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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-18Turkish 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 morning18.09.2002FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…CONTENTS
[01] SEZER: “ELECTION POSTPONEMENT INITIATIVES ARE TROUBLING”Before leaving yesterday for Azerbaijan to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer told reporters that the real aim of those pushing for a reduction of the 10% election threshold could be to postpone early elections, a situation he called “troubling.” Asked about this week’s High Court of Appeals’ ruling against Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan, Sezer said that the judiciary had made its decision and that he had no further comment. In related news, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi answered reporters’ questions concerning calls for Parliament to convene for an extraordinary session to amend the Elections Law, saying he had not received an application to that end. “Such changes have been discussed for years,” he added. “I wish that Parliament had debated them earlier, rather than just over a month before elections.” Meanwhile, New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem is expected to announce today that he is abandoning efforts to lower the 10% election threshold. /All Papers/[02] GUREL DEPARTS FROM UN MEETING FOR TALKS IN WASHINGTONSpeaking to reporters yesterday before leaving New York for Washington to visit US officials, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel called the atmosphere of the current United Nations General Assembly meeting “positive” and said he had been satisfied with his contacts there. He stated that he had met with nearly all the European Union member state representatives during the session, adding that they were no longer making the mistake of confusing the Cyprus issue with Turkey’s membership bid, a development he called “promising.” He also remarked, however, that possible missteps concerning Cyprus could end up dividing the island and damaging Turkish-EU relations. /Hurriyet/[03] DERVIS: “DELAYING ELECTIONS WOULD HURT THE ECONOMY”Former State Economy Minister and prominent Republican People’s Party (CHP) parliamentary candidate Kemal Dervis said yesterday that a delay n this fall’s elections would damage Turkey’s economy. The political uncertainty surrounding this issue must be dispelled, he added. Dervis further remarked that a strong new government established after the Nov. 3 elections could address Turkey’s problems and better deal with the European Union. /Hurriyet/[04] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “IRAQ’S PLEDGE TO READMIT INSPECTORS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”In a statement released yesterday, the Foreign Ministry welcomed Iraq’s pledge late Monday to allow the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to the country, calling it “a step in the right direction.” The statement added that Turkey would like to see Iraq cooperate with the UN and comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes. In related news, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan briefed Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on the latest developments in Iraq during their telephone conversation earlier this week. /Cumhuriyet/[05] BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TODAYThe Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline project will begin to be constructed today with a groundbreaking ceremony at the Sangacal terminal in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the attendance of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer along with his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts, Haydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze, respectively. The construction of the 1,760-kilometer pipeline will start in earnest in the first half of 2003 and is expected to be completed in approximately two-and-a-half years. The total price tag of the project is about $3 billion. Yesterday in Baku, Sezer held meetings with Aliyev and Shervardnadze to discuss regional and bilateral relations. /Turkiye/[06] TURKISH UNDER CONSIDERATION AS AN OFFICIAL EU LANGUAGEEuropean Union officials have sent letters to all 15 EU member states stating that Turkish is under consideration to become an official EU language, reports said yesterday. The letters reportedly requested that the member states begin making preparations to carry this decision out. /Cumhuriyet/[07] $200 MILLION GRANT FROM THE US TO AID TURKEY’S DEBT PAYMENTSAn agreement was signed yesterday between Turkey and the United States under which the US is to extend a $200 million grant for Turkey to use in its foreign debt payments to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. State Minister Masum Turker, who signed the agreement on Turkey’s behalf, stated that the $200 million grant was to serve as assistance in Turkey’s foreign debt payments, adding that it was proof of US support for the economic program being implemented in Turkey. Turker went on to say that the two countries were close allies in the international war against terrorism and stated that the US had previously given Turkey a grant of $28 million to meet the needs of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, which