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Turkish Press Review, 02-04-24
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
24.04.2002
CONTENTS
[01] APRIL 23 CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATED
[02] SEZER: "THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE ABOLISHED"
[03] CEM AND PAPANDREOU'S JOINT MIDEAST VISIT TO BEGIN TODAY
[04] BAHCELI: "GOVERNMENT COALITION COULD BE RESHAPED"
[05] US CYPRUS COORDINATOR VISITS ANKARA
[06] DERVIS RAISES BALLOON ON ENTERING POLITICS
[07] EU APOLOGIZES TO TURKEY FOR ERROR-RIDDEN MAP
[08] TURKISH-AMERICAN GROUP URGES BUSH TO FOCUS ON FACTS CONCERNING ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
[09] LEADERS, DIPLOMATS DISCUSS REGIONAL COOPERATION IN ATHENS
[10] TALAY, AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO MARK GALLIPOLI LANDING
[11] ANKARA HOSTING OIL GROUP MEETING
[12] DOMESTIC STEEL CONSUMPTION FALLS
[13] WORLD BANK: "TURKISH ECONOMY GREW THE MOST IN 1980-90"
[14] PUBLIC DEBT INCREASES IN Q1
[15] ALP ELECTED TO POST AT ARCHITECTURE ORGANIZATION
[16] AYLIN TASDELEN BREAKS WEIGHTLIFTING RECORDS
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] TODAY IN STOCKHOLM BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)
[19] FRANCE'S OWN FEBRUARY 28 BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
[20] THE SO-CALLED GENOCIDE BY EMIN COLASAN (HURRIYET)
[01] APRIL 23 CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATED
The April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated
yesterday throughout the country and in the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) as well as at Turkey's foreign missions with a wide variety
of ceremonies. Additionally, last night a reception was held to commemorate
the 82nd anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
(TGNA) in Ankara. /All Papers/
[02] SEZER: "THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE ABOLISHED"
At a Parliament reception to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and
Children's Day yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that the death
penalty should be abolished. "There is no need to change the Constitution
to accomplish this," Sezer added. "The death penalty could be abolished
through making arrangements in the law." /Hurriyet/
[03] CEM AND PAPANDREOU'S JOINT MIDEAST VISIT TO BEGIN TODAY
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George
Papandreou are set to begin a historic joint visit to Israel and the
Palestinian territories today. In the leadup to their visit to push for
peace in the region, US Secretary of State Colin Powell called Cem to hail
the unprecedented mission and to express his wishes for its success.
/Hurriyet/
[04] BAHCELI: "GOVERNMENT COALITION COULD BE RESHAPED"
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli has suggested that if the government coalition partners continue to
seek solutions for controversial issues in Parliament rather than among
themselves, that could cause a new formation to take shape in the
government's ruling coalition. Receiving children yesterday for the April
23 Children's Festival, Bahceli answered journalists' questions regarding
Motherland Party ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's
recent statements indicating that he favored a complete lifting of the
death penalty. "I respect Yılmaz's statements which reflect his views as a
party leader," Bahceli stated. Pointing to the MHP's "clear stance"
regarding the death penalty, Bahceli said that his party would act in line
with that stance during debates in Parliament. Stressing that coalition
partners' seeking solutions by compromising with opposition parties rather
than among themselves, would not cause problem within the government, he
added, however, "If this practice becomes a habit, then it may lead to a
new formation in the coalition." He also emphasized that he had not meant
that the MHP itself would break the coalition. /All Papers/
[05] US CYPRUS COORDINATOR VISITS ANKARA
United States State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Tom Weston
arrived in Ankara yesterday to make contacts with Turkish officials. Weston
is expected to meet with Turkish Foreign Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal today.
