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Turkish Press Review, 01-11-02
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Foreign
Press in Turkey
Turkish
Press Review >>
Press
Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
02.11.2001
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY TO SEND TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN
[02] SEZER APPROVES APPOINTMENTS
[03] ECEVIT: "IT IS NATURAL FOR TURKEY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT"
[04] CEM: WE HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS WAR IS NOT AGAINST ISLAM
[05] US PRESIDENT BUSH PRAISES TURKEY
[06] TALEBAN DENOUNCES TURKEY
[07] FISCHER: TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT
[08] ARTICLE 86 OF THE CONSTITUTION
[09] PARLIAMENTARIANS REACT TO DERVIS
[10] PARLIAMENT GIVES OK TO FAMILY LAW
[11] ARMAMENT TRANSFER TO NORTHERN ALLIANCE
[12] KIZILAY SENDS AID TO AFGHANISTAN
[13] AGAH OKTAY GUNER RESIGNS FROM ANAP
[14] VARYAG PASSES THROUGH THE BOSPHORUS
[15] DEMIREL: I DO NOT WANT A WAR OF WORDS
[16] KUTAN CALLS ON AKP TO MERGE WITH SP
[17] IMF: COMMITTEE ON WAY TO DETERMINE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
[18] GALLO: "GOOD OPPORTUNITIES EMERGE IN TURKEY"
[19] EXPORTS SHOW INCREASE
[20] NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IMPORTANT FOR KEI ECONOMY
[21] GERMAN DELEGATION AUDITS DIYARBAKIR MUNICIPALITY
[22] NEW STEPS TAKEN TO REVIVE TOURISM
[23] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[24] TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OKAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
[01] TURKEY TO SEND TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN
Turkey, the only NATO member among the world's predominantly Islamic
countries, has said that it will send special forces to join the US-led war
against terrorism in Afghanistan. The Council of Ministers, convened
yesterday and decided to meet a request for US military support. The
decision means that Turkey is the first Muslim nation to join the US
operation against the Taleban and Osama bin Laden. The Turkish government
said that Turkey would deploy a 90-man special unit for the mission. The
Turkish troops will carry out duties such as fighting terrorists, training
the troops of the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance and securing humanitarian
aid. The aim of the mission was outlined in a government statement as
"conducting surveillance, fighting terrorists, training the Northern
Alliance, protecting innocent people, helping to evacuate civilians when
necessary and supporting humanitarian aid operations." Turkey's special
forces have long experience in fighting against the PKK terrorist
organization in southeastern Turkey, a mountainous region similar to
Afghanistan. Turkey has already opened its airspace to US aircraft and US
transport planes have been using a base at Incirlik, Turkey. Turkey's
active participation into the US operation, as the sole Muslim NATO member
country, could help the US rebut allegations that Operation "Enduring
Freedom" is engaging in a war against Islam. /All Papers/
[02] SEZER APPROVES APPOINTMENTS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday approved a number of appointments to
the Energy Market Higher Council. Prime Ministry Law, and Decisions General
Director Yusuf Gunay was appointed as Council Chairman and the energy
Ministry deputy undersecretary, and Ali Turkoglu got the nod as the deputy
chairman. In addition, Middle East Technical University (METU) Electronic
Engineering Department Head Osman Sevaioglu, DTM Undersecretary Cengiz Kral,
PETKIM General Director Turgut Bozkurt, State Planning Organization expert
Muzaffer Keles and Ayhan Albostan were selected as council members.
/Milliyet/
[03] ECEVIT: "IT IS NATURAL FOR TURKEY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT"
After Turkey announced that it would join the US-led operation in
Afghanistan, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "It is natural for Turkey
to be at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. If we decided not to
join the war effort, we would have been denying ourselves. We have entered
a period where perpetrating terrorist activities is easy but combating
terrorism is very difficult and expensive. That's why international
cooperation is essential." Remarking that the Taleban regime posed a threat
to the Central Asian republics, Ecevit said that Turkey's mission aimed at
ensuring Afghani people's freedom. Ecevit said the deployment decision was
carefully evaluated both by the military and civilian politicians in line
with Turkey's obligations as a NATO member, and added that the operation
was in no way one against Islam. "People who allege that the operation is
against Islam are in fact contradicting Islamic values, since Islam is a
peaceful religion which stands against violence." Ecevit's statement said.
