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Turkish Press Review, 01-11-16
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Foreign
Press in Turkey
Turkish
Press Review >>
Press
Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
16.11.2001
CONTENTS
[01] TRNC CELEBRATES ITS 18TH ANNIVERSARY
[02] DENKTAS MARKS TRNC ANNIVERSARY
[03] SEZER CALLS ON ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS TO NEGOTIATE
[04] ECEVIT: "CYPRIOT UNION WOULD LEAD TO
GENOCIDE"
[05] 3,000 TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS PREPARE FOR AFGHANISTAN
[06] ECEVIT: "TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION HAS DEMORALIZED
THE TALEBAN ADMINISTRATION"
[07] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN AFGHAN SUMMIT
[08] EU OFFICIAL WARNS TURKEY
[09] GOSSES: "TURKEY HAS CERTAIN OTHER THINGS TO
DO"
[10] BAHCELI: "WE ARE READY TO PAY A HIGH COST FOR
CYPRUS"
[11] CILLER TOURS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS LAW
[12] IZGI TO MEET EU COUNTERPARTS IN SWEDEN
[13] CEM CRITICAL OF WESTERN ATTITUDES TO TERRORISM
[14] 39 TURKS IN NEW YORK PRISONS
[15] PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW DGM LAW
[16] TURKEY: "PUTIN'S REMARKS GO TOO FAR"
[17] TSK AIDS KYRGYZ AND KAZAKH MILITARIES
[18] KOEHLER: "WE AGREED WITH TURKEY AND WORKING
HARD"
[19] DERVIS: "FOREIGN INVESTMENT IS ON WAY"
[20] PRIME MINISTRY GETS PROPOSAL TO CUT RED TAPE
[21] REVISIONS OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[23] CYPRUS AGAIN BY GUNDUZ AKTAN (TURKISH DAILY NEWS)
[01] TRNC CELEBRATES ITS 18TH ANNIVERSARY
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC) is
celebrating the 18th anniversary of its founding this week.The TRNC
declared its independence on Nov. 15, 1983. A delegation from mainland
Turkey including Presidential Secretary Kemal Nehrozoglu, acting
Parliament Speaker Kamer Genc, Air Forces Commander Gen. Cumhur
Asparuk and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel attended ceremonies to
mark the occasion held in Cyprus yesterday. Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer sent a message to TRNC President Rauf Denktas to honor
the anniversary. Sezer declared that Turkish Cypriots would never
forsake their historical and legal rights. Parliament Speaker Omer
Izgi also relayed a congratulatory message to Denktas. /Turkiye/
[02] DENKTAS MARKS TRNC ANNIVERSARY
In his address to mark the 18th anniversary of the
founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's (TRNC),
President Rauf Denktas stated that although the world did not
recognize the Turkish Cypriots and considered them as minorities on
the island, the Turkish Cypriots themselves were well aware that they
had an independent state. Stating that it was his duty to refuse
proposals which would make him say that Turkish Cypriots are just
minorities on the island, Denktas said, "The Greek Cypriots are
trying to join the EU with a fake identity as Cyprus' true government.
This is a Greek Cypriot ploy to seize the entire island. However, the
world must recognize our presence. We have earned this."
/Cumhuriyet/
[03] SEZER CALLS ON ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS TO NEGOTIATE
To mark the occasion of Palestinian National Day,
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message both
congratulating Palestinian leader Yasser Araft and also calling on
Israel and the Palestinian administration to end the violence in the
region and return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
/Turkish Daily News/
[04] ECEVIT: "CYPRIOT UNION WOULD LEAD TO
GENOCIDE"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said in remarks to
honor the 18th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that if the Turkish North were unified with the
southern Greek administration, "genocide would once again
occur." Turkey will never abandon Cyprus and would never accept
something like that to happen, he emphasized. Ecevit also remarked
that in such a case Greek Cypriots would move to occupy Turkish
territory in the north./Hürriyet/
[05] 3,000 TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS PREPARE FOR AFGHANISTAN
Turkey is getting ready to send a peacekeeping
force of 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan. In anticipation of a request
for their participation in a UN peacekeeping force, an order was given
to the Mamak 28th Infantry Brigade to get prepared for such a duty.
