Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-05-05

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] Talat and Christofias to meet at round table meeting on Wednesday

[02] Statements by Avci on the subordinate to Ankara regime´s relations with Syria

[03] Egemen Bagis stated that Cyprus is a problem that appears all the time in front of Turkey

[04] One vehicle per person in occupied Cyprus

[05] The warders of prison went on strike complaining about their working conditions- data on the number of convicted in occupied Cyprus

[06] Two football teams in occupied Cyprus to participate in The Bet Arena London Cup, which will take place in the UK

[07] Dome Hotel was sub-let for ten years to Bayram Karaman, MP of the CTP

[08] Turkey is expanding its ties with Afrika

[09] Turkish-Islamic cultural center to be opened in Washington

[10] A Turkey-EU Troika meeting will be held in Ankara

[11] Jewish businessman had lunch with Talat and Soyer in his yacht in occupied Keryneia

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[12] Afrika on Jewish businessman David Luis

[13] From the Turkish Press of 2, 3 and 4 May 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat and Christofias to meet at round table meeting on Wednesday

President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias are due to come together at a round table meeting to be attended by representatives of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties, this Wednesday on the 7th of May.

Round table meetings are being organized routinely by the Slovakian Embassy, and as usual, the meeting will take place at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone.

[02] Statements by Avci on the subordinate to Ankara regime´s relations with Syria

Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has said their mission is to open the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the rest of the world.

The Foreign Minister held high level contacts in the Syrian capital Damascus yesterday before moving on to Palmera city where he met with members of a visiting TRNC delegation consisting of representatives of tourism agencies and hoteliers who have been holding contacts in Syria as part of a promotional trip.

Speaking to reporters in Palmera, Foreign Minister Avci said that he had exchanged views with Syrian officials on developing bi-lateral relations between the two countries.

Explaining that he had held important contacts in Damascus, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of developing relations between the two countries, especially in the area of tourism.

Avci also pointed out that he had received positive feedback from the TRNC delegation about the contacts it held in Syria.

Also speaking the Economy and Tourism Ministry Undersecretary Hasan Kilic who is heading the TRNC delegation described the contacts as fruitful, highlighting the importance of developing relations with Syria.

He said that the number of ferry services between Latakia and Gazimagusa could be increased if there was a demand.

At the end of his contacts, the TRNC Foreign Minister has returned to the Republic.

[03] Egemen Bagis stated that Cyprus is a problem that appears all the time in front of Turkey

(CS)

[04] One vehicle per person in occupied Cyprus

(CS)

[05] The warders of prison went on strike complaining about their working conditions- data on the number of convicted in occupied Cyprus

Halkin Sesi reports in its first page that the warders of the prison in occupied Cyprus, who are members of the KAMU-SEN Trade Union, went on a two-hour warning strike yesterday. As the paper writes the warders stated that their working conditions are very bad, their safety and health are under danger and that they are threatened by the convicted persons who are in the jail. According to KAMU-SEN, the 90 persons who work as warders went on a strike because the problems they face are not solved and their working conditions are getting worse every passing day, despite the fact that they were conveyed to officials.

Commenting on the same issue Kibris further writes that KAMU-SEN chairman, Mehmet Ozkardas, stated that the prison in occupied Cyprus is a boiling cauldron and warned that if the problems faced by the warders are not solved, the strike will be continued.

Yeni Duzen writes that according to data of April 2008 regarding the number of the prisoners, today there are 400 convicted persons in the jail, while the capacity of the prison is 303 persons. From this number, 78 persons are TRNC citizens, 72 persons have both the Turkish and the TRNC citizenship, 214 persons are Turkish citizens and 18 persons are foreigners. The paper also writes that in the year 2000 the number of the convicted was 136 and in year 2007 the number reached 398. The number of the convicted today is 400.

(CS)

[06] Two football teams in occupied Cyprus to participate in The Bet Arena London Cup, which will take place in the UK

(CS)

[07] Dome Hotel was sub-let for ten years to Bayram Karaman, MP of the CTP

(CS)

[08] Turkey is expanding its ties with Afrika

A Turkish businessmen's confederation has been working to promote Africa in Turkey to boost commercial relations between Turkey and African countries.

