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Turkish Press Review, 99-07-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>06.07.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..[02] SPECIAL KOSOVO[03] ECEVIT TO GO TO TRNCPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit and an accompanying delegation will attend the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the July 20, 1974, Cyprus Peace Operation. The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dervis Eroglu, said in a statement yesterday that Prime Minister Ecevit and an accompanying delegation including Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will represent Turkey during the Peace and Freedom Day celebrations. Eroglu remarked that the same day, the meeting of the joint council established between the two countries headed by the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and the TRNC would convene in Lefkose. /Cumhuriyet/[04] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT IN TURKEYRomanian President Emil Constantinescu will arrive in Turkey for a two-day working visit today. It is expected that during the guest President's visit bilateral agreements will be signed between Turco-Romanian delegations. It is announced that Constantinescu will receive Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli. /Turkiye/[05] THREE PKK MEMBERS SEIZED IN KENYAKenya has taken extreme security measures in the wake of Abdullah Ocalan's death sentence verdict in Turkey in case of PKK attacks. According to the "Daily Nation" newspaper, as a result of thes measures three PKK members, two holding Syrian passports and one holding an Iraqi passport, were seized by the Tanzanian-Kenya border. It was announced that the PKK terrorists were planning an attack. /Sabah/Star/[06] ITALIANS REQUEST OCALANThe Italian Reformation Communist Party wanted the government to give the head of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, political asylum. According to the party decision, Italy should grant political asylum to Ocalan before the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) votes on Ocalan's death sentence. They claimed that Italy and also Europe could not be indifferent towards the so-called "Kurdish issue" and there was still enough time to save the head of the terrorist organization. It was also stressed that an "international justice court" will have to be set up to try Ocalan. /Star/[07] OCALAN'S LAWYERS' APPLY TO THE COURT OF APPEALSOcalan's lawyers have given their appeal petition to Istanbul's State Security Court in order for it to be handed over to the 9th Criminal Court. The petition was signed by Ocalan's lawyers, Niyazi Bulgan, Irfan Dundar, Hatice Korkut, Aysel Tugluk and Kemal Bilgic. /Star/[08] TOBB REBUKES ITALYThe Head of the Executive Board of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Fuat Miras, sent a letter to the Head of the Italian Union of Chambers of Trade, Industry and Agriculture, Danilo Longhi, in which he protested against a meeting to be held by the Italian Parliament during which the issue of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, will be discussed. According to a statement issued by TOBB, Miras said in his letter that in order to remember the real face of the PKK terrorist organization, it would be enough to look at the Italian newspapers published in November and December 1998. Miras remarked that he was deeply saddened at the news of the meeting to be held for an internationally-registered terrorist such as Ocalan. He added: "The trial process concerning this terrorist is still in progress in Turkey and the independent Turkish judicial system will issue the fairest decision. I would like to underline that pressure on Turkey concerning these issues will have no effect. It is out of the question to politically safeguard a terrorist. We expect that mistakes made vis-a-vis Turkey will not be repeated. We wish to further develop our political, commercial and economic relations with our ally, Italy". /Hurriyet/[09] VERDICT REPORT CRITICIZES COUNTRIES SUPPORTING TERRORISMIn the verdict report consisting of the main arguments in favour of the death penalty passed on the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, European countries, which supported the PKK, especially Greece and Germany, were clearly criticized. The Chief Judge of Ankara's No.2 State Security Court (DGM), Turgut Okyay, stated that Greece and Germany had engaged in 'systematic and continuous support' of the PKK terrorist organization. Okyay remarked that PKK terrorists were trained at Lavrion Camp in Greece and they were later sent to Turkey to carry out terrorist attacks. Okyay stressed that some European countries including Greece, Germany and Syria supported terrorism in contradiction to international agreements. The report pointed out that the PKK was engaged in drug smuggling and said that every bloody action carried out by the PKK necessitated the death penalty. The report added that, as