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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> </map> <map name="FPMap1"></map> Press & Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning06.06.2002CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO VISIT IRANPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran on June 17-18. Sezer will meet with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran. During the meeting, Sezer is expected to ask Khatami to ensure that no Iranian logistic support goes to PKK terrorists. /Milliyet/[02] ECEVIT: “I HOPE TO ATTEND THE PRESIDENT’S EU SUMMIT”Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who is currently resting and carrying out his work at his office in Oran, Ankara, replied to reporters’ written questions yesterday with a written statement through his spokesman, Cem Avci. Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “My health condition is getting better. I have my doctors’ great efforts to thank for that.” About tomorrow’s summit on Turkey’s European Union membership bid chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Ecevit said that he hoped to attend it. Answering a question about True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller’s recent declaration saying that she would not attend the summit if he is unable to, Ecevit said that an evaluation of her stance would be made by the president. Concerning Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s speech at his party’s group meeting earlier this week, the prime minister said that Bahceli had clearly specified that elections should be held not before April 2004, their normal scheduled date. /All Papers/[03] YILMAZ SPEAKS ON TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIPReplying yesterday to Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s recent harsh criticisms, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that no single party or person had an exclusive claim on patriotism. During ANAP’s Parliament group meeting, Yilmaz gave his views on Turkey’s ongoing EU membership discussions. “Today, Turkey is closer to EU membership than it has ever been in all its history,” Yilmaz said. “All our politicians and political leaders should not only think once but over and over again so as to prevent Turkey from falling short of this target.” Saying that Turkey has two guiding compasses to lead its way to the future, Yilmaz added, “If we don’t waver from the path laid out by these compass, obviously the Turkish nation will prevail in this struggle. Moreover, Turkey will be able to build its future on a healthy basis. One of these compasses is the EU National Programme and the other is the economic programme that Turkey has been implementing. We have to protect these two programs.” /Sabah/[04] BAHCELI REPLIES TO YILMAZAppearing yesterday at a meeting honoring the Turkish World Women’s Friendship and Solidarity Organization, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli took the time to respond to recent criticisms from a fellow coalition leader, Motherland Party (ANAP) head Mesut Yilmaz. Confronted by a reporter with Yilmaz’s assertion that one shouldn’t “just think and consider” -- which Yilmaz implied was Bahceli’s view -- before acting but also “think again,” Bahceli rejoined that he “always thought twice” before acting. Bahceli also addressed the joint declaration made this week by 175 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in support of Turkey European Union membership bid. “These esteemed NGOs,” he said, “should feel free to announce their views either individually or jointly. We respect them.” /Sabah/[05] KIVRIKOGLU MEETS WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALSChief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu yesterday met with his Russian counterpart Anatoli Kvasnin and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Moscow. Among the major issues discussed during Kivrikoglu’s meetings were bilateral military and technical cooperation and the recent rapprochement between Russia and NATO. Resolving to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, Kivrikoglu and the Russian officials also exchanged views on a number of organizations which are currently carrying out activities in Turkey to support militants in Chechnya. /Cumhuriyet/[06] TURK: “THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER AMNESTY LAW IN THE FUTURE”Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Istanbul, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that it would be impossible to enact another amnesty or conditional release law after the Constitutional Court’s recent evaluation that the government’s conditional release law was actually an amnesty. Answering reporters’ questions regarding the amnesty, Turk said, ”This topic is dead for now, since the Constitution specifies that a three- fifths majority in Parliament would be needed to go forward.” However, Turk stood behind his earlier assertion that the law was not an amnesty. /Milliyet/[07] US AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER CEMUnited States Special Representative to the United Nations Ambassador John Negroponte yesterday met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other high- level officials from the Foreign Ministry. Negroponte discussed a number of significant issues with Turkish officials such as the threat of international