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Turkish Press Review, 01-09-19
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Foreign
Press in Turkey
Turkish
Press Review >>
Press
Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
19.09.2001
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON TERRORISM
[02] ANKARA IS CONCERNED ABOUT CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES
[03] TGNA TO BEGIN DEBATES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE
[04] YILMAZ: "NO CONCESSIONS REGARDING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY"
[05] BAHCELI: "TURKISH ARMY KEEPS PEACE"
[06] LADIN'S FINANCE CENTER IN GREEK-CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION
[07] ROBERTSON ON CNN TURK
[08] CAKMAKOGLU TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN
[09] BAYKAL: "TURKEY'S RECORD ON TERRORISM IS CLEAN"
[10] DENKTAS : "ISLAM REFUSES VIOLENCE"
[11] TURKISH FIREFIGHTERS COMMEMORATES AMERICAN COLLEAGUES
[12] TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN A-400M MILITARY TRANSPORT
[13] FOGG: "CYPRUS ISSUE MUST BE SOLVED BEFORE TURKEY'S ADMITTANCE TO THE EU"
[14] STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU RECEIVES GERMAN PRESS
[15] NEW TARGET FOR FOREIGN TRADE: MIDDLE EAST
[16] TUSIAD MEMBERS TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN
[17] BULGARIAN-TURKISH AGRICULTURE SUMMIT
[18] TURKISH TRAVEL AGENCIES ASSOCIATION PROMOTES TURKEY
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] NEITHER A CRUSADE NOR A JIHAD BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[21] ADVANTAGES OF TURKEY BY OKAY GONENSIN (SABAH)
[01] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON TERRORISM
Speaking at the group meeting of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Chairman
and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "Recent horrifying terrorist attacks
on the US, who is our friend and ally, concern all the world, so we owe our
full support the US in the name of humanity." Stating that most of the
terrorist attacks on Turkey were planned in the Western European countries,
Ecevit said, "This is a disgrace of Europe. The US has always been among
the countries who understands and supports our fight against terrorism.
It's our turn now. We have to support our friend." Stating that Turkey
never made concessions regarding democracy when fighting against terrorism,
Ecevit said, "There are certain countries who have tolerated the terrorist
activities against Turkey. They should change their attitudes now."
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] ANKARA IS CONCERNED ABOUT CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES
Turkey is concerned about the possible negative effects of a future US
retaliation to Afghanistan on the Central Asian countries who are still
beset by economic and political problems. Taleban's statement which
threatened the neighboring countries who will ensure military and logistic
support to the US retaliation is another matter which worries Turkey. Among
the neighbors of Taleban are Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and
Tajikistan. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] TGNA TO BEGIN DEBATES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE
The package including 37 articles for the amendment on the Constitution
will be taken up at the Constitutional Commission's meeting today. The
Commission is scheduled to complete the debates by weekened. The package is
then expected to be debated at the Plenary Session of the Parliament.
/Turkiye/
[04] YILMAZ: "NO CONCESSIONS REGARDING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY"
Answering a question by a reporter if he changed his mind about the issue
of national security after the recent terrorist attacks on the US, Deputy
Prime Minister and Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz
said, "Fighting against terrorism does not require to make concessions on
freedoms and democracy. After the recent attacks on the US, President
Bush's first statement said that the US was and would always be a country
of freedoms. I completely agree with this statement. There is no need to
sacrifice individual freedoms for the fight against terrorism. Upon
another question posed, how Turkish economy will be affected after the
recent terrorist attacks on the US, Yilmaz said that the negative effects
of the incident were being observed not only in Turkey but also all around
the world. He added, "The negative effects will be temporary, markets will
sustain an equilibrium soon." /Milliyet/
[05] BAHCELI: "TURKISH ARMY KEEPS PEACE"
Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Minister of State and
deputy prime Minister Devlet Bahceli issued a message to mark the Martyrs
and Veterans Week Stressing that Turkish Armed Forces exists for keeping
peace, Bahceli said in his message, "Turkish troops have always defended
peace in the country, as well as in the world, against assaults and our
soldiers have never hesitated to jeopardize their lives with this aim."
/Turkiye/
[06] LADIN'S FINANCE CENTER IN GREEK-CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION
The claims that Saudi terrorist Usame Bin Ladin has been using Southern
part of Cyprus as a base to finance his terroristic activities have again
been brought to fore. It is pointed out that Ladin's brother, Salih bin
Ladin has three overseas companies on the Island. Reportedly Ladin also has
accounts in offshore banks in southern Cyprus. It is noted that Ladin is
selling goods to Europe through companies in southern part of the Island.
