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Turkish Press Review, 02-07-24
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
24.07.2002
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF HATAY JOINING TURKISH REPUBLIC
[02] ECEVIT YIELDS TO EARLY ELECTIONS DEMANDS
[03] BAHCELI: “ECEVIT’S REASONS ARE NOT REALISTIC”
[04] YILMAZ SEEKS SUPPORT FOR EU HARMONIZATION LAWS
[05] CILLER TOURS PARTY LEADERS
[06] IZGI CALLS PARLIAMENT FOR SESSION ON MONDAY
[07] TURKEY QUESTIONS GREECE ON TERRORISM ALLEGATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS
[08] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ISSUES REPORT ON F-TYPE PRISONS
[09] TURK SPEAKS ON ERDOGAN’S CONVICTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 312
[10] ERDOGAN: “EVEN IF I DON’T PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS I AM STILL MY PARTY’S LEADER”
[11] YALOVA ADMITTED TO HEALTHY CITIES NETWORK
[12] UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE VISITS MARDIN
[13] BANK CHOSEN FOR TEKEL PRIVATIZATION
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] IT SHOULDN’T BE A GAMBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
[16] ECEVIT TO PLAY HIS FOREIGN POLICY CARDS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
[01] SEZER MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF HATAY JOINING TURKISH REPUBLIC
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message to mark the 63rd
anniversary of Hatay’s union with Turkey. Sezer stated that this union
represented a political victory for peacetime diplomacy and that the
Turkish policy of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World” had served to enhance
the nation’s prestige in the international community. He also pointed out
that the unification had taken place as a result of a decision made freely
by the people of Hatay. The statement added that the decision to join
Turkey was taken unanimously by the Parliament of Hatay and that the
decision showed a decisive choice by Hatay’s people to embrace their
Turkish history and identity. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] ECEVIT YIELDS TO EARLY ELECTIONS DEMANDS
Following Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli’s warning
earlier this week that if elections were postponed the MHP would withdraw
from the government, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday dropped his
opposition to early elections. In an interview on CNN Turk, Ecevit said,
“There’s no point in the Democratic Left Party [DSP] opposing elections
anymore as all the other parties have agreed on the date.” Ecevit denied
claims that he was preparing to resign and added that if considering EU
accession laws was left until after a decision on elections during
Parliament’s July 29 session, then it would be very difficult to pass the
necessary laws in time. Commenting on election campaigns, Ecevit said that
his party, the DSP, would be working very hard to get the best results. “I
am confident that we’ll do well in the elections,” he said. He stated that
he would take an active part in campaigning and touring the country to meet
the people. /Hurriyet/
[03] BAHCELI: “ECEVIT’S REASONS ARE NOT REALISTIC”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday
characterized as “unrealistic” Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s allegations
that the People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) and the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) were threats for Turkey. “Ecevit’s reasons are unrealistic
reasons to postpone early elections,” Bahceli told reporters. “It is
impossible for the coalition government to continue its mission until 2004,
and Ecevit should evaluate this situation correctly.” Bahceli also touched
on the issue of Turkey’s European Union Membership bid, saying, “If the MHP
comes to power in the upcoming elections, the first thing we will do is to
get a date to start negotiations from the EU and then try to implement the
Copenhagen criteria as well as eliminate the causes of terrorism.” He also
said that his party would clearly explain to the EU Turkey’s “special
conditions.” /Sabah/
[04] YILMAZ SEEKS SUPPORT FOR EU HARMONIZATION LAWS
While True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller was touring party leaders,
yesterday Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut
Yilmaz also held a series of meetings with the leaders of parties
represented in Parliament. After a meeting with DYP leader Tansu Ciller,
Yilmaz met with Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan, Justice and
Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and New Turkey (YT)
leader Ismail Cem, and presented to each of them a package of bills
including 13 articles as part of European Union harmonization laws. After
meetings today with his coalition government partners, Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Yilmaz is expected
to make a proposal and open it for deputies’ signatures to reconvene
Parliament for an extraordinary session tomorrow with an agenda of EU
harmonization laws. /Turkiye/
[05] CILLER TOURS PARTY LEADERS
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday toured leaders of the
political parties represented in Parliament. First, she visited Prime
Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit. Following a
one-hour meeting, Ciller said that early elections were the DYP’s priority
and then they would support debates for the European Union harmonization
laws, as well as the Elections Law. Ciller stated that Ecevit told her that
there was no time for any amendments to the Elections and Political Parties
Law. Stressing that the DYP had proposed amendments to the law four times
already, efforts that had been rejected, Ciller said that her party would
not take the responsibility for this. “If a minority government needs to be
established, then the DYP is ready to contribute to such a formation,”
Ciller added. The DYP leader then continued her tour of leaders with
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz. Yilmaz gave Ciller a file
including EU harmonization laws proposed for Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Ciller is next expected to meet with Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader
Devlet Bahceli and former President Suleyman Demirel today. /Turkiye/
[06] IZGI CALLS PARLIAMENT FOR SESSION ON MONDAY
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi yesterday called Parliament for an
extraordinary session on next Monday upon a proposal submitted by deputies
from the True Path Party (DYP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). The
written statement said that Parliament would convene on Monday at 2:00 p.m.
/Milliyet/
[07] TURKEY QUESTIONS GREECE ON TERRORISM ALLEGATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS
The Foreign Ministry has submitted a diplomatic note to Greece regarding
allegations that terrorist organization DHKP-C head Dursun Karatas spends
most of his time in Athens and that he currently resided in that city. The
charge d’affaires of the Greek Embassy in Ankara was summoned to the
Foreign Ministry yesterday and told of Turkey’s concern over the matter. He
was also asked if there had been any progress on investigations into the
November 17 terrorist organization, which is responsible for the murders of
several Turkish diplomats in years past. The Greek official reportedly
pledged to reply to these inquiries as soon as possible. /Turkiye/
[08] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ISSUES REPORT ON F-TYPE PRISONS
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CTP) yesterday issued
a report growing out its visit to a number of F-type prisons in Turkey this
March. While the report lauded a series of positive steps taken by Turkish
authorities at the prisons, it also expressed concern about common
activities and inmates convicted of terrorist offenses, saying that the
prisons restricted these activities. Replying to the CTP document, Turkish
officials countered that terrorist convicts’ privileges must be kept on a
tight leash since during common activities the prisoners were interested in
organizing ideologically, not recreation or rehabilitation. The CPT report
also contended that problems existed with mistreatment, prison personnel
being present during health checkups and procedures, and detainees’ lack of
access to their lawyers. Turkish officials responded that these allegations
were being investigated and that if necessary, new measures would be taken.
/Milliyet/
[09] TURK SPEAKS ON ERDOGAN’S CONVICTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 312
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said yesterday that criminal courts of
first instance were authorized to overturn the previous convictions of
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was
convicted under Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Turk added,
however, that with a change to the third paragraph of Article 312, an
aggravating reason for a crime was now considered a crime in itself. “Thus,
Erdogan might be retried,” Turk stated. /Milliyet/
[10] ERDOGAN: “EVEN IF I DON’T PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS I AM STILL MY
PARTY’S LEADER”
Appearing on Kanal D late on Monday, Justice and Development Party (AKP)
leader Tayyip Erdogan addressed the question of whether he could
participate in early elections expected this fall. Erdogan said that no
legal problems stood in his way, but that even if he were unable to take
part directly in elections he would still serve his party as its leader.
“AKP’s fate does not hinge on my disputed status,” he added. “It can score
a great success even if I am unable to take a seat in the Parliament.”
/Aksam/
[11] YALOVA ADMITTED TO HEALTHY CITIES NETWORK
The World Health Organization, a UN body, announced yesterday that the
Yalova Municipality near Istanbul had been chosen to join the WHO’s
“Healthy Cities Network.” Under the network, over 1,000 cities and towns
worldwide are targeted to promote comprehensive local strategies for health
and sustainable development. The Turkish municipalities of Bartin,
Eskisehir, Urgup, Cankaya, Yozgat and Yalova were considered to join the
network, but only the latter was admitted. Yalova is the 46th European city
to join the network. /Star/
[12] UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE VISITS MARDIN
UNESCO representative Christopher Tound yesterday visited the southeastern
city of Mardin in order to determine whether it meets the necessary
criteria to be added to the World Cultural Heritage List. Tound was
accompanied by the Culture Ministry’s Fusun Ersoy and Nevin Soyukaya from
the Foundation to Protect and Promote Environmental and Cultural Values
(CEKUL). /Star/
[13] BANK CHOSEN FOR TEKEL PRIVATIZATION
The Privatization Administration (OIB) announced yesterday that it
had selected international investment bank Schroeder Salomon Smith Barney
(SSSB) as a consultant for the privatization of state alcohol and tobacco
monopoly TEKEL. An OIB statement said that out of a field of 15 candidates,
SSSB has submitted the best proposal to reorganize TEKEL and its related
corporations and enterprises, as well as its companies abroad and to create
adequate alternative privatization models and strategies. /Aksam/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] IT SHOULDN’T BE A GAMBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on current political developments and
possible election campaign issues. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The party leaders remind me of priests who spent hours discussing the sex
of angels in the last days of the Byzantine Empire. Including Ecevit, there
is no one denying that elections in November have come to a point of no
return. From now on every politician who is a statesman in even in the
smallest degree must have two aims. The first is to enact the EU adaptation
laws and pave the road for Turkey and the government to be established
after elections. The second one is to change the Political Parties and
Election Laws in order for the elections to provide a solution. If the
Parliament falls into a state of negligence which causes Turkey to miss its
date with the EU at the end of the year, governments which come into power
following the elections will have to grapple with problems of economic
growth, unemployment, and social unrest, and the social and political
tension within the country will lead Turkey to move further away from its
EU membership goal. Why don’t the political parties wake up to the fact
that foreign investments are directed more towards Romania and Bulgaria,
which are taking bolder steps towards the EU? Yesterday Ecevit said that
only elections were on the agenda. Nothing else could be discussed. His
fear of being eliminated in the coming elections has made Ecevit forget his
responsibility to both himself and history. He turned it into a weapon of
vengeance. True Path Party (DYP) leader Ciller, fearing that a success on
the road to the EU would be a plus for the Motherland Party (ANAP), can
sacrifice the EU project. If the New Turkey party cannot rouse new
excitement in society with new steps and new faces, only the Justice and
Development Party (AKP), True Path Party (DYP) and the Nationalist Action
Party (MHP) can enter the government. While The New Turkey party tries to
unify the moderate majority, it can also serve as another divisive factor.
Such developments can damage democracy more than extremist parties.
Therefore centrist parties should work together while there is still time
to legalize ‘election alliances.’ No one has the right to turn elections
into a gamble, and throw the votes of the moderate majority into the trash
bin. If unsuccessful and irresponsible politicians are set to commit
political suicide, they must find a method which will not harm the country
or society.”
[16] ECEVIT TO PLAY HIS FOREIGN POLICY CARDS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on moves Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is
likely to make in the near future against political circles favoring early
elections. A summary of her column is as follows:
“Everybody is now well aware that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit doesn’t want
polls to be held this year. Ecevit has already begun playing his strongest
cards to counter political circles who favor of holding early elections
this fall. Ecevit first stated that the strength of the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) and People’s Democracy Party (HADEP), which he
labeled as two parties ‘posing a threat’ to Turkey’s democratic regime,
might be increased at the conclusion of early elections. He emphasized that
such a development would damage Turkey’s political stability. With
elections on the horizon, the political atmosphere in Turkey is now highly
charged with both new hopes and concerns for political parties. Political
circles are so caught up in the current of pre-election campaigning that
they failed to show much interest in Ecevit’s warnings about the AKP and
HADEP. His remarks echoed in the air without anyone paying attention. After
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli’s recent statement that his
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) would quit the coalition if the polls
weren’t held in November, Ecevit met with his staff to size up the
situation. At the end of the meeting, Ecevit seemed ready to play his
foreign policy cards, telling reporters, ‘The early elections would have
negative repercussions on Turkey’s foreign relations.’ That’s why it seems
safe to say that in the upcoming days, disputes over early elections will
probably be accompanied by discussions of Turkey’s foreign policy.
According to information leaked by diplomatic sources, Ecevit holds two
trump cards to play to prevent the polls being held this fall: the issues
of Cyprus and Iraq. Ecevit is expected to convey a message that Greece and
the Greek Cypriots will try to take advantage of Turkey’s political
instability and uncertainty under the commotion of elections. He will
contend that such an atmosphere in Turkey will pave the way for Greek
Cypriots’ admittance to the European Union.
The premier is again expected to convey similar messages concerning the
issue of Iraq. He will probably stress that a Turkey without a government
would suffer great economic and political losses if the United States
launches a military intervention against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, which
carries the risk of culminating with the establishment of an independent
Kurdish state in northern Iraq. Here is an important point that must be
underlined: Sukru Sina Gurel recently became Ecevit’s closest ally after
resignation of Husamettin Ozkan. He has always been a political figure
engaged mostly with foreign affairs rather than domestic events. That’s why
it would be no surprise to see the prime minister putting his foreign
policy cards on the table, in order to get the upper hand in political
problems.”
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