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Turkish Press Review, 02-02-08

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

08.02.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] REFORM PACKAGE SENT TO PRESIDENT
  • [02] SEZER VISITS QUAKE AREA
  • [03] SADDAM TO ECEVIT: "I WILL ALLOW WEAPONS INSPECTORS, BUT NO CONCESSIONS ON IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"
  • [04] CEM: "TURKEY ADVOCATES IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"
  • [05] CHENEY MAY VISIT TURKEY TO BUILT ANTI-SADDAM COALITION
  • [06] ECEVIT CALLS ON COALITION PARTNERS TO ACT IN HARMONY
  • [07] AUSTRIAN DOCUMENTARY, CANADIAN DIRECTOR FEEL HEAT FROM PROTESTS
  • [08] DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER HOPES FOR CYPRUS SETTLEMENT BY JULY
  • [09] DANISH PARLIAMENTARIAN NAMED EU LIASON TO TURKISH PARLIAMENT
  • [10] YUCELEN: "POLITICIZATION WILL NOT BRING BACK THE PKK'S VICTIMS"
  • [11] AKBULUT RESIGNS FROM ANAP
  • [12] INVESTIGATION COMMISSION DECIDES AYDIN WON'T FACE SUPREME COURT
  • [13] TURKISH SCHOLAR TO HEAD UN COMMITTEE ON TRAINING SAILORS
  • [14] INSPECTION UNIT ESTABLISHED WITHIN MARITIME UNDERSECRETARIAT
  • [15] SYMPOSIUM TO DISCUSS PROTECTING HISTORIC CITIES
  • [16] CEM MEETS WITH BUSINESSMEN TO PREPARE FOR MEETING IN US
  • [17] 21st INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL BOAT SHOW OPENS TODAY
  • [18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [19] HOW WILL THE NEW AMENDMENDS BE ENFORCED? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [20] AS THE PKK SWITCHES IDENTITIES BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
  • [21] ... BY ANY OTHER NAME BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)

  • [01] REFORM PACKAGE SENT TO PRESIDENT

    The Harmonization Law, which is widely known as the mini reform package, was sent to the president yesterday for his approval. The package, which includes nine articles and proposes amendments to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Anti-terror Law, Penal Procedural Law (CMUK) and State Security Courts (DGM) Law, was approved on Wednesday by Parliament. The president will now approve the bill or send it back to Parliament wholly or in part for reconsideration within 15 days. /All Papers/

    [02] SEZER VISITS QUAKE AREA

    Yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer visited Afyon and the surrounding area, which was hit by an earthquake with a magnitute of 6.0 on the Richter scale on Sunday. Sezer was accompanied by Chief of the General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu and Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan. After hearing a brief from Afyon Governor Ahmet Ozyurt, Sezer talked to the area's citizens and promised that the state would meet their needs. /All Papers/

    [03] SADDAM TO ECEVIT: "I WILL ALLOW WEAPONS INSPECTORS, BUT NO CONCESSIONS ON IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"

    Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein responded yesterday to a recent letter sent by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit pledging some cooperation but also telling Turkey that it should cease military flights with the US. The letter was hand delivered by Iraq's Ambassador to Ankara Tarik Hamadi to Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. In the letter, Saddam pointedly referred to Ankara's sensitivity to Iraq's territorial integrity and asked Turkey to stop participating with the US in flights over Iraq's northern "no-fly" zone made from Incirlik Airbase. Saddam also said that he was ready to allow international weapons inspectors into his country and would cooperate with the United Nations. However, the Iraqi leader also stated that he would never make any concessions on his country's territorial integrity. /Hürriyet/

    [04] CEM: "TURKEY ADVOCATES IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday met with Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Cem fielded a number of questions about a letter which Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein recently sent to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. "Turkey advocates Iraq's territorial integrity," said Cem. "I believe that Turkey is pursuing the right policy on the issue." /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] CHENEY MAY VISIT TURKEY TO BUILT ANTI-SADDAM COALITION

