TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No.54/07
17-19.03.07
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. A delegation from the European Union Commission held contacts in
Cyprus
2. Fourteen million EURO have been used in programmes in occupied
Cyprus
3. The Minister of Education of Pakistan is visiting the “TRNC” upon an
“official invitation”
4. A dead body believed to belong to the missing Mesut Kafkas was
found in occupied Cyprus
5. “Greek Cypriots fear!”
6. The Republican Turkish Party held its 21st congress
7. Talat commented on the registration of halloumi
8. The Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance has reportedly
announced that 146.442 Turkish citizens work in the occupied areas of
Cyprus
9. Historical graves destroyed during excavations
10. A vessel carrying illegal immigrants from Mersin to the occupied
area of Cyprus has been capsized
11. CHP Deputy Ersin: No will to investigate Dink murder
12. Latest AK Party poll shows GP, BBP rising
B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. Untimely commemoration by the Turkish side of the anniversary of
the struggle started by TMT and Turkey to destroy the Republic of
Cyprus
2
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. A delegation from the European Union Commission held contacts in
Cyprus
Ankara Anatolia news agency (17.03.07) reports from occupied Lefkosia that
a delegation from European Union (EU) Commission completed their contacts
in Cyprus and left the Island.
The delegation that included Jaako Blomberg, Special Advisor to the
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, and the European
Commission Director General for Turkish Desk Andrew Rasbash met the
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the self-styled prime minister
Ferdi Sabit Soyer on March 14th and some political party leaders on the next
day.
Mr Talat said in addition to direct trade, issues such as the implementation of
financial aid regulations, opening of Ledra gate and the process of July 8th
were taken up at the meetings.
Talat who answered the questions regarding the EU delegation's contacts,
said the delegation consulted on issues regarding the Cyprus problem and
direct trade, adding this was a "regular visit”.
2. Fourteen million EURO have been used in programmes in occupied
Cyprus
Illegal BAYRAK television (18.03.07) reports that the head of the EU program
support office Alain Bothorel in northern Cyprus has announced that 14 million
Euros of assistance has been channelled in programs that were launched
within the framework of the EU’s Financial Assistance Regulation.
In a statement he made Mr Bothorel said that out of the 24 programs that
have been proposed 11 of those programs have begun.
3
Mr Bothorel said that the EU funds will be used for improving the
infrastructure, urban development projects, the human resources, transports,
energy, water distribution, small and medium enterprises as well as
scholarships for universities. Explaining that the tenure that was opened for
the cleaning up operation of the Lefke (occupied Lefka)mining corporation
was reaching its deadline, Mr Bothorel said that he will be announcing soon
which company will be receiving the bid.
He concluded by reminding that companies which will be benefiting from the
Financial Aid Regulation would not be liable for VAT taxes as financial
assistance provided by the European Union was exempt from any form of tax.
3. The Minister of Education of Pakistan is visiting the “TRNC” upon an
“official invitation”
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (19.03.07) reports in its inside pages
that Mr Javeed Ashraf Qazi, the Minister of Education of Pakistan arrived
yesterday in the “TRNC” upon an “official invitation”. The contacts of the
Pakistani Minister with Turkish Cypriot “officials” will start today.
Mr Javeed Ashraf Qazi will hold meetings with various persons among them
the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the self-styled prime minister
Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the “speaker” of the self-styled assembly Fatma Ekenoglu
and the self-styled minister of foreign affairs Turgay Avci. Mr Javeed Ashraf
Qazi is going back to Pakistan tomorrow.
(CS)
4. A dead body believed to belong to the missing Mesut Kafkas was
found in occupied Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (19.03.07) writes in its first page
that the body and the car of Mesut Kafkas, who has been missing since the
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22nd of February were found in occupied Vouno village. The paper writes that
the self-styled police, after receiving information, found yesterday the corpse
of Mesut Kafkas from Bergamos at a valley on the left side of the Vouno main
road. The body of Mesut Kafkas was totally burned and it was not possible for
the identity of the body to be recognised. Therefore a DNA test will be
conducted for the identification of the corpse.
Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (19.03.07) also reports in its first
page that a dead body was found in the Hamid Mandres villages and writes
that a DNA test will be conducted in order to ascertain whether the body
belongs to Mesut Kafkas who has been missing for some days now.