is currently under Turkish command. /Cumhuriyet/[08] CILLER: “I HOPE FOR A DYP-ANAP ALLIANCE IN THE ELECTIONS”True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that she hoped her party and the Motherland Party (ANAP) could find common ground before this fall’s elections and form an alliance. Touting the DYP’s success so far in making alliances with the Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) and Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), Ciller stated that DYP-ANAP cooperation would help pave the way for unity on the center-right under the DYP’s umbrella in the Nov. 3 elections. /Milliyet/[09] DYP AND DP COMMEMORATE MENDERES, ZORLU AND POLATKANOfficials from the True Path Party (DYP) and the Democrat Party (DP) yesterday commemorated, in separate ceremonies, former Prime Minister and DP leader Adnan Menderes along with former State Ministers Hasan Polatkan and Fatih Rustu Zorlu on the 41st anniversaries of their deaths, at their resting places in Istanbul. DYP leader Tansu Ciller, former Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) leader Tugrul Turkes and DYP Deputy Aydin Menderes, the son of the late DP leader, took part in the DYP’S ceremony. /Turkiye/[10] SUPREME ELECTION BOARD SET TO DECIDE ON ERDOGANThe Supreme Election Board (YSK) is set to begin deliberations today on the fate of Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s eligibility to run for a seat in Parliament. The YSK’s decision, reviewing an appeals court ruling earlier this week deeming Erdogan ineligible to run in the Nov. 3 elections, is expected in three days. Should the YSK decide against Erdogan, deputy AKP leader Abdullah Gul is the apparent front- runner to succeed him. /Milliyet/[11] NEW YORK MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO VISIT TURKEYNew York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is set to arrive in Turkey this Saturday for a two-day visit. Bloomberg will meet with Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna and take a tour of the city. He will also meet with Patriarch Bartholomeos I, a spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, and attend a dinner with business leaders. Bloomberg is scheduled to fly back to New York on Sunday. /Star/[12] IRAQI OPPOSITION TURKMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW YORK MEETINGIraqi opposition groups are expected to gather in New York this week under the coordination of US Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman, a former ambassador to Turkey. Iraqi Turkmen, who were conspicuously absent from last month’s opposition meeting in Washington, were invited to the present gathering, and are set to be represented by Orhan Ketene, US coordinator for the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF). /Star/[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[14] LET’S NOT BE OBSESSED WITH COPENHAGEN BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Turkey’s efforts to get a date for European Union membership negotiations. A summary of his column is as follows:“Defying the latest upheavals in domestic politics, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave the order two days ago to the relevant state offices for ‘speedy harmonization with the European Union,’ making Ankara’s determination concerning the issue crystal clear. The circular Ecevit issued requests that harmonization with the EU vis-a-vis regulations be ensured, laws passed this summer be implemented by Nov. 15, and draft regulations reach his desk by Oct. 15. Now, clearly after Parliament interrupted its recess to hurriedly pass the EU reform package, steps towards implementation have not been taken, and meanwhile there have been serious disagreements among the coalition partners on this issue. As a matter of fact, the crisis resulting from the Nationalist Action Party’s (MHP) attempts to block the ‘EU reform laws’ have caused Turkey’s lack of action in this area. Ecevit’s taking the initiative and ordering work in this field to be accelerated, with a definite timetable, is most welcome. Turkey’s scope of action to obtain a date for EU membership negotiations gets narrower with each passing day. The EU’s Progress Report will be prepared on Oct. 9, a week earlier than originally scheduled. The European Council will convene on Nov. 24 in Brussels and the Copenhagen summit will begin on Dec. 12, where the ‘big decision’ on Turkey will be hashed out. Therefore it’s critically important for Turkey to complete the legal regulations during this narrow window of opportunity and start to particularly implement the elements of the Copenhagen criteria. Officials dealing closely with Turkey’s EU membership bid are well aware of this need, and they emphasize it at every opportunity. However, the hesitation, and even resistance, they show in the ‘practical stage’ is wasting time as well as raising suspicions both in Turkey and abroad whether it really intents to comply with these necessities. At the outset, there was an impression that all the work would be completed and the EU would give a date for membership talks after Parliament approved the reform package. However, implementing the laws is just as important as Parliament passing them. This is not an additional ‘condition,’ but really just part of a condition. The