Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-01-27

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

[01] Ozersay argues that the timetable of the negotiations became clear after the Greentree summit

[02] CTP: The last warning was made at the Greentree summit; TDP: It is early for an international conference

[03] KTOS: Turkey has created the problems of population, territory and property in Cyprus

[04] Reactions to the latest statement of Akca

[05] The rally "Big Action" has been postponed

[06] Kucuk denied information that the PKK has a training base in occupied Pentadaktylos Mountains

[07] Turkey is reportedly champion in human rights violations

[08] "AKP silently discusses amendment to statute" TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS Statements by Kudret Ozersay on the Greentree summit, comments by Turkish Cypriot politicians on the results of the summit, reactions to Halil Ibrahim Akca's statements on the agreement achieved between the self-styled government of the regime and the trade union of the employees in the "electricity authority" (KIB-TEK), reports saying that the big rally planned for 30 January by five political parties and many organizations is annulled, and other internal issues are the main topics covered by the Turkish Cypriot press today. The papers refer also to information published in the Turkish press regarding existence of PKK camps on occupied Pentadakltylos Mountains and reaction to this information by the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk. The visit of the head of Iraq's Islamic Supreme Council Ammar al-Hakim to Turkey, a statement by EU Minister Egemen Bagis' in Davos that "Europe needs a new vision; New Europe can be possible with only Turkey", and other domestic issues are covered today in the Turkish press.

[01] Ozersay argues that the timetable of the negotiations became clear after the Greentree summit

In statements to Havadis, Ozersay said that Ban Ki-moon is not joking anymore. Ozersay claimed that the Turkish Cypriot side "will not invest on the failure of the process, but if we do not receive the necessary answers from our interlocutor, failure and the end of the process is one of the possibilities and everyone should know this".

Asked how he sees the issue of the multilateral conference, Ozersay said this was a means and a platform where all the unsolved issues will be put onto the table and a great bargaining will be held by all actors coming together.

He added, inter alia, the following: "Everyone should know very well that the Cyprus problem is not a problem only between two communities. It is a problem which concerns various aspects of the international politics and directly concerns other regional and international actors. Therefore, as the Secretary ? General said in his statement, if the Cyprus problem is to be solved, this conference will be held. Actually, I do not think that there is a reason for the Greek Cypriot side to refrain from this conference, because there is a principle on which agreement exists in Cyprus for approximately ten years now. According to this, before the text of the solution comes into effect, first it should definitely be submitted to the approval of both communities in a referendum. Therefore, it is very meaningless and harmful to continuously inject into the Greek Cypriot community the imposed solution paranoia. This approach and using delaying tactics might cause the imposition of another solution on us by time. The multilateral conference is not the objective of the Turkish Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side will not give concessions which will find no response and are not balanced only for the sake of this conference to be held because it is a means for finding a solution, or for example for the sake of esteemed Downer to make a positive evaluation in March?"

Asked what the outcome of the Greentree summit was, Ozersay argued that a clear timetable came out "with the influence of the positive steps of the Turkish Cypriot side". Noting that the Greek Cypriot side wants the UN Security-Council to have a role in the next steps in the process and expressing the view that all internal issues should be solved before going to an international conference, Ozersay claimed that from the statement made by the UN Secretary-General it is understood that what is necessary is not the solution of all the internal problems, but a positive evaluation [by Alexander Downer]. "And for this, progress should be achieved of course", he said.

Responding to a question on the stance of the UN Secretary-General at the Greentree, Ozersay said they saw that Ban Ki-moon's approach to the issues and his evaluation of the process was "extremely serious and determined". "When he said that an open-ended process is not possible, he did not said it merely for the sake of saying it", he added noting that the Secretary-General has emphasized that this is a Cypriot-led process and the sides should undertake their responsibility in case of a failure. "These are extremely serious messages and show that the Secretary-General is not joking", he noted adding that the Secretary-General described what and how will be done in order for the process to end before the Republic of Cyprus' EU term presidency.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (27.01.12) reports that in statements to illegal TAK, Ozersay commented on Ban Ki-moon's statement after the Greentree summit. He alleged that the Turkish Cypriot side made many proposals on the three core issues and claimed that if a positive response or at least a response was given to the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side, these issues would have been solved at the Greentree summit. "An important opportunity was lost or postponed from this point of view", he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[02] CTP: The last warning was made at the Greentree summit; TDP: It is early for an international conference

Yorgancioglu said that the Secretary-General assigned some duties to the leaders at the summit and that the outcome was related with the conditions under which an international conference will be held. Yorgancioglu accused Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu of remaining silent and of causing the inclusion in the UN documents of President Christofias' demand that an international conference will be convened in case agreement is reached on all issues. This is very unfortunate, he alleged.

