Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-10-19

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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] Statements by Eroglu after the Cyprus talks meeting

[02] Toros military exercise cancelled

[03] The Embassy of Turkey in the occupied areas announces: use of DIs continues

[04] TMT alleges that it is not possible to talk about a solution to the Cyprus problem

[05] Debate on the casinos in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[06] Bankruptcy and foreclosure

[07] TRNC universities welcome 8,240 new students

[08] Excavations at occupied Salamina reveal statue of Hades

[09] KITSAB to be represented at the 44th General Assembly of UFTAA

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Bagis says Turkey expects fair EU talks process

[11] Turkey and Gulf Council call on international arena to lift embargoes on Turkish Cypriots

[12] Davutoglu discusses the Cyprus problem with Kuwaiti counterpart

[13] Turkish Minister expects US support in the Cyprus settlement

[14] Medvedev describes Turkish-Russian relations as strategic

[15] Trial of KCK members begins

[16] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Statements by Eroglu after the Cyprus talks meeting

Noting that the people in the area are satisfied with the opening of the crossing-point, Eroglu said that many people have already used it. We proposed the opening of other crossing points, which was welcomed by Christofias, he said.

Erolgu also told the press that the work of their representatives over the property issue was evaluated and that they dwelled on possible convergences over proposals put forward by the two sides. He added that the two representatives will meet on Wednesday and the leaders will meet on 1 November.

On the same issue, according to Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.10.10), Eroglu also said: We are still determined not to debate anything but the property issue, and our envoys and the technical teams are working on aspects of this issue including exchange, compensation, return of property and property commission.

[02] Toros military exercise cancelled

The self-styled presidential spokesman Osman Ertug said that this year's manoeuvres had been cancelled following consultations with mainland Turkey, the guarantor power of Cyprus. The report added that Toros military exercise is performed every year jointly by Turkish Peace Force in Cyprus and TRNC Security Forces Command.

Moreover, Ertug expressed sorrow over remarks by Costas Papacostas, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, who said Greek Cypriots will continue to arm the military. Ertug described Papacostas' remark as an act against the spirit of compromise sought through negotiations.

[03] The Embassy of Turkey in the occupied areas announces: use of IDs continues

The written statement adds that this decision is indicative of the close relationship and solidarity between Turkey and the TRNC, enabling citizens to travel on mutual terms, in order to cover their financial needs.

It is also underlined that Turkish Cypriots, who face different restrictions internationally, can use their identity cards in Turkey only, while the citizens of a lot of EU countries can enter Turkey with their identity cards.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (19.10.10) reports on the same issue in its front page with the banner headline Did they pull the ambassadors ear?. The paper reports on past statements of the so called Ambassador of Turkey in the occupied areas, Kaya Turkmen, that he is not opposed to the use of passports to enter the country. The paper adds that this statement inspired prime minister Irsen Kucuk who stated that the issue of entering the country with passports might be brought up again. Afrika writes that it is possible that somebody has pulled the ears of both of them

(AK)

[04] TMT alleges that it is not possible to talk about a solution to the Cyprus problem

Bora said that the TRNC government should never stop the procedures to grant citizenship (to settlers from Turkey). He noted that the Greek Cypriots see the opening of Limnitis barricade as another hole in the wall and added that it is not possible for the Greek Cypriots to succeed in their goal for a united Cyprus as long as the TRNC exists.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Debate on the casinos in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Addressing the assembly, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), argued that the casinos secured a significant financial support to the National Unity Party (UBP) before the elections. He said that Turkish Cypriots enter the casinos in spite of the prohibitions and criticized the competent state institutions for this. Soyer expressed the view that the casinos have a negative influence in the occupied part of Cyprus. Soyer criticized the process of leasing Saray Hotel noting that this means that the casino operators are those who administer the country, not the government.

