Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-09-17

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] Ozersay comments on negotiation process

[02] Ertug: We are positive towards a tripartite meeting, however no request has come

[03] Rauf Denktas says a new plan on the Cyprus problem is on the way

[04] Former chairman of the Black Sea Cultural Association joined TDP

[05] Uncontrolled inflow of population and the economic situation the reasons for the increased criminality in occupied Cyprus

[06] So-called chamber of industry participates in food fair

[07] Over 37.000 persons live beyond the poverty line in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] Air-passenger increase

[09] A large number of foreign countries to participate in the Dr. Fazil Kucuk Games

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Turkish Cypriot proposals on property issue prepared in the Turkish Presidency with Guls approval

[11] Turkey and Iran sign agreements

[12] Turkic world eyes 1 nation with 6 states

[13] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Ozersay comments on negotiation process

Explaining that the Turkish sides proposals were carefully prepared with a certain degree of flexibility, Ozersay said that either domestic political concerns or Christofias upcoming address at the UN General Assembly were the reason for his statement. We dont find this right. Both sides need to be flexible and show good will in order to achieve progress on the proposals tabled at the meetings he said.

He also said that despite the Greek Cypriot sides negative statements on the proposals, the Turkish sides perception was different and added Looking at the questions asked by Christofias at the last meeting, it is possible to say that the Greek Cypriot side is ready to discuss the proposals and to enter a give and take process. It seems he was interested. In any case if he wasnt, he would have just criticized the proposals.

[02] Ertug: We are positive towards a tripartite meeting, however no request has come

Replying to questions by illegal TAK on a report in the Greek Cypriot media that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sees the necessity for a tripartite meeting and that the UN conveyed this to both sides, Ertug said that no official request has been received.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to participate in a tripartite meeting in which the UN Secretary-General will also attend, Ertug recalled that it is the Turkish Cypriot which first proposed a tripartite meeting and conveyed it during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General.

[03] Rauf Denktas says a new plan on the Cyprus problem is on the way

Denktas briefed yesterday the Culture and Solidarity Association of the people from Gaziantep [Tr. Note: Illegal settlers from Turkeys Gaziantep area] on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem.

In his statements Denktas said he predicts that a new plan will come to surface by the end of the year and that this plan will most probably be amended in favour of the Greek Cypriots. He claimed that the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people and the treaty of guarantees will not be included in this plan and added: Pressure will be exerted again on us. I do not know whether the Greek Cypriots will accept it or not, but the TRNC, our sovereignty, the guarantees are not included in the plan.

Denktas alleged that the basis of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantees will cease to exist from the moment the Turkish Cypriots are united with the Greek Cypriots and enter into the EU before Turkey joins the Union.

Denktas pointed out that it is important for Turkey to stand solidly before the dangers and the Turkish Cypriots to defend their state. Denktas said that a document of principles might be tabled this time, instead of a 9000-paged agreement text.

Moreover, Bakis also reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu is expected to meet today at 13.00 hours for lunch with Rauf Denktas and Mehmet Ali Talat, former Turkish Cypriot leaders.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Former chairman of the Black Sea Cultural Association joined TDP

Mehmet Cakici, leader of TDP, in a speech during the ceremony to welcome Kus, said that the party has in three years succeeded to increase its deputies from 1 to 3 and its members in the so-called municipal councils from 2 to 14.

[05] Uncontrolled inflow of population and the economic situation the reasons for the increased criminality in occupied Cyprus

Akar reports that now the newspapers devote important part of their pages to news regarding crimes and adds, inter alia, the following:

There is no need to go very far in the past. There is a very big difference between today and Cyprus of ten years ago. Everyone knows well the main reasons for the terrifying increase in crime. Besides the primary reason which is the uncontrolled inflow of population, the second is economy. People, who are left with no money, become psychologically weaker and knowingly start committing crimes.

Akar says that robberies, thefts, murders, rapes of small children and drug trafficking are the main crimes committed in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He notes that the number of worthless cheques increased recently after the UBP government prohibited the publication in the press of the names of persons who issue such cheques. Akar also refers to a statement by the minister of agriculture who said that livestock trafficking is carried out, but nothing could be done to stop it. Akar wonders what the government is doing on all these issues.

(I/Ts.)

[06] So-called chamber of industry participates in food fair

[07] Over 37.000 persons live beyond the poverty line in the occupied areas of Cyprus

According to the results of the survey, 37.318 persons, that are 14.8% of the total population, live beyond the poverty line in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The annual average income of these persons is 9.632 Turkish liras (TL), which means 802 TL per month. Moreover, 54.100 persons have an annual income of 11.559 TL and 72.932 persons 13.485 TL.

Kibris reports that Guner Mukellef, chairman of the Statistics Department, said that the Gini coefficient for the occupied areas of Cyprus is 0.33. This shows that the distribution of income is good, he noted. He explained that Gini coefficient is a measure of the inequality of a distribution, a value of 0 expressing total equality and a value of 1 maximal inequality.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Air-passenger increase

During the first seven months of 2009, 524,000 travellers arrived in the occupied areas, while during the same period in 2010 the number reached 605,000.

