Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 09-12-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat explained to HaberTurk his ideal of a United Cyprus: A federation based on the Swiss model internally and the Belgian model externally

[02] President Christofias and Talat held their 56th meeting in the framework of the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem

[03] Downer briefed Talat on his contacts in Washington and New York

[04] Downer delivered a speech at Eastern Mediterranean University on Geopolitics and Rising Asia

[05] Turkey votes against the UNSC resolution on the expansion of UNFICYP

[06] Reference to the occupied areas of Cyprus during a meeting of Turkeys Deputy Parliament Speaker with a delegation of the Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference

[07] The 50% of Turkeys financial aid to the occupation regime in 2008 was used for the budget deficit

[08] Mubarak on a three-day visit to Turkey. Egypts cooperation with Cyprus and isolations on the agenda

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] From the Turkish Press of 14 December 2009

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat explained to HaberTurk his ideal of a United Cyprus: A federation based on the Swiss model internally and the Belgian model externally

The TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat announced his ideal of a United Cyprus: A federation based on the Swiss model internally and the Belgian model externally.

The TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat who, as from 2008, met 59 times with the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration Demetris Christofias, has explained to HaberTurk the point reached on the way of the ideal of a United Cyprus: We take as an example the Swiss model for domestic affairs and the Belgian model for international relations. Besides the flag of the United Cyprus, the flag of the TRNC flag will remain also. Turkey will not be mother, it will be a big brother.

The structure of the state:

We did not talk about the name of the state, but it can either be United Cyprus, or United Federal Cyprus, or United Cyprus State. It will be a federal structure with two founding states of equal status. The authorities of the mechanisms representing the single international identity of the country will belong to the federal government. The rest will belong to the founding states. Sovereignty will be used in the level of both the federation and the founding states. We consider as a basis the Swiss model for the internal affairs and the model of Belgium for the international relations.

Federal police:

The court, the entire police, the security and the judicial mechanisms will belong to the people of the founding states. Besides the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot police force, there will be a Federal Police Force also.

The armies will remain:

There will be no local army in the two sides. Greek Cypriots do not wish the presence of army coming from the guarantor countries either. Whereas we wish for the withdrawal of the troops of the guarantor countries from the island, in order for the number foreseen in the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee to remain.

Working language, English:

In the new constitution, Turkish and Greek will be the two official languages. The federal government will use both forms for every kind of writing. Now it is being discussed whether English will be the working language.

Presidential elections:

We reached to an agreement on the issue of rotating presidency, but we do not agree on the term and the election form. They want four years for the Greek Cypriots and two years for the Turkish Cypriots, but we propose three years for the Greek Cypriots and two years for the Turkish Cypriots. We say the senate to elect them, they say people to elect.

Subtitle: Turkey the big brother

Talat says that the relations of Turkey with the Turkish Cypriots will be of a close relationship in case the Turkish Cypriots are an equal part of a united state: We support the recognition of the right of the free movement also for the Turks, as it will happen for the Greek citizens who will arrive to the United Cyprus. The TRNC is at the moment the daughter country, because it behaves in such a way and wants such a treatment. If the Turkish Cypriots undertake a new role as an equal part of a united state in the EU, this role will not be the mother daughter country, but it will be like a blood related brother with whom a very close bond exists. Turkey will be like a big brother. Because it is more experienced, bigger, its economy is stronger.

Subtitle: The tactic of one year delay for the ports

Talat who said that he does not consider right the inclusion in the text of the conclusions of the EU Summit that Turkeys non-opening of its ports and airports to the Greek Cypriots will be re-evaluated after one year, continued:

I was constantly warning the EU. I was saying do not provide a new date. If you do this, the Greek Cypriots will delay the solution until that date. They will start waiting for that date to come. We could not make the EU listen to this of course. They postponed it for one year. Now it is any time possible for the Greek Cypriot side to be directed to that date and to exert efforts to postpone it until then. But I do not think that it can do this because there is a whole year in front of us.

