Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-05-05

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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] Solana: "Turkey did everything it had to do regarding the Cyprus problem"

[02] Akca said that the population in occupied Cyprus is 285 thousand

[03] The negotiations on the property issue have reportedly been postponed

[04] Reaction by Ozersay to the demolition of Saint Thekla chapel in occupied Vokolida

[05] Reactions on the latest statements by Archbishop Chrysostomos II

[06] Avci: "Greek Cypriots must change their minds"

[07] Rauf Denktas: "It is a scandal for Brussels to demand from Turkey the opening of its ports"

[08] So-called agriculture and natural resources minister holds contacts in Istanbul

[09] Unal Ustel continue its contacts in Dubai

[10] Discussion on the economy of the occupied area of Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Armed attack on Erdogan's police escort

[12] Gul: "Austrians have hesitations about Turkey's EU membership"

[13] Davutoglu to meet with UN's special envoy for Iraq

[14] Training programs by the Turkish police

[15] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Solana: "Turkey did everything it had to do regarding the Cyprus problem"

Solana said that Turkey and the European Union need each other politically and economically and said that Turkey's accession will bring many strategic advantages to the EU.

Solana alleged that Turkey did everything that it had to on the Cyprus problem and added that additional efforts must be done in order to solve problems and sustain the Turkey-EU negotiations.

Moreover, pointing out at requests coming from the EU regarding Turkey opening its ports to Greek Cypriots, Solana said: "I do not think that it is something tragic to do so. It is a difficult matter, but not a dramatic problem. The first step between them must be done."

[02] Akca said that the population in occupied Cyprus is 285 thousand

In statements during a visit yesterday to Havadis, Akca said that the economic and social structure in the occupied area of Cyprus was established according to the resources sent by Turkey and when these resources do not come, those living in this structure worry that they will remain jobless.

Akca said that the Cyprus problem is an important issue in Turkey's foreign policy and added: "Turkey has come to a point of doing more courageous things here. This should be utilized as an opportunity".

Referring to the statements regarding the uncontrolled flow of population from Turkey to the occupied part of Cyprus, Akca said he believed that the number of the population in occupied Cyprus is 285 thousand as the so-called state planning organization ("DPO") has announced. He noted that he held various meetings with the "DPO" and discussed its methods. He argued that the number given by the "DPO" is correct and that minor changes might exist, but this number reflects the truth. He alleged that the population could definitely not be twice as much and added: "We also want a population census to be conducted. After so many discussions, let the census be conducted even if it is not its time. Some speculations also exist regarding the prices. We have conducted a study with academicians. TRNC is by 22.7% more expensive. There are some sectors which are by 60% more expensive?"

Akca said the economic planning in the occupied area of Cyprus is conducted taking into consideration that the population is 285 thousand. He noted that a three-year "protocol' was signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime and that Ankara will not give even a penny more than the sum provided for in that protocol as aid to the regime. He accused the "government" of the regime of searching ways to change the sum of this aid. "Excuses are created for this. The rallies are a result of this", he argued. He said the self-styled ministers of education and health have used such pretexts because they exceeded their budget last year. Referring to "prime minister" Kucuk's statements regarding the population in occupied Cyprus, Akca said the discussions on the population are related with the financial discipline.

Referring to the issue of the "citizenship" of the regime, Akca said 13 thousand persons have acquired the right of becoming "citizens" and that only 5.800 persons have applied for taking the "citizenship". He noted that 29.500 persons from Turkey are employed in the occupied area of Cyprus with work "permit". Akca said 42.000 persons were employed in the occupied area with work "permit" in 2006. He argued: "It is said that these persons have families as well and that the number is higher. All these are assumptions?There are persons who are unregistered of course. There are persons who entered into this place as tourists with no work permit. We also have complains on the issue of these persons. What should be done regarding them is to comply with the three protocols signed between the two countries. The incident which is discussed recently and it is said that the ambassador interfered, is related with behaviours which are contrary to the protocols. They tried to send away persons who worked here for 15 years with work permit when these persons remained unemployed for one month?"

(I/Ts.)

[03] The negotiations on the property issue have reportedly been postponed

According to the paper, the UN worried after this development and was forced to postpone the meetings with the Turkish Cypriot experts who were preparing to depart from the island to participate in the meeting next week.

The same diplomatic sources said the negotiations are conducted with a "Cypriot-led process" and therefore the UN is obliged to make a step backwards when it does not obtain the consent of both sides. The sources argued that this creates doubts on whether this "Cypriot-led process" is "an innocent process".

