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Turkish Press Review, 02-08-26
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
26.08.2002
CONTENTS
[01] UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT BEGINS TODAY
[02] BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL COME TO POWER AFTER ELECTIONS”
[03] CILLER: “WE WON’T FORGET THE HANDICAPPED”
[04] CEM: “THE YTP IS SET TO LEAD A NATIONWIDE RENEWAL”
[05] AKP HOLDS CANDIDATES’ PRIMARIES
[06] BAYAR: “WE HAVE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE YTP, NOT THE DYP”
[07] SAADETTIN TANTAN ELECTED NEW LEADER OF HOMELAND PARTY
[08] ERDOGAN: “SMEAR CAMPAIGNS WON’T DAMAGE THE AKP”
[09] DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETINGS TO RESUME
[10] FIRST BLACK SEA CAPITALS’ FESTIVAL BEGINS IN ANKARA
[11] TURKISH BOTTLE FACTORY TO OPEN FACILITY IN RUSSIA
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] VICIOUS CIRCLE AROUND HATAY
[14] BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
[15] THE DUST IS SETTLING DOWN
[16] BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)
[01] UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT BEGINS TODAY
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, a 10-day United Nations
gathering, is due to kick off today in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Approximately 60,000 people from some 200 countries are expected to attend
the summit. While Istanbul Greater Municipality Major Ali Mufit Gurtuna
arrived in Johannesburg two days ago, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is
scheduled to join the summit’s participants on next Sunday, Sept. 1. In
addition to heads of state and government, there will be active
participation by representatives from business and industrial concerns, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), children and youth, farmers, local
authorities, scientific and technological communities, women, and workers
and trade unions. The Johannesburg Summit presents a significant
opportunity for today’s world leaders to discuss ways and strategies of
reaching sustainable development in a world with ever-increasing demands
for food, water, energy, shelter, sanitation, health services and economic
security. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL COME TO POWER AFTER ELECTIONS”
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet
Bahceli predicted yesterday that this November’s elections would buck the
predictions of some recent public opinion polls and bring big surprises.
“The MHP is not carrying out surveys,” said Bahceli. “But we are sure that
our party will emerge as the most powerful in the elections and will come
to the power by itself on the morning of Nov. 4.” Appearing on television
yesterday, Bahceli gave his views on various topics. Stressing that there
was no good reason to hold off on elections, Bahceli said that the
government’s final and most meaningful duty would be to conduct the
elections in peaceful, orderly way. Pointing out that Turkey’s European
Union membership bid had a 40-year old history, he asserted that the Cyprus
issue would be the make-or-break point for this bid. “First [the EU should]
give us a timetable for membership, then we’ll move on to discuss other
topics,” stated Bahceli. Turkey’s primary problem is a fractured political
scene, Bahceli said, and every day someone with an axe to grind founds a
new party. “Politicians should gather together to come to agreement on
major topics. This divisiveness is harming Turkey,” he added. Criticizing
the recent rapprochement between the People’s Democracy Party (HADEP) and
the Felicity Party (SP), Bahceli remarked that any party which helped bring
HADEP into Parliament would have to face the responsibility for this.
