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Turkish Press Review, 02-07-09
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
09.07.2002
ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON NOV. 3
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
EARLY ELECTIONS A BARRIER TO OUR EU BID
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
DECISION DAY FOR ECEVIT
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
CONTENTS
[01] FIVE MINISTERS AND 19 DEPUTIES RESIGN FROM DSP
[02] YILMAZ: "LET'S HAVE POLLS IN SEPTEMBER, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR NOVEMBER"
[03] CILLER: "LET'S AMEND THE ELECTIONS LAW AND THEN HOLD POLLS"
[04] BAHCELI: "IF ECEVIT STEPS DOWN FROM HIS POST, THIS DUTY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MHP"
[05] DYP SUBMITS PROPOSAL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS TO PARLIAMENT
[06] TUSIAD GIVES CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
[07] ISAF HEAD ZORLU MEETS WITH KARZAI
[08] DERVIS: "IF UNCERTAINTY ENDS, THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE"
[09] FORMER US PRESIDENT CLINTON IN ISTANBUL
[10] LAND FORCES RECEIVE NEW HOWITZERS
[11] SOUTHEASTERN BUSINESSMEN: "THE IRAQ EMBARGO IS HURTING TURKEY"
[12] BREKK: "WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE IMF IS THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
[13] BILDACI: "BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE WILL BENEFIT TURKEY"
[14] AKTEKS THREAD FACTORY OPENED IN ALEPPO
[15] TOBB CHAIRMAN URGES ACTION FOR MARKET STABILITY
[16] TURKISH ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN "MANIFESTA 4" IN GERMANY
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON NOV. 3
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[19] EARLY ELECTIONS A BARRIER TO OUR EU BID
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[20] DECISION DAY FOR ECEVIT
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] FIVE MINISTERS AND 19 DEPUTIES RESIGN FROM DSP
Yesterday, Ankara was shaken by surprise resignations from senior
government partner, the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and the Cabinet, even
as it was still busy discussing Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist
Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's recent call for early elections
in November. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan met
yesterday afternoon with the prime minister. The meeting came only a day
after Ecevit urged Ozkan during a live TV interview to step down from his
deputy prime minister post, and only two days after the strong DSP figure
was accused by his fellow party members of failing to respond to a smear
campaign against the prime minister and his wife, Deputy DSP Chair Rahsan
Ecevit. After the meeting, Ozkan issued a written statement, declaring his
decision to withdraw from the Cabinet and resign from the DSP. Ozkan said
that for 11 years he had spent his political life in the DSP alongside the
prime minister with loyalty, tolerance and honesty. "During our meeting, as
I recognized that Mr. Ecevit did not require my services anymore, I decided
to resign," said Ozkan. "After 11 years, I finally learnt from the prime
minister that there is no place for sentimentality in politics." He also
told reporters that he had never promoted factionalism within the party.
Following Ozkan's statement, a series of resignations came from the DSP,
one after the other. Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, State Ministers
Recep Onal, Hasan Gemici and Mustafa Yilmaz, and Deputy Parliament Group
Chairman Ali Iliksoy declared their resignations, as did 19 parliamentary
deputies. Other DSP deputies and some other top officials were reportedly
also in line to quit their posts and the party. Meanwhile, Ozkan, who met
with a group of deputies at a dinner last night, is expected to meet with
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis -- who currently lacks a party
affiliation -- today, while Ecevit called Foreign Minister Ismail Cem for a
meeting. DSP member Cem's stance will reportedly be clear after this
meeting. /All Papers/
[02] YILMAZ: "LET'S HAVE POLLS IN SEPTEMBER, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR
NOVEMBER"
In a television interview yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland
Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that it would be difficult to
continue with the present government. He suggested that should the nation
go to elections, it would be best to proceed until then with a government
which could pass necessary European Union accession reforms. He stated that
the current crisis was a result of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's health
problems and the EU. "Let's call Parliament for an extraordinary session
next week, rather than waiting for Sept. 29," Yilmaz added. /Hurriyet/
[03] CILLER: "LET'S AMEND THE ELECTIONS LAW AND THEN HOLD POLLS"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that Turkey was
giving an impression of being a "sick man," and that she welcomed recent
initiatives for early elections. Expressing her party's views on NTV
yesterday, Ciller said, "Early election initiatives are the right steps to
be taken to save Turkey and its democracy, although they have been
delayed." She added, "There are a number of things to do, such as convening
Parliament. We suggested that Parliament not recess, saying that we support
EU harmonization laws without any precondition." Ciller also remarked that
Turkey should banish uncertainty and latch onto stability with elections
which would be held after amending the Elections Law, retaining the 10%
election threshold but implementing a two-round election system. /Turkiye/
[04] BAHCELI: "IF ECEVIT STEPS DOWN FROM HIS POST, THIS DUTY SHOULD BE
GIVEN TO THE MHP"
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli yesterday commented on recent resignations from the Democratic Left
Party (DSP) and how they might affect the government. "If Ecevit steps down
from his post, then certain constitutional procedures will be put into
motion," said Bahceli. "This would mean giving the party with the largest
number of seats in Parliament [with yesterday's resignations, the MHP] the
duty of establishing a new government." Bahceli added, "It is hard to
estimate when the defections from the DSP will end, but this number might
reach as high as 40. If Mr. Ecevit continues to fulfill his duty, we would
support him. However, we cannot give up the idea of early elections on Nov.
