Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-07-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat argued that in case the Turkish army withdraws from the island without an overall agreement blood will be shed again in Cyprus

[02] Two frigates of the Turkish navy will anchor in the occupied port of Keryneia for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion of the Cyprus

[03] TPAO was given permission from the Turkish Council of Ministers to explore oil in the Mediterranean Sea outside the territorial waters of Turkey

[04] The British Court of Appeals will examine the Orams case on 11 and 12 November 2009

[05] The lawsuit against the Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish Cypriot lawyer Ata Dayanc has been admitted for hearing at the ECHR

[06] Ozgurgun announced decisions of the council of ministers

[07] Koran classes will start to be taught at 32 schools in the occupied areas

[08] Turkey launches campaign to combat human trafficking

[09] French MEP to replace Lagendijk in Turkey EU committee

[10] Clinton calls Turkey emerging global power' in foreign policy address

[11] Turkish Parliamentary Group to travel to Xinjiang to ease tension with China

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Murat Yetkin comments on the strategy charted by Turkeys National Security Council in its meeting of 30 June 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat argued that in case the Turkish army withdraws from the island without an overall agreement blood will be shed again in Cyprus

Mr Talat made this statement on the program Son Durum (Latest Situation) of Kibris TV presented by Resat Akar, general director of Kibris Media Group. He said that the withdrawal of the Turkish army has not been discussed at the negotiating table, but in case a lasting solution is achieved this kind of bargaining could be held.

Mr Talat shared his memories with Mr Akar regarding the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and alleged that we cannot even imagine what situation we would be in today, if Turkey had not intervened then. He claimed that the demand of the Greek Cypriot side for the annulment of the Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee is not realistic and added that no other Greek Cypriot leader demanded such a thing.

Mr Talat said that when the coup and the invasion took place in July 1974 he was studying at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and that on 1 August he came to Cyprus with a ferryboat. He noted that he joined the army and that his unit served at Krini village in Saint Hilarion area and that he did not enter into any battle. He said that later his unit was transferred to Agia Eirini village and that he was discharged on 1 September 1974. Mr Talat said that after the coup on 15 July 1974 they were afraid that the island would be unified with Greece and the Turkish Cypriots would emigrate and added: Therefore we were hoping that Turkey would intervene in Cyprus.

Pointing out to the importance of the Turkish invasion, Mr Talat argued: There is something definite. That the results of the 1974 Peace Operation have completely changed the course of the Cyprus problem and placed it into a completely different position. The target of a federal solution set during those days is still preserving its validity today. Therefore, the historic importance of the Peace Operation is not only a military victory, but it is an event that changed the structure of the Cyprus problem.

Asked whether he is giving the message to president Christofias that the Turkish army will remain here as long as a solution is not found at the negotiating table, Mr Talat said:

We are not bargaining whether or not the Turkish army will leave. What we are doing at the negotiating table is to form the conditions of the solution. We are discussing what kind of a security mechanism will exist within the framework of these conditions. We are discussing that a solution will be secured only with an overall agreement and with the withdrawal of the Turkish army in stages in certain numbers and the creation of a structure which will be agreed. The Greek Cypriot side has not submitted to us such a demand. This is rather addressed to its own people, the press and the foreign diplomats. They can deceive those who do not know or they can make propaganda.

Which mechanism exists to prevent the Greek Cypriots from spreading their sovereignty to the north in case the Turkish army withdraws, wondered Mr Talat and noted that the security forces of the Turkish Cypriots are weaker than the Greek Cypriot forces.

When he was reminded of the statement by President Christofias that a solution could be reached in December if the Turkish side changes its tactics, Mr Talat said: The Turkish Cypriots suffered a lot from Greece, but not from Turkey. We cannot even imagine what situation we would be in today, if Turkey had not intervened then. Because the demand regarding the annulment of the Treaty of Alliance and Guarantees is not realistic, it has not been submitted by the Greek Cypriot administrations until today. Denktas and Clerides have agreed on the issue of Security. Christofias must be realist. He should know that the Guarantees are extremely important for the Turkish Cypriots. The establishment of a partnership by the Turkish Cypriots in a united Cyprus is very closely related to the continuation of the guarantees. Otherwise, the Turkish Cypriots could not dare to enter into a new adventure. ....

