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Turkish Press Review, 01-11-22

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

22.11.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] SEZER: "TURKEY WILL DO ITS UTMOST TO MEET THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA"
  • [02] YILMAZ: "EU MEMBERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TURKEY"
  • [03] DENKTAS'S NEW PROPOSAL
  • [04] DERVIS: "TURKEY WILL PAY A SERIOUS SOCIAL COST"
  • [05] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SEZER
  • [06] EU: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME ITS CRISIS BY 2003"
  • [07] LOGOGLU: "EVIDENCE MUST BE GIVEN ON IRAQ"
  • [08] CAKMAKOGLU: "WE WILL MAKE NO CONCESSIONS ON DEFENSE POLICY"
  • [09] TURKISH PROPOSES EU-OIC SUMMIT
  • [10] GREEK VIOLATION IN THE AEGEAN
  • [11] MILITARY TEAM TO INSPECT GEORGIAN BASE
  • [12] SULUN JOINS DYP
  • [13] REFERENDUM CHANCES DASHED
  • [14] GREEK LOBBY FIGHTS US AID TO TURKEY
  • [15] CLOSED SESSION ON CYPRUS SLATED FOR PARLIAMENT
  • [16] LEADERS' TO HOLD SUMMIT ON FREEDOM OF THOUGHT
  • [17] AFGHANS EXPECT MEDICAL AID FROM TURKEY
  • [18] TURKISH BASKETBALL TEAM DEFEATS BULGARIA
  • [19] HOLLYWOOD STARS TO VISIT TURKEY
  • [20] RAIN BRINGS SMILES
  • [21] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [22] THE COST OF THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [23] TURKEY'S MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM: DRUGS BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)

  • [01] SEZER: "TURKEY WILL DO ITS UTMOST TO MEET THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA"

    President Ahmet Necdet Sezer answered reporters' questions yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace prior to receiving Yugoslavian Federal Republic Ambassador to Turkey Zoran Popovic. President Sezer remarked that Turkey should immediately pass adjustment laws in order to come in line with its recent constitutional amendments. "We will eliminate our shortcomings to meet the Copenhagen Criteria as soon as possible," he declared. Also yesterday, Sezer received Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and AKP Executive Council members. /Cumhuriyet/

    [02] YILMAZ: "EU MEMBERSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TURKEY"

    Stating that the EU might have certain requests which would raise Turkish concerns, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday, "However, nobody should try to derail the discussions on Turkish-EU relations. No one should doubt that EU membership is very important to Turkey's future and interests." Yilmaz added, "International relations always require compromise between countries which have differing and conflicting opinions. That's why Turkey should sustain a sound discussion platform concerning its relations with the EU." /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] DENKTAS'S NEW PROPOSAL

    Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan underlining his basic goals for Cyprus and proposing a new model of partnership on the island. Denktas's letter proposed a model wherein two sovereign and equal states will be established and represented by one internationally recognized identity. The proposal states that both countries' territorial integrity and security, as well as their national, cultural, religious, economic and social values, must be protected by firm agreements. "Each party shall represent itself, not the other party," Denktas's letter said. No party shall demand sovereignty over the other. Each party has its own sovereignty within the borders of its territory. New partnerships between the two parties shall have one international identity and shall represent the bi-national character of the island. The parties shall respect the other's relations with its own motherland. The citizens of both parties will also be the citizens of this new partnership." /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] DERVIS: "TURKEY WILL PAY A SERIOUS SOCIAL COST"

    State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that Turkey's financial performence is locked in from the additional financing which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to provide. Dervis remarked that this IMF support would lead Turkey to pay serious social costs. "I don't think that there are any other alternatives," he stated but went on to stress that if the loans were used correctly then it would be easier to solve Turkey's problems. If Turkey doesn't encounter any unexpected difficulties, our economy will start to develop next spring, he predicted. /Hürriyet/

    [05] ERDOGAN MEETS WITH SEZER

    Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of his party's Executive Board met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. After the half-hour meeting, Erdogan said that they had exchanged views on the Elections and Political Parties Law. /Turkiye/

    [06] EU: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME ITS CRISIS BY 2003"

    The European Union Commision released its report yesterday on the economies of EU candidate countries for the 2001-2003 period. According to the report, Turkey should be able to put its economy in order by 2003. It also recommended that Turkey stick with its economic program. The volatile international environment has affected the economies of EU member states and its candidate countries but Turkey's problem has been compounded by its facing two crises at once, the report remarked. /Hürriyet/

    [07] LOGOGLU: "EVIDENCE MUST BE GIVEN ON IRAQ"