Meanwhile, the US administration stated that US soldiers would not
take part in any peacekeeping force. /Turkiye/
[06] ECEVIT: "TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION HAS DEMORALIZED
THE TALEBAN ADMINISTRATION"
Turkey, is poised to play a significant role in the
formation of a new administration in Afghanistan and is pleased with
the G-7 countries' decision to invite it to a meeting to be held with
Afghanistan's neighbors. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stressed
that the political vacuum in Afghanistan should be filled as soon as
possible and added that Turkey could contribute significantly to
efforts on this issue. Stating that this leg of the fight against
terrorism was winding down very rapidly, Ecevit said, "Turkey's
participation in the operations demoralized the Taleban
administration. The Afghan people are well aware that Turkey is both
the most modern and the strongest Islamic country and that it can't be
fought." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN AFGHAN SUMMIT
US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said
yesterday that Turkey had been invited to Washington on Nov.20 along
with Canada, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Italy, France, Saudi
Arabia as well as representatives from the United Nations, the
European Commission and the Organisation for the Islamic Conference
(OIC) to a summit to shape the future of Afghanistan. The meeting will
be chaired by the United States and Japan./Hürriyet/
[08] EU OFFICIAL WARNS TURKEY
EU Commission Director-General for Enlargement
Michael Leigh said yesterday that if the Cyprus issue remained
unsolved, Turkey's accession period to the EU might be adversely
affected. Stating that the EU wants to reach a solution on the divided
island before admitting the Greek Cypriots administration, Leigh said,
"However, this is not a prerequisite but a wish." Recalling
that Turkey had promised to support the United Nations-led negotiation
process in its National Programme, Leigh remarked, "We request
that Turkey take concrete steps in order to keep its promise."
Leigh commented that there still remained enough time for a solution
on the island and added that the EU expected Turkey to accelerate its
process aiming towards a solution. Remarking that although the
accession periods for the EU and the UN were different, they still
affected each other significantly, Leigh said, "The EU would like
the Turkish Cypriots to enter the EU together with the Greek Cypriots.
For a solution to be found to this issue would make an inspiring
example for other similar conflicts on the world stage. However, if
one of the main parties refuses to join efforts for a solution, a
solution can ever be reached." Answering reporters' question on
the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Leigh remarked that
the EU understood Turkey's concerns and wanted to begin pursuing the
ESDP according to a timeschedule they had prepared before. /All
Papers/
[09] GOSSES: "TURKEY HAS CERTAIN OTHER THINGS TO
DO"
Netherland's Ambassador to Turkey Sjoerd Izaak
Hendrik Gosses said yesterday that Turkey was an important candidate
for the European Union membership. Addressing a seminar in Ankara,
Ambassador Gosses pointed to Netherland's support for Turkey during
its EU membership accession process and added, "However, as we
can see in the EU's progress report, Turkey has a member of additional
duties to fulfill." /Turkiye/
[10] BAHCELI: "WE ARE READY TO PAY A HIGH COST FOR
CYPRUS"
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said yesterday
that the EU's Turkey Progress report could not be considered as
unprejudiced and objective. Stating that the Cyprus section of the EU
report was "unjust and invalid", Bahceli said, "Turkey
would not accept the Greek Cypriot administration's admittance to the
EU without a permanent solution on the island having been reached. The
measures which Turkey would take in such a situation have been clearly
declared. Turkey will not pay any price asked for EU membership.
However, everybody should be aware of that we are ready to pay any
price for Turkey." /Sabah/
[11] CILLER TOURS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS LAW
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller held a
press conference in the Parliament yesterday after her meetings with
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and Motherland Party (ANAP)
leader Mesut Yilmaz. Ciller said next week her party would forward its
proposal to the Office of the Parliament Speaker for amendments on the
Political Parties and Elections Law. /Turkiye/
[12] IZGI TO MEET EU COUNTERPARTS IN SWEDEN
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi will be in Stockholm'
Sweden today to participate in the Conference of European Union
Parliament Speakers. The conference was postponed as a result of the
terrorist attacks in the US, and this year Parliament speakers of EU
candidates countries will participate in the conference for the first
time./Turkish News/
[13] CEM CRITICAL OF WESTERN ATTITUDES TO TERRORISM
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yestreday that
Turkey had previously called on its NATO allies to take stricter
measures against terrorism and to agree on a common definition, but
that this initiative had failed. He said that terrorism was a common
threat that could strike anyone at any time, and added that Turkey
hoped that this fact would be understood by the Western world soon.
Cem said Turkey wanted a common definition of terrorism. "Turkey
condems all forms of terrorism without resorting to distinctions such
as so-called terrorist-freedom-fighters'," he added./Turkish
News/
[14] 39 TURKS IN NEW YORK PRISONS
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz yesterday
said that as of Nov. 8, there were 39 Turkish citizens in prison in
the New York New and Jersey regions. Dirioz said that following the
terrorist attacks on the US, law enforcement authorities had clamped
down on foreign nationals with expired residence and work permits and
had detained many such people, including the 39 Turks. /Turkish Daily
News/
[15] PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW DGM LAW
A bill proposing removing the offenses of
"forming a gang with intent to commit a crime" and
"aiding" such gangs from the jurisdiction of the State
Security Courts (DGM) has been passed into law by Parliament. These
two offenses will now be dealt with by the Higher Criminal Courts.
