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Turkish Press Review, 02-08-22
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
22.08.2002
BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST
PARTIES SHOULD UNITE”
CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION
LAWS
BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ
INTERVENTION
SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATS
TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT
AFFECT THE ECONOMY”
TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEET
HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDP
FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS
NEW GOVERNMENT”
WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY,
WORK ON ISTANBUL APPROACH
COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL
SERVICE PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDS
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM
THE COLUMNS…
THIS POLITICAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
BY OMER CELIK (STAR)
EVEN IF THE US DOESN’T STRIKE, TURKEY
MUST STAY ALERT ON NORTHERN IRAQ BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
CONTENTS
[01] MGK TO CONVENE TODAY
[02] BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES
SHOULD UNITE”
[03] CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION LAWS
[04] DERVIS PLEDGES TO JOIN CHP
[05] BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ
INTERVENTION
[06] SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATS
[07] TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT
AFFECT THE ECONOMY”
[08] TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEET
[09] HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDP
[10] ERBAKAN TO DECLARE HIS CANDIDACY
[11] FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS NEW
GOVERNMENT”
[12] WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY, WORK
ON ISTANBUL APPROACH
[13] COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE
PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDS
[14] AUTHOR WEEMS VISITS ISTANBUL
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE
COLUMNS…
[16] THIS POLITICAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BY
OMER CELIK (STAR)
[17] EVEN IF THE US DOESN’T STRIKE, TURKEY MUST
STAY ALERT ON NORTHERN IRAQ BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] MGK TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (MGK) is scheduled to meet
today under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at
1:00 p.m. at the Presidential Palace. Recent domestic and
foreign developments are reportedly on the MGK’s agenda.
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] BAHCELI: “BOTH LEFTIST AND RIGHTIST PARTIES
SHOULD UNITE”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Nationalist
Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that if parties
which have similar political views and policies unite, this
would work to Turkey’s benefit. “Both leftist and rightist
parties should unite before elections,” he stated. “It would
be useful for Turkey if the Motherland Party [ANAP] and True
Path Party [DYP] were to unite, since they share similar
political views. However, the MHP will participate in
elections on its own.” Bahceli added that certain circles were
trying to postpone the elections and that if these efforts
succeeded, economic and political chaos would ensue.
/Milliyet/
[03] CEM BRIEFS SCHROEDER ON EU HARMONIZATION LAWS
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem yesterday met with
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. During their talks, Cem
briefed Schroeder on Turkey’s recently passed European Union
harmonization laws, stressing the YTP’s determination to see
these laws implemented. Speaking after the meeting, Cem said
that the number one priority for November’s post-election
government should be carrying out these important EU
harmonization laws for the sake of Turkey’s future. Speaking
on the elections, Cem stated, “I think that the early
elections will be a choice between new and old parties.”
/Milliyet/
[04] DERVIS PLEDGES TO JOIN CHP
Former State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, who has
been engaged in an intense campaign to establish unity among
Turkey’s leftist parties, yesterday ended weeks of speculation
in declaring that he would join the Republican People’s Party
(CHP). After meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and New
Turkey Party (YTP) Deputy Chairman Husamettin Ozkan, Dervis
then met with CHP leader Deniz Baykal for three-and-a-half
hours. Speaking later to reporters, Dervis said that he and
the CHP leader shared common views on many topics. Baykal, for
his part, expressed his pleasure with Dervis’s decision,
saying, “This means more than just joining a party. It is an
initiative towards a new unification, a call for a grand new
formation.” Stressing that the CHP would induct more new
members in the days to come, Baykal said that the CHP’s goal
was to be the strongest party in line to rule the country
after this November’s elections. Dervis is set to officially
join the CHP tomorrow. /All Papers/
[05] BARZANI ISSUES THREATS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ
INTERVENTION
Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud
Barzani yesterday threatened the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in
a statement published in Brayati, an IKDP-affiliated daily
newspaper. Barzani stated that forces from the IKDP would
“bury the TSK” in the region were it to enter into northern
Iraq. Last week, Barzani attracted criticism from the United
States for his failure to attend an Aug. 9 meeting in
Washington of Iraqi opposition groups. Furthermore, relations
with Turkey deteriorated following the publication of a map by
Barzani showing the Iraqi Turkmen city of Kirkuk as being
Kurdish. Airing his views on Turkey’s agenda, Barzani stated
yesterday that Turkey’s aim was to gain control of Mosul,
adding that Turkey had no rights in northern Iraq and that the
IKDP would fight the TSK to defend the cities of Kerkuk, Erbil
and Musul. All three cities are in northern Iraq’s “no-fly”
zone, an area unofficially administered by Kurdish political
groups, rather than the Baghdad regime. /Sabah/
[06] SOKMENOGLU REPLIES TO BARZANI’S THREATS
Remarks by Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) leader
Massoud Barzani yesterday threatening the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) should they enter northern Iraq prompted a swift and
sharp reaction from Acting Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu.
Sokmenoglu said yesterday that Barzani would soon get an
appropriate reply from the Turkish Parliament, adding that
Turkey did not have any expansionist tendencies. He continued
by declaring that Turkey would consider the establishment of
an independent “Kurdistan” in northern Iraq sufficient
justification for war, adding that peace in northern Iraq
would be prove impossible if the presence and rights of the
Turkmens living in the region are not recognized. /Sabah/
[07] TURKER: “CANCELLING ELECTIONS WOULD NOT
AFFECT THE ECONOMY”
Speaking to Hurriyet yesterday, State Minister for the
Economy Masum Turker stated that cancelling the elections
scheduled for November would not affect the economy. Turker
added that he had started to work on the third review of
Turkey’s program with the International Monetary Fund. Turker
also called on all the political parties taking part in early
elections to pledge to carry out the IMF’s program. In related
news, international credit rating organization Morgan Stanley
has asked for an appointment for its representatives to meet
with Turker. Turker is expected to arrange such a meeting for
next Tuesday. /Hurriyet/
[08] TURK-IS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO MEET
The Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is)
Executive Council is scheduled to gather today at Turk-Is’s
headquarters at 11:00 a.m. The council will reportedly discuss
this November’s early elections. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] HASAN CELAL GUZEL RESIGNS FROM YDP
Hasan Celal Guzel, former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP),
tendered his resignation from the YDP yesterday. In ending his
decade-long relationship with the YDP, an action he took along
with 14 YDP colleagues, Guzel claimed that the party had been
“bought” by Young Party (GP) leader and media magnate Cem
Uzan. /All Papers/
[10] ERBAKAN TO DECLARE HIS CANDIDACY
Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the defunct Welfare
Party (RP), is expected to hold a press conference today to
declare his candidacy for the Nov. 3 elections. /Turkiye/
[11] FITCH: “TURKEY’S RATING DEPENDS ON ITS NEW
GOVERNMENT”
Fitch Ratings, a leading international credit rating
institution, stated yesterday that it was of the utmost
importance for Turkey to establish a stable, reformist
government in November’s elections in order to maintain and
better its rating. “The local market appears to be factoring
in a positive outcome to the November elections, so a
disappointing result could prompt severe turbulence,” a Fitch
report said. The report added that if political stability
could not be achieved through elections and confidence ensured
in domestic markets, this might cause a rise in interest rates,
a rash of loan defaults and a drop in the value of the Turkish
lira. /Aksam/
[12] WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY, WORK
ON ISTANBUL APPROACH
A delegation from the World Bank is due to come to Turkey
next month in order to conclude work concerning a loan
totaling $500 million to be given to Turkey as part of the
Istanbul Approach. During its contacts in Turkey, the
delegation will prepare documents for the loan as well as
determine the amount of credit to be extended to small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the names of mediating
banks. As part of the Istanbul Approach, a framework designed
to strengthen the banking system, support the real sector and
encourage restructuring of business loans, the World Bank is
extending a credit line to be allocated to banks in order to
ensure additional financing for businesses whose loans are
restructured. The loan to be given by the bank to Turkey will
not be additional credit, but will instead be considered
within the Country Aid Strategy loan portfolio. /Turkiye/
[13] COMMISSION APPOINTED TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE
PAY HIKE WITHIN BOUNDS
The collective bargaining process between the government
and trade union officials concerning raises for civil servants
was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. State Minister
for the Economy Masum Turker cautioned that the government
must act in line with its Letter of Intent (LOI) to the
International Monetary Fund pledging that such salary
increases do not surpass 20%. In order for the government to
stay within these bounds, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit then
appointed a commission to study the issue and make
recommendations. The commission, made up of Turker, Finance
Minister Sumer Oral and State Ministers Tayfun Icli and Tunca
Toskay, will be chaired by State Minister Mehmet Kececiler. /Turkiye/
[14] AUTHOR WEEMS VISITS ISTANBUL
Samuel A. Weems, a retired US judge and writer of the
recently published book Armenia: Secrets of a Christian
Terrorist State, yesterday visited the seat of the Istanbul
Governorship to pass along information about the Ataturk World
Peace Institute, set to be established at the University of
Arkansas. Weems, who lives in Arkansas, said yesterday that he
had received harsh criticism from Armenian extremists as a
result of his book, which lays out a wealth of research
supporting Turkey’s complaints against Armenia. /Star/
[15] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE
COLUMNS…
[16] THIS POLITICAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BY
OMER CELIK (STAR)
Columnist Omer Celik writes on Turkey’s latest political
crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:
“In this country, we’ve unfortunately gotten used to seeing
crises dominating the political agenda. Although Turkish
politicians seem on the surface to be addressing very
different subjects, the favorite topic of behind-the-scenes
discussions is in fact how to normalize politics and overcome
our current crisis. Since there’s always been a tense
relationship between Turkey’s economic and political dynamics,
the decision to hold early polls has made political and
business circles anxious but also meant an opportunity for
advancement of the country’s economic and political life. This
tension stems from the peculiar characteristics of our
political structure. In Turkey, politics has always been
defined as a series of power clashes between certain
bureaucrats; in other words, it has always eluded being
depicted in its original sense. Since modernization has never
touched Turkey’s daily life as much as its political
institutions, politics have been confined within the brick
walls of these institutions. The crisis we’re currently going
through must be considered an opportunity to overcome this
political impasse. The crisis has, in fact, cleared the
political landscape of considerable artificial clutter. The
parties which have failed to develop effective solution
proposals in the midst of this crisis have become smaller and
weaker.
The only way to overcome this crisis is to normalize
politics. The first move we must take is to remove all the
obstacles standing in the way of this normalization. If
circles which are not bona fide members of political
institutions persist in intervening in politics, the
dissolution of these institutions will continue and the
situation will surely worsen, which is likely to culminate
with a chronic crisis. Under such circumstances, it would be
impossible to prevent the economy being hurt by such a crisis.
Political parties should see the crisis as an opportunity.
Being a good politician means developing rational policies to
solve difficult problems as well as taking effective moves to
address these issues. It’s politically unethical to develop
irrational strategies which defy reason merely to woo more
votes. Believe me, this time voters won’t be taken in such
irrational, self-serving demagoguery. Now voters are only
interested in how their living standards can be improved and a
better political structure established. It seems to me that
today the only guarantee we have for a better future in this
country is the crisis we’re undergoing.”
[17] EVEN IF THE US DOESN’T STRIKE, TURKEY MUST
STAY ALERT ON NORTHERN IRAQ BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the US shifting attitude in
its plans to strike at Iraq and the developing situation in
northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
“The probability of a US military attack on Iraq in the
very near future seems to have recently lost some of the wind
from its sails. No matter how the ‘hawks’ in Washington are
hell-bent to go ahead, President Bush will only be able to
make up his mind on the issue in early 2003 at the earliest.
Among the various reasons for this delay –- perhaps the most
important one under the circumstances –- is the opposition to
a war in Iraq on the part of some prominent US political
figures who advised the Bush administration not to go into
another dangerous adventure in Iraq. As defense analyst Robert
Levine wrote in a column in the International Herald Tribune,
President Bush is quite concerned that he listen to these
voices, especially on the eve of the US congressional
elections set for November. It is known that Washington has
been searching for alternative methods to military
intervention for bringing down Saddam Hussein. In other words,
the president is determined to try every option to achieve his
goal, but also to keep the military one in reserve like a
sword of Damocles’ hanging over Iraq. Meanwhile, Saddam hasn’t
missed the opportunity to capitalize on the US’s difficulties.
Moreover, the US efforts to bring Iraqi opposition leaders
together for concerted action against Saddam has so far not
gone well. Additionally, Russia, too, is trying to improve its
relations with Iraq. As far as Turkey is concerned, the
prevention of a possible war in Iraq carries, for very obvious
reasons, great importance. However, the issue has another
aspect crucial to Turkey: the situation in northern Iraq. No
matter whether the US launches an operation in Iraq or not,
Turkey is going to be seriously occupied by this problem. As
we stated earlier, Turkey believes that the balance between
the most two powerful groups in the region has shifted.
Massoud Barzani, who displayed more of a pro-Turkey attitude
in the past, and Jalal Talabani, who used to be mostly at odds
with Turkey, now seem to have switched places. Turkey is quite
anxious about a draft constitution prepared by Barzani for
Iraq, one which would give a Kurdish state there a near-autonomous
status. And yet, there is still a chance to ease this
‘psychological war’: Barzani’s aide Hoshyar Zabari is expected
to visit our country next week. Turkish authorities will be
able to once again reiterate Turkey’s sensitivities on the
issue. Surely, Barzani is aware of Turkey’s role in the
reshaping of Iraq, and he must be reminded that he doesn’t
have the luxury of losing Turkey’s support.”
ARCHIVE
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