Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-04-11

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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] Reactions by Turkish Cypriot politicians against the latest protests by Trade Unions in occupied Lefkosia

[02] Serdar Denktas criticizes the activities of the trade unions against Turkey

[03] Rauf Denktas alleges that no agreement could be reached without Turkey's guarantees

[04] Eroglu's advisor says Cyprus is heading towards division

[05] "Reshuffle" has reportedly caused great discomfort in the UBP

[06] More on the construction of skyscrapers in occupied Keryneia; Results of a public survey were announced

[07] Elcil's group won the elections of KTOS general assembly

[08] Breakaway regime prepares to open the illegal Lefkoniko airport

[09] An international workshop on women was held in occupied Keryneia

[10] Occupied Keryneia castle is being ruined due to negligence

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Political parties to present candidate lists to YSK today

[12] Turkey pushes on its energy agenda

[13] "Diyarbakir and Lefkosa"

[14] Columnist views reasons behind the unrest of Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Reactions by Turkish Cypriot politicians against the latest protests by Trade Unions in occupied Lefkosia

Eroglu invited everyone who loves "their people and country" to be realistic and to exercise common sense. He described the breakaway regime as a democratic "country" where people are free to express their views; however this do not give various circles the right to create chaos or anarchy. "You can't create chaos or anarchy by saying that you are exercising your rights or freedoms. You can't threaten the safety or the freedom of other segments of society" he added.

Eroglu pointed out that this protest action in front of the "TRNC parliament" had drawn reaction from a large section of the population and said: "This is not democracy. Turkey is neither an occupier nor the Republic's Assembly, nor the puppet of the Turkish government. Such expressions do not reflect the historical realities in Cyprus or the rights and interests of the Cyprus Turkish people."

A written statement was also issued by the so-called speaker of the breakaway regime's assembly Hasan Bozer, who criticized harshly all posters and slogans held in the protest. Bozer strongly condemned the groups which carried posters accusing the Turkish armed forces of being an occupational force in Cyprus and which targeted the government in Ankara.

"We strongly condemn those groups which have defamed our political parties, the leaders of our political parties and members of our parliament who are representatives of the people. These actions do not fit with the Turkish Cypriot's people understanding of democracy and tolerance" he said and added: "Such moves and actions also serve to damage the reputation of trade unions and their movements. Therefore these are unacceptable."

Kucuk: "We would lose our sovereign existence if Turkey did not arrive"

Under the above title, Bayrak continues to report on the reactions caused by the protests. The leader of the ruling National Unity Party and so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk, alleged that no institution or individual would favour "motherland" Turkey's withdrawal from Cyprus, as long as the protection of Turkish Cypriot rights and interests were concerned.

Kucuk's written statement reads as follows: "Cyprus would have been under Greek-Greek Cypriot sovereignty today and Cyprus Turks would have been wiped off the island had motherland Turkey not arrived in Cyprus in 1974... It is clear that the Greek Cypriot side will go into action again to remove the current bi-zonal order and our independence, should Turkey stop ensuring our security." Kucuk also reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots have been able to achieve political and economic development despite the international embargoes, thanks to the assistance and support of Turkey

Also, the so-called foreign minister Huseyin Ozgurgun speaking to Bayrak argued that those who wage an anti-Turkey stance in "TRNC" support the Greek Cypriot side's objectives and the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. Ozgurgun claimed that it was the Turkish armed forces that brought peace to the island in 1974.

Thus, he said that refraining from such acts may force the Greek Cypriot side to leave its "intransigent attitude" and called for unity amongst Turkish Cypriots.

[02] Serdar Denktas criticizes the activities of the trade unions against Turkey

According to Denktas, the statements against Turkey made by the Trade Unions' Platform in Brussels are "groundless and unacceptable allegations". He recalled that these statements were the reason for which the DP did not participated in the activity of the Platform in front of the "parliament" on 7 April.

