Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-06-03

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The self-styled presidential spokesman comments on the latest developments

[02] Eroglu to visit Ankara between 11-12 of June

[03] The Turkish Cypriots are only 78 thousands?

[04] The head of the Religious Affairs Department of the occupation regime met with the Swedish Ambassador to Lefkosia

[05] Rauf Denktas stated that the de facto intervention of Turkey is a condition in case an American company starts its exploration for oil

[06] Dubious mobile text messages to Briton with property in occupied Lapithos were exploited to blame the government of Cyprus

[07] Group of students from a US university met the self-styled foreign minister

[08] Colonel of the Turkish occupation army among the members of the new board of illegal Bayrak Radio-Television

[09] The number of candidates of Turkish origin for Europarliament has risen

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist in Hurriyet on Davutoglu briefing to foreign policy correspondents: Even if Turkey does not do much regarding the Cyprus issue other than supporting the talks, it may keep the adaptation process with the EU alive with the reforms

[11] From the Turkish Press of 02 June 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The self-styled presidential spokesman comments on the latest developments

Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has said discussions on the territory chapter will begin next week. Ercakica said that no maps will be discussed at this stage of the talks. He also said that the two sides should discuss the principles that will be referred to while determining the percentage of land that will be under the control of the two constituent states.

Speaking to reporters at this routine weekly press briefing, the Presidential Spokesman touched upon recent reports circulating in the press concerning the issue of territory.

Pointing out that the two leaders will start discussing the topic next week, Ercakica said that next weeks meeting will focus on establishing principles that will be used to determine the amount of land, which will be left to the control of the two founding states.

He said bringing maps to the negotiating table was not expected, Ercakica said that they would perceive any such move as inappropriate. The Presidential Spokesman said that a map outlining the territories of the two founding states could only emerge once agreement is reached on all the issues related to territory.

Touching upon the recent UN Security council resolution extending UNFICYPs mandate for a further six months, Ercakica reminded that the UN peacekeeping force will not remain stationed on the island forever. Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot side did not produce any suggestions regarding UNFICYPs mission in Cyprus or the number of peacekeeping troops stationed on the island, the Presidential Spokesman said that there was more urgent need for UN peacekeepers in other parts of the world. He expressed the view that the UN should direct its energy and resources to places where there is a greater need.

Asked to comment on the British Foreign Secretary David Milibands latest statement regarding the issue of guarantees, Ercakica said that the British Foreign Secretarys suggestion that the issue should be discussed subsequent to a peace deal was misinterpreted. What he actually meant was at the negotiations, he added.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side supported the continuation of the guarantees; Ercakica said what is essential for us is the continuation of Turkeys effective guarantee without being watered down.

[02] Eroglu to visit Ankara between 11-12 of June

According to the paper, Mr Eroglu who will exchange views in Ankara on the ongoing negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem is expected to convey to Ankara the message that he supports the negotiations which are taking place with the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.

Afrika also writes that Ankara continues to express in every platform that the negotiations must be tied to a timetable. With concrete progress to be achieved in Cyprus, Ankara is targeting to give new life to the negotiation process which it carries out for full membership to the EU and to avoid a possible traffic accident in its relations with the EU during the evaluation by the European Commission which is expected to be made in the end of the year regarding Turkey not opening its ports to Cyprus registered vessels.

(CS)

[03] The Turkish Cypriots are only 78 thousands?

Aysu Basri Akter, who describes the results as remarkable, reports the following: According to KADEMs studies, our population is at the moment 320 thousands. 190 thousands of them are holders of citizenship. Out of these citizens, 70 thousand are citizens of the Republic of Turkey, seven thousand are both citizens of the Republic of Turkey and the TRNC and five thousand 500 hundreds are of British citizenship. Calculating that these citizens make up 72 thousand, there are only 72 thousand left! These results show that our population is made up by those from the Republic of Turkey and Cyprus to such an important proportion as half-and-half. And these numbers are shown in the numbers of the children who study at elementary and high schools.