According to diplomatic circles, Weston's visit indicates that the US is
planning to continue to actively contribute to the current round of talks
between the two leaders on Cyprus. The US administration had previously
indicated that it could help both sides to surmount any problems which
could interrupt the peace talks. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] DERVIS RAISES BALLOON ON ENTERING POLITICS
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis gave out signals yesterday that
he might enter party politics in the future. Dervis, who is currently in
Washington to attend the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank's
spring meetings, made the remarks at a gathering held by the Washington
Institute think tank. Addressing his possible future in domestic politics,
Dervis said, "For the time being, I am fully concentrated on my duties.
However, it is hard for a cabinet minister do his job indefinitely without
being able to depend on a certain party." Dervis added that his independent
status up to now had been an advantage in the implementation of economic
reforms. Since the economy minister post was created for Dervis early last
year, he has kept his possible political cards close to his chest, though
they have sparked occasional speculation. /Turkiye/
[07] EU APOLOGIZES TO TURKEY FOR ERROR-RIDDEN MAP
The Office of EU Commission President Romano Prodi issued a statement
yesterday apologizing for an error-ridden "political map" of Turkey showing
the nation in the thrall of fringe and defunct political groups. The map in
question, which showed the terrorist DHKP-C, Turkish Communist Labor Party-
Leninist (TKEP/L) and the closed Virtue Party (FP) as representing Turkey,
was prepared in error, said the statement. /Milliyet_
[08] TURKISH-AMERICAN GROUP URGES BUSH TO FOCUS ON FACTS CONCERNING
ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
A group of Turkish Americans sent a letter to US President George W. Bush
this week in an effort to counter Armenian lobbies' publicity drive on
April 24, the day these lobbies use to mark a so-called genocide. The
letter from the Association of Turkish-American Engineers, Architects and
Scientists stressed Turkish sensitivity to the unfounded allegations and
asked Bush to evaluate the issue through taking the actual historical facts
into consideration. Stressing that the wartime events of 1915 could never
be compared to the Holocaust of European Jews, contrary to the Armenian
claims, the letter said that the lobbyists' allegations created animosity
between the Turkish and Armenian nations and were greatly damaging
bilateral relations. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] LEADERS, DIPLOMATS DISCUSS REGIONAL COOPERATION IN ATHENS
Prominent British economy newsweekly the Economist hosted a three-day
meeting in Athens over the weekend entitled "The Sixth Roundtable Meeting:
Leadership Strategy for Global Development Through Regional Cooperation."
High-level international officials and diplomats attended the meeting,
including Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, former Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Barak and EU Council Secretary-General Javier Solana.
Motherland Party Istanbul Deputy and Turkish Democracy Foundation Chairman
Bulent Akarcali represented Turkey at the gathering. The attendees
condemned acts of terrorism and reiterated the need for the establishment
of an international front against the menace. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] TALAY, AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO MARK GALLIPOLI LANDING
Culture Minister Istemihan Talay and Australian Governor-General Peter
Hollingworth are set to attend tomorrow's annual commemoration of the
landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the
1915 Battle of Gallipoli. Today Hollingworth will visit an exhibition of
Australian Aboriginal art and see a ballet concerning the Gallipoli martyrs,
and later will give a reception at Istanbul's Akol Hotel. Tomorrow morning
both Talay and Hollingworth will participate in the dawn ceremony at the
site of the landing. /Turkiye/
[11] ANKARA HOSTING OIL GROUP MEETING
A meeting organized by domestic industry group the Oil Products Employers'
Association is set to begin today in Ankara. The meeting will address such
subjects as gas oil and energy policies, domestic oil production, and
comparisons between Turkish and international oil pricing. Representing the
government at the gathering will be Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and
Energy Minister Zeki Cakan. State Minister Mehmet Kececiler, True Path
Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal and Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan are also expected
to attend. /Star/
[12] DOMESTIC STEEL CONSUMPTION FALLS
According to a new industry group report, domestic steel consumption
plummeted 34% over the last year to reach levels not seen since a full
decade ago, in line with a 9.4% contraction in steel production. The
Association of Iron and Steel Producers report says that increased exports
had made Turkey the world's 15th-largest iron and steel producing country.
