Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-09-26

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Christofias must prove that he wants solution

[02] Talat replied to the statements made by President Christofias and said that he has never talked about two states

[03] Avci said that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on the political equality of two constituent states and Turkeys guarantor ship

[04] Details on the meeting held in New York between Turgay Avci and the UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations

[05] The speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey stated that those who want a solution in Cyprus have no other choice than accepting the existence of two different states and two different people at the island

[06] Christofias and Talat will separately address PACEs Plenary

[07] Cyprus Peace Platform asked for a population census on both sides prior to the referendum on the solution of the Cyprus problem

[08] Erel stated that the security of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities is not a direct issue in the content of the Guarantees Treaty

[09] The European Commission started a project to build a pilot solar power plant in occupied Cyprus

[10] AKP deputy resigns from party. New distribution of seats in the Parliament

[11] Turkish court fines Hurriyet reporters for creating PKK propaganda

[12] Opinion poll shows confidence in Erdogan to drop significantly

[13] New allegations of corruption against AKP official

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 25 September 2008

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Christofias must prove that he wants solution

Mr Talat stated, inter alia, that he believes the Cyprus problem will be solved if the Greek Cypriot side starts to move towards a solution and turns its attitude in support of a solution into action.

He also stated that Mr Christofias, who supported Tassos Papadopoulos, the person who wasted the biggest opportunity for a solution, must prove his will for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He should not call on others to prove their will for solution, he must prove himself his determination towards a solution, Mr Talat stated.

Referring to the Dr Fazil Kucuk Games, Mr Talat stated that they are a symbol of peace and brotherhood, and that the Turkish Cypriots, on one hand are fighting against the isolation and, on the other, they are making efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He also stated that the Republic of Turkey also showed very clearly that it wants the solution of the Cyprus problem.

On his part, Dr Bicak said that 400 athletes and trainers from 22 countries will participate in the games which will begin on the 28th of September.

Kibris writes that the delegation also paid a visit to the self-styled prime minister Ferdi Soyer who stated, inter alia, that every year the number of the persons and the number of the countries who participate in the games is increasing and this is a very positive step towards the lifting of the isolation.

[02] Talat replied to the statements made by President Christofias and said that he has never talked about two states

Mr Talat, who was a guest at the Glance from the EU program of ADA Television station, said that he asked Mr Christofias about this statement and that Mr Christofias told him that the Turkish Cypriot leaders statements were translated into three languages and the meaning was lost in the translation. I have never talked about two states and he knows it, Mr Talat said.

He went on and added that this process is psychological warfare and that this kind of speculations aim to put a distance between him and the (Turkish Cypriot) people, adding that this is a more dangerous game than the one played by Papadopoulos. He also said that the Greek Cypriot side is trying to make him appear at the international arena as an unreliable person. Mr Talat also said that he does not know how the Cyprus problem will be solved the way things are going. He said that the Greek Cypriot side is putting on the table things that do not exist and they ask him to put pressure on Turkey. However, the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey supported the solution. What did they do? They prevented the solution together with Papadopoulos, he said.

Mr Talat also said that he wants the unification of the island because there is no other better alternative. He said that they want to make a marriage based on logic with the Greek Cypriots and added that it does not matter if there is no passion as long as there is love, as regards the solution.

(CS)

[03] Avci said that the solution of the Cyprus problem must be based on the political equality of two constituent states and Turkeys guarantor ship

The self-styled foreign minister went on and stated in his speech that Mr Christofias denied the bloody attacks of the Greek Cypriots against the Turkish Cypriots in 1963 and he accused the President of saying that the Cyprus problem has started in the year 1974.

(CS)

[04] Details on the meeting held in New York between Turgay Avci and the UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations

Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Turgay Avci, who is in New York for the 63rd UN General Assembly session and the annual coordination meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, has met with the UN under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy.

According to the statement issued from the Press Centre of the TRNC Foreign Ministry, the meeting took place at the UN Headquarters during which the difficulties faced during the operations of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus-UNFICYP, the Turkish school planned to be opened in Limassol in south Cyprus -which the Greek Cypriot Administration did not allow-, and the construction of the Pile-Yigitler [Pyla - occupied Arsos Larnacas] road were taken up.

Reminding during the meeting that Greek Cypriot schools are freely operating in the Karpaz [occupied Karpasia] region of north Cyprus with almost 57 Greek Cypriot students and more than 20 Greek Cypriot teachers, Foreign Minister Avci said, although the Greek Cypriot side had made a written promise to the UN Secretary-General for the opening of a Turkish school in Limassol in a document issued in 1996, it later did not give the permission for this to happen.

