Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-07-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu said everyone has to accept that the TRNC is a separate state

[02] The Turkish Foreign Ministry on the International Court of Justice ruling on Kosovo

[03] Fakili claims that Cyprus is a homeland which is being defended

[04] Ozgurgun: If there is no solution, we certainly have a plan

[05] Sener Elcil says the AKP government is trying to divide our island

[06] Efforts to open a so-called representation to the Balkans

[07] Turkish Cypriots in international events

[08] Gul has appointed new chief adviser

[09] Israel will deliver four Heron type unmanned surveillance planes in early August

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press 22 July 2010

[11] Eveyone in his own road

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu said everyone has to accept that the TRNC is a separate state

Eroglu said that the sides voiced their criticism and concerns about the proposals each side tabled during previous meetings. He added that the Greek Cypriots sides sensitivity over statements issued by the Turkish side on the occasion of 20 July celebrations was also brought to the agenda and underlined the need for everyone to accept the fact that the TRNC is a separate state.

[02] The Turkish Foreign Ministry on the International Court of Justice ruling on Kosovo

The statement further adds that Turkey expected ICJ opinion to give a fresh impetus to the efforts that aimed at developing a positive and constructive dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and that Turkey readily extends its full support to this effect.

It is also pointed out in the statement that Turkey was among the first countries to have recognized Kosovo adding: "Preservation of Kosovo's territorial integrity and its political and social structure built on democratic values are of great importance. Integration with the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, which is determined as the main objective of the region, offers a sound basis in this context".

[03] Fakili claims that Cyprus is a homeland which is being defended

Noting that they (Turkey) are working together with the Turkish Cypriots for an overall agreement to be reached in the negotiations the soonest, Fakili said there is absolutely no reason not to be optimistic about the future of the TRNC. He noted that they are optimistic about the future of the economy in the occupied areas of Cyprus and pointed out that the TRNC should really become an exemplary country. We are working for this here. As motherland Turkey, we are always ready to help because southern Cyprus, which is right next to them, has a mentality that does not even permit them to breathe, he claimed.

Fakili said that before coming to Lefkosia, he served as ambassador to Kuwait and added that his duties in Lefkosia were very different and honorable. He reiterated the Turkish view that the TRNC is a place where Turkeys national cause is being implemented and has very special relations with Turkey.

The Turks of Cyprus are a part of the Turkish nation. Moreover, this place here is a homeland which is defended, we must not forget this, he added noting that this is an important place for Turkeys foreign policy.

He said that Turkey offers aid for the economic development of the TRNC without asking anything in return and pointed out that the aim is for the Turkish Cypriots to stand on their own feet.

Referring to the protest activities of the Turkish Cypriot trade unions outside the Turkish embassy of Turkey in the occupied part of Lefkosia, Fakili expressed the view that the place of the Turkish Cypriots is not to demonstrate outside the embassy and that those who demonstrate are very small groups.

He added that proposals have been submitted for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots and proposed projects, the majority of which are supported by the Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC government.

Complaining about the trade unions, Fakili said he does not remember even one trade union placing a wreath on monuments on national days and added: We want every Turkish Cypriot, the trade unionists, everyone, to defend this state because it has not been easy for the Turks of Cyprus to reach this point ()

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ozgurgun: If there is no solution, we certainly have a plan

Stating that Cyprus President Christofias is insincere on the Cyprus settlement, Ozgurgun said: Christofias must say I want to solve this problem. If he says this, he will exhibit his political will. If there is no political will, this job will not be completed.

Criticizing the effort of the Greek Cypriot leadership and the Greek Cypriot media to relate the Cyprus problem with Turkey, Ozgurgun said: This problem is between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot side. For this reason, we are the ones who will solve this problem. The Turkish Cypriot side is motivated to reach a settlement by the end of the year. If there is no solution, we certainly have a plan.

(DPs)

[05] Sener Elcil says the AKP government is trying to divide our island

In a written statement yesterday Elcil noted that these actions indicate in full the colonization policy followed by the AKP government regarding the northern part of our island.

He said that the military operation carried out in 1974, in the framework of the duty of the guarantor power given to Turkey by the 1960 agreements, has been concluded by turning the northern part of Cyprus into a colony bound to Turkey.

