Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-10-06

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP officials are participating in a meeting of the Socialist International in Spain

[02] Protestors came face to face with the police yesterday in front of the assembly; Eroglu said he was not the one who invited the police

[03] The foreign population in the occupied areas is said to be twice or three times the size of the local population

[04] The Management Centre is participating in the meeting of the IMF in Istanbul representing the whole of Cyprus upon invitation by the World Bank

[05] The so-called Higher Broadcasting Council calls on the media not to use the Cyprus dialect of the Turkish language

[06] Data regarding the cost of living in the occupied areas of Cyprus for September

[07] Oil slick clean-up operation taking place in occupied Trikomo

[08] The Turkish government denies plans for general elections in 2010

[09] Turkey and Syria conduct 'Natural Disasters Search and Rescue' exercise

[10] Turkey and Iran to establish joint free zone

[11] Turkish energy minister holds contacts in Qatar

[12] Ahmet Turk was re-elected as DTP leader

[13] Armed attack on DISK chairman

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 05 October 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP officials are participating in a meeting of the Socialist International in Spain

(I/Ts.)

[02] Protestors came face to face with the police yesterday in front of the assembly; Eroglu said he was not the one who invited the police

During the discussion, the chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that the draft laws submitted by the government will have no other use than creating democratic problems while there are economic problems that should be discussed. Moreover, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas said that the decrees should be withdrawn and laws should be prepared instead of them. He noted that the security measures taken around the building of the assembly were excessive.

The self-styled prime minister, Dervis Eroglu stated that taking measures to tackle the economic crisis is inevitable and announced that soon they will sign a protocol with Turkey. During the address of Mr Eroglu, the representatives of the trade unions, who were watching the debates, left the room.

Meanwhile, the Trade Unions Platform held a protest activity outside the assembly demanding the withdrawal of the draft-laws regarding the pensions. The self-styled police took very extensive security measures and some roads leading to the assembly were closed for the traffic. Moreover, KTAMS held a strike yesterday in the Courts and the Title Deeds Department which is located in the building of the Courts.

The participants in the strike marched towards the building of the assembly, where the chairman of the trade union, Ahmet Kaptan accused the government of forgetting the promises it gave to the workers before the so-called elections and of administrating the country with instructions it takes from Ankara.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (06.10.09) refers to the issue under the title We became the fools of Ankara and reports that neither Ferdi Sabit Soyer nor Dervis Eroglu knows the interference made against the protestors by the police, who are not bound to the civilian authority, but in spite of this everybody blames each other and not Ankara! The paper writes that Mr Eroglu stated that he has not invited the police to be in front of the assembly yesterday.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (06.10.09) reports that 500 policemen were on duty to prevent 50 members of the trade unions. The paper refers to the issue under the front-page banner title This government is closed to the people.

(I/Ts.)

[03] The foreign population in the occupied areas is said to be twice or three times the size of the local population

(I/Ts.)

[04] The Management Centre is participating in the meeting of the IMF in Istanbul representing the whole of Cyprus upon invitation by the World Bank

(I/Ts.)

[05] The so-called Higher Broadcasting Council calls on the media not to use the Cyprus dialect of the Turkish language

(I/Ts.)

[06] Data regarding the cost of living in the occupied areas of Cyprus for September

According to the previous month, increase was observed in the following main groups of products and services: Clothing and Footwear 3%, communication 2.2%, miscellaneous goods and services 1%, education 0.9%, furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance 0.4%, food and non-alcoholic beverages and entertainment, restaurants and hotels 0.1% while in the health services there was a decrease by 0.1%.

(AK)

[07] Oil slick clean-up operation taking place in occupied Trikomo

Efforts to clean an oil spill off the coast of Kalecik [occupied Gastria] in the Iskele [occupied Trikomo] District are continuing.

The Director of AKSA Energy Murat Captug who is heading the clean-up effort said that most of the spill has been successfully cleaned, averting an environmental disaster.

