Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-11-07

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Downer: we proceed inch by inch

[02] Eroglu continues trying to create the impression that he is in favor of a solution in Cyprus

[03] Nami: Britain as a guarantor country may contribute positive to the negotiation process

[04] Pressures for rejecting the agreement for uniting Cyprus football started; Eroglu says the agreement is not a positive development

[05] Reactions to the agreement for uniting Cyprus football; Ultimatum to Sertoglu by Denktas: Sertoglu should resign

[06] A delegation of self-styled deputies carry out contacts at the European Parliament

[07] Another "citizenship scandal" in the breakaway regime

[08] Norwegian foreign minister on Turkey's EU bid: There are still issues that Turkey has to resolve such as the Cyprus dispute

[09] Turkish interior minister claims: Mixed-student apartments home to terrorist and illegal organizations

[10] Ruling party deputies also question Erdogan's motives behind 'student house' move

[11] EU: Mixed-student homes concern of students and families, Fule is set to arrive in Turkey on Nov. 7

[12] Turkish columnist on AKP's stance on 'student house' move

[13] French and German Presidents to visit Turkey

[14] Surveys show that AKP exceeds the 50% of votes

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Downer: we proceed inch by inch

In statements to the press after a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Downer said that representatives of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides continue to work on a joint declaration, repeating that the UN Secretary General expects completion of the joint declaration in a week.

Replying to a question whether progress has been made towards formulating a joint declaration, Downer said: "We proceed inch by inch (step by step)".

Replying to question what the UN stance will be in case that an agreement is not reached on the joint declaration, Downer said that they don't act with the thought that a joint declaration cannot be reached, adding that he is hopeful that a compromise will be reached. He concluded by saying that there are gradual rapprochements.

[02] Eroglu continues trying to create the impression that he is in favor of a solution in Cyprus

He argued that the Cyprus problem will be entering into its 50th year in 2014 and that it is not possible to keep the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots at the negotiating table for another 50 years. He added that now is the time for finding a solution.

Eroglu alleged that "two democratic structures" exist now in Cyprus and that the aim is to unite these "two democratic structures" under the roof of a federal partnership. Eroglu reiterated the view that they want to finish the negotiations until about April and submit their result to the approval of the "two peoples".

He said that at first glance, the first quarter of the next year might seem early for a solution, but from another point of view almost all issues have been discussed during the 50 years of negotiations and it could be seen that there is no issue that could be further discussed.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Nami: Britain as a guarantor country may contribute positive to the negotiation process

According to an announcement by Nami's office, during the meeting, they exchanged views regarding the latest developments on the Cyprus problem. Nami also conveyed to Lidington the views of the Turkish Cypriots regarding the negotiations and said that Britain, as a guarantor country may contribute positive to the negotiation process.

Nami claimed that the Turkish Cypriots are determined and willing on the solution of the Cyprus problem.

According to the announcement, during the meeting, they reached a consensus on cooperating in order the process to be brought to a positive point.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that British Minister also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

According to the paper, Eroglu's undersecretary Hasan Gungor, his special representative and spokesman Osman Ertug and the negotiation team attended the meeting. Lidington was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Cyprus Matthew Kidd and officials from Commissariat.

[04] Pressures for rejecting the agreement for uniting Cyprus football started; Eroglu says the agreement is not a positive development

The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dervis Eroglu has said that he is certain that the Turkish Cypriot "people" will not accept entering under Greek Cypriot administration. In a written statement issued yesterday, Eroglu said that the young people should not be exposed to "embargoes", but "the way of overcoming this problem could not be accepting the Greek Cypriot side to administrate us".

Eroglu noted that if the situation is like President Nikos Anastasides and the chairman of CFA had said, "it could not be described as positive development for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people".

Eroglu said that he will wait to be directly informed by Sertoglu when he returns to Cyprus before making a more detailed statement.

Alleging that their aim in the Cyprus talks is to solve the Cyprus problem within the first quarter of next year, Eroglu argued: "In this situation, some mistakes that could be committed will force us lose ground and will cause damages which are very difficult to be restored. I trust our sports community in general and especially our football community that they will not commit a mistake and endanger the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, they will not put us in a difficult situation in the negotiations process and they will protect the rights of all sectors of the society and not only of one part".

(I/Ts.)

[05] Reactions to the agreement for uniting Cyprus football; Ultimatum to Sertoglu by Denktas: Sertoglu should resign

Denktas noted that before Sertoglu's departure for Zurich they held a friendly meeting during which they discussed the issue and Sertoglu assured him that he would not sign. Noting that Sertoglu did exactly the opposite, Denktas said that in this situation Sertoglu should either stay loyal to his signature or resign.

Denktas alleged that the approach of KTFF becoming a member of the CFA could not be accepted and added that in this case the two sides will not be equal.

