Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-07-31

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The oil spill has affect an area of 13 km from the incident

[02] Editor-in-chief of Milliyet daily loses position ? Columnist notes that pens have been broken in every sense of the word in Turkey

[03] A second summit on Syria within a week

[04] Yorgancioglu: "Cyprus problem will be a touchstone in the formation of coalition government"

[05] UBP prepares for extraordinary congress

[06] Denktas decides not to resign; Rumors say that he had met with Erdogan before the "elections"

[07] Kilicdaroglu: Lessons should be taken from the "TRNC elections"

[08] Lithuania hopes to open new negotiation chapters says Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara

[09] Davutoglu and Barzani had common stance on the developments in Syria

[10] Turkey denies suspending cooperation agreements with Egypt

[11] No loans for students who engage in Gezi Park protests

[12] President Gul approves bill to change coup article

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] The oil spill has affect an area of 13 km from the incident

According to the report, the oil spill not only affected the sea coasts, but also the sea floor and the sea surface. The team gathered samples for assessment from 10 different points from the shores, approximately 10 km far from the area of the incident and from 11 different points from the sea. The oil spill was observed at least 13 km from the AKSA electrical power station.

According to the report, all the marine species, which were living within one kilometre from the incident in the rocks and in sand at the coast, have died. It is also observed that the impact of the oil spill continues eastward and reduces partially on the benthic.

[02] Editor-in-chief of Milliyet daily loses position ? Columnist notes that pens have been broken in every sense of the word in Turkey

The move aroused suspicions over the nature of the reshuffle, which came after mass firings of journalists relating to Gezi protests, dealing further blow to the editorial freedom of news outlets.

The Milliyet daily had come under fire when it published minutes of the 0
mral1
talks between pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies and the jailed leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) earlier this year.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vehemently criticized the newspaper, deeming its work as sloppy journalism. Following mounting government pressure, prominent columnist and journalist Hasan Cemal had to leave the newspaper after his pieces faced censorship.

Commenting on the issue, Fehmi Koru writes, inter alia the following in Turkish Star (28.07.13) under the title "Every Time Someone Leaves, We Are Diminished":

"Masters of writing, whose articles I have disliked, whose comments I have objected to, whom I felt a strong desire to criticize? Whoever comes to your mind, it is them I am talking about?

Would I ever wish that they are prevented from writing, that they lose the means to express themselves, that they are driven away from the media? You probably would not be surprised to hear that my answer to this question would be an unequivocal "No."

[?]

Turkey has a criminal record regarding "freedom of press"? It is a twofold record: Many self-seeking, power-hungry impostors masquerading as "journalists" affiliated to groups at home or abroad, groups driven by self-interest; "journalists" who do not deserve to use that freedom have come and gone in this profession.

What is more, there have always been enemies of freedom who could unscrupulously contemplate teaching certain journalists a lesson because they felt intimated by their opinions and comments, and when that failed, banishing them from the profession, and even threatening their lives?

Pens have been broken in every sense of the word?

What could my choice be? As long as self-seeking or power-hungry characters do not walk around masquerading as "journalists," would it be OK if my freedoms are curtailed? Or as long as my freedoms are left alone, let there be self-seeking and power-hungry characters around?

[?]

In recent days our media sector has suddenly begun to have the feel of a deserted place. Even the disappearance of a single writer without reason adds to this feeling of desolation. Not only does the absence of that single person make itself deeply felt, it also brings pangs of conscience on the people working for that newspaper where that person's column remains vacant, as well as on people working for other newspapers?

That absence orphans those who crossed pens with that person, who criticized that person mercilessly and who was at the receiving end of that person's criticism. That absent place, that very absence itself is much powerful than when it was occupied?

No one has the right to do this to us. We are going through a period when ownership of media is changing hands; new owners of newspapers and television channels may change their staff for various reasons. People who work there may leave because the newspaper or the television station has changed hands. Ties may be severed without a reason; years of working together may come to an end.

However, one would expect that all of these take place within common rules of courtesy. When the process smacks of politics and political meddling, then the whole thing becomes discourteous. Since this is very often done under the pretext of an "intervention of a political sort", this tarnishes the actual politics as well.

Good or bad, useful or harmful, all opinions in today's world make themselves heard. There is no shortage of newspapers or television channels. If all doors are shut, then there is the increasingly powerful Internet media. Even those who cannot get a place there can easily find their own way. However what is left behind is a diminished media. Do not do this to us."

