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Turkish Press Review, 02-03-21
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
21.03.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT: “THE US WILL NOT GIVE UP MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST IRAQ”
[02] CHENEY: “TURKEY’S IMPORTANCE HAS BEEN IGNORED”
[03] SEZER VISITS RETIREMENT HOME TO MARK ELDERLY WEEK
[04] YILMAZ: “UNDER THE STATUS QUO, WE WON’T BE ABLE TO JOIN
THE EU”
[05] TURKEY IS LIKELY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
[06] FOREIGN MINISTRY BRIEFS TALABANI ON CHENEY’S VISIT
[07] CIA: “TURKEY SHOULD BE ON ALERT FOR AL QAIDA ATTACKS”
[08] LE FIGARO ALLEGES THAT TURKEY AND US BARGAINED ON IRAQ
[09] ISRAELI ECONOMIC MINISTERS DECIDE TO BUY TURKISH WATER
[10] INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES COMMISSIONS MEETING SLATED FOR
ISTANBUL
[11] MORGAN STANLEY ECONOMIST PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
[12] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: “TOXIC WASTE BARRELS WILL BE
SENT BACK TO ITALY”
[13] ARIA GSM CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[15] WHAT PLEASES ECEVIT SO MUCH? BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
[16] TOPPLING SADDAM STILL IN US PLANS BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
[01] ECEVIT: “THE US WILL NOT GIVE UP MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST IRAQ”
Appearing on news channel NTV, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
yesterday offered his evaluations of US Vice President Dick Cheney’s
recent visit to Turkey. Ecevit remarked that Turkey was pleased with
Cheney’s statement stressing that there was no imminent US military
action planned against Iraq. “The US will not give up its plans of
military operation against Iraq,” said Ecevit. “However, I don’t believe
that this operation will occur within the foreseeable future. Cheney’s
statement is very important for Turkish tourism and our economy. I
believe that it will also positively influence foreign investors.”
Ecevit also reiterated Cheney’s concerns that Saddam Hussein had not yet
ended his program to develop weapons of mass destruction. Stressing that
Iraq’s allegations accusing UN inspectors of espionage were baseless and
untrue, Ecevit said, “The US has clearly expressed its resolve to topple
Saddam Hussein. Since Iraq has well-organized and powerful military
forces, a military operation against this country would not be easy.”
Ecevit warned Saddam once again that there was no need to develop or
possess weapons of mass destruction since none of Iraq’s neighboring
countries posed a threat to the region’s peace and stability.
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] CHENEY: “TURKEY’S IMPORTANCE HAS BEEN IGNORED”
Briefing White House aides who had accompanied him on his trip to
Ankara this week, US Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly stated
yesterday that prior to last September the US had lost sight of Turkey’s
importance as a close ally and partner in the fight against terrorism.
Cheney said that he had discussed with Turkish officials not only the
subject of terrorism but also other significant issues, such as the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project and economic matters. Stating that the US
was currently helping Turkey’s economy recovery in league with the
International Monetary Fund, Cheney remarked that Turkey was likely to
take over the command of the international peacekeeping force in
Afghanistan. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] SEZER VISITS RETIREMENT HOME TO MARK ELDERLY WEEK
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his wife yesterday visited a
retirement home in Ankara’s Umitkoy district as part of his observance
of Elderly Week. Sezer spoke with the home’s residents and listened to
their requests. Before leaving, the president answered reporters’
questions on US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit which ended yesterday,
saying, “Cheney did not ask anything specific of Turkey.” Sezer added
said that a statement would be released today concerning the visit. /All
Papers/
[04] YILMAZ: “UNDER THE STATUS QUO, WE WON’T BE ABLE TO JOIN
THE EU”
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime
Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that the
weeks and months to come would be very important for Turkey on such
issues as the European Union, foreign policy and economics. “Turkey
should determine its interests in both the short and long term,” Yilmaz
added. Yilmaz also stated that if Turkey’s status quo remains unchanged,
it would not be able to join the EU. /Hurriyet/
[05] TURKEY IS LIKELY TO TAKE OVER ISAF COMMAND
Turkey is more likely to take over the command of the international
peacekeeping force in Afghanistan (ISAF) following discussions over the
issue during US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit to Ankara earlier
this week. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that
negotiations were continuing over details such as the timing of the
command handover and other issues including communications and
intelligence support, financial support and how the forces would be
transported. Cheney said that the Bush administration would propose $228
million in aid for Turkey. While $28 million would go directly to help
pay for Turkish command of the force, the remaining $200 million would
be economic assistance. The United States and Turkey will reportedly
hold consultations in the coming weeks over the logistics of the force,
which Cheney announced that the US wants to keep confined to the Afghan
capital Kabul, as Turkey had previously demanded. Meanwhile, Turkey is
seeking assurances that other NATO countries would maintain their
presence in Afghanistan and that it would receive adequate logistic
support in the operations. Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin
Dirioz said on Tuesday that a positive atmosphere was prevailing over