Speaking at the same session, Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party (DP), said that the tourism in occupied areas of Cyprus does not benefit from the casinos and added that only 1% of the employees in the casinos are TRNC citizens, while according to the law this percentage should be 70%. He noted that his party does not oppose entry of TRNC citizens in the casinos, under some conditions.

Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that according to surveys carried out two years ago, 29% of the citizens face problems because of gambling. He noted that there are more gamblers in the bet offices than in the casinos. He said that the number of the casinos in the occupied areas of Cyprus doubled and tripled after they were prohibited in Turkey.

Kadri Fellahoglu, MP with the CTP, said that approximately 23 casinos exist in the occupied areas of Cyprus pointing out that this number is excessive for this country.

Omer Kalyoncu, MP with the CTP, said that the police have the very serious duty of implementing the law and wondered whether it is possible to talk about functioning of the law in a place where police officers amuse themselves together with the night club owners, or tax collectors eat together with the casinos owners.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Bankruptcy and foreclosure

[07] TRNC universities welcome 8,240 new students

[08] Excavations at occupied Salamina reveal statue of Hades

Professor Dr. Coskun Ozgunel, from AU Language, History and Geography School, speaking in an Ankara Anatolia correspondent said that this year excavations were extended to the north and west of the Roman Bath in order to unearth the west lines of the room which must have been the Frigidarium. As a result of the excavations on the west wall, niches were found where possibly there were sculptures. Further excavation revealed the statues of a man and a woman, which are believed to be Hades and his wife Persefoni.

[09] KITSAB to be represented at the 44th General Assembly of UFTAA

Ahmet Necati Ozcan has stated that this years General Assembly of UFTAA is very important not only for UFTAA but also from the point of view of the KITSABs membership. Ozcan expressed the belief that they will become members of UFTAA in the near future.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Bagis says Turkey expects fair EU talks process

Bagis said Turkey is expecting a fair membership negotiation process, a joint fight against terrorism, an exemption from visa requirements, a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus issue and the right to be represented at EU summits.

Bagis said he conveyed these expectations to his interlocutors in EU member states and added: The moment Turkish citizens feel least like Europeans is when they are waiting in a visa queue.

Noting that Turkey supported a settlement in Cyprus, Bagis said that the EU should also show the Greek Cypriot administration that its support was not eternal and unconditional.

The minister, who defined EU membership as a modernization project based on a win-win principle, said Turkey has adopted a new four-stage EU strategy, listing the stages as preparing an action plan on the steps to be taken for 19 chapters, adjusting Turkey's regulations in line with EU acquis till the end of 2013, giving priority to political reforms, and increasing communication.

Bagis said Turkey had recently been focused on the competition EU accession chapter and would soon deal with the energy, education and culture chapters. He also said he believed Turkey would become a full EU member sooner than later.

[11] Turkey and Gulf Council call on international arena to lift embargoes on Turkish Cypriots

The action plan covers 2011 and 2012 and envisages cooperation in trade, investments, agriculture, food safety, transportation, energy, culture, health, tourism, education and environment.

In a joint declaration, foreign ministers expressed their determination to conclude a free trade agreement as soon as possible. The ministers underlined the importance of preservation of Iraq's independence, unity and territorial integrity, and expressed their hope that a national compromise government would be set up in that country.

In the declaration, the ministers said the Israeli government was responsible for a suspension in direct negotiations regarding Palestine, and a peace in the Middle East could be possible if Israel totally withdrew from the Arab territories it had occupied. They also called on Israel to urgently end its policies to demolish Palestinians' houses, construct walls and force the Palestinians to leave their homes.

The foreign ministers expressed their desire that the Middle East would be deprived of nuclear weapons, and welcomed international efforts aiming to find a diplomatic and peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear file.

In their declaration, the ministers called on the international community to lift embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots.

The foreign ministers also condemned PKK violence and extended full support to Turkey's fight against PKK. Foreign ministers of Turkey and GCC member states will hold their next meeting in Ankara in May 2011.

