Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-06-08

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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] Eroglu said that the important point is the details of a federal settlement

[02] Durust said that Turkish Cypriot students graduating from the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus would not be able to enjoy any benefits

[03] More reactions on the illegal DAU decision

[04] Search and rescue drills to be held in occupied Cyprus mid of June

[05] So-called finance minister met with Turkish businessmen

[06] Gunay Cerkez gives figures on the exports to "south Cyprus" in the framework of the Green Line Regulation

[07] Turkey will launch a new project worth 20 million TL for "municipalities"

[08] KADEM's survey on the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Ozersay's contacts in New York

[10] Ankara to Vienna: Do not exploit the OSCE appointment process

[11] Arrests regarding the bootleg alcohol were made

[12] No Syrians blocked from entering Turkey, Foreign Ministry says

[13] Journalists protest Turkish President's linking of media with terrorists

[14] Turkish Parliament's 24th term to begin after the 12 of June elections

[15] Turks upbeat about their country's economy, foreign policy, Pew survey shows

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu said that the important point is the details of a federal settlement

Speaking on the program, Eroglu commented on the Cyprus problem and said that preparations for the tripartite summit to be held with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the 7th of July in Geneva, Switzerland were continuing full speed.

Pointing out that the international community's expectations from the Turkish side, which for years has been genuinely working in favour of a solution, have not ended, Eroglu said that everyone was talking about a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal settlement. He however said that the important point is the details of the federal settlement.

Responding to another question, Eroglu also said that he was constantly thinking about the concerns of the public.

Reminding that past and present "TRNC governments" have always had a positive dialogue with Turkey, Eroglu said that Turkey always adopted the policy of allowing the "TRNC" to make its own decisions and to prepare its own projects.

[02] Durust said that Turkish Cypriot students graduating from the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus would not be able to enjoy any benefits

Prestigious universities included in the program are the Middle East Technical University, the Ankara University and the Istanbul Technical University.

The new practice follows an agreement reached between the Higher Education Institution (YOK) and the self-styled ministry of national education and sports.

Students who apply for admission using their A-levels will not be evaluated within the contingent allocated to "TRNC students" by the Turkish University Entrance Examination System.

Commenting on the new development, self-styled minister of national education Kemal Durust said that the new practice came into force following their persistence on the matter.

He said that the new practice aimed at preventing the "brain-drain" to third countries, enabling "TRNC students" to receive education at Turkish universities at more affordable prices and to create equal opportunities between standard high schools and private and English medium schools.

Durust also pointed out that Turkish Cypriot students graduating from secondary schools in the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus would not be able to benefit from the new practice.

[03] More reactions on the illegal DAU decision

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (08.06.11) reports that DAU-SEN trade Union and the Trade Union Platform will carry out today in front of the "assembly" building a protest in order to express their dissatisfaction on the decision taken by illegal DAU to transfer its pre-university institutions to Doga College.

Also, as the paper writes, a delegation of DAU-SEN trade union paid yesterday a visit to the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) and the United Cyprus Party (BKP) asking for their support on the issue.

In his statements during the meeting, Mehmet Cakici, chairman of TDP stated, inter alia, that the decision taken by "DAU" is illegal and wondered where the tenders are, if the real goal is the privatization of the "university".

Also speaking, Izzet Izcan, chairman of BKP said that it is unacceptable the decision taken for selling the educational institutions of "DAU" to Fethullah Gulen's movement, that they will continue their struggle against this kind of illegal actions adding that they will file a lawsuit on the issue.

Commenting on the illegal DAU decision, Serdar Denktas, chairman of DP, stated yesterday in a written statement that the protocol signed by illegal DAU and Doga College is unacceptable and said that with this protocol they are trying to make fun with the people. Denktas went on adding that the DP will support the people in every step they will decide to take.

