Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-12-10

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas warns Talat that he should take into consideration the concerns of the DP and the UBP if he wants a solution; Volkan reports that he gave indirect message for cooperation between UBP and DP

[02] President Christofias and Talat held their 55th meeting in the framework of the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem

[03] Talat alleges that Britain adopted a wrong stance on the issue of guarantees so as to encourage the Greek Cypriot side

[04] Turkish Air Force General met with the so-called representative of the breakaway regime in Islamabad

[05] Tacoy says they will turn the telecommunication office into a state company with the infrastructure project supported by the EU

[06] Tatar described as insult the distribution of catalogues of IKEA in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[07] The sales of luxury cars increased in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] The UN Security Council held a meeting on Cyprus yesterday

[09] On the EU Foreign Affairs decision regarding Turkeys obligations on Cyprus

[10] The Turkish Ambassador to the US resigns

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 09 December 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas warns Talat that he should take into consideration the concerns of the DP and the UBP if he wants a solution; Volkan reports that he gave indirect message for cooperation between UBP and DP

Mr Denktas said they conveyed their complaints to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and they received the following reply: Then how will a federation be achieved?

Mr Denktas said the following addressing himself to Mr Talat: More than 50% of the votes are needed for the solution. If you want a solution, you should take into consideration the criticism brought onto the agenda by the DP and supported by the UBP as well. The votes of the two of us are 65%. If this article exists, you have a no vote exceeding 50%. If you want a solution, you should take care of our sensitivities. The existence of two separate democracies is more important for me than the rotating presidency. I will elect my own administrator and he will represent me in the common state.

Furthermore, Mr Denktas alleged that not accepting this proposal does not mean opposing to the solution and claimed that even if a solution is not found, this will not be the end of the world. He argued that in case a solution is not found this time, this issue should end and it should be announced to the world that the two sides cannot agree.

Mr Denktas said that a plan or a formula from abroad might come onto the agenda and noted that this could be going much behind the Annan Plan. He argued that the Annan Plan provided for a new state, while now it is provided for the continuation of the Republic of Cyprus. He said that the people might say yes to the plan because of some internal economic reactions, but the content of the plan should be well known.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Volkan newspaper (10.12.09) refers to the same statements under the banner front-page title There is imposition and reports that Mr Serdar Denktas has given indirect messages for cooperation between UBP and DP and made important statements on the Cyprus problem.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (10.12.09) reports that Kemal Ozturk, deputy general secretary of the Democratic Party (DP) has said that they are preparing a road map on the issue of the so-called presidential elections and that they have three options. In statements to Kanal Sim TV and Sim FM radio, Mr Ozturk said that they could either have their own candidate or support an independent candidate or even Mehmet Ali Talat or Dervis Eroglu.

(I/Ts.)

[02] President Christofias and Talat held their 55th meeting in the framework of the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem

President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias have resumed their discussions on finding a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem with another meeting today.

The two leaders continued to discuss the subject of economy. Senior aides of the two leaders will meet again tomorrow for further discussions on the subject and they will also set the agenda of the next meeting between the leaders who will meet again next Monday.

Accompanied by their respective special representatives, the two leaders were today hosted by the UN coordinator for the Good Offices Mission in Cyprus, Yasser Sabra, who said afterwards, that the meeting 'had been a constructive one ', and that 'economy' was the main topic of the discussion.

Mr Sabra told reporters that 'economy' would continue to be taken up at tomorrows meeting between the representatives of the two leaders. President Talats Special Representative Ozdil Nami and Giorgos Iacovou an aide to the Greek Cypriot leader will also set the agenda of the meeting scheduled to take place between the two leaders on 14th of December.

President Talat told reporters on his return to the Presidential Palace that they, together with their representatives, discussed the topic of economy. The President said that their aides continued to take up the issue after they left the negotiation room.

The UN Secretary-Generals Special Adviser Alexander Downer and the UN Special Representative Taye Brook Zerihoun who are both in New York to represent discussions on the UN Secretary Generals Good Offices missions report, were not present at todays meeting.

[03] Talat alleges that Britain adopted a wrong stance on the issue of guarantees so as to encourage the Greek Cypriot side

President Mehmet Ali Talat has said Britains further interest to a solution in Cyprus will help the negotiations process.

Speaking at Ercan [occupied Tymvou] airport on his return to the Republic from London last night, Mr Talat said that the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is showing great interest to the solution of the Cyprus problem and expressed the belief that encouragements by Britain would provide strong support to the negotiation process.

President Talat said that as a guarantor power, Britain has great influence not only on the two sides in Cyprus, but also on the United Nations and other leading countries, like the United States, adding that Britain will make important contribution to the process if it shows further interest to a solution.

