Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-08-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Buyukanit issued a hard message before the presidential election saying that There are sly plans against secularism

[02] The new Turkish President to take over office in closed ceremony this evening

[03] Upcoming president Güls primary target: Full EU membership. Reference to Cyprus

[04] Sarkozy elaborates on his policy towards Turkeys accession to the EU

[05] Ertugruloglu is reportedly waiting to meet Erdogan in Ankara; Cakici strongly criticizes the UBP, CTP, DP and ODP; The AKP has reportedly decided the removal of ORP from the government

[06] Talat: 'The world understands us'

[07] VOLKAN accuses the organizations which oppose to the conveying of electricity to Karpass of being financed by foreign powers; The court postpones the hearing for the third time

[08] The 5th International Cyprus Theatre Festival is organized in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[09] The North Cyprus Billiard Federation participates in a tournament of World Billiard Federation (UBM) in Egypt

[10] A lesson to the Greek Cypriots in Poland

[11] Malta has reportedly started cultural cooperation with the TRNC

[12] Imam sons wedding party in Istanbul brings to mind crisis between Gul and Talat in 2004

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Buyukanit issued a hard message before the presidential election saying that There are sly plans against secularism

My Esteemed Comrades in Arms,

Today we experience the joy of celebrating the 85th anniversary of the victory that the great Turkish nation, which has been an example of independence for the whole world ever since it first emerged on the stage of history, achieved in the honourable struggle that it waged against the forces that had occupied its homeland.

This triumph, which is an eternal monument of the Turkish nation's idea of independence, remains not only as an indicator of the Turkish military's great strength and heroism, but also made plain what a great and vibrant force national unity and solidarity are. This victory, won in a period in which the Turkish nation was thought to be weak, is the clearest possible expression of just how sound and unshakable the basic foundations of the Republic of Turkey are.

There is not the slightest bit of difference between the makeup of the heroic Turkish military that demonstrated the courage and the resolve to stand firm against the enemy during that period in which poverty and technical inadequacies prevailed and the makeup of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] of today, the combat capabilities of which have reached the highest level possible by being equipped with all the resources of the Information Age. This makeup will continue to be the basis of the dynamic force that will keep alive for all time the Republic of Turkey, which was formed with the inborn capabilities and strength of the Turkish nation and was established with the Principles and Reforms of the Great Leader Ataturk.

It must not be forgotten that the Ataturk Revolution possessed a democratic character. It ended the Sultanate and the Caliphate and replaced them with the Republic, which was based on the sovereignty of the nation. The Ataturk Revolution took its essence from the War of National Liberation. This great war of the Turkish Nation was waged both against those foreign enemies who sought to seize Anatolia and against the system of the Sultanate and the Caliphate, which collaborated with these enemies. This struggle aimed at independence in terms of the outside, and at national sovereignty inside.

The despicable plans conducted by some with evil intent who have been unable to comprehend the Ataturkist Thought System, which is based on science and reason, with the goal of destroying the unity and the solidarity of the Turkish nation, as well as the secular and democratic structure of the Republic of Turkey, and eliminating its modern accomplishments, unfortunately emerge in different forms on a daily basis. I state with sadness that, in the days in which we are living, the attacks made against the Turkish Armed Forces, from both within and without the country, have increased. The purpose of these attacks is very well known to the personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces. Our entire nation follows very clearly the approaches of separatists, who are unable to accept the unitary structure of the Republic of Turkey, and of dens of evil that seek to erode, with a systematic approach, its secular structure.

In the face of these threats, Ataturk nationalism and secularism, which are based not on any ethnic foundation, are set forth clearly in our Constitution, are founded on the basis not of ethnicity but of citizenship, and find their expression in the statement of our Great Leader Ataturk that "the Turkish people, who founded the Republic of Turkey, are called the Turkish nation," will drown all of these dark forces in the light of science and reason, and will take us to a bright future.

