Selections From Todays Turkish Press
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said terrorism has shown its ugly face once more with the recent terrorist attacks in the US. Addressing the opening ceremony for the 2001-2002 scholastic year at the Middle East Technical University (METU), Sezer pointed to the terrorist assaults in the US. He said, "Wherever it comes from, whoever does it and whatever the reason is, terrorism is a crime against humanity. We condemn terrorism and terrorist activities, and we share the grief of the American nation." /Turkiye/
ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Cervantes Institute, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that US President Bush's usage of the word "the Crusades" was misunderstood by some circles. Ecevit said there was no need to doubt about the legal and humane basis of the American fight against terrorism. He said, "Terror is just what it is. It has no religion. Joint fight is essential. The US is a democratic country and there is no need to doubt whether she will fight against terrorism democratically or not. In the joint declaration of Ecevit and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, currently visiting Turkey, leaders said, "Nothing can justify terrorist activities. Turkey and Spain condemn all terrorist activities no matter in which country they are carried out and call for an international cooperation to eradicate the roots of terrorism all around the world." /Cumhuriyet/
PARLIAMENTARY EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
Parliament convened in an extraordinary session to discuss the constitutional amendment package. Prior to session, parliamentarians observed a minute of silence in memory of the people who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attacks in the US. Leaders conveyed messages condemning terrorism. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that negative effects of the recent terrorist attack on the US would not be observed on the economy as he did not expect an extensive war. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that the tragedy in the US should be a turning point for the Western countries to increase international cooperation in fighting against terrorism and to abstain from applying double standards on the issue. Chairwoman of the True Path Party (DYP) Tansu Ciller said that as the world entered a new structuring period after September 11th, Turkey obtained a very important opportunity to play an active role in this period. Additionally, Chairman of the Felicity Party (SP) Recai Kutan argued that it was financial capitalism fostering extreme social imbalances throughout the world which paved way for the rise in terrorist activities. /Cumhuriyet/ CEM: "WE ALWAYS SUPPORT THE US" Speaking at the Parliamentary Plenary Session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem said, "We, as Turkey, will always be with the US in this fight. We will give full support to the US as much as our circumstances allow." Stating that their priority was always Turkey's interest and happiness of Turkish people, Cem emphasized that fight against terrorism should be taken on in a calm and collected manner. He said, "The most important method to fight against terrorism is not limiting freedoms and democracy but using them as a weapon in dealing a deathly blow on terrorism. We will not be hurried in this period." Pointing out that terrorism had no religion, Cem said struggles should be coordinated. He added, "We can feel the grief of American people mostly. Fight against terrorism is now more extensive, deep and determined. This is the idea we have been defending for years." /Cumhuriyet/
DERVIS EVALUATES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WORLD AGENDA
Holding a meeting with national press members yesterday at breakfast, Minister of State responsible for Economy Kemal Dervis evaluated the current economic program and the period Turkey entered in after the recent terrorist attacks on the US. Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti also attended the meeting. Dervis said, "We entered a temporary period the atmosphere of which is charged with ambiguities. We, as the rest of the world, will inevitably be affected by the consequences of the terrorist attack on the US. We had reached a stability in the markets, as the program was going well, however, it is very difficult to foresee how Turkey and the world will be affected and what will be the consequences in the long run after September 11th." Upon a question about the possible costs of Turkey's support to US retaliation, Dervis said, "No matter the cost, to fight against terrorism is our responsibility as a country. It would never be a moral attitude to bargain on this issue with the US. First, join the fight and then voice your requests. He also added that Turkey's geopolitical importance increased after the attack and that this might accelerate Turkey's accession period to the EU if the European countries could comprehend how important Turkey is. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY'S NEW ROLE
The new conditions that have emerged following the terrorist attacks against the US and Washington's decision to lead the "war against terrorism" has begun to worry Athens. Athens is worried about the new balances to be established in the region and the increase of Turkey's geostrategic importance. The US efforts to search the criminals in the Middle East and Afghanistan and the new war scenarios will cause Turkey to be important in terms of its location during the cold war. During the cold war, the West had considered Turkey as a strong ally against the Varshaw Pact and now it considers Turkey as a important ally against international terrorism stemming from Islam fundamentalism. Three countries out of five, which are accused of causing terrorists attacks (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Libya) border Turkey and Turkey is the nearest country to Afghanistan within NATO. Therefore the US will need Turkey so that it can be successful in his plans to blow the international terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA: EXTERNAL FINGER BEHIND MASSOUD ASSASSINATION