Responding to a question on Britains stance over the issue of guarantees, the President said that Britain adopted a wrong stance on the issue, adding that he conveyed his views to Mr Brown at their meeting.

Mr Talat complained that Britain did not show the red light when the Greek Cypriot side openly opposed to the continuation of the guarantee system. The President said that Britains stance encouraged the Greek Cypriot side to insist on the removal of the guarantee system.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.12.09) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat has claimed that Britain committed a mistake by encouraging the Greek Cypriots in their stance on the issue of guarantees. In statements yesterday at the illegal Tymvou airport upon his return from London, Mr Talat said it would be useful to give incentives for an early solution.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Volkan newspaper (10.12.09) refers to the same issue under the title [The British premier] Brown met with me at a room of the parliament in order not to make the Greek Cypriots angry.

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (10.12.09) refers to the same issue and reports that Mr Talat, evaluating his contacts in London, said the Greek Cypriots exerted efforts to prevent him from meeting with Gordon Brown and argued that the Greek Cypriots are uneasy when the Turkish Cypriots hold meetings.

[04] Turkish Air Force General met with the so-called representative of the breakaway regime in Islamabad

(I/Ts.)

[05] Tacoy says they will turn the telecommunication office into a state company with the infrastructure project supported by the EU

(I/Ts.)

[06] Tatar described as insult the distribution of catalogues of IKEA in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Cyprus? We should think all these together. Finally, he reiterated his call to the Turkish Cypriots not to spend their money in the free areas of the island.

(I/Ts.)

[07] The sales of luxury cars increased in the occupied areas of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[08] The UN Security Council held a meeting on Cyprus yesterday

A meeting on Cyprus at the United Nations Security Council has ended on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters following the closed-door meeting, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer said that the Cypriot leaders made serious and stable progress in negotiations.

The international community gives strong support to the process in the island, Downer also said.

[09] On the EU Foreign Affairs decision regarding Turkeys obligations on Cyprus

There is no EU Council decision concerning the chapters referred to in the statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek Cypriot Administration following the General Affairs Council of yesterday in Brussels. These are unilateral statements of the Greek Cypriot Administration.

As underlined by the European Commission, it is clear that carrying bilateral problems by unilateral actions to the EU platform will not contribute to their solution. We continue to work on all the negotiating chapters in line with our National Programme for the Acquis that was published on 31 December 2008. Turkey will continue to take the necessary steps in its negotiation process with great effort and determination.

We are continuing to work on the opening of the chapter Environment during the Swedish Presidency.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Sabah newspaper (10.12.09), under its front-page title, Sea ended in the EU, publishes a report by its correspondent in Brussels, Mrs Duygu Leloglu, who writes that five chapter headings were left between Turkey and the European Union (EU) that will be opened without any problem. Three of them are difficult and two of them are likely. EU executives, commenting on the stance of the Greek Cypriot side to veto five chapter headings unilaterally, said: The river will run dry if this continues so. However, in today's EU summit, no sanction is expected to be imposed on Ankara regarding opening of the ports.

The paper continues in its world news pages under the title, All roads end to Cyprus, and writes that with the decision of Cyprus to veto another five chapters plus the energy chapter (5+1) on Turkeys EU membership process, due to the ports issue, the total number of the chapters blocked will reach 18 out of 35. Particularly, 14 of these chapters have been blocked due to the ports issue with Cyprus and 4 have been blocked from France. On the other hand, as the paper writes, it was learned that during the meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council the previous day, France, Malta, the Netherlands and Greece were the countries that supported Cyprus on its unilateral decision of sanctions. However, the Heads of State, in the joint results report that will be released after the two-day EU Summit, will be satisfied with the warning towards Ankara to open its open as soon as possible and no legal base will be given to the unilateral decision of Cyprus for sanctions.

Speaking to Sabah, EU officials stated that five chapters remain to be opened without any problem and that after this everything will be tied with the Cyprus problem, adding that if a solution is not found to this problem, the river will run dry. The officials said that in order for the EU river not to run dry, either the Cyprus negotiations should end positively or a solution to the ports issue should be found as soon as possible.

The paper goes on under the subtitle, From the five chapters left the two could be opened, Mrs Leloglu writes that at this point, 11 out of 35 chapters have been opened and 18 are in doubt. From those, the eight have been suspended in 2006 with a joint decision of the EU, connecting them with the problem of Ankaras refusal to open its ports to Cyprus. Finally, the Greek Cypriots announced that they will unilaterally block five chapters for the same reason. According to EU officials, five chapters could be opened with Turkey in the upcoming period. According to this, the Environment chapter is foreseen to open on December 22. And if Ankara fulfils the opening criteria, next year the chapters of Social Policies, Public Procurement, Competition, Food Safety and Health could be opened. However, it does not seem possible for the above-mentioned chapters, except Competition, to be opened due to the difficulty of the opening criteria.

