TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 12, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L  Turkish Press Review (April 12, 1995)


CONTENTS

  • [01] JOY OVER IRRIGATION SUCCESS

  • [02] US OPPOSED TO KURDISH STATE

  • [03] INONU EXTRACTS PROMISE FROM GERMANY

  • [04] ACCIDENT DELAYS PRESIDENT DEMIREL

  • [05] ATTACK AGAINST TURKS IN GERMANY

  • [06] PENALTY FOR PKK TERRORISTS IN FRANCE

  • [07] IRAQI FM INVITES INONU TO BAGHDAD

  • [08] 'EUROPE MAKING A MISTAKE"

  • [09] SYRIA SHOULD SHOW ITS HAND

  • [10] TALBOTT IN ANKARA

  • [11] TEXTILE OLYMPICS IN ISTANBUL

  • [12] OIL PIPELINE IS NEXT STEP

  • [13] US SUPPORTS TURKEY

  • [14] TURKEY: 'NO MEETING WITH BAGHDAD'

  • [15] HIGH-LEVEL TURCO-US TALKS

  • [16] TURKISH SARAJEVO RECONSTRUCTION AID: $1 MILLION

  • [17] INONU AND PAPULYAS TO MEET IN ATHENS

  • [18] ECEVIT MEETS RABIN

  • [19] MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN ALBANIA

  • [20] EIGHT PKK MILITANTS KILLED, EIGHT MEMBERS OF HIZBULLAH CAPTURED

  • [21] A NORWAY CONSULATE FOR ANTALYA

  • [22] SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER AT THE FORUM FOR EUROPEAN JOURNALISM STUDENTS


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    APRIL 12, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] JOY OVER IRRIGATION SUCCESS

    Prime Minister Ciller, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese, Health Minister Baran and

    other leading government figures attended the opening of sections of the GAP Sanliurfa irrigation system yesterday.

    The giant project, only part of the massive Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), will bring water to the parched

    acres of the Harran plains and open them up to cultivation. Many villages in the region will be given a new lease of

    life and thousands will find employment as the irrigation system comes into full operation.

    During her opening speech, Prime Minister Ciller described the water project as a "victory" for the unity of Turkey, a

    repayment to the heroes of the past for their defence of the land. The whole system will come into operation once the

    final installations have been completed. /All papers/

    [02] US OPPOSED TO KURDISH STATE

    The news from Washington is that the US administration is opposed to the formation of an independent Kurdish state in

    the predominantly Kurdish areas of the region.

    During a special press meeting yesterday, US State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelly said openly that "we

    do not support the founding of an independent Kurdish state." Other high level US government officials have also

    noted US opposition to giving the Kurds more than regional autonomy. /Milliyet/

    [03] INONU EXTRACTS PROMISE FROM GERMANY

    Following the completion of his tour to explain Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq to critical foreign

    governments, Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu returned to Turkey On his arrival at Ankara Esenboga airport, Inonu said that

    Germany had promised to "review" its agreements on military aid to Turkey, now suspended because of the military

    operation. "Germany will review the situation after Turkish forces are withdrawn from northern Iraq" said Inonu. Inonu

    also held consultations with Iraq Ambassador to Ankara, Al-Tikriti, about the northern Iraq operation yesterday.

    Inonu reported that Tikriti understood the situation in the region "very well". Inonu will go to Greece for Black Sea

    Economic Cooperation meeting on Friday as planned in his programme. /Hurriyet/

    [04] ACCIDENT DELAYS PRESIDENT DEMIREL

    The arrival home of President Suleyman Demirel following completion of his South American tour was delayed yesterday

    because of an accident involving the President's private plane at the airport in Brazil. Technicians are trying to

    repair the plane and prepare it for the flight on time. /Milliyet/

    [05] ATTACK AGAINST TURKS IN GERMANY

    A Turkish grocery store was set on fire yesterday morning in Menge, Dortmund. Although damage was estimated at 200,000

    marks, there were no report of injury or death. Shortly after the fire some flammable materials were found in a car

    used by a Turk and a Greek. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] PENALTY FOR PKK TERRORISTS IN FRANCE

    Six PKK terrorists were sentenced to prison for periods varying between 18 months to four years by the Paris

    Criminal Court for extortion with violence. French Courts have previously decided that PKK terrorists should be

    deported. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] IRAQI FM INVITES INONU TO BAGHDAD

    Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Said El-Sahaf has invited Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu to Baghdad. The invitation was

    conveyed by Iraq's Ambassador to Ankara, Rafi Daham Mijwel Al-Tikriti, who was received by Inonu yesterday. During the

    past few days, Baghdad has increased its criticism of Turkey's cross-border military operation into northern Iraq.

