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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-04
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
04.09.2002
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER MEETS WITH ANNAN TO DISCUSS IRAQ AND CYPRUS
[02] ECEVIT OPENS INFORMATICS FAIR
[03] BAHCELI: “THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TO HOLD ELECTIONS”
[04] GUREL TRAVELS TO STRASBOURG
[05] ANAP, YTP LOSE DEPUTIES
[06] KARAKOYUNLU: “EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BE A TURNING POINT FOR TURKEY”
[07] CEM VISITS TIM
[08] TALABANI MEETS WITH ERDOGAN
[09] SP: “WE WILL SEVER RELATIONS WITH THE IMF”
[10] DENKTAS: “WE WONT GIVE IN ON THE ISSUE OF EQUAL SOVEREIGNTY”
[11] ZIYAL TO VISIT ISRAEL
[12] BRUSSELS TO DECIDE ON ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY
[13] AUGUST INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMJS...
[15] KEY ISSUE: CYPRUS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
[16] WHY IS EU (STILL) DOUBTFUL? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] SEZER MEETS WITH ANNAN TO DISCUSS IRAQ AND CYPRUS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is currently attending the United Nations
World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, yesterday met with
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. During the meeting, Sezer and Annan
discussed the Iraqi and Cyprus issues. Remarking that a military operation
against Iraq would mostly affect Turkey, Sezer called on Iraq to comply
with the UN resolutions. For his part, Annan stated that he would meet with
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek
Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in Paris on Friday to encourage both sides
to accelerate the talks. Sezer is also expected to meet with US Secretary
of State Colin Powell today. /All Papers/
[02] ECEVIT OPENS INFORMATICS FAIR
The CeBIT Eurasia Informatics Fair was opened yesterday by Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit. Following an inauguration ceremony of the fair, Ecevit held
a press conference. He stated that stands at the fair clearly displayed how
developed Turkey was in informatics sector. Regarding Turkey’s European
Union membership bid, Ecevit said, “There have been no obstacles in front
of Turkey preventing its accession to the EU.” Asserting that Turkey has
done and will do what it has to on this issue, Ecevit said that Turkey was
then expecting the EU to fully open its doors to Turkey. He reiterated that
Turkey would not accept EU’s involvement on the Cyprus island. “The Cyprus
issue is a question between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Turkey would not
accept any countries’ involvement in the Cyprus issue apart from other
guarantor powers, Greece and Britain,” Ecevit said. “It’s an issue between
the peoples of Cyprus.” /Turkiye/
[03] BAHCELI: “THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TO HOLD ELECTIONS”
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli said yesterday that everybody should avoid engaging the public with
useless efforts aiming to slow down the political parties’ work. Following
his party’s Provincial Chairmen’s Meeting, Bahceli answered reporters’
questions. He said, “There is no probability of amending the Elections Law,
nor of decreasing the 10% election threshold. The only thing to do is to
hold the elections on its scheduled date, Nov. 3.” Regarding European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen’s recent statements that it
was not possible for the EU to set a date for the beginning of Turkey’s
membership negotiations during its this December’s Copenhagen Summit,
Bahceli said`, “This is a topic which he repeats for a long time.”
/Turkiye/
[04] GUREL TRAVELS TO STRASBOURG
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday met
with European Parliament President Pat Cox and leaders from different
political circles within the EP in Strasbourg. EP officials expressed their
appreciation with Turkey approving European Union harmonization laws. Cox
stated that these developments would be evaluated in EU’s Commission report
to be published in October. /Hurriyet/
[05] ANAP, YTP LOSE DEPUTIES
Motherland Party (ANAP) Batman Deputy Burhan Isen and New Turkey Party
(YTP) Mardin Deputy Mustafa Kemal Tugmaner resigned from their parties
yesterday. With these defections, the number of YTP deputies in Parliament
fell to 61 while ANAP deputies to 69. Isen will reportedly join the Justice
and Development Party (AKP). In related news, Turkish Labor Union (Turk-Is)
Chairman Bayram Meral and Turkish Traders and Small Businessmen’s
Confederation (TESK) Chairman Dervis Gunday will join the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) today with a ceremony. In addition, Ankara Chamber of
Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Caglayan, former True Path Party (DYP) Deputy
Yalim Erez, former Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy and former State
Minister Fikret Qnlu are also expected to join the CHP this week.
