Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-08-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica: Talat is ready for a trilateral meeting in New York

[02] The Chairman of the Maratha-Santalaris and Aloa Martyrs Association asked for Talats help in order to apply to the ECHR for the punishment of the massacre committed to Turkish Cypriots at Santalaris by the Greek Cypriot side. Talat is leaving for France

[03] Educational cooperation between Egypt and the TRNC which will lead to the establishment of dialogue between the ministries was discussed during a meeting of the minister of education with the General Trade Union of Education and Scientific Research of Egypt

[04] Ertugruloglu to hold contacts in Ankara

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] From the Turkish Press of 12 August 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ercakica: Talat is ready for a trilateral meeting in New York

Mr Ercakica stated that the Turkish Cypriot side wants the United Nations (UN) to take a more active role in the negotiations which are continuing for the solution of the Cyprus problem, therefore, in case an invitation arrives, Talat is ready to meet in September with the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Mr Ercakica also said that the briefing and the exchange of views with the Turkish Cypriot parties, following the round up of the first round of the negotiations, are continuing. Mr Ercakica also said that the briefing and the evaluation on the first round of the negotiations, prior to the launching of the second round, with various high level bureaucrats of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also on the agenda.

The spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader also said that he follows with concern the campaign that started against Turkey as regards the missing persons of the Greek Cypriot side. In the statements of last week in which Greece has also participated, it seems that they want to start a campaign against Turkey and using it against Turkeys EU process. The news are towards this direction, stated Mr Ercakica.

He also said that such a campaign will be an obstacle to the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP). He referred to an agreement on this issue between Mr Talat and the late President Tassos Papadopoulos which allowed the work of the Committee to gain efficiency and speed.

Finally, Mr Ercakica stated that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to take advantage of the cooperation agreement in the field of energy, signed between Turkey and Russia. Evaluating the reactions of the Greek Cypriot side on the issue, Mr Ercakica said that the Greek Cypriot side, in order to be able to take advantage of the Cyprus problem, would even greet calamities which might occur to Turkey. He stressed that the regional role of Turkey in the energy sector will be increased by the passing of time and the Greek Cypriot side must understand this: If the Cyprus problem remains unsolved for many more years and if they are waiting for Turkey to face various calamities so that they can get hold of Cyprus or for a solution according to their wills, developments will not be according to their wishes, he stated.

(CS)

[02] The Chairman of the Maratha-Santalaris and Aloa Martyrs Association asked for Talats help in order to apply to the ECHR for the punishment of the massacre committed to Turkish Cypriots at Santalaris by the Greek Cypriot side. Talat is leaving for France

According to the paper, Mr Talat visited yesterday the three villages on the occasion of the second phase of the Turkish invasion to Cyprus on 14th August 1974, because he is leaving for France and he will not be in Cyprus on the 14th of August. Members of the press escorted Mr Talat during his visit. Ahmet Asir hosted Mr Talat to the martyrs museum and asked for his help so that the deficiencies of the museum are completed.

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.08.09) also writes that Hasan Ercakica during his weekly press briefing stated that the Turkish Cypriot leader is departing from Cyprus today in order to participate in a family celebration. As he stated, Mr Talat will be away until the 16th of August, therefore he will not be able to participate in the ceremonies and the commemoration of the events of the period. For this reason, Mr Talat visited yesterday the occupied villages of Aloa, Maratha and Santalaris.

(CS)

[03] Educational cooperation between Egypt and the TRNC which will lead to the establishment of dialogue between the ministries was discussed during a meeting of the minister of education with the General Trade Union of Education and Scientific Research of Egypt

According to information given by the self-styled ministry, speaking during the meeting, minister Durust expressed the wish that the educational ties between Egypt and the TRNC will contribute to the establishment of cultural contacts and will lead also to the establishment of a further dialogue between the ministries and the trade unions as well. He then said that the Turkish Cypriot academicians are well qualified and provide high standard education to the world, however, their voice cannot be heard around the world due to the restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots. Mr. Durust pointed out also to the importance of the relations between the trade unions.

Moreover, Yeni Duzen newspaper (13.08.09) reports that (GTUESR) was received yesterday by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The meeting took place in the presidential palace. The Egyptian delegation was accompanied by Mr. Adnan Eraslan, member of the executive council of (KTOEOS). During the meeting, the delegation gave a symbolic gift to Talat.