According to Yorgancioglu, in his letter of invitation for the 2nd Greentree summit, Ban Ki-moon stated that he was not satisfied with both leaders, because they have generally not carried out the four-stage duty he had given them, that the Turkish Cypriot side "behaves very hesitantly" on the exchange of documents on the population and other issues, and that if the problem remains unsolved because of the issue of the cross voting, the Turkish side is the one to be blamed.

Yorgancioglu said that the result of the Greentree summit was the expected one because the sides went there unprepared and left to the Greentree summit the solution of all the problems.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (27.01.12) reports that Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), evaluated the results of the Greentree summit and said that if a wish and will exists, the problem could be solved within three or four months, but it is still early for an international conference. He argued that most probably the leaders did not submit proposals in the summit and the UN Secretary-General is not satisfied with this.

Noting that in March UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Cyprus will prepare a report which will be submitted to the UN Security Council, Cakici said that it is early for expecting an international conference. The Greek Cypriots will not accept this proposal, because they believe that all issues should be completed before going to an international conference, he said and added: "Therefore, I think that the Greek Cypriots will not accept it and it is early for an international conference".

Star Kibris (27.01.12) reports also that the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat evaluated the statements made after the Greentree summit. Speaking to Ada television, Talat said that the picture created after the summit was not positive. Talat sent messages both to the Turkish Cypriot leader and President Christofias. He argued: "I have many times told Eroglu that we have to solve this problem, the non-solution is not an alternative for us". He said that his message to President Christofias is the following: "Leave aside your fears, show leadership and let us solve the Cyprus problem as soon as possible".

(I/Ts.)

[03] KTOS: Turkey has created the problems of population, territory and property in Cyprus

Elcil evaluated the Greentree summit in a written statement and said that the expected result was announced by the UN Secretary-General after the summit.

"The fundamental issues that prevent the solution of the Cyprus problem are all actions ignoring the international law put forward by Turkey, which intervened militarily within the framework of its responsibility as guarantor power to restore the territorial integrity and the constitutional order of the Republic of Cyprus", he pointed out.

Elcil said that in the statement made after the Greentree summit, the UN Secretary-General declared the population, the territory and the property as unsolved issues. He actually confirmed once more that these problems were created by Turkey, noted Elcil adding: "While we are struggling with the colonization strategy imposed by the AKP government in the north of our island, we must see that the centre which imposes the non-solution is the same". Accusing Turkey of implementing the policy of "assimilation and colonization" in Cyprus, he said that the target of Ankara is to keep the Turkish Cypriots under blockade and take the entire Cyprus as its hostage. "These policies of Turkey, which continue with the support of Britain, are unacceptable", said Elcil.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Reactions to the latest statement of Akca

Esat Varoglu, General Secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said that Akca's statement regarding the agreement achieved between the "government" and the El-Sen, trade union of the employees in the so-called electricity authority (KIB-TEK), is interference to the domestic affairs of the country", adding that it is not possible to accept this.

Varoglu also said that "the ambassador has no right to make comments on an achieved agreement with a governor's manner, it is besides his duties and he has no authority on the issue".

Mustafa Emirogullari, "deputy" of TDP, said that "an ambassador of one country cannot interfere to the domestic affairs of another country".

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party - United Forces (CTP-BG) Ozkan Yorgancioglu said that Akca's statement "upsets the apple-cart".

On the same issue, the Platform of Producers' Union evaluated Akca's statement as wrong and groundless, adding that the "Turkish ambassador disregards the willpower of the Turkish Cypriots, interferes to their domestic affairs and this is against the relations of two sovereign states".

[05] The rally "Big Action" has been postponed

[06] Kucuk denied information that the PKK has a training base in occupied Pentadaktylos Mountains

Kucuk stated that the reports are fiction and groundless and added that the allegations created shock waves in the occupied area. He went on and added that the breakaway regime is under the strong protection of the Turkish armed forces.

In addition, Istanbul Star Online daily (26.01.12) reported that the PKK chose the occupied area to be a training base and added that the PKK has moved into Pentadaktylos where members of the organization are giving lesson to students.

The paper, which alleged that the PKK is already using the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus as a money laundering centre, writes that PKK is reportedly active in some universities in occupied Cyprus and alleged that when this structure of the PKK became apparent, the self-styled government in the occupied area moved into action and deported 16 students on grounds that they were engaged in terrorist activities.

[07] Turkey is reportedly champion in human rights violations

Speaking before the Turkish parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission on Wednesday, Usterci presented a report to the press and Commission members. The report indicates that unsolved murders were at their peak between 1990 and 1994. Usterci stated that unsolved murders should not be closed due to a statute of limitations. With the current judicial regulations, if the unsolved murder cases between 1992 and 1993 are not investigated soon, these will be closed due to a statute of limitations.

