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Turkish Press Review, 02-07-01
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
01.07.2002
THE MAIN ISSUE ON THE AGENDA
BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
CONTENTS
[01] COALITION LEADERS TO MEET
[02] YILMAZ: "RTUK LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED"
[03] TURK: "TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO WASTE"
[04] CEM TO MEET FISCHER
[05] TURKEY TAKES OVER CONTROL OF KABUL'S MILITARY AIRPORT
[06] KUTAN: "THE IMF IS ASKING THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE"
[07] KOZAKCIOGLU: "ELECTIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO END OUR MISFORTUNE"
[08] DERVIS: "EUROPE WILL GET STRONGER WITH TURKEY"
[09] CHHIBBER: "THE FUTURE OF THE TURKISH ECONOMY DEPENDS ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS"
[10] DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER: "WE SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU BID"
[11] SABANCI: "IT'S TIME FOR ECEVIT TO RESIGN"
[12] TRNC HOLDS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
[13] TOSKAY: "THERE IS PROGRESS IN THE ECONOMY"
[14] EUROTAI PARTNERSHIP BEARS MORE FRUIT
[15] TURKEY AMONG 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
[16] TURKISH CHORUS TO COMPETE IN CANADA
[17] WORLD CULTURE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
[18] NATIONAL TEAM CLAIMS NO. 3 SPOT
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[20] THE MAIN ISSUE ON THE AGENDA
BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[21] AFGHANISTAN CONCERNS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
[01] COALITION LEADERS TO MEET
The government coalition leaders will gather this afternoon at Residence of
the Prime Ministry. At last Thursday's Democratic Left Party (DSP)
parliamentary group meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that
economic developments and European Union membership bid would be discussed
at the leaders' summit. Opposition parties, criticizing Ecevit for not
being at the National Security Council (MGK) meeting last Friday despite
his attendance at his party's group meeting the day before, charged that
the summit was a "show." Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan from the
DSP, who was not present at the group meeting, is expected to attend the
summit along with Ecevit. /All Papers/
[02] YILMAZ: "RTUK LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED"
Deputy Prime Minister and the Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz
stated over the weekend that the Supreme Council of Radio and Television
(RTUK) Law should be amended. "There are certain articles in the RTUK Law
which must be amended, such as the Internet regulations," said Yilmaz. "The
Parliament should discuss whether or not the RTUK Law conforms with
European Union criteria. I believe that the problems concerning the RTUK
Law can be addressed after its implementation by observing its shortcomings
in practice." /Cumhuriyet/
[03] TURK: "TURKEY HAS NO TIME TO WASTE"
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk stated over the weekend that Turkey had
no time to waste in its bid for full European Union membership. Stating
that the only country among the members of the EU Council which had not
abolished the death penalty was Turkey, Turk remarked that the government
should immediately abolish capital punishment in order to join the EU. "The
next six months are very important for Turkey's bid for EU membership," he
said. "The steps put forward in our National Programme must be taken as
soon as possible. The majority of the Turkish people want to join the
Union. We shouldn't miss this opportunity." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] CEM TO MEET FISCHER
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is scheduled to travel to Germany tomorrow to
meet with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer to discuss the Cyprus
issue as well as Turkey's relations with the European Union. Foreign
Minister Fischer is considered one of the most important figures in the EU.
Cem is expected to tell Fischer of the recent steps taken by the Turkish
government on its path towards EU membership. He will also request
Germany's support concerning the decisions to be taken at the EU's
Copenhagen summit in December. Arguing that the EU should support the
ongoing peace talks between the two leaders of Cyprus, Cem will convey the
message to Germany that the Greek Cypriots must be persuaded to take more
positive steps in order to reach a permanent solution on the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] TURKEY TAKES OVER CONTROL OF KABUL'S MILITARY AIRPORT
The Turkish Air Force yesterday took over the control of Kabul's military
airport from Great Britain. Speaking at the command handover ceremony,
Staff Col. Kazim Ondul said that Turkey would work to head the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for six months with success.
Ondul also said that there were still 90,000 mines in the vicinity of the
airport. For his part, British Col. Graham Stacy stated that the British
Royal Air Force had worked for five months to secure and renew the airport,
and that he was confident Turkey would continue to fulfill this mission.
