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Turkish Press Review, 02-09-26

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: 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 &amp; Information Turkish Press Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

26.09.2002

FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS… WILL A US-IRAQ WAR BEGIN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

CONTENTS

  • [01] YILMAZ: “OUR ELECTIONS AND THE EU’S SCHEDULE ARE RUNNING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER”
  • [02] GUREL: “TURKEY WILL NOT ALLOW ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH STATE”
  • [03] TURKER IN WASHINGTON FOR IMF, WORLD BANK MEETINGS
  • [04] GUARDED TURKISH RESPONSE TO BRITISH DOSSIER ON IRAQ
  • [05] IKDP, IPUK AGREE ON DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR “FEDERAL IRAQ”
  • [06] BREKK: “TURKEY POSTPONING ITS IMF COMMITMENTS WOULD BE IMPROPER”
  • [07] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “TURKEY KNOWS WELL HOW TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS”
  • [08] DERVIS: “POSTPONING ELECTIONS WOULDN’T HELP TURKEY’S EU BID”
  • [09] DENKTAS’S NEW CYPRUS SETTLEMENT PROPOSES TRIPLE SOVEREIGNTY
  • [10] BUSINESS LEADERS CALL FOR ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AS SCHEDULED
  • [11] SP: “CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO MAKE ELECTIONS JUST AND DEMOCRATIC”
  • [12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…
  • [13] WILL A US-IRAQ WAR BEGIN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [14] MEETING WITH ISMAIL CEM BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

  • [01] YILMAZ: “OUR ELECTIONS AND THE EU’S SCHEDULE ARE RUNNING TOO CLOSE TOGETHER”

    Appearing on television yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said that if Parliament holds a vote on delaying elections set for Nov. 3, there would be no ANAP “party-line” vote, with the party’s deputies instead being free to vote as they see fit. However, Yilmaz reiterated that he personally favored delay until after December’s European Union summit since, in his view, the EU’s schedule and Turkey’s elections were running too close each other. Postponing polls would give Turkey time to amend the Elections Law, implement the EU harmonization laws and bolster its lobbying efforts, added Yilmaz. /Hurriyet/

    [02] GUREL: “TURKEY WILL NOT ALLOW ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH STATE”

    In the midst of a three-capital European tour to promote Turkey’s European Union membership bid, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel this week underscored Turkey’s firm opposition to any Kurdish state being established in northern Iraq. Speaking to Britain’s Financial Times, while in London, Gurel stated that Turkey would not allow a Kurdish state to emerge in the aftermath of a possible operation to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Following his London visit, Gurel proceeded to Paris yesterday to meet with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. Gurel reportedly asked Villepin to support Turkey’s full membership bid at December’s EU Copenhagen summit. In addition, Gurel and his accompanying delegation also met with France’s Parliament and Senate commissioners responsible for the European Union. /All Papers/

    [03] TURKER IN WASHINGTON FOR IMF, WORLD BANK MEETINGS

    State Economy Minister Masum Turker yesterday travelled to Washington to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and to hold discussions as part of the fourth review of Turkey’s economic program. Before departing, Turker told reporters that he would meet with US Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler and WB President James Wolfensohn aw well as representatives of the US Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) and economic officials from other countries. During these talks, Turker said he would lay out the progress of Turkey’s economic program. /Hurriyet/

    [04] GUARDED TURKISH RESPONSE TO BRITISH DOSSIER ON IRAQ

    At a press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz gave a guarded response to Britain’s dossier on Iraq released by British Prime Minister Tony Blair one day earlier. Dirioz said that the dossier had confirmed the importance of Iraq’s compliance with UN Security Council resolutions. Blair’s report, however, had underlined Britain’s support for any United States operation in Iraq and stated that UN efforts to avoid such intervention would be in vain. In related news, Iraqi opposition groups are set to hold a meeting tomorrow in Nevsehir in central Anatolia. In order not to offend the current Iraqi government, however, Turkey will neither participate in nor be represented at the meeting. At yesterday’s press conference Dirioz also called on the Israeli government to lift its siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s headquarters in Ramallah, adding that Turkey fully supported the recent UN Security Council resolution passed to this end. /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] IKDP, IPUK AGREE ON DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR “FEDERAL IRAQ”

    Two northern Iraq-based Kurdish groups have reportedly reached consensus on a draft constitution for a proposed federal Iraqi republic made up of Kurds and Arabs. The Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (IKDP) and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) put final shape to the text of the draft constitution, initially prepared by the IKDP, during roundtable meetings in northern Iraq between representatives from the two groups on Sept. 18-23. In related news, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday reiterated Turkey’s concern over the possible establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq. Referring to the IKDP and IPUK leaders, Ecevit said, “Though they say that they are opposed to a Kurdish state, they are taking steps to advance this end. If they make those efforts official, more serious problems could arise.” Ecevit remarked that Turkey would not hesitate to take necessary measures should they be called for, but added, “I hope that there will be no need for this.” /Turkiye/

