TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 43/09
05.03.09
A. NEWS ITEMS
1. The results of KADEM’s a public opinion poll on the Cyprus problem
2. Halil Sadrazam refuted the accusations by Kenan Akin that he gave the
order to shoot and kill Solomos Solomou in August 1996
3. Flights from Italy to the illegal Tymvou airport. The illegal Turkish Cypriot
airlines aim to increase their aircraft; The breakaway regime to participate in
fairs in Berlin and Moscow
4. The HP is reportedly joining the TDP; Pertev will reportedly be candidate of
TDP in the “elections” in occupied Famagusta
5. The activities of Ergenekon in the occupied areas of Cyprus started to be
revealed
6. The inflation rate for January 2009 has been announced
7. Olgac says remarks about killing Greeks is a “part of script”
8. Turkey’s Revenue Administration Chairman was appointed financial
advisor to the so-called Turkish “embassy” in occupied Lefkosia
9. Kemal Dervis quits as UNDP head and becomes a member of Sabanci
University in Turkey
10. Bahceli criticizes Erdogan of creating tension by posing as a new
Ottoman Sultan
11. Turkey said likely to bar ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President at
UNSC
B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. From the Turkish Press of 4 March 2009
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A. NEWS ITEMS
1. The results of KADEM’s public opinion poll on the Cyprus problem
Under the title “53.8% ‘No’”, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (04.03.09)
continues to publish the results of the public opinion poll conducted by KADEM
research company and today it gives out the results of the survey regarding the
Cyprus problem.
The paper writes that 53.8% of the respondents said they would vote “no” in case
the same Annan Plan, submitted to referendum in 2004, is once more put to a
referendum next week. The percentage of those who would vote “yes” is 27.9%,
while 15.1% said they are undecided and 3.2% gave no answer.
The paper notes that 1387 persons participated in the survey, conducted by
KADEM for Kibris newspaper. Responding to the question “what kind of a solution
you want to the Cyprus problem”, 62.6% of the participants in the survey said they
want “two completely separate independent states”, 17.2 % supported a federation
with a powerful central government, 9.5 % said they want the continuation of the
current situation, 3.2% supported a confederation with a weak central government
and 5.3 % are in favor of the integration with Turkey.
Replying to a question on whether they believe that a solution will be reached
during the negotiations between the two leaders, 55.9% said they do not believe so
at all, 18.6% said they do not much believe it, 15.9% said they partly believe so,
6.4% said they definitely believe it and 3.2% said that they do not know or gave no
answer.
Asked whether they generally support the policy followed by the Turkish Cypriot
leader, Mehmet Ali Talat on the Cyprus problem, the respondents gave the
following answers: “I fully support it” 15.6%, “I partly support it” 38%, “I do not
support it at all” 27.6 %, “I do not support it” 15.1% and “No opinion, No answer”
3.7%. According to the results, the policy pursued by Mr Talat receives the
following support in the political parties: Republican Turkish Party (CTP) 94.4%,
Social Democracy Party (TDP) 55.4%, Freedom and Reform Party (ORP) 45.6%,
National Unity Party (UBP) 38.6% and Democratic Party (DP) 35.2%.
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(I/Ts.)
2. Halil Sadrazam refuted the accusations by Kenan Akin that he gave the
order to shoot and kill Solomos Solomou in August 1996
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.03.09) reports that Halil Sadrazam,
retired colonel of the “security forces”, has denied the accusations made against
him by the former “minister of agriculture” of the breakaway regime Kenan Akin
that he was the one who had given the order to shoot and kill Solomos Solomou as
he tried to pull down the Turkish flag at the Dherynia barricade. In statements
yesterday, Mr Sadrazam said that Mr Akin put forward this allegation after he was
arrested at the airport in Istanbul in October 2004 carrying two bags full with 1.000
mobile phones which he had not declared to the customs. After Akin put forward
this allegation, the illegal mobile phones were forgotten, he pointed out. Mr
Sadrazam said, inter alia, the following:
“I went to Dherynia area with the commander of the Security Forces (GK) and I had
no place in the chain of command. It is in vain to present me as the only official and
responsible. I do not know how many soldiers and how many policemen were
there. From where and how does Mr Kenan Akin know that there were 300
soldiers, 300 policemen and contingency force in the area? …
Bringing down someone who climbed on the mast to pull down the flag is a duty of
every soldier. This is tantamount to the soldiers shooting at the battle field killing
each other. However, letting civilians enter into the border area, under any guise,
and shooting and killing any person with stones and sticks is an atrocious crime.
