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Turkish Press Review, 02-05-29
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
29.05.2002
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER CALLS FOR COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM AT NATO SUMMIT
[02] ECEVIT: “THIS GOVERNMENT WILL STAY IN CHARGE THROUGH ITS FULL TERM”
[03] TURKEY WARNS THE EU ON ESDP INCLUSION
[04] BAHCELI SETS CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REFORMS
[05] GEN. BUYUKANIT: “EUROPEANS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TERRORISTS”
[06] IZGI: “WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ECHR’S DECISION”
[07] YILMAZ: “EU MEMBERSHIP IS A NATIONAL GOAL”
[08] CILLER: “THE EU IS OUR CHOICE”
[09] KUTAN: “THE MHP USES THE DEATH PENALTY ISSUE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES”
[10] PEARSON: “EARLY ELECTIONS WOULDN’T ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TURKISH ECONOMY”
[11] ISRAELI DELEGATION EXPLORES BUYING TURKISH WATER
[12] OZEN: “GARANTI BANK’S INVESTMENTS WILL CONTINUE IN EASTERN EUROPE”
[13] MILAN CIRCUS COMES TO ANKARA
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] AS A NEW WORLD ORDER IS BEING ESTABLISHED BY SAMI KOHEN(MILLIYET)
[16] DON’T TAKE AWAY OUR FUTURE BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
[01] SEZER CALLS FOR COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM AT NATO SUMMIT
Speaking at the NATO-Russia summit in Rome yesterday, President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer stated that Turkey places great importance on the fight
against terrorism, one of the priorities of the summit, and that there
should be more concrete international cooperation to combat terrorism.
“Through the loss of many of its citizens, Turkey has learned much about
the threat of terrorism,” Sezer said, adding that now Turkey’s American
friends had been similarly affected by last September’s terrorist attacks.
“We don’t see Russia as an antagonist but rather as a cooperative partner,”
Sezer remarked. /Hurriyet/
[02] ECEVIT: “THIS GOVERNMENT WILL STAY IN CHARGE THROUGH ITS FULL TERM”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit declared yesterday that the current 57th
government was continuing to rule the country with harmony and
determination. ”This government will be in charge until the elections to be
held at their normally scheduled date, and it will strive to keep its
promises to the public.” Ecevit, who left the hospital on Monday after more
than 10 days of treatment, held a press conference yesterday. At the one-
and-a-half-hour conference, Ecevit evaluated the coalition government’s
performance from over the last three years. Regarding his health condition,
Ecevit said, “Some circles have been trying to convince me to quit
politics. Politics doesn’t mean everything to me. I have various hobbies
other than politics that I wish I had time for. However, Turkey is passing
through a very sensitive period. Reform laws are still being enacted one by
one. Since stepping down could harm Turkey, for the time being I prefer to
be in charge and not to resign.” /Turkiye/
[03] TURKEY WARNS THE EU ON ESDP INCLUSION
One of Turkey’s top military officials yesterday warned the European Union
that peace and stability can be established through Europe if and only if
the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) includes all European
countries. Gen. Resat Turgut, head of planning and principles at the Office
of the Chief of the General Staff, yesterday criticized the EU for failing
to support its important allies, such as Turkey, which have undertaken so
many responsibilities for the sake of Europe’s security. Arguing that the
EU was practicing discrimination against Turkey, Turgut stated that the
disputes between NATO and the EU also stemmed from this discrimination.
/Cumhuriyet/
[04] BAHCELI SETS CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REFORMS
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli said yesterday that reforms for Turkey’s European Union membership
could not be accepted before the nation had succeeded in ending terrorism.
Bahceli set out five conditions for the EU reforms to be implemented: One,
the file of terrorist Abdullah Ocalan should immediately be forwarded to
Parliament for ratification, regardless of what the European Court of Human
Rights decides; two, there is no reason and obligation to incarcerate
Ocalan in Imrali, since according to the law he should be transferred to an
F-type prison; three, the EU should be more sincere and decisive, and a
first step could be the inclusion of KADEK (the PKK’s new label) on its
list of terrorist groups; four, the PKK’s so-called representatives and
militants should quickly and unconditionally surrender to the Turkish
government; and five, the heads of terrorist organizations should pledge
loyalty to the basic principles of the Turkish Constitution. /Hurriyet/
[05] GEN. BUYUKANIT: “EUROPEANS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TERRORISTS”
Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said yesterday that
Turkey was a model country in its own region and should be supported by
Western countries. He made the remarks while addressing a symposium in
Ankara entitled “World and Domestic Developments in the Wake of the Sept.
