Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-08-03

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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 construction of the sixth biggest military radar installations in the region for surveillance in the Middle East will be completed in a month in the occupied Kantara area

[02] Environmentalists say they will declare Erdogan, Talat and Soyer as guilty for crimes against the environment in case they do not take into consideration their sensitivities on the issue of conveying electricity to occupied Kaprass

[03] YKP accuses the embassy of Turkey to Lefkosia of launching an attack against the whole of Karpass Peninsula

[04] Reactions against the organizations which oppose to conveying electricity to the areas between Rizokarpasso and Apostolos Andreas Cape

[05] The so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation holds contacts in Turkey

[06] An illegal Assembly football team delegation formed by self-styled MPs will visit Germany to hold contacts and play matches

[07] Three businessmen from Kazakhstan are reportedly planning to make important investments in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[08] Serdar Denktas argues that no political solution could be reached with the Greek Cypriot side

[09] Ertugruloglu argues that there is no organic relation between Turkeys EU accession process and the Cyprus problem

[10] Cakici reminds the commander of the Security Forces that he is a guest for two years in northern Cyprus, while the TDP is one of the householders

[11] A python smuggled into the occupied areas will be donated to a European organization by the breakaway regime

[12] The so-called Lefka Foundation has been established

[13] Erdogans message to the guest book at the Mausoleum of Ataturk different than last year; Reference to the Great Ataturk on his message

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] From the Turkish Press of the 2nd August 2007

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The construction of the sixth biggest military radar installations in the region for surveillance in the Middle East will be completed in a month in the occupied Kantara area

The installations will be presented as being bound to the so-called security forces command and between 80 and 100 soldiers of various ranks will be stationed there.

An antenna of illegal Bayrak television is also in the area. With the completion of the radar installations the premises will have three different control points and the latest point will be a normal military gate. According to the paper, 500 trees were cut during the building of the installations.

The walls of the building where the antenna will be installed are 60 cm wide. Tenders were submitted for the reconstruction of the road which secures the communication with the area and the road will be completed in the coming days.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Environmentalists say they will declare Erdogan, Talat and Soyer as guilty for crimes against the environment in case they do not take into consideration their sensitivities on the issue of conveying electricity to occupied Kaprass

The officials called on the government to apply the laws on this issue and put as soon as possible into force a decision taken by the Higher Council for Monuments.

Dr. Dervis Yuksel, member of the administrative committee of the Mediterranean Wind Union, pointed out that the issue of the environment goes beyond the limits of a state and it is accepted as a heritage of the humanity. He said that in case these realities are not taken into consideration they will declare the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat and the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer as guilty for crimes against the environment.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (03.08.07) reports that the officials of the platform said that while in Turkey there are tens of national parks, Mr Erdogan should be sensitive for the practice applied for our one and only national park.

KIBRIS reports that Mr Soyer met at launch with the journalists and columnists of the paper and stated that they are determined to convey electricity to Apostolos Andreas Cape.

Mr Soyer argued that they will definitely protect Karpass. He said that they are planning to complete in September the legal work for protecting the area and called on the environmental organizations to contribute to these preparations.

(I/Ts.)

[03] YKP accuses the embassy of Turkey to Lefkosia of launching an attack against the whole of Karpass Peninsula

Mr Kanatli called on the authorities to share with the public the latest information in the department of lands and surveys regarding Karpass and to reveal all private and other projects which have been submitted together with their financing sources. He noted that the real problem is the transfer of electricity to a national park and not to convey it to the Karpass area.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Reactions against the organizations which oppose to conveying electricity to the areas between Rizokarpasso and Apostolos Andreas Cape

The secretary of the association, Dursun Cebi said that the state is obliged to convey to Karpass fundamental services such as education and infrastructure. The people of the area are more environmentalist and progressive than everybody else, he argued.

Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (03.08.07) refers to the above-mentioned statement under the banner front page title Electricity will be conveyed to Karpass.

(I/Ts.)

[05] The so-called Turkish Cypriot football federation holds contacts in Turkey

The delegation headed by the chairman of the federation, Niyazi Okutan met with the president of the TFF, Haluk Ulusoy, the coordinator of TFF for Research, Planning, Traning and Development, Gunduz Tekin Onay and the responsible for UEFA affairs in the TFFs administrative council, Suheyl Onen.

With Mr Onay they discussed the cooperation between them on the issue of infrastructure and with Mr Onen they exchanged views on issues regarding the path they will follow in UEFA.

