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Turkish Press Review, 03-08-21Turkish 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> e-mail : newspot@byegm.gov.tr <caption> <_caption> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning21.08.2003FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… THE CORRUPTION PROBLEM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE) THE MAIN QUESTION ON IRAQ TROOP DEPLOYMENT BY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)CONTENTS
[01] GUL: “THE ATTACK ON THE UN’S BAGHDAD HEADQUARTERS WON’T AFFECT OUR TROOP DEPLOYMENT DECISION”The deadly attack on the United Nations’ Baghdad headquarters this week won’t affect Turkey’s decision on sending troops to the country, said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday. "These are two separate issues," said Turkey’s top diplomat. In addition, the foreign minister expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of UN Representative for Iraq Sergio Vieira De Mello in Tuesday’s attack. Stressing that Iraq would need time to move to self-governance, write a new constitution and hold elections, Gul added, “But it will be good for both Turkey and the other countries of the region if this period lasts for as short a time as possible.” Turkey wants Iraq to live in peace soon and is ready to help towards this goal, said Gul. He stated that contacts with US officials were continuing to clarify the conditions under which Turkish troops might deploy in Iraq. /Turkiye/[02] US SENATOR LUGAR DISCUSSES TROOP DEPLOYMENT ISSUE WITH GUL, CICEKForeign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with US Senator Richard Lugar, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss a possible deployment of Turkish soldiers to Iraq. Speaking afterwards, Lugar said that Washington was not putting pressure on Ankara to send troops, adding that in its decision the nation would be guided by a consideration of its own best interests. “I do believe that Turkey’s participation would help stabilize the country,” Lugar told reporters. “Turkey’s experience is of crucial importance with regards to guaranteeing Iraq’s stability. We think [Turkey and the US] have common interests in a democratic and stable Iraq … So are hopeful of Turkey’s participation.” Later, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek received the US senator. Speaking after their meeting, Cicek said that Turkey’s decision on troop deployment would not be influenced by Tuesday’s car-bomb attack against the United Nations’ headquarters in Baghdad, a sentiment also expressed by Gul. Lugar later also met separately with Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. /Aksam/[03] US GEN. JAMES JONES’ LETTER ON IRAQ DEPLOYMENT TO BE FOCUS OF SUMMITA summit on possible Turkish troop deployments in Iraq is set to be held today at the Prime Ministry. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu are expected to attend the summit chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, discussions are expected to focus on the recent letter sent to Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok from US Gen. James Jones, the supreme commander of allied forces in Europe, attempting to answer Turkey’s questions about the troop deployment issue. The letter reportedly said that Turkish troops could be deployed to the north and west of Baghdad, and that they would be under Turkish command. /Milliyet/[04] TURKMEN ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE IN KIRKUKThe Third Turkmen Assembly is scheduled to convene on Sept. 13-16 in Kirkuk in northern Iraq. A Turkmen representative stated that since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq’s Turkmen was ready to support democracy and that their assembly meeting was part of these efforts. /Turkiye/[05] TALABANI UNDERLINES OPPOSITION TO TURKISH TROOP DEPLOYMENT IN IRAQIraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani and accompanying members of the Iraqi Governing Council yesterday traveled to Sydney, Australia to participate in a meeting with representatives of the Kurdish community there. During the gathering, Talabani argued that Turkey intended to dissolve the current northern Iraqi regional government and parliament. Stressing that the IPUK opposed Turkish troop deployments in Iraq, Talabani warned that Turkish soldiers would encounter resistance from Kurdish guerillas if they attempted any such deployment. In response to previous hostile remarks towards Turkey made by Talabani, US officials recently warned him to watch his words about their longtime ally, underlining that Washington wants Ankara to participate in the Iraq stabilization force. /Star/[06] TURKISH TEAM AIDS BAGHDAD SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTSA Turkish search and rescue team yesterday flew to Iraq to help in rescue operations for possible survivors of Tuesday’s car bomb attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. US Special Forces units are to ensure the safety of the team, which was formed by the Directorate General of Civilian Defense at Washington’s request. The team includes a doctor and nine technicians who will be using two trained sniffer dogs and special equipment in their search. Meanwhile, after meeting with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, US Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday thanked Turkey for its “wonderful response” in sending the team, adding “[This] shows once again the sensitivity