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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-02Turkish 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> <map name="FPMap1"></map> Press & Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning02.09.2002CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TRAVELS TO SOUTH AFRICAPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer left for Johannesburg yesterday to attend the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. Before his departure, Sezer spoke to reporters at Esenboga Airport. Sezer said that this UN summit would be a good opportunity to evaluate the implementation of the international agreements signed in Rio, the United Nations Environment and Development Summit ten years ago in 1992, regarding sustainable development. Concerning a question whether or not the result of the Nov. 3 elections could harm the regime, the president said that he trusted common sense of Turkish citizens. About the discussions of the postponement of elections, Sezer stated, “We expect that the respectability of the Parliament would be upheld by the parliamentarians themselves.” As part of the summit to be held on 2-4 Sept., Sezer is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the heads of states of certain countries in Johannesburg. /All Papers/[02] ECEVIT: “VERHEUGEN’S STATEMENTS ARE UNFAIR”Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday said that if Verheugen’s statement was true, it would be unfair to Turkey. Before leaving for Tekirdag for an election campaign visit, Ecevit told reporters, regarding the European Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen’s recent statements that Turkey had enacted EU harmonization laws and EU reforms, despite many problems. “It is difficult for the EU to find an excuse not to give Turkey a date for EU accession talks,” Ecevit said. “I hope that Mr. Verheugen’s statements were not true.” Verheugen was quoted on Sunday by the Turkish press that it seemed difficult to set a date for Turkey’s membership negotiations at the Copenhagen summit. On the other hand, Reuters reported on August 30 that Verheugen said, “We cannot hide the fact that we need to see proper implementation of the reforms,” adding, “I don’t believe we will have a track record by the end of year that is sufficient to make a final judgment on opening negotiations.” Meanwhile, answering a question on the disagreement between the government and civil servants’ collective bargaining, the prime minister vowed that the government would do its best to improve the civil servants living standards, despite the current economic difficulties. /Turkiye/[03] THE EU AND US INCREASE PRESSURE ON DENKTASThe European Union and the United States have increased pressure on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas prior to his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Sept.6. The meeting is set to be held in Paris under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Denktas held an official meeting with Britain’s Special Envoy to Cyprus Lord David Hannay yesterday in the Turkish Cypriot city of Girne. After the meeting Denktas confirmed that the pressure was particularly being put on the Turkish Cypriot side for a solution on the island. Denktas also remarked, however, that a settlement wouldn’t be possible unless the Greek Cypriots accepted the equal sovereignty of both sides. Hannay and Denktas are to meet again today, this time officially, and Hannay is expected to express clearly British expectations from the meeting on Sept. 6. The US Special Cyprus Coordinator, Thomas Weston will also be visiting the island this week. He is scheduled to meet with Clerides on Wednesday and Denktas later on this week. /Cumhuriyet/[04] GUREL: “TURKEY EXPECTS A NEGOTIATION[05] DATE FROM THE EU”Speaking to Hurriyet daily yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that Turkey expected a negotiation date to be set at European Union’s December Copenhagen summit. “Turkey won’t accept any other formula,” added Gurel. He also said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would integrate with Turkey if the EU accepted Greek Cypriot administration’s membership without reaching a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem. Gurel today will travel to Strasbourg and then proceed to Brussels. /Hurriyet/[06] YILMAZ: “IT’S NOW EU’S TURN”Commenting on European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen’s recent statement that Turkey should not expect a date to be set for the beginning of its accession negotiation process, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey had adopted a broad package of EU harmonization laws and that it was EU’s turn to give Turkey a date to start negotiations for its membership bid. /Sabah/[07] GUREL: “TURKEY IS IN FAVOR OF A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE IRAQI ISSUE”Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said yesterday during his official visit to Iran that Turkey favored a peaceful solution to the Iraqi problem. Gurel, after his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi yesterday, stated that they had discussed issues concerning Turkish-Iranian bilateral relations as well as matters that are of importance to the region. Commenting on a possible US operation to Iraq, Gurel remarked that Turkey was in favor of peaceful solutions to international problems. The territorial integrity of Iraq was very important for Turkey, added Gurel. A statement was also made by Harrazi following Gurel’s meeting with Iranian President Muhammed Hatami. Harazzi expressed Iranian opposition to a US operation in Iraq and pointed out that Iran carefully assessed new developments in the region before taking any steps. /Cumhuriyet/[08] BAYKAL: “TURKISH STATE AND ECONOMY NEEDS TO BE RESTRUCTURED”Speaking on CNN Turk yesterday, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkish state and economy needed to be restructured. “The parties which are anxious about surpassing the 10% election threshold in November are trying to postpone the upcoming elections but the postponement of them would lead to a new economic crisis, like those in Argentina,” he said. “The CHP doesn’t want a change on 10% election threshold. Turkey had to be more careful if it didn’t want ethnic and cultural issues to affect the political life.” He also stated that Turkey could overcome its problems only with a powerful government. “A government which is at peace with the people and supports Turkey’s European Union membership bid should come to power after elections,” he added. /Milliyet/[09] ANAP PREPARES RESTRUCTURING PROJECTMotherland Party (ANAP) has prepared a restructuring project which will provide more opportunities to young people in the party. The project which aims to restructure the ANAP completely has been prepared several months ago. This project aims to recall both the party’s history to public and explain the changes in its regulation. The most important change in the party’s regulation is that people over 30 years old can’t be candidate for mayor. /Turkiye/[10] FORMER TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU JOINS AKPFormer Tourism Minister and coalition