(AK)

[04] Ertugruloglu to hold contacts in Ankara

(AK)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] From the Turkish Press of 12 August 2009

Kurdish problem:

Commenting on the controversy between the government and the opposition parties on the Kurdish overture, Istanbul Milliyet's Fikret Bila argues that the level of the dispute indicates that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan establishing a common basis for the solution of the Kurdish problem will be difficult. In a column, he claims that the controversy has been created by the wrong approach the government adopted on the problem and says that Erdogan should have discussed the overture he had in mind with the opposition CHP [Republican People's Party] and MHP [Nationalist Action Party] before he made it public. Bila defends the view that the DTP [Democratic Society Party] and the PKK refuse to recognize the concept of Turkish Nation as an expression of supra identity and notes: The DTP and PKK argue that Turkism should be recognized as an ethnic identity if Kurdism is not recognized as a supra identity. That is what CHP leader Deniz Baykal and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli reject. Bila stresses that the changes that might be considered in the constitution, which is based on the concept of Turkish Nation, will worsen the controversy and warns: Establishing a broad-based consensus on the solution of the problem will be an illusion if the overture will go beyond increasing freedoms to pave the way for a federation.

In his column in Milliyet, Melih Asik argues that no one is informed on the substance of the government's overture for the solution of the Kurdish problem and wonders whether Prime Minister Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul have any idea on what has to be done. He quotes CHP deputy leader Onur Oymen as saying that he believes Erdogan and Gul are aware of what has to be done but they do not disclose any information because they fear the reaction they will get. He says Oymen asked whether the government plans to solve the problem in the way Britain and Spain solved the IRA and ETA problems and quotes him as saying: How will the PKK be removed from northern Iraq? No one seems to mention that. Asik concludes by asking: The Turkish Armed Forces have not been defeated by the PKK on the mountains. Will Turkey lose the war at the negotiation table now because of the US pressure?

Devrim Sevimay cites the views of AKP [Justice and Development Party] deputy leader Dengir Mir Firat, CHP deputy leader Onur Oymen, and Omer Gunes, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's lawyer, to outline their views on the way the Kurdish problem can be solved. In a report in Istanbul Milliyet, she quotes Firat as saying that the military forces can help the PKK to withdraw from Turkey, Ocalan and the DTP does not represent all the Kurds, terrorism will not end, and Kurdish education should not be feared. She quotes Onur Oymen arguing that removing the PKK from northern Iraq is the responsibility of the Iraqi government and the United States in accordance with international law and notes: Holding talks with terrorist leaders to solve the problem will be wrong, military operations against the terrorists must be maintained, violence must be rejected by all the sectors of the community, and measures must be taken against foreign sources which encourage and protect terrorist activities. Sevimay quotes Omer Gunes as saying: Amnesty must also apply to political refugees, Ocalan might be a uniting phenomenon, the honor of Kurds must not be harmed, and the concept of unitary state is one of the factors that are generally accepted.

According to a report also in Milliyet, DTP deputy Emine Ayna called for the recognition of the PKK and Abdullah Ocalan as a part of the effort that is made to solve the Kurdish problem. It quotes her as saying: We will not allow anyone to remove the most important actors in the process through the DTP. We will not be involved in a move to exclude the PKK and Abdullah Ocalan from the process.

In a column in Istanbul Hurriyet, Bekir Coskun argues that he cannot comment on the government's overture because its substance is unknown. Claiming that the government and its Islamic approach pose a threat to Turkey, he argues that the administration cooperates with the separatist elements and tries to promote its overture to achieve its objective and notes: However, considering the serious nature of the crime its has committed against the republic, it has been unable to disclose the substance of its overture... Even those who flatter the state on the radio and television networks are unable to explain the details of the overture. Is it aimed at dividing the Turks and Kurds, who have jointly established the republic? Is it aimed at creating animosity between relatives, just as in the case of the Islamic and secular people? Is it aimed at misleading the people on a disgusting plot? Coskun concludes by warning that Turkey is being divided.

Commenting on the controversy between the government and the opposition parties on the Kurdish overture, Istanbul Sabah's Erdal Safak argues in a column that a significant difference does not exist between them on what they describe as unacceptable Kurdish demands. He outlines the parameters of the government and the CHP on the solution of the Kurdish problem and stresses that their stands on unitary state structure and education in Kurdish are similar and notes. Prime Minister Erdogan's advisers disclosed that the state will definitely object to the demand for Kurdish being used in the educational system. Considering all that, an opportunity exists for the government and the main opposition to hold talks on the solution of the problem, that is, as long as they avoid closing their doors to each other.