(CS)

[04] The head of the Religious Affairs Department of the occupation regime met with the Swedish Ambassador to Lefkosia

(DPs)

[05] Rauf Denktas stated that the de facto intervention of Turkey is a condition in case an American company starts its exploration for oil

Mr Rauf Denktas said that in case the American company starts its exploration activities for oil and natural gas on behalf of South Cyprus the de facto intervention of Turkey is a condition. Noting that in this way there will be no submission to the threats, Mr Denktas said that the aims of the Greek Cypriot side are to extend its unilateral sovereignty and advance the Republic of Cyprus which is illegal. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots have the right of separate sovereignty, Mr Denktas also said that no power will remove this right. Mr Denktas also added that even if the US Sixth Fleet comes, this right cannot be removed.

(DPs)

[06] Dubious mobile text messages to Briton with property in occupied Lapithos were exploited to blame the government of Cyprus

Britons with homes in North Cyprus are being targeted in a text message campaign by supporters of Greek Cypriot claims on land.

A grandmother-of-two received four text messages in the wake of the European Court of Justice ruling against Linda and David Orams in April.

She believes one bearing an e-mail address for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the South came from the Greek Cypriot government itself. Others came from pressure groups, she claims

The 64-year-old owns a property in Lapta [occupied Lapithos], which she visits twice a year with her husband, 78, from their home in Kent.

The first message, sent to her UK pay-as-you-go mobile asked: Have you got property in the occupied north of Cyprus? Is it built on stolen Greek Cypriot land?

Another asked: Did you hear about the Orams case last week? They lost.

The messages were sent from the same British mobile number.

I was outraged, she told Cyprus Today. How dare these people threaten me? The way they say we have stolen land is a threat. I dont know where they got my mobile number from. I dont give it out except to friends and family.

I am fairly sure the Greek Cypriot government was the source. I think they are trying to make people who have houses in the North nervous, possibly so they will sell them at reduced prices. I have felt sympathetic to Greek Cypriots, and in a way, I now feel more anti-Greek than anti-Greek Cypriot. The Greeks have told the Greek Cypriots so many times that they will get their whole island back, which is a bit stupid.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, has contacted her own MP as well as the Europe Minister, Caroline Flint, to complain about the unsolicited texts.

I have written a long e-mail to Caroline Flint, she said. I detailed what had happened and asked what she thought about this European Union government bullying a citizen in another ECJ country.

The Oramses are fighting to keep their Lapta home after Greek Cypriot Meletis Apostolides, won a court decision in South Nicosia for them to quit the land, pay him compensation and back rent.

He registered the ruling in England and Wales and the European Court of Justice has decided the South Nicosia judgment must be recognized in another EU member state, which means their home in Hove, Sussex, is also at risk.

The Greek Cypriot government has declined to comment on the claims.

[07] Group of students from a US university met the self-styled foreign minister

History students from Northern Illinois University in the US who are on the island to learn more about the Cyprus problem are continuing their visits in the TRNC.

Within the framework of their contacts, the group of students headed by the Director for the Genocide and Human Rights Institute J.D Bowers visited Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun today. The group of students from Northern Illinois Universitys history department is on a field trip to the TRNC as guest of the Near East University.

As part of their contacts, the group visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun today.

Speaking after the visit, the Foreign Minister explained that the group has been in North Cyprus for the past two week trying to learn more about the Cyprus Problem.

He said that he had briefed the visiting students on the Turkish Cypriot sides views and position regarding the Cyprus issue.

Underlining the importance of strengthening relations between TRNC and US universities, Foreign Minister Ozgurgun said that such developments were important steps in voicing the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Last week the group was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat.As part of its contacts in the TRNC, the group has also visited the US Embassy, the EU office and met with officials from the UN and Turkish Embassy in Lefkosia.

[08] Colonel of the Turkish occupation army among the members of the new board of illegal Bayrak Radio-Television

BRT has a new board of directors. Yilmaz Baskaya has been elected as the new chairman of Bayrak Radio and Television Corporations Board of Directors. The BRT board convened today to choose its new chairman and members.

Metin Beyoglu was given the position of vice-chairman at the meeting attended by the corporations new director Ozer Kanli.

The new members at the BRT board include Halil Davulcu representing the Cyprus Turkish Journalists Union, Mehmet Yalovali representing Bay-Sen trade union, Colonel Mehmet Soganci representing the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces, and Prof. Dr. Eralp Bektas representing the Eastern Mediterranean University.

[09] The number of candidates of Turkish origin for Europarliament has risen

Ahead of the European Parliament elections to be held between June 4 and 7, the number of candidates of Turkish origin has soared.