Subtitle: Denktas constantly writes to me

Talat said the following as regards the proposals to him on the process by Rauf Denktas:

We constantly receive the message from Denktas (that Cyprus is being sold out). He writes articles continuously. He writes personally to me and he sends what he writes to the newspapers as well. In the past he was obliged to show some flexibility for some other reasons, but now there is no such thing. In fact, there is nothing he proposes; he says lets our state continue, let us have it recognized.

(ML)

[02] President Christofias and Talat held their 56th meeting in the framework of the negotiations for solving the Cyprus problem

Leaders in Cyprus are continuing their talks within the framework of the negotiation process launched in September last year. President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met this afternoon again for further discussions on the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing.

The meeting between the two leaders started at 4.00 oclock at the building allocated for the talks in the United Nations controlled buffer zone. The last meeting of the year will be held on the 21st of December and the first meeting of the New Year on the 4th of January. As from that date, President Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Christofias will intensify their talks by hosting the talks at their homes.

Mr Christofias will be hosting the negotiations for three consecutive days as from the 11th of January at his home in south Lefkosia and President Talat as from the 18th of January at his home in Girne [occupied Keryneia].

The two leaders have been continuing the talks since September last year with the aim of bringing about a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

[03] Downer briefed Talat on his contacts in Washington and New York

Mr Downer, in a short statement after the meeting, said that they exchanged views regarding the meetings between the two leaders. Mr Downer also said that he informed Mr Talat on his impressions regarding his contacts in New York and Washington, adding that he had an opportunity in the States to meet with Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Noting that the international community expects, this time, the ongoing negotiations to yield a positive outcome, Mr Downer said that there is a great expectation that the leaders will finalize the negotiations with success. Finally, Mr Downer said that the Cyprus problem is a very difficult problem, however, they will continue to encourage the two leaders towards a successful result.

(DPs)

[04] Downer delivered a speech at Eastern Mediterranean University on Geopolitics and Rising Asia

The United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer delivered a speech at the Eastern Mediterranean University today.In his speech, the UN Envoy said he does not expect Asian countries to launch an initiative to provide funds for the solution of the property issue because of the global economic crisis.

The UN Envoy delivered a speech, titled Geopolitics and Rising Asia at a special event organized by the Department of International Relations of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

Responding to a question concerning the property issue which is seen as the biggest obstacle in the way of a solution, Mr Downer said that because of the global economic crisis, he does expect an initiative from developing Asian countries on the establishment of a special fund for the solution of the property problem as envisaged by the Annan Plan.

On Ankaras EU membership process, the UN Envoy said that he sees a big potential in Turkey for the European Union, adding that its membership process will also affect the future of the whole region.

[05] Turkey votes against the UNSC resolution on the expansion of UNFICYP

Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) said on Monday that Turkey supported UN Secretary-General's good will mission in Cyprus.

Turkey's ambassador Ertugrul Apakan said that Turkey opposed to the method and language the UN Security Council used in its resolutions regarding the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), not the reason of the establishment of the force.

'Turkey also opposes to the fact that the consent of the Turkish Cypriots is not asked regarding the mandate of the UNFICYP', Apakan said during a UN Security Council session in New York.

The Council decided to expand the mandate of the force in Cyprus for six more months. Turkey voted against the resolution, whereas the other 14 members voted for the resolution. Thus, UNFICYP's mandate will last till June 15, 2010.

In the session, Apakan said that Turkey welcomed the progress recorded in ongoing Cyprus negotiations aiming to set up a partnership state on the basis of UN parameters including bi-zonal structure, political equality and equal status of two founder nations.

UNFICYP was set up in 1964 to prevent recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order.

The force remains on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone and undertake humanitarian activities.

[06] Reference to the occupied areas of Cyprus during a meeting of Turkeys Deputy Parliament Speaker with a delegation of the Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference

Turkish Deputy Parliament Speaker Nevzat Pakdil met with Li Wuwei, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and an accompanying delegation in Ankara on Monday.

Pakdil said at the meeting, 'we want a solution to the Cyprus issue under the roof of the United Nations. We want that Greek Cypriot administration should be reminded of its responsibilities while the sanctions on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be lifted'.

Referring to the recent developments, Pakdil said that Turkey was in favor of ensuring tranquillity in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region of China. 'We wish that Uyghur people would constitute a bridge of peace between Turkish and Chinese peoples. Turkey pursues the principle not to be involved in domestic affairs of the other countries. We wish that all countries would respect human rights', he said.

