Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-06-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan accused the Greek Cypriot side of not being sincere on the negotiations

[02] The self-styled assembly will convene in an extraordinary meeting today in order to discuss the latest developments of the Cyprus problem

[03] Strong reaction from Ozgurgun on Verheugens statements. Nor the EU official and officer could be neutral on the Cyprus issue

[04] The members of ad-hoc committee which will investigate Cyprus operations of Ergenekon were elected

[05] The 22nd regular congress of the Republican Turkish Party will take place on Sunday, the 28th of June

[06] Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt expressed his impression for the determination of the two leaders to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

[07] The 32nd Orange Festival to take place in occupied Morfou

[08] International Olive Festival to be held in occupied Keryneia in October

[09] Italian Parliamentary friendship group established to support Turkey's EU bid

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 22 June 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan accused the Greek Cypriot side of not being sincere on the negotiations

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (23.06.09) writes that Mr Erdogan stated that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be in favor of all parties. The Turkish Prime Minister went on and accused the Greek Cypriot side of not being sincere on the negotiations: Unfortunately, we observed in the new process that the Greek Cypriot side made some initiatives that caused concerns about its sincerity in the ongoing negotiations. In this context, we expect from our European friends that they prevent the GKRY [Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus] from manners and behaviors aim at delaying or blocking the solution, he stated.

(CS)

[02] The self-styled assembly will convene in an extraordinary meeting today in order to discuss the latest developments of the Cyprus problem

According to the paper, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, will participate in the meeting and will brief the self-styled MPs about the latest stage of the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem. It will be a closed-door session and the MPs will be able to express their views on the developments as regards the negotiations.

(CS)

[03] Strong reaction from Ozgurgun on Verheugens statements. Nor the EU official and officer could be neutral on the Cyprus issue

Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun has strongly reacted to the Vice-President of the European Commission Gunter Verheugen who held contacts on both side of the island last week.

In a written statement, Mr. Orgurgun said Mr. Verheugen with the statements he made during his contacts once again proved that neither he nor the EU officials and offices could be neutral on the Cyprus issue.

Pointing to the fact that Mr. Verheugens support for the negotiations process was remained nothing but talk, the Foreign Minister said a statement he gave to a Greek Cypriot newspaper showed that Mr. Verheugen is looking at the issue completely from the Greek Cypriot perspective.

He stressed that a solution on the island would not be against the democracy, equality and the superiority of the law which are the foundation and existence principles of the EU.

Mr. Ozgurgun also said the derogations which the Turkish Cypriot side is demanding are having similarities with practices arising from special conditions of the EU countries.

The Foreign Minister pointed out that Mr. Verheugen instead of working for the lifting of the isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people he deferred this matter after the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Ozgurgun strongly condemned this attitude of Mr Verheugen.

In his statement in which he reiterated Turkish Cypriot sides sensitivity over the guarantorship of Turkey, he stressed that continuation of Turkeys active and effective guaranty is vital for the Turkish Cypriot people.

Expressing his disappointment over EUs failure to contribute to a solution on the island he said if the EU keeps its current partial attitude this will affect the negotiation process negatively and will also cause a permanent non solution on the island.

[04] The members of ad-hoc committee which will investigate Cyprus operations of Ergenekon were elected

The members of the committee are Irsen Kucuk, Necdet Numan, Afet Ozcafer and Alir1za Usluer from the National Unity Party (UBP), Sonay Adem and Arif Albayrak from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Serdar Denktas from the Democrat Party (DP).

(CS)

[05] The 22nd regular congress of the Republican Turkish Party will take place on Sunday, the 28th of June

(CS)

[06] Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt expressed his impression for the determination of the two leaders to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

Sweden, the upcoming president of the European Union, expressed on Monday its determination to go on with full membership negotiations with Turkey.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden, who will take over the rotating presidency of the EU in July, said his country was determined to move forward in negotiations with Turkey.

