Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-04-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat said that pro-solution policies pay dividends

[02] Eroglu states that the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots is the most important of all

[03] The results of Sundays so-called presidential elections in occupied Cyprus to be announced around 7pm on Sunday

[04] Citizens say officials from Turkey are meddling in the elections in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[05] Rauf Denktas: The people should vote the one who will protect the state and the sovereignty

[06] KTOS raided into the ministry of education

[07] Turkeys National Security Council to convene on April 29; Illegal presidential elections among the issues of discussion

[08] Erdogan to meet with Italian President and Prime Minister

[09] Turkish Foreign Minister holds talks on Afghanistan and the Middle East with US envoys

[10] Clinton praises Turkish US relations and Davutoglus will in finding solutions to the problems

[11] Turkish Prime Ministry denies reports of Turkish, US and Brazilian secret summit on the US proposal to impose sanctions on Iran

[12] Turkish Assembly sub-committee approves amendment to laws on military courts

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 15 April 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat said that pro-solution policies pay dividends

So-called Famagusta mayor, Oktay Kayalp, who attended the rally, declared his support for Mr Talat and added that those who are trying to intimidate and pressure the forces of peace will not get anywhere.

Meanwhile, Mr Talat yesterday hosted a reception for foreigners who live in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus and for foreigners who have the TRNC citizenship. During the reception, Mr Talat gave a speech and fielded foreigners questions. He told them that they are an indispensable part of the occupied areas' economy and society.

Mr Talat, inter alia, said: The aim of the comprehensive solution that will be found is not to create new victims among the people who live in the two sides of Cyprus but to heal the wounds of the past. For this reason, we show great sensitivity at the negotiation table on the issue of protecting the human rights of all citizens and of those who live here. There is no doubt that a Cyprus settlement bring economic, political and social benefits for all the citizens of the TRNC and all those who live in the TRNC without taking into consideration their ethnic origin.

Commenting on the Orams case, Mr Talat said that the negative impact of the case has been eliminated as a result of the latest decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the immovable property commission. He added: We are pleased to see that our efforts and policies to promote our just cause at any kind of international forum since 2004 have begun to yield results. Noting that this gain is not a coincidence, Mr Talat said that it is an achievement emanating from pro-peace and pro-solution policies that have been implemented since 2004.

(DPs)

[02] Eroglu states that the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots is the most important of all

The presidential candidate of the National Unity Party (UBP), prime minister Dervis Eroglu has said he will be struggling for the future of the people without giving up from the state if he wins the presidential elections.

Sovereignty of the Cyprus Turkish people is the most important of all, Eroglu said during visits to the walled city of Gazimagusa [occupied Famagusta] and some villages in the region.

He stated that the Greek Cypriot side does not want to reach an agreement with the Cyprus Turkish side and complained that president Talat is still refusing to see this fact.

Later in the day, prime minister Eroglu addressed a crowd of his supporters at a rally in Girne [occupied Keryneia].

Eroglu said that he will be protecting the rights of the Cyprus Turkish people at the negotiating table while continuing to strengthen the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He said that the large crowds of people filling the streets is the proof that the citizens have decided whom they will vote for and said Mehmet Ali Talat who cried over the establishment of the TRNC, will cry again on the 18th of April.The Premier also attended a reception given in honor of teachers in [occupied] Lefkosia.

[03] The results of Sundays so-called presidential elections in occupied Cyprus to be announced around 7pm on Sunday

As the TRNC presidential election countdown continues, the president of the High Electoral Council, Nevvar Nolan, has held a press conference on the electoral procedure. Mr. Nolan said 164,072 voters will go to the polls on Sunday to elect the new president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for a 5-year-term.

Voting will start at 8am and will end at 6pm.

Nolan said that 629 ballot boxes will be set up throughout the republic; 189 in [occupied] Lefkosia, 161 in Gazimagusa [occupied Famagusta], 122 in Girne [occupied Keryneia], 83 in Guzelyurt [occupied Morfou] and 74 in Iskele [occupied Trikomo].