Asked whether a solution could be reached by the end of the year, Mr Talat said: We say that there could be a solution, but this does not mean that there will be. We wish this as Turkish side. We really want the solution of this problem. However, the solution does not depend only on us. We have a target, but this cannot be one-sided.

When Mr Akar put to Mr Talat that some Greek Cypriot journalists say that Talat and Christofias are old friends but cannot agree, then discussing the separation is also a success, the Turkish Cypriot leader noted: There is no such a thing on our agenda. Some reasonable circles and some diplomats make different comments on this issue. However, this is the last chance. As Turkish side we provide for a federal structure with a new partnership based on bi-zonality, the political equality of the two people, on which we agreed with the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Two frigates of the Turkish navy will anchor in the occupied port of Keryneia for the celebrations of the Turkish invasion of the Cyprus

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (17.07.09) reports that 70 journalists from five provinces of Turkey will visit the occupied areas of Cyprus in order to participate in the celebrations for the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974, upon an invitation by the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs and the Foreign Press Union (FPU). According to a statement issued by the FPU, a panel on the Turkish invasion will be held on 20 July. The journalists will be also informed on the education sector in the occupied areas of the island.

(I/Ts.)

[03] TPAO was given permission from the Turkish Council of Ministers to explore oil in the Mediterranean Sea outside the territorial waters of Turkey

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.07.09) reported the following from Ankara: The Turkish petroleum corporation will explore oil in some regions of the Mediterranean Sea, outside the Turkish territorial waters.

The Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will also explore oil in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in international waters around the Aegean province of Mugla and the southern province of Antalya for one year.

The cabinet decree, that allowed TPAO to explore oil in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, took effect after it was published in Thursday's Official Gazette.

TPAO was founded in 1954 with the responsibility of being involved in hydrocarbon exploration, drilling, production, refinery and marketing business as Turkey's sole national company.

Until 1983, as an integrated oil company, it was engaged in all the activity fields of oil industry from exploration to production, from production to refinery, from refinery to marketing and transportation. Today, TPAO is national oil company involved merely in upstream (exploration, drilling & production) sector.

To ensure the energy security supply of the country, TPAO conducts its international activities especially in the Caspian Region, North Africa and the Middle East. In this context, TPAO carries out its exploration and production activities in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Libya. TPAO is also in contact with Syria, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Iraq, Egypt, Russia and Algeria to initialize new projects.

(I/Ts)

[04] The British Court of Appeals will examine the Orams case on 11 and 12 November 2009

(I/Ts.)

[05] The lawsuit against the Republic of Cyprus by the Turkish Cypriot lawyer Ata Dayanc has been admitted for hearing at the ECHR

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ozgurgun announced decisions of the council of ministers

According to Mr Ozgurgun, a 2% increment will be paid to the employees for July within the framework of the cost of living. He also said that those foreigners who have been prevented to enter into the occupied areas of the island are now being given the right to submit an application again and the fine they should pay is reduced.

(I/Ts)

[07] Koran classes will start to be taught at 32 schools in the occupied areas

Halkin Sesi notes that the schools in the occupied areas are opened for the first time to persons other than teachers to teach and adds that the religious activity has increased during the last years in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The paper concludes that last year Koran classes started to be offered at six mosques in the occupied areas.

(CS)

[08] Turkey launches campaign to combat human trafficking

Turkey launched on Thursday a campaign to raise consciousness in combatting human trafficking.

Turkey's Interior Ministry and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Turkey are implementing the campaign, supported by the European Union (EU).

The campaign entitled Join Turkey's Fight Against Human Trafficking was promoted in a meeting held at the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Turkey has prepared short films and radio spots in Russian, to be used in Moldova and Russia which are the sources of human trafficking, and in Turkish, to be used in Turkey which is a target and transit country.

