Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-11-17

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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] Eroglu does not think that a decision will be taken during the meeting with Ban Ki-moon tomorrow

[02] Turkish columnists do not believe that a solution in Cyprus will be found soon

[03] Soyer criticizes those who have not reacted against the demand for recognition of the breakaway regime during the celebrations

[04] Reactions of political parties to Cicek's statements

[05] TGNA speaker's message to Eroglu

[06] Receptions held to celebrate the UDI of the breakaway regime

[07] Italian Senator took the occupation regime's "passport"

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu does not think that a decision will be taken during the meeting with Ban Ki-moon tomorrow

In a statement prior to the departure, Eroglu said that he will make a detailed statement after his return, adding that they made the appropriate preparations for UN Secretary-General's invitation.

Noting that the proposals put on the negotiation table as well as the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots views will be discussed in depth in the meeting in New York, Eroglu said: "I don't believe that a decision will be taken. However, the Secretary-General will have the opportunity to prepare his report within the framework of the information that he will acquire".

Eroglu also said that they found out that the report which the UN Secretary-General will be submit to the Security Council will be prepared on the 23rd of November. He added that the meeting is very important for the report and for the briefing by Alexander Downer, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, to the UN Security Council.

Responding to the question whether the UN will withdraw from the ongoing negotiation process in case it realizes at the meeting that no essential progress was noted, Eroglu said that it is not right to make any comment on this prior to the meeting, adding that he does not think that the UN Secretary-General called them for this reason.

Noting that he does not know what the UN Secretary-General's thought is about the future of the negotiations, Eroglu said: "If he has such a thought, I don't think that he will announce it on the meeting of 18. He called us for the meeting in order to be briefed objectively for the preparation of his report; because there is a deadlock. He will try to understand the thoughts of both sides in order for the deadlock to be overcome."

[02] Turkish columnists do not believe that a solution in Cyprus will be found soon

Oktay Eksi, Hurriyet newspaper's former editor-in-chief, stated he is not optimistic that a solution will be reached in the negotiations and added: "The aim of the Greek Cypriots is to administrate Cyprus by themselves. As for the Turks, their aim is to achieve the recognition of their own independent state".

Refik Erduran, columnists in Sabah newspaper, said that the "TRNC" has always been politically dependent on Turkey and never had the opportunity to follow its own course. He argued that this situation is not in favor of Turkey and that it should end.

Hikmet Cetinkaya, columnist in Cumhuriyet newspaper, said he does not believe that a solution will be found soon in Cyprus and therefore the "TRNC" should be developed economically. He expressed the view that the entrances in the occupied part of Cyprus should be taken under control and "those who have only five Turkish liras in their pocket should be prevented from entering".

Sami Kohen, columnist in Milliyet, said that we always talk about a "new stage in the Cyprus problem" and noted that there has been no progress on any issue in the negotiating process in Cyprus. Kohen said that the views and the interests of the sides do not coincide. Referring to the meeting to be held tomorrow in New York, Kohen noted that the international community agreed on the continuation of the negotiations.

Kohen said that the property is one of the most important chapters at the negotiating table and added: "The property is a very complicated problem. The views do not coincide very much. The general climate is very different from Ankara. Turkey is in favor of the sharing of this responsibility".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Soyer criticizes those who have not reacted against the demand for recognition of the breakaway regime during the celebrations

Soyer noted that the above-mentioned placard said: "Neither the Direct Trade Regulation, nor the Plan A or Plan B or the Taiwan Model; Only recognition of the TRNC". He argued that this slogan was in contrary to the official Turkish policy followed by Turkey and the "TRNC". He wondered whether it is possible to consider as normal such slogans which ask for the recognition of the "TRNC" and on the other hand to strongly react against the members of the trade unions who protested against Cicek.

Soyer described as "unacceptable" the statements by Cemil Cicek regarding the members of the trade unions who protested against him at the illegal Tymvou airport. Referring to Cicek's speech during the celebrations at Dr. Fazil Kucuk Boulevard and especially to the part saying that the economic package providing for privatizations should be implemented in spite of the reactions, Soyer noted that the proposal of not taking into consideration the people or some parts of the people does not show a democratic mentality and added that nothing could be done against the will of the people.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Reactions of political parties to Cicek's statements

The general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), Mutlu Atasayan said the fact that the trade unions accused Turkey was wrong, but "Cicek's statement was also not nice".

The leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), Mehmet Cakici noted that as long as Turkey's meddling goes on the reactions will continue.

The chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas reminded of year 2003 and said: "The AKP was acting together with these people during the Annan Plan process. Then these people were not Greeks. Have they become Greeks now?"

