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

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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] The backstage of an alleged quarrel between the community leaders on the illegal Turkish settlers

[02] A public opinion poll by KADEM on behalf of the breakaway regime

[03] Ozersay: The positive aspects in the UN Secretary-General report are due to the intense efforts of our negotiating team

[04] Ozgurgun due to Ankara

[05] Talat evaluates the latest developments in the occupied areas

[06] Strikes in the occupied areas suspended

[07] Cukurova University rector on the new campus to be constructed in occupied Cyprus

[08] Sky Airlines to begin flights to and from occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Turkish, Serbian Prime Ministers Hold Joint News Conference in Ankara; Erdogan comments on EP's report on Turkey

[10] Erdogan comments on EP's report on Turkey

[11] Hungarian state minister says EU should promote Turkey as a model country for the Islamic world

[12] "Poll: AK Party leads national vote with 44 percent, CHP follows with 24 percent"

[13] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] The backstage of an alleged quarrel between the community leaders on the illegal Turkish settlers

According to the paper, President Christofias referred to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and said that settlers who are married to Turkish Cypriots could stay on the island after the solution. He suggested a limit to the number of the settlers who will stay on the island so that they do not exceed 50 thousand. The paper writes that President Christofias noted that according to the agreements for the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot population should not exceed one fourth of the Greek Cypriot population.

The Turkish Cypriot side reacted to this statement and argued that there is no such provision in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. It alleged that even according to the Constitution a person married to a Turkish Cypriot obtains the right to become citizen of the Republic. A member of the Turkish Cypriot delegation asked the following question when the Greek Cypriot side insisted on its views: "What should we do? What can be done, if the Turkish Cypriots are more fertile? Will you bring on the agenda the issue of sterilizing them?"

According to the paper, tension was caused on Wednesday between President Christofias and Eroglu's adviser, Kudret Ozersay. When issue of the "citizenship" was discussed and the latter was trying to explain in detail that there could be no proportional limit as the Greek Cypriot side proposes, President Christofias gave a severe reply saying: "Thank you for your academic and detailed presentation, but I did not come here to take a lesson, I am not your student".

Moreover, in statements to Kibris, Ozersay said the Turkish Cypriot side told the Greek Cypriot side that it does not recognize the decisions taken by the Republic of Cyprus after 1963 regarding citizenship. He recalled that the UN had prepared two separate lists with the names of persons who obtained "citizenship" both by the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot side. "It is not possible for us, the Turkish Cypriot side, to accept different treatment for the past actions of the two sides", he argued.

Referring to the 4:1 proportion, Ozersay said the Turkish Cypriot side has given a clear response to these allegations and claimed that neither the 1960 agreements nor any other legal rule necessitates such a proportion. "Therefore, it is not right to focus on certain numbers", he alleged and argued that what is important is to establish regulations regarding citizenship based on valid and objective criteria from the point of view of human rights.

(I/Ts.)

[02] A public opinion poll by KADEM on behalf of the breakaway regime

KADEM's director, Muharrem Faiz said the survey took the form of face to face interviews with 875 persons older than 18. He noted that Cyprus is the place of birth of both parents of 66.8% of the participants in the survey, and Turkey the place of birth of both parents of 25.5% of the sample. Faiz added that 6.4% of the participants in the survey said one of their parents was born in Turkey and the other in Cyprus. He said the confidence rate of the survey is 95% and the margin of error +/- 3.47%. The aim of the poll was to find out the stance, views, knowledge level and expectations of the inhabitants of the occupied part of Cyprus on various issues, such as "the knowledge level and stance regarding the Cyprus problem", "the Turkish Cypriots and the EU", and "the relations with south Cyprus and the Greek Cypriots".

Kibris reports that almost half of the participants in the survey said they do not follow the ongoing negotiations to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. The paper writes that 7% fully follows the negotiations and that the frequency of following the negotiations increases as the age of the participants advances.

According to the results of the survey, the percentage of the inhabitants in the occupied areas of Cyprus who read the documents which are directly or indirectly related to the Cyprus problem is very low. The documents which are read most are the following: "TRNC Constitution" 12%, any version of the Annan Plan 9.6%, the Akritas Plan 7.8%, 1960 Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus 6.4% and the 1977-79 High Level Agreements 3.4%. Almost 50% of the participants in the poll said they do not have enough information on these documents and the rest noted that they are partly informed by others on these documents.

