Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-03-04

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hurriyet Daily News.com assesses a recently leaked Turkish Cypriot document on the negotiations

[02] Ercakica announced Talats meeting with ambassadors of P5

[03] Statements by Avci: The Greek Cypriot side is still dreaming of a Hellenic Cyprus

[04] Kibris: 63.5 % of the participants in KADEMs survey said that putting the occupied Greek Cypriot properties on sale is wrong

[05] The CTP is accused of cooperating with casino owner for the sake of winning a few more votes in the forthcoming elections

[06] Columnist in Yeni Duzen wonders how comes and all the persons, the name of whose is mentioned in the indictments and have been interrogated, posses in a way the citizenship of the breakaway regime

[07] Eroglu assured Cicek that no problem of harmony will be experienced between the occupation regime and Turkey during possible UBP government

[08] The manifesto of the Jasmine Movement for a United Cyprus was announced

[09] Hillary Clinton to participate in a Turkish TV programme

[10] Turkish State Minister Egemen Bagis meets the President of European Trade Association in Antalya

[11] US strategist Friedman forecasts that Turkey will rule over the former territories of the Ottoman Empire by 2040

[12] Trabzon to become the second base in the Black Sea

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 3 March 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hurriyet Daily News.com assesses a recently leaked Turkish Cypriot document on the negotiations

If leaked documents are anything to go by, the prognosis of the Cyprus reunification talks does not make happy reading for Ankara, as Turkey faces another moment of reckoning in its protracted European Union membership bid later this year. The absence of a solution there could spell trouble here. With Turkey facing a review of the European Union accession talks at the end of the year, the recently leaked official documents that tell of the lack of progress in the ongoing Cyprus negotiations do not bode well for Ankara.

An official Turkish Cypriot document on the negotiations with the Greek Cypriots, dating back to early February, has confirmed the disparities between the two sides first revealed in a leaked Greek Cypriot document.

An implicit deadline for resolution on the divided island is coming up in November, with the publication of the European Union's next progress report on Turkey. The report will evaluate whether or not Turkey has observed the Ankara Agreement to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels.

According to the most recently released document, obtained by the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, a federal government and power sharing remain the major areas of contention. 'There is no major difference on which areas should be under the federal authority,' says the Turkish Cypriot document, which takes a softer tone than the Greek Cypriot version. 'The only issue under federalism on which the two sides could not converge at all is the federal government.'

Within the framework of negotiations that began Sept. 3, Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias have held 16 meetings to discuss administration and power sharing on the island. The official Greek document, leaked to the Greek Cypriot press, listed points of convergence and disagreement on key issues that would affect a reunited state, including governance and power sharing.

According to the Turkish document, the Greek Cypriot side proposed a system that would select a president and vice president in a public vote based on a single list with a weighted ballot. The Turkish Cypriot side instead favours a Swiss-style presidential council, to which members are elected by a senate on the basis of a single list.

Moreover, the Turkish document maintains Turkish Cypriots have submitted their proposal to the United Nations and Greek Cypriots for a new state of Cyprus, or a "virgin birth," modelled on the Annan Plan for reunification.

It said the Greek Cypriots had so far evaded discussion on the topic. "We said in our proposal that we are ready to accept the formulation in the Annan Plan, though it is not ideal for us," the document said.

Significant points of convergence include EU affairs, foreign affairs and defense policies, Cyprus citizenship, migration, the Central Bank, the federal budget and air space.

The Turkish Cypriot proposal would establish a presidential council consisting of seven members, four of whom would belong to the constituent state holding the majority of the population and three belonging to the other state. The president and vice president could not be chosen from the same constituent state during the same term and both posts would be subject to rotation every 12 months. The rotation would take place based on a 3 to 2 ratio.

In the Greek Cypriot proposal, the presidential council would consist of nine members, six from the Greek Cypriot side and three from the Turkish Cypriot side. The rotation would take place based on a 4 to 2 ratio that favors the Greek Cypriots.Both sides agreed to a Parliament with two houses and a Senate that consisted of equal numbers of Greek and Turkish Cypriot members. They have not come to an agreement over the composition of the House of Representatives. The Turkish Cypriot side favors election on the basis of community citizenship for the Senate, but based on founding state citizenship for the House of Representatives. The Greek Cypriots want elections for both bodies to be made on the basis of permanent residence.

Subtitle: Sovereignty

A significant point of disagreement centres on the sovereignty of the federal state. The Turkish side holds that approval of the constituent states should be sought over international agreements that could affect its internal affairs. This proposal is rejected as a breach of the single-sovereignty principle by the Greek Cypriots, who argue that founding states can only make agreements on cultural and commercial issues, with mediation from the federal government. The Turkish side also wants guarantees that the federal state will maintain an equal distance from Greece and Turkey until the latter becomes a member of the EU.