    [06] BREKK: “TURKEY POSTPONING ITS IMF COMMITMENTS WOULD BE IMPROPER”

    International Monetary Fund Turkey Director Odd Per Brekk yesterday came to Turkey accompanied by an IMF delegation to conduct the fourth review of the nation’s economic program. Speaking to reporters, Brekk brushed aside recent indications that Turkey might postpone some of its commitments to the IMF because of the Nov. 3 elections, calling any such move “improper” since the elections date was known when the commitments were drawn up. “During the third review of the program, it was known that Turkey would hold elections in November,” stated Brekk. “We also got a letter of commitment from the government coalition leaders.” Brekk added that Turkey had been successfully applying the economic program and that things should improve greatly after the elections, when political instability ends. /Milliyet/

    [07] FOREIGN MINISTRY: “TURKEY KNOWS WELL HOW TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS”

    At a press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz addressed a number of current issues in Turkish-European Union relations. Commenting on a recent Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) report on Turkey’s implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions, Dirioz said that Turkey was in full compliance with all relevant ECHR decisions, and had also paid whatever financial penalties the court had imposed. Asked about the Council of Europe’s stated intent to send observers to Turkey’s Nov. 3 elections, Dirioz said that the nation had been conducting elections for over 50 years now and had nothing to hide or to be ashamed of. Finally responding to recent European Parliament criticism that Turkey was not displaying a helpful attitude on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Dirioz said that this charge was completely groundless. /Cumhuriyet/

    [08] DERVIS: “POSTPONING ELECTIONS WOULDN’T HELP TURKEY’S EU BID”

    Speaking at a conference in Washington yesterday organized by the Ari Foundation, a nongovernmental organization (NGO), former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis said arguments that Turkey should postpone elections scheduled for Nov. 3 due to December’s European Union summit were mistaken. Dervis stated that postponing elections wouldn’t help Turkey’s European Union membership bid, since the EU wanted to see a determined, powerful government in Turkey. He added that the EU would be pleased if Turkey overcomes its political instability after the elections. Dervis also said that Turkey’s EU membership was achievable from the standpoints of both politics and history as well as economics. “Both Turkey and the EU will benefit from Turkey’s EU membership,” he said. “Turkey wants to get a date from the EU at December’s Copenhagen summit, but it’s much more important that the EU not treat Turkey any differently than the other 13 candidate countries.” /Milliyet/

    [09] DENKTAS’S NEW CYPRUS SETTLEMENT PROPOSES TRIPLE SOVEREIGNTY

    Details of a new plan proposed by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas at his Sept. 11 meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides were released yesterday. Under the plan, sovereignty on the island would have three distinct elements. The Turkish and Greek Cypriot founding states would transfer sovereignty on some issue areas to a common authority, while retaining others, and that authority would then share some of its sovereignty with the European Union, should Cyprus becomes an EU member. For this plan to go into effect, the two founding states would have to officially recognize each other at least 24 hours before the establishment of the common state. However, acceptance of the plan by the Greek Cypriot administration seem unlikely, reports said yesterday. Yet officials from certain Western states reportedly told Denktas that the plan also contained some useful points. Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto, who has been serving as an observer at meetings between Denktas and Clerides, will be travelling to Ankara tomorrow to meet with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] BUSINESS LEADERS CALL FOR ELECTIONS TO BE HELD AS SCHEDULED

    Turkey’s elections should be held as scheduled, on Nov. 3, for the good of the country and its economic health, said a meeting of top Turkish business leaders yesterday. Speaking to a Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association’s (TUSAID) Higher Consultation Board (YIK) meeting in Istanbul, YIK Chairman Muharrem Kayhan said that elections were one of the major planks and expressions of democracy. Tuncay Ozilhan, TUSIAD’s chairman, stated that he was opposed to efforts to postpone the polls since such a delay would sow great instability. Recalling that TUSIAD had previously proposed changes to the Political Parties and Elections Law, Ozilhan said that the need for reform was no excuse to postpone elections. “These matters should be discussed after the elections,” said Ozilhan. /Turkiye/

    [11] SP: “CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO MAKE ELECTIONS JUST AND DEMOCRATIC”

    A number of legal changes are needed to ensure that the Nov. 3 elections are just and democratic and to avoid a great many mistakes, said Felicity Party (SP) Deputy Chairman Mehmer Bekaroglu yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Bekaroglu said that the SP would support whatever changes were necessary to the Political Parties Elections Law. /Aksam/

