Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-05-06

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The breakaway regime is set to open a representation in Sweden

[02] Almost half of Talats negotiating team will reportedly participate in the Cyprus talks together with Eroglu

[03] A High Education Fair of the OIC to be organized in the occupied Cyprus in April 2011

[04] Izzet Izcan asks for the carrying out of a population census in occupied Cyprus monitored by international observers and says that the result of the so-called elections was determined by the votes of the settlers

[05] Eroglu and a Hur-Is delegation meet; Cyprus negotiations the main issue of discussion

[06] Irsen Kucuk met in Ankara with Bulent Arinc, ministers and AKP deputies

[07] The self-style minister of agricultural and natural sources due to Izmir

[08] A cooperation protocol between the occupation regime and Gazi University to be signed

[09] Five Turkish Cypriot Associations on tourism launched an initiative for a partnership in the Cyprus Turkish Airlines

[10] The General Congress of the Football Tennis Association to take place in occupied Cyprus on May 9

[11] The 3rd International English Language Teaching Conference kicked off in the occupied part of Cyprus

[12] Turkey and Ukraine sign action plan for 2010-2011

[13] Turkish and Ugandan Presidents meet; Joint commitment for further relations-improvement was made

[14] Polish parliamentary delegation in Ankara for contacts

[15] One of two key articles passes; CHP prepares to appeal reform package

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] The mouthpiece of the Democratic Party assesses the stance of Eroglu on the issue of single sovereignty

[17] From the Turkish Press on 04 and 05 May 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The breakaway regime is set to open a representation in Sweden

Acting Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Huseyin Ozgurgun said Wednesday the TRNC [the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus] would soon open a representation in Stockholm, Sweden.

Speaking to reporters prior to participating in a Council of Ministers meeting in Lefkosia, Ozgurgun said that the TRNC government has taken a decision to open a representation in Sweden.

Referring on Cyprus negotiations, Ozgurgun said that the Turkish Cypriot delegation, which will conduct the negotiations, has been formed to a large extent. TRNC's Representative in New York, Kemal Gokeri, has been recalled to the TRNC and he will be a part of the negotiations team, Ozgurgun noted. TRNC's President Dervis Eroglu will announce the names of the negotiations team once the list has been completed, Ozgurgun also said.

[02] Almost half of Talats negotiating team will reportedly participate in the Cyprus talks together with Eroglu

In any case the new President is conservative. The government in Ankara is also [conservative]. Therefore, President Dervis Eroglu behaved in a conservative manner while forming his negotiating team... President Dervis Eroglu created his negotiating team with moderate names. Most of them are known names of Talats team. That is, Eroglu did not establish a team which could tense the climate and make the process difficult.

It seems that at this stage almost half of Talats team will take part in the new team. For example, Kudret Ozersay will be an important and active person in the new team. He participated in the work regarding the chapter of governance and power sharing in Talats team. He knows well the issue of the Constitution.

Another name who will participate in the new team is Erhan Ercin, chairman of the EU Coordination Centre of the Prime Ministers Office. Erhan Ercin was also an active name in Talats team on EU affairs.

Another name who will participate in Eroglus negotiating team is Serden Hoca, who was participating in Talats team and worked on the property issue.

Actually, by assigning duty to these three names in the new negotiating team, Eroglu showed to the UN his sincerity on the issue of continuing the negotiations from the point they stopped and that his is taking seriously this issue. By continuing the duty of the technical team who worked with Talat on the issues of governance and power sharing, EU and property, three out of the four chapters which came onto the agenda during the Talat-Christofias negotiations, Eroglu aimed at dispersing the concerns which exist about him in the international circles...

According to the messages given in the beginning, we would not be wrong if we said that the 2nd President Mehmet Ali Talat is among those who follow the developments with satisfaction for now

(I/Ts.)

[03] A High Education Fair of the OIC to be organized in the occupied Cyprus in April 2011

For this purpose, a delegation of OIC, headed by Nabika Didlo, is visiting occupied areas upon an invitation of the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs and held a meeting with the self-styled foreign minister, Huseyin Ozgurgun. A committee for the organization of the fair will be set up during the delegations meeting.

