Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-02-04

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan says he was the one who requested the visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus

[02] Talat says that only if the Greek Cypriots were held responsible for the failure of the Cyprus talks, the recognition of the breakaway regime could come onto the agenda

[03] Talat due to Brussels to hold contacts with EU officials

[04] The Turkish Cypriot side desires continuation of the negotiations until March

[05] The breakaway regime alleges that the occupied property of Meletis Apostolides in Lapithos belonged to Evkaf Religious Foundation

[06] Eroglu reiterates that they will not implement the decision of the British Court of Appeal on the Orams case

[07] Bozer invites the Ugandan Parliamentary Speaker to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus in July

[08] Turkish Education Minister to pay an illegal visit the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[09] Data on the economy of the breakaway regime

[10] Protocol on promoting tourism in occupied Cyprus was signed

[11] Bagis: Turkey will not sacrifice Cyprus for EU membership, and will not sacrifice EU for Cyprus

[12] Turkey wants full visa immunity from EU, not ease in requirements

[13] Turkey and Iran sign joint economic protocol aiming to boost bilateral trade; Turkish and Iranian FMs hold a joint press conference

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 03 February 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan says he was the one who requested the visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus

Mr Erdogan replied to questions yesterday after addressing a conference under the title Changing Balances and Turkeys Increasing Importance organized by the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK).

When a journalist told him that Cyprus spoils Turkeys relations with the EU and asked him whether Turkey has any Plan B because things came to a deadlock in Cyprus, Mr Erdogan replied the following: We have already put forward our plans. However, the developments from now on will necessitate for these plans to be updated.

Mr Erdogan claimed that he was the one who requested the visit of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus and added:

They came, I thank them. We said to them: Step in, use your influence. We held this discussion with him [Tr. Note: the UN Secretary-General] at that General Assembly of the UN. Ok, I will come, he said and they did it. I thank them for that. His visit to esteemed Talat yesterday at his office made the Greek Cypriot side seriously unhappy. Why are you unhappy? Let me explain this gain clearly. Christofias said to me the following at the UN: When are we going to meet face to face? I said to him the following: I will not meet face to face with you. Your interlocutor is esteemed Talat. You will meet with Talat. If you want four-party or five-party meeting, you could hold this meeting under the presidency of the UN, with Turkey and Greece as guarantor powers, and Britain if necessary, and you and Northern Cyprus as the parties. And you will never guess what he said to me. Under what capacity will Northern Cyprus participate, he asked. When he told me this, I said the following: You held 41 meetings until now. You will meet esteemed Talat with the same capacity he had when you held with him these 41 meetings. And it remained there. However, Papadopoulos had said the same thing, because they are not different, due to the fact that they are products, which came out from the same mill. Ban Ki-moon gave them a very beautiful answer yesterday. I believe that justice will be sooner or later manifested. However, this is a journey of patience, it needs patience. It cannot happen with enthusiasm and things like that. We will face it out with patience. We have nothing to lose. Sooner or later we will be the ones who will win.

Mr Erdogan referred to the Annan Plan period and argued that he was the one who launched the initiative for the commencement of the process during his meeting with Mr Kofi Annan in Davos. He reiterated the Turkish views regarding the results of the referendum in 2004 and alleged: Is it not our right now to query this process here? Those who continuously put Cyprus in front of us now, are querying South Cyprus, not Cyprus. Because the representative of Cyprus is not South Cyprus. Accepting this does not fit either to the political science or to the ethics of international relations.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (04.02.10) publishes Mr Erdogans statements also on its front page under the title I sent Ban. The paper writes, inter alia, the following: After the visit of Ban Ki-moon to the island, Turkey feels like it achieved a diplomatic victory. Tayyip Erdogan crows over the victories achieved since the Kofi Annan period.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.02.10) publishes Mr Erdogans statements under the title They cannot last forever and reports that Mr Erdogan warned the Greek Cypriots that the negotiations could not last forever, noting that he requested from Mr Ban Ki-moon to visit the island.