(CS)
5. “Greek Cypriots fear!”
Under the above title Turkish Cypriot daily CYPRUS TIMES newspaper
(19.03.07) reports the following:
“Greek Cypriots fear Kosovo may set precedent for KKTC. The Greek Cypriot
administration is becoming increasingly concerned about the prospect of
Kosovo´s independence setting a precedent for North Cyprus. Greek Cypriots
fear that KKTC could use the example of Kosovo as a good example to argue
for recognition, Spain is concerned about its own federal system. However
diplomatic sources said that while the current Greek Cypriot administration
remains reluctant to reunite the island or support EU attemps to end the
isolation of Turkish Cyrpiots, the inclination of Turkish Cypriots to press for the
international recognition of their state will only get stronger. Greek Cypriots
have been quite sensitive to signs of recognition of the KKTC by the
international community.
EU diplomats who spoke with Today´s Zamman on condition of anonymity
have confirmed that the Greek Cypriot administration had made it clear that it
needed clear assurances that this would not happen if Kosovo gained
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independent status. Diplomats add, however, that Greek Cypriots were not
the only country in the bloc to raise concerns, Greece, Spain and member
countries neighbouring Serbia were also in the same group of those
“concerned.”
The wider repercussions of Kosovo´s possible independence have been
haunting several member countries for different reasons.
While Greek
Cypriots fear that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) could use
the example of Kosovo as a good example to argue for recognition, Spain is
concerned about its own federal system. At EU meetings since the end of
February the Greek Cypriot delegation has shown a keen interest in the
breakaway regions of Georgia, their first sign of interest in the matter.
According to a story in the weekly European Voice, Greek Cypriots held up a
meeting for a full hour while EU delegations were debating territorial disputes
in Georgia.
Greek Cypriots have been quite sensitive to signs of recognition of the KKTC
by the international community. However diplomatic sources that while the
current Greek Cypriot administration remains reluctant to reunite the island or
support EU attempts to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, the inclination of
Turkish Cypriots to press for the international recognition of their state will only
get stronger. Diplomats cite the example of Montenegro and warn that the
independence of Kosovo could also strengthen the hands of those pushing for
the KKTC´s recognition unless Greek Cyprus makes it clear that it is for the
reunification of the island.
The debates on the future status of Kosovo have flared up at a time when
Greek Cypriots are under pressure to agree to direct trade between Turkish
Cypriots and the EU. Brussels promised to end the isolation of the Turkish
Cypriots on April 26, 2004, only two days after the Annan plan to reunify the
island was overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum among the Greek
6
Cypriots, though it was accepted by Turkish Cypriots.
Moves toward the
regulation of direct trade prepared by the European Commission have been
consistently vetoed by EU member Greek Cyprus.”
6. The Republican Turkish Party held its 21st congress
Illegal BAYRAK television (18.03.07) reports the following:
“The Republican Turkish Party (CHP) held its 21st party congress at the
Ataturk Sports Complex in Lefkosia.
With no other candidate for the job, the CTP leader, ‘prime minister’ Ferdi
Sabit Soyer was re-elected as the president of the CTP.
However members of the party’s organs and executive committees were
determined at the congress where 98 candidates contested for the 55 seats
available at the party’s assembly.
The congress also heard speeches by the CTP’s Secretary General Omer
Kalyoncu as well as the party’s leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer.
A large number of foreign and local guests attended the congress held at the
Ataturk sport’s complex in Lefkosia.
Among the foreign guests attending was the Deputy leader of the Turkish
Justice and Development Party Nihat Ergun, the leader of the Turkish
Freedom and Solidarity Party Haydar Ilker, Former MP from the German
Social Democrat Party Ozan Ceyhun, Members of Greece’s main opposition
party PASOK Theodoros Tsikas and Costas Zepos.
Member of Greek Cypriot AKEL’s executive committee Nikos Katsurides,
Greek Cypriot DISI leader Nicos Anastasiadis, EDI’s Deputy leader Praxoulla
Antoniadou Kyprianou and General Secretary Mikis Shanis and head of the
7
Cyprus Green Party’s executive committee Gaston Katsurides were also
among the representatives of Greek Cypriot political parties attending the
congress as the CTP’s guests.