On the same issue, Ali Gulle, "deputy" with CTP-BG in occupied Famagusta expressed sorrow for the decision taken by "DAU" saying that this kind of initiative reflects the policy which is followed by the "government" for privatizations.

El-Sen trade union in a written statement yesterday accused UBP's "government" for exerting efforts to eradicate the Turkish Cypriots and for not being able to "administrate" the "country".

In his statements also on the issue, Kemal Durust, self-styled minister of education, youth and sports commented on the illegal DAU decision saying that he prefers not to be involved in the discussions about the transferring of educational institutions of "DAU" to Doga College and underlined that "DAU" is an autonomous organization.

(AK)

[04] Search and rescue drills to be held in occupied Cyprus mid of June

[05] So-called finance minister met with Turkish businessmen

Speaking at the dinner, Tatar stated that the "TRNC" exists thanks to "motherland Turkey" and invited the entrepreneurs to enhance their relations with the occupation regime. Tatar, inter alia, referred to the "economic embargoes" allegedly imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, noting that some of the promises given to them by the EU prior to the 2004 Annan Plan referendum have not been fulfilled. On the other hand, he claimed "the side that is expected to make concessions in the ongoing Cyprus negotiations is the Turkish side".

According to the paper, Ahmet Zengin, a "deputy" with the National Unity Party (UBP), accompanied Tatar to Turkey.

[06] Gunay Cerkez gives figures on the exports to "south Cyprus" in the framework of the Green Line Regulation

In his statements, Cerkez said that during the first five months of 2011, products valued at ? 2.5 million were exported from "north Cyprus" to "south Cyprus" within the framework of the Green Line Regulation. According to Cerkez, metal products are holding the first place in the products being exported.

As the paper writes, the exports figures per month (2011) are as follows:

January: ? 482.968.48

February: ? 516. 916. 53

March: ? 414. 609.99

April: ? 604.018.11

May: ? 436.537.49

The paper publishes also the list of products being exported in the free areas of the Republic on May and also during the first five months of 2011. Following are the figures:

Export products-May 2011

                                            Total (First five months)
Construction products           34.316.08   359.864.74
Mineral products                        0   8062.56
Metals                         118.924.39   858.403.16
Chemical products                14.434.1   7309.96
Electrical equipment                    0   0
Furniture                        47.389.3   193.510.47
Live animals and products        101. 227   436.938.34
Fabricated products               2342.38   12.276.88
Writing paper                           0   9020
Plastic products                94.265.02   408.541.42
Prepared aliment                        0   6095.1
Leather goods                           0   0
Textile                           360.000   34.640
Vegetables                         13.715   26.357
Animal and vegetable oil or butter      0        0
Wooden products                  8.364.25   27.931.25
Artifacts and antics                  200   200
Total:                         436.537.49   2.455.000.50.6

[07] Turkey will launch a new project worth 20 million TL for "municipalities"

He announced that the "Turkish embassy" in the occupied part of Lefkosia would also contribute to the "municipalities" in the occupied area with the launch of a new project worth 20 million Turkish Liras.

[08] KADEM's survey on the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot media

The opinion poll was held with the person to person method and with a sample of 854 Turkish Cypriots. The paper reports that the poll showed that the 66% of the participants in the poll said they read Kibris newspaper. According to the poll, the other Turkish Cypriot newspapers in the top 5 are Havadis (9%), Halkin Sesi (7.5%), Afrika (6%) and Yeni Duzen (3%).

Asked about the newspapers they prefer to read online, 21% of the sample responded Kibris and Milliyet, 12% Hurriyet, 6% Sabah, 5% Haber Turk and 4% Havadis and Kibris Postasi.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[09] Ozersay's contacts in New York

Meanwhile, Ozersay also had a meeting with representatives from China and they discussed news reports that China and the Republic of Cyprus would cooperate in the area of defence. Ozersay said that the "TRNC attaches great attention to sensitivities of China but a similar attention was not shown to the ones of the TRNC".

