Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-05-06

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Olli Rehn and Lynn Pascoe had a long phone conversation over Cyprus

[02] TRNC among the talks between UAE Foreign Minister and his Turkish counterpart

[03] NTV on reports about the Greek Cypriot side´s views on the colonizers from Turkey in occupied Cyprus

[04] BKP: The transfer of population from Turkey to Cyprus is against the international law in Cyprus and at the same time is a war crime

[05] The New Cyprus Party (YKP) is organizing a panel discussion tomorrow about the Population structure in north Cyprus.

[06] Huseyin Avkiran who resigned from UBP to join ORP of Turgay Avci

[07] Turkish Minister and 100 businessmen will pay a two-day visit to Iran

[08] Turkey-Kazakhstan joint economy commission meeting begins

[09] Turkey, Iraq, Mashreq States, EU agree on Gas pipeline project

[10] Turkey Applies for full membership in the European Reconstruction Bank

[11] World Bank official warns Turkey over lean time to come

[12] Swedish Foreign Minister receives award

[13] The World Turkish Entrepreneurs Council was established

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] From the Turkish Press of 05 May 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Olli Rehn and Lynn Pascoe had a long phone conversation over Cyprus

Within the framework of the efforts started towards the solution of the Cyprus problem, the EU will be stepping in regarding the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the TRNC, and the issues regarding security and property to be in line with the acquis communautaire.

It was learned that Mr Olli Rehn, commissioner for enlargement, and Mr Lynn Pascoe, UN Under-Secretary-General, had a long telephone conversation on the issue. The telephone conversation was realized in the light of Mr Pascoes visit to Cyprus, Turkey and Greece, where they discussed the role the EU will play in the solution of the Cyprus problem.

It was noted that the EU will play an active role in extending the acquis communautaire to north Cyprus and within the framework regarding the transition periods. The 10th Protocol of the EU accession agreement signed by South Cyprus does not envisage transition periods. Despite the fact that it envisages immediate removal of the suspension of the extending of the acquis communautaire to the north, it needs the approval of the national parliaments of the member countries.

EU observers in Brussels say that prior to the planned substantial negotiations to be started in June between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, the UN has asked from the EU both information and its views.

(MHY/ EA)

[02] TRNC among the talks between UAE Foreign Minister and his Turkish counterpart

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that policies of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates overlap each other to a great extent on many regional and international matters.

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with United Arab Emirates FM Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan, Babacan pointed to the contributions of UAE on economy and trade in the region.

"Turkey appreciates UAE for its contributions to regional peace and stability," Babacan added.

When journalists asked to comment on the steps UAE would make for the solution of the regional problems, the guest minister said cooperation between UAE and Turkey could continue to raise the "level of voice of wisdom" in the region. Al-Nuhayyan said another goal of his visit was to discover new investment areas in Turkey, "we also want to encourage private sector to invest in Turkey. We will be happy to invest particularly in energy, tourism and infrastructure areas," he said.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was another topic discussed between Babacan and Al-Nuhayyan.

Babacan thanked to guest minister over the support of the UAE to the TRNC.

On the same issue, A.A. (05.05.08) also reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that two agreements were signed between Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the visit of Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan.

Babacan said one of the agreements was a memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the foreign ministries of Turkey and UAE, noting that the second was about visa exemption.

Speaking at a news conference with al-Nuhayyan, Babacan said the visit of al-Nuhayyan was important to boost bilateral relations, indicating that commercial and economic relations with UAE accelerated.

Babacan said Turkish construction companies and contractors undertook important projects in UAE, underscoring that relations in defense industry were also important.

"Turkey is eager to boost cooperation in the defense industry in the coming period," he added.

Separately, al-Nuhayyan said more agreements should be signed between Turkey and UAE. "UAE is an oil producing country. We are talking what we can do to increase our investments in Turkey," he said.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen newspaper (06.05.08) reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Mr Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan, who is currently visiting Turkey, thanked his counterpart for his countrys support towards the TRNC (occupied areas of Cyprus). As the paper writes, the TRNC was one of the issues on the agenda of the meeting between the two foreign ministers. Mr Babacan thanked Abdallah bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan for the support of his country towards occupied Cyprus and asked the support of the United Arab Emirates in the fields of culture and trade to the TRNC to continue and to increase the high level visits between TRNC and the United Arab Emirates.

(CS)

[03] NTV on reports about the Greek Cypriot side´s views on the colonizers from Turkey in occupied Cyprus

The leader of the Greek Cypriot administration has proposed limiting the number of people residing in the north of the island who are originally from Turkey to 50,000, the NTV news station reported on its Web site yesterday.