Usterci said the Susurluk affair -- which exposed links between the Turkish state, the criminal underworld and Turkish security forces -- signified high tensions in the 1990s and added: "If we look at those years to see why there are so many unsolved murders, we are inevitably led to the Kurdish problem.

The abuse of individual rights started when the state implemented counter-guerilla techniques and outright war."

In addition, Today's Zaman also reports that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has again found Turkey to be the most convicted country in 2011, third year in a row.

The head of the ECtHR Nicolas Bratza told a press briefing on Thursday that Turkey topped the list of countries violating the European Convention on Human Rights in 159 cases. Russia follows Turkey with 121 cases and Ukraine with 105. According to Bratza, Greece (69), Romania (58) and Poland (54) violated at least one article of the Convention. The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, recently said during a meeting that about 16,000 cases are currently open against Turkey, making it the country against which the second-highest number of charges has been filed.

[08] "AKP silently discusses amendment to statute"

"There is a special relationship between Erdogan and Gul that is unprecedented in Turkish politics, one that is based on solidarity.

Until a short while ago, the events of the year 2014 and beyond were not really talking points. Especially during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's surgery and during his recovery, nobody dared mention it. Nowadays, it is turning into a widespread topic of debate. Political calculations are being made. In the next couple of years, it will be debated even more.

The first movement started with the setting of President Abdullah Gul's presidential term at seven years. When the law confirmed that the President was elected once and for seven years, it gave the impression that the Prime Minister wanted Cankaya (the presidential mansion) vacated by 2014.

Then, with the Prime Minister's recovery, the situation became much clearer. Erdogan has never discussed the subject of the presidency. He has never even shared it with Gul, or any of his closest friends. However, be it in his body language or in his general attitude, when the topic is brought up, he has given the impression that he wants Cankaya and he has quite settled on the idea. At least, this is the impression his entourage has picked up.

Nowadays, the question that Justice and Development (AKP) party officials in Ankara ask is not: 'Will the Prime Minister ascend to Cankaya?' All speculation on that subject is now off. Erdogan is expected to move to Cankaya in 2014. The questions focus on other areas:

- Who will lead the party after Erdogan? Will Abdullah Gul return to his old position?

- If Gul doesn't return, who can replace him?

- Can the AKP win the election without Erdogan?

- To what extent will Erdogan continue to control the party?

- Because of the fourth-term ban in the party statute, the party's big guns will not be elected again. Is it necessary to change the party statute so that this only applies to leaders, and not other party members?

Everybody is talking about everything nowadays. But in a short while it is obvious that all debate will focus on these questions. Everyone is waiting. Nobody wants to say anything openly. It is as if they are waiting for a signal from the prime minister. Their concern and uncertainty can be felt openly. Even though they are saying that the party will stand firm and continue its way after Erdogan, the situation has not been completely digested. Nobody knows precisely what will happen to the party.

The questions in people's minds remain unanswered for the moment. Gul is resentful to his party. If you meet Abdullah Gul these days and ask him: 'Your honor, M. Ali Birand has written that you are resentful at the AKP because it was not able to decide on the length of your term for a long time, is that correct?' it is highly probable that he will answer: 'No, where do these stories come from?'

But the President really is resentful. I am writing this because I know it.

This resentfulness is because the decision on whether the President's term in office was five years or seven years was delayed for a long time. As a matter of fact, this is a just attitude. If the party had focused, they could have decided right away. You may remember, first they said it was the Supreme Election Board (YSK) that should decide. After that, they said it was not time yet. In fact, it was delayed and delayed. Rumors started and an unnecessary period of debate was experienced. Wherever the President went, whichever TV program he attended, he was addressed with the same question: 'When does your term end?'

He never raised his voice, he swallowed the question. But this situation annoyed him very much. Even though the law on his presidential term has since been approved, the President is angry at his party for delaying it for so long.

Of course, nobody says this very openly, but fingers are pointing at the Prime Minister. The AKP officials to whom you ask this question say: 'If the boss had given any signal, we would have done it right away.' The same circles say that the Prime Minister kept the subject suspended because he had not yet made a decision on whether to ascend to Cankaya, or its timing.

Another important question is whether Gul would want to lead the AKP. This question is never asked. Gul does not imply anything, either positive or negative. My guess is that after serving as President, Gul will not want to enter day-to-day politics. I don't think he would like a life of shovelling, pushing, shouting and fighting. Party officials, for sure, will insist that he takes over.

Also there is a special relationship between Erdogan and Gul that is unprecedented in Turkish politics. It is one that is based on solidarity. The Prime Minister has managed the AKP for 10 years and has based his rule on strict discipline. People say it would be hard for him to let go of that habit. If Gul accepts the party leadership, one of the most important issues he needs to tackle will be this one, they say.

As you see, the upcoming years are full of questions?" TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

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