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Turkish Press Review, 02-03-11
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
11.03.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT: "THE WORLD CANNOT REMAIN SILENT IN THE
FACE OF MIDEAST VIOLENCE"
[02] CILLER: "TURKEY CANNOT FORSAKE ITS EU MEMBERSHIP
BID"
[03] BAYKAL: "NOBODY CAN PREVENT TURKEY FROM JOINING
THE EU"
[04] DOGAN: "KILINC'S REMARKS WERE
MISUNDERSTOOD"
[05] CHENEY TOURS REGION TO DRUM UP SUPPORT
[06] WOLFOWITZ: "TURKEY COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE
MUSLIM WORLD"
[07] PAPANDREOU EVALUATES TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
[08] TURKEY TO OVERHAUL FISCAL SYSTEM
[09] BLUE STREAM SECOND PIPELINE SLATED FOR COMPLETION IN
MAY
[10] NEW PRIVATIZATION BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED
[11] AKCAN: "JAPAN WILL ACCELERATE ADDITIONAL
CREDITS FOR TURKEY"
[12] ISRAEL TO MODERNIZE TURKISH TANKS
[13] NY TIMES FEATURES ARTICLE ON OTTOMAN JANISSARY MUSIC
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[15] NEW INITIATIVES, NEW TRUTHS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[16] NOT ALTERNATIVES, BUT COMPLEMENTS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
[01] ECEVIT: "THE WORLD CANNOT REMAIN SILENT IN THE
FACE OF MIDEAST VIOLENCE"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that
the world was remaining too silent in the face of escalating violence
in the Middle East. Appearing on TRT-1 on Sunday, Ecevit called upon
the US to pressure both sides to calm the situation in the region. He
remarked that Israel's stance had become more rigid under Ariel
Sharon's prime ministry. Speaking on a possible intervention in Iraq,
Ecevit said, "The Turkish economy is still in a very sensitive
phase, and any such operation could do it great harm." Regarding
the recent disputes between Turkey's coalition partners, the prime
minister said, "We are aware that the Nationalist Action Party
[MHP] is sensitive on certain topics. However, we expect to overcome
this difficulty given time. At our leaders' meetings, we can solve
every problem among us. But later conflicting expressions may come out
in the public, as it is nature of politics." /All Papers/
[02] CILLER: "TURKEY CANNOT FORSAKE ITS EU MEMBERSHIP
BID"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said
yesterday that Turkey could not forsake its EU membership bid and that
no one had the right to sabotage the bid by making naked political
ploys. Addressing her party's meeting in Mersin, Ciller said,
"Turkey has gone a long way on its road towards EU membership.
This bid has become official state policy. Previously, while we were
struggling to integrate with the EU, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
Motherland Party [ANAP] leader Mesut Yilmaz, and the Nationalist
Action Party [MHP] and the Welfare Party [RP] were against the idea.
Now, a consensus has been reached, it is satisfactory." Ciller
also added, "However, at the same time Turkey should improve its
relations with its other neighbors and not neglect them."
/Turkiye/
[03] BAYKAL: "NOBODY CAN PREVENT TURKEY FROM JOINING
THE EU"
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz
Baykal yesterday stated that no European country had the right to
hamper Turkey's bid for EU membership and added that since Turkey
deserved to join the Union, Turkey's admittance should not be seen as
a "favor" to be granted by the European countries.
Reiterating that Turkey was the only Muslim member of NATO and the
OECD as well as one of the founding members of the European Council,
Baykal said, "I have no doubt that Turkey will join the EU. There
are 4 million Turks living in Europe today. We have geographical,
cultural and historical ties with Europe. Nobody can prevent Turkey
from joining the EU." /Star/
[04] DOGAN: "KILINC'S REMARKS WERE
MISUNDERSTOOD"
Commander of the 1st Army, Gen. Cetin Dogan said
yesterday that remarks made last week by National Security Council
(MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Turcer Kilinc had been misunderstood.
Dogan told reporters that Kilinc was in favour of modernism and that
his comments were a reflection of Turkey's displeasure that the
terrorist group PKK had not been included in the European Union's
recent list of terrorist groups. There was no need to look for another
meaning behind his words, Dogan added. /Sabah/
[05] CHENEY TOURS REGION TO DRUM UP SUPPORT
US Vice President Dick Cheney began his tour of 12
Middle Eastern and European countries, including Turkey yesterday.