3. Mr. Ecevit will make a decision on this issue. If he gives up his post,
the party with the most deputies in Parliament will be on duty. I hope
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will apply this rule." /Milliyet/
[05] DYP SUBMITS PROPOSAL FOR EARLY ELECTIONS TO PARLIAMENT
A proposal regarding elections to be held on Nov. 3 signed by True Path
Party (DYP) Parliament Group Acting Chairmen Turhan Guven, Nevzat Ercan and
Ali Riza Gonul as well as Amasya Deputy Ahmet Iyimaya was submitted to the
Bureau of Parliament yesterday. The proposal said that the government had
lost the support of both Parliament and the public. It remarked that the
lack of harmony in the government was also hampering Turkey's European
Union membership bid and that early elections were the only remedy for
Turkey's troubles. /Turkiye/
[06] TUSIAD GIVES CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman
Tuncay Ozilhan said yesterday that if Turkey can meet the Copenhagen
criteria and make changes to the Political Parties and Elections Law, then
he wouldn't have any objection to early elections being held in November.
Asked about the economic cost of elections, Ozilhan said, "As long as the
political instability goes on like this, there will always be an economic
cost. We have been feeling the pinch for two months now. In other words,
speaking approximately, we can say that maybe we will have difficulties for
one or two more months, that's all." Concerning the prospect of early
elections, TUSIAD Deputy Chairman Aldo Kaslowski said, "While the
Copenhagen criteria are still on the agenda, we don't want early elections
to be held in November. Elections should be held anytime after December."
/Milliyet/
[07] ISAF HEAD ZORLU MEETS WITH KARZAI
Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday met with the commander of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Turkish Gen. Hilmi Akin
Zorlu. At the meeting, Karzai said that he wanted an official from the ISAF
to participate in a commission formed to find the killer of Afghan Vice
President Haci Abdulkadir, who was assassinated last weekend. ISAF
spokesman Samet Oz stated that since the incident, security measures had
been strengthened. /Turkiye/
[08] DERVIS: "IF UNCERTAINTY ENDS, THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE"
Speaking to Reuters yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis
said, "There should be no reason for any deviation [from the government's
economic program] if the [political] situation does not prevail too long."
Dervis also briefed reporters on the current discussions on early election
and markets in Turkey and said that recently, the economic program's
macroeconomic targets, including budget and current account balances, have
seemed attainable, and even subject to being exceeded. "As I said before,
the important point is not to let the political uncertainty drag on for too
long," Dervis added. /Hurriyet/
[09] FORMER US PRESIDENT CLINTON IN ISTANBUL
Former United States President Bill Clinton yesterday arrived in Turkey to
attend a Turkish-American Businessmen's Association (TABA) meeting in
Istanbul. Clinton is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Ciragan Palace
today focusing on relations between Turkey, the United States and Europe.
/Cumhuriyet/
[10] LAND FORCES RECEIVE NEW HOWITZERS
The initial six units of a new delivery of howitzer guns designed and
produced in Turkey were presented yesterday to the Turkish Land Forces
Commandership in a ceremony. The T-155 Panther Howitzers, which have a
range of 40 kilometers, were produced in order to offer artillery support.
/Turkiye/
[11] SOUTHEASTERN BUSINESSMEN: "THE IRAQ EMBARGO IS HURTING TURKEY"
Bedrettin Karaboga, the chairman of the Southeastern Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association (GUNSIAD), said yesterday that the United Nations-
imposed economic embargo on Iraq was taking a greater toll on Turkey
everyday. "We have presented a report to UN officials on how this embargo
is hurting Turkey's economy," said Karaboga. "We told them we want it to be
to be lifted as soon as possible." /Turkiye/
[12] BREKK: "WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE IMF IS THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Odd Per Brekk yesterday
offered his views on Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli's recent
call to hold polls in November. Remarking that what was important for the
IMF was the implementation of the economic program without any delays no
matter what domestic political changes take place, Per Brekk underlined
that political uncertainty should not be allowed to hurt the economy. An
IMF delegation chaired by the Fund's Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen is
scheduled to arrive in Turkey tomorrow for its third review. The IMF's
Executive Board is expected to hold a meeting at the beginning of August to
release a new loan tranche to Turkey amounting to $1.1 billion.
/Cumhuriyet/
[13] BILDACI: "BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE WILL BENEFIT TURKEY"
Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation Executive Director Gokhan Bildaci
spoke yesterday in Istanbul on the social and environmental effects of the
Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project. Saying that the pipeline would be
completed by 2005, Bildaci added, "If everyone supports this project,
Turkey will earn considerable amounts, both directly and indirectly through
taxes." /Turkiye/
[14] AKTEKS THREAD FACTORY OPENED IN ALEPPO
An acrylic thread factory based in Gaziantep opened a branch facility in
Aleppo, Syria yesterday. Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
new Akteks company facility, Syrian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa Meri
said that Turkish-Syrian relations were improving but that they should be
made better. "This factory shows the point that Turkish-Syrian relations
have reached," he said. "We have been making efforts for the development of
the country as part of the economic reforms initiated by our President
Bashar al-Assad. Aleppo is Syria's most important trade center. Actually,
the opening of this factory is the product of common values between our two
countries which are based in history. The Akteks thread factory should set
an example for other investors. We want to develop our cooperation with
Turkey and we are preparing the necessary infrastructure for this purpose.
I believe this factory will speed up the development of our relations."
/Aksam/
[15] TOBB CHAIRMAN URGES ACTION FOR MARKET STABILITY
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat
Hisarciklioglu urged the Treasury and Central Bank to act in order to
prevent unstable market exchange rates. Hisarciklioglu is scheduled today
to visit State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis to discuss uncertainty
in the markets. /Hurriyet/
[16] TURKISH ARTISTS PARTICIPATE IN "MANIFESTA 4" IN GERMANY
Scores of young artists from all over the world are participating in the
summer-long Manifesta 4, the European Biennial for Modern Arts in Frankfurt,
Germany. Young artists from Turkey such as Halil Altindere with his movie
"I Don't Like Long Goodbyes," Esra Ersen with her film "This Is Disney
World" and Erden Kosova with his presentation "Istanbul, Not
Constantinople" are among those taking part in the biennial. The arts event
runs through Aug. 25. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON NOV. 3
BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the prospect of early elections and their
possible effect on the country. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet
Bahceli has said that early elections might be held on Sunday, Nov 3. He
proposed that the government stay in power and the Parliament hold an
extraordinary session, on Sept. 1, to decide on early polls. Our adaptation
laws to the European Union's accession criteria and amending the Law on
Political Parties and the Elections, however, were left unmentioned. The EU
issue is being left up to the new Parliament and the new government. This
is the kind of attitude Mr. Bahceli had to adopt, so it's nothing to be
criticized. Technology should be used to cast votes and in determining the
results of elections. We should leave behind medieval practices and try to
keep up with modern times. The date for the elections, Nov. 3, was chosen
after careful consideration as Turkey might be heading towards a rehearsal
of a mini disaster in December. Such a disaster seems impending due to the
fact that the Turkish people are in seriously incapable hands. Rejection by
Brussels on the one hand, war in Iraq on the other ... there's no guessing
how national fury will affect voting patterns. So it is important that
elections are held before the U.S. congressional elections and any strike
against in Iraq, and certainly before a rejection from Brussels and the
harm it could do to the Turkish economy. The government problem is
important, but the EU issue is vital. So the political parties have only
the month of July to put their act together. It shouldn't be forgotten that
the EU will start preparing its progress report not in December, but
September."