Furthermore, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (04.02.10) under the title: We gave an open-ended deadline to the EU reports on statements made by the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan as regards the Cyprus issue and Turkeys EU bid. Touching upon issues related to foreign policy, Prime Minister Erdogan said during his speech at a conference held at the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK) the following: It is totally wrong that our full membership is related to Cyprus. There are obstacles which do not derive from the EU acquis communautaire. The place for the solution in Cyprus is the UN and not the EU. And the representative of Cyprus is not South Cyprus. No negotiation process can last forever. In case the current window of opportunity is closed, nobody knows if it can be opened again and when.

Asked to reply to the question Do you give a deadline to the EU?, Mr Erdogan said the following: Our deadline is not annual, it is an open-ended deadline. At the moment, there are chapters which are under discussion. The obstacles, which are placed at this moment from both France and South Cyprus have nothing to do with the acquis. I think that the negotiation on the chapters will be different during the Spanish presidency.

(I/Ts.-AK)

[02] Talat says that only if the Greek Cypriots were held responsible for the failure of the Cyprus talks, the recognition of the breakaway regime could come onto the agenda

Mr Talat alleged: We secured very serious convergences on the content of the package which we have put onto the table. We have consciously not put the final full stop, because the Greek Cypriot side worries that uproar will start, if the points of convergences are announced. Now we want to put aside the point we have reached and pass into new chapters.

Claiming that a solution has not been achieved during the past five years because two persons are needed to tango, Mr Talat alleged that the Turkish Cypriots worked for the solution and the world saw this.

Thanks to the will of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution, the Greek Cypriots had been isolated. This is why Christofias was elected. No one in the world can say that we do not want a solution, he claimed and added:

If you go to the negotiating table with a proposal for confederation, the table will be lost. The UN Security Council has many times reiterated its decision on this issue: Bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, two constituent states, a single sovereignty, a single international identity. This decision was taken. If you go now and say that I will discuss the confederation, they will tell you goodbye. And you will fall into the position of the guilty side in front of the international community. Then we will return to the past, a worse future will be ahead of us. The positive image, which we have created for a little bit, will collapse, the isolations will be deepened further, we will retrogress in the economy and the climate for investments will be lost.

Referring to his relations with Turkey, Mr Talat said: We know only one Turkey. And this is President Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu. This is the Turkey we know, but these authorities consult with other parts within them. Moreover, in transparency, we share our views with the military authorities as well and they convey to us their concerns regarding security, if they have any.

Mr Talat alleged the following on the issues of the Turkish occupation army, the illegal Turkish settlers and the recognition of the breakaway regime:

The presence of the Turkish army has not created the Cyprus problem. The Turkish army is on the island because of the Cyprus problem.

Our entire aim is a solution which the grandchildren of our grandchildren will see, a lasting and secure solution.

If a solution is not found, we will find a way of salvation thanks to the policy we have been following until today. This is the vision we need in the conditions of non-solution.

The least painful solution for us is the result which will come up with the negotiations we are holding now. If in spite of all our good will, the Greek Cypriot side does not come close to the solution and if the international community registers this, that is, if we do not leave the table as those who are responsible for the non-solution, if the Greek Cypriot side is accepted as responsible for this, then the recognition of the TRNC could come onto the agenda. However, there is no such climate at this moment.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Talat due to Brussels to hold contacts with EU officials

The Turkish Cypriot president will travel to Brussels, Belgium on Thursday, his office said on Wednesday. President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will meet Jersy Buzek, the president of the European Parliament, on Thursday. Talat will attend a conference to be organized by the European Policy Centre (EPC) on Friday morning, and brief the participants on the recent developments in Cyprus negotiations. President Talat will meet European Union (EU) executives in Brussels, and return to TRNC on Friday.

In the meantime, Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.02.10) reported the following:

President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) received a group of European parliamentarians. The meeting with members of the European Parliament's High-Level Contact Group for Relations with the Turkish Cypriot Community headed by European Parliament Vice-President Libor Roucek was held behind closed doors.

Earlier in the day, the delegation met with representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot non-governmental organizations.

