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Turkish Press Review, 02-02-07
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
07.02.2002
CONTENTS
[01] REFORM BILL PACKAGE PASSES PARLIAMENT
[02] SEZER RECEIVES VATICAN AMBASSADOR
[03] TURKEY MAKES GOODWILL GESTURE TO GREECE
[04] CEM MEETS WITH BELGIAN COUNTERPART MOLLER
[05] NEW BILL PROPOSES EXPANDING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
[06] TENET: "AL QAEDA IS TARGETING TURKEY"
[07] ANKARA REACTS AGAINST BELGIAN VISIT TO PKK TERRORIST
LEADER
[08] TERRORIST PKK COULD CHANGE ITS NAME
[09] TURKEY TRAINS ARAB EMIRATES PILOTS
[10] STATE MINISTER ONAL: "30,000 PUBLIC WORKERS WILL
RECEIVE EARLY RETIREMENT"
[11] US TO GIVE TURKEY 6 FRIGATES
[12] OSMAN BOLUKBASI, DEAN OF TURKISH POLITICS, PASSES
AWAY
[13] DERVIS TO UNVEIL ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTION PLAN
[14] KAHKONEN: "THE LIRA IS HOLDING ITS COMPETITIVE
POWER"
[15] IFC TO EXTEND LOAN FOR EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
[16] BEKO ELECTRONICS AIMING TO MOVE UP IN EUROPE
[17] TURKISH CARTOONIST DRAWS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
[18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[19] THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY AND ITS HISTORIC
LEGACY BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
[20] DISAGREEMENT AND COMPROMISE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
[01] REFORM BILL PACKAGE PASSES PARLIAMENT
A controversial package of bills, which includes
reforms to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), was finally approved in the
Parliament yesterday with the changes introduced by the Democratic
Left Party (DSP) left intact, despite the opposition of Nationalist
Action Party (MHP). The changes were brought to the bill on amending
Articles 159 and 312 of the TCK. The passage reading "in a manner
raising the possibility of disrupting public order" in an article
amending TCK Article 312 was replaced with "in a manner
endangering public order," and thus the mention of "the
possibility" term objected to by the opposition and Turkey's
Western allies, was deleted from the text. The Parliament also
approved an article easing some of the restrictions in TCK Article
312. The bill will next be sent to the president for his approval and
after such an approval, it will go into force. /All papers/
[02] SEZER RECEIVES VATICAN AMBASSADOR
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday received
Edmond Farhat, the new ambassador to Ankara. The ambassador presented
Sezer his letter of credentials at the Presidential Palace. /Star/
[03] TURKEY MAKES GOODWILL GESTURE TO GREECE
Turkey has begun to inform Greece through NATO
about the Turkish warplanes' daily flights over the Mediterranean as a
unilateral goodwill gesture to its neighbor. Under this new policy,
Turkey has begun informing Greek authorities of the number of its
planes and their flight routes since last December. Additionally,
Turkish pilots have been responding to hails from Greek air traffic
controllers asking for their identity and location. /Turkiye/
[04] CEM MEETS WITH BELGIAN COUNTERPART MOLLER
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday met
with his Belgian counterpart Per Stig Moller, who was on a two-day
official visit to Turkey. Speaking to the press before the meeting,
Cem stated that he would discuss Turkish-EU relations with his guest,
reiterating that Denmark supported Turkey's bid for full EU
membership. Stating that Turkey hoped to begin its membership
negotiations at the end of Denmark's term presidency, which will begin
this June, Cem said, "This is the main goal we have set for
Turkey's future." Following the foreign ministers' meeting,
Moller was also received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] NEW BILL PROPOSES EXPANDING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu has prepared a
bill to amend Turkey's Press Law which would effectively expand the
scope of freedom of the press. The main criteria taken into
consideration when preparing the bill were the priorities underlined
in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In an effort to
restrict the state's power to censure the press, the bill also
suggests making reporters' right to keep their sources confidential
legally guaranteed. "The freedom of press shall include the
freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and
ideas without interference from public authorities," says the
bill's first article. "The exercise of this freedom may be
subject to restrictions in the interest of national security, public
safety, for the protection of health or morals, to prevent the
disclosure of information received in confidence, or preserve the
authority of the judiciary." /Cumhuriyet/
[06] TENET: "AL QAEDA IS TARGETING TURKEY"
Appearing before the Intelligence Committee of the
US Senate yesterday, CIA Director George Tenet said that Al Qaeda and
other terrorist organizations had Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia in
their targeting sights. Tenet also told the US congressmen that
Turkish diplomats and Turkish military units were in danger. Last
September's attacks demonstrated that Al Qaeda and other terrorist
organizations would continue to use conventional arms in order to
reach their goals, Tenet added. /Aksam/
[07] ANKARA REACTS AGAINST BELGIAN VISIT TO PKK TERRORIST
LEADER
Ankara has taken action in the wake of recent
reports that three Belgian parliamentarians went to northern Iraq
earlier this year and met with PKK terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan's
brother Osman Ocalan. Belgian Ambassador to Ankara Jean Matthysen was
summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday and told of
Ankara's displeasure concerning the visit. Foreign Ministry Spokesman
Huseyin Dirioz told reporters, "There have been initiatives
concerning this incident in Ankara and Brussels. Our opinion has been
expressed in both capitals." /Hurriyet/
[08] TERRORIST PKK COULD CHANGE ITS NAME
In a further attempt to put a political mask over
its terrorist identity, the PKK separatist group is reportedly
planning to change its name to the "Democratic Republic
Party." The group has also recently announced its alleged
intention to halt its terrorist campaign in Turkey and Europe.
