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Turkish Press Review, 02-04-01
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
01.04.2002
CONTENTS
[01] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE BILL LIMITING PRESIDENT’S
AUTHORITY THIS WEEK
[02] TURKEY CONVEYS ITS CONCERNS ON MIDEAST TO WASHINGTON
[03] SP DELEGATION VISITS PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR
[04] IRAQ THANKS TURKEY FOR OPPOSING OPERATION
[05] US AMBASSADOR PEARSON: “TURKEY IS SAFE FOR TRAVELLERS”
[06] FESTIVAL PLANNED TO BRING ASIAN COUNTRIES TOGETHER
[07] TURKEY TO HOST SUBCON INDUSTRY CONVENTION
[08] CONSTRUCTION FAIR SLATED FOR ISTANBUL
[09] UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYMENTS BEGIN TODAY
[10] KARACAOGLU COMPANY RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL QUALITY AWARD
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[12] WE CANNOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO VIOLENCE BY FERAI TINC
(HURRIYET)
[13] ANKARA’S CALL AND ARAFAT BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE BILL LIMITING PRESIDENT’S
AUTHORITY THIS WEEK
A bill proposing certain limits on the authority of the president and
prime minister is expected to be debated in the Parliament this week.
The bill, which was presented to Parliament in November 2000, aims to
free the president and prime minister from the necessity of making
certain appointments and also to increase the efficiency of the
bureaucracy. Under the new regulations, certain appointments would be
made through the signature of the relevant minister alone, rather than
of that minister plus the president and prime minister. /All Papers/
[02] TURKEY CONVEYS ITS CONCERNS ON MIDEAST TO WASHINGTON
Turkey launched a new diplomatic initiative over the weekend to help
bringing about an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East. The
US ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson, and Turkey’s ambassador to
Washington, Faruk Logoglu, conveyed Ankara’s views to US Secretary of
State, Colin Powell, and his deputy Nicholas Burns that measures should
taken to ensure the safety of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who was
confined over the weekend to his compound under Israeli Army siege, as
soon as possible. Ankara conveyed the message to the Bush administration
that current developments would adversely affect Turkey’s relations with
all neighboring countries and that Israel should pull back from Ramallah.
However, the Bush administration has laid the onus for the current
crisis on Arafat rather than Israel, saying that he needs to do more to
end the attacks and suicide bombings by Palestinian militants.
Furthermore, Turkish Foreign Ministry Middle East Department Director-
General
Turkekul Kurttekin met with Palestinian Ambassador Fuad Yasin and
Israeli Ambassador David Sultan over the weekend. Turkey’s Consul
General to Jerusalem Huseyin Avni Bicakli made a phone call to Arafat on
Saturday to learn his demands and expectations from the US and Israel.
/Cumhuriyet/
[03] SP DELEGATION VISITS PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and an accompanying delegation
yesterday paid a visit to the Palestinian ambassador to Turkey, Fuad
Yasin, to show their support. Stressing that Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat was ready to die for the cause of a Palestinian nation, Yasin
said, “If the United States had wanted, it would have stopped the
bloodshed in the Middle East. Israel’s only aim is to terminate Arafat.
If they do it, Arafat will become a martyr, and then they will have to
fight against millions of Arafats.” Meanwhile, the Great Union Party (BBP)
and the Workers’ Party (IP) members yesterday held a demonstration in
front of the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul to protest Israeli’s
incursion into the West Bank. /Aksam/
[04] IRAQ THANKS TURKEY FOR OPPOSING OPERATION
Speaking to Turkish reporters yesterday after meeting with Turkish
State Minister Tunca Toskay, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramazan
thanked Turkey for its opposition to US military intervention in Iraq.
Ramazan also said that Iraq was satisfied with Turkey’s stance during US
Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent visit to Turkey. “We had serious
talks with Toskay on improving relations between Turkey and Iraq,”
Ramazan added. /Hurriyet/
[05] US AMBASSADOR PEARSON: “TURKEY IS SAFE FOR TRAVELLERS”
In an open letter to US travel agencies released yesterday, the US
ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson, called on booking agents in the US
not to ignore Turkey when they make reservations, especially during the
upcoming busy summer session. Pearson declared that US citizens
traveling to the region would be safe and welcome in Turkey. The
ambassador added that tourists in Turkey faced no threats after last
September’s attacks. /Hurriyet/
[06] FESTIVAL PLANNED TO BRING ASIAN COUNTRIES TOGETHER
The Foundation of the State Theater and Opera House Artists (TOBAV)
has begun laying the groundwork for a festival project to bring Asian
countries together. The “Asiaopalia Project” was discussed over the
weekend by the representatives of TOBAV and several other non-governmental
organizations (NGOs). TOBAV Chairman Tamer Levent stated that the
festival would feature activities involving music, literature, poetry,
architecture, dancing, theatre, photography and cinema. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURKEY TO HOST SUBCON INDUSTRY CONVENTION
Preparations are underway for the International Subsidiary Industry
Convention, “Subcon 2002” which is slated to be held at Istanbul’s
International Fair Center on May 16-19. At the gathering, which is
sponsored by United Nations Development Organization (UNITOD) and the
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), industrialists from the world over
will be able to learn about trends in the global economy from seminars
and displays. /Star/
[08] CONSTRUCTION FAIR SLATED FOR ISTANBUL
Istanbul’s Tuyap Center will host the 2002 Construction Fair on May
1-5, a construction industry group announced this weekend. Some 60,000
visitors are expected at the fair, which is the largest in its sector.
