Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-05-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish side denies Mollers statements through leakages to YENI DUZEN

[02] Another step towards the recognition of the illegal universities in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[03] Talat questions the international law and the legitimacy principles which determine the framework of the Cyprus problem

[04] Soyer congratulates Segolene Royal. The Turkish Cypriots aim at uniting with Europe

[05] BKP accuses CTP of following a separatist policy

[06] The number of the German tourists visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus increased by 400-500 %

[07] Turkish Cypriots are represented in the World Press Council

[08] Retired Turkish general says that the Cyprus problem is influenced by the US project for Northern Africa and Middle East

[09] Turkish military exercise off the coasts of Larnaca in the midst of the political crisis in Turkey

[10] Artistic event at the British Museum was politically exploited by Turkish Cypriot artist

[11] More on the deadlock over the presidential election process in Turkey

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish side denies Mollers statements through leakages to YENI DUZEN

Turkish Cypriot YENIDUZEN newspaper (04.05.07), however, invokes diplomatic sources and reports that a proposal was submitted by the Turkish Cypriot side one week ago. The proposal had two titles: Technical Committees and Working Groups. The Turkish Cypriot side proposed that issues such as health, crimes and cultural heritage be discussed in the technical committees and issues such as the properties and the sharing of power in the new Cyprus state to be discussed in the working groups.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Another step towards the recognition of the illegal universities in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The self-styled council of ministers approved a draft-law according to which it declares that it is becoming a side to the Lisbon Convention, which had been prepared by the Council of Europe and UNESCO and entered into force on 11 April 1997. The draft-law was sent to the assembly.

Yesterday it was discussed and accepted by the parliamentary committee for legal and political affairs. According to the paper, in case the breakaway regime becomes a side to the Lisbon Convention, the diplomas given by the illegal universities will be recognized in the other 46 countries which are members of the Convention.

The paper describes the acceptance of the Lisbon Convention as an important initiative for breaking the isolation in the field of education. Today the Ministers of Education of the 46 countries which are members of the Lisbon Convention will meet in Istanbul.

The Turkish Minister of Education, Huseyin Celik is expected to inform his colleagues that the breakaway regime has also become a side to the Convention. According to the paper, the breakaway regime will be represented by the illegal Higher Education Accreditation and Evaluation Council (YODAK) of the TRNC in the new process, where the new target of the regime is the completion of the works which have started regarding the Bologna system.

The paper reports that organizations such as the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Industry, the Union of the Building Contractors, the Hoteliers Union, the Employers Trade Union and the Businessmens Association, which are members of the Economic Organizations Platform expressed their satisfaction for the approval of the Lisbon Convention.

In a statement issued by the Platform, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Erdil Nami and the president of the Businessmens Association Ozalp Nailer said that approval of the Lisbon Convention is a serious step for the international recognition of the universities and the continuation of the flow of students to the occupied areas from the whole world.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Talat questions the international law and the legitimacy principles which determine the framework of the Cyprus problem

He noted that the Turkish Cypriot side questions now the international law and the legitimacy principles which determine the framework of the Cyprus problem and demands from the international community to do the same. Noting that they have turned the lifting of the isolations into their fundamental policy, Mr Talat said: This policy is a target for a temporary period put forward in the conditions where the main target continues to be the solution within the parameters of the UN.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Soyer congratulates Segolene Royal. The Turkish Cypriots aim at uniting with Europe

Soyer noted that the greatest aim of the Turkish Cypriots at the moment is to be unified with the rest of the EU. He noted that the Turkish Cypriots want a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution based on equality. I want to emphasize that the solidarity that you will show to us as President of France will have a great contribution to the solution of the Cyprus problem, he concluded.

(I/Ts.)

[05] BKP accuses CTP of following a separatist policy

(I/Ts.)