Turkey has made great progress in combating human trafficking in 2009. It signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings on March 19. Also, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved the second national action plan in fight against human trafficking on June 18.

On the same issue, Ankara Anatolia news agency (16.07.09) reported the following from Stockholm:

Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay said Thursday the fight against illicit drug trafficking, illegal migration and organized crime groups is one of Turkey's priorities. Besir Atalay attended an informal meeting of European Union (EU) justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday.

Speaking to AA in Stockholm, Atalay said that the fight against organized crime groups and gangs is one of the priorities of the Turkish government. 'In today's meeting, we discussed these issues', Atalay said.

'The topics of security, drugs, terror and organized crime groups are those of interest to all countries and individuals. We exchanged viewpoints on these issues in Stockholm', Atalay noted.

'One of the main topics of today's meeting was freedoms. The protection of individual rights is one of the most important issues. This meeting was useful for all European countries and us. Security is the basis of everything. On the basis of freedoms lie security. Only when you live in security, without fear and without concern can other freedoms have a value. We discussed ways of cooperation against illegal migration and those seeking refuge', Atalay said.

Atalay pointed out that security institutions such as Frontex and Europol play a vital role in border security in Europe. 'Viewpoints have been expressed to reach standards in security field. There are new members who have joined the EU. Participants elaborated that Europol and Frontex must be given a more active role in providing border security services', Atalay added.

'As Turkey, we are in favor of strengthening these two institutions. Such matters are important for us even if there was not an EU process. The fight against illegal drug trafficking, illegal migration and organized crime groups are issues on which we work hard. We are working so that Turkey reaches EU standards in all these struggles. These are meaningful and current issues in the EU process. As the Interior Minister, I work on such issues on a daily basis. We benefit from the experiences of the EU countries', Atalay said.

'I met with the Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba on Thursday. Rubalcaba told me that he would visit Turkey soon', Atalay said.

'I held a very fruitful meeting with Rubalcaba. We met earlier in Istanbul as part of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative. We had held a strategic meeting. As is known, the prime ministers of Turkey and Spain are the co-chairs of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative. In the following weeks, experts from Spain and later Rubalcaba will arrive in Turkey', Atalay said.

'We may be able to benefit from Spain's experiences in dealing with terrorism. Spain resembles Turkey in that they have a long history in the fight against terrorism. We can benefit from Spanish experience in dealing with terrorism. We will exchange information on this matter. Minister Rubalcaba will arrive in Turkey soon and we will talk extensively on the fight against terrorism', Atalay also said.

The meetings in Stockholm will continue on Friday with the participation of justice ministers.

[09] French MEP to replace Lagendijk in Turkey EU committee

French politician Hélène Flautre will replace Joost Lagendijk, the long-term co-chairman of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, sources in the European Parliament have told Today's Zaman.

Lagendijk, a Dutch politician from the Greens group in the European Parliament, did not run for re-election in June's elections held across the EU member countries, saying he wanted more time to focus on his private studies. After the elections, political groups represented in the European Parliament agreed that the Greens will continue to hold the leadership of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, according to sources.

Although the formal announcement of her appointment as the co-chairwoman of the committee is expected in early autumn, the Greens have already agreed that Flautre should replace Lagendijk. Sources say she has already started working on files concerning major Turkish issues in preparation for her formal start of the job. Flautre is a member of the French Green Party, part of the Greens group in the European Parliament. She has been a member of the European Parliament since 1999.

[10] Clinton calls Turkey emerging global power' in foreign policy address

Voicing Washington's eagerness for engaging in a full partnership with Ankara, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has termed Turkey an emerging global power along with countries such as China and Russia.

Clintons remarks came in a foreign policy address delivered on Wednesday at a leading Washington-based think tank, the Council on Foreign Relations.

'We are working with our key treaty allies Japan and Korea, Australia, Thailand, the Philippines and other partners to strengthen our bilateral relationships as well as with trans-Pacific institutions. We are both a trans-Atlantic and a trans-Pacific nation', Clinton said.

