Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-05-21

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Self-styled minister held contacts with OIC member countries on the issue of opening representation offices of the breakaway regime

[02] Eroglu says the Turkish Cypriots acquired their sovereignty with 1974 invasion of Cyprus and they are trying for the world to see these realities

[03] Turkish state Minister Arinc to pay an illegal visit to occupied Cyprus today

[04] Turkish Cypriot daily says Turkey imposes economic packages to the breakaway regime; KTOS accuses the government of selling out the occupied areas of Cyprus to the Turkish capital

[05] Four members of the illegal Turkish Cypriot Airlines administrative council resigned; 51% of the shares of the company are about to be sold

[06] Koprulu says there is absolutely no reason for not being optimistic for the decision of the British Court of Appeals on the issue of direct flights to illegal Tymvou airport

[07] Bagis discussed the Cyprus problem with the British minister of state for Europe

[08] CTP announced its candidates for the upcoming local elections

[09] Erdogan to visit Latin America between May 25 and June 1

[10] Baykal not to run for CHPs leadership

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 20 May 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Self-styled minister held contacts with OIC member countries on the issue of opening representation offices of the breakaway regime

The minister of public works and communications, Hamza Ersan Saner, has stressed that efforts towards lifting the embargoes on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should not be slowed down while the Cyprus negotiations process is resumed. The minister, who attended the 37th Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in the Tajik capital Dushanbe under an observer status, returns to the TRNC today.

Saner told BRT that the Cyprus Turkish side maintains its determination towards the solution of the Cyprus problem after the election of Dervis Eroglu as president of the TRNC. He said the negotiation process will resume under a dynamic and constructive atmosphere.

The minister added that, during his stay in Dushanbe, he held a series of contacts on the opening of TRNC representation offices in Arabic countries and on bringing students to the TRNC universities.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Minister of State Cevdet Yilmaz has urged the OIC member countries to support the removal of the isolation imposed on the TRNC and reiterated Turkeys support towards maintaining Cyprus talks. In an address to the OIC Council, he called on the OIC Foreign Ministers to allow the opening of TRNC representation offices in their countries.

[02] Eroglu says the Turkish Cypriots acquired their sovereignty with 1974 invasion of Cyprus and they are trying for the world to see these realities

Pointing out to the so-called unjust isolation on the breakaway regime, Numan Kurtulmus expressed his partys support to the TRNC and to any kind of steps that will be taken on the issue of the embargoes, adding that Saadet Party is ready to take any kind of responsibility internationally. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots are fighting for years against an unjust isolation, the leader of Saadet Party expressed his certainty that a day will come which will bring an end to this fight and to the problems related to free trade and property.

Mr Kurtulmus alleged that there are two peoples and two countries in Cyprus and that it can be seen clearly that these two peoples leave separately in peace.

On his part, Dervis Eroglu thanked Mr Kurtulmus for his support regarding Cyprus and stated that the efforts which will be exerted by the Turkish Cypriot side is for the Cyprus problem to end in the best possible way. Noting that the Turkish Cypriot people is a sovereign and democratic people, Mr Eroglu said that within this framework, the Turkish Cypriots have democratically elected him in the presidency and gave him the task to continue the negotiations.

Mr Eroglu further said that Turkish Cypriots reached to their sovereignty through the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus in 1974 and that peace came to Cyprus then. Mr Eroglu noted that they are exerting efforts for the world to see these realities and those they will continue the negotiations, in cooperation with Turkey.

Referring to the so-called isolation, he described it as shameful and said that the Turkish Cypriot side is seeking for an agreement which will not leaving them to the mercy of the Greek Cypriots.

Numan Kurtulmus held meetings with the self-styled prime minister, Irsen Kucuk, and the self-styled speaker of the assembly, Hasan Bozer.

(ML)

[03] Turkish state Minister Arinc to pay an illegal visit to occupied Cyprus today

Turkish Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc will arrive in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus] for a series of contacts. Mr Arinc will be holding several meetings while on his visit to the island.