partner of Motherland Party (ANAP)’s former deputy Erkan Mumcu joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the weekend. In addition to Mumcu, ANAP dissidents Malatya Deputy Mirac Akdogan and Mugla Deputy Hasan Ozyar also joined the party on the same day. /Turkish Daily News /[11] TURKER: “IMF IS SATISFIED WITH TURKEY’S EFFORTS”State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker said that he had a phone conversation yesterday with Chairman of the European desk of the IMF, Michael Deppler. Turker stated that Deppler appreciated Turkey’s attempt to put forward an earlier date for the accomplishment of necessary steps which Turkey promised to take within the general outlines of the deal made with the IMF. He added that a Turkish delegation is going to participate in the IMF and World Bank’s half-annual meetings scheduled to be held by the end of this month in Washington. /Milliyet/[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[13] TURKEY AGAIN DISAPPOINTED BY THE EU[14] BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the recent statements by certain EU officials arguing that Turkey should not expect the EU to determine a specific date for the beginning of its accession negotiation period at December’s Copenhagen Summit. A summary of his column is as follows:“Turkey, which recently took vital steps such as abolishing the death penalty, broadcasting in languages other than Turkish and cultural rights to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, is unfortunately disappointed by the European Union again. German Prime Minister Schroder last week alluded at a banquet with Turkish businessmen that it would be unrealistic to expect the EU to determine a specific date for the beginning of Turkey’s accession negotiation process at December’s Copenhagen Summit. In addition, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenther Verheugen also made similar remarks considering Turkey’s EU accession bid. “Turkey’s recent reforms are extremely important for its EU accession bid,” said Verheugen. “However, the Turkish government shouldn’t expect the EU to determine a specific date for the beginning of its accession negotiation period at December’s Copenhagen summit. The EU wants to see that Turkey begins implementing these reforms as soon as possible. I don’t think that the Turkish government will be able to put these reforms into practice before December.” These statements have not only disappointed Ankara but also reinforced the claims of certain circles arguing that the EU would never accept Turkey no matter how hard the Turkish government tries. While certain political parties are planning to sit at the negotiation table with the EU in the post-election period, some other parties opposing the early polls will likely to play their trump card by arguing that postponing the elections will help Turkey’s accession period since other reforms demanded by the EU might be made if the elections are held in April 2003. I’m not sure whether these negative signals will provide those parties, which are in favor of delaying the early elections, with an opportunity to develop new policies. It’s clear that Brussels is always looking for new pretexts to keep Turkey away from the EU league. However, despite this disappointment, Turkey wants to improve its democracy for its own future.” [15] RUMORS OF AN OPERATION ON SEPT. 11[16] BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on a possible operation by the US against Iraq on Sept. 11. A summary of her column is as follows:“Will an operation against Iraq start on Sept. 11? There are rumors that the operation by the Bush administration in order to overthrow the Saddam regime will start on Sept. 11. The reason why Washington chose this day is that the public nation’s sensitivity for the terrorism reaches its peak on that day. A Russian senator provided this rumor with an official characteristic for the first time. Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federation Council, talked about the possibility of Bush’s coming into action on Sept. 11. Margelov, who takes place in the circles close to Kremlin and who is one of the most effective names of the Russian foreign policy, thinks that this date will be effective in terms of the public nation’s and the allies’ support. It’s disputable how much the date of operation against Iraq will be realistic. However, there is an important point in Margelov’s explanation. Kremlin, which made a commercial connection with Iraq amounting to $40 billion a short while ago and thus which gave the message that it’s against an operation against Iraq, turns a green light to Washington for the first time. Speaking to journalists last week, Margelov said, ‘If Washington comes into action on Sept. 11, the allies of the US might not want to be left out. In such a situation, Russia might be in a dilemma.’ In addition, recalling that the change of regime in Afghanistan resulted positively, Margelov said, ‘Supporting the Bush administration won’t be very reasonable.’ The Saddam regime is supported by the soldiers and the Russian oil. Lately there has been news that Russia held contacts with the Saddam opposition. Taking these together, it’s understood that Washington started to try to speak gently on the front of alliance. For the first time, the Iraq opposition began to believe that Washington is determined for the first time. One more meeting will be held in the Netherlands in September most probably. Washington favors the complete removal of the distinctions in the opposition at this meeting. Otherwise, the US is giving the signal that it will intervene in the situation and establish a new post-Saddam government, just as it did in Afghanistan. For the time being, the leadership of Iraqi National Congress Chairman Ahmet Celebi is on the agenda. Shiites and Kurds welcome this solution warmly, as long as their autonomy isn’t harmed. However, the Talabani and Barzani administrations in the Northern Iraq are requesting a guarantee against the intervention of the ‘other great powers in the region,’ including Turkey and Iraq, from Washington. Although an official explanation hadn’t been made by Washington yet, Iraqi leaders say that they had received the guarantee they requested. These explanations should be taken into consideration because both the American and the European press state that the news coming from Washington is positive. Even the American newspapers wrote that the American officials had examined a base in the northern Iraq in order to determine its conditions of usage. The Iraqi issue is becoming on the world agenda much more day by day. The British and American planes bombed a spot in Iraq last Sunday. Then it was claimed that this was a base of espionage and a radar base was targeted last Thursday, and then F-15 planes belonging to the American Air Forces bombed a base on 150 miles southeast of Baghdad last Friday. The date of Sept. 11 might not be true but the footsteps of an air operation are starting to be heard.” ARCHIVE <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_statistic/countcode.js"> </script> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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