Teams from the TRNC Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Cultural as well as the AKSA Energy firm responsible for the spill are working strenuously to clean-up an oil spill from a tanker off the Kalecik-Iskele coast.

Speaking to the BRT, the Director of AKSA Energy Murat Captug said that the spill had been caused by a malfunction on a tanker during transfer of the fuel to shore. Explaining that up to 80-90% of the spill has been cleaned he said that clean-up operations will continue for several more days until the area is completely decontaminated.

Around 2 tons of fuel oil had spilled into the sea from a tanker pumping fuel to fuel tanks on shore, killing fish and other marine animals.

[08] The Turkish government denies plans for general elections in 2010

A Turkish state minister said on Monday that the government was not thinking of holding general elections in 2010.

Turkey's State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said that the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party was not thinking of holding general elections in 2010, earlier than the scheduled. However, I do not know what the conditions will bring, Arinc told the private CNN Turk channel.

Arinc said that the democratic move of the government was a process, and could not be associated with only ethnic origin. The state minister said the government would try to accomplish the process.

Also, Arinc said the society and he were expecting to see a civilian and new constitution. We will do it when we reach a political compromise in the parliament, Arinc said.

Arinc underlined the importance of the stances of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in that process, and said he thought the Democratic Society Party (DTP) would most probably support a constitutional amendment. The minister said the decision to bring DTP lawmakers to court by police force was wrong, and they were trying to solve the problem. We are working to exclude the sentence of exception in the Article 38, and this is a final solution, he said.

[09] Turkey and Syria conduct 'Natural Disasters Search and Rescue' exercise

Ankara will host the Turkey-Syria United Natural Disasters Search and Rescue (DAK) Exercise, the Turkish General Staff announced in its web site.

The exercise is designed to foster cooperation in cases of natural disasters between the two countries. Two DAK teams from each country will attend the exercise.

The exercise began on Monday and will end on Friday, October 9.

[10] Turkey and Iran to establish joint free zone

Turkish State Minister for foreign trade Zafer Caglayan said Monday his ministry was working on a project to establish a joint free zone at the Turkish-Iranian border.Speaking at the meeting of the Turkish-Iranian Business Council in Istanbul, Caglayan said that the global crisis devastated the economies of the world.Turkey has been (negatively) affected by the global crisis and continues to be affected, Caglayan said. Hopefully, by the end of 2009, Turkey will overcome the negative effects of the global financial crisis. Turkey will again become a country that shows growth in 2010, Caglayan said.

A global crisis requires a global solution. Countries of the world must increase commercial relations among themselves. As such, the current visit of 200 Iranian businessmen to Turkey carries high importance, Caglayan said. This meeting would be more meaningful if the businessmen of the two countries make mutual investments and work together in third countries, Caglayan said.

The trade volume between Turkey and Iran was 10.5 billion USD in 2008. The trade volume went down in 2009 due to the global crisis and would reach 6.5 billion USD by the end of this year. These figures do not represent the potential. We must increase mutual trade with Iran to 20 billion USD in the next five years, Caglayan stressed.

We can work together in construction services. In the next decade, more than 130 billion USD of investments would take place in the energy field in Turkey. We desire to see Iranian businessmen involved in Turkey's energy sector, Caglayan also said.

[11] Turkish energy minister holds contacts in Qatar

The Turkish energy minister left for Qatar on Monday. Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz will pay a visit to Qatar upon an invitation by Qatari Minister of Energy and Industry Abdallah bin Hamad al-Atiyah.

Before flying to this country, Yildiz said he would sign an agreement with the Qatari minister of energy which would set up working groups. These working groups will deal with long-term energy contracts and feasibility works on natural gas, he said.

Yildiz said he would visit energy centres and First Turkish Export Products Exhibition in Qatar, and exchange views on new energy projects in Turkey. The energy minister said Qatar would be one of the countries with which Turkey was negotiating to diversify its natural gas resources and create a natural gas market with more reasonable prices.

