Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 10-07-30

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Protests cause tension

[02] Eroglu: The ongoing negotiating process is the last chance for an agreement

[03] Eroglu receives award for defending the country

[04] BKP: The status quo must be removed.

[05] Davutoglu denies the existence of diplomatic crisis with the USA

[06] CHP proposes changes to coup-justifying article

[07] Bahceli is for constitutional change, but not now

[08] Three Turkish citizens face prison on Kurdish issue

[09] Turkish, Syrian Ministers view economic ties

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 29 July 2010

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Protests cause tension

The paper writes that after the strike of the Turkish Cypriot Gas Station Owners Union (28.7.10), a rumour spread yesterday that the gas stations would strike again. As a result, thousands of people queued at gas stations in occupied Lefkosia, Famagusta and Keryneia. The paper reports that traffic was paralyzed both because of the long queues and the ineffective intervention of the police.

Kibris also reports that as the personnel of the port at Famagusta and the customs officers do not work over time, a passenger ship from Latakia was compelled to remain in open sea for six hours. As passengers disembarked with police escort, there was hustling between the police and the protesters (trade union officials and employees).

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (30.07.10) reports that the members of Mec-Sen. parliament employees trade union went on a two-hour warning strike yesterday at the assembly, while the debate was to take place on the three draft-laws on the economic measures. The spokesman of the council of ministers, Huseyin Ozgurgun said that the assembly was forced to postpone the debate. The council of ministers during an extraordinarily session yesterday at the assembly decided to prohibit the strike of Mec-Sen.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (30.07.10) writes that the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) marched to the embassy of Turkey yesterday holding a black banner saying Ankara get your hands off us. We do not need to write a headline today. That banner writes our headline, notes the paper. Afrika reports that there were many protests yesterday but only KTOS protested at the right address.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (30.07.10) reports that prime minster Irsen Kucuk described all the recent activities as political. In statements to Halkin Sesi, Kucuk reacted strongly at the protests against the measures which, he said, aim to lead the economy out of the difficulties. He expressed the view that these activities aim at blocking the system.

Halkin Sesi also reports that Serdar Denktas, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), expressed its support to the trade unions protests noting that the economic measures are not in harmony with the aim of overcoming the economic crisis. However, he said that the Trade Unions Platform should withdraw its decision to boycott products and services of employers who expressed their support to the measures of the government.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Eroglu: The ongoing negotiating process is the last chance for an agreement

He also claimed that the Turkish Cypriots are free since 1974 and that they have established their own state.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Eroglu receives award for defending the country

The book will include documents of 450 years ago, when Cyprus was conquered. It will be used as basis for a documentary. He added that the study proves the importance given to Cyprus and that TRNC must live.

Thanking the delegation, Eroglu said that in TRNC there is everything that a state should have. He said that an agreement is sought which would best protect the rights of the Turks of Cyprus.

Moreover, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli newspaper (30.07.10), Eroglu accepted an invitation by Fethi Yasar, mayor of Ankaras Yenimahalle municipality, to attend the opening of a park dedicated to Fazil Kucuk in October.

(IS)

[04] BKP: The status quo must be removed.

YKPs executive board secretary, Murat Kanatli, stated before the meeting that this is the first of a number of visits to political parties with the purpose of evaluating the latest political developments and consider whether condition can be established for real elections.

(IS)

[05] Davutoglu denies the existence of diplomatic crisis with the USA

Davutoglu made these statements in an interview with CNN Turk television. He said that the strategic priorities and methods employed by the United States, and the language used by U.S. President Barack Obama, had much in common with Turkeys approach.

The foreign minister also said no problem has occurred in Turkish-U.S. relations in the wake of Turkeys no vote against the sanctions imposed on Iran by the U.N. Security Council. He added that the uranium swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, known as the Tehran Agreement, is still valid.

[06] CHP proposes changes to coup-justifying article

The proposal is aimed at preventing the wrongful interpretation of Article 35 and keeping it from being viewed as providing justification for coups, the CHP said in a statement to Parliament.

[07] Bahceli is for constitutional change, but not now

Speaking at a meeting of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (28.7.10), with the current high levels of terrorism and the unstable economy, it would be wrong to make constitutional amendments.

He added that the MHPs approach to the Constitutional amendments is that it is a document of social consensus and called on political parties, non-governmental organizations and universities to work on this. There is a need for Constitutional change to normalize and democratize Turkey and bring peace and security, the MHP leader said and openly declared and that they would vote no in the referendum.

