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Cypriot journalist fears legal action from Ankara

On Tuesday, i had mentioned that Turkey's chief prosecutor is seeking charges against Mr. Serhat Incirli, a columnist for the Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA, for insulting the Turkish Republic. Here is an update to this story from the Cyprus Weekly. Please note: There is a misprint in this article. The article states Kutlu Adali died on July 6, 1006. His real date of death was on July 6, 1996.

Update: The Cyprus Weekly misprint has been corrected. Below is the full article in its entirety.

Turkey riled over columnists criticism of double standards over Cyprus and the Kurds

By Menelaos Hadjicostis

Ankara is set to drag a Turkish Cypriot columnist before a Turkish court in unprecedented legal action that may signal a “dangerous” escalation in the persecution of dissenting voices in the occupied north.

No formal charges have yet been laid against London-based columnist Serhat Incirli, 38, who writes for independent daily Afrika.

But Turkish Cypriot police have questioned Incirli’s parents at their home in the north, seeking the columnist’s London address and telephone numbers.

Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Ferdi Sabit Soyer confirmed to reporters Turkey’s Attorney General is preparing a case against Incirli.

He said Ankara wants to file charges against Incirli for two of his articles published in Afrika that were deemed as a “direct insult” to the Republic of Turkey.

If the trial does go ahead, it would be the first time that a Turkish Cypriot journalist is tried in a Turkish court – a development Incirli said would mark a “dangerous” turn in how Ankara suppresses dissent in the north.

Numerous Turkish Cypriot journalists charged in the past with insulting the Turkish state have had their case tried in Turkish proxy courts in the north.

Incirli implied Turkey’s return to hardball tactics in stifling domestic dissent could embolden extremist elements both on the mainland and occupied Cyprus to revert to targeted killings.

“Turkish Cypriots could be targetted for assassination,” Incirli told The Cyprus Weekly from his London office.

The most infamous case of a Turkish Cypriot journalist assassinated for his political views was that of Yeni Duzen columnist Kutlu Adali who was gunned down in front of his house in occupied Nicosia on July 6, 1996.

Moreover, Incirli suggested a precedent-setting trial would make Turkish Cypriots easier scapegoats for Ankara to vent its mounting frustration over Turkey’s increasingly troubled EU entry bid as it reaches boiling point.

Incirli said the trial would also lay bare a burgeoning rift between Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot community over Turkish policy as regards Cyprus reunification efforts.

“I always believed that Turkey wants to opposite of what the Turkish Cypriots want…A trial would show that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots have no common interests,” said Incirli.

Incirli said he “had no idea” why Ankara is preparing to sue him, but he suspects it pertains to his harsh criticism of Turkey’s double standards over Cyprus and its own long-standing Kurdish problem.

He said Ankara openly favours the partition of Cyprus, but it quashes any discussion over Kurdish demands for heightened autonomy within its own borders.

“Turkey wants the division of Cyprus - they like it. But it’s hypocritical to want that and not talk about the rights of Kurds,” said occupied Pentayia-born Incirli.

Ankara’s legal backlash is likely owed to a hard swing to the right by the embattled administration of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan who’s under increasing pressure amid growing unrest among he country’s Kurdish minority and his Cyprus woes with the EU.

In a recent article, Newsweek International noted Erdogan’s “sharp lurch toward old-fashioned Turkish nationalism” in a bid to woo back young voters ahead of elections set for as early as this November.

The news magazine said Erdogan recently instructed senior officials from his Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) “to play up nationalism” to get back voters increasingly disaffected with what they perceive EU meddling in Turkish domestic affairs.

Incirli said: “Nationalism is the worst illness in the world.”

Incirli – who said he has been “harassed” by Turkish officials through his entire 15-year professional career as a journalist – said he has learned Ankara is upset over two of his articles, but doesn’t know exactly which ones.

He said he faces his trip to the north this week for professional reasons with plenty of trepidation because he doesn’t know how he’s going to be treated by Turkish Cypriot ‘police’.

