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Turkish Press Review, 99-07-02Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>02.07.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY AND TRNC SAY G-8 AND SECURITY COUNCIL LEFT NO ROOM FOR TALKS[02] FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..[03] SPECIAL KOSOVO[04] TURKISH REQUESTS REPRESENTATIVE IN KOSOVO'S CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION[05] AKAYEV IN ANKARAPresident Suleyman Demirel received Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev in an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace yesterday. Speaking at the ceremony, Demirel said that the two countries enjoy great geographic importance. "Our mutual relations as well as our multilateral cooperation play an important role in regional peace and stability", Demirel stated. Akayev, for his part, said that being in Turkey is an honour and represents a light of hope, adding that this visit has greater significance than past ones.Following the ceremony, the two Presidents talked privately, with the delegations meeting afterwards. After the meeting between the two delegations, four agreements and a joint declaration were signed. Among the agreements were commitments to prevent double taxation and a protocol for cooperation between the two countries' Finance Ministries. Speaking about the agreement on the prevention of double taxation, Akayev said this will result in an increase in the trade volume between the two countries. /All papers/ [06] DEMIREL TO VISIT ISRAELIt has been announced that President Suleyman Demirel will arrive in Israel on 14 July as the official guest of his Israeli counterpart, Ezer Weizman. Demirel will also receive Israeli Prime Minister Barak to discuss Israeli-Syrian relations and Turco-Israeli relations. It is expected that Demirel will ask for a guarantee that the positive atmosphere being experienced in their bilateral relations will continue folowing the developments in Israeli-Syrian ties. /Sabah/[07] OCALAN WARNING AGAINST EUROPEThe Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the legal procedure concerning the Ocalan trial is still continuing in accordance with the principles of the independent legal system. According to the statement, any intervention regarding the trial either abroad or internally will be unacceptable. It stressed that criticism of the Turkish legal system, threats against Turkey and efforts to hamper relations between Turkey, the Turco-Council of Europe and the European Union due to the Ocalan trial. The statement invited European countries and the whole world tp respect the principle of justice within the legal system and asked them to abandon their pressurizing attitude towards Turkey. /Sabah/[08] PARRIS: "PKK's DREAMS END"The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, said in his speech at Adana Rotary Club that Turkey had gained a victory in her fight against terrorism with the capture and trial of Ocalan. He added, "The PKK's dream of success in terrorism and separatism has ended." Stating that they wanted a stable Turkey, Parris said that Turkey's economic performance during last autumn and spring had showed that the Turkish economy had been improving. Praising the studies and targets of the 57th coalition government, Parris added that Turkey and America shared the same advantages. He noted they believed that, the first Turkmen natural gas would arrive in Erzurum via the Caspian by the year 2002 and Ceyhan would transfer Caspian oil by the year 2004. /Sabah/[09] AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEThe Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu said that Turkey and Greece had reached a consensus concerning cooperation in the re-construction of the Balkans. Papandreu stated that if an agreement is reached during the meetings embracing five topics between the two countries in July, they could deal with more complex matters. Papandreu made a statement following his meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, and remarked that Turkey and Greece had reached a consensus on cooperation under the guidelines of multi-lateral relations in the Balkans and the Black Sea. Papandreu stressed that businessmen from the two countries should assume great responsibilities on these issues and said that trade held an important place as far as cooperation was concerned. /Turkiye/[10] US FULLY SUPPORTS TURCO-GREEK DIALOGUEThe US State Department's Spokesman, James Foley, said that Washington was in full support of Turco-Greek dialogue. Foley held a press conference yesterday and pointed out that the decision taken by Turkey and Greece to continue talks covering five topics, including terrorism, were very positive. He added: "It is very pleasing that the two Ministers stated that their meetings had been very beneficial. The US is in complete support of this and is encouraging dialogue between the two countries". /Turkiye/[11] TURKEY WANTS JOINT MILITARY STRIKE WITH IRANAnkara has urged the Tehran Administration to join with her in a military strike against PKK terrorists who settled on Iranian territory after being swept out of Syria. With this crack-down, Turkey aims to squeeze PKK militants between Turkish, Iranian and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) forces. It is reported that senior military officials both from Ankara and Tehran will meet shortly. Turkey is determined to deal a heavy blow to the PKK, which has