Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-01-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[01] Cakici is re-elected as chairman of TDP; The party suggests a "third policy" on the Cyprus problem

[02] Eroglu evaluates the results of the Greentree summit

[03] Bagis and Davutoglu criticize the European Union over its policy towards the Republic of Cyprus

[04] Talat says the "end" of the Cyprus problem is the solution

[05] General strikes and demonstrations in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

[06] The breakaway regime participated in the ITM Fair in Poland

[07] Data on the economy of the illegal regime for the third quarter of 2011

[08] Davutoglu thanks Clinton for French genocide bill remarks; He will visit Washington next month

[09] Number of imprisoned journalists increases in Turkey

[10] Turkey's population increased to almost 75 million in 2011

[11] The South Korean President to visit Turkey for a possible nuclear accord

[12] Columnist views the impact of new US military strategy on Turkey

[13] Turkish President leaves door open for a Hamas office in Turkey

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

The main issue in today's Turkish daily newspapers is the statement by President Abdullah Gul on reports that Hamas plans to open an office in Turkey. A draft law presented by a Turkish lawmaker on a former military coup leader, remarks by Turkey head of Azeri state-run oil company on plans to manufacture Turkey's first indigenous car and other domestic issues are also covered in today's Turkish press.

[01] Cakici is re-elected as chairman of TDP; The party suggests a "third policy" on the Cyprus problem

Addressing the Congress, Cakici said that TDP's objective is to come to "power" and described TDP as "the last hope". He argued that they are heading towards coming to "power".

He noted that the current "government" is the founder of the existing system in the occupied area of Cyprus and argued that it is not possible to expect from those who established this system to create a "state" standing on its own feet. He recalled that the "police" in the occupied area of Cyprus are bound to the army and that the Turkish Cypriots do not administrate even the "fire brigade". He said that the Turkish Cypriots should also be able to administrate their "security forces" and "central bank".

The Congress adopted unanimously five resolutions. The resolution on the Cyprus problem refers to the recent developments and argues that the sides negotiate by force and not for reaching reconciliation. Noting that first the policy [of the Turkish side] on the Cyprus problem was that the "non-solution is the solution", the resolution pointed out that now the policy changed into "appearing that you are solving [the problem] is the solution". The party expressed the view that a third policy is needed today for the Cyprus problem and this policy should be that "an early democratic and just solution is the solution".

The resolution under the titles "Opening" and "Equal Citizenship", expressed the view that the people, who came from Turkey after 1974 with the "agreement for agricultural working power" [Translator's note: as the illegal Turkish settlers sent to Cyprus within the framework of the colonization of the island are described] and became "citizens" of the regime, are accepted as being equal "citizens". "Every kind of discrimination as regards language, religion and race and every discrimination against all the disadvantaged segments of the society is wrong and contrary to human rights. TDP is against making discriminations among the citizens because of their place of birth", says the resolution.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (30.01.12), mouthpiece of TDP, refers to the Congress under the banner front-page title: "Now it is the time for a third policy' and reports that in his statements Cakici said that the proposal on the cross voting is a proposal made by the TDP, that Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu made a step backwards on this issue and that this is one of the reasons for the negotiations entering into a deadlock. He noted that a wise reconciliation policy is needed in the Cyprus negotiations and not a policy of conflict.

The paper writes that Androulla Kaminara, Representative of the EU Commission in Cyprus, Anna Tourenikova, Ambassador of Slovakia to Lefkosia, and Ozan Ceyhun, representative of the German Social Democrat Party were among the guests in the Congress.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu evaluates the results of the Greentree summit

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Istanbul, Eroglu criticized the Greek Cypriot side for using "its delaying tactics during the Greentree summit", as he alleged: "We put forward proposals on 3 main challenges, but the Greek Cypriot side preferred to postpone its response", Eroglu stated. He also alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side came to the Greentree summit with proposals related to governance and power-sharing, property and citizenship which were received positively by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "From the first day, the Greek Cypriot side postponed its response and wanted to evaluate our proposals in Cyprus", Eroglu claimed. According to Eroglu, Ban is determined to call for a multilateral conference although the Greek Cypriot side had opposed the idea.

"Another Greentree summit will not take place. Ban will either invite us for a multilateral conference or he will announce the end of the process in his report to the UN Security Council", Eroglu alleged.

In addition, illegal Bayrak (28.01.12) also broadcasted statements of Eroglu upon his arrival to illegal Tymbou airport. Eroglu alleged that President Christofias attended the Greentree summit in New York "to re-convey the Greek Cypriot National Council's rejectionist stance". Eroglu also claimed that the tripartite meeting would have been successful had the Greek Cypriot side adopted the same positive stance displayed by the Cyprus Turkish side at the summit.

Alleging that the Cyprus Turkish side had adopted a stance in accord with the UN Secretary General's 6th of January letter addressed to the two sides; Eroglu said that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had made it openly clear that the process had reached an end.

"He gave the message that we have reached the end of the road and the issue has to be settled one way or the other", he added.