The report quoted Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias as saying that his administration is opposed to the presence of more than 50,000 people from Turkey on the island. Christofias comment was a response to an earlier statement from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Mehmet Ali Talat that citizens of Turkey residing in Cyprus should not be part of any discussions over Cyprus. Stefanos Stefanou, a spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot government, claimed that after Turkeys military intervention in 1974 the Turkish Cypriots had thousands of people from Turkey move to the island to change the demographics, adding that this was a war crime. He said those who moved from Turkey at some point have to leave the island.

The Greek side says there are more than 180,000 people from Turkey in the north. However, the number of people with origins in Turkey was 43,000 according to the last census in the north held in 2006.

[04] BKP: The transfer of population from Turkey to Cyprus is against the international law in Cyprus and at the same time is a war crime

He went on and stated that they do not want a solution that will legitimize all these but a solution which will give an end to the demographic change. Mr Korkmazhan also said that they want a solution which will safeguard the basic human rights and the freedoms of all Cypriots. The transfer of population from Turkey to Cyprus is against the international law in Cyprus and at the same time a war crime, he noted.

(CS)

[05] The New Cyprus Party (YKP) is organizing a panel discussion tomorrow about the Population structure in north Cyprus.

The persons who will address the Panel are Albay Durduran the Foreign Relations Secretary of YKP, Mete Hatay, researcher of the International Peace Research Institute, Dr Mehmet Hasguler and the Sociologist- Researcher Muharrem Faiz.

(CS)

[06] Huseyin Avkiran who resigned from UBP to join ORP of Turgay Avci

Commenting on the same issue Kibris (06.05.08) reports that Mr Avkiran is getting ready to join the ORP. The paper also writes that Mr Avci met with Mr Avkiran and told him that the doors of ORP are open for him.

(CS)

[07] Turkish Minister and 100 businessmen will pay a two-day visit to Iran

Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and a crowded group of Turkish businessmen will travel to Iran on Tuesday to seek business opportunities, the Turkish Embassy in Iran said on Monday.

Tuzmen and nearly 100 Turkish businessmen will stay in Tehran for two days. During his stay, Tuzmen will meet Iranian Minister of Commerce Masud Mir-Kazemi and the chairman of Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Mines Mohammed Nahavandian, the embassy officials said.

Tuzmen will also attend the 4th Turkey-Iran Joint Trade Committee meeting and a conference on boosting commercial relations between Turkey and Iran. Tuzmen and the business delegation will return to Turkey on Thursday. Trade volume between Turkey and Iran reached 8 billion USD in 2007. Turkey shipped 1.4 billion USD of goods to Iran, while imports from Iran recorded at 6.6 billion USD last year.

[08] Turkey-Kazakhstan joint economy commission meeting begins

The 5th meeting of Turkey-Kazakhstan Joint Economic Commission has begun in Ankara under the co-presidency of Turkish State Minister Said Yazicioglu and Kazakh Tourism and Sports Minister Temirhan Minaydarovic Dosmuhambetov.Speaking at the meeting, Yazicioglu said: "The trade volume between Turkey and Kazakhstan has increased considerably in the last five years and reached 2.5 billion USD. In the light of such an increase, we expect the trade volume to become at least 5 billion USD in the next three years."

Kazakh minister said that they wanted to take advantage from Turkey's experience in forming organized industry zones.

Issues such as land, air and railway transportation, tourism, energy, construction, direct investments, banking relations and cooperation in agriculture are the main issues of the meeting.

[09] Turkey, Iraq, Mashreq States, EU agree on Gas pipeline project

The European Union, Turkey, Iraq and Mashreq countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) reached a consensus to immediately connect Arabian natural gas pipeline to Turkey, Iraq and the EU through Nabucco and other pipelines. The EU Commission stated on Monday that a Turkish delegation (led by Energy Ministry deputy undersecretary Yusuf Yazar), European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU President Slovenia's economy minister and energy ministers of Arabian countries, who convened in Brussels, attached importance to cooperation in natural gas as well as connection of infrastructure in pipelines among EU, Turkey and Mashreq countries. Officials agreed on participation of Turkey and Iraq in Europe-Arabian Mashreq natural gas cooperation.

The Arab Gas Pipeline, which currently runs from Egypt through Jordan to Syria and has a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters per year, will be interconnected with Turkey and Iraq; and it will provide a new transport route for gas resources from the Mashreq region to the EU. It is expected that, in the future, the pipeline will be connected with the Nabucco project.

[10] Turkey Applies for full membership in the European Reconstruction Bank

Turkey has officially applied for full membership at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Turkey's application will be discussed at the Executive Board meeting of the EBRD in June and is expected to be approved. Following its full membership in the EBRD, Turkey will be able to provide new loans for the private sector.The EBRD was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in central and eastern Europe and ex-soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. Today, the EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in countries from central Europe to central Asia.

