Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-05-22

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the new measures announced by the Republic of Cyprus for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community

[02] Reactions to the rally organized in Morfou

[03] A Turkish Cypriot parliamentary delegation visits Berlin

[04] YODAKs chairman says that the illegal universities will continue their efforts to speed up their relations with the world

[05] Avci in Ankara for the International Defense Industry Fair to pose as TRNC Minister among Defence Ministers

[06] Reports about existence of crisis in the government of the breakaway regime

[07] Ertan Ersan sends a letter to the ECHR on the issue of the missing Turkish Cypriots

[08] The sea and air traffic to and from the occupied areas of Cyprus in April

[09] ANAVATAN and DYP speed up unification process

[10] Turkey to spend 130 billion dollars in energy. Turk candidate for the presidency of ERRA

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Columnist in Hurriyet assesses three mysterious incidents which are reportedly related to nuclear espionage

[12] From the Turkish Press on political developments in Turkey

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the new measures announced by the Republic of Cyprus for the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community

The paper notes that the package includes also the establishment of joint companies between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots and the technological strengthening of these companies in trade and the manufacturing of agricultural products.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily SOZCU newspaper (22.05.07) covers the issue under the banner front page title Establish joint firms.

Referring to the issue, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (22.05.07) claims that the government of the Republic reserved 30 million euros in order to be able to buy off the Turkish Cypriots. The paper covers the issue under the banner front-page title Wanted collaborators to be bought off with money.

Finally, Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (22.05.07) refers to the issue under the title Consolation package! The other newspapers cover the issue in their inside pages.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Reactions to the rally organized in Morfou

Turkay Tokel of the National Unity Party (UBP) said that the 20 thousand people who moved to Morfou in 1974 live in uncertainty for 30 years. He said that the message from the rally is that the property issue should be solved with compensations. Ramadan Gilanlioglu of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) noted that only 300-400 persons from Morfou participated in the rally, in which the total participation reached 2.500 according to official information. He described the rally as a show of the ultra nationalists. Mehmet Caglar of CTP said that this was a rally against the government.

Erdogan Sanlidag of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) said that there are no negotiations and at the same time there is no such view as giving away Morfou. He said that there is nothing on the agenda until the end of 2007. He argued that the state should invest in the area so that the people of Morfou may feel secure and to defend their land.

Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (22.05.07) reports that evaluating the rally in Morfou, the leader of the United Cyprus Party (BKP) Izzet izcan described it as a rally of the deep state. Izcan noted:

The circles outside the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and other circles have been unified and are materializing a joint operation. This is a joint intervention from the deep state. The thing that is set forth here as well is the flag and the national values. Now they tried a similar experiment in Morfou. They can reach nowhere with such methods. If the CTP continues on this path defeats will be following one another and after the negative decisions chauvinism and nationalism will be further incited. This will cause further tension. And we are not going to win anything from this. We will come to the game of Papadopoulos. In fact, what he wants is to lead us away from Europe.

(I/Ts.)

[03] A Turkish Cypriot parliamentary delegation visits Berlin

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily BAKIS newspaper (22.05.07) reports that no MP from the Democratic Party will participate in the trips abroad. The paper notes that the delegation under Mrs Ekenoglu will be holding contacts in Berlin until 27 May.

(I/Ts.)

[04] YODAKs chairman says that the illegal universities will continue their efforts to speed up their relations with the world

In statements in London, Mr Celik argued that the Bologna Process is not a sine qua non for the illegal universities and added that they continue their efforts for increasing their quality and speed up their relations with other universities in the world. At the moment, the situation of the Turkish Cypriot Universities is on the agenda of the European Ministers of Education, he noted.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Avci in Ankara for the International Defense Industry Fair to pose as TRNC Minister among Defence Ministers

Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Turgay Avci has left the Republic for Ankara to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th International Defense Industry Fair.

The 8th International Defence Industry Fair will kick off tomorrow morning with an opening ceremony at the Ankara Hippodrome.

This evening Mr. Avci will be attending the welcoming dinner given in honour of the Ministers attending the Fair by the Turkish Minister of Defense and the President of the Foundation for Strengthening the Turkish Armed Forces Vecdi Gonul.

He will then be attending the reception which will be given by the General Manager of the Foundation for Strengthening the Turkish Armed Forces retired Lieutenant General Aydin Sen.

The 8th International Defense Industry Fair will start tomorrow at the Ankara Hippodrome with an opening ceremony at 10:30 am.

Following the opening ceremony Mr. Avci will visit the stands at the Hippodrome and then he will attend a lunch which will be given by the Turkish Minister of Defense and the President of the Foundation for Strengthening the Turkish Armed Forces Vecdi Gonul.

