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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>06.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] THE EU AND THE EIGHT DEVELOPMENT PLAN -BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)[03] ALBRIGHT PROPOSES AID TO TURKEYUS Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced a proposal for a bilateral trade and investment agreement between the US and Turkey yesterday at a press conference held at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. Albright said that a Turkish delegation has been invited to Washington on September 20 to discuss how textile manufacturers might benefit from a relaxation of textile quotas. She stressed that the US will try to do whatever is possible to assist Turkey financially, including the possibility that the US may guarantee Turkish bond issues on international markets.Albright stressed that the US is committed to its friendship with Turkey and as 'President Bill Clinton has said, Turkey is our longtime ally and friend and we must do all we can to help'. She also emphasized that they were looking forward to the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Albright visited quake victims and US Marines helping to provide them with shelter as part of her brief stopover in Turkey. Albright flew by Marine helicopter from Istanbul to Izmit. Albright stopped off in Izmit for a 15-minute visit to one of the tent cities, wearing a blue Navy cap from the USS Kearsage, one of three US ships sent to Turkey to help. /All papers/ [04] EU RAISES HOPES FOR TURKEY'S CANDIDACYEU Foreign Ministers meeting unofficially in Finland over the weekend agreed that the EU should further improve its rapprochement with Turkey. Greece told its EU partners yesterday it no longer has any fundamental objections to Turkey joining the EU provided the EU does not ease entry conditions for its eastern neighbour.Greece agreed to the release of hundreds of millions of Euros in EU grants and loans to help Turkey rebuild following last month's devastating earthquake. The funds comprise 30 million Euros in aid for prefabricated housing, 150 million Euros over three years in economic aid and 600 million Euros in soft loans from the European Investment Bank. Ismail Cem was invited to meet the EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on September 13 at an official EU Council meeting. Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen of Finland, the country which is the EU President for this term, said that the August 17 earthquake in Turkey had led to a significant improvement in relations between Ankara and the EU, but stressed that Turkey should work to fuilfill the required membership criteria. /All papers/ [05] SUPPORT FOR TURKEYIn separate press conferences following the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, the German, French and Spanish Ministers called for the unequivocal approval of Turkey as a full-membership candidate. Germany's Joschka Fischer stressed that the thawed climate between Turkey and Greece, as well as the declared determination of the Turkish Government to proceed with reforms aimed at fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, constituted significant changes in Turkey-EU ties.French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine called for the unconditional approval of Turkey's candidacy. He expressed opposition to suggestions that Turkey should adopt a 'road map' of conditions before being declared a candidate saying that this would lead to 'confusion'. Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes gave robust support to the French position. "We have always maintained that Turkey should be officially and openly declared a EU candidate. The relations between Turkey and the EU have entered a new period and a positive climate is prevailing between Turkey and Greece. Luxembourg should be put behind us like history" Matutes said. While the support for Turkey's unconditional candidacy status appeared to be overwhelming, representatives of the pro-Turkey members singled out Sweden and Denmark as opponents. /All papers/ [06] CEM: "WE WANT EQUAL STATUS"Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated that Turkey's approach towards EU membership was clear and evident and said: "We want the same status as that accorded by the EU towards other candidate countries". He added that Turkey's membership process should turn into a natural procedure. /Star/[07] NEGOTIATIONS WITH WORLD BANK AND IMFWhile the ongoing negotiations with the World Bank and the IMF are all based on aid in the aftermath of the earthquake, Country Aid Strategy (CAS) negotiations conducted with the World Bank and stand-by negotiations being continued with the IMF will accelerate in October, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The IMF delegation, which is scheduled to visit Turkey on Wednesday under the leadership of Carlo Cottarelli, will reportedly remain in Turkey for approximately one week.