Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-07-27

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ozersays says a new format for the meetings with Iacovou has been agreed

[02] Ozgurgun: Greek Cypriots pursue intransigent attitude at the Cyprus talks

[03] Serdar Denktas censures the Turkish Media

[04] Hisarciklioglu says this is the time for reforms in the economy of the occupied areas of Cyprus

[05] Turkish experts on privatisation in the TRNC

[06] British PM says he will passionately fight for Turkeys EU bid

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] From the Turkish Press of 26 July 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ozersays says a new format for the meetings with Iacovou has been agreed

In statements to illegal TAK news agency, Ozersay said that the meeting was held in a new format which was suggested by the Turkish side. Ozersay noted that the meeting was successful. He added that in the framework of the new format, which was accepted by the Greek Cypriots the sides selected only one issue of the property chapter on which they concentrated.

Ozersay said that the meetings between the representatives of the leaders will be held in line with this procedure and consequently delegations will be smaller.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun: Greek Cypriots pursue intransigent attitude at the Cyprus talks

In a written statement, Ozgurgun accused the Greek Cypriot side of trying to get rid of its responsibilities by making false accusations against Turkey.

Complaining of initiatives launched by the Greek Cypriot side against the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey at the EU, he said: The Christofias leadership is trying to secure an agreement through the gains and advantages it achieved from third parties by means of pressure and blackmailing, and not through negotiations with its politically equal partner on the island.

He claimed that at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels (Tr. Note held yesterday) the Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou would use the opportunity to bring accusations against the Cyprus Turkish side and Turkey.

Ozgurgun called on third parties, especially the United Nations and the European Union, to give a clear message to the Greek Cypriot side that a lasting solution can only be reached through serious negotiations.

He underlined the need for the European Union to give the Turkish side the same opportunity to explain its views.

[03] Serdar Denktas censures the Turkish Media

Speaking during a TV programme, Denktas noted that during the recent demonstrations in the occupied areas in order to damage the labor peace, three to five demonstrators were holding banners targeting Turkey. However, the Turkish press conveyed the impression that the demonstrations were against Turkey itself, but in reality the situation was not like this, Denktas said. Furthermore, Denktas referred to the long struggle of the Turkish Cypriots for freedom, adding that the freedom gained was not obtained very easily. Denktas also refuted accusations by columnists of the Turkish Media that the Turkish Cypriots are lazy.

Referring to the European Union (EU) and the Cyprus negotiation process, Denktas stated that EU is part of the Cyprus problem. Noting that on the other side of the negotiation table is not the Republic of Cyprus but the EU, he added that they (the Turkish Cypriots) should react accordingly. He further said: The peace operation [the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus] served both peace and stability, and due to this stability, investments increased in both north Cyprus and south Cyprus.

Responding to a question regarding the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo and the difference between Kosovo and the breakaway regime, Denktas stated that hereafter, they have to determine a target and that a great struggle should be given for recognition.

(EA)

[04] Hisarciklioglu says this is the time for reforms in the economy of the occupied areas of Cyprus

In a written statement issued yesterday, Hisarciklioglu pointed out to Turkeys experience in making economic reforms and suggested that the breakaway regime should establish similar bodies to Turkeys Economic and Social Council, the Council for Improving the Business Environment and the Advisory Council on Foreign Capital.

Pointing to the importance of the foreign capital for the development of the countries, Hisarciklioglu said that with the establishment of an Advisory Council on Foreign Capital, the authorities of the breakaway regime will bring together the businessmen from Turkey, Israel and Britain who invest in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

He also stressed that the impression which exists in Turkey about the TRNC should change and this could happen only with the contribution of the Turkish Cypriots. He said that they should stress, for example, that imports of the TRNC from Turkey were 770 million dollars in 2009. Your efforts are necessary to change the impression of the TRNC in Turkey. And we will help you, he said.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish experts on privatisation in the TRNC

The self-styled minister of economy said that experts are needed for technical assistance in privatisation matters. Moreover he referred to a protocol in existence which envisages privatisation of the Maritime Organization and ETI, a semi governmental company, by end of the year. Regarding the Tobacco Authority, he said that a privatisation protocol exists since 2007, however he denied that privatisation of the Electricity Authority is on the agenda.

(IS)

[06] British PM says he will passionately fight for Turkeys EU bid

it. This is something I feel very passionately about Together, I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels, he stated.

Cameron made these statements during a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Im here to make the case for Turkeys membership in the EU. And to fight for it, he stated.

