Selections From Todays Turkish Press
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said he was disappointed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had opted to submit the constitutional amendment regarding the deputies' salaries to referendum. He said that a new amendment could be made to the Constitution without a referendum. While receiving the members of the All Party Constitutional Accord Commission yesterday, Izgi said the referendum decision was "the president's prerogative." He said, in this situation Parliament would act with common sense. He said that if it came to a referendum, the cost would be TL 50 trillion. On the other hand, Justice Minister Prof. Hikmet Sami Turk has also criticized the President's decision and said he put himself above the Parliament. He added that a referendum would be a luxury for Turkey in such a situation. /Turkiye/
PARLIAMENT SEEKS WAYS TO AVOID REFERENDUM
Leaders of Turkey's three-party coalition government and parliamentarians were busy seeking a way to avoid a referendum called by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on a controversial constitutional amendment article. The decision of President Sezer to refer to a national referendum a controversial amendment in the Constitution's Article 86, that would increase the deputies' pay substantially, and introduce lucrative pension benefits, places Parliament and parliamentarians in an awkward situation: To abide with the decision of the President and go to a referendum-a move that may trigger an early election-or to override the presidential move by swiftly making a new constitutional amendment and reverting the controversial article to its original form- a move that would hurt the prestige of the Parliament and its deputies. The presidential move, that comes despite assurances from Parliament that in a new constitutional amendment package the controversial article would be reverted to its old form, and a bill, hastily legislated to demonstrate to Sezer the goodwill of Parliament, to the effect that deputies pay packets would stay as they are, was widely perceived among the politicians as a "hostile attitude" aimed at "bringing Parliament and the public into a head-on collision." On the other hand, the Office of Prime Minister is expected to return the writing of the President with a reason of "technically incorrect" today. The issue was also taken up during the Council of Ministers meeting yesterday. /Turkish Daily News/
BAYKAL MEETS SEZER
Following the shocking decision on referendum, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer gave his first message to the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. In accordance with the appointment taken before, Baykal went to the Cankaya Presidential Palace and following his meeting with Sezer, he told the journalists, "Mr. Sezer is not worried about answering to anybody. He does not have any doubt about his actions." /Sabah/
CEM TO ADDRESS UN IN NOVEMBER
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Nov. 12. UN General Assembly session at the leader level were postponed to November due to the Sept. 11 attacks in the US. The assembly meetings will be held between Nov. 10 and 16. /Turkish News/
CEM: "TURKISH ARMED FORCES MIGHT PARTICIPATE IN THE PEACE FORCE"
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, met with the Turkish-speaking Republics' Ambassadors in Ankara and said that Turkey is carrying out a successful performance during the peace force operations and that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) might participate within the framework of the United Nations' (BM) mission against Afghanistan. Cem mentioned his view concerning the ways to shape the future of Afghanistan and brought a process of three stages on the table. Cem said, "Providing stability in the region, forming a comprehensive government, holding elections under the auspices of the government and launching an international aid campaign to improve the economy are essential." /Milliyet/
"DO NOT ACT WITH DOUBLE STANDARDS IN COMBATING TERRORISM"
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem will present a comprehensive file, which includes evidence on the activities of certain terrorist organizations taking Turkey as a target in Europe, to his counterparts in the European Conference in Brussels. Cem will request European countries not to act with double standards concerning the fight against terrorism. Cem, who will convey the message that Turkey wants to look at her future but not the past, will present certain proposals on the ways to fight against terrorism during the meeting. All the European and Balkan countries, Russia and Ukraine are expected to attend the European Conference. /Cumhuriyet/
ANTI-TALEBAN FORCES' OPINION ON TURKEY
The Anti-Taleban forces' Representative to Ankara, Harun Amin, said they had been holding special meetings with Ankara concerning the inclusion of the Turkish soldiers into the peace force, which is planned to be deployed in Afghanistan after Taleban is overthrown. Although Ankara keeps silent concerning the issue, the Wall Street Journal has written the day before that it was on the agenda that the Turkish government will command the peace force to be established by the Islamic countries. /Milliyet/
BRITISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO VISIT ANKARA
Britain, who participates in the military operation of the US against Afghanistan, is now seeking to maintain contacts with Turkey. Britain will play a determining role in shaping the regional policies in the region following the military operation and the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jack Straw, will pay a working visit to Ankara today. It was stated that a request for this visit was received by Britain and there will be an exchange of information concerning the operation against Afghanistan, as well as the scenarios about the aftermath of the operation. Straw will come to Ankara this evening and begin to maintain contacts tomorrow. Straw, who will meet the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Meanwhile, it was stated that the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Renato Ruggiero, will come to Turkey to meet Cem next week. According to a statement released by the office of Ruggiero, he will set on a tour of visits including Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Turkey on Sunday. /Milliyet/