Denktas denied some allegations in the press according to which he would remove Sertoglu from his duties, but added that Sertoglu should resign.

Meanwhile, the paper writes that the four political parties represented in the regime's "assembly" have commented on the developments in a different manner.

The general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Asim Akansoy said that his party supports that the young people should be able to participate in international competitions and that they appreciate Sertoglu's "serious and determined struggle" in the direction of the Turkish Cypriot young people being able to play football internationally. He argued that efforts should be exerted for changing some articles, such as article 2, instead of totally rejecting the text. He noted that even being at the same table with the presidents of FIFA and UEFA was a sign of the existence (of the Turkish Cypriots).

Bengu Sonya, general secretary of the Democratic Party (DP), wondered for what reason they will further struggle if they act according to the provisions of the text signed in Zurich. "Let us accept the Republic of Cyprus and let this issue end", he said criticizing Sertoglu. He argued that the only gain of the Turkish Cypriots from Zurich is that they saw the real intentions of the Greek Cypriots.

Sunat Atun, general secretary of the National Unity Party (UBP), said that they want their young people to have contacts abroad, but they do not accept this to happen with the membership to the CFA. He argued that the membership to the CFA might harm values which they have been supporting for years on the issue of sovereignty, property and citizenship in the Cyprus talks.

Cemal Ozyigit, general secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that there might be points to which everyone could opposes in the text, but the issue which should be discussed is how the Turkish Cypriots will be represented in the CFA and not their membership itself. He said that instead of having a rejecting stance in an environment in which a desire for a united Cyprus exists, it would be best if the text was revised to become acceptable by both sides.

Izzet Izcan, chairman of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), which is not represented in the "assembly", said that the step taken in the direction of the reunification of football constitutes a strong basis for the reunification of Cyprus and an early solution. Izcan described the agreement as "courageous step" and noted that it will secure the reunification of football in Cyprus and the lifting of the "embargoes" on the Turkish Cypriot football, which will become a part of the world's football.

(I/Ts.)

[06] A delegation of self-styled deputies carry out contacts at the European Parliament

The delegation consists of so-called deputy with Republican Turkish Party ? United Forces (CTP-BG) Armagan Candan, the so-called deputy with National Unity Party (UBP) Ersan Saner and the so-called deputy with the Democratic Party ? National Forces (DP-UG) Hasan Tacoy.

During the contacts, the issues, which are discussed, are the Cyprus problem, the regulation of the direct trade and the representation of the Turkish Cypriots at the European Parliament.

Candan, referring to their meetings, said that within the framework of their contacts, which started yesterday in Brussels, they met with representatives of the political groups at the European Parliament and they will continue with meetings with officials of the European Commission and thinks-tanks institutions.

Candan explained that during their meetings with the groups of the Christian Democrats, European People's Party and the Social Democratic they shared their views regarding the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, stressing the position of the Turkish Cypriots and their desire of the resumption of the negotiations as soon as possible. Candan also said that they also briefed them regarding the Turkish Cypriots' views regarding the discussions on the joint declaration.

Candan noted that the activities of the lobby continue in order to obtain a representation, under a special status, at the European Parliament as it occurs at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Referring to the issue of the opening of the closed town of occupied Varosha, Candan said that it was not brought into the agenda by anyone during their meetings, adding that the resumption of the Cyprus talks as soon as possible and its progress were the issues, which were put forward.

Finally, he that they will meet tomorrow with the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten and the head of the EU Commission's Task Force for Turkish Cypriot community Michaela Di Bucci.

[07] Another "citizenship scandal" in the breakaway regime

According to the paper, hundreds of persons were granted the "citizenship" on the ground that they worked in the breakaway regime for years, while they worked only for months. In addition of gaining the "citizenship" these people gained prims for "social security services".

[08] Norwegian foreign minister on Turkey's EU bid: There are still issues that Turkey has to resolve such as the Cyprus dispute

"Norwegian people voted against the EU membership in a referendum in 1994. Our relation with the EU is the European Economic Area (EEA)" he said.

"The EEA agreement grants Norway access to the EU's single market and we are also a member of the Schengen passport-free area. EU is also our most important export market as it is for Turkey," Brende said.

EU restarted talks in Brussels on Tuesday with Turkey after a three year halt. A new round of talks, entitled Chapter 22, concerning regional policies and covering job creation, competitiveness, innovation, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development was opened.

Brende told Anadolu Agency correspondent that Norway would strongly support Turkey in joining the EU if it is what Turkey wants.

There has been discussions in the EU whether Turkey should join or not but Norway's view is the same as Sweden, which supports the bid, Brende said.

Brende said the amazing developments in Turkey in the last decade are recognized by the EU, but there are still issues that Turkey has to resolve such as the Cyprus dispute. "Turkey is on the right path and I strongly believe that Turkish government will meet the conditions to be an EU member," he added.