the meetings on the ISAF and that political officials would give the
final word on the mission after being briefed on the results of these
meetings. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] FOREIGN MINISTRY BRIEFS TALABANI ON CHENEY’S VISIT
The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday briefed the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani on US Vice President Dick Cheney’s
visit to Turkey earlier this week. Talabani yesterday met with Foreign
Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal to tell of his recent visit to Syria.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Talabani said that he wanted
more Turkish businessmen to invest in northern Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] CIA: “TURKEY SHOULD BE ON ALERT FOR AL QAIDA ATTACKS”
Speaking to the US Senate yesterday, CIA Director George Tenet said
that Turkey should be on alert for possible Al Qaida attacks. Tenet also
said that the group’s terrorist cells in Europe and the Middle East
remain capable of such attacks. “Al Qaida leaders still at large are
working to reconstitute the organization and resume its terrorist
operations,” Tenet added. /Sabah/
[08] LE FIGARO ALLEGES THAT TURKEY AND US BARGAINED ON IRAQ
French daily Le Figaro yesterday claimed that Bush administration had
asked for Turkey’s support for a possible operation in Iraq in return
for a share of northern Iraqi oil. The paper’s news analysis alleged
that Turkey had bargained with the US administration on a possible
intervention in Iraq. Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz
denied the allegations during a weekly press conference yesterday,
saying, “From time to time such rumors have been heard in the foreign
press. However, they are baseless and untrue.” /Turkiye/
[09] ISRAELI ECONOMIC MINISTERS DECIDE TO BUY TURKISH WATER
At a meeting in Tel Aviv yesterday, Israel’s economic ministers
decided to begin buying 50-100 million cubic meters of water per year
from Turkey as soon as possible. The ministers also appointed a special
commission to prepare a report in two weeks’ time outlining the measures
necessary for the water purchase. In an international bid recently held
by Israel for the transportation of Manavgat water, the two winning
companies’ proposals were rejected for as not fitting the rules of the
bid, thus, endangering the purchase of Turkish water. The Israeli press
hailed yesterday’s decision as “historic.” /Aksam/
[10] INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES COMMISSIONS MEETING SLATED FOR
ISTANBUL
Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (SPK) will host the 27th annual
conference of the International Organization of Securities Commissions
Organizations (IOSCO) in Istanbul on May 18-24. SPK Chairman Dogan
Cansizlar said yesterday that nearly 600 foreign delegates including
capital markets boards chairmen, stock exchanges chairmen, and
representatives of financial circles from more than 100 countries would
attend the meeting. He added that Germany, Austria, China, the Czech
Republic and Jordan had vied to host the IOSCO meeting, but that Turkey
had prevailed in a vote on the matter. /Aksam/
[11] MORGAN STANLEY ECONOMIST PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
Speaking at an American-Turkish Council panel on banking and finance
in Washington yesterday, Morgan Stanley senior economist for European
emerging markets Riccardo Barbieri said that Turkey’s economic outlook
was becoming more and more positive. Morgan Stanley is one of the
world’s leading financial institutions. Barbieri said, “We do not want
what happened in Argentina to be repeated in Turkey. We are more
optimistic about your country. Turkey has taken very encouraging steps
to reform its monetary policy. The most important issue in terms of the
Turkish economy is implementing its reforms, rather than just giving
them lip service.” Stating that attracting foreign investors would be
critical for Turkey, he added that those who invest in the country would
earn money this year. /Milliyet/
[12] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: “TOXIC WASTE BARRELS WILL BE
SENT BACK TO ITALY”
Turkish Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin said yesterday that over
350 barrels of toxic waste that ended up on Turkey’s Black Sea coast
would be sent back to Italy, where they came from. He made the pledge in
response to Democratic Left Party (DSP) Giresun Deputy Hasan Akgun’s
remarks in Parliament that environmental pollution in Turkey was
increasing with each passing day. Replying to Akgun, Aytekin said, “We
have reexamined the 367 waste barrels stored in Samsun and Sinop along
with the environmental group Greenpeace and resolved that the barrels
will be returned to their place of origin, which we have determined is
Italy.” /Milliyet/
[13] ARIA GSM CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Aria, Turkey’s third GSM operator and a joint investment by Turkey’s
Is Bank and Telecom Italia Mobile, is celebrating its first anniversary
today. After beginning operations last March 21 with an investment of $3
billion, as of February 2002 Aria had reached more than 750,000
subcribers. /Turkiye/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[15] WHAT PLEASES ECEVIT SO MUCH? BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
Columnist Semih Idiz writes on US Vice President Cheney’s visit to
Turkey and its consequences. A summary of his column is as follows:
“US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit rouses the curiosity in me as
to why our prime minister was so pleased after the talks he held with
the Bush’s number two. His pleasure was written all over his face while
he told members of the press about the talks. He had the air of someone
who had attained an important achievement. What is more, instead of
opting for statements which could find favor in Turkish politics, Ecevit
preferred to criticise Iraq. He used expressions which may come to mean
that Saddam should lend an ear to what the entire world expected of him.
