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

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot press covered the prevention by the Turkish occupation army of the pilgrims to attend the liturgy at Agios Mamas church

[02] Turkish Cypriot newspapers criticize the Turkish side for not permitting the inhabitants of Pyrgos to visit occupied Morfou through Limnitis barricade

[03] The Turkish Cypriot political parties presented to Talat their views on Governance and Power sharing which will be taken up in the 2nd round of negotiations

[04] Ercakica criticized the Greek Cypriots who describe the visit of Davutoglu to occupied Cyprus as illegal

[05] DP general secretary Ejder Aslanbaba, withdraws his resignation from the post

[06] NTV Channel obtained the draft of Turkeys EU progress report according to which Turkey failed to fulfill its obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus

[07] Bagis said that it is not fair to put Cyprus in front of Turkeys EU negotiation process all the time

[08] The Turkish Foreign Minister pays an official visit to Cairo and highlights the importance of Turkey-Egypt relations

[09] Turkey will become a production base in the region for the French Energy Total Company

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 02 September 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot press covered the prevention by the Turkish occupation army of the pilgrims to attend the liturgy at Agios Mamas church

HAVADIS: Crisis over crossing. The paper under the above title reports that the Greek Cypriot side announced that it will not participate in the negotiations scheduled to take place between the two leaders today due to the attitude demonstrated yesterday at the Limnitis crossing point towards the Greek Cypriot prayers who wanted to go to Agios Mamas. The paper further reports on the statements made by Ozdil Nami, advisor of the Turkish Cypriot leader, who has stated that they were informed about the postponement of todays first meeting of the second round of the negotiations, through the press. The paper reports also on the statements made by the self-styled prime minister Dervis Eroglu who has said that the event yesterday is important because it indicates that the president of the Greek Cypriot administration, as he called President Christofias, is leaving the negotiations table with lame excuses and has no intention for reconciliation.

HALKIN SESI: Crisis. The paper writes that the first meeting today of the second round of the negotiations has been postponed by the Greek Cypriots providing as an excuse the problems which appeared at the Yesilirmak crossing point [Limnitis crossing point]. The paper reports also on the statements of the commissioner of the Greek Cypriot presidency, as he called Mr Iacovou, who has stated that the attitude demonstrated at the Limnitis crossing point towards the Greek Cypriot pilgrims casts a shadow over the negotiation talks. Moreover, the paper writes that the presidential spokesman, Mr Hasan Ercakica stated that the Turkish Cypriot side followed the existing agreement as regards the crossings.

STAR KIBRIS: Under the front-page title Sarkozy crisis the paper reports that the President of France, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy received the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, Mr Demetris Christofias in Paris, and conveyed Frances support to the negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot side. Subtitle of the paper: Christofias met with Sarkozy, the second round of the negotiations talks has been postponed.

ORTAM: With the title Identity crisis the paper reports that the Greek Cypriot Administration announced that it will not proceed to the meeting today due to the fact that the TRNC did not allow Greek Cypriots to pass to the occupied areas of Cyprus without undergoing identity control and to participate in the service at the Agios Mamas church.

VOLKAN: The paper under the banner front-page title Bravo Christofia! writes that President Christofias left the negotiation table for his own national cause and then it calls on Talat to follow the example of Mr Christofias. The paper writes also in its subtitle that the Greek Cypriots caused a purposeful crisis at the crossing point. It also writes that on the one hand the Turkish Cypriot side declares that it stuck to the agreement for the crossings, on the other hand, Christofias alleged that it is the Turkish Cypriot side which has not kept the agreement and thus it decided not to proceed to todays meeting.

AFRIKA: Agios Mamas bomb. The second round of the negotiations is blown up. The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot side did not allow Greek Cypriots to pass through the Limnitis crossing point with lame excuses. After this attitude towards the Greek Cypriot pilgrims, the Greek Cypriot side postponed the meeting today between Talat-Christofias.

KIBRISLI: The second round could not start. The paper reports that todays negotiations, which would be the first of the second round of direct negotiations, were postponed by the Greek Cypriot side.

GUNES: Under the title Byzantine game, the paper also reports the following: The Greek Cypriots see as sºill to ignore TRNC ... The Greek Cypriots, who had tried to cross over from Limnitis to the TRNC unquestioned and with no control, postponed the launching of the negotiations when they could not succeed.

