TRKNWS-L Turkish Daily News (March 11, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 11 March 1996

[01] Opposition blasts Motherpath program

TDN Parliament Bureau

ANKARA- The minority government formed by the Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP) under the leadership of ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz faced its first trial by fire in Parliament on Sunday when it came under direct attack from opposition parties.

Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), told the Turkish legislature his party would not be responsible for the government's actions.

Ecevit, whose DSP has promised to help the government's chances of getting a vote of confidence by abstaining in the vote, added that they would continue to act as an opposition party despite their indirect support for the ANAP-DYP coalition.

The debate in Parliament on the government program, which was read out by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz last Thursday, proved that the new cabinet's work will by no means be an easy task.

The vote of confidence in the new coalition government is due to be held on Tuesday.

The accusations levelled on Sunday by the pro-Islamic Welfare Party (RP) which came first in the elections but failed not only to get the necessary majority to govern but also to find a coalition partner showed that this party will test the coalition very severely.

Meanwhile, remarks by Ecevit to the effect that his party would be indirectly supporting the new government in order to prevent the prospect of the RP forming a government received an angry reaction from Welfare benches.

Ecevit for his part responded by indicating that the reason for his party's suspicion about the RP stemmed from the latter's apparent lack of commitment to a secular republic.

He said that the fact that the RP had not produced even a single female candidate for Parliament proved that they were fully justified in this concern.

"Even in Iran, which (RP leader) Erbakan has described as an exemplary country, produced 178 women as candidates for deputy.

Hoping not to see in government a party which treats women as second class citizens is our right," Ecevit said.

Ecevit continued by indicating that he had not promised any support for the government's actions or program.

"As a party we have no outstanding debt to or dependence on the government," Ecevit said.

He said that they would support government projects to the extent that they saw these to be in keeping with the principles governing the DSP.

Ecevit also expressed satisfaction that the government had decided to take out of its program plans to dismantle state social security institutions and hand these over to the private sector.

The DSP leader went on to indicate that the lifespan of the present government could not be predicted at this stage, and added that it would be the government itself which in the end would determine how long it lasted.

Because of this uncertainty, Ecevit said, there was the need for Turkey to be constantly ready for the prospect of early elections.

Pointing out that DYP leader Tansu Ciller had taken on many functions of government, Ecevit said the time had now come for the prime ministry to return to its traditional function of securing coordination between the various branches of government.

Ecevit also expressed satisfaction over the fact that one of the first things done by Mesut Yilmaz on assuming the prime ministry was to get rid of the prime ministry emblem put up in an irregular fashion by Ciller when she came to power.

Adding that they would be closely following the implementation of the government's self-avowed commitment to fighting corruption, the DSP leader said one proof of sincerity in this respect would be whether the government makes the Prime Ministry Inspection Board totally independent.

On the subject of Provide Comfort, the allied military force deployed in eastern Anatolia to protect northern Iraqi Kurds, Ecevit said this force should stay in Turkey for just a short while longer.

"During this period Turkey should develop its own policy on Iraq independently of countries that are not part of the region," he said.

Ecevit declared that the DSP would fulfill its role as an opposition party in a constructive, not destructive, manner.

He vowed however that they would struggle to the end against corruption and "those who rob the people." Speaking on behalf of the RP after Ecevit, Aydin Menderes, said his party objected to the DSP leader's remarks about the Welfare Party.

Menderes' remarks were enthusiastically applauded by his fellow RP deputies and protested angrily by DSP deputies.

Referring to the RP-ANAP coalition that was almost formed but which fell through at the last minute when Yilmaz said there were deep differences between the two parties, Menderes said this government had been prevented by "rentiers." He accused the present government of representing these rentiers and said that both ANAP and the DYP, when they were previously in government, had implemented an economic policy geared towards robbing the public through high interest rates.

Menderes also accused DSP leader Ecevit and said that in the 1970s he had promised to change the system whereas now he had become the guard of the system.

Referring to speculation that the military did not want to see his party in government, Menderes characterized this as a "fabrication." "The military is dedicated to democracy, and has sworn to uphold democracy. This army is not the army of rentiers but of the people," Menderes said.

He add that remarks by President Demirel, the chief of the General Staff, and the speaker of Parliament had clarified speculation about the military and the RP, and had proved these rumors to be nothing by lies.

Menderes also responded to public questions as to whether the RP was part of the current system or not.

"It is being asked if we are in the system or outside of it.

The RP is within the limits of the system drawn up by the Constitution and it is the only party that is so," Menderes said.

Menderes also claimed that the customs union accord Turkey has concluded with the European Union meant in effect that the rights and privileges of the Turkish Parliament had been transferred to Brussels.

He said this would be another of the crucial issues that would be brought on to this Parliament's agenda.

Menderes went on to allege that the Motherpath government was formed in order to protect Tansu Ciller and said this would become apparent when his party submitted certain files to the legislature.

Reading passages from the government program relating to religious rights, Menderes asked Prime Minister Yilmaz if "the oppression directed against Friday prayers, headscarves and the hides of sacrificial lambs" would continue.

