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Turkish Press Review, 03-04-02Turkish 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> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning02.04.2003FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “THE PEOPLE TRUST OUR GOVERNMENT”Addressing the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he appreciated offers put forward by many citizens to support the government’s efforts at easing Turkey’s domestic and foreign debt burden. Erdogan stated that State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan had begun to work on a “National Mobilization” program. “Our citizens have shown their willingness to make such sacrifices during AKP rule,” stated Erdogan. “This is a clear indication that they trust our government.” Remarking that Turkey would overcome its difficulties, Erdogan predicted, “After a three-year period, you will see a more productive Turkey.” /Turkiye/[02] POWELL VISITS TURKEYUS Secretary of State Colin Powell last night arrived in Ankara to pay an official visit. En route to Ankara, Powell told reporters that the US administration would ask Turkey for its support in the war in Iraq, but did not specify exactly what kind of support this might entail. “But we’re not looking at any requests … we were looking at a month or so ago,” added Powell, apparently referring to a rejected US troop deployment request. “These would be requests having to do with just sustaining the operation, our operations in northern Iraq, and should be not difficult for the Turks to accommodate.” Stressing that the White House and US Congress had been disappointed by Parliament’s rejection of the US troop deployment proposal, Powell said, “I think if we see full cooperation in the days ahead, and especially … full support for humanitarian efforts as well as to support our troops that are now in northern Iraq, then I think this would help” in passing $1 billion in aid proposed for Turkey. The secretary of state is scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul this morning, after which he will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Following a luncheon at the Foreign Ministry residence with Gul, Powell is expected to speak with the press. Powell is also set to visit Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok in the afternoon. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US presidential envoy to the Iraqi opposition, will accompany Powell during his visit. After completing his contacts in Ankara, Powell will proceed to Brussels, Belgium, to meet with the Russian foreign minister and officials from several European countries. /All Papers/[03] GUL: “TURKISH-US RELATIONS WILL BE STRENGTHENED”Speaking to reporters yesterday, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Turkey today would serve to help eliminate recent tensions between the two countries. Stressing that the current government places great importance on its relationship with the US, Gul said that these ties were based not only on economics matters but also had political aspects. Gul underlined that Turkey’s ties with the US would continue and would in fact be strengthened. /Turkiye/[04] GREEK FM PAPANDREOU: “IF TURKISH TROOPS ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ, NATO WILL WITHDRAW ITS MILITARY SUPPORT”Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou warned yesterday that if Turkish troops were to enter northern Iraq, then NATO would withdraw its military support from Turkey. “Up to now Turkey hasn’t entered the region, but it may do so in the future,” said Papandreou. “If Turkish troops enter northern Iraq, then NATO won’t support Turkey anymore. Such an action would damage Turkish-EU relations and also jeopardize Turkey’s EU membership bid.” It was unclear whether Papandreou was referring to withdrawing support for Turkey’s defenses against possible Iraqi attack, something previously threatened, or a broader withdrawal, which would be more difficult as both the US and Turkey are members of the alliance. /Hurriyet/[05] GREEK AMBASSADOR: “THE IRAQ WAR HAS BOOSTED THE IMPORTANCE OF TURKEY’S EU BID, AND IT SHOULD JOIN THE UNION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”Michael Christides, Greece’s ambassador to Ankara, yesterday met with True Path Party (DYP) leader and parliamentarian Mehmet Agar to discuss a number of issues, including the Iraq war and Turkey’s European Union membership bid. Greece currently holds the EU term presidency. During their talks, Christides said that the ongoing war in Iraq had increased the importance of Turkey’s EU membership bid. “We now support Turkey’s joining the Union more so than in the past,” he stated. “Turkey is very important both for the region and the EU, and it should become an EU member as soon as possible.” Christides added that Turkey’s opposition to the war against Iraq proved its status as a European country. While the Turkish public overwhelmingly opposes the Iraq war and Parliament rejected US troop deployments for the conflict, Ankara has consented to being counted among the US’ “coalition of the willing” supporting the war. In addition, it has granted US and British warplanes overflight rights to pursue the conflict. /Milliyet/[06] IRAQI AMBASSADOR SALIH: “THE TURKISH NATION IS OPPOSED TO THE AKP GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORTING THE US”Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Talib Abid Salih yesterday said that Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government should act “in line with the with the will of the Turkish nation” during its talks today with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who arrived in Turkey late yesterday to discuss recent developments on the Iraq war. “The people don’t want the AKP government to support the US, and it should keep this in mind during fact during the talks with Powell,” said Salih. “However, Turkey’s authorizing overflights through its airspace amounts to its supporting the US.” /Hurriyet/[07] US CONGRESS TO DEBATE $1 BILLION IN AID TO TURKEYFollowing yesterday’s approval by the US House and Senate Appropriations committees, both houses of the US Congress are set this week to debate in full session a $75 billion wartime spending bill proposed by President George W. Bush, including $1 billion in direct aid to Turkey. Bush wants the aid as part of an effort to mend damaged relations with the longtime US ally. Yesterday before passing the bill in altered form, the House panel voted down an amendment to eliminate the aid to Turkey. Two leading members of the House committee, Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican who chairs the committee, and Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the