During his tour, Cheney will discuss the struggle against terrorism as
well as the troubled Middle Eastern situation with regional
authorities. Additionally, Cheney is expected to seek support for a
possible US intervention in Iraq. As his first stop, he will meet with
British Prime Minister Tony Blair today. Besides Turkey and Great
Britain, Cheney is scheduled to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and
Kuwait. /Turkiye/
[06] WOLFOWITZ: "TURKEY COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE
MUSLIM WORLD"
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said
yesterday that the world should support moderate Muslim countries in
order to ensure victory in the war against terrorism. Wolfowitz also
said that Turkey, as a moderate Muslim country which has successfully
synthesized Islam and liberal democracy, could be a model for the
Muslim world in the fight against terrorism. /Milliyet/
[07] PAPANDREOU EVALUATES TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
Appearing on Greek state TV channel ERT 1
yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou offered his
evaluations of recent developments in Turkish-EU relations, the Cyprus
issue and Turkish-Greek relations. Papandreou stated that it was
normal for Turkey to face certain problems on its path towards the EU.
He argued that there were certain circles in Turkey which were trying
to hamper Turkey's bid for EU membership. /Star/
[08] TURKEY TO OVERHAUL FISCAL SYSTEM
The government is preparing to effect a complete
overhaul of its fiscal system, under which it will require watchdogs
to report to Parliament and will make budgets for three-years instead
of one. The Finance Ministry has completed work on planned amendments
to General Accounting Law No. 1050. The new legislation containing 100
clauses will sweep away the existing law almost entirely while at the
same time aligning Turkey's fiscal system to that of the European
Union. The Finance Ministry will circulate the draft to concerned
public agencies for consultation in the coming weeks and it plans to
submit it to the Prime Ministry in May and to Parliament in June. The
draft proposes drastic changes to the state's fiscal system, including
extension of the central government budget to public institutions with
special budgets other than social security agencies and local
administrations. /Turkish Daily News/
[09] BLUE STREAM SECOND PIPELINE SLATED FOR COMPLETION IN
MAY
Work has now begun on the second line in the Blue
Stream natural gas pipeline project. Project manager Guido Bressani
said yesterday that the line would be completed in May. Stressing that
there were no delays in the project, Bressani said that 11,500
12-meter pipes had been welded, and that 2,500 pipes were still in the
factory waiting to be welded. "When the project is finished some
60,000 pipes will have been welded," he added. /Turkiye/
[10] NEW PRIVATIZATION BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED
The Turkish government is preparing to establish a
new independent privatization board. The rights and authority of the
Privatization Administration (OIB) and the Privatization High Council
(OYK) will be made null and void and handed over to a new board to
consist of seven members. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] AKCAN: "JAPAN WILL ACCELERATE ADDITIONAL
CREDITS FOR TURKEY"
Speaking upon his return to Turkey after an
official visit to Japan concerning $100 billion additional in credits
for the strengthening of bridges and viaducts in the Marmara region,
Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan said that the
Japanese authorities had told him that they would accelerate delivery
of the credits to Turkey. /Hurriyet/
[12] ISRAEL TO MODERNIZE TURKISH TANKS
Turkey and Israel have decided to sign an agreement
under which Israeli company IMI will modernize 170 M-60 Turkish tanks.
The ASELSAN and MKEK companies will also contribute to the
modernization process. /Star/
[13] NY TIMES FEATURES ARTICLE ON OTTOMAN JANISSARY MUSIC
Prominent US daily New York Times recently featured
an article on the Ottoman janissary music style or "Mehter."
The piece argued that the music of Mehter had inspired such great
Western composers as Mozart and Beethoven. /Star/
[14] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[15] NEW INITIATIVES, NEW TRUTHS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on recent
developments concerning Turkey's bid for European Union membership. A
summary of his columns is as follows: "The recently heightened
discussions between Turkey and the EU have revealed a number of
truths. Those who are against Turkey's integration with the EU do not
see this issue in terms of EU membership. The discussion is not about
possible economic results of this membership in Turkey. Nor this is
not about what sorts of responsibilities and authority that the
Turkish nation will have. The essence of the discussion is focused on
the Cyprus and Kurdish issues. Turkey had been looking for solutions
to these problems even before it became a EU candidate. As our
political tradition is based on the view that the demands of the
people and the state's safety priorities conflict with each other, the
wish that a solution be found to these two problems has been
interpreted as an "insistence" on the EU's part. Some have
tried to create the impression that if Turkey gives up its EU
membership goal, it will be freed from its obligation to solve these
problems. This is clearly impossible. But is there an alternative?