According to Cevat Ahmet Alfato, one of Ladin's aides who was tried in New
York, the revenues coming from this trade were sent to the terrorists in
the US, Egypt, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The commercial activities of Ladin
are conducted by his aides Ebu Abdullah Lubnani, Ebu Rida el Suri, Ebu Isra
el Iraki and Vedih el Hac. /Hurriyet/
[07] ROBERTSON ON CNN TURK
Speaking on CNN Turk, NATO Secretary General George Robertson replied the
questions of prominent Turkish reporter Mehmet Ali Birand on the recent
terrorist attacks in the US. Upon a question asking why NATO did not invoke
Article V for the cases of Turkey and Spain who had been fighting against
PKK and ETA for years, Robertson said, "This is the first time a country
applied for invoking the Article V. NATO has two conditions to invoke the
Article V. First, the attack must be committed from abroad and the second,
the decision to invoke the Article must be taken unanimously. The attacks
on the US has showed us that invoking Article V was a must to improve
cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Upon Birand's question about
Turkey's position under these recent circumstances, Robertson said "Turkey
and all other member countries are obliged to support the US. This
obligation covers determining what should be done and then giving the
possible support. All NATO members have accepted this obligation and
responsibility. /Hurriyet/
[08] CAKMAKOGLU TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu has gone to Almati by
military plane as the official guest of the Kazakhstan Defense Minister. In
his speech at Etimesgut Airport he recalled Kazakhstan Defense Minister Sat
Tokpakbayev's visit to Turkey last year and said he would be in Kazakhstan
for three days as the official guest of Tokpakbayev. He added that during
his visit they would discuss bilateral relations. He continued "The public
knows we are cooperating with Kazakhstam in different areas. I believe
that we will be reviewing what we can do about our future relations as two
national defense ministers." /Turkish Daily News./
[09] BAYKAL: "TURKEY'S RECORD ON TERRORISM IS CLEAN"
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal said that the
terrorist acts against the US showed how right Turkey was and said,
"Turkey's record on terrorism is clean." Baykal who attended a meeting
titled "Youth in Eurasia in the Changing Process," which was organized by
the Dialogue Eurasia Platform in Belek, answered the questions of press
members. He said that Turkey had neither followed a hypocritical policy
against terrorism, neither had it supported it. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] DENKTAS : "ISLAM REFUSES VIOLENCE"
The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf
Denktas regarding the recent terrorist attacks to the US, said it is wrong
to target Islam. Stressing that Islam is a religion of peace and rejects
violence, Denktas said, "The struggle will be against terrorism and
terrorists." Talking about the Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides'
travel to the US alone, Denktas said, "It is a disgrace on Clerides. The US
had invited both of us. He is making a show." He also added that the right
of the TRNC will be understood sooner or later. /Turkiye/
[11] TURKISH FIREFIGHTERS COMMEMORATES AMERICAN COLLEAGUES
A ceremony to commemorate American firefighters who lost their lives in the
terrorist attacks on Sep. 11 was held by the Istanbul Metropolitan
Municipality Fire Department. Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of the
Department of Fire Brigade, Sabri Yalin qualified the dead firefighters as
the "innocent hereos" and said, "they lost their lives to save thousands of
people." /Turkiye/
[12] TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN A-400M MILITARY TRANSPORT
As previously announced, Turkey has started its participation in the EU's
military transport jet program. Officials said two major Turkish companies,
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Turkish Engine Industry (TEI) have
been selected to participate in the design, development and manufacturing
of the A-400 M project. The project by eight EU countries is meant to
produce a large transport aircraft for military use, in direct competition
with a US offering. Ankara has pledged to purchase 10 A-400 M transports.
