Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-10-17

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat informs the leaders of the Jewish lobby in New York on the Cyprus problem

[02] Oya Talatīs contacts in New York

[03] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during this weekly press conference

[04] Dutch academicians delegation in occupied Cyprus for the legal dimension of the Cyprus problem

[05] New law will allow the Turkish Cypriots who were given the properties of the Greek Cypriots to sell the properties to their real owners

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[06] The Turkish Press on 16 October 2007

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat informs the leaders of the Jewish lobby in New York on the Cyprus problem

As part of his contacts in the city, President Talat met with the Anti-Defamation League Leaders a New York based Jewish organization - last night. It is one of the strongest lobbies in the Unites States.

During the meeting at the ADL headquarters, President Talat briefed leaders of the ADL on the Cyprus issue.

The President told reporters at the end of the meeting that he had had a very useful meeting with ADL Leaders, who he said, expressed their support to the efforts aimed at lifting the international isolation on the Turkish Cypriot people.He said that the ADL leaders are also in support of a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

The President also added that he had extended an invitation to Jewish Leaders to visit the TRNC.

`We have received a positive response to this invitation`, he said, but added that a date hasnt been set for the visit.

For his part, ADL Assistant National Director Ken Jacobson said that they learned a lot about the situation in Cyprus and about some of the developments leading up to the 2004 referendum.

Calling the meeting as an important learning process for them, he said that they listened to a perspective that many of them did not know.

Noting that they have a better understanding of the situation on the island, he said: Its too early to say what initiative we will take but clearly we will take very seriously the comments made to us by the President`.

Tomorrow, the President will hold a press conference at the Turkish House in New York.

President Talat is expected to return to the Republic on Thursday.

[02] Oya Talatīs contacts in New York

The President of the Patriotic Womens Union First Lady - Oya Talat has highlighted the importance of the gravity of possible active participation of women from both communities in Cyprus in trying to bring about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mrs. Talat who has been holding contacts in New York on the sidelines of President Talats scheduled meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, has met with the Deputy Chief of the UNs NGO Section, Michele Federoff.During the meeting, the two women exchanged views on the possible non-governmental initiatives that can be taken under the auspices of the UN on the Cyprus issue.

Pointing to the ongoing international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people despite Turkish Cypriots support for the 2004 Annan Plan as seen in the referendum, Mrs. Talat stressed the importance of non-governmental initiatives under the UN auspices in helping the Turkish Cypriot peoples endeavor to become part of the international community.

Receiving information from the UN official on the activities at international level by North Cyprus NGOs in the direction of securing international recognition, the TRNC First Lady briefed Mrs. Federoff on the Cyprus issue.Accusing the Greek Cypriot Administration of pursuing a campaign of providing false information about womens rights in North Cyprus, she said it is important that Turkish Cypriot non-governmental organizations are given just and equal representation at all similar platforms.

Following her meeting with Mrs. Federoff, Mrs. Talat met with the Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Carolyn Hannan.

Exchanging views on the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, Mrs. Talat gave information on the process achieved in the TRNC after the ratification of the Convention by the Republics Assembly in 1995.

Explaining that parallel to the political Cyprus negotiations which have been going on for the last 40 years, active work on improving womens rights in the TRNC have also continued uninterrupted, Mrs. Talat requested the UNs support for partnership on various fields.

[03] Statements by Hasan Ercakica during this weekly press conference

The Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has said that President Talat would present some new proposals for the improvement of relations between the two communities on the island. He said that the President will also explain the Turkish Cypriot sides views on the Cyprus issue.

Responding to reporters questions at his weekly press briefing, the Presidential Spokesperson said that the Turkish Cypriot Side has received no information about the proposals submitted to the UN by the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos on the opening of new border crossings.

He said it was just an attempt to render todays meeting between the President and the UN Secretary-General ineffective.

Accusing the Greek Cypriot Administration of using its EU membership against the Turkish Cypriot people, he complained that the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister has threatened to cut relations between the EU and Kirghizia and Syria, if they insist on establishing ties with north Cyprus.

`It is time for the European Union to act and warn the Greek Cypriot Administration on the issue`, he said, complaining that the aim of the Greek Cypriot Side is not to improve its foreign relations but to maintain the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Referring to the continuing armament of south Cyprus, he said it is unacceptable that the Greek Cypriot Administration has been trying to present the presence of the Turkish Forces on the island as an excuse for its armament.

Mr. Ercakica said that the presence of the Turkish Forces would gain a new structure after a comprehensive settlement is found to the Cyprus problem and that the Turkish Forces could be withdrawn totally if the demilitarization of the island is foreseen.

He also called on the Greek Cypriot Administration to show the necessary good will towards bringing about a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

[04] Dutch academicians delegation in occupied Cyprus for the legal dimension of the Cyprus problem

Moreover, Mr. Avci conveyed to the Dutch delegation the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side from the international community.

On their part, the academicians said that they have already examined the legal dimension of the Cyprus problem at Hague meetings, where, they stated, a large of the information was given by the Greek Cypriot side.