/Turkish Daily News/
[16] TURKEY: "PUTIN'S REMARKS GO TOO FAR"
Turkey announced yesterday that it "viewed
with regret" remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to
the effect that Chechen fighters are using Turkey as a conduit to
travel to Afghanistan. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry
said: "This remark, which we believe errs towards going too far,
to the effect that the Turkish authorities turn a blind eye to the
crossing of Turkey's borders by Chechen fighters, has been received
with regret." The statement added there was no information
concerning any data upon which these remarks were based and went on to
say that all citizens of the Russian Federation were subject to the
same registration procedures for visa and residence as all other
foreigners as well as the visa agreement signed between Russia and
Turkey. The statement added that Turkey wished to see a peaceful
resolution to the Chechnya problem within the scope of the Russian
Constitution and the country's territorial integrity. /Turkish Daily
News/
[17] TSK AIDS KYRGYZ AND KAZAKH MILITARIES
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is aiding the Kyrgyz
and Kazakh militaries by giving the military equipment worth a total
of some $1 million. According to the Office of the Chief of the
General Staff, Kyrgyzstan received the aid on Oct. 11 and Kazakhstan
on Oct. 13. /Cumhuriyet/
[18] KOEHLER: "WE AGREED WITH TURKEY AND WORKING
HARD"
International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Hans
Koehler said yesterday at a press conference in Washington that the
IMF team was very satisfied with Turkey's 10th review and that they
agreed that Turkey need additional financing. Koehler stated that they
had made agreements with Turkish authorities on reform, development
and next year's inflation rate. Koehler added that the amount of
additional financing would be announced later by the IMF Board of
Directors and the G-7, but that the amount wouldn't be less than $9
billion. /Hürriyet/
[19] DERVIS: "FOREIGN INVESTMENT IS ON WAY"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said
yesterday that the reforms made in the banking system would continue
in 2002 and this would lead to foreign investors returning to Turkey.
Dervis also said that Turkey doesn't want the its banking sector to be
controlled by foreign capital but rather to cooperate with foreign
partners in order to be stronger./Hürriyet/
[20] PRIME MINISTRY GETS PROPOSAL TO CUT RED TAPE
A regulation proposing eliminating administrative
obstacles and simplifying bureacratic processes for direct investments
was sent to the Prime Ministry yesterday. The new plan prepared by the
Treasury Undersecretariat targets limiting bureacratic processes and
directing them from only one hand, and in so doing cutting out major
obstacles to investments. Under the new regulations, the Treasury
Undersecretariat is supposed to fully process applications for
investment within three months at the latest. /Turkiye/
[21] REVISIONS OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu presented a bill
proposing further revisions in the privatization process to the
Cabinet yesterday. Karakoyunlu said that proposals would be reviewed
and subjected to critical analysis and the bill would be opened to
Cabinet ministers' signatures next week. /Turkiye/
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[23] CYPRUS AGAIN BY GUNDUZ AKTAN (TURKISH DAILY NEWS)
Columnist Gunduz Aktan comments on the Cyprus
issue. A summary of his column is as follows: "We are entering a
critical year when it comes to Cyprus. Just saying this amounts to
accepting the link between a solution on the island and European Union
membership. However, we cannot sacrifice our basic interests on Cyprus
just because we are going to be EU members. A group in Turkey that
advocates unconditional EU membership also wants us to make no end of
sacrifices. This is not going to happen, nor should it be allowed to.
Therefore, there is much to be gained for the group in seeing their
mistake and getting back on the correct path. Mr. Denktas is always
being accused of abandoning intercommunal talks. The public is not
convinced he is right not to return to the negotiating table until the
Turkish Cypriots get equal political rights. With its Resolution 186
taken in 1964, the UN Security Council recognized the Greek Cypriots
as the only legitimate government on the island. That we turned a
blind eye to such a resolution as this may well be criticized today,
but at the UN which was then filled with young, weak states which had
just emerged with the dismantling of colonialism, for a community in
the majority, this was an unacceptable act. The passing of such a
resolution even once rendered it impossible for the Turkish Cypriots
to be afforded equal political rights. If I am not mistaken, the West
is of the opinion that recognition of equal rights will come with a
solution being arrived at. It is inclined to let the Greek Cypriots
represent the island in order to balance out the advantage gained
territorially by the Turkish Cypriots after 1974. It is also afraid
that with recognition of equal political rights, the Turkish Cypriots
will no longer be interested in a solution. But none of this means
that Mr. Denktas should return to the negotiating table under the
present conditions. The so-called non-paper penned by UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan last November 8, 2000 precludes this. After
speaking of talks without preconditions, the paper then proceeds to
impose as preconditions everything the Turkish Cypriots have been
opposing to date. Furthermore, it is not allowed for the Turkish
Cypriots to make proposals counter or present amendments to the
positions determined in the paper. Can this be called negotiations? It
is clear that this note was prepared to satisfy the Greek Cypriots,
who have lost all interest in intercommunal talks, and even a solution
on the island, as they head towards full EU membership. The real
problem is that the Greek Cypriots vociferously deny subjecting the
Turkish Cypriots to crimes against humanity for 11 from between 1963
to 1974. They also tell their children the tale that Turkey invaded
the island without any reason. How can Turkish Cypriots ever be
delivered to the mercy of a community with such a psychological
disposition?"
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