Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-05-07

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas says they should ask for the recognition of the breakaway regime if a solution is not reached until 2012

[02] One thousand and 500 persons were made citizens in one night

[03] Izcan says the change of the demographic structure in the occupied areas of Cyprus through the distribution of the citizenship has become a bleeding wound within the Turkish Cypriot community

[04] The breakaway regime takes the control of the property of Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in occupied Rizokarpasso village when they die

[05] Cerkez is criticizing the EU regarding the Direct Trade Regulation

[06] Soyer stated that he is pleased because Eroglu is following Talats road

[07] Two more airlines will start flights to the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] Russian President Medvedev to visit Turkey next week

[09] Turkey expects US President Obama to attend next years entrepreneurship summit; Statements by Tan on the issue of Iran and the relations with Armenia

[10] Turkey and Botswana sign economic cooperation agreement

[11] The Turkish Parliament adopts the constitutional amendment package for referendum

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] From the Turkish Press on 06 May 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Serdar Denktas says they should ask for the recognition of the breakaway regime if a solution is not reached until 2012

According to the paper, Mr Denktas gave the following messages to the students: It is not possible to come to an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side. We are trying to explain our troubles to the world. We want our right to speak only in order to explain our troubles, not for political recognition, not for upgrading our level. While the issue of the cross voting was a proposal of the Greek Cypriots, it turned into a proposal of the Turks. This was a result of an agreement between the CTP and AKEL. Losing the line between wanting and being keen on a solution weakened us during the Talat period. I do not believe that a solution will be reached until the end of 2010. The end of 2011 would be a more appropriate date, because the Greek Cypriot side will become the term presidency of the EU in 2012. We must get through a process in a way that it will come to a result before coming to that point. If we cannot have a result until the end of year 2011, then demanding recognition will come onto the agenda. They will not accept it, but we have to ask for it.

Mr Denktas said that last week he sent a letter to Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu explaining the views of his party on the issue of making their voice heard and expressed the belief that Eroglu will soon start to demand this.

(I/Ts.)

[02] One thousand and 500 persons were made citizens in one night

Responding to Mr Sinay, Mr Kamil said that the National Unity Partys (UBP) government granted the citizenship to 1.139 persons until 30 April 2010. He noted that 900 persons were given the citizenship because of marriage with other citizens, 48 after a proposal by the ministry and 81 persons because they are children from marriages with citizens.

Referring to the same issue, Mustafa Emiroglulari, self-styled MP with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), criticized Mr Kamil and noted that even students and persons who were painting Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglus house were granted the citizenship.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Izcan says the change of the demographic structure in the occupied areas of Cyprus through the distribution of the citizenship has become a bleeding wound within the Turkish Cypriot community

Within the framework of his contacts, Mr Izcan met with Spanish MEP Willy Meyer, vice president of EPs High Level Contact Group for Cyprus, and discussed with him the elections held in the occupied areas of Cyprus on 18 April 2010 and the negotiating process.

(I/Ts.)

[04] The breakaway regime takes the control of the property of Greek Cypriot enclaved persons in occupied Rizokarpasso village when they die

In statements to Havadis, Ilkay Kamil, self-styled minister of interior, said that the practice regarding the houses of the Greek Cypriots who pass away is implemented for many years now and added that the police take the control of these houses. If a TRNC citizen applies for these houses and the conditions are appropriate, they are given for rent, he noted. Kamil said that houses and working places not only in Rizokarpasso but in other occupied villages as well pass under to the control of the state and the income is deposited in the safe of the ministry of finance.

Greek Cypriots who live in the area told Havadis that the majority of their relatives live in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus and only for this reason when they die, they cannot leave their property to their relatives. They said that this situation is contrary to the human rights. The paper writes that these Greek Cypriots asked from it not to reveal their names.

The paper reports that according to statements made by Mehmet Demirci, self-styled mayor of Rizokarpasso, about twenty houses are under the control of the police at the moment in the village.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Cerkez is criticizing the EU regarding the Direct Trade Regulation

Mr Cerkez, in a statement to AB Haber, said that the main reason of his visit to Brussels is to meet with European Parliamentarians regarding the Direct Trade Regulation and to remind them of the rightfulness of the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Cerkez said that the above-mentioned issue is a serious situation related to the enactment of Lisbon Treaty and the approval of the Direct Trade Regulation due to the appointment of the new European Commission. However, he added that the Greek Cypriots are trying to prevent this by lobbying with the Greeks.

Mr Cerkez claimed also that the EUs stance contains a lot of contradictions and wondered why the EU does not recognize its own land, if the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus are EU territory. He alleged that the Direct Trade Regulation will not lift the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Neither will it secure the direct trade with the occupied areas of Cyprus. It will only change the procedures regarding the products exported from the TRNC to the EU countries, he argued. He claimed that the implementation of the regulation will facilitate the solution in Cyprus.