[02] Ercakica announced Talats meeting with ambassadors of P5

President Mehmet Ali Talat will be coming together with the Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council tomorrow for a working lunch.The meeting is expected to focus on the current talks between the two leaders.Announcing tomorrows meeting at his routine weekly press briefing today, the Presidential Spokesman said that the President will be briefing the ambassadors on the latest stage reached in the current negotiations process as well as the Turkish Cypriot Sides positions at a working lunch tomorrow.

Ercakica also said that the President will be flying to Istanbul on Friday where he will be holding contacts with foreign media representatives.

Touching upon the upcoming elections, the Presidential Spokesman said that the Presidents resignation was out of the question if political parties supporting a settlement on the basis of two states came to power.

'Resignation is out of the question but such a development would create complications and difficulties for the Turkish Cypriot Side' he added.

Pointing out that President Talat had run for office in order to realize his own political goal of settling the Cyprus Problem, Ercakica said that a new government with opposing views would create difficulties in working together, weakening the Turkish Cypriot Sides hand at the negotiating table.

Reminded that the international community had an expectation that President Talat would adopt a more flexible stance after the elections, the Presidential Spokesman said that the Turkish Cypriot Side was already flexible enough and that more flexibility was out of the question.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (04.03.09) reports that Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, referred to a document leaked to the Greek Cypriot press from a discussion of the Cyprus problem at the National Council of the Republic of Cyprus. Mr Ercakica said that this is a document which had to be kept secret from the point of view of the fruitfulness of the negotiations. He noted that the claim that this document was censored by the Turkish side is not true.

Responding to a question on the possibility of the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army from Cyprus, Mr Ercakica said that efforts are exerted for reaching an early solution and added that after the establishment of new international agreements the military existence of Turkey on the island will continue within this framework.

[03] Statements by Avci: The Greek Cypriot side is still dreaming of a Hellenic Cyprus

Deputy Prime Minister- Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side is still dreaming of a Hellenic Cyprus.

Thus, he called out to the European Union not to become an instrument to the Greek Cypriot tricks.

In a written statement, Foreign Minister Avci said the latest statements by the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias and political parties in the south concerning the Cyprus issue are clear proofs to the fact that the Greek Cypriot side is still dreaming of a Hellenic Cyprus.

Mr Avci criticized those statements saying they clearly dare to ignore the principle of establishing a new partnership on the island with the political equality of two constituent states, and deny past agreements too.

'The Greek Cypriot side is trying to show the new partnership as a continuation of the current Cyprus Republic which it holds the authority of. Their tendency towards objecting to the term constituent state is unacceptable' Avci stressed.

The Foreign Minister called on the Greek Cypriot side to stop deceiving its own people and tell them the truth instead- which are all about the agreements and parameters that the Greek Cypriot leadership has already agreed on with the Turkish Cypriot side for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to bring the EU under pressure, Avci emphasized that the EU has the role of providing a balanced and neutral support to the Cyprus negotiations process. 'We repeat our call to the EU once again- who lost our peoples trust by not keeping its promises it gave right after the Annan Plan referenda in 2004- not to become an instrument to Greek Cypriot tricks' the Foreign Minister noted.

[04] Kibris: 63.5 % of the participants in KADEMs survey said that putting the occupied Greek Cypriot properties on sale is wrong

76.9 % of the participants in the survey said they reduced their personal expenses because of the economic crisis. 65.9 % reduced their expenses for clothes and 43.9% for the consumption of meat and food. 78 % of the participants in the survey said that the decision for giving permit to two new casinos in the occupied areas was wrong, while 74.1 % described as wrong the decision for releasing some prisoners under certain conditions. 63.5 % of the participants in the survey said that putting the occupied Greek Cypriot properties on sale is wrong.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The CTP is accused of cooperating with casino owner for the sake of winning a few more votes in the forthcoming elections

Mr Fellahoglu added that the penalty of the casino owners who violate this provision will be dissuasive, as the new law provides for a fine of ¬ 5000 or two years imprisonment for the casino owners who violate this rule. He also said that advertizing casinos in the streets is prohibited by this law and all the existing advertisements will be lifted within three months.

Meanwhile, under the title Operation Tibuk, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Volkan newspaper (04.03.09) accuses the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of cooperating with the businessman and casino owner Besim Tibuk with the aim of winning a few more votes in the forthcoming elections. The paper describes Mr Tibuk as the biggest gambling baron in the occupied areas of Cyprus. According to the paper, Tibuks property in the occupied areas of the island is the following: 1. Merit Crystal Cove Hotel - Casino, 2. Lefkosia Merit Hotel Casino, 3. Cyprus Gardens Holiday Village Casino, 4- Land of 550 donums next to the Cyprus Gardens Holiday Village (leased by the breakaway regime), 5- Mare Monte Hotel Casino (leased by the breakaway regime), 6- Land of 352 donums next to the Mare Monte Hotel (leased by the breakaway regime), 7- Mercure Casino and 8- Salamis Casino.

