Turkish Daily News, 96-05-04

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From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>

TURKISH DAILY NEWS
4 May 1996

CONTENTS

[01] Gonensay and Sungurlu to push for full membership for Turkey at WEU

[02] Demirel lauds Turkish-Japanese cooperation at Ankara ceremony

[03] Denktas calls on Clerides for face-to-face talks

[04] Government's week of destiny starts

[01] Gonensay and Sungurlu to push for full membership for Turkey at WEU

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay and Minister for Defense Oltan Sungurlu depart for Birmingham, Great Britain,today to attend a meeting of the Western European Union (WEU) on Tuesday.

Official sources indicate that Ankara's principle aim at the meeting of foreign and defense ministers will be to try to explore the means of upgrading Turkey's associate status in the WEU and to try and secure a more active role in the defense grouping's crisis management activities.

The Turkish side will be pushing for this in the light of the role it played in U.N. peacekeeping forces in Somalia and continues to play in Bosnia where Turkish troops are today deployed between formerly warring Bosnian and Croatian forces.

Reports, however, that the European Union wants to form much closer links with the WEU to try and effectively turn this organization into the Union's defense arm have disturbed official circles in Ankara.

Always a keen NATO ally, Ankara has nevertheless wanted further participation in the WEU. If this organization officially becomes the EU's defense wing, the worry in Ankara is that this will diminish Turkey's chances of becoming a full member in the organization since it is not a full member of the EU.

Turkey has also opposed the strengthening of the WEU as a European defense entity at the expense of NATO and has always been a staunch supporter of the "Atlantic link" in this regard.

Both Foreign Minister Gonensay and Defense Minister Sungurlu are expected to raise these concerns in Birmingham and put the Turkish desire for full WEU membership on the record once again.

Even in the absence of a viable perspective with regard to such membership, Turkey is still said to be pushing for a greater role in terms of the WEU's decision-making mechanism on collective defense and security issues.

A topic that will be taken up in Birmingham and which the Turkish side will be taking a keen interest in is the question of how Russia and Ukraine will be integrated into the Western defense fold.

Turkey, which has delicate ties with Russia on defense and security matters and which looks on Ukraine as a natural ally, is keen on seeing these two countries gradually integrated in the European defense environment because it considers this a means of enhancing its own security.

It has however opposed a hasty admittance of Russia into NATO believing that hurried full membership for Moscow could have destabilizing and weakening effects on the alliance.

[02] Demirel lauds Turkish-Japanese cooperation at Ankara ceremony

ANKARA- President Suleyman Demirel, speaking at a ceremony to mark the laying of the foundation of the Turkish-Japanese Foundation Cultural Site in Ankara, told the audience that Turkish-Japanese friendship will help to increase the technological improvement that is turning the world into a global village, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Demirel noted the admiration Turkish people have for the Japanese and continued, "It is a miracle how the Japanese reconstructed their country after World War II."

When he learned that the cameras used by the photographers at the ceremony were made in Japan, Demirel pointed out that technology knows no borders. He emphasized the fact that if the product manufactured is of good quality, then it would be used all over the world. He also stated, "What you produce must be better than the competition. We should be able to say that we can do as well as the competition. And what is more, that we will do even better than they can. Japan is a country which has overcome the problem of finding resources. It is not my major concern to praise Japan, but to show that progress and development are possible to achieve."

He stressed the fact that Turkish-Japanese relations have yet to reach their potential, but have improved. Demirel noted that Turkey is a big market and a possible outlet for Japan to open up other markets.

Demirel noted that 15 million Japanese tourists travel overseas every year, and he said he hoped Turkey would attract one million Japanese visitors. He pointed out that Turkey has everything needed to attract the attention of Japanese tourists.

He also welcomed Japanese investment in Turkey and said, "Turkey is an accountable country, committed to international law and an ideal place for investors."

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nahit Mentese, who also spoke at the ceremony, indicated that the Cultural Site was meant to help introduce Turkish traditions and culture to the Japanese and vice versa, and also to be a means to improve cooperation between the two countries.

The president of the Turkish-Japanese Foundation, Cafer Tayyar Sadiklar, said that the administrators of the Foundation, which was established in 1993, would comprise Japanese ambassadors, businessmen, academics and the presidents of related associations. He also stated that the cultural site will include concert and conference halls, classrooms, a research center, a Japanese garden and a health center.