[12] Davutoglu discusses the Cyprus problem with Kuwaiti counterpart

Turkey-Kuwait bilateral relations, economic cooperation between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council were high on the agenda of the talks. Global developments, including the Middle East peace process and Afghanistan, were also discussed.

Davutoglu also informed Kuwaiti authorities on recent developments in Turkey's European Union membership process, and the Cyprus issue. Davutoglu invited the Crown Prince of Kuwait to Turkey.

[13] Turkish Minister expects US support in the Cyprus settlement

Referring to the first ministerial meeting of Turkey-U.S. Economic and Commercial Strategic Cooperation Frame which will take place on October 19, Caglayan said this would be the first and a very big start in the cooperation of the two countries in areas of economy and trade.

Caglayan said commercial relations between Turkey and the United States should be reviewed, adding, Total trade of Turkey had amounted to 36 billion USD in 2002. In 2008 Turkey quadrupled this figure and total trade amounted to 132 billion USD. More than 50% of Turkey's exports are made to EU member countries and 92% of this is industry products.

Caglayan said U.S. companies had 6.5 billion USD investments in Turkey, Turkey is a serious centre of attraction for the U.S. companies. Turkey is a country which may make 110-120 billion USD investment in energy area in the next 10 years.

Minister Caglayan said Turkey improved its relations with neighbouring countries through strategic cooperation and endeavoured to make limitless trade with its neighbours as well as its zero problem policy.

Turkey expected support of the United States in the solution of the problem in Cyprus. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians are living in Turkey. Turkey has no problem with its Jewish friends, he said.

Commenting on discussions regarding shift of axis in Turkey's foreign policy, Caglayan said, not Turkey's but the world's axis has shifted. The share of G-7 countries in world economy has dropped whereas the share of developing countries increased. This clearly shows that axis of the world has shifted. Turkey targets to boost trade with every country of the world and enlarges its axis and orbit.

[14] Medvedev describes Turkish-Russian relations as strategic

I am confident that our joint operations in large projects, such as construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Stream natural gas pipeline, will broaden our horizons in cooperation, Medvedev said. He also said energy projects to be carried out with Turkey would strengthen Europe's energy security.

[15] Trial of KCK members begins

The trial of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban extension of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), began on Monday in Diyarbak1r with many local and foreign observers closely following the trial.

The 151 suspects, including 12 mayors and some politicians, are accused of wide-ranging crimes such as membership in an illegal armed group, spreading propaganda for an illegal group, threatening Turkey's territorial integrity and violating laws on public demonstrations, according to a 7,500-page indictment. A total of 103 of the suspects are under arrest; however, some of them, including Diyarbak1r Mayor Osman Baydemir, were not required to remain in police custody although they participated in the first hearing.

The primary suspect in the case is Sabri Ok, the PKK s European representative. Ok is accused of leading the KCK and is a person with extensive connections. Security experts say he is responsible for the close ties between the KCK and the Ergenekon terrorist organization, a clandestine gang that had planned to overthrow the government. Amidst internal conflict in Ergenekon, it has maintained direct communication with the KCK regarding attacks -- and this is mentioned in the case indictments for both the Ergenekon and KCK cases.

Jailed leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan is the KCKs honorary leader, while PKK member Zubeyir Aydar heads the groups legislative arm, and Ocalan s right-hand man Murat Karay1lan leads the executive branch. Some of the group s cabinet members within the executive arm who are in Kandil are also top PKK leaders.

Since April 2009, security forces have arrested more than 1,500 people, including pro-Kurdish politicians, claiming that they are members of the KCK. The government claims the KCK suppresses the freedoms and rights of Kurds by using methods that range from intimidation to violence. However, pro-Kurdish circles argue that there are political motives behind the KCKs activities and that they are intended to pressure pro-Kurdish politicians.

