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Turkish Press Review, 02-02-15Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr><LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> <_map> Press & Information Turkish Press Turkish Press Review >> Foreign Press Guide Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning15.02.2002CONTENTS
[01] TURKISH TROOPS TO TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTANThe Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will participate in the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan with a unit of 261 including administrative staffs. Following a farewell ceremony to be held at the 28th Mechanized Brigade Command in Ankara today, the unit will travel to Kabul, Afghanistan with a military cargo plane. There are six colonels in the Turkish troops. /Turkiye/[02] BAHCELI: “WE ARE IN FAVOR OF EU MEMBERSHIP”Gunter Verheugen, who has been maintaining a series of contacts in Europe, met with Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli yesterday. The European Union Commission's representative to Turkey Karen Fogg was also present during the meeting, in which Bahceli said, “The Nationalist Action Party (MHP) supports the targets of the EU membership and is making the necessary contributions on the subject.” Stating that it will continue these contributions, Bahceli added, “There has been positive developments since Helsinki Summit. These developments occurred not in spite of the MHP, but with its contributions. We want a dignified membership.” Requesting that a concrete timetable will be given at the Copenhagen Summit, Bahceli added that Turkey’s sensitivity about terrorism should be understood. /Aksam/[03] LINN: WE SUPPORT TURKEY’S BID FOR FOREIGN CAPITALJohannes Linn, World Bank’s vice president for Europe and Central Asia, said that the World Bank was ready to help Turkey to attract foreign capital to the country. However, he said, the complex tax system and unfair incentive regime were major obstacles before investors. He also underlined that the World Bank insisted on the fight against corruption. Linn, paying a four-day visit to Turkey, met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday and he is also scheduled to meet with State Minister for the economy Kemal Dervis. /Turkiye/[04] THE EUROPEAN UNION INSISTS ON TWO CRITERIAGunter Verheugen, the European Commissioner for enlargement said yesterday that the European Union insists on two criteria in order to start Turkey’s full membership process. These criteria are; the abolition of the death penalty and education in mother tongue. Turkey for its part insisted on a date to be set to start the full membership process. Verheugen also met with Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz. Yimaz and Verheugen signed two accords concerning the local management of the European Union’s financial aid package. /Hürriyet/[05] DERVIS: “THE CRISIS REGARDING LOANS MOSTLY OVER”Speaking in Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission to discuss the Bill for Regulating Public Financing and Debt Management yesterday, State Minister for the economy Kemal Dervis said that Turkey had mostly solved the crisis over loans. /Hürriyet/[06] PEARSON: “WE NEED A STRONG TURKEY”Speaking at a conference “Improving the Investment Environment in Turkey,” Robert Pearson, US Ambassador to Ankara said that the US would always need a strong Turkey. “The US would like to see Turkey in an active role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Pearson added. Pearson also said that Turkey has a lot of advantages of being close to Afghanistan and Central Asia. /Hürriyet/[07] DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNESCO MATSUURA PRAISES TURKEYDirector-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura yesterday visited Turkish National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu. Praising Turkey’s efforts to improve the conditions of education, Matsuura remarked that all Islamic countries should consider Turkey good example for its efforts precisely aimed at bolstering conditions of education for girls. Meanwhile, Bostancioglu stated that Turkey adhered to all principles of UNESCO, underlining the importance of eliminating ignorance for democracy and peace. /Cumhuriyet/[08] BILL ON PRESS LAW DISCUSSEDA recently prepared bill on Press Law was yesterday discussed at a meeting attended by the representatives of media. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz remarked that the bill should be passed by the Parliament as soon as possible since the issue of enhancing press freedom was of great importance to Turkey’s bid for full EU membership. Yilmaz stated that the implementation of the right to access information in a country highly depended upon the existence of a free press. Remarking that the bill was designed to eliminate the obstacles against the freedom of press, Yilmaz also added that it was prepared in line with liberal principles and taking realities of Turkey into consideration. Meanwhile, State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu stated that the current Press Law imposed strong restrictions over press freedom after 1954. /Cumhuriyet/[09] SEZER MEETS ISIKARAPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday said that Istanbul was not ready for an earthquake. Sezer visited 1st Army Command and then Bogazici University’s Kandilli Observatory and was briefed by Prof. Ahmet Mete Isikara. Following his visit, while answering a question if Istanbul was ready for a possible earthquake, Sezer replied, “Maybe Istanbul is not ready for it completely. Istanbul needs resources. According to the information I received from Istanbul Governor, a project was prepared concerning the issue. I hope precautions will continue to be taken as long as there are financial resources for it. /Sabah/[10] ISO TO PRESENT A REPORT TO PRIME MINISTERThe Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) prepared a report entitled “Solution Proposals for Turkey’s Problems with Priority” to present to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The report urges the government to take appropriate measures to provide industrialists with more opportunities. The report suggests that Turkey’s new industry policies should be prepared with the contribution of all sectors concerned. /Cumhuriyet/[11] THE