Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-03-02

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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] The second "Communal Existence Rally" to be held today

[02] Statements by Eroglu and Kucuk on the eve of the second "Communal Existence Rally"

[03] AKP's vice-president says the breakaway regime must take measures against incidents which could harm the relations with Turkey

[04] Turkish Cypriot "fighters" and "culture associations" express their views on Cyprus problem

[05] So-called labour minister notes that there are 15.000 unemployed persons in occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[06] Erdogan repeats his views on the Cyprus problem; He claims that Merkel was surprised to learn of "Greek Cypriot reluctance in talks"

[07] "Unilateral gestures work, package deals don't"

[08] Gul to visit Egypt

[09] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] The second "Communal Existence Rally" to be held today

The Trade Unions' Platform issued a written statement yesterday noting that it will not be lenient with banners which include "swearwords" and that it could ask the help of the "police" if necessary. The Platform urged everybody who opposes to the economic package to participate in the rally. The statement noted that attempts to burn, tear or bring down the flags of Turkey and the "TRNC" which have been hung at working places and homes in the Inonu Square will negatively influence the security in the rally. It added that the Platform warned the "police" to take the necessary measures and pointed out that the Platform respects all national symbols and it could not be held responsible for "provocative acts". The statement recalled that the aim of the rally is known and that the Turkish Cypriots want to administrate themselves and defend their identity and existence on the island. It noted that the Turkish Cypriots want the uncontrolled flow of population from Turkey to be taken under control, the migration of their children to stop and the imposed economic package to be withdrawn. "We want our relation with Turkey to be a relation between two states, like it has to be", concluded the statement.

Meanwhile, Arslan Bicakci, chairman of Turk-Sen trade union and spokesman of the Platform, stated that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Democratic Party (DP), the Social Democracy Party (TDP), the New Cyprus Party (YKP) and the United Cyprus Party (BKP) will join the Platform in the rally.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (02.03.11) reports that in statements to Kibris TV, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Serdar Denktas and Mehmet Cakici, chairmen of CTP, DP and TDP respectively, called on the people to participate in the rally and gave the message that the communal existence of the Turkish Cypriots should be respected. They said the aim of rally will be to protest against the economic package and to show respect to the existence of the "Turkish Cypriot people".

Kibris reports also that a meeting was held yesterday at the British Parliament with the participation of MPs, who expressed their support to the rally which will be held today in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The meeting was organized by a platform of five Turkish Cypriot organizations in London.

In addition, the paper writes that the Confederation of the Turkish Revolutionary Labourers' Unions (DISK) and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) have sent messages of support to the rally.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (02.03.11) refers to the slogans on the banners to be carried to the rally by various parties and organizations. According to the paper, the attention of everybody will be focused on the banners because of the "crisis" created after the recent rally due to some banners. Yeni Duzen reports that on its banners the Platform will use slogans such as "We say no to being administrated with orders", "We are Turkish Cypriots, who are you?" "AKP take your hands off us", "Solution, peace, now, at once" and "All peoples are brothers". The DP will hold banners with slogans such as "We just want to be the masters of our own home", "Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation" and "We are not here to be fed, but to continue our relations". The TDP will hold banners with slogans such as "We will be the masters of our own home" and "We are looking for our rights, we are uprising". The CTP will carry slogans such as "Enough is enough", "We want to administrate ourselves", "This country is ours", "The peoples of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece are brothers". The United Cyprus Party (BKP) will hold banners with the slogan "Long live peace and United Cyprus", while the New Cyprus Party (YKP) will hold banners writing "We say no to being administrated with orders" and "We will resist".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Statements by Eroglu and Kucuk on the eve of the second "Communal Existence Rally"

Meanwhile, Kibris reports also that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that the Trade Unions' Platform has the duty of securing that the incidents happened on 28 January will not be repeated today. In statements to illegal Bayrak, Eroglu noted yesterday that the rally should not be presented as a protest against Turkey. He alleged that the deterioration in the relations between Turkey and the breakaway regime suits the Greek Cypriot side. He argued that the Turkish Cypriots will suffer great damage, if the stance exhibited on 28 January is repeated today. Referring to the shooting incident against Afrika newspaper, Eroglu strongly criticized this incident and said it was unacceptable. He described as "meaningful" the fact that this incident happened before the rally.

