Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-08-02

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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: Turkish Cypriots will continue to live under the roof of TRNC - Messages for communal resistance day

[02] Eroglus advisor sees three alternatives for the Cyprus problem

[03] The assembly approves the economic measures

[04] General strike over economy

[05] Serdar Denktas says the government of the regime has been turned into Turkeys puppet

[06] Bozer called for the support of the British citizens living in the occupied areas to lift isolation

[07] Former KTHY board member announces initiative regarding the embargo imposed on KTHY

[08] Turkish Cypriot so-called MPs to participate in World Youth Conference

[09] Turkey, Syria, Jordan, the Lebanon to establish a free trade zone

[10] Turkey - Syria trade exceeded one billion USD in the first five months of 2010

[11] Turkey's Supreme Military Council convened to approve promotion of officers under the shadow of to-be-arrested coup generals

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] From the Turkish Press of 30, 31 July and 01 August 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriots will continue to live under the roof of TRNC - Messages for communal resistance day

In addition, Illegal Bayrak television (01.08.10) reports on its website messages on the occasion of 1 August communal resistance day.

Eroglu stated in his message: Our target in the ongoing negotiations is to reach a solution which will protect us from facing similar bitter experiences, will keep us from waging a similar struggle for freedom and sovereignty, and a solution which will embrace the Greek Cypriots desire for Enosis rule over the Turks of Cyprus, he said. He added that the conquest of Cyprus by the Ottomans and the establishment of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces and the Cyprus Turkish Resistance Organization, are the two milestones for the existence of Cyprus Turkish People on this soil.

The self-styled speaker of the parliament Hasan Bozer in his message said that the Turks of Cyprus are determined to develop their own state which was established with commitment and never forgetting the hard days. He also stressed that the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces have fulfilled their mission for the protection of the Turkish Cypriots and they constitute the guarantee of peace and stability in Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On his part, self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk said that the Cyprus Turkish People responded to the ENOSIS policy of the Greek Cypriots through the Turkish Resistance Organization which transferred the responsibility to the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces 34 years ago.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes newspaper (02.08.10) reports on the message written by the Commander of the illegal Security Forces to occupied Cyprus, Major General Abdullah Recep in the special book for the ceremonies to mark the August 1st Communal Resistance Day. Gen. Recep noted that according to its principles and revolution, the security forces commandership is always ready to perform its duty with determination and loyalty, so that the TRNC lives forever.

[02] Eroglus advisor sees three alternatives for the Cyprus problem

Atun argues that the rule of indivisibility of the borders received a great blow with the ICJ decision on Kosovo and that the fate of some areas in Europe, which we have never heard of, may change. Atun refers, inter alia, to the areas of the Basques and Gibraltar on the Iberian Peninsula and the Helgoland Island in Germany, the population of which, he points out, does not exceed 2000.

Atun recalls the proposal by President Christofias regarding the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha and the opening of Famagusta port to international trade under the supervision of the EU and says that this is what both the UN and the EU have in mind. Referring to the statement by Angela Filote, Atun says that this is a very important development and its timing is not a coincidence.

He concludes noting the following:

According to the UN, 14 December 2010 is the last date of the negotiations. In November, Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Cyprus, will submit his report regarding the developments in the negotiations. If this report does not include the solution, the UN will most probably abandon the efforts they have been exerting since 1974. Then three alternatives will come to surface:

1. Definition of geographic, demographic and political division of the island,

2. Continuation of the de facto situation and deepening and strengthening further the ties of the TRNC with Turkey and

3. Intervention of the EU and establishment of a new TRNC which will be part of the EU, free of embargoes and isolations, in exchange of the return of Varosha to the Greek Cypriots

(I/Ts.)

[03] The assembly approves the economic measures

Draft laws envisaging amendments concerning corporate tax and pension were adopted by majority, Bayrak reports.

MPs from the main opposition the Republican Turkish Party voted against the amendments. The Leader of the Social Democratic Party Mehmet Cakici and the Leader of the Freedom and Reform Party Turgay Avci criticized adoption of draft laws. Democrat Party Leader Serdar Denktas, for his part, expressed his partys desire to contribute to initiatives that will serve labour peace.