Pointing out that Greek Cypriots are nearly completing the construction work on the roads of Voroklini and Pyla, Mr Avci however noted that it is not a comprehensible approach of the Greek Cypriot side when it does not give the necessary permission for the construction of the road between the villages of Pyla and Yigitler- despite of the fact that several initiatives were taken on the issue in the past.

Within the framework of his New York contacts, Turgay Avci also gave an interview to the official broadcast institution of the US - the Voice of America.

During the interview, Mr Avci explained his expectations from the negotiations process in Cyprus.

[05] The speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey stated that those who want a solution in Cyprus have no other choice than accepting the existence of two different states and two different people at the island

He also stated that with the yes vote the Turkish Cypriots used at the referendum, it was safeguarded that a positive atmosphere was created in their favor from the world. He added that they did not have the success they wanted on the issue of the recognition of the TRNC, but some countries have started slowly to make official meetings. Definitely nothing is lost in Cyprus, he stated and added that Turkeys guarantorship and the presence of the Turkish occupation army in the island will continue.

(CS)

[06] Christofias and Talat will separately address PACEs Plenary

(DPs)

[07] Cyprus Peace Platform asked for a population census on both sides prior to the referendum on the solution of the Cyprus problem

The platform in order to contribute to an early solution, asked for more confidence building measures like the opening of more gates, the reduction of the bureaucracy at the check-points, demilitarization, the reciprocal abolition of military maneuvers, the elimination of chauvinistic elements in education and the opening of Varosha area to its former owners for settlement.

(EA)

[08] Erel stated that the security of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities is not a direct issue in the content of the Guarantees Treaty

(DPs)

[09] The European Commission started a project to build a pilot solar power plant in occupied Cyprus

The European Commission has started a project to build a pilot solar power plant in the TRNC that will deliver electricity to the grid in 2009.

Energy experts gave a seminar at the EU Programme Support Office in Lefkosia this morning to demonstrate the particular opportunities for Cyprus in renewable energies and to explain respective technologies.

During the seminar, presentations were delivered on The Global Energy Revolution and Solar Power Generation-State of the Art and Prospects for Cyprus.

The project is funded under the EU Financial Aid Regulation for the Turkish Cypriot community.

Speaking at the seminar, the Head of the EU Programme Support Office Alain Bothorel said that 14-million Euros have been earmarked for the development of the energy sector in North Cyprus and that the amount will now be used on investments for the use of solar energy.

Pointing out that with the rise in petrol prices, solar energy has become relatively less expensive, Mr Bothorel said that the aim is to make the use of solar energy system sustainable in North Cyprus.

Dr Fulcieri Maltini a speaker at the seminar - also made a presentation on energy problems of the world and solar energy systems as an alternative.

[10] AKP deputy resigns from party. New distribution of seats in the Parliament

Following the resignation of Ozturk, the distribution of seats at the Turkish Parliament is as follows:

AK Party: 338

CHP: 98

MHP: 70

DTP: 21

DSP: 13

Independent: 5

ODP: 1

BBP: 1

Vacant: 3

Total: 550

(CHP-Republican People's Party, MHP-Nationalist Action Party, DTP-Democratic Society Party, DSP-Democratic Left Party, ODP-Freedom and Solidarity Party, BBP-Grand Unity Party)

[11] Turkish court fines Hurriyet reporters for creating PKK propaganda

A Turkish court on Thursday issued fines for three journalists over an interview conducted with members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) published four years ago, the Anatolian Agency reported.

The court ruled that the journalists from one of Turkey's highest circulation dailies, Hurriyet, were guilty of "spreading the propaganda of a terrorist organization" under an anti-terror law, the report said.

Sebati Karakurt, the reporter who conducted the interview at PKK camp in neighboring northern Iraq, and editor Hasan Kilic were fined 40,000 YTL ($32,300) each, while another editor, Necdet Tatlican, was fined 20,000 YTL ($16,155).

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by HYPERLINK "http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/index/Ankara/" \t "blank" Ankara and much of the international community, including the U.S. and the EU.

The interview, published in October 2004, drew attention at the time for focusing on the daily routines, personal yearnings and feminist ambitions of a group of young female outlawed separatists at a PKK camp in Iraqs Qandil mountains.

The report, accompanied by pictures of smiling PKK members playing the guitar, was in stark contrast to the usual coverage of the outlawed organization in the Turkish media, which highlights the groups violent side and rarely holds interviews with PKK separatists.

The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, has often criticized the country for restricting free speech and press freedoms.

[12] Opinion poll shows confidence in Erdogan to drop significantly

The people's confidence in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who according to the opinion polls that have been conducted during the past six months had been seen as the most trustworthy leader, has dropped due to the Deniz Feneri [Lighthouse] case and his conflict with Aydin Dogan. Some 23.9% of the respondents noted that they believe that Prime Minister Erdogan is right in the Erdogan-Dogan conflict, while 47.8% of the respondents answered that they believe that Erdogan is involved in the corrupt activities of Deniz Feneri.

