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

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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] Kucuk reiterates the allegation that there are two peoples in Cyprus

[02] Ozgurgun comments on Turkeys Progress Report

[03] Italian senators attend reception in Rome by the occupation regime

[04] Turkish Cypriot trade unions to welcome Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cicek with demonstrations

[05] Tourism protocol to be signed between Turkey and the occupation regime

[06] Preliminary agreements on establishment of charter flight consortiums

[07] Young Fighters Association asks for a mosque to be built at occupied Apostolos Andreas Monastery

[08] Dr Suat Atun appointed travelling ambassador

[09] Dervis Besimler new director of YAGA

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Turkey takes the chair of the Council of Europe

[11] Erdogan leaves for South Korea to attend G-20 Summit

[12] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Kucuk reiterates the allegation that there are two peoples in Cyprus

If the Greek Cypriots accept the reality that there are two peoples in Cyprus, that the issue of Cypriotism never existed and that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots live here, they will not be upsetting themselves and at the same time they will be contributing to peace created in Cyprus by the Turkish side and Turkey.

Asked whether the Turkish side would undertake an initiative with the UN for condemning the recent incidents in Larnaka, Kucuk said that what happened was a crime, the perpetrators should be brought before justice and the crime should be punished. He noted that the Turkish side prefers to follow the due process of the law. He said that if the decisions expected are not taken, it will be their duty to undertake the necessary initiatives.

Kucuk claimed that the incidents in Larnaka showed that the conditions for an agreement in Cyprus have not been created yet in the Greek Cypriot people and that the Greek Cypriots have not got rid of their chauvinistic feelings. He noted that this is why the Turkish Cypriot side insists on a solution with two zones and two parts.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Ozgurgun comments on Turkeys Progress Report

Noting that Turkey the motherland always supports and contributes in every way towards a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, Ozgurgun said: The remarks in the Progress Report and Enlargement Strategy Document that Turkey should show more active support, implying that the non-solution on the island is due to the Turkish side, are unacceptable.

Ozgurgun continued: This stance is rather erroneous and biased, while the EU Commission, which claims that it has adopted the principle that the solution on the island should be found by both sides, now sends the message that a comprehensive agreement on the island can be reached only with the active support of Turkey.

Ozgurgun also said that this unjust approach of the EU Commission encourages Christofias leadership to take a harder stance on the Cyprus talks.

[03] Italian senators attend reception in Rome by the occupation regime

The Italian senators Paolo Amato, Marco Perduca and the Italian deputy Maurizio Turco, who have already taken the citizenship of the occupation regime, also attended the reception.

[04] Turkish Cypriot trade unions to welcome Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cicek with demonstrations

As the paper comments, finally, the Turkish Cypriot unions are aware that the correct place to address their complaints is the Turkish authorities, who prepare economic packets for the Turkish Cypriots. Demonstrations outside the so-called parliament or prime ministry should have stopped long ago, the paper writes. Because, it adds, they execute the orders they take (from Turkey). However, that does not mean that the acts of the puppets here (in the occupied areas) will be ignored or that they will not be blamed for them, the paper notes. The co-operators are at least as guilty as they are, it is added.

[05] Tourism protocol to be signed between Turkey and the occupation regime

[06] Preliminary agreements on establishment of charter flight consortiums

The first consortium consists of six UK tour operators and the second of five tourist agencies in the occupied areas.

The tour operators consortium is committed to bring during 2011 30,000 tourists to the occupied area for a 7 day stay. The tourists will be transferred on charter flights. The companies participating are: The Discovery Collection, Anatolian Sky, Direct Traveller, Cyprus Paradise, Cyprus Premier, Metak Holiday and Mozaik Holiday.

The tourist agencies consortium is committed to bring 30,000 tourists to the TRNC for 7 day stay from non EU and EU countries, such as the UK, Italy and Germany.

The biggest advantage of this new arrangement is the separation of passenger transportation from tourist transportation and the offer of antagonistic packages, the paper points out.

(AK)

[07] Young Fighters Association asks for a mosque to be built at occupied Apostolos Andreas Monastery

Moreover, writing in Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (11.11.10), archeologist Tuncer Bagiskan notes that Akcans zeal to present with inconceivable distortions Apostolos Andreas Monastery as something belonging to a Martyr of Islam, is an approach that is not suitable for an academic. Bagiskan wonders whether Akcan does not know that Apostolos Andreas is buried in the city of Patra in Greece. He also poses more questions, noting that the correct answers of these questions will be enough to refute the entire press conference given by Akcan.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Dr Suat Atun appointed travelling ambassador

[09] Dervis Besimler new director of YAGA

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Turkey takes the chair of the Council of Europe

"Turkeys chairmanship will make every effort to put the Council of Europe back on the international scene as an innovative, more flexible and feasible organization so that it can adapt itself to the changing political landscape," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during Wednesdays handover ceremony.

Among Turkeys priorities are: continuing reforms at the council; actively contributing to reforming the European Court of Human Rights to reduce its burden; assisting in a report to the Committee of Ministers next May in Istanbul that will recommend ways to fight growing discrimination, racism and Islamophobia; empowering independent inspection institutions and facilitating an adequate environment for the completion of ongoing negotiations between the EU and the council for the formers decision to join the European Convention on Human Rights, one of the most fundamental documents of the Strasbourg-based council.

