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Turkish Press Review, 02-10-25Turkish 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 morning25.10.2002SEZER: “THE IRAQ ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS” ECEVIT: “AN IRAQ OPERATION WOULD HAVE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR TURKEY” TURKEY DENOUNCES CHECHEN TERRORIST ATTACK EU LEADERS DISCUSS ENLARGEMENT IN BRUSSELS GUREL: “GERMANY SHOULD SUPPORT TURKEY AT THE EU’S COPENHAGEN SUMMIT” PRODI: “I DON’T SEE TURKEY GETTING A DATE THIS DECEMBER FOR ITS ACCESSION TALKS” US STATE DEPARTMENT: “WE STAND AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH STATE” NECIRVAN BARZANI MEETS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS CILLER: “I KNOW THE ECONOMY BETTER THAN THE OTHER PARTY LEADERS” IMF: “TURKEY WILL NEED $35.1 BILLION NEXT YEAR” OECD: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS GOING WELL” AYGUL: “TURKEY’S LOSSES IN AN IRAQ OPERATION COULD TOTAL $150 BILLION” TURKISH FIRMS TO SHOW WARES AT BAGHDAD PRODUCTS FAIR FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... BAROMETER RISING (SLIGHTLY) BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET) UNCERTAINTY, AMBIGUITY BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)CONTENTS
[01] SEZER: “THE IRAQ ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS”President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that the Iraq issue should be resolved through peaceful means based on the relevant United Nations resolutions. In his speech at the opening of an Organization of the Islamic Conference Economy and Trade Cooperation Permanent Committee (ISEDAK) meeting in Istanbul, Sezer stated that Turkey stood firmly in favor of Iraq’s territorial integrity. “We hope that the suffering of the Iraqi people comes to an end and that as a nation they can be reintegrated with the international community,” said Sezer. Regarding the ongoing violence in the Middle East, the president said, “Bloodshed in the region has claimed many lives. This must cease immediately so that the peace process can be put back on track.” Pointing to the importance of economic and trade cooperation among Islamic nations, Sezer said, “We should pursue initiatives to boost the quality and variety of our products, and regional trade and investments should be encouraged as well.” /Turkiye/[02] ECEVIT: “AN IRAQ OPERATION WOULD HAVE POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS FOR TURKEY”Speaking on television yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that a possible United States operation against Iraq would have implications for Turkey in the political, social, and economic realms. Due to the harm it would do to our economy, Ecevit remarked, I would rather Turkey not be involved in such an operation. He added that recent developments seemed to indicate that the United States was backing away from its push for military action, though he called this trend unclear. /Cumhuriyet/[03] TURKEY DENOUNCES CHECHEN TERRORIST ATTACKTurkey yesterday denounced the action of some 50 armed Chechen terrorists who stormed a crowded Moscow theater on Wednesday night, took hundreds of theatergoers hostage and threatened to shoot their captives and blow up the building unless Russia withdraws its troops from Chechnya. The Chechen terrorists took some 700 people as captives, including at least three Turkish citizens. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday condemning the terrorists’ action and stressing that Turkey always stood opposed to any and all terrorist attacks. The statement added that Turkey hoped the Chechen terrorists would agree to release the hostages as soon as possible without causing any further damage. Meanwhile, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok yesterday called on world leaders to unite and cooperate against international terrorism, underlining that terrorism should not be considered a crime committed against one country but rather against humanity itself. /Cumhuriyet/[04] EU LEADERS DISCUSS ENLARGEMENT IN BRUSSELSThe leaders of the European Union member states met yesterday in Brussels to discuss the Union’s enlargement process. The draft text of the two-day meeting’s final declaration, which is expected to be issued by EU Term President Denmark at the end of the gathering, welcomes Turkey's recent efforts to improve its democracy such as abolishing the death penalty and extending certain cultural rights to minorities, but adds that the country still falls short of meeting the political criteria for EU entry. On the one hand, the text praises Turkey for its successful moves to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, but it also stresses that the EU wants to see the implementation of the reforms in practice. EU officials characterized the text, which underlines points similar to those in the recent EU Commission Progress Report, as encouraging and positive. /Cumhuriyet/[05] GUREL: “GERMANY SHOULD SUPPORT TURKEY AT THE EU’S COPENHAGEN SUMMIT”During his visit to Berlin earlier this week, Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel met with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer to convey Turkey’s views and expectations on Turkish-EU relations. In their meetings, Gurel stated that the Turkish government had recently taken significant steps towards fulfilling the Union’s political criteria and so expected the EU to set a date at its December Copenghagen summit for the beginning of Turkey’s accessions negotiations. Gurel also remarked that Turkey would never accept any further “conditions” to be stipulated by the EU to begin its accession talks. “For Turkey, there are two possible outcomes from the summit,” Gurel reportedly told Fischer. “The EU sets a date for Turkey’s accession talks, or it declines to do so. There is no third way. The EU setting forth any other conditions to begin accession negotiations is unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Fischer reportedly stated that he believed that Turkey deserved an encouraging response from the EU in return for its