The last reference was to an annual debate as to whether religious groups and orders have the right to collect sheep hides after the animals have been slaughtered during the Feast of the Sacrifice holiday.

Menderes also asked whether increasing primary education to eight years was aimed at blocking the secondary levels of schools that give religious education.

[02] Israel's businesses to seek huge loans to finance Turkish projects

ANKARA- Israel's business tycoons are said to have devised plans to act as intermediaries to supply Turkey with huge amounts of foreign financing to help complete (mainly) infrastructure projects, the semi-official Anatolia news agency said at the weekend.

Anatolia said the Israeli businessmen would seek soft loans from Japanese banks and financiers at volumes possibly ranging from $10 billion to $50 billion to finance major Turkish projects.

It said Turkey would in return agree to considerable Israeli participation in these projects.

The idea will be discussed during President Suleyman Demirel's state visit to Israel, which is scheduled to begin Monday, the agency said Sunday.

Saula Eisenberg, Israel's world-renowned industrial pioneer, is expected to offer such financing packages to the Turkish authorities, according to Anatolia.

If approved, the agency said, a consortium of Japanese banks, led by the Bank of Japan, would supply funds to a group of Turkish banks, including (state-run) Turk Eximbank, Ziraat Bankasi, Emlak Bankasi, Vakifbank, Is Bankasi, Yapi Kredi Bankasi, Akbank, Pamukbank, Garanti Bankasi, Turk Ticaret Bankasi, Sekerbank, Koc Bank, Imar Bankasi and the state-run Development Bank of Turkey.

The Japanese consortium will select from among the Turkish banks which rank in the top 500-2,000 category in world banking.

The consortium will seek loan guarantees from the participating Turkish banks.

The loans, up to $50 billion, will be used to finance a highway project to connect Istanbul to Izmir via Bursa and Balikesir; a 350-kilometer highway project between Ankara and Pozanti in southern Anatolia; a 60-kilometer highway between Izmir and Bandirma on the Marmara coast; a bridge over the Dardanelles strait; a third bridge over the Bosphorus or a tunnel to connect the two sides in Istanbul; and a number of individual projects as part of the ambitious Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

Anatolia quoted Israeli business sources as saying that the Japanese banks were interested in financing all these projects.

The Israeli businessmen reportedly said they had asked the possible Japanese consortium not to charge any spread beyond LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) in the event that a financing agreement was to be reached. The underwriting group to arrange the massive financing deal is expected to charge one percent commission.

[03] Iraqi oil minister winds up visit to Turkey with agreements signed

ANKARA- Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Mohammad Rasheed wound up a week long visit to Turkey after declaring at a press conference in Ankara his talks had been very constructive and that they wanted bilateral relations to resume.

Rasheed said he had signed protocols with Turkish officials, one for the reopening of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik (Iraqi-Turkish) oil pipeline and the other for cooperation on energy projects.

The two countries have reached an agreement to put the pipeline into service in the wake of a United Nations' decision, he said, adding there was no problem regarding the security of the pipeline.

When reporters asked him if there were any Iraqi government troops in northern Iraq, Rasheed said, "I crossed northern Iraq to reach here. And I am a general." Asked whether there was any agreement between the Baghdad government and the Iraqi Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani on the pipeline issue, he said, "They too are people of our country and we have an ongoing dialogue with them." Noting that his talks involved various economic and industrial issues, Rasheed said, "We have reached an agreement especially to enter into cooperation in the field of energy. For the sake of the two countries' interests, we want restoration of the severed relations. During my stay here I met with many Turkish businessmen and I invited them to Iraq. It would be in line with the interests of the two countries to resume without any external factor. There is a significant potential for cooperation." The suspension of Turco-Iraqi relations in the past five years had shown how important these relations were, he stressed.

After their talks in Adana and Ankara, the Iraqi delegation drove from the Turkish southeastern province of Sirnak to northern Iraq, a region controlled by Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party and Jalal Talabani's Kurdistan Patriotic Union.

[04] Demirel says opportunity for Middle East peace must not be missed despite woes

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- President Suleyman Demirel, who begins an official visit to Israel today, has called on the leaders of this country, and of the Palestinian people, to continue their drive for peace in spite of the recent terrorist bombings in Jerusalem, Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.

In an exclusive pre-visit interview with the Turkish Daily News, Demirel said repeatedly that the terrorist attacks must not be allowed to prevent a "golden opportunity for peace to be squandered," regardless of the deep emotions that have surfaced as a result of these attacks.

Demirel also highlighted terrorism as one of the principal problems in the region and named Syria as a country which provides refuge to terrorists.

Demirel began the interview by indicating that Turkey was observing with regret the current problems besetting the Middle East peace process, but underlined that this process should not be halted.

"There has been war between the Arabs and Israel for nearly 50 years and this war has not gained anything for anyone. This has been seen now, and the path to peace has been opened. This constitutes a great opportunity, a golden opportunity," Demirel said." He went on to indicate that it was truly difficult not to be overtaken by a feeling of hopelessness following the recent bombings in Israel which have cost the lives of so many innocent people.