There were also foreign diplomats and members of non-governmental
organizations who were present at the meeting.
Delivering the opening address at the congress, the CTP General Secretary
Omer Kalyoncu said that the Republican Turkish Party was the oldest Turkish
Cypriot Party in Cyprus.
He said that the CTP endured great hardships and difficulties on its path to
coming to power, adding that the CTP will continue to have an important say
in the future of the Turkish Cypriots.
Mr Kalyoncu said that he was proud of his party’s accomplishments which
included the establishment of an effective dialogue between the Turkish
Cypriots and the international community.
Also addressing the congress, the CTP leader Ferdi Sabit Soyer said that it
was his party’s aim to improve the country’s economic and social welfare
adding that ‘the CTP was struggling, with the support of NGO’s to establish a
democratic state based on the rule of law’.
Reminding of the hardships, the difficulties and the challenges the party faced
when it first set out in 1970, Mr Soyer said that the Republican Turkish Party
‘has succeeded in gathering the public’s support to work towards achieving
peace and a solution in Cyprus’.
Drawing attention to the challenges the CTP is facing in trying to remove the
reminiscence of 30 years of ‘Status Quo’, the CTP leader Soyer called on all
parties in the ‘TRNC’ (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the
8
Republic of Cyprus) ‘to stop working against each other and to join forces to
achieve a better future for the Turkish Cypriots’.
Pointing out that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem continues despite the
2004 referenda, Mr Soyer said that instead of blaming each other, the two
sides on the island should work together to find a comprehensive and lasting
settlement on the island.
Touching upon the Lokmaci (Ledra street)crossing point, the CTP leader said
that statements made regarding the opening of a crossing point were
‘meaningless’ and that the ‘Greek Cypriot Side’s’ continued persistence
towards opening a new crossing point at Yesilirmak (occupied Limnitis) will
only complicate matters further.
The congress also heard speeches by representatives of Greek Cypriot
political parties and other foreign guests attending.
Meanwhile members of the party’s organs and executive committees are
being determined at the congress. 98 candidates contested for the 55 seats
available that make up the party’s assembly.
The CTP – which has 25 seats in the ‘Republic’s Assembly’ - has around
nine-hundred-and-fifty delegates.”
7. Talat commented on the registration of halloumi
Illegal Bayrak television (17.03.07) reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat has said that attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to register
the Cyprus cheese, hellim, under the name of halloumi with the European
Union, are unjustifiable.
9
Stressing that the Cyprus cheese, hellim is also being produced by Turkish
Cypriots, Mr Talat underlined the need for the product to be registered under
both names.
Reminding that the Turkish Cypriot side made an application to the European
Commission on the issue, Mr Talat said that “the Greek Cypriot Administration
has no authority in the North and that it is the TRNC Ministry of Agriculture
which is to register hellim in the North”.
8. The Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance has reportedly
announced that 146.442 Turkish citizens work in the occupied areas of
Cyprus
Writing in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot AFRIKA newspaper (18.03.07),
Mehmet Levent reports that the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social
Insurance has announced that the number of the Turkish citizens who work
abroad reached four millions.
Mr Levent notes:
“…Do not say ‘what this has to do with us’. It is much related to us, because
the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance has also announced the
distribution of the Turkish Republic citizens all over the world. According to
this, the number of the Turkish Republic citizens who live in Northern Cyprus
is 146.442! …”
Mr Levent reminds that the self-styled prime minister of the breakaway
regime, Ferdi Sabit Soyer had announced that according to the results of the
population census conducted last year, the number of the Turkish Republic
citizens who live in the occupied areas is 77.731. He adds:
“There is a difference of 68.711 persons between them! Even if we exclude
from this number the TRNC-Turkish Republic citizens, the number of whose
was announced to be 33.870, there is a difference of 34.841 persons between
10
the number announced by the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance
and the official number announced by our government! …”.
Mr Levent refers to the results of the census and notes that the real number of
the Turkish Cypriots has decreased to 99.096.
(I/Ts.)