The Turkish Minister of State, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, who will arrive in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus tomorrow night, will begin his contacts with a meeting with President Dervis Eroglu on Saturday. On the same day, he will come together with the Speaker of the Parliament Hasan Bozer and Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk. As part of his contacts, the Turkish Minister will also visit the Turkish Embassy in [occupied] Lefkosia and the headquarters of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces.

On Sunday, he will attend a conference at the Near East University (YDU) organized by the Turkish Journalists Federation. After visiting Middle Eastern Technical University (METU) campus in Guzelyurt [occupied Morfou], Mr Arinc will deliver a speech at another conference to be held at the Near East University. At the end of his contacts, Bulent Arinc will leave the republic on Monday.

[04] Turkish Cypriot daily says Turkey imposes economic packages to the breakaway regime; KTOS accuses the government of selling out the occupied areas of Cyprus to the Turkish capital

Meanwhile, Afrika reports also that Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS), accused the UBP self-styled government of selling out the country to the capital from Turkey. In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Elcil said the economic package signed on 5 November 2009 is being imposed to the breakaway regime with the 500-millilon US dollar credit signed between the UBP government and the AKP government. He argued that the UBP government succumbed to all the pressures of Ankara for the sake of coming to power.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Four members of the illegal Turkish Cypriot Airlines administrative council resigned; 51% of the shares of the company are about to be sold

In statements to Ada television, Prof. Dr. Ferhat Erisir, one of the resigned members of KTHYs administrative council, said they resigned because they think that when a new partner is found the administration of the company will be transferred to this new partner and thus to a new administrative council.

Meanwhile, referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (21.05.10) reports that Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled minister of foreign affairs and spokesman of the council of ministers of the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus, reminded yesterday that during its extraordinary meeting on Saturday, the body had decided to find a partner for the company and added that the developments which are happening now are related to this decision. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the council of ministers, Mr Ozgurgun noted that they accepted the resignations of the four members of KTHYs administrative council.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (21.05.10) reports that Mr Ozgurgun said the company will be reorganized financially and on the issue of its administrative council. The paper further writes that the KTHY will be among the issues which Bulent Arinc, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, will discuss during his illegal visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus which starts today. Haberdar reports that according to some allegations, the way which the illegal airlines will follow depends on the results of Arincs visit.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (21.05.10) reports that while all these developments are happening, two Boeing 737-800 airplanes which are leased by the KTHY have been sent to Istanbul for maintenance, but the foreign company which owns them launched an initiative to confiscate them. According to information acquired by Kibris, because a debt of about 15 million US dollars has not been paid to Turkish Technic company of the Turkish Airlines (THY), the two airplanes have been sent for maintenance to MNG company in Istanbul.

Kirbis further writes that problems with the tickets purchased from the illegal KTHY with credit cards in London started to come up. For one month now, the illegal company cannot collect the money for the tickets it sells to people who use their credit cards, because the credit card company in Britain is not releasing the money thinking about possible victimization of the passengers.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (21.05.10) reports that negotiations are being held for selling 51% of the shares of the KTHY to a Turkish businessman from the city of Urfa in Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Koprulu says there is absolutely no reason for not being optimistic for the decision of the British Court of Appeals on the issue of direct flights to illegal Tymvou airport

Citing information from officials in London, the paper writes that it is unlikely for the decision to be announced today. In statements to the paper, Kemal Koprulu, representative of the breakaway regime to London, said: We are not expecting the decision to be announced on the same day of the completion of the trial. In general, the decisions are not announced on the same day, but its announcement would not be a surprise for us. We hope for the decision to be announced within 4-8 weeks. We have absolutely no reason for not being optimistic for the result of the case. We are waiting with hope.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Bagis discussed the Cyprus problem with the British minister of state for Europe

I told him that our cooperation for a lasting and peaceful solution in Cyprus should continue, said Mr Bagis noting that he wished success to the British Minister in his new duties. Mr Bagis said the British Minister told him that the new government supports their cooperation which started during the Labour Party administration on the chapter regarding the environment in Turkeys accession talks with the EU. Mr Bagis noted that Mr Lidington told him that Britain attaches great importance to Turkeys accession to the EU.