Under the title One good and one bad news for Turkey, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (10.12.09) refers to the decision taken by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU the day before yesterday and reports that the European Ministers postponed the opening of the Turkish ports to Cyprus for one year, but six chapters in Turkeys accession negotiations are frozen.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (10.12.09) refers to the same issue under the title They remained alone in the EU and reports that the Greek Cypriots were not able to take what they wanted in the EU for the policy towards Turkey and contented themselves with some preconditions.

(EA I/Ts.)

[10] The Turkish Ambassador to the US resigns

Turkish Ambassador to the US Nabi Sensoy reportedly resigned on Tuesday and asked to be reassigned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Wednesday.

No immediate reports on the reason for the resignation were available by Wednesday evening.

According to the statement, Ambassador Sensoy presented his letter of resignation to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on December 8. The foreign minister in turn confirmed the ambassador's resignation and is expected to appoint him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara. The ministry, seeking to reduce speculation over the issue, said in a statement that Sensoy, having served as the Turkish ambassador to the US since January 2006, would have retired by mid 2010.

There was also speculation that there was a brief quarrel between him and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the format of a meeting between the prime minister and US President Barack Obama, leading the ambassador to resign. The statement also said that a new ambassador to the US will soon be appointed.

Futhermore, Ankara Anatolia news agency (09.12.09) reported the following from Ankara:

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Wednesday the Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C., Nabi Sensoy, made a request to return to Ankara on Tuesday and that his request was approved.

His excellency Sensoy's tenure in Washington, D.C. was to end in the first half of 2010 due to age limit. Sensoy's request to return to Ankara was approved and a new appointment will be made by the MFA to Washington, D.C. in the next several days, the spokesman of the Turkish MFA said.

Sensoy began serving as the Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C. in January, 2006.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 09 December 2009

a) The US-Turkey ties:

In an article in Hurriyet, Cuneyt Ulsever looks into the US-Turkey ties and the issues that concern both countries. Ulsever points out that the ties between the two countries are currently warm as the United States needs Turkey to establish contacts with Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria as well as organizations such as HAMAS and the Hezbollah. There are, however, some issues about which the United States and Turkey disagree, Ulsever maintains and notes that Iran and Iraq are the two most important issues. According to Ulsever, the main issue is how Turkey will act if the international community decides to impose an embargo on Iran. Recalling that Iran is Turkey's second natural gas supplier after Russia, Ulsever notes that Turkey then would be even more dependent on Russia which presently supplies 60 percent of Turkey's natural gas demand.

Referring to the same issue in the same paper in a column, Sedat Ergin maintains that the most striking outcome of the Obama-Erdogan meeting was the possibility of Turkey assuming the role of the mediator between the United States and Iran regarding Iran's nuclear program. Ergin recounts that, in his conversation with the journalists on the plane to the United States, Erdogan said that he will convey Iran's message to President Obama and notes that -- as President Obama pointed out -- Ankara can assume the role of the mediator only if its views are in harmony with the UN decisions that are supported by the United States and the majority of the international community. Ergin asks how Turkey will vote at the UN Security Council if the latter decides to impose sanctions on Iran.

According to Sami Kohen, the aim of the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan was to establish accord and cooperation with regard to current world issues. There is a proximity of views on issues concerning both countries, writes Kohen in his column in Milliyet. He maintains that Turkey's interests, and therefore its approach, differ in three major issues: Iran, Afghanistan, and Armenia. The prime minister's statements following the meeting demonstrate that Turkey "stood erect" regarding these issues at the Oval Office meeting, notes Kohen adding, "unless different thoughts were expressed behind closed doors..."

In his column in Cumhuriyet, Cuneyt Arcayurek notes that, according to the news reports, President Obama agreed with Prime Minister Erdogan in almost every issue. He notes, however, that nobody asked what support Erdogan asked, for example, regarding the Cyprus issue, or whether the United States has a hidden motive in not making any demands.

In a news analysis entitled "Seeing eye to eye in Washington", Zaman's Washington correspondent Ali H. Aslan comments on the results of the Obama-Erdogan meeting. He quotes "sources" as saying that the Turkish delegation in Washington led by Prime Minister Erdogan renewed American confidence in Turkey's foreign policy.

