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Turkish Press Review, 00-10-10
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
10.10.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND
ARMENIA
[02] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL
NECESSITY"
[03] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[04] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND
ARMENIA
[05] ARMENIAN LOBBY AGAINST HISTORICAL FACTS
[06] YILMAZ'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP
[07] PROPOSALS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S REPORT ON TURKEY
[08] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL
NECESSITY"
[09] TURKEY'S ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT
[10] ECEVIT WORRIES ABOUT CLASHES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
[11] HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQ
[12] YUCELEN'S STATEMENT
[13] ONGOR'S STATEMENT CONCERNING TURCO-AMERICAN RELATIONS
[14] OYK CONVENES TODAY
[15] BULGARIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEY
[16] BAKU-CEYHAN TO BE SIGNED IN OCTOBER
[17] PETROLEUM PIT FOUND IN BATMAN
[18] DESTINED GLORY 2000 EXERCISES
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] WHAT ARE THEIR INTENTIONS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND
ARMENIA
[02] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL
NECESSITY"
[03] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[04] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND
ARMENIA
Turkey is reviewing possible sanctions to be imposed upon the US
and Armenia in case of approval of the so-called Armenian
genocide bill by the House Committee of International Relations.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, "We hope that the bill will
not pass in the House of Representatives, because the approval of
the bill will deal a blow to the bilateral relations between
Turkey and the US." Yesterday, Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, met with Robert Pearson, the US
Ambassador to Turkey. Speaking to the press after the meeting,
Mr. Ersumer stated, "First of all, I thanked Mr. Pearson for his
speech supporting Turkey. Then, I reminded him that the energy
cooperation between the US and Turkey might be damaged if the
bill is approved in the House of Representatives." Former
President Suleyman Demirel said, "The approval of the bill would
have negative consequences." The so-called Armenian genocide bill
is expected to be discussed in the House Committee of Means and
Ways today and in the House of Representatives on Thursday. It
was reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was reviewing
the measures that Turkey would make in case of an approval.
Diplomatic sources said Turkey will orient its reaction towards
Armenia, including certain sanctions designed to have serious
effects on Armenia. Turkey's reaction to the US would be more
moderate. Meanwhile, Turkish Embassy in Washington and Turkish
lobbies are still trying to maintain close relationships with
sympathetic members of the House of Representatives. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] ARMENIAN LOBBY AGAINST HISTORICAL FACTS
American historians who had issued a declaration 15 years ago
rejecting the thesis of the so-called Armenian Genocide and
accusing the US Congress of distorting the facts, do not express
their views today because of the repressive environment the
Armenian lobby has created. A number of researchers on Ottoman
and Turkish history, including Justin McCarthy, Bernard Lewis
and Stanford Shaw had prepared the declaration on the occasion of
another effort to pass a similar resolution in the House of
Representatives in 1985. According to the declaration, which had
been published in New York Times and Washington Post, Turkey
could not be regarded as responsible for the events which occured
during the Ottoman period. Furthermore, it was stated that
according to the facts, the clashes in Eastern Anatolia between
Moslems and Armenians during 1915 and 1923 resulted in deaths on
both sides. The 1985 statement said the American Congress should
have helped to open archives in order to disclose historical
facts instead of rewriting history. Those historians who signed
the declaration refrain from talking about the issue today. Apart
from Justin McCarty, none of the 69 historians signing the
declaration explain their views because they are afraid of the
repressive efforts of the Armenian lobby. Bernard Lewis, who had
written a book challenging the claims of the so-called Armenian
Genocide and was convicted in France and ordered to pay 1 Franc
in damages, also hesitates to state his views on the issue.
/Milliyet/
[06] YILMAZ'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP
Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of Isyk University,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Mesut Yilmaz
explained the positive developments that would take place if
Turkey gained full EU membership. In addressing the concerns EU
countries have of full Turkish membership, such as population,
cultural and religious diversity , Mr. Yilmaz said, "If the
European Union desires to be influential in Mediterrenean, Black
Sea and Caspian, it has to cooperate with Turkey. This would only
be possible with Turkey's full membership." He added, "It will be
difficult for an EU which excludes Turkey to secure its world
vision. Meanwhile, Turkey needs to be a full EU member to achieve
its long-term objectives. In brief, Turkey's full membership
would benefit both Europe and Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] PROPOSALS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S REPORT ON TURKEY
Some parliamentarians are trying to incorporate the claims in the
so-called Armenian Genocide bill into a report on Turkey to be
taken up today in the European Parliament Foreign Relations
Committee. Regarding the report, 79 separate proposals for
amendments were given to the parliament, requesting that Turkey
accept the so-called Armenian Genocide. /Milliyet/
[08] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL
NECESSITY"
Second Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said at the opening
ceremony of the Gulhane Military School of Medicine that Turkey's
full EU membership is both a geostrategical and geopolitical
necessity for Turkey, as put forward by Ataturk. However, in
trying to reach this target, Turkey must maintain her unitary and
secular structure. Mr. Buyukanit said that a country, which
occupies the agenda of Western countries with her domestic
political controversies, could never fully modernize. /Milliyet/
[09] TURKEY'S ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT
It was reported that in the accession parnership document the
European Union has slated for announcement on November 8th, there
is no statement which will annoy Turkey. EU Commissioner
responsible for enrollment Gunther Verheugen stated that a
document which will motivate Turkey was being prepared. Mr.