But, it continues, recent protectionist measures on the part of the United
States and the European Union had led Turkey to lower its $34 billion
export target for this year. The report goes on to explain how the
protectionist measures affected world trade in general and Turkish
production in particular, and it calls on the government to take measures
to counter this trend's negative effects. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] WORLD BANK: "TURKISH ECONOMY GREW THE MOST IN 1980-90"
A new report just released by the World Bank indicates that Turkey's
economy experienced its best growth period to date in 1980-90ü, a growth
that so far it has not yet matched. The average growth rate for the decade
in question was 5.4%, while 1990-2000 saw growth of only 3.7%. In the 1980s
Turkey's economy was one of the fastest growing in the world, the report
added./Milliyet/
[14] PUBLIC DEBT INCREASES IN Q1
The Treasury announced yesterday that state debt had increased in the first
quarter of this year, despite government measures for saving and
economizing. Public sector debts to both domestic and foreign sources
increased by $14.7 billion to reach a total sum of $138.3 billion. Foreign
debt alone grew to $9.6 billion. The trend was ascribed to continuing
difficulties in the real economy. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] ALP ELECTED TO POST AT ARCHITECTURE ORGANIZATION
Dr. Ahmet Vekif Alp, an advisor to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, has been
elected Eastern European director for the American Institute of Architects
(AIA), the AIA announced this week. Alp will assume the post at a ceremony
in Amsterdam next month. The AIA is one of the most prominent and
internationally active organizations in the field of architecture. /Aksam/
[16] AYLIN TASDELEN BREAKS WEIGHTLIFTING RECORDS
Turkish weightlifter Aylin Tasdelen, 53 kg, broke European records
yesterday by lifting 92.5, 112.5 and 205 kilograms in the snatch, clean-and-
jerk and overall categories respectively, during the 15th European Women's
Weightlifting Championship held in Antalya. /All Papers/
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] TODAY IN STOCKHOLM BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Orhan Birgit writes on the international conference organized by
the Swedish government. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The second international conference organized since 2000 by the Swedish
government begins today. During the conference beginning on 24 April, the
theme of 'True Justice and Reconciliation' will be discussed. The Swedish
ambassador responsible for the conference to be held under the coordination
of the foreign ministry of the host country called the Turkish Embassy in
Stockholm to say that Armenia's deputy foreign minister would also attend
the conference. In order to counter the claims of the Armenian diaspora on
24 April, Bulent Akarcali was appointed to head Turkey's delegation in
Stockholm. Certainly, he is taking official reports and original documents
with him proving Turkey's arguments countering the claims of the so-called
genocide. However, one of the firmest arguments on the issue to date is
presented in an interview with our colleague Hrant Dink published by French
weekly L'Express. Hrant Dink is the responsible editor of the Armenian
newspaper Agos published in Istanbul. In order to attract younger readers
the newspaper is published not only in Armenian, but also has Turkish
sections. While talking to L'Express, Dink called the Armenian diaspora to
travel to Istanbul and said, 'I am ready to discuss all issues with you
here in Istanbul. I am proud to be an Armenian of Turkey. I want to
represent the rebirth of this community with my newspaper. If Turkey does
not move along the road to democratization, Armenia will never be secure.'
I have never seen such a warm sense of belonging from people of any other
ethnic origin in describing their identity. A Turkey where such a sense of
belonging is felt by everyone is fully in line with the definition of
citizenship as laid out by Atatürk. Today, at the Stockholm conference,
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Rouben Shougarian and an accompanying
delegation will participate. Hrant Dink describes Turkey's neighbor to the
northeast as a country 'near suffocation' whose only real chance to move
forward depends on Turkey. I hope that the Yerevan goverment listens to the
voices of its kinsmen in Istanbul calling for common sense, and makes use
of this opportunity."
[19] FRANCE'S OWN FEBRUARY 28 BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Tufan Turenc writes on the results of the elections in France. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"Jean-Marie Le Pen hasn't even had the chance to do anything yet, but his
surprise success in Sunday's elections was enough for the French to take to
the streets. But where is the democratic spirit of France? Le Pen fought
fair and square in the elections and so advanced to the second round. He
didn't resort to fraud or anything of the sort. During the election
campaign he reiterated what he had been saying all along. 'I will expel
foreigners, establish security and take France out of the European Union.'