Mr. Avci will return to the Republic tomorrow afternoon after completing his contacts in Ankara.

[06] Reports about existence of crisis in the government of the breakaway regime

The paper notes that a strong dispute broke out between Avci and Ozturk and that afterwards Avci left for Ankara. The paper claims that the Republican Turkish Party does not favour Oztruk because of his past relation with the Nationalist Peoples Movement (UHH). According to the paper, Avci is ready to make all sacrifices in order not to spoil the coalition with the CTP.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Ertan Ersan sends a letter to the ECHR on the issue of the missing Turkish Cypriots

He claimed that the government has not investigated the cause of their death and that it has not informed their families. Mr Ersan has sent a letter on the issue to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the permanent representatives of Britain, Denmark, France, Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

(I/Ts.)

[08] The sea and air traffic to and from the occupied areas of Cyprus in April

(I/Ts.)

[09] ANAVATAN and DYP speed up unification process

The calendar for the unification of Motherland (Anavatan) and True Path Party (DYP) will kick off with a congress where rules and by-laws of the DYP would be changed. The congress will take place this coming weekend. On Sunday, May 27th, DYP will adopt the new name, "Democrat Party" (DP). DP, which recently filed an application with the Ministry of Interior for formal set up procedures, will hold a meeting of founders and make a decision in favour of joining the DYP before DYP's congress on Sunday, May 27th. On that date DYP will approve DP's joining the DYP and change its name to "Democrat Party" (DP). The logo of the new party will be a white horse on Turkey's map.

On Saturday, June 2nd, the Motherland Party will hold its 9th Convention in Ankara. At the convention, the Motherland Party will also make a decision in favour of joining the DP. Based on the decision at the congress, the Motherland Party will formally dissolve itself after 25 years of existence in Turkish politics. Meanwhile, the DP party program will be announced on Friday, May 25th at a meeting in Istanbul. The DP meeting will take place at Lutfu Kirdar Arena and will be attended by DYP Chairman Mehmet Agar and Motherland Party Chairman Erkan Mumcu.

[10] Turkey to spend 130 billion dollars in energy. Turk candidate for the presidency of ERRA

"According to our development plan, an investment of 128-130 billion USD is required for the energy sector in the coming 13 years," said Yusuf Gunay, president of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), on Monday. The two-day "6th Energy Regulation and Investment Conference" which is organized by Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) began in Istanbul. Yusuf Gunay who delivered a speech at the inauguration of the conference noted that the amount of investments that should be made in the world by 2030, is determined to be around 20 trillion USD according to OECD. "Every country that is trying to attract investment, is making calculations to get its share from this amount," he added.

Gunay underscored the fact that Turkey has the third highest rate of increase in electricity demand, proceeded by India and China. After stating that the annual demand growth for electricity in Turkey is 8 percent, Gunay said, "we must make 3 billion USD investment only in electricity in order to include 10 billion kilowatt/hour power annually. According to our development plan, we must invest 128-130 billion USD in energy sector in 13 years. 100 billion USD of this amount should be in electrical energy. We do not have any other alternative."On the other hand upon a question on the electricity demand for Turkey, Gunay said "according to the data, we do not foresee a problem regarding energy supply."

Investments in energy sector, competition in electricity and natural gas sectors, regional energy trade, pricing policies, roles of the regulatory institutions will be on the agenda during the conference.

Yusuf Gunay is among the candidates who will run for ERRA president in the General Assembly meeting to be held on May 22nd.

ERRA has 22 Full, 4 Associate and one Affiliate Members. The Association began as a cooperative exchange among 12 energy regulatory bodies. The U.S. National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), through a Cooperative Agreement with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has been providing technical forums, meetings and study tours for the energy regulators of the above region since 1999. In 1999, an ad-hoc Steering Committee began development of the structural and operational elements of the future association, including its purpose and objectives. In December 2000, a Constitution was signed by 15 members that established the ERRA in Bucharest.

Turkey is a full member since 2002.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[11] Columnist in Hurriyet assesses three mysterious incidents which are reportedly related to nuclear espionage

I wrote how Iran's former Assistant Defence Minister Ali Riza Askari had gone missing in Istanbul.

I chased up the story for a long time and continued with it. This was the story that got the jury to award me the Abdi Ipekci Award for Journalism this year. My thanks to them. It is a great honour for me.

Let us continue:

Putting together several things that have happened recently I can see that these kinds of developments are not simply made up of the General Askari incident. When you look carefully you see that Turkey has fallen smack into the middle of an espionage war.

The topic is Iran's nuclear activities.

Askari's mysterious disappearance has been interpreted as a CIA operation because he was privy to Iran's nuclear activities.

