Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-08-04

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Not moving onto another chapter before the property issue is concluded

[02] Ozgurgun: 21 TRNC representation offices abroad thanks to Turkeys support

[03] Spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leadership on the negotiations

[04] Reaction to the economic measures imposed by Turkey continues

[05] Durust refers to the importance of tourism in the political recognition of the TRNC

[06] Cakici: Cyprus is transit point for drug trafficking

[07] Efforts to restore confidence in the housing market

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Columnist accuses Turkey of colonising Cyprus

[09] Highlights - 3 August 2010

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Not moving onto another chapter before the property issue is concluded

Eroglu made these statements before a meeting of the council of minister yesterday, which evaluated the latest developments in the Cyprus negotiations as well as the economic measures.

Pointing out that the property issue is a separate and difficult issue, he stated that the Greek Cypriot leader is constantly trying to bring the issue of territory and migrants into the discussions on property.

Moreover, in his statements Eroglu defended the economic measures and criticized the action of the trade union platform the day before yesterday Eroglu accused several of the trade unions of being politically motivated. Storming the parliament building is undermining the peoples political will he said, adding that various circles provoked the incidents.

[02] Ozgurgun: 21 TRNC representation offices abroad thanks to Turkeys support

The target is to increase the number of foreign representations in the coming years and thus be linked with the rest of the world, Ozgurgun added.

Ozgurgun said that the Cyprus problem will top their joint agenda. He also stated that together with Turkey, and all circles supporting the TRNC, the Turkish Cypriot side favours a settlement by the end of 2010.

[03] Spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leadership on the negotiations

Inter alia, Ertug noted that internal political unity will bring great benefits to the negotiation table. He said that despite the fact that there are different views, there is a consensus towards solution-finding by the end of the year, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side is also in harmony with the UN and the international community on the issue. Ertug said that no one desires further extension of the process and this, as he stated, is a kind of a warning to the Greek Cypriot side.

Ertug added that the international public opinion not only has to declare support to the process, but it should motivate the Greek Cypriot side as well. He also said that the Greek Cypriot side has not presented any new proposals on the table, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side learnt this through the press. Ertug reiterated that the issue of the closed area of Varosha is part of the comprehensive solution. In addition, Ertug, who noted that there might be mobility during the deliberations of the UN General Assembly in September, recalled that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has already proposed a trilateral meeting. He said: We might also be there in September.

(EA)

[04] Reaction to the economic measures imposed by Turkey continues

Moreover, Kibris (04.0810) reports that the National Unity Party (UBP) replied to trade union leaders who accused it of treason. In a statement released yesterday, the UBP said the reason for the economic measures was the fact that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) government had employed 5000 persons and led the economy into an adverse situation.

Meanwhile, the self-styled minister of finance Ersin Tatar made a call yesterday on the trade unions for a meeting. In statements during a meeting with the Businessmen Association (ISAD), Tatar said they should meet as soon as possible and discuss the issues once more. There is nothing that cannot be solved, he argued. He said that the measures were necessary because when they came to power, the budget deficit was 500 million Turkish Liras (TL) and with the measures it has been reduced to 200 million TL.

The chairman of ISAD, Metin Yalcin expressed support to Tatar adding that ISAD always submits proposals for the solution of the economic problems.

Moreover, representatives of the Trade Unions Platform said yesterday that the UBP government and some circles which support it, try to deprive the employees and the workers of their rights. Speaking on behalf of the trade unions, Mehmet Ozkardas chairman of Kamu Sen Trade union, said the reason for the incidents the day before yesterday was the economic package imposed by the UBP government, imposed by the AKP. Ozkardas noted that the trade unions will not take a step backwards and that as trade union leaders they are ready to pay the price. He said the aim of the administrators is to close down the trade unions and added that if this happens the migration [of Turkish Cypriots] from Cyprus will increase.

Furthermore, the Economic Organizations Platform expressed the view that a dialogue should be established for the solution of the problems. The Platform consists of the Turkish Cypriot chambers of trade and industry, the businessmen association (ISAD), the Building Contractors Union, the Hoteliers Union, the Employers Trade Union and the Northern Cyprus Young Businessmen Association (GIAD). In a statement yesterday the platform suggests a round table meeting for 19 August with the participation of representatives of the government, the employers and the employees.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Durust refers to the importance of tourism in the political recognition of the TRNC

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cakici: Cyprus is transit point for drug trafficking

Referring to drug use in the occupied areas, Cakici said that the percentage of people who try drugs between the ages of 13 and 65 is 6%. No one is interested in the dealers, the mafia, said Cakici commenting on information previously published in Afrika regarding 142 kilos of heroin confiscated by the police.

According to the paper, the drug dealer is a person presenting himself as a businessman. The paper writes today that the Turkish Interpol has tapped the telephones of all the businessmen suspects in the occupied areas of Cyprus and informed the TRNC police on their conversations, but the police took no action on the issue.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Efforts to restore confidence in the housing market

The booklet will outline newly-introduced legislation aimed at combating rogue developers, builders, landowners and estate agents.

It will also contain step-by-step instructions on how to buy property.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Columnist accuses Turkey of colonising Cyprus

Is the Turkish Cypriot Republic of Cyprus (TRNC) colony or an independent state? Neither the one nor the other. TRNC is a colony which has a degree of autonomy.

TRNC has all the institutions which independent states and democracies have. But these institutions, the Parliament, President, Prime Minister, are under close or remote control by Turkey. It looks as if Cypriots govern the TRNC. But those who basically govern, are Ankara or Turkish nationals from Ankara, the majority of which neither their faces nor their names are known.

