Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-11-30

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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] Ertug considers positive the UN Secretary-General's report on Cyprus is positive

[02] Avci: negotiations in Cyprus are heading towards non-solution

[03] 3.500 applications by foreign property buyers processed in one year

[04] BKP: "All sides expect a move from Turkey"

[05] Caglar to represent "TRNC Assembly" in New York PACE meeting

[06] TURK-SEN delegation in Brussels

[07] World Azerbaijani congresses to be organised in occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Davutoglu's meeting with Hilary Clinton

[09] "Turkey returns orphanage deed to Greek Orthodox Patriarchate"

[10] Russia approved construction of Akkuyu Power Plant

[11] Arinc says Turkey aims at a joint sustainable development policy with African countries

[12] Erdogan stresses importance for Africa of trade, investment and cooperation

[13] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Ertug considers positive the UN Secretary-General's report on Cyprus is positive

Ertug said the Turkish Cypriot side hopes the report will have positive influence on the negotiations which will be held before the meeting in Geneva. Ertug argued that the ascertainment that in the near future the UN will reassess its presence on the island shows the critical phase of the negotiations.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Avci: negotiations in Cyprus are heading towards non-solution

In statements to Kibris television, Avci claimed that the UN Secretary-General has told the community leaders that they have two months to achieve progress in solving the problem, and recalled that elections will be held in Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus in 2011. Avci expressed the view that this will be the "final date" and alleged that the United Nations might withdraw from the process if there is no progress.

Recalling the UN Security Council's resolution against the recognition of the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, Avci said that this decision cannot change, but the Turkish Cypriots exist in the Annan Plan as a "Turkish Cypriot State".

He added: "That is the Turkish Cypriot State has been accepted in the UN records. Even the 57 members of the Islamic Conference Organization have accepted the Turkish Cypriot State. After this decision regarding the non-solution, it is not possible for the TRNC to be recognized in the UN, but in case of non-solution we could after a while" be accepted by many states as Turkish Cypriot State.

(I/Ts.)

[03] 3.500 applications by foreign property buyers processed in one year

Addressing the "assembly" yesterday, Kamil admitted that problems exist in the "land registry office" and added that the breakaway regime is exerting efforts to overcome the problem of lack of personnel. He also noted that automation is expected to be completed in 2011.

Kamil noted that the "ministry" preserves all the documents regarding those Turkish Cypriots who denounced their rights on their property in the free areas of Cyprus in return for property in the occupied part of the island from the breakaway regime.

Kamil said the breakaway regime has no definite information regarding persons who sold their property in the government-controlled areas of the Republic, despite the fact that they renounced their rights on that property and in return were given property in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He said the regime is aware of rumours on this issue and if documented, the necessary "legal procedures" will follow.

Speaking at the same meeting of the "assembly", Turgay Avci, leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), referred to the same issue and recalled that, according to press reports, 500 Turkish Cypriot properties in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus have been sold. Avci criticized the "government" and the "state" for not taking on this issue.

Avci recalled that the law envisages five years imprisonment for those who sell their property in the free areas of Cyprus, despite the fact that they are given property of equivalent value in the occupied areas of the island in return of renouncing their rights on their property in the free areas of the Republic.

(I/Ts.)

[04] BKP: "All sides expect a move from Turkey"

"Turkey must fulfil its obligations stemming from the additional protocol until the EU summit in December, normalize its relationships with all the EU member states and must open its ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus," proposes Korkmazhan. Moreover, he supports the return of the closed city of Varoshia to Greek Cypriots in exchange for the opening of the Famagusta port under EU supervision and its use by Turkish Cypriots for direct trade, a proposal which Turkey rejected and which could help overcome the standstill in the negotiations.

[05] Caglar to represent "TRNC Assembly" in New York PACE meeting

Caglar, will be accompanied by the so-called Press, Foreign Affairs and Protocol director, Resa Savas Pasaoglulari.

[06] TURK-SEN delegation in Brussels

[07] World Azerbaijani congresses to be organised in occupied Cyprus

The paper further reports that during the congress it was decided that the "2nd World Azerbaijanis Intellectual Congress" in May 2011, as well as the "2nd Azerbaijani Youth Congress" in 2012, take place in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[08] Davutoglu's meeting with Hilary Clinton

Davutoglu said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had apologized to Turkey, Turkish government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for documents posted on Wikileaks. He added: "I had a long and comprehensive meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and we discussed not only Wikileaks reports but also Turkey's EU relations, recent NATO summit, Cyprus issue, Iraq, Iran, Middle East peace process, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Lebanon, and Turkish-US relations".

Davutoglu said the accuracy of the documents concerns the United States, which neither reject nor confirm them. The Turkish minister said Clinton expressed regret over the issue and apologized to Turkey for them. He said Clinton also expressed satisfaction for US-Turkey relations and conveyed President Barack Obama's appreciation of relations with Turkey's prime minister and president, and basic principles of Turkish foreign policy.

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that special working groups both at the Foreign Ministry and Turkey's Embassy in Washington D.C. have been set up to examine the documents.

Davutoglu also had a meeting with National Security Adviser Tom Donilo who also apologized, and once more confirmed the importance attached to Turkish-U.S. relations.

Davutoglu also said it would not be right to make an assessment without seeing all the documents, and that Turkey had nothing to be uneasy about since its stance was clear. He added that documents posted on Wikileaks would not change the main principles of Turkish foreign policy nor Turkey's perspective on Turkish-U.S. relations.

Describing the leakage of documents as a historic misfortune, Davutoglu said Turkey had a clear foreign policy aiming at global and regional peace. Turkey will not pursue a foreign policy based on policy of diplomats of other countries, their analyses and comments, he concluded.

