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Turkish Press Review, 01-11-28
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
28.11.2001
CONTENTS
[01] MGK DISCUSSES CYPRUS, AFGHANISTAN
[02] BELGIAN PREMIER VISITS TURKEY
[03] DENKTAS: "THEY CANNOT SEE THE FUTURE"
[04] TUSIAD CHAIRMAN REMARKS PROMPT BACKLASH
[05] AYGUN: "CYPRUS IS OUR HONOR"
[06] ESDP MEETING HELD IN ANKARA
[07] WOOLSEY: "THE US COULD MOVE AGAINST IRAQ WITH
TURKEY'S HELP"
[08] TURKISH DEPUTY APPOINTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND
RAPPORTEUR
[09] PRAVDA: "CONTROL OF KABUL WILL BE GIVEN TO
AMERICAN AND TURKISH SOLDIERS"
[10] FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES
[11] GLINN SPEAKS ON TURKISH TOURISM
[12] TURKISH CANCER EXPERT'S BOOK GAINS US ACCOLADES
[13] TURKISH FILM RECEIVES AWARD
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[15] THE MGK MEETING BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[16] A DEBATE BEYOND CYPRUS: TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP BY
YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)
[01] MGK DISCUSSES CYPRUS, AFGHANISTAN
The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, convened yesterday at Presidential
Palace. Following the five-and-a-half-hour meeting, a statement was
issued saying that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas's offer to Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos
Clerides for a face-to-face meeting was fully supported by Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey would continue its efforts to boost good will
for a settlement which proves acceptable to both sides, the statement
said, "However, Turkey will not allow any arrangement which would
violate international treaties or accept Turkish Cypriots as a
minority under the sovereignty of Greek Cypriots." The MGK also
evaluated this November's Strategy and the EU's Annual Progress Report
concerning Turkey. Additionally, developments in the Greek Cypriot's
European Union membership process were taken up and measures which
should be taken by Turkey were discussed. Ongoing Afghanistan
operations and other recent international affecting Turkey's security
were the main topics discussed in the MGK meeting. /Turkiye-All
Papers/
[02] BELGIAN PREMIER VISITS TURKEY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met yesterday with Guy
Ver Hofstad, the prime minister of Belgium, the European Union (EU)
Term President. Following the nearly two-hour meeting, the premiers
told reporters that they had a very fruitful visit. Pointing to a
summit to be held in Laeken, Belgium in mid-December, Ver Hofstad
said, "During the summit, the EU's future, new agreements, the EU
enlargement process and EU Commission's report concerning enlargement,
as well as other topics will be taken up, including some especially
important for Turkey: the Cyprus issue and the European Security and
Defense Policy (ESDP)." /Turkiye/
[03] DENKTAS: "THEY CANNOT SEE THE FUTURE"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas addressed students at a conference yesterday at
La Sapienza University in Italy. Denktas discussed the history of
Cyprus and its legal status. Stressing his view that Turkish
businessmen cannot see the future on Cyprus, Denktas replied to
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Chairman
Tuncay Ozilhan's recent criticisms against him. Denktas said, "If
Cyprus is a obstacle for Turkey and if it sacrifices Cyprus, in other
words, forsakes it, other issues such as the Aegean, the Southeast and
the Armenian issues will be brought before Turkey in the same way.
They don't understand this. Some businessmen and rich people believe
that the Cyprus issue is an obstacle to Turkey's EU membership bid.
They are wrong. Cyprus is not a criterion for Turkey's EU membership.
