Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-01-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Former attorney general and president of the High Court in 1974 have reportedly advised Rauf Denktas not to distribute title deeds for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties

[02] The Czech Ambassador to Ankara said that autumn will be very critical for Cyprus

[03] The members of the police are not allowed to travel through the sea and airports of the free areas and use the passport of the Republic of Cyprus

[04] Ercakica said the Turkish side is not opposing to the continuation of the negotiations in a place outside Cyprus, except Brussels

[05] Avci alleged that the attacks against the Turkish Cypriots in the free areas of Cyprus increased during the past two years

[06] The debate on the relations of Ergenekon with the occupied areas of Cyprus continues

[07] Yonluer criticized the fact that the breakaway regime is preparing to give the operation of the stone quarry in occupied Yalousa area to a Jewish businessman

[08] The chairman of the Turkish Football Federation and the Turkish vice president of UEFA expressed their support to the proposals submitted by FIFA regarding the future of the Turkish Cypriot football

[09] Five trade unions submitted their demands for 2009

[10] The Embargoed Group complains about a map showing Cyprus divided

[11] Turkeys 2008 budget deficit is by 5.2 percent lower than year-end target

[12] Erdogan will not attend Nabucco pipeline meeting

[13] Turkish President Gul hosts luncheon to Turkeys top officials

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 20 January 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Former attorney general and president of the High Court in 1974 have reportedly advised Rauf Denktas not to distribute title deeds for the occupied Greek Cypriot properties

Under the title Do not give title deeds, the paper writes that the report said it was not possible for title deeds to be given regarding these Greek Cypriot properties and added: The legal regime of the ownership cannot be changed. In case these are confiscated and sold to others, this sale does not create a right in favor of the purchaser. The report noted that the immovable property abandoned after the war could be used for the construction of hospitals, huts or sheds.

The report made also the following warning: The forces which confiscated the properties can confiscate any kind of war material, clothes, means of spreading and conveying news and vehicles, even if these are in the ownership of legal persons in the country. However, as soon as peace is restored, these must be returned or compensated.

(I/Ts.)

[02] The Czech Ambassador to Ankara said that autumn will be very critical for Cyprus

Czech ambassador in Ankara said that the appointment of a new chief official for European Union membership talks was a proof for Turkish government's commitment to the accession process.

Egemen Bagis, the deputy chairman and a lawmaker of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, was appointed to the post earlier in January.

´This is a very good and a positive step with which the government has shown its willingness to do more in the EU membership process,´Eva Filipi told the AA.

Filipi said being a chief negotiator was a full-time job, adding that Bagis was ´the right choice for the post. ´Bagis is knowledgeable and he is communicative, and I hope that progress will be made in the reforms with Bagis in office,´ she said.

The Czech ambassador said 2009 would be "a tough year" for Turkey and the EU. ´Turkey has been unable to focus on EU reforms for the last year and a half due to general elections, AK Party closure case, which were all understandable, ´Filipi said.

The ambassador however cited certain positive developments in Turkey's EU efforts such as the launch of television broadcast in Kurdish on state-run media network, TRT.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Bakis newspaper (21.01.09) reports that the Czech ambassador to Ankara, Eva Filipi, replying to a question on whether Turkey's full membership to the EU would be possible without a Cyprus settlement, said: Unfortunately, I do not think that it is possible. Ms Filipi said that she is a bit pessimistic on the Cyprus problem and added that although the two leaders in Cyprus continue the negotiations, they could not solve a lot of issues until now and it seems that the solution of these issues is difficult. Ms Filipi also said: The autumn months will be very critical for Cyprus. I think that even if there is no outcome from the negotiations, we can still find a way out."

