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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-07
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
07.06.2002
CONTENTS
[01] LEADERS’ EU SUMMIT TO BE HELD
[02] CILLER MAY NOT ATTEND GOVERNMENT EU SUMMIT
[03] RAHSAN ECEVIT: “ECEVIT WILL STEP DOWN ONLY
WHEN THE TIME COMES”
[04] ERIS: “TURKEY SHOULD INTEGRATE INTO THE EU”
[05] VERHEUGEN: “TURKEY IS UNDERGOING A GREAT
CHANGE”
[06] TUSIAD: “THE EU OPPORTUNITY SHOULDN’T BE
MISSED”
[07] BRITISH OFFICIAL DOWNPLAYS JUNE DEADLINE FOR
CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
[08] NATO MEETING SEEKS TO BOLSTER, REDEFINE
ALLIANCE
[09] CHHIBBER: “WE WILL PROVIDE TURKEY WITH THE
NECESSARY RESOURCES”
[10] YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
[11] DAWSON: “THE IMF’S TURKEY MEETING WILL BE
HELD TWO WEEKS FROM NOW”
[12] YILMAZ TO VISIT SPAIN NEXT WEEK
[13] CYCLISTS’ FRIENDSHIP TOUR TO END IN ISTANBUL
TODAY
[14] BRITISH INDUSTRY MINISTER: “LONG-TERM
BENEFITS WILL JUSTIFY TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION PROCESS”
[15] ALPTURK: “TURK TELEKOM WANTS TO EXPAND
ABROAD”
[16] FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
SIGNED
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE
COLUMNS
[18] EYES ON THE SUMMIT BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
[19] KURDS IN TURKEY BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
[20] WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE SUMMIT BY DERYA
SAZAK (MILLIYET)
[01] LEADERS’ EU SUMMIT TO BE HELD
The leaders of the six political parties represented in
Parliament will convene today in a meeting at 11:00 a.m.
chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Cankaya
Presidential Palace. Following Sezer’s opening speech,
Secretary-General for the European Union Affairs Volkan Vural
will brief the meeting on Turkey’s EU membership process. Then
the leaders are expected to express their views in statements
lasting 20 minutes apiece and according to the discussions, a
second go-around could be held. Meanwhile, the question of
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s attendance at the meeting will
be made clear some time after his daily check-up with his
doctors to be held at 9:00 a.m. If Ecevit is unable to attend
the meeting, the opposition parties are reportedly expected to
increase their calls for the government to resign. /All Papers/
[02] CILLER MAY NOT ATTEND GOVERNMENT EU SUMMIT
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller signalled
yesterday that she might not attend the EU summit if the state
of Turkey’s government case is not addressed at the meeting,
even if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attends it. Previously,
Ciller had pledged her absence if Ecevit was absent as well.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament yesterday, Ciller
said that Turkey’s most important issue was a power vacuum in
the government and prime ministry. Calling on President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer to include the government issue on the meeting’s
agenda, Ciller said that the important thing was not who
attends the meeting but which topics would be discussed there.
Ciller also claimed that if the prime minister and the main
opposition party leader -- meaning herself -- don’t attend the
meeting, the end of the current government would be hastened.
Meanwhile, the meeting’s chair President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
reportedly said that he would not allow topics other than
Turkey’s European Union membership bid, such as the prime
minister’s health and the alleged power vacuum, to be
discussed at the meeting. /All Papers/
[03] RAHSAN ECEVIT: “ECEVIT WILL STEP DOWN ONLY
WHEN THE TIME COMES”
A second group of Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies
yesterday visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s wife and DSP
Deputy Chairwoman Rahsan Ecevit in Oran, Ankara. Conveying her
husband’s message to the deputies that he was fine, Rahsan
Ecevit complained about unfair media coverage against her and
the prime minister. “There are attacks on our party from all
sides,” she said. “Those carrying out these attacks, are
trying to bring forward certain people as candidates for DSP
leadership. Ecevit, of course, will step down from his post
one day as everybody does, however, now is not the time to do
so.” /Turkiye/
[04] ERIS: “TURKEY SHOULD INTEGRATE INTO THE EU”
Economic Development Foundation Chairwoman Meral Gezgin
Eris said yesterday that Turkey’s integration into the
European Union was inevitable. Stressing that Turkish business
organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
supported Turkey’s EU membership bid, Eris said, “We support
this membership, as it meets our desire of a country which is
democratic, modern, transparent, secular and under the rule of
law, along with a strong and stable economy and prosperity.”
