Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-05-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] President Christofias and Talat meet for the 28th time. Statements by Talat after the meeting

[02] Alexander Downer to hold contacts in Ankara

[03] Peter Millet: The Property dispute in Cyprus can only be solved through a comprehensive settlement

[04] Thomas Miller: At the moment, I am definitely more optimistic than 10 years ago regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem

[05] Turkish EU negotiator asks at the CoE the removal of the so-called international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

[06] Statements by Davutoglu after meeting with Olli Rehn

[07] Erol Yucels death was a murder and not an accident

[08] Erdogan comments on Sarkozy and Merkels statements over Turkeys EU course

[09] Turkey eyes NATO headquarters reform for high-level representation

[10] Gul to visit Syria upon an official invitation of the Syrian president

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 14 May 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] President Christofias and Talat meet for the 28th time. Statements by Talat after the meeting

President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias held a meeting on Thursday in the buffer zone for the 28th time within the framework of Cyprus negotiations. The two leaders will meet again on May 21 to discuss economy issue.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cyprus, Taye Brook Zerihoun, said after the meeting that representatives of the two leaders would meet on Monday and Tuesday, and they will continue to discuss technical issues about economy.

Zerihoun also said that the UN Special Envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer would arrive in the island tomorrow, and attend Talat-Christofias meeting on May 21.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (15.05.09) reports on the statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat after the meeting he had yesterday with President Demetris Christofias within the framework of the ongoing negotiation process aiming to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Replying to questions of reporters, Mr. Talat said that the opening of the Limnitis crossing point was an issue he discussed with the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, as he called President Demetris Christofias. Mr. Talat pointed out that there was no change in the Turkish Cypriot sides position over the issue and added the following: The Turkish side sees no problem with the opening of the gate in return for permission for free crossings except the transfer of arms and ammunition into Erenkoy [occupied Kokkina].

The Turkish Cypriot leader said also that it is the Greek Cypriot press which tries to present the Turkish Cypriot side as the side which does not want the opening of the gate. Of course there is no such a thing. We are not unwilling for the opening of this gate. Talat continued and said also the following:

The Yesilirmak Gate [occupied Limnitis] is demanded especially by the people of the district and by villagers from Pyrgos village, for their easier access to Lefkosia. We as well have problems with Erenkoy. Everything today is sent to Erenkoy with vessels and this is not easy at all. It is both costly and difficult to carry out.

Talat went on and alleged that no change has been made on the stance of the Turkish Cypriot side regarding the opening of Limnitis crossing point. Answering to a question regarding the stance of the Greek Cypriot side, he said:

The Greek side has stuck on the issue of fuel. Fuel continues to be transferred with vessels... All kind of crossing will be taking place, but still we will transfer two fuel tanks with vessels. This is not logical.

(AK)

[02] Alexander Downer to hold contacts in Ankara

Downer is expected to meet with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on May 18 and he will later proceed to Athens on May 19 in order to meet executives of the Greek Foreign Ministry.

[03] Peter Millet: The Property dispute in Cyprus can only be solved through a comprehensive settlement

Replying to a question regarding the Orams case, Mr. Millet said that it is impossible for the British government to intervene in the legal process of the Orams case or in the legal processes of other legal issues.

Regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem, the British High Commissioner in Cyprus pointed out that the Cyprus problem will be solved by the Cypriots and added that this time light is seen inside the tunnel. He then stressed the need for Cypriots to seize this opportunity and expressed his hope that Cypriots will not miss it.

(AK)

[04] Thomas Miller: At the moment, I am definitely more optimistic than 10 years ago regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem

Answering to a question of a correspondent of Anadolu Agency, Mr. Miller said that they will provide any kind of help to the new leaders of the two sides in the island in order to reach to a solution to the Cyprus problem. Miller stated also that the fact that Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in Turkey during 2003 was extremely positive.

(AK)

[05] Turkish EU negotiator asks at the CoE the removal of the so-called international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots

Turkish Minister of State - Chief Negotiator for talks with EU, Egemen Bagis, has laid stress on the necessity for removing the international isolation on the Turkish Cypriots.

Bagis, who attended the Committee of Ministers meeting of the Council of Europe (CoE) in Madrid, held a series of bilateral talks on the sidelines of the meeting.

Bagis told the reporters that he complained of the fact that European Councils decision, which was approved unanimously on the 26th of April 2004 two days after the approval of a UN Peace Plan by the Turkish Cypriots, and which calls for the lifting of international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots has yet to be implemented.

Asked whether he expected the isolation to be lifted in the near future, he said that a certain date could not be given for such a move.

We are working very hard to prevent the continuation of the isolation for another 50 years. But its not easy to speak of a certain date for our EU membership or for the lifting of the isolation on the Turkish Cypriots he said, explaining that every single decision to be taken by the EU needs to be approved by 27 member states.

Yesterday, Bagis met with the Spanish Secretary of State for the EU Diego Lopez Garrido in Madrid.

