This sample issue of the NTA Weekend Review of Turkish Media has been reposted with permission on the Eurasia Research Center Web Site. For subscription information contact the editor at: News & Translation Agency.
WE CONGRATULATE THE HOLY RAMADAN OF OUR ESTEEMED MOSLEM CLIENTS.
CONTENTS:
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS:
ECONOMY:
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THIS IS AMERICA: (EVEN) THE WAR COULD NOT SAVE CLINTON
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Daily Cumhuriyet’s Banner headline: The General Assembly of the Us House of representatives adopted a draft resolution to authorize the Justice Commission with impeaching President Bill Clinton. Clinton will now be forwarded to the Senate which will act as a high tribunal and tried. However it seems very unlikely that the Senate will produce a decision to impeach Clinton as such a decision requires a two third majority.
During Saturday’s session at the House, the Republicans attacked Clinton very harshly, Hilary Clinton thanked the Democrats for their support to her husband. Clinton said an a statement that he will not resign and will continue working for the American people.
Daily Sabah’ Banner Headline: THE UNDERSTANDING IS DIFFERENT, THE PHILOSOPHY IS DIFFERENT: THAT IS AMERICA!
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The impeachment process on President Bill Clinton who lied to hide his infidelity to his wife, has officials started Saturday.
Hillary Clinton showed once more the greatness of women and for his husband who had confessed that he cheated on her, begged to the House of representatives: I am proud of him; give him support!
The trial of Clinton will begin on January 1st. The Senate will be the jury and the high court president, the judge. If minimum 67 % of the Senators find Clinton guilty he will be removed from his post.
(Cumhuriyet,1,7;Sabah, Milliyet, Hurriyet,Radikal,1; Dec20)
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DESERT FOX OPERATION ENDED: 105 CIVILIANS KILLED
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The operation of US and Britain against Iraq since Wednesday, ended Saturday night. US President Bill Clinton who called Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to obey the rules of the international community. announced that the operation had reached its goals. Before Clinton’s announcement the Pentagon proposed to end the attack.
At the same hours, British PM Tony Blair announced that the operation has ended. US Clinton said that the operation had made a big blow on the biological and chemical arms program of Iraq.
Iranian news agency IRNA quoted the Iraqi Kurdistan Socialist Party radio as saying that 105 civilians were killed and 200 wounded in the operation.
(Cumhuriyet,1,5; Dec20)
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DEFENSE MINISTER SEZGIN: OCALAN WILL BE EXPELLED
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The Appeals Court of Rome will star examining the 900-page report handed by Turkey for Apo’s extradition to Turkey. The president of the Court Tomasse Figliussi said that the decision on the issue will be made in one month the latest.
Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin, on his return from the NATO meeting said that he got the impression that Apo will be expelled from Italy.
Meanwhile Ankara has reportedly made a warning to South Africa, which is being mentioned as a probable country to which Apo will be sent.
Italian daily Corriera Delle Sera reported that Ocalan is preparing to leave Italy on his own will. Green deputy Luigi Saraceni, one of Apo’s lawyers, said that "Ocalan is currently evaluating the situation."
Ankara showed strong reaction to Italian PM Massimo D’Alema who drew similarities between the PKK terror organization and the Kosova problem. A note handed by the Turkish Foreign Ministry to Italy said that "The words of D’Alema are an example of irresponsibility" and "The two issues compared by the Italian Prime Minister have no similarities. PKK is a terror organization which is responsible of the killing of 30 thousand people. We invite Mr.D’Alema not to distort the facts."
(Cumhuriyet,1,19;Dec20)
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COMMENTARY / SEREF OGUZ / MILLIYET
EMBARGO ON TURKEY
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"... The loss of Turkey at the Gulf War reaches to 29 billion dollars. If you add to this the potential market we lost because of the embargo on Iraq, the bombs falling on Iraq, explode on the economy of Turkey. In reality the embargo on Iraq is another comedy. US says, "Whoever that will sell goods to Iraq will be the target of my anger" but, it trades with this country through Jordan. This hypocrisy ruins our border trade.
Rumor is that the aim of the economic embargo on Iraq is to protect the interests of the American and British firms, trading with Iraq. Just through the Habur border door, 42 thousands vehicles trade diesel oil. The volume of this trade is around 15 million dollars. 4 million people benefits from this trade. (...)
One thing is too clear: Whenever US hits Iraq, it hurts us. Why our governments does not think to give an end to this embargo instead of supporting the operations? The backbone of terror is broken (in Turkey) but economic terror is going on. (...)