[19] EARLY ELECTIONS A BARRIER TO OUR EU BID
BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent developments regarding early
elections and their influence on Turkey's EU membership bid. A summary of
his column is as follows:
"How will early elections influence Turkey's EU membership bid? If the
Parliament is called for an extraordinary session in September as
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli suggested and
elections are held on Nov. 3, can Turkey get a date from the EU for the
start of its accession negotiations? Or will Turkey miss the EU train
amongst all this chaos? These questions were posed to Spanish Foreign
Minister Josef Pique, whose nation has just completed its duty as EU term
president, yesterday at the Foreign Economic Relations Council's (DEIK)
meeting in Istanbul. The Spanish foreign minister's answer shows that
whether there are elections or not, the start of the membership process
depends on Turkey's resolve to comply with the Copenhagen criteria. In
other words, the holding of elections in November will make it more
difficult for a date to be given at the Copenhagen summit in December.
Meetings with other EU officials confirm this impression. That is to say,
holding elections in November will weaken Turkey's chances of getting a
decision in favor of Turkey in December. Excepting that, the Parliament
should convene earlier and pass reform laws before such elections.
Otherwise, focusing only on elections and leaving issues regarding the EU
aside, Turkey will lose its chance for membership. Spanish Foreign Minister
Pique said that if elections are held in November and a government capable
of fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria doesn't come into power, it will be
hard for the EU to set a date. He added that the uncertainty prevailing for
some time was causing concern in the EU and continued, 'In this situation
it is very hard for the EU to decide in Turkey's favor.... However, you can
recover the time lost in the end if only positive messages come from
Turkey. We shall continue to help Turkey but it has to help us too...' EU
officials who would like Turkey to get a date at the Copenhagen summit
suggest that the reform laws complying with the Copenhagen criteria should
be passed as soon as possible. If elections are to be held in November and
no arrangements regarding the Copenhagen criteria are made, we should not
expect for any decision concerning Turkey's membership in the EU. It can be
asked what if the membership is postponed till 2003? The crux of the matter
is that in December the EU's new enlargement policy will be decided upon.
The admittance of 10 new countries is in question. If a date for accession
negotiations is not given before then, the chance of deciding on such an
opportunity later gets weaker. In fact, no such decision may emerge.
Notwithstanding all these negative factors, it is still possible to catch
the EU train. If the Parliament could be convened as soon as possible, and
reform laws were passed before the elections, the country will be nearer to
its goal. Then the EU issue cannot be exploited in the coming political
elections. This duty falls on the political parties in favor of Turkey's
admittance into the EU and non-governmental organizations..."
[20] DECISION DAY FOR ECEVIT
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila writes on Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan's
quitting the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and his resignation from his post
as state minister. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Yesterday's developments were no surprise. It has been apparent for quite
some time that Ozkan was being driven to part ways with Prime Minister
Ecevit, especially after Ecevit made his distrust of Ozkan known to the
public. Ozkan's resignation was partly due to the uneasiness shown by
Ecevit for Ozkan's -- together with some of his colleagues -- remaining
silent in the face of heavy criticisms and accusations against Ecevit
himself. However the underlying reason was of a more substantial one: the
search for a different government model in which Ecevit would not take part
and Ozkan would take over the prime ministry. Ecevit knew that this
particular model was supported by one of the coalition partners, namely the
Motherland Party (ANAP) and its leader Mesut Yilmaz; and by some major
business and media representatives. Ecevit did hope that Ozkan would oppose
such a government alternative which would bypass Ecevit altogether. But
Ozkan's attitude proved to be quite the opposite; together with others who
showed commitment to this alternative government model, the conviction that
Ozkan, too, was expecting that Ecevit would leave his post got even much
stronger. Upon these developments Ecevit sacrificed Ozkan, some of his
ministers and some of his MPs. The fact that Ozkan quit the government and
the DSP but did not leave his post as a parliamentary deputy shows that, in
the very near future, he can take other positions in the political arena.
According to some rumors, Ozkan and those MPs who quit the DSP, are to
assemble in a new political formation. It is expected that Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem and State Minister Kemal Dervis would also take sides with
Ozkan. After all, the fact that with the resignations the DSP now has far
fewer deputies than the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) can be seen as a
serious setback to Ecevit's prime ministry; thus he can resign. Today
Ecevit will come to a decision, after a meeting with his coalition partners,
as to whether to leave or not."
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