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Turkish Press Review, 02-06-13

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

13.06.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] ECEVIT: “CILLER IS BLOCKING THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT”
  • [02] YILMAZ MEETS SPANISH PRIME MINISTER AZNAR
  • [03] BAHCELI: “NO NEED FOR PESSIMISM ON THE FUTURE”
  • [04] CILLER: “LACK OF LEADERSHIP IS HURTING OUR EU BID”
  • [05] BAYKAL: “A DSP-ANAP MINORITY GOVERNMENT COULD BE SET UP”
  • [06] CEM: “TURKEY WILL NOT MISS THE EU TRAIN”
  • [07] IZGI SPEAKS ON IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE US
  • [08] OZILHAN: “TURKEY CANNOT BEAR ANOTHER ECONOMIC CRISIS”
  • [09] 1,500 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GATHER IN ISTANBUL
  • [10] ITO TARGETS INCREASING TRADE VOLUME WITH THE US
  • [11] SCHOLARS DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE, TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
  • [12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS
  • [13] KIRKUK PROBLEM BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [14] ALL ROADS LEAD TO A REFERENDUM BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

  • [01] ECEVIT: “CILLER IS BLOCKING THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT”

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller was standing in the way of Turkey abolishing the death penalty. Communicating through his spokesman, Ecevit said that Ciller’s attitude was making Turkey’s European Union’s accession process more difficult. However, he still expressed hope that an arrangement possibly involving the Felicity Party (SP) or Justice and Development Party (AKP) could still bring about the abolition. /Aksam/

    [02] YILMAZ MEETS SPANISH PRIME MINISTER AZNAR

    Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz met with European Union Term President Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar yesterday in Madrid. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Yilmaz stated that he had thanked Aznar for the inclusion of the PKK and DHKP-C onto the EU’s revised list of terrorist organizations. Relating that he reminded Aznar that PKK had recently changed its name to “KADEK,” Yilmaz said, “I said to Mr. Aznar that KADEK should also be included on the EU list. He promised to convey Turkey’s concerns on this issue to other EU countries.” Yilmaz also stated that Aznar believed there would be no obstacles to Turkey concerning its bid for full EU membership if the Turkish government managed to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. Yilmaz also underlined that the exact date for the beginning of Turkey’s membership negotiation process should be determined at the EU’s Seville summit. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] BAHCELI: “NO NEED FOR PESSIMISM ON THE FUTURE”

    Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli yesterday said that there was no need to be pessimistic or hopeless about the future. Stating that the government was still continuing its mission, he said that opposition parties and their circles were trying to force elections and to create a new economic crisis. He also claimed that some circles wanted to exploit a crisis atmosphere and make profits through stock market and foreign currency. Pointing to the intensive work related to Turkey’s EU bid in the coming days, Bahceli said the issues on Turkey’s accession to the EU were being discussed through Parliament and that an agreement would be reached as soon as possible. He added that the tripartite coalition government was determined to carry out the economic program and that inflation had begun to decrease and exports started to rise. /Aksam/

    [04] CILLER: “LACK OF LEADERSHIP IS HURTING OUR EU BID”

    True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller released a statement yesterday charging that the government’s “lack of a prime minister at the helm” was making Turkey miss its European Union membership bid. Responding to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s accusing Ciller of hindering the nation’s EU bid, Ciller said that Ecevit had also missed a chance to join the EU during his prime ministry of the early 1970s. Ciller added that the government seemed unable to take a stance on the critical EU issue, and that the coalition partners had deep disagreements on the matter. /Hurriyet/.

    [05] BAYKAL: “A DSP-ANAP MINORITY GOVERNMENT COULD BE SET UP”

    Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday issued a proposal which he said might break the government’s deadlock over the capital punishment issue, namely the formation of a Democratic Left Party (DSP)-Motherland Party (ANAP) minority government. Saying that both the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and True Path Party (DYP) conditionally support abolishing capital punishment, Baykal laid out this scenario: “If the Nationalist Action Party [MHP] withdraws from the coalition, then the DSP and ANAP could put together a minority government with the DYP and Felicity Party’s [SP] outside support. In such a case capital punishment could be abolished with opposition support, and elections could be held this year.” /Hurriyet/

    [06] CEM: “TURKEY WILL NOT MISS THE EU TRAIN”

    Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday attended a ceremony organized by the Turkish-American Businessmen’s Association (TABA) to present awards to a number of businessmen for their contributions to improving Turkish-US commercial relations. Cem spoke on his views of Turkish-EU relations, criticizing some domestic circles for developing unrealistic arguments such as “the EU will absolutely admit Turkey at all costs,” or “The EU will never admit Turkey no matter how hard the government tries,” or the like. “Turkey should begin its membership negotiation process as soon as possible,” said Cem. “I don’t believe that Turkey will miss the EU train. However, if we don’t speed up our reforms, we may be delayed in getting on the train.” /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] IZGI SPEAKS ON IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE US

    Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said yesterday that if Turkey is unable to achieve European Union accession, it should look to further develop its relations with the United States. Receiving Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) President Orhan Kaymakcalan, Izgi said that America had been the superpower of the world for 50 years. “We shouldn’t forget its power,” he added. “We need to increase exchanges of information and do whatever we can by thinking of the effect of our lobbying activities there. We must do this.” Stating that Turkey had been experiencing significant problems, Izgi added, “So many things are said about the EU, but negative aspects concerning EU accession are taking a prominent place on the agenda. Some people think that the EU’s requests might offend the Turkish nation. Therefore we want Turkey to be a member of the EU one day but if it is unable to do so, then we will have to improve our relations with the US. Actually Turkey is attaching importance not only to being an EU member, but also to improving its relations with the US.” /Turkiye/

    [08] OZILHAN: “TURKEY CANNOT BEAR ANOTHER ECONOMIC CRISIS”

    Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association’s (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan declared yesterday that in its current economic situation, Turkey could not bear another economic crisis. Speaking to a gathering of the Turkish-American Businessmen’s Association (TABA), Ozilhan stated that Turkey’s future lay in the European Union. He added that TUSIAD stood in favor of Turkey’s EU membership in order to ensure the nation’s prosperity within a structure offering both happiness and peace. /Aksam/

    [09] 1,500 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GATHER IN ISTANBUL

    Turkey is currently hosting the 40th Junior Chamber International (JCI or Jaycees) European Conference, which is held in a different European city each year, the conference began yesterday in Istanbul’s Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibit Hall with the participation of nearly 1,500 young businessmen and administrators between the ages of 18 and 45, who represent billions of dollars in business on 34 countries. Speaking at the opening of the JCI meeting, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that the European Union represents the future which we desire for our children. Caling the EU “the organization of the future,” he pointed out that Turkey has a younger population than any other European country. Cem added that the EU cannot rest on its laurels but must look to the future. Also on the first day of the conference, world famous business psychologist Kerry Johnson made a presentation to the participants on increasing their sales and developing their administrative skills. /Turkiye/

    [10] ITO TARGETS INCREASING TRADE VOLUME WITH THE US

    Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Executive Board Chairman Mehmet Yildirim said yesterday that through better cooperation, the trade volume between Turkey and the US could be increased from its current level of $6.5 billion to reach $10-12 billion. Speaking at the “Turkish-American Business Days Meeting” at which representatives from 200 small-and medium-sized businesses from 9 states of the US were present, Yildirim said that the US was Turkey’s most important commercial partner. Stating that the most important two issues that emerged after Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s visit to the US this January were the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) and textile quotas, Yildirim emphasized the significance of enhanced rooted cooperation directed to future. /Turkiye/

    [11] SCHOLARS DISCUSS CYPRUS ISSUE, TURKISH-EU RELATIONS

    Scholars of international law and European Union law yesterday discussed the possible effects of the Greek Cypriot administration’s admittance to the EU on relations between Turkey and the European Union. The scholars underlined that should the Greek Cypriot administration be admitted, this would plunge Turkish-EU relations into a dead end since the Greek Cypriots would surely veto Turkey’s full EU membership. Criticizing the EU for turning a blind eye to such adverse effects of the admittance of the Greek Cypriots, the scholars stated that the EU should postpone its decision to let the Greek administration join the Union. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS

    [13] KIRKUK PROBLEM BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the emerging Kirkuk issue following a conference held at the American University in Washington D.C. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “A conference held by the American University in Washington D.C. has clearly demonstrated the place the Iraqi Kurds are planning for themselves in the political future of the country. In addition to the representatives of two main groups in northern Iraq, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Kurdistan Patriotic Union (KYB), panelists from the US and the EU also attended the conference. TESEV Director Ozdem Sanberk also gave a presentation during the conference. Even though these unofficial conferences are of a ‘brainstoming’ nature, they tend to bring forth important tendencies and as a consequence can be influential on circles orienting policies. At the conference, Kurdish representatives stated that they foresaw a federal system in Iraq’s post-Saddam era. Kurdish spokesmen have been defending the idea of a federal system all along. This is a desire Kurdish leaders in Iraq have expressed for some time. However, during this conference the content of this desire was filled out. The federal structure foreseen is based on ethnicity. That is to say, an ‘Iraqi Federal Republic’ will be formed by two sectors, one Kurdish, the other Arab. Turkomans, Christians and others will protect their status as minorities. The federal system will bring the condition of decentralization, in other words the Kurdish sector will have a broad autonomy. The KDP and KYP, which seemed to agree on these points, are preparing a draft constitution. Iraqi Kurdish representatives were not clear on the borders of the Kurdish federal region. During their presentation, they did not mention what the status of Kirkuk would be. Therefore, US congressional advisor Alan Makovsky’s question as to whether they wanted Kirkuk to be included in the Kurdish region was left unanswered. However, this notion was applauded by the Kurds following the conference. A speaker of Kurdish origin stated that in the KDP-KYP project, Kirkuk was certainly included in the Kirkuk region. Even if this is not openly expressed, the view on the issue has a long history. In a supplementary article of the autonomy agreement reached between the Iraqi government and Kurdish representatives in 1970, it was stated that the status of Kirkuk would be determined in the next four years. Later on clashes erupted, and this agreement was shelved. However, in a decision taken by the Kurdish assembly in 1992, the Kurds declared that Kirkuk belonged to them. During the conference this view was brought to the agenda, even if informally. Those who are most disturbed by this are the Turkomans and and Turkish officials. It did not take long for Turkish diplomatic sources in Washington to react to this, and they stated that oil-rich Kirkuk cannot be left in the hands of the Kurdish administration. Retired Ambassador Sanberk, speaking for TESEV, opposed the federalism concept of Kurdish representatives in general and said that efforts to divide Iraq into parts based on ethnicity would open a Pandora’s box. At a time when all attention is drawn to the abolition of death penalty, or the future of the coalition, are these developments being followed as closely as they should be?”

    [14] ALL ROADS LEAD TO A REFERENDUM BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

    Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the recent discussions over Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:

    “One benefit of recent developments is that the facts about the EU are coming out into the open one by one. Today it is being said that no one should hold high hopes in vain. ‘Our EU membership lies 20 years in the future. Free circulation will be postponed for 10 years even if we become a member.’ This is the new trump card of Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Bahceli. However, this isn’t a new message. This is an argument those opposing the EU have been strongly defending for weeks. Certainly, we may not be a member before 2010. There are gigantic political and economic hurdles Turkey has to overcome. However, the lateness of the date has nothing to do with the EU, rather it lies with us. The postponement of free circulation is not indexed only to Turkey. Today, Germany is trying to obstruct the recognition of this right, thinking of the unemployed who would be flowing into the country from Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, which are closer to membership than us. It seems that it will succeed in doing this. These countries, even if they become members, will wait for 10 years for the right of free circulation to be granted. The basic argument put forth by the opposition front is, ‘A great majority of the people would like to be admitted to the EU because they see it as an opportunity for earning a living. But if they knew the truth, they would not want to be admitted’. If so, why did the Irish, Portuguese and Greeks want membership for? Did they just want to be accepted into an elite club? They wanted to elevate their standard of living, but did not achieve it by flowing into Germany or Sweden. The standard of prosperity in these countries began to rise even without being admitted into the EU. Internal and foreign investments increased with the membership process. In other words, the benefits of the EU began to be seen even during the membership process. If membership means the strengthening of economic stability, the membership process means steps taken towards this goal. If we are to use Bahceli’s metaphor, certainly EU membership is not the key to heaven. The increase in the rate of prosperity will not come out of nowhere. On the contrary, Turkey has to work harder than ever to compete with equals both during the membership process and as a member. Admittance to the EU is not an end. We have to display an excellent performance. Bahceli’s words are true in that sense. This should be clearly explained to the Turkish people. However, even though he may be right in essence, Mr. Bahceli has other aims in saying so. He wants to say that Turkey doesn’t have to take any steps for growth, development or on the road to civilization, whether we have to enter the EU or not. Some of us seem to have fallen for the argument that we are not taking these measures for our people, but for the love of the EU. There are at least 20 years before our membership to the EU. Free circulation is nothing but a pipe dream they say. Let us protect the status quo. True, this leads the country nowhere, but at least it is our status quo. As the Irish say ‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.’ The world may advance as much as it likes. Nobody loves us. Let us stay alone with our own devil ... Certainly the facts on the issue must be clearly explained to the public. After the essence of the issue has been clearly laid out for the public, their opinion should be asked. The best way to get this is a referendum. This is the only logical solution. The Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) issued a statement on the issue yesterday advocating this opinion. Many EU countries held referendums before becoming a member. It is not surprising that the party which is strongly opposed to a referendum on the issue is the MHP, as it has doubts regarding the outcome of such referendum in the face of the polls published on the issue. The MHP doesn’t want a referendum on the EU because it doesn’t trust the people. Otherwise, it would have been the first party to call for a referendum on such a vital issue. However, if a referendum is not held, the next elections will have the nature of a referendum for EU membership bid. Anyway the people must be consulted on the EU issue. The number of those who want the people to be asked is increasing with each passing day.”

    ARCHIVE

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