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Turkish Press Review, 02-02-12
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
12.02.2002
CONTENTS
[01] OIC-EU JOINT FORUM BEGINS TODAY IN ISTANBUL
[02] ECEVIT: "INTERVENTION IN IRAQ IN SPITE OF TURKEY WOULD BE DIFFICULT"
[03] CABINET DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY AND THE ECONOMY
[04] CEM STANDS FIRM IN LETTER TO EU ON CYPRUS
[05] TRNC TO ATTEND OIC-EU MEETINGS AS "MUSLIM COMMUNITY"
[06] YILMAZ: "TURKEY MIGHT BECOME AN EU MEMBER IN 2007"
[07] CIA STATEMENT ON TERRORISTS DISAPPOINTS ANKARA
[08] PROTESTS AGAINST AUSTRIAN TV CHANNEL ORF CONTINUE
[09] SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER PRAISES TURKEY
[10] JORDANIAN PRINCE SUGGESTS "PARLIAMENT OF CULTURE" FOR ISTANBUL
[11] AKBULUT JOINS DYP
[12] DERVIS: "ECONOMY MOVING TOWARDS FIRM FOOTING"
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] OIC-EU JOINT FORUM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[15] EU AND OIC MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME BY YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)
[16] AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE BY TURKEY BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
[01] OIC-EU JOINT FORUM BEGINS TODAY IN ISTANBUL
A Joint Forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the
European Union, intended to bring together the Western and Islamic worlds
in the wake of last September's terrorist attacks on the US, begins in
Istanbul today. Representatives of 71 countries, including 51 foreign
ministers, arrived in Istanbul yesterday to attend the forum. Last night,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, hosted a "Welcome Reception" at the
Ciragan Palace. The two-day forum will begin with a speech by Cem, who
first proposed such a meeting, and later all the participants will pose for
a group photograph. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit are also scheduled to address the participants during a
working lunch. Additionally, panels on "Overcoming Mutual Issues" and
"Media and Politics" will be held today, and following a dinner, the
participants will attend a performance of the famous "Sultans of.the Dance",
at Mydonose Showland. /All Papers/
[02] ECEVIT: "INTERVENTION IN IRAQ IN SPITE OF TURKEY WOULD BE DIFFICULT"
Speaking to reporters yesterday about the Iraq situation, Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit said, "I believe that a solution to this problem can be found
without resorting to war. Furthermore, any military intervention launched
in spite of Turkey would be difficult." Ecevit added that the US would
consult Turkey about any possible military strike against Iraq, but that
Turkey wanted to resolve the situation without conflict. Ecevit also said
that during the Organization of the Islamic Conference-European Union (OIC-
EU) Joint Forum, which begins today, the Iraqi and Iranian foreign
ministers had requested a meeting with him. /Hurriyet/
[03] CABINET DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY AND THE ECONOMY
During a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the ministers chaired by Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit discussed a wide range of topics from foreign policy to the
economy. Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti also attended the
meeting and reportedly expressed his views on how the Turkish economy would
be affected in case an attack on Iraq. Recalling 1991's Gulf War,
Serdengecti said that the economy could be kept in equilibrium during such
an attack, just as was done during that war. /Turkiye/
[04] CEM STANDS FIRM IN LETTER TO EU ON CYPRUS
In a stern warning to the European Union concerning Cyprus, Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem wrote in a letter yesterday that any proposed
settlement for the island should meet the expectations of both sides,
otherwise the chance for a real, lasting solution would fall out of reach.
Cem also said that the island had a population of two different ethnic
groups speaking different languages and with different religions, so a
flawed solution could bring both sides to the brink of disaster. The
Turkish side favors creating a partnership in which both sides have
sovereignty, Cem added. /Hurriyet/
[05] TRNC TO ATTEND OIC-EU MEETINGS AS "MUSLIM COMMUNITY"
The Turkish government has decided to allow the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend the current joint Organization of the
Islamic Conference-European Union meeting in Istanbul as an "observer," not
a state, reports said yesterday. The TRNC would attend the meetings as a
"Muslim community" so as not to ruffle the West's feathers over the
sensitive Cyprus issue, the reports continued. /Hurriyet/
[06] YILMAZ: "TURKEY MIGHT BECOME AN EU MEMBER IN 2007"
In a speech to the Swiss Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Deputy Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz stated that Turkey's goal in its bid for full EU
membership was to join the Union in 2007 together with Romania and
Bulgaria. "If we can manage to fulfill the EU's political criteria this
year and begin our negotiation process next year, then we will be able to
join the Union with Romania and Bulgaria," predicted Yilmaz. "But if we are
unable to meet that criteria, we should expect a more prolonged accession
period than we are hoping for." He stated that he was well aware of behind-
the-scenes meetings held by some circles to oppose Turkey's admittance to
the Union. "Such circles, in fact, say clearly in those closed meetings
that they don't want Turkey because it has a different religious culture,"
said Yilmaz. "However, when speaking to press, they stress that the biggest
obstacle to Turkey's membership is its economic hardships. This is nothing
but hypocrisy." Remarking that Turkey wants to join the EU by catching up
with the EU's standards without sacrificing its own values and identity,
Yilmaz also added that Turkey was doing its utmost to reach a settlement on
Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] CIA STATEMENT ON TERRORISTS DISAPPOINTS ANKARA
Ankara is reportedly dissatisfied with Central Intelligence Agency Director
George Tenet's recent statement to the US Congress listing a number of
terrorist organizations which the US might target, since he failed to
mention the PKK. But US diplomatic sources responded that Tenet's listing
of groups was not intended to be comprehensive. "Tenet indicated that there
were many terrorist organizations besides Al Qaeda which the US must target
since they plan to attack US military installations," said one US diplomat.
