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Turkish Press Review, 02-10-23Turkish 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 morning23.10.2002CAKMAKOGLU: “I MADE THE PROPER RESPONSE TO DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ” CILLER: “WE WILL TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT, TURKEY’S MOST PRESSING PROBLEM” MGK: “TO AVERT A WAR, WE EXPECT IRAQ TO OBEY THE UN RESOLUTIONS” BAYKAL: “WE WILL END PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY” DERVIS: “WE NEED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATE MINISTER POSTS” VERHEUGEN: “THE EU SHOULD CONTINUE ENCOURAGING TURKEY TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP” ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM EU SUMMIT AGENDA ERDOGAN TO VISIT BRUSSELS TO MEET WITH EU AMBASSADORS TOURISM MINISTRY LAUNCHES NEW PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… INDECISION, OR TACTICS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET) IRAQ WAR WAITS IN THE QUEUE BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)CONTENTS
[01] CAKMAKOGLU: “I MADE THE PROPER RESPONSE TO DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ”Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu yesterday vigorously rejected charges from some quarters that due to the current heated campaign atmosphere, Turkey’s response to recent events in northern Iraq had been insufficient. “On behalf of myself, I believe that my response was the proper one,” Cakmakoglu stated. The defense minister added that US Gens. Tommy Franks and Joseph Ralston, likely leaders of any US attack on Iraq, hadn’t made any specific requests of Turkey during their visit to Ankara earlier this week. “The meetings were not political in nature, rather the US commanders discussed military and technical issues with our officials,” he added. /Turkiye/[02] CILLER: “WE WILL TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT, TURKEY’S MOST PRESSING PROBLEM”Addressing a campaign rally in the western Anatolian province of Aydin yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller vowed to tackle Turkey’s unemployment once her party comes to power, calling it “the nation’s most pressing problem.” She further charged that Turkey’s political and economic state had worsened over the last three years, adding that only the DYP had what it takes to rectify the situation. /Milliyet/[03] MGK: “TO AVERT A WAR, WE EXPECT IRAQ TO OBEY THE UN RESOLUTIONS”The National Security Board (MGK), chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, convened yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Following the approximately four-hour meeting, an official statement said that the participants had discussed domestic and foreign developments relating to Turkey’s peace and security. Regarding the Iraq issue, the statement affirmed that Turkey expected Iraq to obey the relevant United Nations resolutions so as to head off any operation against this country. “The MGK has evaluated the European Union’s Progress Report on Turkey, released at the beginning of this month, and we reiterate Turkey’s expectation to receive a date to begin membership talks at the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December,” said the statement. “In addition, we discussed economic and administrative measures to be taken following the abolition of State of Emergency rule [OHAL] in the southeastern Anatolian provinces of Diyarbakir and Sirnak, which will be lifted at the end of next month.” /Turkiye/[04] BAYKAL: “WE WILL END PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY”Appearing on television yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal reiterated his party’s pledge once it comes to power on Nov. 3 to end the practice of parliamentary deputies’ immunity to criminal prosecution. “A constitutional amendment will be needed to do this,” added Baykal. Asked about a possible United States operation against Iraq, Baykal said that such an operation would hurt Turkey’s economy and that he hoped a peaceful solution could be found for the issue. /Milliyet/[05] DERVIS: “WE NEED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATE MINISTER POSTS”Former Economy Minister and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy candidate Kemal Dervis yesterday advocated Turkey reducing the number of its state minister posts, calling the current roster of 36 “excessive.” Asked when Turkey would steer its own economy without International Monetary Fund financial aid, Dervis said that with the help of a capable government the nation would be able to stand on its own two feet within a few years, by 2005. /Milliyet/[06] VERHEUGEN: “THE EU SHOULD CONTINUE ENCOURAGING TURKEY TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP”Speaking at a press conference yesterday following a European Union General Affairs Council meeting, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said that the EU should continue encouraging Turkey in its quest to become a member state. “The strategy for Turkish-EU relations we set out at