Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-09-14

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu and Ozgurgun are exerting pressures in Brussels on the issue of the direct trade

[02] Eroglu alleges that Downer adopts the Turkish proposals on the property issue

[03] Russian investors are expected in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[04] Ireland delegation from PACE in the occupied areas

[05] Reactions on the referendum results in Turkey

[06] Cakici says fifty-fifty the possibility to form coalition government; Varoglu opposes it

[07] Serdar: New airlines under the name Turkish Airlines of North Cyprus will be established; Saner denied the information

[08] Cakici worries about the security of journalists

[09] Apostolos Andreas Monastery is collapsing

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] NGOs file complaint against leaders of 1980 military coup

[11] "Towards a Post-Kemalist Republic"

[12] Erdogans calculations

[13] "Turkish dailies split into three groups on referendum results"

[14] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu and Ozgurgun are exerting pressures in Brussels on the issue of the direct trade

He also said that one of the primary reasons the Greek Cypriots are not reconciliating with the Turkish Cypriots is because the world continues to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and because they have joined the EU although they voted against the Annan Plan. "Therefore, the Greek Cypriots have to be motivated for an agreement, and ratification of the direct trade regulation and lifting embargoes are the formulas that will directly motivate the Greek Cypriots for an agreement," he said. He added that there is no need to test Turkish Cypriots' intentions for a settlement, arguing that it is the Greek Cypriot administration that should be tested, and urged for an agreement.

Moreover, under the title They are exerting pressure for direct trade, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (14.09.10) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and the self-styled minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun are holding intensive contacts in Brussels with high-ranking EU officials on the issue of the Direct Trade Regulation.

The paper writes that Eroglu is expected to meet with the President of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso, the Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement of the EU, Stefan Fule and the President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament (EP), Martin Schulz. He is also expected to give interviews to the media. Today he will visit the representation of the TRNC in Brussels and have dinner with Members of the EP of Turkish origin.

Furthermore, Huseyin Ozgurgun met yesterday with Reiner Boge, member of the Christian Democrat Group at the EP; Graham Watson, member of EPs High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots and ambassador Christian Danielson, Permanent Representative of Sweden at the EU. Ozgurgun is also expected to meet with Fransizka Keller, member of EPs High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots; Francesco Speroni, co-chairman of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group and member of EPs Legal Affairs Committee; Sajjad Karim, member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group and EPs Legal Affairs Committee; Libor Rouchek, member of the Socialist Group and chairman of the EPs High Level Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots and Andrew Duff, British MEP and member of EPs Foreign Affairs Committee.

The paper also publishes a written statement by Ozgurgun, who reacting to a statement recently made by Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou, called on the EU to launch direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots unconditionally.

[02] Eroglu alleges that Downer adopts the Turkish proposals on the property issue

Eroglu further claimed that the initiatives he has undertaken since he came to power shocked many prejudiced circles. Pointing out to the intransigent stance of the Greek Cypriots at the negotiating table, Eroglu said that the Greek Cypriots are at the negotiating table with the aim of accusing the Turkish side when no agreement is achieved, and the ground for an agreement ceases to exist.

Eroglu alleged that that the Turks and the Greeks can now travel easily from one side of the island to the other and that the opening of the barricades showed to the world that Greeks and Turk can live peacefully side by side.

Referring to the same statements, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (14.09.10) reports that Eroglu said he is carrying out the negotiations so that the Turkish side is not blamed in the UN Secretary-Generals report in November. He noted that he will in no manner abandon the negotiating table and alleged that President Christofias is using some tricks in order to force him leave the negotiating table.

Even if I am not hopeful that a result will come up, continuing the negotiations is important from the point of view of showing that we want an agreement, he said.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Russian investors are expected in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Rightmove Cyprus company, a mediating company on property sales and purchases, is carrying out the preparations for the opening of AZSKs representation office. Vadim Richards, director of the above-mentioned company, said that the number of the Russian investors who will come to the occupied part of Cyprus within the next few months will be higher than the number of Russian investors who came during the past five years. He said that at least 40 Russians have purchased houses in the area between Vasilia and Agios Epiktitos villages, in occupied Keryneia.