Moreover, citing reliable sources, the paper reports that the UN is disappointed from the recent process. It is said that the plan was for concrete progress to be achieved at a technical level on the property issue and for this progress to be registered at the three-party summit to be held in New York on 22 June. The target was also for progress to be registered on the issues of the international agreements, the police and the property at technical level during the above-mentioned meeting. The paper writes that it was expected that this would prepare the ground for a give and take process.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Reaction by Ozersay to the demolition of Saint Thekla chapel in occupied Vokolida

(I/Ts.)

[05] Reactions on the latest statements by Archbishop Chrysostomos II

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (05.05.11), under the title "He didn't say something that it is not known" reports that Turkish Cypriot politicians recalled that some European officials and especially former EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen said that they were deceived by the Cyprus Government.

Former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas claimed that not only the Greek Cypriot side and Greece deceived the EU, but also Britain participated in this deception for its own interests.

Mehmet Ali Talat, former Turkish Cypriot leader, said that "this confession shows that the case of the Greek Cypriot side was created in a suitable atmosphere for its own interests by hiding the realities".

Ozdil Nami, self-styled deputy of the Republican Turkish Party ? United Forces (CTP-BG), said that this kind of confession by the Greek Cypriot side should be a great message to the Europeans who decided for Cyprus' EU membership.

Moreover, Ali Erel, chairman of the EU Association, in his statement, said that the Archbishop's statement is not something new, adding that Verheugen said also the same things. Explaining that the EU and the Turkish Cypriot side think also like this, Erel said that "The Greek Cypriots' reaction to the Church emerged from this reality".

Havadis, under the title "Kucuk: Archbishop's statement did not surprised us...", reports that self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk, in a statement prior the "council of ministers' meeting", commented on the latest statement by Archbishop Chrysostomos on Cyprus' EU membership. He said that these remarks did not come as a surprise for the Turkish Cypriot side, since the Greek Cypriot side had been pursuing such policies for years. Claiming that the Republic of Cyprus President Christofias is not sincere on the ongoing negotiations, Kucuk said that by prolonging consistently the negotiations shows that he does not want a solution.

Havadis (online, 05.05.11), under the title "ORP: it is difficult to have a solution with the Greek Cypriots", reports that the leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) Turgay Avci, in a press release, criticized among other issues the latest statement by Archbishop Chrysostomos, claiming that the Archbishop's latest statements is a clear confession that the Hellenism policies are still continued by the Greek Cypriot side in the island. He added that if the Greek Cypriots do not abandon this, then a Cyprus settlement is not possible.

Commenting on the Archbishop's statement that the Greek Cypriot side deceived the EU, Avci said that "the Turkish Cypriot side's realities have been understood by the European officials" and we call them to give an end to the isolation and sanctions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots".

Avci also said that all these statements once again show that the Greek Cypriots are two-faced and untrustworthy.

On the same issue, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.05.11) reports that self-styled minister of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun, criticizing Archbishop's statement that the Greek Cypriot side had tricked the EU in joining the bloc, recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had warned the EU officials on the insincerity of the Greek Cypriot side. He added that the Archbishop's statement is a historic confession.

Ozgurgun also said: "We proved our point and now the EU can see how justified we were in our claims".

[06] Avci: "Greek Cypriots must change their minds"

Moreover, Avci alleged that the Greek Cypriots continue to promote Hellenism in the island and said that as long as they do not let off this mentality, a solution in the island is not possible. He characterized President Christofias statements [that the Greek Cypriot side will continue, in the hope and expectation that, after the elections in Turkey, Turkey will change its stance and become more willing to accept, that it will also respect the UN Resolutions and the High Level Agreements and that the countdown for the solution of the Cyprus problem will begin] as dreams.

[07] Rauf Denktas: "It is a scandal for Brussels to demand from Turkey the opening of its ports"

Evaluating to the paper the latest developments, Denktas said that it is a "scandal" the fact that Brussels demand from Turkey to open its ports and called on Ankara not to give in.

In his statements, Rauf Denktas accused the EU for being doubled-faced saying that the EU has been given in to the blackmails of Greece. He also accused the EU for the unilateral membership of "south Cyprus" to its circles.