The Czech Republic will hand over the rotating presidency of the EU to Sweden at the beginning of July.

Bildt held a press conference in the European Council in Brussels, Belgium and said that his country was aware that it would come across with some important problems during negotiations with Turkey and Croatia.

However, problems could also be turned into opportunities, the Swedish foreign minister said. Bildt said negotiations with Turkey and Croatia were closely related with EU targets in the Southeastern Europe which had strategic importance.

The Swedish foreign minister said his EU vision was a Europe uniting every one, not excluding some nations.

Bildt said that he was aware of the difficulties of this vision, however he thought they could be overcome with open debates.

On Cyprus, Bildt said that the EU had never been an actor in settlement of Cyprus problem, but he met the leaders of the two nations in Cyprus and was impressed with their determination about a settlement.

Bildt also said that the Cyprus problem should be solved, showed the United Nations (UN) as the address for a solution, but also expressed EU's readiness to extend technical support.

Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.

[07] The 32nd Orange Festival to take place in occupied Morfou

(EA)

[08] International Olive Festival to be held in occupied Keryneia in October

Speaking during the press conference, the self-styled mayor of occupied Keryneia, said that they will raise the culture-artistic dimension to a higher level and that they have prepared a more intense festival program. Mr Aygin also said that during the festival the amphitheatre will be used. Furthermore, the member of the Turkish Cypriot Cartoonists Association executive committee, Mr Huseyin Cakmak, said that it is very important that artists, who are participating in the jury and who are famous in the field of cartouns in their countries, will come to the TRNC. According to Cakmak, 327 cartoanists from 49 countries are participating to the festival with nearly 600 works.

(EA)

[09] Italian Parliamentary friendship group established to support Turkey's EU bid

A total of 91 Italian deputies from Italy's ruling and opposition parties have become members of the Turkey-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group set up within the Italian parliament.Releasing a written statement on Monday, the Italian embassy in capital Ankara said that the friendship group, chaired by Italian senator Nicola Di Girolamo, aimed at supporting Turkey's EU bid and strengthening the relations between Turkish and Italian parliaments.The friendship group will be introduced to the Italian press during a ceremony to be attended by Turkish ambassador in Rome Ugur Ziyal and Italian ambassador in Ankara Carlo Marsili today, the statement also said.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 22 June 2009

a) Economy

Viewing the reasons why the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association, TUSIAD, is in favor of concluding an agreement with the IMF in an article in Milliyet, Hursit Gunes explains that the economic interests of TUSIAD members coincide with the IMF program. The IMF demands regarding the autonomy of the taxation authorities, the control on the budget deficit, and the restriction of funds to be transferred from the budget to the local administrations will help TUSIAD members, claims Gunes, adding that the long-term and low-interest loans to be supplied by the IMF will prevent the dollar exchange rate from increasing further, thus easing the payment of foreign currency debts. Gunes argues that the issue also has a political angle, maintaining that TUSIAD has more confidence in the IMF than it does in the government. The writer states: "Full adherence to IMF policies will help Turkey maintain its relations with the West."

Assessing the veiled statements made by IMF First Deputy Managing Director John Lipsky following a meeting organized by TUSIAD in Bodrum last week, Hurriyet columnist Erdal Saglam in an article arrives at the conclusion that Lipsky believes that Turkey is in need of signing an agreement with the IMF. The government, however, does not want to sign an agreement that will have a rigid program in view of the general elections to be held in 2011, argues Saglam, adding: "Turkey needs the money and the credibility of the IMF to achieve growth and especially to ward off the immense damages that might be caused as a result of a new wave of global crises." The government is inclined to sign an agreement of 18 to 24 months, explains Saglam, adding that in the case of a short-term agreement the conditions imposed by the IMF will be more rigid and the funds less. In conclusion, the writer predicts that the IMF will not be willing to sign an agreement based on the flexible terms requested by the government.

