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Turkish Press Review, 05-02-01
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
01.02.2005
ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL TAKE ITS OWN
MEASURES AGAINST PKK TERRORISM”
GUL SLAMS US FAILURE TO HALT KURDISH
DESIGNS ON KIRKUK
CICEK: “TURKEY WILL CLARIFY ITS IRAQ
POLICY AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS ARE OFFICIALLY
ANNOUNCED”
BAYKAL SIGNALS THAT SARIGUL MIGHT BE
EXPELLED FROM THE PARTY
FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES IRAQ POLLS
IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: “I DON’T
THINK KIRKUK WILL PLUNGE INTO ETHNIC CHAOS”
TURKISH TROOPS TAKES OVER THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF KABUL AIRPORT
FRENCH FM BARNIER: “MAKE PEACE WITH
YOUR OWN HISTORY”
PALESTINE’S LEADER TO VISIT TURKEY
BARROSO: “ACCESSION TALKS WILL BEGIN ON
TIME”
TURKMEN, ARABS ASK IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY
ISRAELI MILITARY CHIEF VISITS ANKARA
FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…
FROM THE COLUMNS…
TURKEY, US AND NORTHERN IRAQ
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL TAKE ITS OWN MEASURES
AGAINST PKK TERRORISM”
[02] GUL SLAMS US FAILURE TO HALT KURDISH
DESIGNS ON KIRKUK
[03] CICEK: “TURKEY WILL CLARIFY ITS IRAQ POLICY
AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS ARE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED”
[04] BAYKAL SIGNALS THAT SARIGUL MIGHT BE
EXPELLED FROM THE PARTY
[05] FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES IRAQ POLLS
[06] IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: “I DON’T THINK
KIRKUK WILL PLUNGE INTO ETHNIC CHAOS”
[07] TURKISH TROOPS TAKES OVER THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF KABUL AIRPORT
[08] FRENCH FM BARNIER: “MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR
OWN HISTORY”
[09] PALESTINE’S LEADER TO VISIT TURKEY
[10] BARROSO: “ACCESSION TALKS WILL BEGIN ON
TIME”
[11] TURKMEN, ARABS ASK IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY
[12] ISRAELI MILITARY CHIEF VISITS ANKARA
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM
THE COLUMNS…
[14] TURKEY, US AND NORTHERN IRAQ
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] ERDOGAN: “TURKEY WILL TAKE ITS OWN MEASURES
AGAINST PKK TERRORISM”
In
an interview with Wall Street Journal issued yesterday,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the US for
failing to stop Kurdish attempts to get control of the
strategically important northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and to
act against the PKK terrorists in northern Iraq although he
had warned the US officials including President George W.
Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney several times on the
matters. Expressing Turkey’s concern over a massive Kurdish
migration to Kirkuk a head of elections, Erdogan said that
the situation in Kirkuk could lead to trouble in the future.
The interview was held during last week’s World Economic
Forum in Davos, before the Iraqi elections on Sunday. The
premier also complained about the US’ failing to crack down
on the terrorist PKK militants based in northern Iraq.
Stressing that Turkish nation was very sensitive on the
matter, as the PKK was responsible for 40,000 deaths in
Turkey during the clashes for decades, Erdogan underlined
that Turkey would take its own measures to save itself
against threats. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] GUL SLAMS US FAILURE TO HALT KURDISH
DESIGNS ON KIRKUK
Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday received US Undersecretary
of Defense Douglas Feith in Ankara to discuss the latest
developments in Iraq. Gul criticized the US for failing to
halt Kurdish efforts to dominate the city of Kirkuk in
northern Iraq, and warned Turkey could take action if
attempts to take control plunges the city into ethnic chaos.