Pointing to Turkey’s richness in many fields, Eris claimed
that Turkey itself would also highly contribute to the Union
with its economic, political, social and cultural richnesses.
/Turkiye/.
[05] VERHEUGEN: “TURKEY IS UNDERGOING A GREAT
CHANGE”
Speaking at a seminar in Brussels yesterday, European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that
Turkey was undergoing a process of change that the decisions
at last week’s National Security Council (MGK) meeting were
pleasing. Verheugen also stated that the EU would like
Turkey’s accession reports to be carried out and new, concrete
important steps to be taken in the near future. Verheugen
remarked that the EU was only “biding time and observing”
Turkey and couldn’t do a comprehensive analysis at the moment
but that any step the nation takes for membership would pave
the way for negotiations. /Aksam/
[06] TUSIAD: “THE EU OPPORTUNITY SHOULDN’T BE
MISSED”
Turkish Industrialists’ and Bussinessmen’s Association (TUSIAD)
Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said yesterday that the group was in
favor of Turkey’s EU membership, calling it an “opportunity
that shouldn’t be missed,” and added that the group didn’t
need anybody’s permission to speak its mind. After having
breakfast with newspaper columnists, TUSIAD members briefed
the reporters on the EU issue and extolled the benefits of
Turkey’s accession. At the breakfast, Ozilhan evaluated the
reports on accession prepared by of Prof. Asaf Savas Akat and
Dr. Haluk Tukel. He stressed that TUSIAD had expressed its
opinions on the EU bid by submitting the reports to Deputy
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. He added that
they also proposed concrete solutions to such issues as
abolition of the death penalty and education and broadcasting
in mother tongue languages. /Aksam/
[07] BRITISH OFFICIAL DOWNPLAYS JUNE DEADLINE FOR
CYPRUS SETTLEMENT
Diplomatic traffic concerning the Cyprus issue has recently
stepped up as the European Union’s Copenhagen summit scheduled
to be held on December looms on the horizon. Britain’s Special
Representative to Cyprus David Hannay yesterday met with
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. In the wake of a recent statement
by United States Special Representative to Cyprus Tom Weston
stressing that peace talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots
could continue until December, Hannay also refrained from
putting forward a June deadline for the talks, which has
increased hopes for a permanent solution on the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] NATO MEETING SEEKS TO BOLSTER, REDEFINE
ALLIANCE
NATO country defense ministers gathering at alliance’s
Brussels headquarters yesterday started their regular meeting.
A declaration was released at the end of first round, at which
Turkey was represented by Defense Minister Sabahattin
Cakmakoglu. The declaration stated that NATO was still
continuing basic mission of contributing to European-Atlantic
security and that the alliance would work to provide stability
and peace in the Balkans. The declaration also said that NATO
countries should spend more on their military forces to ensure
the alliance remains relevant to new security threats in post-Sept.
11 world. Also at the meeting, the NATO defense ministers met
with defense ministers of countries which are cooperating with
the alliance. /Aksam/
[09] CHHIBBER: “WE WILL PROVIDE TURKEY WITH THE
NECESSARY RESOURCES”
World Bank’s Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber yesterday stated
that the Bank was currently working on determining the exact
amount of the financial aid to be delivered to Turkey. The
World Bank is planning to deliver new loans to Turkey for the
financial restructuring reforms known widely as the Istanbul
Approach. “We will meet all of Turkey’s financial requirements
needed for the implementation of the Istanbul Approach,” said
Chhibber. Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund Turkey
Representative Odd Per Brekk yesterday remarked that Turkey
had recently achieved great progress with its economic
program. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
The Junior Chamber International (JCI), better known as the
Jaycees, a worldwide federation of young professionals and
entrepreneurs, is to hold its annual European Conference in
Istanbul this year. The conference is scheduled to take place
on June 12-15. JCI European Conference Director Riza Kadilar
yesterday stated that the group hoped to bring together
Turkish and European entrepreneurs in order to increase the
opportunities for developing joint ventures. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] DAWSON: “THE IMF’S TURKEY MEETING WILL BE
HELD TWO WEEKS FROM NOW”
International Monetary Fund External Affairs Director Tom
Dawson yesterday stated that the IMF Board of Executive
Directors was to hold a meeting two weeks from now to discuss
the next tranche of loans to be delivered to Turkey. “We hope
that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will get better soon,” said
Dawson. “Speculations on the future of the Turkish government
aren’t a subject of concern. The Fund is interested in how the
economic program is going and we believe that it’s going well.”
He added that the Turkish economy was stronger than it seemed.
