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Turkish Press Review, 01-12-13
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
13.12.2001
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER APPROVES DGM LAW
[02] ECEVIT: "IF EUROPE REJECTS ESDP ACCORD, THEY WILL LOSE"
[03] KIVRIKOGLU: "TURKEY'S STANCE ON ESDP IS THE RIGHT ONE"
[04] GERMAN PAPER: "THE EU IS GIVING TURKEY RIGHT TO VETO"
[05] TURKEY TARGETS EU DOUBLE STANDARD ON TERRORISM
[06] DENKTAS: "ACCORD CAN BE REACHED USING 1960 FRAMEWORK"
[07] SOYSAL: "CYPRUS PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN IMAGINED"
[08] ARAFAT CONFIRMS ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON SHARON
[09] ECEVIT: "2002 WILL BE BETTER"
[10] GERMANY BANS RADICAL ISLAMIC GROUPS
[11] SABAH: "CICEK TO BE MEZAR-I SHERIF CONSUL GENERAL"
[12] IRAN NEWS: "A NEW DAY DAWNS FOR TURKEY AND IRAN"
[13] 2002 BUDGET APPROVED
[14] DERVIS: " THE IMF WANTS CONCRETE STEPS"
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[16] ISSUES ON THE AGENDA BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)
[17] RADICAL ISLAM..... BY HIKMET CETINKAYA (CUMHURIYET)
[01] SEZER APPROVES DGM LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the State Security Courts (DGM) Law
yesterday. Late last month, Sezer had partially vetoed the same law and
sent it back to Parliament. However, Parliament then passed the bill again
without any changes and sent it back to Sezer. Under the Turkish system,
the president cannot veto the same bill twice if Parliament sends it back
without any changes. The bill will be put into force after its publication
in the Official Gazette. However, Sezer still has the right to apply to the
Constitutional Court for its annulment within 60 days. /All Papers/
[02] ECEVIT: "IF EUROPE REJECTS ESDP ACCORD, THEY WILL LOSE"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that the Europeans would "lose
out" if they don't approve the recent European Security and Defense Policy
(ESDP) accord. Speaking on behalf of the government, Ecevit said that "two
years of work has earned Turkey certain rights regarding the EU and ESDP
issues."
/Hürriyet/
[03] KIVRIKOGLU: "TURKEY'S STANCE ON ESDP IS THE RIGHT ONE"
Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu said yesterday that
Turkey's stance on European Security and Defense Policy
(ESDP) was the right one, and that that is why Greece is rejecting it.
"Turkey is moving in the right direction," he stated. "Turkey has solved
its problems with the European Union, and now it is Greece's turn to solve
its problems with the EU concerning the
ESDP." /Hürriyet/
[04] GERMAN PAPER: "THE EU IS GIVING TURKEY RIGHT TO VETO"
German daily the Frankfurter Rundschau reported yesterday that under
articles 2 and 12 of the European Security and Defense Policy
(ESDP) deal which was recently concluded between Turkey, the US and Great
Britain, Turkey will have the right of veto. The newspaper stated that EU
had rejected Turkey's conditions on the Aegean and Cyprus issues, but that
the ESDP accord had still resulted in a number of rights for Turkey.
/Hürriyet/
[05] TURKEY TARGETS EU DOUBLE STANDARD ON TERRORISM
Disillusioned by a recent European Union decision to add to its list of
terrorist organizations only the PKK - thus ignoring other illegal groups
targeting Turkey - Turkey has decided to launch a campaign against the EU's
application of double standards in the fight against terror. The PKK was
included in the EU's draft list, but only as a terrorist group "the
activities of which are to be followed." The EU failed to add PKK political
supporter group to the list. If the draft list is approved, terrorist
organizations carrying out illegal activities against Turkey could continue
to enjoy safe harbor in Europe. Turkey had previously prepared a report on
the issue and requested that the EU add seven terrorist organizations to
its list. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has reiterated many times
that the international fight against terrorism could not be successful if
the EU fails to be objective in identifying terrorist groups. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] DENKTAS: "ACCORD CAN BE REACHED USING 1960 FRAMEWORK"
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said
yesterday that the problems in Cyprus should be solved as part of the
international agreements made in 1960. Denktas made the remarks during a
speech at a panel entitled "Cyprus Won't be a Bosnia," organized by the
Great Unity Party (BBP) at Istanbul's Cemberlitas Firat Cultural Centre.