In statements, Mr Ozgurgun said, inter alia, that the organization of this event is taking place because of the OIC General-Secretary Ekmelettin Ihsanoglu. He went on and added that this kind of support and the organization of such an event on behalf of OIC is an important tool for the lifting of the unfair and inhuman isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

(CS)

[04] Izzet Izcan asks for the carrying out of a population census in occupied Cyprus monitored by international observers and says that the result of the so-called elections was determined by the votes of the settlers

Speaking at a panel organized by the leftist group in the European Parliament, Mr Izcan referred on Cyprus and the outcome of the latest so-called presidential elections, the impact of the negotiations process and the population issue in the occupied territories. Asking for the carrying out of a population census in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus, which will be monitored by international observers, Mr Izcan said that the population in the northern part of Cyprus has increased in a form which is in a contradiction to the Geneva Convention. The transfer of settlers in the occupied areas has caused the population of the Turkish Cypriot community to decrease and in a future election procedure the genuine will of the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to be expressed.

Referring to the outcome of the latest so-called presidential elections in occupied Cyprus, Izzet Izcan said that the outcome of the procedure was determined by the votes of those living in occupied Famagusta and Karpass peninsula, which are of a Turkish origin. Mehmet Ali Talat would have won the elections if the votes of the TRNC citizens who are of a Turkish origin would cast, because these persons have expressed a different will than those of the Turkish Cypriots, he said.

Mr Izcan also stated that his party is in favour of the continuation of the negotiations in Cyprus which aim to find a solution to the problem and added that the aim of BKP is for the population of Cyprus once again to live together on the basis of an effective and honourable agreement.

(ML)

[05] Eroglu and a Hur-Is delegation meet; Cyprus negotiations the main issue of discussion

TRNC President Dervis Eroglu has repeated that he would be defending the Cyprus Turkish peoples rightful position and rights at the negotiation table. The President said he would be insistently reminding the international community what actions it should take to force the Greek Cypriot side to adopt a compromising stance at the talks.

The Presidents comments came during a visit paid to him by a delegation from the Hur-Is Federation today.

The Hur-Is President Yakup Latifoglu said that the federation is in support of a fair and lasting settlement to be based on the political equality of the two founding states, which will protect the gained rights of the Cyprus Turkish people and will maintain Turkeys position as a guarantor power. He added that the federation backed Dervis Eroglu in the Presidential elections as he was in support of this view.

On his part, President Eroglu said he stands behind all the promises he made during the election campaign. Referring to the preparations being made for the negotiations, which are expected to be resumed at the end of the month, the President said that the issue would be discussed at a special meeting to be held in the coming days. He repeated that he would be sharing all developments concerning the Cyprus issue with the people while continuing the talks with the aim of finding a comprehensive solution to the problem but added that it takes two to tango.

[06] Irsen Kucuk met in Ankara with Bulent Arinc, ministers and AKP deputies

Irsen Kucuk held also contacts with a number of ministers and Justice and Development Party deputies, among them with the National Education Minister, Nimet Cubukcu, the Speaker of the Turkish Cabinet Huseyin Celik, AKP Konya deputy, Mustafa Kabakci, AKP Istanbul deputy Mehmet Muezzinoglu and AKP Adiyaman deputy and chief of Turkeys Grand National Assembly, Fehmi Husrev Kutlu.

(ML)

[07] The self-style minister of agricultural and natural sources due to Izmir

(DPs)

[08] A cooperation protocol between the occupation regime and Gazi University to be signed

According to information given by the self-style ministry, the protocol will be signed within the framework of cooperation and solidarity between Turkey and the occupation regime. Mr Durust will return to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus on Friday.

(DPs)

[09] Five Turkish Cypriot Associations on tourism launched an initiative for a partnership in the Cyprus Turkish Airlines

The Chairmen and representatives of Northern Cyprus Hoteliers Association (KITOB), Cyprus Turkish Tourism and Travel Agents Association (KITSAB), Cyprus Turkish Tourist Guides Association (KITREB), Cyprus Turkish Restaurateurs Association (RES-BIR) and Car Renting Business Association (KAIB) participated in the press conference.

In the joint announcement, Ms Apakgun, said that as representatives of organizations dealing with tourism, they cannot overlook any more the deteriorating of the future of their country and institutions like the Cyprus Turkish Airlines without any programme or plan. They proposed some measures for the KTHY like the privatization, because as they noted in the joint announcement, it cannot be closed down.