[03] The members of the police are not allowed to travel through the sea and airports of the free areas and use the passport of the Republic of Cyprus

Mamali, who drew the attention to the fact that without having any legal basis the General Director of the Police prohibited to the members of the police to travel through the sea and airports of south Cyprus and to furthermore use the passport of the Republic of Cyprus, underlined the infractions of the rules experienced at the promotions in the police.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Ercakica said the Turkish side is not opposing to the continuation of the negotiations in a place outside Cyprus, except Brussels

In statements during his briefing to the journalists yesterday, Mr Ercakica noted that the Turkish side does not say no to a negotiating process similar to the one held in Burgenstock in 2004, but added that the place of these negotiations could not be Brussels.

Replying to a question, he argued that the UN, which did not submit any proposal until now, should prepare some proposals which will bring the sides closer and make them reconcile.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (21.01.09) reports that Hasan Ercakica, spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat, has argued that the recent attacks by Greek Cypriot young people against Turkish Cypriots in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus should not be seen as isolated incident.

In statements during his briefing to the journalists yesterday, Mr Ercakica said that on the issue of the enmity against the Turks which seems to be widely spread in the Greek Cypriot community, the Greek Cypriot officials should prepare a package of measures in the field of culture and education.

Mr Ercakica noted that Mr Talat condemns these incidents and argued that they are influencing negatively the negotiating process by creating lack of confidence, just like the armaments of the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Avci alleged that the attacks against the Turkish Cypriots in the free areas of Cyprus increased during the past two years

Mr Avci alleged that during the past two years, the attacks against the Turkish Cypriots increased deliberately. Mr Avci referred to the attacks against Turkish Cypriot students at the English School in Nicosia and against the cars of Turkish Cypriots who were participating in a bi-communal activity in the free areas of the Republic. He alleged that these attacks have been increased during the past two years because of the tolerance deriving from the unsound policies of the Greek Cypriot side.

(I/Ts.)

[06] The debate on the relations of Ergenekon with the occupied areas of Cyprus continues

The gangs in Cyprus are administrated by the deep state in Turkey and by a mechanism that is above those who are elected. It is not possible for the gangs in Cyprus to be formed by themselves, they are definitely administered by the deep state in Turkey. The gangs in Cyprus have been ordered to go to underground by some people. During the last periods some things have become more difficult for the gangs, as a result of the political change in Cyprus. During the Susurluk period gangs were formed in Cyprus, but they were not successful. The leg of Ergenekon in Cyprus is so powerful that it can secure them. An important reason for a retired general to escape to Cyprus is the fact that Cyprus is not recognized by the world and it is appropriate from the point of view of its legal situation.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Yonluer criticized the fact that the breakaway regime is preparing to give the operation of the stone quarry in occupied Yalousa area to a Jewish businessman

(DPs-I/Ts.)

[08] The chairman of the Turkish Football Federation and the Turkish vice president of UEFA expressed their support to the proposals submitted by FIFA regarding the future of the Turkish Cypriot football

Mr Adal returned yesterday to the occupied areas of the island. He noted that during his meeting with Mr Ozgener, he found out that the Turkish Football Federation is approaching positively the proposals of FIFA. He said Mr Ozgener told him that this was the only way out for the Turkish Cypriot football, but the decision should be taken by the TCFF. Mr Adal noted that Mr Erzik told him that the proposals of FIFA were required by its rules and pointed out clearly that the proposals must be accepted in order for the Turkish Cypriot youth to be united with the world and engage in sports.

(I/Ts.)

[09] Five trade unions submitted their demands for 2009

Ortam refers to the issue under the title The salaries should be paid in Euros!

(I/Ts.)

[10] The Embargoed Group complains about a map showing Cyprus divided

(I/Ts.)

[11] Turkeys 2008 budget deficit is by 5.2 percent lower that year-end target

Turkish Finance Ministry said that the central budget deficit stood at 17.069 billion TL (10.4 billion USD) in 2008, 5.2 percent lower than year-end target.

Turkey spent 225.9 billion TL while its income reached 208.89 billion TL last year, according to budget figures made public on Tuesday.

Government's initial forecast for 2008 budget deficit was 17.99 billion TL.

Turkish government could not achieve its goal regarding the primary surplus which stood at 33.59 billion TL, 4.4 billion worse than 2008 target either.