Indirectly addressing the EU, Denktas declared, "There are two nations in
Cyprus. It is impossible to create a single nation out of these two
nations." Saying that he met with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in
order to show the EU that he was not an intransigent person, Denktas added,
"All the rights should be considered within the framework of equality and
sovereignty by taking into consideration the 1960 international agreements.
However, the EU has capriciously ignored the 1960 agreement. The Turkish
nation has always been free and will always be free. I hope my meeting with
Clerides on Jan. 16 will be held in a positive atmosphere." He added that a
new Cypriot flag could be flown in the future on the condition that the
existence of two states in the nation is recognized. /Turkiye/
[07] SOYSAL: "CYPRUS PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN IMAGINED"
Mumtaz Soysal, former Turkish foreign minister as well as advisor to
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktas, remarked
yesterday that the Cyprus problem was bigger than is commonly imagined and
added, "A solution to this problem can only be found by taking both
parties' ambitions and wishes into consideration." Soysal made the remarks
at a conference in Ankara entitled " The Cyprus Issue in Light of Recent
Developments." Stating that the Cyprus issue was not merely a matter of
Turkish-Greek relations but also an issue concerning the whole eastern
Mediterranean region, Soysal asserted that the issue should not be
considered an impediment or a burden to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] ARAFAT CONFIRMS ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON SHARON
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat yesterday confirmed Turkish Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit's recent report that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had
spoken openly of his desire to harm Arafat personally. "Sharon has intended
to harm me since as far back as 1982," said Arafat. "Ecevit is a prominent
politician with great credibility in the international community. What he
reported was no fabrication." Ecevit had said last week that Sharon had
openly told him in a telephone conversation of his desire to "get rid" of
Arafat. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] ECEVIT: "2002 WILL BE BETTER"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit predicted yesterday that next year would be
better than this one. In a speech during 2002 budget negotiations in
Parliament. Ecevit responded to opposition parties criticism and addressed
the performances of the current government. He said, "Our government has
battled corruption and vanquished criminal gangs. Those who claim the
opposite are being unfair." /Turkiye/
[10] GERMANY BANS RADICAL ISLAMIC GROUPS
Citing national security concerns, the German government took steps
yesterday to ban a number of radical Islamic groups active in Germany and
to seize their property. The Union of Islamic Community and Societies, a
group headed by Metin Kaplan which established a so-called "caliphate
state" in Germany, were banned along with some 19 of its subsidiary groups.
German police conducted 200 houses searches in seven German states in
connection with the ban and seized the group's headquarters in Cologne. The
operation carried out by several hundred police officers was ongoing.
/Milliyet/
[11] SABAH: "CICEK TO BE MEZAR-I SHERIF CONSUL GENERAL"
Ankara is continuing its efforts both for peace and to meet the urgent
humanitarian needs of the Afghan people. As part of these efforts, Turkey
is bolstering its diplomatic representation in Afghanistan. Mufit Gunes was
appointed to the Kabul Embassy earlier this week and is expected to start
his duty within a month, and now the Ministry has designated a diplomat to
take a post at Mezar-i Sherif. Yesterday Turkish daily Sabah quoted
diplomatic sources as saying that Anil Cicek would be appointed as consul
general in that city. While the international media continues to speculate
which nation will take the lead in an Afghanistan peacekeeping force, the
Turkish Foreign Ministry is declining to comment on Turkey's possible
command of such a force. Answering a question whether Turkey would lead the
peacekeeping force following a period of British command, Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said, "Nothing has been determined yet. When the
new Mezar-i Sherif administration begins its duty, the situation may become
clearer. Turkey is ready to help reestablish security and stability in
Afghanistan." Dirioz added that this year Turkey had given humanitarian aid
to Afghanistan totaling some $1,64 million. /Sabah/
[12] IRAN NEWS: "A NEW DAY DAWNS FOR TURKEY AND IRAN"
The Iranian daily newspaper Iran News stated yesterday that beginning of
natural gas deliveries from Iran to Turkey would help the two countries
improve their bilateral relations. The newspaper voiced its satisfaction
with the beginning of the gas deliveries and characterized the event as a
positive development for rapprochement of the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] 2002 BUDGET APPROVED
The budget for the year 2002 passed in Parliament yesterday. During the
plenary session, the budget was approved by a vote of 294-100. The Budget
Law will be sent to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for his approval and then
will be put into force after it is published in the Official Gazette. The
budget proposes expenditures of TL 98.1 quadrillion and revenues of TL 71.2
quadrillion, while TL 42.8 quadrillion was allocated for interest payments.
