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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-07-22Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 138/11 22.07.11 C O N T E N T S
[01] Bagis alleges that the Cyprus problem is a banana skin for the EUTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris (22.07.11) reports that Egemen Bagis, Turkey's Minister for the European Union and Chief Negotiator has alleged that the Cyprus problem is a banana skin for the EU. Addressing a meeting in Alanya regarding the introduction of a project prepared by Alanya Banana Producers' Union (MUZBIR) with the support of the EU, Bagis claimed that the EU will step on this banana skin on the day the Republic of Cyprus will overtake the term presidency of the Union. "We are warning them. We are saying: 'there is a banana skin there, do not step on it'", he added.Bagis argued that they lived a "historic day" in the occupied area of Cyprus the day before yesterday and conveyed Prime Minister Erdogan's greetings to the participants in the meeting. Bagis referred to their participation in the celebrations on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus and said: "37 years ago, a turning point was experienced there for the independence of our brothers and kinsmen. In the same way, the clear messages given by our esteemed Prime Minister to the world and especially to the Greek Cypriots, Europe's spoilt child, announced the good news for the beginning of a new period on the Cyprus issue". Referring to the period of the Annan plan, Bagis reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of that plan and that the Greek Cypriots voted against it. He added, inter alia, the following: "On 26 April 2004, the EU member states unanimously decided the lifting of the isolation implemented on the TRNC. That is, they declared to the world as an official decision the promise which they had given [to Turkey]. Very well, have they implemented their decision? No, because the Greek Cypriot sector, which became a member [of the EU] four days after that decision, does not permit the implementation of this decision. If the other 26 EU member states remain spectators to the fact that 600 thousand Greek Cypriots mortgage the future and the interests of 490 million Europeans, they have to give account to their peoples". Bagis said that Turkey is not the same country with the one which had filed the first application to join the European Community in 1959 and that its per capita income increased to 11 thousand US dollars now from 400 US dollars which was then. He recalled that the number of the universities in Turkey increased to 200 today from 14 which was then and added that the country's income from tourism has also increased significantly. Noting that Turkey has the honour of being the fastest growing economy in the world, Bagis argued: "Turkey is no more a country that stands ready to receive orders at the door of the EU. The journalists ask me: 'Do the statements of the esteemed Prime Minister in Cyprus not make your job more difficult?' I am not a Minister of the EU. I am a member of the Government of the Republic of Turkey". Bagis referred also to the importance of the presidency of Mevlut Cavusoglu at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and said that Cavusoglu is the highest representative elected by 900 million Europeans. He added that he [Cavusoglu] carried the Turkish flag to the most important point internationally in the history of the [Turkish] Republic. (I/Ts.) [02] Sannino: "The concern on the Cyprus issue increased"Turkish Cypriot daily Gunes (22.07.11) reports that the European Commission's Director General for Enlargement Stefano Sannino, who is currently in Bursa of Turkey, said that all their efforts should be focused on the Cyprus settlement by the end of this year or at the beginning of next year.Asked to comment on Erdogan's statement that the ties between Turkey and EU will freeze in case Cyprus takes over the rotating EU presidency, Sannino said: "Particularly, we are all determined to find a comprehensive solution in the Cyprus problem. I want to state this. In the beginning of this month, the two leaders participated in an important meeting. A new meeting in October under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General is planned. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has also expressed openly his strong support to this negotiation process. Now, we all should deal with this problem with spirit and more constructive approach. We should not lose this momentum and we should find a comprehensive solution for the Cyprus problem." Asked to comment on which road the European Commission will follow after Erdogan's clear message, Sannino said: "This is what I wanted also to state. Our aim, our hope is not to reach at this point. We should focus all our energy to the solution of this problem by the end of this year or in the beginning of next year." [03] YKP on Erdogan's visit to occupied CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Afrika (22.07.11) under the title: "It is a tyranny in every way" reports on statements by Murat Kanatli, Secretary of the New Cyprus Party (YKP) who evaluated Erdogan's visit to Cyprus and the experiences during his visit to the occupied area. Kanatli, inter alia, said: "This time, Erdogan's visit was not just a simple visit. A tyranny was experienced everywhere and in every way. There was a tyranny in the statements of Erdogan and several other officials; there was a psychological violence and threats in his words and also physical violence against the protesters. The violence targeted the protesters, those who are called marginal groups; which are using their democratic rights. The violence and