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Turkish Press Review, 02-08-22Turkish 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 morning22.08.2002BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES SHOULD UNITE” CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION LAWS BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ INTERVENTION SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATS TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE ECONOMY” TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEET HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDP FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS NEW GOVERNMENT” WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY, WORK ON ISTANBUL APPROACH COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDS FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… THIS POLITICAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BY OMER CELIK (STAR) EVEN IF THE US DOESN’T STRIKE, TURKEY MUST STAY ALERT ON NORTHERN IRAQ BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] MGK TO CONVENE TODAYThe National Security Council (MGK) is scheduled to meet today under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at 1:00 p.m. at the Presidential Palace. Recent domestic and foreign developments are reportedly on the MGK’s agenda. /Cumhuriyet/[02] BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES SHOULD UNITE”Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that if parties which have similar political views and policies unite, this would work to Turkey’s benefit. “Both leftist and rightist parties should unite before elections,” he stated. “It would be useful for Turkey if the Motherland Party [ANAP] and True Path Party [DYP] were to unite, since they share similar political views. However, the MHP will participate in elections on its own.” Bahceli added that certain circles were trying to postpone the elections and that if these efforts succeeded, economic and political chaos would ensue. /Milliyet/[03] CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION LAWSNew Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem yesterday met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. During their talks, Cem briefed Schroeder on Turkey’s recently passed European Union harmonization laws, stressing the YTP’s determination to see these laws implemented. Speaking after the meeting, Cem said that the number one priority for November’s post-election government should be carrying out these important EU harmonization laws for the sake of Turkey’s future. Speaking on the elections, Cem stated, “I think that the early elections will be a choice between new and old parties.” /Milliyet/[04] DERVIS PLEDGES TO JOIN CHPFormer State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, who has been engaged in an intense campaign to establish unity among Turkey’s leftist parties, yesterday ended weeks of speculation in declaring that he would join the Republican People’s Party (CHP). After meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and New Turkey Party (YTP) Deputy Chairman Husamettin Ozkan, Dervis then met with CHP leader Deniz Baykal for three-and-a-half hours. Speaking later to reporters, Dervis said that he and the CHP leader shared common views on many topics. Baykal, for his part, expressed his pleasure with Dervis’s decision, saying, “This means more than just joining a party. It is an initiative towards a new unification, a call for a grand new formation.” Stressing that the CHP would induct more new members in the days to come, Baykal said that the CHP’s goal was to be the strongest party in line to rule the country after this November’s elections. Dervis is set to officially join the CHP tomorrow. /All Papers/[05] BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ INTERVENTIONIraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani yesterday threatened the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in a statement published in Brayati, an IKDP-affiliated daily newspaper. Barzani stated that forces from the IKDP would “bury the TSK” in the region were it to enter into northern Iraq. Last week, Barzani attracted criticism from the United States for his failure to attend an Aug. 9 meeting in Washington of Iraqi opposition groups. Furthermore, relations with Turkey deteriorated following the publication of a map by Barzani showing the Iraqi Turkmen city of Kirkuk as being Kurdish. Airing his views on Turkey’s agenda, Barzani stated yesterday that Turkey’s aim was to gain control of Mosul, adding that Turkey had no rights in northern Iraq and that the IKDP would fight the TSK to defend the cities of Kerkuk, Erbil and Musul. All three cities are in northern Iraq’s “no-fly” zone, an area unofficially administered by Kurdish political groups, rather than the Baghdad regime. /Sabah/[06] SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATSRemarks by Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani yesterday threatening the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should they enter northern Iraq prompted a swift and sharp reaction from Acting Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu. Sokmenoglu said yesterday that Barzani would soon get an appropriate reply from the Turkish Parliament, adding that