[06] The number of the German tourists visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus increased by 400-500 %

In statements yesterday during the second meeting of the Tourism Consultation Committee in Saray Hotel in the occupied part of Nicosia, Mr Ozturk noted that in spite of the fact that there was a decrease in the tourists from Britain in the above mentioned period, there was an increase of 400-500 % in the number of tourists coming from Germany. The German tourists increased from 650 to 2.960.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Turkish Cypriots are represented in the World Press Council

(I/Ts.)

[08] Retired Turkish general says that the Cyprus problem is influenced by the US project for Northern Africa and Middle East

He alleged that the TRNC is the only Turkish independent state outside the borders of Turkey and added that in no period of the Turkish history a land seized with blood was given away without a fight. He claimed that no Turk has a TRNC to be given away in a golden tray.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish military exercise off the coasts of Larnaca in the midst of the political crisis in Turkey

Invoking reliable sources, the paper reports that the Turkish Naval and Air forces are in the international waters in the southern area of Larnaca and that the manoeuvre could be watched from the coasts of Larnaca. The sources noted that the units of the Turkish Naval and Air forces carried out duties assigned to them yesterday all day in an area 12 miles away from the territorial waters of Cyprus.

The sources told KIBRISLI that Turkey is the guarantor of the whole island and not only of its northern part. The message that Turkey wants to give with the manoeuvre is that you cannot carry out oil explorations in the area ignoring Turkey. Are the waters in the Mediterranean getting warm? wonders KIBRISLI.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Artistic event at the British Museum was politically exploited by Turkish Cypriot artist

Attention was once again drawn towards the international ´isolation´ imposed on the ´Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ at an artistic event in London.

In his exhibition titled earth at the British Museum, Turkish Cypriot artist Sumer Erek tries to draw attention to the European Unions failure to keep its promises to remove the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot ´People´.

The main piece of art on display-Ledras Portrait is a reference to the Ledra crossing which geographically divides north and south Lefkosia and where the political impact of the isolations is felt strongest.

Mr Erek, materialized his performance with a scenario as if British Museum wants to receive the Ledra Portrait belonging to the modern history of north Cyprus.

[11] More on the deadlock over the presidential election process in Turkey

A constitutional reform package drafted by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that provides for a popular vote in presidential elections and holding general elections every four years has failed to secure full support from opposition parties.

On Thursday, the Turkish Parliament approved July 22 as the date for new general elections. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mehmet Ali ^ahin, Minister of Agriculture Mehdi Eker and State Minister Kürad Tüzmen as well as other cabinet members attended the voting.

Despite its previous "unconditional" support for direct presidential elections, the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) changed its strategy at the last minute and proposed preconditions for support. As its first precondition, ANAVATAN wants the AK Party to withdraw the candidacy for president of Abdullah Gül.

Its second precondition is an amendment to the Law on Political Parties to allow pre-election alliances of political parties while still preserving their names and emblems on the ballot. If enacted, two or three political parties can form an alliance ahead of parliamentary elections but their names and emblems will be specified separately on the compound vote tickets.

During the counting of the votes, the votes cast for the parties that have formed an alliance will be counted together. Thus, the issue of pre-election alliances, a long-standing controversy in Turkey, will be settled.

ANAVATAN, which is currently discussing a merger with the True Path Party (DYP), knows it will not enter Parliament again.

ANAVATAN parliamentary group deputy chairman Süleyman Sar1ba met with the parliamentary group deputy chairmen of the AK Party and told them that they would not lend their support to the constitutional reform package if the pre-election alliance of parties is not made possible.

If they do not attach the amendments we seek to the package, we will not support it, he said.

The AK Party, represented by 352 deputies in Parliament, can pass the package without support from other parties, but at least 367 deputies must vote for the package in order to make a veto by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer impossible.

Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan had previously said they would risk referendum in pushing the package forward, it now seems unlikely given recent developments in Turkey, that the AK Party will proceed with this option. With no agreement reached among parties concerning the exact date of early elections and faced with objections of the Supreme Election Board (YSK) due to time constraints, the government has revised the election date to July 22. If the YSK will have to make preparations for a referendum in addition to general elections, the YSK will face increased difficulties.