"What can Israel do? What can those that run Israel do? It is very natural for the people to be incensed and to pour out on to the streets," Demirel said.

"Then there is the case of the Israeli who killed Prime Minister Rabin. This caused deep pain. And now these forces identified as Hamas come out and say they committed such and such a crime." Indicating that the administrators of the Israelis and the Palestinians were now faced with a very important task, Demirel called on them to remain calm and not to give in to their feelings.

"Things are very difficult for those running a state at times like this. I accept this. But of course they are not going to let go of the steering wheel. In other words, they will not allow their state to become a truck whose tyre has been punctured. Their feelings today perhaps may not point to what has to be done. But they will succeed in making rationality predominant. This is a historic moment and must not be missed," Demirel said.

Pointing out that peace in the Middle East would bring happiness and prosperity to the Israelis and Arabs, as well as all the other peoples in the region, Demirel said it was a great achievement for Israel and the Palestinians to have come close to such a peace settlement.

"Both sides have shown great maturity here. I recall what (Palestinian President Yasser) Arafat told me during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the U.N. `Many years ago I came here (to the U.N.) when I was a warrior. Now I have arrived with an olive branch in my hand as a peacemaker. If we have managed to establish a state today, if we have arrived in Jericho, we did this not through war but through peace.' This is what he said," Demirel declared.

"Therefore my advice is that they pursue the peace process with determination and with patience. It may be obstructed.

Certain things can happen. But such a golden opportunity must not be squandered because some terrorists have done certain things." Demirel said it was unfortunate that his visit to Israel would be taking place in the atmosphere created by the recent terrorist attacks in that country.

He said that out of courtesy Turkey had asked the Israeli side whether the visit should go ahead at a time like this or whether it should be postponed.

He added that the Israeli side, aware that the visit had been postponed once already, wanted it to go ahead regardless.

Highlighting terrorism as one of the main problems facing the Middle East today, Demirel singled out Syria specifically in this context.

"Syria still protects the PKK and the leader of this gang of terrorists, while pursuing a wrong and irrational link between the issues of water and terrorism," he said.

Demirel was referring to the general view in Turkey that Damascus is harbouring Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey and a number of European countries, in order to counterbalance what it sees as Turkey's intentions to cut off the water it receives from the Euphrates through massive damming projects.

"Syria will see that supporting terrorism is no way out. It will also see that it is unable to build Arab solidarity on this issue," Demirel said.

These remarks were clearly addressed to the fact that Syria recently, and with a degree of success, managed to get statements from the Arab League condemning Turkey over the water issue.

"Turkey has intense relations and contacts at every level with Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and other Arab countries," Demirel said.

Pointing to the long past that Turkey has shared with these and other countries in the Arab fold, Demirel said these ties had "withstood the test of time." "Indeed, there is no reason to justify an approach on the part of these countries that can hurt Turkey in the name of Arab solidarity," he said.

Demirel also dispelled any suggestions that Turkey was making a preference for Israel over Arab countries in the Middle East.

"We are not engaged in making such preferences. At any rate, the Arabs and Israel are no longer opposing each other today.

Who is trying to sabotage this process? The terrorists. Look at the elections in Palestine. Eighty-five percent of the voters voted for Arafat, who supports peace. They are fed up with bloodshed also. Both sides are fed up. This opportunity must not be missed," he said.

Declaring Turkey's wish to enhance its ties with all the Arab countries, Demirel also referred to the "new horizon which will open" for the peoples of the region with the Middle East peace process.

"This is precisely why we have been saying all along that the peace process and the dynamism it is expected to create, constitutes a golden opportunity not to be missed for the region and for the whole world," Demirel said.

"Moreover, with the completion of the (Turkey-EU) customs union, the bridging role of Turkey between the Middle East and Europe has gained new and concrete substance. It will be possible to enter into a dynamic process of cooperation, working to the benefit of all parties, once the implementation of projects that will strengthen this content is realized," he added.

Demirel went on to say that it is with these hopes and this understanding that Turkey is giving strong backing to the Middle East peace process.

"We continue our solidarity with Palestine and fulfill what is expected of us in order to improve the functioning of the organs of this state and the living standards of its people," Demirel said.

"Likewise, it should be seen as a pleasing development that new dimensions have come forth in our relations with Israel and that these increasingly gain new content and intensity," he added.

Expressing his belief in the importance of increasing contacts with Israel at every level, Demirel referred to his official visit to that country, which begins today. He said this visit would enrich the substance of the ties between the two countries.

"The evolution of our relations in the areas of trade and tourism have been especially remarkable. In the wake of the completion of the customs union, the importance of Turkish-Israeli cooperation has increased. The liberalization of trade, as well as joint investments directed at third parties including Central Asia has taken an increasingly prominent place on the agenda. We wish to support all such positive developments, to widen their framework and take strong steps in these fields. We are also pleased to see this is also the wish on the Israeli side," Demirel said.

Demirel concluded by saying that Turkey, as the region's largest country, had always been in favor of peace.

"It is a privilege for those countries that have Turkey as a neighbor to have such a neighbor. We have no enmity towards anyone. We never conduct our business on the basis of enmity," Demirel said.