/Star/
[09] UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYMENTS BEGIN TODAY
Turkey’s first unemployment insurance payments are due to be
distributed today. Some 5,700 people who are covered by the new system
will receive their allowances from Ziraat Bank. Turkish Employment
Foundation (TIK) head Necdet Kenar said that under the new social
security law, people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own
and who have paid premiums to the unemployment insurance fund for at
least 600 days straight were eligible for the payments. The fund began
taking compensation applications on Jan. 31 of this year. /Sabah/
[10] KARACAOGLU COMPANY RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL QUALITY AWARD
The World Quality Convention announced this weekend that it was
handing out its “International Gold Star Award” for 2002 to the
Karacaoglu Baklava and Food Company, a division of Turkish Corporation
KRC. Speaking of the honor, which was awarded out of a field from over
160 countries, KRC Group Chairman Fatih Karaca said, “This award proves
the quality of Turkish cuisine, and especially our baklava.” /Sabah/
[11] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[12] WE CANNOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO VIOLENCE BY FERAI TINC
(HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the escalating violence in the Middle
East. A summary of her column is as follows:
“Can Arafat stop terrorism? There are many reasons as to why he
cannot. First the Palestinian Authority has been unable to bring
economic growth to the region. The anti-democratic and corruption-prone
structure of those around Arafat are responsible to some extent. In a
program broadcast on BBC TV, the leaders of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
were interviewed. They are young, and they have nothing to do, and sleep
during the daytime and patrol the streets at nights. The interesting
thing is that their weapons came mostly from Israeli soldiers through
intermediaries. Arms smuggling is at its peak. Young people with no
prospects for their future constitute only one of the reasons for the
infrastructure of terrorism going on in the region. The real reason is
that Palestine has never experienced a climate of peace. Arafat cannot
stop terrorism. What’s more he is calling on everyone to die for the
cause. Under the circumstances, what else can be expected from him? The
only side which can do something is the Israeli government, as it is the
real state. It has its police force, army, Parliament, democratic
institutions, money and sovereignty. However, Sharon and his supporters
are striking with vengeance and trying to level Palestine. Standing idly
by and viewing of all these incidents and thinking to step in to correct
the situation after both sides have been devastated may be possible for
Bush. The incidents may seem different when viewed from Washington.
However, this is not so in this region. The warning by Jordan’s King
Abdullah was important. He was saying that things may get out of control
here. The news that Hizbullah may open a second front in Lebanon should
be seen seriously, as there is already activity in the region. Not only
the Arab world but Turkey is also concerned. How much and how long can
the Turkish public tolerate all this violence and indifference? A time
may come to question Turkey’s silence. Prime Minister Ecevit’s calling
Arafat on the phone is not enough. A system which can more effectively
prevent terrorism and bring both sides to common sense must be found.
The Bush administration is not budging, but can’t Turkey spearhead an
initative through the European Union? France has noted that anti-Semitism
has increased in the country due to the recent events. The same thing is
happening in Turkey. An initiative must be launched as soon as possible
to end terrorrism and to stop the escalation of hostilities. Can’t we
lift our finger without the US anymore?”
[13] ANKARA’S CALL AND ARAFAT BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila writes on the current Middle East crisis. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“Concern for Palestinian leader Arafat’s life is increasing. The
consequences of a situation with Arafat surrounded in his compound, with
nothing to eat or drink and his possible elimination, has spurred
Ankara. After Prime Minister Ecevit’s phone call to Arafat, no leader
has been able to contact him. The impression Ecevit received from their
talk was that his conditions constituted a cause for concern for
Arafat’s life. This impression was conveyed to all concerned countries,
including the US and international organizations. Upon Israel’s
occupation of Palestine and its intentions to eliminate Arafat as
displayed by the Sharon administration, Ankara has warned the US that if
Arafat is killed the consequences would be grave. The policies of the
countries in the region, including those of Turkey, would be influenced
by such an event. This message was conveyed to US Ambassador to Ankara
Robert Pearson by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The same message was
conveyed to US officials by Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington. Faruk
Logoglu. We can say that the same message was also conveyed to Israeli
Foreign Minister Simon Peres. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem expressed
Turkey’s concerns to Peres in a phone call. Was Ankara able to get a
guarantee for Arafat’s security? One cannot answer this question. Even
though US officials are stating that Israel will not risk Arafat’s life,
the physical and psychological conditions Arafat is being subjected to
show that his life is under no guarantee. Ankara is drawing attention to
the fact that Arafat’s health may deteriorate due to the siege and its
physical conditions. Washington has to step in to guarantee Arafat’s
security actively and with determination. At this stage, Ankara is
trying to achieve this. Under the present circumstances all countries,
including those in the Arab world, should pressure the US and Israel
towards this end. Otherwise, we run the serious risk of the Middle East
exploding like a lit fuse if Arafat is eliminated from the scene.”
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