Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-12-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkeys National Security Council discussed Cyprus in its last meeting in 2009

[02] Ankara wants four freedoms in Cyprus

[03] Turkey's former secretary-general for European Union Affairs says that Turkey will get a new deadline after the end of 2010 as regards the opening of the ports to the Republic of Cyprus

[04] The breakaway regime to be represented in OICs inter-parliamentary conference in Uganda

[05] Hasipoglu asks for EU recognition of the breakaway regime because the Turkish Cypriots need world acceptance and not money

[06] Ozgurgun said a bureau consisting of four directorates will be established

[07] Belgian Prime Minister to discuss the Cyprus problem with Erdogan in Ankara

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 28 December 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkeys National Security Council discussed Cyprus in its last meeting in 2009

National Security Council (NSC) on Monday expressed determination to fight against terrorism.

NSC released a statement following its last meeting in 2009 and said internal and external developments regarding Turkey's security were assessed comprehensively.During the meeting, the council has emphasized that Turkey's fight against terrorism, targeting unity, integrity and peace of the country, will continue with determination. The council once again reaffirms its faith that the citizens will act in common sense in accordance with contemporary democracy and principles of law and avoid attitudes that would harm feelings of fraternity, the statement said.Developments in Iraq, course of the process in tripartite cooperation in fight against terrorism as well as relations with Iraq were assessed under the light of the parliamentary elections expected to take place on March 7, 2010, the statement said.

The statement said details of the ongoing negotiation process between the parties in Cyprus under the good will mission of the UN Secretary-General aiming to find a comprehensive solution to Cyprus question were reviewed. In fact, views of the NSC related to parameters of a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution in Cyprus was made public in a press release following its meeting dated June 30, 2009, the statement said.

As stated in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's letter to the Greek Prime Minister on October 30, 2009, it is important that international community and concerned parties should assume a more active and encouraging role in the solution process. In this framework, the council underlines that steps that will harm course of the negotiations and the final target should be refrained. The council stresses that achieving a fair and lasting solution in a short time could be possible in case all related parties have the necessary political will, it said.

The statement said NSC assessed the developments in Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid that started in October 2005 and discussed new structuring in the EU institutions after Lisbon Agreement and results of December 2009 summit.

The council underscores, acceleration of membership negotiations and elimination of political impediments and bilateral problems that are not related to EU acquisitions will be in the interests of all related parties, it said.

[02] Ankara wants four freedoms in Cyprus

According to the paper, it was made known that Ankara put the condition of four freedoms, in order to accept the proposal made by the Greek Cypriot side to Mehmet Ali Talat, on the issue of the governance and power sharing that the Greek Cypriot votes should influence by 20% the elections of the Turkish Cypriot President/Vice President and the Turkish Cypriot votes to influence in the same manner the election of the Greek Cypriot President/Vice President.

According to this demand, in order to accept this proposal, Ankara asks that the citizens of Turkey in the United Cyprus should benefit from the EU rights. These are the freedom of entry, freedom of movement, freedom of settlement and freedom of acquiring property.

Milliyet, which invokes reliable information, also writes that the self-styled prime minister of the occupation regime, Dervis Eroglu, put on the table the 20% issue, which his government does not accept during the meeting he held in Ankara with the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu. Mr Eroglu, who stated that the cross voting will eliminate the right to elect and be elected of the Turkish Cypriots, supported that this proposal retrogrades the situation to the 1960 Republic.

The paper further reports that following the talks Ankara developed a new policy in order to balance the Greek Cypriot proposal. Ankara, which did say no to Talat to accept the proposal, wants the Greek Cypriot side to accept some conditions in order for the proposal to be accepted, and these are the above mentioned freedoms.

(CS)

[03] Turkey's former secretary-general for European Union Affairs says that Turkey will get a new deadline after the end of 2010 as regards the opening of the ports to the Republic of Cyprus

Replying to questions about Cyprus Mr Sunglar stated the following:

Question: So, let us go to Cyprus. Why April is so important for Cyprus?

Answer: Because there are presidential elections. If Mehmet Ali Talat goes and Dervis Eroglu comes, the chances for progress to be achieved will be reduced. Talat is a politician who wants accession to the EU. If you let him, he can cooperate with the south in many fields. According to some people he is very liberal, but according to me he is rational and practical. As regards Eroglu, he is in Denktas line. The possibility of Eroglu coming to an agreement with the south is zero. From this aspect April is important.

Q: There is also the issue of the opening or not of the ports and the airports to the Greek Cypriots in 2010. In your opinion, if Turkey says tomorrow ok. I am opening them, what is going to happen?

A: Because this does not have the meaning of recognition, according to me nothing will happen. To the contrary, the chapters that the Greek Cypriots are blocking will be opened immediately. However, in 2004, the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) made a declaration which was not necessary: I am signing the agreement to launch negotiations, but this does not mean that I am recognizing the Greek Cypriot sector. Taking advantage of this the EU, by issuing a counter declaration, gave the end of 2009 as a final date for the opening of the ports. This exerted pressure on us completely. However, you do not recognize a country because you open one of your ports to one ship. The best example for this is China and Taiwan. Now, as long as this declaration is there the government can do absolutely nothing on the issue of the ports.

Q: However, the EU gave a deadline for 2010 the latest. Will the negotiations be postponed if Turkey does not open (its ports?).

A: On this point I think that the West will make up something and prolong this deadline again. In my view this is the belief shared by many. An excuse will be found. For example what will this excuse be: Within the same period of time, at the same moment, Turkey to give permission to the Greek Cypriots ships and the EU to allow the direct trade with the TRNC. At the same moment, the same day. Only in this way could obviously the situation be saved without the two sides changing their position.