    Pointing out that Baghdad wanted to solve the Kurdish question together with Ankara, and that it was of much

    concern to the two countries, Al-Tikriti said the current period of relations between Turkey and Iraq could be

    characterized as a "strong period of dialogue". Al-Tikriti described Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Mesud Barzani,

    Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Celal Talabani, and Kurdistan Workers's Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan all

    as "separatists". "None of these people would want anything that is good for either Turkey of for Iraq" he said.

    Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman yesterday strongly denied allegations that Turkey's operation in northern Iraq

    was being conducted under a secret agreement between Ankara and Baghdad. Atman, referring to a story published over the

    weekend in the Sunday Times, said that this report "did not reflect the truth in any way". /All papers/

    [08] 'EUROPE MAKING A MISTAKE"

    According to the Wall Street Journal, the Europeans are making a mistake when they criticise Turkey about the four

    week long military incursion into northern Iraq.

    The paper notes that Turkey is the European Union's (EU) strongest and most secure flank in the regionthat is moving

    towards much closer ties with the EU through the recently agreed customs union protocol.

    The Wall Street Journal is also most critical about Greece and its attitude towards European customs union with Turkey.

    The paper notes that Athens takes an even tougher line than the European Parliament. /Milliyet/

    [09] SYRIA SHOULD SHOW ITS HAND

    Talking to journalists during the plane flight to Sanliurfa prior to the opening ceremonies of the new GAP irrigation

    pipeline, Prime Minister Ciller said that if Syria was a real friend of Turkey, then the time had come for Syria to

    show it in real terms.

    Noting that Turkey wanted to be friends with the neighbouring countries sharing a border with Turkey, Ciller

    said that Syria should provide evidence of its friendship by not supporting and sheltering PKK separatists. "These

    countries are afraid of being enemies with Turkey, because Turkey is a strong country. Turkey's friendship is more

    important than Turkey's emnity. Turkey's importance in the Middle East peace process is self-evident. But Syria should

    understand this: we will not bargain over terrorism. Friends should behave like friends towards each other." /All

    papers/

    [10] TALBOTT IN ANKARA

    US Deputy Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott, discussing Turkey's security concerns regarding northern Iraq, said

    yesterday that only in the short-term could the Iraqi Kurds control the border and prevent the PKK organization from

    infiltrating terrorists into Turkey. "Therefore, the US and Turkey must renew efforts to bring to a halt the violence

    between Kurdish factions in northern Iraq" Talbott told a conference at Ankara's Bilkent University. The US

    officials' remarks were in support of Turkey which has already moved to harness the rival Iraqi factions into a

    united front against the PKK, fighting for an independent state in southeastern Turkey. /All papers/

    [11] TEXTILE OLYMPICS IN ISTANBUL

    International textile giants are going to meet in Istanbul. The 76th World Textile Conference will be held between May

    21-24 in Istanbul.

    Chairman of the Turkish National Committee of the Textile Institution Prof.Inci Tezcan said yesterday that it was very

    important for Turkey to be elected to organize the "Textile Olympics". Tezcan pointed out that high level

    representatives of the World's textile giants like Du Pont, Henkel, Hoechest, Procter and Gamble would make speeches

    during the conference.

    During the conference, to be chaired by President Suleyman Demirel, a message regarding 'Turkey's importance within the

    framework of globalization' will be given, Tezcan said.

    The Textile Institution, an international textiles organization which organizes a 'World Textile Conference' in

    different countries every year, last year chose Hong Kong. /Hurriyet/

    [12] OIL PIPELINE IS NEXT STEP

    After having its share in the International Consortium which will market Azeri Caspian oil to the world increased to

    6.75% Turkey in now trying to convince Azerbaijan and other consortium member countries to transport the oil through

    Turkey.