[08] Three Turkish citizens face prison on Kurdish issue

Citing daily Taraf, the paper says that due to a recent article entitled The national self-determination and Kurds, published in the Law and Society in Our Time journal by the Istanbul branch of the Contemporary Lawyers Association, Ismail Besikci and the editor-in-chief of the journal, Zeytan Balci, could face between 2.5 and 7 years in prison for making propaganda for a terrorist organization.

Besikci spent 17 years in prison due to his ideas concerning the Kurdish issue.

[09] Turkish, Syrian Ministers view economic ties

Simsek said that Turkish-Syrian relations recorded great progress, adding that businessmen of the two countries should expand their partnerships in third countries. He said that Turkey had been drawing 800 million USD of foreign investment annually till 2002. This figure exceeded 80 billion USD in the last 4-5 years.

The Syrian minister said that they were ready to make partnerships with Turkish businessmen in banking and insurance sectors. Noting that after visa was lifted between Turkey and Syria, tens of thousands of people used border gates, Husayn said that Syria-Turkey cooperation in border region was an example. Husayn noted that Syria wanted to carry relations between Turkish and Syrian private sectors to the highest level, adding that trade between Turkey and Syria should be doubled.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] From the Turkish Press of 29 July 2010

a) British Prime Minister's visit to Turkey

In an article in Istanbul Cumhuriyet entitled "Our stupid appearance in D. Cameron's photograph" Ali Sirmen challenges Prime Minister David Cameron's statement, at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 27 July, that the sooner the Cyprus problem is solved the quicker the process for Turkey's accession to the EU will end. Sirmen wonders when a Turkish statesman will smile and tell foreign officials that Turkey has had enough of that and notes: I get upset every time I look at Cameron's photograph at his press conference because I see our stupidity in it.

Writing in the same newspaper, Nilgun Cerrahoglu argues that foreign dignitaries always defend Turkey only in the country and asks whether the British prime minister can express strong support for Turkey in the British parliament or at the EU summits. In an article entitled "Cameron's Pro-Turkish propaganda for Turks," Cerrahoglu views the coverage given to the visit by the British press and argues that he created the impression that his objective is to persuade Turkey to agree to capitulations. Cerrahoglu notes: The Turkish officials welcomed his statements, believing that a golden era now exists between the two countries. As if that is not enough, Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed Sultan Murat's letter on the acceptance of capitulations to London.

b) Terrorism:

In a column in Istanbul Radikal, Murat Yetkin criticizes various AKP circles and pro-AKP commentators for believing that the PKK activities are linked with the effort the "deep state" makes to obstruct the referendum in Turkey and asserts that this argument cannot be convincing. Confirming that the referendum will be an important political step in Turkey, he wonders: Should we quickly forget President Gul's statement that the Kurdish issue, regardless of what we might call it, is the country's number one problem which must definitely be solved?

Drawing attention to the politicization of the Kurdish problem, Taha Akyol writing in Istanbul Milliyet urges the officials to realize the serious nature of the incidents and notes that the mass demonstrations should be seen as the alarming signs of an approaching disaster. Regarding supporters of the PKK, he notes that they must be warned that they are fanning the flames in the country. Akyol asserts: We must see the danger that lies ahead: If a part of Turkey becomes Kurdistan, the other part will become Turkistan. That will be with a lot of pain and loss, which will make the Turks and Kurds regret what they have done.

In a column in Istanbul Taraf, Ahmet Altan points to the danger of incidents similar to those that recently took place in Inegol and Hatay and faults the Turks for not being able to realize that they have to live with the Kurds and that the Kurdish people have equal rights in the country. He warns that the Turkish and Kurdish politicians, who use the racist and angry people for political purposes, only serve the "deep" forces which want to create chaos in the country, and says: A change can be realized if the Turks and Kurds cooperate. Otherwise, we will all perish.

c) Turkey might benefit from Greece's relations with Israel:

Ardan Zenturk in article in Star entitled "New era in the Mediterranean region", focuses on Prime Minister Papandreou's visit to Israel, recalls Greece's reaction to Israel's attack on the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and expresses support to the initiative Athens has made to strengthen the relations between the two countries. Zenturk notes: Greece improving its relations with Israel is an auspicious development from the point of view of the diplomatic channels that might be used in a crisis. Moreover, Greeces role as a diplomatic channel between Syria and Israel will be useful for the Middle East as a whole. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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