Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-08-11

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Christofias proposals will hamper the negotiation process

[02] It is dishonest to reject the proposal for Varoshia

[03] Hakki Atun looting of occupied Greek Cypriot properties reached extremes

[04] Columnist assesses Turkeys role after becoming observer in the Arab Parliament

[05] Tore: TRNC builds contacts with the rest of the world through Turkey

[06] New commanders for the occupying Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus

[07] New TRNC representative appointed in Islamabad

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Turkish columnist solution of the property issue would facilitate settlement in Cyprus

[09] Davutoglu: Turkey will no accept new obstacles in its EU accession process

[10] Turkish defence industry exports to reach over 1 billion dollars

[11] Highlights 10 August 2010

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu: Christofias proposals will hamper the negotiation process

Noting that the talks would resume on August 31, Eroglu noted that in the meantime the special representatives of the leaders would meet. Technical teams of the two sides will carry out a more comprehensive study on the property issue, he said.

Eroglu said that Christofias demands handover of the closed Maras area [fenced off town of Varoshia] to the Greek Cypriots as well as the opening of the Gazimagusa port [occupied port of Famagusta] to international trade under the European Union supervision, and gathering of an international conference by the United Nations over the issues of guarantees.

Eroglu added: Of course, we think all these will create a problem in the search for a comprehensive settlement. Because, we consider the Cyprus problem as an entirety and we think that a comprehensive agreement should be brought to referendum. We have informed Christofias about our views. He was not insistent and we are searching for a text which will be accepted by both parties.

Responding to a question, Eroglu said there are six main topics in the talks and the most difficult one is the property issue. If we manage to succeed on the property issue, we may overcome the other topics more easily. Time will show, Eroglu said.

[02] It is dishonest to reject the proposal for Varoshia

According to Tasker: Return of Varoshia to the legal owners and its restoration under UN supervision, could be a great contribution in the search for a solution and in the development of confidence between the communities, while opening of the Famagusta port under EU supervision could enhance development of our trade and tourism.

Tasker said that an early solution is not Turkeys priority and argued that Turkey does not want to experience a crisis with the EU due to the Ankara Agreement, and that its purpose is to get through December without any mishaps.

Also according to Tasker the proposal of the Turkish side based on two separate states eliminates hopes for an early solution.

(IS)

[03] Hakki Atun looting of occupied Greek Cypriot properties reached extremes

Referring to the looting of the occupied Greek Cypriot properties after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Atun said that looting reached extremes and added: Because they were Greek Cypriot properties, they were demolished and ruined. When I saw the situation of a brick factory at Haspolat [Tr. Note: occupied Mia Milia village] I felt very sorry. That beats everything, I said.

Referring to the issue of the illegal Turkish settlers brought to the island after the 1974 invasion, Atun said that 30,000 persons were brought as labour force in the field of agriculture, within the framework of a protocol signed between the then Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit and Ismet Kotak on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots. Atun claimed that their aim was to give land to these settlers and encourage production. He said it was wrong that the Turkish Cypriots, who moved from the southern to the northern part of the island, were not given priority in the distribution of the occupied Greek Cypriot properties.

Atun expressed the view that the reply given by prime minister Kucuk when Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan asked him recently about his salary was not the reply which should have been given. He recalled that when former Turkish Prime Minister Ciller told him and Ozker Ozgur that I can give you as much as I give to Konya, he replied that Konya had been rescued long ago, but Cyprus had not been rescued yet.

Atun referred to a conversation he had with an employee of a hotel in the occupied part of Cyprus who told him that Turkish Cypriots do not work under these conditions. He added that persons for whom he mediated to be employed in another hotel were able to endure only three days there.

Commenting on Atuns statements, Sami Ozuslu writes in his column in Yeni Duzen that from Atuns words regarding events in the period after 1974 we realize once more that these did not happen accidentally.

Ozuslu adds the following: The fact that 30,000 persons were brought from Turkey to Cyprus after the war as labour force in agriculture, the change of the names of the villages, the quick distribution of the Greek Cypriot properties, the speeding up of the inflow of population after 1986, the citizenship policy and other steps were all products of an explicit policy. The policy of partition!

Ozuslu says that those who supported the partition or death slogan have never believed in a solution based on partnership in Cyprus. Therefore, they have never accepted the Cypriot or even the Turkish Cypriot identity and implemented the policy of one Turk goes another Turk comes, he notes adding that Rauf Denktash led the partition mentality.