[09] Turkish interior minister claims: Mixed-student apartments home to terrorist and illegal organizations

"We are considering the issue from the viewpoint of a fight against terrorism. Particularly apartments, student residences and lodging houses where university students are living, are places that terror and other illegal groups are seeing as a resource for gaining support and finding new members," Guler said during a press conference on Nov. 6 in Ankara.

Commenting on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks that the government was preparing to enact laws to "intervene" against homes housing both female and male students under one roof, Guler said the main reason for this was security.

"According to the latest observations, terrorist organizations and other marginal groups are in quests to use their youth organizations as a resources for their own activities ... In the research that we have made on terrorism, we have seen that terrorist organizations are using the relationships between male and female students to a considerable extent to obtain the support of high school and university youth," Guler said, adding many of these housings were places where terror suspects were hiding or activities such as prostitution, were run.

Guler argued that the necessary legislation should be prepared to bring student homes under police supervision.

[10] Ruling party deputies also question Erdogan's motives behind 'student house' move

According to Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ankara deputy Zelkif Kazdal, the issue has two dimensions, one about values, and the other about the law. "There is something called the 'inviolability of the domicile,' which humanity created 1,000 years ago. For anybody of the state to be able to intervene in a domicile, there should be a crime. If there is no crime, complaint or order from a prosecutor or a judge, nobody can intervene in a domicile," Kazdal told the Hurriyet Daily News yesterday.

"You cannot make a classification such as a 'student house,' if you are talking about people over 18, the age of maturity," Kazdal said.

Another AKP deputy, Idris Bal of Kutahya, raised question marks over future steps that might violate people's private lives.

"Is the next step intervening in the lives of couples who live together without getting married?" Bal asked, speaking to a group of reporters in Parliament. "Will we also intervene if a university student couple continues living together after they graduate?"

Although choosing his words carefully, Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek questioned the legality of the government's proposed move.

Speaking late Nov. 5, Cicek declined to make a comment, noting that he had not yet read Erdogan's remarks. However, he lent support to Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc's remarks on Nov. 4 in which he said: "We have not had any conversations about raiding private houses where students are residing. Private houses are not the area of our interest."

Cicek, however, was drawn into the debate on Nov. 5. "But there is one thing that I know. In a state governed by the rule of law, if an action is not forbidden, then it is free," Cicek said. "If rules and acquis in force are not sufficiently meeting matters that are regarded as problematic, then related legal arrangements are done. If have we agreed on that, the rest is a political assessment."

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag suggested taking measures to prevent male and female students from living together was a duty assigned to the government by the Constitution, while also claiming that a prime minister has the right to make the change he wants if he does not like something. Bozdag cited Article 58 of the Constitution covering the protection of the youth for his argument; opponents, however, have cited Article 21 of the same Constitution which covers the inviolability of the domicile.

The deputy prime minister, meanwhile, downplayed prospects for a legal arrangement as mentioned by Erdogan, saying Erdogan was referring to a possibility which would become real "if needed."

[11] EU: Mixed-student homes concern of students and families, Fule is set to arrive in Turkey on Nov. 7

"We recall that a core element of the recent democratization package announced by the prime minister himself was the protection of lifestyles and private choices of every citizen. This is an element that we wholeheartedly welcomed," Peter Stano, spokesperson of Stefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, said in a written statement on Nov. 6.

"The choice on the matter should in principle be one exercised by the students and their families. To our knowledge, there are no European standards regulating the matter, and there are different practices among EU Member States or even within each member state. This is an issue which primarily the Turkish society needs to solve, on the basis of an inclusive consultation process integrating the views of all stakeholders concerned," Stano stressed.

Fule is set to arrive in Turkey on Nov. 7, only a few days after the EU opened a negotiation chapter with Turkey after a break of nearly three years.

[12] Turkish columnist on AKP's stance on 'student house' move

"There are increasing signs that a schism is opening within the Justice and Development Party (AKP). While some members are still loyal to their conservative-democratic ideology in line with European democratic values, others have arguably been reverting back to Islamism. This is still at a rhetorical level, and there has not been any legislation of this kind yet. But the recent official statements on private university students' homes (not only dormitories), where some male and female students cohabit or study together, suggest that the government may pass some laws allowing governors to deal with neighbors' complaints. [?]

As I have repeatedly written here before, Islamism is a heterogeneous modern political ideology with diverse manifestations but also several common points. Islamism utilizes Islam to pursue political objectives. They imagine Islam as a complete and ready-to-use divine system with concrete political, cultural, legal and economic blueprints. Their ideology is exclusivist. They focus on obligations and responsibilities rather than rights. [?]