Ahmet Ciger, deputy chairman of the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON), organized a trip attended by Turkish businessmen to Tanzania.

"TUSKON has been organizing meetings under the name of "Turkey Africa Foreign Trade Bridge" since 2006. 800 businessmen from African countries attended the meeting in 2007. We expect nearly 1000 businessmen from 45 countries to visit Turkey in 2008. 24 ministers, 60 bureaucrats and 35 journalists will come to Turkey for the meeting that will take place on May 13th and 15th, 2008," Ciger said.

[09] Turkish-Islamic cultural center to be opened in Washington

Turkey's religious affairs authority plans to establish a Turkish-Islamic cultural center that would work as a think tank organization, top Muslim cleric of the country said on Friday.

Ali Bardakoglu, head of Turkish Religious Affairs Dept., said that the center would bring together Turkish students, businessmen and academics living in United States and help to the promotion of Turkey in this country. "It can also play an important role to change in a better way the American public opinion's view about Islam," Bardakoglu told the A.A.

Bardakoglu also said that his department would increase the number of mosques and religious staff in the United States.

[10] A Turkey-EU Troika meeting will be held in Ankara

Turkey-EU Troika Foreign Ministers meeting will take place in Ankara on May 6th, 2008.

Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for the EU talks Ali Babacan will host the meeting.

Turkish Foreign Ministry said Dimitrij Rupel, foreign minister of Slovenia, the EU rotating president, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and European Council executives are expected to attend the meeting.

The participants are expected to discuss Turkey's reform efforts, daily international and regional political developments.

The statement said Rupel and an accompanying delegation would arrive in Turkey on May 5th, 2008, prior to the Troika meeting, to meet Babacan. Slovenian FM will also be received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The talks with the Slovenian delegation will focus on bilateral relations as well as Turkey's EU members, regional and international matters.

The statement said French Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet will attend Troika meeting, will be received by President Gul, meet with Turkish FM Babacan and attend a dinner which will be hosted by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary in his honor.

The French representative will hold meetings in the Turkish Parliament on May 7th.

Talks with Jouyet are expected to focus on matters related to EU rotating presidency which France will take over on July 1st, 2008 and Turkish-French relations. The statement said Babacan would also meet with Olli Rehn to discuss the current and future developments regarding Turkey's full membership process.

On the same issue, CNN Turk (05.05.08, hrs 11.00) broadcast that during the Troika meeting, the Cyprus problem as well as the Ankara protocol will be discussed.

[11] Jewish businessman had lunch with Talat and Soyer in his yacht in occupied Keryneia

(EA)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[12] Afrika on Jewish businessman David Luis

The papers main editorial in the Letter from Afrika column under the title You should prove you are transparent, writes the following:

Our yesterdays report had a big repercussion. The high level contacts made with the reach Jewish businessman at the luxurious yacht anchored at the Keryneia passengers port, had created great curiosity.

The people are already agitated that the country is being offered to the Jews. And the atmosphere became more critical when Mehmet Ali Talat and Ferdi Sabit Soyer visited this yacht.

We expected an announcement or an informative statement from the officials.

At least we expected a statement from the [Presidential] Palace´s Spokesman Mr Ercakica, the brave of the braves. Let him state why Mr Talat was the guest in this yacht for a dinner.

We have expected that Mr Ercakica would enlighten the public about what was discussed with the wealthiest of the wealthy David Luis.

Not a slightest noise not a hiss came about

Is Mr Ercakica waiting until his weekly press briefing? Or did he ask for Mr Talat´s views, what to answer if a sharp and smart journalist puts questions about the meeting?

Our citizens proved to be more sensitive than the officials.

Upon our report people called us

Some who had more information than us, informed us further.

They said very interesting things.

The issue went very deep.

Other names were involved.

We are keeping the information we have collected.

And we expect statements from Mr Talat and Mr Soyer.

