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Turkish Press Review, 02-07-12Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> </map> <map name="FPMap1"></map> Press & Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning12.07.2002FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ELECTIONS BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET) A GAIN FOR POLITICS, BUT A LOSS FOR DIPLOMACY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET) THE EU MUST INCLUDE KADEK IN ITS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS’ LIST BY ISMET GIRITLI (TURKIYE)CONTENTS
[01] CEM RESIGNS FROM DSPForeign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and his Cabinet post. Resignations from the senior coalition partner DSP continued yesterday. With these defections, the number of DSP deputies’ resignations from their party officially reached 41, including seven ministers, and the number of the party deputies in Parliament fell to 87. /Hurriyet/[02] DERVIS WITHDRAWS HIS RESIGNATIONState Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis yesterday resigned from his position on the Cabinet, but then, upon the request of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, withdrew his resignation. Dervis reportedly made his decision to resign after a 20-minute meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit around noon yesterday upon the premier’s request. Following Foreign Minister Cem’s handing in his resignation, Dervis sent a petition to Prime Minister regarding his own resignation. However, when the president learnt about the matter, Sezer called Dervis and requested that he withdraw his resignation, saying that Turkey needs him in a critical period for the economy. In a written statement issued last evening, Dervis said that he had withdrawn his resignation. Meanwhile, Cem is expected to hold a press conference this morning to tell his reasons for resigning and plans for the future. /Turkiye/[03] YILMAZ: “ANAP WILL DO ITS BEST DURING THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD”Speaking to reporters yesterday before his departure to Brussels to attend a meeting of the Convention for Europe’s Future, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz stated that Turkey was going through a time of political crisis, but that ANAP was doing its best to protect Turkey’s interests. Yilmaz also said that he would meet with the leaders of political parties next month in order to recall the Parliament for an extraordinary session to discuss laws concerning the European Union. /Star/[04] BAHCELI MEETS WITH SUPREME BOARD OF ELECTIONS CHAIRMANNationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday met with Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) Chairman Tufan Algan. At the meeting, Bahceli said that his party wanted early elections to be held in November but Algan stated, “We need more time for the renewal of voter registrations, and it would be difficult to be ready for elections by November.” Bahceli stated that the YSK’s needs such as a budget of TL 35 billion and infrastructure services for early elections would be provided. Algan said, “Two months before the elections would not be enough time to get ready for them.” /Milliyet/[05] POLITICAL TURMOIL FELT IN TURKEY’S FOREIGN RELATIONSDue to the recent wave of resignations and defections from within one of the senior coalition partners, the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Turkey has lurched into further political turmoil which could hurt the country’s foreign relations. After Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stepped down on Thursday morning, State Economy Minister Kemal Dervis yesterday submitted his resignation but later withdrew it upon the request of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. European Union Commission Chairman Romano Prodi has postponed his visit to Turkey scheduled for next Thursday, fearful that the political gap opened by Cem’s resignation could not be filled. Another senior figure in the EU, Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, has also delayed a scheduled visit to the country. According to a statement from the EU Commission, the determination to put off the visits were made with the joint decision of both Turkey and the EU, noting that new dates would be determined as soon as is possible. “Prodi is closely watching the latest developments in Turkey,” said the statement. “He has already conveyed his belief to Turkish officials that despite the recent political uncertainty, the Turkish government would continue its reforms without making any concessions from the country’s targets regarding its relations with the EU.” In addition, United States Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz is reportedly considering delaying his three-day visit to Turkey scheduled to begin next Monday. /Cumhuriyet/[06] KAHKONEN MEETS WITH DERVISInternational Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen yesterday met with State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis and Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak. Kahkonen said that the current political uncertainty was an internal Turkish problem and that the IMF would not intervene in internal affairs. “The IMF will not deviate from the economic program,” Kahkonen added. /Sabah/[07] US UNDERSECRETARY TAYLOR: “TURKISH REFORMS ARE GOING WELL”US Undersecretary for International Relations John Taylor said