Referring to Lipsky's remarks that the foreign currency savings of individual citizens acted as a security factor against foreign currency fluctuations in an article in Taraf, Suleyman Yasar writes: "This means that, had citizens not acted in violation of what had been advised and had they not kept their savings in foreign currency accounts, foreign currency rates would not have gained stability and Turkish economy would have been in a deep crisis." Lipsky's remarks show us that Turkish economy has been rescued from a crisis as a result of the personal choices made by citizens, mocks Yasar, concluding: "I leave it up to you to decide how wise it would be to leave our economy in the hands of such an IMF administration."

b) Erdogan's Cancelled Visit to Greece

Viewing the last minute cancellation of Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Athens in an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Ariana Ferentinou raises suspicions about the diplomatic character of the illness given the issues that the Greek officials would have brought up during the Turkish prime minister's visit such as the Cyprus issue, illegal immigration from Turkey, the Istanbul Patriarchate, and the reopening of the Halki Seminary.

c) Comments on Tarafs report on the Military Action Plan

In an article with the title "Master, what do you have to say on this?, Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru, writing under the pseudonym Taha Kivanc, comments on a recent article by Radikal columnist Murat Yetkin, who quoted an EU diplomat as saying that if it is found out that the military action plan disclosed by Taraf was prepared at the urging of the higher command of the Turkish Armed Forces, TSK, this might have a negative effect on the negotiation process between the EU and Turkey by giving rise to concerns that a military takeover could be staged any time in this country. Koru goes on to highlight the views of a "friend" who referred to the diplomat's remarks as a message to Prime Minister Erdogan and the Government advising them not to level accusations against the top command of the TSK in connection with the said plan if they do not want to compromise the accession process. According to Koru, such comments reflect the amount of "confusion" caused by the prolongation of the official investigation to verify the authenticity of the document published by Taraf.

Under the headline, "That signature belongs to navy Captain Cicek," Zaman carries a report which asserts that the criminal investigation laboratory of the police in Istanbul has ascertained that the signature on the recently disclosed "action plan" against the Government belongs to Navy Captain Dursun Cicek. The police lab's findings have confirmed the results of an earlier examination of the same document conducted by the gendarmerie, the report says.

In an article entitled "Neither a civilian coup nor a military intervention: All roads to democracy, Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanli argues that Taraf's disclosure of the [alleged] military plan against the AKP and the Gulen community has proven to be a turning point in the history of the Turkish news media by eliciting responses that have revealed journalists in this country to be divided into two groups: those doing their best to bring facts into light and those trying to cover up military scandals. Dumanli also asks whether certain newspapers will ever be able to stop seeing themselves as being part of the military chain of command.

In an article with the title "Democratic control of the military is imperative, Today's Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay asserts that regardless whether the alleged military document revealed by Taraf is proven authentic or false, "the basic lesson to be drawn out of the whole affair is that the TSK has to quit the political role it has assumed since the introduction of democracy in the middle of the last century."

Questioning why the Turkish Armed Forces, TSK, has been silent with regards to the document on an alleged military action plan against the Justice and Development Party, AKP, and the Gulen group in an article in Vatan, Can Atakli writes: "The stand of the TSK is putting those who believe in democracy and a state of law in a difficult position. The major goal of the current government and its supporters is to eliminate the fundamental philosophy of the Turkish Republic, the Ataturk principles and reforms. It is very important to erode and render ineffective the TSK which is viewed as the single obstacle on the issue." Describing the fear of a possible coup in the country as paranoia, Atakli argues that the AKP is playing the role of the victim and the injured party by constantly keeping this fear on the agenda. Accusing the government of trying to deceive the people by filing a criminal complaint about a document whose authenticity has yet to be proven, Atakli adds: "Furthermore, the document about which a complaint has been filed is in the hands of the prosecutors. Why have the prosecutors not taken action and waited for the documents to be leaked to a daily?"

ES/

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