of the people of this country.” /Hurriyet/[07] CIVIL SERVANT, GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET TODAY FOR WAGE TALKSAt a second collective bargaining meeting set for today, representatives of the government and civil servants are to discuss salary increase proposals for the coming year. The unions, Kamu-Sen and KESK, conveyed their demands during a previous meeting on Aug. 15, and are now awaiting the government’s response. /All Papers/[08] CHINESE TRADE DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEYA delegation of 62 Chinese businessmen headed by People’s Republic of China Trade Minister Lu Fuyuan is to arrive in Turkey today. During the group’s one-week visit, Chinese firms’ representatives are set to meet with their Turkish counterparts to seek ways to further develop bilateral trade relations. /Turkiye/[09] TURKEY BEATS MOLDOVA 2-0 IN FRIENDLY MATCHTurkey beat Moldova 2-0 yesterday in a friendly match at Ankara’s 19 Mayis Stadium as part of its buildup for next month’s European Football Championship qualifiers. Goal-scorers were Nihat Kahveci and Okan Yilmaz. /All papers/[10] EFES PILSEN ISTANBUL WORLD CUP II BEGINS IN ISTANBULTurkey’s Efes Pilsen World Cup II summer basketball tournament began yesterday at Istanbul’s Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall with a hard-fought match between the two Group B favorites, Serbia-Montenegro and Italy, with the former winning 82-74. This was followed by Russia beating Turkey in Group A by 75-66. Serbia-Montenegro vs. New Zealand and Turkey-Latvia matches will be held today, with the top two sides in each of the three-team groups set to move to the semifinals. /All papers/[11] FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS… FROM THE COLUMNS…[12] THE CORRUPTION PROBLEM BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on Turkey’s corruption problem and how to solve it. A summary of his column is as follows:“According to international statistics, Turkey has one of the world’s worst corruption problems. This issue is damaging our credibility and respectability on the world stage. Parliament is forming commissions to tackle it. However, Parliament also has a habit of prematurely leaking results of investigations to the media. We can’t forget that arrest and raids under the Ecevit-led government were trumpeted to the media, but later turned out to be mere shows and thus ended badly. Consequently, the Ecevit coalition lost points as well votes. The previous administration could neither end corruption nor establish a mechanism to expose previous corruption and recover stolen money and goods. Now a report prepared by the Security Directorate General on the reasons behind corruption and measures to tackle it suggests certain steps we must take. In particular, our inability so far to recover money stolen from the state has constituted a national disaster. The justice system and legal circles should find a solution to this problem, one which can be implemented quickly. If Turkey can free itself of the corruption scourge, it will emerge a better country, and after overcoming the Copenhagen criteria hurdles, it will be at a level where it can also meet the Maastricht criteria. Democracy and justice cannot survive in a land ruled by bribery and corruption.” [13] THE MAIN QUESTION ON IRAQ TROOP DEPLOYMENT BY ISMET BERKAN (RADIKAL)Columnist Ismet Berkan comments on the prospect of Turkey deploying its troops to Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:“The United Nations’ headquarters in Baghdad fell prey Tuesday to a huge truck-bomb attack that killed more than 20 UN staffers and injured scores more. All of these people had left their own warm, safe homes and were in Baghdad just to try and help the Iraqis. As I watched the horrific scenes of the shattered building and bleeding victims on television, two retired generals were commenting on this devastating incident. I couldn’t believe my ears. These two retired generals, who I believe were once engaged in our own fight against terrorism, were simply shedding crocodile tears. On the surface they seemed sad, but inside they were very pleased indeed. There is a new trend in Turkey which I call ‘reactive politics,’ a sheer reflexive stance induced by a reaction to the West and particularly to the US. One may find the Iraq war unjust, but one should also realize the gravity of the actual situation there. We are Turkish citizens. That is why we must see things from Turkey’s side. If this perspective is pointing at some foreign policy issues, then of course, we must feel ourselves bound by certain moral rules. I think that the main question we need to answer is this: Would a stable, democratic Iraq – if that at all is possible, given that the country is being dragged further into chaos with each passing day – serve Turkey’s interests or not? In other words, would a chaotic situation in Iraq, one in which invasion forces get bogged down in a swamp by mounting terrorist attacks and a prolonged state of turmoil, be to our country’s benefit? Could a possible US failure in Iraq – as our two retired generals possibly wished – actually work in Turkey’s best interests? It is one thing to debate whether the future stability of Iraq would be to Ankara’s benefit, and it’s quite another to discuss the prospect of sending Turkish troops there to help Iraq’s stabilization.” 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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