Because of our Kemalist education system, Turkish Islamists have acquired several characteristics of Kemalism, resulting in the emergence of Kemalo-Islamism. Thus, one of the strongest points of Kemalism and Kemalo-Islamism is a belief in the sanctity of the state. The Kemalo-Islamists' state is more important than anything else, and it is above everything else. This state has a vision for society. It has a right to control society. It has a distaste for civil society, pluralism, multiple perspectives and liberal lifestyles. It espouses social engineering. It employs law as an instrument in its top-down socio-cultural projects. It does not trust individuals. It tries to penetrate not only social life but also the private lives of individuals by resorting to all sorts of sophisticated pretexts. While the Kemalists took their inspiration from their distorted understanding of the Enlightenment, modernity and the West, the Kemalo-Islamists have their ulama to provide them with ideological and jurisprudential sustenance through private, if not secret, fatwas.

It is paradoxical that while placing the utmost importance on the state, they still get their "private" fatwas from the unofficial "ulama."

In addition, under the title "It's more than a boy-girl story", Murat Yetkin writes the following in Hurriyet Daily News (07.11.13):

"It started with a leak, too. The leak was from a closed-door session of the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Parti) latest big event bringing MPs and party organizers together to assess the political atmosphere before the March 2014 local elections. [?]

Yet, the news echoed almost immediately not through the political corridors or Ankara, but in universities and almost every house in Turkey with a student at university. The report was about a statement by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, reportedly saying the government would not let male and female university students share accommodation, whether in dormitories or private houses, just because there were not enough one-gender dormitory facilities provided by universities.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc denied the report the same day following a Cabinet meeting, also underlining that it was not only a "made-up story" and that the government had no policy of intervening in the private lives and lifestyles of Turkish citizens. The next morning, Nov. 5, Erdogan's chief political adviser, Yalcin Akdogan, wrote in his column (yes, he writes daily columns for two papers) admitted that the issue was a matter of discussion, but that the government had no intention of intervening in people's lifestyles and checking private homes, but had the right to inspect unauthorized dormitories, suggesting that that was what the prime minister meant.

It took only a few hours for Turkish people to understand what Erdogan actually meant. "It's not clear what is going on in these places," he said while addressing the AK Parti group in Parliament. "They are all mixed up, anything can happen. As a conservative democratic government, we have to intervene."

He said provincial governors and police would act on "intelligence" and complaints by neighbors. "Why are you annoyed about this?" Erdogan asked, adding that this had nothing to do with intervening in lifestyles.

The answer came from Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), within an hour during an address to CHP deputies. Allocating almost his entire speech to deteriorating women's rights in Turkey under Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu claimed that the PM's actual aim was to end mixed-gender education in Turkey. Underlining that the government had no legal bases for such inspections unless there is a crime, Kilicdaroglu claimed that Erdogan had a "cliche in his mind and was trying to transform Turkey into a Middle Eastern country."

Erdogan's statement produced echoes within the AK Parti as well. Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek said he did not read Erdogan statements in full but agreed with what Arinc had said. Arinc, on the other hand, who had denied the story before, said he did not agree with those who think what he said contradicted the prime minister's words, since he also believed that "it was mostly girls on the losing end of cohabitation stories," as if sharing student houses meant only being partners without marriage.

Arinc had a major conflict with Erdogan earlier this year over the police brutality during the Gezi Park protests, and reportedly stepped back from the brink of resignation only thanks to the intervention of President Abdullah Gul. [?]

As Turkey gets closer to local elections, it appears that religious and moral values are likely to be a major propaganda tool to win the hearts and minds of mostly conservative voters. The outcome might be a lesser role for already undeservedly underrepresented women in political and social life, something that used to be an example to all other countries with Muslim populations as a unique quality of secular Turkish democracy."

[13] French and German Presidents to visit Turkey

Hollande will pay a two-day visit to Turkey on Jan. 27-28. The talks are expected to focus on bilateral ties, Turkey's EU bid and the crisis in Syria.

Prior to Hollande's visit, German President Gauck will also visit Turkey on Dec. 12-13.

[14] Surveys show that AKP exceeds the 50% of votes

According to the public opinion poll conducted by Konda between 5-6 October with 2,512 people, AKP would have 51.4% of votes if elections were held today. The opposition political parties would have the following votes:

CHP [Republican People's Party]: 22.9%

MHP [Nationalist Action Party]:14.2%

BDP [Peace and Democracy Party]: 7.3%

According to the public opinion poll conducted by Pollmark between 22-29 October with 3,102 people, AKP would have a decrease to its votes to 50.4% of votes if elections were held today. The votes of the opposition parties are as follows:

CHP [Republican People's Party]: 24.8%

MHP [Nationalist Action Party]:12.7%

BDP [Peace and Democracy Party]: 7.9% TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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