Germany has the highest number of Turkish candidates. Ismail Ertug, Hidir Karademir and Macit Karaahmetoglu are candidates from the Social Democratic Party, or SPD, while Sidar Aydinlik, Kadriye Karci and Songul Karabulut are the Left Partys candidates. Christian Democratic Unions candidate is Dr. Yasar Bilgin.Belgium came second in number of Turkish candidates. Meryem Almaci and Inan Asliyuce Flaman are Green Party candidates while Nermin Kumanova is a candidate for ECOLO, a green party from French-speaking Belgium. Mustafa Uzun is a candidate from the Christian Peoples Party. SPA-Spirits (Flemish socialist) candidates with Turkish descent are Selahattin Kocak and Sener Ugurlu. In the Netherlands, Emine Bozkurt and Erdogan Kaya are candidates from leftist Party of Labour. Another Turkish candidate is Osman Bicen from D66. The French Socialist Partys Turkish candidate is Emrullah Deniz while the Danish Social Democrat Partys is Huseyin Arac. The Turkish-origin candidate of the British Labour Party is Nilgun Canver.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Columnist in Hurriyet on Davutoglu briefing to foreign policy correspondents: Even if Turkey does not do much regarding the Cyprus issue other than supporting the talks, it may keep the adaptation process with the EU alive with the reforms

His side that is open to questioning was the most pleasant part of the meeting that Ahmet Davutoglu held with the foreign policy correspondents in Istanbul.

Subtitle: Davutoglu, Bildt, Sarkozy New Europe equation

There is no doubt that this also stems from his academic identity. He was one of the exceptional policy makers who were able to understand the importance of briefing the people during the foreign policy process. During the last one of the "horizon tours" that had lasted more than three years --in other words on 29 May, Friday-- Davutoglu sat before us as the Turkish foreign minister and he gave us very important clues regarding the items that will appear on the agenda of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] government in the period ahead.

As we discussed with Davutoglu the process associated with the EU, the French press was questioning why Sarkozy had decided to postpone the visit to Sweden that was slated for 2 June.

According to a report featured by Le Monde newspaper, which cited a diplomat whose name was not announced, Sarkozy had postponed this visit because of Turkey. Sarkozy who has based his election campaign for the European Parliament elections that will be held next week on anti-Turkish views is being accused by the opposition of "hypocrisy due to the fact that he has opened two chapters with Turkey during France's term presidency." Sarkozy has reportedly postponed the visit because Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, in a statement to Le Figaro newspaper, said: "The EU should continue to expand and it should also include Turkey." He wanted to avoid encountering problems from the very first day with Sweden which is getting ready to become EU term president due to Turkey and he postponed the visit until after the European Parliament elections.

There is no doubt that if the Lisbon Agreement will be one of the EU's most important issues until the end of the year, the second will be Turkey.

When listening to Davutoglu we found out that the European process is the most discussed topic in the AKP government.

Subtitle: To open the Cyprus lock with the reform key

This year the EU will prepare a report on whether or not Turkey has kept the word it had given regarding Cyprus with the start of the negotiations. There are three tendencies in the EU within this framework.

1. The Greek Cypriot administration is making preparations for ensuring that the process is used for imposing pressure on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot administration.

2. Similar to France, those who oppose Turkey's membership are trying to pave the path for privileged partnership.

3. Countries such as Sweden, which is getting ready for EU term presidency, and Italy that openly support Turkey's EU membership, have taken action in order to ensure that the process is not broken.

The situation is of critical importance both for Europe and Turkey until the end of this year. Nonetheless, it is also possible to overcome this process successfully. Even if Turkey does not do much regarding the Cyprus issue other than supporting the talks, it may keep the adaptation process with the EU alive with the reforms.

Subtitle: First goal at the end of June

Davutoglu said: "There is a new conjuncture that may enable us to accelerate the process. We also have the necessary political determination to this end." The foreign minister reportedly got positive impressions from the contacts that he held with the opposition parties. It is envisaged that in the first stage tax, personal privacy, and social security reforms will be realized by the end of June. The AKP government may create a social conciliation atmosphere. If the opposition parties and the nongovernmental organizations understand the importance of this step, the reform process will accelerate and continue. The hand of the European countries that support Turkey's membership will strengthen, but more important these steps will deepen the democratic process in Turkey and they will increase Turkey's competitive power.

