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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-19
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
19.06.2002
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY ADVANCES TO WORLD CUP QUARTERFINALS WITH VICTORY OVER JAPAN
[02] SEZER RETURNS FROM IRANIAN VISIT
[03] ECEVIT SENDS LETTER TO AZNAR
[04] ECEVIT: “I AM EAGER TO RETURN TO OFFICE”
[05] CEM BRIEFS ECEVIT ON FOREIGN POLICY
[06] BAHCELI: “NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR EARLY ELECTIONS”
[07] CILLER: “IF WE CAN’T TACKLE EU ISSUES, WE SHOULD GO TO ELECTIONS”
[08] REUTERS: “EXPERIENCED TURKISH FORCES UNDER GEN. ZORLU READY TO LEAD THE ISAF”
[09] USIAD URGES FOCUS ON PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT
[10] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY CAN’T PASS UP THE CHANCE FOR EU MEMBERSHIP”
[11] SCHOLAR ANALYZES TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS
[12] TOBB: “HIGH INTEREST RATES HURT THE PEOPLE”
[13] WORLD REFUGEES DAY TO BE CELEBRATED IN ISTANBUL
[14] I SOLISTI VENETI AND YOUNG PERFORM IN ISTANBUL
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[16] OPTIMISTIC SCENARIOS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[17] THE FUTURE OF CYPRUS: THE KEY TO EUROPE
BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)
[01] TURKEY ADVANCES TO WORLD CUP QUARTERFINALS WITH VICTORY OVER JAPAN
The Turkish national football team, playing in their first World Cup for 48
years and also making their first appearance in the top 16, advanced
yesterday to the quarterfinals by defeating Japan 1-0 with Umit Davala’s
goal at the 12th minute in a match played at Japan’s Miyagi Stadium. The
Turkish team now heads for Osaka where it will face Senegal in the
quarterfinals on Saturday. Following the victory, Turks throughout the
country poured into the streets and squares to joyfully celebrate the
Turkish team’s triumph. Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Chief of General
Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu and all political party leaders issued
messages celebrating the national team and conveying their best wishes to
coach Senol Gunes and the team’s players. /All Papers/
[02] SEZER RETURNS FROM IRANIAN VISIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday concluded his official visit to Iran
after participating in the Turkish-Iranian Joint Business Council (KEK),
where he learned that Turkey had advanced to the quarterfinals in the World
Cup after beating Japan 1-0. After a farewell ceremony at Tehran’s Sadabat
Palace, Sezer left for Tabriz. After visiting the Turkish Consulate there,
Sezer returned to Turkey, where he told reporters, “We mentioned during our
meetings that the territorial integrity and national unity of Iran should
be protected.” He added, “We also mentioned that we believe that a
Palestinian state should be established.” /Hurriyet/
[03] ECEVIT SENDS LETTER TO AZNAR
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday sent a letter to Spanish Prime
Minister José Maria Aznar. In the letter, Ecevit asks for a clear
perspective on Turkey’s European Union membership bid and also mentioned
Turkey’s expectations from this weekend’s EU summit in Seville and its
transition from candidacy to membership. /Sabah/
[04] ECEVIT: “I AM EAGER TO RETURN TO OFFICE”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that he was getting better and
better every day and that he was impatient to return to his office in the
Prime Ministry. In an interview on news channel NTV, Ecevit spoke on a wide
range of topics. Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “My doctors told me
that depending on how well I take care of myself during my recuperation, I
can return to my duties soon. But I am getting impatient.” Pointing to
positive developments in the Turkish economy, Ecevit said that the economy
was very easily affected by politics. “In many countries presidents or
prime ministers may need to rest due to health problems,” he said. “But
these don’t cause economic crises, they are thought of as a natural
process. However, in Turkey, the public panics easily on economic and
financial topics. There are also circles who exploit this panic.” Stressing
that the death penalty could be lifted without an amendment to the
Constitution, the prime minister stated that it should be lifted before
Parliament’s summer recess. He also said that the True Path Party’s (DYP)
stance regarding the issue was not yet clear. Ecevit added that he expected
the government to serve its full term until elections to be held in 2004.
/Turkiye/
[05] CEM BRIEFS ECEVIT ON FOREIGN POLICY
Foreign Minister and Ismail Cem and several Foreign Ministry officials
yesterday met at Ecevit’s home and gave a briefing on foreign policy. Cem
briefed Ecevit on Cyprus, Turkey’s membership process to the European Union,
and the Middle East and Caucasus issues. /Star/
[06] BAHCELI: “NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR EARLY ELECTIONS”
Speaking yesterday at a panel in Gebze, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet
Bahceli said that now was not the time for early elections and that normal
elections would be held in 2004 as specified in the Constitution. Bahceli
stated that if Turkey were to schedule early elections, work to resolve
political issues and bureaucratic efforts to advance Turkey would be
delayed. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Bahceli also said that if
all the parties in Parliament decided to abolish capital punishment his
party would respect this decision. Bahceli has been outspoken in his
opposition to ending the death penalty, and his disagreement with the other
coalition partners over the issue has sparked rumors of early elections.