Verheugen said that the Cyprus issue and Turco-Greek relations
would not be included in the document. Mr. Verheugen will meet
with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Turkish officials in
the following days. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] ECEVIT WORRIES ABOUT CLASHES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit expressed concern about the
expansion and growth of the Palestinian-Israeli clashes.
Stressing that before the clashes there had been a chance for
peace, Mr. Ecevit said that in the wake of the reciprocal
provocations, the situation has changed. Pointing out that Turkey
has been trying for a perpetual peace in the Middle East for a
long time, he said, "Like some other countries, Turkey is
struggling to calm the situation and stop the violence."
Moreover, while war winds began to blow in the Middle East after
the Palestinian-Israeli clashes spread to Lebanon, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry intensified its efforts to prevent a new
Arab-Israeli war. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has made phone
calls to Israeli Foreign Minister Sholomo Ben Ami, Palestini
leader Yaser Arafat and his Syrian counterpart Faruk El Sara.
Regarding the case, Mr. Cem said, "We are in contact with all
parties. In case no result is obtained from these diplomatic
efforts, we face with a serious situation. If the balances change
and the stability deteriorates in the Middle East, Turkey may be
affected by the consequences." The Minister also implied that the
clashes stemmed from the Ariel Saron's visit to Haram-y Serif.
/Sabah/
[11] HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQ
With the tension in Turco-American relations continuing due to
the acceptence of the so-called Armenian genocide bill at the
Foreign Relations House committee, Turkey sent baby food and
medicine on the first civil flight to Iraq since the Gulf War.
The flight violated the embargo against Iraq and was a direct
reaction to the proposed bill. The first Turkish plane landed in
Baghdad carrying nine boxes of aid donated by SETA Company was
within the framework of the UN Sanctions Committee. The aid was
welcomed by Turkey's Charges D'Affairs to Baghdat, Selim
Karaosmanoglu, and the Iraqi Undersecretaries of Communication
and Health. The former deputy to Konya, Lutfu Akdogan, was among
those who sent the aid, believes the embargo put on Iraq should
be removed and that new flights would be made to Iraq from Turkey
in the following days. /Aksam/
[12] YUCELEN'S STATEMENT
State Minister Responsible for Human Rights, Rustu Kazym Yucelen,
said that in order to decrease the violation of human rights to
the minimum level by the end of the year 2001, human rights
departments would be established in all provinces and
sub-provinces in Turkey. Yucelen made the opening speech of the
Human Rights Coordinator High Council in Trabzon and said,
"Mostly the non-governmental organizations and the
representatives of the profession chambers will be present in the
human rights departments, which will be established under the
coordination of the Governors in provinces and sub-governors in
sub-provinces." Yucelen also evaluated the report of the
International Evaluation Council and said that the figures in
this report showed that the violation of human rights in Turkey
had decreased. /Aksam/
[13] ONGOR'S STATEMENT CONCERNING TURCO-AMERICAN RELATIONS
Chairman of the Turco-American Business Council, Akin Ongor,
delivered a speech during the meeting of the Turco-American
Business Council at Hilton Hotel, Ankara, and said, "I believe
that the acceptence of the so-called Armenian genocide bill will
not negatively influence the economic relations between Turkey
and the US. Turkey should take reasonable measures that will not
hinder its benefits and implement them." Meanwhile, the Chairman
of the American-Turco Business Council, Nancy Kassebaum Baker
stated that they understood the emotional reaction of Turkey
towards the acceptance of the so-called Armenian genocide bill
saying, "Even if this bill is accepted at the General Council, it
might not be accepted by the Senate." Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit and the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Devlet
Bahceli welcomed the delegation chaired by Akin Ongor and Nancy
Kassebaum Baker. /Aksam/
[14] OYK CONVENES TODAY
High Privatization Board (OYK), headed by Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit, is expected to meet today to draw up a framework for 2001
privatization plans. The board will review privatizations carried
out in 2000. It is also expected to decide on the Turkish
Airlines (THY) sell-off and to map out the Turk Telecom sell-off
process. Under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) backed,
stand-by deal this year the government has targeted $ 7.6 billion
in privatizations and plans to use the receipts, along with
international loans, to help stabilize the domestic debt.
