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Turkish Press Review, 02-08-05

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

<LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> </map> <map name="FPMap1"></map> Press &amp; Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

05.08.2002

ECEVIT: “TURKEY IS NOW MORE FREE AND DEMOCRATIC” YILMAZ TO MEET WITH EU COUNTRIES’ AMBASSADORS BAHCELI: “THE EU HARMONIZATION LAWS HAVE COMPROMISED TURKEY” DERVIS: “THE EU LAWS ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO TURKEY” CEM: “THE YT WILL COME TO POWER IN EARLY ELECTIONS” TUSIAD ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION TO JOB SECURITY BILL CILLER: “THE DYP HAS BEEN KEY IN TURKEY’S EU BID” 23 PARTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ORAL: “THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM MUST BE CARRIED OUT FULLY” EKSI: “CHANGES TO PRESS LAW ARE IMPORTANT BUT INSUFFICIENT” CONSULTING FIRM TO BE NAMED FOR AGRICULTURAL RESTRUCTURING BIDDING OPENED FOR ISTANBUL’S NEW “MARMARAY” SUBWAY LINE FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... POLITICS SHAPED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET) PAX AMERICANA BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (SABAH)

CONTENTS

  • [01] ECEVIT: “TURKEY IS NOW MORE FREE AND DEMOCRATIC”
  • [02] YILMAZ TO MEET WITH EU COUNTRIES’ AMBASSADORS
  • [03] BAHCELI: “THE EU HARMONIZATION LAWS HAVE COMPROMISED TURKEY”
  • [04] DERVIS: “THE EU LAWS ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO TURKEY”
  • [05] CEM: “THE YT WILL COME TO POWER IN EARLY ELECTIONS”
  • [06] TUSIAD ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION TO JOB SECURITY BILL
  • [07] CILLER: “THE DYP HAS BEEN KEY IN TURKEY’S EU BID”
  • [08] 23 PARTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
  • [09] ORAL: “THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM MUST BE CARRIED OUT FULLY”
  • [10] EKSI: “CHANGES TO PRESS LAW ARE IMPORTANT BUT INSUFFICIENT”
  • [11] CONSULTING FIRM TO BE NAMED FOR AGRICULTURAL RESTRUCTURING
  • [12] BIDDING OPENED FOR ISTANBUL’S NEW “MARMARAY” SUBWAY LINE
  • [13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [14] POLITICS SHAPED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)
  • [15] PAX AMERICANA BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (SABAH)

  • [01] ECEVIT: “TURKEY IS NOW MORE FREE AND DEMOCRATIC”

    Appearing on television yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that with Friday’s historic approval in Parliament of a European Union harmonization law package, Turkey was now more free and democratic and was becoming more European. Turkey is now waiting full membership from the EU, said Ecevit. Speaking on the abolition of the death penalty during peacetime, Ecevit added, “Terrorist criminals will spend their entire lives in prison, and terrorists who find shelter with EU member states could be judged in Turkey.” Ecevit remarked that Parliament had fulfilled a historic mission and that Turkey was now more strong and respected in the world. Ecevit also stated that by ensuring rights and freedoms, the nation’s unity and territorial integrity would be protected. /All Papers/

    [02] YILMAZ TO MEET WITH EU COUNTRIES’ AMBASSADORS

    Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz yesterday invited ambassadors from the European Union member states to the Secretariat General For European Union Affairs to lay out for them the historic steps towards EU accession that Parliament took on Friday. Yilmaz will reportedly tell the ambassadors that Turkey had done its part for its EU bid and that now it was the EU’s turn to respond in kind. /Sabah/

    [03] BAHCELI: “THE EU HARMONIZATION LAWS HAVE COMPROMISED TURKEY”

    Speaking at his party’s Erciyes General Assembly over the weekend, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that the basic principles of the Republic of Turkey had been compromised by the laws passed in Parliament last week. Criticizing both the EU laws and the parties supporting them, Bahceli said, “Passing these laws has played into the hands of minorities.” /Sabah/

    [04] DERVIS: “THE EU LAWS ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO TURKEY”

    State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that the European Union harmonization laws were of great importance to Turkey and that it had taken an important step forward in Parliament’s adopting the laws. Speaking after meeting members of the Bee Movement, a pro-EU nongovernmental organization (NGO), Dervis said that the group had worked hard for Turkey’s EU bid and that he appreciated this. He added that Turkey had taken a very important step by adopting the EU harmonization law package and that now it had to work hard to enact other required regulations. /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] CEM: “THE YT WILL COME TO POWER IN EARLY ELECTIONS”

