Selections From Todays Turkish Press

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC) is celebrating the 18th anniversary of its founding this week.The TRNC declared its independence on Nov. 15, 1983. A delegation from mainland Turkey including Presidential Secretary Kemal Nehrozoglu, acting Parliament Speaker Kamer Genc, Air Forces Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel attended ceremonies to mark the occasion held in Cyprus yesterday. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a message to TRNC President Rauf Denktas to honor the anniversary. Sezer declared that Turkish Cypriots would never forsake their historical and legal rights. Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi also relayed a congratulatory message to Denktas. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS MARKS TRNC ANNIVERSARY

In his address to mark the 18th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's (TRNC), President Rauf Denktas stated that although the world did not recognize the Turkish Cypriots and considered them as minorities on the island, the Turkish Cypriots themselves were well aware that they had an independent state. Stating that it was his duty to refuse proposals which would make him say that Turkish Cypriots are just minorities on the island, Denktas said, "The Greek Cypriots are trying to join the EU with a fake identity as Cyprus' true government. This is a Greek Cypriot ploy to seize the entire island. However, the world must recognize our presence. We have earned this." /Cumhuriyet/

SEZER CALLS ON ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS TO NEGOTIATE

To mark the occasion of Palestinian National Day, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday issued a message both congratulating Palestinian leader Yasser Araft and also calling on Israel and the Palestinian administration to end the violence in the region and return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. /Turkish Daily News/

ECEVIT: "CYPRIOT UNION WOULD LEAD TO GENOCIDE"

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said in remarks to honor the 18th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that if the Turkish North were unified with the southern Greek administration, "genocide would once again occur." Turkey will never abandon Cyprus and would never accept something like that to happen, he emphasized. Ecevit also remarked that in such a case Greek Cypriots would move to occupy Turkish territory in the north./Hürriyet/

3,000 TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS PREPARE FOR AFGHANISTAN

Turkey is getting ready to send a peacekeeping force of 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan. In anticipation of a request for their participation in a UN peacekeeping force, an order was given to the Mamak 28th Infantry Brigade to get prepared for such a duty. Meanwhile, the US administration stated that US soldiers would not take part in any peacekeeping force. /Turkiye/

ECEVIT: "TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION HAS DEMORALIZED THE TALEBAN ADMINISTRATION"

Turkey, is poised to play a significant role in the formation of a new administration in Afghanistan and is pleased with the G-7 countries' decision to invite it to a meeting to be held with Afghanistan's neighbors. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stressed that the political vacuum in Afghanistan should be filled as soon as possible and added that Turkey could contribute significantly to efforts on this issue. Stating that this leg of the fight against terrorism was winding down very rapidly, Ecevit said, "Turkey's participation in the operations demoralized the Taleban administration. The Afghan people are well aware that Turkey is both the most modern and the strongest Islamic country and that it can't be fought." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN AFGHAN SUMMIT

US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said yesterday that Turkey had been invited to Washington on Nov.20 along with Canada, Germany, Russia, Great Britain, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia as well as representatives from the United Nations, the European Commission and the Organisation for the Islamic Conference (OIC) to a summit to shape the future of Afghanistan. The meeting will be chaired by the United States and Japan./Hürriyet/

EU OFFICIAL WARNS TURKEY

EU Commission Director-General for Enlargement Michael Leigh said yesterday that if the Cyprus issue remained unsolved, Turkey's accession period to the EU might be adversely affected. Stating that the EU wants to reach a solution on the divided island before admitting the Greek Cypriots administration, Leigh said, "However, this is not a prerequisite but a wish." Recalling that Turkey had promised to support the United Nations-led negotiation process in its National Programme, Leigh remarked, "We request that Turkey take concrete steps in order to keep its promise." Leigh commented that there still remained enough time for a solution on the island and added that the EU expected Turkey to accelerate its process aiming towards a solution. Remarking that although the accession periods for the EU and the UN were different, they still affected each other significantly, Leigh said, "The EU would like the Turkish Cypriots to enter the EU together with the Greek Cypriots. For a solution to be found to this issue would make an inspiring example for other similar conflicts on the world stage. However, if one of the main parties refuses to join efforts for a solution, a solution can ever be reached." Answering reporters' question on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Leigh remarked that the EU understood Turkey's concerns and wanted to begin pursuing the ESDP according to a timeschedule they had prepared before. /All Papers/