    Ankara claims that the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straits cannot carry extra oil traffic and suggests that an oil

    pipeline could be constructed from the Russian port of Novorossisk through Turkey. /Hurriyet/

    [13] US SUPPORTS TURKEY

    According to the weekly NEWSWEEK magazine there has been a big struggle between Russia and America for the Central Asia

    Oil contract with America supporting Turkey for an oil pipeline through Turkey, in a move to block Russian

    influence in the region.

    Despite claims from Moscow that Russia can transport Kazakh oil without outside help, NEWSWEEK reports that the US

    partner in the consortium said: "Caspian oil should pass through Turkey." /Hurriyet/

    [14] TURKEY: 'NO MEETING WITH BAGHDAD'

    Ankara has reacted to reports in Britain's "Sunday Times" which claimed that Turkey made a secret agreement with Iraq

    to intimidate northern Iraqi Kurds.

    Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman stressed that the report was totally wrong. Ataman again claimed that the

    Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq never targetted civilians but was more designed to bring peace to the

    region. /Milliyet/

    [15] HIGH-LEVEL TURCO-US TALKS

    A special US delegation started its contacts in Ankara yesterday. US delegation members first met with State

    Minister Responsible for Human Rights, Algan Hacaloglu and then Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu.

    During both meetings, northern Iraq and Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) related issues were discussed. /Milliyet/

    [16] TURKISH SARAJEVO RECONSTRUCTION AID: $1 MILLION

    Turkey will donate $1 million to the UN's Sarajevo reconstruction program, the Anatolia news agency reported

    yesterday. A high-ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry official underlined that this amount will purchase technical

    equipment for the rebuilding process.

    [17] INONU AND PAPULYAS TO MEET IN ATHENS

    Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu is expected to meet with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papulyas during a visit

    to Athens where he will participate in a meeting of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) foreign ministers on Friday.

    The BSEC meeting will debate the proposals for a trade and development bank in Selonika as well as the formation of a

    BSEC troika. The Anatolia news agency reported that Russian, Bulgarian, and Greek foreign ministers would also

    meet to discuss Greek proposals for a pipeline-project between Bulgaria and Greece.

    [18] ECEVIT MEETS RABIN

    Bulent Ecevit, Chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) currently on a visit to Israel, met with Prime Minister

    Yitzhak Rabin yesterday. Ecevit, talking to journalists after the meeting, said that Rabin was not very optimistic

    about the restoration of peace in the Middle East. Ecevit quoted Rabin as saying: "There are two obstacles to the

    peace process, one is fundamentalist Islamic terror and the second is the difference in economic development between

    Israel, the Arabic countries and Palestine. Ecevit said that he told Rabin that without solving the problem of Iraq,

    it was difficult to establish full peace in the Middle East".

    "It appears that Israel is disturbed by some countries selling arms to Iran. Russia and China were among the names

    mentioned by Rabin" Ecevit said. /All papers/

    [19] MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN ALBANIA

    Mehmet Golhan, the minister of national security, met with Albanian counterpart Saffet Zulali in Tirana yesterday, the

    Anatolia news agency reported. Zulali stated that he was very happy Turco-Albanian relations were developing so

    rapidly, and added that this was vital for the reign of peace and prosperity in the region. The Turkish minister

    said Turkey saw Albania as the most trustworthy country in the region.

    [20] EIGHT PKK MILITANTS KILLED, EIGHT MEMBERS OF HIZBULLAH

    CAPTURED

    Eight militants of the PKK organization were killed, two militants surrendered and eight members of the militant

    Hizbullah were captured by troops during operations in Sirnak, Diyarbakir and Batman, the Anatolia news agency

    reported yesterday.

    [21] A NORWAY CONSULATE FOR ANTALYA

    The Ambassador of Norway Svein O.Saether has opened a Norwegian honorary consulate in Antalya, the Anatolia news

    agency reported yesterday. The consulate will be operated by businessman Ata Guner and will be the fifth official

    foreign representation to open in the summer vacation city of Antalya.

    [22] SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER

    AT THE FORUM FOR EUROPEAN JOURNALISM STUDENTS

    APRIL 10, 1995 FACULTY OF COMMUNICATIONS, ANKARA UNIVERSITY

    MR.CHAIRMAN,

    LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

    IT IS A VERY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY ON THE OCCASION OF THIS MEETING IN ANKARA OF THE FORUM FOR EUROPEAN

    JOURNALISM STUDENTS AND TO WELCOME OUR VISITORS FROM 23 COUNTRIES. I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR TIME

    HERE AND THAT YOU WILL RETURN HOME WITH AN ENRICHED UNDERSTANDING OF THIS COUNTRY.