    Speaking at a press conference yesterday, New Turkey (YT) leader Ismail Cem declared that the YT would come to power in early elections. “If we come to power, we will give priority to the automotive and agriculture industries,” he said. “But the measures we will implement will take time. It is impossible to carry them out in a week or even a month.” He added that the YT believed that Turkey’s most important problems were unemployment, low productivity, and income inequality and that the YT would first try to boost the production as a solution. Cem also said, “The government’s structure of 38 ministers and prime minister has proven incapable of working efficiently in this situation, and we would decrease the number of ministries after coming to power.” /Sabah/

    [06] TUSIAD ANNOUNCES OPPOSITION TO JOB SECURITY BILL

    The Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) issued a written statement over this weekend saying that it opposed a Job Security Bill now facing Parliament. The statement charged that the bill would hurt Turkey’s work environment and represented a piecemeal approach to workplace issues. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] CILLER: “THE DYP HAS BEEN KEY IN TURKEY’S EU BID”

    True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that her party had played an important role in the approval of the European Union harmonization laws, just as it played a key role in the 1995 Customs Union deal when she was prime minister. Ciller also said that her party had done everything it could in order to move Turkey’s EU membership bid forward. “We exerted great effort to prevent Parliament from taking a summer recess, and twice we called Parliament back for an extraordinary session,” added Ciller. She also stated that the DYP should be appreciated and thanked for its support of Turkey’s EU bid. /Turkiye/

    [08] 23 PARTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

    The Supreme Election Board (YSK) declared yesterday that 23 parties would participate in elections which are set to be held this Nov. 3. According to the YSK, the parties which will take part in the elections are as follows: the Justice and Development Party (AK), Motherland Party (ANAP), Enlightened Turkey Party (ATP), Independent Turkey Party (BTP), Great Unity Party (BBP), Republican People’s Party (CHP), Democratic Party (DP), Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), Democratic People’s Party (DHP), Democratic Left Party (DSP), True Path Party (DYP), Labor Party (EMEP), People’s Democratic Party (HADEP), Worker’s Party (IP), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Nation Party (MP), Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), Felicity Party (SP), Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), New Turkey (YT), Rebirth Party (YDP) and Homeland Party (Yurt Partisi). /Turkiye/

    [09] ORAL: “THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM MUST BE CARRIED OUT FULLY”

    Speaking in Izmir yesterday, Finance Minister Sumer Oral stressed the necessity for Turkey to carry out its economic program fully. The government is acting with sensitivity on this priority matter, he added. Stating also that industrial production was climbing, Oral predicted that current data indicate a 5% growth rate this year. Oral also touched on Parliament’s recent historic passage of an EU harmonization law package, stating, “These laws are of the utmost importance.” /Aksam/

    [10] EKSI: “CHANGES TO PRESS LAW ARE IMPORTANT BUT INSUFFICIENT”

    Press Council Chairman Oktay Eksi said yesterday that the changes made to the Press Law as part of Turkey’s European Union harmonization laws were important but remained insufficient. Emphasizing that these laws were important for Turkey’s democratization, Eksi said that heavy fines had been enacted to replace prison term punishments. Stating that the new regulations aimed to achieve a freer Turkey, Eksi said, “However, there are some sections of our laws which put people behind bars because they have ‘violated’ the freedom of expression. As long as our punishments go beyond the imposition of heavy fines and the like, these steps are not sufficient.” Eksi recalled that six journalists were currently imprisoned and that he favored them being granted new trials. /Aksam/

    [11] CONSULTING FIRM TO BE NAMED FOR AGRICULTURAL RESTRUCTURING

    As part of a project carried out under the leadership of Undersecretariat of the Treasury, the nation’s agricultural cooperatives are being restructured, and a consultant firm for the project is due to be chosen today. The restructuring project will be carried out for five leading agricultural cooperatives, namely Taris, Cukobirlik, Antbirlik, Trakyabirlik and Marmarabirlik, so their productivity and activities are boosted under the supervision of the Treasury Undersecretariat’s Directorate General of State Economic Enterprises (KIT). As part of the Agricultural Reform Implementation Project (ARIP) to be carried out under the auspices of the World Bank, the consultant firm which will carry out the restructuring work will determine the needs for operational and financial restructuring. It will also prepare financial plans for steps that can be taken in areas in which agricultural cooperatives are active. /Aksam/