According to the results of the poll, when the participants were asked to declare whether they know some concepts/issues, most of them (54.3%) said they know enough or very well the "single identity, single citizenship" issue. Other issues known adequately or very well are the following: "being majority in our own area" 54.1%, "guarantees" 52.9%, "minority rights" 51.3%, "confederation" 33.8%, "cross voting" 35.2% and "federation" 35.3%.

Asked about their preference regarding the "ideal" solution of the Cyprus problem 37.2% of the participants replied "two separate states solution", 26.2% "bi-zonal, bi-communal federation", 34.4% "continuation of the current situation", 31.2% "unification with Turkey", 15.7% "unitary state" and 14.3% "return to the Republic of Cyprus". Moreover, 39.9% noted that the "two separate states solution could be accepted as a compromise", 45.7% that the "bi-zonal, bi-communal federation could be accepted as a compromise", 37.1% that the "current situation could be accepted as a compromise", 28% that the "unification with Turkey could be accepted as a compromise", 43.4% that the "unitary state could be accepted as a compromise" and 30.4% that "the return to the Republic of Cyprus could be accepted as a compromise".

The paper writes that the results show that the Turkish Cypriots are open to alternative solutions and that they attach importance to some elements which they think should definitely be included in a solution. The most important of these elements are "having equal rights in the administration", "the property arrangements not to spoil bi-zonality" and "the two communities to from the majority in their own areas".

Replying to a question on the future of the British bases on the island, 51% of the participants think that the bases should go after the necessary constitutional amendments are made; 32% think that the area and the number of the soldiers of the bases should decrease; 17% believe that the British bases should continue to be in Cyprus having the same status as today.

Responding to a question on what they believe their identity is, 56.6% of the participants in the survey said they are "Turkish Cypriots" and 10% that they are only "Cypriots" or "Turks".

Asked of their stance on the issue of the European Union, 42% of the participants in the survey said they feel that they are informed on this issue, while 53% said they are not informed sufficiently. The majority of the participants noted that they have a "positive picture regarding the EU". Only 17% said they have a negative picture for the Union.

Two thirds of the participants in the poll said they consider the Turkish Cypriots as grandchildren of the Ottomans who conquered Cyprus in the 16th century. The rest said they have doubts on this issue.

Moreover, in statements during the press conference to announce the results of the survey, Huseyin Ozgurgun, self-styled minister of foreign affairs of the regime, said they try to pursue their foreign policy within the framework of a vision and a proactive and overall diplomatic perspective. He noted that they aim at bringing an innovative and dynamic approach to their work and that for some time now they have been working on some projects to achieve this goal.

Explaining why they felt the need for such a public opinion poll, Ozgurgun said the target of their foreign policy is to secure that the "people" and the "state" assume the position they deserve in the international community both in the case of a possible solution and in the case of a non-solution. He noted that in this sense, the Cyprus problem is the main element of the foreign policy of the "TRNC". He said the results of the poll showed that the targets of the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations coincide with the general stance and expectations of the people.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Ozersay: The positive aspects in the UN Secretary-General report are due to the intense efforts of our negotiating team

Ozersay said that the team consists of extremely qualified and responsible people, both young and experienced people who served in previous negotiating teams. He said the team works in the framework of the policy and the strategy of the so-called presidency.

Ozersay said that in previous years, some circles tried with systematic efforts to mislead public opinion regarding their qualifications and the efficiency of the team, and added: "I think, the reports published by the UN-SG and particularly, this last report, as well as our President's significant visits to various countries of the world, are enough to show the success of the team."

[04] Ozgurgun due to Ankara

According to the paper, after the symposium, Ozgurgun will meet with the Turkish State Minister and EU Negotiator Egemen Bagis at a working lunch. At 13:30, Bagis and Ozgurgun are expected to hold a joint press conference.

[05] Talat evaluates the latest developments in the occupied areas

Talat accused Eroglu that he cannot perform the face-to-face negotiations, because he considers them a sell-off. He added that there is also a communication problem during the talks, because Christofias' statements have to be translated from Greek to English and from English to Turkish, noting that sometimes the meaning is lost in the translation and this also prevents progress in the negotiations.