Nolan reminded that electors can vote by presenting their TRNC ID cards or passports, police ID cards and Driving License cards and that bringing cameras or mobile phones is strictly forbidden. He noted that the propaganda ban will be imposed as from 6pm on Saturday.

The President of the High Electoral Council said that, once the counting of votes starts, the results will be displayed on the website HYPERLINK "http://www.mahkemeler.net/secim2010" www.mahkemeler.net/secim2010.

Mr. Nolan added that early results of the election will possibly be announced around 7pm.

[04] Citizens say officials from Turkey are meddling in the elections in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Our citizens noted that for almost two weeks now, either MPs or bureaucrats who belong to the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and Nationalist Action Party (MHP), which function in Turkey, are in our country, writes the paper adding that the above-mentioned citizens observed that these MPs and bureaucrats are going around in the occupied areas of Cyprus, and especially in areas where mainly Turkish settlers live, and work behind the scenes regarding the elections.

It is as if the elections are being held for Turkey, they said.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Rauf Denktas: The people should vote the one who will protect the state and the sovereignty

Mr Denktas made these statements speaking to Ankara Anatolia news agency.

He went on and referred to the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU. He added that Talat is telling lies when he says that it is because of the policy persuaded by Rauf Denktas and Dervis Eroglu that the Greek Cypriot side, as he described the Republic of Cyprus, became member of the European Union in the name of all Cyprus. As he stated, at the Copenhagen Summit the Turkish Cypriot side was not invited and that only the Greek Cypriot side was invited, representing the whole of Cyprus.

In addition, Mr Denktas stated that he supports Eroglu for the presidential elections, as a citizen and said that he has the right to speak his mind as regards what he thinks as a citizen.

(CS)

[06] KTOS raided into the ministry of education

The protestors raided into the self-styled ministry of education. The intervention of the so-called police did not prevent the protestors from taking over the building of the ministry. The protestors hung placards on the window of the second floor of the building and called on the self-styled minister to resign. They also waited for the minister to meet with them in the meeting room of the building, but he did not show up.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkeys National Security Council to convene on April 29; Illegal presidential elections among the issues of discussion

According to the paper, the outcome of the illegal presidential elections that will take place in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus on April 18, 2010 will be discussed during the meeting. In addition, the contacts of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the USA, Turkeys EU negotiation process for full membership and the latest regional developments emphasizing on Iraq will be among the issues of discussion. The ongoing works on the constitutional amendments by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) are also expected to be discussed. Furthermore, the Directorate General of Security, the General Staff and the National Intelligence Organisations (MIT) will give inform the MGK on the latest situation regarding the fight against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

As the paper writes, the new assignment to MITs undersecretariat will be the most important item on the meetings agenda. It is expected that during MGKs meeting the new MIT head, who will replace MITs Undersecretary Emre Taner whose term in office ends in May, will be determined. Among the names examining for Mr Taners replacement, is the deputy undersecretarys name at the Prime Ministry, Mr Hakan Fidan.

(EA)

[08] Erdogan to meet with Italian President and Prime Minister

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will travel to Italy next week for a summit meeting between the governments of the two countries.

Erdogan will co-chair the second intergovernmental meeting together with Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, in the Italian capital on April 21.

The first intergovernmental summit between Turkey and Italy took place in Turkey's western province of Izmir in 2008. The two countries decided to hold the summit every year. The second summit was to be held in Rome in December 2009. However, it was delayed due to an attack on Berlusconi at a political rally in Milan on December 13, 2009.

Several Turkish ministers will accompany Erdogan during his visit. During his stay in Rome, Erdogan will also meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

[09] Turkish Foreign Minister holds talks on Afghanistan and the Middle East with US envoys

The Turkish Foreign Minister had meetings with U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and U.S. envoy to Middle East in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and George Mitchell, U.S. special envoy for Middle East peace.

During their meeting, Davutoglu and Holbrooke discussed elections in Iraq, and they said a government to be formed after elections in Iraq would affect the entire Middle East. This is closely related with Iran's role in the region, they also said.