Elcil said that using various pretexts they (Turkey) transfers population to the island, contrary to international law, and hands out citizenship (of the breakaway regime) to this population. He added that the Turkish Cypriots are forced to migrate.

Elcil accused the ambassador of Turkey to the occupied part of Lefkosia of acting like the governor of a province and of meddling in every affair of the Turkish Cypriots.

He added: The AKP government, which is trying to divide our island in every aspect, claims that it wants a solution, and supports Eroglu. As we understand it, esteemed

Eroglu is negotiating at the table in order to protect AKPs interests and not the interests of the Turkish Cypriots, pretending that he wants a solution.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Efforts to open a so-called representation to the Balkans

According to the paper, the TRNC, which so far has 20 representations abroad, will accelerate efforts in order to increase this number. Accordingly, the ministry of foreign affairs will work more actively and will explain one-to-one the cause of the Turkish Cypriot people, it is noted.

In the meantime, as the paper reports, the foreign ministry will work towards the opening of a representation for Balkan countries. As the paper writes, Gokhan Guler, the parliaments principal clerk, had important meetings in the Balkans and met high-ranking acceptance.

(EA)

[07] Turkish Cypriots in international events

According to a statement by OKSAD, it was noted, inter alia, that the association has been invited to attend three festivals that will be organized next year. It was added that OKSAD visited FYROM as well, where they had contacts with organizations that organize international festivals.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (23.07.10) reports that UNDP organized a workshop in Estonia last week under the title Millennium Development Goals. Scientific associations from Cyprus (a joint team of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots), Bulgaria, Scotland, Lithuania, South Africa, Estonia and Afghanistan participated in the workshop.

The Turkish Cypriot association was represented by Dr Huseyin Yaratan and specialist Nihat Ekizoglu. Dr Ayten Sururi from the Eastern Mediterranean University (DAU) attended the workshop as an individual.

(EA/DPs)

[08] Gul has appointed new chief adviser

Carikci was born in Istanbul in 1968 and graduated from the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara. He has master's degree from John Hopkins University and Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. He worked at the Foreign Ministry's Middle East Department and served in Turkish embassies in Tripoli and Berlin.

[09] Israel will deliver four Heron type unmanned surveillance planes in early August

Turkey received the first six-drone lot in February this year as the country earlier announced that its first indigenous UAVs, popularly known as the Anka (or the Phoenix), have made maiden flight. As sources say, the Turkish-made drones would remarkably reduce dependence on foreign technology.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press 22 July 2010

a) Criticism on Erdogan's Address /AKP Referendum Campaign

Hurriyet Daily News criticizes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for trying to turn the referendum on the constitutional amendment package scheduled for 12 September into a referendum on the 12 September 1980 military coup and its leaders.

Rusen Cakir in Vatan, says it is quite evident that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) will base its referendum campaign on settling scores with the 12 September coup adding that this strategy fairly brings to mind whether the AKP is "sincere."

Referring to Erdogan's address filled with emotions and tears at his party's parliamentary group meeting on 20 July, Ahmet Hakan in Hurriyet asks why Erdogan never said anything about the 12 September military coup until today and concludes that he may change his vote from no to yes if Erdogan succeeds to persuade him that his tears were sincere.

Mehmet Ali Birand in Hurriyet Daily News notes that the referendum is changing into a vote of confidence rather than a constitutional amendments issue. Explaining his yes vote Birand says "I wouldn't want to confuse the referendum with general elections and miss out on a chance we obtained, no matter how insufficient it may be. I'd betray myself if I was unable to get the message across now that the time for military coups has passed, making our lives difficult and pushing us constantly back for 50 years."

In an interview to Murat Yetkin of Radikal, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu accuses Erdogan of misleading the public by campaigning that the aim of the referendum is to bring the perpetrators of the 1980 military coup to justice, while AKP's real aim is to have power over the judiciary.