During the same period in 2009, 488,000 travellers departed from the occupied areas, while this number in 2010 increased to 624,000, an increase of 28%.

[09] A large number of foreign countries to participate in the Dr. Fazil Kucuk Games

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Turkish Cypriot proposals on property issue prepared in the Turkish Presidency with Guls approval

According to Omer Bilge, the President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of State also in Charge of Cyprus Affairs Cemil Cicek participated in the meeting. President Gul congratulated those involved in the preparation of the package. The proposals were submitted to the negotiation table by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu and his team on September 6.

Omer Bilge describes the proposals as A gold formula for the solution of the property issue and underlines that this opening package shocked the Greek Cypriots and the United Nations as well.

(AK)

[11] Turkey and Iran sign agreements

Speaking at a Turkish-Iranian business forum in Istanbul, Erdogan called for closer economic ties with Iran, despite western pressure for tougher action against the Islamic republic over its nuclear activities. "Why can't we establish a mechanism of unrestricted trade with Iran similar to the one we have with Europe? I personally don't see any reason why we should not be able to accomplish this," said Erdogan.

Rahimi pledged that his country would exert its best efforts to remove any obstacles to doing business with Turkey and said that Turkey has played important roles in the world with its power and stable government, adding that having Turkey as a neighbour is of the utmost importance to Iran.

Moreover, Turkey's state minister for foreign trade, Zafer Caglayan, said that the trade volume between Turkey and Iran was up 86% in the first seven months of 2010. He underlined the importance of the rise in the Turkish-Iranian trade volume and said bilateral trade volume was $2.3 billion in 2002 and reached $11 billion in 2008.

AA also reports that the chairman of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) said that the Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (ECOTA) would help them to increase Turkey-Iran trade volume to 14 billion USD in a year and up to 25 billion USD in the next three years.

[12] Turkic world eyes 1 nation with 6 states'

Speaking during a press conference, the Turkish President said: As siblings who gathered following a long separation, we are determined to develop cooperation and solidarity. () From now on we are one nation, but we are also six states. We feel great pride and honour because of this. As has been the case so far, the hearts of your siblings in Turkey will beat with our hearts during our bitter and sweet days. Likewise, we will continue claiming our common causes and exerting joint efforts for a prosperous future for our peoples. Our political will in this is unwavering.

Next years summit will be hosted in Kazakhstan while Kyrgyzstan will host the summit in 2012.

[13] Highlights

In an article in Milliyet, Dogan Heper assesses the post-referendum period and argues that Kilicdaroglu and Bahceli are not strong party leaders and that there is no strong leader to oppose Erdogan in Turkey. Noting that the constitutional amendments will not solve the problems of the country, Heper argues that Erdogan wants to become Turkey's Putin and has already launched an initiative to introduce the presidential system to the country. Dismissing referendum result assessments that the people are in hold of the administration, the writer questions who was running the country prior to the referendum, adding: "Was there a 'military administration' in Turkey? Hasn't the AKP [Justice and Development Party] been in power for the last eight years? Were they not elected by the people?" Referring to the Kurdish issue and the fear that the Kurdish demand for autonomy will divide the country, Heper argues that this fear is justified as a section of the people in the southeast listen to BDP. The separatists have thus shown that they have advanced. In conclusion, Heper writes that Turkey came to the brink of separation and civil war during Erdogan's term in office.

A report in Star, cites Prof. Fuat Keyman of Sabanci University who considers that the 58% yes votes have paved the way for a political solution that will resolve the communal polarization in the country, notes the report. Dr. Maya Arakon from Yeditepe University is reported to have said that a serious division has not emerged from the referendum results and that the leftist, Kurdish, and liberal votes are sliding toward the AKP.

Star columnist Ardan Zenturk argues that the referendum results have caused an atmosphere of panic in the outside world. Citing Israel, the neo-cons and Jewish Lobby in Washington, Merkel, and Sarkozy among those who are not pleased with the results, Zenturk says that Turkey's rising economy coupled with its strengthening democracy "has the potential to disrupt many thrones."

Writing in Cumhuriyet, Cuneyt Arcayurek says that while the western media is full of praises for the referendum results and for Prime Minister Erdogan, it does not feel the need to look into the disproportionate and hostile war the AKP launched against the judiciary in the period prior to the constitutional amendments. What the West fails to understand is that Erdogan has marketed the articles that aim at controlling the judiciary in a package the EU and the West could not have opposed, argues the writer, adding that when the West realizes that Erdogan's democracy on paper and the authoritarian regime he has in mind do not correspond it will be too late. Ridiculing world leaders who have queued up to congratulate Erdogan for his victory fearing that he might be the omnipotent ruler in the future, Arcayurek wonders what western democracies will do when Erdogan realizes his goal of establishing a republic based on religion.

