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Turkish Press Review, 02-02-05

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> Press &amp; Information Turkish Press Turkish Press Review &gt;&gt; Foreign Press Guide Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

05.02.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] ECEVIT WARNS SADDAM
  • [02] ECEVIT: "ALL NEEDS OF THE QUAKE VICTIMS WILL BE MET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"
  • [03] DERVIS: "STOP COMPARING TURKEY TO ARGENTINA"
  • [04] CEM MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU, ANNAN
  • [05] DENKTAS, CLERIDES DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES
  • [06] BAHCELI VISITS QUAKE-STRICKEN AREAS
  • [07] GREECE, FRANCE, GERMANY OFFER AID AFTER QUAKE
  • [08] TAYLOR: "TURKEY HAS IMPRESSED ME GREATLY"
  • [09] $9 BILLION ON THE WAY FROM IMF
  • [10] WORLD BANK BOARD MEETING POSTPONED
  • [11] WORLD BANK DELEGATION VISITS TOBB
  • [12] ISRAELI NAVAL OFFICIAL VISITS TURKISH COUNTERPART
  • [13] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN SELECTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND RAPPORTEUR
  • [14] FOREIGN MINISTRY REBUKES SWEDISH AMBASSADOR OVER BROCHURE
  • [15] CHIBBER: "TAXES SHOULD BE CUT FURTHER"
  • [16] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [17] WHO'S AFRAID OF DIALOGUE? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [18] GREECE AND THE PKK BY SAYGI OZTURK (STAR)
  • [19] NO PROGRESS IN SIGHT SO LONG AS DASHAK MENTALITY PREVAILS BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

  • [01] ECEVIT WARNS SADDAM

    In a letter sent to Iraqi embassy in Turkey this week, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that he should allow United Nations weapons inspectors back into his country to carry out their work. Otherwise, Ecevit warned, US intervention in Iraq might follow. "Turkey may also be adversely affected by the severe consequences which could come if Iraq does not allow in the UN inspectors," Ecevit stated. Turkey is concerned that a military operation to Iraq would compromise the country's territorial integrity, and has taken pains to stress its opposition to such an operation. But of course the success of its efforts requires some important steps to be taken by Saddam, Ecevit added in his letter. /Hürriyet/

    [02] ECEVIT: "ALL NEEDS OF THE QUAKE VICTIMS WILL BE MET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE"

    The Cabinet met yesterday to evaluate developments in the wake of Sunday's earthquake which struck the Western Anatolian province of Afyon. Stating that state institutions had learned important lessons from previous earthquakes, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit remarked that the government had mobilized rapidly after the quake and immediately dispatched teams to the quake-hit region to help the victims. The members of the Cabinet were briefed on the current situation in Afyon, the numbers of dead and injured people, collapsed and damaged buildings as well as ongoing search and rescue efforts. "Our civil defense units are continuing their work in the region," said Ecevit. "I believe the needs of quake victims will be met as soon as possible." The Interior Ministry's Crisis Management Center also announced yesterday that 43 people had been killed and 300 others injured by the quake. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] DERVIS: "STOP COMPARING TURKEY TO ARGENTINA"

    Speaking to French daily Le Figaro yesterday, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis asserted that Turkey's situation was very different from Argentina's, adding in a plea, "Stop comparing Turkey to Argentina." Speaking also at the World Economic Forum in New York, Dervis said that Turkey has received the support of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank at the right time. Dervis also said that Turkey should break out of the boom-and-bust economic cycle and work to establish a pattern of steady growth. /Hürriyet/

    [04] CEM MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU, ANNAN

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papendreou, both of whom are attending the World Economic Forum in New York, met yesterday for talks. During their one-hour meeting, the two ministers reportedly agreed to begin work to explore controversial issues between the two countries concerning the Mediterreanean. Meanwhile, Cem also met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday and exchanged views, on the Iraq and Cyprus issues in particular. /Turkiye/

    [05] DENKTAS, CLERIDES DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides met yesterday in the third week of the their direct talks process to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. Following their one-and-a-half-hour meeting, Denktas told reporters that the two sides were negotiating security issues and that after completing discussions on it, they would take up discussions of land and ownership. /Turkiye/