settled in Iran. The Turkish Intelligence Service reported that almost a thousand PKK terrorists are still on Iranian territory, mostly in and around the Mako region. /Cumhuriyet/[12] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU IN HUNGARYThe Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu went to Budapest, Hungary, on the second leg of his visit as part of his six-day trip to new NATO member countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Meetings were held between the military delegations of the two countries yesterday. Gen.Kivrikoglu said following the meetings that relations between Turkey and new NATO member countries should not only be military. He remarked that he had held some very beneficial meetings in the Czech Republic and Hungary. Gen.Kivrikoglu will proceed to Poland today, the last leg of his visit, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[13] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UPCentral Bank foreign exchange reserves increased by $563 million between June 18 and 25, 1999, and exceeded $22 billion. According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves which were $21.653 billion on June 18 rose to $22.216 billion on June 25. Meanwhile, as of June 11, gold reserves stood at $1.012 billion while foreign exchange reserves at commercial banks amounted to $10.020 billion. /Turkiye/[14] AGREEMENT WITH IMFAt the end of tough bargaining talks, the Turkish administration and the representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMD), who have been in Turkey more than a week, reached an agreement. According to the agreement, which will be officially announced today during a joint press conference by IMF Turkey-Desk Chairman Carlo Cottarelli and State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, Turkey has assured the IMF that she will implement the Stability Programme from the beginning of the year 2000. The IMF has guaranteed financial support of up to $ 5 million in order to action the Stability Programme. Also, the World Bank will give between $ 3-5 million in loans for the implementation of the Programme.It is predicted that the main results of the Turco-IMF agreement will be reflected on international markets. Foreign stock-exchange reserves, which decreased in the aftermath of the Russian economic crisis, will increase and channels of foreign credit will be re-opened. According to economic officials, the Turkish delegation will go to Washington in August to discuss the 2000 Budget with the IMF. /Sabah/ [15] PKK ATTACK IN ERZURUMSecurity forces announced that PKK terrorists launched an armed attack against a coffee house in Erzurum late last night killing four civilians. By the end of the clashes between security forces and the terrorists, two terrorists were killed and seven civilians were wounded.During another incident, a group of terrorists attacked a military convoy. During the clashes between the terrorists and security forces, two terrorists and a soldier were killed. According to military sources wide-ranging operations will continue to seize PKK terrorists in and around the region. /Sabah/ [16] PKK-DHKP-C FIGHTThe defensive statements of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who was sentenced to death during the trial on Imrali Island, have caused conflict between the members of an illegal Marxist-Leninist organization, the DHKP-C, and the PKK terrorist organization. A pro-DHKP-C newspaper has claimed that Ocalan conceded defeat during his defence on Imrali Island and criticized Ocalan for not assuming the role of a militant. Meanwhile, a group of PKK members attacked three DHKP-C members who sold the newspaper in London. During the fight between the members of the two illegal organizations DHKP-C and the PKK, many casualties were reported. /Turkiye/[17] ECEVIT: "DO NOT INVOLVE YOURSELVES IN OUR DOMESTIC ISSUES"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that pressures on Turkey would not have any effect and said: "According to the EU, we cannot take a political decision. Those who are trying to influence the legal process in Turkey will receive a harsh reaction from Turkish public opinion". Ecevit added that the judiciary in Turkey was completely independent and no one had the right to become involved in Turkey's domestic issues.Replying to the question of whether or not Turkey will use Ocalan's execution as a trump card in her entry into the EU, Ecevit pointed out that the EU has not actually approved Turkey's membership. /Turkiye/ [18] INSOLENT COMMUNISTSThe Communist Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has stated that they would object to the authorization of Turkish Parliamentary members in PACE because of the death penalty verdict passed on Ocalan. The Communist Group made a statement yesterday and condemned the death penalty issued to the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. The statement called on Turkey to remove the death penalty. It is reported that the statement was prepared mainly on the initiative of Italian and Greek PACE members. /Aksam/[19] GREEK PRESS: THE ICE IS BEING BROKENThe Greek Government's Deputy Spokesman, Yannis Nikolau, described the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece in New York as positive. The Greek press has also devoted wide coverage to the meeting and said that the ice between Turkey and Greece is in the proces of being broken. Greek newspapers stated that the US had also been pleased with the meeting between the two Ministers. /Aksam/[20] TURKISH SUPPORT FOR IRAQTurkey has expressed to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, her support of the suspension of the embargo imposed on Iraq. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said in a meeting with Annan two days ago that Turkey believes that the removal of the embargo following the UN resolutions to be implemented by Iraq along with other particular conditions will be a positive development. Cem stressed that this development would contribute to the solution of the Iraqi problem. Meanwhile, Cem invited Annan to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit to be held in Istanbul on November 18-19. Officials said that the UN Secretary-General would attend the Summit. /Aksam/[21] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO MEET NEXT MONDAYThe annual weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers will be held on Monday instead of today. The Social Security Draft Bill will be the first topic on the agenda of the meeting. It is also expected that the increase in the salaries and pensions of civil servants will be determined at the end of the meeting. /Hurriyet/[22] TURKEY AND TRNC SAY G-8 AND SECURITY COUNCIL LEFT NO ROOM FOR TALKSTurkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said yesterday that the statement made after the G-8 countries' Summit and the latest resolution on Cyprus from the UN Security Council have left no room for talks. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, in New York for the 'Friends of Kosovo' meeting called by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, commented that the G-8 and the Security Council have drawn a very limited framework for Cyprus. He said that Ankara considered the latest resolution to be detrimental to earlier Security Council resolutions on the Cyprus problem and the good-will mission the Council handed to the Secretary-General. /All papers/[23] U.S. SENDS MESSAGE TO DENKTASThe U.S. Administration sent a message to the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, asking him to sit at the negotiating table in October which will be for the TRNC's benefit. It guaranteed Denktas that at the end of the meetings he would be at the same point and an improvement would be ensured in Cyprus issue. /Hurriyet/[24] ITALY TO REQUEST THE EXRADITION OF OCALANThe Italian Parliament will hold an extraordinary session next week to evaluate the developments in the aftermath of Ocalan's being sentenced to death. It is expected that Turco-Italian relations will also be discussed during the meeting. Meanwhile, on 7 July, Rome's Second Court of Appeals will make a decision concerning Ocalan's lawyers' request for political asylum to be given to their client. If the Court gives the go-ahead to the request then the Italian Court would apply to the Court of Human Rights to request the extradition of Ocalan to Italy. /Hurriyet/[25] PRESSURE SHOULD NOT BE OVERDONEGerman Interior Minister Otto Schilly stressed that too much pressure on Turkey after the developments in the Ocalan trial would cause an adverse result in Turkey. In his statement to Northern Germany Radio (NDR) Schilly said that his government would continue its efforts to improve Turco-European Union (EU) relations. /Hurriyet/[26] TIME TO BE QUIETThe State Minister Responsible for European Affairs and Human Rights, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, said concerning European criticism of Ocalan's death sentence that it was Turkey's domestic issue. He added, "It is time for Turkey to think about and evaluate the issue with a wider perspective and to act in line with our benefits. The main thing is to prevent Ocalan from further harming the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation." Irtemcelik stressed that although he was personally against the death sentence, a person like Ocalan deserved it. He also pointed out that the Ocalan trial was honourable from the point of the Turkish judiciary system and Turkish democracy. "Now, it's time for Turkey to wait and be quiet before evaluating the criticism coming from Europe in order not to be provoked by such criticism," said Irtemcelik. /Hurriyet/[27] AUSTRIA DECORATES TURKISH LAWYER WITH MEDAL OF MERITYilmaz Baser, a Turkish lawyer, was decorated with Austria's Medal of Merit for the legal aid he made to the Austrian citizens on Wednesday, reported Anatolia News Agency. Speaking in the ceremony held at the Austrian Consulate-General; Dr.Ralp Scheide, Austrian Ambassador to Ankara, said that they gave Baser the Austrian Medal of Merit for his services since 1972. Then, he decorated Baser with the Medal of Merit. Baser thanked Austria and said that he is very proud of being rewarded with this medal.[28] TURKISH INDUSTRIALISTS TO CONVENE IN ROMANIAThe traditional Technical International Bucharest'99 (TIB'99) Fair will be opened in between October 12 and 16, reported the Anatolia News Agency on Thursday. Turkey will participate in the TIB at national level for the third time. Releasing a statement, the Export Development Centre said that every kind of technical products and equipment are displayed at the TIB which is the most important fair in Romania. The fair constitutes an important platform for setting up lasting business ties in the Romanian market.