YENIDUZEN: Unpleasantness . The paper reports that the dispute, which was created during the crossing of some Greek Cypriots at Kato Pyrgos, who were waiting to cross in masses from the Limnitis gate to attend the religious ceremonies at the Agios Mamas Church in occupied Morfou, overshadowed the second round of the peace negotiations that would have begun today.

VATAN: Christofias did not come to the negotiation table. The paper reports that due to the involvement of priests in the fraud at Agios Mamas religious service, a crisis was caused at the negotiations table.

Furthermore, under the title in its world-news pages, Pilgrim crisis from the Greek Cypriots, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (03.09.09) carries a report by its correspondent in occupied Lefkosia, Mr Omer Bilge, regarding the tension created the day before by not letting a group of Greek Cypriots pass through Limnitis gate to attend a religious ceremony in Agios Mamas Church in occupied Morfou, as it was scheduled.

The paper writes that President Demetris Christofias, who was in France for contacts with the French President Sarkozy, conveyed to the Turkish Cypriot side, through his spokesman, that the launching of the second round of the negotiations, which was scheduled to commence on September 3, will be postponed, using as an excuse the above-mentioned incident.

Turkish daily Milliyet newspaper (03.09.09) reports on the same issue by its correspondent in occupied Cyprus, Mr Sefa Karahasan, under the title, Crisis creates obstacle to the second round in Cyprus. In addition, the paper writes that according to information gained by Milliyet, President Christofias took this decision as a reaction to the statements made by the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu during his illegal visit to occupied Cyprus.

(AK/DPs/EA)

[02] Turkish Cypriot newspapers criticize the Turkish side for not permitting the inhabitants of Pyrgos to visit occupied Morfou through Limnitis barricade

Mr Duzgun alleges that the illegal visit of Davutoglu caused the collapse of the campaign carried out by Athens and the Greek Cypriot side that Ankara does not want a solution and that if Ankara wanted a solution, the Cyprus problem would be solved in a very short time.

Referring to the obstacles which the inhabitants of Pyrgos area faced yesterday, Mr Duzgun writes the following:

The difficulties caused to the Greek Cypriots who wanted to attend the service that would be carried out at Agios Mamas Church in Morfou using the Yesilirmak [Tr. Note: occupied Limnitis] Gate, were not a correct stance. In our view, when the difficulties which the leaders faced for opening the Yesilirmak Gate are taken into consideration, the last thing needed was experiencing a problem in such details and poisoning the relations unnecessarily.

While the positive effects of the massive crossing carried out for the memorial ceremonies of Erenkoy victims [Tr. Note: occupied Kokkina village] using the Pyrgos gate were continuing, no problems should have been created for the Greek Cypriots who would pass from Yesilirmak for the service. Tension should not have been created at the very beginning of the talks by doing this.

While the TRNC citizens who are not permitted to visit the South reached Erenkoy without any obstacles, violating an agreement by carrying out detailed interrogations and falling into an unnecessary delirium of security has been noted as a stance which is not correct. Unfortunately, this improper stance was exhibited by our side.

There is definitely an explanation why those who had a positive attitude on a thorny and difficult issue such as the opening of Yesilirmak Gate behaved in this manner during a crossing for a simple service. The public is expecting to hear this.

Meanwhile, referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (03.09.09) writes, inter alia, the following in its Letter from Africa column under the title Let us see you count how many of us tell the truth:

The Turkish side plants continuously seeds of enmity in Cyprus. It blows up the feelings of peace. It incites the feelings of enmity, hatred and revenge. In every occasion it makes the other side feel its military power and superiority. It forces it succumb to all its conditions. What kind of feelings do you want a Greek Cypriot adolescent to have when he is not permitted to cross over to Morfou through Limnitis gate? How will he love you? How will he be supporter of peace? If you were in his shoes, what would you feel when you were going home after they turned your buses back from the barricade? Would you not dream for the right moment in your life? Would you not think that one day the wheel would turn round and you would take your revenge?

Those who lead us, the civilian and the military authorities, do this in an irresponsible manner. They plant seeds of enmity. They made those who are on the other side be filled with hatred and not with love. What would happen, if permission was given for the crossing from that gate? Would the end of the world come? Would we be humiliated and insulted? Would our lives be in danger? Would the TRNC lose from its prestige? It is a shame, a shame! You passed and went to Erenkoy [Tr. Note: occupied Kokkina village] with buses. Have they created problems for you? Have they lined you up, as you lined up the priests in front of the police lodges? What would happen if you gave the permission? They came for prayers and not to conquer Morfou. Is this what you were afraid of? The curse of Jesus?

