Selections From Todays Turkish Press

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer traveled to Tajikistan yesterday to pay a two-day official visit. Sezer was welcomed by his Tajik counterpart Imamali Rahmanov at Dushanbe Airport. At a press conference after his meeting with Rahmanov, Sezer said that Turkey would always stand by Tajikistan. Stating that the current administration in Afghanistan was not acting on behalf of the Afghan people, Sezer said that he appreciated Tajikistan's determined attitude concerning the fight against terrorism. "Turkey will always support Tajikistan's stance against terrorism. Tajikistan is the country which has felt the most impact from the war since it is a neighbor to Afghanistan. Turkey and Tajikistan both wish for peace to be establish in the region as soon as possible.", Sezer said. Voicing his wish that an Afghan government be formed which includes the representatives of all ethnic groups in the country, Sezer remarked, "The Taleban represents an ideology, not an ethnic group. I have said many times that Afghanistan belongs to the Afghans." Meanwhile, Rahmanov stressed importance of Sezer's visit in terms of improving relations and cooperation between the two countries. He also stated that Tajikistan agreed with Turkey's views concerning the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and a future government to be formed in the aftermath of the operations. /Cumhuriyet/

SEZER TO MEET RABBANI

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is expected to meet former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who leads Afghanistan's opposition Northern Alliance that has been fighting the ruling Taleban for five years. Elmurad Arghoon, the Ankara charge d'affaires representing Rabbani and the Northern Alliance,said yesterday that Rabbani was very pleased with Turkey's decision to send troops to Afghanistan, but that 90 soldiers was be enough to help the Alliance. Instead, he suggested, Turkey should send 10,000 troops. Arghoon added that Rabbani wants to have more cooperation in the economic and military spheres./Hürriyet/

ECEVIT: "TURKEY MIGHT SEND MORE TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN"

Appearing on US television network CBS yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey might send more troops to Afghanistan in the future if necessary. Upon being asked whether the US had put pressure on Turkey to send Turkish soldiers to Afghanistan, Ecevit said, "The US administration didn't put any pressure on Turkey on the issue. Turkey made the decision on its own. The troop contingent we're sending to the region is a small but well-organized one. I believe they will contribute greatly to the training of Northern Alliance forces." Additionally, Ecevit remarked that Turkey's attitude concerning sending more troops to the country would be totally dependent on future developments. "Turkey can't send many troops there because our domestic struggke against terrorism is still continuing. Our security forces are fighting terrorism all over Turkey." He also commented that Turkey would not support the US if it attacked Iraq, since such a move would lead the region into chaos. /Cumhuriyet/

MUSHERREF'S VISIT

Pakistan head of state Pervez Musherref paid a brief visit to Turkey yesterday on his way to the US. Musherref said that Pakistan and Turkey were acting harmoniously in the fight against terrorism. Stating that the world had entered a new and critical phase in the wake of Sept. 11, Musherref said, "We are doing out utmost to end the war in Afghanistan as soon as possible. I am very honored to say that Turkey and Pakistan share common views concerning the fight against terrorism. Pakistan lends its logistic support to the international cooperation against terrorism. Land operations are limited to search and rescue activities." /Cumhuriyet/

CEM VISITS ATHENS

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, paying an official visit to Athens, yesterday said that he was happy to visit Greece since he and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou would have the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and post-Sept. 11 international developments. Following their one-an-one meeting, Cem and Papendreou had a luncheon. Cem was also received by Greek President Costas Stefanopoulos and met with main opposition leader Costas Karamanlis in the evening and then attended the opening of the Turkish-Greek Business Council's 4th meeting. Cem and Papandreou will held a press conference following a inter-delegations meeting today and he is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis. /Turkiye/

DERVIS: LOANS ARE ON THE WAY

State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis predicted yesterday that Turkey would begin 2002 with a much stronger economy. Dervis told the Turkish-American Business Council that "in the wake of its economic crisis, Turkey has begun to do things very quickly. We can't say that all the stop's we've taken have been the rightnes, but we will continue on our way." Dervis also remarked that the Sept. 11 attacks had affected Turkey just like all other nations and that in a search of solutions, Turkey had meetings with numerous international organisations and with the G-7 countries. Finally, Dervis said that Turkey's meetings with the IMF were continuing and that they wer now dealing with details. The "operation has begun, and loans are on the way"./Hürriyet/

