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Turkish Press Review, 03-07-16Turkish 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> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning16.07.2003CONTENTS
[01] ERDOGAN: “OUR COUNTRY IS ACCOMPLISHING HISTORIC REFORMS”Turkey is accomplishing great reforms, ones unprecedented in the republic’s history, declared Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Speaking at the re-opening ceremony for a glass factory in Istanbul, Erdogan said that even while the government was making decisions to ensure the nation’s macroeconomic stability in its European Union accession process and end its chronic high inflation, it was also making legal changes to ease Turkey’s socio-economic and cultural harmonization with world markets. Erdogan noted that such great changes were no easy thing and that he was proud of these achievements. The government is well aware of the nation’s problems and is doing its best to solve them, pledged Erdogan. The premier also said that his administration was trying to restructure the country, deal with problems in industry and revamp the investment climate. “Our guiding principle is to remove obstacles to entrepreneurs and create equal conditions for them on international markets,” said Erdogan, adding that work to eliminate infrastructure deficiencies in the nation’s industry was also continuing. /Aksam/[02] GUL: “THE US MADE A HUGE MISTAKE IN SULAIMANIYAH, BUT OUR DIFFICULTIES CAN BE OVERCOME”The United States made a “huge mistake” in detaining Turkish special forces troops in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq earlier this month, but new bilateral mechanism can help Ankara and Washington bridge their difficulties, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. “The conclusion that has emerged is this: a huge mistake was made,” Gul told the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) parliamentary group meeting. Gul was referring to a joint Turkish-US statement from an inquiry over the Sulaimaniyah incident, a statement released yesterday by the Turkish General Staff but called still “subject to review” by Washington. Gul then added that “permanent committees are being formed to improve the health of Turkish-US relations and make Turkey’s contributions to Iraq’s reconstruction more meaningful.” Also touching on Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Gul reiterated that the upcoming seventh EU harmonization package would be the last. /Milliyet/[03] JOINT TURKISH-US STATEMENT EXPRESSES REGRET OVER SULAIMANIYAH INCIDENTThe General Staff yesterday released a statement on behalf of the Turkish- US joint inquiry set up to investigate the detention of Turkish soldiers by US forces in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq earlier this month, saying that both sides regretted the unfortunate incident between the two allies. “Both sides regret the incident which occurred between two allies and the treatment to which the Turkish soldiers were subjected while in custody," said the statement. While the statement was signed by both Turkish and US generals serving on the inquiry, Washington has yet to make an official announcement on the issue, and the US State Department yesterday called the final statement “still under review.” “We expect that approval [of the statement] to come shortly,” said State spokesman Richard Boucher, adding that it “was no big deal.” The joint statement said that both sides had agreed to rapidly and extensively share information regarding security and stability in the region through appropriate channels before taking any action. “Our countries have decided to ensure better cooperation and coordination in Iraq and have agreed to take all measures required to prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future.” It also referred to unspecified "additional measures" to develop US-Turkish cooperation, though Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul later said that “permanent committees” would be established to improve Turkish-US relations and boost Ankara’s role in Iraq’s reconstruction process. Although the statement did not shed any light on reasons for the controversial detention, it pointed out that both sides had "noted" concerns over each other's activities in northern Iraq. Meanwhile, sources stated that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan 24 hours before the release of the joint statement, declaring that the Bush administration was certain about the credibility of its evidence concerning alleged “suspicious” activities of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. Rumsfeld reportedly requested that Turkey restrict its military activities in the region to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Turkish officials reportedly characterized Rumsfeld’s letter as “unusual” in terms of international diplomatic procedures, adding that it had apparently been written on behalf of President George W. Bush. /All Papers, http://www.state.gov _[04] CHAIRS OF US TURKEY CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS TELL RUMSFELD OF THEIR “DEEP CONCERN” OVER SULAYMANIYAH INCIDENTUS Congressmen Robert Wexler, Ed Whitfield and Kay Granger, co-chairs of the US Congress’ Turkey friendship group, have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressing “deep concern” about the July 4 detention of 11 Turkish soldiers by US forces in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq and calling for a full Defense