/Hurriyet/
[06] KUTAN: "THE IMF IS ASKING THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE"
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan said yesterday in Edirne that the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) wanted to harm Turkey's agriculture
sector. "People migrate from Edirne, although the dominant sector is
farming in the area, and the government doesn't support agriculture and the
farmer because of the IMF's wishes," he stated. "This is hurting our
agriculture badly." He added that the United States has increased its
support to farming. Kutan also remarked that he expected early elections to
be held in 2003, before their scheduled date in 2004. /Star/
[07] KOZAKCIOGLU: "ELECTIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO END OUR MISFORTUNE"
True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Chairman Hayri Kozakcioglu said yesterday that
Turkey had two important issues on its agenda, economic instability and its
European Union membership process. Kozakcioglu remarked that the economy
couldn't get back on stable footing before the "government crisis" was
over. He added, "Turkey is in the midst of misfortune, and elections are
the only way of ending this." /Star/
[08] DERVIS: "EUROPE WILL GET STRONGER WITH TURKEY"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that both sides,
Turkey and the European Union, would benefit from Turkey's accession to the
Union. At a seminar on "Turkey's Future as a European" as part of the Crans
Montana Forum in Switzerland, Dervis underlined that Europe would have a
more open and global structure by including Turkey, which is a Muslim and
secular country. "Turkey expects full membership rather than cooperation
with the EU. Through Turkey's membership, Europe will strengthen its
position in the Mideast, eastern Mediterrenean and the Black Sea and
Caucasus regions," Dervis said. He stated that it was unacceptable for
Turkey to be subject to "special rules or conditions" different from those
applied to the other 12 EU candidate countries. Asked about Cyrus, Dervis
remarked that Cyprus issue was not related to EU membership or the
Copenhagen criteria. /Turkiye/
[09] CHHIBBER: "THE FUTURE OF THE TURKISH ECONOMY DEPENDS ON POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENTS"
Speaking to reporters, World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said
yesterday that Turkey has a great economic team under Economy Minister
Kemal Dervis, but that recent political uncertainty was affecting the
economy. Chhibber also said that ending the political uncertainty would
keep the economy on track. "The future of the Turkish economy depends on
developments in politics," Chhibber added. Chhibber stated that the World
Bank was working to strengthen Turkey in terms of education, health,
foreign investment, economy, banking, energy and agriculture, but did not
want to be involved in its politics. /Hurriyet/
[10] DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER: "WE SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU BID"
Speaking to Hurriyet daily, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller said
yesterday that Denmark supports Turkey's European Union membership bid. The
EU's term presidency passes today from Spain to Denmark. Moller also stated
that Turkey' geopolitical position in the international arena is very
important and that it is an important ally in the fight against
international terrorism. "To be a full member of the EU, a country needs to
fulfill both economic and political criteria," Moller added. "Turkey needs
to implement the reforms quickly." Moller remarked that during his nation's
presidency, Denmark would support Turkey's membership bid, but that Turkey
needs to take the first step by implementing the Copenhagen criteria.
/Hurriyet/
[11] SABANCI: "IT'S TIME FOR ECEVIT TO RESIGN"
Sabanci Holding Chairman Sakip Sabanci, one of Turkey's leading businessmen,
yesterday came out in favor of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stepping down
from his post. Speaking to reporters at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul,
Sabancı said that Turkey needed young, energetic leaders, adding that in
the past many leaders had resigned due to health problems. /Turkiye/
[12] TRNC HOLDS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
In local municipality elections held yesterday in the Turkish Republic of
North Cyprus (TRNC), the National Unity Party (UBP) headed by Prime
Minister Dervis Eroglu won the post of mayor in 16 of the 26 cities and
towns at stake. However, the UBP was the loser in such large cities such as
Girne, Gazi Magosa, and the capital Lefkosa. /Turkiye/
[13] TOSKAY: "THERE IS PROGRESS IN THE ECONOMY"
State Minister Tunca Toskay yesterday said that the economy had grown at a
rate of 3% in the first three months of this year, especially in the
industrial sector. He also predicted that the agriculture sector would grow
rapidly, adding that the political uncertainty in the country should be
ended. /Sabah/
[14] EUROTAI PARTNERSHIP BEARS MORE FRUIT
As of this week 19 Cougar AS-532 helicopters have rolled off the assembly
line of the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) under the auspices of
the EuroTAI partnership, which began between Turkey and France with the
production of the Phenix-II. All told, 21 of the copters have been produced
for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in both Turkey and France. The
production rum of 30 helicopters total, which began in 1997, will be
completed by the end of this year, with 20 going to Turkey's Air Force
Command and 10 for the Land Forces Command. /Aksam/
[15] TURKEY AMONG 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
German newspaper Bild am Sonntag yesterday declared in a feature article
that Turkey was among the world's 10 most beautiful holiday destinations.