25 HELICOPTERS TO TURKISH ARMED FORCES FROM UNITED STATES

The US Bush administration, which has welcomed Turkey's support in the struggle against terrorism, is preparing to send weapons to the Turkish Armed Forces as part of an aid package prepared for Turkey. The package includes helicopters that the Pentagon is offering to sell Ankara at a reasonable price. The Pentagon is planning to sell 25 such helicopters to Turkey, and Eximbank loans for the purchase of Seahawk helicopters by the Turkish Navy are reportedly going forward./Milliyet/

IMF DUE BACK ON DEC.3

An IMF commitee is due to return to Turkey on Dec.3 for the 11th review to finance the Turkish economy. At the cocnlusion of the review, the IMF committee will submit the report to the IMF Executive Council./Cumhuriyet/

PARLIAMENT CLOSED SESSION ON CYPRUS PROPOSED

IN the wake of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's recent remarks on the Cyprus issue, Istanbul Independent Deputy Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik has asked for a closed session in Parliament concerning the issue. Irtemcelik presented his proposal with 126 deputies' signatures both from the ruling and opposition parties to the Office of Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi. The proposal stated that a strategic stage had been reached in Turkey's case concerning Cyprus, which may well require strategic decisions. /Turkiye/

DE SOTO PUTS FORWARD A NEW PROPOSAL PACKAGE

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that Alvaro de Soto, the UN's Cyprus special representative, had come up with a new proposal package, but that, he wanted de Soto to give more details. Remarking that a game was being played concerning Cyprus, Denktas said, "De Soto wants us to sit at the table, but he doesn't specify the conditions." Reiterating his desire to meet with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, Denktas said that the two leaders want to discuss the future of the island. He also harsly criticized the EU saying, "The EU is disregarding our rights as laid out by the 1961 agreement." In related news, Clerides said yesterday that he would pay no mind to Turkish threats to annex Northern Cyprus if the Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU. /Turkiye/

YILMAZ: "NOW IT IS THE STATE'S TURN TO SACRIFICE"

Stressing that next year would be of a vital importance for Turkey to emerge from its economic crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Yilmaz said that the state would get smaller and that sacrifice would be expected from the state, not the citizens. Yesterday, during an address to the group meeting of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Yilmaz also spoke about ANAP's proposal economic and political package, saying that it included more than 100 concrete proposals and they would pass it on it to their coalition partners within a few days. /Turkiye/

CILLER: "DECREASE THE VAT FOR EVERYONE"

True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller severely criticized the government during her speech at her party's group meeting yesterday. Commenting on a decrease in the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the durable goods and automotive sectors only, Ciller said, " We aren't against this, but, if it's done, it should be for everyone Don't discriminate." Regarding Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's recent remarks on Cyprus, Ciller said that Turkey could neither give up on Cyprus, nor an Turkey's EU membership. She added, "Turkey is a powerful country, it will relent on neither issue." /Turkiye/

ERDOGAN CRITICIZES CILLER AND YILMAZ

Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday called both Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz and True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller "politically shameless". He said that Yilmaz opposed the government but still retains his seat on the Cabinet. Speaking at his AKP's group meeting in Parliament, Erdogan criticized ANAP's economic and political reform package. "They are using certain facts as a tool for promoting their mistaken policies," Erdogan remarked. He also criticized Ciller for her call for a decrease in the number of deputies in Parliament. He said, "Ciller was the person who increased the number of deputies in Parliament to 550. This is another example of being without shame." /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT SEND DELEGATION TO BEIJING

A six-member delegation of the China-Turkey Interparliament Friendship Group has gone to Beijing as guests of the Chinese Parliament. The delegation is comprised of one member from each party in Parliament and is headed by Nazif Topaloglu of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). /Turkish Daily News/

COALITION CLEARS KORAY AYDIN

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) member Koray Aydin, who was compelled to resign as Minister of Public Works and Housing after a corruption scandal , has had his resignation as a Parliament deputy rejected by the coalition members. Despite Aydin's resignation on Sept. 5, this action was voted on by Parliament a full two months later. The Constitution states that Parliament must approve of a deputy's resignation in order for it to be valid. The coalition parties all voted to reject his resignation. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz did not vote, but Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit did, voting against. /Turkish Daily News/