(DPs)

[10] The General Congress of the Football Tennis Association to take place in occupied Cyprus on May 9

According to the paper, forty persons from fifteen countries will participate in the Congress in which many officials of the occupation regime, among them Dervis Eroglu, will attend.

(CS)

[11] The 3rd International English Language Teaching Conference kicked off in the occupied part of Cyprus

One hundred twenty linguists from twenty-eight countries are participating in the Conference, which will last for three days.

(DPs)

[12] Turkey and Ukraine sign action plan for 2010-2011

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko signed action plan for 2010-2011 between the two countries in Kiev on Wednesday. The two ministers also initialled joint declaration of high-level strategic cooperation council.

Davutoglu told reporters that Turkey saw Ukraine as a strategic partner in the aspect of international relations. Noting that political relations between the two countries were on perfect level, Davutoglu said that they were working on making cooperation in economic, commercial, energy and transportation areas.

Davutoglu said that the two countries had a common perspective in regional issues especially the Black Sea. He added that Turkey was ready to take every step for economic integration and maximum cooperation with Ukraine.Ukrainian minister said that they decided to carry bilateral relations to a higher level. Hryshchenko said that Turkey and Ukraine would make coordination in important projects in economy and political areas under the initialled declaration.

[13] Turkish and Ugandan Presidents meet; Joint commitment for further relations-improvement was made

President Abdullah Gul has said Turkeys relations with Uganda show the importance the country attaches to Africa. Gul and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, held a press conference following a bilateral meeting in Ankara on Wednesday during which they affirmed their joint commitment to further improve relations between their countries.

Gul said they agreed to increase the strength of their political ties and take steps in the field of economic relations. An agreement on air transportation and another on the establishment of a consultative mechanism between the countries foreign ministries were signed prior to the press conference.

Musevenis two-day visit marks the first of its kind paid by a Ugandan head of state to Turkey, which Gul believes heralds the opening of a new page in their bilateral relations. Gul also reiterated that Africa has become a strategic partner for Turkey, resulting in the establishment of diplomatic representations in several countries throughout the continent. The Turkish Embassy in the Ugandan capital of Kampala was opened on March 1. Museveni said Uganda would also open an embassy in Ankara soon.

Gul pointed out that Turkey and Uganda are in close cooperation regarding global and regional issues under the UN Security Council, where both countries are currently non-permanent members. Turkey will hold the rotating one-month presidency of the Security Council in September and will leave the post to Uganda, which will take the role throughout October.

Museveni particularly stressed his invitation for Turkish businessmen to come to his country. Africa is currently waking up after 500 years of colonialism, and Turkey is becoming a more modern country in Europe. Possible areas of cooperation in between these two are huge, he said, adding that they hope to work with Turkish businessmen particularly in the field of manufacturing and services as well as in the development of infrastructure.

Gul also discussed the importance Museveni attached to the presence of Turkish businessmen in his country. I know he even hosted some of them at his own house, he said. Gul announced that Turkish Airlines (THY) would soon launch direct flights between Istanbul and Kampala.

Following the press conference, the Ugandan president attended the Turkey-Uganda Business Council Meeting in Ankara. He received Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the hotel where he was staying and was received by Gul again for dinner.

[14] Polish parliamentary delegation in Ankara for contacts

Polish Parliament's EU Affairs Commission Chairman Stanislaw Rakoczy met on Wednesday Turkish Parliament's EU Adjustment Commission chairman Yasar Yakis.

Speaking at the meeting, Yakis said Turkey's EU process, Iran's nuclear program and sanctions to be imposed on Iran, the Palestinian-Israeli problem, the economic crisis in Greece and the relations between Turkey and Armenia would be discussed with the Polish executive.

Rakoczy said Poland closely monitored Turkey's efforts on constitution and added that Poland would undertake EU rotating presidency and that Turkey should consider the views included in the reports of European Commission.

He said Poland supported Turkey's EU bid.

[15] One of two key articles passes; CHP prepares to appeal reform package

Worries that the surprise rejection of a contentious article in the government's constitutional amendment package on Monday boded poorly for the rest of the reforms were dispelled on Tuesday when Parliament passed one of the two other key articles in the package.