'We will also put special emphasis on encouraging major and emerging global powers -- China, India, Russia and Brazil, as well as Turkey, Indonesia and South Africa -- to be full partners in tackling the global agenda. I want to underscore the importance of this task, and my personal commitment to it. These states are vital to achieving solutions to shared problems and advancing our priorities -- nonproliferation, counterterrorism, economic growth, climate change, among others. With these states, we will stand firm on our principles even as we seek common ground', she added.

Clinton paid an official visit to Ankara in March, ahead of a landmark visit by US President Barack Obama which took place in April. Clinton and her then-counterpart, Ali Babacan, issued a joint statement during the former's visit vowing that their countries will consult each other and cooperate closely on a wide array of issues ranging from peace in the Middle East and Cyprus to Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and energy security.

[11] Turkish Parliamentary Group to travel to Xinjiang to ease tension with China

A Turkish parliamentary delegation is expected to travel to Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in China, sources said on Thursday.

The Turkish delegation of five lawmakers, led by the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights Zafer Uskul, is awaiting the Chinese government's confirmation for the trip.

Earlier this week, Turkish Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan met with China's special envoy Aiguo Song and the two agreed that parliamentary dialogue would be helpful to ease the tension after the violence in Xinjiang that killed 184 and injured over 1,000.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Murat Yetkin comments on the strategy charted by Turkeys National Security Council in its meeting of 30 June 2009

Ankara is getting ready for reconciliation with Talat in order not to give to the Greek Cypriot side the right to say The sin is out of our hands now. The developments started to be intensified towards the point of either unification or divorce a few days before the 35th anniversary of the Cyprus operation. The joint statement which the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and President Abdullah Gul made the day before yesterday after their meeting in Ankara, played a role in the speeding up of the developments. The critical part in this statement was the demand for submitting to a referendum, to public voting in the Turkish and Greek Cypriot side, the result of the negotiations towards the unification in the island until the end of 2009.

In brief, the Turkish side asked for the opportunity of establishing a new united Cyprus, which could not be materialized in the year 2004 when the Annan Plan was submitted to referendum and was rejected with the negative vote of the Greek Cypriot side, to be used until the end of this year.

It was not noticed in those days as everybodys attention was focused on the tension because of the law for the military trial procedure, but in the declaration published after the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) which was held on 30 June, it was understood that Cyprus was the issue which was mainly disgussed inside. The statement of the NSC on Cyprus included some new elements in comparison with the previous ones. For example it was provided that the unification will be now in the form of a new partnership containing political equality, bi-zonallity and two constituent states of equal status and not the total number of the [population] of the two areas of the island. In the same manner it was said that the legal security and certainty should be taken under guarantee. And this was a new element, an element, which it was considered that it would open the door for the Greek Cypriot side to accept more easily the expression two constituent states. Turkey does not use the word guarantee, but it was underlining that the rights of the Turkish Cypriots should not be considered as having been secured with the accession to the EU system.

During Talats talks in Ankara, this new approach of the NSC was the focus of the discussion. The press conference between Gul and Talat started one and a half hours late. As you will be able to read from the news report of Hilal Koylu, they worked for four hours during the meeting they had with the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu. Yesterday morning, they met with the Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and the Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek.

While Talat was continuing these deliberations, his rival Demetris Christofias stated that he will accept neither any guarantees outside the EU membership, nor that the situation will be ready for a referendum until the end of 2009. Therefore, on this point the statements of Cicek, following the Council of Ministers, from the position of the Government spokesman, carry a special meaning. Cicek stated that if a step is not taken soon towards the unification of Cyprus, the responsibility for this development will be neither Turkeys nor the TRNCs.

This saying is actually not only in Ankara, but as time passes it is spreading among European countries, and as we observe from our meetings with diplomatic circles it points to an ennui. The question started to be raised is weather the talks will be permitted to go on forever as a result of the Greek Cypriot Republics position in the talks which, leaning on the EU, does not move even one milimiter.

Two options are starting to be clarified in front of Christofias while the time is passing: Either unification with conciliation or divorce with peace. In any case, they have been sleeping in different beds for 35 years now.

(CS/ITs)

/ES

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