The poll entitled "Study on the Society's Viewpoinr of Media-Politics Ties and the Local Administrations" that was conducted by the Political Researcher Strategy Development Center in September showed that the people's confidence in the AKP [Justice and Development Party] government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dropped significantly. Some 4,868 people -- 2,420 females and 2,448 males -- participated in the poll that was conducted in 16 metropolitan cities and 23 large districts.

Subtitle: The Turkish people believe that Deniz Feneri Association conducted corrupt activities

According to the poll, an important part of the Turkish people with 78.8% believes that the corruption allegations against the Deniz Feneri e.V. reflect reality. Some 10.1% of the respondents noted that they do not believe that the allegations are true, while 11.6% noted that they have no idea about the issue.

Some 47.8% of the respondents answered that they believe that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan might also have been involved in the alleged corrupt activities of Deniz Feneri e.V., while 34.4% noted that they do not believe that he was involved. Some 17.8% refrained from expressing their views on this issue.

Subtitle: Deniz Feneri has not served the AKP

Following the stand adopted by the AKP government in the face of Deniz Feneri's corrupt activities, the opinion that the government is taking measures against corruption has also disappeared. In answer to a question on whether "they believe that the AKP is taking measures against corruption," the majority of the respondents with 64.9% said: "No I do not believe that it does." Only 21.3% noted that they believe that the AKP government is taking measures against corruption.

Subtitle: Prime Minister-Dogan Media Group row has not served Erdogan

One of the important results of the poll was associated with the dispute between Aydin Dogan and Prime Minister Erdogan. According to the poll, 25.7% of the people believe that Aydin Dogan is right, while 23.9 of the people believe that Prime Minister Erdogan is right. Some 40.3% of the people believe that both of them are wrong.

Subtitle: The AKP is creating its own wealthy clique

Some 57.5% of the respondents stated that they believe that the AKP is making efforts to create its own wealthy clique, while 24.8% noted that they do not believe that this is true.

With the poll it has been clearly seen that the society believes that the ruling party does not take measures against corruption, creates its own wealthy clique, and therefore gives privileges to its sympathizers. The rate of those who believe that the prime minister's harsh statements will intimidate the other media members who will write reports on corrupt activities and will prevent the media from monitoring politics, which is the media's main responsibility.

Subtitle: Turkey's agenda: Deniz Feneri

According to the poll, 29.9% of the respondents noted that the corrupt activities conducted by Deniz Feneri have been the most important development in Turkey lately. The "media-prime minister conflict" took the second place with 24.1%. Next were the Russia-Georgia war with 9.3%, President Gul's visit to Yerevan with 7.2%, and other corruption allegations with 6.9%.

[13] New allegations of corruption against AKP official

Two prominent figures of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) met Thursday in a rare televised debate at parliament to discuss claims of fictitious exports and drug smuggling.

The main opposition CHP deputy leader of the parliamentary group, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and Justice and Development Party's (AKP) deputy leader, Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat decided this week to hold a debate to clarify the opposition's claims.

Kilicdaroglu had accused a company, in which Firat was previously a stakeholder, of making fictitious exports and drug smuggling. The debate was chaired by experienced journalist Ugur Dundar, the news manager of Star TV.

Following the debate, political experts and journalists agreed that Kilicdaroglu was the more dominant and that the debate is a win for democracy. An online poll conducted by hurriyet.com.tr during the debate also showed that the CHP deputy was perceived as successfully proving his claims.

Kilicdaroglu showed the documents of court rulings that the company was fined for making fictitious exports while Firat was still sitting on the board. The AKP executive rejected the claims, saying that Kilicdaroglu is perverting the facts regarding the legal processes against the related company, MENAS.

Fikret Bila, a Milliyet daily columnist and a former commissioner of audit, said Kilicdaroglu proved that the company, MENAS, had conducted fictitious exports while Firat was a board member.

The two politicians also debated Kilicdaroglu's claims that the same company was accused of smuggling heroin. Firat rejected the charge, claiming the driver of the truck was responsible, adding that at the time of the incident he was no longer an executive of the company.

Murat Yetkin, Radikal daily's Ankara bureau chief, said Kilicdaroglu was more persuasive.

The responses of Firat were insufficient... Kilicdaroglu was the winner of the match if one can consider it a match, he said, but criticized that such debates might hurt democratic values if they are made frequently.

Selim Oktar, a political communications expert, also said the main opposition CHP benefited from the debate and used this as an opportunity to make its voice heard.

An online poll conducted by hurriyet.com.tr during and after the televised debate revealed that 58.8 percent (78,506 votes) of respondents believe Kilicdaroglu is telling the truth. A total of 133,402 readers participated in the poll.

