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Turkish Press Review, 01-12-21
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
21.12.2001
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY TO TAKE OVER COMMAND OF PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN
AFGHANISTAN
[02] ECEVIT: "THE TURKISH MODEL COULD SAVE
AFGHANISTAN"
[03] COALITION LEADERS TO MEET, DISCUSS LAEKEN AND
HARMONIZATION
[04] WHITE HOUSE: "ECEVIT'S VISIT IS AN IMPORTANCE
OPPORTUNITY"
[05] KAMRAN INAN: "ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE US IS THE
EVENT OF THE NEW YEAR"
[06] TURKEY LIFTS EMBARGO ON FRANCE
[07] INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN TELLS OF RECENT GERMANY
VISIT
[08] US JEWS ASK GOVERNMENT TO BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR TURKEY
[09] DENKTAS TO VISIT CLERIDES NEXT WEEK
[10] DEMIREL HAILS LAEKEN SUMMIT
[11] DERVIS: "ECONOMIC CRISIS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES
FOR REFORMS IN TURKEY"
[12] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: "NO RETREAT FROM THE
ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
[13] IMF OFFICIAL: "TURKEY IS GOING THE RIGHT
WAY"
[14] ENERGY AGENCY CALLS FOR NEW CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
MEASURES
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[16] TURKEY AND ARGENTINA BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[17] LET'S LEARN ANEW BY MEHMET Y. YILMAZ (MILLIYET)
[01] TURKEY TO TAKE OVER COMMAND OF PEACEKEEPING FORCES IN
AFGHANISTAN
Turkey is stepping into the forefront of the
international stage concerning Afghanistan, as the focus of
discussions moves towards peacekeeping and nation-building in that
country. During recent meetings in London between the representatives
of 21 countries which supported the US operation in Afghanistan, it
was decided that Turkey would take over the command of international
peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan after a space of three months.
Great Britain will lead the force, before handing over control to
Turkey and Turkey had indicated previously that it would be willing to
lead the international force. Turkish troops to be sent to Afghanistan
will be responsible for delivering humanitarian aid as well as
maintaining peace and security in the region. British and Turkish
troops to be deployed in Afghanistan will be self-sufficient and
qualified to carry out a range of operations. Turkey's proposal that a
Turkish general would be in charge at the central headquarter of the
international peacekeeping force was also approved at the recent
London meeting. The international peacekeeping force will work in
coordination with the US military headquarter in Afghanistan.
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] ECEVIT: "THE TURKISH MODEL COULD SAVE
AFGHANISTAN"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told reporters
yesterday that since Turkey is the best model for Afghanistan, it
should certainly play an important role in the establishment of the
new Afghan regime and its army. "There is no national army in
Afghanistan, there are only various armies clashing with one
another," he stated. Turkish soldiers could train the Afghan
army, Ecevit added, because Turkey is a Islamic state and it, values
its army highly, and a state cannot be established without an army.
Turkey would be the best model for an secular Afghan state, he
remarked, adding that Turkey was better suited to solve Afghanistan's
problem of reactionary extremists than Christian nation. Addressing
Turkey's current economic crisis Ecevit stated that "the
improvement in our inflation, interest and foreign exchange rates are
important signs that Turkey has overcome its crisis." /Sabah/
[03] COALITION LEADERS TO MEET, DISCUSS LAEKEN AND
HARMONIZATION
In the wake of the EU's Laeken meeting, the leaders
of the coalition government will meet on Monday to evaluate the summit
and to take up constitutional amendments to harmonize Turkey's laws
with those of the EU. The leaders will also discuss on Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit's visit to the US scheduled for mid-January. Meanwhile,
a package regarding harmonization laws, prepared by the Secretariat
General for European Affairs and finalized by the Justice Ministry,
has been sent to the Prime Ministry. /Hurriyet/
[04] WHITE HOUSE: "ECEVIT'S VISIT IS AN IMPORTANCE
OPPORTUNITY"
The US White House yesterday released an official
statement on Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the US
scheduled for the New Year. Stating that President George W. Bush and
Ecevit would meet on Jan.16, the statement went on to say that the
main items on the agenda would be the fight against terrorism,
Afghanistan, the Caucasus and Central Asia, Cyprus, NATO, the European
Union, the Balkans and implementation of economic reforms in Turkey.