Ankara Anatolia also reports that during his stay in Washington Davutoglu also had a meeting with European Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fule.

[09] "Turkey returns orphanage deed to Greek Orthodox Patriarchate"

Sofuoglu told reporters that it was an important day with respect to human rights, the rule of law, democracy and respect of minorities. He pointed out that Turkey is the first country to implement a decision of the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] by returning property. This should be an example for other countries, he said. He added that a similar process has begun for the return of three buildings belonging to Turkey's Greek minorities on Bozcaada (Tenedos) Island.

[10] Russia approved construction of Akkuyu Power Plant

Yildiz told A.A on Monday that the Russian President Dimitry Medvedev approved the intergovernmental agreement which on the construction of nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, adding that a new period begins in Turkey-Russia relations.

The construction of the nuclear power plant will be in four stages, and will cost nearly 20 billion USD. Russia will operate it for 60 years.

[11] Arinc says Turkey aims at a joint sustainable development policy with African countries

Addressing the meeting, Arinc said that Turkey considers Uganda a close friend despite the geographical distance. "Our strategy aims at Africa's full integration into global economy," he said.

Turkey's trade with Africa skyrocketed and grew by 200% after the new strategy, he recalled. Arinc added that Turkey's investments in the continent were over $3 billion in 2009.

Arinc asked for Uganda's support for the immediate launch of a free trade agreement between Turkey and East African Community which includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. He said such an agreement is vital to the improvement of economic relations.

Uganda's Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Kironda Kiwajinja, for his part, said that his country is a commercial hub for several countries in Africa. He added that flights of Turkish Airlines to his country and Turkish schools in Uganda would help build better relations.

[12] Erdogan stresses importance for Africa of trade, investment and cooperation

Erdogan, honorary guest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, said Turkey is exerting sincere efforts to help resolve problems of Africa and explained Turkey's plan to expand to this continent and add momentum to political, military, cultural and economic relations with African countries.

Turkey set out a new strategy in 2003 to improve relations with the continent and declared 2005 as the "Year of Africa in Turkey." Turkey became a strategic partner of the African Union in 2008. Over the past few years, Turkey has ramped up efforts to increase the number of its embassies across the continent. It aims to reach 30 embassies by the end of 2011.

"Of course, our interest in Africa is not limited to economic and commercial targets. We are carrying out an integrated policy of cooperation in agricultural development, irrigation, energy and education, as well as fight against diseases," Erdogan told the meeting.

Following the summit meeting, Erdogan met with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over a lunch.

[13] Highlights

a) WikiLeaks

In an article in Milliyet, Asli Aydintasbas assesses the three factors to be revealed in the WikiLeaks that might damage Turkish-US relations. Ankara officials believe that the documents on Turkish-al-Qaida ties are part of a campaign to smear Turkey that was launched in the aftermath of the flotilla incident, writes Aydintasbas. According to the writer, neither Turkish-al-Qaida relations nor US-PKK relations will damage the bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States. Aydintasbas argues that the sections of the WikiLeaks that will cause the most upheaval will be those about the remarks about Turkish officials.

Writing in Milliyet, Mehves Evin questions the morality of the method used by WikiLeaks to obtain these documents.

A report in Hurriyet details the sections of the WikiLeaks documents that concern Turkey. According to the report, WikiLeaks has disseminated 7,918 diplomatic cables sent from Ankara to Washington. One of the WikiLeaks cables reveals that Azerbaijani President Aliyev is disenchanted with the Erdogan government and that he signed the gas agreement with Russia to show his "Turkish friends" that they will not be allowed to become a natural gas distribution centre. In one of the cables Erdogan is described as "a generous leader who administers his circles according to rigid autocratic rules," notes the report.

Sabah columnist Mehmet Barlas questions why these "secret documents" should upset bilateral relations since, he maintains, these documents cannot contain anything worse than what political party leaders say about one another. Barlas concludes that the US State Department's agitation over the issue is exaggerated.

In an article in Yeni Akit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak speculates that there might be a "powerful organization or lobby" behinc WikiLeaks, adding that the disclosures might be an Israeli attempt to "blackmail" the US government and "moderate" groups within the US military into carrying out a military campaign against Iran.

Gazete columnist Mahmut Toptas asserts that Washington is not "alarmed" by WikiLeaks' revelation of its acts of "murder, betrayal, and theft" because there is nobody in the world unaware of the United States' deeds. Claiming that the documents were leaked by the United States itself in order to give a warning to world leaders about the consequences of their possible failure to toe the US line.

b) Kurdish Issue

According to Radikal columnist Cevdet Askin, Ocalan is forcing the government to take concrete steps for the solution of the Kurdish issue within the next three months by declaring that the cease-fire that had been extended until the general elections in June of 2011 can be terminated on 1 March. Askin writes that last week Ocalan made a U-turn by announcing that the negotiations he has been holding with state officials are "insignificant," assuming that this announcement was a reaction by Ocalan to the suspension of the contacts held with him. By moving the deadline of the cease-fire forward Ocalan is aiming to pressure the government to resume the negotiations, maintains Askin, recalling the remarks made by top PKK administrator Murat Karayilan to the effect that a comprehensive situation assessment will be made in March and the inability of the PKK to take action under winder conditions, Askin explains that now the government has two alternatives: Either resume negotiations or launch extensive military-political operations against the PKK both in urban and rural regions.

c) US alternatives to Turkey in Middle East

Semih Idiz argues in Milliyet that while we are busy bragging about the Prime Minister Erdogan's rising prestige in Arab countries we seem to ignore the political and military realities in the region, adding: "The real situation shows that the United States is developing significant military ties in the Middle East that will constitute an alternative to Turkey." Idiz goes on to detail the military relations the United States has been developing with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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