Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-04-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Downer said the negotiations in Cyprus should not start from scratch

[02] Davutoglu discussed with Ban Ki-moon the situation after the presidential elections in occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

[03] Eroglu said that a National Council would soon be set up

[04] Serdar Denktas said that Eroglu was elected at the right time

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily says congestion was created yesterday at the ministry of interior by people who wanted to acquire the citizenship of the breakaway regime

[06] TDP launches a no campaign against the amendment of article 162 of the constitution. Allegations that Resmiye Eroglu Canaltay will run as a deputy candidate in occupied Famagusta

[07] Illegal Turkish ambassador to occupied areas visited the so-called director of BRT

[08] Agios Filon has been turned into a barn

[09] Turkish Cypriot delegation to attend the 73rd Congress of the International Sports Press Association

[10] An opinion poll shows that the percentage power of the ruling Justice and Development Party decreased to 25%

[11] Turkish Parliament adopts Constitutional Amendment on Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors

[12] The trade volume between Turkey and Egypt could exceed five billion dollars

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] A sensitive appointment to the top of the MIT

[14] From the Turkish Press on 27 April 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Downer said the negotiations in Cyprus should not start from scratch

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said Tuesday the change in leadership in one side of Cyprus should not slow down negotiations or cause the re-start of negotiations from scratch.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations, Downer said that the progress made in Cyprus negotiations to date should not be wasted. The negotiations in Cyprus would most likely resume in May. However, I have to talk with the leaders in Cyprus, Downer also said.

On April 18, 2010, Dervis Eroglu replaced Mehmet Ali Talat as the new president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias began holding negotiations on September 3, 2008 in order to resolve the Cyprus problem.

[02] Davutoglu discussed with Ban Ki-moon the situation after the presidential elections in occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made phone conversations with top officials of several countries on Tuesday, diplomats said.

Ahmet Davutoglu talked over the phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, and UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Ad Melkert.

Davutoglu invited Chinese minister Jiechi to Istanbul for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia to be held on June 8.

Davutoglu called Italy's foreign minister Frattini to set a new date for the 2nd intergovernmental summit meeting between Turkey and Italy, which was planned to be held in Rome and scheduled for April 21 but postponed due to debates at the Turkish Parliament on constitutional reforms.

During his conversation with Ban Ki-moon, Davutoglu informed UN Secretary-General about his recent visit to Iran and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Ban and Davutoglu discussed the situation after recent Iraqi general elections, presidential election in TRNC and Cyprus reunification talks, as well as Iran's nuclear program, diplomats said.

Davutoglu also informed Iran's foreign minister about impressions he gained regarding Iran's nuclear program from world leaders at international events he attended following his visit to Tehran.

In his chat with Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and Syrian FM Moallem, Davutoglu focused on recent developments in the Middle East and Israel-Palestine peace, diplomats said, adding that his conversation with Melkert was about the situation in Iraq in the aftermath of parliamentary elections.

Finally, Davutoglu and Bulgaria's foreign minister Mladenov discussed developments in the Balkans.

[03] Eroglu said that a National Council would soon be set up

President Dervis Eroglu has stressed that no one should doubt that he would staunchly defend the rights of the Cyprus Turkish People at the negotiation table. We will not be the side leaving the table but we will not abandon our rights. We will explain the Cyprus Turkish Peoples rightful cause to the world', the President said while receiving a delegation from the Cyprus Turkish Fighters Society headed by Vural Turkmen.

During the visit, Turkmen reminded that the Society supported Dervis Eroglu in the race for the Presidency and voiced their satisfaction over the election results.

President Eroglu, for his part, praised the struggle waged by such institutions until the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The President said he would be continuing the negotiations in line with the expectations of the people, adding that no one should doubt that he would be defending the rights of the Cyprus Turkish People at the table.

He noted that a National Council would soon be set up as he promised before being elected as the TRNC President.

[04] Serdar Denktas said that Eroglu was elected at the right time

A delegation consisting of representatives of various veterans societies has visited the Democratic Party Leader Serdar Denktas to thank him for his partys support to UBP Presidential candidate Dervis Eroglu in the Presidential elections. Speaking on behalf of the societies, the President of the Society of Fighter Commanders Hasan Keskin said that the DP played an important role in the election of Dervis Eroglu as the new president of the TRNC.

Welcoming the visiting delegation, DP Leader Denktas said that Eroglu was elected as the TRNC President at the right time, expressing the view that former President Talat would have given important concessions to the Greek Cypriot Side if he remained in office.