9. Historical graves destroyed during excavations
Turkish Cypriot KIBRIS newspaper (18.03.07) reports that historical graves,
the age of which is estimated to be 2.700 years, have been destroyed in the
occupied Trikomo area during excavations for taking filling material for the
needs of a construction. The area has been used a garbage dump by the selfstyled municipality of Trikomo. During the excavations many bones and
broken ceramics have come to surface.
The paper reports that the works in the area still continue in spite of the fact
that 15 stone graves were found. Ten tracks have taken away 400 cubic
meters of material between 13 and 16 March upon permission by the selfstyled Department of Geology and Mines.
“Officials” from the “Antiquities and Museums Department” visited the area,
but refrained from giving any information to KIBRIS on the issue.
(I/Ts.)
10. A vessel carrying illegal immigrants from Mersin to the occupied
area of Cyprus has been capsized
Turkish Cypriot KIBRIS newspaper (18.03.07) reports that a vessel carrying
19 illegal Syrian immigrants from Mersin to the occupied area of Cyprus was
capsized the day before yesterday. One of the illegal immigrants, 22-year old
Osman Sah Ibrahim, was drowned in the cold waters of the Mediterranean.
The rest were arrested together with the captain of the ship, Aydemir Gunbil
11
(53). According to the paper, the Syrians paid 500 US dollars each to Gunbil
in order to carry them to Cyprus.
(I/Ts.)
11. CHP Deputy Ersin: No will to investigate Dink murder
Istanbul NTV television (16.03.07) reported that the Parliamentary Human
Rights Committee gathered over the request of the centre right Motherland
Party.
Ahmet Ersin, member of Turkey's Parliamentary Human Rights
Committee warned on Friday the committee did not want to investigate the
murder prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
Ersin, a deputy for the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), claimed
that the reason behind the lack of will to probe the murder on January 19 was
to prevent the links between religious groups and the police force being
revealed.
Ersin criticised Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah for his statement that
the murder was committed with a spirit of nationalism. Ersin asked whether
Cerrah was a police chief or a sheriff in the Wild West.
12. Latest AK Party poll shows GP, BBP rising
Under the above title, Turkish daily TODAY’S ZAMAN reports the following:
“A recent poll has indicated that only the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) are
expected to pass the 10 percent election threshold barrier but that several
other parties are gaining strength.
The AK Party’s poll showed Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu’s BBP may get the highest
support ratings in its history.
12
To be able to enter Parliament, a party must win at least 10 percent of the
national vote. The poll also indicates that the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP) seems to be slightly below the barrier. Conducted in February by the
AK Party, the poll bears similarities to the result of the Nov. 3, 2002
parliamentary elections.
This poll also revealed results regarding the far-right Youth Party (GP) and
Grand Union Party (BBP). The GP has support at nearly 7 percent thanks to
television commercials. The BBP, which welcomed former MHP members
Namık Kemal Zeybek and Abdulhaluk Çay, is thought to have garnered its
highest support ratings in its history, though well below the 10 percent
threshold.
When undecided votes are considered, the following figures appear: AK Party
39 percent; CHP 18.7 percent; MHP 9.7 percent, True Path Party (DYP) 8
percent; GP 6.7 percent, Democratic Society Party (DTP) 4.6 percent;
Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) 4 percent; and BBP 3.2 percent.
The latest poll also asked participants to evaluate the government and the
prime minister separately. Prime Minister Erdoğan outperformed his
government. The percentage of respondents who found Erdoğan successful
was 57.5 compared to 45 percent who approved of the government.
The participants were also polled about their reaction to the banning of the
controversial television series "Kurtlar Vadisi" (Valley of the Wolves). The
percentage of participants favouring the ban was 46, while 42 percent
opposed it. Reactions to the ban of the series varied from party to party. ProMHP and GP respondents mostly opposed the ban, while DTP and CHP
supporters expressed their approval. For AK Party supporters, however, the
percentages of for and against responses were similar.”
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B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. Untimely commemoration by the Turkish side of the anniversary of
the struggle started by TMT and Turkey to destroy the Republic of
Cyprus
Under the title: “Ret. general returns to N. Cyprus 44 years after ‘Bloody
Christmas’” TODAY´S ZAMAN newspaper (19.03.07) reports the following:
“Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots welcomed with great enthusiasm a retired
brigadier general who returned to the divided island yesterday for the first time
since 1963 when his wife and three children were killed in 1963 by Greek
Cypriots during inter-communal fighting.
