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Turkish Press Review, 02-07-19Turkish 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 morning19.07.2002CONTENTS
[01] SEZER RECEIVES ECEVIT, KIVRIKOGLUPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer met yesterday with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for more than an hour as part of the prime minister's regular weekly visits. Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu also attended the meeting in which domestic and foreign developments, including a possible United States military operation in Iraq, were reportedly discussed. /All Papers/[02] PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE ON MONDAYParliament Speaker Omer Izgi yesterday recalled Parliament to convene on next Monday, July 22, for an extraordinary session. A proposal submitted by the True Path Party (DYP) and also supported by Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies proposed that Parliament convene on that day to debate early elections to be held on Nov. 3 as well as European Union harmonization laws and amendments to the Political Parties and Elections Law. As articles regarding the EU laws were not specified individually, Izgi made his call by taking into consideration only the topics of an election date and the Political Parties and Elections Law. However, the coalition government partners had agreed to reconvene Parliament on Aug. 1. If a quorum of 184 deputies cannot be reached next Monday, the extraordinary session will have to be cancelled or rescheduled. /Turkiye/[03] ECEVIT RECEIVES IMF DELEGATIONPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit welcomed International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen and Turkey Representative Odd Per Brekk at the Prime Ministry's offial residence yesterday. This meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and State Minister Kemal Dervis. The participants did not speak to the press after the meeting, but reportedly the IMF delegation used it to present to Ecevit its views on the Turkish economy. /Aksam/[04] GUREL: "TURKEY WON'T FORSAKE ITS EU MEMBERSHIP BID"Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel met yesterday with Ankara ambassadors of European countries at an official dinner. Gurel said that Turkey would cooperate with current European Union Term President Denmark to implement the Copenhagen criteria for its EU membership. He also said that his being the new foreign minister wouldn't cause any changes to Turkey's foreign policy. "Turkey will not forsake its EU membership bid," he added. He also said that Turkey was continuing its efforts to join the EU, adding that the EU should know that Turkey is determined in its membership bid. /Milliyet/[05] CEM: "OUR NEW FORMATION WILL UNITE THE TURKISH NATION"Former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday visited Kayseri, a central Anatolian province where his constituency lies, in advance of the establishment of the new political formation he heads, expected early next week. Remarking that the aim of the new formation was to alter Turkey's political and economic fabric hand-in-hand with all classes and sectors of society, Cem said, "We will refrain from pigeonholing people according to their political affiliations. Our aim is to bring together all Turkish citizens irrespective of their political parties. The new formation will pave the way for a real unification in Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/[06] GROSSMAN: "ADDING TURKEY TO THE UNION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH THE US AND THE EU"US Deputy Secretary of State Marc Grossman yesterday met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen in Brussels after completing his official visit to Turkey. During the meeting, Grossman told Verheugen that Turkey was very important for Washington and that it would be in the best interests of the European Union to add Turkey to its ranks. "Bringing Turkey into the Union would be beneficial for both the US and the EU," Grossman added. Grossman also said that should Turkey fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, the EU should respond positively to this. Grossman also outlined the United States' stance towards Iraq, explaining that the US administration was determined to end the current regime in Iraq with Turkey's support. /Hurriyet/[07] US DELEGATION ENDS OFFICIAL VISIT TO TURKEYA visiting US delegation headed by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz along with Deputy Secretary of State Marc Grossman and Commander in Chief of US European Forces Gen. Joseph Ralston ended its official visit to Turkey on Wednesday. During the delegation's three-day stay, interrupted by a scheduled visit to Afghanistan, Turkish officials told the US contingent that Iran and Saudi Arabia should also be taken into consideration when making policy in the region. The Turkish officials briefed the US delegation on Turkish-Iranian relations and told them of the possible consequences of a military operation both domestically and in the region I general. "The territorial integrity of Iraq is very important for Turkey and the terrorist organization PKK should not have any place in a post- Saddam Iraq," the officials added. /Hurriyet/[08] TURKEY BEEFS UP BORDER SECURITY WITH IRAQ IN EXPECTATION OF US OPERATIONTalk of a future US military operation in Iraq has spurred the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to beef up security along the Turkey-Iraq border. A buffer zone has been established to guard against retreat or attack into Turkish territory. Additional troops have been moved over the last three weeks to bordering provinces and districts, including Mardin, Sirnak and Hakkari, to ensure security there. Stating that Turkey's strategic importance and US military facilities within Turkey might make the nation a target for Iraqi forces, officials say that the security measures