Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-09-02

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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] Turkish Cypriot discloses location where five Greek Cypriots are buried

[02] Eroglu reiterates his stance for a solution by the end of the year at the 2nd International Economic Conference

[03] We want tripartite meeting

[04] Bagis responds on the issue of the return of the fenced off town of Varosha and accuses Greek Cypriots for insincerity

[05] Ozersay and Ercin in Brussels

[06] Self-styled finance minister announced reduction in the budget deficit

[07] Foundation files lawsuit against the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Turkish President Gul to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina

[09] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Turkish Cypriot discloses location where five Greek Cypriots are buried

[02] Eroglu reiterates his stance for a solution by the end of the year at the 2nd International Economic Conference

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek referred to the economic and financial developments in Turkey, adding that important steps are being taken to create a more stable economy. On the Cyprus issue, the Turkish minister pointed out that negotiations are taking place in Cyprus with the aim of bringing a viable and lasting solution. As illegal BRT reported, Simsek also stated that south Cyprus became a member of the European Union and north Cyprus was condemned to live under isolation in spite of the fact that the Cyprus Turkish people voted in favour of the Annan Plan, while the Greek Cypriot people rejected it.

For his part, the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu briefed participants on the developments in Cyprus after the 2004 referenda, and the negotiation process. Pointing out that no agreement has been reached on crucial points but some progress has been achieved on some issues. Noting that the two sides will be presenting comprehensive proposals on the issue of property, Eroglu said: We hope to achieve further progress and to reach an agreement by the end of the year.

Furthermore, reporting on the conference and Eroglus statements Ankara Anatolia news agency (01.09.10) writes: Noting that there are two peoples and two republics in Cyprus, Eroglu said that an agreement, which would be signed (between the two parties in Cyprus), should not create security problems for Turkish Cypriots and should not remove bizonality. He added that the agreement should not eliminate Turkeys effective and actual guarantee and should not deteriorate Turkish-Greek balance and not include new clash potentials, he noted.

Reporting on the same issue, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (01.09.10), inter alia, writes that Eroglu called on the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to encourage the Greek Cypriots to work more actively for a solution. The solution cannot be found by us alone. Greek Cypriots need to cooperate, too. Moreover, the agreement should not include any risk for a new conflict, Eroglu said adding: The isolation of Turkish Cyprus is a shame on the EU and other members of the civilized world. Greek Cypriots, who have always worked to bring Turkish Cypriots under their own hegemony, were granted EU membership while isolation of Turkish Cypriots continues. The Cyprus issue should no longer be left in pending.

[03] We want tripartite meeting

[04] Bagis responds on the issue of the return of the fenced off town of Varosha and accuses Greek Cypriots for insincerity

Bagis reiterated that the Cyprus problem should be solved in a comprehensive way and in the framework of the UN parameters. He then said that bringing the issue of Maras to the agenda at a time when negotiations for a solution are in progress, is not compatible with the concept of a comprehensive and viable solution. This is insincerity on the issue of solution, he said.

Bagis added that the efforts exerted by the Greek Cypriot Administration to prevent EU to implement the decision it took in 2004 to end the isolation imposed on north Cyprus, indicates once more the insincerity of the Greek Cypriot administration, as he called the Republic of Cyprus. He reiterated that Turkey will not give up Cyprus nor its EU membership because of the course of the Cyprus problem.

(AK)

[05] Ozersay and Ercin in Brussels

[06] Self-styled finance minister announced reduction in the budget deficit

In his statements after the meeting, Ersin Tatar said that, as a result of the economic measures taken, the budget deficit of the occupation regime decreased from 500 million TL to 200 million TL. He also stressed the need for the improvement of the economy and reiterated that Turkeys technical support on this issue is very important adding that the occupation regime also needs the support of Turkey for the implementation of e-state system.

Mehmet Simsek stated that Turkey is determined to stand by the Turkish Cypriots and support them technically and economically.

[07] Foundation files lawsuit against the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus

As illegal BRT reported, the property in question is a 725 square metres a historic building and a 950 square metres of parking lot in south Cyprus. The foundation is demanding nearly two million Euros in compensation for the use of the land since 1975 and 8,500 Euros per month until the property is handed over to it.