    Turkey's Ambassador to Washinghton Faruk Logoglu said yesterday that Turkey might review its position on a possible operation against Iraq if strong evidence were provided showing that Iraq was also behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Speaking to trade journal Defense News, Logoglu said that Turkey wouldn't be happy to see a war with its neighbor. Logoglu added Turkey wants to upgrade its relationship with the US from that of stategic relations to one of strategic partners. Turkey is on the side of the US and the international coalition against terrorism and will continue to do whatever is needed, he stressed. /Hürriyet/

    [08] CAKMAKOGLU: "WE WILL MAKE NO CONCESSIONS ON DEFENSE POLICY"

    Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, in Brussels to attend European Union Military Capability meetings, said yesterday that Turkey would make no concession on its policy concerning the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Talking to reporters, Cakmakoglu said that during the meetings all the participants, including the EU countries' ministers, had agreed that international cooperation was needed in the post-Sept. 11 environment. /Turkiye/

    [09] TURKISH PROPOSES EU-OIC SUMMIT

    In light of new international balances in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attack against the United States, Turkey has proposed an informal summit to include representatives from the European Union and Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) member states. The meeting is planned for next February, and Turkey's proposal has been relayed to the proper countries in written form. /Turkish Daily News/

    [10] GREEK VIOLATION IN THE AEGEAN

    The Office of the Turkish General Staff said yesterday that two F-16s belonging to the Greek Air Force had flown two miles inside Turkish airspace in a clear violation. Turkey issued a statement to Athens saying that further such violations could cause dangerouos tensions in the Aegean region. /Hürriyet/

    [11] MILITARY TEAM TO INSPECT GEORGIAN BASE

    A Turkish military delegation will carry out a series of inspections at the Vaziani base in Georgia, which was evacuated by Russian forces in line with Russian-Georgian military agreements. Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Gela Bejuashvili spoke about the inspection tour of the Turkish delegation, pointing out that a modernization agreement was signed during his visit to Ankara on Nov. 3-9. After inspections are completed at the base, modernization studies will commence at the end of November and the Georgian Army's 11th Motorized Infantry Division will be moved in. The Turkish government has set aside $1 million for the modernization project, though this fund may be increased, he added. /Turkish News/

    [12] SULUN JOINS DYP

    Former Motherland Party (ANAP) Tekirdag Deputy Enis Sulun joined the True Path Party (DYP) yesterday. Including Sulun, the number of DYP deputies in the Parliament has now increased to 84, while that of independents has fallen to 19. /Turkiye/

    [13] REFERENDUM CHANCES DASHED

    A proposal amendment to the controversial Article 86 of the Constitution passed Parliament yesterday. The proposal, which regulates deputies' pension benefits flew through easily by a vote of 434-11, with one member abstaining during Parliament's the plenary session. When the bill is put into force after its approval by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, his earlier decision in favor of a referendum will be null and void. /Turkiye/

    [14] GREEK LOBBY FIGHTS US AID TO TURKEY

    Greek lobbyists to the US Congress have harshly reacted to the Bush administration's proposed aid package to Turkey for the support it continues to give the US during the operations in Afghanistan. According to diplomatic sources, Greek lobbyists have started a campaign against the package before it is even presented to Congress. The lobbies object especially to a proposal which would cancel some of Turkey's military debts as well as deliver surplus US armaments and military equipment to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [15] CLOSED SESSION ON CYPRUS SLATED FOR PARLIAMENT

    The Parliament Plenary Session has decided to hold a "closed session" prior to a meeting to be held on Dec. 4 between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides. The Foreign Ministry announced that Turkey hopes that parties on Cyprus will reach a solution which will please them both. The closed parliamentary session is to be held tomorrow. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem remarked that he believed that the Denktas-Clerides meeting would be productive and positive for future developments. /Cumhuriyet/

    [16] LEADERS' TO HOLD SUMMIT ON FREEDOM OF THOUGHT

    Government leaders are to take up a bill regarding amendments to Turkish Penal Code (TCK) articles that restrict freedom of thought. The bill, which proposes amendments to TCK Articles 312 and 159 and certain articles of the Anti-terrorism Law in order to establish harmony with the Copenhagen criteria, was submitted to the Prime Ministry last week. The coalition leaders will take up the bill, prepared by the EU Affairs General Secretariat and revised by the Justice Ministry, at their forthcoming summit, and give it its final form. The bill will broaden freedom of thought and expression through limiting and reducing sentences handed down under the Article 159, and also by inserting the phrase "openly inciting violence" in Article 312, and inserting this same phrase in Article 7 of the Anti-terrorism Law. It also proposes striking the elements "fine" and "prison sentence" from Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Law. /Turkish News/