/Cumhuriyet/
[04] CEM: WE HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS WAR IS NOT AGAINST ISLAM
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday that Turkey's decision to send
troops to Afghanistan constituted a message that "this war is not against
Islam." Cem asserted on CNN that "terrorism has no religion and no
geography" and that the Turkish government's decision was a good message
showing that the current conflict is not a war against Islam, and our
sending troops just symbolic. Ankara's Foreign Ministry has informed other
Islamic countries about Turkey's sending a 90-man team to
Afghanistan./Hürriyet/
[05] US PRESIDENT BUSH PRAISES TURKEY
US President George W. Bush sent a congratulatory message to the 22nd
Annual Convention of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations. Stating
that the idea to form an international coalition against terrorism was
inspired by Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Bush's message
quoted one of Ataturk's statements, "The fastest and the most efficient way
to win a war is to form an international coalition." Bush remarked that
Turkey's decision to deploy special troops for the fight against terrorism
in Afghanistan refuted allegations that the US-led war was one against
Islam. Recalling that Turkish-American cooperation had been initiated
during Korean War and had continued with the Gulf War and Kosovo conflict,
Bush said, "Today, Turkey and the US are growing closer than ever before as
part of our efforts to establish a world order based upon peace." Meanwhile,
US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson said that the US was highly
appreciative of Turkey's decision to send troops to Afghanistan.
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] TALEBAN DENOUNCES TURKEY
Afghanistan's ruling body the Taleban yesterday condemned Turkey, upon the
latter's decision to send a special force of 90 soldiers to Afghanistan at
the request of the US. The Taleban rule is not internationally recognized.
At a press conference, Taleban's Ambassador to Islamabad Abdulselam Zaif
answered a question by saying in part, "All the soldiers which come from a
Muslim country or any other country to join the US will be our enemies, and
they will be treated in the same way. If they attack Afghanistan, we will
defend ourselves." /Milliyet/
[07] FISCHER: TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said yesterday that Turkey is a
very important country for Germany's and Europe's security. Fischer also
remarked that "we have all seen during the current crisis how important
Turkey is and that this democratic, Islamic country has an important place
both in its region and in Europe"./Star/
[08] ARTICLE 86 OF THE CONSTITUTION
A controversial amendment to Constitution Article 86, concerning
Parliamentarians' salary was taken up at the Parliament Constitution
Commission yesterday. The Commission, headed by Turan Tayan of ANAP, agreed
on a new amendment and sent it to Parliament's General Assembly. Previously,
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had called for a national referendum on the
article. /Turkiye/
[09] PARLIAMENTARIANS REACT TO DERVIS
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis's recent statement that certain
parliamentarians had asked him to extend bank loans to companies and rescue
some others which are in bad situations, caused anger among some
parliamentarians. During the Constitutional Commission's yesterday meeting,
Dervis's statement was discussed. Turhan Tayan, head of the commission of
the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that they regretted what Dervis had said.
expressions. Deputies from various parties also criticized Dervis and
called on him to disclose the list of deputies who allegedly asked him for
his favor. /Turkiye/
[10] PARLIAMENT GIVES OK TO FAMILY LAW
Parliament took a further step on Thursday towards replacing the 76-year-
old Turkish Civil Code with a new one, as it approved perhaps the most
important part of a new draft Civil Code regulating family law. The part
of the new Civil Code approved in Thursday's sessions covers all the
articles of the 1,030-draft article from Article 118 to 281. The new family
law scraps the phrase "the head of the marriage union is the man," giving
women the right to have a say in the decisions concerning the children and
the family home. Women would no longer need their husbands consent to get
jobs. Either partner could ask his or her spouse not to take a job that
would disrupt "peace in the marriage union." It also raises the legal age
for marriage from 17 for men and 15 for women to 18 for both. It sets a
legal separation period of six months before couples can file for divorce.