    JOURNALISM IS A PROFESSION OF EXCEPTIONAL IMPORTANCE. MODERN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES DEPEND DIRECTLY ON THE QUALITY

    AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THEIR PRESS AND BROADCASTING MEDIA, SOCIETIES IN WHICH THERE IS NO FREE CIRCULATION OF NEWS AND

    IDEAS THROUGH THE PRESS ARE CONDEMNED TO STULTIFICATION AND DECLINE.

    THE CHALLENGES TO YOUR PROFESSION ARE AS GREAT TODAY AS THEY EVER WERE. NEW TECHNOLOGY, MARKET FORCES, THE

    GLOBALISATION UNDER WAY IN EVERY COUNTRY, HAVE RESHAPED THE NEWSPAPER AND BROADCASTING INDUSTRIES OVER THE LAST DECADE

    AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. TECHNOLOGY IN PARTICULAR IS CHANGING SO FAST THAT WE CAN ONLY GUESS AT HOW JOURNALISM

    AND JOURNALISTS WILL FUNCTION IN ANOTHER HALF CENTURY. YET I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL REMAIN

    CONSTANT: REAL JOURNALISTS WILL ALWAYS BE JUDGED BY THEIR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE INSTANTLY WIHT THEIR AUDIENCES; BY

    THE ORIGINALITY OF WHAT THEY SAY; BY THEIR FACTUAL ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS; AND ABOVE ALL BY THEIR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM.

    HERE IN TURKEY, I AM PROUD TO SAY, THAT WE HAVE A VIGOROUS AND LIVELY PRESS WITH A HISTORY STRETCHING BACK TO

    THE MIDDLE OF THE LAST CENTURY. OUR PRESS IS OLDER THAN OUR PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AND IT HAS PLAYED A LEADING

    PART IN CREATING AND DEFENDING TURKISH DEMOCRACY. WE TURKS ARE PROUD OF HAVING ESTABLISHED A

    PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE LONG-STANDING AND STABLE DEMOCRACIES ARE SCARCE.

    FIVE YEARS AGO ONLY ONE OF TURKEY'S NEIGHBOURS HAD A FREELY ELECTED PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM. WE ARE MOREOVER SO FAR THE

    ONLY FULL-FLEDGED SECULAR DEMOCRACY AMONG THE 52 MOSLEM NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

    I AM PLEASED TO SEE THE RAPID GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES ACROSS THE WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT

    POLITICAL FREEDOM AND PROGRESS TOWARDS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY GO HAND IN HAND.

    OVER THE LAST DECADE, TURKEY HAS STEADILY DISMANTLED RESTRICTIVE LAWS IN BOTH ITS POLITICAL AND ITS ECONOMIC

    LIFE. THERE HAS BEEN STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS FULLER DEMOCRACY.

    UNFORTUNATELY THIS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AT A TIME WHEN TURKEY IS UNDER ATTACK FROM THE PKK TERRORISTS. I KNOW

    THERE ARE PEOPLE IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE WHO DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MURDEROUS NATURE OF THIS ORGANISATION. THEY

    CANNOT SEE WHY WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO PUT UP AN IMPLACABLE RESISTANCE TO ITS TERRORISM. THEY DO NOT GRASP

    WHY, FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED PERIOD, WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUR STRUGGLE INTO A NARROW STRIP OF IRAQI TERRITORY. (AND AS

    YOU ALL KNOW, THE FIRST GROUP OF 3000 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE AREA TO SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR

    PROMISES) TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PKK IS, YOU MUST SEE THE BODIES

    OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND OLD PEOPLE IN COUNTLESS VILLAGES IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY SLAUGHTERED BY THE PKK. ALMOST ALL

    THOSE PEOPLE ARE, BY ORIGIN, ETHNIC KURDS, AND BY NATIONALITY LOYAL CITIZENS OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC. PEOPLE

    WHO ASK US TO STAY OUR HAND AGAINST THE PKK ARE ASKING US TO STAND ASIDE AND LET INNOCENT PEOPLE BE MURDERED OR

    TERRORISED. THE FIERCEST YEARS IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE PKK HAVE

