Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-05-29

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/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Sea ports are going to open to the Greek Cypriot Fishermen.

[02] Serdar Denktas stated that the Czech-Slovak model must be discussed seriously after the 25th June elections in occupied Cyprus.

[03] Ahmet Erdengiz underlines need for fresh funding for exhumation work.

[04] Ferdi Sabit Soyer to Ankara today.

[05] Chamber of Industry: Turkish Cypriots still suffer from the unjust international isolation.

[06] Mr Rauf Denktas inaugurated Bella View hotel in occupied Bellapais.

[07] The illegal regimes national football team flew to Germany.

[08] The Turkey-US International Friendship Group held its meeting in California.

[09] Italian firm chief asks Turkey to join 'Eurofighter Typhoon Project'.

[10] Headscarf causes headache to Erdogan while in Germany.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] The Turkish Press on the headscarf controversy.

[12] Columnist argues that Kirkuk will soon create problems in the region.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Sea ports are going to open to the Greek Cypriot Fishermen

The paper reports that Turkey, in removing the prohibition, will pay attention to the reciprocity. However, adds the paper, even if fishing permission is granted, the condition to fulfill the reciprocity principle will preclude, from the Greek Cypriot point of view the affective implementation of the law.

BUGUN further reports that Turkeys Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries expects positive steps from its neighbors following the removal of prohibitions and until Turkeys full membership to the EU through reciprocal negotiations. Ministry officials said: Following our removal of prohibitions our neighbors could take positive steps. Negotiations could take place and if there is result then reciprocal fishing rights could be recognized.

The amendment also envisages granting permission to amateur fishing.

(MHY)

[02] Serdar Denktas stated that the Czech-Slovak model must be discussed seriously after the 25th June elections in occupied Cyprus

Mr Denktas stated that the Turkish Cypriots have two alternatives ahead of them: The first one is to wait without doing anything and be dragged by the proposals of the others and the second one is to make some decisions and to follow them to the point of struggling in the whole world in order for these decisions to be accepted.

Speaking about the election in the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Denktas stated that Mr Papadopoulos, as the President, interfered in the elections and called on the voters to strengthen the no vote. As he said, President Papadopoulos succeeded in doing so.

Asked if he expects a new initiative as regards the Cyprus problem, he stated that he does not expect any movement to take place. He said that visits and contacts may take place but a move with a serious meaning will not happen. As he stated his party will not accept any uncertainty in case talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem will begin again. In case new talks begin, it should be known until when they will be continued. In case no solution will be reached until the end of the talks, the condition of the Turkish Cypriots, after they leave the negotiations table, must be known as well, he said.

Asked about the Czech-Slovak model, Mr Serdar Denktas stated that it is a known, tested, viable model and that it should be made clear what it is meant when people talk about the United Cyprus and that according to him it means to have two different regions in Cyprus, where in one region the Greek Cypriots will be ruling and in the other region the Turkish Cypriots will be ruling with the two sides politically equal. He added that the Czech-Slovak model is not the policy of the government in occupied Cyprus but an opinion of the DP. He stated the time is not right for discussing this policy because of the forthcoming elections, but after this they will discuss this model seriously.

Mr Denktas added that the Turkish Cypriots must establish relations with many other countries, like the countries of Africa and the countries of Islam, Russia and China and that there are more countries in the world than the 24 countries of the European Union. Mr Denktas also stated that he does not think that a solution based on a plan can be found with the Greek Cypriots.

Asked about the forthcoming elections in the TRNC he said that he does not believe that any crisis can occur in the government following the elections results.

(C/S)

[03] Ahmet Erdengiz underlines need for fresh funding for exhumation work

The Turkish Cypriot Member of the autonomous committee on missing persons in Cyprus Ahmet Erdengiz underlined the need to find fresh funding for exhumation work if progress was to be achieved on the issue.

Speaking to the TAK news agency, Mr Erdengiz said that despite the fact that both sides spent millions of dollars on exhumation work, more funding was needed to complete work on locating and determining the fate of the missing persons in Cyprus.

As part of ongoing efforts to raise new funds for the exhumation works, Mr Erdengiz said that the committee was waiting the results of a project proposal presented at a meeting of 20 ambassadors in Cyprus.

[04] Ferdi Sabit Soyer to Ankara today

Mr Soyer will be meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Minister of State, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener respectively.

He is also expected to come together with Recep Tayyip Erdogan later in the day.

The self-styled Minister of Finance Ahmet Uzun will be accompanying Mr Soyer during his trip.

They are expected to return to the occupied areas on Tuesday after completing their contacts.

Turkish Cypriot GUNES newspaper (29.05.06) reports that the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Mr Huseyin Ozgurgun on 8 June will meet with the Turkish Prime Minister in Istanbul.