(AK)

[08] So-called agriculture and natural resources minister holds contacts in Istanbul

As part of his contacts in Istanbul, Amcaoglu attended the 2nd Istanbul International Water Forum which is hosting ministers and bureaucrats from 20 countries. Forum discussions focused on water saving and conservation measures. According to a press release from the so-called ministry, Amcaoglu, in his speech at the meeting, underlined the importance of using the newest methods on irrigation so as to help save scarce water resources.

[09] Unal Ustel continue its contacts in Dubai

As the paper writes, during the meeting, Ustel and Sheikh bin Sulayem exchanged views on the issues related to the development of the bilateral relations of the breakaway regime and Dubai, the promotion of "north Cyprus" in Dubai, as well as how the "TRNC" could benefit from the Dubai experiences.

Ustel was accompanied by a delegation comprised by the "representative" of the occupation regime in Abu Dhabi Can Fazil Korkut, the Consul General of Turkey in Dubai Umit Yalcin and several other Turkish Cypriot "officials".

(AK)

[10] Discussion on the economy of the occupied area of Cyprus

Announcing the outcome of the meeting later, the so-called presidential undersecretary Hasan Gungor said that tourism and higher education were addressed as the two most important sectors of the occupied area which needed further development. Noting that participants expressed an optimistic outlook for the tourism sector, he said they all shared the view that the "government" needed to introduce arrangements aimed at increasing competitiveness and solving problems related to the unregistered work force in the "country". Gungor went on saying that almost all participants agreed on the need for a revision of procedures and practices related to the issues of population and "citizenship".

Ways of enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, which is attached to the "financial cooperation protocol" signed between Turkey and the breakaway regime in November 2009, was also discussed at the meeting.

Privatization was another subject of discussion where participants said that the "national capital" needed to be included within the process of privatization.

Outcomes of the meeting will be compiled into a report that will then be distributed to all "government" and "public" offices.

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[11] Armed attack on Erdogan's police escort

Erdogan, who addressed his supporters in Kastamonu as part of election campaigning, left Kastamonu for Amasya in a helicopter briefly before the attack took place. Sources from the Prime Ministry told the CNN Turk TV channel that one police officer had been killed and two others injured during a brief firefight between an armed group and police officers. One police cruiser was also set ablaze. Special security teams were dispatched to the scene and police cordoned off the area. Many ambulances were sent to the area, the broadcaster said. No further details were immediately available.

Television pictures showed Erdogan subsequently arriving at another election rally in the northern province of Amasya, where he was greeted by thousands of Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters waving party flags. According to the NTV report, a grenade was thrown at the police vehicle and gunmen opened fire as it burst into flames. An eyewitness told NTV television that the police vehicle, escorting a bus carrying journalists, turned into a "ball of fire" after an explosion. Reports said the vehicle was hit by a grenade, but the Governor's office said the car's gasoline trunk exploded as a result of intense gunfire on a narrow road on Mount Ilgaz. Television images showed fire services arriving at the scene and smoke rising from the police car and an ambulance parked nearby, while security forces combed the hillsides.

Addressing a rally later in Amasya, Erdogan appeared to blame separatist militants for the attack. "Those dark minds, these terrorists, these separatists are only able to do this, those who understand there is nothing they can do through the ballot box," Erdogan said. The Prime Minister said his party will not allow the division of Turkey and that it is doing everything it can to avert a confrontation among Turkey's population of 74 million.

Observers say Erdogan's comments implied that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) had orchestrated the attack.

Kastamonu province, on the Black Sea, is not known as a scene of PKK violence. More than 40,000 people have been killed in a separatist conflict in southeast Turkey since the PKK took up arms against the state in 1984.

"It is a very dangerous incident which we must take very seriously," President Abdullah Gul said. "Turkey will never bow to terrorism," he stressed.

Opposition leaders united in denouncing the attack ahead of the national elections on June 12.

Reporters at the scene said anti-terrorism squads, brandishing automatic rifles, pursued the attackers through nearby forests thick with pine trees, as smoke billowed from the vehicle and the sound of gunfire echoed through the mountains. Helicopters ferried special police squads to the area from the Turkish capital, Ankara. State television said the terrorists have lately been active in the area --hundreds of kilometres from the rugged southeast, the traditional battlefield of terrorists and troops. Authorities said the terrorists were trying to show muscle in areas outside the southeast as they wither under military operations.

The attack came hours after funerals for seven PKK members turned violent in the country's southeast when angry mourners attacked police with knives, stones and firebombs. At least six policemen were injured in the clashes in the cities of Diyarbakir and Hakkari, local authorities said.