Claiming that the Greek Cypriot leader had done everything in his capacity at the Greentree meeting to play for time, Eroglu alleged that he did not think that Christofias will be taking positive initiatives until March this year. Eroglu also repeated that little progress was made at the Greentree summit, a development, he added, he was not happy with.

[03] Bagis and Davutoglu criticize the European Union over its policy towards the Republic of Cyprus

"What did you do to hear good news from Cyprus? You have never been able to find the carrot-and-stick balance against the Greek Cypriots," Bagis told a panel discussion, "Remodelling Europe," as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Bagis also urged the Union to continue with enlargement to find a way out the crisis, saying: "Keeping the enlargement policy alive is a sine quo non for the EU."

In addition, illegal Bayrak television (28.01.12) broadcasted that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that it was clear what Turkey will do should the Republic of Cyprus take over the EU term Presidency later this year before the Cyprus problem is solved. He added that Ankara had no doubts on what course of action it will take.

Speaking on a TV program in Turkey, the Turkish Foreign Minister said that the international community, should current UN and international efforts to reach a comprehensive solution fail to accept the fact that the current status quo on the island was unacceptable.

"The international community should acknowledge and see the realities on the island should the UN's current efforts to achieve a settlement in Cyprus, fails" he said.

Also touching upon the oil exploration conducted by the Republic of Cyprus, Davutoglu said that Turkish warships had for the first time since the 1974 Turkish peace operation, travelled to the South of the island.

[04] Talat says the "end" of the Cyprus problem is the solution

Talat claimed that the UN Secretary-General had expressed some optimistic views and added that this should not create "vain hopes". Talat said that the possibility of the UN accusing both sides equally is high, in case of failure in the talks, and alleged that even if the Greek Cypriot side was wrong, the possibility of being openly accused is low because of the latter's international relations.

Talat argued that most probably the UN Secretary-General will say that the sides have not exerted enough effort and continue the process after the presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus or say that he cannot solve the problem and leave the sides alone telling them to invite him when they are ready.

(I/Ts.)

[05] General strikes and demonstrations in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus

Tahir Gokcebel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), speaking on behalf of the Unions' Platform, said that "the demonstrations will be continued until the government, which uses in a wrong way the people's willpower, departs".

Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS) said that a rally will be organized on February as a reaction to the privatizations.

[06] The breakaway regime participated in the ITM Fair in Poland

Unsal Ustel, self-styled minister of tourism, environment and culture, participated also in the ITM fair. According to the paper, it was the first time that a self-styled minister from "TRNC" participated in the tourism fair in Poland.

Meanwhile, during his visit in Poland, Ustel had a meeting with the Turkish Ambassador in Warsaw Resit Uman. He also met with the Tourism and Promotion Attach? of Turkey's A. Kasim Sonkaya, where they exchanged views regarding the joint works that they could do related to the tourism market of Poland.

[07] Data on the economy of the illegal regime for the third quarter of 2011

Annual inflation rate was 7.28% in March 2011 and increased to 9.08% in June 2011 and to 11.13% in September 2011. The total exports of the regime in the third quarter of 2011 increased by 19.52 % in comparison with the same period of the previous year and reached 30 million TL from 25.1 million it had been in 2010. Exports in US dollars, which had been 16.7 million in 2010, rose to 17.3 million increasing by 3.59%. The total imports for the period January ? June 2011 increased by 16% comparing to the imports of the same period last year, reaching 823 million US dollars from 711 million it had been in 2010.

The branches of the banks in the occupied area of Cyprus increased by two and their number reached 189 during the period June-September 2011, notes the paper adding that 2,403 persons are employed in the sector.

Meanwhile, Halkin Sesi (30.01.12) reports also that according to data announced by the "labour department", the number of the registered unemployed persons in the occupied area of Cyprus during the third quarter of 2011 was 1,484. This number was by 9.51% higher in the same period of 2010. According to the paper, 511 of the unemployed persons now are men and 973 women.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Davutoglu thanks Clinton for French genocide bill remarks- he will visit Washington next month

Clinton was asked on Thursday why the United States has not matched a move by French lawmakers to criminalize denial that the killing of Armenians during World War I was genocide. Clinton said the administration was wary of compromising free speech. She said the issue was best left to scholars.

"To try to use government power to resolve historical issues, I think, opens a door that is a very dangerous one to go through," Clinton said at an event with US State Department employees.

Davutoglu also discussed recent developments in the Middle East with Clinton and agreed to meet at the Munich Security Conference that both officials are scheduled to attend on February 3. Clinton and Davutoglu also discussed the Turkish Foreign Minister's upcoming visit to Washington next month.

[09] Number of imprisoned journalists increases in Turkey

Most lately, Aziz Tekin, the Kurdish-language newspaper Azadiya Welat's eastern province of Mardin representative, was arrested in Kiziltepe, Mardin in an operation against the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on January 28.

"Turkey has the highest number of arrested journalists in the world. With this last detention, Turkey strengthened its position on the top of the list. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is abusing the anti-terror law," the Platform said in the written statement.

The group also reminded Turkey's step backwards in press freedom rankings losing 10 places to rank 148th out of 178 countries in the Reporters without Borders' (RSF) World Press Freedom Index for 2011.