(I/Ts.)

[08] CTP announced its candidates for the upcoming local elections

The paper reports that the CTPs candidate for the municipality of occupied Lefkosia is Simavi Ask, for occupied Famagusta, Oktay Kayalp, and for occupied Keryneia, Sumer Aygin.

(DPs)

[09] Erdogan to visit Latin America between May 25 and June 1

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Brazil, Argentina and Chile from May 25 until June 1, the Prime Ministry announced in a statement released on Thursday.

The visits aim to deepen Turkeys developing opportunities for cooperation with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Erdogan will attend the third United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Rio de Janeiro from May 26-29. More than 2,000 political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, youth, representatives of foundations and religious leaders are expected to gather and agree on joint actions to improve relations across cultures.

Erdogan is also scheduled to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and discuss international and regional matters. Several agreements to boost bilateral relations are also expected to be signed.

Erdogan is in addition expected to meet Turkish citizens living in Brazil and visit Brazilian oil company Petrobras, which carried out joint oil research activities with the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) in the Black Sea. Following his Brazil visit, the prime minister is set to travel to Argentina on May 31 to meet with Argentinean President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner and mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Argentina in addition to signing air transportation and customs agreements. Erdogan will then move on to Chile to have talks with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral economic and commercial relations within the scope of the free trade agreement signed in July 2009. He is expected to return to Turkey on June 1.

[10] Baykal not to run for CHPs leadership

Deniz Baykal, former leader of Turkey's main opposition party, said that he would not run for leadership of the Republican People's Party (CHP) during the general congress this weekend. Baykal said in a written statement, at this point, my being a candidate for party leadership is out of question. Assessments and detailed statements by my lawyer Muzaffer Yilmaz and National Criminal Bureau Director Ugur Kurtulan were the best response to the understanding of designing politics with defamation campaigns and recent unethical conspiracies in Turkey.

Baykal resigned on May 10 after release of a video tape allegedly featuring him having an affair with a female deputy of CHP on a video-sharing website. After his resignation, Kemal Kilicdaroglu said at a news conference earlier this week that he would stand as a candidate for party leadership. Provincial chairmen of the CHP gathered in Ankara yesterday and decided to support Kilicdaroglu during the general congress. CHP's general congress will be held on May 22-23.

Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (20.05.10) reported the following:

Director of a private criminal investigation company said they ruled that the video tape allegedly featuring the leader of the main opposition party having an affair with a female deputy was heavily edited.

Ugur Kurtulan, director of the National Criminal Bureau, said at a news conference that they completed the criminal investigation on the tape. Following our investigation, we ruled that the images were modified by using several editing techniques such as removal or attach of some frames. We also found out that images belonged to two separate males. When we compare images of those males with those of Deniz Baykal, we saw no affinities, he said. Also, there were no affinities between the woman on the tape and Nesrin Baytok. It is impossible to claim or prove that the male on the tape was Baykal and that the woman on the tape was Baytok, he added.

Based in Istanbul, the National Criminal Bureau is a company working on fingerprint analysis and assessing visual evidence about homicide, robbery, smuggling, traffic offences, sexual offences, as well as computer, GSM and video crimes and forgery.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] From the Turkish Press of 20 May 2010

a) Nuclear dispute; Swap deal:

In an article entitled "The United States investigates our uranium," Hurriyet columnist Yalcin Dogan asserts that the United States keeps a close watch on Turkey's uranium reserves and tries to control its use because it is deeply concerned by the development of facilities generating nuclear energy in Pakistan and Iran. Dogan also points out that the agreement recently signed between Iran, Turkey, and Brazil on the exchange of nuclear fuels has effectively lost its meaning because Iran will probably not deliver its low enriched uranium after the joint decision made by five permanent members of the UN Security Council to table a resolution aimed at imposing new sanctions on Iran.