'On the 18th of April, the Cyprus Turkish People gave the message to the world that they would not be abandoning their rights', the DP leader said, adding that the 42% support given to Mehmet Ali Talat demonstrated the peoples will towards a settlement and that it should not be ignored.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan newspaper (28.04.10) reports on statements made by the president of the Society of Fighter Commanders, Hasan Keskin, who alleged during the meeting with Serdar Denktas that Dervis Eroglus victory is the second greatest victory which the Turkish Cypriots have achieved in their history after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus.

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily says congestion was created yesterday at the ministry of interior by people who wanted to acquire the citizenship of the breakaway regime

The director of the self-styled ministry of interior, Adnan Altan told Yeni Duzen that congestion existed yesterday but the citizenship was not given to every applicant. He reminded that according to the law, persons who have completed five years of work with a working permit and persons who have permanent working permit for ten years have the right to apply for permanent residence in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He noted that these persons have the right to file an application but the citizenship is not given to everyone who applies for it.

The paper reminds that in February, Ilkay Kamil, self-styled minister of internal affairs, had stated at the assembly that his government gave the citizenship of the regime to 1020 persons in ten months and alleged that no one acquired the citizenship illegally.

The paper writes that yesterday was the last day for filing such applications because the bans for the municipality elections started as of today. Therefore the congestion which existed at the above-mentioned department forced the employees to work overtime.

(I/Ts.)

[06] TDP launches a no campaign against the amendment of article 162 of the constitution. Allegations that Resmiye Eroglu Canaltay will run as a deputy candidate in occupied Famagusta

According to the paper, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) are positively oriented towards this constitutional amendment and they will support a yes vote in the referendum.

On its part, the Democratic Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas which in the so called assembly voted in favour of the above-mentioned constitutional amendment will take its decision on how it will vote during the referendum after discussing the issue in the central committee of the party.

Responding to a question on the stance the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) during the referendum, the partys chairman Turgay Avci has stated that ORP voted in favour of the constitutional amendment in the so called assembly and added that people will have the final saying on the issue. He, however, noted that the issue is being evaluated by the administrative organs of the party.

On the other hand, the Communal Democracy Party (TDP) of Mehmet Caciki has announced that it will launch a no campaign against the constitutional amendment. Reminding that the party has rejected this amendment of the constitution in the assembly, Mehmet Caciki stated that the executive committee of TDP took the decision to launch an active no campaign against the constitutional amendments.

TDPs decision is published by Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam newspaper (28.04.10) under the banner front page title No campaign from TDP. According to the paper, TDP is the only political party which is against the amendment of Article 162 of the constitution which will prevent people from expressing its will through the holding of referendums. The party, which also took the decision to carry out a range of activities with the aim to inform people on the issue, has started paying visits to civil organizations as from today.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar newspaper (28.04.10) reports on allegations that Resmiye Eroglu Canaltay, elder daughter of Dervis Eroglu is most probably going to run as a candidate with the National Unity Party (UBP) during the by-elections which will be held on June 27, 2010 for the filling of the one parliamentary seat in occupied Famagusta area which remains vacant after the election of Dervis Eroglu to the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

According to the paper, the candidature of Resmiye Eroglu Canaltay will be announced after the conclusion of the works of UBPs extraordinary congress and the election of a new party leader which will be held on May 9, 2010

(ML)

[07] Illegal Turkish ambassador to occupied areas visited the so-called director of BRT

Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosia Sakir Fakili has said that Turkey will continue to support the TRNC as it has been the case in the past. The important thing is to make the voice of the Cyprus Turkish People heard both in the region and in the world, said the ambassador during a visit to BRT Director Ozer Kanli.

Welcoming the ambassador, BRT Director Kanli said that Bayrak Radio, which was established by a handful of Cyprus Turkish fighters, has developed over years with contributions of Motherland Turkey.

He pointed out that BRT is now making the voice of the Cyprus Turkish People heard through its two TV channels and five radio stations.

We are putting up resistance against our neighbours in the battle in radio and television broadcasting, thanks to important contributions of Motherland Turkey. We stand firm against their attacks Kanli said, complaining that the DVB-T transmissions which started with the opening of a transmission centre at the BRT premises, were disrupted by the Greek Cypriot Side.

But, he noted that a new project will soon be realized with contributions of Turkey to eliminate such attacks by the Greek Cypriot Side.

For his part, Fakili said that the corporation had made important contributions to the Cyprus Turkish Peoples Struggle for Existence.

The Ambassador stressed that Turkey will continue to support the TRNC, adding that the most important thing is to make the voice of the Cyprus Turkish People heard both in the region and in the world.