Halkin Sesi gives a front-page coverage to the story under the leadline, An offensive on the property issue. The paper says that the building is located close to the Department of Antiquities and that it used to be the Charleton hotel during the colonial period.

The issue was covered extensively by the Turkish Cypriot press under the following headlines:

Vatan: And a lawsuit from us on the property issue

Ortam: One more case

Kibris: They demanded 2 million Euro

Haberdar: Greek Ministry of Interior sued

Afrika: A lawsuit for a historic building in the south

Yeni Duzen: A two million Euro lawsuit

Kibrisli: A lawsuit like gunpowder from Barutcuzade

Havadis: They demanded compensation and rent

Volkan: The Greek Cypriot Administration will account for the property of Vakif [foundation] to the ECHR.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Turkish President Gul to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina

According to a statement released by the Turkish Presidential Press Centre, President Gul will be in Bosnia-Herzegovina upon an invitation by Haris Silajdzic, Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, and other Presidency members.

Gul and Bosnian officials will discuss bilateral relations with all dimensions, explore ways for future cooperation and exchange views on both regional and international issues, the Turkish Presidency said. Gul will address the Bosnian Parliament in Sarajevo, receive high-level Bosnian officials, participate in a meeting of the Turkey-Bosnia-Herzegovina Business Forum and visit Turkish universities in the country.

During Guls visit, the Director General of the Anadolu Agency (AA) Dr Hilmi Bengi and the Director General of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina News Agency (FENA) Zehrudin Isakovic will sign a cooperation agreement. Gul will inaugurate the AA Award Winning Photographs Exhibition in Sarajevo and attend in a reception to mark the establishment of AA's new office in Sarajevo.

[09] Highlights

a) Israeli-Greek Cypriot rapprochement

In an article in the Star, Beril Dedeoglu views the rapprochement between Israel and the Greek Cypriots and argues that it might adversely affect Turkey with regards to its relations with the EU.

b) Constitutional amendment package / Referendum

Taha Akyol in Milliyet, assesses the accusations levelled by the opposition against the government that it is collaborating with the PKK and argues that these accusations are absurd, grave and an example of how political greed ca destroy commonsense. Akyol writes: What is worse is that the rigid blocs these accusations have created are eliminating Turkeys manoeuvring ability to resolve the Kurdish problem.

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Mustafa Akyol argues that the 'no' campaign for the referendum has turned into propaganda against the government, explaining that the articles changing the structure of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors, and the Constitutional Court aim to replace the Kemalist domination of the judiciary with pluralism.

Yusuf Kanli in Hurriyet Daily News predicts that the referendum on the constitutional amendment package will be a very close race. Viewing the two articles on the Constitutional Court, and the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors as amendments that will eradicate the separation of powers by establishing governmental hegemony over the judiciary, Kanli questions whether a 50% plus approval of the package will mean that the Constitution was amended with the support of the nation.

Vatan columnist Gungor Mengi notes that the results of the referendum will depend on the votes of the 11% that seem to be undecided so far and adds: The arrangements that are described as 'beneficial' in the package are about rights that could have been granted without amending the Constitution. Those 'sweet things' are being used to swallow the 'bitter bill' within the package. Mengi writes and wonders why there are attempts to threaten all the NGOs and the independent voices of the opposition.

In an article in Taraf, Ahmet Altan argues that those who oppose the constitutional amendments cannot explain why they are opposed to it based on the articles of the package. He wonders whether the goal is to continue the mechanism of pressure over the masses that elect the AKP, and to maintain the rule of the minority over the majority by collaborating with the army and the judiciary.

c) Kurdish issue

In an article in Milliyet, Nail Gureli criticizes Prime Minister Erdogan who attacked Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Kilicdaroglu for announcing that he will declare a general amnesty and questions Erdogans sense of ethics, saying: Are you not in favour of communal peace? Is MIT [National Intelligence Organization] that is affiliated to you not conducting (although you initially denied it) negotiations (bargaining) with the PKK?