I had a fruitful meeting with Garrido, he told to the Anatolian News Agency after the meeting.

Diplomatic sources said that the two discussed the opening of new chapters at talks between the EU and Turkey and Cyprus as Spain is to take over rotating presidency of the EU in the first half of 2010.

[06] Statements by Davutoglu after meeting with Olli Rehn

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, we have only one target in our negotiations with the EU: we will either become a full member of the Union or we will not be a member at all.

Davutoglu met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn over a breakfast earlier in the day as part of his official visit to Sweden. Following the breakfast, Davutoglu and Rehn held a joint news conference.

We have only one target in our negotiations with the EU: We will either become a full member of the Union or we will not be a member at all. Our reform program has recently gained momentum, he said.

Davutoglu also warned the EU-member states not to use Turkey's membership process as tool for their own domestic politics.

Rehn, on his part, said that they were in favor of Turkey's becoming a full member of the EU. He highlighted importance of Turkey with its geographical position, and said that Turkey's membership would contribute to efforts to ensure stability and peace in the region. Rehn also extended the EU's support to recent steps taken by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their relations.

[07] Erol Yucels death was a murder and not an accident

Afrika also reports about the three persons who were arrested yesterday for the case. These are Mustafa Cavga and Emin Ozbeyit who were suspects in the murder case of the Turkish Cypriot businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu in the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. The third person is Hasan Nur. The three suspects were brought yesterday in front of an illegal court and it was decided that they should remain under custody for one day. According to the illegal police it seems that there is a connection between the murder of Guzelyurtlu and the murder of Yucel. The latter was a close friend of Elmas Guzelyurtlus son, Mehmet.

(CS)

[08] Erdogan comments on Sarkozy and Merkels statements over Turkeys EU course

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, I am quite sure that Turkey has fulfilled more membership criteria than most of 27 EU-states.

Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently paying a state visit to Poland, said at a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, I consider recent statements of the two leaders (President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel) about Turkey's EU process quite unfortunate. Personally, I am in favor of honesty in politics.

There are chapters and Turkey should become a full member after fulfilling those chapters. That is the rule. We do not have a demand to become a member without fulfilling them. On the other hand, I am quite sure that Turkey has fulfilled more membership criteria than most of 27 EU-states, he said.

New members of the European Parliament will be elected soon. Also, there are elections in Germany. Therefore, President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel are giving messages. But such messages affect Turkish people's approach to the EU, he added.

[09] Turkey eyes NATO headquarters reform for high-level representation

To take a more prominent position within the alliance, Turkey is keeping an eye on the long-awaited NATO headquarters reform package led by the current secretary general and reflected in April's summit documents.

This is not an easy process for Turkey and the fulfillment of its expectations may take a long time, as discussions are still ongoing on how to improve decision-making in NATO, to provide a more equitable representation for all the allies and to increase the executive authority of the secretary general.

There is an effort under way led by the current secretary general and I know the next secretary general shares this desire to reform the headquarters and that is reflected in public documents released in Strasbourg and Kiel, NATO spokesman James Appathurai told Turkish journalists at the alliances headquarters in Brussels late Wednesday.

That [reform] includes more executive authority to the secretary general, to move money and move people within the structure without having to get each and every time consensus from all 28 ally members But these are all issues that need to be discussed and decided among the 28, he said.

The number of NATO members rose to 28 with the participation of Croatia and Albania at last months summit marking the organizations 60th year. The reform package will be discussed at NATOs ministerial meeting set for June, said Appathurai. What the results will be I cannot predict, he said.

Turkey, one of the most significant contributors to NATOs activities and operations worldwide, has been a member of the alliance since 1952, but has not undertaken a prominent position within the alliance since 1979. The last time Turkey held high-rank positions was between 1968 and 1971 as acting secretary general, and between 1973 and 1979 as deputy secretary-general in charge of scientific affairs.

The Turkish government openly expressed opposition to Denmarks former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen running for the chief NATO post due to a number of reasons, including his failure to handle the 2006 crisis over the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed and Denmarks refusal to revoke the broadcasting license of Roj TV, which Turkey says is a mouthpiece for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK.

But the crisis was settled, as some reports suggested, after Turkey was convinced it would obtain a senior position within NATO in return for its acceptance of the Danish premier. But the appointment of Danish Ambassador to Ankara Jesper Vahr as top aide to Rasmussen led the way for the speculation that the senior position was not granted to someone from Turkey but to the Danish ambassador currently serving in Ankara and that the country was again left in the cold.

Officials here, however, said the appointment of private office was the secretary generals personal choice and it was a tradition in NATO to select the director of the private office from the secretary generals own nationality. Officials said that current cabinet director to Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer of the Netherlands was also Dutch.

Subtitle: Rules will be followed

Before the tension over the appointment of a new secretary general for the alliance, Turkey had demonstrated reservations on the French decision to return to the military wing of NATO linked to Frances opposition to Turkish membership in the European Union. In reply to a question on how such come-and-go on the part of Turkey was perceived within NATO, the spokesman said: There is no doubt that Turkey is contributing an enormous amount to NATO politically, militarily and financially as well.

