Visit our archive of News, Documents, Maps & Position Papers on the Imia Issue (1996) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Turkish Press Review, 01-11-28

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

28.11.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] MGK DISCUSSES CYPRUS, AFGHANISTAN
  • [02] BELGIAN PREMIER VISITS TURKEY
  • [03] DENKTAS: "THEY CANNOT SEE THE FUTURE"
  • [04] TUSIAD CHAIRMAN REMARKS PROMPT BACKLASH
  • [05] AYGUN: "CYPRUS IS OUR HONOR"
  • [06] ESDP MEETING HELD IN ANKARA
  • [07] WOOLSEY: "THE US COULD MOVE AGAINST IRAQ WITH TURKEY'S HELP"
  • [08] TURKISH DEPUTY APPOINTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND RAPPORTEUR
  • [09] PRAVDA: "CONTROL OF KABUL WILL BE GIVEN TO AMERICAN AND TURKISH SOLDIERS"
  • [10] FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES
  • [11] GLINN SPEAKS ON TURKISH TOURISM
  • [12] TURKISH CANCER EXPERT'S BOOK GAINS US ACCOLADES
  • [13] TURKISH FILM RECEIVES AWARD
  • [14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
  • [15] THE MGK MEETING BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
  • [16] A DEBATE BEYOND CYPRUS: TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP BY YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)

  • [01] MGK DISCUSSES CYPRUS, AFGHANISTAN

    The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, convened yesterday at Presidential Palace. Following the five-and-a-half-hour meeting, a statement was issued saying that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas's offer to Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides for a face-to-face meeting was fully supported by Turkey. Stressing that Turkey would continue its efforts to boost good will for a settlement which proves acceptable to both sides, the statement said, "However, Turkey will not allow any arrangement which would violate international treaties or accept Turkish Cypriots as a minority under the sovereignty of Greek Cypriots." The MGK also evaluated this November's Strategy and the EU's Annual Progress Report concerning Turkey. Additionally, developments in the Greek Cypriot's European Union membership process were taken up and measures which should be taken by Turkey were discussed. Ongoing Afghanistan operations and other recent international affecting Turkey's security were the main topics discussed in the MGK meeting. /Turkiye-All Papers/

    [02] BELGIAN PREMIER VISITS TURKEY

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met yesterday with Guy Ver Hofstad, the prime minister of Belgium, the European Union (EU) Term President. Following the nearly two-hour meeting, the premiers told reporters that they had a very fruitful visit. Pointing to a summit to be held in Laeken, Belgium in mid-December, Ver Hofstad said, "During the summit, the EU's future, new agreements, the EU enlargement process and EU Commission's report concerning enlargement, as well as other topics will be taken up, including some especially important for Turkey: the Cyprus issue and the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP)." /Turkiye/

    [03] DENKTAS: "THEY CANNOT SEE THE FUTURE"

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas addressed students at a conference yesterday at La Sapienza University in Italy. Denktas discussed the history of Cyprus and its legal status. Stressing his view that Turkish businessmen cannot see the future on Cyprus, Denktas replied to Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan's recent criticisms against him. Denktas said, "If Cyprus is a obstacle for Turkey and if it sacrifices Cyprus, in other words, forsakes it, other issues such as the Aegean, the Southeast and the Armenian issues will be brought before Turkey in the same way. They don't understand this. Some businessmen and rich people believe that the Cyprus issue is an obstacle to Turkey's EU membership bid. They are wrong. Cyprus is not a criterion for Turkey's EU membership. If it were, the EU would tell Greek Cypriots, who are the side responsible for the current situation, 'go away and come back after finding a settlement to the issue.' But they say so only to Turkey as an excuse not to accept its EU membership." /Turkiye/

    [04] TUSIAD CHAIRMAN REMARKS PROMPT BACKLASH

    Former President Suleyman Demirel yesterday spoke about Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan's criticisms of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. Ozilhan had said that Turkey should not support President Denktas' uncompromising stance. Demirel said, "People should be careful with their words. The Cyprus issue cannot be solved without Denktas. Turkey will forsake neither Denktas nor the island." Meanwhile, many Turkish parliamentarians from various parties reacted harshly to Ozilhan's words. Declaring that Turkey could not give up Cyprus in return for EU membership, parliamentarians said that Denktas would be fully supported up till the end. /Turkiye/

    [05] AYGUN: "CYPRUS IS OUR HONOR"