[29] YASED CRITICIZES THE NEW GOVERNMENTThe Foreign Capital Investment Board (YASED), which represents 75% of foreign investment in Turkey, does not find the new government very convincing. The conclusion was formed as the results of a survey carried out among all YASED members were announced yesterday at a press conference held in Istanbul. The percentage of those who foresee a percentage change of 1 to 2 percent in the rate of growth this year has reached 51 %. /All papers/[30] TURKISH WORLD SUMMIT IN DENIZLIThe seventh Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Council of Turkish-Speaking States and Communities will be held in Denizli today. The Council organized by the Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Foundation of the Turkish-Speaking States and Communities (TUDEV), headed by State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay, will continue until July 7. President Suleyman Demirel, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and representatives from the Turkish-Speaking Republics are expected to attend the opening of the Council. Various commissions will be established to carry out research into various issues including education, culture, science, technology, financial and international relations. /Turkiye/[31] TURKISH COMPANY SUCCESSA Turkish computer company which is active in Chicago, the US, is installing computer systems in noted universities in many states in the US. The NOVA computer company established by Ahmet Melih Keskes, a university student, Ali Kurter and Kemal Ozer in 1995 in Chicago have formed special systems in many educational institutions in the US. The company which last year received the 'Top Pick' and 'Best computer system' awards from the "PC Today", an international computer magazine, outran the competition of famous computer companies such as Gateways and Compaq. /Turkiye/[32] A NEW PERIOD IN BORROWINGFollowing the IMF meetings in Turkey, the Treasury announced its borrowing programme for the July-September 1999 period yesterday. The Treasury, which will begin to export three-year term bonds, with an interest payment once every three months, will put out a bond tender to determine the three-month interest. As part of the new strategy, discount bond sales will be decreased. The Treasury which will put out five tenders in July will try the new programme. During the five tenders in July, the Treasury aims at a net borrowing worth 2-2.5 quadrillion TL. /Star/[33] JP MORGAN: "IMPLEMENT THE LAW IN THE BEST WAY"The renowned investment bank, JP Morgan, has issued a research paper entitled 'The new Banking Law is only a step on the path of reform' and said that the success of the Banking Law depended on its implementation. The paper pointed out that, in order to achieve reforms, the share of the public in the system should be reduced and public banks should be rehabilitated. /Star/[34] MINISTRY IF INTERIOR ON GUARD AGAINST ARTIFACT SMUGGLINGThe Ministry of Interior has asked the governor's offices of 80 cities to be on guard against the theft and smuggling of historical artifacts. A circular signed by Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan was mailed to the related officials in the 80 cities. The circular restates the policies laid out by the Ministry of Culture's Agency for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Wealth. /All papers/[35] FRENCH GENDARMERIE ATTACHE IN TURKEYThe Gendarmerie General Commander, Gen.Rasim Betir, has presented a Turkish Armed Forces' (TAF) service shield to the French Gendarmerie Attache, Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Reaud, in Turkey. During a ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Gendarmerie General Command yesterday, Gen.Betir delivered a speech and expressed his pleasure over presenting the shield to Reaud on behalf of the Turkish Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, and praised his contributions to the development of relations between the Turkish and French gendarmeries. Gendarmerie Lieutenant Colonel Reaud also delivered a speech at the ceremony and expressed his thanks for the shield, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[36] SOARES: "TURKEY SHOULD ENTER EU"Head of the Non-Governmental European Action Institution and Portuguese former President Mario Soares said that Turkey was an important country for Europe. Before attending the 9th European Workers' Union Confederation Congress in Finland, Soares stressed Turkey should take her place in the European Union (EU). However, he added, Turkey was expected to raise her standards in democracy and human rights. He noted that Turkey could solve her democratic problems very soon. /Cumhuriyet/[37] COHEN TO VISIT ATHENS AND ANKARAIt is reported that the U.S. Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, will visit Athens and Ankara in mid-July. A U.S. official said that the visit would aim to ease Turco-Greek relations. /Cumhuriyet/[38] AT MOST GERMAN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEYTourism representatives from Turkey met members of the German Tavel Agencies' Union (DRV) yesterday in Istanbul, along with Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu. German tour operators announced that they foresaw a 20 % increase in the number of German tourists visiting Turkey next year. The Minister of Tourism, Erkan Mumcu, said for his part that the Tourism Promotion Council would be allocated with a sufficient budget to make Turkey more popular abroad. /Sabah/[39] BOSCH TO INVEST IN BURSAThe world-leading German company, Bosch, will make a 220 million DM investment in Bursa. The