Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-07-08

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[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu expresses his satisfaction after the Geneva meeting

[02] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the outcome of the Geneva tripartite meeting

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the results of the Geneva meeting

[04] Elcil compares Erdogan's visit to the occupied area of Cyprus to Hitler's visit to occupied France during the Second World War

[05] Yorgancioglu said that they should respect Erdogan's visit

[06] Davutoglu arrives tomorrow in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] Kucuk congratulates Erdogan for his new Cabinet

[08] Another person arrested for the attack against Afrika; The gun and the bullets came from Turkey

[09] Denktas discharged from hospital; He will continue his treatment in Ankara

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Statements by Eroglu after the Geneva meeting

[11] How the Turkish press covered the tripartite Geneva summit

[12] Tasks were allocated among the Turkish Prime Minister and the four Deputy Prime Ministers; Besir Atalay responsible for Cyprus

[13] Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey welcomes the formation of the EU Ministry in Turkey

[14] Davutoglu and Clinton hold a telephone coversation

[15] Turkey's Constitutional Court overturns Kurdish politician's appeal on his dropped Parliament membership

[16] "Turkish deep state and Cyprus"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

The papers refer also to a congratulating message sent by Irsen Kucuk to Erdogan on the occasion of the establishment of the 61st Turkish Government in Ankara, the appointment of Besir Atalay as Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister responsible for Cyprus, the developments regarding Rauf Denktas' health who was discharged from illegal YDU's hospital and transferred to Turkey on a plane of the Turkish Armed Forces, and a joint protest by TDP and DP in front of the "assembly" against the policies followed by the UBP "government".

[01] Eroglu expresses his satisfaction after the Geneva meeting

In statements yesterday after the tripartite meeting in Geneva, Eroglu expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the meaning bi-zonality from the property point of view was clarified with this meeting. Eroglu noted that the Turkish Cypriot side has taken a step on the issue of negotiating the territory without entering into the discussion of the map. He expressed the view that the process will gain acceleration by this "step".

Noting that they would carry out intensified negotiations until October and that afterwards they would meet in New York, Eroglu said: "That is, even though the way of how the process will continue and what our next steps will be have not entirely been included in the official statement, these have indirectly come up. The Secretary-General will see the situation that will come up during the intensified process until October, he will see whether an agreement could be achieved and determine a road map for himself. However, in any case, I could say that the view of an agreement by the end of the year is predominant".

Eroglu argued that they behaved positively, they put forward positive views for a viable agreement and the UN Secretary-General had a positive approach to all the proposals.

Eroglu alleged the following: "Christofias has been repeating very often that we oppose to the correlated discussion of the property with the territory. On both, in the latest report of the UN Secretary-General and in the negotiations it was agreed that the map will be the very last issue of discussion. However, for the sake of achieving progress in the territory, we said 'we could discuss the other criteria of the property'".

Eroglu said that the criteria in the territory are known. He noted that they are satisfied from the meeting in Geneva and argued that the UN liked the views of the Turkish Cypriot side.

"The important thing for us is that we are at a point of being able to see our future after this meeting", he said.

Responding to a question, he said that they left the discussion of the map outside their proposal because the two leaders had agreed on this issue. He noted that "the map could be discussed during the last week when agreement is reached on all chapters". "The Greek Cypriot side might have some wishes, but our effort is to reach an agreement which could be accepted by the Turkish Cypriot people", he said.

Eroglu noted that the UN Secretary-General felt the need of referring to an international conference in case convergence is achieved in the chapters of the negotiations. Eroglu reiterated that this was a proposal made by the Turkish side in January and added that this was important for them.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the outcome of the Geneva tripartite meeting

Ertugrul Hasipoglu, general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), said that he does not believe that there will be any result, recalling that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the same things during the New York summit. Hasipoglu added that this time Ban called the leaders for a new meeting in October.

Noting the importance of the interests of the international forces in the Cyprus settlement, Hasipoglu said that the political will of the two communities living in Cyprus is not so valid and added that there will not be a solution if these international forces are not been forced to.

Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that the two sides in the tripartite meeting in Geneva agreed that there is nothing new, adding that it seems there is no rapprochement between the two sides.