Gul received reassurance from Feith that Kirkuk is a matter
for all Iraqis to decide. Feith told Gul that Washington was
committed to preserving Iraq's territorial integrity,
stressing that the issue of Kirkuk is not a matter for one
group to decide. Feith tried to reassure Turkey, making
clear Washington still opposed Kurdish separatism. "The
issue of Kirkuk is an important one,” he said. “It is going
to be worked on by the Iraqis from the point of view that
this is not a matter for one group or another but for the
Iraqi people in general. We support that view.” Gul added
that If the Turkmen groups were not treated well, if they
are subjected to oppression, Ankara cannot remain
indifferent, or merely spectators, to such developments. Gul
also requested the US to take immediate measures to crack
down on the terrorist group PKK in northern Iraq. Feith also
called on Ankara to cooperate with Washington in its efforts
to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. /Hurriyet/
[03] CICEK: “TURKEY WILL CLARIFY ITS IRAQ POLICY
AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS ARE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED”
Council of Ministers yesterday convened under the
chairmanship of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss a
busy agenda including the issues of Iraq and European Union.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Justice Minister
and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek stated that Turkey
would clarify its Iraq policy after the results of the
elections were officially announced. “Iraq has entered into
a new era with the elections,” he said. “Ankara is closely
following the developments in the region, and will decide
what to do after the results of the elections are announced.
All groups must participate into a democratic Iraqi
administration to promote peace and stability in the
region.” Cicek also commented on the issue of Turkey’s EU
membership bid, signaling that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
is expected to be the chief negotiator. “Turkey will start
its negotiations with a inter-governmental conference, “
Cicek added. “Counseling councils which will include
non-governmental organizations, scholars and members of the
private sector will be established to deal with each and
every issue that Turkey will negotiate with the EU.”
/Turkiye/
[04] BAYKAL SIGNALS THAT SARIGUL MIGHT BE
EXPELLED FROM THE PARTY
Main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz
Baykal yesterday signalled that Mustafa Sarigul might be
expelled from the party. Baykal said that the CHP would
recover itself as soon as possible to make further progress
on its path. In related news, the opposition group
supporting Sarigul decided to apply for the cancellation of
the General Council meeting which was held over the weekend.
A team of jurists has already started to work on legal
procedures for the annulment of the meeting. /Sabah/
[05] FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES IRAQ POLLS
A statement issued by Foreign Ministry yesterday stated
that Turkey welcomed Iraqi polls which were carried out
under difficult conditions, as a step towards establishment
of a democratic regime. Stressing that a new period had
begun in Iraq, Foreign Ministry said that the elections
would be evaluated once again after the votes are counted.
It added that Ankara wanted measures to be taken to ensure
all segments of the Iraqi people have a say during
constitutional process and the new government. /Turkiye/
[06] IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: “I DON’T THINK
KIRKUK WILL PLUNGE INTO ETHNIC CHAOS”
Iraqi Ambassador to Ankara, Sabah Omran, yesterday said
that Iraq’s territorial integrity would be protected after
the elections. Referring to Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s
recent statement on the possibility of a civil war in
Kirkuk, Omran said, “I understand Turkey’s concerns very
well, but the developments are exaggerated. I don’t believe
that Kirkuk will plunge into a chaos.” In related news,
Shiite Iraqi Islamic Revolution Higher Council’s Turkey
representative Abdullah Tutuncu said that they would oppose
any efforts to divide Iraq and any attempts of establishing
independent structures. Meanwhile, Iraqi Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (IPUK) head Jalal Talabani yesterday stated that
the Iraqi Kurdish groups wanted to hold a post of presidency
or prime minister in the new government. “The National
Assembly will decide about this issue,” he added.
/Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURKISH TROOPS TAKES OVER THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF KABUL AIRPORT
Turkish military troops yesterday took over the
responsibility for operating the international airport in
the Afghan capital of Kabul. Turkish Air Force Colonel Kazim
Ondul was given the command of the facility. The transfer
was a preliminary for Turkey’s taking overall command of the
International Security Assistance Force, made up of
contingents from NATO member countries scheduled for
February 13. Colonel Ondul said that he would continue
pursuing the policy of gradually transferring the operation
of the airport to Afghan civilian control. /Hurriyet/
[08] FRENCH FM BARNIER: “MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR
OWN HISTORY”
Responding the questions of NTV on Turkey’s EU membership
bid and the allegations on the so-called Armenian genocide,
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier stated that the
negotiations between Turkey and the European Union were set
to begin on Oct. 3, 2005. “The results of the negotiations
will completely depend upon Turkey’s performance,” he said.