[10] Ankara to Vienna: Do not exploit the OSCE appointment process

Austrian People's Party (OVP) and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said on Monday that Turkey's veto was "totally incomprehensible and baseless."

Spindelegger also said that he had agreed with Turkish President Abdullah Gul that the two countries would not obstruct each other's nominations of candidates for positions in international organizations when Gul visited Austria last month. The Turkish Government vehemently denied that such an arrangement was made.

The issue became an agenda item during a reception held prior to a buffet dinner hosted by Austrian President Heinz Fischer in honour of visiting President Gul during his official visit to Austria on May 2-4, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a written statement released on Tuesday.

The issue was discussed in a brief conversation among Gul and Spindelegger during the aforementioned reception, the spokesperson said.

"During the meeting, President didn't make any commitment such as Turkey's non-objection to the appointment of Austria's former Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik as the OSCE Secretary-General; on the contrary, he emphasized the strong position of our Secretary-General candidate Ersin Ercin," the spokesperson said.

"We feel sad Turkey's well-intentioned efforts for the smooth functioning of the appointment process for Secretary-General is being exploited and that the issue is being reflected in public opinion in this way," the spokesperson concluded.

Diplomatic sources, meanwhile, told Today's Zaman that there have been unethical political moves to block Turkey's candidacy to the post since the very beginning of the process. Turkey has been treated extremely unfairly, diplomatic sources, speaking under the customary condition of anonymity, said.

The sources pointed out that by presenting Mrs Plassnik as a candidate, Austria has ignored a well-established customary principle that the host country does not propose candidates for senior posts.

[11] Arrests regarding the bootleg alcohol were made

Specifically, the owner of an alcohol factory in Mersin was arrested and as it was claimed, the detainee, with name initials L.A., is a partner in the firm operating in occupied Cyprus, from which the alcoholic drinks were imported to Turkey. During the operation in the Mersin factory, the police also confiscated invoices issued in the name of the same firm.

[12] No Syrians blocked from entering Turkey, Foreign Ministry says

Syrians wounded in the north-western town of Jisr Al-Shughour have been fleeing with their families and gradually entering Turkey over the weekend, a diplomat from the Turkish Foreign Ministry told the Hurriyet Daily News on Tuesday. The diplomat said there are currently 259 Syrian refugees in Turkey and 35 of them are hospitalized.

Fevzi Zakiro
lu, a member of the Syrian opposition group "The Turkey Committee of the Damascus Declaration" claimed, however, that although Turkish authorities let the wounded Syrians to be treated in Turkish hospitals, dozens of other fleeing families were stopped at the border.

The Foreign Ministry official denied the claims, saying some Syrian families were delivering their wounded relatives to Turkey and then waiting at the border for their return. "Those who are waiting at the border might be perceived as not being allowed in," the diplomat said. Due to a reciprocal visa agreement between Syria and Turkey, anyone who shows his or her passport at the border can cross from one country to the other anyway, the diplomat added.

The Turkish diplomat also said there were many Syrians who fled to Turkey without their passports over the weekend. "How do they explain the fact that we have 259 Syrians in the shelter tents right now?" the diplomat asked.

Dozens of Syrians fearing a harsh crackdown fled into Turkey over the weekend, mainly from Jisr Al-Shughour, a Syrian town approximately 20 kilometres away from the Turkish border. Those who fled have crossed the border gradually and there has not been a massive immigration wave to Turkey, the Turkish diplomat said.

[13] Journalists protest Turkish President's linking of media with terrorists

"We are also shocked by the President's latest statement that 'Journalists are not on trial for their writings, but for being members of illegal organizations, armed and violent organizations, and [for being] people who are violent themselves,'" Media Institute Association deputy chairman Kadri Gursel said in a statement on behalf of the entire Freedom to Journalists Platform (GOP). The statement was made at a press conference in the Istanbul offices of the Turkish Journalists Association.