[08] 'THE WASHINGTON POST' CALLS ON PEOPLE TO AID VICTIMS'The Washington Post', a leading newspaper published in the US, said in an article concerning the earthquake disaster in Turkey that it would be to the benefit of everyone to help Turkey and called upon the Western world to come to this country's aid. The article stated that the most important task was now to house nearly 600,000 homeless people before the winter comes. The article pointed out that, in particular, the loans offered by the World Bank and the IMF and aid from the US would be very beneficial for this purpose. The article added that if the Greek Government removes its veto on Turkey within the EU, EU funds worth $500 million stemming from the Customs Union Agreement signed between Turkey and the EU would flow to Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[09] IMPRISONMENT FOR TERRORISTSSix members of the PKK terrorist organization who raided the Greek Embassy in The Hague following the capture of the PKK chief, Abdullah Ocalan, have been sentenced to imprisonment of between 1 and 2 years. Diplomatic sources in evaluating the Dutch Court's verdict remarked that the Netherlands had once again confirmed the terrorist identity of the PKK with this sentence, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[10] ATATURK DAM WATER SPORTS FESTIVALThe fifth 'Ataturk Dam Water Sports Festival' will be held on September 24-25, 1999. Ataturk Dam is Turkey's biggest dam located near the Bozova district of Sanliurfa. Israel will also participate in the Festival although entertainment will not be put on this year due to the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region. A total of 380 sailors, rowers, swimmers and divers will take part in the Festival. Various countries including Syria, Israel, Romania, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan have been invited to the Festival. Of these countries, to date only Israel has announced that it will take part in the Festival, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[11] 'THE INDEPENDENT' COMMENTS ON TURCO-EU RELATIONS'The Independent' newspaper published in Britain commented on Turco-EU relations following a visit paid by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to Britain and said that all EU countries were in support of Turkey's EU membership except Greece. An article in the newspaper stated concerning Turkey's official candidate-status to the EU that a new positive atmosphere had emerged following the recent warming of Turco-Greek relations. The article recalled that Greece was to remove its veto on aid offered by the EU to Turkey and on loans from the European Investment Bank and said that this support was a further development on the road to Turkey's official candidacy for the EU which is expected during the Helsinki Summit to be held in December. The newspaper also covered an interview made by Cem and stated that Cem had pointed out that if a negative decision is reached following the Helsinki Summit, Turkey could turn its back on the EU, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[12] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE IN ISRAELThe Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, went to Israel yesterday to attend the 'Agri-Tech International Agricultural Fair'. During the Fair also attended by the chambers of agriculture and private sector institutions from Turkey, Gokalp will examine the recent technological developments in the agricultural sector. Gokalp will also meet the Agriculture Ministers of various countries. Gokalp will hold talks with the Israeli Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Haim Oron, and the Industry and Trade Minister, Ran Cohen, and discuss the development of agricultural and commercial relations between the two countries. Gokalp will return to Turkey on September 8, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[13] EIGHT TERRORISTS CAPTUREDDuring an operation carried out by security forces in the Dortyol district of Hatay, eight members of the PKK terrorist organization were captured. Officials said that a crack-down in the region was on-going, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[14] 19TH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY CONGRESSThe 19th International Organic Geochemistry Congress will be held in Istanbul between September 6-10, 1999. A written statement issued by the Marmara Research Centre of the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institution (TUBITAK) said that nearly 350 research scientists from 31 countries will participate in the Congress and a total of 371 presentations will be discussed, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[15] INTERNET SUPPORT FOR EXPORTERSThe Foreign Trade Undersecretariat's Exports Development Centre has launched an information hotline concerning the earthquake for exporters and small- and medium-scale enterprises (KOBIs) on its Internet Website. A statement issued by the Centre said that the Internet address is as follows: http/_www.igeme.org.tr _Hurriyet/[16] DAM SUMMIT IN TURKEYThe International Large Dam Committee's 67th Annual Executive Council meeting will be held in Antalya on September 20-25. Nearly 600 academics and high-level representatives of the firms from 82 member countries will attend the meeting. /Hurriyet/[17] FIRST STEP IN EARTHQUAKE BONDSThe Treasury will collect bids from those banks which wish to mediate in the offer to the public on September 7 and 8 of one-year term bonds in US dollars within this week. Those banks and institutions which will