at Incirlik Airbase in Adana and NATO facilities in Izmir have been bolstered as well. /Sabah/[09] BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS HANNAY MEETS WITH TRNC OPPOSITION LEADER TALATMehmet Ali Talat, chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the main opposition party in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), yesterday met with Britain's Special Representative to Cyprus Lord David Hannay in London. After the meeting, Talat stated that Lord Hannay was dissatisfied with recent developments in mainland Turkish politics, since he believes the latest events in the wake of resignations and defections from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's party Democratic Left Party (DSP) could throw the future of Cyprus negotiations into doubt. Talat said that he had conveyed the message to Lord Hannay that the European Union should determine a calendar for Turkey's EU bid if it did not want to cause further uncertainty concerning the Cyprus issue. Meanwhile, a meeting which was supposed to be held yesterday morning between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides was postponed due to Denktas' health problems. /Cumhuriyet/[10] SP TO SUBMIT CENSURE MOTION AGAINST GOVERNMENTFelicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan declared yesterday that his party would submit a motion of no confidence to the Bureau of Parliament in order to bring down the government. Addressing SP deputies in Parliament yesterday during his party's group meeting, Kutan said that the political crisis in Turkey could only be overcome by elections. "As the current government has lost its political and numerical support, it cannot hold elections," Kutan said. "Tomorrow we will submit a censure motion to bring down the government, and we expect Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi to call on Parliament to debate this motion." Meanwhile, yesterday Democratic Left Party (DSP) Antalya Deputy Ahmet Sancar Sayin added his name to this week's list of DSP resignations. With his defection, the number of DSP deputies in Parliament fell to 65, while that of the coalition government decreased to 271. /Turkiye-Star/[11] BAYKAL: "NEW FORMATION CAN'T CHALLENGE THE CHP"Speaking to reporters at his party's headquarters yesterday, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that his party's policies were attracting increasing public support. "The CHP is the only party which has tried to tackle Turkey's economic crises and corruption," said Baykal. He also predicted that the new political formation led by former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem wouldn't cut into the CHP's voter base. Commenting that there were "two Turkeys," one found on the pages of newspapers and TV screens and the other found in the land of Anatolia, he added, "No one should ignore the real people of Anatolia." /Milliyet/[12] DAWSON: "DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY ARE GOING WELL"International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Relations Director Tom Dawson yesterday declined to comment on recent political developments in Turkey, including plans for early elections, but did say that its economic program was overall proceeding soundly. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Dawson said that he was following developments in Turkey closely and added, "An IMF delegation is in Turkey right now, and things are going well." /Aksam/[13] IMF DELEGATION: "CLOSE DOWN MORE BANK BRANCHES"After his recent meetings with executive board members of Turkish state banks, IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen has expressed his satisfaction with the government's recent attempts to restructure the banking sector. However, he also remarked that more bank branches should be closed down and work to privatize the banking sector should be accelerated. /Star/[14] IRAQI DIPLOMAT THANKS TURKEYIraqi Embassy Charge d'Affaires Tarik Hamaney said yesterday that he was grateful for the Turkish government's policies. Speaking at the 34th anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara, Hamaney said, "We know that the Turkish public considers Iraq its friend. Our two countries enjoy good relations. Turkey and the other countries have said loud and clear that they don't favor any operation by the US against Iraq." /Sabah/[15] JOURNALIST METIN TOKER DIESJournalist-writer Metin Toker, the dean of Turkish journalists, died yesterday in Ankara after a long illness. Toker was the son-in-law of former President Ismet Inonu. Toker had served as a columnist for Milliyet daily for many years. /Hurriyet/[16] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[17] BARGAINING OVER IRAQ BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the pros and cons of a planned military operation in Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:"Let's write about the pros and cons of participating in a military operation against Iraq, and see what will emerge. Some time ago I mentioned a possibility of military operation being launched against Iraq and I asked if we were ready. At the time, officials had said that I was right in my sensitivity and I could rest assured that plans had been made for all contingencies in Iraq. I had said that if we were left out of this operation, we could not sit at the table and would not have a say in the arrangements to emerge in the region...The argument was that we had to participate in the operation but bargain skillfully with the US beforehand. US Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz met with Chief of General Staff Gen. Kivrikoglu and his friends for over three hours. If Turkey had rejected the proposal, this meeting would surely not have lasted that long. Turkey's control in northern Iraq during this military operation will help us to eradicate both the PKK terrorists and radical elements affiliated with Al Qaeda trying to get a hold