recent successful efforts. Gurel also expressed his wish that Germany should support Turkey at the Copenhagen summit as a close ally and friend. /Cumhuriyet/[06] PRODI: “I DON’T SEE TURKEY GETTING A DATE THIS DECEMBER FOR ITS ACCESSION TALKS”EU Commission Chairman Romano Prodi said yesterday that he didn’t expect the commission would offer a date at December’s Copenhagen summit for Turkey to begin its accession negotiations. Speaking to reporters in Brussels at the beginning of a two-day EU summit focusing on enlargement, Prodi stressed that recent steps taken by Turkey to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria had shown great progress. “However, we still need to see practical implementation of these [legislative] reforms,” he added. Meanwhile, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the prime minister of EU Term President Denmark, said that the final decision on Turkey’s membership bid would be made at the December summit. “Turkey will be treated just like the other candidate countries,” said the Danish premier. “As soon as it fully implements the Copenhagen criteria, we will begin its negotiations.” /Turkiye/[07] US STATE DEPARTMENT: “WE STAND AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH STATE”Speaking at a daily press briefing yesterday, US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker reiterated that the US did not favor the establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq. “The US wants to protect Iraq’s territorial integrity,” said Reeker. “The Bush administration is holding continual consultations with Turkish officials on this issue.” Pointing out how several US officials had paid recent visits to Turkey, Reeker underlined that Turkey and the US were close allies who cooperated on many issues, including the Iraq problem. During those visits, the US officials stressed that there were no disputes between the two countries, since they shared common interests in the region and had developed similar policies on the issues. /Cumhuriyet/[08] NECIRVAN BARZANI MEETS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALSNecirvan Barzani, nephew of Iraqi Kurdish Democracy Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani and prime minister of the so-called regional Kurdish government, and Hoshyar Zebari, the IKDP’s foreign policy chief, yesterday met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Speaking after the meeting, Barzani said, “Our talks with Mr. Ziyal were very fruitful, and we exchanged views on the latest developments in the region.” He added that there was no need for Turkey to be concerned about recent developments in northern Iraq. /Turkiye/[09] CILLER: “I KNOW THE ECONOMY BETTER THAN THE OTHER PARTY LEADERS”True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday declared that she knew the economy better than Turkey’s other political party leaders, adding that this expertise set the DYP apart from competing parties. Ciller also said that Turkey needed to see a rise in consumer expending in order to encourage a boost in production. “In achieving this aim we can also address the nation’s most pressing problem, unemployment,” she stated. /Milliyet/[10] IMF: “TURKEY WILL NEED $35.1 BILLION NEXT YEAR”International Monetary Fund officials yesterday forecast that Turkey would need $35.1 billion in financial aid next year and $36.3 billion in 2004. In an IMF report released yesterday, it stated that Turkey’s export revenues would increase to $39.6 billion next year and to $42.8 billion in 2004. The IMF report also predicted that inflation would fall to 8% in the upcoming year and drop to 5% by 2006. /Milliyet/[11] OECD: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS GOING WELL”Turkey’s economic program is currently on track and going well, defying a number of persistent problems, said the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) annual economic survey on Turkey released yesterday. The recovery from last year’s economic crisis began during the summer of 2001 and has been taking hold and continuing apace, the survey added. But, it warned, political and economic instability and high interest rates remain dangers. Yet Turkey’s economic program has also made quick and impressive progress in pursuing banking reforms, meant to address distortions in the sector, the survey argued. For the future, it concluded, political stability was a must for the continued success of the economic program, adding that the process of Turkey’s EU accession bid was aiding the economy and could serve as an anchor for long-term structural reform. /Hurriyet/[12] AYGUL: “TURKEY’S LOSSES IN AN IRAQ OPERATION COULD TOTAL $150 BILLION”Turco-Iraq Business Council Chairman Bilgin Aygul said yesterday that Turkey would be the biggest economic loser in a possible Iraqi operation. Recalling that Turkey had suffered the greatest economic impact of any country from 1991’s Gulf War, Aygul said the promises made to Turkey at the time had been forgotten. Stressing that an Iraqi operation would be a further blow to an economy already in crisis, he stated, “Our total losses would be around $150 billion.” /Turkiye/[13] TURKISH FIRMS TO SHOW WARES AT BAGHDAD PRODUCTS FAIRNearly 100 Turkish firms are expected to attend the International Commerce and Industrial Products Fair in Baghdad, Iraq starting next Friday, Nov. 1. This year, about 1,500 firms from 48 countries are to participate in the 10-day fair. Turkish firms will display their products in various fields such as construction, automotive goods, electronics, computers, machine equipment and health care. /Turkiye/[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[15] BAROMETER RISING (SLIGHTLY) BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Turkey’s expectations from the European Union and the possibility of them coming true. A summary of his column is as follows:“There’s recently been a slight increase in Turkey’s ‘hope barometer’ concerning the European Union. Following the chill wind which blew in earlier this month with the EU Progress Report, some of the latest statements seem positively