mediate in the sale of the bonds wil be determined tomorrow. /Hurriyet/[18] SIEMENS: "OUR PLAN IN AKKUYU HAS NOT CHANGED"It is reported that Siemens, which took part in the tender for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in partnership with Nuclear Power International (NPI), a German-French venture, has not abandoned the project. A Spokesman for Siemens, Mark Derbacher, said yesterday that despite the earthquake disaster in Turkey, they had not given up on their wish to establish a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu on the Mediterranean coast. /Hurriyet/[19] OCALAN CALLS ON TERRORISTS TO LEAVE TURKEY PEACEFULLYThe head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who issued an order to PKK terrorists to withdraw from Turkish territory said that those who resist should be rendered ineffective. Ocalan previously called on PKK terrorists to lay down their weapons and also stated that they should leave Turkey peacefully. /Hurriyet/[20] 10 YEAR-MISSILE PROJECTTurkey will strengthen its air defence. It is reported that an agreement for the joint production of British Rapier 2 surface-to-air (SAM) missiles was signed by the National Defence Ministry on August 31. A recent issue of the famous 'Jane's Defence Weekly' magazine announced that the agreement was signed after Turkey and Britain held extensive negotiations on the price. According to the agreement, expected to cost Turkey $130 million, Britain has confirmed that it is taking into account Turkey's immediate needs and will deliver 41 Rapier MK 2 missiles by the end of this year or at the beginning of the New Year. The joint production over the next 10 years will be the first time that Rapier parts have been produced outside of Britain. /Star/[21] GERMAN TWIN CITYThe German city of Kastel announced Izmit, which was seriously affected by the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region, as its twin city. The Mayor of Kastel, Georg Lewandowski, sent a letter to Izmit Mayor Sefa Sirmen and said that they had launched an emergency relief campaign to help the victims of the earthquake. Sirmen expressed his thanks for the German officials' concern at the effects of the earthquake. /Star/[22] CHP'S BREAKTHROUGH IN EUROPEHigh-level representatives from the Republican People's Party (CHP) who want to contribute to better relations between Turkey and Greece in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster will have a working lunch with the Greek Minister responsible for EU Affairs, Yannos Kranidiotis, during a meeting of the European Socialist Party in Brussels on September 9. CHP members will also hold talks concerning the development of relations between the CHP and PASOK. /Cumhuriyet/[23] GERMAN RESEARCH SCIENTISTS IN THE DISASTER REGIONTurkish and German earthquake research scientists are examining micro-tremors along the North Anatolian Fault stretching from the Mudurnu Valley to Adapazari which have occured since 1984 to date. The German scientists will return to their country on September 20. Meanwhile, German aid for the victims of the earthquake is on-going; a renowned German company, Kaufhof, held a two-day 'aid festival' in Alexanderplatz Square in Berlin, Germany. The Turkish Ambassador to Berlin, Tugay Ulucevik, thanked Germany for its help in aiding the victims in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[24] IRAN REFUTES ALLEGATIONSThe Iranian Interior Ministry has refuted claims that two people died as a result of fire opened by Turkish soldiers on Iranian territories. The 'Iran News' newspaper said that an official from the office of the Iranian Interior Ministry stated that the report was unfounded. /Cumhuriyet/[25] EXPORTS FROM GAPExports from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region to 14 countries including Ireland, New Zealand, the US, South Africa and Singapore, increased by 100 % during the January-July 1999 period. During the same period, exports to 16 countries increased by varying rates of between 41 and 93 %. /Cumhuriyet/[26] TKI PRODUCTIONThe Turkish Coal Company (TKI) which meets the majority of Turkey's coal requirement produced 21 million tons of coal as of the end of July 1999. Officials from the TKI General Directorate said that 18.4 million tons of this amount went to fuel power stations. /Cumhuriyet/[27] DPT EVALUATES BANKING SECTOR'S PERFORMANCEThe State Planning Organization (DPT) has prepared a report based on information provided by 13 banks, which constitute 38 % of deposit banking transactions on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB). By the end of 1998, the total active cash resources of the banks surveyed was equal to 25.9 % of the Gross National Product (GNP), but as of the end of March 1999, this rate had incrased to 28.5%, the report states. /All papers/[28] MILITARY OPERATIONSThe military operations against PKK terrorists are continuing in the southeastern region of Turkey. As a result of an armed conflict between military forces and PKK terrorists in the Gurpinar district of Van, 15 terrorists were killed. Seven military officials died and five were wounded in the fighting. In addition, in operations conducted in the Sason district of Batman, four terrorists were killed. Security forces also captured seven terrorists from the