Husbands will be able to receive benefits as well. They will be able to
request alimony from wives who are better off financially./Turkish News/
[11] ARMAMENT TRANSFER TO NORTHERN ALLIANCE
An agreement on transferring US-made armaments and technical know-how to a
third country has been put into effect between Turkey and the US. The
agreement opens the way to transfer US-made armaments in Turkey to Northern
Alliance forces in Afghanistan. Turkey has to ensure US permission for each
transfer. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] KIZILAY SENDS AID TO AFGHANISTAN
Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) Disaster and Aid Director Omer Tasli stated
yesterday that Afghans had helped Turkey during the war of Independence and
added that now it was Turkey's turn to help them. Tasli said, "We have been
trying to provide all possible humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Some 10
percent of the Afghan population has taken shelter in Iran and other
countries. "We will try to help the Afghan people in cooperation with
Iran's Red Crescent." Kizilay's aid convoy includes 51 tons of food, 6,000
blankets and a large quality of medicines and is expected to reach the
Afghan city of
Zabul, near the Iranian border, and will enter the country if they are
allowed. /Turkish News/
[13] AGAH OKTAY GUNER RESIGNS FROM ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) Agah Oktay Guner Deputy Balikesir resigned from his
party yesterday. At a press conference, Guner harsly criticized Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and ANAP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz. He added that he would serve as an independent deputy for some
time. /Turkiye/
[14] VARYAG PASSES THROUGH THE BOSPHORUS
The Varyag, an unfinished aircraft carrier that was purchased by Ukranie
from the People's Republic of China, finally passed through the Bosphorus
yesterday and sailed to the Marmara Sea. The carrier, which has no engine
or steering and measures 306 meters in length, completed her passage in
just under 6 hours. /Turkiye/
[15] DEMIREL: I DO NOT WANT A WAR OF WORDS
Former President Suleyman Demirel yesterday replied to Deputy Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar
Okuyan's criticisms of his complaints about the government. Stressing that
he did not want to argue with anybody, Demirel said, "To whom are they
calling to account? They should relieve the country from its sorry
situation, and if they are unable to, they should go." Recalling that eight
government had come to the power since his tenure in office, Demirel said,
"Why should I be the responsible one for all the mistakes that were made?
If we had done something wrong, the successive governments should have
corrected this." /Turkiye/
[16] KUTAN CALLS ON AKP TO MERGE WITH SP
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan yesterday said that his party wants
to merge with the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Kutan, on a visit to
Malatya, said, "The separation of some our friends from the party was the
worst blow to our case. We want to merge with the AKP with all our heart.
Our door is always open." /Turkiye/
[17] IMF: COMMITTEE ON WAY TO DETERMINE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
IMF External Relations Director Tom Dawson said yesterday that an IMF
committee would soon visit Turkey led by Turkey desk chief Juha
Kahkonen. Dawson said that the reason for their visit was to fix Turkey's
2002 financing gap. Dawson also stated that additional support may be found
other than IMF funds and that they would meet with government
representatives in order to find the best way to support Turkey. The IMF
committee will later also meet with the Fund administration to give their
opinion./Hürriyet/
[18] GALLO: "GOOD OPPORTUNITIES EMERGE IN TURKEY"
Pier Domenico Gallo, Chairman of leading Italian investor bank Meliorbanca,
said yesterday, "Good opportunities for investment are emerging in Turkey.