in the region. The financial dimension of the issue is as important as its military dimension. This should be discussed with the US at the bargaining table. The situation of Musul and Kerkuk and that of Turkmens is another issue to discuss. Turkey's membership in the EU could be another point which can be taken up at the bargaining table. We believe that standing by a military operation will cost us dearly rather than providing any gains. Here, the key role will be played by the chief of General Staff, right now politicians are more concerned with keeping their seats in Parliament." [18] TURKEY DRIVING A HARD BARGAIN BY SEDAT ERGIN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sedat Ergin writes about last Tuesday's meeting between the prime minister and the visiting US defense undersecretary and what Turkey wants in exchange for support of a likely US intervention in Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:"At his meeting on Tuesday with Prime Minister Ecevit, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz told the prime minister that President Bush had decided to move against Saddam Hussein, but that he hadn't yet made his mind up as to when and how such an operation would take place. He then asked Ecevit what Turkey's views were. 'Obviously we would prefer a non- military solution,' replied Ecevit. After pointing out the possible negative repercussions of such an operation he continued: 'However, if the US does intervene in Iraq, then we would like to be informed beforehand. Turkey will consider this issue as being a matter of the Turkish-American strategic partnership.' One very important result of this meeting was the agreement of both sides to set up a regular, effective and secret consultation mechanism. This mechanism's aims would be to enhance cooperation during the planning stage of the operation in Iraq. One thing is clear: If the US acts with Turkey on this issue, then the costs of the operation will be considerably lower than an operation without Turkey's active support. And it is the attempt to reduce the cost of the operation that prompted Mr. Wolfowitz to say: 'Tell us exactly what you want.' In response, the Turkish side presented a firm list of requests. First of all Turkey would like the US to cancel $4 billion of Turkish debt from arms purchases. In addition, Turkey asked for help to alleviate the negative economic effects of a war in the region. To this end, Economy Minister Kemal Dervis suggested that the US Treasury also be included in the decision-making process along with the US Defense Department. Turkey also wants the US to support Turkey's membership in the European Union. However, the most important and underscored point on Turkey's list of demands was protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq. Turkey wants to be reassured that a Kurdish state, or a federal Iraq, will not be established in the region after the operation. On this issue, Turkey made it clear that it would in no way allow the Kurds to gain control of the oil-rich area surrounding Musul and Kerkuk. Mr. Wolfowitz answered 'yes' to the majority of these demands made by the Turkish officials and said that he knew he had homework to do when he went back home. We can safely say that in the coming days we are going to witness the hardest bargaining in the history of Turkish-US relations. Turkey does not intend to make the mistake it made before the Gulf War by not getting anything in return for its support." [19] WE GAVE NO WORD TO THE US BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila writes on a possible military attack on Iraq and Turkey's position if the attack happens. A summary of his column is as follows:"The US is determined to strike on Iraq; this is as clear as the light of day. What remains uncertain is the scope and method of such an attack. The US is searching for and in need of the support of Iraq's neighboring countries. US Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz's main concerns during his visit to Turkey were along these lines. Following the US delegation's contacts in Ankara, it was argued that Turkey had assured the US that it would fully cooperate in a possible attack and that it bargained on this by putting its debts to the US on the table, demanding that they be cancelled. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit denied any such quid-pro-quo and told me the following: 'We gave no word to anyone. On the contrary, we reiterated our sensitivities. We have not entered into any engagement. We have our eyes on the region and we are doing what is necessary.' It is remarkable that the US is strengthening its military reinforcements in the south, namely in Kuwait, Qatar and in the pro-US United Arab Emirates, thus giving the clear signs of a land operation to be launched from the south of Iraq. However, the US does not enjoy the same comfort on Iraq's northern borders, that is, those next to Turkey. It is obvious that the US may want to resort to its military bases and airfields in Turkey in an airborne assault, but a land operation to Iraq from southern Turkey is unacceptable for Ankara. Under these circumstances, what will Turkey's position be? Ankara is watching the developments in northern Iraq very closely to safeguard its national interest and integrity. Turkey is vigilant about a possible wave of immigration flowing from the region to Turkey and it is also wary of a political fait accompli there. In order to guard against such developments, strategists say that Turkey should deploy its military forces in northern Iraq and be ready to react rapidly so as to defend its national interests independent of those of the US. Thus, it would be a misinterpretation to say that Turkey's support to the US in its possible strike on Iraq hangs merely on bargaining over its financial debts." 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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