Article 17 of the Constitutional reform package passed with 337 votes for and 69 against on Tuesday, one day after another critical article fell below the 330-vote threshold for approval, dropping out of the package. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) considers Article 17, which includes changes to the structure of the Constitutional Court, and another article that would alter the makeup of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) the most important articles in the package. If Article 17 goes into effect, the Constitutional Court --which currently has 11 regular and 4 alternate members-- will have a total of 17 regular members.

The approval of the article was a relief for the government as it came one day after the rejection of Article 8, which would have vested Parliament with the authority to decide whether a prosecutor could proceed with a closure case against a political party. This article was rejected on Monday in the second round of voting on the reform package, receiving three votes fewer than the 330 required for inclusion in the package. A temporary article related to Article 8 was also removed from the package as a result. After this mishap, the ruling AK Party shifted its focus to passing the two most important changes included in the constitutional amendment package. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked to his deputies in his party's parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, calling on them to support the package and make history.

The moving speech he delivered during the group meeting, observers say, is one reason why no AK Party deputies voted against the article this time.

PM delivers powerful speech

In his emotional speech on Tuesday, Erdogan appealed to the deputies who voted against Article 8, recalling every single difficulty the ruling party had to endure in the seven-and-a-half years it has been in power. Some of the deputies could not hold back their tears during Erdogans speech. Article 17 barely passed the first round of voting, getting only 331 votes in favour, prompting commentators to predict that it would not survive the second round. Its approval has been attributed in large part to Erdogans speech. AK Party deputies were overjoyed when the vote concluded, and the AK Party group leadership was visibly in higher spirits.

The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), whose predecessor had been shut down by the Constitutional Court, did not support Article 8, nor has it supported any other article in the second round. However, BDP deputy Ufuk Uras has been supporting the package. He also said during Tuesdays vote that failure to pass Article 16 --which calls for trying military officers in civilian courts for crimes unrelated to their profession-- would mean victory for Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal organization charged with plotting to overthrow the government. Uras also voted on Article 17, despite verbal protests from the Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Independent deputies Mucahit Pehlivan, Zekai Ozcan, Fevzi Isbasaran and Seyit Eyuboglu also voted in favour of Article 17.

Subtitle: CHP prepares to go to Constitutional Court

The result was frustrating for CHP leader Deniz Baykal, who had announced that if Article 17 on the Constitutional Court and 23 on the HSYK are removed from the package, they would support the reforms and ratify them in Parliament. Passing constitutional amendments without a public vote is possible when the proposed changes are approved by a 367-vote majority. CHP group spokesmen announced shortly after Article 17 passed that they would most certainly appeal the package at the Constitutional Court.

Seven independent deputies and six Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies are supporting the CHP, which plans to file an appeal against the package early next week. The CHP says it will wait until the package is submitted to President Abdullah Gul for ratification on Friday. They will file their appeal with the support of 110 deputies at the Constitutional Court when the package is sent back to the Prime Ministry for publication in the Official Gazette.

Subtitle: Referendum slated for July 18

If everything goes according to the AK Partys plans and no further surprises occur, the package will be submitted to referendum on July 18.

With Article 17, the Constitutional Court will have a total of 17 regular members. Three of these will be appointed by Parliament. The president will choose three members from among the Supreme Court of Appeals nominees, two from among judges nominated by the Council of State, one by the Military Supreme Court of Appeals, one from among three nominees by the Military Higher Administrative Court and three from judges nominated by the Higher Education Board (YOK). Four other members will be appointed, again by the president, from among independently employed lawyers, first-class judges and prosecutors and from among Constitutional Court rapporteurs who have served the high court for at least five years.

This change will also make it more difficult for the Constitutional Court to overturn parliamentary legislation. The Constitutional Courts power to cancel legislation has been exploited extensively by the CHP, which has appealed most of the reforms passed by the AK Party. The CHP successfully secured the annulment of a parliamentary amendment that would have allowed the religious headscarf to be worn on university campuses after the amendment had been passed in Parliament with 411 votes. It also managed to cancel presidential elections in 2007, claiming that the quorum for holding a presidential election was 367.

