Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-05-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ihsanoglu expressed the OICs readiness to help the process for a solution in Cyprus

[02] Babacan stated that the Annan Plan is no longer on the negotiation table

[03] TRNC Hataytililar Cultural Solidarity Association stated that the reactions of the Greek Cypriot Administration against the settlers are improper

[04] Yonluer stated that it is the turn of the Greek Cypriot side to make a good will gesture

[05] Folk art exhibition was organised at Agios Loukas Church

[06] Political contacts in the framework of the visit of the football team of Kucuk Kaimakli to Kyrgyzstan

[07] Report on Turkish exports and investments to the African countries

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: The Turkish side-and especially the Turkish government-should realize that the days it had the moral upper hand on the Cyprus Issue are over

[09] Turkish Cypriot university professor analyses the issue of parthenogenesis

[10] A Columnist in MILLIYET claims that a solution in Cyprus wont be easy

[11] Turkish columnist on his meeting with President Christofias and self-styled PM Soyer. Population distribution in the occupied areas

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ihsanoglu expressed the OICs readiness to help the process for a solution in Cyprus

Dr Ihsanoglu said that as OIC, they reject the illegitimate embargoes which are applied on the TRNC and that these are not in harmony with any value. He noted that it is not a human approach to punish a people, as he called the Turkish Cypriot community, in such a way. He said that OIC is determined on this issue and added that it will continue the cooperation with the TRNC and expressed his wish for better steps to be taken.

Dr Ihsanoglu expressed his pleasure for the honorary PHD degree he received from the YDU and added that he has received many honorary degrees until today, however this one has a special meaning. As he stated, not everybody can establish such a successful university, under these difficult conditions and under these injustices. Dr Ihsanoglu also expressed the wish that the cooperation and the peaceful environment between the Islamic world and the Turkish Cypriots will continue.

Ihsanoglu in his speech wished the commencement as soon as possible of the negotiation for a solution on the island and their conclusion with a just, permanent and comprehensive solution based on the political equality of the two sides, and he said that the organization will provide any kind of support for the procedure which will result in a just, permanent and comprehensive solution.

The paper writes that the OIC Political Advisor, Kamal Momani, various TRNC officials, academicians and students were among the persons who attended in the ceremony.

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (13.05.08) reports that the Secretary-General of OIC met yesterday with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat. The self-styled foreign minister, Turgay Avci was also present at the meeting. In statements after the meeting, which lasted about an hour, Dr Ihsanoglu stated, inter alia, that the OIC believes that it is its duty to end the embargo of the TRNC and added that it has taken many steps towards the ending of the unjust isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.

He said that the decisions taken during the 11th OIC meeting were different than other decisions and opened new horizons.

He also stated that he expects Mehmet Ali Talat and President Demetris Christofias to meet at the end of June and resume negotiations in order to reach to a solution in Cyprus. Dr Ihsanoglu also stated that they support the initiatives of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus.

Commenting on the statements of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marios Karoyan, on OIC, Dr Ihsanoglu stated that he was not informed on these statements. However, he said, the OIC does not want to make the work of everyone more difficult. On the contrary, we want to make the work of every one easier. What we are trying to do is to end the unjust treatment the Turkish Cypriots face in their own land. We want to see the Turkish Cypriots receive equal treatment as the owners of this land and as citizens as well as human beings. Dr Ihsanoglu also said that they are ready to explain their good will to those who experience difficulty in understanding their position.

Kibris writes that the self-styled foreign minister, Turgay Avci, stated that the visit of Dr Ihsanoglu in the TRNC gave courage to the Turkish Cypriots. Mr Avci, who made these statements upon the departure of Dr Ihsanoglu from occupied Cyprus yesterday afternoon, stated that the visit of the Secretary-General of the OIC was a great gain for the Turkish Cypriots. He said that they held important talks and that the visit was a significant support from the OIC to the Turkish Cypriots.

Dr Ihsanoglu held also a meeting with the self-styled prime minister, Ferdi Soyer.

(CS)

[02] Babacan stated that the Annan Plan is no longer on the negotiation table

Replying to a question about Cyprus, the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that there is a positive climate for the solution and pointed to the importance of the statements made by Demetris Christofias towards the solution. He also said that there is a new opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem which must not be lost but added that because there are many issues in the island, the expectations must not be very high. He said that the two sides must show a strong political will and courage in order to solve these problems and added that Turkey is ready to support the two sides for reaching an agreement and that it has confidence in TRNC president Mehmet Ali Talat.

