyol praises CHP leader Deniz Baykal for his overture to chador-wearing women in his article entitled, "Baykal and Kemalism." Akyol recalls that "the CHP was historically a party of 'the elite and the bureaucrats' and that this had turned the party into a 'clumsy' oligarchic faction that was 'alien to the people' in the 1930s and 1940s. He further maintains that "turning Kemalism into a fanatical political faith freezes the CHP and prevents it from making overtures, whereas the 'underlying principle' of democracy is achieving 'political participation' by uniting different sectors under a political roof." Akyol wishes Baykal success in his new overture, hoping that "he will be determined against the CHP 'genes' and not be afraid of the 'overture' term."

In an article entitled "How should we read the change within the CHP [Republican People's Party]?", Professor Atilla Yayla says that CHP leader Deniz Baykal's new overture to conservative voters and his comments about women who cover their heads should be regarded as a positive step for both the CHP and Turkey whatever his motives may be. He notes: "Various issues such as religious freedoms and the Kurdish question cannot be resolved unless people supporting CHP policies are convinced."

b) Kurdish Issue:

In Turkish daily Taraf newspaper (08.12.08), Nese Duzel interviews Abdurrahman Kurt, the AKP candidate for Diyarbakir mayor. Abdurrahman Kurt blames the "deep state" and the hawks in the PKK for the terrorist attacks against military bases as in the case of Aktutun. Kurt argues that Erdogan was sincere when he said in 2005 that he was going to solve the Kurdish issue peacefully, and notes that the prime minister's remarks triggered a series of provocations on the part of the PKK and hawks in the Turkish society. Kurt maintains that the recent spate of violence is a direct result of the realization that the AKP is going to win the elections in Diyarbakir.

In an article in Turkish daily Radikal newspaper (08.12.08), Oral Calislar praises the government's recently displayed readiness to deal with the Alevi demands, and quotes State Minister Yazicioglu who recently said: "It is natural for differences to exist among the Alevis. We will adopt a stand that will take these differences into consideration." Calislar welcomes this remark, saying that this means the government will not use the differences as a pretext to avoid solving the problem. He argues that the principle of "divide and rule" did not really help the Turkish governments in the past, and he gives the Kurdish question as an example. It will be difficult to formulate the right policy to solve the Alevi problem, the columnist argues, because some government members may try to exploit the differences. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Erdogan's meeting with the Alevi leaders was a step in the right direction, he says, predicting that similar meetings will be held in the near future.

A report entitled "Number of new recruits joining the terrorist organization fell 80 percent" in Turkish daily Zaman newspaper (08.12.08) quotes a PKK militant who was recently captured by the police in Istanbul as saying in his statement that the average number of young Kurds traveling from Istanbul to northern Iraq in order to join the organization every month declined from 300 to 40.

In an article entitled "Turks, Kurds, and the PKK," in Todays Zaman newspaper (08.12.08) columnist Sahin Alpay says that the vast majority of Turkey's Kurds continue to recognize the Republic of Turkey as their fatherland, despite the violent insurgency led by the PKK since the early 1980s. He comments: "Turkey can, by recognizing the Kurds' right to freely enjoy their linguistic and cultural heritage and by extending a measure of autonomy in the Kurdish-majority region, not only protect its territorial integrity and national unity, but also gain the respect of all Kurds."

c) YAS Decision

In an article entitled "TSK [Turkish Armed Forces] cannot remain within the boundaries of law," in Vakit newspaper columnist Adnan Tanriverdi criticizes the Higher Military Council, YAS, for expelling 24 of officers without giving details about accusations brought against them, including drug addition, immoral relationships, and fundamentalist activities. Arguing that those officers should have been tried by a military court and given the opportunity to appeal against its judgment before being expelled from the military, Tanriverdi concludes by saying that the expulsion procedure followed by YAS is used as a tool for maintaining an unlawful and unfair political and ideological mentality within the armed forces.

In an article entitled "YAS and summary dismissals," in Today's Zaman newspaper, columnist Bulent Kenes criticizes the YAS decision to expel 24 officers and says: "The problem is not whether people are dismissed fairly or unfairly from the army or any other organization. The problem is that the officers who are dismissed from the army by YAS cannot resort to judicial review."

d) More on ASAM think tank

In an article entitled "ASAM and 'Poverty of the strategists,'" in Today's Zaman newspaper, columnist Ihsan Dagi analyzes the reasons behind the decision to close down the Center for Eurasian Strategic Studies after its main sponsor, Ulker Holding, declared it would cut its roughly $2 million annual contribution. He notes: "Led by ultranationalists, the institution was blinded to the realities of the globalized world. Serving as a gathering place for ultranationalist ex-officers and academics, ASAM never hid its advocacy for aggressive, and in the case of northern Iraq, expansionist foreign policy."

EG/

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