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Industry issued a written statement and strongly criticized the members of the trade unions who protested against Cicek. Addressing to the trade unions, the chamber said: "Come to your senses. The trade unionist mentality of taking more money by working less should be abandoned at last".

Finally, Rauf Denktas, former Turkish Cypriot leader, expressed his sorrow about the protest alleging that the aim of the protesters was to harm the relations between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. He alleged that all these help "Christofias who wants to kick the Turkish Cypriot people out of the island".

(I/Ts.)

[05] TGNA speaker's message to Eroglu

[06] Receptions held to celebrate the UDI of the breakaway regime

Similar reception was given in Washington by Hilmi Akil, in Beacon Hotel. Among the attendees was Turkey's ambassador in the US, Namik Tan.

Moreover the so-called TRNC representative in Baku, Zeki Gazioglu and his wife hosted a reception. The reception attended the Turkish Armed Forces Baku attach? Brigadier Ozhan Ayas, Azerbaijani MP Ganire Pasayeva, Musavat Party's chairman Isa Kamber, and other Azerbaijani officials.

Finally, a reception was held in Brussels in Conrad Hotel by the Ahmet Erdengiz, the so-called Brussels representative. Among the invitees attending were the Turkish Ambassador in Brussels Murat Ersavci and Turkey's permanent representative in the EU, Ambassador Selim Kuneralp. Erdengiz, speaking in the reception, stated: "Our will to solve the Cyprus problem continues but there are basic values and priorities which can not be put aside. We want to take our place among the international community in an honourable way."

[07] Italian Senator took the occupation regime's "passport"

Speaking during a press conference, self-styled foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun expressed his satisfaction for the fact that he presented Paolo Amato with the "identity card" and "passport" of the occupation regime.

Reminding of the fact that Paolo Amato has already taken the "citizenship" of the occupation regime the previous year after a decision by the "council of ministers", Huseyin Ozgurgun said that Paolo Amato has given the message to the world and Italy that "he will struggle for the rights of Turkish Cypriots".

In his turn, Paolo Amato said that he feels honored by taking the "TRNC citizenship" and added the following: "I will always work to be worthy of this honor".

In his statements, Paolo Amato, inter alia, said that as Italian and Turkish Cypriot "citizen" he will exert efforts to support with determination the values and rights of "TRNC" and that he will point out the Cyprus problem to Italy and the EU.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Highlights

a) NATO Missile Shield Project

According to a report by Guven Ozalp in Milliyet, NATO spokesperson James Appathurai in a statement to the daily is reported to have said that the control of the command mechanism of the NATO missile shield project will be in the hands of NATO. In reaction to Prime Minister Erdogan's remarks that the control of the system deployed within Turkish territory should be in the hands of Turkey, the spokesperson is reported to have drawn attention to NATO's joint decision process, underlining that authority on the issue cannot be transferred to a single country

Viewing Turkey's hesitant approach to the NATO missile shield project because of the close relations it has developed with Russia and Iran in an article in Milliyet, Derya Sazak writes that all the countries which Turkey viewed as enemies in the name of "Western defence" in the past are now members of the EU while Turkey has remained outside this Union whose security it safeguarded for the last 30 years. Noting that countries such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands are trying to bloc Turkey's accession to the EU under the pretext of a "shift in axis," Sazak questions whether keeping Turkey within the "European alliance" is not in the interests of the West if this shift of axis is real. In conclusion, the writer asks: "If we cannot be a member of the EU what will we do with the 'missile shield?' Why would we defend Europe?"

Daniel Fata, the US deputy assistant secretary of defence who is described as the architect of the missile shield system, in an interview he granted to Milliyet's Ilhan Tanir says that Turkey is the ideal territory for the system. In his interview, Fata explains the goals of the system, the reasons why Turkey is viewed as the ideal location, how Turkish-Iranian relations might be affected from this system, what will happen if Turkey rejects to deploy the system within its territories, the insincerity of claims that the shield is aimed at defending Israel, and the technical capabilities of the system.

b) Kilicdaroglu's Participation in Socialist International

Describing the participation of CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the Socialist International meetings held in Paris as an intense effort to once again place the party in the world leftist map, Milliyet columnist Asli Aydintasbas writes: "He is aware that the support the AKP [Justice and Development Party] received from the West and especially from the European left during the first term increased its legitimacy within the country. One can say that he is determined to disrupt the romance between the AKP government and the European left." In her article, the writer also relates a conversation she held with Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of the Peace and Democracy Party, BDP, who also attended the Socialist International meetings. According to Aydintasbas, Demirtas has expressed the wish for a leftist election alliance with the participation of his party in a bid to establish a strong leftist bloc against the AKP.