[10] Turkey's population increased to almost 75 million in 2011

According to a report released by the official Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat), Turkey's population was 74,724,269 at the end of 2011. The study was conducted through the Address-Based Central Population Registration System (MERNIS), which uses the National Address Database to track the number of people living at a specific address.

Turkey's population increased by 1.35%, when compared to the previous year, to 74.7 million by the end of 2011. The figure was 73.7 million at the end of 2010. Males made up 50.2% of Turkey's total population while 49.8% was female. There are 37,532,954 men and 37,191,315 women in Turkey's population.

According to the results, 76.8% of the population lives in urban areas, provincial capitals and districts. While 57,385,706 people live in urban areas, 17,338,563 live in the country's rural areas.

Istanbul has Turkey's largest population, with 13,624,240 people. Istanbul also takes the lead in terms of urbanization, as 99% of the province's population lives in city centres. The city of Istanbul also provides a home for 18.2% of the total population. The northern province of Bayburt has the smallest population, at 76,724. In addition, Istanbul also takes the lead with 2,622 people per square kilometre in terms of population density.

There are 50,346,979 people in Turkey between the ages of 15 and 64, or 67.4% of the total population. There are 18,886,575 people between the ages of 0 and 14. People of age 60 and older make up 7.3%, or 5,490,715 people, of the total population.

[11] The South Korean President to visit Turkey for a possible nuclear accord

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit Turkey between Feb. 4 and 7 to potentially sign a nuclear deal, officials from both sides said over the weekend.

Lee, who will be the guest of both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will be accompanied by dozens of South Korean businessmen.

"He could sign a framework agreement on nuclear cooperation or ink a deal on our second or third nuclear power plant," said one Turkish official.

Two years ago, Turkey and South Korea came close to signing a deal on Turkey's second nuclear power plant in northern Turkey but could not finalize a deal because of complications.

[12] Columnist views the impact of new US military strategy on Turkey

"As the details of the new U.S. defence budget for 2013 become clear, the outline of the new American military strategy becomes clear, too.

The fact that the number of active soldiers of the Army is planned to be reduced to 490,000 from 570,000, mostly from armoured and heavy infantry troops, and despite the fact that President Barack Obama -- who wants to keep his promises to American voters -- is planning a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan following withdrawal from Iraq, it is hard to call this shift a scaling down operation.

U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has already underlined that not showing GI Joe presence in remote lands shouldn't be misunderstood as leaving the stage available to other actors. U.S. aircraft carrier fleets would continue to patrol all over the world seas with their sea and air space capabilities, and an increased capacity of Special Forces and unmanned weaponry would turn them into floating gendarmerie garrisons. A 10% increase in the Special Forces units from 63,650 to 70,000 planned for the next four years and a 30% increase in the armed unmanned aerial vehicles are indications of that policy.

A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) story on Friday ('More Drones, Fewer Troops') quoted a U.S. official who summarized this new strategy as smaller but smarter. It seems that the White House does not want to send GI Joes to foreign lands in mass and receive them in coffins any more but instead prepare hit-and-run type combined warfare units from their sea bases and leave the troop intensive fight to the GI Joes of those foreign lands.

But the WSJ story also said that in some critical parts of the world -- critical to the U.S. interests -- the Pentagon considers establishing land bases for special units.

The Darwin base in Australia was named among the bases to be used in the Pacific area control. The expansion of the Philippines base was another consideration. And the WSJ reported that the Pentagon was looking into ways to establish bases near the Iraqi border area of Jordan and Turkey.

It is not clear from the WSJ story whether the U.S. official meant an additional use of the Incirlik Air Force Base of Turkey which is in NATO use, also hosting U.S. troops, or an additional base in the country that is not very likely considering the huge dimension of the Incirlik Base and the already high anti-American social climate in the country.

The Hurriyet Daily News contacted Turkish and American sources on Friday to get more details. One Turkish Foreign Ministry official said there was no contact between Turkey and the U.S. on such an issue, and an official of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said they were not aware of such a project.

Later on Pentagon officials denied there were plans to escalate presence in Turkey. Yet there are still a number of issues around Turkey, from energy routes to the consequences of the Arab Spring, including Iran-Israel tension, the sectarian civil war risk in Iraq and the Kurdish problem in a lesser scale.

The Turkish proverb goes, 'There is no smoke without fire', and Turks are likely to assess the developments through a different lens from now on."

[13] Turkish President leaves door open for a Hamas office in Turkey

As Hamas officials in Damascus pack up to leave for good in search of a new home, the Turkish President left the door open to the possibility of a Hamas office opening up in Turkey.

"Turkey has been one of the strongest advocates of the Palestinian case," President Abdullah Gul was quoted as saying speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga International Airport prior to his departure for the UAE.

"Hamas is a political body that entered into elections in the Palestinian region of Gaza and came to power through the votes of the people," Gul said.

"Our contact [with Hamas] has been constant, but we will have to wait and see what has come out of the frequent visits," he added, without overlooking the possibility that Hamas might be more engaged with Turkey in the future. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article