Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-05-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ozersay says sovereignty issue still on the table in Cyprus talks

[02] UN spokesman responds to the reactions created after the UN Secretary-Generals message on the re-launching of the Cyprus negotiations

[03] The so-called government of the breakaway regime wins vote of confidence

[04] Illegal DAU participates in Crans Montana Forum conferences

[05] The champion and cup winner teams in the occupied areas to participate in the London Cup Football tournament

[06] Turkish Cypriot journalists complete professional training in the EU

[07] Turkey works to open more EU chapters in June

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 27 May 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ozersay says sovereignty issue still on the table in Cyprus Talks

Ozersay, in a statement to illegal Turkish news agency-Cyprus (TAK) on Thursday, said: What is really important for us is to make an agreement for a lasting solution and to establish a viable partnership.

Noting that generally a positive beginning has been made in the negotiations, Ozersay explained that Dervis Eroglu, with the letter that he sent to the UN Secretary-General, outlined the possibility of continuing the negotiations from the point that they left off, by protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. He also said: We, as the Turkish Cypriot side, want to carry forward the process under the UN parameters and we will try to conclude the process if the Greek Cypriot side does it with the same way.

Regarding where the negotiations on the property chapter will start from, Ozersay said that in the previous period, the sides achieved convergence only on one issue and they wrote it down. Ozersay added that the existence of this paper, with the willingness of both sides, was confirmed at yesterdays meeting and it was agreed that new convergences will be achieved from this point onwards.

Ozersay said: In this paper, the property categories were classified. However, there is no agreement on the issue of which property regime will be implemented in every property category.

Referring to the news that there was another convergence apart from this, Ozersay said: This allegation is not correct, in the past, esteemed Ozdil Nami (Mehmet Ali Talats special envoy) announced that the only existing convergence on property was on the issue of property categories. Besides, contrary to this, if there were any other convergences, then they would have been written down on paper as a convergence.

Replying to a question regarding the issue of single sovereignty, Kudret Ozersay said that the sovereignty issue, which was not discussed in yesterdays meeting, is still on the negotiation table and at the opening of the governance and power sharing chapter they will continue to discuss it again. Ozersay said: What really matters is how these concepts will be defined. How the sovereignty will emanate from the two peoples, in other words what is the source of sovereignty, how it will be implemented by the founding states and for example the new partnership, it has not been understood yet how these issues will appear."

Ozersay also said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu was determined to discuss in detail all the chapters and sub-chapters in a serious way and to carry the process forward.

(DPs)

[02] UN spokesman responds to the reactions created after the UN Secretary-Generals message on the re-launching of the Cyprus negotiations

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons message read out by his special advisor, Alexander Downer, during yesterdays meeting between the two leaders has sparked some criticism. Criticisms were voiced because of the word relevant was missing in the message. The UN clarified today the confusion in the message over reference to the Security Council Resolutions.

UN Spokesman Jose Diaz told BRT that the UN Chief had referred to the relevant Security Council resolutions and not to all the Security Council resolutions. In a statement to BRT, Jose Diaz said that the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had meant that he had been encouraged by the agreement reached between the leaders to resume the talks on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions and not all the Security Council resolutions.He also pointed out that the UN Chief had referred to the UN Security Council resolutions as such in his latest UN Security Council report. As you can see this is the term we always use and most recently in the latest UN Secretary-Generals report on the Cyprus negotiations, published last week, Diaz added.

[03] The so-called government of the breakaway regime wins vote of confidence

The new government headed by prime minister, Irsen Kucuk, has won a vote of confidence in the TRNC parliament. The government received the support of 31 deputies while 16 voted against it.

Addressing the parliament after winning the vote of confidence, prime minister Kucuk said that the parliament would continue to exercise its functions in harmony.

The minority government, formed by Irsen Kucuk, was supported by the deputies from the National Unity Party (UBP), the Democrat Party (DP) and the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP). Tahsin Ertugruloglu --an independent deputy-- also gave his backing to the new government. MPs from the main opposition Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) and the Social Democratic Party (TDP), as well as independent Ejder Aslanbaba voted against the government. Two deputies from the CTP-BG were not present at todays meeting of the parliament. One seat has been vacant since the election of Dervis Eroglu as the TRNC president.

Speaking after his government won the vote of confidence, prime minister Kucuk promised to work in cooperation with all parties with seats in parliament and for the benefit of the TRNC people.

[04] Illegal DAU participates in Crans Montana Forum conferences

The paper further writes that Mr Atikol was also invited to participate in a conference on global energy security that is organized by Crans Montana Forum and it will be held in Brussels on June 23rd.

(ML)

[05] The champion and cup winner teams in the occupied areas of Cyprus to participate in the London Cup Football tournament

(CS)

[06] Turkish Cypriot journalists complete professional training in the EU

The project on the Europeanization of the Cyprus Turkish media has been completed. It was implemented jointly by the Foreign Press Association based in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the European Union, and involved a series of courses for Cyprus Turkish journalists in European countries.

