Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-02-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Bagis alleges that the Turkish side has gained superiority in Cyprus without withdrawing even one soldier and without returning even a hand span of land

[02] Bagis reiterates the Turkish allegation that two states exist in Cyprus

[03] Cavusoglu stated that he might visit the Republic of Cyprus through Larnaka airport

[04] Gul says that the Cyprus problem has been carried into the EU

[05] Eroglu plans to form a team of experts to deal with the Orams ruling

[06] Talat met with the Portuguese ambassador to Lefkosia

[07] Bulutoglulari announces that he resigns from the DP and that he supports Eroglu in the elections

[08] Oppression to Kurds

[09] Turkish MPs promoted in London the Turkish views on the Orams case

[10] Turkish and Indian news agencies sign cooperation agreement

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 08 February 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Bagis alleges that the Turkish side has gained superiority in Cyprus without withdrawing even one soldier and without returning even a hand span of land

Mr Bagis referred to the Annan Plan and claimed that the referendum held during that period showed clearly which side wants peace, tranquillity and integration with the world.

We are in the position of continuing our superiority established with our stance in favour of the solution, claimed Mr Bagis adding that for this reason Turkey considers as very important the continuation of the negotiations under the presidency of Mehmet Ali Talat.

Mr Bagis alleged that Turkey and the breakaway regime have always been one step ahead on the issue of supporting peace in Cyprus and that the whole world accepts now this reality. He claimed: We have come to this point without withdrawing even one soldier, without giving a hand span of territory and by standing erect and protecting our esteem and our national honour.

Mr Bagis said that the AKP government had never showed a submissive mentality and made no concessions from the national interests of Turkey and the TRNC, breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. He added: Cyprus is a national cause for Turkey and our government will continue to defend this cause.

The Turkish official alleged that whoever is elected on 18 April in the occupied areas of Cyprus, it will be natural for him to have various policies for the negotiations and the solution and to re-shape the policies of the TRNC in this field according to his views and suggestions within the framework of his duties and powers.

Mr Bagis argued that in spite of the efforts of relating the solution process in Cyprus to Turkeys accession process to the EU, Ankara states in every platform and on all occasions that the address of the solution is in Lefkosia, not Brussels.

Mr Bagis alleged that Turkey will continue to fulfil its responsibilities as guarantor power in Cyprus and added that the Cyprus problem could be solved only within the framework of the United Nations. He claimed:

We will continue to support the negotiations held between the two communities and a just and lasting solution which will be safeguarding the bi-zonality, the political equality and the security of the sides

(I/Ts.)

[02] Bagis reiterates the Turkish allegation that two states exist in Cyprus

Claiming that Turkey and the breakaway regime have always been supporting the solution in Cyprus, Mr Bagis alleged: However, the entire world saw the side that reacts to all of our proposals and tries to prevent all the initiatives. Thankfully, we could change this international perception without withdrawing a single soldier, without giving away a single hand span of territory...They rejected Mr Talats package as well. At every stage, Turkey continued its stance in favour of the solution and we will continue to do this. However, I want to emphasize and underline the following: The EU is an important process for Turkey, but not that important to sacrifice Cyprus.

Bagis noted that other countries said yes to everything that the EU told them to do and joined the Union within four years, but Turkey will not do this, because it has more to give to the EU than to take from it.

He accused the EU of not implementing its own decisions regarding Cyprus and of not lifting the so-called embargo on the Turkish Cypriots.

Referring to the announcement of the candidature of Mr Dervis Eroglu, he noted that Turkey will respect whoever governs the Turkish Cypriots, but this is not directly related to its EU process. He wondered why the Cyprus problem should constitute a precondition for Turkeys accession to the EU, if it was not a precondition for Cyprus itself.

If there is a problem in Cyprus, the interlocutors for this are the two states on the island, alleged Mr Bagis claiming that even if this is accepted or not, two separate states, two governments elected separately, two separate assemblies, two separate infrastructures and two separate school systems exist in Cyprus.

He added: The sun rises every morning in two separate states in Cyprus. The point in question is for them to be unified or not unified. The people living on the island will decide this. In my view, the characteristic to which we should attach the most importance is the fact that there is democracy and free market economy functioning in the TRNC. This is an important message to the whole world. The world cannot ignore the democracy which functions so well currentlyWhoever is elected by the Turkish Cypriot people, Turkey will continue to work with him. The announcement of the candidature of Mr Eroglu will have influence only on the mechanisms of the internal politics, but not on Turkeys foreign policy.