    US Vice President Dick Cheney is planning a trip this March to 11 countries in the Middle East and Europe, including Turkey, reports said yesterday. The main purpose of Cheney's visit to Turkey and elsewhere would reportedly be the situation in Iraq and with that country's leader Saddam Hussein, with Cheney hoping to built a coalition for a military strike against Iraq. The other countries on Cheney's planned itinerary are Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Amman, Jordan and Israel. /Hürriyet/

    [06] ECEVIT CALLS ON COALITION PARTNERS TO ACT IN HARMONY

    Yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit asked coalition partners the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and Motherland Party (ANAP) to act in harmony in order to avoid a deadlock in Turkish political life. Addressing his party's parliamentary group meeting, Ecevit recalled the recent tensions between the two other coalition parties on the controversial mini reform package. He said that the country could not possibly bear a deadlock in politics just at a time when the economy is beginning to get back on to track. Speaking on the Iraq issue, Ecevit stated that Turkey wanted a peaceful resolution to the matter without conflict in the region. The premier also told the deputies about his recent visit to Bulgaria. Finally, Ecevit briefed them on positive developments in the Turkish economy. /Turkiye/

    [07] AUSTRIAN DOCUMENTARY, CANADIAN DIRECTOR FEEL HEAT FROM PROTESTS

    Turkish lobbies in Austria and other European countries have launched a protest campaign against a TV program entitled "Kurdistan: Gods' Plateau" set to appear soon on Austrian state TV channel ORF. The Austrian branch of the Kemalist Thought Association has drafted letters of protest to be sent to ORF Director-General Monika Lindner. Meanwhile, French daily Le Monde yesterday gave prominent coverage to protests against Canadian movie director Atom Egoyan, whose parents are Armenian and who is currently shooting a movie entitled "Ararat" which airs allegations about the so-called Armenian genocide. The paper stated that Turkish lobbies were trying to prevent the release of the movie by sending letters of protest to the distributor company. /Cumhuriyet/

    [08] DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER HOPES FOR CYPRUS SETTLEMENT BY JULY

    Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said yesterday that he was optimistic that the Cyprus problem could be settled by July, before his country takes over the revolving presidency of the European Union. Moeller spoke to reporters after separate meetings with Glafcos Clerides and Yiannakis Cassaoulides, the president and prime minister from Greek Cyprus. "I think that a solution is possible before we take over the presidency on July 1. I am very optimistic," he said. /Turkish Daily News/

    [09] DANISH PARLIAMENTARIAN NAMED EU LIASON TO TURKISH PARLIAMENT

    The European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission has selected a Danish parliamentarian to handle relations between the Turkish Parliament and the European Union Parliament. European Greens Party Parliamentarian Joost Lagendijk was named to the post yesterday. /Hürriyet/

    [10] YUCELEN: "POLITICIZATION WILL NOT BRING BACK THE PKK'S VICTIMS"

    Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said yesterday, "We all know that the PKK is making efforts towards politicization." He added however, that such efforts could never bring back the 35,000 people who died during the struggle against the terrorist organization. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] AKBULUT RESIGNS FROM ANAP

    Motherland Party (ANAP) Ankara Deputy Yildirim Akbulut yesterday resigned from his party. Akbulut, a former prime minister and presidential hopeful, is expected to join the True Path Party (DYP). With Akbulut's defection, the number of independent deputies in the Parliament has now increased to 15, while that of ANAP deputies has fallen to 78. /Turkiye/

    [12] INVESTIGATION COMMISSION DECIDES AYDIN WON'T FACE SUPREME COURT

    The Parliament Investigation Commission decided yesterday that there was no need for the Supreme Court to hear charges against former Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin. The commission took two months to reach the decision. Last September Aydin resigned from the Ministry in the wake of allegations of corruption. He also submitted a resignation from Parliament, which the body declined to accept. /Turkiye/

    [13] TURKISH SCHOLAR TO HEAD UN COMMITTEE ON TRAINING SAILORS

    Professor Osman Kamil Sag, the dean of the Maritime Faculty of Istanbul Technical University, was selected chairman of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Subcommittee on Seafarer Training and Watchkeeping during the sub-committee's 33rd term meeting held late last month. The IMO, which is based in London, is a United Nations agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing maritime pollution from ships. Sag has held positions in many institutions such as the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) and the International Maritime Association of the Mediterranean (IMAM). He was given the "2001 Annual IAMU Award of Recognition" in Kobe, Japan during the IAMU's Second General Assembly last October. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] INSPECTION UNIT ESTABLISHED WITHIN MARITIME UNDERSECRETARIAT