Richards said that the Russians investors want to take money out of their country and realize this through investments in other countries.

( I/Ts.)

[04] Ireland delegation from PACE in the occupied areas

[05] Reactions on the referendum results in Turkey

According to the Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (14.09.10), the so-called prime minister Irsen Kucuk congratulated motherland Turkey on the results and stated that despite manipulation prior to the referendum, the people acted with common sense and positively towards the amendments. Speaking to the DHA news agencys correspondent, Kucuk said: From now on, new agendas are expecting Turkey. I hope that the preparations for a new Constitution begin as soon as possible. Kucuk added that the stability created by the Turkish people in Turkey will be reflected on Cyprus.

As Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (14.09.10) reports, speaking during a press conference, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that the Turkish people passed this democratic process with an important success.

On his part, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (14.09.10), Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Mehmet Cakici addressing the so-called parliament expressed the wish that the Constitutional amendments in Turkey reflect positively on the TRNC.

Moreover, Kibrisli newspaper refers to experts of a strategic research foundation based in the USA who point out that the referendum result is, inter alia, an end to the fight for power between the military and the civilians in Turkey. However, the paper wonders how these developments will affect north Cyprus which in the last years follows Turkey in every issue. It also wonders how the constitutional amendments in Turkey will influence the civilian-military relations in the occupied areas of Cyprus and if in the near future, constitutional amendments will come to the agenda of occupied Cyprus as well. The paper adds that constitutional amendments will definitely come to the agenda in occupied Cyprus and calls on everybody to be prepared for this. If we are not prepared, be sure that these amendments will be made by order, it concludes.

[06] Cakici says fifty-fifty the possibility to form coalition government; Varoglu opposes it

Commenting on the criticism by Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Cakici said that CTP tries to prevent the establishment of a coalition government with UBP, so that chaos prevails and CTP comes to power again.

Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (14.09.10) reports that the general secretary of TDP Esat Varoglu, speaking yesterday on the local radio Kanal S IM, reiterated his opposition to a coalition government with UBP. He said that he does not share the same views with TDP leader Cakici and added: There is no possibility to change the protocol that they (UBP) signed with Turkey. The rest are details.

[07] Serdar: New airlines under the name Turkish Airlines of North Cyprus will be established; Saner denies the information

A front page report in Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (14.09.10), says the self-styled minister of transport Ersan Saner denied the information. He noted that following the cancellation of KTHY flights, he discussed with the THY how to transfer tourists from Iran, Syria and Lebanon to the TRNC. He noted that in the agreement with Atlas jet 49% of the shares are held by KTHY and the rest by Atlas jet while the profits are shared on a 50-50 basis. Saner also said that a new company will be established in May 2011 which will use KTHY personnel.

[08] Cakici worries about the security of journalists

[09] Apostolos Andreas Monastery is collapsing

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] NGOs file complaint against leaders of 1980 military coup

Petitioners including Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Ufuk Uras and his wife Zeynep Tanbay, journalists Nihal Bengisu Karaca, Hilal Kaplan and Ferhat Kentel chanted slogans such as "Kenan Evren Must be Tried" outside the Court House in Istanbul. A statement was read out on behalf of the petitioners noting that after 30 years, a big opportunity emerged and coup leaders should account for what they did on September 12, 1980.

The petition, signed by 120 people, was handed to Istanbul deputy chief public prosecutor Turan Colakkadi. Former president and General Kenan Evren, army commanders, ministers, bureaucrats and governors are among included in the petition

[11] "Towards a Post-Kemalist Republic"

The referendum result has proved people are capable of making their own constitution and that the CHP and its Kemalist allies are not in a position to stop it.

