Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-07-28

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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: We want a lasting agreement on the basis of political equality

[02] Erdogan on Camerons visit: "This is the golden age in Turkey-UK relations"

[03] Peoples advisory councils to be formed

[04] DP says the ICJ decision on Kosovo should light the way for the Turkish Cypriots

[05] Istanbul Technical University to establish campus in the occupied area

[06] Illegal DAU among the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities

[07] Trade between Turkey and Russia reached 38 billion U.S. dollars

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 27 July 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu: We want a lasting agreement on the basis of political equality

Eroglu made these statements to a visiting delegation of the Turkish Duzce Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He added that it has always been the Greek Cypriot side which rejected all peace plans, and complained that the Turkish side, which according to Eroglu proved its willingness for a solution, has always been declared as the side unwilling to reach a settlement. Eroglu also described very important a statement released by the UN Chief who expressed his desire to see a settlement in Cyprus by the end of the year.

[02] Erdogan on Camerons visit: "This is the golden age in Turkey-UK relations"

He also said that the Cyprus problem was high on the agenda during Camerons visit. We discussed our likely contributions to the negotiation process as two guarantor states," the Turkish Prime Minister said.

There are intense political, economic, commercial and cultural talks between our countries. Also our historical relations strengthen the ties between our peoples. This is the golden age in Turkey-United Kingdom relations," Erdogan said and added: "We appreciate the United Kingdom's support to Turkey in its European Union membership process." Erdogan added that no political party in the United Kingdom opposes Turkey's European Union process.

Referring to the economic and commercial relations, Erdogan said: "There are around 2,000 British investors in Turkey. Our trade volume was 13.5 billion USD in 2008, and decreased to 9.5 billion USD in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis. We have also perfect relations in tourism. More than 2.5 million British tourists visited Turkey in 2009 and some 30,000 Britons purchased real estate properties in Turkey."

Erdogan also said that a Yunus Emre Cultural Centre will be opened in the United Kingdom in cooperation with the British Council.

[03] Peoples advisory councils to be formed

[04] DP says the ICJ decision on Kosovo should light the way for the Turkish Cypriots

In a written statement released yesterday, Sonya noted that the DP has stated on various occasions that the ongoing negotiating process should be the last one and added: The ongoing negotiating process should be completed within a reasonable, flexible and acceptable period of time and at the end of the process the sides should declare whether they could agree or not.

Sonya claimed that it is the most natural right of the Turkish Cypriot people to review their situation and demand treatment similar to the one accorded to the people of Kosovo, in case of a new unwillingness to come to an agreement.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Istanbul Technical University to establish campus in the occupied area

One of the courses to be offered by ITU is maritime studies and in this context it will construct, along with the first marina in the Gialousa area, a shipyard will be set up for the construction, maintenance and repair of yachts. The departments scheduled to open are maritime transportation and management engineering (deck department), ship machinery and management engineering (marine engineering), and maritime transportation, and sub-department of yacht and marina management and maritime and port management.

The Famagusta campus, will be constructed in the area of the old hospital and will have music, performing arts, musicology, and music technology departments.

(IS)

[06] Illegal DAU among the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities

As is it noted, the ranking catalogue specifies Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as the country-name of DAU and carries the TRNC flag.

Furthermore, another two illegal universities succeeded in entering the Webometrics ranking, acquiring the 4615th (Near East University Cyprus YDU) and the 8039th (European University of Lefke LAU) seats.

(EA)

[07] Trade between Turkey and Russia reached 38 billion U.S. dollars

Caglayan made these statements during a speech at a ground-breaking ceremony for a fruit and vegetable market to be constructed by F.O.R.T. Limited Company, a Turkish-Russian partnership, in the Russian city of Rostov.

Trade volume between Turkey and Rostov was 570 million U.S. dollars and nearly 50 Turkish businessmen had investments worth over 100 million U.S. dollars in Rostov, Caglayan said. "We attach great importance to Turkish businessmen's investments in Russia. We consider them permanent representatives of Turkey," he said. Yury Osintsev, Deputy Minister of Regional Development of the Russian Federation, said that they supported this project and it was of great importance for the logistic development of Rostov. F.O.R.T. Executive Board Chairman Burak Bozkir said the project will cost 35 million U.S. dollars and will employ nearly 1,500 people. It is expected to be completed in February 2011, he said.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 27 July 2010

a) Independence of Judiciary/ Sledgehammer Case

Writing in Milliyet, Taha Akyol highlights the schism in the judiciary as manifested in the latest court rulings. This schism, Akyol maintains, mirrors the divide within the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), namely between the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV), and the Union of Judges and Prosecutors for Democracy and Freedom. According to Akyol, the Kemalist YARSAV and the pro-Justice and Development Party, (AKP), are issuing rulings along political affiliations which counter the principle of the independent judiciary: "Political views and stances should not concern the judicial", Akyol argues.