[03] A second summit on Syria within a week

The summit started immediately after Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's arrival from Istanbul to Ankara. Among the attending officials were Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel, Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, National Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz, National Intelligence Organization (M0
T) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan and other officials related to the issue. The meeting lasted for 2.5 hours.

According to Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 31.07.13), the meeting was set to discuss a roadmap on the Syrian crisis, security threats from ongoing clashes between radical Islamist groups and Kurdish militia near the border as well as smuggling incidents.

[04] Yorgancioglu: "Cyprus problem will be a touchstone in the formation of coalition government"

Yorgancioglu said that "the result of the election was proof of the public's confidence in the CTP-BG".

Noting that they are standing behind promises that they had given during their "election campaign", Yorgancioglu said that people have voted in favor of the CTP for enabling equality, transparency and for the improvement of the economic structure.

Yorgancioglu also stressed that the new government will work to take measures to increase "people's" confidence in the state and to boost the economy.

On the formation of a coalition "government" Yorgancioglu said they will stand at an equal distance with all political parties and will work to make the coalition "government" stable and long lasting.

Touching upon the Cyprus problem, Yorgancioglu said that the Cyprus problem will be a touchstone in the formation of coalition "government". He also said they are hoping to reach a bi-communal, bi-zonal solution in Cyprus and we want the Turkish Cypriots to claim a spotlight in the international community.

[05] UBP prepares for extraordinary congress

The general secretary of the party, Necdet Numan stated yesterday that they want to gather their strength and serve the "people". "The fact that the chairman lost the elections caused the need for holding a congress soon. We have started preparations", he said. Numan also noted that they received less "votes" than they expected and added that they have taken the messages given by the "people". He also said that it would be useful to have only one candidate at the congress and pointed out that radical changes will take place in the UBP.

Referring to the "government", the establishment of which is expected after the "elections", Numan said that it would be very good if the three parties that participated in the temporary "coalition government" continued their cooperation.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (31.07.13) writes that Numan said that UBP's chairman Irsen Kucuk should resign in order for the party to be able to hold an extraordinary congress. "If the chairman resigns, we will go to an extraordinary congress. The decision on this issue belongs to the chairman of the party", he said.

Havadis refers also to criticism made by the former "finance minister" of the regime and current "MP" with the UBP, Ersin Tatar against Irsen Kucuk, who had reportedly stated that the 14 "MPs" of the party should be able to select a chairman among them without the quarrel of a congress. Tatar said that Kucuk, who has stated that he would resign from the presidency of the party, had not allowed the election of a general secretary with only one candidate for the post and that now he should not interfere in democracy within the party. Tatar accused Kucuk of remaining spectator to the split of the party and ignored those who had received the votes of approximately 50% of the party. He said that a great damage had been caused to the UBP, because the resignation of Ahmet Kasif and other seven "MPs" was not prevented and the quarrels lasted for too long.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (31.07.13) reports that Tatar was one of the persons that kept neutral stance during the conflict between Irsen Kucuk and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. Yesterday, Tatar visited Eroglu, writes Afrika adding that this visit angered many officials of the UBP. Tatar has reportedly paid no attention to this and said that he had no problem with Eroglu. According to the paper, two names are heard for the presidency of the UBP: the one is Nazim Cavusoglu who is reportedly supported by Irsen Kucuk and the other is Faiz Sicuoglu, who is generally more accepted than Cavusoglu.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Denktas decides not to resign; Rumors say that he had met with Erdogan before the "elections"

Afrika reports also that, according to some allegations, Denktas had visited Turkey during the night of the 20th of July, 2013 and met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Denktas has reportedly returned to the occupied area of the island right afterwards day after discussing with Erdogan the "elections" and the period that would follow. According to the same unconfirmed information, Erdogan's approach to Denktas was "very warm" and Denktas promised him that he would not participate in the "government" after the "elections", in case Erdogan did not want him to do so.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Kilicdaroglu: Lessons should be taken from the "TRNC elections"

Kilicdaroglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriots have exhibited once more their democratic maturity by not taking into consideration the external pressure and the interferences. He also said that the duty of all political parties in Turkey is to act with solidarity and harmony with their "brothers" in Cyprus on their national cause, the Cyprus problem, and to show respect to the Turkish Cypriots' political will.

[08] Lithuania hopes to open new negotiation chapters says Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara

"Lithuania took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Ireland in July to chair the bloc for the second half of 2013, a development that is hoped will bring Turkey closer to the opening of new chapters with the European bloc", the paper writes, adding that during the six-month presidency of the Baltic country, which supports Turkey's EU accession bid, it is expected that a new chapter will be opened with Turkey, bringing fresh life to stifled negotiations.