Noting that Eroglu does not exist in the negotiations, because his special representative is everywhere, Talat said that Ozersay participates in all the meetings, which is considered by him unacceptable.

Evaluating Turkey's EU process, Talat said that he believes that Turkey's process to join the EU will face some problems, and most probably it will be stopped by the end of the year. He added that Turkey does not want to stop the process, but he noted that Turkey cannot proceed without implementing the Additional protocol of Ankara.

Regarding the tension between Turkey and the breakaway regime, Talat said that he knows very well his people (Turkish Cypriots), noting that the rallies were not against Turkey. The Turkish Cypriots wanted to stress that they want to govern themselves. He stressed that Turkish Cypriots do not have the luxury to quarrel with Turkey.

Commenting on the appointment of Halil Ibrahim Akca as "ambassador" in the occupied areas, Talat said that he does not think this is right; however he added that this does not mean that they should not have good relations with the new "ambassador".

Talat also said that the main problem of all of their problems is the Cyprus issue and if they want to be freed from their problems, then the Cyprus problem should be solved first.

[06] Strikes in the occupied areas suspended

[07] Cukurova University rector on the new campus to be constructed in occupied Cyprus

Akinoglu explained that the construction of the university, which will initially comprise medical school and school of dentistry, has been approved by the so-called parliament of the breakaway regime and that the Higher Education Council (YOK) has ratified the protocol that will be soon presented before the Council of Ministers of the Turkish Republic.

As Akinoglu, inter alia, said they are aware that "Near East University" (YDU) has a medical school, noting that they plan to create a different system. As he said, they are thinking of having a 3+3 system, explaining that students will study three year in the "TRNC" and undergo three-year training in Cukurova University in Adana. "We will not establish a hospital here," he said.

Akinoglu noted that there are consultations with the "Eastern Mediterranean University" (DAU), in order to use its premises until the Cukurova University campus is constructed. He further said that the university fees will remain in the "TRNC" and will be spent for the needs of the campus.

[08] Sky Airlines to begin flights to and from occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Turkish, Serbian Prime Ministers Hold Joint News Conference in Ankara; Erdogan comments on EP's report on Turkey

Speaking at the conference, Erdogan said Turkish and Serbian officials had fruitful talks as part of Cvetkovic's visit, and that the two countries signed a number of cooperation agreements on areas such as fight against terrorism, organized crime and environment. "Turkey sees Serbia as an element of stability and a leading actor in the Balkans. Serbia is responsible and far-sighted stance is of great importance for region's stability," he said.

Commenting on economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Serbia, Erdogan noted that the current trade volume between the two countries did not reflect the actual potential and called on businessmen to benefit from Serbia's economic potential as soon as possible. He said the two countries could cooperate in infrastructure and superstructure projects in Serbia, adding that Turkish companies could make a remarkable contribution in this area.

Serbian Premier Mirko Cvetkovic said he was happy to be the first Serbian prime minister visiting Turkey and underlined the importance of commercial and economic relations as well as political relations. He said that Serbia's national airlines are looking for a partner and that Turkish Airlines (THY) are considered a strategic partner, adding that Turkey is deemed a neighbouring country although the two countries do not have common borders.

[10] Erdogan comments on EP's report on Turkey

"There is no balance in this report. Excuse me, but I believe, people who have prepared this document lack balance as well. Because, the expressions used in the report do not describe the freedom of press in Turkey", the prime minister said.

Erdogan noted that there are 27 imprisoned press members in Turkey at the moment and none of them were detained due to their articles or news stories. Erdogan said these journalists were arrested on charges such as connections with terrorist organizations and attempts to overthrow the government.

"Therefore, EP's report is far from reflecting reality in our country. I frankly cannot find the words to describe this report and I am very sorry. It is impossible to describe such document fair and impartial," he said.

Responding to a question whether Turkey would take any action regarding the report, Erdogan said, "We do not need to take any steps. It is their duty to prepare such a report. On the other hand, we have the duty to proceed our way. It is as simple as that."