(DPs)

[06] Soyer stated that he is pleased because Eroglu is following Talats road

Mr Soyer made these statements speaking at a meeting of his party in occupied Morfou. Mr Soyer stated that together with the sorrow regarding the results of the presidential elections they feel pleased that Eroglu is taking the same road with Mehmet Ali Talat.

Commenting on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (07.05.10) reports the following:

According to Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Dervis Eroglu manifested that he is following the road shown by Mehmet Ali Talat. Since when the road shown by Ankara has become the road shown by Talat?

(CS)

[07] Two more airlines will start flights to the occupied areas of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[08] Russian President Medvedev to visit Turkey next week

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will arrive in Turkey next week upon an invitation from Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Turkish and Russian officials would sign a series of agreements and exchange views on bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues during Medvedev's formal visit on May 11-12, the Turkish presidential press office said on Thursday.

The High Level Cooperation Council recently established by Turkey and Russia would hold its first meeting as part of the presidential visit that would mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the press office also said. Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Medvedev would co-chair the gathering that would be attended by all the concerned Turkish and Russian ministers, the statement added.

The Council, which will act as a high-level intergovernmental mechanism between the two countries, will provide the necessary grounds for new projects, partnerships and a comprehensive strategic cooperation. Moreover, it will improve bilateral relations, the press office's statement said.

The statement added that a "Social Forum" would also be established within the body of the Council, which would bring the NGOs of the two countries closer and encourage them to cooperate. Turkish and Russian academicians, researchers, businessmen and artists were expected to participate in the forum, the statement said.

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.05.10) reported the following from Ankara:

The protocol of Turkey-Russia Joint Economic Committee (JEC) is expected to be signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Turkey on May 11 and 12, Turkish Energy Ministry said on Thursday.

A statement by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said that the 10th term JEC meetings between Turkey and Russia were held in Ankara on Wednesday and Thursday, noting that Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin chaired the meetings. Commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Russia were discussed in all aspects during JEC meetings, it said.

Russian President Medvedev will arrive in Turkey next week upon an invitation from Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Turkish and Russian officials will sign a series of agreements and exchange views on bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues during Medvedev's formal visit on May 11-12, the Turkish presidential press office said on Thursday.

[09] Turkey expects US President Obama to attend next years entrepreneurship summit; Statements by Tan on the issue of Iran and the relations with Armenia

Turkey expects U.S. President Barack Obama to attend next year's Summit on Entrepreneurship which will be held in Turkey, Turkish Ambassador to Washington D.C. Namik Tan said on Thursday.

United States hosted the first edition of the summit in April. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Obama offering to host the second edition of the event which aims to deepen ties between business leaders, foundations, and entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world. In his address to the summit, Obama announced that Turkey would host the second summit.

Namik Tan said Turkey could play an important part in this field, recalling that Turkish entrepreneurs showed a powerful stance at the first summit. We will soon launch our work for next year's meeting. And of course, we expect Mr. Obama to take part at this event, Tan said. If he attends, this important initiative, launched by him, would gain energy and boost. And I am sure it would yield more powerful results, he said.

During his visit to the Egyptian capital last June, Obama announced his government's intention to host a summit on entrepreneurship. The Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C. brought together more than 275 participants from over 50 countries around the world, including Morocco, Indonesia, Uganda, Kazakhstan, France and India.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.05.10) reported the following:

Turkey is not disappointed over Iran's decision to accept Brazil as a mediator for its nuclear standoff with the West, Turkish Ambassador to United States said on Thursday. Turkey is not in a competition with another country in quest for a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program, Ambassador Namik Tan told reporters in Washington D.C. We are not competing with anyone. We are not exerting efforts to gain prestige. If this issue is to be resolved by diplomatic means, we just put our efforts with the one who would achieve it, Tan told reporters during a chat.

On Wednesday, Iran said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed in principle to Brazil's mediation over the nuclear fuel deal. Iran's nuclear program is one of Turkey's priorities, Tan said, adding that Turkey was already in cooperation with Brazil as two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. Our ultimate goal is to reach a diplomatic solution to this problem, he said. Our goal is not to engage in a race with anyone and to gain reputation.

Asked if the United States put pressure on Turkey for sanctions against Iran, Tan said Turkey was in talks with all parties. Turkey is a regional country, a neighbouring country [to Iran], and it is a member of the UN Security Council, he recalled. We are trying to find a common mind and a common way. We in no way consider such discussions as a pressure."

In addition, Ankara Anatolia news agency (06.05.10) reported the following:

Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C. Namik Tan said on Thursday that he considered that Armenians would not achieve anything regarding Congressman Adam Schiff's initiative.

