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Turkish Press Review, 02-10-17Turkish 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 morning17.10.2002TURKEY, THE US AND NORTHERN IRAQ BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)CONTENTS
[01] IZGI: “TURKEY WILL PROTECT MOSUL AND KIRKUK”Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said yesterday that if developments in northern Iraq went much further than where they currently stand, Turkey could send troops to the region in order to protect Mosul, Kýrkuk and Suleymania. Recent developments in the region, including a new draft constitution and the meeting of a regional assembly, have been seen by many political observers as drifting towards an independent Kurdish state, something which Turkey has vowed it will not allow. “Turkey will not be an invader there,” said Izgi. “The Arab world should know this.” Meanwhile, Murat Sokmenoglu, Parliament’s deputy speaker, stated yesterday that Parliament would convene to discuss the Iraq issue if it became necessary. No such meeting is currently on the agenda, he said, but added, “If conditions require it, Parliament can meet to make decisions on both sending our own troops and deploying foreign troops from Turkey.” He reiterated that Turkey was in favor of Iraq’s territoral integrity. /Turkiye/[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “DEVELOPMENTS IN[03] NORTHERN IRAQ ARE UNDER TURKEY’S CONTROL”Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc yesterday held a press conference to brief journalists on the latest developments in northern Iraq. Taking exception to claims in some quarters that developments in the region had slipped out of Turkey’s control, Buluc stated that since Turkish and US interests in northern Iraq shared so much in common, Turkey had no problem with US policy on Iraq. Buluc also criticized recent allegations by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani that Turkey’s stance in the region was inconsistent. In addition, the Foreign Ministry yesterday held a meeting alongside economy bureaucrats to discuss the Iraq issue from a variety of perspectives. /Cumhuriyet/[04] PEARSON: “IRAQ’S FUTURE DEPENDS ALL[05] ITS PEOPLES WORKING TOGETHER”US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson yesterday reiterated US opposition to any independent state in northern Iraq, adding that the country’s future depended on all its groups, including its ethnic Turkmens, working together. Speaking at the Eastern Mediterranean Security Conference in Ankara, Pearson addressed Turkish concerns about a regional northern Iraqi Parliament and draft constitution. “The [recent] assembly meeting in northern Iraq was the result of … effort [under the 1996 Ankara Process] to achieve reconciliation” between competing Iraqi Kurdish groups, Pearson said, adding that it is “important to remember … [that] the Ankara Process is temporary and local.” Of the draft constitution, Pearson said, “The United States has not requested or endorsed any document professing to be a constitution for any group in Iraq. And neither we nor any other country has the authority to do such a thing.” Making the case for regime change in Iraq, through US military intervention if need be, Pearson stated, “A resolution of the Iraq crisis will mean a brighter future for the oppressed Turkmens in Iraq, 90% of whom live under Baghdad's tyranny.” He added that Iraq’s intransigence had hurt Turkey and was holding back the country’s progress. Pledging “no surprises” and “continuing full consultations” in the US-Turkey relationship with respect to Iraq, he remarked, “We deeply appreciate Turkey's willingness to enter into such a detailed dialogue, as befits two strategic partners,” adding, “The US fully respects Turkey's choices, because we know they can be difficult.” /Hurriyet/[06] US VISITS SEEN AS PRELUDE TO IRAQ INTERVENTIONAs talk of a possible United States intervention against Iraq continues to make headlines worldwide, US officials are stepping up their visits to Turkey, a longtime US ally and key country in its military plans. A delegation of three officials from the US Defense Department arrived yesterday in Turkey to discuss the issue with Turkish officials in detail. In addition, Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of US forces in the Persian Gulf region and likely leader of any Iraq operation, is due to visit Turkey at the beginning of next week. Gen. Franks is expected to convey requests to Turkish officials for US use of Turkey’s bases during a possible operation in Iraq. The Bush administration wants to deploy its troops at these bases on the grounds that Article Five of NATO’s Charter, which was invoked in the wake of last September’s terrorist attacks, allows the US to do so. Under that article, “The [signatory] parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them shall be considered an attack against them all, and consequently if such an attack occurs will assist the party or parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.” /Aksam/[07] BAGHDAD: “KIRKUK IS AN IRAQI CITY”Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Iraqi Revolutionary Council Chairman Izzet Ibrahim said that Kirkuk was a city where a variety of ethnic groups lived, such as Iraqi Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds. He added, however that it would never belong to any country other than Iraq. Commenting on Turkey’s stance on the possibility of a US-led operation in Iraq, Ibrahim said that Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit seemed to be opposed to “US aggression.” /Cumhuriyet/[08] TURKER: “THE TURKISH ECONOMY HAS BEEN[09] ENTRUSTED TO ME”Speaking yesterday at a panel discussion on “Economic Problems and Solutions,” State Economy Minister Masum Turker asserted that he was guiding the economy as it had been entrusted to him. “Since I took my post at the economic helm, the Turkish lira