Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-11-01

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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] Gul discusses property issue with Eroglu in Ankara

[02] Eroglu says that he will work for a yes in the referendum

[03] Turkmen: Our priority is opening Tymvou airport to direct flights

[04] Kucuk: We act in full harmony with motherland Turkey

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians condemn Istanbul bomb attack

[06] The castle of Othello in occupied Famagusta is in a bad condition

[07] EOP: minimum wage in the occupied areas should not increase

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Number of injured in Istanbul bomb attack reaches 32

[09] Turkey not partner but owner of NATO, says Davutoglu

[10] Hurriyets Chief columnist resigns amid controversy

[11] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Gul discusses property issue with Eroglu in Ankara

The delegation is expected to travel to Ankara today and return on the same day. Apart from Eroglu and Kucuk, the self-styled minister of internal affairs and local administrations, Ilkay Kamil, the minister of finance, Ersin Tatar, the attorney general, Asklan Ilgen, the presidential adviser, Mustafa Tokay, the special representative of Eroglu, Kudret Ozersay, the adviser on housing Hasan Islamoglu, the undersecretary at the ministry of finance, Ahmet Havuccu, the member of the advisory council, Serden Hoca, the member of the Property Compensation Commission, Romans Mapolar, the councillor at law of the presidency, Sulen Karabacak and the councillor at law of the Property Compensation Commission, Nahide Akyuzlu will participate in the delegation visiting Ankara.

The Turkish State Minister responsible for Cyprus, Cemil Cicek and high ranking bureaucrats of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs are also expected to participate in the meeting.

Kibris reports that the property issue will be discussed during the meeting and that the issue of the areas to be returned to the Greek Cypriots and the compensation of the properties which will remain in the north will also be taken up.

Referring to the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (01.11.10) reports that the meeting in Ankara will determine the next steps both for Turkey and the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus. According to the paper, discussion will focus on the policies to be followed by Eroglu during the three-party meeting with President Christofias and the UN Secretary-General, as well as the issues of property, Varoshia, the opening of the occupied port of Famagusta and the privatization of the illegal Tymvou airport.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu says that he will work for a yes in the referendum

Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Eroglu said that as part of Turkeys historical responsibilities, the Turkish Armed Forces will not withdraw from Cyprus before a just and lasting solution is found to the Cyprus problem.

Describing the Greek Cypriot sides proposals on the property issue as unacceptable, Eroglu said: They think they can impose a formula that will only satisfy the Greek Cypriot sides demands on the property issue. According to the Greek Cypriot proposals, the Turkish Cypriot side will be asked to hand over 98% of the properties in the North, while the Turkish Cypriots will remain as tenants in the remaining 2%. We have not accepted and will not accept these proposals.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to shift the basis of the negotiations process away from the United Nations onto the EU platform, Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side will not fall prey to such games.

The international community should remove the embargoes imposed on the TRNC and should give back our rights in face of the Greek Cypriot intransigence, he concluded.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (30.10.10) reports that Eroglu said in his speech that he will do his share is in order to safeguard an agreement in Cyprus and he will work with heart and soul so that the Turkish Cypriots vote yes in the referendum.

[03] Turkmen: Our priority is opening Tymvou airport to direct flights

Kaya Turkmen added that investments are the priority of the Turkish Aid Committee based in the TRNC and said that he sees a promising future for TRNC tourism. Answering a question regarding the transfer of water and electricity from Turkey, the Turkish Ambassador noted that 75 million cubic meters of water will be piped annually.

[04] Kucuk: We act in full harmony with motherland Turkey

Kucuk added that the government is working hard towards achieving a balanced budget in the TRNC, supporting the private sector and increasing the efficiency of the public sector. He also said that they are in support of an agreement which involves the sovereignty, political equality and security of the Cyprus Turkish people.

[05] Turkish Cypriot politicians condemn Istanbul bomb attack

Daily Haberdar publishes statements by Turkish Cypriot politicians who condemn the attack. Under the title Damn the terror, the paper writes that the self-styled minister of finance, Ersin Tatar said that terror will benefit no one and that Turkey will get over it. The General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Kutlay Erk said that such incidents could not be a way of political thinking. The leader of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas said that the aim of the attack is to demoralize Turkey, but it will not succeed. Huseyin Angolemli, MP with the Social Democracy Party (TDP), stated that this was a saddening incident and added that such incidents should stop. In statements on behalf of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Izzet Ozcan said that a struggle could not be successful through terror. On behalf of the New Cyprus Party (YKP), Murat Kanatli pointed out that problems cannot be solved if the sides ignore each other, or through.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The castle of Othello in occupied Famagusta is in a bad condition

For safety reasons, it is necessary to take immediate measures, he said. Karlitas also said that the castle should be restored and open to visitors. He finally explained that the tourists, especially the British, show strong interest in the history of the castle due to Shakespeares play.