[08] Agios Filon has been turned into a barn

In statements to Star Kibris, Hasan Karlitas, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Guides Union, expressed his sorrow for the fact that attention is not paid to these antiquities and added that they expect the self-styled ministry to show the necessary interest for such places.

Meanwhile, archeologist Tuncer Bagiskan, former deputy director of the antiquities and museums department, described the area as one of the best examples of the ancient times and added that it had been declared as archeological site in 1991. He pointed out that such antiquities should be protected for many years and serve to the tourism of the country.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Turkish Cypriot delegation to attend the 73rd Congress of the International Sports Press Association

(EA)

[10] An opinion poll shows that the percentage power of the ruling Justice and Development Party decreased to 25%

According to the opinion poll, if elections were held today in Turkey, the results would be as follows:

Justice and Development Party (AKP) 25.03%

Republican Peoples Party (CHP) 23.47%

Nationalist Action Party (MHP) 18.60%

Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) 5.90%

Felicity Party (SP) 4.43%

Democratic Party (DP) 3.60%

Democratic Left Party (DSP) 3.53%

Great Unity Party (BBP) 1.53%

Other Parties 1.83%

Undecided/ have no opinion 13.91%

The paper writes that taking into consideration the distribution of the 13.91% of the Undecided/ have no opinion group, the parties receive the following percentages:

AKP 28.47%

CHP 26.70%

MHP 21.15%

BDP 6.71%

SP 5.05%

DP 4.09%

DSP 4.02%

BBP 1.74%

Other Parties 3.82%

The opinion poll further shows that expensiveness and unemployment are the most important problems for the Turks.

The opinion poll was conducted by Sonar Research Firm, between 15-21 of April 2010 with the participation of three thousand persons from fifteen provinces and thirty villages.

(CS)

[11] Turkish Parliament adopts Constitutional Amendment on Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors

Turkish Parliament's General Assembly adopted a Constitutional amendment regarding the structure of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) on Tuesday. 336 deputies voted in favor of Article 23 of a Constitutional bill while 72 voted against.

Article 23 of the Constitutional bill actually amends Article 159 of the Turkish Constitution. With the new amendment, the number of HSYK members went up to 22 from a former number of 7. The amendment changed the number of HSYK alternate members from 5 to 12. According to Article 23, the Turkish Justice Minister will continue to chair the HSYK.

[12] The trade volume between Turkey and Egypt could exceed five billion dollars

Turkish State Minister for foreign trade Zafer Caglayan met with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Trade & Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid on Tuesday. We have agreed that the trade volume between Turkey and Egypt could exceed $5 billion shortly, for instance, in the coming year, Caglayan told reporters following the meeting. Currently, the trade volume is around $3.3 billion, Caglayan said.

In 2005, Turkey and Egypt signed a free trade deal covering only merchandise trade, Caglayan recalled and said 'officials of the two countries launched efforts today to expand the agreement to other sectors. '

On his part, Rachid confirmed the $5-billion goal for trade volume and said Turkish and Egyptian officials would get together periodically to achieve this goal.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] A sensitive appointment to the top of the MIT

The National Intelligence Organization, or M0T, was under the military s influence until the late President Suleyman Demirel formed a coalition government with the Socialist People s Party, or SHP, at the end of 1991.

However, there have been three exceptions, including during the Celalettin Karasapan, Huseyin Avni Gokturk and Ahmet Korur periods. Karasapan had a diplomacy background and served during the Democratic Party government, and Gokturk had a law and politics background. Both served as the M0T directors for a short time. Korur was the acting director during the Prime Minister Adnan Menderes period.

Subtitle: MIT turned more civilian with Koksal

Until the appointment of Ambassador Sonmez Koksal to the top of the organization in 1992, the upper level administration mostly consisted of military members.

Although it seems odd today, this was the reality for decades. M0T directors, after 1980 in particular, were always Lt. Gens whose names were submitted by the General Staff to the government, and that secured the status and weight of M0T directors at the level of corps commander.

According to the law, a M0T director answers to the prime minister, but they did see chiefs of the General Staff as superiors.

The M0T turned more civil under the former M0T director Koksal, and one of the critical steps taken during that period was the reduction of personnel with origins in the military to a symbolic level. Owing to Koksal, the organization improved human resources policy and set as objectives hiring employees fluent in foreign languages and obtaining a new generation of intelligence gatherers.