When he was reminded that Schiff called survivors of 1915 incidents to submit their stories for inclusion into the Congressional Record and asked if Turkey had an initiative against it, Tan said: We left behind a very sensitive period regarding Armenians. They regarded it as a big defeat. They will exert such efforts. But I think that they will not achieve anything. Tan said: If such stories are included in the Congressional Record, we will document more stories and put them in the record. I don't have any concern on the matter.

Tan also said Turkish State Minister for foreign trade Zafer Caglayan would visit Washington, D.C. within this month and bilateral economic relations would be discussed during Caglayan's visit. Sources said Caglayan would hold talks with his U.S. counterparts and representatives of privates sector during his visit scheduled to take place between May 18 and 20.

[10] Turkey and Botswana sign economic cooperation agreement

Turkey and Botswana signed on Thursday a commercial, economic and technical cooperation agreement in Ankara. Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan and Botswana's Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Phandu Skelemani signed the agreement after their meeting.

Africa's share in Turkey's foreign trade has risen to 10 percent with the African Strategy developed since 2003, Caglayan said during the signing ceremony. Caglayan said Botswana was the strongest and most stable country in Africa, with the highest rating, and the biggest diamond producer in the world. Share of diamond in Botswana's exports had been 70 percent, however it fell to 60 percent after the global economic crisis, Caglayan said.

Caglayan said two countries could cooperate in agriculture, agricultural irrigation, food, transportation and energy under the new agreement. Also, Turkish businessmen would invest in Botswana, and businessmen of the two countries would cooperate and invest in other countries, he said. Two countries can launch negotiations on a free trade agreement, an agreement to prevent double taxation, and an agreement on investment and incentives from now on, Caglayan said. Caglayan also said he would visit Botswana soon.

Also speaking in the ceremony, Skelemani said he thought Botswana could learn so much from Turkey, and his country wanted to be a strategic partner with Turkey. Skelamani said his country wanted to diversify its trade, and did not want to be limited with only one product. Botswana's minister also invited Turkish investors to his country.

Turkey's exports to Africa were 2 billion USD in 2003. It has actually risen to 10 billion USD. Turkey's trade volume with Africa has reached from 5 to 16 billion USD between 2003 and 2010.

[11] The Turkish Parliament adopts the constitutional amendment package for referendum

The Turkish parliament early on Friday adopted a government-backed constitutional amendment bill in the final voting of the package as a whole.

The package, except the rejected article 8th over the shutdown of political parties and a related provisional article, was adopted by 336 votes in favour and 72 against.

The bill is set to be put on referendum in line with the Turkish constitution as separate articles of the bill and the whole package received votes more than 330 but less than 367.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] From the Turkish Press on 06 May 2010

a) Constitutional Amendments:

A column by Yusuf Kanli of Hurriyet Daily News criticizes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for forcing the Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies to vote for the two controversial articles of the constitutional amendment package that aims to create a "subservient judicial system."

In his column entitled "Night of Constitution," Milliyet's Derya Sazak asserts that Prime Minister Erdogan seems to be planning to turn the referendum on the constitutional amendment package into an "election campaign."

According to Sazak, not only the ruling AKP, but also the opposition parties Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) started to prepare for their election campaigns following the vote against the Article 8 of the reform package. Recalling that the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) withdrew its support from the reform package at the expense of siding with the CHP and the MHP, the columnist concludes that a referendum will be held in July if the main opposition's initiative to carry the amendments to the Constitutional Court changes the process.

A column by Milliyet's Kadri Gursel slams the pro-government media for accusing the 12 AKP deputies, who voted against Article 8 of the reform package, of being the secret members of the Ergenekon organization. According to certain columnists, he notes, those 12 deputies withdrew their support from this legal amendment which would prevent the closure of their party and clear the way for Erdogan. Recalling that another controversial article related to the structure of the Constitutional Court passed by the votes of the AKP deputies, Gursel asks the pro-government media to explain "how the shock caused by the rejection of Article 8 was replaced by Erdogan's victory the other day." They have to give a clear explanation as to what led those so-called intra-party Ergenekon members to support a move that would "enable the ruling party to form a pro-AKP Constitutional Court," he adds.

Recalling that many columnists, including Zaman's Ihsan Dagi, Yeni Safak's Ali Bayramoglu, Sabah's Emre Akoz, and Star's Samil Tayyar, viewed the rejection of the article regarding the closure of political parties as an action taken by the "Ergenekon network within the AKP," an article by Murat Yetkin of Radikal also asks why those Ergenekon members fully supported the amendment concerning the structure of the Constitutional Court. Drawing attention to the presence of the disgruntled deputies in the ruling party, he asserts that Erdogan should be aware of the fact that many AKP deputies have started to openly express their uneasiness over certain issues.

