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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-06
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
06.06.2002
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO VISIT IRAN
[02] ECEVIT: “I HOPE TO ATTEND THE PRESIDENT’S EU SUMMIT”
[03] YILMAZ SPEAKS ON TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
[04] BAHCELI REPLIES TO YILMAZ
[05] KIVRIKOGLU MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS
[06] TURK: “THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER AMNESTY LAW IN THE FUTURE”
[07] US AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
[08] VERHEUGEN TO EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: “BE REALISTIC AND SPEED UP YOUR WORK”
[09] WESTON CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRIOTS
[10] GENERAL STAFF: “THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR DEATH PENALTY VIEWS”
[11] WOOLSEY: “THE EU WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO ACCEPT TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP BID”
[12] ERDOGAN SIGNALS AKP SUPPORT FOR EU BID
[13] CILLER: “THE STATE WILL NOT COLLAPSE IF ECEVIT GOES”
[14] NGOs: “TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO LOSE FOR EU ACCESSION”
[15] A HOPE FOR HISTORIC ECYAD CASTLE
[16] AIRBUS TO PRODUCE PLANE PARTS IN IZMIR
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[18] NATIONALIST ACTION PARTY’S POLITICAL STANCE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
[19] EURASIA INITIATIVE BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[20] SUMMIT FOR DEEPENING RIFTS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[01] SEZER TO VISIT IRAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran
on June 17-18. Sezer will meet with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in
Tehran. During the meeting, Sezer is expected to ask Khatami to ensure that
no Iranian logistic support goes to PKK terrorists. /Milliyet/
[02] ECEVIT: “I HOPE TO ATTEND THE PRESIDENT’S EU SUMMIT”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who is currently resting and carrying out his
work at his office in Oran, Ankara, replied to reporters’ written questions
yesterday with a written statement through his spokesman, Cem Avci.
Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “My health condition is getting better.
I have my doctors’ great efforts to thank for that.” About tomorrow’s
summit on Turkey’s European Union membership bid chaired by President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer, Ecevit said that he hoped to attend it. Answering a question
about True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller’s recent declaration saying
that she would not attend the summit if he is unable to, Ecevit said that
an evaluation of her stance would be made by the president. Concerning
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s speech at his party’s group meeting
earlier this week, the prime minister said that Bahceli had clearly
specified that elections should be held not before April 2004, their normal
scheduled date. /All Papers/
[03] YILMAZ SPEAKS ON TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
Replying yesterday to Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party
(MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s recent harsh criticisms, Deputy Prime
Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that no
single party or person had an exclusive claim on patriotism. During ANAP’s
Parliament group meeting, Yilmaz gave his views on Turkey’s ongoing EU
membership discussions. “Today, Turkey is closer to EU membership than it
has ever been in all its history,” Yilmaz said. “All our politicians and
political leaders should not only think once but over and over again so as
to prevent Turkey from falling short of this target.” Saying that Turkey
has two guiding compasses to lead its way to the future, Yilmaz added, “If
we don’t waver from the path laid out by these compass, obviously the
Turkish nation will prevail in this struggle. Moreover, Turkey will be able
to build its future on a healthy basis. One of these compasses is the EU
National Programme and the other is the economic programme that Turkey has
been implementing. We have to protect these two programs.” /Sabah/
[04] BAHCELI REPLIES TO YILMAZ
Appearing yesterday at a meeting honoring the Turkish World Women’s
Friendship and Solidarity Organization, Deputy Prime Minister and
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli took the time to
respond to recent criticisms from a fellow coalition leader, Motherland
Party (ANAP) head Mesut Yilmaz. Confronted by a reporter with Yilmaz’s
assertion that one shouldn’t “just think and consider” -- which Yilmaz
implied was Bahceli’s view -- before acting but also “think again,” Bahceli
rejoined that he “always thought twice” before acting. Bahceli also
addressed the joint declaration made this week by 175 non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in support of Turkey European Union membership bid.
“These esteemed NGOs,” he said, “should feel free to announce their views
either individually or jointly. We respect them.”