/Star/
[12] YILMAZ TO VISIT SPAIN NEXT WEEK
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is set to travel to
Madrid, next Tuesday in order to meet with his Spanish
counterpart Jose Maria Aznar to discuss the issue of Turkish-European
Union relations. Spain holds the rotating EU term presidency
through the end of this month. /Aksam/
[13] CYCLISTS’ FRIENDSHIP TOUR TO END IN ISTANBUL
TODAY
A two-country tour by 21 young Turkish and Greek bicyclists
organized by students of the Istanbul Boys’ High School
Foundation will end today in Istanbul. The young bicyclists
reached Tekirdag two days ago and after attending the 38th
Cherry Festival in Tekirdag, they reached Istanbul last night.
Their cross-country trek, which started in Ataturk’s house in
Thessalonica to promote bilateral friendship, will end today
in a ceremony to begin at 9:15 a.m. at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce
Palace, where the Republic’s founder died. /Milliyet/
[14] BRITISH INDUSTRY MINISTER: “LONG-TERM
BENEFITS WILL JUSTIFY TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION PROCESS”
British Industry and Energy Minister Brian Wilson said
yesterday that his country supported Turkey’s European Union
membership but that Turkey should work to meet the necessary
conditions. Speaking at a British-Turkish Energy
Liberalization Seminar, Wilson said that he could see Turkey’s
determination to implement the economic program. “I’m saying
these things in the light of Britain’s own experience,” he
added. “The process might be trying. However, a more fruitful
and productive market economy will be created and therefore
the long-term benefits make it worth it. The changes will
affect Turkey’s candidacy in a positive way.” Stating that
British energy companies were investing in Turkey, Wilson
added that those companies wanted to see confidence, not
uncertainty. /Milliyet/
[15] ALPTURK: “TURK TELEKOM WANTS TO EXPAND
ABROAD”
Reiterating that Turk Telekom would bid jointly with Koc
Information Group on stakes in the state Bulgarian Telecom
Company, Turk Telekom Director General Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk
said yesterday that the state landline monopoly would be
interested in the telecom companies of other countries. “We
want to bring our experience to the international arena,” he
added. “We don’t have any limitation on countries. We will be
interested in the telecom of every country that’s put up for
sale. The partnerships that Turk Telekom will establish abroad
will positively affect its own privatization and contribute to
its own value.” /Milliyet/
[16] FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
SIGNED
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK)
yesterday approved the Financial Restructuring Framework
Agreement, better known as the Istanbul Approach, and
announced the list of banks and financial institutions that
signed onto the agreement. A total of 39 banks and financial
institutions signed the Approach as prepared by the Turkish
Banking Association. The BDDK announced that after the pact
was approved, negotiations between the creditors and debtors
would begin. It further stated that the financial
restructuring contracts would be signed with the indebted
parties, whose situations will be considered on a case-by-case
basis. /Milliyet/
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE
COLUMNS
[18] EYES ON THE SUMMIT BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on the leaders’ summit to
take place at the Presidential Palace today. A summary of his
column is as follows:
“If sovereignty is unconditionally vested in the people,
the Parliament has to pave the road to the EU. There are
enough votes in the TGNA to reach the target a great majority
of the people is supporting. The gathering of the party
leaders by President Sezer aims to underline this fact. Our
time to be prepared to begin accession negotiations with the
EU has grown short. The obstacles to abolition of the death
penalty and to broadcasting in Kurdish have to be lifted this
month since the Parliament will enter summer recess in July.
There don’t seem to be any parties opposing the steps which
will pave the way to the EU, with the notable exception of the
Nationalistic Action Party (MHP). Can the MHP try to impose
the views of the minority by threatening to break the
coalition? This would indeed carry great risks for MHP leader
Bahceli because the move towards the EU is more important for
Turkey than the continuation of this government. The MHP wants
to enter the elections as the party resisting abolition of the
death penalty because of Ocalan and as a partner in a
government which has reached a calendar to begin accession
negotiations. The True Path Party (DYP) wants to exploit the
illness of the prime minister and the discord created by the
MHP to bring this government down and take a place in a new
government to be formed. The leader of the DYP wanted the
issue of the government to be discussed during today’s summit,
however she is mistaken in the address where the issue should
be debated. The correct place to discuss the government is the
Parliament. Ciller added that it would not be acceptable if
the prime minister did not attend the summit and that even if
he did, it would not mean that the weakness in the coalition
had ended. This primitive, irresponsible policy aimed at
distorting a summit meeting relating to the future of Turkey
has once more demonstrated to the people that the DYP leader
is not going to mend her ways. This experience shows the fact
that unless the Election and Political Parties’ laws are
amended, nothing will change easily in Turkey.”
