Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-01

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

01 NOVEMBER 2001 Thursday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 2, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who explained the decision of the government to send troop to Afghanistan, said that ''it is Turkey's natural duty to participate in the front lines along with our friend and ally, the United States.'' Ecevit said that Turkey does not want war, but one can't refrain from war if it is inevitable. Ecevit said that it would be a suicide for Turkey, which is an important country for the world if it withdraws from the struggle, adding that ''If Turkey does not fulfil this mission and -God forbid- if Turkey needs the implementation of Article 5 of NATO treaty in the future, it can have difficulty in finding foreign support.'' Ecevit stressed that the special forces unit of around 90 members who will be charged within the scope of Operation ''Enduring Freedom'' will be sent to the region as soon as possible.

TURKISH SOLDIERS GIVEN MISSION TO ACT IN FRONT LINE

The government which had earlier limited the mission of the Turkish government with ''training, intelligence and protection of peace,'' radically changed its policy yesterday and broadened the description of ''mission'' for ''absolutely necessary conditions.'' ''Clash'' has also been included into the scope of mission. The government statement issued yesterday stressed the aim of the Turkish troops as helping in the missions of ''reconnaissance, fighting with terrorists, guiding the North Alliance forces, military support to the humanitarian aid operation, protecting innocent people and evacuating certain areas from civilian people when necessary.'' A military source said that ''the special forces unit will head to the region as soon as possible in line with the decision taken by the political administration. The statement issued by the government seems as if the limits of the mission has been drawn in a broader way. This has been done in order not to restrict the special forces unit in their acts in case of emergency in the future. But the main target of the Turkish special forces unit is to train the Northern Alliance in Afghanstan.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The Chinese giant ship Varyag passed from Istanbul Strait yesterday and set sail for Marmara Sea. The passage of the ship which does not have a rudder and whose length is 306 meters lasted for five hours. Varyag which waited in the Black Sea for three years and which sailed with tugboats for 19 months, started its passage at 9.00 a.m. yesterday due to favourable wheather. The traffic in the Strait was stopped during its passage. Varyag which completed its passage from Istanbul Strait at 15.00 local time, is expected to pass from Canakkale Strait today.

NEW CIVIL CODE'S PART ON FAMILY LAW ADOPTED

The parliament passed the part of the new Turkish Civil Code which is about the family law. The part, which is based on equality of the sexes, is consisted of 1,030 articles. The most important change introduced by the new Civil Code is that the man will no longer be the ''head of the household,'' but both man and woman will have equal rights in the management of the household. The couple will choose the house they will live in together. Under the current law, the woman is supposed to live in the house chosen by her husband. A woman who marries a man could keep her maiden name. The judge will allow a woman use her husband's last name after the divorce if the woman proves that this is for her good and this does not harm the husband in any way. Under the new law, both men and women have to be a minimum of 17 years old to marry each other. The wife and the husband will have equal share of the assets obtained during the marriage. The partners can choose among ''separation of assets'', ''separation of shared assets'' and ''partnership of assets'' in case a marriage ends because of divorce, death or other reasons.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Turkey decided to task a special force unit of 87 members to the ongoing operation in Afghanistan upon the wish of the U.S. While opening to signature the decision to send the force to Afghanistan, Ecevit asked the cabinet members if there are persons among them who oppose the decision. All the ministers approved the decision without any reservation and Prime Minister Ecevit left the cabinet meeting to visit President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. After getting Sezer's approval, Ecevit announced the decision to the public opinion. Meanwhile, Taliban reacted to the decision and the Taliban's representative in Pakistan said that ''the soldiers who come here even if they are Muslims, are our enemy.''

BE QUICK!

The paper calls the government to decrease the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates as soon as possible. The government which stated that the VAT rates would be decreased, does not take a step in this issue. The government earlier noted that the decrease of the tax would start on November 1. IMF warned the government not to hurry, thus the government acts very slowly on the issue. However, the market has been negatively affected from the development. Koc Holding administartor Cengiz Solakoglu said that ''no automobile is sold for one week.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that the Turkish soldiers might be forced to respond and fight back in the course of the things. But mainly the role of the Turkish special forces unit will be one of helping humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, and training. Speaking to American tv channel CNN yesterday, Cem noted that Turkey does not think that the ongoing war is only the fight of the U.S. ''This is also the fight of Turkey,'' Cem stressed. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey's decision to send troops to Afghanistan was a significant message to everyone that ''it is not a war against Islam''. Cem said that the decision on sending troops to Afghanistan had a symbolic meaning. Noting that terrorism does not have a religion and geography, Cem said that the Turkish government's decision is a significant message to everyone that it is not a war against Islam.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

All the groups in the parliament criticizes State Minister Kemal Dervis who said that deputies called him on the phone asking permission and facility from him to found companies. The parliament members are angry with Dervis. The members of the coalition parties reacted most harshly to Dervis. Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy Ali Ilıksoy asked Dervis to give the names of deputies who called him on the phone. Interier Minister Rustu Kazım Yucelen said that Dervis has been warned, adding that the government shares the sensitivity of the parliement on the issue.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Parliamentary Constitution Commission adopted yesterday the motion foreseeing amendment in Article 86 of the Constitution about the allowances and salaries of deputies. The motion is expected to be discussed by Parliamentary General Assembly next week. Thus, the problem seems to be solved without holding a referendum.

SPECIAL FORCES UNIT ON THE WAY TO AFGHANISTAN

A special forces unit of around 90 members composed of officers and noncommissioned officers will head to Afghanistan as soon as possible. The government statement said on the issue that the unit will help in training of Northern Alliance, in bringing prosperity to Afghan people and in bringing stability to the country.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that terrorism does not have Ramadan or holiday. ''We will certainly launch efforts not to give any suffering to Afghan people during Ramadan,'' Ecevit said. He added that it is not easy to guess the conditions which wait for the Turkish soldiers there, adding that ''I hope they won't face a situation like the one in Vietnam.''

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