bu and other forces commanders were present.
Adm. Yiit, in his speech, said the Navy Forces would continue to
protect Turkey s rights in its territorial waters and economic zones,
making it clear that it won t allow Greek Cyprus to drill for oil in
the Mediterranean Sea.
[02] KTOS is preparing to file charges against Turkey at the ECHR on
the issue of the Koran lessons
Under the title The debates regarding the religion in Northern Cyprus
on the agenda of the ECHR, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper
(27.08.09) reports that the issue of the compulsory Koran lessons given
by imams at the primary schools in the occupied areas of Cyprus will be
carried to the agenda of institutions such as the European Commission,
the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers
Trade Union (KTOS), Sener Elcil noted that Turkey is the main
responsible for turning the Koran lessons into compulsory and added
that soon they will file charges against Turkey at the ECHR on this
issue.
Noting that they could not accept the assimilation policies followed by
Turkey against the Turkish Cypriots any more, Mr Elcil said: We could
not remain silent to these [policies] any more. We will carry the
developments here to the agenda of the EU member-countries, to the EU
Commission, to the European Parliament. We will carry the assimilation
policies followed by Turkey here to the agenda of the Education
International, the World Trade Unions Federation and organizations
which represent 36 million teachers in the world.
Mr Elcil reminded that the lessons regarding the religion are not
compulsory even in Turkey itself and explained that the reason for this
is the fact that some circles had complained to the EHCR when these
lessons were compulsory.
Mr Elcil accused the self-styled government of being a puppet for
Turkeys assimilation policies in the occupied areas of Cyprus and added
that the police have not taken the necessary measures during the
activity which was organized the day before yesterday in front of the
headquarters of KTOS.
Mr Elcil said that after some incidents in the past and the recent
developments he receives some calls from unknown persons, who threaten
him.
(I/Ts.)
[03] The disputes on the economy continue in the occupied areas of
Cyprus
Under the title The chaos is getting bigger, Turkish Cypriot daily
Halkin Sesi newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the deadline which the 26
trade unions have given to the self-styled government to withdraw the
controversial decrees in the power of law ended yesterday and no step
backwards was made by any side. The self-styled council of ministers
announced yesterday that they are determined on this issue and they
will not make a step backwards.
The self-styled prime minister, Dervis Eroglu criticized the 26 trade
unions and noted that his government will not change its mind with
threats. He said he does not see any good will on behalf of the trade
unions and reiterated that taking economic measures is necessary. Mr
Eroglu criticized the protest organized yesterday in front of the
Turkish embassy to the occupied part of Lefkosia by the trade unions of
the teachers.
Furthermore, the spokesman of the council of ministers and self-styled
minister of foreign affairs, Huseyin Ozgurgun stated that these decrees
should be turned into law within 90 days and added that at this stage
they could be evaluated and amended at the parliamentary committees and
the general assembly of the parliament.
Meanwhile, the 26 trade unions decided to go on strike tomorrow and
organize other protests showing as pretext that the government is
trying to pass the decrees in the power o law from the assembly instead
of discussing the issue with them. They announced that the protest will
be held tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. in front of the prime ministers office.
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.09) refers to the same
issue and reports that the number of the trade unions is 27 and that
the chairman of Dev-Is trade union, Mehmet Seyis accused the government
of ignoring the proposals submitted by the trade unions towards solving
the economic problems in the occupied areas of Cyprus and covering the
deficits in the budget of the breakaway regime. He noted that Mr
Eroglus real intention is not taking economic measures or covering the
deficits in the budget, but organizing a plan against the trade unions
and equalizing the salaries in the occupied areas of the island to the
ones in Turkey, with instructions he takes from the AKP government.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.09) reports
that Ferdi Sabit Soyer, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)
criticized the language used by Mr Eroglu against the trade unions and
called on Mr Eroglu to hold a historic meeting with all parts of the
society for taking common decisions.
Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.09) reports that
Serdar Denktas, chairman o the Democratic Party (DP) has stated that
the religion could not become a matter of discussion in politics and
added that the religious education should be an elective subject in
schools. In statements during one of his meetings yesterday, Mr Denktas
said that if the Alevites who live in the occupied areas have also such
a need, their need should be met as well. Referring to the economic
situation in the occupied areas, Mr Denktas said it is very bad and
noted that the fact that 1600 persons applied for 71 empty positions is
an indication of the extent of the problem.
(I/Ts.)