    [17] AFGHANS EXPECT MEDICAL AID FROM TURKEY

    The youngest victims of the conflict in Afghanistan have not escaped world public attention. Some four to five children die every week in a hospital in Kabul named after the founder of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk. Speaking to reporters this week, the hospital Director Abdulkadir Ekberi said that 3, 000 children a year undergo treatment at the hospital but that a lack of technical support, medicine and timely treatment all cause problems. He also told of the hospital's medical aid expectations from Turkey. _Turkish Daily News

    [18] TURKISH BASKETBALL TEAM DEFEATS BULGARIA

    During the first match in the 33rd European Basketball Championship group qualifications in Istanbul, the Turkish team defeated Bulgaria's by a score of 84-79. The next match will be played in Switzerland on Nov. 24 with that country's team.. Meanwhile, the Turkish Women Basketball team defeated the Ukrainian team with a score of 72-71 during the 29th European Women's Basketball Championship E Group semifinal. The second match in the group will be against Bulgaria in Bursa on Nov. 24. /Turkiye/

    [19] HOLLYWOOD STARS TO VISIT TURKEY

    Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brat Pitt and Don Cheadle will visit US soldiers at Incirlik Airbase in Adana next month. The artists will be there to boost the morale of the troops for the holiday season as well as treat them to a showing of their "Ocean's Eleven," which opens in the US on Dec.7. _Turkiye

    [20] RAIN BRINGS SMILES

    Two solid weeks of rain and snow in some areas of Turkey, which had been waiting a long time for the clouds to break, has really put a smile on people's faces. Rainfall figures in western Turkey in particular are up compared to last year, while figures for rainfall over the last week in the Eastern Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean regions are also higher than normal. Despite the increase in rain and snow in western areas, figures for the central and eastern regions are at around seasonal norms. /Turkish Daily News/

    [21] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [22] THE COST OF THE FIGHT AGAINST TERROR BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the menace of terrorism and reactions to it in the West. A summary of his column is as follows:

    "The threat of international terrorism which has come to the forefront of international attention with the Sept. 11 attacks has forced the Western democracies to take some restrictive measures. Decisions bothi in the works and already implemented on the issue in the US and in Europe have led to intense discussion. Is it right to change the existing laws of democracies and liberal systems due to this extraordinary situation created by terrorism? Could not new decisions and policies endanger democatic values, human rights and freedoms? Could not the security factor be strengthened without damaging the democratic system? Answers to these questions are being sought in the West. One recent development which sparked controversy was is the decision of US President Bush to try suspects thought to be involved in international terrorism in US military courts. The majority of the US public supports handing down harsh sentences to terrorists. But there are also some who believe that such trials would contradict the Constitution as well as the spirit of freedom. Europe has jumped on the bandwagon in the fight against terrorism. Last week, EU Justice and Interior ministers adopted a package of measures against terrorism.As there are no special laws against terrorism in many European countries, these new policies seem too much for some EU members. So the liberals and pacifists in these countries are coming out strongly against these. It is true that Western democracies which have encountered terrorism problems are taking restrictive measures. This can be bothersome and worrying for countries which have been used to enjoying wide freedom. However, these measures are not abolishing fundamental rights and freedoms, as the widespread reactions against these decisions clearly show."

    [23] TURKEY'S MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM: DRUGS BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on the use of narcotics in Turkey and the importance of the fight against it. A summary of his column is as follows:

    "George Bush the younger is the second US president since Richard Nixon to take Turkey to task over its drug trafficking problem. He expressed while at the same time underlining the fact that Turkey was the US' most important and friendliest ally in the Afghanistan issue. Turkey may deserve Bush's criticism on drugs. However, doesn't the US have a role in the drug problem reaching such heights and in drugs creating a dark, hidden economy through the influence of dirty money? Although this is so, it is also not their problem. The US is right in its statements against Turkey on drugs, as much as Turkey is right on the issue of terrorism. Turkey should get rid of this drug problem and the threat it presents. In fact, drugs are the most difficult and unavoidable part of the fight against terrorism and dirty money. According to some observers, Turkey is no longer a waystation country for drugs. There is instead a rising tendency towards consuming narcotics domestically. The spread of the use of narcotics to schools is being carried out with a plan and program. Our fight against this seems inadequate. For years the West idly stood and watched the heroin trade, a trade which is important for the financing of terrorist groups. However, the situation has now been altered and it is finally learning the truth. Turkey should be able to make use of these facts. If there is a decrease in support for the heroin trade and drug trafficking by 50%, there would be a decline in the circulation of dirty money, and bribes by about 60%. If the West did not sell certain chemical compounds so freely, the production of narcotics would be reduced. The war against drugs will save our future generations, and will also lead to our taking great strides in the fight against decline in politics and the bureaucracy. The menace of terrorism can be ended by the fight against drugs. This will not going to be an easy fight, as it is not known where and when the enemy will strike."


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