´2009 will be a year of continuing economic and fiscal policies aimed at fiscal discipline´, the ministry said.

[12] Erdogan will not attend Nabucco pipeline meeting

Hungary's ambassador in charge of EU's flagship Nabucco project says Turkey will be represented by Energy Minister Hilmi Güler instead of the prime minister at an intergovermental summit for the pipeline project.

Turkey will not be represented at the highest level at the inter-governmental Nabucco summit beginning next Monday it has been revealed, as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be unable to make his way to Budapest.

´According to the latest information I have received, Erdoan won't come and the Turkish delegation will be led by Energy Minister Hilmi Güler,´ Hungary's ambassador in charge of Nabucco told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a telephone interview yesterday.

Mihaly Bayer, who held talks in Ankara in September to extend an invitation to Turkey months before the summit, said Hungary did its best to secure Erdogan's arrival. After Bayer, Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany arrived in Ankara for talks on Nabucco in November.

´We haven't received any excuses and we haven't asked for excuses. Certainly he (Erdogan) has obligations that make him busy and maybe stuck to Ankara for the time being, but I am not aware of the so-called reasons or explanations,´ Bayer told the Daily News.

´This is a decision to be made by the Turkish government. What we are looking forward to hearing is a very strong and very supportive Turkish position on every issue that is on the table (about Nabucco) and I hope it will happen,´ Bayer said. The proposed Nabucco pipeline, aimed at reducing Europe's dependence on Russian gas, will carry supplies from the Caspian Sea to Europe via Turkey. Hungary, set to host the summit from Jan. 26 - 27, has invited Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Germany to participate, as potential recipients of the Nabucco natural gas. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Egypt and Iraq were invited as potential suppliers and Georgia was invited as a possible transit country. Also invited are the EU's energy commissioner, the United States, the international Nabucco consortium, and the Czech Republic, holder of the EU's rotating-term presidency. Bayer stressed it was up to the Nabucco partners to decide who should lead their delegation and said his country wanted to see all Nabucco countries represented at the highest level, ´in order to demonstrate that we are all very much supportive of the project.´

In Brussels, Erdogan has threatened to back out of the strategic pipeline project if the energy chapter in Turkey's EU accession negotiations remains blocked. Bayer declined to comment on Erdogan's remarks and only said: ´We know that Turkey has been trying to persuade the EU to open the energy chapter and Hungary supports it; we don't see any obstacle that should prevent us from opening the energy chapter in accession talks if the two parties believe they are ready for that.´

Erdogan's move to tie the Nabucco project, which is the backbone of energy cooperation between Ankara and the 27-nation bloc, to Turkey's EU entry talks has been met with a cooler reception from other EU diplomats.

´The EU places top priority on energy diversification and Nabucco is part of that policy. Neither the pipeline nor the source to fill it is available at present. I cannot understand why Erdogan threatens, as what he says is premature. Turkish EU ties are not deadlocked either´, said an EU diplomat speaking anonymously. The EU has stepped up efforts to diversify its energy sources since Russias invasion of Georgia last summer and the dispute between Moscow and Kiev that has curbed supplies to Europe.

The recent gas dispute has clearly shown how important the transmission of energy supplies is, while changing the established approaches, according to Bayer. ´I think we have a window of opportunity that is even larger than it was before´, he said. ´I don't think there were many experts who could imagine that zero molecules of gas would be transmitted to Europe through the Russia-Ukrainian gas pipeline and it happened´."

[13] Turkish President Gul hosts luncheon to Turkeys top officials

Mr. Gul will bring together the executives of these organs within the scope of Article 104 of the Turkish Constitution, which stipulates that the President of the Republic shall ensure the regular and harmonious functioning of the organs of state.

As the paper reports, several authorities, including the Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Deputy Premier Cemil Cicek, the Constitutional Court Chief Judge Hasim Kilic, chairpersons of the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Court of Accounts and the heads of the military courts, have been invited at the luncheon. It was stated that the luncheon is being organised to mark the new year.