The EBRD is the largest single investor in the region and mobilizes significant foreign direct investment beyond its own financing. It is owned by 61 countries and two intergovernmental institutions. But despite its public sector shareholders, it invests mainly in private enterprises, usually together with commercial partners.

[11] World Bank official warns Turkey over lean time to come

The World Bank would be providing funding to Turkey to the tune of $6.2 billion over the next four years, Zachau said.

The Turkish economy could face difficulties in the coming two years and would need to maintain tight financial policies in order to overcome any potential problems, a senior World Bank official said Monday.

Speaking at a seminar organized by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) in Istanbul, Ulrich Zachau, the World Bank's Country Director for Turkey, said that the effects of the global economic crisis were beginning to be seen in Turkey.

However, the Turkish economy was stronger than in the past and was in a position to better deal with such fluctuations, Zachau said.

Turkey had made significant progress since 2002, he said, having grown in the past six years.

[12] Swedish Foreign Minister receives award

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was awarded the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association's (TUSIAD) "Foreign Policy Award," the private NTV channel said Friday. State Minister Mehmet Ayd1n said during his speech at the ceremony that the Swedish minister had been influential in Turkey's EU accession period, adding that he had helped improve Turkey's reputation abroad.

[13] The World Turkish Entrepreneurs Council was established

(EA)

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[14] From the Turkish Press of 05 May 2008

a) Kurdish Issue: According to a report entitled "Human shield against F-16s" in Hurriyet, a squadron of Turkish F-16 fighters returned to Turkey without bombarding an area in Mount Qandil where a group of armed PKK guerillas had been spotted on 1 May because they had fled the area and joined local people celebrating May Day in order to avoid coming under fire. The report says that Turkish fighters later bombarded PKK camps in Mount Qandil and killed 150 PKK guerillas.

A report entitled "PKK retreats to shelters" in Vatan says that PKK guerillas are hiding in shelters in Mount Qandil while the whereabouts of Murat Karayilan and Cemil Bayik who are among the leading figures within the PKK is not known. The report also notes that the PKK accuses Kurdish leaders in Northern Iraq of satisfying Turkey's demands and causing strife among Kurds.

A report entitled "PKK is losing strategic strongholds" in Cumhuriyet says that at least two high-ranking PKK figures are believed to have been killed in the Turkish air raid while earlier reports claiming that Karayilan was killed in the attack could not be confirmed. The report notes that the PKK is facing serious difficulties in maintaining its presence in Mount Qandil due to Turkish and Iranian military operations in addition to measures taken by Kurdish security forces in northern Iraq in order to prevent the organization from receiving logistic support. According to the report, the PKK is trying to send its militants to the western part of Turkey in order to carry out suicide attacks while planting landmines in the Southeast.

A report entitled "Apprehension teams sent to Qandil" in Aksam says that special teams made up of elite commandoes in the Turkish armed forces have been established in order to capture PKK leaders in northern Iraq.

A report in Milliyet entitled "PKK issues instruction for 'Sensational attacks'" says that Fehman Huseyin, code-named "Bahoz Erdal, has issued an instruction to PKK guerillas in the eastern and southeastern part of Turkey to carry out terrorist attacks in Turkey in response to Turkey's air strike. According to the report, security has been tightened near military posts and police stations as well as buildings housing the local branches of political parties in the region.

A report entitled "Peshmerga taking measures against PKK" in Hurriyet quotes Jabar Yawar, spokesman for the General Command of Defense Forces in northern Iraq, as saying that they are setting up 40 checkpoints along Iraq's common border with Turkey in order to prevent PKK guerillas from infiltrating into Turkey and carrying out activities in northern Iraq.

Under the title "It is time to discuss Ozal's project" in Milliyet publishes an interview with former MP Hasim Hasimi who visited northern Iraq and met with Kurdish leaders. Mr Hasimi said that President Mas'ud Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government is expecting a step to be taken by the Turkish Government which would strengthen his hand against the PKK. He notes: "It should be a step satisfying the Kurdish public in addition to military and economic overtures. He needs this for the Kurdish political climate." Hasimi adds that Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, is expected to pay a visit to Turkey in line with amelioration of relations between the two sides.

In an article entitled "Using PJAK to tame Iran", Zaman columnist Mehmet Yilmaz claims that the fact that the United States has not included the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan, (PJAK), on its list of terrorist organizations lends credence to allegations voiced by certain "former terrorists" that Washington is maintaining relations with the PJAK and using it against Iran.

In a commentary entitled "How to interpret Turkey's initiative", Zaman writer Professor Beril Dedeoglu sees the following "obstacles" to Turkey's launch of talks with Iraqi Kurdish officials leading to the establishment of "permanent relations:" 1. Continuing relations between the PKK and the northern Iraqi administration. 2. Turkey's failure to convince the Kurdish authority in northern Iraq that its cross-border operations target only the PKK. 3. The fact that the activities of the "Mahdi army" in southern Iraq do not provide the right basis for new cooperation between Turkey and northern Iraq.

