Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-11-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``TOROS-2006�� military exercises has started.

[02] Statements by Hasan Ercakica.

[03] Statements by the speaker of the TGNA in Algiers.

[04] The German Foreign Minister in favour a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. The Dutch Foreign Minister in Ankara.

[05] CTP a consultive member of the Socialist International; Soyer and Baykal jubilant for indirect recognition of the TRNC.

[06] Statements by Gul before leaving for Italy.

[07] Merkel Vanhanen: Goal the solution of the Cyprus problem prior to the EU Leaders Summit in December.

[08] More journalists were harassed by the Turkish occupation army.

[09] A Turkish Cypriot employee in a carob factory in the occupied Bogazi has usurped one million NTL and fled with his family to the free areas.

[10] Turkey: Rift seen between Sezer and Government over replacement for MGK General Secretary.

[11] Dismissal of prosecutor Sarikaya for incriminating Buyukanit now certain.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist assesses the future of the Finnish initiative.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``TOROS-2006�� military exercises has started

Toros-2006 Military Maneuvers conducted under the command of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus began today.

The three-day exercises will be executed in St Hilarion and Beykoy and some phases will be open to public.

Special bus services will be available for those who would like to watch the exercises in some selected areas on Thursday.

Commando training exercises and shows will be performed and an exhibition of military arms and equipment will take place on the last day of the exercise.

[02] Statements by Hasan Ercakica

The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has accused the Greek Cypriot Administration of being responsible for the failure of the EU term-presidency Finlands initiative to bring the parties together.

Speaking during his weekly press conference this morning, the Presidential Spokesman said that the method should be selected carefully and there should be a balance in its content to reach success.

Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot Side has always supported the Finnish efforts despite the obstacles it has faced, Mr Ercakica said that the failure of the Finnish attempts to bring parties together was the result of a selfish policy of the Greek Cypriot Side.

Pointing out that it is possible to find a just, permanent and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem by negotiation, Mr Ercakica stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side is ready to discuss any issue regarding the Cyprus problem.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (08.11.06) reports that the self-styled Presidential spokesman of the Turkish occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus Hasan Ercakica, has accused Greece of extending support, as he put it, to the Greek Cypriot attempt to exclude the Turkish Cypriots in the Cyprus problem. He further alleged that the Finnish initiative which was aimed at doing away with any problem in Turkeys EU negotiations had failed because of the Greek Cypriot sides stance. Ercakica further claimed that the Greek Cypriot sides attempt to turn the Cyprus problem into an EU problem has created a bottle neck regarding the process started on the 8th of July.

[03] Statements by the speaker of the TGNA in Algiers

"Cooperation and concrete steps (to be taken by) the international community and the members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), in particular, would speed up a solution to the Cyprus problem", Turkey's parliament speaker said on Monday.

Bulent Arinc, who is on an official visit to the Algerian capital of Algiers, stated that both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have played their respective parts towards a possible solution to the issue.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey, under a 1960 agreement, sent troops to prevent Turkish Cypriots from physical extermination after a Greek Cypriot attempt to annex the island to Greece.

A UN reunification plan was accepted by an overwhelming majority of the Turkish Cypriots in a referendum, on April 2004 . But the Greek Cypriots voted down the plan, before they were granted EU membership in May 2004, which effectively left the Turkish Cypriot side out of the Union.

"Asking Turkey to do more would be unjust" Arinc said, adding that his country was still exerting efforts for a lasting peace under the United Nation's auspices.

[04] The German Foreign Minister in favour a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. The Dutch Foreign Minister in Ankara

The German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier has called for a comprehensive solution to be found to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Steinmeiers words came during a speech at the European Conference in Berlin organized by the Social Democrat Grouping of the European Parliament.

Expressing support for the package of proposals on the Cyprus issue drawn up by Finland, the term-president of the European Union, the German Foreign Minister said the initiatives failure must not be seen as an end of the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Expressing the hope that common sense will inevitably help reach a conciliation, the German foreign minister said he believes an agreement will win the support of the EU Council.

Also touching upon Turkeys EU membership process, the German Foreign Minister called for a just treatment of Turkey in its EU membership negotiations.

He said the ratification of the Ankara protocol by Turkey has become a matter that is being debated; but warned the European Union not to haste in taking a decision on the issue in pursuit of selfish interests.

In the meantime, the Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot has called on Turkey to send a political signal to the European Union showing its willingness to do its best to complete the reforms and take further steps on the Cyprus issue.

During his meeting in Ankara with the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Mr. Bot stated that the EU Council must be sure that progress has been achieved on these issues, before next months summit.

[05] CTP a consultive member of the Socialist International; Soyer and Baykal jubilant for indirect recognition of the TRNC

Consultative membership of the ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was accepted at the Socialist International meeting in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the decision made at an important platform like the Socialist International was a sign of acceptance of the Turkish Cypriot people equally with the Greek Cypriots.