    [06] BAHCELI VISITS QUAKE-STRICKEN AREAS

    Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli yesterday visited the areas which were hit by Sunday's earthquake. He first visited the crisis center in the town of Bolvadin in the Afyon province. Proceeding to the town of Sultandagi, where the quake was centered, accompanied by State Minister Faruk Bal, Bahceli said that the government and all other state authorities had mobilized to heal the damages wrought by the quake. He also visited the town of Cay, one of the locales hit hardest. Talking to citizens whose shops in the small industrial compound were destroyed by the quake, Bahceli vowed to reconstruct them. /Turkiye/

    [07] GREECE, FRANCE, GERMANY OFFER AID AFTER QUAKE

    In the wake of the earthquake which hit the towns of Afyon on Sunday morning and left 43 dead and some 300 wounded, as well as scores of collapsed buildings, the first offer of international aid came from Greece. It was soon followed by offers from Germany and France. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu also expressed their grief and condolences to the Turkish nation. During his meeting yesterday with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in New York at the World Economic Forum, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou conveyed his condolences and said that Greece was ready to extend any help necessary to Turkey. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sent a message to Cem offering whatever help was needed. In addition, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit conveying their condolences and offers of aid. /Turkiye/

    [08] TAYLOR: "TURKEY HAS IMPRESSED ME GREATLY"

    Speaking at the World Economic Forum in New York yesterday, John Taylor, the US Treasury's undersecretary for foreign affairs, said, "Turkey has impressed me greatly." He also stated that the US was very happy with Turkey's performance and that it should continue to make reforms. /Hürriyet/

    [09] $9 BILLION ON THE WAY FROM IMF

    The International Monetary Fund Executive Board yesterday approved Turkey's new standby agreement. Under this agreement, Turkey will receive $16.2 billion over the period 2002-2004, with $9 billion of that sum on the way immediately. /Hürriyet/

    [10] WORLD BANK BOARD MEETING POSTPONED

    A World Bank Executive Board meeting which had been scheduled for today has been postponed. The Reuters news agency reported yesterday that the bank would instead hold the meeting in March, where it will discuss a $1.3 billion Programmatic Financial and Public Sector Adjustment Loan (PFPSAL) to be given to Turkey. The WB loan will be used for completing the reconstruction of Turkey's banking sector, the privatization and reconstruction of its public banks, and the improvement of the entire banking sector. In the public sector, this loan is to be used for work on Procurement Law and Public Investment Law, improving the tax system and management, and initiating public expense reform. /Aksam/

    [11] WORLD BANK DELEGATION VISITS TOBB

    A World Bank delegation chaired by Regional Manager Joseph Battat yesterday paid a visit to Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Risat Hisarciklioglu. Stating that the two had discussed establishing an Investment Promotion Agency in Turkey to attract more foreign investment, Hisarciklioglu said, "The delegation requested our help on the issue." Another meeting is expected to be held with the delegation today to discuss preparations for the next Turkish-American Business Council meeting. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] ISRAELI NAVAL OFFICIAL VISITS TURKISH COUNTERPART

    Israeli Naval Chief Vice Admiral Yedidia Yaari, who is currently visiting Turkey, met with Turkish Naval Chief Admiral Bulent Alpkaya yesterday. Alpkaya stated that he believed the Israeli vice admiral's visit would greatly contribute to the improvement of relations between the two nations' navies. Vice Admiral Yaari is to leave Turkey on Feb. 8. /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN SELECTED AS NORTHERN IRELAND RAPPORTEUR

    The Council of Europe Parliamentarians Assembly (COEPA) announced yesterday that it had selected Democratic Left Party (DSP) Izmir Deputy Atilla Mutman to a post where he would be assigned to study Catholic-Protestant clash in Northern Ireland. In the leadup to a planned bureau in Northern Ireland, the council said, there is a need for an interim representative, which is where Mutman comes in. As a Muslim, the council reasoned, Mutman can be more objective and help to facilitate peace. Mutman is currently waiting for the council's Secretariat to complete a preliminary study and will soon thereafter go to the country. There he will listen to the various parties and after completing his investigation, he will prepare a report for the COEPA. /Milliyet/