Later on it emerged that another important name had fled Iran and come to Turkey: Muhsin Mahammedi Jam. He was taken into custody in Van. Afterwards, Germany intervened and took him to Munich. Iran again objected. In all probability he was an information smuggler from Iran.

And the third incident:

A Pakistani general crashes in a small plane while flying from Trabzon to Tabriz in Iran.

I asked this incident to many state officials. The common answer they gave me was this:

"This is serious. We are looking into it."

The seriousness is due to this:

Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons technology. This general, called Zakaullah Bhangoo, is a key figure in Pakistan. He was taking some important information to Iran. Otherwise, why not take a scheduled flight?

I know very well that intelligence units are looking into this latest incident.

Looking from this perspective all these incidents have Iran in common. These mysterious incidents show that Turkey has fallen into the middle of a "spy hunt" or an "espionage war" started up against Iran. Furthermore, this is a dangerous war with a nuclear component.

[12] From the Turkish Press on political developments in Turkey

Following are excepts from reports, articles and commentaries:

According to a news report in THE NEW ANATOLIAN, former Kurdish DEP deputies are determined to enter parliament and are disregarding a warning by the Supreme Court of Appeals that they have criminal records.

In an article in MILLIYET Semih Idiz expresses his doubts on whether the CHP-DSP (Democratic Left Party) alliance will have any content. The CHP (Republican People�s Party) is no longer a social democratic party, he argues, and this party believes that the citizens who filled the republic rallies are going to vote for it. Idiz maintains that without a credible economic and social program, the alliance will not get enough votes to bring it to power.

In an article under the title: "Reassure the AKP if you are anti-imperialist", YENI SAFAK columnist Hakan Albayrak argues that if the ruling AKP is pro-American and pro-European in a way that can cause the Turkish military to release a statement expressing its uneasiness over foreign policy concessions that have jeopardized Turkey's national interests, it is only because the measures adopted against the Welfare Party and devout circles in general during the 28 February process left the founders of the AKP and devout voters with no option but to turn to the West. Albayrak underlines the need to "restore the AKP's confidence" and claims that the Erdogan government will assume a much more national stance as soon as it is convinced that there is no possibility of an intervention in the democratic system.

YENI SAFAK publishes an interview under the title: "The woman phenomenon has never been so extensively exploited before" with Associate Professor Zeynep Dagi, who asserts, responding to questions about the role played by women in the recent Republican rallies, that "women are turning into an object of conflict and a political tool in Turkey's politics" and that the rallies show how women are being used to create a crisis and polarize society. She also argues that the latest developments in Turkey have promoted the impression that Turkey's democracy has not become institutionalized, that the rule of law is not working, and that military-civilian relations are too far below EU standards.

Under the headline, "A sinister plan," VAKIT newspaper publishes a front-page report which quotes Professor Dogu Ergil as saying that the efforts to establish leftist and rightist alliances are the result of a social engineering project intended to unite all parties against the AKP and enable Republican People's Party, CHP, leader Deniz Baykal to become prime minister.

In an article entitled "You asked for polarization and you will have to bear the consequences", VAKIT columnist Selahaddin Cakirgil accuses the Turkish Establishment of fuelling a secular/anti-secular polarization by trying to force the "Islamic nation" to "bow down before icons and other symbols made into a religion by the nation of secularists." He warns that "if you continue to try to impose your religion on us, it might be hard to tell how and where the defence mechanism against that madness will be put into action and where it will stop."

In an article entitled "The AKP's hostility toward religion or fears that the AKP will establish sharia order", VAKIT columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak accuses "deep forces" of trying to fuel secularist fears of an AKP-ruled Turkey where flights are delayed because pilots are too busy performing Islamic prayers, doctors halt operations to go to mosques, buses are segregated by sex, thieves have their hands cut off, police officers beat girls publicly for not wearing headscarves.

In an article entitled "Different inside and outside", ZAMAN columnist Ali Bulac argues on the basis of studies suggesting that some 62 percent of those attending the recent Republican rallies voted for the CHP in the 2002 elections that it is wrong to assume that the participants in these rallies consist largely of middle-class voters. He asserts that it would be safer to say that the rallies are bringing together people who "belong to a different strata and ideological-political universe" and represent the bureaucratic, service sector, and rentier groups accounting for some 46 percent of the national income.

In an article under the title: "Letter from Milli Gazete", MILLI GAZETE columnist Necdet Kutsal asserts that Turkey faces today a much worse choice than it did in the days following the 9/11 attacks between siding with the Bush administration against Islam or alienating the United States, to wit, cooperating with "racist imperialism" either under a CHP or an AKP government.

EG/

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