[05] Chamber of Industry: Turkish Cypriots still suffer from the unjust international isolation

Mr Sonmezler said the European Union had failed to keep its promises to remove the international isolation of North Cyprus despite the peaceful policy displayed by the Turkish Cypriot people on the Cyprus issue.

Mr Sonmezlers words came after a visit paid to him today by the Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus- G. L. Hunt.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sonmezler said the Turkish Cypriot businesses faced difficulties in transporting products to the free areas of Cyprus through the Ayios Dhometios check-point.

He stated that the Greek Cypriot businesses were under pressure by the Cyprus Government not to cooperate with Turkish Cypriot businesses.

Explaining that Turkish Cypriot manufactured goods and products were being displayed for a second consecutive year at the annual International Cyprus Fair in the free areas of Cyprus, Mr Musa Sonmezler noted that the Greek Cypriot businessmen still had concerns about marketing Turkish Cypriot products.

[06] Mr Rauf Denktas inaugurated Bella View hotel in occupied Bellapais

According to the paper, Mr Denktas has stated that every investment in Cyprus sends a message that this land is ours and will belong to us.

The hotel with a 42-room capacity, was formerly the house of Mr Suleyman Kurt and it was built 12 years ago.

(M/L)

[07] The illegal regimes national football team flew to Germany

The 34-person, national football team and delegation, will play its first match today against Greenland. Amongst the persons accompanying the football players, are the self-styled permanent undersecretary of the so-called Sports Ministry, Mr Ali Volkan, the self-styled Football Federations Chairman, Mr Niyazi Okutan.

(M/L)

[08] The Turkey-US International Friendship Group held its meeting in California

''Turkey is the most reliable ally of the United States,'' said Egemen Bagis, head of the delegation of Turkey-U.S. Interparliamentary Friendship Group, which is pursuing meetings in California.

Addressing the California senate, Bagis said, ''Turkey and the United States are acting together on critical issues like the Broader Middle East Initiative, Afghanistan and Iraq. Close cooperation between the two countries will continue.''

Bagis is the first Turk who addressed the California senate.

On the other hand, Bagis and the accompanying delegation also attended the third annual meetings of the Turkish-U.S. Business Conference in San Francisco.

Developments in Turkish technology sector, opportunities to establish partnership with high-technology companies in Silicon Valley and successful Turkish investments in the United States will be discussed in the Conference today.

[09] Italian firm chief asks Turkey to join 'Eurofighter Typhoon Project'

Alenia Aeronautica CEO Giovanni Bertolone said on Sunday that they proposed Turkey to join the Eurofighter Typhoon Project as the fifth partner.

Bertolone told Turkish reporters, ''we propose Turkey to be a full partner in the project. Our target is inclusion of Turkey in the project in order to produce the Eurofighter planes and develop the planes independently. In that case, the financial extent of the project will reach about 5 billion USD. We held talks with Turkish Defense Industry Undersecretariat and the other Turkish authorities to this end.''

Noting that the partnership would provide Turkey with some important advantages, Bertolone said: ''Turkey will be able to make the necessary changes in line with the requirements of the Turkish Air Forces. Also, Turkey can sell Eurofighter planes to countries with which it has good diplomatic relations such as the Gulf countries and Pakistan.''

Bertolone stressed that they aim at setting up a long-term cooperation with Turkey.

[10] Headscarf causes headache to Erdogan while in Germany

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan angrily shouted at Turkey's Ambassador to Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik late Thursday at a public meeting in Berlin, following complaints from several Turkish women in headscarves saying that they're discriminated against at the embassy over their headscarves.

Erdogan, who was on a visit to Germany, participated in a meeting with Turkish citizens in Berlin to hear their ideas and problems. During the meeting, a woman in a headscarf claimed that they don't have access to embassy services as they wear headscarves. Several other women and men also backed her claims.

The Turkish premier, following the complaint, angrily asked Turkish Ambassador Irtemcelik, who was also at the meeting, whether it's true. Irtemcelik replied that the issue is unrelated to entering the embassy, which is open to all citizens, but to the issue of passports. The ambassador said that under a circular photographs of women in headscarves aren't acceptable.

But Erdogan angrily continued by saying that he didn't believe there is such a circular, asking to see a written copy and further promised the women in headscarves that he's going to resolve the issue. He was applauded by a group of those there.

Police: Circular dates back to 1984

The police confirmed on Friday that under a circular on issuing passports, in effect since 1984, photographs in which a person can't be identified aren't acceptable. Police spokesperson Ismail Caliskan said that this includes photographs taken of women wearing religious-style headscarves.