Cumhuriyet columnist Emre Kongar argues: "In short, the AKP, the government, the state, the Gulen Community, the partisan media, the United States, and the EU, under the coordination of the prime minister, have placed the people under a siege and have applied pressure for a 'yes' vote. The fact that 42% of those who cast their votes were able to say 'no' despite the pressure, the threats, and the siege in this atmosphere is a full victory for me."

In an article in Today's Zaman, Washington correspondent Ali Aslan calls attention to what he describes as an "ironic" truth revealed by the referendum results: " ... that many Turks whose lifestyles may culturally fit in better with the Western club are ideologically less progressive than the country's peasantry." He also criticizes Washington for "overlooking" the fact that "for a long time now, the main engine of reform in Turkey has been religious conservatives from the 'country' and their migrant offspring in big cities."

In an article entitled "Post-Referendum Agenda", Today's Zaman columnist Ibrahim Kalin argues that although the referendum results amount to a "major victory for Turkish democracy" and the ruling AKP, "the underlying fault lines of Turkish politics, with its fragile alignments, are still in place and point to a difficult period for consensus building on the country's key issues."

b) Kurdish Issue

Writing in Milliyet, Fikret Bila refers to the insistent messages by Ocalan, BDP leader Selahattin Demirtas, and Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir to open the channels of negotiations and states that this was expected. Commenting on the visit to Diyarbakir of a "wise men" delegation composed of politicians and diplomats headed by former Finnish President Ahtisaari and on the delegation's upcoming meeting with President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan, Bila draws attention to the PKK desire to take the Kurdish issue to an international platform and to apply international pressure on Ankara in a bid to attain autonomy in the Southeast. Such a turn of events will distance the problem from being Turkey's terror and domestic issue, writes Bila, adding that it would not be realistic to expect the government to take the risks of such a path while the party is getting ready for the next elections.

In his article in Vatan, Okan Gonensin writes that as the cease-fire declared by the PKK will end within four days and there is not much time for the government to take many steps for the solution of the Kurdish problem, adding, however, that one of these steps, namely the release of the BDP mayors who were on trial for engaging in pro-PKK propaganda, has already been taken. It is impossible to take steps involving a new constitution or the Anti-Terror Law in the short time left until the end of the cease-fire, notes Gonensin, adding that, the children who have been imprisoned for throwing stones as well as some 1,500 Kurdish citizens who have been detained within the framework of the Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan, KCK, operations can be released. These steps can be taken without holding negotiations or finding interlocutors and in exchange one can expect the cease-fire to be extended indefinitely until talks can be held on more concrete measures, concludes Gonensin.

c) Turkey's EU Bid

In an article in Milliyet, Semih Idiz views the referendum results and the image of Erdogan in the western world as a leader who has taken a step forward in democracy and has brought Turkey closer to the EU. These developments call for expanding Turkish-EU relations in the economic, political, and strategic fields, argues Idiz, drawing attention to the EU dilemma between the increasing importance of Turkey and the fear of Islam and Turkish immigrants.

In his article in Hurriyet, Mehmet Yilmaz views the reasons why support for the EU has diminished and draws attention to the findings of the US think-tank German Marshall Fund (see Review 177/10, B4) adding that the findings are the result of the AKP Government's lack of enthusiasm in the EU bid, a phenomenon which he describes as a shift in axis.

d) ECHR Ruling on Dink Case

Mehmet Ali Birand of Hurriyet Daily News view the European Court of Human Rights, (ECHR), ruling on the Hrant Dink case and stresses the need to reopen the case, to find the real perpetrators of the murder, and to punish them.

e) Turkish stand of human rights violations in Iran/Situation of Iranian refugees in Turkey

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News, Eldar Mamedov criticizes Ankara's stand on Iran's violation of human rights, noting that "Turkey's indifference to human rights violations in Iran stands in sharp contrast to its visceral criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians." A good way to start changing this would be to address the situation of Iranian refugees in Turkey, writes Mamedov, adding that it is not enough for Turkey to simply tolerate the presence of the refugees in its territory and that it has a legal obligation to safeguard their fundamental rights and dignity.

f) Turkish-Greek relations/religious service at Hagia Sofia

Milliyet columnist Asli Aydintasbas comments on the initiative of the Washington-based International Hagia Sofia Coalition to demand to hold a religious service at Hagia Sofia on 17 September and writes that Turkish-Greek relations might be disrupted as a result of these "uninvited" guests. Noting that the presence of Lanny Davis, one of Bill Clinton's lawyers, as one of the founders and lawyers of this organization raises the profile of this initiative.

g) Turkish economy

Under the headline, "Turkey Grows, Rate of Unemployment Falls," Zaman runs a front-page report which says that the Turkish economy grew by 11% in the first half of the year to rank third among world economies and first among G-20 states.

h) Complaint filed against bully

A front-paged report in Vakit asserts that an official complaint has been filed against Chief Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya for "misusing his authority" in issuing a statement following the referendum announcing that they are "determined to protect the rule of law and judicial independence even if the Constitution is changed." The report also accuses Yalcinkaya of "revolting against the national will" in making such remarks. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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