Actually those who committed this and those who made them do it should be found
and called to account. I have never called anyone ‘dog’ until today. And I have not
given the order to ‘kill that dog’. I did not see whether Akin shot during the
uncontrolled firing which started after the warning shot which followed the verbal
warnings. During that period I was in the building trying to inform by phone the
colleagues in the headquarters about the developments. However, when I went out
to the balcony after the incidents calmed down, I saw that Kenan Akin was also
there. In the pictures in the newspapers I saw that he drew his gun. According to
the laws, Akin’s taking out his pistol, aiming at a person and trying to shoot is a
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crime. However, I do not know why Mr Akin was there during the incidents that
took place on 11 and 14 of August. …”.
(I/Ts.)
3. Flights from Italy to the illegal Tymvou airport; The illegal Turkish Cypriot
airlines aim to increase their aircraft; The breakaway regime to participate in
fairs in Berlin and Moscow
Under the title “Flights from Italy to Ercan are starting”, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin
Sesi newspaper (05.03.09) reports that Erdogan Sanlidag, self-styled minister of
economy and tourism has said that they are at the stage of signing a protocol with
an Italian aviation firm and that flights will soon start from Italy to the illegal Tymvou
airport. In statements to the paper, Mr Sanlidag said they expect more than 5.000
tourists with the three chartered flights from Italy and added that soon flights from
Romania and a sea line from Israel to the occupied areas will also start. Mr
Sanlidag added that no decrease was observed in the field of tourism during the
last 1.5 years.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (05.03.09) reports that
Ahmet Akpinar, general director of the illegal Turkish Cypriot airlines, told the paper
that they are planning to increase the number of the aircraft of the company from 7
to 12 until 2012 and their capacity of seats to 2000. Mr Akpinar said that they have
started work to establish communication with the Western, Middle and Eastern
Europe, Israel, Iraq, Iran and Egypt through the airports of Turkey. He noted that
they plan to increase the number of their airplanes to 17 by 2017.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan newspaper (05.03.09) reports that the socalled council of ministers, which was convened yesterday, decided that the
occupation regime will be represented in the Moscow and Berlin Tourism Fairs.
The so-called minister of public works and transportation Mr Salih Usar said that
representatives of civilian organizations of the tourism sector, as well as so-called
officials from the “economy and tourism ministry” will go to the ITB Berlin 2009
Tourism Fair that will be held between 11-15 March and to the Moscow MITT 2009
Tourism Fair that will be held between 18-21 March.
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(I/Ts.-DPs)
4. The HP is reportedly joining the TDP; Pertev will reportedly be candidate of
TDP in the “elections” in occupied Famagusta
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (05.03.09) reports that the Peoples’
Party (HP) will be dissolved and join the Social Democracy Party (TDP) during an
extraordinary congress. The chairman of HP, Rasit Pertev will lead the list of
candidates of the TDP in occupied Famagusta. Asked on the issue, Mr Pertev said
that he neither confirms nor rejects this information. The chairman of the TDP,
Mehmet Cakici stated that he could say nothing on the issue and added that he
might give some information tomorrow.
The chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Serdar Denktas said that some
members of the HP have joined his party. “We suggested to HP to cooperate with
us and to Mr Pertev to be in the fourth place of the list in Nicosia, but he did not like
it and did not accept it”, said Mr Denktas. According to the newspaper, Mr Cakici is
expected to hold a press conference tomorrow in order to reply to the questions
raised regarding the developments with HP.
(M/L-I/Ts.)
5. The activities of Ergenekon in the occupied areas of Cyprus started to be
revealed
Under the title “Bugging device was set in the TRNC”, Turkish Cypriot daily Ortam
newspaper (05.03.09) reports that documents found in the residence of Mustafa
Ozbek, Chairman of the Turkish Metal Syndicate, who has also been arrested
under the accusation of involvement in the Ergenekon case, have revealed that a
bugging device was set in the building used by the Avrasya TV (ART) in occupied
Lefkosia.