terrorism, Iraq, Cyprus, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Speaking to journalists after his meetings, Negroponte expressed the US’ continued support for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s efforts to help the peace talks on Cyprus and stressed the necessity for reaching permanent peace and stability on the island. /Cumhuriyet/[08] VERHEUGEN TO EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: “BE REALISTIC AND SPEED UP YOUR WORK”In an address at a press conference yesterday in Brussels, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen called on the EU candidate countries to boost their efforts on administrative and judicial reforms. Stressing that the candidate countries should speed up their work in order to be able to fulfill the EU acquis, Verheugen said, “It’s now high time to be realistic. We are planning to announce the countries which can start their accession negotiations at the Copenhagen summit to be held at the end of this year.” /Cumhuriyet/[09] WESTON CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRIOTSUnited States Special Coordinator to Cyprus Tom Weston yesterday criticized the Greek Cypriot side for its recent purchase of Russian attack helicopters. Calling the Greek Cypriots’ recent move “a mistake” especially in the light of the ongoing peace talks, Weston stated that he was planning to visit countries in the region next week, including Turkey and Greece. “We still believe that the sides can reach an agreement on some basic issues by the end of June,” said Weston. “However, no matter what the results are at that time, the peace talks must continue. The final date for the issue is December, since the EU is planning to hold a summit on its enlargement process before that month.” He also argued that one of the parties in the talks needed to make some concessions since a permanent solution which would fully please both sides seemed out of reach. /Cumhuriyet/[10] GENERAL STAFF: “THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR DEATH PENALTY VIEWS”The General Staff yesterday announced in a written statement that there had been no change in its death penalty views, denying recent press reports that it advocated replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment. “There has been no change in the General Staff’s views on the death penalty as expressed in statements by Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu,” it stated. /Hurriyet/[11] WOOLSEY: “THE EU WOULD BE CRAZY NOT TO ACCEPT TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP BID”Former CIA Director James Woolsey said yesterday that the European Union “would have to be crazy” not to accept Turkey’s EU membership. Woolsey added that EU membership would be beneficial for Turkey’s economy as well as the Union itself. “The United States had only a limited influence over the EU, because it also has its own problems with the Union,” he stated. The EU would be unwise to reject Turkey’s membership bid because it needs Turkey for economic modernization and trade, the ex-intelligence head added. Woolsey led to CIA from 1993 to 1995. /Hurriyet/[12] ERDOGAN SIGNALS AKP SUPPORT FOR EU BIDSpeaking at his party’s group meeting yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan said that the AKP would give support to Turkey’s European Union membership. Ahead of Friday’s EU government summit, Erdogan also said that the death penalty should be abolished. “We would also support if the death penalty issue is opened to signature for a constitutional amendment,” he added. /Star/[13] CILLER: “THE STATE WILL NOT COLLAPSE IF ECEVIT GOES”True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday characterized the current government as “an illusion,” adding that if one tried to govern the country from bed, Turkey would suffer from it. Addressing her party’s Parliament group meeting, Ciller pointed to assertions that there would be chaos if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit steps down from his post. She said, “Turkey didn’t collapse when it lost its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, so why should it when Ecevit goes?” She remarked that at present, Turkey’s most important problem was uncertanity. Charging that the government had put the nation into a dilemma about the European Union and the death penalty on head of terrorist organization the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, Ciller claimed that EU accession under the current government was an impossibility, as there was a “power vacuum” in the country. /Turkiye/[14] NGOs: “TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO LOSE FOR EU ACCESSION”A platform formed by 175 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) coordinated by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), released a declaration yesterday after a meeting in Istanbul saying that Turkey belongs to the European Union and that the nation has no time to lose in its accession process. The declaration read by Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that the government needs now more than ever to take the past and international developments into consideration and reassess Turkey’s national interests in order to conclude the country’s struggle to become a full EU member. We ask our deputies in Parliament to continue to act in consciousness of their historic responsibility and common sense, the declaration said. /All papers/[15] A HOPE