There are political reforms such as a judicial reform in the second stage of the reform package, while there are constitutional reforms in the third stage.

Subtitle: The overture regarding Armenia and Karabakh continue parallel to each other

We have found that the overture regarding Armenia continues by taking into consideration the unease felt in Azerbaijan as well as the sensitivity of the situation. We received messages to the effect that positive developments may occur in the days ahead.

Nevertheless if you want to know the most important item that will be on Turkey's foreign policy agenda until the end of this year, I can say to you, without any hesitation, that it is "Iraq."

Let us carefully follow the foreign minister's visit to Iraq.

[11] From the Turkish Press of 02 June 2009

a) Cyprus issue

Viewing the recent remarks made by Turkish Cypriot leader Talat to the effect that Turks must be prepared for territorial concessions within the framework of a comprehensive settlement, Hurriyet Daily News columnist Yusuf Kanli in his article points out that, though untimely, there is nothing new in Talat's statement. Talat has done nothing more than re-emphasize what's already obvious for anyone with some insight into the negotiations process on the island, claims Kanli, adding that accusing him of "selling out" in Cyprus would be a gross injustice.

In an article entitled "Watch out for a fait accompli in Cyprus", Milli Gazete columnist Hasan Unal criticizes the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for remaining determined to continue a negotiation process in Cyprus that cannot lead anywhere but the dissolution of the KKTC [illegal regime in occupied Cyprus] despite the fact that the results of the recent general elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus have revealed that the Turkish Cypriots do not intend to give up their sovereignty. He also warns that Talat's continuation of the ongoing negotiations will not only amount to murder of democracy but also compromise the rights and interests of the Turks of Turkey and Cyprus, adding that the AKP and Talat need to understand that it would be "highly dangerous" for them to press ahead with a plan to solve the Cyprus issue through negotiations with the Greek Cypriot leader Christofias before the end of Talat's term as president.

b) Foreign investments

In an article in Hurriyet, Sukru Kizilot details the countries that invest most in Turkey with the Netherlands ranking first. Pointing out that 21.6 percent of all the foreign investment in the country in the last five years has come from the Netherlands, Kizilot explains that one of the reasons for this trend is the "tax advantages" provided by the Dutch government. Through these advantages the Netherlands has been able to attract foreign firms into the country which in turn use the Netherlands as a springboard to invest in third countries, explains the writer. Viewing the distribution of foreign capital in Turkey, Kizilot says that 76 percent comes from European countries, 10 percent from North America, and nine percent from the Gulf countries.

c) Pumping of North Iraqi oil through Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline

In an article in Milliyet, Serpil Yilmaz views the pumping of north Iraqi oil through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline and whether the ceremony held on 1 June to mark the occasion is nothing other than a theatrical show given the fact that the oil bill has yet to be endorsed by the parliament of the federal government. The writer goes on to assess the financial aspects of and the revenues from the oil exports.

Sabah columnist Erdal Safak in an article assesses the current indifference of the US administration toward the Kurdish regional administration, speculating that this indifference will only grow once the US troop withdrawal is completed by December 2011. Attributing the change in tone in the messages sent from Arbil and al-Sulaymaniyah to Ankara to this indifference, Safak assesses the flow of north Iraqi oil through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan line within this context, speculating that in the event relations between Arbil and Baghdad sour in the future, Turkey will be entrusted with the north Iraqi oil. Every step north Iraq will be taking to distance itself from Baghdad will bring it closer to Turkey, maintains Safak, adding that the US withdrawal will create a period of uncertainty in Iraq and Turkey will be the sole refuge of the Kurdish administration.

In an article entitled "Oil trade from Iraq", Today's Zaman columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu hails the start of oil flow from northern Iraq to the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey yesterday as a development that "will contribute to any effort" to bring about a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue as well as setting the stage for an end to the "bitter domestic feuds over Iraq's oil wealth."

d) Mine sweeping along Syrian border

Viewing the amendment the government intends to make to the mine bill to be discussed in parliament in an article in Milliyet, Fikret Bila maintains that the amendment will not lead to conciliation between the government and the opposition. The government intends to add an article to the bill stipulating that the tender on demining the area along the Syrian border be issued by the Chief of Staff and not by the Finance Ministry, explains Bila, adding that given the opposition within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to the bill, its endorsement is unlikely. The write further notes that the National Defence Ministry is against renting the cleared areas to the firm that will be demining the region and that it has officially informed the Prime Minister's Office of its view on the issue. Finally, Bila questions why the government is so insistent on this formula despite the opposition of many AKP deputies, the Defence Ministry, the Chief of Staff, and the opposition parties.