GOSSES: "TURKEY HAS CERTAIN OTHER THINGS TO DO"

Netherland's Ambassador to Turkey Sjoerd Izaak Hendrik Gosses said yesterday that Turkey was an important candidate for the European Union membership. Addressing a seminar in Ankara, Ambassador Gosses pointed to Netherland's support for Turkey during its EU membership accession process and added, "However, as we can see in the EU's progress report, Turkey has a member of additional duties to fulfill." /Turkiye/

BAHCELI: "WE ARE READY TO PAY A HIGH COST FOR CYPRUS"

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said yesterday that the EU's Turkey Progress report could not be considered as unprejudiced and objective. Stating that the Cyprus section of the EU report was "unjust and invalid", Bahceli said, "Turkey would not accept the Greek Cypriot administration's admittance to the EU without a permanent solution on the island having been reached. The measures which Turkey would take in such a situation have been clearly declared. Turkey will not pay any price asked for EU membership. However, everybody should be aware of that we are ready to pay any price for Turkey." /Sabah/

CILLER TOURS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS LAW

True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller held a press conference in the Parliament yesterday after her meetings with Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz. Ciller said next week her party would forward its proposal to the Office of the Parliament Speaker for amendments on the Political Parties and Elections Law. /Turkiye/

IZGI TO MEET EU COUNTERPARTS IN SWEDEN

Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi will be in Stockholm' Sweden today to participate in the Conference of European Union Parliament Speakers. The conference was postponed as a result of the terrorist attacks in the US, and this year Parliament speakers of EU candidates countries will participate in the conference for the first time./Turkish News/

CEM CRITICAL OF WESTERN ATTITUDES TO TERRORISM

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yestreday that Turkey had previously called on its NATO allies to take stricter measures against terrorism and to agree on a common definition, but that this initiative had failed. He said that terrorism was a common threat that could strike anyone at any time, and added that Turkey hoped that this fact would be understood by the Western world soon. Cem said Turkey wanted a common definition of terrorism. "Turkey condems all forms of terrorism without resorting to distinctions such as so-called terrorist-freedom-fighters'," he added./Turkish News/

39 TURKS IN NEW YORK PRISONS

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz yesterday said that as of Nov. 8, there were 39 Turkish citizens in prison in the New York New and Jersey regions. Dirioz said that following the terrorist attacks on the US, law enforcement authorities had clamped down on foreign nationals with expired residence and work permits and had detained many such people, including the 39 Turks. /Turkish Daily News/

PARLIAMENT PASSES NEW DGM LAW

A bill proposing removing the offenses of "forming a gang with intent to commit a crime" and "aiding" such gangs from the jurisdiction of the State Security Courts (DGM) has been passed into law by Parliament. These two offenses will now be dealt with by the Higher Criminal Courts. /Turkish Daily News/

TURKEY: "PUTIN'S REMARKS GO TOO FAR"

Turkey announced yesterday that it "viewed with regret" remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the effect that Chechen fighters are using Turkey as a conduit to travel to Afghanistan. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said: "This remark, which we believe errs towards going too far, to the effect that the Turkish authorities turn a blind eye to the crossing of Turkey's borders by Chechen fighters, has been received with regret." The statement added there was no information concerning any data upon which these remarks were based and went on to say that all citizens of the Russian Federation were subject to the same registration procedures for visa and residence as all other foreigners as well as the visa agreement signed between Russia and Turkey. The statement added that Turkey wished to see a peaceful resolution to the Chechnya problem within the scope of the Russian Constitution and the country's territorial integrity. /Turkish Daily News/

TSK AIDS KYRGYZ AND KAZAKH MILITARIES

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is aiding the Kyrgyz and Kazakh militaries by giving the military equipment worth a total of some $1 million. According to the Office of the Chief of the General Staff, Kyrgyzstan received the aid on Oct. 11 and Kazakhstan on Oct. 13. /Cumhuriyet/

