Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-06-29

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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 met with Lidington

[02] The regime participates in the 38th session of OIC's foreign ministers

[03] A seminary to be opened in the occupied area of Cyprus

[04] Rauf Denktas reacts to Downer's statements; He might be discharged from hospital next week

[05] Turkish columnist says occupied closed city of Varosha is not cleaned for Erdogan's visit

[06] Cakici criticizes the regime for granting its "citizenship"

[07] Trade Unions Platfrorm filed an official complaint against "DAU"

[08] Saner said that the illegal airport in Tymvou will not be privatized

[09] Increase in the number of passengers visiting the occupied areas by air in May

[10] Hotel occupancy rate in the occupied part of Cyprus increased

[11] Occupied Lefka's civilian organizations support their football team's accession to the CFA

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[12] Turkish Parliament convenes with missing deputies

[13] Gul expected to ask Erdogan to form new government

[14] "The absurdity of Turkey's oaths"

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu met with Lidington

(I/Ts.)

[02] The regime participates in the 38th session of OIC's foreign ministers

The new name and emblem of OIC was unanimously adopted at the council. The organization is renamed to "Islamic Cooperation Organization".

The general secretary of the organization, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu referred to the Cyprus problem during his opening speech. He said they were closely following the developments in the area and supported the negotiations held for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Speaking on behalf of Turkey, State Minister Mehmet Aydin asked from the Islamic countries to take concrete steps in the direction of the lifting of the so-called embargoes on the "TRNC", breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

According to the paper, the ministers of Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, who addressed the meeting during its first day, expressed their support to a solution based on political equality in Cyprus and the lifting of the so-called isolation of the "TRNC".

(I/Ts.)

[03] A seminary to be opened in the occupied area of Cyprus

Speaking at a meeting in Turkey, Yazici noted that they continue their efforts to open a seminary and a religious vocational school in the occupied part of Cyprus. "We declared this year 'year of Cyprus'", he said adding that they would spent their holidays with their families in occupied Cyprus this year. He noted that prophet Mohammed had named Cyprus as "Green Island". "Cyprus has a special importance for the Moslems", he argued.

In statements to Star Kibris, Yazici argued that the opening of a seminary and a religious vocational school was a "demand of the society" and added: "Cyprus constituted an example to the world in the field of religion. Those who now oppose to the religious education should look at their grandfathers and grandmothers".

Yazici said that there is one night club for every 50-60 persons in the occupied area of Cyprus. "They corrupted the people", he argued alleging that "they ruin young people with the night clubs and force them to take wrong paths".

According to the paper, TIYEMDER has submitted a detailed report to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on this issue.

Meanwhile, Sener Elcil, general secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS), has stated that they heard something on this issue and added that according to what it is said the seminary will be opened at illegal European University of Lefka ("LAU"), because this "university" faces economic problems. He said this department will be financed by some "Arab citizens". Elcil called on self-styled prime minister, Irsen Kucuk and the "minister" of education Kemal Durust to make a statement on this issue.

Elcil argued that the occupied part of Cyprus needs no seminary and added that those who open such schools "are longing for the Muslim canonical laws".

Furthermore, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (29.06.11), in statements at the Seminary of Marmaris University in Turkey, Yazici said that they hosted 4.800 students from the occupied part of Cyprus in Turkey during the past seven years. He noted that talking about "religion" was forbidden on the island, but now they struggle against this situation. He said and they will soon open a seminary and a religious vocational school on the island.

According to Havadis, Tahir Gokcebel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), has stated that the society in occupied Cyprus does not need a seminary and a religious vocational school. He noted that it is obvious that the "green capital model" of Fethullah Gulen in the field of education has come to Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Ali Yonel, "undersecretary" at the self-styled ministry of education told Havadis that the "ministry" received no application for the opening of a seminary and that no one applied to them for establishing a religious vocational school.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (29.06.11) refers to the issue on its first page and publishes statements made to the paper by Yazici, who argued that "the Cypriots should have theological knowledge" and that "a spiritual gap" exists on the island.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Rauf Denktas reacts to Downer's statements; He might be discharged from hospital next week

"The Cyprus problem is too important to be calculated with money", argued Denktas alleging that the reason for spending too much money in Cyprus is the fact that they (i.e. the United Nations) prolonged the Cyprus problem by not being impartial and by not behaving equally to the sides.

Denktas claimed that Downer's statements show that he is "outside of the Cyprus problem".