He added: Everything is done here by negotiation, by consensus. Everybody has the right and ability to defend their positions but we dont operate in NATO on the principle of veto, we are operating on the principle of moving toward consensus. Turkey, like every other nation, plays the game by the rules and the rules will be followed for any changes that are made.

[10] Gul to visit Syria upon an official invitation of the Syrian president

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker as well as Culture & Tourism Miniser Ertugrul Gunay will accompany Gul at the visit, according to a statement by Presidential Press Center. The two presidents will exchange views on regional developments and international matters as well as bilateral relations.

President Gul is expected to attend Businessmen Forum and meet Turkish investors. Gul will proceed to Aleppo from Damascus to address Aleppo University. Gul will return to Turkey on May 17.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 14 May 2009

a) Turkish-Azerbaijani-Armenian relations/Erdogans visit to Baku:

Viewing the assurances given by Prime Minister Erdogan during his Baku visit in an article in Hurriyet, Oktay Eksi says that "the train, which had been derailed for a while, has been put back on track." The Turkish and Azerbaijani people as well as all those who want the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and the opening of the borders, including US President Obama and especially Armenia, have thus realized that Turkish-Armenian relations cannot be normalized before the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is resolved, asserts Eksi. Noting that Azerbaijani President Aliyev seems to have been convinced following the assurances given by Erdogan, Eksi believes that the tension between Turkey and Azerbaijan has been eliminated.

Assessing Turkey's role in the Caucasus in an article in Vatan, Okay Gonensin writes: "The recent steps taken between Armenia and Turkey and Ankara's contributions to the Azerbaijani-Armenian negotiations are significant from the viewpoint of transforming Turkey into an 'effective power' in the region." Appraising Turkey's cultural closeness to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the north and "Kurdistan in the south" as an advantage, Gonensin believes that "the three countries are in need of Turkey's friendship for different reasons," adding: "Establishing this chain of 'friendship' and cooperation depends on Turkey's initiative because Turkey is the country that is closest to being the greatest in the region." Gonensin continues: "The power of a Turkey that has acted as a big brother to Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Kurdistan, that has resolved its problems, that has put its economy on the right track, and that has strengthened its democracy is one that cannot even be imagined by a world of the narrow-mined people stuck in past enmities and fears." The writer lauds Erdogan for having dissipated the doubts of the Azeris while at the same time emphasizing that the process will continue.

In section of his column in Vatan, Can Atakli criticizes Prime Minister Erdogan for initially implying that the border with Armenia might be opened through the declaration issued on 23 April in the aftermath of the Obama visit and then announcing during his Baku visit that it will not be opened so long as the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh continues. Questioning why Turkey acted as though it would open the border, Atakli charges that Erdogan is dancing to the tune of domestic politics and pretending to defy the world to impress the masses who are not aware of and who are not curious about the problems of either the country or the world. The writer warns that irrespective of whether the border is opened, Turkey's dignity should be safeguarded.

In an article entitled "Erdogan gives full assurances to Baku", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul argues that the "uncertainty" in Turkish-Azerbaijani relations "represented as a crisis by some quarters" in the past few weeks ended yesterday when Prime Minister Erdogan reaffirmed in Baku that the Turkish-Armenian border could not be opened as long as the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remained unsolved.

b) Democratic Party leadership:

Viewing the return of Husamettin Cindoruk to political life in his article in Hurriyet, Yalcin Bayer argues that the attacks directed against him for submitting his candidacy for the leadership of the Democratic Party, DP, are an indication that he might succeed in reviving the center right. The assessments made in the aftermath of the recent cabinet reshuffle that the AKP "is returning to the National View line" have speeded up the search for a center right party, claims Bayer, adding that the AKP prefers a small and insignificant DP that will not threaten its votes. Therefore, the writer concludes, the upcoming DP congress does not only concern the party but "will redistribute all the political cards in Turkey."

A report by Bilal Cetin in Vatan relates an interview the columnist conducted with former President Suleyman Demirel who stresses the need for a center right party to pull Turkey out of its current political crisis. Assessing the AKP as another version of the Prosperity Party and as a developed version of the National View, Demirel expresses his support for Husamettin Cindoruk who has submitted his candidacy for the Democratic Party, DP, leadership, and defines the DP congress to be held on 16 May as the revival of the center right. Viewing Cindoruk as capable of uniting the center right, Demirel extends his support to the movement initiated by Cindoruk.

Ridiculing 76-year-old Cindoruk's candidacy for the DP leadership in an article in Radikal, Akif Beki argues that a delegation of elderly people such as Cindoruk and Demirel are trying to seize the DP in a country where only 7 percent of the population is over 65 and life expectancy is 71. Mocking their aspiration to rescue the country, Beki maintains that they have been trying to rescue us for the last 50 years and that the time has come for them to leave the business of rescuing to younger generations, because "if our future once again depends on them, we are lost."

EG/

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