/Turkish News/
[13] FOGG: "CYPRUS ISSUE MUST BE SOLVED BEFORE TURKEY'S ADMITTANCE TO THE
EU"
European Union Turkey Representative Karen Fogg said that the Cyprus issue
must be solved before the admittance of Turkey to the EU. Delivering a
speech at the Turco-EU Relations Conference organized by the Political and
Social Researches Foundation, Fogg said, "Turkey's economic performance for
the next few months is very important. If Turkish economy cannot overcome
the crisis, Turkey will a have hard time in her political reforms. Talks
over the Cyprus issue must be solved next summer." Fogg said Turkey had the
potential to enter the EU earlier than expected. /Milliyet/
[14] STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU RECEIVES GERMAN PRESS
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu has recived the German press, who are in
Turkey as guests of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and General Directorate of
Press and Informat�on. Karakoyunlu said that he will be answering questions
of the German press on Turkey's economic development. The press members
will later visit Foreign Affairs Minister Ismail Cem and then visit the
Grand National Assembly. Karakoyunlu also stated that the guests would get
information about Turkey's economy from the Central Bank and Treasury, and
then make a visit to GAP (Southeastern Anatolia Project). /Turkish Daily
News/
[15] NEW TARGET FOR FOREIGN TRADE: MIDDLE EAST
In the scope of the project which foresees to increase export to neigbour
countries started by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the Union of
Uludag Exporters (UIB) will send a delegation of trade to Syria and
Lebanon on Sep. 30. UIB Secretary General Onder Yavuz said the trade
volume between the neighbor countries and Turkey is not at a desired level
although it has a high potential and added that the Middle Eastern
countries were also a gate for the African markets. /Turkiye/
[16] TUSIAD MEMBERS TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN
A delegation of the Association of Turkish Industralists and Businessmen
(TUSIAD) will travel to Stockholm, capital of Sweden on Sep. 24-25. The
delegation, headed by Tuncay Ozilhan, will hold a series of meetings with
Swedish authorities and businessmen to exchange views on bilateral economic
relations. /Turkiye/
[17] BULGARIAN-TURKISH AGRICULTURE SUMMIT
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp met with his
Bulgarian counterpart, Agriculture and Forest Minister Mehmed Dikme, in
Ankara yesterday. Gokalp said after the meeting that closer cooperation
between Turkey and Bulgaria would help the establishment of solidarity in
Southeastern Europe, and help improve standards of living in the region.
/Turkish News/
[18] TURKISH TRAVEL AGENCIES ASSOCIATION PROMOTES TURKEY
Chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB) Ba�aran Ulusoy
stated that as members of TURSAB, they will give advertisements to the most
influential newspapers of the United States like New York Times and
Washington Post for three days. The advertisements will point out that
Turkey is a safe country, a friend, an ally of the U.S. and a member of
NATO. /Sabah/
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] NEITHER A CRUSADE NOR A JIHAD BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the recent reactions to the terrorist
attack in the US. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Taliban Administration in Afghanistan stated that it would declare Jihad
(holy war) if the US attacked its territory...While President Bush was
speaking of the war against terrorists, he used the term 'crusade' even if
it was a slip of the tongue. Is the world turning back to the dark ages at
the beginning of the 21st century? Are the developments following the
savage terrorist attacks on the US leading to a war of religions in line
with the scenario mentinoned in Samuel Huntington's book 'Clash of
Civilizations'? Such a polarization would form the most embarrasing and
terrible page in the history of humanity. President Bush who stated that he
did not use the word 'crusade' meaning a war of religion, felt the need to
convey a message of tolerance and unity to the American people in his visit
to the Islamic Center in Washington. Leaders of many Moslem countries
rejected the connection between Islam and terrorism and stated they were
ready to take place in a wide coalition which will be formed against
terrorism. At the moment, all leaders in both the Islamic and Christian
worlds have to refrain from any action or mentality which would recall a
holy war. Otherwise the wide international coalition tried to be formed
against terrorism will be debilitated."
[21] ADVANTAGES OF TURKEY BY OKAY GONENSIN (SABAH)
Columnist Okay Gonensin comments on Turkey's role in the shaping of the new
world order. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Turkey must be considered among the countries with an advantage on the eve
of the shaping of the new world order. However, this depends on how well
Turkey can play her role. As a Muslim country she is a part of the Islamic
world and as a secular democracy, a part of the Western world. This special
identity will have great significance for new formations. Turkey, who is
acting together with the Western World, may be the guarantee of an imminent
war from turning into a clash between 'Western and Islamic' civilizations.
It is hoped that Washington and the Western
capitals take utmost care not to divert this war into a clash with Islam.
In the new process, in line with the position Turkey will take, the EU
policy towards Turkey may change. This may mean that Turkey's full EU
membership process may be expedited. Turkey has delayed completing her
homeworks on the road to the European Union membership and in fact dragged
her feet. In return, Europe has delayed keeping its promises for the
realization of Turkey's membership. However, with the attack on the twin
towers, it has become inevitable for the Europeans to review their point of
view towards Turkey. Certainly, there may be opposition to Turkey's
admittance to the EU as she is a predominantly Moslem country. However,
Turkey has to play her cards right and if she accelarates the
constitutional amendments and legal reforms it will create a different
atmosphere. The stance Turkey will adopt will display her will to take
place in the Western World and shorten the path to the membership in the
European Union. It is natural for the US to help Turkey in line with her
political plans on this isssue."
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