Upon a question on the so-called Armenian genocide, Barnier
said that when a country joined the ranks of the EU, it was
obliged to accept the principle of making peace with other
countries. “You will have to make peace with other countries
as a EU member,” he added. “This is what we exactly did with
the Germans to develop a complete European project.
Moreover, you will have to make peace with your own history
too. I guess Turkey should work on its historical memory to
deal with the Armenian issue.” /Milliyet/
[09] PALESTINE’S LEADER TO VISIT TURKEY
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is expected to arrive in
Ankara today to pay an official visit. On his first trip
abroad following his election as Palestinian President,
Abbas is expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, as well as
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, head of the Turkish Union of Chambers
and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). Bilateral relations and
Israeli-Palestinian conflict are to be taken during the
two-day contacts. /Star/
[10] BARROSO: “ACCESSION TALKS WILL BEGIN ON
TIME”
European Union Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said
yesterday that Turkey would begin European Union accession
talks on Oct. 3, as scheduled during EU summit last
December. Barroso, who has been elected to chair the EU
Commission for five years, said that Turkey deserved to get
a specific date to begin talks. He added that negotiation
process depends on Turkey’s success in the harmonization
process and urged Ankara to continue its efforts on the road
to membership. /Turkiye/
[11] TURKMEN, ARABS ASK IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY
The Iraqi Kurds are trying to get the control of the
strategically important oil-rich northern Iraqi city of
Kirkuk, US daily The Washington Post said. The daily over
the weekend reported from Kirkuk that Kurds, Arabs and the
Turkmen have all been claiming the right to govern the city
which had %7 of world’s oil reserves. “Many Kurds came from
Turkey and Iran to participate in the elections, the daily
quoted from Yawoz Omar Adel, the head of the Iraqi Turkmen
Front in Kirkuk. “However, we will not give up our status in
the city and we as the Turkmen and Arabs will work until the
last drop of our blood to unify Iraq and keep Kirkuk part of
Iraq.” /Turkiye/
[12] ISRAELI MILITARY CHIEF VISITS ANKARA
Israeli Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya’alon is
set to meet with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Hilmi Ozkok.
During his two-day visit, a problem concerning a tank
modernization project that was undertaken by Israel is
expected to be taken up. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM
THE COLUMNS…
[14] TURKEY, US AND NORTHERN IRAQ
BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila comments on last weekend’s
elections in Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
“Elections were held in Iraq last weekend and results
will be announced in 10-15 days. Ankara mentioned its
gladness from the elections. Foreign Ministry stated that
Ankara was sad due to the Sunni Arabs’ low rate of
participation in elections. Ankara thinks that Kirkuk’s
demographic structure was changed before the elections and
that this would start a discussion concerning the legality
of elections. In other words, if Kirkuk becomes a Kurdish
city with the contribution of Kurds who moved to Kirkuk,
Ankara would prepare not to recognize the results as a
support to the criticisms by the Turkmen. In addition, if a
domestic conflict occurs in Kirkuk following the elections
and attacks start against the Turkmen, Ankara wouldn’t be
just an onlooker to this situation. This was stated by
Second Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul. This is Turkey’s stance. However, the
US’ stance is completely different than that of the US’.
Following Basbug’s remarks, US State Department spokesman
stated that Washington supported Kurds’ return to Kirkuk. In
addition, US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith said
the problem belonged to Iraq and that this would be solved
by the Iraqi people.
There are disagreements between Turkey and the US
concerning the PKK_KONGRA-GEL and the Kirkuk issue. As long
as the US’ stance continues, it would be hard to think that
Ankara’s warnings influenced or will influence the process.
Ankara’s effectiveness will be seen during the developments
following the elections. Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud
Barzani emphasized that Kirkuk was a Kurdish city and that
an independent Kurdish state would be established finally.
Other Iraqi Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is a candidate for
the duty of Iraqi head of state or prime minister. Both
leaders speak boldly by depending on the US. With the
conflict of interests of the US and Turkey in northern Iraq
and the US’ stance, Ankara already started contacts with
Iran.”
ARCHIVE
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