Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-11-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas and Mehmet Ali Talat quarrelled on the Cyprus problem during a symposium in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[02] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek will illegally visit the occupied areas for the 26th anniversary from the unilateral declaration of independence of the occupation regime

[03] Kutlay Erk stated that the main aim of the National Unity Party is the continuation of the status quo

[04] Alexander Downer visited the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat

[05] The hearing of the Orams Case started yesterday at the British Court of Appeal

[06] Turkey and Switzerland to exchange information on bank accounts

[07] Study reveals Turkey continues to fail big in freedom of expression

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 12 November 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas and Mehmet Ali Talat quarrelled on the Cyprus problem during a symposium in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The paper notes that Mr Denktas and Mr Talat had the floor repeatedly and expressed opposing views on the Cyprus problem and the negotiations for reaching a solution to the problem.

After Mr Talat argued that the Turkish side committed mistakes which permitted to the Republic of Cyprus to join the European Union (EU), Mr Denktas expressed the view that no mistake was committed. Mr Denktas alleged also that after the referendum in 2004, a great opportunity for the recognition of the breakaway regime was created, but it was lost.

Mr Denktas claimed: You will see. If Talat and Christofias could bring about a single document, it should be known that Talat has been surrendered. Otherwise, Christofias will not say yes.

Responding to Mr Denktas allegation, Mr Talat said: I never surrender, but when I agree, we shall submit this to the approval of the Turkish Cypriot people. If our people accept, this job will happen. If they do not accept or if the process collapses again because of the Greek Cypriots, we should work in harmony with the world, not challenge the world.

Mr Talat said also that the agreement for the solution of the Cyprus problem will be within the framework of the parameters of the UN. He pointed out that taking care of their international relations is important both in the conditions of the solution and in the conditions of the non-solution.

Mr Denktas said: We want sovereign borders. We are obliged to produce the sovereignty for us, in order to acquire sovereign borders, to be able to make a lasting agreement.

Mr Talat responded: There will be an agreement within the parameters of the UN, based on the bi-zonality, the political equality of the two communities. Political equality, equality in the sovereignty, partnership, using our own powers in our own state and in the end living the sovereignty at various levels are included in the federation. This is what we shall do.

(ITs)

[02] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek will illegally visit the occupied areas for the 26th anniversary from the unilateral declaration of independence of the occupation regime

The 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be celebrated with various events in the Republic as of tomorrow. Turkey is being represented by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek. Various ceremonies are taking place throughout the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to mark the anniversary of its establishment.

Many foreign guests from different countries, including Turkey, are in the Republic to share the joy of the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Cemil Cicek will be representing Turkey at the events. He will be attending the major parade that will be held on the 15th of November.

The celebrations events, which will begin tomorrow, will come to an end on the 21st of November.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (13.11.09) reports that the Turkish State Minister and Deputy Premier Cemil Cicek who is expected to arrive to the occupied areas of Cyprus tonight at 23:55 hours, is scheduled to meet tomorrow with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the speaker of the self-styled assembly Hasan Bozer and the prime minister Dervis Eroglu.

According to the paper, Mr Cicek will also participate in several opening ceremonies in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He will also visit occupied Vokolida village and deliver a speech at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU). Mr Cicek will return to Turkey on November 16.

The paper also writes that the General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Mr Mustafa Isen, Turkish Deputy Speaker of the assembly Mr Sadik Yakut, the Commander of Navy Forces of the Turkish Army Forces, General Erdal Ceylanoglu will come also from Turkey to the occupied areas of Cyprus for the celebrations.

Furthermore, Ortam writes that in the framework of the celebrations, ministers, MPs and politicians from 11 countries, as well as journalists and academicians from 22 countries, are expected to illegally visit the occupied areas of Cyprus.

(AK)

[03] Kutlay Erk stated that the main aim of the National Unity Party is the continuation of the status quo

Mr Erk, who issued a written statement yesterday, was referring to some statements made recently by the self-styled prime minister and leader of UBP, Dervis Eroglu, and by the self-styled minister of foreign affairs, Huseyin Ozgurgun, regarding the Cyprus problem. With their statements both Eroglu and Ozgurgun, revealed one more time that UBP wants the continuation of the status quo. Because the economic and political structure which nourished the UBP has been formed with the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots from the world and it can continue only in this manner, Mr Erk stated.