the concept of 'serious, great and close danger' in the struggle against terrorism was mentioned in the laws of European countries, Ocalan's trial could not taken to the European Court of Human Rights. /Hurriyet/[10] AP: "PKK WANTS OCALAN TO BE EXECUTED"The Associated Press (AP), one of the most renowned news agencies in the world, stated that the PKK wanted its head, Abdullah Ocalan, to be executed. According to the AP, the PKK would declare Ocalan as 'a martyr to democracy' and use his execution as material for propaganda. The AP, which has issued an analysis concerning the issue, stressed that the peace call made by Ocalan would cause splits within the PKK organization. Meanwhile, 'The Times', one of the leading newspapers published in Britain, said that following the death penalty decision passed on Ocalan, discussions in Turkey have begun on whether or not it would be best to execute Ocalan. An article written by Andrew Finkel pointed out that even though Turkey had reacted harshly to European pressure over Ocalan, Turkish public opinion was reviewing the decision taken in favour of Ocalan's execution. Finkel quoted Turkish journalists as saying, 'Making such an important decision for our future in such a period of anxiety and anger will not be right'. /Hurriyet/[11] ITALIAN JOURNALIST SEES THE REALITYSergio Romano, an Italian journalist and a former Ambassador, stressed that the European left had made a mistake by targetting Turkey. Romano, who had worked at the Italian Embassies in London, Vienna and Moscow, wrote an article in the Italian 'Liberal' newspaper and reaffirmed that now peace has been attained in Kosovo, Europe is trying to draw similarities between the policies pursued by the Yugoslav Head of State, Slobodan Milosevic, and by Turkey. He further said: "The extraordinary success of Turks following the First World War is regarded even today as a wonderful achievement in today's European historical pages"; Romano also praised the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He added that Turkey was an exemplary country and had been subject to many plots by foreign countries. Romano concluded that Turkey would not allow the establishment of a separate region on her territory. /Hurriyet/[12] PKK TERRORIST BLOWN TO PIECESA female PKK suicide bomber attacked the Financial Department and the Wireless News Centre of Adana's Security Office yesterday. The terrorist her life during the attack; 14 people including 11 security officials were also wounded.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made a statement and described the explosion in Adana as a sorrowful incident. Ecevit stated that every measure was being taken against terrorist attacks and said: "The perpetrators will be captured sooner or later". /Hurriyet/ [13] MINE TRAP: 2 DEAD, 9 WOUNDEDIn two mine explosions in Hakkari and Batman, two people died and 9 people were wounded. A minibus, going to Hakkari, was overturned because of the explosion of a mine placed on the road by PKK terrorists. In that event, the driver, Kerem Demir, died while five passengers were wounded. In Batman, a vehicle of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation hit a mine at the entrance of the Garzan petroleum area. In the explosion, retired Colonel Ertugrul Iseri lost his life and Mehmet Adak and three privates were wounded. /Aksam/[14] ITALIAN'S BETRAYALThe Italian Communist Party's deputies proposed to give the right of political refuge to Ocalan. The Italian Assembly will convene today with a "special agenda" and debate the historic Imrali trial. Prime Minister D'Alema will also attend the meeting. The right of asylum for Ocalan will be voted on and tomorrow the Rome Court will declare the decision taken on this subject. /Aksam/[15] KIVRIKOGLU RETURNSThe Chief of General Staff, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, has returned to Turkey after completing his meetings abroad. General Kivrikoglu paid a one week-visit to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. In his statement Kivrikoglu said that he had engaged in extremely useful negotiations during his visit with the Chief of General Staff of the Czech Republic, Jiri Sedivy, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, the Chief of General Staff of Hungary, Ferenc Vegh, the Chief of General Staff of Poland, Henryk Szumski, and the Polish State's President, Alexander Kwasniewski. /Aksam/[16] INVITATION TO EU AMBASSADORSThe Foreign Affairs Minister, Ismail Cem, invited the Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) countries in Ankara to lunch. During lunch, the relations of Turkey to the EU countries were evaluated and the Turkish point of view explained once more. Sources close to the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that during recent years the Ministry has arranged these invitations every six months when the Chairman of the EU is replaced, and the last lunch was arranged becuse of this. After negotiations with his Greek colleague, Cem declared