/Milliyet/
[09] TURKEY TRAINS ARAB EMIRATES PILOTS
As part of a recent military agreement signed
between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 10 UAE F-16 pilots
are being currently trained in Turkey in combat flying. The pilots
began their flight training in Ankara at the Fourth Main Jet Base
Command after completing technical training in Izmir and Eskisehir.
Turkey will receive $10 million from the UAE for the education of the
pilots. It is expected that 20 more F-16 pilots will be trained in
Turkey by 2004 under this project. /Turkiye/
[10] STATE MINISTER ONAL: "30,000 PUBLIC WORKERS WILL
RECEIVE EARLY RETIREMENT"
Speaking on the governments' plans to reduce
over-employment at state-owned enterprises through restructuring and
privatization this year, State Minister Recep Onal announced yesterday
that 30,000 public workers would receive early retirement this year.
He recalled that the government had issued a circular on this issue
last December. Since the IMF is seeking the downsizing of the Turkish
state to improve the efficient use of public resources, a reduction of
over-staffing at state institutions was one of the most sensitive
issues set out in Turkey's recent Letter of Intent. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] US TO GIVE TURKEY 6 FRIGATES
The United States will reportedly give six frigates
to Turkey in order to aid the modernization of the Turkish Naval
Forces. In addition to the six Knox frigates, the US also plans to
sell to Turkey two types of Perry frigates. These frigates could be
transferred to Turkey after the US Congress approves the deal. /Aksam/
[12] OSMAN BOLUKBASI, DEAN OF TURKISH POLITICS, PASSES
AWAY
Osman Bolukbasi, one of the grand old deans of
Turkish politics, died yesterday in Ankara at the age of 91.
Bolukbasi, who help found the Nation Party (MP) in the 1940s, had been
under intensive care for some time. His funeral will be held tomorrow.
/All Papers/
[13] DERVIS TO UNVEIL ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTION PLAN
British daily The Financial Times yesterday
featured an article on an action plan for fighting corruption which
Turkey is set to unveil soon. The paper stated that the action plan
drawn up by Turkish Economy Minister Kemal Dervis proposed solutions
for virtually every problem of public life in Turkey -- ranging from
over-employment and petty corruption in public services to the
judiciary's inadequate handling of financial crimes. "The plan
also stipulates the need for effective regulations to clean up
campaign finance," said the Financial Times. "This includes
requiring parties and candidates to declare the amounts and sources of
all political donations." /Cumhuriyet/
[14] KAHKONEN: "THE LIRA IS HOLDING ITS COMPETITIVE
POWER"
International Monetary Fund Turkey Desk Chief Juha
Kahkonen said yesterday that recent increases in the value of the lira
did not seem to be dulling Turkey's competitive edge on world markets.
Speaking to investors via teleconferencing, Kahkonen said, "We
expect that Turkey will remain competitive. When the IMF approved
Turkey's new program, it did not target a certain foreign exchange
level. In addition, Turkey proved itself able to weather the
unexpected fallout from last September's terrorist attacks."