(EA)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] From the Turkish Press of 20 January 2009

Obama Impact

Under the title "God Forbid, Had a Wolf Been Put on Stage," Hurriyet's Ertugrul Ozkok pens a column on the Washington concert organized for Barack Obama presidency, using the occasion as an opportunity to condemn Turkish intellectuals' lack of patriotism. Ozkok points out that unlike the Turkish intellectuals' treatment of the Turkish Army, the speakers at that ceremony praised the US Army despite some of its sordid deeds in the past. Also, without compunction, the Americans brought to the stage the American eagle, whose symbolic equivalent in Turkey is the Grey Wolf, adding that had anyone dared to put a grey wolf on stage in Turkey he would have been immediately branded a fascist and racist and made to regret the day he was born. Noting that the statue of Abraham Lincoln watched the crowd from its pedestal as if it were the real incumbent of presidential office, Ozkok says should anyone dare to utter the name of Ataturk in Turkey "hundreds of intellectuals" would in unison declare him a dictator, forgetting all the battles he won for Turkey. The ceremony in Washington showed how a nation emerges and survives, whereas the political stage in Turkey shows how a nation disintegrates, Ozkok concludes his column, whose subtext implies that Turks are destroying their own state by their anti-etatist liberalism.

A similar argument is also advanced by Gungor Uras in Milliyet. Under the title "Had We Staged This Ceremony Here!," the columnist notes that national unity, nationalism, and militarism were the central themes in the ceremony, adding that Turkey is also facing economic and foreign policy problems similar to the United States but, regrettably, the Turks are losing the ability to preserve their national unity. The Turkish politicians, for the sake of remaining in power, are eroding the army, the symbol of national unity and territorial integrity, wrecking the ideology of the founding fathers, and applying policies that encourage linguistic and religious separatism. A point has reached in Turkey where mentioning Ataturk, the mere stroll of soldiers in streets, the waving of the Turkish flags, and the defense of the territorial integrity have become crimes. Uras proposes that the Turkish leaders emulate Obama's policy of forging national unity.

In a column in Hurriyet under the title "The Real Risk Lies in an Armenian Crisis with the US," Enis Berberoglu takes exception with those pundits who believe Turkey was sidelined in recent Middle East crisis. Rather he argues Turkey has been successful behind the closed doors, as is evinced by its persuasion of HAMAS to abide by the truce, the problem is Erdogan's election-motivated speeches that generate two major risks for Turkey: First, the Arab leaders, especially the Gulf investors, will be displeased with Turkey's support for HAMAS, and secondly the Jewish lobby, which always rushed to Turkey's help to block the Armenian genocide resolution in the United States, will now be unwilling to extend that support, which means that if the bill passes this year it will deeply damage ties with Israel and the United States.

Commenting on the coincidence of Obama's inauguration and the second anniversary of the assassination of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in a column in Referans entitled "The Day of the Two 'Blacks': Hrant and Barack," Cengiz Candar says the assassination of Hrant and the inauguration of Obama are two historic turning points, one for Turkey the other for the United States, adding that Hrant and Obama are similar in that Hrant was the "black man" of the Turkish society and Obama is the "black man" of the United States both issuing messages of unity. While Obama is opening a new period of hope and unity in the United States, Hrant by his martyrdom raised the conscience of the Turkish people, thus illuminating Turkey's democratic path and sending the Ergenekonists scurrying for cover. Noting that Obama's inauguration is so powerful an element that it even put an end to the Israeli bloodbath in Gaza, Candar hopes Obama, as leader of the strongest nation in the world, would be the man on whom the entire mankind could pin its hope for the future. [Istanbul Referans -- Business daily owned by Aydin Dogan, head of the Dogan Media Group; sister publication of Turkish Daily News;

In a column in Referans entitled "Obama Period Is a Window of Opportunity for Turkey," Guven Sak says under Obama US-Turkey relations will develop along economic axis rather than military, in that the US-Turkish joint investments would play a major role in integrating the Middle Eastern economies into the global economy, provided that under Obama the United States stops acting like a thug in Turkey's own backyard.