tyranny appeared not only in the places that Erdogan was, but in every place in the country?"Kanatli said further that YKP together with several other organizations will continue resisting against tyranny and violence. Recalling the incidents occurred during Erdogan's visit between the protesters and the so-called police, Kanatli condemned the incidents and stated further that violence did not used only in the streets, but also it was used in Erdogan's statements prior and during his visit to the island. Saying that it is remarkable the statements made by Erdogan that he will not give Morfou, Karpassia and Varosha, Kanatli said that taking into consideration that even Rauf Denktas had accepted the arrangement of the 29% of the territory issue, Erdogan is much more in favour of the non-solution in Cyprus than Denktas. Commenting on Erdogan's statement that "We will not withdraw the Turkish troops", Kanatli said that Erdogan declares that he does not even accepts the subjects being agreed on the table in the past. Kanatli stated further that with all these, Erdogan admits that everything at the negotiation table is ostensive and that it is Turkey and himself that take the final decisions. Kanatli finally added that this kind of provocative statements sabotage the negotiation process and called on all to go out in the streets and struggle for its communal existence, for peace and democracy. [04] Cakici: "Erdogan was provided with incorrect information"Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam (22.07.11) reports that the leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici said that the ruling "government" of the National Unity Party (UBP) gave deliberatively wrong and incomplete information to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and to the Turkish officials. He added: "It is not correct that we live in opulence. It is out of reality and deviousness to promote that there is prosperity in the country [occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] while a huge part of our youth is unemployed, while our people are forced to immigrate and while there is financial crisis."[05] Reactions to the "police" violence continueTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris (22.07.11) reports that the Trade Union Platform is protesting today in front of the "prime minister's office" and the "police headquarters" for the violence used by the "police" of the breakaway regime during the demonstrations at KTAMS trade union's headquarters, the Hamit Mandres junction and the tent in front of the bankrupted so-called Turkish Cypriot airlines ("KTHY").In a statement issued yesterday on behalf of the Platform, Mehmet Tasker, general secretary of the Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), said that they will leave a black wreath during their protest and make a statement to the press. Tasker noted that the Platform evaluated the incidents yesterday and it will announce its further action. He stated that they will launch a "legal process" regarding the incidents between the "police" and the demonstrators, who wanted to protest against the [illegal] visit of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to the occupied area of Cyprus. Moreover, KTOEOS announced that it will carry the issue to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). In a statement by KTOEOS' administrative council, Tasker argued that many things changed in the "country' on 19 July and a new period started. He described this date as a "turning point". Meanwhile, many trade unions and other organizations issued a statement on the incidents. The chairman of Tel-Sen trade union Tamay Soysan said that the "police" used disproportionate force during the incidents and asked for an investigation against the "police officers" who were involved in the issue. The chairman of KTAMS trade union Mehmet Ozkardas argued that the "police" used "unnecessary force and violence" against the demonstrators and especially against the chairman of KTAMS trade union. He noted that this will serve no other purpose except causing more tension in the society and dividing it into groups. The youth organization of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) described as "unacceptable" the behaviour of the "police" towards "citizens who were using their legal rights". The organization condemned the "police" violence, describing it as "disproportionate and brutal". The chairman of Dev-Is trade union Mehmet Seyis noted that "unpleasant incidents" and "police terror" took place during Erdogan's visit in the occupied area of Cyprus. He said that the Turkish Cypriots do not deserve such a behaviour. He noted that an investigation against the "police officers" involved in the incidents should be held and that they should be removed from their duties. The office of Turkish DISK trade union in Istanbul sent a message expressing its solidarity with the Turkish Cypriot trade unionists. DISK described as "honourable" the stance exhibited by the Turkish Cypriot "people and workers" against AKP. It also said that the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots to live "freely, equally and independently" is "just and legitimate". A message was also sent by the World Trade Unions' Federation, which condemned the behaviour against the protesters. Guc-Sen trade union also condemned the incidents that happened on 20 July, which the trade union describes as "peace and freedom day". It said that the "police" used "uncontrolled force" and condemned those who gave the order for this. Kemal Darbaz, chairman of the Trade Union of the Press Workers (Basin-Sen), argued that the incidents were contrary to human rights, the rule of law and other similar global values. Hur-is trade union noted that policies of intimidating those who struggle against the measures imposed on the Turkish Cypriots are consciously and systematically implemented. The union condemned the violence used during demonstrations. Finally, the "Bar Association" in the occupied part of Lefkosia condemned the incidents and described them as "police violence", noting that many "citizens" were beaten up by the "police". (I/Ts.) [06] Contaminated drinking water in the occupied areaTurkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen (22.07.11), under the title: "Poisoning's cause: 'Aqua Life'", reports that the so-called ministry of healthy, in a press release, announced that the reason of the food poisoning of the customers of "Salamis Bay Conti resort hotel" in occupied Famagusta is the carboy water "Aqua life", which was used for meal preparation.