He mentioned the DHKP-C since we know that it has plans to attack the US
and its interests abroad. However, the PKK has never declared any intention
to attack our interests. That doesn't necessarily mean, though, that we
don't consider it a terrorist organization." /Cumhuriyet/
[08] PROTESTS AGAINST AUSTRIAN TV CHANNEL ORF CONTINUE
A movie entitled "Passing Through Wild Kurdistan" was recently aired by
Austrian state TV channel ORF, despite a protest campaign launched by
Turkish lobbies against a TV program on the same channel entitled
"Kurdistan: Plateau of the Gods". An Austrian crew shot the latter program
last May with the permission of the Turkish Tourism Minister and
Directorate General of Press and Information. Since ORF selected a title,
which does not respect Turkey's territorial integrity, Turkish Press
Attaché Saziye Kuleli and Tourism Councilor Faruk Erol reacted harshly to
ORF's disrespectful attitude. Turkish Ambassador in Vienna Omer Akbel has
conveyed Turkey's protest to the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Additionally,
Austrian Union of Turkish Associations sent a letter to ORF Director-
General Monika Lindner, stating that the channel made a grave mistake by
referring to Turkey's south Anatolia region as "Kurdistan." /Cumhuriyet/
[09] SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER PRAISES TURKEY
Speaking to Turkish daily Hurriyet yesterday, Sudanese Foreign Minister
Mustafa Osman Ismail said that Turkey was doing a wonderful job. Evaluating
the current Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-European Union
Joint Forum, he stated, "I was very happy to be invited to the meeting,
there was a need to start this dialogue between the West and Islam." Ismail
also remarked that terrorism was peculiar to no religion, race or state.
/Hurriyet/
[10] JORDANIAN PRINCE SUGGESTS "PARLIAMENT OF CULTURE" FOR ISTANBUL
Jordanian Prince El Hassan bin Talal suggested yesterday to Turkish Culture
Minister Istemihan Talay that a parliament of culture" be established in
Istanbul for the purpose of encouraging dialogue across borders. Hassan
made the remark while attending the joint Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC)-European Union meeting in that city. Talay replied that
Yildiz Palace would be a fitting setting for this project and added, "The
dialogue between the OIC and the EU in Istanbul is a positive step forward
which shows Turkey's role in the world." Talay further stated that a recent
book by Prince Hassan on Christianity in the Islamic world would be
published in translation by the Turkish Culture Ministry." /Milliyet/
[11] AKBULUT JOINS DYP
Former Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Yildirim Akbulut
joined True Path Party (DYP) yesterday. Including Akbulut, the number of
DYP deputies in the Parliament has now increased to 86. /Turkiye/
[12] DERVIS: "ECONOMY MOVING TOWARDS FIRM FOOTING"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that important
steps had been recently taken so the Turkish economy could be placed on a
firm footing but added that the fluctuating value of the lira could
continue for two or three years. Dervis made the comments at a banquet
given at the Turkish-American Association. Stating that nearly 20 new
structural regulations were being implemented to stabilize the economy,
Dervis added, "This is one of the most important reforms of the history of
the republic. Last year's 21% increase in exports was a hugely important
gain. With its new economic and political reforms, Turkey is standing tall.
The current meeting in Istanbul of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference and the European Union also underlines our stature." /Aksam/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[14] OIC-EU JOINT FORUM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the OIC-EU Joint Forum being held in
Istanbul. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The OIC-EU Joint Forum which begins today in Istanbul is a very important
initiative. Representatives from 71 Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) and European Union member and candidate countries are attending the
forum. Turkey is unique as the only country with member or candidate ties
to both organizations. More than 50 of the meeting's participants are
representing their countries at the foreign minister level. Others include
statesmen, cultural, political and religious thinkers.
As an intellectual, I was also invited to the forum. However, I am unable
to attend the meetings. I will watch the developments on television and
comment on them.