developments since the laws’ passage on Aug. 3 show that there are clashing wavelengths on the issue and that some officials, not pleased with the prospect of implementing the reforms, intend to exploit loopholes in the laws. Fortunately, now that Ecevit has ordered work for EU harmonization be accelerated, Ankara has shown its determination to overcome these delays. The EU is expected to take this into consideration. In other words, the EU, which often expresses its pleasure with Turkey’s quick passage of reforms, now should see Ankara’s desire to implement them, and it should trust Turkey and give it a chance. We hope that EU officials won’t find it necessary to wait months to see the implementation. Of course it would be best for Turkey if a date for negotiations was given in December or if a binding and clear engagement was taken on this issue. In addition, it would be good for Turkey to prepare itself for the prospect of not getting a date for negotiations at the Copenhagen summit. Since the expectation of receiving such a date has recently received much emphasis in official declarations, the public has gotten the impression that if Turkey can’t receive a date in Copenhagen, then Turkey won’t be an EU member. However, this date could also be given next year. In other words, Copenhagen isn’t the ‘last stop.’ Therefore Turkey should make wise use of the next two months. As Ecevit stated, we should quickly complete the necessary work without putting undue emphasis on the Copenhagen summit.” [15] WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW? BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes on a possible United States military operation in Iraq. A summary of her column is as follows:“When will the United States launch a military operation against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein? The world is currently preoccupied with this question. In the wake of US President George W. Bush’s speech to the UN last week, all world leaders now believe that the US is determined to strike Iraq whatever the cost. In his address, Bush demanded the UN persuade the Iraqi leader to comply with the relevant UN resolutions, warning that the US is prepared to act militarily against Iraq without UN support ‘if Saddam isn’t made to honor his previous commitments to disarm and allow inspectors into Iraq.’ In the wake of Bush’s UN address, international diplomatic circles have stepped up their efforts to persuade the Iraqi leader on certain sensitive issues. France has started working on a new UN Security Council resolution which we might call a ‘ultimatum light.’ In addition, Russia has launched an initiative to put together a kind of ‘friendship delegation’ to hold a meeting with Iraqi officials in Baghdad in the near future. Meanwhile, Bush isn’t holding his breath waiting for the Iraqi leader to make his move. The Bush administration said that the UN Security Council still should pass a toughly worded resolution warning of serious consequences if UN inspectors don't get complete access to all sites in Iraq. Bush has raised the specter of military action to overthrow Saddam if the Iraqi leader fails to take steps to disarm. He wants authority for such action to be included, at least implicitly, in any new Security Council resolution. The resolution should, US officials say, contain an indictment of Iraq for ignoring UN demands, an ultimatum, including a deadline of a perhaps a few weeks for Iraq to comply, and a threat of action if it does not. Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Colin Powell conveyed to Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel the US views on the issue in Washington in the form of a message to be passed onto Naci Sabri, the Iraqi foreign minister: ‘Tell the Iraqi officials that we’re not bluffing. There will be no second chances.’ This message means, according to diplomatic sources, that Iraq will be bombed without any second warning if Saddam fails to comply with the UN resolutions. Despite Saddam’s recent dramatic offer to allow UN arms inspectors to return to Iraq ‘without conditions,’ Bush warned that the world ‘must not be fooled’ by Iraq's offer, saying Saddam ‘has already delayed, denied and deceived the world’ over arms inspections. Meanwhile, the US is also continuing to negotiate with Arab countries which it has the best chance of receiving logistic support from. The Arab countries had previously been highly critical of Bush’s Iraq policy, but they seem to have been persuaded by Bush’s address urging UN member countries to compel Iraq to comply with Security Council directives on weapons of mass destruction. Turkish diplomats expect Bush to demand that Turkey let US troops be deployed at Incirlik Airbase and the Port of Mersin. In addition, the US is likely to put pressure on the Turkish government to take further measures to crack down on illegal immigrants. That’s not all. The US might also demand Turkey’s military support. Dear Turkish politicians, While you’re preoccupied with your discussions over early elections or the 10% threshold, Nostradamus’ famous prophecy that a ‘great war’ would take place in the Middle East between 2002-2003 is on the verge of being fulfilled...” 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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