Meanwhile, Kibris reports that Denktas' health situation is improving, he is fed normally since last Sunday and he might be discharged from hospital next week.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish columnist says occupied closed city of Varosha is not cleaned for Erdogan's visit

Karahasan writes that a high ranking source told him that the cleaning in the occupied closed city of Varosha "is the routine cleaning carried out every year" and has no relation with Erdogan's visit. The source said that an official statement might be issued today on this matter.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Cakici criticizes the regime for granting its "citizenship"

Cakici pointed out that the population in the occupied area of Cyprus increases continuously and added that his party does not oppose to granting the "citizenship" to persons who are born or get married in the occupied part of the island. He said they oppose to granting the "citizenship" with a decision by the "council of ministers" or the "ministry". He noted that the UBP does this.

Cakici pointed out that they warned the "minister" and that they are determined to carry the issue to the EU and the UN, if their warnings are not taken into consideration. He said that they have acquired the support of the trade unions on this issue and that they oppose to the transfer of population to the island.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Trade Unions Platform filed an official complaint against "DAU"

The chairman of the trade union of "DAU's" employees (DAU-SEN) Huseyin Ozkaramanli, in a statement to the press in front of the "courts", said that they will continue their struggle against the decision of giving away their educational institutions. He noted that although there was a reaction, the administration of "DAU" as well as the self-styled government of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus continued not to listen to the voice of the community. Ozkaramanli said this decision is illegal and for this reason they filed a complaint against it.

[08] Saner said that the illegal airport in Tymvou will not be privatized

Saner said that there is an average minimum of 92-93 arrival and departure flights on Sundays. He added that for this reason they will construct a 2nd runway.

[09] Increase in the number of passengers visiting the occupied areas by air in May

In comparison with the same period of the previous year, there is an increase of 9% in the number of departures of airplanes (863 planes) and an increase of 11% in the number of passengers departed (107.666 passengers).

According to the paper, during May 2011, 271 vessels arrived in the ports of the occupied areas and 274 departed from there. The number of the passengers arrived via the sea was 5891 and the number of those departed was 5612. Vatan writes that 135 vessels arrived in the occupied port of Famagusta and 104 in occupied Keryneia Tourism port. Moreover, 146 vessels departed from the occupied Famagusta port and 103 from the occupied Keryneia port.

(AK)

[10] Hotel occupancy rate in the occupied part of Cyprus increased

Mehmet Dolmaci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers' Union (KTOB), in a written statement issued yesterday said that the occupancy rate of the hotels, continues to increase. According to Dolmaci, the occupancy rate for June of the hotels with casino has been increased from 11% to 40 % while the occupancy rate of the hotels with casino has increased from 41% to 68%.

(AK)

[11] Occupied Lefka's civilian organizations support their football team's accession to the CFA

They said that the punishment of Lefka's football team by the so-called federation (after the cup final) was a punishment against Lefka and its people.

Former chairman of Lefka Sports Club, Teoman Oktay said that the inhabitants of Lefka will never forget or forgive the fact that the chairman of the so-called Turkish Cypriot Football Federation described them "traitors of the country" and the chairman of the "disciplinary committee" of the "federation" called them "anarchists". He argued that the issue has become an international problem now.

(I/Ts.)

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[12] Turkish Parliament convenes with missing deputies

Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Oktay Eksi chaired the first gathering of the assembly as the eldest Member of Parliament. Eksi made a short speech before the ceremony, noting that this was the first time the Turkish Parliament has convened with deputies missing, as eight of them are currently under arrest. "This situation is not becoming of this assembly's glory and the level of democracy we have achieved," he said. "We have maintained democracy thanks to our secular state structure," he said adding that Turkey had a duty of setting an example to surrounding countries as it is the only Muslim country that maintains a democracy.

Independents backed by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) had earlier announced that they would boycott the Parliament in protest of the exclusion of elected candidate Hatip Dicle from the assembly by the Supreme Election Board last week. Yesterday, CHP's Chairman Kilicdaroglu announced that his party's members would attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Parliament but not take the oath, in response to the continued incarceration of the elected CHP deputies Mehmet Haberal and Mustafa Balbay.

"We will not be sworn in unless the way is open for all our deputies to take the oath," CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said shortly before the opening session. Targeting the judiciary and Prime Minister Erdogan's apparent neglect of the issue, Kilicdaroglu said, "The CHP demands neither judicial immunity nor amnesty for the detained lawmakers." Calling on Erdogan to display the political will to end the crisis by stating that the necessary legal arrangements would be made to secure the deputies' release, Kilicdaroglu said the CHP wanted their deputies, who have yet to be sentenced, to be able to serve as deputies, just as the CHP supported the prime minister in 2002 when past rulings against Erdogan prevented him from serving as deputy and prime minister.