In fact, before Cheney’s visit, it was predicted that these talks would
be ‘tough’ and in a way would reflect Turkey’s defense of Iraq. The
crisis regarding the meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu
was quite minor. Cheney could have received important information, or
clues, during face-to-face talks with Gen. Kivrikoglu. Our
oversensitivity which has hampered us before has reared its heed once
again. When there were ‘concrete’ and ‘practical’ issues to be discussed,
we were concerned with the form. The difference between a ‘working visit’
and a ‘state visit’ should not be forgotten. The talks Mr. Cheney held
with Mr. Ecevit took on great importance in the light of these
developments and when the obvious pleasure of the prime minister is
taken into account, we can assume that important issues were discussed
and that Turkey received vital guarantees. These must be so important
that Prime Minister Ecevit decided to direct his diplomatic pressure
efforts towards Saddam Hussein. The only thing we know is that the US
will not launch a military operation against Iraq in the foreseeable
future. Furthermore, the Bush administration will ask for $228 million
from the US Congress for Turkey’s part in the Afghanistan operation.
Both factors are important, but I am not sure if these are the things
which pleased Ecevit so much.The reason being that ‘foreseeable future’
may mean three weeks, three months, or even three years. The possibility
of an Iraqi operation is not altogether out. The aid the Bush
administration would like to give to us, but which we have yet to see
whether the US Congress will agree to, must not suffice to please Ecevit
that much. They are the ones who would like to see Turkey play a role in
Afghanistan, and this comes with a price tag. As Turkish-EU relations
are not moving forward even an inch and even slipping backwards, we see
that Turkish-American strategic relations are taking on a new dimension
with every passing day. We see that some see these strategic relations
with the US as an alternative to the EU. I am really wondering, what
pleases Prime Minister Ecevit so much?”
[16] TOPPLING SADDAM STILL IN US PLANS BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Hasan Cemal writes on US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit
to Turkey and the US plans regarding Iraq. A summary of his column is as
follows:
“Following his talks with US Vice President Cheney, Prime Minister
Ecevit said that there was no military operation against Iraq in the
foreseeable future. The expression ‘foreseeable future’ is used
frequently in diplomatic language. It gives an impression of uncertainty,
arbitrary feeling and subjectivity. What did the US vice president mean
when he said there was to be no military action against Iraq in the
foreseeable future? He probably meant that an operation was not imminent.
This relieved Ankara, as it became evident that there was to be no
strike against Iraq until autumn. It is hard to say that Cheney got what
he wanted from Ankara. He came away from the Arab capitals empty-handed
as the Arab leaders were more concerned with the clashes in Israel-
Palestine
than Saddam Hussein. The conflict in Israel-Palestine is destabilizing
the region, causing unrest in the streets throughout the Arab world, and
strengthening the hands of the radicals. Therefore priority must be
given to Israel-Palestinian peace. The atmosphere in Ankara was no
different. The fact that a military operation against Iraq was not
viewed favorably was once more repeated to Cheney. As the situation in
Afghanistan is ongoing, and bloodletting is continuing in the clashes in
Israel-Palestine, it would not be a reasonable action to take. Vice
President Cheney stated how great a danger Saddam Hussein posed to the
peace and stability in the region with the weapons of mass destruction
in his hands. He reieterated that Saddam would not be excluded from
Washington’s plans and asked for Turkish support. While sharing the
concerns of the vice president, Ankara stressed that it would be more
proper to conduct negotiations within the framework of the United
Nations. Cheney replied that this process was already going on, but that
the US administation did not expect much from this as Saddam could not
be trusted to comply with the UN resolutions. In short, Iraq will not be
dropped from the US’ plans. An operation against Iraq will be discussed.
The US administration, which sees Saddam as the most important link in
the fight against terrorism, will try every method, including
overthrowing him. However, at the moment it will insist on Saddam
Hussein’s unconditional acceptance of UN weapons inspectors while
continuing to prepare for an operation. In the meantime, it will try to
control the fire in Israel and Palestine, and if possible extinguish it
Cheney must have understood that without doing that, an operation
against Iraq would backfire, and strengthen the hands of other bin
Ladins in the Gulf. “
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