Mr Okutan said that during the one and a half-hour-meeting they conveyed to Mr Ulusoy their thoughts on internal and external issues, the latest developments on their external contacts and their views on the issue of what they will do in the short and the long term.

The paper reports that the delegation of the so-called Turkish Cypriot football Federation will meet today with Senes Erzik, vice president of UEFA and member of its Executive Council. The delegation will examine with Mr Erzik the situation of the country and ways for solution.

(I/Ts.)

[06] An illegal Assembly football team delegation formed by self-styled MPs will visit Germany to hold contacts and play matches

A delegation from the Republics Assembly will fly to Germany tomorrow to attend the Sports and Cultural Activities Festival, upon the invitation of the Waldkirchen Municipality in the German state of Bavaria.

The delegation which will be headed by the Speaker of the Republics Assembly Fatma Ekenoglu is consisting of MPs forming the parliamentary football team.

During their stay in the Bavarian state of Germany, the Assembly delegation will hold contacts with officials from the Waldkirchen Municipality which is organizing the Sports and Cultural Activities Festival, as well as with other state authorities.

Within the framework of social relations, the Assembly football team formed by MPs plays matches with regional teams across the TRNC every year as well as with foreign teams.

[07] Three businessmen from Kazakhstan are reportedly planning to make important investments in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The private aircraft landed in the airport of Dalaman, Turkey before coming to illegal Tymbou airport. The businessmen departed the same day for France, but not with a direct flight. According to the paper, the Kazakh businessmen came to the occupied areas of Cyprus upon a mediation of Altan Kemal, a Turkish Cypriot accountant who lives in Britain.

It is noted that they are doing business with some businessmen who live in the occupied areas. The names of the latter were not revealed. The paper notes that the Kazakh businessmen are planning to make important investments in the occupied areas of Cyprus and that the aim of the visit was to examine the areas where they will make these investments.

(I/Ts.)

[08] Serdar Denktas argues that no political solution could be reached with the Greek Cypriot side

Mr Denktas argued that the only way to solve the problems the Turkish Cypriots are facing in their internal politics is to adopt the presidential system.

Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (03.08.07) refers to the statements of Mr Denktas under the banner front-page title Presidential System and notes that all parties approach positively the adoption of this system in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Ertugruloglu argues that there is no organic relation between Turkeys EU accession process and the Cyprus problem

In a statement issued by UBPs press office, Mr Ertugruloglu argued that the Turkish Cypriot leader Talats creating a connection between Turkeys EU accession process and the Cyprus problem is extremely wrong.

He said they were expecting Mr Talat to explain what he meant by saying that Turkeys EU accession course will constitute a motivation in the Cyprus problem.

(I/Ts.)

[10] Cakici reminds the commander of the Security Forces that he is a guest for two years in northern Cyprus, while the TDP is one of the householders

Mr Cakici apologized to the Turkish Cypriot officers for not being present at the reception and congratulated the establishment of the security forces.

Mr Cakici said: I want to remind that the commander of the Security Forces is in northern Cyprus as a guest for two years because of his duty and that the TDP is one of the householders of northern Cyprus.

Mr Cakici described as unjust and wrong evaluation the statements of some circles who argue that the Turkish Cypriots cannot demand their sovereignty from Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[11] A python smuggled into the occupied areas will be donated to a European organization by the breakaway regime

Sennaroglu said they thought that it would not be appropriate to kill the python due to the danger of the extinction of its species. He noted that because they do not have a zoo they are considering to hold contacts with various international organizations in order to donate to them the python.

Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (03.08.07) refers to the issue under the title Python from Cyprus to Europe.

[12] The so-called Lefka Foundation has been established

(I/Ts.)

[13] Erdogans message to the guest book at the Mausoleum of Ataturk different than last year; Reference to the Great Ataturk on his message

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, with members of the Supreme Military Board [YAS] and signed the special register. While the previous year, he stressed that the "Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] is the most important guarantee of our national security," this year his message was different. Yesterday, Erdogan wrote: "Great Ataturk, we have convened for the routine YAS assessment work. The brave Turkish Armed Forces is the greatest guarantee of our national security with its high discipline and his ability to adjust to the changing security conditions. Along your lines of modernization goals, we are resolute and determined to welcome the 100th anniversary of the Republic as a more developed and prosperous country. With these thoughts, I wish the work carried out by YAS in August 2007 to be auspicious for the TSK situation of readiness and the tranquility and security of our people. May your soul rest in peace.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] From the Turkish Press of the 2nd August 2007

In an article in MILLIYET, Derya Sazak suggests that Murat Basesgioglu may be an alternative presidential candidate. "The AKP may surprise us, yet," he says.