[07] EU diplomats and observers on the latest statements on Turkish-EU relationsUnder the title: "PM's rhetoric threatens to wreck Cyprus talks", Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.07.11) carries a report by Fulya Ozerkan, who writes that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's severe remarks during a trip to "northern" Cyprus, that "Turkey's relations with the EU will freeze if Greek Cyprus assumes the bloc's presidency before a deal reunifies the island," stirred up concerns among EU circles fearing that it might derail the ongoing negotiations between the Cypriot leaders. And Ozerkan continues:"The Hurriyet Daily News learned that the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders made headway over the negotiating chapters at the Geneva meeting under the UN auspices early this month but Erdogan's latest hit-out is expected to turn the positive momentum upside down. "It is important how (Greek) Cypriot leader Christofias will react to this," said one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Turkish Prime Minister drew a hard line on the long-standing Cyprus issue on Wednesday, saying that the divided island must be united by the end of this year or remain divided. Observers say this may give the Greek Cypriots an excuse to leave the negotiating table considering that the deteriorating economy in the south is rising as a priority instead of the reunification with the northern part of the island. A recent explosion of dozens of gunpowder-filled containers at a naval base in the Republic of Cyprus has shaken public confidence for the Government, leading to resignations including the Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou. While this is the situation, Christofias may say: "I have enough of this on my plate" after Erdogan's controversial remarks and "I am no longer negotiating." The Turkish side is pressing for a settlement before July 2012 when the Republic of Cyprus assumes a six-month rotating term presidency of the EU. Diplomats say the idea is to reach an agreement by October to be followed by an international conference involving Turkey, Greece, the UK, as well as the two Cypriot leaders and finally referenda on both parts of the island, so that a united Cyprus could be at the helm of the EU. If the island is not reunified, EU sources said that it is impossible to prevent a divided Cyprus from assuming presidency. Since decisions are made by unanimity, "Greek Cyprus", Greece and France would object to it but they still note that after the Lisbon Treaty, the rotating presidencies are no longer influential but the EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton. If the status quo continues and the island remains divided, the Kosovo model could be applied for TRNC, according to the analysts. At that time Turkey, the only country recognizing Cyprus, is expected to push for northern Cyprus' recognition at international platforms. But this may not be an easy process for Ankara. For example, the UK, one of the guarantor powers on the island based on the agreements that established the state of Cyprus in 1960, may face legal difficulties in recognizing northern Cyprus. Observers bring attention to the fact that unification will benefit both sides. The opening of Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot shipping is said to bring 111 million Euros to the entire island, something which will both help the ailing economy in the south while making the north less dependent on Turkey economically". In addition, the paper further reports that the Turkish Government's escalating rhetoric targeting the European Union over the Cyprus issue has received no response from European officials thus far, but diplomats have warned all parties concerned to show vision and not succumb to politics. "This is a well-established position from the Turkish side. We of course hope the U.N.-sponsored talks achieve a political settlement before July 2012, so this would become a meeting point," an EU diplomat who wished to remain anonymous told the Hurriyet Daily News. "It is all the more important that everyone involved --Cypriots, the U.N. and the international community-- show vision and not descend to political point-scoring," said the diplomat. "We have to be realistic when we talk about Cyprus," said another EU diplomat. "We have to take note of the fact that Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus and that there will not be any context of relationship between Turkey and the EU when Cyprus assumes the presidency." The diplomat considered the Turkish Government's recent hit-out as an "effort to increase pressure on all sides" to come to an agreement before 2012. "The motivation behind this is that the Turkish side wants to clarify a sense of urgency and that now is a decisive time to make progress. This is not a coincidence," said the diplomat. As the paper concluded, the Turkish