[04] General strike over economy

(EA)

[05] Serdar Denktas says the government of the regime has been turned into Turkeys puppet

In statements to Ada TV yesterday, Denktas noted that the DP had no problem with Turkeys Justice and Development Party (AKP) until 2006 and that their relations were good. He said the DP is not responsible if these relations are spoiled today. Noting that in an effort to secure votes some circles try to convince people that the Turkish government does not want the DP, Denktas called on the AKP to clarify whether it has any problems with the DP.

Referring to the economic measures taken by the government, Denktas said the reason for which the government has brought to the assembly a draft-law regarding the salaries in the banks was the fact that the Turkish Prime Minister had compared recently the salary of prime minister Kucuk with the salary of a bank director.

Unfortunately there are no friends in the council of ministers who know the state. I considered as advantage the fact that they come from the private sector and I am hopeful, but they have turned into puppets of a civil servant who is appointed here by Turkey, because they do not know the state and they do not try to learn it, noted Denktas.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Bozer called for the support of the British citizens living in the occupied areas to lift isolation

He also called on members of the society to explain to the world that the TRNC exists and that it is a democratic state which respects human rights.

Acknowledging the difficulties foreign property owners face in the TRNC, Bozer said that the law concerning the issue has been approved by the assembly.

[07] Former KTHY board member announces initiative regarding the embargo imposed on KTHY

Taner said that the aim of initiative is to explain to the EU the unfair treatment KTHY is subjected to. He said that the embargo underlines first, that the government has to keep the KTHY alive, that it has to inform EU member states and file lawsuits in international bodies and third that this matter has to be included in the agenda of the negotiations between the two leaders.

(IS)

[08] Turkish Cypriot so-called MPs to participate in World Youth Conference

[09] Turkey, Syria, Jordan, the Lebanon to establish a free trade zone

Foreign ministers of Turkey, Syria, Jordan and the Lebanon had decided, in a meeting on June 10, 2010 to set up "high-level quartet cooperation council" to strengthen the existing cooperation, develop long-term strategic partnership and solidarity, and further improve economic integration. It was also decided to establish a zone among the four countries for free movement of products and people.

In line with the above, during a meeting in Istanbul on Saturday, hosted by Turkish State Minister Zafer Caglayan and attended by Syrian Economy and Trade Minister Lamia Assi, Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Amir al-Hadidi and Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Mohammad Safadi, it was decided to establish "Close neighbors economic and trade partnership council (CNETAC)".

In a written statement Caglayan said that having examined different alternatives:

"We have agreed to hold CNETAC ministerial meeting in Syrian capital city of Damascus in December. We also decided to establish a committee comprising of the authorized representatives of related countries to sketch a road map and to determine priorities regarding areas of cooperation. This committee will have its first meeting in September in Amman".

[10] Turkey - Syria trade exceeded one billion USD in the first five months of 2010

"The trade volume was 795 million USD just three years ago and in 2009 it was 1.8 billion USD, despite the global economic crisis. In the first five months this year it exceeded 1 billion USD," Caglayan told a Syria Investment Conference in Istanbul held as part of the Turkey-Syria Strategic Partnership Council. Caglayan said Turkey aimed at boosting economic and political relations with neighbouring and regional countries to their best levels.

[11] Turkey's Supreme Military Council convened to approve promotion of officers under the shadow of to-be-arrested coup generals

Generals and admirals to be promoted to a higher rank and colonels to be appointed as generals and admirals, will be determined during the gathering that will reshape TSK's command chain, officials said. Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Atila Isik are reaching the end of their terms of office as of August 30, 2010.

During the YAS meeting, retirement of 134 generals and admirals will be discussed. Nearly 35 generals and admirals will be promoted to a higher rank and 45 colonels will be appointed as generals and admirals, officials noted. The decisions to be taken at the council meeting will be made public after they are presented to President Abdullah Gul on August 4.

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (01.08.10) points out that this years YAS is taking place amid heated controversy about whether 11 generals and admirals, among 102 suspects for whom a Turkish court recently issued arrest warrants as part of the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) investigation, will be able to receive their scheduled promotions.

The 11 high-level officers who await promotion would under normal circumstances receive their new assignments at YAS. However, promotion is possible only if their appeals against the arrest warrants issued July 23 are accepted by the court. All 102 suspects, 25 of whom are on active duty and 45 are generals, objected to the arrest warrant within the one-week envisaged for such objections.