Subtitle: HSYK article next challenge

So far, none of the articles, with the exception of Article 8, has dropped out of the package. Article 14, 15 and 16 were also passed with no problems on Tuesday. Article 14, which opens disciplinary decisions regarding public servants to judicial appeal was passed with 339 votes. Article 15, which vests the Justice Ministry with the power to carry out administrative inspections, was passed with 338 votes. Article 16, which stipulates that military personnel will be tried in civilian courts for crimes not related to the military, was passed with 336 votes.

The result of the vote on Article 23 had not yet been announced when Todays Zaman went to print.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.05.10) reports the following:

Turkish parliament adopted six more articles on the fourth day of the second round vote on the constitutional amendment package. The parliament debated and voted the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd articles of the bill on Wednesday.

A total of 408 MPs joined the second round vote on the 18th article of the package which limits the term in office of Constitutional Court members. According to the article, members of Turkey's top legal body will be elected for 12 years, and no one can be elected to membership twice. 337 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 71 voted against it. During the first round vote on this article, 406 MPs cast their votes. 335 MPs voted in favour, 70 voted against it. And one MP cast a blank vote.

A total of 409 MPs joined the second round vote on the 19th article of the package allowing citizens to make individual applications to the Constitutional Court. The article also paves the way for trial of parliament speaker, chief of general staff, and senior commanders by the High Tribunal on charges of crimes they commit regarding their positions. 337 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 70 voted against it. And one MP cast a blank vote. In the first round vote on the 19th article, 337 MPs voted in favour, 69 voted against it. And one MP abstained.

The parliament also adopted the 20th article of the bill amending the Article 149 of the Turkish Constitution about trial procedures of the Constitutional Court. According to the article, the court will work as two chambers and a general board. A total of 408 MPs joined the second round vote on the 20th article. 336 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 71 voted against it. One abstained. In the first round vote on the 20th article, 338 MPs voted in favour, 70 voted against it.

A total of 407 MPs joined the second round vote on the 21st article of the package amending the Article 156 of the Turkish Constitution about the Military Court of Appeals. 336 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 71 voted against it. In the first round vote on the 21st article, 338 MPs voted in favour, 70 voted against it.

A total of 408 MPs joined the second round vote on the 22nd article of the package amending the Article 157 of the Turkish Constitution about the High Military Administrative Court. 337 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 71 voted against it. In the first round vote on the 22nd article, 335 MPs voted in favour, 70 voted against it. One abstained and one MP cast a blank vote.

The parliament also adopted the 23rd article of the bill amending the Article 159 of the Turkish Constitution about the structure of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). According to the article, the permanent members of the board will increase to 22 from 7, and the number of its associate members will rise to 12 from 5. A total of 409 MPs joined the second round vote on the 23rd article. 334 MPs voted in favour of the article, while 73 voted against it. One abstained and one MP cast a blank vote. In the first round vote on the 23rd article, 336 MPs voted in favour, 72 voted against it. And one Mp cast a blank vote.

The parliament will continue debating the package on Thursday beginning from the 24th article. The articles and entirety of the bill needs to receive over 367 of the votes in order to be adopted. If it receives somewhere between 330 and 367 it will be put to referendum. If any of the articles receive less than 330, it will be automatically rejected. If during the voting of the package as a whole it receives less than 330, it will be rejected. The second round of the voting which began on May 2, Sunday will last until May 9. A total of 30 secret votes will be held in the second round.

The amendment package will abolish the provisional article 15 of the constitution which does not allow trial of the members of the National Security Council formed after a coup in 1980. The bill will also abolish the ban on right to general strike; paves the way for a citizen to become a member of more than one union, and the civil servants and other public officials the right to collective bargaining. It also paves the way for trial of parliament speaker, chief of general staff, and senior commanders by the High Tribunal on charges of crimes they commit regarding their positions. If the bill is to be put to referendum, it is expected to be voted as a whole.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[16] The mouthpiece of the Democratic Party assesses the stance of Eroglu on the issue of single sovereignty

Downer says insistently that President Eroglu accepted the agreements of the 23rd of May and 1st of July. Is it really possible for President Eroglu to have accepted the 1 July agreement?

We do not know what esteemed Eroglu said to Downer behind closed doors. However, Downer must be stopped now from talking in this manner.

In the letter which esteemed President sent to the UN Secretary-General, he referred to the agreement of the 23rd of May and noted that he accepts this agreement, but said absolutely nothing about the agreement of the 1st of July. We are committed by this letter, not by what Downer says.