    COME AFTER THE END OF THE GULF WAR. TURKEY STOOD SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE

    GULF WAR AT TREMENDOUS AND CONTINUING COST TO OUR ECONOMY. WHAT DO ONE FORESAW IN 1991 WAS THAT THE GULF WAR WOULD

    LEAVE SO MUCH UNFINISHED BUSINESS. IMMEDIATELLY TO OUR SOUTH WE NOW HAVE A NO-MAN'S LAND INHABITED BY KURDISH

    REFUGEES FROM SADDAM HUSSEIN'S RULE. THOSE IRAQI KURDISH PEOPLE HAVE NOYHING IN COMMON WITH

    THE PKK, ANY MORE THAN THE OVERWHELMING MASS OF TURKISH CITIZENS OF KURDISH BACKGROUND DO. TURKEY HAS FRIENDLY

    TIES, GOING BACK MANY YEARS, WITH THE KURDISH PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRAQ. BOTH THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH POLITICAL

    GROUPINGS HAVE REPRESENTATIVES IN ANKARA, IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH MY GOVERNMENT.

    IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE CHANNELLED FINANCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE KURDS OF NORTHERN IRAQ. WE

    HAVE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRITISH, FRENCH. AND GERMANS TO KEEP "OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT" GOING-ONE OF THE

    BIGGEST AND MOST AMBITIOUNS HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN HISTORY.

    BUT WE HAVE ALSO FACED THE PROBLEM THAT THE VACUUM OF NORMAL POLITICAL AUTHORITY IN IRAQ GAVE THE PKK AN

    EXTRAORDINARY CHANCE. IT ESTABLISHED ITSELF IN THE REMOTE AND INACCESSIBLE MOUNTAINS AND DEEP VALLEYS JUST SOUNTH OF

    THE FRONTIER. FROM THERE IT WAS ABLE TO STAGE RAIDS AND ATTACKS OVER GREAT DISTANCES.

    YOU ARE HERE TODAY COME FROM 23 COUNTRIES. SUPOSE THAT THERE WERE TERRORIST BASES RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS AND

    THOUSANDS OF MURDERS IN A NO-MAN'S LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR FRONTIER. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL AND HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT

    YOUR GOVERNMENT TO REACT? THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE 117 SCHOOL TEACHERS SYSTEMATICALLY KILLED BY THE PKK; THE 369

    SCHOOLS BURNT DOWN; THE 38 CLERGYMEN AND 56 LOCAL POLITICIANS ALL MURDERED BY THE PKK.

    THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH. TURKEY IS NOT UNIQUE IN HAVING TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM. MANY COUNTRIES

    HAVE INHERITED COMPLEX AND PAINFUL PROBLEMS. BUT I THINK WE ARE UNIQUE IN HAVING TO CONTEND WITH SO MANY MINDS CLOSED

    AGAINST US AND UNWILLING TO LOOK AT THE FACTS. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE IRAQI OPERATION BEGAN, WE INVITED

    TWO LEADING BRITISH LABOUR PARLIAMENTARIANS TO TOUR THE SOUNTH EAST. BECAUSE THEY CAME, WE COULD SHOW THEM THE

    AFTERMATH OF A PKK RAID ON A VILLAGE FOR THEMSELVES AND SEE THE BODIES OF THREE CHILDREN KILLED BY THE TERRORISTS AND

    HEAR THE LOCAL PEOPLE CONDEMNING THE PKK. THAT RAID, UNFORTUNATELY. WAS NOT AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENT. IT WAS NOT

    EVEN A LARGE SCALE ATTACK BY THE STANDARDS OF THE PKK. BUT UNLESS YOU CAN GET A BRITISH LABOUR M.P. ON THE SPOT, IT

    SEEMS YOU CANNOT GET WORLD OPINION TO BELIEVE THESE ATTACKS ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING AND CAUSING IMMENSE SUFFERING.

    SEEN FROM TURKEY, THE ANLY WAY TO ASSESS THE OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS TO THINK OF THE NUMBER OF INNOCENT

    CIVILIAN LIVES IT WILL SAVE AN OPERATION WITH 35.000 TROOPS IN A RUGGED AND REMOTE TERRAIN IS ENORMOUSLY DIFFICULT. OUR

    TROOPS HAVE VERY STRICT INSTRUCTIONS TO PROTECT LOCAL IRAQI CIVILIANS AND AVOID CONFRONTATIONS. ALL INDEPENDENT SOURCES

    INDICATE TO US THAT THEY ARE CLOSELY OBSERVING THOSE INSTRUCTIONS.