balmy. But the important long-range forecast will be much more clearer after the summit currently being held in Brussels. There are a few signs that the barometer moved in Turkey’s favor this week: - Britain declared that a satisfactory decision should be made for Turkey during the Copenhagen summit in December. Foreign Minister Jack Straw promised that Britain would give Ankara the ‘greatest’ support concerning this issue. - In surprise remarks, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that he favored giving Turkey a date for membership negotiations at Copenhagen and also called on EU Term President Denmark’s Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen to support this goal. Schroeder’s coalition partner Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer made a similar statement. - An encouraging signal on Turkey is expected to be received from the Brussels summit’s final declaration to be released today. Expressions in the draft declaration might be signs that Turkey’s negotiations process will begin. There are a number of factors playing a role in moving the barometer in a hopeful direction. The intensive contacts of Turkish officials and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are at the top of this list. The influence of voters of Turkish origin in Germany also helped bring around Schroeder and Fischer to the cause. And, like Germany, Britain also thinks that during such a critical period for world politics, giving Turkey the cold shoulder would have negative consequences. They -- just like Greece, Italy and Spain, who have also taken a positive stance towards Ankara -- think that an encouraging decision for Turkey should be issued at the Copenhagen summit. The Copenhagen summit will be held in less than two months. If Turkey can make good use of the intervening period, it can give this acceleration of its EU bid an additional boost. This can be ensured by continuing its efforts at persuasion through mutual visits and contacts and by demonstrating that Turkey is really carrying out the EU criteria. We should downplay Turkey’s recent moves to close down the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and certain German foundations (for alleged espionage) during such a critical period, since the EU’s spotlight is now on Turkey and this news conflicts with the positive atmosphere that we want to create. Yesterday Turkey watchers in Brussels, Berlin and other capitals were surprised to hear about the closure efforts and made their displeasure known. At this point, Turkey can argue that its legal system is independent and that judges and public prosecutors are only doing what is required under the current law. However, these sort of practices clash with the Europeans’ sensibilities. In addition, it puts those within the EU who want to open their doors to Turkey in a tight spot. As one European diplomat said yesterday, ‘Apart from the legal aspect of the issue, this is a blunder, especially in terms of timing, because in a week your elections will be held and the Copenhagen summit is coming up in just six weeks.’ Ankara is insisting on Turkey’s receiving a date at the Copenhagen summit. Although the barometer seems to be moving in our favor, it’s uncertain whether a definite decision will be made at the December summit. This should be borne in mind when we read the barometer.” [16] UNCERTAINTY, AMBIGUITY BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on recent political developments concerning Turkish-EU relations and Turkey’s Nov. 3 elections. A summary of her column is as follows:“The European Union has recently adopted so ambiguous an attitude on Turkey that listening to their official statements, one can reach diametrically opposed conclusions on just what these pronouncements mean. The same holds true for what European Commission Chairman Romano Prodi said yesterday. Prodi contended, on the one hand, that the EU should continue to encourage Turkey in implementing its political reforms, and that it should even go beyond that and take further steps towards Turkey’s membership. But on the other hand, he underlined that he didn’t think that the commission would set a date at December’s Copenhagen summit for Turkey’s accession talks. Of course, Turkey is also responsible in part for the EU’s ambiguous, not to say ambivalent, attitude. Seen from the outside, Turkey is at crossroads. And the path it will choose for itself is unclear to many observers. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which the polls indicate is the most likely winner in November’s elections, has been flip-flopping since the day it hit the campaign trial. The very same figures who realized that certain mistakes made in the past had put Turkey through dire political straits, and thus parted ways with the Felicity Party (SP), are now flirting with creating new tensions. Just take a look at what AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to do. He is well aware that playing the ‘victim of the political system’ card works quite well in attracting votes, while he also pushes the law to the limits in carrying out his campaign. What about his shaky stance on the headscarf issue? Erdogan reiterates at every occasion that his party will lift ‘all the bans’ through amending the Constitution if the AKP comes to power. What exactly are those bans? No one knows. Or, are these promises some sort of coded messages to the AKP’s potential voters? Again, this is unclear. Maybe in resorting to such tactics Erdogan is trying to appeal to the SP’s grassroots. Whatever his ambitions, he is serving one thing: Uncertainty. Maybe he’ll just forget what he promised when he comes to power, or maybe not. Is certainty possible with so many ‘maybe’s in the air? Turkey is a country with an unknown destination. So is it fair to expect an unambiguous attitude from the EU?” [17] TO OUR READERS:Due to next Tuesday’s Republic Day, October 29, the Turkish Press Review will next appear on Wednesday, October 30.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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