General Director of the Bosch firm, Dr. Klaus Peter Fouguet, said that they believed in the future of the Turkish automotive sector. Fouguet stressed that they had not met any obstacles while investing in Turkey and that they planned to increase their investments here. Moreover, he said he believed that foreign investments would increase in Turkey. /Sabah/[40] NATURAL GAS TO EUROPEThe Turkish STFA Enerkom Company, which constructed the 1st Erzurum-Dogubeyazit pipeline to meet the natural gas needs of both Turkey and Europe, has installed a 48-inch natural gas pipeline for the first time in Turkey as part of the project. The construction started in 1998 and 70 % of it has already been completed. /sabah/[41] ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONVENESEconomic and Social Council convened yesterday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A draft law prepared by Labour and Social Welfare Ministry regarding Social Security Reform was evaluated at the Economic and Social Council meeting.[42] NATO STANDING NAVAL FORCE MEDITERRANEAN IN ANTALYAThe war ships of the NATO Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (Stanavformed) arrived in southern Antalya yesterday. The Stanavformed will stay in Antalya until July 5, 1999. The aim of the visit of Stanavformed is indicating the continuing existence and solidarity of NATO in the south region.[43] PERSONAL INVITATION FOR DENKTASThe United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, planning to call the leaders of the Turkish and Greek-Cypriots for negotiations in the Autumn, is looking for a special formula which will not be rejected by Rauf Denktas. A possibility appeared that Annan will invite the two leaders to New York at the same time, but meet separately, after it was recognized that the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, will not attend any negotiations with Greek-Cypriot President Klerides under these conditions. Sources close to Annan say that he is evaluating the different alternatives but has not decided on any as yet. The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, affirmed his anxieties during the meeting with Annan about the G-8 and the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus. He noted that these resolutions draw a very narrow framework and it does not allow for any manoeuvre leading to a solution. The response of Denktas to the invitation is that it is 'his personal matter', but he doesn't think that he will accept it. At the meeting the Iraq and Kosovo issues were also discussed and Cem invited Annan to Istanbul for the OSCE Summit in November. /Milliyet/[44] HONOURARY MEMBERSHIP FOR SUNA KIRACTo the Deputy of Chairman of the Koc Holding's Executive Committee, Suna Kirac, was presented the title of 'honourary member' by London Business School. During the diploma ceremony at the Faculty's campus in London's Regent Park it was declared that Kirac was found worthy of to this title for her studies and great successes in Turkey, which has one of the speediest developing economies in the world. /Milliyet/[45] REPENTANCE LAW BILL WITHDRAWNThe Government withdrew the Bill from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) concerning the amendments to the law applying sentences to some crimes, which is known to the public as "Repentance Law". The Bill will be revised to prevent any reduction of punishment for the leaders within the PKK the terrorist organization, such as Abdullah Ocalan. Following the objection of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), it was requested that the Bill be sent back to the Prime Ministry with a letter signed by Ecevit to the TGNA. The MHP's deputy of parliamentary group chairman Kose stated that the Bill cannot offer any forgiveness to Ocalan and the chief of the terrorist organization cannot be covered by the Bill anyhow. He also added that those terrorists who have used weapons and participated in terrorist attacks will not benefit from this Law. /Milliyet/[46] FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..[47] OCALAN AND ACCOMPLICES -BY H. MESUT HAZAR (TURKIYE)Columnist Mesut Hazar comments on the sentence passed on Ocalan and the reaction following the announcement of the verdict. A summary of his column is as follows:"When Ocalan was sentenced to death as he duly deserved, the enemies of Turkey sprung onto the stage.It seems that discussion of the verdict and the protests of PKK followers will go on increasing with every passing day. The confessions of Ocalan during his imprisonment and the incidents following it showed unequivocally that the terror which reigned in the Southeast of Turkey was supported from abroad...Universal values such as democracy, human rights, globalization, justice all were used as excuses for the interests of various powers. As this exploitation continues it is not possible to avoid facing double standards. The US has made clear its stand on the issue, regarding Ocalan as a terrorist. Foreign Ministry Spokesman James Rubin said that the trial of Ocalan was over and he had been sentenced to death in accordance with Turkish laws. As he was tried in a State Security Court, his case would automatically go to the Supreme Court of Appeals and also the European Court of Human Rights could discuss the verdict. Pointing out that the trial was folowed by representatives of foreign Embassies, human rights groups and diplomats, Rubin said that the trial was conducted in a correct