Incirli, who holds a Republic of Cyprus passport, pondered the legal ramifications of Turkey trying a citizen of an EU-member country it doesn’t recognise.

In an editorial, Afrika Editor-in-Chief Sener Levent asked whether Turkey would treat Incirli the same as it did famed Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk who was sued for insulting the state.

The Cyprus Journalists’ Union has dispatched protest letters to international journalists’ organisations demanding action to thwart the legal action against Incirli.

Levent, long a magnet for official persecution over his writings, was arrested in 2001 for allegedly spying for Greek Cypriots. He was set free following a global outcry.

Extremists have also targeted Afrika, with the paper’s printing press having been bombed twice. No one has ever been charged in connection with those bombings.

The extremist paramilitary group “Grey Wolves” has in the past issued numerous death threats against the paper’s writers.

Χριστός Ανέστη!

Orthdodox Christian Cypriots light candles in Panagia Fanromeni church located in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus.




Greek Orthodox pilgrims hold candles with the holy light after an Easter eve mass at the Great Meteoron monastery in Meteora, central Greece April 23, 2006.

California State Senate - Resolution on Cyprus

From the Press and Information Office (PIO):

California State Senate - Resolution on Cyprus

The California State Senate adopted Resolution 24 on the Cyprus problem on 15 March 2006, which was introduced by Senator Alquist. The Resolution states, inter alia, that “a lasting, just, peaceful and mutually agreed upon solution to the Cyprus problem would greatly benefit the security and the political, economic and social well-being of all Cypriots”, and notes that it could contribute to improved relations between Greece and Turkey, and would serve the interests of the United States interests in the region”. The Resolution makes reference to the Annan Plan, and notes that it “was rejected by an overwhelming majority of Greek Cypriots in a free, democratic and fair vote, since it did not sufficiently address their basic concerns”. It states also that the Republic of Cyprus took together with other EU countries the decision in December 2004 to permit Turkey to begin EU accession talks in October 2005, recognizing that Turkey must abide by the EU principles and that “this will significantly contribute to the development of a secure and economically robust Eastern Mediterranean and offer the prospect of providing a new context to resolve the longstanding division of Cyprus”. It notes that Cyprus has announced and is implementing a series of economic and other measures “to reach across the island’s internal division and benefit the Turkish Cypriots living in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic” and points out that Cyprus “has as a goodwill gesture unilaterally initiated a program to clear more than 2,300 mines in eight minefields in the buffer zone dividing the island”. Commending the people of Cyprus for their continued efforts in search of a just resolution of the Cyprus problem, the Resolution calls on the President and the Congress of the United States to continue their historic support for the reunification of Cyprus, while fully respecting that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is the only legitimate sovereign authority for the entire island of Cyprus. - 19.04.2006

Turkey's chief prosecutor seeks charges against Cypriot writer

The Attorney Generals Office of the Republic of Turkey wants to file charges against Mr. Serhat Incirli, a columnist for the Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA, for insulting the Turkish Republic. Outrageous! Columnist Serhat Incirli is a Turkish Cypriot who is currently living in London, England. You can read about this story here.

[Poll] Turkish ports & Cypriot vessels

Tip for this poll: Hover mouse over question or possible answer to make it scroll sideways.

Cyprus in NATO?

The title of this post seems pretty implausible to me, but then again, I am not the one who had the meeting with the U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns. Take a look at this article from GreekNews and decide for yourselves.

Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, and Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried, Meet with Greek American Leaders --
Washington, D.C.- Leading members of the Greek expatriate community ascertained that the United States is determined to inaugurate a "new beginning" in efforts to solve the issue of Cyprus, following a meeting they had at the State Department with Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Dan Freed.
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Missing Cypriots

A photo (taken on 13.04.06) of a woman is seen reflected in the portraits of Greek Cypriots who have been missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

A Worthy Cause

I recently read this story that talks about a worthy cause, and if you google the term "Hellenic Cardiac Fund" you will see that it is, indeed, a worthy cause that you may want to help out. For 27 years, the Hellenic Cardiac Fund has helped Greek children overcome the most complex congenital heart problems. Most recently, it has helped Asimina from Macedonia, Greece. When she was seven months old, she developed what appeared to be a cold … but this was no ordinary cold my friends. Asimina began experiencing severe shortness of breath and stopped eating. As her condition worsened, the family was referred to the Hellenic Cardiac Fund. The organization was able to bring her and her parents to the children’s Hospital Boston located in the United States. There it was discovered that this precious little girl had a very dangerous ailment – a huge cardiac tumor. Her parents were in distress as this tumor was the type that was known to cause sudden death to children. But their sorrow would soon turn into exquisite joy when Children’s Hospital world renowned cardiologists and surgeons teamed to remove the killer-tumor. Asimina and her parents have now returned to Greece. She is one of the over 800 children who are living better lives today because of the intervention of the Hellenic Cardiac Program at Children’s Hospital Boston. I’m sure you all know there is a tradition among Hellenes to assist those in need. It is a long, unbroken line of caring and giving that is a source of great pride. If you want to find out how to help this organization, below is the contact info:

Bess Pappas
Director, Hellenic Cardiac Fund for Children
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA

Το μισό και πλέον Κυπριακό

ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ: «Το μισό και πλέον Κυπριακό»

Η Αυστρία επαναφέρει θέμα Αμμοχώστου

Θέμα Αμμοχώστου σε διασύνδεση με το απευθείας εμπόριο, όπως αυτό ερμηνεύεται πλέον από την Ε.Ε. και όχι από την Τουρκία, ετοιμάζεται να επαναφέρει η αυστριακή Προεδρία.

Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, η Λευκωσία έχει έρθει σε σχετική συνεννόηση με τη Βιένη για επαναφορά της πρότασης που προνοεί επιστροφή της Αμμοχώστου, άνοιγμα του λιμανιού της πόλης και συνδιαχείρισή του υπό την εποπτεία των Βρυξελλών.
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Date set for Orams decision

From The Cyprus Weekly:

Decision in Orams case on invasion anniversary

EXCLUSIVE

By Philippos Stylianou

ON THE anniversary of the Turkish invasion this summer, the London High Court will deliver its final judgment on the controversial Orams case, which is expected to have an enormous effect on the future of Greek Cypriot refugee properties in the occupied areas.

Lawyer Constantis Candounas, who has asked the High Court to enforce a decision by a Cypriot court ordering David and Linda Orams from Hove, Sussex, to return land property to his client Meletis Apostolides, said the trial had been set for July 18, 19 and 20.

The action, under an EU regime making possible the enforcement of court decisions of one member state in the courts of another, was filed on December 21, 2005 and, besides being the first of its kind in the UK, it became even more controversial when the Orams retained the legal services of Cherie Blair QC, wife of the British Prime Minister.

Candounas told The Cyprus Weekly that he attended a hearing at the High Court with the Orams’ solicitors on March 1, 2006, during which the Court gave instructions for Apostolides’ expert witnesses to submit their evidence by March 29.

The Orams were to reply within a week, which they did, and then the lawyers of both sides were given two weeks to meet together.

Not easy

Called by The Cyprus Weekly to say if the date coinciding with the 32nd invasion anniversary carried any special significance, Candounas said it was very fortunate that they could get such an early date.

He explained that it was not easy to find a time slot suiting the lawyers of the two sides and the High Court judges.

Cherie Blair tried to get a postponement until Linda Orams’ appeal to the Cyprus Supreme Court against the ruling of the court of first instance was heard, but the High Court rejected this, as it could have taken as long as a year to 18 months.

Leading the UK legal team for Meletis Apostolides against Cherie Blair and other lawyers from the Matrix Chambers, will be Thomas Beazley QC, of Blackstone Chambers, with Simon Congdon of Holmans Fenwick Willan Solicitors and another QC from Brickstone Chambers.