(CS)

[03] TRNC Hataytililar Cultural Solidarity Association stated that the reactions of the Greek Cypriot Administration against the settlers are improper

(EA)

[04] Yonluer stated that it is the turn of the Greek Cypriot side to make a good will gesture

(CS)

[05] Folk art exhibition was organised at Agios Loukas Church

(CS)

[06] Political contacts in the framework of the visit of the football team of Kucuk Kaimakli to Kyrgyzstan

The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot delegation met with the chairman of the Committee on Sports of Kyrgyzstans Assembly, Orzubek Nazarov, a former world box champion, and with the Minister of Sports of Kyrgyzstan, Bektur Assanov. Speaking at the meeting, which took place at his office in the assembly, Mr Nazarov stated, inter alia, that the sports embargo imposed on the TRNC is not in harmony with any sport understanding. The support of Mr Nazarov was asked in case a representation may be made to Kyrgyzstan for the football match, which will be played between the Turkish Cypriot football team and the football team of Kyrgyzstan. On this issue Mr Nazarov stated: If they made a representation, we know how to play music, something that paved the way for laughter, according to the paper.

The paper writes that the delegation was not able to have a meeting with the chairman of the Addish Ata football team, who is an MP of the Kyrgyzstan Assembly, because of another urgent obligation, but met with other officials of the football team. The chairman of the Kucuk Kaimakli football team expressed his pleasure that his team will play a football match with Addish Ata, which is member of FIFA. On his part, the deputy chairman of the Addish Ata football club, Alseitov Marles, stated that the increase of the Kyrgyzstani footballers, who play in occupied Cyprus, strengthens the relations between Kyrgyzstan and the TRNC.

(CS)

[07] Report on Turkish exports and investments to the African countries

The business relations between African countries and Turkey have increased significantly in recent years, with Turkey targeting Africa as a trade partner and the foreign trade summits organized by TUSKON paving the way for the establishment of business ties.

As a result of the first two summits, which were supported by the Turkish Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade, numerous Turkish businessmen established new trade relations or enhanced their current relations with Africa; some even moved their operations to African countries. This year for the third summit, 2,500 Turkish businessmen are expected to participate in the event and have around 40,000 business meetings. TUSKON aims to contribute to around $3 billion worth of trade between Turkey and Africa with this summit.

Turkeys exports to African countries reached $3.6 billion in 2005, while they exceeded $6 billion in 2007. The number of Turkish investors in Africa was 73 before 2006, but after TUSKONs first Foreign Trade Bridge summit, this number nearly doubled to 134. Currently there are 150 Turkish investors in 23 African countries.

Since 2006, Turkish businessmen have made investments in Ethiopia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin, the Central African Republic, Angola and Malawi for the first time.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News: The Turkish side-and especially the Turkish government - should realize that the days it had the moral upper hand on the Cyprus Issue are over

Sometimes it is a real challenge to explain the rationality of the Turkish arguments on certain foreign policy areas. But as far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, the task has been much easier in the last four years.

Turks have enjoyed the rarity of having the upper hand on the issue. It has been easy to roll the ball on the Greek Cypriots' courtyard with the following arguments:

'Defying the hawks within the state establishment, risking their stance in the highly sensitive public, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has overturned Ankara's 30 year old policies on Cyprus and took a more conciliatory attitude. The Turkish Cypriot community said goodbye to Rauf Denktas, known as 'Mr Nyet' ('Mr. No') of the Mediterranean. But look at the Greek Cypriot side. Not only have they rejected the Annan plan, they endorsed a very intransigent attitude for any attempt to resume talks.'

Subtitle: The effect of AKP's closure

Although they would try to keep their head up, you could feel a sense of discomfort in the Greek Cypriots. These days are now gone. Not because the uncompromising former President Tassos Papadopoulos is replaced by the seemingly more open-minded Demetris Christofias. The closure case against the AKP (Justice and Development Party) also plays a role in the fact that those days are over.

The internal turmoil will no doubt have negative effects on Turkish foreign policy issues. One of the areas where this will be felt the most will be the Cyprus issue. At a symposium in Istanbul last week organized by the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus to bring together the media members of the four parties, the Greek and the Greek Cypriot journalists kept asking the following question: 'Which Turkey we will negotiate with? Turkey of Erdogan or Turkey under the influence of the military?'