[07] EOP: minimum wage in the occupied areas should not increase

According to the paper, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry (KIBSO), the Turkish Cypriot Businessmens Association (ISAD), the Turkish Cypriot Building Contractors Union (KTBM), the Turkish Cypriot Young Businessmens Association (GIAD), the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers Union (KTOB) and the Turkish Cypriot Employers Trade Union (KTIS) oppose the increase of the minimum wage because of the economic recession.

The Platform also supported that the increase of the minimum wage will further increase unemployment in the occupied areas.

Moreover, the same newspaper reports that the chairman of EL-SEN (trade union of the workers in the electricity authority), Tuluy Kalyoncu, in a written statement announced the establishment in the occupied areas of the Common struggle against the privatization Platform. Kalyoncu said that the decision was taken by the executive board of the trade Union. He also stated that if foreign companies take over control and the supervision of the energy sector, this will mean the abolition of the independence of the country.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Number of injured in Istanbul bomb attack reaches 32

Koksal said at a news conference that 15 police officers and 17 civilians were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police bus in the square. None of the injured is in life-threatening condition.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul in his message from Ankara (A.A, 31.10.2010), condemned the terrorist act and called on all sectors of Turkish society, regardless of their political views, to display a solid stance. He said, "Those who prefer violence over friendship, brotherhood and peace will not be able to reach their goals in face of our people's unity, solidarity and will to live peacefully."

Moreover, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters on Sunday, during a visit to the south-eastern province of Mardin, "I want to reiterate that we will never tolerate those who aim at disturbing Turkey's tranquillity, stability and security. Such attacks will not prevent us from fulfilling our targets of unity and development."

[09] Turkey not partner but owner of NATO, says Davutoglu

Davutoglu then clarified the basic three principles in Ankaras policy toward the NATO missile-defence system. First of all, Turkey is not a country that has to be convinced by NATO. Turkey is not alone; Turkey is at the centre of NATO, he said. While explaining the countrys second principle, the foreign minister said NATO should take into account the principle of indivisible security, meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every member states security.

In explaining the third principle, Davutoglu said Turkey does perceive any threat in its neighbourhood and does not plan to be a frontier country as it was during the Cold War era. Turkey is not in a position to be a frontier country. NATO, while doing threat planning on this issue, should cover all member states and should remain outside any formula that would geographically set one country against another, he said.

Commenting on cooperation between NATO and the EU, Davutoglu said, An accord within NATO is as important as an accord within the EU. He added that Turkey should be involved in the decision-making mechanisms related to EU security studies.

The EU has not signed a security agreement with Turkey. Turkeys accession to the European Defence Agency has not been approved. Turkey is not actively involved in the European security and defence policies and Turkey is the only country in this position compared to other non-EU, but NATO member states, said Davutoglu. The foreign minister made clear that considering the abnormality, it would not be correct to expect Turkey to approve Greek Cyprus involvement in NATO decision-making mechanisms. Our attitude is based on principles and well understood by all parties concerned, Davutoglu said.

[10] Hurriyets Chief columnist resigns amid controversy

Sometimes you live through periods in which mountains are made out of molehills or mountains are seen as molehills, Oktay Eksi wrote Sunday in his farewell column for Hurriyet. Two words that I changed at the end of my article Oct. 28, without calculating how they could be abused, are an example of that. I told the truth as it is, but it was not enough for those who do not want to understand it.

In his Oct. 28 column, Eksi, who is also head of the Press Council, wrote about a draft law that would eliminate protection boards authority to declare specific areas as protected sites. The article dealt with hydroelectric power generation on several rivers around Turkey, and Eksi criticized the government for selling off the countrys assets. The columnist ended his article with a sentence saying, You see the merits of that mentality that even sells its own mothers.

In his column on Saturday, Eksi apologized for his previous article and said it had gone too far. He said while he was checking his column for the last time late Wednesday night, he changed the last sentence from its original version, You see the merits of that mentality that sells everything.

The version of the sentence that drew criticism was in the newspapers late printing, while the original version was in the early printing, Eksi wrote. The two versions of the paper were distributed to different parts of Turkey.

On Saturday, a group of members of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, gathered outside daily Hurriyets building in Istanbul to protest the newspaper and Eksi. Demonstrators carried a banner reading, Heaven is under the feet of mothers.

AKP deputy head Huseyin Celik condemned the columnist in a written statement. We condemn Eksi for his words disturbing and offending the whole AKP community, Celik said, noting that politicians are legally protected against insults.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Eksi should resign from all his posts, the Anatolia news agency reported Sunday. The minister also said he had personally filed a suit against the journalist.