During Turkey s chairmanship the most important event will take place in Istanbul on May 11, when the ministers of the council s 47 member countries meet. Another important meeting will take place in 0zmir in April when the European court s reform process will be discussed in detail. Another important meeting will take place in late November, with the participation of justice ministers from member countries.

Turkey last chaired the Council of Europe in 1992.

[11] Erdogan leaves for South Korea to attend G-20 Summit

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Erdogan said that he will attend the G-20 Summit meeting in Seoul on November 11 and 12, and then he will proceed to Bangladesh to pay a formal visit on November 13 and 14. He noted that Turkey, as an emerging economy and developing country, strongly supports G-20, and actively contributes to its efforts.

[12] Highlights

a) Turkey-EU/ Progress Report

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News.com entitled " Turkey and the EU: Time for a new dynamic", Stefan Fule, European commissioner for Enlargement and the European Neighborhood Policy, praises the progress Turkey has made in terms of democracy and human rights, but urges it "to normalize relations with all EU member states it negotiates accession with," adding: "It is now urgent that Turkey fully implements its obligations under the customs union."

In an article in Hurriyet entitled "EU wants to see reconciliation, but from whom?", Sedat Ergin analyzes the EU Progress Report and underscores three major points. He observes: "The EU Progress report presents an overall picture with both positive and negative aspects. The report's tone clearly suggests that the EU is unhappy about the conflict-seeking approach in Turkish domestic politics. The lack of dialogue and consensus is emphasized. Therefore, the EU wants to see the participation of all sides in the efforts to draft a new constitution. This message goes to both the government and the main opposition. ... The EU expects to see the lowering of the election threshold and also emphasizes the need to lift parliamentary immunities when criminal cases are in question."

In an article in Yeni Safak entitled "BRIC+T: Turkey set to surprise the world", columnist Ibrahim Karagul comments on a "clear warning" that President Abdullah Gul issued to the EU when he said in a recent statement to the Financial Times that he hoped Turkey's ongoing economic transformation would enable it to join the BRIC consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Karagul describes Gul's statement as a confirmation of Turkey's "systematic" and "patient" efforts to build its future in line with a "new and radical" trend whereby the world's "peripheral countries have for some time been turning into central players" with implications for the economic and political map of the world. He claims that Turkey will soon become indifferent to the EU's "whims," adding that the international community needs to understand the significance of Turkey's recent joint aerial and ground military exercises with China as well as its economic partnership agreements with new global players.

b) Cyprus/EU

In an article in Milliyet, Sami Kohen underlines the complexities of the property issue in Cyprus: "The Turkish side presented a comprehensive proposal package which includes three main points to resolve property issues for both sides of the island: swap, return, and compensation. ... However, these are very complex matters and need very detailed study. The solution requires a strong political will to go further and to find practical methods."

Semih Idiz in Milliyet comments on former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's article in The Times: "In a very honest piece, Jack Straw tells us that Cyprus has become an issue some EU members use as an excuse against Turkey's EU accession." The writer thinks however that "there is nothing new here" and concludes: "We will probably not see a revival of EU-Turkey relations or a solution to the Cyprus problem unless the EU comes up with concrete proposals that protect Turkish Cypriot interests as well."

Writing in Cumhuriyet about "A wrong equation in Cyprus", Mumtaz Soysal blames the EU "for treating Turkey so unfairly." Soysal asserts: "How come Ankara is still expected to make a gesture on Cyprus? We should realize the facts about the Cyprus issue. Is Cyprus a pretext to linger Turkey's full membership talks or is it really an indispensable aspect of the integration process? ... As hinted by former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, we should divert efforts to a more realistic approach which is the formation of two separate states on a divided island."

c) Missile shield project

In an article in Milli Gazete entitled "Missile defence project: An attempt to bind Turkey hand and foot", columnist Nevzat Laleli draws attention to the "dangers" posed by NATO's demand for permission to install missile defense systems on Turkish soil in line with the alliance's new "Strategic Concept." He claims that NATO's request is the result of an arrangement whereby the ruling AKP and Prime Minister Erdogan agreed some time ago to establish "strategic partnership" with the United States and NATO in the Middle East. He proceeds to claim that the missile defence project is a US bid to place a number of "allies" under NATO control once again. He also highlights a statement by Felicity Party, (SP), leader Necmettin Erbakan warning that the missile defence programme is part of "a Christian crusade intended to divide the Islamic world and establish a Greater Israel."

d) Neo-Ottomanism

In an article in Yeni Safak entitled "The issue of Neo-Ottomanism", columnist Hakan Albayrak criticizes intellectuals and politicians "including even People's Voice Party, (HAS), leader Numan Kurtulmus," for describing Turkey's "regional integration" project that has taken the form of "strategic cooperation," "solidarity," and "partnership" with countries like Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon, as the result of a "Neo-Ottoman" policy that reflects "imperialist" Western expectations from Turkey. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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