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Turkish Press Review, 02-03-25

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

25.03.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] ECEVIT TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT
  • [02] CEM: “TURKEY HAS TWO GOALS”
  • [03] KARZAI TO VISIT TURKEY
  • [04] UK EXTENDS ITS COMMAND OF PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN
  • [05] TURK: “CAPITAL PUNISHMENT PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED WITHIN THREE YEARS”
  • [06] YILMAZ TO VISIT CUBA
  • [07] GREEK ENERGY MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
  • [08] TURKEY EARNED $7.4 BILLION FROM PRIVATIZATION OVER 17 YEARS
  • [09] OECD: “THE TURKISH ECONOMY IS RECOVERING”
  • [10] EU GRANT TO SUPPORT TURKISH SMALL BUSINESSES
  • [11] MEETINGS TO DEVELOP TURKISH CYPRIOT ECONOMY
  • [12] WOOLSEY: “TURKEY’S SUPPORT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT”
  • [13] SIMGE PAPER CO. MERGES WITH FRENCH CONCERN
  • [14] “FORUM ISTANBUL” TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S FUTURE
  • [15] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
  • [16] CLARITY BY MUMTAZ SOYSAL (CUMHURIYET)
  • [17] POST-SADDAM PERIOD BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (SABAH)

  • [01] ECEVIT TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will leave for Bucharest, the capital of Romania today for a one-day trip to attend the NATO Candidate Countries’ Heads of State and Government Summit. Ecevit is expected to attend the opening of the summit and address the meeting. He is also scheduled to meet with Romanian President Ion Iliescu and Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, as well as his Croatian counterpart Ivica Racan and US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. /All Papers/

    [02] CEM: “TURKEY HAS TWO GOALS”

    Speaking at an East-West Institute meeting organized by the Eurasia Strategy Group yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey had two goals, namely to obtain European Union membership and to become a center in Eurasia. Cem also said, “I believe that as long as Turkey has good relations with the EU, this will positively affect Turkey’s relations with the Balkans and Eurasia, and that while Turkey maintains good relations with the Middle East and Eurasia, Turkey’s image in the European Union will improve.” /Hurriyet/

    [03] KARZAI TO VISIT TURKEY

    On the heels of last week’s visit from US Vice President Dick Cheney, this week Ankara will be the scene of busy diplomatic traffic. Afghan interim government Prime Minister Hamid Karzai, UN Special Envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and Macedonian President Boris Traykovski are all expected to visit Ankara. During his visit on March 27-29, Karzai is scheduled to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Major topics on the agenda are recent developments in the command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan and Turkey’s possible contributions to restructuring the Afghan military and economy, as well as education and humanitarian aid. /Turkiye/

    [04] UK EXTENDS ITS COMMAND OF PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN

    British Foreign Minister Jack Straw stated over the weekend that the UK would continue to lead the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan beyond next month. Straw remarked that he did not expect British troops to remain in the country for "very long." Stating that Turkey’s possible future command of the force had been thrown into doubt, Straw said, “We said we'd be there for a matter of months, as a lead authority it's going to be extended for a little while, but in the long march of history this is a limited operation.” Straw also recalled that Turkey had concerns on the financial burden of leading the forces due to its domestic economic crisis, adding, “I’m not absolutely certain Turkey would be willing to take over the role.” /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] TURK: “CAPITAL PUNISHMENT PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED WITHIN THREE YEARS”

    While touring a prison in Bartin yesterday, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk told reporters that Turkey’s problem concerning the abolition of capital punishment, a pressing issue for its EU membership, would be solved in three years’ time. Turk said, “Even if Turkey no longer actually carries out capital punishment, it is the only country in Europe with this sanction still on its books,” Turk said. “The problem of capital punishment will be solved within three years. There is an exception in the European Convention of Human Rights supplementary protocol no. 6 saying that capital punishment is allowable for crimes committed during war or threat of war. Now there is a drive to abolish capital punishment in these cases as well. Turkey cannot stand outside these developments, as it wants to become an EU member. The existence of capital punishment is in some cases preventing the extradition of people who have committed crimes in Turkey and then taken refuge in European countries. This is hindering our anti-crime efforts.” /Sabah/

    [06] YILMAZ TO VISIT CUBA

    Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will travel to Cuba on March 31 to pay a five-day visit to the Caribbean nation. Yilmaz will be accompanied by State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu and Cavit Kavak, Yilmaz’s foreign affairs advisor. Yilmaz is scheduled to meet with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and other officials to discuss ship construction as well as cigar production. /Aksam/