that Turkey is expecting the EU to end its discriminating attitude towards Turkey. /Aksam/[17] US ADMINISTRATION DIVIDEDIn the U.S.A, striving to resume meetings between both sides on Cyprus, a difference of opinion has appeared between the members of the Congress who defended their opinion that severe pressure should be applied to Turkey and Bill Clinton's administration, which prefers a more dignified approach. Diplomatic sources announced that before the presidential election which will be held next year, the Greek-Cypriot-Greek lobby will increase its anti-Turkish efforts in Congress. They have requested that the administration increase the pressure on Turkey concerning the Cyprus issue and also said that the Clinton administration is willing to solve the Cyprus problem before the election. However they are also aware of the importance of Turkey in the Kosovo, Iraq and Russia issues and do not want to impose a solution but rather wish to persuade her. Aksam_[18] SIX HIZBULLAH MEMBERS ARRESTEDDuring operations in Diyarbakir, 16 members of the illegal Hizbullah organization were captured by security officials. Out of the 16 Hizbullah members who were tried at the State Security Court, six were imprisoned. /Cumhuriyet/[19] IMKB INDEX RISESThe Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National Index increased by 169 points and reached 5,030 points. While the Tupras and Eregli Iron Company achieved the largest transaction volume, the total transaction volume of these shares constituted nearly 17.6 % of the daily transaction volume. /Hurriyet/[20] HILTON: "WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TURKEY"The General Director of Hilton Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Jurgen Fischer, stated that the Hilton Hotel in Turkey was one of their initial investments outside the US and said: "We will continue to invest in Turkey". Jurgen Fischer recalled that the Hilton Hotels currently had 450 hotels all over the world and had been in Turkey for 45 years. He further remarked that the construction of a hotel to be jointly run with the Sabanci Holding in Adana was underway. Fischer pointed out that Turkey had strategical significance for the Hilton Group, with a bright future in tourism. /Hurriyet/[21] EXPORTS FROM GAZIANTEPThe Head of the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (GSO), Nejat Coker, stressed that they had begun a breakthrough in exports in order to overcome the global crisis and attract new investments to the city. Exports from Gaziantep totalled $605.4 million in 1998. During the first five months of this year, $225.7 million worth of exports were sent out from Gaziantep. Kocer said: "We aim at $5 billion in exports for the next century. There are problems in the Middle East stemming from the tension being experienced with Syria. Therefore, we will channel our energies towards North African and European countries. We hope that Eximbank credits will be made available in sufficient quantity and in time to earn foreign currency for our country and thus relax the Turkish economy". /Hurriyet/[22] DEMIRALP, NEW TREASURY UNDERSECRETARYZiraat Bank General Director Selcuk Demiralp has been appointed as the new Treasury Undersecretary. The decision which had four signatures on it was presented to Suleyman Demirel last night to be approved. The decision concerning Selcuk Demiralp's appointment as the new Treasury Undersecretary will be issued in today's Official Gazette. /Star-Sabah/[23] FOREIGN SUPPORT FOR IMF'S STATEMENTS ON TURKEYAccording to a report issued by Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), it was announced that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) statements concerning Turkey were very positive. The report said that due to the extreme likehood that Turkey and the IMF will sign an agreement, it is now very attractive to buy into TL in the long-term. It was also noted that inflation would decrease to 50 % by the end of 1999. In the report, the Turkish government was advised to take note of the IMF suggestion in order to reach its economic targets in the long-term. /Star/[24] GREEN LIGHT FROM IMFThe Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), Erkut Yuceoglu, has evaluated the IMF meetings. Yuceoglu said that the IMF's recent statements were very positive and he expected that these statements would bring foreign finance to Turkey in the Autumun. In Autumun selective foreign finance sources would come to Turkey and Turkey's security bond transactions on in foreign Stock Exchanges would increase, stated Yuceoglu adding that after a probable stand-by agreement with IMF, more blanket credits would come to Turkey after January 2000. /Sabah/[25] TOWARDS NEW FOREIGN CREDITSUnder a probable stand-by agreement with the IMF, Turkey will sell Euro bonds Euro within this month. With this the Treasury aims to decrease the cost of borrowing. It is expected that Turkish economy representatives will engage in market research by meeting representatives of Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and Bank Paribas in order to export the bonds. Representatives noted that backed up by IMF support an additional $ 2 billion in foreign borrowing will be achieved between September and the end of the year. /Sabah-Star/[26] EIGHT TURKISH COMPANIES "BUSINESSWEEK" LISTThe American "Businessweek" newspaper has put eight Turkish companies among the "200 Biggest Companies in Developing Countries", which is issued every year. Is Bank, TUPRAS, Akbank, the Sabanci Corporation, Yapi Kredi Bank, the Koc Corporation, Petrol Ofisi and Garanti Bank are the eight Turkish companies with a place on the list. /Sabah/[27] CABINET SENDS 24 DRAFT BILLS TO PARLIAMENTState Minister and Government Spokesman, Sukru Sina Gurel, announced yesterday that the Cabinet has decided to send 24 draft bills to Parliament for debate. Law drafts and amendments needed to harmonize Turkey with international agreements and to aid in the fight against terrorism and organized crime are among the drafts being sent to Parliament, said Gurel. At the two-hour-long Cabinet meeting in Ankara, State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, responsible for Human Rights and Relations with the European Union, gave a presentation related to the draft laws which will be passed in an effort to overcome the shortcomings of implementing human rights legislation. /All papers/[28] TURKEY AND TRNC PREPARE FOR COUNTER-INITIATIVESHaving come under strong pressure from the G-8 countries and the United Nations' Security Council to move towards a solution on Cyprus, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are preparing an equally strong response. It is announced following the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the TRNC, the Turco-TRNC Association Council will convene for the third time. The council is expected to announce further decisions to bring Turkey and the TRNC closer both in the economic and the political field.It is expected that Cyprus will be one of the top issues on the agenda during Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Washington in early August and his talks there with President Bill Clinton. /All papers/ [29] "DEMIREL'S TRIP IS IMPORTANT FOR ISRAEL"President Suleyman Demirel's upcoming official visit to Israel between July 14-15 will demonstrate the high priority Israel attaches to its relations with Turkey. This is the policy of all governments of the Jewish State, said Israeli diplomatic circles. It is announced that Demirel will be the first leader to visit Israel and meet newly-elected Prime Minister Barak. Demirel will also meet leading Israeli businessmen and industrialists and inaugurate a shipping line between Israel and Turkey operated by a Turkish company.Demirel will also pay an official visit to the Palestinian Independent Authority and meet President Yasser Arafat on July 16. /All papers/ [30] FRENCH JUSTICE TO EVALUATE CAKICI'S DEMAND FOR EXTRADITIONFrench lawyers said concerning the demand made by the Turkish mafia boss, Alaattin Cakici, for his extradition to Turkey, that even if Cakici is sentenced to death, his extradition could only be achieved when Turkey guarantees that it will not execute him. The lawyers added that official approval from the Council of Ministers and the President was needed for the extradition of Cakici. /Milliyet/[31] NEW PATRIARCH: NERSES POZAPARYANFolowing the death of Patriarch Karakin I. in Armenia last week, Archbishop Nerses Pozaparyan who was born in Turkey has been elected to the post for a temporary period. Karakin I died due to cancer last Tuesday. /Milliyet/[32] AKBULUT RECEIVES HIS TURKMEN COUNTERPARTYildirim Akbulut, Parliament Speaker, met Sehet Muradov, Turkmen Parliament Speaker, at Dolmabahce Palace yesterday. Addressing the meeting, Akbulut expressed pleasure over the visit of Muradov and noted that there were relations between the two countries stemming from history, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[33] DEMIREL RECEIVES KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO TURKEYPresident Suleyman Demirel received yesterday Abdullah Al-Murad, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Turkey. Al-Murad whose mandate in Turkey was over bade farewell to President Demirel, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[34] RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GEORGIAGeorgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said yesterday that no one can damage the relations between Turkey and Georgia. Addressing a press conference, Shervardanadze mentioned the recent demonstrations in Tbilisi, Georgia, held by the supporters of the PKK terrorist organization, and stressed that no one can damage the frienship between the two countries, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[35] NEW BUDGET FOR DEFENCE DEFENCEModernization of the Turkish Armed Forces, which is an important source of power in the Middle East and the Balkans, will continue this year. The allocation