    A bill concerning a proposed inspection unit for the Maritime Undersecretariat was passed in Parliament yesterday, thus established the unit. The bill had been held up for three weeks due to the concerns of a number of deputies, but it was finally passed through the efforts of deputy prime ministers Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan. /Star/

    [15] SYMPOSIUM TO DISCUSS PROTECTING HISTORIC CITIES

    The Culture Ministry will hold a symposium in Antalya this weekend on "Protecting Turkey's Historic Cities and Bringing Them to Future." The gathering will be opened by Culture Minister Istemihan Talay and attended by governors from 25 provinces as well as over 100 mayors and scores of deputies. Talay said yesterday that the symposium would hear testimony from both Turkey and abroad about the protection of ancient cities' natural and cultural assets. Talay further stated that the legal and administrative issues of such protection and suggestions about protecting and preserving the contributions of traditional Turkish architecture, both in historic cities and in new developments, would be discussed at the symposium. /Aksam/

    [16] CEM MEETS WITH BUSINESSMEN TO PREPARE FOR MEETING IN US

    Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and representatives of the Turkish business community met yesterday in order to make preparations for the first meeting of the Turkish-US Economic Cooperation Commission in the United States on Feb. 26-27. The preparatory meeting was attended by Turkish Association of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Turkish Exporters Assembly Chairman (TIM) Oguz Satici, Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Executive Board Chairman Rona Yircali and Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) Deputy Chairman Mustafa Koc. In addition, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, who will lead the Turkish delegation at the commission, was also present at the gathering. During the meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that the US contingent was continuing to work on getting textile quota on Turkey lifted. /Aksam/

    [17] 21st INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL BOAT SHOW OPENS TODAY

    The 21st International Istanbul Boat Show Fair will be opened at the CNR World Trade Center today and is set to run through Feb. 17. Over 150 companies and more than 600 products will be on display. A massive whale skeleton stretching 14 meters, which the Turkish Foundation brought from Adana for Maritime Research (TUDAV), will also be exhibited at the fair. Proceeds from the fair will be donated to the "Education Campaign for a Million Children." /Star/

    [18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [19] HOW WILL THE NEW AMENDMENDS BE ENFORCED? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the importance of the ways used to enforce the just-passed amendment package. A summary of his column is as follows: "Amendments have been made to the Constitution. The harmonization laws regarding these amendments have also passed. Now it is the time to see how they are enforced. This is the stance of the EU in relation to the 'mini-democracy package' adopted in Parliament this week. The Europeans view favorably the recent performance of the Turkish Parliament. The discussions over the mini-package had roused concern in Europe that Turkey could be led astray from its reformist goals. If the package had been adopted without any changes, there would have been problems in Turkish-EU relations. This scenario was averted at the last moment when Parliament acted correctly. Some of the legal changes regarding harmonization with the EU have been carried out. This is believed to be a positive step one bringing Turkey closer to accession negotiations with the EU. The change in terminology from 'possibility' to 'danger' should be reflected in the rulings of the courts. In other words, judges should be able to demonstrate that they have understood these changes clearly. The fact that the main goal in the amendments to the law was to harmonize the Turkish legal system with that of EU standards should not be forgotten. It is frequently stated that political and economic reforms should be implemented not because international organizations request it, but because Turkish public, which deserves better living standards, sincerely wants it. In fact, during discussions over the 'mini-reform package' the reactions shown by various sectors of the society displayed how strong this desire was. Those who defended the view that no changes were necessary argued that similar laws also existed in EU countries. Certainly, there are laws in EU countries aimed at protecting public order. However, these laws don't restrict basic human rights or freedom of expression, and neither do they impose heavy prison sentences. If the substance of these laws is considered as a basis, then their enforcement should constitute an example as well."