has not lost further ground against the dollar,” he added. “My faithful application of the nation’s economic program has let our currency hold its own.” /Turkiye/[10] KAHKONEN: “IMF LOAN IS[11] CONDITIONAL ON IMPLEMENTATION OF REFORMS”Before leaving Turkey yesterday, International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen said that future disbursement of a $1.6 billion IMF loan tranche was conditional on Turkey’s implementation of structural reforms. At a pre-departure press conference, Kahkonen said, “The government has accepted that it would not be able to meet all the conditions required for the completion of the IMF’s fourth review of Turkey’s economic program. We hope an IMF Executive Board meeting can be held fairly soon after the elections and once the necessary steps are taken.” Stressing that additional efforts would be needed in the coming period for the conclusion of the review and eventual disbursement of the loan, Kahkonen said, “Priorities will be staff reductions in the public sector as well as tax reform and privatization.” /Turkiye/[12] WORLD BANK’S LINN: “TURKEY CAN ACHIEVE ITS[13] INFLATION AND GROWTH TARGETS THIS YEAR”Johannes Linn, World Bank vice president for Europe and Central Asia, said yesterday that Turkey could achieve its inflation and growth targets this year. In a statement issued after a visit to Turkey, Linn urged the government’s economic administration to pay continued attention to Turkey’s social and structural problems. Linn met yesterday with Economy Minister Masum Turker, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) Chairman Engin Akcakoca and a number of Treasary Undersecretary officials. The discussions reportedly focused on positive economic developments this year as well as next year’s targets. /Milliyet/[14] HISARCIKLIOGLU: “POLITICAL INSTABILITY[15] HAS HAMPERED TURKEY’S REFORM”Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said yesterday that various domestic reform efforts over the last decade had been hampered by political instability and coalition governments. People should think carefully before they cast their ballots in next month’s elections, he added, since these elections carry great importance for Turkey’s future. “Our public sector debt has increased greatly over the last 10 years,” stated Hisarciklioglu. “We need to amend the Political Parties and Elections Laws to make sure that the parties are held accountable for their actions.” /Milliyet/[16] TUSIAD GETS DANISH SUPPORT FOR TURKEY’S EU BIDSeeking support from European Union member states for Turkey’s European Union membership bid before December’s Copenhagen summit, a delegation from the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) yesterday met with Danish Deputy Prime Minister Bendt Bendtsen and Bertel Haarder, Denmark’s minister responsible for the EU. Speaking to Hurriyet, Haarder said that the meeting had been very important for both Turkish- Danish and Turkish-EU relations. Haarder also pledged his support for Turkey’s EU membership bid. For his part, TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that he had reiterated his request that Denmark support Turkey at the Copenhagen summit. /Hurriyet/[17] UN ENVOY DE SOTO: “THE CYPRUS ISSUE[18] COULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE COPENHAGEN”United Nations Special Envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto yesterday arrived in Ankara to hold a series of meetings with Foreign Ministry diplomats. Speaking to reporters, de Soto remarked that a number of different formulas for a Cyprus settlement could bridge the differences between the two sides, adding, “If the sovereignty issue were resolved, this would go a long way towards a fuller resolution.” De Soto further remarked that a settlement might even be reached before the European Union’s Copenhagen summit in December, where decisions on the EU’s enlargement policy are set to be made. Earlier this month, an EU Commission report greenlighted Greek Cyprus for EU membership in 2004, erroneously taking its government to represent the entire island. In related news, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is expected to visit Ankara tomorrow, just as Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides is scheduled to be in Athens. /Sabah/[19] TURKEY, ISRAEL REACH AGREEMENT[20] ON SALE OF MANAVGAT WATERAfter more than five years of negotiation, Turkey and Israel yesterday reached an accord on the sale of water from Manavgat, a Turkish Mediterranean town, to Israel. Under this accord, Israel has agreed to purchase 50 million tons of water over a period of 20 years. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc yesterday confirmed the accord and stated that an intergovernmental agreement would be signed between the two countries as soon as they agreed on the water’s price and how to transport it. 1. /Cumhuriyet/[21] RECORD SENTENCES HANDED DOWN IN MANISA CASERecord sentences were handed down yesterday in the sentencing phase of a case widely known as “the Manisa youth” trial, a case whose course has lasted for nearly seven years. The judge imposed sentences on 10 policemen and one police commissioner ranging individually from 60 to 130 months, adding in total to over 1,000 months. In the European Union’s Progress Report on candidate countries released earlier this month, the case was cited in sections discussing Turkey’s human rights situation. The case involved the 1995 detention of 16 young people during operations against the terrorist DHKP-C group and allegations of their subsequent torture. Lawyers for the convicted have pledged to appeal. /Turkiye/[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[23] FROM THE COLUMNS...