Subtitle: Erdogans closer dialogue with Taner

After Koksal returned to the Foreign Ministry in 1998, the appointment of professional intelligence agents who were raised in the organization became a new tradition. In fact, in replacement of Koksal, the once director of operations Senkal Atasagun was appointed as the MIT director. And Atasagun left his seat to assistant director Emre Taner in 2005.

Its known that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together with Taner frequently with regards to the Kurdish question, in particular, while Taner was the assistant director. In the mean time, the organization turned more civil and adopted a rather flexible line of conduct in the Kurdish issue. Mr. Prime Minister extended Taners tenure twice, for six months each, although it was time for Taner to be retired.

This time, a change will take place. Apparently, Erdogan has decided to appoint the 42-year-old bureaucrat Hakan Fidan who has been closely working with Mr. Prime Minister at the Prime Ministry in the last two-and-a-half years. Fidan was initially appointed as the MITs new assistant director, and he will be the new director as of late May.

Fidan served as a noncommissioned officer in the military for about 15 years while he continued his academic career. During his retirement period, Fidan graduated from the University of Maryland and received masters and doctorate degrees at Bilkent University in Ankara. He was the chairman of the Prime Ministry s Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency, or T0KA, during the ruling Justice and Development Party s, or AKP, first term.

Afterwards, Fidan was appointed as the M0T assistant director in Nov. 2007 and became one of the closest working partners of Erdogan.

Subtitle: As a tradition is left behind

Fidan s official appointment to the top seat of the M0T means that a tradition settled after Koksal is now being left. It would be perfect if the tradition had been maintained in order to give a message of confidence to the M0T personnel for the future. However, appointments from outside of the organization are seen quite often in the Western world.

Intelligence is a career all along. Though Fidan is an experienced high-level bureaucrat, his accumulation of intelligence is limited rather to academic studies. For this reason, he will take over the organization without having any experience in intelligence, as was the case with Koksal in 1995.

The process of change in the world brings new threats and risks. In this case, change is needed in intelligence organizations as well. There is a need for adaptation. Appointment of Fidan will flare up discussions over MIT reform.

One final point is about the MITs capabilities. Governments have always been attracted to power, so the new MIT director should define the boundaries of his organization very well. Besides, civilian intelligence should be maintained

These are the critical points waiting for Fidan.

[14] From the Turkish Press of 27 April 2010

a) Debate on Constitutional Amendment Bill and Presidential System

In an article in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Cuneyt Ulsever details his objections to the constitutional reform bill. Pointing out that he opposes the amendment package in general because it does not include any amendment that enables more freedoms or rights to people despite "government's insistence" on overtures, particularly the Kurdish overture, Ulsever adds that the government also keeps the election threshold at 10 percent, "despite the Venice Commission's warning." In addition, Ulsever lists his "specific" objections to the bill, concluding that government's aim is to increase its influence over the judiciary.

Maintaining that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's real problem is with the judiciary and the presidential system will not solve this, former ECHR judge Riza Turmen, in his article in Hurriyet Daily New.com, describes the roles of the judiciary, executive, and legislative bodies in constitutional democracies. "The judiciary, based upon the authority granted by laws, supervises executive and legislative bodies. The executive and the legislative are obliged to use their authority in line with the law," writes Turmen and concludes: "If it is a democratic regime, the judiciary can be left to the absolute control of the government neither in a presidential system nor in any other system. If the disturbance felt through the judicial supervision is one of the reasons for a presidential system, the constitutional amendment package happens to remove this reason."

In his column in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Yusuf Kanli agrees with Republican People's Party, CHP, leader Deniz Baykal that Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin's proposal to divide the amendment package and separate the contentious articles concerning the structure and the duties of the high courts, provided that the CHP does not apply to the constitutional court for annulment is an "indecent offer." Kanli maintains that Ergin's offer to the CHP is "indeed a confession by the AKP" that it is aware that the contentious articles contradict the principle of "separation of powers."

In an article entitled "Indecent Proposal and Politics Without Vision", Zaman columnist Ihsan Dagi asserts that in announcing that only a few "responsible" and "patriotic" AKP deputies could save Turkey from the danger posed by the latest constitutional amendment package, main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, is making an "indecent proposal" to certain AKP deputies similar to the one that former CHP leader Bulent Ecevit made to a group of Justice Party, AP, deputies to persuade them to join the CHP at the so-called Gunes Motel meeting in 1977 as well as showing how far he is prepared to go in trying to "save the Ergenekon network." He also asserts that the Peace and Democracy Party, BDP, is going down a "blind alley" in refraining from supporting the package on the grounds that it would amount to supporting the AKP.

/EI

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