Ankara declared sorrow after the death of the military leader of the northern alliance Ahmed Shah Massoud, following an attack on Sept. 9. "We consider the death of Ahmed Shah Massoud as an important loss for Afghanistan," the Foreign Ministry statement said and added," Information about the assassination points to the fact that it was not committed only by internal fractions, and this situation will make the solution to the problems in Afghanistan more difficult." The statement added that a lasting peace in Afghanistan could be achieved after the formation of a government to represent all the parties in Afghanistan, following a cease fire. /Turkish Daily News/
KIVRIKOGLU URGES FINALIZATION OF AWACS PROJECT BEFORE MONTH-END
The Chief of General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, urged the Defense Industries Undersecretariat (SSM) to conclude the Airbone Warning and Control System (AWACS) before the end of the month, following a negotiation period of two years. The project was discussed in a meeting of the two military bodies on September 6. "AWACS planes are a lot more efficient on aerial risks and threats. They are also faster. The air attacks in the United States have increased the importance of AWACS. This project will be the eyes and ears of Turkish aerial defense," said a military official. The SSM is expected to step up talks with the US company Boeing by the end of the month. /Turkish News/
"CERVANTES INSTITUTE" OPENED
The "Istanbul Cervantes Institute" was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar. The Institute, established in 1991, has 36 centers in 24 countries and it aims at promoting Latin American and Spanish culture. 70 thousand students in total are being educated in the Institutes annually. /Turkiye/
YALOVA ELECTED AS PARLIAMENT DEPUTY SPEAKER
Motherland Party (ANAP) Parliamentary Representative from Aydin,Yuksel Yalova, was elected as the Parliamentary Deputy Speaker in place of State Minister Nejat Arseven who resigned from the post a while ago. New members for the vacant positions in the Constitutional Commission due to the closure of the Virtue Party were also elected during the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA)'s extraordinary session yesterday. /Turkiye/
MEHMET NURI YILMAZ: "ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE"
Religious Affairs Director Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz said yesterday none of the religions tolerate terrorism and crimes against humanity. Yilmaz attended a symposium entitled, "The Religious Dimension of Turkey's Entry into the European Union",organized in Canakkale. Stressing that Islam is a religion of peace, Yilmaz told reporters terrorists may be from any nation and any religion. He said, "It is a big mistake to blame religions for terrorism." /Turkiye/
IZGI TO VISIT TRNC
Turkish Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi will pay an official visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with a delegation from Parliament on Wednesday. The delegation will hold a series of meetings with TRNC authorities. Izgi is expected to meet with the leaders of the political parties following a speech at the TRNC Parliament on Friday. /Turkish News/
DENKTAS: "CYPRUS NOW A LEGAL FIGHT"
President of Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, has said that the Cyprus conflict has now turned into a legal fight, and called on jurists to help the TRNC. Speaking at the opening of the new judicial year, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots wanted possession of the whole island, did not want to grant any rights to the Turkish Cypriots, and did not recognize their government.The TRNC President said that no agreement could be reached without agreement on certain parameters. /Turkish News/
YUCELEN AND 17 FORMER MINISTERS DISCUSS TERRORISM
Upon the invitation of Interior Minister Rustu Kazım Yucelen 17 former interior ministers discussed the developments. The interior ministers stated that at first terrorism should be defined. The first of the "Former Ministers evaluation Meeting", which was the idea of Yucelen, was held yesterday. During the meeting they discussed the terrorist attacks on the United States. The ministers and Yucelen agreed that an international organization like the Interpol has to be formed to fight against terrorism and if Ladin is a terrorist he must be viewed as such by everyone and if Ocalan is a terrorist, he must be accepted as a terrorist by everyone. /Milliyet/
DEMIREL WARNS THE UNITED STATES
The 9th president of the Turkish Republic Suleyman Demirel stated that the United States has to act according to the international law and be careful not to make a mistake. "Terror does not have a religion, a belief, a book and a God" Demirel continued. "This attack is not perpetrated only against the United States but also against the whole mankind. Therefore not only U.S. but everyone has to fight against terrorism. Who attacked and who supported these attacks and what is the reason? This has to be explained." /Cumhuriyet/
NO MAJOR IMPACT SEEN ON TURKEY'S TRADE
Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen said Turkey's trade wasn't exposed to a major impact from recent terrorist attacks on the United States and a possible relation on countries which are thought to harbor terrorism. "We are confident that Turkey's exports will exceed $30 billion this year as projected earlier," Tuzmen told Turkish Daily News exclusively over the phone. /Turkish Daily News/
NGOs CALL FOR COMMONSENSE
The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have requested the Turkish government to act in accordance with commonsense while condemning terrorism in the US. Chairman of the Turkish Bars Association, Ozdemir Ozok said improving democracies and human rights should not be hampered by considering terrorism as a pretext. Meanwhile, Chairwoman of the Women of the Republic Association Senal Sarihan said, "The basic dilemma does not concern the religions but is between America and Asia. Turkey should consider this dilemma taking her peculiar conditions into consideration." /Cumhuriyet/
OPERATION AGAINST TERRORISTS IN IZMIR