Why not our Foreign Ministry which knows everything and the irresponsible ministers who are responsible from the economy aware of the bombs which ruin us?
(Milliyet, Dec18)
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GIANTS BEGIN DUEL OF WORDS
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Moscow recalled its Washington and London ambassadors. China and France called on the US to "Stop the operation."
While the US and England are dropping bombs on
Bagdat, the world got divided into two camps. While Germany and Canada support Washington,
the Russian Parliament called on Monica: "Monica, only you can stop him. Do
something."
A raw started when it was learned that Butler, the writer of the report that turned Bagdat
into hell, let Clinton saw it first. According to the reports, the US avoids bombing
chemical weapon facilities to prevent dissemination of poisoned gas.
Speaking with Milliyet reporters, an American defense official indicated that Incirlik has
come into the fray on the second night of the operation: "After completing their
sorties over Iraq, American and British war planes will return to this base."
Operation Desert Fox has been protested in various parts of the world. In Hong Kong protestors hit the streets with anti - war slogans. Yeltsin, the Russian President said, "Having entered a war, not provoked by any military means, the US and Britain violated the general principles of the United Nations and the International law, as well as the obligation that the states must act responsibly."
(Milliyet 1,18;Dec19)
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COMMENTARY / MINE G. KIRIKKANAT
THE AMERICAN RIGHTS
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"I never forget those words of a French film song: "All the human beings are equal but some of them are more equal." (...) When the bombs fell on Iraq, these words, which suit very well to the reality of the world produced those other words: "There are human rights but there are much more American rights".
At the 50. anniversary of the human rights declaration, US, in an effort not to remove one man, the President "Battling Bill" and to remove another man, Saddam, ruins a country. UN, which has adopted the declaration as its Constitution, can do nothing. Because the biggest of its 195 member countries is US. When US and The Great Britain come together, 193 members are only a cog in the machine (...)
Number one actor of the human rights scenario, US, for eight years, since the end of the Gulf War, in front of the eyes of a whole world, strangles a country. In Iraq, which can not sell his oil because of the embargo, tens of children are dying every day. For what?... They say: "Iraq hinders the inspection of UNSCOM." It’s a lie. UNSCOM demanded to inspect 130 strategic sites until now. And only three of these demands were denied. Iraq is being bombed today for these three denials. Because (for them) the Iraqis are not human beings. They have no rights. But the Americans have. The oil riches have. The real reason why the embargo continues is that: They try to hinder the exporting of Iraqi oil. Because they know that in this situation the oil prices will fall lower. They hit two birds with one stone: The oil prices are rising and the removal of Bill is being stopped. (...)
(Milliyet 7;Dec18,)
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COMMENTARY / YALCIN DOGAN / MILLIYET
NEW MAP FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
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"... US is taking advantage of every possibility to topple Saddam (regime). At the last crisis Turkey had intervened. But this time US did not permit it. (...)
The main point (for Turkey) is that: "What will happen if Saddam (regime) is toppled?", "In this situation Iraq will be divided into three parts, which namely will be:
1. Baghdad will reign at the center; 2. Southern Iraq which Shiites have a majority will enter the influence area of Iran; and 3. Northern Iraq...
If Saddam (regime) is toppled a population movement is expected. (...) That’s the point which Turkey is concerned. A few months ago US hosted Barzani and Talabani. So. In Northern Iraq, in every moment, everything may happen. If Iraq disintegrates, a new state may be born. If this materializes together with the emergence of a Palestinian state, a new map for the Middle East can be drawn.
In spite of this danger, the voice of Ankara against the operation is not high. Because it holds no card in its hand. US supports Turkey in every field at the last months. Turkey follows what happens with tied hands and feet."
(Milliyet 5; Dec18)
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COMMENTARY / HASAN CEMAL / MILLIYET
THE NONEXISTENT POLICY OF AMERICA IN IRAQ
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"Does America want to live together with Saddam? If it does not , why does it not do whatever necessary, for years? Why is it contented with to bomb Saddam from time to time. For example in 1991, they did not take a step more and did not enter to Baghdad. Why? (...)
I had asked these questions to a top official in Washington in 1992.
The answer was interesting:
"Because Saudi Arabia and Turkey does not want America to do it... They were afraid that toppling of Saddam would pave way to the disintegration of Iraq into three parts. In this situation, just besides the Arabian countries at the Gulf, a pro-Iranian Shiite state might be born. At northern Iraq, a Kurdish state might come to the agenda. Because of these two reason Saudi Arabia and Turkey did not want us to enter Baghdad."