[04] Turkey is financing a project in Pyla village
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the
so-called Financial Aid Delegation of the Republic of Turkey is
financing a project for the development of the Turkish neighbourhoods
of the mixed Pyla village. According to the paper, around 166 thousand
euro will be spent within the framework of the project, which will be
completed in three stages. The first two stages started yesterday. The
paper notes that three kilometres of road will be asphalted in the area
where Turks are living and the parking place and the wedding room of
the Turkish Sports Club of the village will be repaired and maintained.
Moreover, a basketball and a volleyball playing field as well as a
playground for children will be built.
(I/Ts.)
[05] Self-styled minister stresses the importance of Turkey for the
Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Volkan newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the
self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar has referred to the
criticism against Turkey in the occupied areas of Cyprus and stated
that the Turkish Cypriots can be nothing without Turkey.
In statements the night before yesterday during the opening ceremony of
the headquarters of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Tradesmen and
Craftsmen, Mr Tatar said that except the 200 million Turkish liras
given by Turkey, the state has not contributed very much to the
construction of this building. He noted that the Turkish Cypriots know
that nothing can happen without Turkey. He said that the aid of Turkey
to the breakaway regime is very big and therefore control is needed. He
noted that nobody should shout because Turkey does this. More than 850
million Turkish liras are given to us as aid from Anatolia. Who else
does this, he added and thanked Turkey.
(I/Ts.)
[06] Turkish journalists see the occupied areas of Cyprus as a small
province of Turkey and argue that the island should be conquered
spiritually
Under the title Spiritual conquest, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli
newspaper (27.08.09) reports that some journalists from the Turkish
city of Konya who visited recently the occupied areas of Cyprus
insulted the Turkish Cypriots when they returned home and wrote their
impressions about the island. According to the paper, these journalists
argued that the sensitivity of the Turkish Cypriots about the religion
is weak and alleged that a spiritual conquest should be carried out in
Cyprus.
The owner of Konyas Merhaba newspaper, Mustafa Aslan expressed the
opinion that the distance between Cyprus and Turkey is getting bigger
every day and added that the Turkish army is seen almost as occupier in
the island. When things are seen from Turkey, [Cyprus] is viewed as if
it is a hump on our back. Cyprus is almost the backyard of Ergenekon,
noted Mr Aslan and alleged that Cyprus which was conquered with the
peace operation in 1974, should be conquered once more from the
spiritual point of view.
Moreover, the editor-in-chief of Memleket newspaper, M. Ali Koseoglu
said that he witnessed a different Turkish language, a different
cultural structure and different religious sensitivities in the
occupied areas of Cyprus. He added: The Turkish Cypriots and the people
from Turkey who settled here in 1974 cannot understand each other. 125
mosques exist in the Greek Cypriot sector. 182 mosques are operating in
the Turkish sector. Permission is not given for Koran lessons.
Moreover, the editor-in-chief o Hakimiyet newspaper, Ahmet Aka noted
that eight thousand Turkish Cypriots are employed in the free areas of
the Republic of Cyprus. God willing, these crossings will stop one day
and people will not hope for help from the Greek Cypriot sector.
Finally, the editor-in-chief of Merhaba newspaper, Cetin Oranli noted:
Cyprus is a small province of Turkey. The fuels are very cheap. Six
universities exist. The casinos are exhausting the power and the
strength of Cyprus. They destroy the society.
(I/Ts.)
[07] The increased population of the Turkish settlers is seen as the
source of the problems of electricity and water in the occupied areas
of Cyprus
Under the title It is a matter of population, not a breakdown, Turkish
Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (27.08.09) refers to the cut-offs of
electricity which often happen in the occupied areas of Cyprus and
reports, inter alia, the following: It has been revealed that the
problem with the water and the cut-offs of electricity in our country
derive from the population. The current capacity of the electricity and
the water resources are not enough to meet the demands of the
population which is piled up in the island.
The paper writes that every day people call and express their
complaints about their problems regarding the water and electricity.
Experts are openly putting forth the fact that both issues derive from
the population which is piled up in the north, notes Afrika adding that
both the former Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the current National
Unity Party (UBP) self-styled governments implement the same practice
and tell the people that technical works are going to be carried out
and save electricity by cutting it off in some areas.
(I/Ts.)
[08] The 2nd Congress of the TDP will be held on 18 October
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the
Social Democracy Party (TDP), which was established two years ago with
the unification of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and the
Communal Liberation Party (TKP), will organize its 2nd Regular Congress
on 18 October.