Unaware

Linda and David Orams claimed they had bought Apostolides’ property in Lapithos, near Kyrenia, in good faith from a Turkish Cypriot without being aware of the legal and political implications and build a luxury villa there.

The Nicosia District Court ordered them to demolish the villa and return the property to its rightful owner. In the face of the Orams’ refusal to comply with the decision and being unable to enforce it because of the Turkish occupation in northern Cyprus, Apostolides can ask to have the judgment executed against the Orams’ UK property.

The British High Court will not review the merits of the case but will decide on matters of procedure and public policy.

The development has slowed down the arbitrary sale of Greek Cypriot refugee properties in the occupied territories, mainly to UK nationals, which had reached alarming proportions.

It would be no exaggeration to say that the High Court decision will seal the fate of the Greek Cypriot refugee properties either way.

What kind of Justice is this?

Below is an article (05.03.06) by columnist Sener Levent from the Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA. The translated English version was found on the Cyprus PIO website. An exceptional article worth reproducing it here in its entirety. The following is the full text of the translated English version with original spelling, grammar and punctuation:

In fact the tragedy of the Greek Cypriot community is graver than the tragedy of the Turkish Cypriots.

Just think about it

This country is under occupation for the last 32 years and unfortunately they (Greek Cypriots) were unable to explain this occupation to the world. They were unable to force neither the UN, nor the EU and nor the other International organizations to take strong and effective sanctions against the occupier.

On top of it after so many years of occupation the Greek Cypriot side was put on the accused and guilty chair.

The occupier was declared innocent and those who were under occupation guilty.

For this an Annan Plan and a referendum was enough

All of a sudden the occupier was declared favoring peace and settlement and those who are under occupation against peace and solution

What kind of Justice is this?

Do you know the biggest opponents of the settlement in Cyprus?

The biggest opponents of the settlement in Cyprus are those who say that the obstacle for the solution is Tassos Papadopoulos.

This is an understanding that totally denies the political will of the Greek Cypriot community and it is a propaganda that for a long time now is being systematically injected to everybody. And unfortunately some Greek Cypriot intellectuals are being knowingly or unintentionally became an instrument to this propaganda. The peoples will expressed during the referendum totally are ignored and huge 76% no is attributed to Papadopoulos. It means that Papadopoulos `no´ had no effect. In fact it had harmed the Greek Cypriots. I wish he would have said `yes´ during the referendum. Because at that time peoples `no´ would have been better understood.

He then comments on a recent poll that 48% of the Greek Cypriots said no to living with the Turkish Cypriots. Sener Levent justifies the Geek Cypriot no and says that if he was a Greek Cypriot his answer was not going to be different when the Turkish Cypriots brand the 20 July invasion as liberation and keep silent when return of Varosha is in question or when they usurp immovable property that belong to the Greek Cypriots and sell them with illegal title deeds to foreigners in the north.

Survey Conducted by CyBC

The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Dora Bakoyannis, on Tuesday said the Annan plan is history and any new initiative would have to be within the European Union framework.

Ms. Bakoyannis, who is currently on a 3-day official visit to Cyprus, said "The Annan Plan, as it was submitted for approval by the Cypriot people, was rejected. From the moment it was rejected, it was history." She went on to say "(The Cypriots) desire a fair and viable solution within the EU framework and we should work toward this direction."

The foreign Minister’s visit coincided with the publication of a poll that was conducted by the CyBC showing most Greek Cypriots have doubts that reunification will occur any time soon. The poll showed that an even greater majority reject the Annan plan. Some 50 percent want a completely new plan while 34 percent favor drastic changes to the Annan plan. The foreign press, however, will be focusing on this part of the poll ... given the chance, 48 percent of Greek Cypriots would rather live separately from the Turkish Cypriots compared to 45 percent who back coexistence. Beware, the pro-Turkish foreign media will not miss a chance to castigate the Greek Cypriots. Allow me to give you a preview ... Shame! The Greek Cypriots do not want to live with the Turkish Cypriots. This is Tassos doing with all his rhetoric; the Greek Cypriots don’t want peace. Some reading this post may say where is your proof of this so called biased foreign media? When was the last time you read an article on Cyprus that mentioned the previous rejections of UN plans by Turkey and the occupied North? When was the last time you read an article on Cyprus that mentioned Turkey’s violation of UN and Security Council resolutions regarding its occupation and colonization of Cypriot territory? There is your proof. If this survey was done in a period where Cypriots believed the UN plan was actually workable with a strong central government ... then the poll results would have been completely different. Now, take a look at this snippet from a recent report by the BBC:

Some wonder quietly if the threat of formal recognition of the north could push the Greek Cypriot side back to the (Annan Plan) negotiating table.

No need to wonder anymore, the CyBC poll results tell us it would have quite the opposite effect. Are the polling results good news for the Turks? Hardly. Cyprus support for Turkey’s EU accession is based on reversing the crimes committed by Turkey and allowing refugees the right to return home. Turkish columnists love to point this out ... those wily Greek Cypriots are using the EU to corner us! Notice how the Turks do not mind how they use their troops to force their own compromise on us but complain when the government of RoC seeks EU help for a compromise to reunite the war divided island nation. If Turkey’s stance leads to separation of the two communities then there is no reason for the Cypriots to support Turkey’s EU accession. The reaction to this by some Turks may be ... If EU talks are suspended over Cyprus, then so be it. I think it is fair to say that Turkey’s EU membership bid means a lot more to a Turkish Kurd than it does to a Turk. Recent reforms were granted to the Kurds in order to appease the EU. I would like to ask Mr. Semih İdiz what the current riots in Turkey’s south-east would look like if Kurds knew that Turkey was not going to be a part of the EU?

The Gladio

Here is an interesting article from the Turkish Daily News which talks about a special war department that may or may not be linked to Turkey’s shadowy Deep State. This is a significant read because, to my knowledge, the existence of such a department has never been acknowledged before by the Turkish Government. The article mentions Turkey's Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul stating this special department "shouldered important responsibilities" in the lead-up to the Cyprus invasion.

Τιμή στην εξέγερση της ΕΟΚΑ

Είδηση απο Phileleftheros:

Δοξολογίες και κατάθεση στεφάνων Με ευλάβεια η Κύπρος τιμά την μεγαλειώδη εξέγερση της ΕΟΚΑ

Λευκωσία: Ο κυπριακός λαός τιμά σήμερα την 51η επέτειο της έναρξης του αγώνα της ΕΟΚΑ και με πανηγυρικές δοξολογίες και εκδηλώσεις μνήμης, αποτείει ελάχιστο φόρο τιμής σε όσους αγωνίστηκαν και έπεσαν για την απελευθέρωση της Κύπρου από τον βρετανικό ζυγό. Στον καθεδρικό ναό Αγίου Ιωάννου Λευκωσίας εψάλη στις 10 το πρωί πανηγυρική δοξολογία, χωροστατούντος του Χωρεπισκόπου Τριμυθούντος Βασιλείου. Στις 11 τελέσθηκε στα Φυλακισμένα Μνήματα τρισάγιο για τους ήρωες του απελευθερωτικού αγώνα της ΕΟΚΑ και ακολούθησε κατάθεση στεφάνων.

Στη δοξολογία στον καθεδρικό ναό Αγίου Ιωάννου παρίστατω ο Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας, Τάσσος Παπαδόπουλος, ο οποίος στη συνέχεια κατάθεσε στεφάνι στα Φυλακισμένα Μνήματα.

Πανηγυρικές δοξολογίες ψάληκαν και στις υπόλοιπες ελεύθερες πόλεις της Κύπρου. Δοξολογία για την εθνική επέτειο της 1ης Απριλίου ψάληκε το πρωί και στον Μητροπολιτικό ναό Αθηνών. Τον πανηγυρικό της ημέρας είπε ο υφυπουργός παρά τω προέδρω, Χριστόδουλος Πασιαρδής.