According to the paper, the entire technical equipment used by ART was
purchased from Japan with the financial contribution of the Turkish Metal Syndicate
and was set by Mustafa Ozbek in 2005. The bugging device was purchased from
Japan at the same time as the rest of the equipment and for a period of time the
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equipment was left in the syndicate’s branch in Pendik, Turkey. At the time, Saban
Unver was the Chairman of Pendik branch, the paper writes.
(M/L-E/A)
Meanwhile, Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (05.03.09) reports on the relation of
the Ergenekon organisation with the illegal regime in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
The paper writes that the Denktas family was among those who were monitored by
the headquarters established in the “TRNC”. As it is being said about the former
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, “he is old, emotional and risky.”
According to the paper, the monitoring centre in the “TRNC” established by the
Ergenekon organisation in 1998 was following closely all the elections, the
international contacts, the politics, the army, the bureaucracy and the
entrepreneurs throughout the “daughter land”. It was found that the organisation
has started intensive structuring prior to the 5 December 1998 self-styled elections
and then it used the “TRNC” as a base. The organisation had an active role in
many issues related to the island and most importantly, during the Annan Plan.
In this organisation some military officers, politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen
and representatives from non-governmental organisations were tasked to take
responsibility. A Supreme Council was established as the Western Working Group
(BCG). The financial role was undertaken by the chairman of the Turkish Metal
Syndicate Mustafa Ozbek, who is currently Ergenekon detainee.
The paper goes on and cites some of the correspondence carried out by the
organisation in the occupied areas of Cyprus under the subtitles: “Covering of the
1998 general elections”, “Giving out of money in the TRNC”, “Denktas set up a
trap”, “The hostesses have been assigned”, “Area monitoring were carried out” and
“Denktas is old and emotional”.
The paper also refers to the monitoring and tapping tactics used by Ergenekon.
Specifically, the letters were written on a typewriter rather than on a computer for
security reasons, the numbers of the mobile telephones were being replaced at the
7
same time. For important people, it was arranged to have SIM telephone cards that
were not registered on their names. For area monitoring undercover agents were
used as peddlers in the areas near-by the buildings. For the area monitoring some
apartments and offices was rented near-by the buildings under observation. In
each political party and institution specific persons were singled out and were
closely followed. Exploiting the personal weaknesses of some people was
monitored through prostitutes.
(I/Ts-EA)
6. The inflation rate for January 2009 has been announced
Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (05.03.09) reports that it was
announced that inflation between January 2008 - January 2009 in the occupied
areas of the Republic of Cyprus was at the level of 12.7%. The general consumer
price index of January 2009 was also announced. According to “1998-1999=100
Basic Year Consumer Price Index” published by the so-called statistics and
research department of the state planning organization, there was a decline of
0.1% in comparison with December 2008 but an increase of 12.7% compared to
January 2008. Following is the table of the Changes in Index Values and Rates
according to the Main Groups January 2009 Period Index Values:
Main Groups
Rate of Changes according to previous month (%)
Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages
3.1
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
0.0
Clothing and Footwear
-12.6
Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels
-2.5
Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine
Household Maintenance
1.3
Health
1.5
Transport
0.2
Communication
0.0
Recreation and Culture
-1.5
Education
0.3
Restaurants and Hotels
2.3
Miscellaneous Goods and Services
1.8
(D/Ps.)
7. Olgac says remarks about killing Greeks is a “part of script”
Today’s Zaman newspaper (05.03.09) reports the following:
“Atilla Olgac, a former actor at the Istanbul State Theater (İDT) who recently
claimed on television that he had killed 10 Greeks -- one a prisoner of war -- during
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Turkey's 1974 intervention in Cyprus, has given a statement to the Bakırkoy State
Prosecutor in which he apologizes for misrepresenting Turkey abroad and says his
words were misunderstood.
Olgac told a Turkish television program in January that while serving in the Turkish
army during the 1974 intervention he shot at least one prisoner -- a 19-year-old -dead on orders from a superior. He also said he killed nine others while serving in
Cyprus.
In his testimony to prosecutor Ali Cakır, Olgac said: 'All of my words were part of a
script I wrote. I performed my military service in a non-combat area. I'm very sorry'.
He claimed that he had been explaining a script he wrote on the television program
where he made the controversial remarks. 'But when the program's broadcast was
cut off, I was unable to explain that it was just a script. I didn't kill anyone', he said.
He also submitted a script to the prosecutor as evidence.