/Sabah/
[05] KIVRIKOGLU MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu yesterday met with his
Russian counterpart Anatoli Kvasnin and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in
Moscow. Among the major issues discussed during Kivrikoglu’s meetings were
bilateral military and technical cooperation and the recent rapprochement
between Russia and NATO. Resolving to cooperate in the fight against
terrorism, Kivrikoglu and the Russian officials also exchanged views on a
number of organizations which are currently carrying out activities in
Turkey to support militants in Chechnya. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] TURK: “THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER AMNESTY LAW IN THE FUTURE”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Istanbul, Justice Minister
Hikmet Sami Turk said that it would be impossible to enact another amnesty
or conditional release law after the Constitutional Court’s recent
evaluation that the government’s conditional release law was actually an
amnesty. Answering reporters’ questions regarding the amnesty, Turk said,
”This topic is dead for now, since the Constitution specifies that a three-
fifths majority in Parliament would be needed to go forward.” However, Turk
stood behind his earlier assertion that the law was not an amnesty.
/Milliyet/
[07] US AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
United States Special Representative to the United Nations Ambassador John
Negroponte yesterday met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other high-
level officials from the Foreign Ministry. Negroponte discussed a number of
significant issues with Turkish officials such as the threat of
international terrorism, Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Speaking to journalists after his meetings, Negroponte expressed the US’
continued support for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s efforts to help the
peace talks on Cyprus and stressed the necessity for reaching permanent
peace and stability on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] VERHEUGEN TO EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: “BE REALISTIC AND SPEED UP YOUR
WORK”
In an address at a press conference yesterday in Brussels, European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen called on the EU candidate
countries to boost their efforts on administrative and judicial reforms.
Stressing that the candidate countries should speed up their work in order
to be able to fulfill the EU acquis, Verheugen said, “It’s now high time to
be realistic. We are planning to announce the countries which can start
their accession negotiations at the Copenhagen summit to be held at the end
of this year.” /Cumhuriyet/
[09] WESTON CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRIOTS
United States Special Coordinator to Cyprus Tom Weston yesterday criticized
the Greek Cypriot side for its recent purchase of Russian attack
helicopters. Calling the Greek Cypriots’ recent move “a mistake” especially
in the light of the ongoing peace talks, Weston stated that he was planning
to visit countries in the region next week, including Turkey and Greece.
“We still believe that the sides can reach an agreement on some basic
issues by the end of June,” said Weston. “However, no matter what the
results are at that time, the peace talks must continue. The final date for
the issue is December, since the EU is planning to hold a summit on its
enlargement process before that month.” He also argued that one of the
parties in the talks needed to make some concessions since a permanent
solution which would fully please both sides seemed out of reach.
/Cumhuriyet/
[10] GENERAL STAFF: “THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR DEATH PENALTY VIEWS”
The General Staff yesterday announced in a written statement that there had
been no change in its death penalty views, denying recent press reports
that it advocated replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
“There has been no change in the General Staff’s views on the death penalty
as expressed in statements by Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin
Kivrikoglu,” it stated. /Hurriyet/
[11] WOOLSEY: “THE EU WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO ACCEPT TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP BID”
Former CIA Director James Woolsey said yesterday that the European Union
“would have to be crazy” not to accept Turkey’s EU membership. Woolsey
added that EU membership would be beneficial for Turkey’s economy as well
as the Union itself. “The United States had only a limited influence over
the EU, because it also has its own problems with the Union,” he stated.
The EU would be unwise to reject Turkey’s membership bid because it needs
Turkey for economic modernization and trade, the ex-intelligence head
added. Woolsey led to CIA from 1993 to 1995. /Hurriyet/
[12] ERDOGAN SIGNALS AKP SUPPORT FOR EU BID
Speaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Justice and Development
Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan said that the AKP would give support to
Turkey’s European Union membership. Ahead of Friday’s EU government summit,
Erdogan also said that the death penalty should be abolished. “We would
also support if the death penalty issue is opened to signature for a
constitutional amendment,” he added. /Star/
[13] CILLER: “THE STATE WILL NOT COLLAPSE IF ECEVIT GOES”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday characterized the
current government as “an illusion,” adding that if one tried to govern the
country from bed, Turkey would suffer from it. Addressing her party’s
Parliament group meeting, Ciller pointed to assertions that there would be
chaos if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit steps down from his post. She said,
“Turkey didn’t collapse when it lost its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, so
why should it when Ecevit goes?” She remarked that at present, Turkey’s
most important problem was uncertanity. Charging that the government had
put the nation into a dilemma about the European Union and the death
penalty on head of terrorist organization the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, Ciller