In a long article on Turkey in its travel section, the paper wrote that 2.9
million German tourists visited Turkey in 2000 and 3.3 million had visited
last year. Quoting Turkey's Tourism Attaché as saying that there was still
space available at Aegean and Mediterranean hotels this season, the
newspaper added, "Developers who want to construct five-star hotels should
hurry up, because the luxurious hotel market is underserved." /Aksam/
[16] TURKISH CHORUS TO COMPETE IN CANADA
The award-winning Orfeon Chamber Chorus is set to represent Turkey at this
week's 10th Kathaumixw International Chorus Competition near Vancoveur,
Canada. Starting tomorrow, the Orfeon Chamber Chorus will compete in the
Chamber Chorus, Folkloric Chorus and Modern Music categories at the
competition, which will be participated in by 34 choruses from 13 countries
with nearly 1,200 members. The competition lasts through Sunday, and the
chorus under conductor Elnara Kerimova, hopes to promote Turkish polyphonic
music during its concerts in Canada. /Aksam/
[17] WORLD CULTURE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
At the initiative of Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, the "Culture
Ministers' Third Roundtable Meeting" of UNESCO will be held in Istanbul
with the participation of 189 member countries on Sept. 16-17 at the
Ciragan Palace. During the meeting, topics such as cultural heritage,
diversity and promotion are expected to be taken up. /Turkiye/
[18] NATIONAL TEAM CLAIMS NO. 3 SPOT
The Turkish National Soccer Team yesterday returned to Turkey after beating
co-host South Korea on Saturday, by a score of 3-2, thus claiming the
number three spot at the world's premier football competition. Tens of
thousands of enthusiastic fans greeted the team as it returned to Istanbul,
celebrating its unprecedented success in both reaching the semifinals and
playing for the cup for the first time in nearly 50 years. /All Papers/
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[20] THE MAIN ISSUE ON THE AGENDA
BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the efforts of the coalition partners to
show that the government is on the job. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"Barring any last minute-change of plans, the coalition partners are coming
together at the Prime Ministry at 1.30 p.m.. When Prime Minister Ecevit was
enjoying good health, all the issues of the government were solved at the
leaders' summit. Will this be a similar meeting? If it were so, it would
give the impression that the government crisis dominating the country's
agenda was being solved. Unfortunately, both the preparations for the
summit, and the evaluations of the partners before the meeting, bring this
question to mind: Is this summit nothing but an effort to show that the
government is still on duty? The Democratic Left Party (DSP) will try to
demonstrate that the prime minister is continuing his duties without a
hitch. All efforts pointed in that direction, from Ecevit's coming to the
Parliament to the visit he made to the president. Ecevit, who took these
steps notwithstanding the orders of his physicians, will show all that he
is healthy and able by gathering the leaders' summit. Ecevit wants to
convey three messages by doing so: First, he wants to say that he is still
alive in view of the restlessness in his party. Secondly, he will take an
initiative towards his coalition partners. Thus, he will tell them that he
has no intentions of withdrawing. Thirdly, he wants to tell the public, and
the employer-employee sector which has started to raise its voice, that he
is on duty. The only aim of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) is to stay
in the government and to say that it has not accepted all it has been asked
to. The representatives of the MHP are voicing this stance at every
possible opportunity. It seems as if the MHP is the coalition partner
responsible not for the issues of the country, but for its sensitivities.
It appears that the MHP leader will attend today's summit with the same
understanding. There does not seem to be much on the Motherland Party's
(ANAP) agenda. Their joint happiness may lie in taking the Parliament into
a recess, safe and sound. They may believe that they will work during the
summer in between and will see what happens in autumn. The partners may
adopt such a stand, but Turkey's problems paint a different picture indeed.