Turkey and Qatar agreed to establish a joint committee to seek opportunities on energy cooperation during Qatari Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani's visit to Turkey in August.

[12] Ahmet Turk was re-elected as DTP leader

Ahmet Turk was re-elected the leader of the Democratic Society Party (DTP). The third extraordinary congress of the DTP took place in Ankara. Some 654 delegates cast their votes to elect new chairman of the political party. Turk received all valid 651 votes.

During his speech at the congress, Turk said that Turkey was living through a significant period. We are ready to fulfil our responsibilities. Turkish and Kurdish peoples who have been living on these lands for a century deserve a better future, he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (05.10.09) reported the following from Ankara:

The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, has decided to open representative offices in Iran, Syria and northern Iraq, countries where important ethnic Kurdish populations exist.

The decision was taken during the partys convention held in Ankara on Sunday. A while ago, the party announced the establishment of representations in Brussels and in Washington, D.C., as part of the DTPs efforts to better promote its policies abroad.

The DTPs office in northern Iraq is expected to be opened in Suleymaniya, in Irans Urumiya and in Syrias Aleppo. It is not known when the offices will be opened.

Another important decision made at the convention was to elect the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalans brother Mehmet Ocalan to the governing body of the DTP. Similarly, grandson of Sheikh Sait, who revolted against the Turkish Republic in 1925, Bedri Firat was also elected as a member of the Party Assembly.

Professor Busra Ersanli; writer Faik Bulut; actress Yesim Dormen; former head of the Socialist Democracy Party Filiz Kocali; former minister responsible for human rights Adnan Ekmen; and former Republican Peoples Party (CHP) deputy Esad Canan were also included in the Party Assembly.

Apart from these figures, 16 people who are currently in prison on charges of having connections with the terror organization were also elected to the Party Assembly. Among them are deputy chairpersons Selma Irmak, Kmauran Yuksek and Bayram Altun.

The party will likely appoint Emine Ayna as co-chairwoman of the party alongside Ahmet Turk. In the coming days the party will select its new members for the Central Decision-making Council (MYK).

[13] Armed attack on DISK chairman

The chairman of a Turkish labour confederation underwent a successful surgery after an armed attack against him on Monday. Suleyman Celebi, the chairman of Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK), underwent a surgery at Istanbuls Florence Nightingale Hospital after he was shot in his left foot.

The bullets in Celebis foot were removed, and he is in stable condition, Fahrettin Erdogan, the press and public relations director of the confederation, told AA correspondent. Erdogan said Celebi would be kept under intensive care as a precaution till Tuesday since he had earlier underwent a cardiac surgery.

Celebi was shot in the foot in an armed attack in DISK HQ in Sisli district of Istanbul earlier on Monday. He had a few bullets in his left foot. The assailant, who was immediately caught after the attack, told police that he shot Celebi as he did not pay his debt.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 05 October 2009

Turkeys EU Accession / Cyprus Issue

Relating his conversation with Dervis Eroglu, self-styled prime minister in the occupied areas of Cyprus, in a column in Milliyet, Fikret Bila points out that Eroglu and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who adopted opposing views with regard to the Annan Plan on Cyprus, has begun displaying similar stands. In reaction to this, Eroglu says that Mr Erdogans patience has run out in the face of the Greek Cypriot moves to deadlock the issue. Bila argues that Erdogan has begun changing his attitude regarding the Cyprus issue, warning the Republic of Cyprus in his speech at the United Nations. Bila recounts Eroglus interpretation as follows: Erdogan gave the message that if the Greek Cypriot side fails to reach an agreement by spring, each side will go its separate way, meaning that in such an eventuality the KKTC would continue on its path as an independent state and exerts efforts for recognition. Bila concludes that if Erdogan adopts a different attitude by spring, Eroglu may decide to run for president in the occupied by Turkish troops territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