Underlining that Lithuania hopes to open new negotiation chapters, the Lithuanian envoy said they will work on three chapters -- chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy, chapter 19 on social policy and employment and chapter 22 regulating regional policies, which were suspended due to Germany's opposition.

"It's Turkey's main responsibility to show progress in the EU membership process and to continue making reforms," Kudzmanas added.

He also expressed the importance of maintaining an inclusive constitutional reform process, which provides an opportunity to address issues relevant to solving most of the Kurdish issues, strengthening basic freedoms of Turkish citizens and bringing Turkey's legal system closer to that of the EU.

Talking about economic relationships, Kudzmanas also underlined the importance of political relations between the two countries. "I can see that we have quite warm relations at all levels; presidential, governmental, business level," he said

''We have bilateral support on various issues and Lithuania especially supports Turkey at an international level," Kudzmanas added.

[09] Davutoglu and Barzani had common stance on the developments in Syria

According to diplomatic sources, Davutoglu's closed meeting with Barzani focused on bilateral relations, recent incidents in Iraq, the situation of Syria, the Kurdish National Conference and the recent developments and incidents in Egypt.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations as well as energy and cooperation opportunities, and they expressed uneasiness over escalating violence and terrorism in Iraq.

Diplomatic sources said that recent developments in Syria were also high on the agenda of the meeting, adding that both parties exchanged views about the situation in Syria especially the developments in the north of the country.

Parties agreed that Turkey and regional administration in Iraq had the common stance and concerns about the recent developments in Syria and its north.

Sources said that Barzani had similar stance with Turkey regarding the future of Syria, and he gave the message that they did not want a division in the country.

Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah (31.07.13) reports that Turkey's Minister of Energy Taner Yildiz, commenting on Barzani's visit to Turkey, said that he will discuss with him the energy issue.

[10] Turkey denies suspending cooperation agreements with Egypt

Official sources speaking to Today's Zaman have denied reports in the Turkish media claiming that Turkey decided to suspend a number of cooperation agreements, some covering the defense industry, which it signed with Egypt in 2012, saying that no such plan is on the agenda. The North African country is expected to acquire 10 Ankas (unmanned aerial vehicles) from Turkey according to these agreements.

The same sources also said that Ahmet Yildiz, the new Turkish ambassador appointed to Cairo, has delayed the start of his mission in the North African country, noting that Huseyin Avni Botsal1
, the current Turkish ambassador in Cairo, would remain in his mission until the political turmoil in the country has settled down to a certain degree.

[11] No loans for students who engage in Gezi Park protests

The precondition states that those who engage in "resistance, boycotts, occupations, writing, painting [in public spaces], chanting slogans and the like," will not be eligible for student loans, as such activity constitutes a "violation of the right to an education," according to the KYK.

"In the education institutions he/she attends, in its extensions in the dormitory he/she resides, outside of the education institution or the dormitory, either solely or collectively, in whichever form, those who are concerned with events of anarchy and terrorism, engaging in behaviors violating the right to education (resistance, boycott, occupation, writing, painting, slogan-chanting, et cetera), whether attempted partially or fully," are classified as ineligible alongside those who carry any sort of firearm or sharp device.

Questions were raised when the details of preconditions to receive loans were enumerated and published on July 29, with many speculating that an article banning such student behavior had been inserted as a result of the Gezi Park protests. But while the conditions had already been on the books since the first half of 2000s, it appears that the KYK has chosen to highlight actions such as engaging in resistance, staging boycotts and chanting slogans in its announcement for the upcoming academic year for the first time.

The condition in question is absent from the KYK's official website, where information on general eligibility criteria from previous years is available.

[12] President Gul approves bill to change coup article

On July 13, all political parties represented in Parliament passed the proposal, which was submitted in late June by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), by a majority vote.

Article 35 of the TSK Internal Service Code has often been criticized for its role in the past four military coups in Turkey, and the government recently announced plans to either amend or abolish it. Article 35 entered the TSK's statutes after the coup in May 27, 1960. It was later cited as the legal basis for military interventions in March 12, 1971 and Sept. 12, 1980. The article says the military has a duty to "preserve and protect the Republic of Turkey."

The proposed amendment redefines the TSK's duty as "defending Turkish soil against threats and dangers from abroad, empowering the military force to ensure deterrence, performing missions abroad given by Parliament and helping to maintain international peace."

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