We are sure that you did not go to that luxurious yacht to protest the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. You have nothing to do with the oppressed Palestinians

Tell us. What did you do in that yacht?

Why did wealthy David Luis not come to your office and you go to him?

What is the reason that made you to prostrate before him?

Is it possible to get away with this by just keeping silent?

Do you think that we will give up two or three days from now?

Let me tell you now.

We will not let loose this issue

You have to inform us

What did you do in that yacht?

Why these contacts were kept secret until today and the public were not informed?

Does this have to do with land or project bargaining?

What kind of project?

What kind of land?

The Jew will come and buy and no one will know about it.

Is it true that the Jewish capital owns an important portion of the immovable property in our country?

In the name of our community we are asking these questions and expect an answer from you.

You always said that you are transparent..

Go ahead and prove it.

We are not asking from you the lunch menu at the yacht

We are asking about the bargaining.

A Jew will never have a dinner with a foreigner for the sake of courtesy.

The whole world knows this except the Turkish Cypriot people, do they not?

(MHY)

[13] From the Turkish Press of 2, 3 and 4 May 2008

a) Closure case against AKP: In an article entitled "The AKP's Stance" in Yeni Safak (02.05.08) columnist Yasin Dogan asserts that in the face of the closure lawsuit filed by the chief public prosecutor, the ruling AKP is maintaining the same "responsible," "sensible," and "prudent" attitude that it displayed vis-ŕ-vis the Turkish military's 27 April memorandum. Dogan cites the fact that the AKP submitted its preliminary defense against the indictment filed with the Constitutional Court without asking for additional time to complete it as an indication of its "goodwill" approach and its "conscientious" awareness of the fact that uncertainty would only damage democratic and economic stability.

In a commentary in Zaman (02.05.08) entitled "Would an early election solve anything?", Saban Kardas of Utah University argues that there is not much reason to be optimistic about the consequences of an early general election for the AKP since its election successes are serving to weaken the AKP by causing it to incur the resentment of the secularist establishment and face greater pressures from its voter base. Kardas asserts that the AKP should exercise the mandate "already" provided by the July 2007 elections to write a new constitution and pass democratization reforms.

In an article entitled "Cost of political uncertainty to foreign policy", in Today's Zaman (02.05.08) Editor-in-Chief Bulent Kenes argues that the "uncertainties" caused by the closure case against the AKP "raise suspicion" about the Government's ability to press ahead with foreign policy initiatives like trying to broker a peace agreement between Syria and Israel and establishing contact with Iraqi Kurdish leaders.

In an article entitled "Why the Prime Minister is acting in haste" in Bugun (02.05.08) columnist Emin Pazarci links the fact that Erdogan did not demand additional time from the Constitutional Court for the AKP's defense to a concern that the new party to be established after the AKP has been closed down may not be able to participate in an early election in the spring of 2009. Pazarci also claims that the AKP is working on a plan to hold a by-election to be able to get Erdogan re-elected to Parliament if the closure case results in a political ban against the prime minister.

Vatan, Milliyet, and Hurriyet (03.05.08) report prominently on a statement made by Joost Lagendijk, the Co-chairman of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, during a conference on EU-Turkey relations at the Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir to the effect that the AKP [Justice and Development Party] will be closed down as the lawsuit filed against it is politically motivated, but even then Turkey will maintain its EU course, as membership is to the interest of both sides. He also believes a new party will be established in place of the AKP. While criticizing the policies of the opposition CHP [Republican People's Party] and MHP [Nationalist Action Party], Lagendijk also says the AKP committed strategic mistakes on the Kurdish problem and headscarf: on the first issue it failed to adopt the necessary Kurdish reforms and on the second it acted impetuously. Lagendijk also says the ban of the DTP [Democratic Society Party] will not solve the Kurdish problem, rather it will strengthen the PKK.

In a commentary in Zaman (03.05.08) entitled "Intervention in Parliament and the President", Bekir Cinar argues that the request for a political ban against President Gul in the indictment against the AKP appears intended to render Gul ineffective in the process following the expected closure of the AKP and prevent him from supervising parliamentary efforts to establish a new government after the Constitutional Court has rendered its ruling in the closure lawsuit.