    [12] BIDDING OPENED FOR ISTANBUL’S NEW “MARMARAY” SUBWAY LINE

    The state officially initiated over the weekend a bidding process for the construction of a new subway line through Istanbul, one including an underwater Bosphorus tube passage. The Directorate General for Railway, Harbor and Airport Construction, attached to the Transportation Ministry, opened the bid for the new line called “Marmaray,” which will stretch from the suburb of Gebze to Halkali. The massive construction project will include rails, the tube passage and stations. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is helping the financing of the nearly $2.5 billion project, and leading international construction firms have already shown an interest. /Milliyet/

    [13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [14] POLITICS SHAPED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Derya Sazak writes about the new shape of in Turkish politics in the wake of the passage of the EU harmonization laws. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Following the adoption of the European Union reforms, there is now a road map in front of Turkey. If Turkey manages to get a date for the beginning of accession negotiations from the EU at its Copenhagen summit in December then we have a chance of becoming a full member in five to seven years. That is two election terms. Of course factors other than the EU itself will help to shape the Turkey’s future. A US operation in Iraq, pressure to settle the Cyprus issue and the future of the IMF-backed economic programme, for instance, will affect developments coming over the next year. As the military places great importance on institutionalization and strategic planning, by looking at the decisions of the Supreme Military Council we can tell what the military sees on the horizon. Gen. Hilmi Ozkok is due to take over the post of Chief of General Staff from Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu at the end of the month and former Gendarmerie General Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman has been appointed to be the new commander of the Ground Forces. Gen. Yalman is an experienced header who served in the southeast at a time when PKK terrorism was at its peak and he knows northern Iraq very well. By appointing Gen. Yalman, it seems that the military is preparing itself for a US operation in Iraq. In addition to concerns over the future of Iraq, the military is also going to be very sensitive about issues of internal politics. The newly enacted EU laws have given hope to the public. However, it’s unclear how the process leading up to the Copenhagen summit will be affected if the Justice and Development Party (AKP) emerges from the elections having the most seats in Parliament. The EU package almost didn’t pass as a whole, due to the AKP’s insistence on a constitutional amendment on the death penalty. AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his party must change their ambivalent approach towards the EU. It looks like we’re all going to have to wait and see if the AKP is going to come to power and the kind of attitude it will adopt. However, clearly no one wants to experience another ‘Erbakan incident.’ If the AKP takes a pro-EU stance before the elections, then it will do its best, after elections, to give Turkey a better chance of becoming a full member. What’s more is that the Turkish public, including the people of the southeast, does not want politics based on ethnic and religious identity to be a source of tension anymore. As for State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, he still has his reservations about the role he’ll play in Turkish politics. He is trying to unite left-wing parties to balance the power of the AKP. Let’s hope that with his indecisiveness he doesn’t divide the left even more.”

    [15] PAX AMERICANA BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (SABAH)

    Columnist Sukru Elekdag writes on the shift in US foreign policy after last September’s terrorist attacks. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “The tragedy of Sept. 11 brought about some earthshaking changes to United States foreign policy and global strategy. US citizens gave President Bush an extended mandate to eradicate al-Qaida and to crush terrorist organizations all around the globe. However, the Bush administration is forcing this authority to its limits as well as using it for the US’ long-term strategic interests, and it is trying to establish a ‘Pax Americana’ (a global peace order dependent on US superiority and arbitration) and taking some important steps towards this end. Washington’s quest for a privileged legal system for the US in the new world order is a striking example of this, one which is altogether contradictory to international law. Accordingly, the US, drawing on its legitimate right to defend itself, openly declares that it has the right to carry out pre-emptive strikes on countries –- even if they have not attacked the US -- which possess weapons of mass destruction and that employ terrorism as a state policy. This is what we call ‘anticipatory self defense’ or ‘offensive deterrence.’ It is very likely that the US will justify its possible military attack on Iraq on these legal grounds. The settling-in of the US in Central Asia and the Caucasus region can be viewed as the most striking development in the post-Sept. 11 era. It is obvious that the US is there to stay to guard its interests in oil-rich regions, and towards this end it is solidifying its relations with Russia. Moreover, the US has to fortify its position in the Middle East and to create alternative means of access to oil resources. Actually, this is the underlying reason for its political support to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. The above picture clearly demonstrates the dramatic change in power balance in Eurasian politics. In this new conjuncture, Russia becomes the key country, giving the US the opportunity to reach to a vast geography in its war against terror. This may result in a serious erosion in the role given to Turkey in the US’ strategy, especially after a possible strike on Iraq. However, Turkey’s forward steps towards EU membership should be assessed as a compensating development.”

    ARCHIVE

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