    [12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…

    [13] WILL A US-IRAQ WAR BEGIN EARLIER THAN EXPECTED? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen writes on recent developments regarding the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:

    There are insistent rumors in Washington diplomatic circles that US President George W. Bush has his mind set on striking Iraq, either sooner or later. Until recently, diplomatic circles were predicting that Bush was planning to go to war next January or February. However, there are now certain signs that this date might be earlier than expected. For instance, the US might strike Iraq soon after November’s US congressional elections or at the beginning of December. These predictions are based on certain observations. President Bush is currently trying to ratchet up the threat of military action against Iraq on both the domestic and international fronts. He on the one hand has urged Congress to authorize him to use any means necessary to disarm and oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if the United Nations fails to deal with him, and on the other accelerated US preparations for war. The US army is continuing to get prepared stealthily. There are feverish preparations afoot, especially in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as in a number of US bases in Europe. Can Saddam Hussein’s recent offer to readmit UN arms inspections without any conditions prevent the US from waging a war in Iraq? There is now a war of words between circles supporting Bush’s doctrine allowing for a ‘preemptive’ strike against Iraq and others strongly opposing such action. For example, former Vice President Al Gore recently said that any unilateral action the Bush administration might take against Saddam could distract from the war on terrorism. However, nobody, for the time being, seems capable of persuading Bush not to launch a military intervention in Iraq. Washington is insistent on its argument that Saddam’s regime should end. But will Saddam just pack his bags and leave Iraq? No, he won’t. That’s why Bush believes that there is no alternative besides a military strike. ‘The sooner the better,’ goes Bush’s reasoning. By the way, most of the US’ closest allies except for Britain disagree with Bush. The Iraq dossier recently released by British Prime Minister Tony Blair showed how serious the threat is. However, the world is also aware that there is nothing new in this dossier. Military experts and former inspectors still believe that Iraq possesses chemical and biological arms and that it is developing nuclear weapons. The real question is whether Iraq actually poses a serious threat to the world. Some experts claim that international terrorists might obtain these weapons and launch attacks which would make Sept. 11 pale in comparison. How can such a development be prevented? Moreover, if Saddam is as ‘mad’ as people believe, what would stop him from using these weapons during a US-Iraq war? Such a development would be even worse for our world.”

    [14] MEETING WITH ISMAIL CEM BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

    Columnist Oktay Eksi writes on his conversation with New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “I recently met with New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem. Since he was once a journalist himself, I consider him a colleague. Although our jobs are very different now, maintaining the distance between a politician and a journalist determined to question him proved impossible during our conversation. The YTP, led by Cem, was born in a very assertive way. It enjoyed almost full media support. The atmosphere in Turkey indicated that the nation’s anger towards the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which seemed a hopeless case in terms of serving Turkey’s interests, would be transformed into votes for the political party to be established by Ismail Cem, Kemal Dervis and Husamettin Ozkan. What’s more, it was hoped that the search for a new movement would result in a big party embracing these three leaders. Cem is keenly aware of the wind that left the YTP’s sails after Dervis joined the CHP and redrew the political map of the left. However, he is acting in the knowledge that a political leader should be brave, determined and sure of himself, and that he should prevail in even the most difficult conditions. For example, although he saw the possibility of the YTP’s not being able to meet the 10% threshold, he said, ‘The downside to holding the elections as scheduled is less than what Turkey would suffer were the elections postponed.’ However, he doesn’t pretend that postponing the elections wouldn’t be in the YTP’s favor. We understood from Cem that he is determined to speak to the concerns of Turkey’s women and disabled citizens and ask for their votes. He’s taking into consideration that women make up half of the nation’s population and that six million handicapped persons live in Turkey. He wants to create a Turkey which respects both of these groups. Probably you have also heard many people observe that our nation is in a very reactive, angry mood before these elections. Cem is saying the very same thing. ‘This anger and reaction is not unjustified,’ he observed. ‘In addition, there is a real gap between the middle class and these reactive people, most of whom are unemployed. I find this situation very dangerous. It’s very easy to come across the wrong way to these people. However, we cannot act irresponsibly. For example, we cannot cross out our signatures given to the International Monetary Fund. We have to meet with the IMF. However, we should hold this meeting to discuss measures to boost production.’ Cem and the YTP have other difficulties because they have yet to receive the aid due them from the Treasury. However, considering that in previous years Cem entered Parliament in spite of very difficult conditions, it seems very reasonable that he might do something unexpected in these elections, too.”

    ARCHIVE

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