Hizbullah terrorist organization in Diyarbakir's Lice district. /All papers/[29] HELP FROM GREEK VILLAGERSThe Agriculture Credit Cooperative in the Rodop district of Gumulcune in Greece has distributed 4 tons of food supplies which were donated by the Greek villagers to Turkish villagers in Izmit. The Chairman of the Cooperative, Mazutidis Damianos and members of its Executive Board, visited the Solaklar and Eseler districts of Izmit, and said that they came there to share their grief and to bring aid from Greek villagers even if it was only a small amount. The Turkish villagers also said that they were extremely impressed by their visit and concern. /Turkiye/[30] EUROPEANS AT TOPKAPI PALACEThe 'Europeans' exhibition which was opened at Topkapi Palace on August 4, 1999, by the Pamukbank Photography Gallery, will also continue in September in conjuction with a series of events. In September, between 9th and 30th, various discussion panels and conferences will be held at the Palace. /Turkiye/[31] 'BLUE STREAM' TAKES STARTThe most important part of the 'Blue Stream Project', which will connect Russia and Turkey, via the pipeline laid beneath the Black Sea, will begin now the Samsun-Ankara natural gas pipeline's main contract has been signed by the BOTAS and OHS consortium. The pipeline will be constructed in 18 months by a consortium comprising the Oztas-Haznedaroglu and Russian Stroytransgas Company that won the tender launched by the BOTAS General Directorate two years ago. The cost of the project is about 2.5 billion dollars and consists of three stages. When the line has been completed, an annual 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas will be able to be transfered to Turkey and that amount will meet more than half of Turkey's natural gas requirement. It is expected that Russian natural gas will arrive in Turkey at the beginning of the year 2001. A representative of the Stroytransgas Company, Dr. Aleksandr Novopasin said that Turkey and Russia will become closer due to this project. /Turkiye/[32] DENKTAS URGES CLINTONTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday called on US President Bill Clinton to pinpoint past statements, asserting that Cyprus belongs to Turkish and Greek Cypriots, as the beginning of a new resolution process for Cyprus. "Clinton said several years ago that Cyprus has two owners. We want this to be earmarked as the beginning" Denktas told reporters in Istanbul before flying to the US for talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and US and British envoys to the island. /All papers/[33] AMNESTY WILL BE RE-DEBATED IN OCTOBERPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit told reporters Saturday that the amnesty bill would be re-debated in October in Parliament's new term, following the government summit."As the leaders of the coalition parties, we have decided to re-debate the law and try to pass it quickly," Ecevit told reporters in front of the Prime Ministry. /All papers/ SAROS-99 The amphibious manouevre Saros-99, jointly organized by Turkey, Britain and the United States, will be activated on September 8-17, reported the Anatolia news agency. Saros-99 is one of the planned operations of the Turkish Naval Forces. Land, air and naval force units from the three countries will take part in the manouevre, which will take place in the central and north Aegean regions, as well as in Doganbey and Saros. /All papers/ [34] NEW JUDICIAL SESSIONThe new judicial session will start today with a ceremony to be held in the Court of Appeals. The cocktail, however, traditionally held in the State Guesthouse and attended by high-ranking guests on the occasion of the beginning of the new judicial session, has been cancelled this year due to the earthquake. /All papers/[35] TOURISM SECTOR IS PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SEASONThe tourism sector is preparing for the next tourist season after the hard period they faced this year. Within the preparations for next year, major tourism businesses will participate in international fairs during the period from October to next March, such as the World Travel Market (WTM) Fair to be held in London, and specify the policies they will follow in the next tourism session. /All papers/[36] EUROPEAN FREE ZONEIn the European Free Zone (EFZ), which is the biggest industrial project underway in Turkey, an international promotion move that was started in Europe in order to channel foreign capital resources into investment, has also been launched in other developed countries. The EFZ, which has a marketing office in Europe, has opened an agency in America. The EFZ provides tax allowances and advertising in order to channel Turkish and foreign international trading firms into investment and is organizing a big marketing campaign in order to make use of the atmosphere that has been created since international arbitration came into force. The EFZ's General Director, Bekir Kavruk, said, "We are trying hard to make use of the positive situation provided by the arbitration laws. The EFZ project is going to be successful as part of a project that will last for five years and contribute to the Turkish economy." /Aksam/[37] TRUST IN TURKEYIn the meeting "Capital Markets and Turkey after the Earthquake" that was held last weekend