In his article entitled "Use of disproportionate force," Taraf columnist Mithat Sancar laments the rejection of Article 8 in the National Assembly, saying that the ruling AKP has started a very important process for Turkey's democratization, but failed to manage that process appropriately. Criticizing the pro-Kurdish BDP for failing to vote in favour of Article 8, Sancar describes the BDP decision not to support the amendment as a "use of disproportionate force" which will yield negative results both for the Kurdish issues and the democracy in the country. He says that the BDP might have justifiable reasons to get angry with the ruling AKP, however it should have supported this amendment for the sake of "normalization, democratization, and the solution of the Kurdish problem."

Under the headline, "Parliament solves HSYK chaos," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which says that the proposed constitutional amendment changing the structure of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors, HSYK, "a body known for rulings that have created judicial chaos" in the country, was passed with some 334 votes in favour, causing disappointment once again among the opposition parties.

In an article entitled "CHP's last recourse: The Constitutional Court", Vakit Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya criticizes the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for representing the recently passed amendments to constitutional articles governing the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) as being intended to change the republican regime. In questioning the CHP's argument, Karakaya notes that the said bodies were established some 38 and 58 years respectively after the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. He also advises Constitutional Court President Hasim Kilic to use his "authority" to delay processing a possible appeal by the CHP against the said amendments until after a referendum on the reform package.

In an article entitled "BDP will have to pay a price for this", Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay criticizes the BDP for the way it "acted like part of the chaos plan" to block the passage of the constitutional amendment package in "complying with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's instruction" not to support the reform package, thereby causing "possibly the most crucial" item in the package, namely the amendment governing the closure of political parties, to be voted down. He also asserts that the sweeping majority of "Turkey's Kurds" do not endorse either the PKK's latest attacks or the BDP parliamentary group's stance on the amendment package.

b) Turkey's Foreign Policy under Davutoglu:

An article by AKP Deputy Murat Mercan, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, says that the government's foreign policy strategy envisages maximizing Turkey's contributions to peace, stability, and security on both regional and global levels. Recalling that Turkey has been encouraging dialogue in order to overcome the disagreements on the Iran's nuclear program, he says: "I continue to believe that a diplomatic solution can and should be found to this issue." He also calls on Tehran to comply with its "international obligations."

A column by Cuneyt Ulsever of Hurriyet asserts that Foreign Minister Davutoglu has failed to achieve a positive result through his "zero-problem policy with the neighbouring countries." Arguing that Turkey returned to a US-led foreign policy during the Davutoglu era, the writer says: The only difference of his term is Turkey's rapprochement with certain Middle Eastern countries and organizations having problems with the United States. Turkey is now capable of "directly conveying Washington's messages to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah" thanks to this rapprochement process, he adds. Criticizing the Turkish Foreign Ministry for challenging almost all the world with its policy on Iran, he asserts that Ankara is trying to mediate between the West and the Tehran regime despite the latter's refusal of this proposal several times. Ulsever also criticizes Davutoglu for signing the normalization protocols with Armenia by "ignoring the concerns of Turkey's most important energy supplier Azerbaijan."

Writing in Hurriyet, Sedat Ergin describes Ahmet Davutoglu as an influential foreign minister, who, he says, managed to combine his academic and intellectual career with his experience in the international arena. Ergin asserts that during the past year, Davutoglu showed that he is an active politician who prefers to intervene in problems rather than remain as a spectator. However, he criticizes the foreign minister for trying to create the impression that Turkey started to pursue a "multi-dimensional foreign policy" under his leadership. Recalling that Turkey has an "institutionalized foreign policy perspective" since 1960's, Ergin says that regardless of the fact that Turkey is a member of the Western camp, it has always tried to promote its interests in other regions and acted as a bridge between the West and the East. He concludes by noting that he finds Davutoglu's active foreign policy appropriate as long as it does not change Turkey's pro-Western axis.

c) Turkey-Armenia Protocols:

In his article entitled "Protocols are alive," Milliyet columnist Taha Akyol outlines the messages given by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on his way to Ukraine. Akyol quotes the foreign minister as saying that the protocols that were signed between Turkey and Armenia in a bid to normalize the bilateral relations are still alive and Turkey's relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan are better than a year ago. According to the columnist, Ankara, Baku, and Yerevan seem to have made a tripartite agreement to carry out "silence diplomacy" for a few months to be able to take "positive steps" for the implementation of the protocols and the solution of the problems in the Caucasus. Pointing out that Davutoglu pursued the method of "constructive ambiguity" in the preparation of the protocols, Akyol believes that the "general principles which will shed light on the Karabakh problem and the historic disputes" have been included in the protocols.

EG/

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