President Gul made these remarks Monday while answering a question posed by a student at the College of Europe's Natolin Campus, where he participated in a conference. On Tuesday, however, Gul clarified that he did not meant all journalists, but said: "There are [also] some journalists in jail who are suspected [to have assisted] terrorist or illegal armed organizations."

The President also said he still had concerns regarding the most recent arrests of journalists, referring to the cases of Nedim Sener and Ahmet S1
k, and added that the legal provisions regarding the time spent under arrest had to be reviewed, according to an Anatolia news agency report on Tuesday.

"Gul upheld the state's stance in his statement. As long as the anti-terror law is not changed, there can be no journalism or journalists in the country's eastern and southeastern regions. This is so upsetting," TGC Deputy Chairman Turgay Olcaytur told the Daily News on Tuesday, adding that he believed in freedom of expression, as long as thoughts are not turned into actions.

"Freedom of the media is the freedom of people to be informed, thus when the first is violated, the latter is too," he said.

Imprisoned journalists must be immediately released pending trial, the GOP said in its statement, adding that although there was less than one week left before the June 12 general election, political parties made no comments on how they would guarantee press freedom.

"We as journalists cannot stand this situation. Nowadays journalists in Turkey are faced with more than 10.000 court cases for the news they have prepared or written. Some 70 arrested or charged journalists are in prison," Gursel said in the group's statement.

The platform, which brings together journalists, researchers and writers who are members of 93 local and national professional organizations, urged political parties to change their aggressive and insulting attitude against journalists, release all journalists pending trial and review and amend related laws, particularly the penal, media, penal procedure and anti-terror laws.

"The fines charged to media outlets should not cause bankruptcy, the special courts should be lifted and the civil servants who leak secret documents must be penalized," the GOP said in its statement.

The platform also said that authorities had prevented its members from paying visits to journalists in jail in Ankara and in the southeastern province of Diyarbak1
r without giving any justification. "We will keep making requests to visit imprisoned journalists," TGC Secretary-General Sibel Gunes told the Daily News, adding that they believed their request had been rejected because of the upcoming elections.

[14] Turkish Parliament's 24th term to begin after the 12 of June elections

In accordance with the Parliament's bylaw, the general assembly will convene at 3 p.m. on the fifth day after the official results of the parliamentary elections are broadcast on the state-run TRT channels.

New parliamentarians are expected to take oath on June 24, Friday.

Article 81 of the Constitution says that members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, on assuming office, shall take the following oath:

"I swear upon my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation, to safeguard the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of the country and the nation, and the absolute sovereignty of the nation; to remain loyal to the supremacy of law, to the democratic and secular Republic, and to Ataturk's principles and reforms; not to deviate from the ideal according to which everyone is entitled to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms under peace and prosperity in society, national solidarity and justice, and loyalty to the Constitution."

After the oath-taking ceremony, the Parliament will suspend its works for election of Parliament Speaker. During the 5-day recess, candidates for the post of the Parliament Speaker will be determined. Election is expected to be held on June 29.

After the Parliament elects its new Parliament Speaker, the process on formation of new Government will start.

The new Parliament is expected to recess at the end of July and new legislative year is expected to begin on October 1.

[15] Turks upbeat about their country's economy, foreign policy, Pew survey shows

The survey released by Pew Research Center as part of its Global Attitudes Project on Tuesday said at a time when publics around the world generally remain gloomy about their economies, Turks are becoming more positive and that this bodes well for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) which is believed to win a landslide victory this Sunday.

The survey revealed that under Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has played a more assertive role in international affairs, and most Turks give the Prime Minister positive marks on foreign policy: 62% have confidence that he will do the right thing in world affairs.

Results for the survey are based on telephone and person to person interviews. All surveys are based on national samples except in Pakistan where the samples were disproportionately urban.