claimed that EU accession under the current government was an impossibility,
as there was a “power vacuum” in the country. /Turkiye/
[14] NGOs: “TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO LOSE FOR EU ACCESSION”
A platform formed by 175 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coordinated
by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), released a declaration
yesterday after a meeting in Istanbul saying that Turkey belongs to the
European Union and that the nation has no time to lose in its accession
process. The declaration read by Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities
Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the government
needs now more than ever to take the past and international developments
into consideration and reassess Turkey’s national interests in order to
conclude the country’s struggle to become a full EU member. We ask our
deputies in Parliament to continue to act in consciousness of their
historic responsibility and common sense, the declaration said. /All
papers/
[15] A HOPE FOR HISTORIC ECYAD CASTLE
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said yesterday that
Turkey was hoping to speed up plans to rebuild the Ottoman-era Ecyad Castle
in Saudi Arabia. The historic castle was built in 1782 by the Ottomans to
protect sacred sites for pilgrims in Mecca. Early this year, however, the
Saudi Arabian government had it demolished. Soon thereafter, Turkey
launched new initiatives in league with UN agency UNESCO to help prevent
the destruction of Turkey’s international cultural heritage. /Aksam/
[16] AIRBUS TO PRODUCE PLANE PARTS IN IZMIR
European aircraft production giant Airbus announced yesterday that it would
soon begin manufacturing airplane parts in Izmir. Gunther Schubert, Airbus
marketing director, said this production would be done under a new
industrial partnership agreement within Izmir’s Free Trade Zone. Schubert
also lauded state carrier Turkish Airlines (THY), saying that it had been
one of the first users of Airbus’ A-340 model and that Airbus would give
THY an “excellence in management” award for its administration of the A-
340. Airbus has nearly a 30% market share in Turkey, he added. /Sabah/
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
[18] NATIONALIST ACTION PARTY’S POLITICAL STANCE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the stance of the Nationalist Action Party
(MHP) regarding Turkey’s relations with the EU. A summary of his column is
as follows:
“We won’t have to wait for long to understand if the MHP is pursuing a
sound policy in Turkey’s best interests. Their tendency will come out into
the open in two years at the latest. I don’t believe we will even have to
wait that long. Turks will either be grateful to the MHP or curse the day
it was established. The reason why there will be such a definite and sharp
distinction lies with the MHP itself. Pursuing such a policy is the MHP’s
democratic right. It has a concrete ideology it has to comply with and
hardliner voters it has to retain. That is, the MHP is a completely
different party compared to Ciller’s True Path Party, of which it is
impossible to understood what it is defending. In brief, the MHP has always
been consistent in view of its basic ideals. Today it is clear that the
execution of Ocalan, and the prevention of everything that sounds like
‘rights’ regarding the Kurdish issue, have important places among these
ideals. However, there is one important issue the MHP has to understand.
The logical result of its stance against the EU would come to mean Turkey’s
moving away from the West in stages. The real problem is not Ocalan or the
Kurds. It is the basic principles which require being in the same league
with the West. The MHP itself has turned these issues into ‘Ocalan’ and
‘Kurdish’ problems. The military, which share the same views with the MHP
on these issues, avoids voicing its opinions taking this into
consideration. It has understood that that such an approach will come to
mean Turkey’s moving away from the West. In fact, one doesn’t have to be a
genius to figure out that Turkey needs the West for its defence. If not, we
would not have insisted on NATO that much. Chief of General Staff General
Staf Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu is not saying in vain that EU membership is a
geostrategic necessity for Turkey. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli has explained
the Western values he dislikes the most. Among them are criticisms coming
from the free press, ‘lobbying’ activities carried out by non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) such as the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (TUSIAD), and abolition of the death penalty. Therefore, it is
unnecessary to ask how he views yesterday’s meeting held by a joint
civilian initiative. In fact, there was nothing new in what he said. He
clarified his views supported with angry terms. Even though he has
clarified his party’s views on the issue, Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli
still is not doing one thing. That is, he is not showing any geopolitical
alternatives for Turkey moving away from the West. Parliament Speaker Omer
Izgi, formerly a MHP member, has followed the same approach. He said that
although the EU was only one of the alternatives for Turkey, Turkey was the
only alternative for the EU. However, he did not explain what he thinks
these alternatives are. He didn’t delve into the logic of Turkey’s being
the only alternative to the EU, as these are more slogans which mean
little. Just like the MHP’s slogan that Turkey wants an honorable
partnership with the EU, as if the EU is granted a dishonorable partnership
to anyone. If complying with the ‘sine qua non’ criteria accepted by all
members and candidates to the EU are considered to be dishonorable, the MHP
has to say so. In fact, the MHP is playing a reactive game instead of a
proactive one. While doing so, it is trying to harp on the sounds which
would seem most favorable to a strongly patriotic nation. However, it is
ignoring the point that the most important issue for the country is to
elevate the living standards of the people. The MHP is forgetting that a
country where the living standards are not high, cannot take its place
among ‘equals’ as a global power.”