(CS)

[04] Alexander Downer visited the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat

The UN Secretary-Generals Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer paid a visit to President Mehmet Ali Talat today ahead of tomorrows meeting. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the UN Special Advisor said that the two leaders will continue to discuss the property issue when they meet tomorrow.

Speaking at the end of the one-hour long meeting, the UN Secretary-Generals Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer said that he held a regular meeting with President Talat during which they had reviewed how the talks were going. The UN Special Envoy also expressed his usual cautious optimism that the two leaders will work through their differences over the issue of property. I would like to feel that there will be quite a focus now on the issue of property for the foreseeable future, he added. Downer also reminded that the property issue was a complicated and difficult question that needed to be worked out very carefully.

Meanwhile, the special representatives of the two leaders Ozdil Nami and Giorgos Iacovou met this afternoon and continued working on the criteria of the property issue. President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias will meet again tomorrow afternoon to review the work carried out by their aides. The property issue is seen one of the main obstacles in the way of a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[05] The hearing of the Orams Case started yesterday at the British Court of Appeal

The paper writes that Cherie Blair, who is the lawyer of the Orams couple, pointed out to two very important issues yesterday:

Firstly, she asked for the case to be brought again in front of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Mrs Blair stated that the decision taken by ECJ was not objective, because, as she claimed, the Greek Judge Vassilios Skouris was rewarded with a medal by the Greek Cypriots. She asked for the case to be examined again at the ECJ.

Secondly she stated that this case is not a case between individuals and added that it must be evaluated taking into account the public interest.

(CS)

[06] Turkey and Switzerland to exchange information on bank accounts

Turkish Finance Minister said on Thursday that Switzerland would no more be a safe heaven for secret accounts of Turkish citizens.

In an exclusive interview with the A.A correspondent, Simsek said Turkey's taxation agreement with Switzerland signed in 2008 was initialled again on November 4, 2009 because of the changes in policy of Bern particularly in exchange of information on banking secrecy. Simsek said the text of the initialled agreement empowered the parties to ask for information about the bank accounts. Turkish minister said thus the parties would be able to prevent tax evasion and deal with unfair tax competition.

Simsek said Turkey launched necessary works to sign similar agreements with other countries.

[07] Study reveals Turkey continues to fail big in freedom of expression

Turkey, frequently criticized by the European Union for its poor record in protecting freedom of expression, is again found to be below international standards in ensuring freedom of speech and religion, in a new index assessing countries adherence to the rule of law.

The Rule of Law Index, unveiled on Wednesday at the World Justice Forum in Vienna, found that Turkeys score in the protection of freedom of thought and religion is only 0.20, out of the highest possible score of 1.00. The average scores for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region and the upper middle-income level --the regional and socioeconomic categories of the index which Turkey is considered to be a part of-- are within the 0.60-0.80 range.

Turkey has been a candidate to join the EU since 1999 and opened accession talks with the 27-nation bloc in 2005, but there has been little progress in the talks so far amid Brussels criticism over legal and practical deficiencies in the protection of freedom of speech. Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) is still used in the prosecution of intellectuals and activists for expression of thoughts despite recent amendments to it. Religious freedoms, for both non-Muslim minorities and the Muslim majority, are also an area where Turkey is accustomed to receiving criticism from the West.

According to the Rule of Law Index, Turkey receives a score within the 0.20-0.40 range in the protection of freedom of speech and freedom of association. This is again below the average scores of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region and the upper middle-income level, which were measured to be within 0.20-0.60 range.

The index, based on interviews of 41,000 people and over 700 experts from 35 countries around the world --including Albania, Argentina, Austria, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand and the United States-- was unveiled at the World Justice Forum, bringing together approximately 350 representatives from more than 80 nations. The forum was opened on Wednesday and is due to last into Saturday.