[04] The Turkish Cypriot side desires continuation of the negotiations until March

The TRNC Presidents Special Representative for talks with the United Nations and the European Union Ozdil Nami has said that the Turkish side desired the continuation of the negotiations process until March.

Speaking on the evening news program on BRT 1, Mr Nami said that the timetable for future meetings between the two leaders will become clear in the coming weeks. Pointing out that the two rounds of intensive talks had been productive, Mr Nami said that the Turkish side had conveyed its desire to the Greek Cypriot side to continue negotiations as long as the talks are productive. He said that the Greek Cypriot side had greeted this idea with reason and understanding.

Commenting on the UN Secretary-Generals visit to the island, he said the Turkish side had expected a more concrete statement from the UN Chief but that the Greek Cypriot side had objected to this, claiming that it was too early for such a statement.

Mr Nami also said that convergence had been reached on the chapter of Governance and Power sharing with full agreement reached on some of the issues. However both sides agreed that a partial statement by the UN Secretary-General before an agreement was reached on all the outstanding issues would not be beneficial he added.

[05] The breakaway regime alleges that the occupied property of Meletis Apostolides in Lapithos belonged to Evkaf Religious Foundation

Speaking to Haberdar on the issue, the director of the Evkaf Religious Foundation, Mustafa Kemal Kaymakamzade, stated that the Orams are also aware of the research taking place and which will reveal whether the building plot belongs or not to Evkaf. He also stated that after the research is completed, the necessary statements will be made. Mr Kaymakamzade also alleged that prior to 1974 many building plots which belonged to Evkaf in Lapithos were given to Greek Cypriots during the British colonial rule in Cyprus.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (04.02.10) reports that the self-styled assembly will convene today and discuss the Orams case, among other issues.

(CS)

[06] Eroglu reiterates that they will not implement the decision of the British Court of Appeal on the Orams case

Reiterating that they will not implement the decision on the Orams case, Mr Eroglu said that the judicial process is being evaluated by specialists both in Britain and in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus in order to alleviate the tension caused by the decision. Mr Eroglu said that during his visit to London he will also have the opportunity to inform the Turkish Cypriots living in London on the latest developments of the Cyprus problem and exchange views with them. He also added that during his meeting with the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom they will discuss the possibilities of investment in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Cihan news agency (01.02.10), Mr Eroglu commented, among other things, on the Orams case. Mr Eroglu said: We are behind of the title deeds that we give as a state. Some circles criticize us that we give title deeds of the Greek Cypriot plots to our citizens. .... If we had not given title deeds to these people, where the Turkish Cypriots who came from the south and our brothers who came from the motherland would live? We gave title deeds in order for them to know this land as their country. ...

Moreover, illegal Bayrak television (03.02.10) broadcast the following from occupied Lefkosia:

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has underlined the need to strengthen the TRNCs economy in order to push the Greek Cypriot Administration towards a political settlement.

The Prime Minister words came during a visit he paid yesterday to the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans. Pointing out that a failure to reach a solution in Cyprus was because of the Greek Cypriot sides intransigence, he underlined the importance of unity in conveying to the world the Greek Cypriot sides uncompromising attitude.

Referring to claims voiced by various circles accusing him of being uncompromising, Eroglu said he desired a solution to the Cyprus problem more than anyone else, but pointed out that the settlement to be reached had to be viable and sustainable. We do not support the idea of a solution achieved at all costs, he said.

(DPs)

[07] Bozer invites the Ugandan Parliamentary Speaker to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus in July

The TRNC Parliamentary delegation, which attended the 6th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) member states in Ugandas capital Kampala, has returned to the Republic. The Speaker of the Republics Assembly Hasan Bozer, who was heading the delegation, told a press conference today that the final communique issued at the end of the Conference proved how the Islamic countries cherished the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Parliamentary Speaker Bozer reminded that the final communique called for the removal of international isolation on the TRNC as well as stressing the need for improving relations with the Cyprus Turkish State. Bozer welcomed the declarations emphasis on resolving the Cyprus problem with a just and comprehensive settlement that is going to take bi-zonal and bi-communal structure and the political equality of two constituent states as its basis. He added that the new goal of the TRNC, which is currently attending the OIC meetings under an observer status with the name the Cyprus Turkish state, is to gain its position as a full member to the OIC.