First of all, I want to congratulate Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem
and our Foreign Ministry, both of which have been criticized for not
pursuing a more active policy, for their tremendous initiative in
organizing such a comprehensive and significant meeting. The forum will
prove vital to the whole world as it brings together two different
civilizations and cultures. During the meetings, statesmen from both the
Islamic and Christian worlds will have the chance to discuss various
topics. There will be numerous joint interests and unifying elements.
However, history is full of conflicts. Today, a theory speaking of a "clash
of civilizations" has gained both attention and currency. Islam has been
accused of fomenting terrorism. But this idea is incorrect as well as
unfair. There are terrorists in all societies worldwide.
All of these topics will be discussed at the meetings. The possibility of
an attack on Iraq disturbs many nations, Turkey included. The two sides
should work to understand each other. Iraq's foreign minister is also
attending the forum.
Turkey took a leadership role in organizing such a meeting. The meeting may
see negotiations, conflicts, heated arguments and discussions. All these
are normal. The important thing is that the participants get a healthy dose
of reality."
[15] EU AND OIC MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME BY YALCIN DOGAN (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Yalcin Dogan comments on the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) and European Union Joint Forum. A summary of his column is
as follows:
"Attendance at the forum is political, whereas its discussions are academic,
and we must wonder whether there will be a significant joint declaration
following the meeting. When these facts are taken into consideration, the
stance of Turkey becomes clear. It is being extremely careful and trying to
provide one more opportunity for the issue to be reviewed by the public
without offending anyone. Therefore, to expect concrete results from this
forum and their reflections to the world arena would be extremely
optimistic. The EU and OIC are coming together for the first time to
discuss an extremely sensitive issue for both of them. The two sides, the
Islamic world accused of sheltering political terrorists and the victims of
the Sept. 11 attacks, are confronting each other. Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem observed a tension between the sides, the clash between Islam and
Christianity. In order to ease this tension, which could lead to great
dangers, he launched his initiative for a meeting. Turkey has avoided
labeling the Christian-Islamic tension as a 'conflict'. 'Therefore, the
joint declaration worked on by the representatives of 88 nations at the
forum is mainly based on the principle of living together peacefully
without touching on sensitive issues. However, the US, Russia and China
should also have been invited to this forum. These nations belong to
neither the OIC nor the EU. However, the issue concerns all of them as
well."
[16] AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE BY TURKEY BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the meeting in Istanbul bringing together
the representatives of different cultures. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"We have to congratulate Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his staff for
launching an initiative to bring together the representatives of different
cultures in Istanbul and for bringing it to fruition. The high attendance
at the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)- EU Joint Forum
demonstrates the success of his initiative. The correctness of Turkey's
analysis of the desire for a dialogue between civilizations can be seen in
the number of the dignitaries attending this meeting. This is a plus in
Turkey's favor but if a fault has to be found, as nothing is perfect, the
absence of the UN secretary-general may be pointed out. However, this
doesn't stem from Turkey, but belongs to rather UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, who despite continually pointing out the need for such a compromise
between civilizations is not eager to attend the meeting. The basic element
in a dialogue between civilizations is tolerance for others. If this
starting point cannot be well established, all these efforts full of
goodwill will be to no avail, and the OIC-EU Joint Forum will be nothing
more than a show. Tolerance between peoples does not come about
automatically. In fact, it requires an intellectual effort to understand
others without any prejudices or stereotyping. In other words, it rejects
generalizations and instead embraces racial, cultural, religious and
intellectual diversity. The need to accept this phenomenon not only at an
international level but also at a national level is seen clearly in the
increasing racial, religious, cultural and intellectual diversity of the
European countries. The tolerance Europe will show the different societies,
among whom Muslim Turks can be cited, seems inevitable in view of the long-
term salvation of the continent. Europe is increasingly becoming a mosaic
of cultures. The rising racism and xenophobia in Europe actually can firm
rather than deny. The extreme rightists are provoked by the emerging
'mosaic phenomenon'. On the other hand, official reactions to the election
of pro-Nazi Joerg Haider showed that the European system is closed to these
extremists, in spite of their vociferousness. Nothing else will happen
during the two-day OIC-EU Joint Forum apart from a search for tolerance,
understanding the other, and passing to diversity from monotony. The only
thing, which may cast a shadow on the forum, may be a speech in its shadow
delivered by famous philosopher Noam Chomsky on the intolerance for freedom
of thought in Turkey. This sideshow may attract greater attention on an
international level than the forum itself. It would have been much better
if Chomsky had also been invited to them forum, as he is a philosopher who
has attached great importance to exactly the issues which the forum is
addressing. An important opportunity has been lost. This minor glitch aside,
I congratulate Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his staff and extend my
wishes of success to all the attendees."
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