Ozkan Yorgancioglu, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to talk the territory issue, without a map. He added that this showed that a door was found to overcome the deadlock points.

Yorgancioglu said that although a date has not been determined yet, an international conference by the end of this year is expected, showing that the UN gives importance to the matter. He concluded saying that as CTP, they will continue to exert the necessary effort to help for the solution of the problem.

Ramazan Ozcelik, deputy leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), said that a timetable was expected, adding that ORP is against to open-ended negotiations that will continue for another 30 years. He also said that ORP supports an international conference, however, this conference should be convened prior to the Cyprus EU presidency.

Ozcelik reiterated that the ORP supports the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu in the negotiation table, adding that they will not adopt any agreement that will lower the status of the Turkish Cypriots to a minority like the Maronites and make them patch to the Greek Cypriots.

Bengu Sonya, general secretary of the Democrat Party (DP), said that the United Nations exert great effort and the results of the tripartite meeting in Geneva were expected.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the results of the Geneva meeting

Daily Kibris newspaper refers to the issue under the title: "'Good news from Geneva" and reports that the intensification of the process with the aim of finding a solution by the end of the year was decided in Geneva. The paper describes the statements made after the meeting as "hopeful".

Under the title: "The Turkish side is satisfied", Gunes newspaper argues that the Turkish side has made a "new opening" by proposing that the discussion of the territory issue could start, but without reference to a map. The paper writes that the statements made by Ban Ki-moon were in harmony with the Turkish side's demand for a time limit to the process.

Daily Star Kibris refers to the developments under the title: "Opening on the territory" and argues that the Greek Cypriot side "petrified" during the meeting when the Turkish Cypriot side said that it is ready to discuss the territory except the issue of the map and the numbers. Star Kibris' editor-in-chief, Sefa Karahasan writes in his daily column that three important steps were taken in Geneva. The one is the step of the Turkish side on the territory, by which it "stopped being the side that blocks the negotiations". The second important step, according to Karahasan, is the timetable in the process and the third is the agreement between the sides that the two constituent states will have the majority of property and population in their own territory.

Under the title: "You have three months time", daily Haberdar reports that contrary to his positive statements after the summit, Ban Ki-moon talked very tough and decisively behind closed doors.

Under the title: "Time limit until October", Ortam newspaper reports that the intensification of the negotiations until October on the issues of basic disagreements between the sides was decided in Geneva yesterday.

Under the title: "The role of the UN is upgraded", daily Havadis newspaper reports that important decisions were taken during the meeting in Geneva.

Halkin Sesi covers the meeting under the title: "Full speed until October".

Daily Vatan newspaper refers to the developments under the title: "Surprise on the 'territory' by the Turkish side at the Geneva summit".

Daily Volkan refers to the same issue under the title: "Surprising opening".

Daily Kibrisli newspaper covers the issue in its inside pages under the title: "Intensified negotiations on the fundamental issues!"

Daily Yeniduzen newspaper refers to the meeting under the title: "Intensification until October".

Daily Afrika newspaper reports that there were no surprises at the Geneva meeting. The paper refers to the stance of the United Nations under the title: "Neither party suffers damage by the UN".

Daily Bakis newspaper refers to the issue under the title: "They will be intensified".

Weekly Yenicag newspaper covers the issue under the title: "Beating of the air continues".

(I/Ts.)

[04] Elcil compares Erdogan's visit to the occupied area of Cyprus to Hitler's visit to occupied France during the Second World War

In a written statement issued yesterday, Elcil noted that Erdogan's visit to the occupied area of Cyprus had absolutely no difference from the visit of Adolf Hitler to occupied France during the Second World War. "Cyprus may be your hostage today, but the Cypriots will never become hostages", said Elcil addressing to Erdogan.

Elcil noted that the ruling in Turkey Justice and Development Party (AKP) is insincere on the issue of finding a solution in Cyprus and added that Erdogan is wrong if he thinks that the Turkish Cypriots will forgive him for stating that Turkey feeds the Turkish Cypriots.

"Moreover, the mentality, which ignores the Turkish Cypriots who reacted against him and describes them as marginal, has absolutely nothing to give us", he noted.