Denktas expressed the view that Turkey's "Aid Delegation" spoils budgetary discipline in the occupied area of Cyprus and asked for the abolition of the delegation. He argued that the supervision of Turkey's financial aid could be carried out by the advisors in the "embassy" of Ankara in the occupied part of Lefkosia. Denktas said that an institution such as the "Aid Delegation" does not exist in any other country to which Turkey provides financial aid. "It exists only in the TRNC", he said noting that the delegation represents the Turkish governments, while the "ambassador" represents the Turkish state.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Rauf Denktas alleges that no agreement could be reached without Turkey's guarantees

Denktas reiterated his view that the Turkish Cypriot side should sit at the negotiating table "on the basis of two peoples, two states and two separate sovereignties". He also argued that the bargaining power of the Turkish side weakens when it says that it will not abandon the negotiating table.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Eroglu's advisor says Cyprus is heading towards division

Meanwhile, addressing the same panel, Zeki Bulunc, former so-called ambassador of the breakaway regime in Turkey, said that the view that "the Turkish Cypriots do not love Turkey" has been deliberately brought up and argued: "We are not Cypriots. We are Turkish Cypriots. We are a people part of Anatolia's anatomy. We are a part of this place". Bulunc reiterated the Turkish allegation that the "embargoes" and the so-called restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots should be lifted.

Moreover, Prof. Dr Mumtaz Soyal, chairman of Turkey's Independent Republic Party (BCP), alleged that the military power is the most powerful trump card of the Turkish side in Cyprus. He noted that the military power always comes up before the law and that his conclusion after so many years of experience is that the international law, to which we often refer today, is not a "very respectable law" and all its rules are not implemented until the very end.

(I/Ts.)

[05] "Reshuffle" has reportedly caused great discomfort in the UBP

According to the paper, they also decided not to attend the sessions of the "parliament" and the meetings of the "parliamentary groups" unless a timetable for an extraordinary congress is determined. Yeni Duzen writes that this group consists of Ilkay Kamil, Ergun Serdaroglu, Necdet Numan, Turkay Tokel, Ahmet Caluda, Hasan Tacoy, Zorlu Tore and Mehmet Tancer.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (11.04.11) refers to the same issue and reports that in statements to its editor-in-chief, the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk urged these "MPs" to come to reason. According to Haberdar, the "MPs" asked for a meeting today with Kucuk, who accepted to meet them so as to search formulas to overcome the crisis.

(I/Ts.)

[06] More on the construction of skyscrapers in occupied Keryneia; Results of a public survey were announced

As the paper writes, the protest was organized with the support of Democrat Party (DP) and the Social Democracy Party (TDP) as well as with the support of several other organizations. According to the paper, former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, DP chairman Serdar Denktas, CTP-UF's secretary general, Kutlay Erk, the "mayor" of occupied Keryneia, Sumer Aygin, former "MPs" and the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas were also among the participants who expressed their support to the protest.

The protesters were holding placards writing slogans such as "We do not want skyscrapers, we want town planning", "No to the violation of Keryneia", "No to degrees, yes to town planning" and others.

In a written statement during the protest, Talat stressed the need for everyone to resist to this kind of illegal implementations, adding that the construction of skyscrapers in Keryneia will mean the violation of the city.

Making a statement on the issue, Serdar Denktas, chairman of DP stated that they will not permit the construction of skyscrapers in Keryneia.

Also, Kutlay Erk, CTP-UF secretary general stated that they will prevent the construction of skyscrapers in Keryneia so that it will continue to be a tourism destination.

On the same issue, Sumer Aygin, "mayor" of occupied Keryneia called on Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu not to permit the construction of skyscrapers in the town and said that it is not only the citizens of Keryneia who oppose but all the "TRNC citizens".