The liberal/democrat/conservative alliance for democratic reform has won over the nationalist pro-status quo front. Once more it has been proved that the Kemalists' resistance to change is futile. They have been defeated by the dynamics of change.

This is a step forward to a post-Kemalist republic. A republic that is not ruled by the state elite but by the people like in all democratic regimes; a republic in which power is not monopolized by a few high bureaucrats and judges but shared by the people. This is a move from a republic under the tutelage of a civilian-military bureaucracy to a fully functioning liberal democracy.

The referendum results will have political implications. First, it demonstrated that there exists a very strong pro-change and pro-reform social base that is undoubtedly represented by the ruling AK Party. From now on AK Party leadership is expected to be bolder with democratic reforms. ()

The CHP with its Kemalist allies, the white Turks and civilian and military bureaucracy will hopefully understand the limits of their power, that they cannot veto the process of democratization and that they cannot sustain their unfair privileges, which were acquired in the ancient authoritarian regime. ()

Turkish and Kurdish nationalists who allied with the CHP are the absolute losers. The MHP leadership will certainly face increasing opposition in the coming days. Traditional MHP voters will never forgive Devlet Bahceli for allying the party with the CHP. This may push the MHP below the 10% national threshold in the upcoming elections in 2011. A leadership change in the party is inevitable. Another loser is the BDP. While the grassroots of the party was overwhelmingly positive about the constitutional package, the leadership insisted on a boycott. The result is a defeat.

Anyhow, a post-Kemalist republic is in the making...

[12] Erdogans calculations

Urging to leave discussions behind and create an atmosphere of democratic consensus to design a democratic constitution, the writer points out that the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has to fulfil the promises made during the campaign and on the evening of the referendum.

Examining the Prime Ministers aims Turenc writes that in an interview to Taha Akyol a few days ago, Erdogan revealed an important issue. The bomb Mr. Prime Minister dropped was this: 'We could work on a presidential system, a popular vote could be held if needed. The parliamentary system is not abolished in a presidential system'. (...)

This means, 'A presidential system is coming'. Why do you think Erdogan would make such a statement in a critical atmosphere? He is getting prepared to ascend to the Cankaya Presidential Residence in 2012, but he is planning to ascend to Cankaya not as a head of state but as a head of a presidential system. If things go his way, of course.

His next step is to be a candidate for a second term in the 2017 presidential elections, and remain in the seat until 2022.Thus with the statement he made to Akyol, Mr. Prime Minister has started the process.

The first leg of his calculations was the referendum. He scored. Now the next step is to win the 2011 elections and form a single-party government again. If he fails Mr. Erdogan will fail in his goal, too, but if he scores a success, Mr. Prime Minster will remain in Cankaya for a long time; until he is 68 years old, to be exact. No matter what others say, this is a lofty goal. ()

[13] "Turkish dailies split into three groups on referendum results"

Pro-"yes" dailies were euphoric Monday following Sunday's poll victory. Daily Zaman's headline was "The victory of democracy" and noted the importance of clearing the path for a new constitution on the 30th anniversary of the Sept. 12, 1980, coup that laid the foundation for Turkey's present Constitution.

Daily Sabah said, "Turkey clears the shame of the coup - 58% Yes," while daily Takvim, a sister daily to Sabah, wrote, "Here is the last word: Yes 58%, No 42%."

Taraf and Star, two pro-yes dailies shared the same headline, "The people seize power," referring to the famous special edition headline of daily Hurriyet on Sept. 12, 1980, which said, "The military seize power."

Yeni Safak, an Islamist daily, was similar in its wording, saying, "The people win" and "Good luck with it," in giant letters.

Extreme Islamist daily Vakit, meanwhile, wrote, "The people trounce all over the fake [election] polls -- 58%" referring to the polls that claimed the "yes" and "no" votes were going head to head. The pro-Saadet (Felicity) Party, daily, Milli Gazete, wrote: "The choice of our nation -- Now, a new constitution."