In his meetings with the top representatives of the government and the military, Gul reportedly asked both parties to solve the disagreement and not be too insistent on matters that are deemed problematic. Sources said the president asked both parties to approve decisions at YAS in line with the militarys moral values, customs and the sensitivity of the public.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] From the Turkish Press of 30, 31 July and 01 August 2010

a) Kurdish Problem

According to a report by Ferit Demir in Milliyet (1.8.2010), Diyarbakir Greater City Mayor Osman Baydemir, in a speech during a panel on "Interlocutor Issue in Kurdish Problem and Democratic Autonomy" in Tunceli, noted that it will be wrong to confuse democratic autonomy with the Local Administrations programme in Europe and added: "In the democratic autonomy project the Turkish Grand National Assembly exists and will continue to exist () Nonetheless, there will be a regional parliament in each and every region and one of these parliaments will be the Kurdistan regional parliament. By the side of the Turkish flag... the flag with the local colours of the Kurdish people will certainly wave."

Criticizing Prime Minister Erdogan for linking the incidents in Dortyol and Inegol to the referendum, for ignoring the essence of the problem, and for calling on the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) to refrain from going to Dortyol, Hatay, Ferai Tinc in Hurriyet (1.8.2010) calls for conciliation between the government and the opposition with the aim of finding a solution to the problem prior to the establishment of a Kosovo-like autonomy in the southeast.

The majority of the Kurds in this country do not believe that they are second class citizens, says Star (1.8.2010) columnist Aziz Ustel and recalls that there have been Kurdish presidents, parliament speakers, and ministers in Turkey. We are making the greatest mistake by equating the PKK to the Kurds, stresses Ustel and argues that the PKK represents a very small minority and warns that if the state panics in the face of the incidents in Dortyol and Inegol, this will pave the path for martial law. Underlining that to be able to hold debates on this problem it is primarily necessary to silence the arms Ustel says: "If the unitary state is to discuss highly sensitive issues such as education in the mother tongue, such discussions cannot be held in the midst of military clashes."

In an article in Radikal (31.7.10), Murat Yetkin quotes high-ranking officials saying that Emre Taner, the former undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), had warned government and state officials that if the Kurdish overture was not managed well, PKK attacks would spread to metropolitan areas.

b) New CHP Identity Under Kilicdaroglu

Viewing the new identity of the CHP under Kilicdaroglu in his article in Hurriyet Daily News (31.7.10), Goksel Bozkurt writes: "It seems Kilicdaroglu will make serious changes on the subject of inner-party democracy." Bozkurt predicts that Kilicdaroglu will be changing the party discourse on issues ranging from the Kurdish question to economy policies.

c) Suit Filed Against Turkey by the Armenian Diaspora in the United States

Oktay Eksi in Hurriyet (1.8.10) argues that if suits are being filed for the incidents of 1915, Turkish people who have fled from Bulgaria, Greece, current Serbia, and Karabakh to Anatolia and who have left behind all their property should also be able to file suit. He wonders why the Turkish Cypriots do not file suits against the Greek Cypriot Administration for the property that they have left behind.

d) CHP Support for Amending Article 35

In his commentary entitled "Is the cat out of the bag?" in Hurriyet Daily News.com (30.07.10), Semih Idiz assesses the proposal submitted by the Republic People's Party, (CHP), for the amendment of Article 35 of the Internal Service Act of the Turkish Armed Forces. Noting that though "there is no domestic support for a military coup either," the amendments are insignificant." Noting the change in the text, which now reads: "'The duty of the Turkish Armed Forces is to protect the Turkish homeland and the Republic of Turkey, in respect to the parliamentary democracy and the constitution,'" Idiz charges: "As must be clear for anybody interested in law, the article in the constitutional amendment package which abolishes the provisional Article 15 of the constitution providing blanket immunity for the 1980 coup leaders and their collaborators, does not mean those people would be punished now for what they did 30 years ago. Not only has the statute of limitations long expired, but under the principles of law, changes made in laws are applicable to people if the changes are in their favour. But, abolition of such a provisional article will be a step in the right direction. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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