(I/Ts)

[03] The Turkish Cypriot political parties presented to Talat their views on Governance and Power sharing which will be taken up in the 2nd round of negotiations

Political parties in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have presented their views to President Mehmet Ali Talat regarding Governance and Power-Sharing, which is the first chapter of talks and will again be taken up in the second round. Party representatives made their general evaluations to the BRT newsroom, ahead of the meeting.

The Secretary General of the ruling National Unity Party Irsen Kucuk, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, said his party focuses on the sovereignty of two constituent states of equal status and it rejects to make any concessions on bi-zonality and guarantorship.

The Secretary General of the main opposition the Republican Turkish Party, Mr Kutlay Erk, said what lies in the roots of the Cyprus problem is the failure in power-sharing and emphasized the need for political equality.

Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Democrat Party -Bengu Sonya- for her part underlined the need for strengthening the economy in order to obtain a result from the negotiation chapters.

The Socialist Democratic Partys Leader Mehmet Cakici spoke of interim formulas he intends to present to President Talat, but gave no further information.

And finally, the Leader of the Freedom and Reform Party Turgay Avci said his party has serious concerns about the procedure to be followed in the election of the president and vice-presidents in the new partnership state.

[04] Ercakica criticized the Greek Cypriots who describe the visit of Davutoglu to occupied Cyprus as illegal

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has backfired on Greek Cypriot officials who claimed that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglus official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was illegal.

They first need to explain to us what a legal visit is, before they make criticism, Ercakica stressed.

At his weekly press briefing, he said Mr Davutoglus visit to the TRNC had a vital importance, at a time the two sides in Cyprus were preparing for the second round of negotiations.

Defining the visit as fruitful, the Presidential Spokesperson said the Turkish Foreign Minister and the TRNC state heads have held comprehensive discussions on all necessary matters, the Cyprus issue being among the priorities.

Ercakica noted that the visit also came as a confirmation to Turkeys ongoing support to President Mehmet Ali Talat at the negotiations table.

Davutoglu has sent important messages both to Cyprus Turks and the international community. He made stress on the Turkish will for peace and the unacceptability of status quo, he added.

He moved on to say that the Turkish Foreign Minister reiterated Turkey and the TRNCs pioneer roles in working for an early political settlement in Cyprus.

Ercakica also reminded that Ahmet Davutoglu had called on the Greek Cypriot Side to make a good use of the current opportunity for a settlement and show the necessary will towards achieving early peace on the island.

[05] DP general secretary Ejder Aslanbaba, withdraws his resignation from the post

As Bakis writes, the issue was discussed yesterday during a meeting of the Central Committee of DP and Mr Aslanbabas resignation was withdrawn after the consent of the DP to offer major support to the efforts Mr Aslanbaba is undertaking in the occupied region of Trikomo-Karpasia, as Serdar Denktas announced.

(ML)

[06] NTV Channel obtained the draft of Turkeys EU progress report according to which Turkey failed to fulfil its obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus

The European Commission is expected to release its 2009 Progress Report on Turkey on the 14th of October.

Turkeys NTV channel obtained the draft of the report which is seen very important as the deadline given to Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic expires in autumn.

According to NTV, the draft report says Turkey has failed to fulfil its responsibilities on the issue.

But it points out that the Cyprus negotiation process is still continuing and says there are no plans to freeze talks on new chapters in addition to 8 chapters, unless such a request is made by a member country.

The report welcomes the opening of TRT-6 channel, restructuring of military courts, appointment of a Chief EU negotiator and the Kurdish opening initiated by the Turkish government.

[07] Bagis said that it is not fair to put Cyprus in front of Turkeys EU negotiation process all the time

Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "Turkey is heading towards more democracy, more human rights and more stability."

Speaking at a panel discussion on Turkey on the sidelines of the European Forum Alpbach in Austria, Bagis said, "We are aware of that the EU membership requires a long process. All we want in this process in honesty, openness and fair play. Europe needs Turkey and Turkey needs Europe. We can achieve Turkey's accession to the EU all together."

