Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-11-18

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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] Bagis calls on the leaders to reach an agreement in New York, reiterating that Turkey is ready both for agreement and for tension

[02] Kucuk says no hopes from New York

[03] Turkish Cypriot politicians comment on the meeting in New York

[04] Turkish Cypriots living in London do not see a solution soon

[05] Columnist in Havadis says it is time for the Turkish Cypriots to file lawsuits against Turkey at the ECHR

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[06] Bagis says Ireland could be a source of inspiration in the solution of the problems in Cyprus

[07] Gul to lead Turkey's delegation for the NATO summit

[08] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Bagis calls on the leaders to reach an agreement in New York, reiterating that Turkey is ready both for agreement and for tension

In statements to Eylem Eraydin, Kibris newspaper's correspondent in Dublin, Bagis argued that the meeting in New York "should be evaluated as a historic opportunity" and addressing to the two leaders said: "A Cyprus, which is united on the basis on political equality, without problems and has stability, will be the most strategic island of the world. Do not lose the opportunity to leave your mark on history".

Bagis noted that both sides need to make sacrifices so that a comprehensive solution is reached and alleged that the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side did everything it could for this and that now is Greek Cypriot side's turn to "assume responsibility".

Bagis criticized once more President Christofias' statement that he was not going to New York for making concessions and alleged that this is clearly showing the negative stance of the Greek Cypriot side towards the solution.

Bagis reiterated that Turkey is ready "both for the biggest agreement and the biggest tension" and added: "We want solution and peace, but Turkey is a big country. And we are ready for every alternative".

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (18.11.10) reports, Egemen Bagis, Turkey's State Minister and Chief Negotiator with the European Union, met yesterday with the European Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement of the EU, Stefan Fule. After the two-hour meeting, Bagis departed for Dublin, where he will meet with the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Martin and the Minister Responsible for European Affairs, Dick Roche.

[02] Kucuk says no hopes from New York

Noting that both sides should have the same good will at the meeting, Kucuk said that the Greek Cypriot political parties have not expressed full support to Christofias before New York.

Kucuk said: "If you are sending your negotiator to a meeting under conditions and if you don't feel confidence, change your negotiator, if you feel confidence do not put conditions prior to the meeting. It means that still there is no will for solution; there is no will for agreement. Because of this, it does not seem possible to obtain a positive result from New York."

[03] Turkish Cypriot politicians comment on the meeting in New York

Tahsin Ertugruloglu, who received 3.8% of the votes, said that if he was participating in the New York summit, he would support the position of two separate states, that the agreement should be primary law of the EU and that Turkey's guarantees should continue.

Arif Salih Kirdag, who received 0.4% of the votes, said that if he was in the NY meeting, he would propose a "solution of 3 zones". In the one zone he said, only Turkish Cypriots should live and in the other only Greek Cypriots. In the third zone both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should live together, he argued.

Mustafa Kemal Tumkan, who received 0.8% of the votes, said that if he was the "president" he would not have gone to New York, because there is not union among the Turkish Cypriots. He also wondered who Eroglu will represent in New York, adding that Eroglu will not represent the policy of the Turkish Cypriots, but the foreign policy of Turkey. He concluded by saying that Eroglu will just follow instructions from Turkey.

Finally, Ayhan Kaymak, who received 0.13% of the votes, said that if he saw a will from both sides, he would try; otherwise he would end this effort. He added that every side wants a settlement for its own interests by ignoring the interests of the other side.

[04] Turkish Cypriots living in London do not see a solution soon

Dr Sirri stated that the congress' principal aim was to improve lobbying activities, to gather the organisations under a single roof and to ensure unity and cooperation. Sirri, inter alia, noted that in the end, a solution will be found but for the time being, he does not believe that there will be a solution very soon. As he said, pain exists in both sides and this pain is still fresh. He added: "Both sides should not forget the past, but they should be able to forgive each other. The ceremonies which take place in the Turkish and the Greek sides are an obstacle to the solution. In every remembrance ceremony, the sides repeat the hatred that exists between them. Cyprus is an island. It is difficult to divide an island. In every issue, both sides need each other."