The YSK has proposed July 22 for the parliamentary elections. If a referendum is held simultaneously, the YSK might propose early September for elections.

Subtitle: Contents of the reform package

The constitutional reform package contains provisions on decreasing the presidential seven-year tenure to five years and allowing election of the president for two consecutive terms. Twenty deputies can nominate a person for president, and presidents will be elected directly by the people.

For the first round of presidential elections, a candidate needs at least 60 percent of the vote to win, failing which the top two vote-getters will have a runoff election the following Sunday. However, the package does not contain provisions about the duties and powers of the president. It introduces a change of system but not a change of regime (presidential system). The qualities of the president as defined under the 1982 Constitution are not changed, either.

The package will also eliminate future controversies over who will serve as acting president when the presidential tenure ends by introducing a provision that mandates a president whose tenure has ended will continue to act as president until the newly elected president assumes office.

Subtitle: AK Party will risk referendum

The package, undersigned by 200 AK Party deputies, was submitted to the Office of the Speaker. For the amendment to be implemented, at least 330 deputies (three-fifths of the Parliament) must vote for the bill.

However, under Article 175 of the Constitution, the president may send bills concerning constitutional amendments back to Parliament for further deliberation. If Sezer vetoes the bill, and if Parliament approves the bill in a second deliberation with a two-thirds majority (367), then Sezer has no right to veto it or put it to a referendum. Constitutional amendments not backed by at least 367 deputies face the risk of being vetoed or put to a referendum by the president. If a referendum becomes inevitable, referendum ballot boxes will be placed next to election boxes.

The main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) strongly opposes the package. The CHP did not reach an agreement in the meeting of Parliament s Advisory Board on Thursday with the AK Party to push elections up to July 22, arguing they should be held in early September.

The CHP supports lowering the minimum age for election to deputy to 25. CHP Nide deputy Orhan Eraslan said his party will not back the constitutional amendment package. You cannot effect this amendment in such a limited time. If the president is elected by the public, this means transition to a semi-presidential system. A semi-presidential system has different mechanisms. For this reason, we are against this package.

Opposition parties maintain that if vetoed by the president, the package will create a deadlock.

The first package approved at the parliamentary Justice Commission on Thursday introduces an amendment to Article 67 of the Constitution and provisions for holding early elections on July 22. The amended Article 67 will decrease the minimum age of a parliamentarian to 25 and ensure that this provision will be applied in the approaching elections. Having failed to reach an agreement with the opposition parties at the Parliaments Advisory Board, the AK Party submitted the work schedule to Parliament as a party motion, which was then approved by the legislative body.

Although the AK Party had previously proposed June 24 and July 1 as possible election dates, the YSK said preparations for the elections could not be completed by that date, and the AK Party had to change it to July 22. The AK Partys proposal was first rejected by ANAVATAN, whose leader, Erkan Mumcu, stated that his party needed extra time for preparations as the party will hold primaries for candidate selection, and therefore, early elections should be held in early September at the earliest. DYP Chairman Mehmet Aar announced his party s readiness for early elections irrespective of date.

CHP leader Deniz Baykal disclosed that they were against June 24 as the early elections date and that a more reasonable date should be determined, considering the risk of lower voter participation during the summer. Bureaucrats who intend to run for Parliament in the early elections must resign from their current posts. Opposition parties argue that in the event of a snap election it will be more difficult for bureaucrats to resign and that they may apply to the Constitutional Court if they are not given sufficient time for their candidacies.

In addition, ANKARA ANATOLIA news agency (03.05.07) reports the following:

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that he would not step down after May 16th if the new president was not elected by then.

President Sezer received Syrian Vice President Najah al-Attar and an accompanying delegation. The meeting was closed to the press.

Answering a question from reporters after the meeting, President Sezer said he would step down after May 16th if the president was not elected by then. [sentence as received]

"The last section of Article 102 of the Constitution is clear," stated President Sezer.

EG/

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