If it were, the EU would tell Greek Cypriots, who are the side
responsible for the current situation, 'go away and come back after
finding a settlement to the issue.' But they say so only to Turkey as
an excuse not to accept its EU membership." /Turkiye/
[04] TUSIAD CHAIRMAN REMARKS PROMPT BACKLASH
Former President Suleyman Demirel yesterday spoke
about Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD)
Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan's criticisms of Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. Ozilhan had said that Turkey
should not support President Denktas' uncompromising stance. Demirel
said, "People should be careful with their words. The Cyprus
issue cannot be solved without Denktas. Turkey will forsake neither
Denktas nor the island." Meanwhile, many Turkish parliamentarians
from various parties reacted harshly to Ozilhan's words. Declaring
that Turkey could not give up Cyprus in return for EU membership,
parliamentarians said that Denktas would be fully supported up till
the end. /Turkiye/
[05] AYGUN: "CYPRUS IS OUR HONOR"
Ankara Chamber of Commerce President Sinan Aygun
said yesterday that Turkey would not make any concessions on Cyprus in
order to gain European Union membership. "We won't give up Cyprus
for the EU, Cyprus is our honor" he declared. Aygun yesterday
received Israeli Ambassador to Ankara David Sultan in his office and
told the ambassador that he was planning to visit Israel's prime
minister in February in an effort to improve Turkish-Israeli economic
relations. For his part, Sultan remarked that such a visit would
please him very much and that he would do his best to improve
bilateral relations. /Türkiye/
[06] ESDP MEETING HELD IN ANKARA
A fourth round of meetings on the European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP) was held yesterday in Ankara between
Turkish, British and American officials. The officials present were
unable to agree on the issue of including Turkey in the
decision-making process if NATO's facilities are used, a top Turkish
diplomat told Cumhuriyet. The reason for not giving Turkey a say in
the use of these facillities is that approval of the European Council
is needed for an autonomous EU operation, which means that a possible
veto of any EU member state would put block Turkey's say over the
planned EU force. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] WOOLSEY: "THE US COULD MOVE AGAINST IRAQ WITH
TURKEY'S HELP"
Former CIA Director James Woolsey wrote this week
Saddan Husein could be overthrown with the support of Turkey, which he
considered as a "critical country," and that a portion of
Iraqi oil might be given to Ankara. In an opinion piece entitled
"Objective: Democracy" published in the Washington Post,
Woolsey argued that Afghanistan's Taleban has been destroyed in only a
few months' time because the nation did not support it. Woolsey added
that Turkey and Israel are the Middle East's sole democracies and that
the most urgent problem to be solved was the Iraq issue. He added,
"Iraq producess weapons of mass destruction, but it has not been
visited by UN inspectors for three years and it constitutes a risk
both for the US and its neighbors." Woolsey remarked that
Turkey's support was critical and added, "Turkey is concerned
about the disintegration of Iraq and its possible effects. This
concern might be removed by the Iraq opposition guaranteeing the
country's borders. Turkey can be given a role in Iraq's stabilization
and access to its oil fields." Woolsey also argued that Iraq
should be attacked and the US should support the Iraqi opposition in
the country's north and south. /Hurriyet/
[08] TURKISH DEPUTY APPOINTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND
RAPPORTEUR
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA)
has decided to prepare a report concerning the violence and tension in
northern Ireland. It has appointed Democratic Left Party (DSP) Izmir
deputy Atilla Kutman as a rapporteur on the issue, reasoning that a
Muslim parliamentarian could render a more objective view. A group of
parliamenters, who said "The Council of Europe cannot be an
onlooker to this situation, which negatively influences the peace and
cooperation between the member countries, have previously requested
that the CEPA will prepare a report concerning this issue previously.
/Hurriyet/
[09] PRAVDA: "CONTROL OF KABUL WILL BE GIVEN TO
AMERICAN AND TURKISH SOLDIERS"
Russian newspaper Pravda reported yesterday that
control of the Afghan capital of Kabul would be given to U.S. and
Turkish soldiers. The newspaper quoted "Western circles"as a
source for this history. The paper also stated that the presence of
Turkish soldiers in the country could affect the view of other Muslim
countries, making clear that the conflict is not a new
"Crusade". The daily added that Washington was opposed the
presence of Russian troops in the capital. /Milliyet/
[10] FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES
The State Instıtute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday
reported September exports of 2.57 billion US dollars and imports of
3.31 billion US dollars. January-September 2001 exports were 22.98
billion US dollars against imports of 30.5 billion US dollars. In
other words, exports increased by 11.8% year-on-year while imports
decreased by 23.3%. Thus, Turkey had a January-September trade deficit
of 7.5 billion US dollars, 60.9% lower than in the same period last
year. /Hurriyet/
[11] GLINN SPEAKS ON TURKISH TOURISM
Seamas Glinn, head of leading international tour
operator Sunworld-JMC, said yesterday that the tourism sector had been
experiencing hard times of late but that in the years to come its star
would shine. Glinn is visiting Turkey to look into the situation
before next year's tourist season. "Following the Sept. 11
attacks, the world now understands Turkey, which has been fighting
terrorism for many years, and now Turkey has a big mission as the only
Muslim country within NATO," he stated. Turkey's image and the
opinion of the US concerning Turkey have changed. The Turkish
government should make use of these developments in the best way
possible and make a breakthrough in terms of promotion. Turkey will
have an important place in world tourism in years to come, but it
should also make long-term plans. If the atmosphere gets calmer, then
there will be good developments next tourism season. Tourists all over
the world will see that Turkey is not like Iran or Iraq."