manner. However demonstrationss have been held in front of the US Congress to protest against the verdict meted out to Ocalan. Both the Turkish and US Governments were denounced during this demonstration attended by two Democrat deputies known for their affialition to the Greek and Armenian lobbies. Both of the representatives hurled accusations at the US Administration and Turkish Government and demanded that Ocalan not be executed. The next step of the issue will be seen in the Supreme Court of Appeals. If it approves the verdict then the case will be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly for a vote on the execution. We have no doubt that both the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Parliament will do whatever befalls on them. However, it is certain that the pressure on Turkey will increase with every passing day and Turkey has to prove to the world that her justice mechanism and courts are independent and laws rule in the country. The procedure should be completed as soon as possible. To commute the sentence of the head of the terrorist PKK to life or leave the case to drag on will not only offend the Turkish public but also please and encourage those who have ambitions concerning Turkey." [48] THEY ARE FOND OF GIVING ADVICE... -BY ALI SIRMEN (CUMHIRYET)Columnist Ali Sirmen writes on the debate in France over the acceptance of ethnic languages. A summary of his column is as follows:"It was not surprising to see Europe raise havoc when the Ocalan trial ended with a death sentence in accordance with the Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code. However, we should not link our thoughts and behaviour according to their stance. We have to think of our interests before everything else. We should not deviate from the correct course to avenge a trifle or bow to pressure. In the meantime, we have to show them that they are engaged in following double standards. At present there is an interesting debate going on in France. The subject of the debate is the "European Regional and Ethnic Languages Charter". Twelve members of the Council of Europe signed the Charter on 5 November, 1992. Seven members passed the law through their Parliaments. However, in France the situation is a little complex. If we summarize the issue, the text prepared by the Jospin Government on regional and ethnic languages was taken to the Constitutional Council by President Jacques Chirac on 20 May. The Constitutional Council in France announced its decision on the subject on 16 June. It found this Charter to be contrary to the 1958 French Constitution. President Chirac then announced that he would not be a party to a text rejected by the Constitutional Council. When an amendment to the Constitution was brought up, Jean Pierre Chevenement from the left wing of the Socialist Party opposed it saying that the implementation of this Charter would result in the division of France. I listened to these smiling, remembering the French journalists who had said "If you could only take the pressure off the Kurdish language". It can be said that many ethnic languages are being taught in many schools in France. That is true, and personally we are not against the establishment of a TV channel broadcasting in Kurdish. However, there is another point that should be analyzed. In 1991 when the Socialist Party was in power in France, the Minister of the Interior Pierre Joxe, prepared a Bill concerning the Corsican issue. The Bill was enacted by the Parliament on 13 May 1991 and then sent to the Constitutional Council. The Constitutional Council cancelled the first article of the law known as the Joxe Law. In the first article there was the clause "Corsican people constitute a part of the French nation". The Council cancelled this article finding it in violation of the second article of the 1958 Constitution which was about the unitary state of the French nation and its indivisibility. When a French journalist who knows our country well once said that we should recognize the Kurdish situation, our answer wasthat they should understand the difficulties arising from their own nation concept which had once been an inspiration to us. " [49] SPECIAL KOSOVO[50] FIRST GROUP OF TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS LEAVE FOR KOSOVOThe first group of Turkish soldiers participating in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission left for Kosovo yesterday. The first contingent, made up of around 130 Turkish soldiers, will travel through Bulgaria and Macedonia to Kosovo. The rest of the 1,000 soldiers Turkey is contributing to the NATO-led force are to be dispatched by July 7. They will be travelling to Kosovo by rail and plane. The Turkish troops will serve alongside German soldiers in Prizren, Kosovo's second largest city, where many ethnic Turks live. /All papers/[51] TURKISH REQUESTS REPRESENTATIVE IN KOSOVO'S CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATIONForeign Minister Ismail Cem expressed his opinion to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that a Turkish representative should also take a high-level position within the civilian administration being established by the UN in Kosovo. Cem pointed out Turkey's experience on issues in the Balkans and Kosovo and said that a representative from Turkey should be in the civilian administration in Kosovo. /Turkiye/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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