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Turkish Press Review, 00-10-10Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>10.10.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND ARMENIA[02] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL NECESSITY"[03] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[04] TURKEY REVIEWS THE SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED UPON THE US AND ARMENIATurkey is reviewing possible sanctions to be imposed upon the US and Armenia in case of approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill by the House Committee of International Relations. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, "We hope that the bill will not pass in the House of Representatives, because the approval of the bill will deal a blow to the bilateral relations between Turkey and the US." Yesterday, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, met with Robert Pearson, the US Ambassador to Turkey. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr. Ersumer stated, "First of all, I thanked Mr. Pearson for his speech supporting Turkey. Then, I reminded him that the energy cooperation between the US and Turkey might be damaged if the bill is approved in the House of Representatives." Former President Suleyman Demirel said, "The approval of the bill would have negative consequences." The so-called Armenian genocide bill is expected to be discussed in the House Committee of Means and Ways today and in the House of Representatives on Thursday. It was reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was reviewing the measures that Turkey would make in case of an approval. Diplomatic sources said Turkey will orient its reaction towards Armenia, including certain sanctions designed to have serious effects on Armenia. Turkey's reaction to the US would be more moderate. Meanwhile, Turkish Embassy in Washington and Turkish lobbies are still trying to maintain close relationships with sympathetic members of the House of Representatives. /Cumhuriyet/[05] ARMENIAN LOBBY AGAINST HISTORICAL FACTSAmerican historians who had issued a declaration 15 years ago rejecting the thesis of the so-called Armenian Genocide and accusing the US Congress of distorting the facts, do not express their views today because of the repressive environment the Armenian lobby has created. A number of researchers on Ottoman and Turkish history, including Justin McCarthy, Bernard Lewis and Stanford Shaw had prepared the declaration on the occasion of another effort to pass a similar resolution in the House of Representatives in 1985. According to the declaration, which had been published in New York Times and Washington Post, Turkey could not be regarded as responsible for the events which occured during the Ottoman period. Furthermore, it was stated that according to the facts, the clashes in Eastern Anatolia between Moslems and Armenians during 1915 and 1923 resulted in deaths on both sides. The 1985 statement said the American Congress should have helped to open archives in order to disclose historical facts instead of rewriting history. Those historians who signed the declaration refrain from talking about the issue today. Apart from Justin McCarty, none of the 69 historians signing the declaration explain their views because they are afraid of the repressive efforts of the Armenian lobby. Bernard Lewis, who had written a book challenging the claims of the so-called Armenian Genocide and was convicted in France and ordered to pay 1 Franc in damages, also hesitates to state his views on the issue. /Milliyet/[06] YILMAZ'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIPDelivering a speech at the opening ceremony of Isyk University, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Mesut Yilmaz explained the positive developments that would take place if Turkey gained full EU membership. In addressing the concerns EU countries have of full Turkish membership, such as population, cultural and religious diversity , Mr. Yilmaz said, "If the European Union desires to be influential in Mediterrenean, Black Sea and Caspian, it has to cooperate with Turkey. This would only be possible with Turkey's full membership." He added, "It will be difficult for an EU which excludes Turkey to secure its world vision. Meanwhile, Turkey needs to be a full EU member to achieve its long-term objectives. In brief, Turkey's full membership would benefit both Europe and Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/[07] PROPOSALS ON EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S REPORT ON TURKEYSome parliamentarians are trying to incorporate the claims in the so-called Armenian Genocide bill into a report on Turkey to be taken up today in the European Parliament Foreign Relations Committee. Regarding the report, 79 separate proposals for amendments were given to the parliament, requesting that Turkey accept the so-called Armenian Genocide. /Milliyet/[08] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP IS A GEOSTRATEGICAL NECESSITY"Second Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said at the opening ceremony of the Gulhane Military School of Medicine that Turkey's full EU membership is both a geostrategical and geopolitical necessity for Turkey, as put forward by Ataturk. However, in trying to reach this target, Turkey must maintain her unitary and secular structure. Mr. Buyukanit said that a country, which occupies the agenda of Western countries with her domestic political controversies, could never fully modernize. /Milliyet/[09] TURKEY'S ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENTIt was reported that in the accession parnership document the European Union has slated for announcement on November 8th, there is no statement which will annoy Turkey. EU Commissioner responsible for enrollment Gunther Verheugen stated that a document which will motivate Turkey was being prepared. Mr. Verheugen said that the Cyprus issue and Turco-Greek relations would not be included in the document. Mr. Verheugen will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Turkish officials in the following days. /Cumhuriyet/[10] ECEVIT WORRIES ABOUT CLASHES IN THE MIDDLE EASTPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit expressed concern about the expansion and growth of the Palestinian-Israeli clashes. Stressing that before the clashes there had been a chance for peace, Mr. Ecevit said that in the wake of the reciprocal provocations, the situation has changed. Pointing out that Turkey has been trying for a perpetual peace in the Middle East for a long time, he said, "Like some other countries, Turkey is struggling to calm the situation and stop the violence." Moreover, while war winds began to blow in the Middle East after the Palestinian-Israeli clashes spread to Lebanon, the Turkish Foreign Ministry intensified its efforts to prevent a new Arab-Israeli war. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has made phone calls to Israeli Foreign Minister Sholomo Ben Ami, Palestini leader Yaser Arafat and his Syrian counterpart Faruk El Sara. Regarding the case, Mr. Cem said, "We are in contact with all parties. In case no result is obtained from these diplomatic efforts, we face with a serious situation. If the balances change and the stability deteriorates in the Middle East, Turkey may be affected by the consequences." The Minister also implied that the clashes stemmed from the Ariel Saron's visit to Haram-y Serif. /Sabah/[11] HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQWith the tension in Turco-American relations continuing due to the acceptence of the so-called Armenian genocide bill at the Foreign Relations House committee, Turkey sent baby food and medicine on the first civil flight to Iraq since the Gulf War. The flight violated the embargo against Iraq and was a direct reaction to the proposed bill. The first Turkish plane landed in Baghdad carrying nine boxes of aid donated by SETA Company was within the framework of the UN Sanctions Committee. The aid was welcomed by Turkey's Charges D'Affairs to Baghdat, Selim Karaosmanoglu, and the Iraqi Undersecretaries of Communication and Health. The former deputy to Konya, Lutfu Akdogan, was among those who sent the aid, believes the embargo put on Iraq should be removed and that new flights would be made to Iraq from Turkey in the following days. /Aksam/[12] YUCELEN'S STATEMENTState Minister Responsible for Human Rights, Rustu Kazym Yucelen, said that in order to decrease the violation of human rights to the minimum level by the end of the year 2001, human rights departments would be established in all provinces and sub-provinces in Turkey. Yucelen made the opening speech of the Human Rights Coordinator High Council in Trabzon and said, "Mostly the non-governmental organizations and the representatives of the profession chambers will be present in the human rights departments, which will be established under the coordination of the Governors in provinces and sub-governors in sub-provinces." Yucelen also evaluated the report of the International Evaluation Council and said that the figures in this report showed that the violation of human rights in Turkey had decreased. /Aksam/[13] ONGOR'S STATEMENT CONCERNING TURCO-AMERICAN RELATIONSChairman of the Turco-American Business Council, Akin Ongor, delivered a speech during the meeting of the Turco-American Business Council at Hilton Hotel, Ankara, and said, "I believe that the acceptence of the so-called Armenian genocide bill will not negatively influence the economic relations between Turkey and the US. Turkey should take reasonable measures that will not hinder its benefits and implement them." Meanwhile, the Chairman of the American-Turco Business Council, Nancy Kassebaum Baker stated that they understood the emotional reaction of Turkey towards the acceptance of the so-called Armenian genocide bill saying, "Even if this bill is accepted at the General Council, it might not be accepted by the Senate." Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Devlet Bahceli welcomed the delegation chaired by Akin Ongor and Nancy Kassebaum Baker. /Aksam/[14] OYK CONVENES TODAYHigh Privatization Board (OYK), headed by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, is expected to meet today to draw up a framework for 2001 privatization plans. The board will review privatizations carried out in 2000. It is also expected to decide on the Turkish Airlines (THY) sell-off and to map out the Turk Telecom sell-off process. Under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) backed, stand-by deal this year the government has targeted $ 7.6 billion in privatizations and plans to use the receipts, along with international loans, to help stabilize the domestic debt. /Star-Turkish Daily News/[15] BULGARIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEYBulgarian Chief of General Staff Gen. Miho Mihov will arrive in Turkey today for an official visit. After meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, he will proceede to Istanbul. The Bulgarian General will leave from Turkey on Oct. 