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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-20Turkish 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 morning20.09.2002FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT: “IN TWO YEARS’ TIME, TURKEY COULD OUTGROW ITS NEED FOR IMF HELP”Speaking on CNN Turk yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey had to continue cooperating with the International Monetary Fund for a while longer to overcome a number of significant problems. “But,” he continued, “if we can achieve our economic and political targets within two years, we won’t need to work with the IMF any longer. There is very short time left to raise our nation’s living standards.” Asked about the Iraq issue, Ecevit stated that a possible US operation against Iraq would affect Turkey adversely. “We hope our friend and ally the United States will solve its differences with the Iraqi government through peaceful means, not war,” he said. Ecevit added that Turkish nation deserved to become a member of the European Union and that he hoped the EU member states wouldn’t try to hold back Turkey’s bid. Also appearing on the same program were DSP economy officials Zekeriya Temizel, Hikmet Ulugbay, Nami Cagan and Masum Turker. /Milliyet/[02] CILLER TO KICK OFF ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN MUGLATrue Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller is due to start her party’s election campaign in Mugla on Sept. 24. This year Ciller is for the first time a candidate from the southwestern coastal province of Mugla, rather than Istanbul. Following campaign rallies in the towns of Milas and Fethiye in Mugla, Ciller will proceed to Denizli, Manisa and then, on Sept. 28, is to attend a meeting in Sanliurfa, a southeastern province. In related news, the DYP leader will travel to Kayseri today accompanied by former Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP) leader Tugrul Turkes, who is running as a DYP candidate from that province. She is expected to declare her parties’ candidates in a ceremony. /Turkiye/[03] BAYKAL: “WE WILL SEE FATEFUL ELECTIONS THIS NOVEMBER”Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to present the Republican People’s Party deputy candidates for Istanbul, CHP leader Deniz Baykal said that elections set for Nov. 3 would surely be held on their scheduled date. “Now it’s time for us to win the elections,” he stated. “November’s elections will be fateful ones, for they will signal the end of an old era and the ushering in of a new one.” Baykal also said that CHP’s 512 candidates hadn’t worked in Parliament before and that this year, for first time, the number of candidates who were professional engineers candidates exceeded the number of professional lawyer candidates. Of the candidates introduced at the ceremony, former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis and Zulfu Livaneli, famous musician and writer, received the most enthusiastic applause. /Milliyet/[04] CEM CRITICIZES PUBLIC OPINION POLLSNew Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem yesterday spoke to citizens in the Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul. Criticizing recent public opinion polls, Cem asked citizens not to pay them any mind. “Certain circles are trying to confuse you with rumors, don’t believe them,” he added. Some recent polls have shown the YTP in danger of falling below the 10% threshold needed for representation in Parliament. /Turkiye/[05] GUREL: “IRAQ HAS DONE ALL THAT IT CAN”Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Washington, Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that Iraq had done all that it could to prevent a war but that the United States administration did not seem satisfied with its efforts. Following his Wednesday meetings with US Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Gurel stated that that Turkey was determined to wait for the return of UN weapon inspectors to Iraq, a move Iraq has pledged to allow, before taking any further steps. Gurel also spoke on recent developments regarding Cyprus and the European Union, stating that Turkey would annex the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) if the Greek side of the island were admitted into the EU, and adding that this annexation would be a direct consequence of Greek Cypriot membership as the sole representative of the island. Commenting on Turkey’s relations with the EU, Gurel stated that Turkey had fulfilled all the accession criteria and that the US supported Turkey’s EU membership bid. /Cumhuriyet/[06] SP PROPOSES LOWERING ELECTION THRESHOLDFelicity Party (SP) Deputy Chairman Mehmet Bekaroglu yesterday submitted to the Parliament Speaker’s Office a bill under which the current 10% election threshold would be lowered 5%. The bill would further bring a preferential voting system to the general elections, under which voters would be given the opportunity to express their preferences among candidates on the candidate lists. /Sabah/[07] APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DGM RULING ON ERBAKANOn the heels of its recent ruling refusing to clear the criminal record of Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan, the High Court of Appeals yesterday upheld a decision of Diyarbakir’s State Security Court (DGM) No. 1, thus leaving intact the record of Necmettin Erbakan, ex-leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP). /Turkiye/[08] YSK DECISION ON ERDOGAN DUE TODAYThe