Under the headline, "'Stick' for PKK and 'Carrot' for Barzani," Today's Zaman publishes a front-page report on Turkey's recently started "political dialogue with Kurds" and the latest "anti-PKK attacks" which "continue on separate tracks."

A report in Milli Gazete entitled "Terrorist organization uses two tons of explosives" asserts that the PKK used some 2,104 kilos of explosives in deploying mines and booby traps against Turkish security forces in the first four months of 2008, with ammonium nitrate accounting for the bulk of the explosive agents used in terrorist bombs.

According to a report entitled "DTP will say 'The PKK is not a terrorist organization'" in Milliyet, the DTP has almost finalized its defense which will be submitted to the Constitutional Court on 12 May in connection with the closure case instituted against it. The report says that the DTP will state in its defense that the PKK is not a terrorist organization while emphasizing that the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan could play a key role in efforts to settle the Kurdish question.

b) Closure Case Against AKP: In an article entitled "Preparations for the autumn," Sabah columnist Nazli Ilicak says that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has decided not to exacerbate the current political tension by amending the Constitution in order to limit the Constitutional Court's powers to ban political parties. Instead, she says, Erdogan plans to ensure that an early election and local elections are held concurrently in the autumn if the Constitutional Court decides to close down the AKP. Pointing out that Erdogan will be named as Prime Minister after running as an independent candidate in the parliamentary election, she says: "If Erdogan opts for a compromise, the headscarf issue would be shelved for a while again. If the Constitutional Court oversteps its powers and renders a ruling that would maintain the ban on wearing headscarf, nobody from the AKP could probably object it. Would not that be the compromise that people like to see?" But, the process of accession to the EU should be expected to be given a fresh impetus through sweeping reforms, including constitutional amendments after the closure case is over.

A report entitled "AKP waits for ruling about headscarf" in Cumhuriyet says that the AKP will devise its final strategy about the closure case after the Constitutional Court hands down its ruling about headscarf. It notes that the AKP will propose constitutional amendments aimed at making it more difficult for the Constitutional Court to close down political parties if the Court dismisses an application filed by the Republican People's Party, CHP, for the annulment of a constitutional amendment lifting the ban on wearing headscarf in universities. According to the report, AKP strategists plan to establish a new political party if the Constitutional Court upholds the CHP's application and then decides to ban the AKP. In that case, it notes, Erdogan will form a new government as an independent MP after a possible early election and lead the new party without being formally named as its leader.

In an article entitled "Who is prepared for 2009?" Cumhuriyet columnist Mustafa Balbay says that the AKP's defense submitted to the Constitutional Court and recent statements made by Erdogan indicated that Erdogan and his team do not bother about the closure case and have decided to devise formulas in order to remain in power irrespective of the decision to be made by the Court.

In an article entitled "Speaking anonymously", Today's Zaman columnist Fehmi Koru cites the police measures used against May Day demonstrators in Istanbul as a manifestation of the AKP's eagerness to negotiate a compromise with "the powers that be" that would save it from being shut down.

In an article entitled "The opportunity that the AKP has missed", Bugun columnist Mehmet Metiner slams the ruling AKP, a party that set out with the aim of bringing "more democracy and freedom," for its "authoritarian and pro-status quo" support for the ban on the use of Taksim Square for May Day celebrations imposed by the 12 September regime. He also asserts that the AKP is mistaken if it believes it can avoid being shut down by following a statist line.

c) Reports on the political moves of Abdullatif Sener: In an article entitled "The fall of Abdullatif: Old story, second chapter", Yeni Safak columnist Tamer Korkmaz blasts former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener for announcing that he might take steps to fill the current "political vacuum" in Turkey by establishing a new party. Korkmaz asserts that what Sener describes as a "political vacuum" is nothing but "an illusion created by those who are trying to destabilize Turkey." He also slams Sener for "failing to realize the significance of Abdullah Gul's election as president in spite of all the secularist/neo-nationalist/pro-status quo efforts to block him" and "presenting himself as a politician in agreement with the regime in the belief that the launch of closure proceedings against the AKP means that the status quo survives."

In an article entitled "Does politics make you blind?", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that recent moves and statements by Abdullatif Sener and former AKP Deputy Turhan Comez suggesting that they have taken steps to establish new parties "based on the scenario of the closure of the AKP" could be trial balloons intended to test public opinion about a new rightist party. Claiming that this plan could have foreign supporters, Dilipak calls for "attention to visits [from Turkey] to the United States and Israel in the new process."

EG/

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