The KCK was established in 2005 upon the orders of Öcalan. It has since been learned that the organizations goal was to bring the Kurds of Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq together as part of greater Kurdistan. Despite the groups claim in recent years that they have no intentions of establishing an independent Kurdish state, it has become clear that Peace and Democracy (BDP) members who are part of the KCK would indeed like to create such a state. Information in the indictment suggests that the KCK is not the civil society arm of the PKK, but rather an umbrella political organization that includes the PKK.

Unlike the PKK, which committed acts of terrorism first in rural areas and then in cities, the KCK has a well-organized structure that oversees activities in several areas. The KCK has developed its own legislature and executive and judiciary arms in which the PKKs role is to conduct armed manoeuvres.

The suspects are expected to stand trial in rotation. Because of this, the trial may run for several days. The Diyarbak1r 6th High Criminal Court will not hear any other cases until Nov. 12. The suspects, apart from some politicians, include PKK operatives, 28 managers of the now-defunct DTP, 12 mayors, including Diyarbak1r Mayor Baydemir, two provincial council heads and two municipal council members. The suspects demand for their release was rejected by the court. The trial is expected to continue today.

[16] Highlights

a) Missile Defence Issue/ Turkish-US Relations

Milliyet's Kadri Gursel notes growing difference of opinion between Turkey and NATO regarding the "perception of threat and solutions". Gursel argues that while the West sees Iran's nuclear programme as the number one threat to global security, "Turkey is aware that a nuclear Iran will turn regional balances upside down against Turkey but acts as if there is no such threat in order to maintain its developing economic and political ties with its neighbour in the east." Gursel concludes: "We must launch an open and sincere discussion on whether Turkey needs NATO, and while doing that, we can also clarify what our identity and direction is."

Writing in Vatan, Cengiz Aktar maintains that the issues for Turkey are whether it will vote in favour of NATO's missile defence system at the Lisbon summit and whether it will accept "hosting" the project on its soil. Aktar adds that "since NATO decisions are reached by consensus", Turkey cannot reject the establishment of the system, but it can reject its deployment in Turkish territories. He concludes: "This is a critical decision which has the potential to isolate Turkey within NATO."

In his Sabah column, Omer Taspinar maintains that Turkey and the United States "no longer share the definition and perception of a 'common threat' as in the cold war era". Due to this lack of common thread, Ankara and Washington will face serious problems in the future when they try to implement a 'joint defence strategy', Taspinar concludes.

In an article in Zaman entitled "For whom the Cauldron Seethes", Washington correspondent Ali H. Aslan asserts that tension is building up between the United States and Turkey over Ankara's unwillingness to be part of the proposed missile defence system against Iran. He claims that Turkey, once a "predictable" member of NATO in defence issues, has emerged as "one the toughest nuts to crack in the Transatlantic alliance" in the post-cold war period. He argues that Ankara's "bargaining ability" is enhanced by the need for NATO decisions to be unanimous and the increased necessity of popular backing for defence resolutions in Turkey, as a result of democratic and economic improvements in the country in recent times. Aslan underlines the "troubles and confusion created by all this in Washington owing to insufficient US adaptation to the new Turkey phenomenon." He also predicts heated debates over this issue at NATO's Lisbon summit in November.

b) Turkish-EU Relations

In his article in Milliyet, Semih Idiz refers to recent visits of European officials, including French foreign minister, to Ankara and opines that European politicians are concerned with the signals that come from Ankara indicating that Turkey does not necessarily have to remain in the western axis. European politicians, who realize that Turkey's economic and strategic importance within the global equation increases, seek to answer the question: "How can we keep Turkey in the western axis (or more correctly 'service') without making it an EU member?" The opposition to Turkey's EU membership is growing among the European public opinion because of the economic crisis and Turkey's gradually increasing Islamic image, adds Idiz, questioning how Europe can pull Turkey back to its side. Citing a European Council report which suggests that the EU, Russia and Turkey come together in a "trialogue" to build a new European security architecture, Idiz concludes: "It appears that the unexpected growth of the Turkish economy and Turkey's increasing global political influence have spoiled EU's long-term calculations." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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