TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No.166/05
01.09.05
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. Serdar Denktas on Turkey’s efforts to involve Azerbaijan in its
violation of international law in Cyprus
2. Αnkara Anatolia on the COREPER meeting in Brussels
3. Gul to attend EU Foreign Ministers´ informal meeting in Newport
4. Turkey’s Foreign Trade figures for July detailed
B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. Turkish Cypriot columnist alleges that the number of the Turkish
settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus reached 600 thousands
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. Serdar Denktas on Turkey’s efforts to involve Azerbaijan in its
violation of international law in Cyprus
Ankara Anatolia news agency (31/08/05) reported the following from Baku:
“Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus´ (occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) said
on Tuesday that they would also feel support of Azerbaijan besides Turkey.
Denktas, who is currently paying a visit to Azerbaijan, told reporters: ''We
hope that commercial and economic relations will accelerate between the
´TRNC´ and Azerbaijan. During our talks, Azerbaijani officials said that they
were planning to establish a foundation in the ´TRNC´.''
''Greek Cypriots threatened Azerbaijani private airlines company Imair as it
held a direct flight to the ´TRNC´ last month. We are trying to overcome all
those pressures to start direct flights. We will find a way to form an air traffic
between Azerbaijan and the ´TRNC´,'' he said.
When asked whether Azerbaijan's support meant recognition of the ´TRNC´,
Denktas said that recognition of the ´TRNC´ by Azerbaijan was out of question
for the time being.
''This is not a political recognition. It is the support of Azerbaijan to the Turkish
Cypriot people,'' Denktas added.
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''The Greek Cypriot administration will increase the pressure on the Baku
administration (after a visit paid by a ´TRNC
delegation to Azerbaijan)'',
Serdar Denktas argued on Wednesday.
Holding a press conference in Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Denktas said:
''However, Azerbaijan will not take a backward step.''
Denktas also noted that Azerbaijan would not demand visa from Turkish
Cypriots from now on.
On the other hand, Azerbaijani-Turkish Businessmen's Association and
Turkish Cypriot businessmen signed five protocols covering businesses such
as construction, tourism, hotel management, banking and agriculture.
The ´TRNC´ delegation is expected to return to the island this evening.”
Moreover, as Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (01.09.05) reports, the
results of the Business Forum between the pseudostate and Azerbaijan were
announced. According to them five professional organisations, which have a
very important place in the pseudo state’s economy have signed a “Cooperation Protocol” in five different fields with the Turkey-Azerbaijan Business
Union. The agreement provides co-operation in the fields of tourism,
insurances, banking etc. As the paper writes, in the framework of this cooperation, with the beginning of February 2006, the pseudostate will export
oranges to Azerbaijan. It has been safeguarded with the agreement that
Azerbaijan will distribute the oranges to other countries of the region. It was
calculated that the results of this agreement will be a profit of about 1 million
dollars.
In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily CUMHURIYET newspaper (01.09.05)
reports, the State Minister of Azerbaijan Mr Nazim Ibrahimov, stated that his
country will do everything possible for the lifting of the “isolation” of the Turkish
Cypriots. Mr Ibrahimov, who was speaking after a meeting he held with Mr
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Serdar Denktas, stated that Azerbaijan is going to be the country that will
make the first step towards the recognition of the “TRNC” when this issue
comes into the agenda, despite the pressures and the treats. He also stated
that the flights between Baku and Tympou will continue and noted that there is
no truth in the speculations made regarding stopping the flights.
The State Minister of Azerbaijan also stated that when the issue of the
recognition of the pseudostate comes into agenda, the recognition of the
Nagorno Karabagh also comes into the agenda. However he noted that they
will ignore the treads when the time comes. He also noted that the recognition
procedure must come from the pseudostate and noted that the support of
Turkey is very important as regards this issue.
CUMHURIYET also writes that the so-called prime minister of the occupation
regime Mr Ferdi Soyer assessed the visit of the Turkish Cypriot delegation to
Baku and noted that it is a part of the efforts made for the lifting of the
economic, social and cultural “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots. Commenting
on the direct flight he noted that the so-called Turkish Cypriot airlines have
made a step and noted that this step must be transformed into permanent
direct flights.
The so-called prime minister also stated that despite the fact that a direct flight
was conducted the visit was not official. “It was a private invitation address to
the former ‘president’ and his family. This is what happened. It was not an
official visit”, he noted.
2. Αnkara Anatolia on the COREPER meeting in Brussels
Ankara Anatolia news agency (31/08/05) reported the following from Brussels:
“The Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) of the European
Union (EU) agreed on Wednesday to respond to Turkey's declaration
regarding the Cyprus problem, by releasing a counter-declaration.