(I/Ts.)

[03] AKP's vice-president says the breakaway regime must take measures against incidents which could harm the relations with Turkey

In exclusive statements to Kibris, Celik noted that such incidents are reactions of some "marginal parties". "What we expect from the administration there", he added, "is to take the necessary measures against incidents which will create problems between the TRNC and Turkey or will give this impression". Celik argued that if the administration of the breakaway regime does not take measures against these formations which insult Prime Minister Erdogan and Turkey, it will not be protecting the interests of the "TRNC". He added: "We are saying the following: The administration has not shown sensitivity for this situation. It has not protected the interests of the TRNC. However, this situation cannot change the nature of the relation between the motherland and the daughter land".

Celik alleged that Erdogan was not referring to the entire people when he said "we feed" the Turkish Cypriots and argued that these statements have been "seriously manipulated".

Celik argued that those who say that Turkey should not interfere in the affairs of the Turkish Cypriots have no political goals and added that these persons want the continuation of a system which is not based on productivity. He pointed out that these persons say that "Turkey should give the money but it should not interfere in our affairs". He said Turkey wants the establishment of a strong economy in the occupied areas of Cyprus. In order to prove that the money given by Turkey is not properly administered by the Turkish Cypriots, Celik gave the example of the bankrupted "Turkish Cypriot Airlines", which, he said, had a profit of five trillion Turkish liras (TL) in 2005 and after it was separated from the Turkish Airlines it had losses of 40 trillion TL.

Celik said the politicians in the occupied areas of Cyprus should realize that taking structural measures is necessary for the independence, the prestige and the esteem of the "TRNC" in the world.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Celik said Turkey will make no concessions in Cyprus towards the EU. He alleged: "We made no concessions until today to those who relate the Cyprus problem with the EU and put obstacles through this problem to Turkey's accession. And we will make no concessions. Anyway, accepting the Greek Cypriot side into the EU before a solution on the island was wrong. In spite of this, Turkey and the TRNC continue their stance in favour of the solution. Europe should think the following: While Turkey and the TRNC take steps in favour of the solution, the Greek Cypriot side is the side which continuously prevents it. This situation is not sustainable".

Celik said Turkey and the breakaway regime will continue their way and nothing will happen to them if a solution is not reached during the ongoing negotiations.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Turkish Cypriot "fighters" and "culture associations" express their views on Cyprus problem

"The Cyprus Turkish Freedom Fighters Association and the Cyprus Turkish Cultural Association announced its views on the Cyprus Problem with a joint press conference today. The two associations underlined the need for the solution of the Cyprus Problem on the basis of two sovereign states of equal status.

Speaking on behalf of the two associations, the President of the Cyprus Turkish Cultural Association Ahmet Goksan said that priority was needed to be given to steps aimed at achieving international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

'The never ending negotiations on the Cyprus Problem have failed to yield results because of the Greek Cypriot Side's unwillingness towards a settlement' he said.

Touching upon Turkey-TRNC relations, Goksan underlined the importance of maintaining and continuing close relations between the two countries

He said that the presence of the Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus should not be open to debate, reminding that both Britain and Greece as guarantor powers and EU member countries had violated the treaties of guarantee by consenting to the Greek Cypriot Side's membership into the bloc.

Goksan also noted that it was necessary to settle the issue of territory before a just and lasting solution was to be reached in Cyprus."