Esteemed Eroglu cannot say that he accepts the Agreement of the 1st of July, because this agreement includes the principles of single sovereignty and single citizenship on the Island. This is an agreement which prepares the ground for a process which at a point threatens the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the rights, authorities and status of Turkey on the Island as well as its security and national interests.

We accept that esteemed Eroglu is at a difficult curve. Well-known circles inside and outside the country asked from Eroglu to declare that he is committed to the agreements of the 23rd of May and 1st of July, even from the very day he took the oath. If esteemed President said he accepted these agreements, he would have been subject to hundreds of attacks such as Then what is your difference from Talat? Why you have opposed to Talat? Have you not said you would take back what Talat lost?

If he said I do not accept these agreements, he would both have offered a golden opportunity to the Greek Cypriots and have found against him many states, mainly the UN, the USA and the EU, while he would have put Turkey into a difficult situation.

The letter, which esteemed President sent to the UN Secretary-General, is a letter written in an extremely diplomatic style. Either you accept it or not, the negotiations will continue now with this style and what Talat has given away will be taken back with this style.

When esteemed Talat was announcing the Agreement of the 1st of July, he said: In the conclusion we reached with Christofias we accepted as principle the single sovereignty and single citizenship. We will discuss its methods of implementation and details in the full-fledged negotiations.

It means that Talat and Christofias had agreed on the principles, but they had not yet reached an agreement on the issue of the methods of implementation.

Diplomacy will come to surface exactly on this point. In the International Law, the term of Single Sovereignty is as important as its source. Sovereignty as Talat understands it, is different than the Sovereignty as Eroglu understands it. Therefore, the source of the sovereignty is different.

It was clear that if Talat was the leader, Sovereignty would have been in the Central State and the statelets would have had some local rights which they would have taken from the Central State in a similar manner to the federal areas in Germany.

However, in this period of Eroglu the issue is that the Sovereignty will be in the Founding States and the Founding States with their own initiative will transfer a part of their sovereignty to the central State.

Wait and see.

(I/Ts.)

[17] From the Turkish Press on 04 and 05 May 2010

a) Cyprus talks:

Yusuf Kanli in an article in Hurriyet Daily News (04.05.10) writes that Eroglu has shattered speculations that his election would jeopardize the intercommunal talks by accepting UN special adviser Downer's suggestion to resume the talks on 26 May. Referring to the injustice of the continuing international isolation of northern Cyprus, Kanli believes that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's forthcoming visit to Athens as well as the visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Ankara "might be instrumental in enhancing the prospects of the Cyprus talks process."

b) Davutoglu's new Turkish vision:

Hurriyet columnist Eyup Can (05.05.10) in an article details Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's new foreign policy vision based on peace and partnership with neighbouring as well as world countries. Relating a conversation with the minister, Can notes that Davutoglu rejects the frequently made comparison between himself and Kissinger explaining that "the comparison is not right because Kissinger believed in real politic alone, whereas, I believe in principles and ideals as much as real politic in international relations."

In an article in Sabah (05.05.10), Bulent Aras explains the dimensions of the strategic depth policy of Davutoglu as the foreign minister presented at a recent conference in Oxford. Noting that one dimension of Davutoglu's vision concerns stability, security, and democracy in domestic politics, Aras goes on to detail another dimension which envisages integration in what the minister refers to as "contiguous regions."

Assessing Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's performance in an article in Milliyet (04.05.10), Sami Kohen believes that despite the various mistakes the minister has been successful. Referring to Davutoglu's policy of zero problems with our neighbours, Kohen argues that this could not be achieved with Armenia despite the overture and that as a result new problems were created in Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan. Noting that the zero problem policy with Arab countries has led to the deterioration of Turkey's relations with Israel, Kohen praises the developments in relations with Syria, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Greece. Commenting on the concern of Western circles that Turkey has begun to act in line with its Islamist identity, Kohen points out to the difficulty of Turkey safeguarding its preferences and priorities in foreign policy issues.

c) Constitutional amendments:

In his column in Milliyet (05.05.10) to the rejection of the article on the closure of parties, Taka Akyol admits that he was surprised and disappointed "because the sanction of 'party closure' does not mean anything for the parties of the PKK but even the preparation of an indictment against the ruling party will create traumatic effects for the country." Focusing on the fact that the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) withdrew its support from the article despite the fact that it would have benefited from it, Akyol underlines that the BDP boycotted the voting upon the instructions of Ocalan. Charging that Ocalan wants to escalate the Turkish-Kurdish tension in order to expand the PKK and its grassroots, Akyol believes that Ocalan wants to pull to the PKK grassroots the Kurds who have been voting for the AKP.