A press conference was held at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Association, where detailed information was provided about the activities carried out within the framework of the project which was completed in three years. The project has been perceived as a big step towards the professionalization of the Cyprus Turkish press which also helped making the Cyprus Turkish voice heard on international platforms.

The Association President Fevzi Tanpinar said that the Cyprus Turkish media has benefited from the project. He also announced that new projects would be realized in the new period ahead.

[07] Turkey works to open more EU chapters in June

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Turkey was working to open at least one more chapter to negotiations with the European Union (EU).Spokesperson Burak Ozugergin told a press conference that the ministry, the Secretariat General for the EU, and some other institutions were exerting efforts to open at least one more chapter to negotiations with the EU during the intergovernmental conference to take place in June under the presidency of Spain.

Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005 with the analytical examination of the EU legislation.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] From the Turkish Press of 27 May 2010

a) Cyprus talks:

Commenting on the resumption of the talks between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Yusuf Kanli notes in a column in Hurriyet Daily News that the problem can be solved by the end of 2010, as expected by the Turkish Cypriot side and Ankara, if the Greek Cypriot side has the political will to reach a compromise deal on the basis of bizonality, bi-communality, and political equality of the two sovereign constituent states of the future federation.

b) Uranium swap-deal with Iran:

Istanbul Milliyet columnist Kadri Gursel defends the view that the uranium swap deal Tehran agreed to will not inspire confidence and prevent the UN Security Council from imposing sanctions on Iran. Recalling Turkey's opposition to sanctions against that country, he argues that a new embargo package, which will call for a ban on the sale of heavy arms to Iran, restrictions on the travel of Iranians abroad, the freezing of Iranian assets, and the obstruction of the activities of Iranian banks which support Tehran's nuclear program, might upset Tehran but will not prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Regarding the effects a new package of sanctions might have on Turkey, Gursel says: "Ignoring the possibility of a clash, we can easily say after assessing the situation that the fourth package will not have adverse effects on Turkey's economy."

In a column, Istanbul Radikal columnist Fehim Tastekin views the decision President Shaakashvili made to side with Iran's stand on its nuclear program, stressing that Georgia and Iran now seem to be promoting their relations. Wondering whether Shaakashvili has turned his back to the United States after Washington moved to improve its relations with Moscow, he notes: "Shaakashvili, disputing with President Obama when he plans the future of Georgia without securing the support of an influential country is impossible. Meanwhile, it must be noted that Georgia still needs the $1 billion it receives from the United States every year. Shaakashvili might have been encouraged by Prime Minister Erdogan, who has created a problem for the plot on sanctions against Iran. Or, he might have believed that President Obama will overlook such a manoeuvre because of the war in Afghanistan."

Commenting on the Turkish-Brazilian brokered uranium swap agreement with Iran, Faruk Logoglu argues in a column in Istanbul Hurriyet Daily News that Tehran continues its pursuit of a nuclear bomb because the matter is a national project for Tehran endorsed by the Iranian people. Focusing on Turkey's stand, he notes that Ankara wants to avoid making a choice between its Islamic neighbour and Western allies. However, Logoglu warns that Turkey has taken a serious risk and that it might pay a high price if Iran reneges.

c) New appointments in MIT:

In a column in Istanbul Milliyet, Asli Aydintasbas argues that the MIT [National Intelligence Organization] will be restructured on the basis of the CIA-FBI model when the government appoints Hakan Fidan to replace Emre Taner when he retires. Stressing that the intelligence work in the country will be transferred to the police organization because the MIT will carry out its activities abroad, she focuses on Taner's role in the Kurdish overture thus far and says: What kind of a role will Fidan play in the effort that is made to realize the overture? To what extend will the MIT be on the scene as the elections in 2011 draw closer? What are the steps the government plans to take to realize the Kurdish overture in the future? We will wait and see."

In an article entitled, "Critical appointments", Yeni Safak columnist Yasin Dogan, discusses the significance of the appointment of Muammer Guler and Hakan Fidan as chairmen of the Public Order and Security Undersecretariat and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), respectively, earlier this week. He also argues that the newly established Public Order and Security Undersecretariat will play "vital roles" as a body responsible for drawing up "action plans" in the fight on terrorism based on policies and strategies determined by various government institutions.

d) Interview with the new CHP leader:

Fikret Bila cites the views CHP leader Kilicdaroglu conveyed to him during an interview on his election, military coups, military tutelage, election threshold, and party traditions. In a column in Istanbul Milliyet, he quotes Kilicdaroglu as saying that military coups cannot be supported and that his party fears the intension to establish a civilian dictatorship, not military tutelage. Regarding the election threshold, Bila says that the CHP leader disagrees with the system that allows a political party to control the 63 percent of the parliament with the 47 percent of the support of the electorate.

EG/

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