Q: That is, it seems that in 2010 two good excuses are needed both for Cyprus and for Armenia?

A: The whole game in diplomacy made possible the creation of this excuse. The British are those who can make this best. They have always a formula for everybody.

Q: What if these formulas could not be found?

A: 2010 is very critical if we could not break this vicious circle. We shall be referring to a relationship which is not officially postponed or closed, but frozen when 2010 ends.

(CS/Its)

[04] The breakaway regime to be represented in OICs inter-parliamentary conference in Uganda

(I/Ts.)

[05] Hasipoglu asks for EU recognition of the breakaway regime because the Turkish Cypriots need world acceptance and not money

(I/Ts.)

[06] Ozgurgun said a bureau consisting of four directorates will be established

Commenting on the Cyprus issue, Mr Ozgurgun said that since 2004 the EU is a party to the Cyprus issue and the thought as if with the EU membership [of Cyprus] they are working towards reaching to neutral and very exalted position, is wrong. Noting that they are very aware of how the EU sees Turkish Cypriots in a biased manner, Mr Ozgurgun said that they want a solution to the Cyprus problem where the UN parameters will be safeguarded on the negotiation table.

Mr Ozgurgun went on and said that the solution in Cyprus is possible through a political partnership to be mutually established on equal status with two sides.

On the same issue, Haberdar newspaper reports also on Ozgurguns statements and writes that Mr Ozgurgun stated that it is not the end of the world if they do not become members of the EU.

(AK)

[07] Belgian Prime Minister to discuss the Cyprus problem with Erdogan in Ankara

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme will arrive in Turkey on Tuesday on a two day working trip.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Belgian counterpart Leterme will discuss European Union (EU) relations, counter-terrorism and other areas of cooperation as Belgium will assume the EU term presidency in the second half of 2010, said the Turkish Prime Ministry in a written press release on Monday.

Aside from bilateral relations, the two prime ministers will also discuss the issue of Cyprus, and other international and regional matters, the Turkish Prime Ministry also said.

Prime Minister Leterme will also be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 28 December 2009

a) Foreign policy issues:

In an article entitled "A formula to help the Protocols come out of a coma," Sabah columnist Omer Taspinar says that the process of rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is in a state of coma, adding that the process will receive a fatal blow if Armenia declares that it will not be bound by the protocols it has signed with Turkey. Cautioning that the United States would mainly blame Turkey for such an outcome, Taspinar says that current disagreements primarily stemming from Nagorno-Karabakh may be overcome if Obama Administration tells the Turkish and Armenian governments to concurrently submit only one of the protocols to their parliaments, adding that the second protocol may be submitted in parallel with progress to be made about finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Commenting on Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki's recent remarks implying that they could accept exchanging enriched uranium through Turkey in his article entitled "Iran's sincerity is being put to the test," Milliyet columnist Semih Idiz interprets Mottaki's remarks as a proof that Turkey offers Iran the opportunity to devise a diplomatic formula to lessen mounting tension with the West. He comments: "At first glance, it may look like a very encouraging development in terms of alleviating international tension. But, we have to be cautious due to contradictory approaches taken by Iran to the matter in recent past because it is still not clear whether Iran sincerely wants a solution or playing for time by using the window of opportunity provided by Turkey."

In an article entitled "Is Tan the right choice for Washington?", Zaman's Washington correspondent Ali H. Aslan expresses support for the Government's appointment of Namik Tan as Turkey's new ambassador to the United States in place of Nabi Sensoy, asserting that the choice of Tan for this post is quite appropriate considering that thanks to his experience as an official who has worked in Foreign Ministry departments in charge of US affairs, Tan is acquainted with "the American political stage and players" apart from being a person respected by the Jewish lobby in the US capital, which is "annoyed" by the Turkish Government's policy on Iran and Israel.

b) Internal Politics:

In an article entitled "The military's new position - foreign policy and the military," Sabah columnist Hasan Bulent Kahraman says that events witnessed in Turkey in the past one year were mostly related to the democratization drive and efforts to establish new relations between the military and politicians. Pointing out that there is not a serious disagreement between the Government and the military about democratization, Kahraman also notes that Turkey is gradually becoming the most important player in the Middle East by taking advantage of her close relations with the United States. He comments: "Considering all those facts, it would not be wrong to say that there is a compromise between the military and the Government which mainly focuses on political issues. The United States is a part of that equation and its decisive role is probably the constant of that equation."

In an article entitled "Assignment made by a high-ranking official," Hurriyet columnist Sukru Kucuksahin highlights allegations that the two officers who were allegedly spying on Arinc are the members of a special unit and have been assigned by a high-ranking official. Noting that another sketch showing the location of the home of Mehmet Ali Sahin was found in possession of the officers, Kucuksahin comments: "Sources say that their telephone conversations and the identity of civilians who they regularly met are important. Rumors are extremely alarming by all accounts. There may be utter chaos if some terrorist organizations and hit men attempt to take advantage of this volatile situation."

In an article entitled "And God Said ...", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that the possible verification of the alleged military plan to assassinate Bulent Arinc is likely to create the impression that in speaking out against the said allegations, certain public officials including Republican People's Party, CHP, leader Deniz Baykal, Nationalist Action Party, MHP, leader Devlet Bahceli, and Chief of Staff General Ilker Basbug have been "cooperating" with the culprits. He also argues that one beneficial result of the recent revelations about criminal activities within the state has been to enable Turkey to confront its "deep reality."

EG/

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