In its today's meeting, the COREPER discussed matters regarding the start of
full membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd.
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The European Council, consisting of heads of state and government of EU
member states, decided on December 17th, 2004, to launch entry talks on
October 3rd, 2005 in case Turkey fulfilled required conditions. Ankara, which
has fulfilled these conditions, also signed the additional protocol to the Ankara
Agreement extending Customs Union to the ten new members of the EU.
Issuing, in the meantime, a declaration Turkey made known that it does not
recognize (politically) the Greek Cypriot administration.
According to diplomatic sources, COREPER has agreed today to issue a
counter-declaration. The contents and form of this document will be discussed
during the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers to be held in Britain
tomorrow and Friday.
On the other hand, the European Commission said that Turkey had fulfilled all
the required conditions to start accession negotiations. Kriztina Nagy, the
spokeswoman of European Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn,
underlined the importance of full implementation of the additional protocol of
the Ankara Agreement and Customs Union, and the necessity that ''Ankara
should guarantee that it would open its ports to Greek Cypriot ships.''
Meanwhile, European Commission's spokesperson Francoise LeBail recalled
that the Commission's stance on Turkey had not changed, and reiterated that
Ankara had fulfilled the required conditions for the start of negotiations.
LeBail also emphasized that ''25 EU member states'' would participate in the
negotiations.”
3. Gul to attend EU Foreign Ministers´ informal meeting in Newport
Ankara Anatolia news agency (31/08/05) reports the following from Ankara:
“Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will attend
the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Newport, Britain on September
1st and 2nd.
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Releasing a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on
Wednesday that Gul was scheduled to partake in luncheon of EU foreign
ministers on September 2nd and hold a series of bilateral meetings with
European Commission officials.
The MFA added that the meeting would create a beneficial opportunity to
explain Turkey's views prior to opening of the negotiations on October 3rd.”
4. Turkey’s Foreign Trade figures for July detailed
Ankara Anatolia news agency (31/08/05) reported from ANKARA that
Turkey's exports dropped 4 percent, while imports were up by 8.7 percent in
July 2005 over the same month a year ago, Turkish State Institute of Statistics
(SIS) indicated on Wednesday.
According to the foreign trade statistics of SIS, the foreign trade deficit is up
by 31.8 percent to reach 4.8 billion USD in July 2005.
Turkey earned 5.40 million USD from exports, while its imports amounted to
9.49 million USD in July 2005.
On the other hand, Turkey earned 40.56 million USD from exports, and its
imports reached 64.48 million USD between January and July 2005. In
comparison with the same period of six months of 2004, exports were up by
17.1 percent, and imports by 19.3 percent. The trade deficit rose from 19.39 to
23.92 million USD in the same period.
A breakdown follows:
JULY Difference JAN-JULY Difference
2003 2004 (percent) 2003 2004 (percent)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -----Exports 5.696 5.405 -4.0 34.648 40.566 17.1
Imports 8.728 9.491 8.7 54.040 64.482 19.3
Deficit -3.099 -4.086 31.8 -19.392 -23.916 23.3
Proportion
Ratio (%) 64.5 57.0 64.1 62.9
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B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. Turkish Cypriot columnist alleges that the number of the Turkish
settlers in the occupied part of Cyprus reached 600 thousands
Under the title “Tomorrow will be too late!” Turgut Afsaroglu writes the
following in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot AFRIKA newspaper (01.09.05):
“There are three serious problems we must rapidly solve: 1. The issue of the
population, 2. The issue of the properties, 3. The issue of the money.
The issue of the population is very important because it is a matter of our
political will. In the past we have been the minority of the Greek Cypriots. Now
we have become minority in the north. Be careful, do not say ‘Turk goes, Turk
comes’, like Denktas says. Because it is obvious that you can consider
yourself as much Turk as you like, but Ankara thinks you are ‘Turkic’, that is,
not as full Turks.Sener (Levent) has explained this very well in an article he
wrote recently. In fact, if the situation was not like this, it (Ankara) would not
withhold the administration of northern Cyrus from the Turkish Cypriots. All the
appointments to the key positions would not have been made by Ankara. All
the big tenders will not be opened in Ankara. And population would not be
continuously carried to Cyprus.
Is there anybody who knows the number of our population now? Is it 180
thousands as the Supreme Election Board has announced? Or is it 220
thousands as in the numbers of the State Planning Organization? Or is it 500600 thousands as it is seen with the naked eye?