Cuneyt Arcayurek, in a his column in Istanbul Cumhuriyet focuses on the effort Minister of Internal Affairs Besir Atalay has been making to hold talks with various circles on the Kurdish overture and regrets that he will not be able to meet with the opposition CHP and MHP. Arcayurek says that the two parties refused to hold talks with the government and claims: Atalay will discuss the matter with the DSP [Democratic Left Party] deputies in the parliament. He will also meet the leading members of the Great Unity Party, which is not represented in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The CHP and MHP justifiably refused to hold talks with him because the substance of the Kurdish overture is unknown.

Analyzing comments made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the Kurdish issue in her article, Istanbul Taraf columnist Yasemin Congar argues that the PKK is the result rather than the cause of the Kurdish problem, adding that fighting between the Turkish soldiers and PKK guerillas could be brought to an end only if the latter are persuaded to lay down their arms and return to their homes while ensuring that they are treated as equal citizens and allowed to enter politics. Pointing out that the approach which prompted Erdogan to make courageous remarks about the problem could also pave the way for peace, Congar concludes by saying: "PKK leadership should make a similar analysis and not disregard the change in Ankara and refrain from laying landmines on the pathway to peace."

Gungor Mengi urges Prime Minister Erdogan not to heed initiatives made by foreign countries to encourage him on the Kurdish problem because his government can neither change the constitution nor realize the intention that are concealed under the Kurdish overture. In a column in Istanbul Vatan, he argues that the government must submit the overture to the parliament and share his plans with the opposition groups. Wondering whether a plan exists for the solution of the problem, he claims that the administration has an opportunity to explain its views to CHP, Mengi faults Erdogan for trying to define Turkism as an ethnic identity, saying that it is the name of an integration that took place over a period of 1,000 years. He notes that Prime Minister Erdogan should appropriately reply to the question Deniz Baykal asked instead of making emotional statements in the parliament.

In a column in Istanbul Radikal, Oral Calislar criticizes the CHP and MHP opposition to the government's proposal to hold talks with them on the Kurdish overture, saying that the approach the leaders of the two parties have adopted is difficult to understand. Noting that CHP leader Deniz Baykal could be more flexible, he believes that he can explain his views to the government. He notes: The CHP officials might come up with differing views and proposals. However, is it not true that they first have to agree to hold talks on the problem? Regarding the MHP, Calislar is convinced that the party views the matter as terrorism and believes that a struggle has to be waged until it is obstructed. He claims: Obviously, Devlet Bahceli is allergic to matters related to the Kurdish language and Kurdish culture. Stressing that the opposition parties do not want the recognition of Kurdish identity, he notes: They want to gain political advantages by creating obstacles against the steps that need to be taken to solve the problem.

In an article entitled "Bahceli's fear of a 'Big Kurdistan'" Yeni Safak columnist Hakan Albayrak accuses MHP leader Devlet Bahceli of maintaining a pro-status quo position that entails consent to continued bloodshed and waste of national resources in opposing the Government's latest bid to address the Kurdish question. Albayrak also argues that the only way for Turkey to break the sort of "imperialist siege" that Bahceli referred to in his speech at the MHP's provincial congress in Antalya would be to "close ranks with our neighbors," establish "regional alliances," and implement the sort "paradigmatic changes" at home needed for such moves.

In an article entitled "Politicians cannot stop talking to one another" Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru criticizes Prime Minister Erdogan and CHP leader Deniz Baykal and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli respectively for refraining from meeting with CHP and MHP officials to discuss the government's plan to solve the Kurdish problem and for turning down Interior Minister Besir Atalay's request for an audience with them to exchange views on the latest Kurdish "overture." Koru asserts that Erdogan, Baykal and Bahceli are behaving as though they were the leaders of two countries at war with one another and in a way that implies ignoring the problems that this country faced in its recent political history because of its leaders' "stubborn" refusal to talk with one another. He also asserts that the CHP and MHP's rationale for objecting to an earlier constitutional amendment package drawn up by the government - their argument that they were presented with a fait accompli and that the AKP had not consulted with them in preparing that package - places them in an inconsistent position in refusing to discuss the government's Kurdish plan.

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