In an article entitled "Foreign policy: Turkey dances to its own tune," Hurriyet columnist Cuneyt Ulsever draws attention to disagreements between Turkey and the permanent members of the UN Security Council about Iran's nuclear energy program, adding that Turkey and Brazil seem to be out of tune with the other members of the Council because the agreement they brokered with Iran is regarded as another delaying tactic.

In an article entitled "Obama has messed up," Milliyet columnist Asli Aydintasbas says that the solution devised by Turkey and Brazil to settle the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West was stillborn because it has been brushed aside by the Obama Administration which announced that it would seek new UN sanctions on Iran. Pointing out that the nuclear swap deal was described by the foreign media as a fiasco on the part of Turkey, Aydintasbas says: "In my view, the real fiasco was that the US Government which encouraged Turkey until the last moment to make efforts and also sent a letter for that purpose could not manage relations with Ankara."

In an article entitled "Whose 'Achievement' was the Teheran declaration," Milliyet columnist Kadri Gursel says that Iran would not have agreed to issue a joint declaration with Turkey and Brazil about trading off its low enriched uranium for nuclear fuel if it had not received information indicating that a resolution for new sanctions was about to be submitted to the UN Security Council. Pointing out that the nuclear swap deal may enable Iran to gain extra time, he comments: "In addition, the declaration is void of a convincing content which could stop the sanction process."

In an article entitled "Iran and bomb," Taraf columnist Ahmet Altan emphasizes that Turkey has found itself in a very harsh and dangerous diplomatic conflict, adding that by declaring their intention to impose new sanctions on Iran the permanent members of the UN Security Council have given Turkey and Brazil the message that "they should not be involved in issues beyond their depth." Emphasizing that Turkey has taken a justifiable stance about the issue, Altan concludes by saying that Turkey must find a fair and logical solution to the Kurdish issue in order to convince the international community that it supports legitimate causes and does not apply a double standard to international issues.

In an article entitled "So what do you want?", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul criticizes certain Western countries for greeting the nuclear swap agreement signed by Iran, Turkey, and Brazil with "concern" and "resentment" rather than applauding it as a "last chance for diplomacy." He argues that the Western reaction to the agreement does not so much reflect distrust of Iran as displeasure at the fact that "Turkey and Brazil's initiative" is set to upset the West's "conflict-oriented" policies and its plans to "check, suffocate, and destabilize" Iran.

In an article entitled "Not weapons but sincerity", Vakit columnist Ahmet Varol asserts that if Iran were using nuclear technology to produce weapons of mass destruction, it would not have signed the uranium swap deal, adding that in signing the agreement, Tehran endorsed a plan that entails an exchange of nuclear fuel in Turkey without blocking future international scrutiny of its nuclear program.

In an article entitled "A post-mortem agreement?", Vakit columnist Mustafa Ozcan asserts that if the United States manages to get the UN to announce sanctions against Iran despite the nuclear swap agreement signed by Iran, Turkey, and Brazil, this will be the greatest foreign policy blow yet to the Erdogan government.

In a commentary in Todays Zaman entitled "Iran, nuclear weapons, and Turkey", AKP Ankara Deputy Haluk Ozdalga argues that if the purpose of Iran's nuclear program is to "possess a strong hand for bargaining with Western countries ... Iran can be expected to make two main demands before it would agree to abandon its nuclear bid: first, political recognition along with guarantees to end activities meant to undermine its regime, and second, the acceptance of Iran as a legitimate side and player in international issues concerning the Middle East."

b) Developments in the CHP:

In an article entitled "Who has entrapped Baykal and what was their motive?" Milliyet columnist Metin Munir speculates that the secret service of a foreign country may have leaked Baykal's sex tape as part of a plan to replace him with a new leader who could defeat the ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, in the next general election. Pointing out that Turkey obediently followed Western policies before the AKP had come into power, Munir says: "Erdogan pursued an independent policy with an Islamic tendency which began hurting the strategic and economic interests of the West and Israel. He indicated that he would augment this policy and further Islamize Turkey if he felt more powerful and self-confident. Turkey could become a trouble for the West (and Israel) if this trend was not reversed." Munir cites Erdogan's efforts to hinder new embargoes on Iran as another example of his moves giving rise to concerns in the West.