Turkish economic officials estimate that next year will see 4% growth in
the economy, the wholesale price index (WPI) at 31% and the consumer price
index (CPI) at 35%. /Milliyet/
[14] DERVIS: " THE IMF WANTS CONCRETE STEPS"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that the
International Monetary Fund was waiting for Turkey to take concrete steps
to ensure the arrival of an additional $10 billion aid package. The first
step should be enacting the bidding law, said
Dervis. Dervis also remarked that " at the moment the economy has some
difficulties, but we are working hard and we are very hopeful."
/Hürriyet/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[16] ISSUES ON THE AGENDA BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek writes on issues recently discussed in the
political arena. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Occasionally there seem to be different breezes blowing in the political
arena. Recently a wish for early elections has been widely expressed by
the public. However, Prime Minister Ecevit believes that early general
elections are not possible at a time when we are still trying to overcome
an economic crisis. Certainly, the coalition parties want to hold off
elections until 2004. In fact, all the political and economic indicators
need an early election for a breath of fresh air. The three coalition
parties are right in not wanting to go to early elections as they may not
come out as victors. Surveys show that the coalition partners might not
even get into the Parliament, as they would fall below the 10% election
threshold. However, there has been a slight change in the stance of the
prime minister, also head of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), who until now
didn't want to hear any talk about early elections. He is not rejecting
possible studies on changes to the Election Law. The threshold rate is
being discussed by everyone and every leader. Some are in favor and some
are opposed to a change, and they all have different arguments for their
opinions. We will see what the future brings. Regarding the Cyprus issue,
there is a suspicion in the minds of those who would like people to learn
a lesson from history. Everyone is wondering if the positive development
which started with the resumption of talks between Denktas and Clerides
this month will lead to a written agreement or, whether there will be a
last minute disappointment, as in December 1985 when all efforts were
thwarted by a Greek-Greek Cypriot ploy when an agreement was going to be
signed. In 1984 the talks between Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas and then
Greek Cypriot leader Kyrianou bore fruit and the result was announced by
the UN in New York. Under the agreement, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot
communities would form an independent federal republic on the island. The
two leaders were going to sign the agreement on Jan.17, 1985 in the
presence of UN Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar. Then Athens withdrew
its approval and the signing ceremony never took place. Will history repeat
itself?"
[17] RADICAL ISLAM..... BY HIKMET CETINKAYA (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Hikmet Cetinkaya writes on the decision of the German
government to ban the Metin Kaplan-led radical Islamic organization called
'The Association of Islamic Communities. ' A summary of his column is as
follows:
A month ago German Interior Minister Otto Schilly was saying that Metin
Kaplan was going to be deported after he was released from prison. Other
politicians also stated that he would be deported, but not sent to Turkey.
They added at that time that this Islamic group did not pose a threat to
the German society then. A month passed by and yesterday, Interior Minister
Schilly said that the activities of 'The Association of Islamic
Communities' (ICCB) were henceforth banned. German police went into action,
raiding 19 subsidiaries of the ICCB, and searching the homes and offices of
its administrators. The Organization to Protect the German Constitution has
stated in a report that the radical Islamic organization was seen mostly in
the North Rhine Westphalia region, and in the provinces of Bavaria, Berlin
and lower Saxonia. The report added that the movement supporting Kaplan had
gained economic strength. Only last year, radical Islamic groups organized
in Germany were supported by certain left-wing German politicians and all
facilities granted to the PKK were also granted to them. The report said
that the ICCB had connections to Al Qaida, Lebanese Hizbullah, and the
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Everything changed with the Sept. 11 attacks.
Reportedly, the militants carrying out the attacks were trained in Germany.
Only then did Germany realize the danger. Isn't it a bit late?"
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