The paper also reports that Eksi, having the right to submit a bill as the temporary president of Parliament due to his status as the legislature's oldest deputy, is also expected to submit a bill to Parliament today, asking for a judgment on deputies who have not yet been sentenced.

Meanwhile, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has asked for an appointment with CHP today in order to discuss the election of the speaker of Parliament. It is expected that the CHP's boycott decision will also be on the agenda, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said. The AKP is also expected to meet with the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to solicit the views of both the CHP and the MHP and evaluate them in the government's Thursday group meeting.

[13] Gul expected to ask Erdogan to form new government

This is Erdogan's third term as the premier in office, and the AK Party is the first ever political party in Turkey to increase its voter support in three election victories in a row, since it won a major victory in June 12 general elections, getting 49.9 percent of the votes with 326 seats in the 550-seat parliament.

[14] "The absurdity of Turkey's oaths"

Yesterday, the Turkish Parliament had its first meeting after the elections on June 12 and hundreds of new members took their seats for the first time. A few of the elected were unable to come, because of the judicial blocks on their way, and a few dozen others boycotted the Parliament to protest this 'intervention against the national will.'

You can read the details of this much-unneeded crisis in the news. My take is short and simple: A way must be found to welcome all elected deputies to the Parliament. The suspects under arrest should be set free by their courts, whereas a legal solution must be invented for Hatip Dicle, the only convict. But meanwhile, Mr. Dicle's party, the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, must join the Parliament to help find a solution, instead of boycotting it.

Subtitle: For honor and integrity

Today I want to probe something else, though: the oath that every member of the Turkish Parliament has to take on assuming office. This text, which was read out loud by hundreds of MPs yesterday, is imposed by the Constitution, and reads as follows: 'I swear upon my honor and integrity, before the great Turkish Nation, to safeguard the existence and independence of the state, the indivisible integrity of the Country and the Nation, and the absolute sovereignty of the Nation; to remain loyal to the supremacy of law, to the democratic and secular Republic, and to Ataturk's principles and reforms; not to deviate from the ideal according to which everyone is entitled to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms under peace and prosperity in society, national solidarity and justice, and loyalty to the Constitution.'

Now, I don't know how this sounds to you, but it sounds quite problematic to many, including me.

First, look at the very term 'the great Turkish Nation' in the very first sentence of the oath. Personally speaking, I am a Turk and the concept of a 'Turkish nation' sounds just fine for me. But a considerable part of Turkey's Kurds have long objected to that term, and argued that they can be a part of the 'nation of Turkey,' but not 'the Turkish nation.' In their view, the latter is like making Iraq's parliamentarians swear 'before the great Arab Nation,' whereas, of course, not all Iraqis are Arabs.

Then there is the clause which forces every member of Parliament to serve 'the indivisible integrity of the Country and the Nation.' Personally, I again have no problem with the idea, but others might be able to disagree. There are people who believe that a Turkey divided into two, or more parts, as a 'federation' will be much nicer. There are even some 'separatists,' both on the Turkish and Kurdish sides, who believe that Turks and Kurds must just get divorced and have their own countries. I think these are very bad ideas, but unless promoted violently, they should have their place under the sun.

Subtitle: 'Ataturk's principles'

Then comes the worst imposition of the oath: that every member of the parliament should remain loyal to 'Ataturk's principles and reforms.' Well, if that is a must, why then do we have various political parties? We would all gather at 'Ataturk's party,' the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP.

Personally speaking, I clearly object to some of the 'principles and reforms' of Ataturk, such as the bloody 'Hat Revolution,' by which the trimmed hat was made compulsory, or the 'Language Revolution,' by which the rich Ottoman language was 'purified' and much impoverished. If I happen to join the Parliament one day, I would probably get inspired by the 'principles' of other figures, such as John Locke, Edmund Burke or Ibn Khaldun, which all proposed limited governments, not tyrannical ones.

The obvious truth is that we have an authoritarian constitution that imposes the ideology of its makers (the junta of 1980) on the elected members of the nation. In fact, such oaths are everywhere in Turkey, even in primary schools, where little kids are made to recite every morning that 'they will relentlessly walk on Ataturk's path.'

I believe that such cold ceremonies reflect not just the authoritarianism, but also the absurdity of our establishment. For you need both to believe that you can indoctrinate a whole nation by making them, and their representatives, recite the words that they don't believe." TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

EG/

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