There is no longer the fear of Turkey's big financial crises of old. New
opportunities have begun to be created. The situation in Turkey is very
different from the situation in Argentina or Brazil." Gallo said that
Meliorbanca was not so much interested in banks but rather in the medium-
size companies and that they had contacts with various banks. /Milliyet/
[19] EXPORTS SHOW INCREASE
According to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), exports increased by
14.8% over the last ten months. The total exports in the January-October
period amounted to 25.76 billion US dollars. In October, this amount
increased by 20.8% when compared to the previous month. According to TIM,
exports in the period between last November 1 and November 1, 2001
increased by 11.2% and reached 30.5 billion US dollars. /Sabah/
[20] NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IMPORTANT FOR KEI ECONOMY
Turkish Atomic Energy Board (TAEK) Head Erdener Birol addressed a meeting
in Ankara discussing the peaceful use of nuclear technologies, saying that
advanced technologies such as nuclear technology would play an important
role in the development of the Black Sea region's economies, the Anatolia
news agency reported yesterday. Dr. Birol addressed the "Experts Group
Meeting" at a meeting of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (KEK) states and
said that TAEK acknowledged that cooperation among the Black Sea states was
important for the peaceful use of nuclear technologies. /Turkish Daily
News/
[21] GERMAN DELEGATION AUDITS DIYARBAKIR MUNICIPALITY
A delegation from Investment Bank of Germany visited Diyarbakir yesterday
to audit the Diyarbakir Greater Municipality's Water and Sewage Affairs
Directorate (DISKI). DISKI Director Nadir Bingol said that the delegation
came to Diyarbakir to audit the Waste Water Refining Facility, Main
Collector Pipeline and Pump Station that were built with credits and grants
from the bank. He added that the delegation visits Diyarbakir twice a year
to audit the directorate's work and, more importantly, to transfer their
technical experience and knowledge to the directorate. /Turkish Daily News/
[22] NEW STEPS TAKEN TO REVIVE TOURISM
The Turkish government is taking new steps in order to revive the country's
flagging tourism sector. Under one such step, those who deal with the
tourism sector as part of their business will be considered as exporters,
and they will benefit from the incentive that the exporters receive.
Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar announced the steps taken during the Council
of Ministers meeting yesterday. Tasar reported that work will be carried
out to remove restrictions on tourists owning real estate; the exemption
from a 50 US dollars daily exit fee by the seaways will be extended to the
highways as well; red tape will be decreased at harbors; the completion of
the roads in touristic regions will be a priority; and a commission of
three ministers will be established to handle investments in these regions.
In addition, incentives to bolster Turkey's airlines will be announced next
Sunday. Final decisions concerning the issue are to be taken during a
Higher Planning Council meeting. /Milliyet/
[23] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[24] TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OKAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
Columnist Oktay Eksi commented on yesterday's government decision to send
special troops to Afghanistan. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The government announced that it had decided to send nearly 90 special
troops who have undergone special training to the campaign the US is waging
against terrorism in Afghanistan. The decision is correct and it has been
taken in line with correct procedures, and we believe that it has the
support of the whole Turkish nation excepting a few discordant voices.
However there is one condition: this decision should hold as long as an
honest cooperation among the allies goes on and as long as we are not left
facing a fait accompli which would pull Turkey into a partnership launching
an offensive against Iraq. Yesterday, Prime Minister Ecevit said: 'It is
hard to determine what our military personnel will have to face there. They
may be confronted with unwanted situations. We have entered a process which
may produce either very positive or dangerous results.' We hope they do
not find themselves in a difficult position but also believe that if such a
situation arises, they will surmount all difficulties. They will send an
important message to the whole world with their presence in Afghanistan.
They will show that the reaction of a secular nation which is predominantly
Muslim to terrorism is no different than that of other nations. Therefore,
they will be telling Christians who blamed Islam for the terrorist attacks
of Sept. 11 that terrorism is not fostered by Islam but rather by unhealthy
social structures. We must not think that the decision taken by the
government will be limited to 90 soldiers. As the prime minister stated,
Turkey has entered a process which may have dangerous consequences. A
country which claimed that the fight against terrorism could only succeed
through an international cooperation was ethically obliged to act to back
that up. As a NATO member, it was legally obliged to do so. Therefore
there is no need to lose time over the question whether there was another
solution or not. Certainly, this issue should not be exploited for populist
purposes or to scrounge for ways to get the votes of a few fanatics by
lowering the level of the national debate."
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