(I/Ts.)
[09] UBP started initiatives for giving permission to the reoperation
of the stone quarries on the occupied Pentadaktylos Mountains
Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the
chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) in the area of occupied
Trikomo, Musa Ozmusaoglu has stated that initiatives for giving
permission to the reoperation of the stone quarries on the occupied
Pentadaktylos Mountains came onto the agenda of the self-styled UBP
government. He said that such a development will be a disaster for the
region. Mr Ozmusaoglu, stated, inter alia, that the permission was
cancelled by the previous government of the Republican Turkish Party,
but now the issue came on the agenda again. He went on and said that
the stone quarry, which is located between the occupied villages of
Agios Iakovos and Agyrta, will negatively affect the persons who live
in the area.
(CS)
[10] An international conference on computing will be organized in the
occupied areas of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (27.08.09) reports that the
illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU), the State University of
New York and the Azerbaijani Lofti Zadeh Association are organizing the
Fifth International Conference on Soft Computing, Computing with Words
and Perceptions in System Analysis, Decision and Control (ICSCCW 2009),
which will be held in the illegal DAU in occupied Famagusta between 2-4
September 2009. Scientists from Germany, Azerbaijan, the United States,
Switzerland, Canada, Russia and Turkey will address the conference.
(ML)
[11] Rasmussen in an interview in Sabah calls on the sides in the
island to use the window of opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus
problem.
Turkish daily SABAH newspaper (27.08.09) publishes the second part of
an interview with the NATO General Secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen
before his visit to Turkey today. Responding to questions of journalist
Nur Batur, Mr. Rasmussen referred to the problems which exist between
Turkey and Greece and to the Cyprus problem. The paper publishes Mr.
Rasmussens statements under the title Let the conflict between Turkey
and Greece in NATO end.
Following are excerpts of the interview given by Rasmussen to the
paper:
Question: The problems which exist between Turkey and Greece cause a
crisis in NATO from time to time. How it affects NATO during the last
period?
Answer: The effects of this conflict harm the relations between
NATO-EU. Look, the EU undertook the duty of the police in Afghanistan.
At the same time, we are carrying out a military operation (ISAF). The
soldiers from ISAF wait from the EU police to protect them, do they
not? However, this does not happen.
Question: Has the crisis not appeared after the accession of the Greek
Cypriots to the EU? Is it not the EU which is in fact responsible for
the crisis within NATO? Was the acceptance of the Greek Cypriots to the
EU not a mistake, without solving the Cyprus problem?
Answer: I do not think so. Look, the whole process started during 1999
at the EU Summit. During this Summit, the leaders agreed on a package.
This package included very important elements. On the one hand, the
membership negotiations with Cyprus started. On the other hand, the
status of candidate-country was given to Turkey. I explained you the
problem we are facing in Afghanistan. This problem puts our staff who
is there under risk. I do not think that politicians, who are
responsible, want to prevent this kind of a security agreement...
IT IS TIME FOR A SOLUTION IN CYPRUS
Question: Then, you say that the Cyprus problem should be solved the
soonest?
Answer: Yes, (laughing).
Question: Everybody says for many years now that the Cyprus problem
should be solved, but how?
Answer: I will ask from Turkey and Greece to show a reasonable approach
towards solving their problems in the field, even before a lasting
solution to the Cyprus problem is found. Because, if it is not solved,
eventually, our staff there will be under risk.
Question: According to you, will the membership of Cyprus to NATO as a
whole solve the problem? The membership of not only the Greek Cypriot
Administration but the membership of both the North and the South?
Answer: All of us have the hope that Cyprus will be unified soon under
conditions accepted by both the North and the South. I personally felt
sorry when the voters in the South Cyprus rejected the Annan Plan
during 2004. However, this is democracy... I hope that the political
leaders in the North and the South will find an appropriate
solution...
VELVET SEPARATION IN CYPRUS
Question: The Annan Plan was considered as a chance for the solution of
the Cyprus problem, but it did not happen. There are persons who say
that there will be a velvet divorce in Cyprus if is not possible for a
solution to be found again. What are you saying?
Answer: It is early to make a final evaluation. However, on the other
hand the forthcoming moths are opening a window of opportunity for us.
All sides in the island should use this opportunity.