Davutoglu briefed Holbrooke on Turkey's talks in the region, and Holbrooke talked about his recent meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.Minister Davutoglu and Holbrooke said there were critical days coming one after the other ahead of Afghanistan, and enumerated them as establishment of an advisory assembly at the beginning of May, a conference of leaders in Kabul in July, and parliamentary elections in a few months. The two later debated developments in Kyrgzstan and the Balkans.

During the meeting, Holbrooke thanked Davutoglu for his contributions to bringing Turkish-U.S. policies closer to each other in both Afghanistan and Pakistan issues.

Diplomatic sources said the Americans were closely monitoring Turkey's initiatives in Afghanistan, and said they could see how important things Turkey was doing there as time passed.

During his meeting with Mitchell, Davutoglu discussed Syrian-Israeli negotiations, which have been interrupted. Davutoglu said Egypt-Syria relations were important for the compromise process in Palestine, and underlined the importance of Syria-Saudi Arabia relations for Lebanon. Turkey is doing its best regarding these two issues, he said.

The two also debated relations with Israel, and said Israel's settlement policy was wrong both in terms of content and timing.

Diplomatic sources said the United States had noticed that Turkey was willing to resume Israeli-Syrian peace talks. They said the United States was in a serious search for solving Syria-Israel problem and disputes among Palestinian groups, and reviving Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process. Therefore, the United States was often discussing Middle East issue with Turkey, they said.

Diplomatic sources said Syria was also involved in the equation thanks to Turkey, and they had made the Americans accept the idea that Syria was also a key country in the Middle East.

Davutoglu went to the United States together with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 12. Erdogan returned to Turkey on Wednesday after attending a nuclear security summit. Davutoglu however, continued his talks in Washington, D.C.

During his visit to the United States, Davutoglu met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband, and Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian. Minister Davutoglu also attended a meeting between Turkish Premier Erdogan and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian, and another one between Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama.

[10] Clinton praises Turkish US relations and Davutoglus will in finding solutions to the problems

Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, met on Thursday U.S. State Secretary, Hillary Clinton, within the scope of his talks in Washington D.C..In a brief statement prior to the meeting, Clinton described Davutoglu not as a counterpart, but also a friend.

Clinton said there were very important issues Turkey and the United States would assess, and noted that Davutoglu was always willing in exchange of ideas and finding solution to the problems.

Clinton said Turkey and the United States had very strong relations and noted the relations were further boosting.

[11] Turkish Prime Ministry denies reports of Turkish, US and Brazilian secret summit on the US proposal to impose sanctions on Iran

Turkish Prime Ministry Office sources denied allegations about a secret summit among Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in the Washington D.C.

Sources said that the three leaders chatted for a few minutes before beginning of the Nuclear Security Summit, adding that a secret tripartite summit did not take place.

Earlier, some newspapers claimed that U.S. President Obama had a secret summit with Prime Minister Erdogan and Brazilian President Silva about his proposal to impose sanctions on Iran.

[12] Turkish Assembly sub-committee approves amendment to laws on military courts

Turkey's parliamentary sub-committee approved a bill which includes amendments to several laws about military courts.

Under the bill ratified by the Parliamentary Committee on National Defense, military courts will consist of three military judges. The most senior judge will act as the chief of the court delegation. Officer members will be excluded from military court delegations.

Only one judge will rule in lawsuits which envisage imprisonment sentences up to five years.

The bill also amended the law about the Military High Court of Administration in line with the decisions made by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Accordingly, parties and their advocates will be able to see secret information and documents in case files. Earlier, the ECHR ruled that prevention of plaintiff and his-her advocate from examining secret documents in case files were a violation of right to fair trial.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] From the Turkish Press of 15 April 2010

a) Cyprus and the so-called presidential elections:

Yusuf Kanli in Hurriyet Daily News focuses on a public opinion poll conducted by a "prestigious" research company on the so-called presidential elections to be held in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus on 18 April 2010. He says: "According to the poll, the percentage of undecided has decreased to 8 percent. Only two weeks ago the percentage of undecided was as high as 15 percent. As has been widely expected for the past several months, the poll showed Eroglu was in clear lead and might become president with a vote share as high as 54.6 percent while the incumbent Talat would receive only about 40.7 percent of the vote."