11 Attacks.” Stating that he had serious doubts that Europe had learned the
lessons of the Sept. 11 attacks, Buyukanit commented that European
countries still had double standards since they were still continuing to
support in various ways the PKK acting under its new name of KADEK.
Pointing to Turkey’s democratic secular system, Buyukanit remarked that
Turkey should be supported by Western nations since it plays an important
role as the only modern country to be a model for other Islamic countries.
/Turkiye/
[06] IZGI: “WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ECHR’S DECISION”
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said yesterday that Turkey should wait for a
verdict from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) before asking the
Parliament to ratify a death penalty verdict on terrorist Abdullah Ocalan.
It would be wrong not to wait for the decision of the ECHR, Izgi added.
/Hurriyet/
[07] YILMAZ: “EU MEMBERSHIP IS A NATIONAL GOAL”
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said
yesterday at his party’s parliamentary group meeting that Turkey’s EU
membership was a national goal and this aim should be defended by the
parties representing the people. Yilmaz stated that he was reiterating and
underlining the point as Turkey was rapidly entering a critical stage
regarding its EU membership process and that everyone had to work hand-in-
hand to achieve this goal. /Sabah/
[08] CILLER: “THE EU IS OUR CHOICE”
Main opposition party leader Tansu Ciller yesterday appeared to soften her
stance on carrying out the death penalty passed on terrorist Abdullah
Ocalan. In a conversation with journalists, Ciller said, “If Turkey is left
with a choice between membership in the EU or the execution of Ocalan, the
DYP will choose the EU.” /Hurrýyet/
[09] KUTAN: “THE MHP USES THE DEATH PENALTY ISSUE FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES”
Reacting to recent statements by Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli regarding the death penalty issue, opposition pro-Islamist
Felicity Party (SP) leader Reaci Kutan yesterday accused Bahceli of using
the issue for political purposes. Kutan also said that the capital
punishment issue should not be a matter for gaining political advantage.
/Sabah/
[10] PEARSON: “EARLY ELECTIONS WOULDN’T ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TURKISH
ECONOMY”
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson on Monday stated that he did not
believe that early elections would adversely affect the Turkish economy
since the nation has a well-established state structure. During a meeting
with three visiting US senators, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and
State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis, Pearson conveyed the message to
the Turkish officials that he believed in Turkey’s resolve to continue its
current economic program. The American and Turkish officials discussed the
current economic conditions in Turkey as well as the ongoing implementation
of the stabilization program and the possibility of early elections. In
addition, in a speech at a symposium entitled “World and Domestic
Developments in the Wake of the Sept. 11 Attacks,” Pearson stated that
Turkey was one of the most important allies of the US as had been proven by
the Turkish government’s full support in the recent US war against
terrorism after last September’s attacks. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] ISRAELI DELEGATION EXPLORES BUYING TURKISH WATER
An Israeli government delegation is currently in Turkey on a final visit
before Israel makes a decision on a possible purchase of Turkish water. The
five-person delegation from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry and
Water Commission arrived in Ankara two days ago. Following a resolution in
favor of such purchases made by Israel’s Economy Cabinet earlier this year,
Israeli Prime Ministry Undersecretary Avigdor Itzchaki dispatched the
delegation. The water would come from Manavgat Falls, near Turkey’s
Mediterranean coast. Turkish State Water Works (DSI) Director General
Mumtaz Turfan said that the delegation had held a meeting with bureaucrats
from the Energy Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat. “The delegation told us that they would make their final
decision by the end of June,” he added. “We told them that we were willing
to sell them water and that we would work to make the deal possible.”