Afrika writes that Erdogan will be received with protests.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Yorgancioglu said that they should respect Erdogan's visit

Commenting on the news that there will be a demonstration against Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, who will visit the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus on 19-20 July, Yorgancioglu said: "If a Prime Minister of a foreign country comes, he is a guest, he should be respected. The feelings of the Turkish Cypriots should be transferred to him in a sincere environment. Everyone has the right of demonstration, this is undeniable, however, it is not so right the feelings and sensitivities to be transferred in a different agenda."

Asked to comment on the issue of the fenced off town of Varosha which is back in agenda with Erdogan's visit, Yorgancioglu said that "when we are talking about the opening of the fenced off town of Varosha, there are two meanings. The first one is the opening to the Turkish Cypriots and the second meaning is the opening for the Greek Cypriots". He added that "if the fenced off town of Varosha opens for inhabitation by the Turkish Cypriots, then, they, as CTP, are against it, because this will deepen more the Cyprus problem". However, Yorgancioglu said that the opening of the fenced off town of Varosha for the inhabitation by the Greek Cypriots as in exchange of some conditions like the launching of international flights from and to the occupied airport of Tymbou and the opening of the ports, then the subject may be discussed.

[06] Davutoglu arrives tomorrow in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[07] Kucuk congratulates Erdogan for his new Cabinet

Kucuk said that the "TRNC government" will continue its efforts towards reaching a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem, which will prevent the "Cyprus Turkish people" from experiencing the same bitter experiences of the past. He also added that they will continue to work towards realizing the joint targets agreed with "motherland" Turkey.

Kucuk noted that he was also pleased to hear that Erdogan will be attending the ceremonies of the breakaway regime on the anniversary of the July 20 Turkish Invasion in Cyprus.

[08] Another person arrested for the attack against Afrika; The gun and the bullets came from Turkey

Kibris writes that yesterday Yalcin was taken to "court" which ordered him to remain in custody for another eight days.

The "police" said that Yalcin entered into the occupied area of Cyprus through the occupied port of Keryneia on 1 July and brought his gun and his bullets with him.

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (08.07.11) refers to the issue under the title: "Another one arrested" and reports that Polat was arrested because it is believed that he helped Yalcin. According to the paper, the two suspects said they did not know each other, but during the "police" investigation, it was established that they had been working at the same bread factory.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Denktas discharged from hospital; He will continue his treatment in Ankara

According to the paper, it was made known that Denktas will continue his physiotherapy at the Rehabilitation Centre of the Turkish General Staff.

In his statements after being discharged, Denktas thanked the rector of the "Near East University" and the doctors for the treatment he received.

(AK)

[B] TURKISH PRES

[10] Statements by Eroglu after the Geneva meeting

Speaking to reporters after the trilateral meeting with President Demetris Christofias and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Geneva, Eroglu said: "In any circumstance, I can say that a sign or an understanding has presented itself over a settlement by the end of this year."

According to AA, the Cypriot leaders have on Thursday agreed to boost negotiations over a number of hard-to-solve issues in their UN-brokered talks aimed at reunifying the eastern Mediterranean island. The Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot leaders pledged to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to hold an intensified round of talks until October to work a number of key issues that might facilitate a settlement.

Eroglu said the Geneva meeting had produced an outline where the settlement negotiation might lead to, adding that "in October the Secretary-General will decide on a road map of his liking after assessing the results of the intensified talks."

Meanwhile, Eroglu said on Thursday that he would not be affected by moves such as the flag crisis caused by the "Greek Cypriot administration" [Tr. Note: the Government of Cyprus] in Geneva. He added that the Turkish Cypriot "people" had charged him to carry out negotiations with the "Greek Cypriot administration", and to ensure a lasting and sustainable agreement that could be approved by the Turkish Cypriot "people". "Therefore, such behaviors will not hamper my searches for an agreement on the negotiation table," Eroglu told reporters. Eroglu's remarks came after he had to change the hotel he was staying in Geneva due to a flag crisis.

