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Turkish Press Review, 03-01-17Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: 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 & Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning17.01.2003<blockquote> <_blockquote> 16 IRAQI SCIENTISTS COULD HOLD THE KEY BY MURAT CELIK (STAR) WHAT’S CHANGED ON CYPRUS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO CHAIR GOVERNMENT, MILITARY SUMMIT ON IRAQA summit chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is set to be held this morning at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to discuss recent developments on the Iraq issue. In addition to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and other high-level officials connected to the topic are expected to attend the meeting. /Turkiye/[02] TURKEY PROPOSES INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT FOR[03] PEACE IN IRAQ; GUL TO UNDERTAKE[04] SECOND MIDEAST TOURIn its latest move to avert a possible war in Iraq, the Turkish government yesterday proposed a summit of Middle Eastern nations to seek a peaceful solution to the issue. After Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal met with the Ankara ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iran and Syria, ministry spokesman Yusuf Bulunc said that the heads of state of all five nations had been invited to a summit next Thursday to address the crisis. The countries are expected to answer Turkey’s invitation over the weekend. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is planning to hold a second tour of Mideast countries next week, details of which are still pending. /Turkiye/[05] GUL: “THE AKP GOVERNMENT WILL ALWAYS[06] SUPPORT TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS”Prime Minister Abdullah Gul declared yesterday that even though citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had apparently been provoked against their government and Turkey itself, Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government would always stand behind TRNC President Rauf Denktas, no matter what. Gul added that Turkey had serious concerns about the United Nations Cyprus plan currently on the table. “Our chief concern is the future migration of Greek Cypriots to the TRNC,” said Gul. “In a matter of just a few years, this [migration] could endanger the presence of Turkish Cypriots on the island. This wouldn’t be a problem if Turkey was part of the European Union.” /Milliyet/[07] TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU VISITS ANKARATurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu yesterday arrived in Ankara to attend a symposium and panel in Ankara on the Cyprus issue. Speaking to reporters, Eroglu stated that the TRNC would continue to defend its just cause during negotiations over the island’s future. /Turkiye/[08] ERDOGAN PROMOTES IMPROVED TURKISH-CHINESE[09] ECONOMIC TIESContinuing his visit to the People’s Republic of China, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday spoke at a Chinese-Turkish Economic summit held in Shanghai. Erdogan said that Turkey wanted to improve economic relations with China, adding that China’s recent induction into the World Trade Organization would help this process. Erdogan added that Chinese businessmen could invest in any number of fields in Turkey, such as transportation and telecommunications. /Aksam/[10] ANAP HEAD OZDEMIR: “ERDOGAN[11] SHOULD ENTER PARLIAMENT SO AS[12] TO END TURKEY’S BIPOLAR LEADERSHIP”Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan should use a March by-election to enter Parliament and so end Turkey’s “bipolar leadership” situation, Ali Talip Ozdemir, the recently elected chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said yesterday. “This bipolarity is hurting the government, which is why ANAP supports Erdogan entering Parliament,” stated Özdemir. During last November’s general elections, Erdogan was under ban from holding political office, a ban since lifted by the AKP government. Current Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is widely expected to step aside for Erdogan should the party leader run and win a seat in Parliament at the March 9 by-election in Siirt, a southeastern Anatolia province. /Cumhuriyet/[13] KRUEGER: “GOOD TURKISH-IMF RELATIONS[14] DEPEND ON CONTINUED STRUCTURAL REFORM”Anne Krueger, first managing director of the International Monetary Fund, yesterday held a series of meetings in Ankara with Prime Minister Adullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti. During these meetings, Krueger asked about the government’s problems in implementing its economic program. She also reportedly expressed concern about a recent downward trend in economic signs following largely positive trends in the wake of last November’s elections. In her meeting with Unakitan, Krueger reportedly expressed opposition to any government plan for tax amnesty. Speaking later to reporters, Krueger said that continued good relations between the IMF and Turkey depend on the Justice and Development (AKP) government carrying out needed structural reforms as soon as possible. She also said that its recently announced privatization program and budget plans were good beginnings for the new government. She added that an IMF delegation would come to Turkey in February, but that an exact date hadn’t been set. /Aksam/[15] GEN. BUYUKANIT: “THE MILITARY CAN’T MAKE PLEDGES ON IRAQ TO US JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN MYERS”In the absence of a political decision on Iraq from Turkey’s civilian government, the Turkish military cannot make any binding pledges to the US’ top military officer during his visit this weekend, said Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday. Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, is due to arrive in Ankara on Sunday. “Gen. Myers is a military official, and our contacts will be conducted accordingly,” Buyukanit told a diplomatic reception. Myers is expected to reiterate Washington’s request that the Turkish government clarify its stance on the scope of Turkish-US cooperation in a possible war against Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/[16] US AMBASSADOR PEARSON TO BRIEF TURKISH[17] DEPUTIES ON IRAQ ISSUEUnited States Ambassador to Ankara Robert Pearson is scheduled to brief a group of deputies from both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on the Iraq issue today. The briefing is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the ambassador’s residence. /Cumhuriyet/[18] US EXIMBANK APPROVES HELICOPTER LOAN FOR TURKEYThe US Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) yesterday officially approved a loan of $324 million to Turkey to be used in the purchase of eight S-70B Sea Hawk and six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for the Turkish Navy. The helicopters will be bought from US