[11] Hungarian state minister says EU should promote Turkey as a model country for the Islamic world

Gyori said she hoped other EU member states would agree with the view of Hungary- currently holding the rotating presidency of the union - not to be narrow-minded. She said, given the serious crisis in the region, the EU should keep the enlargement process alive, and noted that its hands [the EU] are tied up in Turkey's EU accession process, particularly due to Cyprus problem.

Gyori said Hungary wants to open negotiations with Turkey on competition during its presidency, but expects "a maximum cooperation from Turkey." She argued that if Turkey meets the required criteria to open negotiations on competition, and if Turkey signs the readmission agreement, Hungary would have a strong argument in its hand to convince "unwilling members" about visa exemption.

[12] "Poll: AK Party leads national vote with 44 percent, CHP follows with 24 percent"

The opinion poll has revealed that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) would garner 44 percent of the national vote if general elections were held today, while the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) would receive 24 percent and 14 percent would go to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). This means the MHP would have no problem overcoming the 10 percent threshold to enter Parliament, the Aksam daily reported on Thursday.

If undecided voters, who make up 10 percent of the respondents, are distributed in a balanced manner, the AK Party's votes increase to 48 percent, the CHP votes reach 28 percent and MHP 15 percent. The pollsters explain that the distribution of the undecided voters is determined by the respondents' answers to other questions in the poll. The poll also reveals that the AK Party is in the lead among both female and male voters. The MHP comes second, leaving the CHP in third place among male voters.

[13] Highlights

Detention of journalists ? Media debate

Hurriyet reports that Ambassador Marc Pierini, the head of the EU delegation in Turkey, says after visiting Mardin with 18 EU ambassadors that the EU is extremely concerned over the detention of journalists under the anti-terror law, that they have submitted various questions to the Turkish government over the issue and are waiting for an answer, that they want to handle this issue through talks with the government rather than through megaphone diplomacy, that the detention of journalists will be noted in the EU progress report to be published in October, but that they will not wait for the report and chart a road map on the basis of government's reply to their questions within two weeks; that is, before taking action they want to know if these detentions are accidental or a part of a trend.

In his column for Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review entitled "Democracy or authoritarianism?," Kadri Gursel says freedom of expression in "new Turkey" under the elected AKP is as much suppressed as they were in "old Turkey" under unelected officials, only the method of suppression has changed.

In her column in Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Ersu Ablak comments on new vague internet regulations to go into effect on 22 August that would ban internet access to a "bundle of sites" to avoid the hassle of banning websites one by one. Ablak says that under the guise of protecting children and families the government will be able to censor just any site. Ablak adds: "I would also kindly like to warn any foreigners against deigning to think that the new system to be introduced on Aug. 22 violates freedoms. And please don't voice your concerns. Our prime minister can get angry at you. In fact, don't even try to understand it because our government is way ahead of you."

Yeni Akit carries a front-page report which asserts that a number of illegally obtained audiotapes of private conversations between members of the Ismailaga community, local government officials and AKP members have been found at premises belonging to Ahmet Sik, suggesting that Sik, who has recently been jailed together with Nedim Sener on Ergenekon-related charges, is "not a journalist but an agent provocateur."

Zaman columnist Etyen Mahcupyan argues that Ahmet Sik's "unconvincing" and "provocative" choice of the title "Imam's Army" for one of his books, purporting to analyze the Fethullah Gulen community's influence over the Turkish police force, suggests that his recent arrest as part of the Ergenekon probe should be attributed to his "ideological activism" rather than to his activities as a journalist.

Today's Zaman columnist Lale Kemal comments on "a document named 'National Media 2010' [...] seized during recent searches of the Odatv website's office." She claims that the document "envisages the punishment" of both the Justice and Development Party, (AKP), and its supporters "through a law on treason to be adopted once the Ergenekon suspects are released".

Harassment claims against CHP members

Recent allegations of harassment, levelled against former Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykar, stirred a public debate. Reportedly, the allegations were made by Oda TV Ankara correspondent Iklim Kaleli Bayraktar during her testimony while in custody for the Egenekon coup plot. Bayraktar allegedly sought the assistance of Kemal Kilicdaroglu in order to produce evidence that Baykal sexually harassed her. Kilicidaroglu is reported to have denied the request, asking her to do it alone.