/Star-Turkish Daily News/
[15] BULGARIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEY
Bulgarian Chief of General Staff Gen. Miho Mihov will arrive in
Turkey today for an official visit. After meeting with Chief of
General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, he will proceede to
Istanbul. The Bulgarian General will leave from Turkey on Oct.
12. /Turkiye/
[16] BAKU-CEYHAN TO BE SIGNED IN OCTOBER
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer,
said the four final documents necessary for the implementation of
the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project would be signed on 19 October.
The above-mentioned agreements are the Host Country Agreement,
Intergovernmental Agreement, Key Delivery Project Agreement and
the Agreement of Guarantee. Ersumer added that if the so-called
Armenian genocide bill is accepted, Turkey's energy investment in
the US would be influenced negatively. /Aksam/
[17] PETROLEUM PIT FOUND IN BATMAN
After the search efforts in Batman by Petrom Company consisting
of American and Romanian partners petroleum was found. Officials
from Petrom Company stated that they had finished their drilling
work of three months in the Selmo area of Batman and that they
had found petroleum with 36 gravites in the depth of 1,800
meters. Officials added, "4,000 barrels of petroleum is expected
to be extracted daily. This number has never been reached in
Turkey before." /Aksam/
[18] DESTINED GLORY 2000 EXERCISES
The Amphibious Fleet attached to the Greece Navy will land in
Izmir within the framework of Destined Glory 2000 Exercises. In
the next stages, another landing exercise will be carried out on
the Gulf of Saros with the participation of naval infantry and
SAT commandos as well as the armies from other NATO countries.
The exercises will continue until Oct.25. Destined Glory 2000
Exercises are the most comprehensive exercises carried out within
the territories of Turkey. Turkish and Greek armed forces came
together for the first time in Turkish territories. /Milliyet/
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] WHAT ARE THEIR INTENTIONS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the developments concerning the
House Resolution on the so-called Armenian Genocide. A summary
of his column is as follows:
"The fate of the pro-Armenian resolution in the US House of
Representatives will be decided either today or tomorrow. The
crucial decision will be made this week-end. If the House of
Representatives votes to accept the resolution confirming the
claims of the so-called genocide, Turkey is determined to
implement 'an action plan' comprising of a series of sanctions
against the US and Armenia. It is certain that Armenia would the
suffer most from this decision. Certainly the activists in
Yerevan and of the Armenian 'diaspora' are aware of this fact.
One would have to be blind not to see this. If so, what is the
reasoning behid such an undertaking? What are their aims and
strategies? Is there a coordination between the Armenian State
and the Armenian diaspora?
These questions were dicsussed during a meeting organized by the
respected think-tank organization TESEV(Turkish Economic and
Social Studies Foundation). The information and impressions left
by the brainstorming of officials from Ankara, foreign diplomats,
and academicians from various universities can be summarized as
follows: 1) When Armenia proclaimed independence during the
disintegration of the Soviet Union, it gave clues to the policy
it will follow against Turkey. In its Declaration of
Independence, Armenia outlined its intentions concerning the
so-called 'Armenian genocide', the Eastern provinces which it
defines as Western Armenia, and the Karabakh issue. These
references show what lies in the heart and mind of Yerevan.
2)Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Turkey
immediately recognized the Armenian State along with all the
other new republics. Ankara established diplomatic relations with
all of the republics except Armenia as it preferred to wait
because of the stance the Armenian State had taken. During the
time L. Ter Petrosyan was in power, Ankara waited for signals
from Yerevan showing that Armenia did not foster any hostile
intentions against Turkey. Instead, the Armenian position
toughened up after R. Kocharian came into power.
3)In line with Yerevan's strategy, the activists of the Armenian
diaspora and particularly the Armenian lobby, in the US launched
an attack bringing the so-called genocide claims to the fore.
This attack coincides with the US elections. That is to say,
Armenians who wanted to have a resolution accepted in favour of
their allegations on the so-called genocide used their power of
vote on the occasion. The Armenian initiative which originated in
California where the majority of Armenian voters live, has led
the US House of Representatives into a situation which is
contrary to the interests of the country. Even though the
Armenian activists in diaspora may have initiated this attack, it
is supported by Yerevan. It is worth noting that in a statement
he made in Moscow, Kocharian had said that he was the President
not only of the Armenians in the Republic but of those living all
around the world.
However, these facts are not known abroad. We cannot say that
they are known in Turkey either. This shows that Ankara is not
successful in researching the issue in detail and informing the
Turkish and world communities about the facts. If Ankara
implements a series of sanctions against Armenia will the
campaigns against Turkey come to an end? Will Yerevan call an end
to the activities of the diaspora or will the diaspora listen to
him? What will the reaction of the diaspora be against the stance
of Turkey and the sanctions it is going to imlement? All have to
be discussed in detail."
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