There is one thing that the great Turkish nation, who was the true heroes of the War for Liberation, must know. Attacks and treachery of this sort will not be able to intimidate the Turkish Armed Forces or its personnel, who are an example to all the world due to their steel-like discipline, their unity and solidarity, and their devotion to the dynamic and modern Thought System of Ataturk, which is far from ideology and is based on science and on reason. This strength of resistance is present in the genes of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Just as the Turkish Armed Forces, in carrying out their duty to guard and protect the Republic of Turkey, which is a democratic, secular, and social state of law, have to date never compromised from their resolute stance, they will never do so in the future.

I wish success to the members of our heroic Turkish Armed Forces, who are acting with this consciousness, in the struggle that they have been waging against the terrorist organization seeking to divide our country, and I embrace with affection all of our heroic children and their commanders. Do not forget: the saying of the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, that "those who establish the Republic must also be capable of defending it" will always guide us, and will give us strength.

With these thoughts and emotions, I recall with thanks and gratitude first the Great Leader Ataturk, and our precious martyrs who willingly sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and the nation, and I salute with gratitude our heroic veterans. I congratulate all of the personnel in our Turkish Armed Forces at every level, generals and admirals, officers, non-commissioned officers, and specialized and common soldiers, as well as our civilian employees and workers, on the Victory Holiday and TSK Day, and I hope for health, happiness, and prosperity for them and their families.

May the 85th year of the Great Victory be auspicious.

Commenting on the issue, Turkish daily Radikal (internet version, 28.08.07) writes that the Turkish General Staff published three days earlier the message, which it is usually publicized on the 29th of August. The paper notes that it draws the attention that the message was made public just before the third round of the presidential election in Turkey, in which Abdullah Gul is expected to be elected as the new president of Turkey.

In addition, Turkish daily Hurriyet (internet version, 28.08.07) reports that the reasons which led General Buyukanit to publicize his message for the Victory Day three days earlier, is the cause of various discussions in Ankaras backstage. The main question is why the Chief of the General Staff issued such a hard message just before the third round of the presidential elections.

[02] The new Turkish President to take over office in closed ceremony this evening

The new president of Turkey will take over the office on Tuesday evening, Presidential Press Centre announced on Monday.

According to a statement by the press centre, the hand over ceremony will be held behind closed doors at the Presidential Palace at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.Abdullah Gul, the presidential candidate of the Justice and Development (AK) Party; Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the candidate of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); and Tayfun Icli, the candidate of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); will compete in the third round of voting at the Parliamentary General Assembly on Tuesday.

The candidate who wins votes of 276 MPs in this round will be elected the 11th President of Turkey.

The new president will take oath at the parliament at 6:00 p.m.

In the second round of voting held last Friday, Gul won 337 votes, Cakmakoglu got 71 votes and Icli gained 14 votes.

[03] Upcoming president Güls primary target: full EU membership. Reference to Cyprus

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül, considered certain to become the 11th president of the Turkish Republic, offered hints about the strategy he would pursue in foreign policy on his personal Web site.

Gül pointed to two basic targets in an essay at www.abdullahgul.gen.tr, which gives a detailed account of foreign policy developments in the 58th and 59th governments as well as foreign policy goals for the future.

Gül lists Turkey's achievements in the international arena between 2003 and 2007 under five headings: scope of freedoms and democracy expanded; one of the world's highest growth rates; full membership negotiations started with the EU; a source of power in its region; and a source of security, stability and welfare.

Gul continues his emphasis on soft power, a term he frequently used during his term as foreign minister. "By power, we mean not the power based on military capabilities of a country, but the soft power that stems from a country's ability to successfully adapt to universal values such as democracy, human rights, rule of law and transparency within values," he said.