Ozuslu points out that if a person such as Hakki Atun, one of the top names of the right wing, feels the need to ask how many Cypriots work in a hotel, it means that nothing else remains to be said.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Columnist assesses Turkeys role after becoming observer in the Arab Parliament

Atun refers to the positive decision taken by OIC in May during its meeting in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, with which great support is given to the Turkish Cypriot people and adds that Turkeys observer status in the Arab Parliament is an additional positive step. He says that the Arab Parliament was established on 28 December 2005 in Cairo by the 22 member states of the Arab League, which are represented in by four MPs each. He says that after the decision regarding Turkey, the members of the Arab Parliament increased to 92. He points out that the Cyprus problem will be one of the issues to be discussed in the meeting of the Arab Parliament next December in Kuwait.

Pointing out that this meeting adds a new hoop in the relations between Turkey and the Arab world, Atun notes that the issue of better understanding of the Cyprus problem in the OIC and the parliaments of the Arab League members states, is on the agenda of the foreign policy of the Turkish government. This target is a priority in both fora, he adds.

He expresses the view that Turkey is the only country which has such relations with both the Arab countries and the EU and argues that Ankara will carry out the duty of ambassador of both the Arab countries in their relations with the EU, and of the EU in its relations with the Middle East.

Atun notes that what is most important is that first hand information on the real situation in the Cyprus problem will be conveyed to the Arab countries, securing their full support when necessary.

Referring to the past and the relations of President Makarios with the Arab world, he argues that conditions have changed and new influential powers emerged in the Cyprus problem.

It seems that from now on Turkeys wishes will be realized in the Cyprus issue and not the wishes of bankrupted Greece and the Greek Cypriots, who are the Don Quixote of the EU, he claims.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Tore: TRNC builds contacts with the rest of the world through Turkey

Talking to journalists after his contacts, Tore said that the TRNC should develop its economy in order to stand on its own feet. This objective will be achieved with the support of motherland Turkey. He added that the TRNC is establishing contacts with the rest of the world through Turkey, despite the ongoing international isolation.

Touching upon the Cyprus negotiations process, Tore said: Victory will be gained in the national cause.

[06] New commanders for the occupying Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus

(IS)

[07] New TRNC representative appointed in Islamabad

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Turkish columnist solution of the property issue would facilitate settlement in Cyprus

Guven participated in the dinner for journalists hosted by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu, on Saturday, during which the Turkish Cypriot leader briefed journalists on the ongoing talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

According to Guven, launching the negotiations with the property issue was both a risk and an opportunity. Risk because, as he writes, the property issue is the most complicated issue in Cyprus and it is related to the land issue, to the refugees issue and to the land and territory issue. It is an opportunity because if there is a miracle and it can be solved, it would facilitate the solution of issues related to it, and it will be possible for other issues to be undertaken on a more constructive ground.

The conclusion from the dinner, Guven writes, is that rapprochement of the positions of the two sides, cannot be secured. However, the two sides remain in the negotiations, because they do not want to be accused as the wet blanket of the negotiations. As a results, Guven considers that intervention of the UN is inevitable. However, he says, the Turkish side does not favour UNs arbitration role, while the Greek Cypriot side is totally against it. Either way the expectation of a solution to be reached by the end of the year, is a fruitless expectation, writes Guven.

[09] Davutoglu: Turkey will no accept new obstacles in its EU accession process

He said that Turkey's good relations with its neighbouring countries and with non-EU countries made it a more strategic partner for the European Union.

For his part, Davutoglu said that Turkey aims at EU full membership, not partnership, noting Turkey only expects EU to implement the main procedure applied to every candidate country. Nothing more, nothing less.

Davutoglu said relations between Turkey and Belgium, regional and international matters, as well as Turkey-EU relations were discussed at the meeting, since Belgium hold EU presidency.

Turkey is willing to boost bilateral political dialogue. In this respect, we will be very pleased to host King Albert II of Belgium in Turkey, Turkish foreign minister said.

Davutoglu said trade volume between Turkey and Belgium, which was around 5 billion USD in 2008, dropped to 4 billion USD in 2009 because of the global financial crisis, yet a significant rise has been recorded in the first five months of this year.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Davutoglu said Cyprus talks were also on the agenda. We have once again conveyed Turkeys political will for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus question. However, I have also underlined that Turkey will not accept new obstacles on the Cyprus issue or any other political obstacles in Turkey's EU membership, Davutoglu said.