Hurriyet's Oktay Eksi asserts that this time, no one of the presidential candidates in occupied Cyprus is complaining about Ankara's involvement in the election process because the ruling AKP avoids any step that might be misinterpreted by the political circles in the island. Pointing to rumors about certain EU and US diplomats' lobbying activities in favor of Mehmet Ali Talat, Eksi says that the absence of evidence verifying this speculation shows that Turkish Cypriots will cast their votes in a fair election atmosphere. He asserts that the election results will affect the course of the Cyprus talks as Talat supports the parameters established by the UN Security Council while Eroglu believes that that approach will turn the Turkish Cypriots into a minority group on the island.

b) Turkish foreign policy over Iran and US disagreement:

In a column in Cumhuriyet, Ali Sirmen asserts that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is unlikely to change his stand toward Iran's nuclear policy regardless of the fact that Washington expects its allies' support for the sanctions against the Tehran Administration. Noting that many US circles started to ask whether Erdogan's Iran policy is a sign of a "serious change of axis," Sirmen says: "The AKP [Justice and Development Party] might have several economic and historic reasons to justify its Iran policy. However, although the United States has adopted an understanding approach so far, it will not be expected to tolerate that policy any more."

Milliyet columnist Semih Idiz says in an article that the statements issued by the US side shows that Washington was not convinced by Prime Minister Erdogan's remarks over Iran and Armenia. Washington still expects Ankara to endorse the Armenian protocols at the National Assembly to step up the normalization process, he adds. Commenting on the Turkish-US differences over Iran, Idiz asserts that the US State Department indirectly accused Turkey and Brazil of "undermining the credibility of the international community" by opposing the sanctions to be imposed on Iran. He says that the differences between Turkey and the United States have become clearer although the Obama-Erdogan meeting took place in a positive atmosphere.

Also focusing on the conflict between Turkey and the United States over Iran and Armenia, Cuneyt Ulsever of Hurriyet says that "the AKP government has reached a critical crossroads in its relations with the US Administration for the first time since 2002." The columnist asserts that the conflict of interests between Turkey and the United States will reveal whether the AKP is capable of pursuing a foreign policy independently of Washington.

Milliyet columnist Kadri Gursel criticizes the AKP government's policy on Iran, saying that Erdogan frequently offers to mediate between the West and Iran although neither side looks for such an initiative. Criticizing Erdogan for trying to draw an "irrelevant" parallel between the nuclear activities of Iran and Israel, Gursel argues in an article that the AKP is deliberately pursuing "a long-term and consistent policy" to gradually distance itself from the West. He speculates that the government is willing to act as a mediator between "the West and the Islamic East" in order to be able to say that it has the right to remain at an equal distance to the pertinent sides on controversial issues. The government's ultimate goal is to create "a new perception of threat" and establish a "Middle Eastern political culture" in the country, he adds.

Radikal columnist Nuray Mert expresses support for the AKP policy on Iran, but warns that the "Turkey will be in a difficult position at the international arena" if Ankara refuses to assume the role given to it by the West. Unfortunately, she says, Turkey has to consider the "interests of the world order and the balances of power in the region" while adopting its policies.

In an article entitled "It is important to tell the truth but it is also important to be able to say the last word", Milli Gazete columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan lauds Prime Minister Erdogan for the way he continued during his meetings in the United States to remind Western countries calling for sanctions against Iran of Israel's nuclear weapons and tell them that if they do not want Iran to become a nuclear power, they should help denuclearize Israel. Ozkan also asserts that in a world where "might is considered right" it is more important to be in a position to "say the last word" on international issues than to "speak the truth," adding that the only way for Turkey to become powerful enough to ensure international action on what it deems to be right would be to "revive our own civilization and stop looking for salvation in the West."

In an article entitled "The Summit and its results", Zaman columnist Fikret Ertan asserts that the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington has produced unexpectedly successful results in the sense that although binding decisions were not made at the summit, the participants showed they take the issue of nuclear security seriously and are willing to take steps in time to promote efforts to limit the use of nuclear weapons. He also expresses the hope that the NPT Review Conference to be held in New York next month will consolidate the results of the summit in Washington. EG/

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