/Aksam/
[07] CILLER: “IF WE CAN’T TACKLE EU ISSUES, WE SHOULD GO TO ELECTIONS”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday met with Economic
Development Foundation (IKV) Chairwoman Meral Gezgin Eris at the DYP’s
headquarters in Istanbul. Speaking to reporters, Ciller said that she
talked about Turkey’s EU membership bid with the IKV members and that they
shared the same opinion as her. Turkey should tackle the main EU accession
issues as soon as possible, Ciller remarked. If it is not able to do so,
she added, the country should hold elections under a two-round system both
in order to form a new government and bring stability to both the political
right and left. /Aksam/
[08] REUTERS: “EXPERIENCED TURKISH FORCES UNDER GEN. ZORLU READY TO LEAD
THE ISAF”
In an article marking tomorrow’s command transfer of the International
Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) from Britain to Turkey, British news
agency Reuters praised the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Brigadier Gen.
Akin Zorlu, who will lead the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. The
article written by Ralph Boulton noted how Zorlu was ready to lead the 4,
650-strong ISAF for six months, with backup help from other nations on
communications, airlifting of troops, and financing. Boulton stressed that
Gen. Zorlu’s team has broad foreign experience and training, and that Zorlu
himself is both urbane and communicative, which will help him steer the
mission. /Milliyet/
[09] USIAD URGES FOCUS ON PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT
National Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (USIAD) members
declared yesterday that Turkey’s national production should be boosted and
growth should be ensured so that the nation can solve its economic crisis.
USIAD members stated that the emphasis should be on production, employment,
taxes and exports instead of the stock exchanges and dollar and interest
rates. USIAD’s Second General Consultancy Council, held in Ankara with the
participation of USIAD members and scientists within its consultancy
council, ended yesterday. USIAD General Chairman Kemal Ozden said, “USIAD
is concentrated much more on increasing the general welfare of the country
than its own particular benefits.” /Cumhuriyet/
[10] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY CAN’T PASS UP THE CHANCE FOR EU MEMBERSHIP”
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday
met with Meral Gezgin Eris, chairwoman of the Economic Development
Foundation (IKV). During their meeting, Erdogan pledged that the AKP’s
constructive stance on Turkish-European Union relations would continue.
“The political parties and non-governmental organizations [NGO] should
cooperate with the nation to achieve Turkey’s EU membership,” he remarked.
“Turkey can’t pass up this chance.” He added that the nation’s leadership
should make a decision soon and take steps towards this aim. /Sabah/
[11] SCHOLAR ANALYZES TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS
Tufts University Political Science Professor Malik Mufti said yesterday
that after Syrian support for the terrorist organization PKK had ended,
Turkish-Syrian relations had improved considerably. Mufti made the comments
in a speech at a conference on “Turkish-Syrian Rapprochement: Reasons and
Results” organized by The Washington Institute. He emphasized that Turkey
and Syria had seemed at the brink of war only four years ago, but since
then had succeeded to a great extent in bettering their bilateral
relations. Mufti added that Turkey’s policies towards the Middle East
didn’t favor Israel, but were in fact balanced, but added that if there was
a military intervention against Iraq, it would be hard for Turkey to
maintain a balanced approach towards all parties in the region. Mufti also
emphasized the importance of giving permission to people to exchange
greetings on the occasion of religious holidays on the border, clearing
landmines, increasing bilateral commerce and establishing a military
training agreement between the two countries this year. Mufti added that he
did not believe the status of Turkey’s Hatay region was a problem for the
two countries anymore. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] TOBB: “HIGH INTEREST RATES HURT THE PEOPLE”
Turkish Union of Chambers’ and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat
Hisarciklioglu met yesterday with former President Suleyman Demirel.
Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that they
had reached an agreement with the Spanish Chambers’ Union this April for
their lobbying in favor of Turkey’s European Union membership.
Hisarciklioglu remarked that skyrocketing interest rates were also causing
increases in costs and prices. He added, “Interest rates jumping from about
50% to 70% is greatly worrying, and Turkey’s 65 million people will foot
the bill.” /Milliyet/
[13] WORLD REFUGEES DAY TO BE CELEBRATED IN ISTANBUL
June 20, World’s Refugees Day, will be celebrated with activities to be
held at Istanbul Bilgi University’s campus in Dolapdere by the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). During the activities that will begin
with speeches by Prof. Ayse Leyla Duruiz and UNHCR Representative to Turkey
Mirza Huseyin Han, Nazim Hikmet’s “poems of longing” will be read and 10
refugee children will stage a play entitled “Ah Su Genclik” (Oh, Youth).