TURKEY SEES SHARP BOOST IN TOURISM INCOME

According to the Organisation for European Cooperation and Development (OECD) SİNCE 1992 Turkey has seen its revenues from tourism skyrocket 37.9%. This increase means that Turkey is now among the world's top 10 countries in terms of tourism revenues./Cumhuriyet/

FEMALE MANAGERS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL

The Fourth Eurasian Summit starting today in Istanbul includes a "World Female Managers Forum." The forum will begin tomorrow afternoon and will run for a day- and-a-half. The forum is being hosted by the Marmara Group Foundation's Human Rights Platform, which was established in December 1999. Some 50 women from 30 countries are expected to participate in the meeting. /Turkish Daily News/

THE CYPRUS IN THE CARIBBEAN BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

Columnist Oktay Eksi writes on the Cyprus problem. A summary of his column is as follows: "The Cyprus issue has heated up again. It not only heated up, but when Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told the Parliament Planning and Budgetary Commission that, 'Turkey may have to make a final decision . We must know that this decision will lead to a high price. However, we have to make this decision' then our relations with Greece got cooler. Cem was in Athens yesterday. The climate of friendship between the two ministers gave way to a more formal approach. Leaving this aside, I would like to give exceprts from a reader's recent letter to the editor. He mentions the resemblance between the situation of Haiti and the Dominican Republics and the Cyprus problem. 'For several years these two states lived together on an island called "Hispaniola". However, the coexistence of these two communities of different origins was not very sturdy, and did not last long. The Haitians were blacks who spoke Creole. The Dominicans spoke Spanish and were mixed racially, or mulatto. There were two separate communities, and they continually complained the US and the UN that the other was trying to gain territorial superiority. Although the leaders of the two countries held talks in 1936 and agreed on some points, when the Dominican dictator Trujillo killed 37,000 Haitians along the border, all relations between the two states were cut off for a very long time. In 1966 they began talks again. 60 years had passed and two generations had changed. Some of these talks were completed with success, but the others failed. The situation in Cyprus resembles this.' Haiti and the Dominican Republic are living as independent states on the same island. No one remembers to ask them why there are two different states on the island."

THE INITIATIVE MUST BE OURS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the recent developments in Cyprus and different views on the issue. "Last September former State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik put forth a new idea which brought a new viewpoint to the solution of the Cyprus and Aegean problems. He suggested that Turkey and Greece should discuss the Cyprus deadlock in parallel negotiations along in a comprehensive manner by Turkey and Greece. Such a method would lead to the softening of the rigid approaches seen in Cyprus talks and to the bringing of compromise solution formulas to the table. The relative stagnancy seen in the Cypriot and Turco-Greek relations was been disrupted by Ankara's recent harsh statements, and a period of new tension has begun. Irtemcelik said that thus such a formula was needed now more than ever. Diplomat turned politician Irtemcelik believes that , Turkey has to take the initative and play its cards right. This time the Greek Cypriots may be the side rejecting the proposals. Touching upon Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's statement that we should act with vision for a common future, he says that although these words were right they should be supported by compromise, not left as mere breath. The presence of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in Athens these days must lead to the dispersing of clouds seen hovering over relations between the two countries, and new steps must be taken an the issues creating this unfavorable atmosphere. Athens and Ankara must pave the way for a solution the critical stage reached in the Cyprus problem. Otherwise, there may be a return to the old days in Turco-Greek relations. At the moment, the EU is preparing to admit the Greek Cypriot administation as if it represents the entire island, with or without a solution. The reason is that the EU is following an enlargement policy which includes Central and Eastern European countries. As Turkey continues to say that the EU cannot admit the island into the Union as is, the EU replies that if it doesn't, Greece might use its veto and the enlargement policy would be derailed. But if Greece did not insist on vetoing the enlargement policy, the EU might freeze the fullmembership of the Greek Cypriot administration for a while. This may give some time for new efforts in solving the problem and a solution may be reached. Greece may accept such a proposal if it sees that Turkey is ready to take a serious initiative. If it does not, it will be the side rejecting the proposa