The paper writes that because the members of the delegation feel the obligation to take unbiased information on such a sensitive issue, they stated that they wanted to see the Turkish Cypriot officials also.

(CS / EA)

[05] New law will allow the Turkish Cypriots who were given the properties of the Greek Cypriots to sell the properties to their real owners

Draft laws which interest all the community are discussed in an intensive way at the Committee. The Committee on Legal and Political Affairs is getting ready to make law a bill, which will open the road to the Turkish Cypriots who have in their hands Greek Cypriot properties, to buy these properties, writes the paper which goes on and writes the following:

The chairman of the Committee on Legal and Political Affairs Kadri Fellahoglu stated that a lot of urgent draft laws are being discussed in the committee and all these are preparations which interest all the society. He said that 14 urgent draft laws are in the Committee at the moment and 22 more are in line to be examined.

The paper writes that on the agenda of the Committee are various draft laws in the form of urgent regarding various issues. One of these draft laws refers to the granting of the se-called citizenship. According to this, a person will be given the TRNC citizenship if he/she stays in (occupied) Cyprus for a period of 10 years instead of 5 years.

The paper goes on and writes the following:

Subtitle: Taken from the Greek Cypriot owners

The draft Law regarding the Transfer and the Registration of Rights on Immovable Properties which come under article 159, paragraph (1) and subparagraph (b) of the Constitution, the Proprietorship Right of Which, According to the TRNC Law, Do Not Belong to Any Real or Legal Person Except the State, and the Possession Right of Which Belongs Currently to a Real or Legal Person or to the TRNC State, is on the agenda of the Committee as an urgent issue.

In a few words, the content of this bill is that a person who took Greek Cypriot property in return of points, will be able to take this property from the Greek Cypriot by paying the equivalent of this property to him and to concluding the agreement with him on the issue.

Subtitle: Rights to the Foreigners

Fellahoglu, who announced that the Draft law (amendment) regarding the Registration of Immovable Properties purchased by Foreigners, said: The foreigners who bought property before 1974 can take with the original contract the title deeds of the property they took from the Greek Cypriots. With this draft law it is asked for the photocopy of these contracts to be taken into account as well.

Subtitle: It will be extended for two more years

At the Committee there is also in the form of urgent the draft law (amendment) regarding the Compensation, Exchange and Restitution of the Immovable Properties within the scope of article 159, paragraph (1) and subparagraph (b) of the Constitution in order for the duties of the Property Compensation Commission to be extended for two more years.

(ITs/CS)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[06] The Turkish Press on 16 October 2007

Invasion in Iraq/Armenian Genocide issue:

In his column in Milliyet Sami Kohen writes that it is up to the United States to prevent the decoupling of the two countries by demonstrating with all its state institutions and Congress that it sides with Turkey on the "two fronts," namely on the PKK and Armenian issues -- only that way could the United States prevent retaliation from Turkey.

In his column also in Milliyet, Taha Akyol argues that Turkey should calculate the manner and timing of its Iraqi intervention well to minimize international reaction to its incursion which will be seen as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. He believes Turkey should cleverly coordinate its struggle on these two fronts in such a way that the struggle on one front will not damage the struggle on the other. One way of achieving it would be to introduce reforms at home.

On his part Mehmet Ali Birand in his column in Hurriyet writes that the best way to counter Armenian genocide allegations is to openly discuss the historic events -- only through a transparent discussion of the subject and by really opening its archives could Turkey force Armenians and the international community into accepting a joint commission of historians.

In an article entitled "What would happen if we were to occupy Northern Iraq?", Yeni Safak columnist Ibrahim Karagul argues that the PKK's latest attacks, coming as they do "directly" from a neighbouring country, cannot be described as terrorist strikes but an intervention by whichever power is at the helm in the country in question. He claims that "Turkey is not going to war" but that "war is coming, or rather being brought, to Turkey" in the form of US and Israeli weapons and Israeli-trained militia, adding that today's mortar strikes from across the border might take the shape of long-range missile attacks in the near future. He also calls on the Turks and the Kurds to realize that they do not stand to earn anything by perpetuating their animosities, that "this is not their war," and that the current regional conflicts are but one manifestation of a "Grand Game" played out by "the powers that are redesigning the world."

In a article entitled "Is the AKP at a crossroads?", Yeni Safak columnist Ali Bayramoglu expresses concern over recent developments suggesting that the "democratic alliance" that emerged before the 22 July election has disappeared and that the "militarist status-quo front" is staging a comeback. Bayramoglu cites the following among the indications of this situation: reports and articles in the mainstream media that suggest a "pre-war state of mind," "soccer players who give the military salute before a match [as a mark of respect for the soldiers killed in the recent PKK attacks]," "nationalist judges who render rulings on history," "muftis who lose self-control at funerals so much as to say things like 'Armenian b---s,'" "a prime minister who has started to speak in defiant and authoritarian terms ..." and "a system that perceives the Kurdish issue as a terrorism problem and sees the solution in staging military operations ..."

A front-page report entitled "Authorization Bill Submitted to Parliament" highlights Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek's remarks following the Cabinet meeting yesterday announcing that the authorization motion for Iraq is intended for the terrorist PKK and expressing the hope that it will never be necessary to use it.