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] I SOLISTI VENETI AND YOUNG PERFORM IN ISTANBUL
The I Solisti Veneti orchestra and Young Soloists will perform at the 30th
International Music Festival in Istanbul today. I Solisti Veneti, one of
the best orchestras both in Italy and worldwide, will stage a concert at
the Hagia Eirene Church. The other featured performers, the Young Soloists,
will entertain music lovers at the Is Sanat Concert Hall. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[16] OPTIMISTIC SCENARIOS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the negotiations for a solution to the
Cyprus problem. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Many ‘pessimistic scenarios’ regarding negative developments that could
happen even if no solution is reached on the Cyprus problem in the next few
days and weeks have been making the rounds. These scenarios indeed were a
cause of concern and quite disturbing. We hope that the ongoing
negotiations between Denktas and Clerides lead to an agreement as soon as
possible and that these disaster scenarios are forgotten. We would like to
dwell on the positive results of an agreement for a change and discuss an
optimistic scenario. In fact, such a ‘happy ending’ should have an
encouraging influence on both sides in reaching an agreement by showing
mutual understanding. A happy ending scenario would be to the benefit of
both Greek and Turkish Cypriots in addition to Turkey and Greece.
Furthermore, this would also be in the interests of the EU, which seems to
already be a party to the issue. In diplomacy this is called a ‘win-win’
situation. TRNC Presidency Counsel Ergun Olgun made a presentation at a
conference held in Brussels recently, clearly explaining the benefits of a
‘win-win’ situation. The benefit of the Greek Cypriots will be seen in the
fields of security, stability and the economy. Greek Cypriots will be able
to live in peace and security with their Turkish neighbors. The problems
they are complaining about such as territory, property and missing persons
will be all left behind. The Island will be able to enter the EU in its
entirety and can play a more influential role in the region. Turkish
Cypriots can enter into joint ventures with their Greek neighbors on an
equal footing and can avail themselves of the island’s resources and
potential in full and elevate their standards of living. In such an
optimistic scenario, Turkey and Greece will be able to cooperate more
closely and the EU can go along with its enlargement policy as it pleases.
In brief, when all these advantages and profits are taken into account, it
is seen that there are enormous benefits in solving this issue which has
been dragging on for years. However, in spite of the pressures regarding a
deadline, such as the end of June, there has been no tangible progress. The
‘face-to-face’ talks in Lefkosha seem to locked on same basic
disagreements. The disputes emerging on the ‘security’ issue taken up
during the recent meetings were not eliminated. On every specific issue,
the basic views seem to rule the talks. For the Turkish side this basic
view focuses on the right to ‘equal status’ and ‘sovereignty.’ The Greek
side believes these rights would violate the unitary nature of the state
and Cypriot territorial integrity. It is ready to grant broad autonomy
within a federal structure with the condition that the central system be
maintained. Cannot a midway point be found between these two differing
opinions? Recently, the UN, the US, Britain and international mechanisms
have been trying their best to find such a midway for the problem. The
words of experienced British diplomat Lord David Hannay on a Turkish state
in the north and a Greek Cypriot state in the south, with a different
structure than the one before which could bear another name, were enough
for the Greek Cypriot administration and the press to launch a campaign
against the British special envoy. It seems that the Clerides
administration wants to drag on the old structure by patching it up here
and there.”
[17] THE FUTURE OF CYPRUS: THE KEY TO EUROPE
BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on the Cyprus issue and its being the key to
Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Regarding the Cyprus issue and the TRNC, the belief in the international
arena that the Turkish side doesn’t want a solution seems to be taking
hold. The number of those in Turkey who are in favor of a solution and
therefore are willing to be more giving cannot be disregarded. This
increases the pressure on Turkey rather than the TRNC. However, leaving
aside all these pressures, the ticking of the EU clock for the Greek
Cypriot side brings forth the impasse of their admittance to the EU with or
without a solution to the problem. In such a case, the division on the
island would be formalized. Can Turkey stand the results to follow? No
promising news comes from the face-to-face talks in Cyprus. If there is no
change in the atmosphere of these talks in the future, progress doesn’t
seem to be possible. This means that Cyprus, which was regarded as an issue
between Turkey and Greece up to now, will thenceforth be considered a
problem between Turkey and the EU. In other words, Turkey will not be
admitted into the EU unless the Cyprus problem is solved. It seems
impossible for the government to make a decision on Cyprus in this
political structure. In a clever maneuver, Greece turned the Cyprus issue
into an EU problem. The EU is continuing with the process of Greek Cypriot
admittance into the Union. At present the US is also supporting the Greek
Cypriot argument. However, it is not known what will happen in case of an
impasse.... If no result comes out of the talks until the end of October,
and the EU decides to begin full membership negotiations with the Greek
Cypriots, Turkey’s relations with the EU will weaken. If our integration
process with the TRNC begins, the relations between Turkey and the EU will
take years to repair. The month of October is drawing near.”
ARCHIVE
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