    [14] FOREIGN MINISTRY REBUKES SWEDISH AMBASSADOR OVER BROCHURE

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Sweden's Ambassador in Ankara Anne Dismorr yesterday to express Turkey's official dissatisfaction with a brochure which was prepared and recently distributed by the Sweden Institute in Izmir. The brochure titled "Sweden and Turkey" included certain statements alleging that Turks do not constitute a nation. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ugur Ziyal received Dismorr yesterday and stated that he considered the distribution of the brochures a grave mistake which could seriously damage relations between Sweden and Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [15] CHIBBER: "TAXES SHOULD BE CUT FURTHER"

    World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chibber visited Istanbul Greater Municipality Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna yesterday and received a briefing on the municipality's investments from Dursun Ali Codur, the city's deputy secretary-general. Following the briefing, Gurtuna spoke about a new law that would reduce the municipalities' share of task revenues from 5% to 4%. Chibber stated, "In spite of its problems, the situation of Istanbul has improved. The government should make further cuts to taxes and interest rates. Istanbul has many needs, and we want to support this city." /Cumhuriyet/

    [16] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [17] WHO'S AFRAID OF DIALOGUE? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Turkish-Greek dialogue. A summary of his column is as follows: "The dialogue on the Aegean finally went public a few days ago when Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou in New York. From now on, during meetings between Turkey and Greece, our disagreements on the Aegean will also be discussed. Cem and Papandreou will hold these meetings with the participation of the two foreign ministries' political directors, that is, deputy undersecretaries, and some experts. Of course meanwhile the two ministers will direct the negotiations and when they meet again at the joint European Union-Organization for the Islamic Conference meeting in Istanbul next week, they will discuss these issues. It is interesting that while announcing their dialogue in New York, Cem said that they were not trying to raise hopes and that they do not claim that great results will follow. According to him, both parties will discuss their views and concerns in joint talks to be held on the Aegean issue and try to discover their points of agreement rather of disagreement. We should not be surprised that Cem has a cautious manner just like Papandreou. First of all, expectations should not be exaggerated at the beginning of this decision. In addition, both countries are overly sensitive about the positions they have argued up to now. On such a stage, declarations and behavior that might cause misunderstandings should be avoided. The articles appearing in the Greek press last week showed that circles in Athens are viewing the dialogue through their own particular slant. For example, the Greek Elefterotipia daily said in an article entitled 'Who's Afraid of Dialogue?' that issues that considered off the table, such as the territorial waters and airspace, could not be discussed and that the discussions would only be about the continental shelf. But on the contrary, Cem's declaration gives the impression that issues besides the continental shelf will also be discussed as part of these 'study meetings.' For if Cem and Papandreou had not reached a consensus of principle on the issues to be discussed during their contacts, they would not have ordered officials at their ministries to start such negotiations. It is inevitable that during discussions on the continental shelf, the other disagreements on the Aegean issue in connection with this problem will also be discussed. There is a non-governmental group called the 'Turkish-Greek Forum,' which is made up of experienced Turkish and Greek ex-foreign ministers, diplomats, scholars and writers, who work for a rapprochement between Turkey and Greece and for a solution to the problems between the two countries. In July 2000, the forum presented a report to the ministries of the two countries about ways to discuss the Aegean problems. As I wrote then, this report drew a sort of road map for the Greek and Turkish ministries about their manner in these discussions. Now we hope that as indicated in the forum's report, the dialogue that covers the Aegean issues will from now on continue uninterrupted."

    [18] GREECE AND THE PKK BY SAYGI OZTURK (STAR)