Kahkonen added that Turkish officials had good qualifications for
implementing the nation's reforms. /Sabah/
[15] IFC TO EXTEND LOAN FOR EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a
subsidiary of the World Bank, yesterday approved a $50 million loan to
the Turkish National Reinsurance Corporation (TAS). TAS Director
General Cahit Nomer said, "We will use this loan as needed in the
event of a devastating earthquake in Turkey that causes billions of
dollars in damage. This will be an extra guarantee." Nomer added
that there are nearly 16.3 million residences in Turkey but the
Natural Disaster Insurance Institution (DASK) covers only 2.4 million
of them. /Sabah/
[16] BEKO ELECTRONICS AIMING TO MOVE UP IN EUROPE
Beko Electronics General Director Aydin Cubukcu
said yesterday that with an annual output of 2.2 million sets, the
company was currently Europe's sixth-largest TV maker, but that it
hoped this year's 4 million set production run would propel it to the
number three spot. Stating that last year despite Turkey's economic
crisis the company had managed to grow 100%, Cubukcu said that Beko's
share in the 3.3 million set European market had recently climbed to
almost 7%. Cubukcu added that Beko last year made exports totaling
$200 million to 57 countries and that its goal this year was to
increase this volume to $400 million. /Hurriyet/
[17] TURKISH CARTOONIST DRAWS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
Kutlukhan Perker, who began his career as a
cartoonist in Turkish humor magazine Girgir and then drew for the
Avni, Digil and Leman magazines and Sabah newspaper, has begun to work
for one of the US's most prestigious newspapers, The New York Times.
Perker's first cartoon appeared in the newspaper's famous Book Review
supplement this weekend. /Sabah/
[18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[19] THE REPUBLICAN PEOPLE'S PARTY AND ITS HISTORIC
LEGACY BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)
Columnist Taha Akyol writes on Republican People
Party Chairman (CHP) Deniz Baykal's work to host an important
international academic and political conference in Turkey. A summary
of his column is as follows: "CHP Chairman Deniz Baykal had a
talk yesterday with Bernard Lewis, a famous historian specializing in
the Middle East and Islam, who will speak at an international
conference entitled 'Civilization and Adaptation' organized by the
Foreign Ministry. The panel Lewis will address is called 'The
Prevention of Political Fault Lines.' During his talk with Professor
Lewis, Baykal put forth the argument for a dialogue between
civilizations in contrast to the 'clash of civilizations' theory.
Baykal and Lewis share similar views on Turkey's important role
regarding the dialogue between civilizations. Recently, the CHP has
been preparing for an important international academic and political
conference. This conference will be called 'The Model of Turkey for a
Dialogue Between Civilizations.' The conference will probably be held
in the spring, or in autumn at the latest. Baykal will also invite
sociologist Samuel Huntington, the originator of the 'clash' view, to
the conference. Respected Turkish scholars such as Halil Inalcik,
Serif Mardin and Zafer Toprak will also be invited to the conference.
In addition to Lewis and Huntington, the participation of important
figures from the Socialist International in the conference will be an
important achievement for the CHP if it succeeds in its efforts.
Baykal says that Ottoman and even Seljuk experiences have great
significance for humanity. 'The Islamic world today has a lot to learn
from the modernization efforts of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish
Republic has presented the most successful modernization model to the
Islamic world. It is in the interest of all humanity to spread and
further Turkey's successes.' This vision not only demonstrates the
important function of cultural legacies in the age of globalization,
but also the positive signs that the CHP is breaking out of its shell
and opening up to wider horizons and new ideas."
[20] DISAGREEMENT AND COMPROMISE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the enactment of
the mini democracy package and its effects on the parties. A summary
of his column is as follows: "The mini-democracy package created
huge problems and has now led to serious tremors in relations between
the coalition partners. The point reached yesterday showed that from
now on the partnership relations would be carried out on a different
level than before. However, we must state that this tremor will not
shake the coalition or affect its staying power. The spirit of Article
312 is concerned with the protection of public order. Such an
arrangement exists in the laws of every democratic country throughout
the world. All the fuss was about a phrase, which mentioned 'the
possibility of disrupting public order.' Article 159 was prepared to
protect the respectability of state institutions. Similar arrangements
are also present in the laws of other countries. However, the partners
had added to the law crimes of humiliating and slandering the
representatives of state institutions. Common sense dictated that
these passages should be erased, and it has been done. During the
discussion on these changes, the Nationalist Action Party didn't waver
from its established stance and seems to have obtained what it wanted
as a party, which stood its ground. The Motherland Party (ANAP), as an
organization, which turned its face towards the EU and believes that
the road to the EU passes through democratization, seems to have
achieved its goal. The Democratic Left Party (DSP) felt the pulse of
the public, took care not to disturb any of its partners, and tried to
keep Turkey's promises to the EU, and therefore got what it wanted. It
may also be said that the coalition parties acted with concern for the
next elections rather than our goal of EU membership. The opposition
tried to open a hole between the partners and benefit from this
disagreement. There is a crack among the partners, but this is not due
to the efforts of the opposition. In the coming days we may see a new
partnership model opposed from within and supported by the
opposition."
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