A column by Enis Berberoglu in Istanbul Hurriyet (04.05.08) criticizes the file the AKP submitted to the Constitutional Court for its defense against the lawsuit that calls for the party's closure. Stressing that the party described the lawsuit as a coup attempt by the judges, he accuses the AKP of trying to establish a police state and notes: No one must force the people to choose between a police state and juristocracy. That would be unethical.

Writing in Istanbul Vatan (04.05.08), Gungor Mengi argues that the file the AKP has submitted to the Constitutional Court should be seen as a challenge, not defense. In a column, he notes that the party adopted an offensive approach when it is guilty and says: The defense is based on assumptions related to the doomsday scenarios in the event the AKP is closed down, not on the party's innocence against accusations. The AKP had enough time to decide not to dispute with the regime. However, it preferred to maintain a religious approach in its administration. Prime Minister Erdogan should realize that he cannot interpret the meaning of the electorate's support in accordance with his own views. The AKP officials should blame themselves not anyone else for the present situation.

Cuneyt Arcayuret is also critical of the file the AKP submitted to the Constitutional Court for its defense. In a column in Istanbul Cumhuriyet (04.05.08), he argues that even the crows would laugh at the claims the party made and notes: The AKP might be closed down and replaced by another organization. However, would the new party be able to come to power by itself when elections are held? That is a difficult question to answer.

In an article entitled "The country is in a mess", in Vakit (04.05.08) columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak says that the United States and the EU urge the Turkish Government to liquidate the secret organization within the government which is called "the deep state" because it cannot be controlled in spite of the fact that it was established with support provided by those countries. Emphasizing that Turkey's problems cannot be resolved unless the deep state is rooted out, Dilipak says: "A new confrontation will be witnessed if the Constitutional Court closes down the AKP. If it does not, groups who favor a military takeover will launch a new illegal campaign against the ruling party by using means other than the judiciary."

In an article entitled "AKP's defense" in Milli Gazete (04.05.08) columnist Zeki Ceyhan criticizes the AKP for taking a wrong approach in its defense submitted in connection with the closure case. Pointing out that AKP's lawyers attempted to prove that acts described as offenses in the indictment were not connected with the AKP, he says: "Why do they timidly admit that some offenses have actually been committed but they have nothing to do with the AKP rather than saying loudly that they have not committed any offense?"

b) Reports about new political movements: In Sabah (02.05.08) Muharrem Sarikaya pens a commentary viewing the options before the AKP in case it is banned. Reporting on statements by certain influential AKP deputies, the columnist describes the option of creating an "independents movement," immediately after the ban, whereby Ali Babacan heads a new government that will get a quick vote of confidence. By-elections are held three months later to replace the banned AKP deputies, and Erdogan is elected as an independent. He later heads a new government as an independent.

Also in Sabah (02.05.08) columnist Mahmut Ovur, reports on a new political movement that may be emerging, called "the rainbow movement." In an article, Ovur reports on a recent interview with the head of the movement, a young politician named Fethullah Gunduz.

The DTP has established a reserve party called Peace and Democracy Party [Baris ve Demokrasi Partisi, BDP] in case it is banned by the Constitutional Court, according to reports in Vatan, Milliyet, and Radikal (03.05.08), which note that BDP's founding leader Mustafa Ayzit has already submitted a petition to the Interior Ministry informing it of the foundation of the new party. A green oak tree against a yellow backdrop has been chosen as its emblem. The new party aims at organizing itself by August to run in the March 2009 local elections.

In an article entitled "The Abdullatif Sener affair", in Yeni Safak (03.05.08) columnist Fehmi Koru comments on former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener's recent disclosure that he could "return to politics" if he receives a powerful enough signal from the people. Koru advises Sener against abandoning the AKP to establish a new party and cites what he refers to as past examples from the Motherland Party and the True Path Party illustrating the fact that "politics will not allow insurgence [within a party] to be successful."

EG/

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