    Ankara Chamber of Commerce President Sinan Aygun said yesterday that Turkey would not make any concessions on Cyprus in order to gain European Union membership. "We won't give up Cyprus for the EU, Cyprus is our honor" he declared. Aygun yesterday received Israeli Ambassador to Ankara David Sultan in his office and told the ambassador that he was planning to visit Israel's prime minister in February in an effort to improve Turkish-Israeli economic relations. For his part, Sultan remarked that such a visit would please him very much and that he would do his best to improve bilateral relations. /Türkiye/

    [06] ESDP MEETING HELD IN ANKARA

    A fourth round of meetings on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) was held yesterday in Ankara between Turkish, British and American officials. The officials present were unable to agree on the issue of including Turkey in the decision-making process if NATO's facilities are used, a top Turkish diplomat told Cumhuriyet. The reason for not giving Turkey a say in the use of these facillities is that approval of the European Council is needed for an autonomous EU operation, which means that a possible veto of any EU member state would put block Turkey's say over the planned EU force. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] WOOLSEY: "THE US COULD MOVE AGAINST IRAQ WITH TURKEY'S HELP"

    Former CIA Director James Woolsey wrote this week Saddan Husein could be overthrown with the support of Turkey, which he considered as a "critical country," and that a portion of Iraqi oil might be given to Ankara. In an opinion piece entitled "Objective: Democracy" published in the Washington Post, Woolsey argued that Afghanistan's Taleban has been destroyed in only a few months' time because the nation did not support it. Woolsey added that Turkey and Israel are the Middle East's sole democracies and that the most urgent problem to be solved was the Iraq issue. He added, "Iraq producess weapons of mass destruction, but it has not been visited by UN inspectors for three years and it constitutes a risk both for the US and its neighbors." Woolsey remarked that Turkey's support was critical and added, "Turkey is concerned about the disintegration of Iraq and its possible effects. This concern might be removed by the Iraq opposition guaranteeing the country's borders. Turkey can be given a role in Iraq's stabilization and access to its oil fields." Woolsey also argued that Iraq should be attacked and the US should support the Iraqi opposition in the country's north and south. /Hurriyet/

    [08] TURKISH DEPUTY APPOINTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND RAPPORTEUR

    The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) has decided to prepare a report concerning the violence and tension in northern Ireland. It has appointed Democratic Left Party (DSP) Izmir deputy Atilla Kutman as a rapporteur on the issue, reasoning that a Muslim parliamentarian could render a more objective view. A group of parliamenters, who said "The Council of Europe cannot be an onlooker to this situation, which negatively influences the peace and cooperation between the member countries, have previously requested that the CEPA will prepare a report concerning this issue previously. /Hurriyet/

    [09] PRAVDA: "CONTROL OF KABUL WILL BE GIVEN TO AMERICAN AND TURKISH SOLDIERS"

    Russian newspaper Pravda reported yesterday that control of the Afghan capital of Kabul would be given to U.S. and Turkish soldiers. The newspaper quoted "Western circles"as a source for this history. The paper also stated that the presence of Turkish soldiers in the country could affect the view of other Muslim countries, making clear that the conflict is not a new "Crusade". The daily added that Washington was opposed the presence of Russian troops in the capital. /Milliyet/

    [10] FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES

    The State Instıtute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday reported September exports of 2.57 billion US dollars and imports of 3.31 billion US dollars. January-September 2001 exports were 22.98 billion US dollars against imports of 30.5 billion US dollars. In other words, exports increased by 11.8% year-on-year while imports decreased by 23.3%. Thus, Turkey had a January-September trade deficit of 7.5 billion US dollars, 60.9% lower than in the same period last year. /Hurriyet/

    [11] GLINN SPEAKS ON TURKISH TOURISM

    Seamas Glinn, head of leading international tour operator Sunworld-JMC, said yesterday that the tourism sector had been experiencing hard times of late but that in the years to come its star would shine. Glinn is visiting Turkey to look into the situation before next year's tourist season. "Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the world now understands Turkey, which has been fighting terrorism for many years, and now Turkey has a big mission as the only Muslim country within NATO," he stated. Turkey's image and the opinion of the US concerning Turkey have changed. The Turkish government should make use of these developments in the best way possible and make a breakthrough in terms of promotion. Turkey will have an important place in world tourism in years to come, but it should also make long-term plans. If the atmosphere gets calmer, then there will be good developments next tourism season. Tourists all over the world will see that Turkey is not like Iran or Iraq." /Hurriyet/