Prime Minister's "visit to northern Cyprus" was considered among EU circles as a real opportunity "to reach out to all Cypriots --Turkish and Greek-- and give them confidence that Turkey will do all it can to support the leaders and the U.N. in achieving a settlement." [08] Azeri official: "Azerbaijan backs Turkey over Cyprus but fears Karabakh impact"Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.07.11) reports on statements by the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov, who has said that Azerbaijan understands the importance of the Cyprus problem to Turkey but is concerned about the effect a recognition of northern Cyprus as an independent state could have at home."Do not be led into thinking that Cyprus is less important for us than it is for you, but those who run your state also know quite well that if only Azerbaijan recognizes northern Cyprus by itself, 15 [other] states will recognize Nagorno-Karabakh. Take that into consideration. Turkey would not want that," Hasanov said at a press meeting in Baku, referring to the enclave contested by his country and Armenia. During the press meeting, Hasanov also defended existing visa requirements between Turkey and Azerbaijan, while making an implicit reference to Russia as the key to solving the conflict with Armenia. "Turkey has the right to expect Azerbaijan to recognize northern Cyprus," he, inter alia, said, adding that the only reason why that has not happened yet is because other states would then recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh in turn. He also said there are people within Turkey who would like to open the Turkish-Armenian border, but the Turkish state prevents that from happening. [09] "Erdogan raises stakes on Cyprus, but will it work?"Under the above title, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.07.11) publishes the following commentary by its columnist Semih Idiz:"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again given uncontrolled vent to his anger and populism. This time the subject is Cyprus and the European Union. Visiting the TRNC [Tr. Note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] on the 37th anniversary of the landing in the island by the Turkish military, Erdogan had his harshest words for the EU. Recalling it was the Turkish Cypriots who in 2004 accepted the Annan Plan for a settlement that the EU had also endorsed, while 75% of the Greek Cypriots rejected it, he said that the EU nevertheless rewarded the Greek side with membership while giving nothing to the Turkish side. 'The EU that acts as the defender of law and justice will pay for this mistake and the fact that it did not honour its promises', Erdogan said to cheering nationalists gathered to greet him in northern Cyprus. Indicating that there is no such thing as 'The Republic of Cyprus' today but 'The Greek Cypriot administration' on the one side and 'TRNC' on the other, Erdogan said there is no way that Turkey would accept Cyprus as an interlocutor in the second half of 2012 when it takes over the EU's term presidency. Erdogan underlined that all relations with the EU will freeze during the Cypriot presidency, and that the EU will have to bear all consequences, unless that is, the Cyprus issue is solved by then. All of this is going down very well among the masses in Turkey and among nationalists in northern Cyprus. Turks genuinely are fed up with what they see as European antics vis-a-vis Turkey, and are angry that the Greek Cypriots enjoy all the benefits of EU membership, even though they blocked the Cyprus settlement in 2004. Erdogan also said that a new and more prosperous TRNC that would be able to look to the future with confidence would emerge by 2015 --a message clearly designed to give hope to the Turkish Cypriots worried about their economic situation. Despite such populism, however, Erdogan has not provided answers to the questions that come to mind as a result of his current stand, which also reveals his anti-western sentiments again. If, however, he thinks the anger in his rhetoric is going to scare the EU into blocking the term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus next year, this is a wasted expectation. If he believes his tone will scare the Greek Cypriots into being realistic and compliant about what they will ultimately have to do if the Cyprus problem is to ever be settled, this is unlikely to happen, too. To the contrary, the Greek Cypriots are probably happy with Erdogan's tone, because it pushes attention away from their intransigence since the 2004 referendum on the Annan Plan, and raises the prospect of the Turkish side once again being labelled as the one preventing a settlement. In the meantime, the EU will also want to respond to Erdogan's rhetoric and his threat to freeze ties during the Cypriots term presidency. This could be the start of a more permanent freeze in ties between Turkey and the EU. One assumes that Erdogan has been told this by his advisors. Does that mean, then, that he himself has given up on the EU and simply does not care about these ties anymore? And finally, he may be relying on his rising popularity among the Islamic countries. But will this enable him to get even one of these countries to recognize an independent Turkish Cypriot state? And if that does not work, what then? Does this mean that Turkey will annex northern Cyprus? If so, will Turkish Cypriots be less isolated and happier whatever mainland Turks in northern Cyprus may feel? Erdogan has clearly raised the stakes over Cyprus and with the EU. But will it work, and bring a positive outcome for the Turkish Cypriots? That remains very much to be seen." [10] "Is it real or just a bluff?"Under the above title, Turkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.07.11) publishes