Olgac has been released from custody, and the other participants on the program
will be called in to give testimony. The prosecutor's office has written to military
officials requesting details on Olgac's military service, including his commanders
and where he was stationed”.
8. Turkey’s Revenue Administration Chairman was appointed financial
advisor to the so-called Turkish “embassy” in occupied Lefkosia
Turkish
daily
Milliyet
newspaper
(05.03.09)
reports
that
the
Revenue
Administration chairman Mehmet Akif Ulusoy was appointed as a financial advisor
to the so-called Turkish “embassy” in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus.
Mr Ulusoy has been removed from his post because he had a telephone
conversation with the Deputy Chairman of the Dogan Yayin Holding (DYH) Soner
Gedik with the permission of the Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan.
According to the paper, Mr Ulusoy who is on his annual leave was removed from
office and, as he stated, a formal announcement was not given to him. Ulusoy’s
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removal from office and his appointment as a financial advisor in occupied Lefkosia
was announced yesterday in Turkey’s Official Gazette.
Speaking to the newspaper, Mr Ulusoy said that he will consider the option of
resigning rather than being financial advisor.
(EA)
9. Kemal Dervis quits as UNDP head and becomes a member of Sabanci
University in Turkey
Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper (05.03.09) under its front-page title, “Dervis at
Sabanci University” reports that Mr Kemal Dervis, who will quit as the Head of the
UN Development Programme (UNDP) this month, will be a member of the
International Consultative Board of Turkey’s Sabanci University as of May 1, 2009.
Mr Dervis was elected at the board, which is comprised of executives of leading
companies, global opinion leaders, statesmen and prestigious academicians.
(EA)
10. Bahceli criticizes Erdogan of creating tension by posing as a new
Ottoman Sultan
Today’s Zaman newspaper (05.03.09) reports the following:
“The leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli,
has lashed out over a banner displayed during the inauguration ceremony of
Istanbul's new Metrobus line on Tuesday that called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan an "Ottoman sultan.
'Erdogan first became the conqueror of Davos. He later became the co-chairman of
the Middle East and the chief religious official of the Muslim world. And finally he
became the new Ottoman sultan. What does this mean? Where is Turkey headed?'
Bahceli asked. Bahceli's remarks came during a speech he delivered yesterday in
the central Anatolian province of Yozgat, where he traveled as part of his party's
campaign for the March 29 local elections.
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A ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) supporter unfurled a banner
during the inauguration ceremony of the new Metrobus line that read, 'Last
Ottoman sultan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan I'.
Bahceli accused the prime minister of dragging Turkey into an atmosphere of
polarization and separation. 'Erdogan is trying to protect the percentage of votes he
garnered in the July 22 [2007] polls through a strategy of tension. We need to see
clearly where Turkey is headed', he said”.
11. Turkey said likely to bar ICC arrest warrant for Sudanese President at
UNSC
Istanbul Hurriyet Daily News.com (04.03.09) reported the following from Ankara:
“The International Criminal Court issued Wednesday an arrest warrant for Sudan's
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in
Darfur, news agencies reported.
The three-judge panel that issued the warrant said however there was insufficient
evidence to support charges of genocide. The warrant is for five charges of crimes
against humanity and two of war crimes including murder, extermination, torture
and rape, AP quoted court spokeswoman Laurence Blairon as saying.
The United Nations' Security Council should accept a resolution that calls on
member states to arrest Bashir, a situation that places in Turkey in a difficult
position.
Turkey, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has close ties with
Africa and Bashir himself. Bashir paid a couple of visits to Turkey in recent months.
Diplomatic sources said Turkey is likely to push for a delay of the implementation
of the arrest warrant in the Security Council.
Turkey aims to prevent its relations with Africa from being harmed and to protect
Sudan from a possible intensification of internal clashes, sources added.
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Turkey had garnered the support of Africa states in its bid for the Security Council.
Bashir, who has dismissed the allegations, was accused of orchestrating a
campaign of violence in Sudan's western region of Darfur, starting in 2003. ICC
Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has said 35,000 people were killed outright
and at least 100,000 more through starvation and disease.
'He is suspected of being criminally responsible ... for intentionally directing attacks
against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering,
exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians,
and pillaging their property', Blairon added.