FIRST CENTER FOR HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS ESTABLISHED IN TURKEYThe International Committee for Future Accelerators (ICFA) established its first center to carry out scientific studies on high-energy physics in Turkey. ICFA was created to facilitate international collaboration in the construction and use of accelerators for high-energy physics. The opening ceremony of the center was held yesterday in Istanbul. Turkish Scientific and Technological Researches Institution (TUBITAK) Chairman Prof. Namik Kemal Pak stated that new investments on science and technology studies were very important to Turkey’s bid for full EU membership. /Cumhuriyet/[12] CHOMSKY CRITICIZES THE US AND TURKEYA prominent American thinker Noam Avram Chomsky who attended a panel in Diyarbakir, accused Turkey of supporting the US policies. Claiming that an attack on Iraq will cause confusion in the Middle East, Chomsky said that Turkey which is a water resource in the region, had put other countries in a difficult position by establishing dams. During his speech, he mostly criticized his own country by saying that the war of the US in the region aims to establish an authority on oil resources. He also underlined that he was in favor of a Kurdish state to be established in the region and asserted that in the case of a US military intervention in the Iraq, Turkey would militarily support. /Turkiye/[13] USAK CARPETS ATTRACT ATTENTION ABROADUsak carpets attracted attention in Christie’s Auction this week. The carpets, which had been selected from the Syrian ambassador and diplomat Gazi Alta’s carpet collection and which had been woven in the 17th century, was sold in the auction for tens of thousands of dollars. These carpets, which ceased to be woven at homes recently, are exported to six countries, mostly to the US and Germany under the names of Lotto, Madalyon, Kuþlu and Sapanlý. /Aksam/[14] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…[15] EU AND TURKEY BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak writes on Turkey’s desire to begin accession negotiations to the EU as soon as possible . A summary of his column is as follows:“Turkey’s intention to begin accession negotiations for full EU membership was once more declared by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday. Cem, who yesterday received EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, said that the target set for 2002 was an optimistic alternative but that he believed it could come true. - On the other hand Verheugen seemed more realistic. He said, ‘We will monitor the process in Turkey. The date of negotiations totally depend on the progress achieved in Turkey.’ The EU Commissioner then listed the steps to be taken in compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, such as the abolition of death penalty and education in Kurdish. It is understood that the dialogue process in Cyprus is well received by Brussels. The messages of Verheugen can also be defined as optimistic as the time is ticking away and the deadline for short-term goals is getting closer. Following March 19, there will be more important expectations from Turkey. The time will come to discuss death penalty, Kurdish television, and education in mother tongue. Turkey will be taking the sharpest turn to start the accession negotiations. The stance of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) during the amendments to the Articles 159 and 312 of the Penal Code (TCK), and hacking of EU representative Karen Fogg’s diplomatic communication over internet by Labour Party (IP) are showing that a lobby against the EU has begun working in Turkey. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem defined the action against Fogg as a shameful crime and took action for the double violation in view of both individual rights and diplomatic immunity. Ankara Republican Prosecutor’s decision to start an investigation on the issue is correct. We are confronted with the provocation of those who want to put obstacles in Turkey’s way to the EU. If Turkey is to find its true place in the 21st century, it is in the EU.” [16] SUGGESTIONS FOR A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY MUSTAFA BALBAY - (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on close contacts between the terrorist organization PKK and certain Western countries. A summary of his column is as follows:“Abdullah Ocalan was brought to Turkey three years ago. Since then terrorist organization PKK has been seeking new methods to continue its activities. Since everyday seems to bring about new developments in Turkey and Turkish people have a weak social memory, unfortunately we often fail to take lessons from the past when making decisions on new developments. General Atilla Ates, the former Commander of the Turkish Land Forces in 1988, said in a speech to military units: “We are fully aware of the support Syria is currently lending to terrorist organizations. We are getting impatient...” After all high-level officials issued similar messages on the relations between Syria and terrorists, Ocalan was no longer able to take shelter in Syria in 1988. After leaving Syria, he allegedly hid himself in Athens, Moscow, Rome, Rotterdam, Basel, Milano and Nairobi. He was taken from Kenya Embassy in Athens and brought to Turkey in February 15, 1999. Three years have passed since then...The PKK has been recently trying to change its methods. Certain European institutions backed by Western states are suggesting the PKK to pursue the following methods: Find another name which would not irritate anyone. - Fight for your cultural rights. The EU would support such efforts. - Abandon your weapons, but do not destroy all of them, find another name for your militant groups. Do not use the title of Kurdistan in your congresses. A number of Belgian parliamentarians met with Osman Ocalan in northern Iraq. They reportedly recommended similar proposals to PKK militants. They also said: -Establish new relations with the Kurdish people! There is no doubt that certain circles are dissatisfied since an ethnic war was not waged in Turkey during 15 years of terror! The truth is quite clear now: The PKK is not just backed by the Western countries, but those countries are embracing it with open arms! 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