The daily Sozcu, a rising star on the ultra-nationalist anti-AKP front, came out with the strongest headline: "Long live my sultan" and included a photomontage of Erdogan as an Ottoman sultan.

Nationalist Yenicag argued that the polarization of the country had been strengthened by the referendum, saying, "Sharp separation."

The socialist Bir Gun led with the controversial headline, "The nationalist conservative picture fails to change again." The newspaper also reported that the "no" front had been dominated by leftists, arguing that many Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, members had voted "yes" despite being urged to vote "no" by their party leader.

Some dailies preferred neutral headlines. Haberturk chose "Yes 57.9%" while Aksam preferred "Good luck with it -- Yes 58%." Both newspapers significantly had columnists who supported opposing sides in the referendum.

Daily Milliyet also had not declared a stance on the referendum, although the majority of its columnists were pro-no. On Monday morning, it said, "Yes by 6 million-vote difference."

Some pro-no dailies also chose neutral headlines, with daily Vatan's reading, "[Erdogan] won for the seventh time," accompanied by a subtitle saying Erdogan had won the seventh electoral race in his career since he became Istanbul mayor in 1994.

Two pro-no dailies, Cumhuriyet, a left-of-centre Kemalist daily, and Ortadogu, a right-wing ultranationalist newspaper, shared a neutral headline, saying, "Yes comes out from the ballot box."

The socialist daily Evrensel, meanwhile, wrote, "Yes: 58% No: 42%."

The daily Radikal chose one of the most enduring slogans of the referendum -- " It is not enough but yes" -- but with a twist, saying, "Yes, but it is not enough." Radikal followed its headline up by saying all people in Turkey were demanding a new constitution regardless of their choice on the referendum.

Daily Hurriyet, in which all but one of its columnists supported a "no" vote, highlighted the part of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory speech in which he said, "Everybody won."

The paper's headline was "The second balcony speech" -- the first being one Erdogan made from the balcony of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, headquarters after he won 47% in 2007 general elections. At the time, Erdogan received a positive response after he said he was the prime minister even of people who did not vote for him.

Meanwhile, Posta, a sister daily to Hurriyet, said, "Turkey will change" in its Monday headline.

[14] Highlights

a) Post-referendum politics

An unattributed editorial in Hurriyet Daily News.com congratulates the "yes" camp's "solid victory" in the referendum. The editorial recalls "the pleas of the European Commission which has urged 'the widest possible transparency, dialogue, and spirit of compromise' in the days ahead," noting that it is time for "post-polar politics."

Nuray Mert in her article in Hurriyet asserts that the low and populist language used by all sides during the referendum campaign demonstrated the level of democratic understanding in Turkey. She notes that whatever the referendum results are, democratization cannot occur without discussing "what we saw and heard" during the campaign period, concluding: " Instead of continuing to bicker, let us rather talk these issues."

Yeni Safak columnist Yasin Aktay in an article entitled "A result that will put at ease even those who said no", comments on the "lessons" that the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) should draw from the results of yesterday's referendum. He claims that the BDP's boycott of the referendum has only been 20% effective, adding that the BDP's can expect a backlash from its voter base against the "threats and pressures" it used to deter Kurdish citizens from voting in the referendum. Aktay also argues that the referendum results will likely cause the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to question its political postures extensively.

Yeni Safak columnist Fehmi Koru in an article entitled "Our people and country win" argues that Turkey will be able to take more determined steps toward democratization once the constitutional amendments endorsed by the people in yesterday's referendum have come into force. He asserts that the responsibility of the ruling AKP now is to make the masses, "frightened" by the opposition into voting against the amendment package, realize how baseless their fears about the reform package have been. Moreover, AKP should use the outcome of the referendum as a means of setting the scene for an entirely new constitution.