During the first years of the TRNC, the Turkish Ambassador and the military representative participated in the cabinet meetings. Nothing was done without their approval. These representatives no longer participate in cabinet meetings. Nevertheless, still nothing is done if Turkey does not want to.

Turkeys influence

The TRNC army is not Cypriot; it is commanded by Turkish generals.

The police is not under the orders of the Minister of Interior, but under a general.

There is a Ministry of Economy, but in essence the Ministry is the president of Turkeys Aid Delegation which is part of the embassy and represents its biggest department. Not a single payment is made if this gentleman does not give his approval.

The Cyprus Central Bank is administered by a civil servant, appointed to this duty by Turkeys Central Bank.

In international meetings, entirely Cypriot delegations are set up, but the initiative is taken in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara and the army is aware of every step.

All big investments, mainly in the tourism sector, are made by Turkish investors with credit from Turkeys state banks.

I wanted to remind

And above all this, there is another big issue. Ankara has converted the Turkish Cypriots into a minority in their own country. TRNC population is a secret. It is a secret because no one wants to have official figures, though everybody knows them. The Turkish Cypriot population, which is slightly over one third of the population, is being reduced.

If all the above were positive for the TRNC, perhaps there would not be much to say. But it is a shame, Turkeys heavy grip over Cyprus does nothing but deepen the economic and social chaos.

Some writers in Istanbul press recently, degraded the Turkish Cypriots. Erdogan a while ago, when the new TRNC Prime Minister, Irsen Kucuk, paid his first visit to Republic of Turkey, was scornful. Leaving aside the fact that some of those writers never came to Cyprus, I wanted to remind them: You govern the TRNC. Not Cypriots. You are critical of your own creation.

When you look at us, as a matter of fact you are not looking at us. You are looking in the mirror.

If TRNC is a shame, it is a shame for all.

Metin Munir announces his article for tomorrow under the headline: How did TRNC end up like this?

[09] Highlights - 3 August 2010

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Semih Idiz argues that despite the optimistic remarks by the UN special envoy, " there is little hope that this settlement will be reached" by the end of the year. The columnist views the political as well as economic angles of the issue, suggesting that the EU can help speed up a solution by treating the Turkish Cypriot fairly. "But no one in Turkey is expecting that to happen because there so is little faith left in Europe," he concludes.

The article argues that Greek Cypriot has always played for time against Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots and that they have made a historic mistake to underestimate both. Time is no longer acting to the disadvantage of the Turkish side Idiz says adding that other Greek Cypriot assumptions are being shattered like the assumption that Eroglu is just another copy of former President Rauf Denktas, who was renowned for his intransigence.

Another assumption is that the north is suffering serious economic deprivation due to a lack of a settlement, which is not the case today, the writer argues.

The Turkish Cypriots are not prepared to throw away the security they have enjoyed since 1974 thanks to Turkey, the article continues adding that the present arrangement suits them and it can only be added to, but cannot be subtracted from any final settlement.

Turkey's EU bid is not stifled by the Cyprus issue and few Turks believe that any concession on Cyprus will make any difference. Turks feel it is simply a device for keeping Turkey at arms length from Europe, and even if this issue were settled tomorrow, Europeans will find another device to block Ankara's path.

The writer concludes that it appears very unlikely that a settlement will be reached by the end of this year unless there is a major change in attitudes both in Europe and among Greek Cypriots.

b) YAS meeting

In an article published in Referans, Radikal, and Hurriyet, Cengiz Candar expresses his dismay at seeing General Berk, one of the primary suspects in the Ergenekon case, sitting at the Supreme Military Council meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan and others. This is a blatant example of illegal procedure, Candar affirms. Referring to the 102 Sledgehammer suspects most of whom are at large, the columnist says: It is obvious that the government does not have the power have them arrested because it is weak in the face of the military. The conclusion is to vote "yes" in the referendum in order to pave the way for a "democracy based on the supremacy of the law.", he adds.

Cumhuriyet's Cuneyt Arcayurek views what he believes to be a "ploy" around the YAS meeting, arguing that even if the military members -- who make up the majority at the Council -- agree on the promotion of the suspected generals, "the AKP man in Cankaya," meaning President Gul, is going to veto that decision.

Taylan Bilgic, managing editor of Hurriyet Daily News.com, in an article under the title "AKP: A master of balance in domestic and global politics." refers to the repeated moves of the AKP government to weaken the military in Turkey, and wonders why the military cannot react. The answer, he says, is that all the military coups in Turkey were supported by the United States, but for some time now, Washington has been on the side of the AKP which represents, in its eyes, "moderate Islam."

c) Open letter to President Gul on alleged army-PKK links

In an open letter to President Gul, addressing him as the Commander in Chief, Mehmet Altan of the Star asks him to disclose his opinion on the alleged links between the PKK and the Gendarmerie and "to speed up" the process whereby all these scandals will come to light, putting an end to the "bloody vaudeville played by those who want to retain their current positions.

d) Provocations during Ramadan?

Vakit columnist Serdar Arseven warns of possible provocations in the Black Sea region of Turkey, particularly in Trabzon, during the month of Ramadan, based on what he describes as information he obtained from the National Intelligence Organization. He implies that the Nationalist Action Party, (MHP) will be a likely instigator of social disturbances in this region by asserting that "certain retired generals are visiting the MHP headquarters these days."

e) No new party says Necmettin Erbakan

"Do not give credence to false news," Milli Gazete highlights a statement by "National view leader" Necmettin Erbakan denying allegations that he is to establish a new political party called the Peace Party. The report quotes Erbakan as saying that the Felicity Party, SP, is the only political representative of the National View tradition. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article