Helsinki has been very successful so far,” Verheugen added. “We got much better results than we had expected.” In related news, the EU General Affairs Council has approved a section on Turkey in its agenda for an extraordinary summit in Brussels starting tomorrow, a section giving encouraging remarks on Turkey’s chances for membership. /Sabah/[07] ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM EU SUMMIT AGENDAIn a statement released before a key two-day European Union summit beginning tomorrow, the EU General Affairs Council has given the first apparent green light for Turkey’s accession negotiations to begin. The council’s summit agenda praises Turkey’s “significant steps” to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, suggesting that this progress might lead the EU to set a date for the nation’s accession talks. Turkey has its sights set on getting such a date at the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December. The agenda further singles Turkey out for its successful reforms. Germany had reportedly urged the council to alter the wording of this agenda, arguing it would give Turkey “false hope.” In related news, Foreign Minister Sukru Sinas Gurel is due to travel to Germany today to promote Turkey’s EU membership bid and ensure the new German government’s support. /Cumhuriyet/[08] ERDOGAN TO VISIT BRUSSELS TO MEET WITH EU AMBASSADORSJustice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to travel to Brussels today to meet with the ambassadors from European Union member states. Erdogan, whose party is the apparent front-runner in many pre-election polls, will brief the ambassadors on the AKP’s EU program and his views on Turkish-EU relations. He will respond to questions from the ambassadors concerning his plans if the AKP wins the general elections and on the party’s government program. Meanwhile, AKP Deputy Chairman Abdullah Gul will also travel to Brussels today to attend a Center for European Policy Studies conference and deliver a speech on Turkish-EU relations. /Hurriyet/[09] NECIRVAN BARZANI TO VISIT ANKARANecirvan Barzani, the nephew of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani as well as prime minister of the so-called regional Kurdistan government, is due to visit Ankara in the coming days. The Turkish government is preparing to convey through Barzani a message to his uncle -- who recently voiced his wish to establish an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq -- that Turkey would never allow such a development, which it considers a “casus belli.” Recent tension between Turkey and the IKDP will be discussed with Necirvan Barzani during his visit to Ankara, during which he is expected to meet with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Turkish officials will reportedly tell Barzani that Massoud Barzani should cease making such provocative remarks, which run counter to Turkey’s national interests. In related news, a separate delegation from the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), the IKDP’s one-time rival and now partner in northern Iraq’s regional Parliament, is also expected to visit Turkey in the near future. /Cumhuriyet/[10] TOURISM MINISTRY LAUNCHES NEW PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNThe Tourism Ministry has recently launched a new promotional ad campaign to attract more foreign tourists to Turkey’s shores. The commercials produced by the ministry present the nation’s rich culture as a unique synthesis of Western and Eastern values, as well as its cultural attractions and natural beauty. These commercials highlighting Turkey’s “mystical” and exotic elements will be shown on TV channels in over 55 countries. /Aksam/[11] TOBB: “TURKEY WANTS ITS FUTURE”The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOBB) yesterday kicked off a nationwide campaign proclaiming that “Turkey Wants Its Future.” A declaration read out simultaneously in 81 cities called on all politicians to compromise on the large issues for the greater good of Turkey. At a press conference held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu stated that the Turkish people deserved better than the country’s current situation. “Turkey needs to evaluate all the opportunities that come its way. If we fail to do so, we will lose our future,” he warned. Remarking that Turkey’s issues were not intractable ones, Hisarciklioglu called on politicians to publicly pledge to carry out reforms vital for the nation. /Turkiye/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[13] INDECISION, OR TACTICS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on a possible operation by the US against Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:“Speaking this week to columnist Fikret Bila, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit complained about the Bush administration’s indecisiveness on the Iraqi issue. ‘On the one hand, President Bush states that the US might carry out a military operation at any moment,’ he told Bila. ‘On the other, he says that according to the United Nations, an operation will be the last alternative.’ Ecevit then called on Washington to make a decision. US Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who came to Ankara on Monday, reiterated that the Bush administration hadn’t yet made a decision concerning a military operation. The flood of contradictory statements coming out of Washington for weeks now shows this as well. As a matter of fact, it’s clear that the US has been pursuing two different tracks, that is, not only is it accelerating its military preparations, but it’s also intensifying its diplomatic efforts with a new proposal to the UN. Does the US’ behavior come from indecisiveness and confusion, or might it have another reason? For example, could it be hoping to end Saddam’s regime through pressure, effectively wearing him down? This might be the hidden agenda, but gaining the necessary time for war preparations might be another. Let’s not forget that even as the US is turning the wheels of diplomacy, it’s continuing its military preparations in the region. It’s clear that Gen. Franks’ tour of the Middle East, including Turkey, is directed towards the latter aim. Another factor playing a role in Bush’s apparent indecision must be the reaction of the US’ allies and friends. Everybody had thought that Bush would strike at Iraq without even trying diplomatic methods, that is, through a ‘unilateralist policy.’ However, now we see that the US administration is trying to solve the weapons inspection-centered issues by consulting with other countries and pushing for a tough UN Security Council resolution. Of course this will take time. Maybe the US has no intention of carrying out a too-hasty military operation and so won’t start one this year. As the thinking behind the Bush administration’s moves remain unclear, various ‘scenario exercises’ are continuing. Gen. Franks’ contacts in Ankara should be seen as part of this. In other words, at this stage, what’s being discussed is what Turkey can do in case of an US operation. These contacts will continue during an upcoming visit to the US of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. However, in this respect, the important thing is how Ankara will project its political will until the day the US makes its decision on an operation. It’s unfortunate that this situation is coinciding with our election campaign season. The tripartite coalition is about to make its exit, and it’s unclear what sort of a government will replace it after the elections. However, a strong government, one capable of reflecting our political will, is needed at this juncture. Former diplomat Onur Oymen’s observations are apt here: ‘A prime minister who will hold meetings with the US and other concerned countries, and visit their capitals and hold the highest-ranking contacts, this is an absolute necessity right now. It won’t be enough for the prime minister or foreign minister to send messages or make calls through the media.’ Therefore a government should be established immediately after Nov. 3 so that Turkey’s voice can be heard loud and clear. Meanwhile, perhaps it would be better for Bush not to act hastily on launching an Iraq operation.” [14] IRAQ WAR WAITS IN THE QUEUE BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on a possible US military attack in Iraq and the US president’s apparent change of mind concerning the timing of the war. A summary of his column is as follows:“The US president’s speech yesterday showed that the US is going to delay its military campaign in Iraq for another couple of weeks. The US could even refrain from striking at Iraq if its issue were not oil but rather Saddam Hussein alone. Yet Washington will, without any doubt, carry out its military designs on Iraq, citing Saddam’s refusal to cooperate fully with UN weapons inspectors. Worldwide protests against the prospect of a war in Iraq, the resistance of Russia and France, and Turkey’s rightful demands from the US have all worked together to make George W. Bush opt for a delay on the issue. This week, however, it became apparent that the US has almost completed its preparations for a military campaign when US Gulf Region Commander Gen. Tommy Franks and US NATO European Forces Commander Gen. Joseph Ralston came to Ankara to confer with the Turkish General Staff. Moreover, the US just has sent another aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf. And the National Security Board (MGK) yesterday discussed a possible war in Iraq. The US’ promises to compensate Turkey’s losses in a possible war, which will definitely hurt Turkey greatly, count for nothing. Instead of these shallow promises, the best aid that US could lend would be urging the EU to set a date for Turkey’s accession talks at December’s Copenhagen summit. As a war in Iraq draws ever closer, Turkey’s stance in such a conflict will be very important. But it shouldn’t be forgotten that Turkey’s long-term interests and future are in the EU and in catching up with European standards.” 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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