Referring to the arrest warrants issued for 102 officers in the Sledgehammer case, Ertugrul Ozkok in Hurriyet writes that the methods used in the Ergenekon investigation resemble the "rough" and "ruthless" means used during the 1980 coup. Ozkok charges that the aim of the Ergenekon investigation is turning from "seeking justice" to "seeking revenge." Ozkok further claims that there is an ulterior motive behind the arrest warrants issued on the very day that the constitutional referendum campaign was launched. In the face of the developments, Ozkok advises patience.

In his column entitled "There can be no justice under the shadow of politics," Hurriyet's Mehmet Yilmaz criticizes the way in which retired General Cetin Dogan was detained as he was on his way to turn himself in, suggesting that the entire show is aimed at serving the interests of the government. Yilmaz wonders whether the aim is to serve justice or politics.

Hurriyet columnist Cuneyt Ulsever maintains that the court decision to recapture the 102 suspects in the Sledgehammer case "clearly shows how law and politics have become intermingled in Turkey." Ulsever says that politicization of the judiciary is dealing heavy blows on the judicial institution. He expresses the conviction that "the Sledgehammer case is the struggle to eliminate those pro-coup/anti-AKP commanders within the Turkish Armed Forces who have not yet retired." The political echelon is interfering in the promotion decisions of the army, he charges. He points out that there were "coup lovers" in the army in 2003-2004 and they should be punished, but "everything should be based on the principle of the supremacy of the law."

b) Supreme Military Council Meeting

Murat Yetkin in Radikal, argues that the 14 August meeting of the Supreme Military Council will not only decide on military promotions, but it will be a "turning point from the viewpoint of political-military balances in Turkey's political history."

c) Iran's Nuclear Programme

Commenting on the latest initiative undertaken by Turkey to bring about conciliation between Iran and the international community, Sami Kohen writes in Milliyet that Ankara "must" pursue this path because it "believes that there is no better solution than diplomacy in the Iranian nuclear crisis." The fact that Iran has accepted to continue with the diplomatic process despite the recent sanctions imposed on it, is a positive development, Kohen asserts, adding that according to Turkish officials, this was achieved as a result of Turkey's extensive efforts. "Whether Tehran's stand is sincere or tactical" will be seen in the coming weeks Kohen adds, noting that Turkey's own stand is now more realistic and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu admitted that the Tehran Agreement is not a final solution, but the initial phase of a process. Kohen says that Turkey is playing the role of facilitator, rather than a formal mediator. The West is showing Iran the stick, while Turkey is trying to use the carrot, he concludes.

d) Kurdish Problem

Fatih Cekirge, writing in Hurriyet, bemoans the casualties sustained in the PKK attacks and says that this problem cannot be solved through weapons alone. He says that Turkey should suggest to the Iraqi and US governments the establishment of a "security border through plain and open terrain for joint protection." This can be a sincerity test for the United States, which should also be reminded that Turkey is currently in Afghanistan helping the United States in its counter-terrorism efforts, he adds.

In an article entitled "The PKK's Latest Proposal: Request for UN Supervision" in Today's Zaman, columnist Emre Uslu discusses PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's 16 July proposal that PKK militants lay down arms under UN supervision, and a statement by "acting" PKK leader Murat Karayilan announcing that he will order his "soldiers" to stop engaging in armed struggle "provided that Turkey agrees to a ceasefire and meets conditions set out in a new agreement." The "only" thing "new" about this proposal is the reference to the UN, Uslu writes and describes the move as an attempt to "manipulate the political powers-that-be" into making moves that would "serve the PKK's ultimate interests."

e) TRT Warned Against Biased Reporting

Cumhuriyet reports that the High Election Council investigated the state-funded TRT bias of its news reports in favour of the upcoming referendum on 12 September. The council "merely warned the TRT," stressing that it should pay attention to objectivity, equality, and impartiality in its broadcasts, and refrain from biased programming. Otherwise, the council warned, legal action will be taken against it, the paper adds. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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