/Milliyet/
[12] OZEN: “GARANTI BANK’S INVESTMENTS WILL CONTINUE IN EASTERN EUROPE”
Garanti Bank Director General Ergun Ozen said yesterday that the bank was
doing well in the Eastern European market and that it would increase its
investments there. Stating that Amsterdam-based Garanti Bank International,
which oversees the bank’s activities abroad, had branches in Germany, the
Netherlands and Romania, Ozen said, “Garanti Bank is doing well in Eastern
Europe. We will continue to increase our investments there. These countries
are taking very serious steps towards EU membership, and so we think it is
a wise decision to have a presence in them. We are investing in Bulgaria,
and if necessary, we will open a branch there. We are also active in
Romania, and we have been for four or five years. We’re planning to be the
first Turkish bank to be active in Bulgaria.” /Milliyet/
[13] MILAN CIRCUS COMES TO ANKARA
Italy’s beloved Milan Circus is set to begin a full month of performances
in Ankara tomorrow. The circus, whose act is hailed throughout Europe, was
established in 1930. It suspended operations during World War II, but in
1946 picked up where it had left off. The Milan Circus’ appearance in
Ankara sponsored by the Cankaya Municipality will begin tomorrow and run
through June 30. /Aksam/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] AS A NEW WORLD ORDER IS BEING ESTABLISHED BY SAMI KOHEN(MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the establishment of a new world order with
the signing of the Rome Declaration. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The last vestiges of the Cold War were buried with the signing of a
declaration in Rome by 19 NATO countries together with Russia, and the
foundations of a new world order were laid down. Even today, the world is
not the same as it was before. New friendships are taking the place of old
hostilities. Old threats, such as the scenarios of wars between two
military blocs, are being left in the distant past. NATO was built on two
main pillars: the US and Europe. Today a third pillar is added to them and
that is Russia. Thus, the Atlantic Alliance stretches from Vancouver on the
western end of the American continent to Vladivostok in Asia’s Pacific
coast. How will Turkey be affected by this historical development? During
the Cold War, Turkey had undertaken the role of an outpost. At present,
there is no need for such a mission. However, Turkey’s role is as important
as before in NATO within the present framework. What happens is that its
function is changing as that of NATO’s is and becoming more up to date.
There are many things Turkey can do within the new circumstances ranging
from the fight against terrorism, to regional crisis management, and to
peace force missions... That is to say, Turkey has a pivotal place in
NATO’s changing structure and strategy. The new world order may affect
Turkey’s relations with Russia. The new organic relationship between Moscow
and NATO and a Russian-Western rapprochement in general will relieve Turkey
in many aspects. Russia is not an enemy but a friend of Turkey, as it is to
the NATO allies. For some time, both countries were taking steps towards
this goal. The circumstances have ripened for closer ties. At a time when
Russia is not a threat, the military strategies will be determined in line
with these policies. The two countries will not regard each other as rivals
in the political and economic fields, but as partners. They can carry out
great joint projects and work together... Even now, a change for the better
has been noted in Moscow’s Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project policy. These
circumstances may also affect relations between Turkey and Europe. Europe
(the EU community) is within the NATO-Russia Council. But, the EU also
wants to show a political and even military presence in addition to forming
special relations with Russia. The EU doesn’t always share the same views
with the US either within or outside NATO on every issue. What is more, it
is trying to establish its own security and defense system. The importance
of Turkey’s integration with the EU becomes clearer in the face of such an
establishment. If Ankara takes necessary steps for membership, in time it
will have the advantage of pursuing a more balanced policy peculiar to
itself. These are the opportunities before Turkey while a new world order
is being established.”
[16] DON’T TAKE AWAY OUR FUTURE BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the unnecesary emphasis on Prime
Minister Ecevit’s health and how it affects the problems awaiting Turkey. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“During the Second World War, US President Roosevelt governed his country
and the great war from a wheelchair. He took critical decisions and
attended crucial meetings. No one regarded it as strange or called for his
resignation. What was key was how his mind worked. Today, there are very
important issues the prime minister has to solve before him such as
Turkey’s EU membership bid, the Cyprus problem and Iraq. Turkey must
complete all her homework in time and without putting forth any excuses.
Obstructing Turkey’s EU membership will mean darkening Turkey’s future, and
no one has the right to take away that future. Is it wise to tie the future
of 70 million people, our children, grandchildren and future generations,
to the life a terrorist called Abdullah Ocalan? Is it wise to execute an
already imprisoned terrorist to turn him into hero among his friends?
Another problem awaiting Turkey is the Cyprus issue. It has to be solved.
Turkey has to take its place around the table with a constructive and
enthusiastic approach. Everyone must know clearly that Cyprus is directly
tied to our EU membership. If the Greek Cypriot Administration is admitted
into the EU, withdrawal of Turkey from Cyprus will be added to the
conditions expected of it for EU membership. It is beyond comprehension how
one cannot guess these results. The third important question before us is
the future of Saddam Hussein. Turkey must determine what it will do in case
of a military attack by the US. Turkey must be prepared for such a
eventuality. Therefore, it is not wise to call for early general
elections.”
ARCHIVE
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