AMERICAN ASSURANCE FOR NORTHERN IRAQ
US Ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson stated American Administration was aware of Turkey's concern over Iraq's territorial integrity and assured that no other state would be founded in Iraq. He also added the terrorist organizations, PKK and DHKP-C will be included into the international terrorist organizations list. Pearson visited the Parliament yesterday and informed the members of the Foreign Affairs Commission about the US strike on Afghanistan. He expressed his pleasure in Turkey's support for the strike. The Chairman of the Commission, Kamran Inan pointed out Turkey's support will continue to the US in the scope of the decisions made by NATO. /Turkiye/
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AT THE METU
A symposium, entitled "Political Culture and Civilian Society in the Black Sea Region" organized by METU Black Sea and Central Asian Countries Research Center (KORA) will begin tomorrow in METU Culture and Congress Center. The symposium will continue until Oct. 20 and Turkish and foreign experts from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Armenia, Belarus, Crimea, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia, the US, Britain, Germany and Greece will present papers. /Hurriyet/
ILVES IN TURKEY
Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves arrived in Ankara yesterday to pay an official visit. Ilves is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem today after his visit to Ataturk's Mausoleum. He will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Minister of National Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu and Minister of State Tunca Toskay. /Cumhuriyet/
OIC SECRETARY GENERAL IN ANKARA
The Secretary-General for Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Abdulhavid Belkeziz arrived in Ankara as the official guest of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Belkeziz, who will be received by Cem today, will travel to Istanbul to attend OIC's Economic and Commercial Cooperation Permanent Committee meeting. /Cumhuriyet/
PRIMAKOV HOLDS TALKS IN ANKARA ON TERRORISM
Former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov held a half-hour meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli on Tuesday in Ankara. No statement was issued after the meeting, which was also attended by Russian Ambassador to Ankara Alexander Lebedev. Primakov was in Turkey to attend a conference in Istanbul, following which he came to Ankara to hold talks with government officials. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told reporters before meeting Primakov that they would be discussing Turkish-Russian relations. Cem also said that the Middle East would be discussed, and added that he was interested in availing himself of the deep experience that Primakov has in this respect. /Turkish News/
YOUTH PROGRAM WITH GERMANY PLEASES YOUTH
Under the protocol of Cooperation in Politics for Youngsters, which was signed between Turkey and Germany in 1994, both countries' young people are visiting each other. Youth and Sports General Director Toksal Basara said that under the protocol young people were sent to Turkey from Germany and vice versa every year. "To improve this program we carry out exchange programs under the coordination of the German Women's, Family and Youth Ministry," he stated. /Turkish News/
2002 BUDGET DISCUSSED
The government held many summits yesterday for the year 2002. During the three meeting which were mostly concerned with the "Resources and Savings", the investing banks reacted against the allocations that were reserved. However, the Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral did not make any concessions. The first meeting during which the Budget of the year 2002 was discussed was convened with the participation of the leaders. On the second session of the day, the ministers complained about the insufficiency of investment budgets. During this meeting, the State Minister responsible for economy Kemal Dervis avoided answering the criticisms and Oral said the budget was determined by the State Planning Organization (DPT), the Ministry of Finance and the investments having priority was given allocation without ignoring the savings. Following the Council of Ministers, another meeting was held so that an additional resource will be reserved for the year 2002 and determine the distribution of transfer allocations. During the meeting, State Minister responsible for Privatization, Yılmaz Karakoyunlu, suggested the sale of the Bogazici and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges with income bond in order to revive the economy and to create fresh resources. Karakoyunlu said, "Through this way we might gain an income amounting to 6 billion US dollars. If this income enters the market through the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBIs), the depression in the markets will be removed." Dervis said they would examine the suggestion and initiate work on the issue. /Sabah/
IMF'S REPORT TO G-7 CONCERNING TURKEY
It was stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) presented a report to the group of industrialized countries, G-7 concerning the economic situation in Turkey and the additional financing that might be necessary for the next year. The international monetary sources in Washington said the report consisted of the technical information and that it did not include a suggestion. The IMF has not released an official statement concerning the issue yet. Meanwhile, Reuters news agency stated that the members of the Executive Board of the IMF are expected to be briefed by the IMF officials concerning the economic situation in Turkey. It was stated that this briefing is expected to take place the Budget of the year 2002 will be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). /Sabah/
FINANCIAL TIMES' SUGGESTION TO IMF
The British Financial Times newspaper wrote that after September 11, the situation of the emerging markets including Turkey was getting worse. However, the situation in Turkey was better than Argentina due to the reforms she had implemented, her ability to pay her debts and her strategic importance. The newspaper wrote that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should give a second chance to Turkey. /Hurriyet/