The visiting prime minister said he would remain Turkeys strongest possible advocate for EU membership and for greater influence at the top of European diplomacy. Cameron made clear that Turkey cannot be allowed to remain outside the EU.

Cameron said opponents to Turkeys EU membership belong to three groups: The protectionists, the polarized and the prejudiced, and he called all those arguments patently wrong. And as a new government in Britain, I want us to be at the forefront of an international effort to defeat them, he said.

Referring to objections to Turkish membership based on religion, he emphasized that Turkey is a secular and democratic state. This is all the more reason to make Turkey feel welcome in Europe, he said.

The British PM called on Turkey to press for reforms needed to join the EU. Moreover, the British leader was critical regarding Irans nuclear programme and said the Islamic republic was enriching uranium to 20% with no industrial logic for what they were doing other than to produce a bomb. He also called on Turkey and Israel to continue their relationship despite tensions.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] From the Turkish Press of 26 July 2010

a) Talks With Iran

Semih Idiz in Milliyet argues that with the talks with the Brazilian and Iranian foreign ministers in Istanbul on 25 July, Turkey is now back to its "facilitator" role and not a "mediator" in the talks on Iran's nuclear plans.

b) United States said seeking PKK's help to settle MKO in Qandil

Columnist Hikmet Bila writing in Vatan draws attention to a report by Fars News Agency to the effect that the US Administration asked for the PKK's permission to settle members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization in the Qandil Mountains. Bila says he tends to believe this report given the latest developments concerning the US role in north Iraq.

c) Anti-Americanism in Turkey

Omer Taspinar in Sabah argues that "the anti-US sentiment that had peaked in Turkey during the Bush administration continues with the Obama administration as well, because Turks hold the United States responsible both for the Kurdish separatism and religious fundamentalism in the country.

d) Sledgehammer Arrests/Referendum

In his article in Hurriyet Daily News, Yusuf Kanli accuses the Justice and Development Part (AKP) Government of staging the recent arrests of active and retired generals and others as a move to prevent the promotion of the accused officers.

Commenting on the same issue in Hurriyet, Tufan Turenc fears that the developments will lead to fascism in Turkey. These are political and not legal decisions aimed at strengthening the government's hand before the referendum, he says and adds: "If the referendum results turn out to be 'yes,' then that will be the end of Turkey; it will no longer be a state of law, and there will no longer be human rights or freedoms. I am afraid to say it but, yes, the end result will be fascism."

e) Unity of the Left

In her daily column in Milliyet, Asli Aydintasbas laments the lack of unity in the left, and the seeming indifference of the Republican People's Party (CHP) to recruit Mustafa Sarigul, Hikmet Cetin, Faruk Logoglu, and others to its ranks. The columnist argues that Onder Sav is partly in control now that party leader Kilicdaroglu is touring the country on the eve of the referendum, and that Sav wants "to run the party without opening too much, without giving up his control, and by keeping such powerful figures away.

[02] Kosovo: sauce for the goose...

Dyer argues that minorities seeking independence anywhere will be encouraged by the courts ruling. He points out that five of the European Unions 27 members refuse to recognize Kosovo precisely because they fear that their own minorities might use its independence as a precedent: Cyprus (Turkish Cypriots), Greece (Macedonian Turks), Slovakia (Hungarians), Romania (also Hungarians), and Spain (Catalans and Basques).China worries about Tibet and Xinjiang and Russia frets about all sorts of potential secessionist movements. In fact, only 69 countries have recognized Kosovo. Countries with restive minorities of their own have not, and it is therefore still not a member of the United Nations., it is added.

Dyer gives an account of events which led to the unilateral declaration of a separate sovereign state of Kosovo, and adds that the International Court of Justice is right: international law does not ban declarations of independence. But, he points out, the deal that underlies the creation of the United Nations, and that has spared us from great-power wars (and probably quite a few smaller wars) over the past sixty-five years, does forbid any changes in the borders of UN members that are imposed by force.

That deal, he explains, is embedded in the UN Charter: thou shall not change a border by force and argues that the intention was to stop cross-border wars of aggression. In practice, however, the Charter has also been used to delegitimize unilateral declarations of independence all over the world, Dyer says adding that it was a largely unintended side effect of the UN Charter, and although it has suppressed violence in some places, it also helped to perpetuate terrible injustices in many others.

The decision of the International Court of Justice undermines this interpretation of the Charter, and probably means that more secession actually succeeds in the end. Whether that is a good thing or not depends on which side of the fence you are on, but it probably means more violence, at least in the short term., he concludes. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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