Meanwhile, on the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (11.04.11) publishes in its front page the results of a public survey carried out by Havadis and the Red Border Research Company regarding the different opinions on the construction of skyscrapers in occupied Keryneia. The public survey was conducted with the form of face to face meetings with habitants and non-habitants of Keryneia, with a total sample of 456 persons, of age up to 18.

According to the results, 48.2% of the participants said no to the constructions of skyscrapers, 27.2% said yes and 22.4% said that they are opposed to the construction of skyscrapers in Keryneia and that they should be built in another place.

(AK)

[07] Elcil's group won the elections of KTOS general assembly

Commenting on Elcil's victory, Afrika writes in its front page that neither Ankara's threats, neither its collaborator's libels that he is "traitor", neither the criminal complaint to the "attorney general", nor the joint list of candidates of CTP and UBP were enough to defeat him.

The paper underlines, inter alia, statements by Guven Varoglu, KTOS's chairman who expressed the belief that the current general assembly of KTOS will strengthen them.

(AK)

[08] Breakaway regime prepares to open the illegal Lefkoniko airport

Kucuk answering a question regarding Onur Air's proposal to open for charter flights the illegal airport at occupied Lefkoniko, said that the breakaway regime was ready to provide support for the realization of the project and announced that technical arrangements at the Lefkoniko Airport had already started.

As for the tourism sector, Kucuk said that they have taken initiatives towards developing the tourism sector of the "TRNC" and noted that there are plans to establish a tourism department under the "prime ministry" with the aim of assisting the goals of the so-called ministry of tourism, environment and culture.

[09] An international workshop on women was held in occupied Keryneia

[10] Occupied Keryneia castle is being ruined due to negligence

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Political parties to present candidate lists to YSK today

Over the weekend party leaders convened special meetings to discuss who would be included in the lists. Tough security measures were taken during the meetings in order to prevent a leak of the lists to the press. Only some top figures from the parties were allowed to participate in the meetings. Members of the press were not allowed inside various parties' headquarters. Twenty-four political parties will compete in the elections, set for June 12. The elections will be a major test for three leading parties, namely the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

[12] Turkey pushes on its energy agenda

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (11.04.11, online) also reports that Yildiz speaking to reporters in Kayseri, said that talks were "affected negatively following a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan's northeast coast." Regarding the nuclear issue, Yildiz said that Japanese officials have requested some time from their Turkish counterparts in nuclear talks as Japan is currently dealing with the consequences of its damaged nuclear plant. Japan has submitted a bid to construct a nuclear power plant in Turkey. Talks with South Korea over the construction of a nuclear plant in Sinop have recently collapsed since the sides failed to agree due to differences such as establishing "fair" electricity prices.

"We have told our Japanese counterparts that we can definitely give them the time they requested as a matter of international courtesy," the minister said.

Meanwhile, commenting on recent reports that claimed that oil was discovered off Turkey's Black Sea coast, Yildiz noted that oil exploration continues in five to six locations in the region. "It is too early to say that we have found oil. I wish I could announce such news. ? However, unless we see oil bursting out, I cannot confirm such information." The Minister said that the Government was committed to continue searching for oil in the Black Sea bed "until a favorable outcome [is reached]."

A Norwegian oil exploration platform, Leiv Eiriksson, is currently engaged in drilling in the Black Sea, estimated to hold some 10 billion barrels of oil, for the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and its Brazilian partner Petrobras. A second drillship belonging to the American energy giant ExxonMobil is expected to start oil exploration in the Black Sea before the end of April once the required feasibility tests are completed.

[13] "Diyarbakir and Lefkosa"

In line with the call Abdullah Ocalan made from his prison cell in Imrali, Diyarbakir started to move. But the recently made reforms and the development in the economy have led to Ocalan's call failing to have the desired effect. The pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) is trying to spread Ocalan's call via mosques and religious references.

Although it was originally established on Marxist foundations, the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), it seems, has finally realized the importance of religion in fighting against the state, which is currently being represented by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). So we should be prepared for news reports about protests held after Friday prayer all across the region. [...]