During his stay in Kampala, the Parliamentary Speaker also held a meeting with his Ugandan counterpart Edward Sekandi Kiwanuka whom he invited to the TRNC in July.

[08] Turkish Education Minister to pay an illegal visit the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Turkeys Minister of National Education, Mrs Nimet Cubukcu, will arrive in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus tomorrow as guest of the Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports Kemal Durust.

Mrs Cubukcu will begin her contacts in the Republic on Friday with a meeting with the Speaker of the Republics Assembly Hasan Bozer. The minister will also meet with Mr Durust and the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Lieutenant General Hilmi Akin Zorlu. The Turkish Minister will also attend a meeting to be held at the Turkish Embassy in Lefkosia. She will then be paying visits to the campuses of the Near East University (YDU), the Middle East Technical University (METU) and the European University of Lefke (LAU).

[09] Data on the economy of the breakaway regime

According to the figures, the revenues for the term June-September 2009 dropped to 544 million Turkish Lira (TL) in comparison with the revenues during the same period of 2008 which reached 601 million 900 thousand TL. As a percentage of revenue, it dropped to 4.83% in 2009 in comparison with the same period of 2008, which reached 9.63%. The expenses also dropped to 550 million 700 thousand TL from 575 million 900 thousand TL in the prior-year period.

For the last nine months of 2009, the number of travellers visiting the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus reached 604 thousand 698 persons, a 1.11% percent less than the prior-year period.

(ML)

[10] Protocol on promoting tourism in occupied Cyprus was signed

The Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture and the Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation (BRTK) have signed a protocol on the promotion of tourism in the TRNC throughout the world. Within the framework of the protocol, documentary-style promotion films are being prepared in six languages --Turkish, English, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian-- for both domestic and international promotion of the TRNC. The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Hamza Ersan Saner and the BRT Director Ozer Kanli have put their signatures to the protocol.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Saner pointed to the importance of the project and said foreign people who will visit the TRNC will have an opportunity to get information over what they discover before coming to the country. Stating that as the most strong and popular corporation, the BRT has given its support to the project, Mr Saner said the films will contribute to the improvement of social consciousness in the country.

For his part, the BRT Director Ozer Kanli said the corporation is ready to provide every kind of support to improve tourism which is the locomotive sector of the country and expressed the belief that the sector will be moved forward with initiatives that will be taken by the government. He also added that the promotion films, which will reflect the tourism potential of the country in six languages, will be prepared in a way that can be used in all fairs and broadcast on all Turkish TV channels.

[11] Bagis: Turkey will not sacrifice Cyprus for EU membership, and will not sacrifice EU for Cyprus

The Turkish state minister for European Union (EU) said on Wednesday that Turkey should not take European Parliament's (EP) report seriously. Turkey's State Minister and chief negotiator for the EU Egemen Bagis said that he thought the EP report should not be taken seriously.

Bagis had a breakfast with representatives of media organizations in Brussels, Belgium and strongly reacted to EP's draft resolution that called on Turkey to withdraw its soldiers from Cyprus immediately to support ongoing negotiations, open Maras region [closed area of Varosha] to the Greek Cypriots, and solve the problem Turkish citizens settled in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were causing.

The EP is expected to vote the draft resolution regarding Turkey next week. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament changed last week particularly the paragraph of the draft concerning Cyprus and added negative expressions regarding Turkey. The committee then adopted the draft by 61 votes. Only 11 parliamentarians abstained.

The political groups in the EP are trying to please the Greek and Greek Cypriot parliamentarians, Bagis told journalists.