The statement concluded that the meeting would be a good opportunity
to deepen and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
/Turkiye/
[05] KAMRAN INAN: "ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE US IS THE
EVENT OF THE NEW YEAR"
Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman
Kamran Inan yesterday characterized Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's
visit to the US next month at the invitation of the US President
George W. Bush as "the most important diplomatic event of the New
Year." Regarding recent developments in the Middle East, Inan
said at a press conference that Israeli-Palestinian clashes had
reached a level which could jeopardize peace in the entire region.
Commenting on signs that the conflict in Afghanistan could end in the
near future, he stated, "I hope that peace and prosperity may
come to this country, which has been at war for 20 years."
Pointing to the importance of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's recent
visit to Afghanistan, Inan also voiced his concerns over recent
disputes between Pakistan and India. /Turkiye/
[06] TURKEY LIFTS EMBARGO ON FRANCE
With a decision to award a government contract to a
French firm, Turkey has officially lifted its embargo on military
relations with France, a measure which was taken in wake of the French
Parliament's passage this January of a law recognizing the so-called
Armenian genocide. The French firm won $350 million bid on the
purchase of equipment for naval police planes. Following the passage
of the controversial law, the Turkish General Staff had cancelled
mutual military visits, as well as contracts for a military
observation satellite and F-16 projects which had been entered into
with French companies. /Turkiye/
[07] INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN TELLS OF RECENT GERMANY
VISIT
Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen gave a press
conference yesterday briefing reporters on his recent visit to
Germany. Yucelen remarked that Turkey no longer had any problems
concerning the death penalty or violations of human rights. The
minister stated that he had presented to German officials, a list of
the names of 155 suspected terrorists. "The extradition of those
155 suspects is of great importance to Turkey," remarked Yucelen.
He said that German Interior Minister Otto Schilly was scheduled to
visit Turkey next spring and added that an agreement on bilateral
security cooperation was expected to be signed during that visit.
Stating that the main issue addressed during his recent meetings was
the possibility of extraditing Union of Islamic Communities leader
Metin Kaplan, Yucelen said, "German officials told me that they
were seeking official assurances from Turkey that Kaplan wouldn't face
the death penalty if handed over. I'll convey these views to Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and other members of the government."
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] US JEWS ASK GOVERNMENT TO BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR TURKEY
Nine Jewish-American groups yesterday released an
open letter calling on US President George W. Bush to give additional
economic support to Turkey. In light of Turkey's recent economic woes,
the letter said this support might be in the form of erasing debts,
granting trade privileges or forwarding new IMF loans. It added,
"The Jewish-American community believes that it is time to
consider furnishing Turkey with additional support." /Turkiye/
[09] DENKTAS TO VISIT CLERIDES NEXT WEEK
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas is set to visit Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos
Clerides as a guest next week, making it his first foray into Greek
Cyprus in over 26 years. Greek Cypriot spokesman Mihailis Papapetru
said yesterday that the exact date of the lunch has not yet been fixed
but that it would probably be on Dec. 27 or 28. Denktas said that he
has yet to receive his counterpart's invitation. /Hürriyet/
[10] DEMIREL HAILS LAEKEN SUMMIT
Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel remarked
yesterday that Turkey's admittance to the European Union would be a
historic turning point. "Turkey wants to be a EU member because
it wants to be a European country," said Demirel. He stated that
the Laeken summit had paved the way to positive new developments and
had brightened the future for European Union and Turkey alike.
/Cumhuriyet/
[11] DERVIS: "ECONOMIC CRISIS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES
FOR REFORMS IN TURKEY"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said
yesterday at the Monaco World Summit that Turkey's economic crisis had
created opportunities for reforms in Turkey. After the Sept. 11
attacks Turkey took up the role of a bridge between different
cultures, but to play this role Turkey needs to have a strong economy,
Dervis added. Dervis remarked that for its economic program to be
successful Turkey needs to fully enact the budget program that it
recently passed. Turkey has to adopt the criteria of the International
Monetary Fund in order to win support back for its economy, the
minister stressed. /Hürriyet/
[12] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: "NO RETREAT FROM THE
ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
Finance Minister Sumer Oral stated yesterday that
since Turkey was pursuing a consistent and highly credible economic
program, there was no need to make concessions from its 2002 monetary
policies. "We are planning to simplify our tax system to be able
to meet European Union criteria," said Oral. "Through using
new Internet technology, we will be able to wage a more effective war
against tax evasion." /Cumhuriyet/
[13] IMF OFFICIAL: "TURKEY IS GOING THE RIGHT
WAY"
International Monetary Fund spokesman Conny Lotze
said yesterday that Turkey was heading in the right direction towards
solving its economic crisis. The Turkish government is carrying out
the economic program correctly, Lotze remarked. Lotze added that the
situation of Turkey was quite different from that of the beleaguered
Argentina. /Hürriyet/
[14] ENERGY AGENCY CALLS FOR NEW CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
MEASURES
Robert Priddle, the executive director of the
International Energy Agency (IEA), has stated that the IEA wants the
Turkish government to take further confidence-building measures to
boost the morale and confidence of foreign investors. Priddle and
Turkish Energy Minister Zeki Cakan held a joint press conference
yesterday to unveil a new IEA report on Turkey. Priddle remarked that
the IEA viewed Turkey as a country which has a high level of energy
demand, with recent annual increases of 8% and added that Turkey
should launch new initiatives to attract more foreign investors.
