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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-18

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

18.06.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] SEZER VISITS IRAN
  • [02] SEZER POINTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
  • [03] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"
  • [04] SP GIVES CONDITIONAL SUPPORT TO DSP
  • [05] THIRD PETITION FILED AGAINST RTUK LAW
  • [06] GUREL: "GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE AN EU MEMBER BEFORE TURKEY"
  • [07] LEADERS' SUMMIT TODAY TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMY
  • [08] ECHR GRAND CHAMBER TO HEAR RP CLOSURE CASE
  • [09] COOPERATIVE BEST EFFORT-2002 MANEUVERS BEGIN IN GEORGIA
  • [10] THREE COUNTRIES' JOURNALISTS MEET IN ANKARA
  • [11] ECEVIT MEETS WITH ECONOMY OFFICIALS
  • [12] IFC: "WE HAVE BELIEF AND CONFIDENCE IN TURKEY"
  • [13] BREKK: "TURKEY CAN REACH ITS TARGETS FOR THIS YEAR"
  • [14] HARVARD TURCOLOGY JOURNAL PRESENTED TO HACETTEPE
  • [15] CARDINAL MARTINI TO VISIT SELJUK
  • [16] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [17] PRESIDENT SEZER'S IRAN VISIT BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
  • [18] WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE PRESIDENT?
  • [19] BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)

  • [01] SEZER VISITS IRAN

    President Ahmet Necdet Sezer went to Tehran, Iran yesterday to pay a two- day official visit upon the invitation of Iranian President Muhammed Khatami.Before his departure, Sezer stated that he would search for ways to improve economic, trade and security relations between the two countries. He said that the Turkish-Iranian Joint Business Council (KEK) would start work as a result of this visit, and that Turkish literature would be taught in Iranian universities. Sezer then left for Tehran. After a welcoming ceremony at the Sadabat Palace, the two leaders met face-to-face and then interdelegationary meetings were held. At a joint press conference, Sezer said that Turkey wanted to improve its relations with all its neighbors, including Iran on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, especially in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Turkish president also met with Iranian Vice President Muhammed Riza Arif and then attended a dinner hosted by Khatami in his and the delegation's honour. /All Papers/

    [02] SEZER POINTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

    Before leaving for Iran for an official visit, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended a ceremony held in the province of Igdir to initiate a project to prevent wind erosion. Addressing the ceremony, Sezer said that activities to preserve Turkey's natural beauty and work to increase the nation's prosperity were both going well. He remarked that Turkey should follow the articles of the United Nations Accord for Struggle Against Deforestation to which it is a signatory. /Turkiye/

    [03] BUYUKANIT: "TURKEY'S FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"

    Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said yesterday that new methods and new arrangements were needed to fight the changed face of terrorism. Speaking at the opening ceremony of "Silk Road-2002 General- Admiral Seminar," Buyukanit characterized terrorism as "the plague of our age." Buyukanit said that Turkey's struggle against terrorism should be supported by all international platforms, including the UN, NATO and the EU. Arguing that terrorism respects no boundaries and thus is a very serious problem for all countries, Buyukanit remarked that international cooperation girded with great determination was vitally important. He praised the European Union's adding the PKK to its list of terrorist groups, but urged it to also include KADEK, which he said was a clear continuation of the terrorist group under a different name. /Turkiye/

    [04] SP GIVES CONDITIONAL SUPPORT TO DSP

    The Felicity Party (SP) yesterday indicated provisional support for the Democratic Left Party's (DSP) death penalty abolition push in the context of the DSP's tour to support its initiative. The SP suggested yesterday that arrangements concerning the broadcasts and education in mother tongue languages should be made together with the issue of the death penalty. While the True Path Party (DYP) has announced that it can't support abolishing the death penalty, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has asked that a constitutional amendment on abolition of the death penalty be submitted. The DSP staff, which is continuing to work on a bill concerning the abolition of the death penalty, visited the SP group yesterday and requested its support. The SP staff had previously evaluated the issue at the Prime Ministry Council and now decided to support the decision to lift the death penalty. However, the SP decided not to announce its full support before the bill, which the DSP is to submit, becomes definite. During the visit, the SP group stated that it didn't ask for any preconditions concerning lifting the death penalty and asked the DSP what sort of a change it requested. The DSP group replied that work was underway and changes would be made in four separate laws, but it didn't give detailed information. The SP group also suggested that an interparty commission be established in which such issues as broadcasting and education in mother tongues can be discussed. /Hurriyet/