"Turkish people's opinion about the EU changes frequently because of the EU's inconsistent attitude about Turkey," he said.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Bagis said, "Both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots have made great contributions to efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. It is not fair to put the Cyprus issue in front of Turkey's EU negotiation process all the time."Bagis is set to come together with executives of Union of Austrian Industrialists over breakfast on Wednesday morning. Then, he will proceed to Vienna to inaugurate the new building of Turkey's consulate general. He will also deliver a speech at the Vienna University on "Europe's Future and Turkey".

[08] The Turkish Foreign Minister pays an official visit to Cairo and highlights the importance of Turkey-Egypt relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "Turkey and Egypt, as the two powerful countries in their region, are making intense efforts to ensure regional peace." Davutoglu, who is currently paying an official visit to Cairo as the guest of his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit, highlighted importance of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Egypt.

"I held a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt earlier in the day. I informed President Mubarak on my recent visits aiming to ease the tension between Syria and Iraq. He extended his support to Turkey's initiatives to ensure regional peace," he said.

Referring to the economic and commercial relations between the two countries, Davutoglu said, "Our trade volume with Egypt has been continuously increasing since 2007. It reached 5 billion USD. Turkish businessmen have made significant investments in Egypt."

He also met with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.

Davutoglu is set to partake in a fast-breaking dinner to be hosted in his honour by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit later in the day.

[09] Turkey will become a production base in the region for the French Energy Total Company

French oil giant Total is building a plant in western Turkey for its brand Bostik, an adhesives and sealants manufacturer, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.Turkey will become a production base in the region --covering Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa-- for Bostik, a worldwide division of oil, gas and chemicals company Total, after the production facility in Corlu (near Istanbul) is built.Bostik produces and supplies customized adhesives, sealants and coatings for automotive and aircraft interiors, the marine and transportation markets, industrial and product manufacturing, packaging, disposable nonwovens/hygiene, residential and commercial construction markets, as well as a comprehensive line of flooring installation products serving the entire flooring industry.

Company's operations will shift to Turkey from France and Germany after the Corlu plant is completed in 2011, the statement said.

Bostik entered Turkish market in 2005 after it acquired Turkish chemicals company Cuhadaroglu Kimya and its brand Cekomastik. Bostik later acquired another Turkish company Tekbau and the two companies merged and started to operate under Bostik.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 02 September 2009

a) Turkeys ties with Armenia

In addition to being a historic opportunity, the normalization of the ties between Turkey and Armenia carries serious risks, asserts Sami Kohen in an article in Milliyet, adding however, that the lack of diplomatic ties between the two countries has not served the interests of Ankara, Yerevan, or Baku thus far. Emphasizing that with the normalization of the ties, the genocide propaganda that constantly causes problems for Turkey will lose its effect, Turkey will be able to assume a more effective role in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and Ankara will become more influential over Armenia, Kohen stresses that it is necessary to look at such an agreement with a "win-win" understanding. Also drawing attention to the risks of the agreement, Kohen predicts that both the Sargsyan and the Erdogan governments will have problems in receiving their parliaments' approval for this agreement. Nonetheless the greatest risk or danger, notes Kohen, is keeping the expectations exaggeratedly high on the one hand and having politicians issue provocative statements in this difficult and sensitive process on the other."

In an article in Hurriyet, Fatih Cekirge who accompanied Davutoglu to Iraq, Syria, and Cyprus, says: "During the past 32 hours I have understood that the government has opened the door ajar to a very risky period in terms of itself." Explaining that the government is trying to resolve the Kurdish problem and to normalize Turkey's ties with Armenia, and to solve the Cyprus issue because it has understood that problems that have been frozen for years and that have become gangrenous constantly give Turkey headaches, Cekirge says that "it is time to move the stones."

Describing the two protocols signed with Armenia as a "lose-lose formula" Hurriyet's Oktay Eksi argues in an article that these protocols will lead to the deterioration of the ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Recalling that Erdogan had promised in Baku not to open the borders with Armenia if the latter does not withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh, Eksi says: "Of course, if the government has reached an agreement that is unknown to us with Azerbaijan, we will not say anything. In fact we will even congratulate the government." Otherwise, says Eksi, one more red line has been thrown away.

Everyone knows that the point reached with Armenia is one of the requirements of Obama's plan, says Orhan Birgit in an article in Cumhuriyet and criticizes the government for implementing, word by word, the road map that President Obama had proposed to Turkey in the speech he had delivered at the National Assembly. This way, the government enables the United States to prove its influence over Armenia, says Birgit and talks about the possibility of US military bases replacing the Russian military bases in Armenia. Noting that the protocol signed with Armenia does not include Armenian withdrawal from Karabakh, Birgit asks whether Erdogan believes that Baku will forget his promises about not opening the Armenian problem prior to the solution of the Karabakh issue.