The Japanese Ambassador to Turkey, Tahakiro Togo, who also spoke at the ceremony, emphasized the importance of activities such as these in the improvement of relations and cooperation between the two countries.

[03] Denktas calls on Clerides for face-to-face talks

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Turkish Cypriot president Rauf Denktas has called once again for face-to-face talks with his Greek Cypriot counterpart Glafcos Clerides, saying that the Cyprus problem could only be solved by means of direct contacts.

Issuing a written statement on Sunday, Denktas said that the solution to the Cyprus problem rested on both sides' acknowledging the basis laid down by the agreements of 1961 that saved the island from being a mere (British) colony.

He said the basis of those agreements was the political equality and sovereignty of the two communities on the island as well as the notion of bi-communality.

Recalling that it was not Turkey that started the Cyprus problem, Denktas said that if Clerides was arguing the contrary then he should read his own biography.

"Has he forgotten that he wrote that it was they who tried to destroy the joint state of Cyprus by trying to turn it into a Greek state?" Denktas asked.

"Clerides is also the person who wrote that they would not give up their efforts to turn Cyprus into a Greek republic, and that if need be they will fight again to this end," he added.

Denktas said that instead of castigating Turkey, Clerides should be thankful to this country.

He indicated that if Turkey had not intervened in 1974 then Clerides today would probably be in a mass grave along with other opponents of the Greek Cypriot coup leaders who tried to overthrow the government of Archbishop Markarios at the time.

"Let Clerides understand these facts and let him come for face-to-face talks," Denktas said in his statement.

[04] Government's week of destiny starts

TDN Parliament Bureau

ANKARA- Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is entering the most difficult week of his two-month government. On the one hand his coalition partner, the True Path Party (DYP), threatens Yilmaz with withdrawing from the government while on the other hand he is preparing to take economic austerity measures, a very difficult step for a minority government.

Even if Yilmaz achieves this without leading to the dissolution of the Motherpath government, he is concerned that he may be unable to perform any work due to obstructions by his coalition partner.

Today Yilmaz will discuss at a press conference the actions taken by his two-month-old coalition government. He will also announce the economic measures which he is considering. Among these measures are the taxation of state debenture bonds and Treasury bonds, and quests for new financial sources, which would draw the adverse reaction of business tycoons and bankers.

In addition to economic measures which would lead to conflict between his government and businessmen, other measures such as increasing the retirement age and raising the cost of insurance premiums are expected to draw significant reaction from unions.

At the same time that he is attempting to adopt economic measures, which are very difficult for a minority government to implement, Yilmaz is also facing threats by his coalition partner on the issue of quitting the government or not getting enough support for the amendment of certain legislation necessary for the economic measures to be implemented. The passage of a parliamentary motion regarding the launching of an inquiry into DYP Chairwoman Tansu Ciller concerning the alleged corruptions at TEDAS had earlier led to a crisis of confidence.

The motion, introduced by the pro-Islamic Welfare Party (RP), was passed by 232 votes to 179 in the 550-seat Assembly, in a secret vote during which many deputies from Yilmaz's ANAP apparently voted in favor of the investigation.

The Parliament will decide on whether or not to recommend charges to the court after a 15-person commission of inquiry, which will convene over a four-month period, studies the allegations and presents its report. The Ciller opponents, however, have to muster 276 votes in the Parliament to send Ciller before the Supreme Court.

On May 9, Parliament will vote on another motion for an investigation of Ciller for her alleged corruption in the automotive concern TOFAS. The RP demands an inquest that will examine the privatization of state shares in TOFAS. How ANAP deputies vote on the TOFAS motion will indicate how pronounced is the crisis of confidence. ANAP deputies' vote for the TEDAS inquiry very much angered the DYP deputies and made them consider the possibility of withdrawing from the government.

If ANAP backs the TOFAS probe, the government partnership will actually cease on the part of the DYP rank and file; however, it would continue from a legal perspective and because of political tactics. Both the DYP and ANAP are determined to maintain the coalition partnership, in order not to be blamed for breaking up the coalition and risk losing popular support. However such a stance is viewed as a tactic by the DYP to keep Yilmaz from succeeding.

