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Turkish Press Review, 01-11-30Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning30.11.2001CONTENTS
[01] CANKAYA SUMMIT ADDRESSES AFGHANISTAN, IRAQPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu met yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The leaders reportedly discussed the latest events concerning Afghanistan and Iraq. /Hürriyet/[02] ECEVIT CRITICIZES TUSIADPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday lashed out at the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), which has in recent days made remarks critical of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, accusing the group of imposing an embargo on the Turkish Cypriots. Ecevit said, "If TUSIAD wants to make such bold comments concerning Cyprus, then it should be interested in the Turkish Cypriots just a little bit. If the states and institutions unconnected to Cyprus would only cease their meddling in the issue, then evrything would be solved." Ecevit spoke about the Cyprus issue during yesterday's Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting and held out TUSIAD's views for particular criticism. He said, "Cyprus is not Mr. Denktas' problem alone. Denktas has dedicated his entire life to Cyprus, but this problem belongs to all the Turkish Cypriots and to Turkey as well. Cyprus has never been a Greek island, but it has been governed by the Turks." Ecevit claimed that Shakespeare had written on the importance of this issue 400 years ago in Othello, that unfortunately Britain's current rulers lack the same vision. /Cumhuriyet/[03] CEM SPEAKS ON RELATIONS BETWEEN EU AND TURKEYForeign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday that Turkey considered the EU both as a rescuer and an bogeyman and added, "Turkey sometimes acts as if the EU is a dartboard, sometimes an excuse and sometimes a shelter. It isn't proper to put the EU into the center of discussions." Cem made the remarks at a panel about the "EU-Turkey Relations" held by the Young Managers and Businessmen's Association at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), "I think full EU membership negotiations should start in the year 2002," he declared. EU Commission Representative Karen Fogg said there would be no backtracking on Cyprus' EU membership and added, "The candidate countries can determine their own rhythms of change and Turkey can determine its own rhythm as well." /Cumhuriyet/[04] HIGHER MILITARY COUNCIL CONVENESThe Higher Military Council (YAS) will hold its second ordinary meeting today at General Staff Headquarters. The early morning meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and Turkish Military Forces'(TSK) promotion, appointments, personnel and training as well as dicipline will all be taken up. _Turkiye[05] TRNC PM: "WE SHOULD ACT TOGETHER"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said that in the lead up to the Dec.4 meeting between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, everybody should act unison on the Cyprus issue and hope that the meeting brings forth good fruits. He added that internal divisions and negative comments within the Turkish side would only help the Greek Cypriots. /Turkiye/[06] DENKTAS BACK FROM ROMETurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas returned to Turkey yesterday from Rome. Denktas told reporters that Greece wants to gain control of the divided island through using the European Union. But he declared, "We wouldn't let something like this happen." There are two different communities living on the island and only one partnership, he said. /Türkiye/[07] BAHCELI: "WE ARE ON THE DENKTAS'S SIDE"Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday criticised TUSIAD's recent statements on Cyprus. He declared that the MHP would give its full support to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Denktas. /Türkiye/[08] BAHCELI SUPPORTS ECEVITDeputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Devlet Bahceli yesterday accused the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) of being the "EU's volunteer spokesman" and said it was stooping for cheap gains. Speaking at his party's group meeting, Bahceli said, "During the current process, Turkey will not give up its policies or its right to guarantee its national assets and benefits. It is impossible for those who approach the EU issue as a chance to lower themselves for cheap benefits to understand and appreciate this. Therefore they think they will be free by forsaking Cyprus and then Turkey will become rich, or they deliberately try to direct the Turkish public to the wrong way and direction. /Cumhuriyet/[09] SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY ESTABLISHEDYesterday the Social Democrat Party (SDP) was officially established with the submission of 33 members. Such a name had also been announced for a party to be led by Erdal Inonu, before Inonu declined to take its helm. /Cumhuriyet/[10] AMBASSADOR EL HICAZI LEAVES TURKEYFour days prior to US State Secretary Colin Powell's visit to Ankara, Iraq has called back its Ambassador Faruk Abdullah Yayla El Hicazi, who is alleged by the US press to have met with the representatives of Al-Qaida including Usama bin Laden. El Hicazi is expected to leave Ankara today. It is uncertain when a new ambassador will be appointed after he leaves. There has been same dissatisfaction in Ankara about El Hicazi, who had served in Turkey since February 1999. Foreign Ministry sources stated that Ankara has not requested that El Hicazi be recalled from his part and that this decision had been Baghdad's alone. /Hurriyet/[11] TURK