The arrest warrant for al-Bashir is a milestone for the world's first permanent war
crimes tribunal, which was established in 2002 and has never before ordered the
arrest of a sitting head of state”.
B. COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
1. From the Turkish Press of 4 March 2009
Following are the summaries of reports and commentaries of selected items from
the Turkish press on 4 March:
a) Local Elections
In his article in Hurriyet, columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on a banner that
reads: 'The Last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire: I. Recep Tayyip Erdogan'.
Recalling that the banner was carried by a group of AKP [Justice and Development
Party] supporters in a recent election rally, the columnist asserts that the banner
reflects a fact about the prime minister because 'it is now common knowledge that
Erdogan has been ruling both the country and the AKP as a sultan for some time'.
Ulsever also criticizes Erdogan for ignoring the foreign policy issues and Turkey's
economic problems for the sake of the approaching local elections and argues that
the prime minister is not telling the truth by saying that he is 'unable to solve the
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unemployment problem' because the current economic crisis is caused by
"external factors."
A column by Muharrem Sarikaya of Sabah views the peaceful atmosphere in
Diyarbakir saying that the approaching local elections brought peace to the region
because all the competing political parties, particularly the Democratic Society
Party [DTP], are aware of the fact that they will be unable to win the elections if
they provoke tension. Sarikaya says that the PKK did not conduct any terrorist
attack in the last 2.5 months because the DTP has realized that its support for
chaos and tension will lead to the weakening of the party. Meanwhile, he adds, the
tradesmen in Diyarbakir started to refuse to close their stores at the instructions of
the DTP because they have been suffering from serious economic problems
caused by the draught and the crisis. He concludes by expressing the hope that
peace will prevail in the region after the elections as well.
b) Ergenekon Investigation
Hurriyet carries an article by Cengiz Candar on the military takeovers in Turkey
and the purpose of the Ergenekon investigation. Stressing that the second
Ergenekon indictment is expected to be issued soon, Candar says that the
prosecutor's denial of the reports regarding the second indictment is not convincing
because the media have already been informed that that indictment will include the
accusations against many retired generals, including certain force and army
commanders. He views the 1982 Constitution as a "product of the military regime"
and argues that Turkey will be unable to become a democratic country and
establish the supremacy of law with the present Constitution. According to the
columnist, the easiest definition of Ergenekon is the presence of a network that
aims to obstruct the functioning of the parliamentary system and prepare the
ground for a military coup by instigating acts of violence. He concludes by warning
that the Ergenekon investigation will fail to achieve a concrete result if it excludes
"Coup Diaries" [the diaries of a former commander who allegedly said that two
coup attempts were planned in 2003 and 2005], the 28 February process, and the
assassination of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.
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In an editorial entitled "Where Is the Second Indictment?" Cumhuriyet's Ilhan
Selcuk, one of the suspects of the Ergenekon investigation, says that the
"Ergenekon plot" is gradually turning into a "historic settling of accounts" rather
than a legal investigation. Recalling a Milliyet report saying that the second
indictment, which has not been officially announced yet, claims that the PKK
cadres are being ruled by the Ergenekon organization, Selcuk says that according
to the indictment, not only the PKK but also the DHKP-C, Al-Qa'ida, and Hizbullah
are controlled by the Ergenekon network. According to the writer, the government
wanted to silence Cumhuriyet by having its columnists arrested within the
framework of the Ergenekon investigation, but it has failed to that. He goes on to
claim that the "deceitful" AKP government has created Ergenekon as a method to
"eliminate the Ataturkist, neo-nationalist, democratic, revolutionist, and secular
individuals" in the country.
c) Kurdish problem
In an article entitled "President Gul Must Visit Arbil," Taraf columnist Yasemin
Congar says that she is optimistic about the implementation of the "Return Home"
project led by the Regional Kurdish Administration in northern Iraq. Pointing to the
strong international support for the project that aims to persuade the PKK to put
down its arms and come down from the mountains, Congar expresses the hope
that the circles that benefit from the ongoing war will be unable to obstruct that
initiative. Stressing that the Obama Administration regards the "normalization" of
ties between Ankara and Arbil as a significant step for regional stability, she
asserts that President Gul should pay a "historic" visit to Arbil during his upcoming
visit to Iraq.
That will help Ankara make the decisions related to the
implementation of the "Return Home" project more easily, she adds.
------------------------
ES/