As it is reported, Eroglu implied that the "Greek Cypriot administration" pressed on the hotel not to hoist the "TRNC flag". "When they did not hoist our flag, we had to move to another hotel and our flag is hoisted there," Eroglu said, adding that the two parties should digest each other, and respect each other's rights, and they should not ignore the facts. "Not being able to digest each other when we are trying to reach a deal in the light of facts, can naturally harm the sincere atmosphere on the negotiation table," Eroglu also said.

[11] How the Turkish press covered the tripartite Geneva summit

Following are the titles of the papers:

Sabah: "The Cyprus problem will be solved by the end of the year". Subtitle: "Surprise Land proposal". The paper writes also that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has proposed negotiating the issue of land distribution.

Cumhuriyet: "Intensified talks until October". The paper writes that Ban Ki-moon expressed his pleasure after the Geneva summit over the determination of the two leaders.

Hurriyet: "Geneva Summit: You should agree until October". The paper correspondent in occupied Lefkosia, Omer Bilge writes that the UN Secretary General gave four months time to the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot leaders to negotiate on all issues of the Cyprus problem and asked for a new appointment in New York in October. Bilge underlines that the "TRNC" made a surprise step during the meeting and an opening on the land issue.

Hurriyet (online): "Proposal by Eroglu for the opening of the "Territory issue" at the negotiations".

Aksam: "The UN gave time until October".

Zaman: "Intensified talks to start in Cyprus". "Surprise proposal from the Turkish side during the meeting in Geneva".

Taraf: "The territory chapter is possible to be discussed during the talks".

Yeni Safak: "Solve the problem until October". "There is a progress at the Geneva summit on Cyprus".

(AK)

[12] Tasks were allocated among the Turkish Prime Minister and the four Deputy Prime Ministers; Besir Atalay responsible for Cyprus

According to the paper, the new Cabinet made an announcement on its first meeting, selecting Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc as the government's new Spokesperson. Arinc will also be responsible for leading state-run media agencies. He will now be in charge of institutions, including the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), the Ankara Anatolia news agency (A.A) and the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK). He will also handle relations with the Council of State.

As Arinc said, the 21 Cabinet Ministers will each have a Deputy, but the issue had not yet reached the agenda, adding that the details of the legal and social status and appointment procedures for Deputy Ministers would be revealed in a decree to be issued within 15 days.

The following agencies will remain the Prime Minister's responsibility: National Security Council (MGK); the General Secretary; the National Intelligence Organization (MIT); the Housing Development Administration (TOKI); and the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT), which promotes Turkey's investment climate and assists investors.

Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan will be in charge of the Central Bank and Undersecretary of the Treasury and banks while Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay will handle coordination works on Cyprus and the Anti-Terror High Council. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag will be responsible for Parliament and the Religious Affairs Directorate.

As it is reported, the Government's program will be read in Parliament on Friday. In accordance with the internal regulations, a vote of confidence is expected to take place next Wednesday.

[13] Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey welcomes the formation of the EU Ministry in Turkey

Marc Pierini, who arrived in the eastern province of Erzurum to attend the inauguration of an EU Information Centre, paid a visit to the city's Governor Sebahattin Ozturk. Speaking during the meeting, he reffrred to the visit of Stefan Fule's to Turkey, noting that Turkey's adhesion negotiations would be on the agenda of the EU Commissioner's visit.

[14] Davutoglu and Clinton hold a telephone coversation

[15] Turkey's Constitutional Court overturns Kurdish politician's appeal on his dropped Parliament membership

Following June 12th general elections, Turkey's Higher Election Board (YSK) stripped Hatip Dicle, an independent MP, of his Parliament seat due to a past conviction. According to the Constitution, those who are sentenced to imprisonment terms of a year or more cannot be elected as MP's. Dicle lost his chance to become a lawmaker since he was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison.

Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office with Special Authority had filed a lawsuit on March 31, 2008 against Dicle on charges of disseminating propaganda of the PKK. In 2009, Ankara Criminal Court sentenced him to one year and eight months in prison, but Dicle appealed the verdict. The Supreme Court of Appeals' Criminal Department upheld Dicle's prison term in March 2011.

The article says: "YSK shall execute all the functions to ensure the fair and orderly conduct of the elections from the beginning to the end of polling, carry out investigations and take final decisions on all irregularities, complaints and objections concerning the elections during and after the polling, and verify the election returns of the members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. No appeal shall be made to any authority against the decisions of the YSK."