Commenting on Mr Bagis statements, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (09.02.10) reports that he is trying to convince everybody that the elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus are held in a democratic manner and that Turkey does not meddle in them. He is giving the message that if Talat loses, Turkey will not be responsible for this, notes the paper which evaluates the statement that Turkey considers important the continuation of the talks under the presidency of Talat as a covered message that Turkey supports Talat.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (08.02.10) reported the following from London:

Turkish State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis said, it is not easy to defend Turkey in Europe and defend Europe in Turkey.

Bagis, who is currently in London to attend a seminar on Turkey's Role in Rising Network World held by the Global Strategy Forum, took part in a reception hosted by British Minister for Europe Chris Bryant. During the reception, Bagis thanked British political parties for extending support to Turkey's EU membership process.

Bryant, on his part, highlighted the importance of sound relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom. He said that Turkey would become one of the biggest economies of the world in the next ten years. Bryant also added that they attached great importance to their relations with Turkey as a strategic partner, and that they considered Turkey a significant ally on numerous issues from energy to the fight against terrorism, from security to the combat against illicit drug trafficking.

When asked about the Cyprus issue, Bagis said, if the EU put into practice the decision it made in 2004 to lift isolations on the Turkish Cypriots, we will be happy to allow the Greek Cypriots to use our airports and ports. Replying to another question, Bagis said, Turkey has been taking steps since 2002 in an effort to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. We have taken a number of steps so far. Now, it is time for the Greek Cypriot party to take some steps.

Bagis is expected to depart from London on Tuesday.

[03] Cavusoglu stated that he might visit the Republic of Cyprus through Larnaka airport

Q: How will you call north Cyprus?

A: I am not a chairman of a party anymore; I am the president of the Parliament. Both the Turkish delegation and the Armenian delegation are equal. I embrace everybody. If we are the President of PACE, we will refer to everybody in the way they are recognized. You cannot say I do not recognize you after becoming a President. Of course we are proud because of the fact that we are the first Muslim, Turkish President, but still above all, the duty of the President is first to obey the rules of that place.

Q: How will you support the solution in Cyprus?

A: We will launch a dialogue among the MPs. We will host the summit of the Speakers of the Parliament of the Council of Europe in the Greek Cypriot section in May. At that time I will go to both sides.

Q: How will you go? Will you fly to the South like the other European officials?

A: I will go in the same way as the former Presidents did. A former President crossed to the North as well. I will also cross over. If we are obliged to fly, of course we will fly to the South. We should look at the issue saying that PACE President is going there. The fact that Turkey is not recognizing South Cyprus does not influence this.

(AK)

[04] Gul says that the Cyprus problem has been carried into the EU

(I/Ts.)

[05] Eroglu plans to form a team of experts to deal with the Orams ruling

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu has announced plans to form a team of legal experts to deal with the Orams ruling. Pointing out that London was an important centre with the European Union, the Premier said they wanted to develop and strengthen political and social ties with the Turks of Cyprus living there.

Speaking at Ercan [illegal Tymvou] Airport upon his return from London last night, the Prime Minister said that his contacts in the British capital had been fruitful.Within the framework of his contacts in London, the Premier attended a conference organized by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce and met Lord Magginis and Lord Sheih, both of whom are members of the House of Lords. He had also evaluated the Orams case and the British High Court decision with legal experts in the UK and attended several inauguration ceremonies.

Evaluating his meeting with Lord Magginis and Lord Sheih who are also members of the friendship group in the British parliament, Eroglu said that the Turks of Cyprus needed such friends in order to promote their just cause.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (09.02.10) reports that during his visit to London the self-styled prime minister, Dervis Eroglu asked for appointments with British officials, but he received a negative answer.

[06] Talat met with the Portuguese ambassador to Lefkosia

(ML)

[07] Bulutoglulari announces that he resigns from the DP and that he supports Eroglu in the elections

(I/Ts.)

[08] Oppression to Kurds

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish MPs promoted in London the Turkish views on the Orams case

A Turkish lawmaker expressed on Monday Turkey's disappointment over the Orams case. Turkish MP Suat Kiniklioglu, also deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party for external affairs, said that Ankara was disappointed over the timing of the verdict of the British Court of Appeals regarding the Orams case. During a seminar organized by Global Strategy Forum at the House of Lords in London, Kiniklioglu welcomed Britain's support for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid.

On January 19, a British court ruled that a British couple could not keep their holiday villa in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The court of appeal decision upheld an earlier European Court of Justice ruling that will return the property to Meletis Apostolides, whose Greek Cypriot family had to leave the northern part of the island in 1974 after the Cyprus Peace Operation. The ruling establishes that he is the rightful owner of the property, which belonged to his family before the peace operation, and that David and Linda Orams have to demolish the villa they built on the land and abandon their claim to the property they purchased in 2002.