to the Ministry of National Defence from the 1999 General Budget, which will be voted on Thursday 8th in Parliament, will be 2.5 quadrillion TL and a significant amount of this money will be used for the modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces. /Turkiye/[36] BBC: "FIRST SETTLERS IN AMERICA WERE TURKS"According to traditional history, the English, Scotch and Irish established America. However, the Meluncan society settled in Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee damages this theory. According to fresh evidence, it was not northern European people who settled first in America but Turks from the Meluncan society. A BBC correspondent went to Appalachian Mountains and researched into the new claims. Dr. Brent Kennedy, from the University of Virginia, has undertaken a wide-ranging search to discover his ancestors and he decided that it was "Ottoman Turks who first came America, not Northern European people as it is believed." /Sabah/[37] TURKISH AMPHIBIOUS TROOPS TRAINING IN THE NETHERLANDSTraditional Amphibian training being carried out between Turkish and Dutch Naval Forces is continuing in the Texeldoorn region of the Netherlands. According to the Office of the Chief of General Staff, the training programme will end on 11 July. /Turkiye/[38] REFERENDUM FOR AKKUYUPeople in support of a clean environment will hold a referendum in Buyukeceli and in its surroundings concerning the nuclear power plant planned to be constructed in Akkuyu. The representative of Greenpeace's Mediterranean Office, Melda Keskin, stated that the referendum will be held on July 11, 1999, and people living in Buyukeceli will make the decision whether or not the power plant will be built. /Cumhuriyet/[39] ZEKI TRIKO IN ISRAEL AND THE USZeki Triko, which has opened a swimming suit shop in Cannes, France, will now enter the Israeli and the US markets. To that end, Zei Triko will open shops in Elat, one of the tourist cities in Israel, and then in Miami, the US. The Head of the Executive Board of Zeki Triko, Zeki Baseskioglu, said that he had been on a round of observations in Israel last week and the Israeli market had a huge potential. /Milliyet/[40] SABANCI CALLIGRAPHY COLLECTION IN LOUVREThe Calligraphy Collection of the noted Turkish businessman, Sakip Sabanci, will be exhibited at the renowned Louvre Museum between March 17-May 29, 2000. The Head of the Executive Board of the Sabanci Holding Company, Sakip Sabanci, and the Director of the Louvre Museum, Pierre Rosenberg, will meet on July 7, 1999, to exchange their views on the exhibition to be held at the Louvre Museum. The Sakip Sabanci Calligraphy Collection was previously exhibited at the New York Metropolitan and Los Angeles Art Museums in 1998 and 1999. /Hurriyet/[41] OPERA AT ISHAK PASHA PALACE IN AGRIAn opera was held at the historical Ishak Pasha Palace in Agri on Sunday. The opera composed by Cetin Isikozlu and adapted from the novel 'Agri Mountain Myth' written by Yasar Kemal was performed by a total of 200 artists including the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Azerbaijani State Philharmonic Chorus and performers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The opera held at the Ishak Pasha Palace will be made traditional and international next year. /Hurriyet/[42] BRAZILIAN SINGER IN ISTANBUL JAZZ FESTIVALDaniel Mercury, one of the most successful representatives of Brazilian music, will attend the 6th International Jazz Festival. It is announced that Mercury will stage a performance on 7 July at the Istanbul Open Air Theatre. During the same night a "Brazilian Dance Night" will be organized. /Sabah/[43] FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..[44] THE EFFORTS TO GET OCALAN EXECUTED -BY FATIH ALTAYLI (HURRIYET)Columnist Fatih Altayli comments on the recent developments which would result in the execution of Ocalan. A summary of his column is as follows:"For some time I have been saying that the PKK is trying hard to get Ocalan executed. The explosion in Avcilar, random shootings in some coffeehouses are all excuses to achieve this aim. The PKK wants to fan sensitivity in Turkey by provocations and spilling blood. They are bent on infuriating the Turks, increasing their sensitivity and thus get Ocalan hanged in no time at all. If the PKK had been against the execution, it would have waited for the legal process to be completed. It would have stayed silent even until the Parliament voted on the issue. Then, if it did not like the decision it would have started its attacks. But the organization is trying to spill blood in Turkey at present. It is trying to influence the legal process and get Ocalan hanged. Italy has the same goal in mind. "Get Ocalan executed and leave Turkey in a tight spot." That is all they want. The PKK terrorists are trying with all their might to see Ocalan executed. Their aim is to inflame new sensitivities and direct the Turkish public towards lynching Ocalan. However, Turkey has not fallen into any traps set