Indeed, any violent response to these protests would result in increased interest in these protests and further put the country into a difficult position in the international arena. A similar development is seen in Lefkosia (Nicosia). The fact that Turkey's military presence on the island is controversial and native Turkish Cypriots are against Turkey and even want a union with Greek Cypriots will apparently cause much trouble for Turkey. It is no secret that the groups who immigrated to the island from Turkey do not like Greek Cypriots. And they have now started to breed anger against the native Turkish Cypriots, which should be seen as a sign of a new tension in Cyprus.

Although it is working hard to restore peace and stability in a vast geography extending from Libya to Egypt, it is not clear whether the Government is sufficiently aware of this development. But the current situation in Lefkosia is a strong contender for the top issue that might cause trouble for Turkey on an international scale.

Although you may continue to claim that you have gone to the island in order to save them from the Greek atrocities some 40 years ago, a sizable portion of the Turkish Cypriots now prefer to call you "invaders" and seek unity with Greek Cypriots. You cannot suppress them with pressure or violence, and they are very likely to continue if you don't find a solution.

The primary cause of these demonstrations is Turkey's recent shutting down of economic aids and starting to support a realistic economic program on the island. The problem is that Turkey is implementing this program with bureaucrats who work like 'colonial governors' and who rebuke or humiliate the people of Cyprus at every opportunity, and this complicates things further. The current picture is that Lefkosia is quickly becoming a problem much bigger than Diyarbakir.

Although we have risked the suspension of our EU membership negotiations, Cyprus may cause a loss of reputation for Turkey in the eyes of the international community, particularly with the EU. Turkey may insist on stressing that it has gone to the island as a guarantor, but it is quickly becoming a country that is unwanted in the island. It is true that the international community is not happy with the presence of Turkey and its soldiers on the island.

The Greek Cypriots and Greece, it can be argued, are happy with these developments and even secretly support them. But this does not alter the reality: If Turkey loses the support of the people of Cyprus, it will not be able to maintain its already controversial presence on the island. Thus, the island is looking like a highly explosive bomb in the hands of Turkey.

This truth should not be ignored amid our efforts to bring about an Arab peace and it should not be sacrificed to the nearing elections."

[14] Columnist views reasons behind the unrest of Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus

Kanli writes that the problem at hand is a very complicated one with many aspects, and highlights as its first dimension the crooked economic setup of the breakaway regime and Ankara's wish to see some reforms aimed at moving the Turkish Cypriot section of the island towards a self-sufficient governance.

He analyzes the economic development of Turkish Cypriots as following: "From the 1963 events to the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots were perhaps living in the first and only "full equality of all" administration in the world. After they were expelled from the government, parliament and public offices by their Greek Cypriot partners and forced to live in hamlets scattered all around the island, irrespective what duty Turkish Cypriots were undertaking, this way or the other one member of every family was getting a salary of 18 Cyprus pounds a month, provided by Turkey. After the 1974 Turkish intervention and the creation of a Turkish Cypriot-administered territory gradually an economy started to prosper in northern Cyprus. Salaries started to differ, depending on position and duty performed. The "equality of all" mentality, however, did not change. Perhaps living on an island with strong feelings of togetherness and solidarity as well as because the community was so small and everyone knew each other with almost most discreet individual details, the Turkish Cypriot society remained a society of "equals" but in a way "class" was rediscovered.

As Greek Cypriots get away with the internationally recognized Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriot state remains unrecognized and thus cut off from the international community of nations, after the first few boom years of the post-1974 period frustration and isolation, feelings started to sink in deep in Turkish Cypriot people, encouraging them to seek a future somewhere else. To avoid massive migration, consecutive Ankara and Turkish Cypriot governments applied a systematic policy of enrolling the northern Cypriot population in state offices, eventually converting the small state into a territory with an incredibly high publicly employed population. Worse, to provide room for fresh recruitments, early retirement programs were introduced and people in their late 30s or early 40s were retired with full pensions. With some exaggeration, of course, one may easily say that almost everyone in northern Cyprus is either working in a public office or retired from public work.