Mustafa Karaalioglu in his column in Star criticizes the low level of the "superficial" debate on the referendum on constitutional amendments. Karaalioglu asserts that the opposition failed when it was time to take more difficult steps toward democratization such as fighting military tutelage, coup plans, or Ergenekon. He points out that while the opposition says "a new constitution is needed," the same circles had opposed any suggestion put forth by Erdogan for a new constitution. These circles meaninglessly resist the constitutional amendments and, in reality, they are resentful that Erdogan and the AKP are paving the way toward Turkey's democratization, he concludes.

b) Criticism Leveled at the Turkish Armed Forces

Referring to reports on an air force officer asking a high-ranking air forces pilot to shoot down a Heron surveillance drone to protect the PKK guerrillas in 2007, Star Ergun Babahan says that it is possible that the Heron scandal is linked to Sledgehammer, a military plot allegedly seeking to overthrow the government. The erosion in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is inevitable because it has been involved in Turkey's politics for many years, Babahan asserts, adding that it is essential to look at the TSK with a new perspective. Urging the government to launch a civilian investigation into the Heron issue, Babahan concludes that Turkey cannot move forward without an overture regarding the TSK.

Ahmet Altan in his column in Taraf argues that the PKK is causing serious damage to the TSK and that the army is helpless against the PKK aggression. The reason, he adds is because the TSK acts like a political party and not like a true army. He argues that Turkey is undergoing an overwhelming change in which the metropolitan capital that was always reliant on the state is being replaced by the independent capital from Anatolia. He maintains that a clash is taking place between the two groups, one of which has the support of the people and the other the support of the state. Altan concludes that Turkey's future lies in the clash between the "old thesis" and the "new antithesis" which eventually will bring about a "synthesis."

c) Survey on Political Tendencies and Expectations

Melih Asik in his column in Milliyet views the results of a public opinion poll about the "Survey on the Political Tendencies and Expectations in Turkey, July 2010". According to the survey conducted by Sonar, the CHP ranked first with a 33.45% vote share. The AKP follows the CHP with 31.1% and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) ranks third with 15.4% percent. Recalling that the AKP ranked first with 33.40% percent and the CHP second with 30.24% in the survey conducted the previous month, Asik quotes Sonar manager saying that "a coalition government without the AKP is on the horizon

d) New US Ambassador to Turkey

Taraf reports from Washington on the testimony of Ambassador Francis Ricciardone testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 20 July. According to the report, Ricciardone said that normalization of ties between Turkey and Israel would be his first and most important duty. The report adds that the ambassador focused on Iran, the reopening of Halki Seminary and religious tolerance, the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, and the fight against the PKK.

[11] Eveyone in his own road

In his message to Greek Cypriots, Cicek set a limit to the direct negotiations which have been going on for two years and said: If there is no agreement by the end of the year, everyone will follow their own road.

In the second message, addressed to the EU, Cicek complained about the EU attitude towards the Cyprus issue, called on those who present the Cyprus question as an obstacle to Turkeys membership and said that if is necessary to choose between EU and Cyprus, the choice will be Cyprus.

Pointing out that the views of Ankara and TRNC administration have been in agreement for some time, Kohen indicates that Cemil Ciceks concrete messages particularly since they were made on the anniversary of the Turkish Armys operation, which is considered by the Greek Cypriots as a black day- are significant and provocative.

At the same time, he adds, it is apparent that if an agreement is not reached Ankara will adopt the two states option and will work towards recognition of the TRNC sovereignty.

The end of this year will be a most uneasy and critical period for Turkish diplomacy, Kohen says pointing out that if Ankara chooses against the Union, as Cicek said, this will truly mark a radical change in Turkish foreign policy.

There is no doubt, Kohen argues, that Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots have reached the point of saying whatever will be will be stems from the fact that the hope for unification based on partnership has been exhausted. And no result is expected from the current negotiations, he adds.

Kohen says that lately TRNCs existence has been reinforced, since Turkeys influence, as a regional actor has been upgraded. Now Ankara, like Eroglu, can say to the Greek Cypriots: Either you compromise, or we continue our way.

But these words, though sweet to the ear, will not achieve a solution. At the most, the problem will take a new dimension, especially creating new problems for Turkish diplomacy.

If the Turkish side is to continue successfully in its own road and obtain better living conditions for the people of TRNC, integration with the outside world is necessary. However, TRNC recognition by important countries, lifting the isolation and preventing the Greek sides actions against, will not be an easy task at all. Therefore the difficulties and risks must be taken into consideration.

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