Department_US Army probe into the incident. Lamenting the “first time in NATO’s history one member nation has detained military personnel of another,” the letter sent Tuesday warned that “if this incident is not dealt with immediately and openly, it could lead to further disintegration of the US-Turkish strategic partnership and … weaken the institution of NATO.” The report further decried the use during the detention of “hoods and handcuffs, similar to the methods used with Al Qaeda and other suspected terrorists,” adding that determining “whether the situation could have been avoided by alerting Turkish authorities … prior to the US military operation” was vitally important. It also urged “confidence-building measures … on both sides to ensure that over 50 years of US-Turkish relations do not disintegrate – [as] this would not be in the interests of either nation.” “We are mindful of the dangerous military operation being conducted by our troops in Iraq and believe it is critical to the success of our military mission in the region to work cooperatively with our longstanding ally, Turkey,” wrote the three congressmen. “It is clear that the incident on July 4 has shaken the foundation of US-Turkish bilateral relations and has undermined current cooperation between our two countries in northern Iraq. In order for both nations to move forward and to make certain that another dangerous incident does not occur, both the United States and Turkey must receive a complete and accurate account of the events of July 4. We are hopeful that the ongoing joint investigation in Ankara and additional review by the Department of Defense will provide both the US and Turkey a forum and means to address issues of concern and interest to both nations,” such as Iraq’s reconstruction, the war against terrorism, NATO and the Middle East peace process, said the letter. /Cumhuriyet, http:__www.house.gov_wexler /[05] SIXTH HARMONIZATION PACKAGE RE-APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT WITHOUT ANY CHANGESArticles 19 and 21 of the sixth European Union harmonization package proposing the abolition of Article 8 of the anti-Terror Law were debated in Parliament yesterday and then re-approved without any modifications. The package will now be sent back to the Cankaya Presidential Palace for the president’s signature. Earlier this month President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the articles, arguing that they should be amended rather than abolished in the interests of the country’s national integrity. Sezer cannot veto them a second time, but can recommend them for constitutional review. Meanwhile, the government is preparing the seventh EU harmonization package to be presented to the Parliament next week. The new package deals with other controversial issues such as modifications to the structure of the National Security Council (NSC). /Sabah/[06] TALABANI: “THE IPUK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SULAIMANIYAH INCIDENT”Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani yesterday said that he had postponed his scheduled visit to Turkey last week due to a recent anti-IPUK campaign , one he claimed been started by certain circles in Turkey. Talabani also denied reports that the IPUK had any connection to the July 4-6 detention of Turkish soldiers in Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq. He stated that the IPUK welcomed Turkish soldiers in the region as its “guests” and expressed regret that the incident had ever occurred. /Sabah/[07] MUMCU: “CULTURAL COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND KOSOVO SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED”Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu yesterday received a delegation from Kosovo headed by Kosovar Youth and Sports Minister Behxhet Brajshori. During their meeting, the officials discussed cultural cooperation and the restoration of Ottoman historical sites in Kosovo. Mumcu said that Turkish- Kosovar cultural cooperation should be further developed, calling culture the best means to strengthen bilateral ties. For his part, Brajshori said that Kosovo hoped to cooperate with Turkey in many areas. Nominally an autonomous region of the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo has been governed separately under NATO protection since 1999. The former Ottoman Empire province is majority Muslim. /Turkish Daily News/[08] BODRUM FOREST FIRE THREATENS AREA HOMESA forest fire broke out yesterday in the Konacik district of Bodrum for reasons unknown. As of last night, the fire was spreading towards homes in the area. Ibrahim Ciftci, the administrator for the Mugla forest district, said that fire was spreading swiftly due to winds, adding that it currently affected an area of 20-25 hectares. /All papers/[09] TOBB HEAD HISARCIKLIOGLU: “NEITHER THE PRIVATE SECTOR NOR THE NATION CAN ENDURE NEW TAXES”An International Monetary Fund delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Riza Moghadam yesterday visited Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu to discuss recent economic developments and the IMF-supported economic program. Speaking afterwards, responding to reports that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was planning to levy new taxes in order to create additional revenue streams, Hisarciklioglu said the TOBB would oppose any such move. “The TOBB, speaking for the private sector, is definitely against new taxes,” stated Hisarciklioglu. “I told the IMF delegation that the Turkish private sector and the nation absolutely cannot endure new taxes.” /Turkiye/[10] TUZMEN TRAVELS TO PAKISTAN FOR MEETING ON TRADEState Minister Kursat Tuzmen yesterday flew to Pakistan to attend a meeting of foreign trade ministers. Speaking before his departure, Tuzmen said that Turkey’s exports for the first half of the year had climbed to $21 billion. /Turkiye/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...