Describing property as a difficult issue in the negotiations, Sirri said: "A law exists in the world. The one that holds the title deed owns the property. There are a lot of people all over the world that hold properties given to them by their ancestors despite the passing of the years. This right is the most natural right."

On his part, Ezel also said that there will be a solution on the island but for the time this is very difficult. He said: "When the Greek Cypriot side does not see us as second class citizens and when it accepts our equality, then a solution will come nearer in a more concrete way."

[05] Columnist in Havadis says it is time for the Turkish Cypriots to file lawsuits against Turkey at the ECHR

Under the title "The time of ECHR came for the Turkish Cypriots", Ozbalikci refers to the policy followed by Turkey in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. He says that Turkey closed the Turkish Cypriots in an "open sheep farm" and exploits them according to its interests. He notes that it created a "monstrous economy" with its plans, directives and incentives. He adds that Ankara permitted the looting of the Greek Cypriot properties from which some people made a fortune and that it gave the villages, the towns, the areas of tourism and the factories to its own people whom he brought from Turkey.

He goes on and says, inter alia, the following:

"?The economy of Northern Cyprus will bottom out very soon with the economic package implemented by Turkey?The swamp created in Northern Cyprus is mainly a product of the administrators of Turkey. Turkey, with its 40,000 troops, its embassy and the illegal population of 500,000 persons which it carried to the island, is responsible for everything in Northern Cyprus.

Until now, only Cyprus' Greek speaking people were applying to the European Court of Human Rights for their lost rights. However, if from now on Cyprus' Turkish speaking people bring lawsuits against Turkey at the ECHR, Turkey will not be able to bear the result of this?

Now it is the time for our civilian organizations and trade unions to carry their struggle to the ECHR. It is absolutely not possible to defeat those who have right".

(I/Ts.)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[06] Bagis says Ireland could be a source of inspiration in the solution of the problems in Cyprus

Bagis said his meeting with the Irish minister was very positive and expressed his satisfaction with the support offered by Ireland to Turkey's EU accession course. Bagis reiterated the Turkish view that the accession of Turkey to the EU will be for the interest of the Union. "Turkey will not be a burden to the EU. On the contrary, it will take a burden from the EU", he argued.

In his statements, Roche expressed his country's support to Turkey's accession course to the EU. He noted that Turkey's last progress report was very positive and expressed the belief that the problems in Turkey's EU accession course could be solved with determination and dialogue.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Gul to lead Turkey's delegation for the NATO summit

Two working sessions and a working dinner at the level of NATO Heads of State and Government and separate working dinners for NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers will be organized at the summit. The New Strategic Concept, which will serve as the Alliance's road map for the next 10 to 15 years, is to be endorsed at the summit. Other priority issues on the Alliance's agenda will also be discussed and some important decisions are expected to be taken.

Also the leaders of the troop-contributing countries to NATO's ISAF Operation will convene and have the opportunity for a comprehensive exchange of views on how to establish stability and security in Afghanistan. Moreover at the NATO-Russia Council meeting, decisions are expected to be taken with a view to further strengthening the Alliance's relations with the Russian Federation.

[08] Highlights

a) Missile Shield

"In some respects, the NATO summit to be held in Lisbon on 19-20 November is a crossroads for Turkey in terms of its relations with the West, a crossroads as important as the dispatch of Turkish troops to Korea in 1950," Murat Yetkin opines in an article entitled "Missile shield and CHP in foreign policy" in Radikal. After viewing Turkey's conditions for accepting to deploy the system in its territory, Yetkin stresses that this matter is of "strategic importance." He goes on: "There is also a development of tactic importance in Turkey's relations with the West and, in fact, with its region, and that is that the outside world is beginning to see the CHP [Republican People's Party] as a foreign policy actor."