A report entitled "Second woman, second tape" in Sabah highlights unconfirmed reports that the heads of the CHP's provincial branches were informed report about a second tape showing Baykal's another extramarital affair ahead of their crucial meeting which ended with a declaration expressing support for Kilicdaroglu and advising Baykal not to run for the party's leadership.

In an article entitled "Impressions about Kilicdaroglu," Sabah columnist Okan Muderrisoglu argues that Kilicdaroglu has not devised a clear strategy vis-à-vis some key issues such as the Kurdish question, headscarf, relations with the military, and his approach to the private sector. Noting that Kilicdaroglu actually aims to launch an effective public relations campaign with the media's support in order to boost his popularity until the next general election, Muderrisoglu concludes by saying that Kilicdaroglu can demonstrate his leadership skills only by making significant changes in the CHP's organizational structure and attracting people from different parts of society to the CHP.

In an article entitled "Are the CHP's diseases genetic?" Radikal columnist Ismet Berkan says that the CHP is on the verge of becoming a party advocating an ideology embraced by a limited number of people rather than being a party supported by people from all walks of life. He comments: "Could Kilicdaroglu and the CHP achieve the goal of becoming a party supported by the masses which was attained in the past (almost 40 years ago)? I want to be optimistic and believe that it can be achieved. But, you should not forget that there were serious intellectual efforts behind the popularity of the party in that period. Kilicdaroglu is now in a position which he could not have imagined and be prepared for 10 days ago. It remains to be seen how things will turn out

According to a report entitled "Gandi Kemal's surprising wealth" in Vatan which highlights Kilicdaroglu's financial disclosure made public in January 2010, he and his wife own four apartments in addition to four plots of land. Kilicdaroglu also owes TL 57,000 to two banks.

In an article entitled "Change only in name not in essence", Yeni Safak columnist Yalcin Akdogan, writing under the pseudonym Yasin Dogan, questions the extent and nature of the "change" in the main opposition CHP signalled by the prospects of Kilicdaroglu's election as leader of this party. He argues that the real criterion of change in this sense would be an alteration in the CHP's essential policies including its outlook on democracy, secularism, Kemalism, civilianization, and Turkey's bid to join the EU, adding that Kilicdaroglu and his aides will fail to launch a new movement unless they question the CHP's policies under Deniz Baykal, sort out the "paradoxes" facing the Left, and "confront the status quo."

In an article entitled "Whoever comes with the Media goes with the Media", Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru warns of the implications of news media support for Kemal Kilicdaroglu's candidacy for CHP leadership by pointing out that politicians like Tansu Ciller and Mesut Yilmaz who came to power thanks to the backing of part of the media have disappeared from the political scene along with their parties. Koru claims that the ruling AKP is the first political party to refuse to engage in an "incestuous relationship with the media," adding that the news media have never liked the AKP for this reason.

In an article entitled "The return of Pink Panther", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that if the "operation" in the CHP that recently led to Baykal's resignation and the emergence of Kilicdaroglu as a potential leader was engineered by "foreign forces" like the CIA, a second "operation" within the MHP or the Democratic Party (DP) might be in the offing.

In an article entitled "Is the CHP Ergenekon's backyard?", Zaman columnist Mumtazer Turkone asserts that if the CHP is the Ergenekon network's "backyard," as suggested by Deniz Baykal's characterization of himself as a "lawyer" for Ergenekon some time ago, then the prospective change of leadership in the CHP means that Ergenekon is "putting its house in order." He interprets Kilicdaroglu's candidacy as meaning that Ergenekon is not satisfied with Baykal's defence of its activities and that it is preparing Kilicdaroglu as a prospective prime minister in a CHP-MHP coalition government. He also claims that Baykal tried to point an accusing finger at Ergenekon in announcing at his recent news conference that he believed in the sincerity of Fethullah Gulen's denial of involvement in the "conspiracy" against him. He also calls on Baykal to disclose who engineered the latest events in CHP and "explain to us how his party has been taken hostage."

EG/

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