    [07] GREEK ENERGY MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY

    Greek Energy Minister Akis Cohacopulos will travel to Turkey on Thursday to meet with his Turkish counterpart Zeki Cakan. He is to hold negotiations concerning a project to transport Iranian and Siberian gas from Turkey to Greece. According to Cohacopulos the realization of this project could do a great deal to resolve problems between Turkey and Greece and to facilitate bilateral rapprochement. The project’s estimated price tag is $300 million. /Sabah/

    [08] TURKEY EARNED $7.4 BILLION FROM PRIVATIZATION OVER 17 YEARS

    State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu said yesterday that since 1985, Turkey had earned revenues of $7.4 billion from its privatization program. Answering an interrogation motion by Felicity Party (SP) Ankara Deputy Zeki Celik, Karakoyunlu said that over the last 15 years privatization had not been realized at the desired level due to a lack of technological knowledge as well as political instability. He stressed, however, 1998-2000 had seen the pace of developments pick up with 30 public organizations privatized and 118 facilities and estates sold. The state minister also stated that privatizations worth some $1.5 billion were planned for this year. “If the privatization process is carried out by a fully authorized, independent and legally empowered organization, it will be done more efficiently and quickly,” he added. /Turkiye/

    [09] OECD: “THE TURKISH ECONOMY IS RECOVERING”

    Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Turkey Desk Chief Alexandra Bibbee said yesterday that the Turkish economy was recovering. Alexandra also said that the organization was working to gauge the growth of the Turkish economy for the current year. “An economic program supported by the International Monetary Fund can be successful if the proper measures are taken beforehand, but for this success the passage of time is also needed,” Alexandra added. /Star/

    [10] EU GRANT TO SUPPORT TURKISH SMALL BUSINESSES

    Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu held a press conference yesterday to introduce a new program entitled “Development Program for Turkish Chambers.” Stating that the EU would grant one million Euros to the program, Hisarciklioglu said that the program’s aim was to improve the quality of the services which Turkish small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) provide. Oskar Benedikt, economic counselor of the European Commission Representation to Turkey, stated at the press conference that the EU was working in collaboration with the EU Investment Bank to support Turkish SMEs. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] MEETINGS TO DEVELOP TURKISH CYPRIOT ECONOMY

    A number of development models for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were discussed at meetings jointly organized by the Turkish Democracy Foundation (TDV) and the Turkish Cypriot Association of Development Platform (KTKP-D) over the weekend. Bulent Akarcali, Motherland Party deputy chairman as well as TDV chairman, presented a model proposing to establish a technology center on the island much like the US’ famed Silicon Valley. Akarcali stated that the island might become a center for scientific studies using advanced computer technology. Furthermore, TRNC Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar stated that the TRNC would always stand by Turkey and that the two countries would accompany each other on their paths towards the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] WOOLSEY: “TURKEY’S SUPPORT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT”

    Speaking to CNN yesterday, former CIA Director James Woolsey said that Turkey’s support would be vitally important for any military operation against Iraq. Saying that the US wouldn’t need the support of any country besides Turkey for such an operation, he added, “But to get this support, the US needs to have serious consultations with Turkey.” On the same program, he also asserted that Iraq had connections which lay behind last September’s attacks on the US. /Hurriyet/

    [13] SIMGE PAPER CO. MERGES WITH FRENCH CONCERN

    Antalis, one of Europe’s largest paper companies, announced over the weekend that it was merging with Turkish paper company Simge. Paris-based Antalis is active in 34 countries with annual revenues of 2.5 billion euros and sales of 2 million tons. Speaking of the merger, Simge Board of Directors Chairman Ibrahim Sisman said, “With Simge’s experience and Antalis’ know-how, our aim will be to elevate the standards in the paper industry.” /Aksam/

    [14] “FORUM ISTANBUL” TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S FUTURE

    In the leadup to the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic, Turkey’s future concerning such issues as democracy, politics, law and economics will be discussed during the “Forum Istanbul” to be held in Istanbul on Tuesday and Wednesday. At the forum, experts will discuss Turkey’s place in the world from 1923 to 2003, and attendees will include President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, State Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, Harvard University’s Benjamin Friedman and Dani Rodrik and Yale University’s Oktay Sinanoglu as well as internationally prestigious figures from the economic, scientific and political worlds, including Fatih Terim, Cem Kozlu and Vural Oger. /Aksam/

    [15] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS

    [16] CLARITY BY MUMTAZ SOYSAL (CUMHURIYET)