/Cumhuriyet/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[16] TURKEY AND ARGENTINA BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila writes on the economic crisis
in Argentina and compares its economic situation to Turkey's. A
summary of his column is as follows: "The collapse in the
Argentinian economy has turned into a social and political crisis.
People rushed to the streets and looting began. Now Argentina has hit
rock bottom. Turkey and Argentina had been like twins; they were both
countries implementing IMF programs and also being closely monitored
on world markets. But now while Argentina is being dragged into social
and political collapse, Turkey is entering the New Year with new signs
that it is emerging from its own crisis. Certainly, there are great
differences between the economies, administrations and customs of the
two countries. The power and capacities of these two economies have
differences as well. In these respects Turkey is much stronger. In
Argentina the rejection of its loan demands and the cutting of ties
with the IMF has played an important role in the collapse of its
economy. Many important measures including restructuring, and
enhancing the banking sector have bolstered the confidence in Turkey.
The determined stand, and firm will displayed by Turkey have also
played an important role in preventing Turkey's fall in international
markets. The increasing share of Turkey's geopolitical importance
post-Sept. 11 and its correct policy pursued in the developments
vis-a-vis Afghanistan cannot be denied. These are two points in
Turkey's advantage, and it must use them in the best way possible.
There are two important lessons to be learnt from the Argentinian
experience. First, there will always be a breaking point if the savage
rules of capitalism are implemented ruthlessly. Second, the economy
should not be left entirely in the hands of foreign aid and loans.
Turkey must enter the New Year with these two facts in mind. Because,
as we know, a lasting economic recovery cannot be sustained on the
shoulders of Turkey's geopolitical importance alone."
[17] LET'S LEARN ANEW BY MEHMET Y. YILMAZ (MILLIYET)
Columnist Mehmet Yilmaz writes on Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem's recent ambitious remark that the government would 'teach
the world the facts about Cyprus' from Turkey's point of view. A
summary of his column is as follows: "Foreign Minister Ismail Cem
has issued an ambitious statement regarding Turkey's initiatives on
Cyprus saying that Turkey would teach the world new facts and erase
old judgments. In fact, recent developments seen in Europe on Cyprus
seem to confirm this statement. It is important to comprehend the
changing world conditions and balances in time, erasing the old
prejudices created by former policies and adopting a stance in line
with the new situation. When all is considered, not only Europe but
also others will also have to learn certain lessons. In order to
convince one's counterpart, one has to learn the facts of the issue
and believe in them. One must be able to form a new policy in line
with the new situation, to relate it, and bring one's opponents over
one's side. For example, Cyprus should not be compared with Crete. The
developments which led to the deportation of Turks from Crete must not
be confused with today's events. Turks must see that in a new
constitutional order to be shaped by the Copenhagen criteria within
the European Union, the Greek Cypriots will not be able to act as they
did before. It should be known that national interests cannot be
protected by quarreling with all neighboring countries. Therefore,
supported by the confidence given by the country's military power,
peace talks must be conducted. As the Greek Cypriots have based their
policy on the intransigence of the Turkish side, the negotiations must
be continued taking this card out of their hands. On Iraq, new
policies must be pursued. Saddam should not be seen as the sole
guarantor of Iraq's territorial integrity. The international community
must give the guarantees on the issue. Turkey should defend free and
democratic Iraq, not Saddam's .When the economic embargoes and
sanctions are lifted Turkey will be one of Iraq's most important trade
partners. It should be recalled that the reason why trade with Iraq
has slowed to a trickle is the aggresiveness of Saddam and his
presence in Baghdad. The Copenhagen criteria, must be reavaluated and
it must be understood that Turkish creative power can be seen more
clearly in a more democatic climate. It is our belief that Turks will
not be satisfied with a lesser democracy than those in Western
European countries. In fact, no one would be dissatisfied by a country
where there are broad democatic and legal rights and which is a part
of a free Europe."
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