[05] So-called labour minister notes that there are 15.000 unemployed persons in occupied Cyprus

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the "building contractors association" headed by Cafer Gurcafer, Tokel said that the number of the unemployed persons in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which is around 15 thousand, has to be decreased, and in order to succeed this, the regime has to create a number of new possibilities. As he said, the fact that the doors are still open for the around 40 thousand or even 42 thousand workers with "preliminary permit" is the biggest mistake that can be made in the "country". Tokel, inter alia, said that half of the 100-thousand work force in occupied Cyprus consist of people that come from abroad with a "preliminary permit" and a "working permit". "As of today, we are drawing a limit to that," Tokel noted, adding that the number of those coming with a "preliminary permit" will be limited.

Tokel further said that the illegal workers are a big problem in the occupied areas, and the biggest complaint comes from the constructions' sector. Tokel asked the help and the cooperation of the "association" in the efforts of the regime to solve the problem.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[06] Erdogan repeats his views on the Cyprus problem; He claims that Merkel was surprised to learn of "Greek Cypriot reluctance in talks"

The 47 rounds of talks between the Greek and Turkish sides is the assurance of the Turkish side's willingness, Erdogan said he told Merkel, while speaking to a group of journalists aboard a plane en route from Hanover to Istanbul late on Monday night after wrapping up a two-day visit to Germany. 'However the south [Cypriot side] is always trying to avoid a settlement. She couldn't believe this, and said, 'Are you serious?',' Erdogan said.

In January, during her first-ever visit to the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Merkel's remarks, in which she put blame for the lack of resolution in Cyprus on the Turkish side, highly irritated Ankara. At the time, Erdogan recalled that it was the Greek Cypriots who rejected a UN plan to reunite the island in 2004, while the Turkish Cypriots approved the blueprint.

Merkel maintains her well-known position of calling on Turkey to implement the Ankara Protocol, which the European Union says makes it a legal obligation for Turkey to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels, Erdogan said. 'I offered her another alternative. 'We may open ports and airports if you, simultaneously, have Lufthansa scheduling flights to Ercan Airport [in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC)],' he said, and noted that Merkel agreed to work on the offer.

Merkel, meanwhile, proposed that Erdogan meet with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias in Germany. In response, Erdogan said a quadrilateral meeting between him, the Greek prime minister and Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders might be presided over by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

'I said, 'We can also have Britain as the guarantor country and the EU term president. Are you in?' She responded, 'Nice offer, let's take note of it, too',' Erdogan said, while noting that during the meeting, Merkel didn't bring up her idea of granting a 'privileged partnership' to Turkey instead of full EU accession."

[07] "Unilateral gestures work, package deals don't"

He draws attention to a paper on the Cyprus problem issued last week by the International Crisis Group (ICG), which calls for unilateral steps from both Turkey and Greek Cypriots to build confidence that is crucial now to finding an overall agreement later.

Lagendijk writes: "I am sure that the usual suspects will come up with the same worn-out arguments against any steps by Turkey. They will rightfully criticize the Greek Cypriots and the EU and conclude that Turkey should not budge now. The problem overlooked by all these staunch defenders of Turkey's refusal to move is that neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots have any long-term interest in the status quo. The Turkish part of Cyprus will remain little more than a backwater of Turkey. By refusing to come to terms with the Greek Cypriots, Ankara will freeze its EU accession and will hurt its own reform agenda, prosperity and regional attractiveness.

I am happy the ICG is both clever and stubborn enough to keep reminding Turkey that being stuck on Cyprus is extremely problematic. Yes, it sounds very tough to proclaim that Cyprus is more important for Turkey than the EU. But please keep an eye on the political and economic realities of today and tomorrow. They clearly indicate that self-delusion can easily turn self-destructive. Better change tactics sooner rather than later."

[08] Gul to visit Egypt

[09] Highlights

a) Kurdish Issue/PKK decision ending cease-fire

Assessing the PKK decision to end the cease-fire in the second section of his article in Hurriyet, Fatih Cekirge wonders whether Ocalan is preparing a new "bargaining strategy" prior to the elections. Noting that through this decision Ocalan is trying to preserve his effectiveness, Cekirge adds that, however, the current situation creates an atmosphere conducive to provocations. No government can make crucial decisions for the solution of a 30-year-old problem three months prior to holding general elections, asserts Cekirge, adding, however, that a strong government can make such decisions in the aftermath of the elections.