Eksi did not resign from his position at the Press Council, something Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc also said he should do.

Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu said he ordered his lawyers to take whatever measures necessary in regard to Eksis comment.

You can criticize. We can make mistakes and you have the right to criticize those. But we construct such beautiful facilities, Eroglu said. We protect nature and are carrying out the worlds greatest reforesting project. Cant you see that? How can a human be vengeful like that?

[11] Highlights

a) Cyprus

In an article in Sunday's Zaman (31.10.10), Amanda Paul writes that the Cyprus problem, aside from creating problems between the two Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities, has adversely affected both Turkey-Greece and EU-Turkey relations, adding that this issue has also had a negative effect on the EU enlargement process. Viewing the ongoing negotiations and the stands adopted by each side, Paul argues that "all those concerned need to move beyond the blame game and find a common vision for a future united Cyprus."

b) Reception debate/Generals criticized

In his column in Hurriyet (31.10.10), Mehmet Ali Birand says that the decision of the Chief of the General Staff and the four power commanders not to attend the Republic Day reception is a declared disobedience to the president, who is also commander-in-chief. The columnist reminds the generals that there is only one state, one government, and one president elected by the people and the soldiers have to obey the elected officials even if they dislike them. He interprets the generals' behaviour as a sign that the army will continue to oppose AKP's policy on the headscarf issue.

Rusen Cakir in his column in Vatan (31.10.10) considers that by not attending the reception, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu lost a big publicity opportunity and adds that President Gul, who so far has been making positive comments on Kilicdaroglu, might now change position and totally isolate Kilicdaroglu from the state affairs. Cakir says the soldiers boycott is a sign of new civilian-military crisis from which the army will emerge further weakened.

Ahmet Altan, in his column in Taraf (31.10.10) says that the inept generals have become "ridiculous" in the eyes of the public because while disliking the presidential couple they now fear staging a coup and also lack the courage of choosing the only remaining option: resigning their posts. Altan says that the generals will eventually go to the palace like good pashas and submit to civilians, for if they insist on their present behaviour they will lose their jobs.

Cuneyt Arcayurek, in his column in Cumhuriyet (31.10.10) says Gul's wife Hayrunnisa, and by implication the other AKP women, looked like the Islamic version of a Christian nun; in short the AKP women attended the reception "in their true western attires." As an indirect criticism of President Gul who said that the reception reflected the realities of Turkey, Arcayurek says it was only "reactionaries" who were present at the reception as the "real" Turkey is still outside the palace.

In an article in Yeni Safak (31.10.10), Fehmi Koru views the absence of the military from the receptions as disrespect for the Presidency and the Republic and points out that the absence of Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the presence of Devlet Bahceli at the Ankara reception demonstrate the difference between the CHP and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP).

Yeni Safak (31.10.10) columnist Hasan Karakaya maintains that the absence of the commanders from the reception was "an act of subordination." Drawing attention to the fact that some 80% to 90% of the wives and mothers of martyrs are headscarved, the writer reminds the commanders that their salaries are paid by these same headscarved people. Karakaya concludes that the TSK should stop complaining about acts and statements aimed at eroding the army, since it is the TSK itself that is eroding the army.

In an article in Zaman (31.10.10), Mustafa Unal argues that Kilicdaroglu's absence from the reception demonstrates that CHP parliamentary faction leader Muharrem Ince is more effective within the party than Kilicdaroglu.

c) Istanbul bombing

According to a report in Hurriyet (31.10.10), Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan reacted to the bombing saying that those who want to incite chaos and instability and obstruct Turkey's economic progress will not be tolerated.

Another Hurriyet (31.10.10) report based on foreign agency reports says that according to experts on PKK, the bombing may have been carried out by PKK, while a PKK spokesman told CNN International that he had no previous knowledge of the bombing and also recalled that in his recent interview in Radikal daily KCK [Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan], leader Murat Karayilan pledged not to attack civilians.

A report in Vatan (31.01.10) says the timing of the bombing caused suspicion, as it coincided with the end of PKK's non-action.

d) Kurdish issue

Radikal (30.10.10) carries an interview conducted by Ertugrul Mavioglu with PKK's Murat Karayilan in which Karayilan confirms that the Revolutionary Headquarters members received training in Qandil for a few months, and asks that the Peace and Democracy Party act as a mediator between the government and the PKK and Ocalan, just like Sinn Fein.

In his column published in Radikal and Hurriyet (30.10.10), Candar criticizes Minister Cemil Cicek's interpretation of Karayilan's remarks and the former's analogy between the PKK and the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka. Candar says that Karayilan's interview should be interpreted as an attempt to pave the way to a solution other than the military one. He adds that the cease-fire should be extended.