In an article in Milliyet, Metin Munir accuses the government of distorting the realities in order to rent out the demined regions through the barter system. The writer relates a conversation he held with businessman Ibrahim Cecen, owner of the Ictas firm that cleared the mines, in partnership with an Israeli firm, along the Kuwaiti border in the aftermath of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. Quoting Cecen, Munir says that, contrary to the claims made by the government that demining the region will cost "billions of dollars," this task along the Syrian border will cost under $100 million.

According to a report by Tulay Subatli and Emre Ozturk in Vatan, the representatives of a firm dealing with minesweeping in Turkey have told the daily: "We have never encountered a firm that sweeps mines in exchange for agricultural land. We can demine the region along the Syrian border for one dollar a square meter." Noting that his firm can clear the mines for a fee of approximately $216 million within two years, the official adds that there are at least four more firms in Turkey that are ready to clear the region for a fee of one dollar a square meter.

Questioning why the government feels the need to enact a new law to issue a tender regarding the clearing of the mines along the Syrian border, Vatan columnist Gungor Mengi argues that the government efforts toward a new bill has raised the alarm bells of corruption. Lauding Abdullatif Sener for resigning from the party after assessing as criminal behaviour government efforts to enact bills for tenders that can be issued with the existing laws, Mengi in his article asserts: "An area with a security risk that requires mining, cannot be rented out to foreigners for the duration of 44 years. This cannot be done even if the country is in need of even 70 cents as was the case at one time. We must be thankful that those days are over."

In an article entitled "What do the AKP's core supporters think about this business?", Yeni Safak columnist Hakan Albayrak asserts that Prime Minister Erdogan has done "a very good thing" in announcing that he will be responding to criticisms of the bill on landmine clearance in a speech at his party's parliamentary group meeting today "because what he has said on the matter till now or what he has got his aides to say has only deepened concerns [about the possible consequences of the bill] rather than satisfying anyone." Albayrak goes on to quote extracts from e-mail messages from a number of AKP supporters criticizing the ruling AKP and Prime Minister Erdogan for preparing and supporting a bill that could allow foreign companies including an Israeli bidder to lease a large area along the Turkish-Syrian border for some 49 years.

Under the headline, "We opposed Zionism yesterday, we oppose it today, and we will oppose it tomorrow," Milli Gazete runs a front-page report which highlights the following remarks by Felicity Party (SP) leader Numan Kurtulmus criticizing Prime Minister Erdogan for saying "money has no religion" [in responding to criticisms of possible plans to award an Israeli company a contract to demine and cultivate a large area along Turkey's border with Syria]: "I am a teacher of economics. I know what this remark means. I am not in a position to say how Mr Prime Minister has come to start expressing such views. But I do know one thing. Imperialism, capitalism, and Zionism believe in nothing but money."

e) Poll on rising intolerance in Turkey

Assessing the result of the poll on "radicalism and extremism" conducted by Bahcesehir University in an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Cuneyt Ulsever arrives at the conclusion that "we, as a society, lack tolerance and trust." Referring to the "division phobia" that has emerged from the poll, Ulsever interprets it to mean that Turks "do not have self-confidence and lack proper personality development."

Viewing the Bahcesehir poll results in an article in Hurriyet, Yalcin Dogan highlights the suspicion with which citizens view one another, the low status of women in society, and the importance religion has in our lives. The high percentage of the participants in the poll who give priority to religion in their lives shows the direction the country is taking, argues Dogan, lamenting the fact that only 13 percent of the participants have considered democracy to be an important factor. In short, the writer claims that the poll indicates that compared to the past, Turkey is currently more conservative and farther away from democracy and tolerance, adding: "In such a society, it is very difficult for the government, no matter what party it belongs to, to solve any serious problem."

EG/

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