b) New Iraqi Government and Turkey

In an article in Radikal entitled "Miscalculation misfired in Baghdad," Cengiz Candar argues that Turkey's support for a Sunni government in Iraq failed. After criticizing an article on the issue by Asli Aydintasbas which appeared in Milliyet on 16 November for being, among other things, superficial, Candar goes on to quote an editorial from the Washington Post to prove his point about Turkey's failure. He stresses: "Turkey's Iraq policy failed because it converged with the United States on the 'wrong frequency' and because it dismissed the fact that the Kurds are also Sunni. It failed because it supported the Arab Sunnis' nostalgia for power, a nostalgia based on Arab nationalism and Islamist coalition." The columnist concludes by urging the Turkish leaders to come to terms with the fact that "the Sunni hegemony in Iraq has ended."

c) Freedom of the Press/Ismail Besikci

Milliyet's Taha Akyol laments the lack of freedom of the press in Turkey in an article entitled "Freedom of the Press." Silencing the press in connection with the Kurdish issue has helped radicalized the problem, Akyol argues: "The cases against Ismail Besikci are an example. Having spent many years in prison, Besikci is guided by sentiments of almost a 'political blood feud'... His political ideas are even more extreme than Ocalan's. When the latter says something moderate, Besikci faults him for mellowing. All that is true, but it is wrong to file a suit against Besikci for using the letter Q. What good did it do to collect his books from the stands for years? The photocopies of his books received wide distribution. The distribution of banned publications has been a model of organization ever since Lenin's Iskra. Putting Besikci on trial today can only provoke Kurdish nationalism. In our age, do countries that have ethnic problems uphold democratic freedoms because they are stupid?"

d) 'The New CHP'/ BDP

In an article in Milliyet entitled "The CHP is opening to the world with Kilicdaroglu," Semih Idiz lauds the new opposition leader for holding so many contacts with officials outside Turkey, unlike his predecessor Deniz Baykal. After listing Kilicdaroglu's recent meetings with European and Iraqi leaders, Idiz warns that these contacts, although important, are not enough. He stresses: "The CHP must formulate contemporary and guiding policies that are in line with a social democratic approach to the important foreign policy problems Turkey faces today." The columnist urges the CHP to come up with "realistic policies" regarding the Cyprus question and relations with Armenia.

In an article entitled "CHP's only way out -- Alliance with the Kurds" in Star, Ergun Babahan praises Kilicdaroglu's attendance at the Socialist International meeting in Paris and his meeting with Iraqi President Talabani, saying all this may help the CHP take courageous steps regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey. The columnist goes on: "Democracy is pushing both the CHP and the BDP [Peace and Democracy Party] toward social democracy... Unless it demands more democracy, the CHP will disappear. And only democracy is not enough, it must push for more equal rights for all; for the Alevis, for the headscarf, for the Kurds, etc." Stressing his agreement with BDP leader Demirtas's view, Babahan quotes him as saying: "The only thing the CHP can do to surpass Tayyip Erdogan is to push for more democracy. It has no other choice. I wish a left-wing democratic front is established before the next elections with the CHP, the ODP [Freedom and Solidarity Party], the BDP, and EMEP [Toil Party]. That would constitute a strong bloc against the AKP."

e) Kurdish issue

In an article entitled "Overcoming the phobia of Kurdistan," Yeni Safak columnist Hakan Albayrak hails Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's recent visit to the northern Iraqi town of Arbil as a development which signifies that Turkey has managed to get rid of its "Kurdistan phobia." Albayrak calls on Ankara to make sure the "rapprochement" with Arbil goes beyond the official level to take on a popular dimension, adding that to achieve this, the Turkish government should begin by addressing the "prejudices" of people in Turkey for whom terms like northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurds, and the Kurdish Regional Administration have unpleasant associations.

In an article entitled "Has armed struggle ended or not?" Bugun columnist Gulay Gokturk slams PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan for the way he destroyed "the prestige of a powerful Kurdish leader in the southeast" by "running down" Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir over his remarks saying that the period of "armed struggle" in the Kurdish issue had come to an end. Gokturk recalls how Ocalan "did the same thing" to former Democratic Society Party, DTP co-chairman Ahmet Turk after the latter said that the PKK had been doing harm to the Kurdish people. She goes on to comment on what she describes as a regrettable situation where, caught between the state and the PKK, Kurdish politicians "never have the freedom to speak their mind" and are forced to use a non-committal style where they cannot be pinned down to expressing support either for the state or for the PKK. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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