An editorial in Hurriyet Daily News believes that the presence of the CHP leader Kilicdaroglu at the meetings of the Socialist International in Paris will provide oxygen to Turkish political life. Viewing his symbolic visit to the graves of two Turkish exiles of Kurdish origin in Paris, the editorial speculates on whether this will lead to a transformation within the party and on how this transformation will reflect on its policies.

c) Daglica Attack/Kurdish Issue

In an article entitled "It's Confidence-Building Time for Kurds", Today's Zaman columnist Lale Kemal expresses support for a suggestion by Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk that the Government create "an atmosphere of confidence for the Kurds" by establishing a parliamentary truth commission to investigate past "nasty events" in the fight against the PKK.

In an article in Vatan, Rusen Cakir views the reasons why the remarks made by Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir to the effect that "the era of an armed struggle has come to an end" has so angered Abdullah Ocalan. Noting that Ocalan's reaction to Baydemir shows the insincerity of Ocalan and the movement he is the leader of regarding an armed struggle, Cakir declares: "No doubt, Ocalan is well aware that the PKK can neither defeat the state nor can it convince the Turkish public on the issue of 'peace' through the use of arms." Since armed struggle is what they know best they want to keep it as a tool for blackmail, argues Cakir, adding: "Another reason why Ocalan has so tightly embraced weapons is the diminished interest of the West in the Kurdish issue and the diminished support of Western countries and their NGO's in the Kurdish political movement."

The Kilicdaroglu-Talabani meeting in Paris should be viewed as the expression of Iraqi President Talabani's discomfort with Ankara, writes Cengiz Candar in an article in Radikal, describing the "surprise meeting" as one of the most striking political developments in recent times. What makes this meeting interesting is Talabani's recent reelection to the presidency which is perceived as a "political victory" against the United States, asserts Candar, adding that Turkey which was also against Talabani has lessons to learn from his reelection. Given the background of the recent developments in Iraq, Talabani's meeting with Kilicdaroglu and the invitation he extended to the CHP leader to visit Iraq is a clear manifestation of the Iraqi president's unease regarding Ankara, argues Candar, drawing attention to the changing approach of the CHP toward the Kurdish issue even if it has still not shown the necessary political courage on the solution of the problem. The Kilicdaroglu-Talabani meeting should be assessed from the viewpoint of the CHP leader's contribution to the efforts being exerted toward the solution of the Kurdish problem, concludes Candar.

d) Turkish Armed Forces

Under the headline "Spy Ear," Yeni Safak publishes a front-page report which asserts that a "blackmail and espionage ring" that has stolen "dozens of secret military projects" attempted to thwart a project called MILSEC-3 aimed at preventing the conversations of members of the law enforcement community from being intercepted. The espionage network infiltrated the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council, TUBITAK, some time ago in a bid to "market" its own encrypted devices so as to be able to monitor police chiefs' private conversations, the report says.

In an article entitled "Changing Times - Changing Armed Forces?", Today's Zaman columnist Suat Kiniklioglu defines "the fundamental challenge facing us today" as "the need to rewrite the ethos of our armed forces" in light of such questions as "what is the essence of its existence? Who is it tasked to deter and fight? What sort of role should it have in the normal democracy we all aspire to? How can it come to terms with its recent past and how can it look forward and become the respectable institution it once was?"

e) Directorate of Religious Affairs

In an article entitled "An International Role for the Directorate of Religious Affairs?" Yeni Safak columnist Akif Emre comments on an "interesting" remark that Mehmet Gormez, the new head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, DIB, made in disclosing the DIB's "new vision," namely that he would abide by the principle of serving all the oppressed nations and Muslim minorities in the world. Emre asks whether the "transnational" mission that Gormez defined for the DIB in issuing this message suggests that the DIB is preparing to assume a role similar to that of the defunct Caliphate. He goes on to link the "Kurdish issue" to the discontinuation of the Caliphate following the demise of the Ottoman Empire, asserting that Kurdish insurgencies began after the abolition of the Caliphate because the decision to end the Caliphate was perceived as the termination of a partnership between Turks and Kurds. He also claims that the DIB would have to risk engaging in a political debate not consistent with its current bureaucratic structure if it wanted to help solve the Kurdish problem by adopting a unifying mission similar to that of the Caliphate "even at the level of rhetoric."

In an article entitled "The Politics of the DIB", Yeni Akit columnist Asim Yenihaber describes the DIB as the result of a bid by the founders of the Republic to keep religion under control rather than banning it altogether. In the first instalment of this article published in yesterday's edition of Yeni Akit, Yenihaber asserted that the DIB should undergo a transformation paralleling an expected change in the basic premises of the Republican regime and asked "whether the bureaucratic structure of the DIB is ready for such a change." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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