The cessation of the cease-fire by the PKK will have concrete results and these will only delay the solution process, writes Okay Gonensin in an article in Vatan entitled "Is a tension coalition desired?". He adds that one of the consequences of the cease-fire decision will be the suspension of any discussions regarding the Kurdish overture. If the BDP is incapable of seeing the damage a tense and bloody election atmosphere will cause to Kurdish politics, it cannot represent Turkey's Kurds for much longer, argues Gonensin, adding that it is not beneficial for Kurds to block the path to the open discussion of the Kurdish issue in the aftermath of the elections when a new constitution will be drawn

The PKK decision to end the cease-fire indicates that for the first time the organization has reached a decision without waiting for Ocalan to make an announcement, writes Cevdet Askin in an article in Radikal, entitled "The PKK did not wait for Ocalan, ended the cease-fire", adding that it also shows that there is a "crack" between Qandil and Imrali. Predicting a period of medium-intensity clashes, the writer concludes: "Eyes are still turned toward the announcement that will be made following Ocalan's first meeting with his lawyers because that announcement will not only show whether Imrali will take a stand against the decision of Qandil, but will also reveal whether Ocalan will "put the brakes on" the organization, though this seems to be a weak possibility

In an article in Taraf, Yildiray Ogur views the two contradictory statements issued by the Assembly of Communities of Kurdistan, KCK, one about ending the cease-fire and the other about the uprising in Iraqi Kurdistan. Noting that the KCK statement on the uprising advises peaceful struggle methods to the protesters seeking their rights, Ogur draws attention to the fact that the second statement announcing the end of the cease-fire advocates violence. The writer stresses the meaninglessness of resorting to arms at a time when it is understood that the Kurdish issue will be on the agenda when the new constitution is discussed in the post-election period.

b) Developments in Libya

The significant characteristic of the UN Security Council, UNSC, resolution adopted against the al-Qadhafi regime is that it is unanimous, writes Sami Kohen in his article entitled "What purpose do the sanctions serve?" in Milliyet. Recalling that the Arab League and the African Union have also asked the UNSC to take measures against al-Qadhafi with the Libyan representative at the UN joining them, Kohen concludes that the international community, as a single body, has taken a strong stand against the al-Qadhafi regime. Referring to Prime Minister Erdogan's stand opposing the sanctions and Foreign Minister Davutoglu's remarks that Turkey will contribute to the resolution, Kohen points out that these two stands show the contradictory positions within the government regarding the issue.

Viewing the strong opposition of Prime Minister Erdogan to the UN sanctions against Libya in an article entitled "Erdogan misreads Libyan sanctions" in Hurriyet Daily News, Semih Idiz argues that the sanctions "do not target the Libyan people in any way but involve an arms embargo on the Libyan regime, as well as the freezing of assets for the Gadhafi family and its cronies. It is not hard to imagine given the circumstances in that country that this is precisely what the Libyan people would have wanted done anyway. So once again we see Mr. Erdogan misreading the diplomatic situation." In conclusion, Idiz calls on Erdogan to listen more to the advice of his senior diplomats in the future in order to avoid leaving Turkey isolated and embarrassed in this way.

c) European Visa Requirements for Turks

Viewing the issue of European visa requirements for Turkish citizens in his article entitled "EU visa issue is Turkey's incompetence" in Hurriyet Daily News, Mehmet Ali Birand faults the Turkish government for not taking the matter seriously, adding: "EU authorities following this issue closely, openly state that technically there is no justification left for a visa requirement but it has become a political issue." Noting that the EU is now getting ready to grant Turkey some flexibility, Birand calls on the government to carefully analyze the granted flexibility, arguing that the "special advantages" granted to Turkey are not specifically designed for Turkey but everybody else who is granted even more rights. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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