Moreover, Erdogan is also popular in neighbouring Arab nations ? most Egyptians, Jordanians, Lebanese, and Palestinians express confidence in the Turkish leader. In contrast, solid majorities in Israel, Germany, Spain, and France have little or no confidence in him.

The survey was conducted from March 21 to April 26 in many countries both in Europe and the Middle East.

The poll also shows that while Turks continue to favour joining the European Union, enthusiasm for EU accession has waned in recent years. And there is no consensus about whether Turkey's future lies more with Europe or the Middle East: 17% of Turks believe their country should look to Europe in the future; 25% say the Middle East; and 37% volunteer that both regions are equally important.

Turks are almost evenly divided about the current direction of their country: 49% are dissatisfied with the way things are going and 48% are satisfied. This is a notable improvement from last year, the survey said, when 60% were dissatisfied and 38% were satisfied. "And it is a dramatic change from 2009, when three-in-four Turks felt the country was on the wrong track," the report noted.

The survey unveiled that currently, 49% say the economy is in good shape, while 48% describe economic conditions as bad.

In the spring 2010, Pew Global Attitudes survey, 65% rated the economy poorly and just 34% said it was in good shape.

Turkish assessments of the economy are much more positive today than when Erdo
an won office nearly a decade ago. In a 2002 poll, conducted a few months before Erdogan's AKP won its first national election, only 14% said that economic conditions were good. By the next national election in 2007, this had risen to 46%.

According to the survey, as the global economy started to slump, Turkish views about their economic situation turned negative in 2008, and stayed negative through 2010, before recovering to some extent in the current poll.

In foreign affairs, survey revealed that about six-in-ten (62%) Turks have a lot or some confidence in Erdogan to do the right thing in world affairs; while one-third have little or no confidence in him.

The survey shows that Erdogan is also popular in a number of neighbouring Arab nations. Egyptians (78%), Jordanians (72%), and Lebanese (64%) express confidence in the Turkish Prime Minister. This is more than Turkey itself, where confidence on Erdo
an stands at 62%.

In the Palestinian territories, Erdogan receives somewhat less support than in other Arab nations, with 52% expressing confidence in the Turkish leader and 47% saying they have little or no confidence in him. Surprisingly, he is much more popular in the West Bank (61%) than in Gaza (35%).

Israelis overwhelmingly assign Erdogan negative ratings ? only 9% express confidence in him, while 87% lack confidence. However, among Israel's minority Arab community, Erdogan is generally popular, with 60% voicing confidence in him. Nearly all Israel Jews surveyed (95%) express little or no confidence.

The survey noted that the Prime Minister also fares poorly in Western Europe ? clear majorities in Germany (69%), Spain (63%), and France (59%) give Erdogan a negative assessment.

But the country also receives a positive rating in much of Europe, including Russia (66% favourable), France (61%), Ukraine (58%), and Britain (54%). Fully 83% of Israelis have an unfavourable opinion of Turkey, although once again there are significant differences between the country's Jewish (5% favourable) and Arab (68% favourable) communities. In Germany, home to a large Turkish minority, just over half (54%) express an unfavourable view of Turkey.

According to the survey, there is no consensus as to whether in the future Turkey should look to Europe (17%) or to the Middle East (25%). Nearly four-in-ten (37%) volunteer that both are equally important, while 6% say that neither are important and 15% do not offer an opinion.

The survey shows only 52% of the public endorses EU membership, while 42% opposes it. The support for EU accession has dropped sixteen percentage points since 2005, when 68% favoured joining the EU.

According to the survey, citizens in most of the EU member nations surveyed support Turkish membership in the organization. Majorities in Spain (62%) and Britain (51%) favour membership, as do pluralities in Lithuania (46%) and Poland (45%).

However, the survey underlined, majorities hold the opposite view in two of the EU's most powerful countries: Germany (71% oppose) and France (61%). The support for Turkish EU membership has slipped slightly in Spain (-6 percentage points), Britain (-6), and Poland (-6) since 2005. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

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