KOEHLER: "WE AGREED WITH TURKEY AND WORKING HARD"

International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Hans Koehler said yesterday at a press conference in Washington that the IMF team was very satisfied with Turkey's 10th review and that they agreed that Turkey need additional financing. Koehler stated that they had made agreements with Turkish authorities on reform, development and next year's inflation rate. Koehler added that the amount of additional financing would be announced later by the IMF Board of Directors and the G-7, but that the amount wouldn't be less than $9 billion. /Hürriyet/

DERVIS: "FOREIGN INVESTMENT IS ON WAY"

State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that the reforms made in the banking system would continue in 2002 and this would lead to foreign investors returning to Turkey. Dervis also said that Turkey doesn't want the its banking sector to be controlled by foreign capital but rather to cooperate with foreign partners in order to be stronger./Hürriyet/

PRIME MINISTRY GETS PROPOSAL TO CUT RED TAPE

A regulation proposing eliminating administrative obstacles and simplifying bureacratic processes for direct investments was sent to the Prime Ministry yesterday. The new plan prepared by the Treasury Undersecretariat targets limiting bureacratic processes and directing them from only one hand, and in so doing cutting out major obstacles to investments. Under the new regulations, the Treasury Undersecretariat is supposed to fully process applications for investment within three months at the latest. /Turkiye/

REVISIONS OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu presented a bill proposing further revisions in the privatization process to the Cabinet yesterday. Karakoyunlu said that proposals would be reviewed and subjected to critical analysis and the bill would be opened to Cabinet ministers' signatures next week. /Turkiye/

CYPRUS AGAIN BY GUNDUZ AKTAN (TURKISH DAILY NEWS)

Columnist Gunduz Aktan comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows: "We are entering a critical year when it comes to Cyprus. Just saying this amounts to accepting the link between a solution on the island and European Union membership. However, we cannot sacrifice our basic interests on Cyprus just because we are going to be EU members. A group in Turkey that advocates unconditional EU membership also wants us to make no end of sacrifices. This is not going to happen, nor should it be allowed to. Therefore, there is much to be gained for the group in seeing their mistake and getting back on the correct path. Mr. Denktas is always being accused of abandoning intercommunal talks. The public is not convinced he is right not to return to the negotiating table until the Turkish Cypriots get equal political rights. With its Resolution 186 taken in 1964, the UN Security Council recognized the Greek Cypriots as the only legitimate government on the island. That we turned a blind eye to such a resolution as this may well be criticized today, but at the UN which was then filled with young, weak states which had just emerged with the dismantling of colonialism, for a community in the majority, this was an unacceptable act. The passing of such a resolution even once rendered it impossible for the Turkish Cypriots to be afforded equal political rights. If I am not mistaken, the West is of the opinion that recognition of equal rights will come with a solution being arrived at. It is inclined to let the Greek Cypriots represent the island in order to balance out the advantage gained territorially by the Turkish Cypriots after 1974. It is also afraid that with recognition of equal political rights, the Turkish Cypriots will no longer be interested in a solution. But none of this means that Mr. Denktas should return to the negotiating table under the present conditions. The so-called non-paper penned by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan last November 8, 2000 precludes this. After speaking of talks without preconditions, the paper then proceeds to impose as preconditions everything the Turkish Cypriots have been opposing to date. Furthermore, it is not allowed for the Turkish Cypriots to make proposals counter or present amendments to the positions determined in the paper. Can this be called negotiations? It is clear that this note was prepared to satisfy the Greek Cypriots, who have lost all interest in intercommunal talks, and even a solution on the island, as they head towards full EU membership. The real problem is that the Greek Cypriots vociferously deny subjecting the Turkish Cypriots to crimes against humanity for 11 from between 1963 to 1974. They also tell their children the tale that Turkey invaded the island without any reason. How can Turkish Cypriots ever be delivered to the mercy of a community with such a psychological disposition?"