a commentary by its columnist Yusuf Kanli on the recent statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his illegal visit to the occupied area of Cyprus. Kanli, inter alia, writes the following:"For the past several days Cyprus has been flooded once again with constant message bombardment from Turkey that a settlement has become discernible and is indeed within reach by the end of this year. First Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered the scene. It was a clear message. The Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, and many international game setters, were of the opinion that enough is enough with the search for a Cyprus settlement. All aspects of the problem have been negotiated many times over the past nearly 50 years of talks. There is political will in northern Cyprus [Tr. Note: the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus] for a compromise settlement even if that compromise might indeed be painful. If there is political will on the Greek Cypriot side as well, there could be a settlement by the end of this year. After that, the settlement plan would be submitted to simultaneous referenda sometime in early 2012, and if the two peoples approve the settlement plan, the new partnership state might undertake the EU term presidency in July 2012. Otherwise? That was the problematic part. Turkish officials were rather straightforward on that issue. Particularly, in the 37th anniversary celebration remarks he made on the island this week, Erdogan did not at all hide behind glaring but meaningless words, he put it very plainly: Now or never! At a time when, as opposed to the 'exploding' Turkish economy, Greece is battling through a very serious economic crisis and when Greek Cypriots are trying to fight not only that problem imported from Greece but also their own economic problem and an acute energy crisis, Turkey might be feeling it is high time to push for a resolution in the island. Also, the Arab Spring --or Summer-- and the growing regional and international political and strategic role of Turkey are factors that make Turkey believe that pushing for a settlement now is in its and the Turkish Cypriots' best interest. Naturally, with such an opinionated Turkish Prime Minister eager to get nationalists onboard in his bid to rewrite the Constitution that he expects will help him ascend to the presidency as the first-ever President of a Turkey that has moved to presidential governance not only on the Kurdish issue but also on all foreign policy issues, he needs to woo the nationalists. That is why Erdogan has been far more hawkish on the Kurdish issue than the nationalists. Now he has become rather hawkish on the Cyprus issue as well. He has talked about not giving back the once-sprawling tourist resort of Varosha (now but a ghost city), as well as the town of Morfou, to the Greek Cypriots, freezing all Turkish contacts with the EU if there is no settlement in the island by July 2012 when the Greek Cypriots take over the EU term presidency. Why? Because Turkey does not recognize a state called the 'Cyprus Republic'. That is of course nonsense as Turkey recognizes the Cyprus Republic because it never-ever derecognized the state which Turkey helped to found." [11] "The contradictions of the new Cyprus policy"Under the title: "The contradictions of the new Cyprus policy", Turkish daily Cumhuriyet (22.07.11) publishes a commentary by Utku Cakirozer who hosts statements by Faruk Logoglu, foreign policy advisor to CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and MP in Adana.Cakirozer in the beginning of his article refers on Erdogan statements prior and during his visit to the "TRNC" and on how the main opposition party CHP evaluated Erdogan's statements. Cakirozer writes that Kilicdaroglu statement was a short support to Erdogan; however it presents Logoglu's view on the new policy on the Cyprus problem which is followed by Ankara who points out that there are a lot of contradictions and worrying points in this new policy. Cakirozer writes that according to Logoglu, the main contradictions in the new policy by Turkey towards Cyprus and the EU are the following: 1. "The EU, during the summit in Dublin in 1990 established a direct connection between the Cyprus problem and Turkey's EU bid. Turkey insistently turned against this connection and continued supporting that these two issues should be disconnected. However, today Turkey is now the side that makes this connection by saying 'If the Cyprus problem is not solved, we will freeze our negotiations' ?.." 2. Erdogan's view that the details on the issue of Karpass and Morfou should be discussed between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot side includes serious mistakes. It says that the views on the matters which are in the agenda of the negotiation table are not Turkey's but views of the Turkish Cypriot people. It was the Greek Cypriot side the side which was supporting that the Cyprus problem is a problem between them and Turkey and not between them and the Turkish Cypriot side. Now, the Prime Minister makes this declaration without taking into consideration these details, and thus it gives a trump card to the Greek Cypriot side and reduces the strength of the Turkish Cypriot side. 3. The negotiation process between Turkish and Greek Cypriots will also be affected by these statements. The Greek Cypriots and Greece will try to utilize this in the way "Turkey gave up from the solution". The UN Secretary General may evaluate the Turkish stance as a constrictive factor and a manoeuvre. For the circles, opposing to Turkey's membership to the EU it will be easier to think that they were right for not taking steps for encouraging Turkey's