Cuneyt Ulsever, a journalist with Hurriyet daily, said these kinds of debates should continue and said the documents presented by Kilicdaroglu revealed that he was closer to the truth.

Although the general view is that CHP was more convincing, both deputies said after the debate that they were not convinced by each other's claims. Firat said he would not resign and Kilicdaroglu should apologize, while CHP executive urged Firat to resign.

Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, a former minister, said the outcome of the debate was not satisfying. "No result emerged from the debate and I am not satisfied," Karakoyunlu said, adding that this debate was personal and would not lead to a political conclusion.

The argument between the two MPs was triggered when Kilicdaroglu made a series of corruption and fraud allegations involving members of the ruling AKP.

The allegations included documents evidencing the wrongdoings of AKP members and individuals with close ties to the ruling party of involvement in cases of fraud, including the Deniz Feneri charity case that recently concluded in Germany.

The latest of those allegations related to the discovery of heroin among goods being exported by a company of which the ruling Firat is said to be a major partner.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 25 September 2008

a) The secrecy over the Cyprus problem

In an article entitled "Cyprus: Why so much secrecy?", Milli Gazete columnist Hasan Unal warns of what he describes as indications of an effort to keep the Turkish public's attention off the ongoing Cyprus talks such as an "amazing" silence on the part of Turkish commentators who endorse concessions to Greek Cypriots in the name of EU membership and democratization and the coincidence of some of the recent police operations in the Ergenekon probe with the 21 March and 1 July agreements between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders. Unal goes on to ask why the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) supports a Cyprus plan that amounts to giving up the island particularly at a time when Prime Minister Erdogan has started to voice serious displeasure at the absence of any progress in the EU accession process.

b) Debate between AKP and CHP officials; Allegations of corruption

In an article entitled "People who are being robbed would not be distracted," Vatan columnist Gungor Mengi ascribes Firat's harsh comments about the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) to moral damage caused by recent allegations of fraud and corruption within the ruling party. He says: "But, a ruling party cannot restore public confidence by curtailing the media's freedoms, preventing the judiciary from acting independently, and terrorizing establishments and individuals who refuse to submit. It could rather achieve that by subjecting itself to democratic control and respecting the rule of law and the freedom of the press."

In an article entitled "A fake duel," Ortadogu columnist Orhan Karatas accuses the AKP of resorting to tension and conflicts in the face of complaints and criticism being voiced by different segments of society. Karatas also criticizes the CHP for facilitating the AKP's strategy by being involved in unnecessary and fruitless exchange of accusations, adding that they will not take the anticipated debate between Firat and Kilicdaroglu seriously because it will only serve to divert attention from corruption and fraud cases.

In an editorial entitled "Heehaw politics," Turkish Daily News columnist Yusuf Kanli says that AKP leadership is starting new wars which they are doomed to lose. Kanli also points out that today's "duel" Firat and Kilicdaroglu indicates that the AKP has been pushed to the defensive for the first time since it was established.

c) Prospects for the Turkish diplomacy

In an article entitled "Turkey sets sail for the world," Milliyet columnist Semih Idiz says that a speech delivered by Turkish President Abdullah Gul in a session of the UN General Assembly and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan's successful address to the Council on Foreign Relations, CFR, in New York showed that Turkey is pursuing a very proactive diplomacy. He says: "We also clearly saw here that positive steps taken by Ankara in bilateral relations with Armenia and the constructive stance taken by the Turkish side about the Cyprus question enhanced Turkey 's image as a country making efforts to find solutions for the sake of regional stability rather than causing troubles."

d) Bidding for nuclear power plant

In an article entitled "I had told you Mr. Guler," Milliyet columnist Metin Munir criticizes Hilmi Guner, Turkish Minister of Energy, for not postponing a bidding opened for the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, Mersin because there were strong indications that the majority of the potential bidders would not vie for the contract due to high commercial risks involved. Pointing out that only one joint venture consisting of two Russian companies and their Turkish partner submitted a proposal while five other bidders declined to submit tenders, Munir says: "Mr. Guler, the Prime Ministery may hesitate to put this question because he likes you very much. Let me ask it in its place: why did you hold the bidding although you were aware that only Russian companies would submit a proposal? What was the logic behind it if there was any?"

In an article entitled "Turkey should quit the nuclear adventure", Zaman columnist Sahin Alpay advises the ruling AKP against pressing ahead with a plan to establish three nuclear energy plants. In citing his reasons for opposing nuclear energy, he calls attention to the "great risks" associated with nuclear energy plants, explains why nuclear energy is "definitely not cheap," and asserts that nuclear energy plants are not a realistic remedy for global warming.

EG/

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