It is a relevant question. The uncertainty that might follow the decision of the Constitutional Court will certainly not facilitate talks on Cyprus.

This, however, should not lead the Greek Cypriots to take the easy course of endorsing the tactic of blaming the other side by telling the outside world, 'Well we are ready to negotiate but there is uncertainty on the Turkish side.'

In fact one could observe during the symposium that the Greek Cypriots' old rhetoric, 'We want a solution but the problem is with the Turks,' is back again.

Subtitle: Turkish side more forthcoming

Interestingly, media members of the Turkish side were much more forthcoming when talking about problems that could stem from the Turkish side in future negotiations. Turkish Cypriot journalists openly complained about the fact that the Turkish military's intervention on the administration in northern Cyprus increased considerably since the day the closure case was filed against the AKP. Greek Cypriot journalists, on the other hand, seemed much more restrained in their comments about the new administration's stance on negotiations.

When one asks, 'Why did you replace Papadopoulos with Christofias. Is it because Mr. Papadopoulos's negative stance started to damage the Greek Cypriot image, or is it because you are now ready to make the sacrifices for a solution based on compromise?' one can get an absurd answer like: 'The Greek Cypriots elect their leaders and everybody should respect the results.' This answer is just reminiscent of a mindset of a journalist from a dictatorship in Africa or the Far East.

Is it not striking? The civil society in northern Cyprus (not part of the European Union) seems much stronger than the one in Greek Cyprus, one of the 27 countries making up the bloc where a functioning democracy with a strong civil society is the sine qua non of membership.

Subtitle: A 'different' solution

At any rate, if we return to the subject of the future of negotiations, one can easily say that the new administration in the south of the island seems poised to regain the 'moral upper hand' the Turkish side seems to have enjoyed so far.

There are doubts as to Christofias' ability to break the taboos in the south, which is necessary to reach a fair and just solution. The statements of the Greek Cypriot administration, however, that not everybody will return to the north and that those returning will have to live under the Turkish administration, were qualified as "historic" by the Turkish Cypriot journalists. Indeed, they might signal to the fact that Christofias is preparing his people to the idea that there will be a solution that might not satisfy every Greek Cypriot.

The Turkish side - and especially the Turkish government - should therefore quickly realize that the days when it had the moral upper hand on the Cyprus issue are over. The same line of the pre-2004 period should be endorsed, which could be summarized in the words of Erdogan, 'For every single step to be taken by the Greek Cypriot side for a solution, we will take two steps forward.'

The Turkish side will only gain from that. In contrast, an uncompromising attitude under the shadow of the military will prove costly.

[09] Turkish Cypriot university professor analyses the issue of parthenogenesis

One of the issues that has been widely debated upon and would be further debated about is the issue of whether or not the new state that would be formed be an evolved stage of the Republic of Cyprus or will it be a brand new state as a result of a Virgin Birth. It seems though this question will take its place on the agenda for a long time.

This complicated issue was one of the issues that caused quite a fuss during the preparation of the Annan Plan and was left unclarified through creative ambiguity so to get past the problem for the time being. It was certainly a conscious choice to leave it uncertain. While the Turkish side was defending the position of a new Cyprus State based on the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot Administration that would turn over the rights and sovereignty to the new state' the Greek Cypriots defended the position of a state that would be formed through the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus towards a Federal Government. That was the reason of the Annan Plan writers choice of 'constructive ambiguity so that both sides would comment on and come up with their own idea of what the new state would be.

However there is a limit. You can make the most flexible comment but if the plot is inflexible at some point the nature of the plot has the final say.

At this stage it could be helpful to have a look at the basis of the political structuring defined by the Annan Plan.

First of all, we have to say that there was no mention of a United Republic of Cyprus State to be established anywhere in the Annan Plan. The concept used was Coming into being of the New State of Affairs. In the main elements of the Plan it was said: We Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots decided to renew our partnership and believe that the new bi-regional, common future, friendship, peace, in safety and prosperity will be the guarantee of a untied and independent Cyprus.

The main phrases that came forward were the renewal of partnership and new bi-regional partnership concepts both phrases do not mean that a new establishment would be formed. They say that the old one would be renewed with the new system. This is exactly why there was no mention of demanding recognition from the international governments for the new state to be established in the Annan Plan. What was being said in the text was literally to continue the existing state of Cyprus. However, there has to be radical amendments in the constitution to change the state from one form to another and bring out a new system. In short the countrys State Constitution continues to exist during the period. In other words the Republic of Cyprus will be discontinued, however, the State of Cyprus continues to exist which would mean that the Second Republic of Cyprus is being established.