In a commentary in Milliyet, Riza Turmen explores the reasons for what he terms the great distance between Turkey and the EU. The EU, which is an integration of values, is based on democracy, secularism, and the importance of the individual, Turmen explains, adding that it is the principle of secularism that unites or separates Turkey from the EU. According to Turmen, there is some confusion in the Turkish discourse regarding the concepts of culture and civilization. He says that the Turkish society is not expected to renounce its culture, but it should adopt the universal value system of Western civilization while preserving its culture. He adds: It is difficult for Turkey to accede to the EU while religion is increasingly becoming a veiled state ideology; while there are attempts to suppress the opposing media through various means; while the political authority is trying to control every aspect of the society and the individuals life; while it is becoming harder for autonomous institutions to continue their existence; and while communal life is prevailing over individual life. A Turkey that has veered away from the EU route cannot be a democratic, contemporary, and civilized state of law.

In a commentary also in Milliyet, Kadri Gursel questions chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis statement that the government is progressing toward the EU goal with startling speed. Gursel maintains, in contrast, that we are on the verge of a complete deadlock, and the only key to unlock this impasse is the solution of the Cyprus problem. He says this would help to restart negotiations on a number of chapters that are currently suspended because of the Cyprus problem. Unless the Cyprus problem is resolved by spring, when presidential elections will be held in northern Cyprus, Eroglu, who is opposed to a solution, may win the elections against the incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat, he argues, concluding: If the Cyprus problem is not resolved now, it could cut Turkeys road to the EU without prolonging it any further.

b) Erdogans speech at the AKP Congress

Erdogans sincerity will be tested by developments, headlines Semih Idiz in a column in Milliyet, referring to the prime ministers speech at the Justice and Development Party, (AKP), congress over the weekend. Idiz states that the two-hour speech that reflected self-confidence and energy contained messages for domestic consumption as well as for the world. Idiz reports that the foreign missions in Ankara interpreted Erdogans remarks as a kind of manifesto for a new era. In naming some of the figures that symbolize the different sectors of our society in the same breath, Idiz argues, Erdogan gave the message of unity via tolerance. Idiz also maintains that despite the criticism he levelled against the opposition, Erdogan revealed that he wants to pursue a conciliatory rather than a belligerent stand by saying these are above-party matters, come let us resolve them together. In Idizs opinion, the lack of focus on the freedom of the press in Erdogans speech was a serious shortcoming. Idiz concludes by saying that the developments in the coming weeks, especially with regard to the Kurdish and Armenian overtures, will constitute a test of Erdogans sincerity.

Writing in a commentary in Hurriyet, Mehmet Yilmaz says that he had a hard time recognizing the prime minister in the speech delivered at the party congress, and suggests this may stem from the difference between the written word as opposed to colloquial speech. Yilmaz says: The Erdogan we know gives himself away in his ad hoc statements. There we find the extent to which he is able to internalize democracy and to love everyone, his fury, the source of his rage, and the degree of his shallowness. Not in this plastic text. He calls it plastic because it looks beautiful on the outside, but inside it is the same personality. Yilmaz further criticizes the lack of democracy within the party, given the unanimous vote for Erdogan, terming the process staged democracy.

In a commentary in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Yusuf Kanli also questions the sincerity of Erdogan and his government, stating: Hopefully the AKP government will change and progress in the period ahead and prove all the sceptics wrong. Lets hope that Erdogan was not just reading from a prepared text reflected on a mirror placed in front of him but indeed talking out of his heart and brain.

In an article entitled I would have liked to be there, Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru, writing under the pseudonym Taha Kivanc, discloses that he did not attend the AKPs latest convention over the weekend because the party administration did not offer him a special invitation to be present at the occasion like one made through a phone call by a deputy chairman or the partys press officer. Koru criticizes the AKP for its indifference toward the news media indicated by its reluctance to encourage [press] participation in the convention, asserting that this situation will cause future historians to find it hard to base their accounts of todays political events on the testimony of reliable witnesses. He also asserts that the AKPs press office appears to have been too busy trying to persuade celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Kevin Costner to attend the AKP convention to remember to invite certain columnists and media executives to this event.

EG/

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