[13] FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY[14] BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the need for Turkey to meet the EU’s Copenhagen criteria. A summary of his column is as follows:“We stand on the threshold of completely accepting the Copenhagen criteria, which are the modern world’s political principles for establishing democracy and the rule of law. The Turkish nation deserves this order. The Copenhagen criteria not only establish democratic order, but also create a basis for economic development in the countries where they are implemented. Turkey is a country where excessive red tape is very common, effectively strangling the free-market, globalized economy through its outrageous tricky regulations. Maybe this isn’t the only cause of our poverty, but it’s certainly one of them. Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to understand the reasons for Turkey’s being mired in a poverty trap. At least, I hope so. In any case, we can address this problem through radical reforms. The first goal of the European Union is to provide for the welfare of its member states. Those who enable the persistence of poverty shouldn’t expect a single vote from the Turkish people. We expect the government to prepare meaningful arrangements with no concessions to any ulterior motives contrary to this goal.” [15] FOURTH GENERATION WARFARE AND IMPERIAL WARS[16] BY ERGIN YILDIZ (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Ergin Yildiz comments on the concept of the “Fourth Generation Warfare” and the US’ growing imperialistic aims. A summary of his column is as follows:“Currently, two heated debates are going on in the US, one among the ruling Republican Party’s elite and the other among quarters concerned about the country’s military strategy. The first debate is raging between ‘the neo- cons’ and the traditional ‘cultural conservatives,’ and it is shaping up around the project to create a US world empire. The second concerns what has been dubbed ‘Fourth Generation Warfare’ (4GW), a concept which is of great importance to restructuring the US army (as an imperial force). I have written many times before about the US’ imperialistic ambitions. Today, I‘d like to focus on 4GW and its relationship to the US’ re-emerging imperialist tendencies. Let’s start by looking at the article ‘All War All the Time’ by William S. Lind, a specialist on military theory from the Republicans’ cultural conservative wing. ‘Every year, the grand old man of the conservative movement, William F. Buckley, hosts a dinner in Washington for other leading conservatives where one key issue is discussed,’ writes Lind. ‘This year, it was the neo-cons’ push to create an American world empire. One of the leading neo-conservatives made the usual pro-empire pitch: Empire is inevitable, we have to make the world safe for democracy, no one can stop us.’ Lind continues, ‘A cultural conservative, who wants America to be a republic, not an empire, asked a question: – What is your answer to Fourth Generation Warfare? – No one around the table had ever heard of it; despite the fact that American soldiers are fighting one Fourth Generation war in Afghanistan, facing another one in Iraq, and getting involved in a third in the Philippines.’ Before touching on the characteristics of 4GW and how it differs from previous generations, I’d like to make an observation on how the US forces are actually sustaining the war in Iraq. Texas-based commercial intelligence website ‘Strategic Forecasting’ (STRATFOR) wrote on July 7 about US forces having hit troubled waters in quelling the Iraqi resistance. ‘Having realized that the war against the US could not be won through conventional means,’ said the site, ‘the Iraqi command opted in favor of a strategic withdrawal – as opposed to staying and resisting the overwhelming US firepower – in preparation for guerrilla operations.’ This quotation demonstrates that the basic feature of 4GW is prolonged conflict between the invader and the rebel. Certain military analysts have argued that a new style of warfare has emerged due to technological innovations and global immigration movements (such comments first appeared in the Marine Corps Gazette in December 1989). Five years later the concept of globalization was added to the top of this analysis. Yet, the years since have witnessed the questioning of the ‘novel’ nature of the emerging globalization process. And now a phase in globalization is drawing to a close and we stand on the verge of a new one, a classical imperialist age with an ever-increasing number of US military bases worldwide in addition to the Afghan and Iraqi invasions. Of course, history does not simply repeat itself. This new phase in globalization comes with its own distinctive features, both technologically and ideologically. 4GW becomes a struggle between the invasion forces (imperialists) and those resisting them. The US’ imperialistic ambitions are now being resurrected within a new body.” 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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