Gül also gave two basic goals for Turkey's foreign policy vision: "The first target is to become an integral part of the European Union. Full membership to the EU does not set an alternative to Turkey's powerful transatlantic bonds and its strategic ties with the US. The second target is to create an environment of security, stability, welfare, friendship and cooperation in the areas surrounding the country, located as it is in the natural centre of the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Black Sea, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe, which all have an important place in Turkey's foreign policy."

Gül sees the change in Turkey's policy on Cyprus as one of most important achievements of Turkish foreign policy in recent years. "Rejection by the Greek side of the Annan plan, which was the solution proposed by the international community, and its adoption by the Turkish Cypriots in line with our government's encouragement, have created an environment of justifiability. Thanks to the smart foreign policy pursued, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [KKTC] is seen no longer the party that is against solution. Rather, the world came to see who keeps his word and who does not, contrary to what is widely believed," he said.

[04] Sarkozy elaborates on his policy towards Turkeys accession to the EU

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday that France would not oppose new negotiations between Turkey and the European Union but added that it would continue to resist full Turkish membership.

Sarkozy said such negotiations should include discussion of a membership or weaker alliance between Turkey and the EU, noting that they should only take place after an EU-wide "reflection" on the future of the 27-member union.

"If this essential reflection on the future is launched by the 27 [members], France will not oppose new negotiations between Turkey and the European Union in the coming months and years," Sarkozy said at an annual conference of French ambassadors where he laid out his plans for French foreign policy.

He added that the next "chapters" of negotiation should be "compatible with the two possible visions of the future of their relationship: either joining [as a member] or any association as tight as possible without attaining membership," Sarkozy said in a speech opening an annual conference of French ambassadors in Paris.

Sarkozy, who in the past vowed to halt Turkeys membership bid, reiterated on Monday his preference for a weaker kind of partnership. His stance on the issue runs against that of a majority of EU leaders, who back entry negotiations with Ankara.

Sarkozy said he told Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan that any negotiations should start with the 30 chapters that do not require full membership, noting, Well see for the rest. He described this as a solution that does not betray the wish of France and the French but at the same time allows Turkey to have hope.

He did however, express hope that Turkey and France would improve relations, which have been strained due to the French resistance to Turkish membership. Better relations with Turkey are seen as crucial to Sarkozys vision for the Mediterranean Union he has championed. Sarkozy has said his opposition to the Turkish bid was not directed against the Turkish people but rather was a question of defining Europes borders.

Sarkozy has suggested that instead of joining the EU, Turkey should play a central role in a Mediterranean Union. Turkey, a candidate for EU membership since 1999, rejects outright the idea of any privileged partnership in place of full membership in the 27-nation bloc, first mooted by German conservatives, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and has since found supporters among other opponents to Turkeys bid.

Ending a long hiatus, the EU began negotiations with Turkey in late March on the enterprise and industry policy chapter -- the second area Ankara has managed to open since one on science and research in June 2006. In late June the bloc opened talks on two chapters with Turkey, namely financial control and statistics, while France blocked the economy and monetary policy chapter despite positive suggestions from term president Germany and the European Commission.

France is to take the helm of the 27-nation EU in July 2008, with Sarkozy promising to stir debate on such sensitive issues as Europes borders, Turkeys membership in the bloc and curbing immigration. During a recent interview with Todays Zaman, State Minister and Turkeys chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan admitted that Turkey had experienced the France syndrome in the first half of 2007. Babacan, however, stressed then that Turkey has managed to keep its EU accession process on track by having talks opened on three chapters of 35 policy areas in only three months, starting from the end of March and extending to the end of June.

[05] Ertugruloglu is reportedly waiting to meet Erdogan in Ankara; Cakici strongly criticizes the UBP, CTP, DP and ODP; The AKP has reportedly decided the removal of ORP from the government

He noted that the UBP and DP MPs have not shown the courage to resign and added that this is due to the fact that they were not able to secure the permission of the Justice and Development Partys (AKP) to do this.