In a column in Milliyet entitled "Timetable According to Obama," Fikret Bila says it is becoming clear that Israeli organized its Gaza operation timetable according to the inauguration of Obama -- Israel ended the operation with the inauguration ceremonies not to put the new president in a difficulty situation. Bila says by remaining silent Obama actually gave his support to Israeli, contrary to all expectations. Bila then recalls Turkish President Gul's statement in Sharm al-Shaykh that unless Obama exerts efforts for peace the Gaza tragedy is bound to recur in two years' time, adding that so far Obama has become a dream for Israel but not for the Palestinians.

Milliyet's Sami Kohen says in his column "What and How Much Change Will Obama Introduce?" that those expecting fast and radical changes from Obama would be disillusioned because Obama does not have a magic wand to change United States' domestic and foreign policies, though certainly he will take some steps towards abandoning Bush's unilateral policy, forging consensus with the allies and dialogue with the adversaries, and adopting a more constructive stance towards the Islamic world.

In the first part of his column in Aksam under the title "Do Not Raise Your Hopes," Burhan Ayeri says Obama's election can be no source of hope because first he played the "three monkeys" over the Gaza and reassigned old officials in critical positions. Coming from the same political school as Bush, Obama will start changing merely the color of his skin like Michael Jackson and score the first goal against Turkey by adopting the genocide resolution. [Istanbul Turkiye'de Aksam -- Center-right daily owned by Cukurova industrial and financial group, headed by prominent industrialist Mehmet Emin Karamehmet;

In an article entitled "What Obama Means for Turkey", Zaman columnist Ihsan Dagi comments on the possible course of Turkish-US relations during the Obama presidency in light of on article by Omer Taspinar of the Brookings Institute. Dagi asserts that Obama's multilateral approach and his openness to "cooperation with allies" are well suited to Turkey's new foreign policy profile as a country that can take initiatives in its region. Dagi emphasizes the "importance" of Obama's "support" for Turkey's bid for EU membership before he proceeds to assert that "contrary to the Bush administration under neocon influence," Obama is unlikely to encourage a military coup in Turkey. He also claims that a US president who talks about speaking with Iran rather than attacking it cannot afford to do without "Turkey's newly developed negotiation skills and ability to convince."

Dink/Ergenekon

Commenting on the second anniversary of Dink murder in the first part of column in Milliyet, Melih Asik points out that the Justice Ministry is blocking the investigation of the Dink murder, adding that the most curious aspect of the case is the fact that the government is trying to quash the investigation. He believes some circles are trying to blame the Ergenekon gang for the murder so as to exculpate the government and cover up the real murderers.

A similar argument is also advanced by Mehmet Y. Yilmaz in column in Hurriyet entitled "There Can Be No Cleansing without Elucidating the Dink Assassination." Yilmaz says despite all the evidence of police and gendarmerie involvement in the murder, there has been no progress in the murder trial for the last two years. Yilmaz wonders if the AKP government is trying to protect its followers in the police force, adding that all those wanting a Turkey with clean hands should seek the full elucidation of the murder. Yilmaz suspects that by acting as the clean hands in the Ergenekon case but assuming a contrary position on the Dink case, the AKP government seems to be more concerned with punishing the opposition than cleansing Turkey of gangs.

Whereas, former MIT [Turkish Intelligence Organization] officer-cum columnist Prof Dr Mahir Kaynak claims in a 700-word interview with Vatan on various Turkish developments that the Europeans, especially the British, were probably behind the murder of Dink. The murder was part of their plan to prevent Turkey from becoming an influential player in the region along the American plans. Because the murder was against Turkey's interests, the Turkish government would eventually elucidate it, he concludes. Kaynak also argues that while there is a deep state in the United States which brought Obama to power, in Turkey there is no such thing as a deep state, had there been a deep state made up of Turkish elite there would not have been Ergenekon style gangs working for foreign powers.

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