company Sikorsky. The loan was an extension of a loan first granted in 1990, and as such has already been authorized by the US Congress, with no need for additional approval. /Turkiye/[19] TURKMEN ASK FOR PROTECTION IN CASE OF IRAQ WARLands inhabited by ethnic Turkmen in northern Iraq would likely be the scene of chaos following a US-led conflict, warned Iraqi Turkmen Front Ankara Representative Mustafa Ziya yesterday, underscoring his countrymen’s need for protection in such a situation. Stressing that the Kirkuk and Mosul regions in northern Iraq had been Turkmen land for thousands of years, Ziya said, “In case of a war, certain groups may try to slaughter the Turkmen living there in order to seize our land.” Pointing out that the Turkmen were largely unarmed and lacked a standing army, Ziya said he hoped his brethren in Turkey together with other countries would safeguard the Turkmen’s security. /Turkiye/[20] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[21] FROM THE COLUMNS…[22] 16 IRAQI SCIENTISTS COULD HOLD THE KEY[23] BY MURAT CELIK (STAR)Columnist Murat Celik comments on a secret list of Iraqi scientists. A summary of his column is as follows:“The US and the United Nations are looking for 16 Iraqi scientists. The list of these 16 whom UN weapons inspectors have been unable to find in Iraq is now in Turkey’s hands, among other nations. The US and the UN asked Turkish intelligence and security units if the 16 on the list were in the country and added, ‘If any of the people on this list try to enter Turkey, it’s vital that you let us know at once.’ The message sent to Ankara last week was both secret and important. These 16 Iraqi scientists are of crucial importance in helping to discover if Baghdad has nuclear, biological or chemical weapons and getting details of these, if any. The UN weapons inspectors currently in Iraq conducted inspections at a scientist’s house on Wednesday and at two others’ yesterday. However, during these inspections, problems continued. During the weapons inspectors’ meeting with the Iraqi scientists, representatives of the Baghdad administration were also present. Under such circumstances, almost none of these scientists were forthcoming with concrete information. The US and the UN think that they were hiding the truth due to fear of reprisal by Saddam Hussein. Likewise, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, who is due in Baghdad this weekend, said yesterday, ‘If Iraq has nothing to hide, it should permit us to question these scientists abroad.’ During the current meetings, the Iraqi scientists are telling UN inspectors that Iraq has no nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. Of course this answer hasn’t satisfied the US, which suspects Iraq is hiding the truth, so it is looking for these 16 scientists as it thinks they know Saddam’s secrets. Countries in the region are now looking for the 16. Reportedly, the list has been given to Turkey, Kuwait and Jordan. The list of 16 reached Ankara last week and was delivered to the proper authorities. The National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Foreign Ministry, General Staff, Interior Ministry, General Gendarmerie Command and Security Directorate are now working on the list. The list was also sent to the border gates. If any person on this list tries to enter Turkey, Ankara will know at once, as will the US and UN in short order.” [24] WHAT’S CHANGED ON CYPRUS?[25] BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments about the latest developments on Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows:“Let me end the suspense and answer my column’s title question straight off: Although a lot has been changed on Cyprus, still everything remains almost the same! In order to understand what I mean by this apparently contradictory answer, let’s take a look at what has really changed on the Turkish side: The most important change in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the Turkish Cypriot public’s ever-growing opposition to the ‘no- concession’ policy of their government. Nearly 50,000 people recently came together to hold a demonstration in Lefkosha, shouting slogans in favor of an immediate peaceful solution for the problems of the island. Isn’t this a sign of recent significant changes on the island? Some might belittle this opposition, or even claim that manipulative foreign powers are the true moving force behind this movement. Or one could argue that these people haven’t read the UN Cyprus plan carefully and so are unaware of what sort of future the plan truly entails for the TRNC. However, the Ankara and Denktas administrations should try to calmly and rationally understand the reasons and possible consequences of this opposition movement, one coming from people in every sector of society, such as the families of martyrs and even politicians. They need to see that these people, frustrated and impatient over the lack of a solution on the island, perceive the Turkish government’s wrongheaded policies looming large in the decades-long political impasse on Cyprus. In addition, nobody can expect people to know every single detail of a 150- page plan. In democracies, governments have to take into consideration the people’s expectations and wishes. There has also been an important change in Turkey. Members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and many political circles have already begun to argue that Turkey should adopt a more flexible Cyprus policy for the sake of a permanent solution. Well, what hasn’t changed in our country? Ankara is still a little confused. The Foreign Ministry has been issuing contradictory statements on the Cyprus issue. Everybody is talking about a change in our policy, but the institutions involved have yet to put any official changes before the public. It seems to me that in terms of strategy -- meaning if a settlement is not reached on Annan’s plan by Feb. 28 (the UN-set deadline) -- Turkey is planning to continue negotiations instead of annexing the TRNC. However, other pillars of our official policy won’t be changed. What about the Greek Cypriot side? Most of the Greek Cypriots oppose Annan’s plan, since they believe it makes too many concessions to the Turkish side. However, their leader Clerides thinks the plan suitable for further negotiations. That is to say, the situation on the Greek side is a reverse image of the one in the TRNC. One can claim that Clerides doesn’t want to change his policy since he’s sure that no matter what happens with the UN plan, his country will join the EU anyway. I hope that these changes will help the politicians adopt more constructive policies. If the two leaders of the island fail to take more productive stances, everything will really remain the same on the island this time!” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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