Supreme Election Board (YSK) is expected today to reach a decision on whether Justice and Development Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be eligible or not to run in November’s elections. YSK Chairman Tufan Algan told reporters yesterday that every candidate has a different situation and that no one ruling could be the sole criterion for all candidates. Algan said that the YSK would take into account the changes made to Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 312, which was reorganized and rewritten as a part of the EU harmonization laws passed by Parliament this summer. /Aksam/[09] DENKTAS: “THE EU ERRED GREATLY IN INTERFERING ON CYPRUS”Speaking to reporters before meeting yesterday with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in Cyprus’ buffer zone, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas criticized Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis’ speech earlier this week saying that Cyprus’ European Union membership was a national issue for Greece. Denktas added that since Cyprus was not currently a united island, there was no united Cyprus to apply for European Union membership. “It is only the Greek Cypriots who have applied for EU membership,” stated Denktas. Denktas remarked that if the EU had ceased interfering in the Cyprus issue, the negotiations process would now be in far different shape. The EU’s interference was a great mistake, he added. /Cumhuriyet/[10] EU TO HOLD MINI-SUMMIT FOR CANDIDATE COUNTRIESEuropean Union term President Denmark will reportedly invite the EU candidate countries, Turkey included, to a mini-summit on Oct. 28 to brief them about EU membership criteria. /Turkiye/[11] US REASSURES IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPSUnited States Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman told Iraqi opposition group representatives during their meeting in New York earlier this week that the US was determined to overthrow Saddam Hussein, reports said yesterday. Grossman, a former US ambassador to Turkey, reportedly stated that the US aimed not only to destroy Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons but also to completely disarm the nation. Iraq’s ethnic Turkmens were also represented at the meeting, and Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) representative Orhan Ketene said that his fellow Turkmens would also have a say in what happened in Iraq. He also confirmed Grossman’s statement on the US determination to effect regime change in Baghdad. /Cumhuriyet/[12] DE CLERCQ: “TURKEY CAN JUSTIFIABLY BAN DANGEROUS POLITICAL PARTIES”Willy De Clercq, Belgium’s deputy prime minister and honorary member of the European Parliaments Liberal group, yesterday commented on the possibility of Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan being declared ineligible to run for Parliament in Turkey’s November elections, and on the fate in general of extremist parties in democratic countries. De Clercq stated that political parties posing a threat to democratic freedoms could be justifiably banned from participating in elections, adding that Belgium itself had taken similar action with domestic extreme right-wing parties. He warned, however, that blocking Erdogan’s candidacy could have the unintended effect of increased support for both the AKP and Erdogan himself. /Cumhuriyet/[13] IMF’S KOEHLER: “ELECTIONS WILL END TURKEY’S UNCERTAINTY”Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington yesterday, IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler said that Turkey’s elections set to be held on Nov. 3 would create further clarity of the course of the nation. “I expect that this election will also serve to endorse the continuation of the economic program which has worked successfully up to now,” he added. Koehler stated that Turkey had made a remarkable, steady progress in the space of just one to two years. “Inflation has been brought down more than the program envisioned. Exchange rates now are stable, and growth is recovering,” said the IMF head. “I am looking forward to further progress in Turkey.” /Star/[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[15] THE EU’S DILEMMA ON CYPRUS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the European Union’s approach to the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“Is the European Union backing away from its determination to accept the Greek Cypriot administration into the EU under the name of Cyprus? Looking at the headlines of the Turkish press, one could well believe that the EU will do this. The EU diplomats are talking about such a move and even the possibility of excluding Southern Cyprus from the list of countries to become EU members in 2004. But we have a natural tendency to treat diplomatic news, in which nuances and details are very important, in a very shallow and exaggerated manner. The news in the Turkish press about Southern Cyprus’ EU membership bid has led to premature satisfaction. At this stage, it’s too early to say that Greek Cyprus’ EU membership is fated not to be. As journalists in Brussels have said in their reports, ‘Some diplomats say that there is a drift in this direction.’ ‘Since the EU doesn’t want to hand a trump card to anti-EU circles in Turkey before November’s early elections, it won’t approve the Greek Cypriots’ membership now,’ said one Reuters correspondent. However, we need to ask whether or not such a remark is realistic. Yes, there are those in EU circles who have begun to see the drawbacks and risks of making Cyprus an EU member in a divided way. This is even openly discussed within the EU. Of course it’s an important development, because the EU has officially maintained its argument that Cyprus -- that is, only the Greek Cypriot administration -- will be accepted as a member. Following the Reuters report, confused Greek Cypriot officials asked Brussels for an explanation. The EU’s ‘official’ answer to them was that ‘our previously stated position hasn’t changed.’ Obviously the EU is confused concerning this issue at the moment, and a couple of weeks are needed to clear things up. The EU’s Progress Report on Southern Cyprus’ membership bid will be released on Nov. 9. Actually the outlines of the report are ready, and they state that Cyprus (the Greek Cypriot administration) is complying with all the necessary criteria for membership. This report will be discussed in Brussels on Nov. 23-24. However, the main decision will be made at the Copenhagen summit in December. Obviously not only the EU criteria, but also political factors will be taken into consideration in the final decision. In other words, the possible dangerous consequences of making Cyprus an EU member under its current divided situation will play a pivotal role. It’s clear that when it reaches this stage, the EU will be in trouble. On the one hand, there is its promise to Southern Cyprus concerning its membership and if this promise isn’t kept, there is Greece’s threat to hinder the EU’s policy of enlargement (in other words, its vetoing the membership of nine countries). On the other hand, there is the tension inherent in admitting the island in its divided condition and the danger of irritating Turkey, which has been waiting for a date from the EU for membership negotiations and the geostrategic importance of which moreover has increased due to the Iraqi crisis. In the words of one European diplomat, this is ‘one of the biggest dilemmas that the EU has ever faced.’ In all probability, EU diplomats will look for a ‘middle way’ as usual to solve this problem. This is the EU’s problem. What should Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) do? The Turkish side should draw attention to the problems of making Southern Cyprus an EU member if the island’s problem are not solved. In addition, Turkey should also continue its efforts to accelerate the process of reaching a solution or consensus. At the moment of decision, the EU should see that the Turkish side has done what it should to reach a solution and that it isn’t responsible for this cul-de- sac. When that happens, Southern Cyprus’ EU bid would be stopped in its tracks.” [16] WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTHERN IRAQ? BY SEDAT SERGIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Sedat Ergin writes on recent developments in northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:“As far as the Iraq issue is concerned, there are many questions that need to be addressed. The Bush administration is still stepping up pressure for a new UN Security Council disarmament resolution on Iraq, despite Saddam Hussein’s recent dramatic offer to re-admit UN weapons inspectors. President Bush is currently trying to persuade the US Congress to pass a White House draft resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq. Since there is still a threat of war in the region, the number of questions calling for answers on Ankara’s part is increasing day by day. One of the most important questions that comes to mind is what kind of an administrative structure will be established in the post-Saddam period. A new constitution would determine northern Iraq’s status as well as the borders of the Kurdish groups’ territories. Ankara has already conveyed its concern to the Bush administration that Iraq not be made into a federation comprised of relatively independent federal states. Turkey might accept the 1974 autonomy agreement signed between Baghdad and Kurdish groups, a contract which leaves Iraq as the only country which has recognized and granted Kurdish autonomy. However, there are signs that Kurdish groups are currently seeking a solution which is unacceptable to Turkey. Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani are gradually increasing their efforts to persuade all opposition groups to establish a federation in the region. The two leaders agree with each other on the desirability of a federation, but they’ve been unable to agree on its structural characteristics. While Barzani wants to establish a federation based along ethnic lines, Talabani prefers one formed according to regional borders. The most important outcome of this new Barzani-Talabani cooperation is their pact signed on Aug. 6, a treaty aimed at re-establishing the Kurdish National Parliament (KNP). The KNP was formed in 1992 but then had to be dissolved in 1996 due to an armed struggle between the two groups. However, Barzani and Talabani are now likely to have more words to say on the future of Iraq. Washington seems to be stuck in an unpleasant situation since both Turkey and the Kurdish groups are putting pressure on the Bush administration for their own separate demands. The Bush administration doesn’t want to be seen dampening the idea of establishing a federation on the one hand, yet is also afraid of losing Turkey’s support during such a critical period on the other.” 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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