Commenting on the rejection of Article 8 in his column in Milliyet (05.05.10), Mehmet Tezkan writes: "Since the CHP [Republican People's Party], the MHP [Nationalist Action Party], the BDP, the DSP [Democratic Left Party], the independent, and some of the AKP deputies were opposed to it, should we not stop for a moment and think about it? Maybe the government is on the wrong path."

In an article in Star (05.05.10), Samil Tayyar writes that Ocalan's instructions arriving from Imrali prevented the BDP deputies from voting in favour of Article 8, adding that Abdullah Ocalan, Deniz Baykal, Devlet Bahceli, and the Ergenekon sector of the AKP were united over a common denominator against the new Constitution. Wondering how this new Constitution can unite four contrasting elements, Tayyar argues that whatever the fate of these amendments, the gain will be that it has helped decipher this dark alliance.

Assessing the BDP boycott of the voting on Article 8 upon the instructions of Ocalan as political immaturity in an article in Referans (05.05.10), Cengiz Candar argues that this gesture on the part of the BDP deputies was tantamount to "political suicide." Criticizing the stand adopted by Ocalan and by PKK's Cemil Bayik, Candar also faults the AKP administration for refraining from legitimizing the BDP and thus granting the likes of Ocalan and Bayik an extensive field of manoeuvre.

Failing to understand why the AKP administrators are holding the BDP responsible for the rejection of Article 8 in an article in Vatan (05.05.10), Rusen Cakir recalls that while the CHP and the MHP closed their doors from the very beginning, it was the BDP that extended its support but failed to receive a positive reaction from the AKP. Noting that the BDP made it clear that it was open to negotiations for the second round of voting, Cakir charges that the AKP failed to respond to the extended hand of the BDP. The image of cooperating with the BDP on a joint package must have frightened the AKP to such an extent that it did not even attempt to conduct negotiations behind closed doors, writes Cakir, adding that the AKP also failed to satisfy the nationalist elements within the party. In conclusion, the writer hopes that the AKP administration has learned a lesson from its non-conciliatory attitude and has realized that amending the Constitution through this mentality is not as easy as the AKP thinks.

Describing one of the fundamental problems in the country as a lack of trust in the nation in an article in Radikal (05.05.10), Oral Calislar believes that this is the reason for the fear felt in the face of change. Viewing the various objections raised regarding the constitutional amendments, Calislar argues that the real objection that can be made is that these amendments are insufficient. Declaring that he also believes that these amendments are insufficient, Calislar, nonetheless, underlines that they will be useful for Turkey's democratization process. The writer adds: "Unfortunately, whenever the AKP demands constitutional amendments, there is a big row. Immediately, there is the fear that the 'regime' will disintegrate. All these fears are fabricated. One must trust this nation."

In an article entitled "What now?", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak (05.05.10) asserts that the rejection of the proposal to make the closure of political parties subject to parliamentary approval is "not the end of everything" for the AKP because if the structure of the Constitutional Court is changed as proposed in the reform package, the top court will not readily ban political parties. He also asserts that the voting down of the said proposal signals a major showdown between the AKP and the Establishment in the sense that it suggests that a plan is underway to ban the AKP.

In an article entitled "Parliamentary vote on constitutional package unmasks BDP", Zaman columnist Mehmet Kamis (05.05.10) asserts that in not supporting the proposed constitutional amendment governing the closure of political parties, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) has demonstrated that like the PKK, it is "nothing other than an organization" set up by the establishment to maintain the "deep status quo."

In an article entitled "AKP suffering from the bends", Milli Gazete columnist Zeki Ceyhan (05.05.10) asserts that the rejection of the "most crucial" item in the constitutional amendment package as a result of nay votes cast by "eight or twelve" AKP deputies has revealed the vulnerability of the AKP's current leadership system based on "fearful" submission to the party authority.

EG/

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