    [05] THIRD PETITION FILED AGAINST RTUK LAW

    Deputies from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Felicity Party (SP), Justice and Development (AKP), Socialist Democratic Party (TDP) and Great Union Party (BBP) yesterday filed a petition at the Constitutional Court asking it to annul certain sections of Article 2 of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Law. Their petition follows the one filed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and a previous one they themselves filed. Justice and Development Party (AKP) group deputy leader Mehmet Ali Sahin and the Felicity Party's (SP) deputy Mustafa Kamalak presented a petition to Constitutional Court Secretary General Ahmet Hamdi Yapıcı. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Yapıcı said that it was impossible to amend the RTUK law through petitions and that it needed to be revised to be amended. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] GUREL: "GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION CANNOT BE AN EU MEMBER BEFORE TURKEY"

    Speaking to a key Turkish-European Union body yesterday, State Minister for EU Relations Sukru Sina Gurel made a firm stance on Cyprus and Turkey vis-à- vis their respective EU membership bids. Addressing the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission in Brussels Gurel said, "If the EU takes a final mistaken decision and causes separation on the island, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] will do what integration process requires." He added, "Whether there is a solution or not, Cyprus cannot be a member of the EU before Turkey." Gurel contended that statements saying that the Greek Cypriot administration would join the EU regardless of a solution, which certain EU figures have been making, were both hindering a solution and, if carried through, would violate international law. /Milliyet/

    [07] LEADERS' SUMMIT TODAY TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMY

    The government coalition leaders' summit will convene today in order to discuss the economy, which has been feeling the effects of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's illness and the debate on lifting the death penalty. The summit is planned to be held at Ecevit's home so that he can participate or at the Office of the Prime Minister. If Ecevit is unable to participate, Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday that State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis would participate in the summit as well and brief the participants on Turkey's economic situation. /Hurriyet/

    [08] ECHR GRAND CHAMBER TO HEAR RP CLOSURE CASE

    The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is scheduled to hear tomorrow an appeal filed by the ex-leaders of the defunct Welfare Party (RP). Last year a five-member EHCR court decided the case should be heard by the 17-member Grand Chamber. The court in Strasbourg will hear from both the Turkish government and lawyers representing the RP administrators, Necmettin Erbakan, Sevket Kazan, and Ahmet Tekdal, and will issue a decision some time thereafter. Turkey's Constitutional Court closed down the RP in 1998. /Cumhuriyet/

    [09] COOPERATIVE BEST EFFORT-2002 MANEUVERS BEGIN IN GEORGIA

    The first NATO maneuvers on Georgian soil since Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union a decade ago started yesterday under the leadership of NATO Southeastern European Common Forces Commander Gen. Oktar Ataman. The Vaziyani military base near Tblisi is the headquarters of "Cooperative Best Effort-2002" maneuvers, which are being participated in by Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova and Russia, all signatories of a partnership agreement with NATO, along with six NATO members, Turkey, Canada, Greece, Hungary, United Kingdom and the US. The maneuvers will last for 10 days. /Hurriyet/

    [10] THREE COUNTRIES' JOURNALISTS MEET IN ANKARA

    The "Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey: Journalists Initiative 2002" met in Ankara yesterday. After the meeting, Armenian reporters visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). The meeting was sponsored by Turkey's Diplomatic Correspondents' Association (DMD), the Turkish Democracy Foundation (TDV), Azerbaijan's "Yeni Nesil" and Armenia's Yerevan Press Association. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] ECEVIT MEETS WITH ECONOMY OFFICIALS