yesterday that the Turkish economy was getting better thanks to the government’s efforts for reforms. Stating that the nation’s real economy was recovering, Taylor said that the reform implemented by State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis with great political support were working well. “Turkish finance markets are currently in a state of instability,” he added. “This is due to worries that the crisis which began with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s illness and continued with resignations from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) could endanger Turkey’s $16 billion International Monetary Fund [IMF] program. However, the reforms started by Dervis, who used to work for the World Bank, are fundamentally sound policies. I cannot promise a soft landing from this period, since one cannot discount the effects of political instability. But you should remember that your reforms are good policies, and that they are going well.” /Aksam/[08] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “WE ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY”United States State Department Spokesman Phil Reeker yesterday stated that the US government was closely following recent political developments in Turkey. “Turkey is one of the most important allies of the US as well as the only Muslim country within NATO,” he said. “That’s why we place great importance on Turkey’s domestic politics.” Remarking that the Turkish government had enjoyed success in implementing its economic program, Reeker added, “We expect Turkey to keep its commitment to the economic program. The US will keep an eye on Turkey since we place a high premium on our relations with Turkey.” /Cumhuriyet/[09] OZILHAN: “ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD TO END POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY”Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan yesterday met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Ozilhan said that he had told Ecevit about his worries on issues such as Turkey’s European Union accession process and the current economic program. “Elections should be held to end the political uncertainty,” he said. “If there is a need for early elections a date should be decided as soon as possible, otherwise the economy will be damaged.” He also stated that Ecevit hadn’t specified a date for elections. /Milliyet/[10] TURKEY ENTERS INTO ADVANCED WARPLANE PROJECT WITH THE USA signing ceremony at the Pentagon yesterday marked the beginning of Turkey’s official participation in the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSP) project, under which the “warplane of the future” is to be developed. Defense Industry Undersecretary Dursun Ali Ercan signed on the behalf of Turkey, and Peter Aldridge, US deputy defense secretary, signed on behalf of his government. Speaking at the ceremony, Aldridge said, “This is a great day in terms of both Turkish-US relations and the JSF program. Today Turkey begins its participation in the project’s stage of third-level system development and demonstration.” Among the countries which are at the same level of partnership as Turkey are Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Italy. /Aksam/[11] INVESTMENT CONSULTATION COUNCIL MEETING CANCELLEDAn investment Consultation Council Meeting which was scheduled to be held in Istanbul next Thursday, one that carries great importance for foreign investors in Turkey, has been cancelled due to recent domestic political developments. The meeting was organized on the initiative of World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, while International Monetary Fund Executive Board Director Horst Kohler and the heads of large international companies were invited to attend. /Turkiye/[12] EUROPEAN TEXTILE GROUP ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BIDAn important European clothing and textile group took a firm stand yesterday in favor of Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Filiep Libeert, chairman of the European Apparel and Textile Organization (Euratex), announced the group’s support at a press conference in Istanbul. Libeert, who is in Turkey as a guest of domestic professional groups, said that the Turkish textile and ready-wear clothes industries were important for Euratex and the 15 EU members, all of which are represented in the group. A letter this month from Euratex to the EU Commission asked that Turkey’s EU bid be expedited, he said. “Everybody within Euratex stands fully behind Turkey on this issue,” Libeert added. “We favor Turkey’s EU membership in the shortest time possible. We’re ready to do whatever we can towards this end. We want you to join us.” /Aksam/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[14] POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ELECTIONS BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Sedat Ergin writes about the causes of the political problems in Turkey and discusses possible solutions. A summary of his column is as follows:“We can compare the unbelievable speed of political developments over the last few days to an earthquake, and the event that triggered this political earthquake was Prime Minister Ecevit’s decision to ask Husamettin Ozkan to resign. This was followed by a proposal by MHP leader Devlet Bahceli to hold early elections on Nov. 3. Then came Ozkan and his allies’ resignation from the Democratic Left Party (DSP). The latest shock