Bagis had meetings with EP's Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Turkey-EU

Joint Parliamentary Committee's co-chairperson Helene Flautre, and Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the EP, on Tuesday to change the report in a positive way. The minister expressed Turkey's concerns over the paragraph concerning Turkey. The draft is not drawing an objective picture, took into consideration the balances in the EP to reach a compromise, and is politicized, Bagis said.

Bagis also said Turkey could not sacrifice Cyprus for EU membership bid, and it could neither sacrifice the EU for Cyprus. The minister said he was hopeful about ongoing comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus, and called on the international community to support the two leaders in the island. Bagis said the draft resolution was actually hampering ongoing negotiations, not supporting them.

Although it is not binding, the EP report is important since it reflects EU's perspective.

Also, Bagis said Turkey really needed a new contemporary and universal constitution, and suggested that all political parties should each prepare a draft constitution.

[12] Turkey wants full visa immunity from EU, not ease in requirements

Turkey has reiterated its call on the European Union (EU) for equal treatment on visa requirements, stressing that what EU membership candidate Turkey has been asking for is not any kind of moderation on the issue, but immunity. Various difficulties which our citizens encounter on the visa issue sparked our indignation. We do not want a different visa process, we want visa immunity. Turkey should have passed the requirement process a long time ago, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Burak Ozugergin said on Wednesday in response to a question at a regular press briefing.

In December, following talks with EU officials, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would soon take steps to meet the blocs conditions for visa-free travel --such as the introduction of biometric passports and the signing of an agreement on readmission of illegal immigrants-- and warned that the EU would impose double standards if it still refuses to allow Turkish citizens to travel to member countries freely.

During talks with EU officials, Turkish officials asked them what should be done by the Turkish side to accelerate the process concerning visa immunity so that they could take the necessary steps, Ozugergin explained. Turkey has been conducting coordinated efforts with EU officials to reach an agreement on the readmission of illegal immigrants, while the Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry have also been jointly studying the issue of biometric passports in order to have these passports come into effect before the end of the year, he added.

Echoing Davutoglus warning in December, Ozugergin said, If there is still a problem when we finish these studies, then we will see this as a double standard, while noting that the EU has, for a long time, shown unwillingness for sharing the burden on the issue of a readmission agreement. There has been a change in this situation recently, he noted, adding that a new round of talks on the readmission agreement would be held later this month.

There is no excuse for why this right has not been granted to citizens of Turkey, a country negotiating membership. We do want to know what technical conditions must be met to freely be able to visit the Schengen region. We can be ready in one to two months and believe that the EU will have no excuse after that. If the visa requirement is still in place despite all this, then we will consider this as an act of imposing double standards, Davutoglu said at the time.

[13] Turkey and Iran sign joint economic protocol aiming to boost bilateral trade; Turkish and Iranian FMs hold a joint press conference

Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz said that signing of the 21st Turkey-Iran Joint Economic Commission Protocol would add a new momentum to the existing cooperation relations between the two countries. Yilmaz said at the signing ceremony, during the meetings between Turkish and Iranian delegations, we have taken a series of decisions which will make valuable contributions to our bilateral relations with Iran. Measures to be taken to remove all obstacles in front of the bilateral trade were high on agenda of our talks, he said.

Yilmaz said that the protocol included a number of issues from agriculture to health, from industrial cooperation to labour and social security, from scientific and technological cooperation to environment, from culture and tourism to judicial cooperation. He added that the next meeting of the joint economic commission would take place in Iranian capital Tehran in 2011.

Meanwhile, Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motaki of Iran signed the Judicial Cooperation Agreement prior to the signing of the protocol.

In the meantime, Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.02.10) reported the following from Ankara:

The Turkish Foreign Minister underlined on Wednesday the importance of purifying the region from nuclear weapons. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey's policy regarding nuclear program was obvious. Turkey believes Iran has equal rights with all other countries to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Davutoglu told a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Manuchehr Motaki in Ankara.