committee's top Democrat, recommended that the full Congress “modestly reduce” the aid package and include "performance standards" to ensure the Turkish government cooperates with the US as an ally. The two representatives sent a letter to committee Chairman Bill Young expressing their views. /Star/[08] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[09] WHY IS POWELL IN TURKEY? BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol comments on US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Turkey today. A summary of his column is as follows:“Which issues will be discussed with US Secretary of State Colin Powell? During yesterday’s government summit chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, this subject was discussed. The first determination was that Powell wouldn’t request a deployment of US troops in Turkey, for two reasons: Military: The soldiers and equipment that the US might have deployed in Turkey are now about to reach Basra in southern Iraq. At this stage, the US military strategy requires rapid reinforcement of its southern front. Politics: Our Parliament, which rejected such a proposal even before the bloody face of the war and Iraq’s resistance became clear, would never accept the proposal at this stage, and the US knows it. Ankara thinks the following issues will be discussed during its meetings with Powell: Northern Iraq: Powell will clearly explain the nature of US relations with northern Iraq’s Kurds and provide Turkey with reassurances. He will once again request that Turkey not send its forces into the region. Turkey also doesn’t want to be in conflict with the Kurds or upset other bordering countries. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok has previously explained our sine qua non security conditions. If Powell gives written guarantees, Ankara will answer affirmatively. Long-term cooperation: According to Ankara, when the shooting begins in northern Iraq and Baghdad proper, the US will badly need Turkey’s help in terms of medical services and logistics. Therefore Powell will want to mend relations with Turkey. Ankara welcomes this idea warmly. Iraq’s reconstruction: Now the US sees more clearly how difficult it will be to reconstruct Iraq due to the resistance it’s facing. Therefore it needs Turkey’s political and social help, and this issue will be discussed as well. Strategic partnership: Even if the northern front is a dead issue due to Parliament’s rejection of US troop deployment, the US wants to see that its strategic partnership with Turkey will continue. Ankara agrees. Iraq isn’t the only issue in Turkish-US relations; there are also the Caucasus, Central Asian, Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline, and economic issues to be addressed. And of course the Cyprus issue! Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will visit Cyprus tomorrow. Today the Cyprus issue will be discussed with Powell in detail. Yesterday an official from Ankara showed me a quote from the Economist magazine: ‘Turkish-US relations have been damaged, but Turkey continues to hold the strategic axis due to its geographical position. Turkey is the only Muslim country within NATO, a powerful friend of Israel and a Western democracy, although it has certain shortcomings.’ This is a very brief summary of the quote. Signs in the two capitals are pointing towards a rational approach. Of course it would be beneficial for everybody to mend relations and reestablish the strategic balance. Therefore Powell will be welcomed in Turkey. However, Ankara will have serious warnings for him as well: Stop the Armenian lobby: If the fuel of an Armenian bill is added to the fire of the nation’s unease, our relations would grind to a dead halt. Economic aid: Ankara won’t have any additional requests. However, if the amount of aid proposed by the Bush administration is cut by the US Congress, Ankara will tell Powell that it might consider this an insult and so reject it outright.” [10] POWELL’S ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC PACKAGE BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Turkey today. A summary of her column is as follows:“The problems encountered by US and British coalition forces in Iraq have proven that the war will not go as they planned. Most of the assumptions on which the US had based its decision to attack Iraq turned out to be false. Let’s take a look at the current picture: Saddam Hussein’s paramilitary forces are resisting coalition forces in northern Iraq, which means the US assumption that Saddam is a hated tyrant fell flat. The Kurdish forces in northern Iraq which had been expected to help US troops do not seem as powerful as expected. Furthermore, tension is rising in the Arab world. The US is actually stuck in Iraq, which is why the Bush administration is currently looking for a reliable new ally. Diplomatic circles in Washington, which had charged Turkey with betrayal, have suddenly begun asking themselves what the Bush administration did wrong with Turkey. US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Turkey should be interpreted within this framework. Washington has shifted its tactics in its relations with Turkey. Powell decided to pay an official to Ankara in a bid to mend our strained relations, which have suffered ever since Parliament refused to authorize US troop deployments on Turkish soil. Powell has brought a new economic aid package with him, and here are some important points this new package includes: 1) The Bush administration is to spend $750 million on purchasing Turkish products to be sent to US troops in Iraq. 2) Textile products will be included into the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) to be established jointly by Turkey and the US. 3) US quotas on Turkish textile products will be increased. 4) Turkey is to provide US soldiers with the textile products they need. 5) The US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is to grant Turkey’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SEEs) with loans. The additional package focuses on a number of measures designed to improve commercial ties between our two countries. Will the Bush administration again ask to use Turkish soil to open a northern front against Iraq? We don’t know yet. Will a new proposal for the deployment of US troops on Turkish soil be prepared? I have no idea. However, I expect Powell not to bring up this issue during his visit. I believe that the Bush administration is planning to ask for Turkey’s support in the future. This visit is meant solely to soothe a disappointed ally.” 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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