DEFENDS DGM LAW FOLLOWING PRESIDENTIAL VETOJustice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk yesterday defended the new State Security Court (DGM) law and told reporters that the DGM law was in line with constitutional amendements. Turk also said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer should have take into account the criteria written into the law before vetoing it. /Türkiye/[12] PARLIAMENT PASSES MOTION TO INVESTIGATE KORAY AYDINParliament took up a investigation motion yesterday concerning Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Ankara Deputy and former Construction and Housing Minister Koray Aydin. The motion, filed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP), was passed by a vote of 231-196, with 11 deputies abstaining. Leaving Parliament after the vote, Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz told reporters, "I hope the decision concerning Aydin doesn't cause any problem for the government." Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli also said, "The decision belongs to Parliament, we should respect it." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit refrained from commenting on the matter. /Turkiye/[13] PARLIAMENTARIANS: "ON IRAQ, TURKEY SHOULD ACT IN ITS OWN INTERESTS"Rumors of a possible US operation in Iraq are keeping Turkish Parliament in a state of anxious alert. Political parties have remarked that should the US strike Iraq, Turkey must act in its own interests. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that the US' actions was acting in the region, including those in Iraq, were being made in full coordination with Turkey. He said, "We're keeping a close eye on Saddam Husein. He is developing weapons of mass destruction. However, nobody has declared war against Iraq. Speculation at this point would be unproductive." /Turkiye/[14] BELGIUM TO SUBMIT A NEW PROPOSALEuropean Union Term President is set to submit a new proposal to Turkey in order to overcome the deadlock on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Belgian Prime Minister Guy Vorhofstadts' said yesterday that the Belgian government is preparing to sent Deputy Prime Minister Annemie Neyts to encourage Turkey to be more flexible. Vorhofstadts'said that they would bring a new proposal to the Laeken Summit on Dec. 14-15. Responding to the news, Turkish authorities said that Turkey had had meetings with the US and Great Britain on this issue and that they had agreed on many topics, but added that Belgium NATO member could also bring new proposals to the table. /Hürriyet/[15] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEYAn IMF delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen will arrive in Ankara on Dec.3. The main topic of the meetings will be to lay the groundwork for the new economic program, which will be supported by nearly $10 billion in loans. Policies on banking, the public sector and measures to revive the economy and attract foreign investors will also be taken up at the meetings. The delegation is expected to leave Turkey in mid- December. /Turkiye/[16] TANGO PASSION DANCES THROUGH ANKARATango Passion will be in Ankara this weekend with its 22 dancers and musicians. During the troupe's performance, tango orchestra Sexteto Mayor will accompany the Argentinian dancers. Tango Passion's appearance at Ankara's Yukselis Sport on Dec. 1-2 will be then first stop of its European Tour. /Hurriyet/[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[18] FOUR MESSAGES TO POWELL BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Turkey on Dec. 4. A summary of his column is as follows:"Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has grouped the main issues he is planning to discuss with Powell under four headings: 1) The US's future plans for the operations in Afghanistan. 2) Military and political support expected from Turkey concerning the war in Afghanistan. 3) Turkey's concerns and ideas on a possible US operation against Iraq, and Turkey's proposals on the US embargo of Iraq. 4) Ankara's ideas on Cyprus. What kind of messages will Ankara convey to Powell on these issues? Turkey will reiterate that a broad-based government should be formed in Afghanistan as soon as possible. Turkey will also highlight its opinion that efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region should be encouraged. Another message which Ankara will give Powell is that Turkey might mediate between the Northern Alliance and Pakistan and contribute to efforts towards filling the political vacuum in the country. Turkey's view on Turkish troops' mission in Afghanistan is as follows: Turkish soldiers might only have a mission of peacekeeping in the post-war period. Ankara will ask Powell to express clearly what the US wants from Turkey. Furthermore, Turkey does not support a possible US operation in Iraq and believes that such an operation would damage Turkey very adversely. Turkey will also convey a number of proposals to Powell on the "smart sanctions" imposed on Iraq and the United Nations Sanction Committee's decisions. Ankara will request that UN and the US take flexible positions on issues which might have significant repercussions on the Turkish economy. Finally, Cem is also expected to reiterate Turkey's views on Cyprus and to request US help on the issue. Ankara believes that Turkey's accession period to the EU and the Cyprus issue must be de-linked. Powell's visit to Ankara next week is extremely important for Turkey since important decisions on critical issues are expected to be made. Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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