FOR HISTORIC ECYAD CASTLETurkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said yesterday that Turkey was hoping to speed up plans to rebuild the Ottoman-era Ecyad Castle in Saudi Arabia. The historic castle was built in 1782 by the Ottomans to protect sacred sites for pilgrims in Mecca. Early this year, however, the Saudi Arabian government had it demolished. Soon thereafter, Turkey launched new initiatives in league with UN agency UNESCO to help prevent the destruction of Turkey’s international cultural heritage. /Aksam/[16] AIRBUS TO PRODUCE PLANE PARTS IN IZMIREuropean aircraft production giant Airbus announced yesterday that it would soon begin manufacturing airplane parts in Izmir. Gunther Schubert, Airbus marketing director, said this production would be done under a new industrial partnership agreement within Izmir’s Free Trade Zone. Schubert also lauded state carrier Turkish Airlines (THY), saying that it had been one of the first users of Airbus’ A-340 model and that Airbus would give THY an “excellence in management” award for its administration of the A- 340. Airbus has nearly a 30% market share in Turkey, he added. /Sabah/[17] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[18] NATIONALIST ACTION PARTY’S POLITICAL STANCE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the stance of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) regarding Turkey’s relations with the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:“We won’t have to wait for long to understand if the MHP is pursuing a sound policy in Turkey’s best interests. Their tendency will come out into the open in two years at the latest. I don’t believe we will even have to wait that long. Turks will either be grateful to the MHP or curse the day it was established. The reason why there will be such a definite and sharp distinction lies with the MHP itself. Pursuing such a policy is the MHP’s democratic right. It has a concrete ideology it has to comply with and hardliner voters it has to retain. That is, the MHP is a completely different party compared to Ciller’s True Path Party, of which it is impossible to understood what it is defending. In brief, the MHP has always been consistent in view of its basic ideals. Today it is clear that the execution of Ocalan, and the prevention of everything that sounds like ‘rights’ regarding the Kurdish issue, have important places among these ideals. However, there is one important issue the MHP has to understand. The logical result of its stance against the EU would come to mean Turkey’s moving away from the West in stages. The real problem is not Ocalan or the Kurds. It is the basic principles which require being in the same league with the West. The MHP itself has turned these issues into ‘Ocalan’ and ‘Kurdish’ problems. The military, which share the same views with the MHP on these issues, avoids voicing its opinions taking this into consideration. It has understood that that such an approach will come to mean Turkey’s moving away from the West. In fact, one doesn’t have to be a genius to figure out that Turkey needs the West for its defence. If not, we would not have insisted on NATO that much. Chief of General Staff General Staf Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu is not saying in vain that EU membership is a geostrategic necessity for Turkey. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli has explained the Western values he dislikes the most. Among them are criticisms coming from the free press, ‘lobbying’ activities carried out by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), and abolition of the death penalty. Therefore, it is unnecessary to ask how he views yesterday’s meeting held by a joint civilian initiative. In fact, there was nothing new in what he said. He clarified his views supported with angry terms. Even though he has clarified his party’s views on the issue, Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli still is not doing one thing. That is, he is not showing any geopolitical alternatives for Turkey moving away from the West. Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, formerly a MHP member, has followed the same approach. He said that although the EU was only one of the alternatives for Turkey, Turkey was the only alternative for the EU. However, he did not explain what he thinks these alternatives are. He didn’t delve into the logic of Turkey’s being the only alternative to the EU, as these are more slogans which mean little. Just like the MHP’s slogan that Turkey wants an honorable partnership with the EU, as if the EU is granted a dishonorable partnership to anyone. If complying with the ‘sine qua non’ criteria accepted by all members and candidates to the EU are considered to be dishonorable, the MHP has to say so. In fact, the MHP is playing a reactive game instead of a proactive one. While doing so, it is trying to harp on the sounds which would seem most favorable to a strongly patriotic nation. However, it is ignoring the point that the most important issue for the country is to elevate the living standards of the people. The MHP is forgetting that a country where the living standards are not high, cannot take its place among ‘equals’ as a global power.” [19] EURASIA INITIATIVE BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the visits by the president, deputy prime minister and chief of General Staff to Eurasian countries all taking place at the same time. A summary of his column is as follows:“In an interesting coincidence that the visits abroad by Turkish political and military leaders were all paid to Asian countries. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s talks in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China and Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu’s going to Russia are showing that the ‘Eurasia dimension’ in Turkish foreign policy is gaining more importance. These shouldn’t be viewed as ordinary protocol visits. Turkish diplomats are paying attention to relations stretching from Russia to China, from the Caucasus to Central Asia in addition to the primary place given to the US and Europe. It is clear that the new circumstances in the world play an important role in the establishment of such an understanding in Turkish foreign policy. When these three important visits are analyzed, the formation of a multi- dimensional foreign policy can be seen. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer’s visit to Almaty had more than one reason. The first one was to attend the Asian Cooperation and Security Conference where 16 Asian countries were represented. This presented Turkey the opportunity to express its views on terrorism to a broad platform. The other aim of the visit was to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of regional countries, in particular host country Kazakhstan. Another important aim was to launch a joint initiative with Russia to solve the Indian-Pakistani crisis as agreed upon at the Rome NATO summit. In fact, President Sezer, after talking with Russian President Putin, met with the Indian and Pakistani presidents and conveyed his recommendations. Thus, Turkey took its place among the great states trying to mediate between New Delhi and Islamabad. The most important part of Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s visit to China was that it covered the Xinjang Uigur autonomous region. The opening up of a region which has ethnic and cultural ties with the Turkish nation to a Turkish statesman by Chinese hosts demonstrate the level which relations and mutual confidence have reached. China, which has reached an important place in the international arena not only through its increase in population but also with its political influence and economic power, has a significant place in Turkish foreign policy. Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu’s visit to Moscow took place just after the strengthening of Turkish-Russian relations. Turco-Russian rapprochement and cooperation in various fields will be more easily and quickly improved due to the new climate seen in Rome. This cooperation with now-friendly Russia also covers defense and security issues. While following these developments in foreign policy with pleasure, we must note that these initiatives are efforts aimed at adding new dimensions and therefore cannot be regarded as alternatives. These new relations should not be seen as strategies which could take the place of ties with the US or the EU. These ties should be preserved in order for Turkish diplomacy to attain a regional and global role and influence.” [20] SUMMIT FOR DEEPENING RIFTS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the political party leaders’ summit called by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. A summary of his column is as follows:“The Political party leaders seem to be more interested in enhancing their own positions and gaining points from their differences of opinion rather than developing a joint stand before the leaders’ summit to take place tomorrow at the Presidential Palace. We have to underline the importance of the step President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has taken before analyzing the views of the sides. The messages Sezer is trying to relate to the leaders can be summed up as a common spirit has to be created for the EU and this spirit should be in line with the civilization target Ataturk set for us. He will also say that political parties should not use the steps to be taken towards the EU as a political tool and that first of all the government has to adopt a common view. Sezer’s efforts to create such an atmosphere above politics were apparently in vain in light of the announcements made just a few days before the summit. For the Democratic Left Party, the only problem is to be represented. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is ruling through letters. We all hope that the prime minister gets well soon and can attend them summit. The Nationalist Action Party’s (MHP) aim is to express its views clearly and force other parties to pronounce their own with the same clarity. The MHP hopes to cover the gaps it has created over the last three years. The MHP, which received votes due to its promise to hang Ocalan, is betting not on the improvement of history but on its repeating itself. The Motherland Party (ANAP) has tied its whole future to the EU issue and it expects other parties to comply with Sezer’s call. If this happens, it will say that all the other parties have come to the same line as ANAP. The opposition is trying to deepen the rift in the government. The military is trying to stay out of this dispute. Only a government working in harmony can resolve these disputes.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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