Davutoglu and Motaki discussed Iran's nuclear program and other issues concerning the two countries and their region, particularly upcoming elections in Iraq, and developments in Palestine and Afghanistan, in their bilateral meeting. Turkey attaches importance to purifying our region from nuclear weapons, Davutoglu also said. Davutoglu said Turkey was against nuclear weapons whoever developed them and for what reason.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said the only way to solve all disputed matters should be diplomacy, and Turkey would continue to be in every diplomatic effort.Davutoglu also said there was a permanent consultancy mechanism and culture between Turkey and Iran. Turkey and Iran both thought that regional countries should back Afghanistan, Davutoglu said. Davutoglu defined an "Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan" trio, besides "Turkey-Pakistan-Afghanistan" trio, as an important initiative for peace. Turkey's Foreign Minister Davutoglu also said two countries were determined to maintain cooperation on Afghanistan.

Earlier on Wednesday, Motaki met Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz. He is expected to have meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz later in the day.

Also, Turkey-Iran Joint Economic Committee gathered under the co-chairmanship of Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz and Iranian Foreign Minister Motaki.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (03.02.10) reported the following:

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki said on Wednesday that a threat against Turkey would amount to a threat against Iran and vice versa. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Motaki held a press conference after holding a meeting in Ankara.

Replying to a question, Motaki said Tehran's research reactor would need fuel within a year. Foreign Minister Motaki said swapping low-enriched uranium with uranium enriched by 20 percent was a formula which could build confidence.

Motaki said there was a great cooperation in several areas between Turkey and Iran, noting that the two countries had a common point of view regarding security issues in the region. He added that any threat to the security of Iran amounts to a threat to the security of Turkey.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 03 February 2010

Cyprus Problem:

With the approach of "presidential elections in occupied northern Cyprus the parties have been launching "below the belt" attacks against each other, says Mehmet Y. Yilmaz in his column in Hurriyet. The columnist speculates that Talat's "presidential office" distributed the reports about the Eroglu family and many of his cabinet ministers holding Greek Cypriot administration passports after being fed this information by Greek Cypriots who do not want Eroglu to be elected "president." Yilmaz criticizes both sides, Talat for resorting to this trick that will bring no extra votes for him, and Eroglu and his associates for carrying Cyprus passports.

Sami Kohen notes in his column in Milliyet that "the future is in your hands" was the most important message UN chief Ban Ki-moon issued during his visit to Cyprus, and with that he placed the responsibility for the solution of the Cyprus problem on the leaders of the two communities. By that message Ban Ki-moon showed that the UN has no intention of getting more involved in the negotiation process. He simply tried to encourage the sides to find a solution, Yilmaz says, adding that Turkey pressed for Ban Ki-moon's visit ahead of the "presidential" elections in northern Cyprus to increase the election chances of Talat. The Turkish side also secured some "symbolic" gains when Ban Ki-moon visited Talat in the "presidential palace" and addressed both leaders equally as "your excellency," Kohen notes.

Greece-Turkey:

In his column for Milliyet, Semih Idiz views improving ties between Turkey and Greece, noting that the sides are no more inclined to defend their rights through blood. Idiz also believes that the positive atmosphere in Turkish-Greek relations is enhancing Turkey's influence in the Balkans.

Interview With US Ambassador:

Sabah carries an interview granted by US Ambassador James Jeffrey to journalist Nur Batur. The ambassador says Turkey is not changing its political axis, rather like the Western countries it too is developing ties with the Arab world in line with NATO's expanded mission in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq and in line with the democratic expectations of the Turkish public. Asked if Erdogan is becoming a "second Nasser" in the Middle East, the ambassador says Nasser was an Arab and a very unsuccessful politician, whereas Erdogan is clever enough not to follow in the footsteps of Nasser. Asked about Erdogan's criticism of Israel, the ambassador says they do not share some of Erdogan's criticisms but then Erdogan is not alone in his criticisms of Israel. The ambassador also says with its "zero problem" policy with the neighbouring states Turkey is playing an important role for the regional security. The ambassador says he is also hopeful of Turkey's EU membership as it is a peaceful country sharing European values. The paper does not mention in how many instalments the interview will be published, but notes that the second part of the interview will deal with possible coups and Fethullah Gulen's presence in the United States.

EG/

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