Even if the Parliament begins its recess, the problems, politics and crises
won't. This will inevitably disrupt the peace of the government. Not only
Turkey, but all the foreign circles who have any relations with Turkey have
one concern, and that is 'uncertainty'. Economic data do not show a stable
state. Yesterday, the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced the
data for the first quarter of 2002. The figures show that we are still
behind the figures of 2000. In its recent letter, the IMF foresees an
increase in unemployment and price hikes. If the leaders' summit meeting in
such an atmosphere ends in two hours and a statement comes out saying that
everything is peachy but they had problems expressing it, the confidence in
the government will further erode. The summit should at least make it clear
how studies will be conducted during the summer, and how and in whose
leadership the Council of Ministers will meet."
[21] AFGHANISTAN CONCERNS BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)
Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes on the duties of the Turkish contingent
in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul. A summary
of her column is as follows:
"In the midst of news about the prime minister's health, Turkey's EU
membership bid, and the violence in the Middle East, Turkey silently
assumed the command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. This brought
concerns and problems in addition to its prestige. The first concern came
in financing. Countries which are contributing to the force are meeting the
expenses of their own troops. Turkey's expenses have increased as the
number of its troops participating in the force has grown due its taking
the command. However, no country has donated any money to the fund formed
by the United Nations for the ISAF. A bill granting aid in the amount of
$228 million the US had promised to give if Turkey assumed command is
waiting approval in the US Congress. Only $28 million of this figure was
directly allocated to the ISAF. The rest is to be used wherever necessary.
In other words, it will meet Turkey's debts without entering Turkey. In
short, the command has cost dearly to Turkey even now. The second concern
is related to the return of refugees. The stability created by the ISAF
encouraged Afghan refugees to return home. Since the ISAF began its duty in
Afghanistan, one million refugees sheltered in neighboring countries
returned home together with members of the Taleban and Al Qaida. Another
concern created by the return of the refugees is finding food, homes and
jobs for them. Notwitstanding the stability in security in the country,
the Afghan economy is still in a shambles. It is most likely that refugees
returning home who cannot find emplyoment will resort to illegal means.
This situation, which heightens the possibility of 'crime eruption,'can
affect both the security established by the ISAF and the security of the
ISAF troops. The third concern regards narcotics. The only working wheel
of the Afghan economy is the production of plants from which narcotics are
made and their sale. The narcotics trade generatees large amounts of money
and is conducted by well-organized, armed groups. New crops should be found
for the Afghan farmer to cultivate, as their only income is to raise plants
used in the production of drugs. The UN has taken this issue at hand. The
harvest of the Afghan farmer growing plants used in the production of drugs
is being bought and destroyed. However, this means playing with the
earnings of armed networks reaping great sums from this trade. It is
possible that that these gangs will vent their anger at the ISAF, which is
the only force barring them from conducting narcotics trade in the country.
All these stem from the nature of the international forces's duty and its
special circumstances in Afghanistan. There are other concerns brought
before Turkey due to the games played in diplomatic arenas. Turkey accepted
the command of the ISAF under heavy pressure for six months only. Both
Britain and the US gave many guarantees to Turkey ranging from support in
financing, intelligence, and transport-evacuation. As soon as assuming
command, Ankara began talks to hand over this post, covering many
anticipated concerns at the end of its six months. However, it is still
not certain who will take over the command of the force. What is worse,
there is no one asking for it. It seems that the third term command may be
left to Turkey as well. Turkey, which wants to be a regional power, will
not say that it will leave the command even if there is no one asking for
the job. If we consider that no country has as yet volunteered to assume
the command of the force, it will mean a great additional burden for the
Turkish economy, which is already not in good shape. Last but not least is
that an international campaign has been launched to broaden the ISAF's area
of duty, which covered only Kabul and its environs up to today. An
enlargement of the duty area would mean an increase in the number of troops
coming from the country which has assumed command. This in turn, would
bring a terrible financial burden. At the moment, the broadening of duties
is out of the question. But when considered together with financial and
security matters and the instability in Turkey, this may pose a problem in
the future. In short, the command of the ISAF will be a harder duty for
Turkey than anticipated."
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