National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc's
recent comments about Iran and Russia point to an important issue.
Gen. Kilinc says that Turkey should focus itself towards forging new
ties with Iran and Russia. This would be a wise move. In any case,
Turkey is carrying out its policy of developing relations not only
with Russia and Iran, but also with all its neighbors. Turkish foreign
policy is shaping up to be a Turkey at peace with its neighbors.
During the United Nations' General Assembly meeting late last year,
the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers signed a very important
agreement to deepen cooperation between the two states. Although
Turkey has certain problems with Iran concerning the PKK terrorist
organization, it has signed agreements on security and natural gas
with that country as well. The latter is a very important development
in terms of economic relations. Of course these relations should be
developed much more. It is more to Turkey's advantage to form
cooperative agreements in Central Asia and the Caucasus rather than
trying to compete with Russia and Iran. Such cooperation is very
important in terms of regional stability as well, and could guarantee
energy security. But can such cooperation be an alternative to the EU?
Even if we give up our EU membership, Turkey can never forsake its
focus on the Kurdish and Cyprus issues, nor can new ties with Russia
and Iran be an alternative to Turkey's EU membership. A secret report
prepared by the US Pentagon was leaked to the press last week. The
report says that the US will develop new nuclear weapons to be used
against Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and North Korea. Turkey's neighbors
are thus in the crosshairs of US nuclear weapons."
[16] NOT ALTERNATIVES, BUT COMPLEMENTS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on Turkey's
multifaceted foreign relations. A summary of his columns is as
follows: "It was at the end of the 1990s. While talking with a
Georgian at the banks of the Kura River, which bisects Tbilisi, I
asked him what he hoped to do in life. He told me, 'I want to be able
to live in Turkey. Sooner or later Turkey will be part of
Europe." Now, we Turks always point to our problems. And our
problems fester, we criticize them in the harshest way, but we should
not forget that the countries around us consider Turkey a "great
nation." Based on my observations from official and private
travels to neighboring countries, Turkey's success in becoming a
member of the EU will strengthen its relations with its neighbors, and
Turkey's friendly relations with its neighbors will strengthen its bid
for EU membership. One goal is not an alternative to the other, but
rather they complement each other. Let us enumerate Turkey's various
relations; the European Union: Our discussions for full membership are
under way. The Customs Union is continuing, although it works against
us. Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC): Turkey continues to
take an active role in this tent group spanning more than 50 Islamic
countries with a population of one billion people. Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC): This is one of the new alliances formed in the
post-Soviet geography. We are one of the leaders of this group. Balkan
cooperation: The common summits and various bilateral relations in the
Balkans that were remade after the collapse of Yugoslavia. Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO): This was founded between Turkey, Iran
and Pakistan in 1985. The Central Asian republics came into in it in
the 1990s. This seems to be dead. Central Asian institutions: There
are many common forums, including the Turkic-speaking countries summit
and the summit of the Turkic-speaking head of states. Caucasus: The US
has decided to participate in the common area between Turkey, Georgia
and Azerbaijan as well. The Eurasian Agreement: This was signed
between Turkey and Russia. It is up to our mutual will to implement
it. Mediterranean pacts: The name of many initiatives in which
northern Africa and southern Europe meet. Turkish-Israeli relations:
These are improving in every area, including agriculture and defense.
Now I've just rattled off ten fields of relations. Let we reiterate;
the strongest of these links is the EU. However, if Turkey can
establish firm relations with its neighbors and succeeds in becoming a
regional power, it will be able to strengthen the EU link. Looking at
the other side of the coin, we can see that the EU member countries do
not ignore the links deriving from their own individual structures.
For example, Britain has not break off its relations with the
Commonwealth and other English-speaking countries. France has tried to
forge ties with Canada's French speakers. Germany is trying to fulfill
its desire to gain a foothold in Mesopotamia by leaning on the EU.
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania have established
cooperations beyond their common EU membership goal. While other
nations are busy establishing ties based on their own region and
culture, Turkey cannot just twiddle its thumbs and wait for EU
membership!"
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