in London, it was stated that Turkey could cope with the hard situation she is facing. Representatives industry and finance from many countries attended the meeting that was held under the auspices of the International Relations Council (IRC).Cristoph Urban, the former General Director of the German Siemens Group's offices in Turkey, said that they had not lost any money in Turkey. Urban, inviting foreign investors to go to Turkey, said, "You should not miss the opportunities available in Turkey. We have not lost even a cent here; on the contrary, we have earnt a lot. We still have an investment of 750 million Deutsche Marks. In spite of the moratorium in 1970, two coups d'etat and the crisis in 1994, we continued our investments and won each time. Turkish people have three advantages: incredible initiative, the ability to predict the benefits of a venture and creativity. Turkey was able to cope with the crisis in 1994 thanks to these characteristics of the Turkish people."/Aksam/ [38] CEMENT PRODUCTIONOfficials of the Turkish Cement Producers' Association reported that the total cement production was 17.1 million tons during the first half of this year and that 1 million 822 thousand tons of cement were exported. The remainder of the cement that was produced in private sector factories was consumed in the internal market.In a statement by the Turkish Cement Producers' Association, the greatest amount of cement was produced in the Marmara Region. In factories located in the Marmara Region, 5 million 506 thousand tons of cement was produced in the above-mentioned period of time. The Mediterrenean Region followed the Marmara Region with 2 million 671 thousand tons of cement./Turkiye/ [39] TRNC'S BALLOONSIt was reported that the need of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for drinking water was being met by the transport by sea of balloons from Turkey. Officials of the Directorate General of the State Water Works stated that they had transported the water from water tanks in Anamur to the Kumkoy tanks in the TRNC in two new balloons. Officials added that after this operation, 40 thousand cubic metres of water would be able to transported to the TRNC. /Turkiye/[40] YILMAZ'S SURPRISE VISIT TO AMERICAThe Motherland Party's (ANAP) Chairman, Mesut Yilmaz, will go to America on Wednesday and then to Germany to attend the European Democratic Union (EDU) Summit. The leaders of the Christian Democratic parties and other right-wing parties in Europe will also attend the Summit in Germany. Yilmaz will also go to Russia following a one-day break after the Summit that will take place between 15th and 17th September. /Sabah/[41] AID FOR BROTHERHOODThe brotherhood and cooperation concerts that will be staged by Zulfu Livaneli, Mikis Theodorakis and Maria Faranduri for the earthquake victims have turned out to be a huge aid campaign. Big Greek firms have begun to offer donations due to the concert that will be held in Istanbul Open Air Theatre on 8th September and in Athens on the night of 7th September. All of the proceeds of the concerts will be given to the earthquake victims. The concerts will be broadcast all around the world and donations will also continue during the concert. /Sabah/[42] SUPERVISION IS THE ONLY WAYThe Turkish Mass Housing Administration's (TMHA) President, Kamil Ugurlu, pointed out that the importance of the supervision of construction and the enforcement of building regulations has again been recognized following the earthquake. He said, "I wish Turkey could have taken the precautions needed before this earthquake occurred. The key word is `control' here." Ugurlu defended the fact that the system would be operated in the best way if qualified workers were well-trained and many areas, including the quality of the materials used, could be supervised." /Sabah/[43] "WE WILL BE A `POWER-HOUSE' FOR TURKEY"The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yorgo Papandreu, stating that they would start Turkey's EU journey at the Helsinki Summit that will be held in Finland, said, "Greece is determined to be a `power-house' for Turkey in order to push her forward in the journey to Europe. Turkey's membership of the EU will not only be of benefit to Turkey, but also will solve the problems existing between Turkey and Greece. The earthquake created an unexpected catalyst in relations between Turkey and Greece; this is a very important opportunity for the two countries."/Sabah/[44] SECOND TURKISH EXPORT GOODS FAIR IN MOROCCOThe 'Second Turkish Export Goods Fair' will be opened in Morocco between November 24 and 27, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A total of 120 companies are expected to participate in the Fair which will be organized by Ladin Fair and Congress Organization Services Inc. The first Fair in Morocco was organized in 1997.