"The TRNC has gained further strength," he stressed.

Baykal noted: "144 political parties from 90 countries attend the Socialist International meeting. Therefore, the Socialist International is one of the biggest non-governmental organizations in the world. Acceptance of consultative membership of the CTP is a quite significant development."

Meanwhile, TRNC Prime Minister and CTP leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that they had begun yielding results of their ten-year efforts.

"For years, the Greek Cypriot administration has ignored the Turkish Cypriot people on the island. This decision of the Socialist International is a very important message to this end," he added.

Consultative members do not have the right to vote.

On the same issue, Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (08.11.06) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Republican Turkish Party (CTP) has become a full member of the Socialist International meeting which takes place in Santiago, Chile, with the contribution of Georgos Papandreou, Chairman of the Socialist International, and after the intensive efforts of the Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. In a statement made to H�RR0YET newspaper after the CTP full membership acceptance, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, leader of CTP, said that this membership is the greatest victory of the TRNC at international relations level. The TRNC , which is officially recognised by no other country than Turkey has indirectly been recognised with the acceptance of the CTP as a full member by the Socialist International. The Greek President Papandreou, who is the leader of PASOK, demonstrated an example of equality and brotherhood which is suitable to the spirit of the Socialist International, just as it preserves the interests of his own country. Also, Baykals great contribution has brought this honour to us. This membership is a sign of absolute equality of the two communities of the island, he added.

On his part, Mr Baykal said that the acceptance of CTP as a full member is the result of an approximately ten-year-effort and that this membership to an organization of international esteem gives hope. Congratulations to the TRNC and the Turkish Republic, he stressed.

(M/L)

[06] Statements by Gul before leaving for Italy

"Rumours of a crisis in Turkish-European Union (EU) relations want to cause sensation," said Abdullah Gul, Turkish Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister, on Tuesday.

In a press briefing before his departure for Rome, where Gul will attend the Third Turkish-Italian Forum, Abdullah Gul indicated that Turkey does not expect a crisis after the EU Progress Report to be made public on Wednesday.

Abdullah Gul remarked that the EU process is not an easy one. "There will be ups and downs and difficulties. Yet we have a willingness to overcome all difficulties," noted Gul.

He stressed that Turkey still has some deficiencies in the EU process. "However, our sincere desire and the EU's loyalty to its promises will help Turkey overcome all difficulties and obstacles," expressed Gul.

"Turkish-Italian relations are excellent and where they should be between the two Mediterranean countries," said Abdullah Gul, Turkish Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister, on Tuesday.

In a press briefing before his departure for Rome, where Gul will attend the Third Turkish-Italian Forum, Abdullah Gul indicated that he and his Italian counterpart Massimo D'Alema will deliver speeches at the forum and later hold a tete-a-tete meeting.

Gul told reporters that he will convey Turkey's thoughts on the EU process to D'Alema.

According to Gul, the Turkish-Italian Forum is a prime example of cooperation and good dialogue.

Minister Gul stressed that every effort is being made to promote Turkish-Italian relations which have a historical roots, roughly 150 years of history.

"We pay high attention to our meetings with Italy on the 150th anniversary of the beginning of relations between Turkey and Italy," commented Gul.

[07] Merkel Vanhanen: Goal the solution of the Cyprus problem prior to the EU Leaders Summit in December

(M/L)

[08] More journalists were harassed by the Turkish occupation army

(MHY)

[09] A Turkish Cypriot employee in a carob factory in the occupied Bogazi has usurped one million NTL and fled with his family to the free areas

(MHY)

[10] Turkey: Rift seen between Sezer and Government over replacement for MGK General Secretary

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer reportedly favors Turkey's current Ambassador to Berlin Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik to replace Yigit Alpogan as MGK [National Security Council] General Secretary rather than Turkey's Ambassador to Warsaw Ecvet Tezcan.

After Alpogan was appointed Ambassador to London the subject of who was to replace him as MGK General Secretary became a matter of dispute between the government and Cankaya Mansion.

It has been noted that Sezer does not favor Tezcan, whom the government wants to make MGK General Secretary. Sezer reportedly asked for Turkey's Ambassador to Berlin and former State Minister for EU Affairs Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik to be made MGK General Secretary. Irtemcelik became an ambassador at an early age and had also been a parliament deputy for ANAP [Motherland Party] and a minister. According to information obtained, the government is going to insist on Tezcan.

[11] Dismissal of prosecutor Sarikaya for incriminating Buyukanit now certain

The Rejection Review Board today denied the plea by Ferhat Sarikaya against the decision of Supreme Board of Judges & Prosecutors (HSYK).