/Turkiye/
[03] CILLER: “WE WON’T FORGET THE HANDICAPPED”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller vowed yesterday that when her
party takes the reins of power, it would look after the education and
health care problems of Turkey’s handicapped citizens. In a ceremony in
Istanbul marking blind singer Metin Senturk’s joining her party’s ranks,
Ciller said, “The DYP is resolved to change the destiny of Turkey’s
handicapped, whose needs have been neglected up to now. We’ll ensure a good
future for all of them.” /Turkiye/
[04] CEM: “THE YTP IS SET TO LEAD A NATIONWIDE RENEWAL”
Some 30 prominent figures from various walks of life, including former
culture ministers Ercan Karakas and Timurcin Savas, joined the New Turkey
Party (YTP) over the weekend. Speaking to journalists at the new members’
introduction ceremony, YTP Chairman Ismail Cem stated that his party’s main
target was to renew the whole country. “Both our messages and statements
represent new policies and strategies for Turkish politics,” said Cem. “Our
main goal is to modernize our country in line with the necessities of the
information age, while at the same time maintaining Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s
principles and reforms.” /Cumhuriyet/
[05] AKP HOLDS CANDIDATES’ PRIMARIES
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) yesterday held nationwide primaries
within its party to determine its deputy candidates for this November’s
elections. The party members’ votes in the primaries will help the party’s
executive board to determine the final list of candidate to be presented to
voters in the elections. /Turkiye/
[06] BAYAR: “WE HAVE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE YTP, NOT THE DYP”
Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar said yesterday that
his party had close relations with the New Turkey Party (YTP) on the basis
of shared principles. Speaking on the DTP’s relations with the True Path
Party (DYP), Bayar added, “The DTP’s exchanging views with the DYP is quite
natural, because the two parties come from common roots. However, the DYP
has so far proven unable to carry out its mission as the main opposition
party, and as a consequence it’s anxious about the upcoming elections. It
would be very embarrassing if it’s not represented in Parliament after
November.” He stated that he had no plans to meet with DYP leader Tansu
Ciller. /Milliyet/
[07] SAADETTIN TANTAN ELECTED NEW LEADER OF HOMELAND PARTY
Former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan was elected the new leader of the
Homeland Party (YP) yesterday during an extraordinary congress of the
party. Speaking at a post-congress press conference, Tantan charged that
Turkey wasn’t being governed properly and that the nation needed radical
change. “We are starting a war of independence in politics,” he said,
evoking the war Ataturk led to establish a modern, republican Turkey. The
number of YP deputies in Parliament recently reached three when two
independent deputies joined the party, Arif Sezer from Adana and Ersoy
Ozcan from Bolu. The party is set to receive $1.8 billion in Treasury aid
for this November’s elections. /Milliyet/
[08] ERDOGAN: “SMEAR CAMPAIGNS WON’T DAMAGE THE AKP”
Appearing on TGRT television yesterday, Justice and Development Party (AKP)
leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on recent reports focusing on his two
children and their study in the United States courtesy of scholarships
extended by an acquaintance of Erdogan. “In the past,” he said, “a lot of
ink has been spilled on writing about my children. Now on the eve of
elections we see the same old thing happening. They are trying to smear me,
but these efforts will come to nothing.” Stating that the Turkish nation
appreciated the AKP’s honesty and the trust it inspires, which led certain
“frustrated circles” to try and play “dirty tricks,” Erdogan said that his
party was determined to serve the country.” Nobody has been able to stop me
with allegations,” added the former Istanbul mayor, whose latest court
hearing on corruption charges he has vehemently denied is on Oct. 23. “I
trust Turkey’s citizens to make the best choice. If my children had the
opportunity to study abroad after finishing their schooling in Turkey, this
shouldn’t bother anyone.” Asked about moves by some quarters to postpone
this fall’s elections, Erdogan said, “Turkey should hold its elections on
Nov. 3 [as scheduled]. If people get mixed up in speculation, this would
amount to provocation and promoting even more economic crises. There is
uncertainty in Turkey, and it will only get worse if we don’t hold
elections as scheduled in November.” /Turkiye/
[09] DENKTAS-CLERIDES MEETINGS TO RESUME
The sixth round of peace talks between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides is
set to begin tomorrow. United Nations Special Envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de
Soto will meet with the two leaders separately today prior to the meetings,
with the aim of both contributing to the creation of a positive atmosphere
charged with new hopes and bolstering the morale of the two sides. The
United States and the United Kingdom are also trying to help the two sides
to reach a permanent settlement. While British Special Representative for
Cyprus Sir David Hannay is expected to visit Cyprus on Friday, US State
Department Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Weston will travel to the island next
week, on Sept. 3. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] FIRST BLACK SEA CAPITALS’ FESTIVAL BEGINS IN ANKARA
The First Black Sea Capitals’ Festival hosted by the Ankara Greater
Municipality and attended by representatives from seven Black Sea countries
began in Ankara this weekend. Some 250 groups from Greece, Bulgaria,
Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Albania and Romania performed dance and
musical performances at the opening ceremony held in Altinpark’s Lake
Theatre. The ceremony was attended by Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor
Melih Gokcek and governors and mayors from the capitals of attending