Writing in the Star, Ergun Babahan describes Turkey as a land of puzzles and argues that Abdullah Ocalan is being used as a tool to show that the government has been unsuccessful in its struggle against terror, in a bid to increase the 'no' votes in the referendum. Recalling that Ocalan was also used as a tool in 2004 when steps were taken toward full membership in the EU, a move that would make the army withdraw to its barracks, Babahan argues that the Heron incident in Hantepe is part of this same puzzle.

In his article in Hurriyet, Yalcin Dogan welcomes the approach of CHP leader Kilicdaroglu to the solution of the Kurdish issue and writes: Actually Kilicdaroglu is saying things that are close to Erdogans thesis. Erdogans opposition to Kilicdaroglu is only a referendum manoeuvre. Accusing the prime minister of refuting what he had said a few months ago just for the sake of the referendum, Dogan argues that whether we like it or not a final solution to any struggle against ethnic terror always entails some kind of amnesty, Dogan says that the government, however, failed to manage well the steps it took in the aftermath of the declaration of the Kurdish overture. The writer goes on to point out that, the law of repentance is nothing other than a form of amnesty.

Okay Gonensin writes in Vatan that having turned the referendum process into a life and death issue, both the ruling and the opposition parties have sacrificed the Kurdish and terror issue. He describes their approach as cheap and demagogic in a bid to obtain more votes and notes that doubts about their ability to resolve these problems are increasing. What they fail to understand is the following: A large majority of the Kurdish citizens, irrespective of the region they live in, and a large majority of the Turkish people are sick and tired about the way this issue is being used. They want a solution, he concludes.

Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul in an article entitled "Is the Huge Weapons Market Being Run by the PKK?", comments on allegations that the number of unregistered firearms sold in Turkey has exceeded the number of registered firearms tenfold as a result of illegal weapons shipments from Iraq. He links these allegations to the New York Times report asserting that many US weapons in Iraq make their way into the black market before they fall into the hands of the terrorist PKK and argues that it is unthinkable that there is no connection between the huge illegal arms sector in Turkey and the arms traffic in Iraq. He also claims that the weapons used in most political assassinations in Turkey are of US origin.

Yeni Safak runs a front-page report under the headline " Ergenekon Has always worked with Apo [Ocalan] ", which quotes Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu (who used to be Ocalan's defence lawyer) as saying that Ocalan has been talking with the Ergenekon network ever since he was brought to Turkey and that Ergenekon "persuaded" him to end a ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish military on 2004 while it [Ergenekon] was preparing to engineer a military coup.

d) Struggle between TSK and government

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Mehmet Ali Birand views the struggle between the military and the AKP and argues that from the moment the AKP came to power the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) behaved like an opposition party. Detailing the history of the struggle, Birand writes: "In summary, starting from the beginning, the military did not understand the determination of Erdogan, and Gul was not able to understand or did not take them seriously."

e) Hanefi Avcis book

Todays Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bulent Kenes criticizes former Eskisehir police chief Hanefi Avcis book Simons in the Golden Horn as an attempt to create public confusion ahead of the referendum through allegations that the Turkish police force is controlled by the Fethullah Gulen community. Kenes claims that in writing this book, Avci has contributed to "black propaganda" in the West intended to promote "Islamophobia, Turcophobia, and Gulenophobia."

f) Strategic defamation

In an article entitled "Strategic defamation", Zaman columnist Abdulhamit Belici criticizes a recent Stratford report on political movements in Turkey as a biased document full of lies and misrepresentations about the Fethullah Gulen community. He slams the authors of the report for what he describes as their wholesale categorization of a number of non-Muslim journalists and intellectuals of Kurdish origin and Marxist persuasions as members of an Islamic camp positioned against secular-minded groups.

g) Hamas: We need Turkey's support

Vakit reports on an interview with Khalid Mishal, Hamas' political leader in Damascus, who discloses that they expect Turkey to play a fundamental role in breaking Israels embargo against the Gaza Strip via the sea as well as to maintain its support for efforts to solve the Palestinian issued and end the Arab-Israeli conflict. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/ES

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