In an editorial for Sabah, Mehmet Barlas says the inexperienced and novice journalists and politicians, like Oda TV journalist Ayfer Iklim Bayraktar Kaleli and CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who tried to strike a cabal to both tarnish AKP's image and wrest Halk TV from Deniz Baykal by ridiculing Baykal as a womanizer, are responsible for the recent uproar over press freedom.

Engin Ardic, Sabah's strongest critic of Kemalists and CHP, says that unethical journalists, knowingly or acting on orders, and stupid journalists, acting unwittingly or being manipulated indirectly by dark forces, are taking a negative position against the Ergenekon probe and portraying the uproar against the detention of some people, as a struggle for press freedom and democracy, when in fact that uproar aims at removing the current government from power.

In his column in Milliyet, Fikret Fikret quotes Baykal as saying that sensing a plot he several times refused Kaleli's sexual advances and thus saved CHP's image, adding that Kilicdaroglu, after hearing the plot from Kaleli, should have phoned him to alert about the plot. Bila then quotes Kilicdaroglu as saying that he did not call Baykal because he did not take Iklim Bayraktar seriously. Besides, Kilicdaroglu adds, Bayraktar wanted to frame an AKP official not Baykal and he refused to provide her with the necessary technical recording equipment. Asked why he is not revealing the name of the AKP official whom Bayraktar wanted to compromise, Kilicdaroglu says it is up to Bayraktar and now to the prosecutor to reveal the name. Kilicdaroglu says the AKP government is hatching a plot against the CHP by illegally tapping phones.

Taha Akyol of Milliyet, also disapproves Oda TV journalists' involvement in blackmail against politicians and other journalists, like Nazli Ilicak and Guneri Civaoglu, but notes hitting people below the belt has nothing to do the Ergenekon case. He says these "ugly incidents" could be considered a common crime, but more than phone conversations are necessary to treat these journalists as part of the Ergenekon terror organization.

In his column in Milliyet, Hasan Cemal defends the EU criticism of the AKP government over the detention of journalists and the course of the Ergenekon probe. Cemal says that what the Oda TV journalists did might be considered unethical or a common crime, but to charge them with terrorism requires the element of violence. He also objects to the exclusive focus on the Oda TV case when hundreds of other journalists also face prosecution for reporting on the Ergenekon probe. Cemal believes the domestic situation will get even more complicated as elections approach.

Under the banner headline "The Gandigate" ["Gandi" is an endearing nickname for Kilicdaroglu], a report says that by accepting Bayraktar's offer of plot, Kilicdaroglu committed the biggest scandal in his political career. The report details the telephone conversation between Bayraktar and Eminagaoglu in which Bayraktar rails against Kilicdaroglu for advising her to frame politicians by her own means.

Writing in Taraf Ahmet Altan, condemns the cabal between Kilicdaroglu and Bayraktar, and wonders how Kilicdaroglu had the moral courage to criticize the detention of Oda TV owner Soner Yalcin as a blow to freedom of thought. Altan says Kilicdaroglu and his deputy Gursel Tekin have to account to the citizens why they gave Bayraktar the green light to frame a politician, for if they fail to give an explanation it will be hard for them to remain in politics.

Yeni Akit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak comments on three developments involving the CHP which indicate that the "Kilicdaroglu era" in this party "has de facto ended" and that an "internal war" in the main opposition party is already under way, namely the discovery of documents about Halk TV in the searches conducted in the offices of OdaTV, the seizure of audiotapes of conversations about Deniz Baykal in the police operation against OdaTV, and the resignation of former Dogan Holding Company CEO Nebil Ilseven as chairman of the CHP's Istanbul branch some 53 days after he was appointed to this position. Dilipak also claims that in the wake of the allegations involving Deniz Baykal, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and Iklim Bayraktar, the CHP might be hard-pressed to obtain even 22 percent of the vote in the election in June.

Yeni Akit columnist Serdar Arseven asserts that the "dirty conspiracy" in the CHP intended to force Deniz Baykal and Onder Sav into approving the sale of Halk TV to Soner Yalcin is ultimately aimed at enabling Eskisehir Mayor Yilmaz Buyukersen, who recently joined the CHP, to become prime minister after Recep Tayyip Erdogan has replaced Abdullah Gul as president. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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