[19] EURASIA INITIATIVE BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the visits by the president, deputy prime
minister and chief of General Staff to Eurasian countries all taking place
at the same time. A summary of his column is as follows:
“In an interesting coincidence that the visits abroad by Turkish political
and military leaders were all paid to Asian countries. President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer’s talks in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister
Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China and Chief of General Staff Gen.
Kivrikoglu’s going to Russia are showing that the ‘Eurasia dimension’ in
Turkish foreign policy is gaining more importance. These shouldn’t be
viewed as ordinary protocol visits. Turkish diplomats are paying attention
to relations stretching from Russia to China, from the Caucasus to Central
Asia in addition to the primary place given to the US and Europe. It is
clear that the new circumstances in the world play an important role in the
establishment of such an understanding in Turkish foreign policy. When
these three important visits are analyzed, the formation of a multi-
dimensional foreign policy can be seen. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s
visit to Almaty had more than one reason. The first one was to attend the
Asian Cooperation and Security Conference where 16 Asian countries were
represented. This presented Turkey the opportunity to express its views on
terrorism to a broad platform. The other aim of the visit was to hold
bilateral talks with the leaders of regional countries, in particular host
country Kazakhstan. Another important aim was to launch a joint initiative
with Russia to solve the Indian-Pakistani crisis as agreed upon at the Rome
NATO summit. In fact, President Sezer, after talking with Russian President
Putin, met with the Indian and Pakistani presidents and conveyed his
recommendations. Thus, Turkey took its place among the great states trying
to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad. The most important part of
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China was that it covered
the Xinjang Uigur autonomous region. The opening up of a region which has
ethnic and cultural ties with the Turkish nation to a Turkish statesman by
Chinese hosts demonstrate the level which relations and mutual confidence
have reached. China, which has reached an important place in the
international arena not only through its increase in population but also
with its political influence and economic power, has a significant place in
Turkish foreign policy. Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu’s visit to
Moscow took place just after the strengthening of Turkish-Russian
relations. Turco-Russian rapprochement and cooperation in various fields
will be more easily and quickly improved due to the new climate seen in
Rome. This cooperation with now-friendly Russia also covers defense and
security issues. While following these developments in foreign policy with
pleasure, we must note that these initiatives are efforts aimed at adding
new dimensions and therefore cannot be regarded as alternatives. These new
relations should not be seen as strategies which could take the place of
ties with the US or the EU. These ties should be preserved in order for
Turkish diplomacy to attain a regional and global role and influence.”
[20] SUMMIT FOR DEEPENING RIFTS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the political party leaders’ summit
called by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. A summary of his column is as
follows:
“The Political party leaders seem to be more interested in enhancing their
own positions and gaining points from their differences of opinion rather
than developing a joint stand before the leaders’
summit to take place tomorrow at the Presidential Palace. We have to
underline the importance of the step President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has taken
before analyzing the views of the sides. The messages Sezer is trying to
relate to the leaders can be summed up as a common spirit has to be created
for the EU and this spirit should be in line with the civilization target
Ataturk set for us. He will also say that political parties should not use
the steps to be taken towards the EU as a political tool and that first of
all the government has to adopt a common view. Sezer’s efforts to create
such an atmosphere above politics were apparently in vain in light of the
announcements made just a few days before the summit. For the Democratic
Left Party, the only problem is to be represented. Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit is ruling through letters. We all hope that the prime minister gets
well soon and can attend them summit. The Nationalist Action Party’s (MHP)
aim is to express its views clearly and force other parties to pronounce
their own with the same clarity. The MHP hopes to cover the gaps it has
created over the last three years. The MHP, which received votes due to
its promise to hang Ocalan, is betting not on the improvement of history
but on its repeating itself. The Motherland Party (ANAP) has tied its whole
future to the EU issue and it expects other parties to comply with Sezer’s
call. If this happens, it will say that all the other parties have come to
the same line as ANAP. The opposition is trying to deepen the rift in the
government. The military is trying to stay out of this dispute. Only a
government working in harmony can resolve these disputes.”
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