    [12] TURKISH CANCER EXPERT'S BOOK GAINS US ACCOLADES

    A textbook on nuclear oncology by Dr. Cumali Aktolun, the chairman of the Kocaeli University Medical School's Nuclear Medicine Department, was accepted this week as a standard text for courses in US medical schools. Department Deputy Chairman Fatma Berk reported that 50 authors from 11 countries have contributed articles to the textbook. /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] TURKISH FILM RECEIVES AWARD

    A film entitled "Clouds of May" by the Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan was awarded Best Screenplay at the Fourth Banghkok International Film Festival, which ended earlier this week and screened some 90 films from 20 countries. In addition, Chinese director Zhang Yang was named most Most Promising Director for his film "Quitting," and Tsai Ming Liang was Best Director for his film "What Time Is It Here?", a project jointly produced by Taiwan and France. "This is My Moon," a Sri Lankan film, received the jury's special prize. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS

    [15] THE MGK MEETING BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Fikret Bila comments on this week's National Security Council (MGK) meeting. A summary of his columns as follows: "Main issues discussed at the MGK meeting yesterday can be summarized as follows: 1) Cyprus and the European Union 2) Afghanistan 3) the politicization of PKK terrorist organization, HADEP and the southeastern Anatolia region. The MGK strongly believes that Turkey's EU membership and the Cyprus debate must be de-linked. The Council is resolved not to forget Turkey's main reasons for joining the EU, and also not to let the Cyprus issue become a matter on which Turkey is forced to make concessions. "Turkey will not permit any structure threatening Turkish Cypriots' or its own security, or violating international agreements, or seeing Turkish Cypriots as minorities on the island, to be established on the island," says the MGK statement. The MGK gives its full support to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, who is preparing to meet Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Dec. 4. Regarding the Afghanistan issue, the dominant opinion within the MGK is that Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) mission in Afghanistan must be limited to peacekeeping. Details as to where and when to send Turkish troops are expected to be clarified after US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Ankara. The last main issue discussed at the MGK meeting was the politicization of the PKK. The non-civilian members of the Council believe that the PKK has been trying to enter the political arena and that HADEP (the People's Democracy Party) must be seen as an outcome of these efforts. The MGK also highlighted that the PKK is preparing to begin pursuing a policy based on 'civil disobedience' and planning acts of civil resistance, especially in southeastern Anatolia."

    [16] A DEBATE BEYOND CYPRUS: TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP BY YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)

    Columnist Yalcin Dogan comments on Turkey's EU membership and the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows: "If a permanent solution has not been reached on Cyprus when negotiations on its EU membership begin, all factors shall be taken into consideration," the Helsinki Summit stated several years ago. At the Helsinki Summit, the EU requested that Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, as well as Turkey, share the responsibility for finding a permanent solution for the island. However, it seems that now the only party paying any price is Turkey. The Cyprus debate has been in the spotlight as part of discussions on Turkey's accession period to the EU. The Cyprus issue has recently been a key factor for Turkey's EU membership. In addition to the recent statements given by EU officials, the EU Progress Report, which was released last week, also highlighted the same issue. The EU, which at the time of the Helsinki Summit wanted all parties to share the responsibility for the future of the island, is now saying in its progress report that Turkey alone has to take concrete steps to reach a permanent solution on the island. The Cyprus debate is now going beyond its limits. It has exceeded the limits so that the debates have begun to threaten Turkey's EU membership. Even as today we are discussing Cyprus, it is clear that the next issue to be discussed will be Turkey's EU membership. If the EU admits the Greek Cypriots, it would consider the entire island as a member, and consequently Turkey would be seen by the international community as an occupying power on the northern part of the island. Under such a scenario, Turkey would wait in the wings forever, always an EU candidate only. That's why the Cyprus issue is vital. This is a turning point not only for us but also for our future generations. In the light of all this, it is a mistaken approach to make decisions on such an important issue through closed meetings, or via extremely emotion-laden policies. We don't need closed meetings, but rather open discussions where a full spectrum of opinions, no matter whether in favor of or against Turkey, are represented and the issue is discussed in detail. Let's not forget that this is a turning point which will affect Turkey's path into the future!"
    Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    trkpr2html v1.02a run on Friday, 14 December 2001 - 13:08:26 UTC