In an article entitled "What frightens the US: Unexpected rise in the value of gold and bankruptcy", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul cites the US-Turkish agreement made during Prime Minister Erdogan's Washington visit to establish a joint economic commission as being among the indications of "a new situation" where economic concerns have for the first time gained priority over military and security issues for the United States. He claims that the "superpower" is "in crisis and helpless as it has never been before, faced as it is with the prospect of economic shock waves," adding that Washington is hard-pressed to maintain its dominant role in bilateral relations with many countries including Turkey and is looking into establishing partnerships instead of "imposing roles" on others.

In an article entitled "Aftershocks", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru links the fact that the Obama-Erdogan meeting lasted longer than planned to what he describes as a correspondence between the Turkish prime minister's stance on a number of regional issues and some of the principles and policies disclosed by Obama in the run-up to the presidential election, asserting that the US president might have enjoyed listening to someone else voicing the same views that he publicly endorsed "once upon a time." He asserts that Erdogan spoke "as the voice of reason" at the White House and that what he had to say apparently made an impression on his counterpart. He also claims that those in the US capital who were opposed to Obama becoming US president will go out of their way to make sure the "harmony" that the two leaders achieved in the Oval Office proves short-lived.

In an article entitled "Why It is a watershed", Zaman columnist Abdulhamit Bilici takes issue with press reports asserting that the recent Obama-Erdogan meeting resulted in consensus on each and every issue discussed at the meeting. Bilici explains how the US and Turkish positions differ on Armenia, Afghanistan, and Iran and argues that if the meeting constitutes a watershed in US-Turkish relations, as some commentators have asserted, it is because it means that bilateral relations remain on a sound footing despite the presence of disagreements on certain topics.

b) Turkeys initiative to the Kurdish issue and DTP closure case:

Hurriyet Daily News.com columnist Yusuf Kanli views the outcome of the meeting held between US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his article. Pointing out that the meeting "apparently produced nothing new," Kanli maintains that the new "instructions" that the prime minister received regarding the Kurdish overture will be revealed after he returns to Ankara. Kanli refers to the ongoing trial with regard to the closure of the Democratic Society Party, DTP, asserting that the judges of the Constitutional Court will have a difficult time in reaching a decision. Maintaining that there is enough evidence to prove an organic link between the party and the PKK, Kanli wonders what the judges' decision will be; a decision in accordance with the law and evidence or a "political" decision which takes into consideration the repercussions of banning a political party.

Under the headline, "Critical turning point for DTP," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which describes the fact that the Constitutional Court has started to hear the closure case against the Democratic Society Party, DTP, as a development which means that "the countdown has begun for a most important political lawsuit in the process initiated by the [Government's] democratic overture."

In an article in Vatan, Rusen Cakir asks whether the elimination of the PKK by force is possible. Pointing out that the elimination of the PKK has been on Turkey's agenda for many years, Cakir maintains that this is unachievable. The Iraqi Kurds reiterate at every opportunity that they would not use weapons against the PKK, recalls Cakir, and adds that the last operation that the Turkish Armed Forces carried out in Iraq also clearly demonstrated that this issue cannot be solved solely by weapons. He concludes that disarming the PKK, which is the first phase of the Kurdish overture, appears to be difficult.

Fikret Bila recounts his interview with Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek with regard to the closure of the DTP in his column in Milliyet. Cicek calls on the DTP leaders to read well the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, decree with regard to the closure of the Spanish Batasuna Party. Cicek recalls that the ECHR upheld Spain's ban of the Batasuna Party on grounds that the dissolution of the party was lawful as the party's link to the separatist ETA was established. Maintaining that freedoms are not unlimited, Cicek urges the DTP to reassess its conduct and actions.

In an article entitled "How many agreements have Turkey and the US made before?", Milli Gazete columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan emphasizes "the United States' role in the emergence of PKK terrorism" and expresses skepticism about the results of the latest anti-terrorism agreement between the US and Turkish leaders in Washington by recalling that similar agreements in the past were not followed by concrete measures by the United States to disband the terrorist camps in northern Iraq.

Under the headline, "Much at stake as court begins debating pro-Kurdish DTP's fate," Today's Zaman publishes a front-page report which asserts that a Constitutional Court decision to ban the DTP "could derail the government's ambitious democratic initiative ... and increase tensions in Turkey, already rocked by days of violent protests by DTP supporters."

In an article entitled "Demilitarization?", Today's Zaman columnist Dogu Ergil asserts that for anyone doubting "the nature of the 'democratic initiative,' one cannot find a better example of the changing nature of politics in Turkey than "the scene of [retired] force commanders appearing before civilian prosecutors this past week to be questioned for plotting another coup in the course of 2003-2004 ..."

/EI

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