[19] KURDS IN TURKEY BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Taha Akyol writes on the integration of Kurds
into Turkish society. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The owner of a restaurant in Turkey recognized me as a
journalist and after I questioned him said that he was a Kurd
and everyone accepted him as he was. He added that his
restaurant was full, business was booming and he did not feel
he was treated any different than any other citizens. However,
when he heard to politicians scorning Kurdish or considering
it as a means for separation, he was furious. He also said
that he was opposed to separatism, as it would lead to a
disaster for everyone involved. He knew Kurdish well but spoke
Turkish from dawn to dusk willingly. He was continuing talks
with a big firm which had a chain of markets and he intended
to establish a chain of restaurants in certain large cities
starting with Istanbul and in Turkic-speaking republics. As
demonstrated in Prof. Umit Ozdag’s study ‘Cultural Structure
and the Cultural Identity Problem’, during the internal
immigration process first radicalism increases in slum areas
but it later gives way to integration. As social relations
with the environment grow, Turkish is increasingly used. For
those who are pleased with their jobs, integration is an easy
process. One Kurdish intellectual, the late Orhan Kotan, had
said that 60% of the Kurds lived to the west of the Euphrates
and would not return. He also stated that there was no longer
a ‘Kurdistan’ region in Turkey. In the magazine ‘Realite,’
published both in Turkish and Kurdish, and in symposiums in
Europe, it was pointed out that the structure of the
population had passed through a radical change. ‘The
integration into society has reached such dimensions that for
Kurds living in Turkey, the idea of a separate country is not
realistic any more... This problem cannot be solved by drawing
up new frontiers, dividing thousands of people and creating
geographic prisons.’ In Turkey ethnic differences are getting
more distinct and speedy social integration is being
experienced. In addition to the historic intermingling, 4
million people have immigrated from eastern or southeastern
provinces to western provinces and entered a short- or long-term
integration process. The entrepreneurial middle class forming
the basis of unity in countries where ethnic and economic
differences are seen is growing. The restaurant owner in
Ankara, and the partners of Koc and Sabanci in Van, are
examples of this class. The economic dynamism will expedite
this mingling between cultures. That is why I support Turkey’s
EU membership bid. No one should undermine the summit using
the prime minister’s illness as an excuse.”
[20] WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE SUMMIT BY DERYA
SAZAK (MILLIYET)
Columnist Derya Sazak writes on the expectations of the
public from the leaders’ summit to take place in Cankaya. A
summary of his column is as follows:
“Today the Cankaya Presidential Palace is hosting the
political party leaders’ summit. The leaders called together
by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will discuss the last steps to
be taken on the road to Turkey’s EU membership bid at the
Parliament. The voice of civil society heard before the summit
holds promise for the future. The joint declaration by 175 non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) sent the message that we must make haste
to join the EU. “Turkey is now closer to the EU goal than it
has ever been. At the European Union summit to be held at the
end of the year, either a date for accession negotiations with
Turkey will be set or our membership bid will be postponed
indefinitely. Turkey’s place is in the EU. We have no time to
lose.’ The declaration was signed by people representing every
sector of society, and they said that as individuals they saw
the future of the Turkish people in the EU. One deputy, former
head of the Turkish Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’
Union (DISK) Ridvan Budak, yesterday stated in Parliament that
the ‘European social model’ which forms the basis of the EU,
had become an indication of prosperity in addition to being a
standard for democracy. He gave the examples of Spain, Greece
and Portugal, which quickly advanced after they became EU
members. The EU is a project for the future in all respects.
We have to force Brussels to take Turkey, which defended the
West for 40 years as a wing country of NATO, into the
expanding Europe after Romania, Bulgaria and even Russia.
However, we have to see that the road to Brussels passes
through Ankara. That is why today’s summit is so important.
There is no need to pass the ball to the EU by saying that it
will not accept Turkey anyhow. It is not clear what the
leaders will say during the summit. Ciller is trying to use
the prime minister’s illness as an excuse and Bahceli is
working to make Ocalan a campaign issue. We hope that Cankaya
summit will not be a stage for narrow- minded calculations. A
compromise on the EU issue is also important for the
continuance of the government. The ANAP and the MHP are
voicing diverging opinions. The public is waiting for new
legal arrangements which will ensure the working of the
Parliament in June. There is no time to lose!”
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