    Columnist Saygi Ozturk writes on allegations that the Greek government is employing PKK members as spies. A summary of his column is as follows: "No matter how much Turkey acts with good intentions, there are no signs that Greece is returning the favor by abandoning its bad old habit of supporting the PKK. Reportedly, Greece's November 17 terrorist organization, which is believed to have state support, has launched a new arrangement to use members of the terrorist PKK in actions against Turkey. Greece, through the help of PKK sympathizers, is gathering information about our military units in Thrace. A new report issued by the Directorate General of Security points to the close state of relations between the PKK and November 17 and states that November 17 is in close touch with Abu Nidal, the RAF (a faction of the Red Army. The German terrorist group), Action Directe (Direct action in France), CCC (Fighting Communist Cells, in Belgium). The report also puts forth that Nov. 17 is in collaboration with a number of other illegal groups, among whom the PKK is also cited. It alleges that Nov. 17 has close ties with Greek intelligence and security units. A close, disciplined group of 20 forms the nucleus of Nov. 17. The report levels harsh criticism against the Greek government on issues such as Cyprus as well as Greek-Turkish, Greek-NATO and Greek-EU relations, which it considers to be of utmost importance for the country's national interests. Greece is the clearly the weakest link in the international alliance against terrorism. The unwillingness of Greek security forces to capture the members of November 17 and the ELA terrorist group has been noted by everyone. Despite certain steps it has taken against terrorism, the Greek Government has been unable to gain the trust of the international community in this fight. The report also states that the Tsamouria Liberation Army (UCC) was responsible for a number of explosions in Greece. Tsamouria is in the northeast of Greece, where Muslim Albanians live. The Tsamouria Albanians, whose problems are still beneath the international radar, not known by the international community are claiming that Greece has carried out a genocide against them and are requesting that the Greek administration grant them basic human rights and the recognition of their right to own property, compensation, and return to their own territories. The terrorist actions stemming from the Tsamouria problem have a significant meaning for those who can see the support that Greece is lending to the PKK."

    [19] NO PROGRESS IN SIGHT SO LONG AS DASHAK MENTALITY PREVAILS BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

    Columnist Semih Idiz comments on the relations between Turkey and Armenia and the impossibility of improving relations between both countries. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in New York may have led to expectations in Armenia. Furthermore, the statements by Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian following the meeting may have fanned these expectations. Oskanian said that there was a climate on both sides which would allow for the discussion of problems through direct negotiations. However, his warning that expectations should not be exaggerated depicts the mood of the meeting more realistically. At the moment, I don't believe that in Yerevan the mood for discussing the problems through direct talks is prevalent. On the contrary, with the active contribution of the Dashnak Party, Erevan has killed some initiatives which could have been productive. This brings to mind the question, where did Oskanian got the impression that there was a mood suitable for direct talks? Even if there is such a mood in Turkey, it is certain that the Armenians are not ready for it yet. For the Armenian government who believes that it gained significant ground in its campaign against Turkey in 2000, and it did everything it could to dampen this conciliatory mood and continues to do so. If we take a glance at the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission's studies, we see that even the formation of such a commission exploded like a bomb in Armenia. Dashnaks began to label as traitors those Armenians who attended this commission and began to threaten them through Foreign Minister Oskanian. The Yerevan government requested that the Armenian members of the commission withdraw. The cooperation of the government and the Dashnak Party yielded their desired result, and this commission collapsed. The reason for the unwillingness of Yerevan to take part in such independent commissions is not hard to guess. Armenia, working arm-in-arm with the Armenian diaspora, believes that it is scoring victories against Turkey and thus could not tolerate such an independent and important initiative which would snatch the reins from its hands, especially at a time when the 'Second Armenia-Armenian Diaspora Conference' was expected to meet soon on this 27-28 May. The aim of this conference was described as assessing the successes achieved in the year 2000 for the Armenian national cause and determine new strategies directed towards the future for new successes. However, the Sept.11 terrorist attacks were a disaster both for the diaspora Armenians and Armenia it self as, Turkey once more became Washington's favorite ally and the Armenian issue was thrust into a corner by US politicians. Notwithstanding this fact, Armenia has expressed its intentions to resume its old course where it left off through using influential politicians. Both Oskanian and Armenian Ambassador to Washington Kirakosian reiterated in the past few weeks that the recognition of the Armenian genocide was the focal point of Armenian foreign policy. In other words, Sept. 11 didn't dissuade the Armenian government from pursuing its stubborn single-track policy. Against such a backdrop, we must wonder how exactly Yerevan is ready for the dialogue that Oskanian mentioned. The mood in Yerevan seems more suitable for a monologue than a dialogue, namely a monologue consisting of a laundry list of things they want from Turkey and expect to Turkey to comply with. In short, if the Armenians don't free themselves from the strengthening Dashnak mentality, Oskanian's hopes for a dialogue with Turkey will remain only a dream. The contacts between Armenians and Turks should be continued, despite all intimidation on the part of the Dashnaks and the obsessive policies of the Armenian government."

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