In a commentary in VATAN, Rusen Cakir writes: "Turkey is holding its breath to see what Abdullah Gul's decision will be, but let me tell you what I think: I do not think that Gul will withdraw his candidacy. If he does that this late in the day would have very negative consequences for his political career, for the future of his party and the government, and for Turkish democracy." Cakir argues that if he withdrew his candidacy, Gul would also hurt Prime Minister Erdogan's career. Instead of doing that, Cakir suggests, the AKP should elect a parliament speaker based on consensus and try to normalize its image in the new government, by creating "a light cabinet," by appointing more than one woman minister, and by appointing as ministers people who joined the AKP ranks from the left-wing and right-wing parties.

In an article entitled "A civilian constitution: A new road map" , YENI SAFAK columnist Ali Bayramoglu cites the election of Turkey's next president and the preparation of a new constitution as two important tasks that remain to be carried out in the wake of the 22 July election. He argues that the nomination of "a politician at peace with politics and the people" as president will constitute one of the most serious steps taken toward civilization in Turkey ever since 1980. He also argues that "the drawing up of a civilian constitution of the kind the AKP described during its election campaign and on which it is working currently" will be a "gigantic" move toward giving structural and permanent form to the reforms implemented in the past five years.

Mustafa Akyol of the TURKISH DAILY NEWS argues in favor of the proposal made by Professor Zafer Uskul in his commentary entitled "A Post-Kemalist Constitution?". Akyol says: "Turkey is a diverse society in which Kemalism is only one of the many competing ideologies, and the state should not be based on any of these different schools of thought if we wish to be a fully democratic nation."

HURRIYETs Bekir Coskun observes that these days people prefer not to talk about Kemalist principles or secularism, fearing harsh criticism. In order to substantiate this in his article, Coskun refers to how Cengiz Candar and Nazli Ilicak reprimanded and insulted the deputy leader of the Ataturkist Thought Association on CNN Turk, and he charges "the election victory of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] started a lynch."

In an article in MILLIYET, Dogan Heper argues that Professor Uskul is not the only expert in the field and that he should air his views less. The columnist affirms: "Turkey needs a shorter and clearer constitution that is similar to those in the EU countries. For that, Professor Ergun Ozbudun and his colleagues have been consulted. Uskul is not among them." Referring to the threats of Kurdish separatism, fundamentalism and the export of the Iranian regime, Heper warns that Turkey's conditions and problems should not be ignored while drafting the new constitution. He concludes: "We will not let go of democracy. Turkey will not be divided and it will not be the Middle Eastern model of moderate Islam. Everybody should realize that."

In a commentary in ORTADOGU, Taylan Sorgun condemns the efforts "to erase the concept of nation." He argues that "a colorless constitution without an ideology means a denial of the national identity." Sorgun compares the current situation to the post World War I period in Turkey, when most of the country was in the hands of foreign forces, and the Turks were losing their identity, trying to be like Europeans, trying to be more cosmopolitan. He concludes that cosmopolitan is the antithesis of national, and that is what certain circles are trying to achieve by means of a new "colorless constitution."

In an article entitled "If five putschists can do it, why should the National Assembly not be able to do it, too", VAKIT columnist Ali Ihsan Karahasanoglu blasts certain constitutional professors for arguing that the newly elected parliament does not have the right to draw up a new constitution because that authority is vested only in founding parliaments. In challenging this assertion, Karahasanoglu notes that the 1982 Constitution was not drawn up by the National Assembly but by the architects of the 1980 military coup.

In an article entitled "What does 'Ataturk's principles and reforms' mean?", ZAMAN columnist Sahin Alpay objects to some of the criticisms laid against Professor Zafer Uskul over his remarks calling for the removal of references to Ataturk from the next constitution. Alpay starts by accusing CHP leader Baykal of failing to maintain a "civilized discussion" by "misrepresenting" Uskul's suggestions as a manifestation of an "allergy to Ataturk." He goes on to argue that while the Constitution should include a section expressing Turkey's "gratitude" to Ataturk, it should be purged of "ideological" expressions and that Ataturk's principles and reforms could not be expected to be binding on everybody. He also argues that there is no consensus on the meaning of these principles and reforms.