[45] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[46] PKK'S NEW STRATEGY AND THE US -BY YASEMIN CONGAR (MILLIYET)Columnist Yasemin Congar writes on the new PKK strategy and the US views on the issue. A summary of her column is as follows:"The assessments of Osman Ocalan's statements saying that the PKK will not return to an armed conflict and will become a Turkish party instead of wanting to establish Kurdistan, have begun to be reflected publicly. The Chief of General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said that the PKK's leaving Turkey was not important; they should surrender and benefit from the Penitence Law. In the past, they announced similar cease-fires and broke them. Therefore, the Government has to wait and see if they really mean what they say. Kivrikoglu went on to say that the PKK was considering a political solution. Adding that the PKK wanted cultural rights, some of which had already been given to them, he said that the PKK did not wish for a federation. Both the PKK promises to lay down its arms and the statements of the Turkish Armed Forces' Chief of General Staff saying that the PKK was turning towards politics and seeking cultural rights were of great interest to the US. The Clinton Administration states that they seek a stable Turkey and stability is only possible with the end to terrorism and the implementation of democracy. Osman Ocalan said that the US has undertaken a great responsibility following the developments in the region and that the words of Deputy Secretary of State Koh were binding. On the other hand, the US does not trust the PKK and shares the views of General Kivrikoglu in watching and waiting for any developments. The US believes that the PKK may change tactics if Abdullah Ocalan is executed and various provocative actions may be engaged in. Despite all these suspicions, Washington believes that the PKK does not have the military power it had before and the level of safety in Turkey has therefore increased. The PKK's statements concerning its renouncement of the armed conflict and its separatist demands are seen as the success of Ankara against terrorism. Even though some Kurdish circles in the US believe that Washington will sit at the same table as the PKK, it does not seem possible. The US believes that Ankara can talk to Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent who have not been a party to terrorism. They believe that a dialogue with legal representatives such as elected mayors, Kurdish businessmen, academics and writers can be held, and freedom of expression concerning the problem should be expanded. According to the Clinton Administration, Turkey will not let slip an opportunity for peace if it can take such steps." [47] THE EU AND THE EIGHT DEVELOPMENT PLAN -BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the EU and Turkish relations. A summary of his column is as follows:The EU is implementing a two-pronged policy towards Turkey. The first envisaged setting up obstacles which cannot be overcome on the path towards full-membership. The second phase foresees to keep up ties with Turkey by using delaying tactics. While EU countries are following this policy they are taking turns to display positive and negative stances in favour of and against Turkey. However, all countries are united on one point and they are insisting that Turkey should improve its human rights and democracy record and find a political solution to the Kurdish problem. Even if we assume that Turkey has taken satisfactory measures concerning every issue, it will not overcome the obstacles in the path for full-membership of the EU. In such a case, we may be faced with the Greek veto. Greece has extended a helping hand to Turkey during the recent earthquake disaster even though it nurtured and trained the PKK terrorist organization for years on its own territory and tried to find a safe haven for Ocalan. This gesture of good-will has moved the Turkish public. However, it would be naive to interpret this gesture of good-will as a change in Turco-Greek relations. So long as Greece has the political support of the EU behind it, it will not be realistic to expect that Greece will discuss the issues with a compromising mentality or adopt solutions based on the principles of law or fairness. The EU countries' Foreign Ministers are trying to form new delaying tactics in Finland. Our membership to the EU has been postponed indefinitely, and during the first quarter of the 21st century 26 European countries will integrate in many fields and take important steps towards establishing the United European States. To be excluded from this formation which will lead to radical changes in the economic, political and strategical balance of Eurasia will create significant results for Turkey. Therefore, instead of remaining on the threshold of the EU, Turkey should formulate alternative solutions in its relations with the EU. The main steps of such an approach, which should not mean the alteration of Turkey's traditional Turkish policy oriented towards the West, may be to abandon the idea of full-membership, limiting relations with the EU to the Customs Union and implementing a policy of catching up with the modern world. The main goal of the strategies needed to catch up with the modern world should be Turkey's integration with the world and the provision of means to integrate with the global economy and thus catch up with world standards. Implementing such a strategy depends on following stable macro-economic policies. The Eighth Development Plan covering the years 2001-2005 is forming the necessary background for such an initiative." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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