DYP to continue its obstruction

On every occasion, DYP deputies show their anger at ANAP for backing the Welfare Party (RP) motion to investigate their leader Ciller. DYP ministers boycotted the first Cabinet meeting following the parliamentary passage of the TEDAS probe. ManyDYP ministers did not attend the second Cabinet meeting held after the bloody May Day commemorations. They also continue to resist signing any decree which requires government decision. They have also put the government into a difficult situation by hindering the general assembly of the Central Bank (CB). Despite Yilmaz's written instruction, DYP State Minister Yaman Toruner attended the CB general assembly, saying he would not take any order from Yilmaz. Yilmaz had asked ANAP State Minister Rustu Saracoglu to represent the government at the CB general assembly. The CB assembly has been postponed until May 16. The delay means that the government does not have a program of monetary policies to follow.

Additionally, DYP Transportation Minister Omer Barutcu has entered into open conflict with State Airports Operations Director General Onder Karaduman. Yilmaz has refused Barutcu's request for Karaduman's dismissal from his post. Barutcu has cancelled the bidding for construction of a foreign lines terminal for the Istanbul Airport. Thus this $250 milliontender has been annulled for the third time since 1986. It is yet another problem that exists between the coalition partners.

Many charge that Ciller has launched a campaign to discredit Yilmaz. She has openly stated that her coalition partner has been unable to achieve any work for two months and that he has merely wasted time during this period. She has accused the government of weakness in its response to the May Day violence, and asked whether instructions had been given for the police force to remain passive during incidents in Istanbul, which left three dead and scores of policemen and demonstrators wounded.

Yilmaz however maintains his silence in the face of such adverse reactions from his coalition partner. He has defended the coalition partnership, saying that it is based on the items set forth in the coalition protocol and that it would be irresponsible to break it unless this protocol had been violated.

Yilmaz, who has not met with Ciller since the crisis of confidence emerged on April 24, talked with Ciller over the phone last week and told her that the ANAP parliamentary group would continue to cast its votes as it wished during the votes on the parliamentary investigations. As a result of the ongoing criticisms by Ciller to discredit the government, Yilmaz demonstrated that he did not intend to make sacrifices for the continuation of the government.

Yilmaz has very little time

Yilmaz has already agreed with close colleagues that the government would not be able to perform effectively in the face of obstruction from his coalition partner. He has been trying to break the impression of a person who has quit the government without performing effectively. As he brings the economic measures on to the agenda, Yilmaz is thinking about the IMF delegation which will come to Turkey on May 16 for a new standby agreement. He is trying to present the package to public opinion 10 days prior to the bargain with the IMF delegation, to show that the government is considering certain measures. However the DYP is preparing to assess new opportunities to prevent Yilmaz from making an accord with the IMF, and thus ruining his chances of success. Most of the measures in Yilmaz's economic package require amendments in legislation; however passage of these laws seems impossible without the DYP's support. As a matter of fact, Yilmaz's minority government, which has obtained a vote of confidence with Democratic Left Party (DSP) backing, is far from convincing the IMF delegation. Seeing this situation, the DYP is preparing to hinder Yilmaz's measures.

Serious political accounts lie behind the continuation of the partnership between the government partners. In the event this government collapses, the Islamist RP will enter the government. This requires both the DYP and ANAP to act cautiously despite all angers and conflicts. Also, if the government falls, the issue of holding an early election as proposed by DSP leader Bulent Ecevit will come on to the agenda. Both the DYP and ANAP, the center-right parties, whose vote potential is steadily dropping, oppose an early election. Ciller's occasional proposal of an early election is taken as a completely false scent.

If the government remains in power intact, it will be content with very limited projects. After Turkey experiences the holiday atmosphere of the summer months, political cards will be redistributed in autumn. If the DYP rank and file reelect Ciller as party leader during the July 21 grand convention, they will try to block her trial at the Constitutional Court.

If the DYP withdraws from the government, the opposition parties can easily find the required amount of votes for acceptance of the reports of the parliamentary commissions which are charged with investigating the corruption allegations. However by maintaining the coalition partnership, the DYP hopes that ANAP will back it at least in the May 9 vote. This suggests that the government will continue -- in form -- until fall.

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