The paper argues that Mr Tibuk is mobilizing all his potential to support the CTP and that an office of the CTP for the elections has been established at Tibuks Lefkosia Marit Hotel. The paper alleges that the newspapers which are making propaganda in favor of the CTP are supported by this office, the head of which is Reha Akar, known as the right hand of Tibuk in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Columnist in Yeni Duzen wonders how comes and all the persons, the name of whose is mentioned in the indictments and have been interrogated, posses in a way the citizenship of the breakaway regime

What kind of a system have you established in this country by continuously talking about the state? How come and all the persons, the name of whose is mentioned in the indictments and have been interrogated, posses in a way the citizenship of the TRNC? Who will answer these questions? The settling of accounts with Ergenekon continues for the Turkish Cypriot people. What about you Mr Eroglu?....

(I/Ts.)

[07] Eroglu assured Cicek that no problem of harmony will be experienced between the occupation regime and Turkey during possible UBP government

Mr. Eroglu said:

We held a two-hour tête-à-tête meeting with Mr. Cicek before the graduation ceremony held at the Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU). Following this meeting which was extremely fruitful, Mr. Cicek said that the Turkish government and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will keep equal distance among all the political parties in Cyprus. Mr. Cicek stated that they feel unease due to the fact that some parties are using the name of AKP. In my opinion, our meeting was extremely useful. He personally said to me that he wish the government which will come in power to work in harmony with the government of Turkey. I told him that no harmony problem will be experienced in case we come to power.

(M/L)

[08] The manifesto of the Jasmine Movement for a United Cyprus was announced

The manifesto on the relations with Turkey clarifies: We will reorganize the relations with Turkey, we will free the North Cyprus from being a subordinate administration of Turkey and we will apply the policy Lefkosia decides Ankara respects. We will remove the provisional article 10 from the Constitution and we will make Turkey, Guarantor Country befitting to the 1960 Treaties and to the 1974 intervention.

On the Cyprus problem, the manifesto stipulates: We will not find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. First we will be reconciled and then we will find a piece meal solution. Our first priority is to protect the existence of the Turkish Cypriots. We will claim our rights stipulated in the 1960 Treaties. We will overcome the difficulties on the property issue with the solution of tri-zonality and not bi-zonality. In the property issue, a global exchange cannot be realized. Whoever has the title the property belongs to him. The total current market value of the Turkish Cypriot property left in the South is much more than the total value of the properties left by the Greek Cypriots in the North. Compensation will be on the agenda for the expropriated properties or properties on which constructions were made.

If the solution will be on the basis of the Republic of Cyprus, then the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance cannot be abrogated without the approval of Britain, Greece and Turkey. This issue with Britains request has already been turned into EUs primary law... The insistence of Christofias to abrogate the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance is both unnecessary and comic... As long as Cyprus is not demilitarized and the military bases are not removed neither Cyprus nor the Cypriots will be at ease.

(DPs/ MHY)

[09] Hillary Clinton to participate in a Turkish TV programme

Mrs Clinton will attend the TV program Haydi Gel Bizimle Ol (Come and Join Us) broadcast on the private NTV channel and hosted by four women: journalist Cigdem Anat, actress Mujde Ar, author Pinar Kur and model Aysun Kayaci.

The paper goes on and writes that Mrs Clinton during her visit will be received by the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mrs Clinton will also have the chance to meet her Turkish counterpart Mr Ali Babacan where the two will discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

(EA)

[10] Turkish State Minister Egemen Bagis meets the President of European Trade Assosiation in Antalya

Bagis said that Turkey was the only country in Europe which did not have to inject money into its banking sector during the current atmosphere of global crisis.

'Turkey's annual global capital doubled to 20 billion USD in the last few years as a result of Turkish government's efforts. While European banks went bankrupt one after the other, Turkish banking sector's net profit exceeded 12 billion USD. It is a sign that Turkey is the correct address to invest,' he said.

Bagis added, '65 percent of Turkish population is under the age of 34 while the average age is calculated as 28.3. Turkey, with its young population, has the fourth biggest labor force in Europe.'"

[11] US strategist Friedman forecasts that Turkey will rule over the former territories of the Ottoman Empire by 2040

Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Friedman, who is in Istanbul to attend a conference, stated that by 2020 Turkey will be the tenth most powerful economy worldwide. Referring to the current crisis in relation to the EU and Turkeys accession, Mr Friedman said: Soon you will not feel the need of the European Union. Besides, with the current crisis they have entered into a process of collapse. For this reason Turkey will abandon the integration process with the EU. Because you will not feel the need of this. However, the interest of the Europeans towards Turkey will increase a lot more.