The people voted for him. He received most of the votes from the southern
and eastern provinces and made it to the second round. This result angered
the democratic, freedom loving French people. Now, all of them regardless
of political stripe -- leftist, rightist or moderate -- are united in
opposition to fascist Le Pen. However, when Turkey experienced a similar
electoral shock in 1995, they chided us and said, 'You have not been able
to adopt democracy. You have to accept the legality of whichever party gets
the votes of the people. This is the rule of democracy. If you act contrary
to this principle, you will violate democracy and Europe cannot accept
this.' Then they added that they would be watching us. We went through the
nightmare of the Refahyol government. We tolerated a prime minister such as
Erbakan, who is at heart opposed to our regime and espouses outmoded ideas.
This went on until everything spun out of control. Then came February 28.
Erbakan had to resign under the social pressure of democratic powers. Among
those who didn't accept this democratic resistance, calling it 'contrary to
democracy' was France. Now they are experiencing the same nightmare and
their very own February 28. Just like us, they are demonstrating in the
streets to force the resignation of the man who has been trying to
eradicate democracy. One of the reasons for this trauma France is going
through is the division on their left. We, too have made the same mistake.
If the left had not been divided in Turkey, Erbakan could never have
dreamed of becoming a prime minister. If there had been unity on the left,
neither Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor Melih Gokcek or others from the Virtue
Party could have been elected as mayors. We still have not learned any
lessons from our experiences, and Erdogan still continues to be the hope of
some. I hope we draw some lessons from the elections in France. At least
they will eliminate Le Pen in the second round. And we, what shall we do?"
[20] THE SO-CALLED GENOCIDE BY EMIN COLASAN (HURRIYET)
Columnist Emin Colasan writes on the so-called genocide allegedlyperpetrated
by the Ottoman Empire. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Every year on 24 April, and before and after this date, Armenian outcries
are heard throughout the world and the 'Armenian genocide' is denounced.
They claim that Turks tried to massacre them and wanted to eradicate their
race! Armenians are depicted as a poor, victimized nation, Turks as cruel
and ruthless! Let's remember: It is the year 1915. We are fighting on many
fronts during World War I. Citizens of Armenian descent have once again
rebelled against the state again. This is the umpteenth rebellion since
1800. This time they collude with the enemy Russian Army. Armenian gangs
capture Van, and then many provinces such as Mus, Bitlis and Nakhcivan are
occupied by them. The Armenian gangs are stabbing the Turkish army in the
back. With the support of the Russian Army, they are horribly oppressing
the Muslim people. In view of this deplorable situation, the Istanbul
government calls the Armenian leaders to a meeting and urges them to halt
these incidents. No results. On 24 April 1915 the Armenian organization and
the gangsters in Istanbul are detained. This is the date the Armenians
commemorate as the 'date of the so-called genocide.' Soon after, the
government sends the Armenians who stabbed the army in the back, in the war
zone, and those living in the eastern and southeastern provinces to Syria
and Lebanon in large groups. Unfortunate incidents happen during their
trek. Long roads are covered on foot in the prevailing conditions of the
day. There are many who die of hunger or sickness on the road, and
robberies are not uncommon. Now if the Ottomans had intended to commit
genocide, they would have killed the Armenians on the spot. The government
sent those betraying the country as a whole to other places in order to
relieve the army at the front. The only intentions were to prevent betrayal
and to protect the army. However, not one Armenian was killed or relocated
apart from those living in the war zones. The Ottoman archives are open to
all. There are no instructions regarding a 'genocide,' nor any other
document on the issue. World War I ended in 1918, but the Armenian
animosity didn't let up. For years, they murdered many leading statesmen in
various cities of the world. Somehow we seem to have been put on the
defensive against the outcries of the Armenians and their collaborators. We
have to explain these incidents to the world."
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