Mevlut Cavusoglu, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), strongly condemned the terrorist attack from his Twitter account and said "terrorism, which is the biggest enemy of mankind, has no reason whatsoever and has to be defeated."

The leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu phoned Erdogan to express his sorrow and condemned the terrorist attack.

[12] Gul: "Austrians have hesitations about Turkey's EU membership"

Gul defined the killing of terrorist organization al-Qaida's leader Osama bin Laden as a significant development, and said there were circles that associated Islam with terrorism. "Muslims have started to face serious problems in America, Europe and all around the world, and the last decade was really bad," he said. Gul said terrorism was making Muslims lose not win, it was isolating them and turning their lives into hell. He said nobody should let initiatives to associate Islam with terrorism.

On relations with Austria, Gul said the Austrians have hesitations about Turkey's European Union (EU) membership and Austrian politicians still have wrong knowledge about Turkey. Gul said Austrian politicians still thought that there is capital punishment in Turkey, Turkey does not allow broadcast in other languages, and citizens of Kurdish origin cannot be elected MPs unless they ran independently. President Gul said he did not see those questions as bad-willed, and said that the Austrian President Heinz Fischer was uneasy about the injustice against Turkey.

Gul said he discussed terrorism with Austrian executives, but terrorism, and democratic right demands and broadening of freedoms were two separate things. President Gul said there was no excuse for terrorism, and bombs at Taksim, Ulus and Diyarbakir square, adding that the use of force and intimidating people had nothing to do with democratic rights.

Gul arrived in Vienna, Austria on Monday on a three-day formal visit. He met Austrian President Fischer, Chancellor Werner Faymann and Parliament Speaker Barbara Prammer. President Gul also met executives of several Austrian companies, and attended a Turkish-Austrian Business Forum. This was the first visit of a Turkish President to Austria in almost 13 years.

[13] Davutoglu to meet with UN's special envoy for Iraq

Officials said both Melkert and Davutoglu have been planning to hold a bilateral meeting in Turkey for a very long time. But due to the hectic agenda stemming from the latest upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa, Ankara had been unable to set an exact date for the meeting with Melkert.

Eventually, diplomats at the Turkish Foreign Ministry found an opportunity to have the meeting and set it for Friday, when Davutoglu's schedule permitted it. Ankara has constantly and actively supported UN activities in Iraq and there has been a very beautiful, warm and sincere dialogue between the Turkish administration and Melkert since the latter was appointed to his current post by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2009, a senior diplomat told Today's Zaman on Wednesday. Melkert, a Dutchman, was serving as the UN undersecretary general and associate administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York before being appointed to his current post. Melkert has had long-standing involvement on issues of international and development cooperation.

The Minister was in Cairo on Wednesday to attend the signing of the reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. He is set to participate in a meeting of world leaders, including representatives from all of the countries taking part in a NATO-led campaign against Muammar Gaddafi's regime which will take place today [Thursday] in Rome. The talks in Rome --on the sidelines of which Davutoglu is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-- will focus on aiding Libya's opposition and trying to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Following the meeting in Rome, Davutoglu will return to Ankara only for a short time and will later proceed to Konya where he is scheduled to continue his campaigning activities for the upcoming parliamentary elections on June 12.

Davutoglu is set to enter Parliament for the first time this year. He became the first non-deputy Minister to be approved for the Cabinet after the July 22, 2007 elections. Davutoglu, who will run as a deputy candidate from Konya, is expected to continue as Foreign Minister in the new cabinet as well.

[14] Training programs by the Turkish police

According to the report, Turkey has so far trained 2.437 teaching experts in countries where it offers educational assistance to police departments, while 1.658 others were trained in fighting the narcotics trade. Turkey also offers training to foreign officers in charge of providing training in their home countries. In 2010, 779 officers from foreign police departments attended special training courses in Turkey.

The 30 countries where the Turkish police have carried out training programs include Germany, France, Albania, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Palestine, the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", Sudan, Malta, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Mali, Nigeria, Iraq, Monte Negro, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kosovo, the Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.

In addition to these countries, Turkey signed protocols or agreements with 19 others in 2010 to offer training to police in these countries. The majority of the new partners are African countries. Turkey has trained the police forces of Turkic Republics and the new Republics that have emerged with the collapse of Yugoslavia. Most of the training so far has been conducted in Palestine and Afghanistan.