was the decision made by Ismail Cem and Kemal Dervis to resign and work with Ozkan. The only way to put an end to these earthquakes is to hold early elections. If we want things to settle then we have to accept that elections are now a must that can no longer be postponed. But the most important question is: Under what government are the elections going to be held? Judging by the latest events, it looks as if the current government is not going to stay in power for very much longer. So one solution to this problem could be to form an election government in which all parties are represented. In the short term this political earthquake is bound to have negative effects. At first glance it seems that it’s the prime minister’s health problems that started all this, but behind this apparent cause lie years of corruption that have dominated Turkish politics. So, we can safely say that the day of elections is going to be a good day for Turkish politics.” [15] A GAIN FOR POLITICS, BUT A LOSS FOR DIPLOMACY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent political developments in Turkey concerning Foreign Minister Ismail Cem’s resignation and its possible repercussions on Turkish foreign policy. A summary of his column is as follows:“Foreign Minister Ismal Cem’s resignation from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and his cabinet post may be a gain for Turkish political life, but without doubt it is a loss for Turkish diplomacy. Throughout his five-year term at the helm of Turkish foreign policy, Cem has racked up some major achievements. The most important of these accomplishments was of course the close relations between Athens and Ankara forged by Cem and his Greek colleague George Papandreou. As the architect of our policy of integration with the EU, Cem has put on a great performance in his direct talks with leading European figures. And trailblazing a new perspective in Turkish foreign policy, Cem worked to establish strong ties with a host of countries in regions ranging from Asia to sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Surely, Ismail Cem was Turkey’s most prominent foreign minister in the recent decades. Unfortunately the timing of the political turmoil and the subsequent resignations coincided with a critical period in which vital decisions and strategic measures needed to be taken in foreign policy. Cem’s resignation was the last straw. Now Turkey’s future positions on such vital questions as Cyprus, a possible military attack on Iraq and relations with the EU are not only question marks, but also major sources of unease in the foreign quarters. The bulk of this distress is centered on the idea that if the existing government headed by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit continues to serve in power, the expected ‘positive steps’ on the EU and Cyprus issues lie in grave doubt.” [16] THE EU MUST INCLUDE KADEK IN ITS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS’ LIST BY ISMET GIRITLI (TURKIYE)Columnist Ismet Giritli writes on the PKK terrorist organization’s change of name into becoming KADEK. A summary of his column is as follows:“We know that the EU Permanent Representatives Council (COREPER) included the PKK and DHKP-C terrorist organizations in its new terrorist organizations list and that this decision was entered in the records of the EU and went into force. However, it is also widely known that the PKK changed its name a short while ago to the ‘Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress’ (KADEK) and has annulled its old name. This means that as the PKK has turned into KADEK, the members of this organization will freely travel under the banner of KADEK in Europe and do whatever they like. In fact, it can be recalled that as soon as it was declared that the PKK would be added to the European Union’s terrorist organizations list, KADEK, the extension of the old organization threatened the EU, the US and Turkey in a declaration signed by Osman Ocalan, the brother of convicted terrorist Abdullah Ocalan. In this declaration, KADEK said that the EU, Turkey and US were playing a very dangerous game. They had to stop it, he said, as it was forcing KADEK to a war. The world would regret such a decision in the face of their determined reaction. In addition to this declaration Osman Ocalan characterized the inclusion of KADEK terrorists into the EU list as a declaration of war against Kurds. Taken together, what all these expressions demonstrate is that the new PKK under its new name KADEK is a terrorist organization threatening to use terrorism not only against Turkey but also against the EU and the US. Therefore Turkish diplomacy must continue its efforts to reach its goal of including KADEK into the EU terrorist organizations list as they did the PKK. If Turkey continues its efforts and energetic stand on the issue, it won’t be hard to include KADEK into the list six months from now, if not immediately. In fact, a spokesmen for the EU Commission Gumar Wiegand, has said that if it is proven that KADEK is the continuance of and heir to the PKK, it could also be taken into the terrorist organizations list by the EU. The inclusion of KADEK into the list following the PKK may expedite the process of accepting life imprisonment without parole for crimes of terrors instead of capital punishment in Turkey.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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