In an operation carried out in Izmir against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), 12 people among whom were the HADEP Konak District Chairman and an Iranian, have been arrested, Anatolia news agency reported on Monday. According to the information received, teams from the Anti-Terrorism and Intelligence Branch directorates raided many houses and workplaces among which were the HADEP Konak District Organization, Mesopotaminan Culture Association, "Free Society," an the "Welat" paper. /Turkish News/
TOURISM MANAGERS: NO NEED FOR CONCERN
Five days after the horrific terrorist attack on the US, the veil of fog slowly lifts. Tourism managers now discuss the possible impact of the event on their sector. As security measures in many airports are readdressed, Turkey formed a crisis desk to prevent damage to its key tourism sector. Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar and Chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB) Basaran Ulusoy say the attack will not adversely impact Turkish tourism. Tasar said the Tourism Ministry formed a crisis desk to discuss measures and reassured sector representatives that there was nothing to worry about. /Turkish Daily News/
FROM BALKANS TO ISTANBUL
Balkan-Art Istanbul Exhibition will be open on 9-14 October in the 11st Istanbul Sanat Fair. This activity, which is planned to be opened once in every two years, aims to ensure an intensive exchange of information on arts and to establish a different communication basis among artists, who share the same cultural inheritance from various countries. /Cumhuriyet/
ETHNIC JAZZ WIND
Yildiz Ibrahimova and Gypsy Band will stage a concert in Istanbul and Ankara within the framework of the concerts jointly organized by the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation and the United Nations Representative in Ankara. Yildiz Ibrahimova and Gypsy Band will stage a concert at the Concert Hall of Istanbul Kultur University on October 9. Ibrahimova and Gypsy Band will perform for jazz lovers on October 14 at the Cultural and Congress Center at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/
ADVICE TAKES THE PLACE OF SUPPORT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the recent policies adopted in view of the US determination to strike the terrorists in their hiding places following the terrorist attacks which occurred in the US. A summary of his column is as folows: "It is noted that hesitation and reservations are gradually taking the place of strong international solidarity observed following the terrorist attacks against the US. During the first few days after the attacks, the entire international community, from NATO to Russia, China to many Arab countries agreed on the point that a common front should be formed against terrorism. As the Bush Administration began preparations to carry out its new strategy with the courage it received from this support, different opinions began to be voiced. The US President is declaring an all-out war against terrorists and those supporting them. This will be a long and bloody war. It is a war against unspecified targets and countries. As the US is preparing for such a war, countries which have expressed their solidarity with the US have begun to say that she should be more cautious and calm and search for other ways to combat terrorism.... Most of the countries who are calling on the United States to act with commonsense and more calmly are acting out of the concern that a harsh intervention by the US and its consequences would endanger their interests. What is interesting is that Libya, Iran and Iraq are among these countries... The term 'Double Standards' is being used more frequently than ever. Whatever they do is correct and just and what others do is wrong and dangerous. How many countries are there in the world who do not apply 'double standards'? What would they have done if they were faced with terrorist attacks such as those in the US? Some of the countries who had expressed solidarity with the US are now listing the drawbacks of a US retaliation and its turning into a war. Some of these arguments may seem logical. However, it is apparent that action should be taken against international terrorism."
A STRANGE SITUATION BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the recent terrorist attacks in the US and the policies to be followed regarding them. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is known that the US will deal a harsh blow mainly to Afghanistan and other countries who are sheltering terrorists. However, which countries fit the description other than Afghanistan it is not known. If the words of the US officials are taken as basis, this blow will be dealt through a war which will last long. However, no one knows where this war will lead to. Among all this chaos, we forget that an organization called 'United Nations' was found in 1945 to solve international disputes through peaceful means. If there is a war in sight, shouldn't it be carried to the Security Council of the UN? It may be said that one of the sides is known but the other party is not specified as yet. If this is the case, where is the logic in striking Afghanistan? The main question here is the mentality of the officials governing the United States of America. The US could not accept to go to the UN for the solution of a problem she is a party to and therefore felt no need to to have a resolution for sanctions adopted. She felt it was enough to have passed a resolution condemning the attack which occurred on September 11th . On the other hand she called on the NATO countries to adopt a resolution that all NATO countries would deem an attack incurred on the US as if it was done to them and had it accepted in a day. We believe there is an incongruity here or are we mistaken? The issue of countries sheltering terrorism is another matter on our mind. If the US will punish those sheltering terrorists, should not she start with the Scandinavian countries, Germany, Belgium and Greece and even France who once embraced ASALA? True, these states are not cited in the list of terrorist countries announced by the US. States such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea and Libya were seen contantly in these lists. However, the recent attacks were carried out not by terrorists fostered in these countries but in the countries who sheltered Metin Kaplan, and Dursun Karatas, the murderer of thousands of innocent people...'