EU bid and it will be easier for them to freeze Turkey's ties with the EU. The European Commission as well will react negatively to Ankara. Consequently, the opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem might be diminished and our relations with the EU will face a drawback." Cakirozer, also analyzed Logoglu's position on the question why the AKP Government felt the need to change its policy on the Cyprus problem, especially after AKP's great success at the June 12 elections and writes that Logoglu supported the possibility that it is a tactic of AKP to change the agenda, to remove from the agenda the Terrorism issue and the Kurdish issue and bring the Cyprus problem and also referred to the possibility that the AKP for its own reasons decided to give up from the goal of its EU membership and it exerts efforts to make the Turkish public opinion to get over with this by exploiting the Cyprus problem... (AK) [12] "Confidence-building steps planned toward Armenia"Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 21.07.11) with the above title reports that Turkey is planning to introduce a fresh set of confidence-building measures as part of normalization efforts with neighbouring Armenia. Sources close to Yerevan Government described these measures as "small, symbolic steps that go beyond church restoration."The Hurriyet Daily News has learned that a decision was made by the Turkish side to send positive signals to the Armenian side. One of the plans in the works was said to be the opening of an office in the Armenian capital by national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY). Sources said the idea also offered the opportunity to open up other markets because Iranians will fly to Yerevan and then to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines is also symbolically important in Turkish foreign policy. The second plan involves the establishment of new charter flights between Turkey's eastern city of Van and Yerevan, which would require upgrading the airport in the Armenian capital. Both plans will be implemented soon, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity The Daily News has also learned that there is an idea on the table for Turkish Education Ministry officials to visit Armenia, not bilaterally but as part of a regional tour that may also include a visit with the Georgian Education Minister. Turkey is currently facing many more pressing challenges on the foreign-policy front, including the presence of about 10.000 Syrian refugees, the Libya crisis, troubled relations with Israel, the Cyprus deadlock and the Kurdish issue. All of these issues have made the Armenian one a lesser priority. Despite all challenges, however, it has been learned that the Turkish side showed more willingness during U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit last weekend that it will lay the groundwork and keep working on normalizing relations with Armenia. And the article concludes: "The idea is not opening the border but opening the border crossings between Turkey and Armenia. This is the subject of the third-party mediation, the secret diplomacy," one source said. "The Armenian side right now has [given] the message that 'We are waiting for Turkey' and a second message that 'Armenian patience won't last forever.' That's why these confidence-building measures are important." [13] Survey shows a decrease in trust for the military and an increase in trust for AKPUnder the title "Coup cases in Turkey fray trust on military, poll shows", Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 21.07.11) reports that the results of the latest Turkey Values Survey, which were made public Thursday, show that 75% of Turks have trust for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a 15% drop compared to the survey conducted in 2008.The timing of the drop coincides with the launch of the Ergenekon and "Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) investigations, both of which deal with alleged plans to topple the Government. Numerous military figures have been detained and jailed in both cases. Trust for the Government has meanwhile increased 32% over the past 10 years, the survey shows. The poll was part of the World Values Survey, which is run by a network of social scientists coordinated by a central body, the World Values Survey Association. The Turkey part of the survey included 1.605 face-to-face interviews in 128 districts of 54 provinces across the country. Interviewees were asked 350 questions on a variety of subjects, from life satisfaction/happiness to political participation, and from left- and right-wing ideology to tolerance towards the "other." [14] Turkey's exports are on an increaseTurkish Hurriyet Daily News (21.07.11) reported on statements by the Turkish Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan, who said that the Turkish exports increased by 20% between July 1 and 20 --totalling $7.5 billion for the period-- and the momentum is expected to continue.Speaking at a meeting with the Economy Reporters Association, Caglayan said that "there is no rest for exports; [it's] full speed ahead". Turkish exports increased by 23.6%, totalling 73.2 billion dollars between January 1 and July 20, the minister added. "Trade figures show the forecasts of the medium term will be easily exceeded for 2011," the Minister said. A lack of savings in the country is the main reason for the current account deficit, according to Caglayan. "We are working to find a sustainable solution to the current account issue. We have identified six sectors which will be carefully inspected this year," Caglayan, inter alia, noted. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio EG/ Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |