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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-11
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
11.09.2002
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER, ECEVIT SEND MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY TO THE US
[02] GUREL IN NEW YORK FOR UN MEETING, SEPT. 11 COMMEMORATION
[03] YILMAZ: “A NEW GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED”
[04] ECEVIT: “THE DSP WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM THE GOVERNMENT”
[05] YAHNICI: “ANAP IS GAMBLING”
[06] CEM: “IT WOULD BE IMPROPER TO HOLD ELECTIONS UNDER THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT”
[07] BAHCELI: “TURKEY WILL HOLD ELECTIONS UNDER ECEVIT’S GOVERNMENT”
[08] ANNAN HOPEFUL THAT CYPRUS SETTLEMENT MAY BE REACHED BY YEAR’S END
[09] BLAIR: “HARMONISATION LAWS ARE A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR TURKEY”
[10] VERHEUGEN: “NOVEMBER’S ELECTIONS SHOULD PRODUCE A STABLE GOVERNMENT”
[11] BARZANI: “THE IKDP FAVORS IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”
[12] TWO DEPUTIES JOIN ANAP, STATE MINISTER STEPS DOWN
[13] ISTANBUL TO HOST WOMAN LEADERS’ MEETING NEXT SPRING
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] A NEW SCENARIO BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
[16] YILMAZ MAKES HIS LAST MOVE BY HIKMET BILA (CUMHURIYET)
[01] SEZER, ECEVIT SEND MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY TO THE US
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday
sent United States President George W. Bush messages of sympathy in
commemoration of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World
Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in northern Virginia, near
Washington, DC. Stressing that terrorism could only be eliminated through
international cooperation, Sezer stated that the Turkish nation shared the
pain of the American people. The message sent by Ecevit underlined Turkey’s
determination to do everything within its power to eliminate terrorism
worldwide. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] GUREL IN NEW YORK FOR UN MEETING, SEPT. 11 COMMEMORATION
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel arrived in New
York yesterday to attend the 57th session of the United Nations General
Assembly. The session, which began Tuesday under tight security, will be
highlighted by a Thursday address by US President George Bush on the Iraq
issue, and is expected to see much debate on the developing situation
there. While in New York, Gurel is set today to attend a commemoration
ceremony held at “Ground Zero,” the scene of last Sept. 11’s devastating
attacks on the World Trade Center. He is later expected to meet with UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whose
capital Turkey is currently protecting through its command of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Before returning to Turkey,
Gurel is also scheduled attend upcoming meeting of the European Union, the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), and the Arab League.
/Hurriyet/
[03] YILMAZ: “A NEW GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED”
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said
yesterday that a new broad-based government excluding the Nationalist
Action Party (MHP) was needed for Turkey to progress on its road towards
European Union membership. Regarding the MHP’s appeal to the Constitutional
Court yesterday to annul four key articles of the EU harmonization laws
package, Yilmaz said that the issue was directly related to Turkey’s future
and that ANAP would not participate in a government which includes elements
trying to block Turkey’s future. Speaking to journalists after a ceremony
held to induct new members into ANAP, Yilmaz said, “The remarks that MHP
leader Devlet Bahceli made yesterday do not fit with his earlier
commitments.” Governments have no right or authority to fail to carry out
the laws, stated Yilmaz, adding that ANAP would not take the responsibility
for blocking Turkey’s EU membership by being partner to such a government.
In addition, addressing reporters following ANAP’s Executive Board meeting
last night, Yilmaz expressed his concerns over Turkey’s 40-year efforts to
become an EU member. Stressing that his party insisted that elections be
held on Nov. 3, Yilmaz remarked that there were two options: the withdrawal
of the MHP from the coalition government, or the government being brought
down by a censure motion followed by the formation of a new broad-based
election government. He said that he was in favor of the MHP’s withdrawing
from the government in favor of some other party which favors EU
membership. Underlining that without establishing a new government model,
the current government would not be brought down, Yilmaz added that his
party would declare its final decision on the matter today after a meeting
of his party’s executive staff. /Turkiye/
[04] ECEVIT: “THE DSP WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM THE GOVERNMENT”
Addressing a crisis growing out of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP)’s
appeal to the Constitutional Court to annul certain articles in the EU
harmonization laws, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader
Bulent Ecevit yesterday declared that the DSP would not withdraw from the
government. Following a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland
Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, who yesterday called for the government
to dissolve due to the MHP’s action, Ecevit held a meeting with his party’s
staff. Speaking to reporters, the prime minister stated, “In saying that
the government can no longer serve, ANAP leader Yilmaz made too much of the
MHP’s appeal to the Constitutional Court. The DSP, howoever, is not in
favor of withdrawal from the government.” Turkey is going through a very
sensitive period and it would not be proper to end the government at this
time, said Ecevit, adding that he could not take the responsibility for
creating a government crisis just one-and-a-half months before scheduled
early elections. “We will remain on duty unless a censure motion is passed,
” he added. /Turkiye/
[05] YAHNICI: “ANAP IS GAMBLING”
Responding to Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz’s statement that
the current coalition government was no longer able to serve, Nationalist
Action Party (MHP) Deputy Chairman Sevket Bulent Yahnici said yesterday,
“Yilmaz is gambling. No one has the right to play with Turkey’s future and
destiny.” Stressing that MHP’s Constitutional Court appeal which inspired
Yilmaz’s remarks had not been a surprise, Yahnici said that MHP leader
Devlet Bahceli had pledged to appeal the laws even before they were
actually passed. “From the beginning certain circles have been trying to
postpone the elections, and they are still looking for pretexts for that,”
Yahnici charged. /Turkiye/
[06] CEM: “IT WOULD BE IMPROPER TO HOLD ELECTIONS UNDER THE CURRENT
GOVERNMENT”
Appearing on both CNN Turk and NTV yesterday, New Turkey Party (YTP) leader
Ismail Cem said that it would be improper for Turkey to enter elections
under the current government. “The current coalition government is
disadvantageous for Turkey in general as well as the November elections and
Turkey’s European Union membership bid,” said Cem. “The YTP will support a
possible censure motion to bring down the government because it would not
be in Turkey’s best interests to hold the elections under this government.”
Cem added that a possible United States operation in Iraq would cause a
postponement of November’s elections. “Turkey should be ready for a
possible operation,” he stated. He added, however, that he had no wish to
see the elections postponed. /Milliyet/
[07] BAHCELI: “TURKEY WILL HOLD ELECTIONS UNDER ECEVIT’S GOVERNMENT”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet
Bahceli yesterday said that Turkey would hold elections scheduled for
November under the current government headed by Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit. Bahceli, whose MHP is a partner in the three-party coalition
government, applauded Ecevit’s determination in rejecting calls by Mesut
Yilmaz, leader of the third coalition partner the Motherland Party (ANAP),
for him to step down from his post as prime minister. “We will continue our
way with Ecevit till November and also enter elections under the current
government,” he added. /Milliyet/
[08] ANNAN HOPEFUL THAT CYPRUS SETTLEMENT MAY BE REACHED BY YEAR’S END
Following his meeting with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in Paris
last Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in
New York yesterday that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots may be able to reach
a settlement in Cyprus by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot
administration spokesman Mihalis Papapetru stated yesterday that the
differences between the two sides on the island had grown fewer in recent
days. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] BLAIR: “HARMONISATION LAWS ARE A GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR TURKEY”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated in a letter sent this week to
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that he welcomed the adoption of the European
Union harmonization law package in Turkey. In his letter to Ecevit, Blair
said that the reforms passed this summer would both work to the benefit of
Turkish citizens and help Turkey’s EU membership bid. He also reiterated
Britain’s determination to provide all the necessary political support for
the realization of Turkey’s membership in the EU. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] VERHEUGEN: “NOVEMBER’S ELECTIONS SHOULD PRODUCE A STABLE GOVERNMENT”
Speaking at the European Parliament Foreign Commission yesterday, European
Union Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen stated that
the EU wants a stable government to emerge from elections scheduled to be
held in Turkey on Nov. 3. “This would be what Turkey deserves,” added
Verheugen. He also said that Turkey had recently taken important steps and
realized important reforms in its EU membership bid. /Hurriyet/
[11] BARZANI: “THE IKDP FAVORS IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY”
Iraqi Kurdish Democrat Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani yesterday stated
that the IKDP advocated Iraq’s territorial integrity, stressing that he
stood ready to cooperate with the Turkish government in order to ensure
Turkey’s national security. According to diplomatic sources, the Iraqi
opposition leader is currently trying to smooth over relations with Turkey
in the wake of his controversial comments that the IKDP would “bury”
Turkish forces should they enter northern Iraq, comments which drew quick
fire from Ankara. Arguing that recent media reports had distorted the
IKDP’s true views on northern Iraq, Barzani said, “The IKDP supports the
establishment of a plural, parliamentarian and democratic administrative
structure representing all Iraqi people without any discrimination.”
Meanwhile, Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani
yesterday remarked that recent crisis between Turkey and Barzani had not
been a serious one, underlining that the Turkish government was striving to
establish close relations with both Barzani and the Iraqi Kurdish people.