(AK)
[12] Ankara critical of Rasmussen on NATO-EU ties comments
Under the above title, Turkish daily Todays Zaman newspaper online
(27.08.09) reports the following:
Ankara has denied NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen's suggestion that
differences between Turkey and Greece have been hindering further
defence cooperation between NATO and the European Union. The remarks by
Rasmussen, who assumed office on Aug. 1, came ahead of his arrival in
Turkey on Thursday for a two-day visit as part of a tour of NATO
countries, including Greece.
We have come to the point where it is causing us problems in our
missions. In Afghanistan, NATO cannot conclude an agreement to support
EU police. Off the Horn of Africa, both NATO and the EU have missions
in the same area against piracy, but we have no agreement on who will
do what or how to support each other. That is just two examples of how
these problems have spread far beyond Turkey and Greece, Rasmussen was
quoted as saying, while speaking on a video blog on NATO's Web site on
Tuesday.
Yet, while delivering rather harsh criticism, Rasmussen avoided
mentioning the Cyprus issue, which is the main source of uneasiness for
Turkey vis-à-vis NATO-EU defence cooperation.
Both NATO and the EU are organizations which are of key importance to
Turkey. Cooperation between the two organizations in line with our
common interests is first of all a requirement for Turkey's national
interests, a senior Turkish official, speaking on the condition of
anonymity, told Today's Zaman. As a reflection of this understanding,
our country played a significant role in the drafting of the agreement
which established the framework of the strategic relationship between
the two organizations in 2003, the same official underlined, referring
to the framework for cooperation adopted in March 2003.
This framework for cooperation, the so-called Berlin Plus agreement,
provides the basis for NATO-EU cooperation in crisis management by
allowing the EU to have access to NATO's collective assets and
capabilities for EU-led operations, including command arrangements and
assistance in operational planning. In effect, they allow the alliance
to support EU-led operations in which NATO as a whole is not engaged.
Compliance with the said framework for cooperation is a requirement
stemming from the decisions made by NATO at the time, thus acting in
line with this framework is a fundamental responsibility for NATO, as
well as for its secretary-general, Mr. Rasmussen, the official said,
reflecting Ankara's stance, strongly advocating the two international
organizations stick to existing cooperation mechanisms instead of
designing a new one.
Ankara, meanwhile, also expects Brussels to persuade EU-member Greek
Cyprus to drop its veto over Ankara's bid to become an associate member
of the European Defence Agency (EDA), the body set up to nurture
EU-wide defence industry policy. Ankara also wants to be consulted more
on European security policy, arguing that it is already a major
participant in EU-led military operations.
Turkey asserts that the Berlin Plus agreement reached during the EU
Copenhagen Summit in December 2002, which allows the EU to draw on NATO
assets and operational planning capabilities in its own operations,
provides a sufficient framework for bilateral cooperation between the
two bodies.
Greek Cypriot efforts are based on the assumption that this existing
agreement should be expanded to include the members of the bloc that
joined in May 2004. According to Ankara, Greek Cyprus wants to increase
the visibility of the illegitimate recognition by the international
community as it being the official representative of the entire
island.
The Turkish official also stressed that EU officials personally
appreciated Turkey's contributions to join NATO-EU operations, while
citing as an example Turkey's support of EU observers during the recent
Afghan elections, as well as Turkey's support in the Balkans region,
which was described by EU officials as perfect.
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[13] From the Turkish Press of 26 August 2009
Following are the summaries of reports and commentaries of selected
items from the Turkish press on 26 August 2009:
Kurdish issue
Hurriyet Daily News carries an article by Rusen Cakir on the
opposition's strong reaction to the government's move to solve the
Kurdish problem. Cakir warns: "... if the initiators of this solution
process fail to manage this crisis, they may face a nightmare situation
and be forced to retreat from the initiative. It is not clear what kind
of a formula they will find, but it is a must for them to convince CHP
and MHP in the process."
An article by Yusuf Kanli of the Hurriyet Daily News comments on the
statement the General Staff issued on 25 August. Stressing that the
message of the military was clear, Kanli says: "Contrary to the
propaganda of the government and its allegiant media that the military
gave its blessing to the Kurdish or democracy opening, the military has
declared that whatever the government was trying to do must conform to
the first three articles of the Constitution (that cannot be amended
and amendment of them could not even be suggested), particularly the
third article, that stresses that 'The Turkish state, with its
territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is
Turkish.'"