12. /Turkiye/[16] BAKU-CEYHAN TO BE SIGNED IN OCTOBERThe Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, said the four final documents necessary for the implementation of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project would be signed on 19 October. The above-mentioned agreements are the Host Country Agreement, Intergovernmental Agreement, Key Delivery Project Agreement and the Agreement of Guarantee. Ersumer added that if the so-called Armenian genocide bill is accepted, Turkey's energy investment in the US would be influenced negatively. /Aksam/[17] PETROLEUM PIT FOUND IN BATMANAfter the search efforts in Batman by Petrom Company consisting of American and Romanian partners petroleum was found. Officials from Petrom Company stated that they had finished their drilling work of three months in the Selmo area of Batman and that they had found petroleum with 36 gravites in the depth of 1,800 meters. Officials added, "4,000 barrels of petroleum is expected to be extracted daily. This number has never been reached in Turkey before." /Aksam/[18] DESTINED GLORY 2000 EXERCISESThe Amphibious Fleet attached to the Greece Navy will land in Izmir within the framework of Destined Glory 2000 Exercises. In the next stages, another landing exercise will be carried out on the Gulf of Saros with the participation of naval infantry and SAT commandos as well as the armies from other NATO countries. The exercises will continue until Oct.25. Destined Glory 2000 Exercises are the most comprehensive exercises carried out within the territories of Turkey. Turkish and Greek armed forces came together for the first time in Turkish territories. /Milliyet/[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[20] WHAT ARE THEIR INTENTIONS? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the developments concerning the House Resolution on the so-called Armenian Genocide. A summary of his column is as follows:"The fate of the pro-Armenian resolution in the US House of Representatives will be decided either today or tomorrow. The crucial decision will be made this week-end. If the House of Representatives votes to accept the resolution confirming the claims of the so-called genocide, Turkey is determined to implement 'an action plan' comprising of a series of sanctions against the US and Armenia. It is certain that Armenia would the suffer most from this decision. Certainly the activists in Yerevan and of the Armenian 'diaspora' are aware of this fact. One would have to be blind not to see this. If so, what is the reasoning behid such an undertaking? What are their aims and strategies? Is there a coordination between the Armenian State and the Armenian diaspora? These questions were dicsussed during a meeting organized by the respected think-tank organization TESEV(Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation). The information and impressions left by the brainstorming of officials from Ankara, foreign diplomats, and academicians from various universities can be summarized as follows: 1) When Armenia proclaimed independence during the disintegration of the Soviet Union, it gave clues to the policy it will follow against Turkey. In its Declaration of Independence, Armenia outlined its intentions concerning the so-called 'Armenian genocide', the Eastern provinces which it defines as Western Armenia, and the Karabakh issue. These references show what lies in the heart and mind of Yerevan. 2)Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Turkey immediately recognized the Armenian State along with all the other new republics. Ankara established diplomatic relations with all of the republics except Armenia as it preferred to wait because of the stance the Armenian State had taken. During the time L. Ter Petrosyan was in power, Ankara waited for signals from Yerevan showing that Armenia did not foster any hostile intentions against Turkey. Instead, the Armenian position toughened up after R. Kocharian came into power. 3)In line with Yerevan's strategy, the activists of the Armenian diaspora and particularly the Armenian lobby, in the US launched an attack bringing the so-called genocide claims to the fore. This attack coincides with the US elections. That is to say, Armenians who wanted to have a resolution accepted in favour of their allegations on the so-called genocide used their power of vote on the occasion. The Armenian initiative which originated in California where the majority of Armenian voters live, has led the US House of Representatives into a situation which is contrary to the interests of the country. Even though the Armenian activists in diaspora may have initiated this attack, it is supported by Yerevan. It is worth noting that in a statement he made in Moscow, Kocharian had said that he was the President not only of the Armenians in the Republic but of those living all around the world. However, these facts are not known abroad. We cannot say that they are known in Turkey either. This shows that Ankara is not successful in researching the issue in detail and informing the Turkish and world communities about the facts. If Ankara implements a series of sanctions against Armenia will the campaigns against Turkey come to an end? Will Yerevan call an end to the activities of the diaspora or will the diaspora listen to him? What will the reaction of the diaspora be against the stance of Turkey and the sanctions it is going to imlement? All have to be discussed in detail." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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