But Prime Minister Erdogan continued his insistence on Friday, answering journalists by saying the circular isn't an obstacle for women in headscarves obtaining a passport or related official processes.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy head and former Ambassador Onur Oymen criticized Erdogan for humiliating Ambassador Irtemcelik at a public meeting and said Prime Minister Erdogan should be ashamed.

True Path Party (DYP) parliamentarian Nuzhet Kandemir also said that Erdogan made a big mistake while aiming to score points in domestic politics.

Irtemcelik, who was a minister responsible for human rights in the previous coalition government, is a senior diplomat at the Foreign Ministry. The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party had been uneasy with Irtemcelik for a quite long time and sought to change his post but was unable to do so due to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer´s objection to the move.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] The Turkish Press on the headscarf controversy

Columnist Semih Idiz of MILLIYET newspaper (27.05.06) criticizes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for "humiliating" Turkey's Ambassador to Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik by scolding him publicly during a visit to Germany when a Turkish woman complained that the Turkish Consulate had refused to accept a headscarved photo of her for her passport. In his commentary in Istanbul MILLIYET, Idiz charges that Erdogan was dismissive of Irtemcelik's efforts to offer explanations, and this shows that "Erdogan has formed an automatic knee-jerk reaction mechanism regarding the Islamic headdress." Idiz says that the prime minister should have thought twice and displayed a "more statesmanlike stand." By failing in that, Idiz states, Erdogan personally fanned a debate which he would probably prefer not to provoke in this sensitive period.

Also criticizing Erdogan for publicly scolding the ambassador in Berlin, Oktay Eksi writes in a column in Istanbul HURRIYET newspaper (27.05.06) that the prime minister should have kept his anger in rein and given any instructions on the matter later in private. "Thus, he would have protected the dignity of the state and the public servant in question," Eksi suggests. He says: "He is always doing this in the name of populism, which he claims he opposes. Furthermore, when the issue concerns his imam-hatip and Islamic headdress obsessions, he is unable to restrain what comes out of his mouth because he loses control over his nerves." Eksi goes on to mock Erdogan's desire to avoid tension, claiming that what Erdogan "wants and is doing is nothing other than create tension." Eksi says that Erdogan cannot advocate the supremacy of the law when he fails to respect the court rulings with regard to the Islamic headdress issue.

In a commentary in Istanbul HURRIYET newspaper (28.05.06), columnist Cuneyt Ulsever criticizes the recent outbursts of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ulsever states that "Erdogan is unable to fulfill the duty of prime minister," and under stress, his nervous system is deteriorating with each passing day; "he can no longer engage in anything other than populist policies that caress the proponents of the National View with respect to the Islamic headdress and imam-hatip issues; and he is easily manipulated by his close circle and the masses he embraces." According to Ulsever, Erdogan is continuously dividing the nation and panicking in the face of any crisis. Citing examples of Erdogan's recent declarations and how he was subsequently proven wrong, Ulsever says that Erdogan referred to the Susurluk and Sauna crime gangs in connection with the Council of State attack, but his insinuations were foiled when "key suspect" Muzaffer Tekin was released. Moreover, his statements about not intervening in the foreign currency rates drew the reaction of the Central Bank governor, and he crossed the boundaries of good manners when he scolded the ambassador in Berlin in a bid to once again gain favor with those who wear the Islamic headdress. Ulsever also rues the fact that the Foreign Ministry failed to inform the prime minister that he is not a sultan.

A report by Kemal Saydamer and Goksel Bozkurt in Turkish Daily News (28.05.06) states that "the tension in Turkish politics seems to have worsened to a level unseen in decades, but as happens in politics, such huge crises also entail huge possibilities." The report suggests that unless the ruling Justice and Development Party, (AKP), seeks consensus regarding the upcoming presidential elections, "tension will increase and the entire secularist camp will fight the government, possibly creating serious polarization in society."

[12] Columnist argues that Kirkuk will soon create problems in the region

Mr Cekirge writes:

The question is: What will Turkey do if Barzani declares Kirkuk a Kurdish City and includes it within his federative borders?

This question goes from the National Security Council to the Foreign Ministry and up to the Office of the Chief of the General Staff. The other day I have put this question to a very important person of the Foreign Ministry.

Here is his answer:

We have conveyed, on this issue, our sensitivity to the USA and to Baghdad.

What did you say?

If such a situation happens de facto, this will destroy Iraqs territorial integrity.

That is?

That is, no one could control what will happen next.

Does this mean that we would enter there?

This means no one could know what will happen after that.

Is there any relation between this and Turkeys military built up on the border?

Turkish armed forces could keep any military force anywhere on its territory. And this is no ones business.

The gist of our further discussion on the issue is: The Turkish reaction against a de facto situation in Iraq is very secret.

Yes, during the coming days Kirkuk will drop like a volcanic crisis on to Turkish agenda.

(MHY)

/SK

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