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday was briefed by economy officials about the current state of the economy. Attending the 40-minute meeting were State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, Central Bank Governor Süreyya Serdengecti, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Treasury Vice Undersecretary Hakan Özyıldız and Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) Chairman Engin Akcakoca. Dervis stated at the meeting that current uncertainty in Turkish politics was casting a shadow over the economic program. He warned that continuation of this uncertainty in the long term would harm the program and jeopardize all the government's efforts. The state minister also suggested a leaders' summit to address economic issues. Ecevit reacted positively to this suggestion, and asked Dervis to prepare a detailed report on the economy for the coalition partners' leaders. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] IFC: "WE HAVE BELIEF AND CONFIDENCE IN TURKEY"

    International Finance Cooperation's (IFC) Turkey Director Sujata Lamba said yesterday that the financial support which the IFC had provided for Turkey since its economic crisis began last February totaled $350 million. Stating that the amount of financing that it extended to Turkey last year was $150 million and this year so far was $200 million, Lamba said that this showed that the IFC believes in Turkey's future and has confidence in its economy. Lamba added that Turkey was the fourth-largest recipient of IFC support, that it had a share of 4.5% in the IFC's global portfolio, and that Turkey's portfolio surpassed $1 billion together with the resources given to its commercial banks. The IFC is the World's Bank's private sector leading arm. /Aksam/

    [13] BREKK: "TURKEY CAN REACH ITS TARGETS FOR THIS YEAR"

    In an interview yesterday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Representative to Turkey Odd Per Brekk told Reuters that Turkey had succeeded in reducing inflation and restarting its growth and predicted that Turkey could reach its targeted 3% growth rate at the end of this year. Brekk added, "Financial indicators have been hurt due to political uncertainty but we hope that everything will be all right in a few days." Brekk said that the IMF Executive Board was expected to convene this month to discuss the second review of Turkey's economic program, but that the exact date of the meeting hadn't been determined yet. Brekk said that the IMF was waiting for Turkey to send its Letter of Intent (LOI) concerning the second review soon and added, "An IMF delegation is planning to come to Turkey for the third review in the second or third week of July." When the IMF Executive Board approves the LOI on the second review, a loan tranche amounting to $1.1 billion is to be released. /Hurriyet/

    [14] HARVARD TURCOLOGY JOURNAL PRESENTED TO HACETTEPE

    The 25th issue of Harvard University's "Journal of Turkish Studies," North America's first and only journal of Turcology, was presented yesterday to Hacettepe University Philosophy Department head Ionna Kucuradi, to which the issue is dedicated. The presentation at Hacettepe's Ankara campus was attended by Sivas deputy Cengiz Gulec, Hacettepe Rector Tuncalp Ozgen, Anatolian University's Dr. Sıtkı Erinc, Bogazici University's Dr. Zeynep Davran, and Harvard University's Dr. Şinasi Tekin. The journal has been issued annually since 1977 by Harvard's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. /Milliyet/

    [15] CARDINAL MARTINI TO VISIT SELJUK

    A group of some 700 Catholic believers, led by Milan Archbishop Carlo Maria Martini, will hold a ceremony at the Saint Jean Church in Seljuk today. The ceremony will be conducted by Archbishop Martini, who is considered a leading contender to succeed Pope John Paul II. Martini and the accompanying group were welcomed with a great interest in Seljuk today. The group will go to the church early in the morning and then will hold a ceremony at the House of the Virgin Mary in the evening. The Catholics will also visit Selcuk Municipality and then listen to a classical music concert given by the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra in Ephesus. Then the group will leave Seljuk. /Aksam/

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

    [17] PRESIDENT SEZER'S IRAN VISIT BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

    Columnist Semih Idiz writes on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to Iran. A summary of his column is as follows:

    "We were so involved with Turkey's EU membership bid that we forgot the surroundings of Turkey and the opportunities and problems which they present. Today, the area stretching from the Middle East to the Caucasus is an environment we cannot ignore. Developments in these regions influence Turkey in one way or other. Certainly if Turkey is one of the most important countries in the region, Iran is another. None of the countries which try to preserve the strategic balances and have political, economic and military plans towards the future can ignore the presence of Iran. Following the overthrow of the Shah, in 1979 important problems cropped up between Turkey and Iran. Some of them still exist today. It cannot be denied that that at the base of the problems between the two countries lies the fact that these two form an 'antithesis' of the other. Turkey's secular system and Iran's mullah regime based on religious laws cannot reach an agreement on an ideological platform. Finally, just as Ataturk's Turkey forms a threat for Khomeini's Iran, the Khomeini regime is a danger for our regime based on secular modern values. Therefore, it is clear that National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc's argument putting forth Iran as an alternative to EU is not feasible. The difference in our regimes is not the only factor making this impossible. There are other important issues, namely the different points of view held by both countries towards the Middle East problem due to strategic calculations towards the Caucasus. However, these basic disagreements do not mean that these two countries cannot get on well by taking some basic principles into consideration, namely non-interference in each other's affairs. It is another fact that the region they are in is like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment, which forces them to get on well. In fact, the relations between Ankara and Tehran haven't come to a breaking point even at the most difficult of times. Relations were conducted at least at a minimum level at all times. Meanwhile the energy corridor project developed between Iran and the EU and expected to pass through Turkey is presenting a potential for cooperation. This kind of projects prove that they can play the role of a catalyst for the elimination of sources of tension. Countries which launch such great joint projects certainly avoid any approaches which could endanger their completion. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the important developments in Iran we must follow closely, albeit without interfering in their affairs. There is a dispute between reformist President Khatami and the conservative religious leader of the country Ayatollah Khameini. The most important point for us is the preventing an exporting the regime with the increasing strength of reformists. If the mullahs gain the upper hand, the issues of tension between the countries may flare up again. However, there are other important problems between the two states. Among them the support given to the PKK terrorist organization by the hardliner conservative mullahs can be cited. In fact, this issue has become a traditional topic in talks between the countries. Even if Ankara and Tehran are cooperating on this issue during the presidency of Mohammed Khatami, the presence of parties supporting the PKK in Iran cannot be ignored. When these problems and opportunities are taken into consideration, the significance of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to Tehran becomes apparent."

    [18] WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM THE PRESIDENT?

    [19] BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA (AKSAM)

    Columnist Ismail Kucukkaya writes on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's Iranian visit and what is expected from it. A summary of his column is as follows:

    "President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has gained the esteem of the people with his principled stance since his election to office. His fervent belief in the rule of law and modesty as a person has made the presidency one of the most respected institutions in the country. Recently, his performance has improved as a president. Following the illness of Prime Minister Ecevit, Sezer began to take the initiative and is trying to fill a probable gap in our diplomatic relations which could lead to disastrous results. Due to its geographic location, Turkey has to be on alert at all times. Currently, many intrigues and complex plans by various countries and diplomatic strategies taking all calculations into account are taking place around us. Therefore, Turkey has to be vigilant, strong and at peace while moving on the road Ataturk has charted out for it. The best way to accomplish this lies in strengthening its economy and increasing its volume of trade with its neighboring countries. We aim to bring our relations with Iran on a sound track, a country with which we had tense relations for some time. In trade relations there is an unfavorable picture for Turkey. We plan to export more to Iran in order to balance this out. However, Iran has to desist from its stance supporting terrorism and quit acting as an exporter of its regime. That is why Turkey approaches Iran rather shyly. Turkish intelligence units have reported that the PKK-KADEK terrorist organization is in close contact with Iran. The terrorist organization has requested that Iran turn a blind eye to its activities on Iranian soil, which means not interfering with its trafficking of money, goods, arms, and humans. The report stated that Osman Ocalan, Islamic Movement representative Ali Abdullah Aziz, Iranian Intelligence representative Ferzadi Mahmudi and two members of the Iranian liaison team met in Gelan, Iran on May 26 to discuss these problems. President Sezer will present this report during his talks and call on Iranians not to support terrorism."

    ARCHIVE

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