The allegation is the following: When Talat was Prime Minister, why did he
give to the UN a list of 41 thousand persons instead of giving a list of 45
thousands? Do you know this? Because: 1) in this 41 thousand persons list
only the names of the heads of the family were written, 2) in this 41 thousand
persons list the population which was brought after 1974 under the name
agricultural – labour force was not included, 3) the 30 thousand illegal workers
who have been legalized afterwards with the recent amendment of the law,
could not be included in the list because they were not fulfilling the conditions
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of the Annan Plan, 4) the children who have been born here and the
wives/husbands of the Cypriots were outside the list.
In this case, poor Talat could not fill the 45 thousand persons list and found
himself in a difficult situation. It was good that Papadopoulos did not accept
the Annan Plan and this list was not announced. Otherwise, the disgrace
would come into the surface. Does Christofyas say in vain that ‘we could
accept not only 45 thousands, but 50 thousands as well, provided that this is
all”. However, this is not all. The families and the children are not in the
account.
One pensioner bureaucrat who worked for years in the Population Department
made the following calculation, when talking to somebody: Those who came
with the first wave after 1974 were 30-35 thousand families. Add to these the
41 thousand families that Talat gave to the UN. What is the result? Is it 71-76
thousand families? Add to these the 30 thousand illegal workers who have
been registered with the recent amendment of the law. Is it minimum 100
thousand families? Multiply the number you found by at least 5 or 6. What is
the result you found? Is it 500-600 thousands?
Very well, what is the Turkish Cypriot population against this population from
Turkey? Is it 80 thousands, 100 thousands or 150 thousands? Let it be as
much as it wants. Are we not the minority? Our job is very difficult! We must
definitely be concerned with the issue seriously. Otherwise, tomorrow will be
too late.”
2. Official of the Religious Affairs Directorate denies involvement in the
Greater Middle East Project
Istanbul Yeni Safak newspaper (29/08/05) publishes the following report by
Yakup Bulut under the title: “We are not involved in the Greater Middle East
Project”:
“Associate Professor Mehmet Gormez, Deputy Chairman of the Directorate of
Religious Affairs [DIYB], has said that the DIYB is not conducting any work
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related to the Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI). In a statement he issued
to Yeni Safak, Gormez said that DIYB officials' recent meetings with high-level
US officials have been misinterpreted, adding that the DIYB does not give
religious support to other countries' international projects and that "the DIYB is
not working for the United States."
Subtitle : We Did Not Talk About the Greater Middle East Project
Gormez pointed out that he had last talked nearly one hour with US Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza last week and that their meeting had
nothing to do with the US Mideast policies linked to the Greater Middle East
Project. Noting that it was Bryza who had demanded the meeting, Gormez
said: "He said that religious personnel sent abroad by Turkey are working
very efficiently and wanted to be told how we train our imams. I explained the
methods used in the training of imams. Apart from that, we did not talk about
terrorism, Iraq, or other international issues."
Pointing out that the DIYB
cannot have anything to do with other countries' international policies, Gormez
said: "We are only trying to provide Muslims all around the world with as
quality religious services as we provide in Turkey."
Subtitle: They are Investigating the Imam Problem in Europe
Gormez said that there has been a controversy about imams in Europe lately,
adding: "At least some 10 meetings have been held on the subject in the
West. They are examining imams under such headings as 'the imam problem
in Europe.'
We will carry out more advanced work on this issue, too."
Gormez also said that the Americans have a project to train imams for
Muslims and that they [the DIYB] had already told Bryza that a project to
arrange for members of other religions to provide Muslims with the said
services would not have beneficial results. Matt Bryza, a deputy assistant
secretary of state, said after his visit to the DIYB as part of his meetings in
Ankara that "Turkey is a model country in terms of secularism and the training
of clerics. The London attacks and the recent terrorist incidents are not simply
terrorist attacks. Part of the problem stems from the training of imams."
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Subtitle: GMEI is Targeted at the Entire Region
The Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI) announced by US President
George W. Bush at the G-8 summit in 2004 is intended to achieve a radical
social, political, economic, and cultural change and transformation in Islamic
countries. The project is also described as an effort to democratize the Middle
East.
Particularly Mideast countries and Europe, Russia, and China are
unsympathetic to the project and do not trust it at all especially in the wake of
the occupation of Iraq that the aim of the project is to promote democracy and
freedoms.
According to these countries, the real purpose of the Bush
administration is to establish permanent US hegemony in the region with the
help of this project and to prevent the security threats from the region. African
countries were later included in the project and the project was renamed
"Broader North Africa and Middle East Initiative"
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