In an article entitled "Could Turkey Get Rid of the PKK by Closing Down the DTP?", Vakit columnist Selahaddin Cakirgil criticizes the Democratic Society Party, (DTP), for issuing "provocative" statements that "appear" intended to justify a possible decision by the Government to have this party closed down. He claims that the DTP is worried that the PKK will lose further support among the people of the southeast unless the tension escalates. He also warns that the closure of the DTP at a time when the country is being governed by a president and a prime minister whose own party has come quite close to being closed down a number of times would have grave results apart from being simply "ironical."

In an article under the title "Defying Washington", Zaman columnist Tamer Korkmaz refers to Prime Minister Erdogan's "defiant" remarks expressing his disapproval of a US House committee's recognition of the Armenian genocide claims, Chief of Staff General Buyukanit's letter to his US counterpart saying that military relations between Turkey and the United States will never be the same if the resolution is passed, and Land Forces Commander Ilker Basbug's earlier warning, that Turkey is powerful enough to increase the costs for the United States in Iraq, as unprecedented moves on the part of Ankara vis-ā-vis Washington indicating that a lot has changed in relations between Turkey and the United States.

In an article entitled "What Does the Committee Decision Mean?", Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay blasts "certain American politicians" for "contributing to the deterioration of Turkey-US and Turkey-Armenia relations for the sake of obtaining Armenian votes" by recognizing the events that occurred during the deportation of the Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as genocide. He also calls on "supporters of peace and democracy in Turkey" to "keep advising Ankara to listen to the voice of wisdom," adding that "we should carefully consider the pros and cons of a cross-border operation into Iraq and retaliatory measures against the United States and refrain from taking steps that could harm national interests."

In an article entitled "Turkish Dilemma: Lack of Good Governance", Today's Zaman columnist Lale Sariibrahimoglu criticizes "Turkish decision makers" for "resorting to threats ... of entering northern Iraq and ... adopting ... retaliatory measures against the US" over the adoption of the Armenian bill "instead of using diplomatic methods as the first step in the resolution of disputes."

In an article entitled "The Washington Post has to apologize to the Jewish Community", Today's Zaman columnist Ekrem Dumanli accuses The Washington Post of deliberately refraining from publishing on time an advertisement commissioned by the Turkish Jewish community as part of a bid to prevent the House of Representatives from adopting the "Armenian genocide resolution."

In an article entitled "The Strategic goals of the Slander Resolution", Milli Gazete columnist Hasan Unal warns against seeing the adoption of the "Armenian slander resolution" by the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives as a US domestic political issue and argues that the possible passage of the bill by the House itself could cause the matter to be placed on the UN agenda as well as leading to the filing of compensation claims against Turkey. Unal asserts that Armenian lobbies worldwide are moving on to the second step of a three-phase strategy whereby they are pressing for the acknowledgment of the genocide claims, compensation for the alleged mass killings, and the acceptance of their territorial demands from Turkey.

Sunday's Referendum:

A report in Milliyet reminds readers that there will be a referendum in five days, on 21 October, pointing out that most voters have no idea what constitutional amendments it really contains. Commenting on public ignorance about the referendum and its unfortunate coincidence with the Armenian bill, a Milliyet editorial fears that the presidential system it will introduce might actually lead to the emergence of a chaotic situation in Turkey, where parliamentary system has strong roots. The editorial also opposes AKP's new policy of resorting to frequent referendums [PM Erdogan said the Turkish people should get used to the referendum culture], arguing that that would undermine the culture of "consensus" in Turkey, besides the fact that it is not clear if every referendum result is a sound one. Adding further that the low participation in Sunday's polling might cast a serious doubt on the referendum result, the paper strongly implies the referendum should be cancelled.

Sabah columnist Erdal Safak writes in his column that Turkey is going to a referendum amid total absence of popular excitement and tangled legal debates. He implies that there is no sense in holding a referendum as the articles in it are word by word the same as in the prospective constitution which has to be submitted to a referendum anyway, noting that under the constitutional system citizens cannot be asked to go to another referendum in a short span of time on a subject already endorsed in a previous referendum.

The High Election Council, YSK, chief Muammer Aydin says if Article 19 [which provides for the election of the 11th president -- who Gul is now -- by popular vote] is actually removed from the text of the referendum in the second voting on it today at the parliament, then the YSK might consider postponing the referendum, according to a Milliyet report. Commenting on arguments that if Article 19 is removed from the referendum there will then arise the question of citizens voting on two separate texts [Turks crossing the borders have been voting for the original text since 11 September], Aydin says once the new text is published in the Official Gazette the YSK will gather at the weekend and decide whether to go ahead with the referendum; if it decides that no referendum is possible because of the voting on two separate texts then the referendum process would be launched anew, which again means it will be postponed.

Under the headline, "Presidential crises to become history if referendum produces a yes vote," Zaman runs a front-page report which asserts that the referendum on the popular election of presidents is set to pave the way for a number of important changes in Turkish politics.

EG/

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