Mr Cakici said that since its establishment the ORP behaves as an agent of the AKP and pointed out to the resignations of the ORPs ministers upon accusations for bribery. Mr Cakici accused the CTP of being the initiator of the establishment of the ORP and noted that the CTP has a great role in the fact that democracy cannot be developed in the occupied areas of the island.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (28.08.07) reports that while the efforts of the UBP in Ankara to secure the interference of the AKP government in the internal affairs of the Turkish Cypriots continue, the meeting planned for today between the Turkish Cypriot political parties has been postponed.

The paper notes that Tahsin Ertugruloglu, leader of the UBP postponed his return to the island, that he asked for a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that he is waiting for Mr Erdogans reply. The paper notes that it acquired the proposals submitted by the CTP, UBP and DPs general secretaries to each other during their recent meeting on Friday on the issue of constitutional amendments and the early elections.

Pointing out that there is a gap between the proposals of the three parties, Yeni Duzen writes that the lack of confidence between them increased because of the demand submitted by the UBP to the AKP to intervene for early elections.

Finally, under the title Game over, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (28.08.07) refers to the developments in the internal politics in the occupied areas of Cyprus and to the election of Abdullah Gul to the presidency of Turkey which is expected to take place today. The paper argues that the game is over for the ORP, the minor coalition partner. Invoking statements by an AKP official, the paper writes that he said that they are not interfering in the internal politics in occupied Cyprus.

We are just throwing away the pilaf we have cooked, he added referring to the ORP. He pointed out that the AKP won the elections for the second time in Turkey and that Mr Gul is preparing to become President of the Republic and noted that we are obliged to reduce our mistakes to nothing now. Some friends of ours may behave with good intentions, but we cannot be worn out because of the ORP.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Talat: 'The world understands us'

With fewer than 10 days left before a key Sept. 5 meeting between Cypriot leaders, Turkish Cypriot President Talat says he expects resumption of stalled talks over Cyprus but warns We cannot go for a forced marriage if the Greek Cypriots do not want a united island

While frustrated by the political deadlock that defines the status of Cyprus, the island's Turks will not succumb to pessimism but explore a range of alternatives if the decades-old dispute is not resolved soon, said the president of northern Cyprus.

We will not sit idly and let events dictate our fate if no solution is found, said President Mehmet Ali Talat in an interview Friday with the Turkish Daily News.

Talat's remarks came ahead of the key Sept. 5 meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos aimed at breaking the deadlock in the reunification talks. The two leaders last met in July 2006.

We will be working for a settlement and expect the resumption of peace talks on Sept. 5. But if the Greek Cypriots do not want a united island, then we cannot go for a forced marriage, Talat said at his residence near the Green Line dividing the capital Nicosia.

The Turkish Cypriot side will discuss all case scenarios in the face of a permanent partition, Talat continued, and proceed on its own path to realize objectives of a more prosperous future and more democratic state well integrated with its populace.

There is no need to be hopeless. We are in a much better situation today than in the past. Our people want to get rid of uncertainty but even if the future is uncertain today, this uncertainty is no longer heavy and costly like in the past, said Talat in his challenge to pessimism. The world understands us, he added, referring to the changing mood in the international arena after the approval of a United Nations peace plan by the Turkish Cypriots in 2004.

We are speaking the same language with the world. Nobody is blaming us for the unresolved dispute. Nobody is telling us we deserve to live under sanctions. On the contrary, they say we face injustice.

Talat further elaborated on the Greek Cypriot attempt for oil and natural gas exploration off the Mediterranean coast. He argued that a political motive lies behind the Greek Cypriot insistence to press ahead with plans for oil exploration in the region, despite objections from Turkey.

This attempt is serving a political purpose: Greek Cypriots, through a fait accomplis, want to prove that they are a sovereign state which rules the entire island, he said.

Greek Cyprus opened a tender for exploration of natural resources off the Mediterranean coast earlier this year. Four companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and the United Arab Emirates submitted sealed documents, which will be opened on Tuesday.