    CONFLICT WITH A MERCILESS FORCE MAKES THE PEOPLE OF ANY COUNTRY, NOT ONLY TURKEY, MUCH MORE CONCERNED WITH

    PRESERVING LAW AND ORDER THAN SAFEGUARDING LEGITIMATE DISSENT.

    I HAVE LED THE WAY IN URGING A RELENTLESS STRUGGLE FOR THE COMPLETE DEFEAT OF THE PKK. I BELIEVE I MUST ALSE LEAD

    THE WAY IN ENSURING THAT WE REMOVE OUTMODED AND UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS WHICH STAND IN THE WAY OF OUR COMMITMENT TO AN

    EVER MORE OPEN SOCIETY IN TURKEY. SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, I HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR

    LEGAL AMENDMENTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES TO ACHIEVE A FULLER BALANCE BETWEEN NATIONAL SECURITY AND INDIVIDUAL

    LIBERTY. I THINK THE TIME IS NOW CLOSE WHEN MY WORK WILL BEAR FRUIT.

    THERE WILL BE AN ORDERLY PHASING OUT OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES. OUTDATED

    RESTRICTIONS ON ASSOCIATIONS, UNIONS, AND STUDENTS SHOULD BE REMOVED. I AM TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ROOT OUT OTHER

    HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INCLUDING ILL-TREATMENT OR TORTURE. CHANGES TO THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW WILL THAT IT SHOULD

    LONGER BE POSSIBLE FOR THE COURTS TO ENFORCE IT IN A WAY THAT MEANS THAT JOURNALISTS, WRITERS, AND ACADEMICS ARE

    CONVICTED AND SOMETIMES IMPRISONED FOR THE NON-VIOLENT EXPRESSION OF IDEAS. AS TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER, I AM OFTEN

    REPROACHED IN SUCH CASES BY INTERNATIONAL COMMENTATORS. THESE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE AWARE THAT, JUST AS IN THEIR OWN

    COUNTRIES, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IN WHICH THE PRIME MINISTER OF A DEMOCRACY CAN INFLUENCE THESE CASES. THAT IS BY

    PERSUADING PARLIAMENT TO CHANGE THE RELEVANT LAWS. THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING. IF NECESSARY, I SHALL ALSO ASK PARLIAMENT

    TO COMPLETE THE WORK OF RESOLVING THIS SITUATION BY PASSING A PARTIAL AMNESTY BILL.

    TO MAKE SURE THAT INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD IN TURKEY, I HAVE INTRODUCED HUMAN

    RIGHTS INTO THE CURRICULUM OF POLICE SCHOOLS AND HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES ARE SOON TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ORDINARY HIGH

    SCHOOL CURRICULUM. I HAVE DWELT ON THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE US. BUT I

    HOPE THAT DURING YOUR TIME WITH US, YOU WILL ALSO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE TURKISH PRESS. WE WERE ONE OF THE

    WORLD'S PIONEERS IN COLOUR PRINTING FOR EXAMPLE. WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED CARTOONISTS AND SATIRISTS IN

    THE WORLD. THERE HAS BEEN AN EXPLOSION OF CREATIVE ENERGY IN THE FIELD OF PRIVATE SATELLITE TV WHICH I THINK FEW

    PARALLELS IN ANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY. THERE IS AN IMMENSE RANGE OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS WHICH FEW OUTSIDERS

    APPRECIATE. THERE IS PASSIONATE AND WIDE-RANGING DEBATE BOTH IN THE NEWSPAPERS AND ON TV IN DISCUSSIONS AND

    CHAT-SHOWS. ABOVE ALL, THROUGHOUT THE TURKISH PRESS AND MEDIA THERE

    IS A STRONG AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PLURALIST, DEMOCRATIC, AND HUMANITARIAN IDEALS. AS TURKEY'S PRIME

    MINISTER, I AM PROUD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS PRESS.

    MAY I CONCLUDE ONCE MORE BY WISHING EVERY SUCCESS TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FORUM; TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN

    TURKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME, I HOPE THAT THIS VISIT TURNS OUT TO BE THE FIRST OF MANY.

    END

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