_Milliyet+
[06] KARAKOYUNLU: “EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BE A TURNING POINT FOR TURKEY”
Speaking at a conference, entitled, “Turkey through e-Europe” and organized
by the Informatics Foundation yesterday in Istanbul, State Minister Yilmaz
Karakoyunlu sai` that the European Union membership would be an important
turning point and a re-birth date for Turkey. Karakoyunlu also stated that
Turkey hadn’t reached the desired level in informatics yet. In addition,
European Union Secretary-General Volkan Vural, speaking at the same
conference, said that he believed Turkey would be a member of the EU in the
near future and that it shouldn’t be daunted by obstacles on the road to EU
membership. “Recently (Turkey has taken important steps for its EU
membership bid,” he said. “I believe that the upcoming period will bring
bright days for Turkey’s EU accession process.” /Turkiye/
[07] CEM VISITS TIM
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem attended the Turkish Exporters
Assembly (TIM) meeting yesterday where he answered the questions of the
assembly members concerning the YTP’s economic policy. Cem said` that the
YTP would stay in track with the IMB’s economic program. “However, we will
make certain rearrangements within the program where we find them necessary,
” he added. Cem also stated that the YTP’s economic policy presupposed
lower tax rates and that the YTP would support agricultural production.
/Sabah/
[08] TALABANI MEETS WITH ERDOGAN
Iraqi Patriotic Union ob Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani met with
Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the
AKP headquarters yesterday. Talabani reportedly briefed Erdogan on his
recent visit to Washington, and received Erdogan’s views and advice about
the northern Iraq issue. /Star/
[09] SP: “WE WILL SEVER RELATIONS WITH THE IMF”
The Felicity Party (SP) yesterday announced a new economic program called
“Emergency Economic and Social Repair Project.” The SP suggests a $110
billion worth resource package as an alternative to the current IMF backed
program. According to this package, SP said that it would sever relations
with the International Monetary Fund and implement its own prescriptions
for the economy when it comes to power. /Turkiye/
[10] DENKTAS: “WE WONT GIVE IN ON THE ISSUE OF EQUAL SOVEREIGNTY”
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas,
following his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides as part of
the sixth round of the direct talks, stated yesterday that the Turkish
Cypriot side should not back down on the issues of citizenship and equal
sovereignty. Denktas also remarked that the Turkish side proposed to
establish a common state founded by two separate states in an attempt to
bring a settlement to the problem on the island. Commenting on the meeting,
Denktas added that the two leaders had discussed the meeting that will be
held under the auspices of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on
Sept 6. as well as the issue of citizenship on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] ZIYAL TO VISIT ISRAEL
Deputy Foreign Minister Ugur Ziyal will be going to Israel today to meet
his Israeli counterpart Avi Gil, to discuss the likely negative effects of
a United States military operation against Iraq. Ziyal held talks with US
officials in Washington last week to convince the US of the negative
repercussions of a military intervention on the region. However it was
reported that during these talks the US had reiterated its determination to
overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. Turkey hopes to dissuade US
policy makers, with Israeli support, from launching a military
intervention. While Ziyal will be making a visit to Israel, a senior
diplomatic official from Iraq, Muhammed Emin Muhammed Ahmed will be
arriving in Ankara today to discuss regional issues. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] BRUSSELS TO DECIDE ON ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY
European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Alain Lamassoure, recalling on
Turkey’s passage of EU harmonization laws, proposed to allocate 33 million
EURO of additional financial assistance to Ankara from EU’s 2003 budget.
Budget Commission will decide on the proposal at its meeting set to be held
on Sept. 9. /Aksam/
[13] AUGUST INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released month-on-month
inflation figures for August which were parallel to the expectations.
Inflation in August was 2.1 % on the wholesale price index (WPI) and 2.2 %
on the consumer price index (CPI). The figures pushed year-on-year WPI
inflation to 43.9 % and CPI inflation to 40.2 %. /All Papers/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMJS...
[15] KEY ISSUE: CYPRUS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on the latest developments on the Cyprus
issue. A summary of her column is as follows:
“Recently increasing diplomatic traffic among Ankara, Athens and Lefkosha
has displayed that the key issue for Turkey’s EU membership bid would be
the problem of Cyprus. The United Nations, Britain and the United States
are trying to launch every possible initiative in order to reach a
permanent settlement as soon as possible. However, the parties to the
decades-old conflict haven’t been able to make any substantial progress
yet. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas,
Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
are expected to meet on Sept. 6 in Paris to review faltering peace talks.