"On this issue, a top official source from Turkish Foreign Ministry summarized his reaction with one word:
"Lie!"
And he went on: " The American administration considered the cost of entering to Baghdad and gave up in 1991. They were afraid of the reaction of the American public opinion. (...)"
It can be said that: Firstly President Bush, then President Clinton administrations did not have a definite Iraq policy. (...) This situation disturbed two countries mostly: Iraq and Turkey... Iraq is a divided country. Northern and Southern parts of it are in the hands of the others... The troubles of the Iraqi people are being known by the whole world.
As to the troubles of Turkey:
But these anxieties are not new. There are another troubles in Ankara, being felt but not being expressed. For example some circles, responsible from the foreign policies and the national security, are complaining that US does not inform Ankara on its plans of post-Saddam Iraq. (...) In spite of this, as a Western country, Turkey does not oppose US. But at the same time as a regional (Middle Eastern-nta) country, it is not happy from the situation of Iraq. (...) But there is a reality.
At in today’s world, Turkey is taking a side with US much more than Europe. With this reason, it does not express openly its unhappiness. There is another special reason for it in these days: Apo and PKK...When it is compared with Italy or Germany, US supports Turkey clearly on Apo problem. So, even Mr. Ecevit prefers a cautious and moderate attitude. (...)"
(December 19, p. 19)
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TURKISH CHAMBER OF ARCHITECTS: US IS BOMBING OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE
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The Turkish Chamber for Architects and Engineers (TMMOB) announced that Britain and the United States which attacked Mesopotamia and baghdat "The cradle of the world civilization", have committed a crime against the common values of humanity. The Workers’ Party (IP) voiced its reaction to the operation by staging a protest in front of the Incirlik base.
A statement by the Directors’ Board of TMMOB said that the raid on Baghdat, which is a universal asset with its 12-thousand-year past, was a crime committed against humanity and that, besides the thousand-year-long heritage in Iraq, there were unique assets belonging to the Ottoman Era, including the architectural wonders created by Architect Sinan. The statement added that the state of the Seikh Abdulkadir Gilani Mosque, Murat Pasha Mosque and Imami Azam Mosque, the works of Sinan, were currently unclear and "We are following with great concern that, this Desert Fox Operation had also threatened the existence of antique and historical values of the Sumer, Akad, Seljuk and Arab civilizations."
(Cumhuriyet,19;Dec20)
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COMMENTARY: AHMET TANER KISLALI
THE KEMALISTS OF TUNISIA
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"Quite recently, when President Demirel was visiting Tunisia, he made an address praising Ataturk and Burgiba for their efforts for secularism in their respective countries. During Demirel’s address the translation of his text was distributed to the audience and the Saudi Ambassador wrinkled the translation text. Learning about this behavior, President Ben Ali ordered the Ambassador out of the country.
"Tunisia is an interesting country especially for Turkey. Its annual national income is about 2 thousand dollars but is more peaceful than Turkey…It is just besides Algeria but does not face a threat of fundamentalism. Women are liberated and have professional jobs. The government does not allow the mosques to turn into fundamentalist centers. Tunisia is a Moslem Arab country , but very different from its neighbor Algeria. Tunisia was inspired by the Kemalist model but mode peaceful from Turkey because it implemented a secularism concept unique to itself without concession ; have not allowed extreme richness and poverty to co-exist and allocated 20 % of its budget to education. Those living under poverty level is 6 % in Tunisia, whereas is 26 % in Turkey. 98 % of men are literate in Tunisia. It has secularism, social justice and a contemporary and expansive education. This is the secret of success of Tunisian kemalists! For the first time in an Arab country, Tunisia, an Arab-Turkish round-table meeting was held with the participation of academician. The tetemi Foundation sponsored a meeting on Kemalism. Tunisians do not have hatred but pride because of living under Ottoman rule…Turkey should attach a special importance on Tunisia and should be Turkey’s door opening to Arab and African countries…"
(NTA’s REGARDS AND BEST WISHES FOR A PLEASANT RETURN TO THE OUTGOING TUNISIAN AMBASSADOR H.E.AHMED SAHNOUN)
(Cumhuriyet,3;Dec20)
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DOMESTIC AFFAIRS
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ECEVIT GIVES UP
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AT the last moment DYP leader Ciller called on Deputy PM Ecevit -who is charged with forming a government- a coalition between his Democratic Left Party and her DYP, with prime minister herself. There is also rumors that there is a deal going on between DYP and Motherland Party (ANAP) for a coalition, in return of clearing off ANAP leader Yilmaz.