A Taraf report entitled "Mind Your Own Business, General" also outlines
the statement issued by the Chief of the General Staff Ilker Basbug to
clarify the Turkish Armed Forces' views on the government's Kurdish
overture. According to the report, the military reiterated that it
will never allow the initiatives that might harm Turkey's nation-state
and unitary structure and concluded its statement by stressing that "a
strong army means a strong Turkey."
Also commenting on the General Staff statement, Milliyet columnist
Fikret Bila asserts that the military responded to the criticisms
voiced by the Republican People's Party, CHP, and the Nationalist
Action Party, MHP, after the recent National Security Council meeting.
Recalling that the opposition parties censured the military for
supporting the government's Kurdish overture without being informed
about its details, Bila says: "Chief of the General Staff Ilker Basbug
reiterated his message that there is no change in the position of the
Turkish Armed Forces, TSK, with regard to the nation-state, its unitary
structure, and its single official language." The columnist adds that
Gen Basbug did not only clarify the TSK's views regarding the process
but also recalled that both the government and the opposition should
refrain from steps that might weaken the Turkish army.
Writing in the same newspaper, Hasan Cemal accuses CHP leader Deniz
Baykal and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli of supporting "racist" policies in
the name of objecting to the government's Kurdish overture. In his
article, Cemal warns that the two opposition leaders have started to
play a "dangerous game" by provoking a conflict between the Turkish and
the Kurdish citizens. Accusing them of adopting an "irresponsible"
approach that increases the polarization in the country, Cemal
describes Baykal and Bahceli as the "real" supporters of "separatist"
policies.
A report by Ozkan Tanmirak of Aksam outlines the second part of a
public opinion poll conducted by the A&G Research Company on the
government's "Kurdish overture." According to the poll, some 89.7
percent of the respondents said that they are against the establishment
of an autonomous Kurdish region in south-eastern Turkey and more than
50 percent rejected the idea that the Kurdish overture will divide the
country. The poll showed that some 72.3 percent of the voters said
"no" to the pardoning of the PKK members in the mountains. It also
revealed that most of the people expect more investments and job
opportunities in the Southeast.
In an article entitled "It is too early yet to rejoice or get upset",
Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru slams the Republican People's Party
(CHP), and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), for "rejoicing" at their
success in "requiring" Chief of Staff General Ilker Basbug to issue a
statement defining the Turkish military's position vis-à-vis the ruling
AKP's latest "democratic overture." He claims that Basbug's statement
is not an act of intervention that could affect the fate of the Kurdish
initiative since the responsibility for a "political" project like the
latest Kurdish plan belongs solely to the civilian authority and "the
Government will continue to take steps in what it believes to be the
right direction." He also asserts that "the only practical result of
the CHP and the MHP's forcing the General Staff to release its latest
statement has been to show once again that these two parties lack the
civilian courage to stand on their own feet."
In an article entitled "You caused the PKK to take to the mountains.
Now you are trying to bring it down through a Kurdish initiative",
Vakit columnist Nusret Cicek criticizes the Government's Kurdish
"overture" as a manifestation of how "foreign supporters" of PKK
terrorism are forcing Ankara to recognize the Democratic Society Party,
DTP, as the PKK's political representative in the wake of developments
that are requiring the PKK to stop operating in northern Iraq. He
warns that Prime Minister Erdogan's treatment of the DTP as a
counterpart, while providing a temporary local relief, is set to place
Turkey in serious trouble in the near future by creating the right
conditions for the rise of Kurdish nationalism. He also asks the
Government how it could persuade the Turkish people to ever believe in
justice again if it grants a general amnesty for the PKK including its
leader Abdullah Ocalan.
In an article entitled "Let the overture stop, let killings continue",
Zaman columnist Abdulhamit Bilici asserts that General Basbug's
statement yesterday regarding the Government's Kurdish initiative is
nothing but a reminder about where the military draws the line on the
"Kurdish issue" that the chief of staff was forced into giving in
response to pressure he faces from certain "so-called civilian
politicians" to speak out. Bilici claims that the military does not
differ from the Government on this issue because otherwise the National
Security Council, MGK, would not have given the go-ahead to the AKP's
plan at its recent meeting. He also contrasts Turkey's response to the
"Kurdish issue" with Britain and Northern Ireland's handling of their
"similar" problems, asserting that where Turkey is taking steps to
solve the southeast issue after suffering the loss of over 40,000
people owing to this problem, it took the loss of only 3,637 people for
Britain and Northern Ireland to realize that mutual violence cannot
lead anywhere.