Furthermore, political incentives -- trying to avoid the "political bribes" term out of courtesy to my people -- provided before each and every election over the past almost 40 years produced some awkward results. For example it is perhaps not possible anywhere else on the world for a person to receive four different pension checks every month. Of course not all pensioners receive more than one check a month, but it is a fact that there are many such people.

Still, with around $300 million in subsidies every year from Turkey, the Turkish Cypriot economy was able to fund the budget of the government. After the 2001 crisis in Turkey, which naturally had a very serious spill over into the northern economy, the public-financing deficit in the north started to increase, reaching an annual $850 million.

Over the past 20 years, indeed, various programs were initiated to boost the Turkish Cypriot economy, which was hit hard by international isolation and exclusion from international commercial interaction. Each time either because of peace talks or parliamentary or local elections in northern Cyprus, those programs were all shelved.

Now, Ankara is saying whatever happens at the peace talks or elections and such domestic political developments in northern Cyprus it wants its aid to the island be used for the restructuring of the Turkish Cypriot economy."

Kanli continues his analysis in the second instalment of his article, where he views the economic policies that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government in Ankara is trying to force upon the Turkish Cypriot "government". Kanli argues that since 2004, AKP is trying to divert, at least partially, the financial assistance extended by Turkey for restructuring and thus transforming the Turkish Cypriot economy towards becoming a self-sustainable one. He analyzes the structure of economy in the breakaway regime and notes that it "forced northern Cyprus to integrate further with Turkey, or to become a zone living on subsidies from Turkey."

Moreover, he explains the relation of the economic status with the Cyprus problem: "All through these years at seminars, panels and round-table discussions this writer was trying to explain to Greek Cypriot and European or American colleagues, academics and diplomats that the isolation of the north might eventually be detrimental to prospects of a settlement to the Cyprus problem as more Turkish Cypriots were made into an outcast of the international community, the more they feel compelled to integrate further with Turkey; one day, thus, northern Cyprus might be no different than Bodrum or Alanya or any of those nice Turkish towns on the Aegean or the Mediterranean coasts. That is, it might become an area where Turkishness is protected and promoted while the Cypriot character and the Turkish Cypriots will indeed vanish from the island. And he says: "Thus, the more isolation of northern Cyprus continues the more prospect of a settlement of the Cyprus problem will be hurt. Furthermore, the longer the isolation is continuing, more mainland Turks will settle in Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots migrate abroad and eventually it will no longer be possible to talk of existence for a Turkish Cypriot cultural and ethnic presence in northern Cyprus.

A while ago, talking with this writer, Greek Cypriot Archbishop Christostomos enraged mainland Turks living in northern Cyprus by describing them as "parasites" that in a settlement accord must be "kicked off" the island. However, international isolation and the consequent failure to develop a self-sufficient economic infrastructure for their non-recognized state made the Turkish Cypriot people some sort of a parasite surviving on blood, or subsidies, from Turkey.

Turkey was of course naturally responsible for the development of such an awkward Turkey-dependent people and state in northern Cyprus given the fact that if the Turkish market were opened to Turkish Cypriot exports and mainland entrepreneurs, rather than unqualified and cheap labour, northern Cyprus could indeed become an outstanding success, a paradise. Yet, probably because it wanted to be always the "generous big brother" who should always be obeyed ? as it is funding the Turkish Cypriot state ? particularly after the 1995 customs union deal with Europe, Ankara became as difficult and unreachable a market to Turkish Cypriots as any other country might be.

In the mean time, to overcome rampant unemployment and the consequent high migration rate, enrolment in public offices was continued; a giant public sector in a dwarf land and population was created." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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