HSYK earlier rejected a request by Sarikaya, chief prosecutor in eastern city of Van who was expelled on the ground of preparing an indictment about incidents in Semdinli town (indicting some top-brass generals), for review of decision over his dismissal from his duties.

The Rejection Review Board discussed and rejected Sarikaya's plea against the decision of HSYK and Sarikaya's dismissal from his duties has been ascertained.

On April 20th, 2006, HSYK dismissed Sarikaya from his duties on the motives of inserting irrelevant issues in the Semdinli indictment incriminating Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit among others.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist assesses the future of the Finnish initiative

The pressure that Erdogan imposed on Greece and the signals that arrive from the United States show that the Finnish initiative will continue.

The first phase of Finland's efforts to find a solution in Cyprus by 8 November, the date that the EU will release Turkey's Progress Report has failed. We are saying the first phase because Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja's comments show that Finland has not lost hope. In fact, by holding a meeting with KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] President Mehmet Ali Talat in Brussels yesterday [ 3 November], immediately after his meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Javier Solana, official in charge of the EU's foreign and security policies, Tuomioja has shown the emphasis he puts on the Cyprus issue. Finnish Ambassador to Turkey Maria Serenius, stressing that "the fact that the Helsinki meeting has not been held does not mean that the initiative has died, also continues to be hopeful.

The fact that the speech that Prime Minister Erdogan gave in Istanbul yesterday during the "News Xchange [last two words in English]" meeting, in which many foreign journalists also participated, mainly focused on Cyprus and the ties with the EU was very meaningful in this regard. Furthermore the fact that in his speech Erdogan imposed pressure on Greece in a very interesting manner was also meaningful. Erdogan noted that the Helsinki meeting that was proposed by Finland was cancelled because despite the fact that Turkey had been invited to this meeting, Greece had not been invited. "South Cyprus's counterpart is the KKTC," said Erdogan. In an interesting manner Erdogan referred to the fact that similar to the former Greek prime ministers, his "friend" Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has not conducted an official visit to Turkey, either.

If we look from a narrow standpoint, we may find a sort of envy in these comments. After all, following the visit conducted by Greek Chief of Staff Admiral Panayotis Hinofotis in Ankara in July 2006, Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit conducted a reciprocal visit to Athens between 1-4 November. Referring to the goal of the unprecedented visit conducted by a Turkish chief of staff in Greece, Buyukanit noted that "they aim to assist the politicians to easily find the grounds for conciliation."

Despite the fact that Erdogan went to Athens twice -- once within the framework of an official visit -- he is not able to bring Karamanlis to Ankara. Yesterday, referring to the reasons behind this, Erdogan said to the journalists: "This is because he is afraid of you." When we look from a wider angle, we understand the unsaid reason behind this reproach: Greek prime ministers are concerned that the Greek media will declare an official visit to Ankara a step backward and even betrayal in the face of Turkey which they consider an invader in Cyprus and a violator in the Aegean.

It will be wrong to link Erdogan's insistence in this regard to the fear of a "train wreck." Ankara has not believed in such a train wreck from the very beginning.

The truth is that the fact that negotiations on a new chapter have not begun despite the fact that the scanning of all the chapters ended on 13 October may mean the "de facto [last two words in English]" freezing of the negotiations. Meanwhile in 2007, when presidential and parliamentary elections will be held, if Erdogan is able to say "we did not give anything without receiving anything in return in Cyprus and the EU can wait," he will certainly not lose votes.

On the other hand, the comments made by US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson to our correspondent Hilal Koylu show that the United States is concerned that the relations between Turkey and the EU will be damaged due to Cyprus. Wilson said: "There are things we can do in order to revive lost hopes and everyone should know that we will not hesitate to do all that we can."

Everyone knows that when Turkey's EU candidacy had been approved in Helsinki during Finland's term presidency in 1999, this had been the result of patient Finnish diplomacy and the pressure imposed by the United States at the last minute.

(At that time the US ambassador to Finland was Eric Edelman who later came to Ankara and who is currently the number three man in the Pentagon.) Will a similar process work now and will US Ambassador to Finland Marilyn Ware assume a role?

As an expert on Greece and Cyprus, Faruk Logoglu, who had served as Turkish ambassador to the United States for many years and who currently heads ASAM [Eurasia Strategic Research Center] gave the following answer to this question: "After the commencement of the negotiations with the EU the United States's chances for infiltration have decreased. However Cyprus's condition is special. The United States will not want its ties with Turkey to be destroyed due to a special condition. Furthermore the EU does not have the suitable structure, the necessary capacity, or the necessary license for resolving the Cyprus issue. The place for the solution of this problem is the United Nations. And the United States knows this and it will act accordingly."

In other words, yes, it is possible to hope for new initiatives regarding Cyprus during the EU summit that will be held on 14 and 15 December.

/SK

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