[16] "Turkish deep state and Cyprus"

"On Wednesday I told you how the Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT) threatened Baskin Oran and others. I also said that I share Oran's conclusion that there is a direct link between the Ergenekon process and the reactivation of this old fascist cell, which was responsible for bloody attacks and assassinations in Turkey in the past.

I said that I shared Oran's way of thinking in linking TIT's new threats and the fact that the 'Ergenekon cases were not probing deeply in the right direction'. I received some inquiries from my readers, who asked what exactly I meant by this 'right direction'.

The Ergenekon cases, unfortunately, a focus too much on alleged coup attempts against this Government and the prosecutors turn a blind eye to many individual crimes that are somehow connected to this gang.

I have tried to explain some of them before in this column. I mentioned crimes committed against Kurds and non-Muslim in Turkey and their possible connections with the Ergenekon gang. These links are not being followed properly.

Today I would like to tell you about other possible crime links that are connected to the Ergenekon gang and that are, unfortunately, not being investigated at all.

While Oran was being threatened, a murder attempt occurred in northern Cyprus. Mustafa Yalcin, an ultra-nationalist Turkish citizen from Turkey attempted to kill Sener Levent, editor-in-chief of the Africa newspaper, which had previously been bombed and attacked. The attacker said he wanted to kill the editor because of his newspaper's anti-Turkey and anti-Turkish Cyprus stance.

Was it a coincidence that the threats by TIT in Turkey and the attacks in Cyprus started simultaneously? Maybe.

When Ergenekon suspects carried out an armed attack to kill judges in the Council of State in 2006, at exactly the same time explosives were planted in the car of Ali Osman Tabak, a columnist of the Africa newspaper in Cyprus. Was this timing a coincidence? Maybe.

When Kutlu Adali, a well-known dissident with regard to the status quo in Cyprus, was killed in 1996, the Turkish Gladio's (Ergenekon) hitman Abdullah Catli was in the island. Was this a coincidence, I don't think so.

There are many interesting facts I think; and none of them were a coincidence. Did you know that many Ergenekon suspects are citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) [Tr. Note: the breakaway regime in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus] as well as citizens of Turkey?

From the Ergenekon files, we know that Ergenekon suspects were in northern Cyprus before the Annan plan was voted on. They of course tried to convince the Turkish Cypriots to reject the Annan plan. While in the island, Turkish Cypriot leader [Mehmet Ali] Talat's home and Kibris daily were bombed. Ergenekon suspect and retired Adm. Ozden Ornek's diaries clearly show how they worked in TRNC against the Annan plan.

Let's read from Ornek's diaries together:

'February 5, 2004, Thursday. To ensure that everyone in Cyprus takes to the streets in protest of the Annan plan and to trigger similar anti-government incidents in the motherland in support of these protests?

February 28, 2004, Saturday. We met with the force commanders at our home at 2 p.m. Our aim was to discuss the Cyprus issue and evaluate numerous private and confidential letters [former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf] Denktas had sent to us. ? As a reaction to the government, rallies both in Cyprus and in the motherland and meetings at a national level will kick off on March 3.'

I can show you many other connections: TIT's hitman, Ergenekon suspect Semih Tufan Gunaltay, who tried to kill Akin Birdal, former president of the Human Rights Association, was a KKTC citizen.

As stated by its founder, Ismail Tansu, the Turkish Resistance Organization in Cyprus was directly created by the Special Warfare Centre (former Ergenekon extension) in Ankara.

This list can be extended for many other incidents and links between Cyprus and Ergenekon. In spite of all these clear connections, though, Ergenekon prosecutors unfortunately failed to investigate any of Ergenekon's activities in Cyprus. When I say 'deepening Ergenekon investigation', I mean following all these links and others.

Unless we follow these links, we will never know if there are connections between, for example, the threats Oran received and the attempted assassination of the editor-in-chief of the Africa newspaper in Cyprus.

And, as long as we are unable to identify these possible connections, we always risk leaving fertile ground to clandestine criminal networks like Ergenekon. I really wish our prosecutors had followed every possible link to bring down these organizations which have blood on its hands." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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