On economic and commercial relations, Pakdil said that the People's Republic of China was the biggest commercial partner of Turkey.

'Our current trade volume is about 17 billion USD. But there is a serious imbalance against Turkey. We hope to correct it and increase mutual investments', he said.

[07] The 50% of Turkeys financial aid to the occupation regime in 2008 was used for the budget deficit

According to the report, the Financial Aid for the year 2008 was not used efficiently and the 50% of the aid was used for the budget deficit. It is reported that while it was planned that Turkeys aid to the occupation regime would be of the amount of 790 million 209 thousands and 729 TL, the amount of 913 million 23 thousands and 593 TL was given finally.

[08] Mubarak on a three-day visit to Turkey. Egypts cooperation with Cyprus and isolations on the agenda

Mubarak, who left Cairo on Sunday, had talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris Elysee Palace on Monday ahead of his arrival in Turkey. He is scheduled to have talks with both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During Mubaraks visit to Turkey, Egypts ongoing efforts to broker a deal between Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, and Israel for the release the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Israel freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are likely to be at the center of discussions.

In addition to that, the global dispute surrounding Irans controversial nuclear program; the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean, which was launched in Paris in July 2008 following intense efforts by Frances Sarkozy; Egypts support of Greek Cyprus plans to open the Mediterranean for oil exploration despite objections from its northern neighbor Turkey and the estranged Turkish Cypriots; and bilateral economic relations are expected to cover the agenda of the talks, concludes Todays Zaman.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] From the Turkish Press of 14 December 2009

a) In the aftermath of DTP closure:

Devrim Sevimay pens a report in Milliyet on an interview she conducted with Justice and Development Party, AKP, Deputy Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat focusing on the Kurdish problem and the government's Kurdish and democratic overture. Firat says that the government's overture should not be viewed as a "Kurdish overture," but rather as a general overture that pertains to the problems of minorities and Alevis as well. On the DTP's closure case and the ban imposed on some politicians, Firat says that "Ahmet Turk was the last person in the DTP that should have been banned from politics." The fact that Turk refused to acknowledge that the PKK is a terrorist organization does not justify the ban imposed on him, Firat maintains, adding that the DTP is a regional party and Turk's reasons for not acknowledging this fact should be understood. The DTP members cannot risk being excommunicated by their own electorate, Firat says.

In a column in Milliyet, Kadri Gursel is pessimistic that the Kurds in Turkey will produce their own Gerry Adams, who was so influential in the peace process in Northern Ireland. "This is the bitter truth exposed by the overture process that has collapsed," Gursel bemoans. He says that there are two reasons that there will not be a Kurdish Gerry Adams. The first is that the military wing of the IRA did not have a specific leader, which enabled its political leader Adams to become influential; while Abdullah Ocalan is the undisputed leader of the PKK. The second is the "profound self-confidence and tolerance of the democracy in the United Kingdom," a kind of democracy that cannot be compared with ours and that allowed Sinn Fein, the political wing of the movement, to remain open. Gursel argues: The Kurdish revolt caused by Ocalan's so-called prison conditions and the PKK attack in Resadiye helped to wipe the DTP off of the political arena, while the defective Turkish democracy dealt the last blow on the overture with the court decision to close down the party. Pointing out that the Kurdish overture is standing on two legs, namely Turkey and Iraq, Gursel maintains that the limp in the Turkish leg will also undermine the Iraqi leg. The Resadiye attack is aimed at portraying Imrali and Qandil as the only alternative, Gursel notes, concluding that "the best response to this defiance is to resume the overture with a new concept that embraces the entire society."

Hurriyet carries a report on an interview with Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal by Sukru Kucuksahin on the state of the democratic overture in the wake of the court decision to close down the DTP. Accordingly, Baykal says that he is willing to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan if the latter renounces his overture based on ethnic identity and adopts democratization on the basis of individuals. Baykal claims that Erdogan brought the country to the point of dissociation, and calls Erdogan a traitor in this regard.