The book of Mr Friedman with the title The Next 100 Years, which receives coverage in the Turkish press, is covered in Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (04.03.09) under the title, The founder of a think tank close to the CIA, Friedman: Turkey will not lose its secular character. Speaking to the newspaper, after praising the secular character of the Ottoman Empire, Mr G. Friedman said: The year 2009 will be difficult for everyone, but Turkey will later continue to grow from the point it was left. While European countries will be making steps back from the economic point of view, Turkey, in 2029, and especially in Eastern Europe, Balkans and the Middle East, will become a great economic power.

(EA)

[12] Trabzon to become the second base in the Black Sea

As the paper writes, with the creation of the new base they will be able to monitor what is going on in Georgia more closely and if Georgia has the need of humanitarian aid Turkey will be able to provide it more easily and faster. In the first phase a colonel will be assigned to the base and 10-15 officers, 40-50 non-commissioned officers and more or less 100 soldiers will serve there.

(EA)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 3 March 2009

Turkeys relations with other countries

In an article entitled "Turkey-US Relations in the New Term" in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Cuneyt Ulsever makes an analysis of the US-Turkey ties in light of the Obama Administration. Citing the views of Ahmet Davutoglu, chief adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Turkey's role in the Middle East and its impact on the US-Turkey relations, Ulsever maintains that the ties between the two countries will improve under the new Administration.

Cengiz Candar views Turkey's role in the new US policy on the Middle East following the Gaza War and Erdogan's Davos walkout in a column in Hurriyet. Disagreeing with the view that Turkey is losing its power in the Middle East after the Davos incident, Candar argues that Turkey's status in the Middle East has improved, adding: The United States now needs Turkey's cooperation even more than before.

Hasan Cemal views the Armenian Genocide bill to be discussed in the US Congress in his article in Milliyet. Cemal maintains that the US decision will shape not only Turkey-US ties but Turkey-Armenia ties as well, adding that a "wrong" decision might bring about a new crisis between the countries. He quotes a "reliable" Foreign Ministry source as saying that Turkey and Armenia are meticulously working for the normalization of bilateral ties and they are optimistic about the outcome of their efforts. The source warns, however, that everything can explode if President Obama makes the wrong move. Arguing that, in that case, the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia might come to an end and the Turkish-US ties can take a fatal blow, Cemal cautions that the US recognition of the Armenian claims would not serve the interests of any of the three countries. Pointing out that Turkey and the United States need each other on various issues in the international arena, he adds that both sides should mull over the real agenda and avoid sidetracks on the eve of US Secretary Hillary Clinton's Ankara visit.

Referring to President Abdullah Gul's recent visit to Africa, Sami Kohen analyzes Turkey's "Africa overture" in his column in Milliyet. Noting that the "Black Continent" has substantial economic potential, Kohen says that many countries, including China and Iran, closely watch Africa. Kohen further warns about the social and political problems and the possibility of civil wars in the underdeveloped region where the new independent countries are under the arbitrary rule of leaders lacking political maturity. He advises not to get involved in the domestic clashes in African countries. Pointing out that the International Criminal Court will soon decide whether to issue an arrest warrant against Sudanese President al-Bashir, Kohen recalls the warm welcome al-Bashir received from the Turkish government last year. He questions the wisdom of Turkey's friendly attitude toward al-Bashir, urging the government to thoroughly analyze the effects of the relationship with the Sudanese president on Turkey's Africa overture as well as its basic foreign policy.

Under the headline, "Turkey, Armenia Closer Than Ever to Peace, Says Foreign Minister Babacan," Today's Zaman carries a front-page report which highlights a statement by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan saying that Turkey and Armenia are taking steps toward normalizing their ties and "warning that any US move to recognize Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks could harm the process."

Also front-paged in Todays Zaman is a report entitled "Turkey and Syria Settle Decades-Old Property Dispute," which asserts that Turkey and Syria will finally put an end to a half-century-long land dispute ... thanks to an agreement" signed by the Syrian president and the Turkish prime minister that "may make it possible for Turkish citizens to receive compensation for land and property confiscated by Syria..."

In an article entitled "Is Turkey Vital for US Exit Strategy From Iraq?", Today's Zaman columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu asserts that whether Turkey facilitates US pullout from Iraq or makes it "more difficult" by refusing to let Turkish soil be used in the withdrawal of the US troops in Iraq is set to be a "test of confidence" between Ankara and Washington "at a time when Turkey needs President Obama to avoid uttering the word 'genocide'" in relation to the events of 1915.

ES/

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article