At the time, Ret. Gen. Dr. Nihat İlhan was serving in the Cyprus Turkish
Contingent. During an attack launched in December 1963, İlhan's family was
killed in the bathroom of their home where they were trying to hide from
attacking Greek Cypriots. The murder which took place on December 24 is
known as "Bloody Christmas."
Since that time, İlhan has never been back to the island where his house has
been converted into a museum called the "Museum of Barbarism," in which
pictures and stories published in international newspapers about Greek
Cypriot atrocities committed during and after 1963 are exhibited. The house
is located in the Kumsal district of Lefkoşa and the tragedy is also called the
"Kumsal Massacre."
Upon his arrival at Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(KKTC), hundreds of people greeted İlhan at the airport gate and chanted
slogans such as "Martyrs never die" and waved flags. İlhan said he never
forgot the tragic incident of 1963 or the Turkish Cypriots and said he wished
that Turkish Cypriots would live free forever.
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Turkey's Ambassador to the KKTC, Türkekul Kurttekin, Commander of the
Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Lt. Gen. Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu and Commander of
the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Maj. Gen. Mehmet Eröz were also at the
airport to welcome İlhan.
The four-decade-old Cyprus problem erupted after the eastern Mediterranean
island was granted independence from Britain in 1960 and an outbreak of
inter-communal clashes in 1963. The Turkish military intervened in 1974
under the terms of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee since diplomacy had failed to
end Turkish-Greek Cypriot fighting.
"Bloody Christmas" was part of a Greek Cypriot campaign of annihilation of
Turkish Cypriots across Cyprus in what was later revealed by the Greek
Cypriot Patris newspaper in 1966 as the "Akritas Plan." The Akritas Plan was
aimed at enosis (union with Greece). The National Organization of Cypriot
Fighters (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston, or EOKA) initiated a guerilla
campaign on April 1, 1955 with the intention of making the island Greek. In
2004 a former member of EOKA confessed in remarks to the media that
EOKA, along with Greek Cypriot soldiers, had raped women and killed men in
a Turkish Cypriot village during the campaign of attacks on the Turkish
population of Cyprus.
İlhan is expected to hold a press conference today. His departure from the
island is scheduled for tomorrow.”
On the same issue illegal BAYRAK television (18.03.07) broadcast the
following:
“Retired Doctor, Brigadier General Nihat Ilhan is in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus after 44 years.
His wife and children were brutally murdered in their bathtub in Lefkosa by
Greek Cypriots on the 21st of December in 1963.
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The attacks on that day have gone down in Cyprus history as the ‘Bloody
Christmas.’
Mr. Ilhan who arrived at Ercan Airport yesterday was greeted by the Turkish
Ambassador to Lefkosa, Turkekul Kurttekin, the Commander of the Cyprus
Turkish Peace Forces Lieutenant General Hayri Kivrikoglu, Commander of the
Cyprus Turkish Security Forces General Mehmet Eroz and a large crowd of
civilians.
Speaking upon his arrival at Ercan Airport, retired Doctor Brigadier General
Nihat Ilhan said he was happy to be able to Return to the Republic after all
this time and expressed the hope that the Turkish Cypriot people will live in
freedom forever.
He said that ‘as long as Turkey exists, the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus will exist’.”
In addition Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (19.03.07) writes in its
first page that shock was created among the persons of the Turkish Cypriot
community after a statement regarding two Greek Cypriot prisoners of war
who were brought to the Turkish Embassy in order to be killed in December
1963 as act of vengeance for the murdering of the family of the retired Doctor
Brigadier General Nihat Ilhan. The paper wonders who where those who
brought the pregnant Greek Cypriot woman and her husband at the building of
the Turkish Embassy on the 28th of December 1963, put them in front of Nihat
Ilhan, gave him a pistol and asked for their killing. “Denktas and the TMT
command staff were informed about this? The Ambassador Mazhar Ozkok did
not interfere at all in this situation? Since the Brigadier General Ilhan refused
to kill them what happen after to the Greek Cypriot woman and her
husband?”, asks the paper.
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EG/