    [20] AS THE PKK SWITCHES IDENTITIES BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)

    Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on the efforts of the PKK terrorist organization to change its identity. A summary of his column is as follows: "The PKK has been trying for two years now to erase its label as a 'terrorist organization' and to achieve a new identity. This search, which began with the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, seems to have reached a certain stage. The summary of their plan is to change surface form and methods; there seems to be no change in essence, aims or policies. An interesting conflict in the stance of the organization can be observed. It seems that the terrorist organization will discard 'Kurdistan' in its name but try to put 'Kurdish' at the beginning of every activity within the framework of cultural rights. Everyone knows that all of these new policies were drawn up in European cities. There may be those who know the issue but prefer not to understand what is going on. It is an interesting coincidence that the EU failed to include terrorist organizations active in Turkey in its list of terrorist groups and the PKK has been trying to change its name at about the same time. During the last EU summit in Laeken, Belgium, terrorism was discussed but terrorist organizations were not taken up. Belgian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Louis Michel, acting as the term president of the EU, stated on Dec. 14, 2001 that they had defined terrorism, but that there were problems which seemed to be impossible to solve while preparing a list. Michel added that it was easy to determine and denounce a terrorist action but that it was hard to define a terrorist organization. 'It is not always to easy to distinguish between terrorism and resistance,' he said. 'We will take this up next year and maybe some issues can be handled in a way so as to sweep up certain things from the past.' These words may be explained as, if the PKK changes its name and says that it is not the same organization anymore, the EU may turn a blind eye to its past offenses. We can almost hear Belgium's reply to the announcement of PKK that it has changed its name after its upcoming eight congress that it is in the process of recognizing the new organization. It doesn't square with human rights to accuse a 'newly founded' organization with possible crimes to be perpetrated in the future. We have delved into the archives more than necessary, but Cemil Bayik, a representative of the terrorist organization in Europe, had stated in a magazine published in the Netherlands in Turkish that it was necessary to carry out this new strategy to achieve victory. 'In the Middle East to be strong, you have to have arms. Our basic guarantee of survival is our power in armed struggle... The method to achieve victory in carrying out new strategies passes through uprising.' The Paris meeting of the terrorist organization held on January 4-6 was entitled the 'Diplomacy and Institutional Political Studies Coordination Council'. These statements given and meetings set on different dates demonstrate that the terrorist organization will form its policies in the future by leaning on Europe. Under these circumstances, Turkey has no other choice but to finish off terrorism completely, not allow a new terror game on its territories, follow the changing strategies, and formulate counter strategies in addition to reacting to them."

    [21] ... BY ANY OTHER NAME BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)

    Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the recent politicization efforts of the terrorist PKK organization. A summary of his column is as follows: "The separatist organization PKK has recently announced that it had ended its activities in both Turkey and EU countries. What could that mean? MED TV, the PKK's mouthpiece TV channel, claimed that the terrorist organization would no longer hold activities under the moniker 'PKK'. Therefore, the separatist organization is preparing to change its name. The PKK dares to think that it could make people forget all the murders it committed by simply labeling itself something different. According to recent intelligence reports, the PKK is playing its last hand. Its main goal is preventing the EU from adding its name to their recent list of terrorist organizations. Since it hopes to no longer be considered a terrorist organization, the PKK figures that a new political identity will provide it with opportunities to improve its situation and make new efforts towards establishing an independent Kurdish state. This will be nothing new under the sun. Unless 5,000 PKK militants abandon their arms, there is no doubt that the terrorist organization will carry on committing new crimes. No matter what name the PKK assumes, this hypocritical policy will also play havoc with efforts aimed to improve human rights and freedoms in Turkey. "Would you prefer that we remain terrorists?" the PKK militants might say. No, we don't. However, your betrayals can neither be forgotten nor forgiven. Remember 30,000 people dead, ten years and $100 billion in losses! We have to solve the Kurdish problem. However, the price Turkey pays should not include forgiving a notorious mass murderer and a bloody terrorist organization. Those who believe in the necessity of finding a solution to this problem in their very hearts should display the courage to forget PKK leader Apo's existence in prison and erasing every single mark the PKK left on history." The happiness of this nation depends on the improvement of our relations with the EU. When Turkey is admitted to the EU as a full member, all of these threats and problems will disappear. That's why 70% of the population advocates Turkey's EU membership.

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