Also in 2010, students from 18 countries graduated from police vocational schools in Turkey. These countries and the numbers of their graduates are as follows: Albania (13), Azerbaijan (21), Bosnia-Herzegovina (1), Palestine (44), Georgia (1), Afghanistan (22), Kyrgyzstan (17), the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (22), Macedonia (21), Jordan (249), Sudan (20), Yemen (16), United Arab Emirates (10), Ethiopia (149), Kosovo (9), Moldova (39), Turkmenistan (29) and Mongolia (22).

Fighting narcotics traffickers

The police forces of developing countries most frequently ask for Turkey's assistance in the area of fundamental police training. European countries primarily request Turkey's assistance in training against the trafficking of illegal narcotics.

Officers from 63 countries have attended Turkey's International Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC). More than 4.000 foreign experts have received vocational training at the academy since its establishment.

The success of the Turkish police department can also be seen in UN peacekeeping missions. There are 162 Turkish officers currently on peacekeeping missions in the following countries: Ivory Coast (16), Liberia (26), Congo (15), East Timor (23), Haiti (41), Sudan (39), Afghanistan (1) and Kosovo (1).

[15] Highlights

a) Killing of Osama bin Laden

"Osama bin Laden buried at sea", Yeni Safak columnist Hakan Albayrak slams the international community for not showing any strong reaction against the United States over its disclosure that it threw bin Laden's body into the sea. He asks whether the UN and other international bodies intend to condemn this act of "barbarity." He also speculates that US statements announcing the killing of bin Laden might be untruthful and that it is as likely as not that bin Laden is being tortured at an unknown US facility at the moment, adding that unless Washington documents his killing, his fate should be investigated.

"Damn tyrants", Yeni Safak columnist Resul Tosun asserts that the United States demonstrated its "fear" of the "facts" regarding its war on al-Qa'ida in "dumping bin Laden's body into the ocean." Criticizing US President Barack Obama for hailing bin Laden's killing with the words "justice has been served," Tosun asks whether it is not the responsibility of the judiciary in the United States to dispense justice.

"America without bin Laden", Yeni Safak's Washington correspondent Ali Akel asserts that according to assessments made in the US capital, the killing of bin Laden will provide the Obama administration with an exit strategy in Afghanistan regardless whether al-Qa'ida retaliates or not. Akel also argues that the operation against bin Laden should not be regarded as a political investment by Obama, adding that if Obama wanted to increase his chances of being re-elected, he would have been wiser to order bin Laden's killing a few months before the election instead of 17 months ahead of it.

"Bin Laden's death and some new parameters", Yeni Akit columnist Necmettin Turinay argues that in representing its killing of bin Laden as an "amazing victory" against international terrorism, the United States might be setting the scene for its withdrawal from Afghanistan. He asserts that the coincidence of Bin Laden's death with the Arab "revolutions" appears to herald a period of reconciliation and mutual understanding between the Arab/Islamic world and the United States, adding that one needs nevertheless to treat this scenario with caution until the United States' policy on the Israeli-Palestinian issue has become clear.

"Why act like defence lawyers for the US?", Yeni Akit columnist Ali Ihsan Karahasanoglu lambastes both the "religious" and "secular" news media in Turkey for "rejoicing" over the killing of bin Laden "as if bin Laden had staged terrorist attacks in Turkey." He proceeds to assert that it makes sense to hold the Ergenekon network rather than al-Qa'ida responsible for the 2003 bombings in Istanbul given that bin Laden "did not claim responsibility" for those attacks and that the Sledgehammer coup conspiracy included plans to stage such strikes.

"Uncertainties that confuse me", Yeni Akit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak argues that in killing Osama bin Laden, the United States might be trying to provoke al-Qa'ida attacks that would provide the US "deep state" with an excuse to "execute" or arrest people in a number of Arab countries that are regarded as threats to the US interests based on charges of affiliation with al-Qaida.

"Laden move on the chessboard", Zaman columnist Huseyin Gulerce describes the killing of bin Laden as a new US move in the broader Middle East project possibly intended to fuel Sunni-Shiite schism in the Islamic world. He warns that Turkey could not be regarded as exempt from such attempts, adding that calls by "provocateurs" in the southeast for "civil resistance" similar to the protests in Egypt and Syria are part of the same US agenda.

b) Freedom of the Press

"Journalists' 'real fear' in Turkey", Today's Zaman columnist Yavuz Baydar criticizes "a disturbing cacophony among my local colleagues" over the causes behind the "worrisome" state of freedom of the press in Turkey. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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