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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 97-12-21Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>21 DEC 1997CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on October 21, 1997. Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HÜRRİYET (LIBERAL)SIX MONTH SCENARIOAs Prime Minister Yılmaz freezes the prices of the State Economic Enterprises products for 6 months, and give European Union a 6 months period of time, the plan behind this is revealed: According to the scenario: Welfare Party (RP) will be closed, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller will be sent to Supreme Court, DYP will have a moderate leader. DYP and DTP (Democratic Turkey Party) will merge, increasing the number of their deputies in parliament to 110. Coalition will take a deep breath as they will not need the support of CHP (Republican People Party), then RP support will be broken, and following presidential elections, DYP, and ANAP (Motherland Party) will merge. If EU does not consider our demand, Turkey will withdraw its application. Yılmaz, then will be ''the man who is able to oppose Europe.'' The decrease in inflation will also be to the benefit of Yılmaz. MİLLİYET (LIBERAL) ''WELFARE'' QUESTION TO YILMAZ SABAH (LIBERAL)SPY SHOCKTurkish and Greek Foreign Ministries confirmed the spy issue. It was revealed that Greek diplomat Elstratios Haralombus working in Istanbul Consulate of Greece was infact acting as a spy, and Greece was asked to withdraw him. Greek Military Attache Colonel Constantin Balanos was also involved in the case, it was claimed. CUMHURİYET (LEFT)PROMISE FOR DEMOCRATIZATIONYılmaz said concrete steps will be taken concerning human rights in Turkey in an interview with CNN. TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)LAST CALL TO EUROPEPrime Minister Yılmaz urged Europe from Washington: ''Correct your erroneous decision on Turkey. If you insist on this decision, we freeze all our relations.'' RADİKAL (LEFT)YILMAZ SOFTENSPrime Minister Yılmaz: We do not say that lets completely cut our relations wit the EU. ZAMAN (RELIGIOUS)MEDIA TRAGEDYTotal circulation of newspapers, in spite of promotion craze, decreased to 3 million which is considered as danger point. YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)TORTURER IS A TRAITORJustice Ministry takes steps for a program concerning human rights in Turkey. Following EU'S decision excluding Turkey, government gave priority to ''human rights'' file. Justice Minister Sungurlu said that public servants who torture other people and violate human rights are infact 'traitors' who harm the state.'' [02] TURKEY-EU - PM YILMAZ: ''WE HAVE SUSPENDED OUR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH EU''ANKARA, Dec 21 (A.A) - Turkey has suspended talks with the European Union on human rights and disputes with Greece and Greek Cypriot side, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said late on Saturday.''We have suspended our political dialogue,'' said Yilmaz in a live interview on CNN International. ''The European Union made a distinction between Turkey and the other eleven countries, although many of these countries were behind Turkey in terms of democracy or in terms of economy. That was a clear discrimination against Turkey and I will not accept it,'' Yilmaz told CNN. Stating that Turkey may withdraw its application for EU membership, Yılmaz said Turkey will continue to honor current agreements with the EU despite the break in talks over political preconditions which EU put forward to full membership. ''I think the future of Turkey lies in cooperation with the Western world, '' Yilmaz said. ''We share the same values and objectives with other democratic countries in the sphere of human rights and other democratic freedoms,'' he said, responding to question on human rights and separatist terrorist organisation PKK, ''but we are not in a position to bargain, to negotiate with terrorists.'' Yılmaz said, ''you cannot negotiate with terrorists. You cannot deal with terrorists only by peaceful means. If they use violence you have to use your military force.'' Stating that military precautions are not so much necessary to solve the problems in the southeastern region, Yılmaz said the government is taking economic, cultural, and social precations to remove the problems lying behind terrorism. [03] TURKEY-FOREIGN POLICY - FM CEM: ''LETS NOT ATTACH IMPORTANCE EU MORE THAN IT DESERVES. EU MEMBERSHIP FOR TURKEY IS NOT A MIRACLE, IS NOT THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD'' - ''WE ALWAYS HAVE THE WILL TO JOIN THE EU, BUT WE MUST ALSO KNOW HOW TO SAY (NO)''ANKARA, Dec 21 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said late on Saturday that ''European Union (EU) membership is not a miracle, and is not the best thing on earth for Turkey,'' stating that EU must not be attached importance more than it deserves.Cem told parliament that Turkey will always have the will to join the EU, pointing out that ''we must also know how to say (no) in a well-balanced manner.'' Stating that they do not need the approval of others concerning the European character of Turkey, Cem said Turkey is both European and Asian. Concerning the reaction to Turkey in ICO summit, Cem said, ''if separatist violence attacks from the borders of a country, and our soldiers have to fight inside the borders of that country, we cannot give up our security because a decision against Turkey will be taken in a conference.'' Concerning EU summit decisions taken in Luxembourg, Cem said ''I want to be a full member to EU, but EU membership is not a miracle for Turkey, it is not the best thing on Earth for Turkey. It is not the end of the world if we do not be a full member.'' Cem said Prime Minister Yılmaz refused to take part in a family photo of EU, pointing out that (we cannot be a silent figure in such a photograph. We do not need this.) ''European press now questions itself. It is not only our problem from now on, but also theirs. I hope they will come to us with a proposal that we can accept. Until that day, we do not need to speak with them the issues such as Cyprus, Aegean, and Greece, and our some domestic problems,'' he said.
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