This is exactly why there was no mention of applying to the UN for recognition in the Annan Plan. Instead the route to be followed was defined as: with the application of the founding agreement the co-presidents would send letters to the UN Secretary-General and the European Council Secretary-General separately and state that the rights and obligations of Cyprus would from then on be carried by the New Formation. In short Cyprus (the United Republic of Cyprus the URC) would not have to apply at the UN and the European Council like any other new member.

The same goes for EU membership. Once again the URC would not have to apply at the EU for membership; all they needed to do was to send a letter signed by the co-presidents explaining the situation adding that hence on the URC would take on the rights and obligations of Cyprus. In short, since the country of Cyprus would carry on existence with the title of United Republic of Cyprus so would the EU membership.

In my last article I came to the following conclusion: the New Situation (United Cyprus Republic URC) removes the existence of the Cyprus Republic but instead of ignoring the state phenomenon existing since 1960, just the opposite it aims this by including, preserving and also reaching over the state phenomenon. Briefly, while the OLD disintegrates, it continues to exist inside the NEW.

The situation is not very different for Turkish Cypriots, neither. Although the TRNC is not a recognized state, it was proposed to continue all existing (unless they are against international legislation and the Founding Agreement) law-making, enforcement and judgment decisions in Cyprus in the New Situation regardless of which authority issued them and without seeking lawful compliance to international legislation. Therefore, there is a political community called the Turkish Cypriot community and the Annan Plan acknowledged it this way. However, after December 1963, the Turkish Cypriot community would be acknowledged by the New Situation regardless of which authorities signed the agreements Temporary Administration, Autonomous Administration, Turkish Cypriot Confederate State and TRNC. In short, while TRNC would disintegrate, the political existence of the Turkish Cypriot community would continue to exist in the New Situation.

So what was the purpose of the Virgin Birth thesis and the Constructive Obscurity method? What was the problem that needed to be solved? Undoubtedly, debates of independence are behind this.

The Turkish Cypriot side objected to changing the constitution of the existing Cyprus Republic and transforming it into a federal state. They still object today. This is understandable if it is done on the grounds that the Cyprus Republic has not represented the Turkish Cypriots since 1964. However, there seems to be a problem if the purpose is to say: There is the Cyprus Republic (of the Greek Cypriots) and there is the TRNC and the new state will be built upon these two states because such an approach proposes a CONFEDERATE organisation of two separate independent states which are open to using the right to separate and it is crystal clear that Greek Cypriots will reject such a proposal. In addition, it considers the TRNC and the Cyprus Republic as equals and this attitude does not comply with the words we call the facts, which we really like to use and often state.

Another opinion stated by some circles is: We lack a state after the events in 1964. Greek Cypriots confiscated the state. In order to prevent such a thing from triggering in the future and to provide a state for Turkish Cypriots in the case of a possible conflict, the new partnership must be founded on two separate states.

Thus we need to ask: What can be done to resolve the issues of independence and democratic legitimacy in the United Cyprus Republic in such a way that it is accepted for both sides?

I think that in order to solve this issue we do not need any kind of obscurity such as Constructive Obscurity or any kind of mysticism such as Virgin Birth. We also should avoid not showing the source of independence and repeating the mistakes of the time when the Cyprus Republic was founded.

If the Second Cyprus Republic is to be founded, it should be clearly recorded that the independence of this state stems from TWO COMMUNITIES (not states) and this should be clearly stated in the constitution.

However, by accepting the indivisible nature of the shared independency, it will be displayed that the sides do not consider the notion of independency from a separatist point of view and Greek Cypriots will surrender to the thought that sharing power with Turkish Cypriots is not a PRIVILEGE given to Turkish Cypriots, but it is a right which stems from the sharing of independency.

Such a proposal was seen in the series Gali Fikirler [Note: Gali Set of Ideas].

[10] A Columnist in MILLIYET claims that a solution in Cyprus wont be easy

We spent the weekend meeting with the TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat after the election in Cyprus of the AKEL leader Christofias as President and by listening to the sides the possible results of the negotiation process that they launched.

The two leaders will meet again on 23 May. We transferred our impressions from the three-hour meeting with Mr Christofias on Sunday.