Turkey did not have any expansionist tendencies. He continued by declaring that Turkey would consider the establishment of an independent “Kurdistan” in northern Iraq sufficient justification for war, adding that peace in northern Iraq would be prove impossible if the presence and rights of the Turkmens living in the region are not recognized. /Sabah/[07] TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE ECONOMY”Speaking to Hurriyet yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker stated that cancelling the elections scheduled for November would not affect the economy. Turker added that he had started to work on the third review of Turkey’s program with the International Monetary Fund. Turker also called on all the political parties taking part in early elections to pledge to carry out the IMF’s program. In related news, international credit rating organization Morgan Stanley has asked for an appointment for its representatives to meet with Turker. Turker is expected to arrange such a meeting for next Tuesday. /Hurriyet/[08] TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEETThe Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) Executive Council is scheduled to gather today at Turk-Is’s headquarters at 11:00 a.m. The council will reportedly discuss this November’s early elections. /Cumhuriyet/[09] HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDPHasan Celal Guzel, former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), tendered his resignation from the YDP yesterday. In ending his decade-long relationship with the YDP, an action he took along with 14 YDP colleagues, Guzel claimed that the party had been “bought” by Young Party (GP) leader and media magnate Cem Uzan. /All Papers/[10] ERBAKAN TO DECLARE HIS CANDIDACYNecmettin Erbakan, former leader of the defunct Welfare Party (RP), is expected to hold a press conference today to declare his candidacy for the Nov. 3 elections. /Turkiye/[11] FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS NEW GOVERNMENT”Fitch Ratings, a leading international credit rating institution, stated yesterday that it was of the utmost importance for Turkey to establish a stable, reformist government in November’s elections in order to maintain and better its rating. “The local market appears to be factoring in a positive outcome to the November elections, so a disappointing result could prompt severe turbulence,” a Fitch report said. The report added that if political stability could not be achieved through elections and confidence ensured in domestic markets, this might cause a rise in interest rates, a rash of loan defaults and a drop in the value of the Turkish lira. /Aksam/[12] WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY, WORK ON ISTANBUL APPROACHA delegation from the World Bank is due to come to Turkey next month in order to conclude work concerning a loan totaling $500 million to be given to Turkey as part of the Istanbul Approach. During its contacts in Turkey, the delegation will prepare documents for the loan as well as determine the amount of credit to be extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the names of mediating banks. As part of the Istanbul Approach, a framework designed to strengthen the banking system, support the real sector and encourage restructuring of business loans, the World Bank is extending a credit line to be allocated to banks in order to ensure additional financing for businesses whose loans are restructured. The loan to be given by the bank to Turkey will not be additional credit, but will instead be considered within the Country Aid Strategy loan portfolio. /Turkiye/[13] COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDSThe collective bargaining process between the government and trade union officials concerning raises for civil servants was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker cautioned that the government must act in line with its Letter of Intent (LOI) to the International Monetary Fund pledging that such salary increases do not surpass 20%. In order for the government to stay within these bounds, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit then appointed a commission to study the issue and make recommendations. The commission, made up of Turker, Finance Minister Sumer Oral and State Ministers Tayfun Icli and Tunca Toskay, will be chaired by State Minister Mehmet Kececiler. /Turkiye/[14] AUTHOR WEEMS VISITS ISTANBULSamuel A. Weems, a retired US judge and writer of the recently published book Armenia: Secrets of a Christian Terrorist State, yesterday visited the seat of the Istanbul Governorship to pass along information about the Ataturk World Peace Institute, set to be established at the University of Arkansas. Weems, who lives in Arkansas, said yesterday that he had received harsh criticism from Armenian extremists as a result of his book, which lays out a wealth of research supporting Turkey’s complaints against Armenia. /Star/[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[16] THIS POLITICAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BY OMER CELIK (STAR)Columnist Omer Celik writes on Turkey’s latest political crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:“In this country, we’ve unfortunately gotten used to seeing crises dominating the political