In an article entitled "Triple power and the military's feelings," TODAY'S ZAMAN columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu argues that "whether we like it or not there is serious concern, even among some [AKP] supporters, over the possibility of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul becoming president" because of "fears" that Gul's election would "prompt the military-led secular establishment to drag its feet [over] compromise on many domestic and foreign issues."

In an article entitled "If the AKP does not stick up for Zafer Uskul", BUGUN columnist Nuh Gonultas asserts that unless the AKP takes Professor Zafer Uskul's side in the controversy sparked by Uskul's remarks about the Constitution, it might end up alienating personalities like Ertugrul Gunay and Reha Camuroglu, who have been admitted into the AKP on the strength of their "reformist" outlook.

Enginsoy writes in the TURKISH DAILY NEWS from Washington that the leak of a secret US plan to carry out an operation with Turkey to capture PKK leaders in north Iraq "killed a rare opportunity for Washington to bolster its strained ties with Ankara." According to the report, analysts agree that "such a secret operation is now already something of the past."

In an editorial in HURRIYET, Oktay Eksi censures the leak, warning that PKK leaders will now continue to do what they do with no fear. This is not a mere fiasco, he says, "what we are facing is a strategic ally (!) that treats the Turkish nation -- which is trying to protect its national unity -- like an idiot."

In a commentary in SABAH, Soli Ozel refers to various articles published on the issue, and particularly Robert Novak's report in the Washington Post about the secret plan to hit the PKK. According to Ozel, the leak may have aimed to sabotage the operation, but in Washington, those who want to improve US-Turkish relations are in the majority. "They realize the importance of cooperation in relation with Iraq," he says, "and value the continuation of a democratic political system in Turkey. Yet it is difficult to see how these relations that are constantly in a crisis will improve without an operation against the PKK and especially if the Armenian genocide bill is passed in September or October."

In an article entitled "The language of diplomacy", VAKIT columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak comments on Prime Minister Erdogan's aide Egemen Bagis' recent remarks "defying" the United States by announcing that Turkey is poised to launch cross-border operations against the terrorist PKK. After claiming that both Ankara and Washington are aware that the issue of a military campaign against the terrorist elements in northern Iraq is a "banana skin" on which they can slip, Dilipak claims that from the US standpoint, what is really in question is whether Turkey could be persuaded to take over the task of maintaining security in northern Iraq. He also explains why Ankara might compromise its relations with Iran if it carries out such a mission within guidelines defined by Washington.

In an article entitled "Mental blindness", ZAMAN columnist Etyen Mahcupyan argues that if "part of the secularist section of society" voted for the AKP in the 22 July election, it is because secular voters have realized the bogus quality of what is called the "reactionary threat" to the regime as well as becoming aware of a much more serious problem than the AKP's Islamic stance, namely the menace of a military coup. Mahcupyan also argues that in the southeast, the election was not about a contest between Kurds and Islamists but about which methods were used to express Kurdish demands publicly.

In an article entitled "Military memorandums and the ballot box", YENI SAFAK columnist Fehmi Koru takes issue with Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit over his recent assertion in response to journalists' questions that the military's 27 April statement did not contribute to the upsurge in the AKP's popularity. Koru invokes the findings of the A&G Research Company suggesting that popular support for the AKP rose from 24,6 percent in June 2006 to 40,8 over 28-30 April 2007 before it peaked at 46,5 percent on 22 July to argue that the military tends to incur a public backlash whenever it interrupts the "natural course of politics" by causing "regime debates" to dominate the agenda. He also expresses the hope that Buyukanit will never respond to political questions from now on.

In an article entitled "It is civilians who should internalize democracy first," MILLI GAZETE columnist Abdulkadir Ozkan censures the questions asked to Chief of Staff General Buyukanit about the military's stance on the election results at the recent reception marking the Armed Forces Day in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus as the latest example of journalists and civilians in general trying to involve the military in politics.

Finally, in an article entitled "The Cyprus reality and certain things that we do not know," MILLI GAZETE columnist Birol Ertan asserts that while the Turkish people continue to regard "the KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]" as a sister country and its people as their own brothers, it needs to be seen that there are social and political sections in occupied Cyprus that are annoyed by the Turkish military presence in the north as well as by "our "sincere" perception of "the KKTC" as an "offspring country."

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