Before departing from North Cyprus, we were invited for lunch by President Talat and his wife Oya to their house in Livera. The barbeque party on the seacoast was turned into a merry talk. We were content with some short questions and we quit from being a negotiator to the solution of the Cyprus problem, which has not been dropped from the agenda since 1960, like Turkeys adventure to the EU, because we knew that we could not be fit to the afternoon working hours with the optimism of the Mediterranean sea calling us quit and enter in the sunshine.

For example Christofias said: If Talat is left free we will reach solution in Cyprus. It is clear that this message is conveyed to Ankara and more to the army influence which is included in the last NSC (National Security Council) announcement with the emphasis to the two states. When asked Do you also understand it like this?, Talat said: There is not such a thing. We received the following replying to Christofias: He is actually the one whose hands are tied up. A Greek General administrates the Greek Cypriot army in the island. All the fear of the Greek Cypriots is the division of the island. Christofias gave his word in the election for reunification. If he accepts our positions, the army may not make a coup détat, but the church will.

The Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis asked Christofias after his election to the Presidency the following: Do you really want to solve the Cyprus problem or will you follow a policy that will corner Turkey at its EU process?

Christofias is explaining that he is in favour of Turkeys EU membership and that the democratic process will make easier the solution of the Cyprus problem. He praises Gul and Erdogan. While the Greek Cypriot leader expresses the position for return to the Republic of Cyprus of 1960 in the form of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, he is noting that there could not be a return to the conditions which were existing before 1974 in the island. But he just wants the ending of the military presence of Turkey. We asked Talat this:

He says: Turkey will become an EU member, the army will go. Replying to Christofias statement that We will not dissolve even for one minute the Republic of Cyprus, he says: What do you mean, certainly we will not also abolish the TRNC.

In this situation how will there be a parthenogenisis?

We departed from the island with the feeling that a solution in Cyprus will not be easy, and like Turkeys EU accession, many generations of the politicians, diplomats, academicians and journalists will be retired.

(DPs)

[11] Turkish columnist on his meeting with President Christofias and self-styled PM Soyer. Population distribution in the occupied areas

He writes: Christofias acknowledges the Turkish intervention of 20 July 1974 as Turkish invasion. Actually, in the Greek Cypriot part of Cyprus everyone thinks like this.

The process that began in 1974 regarding the withdrawal of the Turkish Armed Forces from the island still continues. Since then 34 years passed. In this period the two sides have been set apart to a great degree. The two communities were organized as two different states.

Nevertheless, the two sides of the island could not digest completely inside them the fact of living separately. In fact, because of the 1974 operation, Turkey came across the sanctions of the United Nations.

Until the election of Talat in the Turkish Cypriot part and Christofias in the Greek Cypriot the relations between the two communities were at the lowest level

It seems that a new period has begun for the two communities now. The gates opened and the crossings became easier. The two communities started to know each other again. As a matter of fact, the election of left parties in both communities that are in favor of the solution shows the will of the people to change the character of their old relations. In the meantime 34 years passed and of course the gap between them increased a lot. In the past, the people who knew the language of the other side were many. Now this number day by day is reduced, it almost disappears.

The reporter continues and writes that on Sunday night they met with the self-styled prime minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer to whom they conveyed what Mr Christofias told them. From the reaction that Mr Soyer showed we understood that the solution negotiations will not move easily. The internal public opinion of the sides, the opposition and some red lines of Turkey will make the work difficult, the reporter writes and continues with information about the population, according to the 2006 census in the Turkish Cypriot side, as it was stated by Mr Soyer.

The commentary goes on: According to this census, the population distribution in the Turkish Cypriot side is as follows: 121.000 those whose father, mother, grandfather and grandmother were born in Cyprus. 42.500 those whose father and mother or grandfather and grandmother were born in Turkey. 13.000 those whose one of the parents was born in Cyprus. 77.000 those who are not TRNC citizens and live in Cyprus for different reasons. In the 77.000 the 29.000 are students and Turkish citizens who came to Cyprus for work. Meanwhile, almost 1500 Maronites and Greek Cypriots live in this side.

If we count the number of the soldiers and their families that varies between 27.000-35.000, the TRNC population reaches 300.000. This number includes the 121.000 local Cypriots as well.

The reporter concludes: If you start discussing about Cyprus you will not know where to stop. Whenever you visit Cyprus you see new problems arising

The same happened with us

Cyprus is a beautiful island And its problems are so many

(EA)

ES/

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