Also speaking in the seminar, Yasar Yakis, chairman of the EU Adjustment Committee of the Turkish Parliament, said Turkey's zero problem with its neighbours was not a new policy, but a policy that had been implemented since the first years of the Republic. Turkey is not a democracy heaven, but it is progressing on that route, Yakis said. Yakis also said problems could not be solved by isolating Iran, but Iran should cooperate and build confidence.

The Global Strategy Forum is an open forum, which was founded in 2006 and which is dedicated to the promotion of fresh thinking and active debate on foreign affairs, defence and international security issues. An independent, non-party political organization, the Forum hosted the seminar on "Turkey's Role in an Emerging Network World". The seminar focused on Turkey's position as a hub connecting east and west, both strategically and politically. It aimed to explore the growing influence and role of Turkey, westwards in terms of its relationship with the EU but also eastwards, in terms of its relationship with the Middle East and the broader region and it examined the wider, constructive role that Turkey can play in regional issues and beyond, in a period of rapid change.

[10] Turkish and Indian news agencies sign cooperation agreement

Turkish and Indian news agencies signed a cooperation agreement on Monday.Turkey's Anadolu Agency (AA) and Press Trust of India (PTI) signed the agreement in New Delhi, India on the sidelines of President Abdullah Gul's formal visit to this country.

India is one of the rising stars of the future and has a great economic potential, Hilmi Bengi, the director general of AA and president of AA Executive Board, said during the signature ceremony. Bengi underlined the importance of Gul's visit to India and said India's economic development and developments in its computer technology had repercussions in the entire world. This is naturally a sign of significant communication potential, Bengi said. Bengi also said the agreement would also contribute to the improvement of relations between Turkish and Indian people.

Also speaking in the ceremony, PTI's director general, M.K. Razdan, said India saw Turkey as an emerging democratic value.

The agreement envisages exchange of stories, photographs and news footage between the two agencies.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 08 February 2010

a) Turkish Secularism as a Model for Europe?:

Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, pens an article in Hurriyet Daily News.com, analyzing the European, US, and Turkish kinds of secularism, and arguing that Turkey seems to be exporting its secularism to Europe. He says: "...The European societies are turning to Turkey, the world's first Muslim society to adopt laicite, for models about delineating Islam, education and politics. In January 2010, for instance, Germany announced that, following the Turkish model, it would start to train imams in public universities. France, too, has started its own initiative to use state property to help build mosques, and the Netherlands is studying the Diyanet model and has established publicly-funded programs to train imams."

b) Turkey and Iran:

In a commentary in Milliyet, Asli Aydintasbas recounts her impressions of the Munich Security Conference, arguing that the world is still run by white men over the age of 65, even though the Cold War is over and the global balances have shifted. She speaks of Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavrides with great admiration for reading literature, for being in Facebook, and for being open in general. "The concept of a general in Facebook made me think how our generals are closed to communication," she laments. The columnist devotes the last part of her article to the busy schedule of Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu at the conference, stressing that in their contacts with the Iranians regarding the nuclear issue, Turkish "diplomats insist on seeing the full half glass, and believe that they can persuade the Iranians, while the Europeans see these contacts as a waste of time." She concludes by saying that due to Davutoglu's hectic schedule, she did not have a chance to ask him why he is optimistic about this matter.

Semih Idiz predicts that Turkey will be put to the test by the West when sanctions against Iran are debated the UN Security Council. In an article in Milliyet, Idiz argues: "While in Ankara, US Defence Secretary talked about 'the missile shield, which means that Turkey will soon have to make a critical decision in this regard as well." The columnist points out the Western media are increasingly talking about the consequences Turkey will face because it is isolating itself among its allies regarding Iran.

c) Turkey and Afghanistan:

"The Taliban wants to open an office in Turkey," is the headline of an article by Ferai Tinc in Hurriyet. The columnist quotes former Taliban commander Rahmani saying that negotiations with the Kabul government can be conducted more easily if the Taliban has an office outside Afghanistan, for example in Turkey. Tinc argues that "even if it does not want to, Turkey will have to play an active role in the process that will delineate Afghanistan's future." This is a difficult process, she warns, and there will be important rules to follow: not to get overexcited with the demands and missions Turkey is asked to assume, to refrain from using the sensitive balances of foreign policy as fodder for domestic politics, and not to antagonize one of the sides while trying to please the other.

EG/

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