There is no doubt that an Ankara that has "normal" ties with Armenia and that is able to talk with Yerevan about the 1915 incidents will be more respectable throughout the world, says Yasemin Congar in an article in Taraf and adds: "More important, however, is the giant step that will be taken by the state for deserving the trust and the respect of its Armenian citizens. And this is a step en route to 'internal peace'." Also referring to the Kurdish overture, Congar underlines the importance of making progress in this regard by giving the Kurds in Turkey confidence. The cries of those who oppose a solution will continue, but I hope that the voices of those who want peace at home and peace in the world will be stronger, concludes Congar.

Under the headline, "Armenia to withdraw soldiers from Karabakh," Yeni Safak carries a front-page report which asserts that the "historic protocol" signed between Turkey and Armenia entails Yerevan's withdrawal of Armenian soldiers from the Nagorno-Karabakh region before the agreement is approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The report also asserts that the protocol includes provisions requiring Yerevan to stop endorsing accusations of genocide against Turkey.

In an article entitled "The Kurdish and Armenian overtures: What is next?, Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul comments on the Government's latest "overture" toward Armenia. He claims that Turkey's current problems with Armenia are the only obstacle to Ankara's goal of achieving stability in the Caucasus, adding that the latest Turkish-Armenian protocol based on the "road map" determined in April has started a rapprochement process that cannot be reversed easily. He also argues that the protocol entails "very courageous" moves that signify a "profound philosophical transformation" in Turkey's foreign policy outlook.

In an article entitled "The Meaning of the Armenian overture", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru cites the latest Turkish-Armenian protocol signed through Switzerland's mediation as an indication of how international circumstances and the "visionary" quality of Ankara's foreign policy stance are preventing Turkey from "sweeping problems under the rug." Responding to domestic objections to the protocol, Koru argues that the Government's latest "overture" is aimed at resolving precisely those problems with Armenia that lie at the basis of the said objections, namely the Armenian occupation of Karabakh, the Armenian constitution's description of the 1915 events in Ottoman Turkey as genocide, and Yerevan's territorial demands from Turkey. He also asserts that the process started by the signing of the protocol will serve as a "test of sincerity" for the international community on the resolution of certain long-standing disagreements between Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

In an article entitled "The Crux of the Armenian initiative", Zaman columnist Abdulhamit Bilici asserts that neither Turkey nor Azerbaijan have benefited from their policy of setting Armenian withdrawal from Karabakh as a precondition for the launch of negotiations with Yerevan. He claims that what Turkey is doing now in launching its latest Armenian overture is trying a method that could help Baku be reconciled with Yerevan without imposing such prerequisites.

In a commentary entitled "What the protocol with Armenia means", Gokhan Bacik of Fatih University predicts that the Turkish-Armenian protocol will have the following consequences if it proves functional: 1. Armenia enters Turkey's area of influence, with major implications in the Caucasus. 2. Armenia returns to the international system. 3. Armenian political elites launch a process of changes in the social and political structure of Armenia. 4. A liberalization process affecting the Caucasus as a whole starts.

Under the headline, "Turkey upsets Azerbaijan," Milli Gazete carries a front-page report which asserts that the agreement to open the Turkish-Armenian border has disappointed Baku. The report outlines an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry statement announcing that the agreement is contrary to Ankara's previous pledges.

b) On Turkish troops to Afghanistan and withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

Arguing that NATO Secretary General Rasmussen has recently visited Ankara because NATO wants Turkish experts to train policemen and soldiers in Afghanistan, Milliyet's Melih Asik in an article, says: "Careful, similar to Iraq, policemen and soldiers who work under the government will constitute the main target of the resistance fighters in Afghanistan and therefore the Turkish experts who will be sent to this country for training may become priority targets. Turkey should not get much involved in Afghanistan which has turned into a bloodbath for the sake of US interests. Let bloody-minded Washington stew in its own juice!"

According to a report entitled "Authorization bill required for 100,000 US soldiers", the ruling AKP needs to persuade Parliament to pass an authorization bill in order to be able to allow the US troops in Iraq to use Turkey as an exit route in withdrawing from Iraq.

EG/

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