Longtime rivals Barzani and Talabani signed a pact between their two
parties earlier this week. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] TWO DEPUTIES JOIN ANAP, STATE MINISTER STEPS DOWN
Rasim Zaimoglu and Ali Tekin, two deputies who recently left the True Path
Party (DYP) and the New Turkey Party (YTP) respectively, joined the ranks
of the Motherland Party (ANAP) in a ceremony yesterday. In addition, State
Minister Edip Safter Gaydali resigned from both ANAP and his government
post. Speaking after his resignation, Gaydali stated that he would stay an
independent. /Star/
[13] ISTANBUL TO HOST WOMAN LEADERS’ MEETING NEXT SPRING
The second conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance (IWSA)
is scheduled to be held in Istanbul next spring. Many prominent figures are
expected to attend the wide-ranging meeting, including US Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Butto, and Sonia
Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress Party. IWSA President Umran
Baradan told a press conference in Dubai yesterday that the conference
would be primarily aimed at reinforcing the cooperative bonds between
women’s groups and associations. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
[15] A NEW SCENARIO BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the request made by Deputy Prime Minister
and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz last night. A summary of
his column is as follows:
“Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz put
a new scenario card on the table yesterday. The trump card in Yilmaz’s hand
was his statement that on behalf of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP),
Deputy Prime Minister and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli had applied to
Constitutional Court claiming that six articles of this summer’s European
Union harmonization package were contrary to the Constitution. First of all,
let’s all recall that this scenario isn’t the first such one. In other
words, the words spoken by Yilmaz yesterday recalled previous rumors that
he was seeking to establish a government without either Ecevit or Bahceli
due to Ecevit’s health problems. This scenario eventually caused the
Democratic Left Party (DSP) to lose half of its seats in Parliament. This
also caused the general elections, which Yilmaz and the other coalition
leaders had reached a consensus to hold next April, to be scheduled for
this November instead. Looking at the latest indicators of which party will
face the most trouble in the early elections, one can even say that
Yilmaz’s scenario was counterproductive and that it even seriously harmed
ANAP itself. If this second undertaking goes awry, nobody should be
surprised. When Yilmaz requests a government without the MHP and Ecevit, he
isn’t basing his argument on firm ground because it’s impossible for the
MHP to hinder the implementation of the EU laws that were passed. Everybody
knows very well that applying to the Constitutional Court won’t hinder the
implementation of a law. Moreover, it’s known that Ecevit published a
circular so the regulations required by the EU laws will be completed
before this Oct. 1 and implemented immediately. The request made by Yilmaz
last night that the MHP, which he says constitutes an obstacle to Turkey’s
EU bid, should withdraw from the government is actually against the
traditions of Parliament. Because if he wants this government to be
overthrown, ANAP’s withdrawal from the government might be sufficient as
well. However, it’s clear that if Yilmaz overthrows the government, he is
also afraid of the results of the instability that would ensue and
therefore he’s passing the ball to somebody else. In short, it’s impossible
to say or argue that Yilmaz is being sincere. Even if Yilmaz overthrows
this government, the duty of establishing a new one should fall to Bahceli
so that the president can believe that parties other than the MHP have a
consensus to establish a government and that this government will get a
vote of confidence. That government will live for 50-55 days, in other
words, until the elections. Considering all this, one must ask Mr. Yilmaz:
Is it worth it?”
[16] YILMAZ MAKES HIS LAST MOVE BY HIKMET BILA (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Hikmet Bila comments on Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut
Yilmaz’s recent declaration that the Motherland Party (ANAP) might withdraw
from the government coalition. A summary of his column is as follows:
“ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz is very successful in managing last-minute
maneuvers. Even during the most desperate times, he knows well how to gain
time and ground. And now we are witnessing another of his political
maneuvers. Even ANAP’s political cadres have come to admit that the party
will not be able to cross the 10% threshold in November’s elections. In
contrast, ANAP’s age-old rival the True Path Party (DYP) has caught a good
wind in its sails. Moreover, leading ANAP figures such as Erkan Mumcu,
Yasar Okuyan and Bulent Akarcali had already burned their bridges with the
party. All in all, ANAP was on the verge of being swept away from history
and political scene, had Yilmaz pushed the button. Are the reasons Yilmaz
put forward yesterday sound? No, they are not. Yilmaz blames the
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) for its appeal to the Constitutional Court
to annul the law abolishing capital punishment. Yet, there are certain
questions which need immediate answers. It was obvious that the MHP would
resort to such a move when it proved incapable of preventing the passage of
the law in question on the day it was debated in Parliament. So, why didn’t
ANAP, that day, declare that if the MHP made such a move, it would withdraw
from the government? Moreover, Yilmaz says that the MHP’s attempts are
useless and won’t work. If that’s so, then why is he so anxious about it?
Another question: ANAP claims that the EU harmonization package which the
party itself prepared fully complies with the Constitution. If that is true,
why is Yilmaz deeply concerned about it? Yilmaz also suggested that the
coalition couldn’t carry on anymore even as an election government due to
the MHP’s appeal to the court. However, he is again far from being
convincing because it was the very same coalition government until
yesterday in which ANAP stood side-by-side with the MHP, which has said no
to the EU package from the very beginning. Thus, Yilmaz’s reasons for a
possible withdrawal from the government cannot be sincere. Nevertheless,
Yilmaz yesterday opened a new path which could even lead to the
postponement of elections.”
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