Talat said the organizers of oil exploration attempts in the southern part of the island had one more objective. They want to play up to voters ahead of the [February 2008] elections in a move to give an oil rich Greek Cyprus on the way to polls' image, he added.

The Turkish government is raising concerns over the persisting oil row with Greek Cyprus and warns the move could stoke tensions in the region. Ankara openly says Greek Cyprus cannot move ahead with the oil exploration plans, as it does not represent the entire island.

Both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side are uneasy with the Greek Cypriot move to create fait accomplis and tension in eastern Mediterranean but they are determined to protect their own people, said Talat.

Greek Cyprus' sovereignty claims and their argument for exploration of natural resources in the region are meaningless and illegitimate.

Commenting on Turkey's tense presidential election process, Talat said the country successfully passed the test of democracy.

This is a democratic process and Turkey rightfully fulfilled it. Everyone will respect Parliament, which is actually reflecting the will of people. Parliament, namely the public, will make the decision [on the presidency], he noted.

The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) sole candidate Abdullah Gul is set to realize his dreams of becoming president as Turkish Parliament heads into a decisive vote on his nomination on Tuesday. Talat added: If the result is clear, it will be a reflection of the will [of the nation].

[07] VOLKAN accuses the organizations which oppose to the conveying of electricity to Karpass of being financed by foreign powers; The court postpones the hearing for the third time

This is the third time that the hearing is postponed, notes the paper adding that meanwhile it was known that more than half of the 360 poles have already been placed. The lawyer of the Platform, Boysan Bora reiterated yesterday the call to the government to stop the placing of poles in the area until the court decision is issued.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (28.08.07) refers to the issue under the banner front page title The organizations of the USA are against the conveying of electricity to Karpass and argues that it has been revealed that organizations which are financed by foreign powers participate in the lobby which opposes to the conveying of electricity to Karpass.

The paper notes that KAYAD organization held yesterday a protest action against the conveying of electricity at Golden Beach in Karpass. The paper alleges that the above-mentioned organization is financed by the US embassy to Nicosia. It also claims that the placards of the participants in the protest yesterday were in English because their aim was to complain against the TRNC to the world.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The 5th International Cyprus Theatre Festival is organized in the occupied areas of Cyprus

(I/Ts.)

[09] The North Cyprus Billiard Federation participates in a tournament of World Billiard Federation (UBM) in Egypt

(I/Ts.)

[10] A lesson to the Greek Cypriots in Poland

(I/Ts.)

[11] Malta has reportedly started cultural cooperation with the TRNC

The concert of the Maltese childrens choir will take place on 31 August. Meanwhile, Kibris reports also that on 26 August 2007 Maltas The Sunday Times newspaper referred to the cultural cooperation between Malta and the TRNC. It is noted that during the period when the Maltese group is in the occupied areas, Maltas flag will be waving on Dome Hotel in occupied Keryneia.

(I/Ts.)

[12] Imam sons wedding party in Istanbul brings to mind crisis between Gul and Talat in 2004

In 2004 the TRNC experienced a crisis of a marriage ceremony that took place in a mosque. Complaints like in the mosques diverting wedding ceremonies are being performed reached even to the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, regarding the use by the municipality of the unused historic mosque of Sarayonu in Lefkosia as wedding performance place. It was revealed that Gul asked the President at the time Mehmet Ali Talat about the situation. Talat answered that We do not perform wedding ceremonies in the mosques. Abiding by the marriage law of the TRNC an official wedding place in Lefkosia was looked for. Serayonu Mosque is known as a historical place. Besides that it was not functioning as a mosque. The municipality made this as its official marriage office. No wedding ceremony is performed here in the mosque as such. It is a registry office.

In the same page the paper carries a reportage of a wedding party of an imams son that took place in the yard of a mosque in Istanbul and created lots of reactions.

(E/A)

EG/

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