by the PKK and will not fall into this one either." [45] NATIONALISM AND NATIONAL INTERESTS -BY SAHIN ALPAY (MILLIYET)Columnist Sahin Alpay writes on nationalism and national interests in his column in "Milliyet". A summary of his column is as follows:"The success of two parties described as "nationalist" in the Election and the Imrali trial following it, has increased discussions on "nationalism". Nationalism which means sharing common values, culture and even accepting certain sacrifices on the issue and 'nationalism' as an ideology are two different things altogether. To claim that national interests could best be represented by 'nationalist' parties is as erroneous a misconception as claiming that the religion of Islam could only be represented by Islamist parties. Nationalism can hamper national interests as in the case of Hitler and Mussolini, and more recently Saddam and Milosevic, or elevate national standards by playing a unifying role with different interpretations. A few of the facts relating to the Turkish position can be stated as follows: - To avoid taking any steps in fulfilling the conditions for full-membership in the EU may be a nationalist attitude but is against our national interests as it results in the exclusion of Turkey from political and economic integration with Europe. - To oppose international arbitration may be a nationalist approach claiming that it is against national independence. However, it would result in decreasing foreign investment which would be against our national interests. - To insist on basing our policies on a 'Turkish-Islamic synthesis' may seem like a nationalist stance, but it is the safest way to disrupt our national unity. - To see the judicial authority of the European Court of Human Rights as interference in our domestic affairs may be considered a nationalist approach, but it would hamper Turkey's catching up with European standards in democracy and human rights. We have to remember former Israeli Prime Pinister Shimon Peres' words that governments may change but national interests never does. This is also valid for the new Government." [46] SPECIAL KOSOVO[47] TURKISH TROOPS IN KOSOVOTurkish troops rolled into Prizren on Sunday and were welcomed enthusiastically by the people of Prizren, who still use as their daily language. The Turkish contingent of mechanized infantry and armour will be stationed in outlying areas near Prizren, Kosovo's second larget city, under the overall NATO mandate to keep the peace until a civilian government can be put in place. /All papers/[48] TURKISH TROOPS MOST WELCOME .... -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the welcome of Turkish troops in Kosovo. A summary of his column is as follows:"Turks were proud to see the enthusiastic welcome accorded to the Turkish peacekeeping force deployed in Prizren. This enthusiastic welcome conveys two messages to the world: The first message is that, a great majority of the Kosovars depend on the Turkish troops to help reinstate peace in the region. Considering the restlessness and friction over the deployment of troops belonging to various nations, from the Germans to Greeks and Russians, the meaning of the welcome accorded to the Turkish K-FOR unit can be understood better. This means that Kosovars are pleased with the presence of Turkish troops. The second message concerns Turkey's new role and influence in the Balkans... Balkan countries such as Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Macedonia feel close to Turkey and expect a helping hand from her. That is to say, for these countries Turkey is a State whose friendship should be sought... We have to be careful to preserve these constructive messages. The aim of the Turkish unit in taking its place among the UN troops under the umbrella of the International Peacekeeping Force is to bring peace to the country and re-establish the normal state of affairs as soon as possible. It should not be regarded as a return to old Ottoman territory after 87 years, as this could give the wrong impression. There are masses who love and respect Turkey in the Balkans but it should not be forgotten that these states which seceded from the Ottoman Empire are sensitive on the subject of independence. The Turkish role and influence in the Balkans will not be restricted to "military" fields. In the new period ahead, Turkey can achieve many goals in diplomacy and especially in economy. Now is the time to reconstruct Kosovo and her neighbours. The West is getting prepared for the job. With her public and private sectors, Turkey should work hard to obtain a piece of this pie. Following the meetings he had on the subject, it is very encouraging to hear Foreign Minister Ismail Cem say, "We wanted Turkey to take her place in the reconstruction process of Kosovo and advanced in this direction." From now on, this should be the field where Turkey should show itself." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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