agenda. Although Turkish politicians seem on the surface to be addressing very different subjects, the favorite topic of behind-the-scenes discussions is in fact how to normalize politics and overcome our current crisis. Since there’s always been a tense relationship between Turkey’s economic and political dynamics, the decision to hold early polls has made political and business circles anxious but also meant an opportunity for advancement of the country’s economic and political life. This tension stems from the peculiar characteristics of our political structure. In Turkey, politics has always been defined as a series of power clashes between certain bureaucrats; in other words, it has always eluded being depicted in its original sense. Since modernization has never touched Turkey’s daily life as much as its political institutions, politics have been confined within the brick walls of these institutions. The crisis we’re currently going through must be considered an opportunity to overcome this political impasse. The crisis has, in fact, cleared the political landscape of considerable artificial clutter. The parties which have failed to develop effective solution proposals in the midst of this crisis have become smaller and weaker. The only way to overcome this crisis is to normalize politics. The first move we must take is to remove all the obstacles standing in the way of this normalization. If circles which are not bona fide members of political institutions persist in intervening in politics, the dissolution of these institutions will continue and the situation will surely worsen, which is likely to culminate with a chronic crisis. Under such circumstances, it would be impossible to prevent the economy being hurt by such a crisis. Political parties should see the crisis as an opportunity. Being a good politician means developing rational policies to solve difficult problems as well as taking effective moves to address these issues. It’s politically unethical to develop irrational strategies which defy reason merely to woo more votes. Believe me, this time voters won’t be taken in such irrational, self-serving demagoguery. Now voters are only interested in how their living standards can be improved and a better political structure established. It seems to me that today the only guarantee we have for a better future in this country is the crisis we’re undergoing.” [17] EVEN IF THE US DOESN’T STRIKE, TURKEY MUST STAY ALERT ON NORTHERN IRAQ BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the US shifting attitude in its plans to strike at Iraq and the developing situation in northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:“The probability of a US military attack on Iraq in the very near future seems to have recently lost some of the wind from its sails. No matter how the ‘hawks’ in Washington are hell-bent to go ahead, President Bush will only be able to make up his mind on the issue in early 2003 at the earliest. Among the various reasons for this delay –- perhaps the most important one under the circumstances –- is the opposition to a war in Iraq on the part of some prominent US political figures who advised the Bush administration not to go into another dangerous adventure in Iraq. As defense analyst Robert Levine wrote in a column in the International Herald Tribune, President Bush is quite concerned that he listen to these voices, especially on the eve of the US congressional elections set for November. It is known that Washington has been searching for alternative methods to military intervention for bringing down Saddam Hussein. In other words, the president is determined to try every option to achieve his goal, but also to keep the military one in reserve like a sword of Damocles’ hanging over Iraq. Meanwhile, Saddam hasn’t missed the opportunity to capitalize on the US’s difficulties. Moreover, the US efforts to bring Iraqi opposition leaders together for concerted action against Saddam has so far not gone well. Additionally, Russia, too, is trying to improve its relations with Iraq. As far as Turkey is concerned, the prevention of a possible war in Iraq carries, for very obvious reasons, great importance. However, the issue has another aspect crucial to Turkey: the situation in northern Iraq. No matter whether the US launches an operation in Iraq or not, Turkey is going to be seriously occupied by this problem. As we stated earlier, Turkey believes that the balance between the most two powerful groups in the region has shifted. Massoud Barzani, who displayed more of a pro-Turkey attitude in the past, and Jalal Talabani, who used to be mostly at odds with Turkey, now seem to have switched places. Turkey is quite anxious about a draft constitution prepared by Barzani for Iraq, one which would give a Kurdish state there a near-autonomous status. And yet, there is still a chance to ease this ‘psychological war’: Barzani’s aide Hoshyar Zabari is expected to visit our country next week. Turkish authorities will be able to once again reiterate Turkey’s sensitivities on the issue. Surely, Barzani is aware of Turkey’s role in the reshaping of Iraq, and he must be reminded that he doesn’t have the luxury of losing Turkey’s support.” 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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