Other areas where Turkey is found to be doing worse than its regional and socioeconomic peers are adequate training for the police, measures to protect reporters and whistleblowers from retaliation, transparency in the administrative process and government functioning, the independence of the judiciary from the government, independent auditing of the government, comprehensible laws, and effective enforcement of laws.

Turkeys highest scores are, among others, on ensuring access to competent legal services for the poor, prohibiting and punishing crimes against property and persons, ensuring court access without bribery or excessive fees, ensuring that attorneys are competent and in sufficient numbers and ensuring the right to legal representation in criminal cases. In all these areas, Turkeys score is above or comparable with regional and socioeconomic averages. But in two areas, although Turkeys scores are high --close to 0.80-- they are still below the regional and socioeconomic averages: the suspension of rights only as the Constitution permits and the amendment of the Constitution only according to law.

The index also reveals that Turkeys score on ensuring government officials accountability (0.44) is above the averages among the countries categorized in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region and in the upper middle income level (0.37 and 0.39, respectively). Concerning the accountability of military, police and prison officials, Turkeys rating, 0.48, is also slightly higher than regional and socioeconomic averages (0.43 and 0.41). But it does worse than its regional and socioeconomic peers in ensuring that government powers are limited by the Constitution (0.63 as opposed to 0.74 for the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region and 0.77 for the upper middle-income level).

The Rule of Law Index is a tool introduced by the World Justice Project, a multinational, multidisciplinary initiative launched in 2007 to strengthen the rule of law worldwide, to measure the extent to which countries around the world adhere to the rule of law.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 12 November 2009

Progress Report on AKP Achievements and AKPs foreign policy:

Preparing a progress report on the actions taken by the AKP in an article in Hurriyet, Ertugrul Ozkok underlines that the "democratic overture" launched by the ruling party to resolve the PKK issue is of historic importance, adding that he is convinced of the sincerity of the move even if concrete steps have yet to be taken. Also expressing support for the government's Armenian overture which he describes as "courageous and significant," Ozkok believes that these overtures "will help improve Turkey's image in the outside world." Describing the government's Middle East policies as "successful and yielding results," Ozkok, however, criticizes the "unnecessary hardening" on the issue of Israel, warning that instigating domestic public opinion on the issue might lead to dangerous consequences. Praising the prime minister's handling of civilian-military relations, Ozkok goes on to stress the "historic importance" of the Ergenekon case in "cleansing the state from the various gangs within and in preventing intentions to stage coups." Drawing attention, however, to the "grave judicial errors" that have cast a shadow over the Ergenekon case, Ozkok raises the possibility of human rights violation lawsuits against Turkey in the future. Ozkok also points out that many of the state institutions that are supposed to be autonomous have been politicized in recent years and have become tools of punishment. He concludes by expressing his "extreme concern" over the developments regarding the freedom of the press.

Assessing Turkey's ties with its neighbours since the AKP came to power seven years ago in an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Soner Cagaptay writes that "the AKP's foreign policy has resulted in significant ups with some neighbours and significant downs with others, especially those that are pro-Western." Pointing out that "the AKP has focused its energy on the Middle East, with a slant toward Islamist and anti-Western actors," Cagaptay argues that "the party asymmetrically focuses on anti-Western Arab countries and Iran while ignoring Israel, the Balkans and the Caucasus," questioning how such a policy can serve Turkish interests.

In an article entitled "Whiners", Milli Gazete columnist Mehmet Sevket Eygi takes issue with the representation of certain recent government initiatives as a betrayal of the Republican regime, arguing that "what is being done" is intended to establish a true republic and achieve a switch from a "tutelage" regime to actual democracy, adding that the changes taking place are consistent with the legitimate expectations of the majority of the public as well as being suited to "our national identity" and "have nothing to do with religious reactions." He also argues that objectors to these initiatives are looking into perpetuating a corrupt order that sustains the interests of a few very rich families, a few hundred corporations, and a minority consisting of a few hundred thousand "happy" people, making sure Turkey remains a secret US and Israeli satellite and is as far apart from neighbouring Islamic states as Mongolia and Venezuela are from one another, and continuing to restrict and violate the religious and moral rights of the majority.

EG/

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