countries. /Aksam/
[11] TURKISH BOTTLE FACTORY TO OPEN FACILITY IN RUSSIA
A beer bottle production factory built by the Turkish Bottle and Glass
Factories Company in Russia’s Vladimir region, some 200 kilometers
northeast of Moscow, is scheduled to be officially opened for operation on
Sept. 6. The factory’s opening ceremony will be attended by a delegation to
be chaired by Turkish State Minister Tunca Toskay. Ekrem Barlas, deputy
marketing director for the Turkish Bottle and Glass Factories, said that
Turkish contractors has built the facility on an area of 17 hectares and
that it represented an investment of $26 million. /Sabah/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] VICIOUS CIRCLE AROUND HATAY
[14] BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes about Turkish-Syrian relations and
possible ways of cooperation in the future. A summary of her column is as
follows:
“Ever since Abdullah Ocalan was deported from Syria in 1998, the pivotal
issue determining Turkish-Syrian relations has been our border province of
Hatay. This is a shame considering the fact that the administration of
Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is very much in favour of developing economic
relations with Turkey. Syrian Economy Minister Mohammed Hussein made this
very clear when I spoke to him recently. Even Syria, a country having no
links with the IMF or the World Bank, has taken steps to develop economic
relations with the European Union. With the signing of an association
agreement with the EU, it seems that Syria is trying to upgrade its
production techniques to European standards. Hussein, who is also deputy
prime minister, has also expressed Syrian support for Turkey’s EU
membership. ‘EU membership is Turkey’s historical right’ he said, adding
that Turkey’s membership would have a positive effect on Syrian relations
with the EU, as well as Syria’s bid for membership in the World Trade
Organisation. In fact, he believes that Turkey, as an EU member, would help
Syria to improve its standards of production. Hussein also pointed out that
Arab countries, for the first time, have initiated the establishment of an
‘Arab Common Market’ and that Turkey could also benefit from Syrian
membership in this Arab formation. ‘Just think,’ he remarked, ‘If relations
between Turkey and Syria were to develop, Turkey’s membership in the EU
would give Syria access to the European market and similarly Syrian
membership in an Arab Common Market would provide Turkey with access to the
Arab market.’ The Syrian government is also determined to ease restrictions
on investment. Hussein said that Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Miro’s
visit to Turkey scheduled for this May had had to be postponed due to
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s illness. However, he made a point of
telling us that the visit would be rescheduled and that during Miro’s visit,
agreements encouraging investment would be signed by the two countries.
However, despite this bilateral rapprochement, old problems continue to
plague our relations. Hussein believes that Turkish businessmen are
reluctant to invest in Syria due to psychological reasons related to the
issue of the Turkish province of Hatay, which borders Syria. On Syrian maps,
Hatay is still not shown to be Turkish territory. Syrian officials, however,
say that Syria needs some time to withdraw its claim on Hatay because
renouncing this old claim would spark negative reactions in the Arab
public. Nevertheless, the visit made by Sufi Abudan, the Syrian governor of
Lazkiye, to Hatay in March shows that Syria wants to normalise relations.
In addition, as the head of state, Bashar al-Assad wants to schedule an
official visit to Turkey. However before this visit can take place, Syria
says that the Turkish foreign minister must first visit Syria. But for the
Turkish foreign minister to visit Syria, Turkey first wants Syria to sign
an official document stating that it has forsaken all its claims on Hatay.
So, again, everything boils down to one issue: Hatay.”
[15] THE DUST IS SETTLING DOWN
[16] BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)
Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever writes on the changing political structure in
Turkey regarding recent developments in the lead up to November’s
elections. A summary of his column is as follows:
“No matter how much it disturbs certain quarters, the dust is settling down,
paving the way for a new kind of political structure in Turkey. Of course,
the people whose calculations don’t fit into this new mold, who are afraid
of dealing with it and who aren’t wanted anymore will try to shake the new
balance in Turkey as much as they can. But we have to accept one thing: the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the center-right and the Republican
People’s Party (CHP) on the center-left are now to hold the most sway. The
old cliches about these two parties such as ‘Islamist-fundamentalist’ or
‘statist-anticapitalist’ are still clouding some minds. However, Turkey has
changed a lot and it is still changing. So those who resist this process of
change will have to take their bow from the political stage. Having been
witness to events all over the world as well as in Turkey over the past
five years, one would have to be a fool to believe these old cliches
spelled out above. The AKP has largely consolidated its position on the
center-right, displacing both the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path
Party (DYP), who both insisted on the status quo and resisted change, and
thus experienced a political erosion as they lacked the people’s confidence
and their leaders’ names have frequently been synonymous with political
corruption. Whereas the CHP, which seems to have learned much from its
tremendous defeat in the elections of 1999, has changed a great deal in
terms of its structure and resolve to keep up with the changing world and
it is determined to make its mark on Turkey’s future. All in all, this new
politics will rule over Turkey in the new era.”
ARCHIVE
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