Claiming that 'civilian politics are once again facing the proponents of violence and oppression in the hands of constitutional institutions', Mahmut Over, in a column in Sabah, ponders on what the government should do now to extricate the country from this chaotic atmosphere and rescue politics from this pressure. In a bid to give new impetus to the 'democratic overture process' and to inspire new political hope, Over suggests that the AKP transport two issues to the agenda of the National Assembly. Basing himself on 'political experts and experienced politicians', Ovur says the amendment of the Political Parties Law and the law on the election threshold in line with EU standards can augur a new era.

In an article entitled "A proposal to the DTP on the brink of a new period", Yeni Safak columnist Hakan Albayrak highlights a passage from a Radikal article dated 2007 by Aysel Tugluk, former co-chairperson of the defunct DTP, in which Tugluk called on "Kurdish intellectuals and politicians" to refrain from engaging in "ethnic nationalism" and dissociate themselves from any activities that could promote separatism or fuel domestic conflicts. Albayrak calls on the DTP to adopt Tugluk's views in this article as its 'official' outlook. He also criticizes the top court's ruling to ban the DTP as a decision that has stopped a process whereby certain recent developments including particularly the 'massacre' in Resadiye carried out by the PKK had been 'strengthening the hand of the DTP's doves'.

In an article entitled "DTP closure: A step toward doing away with the AKP", Yeni Safak columnist Yasin Aktay argues that the timing of the Constitutional Court's decision to close down the DTP - amid Kurdish demonstrations across the country staged in protest at the conditions of Abdullah Ocalan's imprisonment and shortly in the wake of a PKK statement claiming responsibility for the terrorist attack on a group of Turkish soldiers in Resadiye - appears to be intended to wear down the ruling AKP by using its latest "democratic overture" as a means of turning the tide of public opinion against this party. He claims that the top court's ruling is part of a plan to have the AKP voted out of office, a comprehensive strategy where, he asserts, the DTP's role consists of its deputies expected resignation from Parliament.

In an article entitled "Solution", Vakit columnist Abdurrahman Dilipak asserts that the closure of the DTP has caused public concern over the possibility that 'things might go out of control all of a sudden'. He also underlines 'our need to find a way to coexist with one another peacefully despite our differences', 'switch to a participatory, pluralist, and transparent governance system', end 'military tutelage' over the political authority, and remove obstacles to freedom of speech.

Finally in a column in Milliyet, Hursit Gunes focuses on the economic outlook for Turkey. Referring to the possible consequences of the DTP's closure, Gunes concedes that political instability could result in economic instability, but expresses the opinion that the party's closure will not cause significant political change. Despite the strong financial system and the low inflation, Gunes says, the economy has become more fragile in the past two years, the growth rate has decreased, and unemployment is rising with no end in sight. Gunes concludes: "While the negative conditions prevail with regard to both domestic and foreign demand, the escalating atmosphere of terrorism and tension could affect the debt dynamics, the foreign balance, and even the growth via expenditures. In this situation, it would be more appropriate for the government to develop its relations with other political sectors, rather than apply the psychotherapy of consoling the markets with the IMF."

b) Turkeys EU relations in connection with Cyprus:

Ferai Tinc pens an article in Hurriyet lamenting the lack of interest in Turkey to the results of the EU summit held in Brussels on 10-11 December. Pointing out that the reaction of the government came in two conflicting statements -- a welcoming one by chief negotiator Egemen Bagis and a Foreign Ministry statement criticizing Cyprus for blocking five chapters in the negotiations. Bemoaning the lack of an effective and unified response to the EU, Tinc speculates that Turkey's silence may have derived from the fact that the EU fell short of halting the process entirely on the grounds that Ankara failed to fulfill its commitments pertaining to Cyprus in the additional protocol. Tinc then asks if the continuation of the negotiation process is not becoming meaningless, given that neither Europe nor Turkey is interested in this process any more. She opines: 'Turkey's multidimensional foreign policy goal is linked to its European vision. It is not possible for a Turkey that has lost its European vision to continue its regional influence. The European vision, in turn, cannot continue on the basis of a status gained five years ago. Turkey should not reduce all its ties with Europe to a technical level'. Tinc also urges the government as well as Brussels to exert efforts not to allow the people to forget the European vision.

ES/

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