Diplomatic circles first claimed that Annan was planning to present an
unofficial proposal to both parties at the Paris meeting, a document which
would present a series of suggestions for permanent solution. According to
the information leaked, this document will propose a solution based on a
confederal state similar to Belgium, which is composed of two ethnic
elements, Valons and Flamans. However, Ankara immediately reacted to these
rumors: ‘The UN is just an observer and we will never welcome any foreign
intervention in the issue.’ Consequently, Annan changed his mind and
decided not to present such a document. Paris meeting will, in fact, be one
of the last opportunities for the Cyprus issue. Everybody expects that the
EU will give the green light to the Greek Cypriots’ EU membership bid at
the EU leaders’ meeting to be held in October. Despite EU Commissioner
Gunter Verhuegen’s recent statement arguing that Turkey shouldn’t expect
the EU to set a date for the beginning of its accession negotiations at
December’s Copenhagen Summit, I believe that the Union has already begun
looking for possible ways to please both Turkey and Greece. This might be
evaluated as another diplomatic move, which is likely to culminate in EU’s
announcement ob a date for Turkey accession talks. Meanwhile, Denktas
recently visited Ankara and met with Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina
Gurel and State Minister for Cyprus Tayyibe Gulek. According to diplomatic
sources, Denktas has developed an alternative plan to be pursued if the EU
accepts Greek Cypriots’ membership without a permanent solution. This plan
proposes that the TRNC should integrate its Ministries of Foreign Affairs,
Defense and Finance with Turkey. The bargain over Cyprus has recently begun
and it doesn’t seem to end until the end of December.”
[16] WHY IS EU (STILL) DOUBTFUL? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the reasons why the EU is treating Turkey
in a hesitant and cold manner. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Why are the European Union officials doubtful about setting a specific
date for the beginning of Turkey’s EU accession talks? In other words, why
is the EU hesitant towards Turkey generally? Actually the recent statement
by European Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen reflects the
atmosphere of doubt and the lack of confidence within the EU circles. Not
only Verheugen, but also other EU officials and diplomats say that they
want to see the ‘implementation of reforms’ so as to set a specific date.
It is natural for the EU to request from the candidate countries to comply
with the Copenhagen criteria completely. For this purpose, Turkey has
worked and is still working very hard to take the precautions to meet the
expectations of the EU. Now the EU’s sensitivity and hesitance concerning
the ‘implementations’ should be considered as a sign of its lack of
confidence in Turkey. To tell the truth, the EU is doubtful about this
issue. Unfortunately, in spite of Turkey’s determination and the laws that
were amended in Turkey, the old mentality in certain fields is still
carried out in Turkey. Actually various sections of the Turkish nation have
been complaining about it and the press has often expressed this. Shortly,
Turkey started to give an end to certain practices, which contradict with
the legal and political standards that it wants to reach. Turkey has to act
in a determined manner in this issue as well, just as it did in terms of
legal regulations. However, the EU should appreciate Turkey’s determination
and encourage Turkey by making a decision on a specific date. The EU’s
skepticism and hesitation about giving a date is the new reflection of its
cold and negative attitude towards Turkey for a long time. There are many
reasons why the EU is treating Turkey this way:
Unfortunately Europeans are prejudiced about Turkey and Turks, who they
don’t know well. This prejudice derives from the religious and cultural
differences. Even some European leaders sometimes show this difference as
an obstacle before Turkey’s membership openly, don’t they?
The thought of the membership of Turkey, which is a country with high a
population, is causing concern within the EU. The EU is not just worried
about the possible problems of integrating a crowded Turkey and the
financial support that it will have to extend Turkey. The EU is also
concerned about the possibility of a mass migration of Turks.
The geographical situation of Turkey also causes uneasiness within the EU
circles. The thought that if Turkey becomes an EU member, the EU borders
will surpass outside Europe and the EU will ‘border’ such countries as Iraq
and Iran is disturbing the EU as well.
Where are certain ‘current’ reasons to ba added to these ‘factors of
reluctance.’ For example, it considers Turkey responsible for not solving
the Cyprus problem mostly and it stipulates Ankara to act in a more
compromising manner. The EU also wants to wait for the results of the
elections to sea how much the anti-EU powers will affect the Turkish
policy.
At this last point, we are almost deciphering the thoughts and wishes of
the anti-Turkey powers within the EU: ‘We hope the desires of those who are
against the EU in Turkey will be achieved and Turkey’s membership will be
suspended’.”
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