[10] Turkish defence industry exports to reach over 1 billion dollars

Zafer Caglayan said he expected the sector's turnover would reach $3 billion in 2011 compared to current $2.3 billion, and $832 million in 2009. He also said the Turkish armed forces now procured 46% of their defence requirements from national producers, compared to 20% in the past.

Moreover, he said that engines of F-35 Lightning II jets would be produced in Turkey, explaining that Pratt & Whitney --which makes the F135 jet engines -- would jointly open a factory in Turkey with Turkey's Kale group.

[11] Highlights 10 August 2010

Semih Idiz, writing in Hurriyet Daily News on the Supreme Military Council, (YAS), views the result of the government-military crisis as a "civilian coup" and notes that "for the first time the military was forced to bow to government pressures in establishing its upper echelons."

Columnist Yusuf Kanli of Huriyet Daily News notes that the appointment crisis between the Turkish military and the government was resolved through a compromise, but points out that this latest crisis has "demolished the atmosphere of confidence" between the military and the government and it will take long to restore it.

Star columnist Mustafa Karaalioglu welcomes the government's involvement in the promotion process, stressing that the Turkish democracy would have lost the "arm wrestling" if the government had condoned the appointment of a general [Gen Igsiz] as the commander of the Land Forces regardless of the evidence confirming his efforts to design a plot against the AKP administration. Karaalioglu asserts that neither the TSK nor the other state institutions have the right to control society, politics, and the government. He adds: "The government vetoed the promotions at the YAS meeting with legal reasons, but it is now the time to consider performance criteria in the promotions.

Cumhuriyet columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek views the government's interference in the army promotions as the first stage of the AKP plan to "place the TSK under its control." He laments that President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan ignored the hierarchical rules within the army and blocked the promotion of Gen Igsiz and Gen Guner. He speculates that the traditional rules in the army will not be valid any longer and promotions will be made as per the expectations of Erdogan and Gul, if the AKP remains in power.

In an article in Yeni Safak, columnist Fehmi Koru links public interest in the promotions and appointments implemented at YAS meetings, to the Turkish Armed Forces' influence in political life. He claims that the "extraordinary" developments at the latest YAS meeting, in which representatives of the political authority claimed and exercised some of the powers conferred on them by law, might potentially serve to end "military tutelage" over politics in Turkey.

In an article in Vakit entitled "New Era in the TSK: Junta Loses, Democracy Wins," Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya hails the results of the latest YAS meeting as a "civilian revolution" marking the start of government control of the TSK's top command for the first time in Turkey. He also claims that the TSK will be using "different methods" in the fight against terrorism in the next three years under the leadership of General Isik Kosaner, General Erdal Ceylanoglu, and General Necdet Ozel and that the three generals will make sure the TSK stops being a "controversial" establishment.

Columnist Bulent Korucu of Zaman analyses the results of the recent YAS meeting from the standpoint of the "gains" for the "democratic system" claiming that the results signify that "the principle of the rule of law has prevailed".

In an article in Today's Zaman entitled "Military Fights Back While Withdrawing From Politics," columnist Lale Kemal asserts that the "crisis" over this year's YAS meeting "marked a turning point in forcing the military gradually, if not immediately, back to its barracks, its natural place in a democracy." She also claims that "the political authority's intervention" in military promotions is distinguished from similar past moves by presidents and prime ministers by the fact that it "comes against the backdrop" of Turkey's efforts to qualify for EU membership.

Kurds' Call for 'Democratic Autonomy'

In his article in Milliyet entitled "Democratic Autonomy," columnist Taha Akyol argues that the call by the Mayor of Diyarbakir, Osman Baydemir, for the establishment of a democratic autonomous structure for the Kurds is actually an idea put forward by Abdullah Ocalan recently. Drawing attention to the inconsistency in Ocalan's views, the columnist recalls that he had opposed the idea of autonomy saying that regional administrative models, such as autonomy and federation, would "prevent the enhancement of democratic values" and economic conditions.

In his column in Taraf, Ahment Altan considers the Kurds call for autonomous local administrations a step toward "normalization." He goes on to note that the establishment of an autonomous structure should be considered not only for the Kurds, but for all the country to see whether that is a better method to make the people rich er and happier.

Crisis in Turkish-Israeli Relations

In his column in Hurriyet Daily News, Avni Dogru warns against a break in the Turkish-Israeli ties saying that "further deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations or an official termination of diplomatic ties will have far-reaching and disastrous implications for the region and beyond."

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