/Hurriyet/
[12] TURKISH CANCER EXPERT'S BOOK GAINS US ACCOLADES
A textbook on nuclear oncology by Dr. Cumali
Aktolun, the chairman of the Kocaeli University Medical School's
Nuclear Medicine Department, was accepted this week as a standard text
for courses in US medical schools. Department Deputy Chairman Fatma
Berk reported that 50 authors from 11 countries have contributed
articles to the textbook. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] TURKISH FILM RECEIVES AWARD
A film entitled "Clouds of May" by the
Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan was awarded Best Screenplay at the
Fourth Banghkok International Film Festival, which ended earlier this
week and screened some 90 films from 20 countries. In addition,
Chinese director Zhang Yang was named most Most Promising Director for
his film "Quitting," and Tsai Ming Liang was Best Director
for his film "What Time Is It Here?", a project jointly
produced by Taiwan and France. "This is My Moon," a Sri
Lankan film, received the jury's special prize. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[15] THE MGK MEETING BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila comments on this week's
National Security Council (MGK) meeting. A summary of his columns as
follows: "Main issues discussed at the MGK meeting yesterday can
be summarized as follows: 1) Cyprus and the European Union 2)
Afghanistan 3) the politicization of PKK terrorist organization, HADEP
and the southeastern Anatolia region. The MGK strongly believes that
Turkey's EU membership and the Cyprus debate must be de-linked. The
Council is resolved not to forget Turkey's main reasons for joining
the EU, and also not to let the Cyprus issue become a matter on which
Turkey is forced to make concessions. "Turkey will not permit any
structure threatening Turkish Cypriots' or its own security, or
violating international agreements, or seeing Turkish Cypriots as
minorities on the island, to be established on the island," says
the MGK statement. The MGK gives its full support to Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who is preparing to
meet Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Dec. 4. Regarding the
Afghanistan issue, the dominant opinion within the MGK is that Turkish
Armed Forces' (TSK) mission in Afghanistan must be limited to
peacekeeping. Details as to where and when to send Turkish troops are
expected to be clarified after US Secretary of State Colin Powell's
visit to Ankara. The last main issue discussed at the MGK meeting was
the politicization of the PKK. The non-civilian members of the Council
believe that the PKK has been trying to enter the political arena and
that HADEP (the People's Democracy Party) must be seen as an outcome
of these efforts. The MGK also highlighted that the PKK is preparing
to begin pursuing a policy based on 'civil disobedience' and planning
acts of civil resistance, especially in southeastern Anatolia."
[16] A DEBATE BEYOND CYPRUS: TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP BY
YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Yalcin Dogan comments on Turkey's EU
membership and the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as
follows: "If a permanent solution has not been reached on Cyprus
when negotiations on its EU membership begin, all factors shall be
taken into consideration," the Helsinki Summit stated several
years ago. At the Helsinki Summit, the EU requested that Greece and
the Greek Cypriot administration, as well as Turkey, share the
responsibility for finding a permanent solution for the island.
However, it seems that now the only party paying any price is Turkey.
The Cyprus debate has been in the spotlight as part of discussions on
Turkey's accession period to the EU. The Cyprus issue has recently
been a key factor for Turkey's EU membership. In addition to the
recent statements given by EU officials, the EU Progress Report, which
was released last week, also highlighted the same issue. The EU, which
at the time of the Helsinki Summit wanted all parties to share the
responsibility for the future of the island, is now saying in its
progress report that Turkey alone has to take concrete steps to reach
a permanent solution on the island. The Cyprus debate is now going
beyond its limits. It has exceeded the limits so that the debates have
begun to threaten Turkey's EU membership. Even as today we are
discussing Cyprus, it is clear that the next issue to be discussed
will be Turkey's EU membership. If the EU admits the Greek Cypriots,
it would consider the entire island as a member, and consequently
Turkey would be seen by the international community as an occupying
power on the northern part of the island. Under such a scenario,
Turkey would wait in the wings forever, always an EU candidate only.
That's why the Cyprus issue is vital. This is a turning point not only
for us but also for our future generations. In the light of all this,
it is a mistaken approach to make decisions on such an important issue
through closed meetings, or via extremely emotion-laden policies. We
don't need closed meetings, but rather open discussions where a full
spectrum of opinions, no matter whether in favor of or against Turkey,
are represented and the issue is discussed in detail. Let's not forget
that this is a turning point which will affect Turkey's path into the
future!"
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