    Columnist and constitutional scholar Mumtaz Soysal writes on EU-Turkish relations regarding Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Last week’s developments have brought a new clarity to the Cyprus dimension of Turkish-EU relations which was not recognized due to groundless expectations. This clarity emergede as a consequence in search of a solution. The basic factor which was influential and still continues to be so, is not accepting the facts of the island. Far beyond the discussions of legality and recognition, the reality experienced is that there are two separate states existing on the south and north of Cyprus. Whatever others may believe the state on the north may be, whether it is the result of a military operation, is ‘under occupation,’ or is kept alive due to Turkey’s protection, it is uundeniably there. Whatever we may think about the state in the south, whether it was formed by excluding Turks from partnership, a product of Hellenistic imperialism, or a deception of the whole world, it still exists. The fact that one of them is recognized only by Turkey and the other by all the world except Turkey does not alter this fact. On the other hand, it is clear that a solution can only be achieved with a new partnership they will jointly form. In this state of affairs, it is expected that the European Union, which is searching for a solution, should set aside all the matters of legality and recognition and treat both of them as states, and cease recognizing the state in the south as the only state on the island in spite of the facts, and should not admit it as a full member to the organization. But the stance taken is contrary to this view and the South, with the full support of the EU and the confidence it has due to the promise of EU full membership, isn’t moving toward a just partnership. It is a well-known fact that the embargo implemented on the North is sustained not by the South, but by other states which are afraid of its crying foul. That is why an exclusion of the South in the fields of transport, communications, trade and sports is going on. This is one of the reasons why a solution cannot be reached on the island. No one can expect that it is a fair contribution to a solution to say to a society suffering under an embargo, ‘Either you accept the solution the South wants or your exclusion from the outer world will continue.’ However, the European Union, which says it is in favor of a solution on the island isn’t lifting a finger on the issue and hasn’t budged from its stance excluding the North. In such a situation it is hard to stay put without asking these questions. Does the EU want a fair solution to the problem on the island or to sever Turkey’s ties with Cyprus? More importantly, does it intend to close the doors of the EU to Turkey by accusing it of not aiding the search for a solution?”

    [17] POST-SADDAM PERIOD BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (SABAH)

    Retired Ambassador Sukru Elekdag writes on Turkish-Iraqi relations and what may be done in case of an operation against Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “Even as Turkey’s strategy towards Iraq should be focused on the post- Saddam period, we see that it is benig bogged down in dealing with issues saving the day. With this near-sighted approach, it is impossible for Turkey to defend its national interests in the post-Saddam period when the cards will be dealt anew. In fact, just like the other states in the region, Turkey has also pointed out to the US the dangers of a military operation and asked Bush to solve the feud between him and Saddam within the framework of the UN. However, if despite all warnings, the US insists on toppling Saddam, Turkey has three alternatives to choose from. First, it may decline participate in any way in a military operation. Second, it may open up Incirlik and other bases for the use of the US and help in supplying logistical support. Third, it may not limit its contributions to the operation to bases and logistical support but actually participate in the military operation. Reportedly, both civilian and military officials are both a taking realpolitik appproach in not dwelling on the first option, but instead are in favor of limiting Turkey’s contribution in line with the second. I believe that such a line of action would create serious threats for Turkey’s national interests as a war against Saddam will lead to a natural alliance between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Barzani, the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (KPU) led by Talabani and the United States. Thus, when new political restructuring and arrangements are taken up, Barzani and Talabani will have a say on the matter, and opportunities will be created for the establishment of a Kurdish state. That is why Turkey has to take its place in the operation against Iraq to protect its vital interests and not leave the field in northern Iraq to Barzani, Talabani or other opposition leaders. However, if Turkey actively participates in an operation against Iraq, it has to reach an accord with the US on the following issues apart from the compensation of the financial losses it may suffer: In the post-Saddam period, Ankara must have a say in the new Iraqi political restructuring on constitutional arrangements and all doors for the establishment of a Kurdish state should be closed. Musul and Kirkuk, where Turkmens live, should be left in an autonomous Turkmen region and the rights and security of Turkmens should be constitutionally guaranteed on an equal basis with Arabs and Kurds. In addition, the US must be able to end Israel’s stance regarding Palestine and gather the sides around a negotiation table. Thus it will soften the opposition in the Arab world against a military operation and reduce the tension in the region. In such a climate some Arab states may participate in the operation and the problems which could emerge on Turkey’s participation as the only Muslim state will be averted.”

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