[24] THE BEST WAY IS DIALOGUE[25] BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the importance of dialogue on the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“The latest pronunciations from Turkish government officials and political party leaders on developments in northern Iraq have sown confusion and concern among the public. Their words created the impression that Turkey was getting ready to occupy Iraq or deploy its soldiers with US troops to that country. The spur for these declarations was the drawing up by the two main Kurdish groups in northern Iraq -- the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) -- of a ‘federal’ draft constitution for ‘Iraqi Kurdistan.’ The announcement of this draft constitution caused anger and concern in Turkey. The high- ranking officials’ words, including those of the prime minister and defense minister, brought the possibility of Turkey taking direct military operation against northern Iraq onto the agenda. However, the Foreign Ministry and the military’s calmer and more temperate stance against the politicians’ harsh words proves that Turkey has no intention of carrying out an operation against Iraq at this stage, and that for now Ankara is only issuing timely warnings. The news from northern Iraq has been exaggerated and furthermore caused unnecessary anxiety. But statements made earlier this week on CNN Turk by IKDP Representative in Ankara Safin Diyazi uncovered the following truths, as summarized by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) Chairman Ozdem Sanberk, who appeared on the same program: The constitution in question is for now just a draft. This draft will be open for discussion by all the various groups within Iraq (probably after Saddam is disposed of), and a new constitution covering all of Iraq will then be prepared. People are talking about a federation for the northern region, but this is being envisaged as part of a ‘united, democratic Iraq.’ In other words, this region breaking away from Baghdad and becoming an independent state is out of the question. I wonder if the Kurds have any intentions besides these? For example, establishing not a ‘regional,’ but a federal ‘ethnic’ state and declaring their independence… As stated by Sanberk and former Foreign Minister Ilter Turkmen, people can nurture high hopes, but pipe dreams have no practical value. As long as Turkey, Iran, Syria, the Arab world and the US are opposed to the establishment of a Kurdish state in Iraq, such a development is flat-out impossible. And the Kurdish leaders know it. Of course it’s very important for Turkey to express its concern and issue warnings, particularly concerning such sensitive issues as ‘ethnic structure’ and Kirkuk. However, it would be better if Turkey deals with this issue through a calm, un-anxious dialogue with Barzani and Talabani. It’s clear that Ankara’s squabble with the Kurdish leaders is unnecessary. These issues would be better resolved through calm diplomacy …” [26] TURKEY, THE US AND NORTHERN IRAQ[27] BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek comments on Turkish-US relations and the northern Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:“Appearing on television yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit pointed to a fact which top levels of the state administration generally don’t feel comfortable speaking of openly. He said that the US as well as European countries were provoking northern Iraq’s Kurds, adding that even though the US has assured Turkey that it would not let a federal state take hold in Iraq, that process has long since been carried out. Ecevit also underlined that it was unclear what the US would do to prevent such a plot in Iraq. It is quite obvious, however, that the northern Iraq issue now constitutes a very dangerous situation for Turkey. Yet, some people in Turkey prefer to ignore the danger. They question the scope of the threat, and even conclude that a Kurdish state in northern Iraq wouldn’t pose any danger at all. They claim that there is no difference in the threat levels of being a neighbor to Saddam Hussein or one to Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani. This line of argument may get even stronger in the days to come to such an extent that Turkey would refrain from intervening against a possible Kurdish state in the region. However, there really is an immediate threat. Here is what Ecevit said: ‘A Kurdish state in northern Iraq would definitely affect Turkey. No country in the world wants another one to pop out from within its own territory, but rather to preserve its national integrity. If a Kurdish state happens to be formed near Turkey’s southern borders, this would work against our nation.’ To grasp the truth contained in Ecevit words, it would be enough to take a look at maps appearing in certain pro-Kurdish media in Europe, displaying the borders of a so-called Kurdish state violating our own to include 19 Turkish towns. If that’s not enough, take note of what a northern Kurdish government member said in a recent article in the New York Review of Books: ‘For much of the last century the Kurds of northern Iraq have been rebelling against one government or another, and few make any secret of their desire to eventually achieve independence and then to join with Kurds from Iran, Syria, and Turkey in a large Kurdish state.’ This is what’s called an immediate threat. Turkey has pledged to protect the rights of the Turkmen population in northern Iraq, if a Kurdish state is established with Kirkuk as its capital city, but how? By resorting to military force, or through diplomacy? US Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson yesterday reiterated that a Kurdish state wouldn’t be formed in northern Iraq. However, such ‘verbal guarantees’ aren’t enough on their own. Did the US keep its promises made during the Gulf War to compensate Turkey’s losses due to the war? Is there anyone who can assure us that the US will not, in any way, change its mind on the northern Iraq issue?” 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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