Vakit Editor-in-Chief Hasan Karakaya in an article entitled "The opposition should analyze the nation's voice very well" expresses the hope that the results of the referendum will enable Turkey to further improve its economy as well as its human rights record and mark a shift from "military and judicial tutelage" to true democracy and the rule of law. Karakaya also argues that the results signify a massive defeat for the MHP as failed to persuade its voters to reject the reform package even in provinces where its mayoral candidates were voted into office in the last local elections. The MHP has paid dearly for aligning itself with CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, he concludes.

Zaman columnist Ali Bulac in an article entitled "No to 12 September [coup]" calls on the ruling AKP and Prime Minister Erdogan to follow up on the outcome of the referendum by honouring their pledge to launch preparations for a new constitution in cooperation with all political parties and NGOs representing different political persuasions.

b) Winners and losers of the referendum

In his commentary in Radikal entitled "The decision is 'yes' but not enough", Murat Yetkin writes that "even though Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that the constitutional amendment package is not an AKP [Justice and Development Party] project, this is AKP's victory. The AKP should be considered passing a successful test prior to the 2011 general elections."

Yildiray Ogur lists the "losers of the night" in his article in Taraf. According to Ogur, the following are the losers: Turkish Armed Forces and the judiciary; Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli; the mainstream media; Onder Sav and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secretary general and leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP); the Turkish left; and the policy adopted by the Kurds.

Today's Zaman columnist Yavuz Baydar in an article entitled "After a 'yes' win, political storm will gather slowly" argues that the outcome of the referendum marks "the third big defeat for [AKP] adversaries. First, the old style opposition had to leave the stage, humiliated, in 2002. Second, the remnants of the so-called centre-right ... the ... ANAP and the ... DYP ... had to disappear in 2007, due to miscalculations that the military would 'teach a severe lesson' to the [AKP]. This seems to be the third blow, and it will either minimize the size of the opposition to varying degrees, or force them to change internally."

Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak in an article entitled "Turkey wins" interprets the results of the referendum as meaning that "the last bastions of coup supporters, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) have fallen." He cites "Ergenekon supporters, neo-nationalists, militarists, the Kemalist Thought Association, and the Association for Promoting Modern Life, as being "among the losers" along with the CHP, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Labor Party ( IP), the Independent Turkey Party (BTP), the BDP, and the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP). He also argues that the results suggest that public support for opposition parties has decreased by 10% since the last elections, with the CHP and MHP commanding the backing of only 32% of voters jointly.

c) Referendum and the United States

Sabah's Omer Taspinar, in an article written before the referendum results were announced, notes that the Obama Administration considers the referendum "very important." Maintaining that the United States views the referendum as a rehearsal for the 2011 elections, Taspinar opines that the United States probably prefers a "milder" result rather than a strong "yes" or "no."

Zaman's Washington correspondent Ali Aslan in an article entitled "How will the Obama administration position itself vis-à-vis Turkey?" comments on the US administration's preparations to "draw up a new road map regarding its policy toward Turkey." He calls attention to "two conflicting views" in Washington concerning Turkey, namely the idea that the strategic scope and profile of relations with Ankara should be reduced in response to the Turkish government's policy toward Armenia, Israel, and Iran, and the notion that the United States should maintain its "constructive and extensive engagement" with Turkey because it is a key country. He also advises US decision makers to "focus on the real Turkey instead of the old Turkey in their dreams" and determine their new approach "patiently over time" based on the realization that "leaving Turkey out in the old will cause it to seek new alliances."

d) Election economy

Hurriyet's Erdal Saglam maintains that, regardless of the referendum results, the economy is entering the election cycle, noting that the destiny of the markets in short and middle-term will be determined by the "election economy" policy that the government will adopt. Recalling that Erdogan said that Turkey does not need to establish an "internal IMF" with regard to the fiscal rule, Saglam asserts: "For me, these words are tantamount to saying ' I will implement election economy from now on.' We can certainly say that the fiscal discipline is shelved." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/E I

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