Why Ecevit was still hopeful in spite of exhausting all possibilities. At the last minute Ciller reportedly proposed him a DYP-DSP coalition. Ecevit who did not shut the door completely, has eventually decided to return his duty to form a government, to the President, late Saturday. He will climb the Cankaya hill to return his duty Monday at 10.00 AM. As Virtue and True Path Parties announced that they are awaiting the President to charge them, there is rumors that President Demirel will charge DYP-originated ANAP deputy Sumer Oral with the duty. Oral is a person close to Demirel and favored by the soldiers
(Radikal,1,6;Dec20)
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ECEVIT'S SECRET
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Unable to make an agreement with Baykal, Ecevit said, "I am waiting for some important developments." Yesterday's meeting between Ecevit and Baykal lasted only 10 minutes. When Baykal, the leader of CHP (Republican People’s Party) said, "A lot of time has been wasted. President can not form the government either. Constitutional articles 114 and 116 are not functional", Ecevit reacted: "There is a war going on right next door. Will Turkey not be able to form a government?" After that Ecevit left without finishing his tea and that was the end of the meeting." To the question
whether he would return the task of forming the govrenment, to the President, Ecevit answered, "I keep my hopes. I am waiting for some important developments."
(Milliyet 1,16;Dec19)
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REACTIONS TO WIRE TAPPING
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Party leaders and TGC (The Association of Turkish Journalists) reacted at the wire tapping scandal of DYP (True Path Party) vice chairman Meral Aksener. The reactions to the cassettes which were distributed to the media by Meral Aksener continues. FP (Virtue Party) leader Recai Kutan stated that "freedom of communication" is protected by the constitution and his party is going to bring the issue to parliament. "The contents of the cassettes are not important. The important thing is that how is was recorded. Turkey is not a police state. Turkey must seriously think on this. We are going to bring the issue up for a parliament investigation" said Recai Kutan. DSP (Democratic Left Party) leader Bülent Ecevit said he was very sorry. "We wanted to be an open society but I think we became too much open" said Bülent Ecevit. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said: "Another aspect of the cassette scandal is that the phones are being wire tapped. Where is law ? Where are the rights of the citizens ?" said Baykal.
(Milliyet 15;Dec19)
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24 TURBAN ADVOCATES EXPELLED FROM UNIVERSITY
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The Higher Education Board (YOK) expelled from their profession, ten academicians and 14 nurses.
The ten academic staff had joined an unauthorized rally against the turban ban in Eastern city Van and 14 nurses had disobeyed the dress code at the Cerrahpasa Medical and Harran Faculties.
(Cumhuriyet,9;Dec20)
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FP AWAITS PRESIDENT TO CHARGE IT WITH FORMING GOV’T
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Virtue Party (FP) Chairman Recai Kutan will reportedly meet the political leaders, especially true Path Party leader Tansu Ciller at the beginning of the week, seeking an understanding on o model for a "Government without a leader."
FP Assistant Group Leader Lutfu Esengun said that Kutan was not insisting on a government model of which he will lead, but will spend efforts for a government that will be led by a deputy either from DYP or another party. Esengun said, FP may also support from outside a minority government between DYP and CHP.
(Cumhuriyet,5;Dec20)
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ECONOMY
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HABUR, HIT BY THE STRIKE
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The daily income from the Habur Gate -bordering Iraq- is 10 Trillion TL. Each day 2 thousand vehicles are passing through it. After the entry of diesel oil from Habur to Turkey was ended because of the operation, the prices rose by 20 %. Thousands of people living in Sirnak, Gaziantep, Mardin, sanliurfa, Diyarbakir and Siir will remain jobless because of the closure of the gate. Cizre’s Trade Chamber leader Adnan Elci said that life will be paralyzed because of this closure.
At present, the owners of 42 thousand vehicles in the region, remained idle. Leader of the Drivers’ Association in Cizre, Hasim Elci said that the Southeast will turn dead unless the border gate is re-opened. "Terror was not ended only by us and the state. The Habur gate played a great role. The State should not keep this gate closed."
(Radikal,eko;Dec20)
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AVALANCHE: EMPLOYERS LAY OFF WORKERS
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Because of the economic crisis and privatizations, employers are sacking their employees. The private Yukselis College and Metro Groosmarket fired 61 workers.
The lates data arriving at TURK-IS (Confederation of trade unions) show that 7 thousand 251 trade union members have been sacked and 5 thousand 275 workers were forced to retire, all over Turkey.
(Gunlukhaber,1,5;Dec20)
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