Star (30.10.10) columnist Ergun Babahan welcomes Karayilan's remarks in Radikal that if necessary the PKK could apologize for its actions against innocent people. The state, in turn, should also apologize to innocent Kurds for the human rights violations perpetrated against them, Babahan adds. Pointing out that there is no tradition of apology in Turkey's history, Babahan asserts that "an apology is not only the acknowledgement of past mistakes; it is also an assurance that similar actions will not be undertaken in the future."

e) Missile shield

In an article in Yeni Akit (30.10.10), Ahmet Varol underlines that this project is contrary to the policy of the "zero problem with neighbours" that Turkey has been trying to promote. Its acceptance will shelf Turkey's foreign policy understanding of overcoming problems and developing relations and will demonstrate that it is incapable of formulating a free and independent foreign policy, writes Varol, adding that conceding to the US and NATO demands will only generate new problems for Turkey. Likening the missile shield project to the failed US plan to deploy its troops in Iraq via Turkey, Varol argues that the United States and NATO can do nothing if Turkey rejects this project, adding: "The approval of this project is not a responsibility that Turkey has undertaken within the framework of its NATO membership." Dismissing the view that the missile project is a military measure against perceived threats, Varol argues that with the approval of this project Turkish territory will become a field open to long-term strategic calculations. Expressing his doubts that the United States will refrain from sharing security intelligence with Israel, the writer concludes that the first shield to be deployed in Turkey should be against the Zionist threat.

Writing in Todays Zaman (30.10.10) Abdullah Bozkurt notes that there are strong indications that a deal will be reached between the United States and Turkey in advance of the NATO summit in Lisbon "that will in all likelihood include the removal of express citations of countries posing a threat while emphasizing the defensive nature of the missile shield."

f) Turkey-US and Israel

Senay Yildiz of Aksam (29.10.10) talks to Ross Wilson, Director of Dimu Patricui Eurosia Center at Atlantic Council, and to Mark Dubowitz, Director of Foundation for Defence of Democracies.

Answering a question on the recent Middle East peace talks in Washington, Ross Wilson, a former ambassador to Turkey, comments on Turkey's ties with Israel: "Turkey cannot assume a role in the Middle East peace process until it restores its ties Israel."

Commenting on Turkey's image in the Congress, Mark Dubowitz is quoted as saying: "Turkey lost its supporters in the Congress because of its policy on Iran and Israel. ... If a choice has to be made, the Congress will take side with Israel, not Turkey. If I were the government in Turkey I would be very concerned."

g) Ergenekon case

In his column in Milliyet (30.10.10), Derya Sazak refers to the prosecutor's decision to declare "lack of jurisdiction" regarding the Ozden Ornek Diaries, which constituted "evidence" in alleged coup plans in 2003-2004 that form the essence of the Ergenekon case. Sazak explains that sending the file back to Ankara, Prosecutor Mehmet Ergul stated that "it was not possible to establish a link with the Ergenekon organization." The accusations against retired Generals Eruygur, Yalman, Ozden, and Firtina -- based on the Ornek Diaries -- constitute one of the main foundations of the Ergenekon case, Sazak states, adding that the coup charges against Cumhuriyet writer Mustafa Balbay, who has been in custody for almost two years, are also based on notes linked to the same diaries. If the generals are now excluded from the Ergenekon case, Sazak asks, how was Balbay supposed to conduct a coup without tanks or artillery. Sazak concludes by demanding that the journalists detained in the Ergenekon case be released.

h) The red book

In his column in Hurriyet (31.10.10) Ismet Berkan says that the red book, which every outgoing prime minister hands over to his successor is Turkey's "secret constitution" or as formally known the "National Security Policy Document," has basically two chapters, one on internal threats and another on external threats. Berkan believes such a document should not exist in a democracy, for the citizens of a state cannot be considered a threat to the state and asks the government, if it is genuine in its advocacy of democracy, whether the section of the internal threat has been removed from the present red book.

i) Book on Erdogan

Hurriyet (31.10.10) and Sabah (31.101.10) report on a newly published biography on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan entitled: The Rise of a Leader: Recep Tayyip Erdogan", written by Istanbul Deputy Huseyin Besli and poet Omer Ozbay.

j) Relations with Greece, Russia and Syria

Mehmet Seker in Yeni Safak (30.10.10) details the progress made in relations with Greece, Russia, and Syria in the last few decades and argues that the slogan of "peace at home, peace in the word" and "zero problems with neighbours," which did not make much sense in the past has, at last, been realized. Pointing out that the routine dog fights of Turkish and Greek fighter jets have now been reduced to a minimum, the writer predicts that soon all problems pertaining to the Aegean Sea will be eliminated as a result of the "strategic depth" policy of Foreign Minister Davutoglu. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG

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