Selections From Todays Turkish Press

The Constitutional Reform Package including amendments in 37 articles to the Constitution will be taken up in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) 's Plenary Session today. Last week, almost all articles of the reform package were approved in the Constitutional Commission unanimously. For the approval of the package the votes of 330 parliamentarians are needed. /Turkiye/

SELCUK: "A NEW CONSTITUTION IS A MUST"

The President of the High Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk, said that amendments to be made in the 37 articles of the Constitution would not be sufficient and added that Turkish nation needed a brand new constitution. He said, "A new constitution is a must but there is no political power to create it. A coalition government can not solve this problem. We also need a new Parliament. There are certain political parties who received millions of votes but cannot be represented in the Parliament today. The best action to do for Turkey is to prepare a new constitution in compliance with the criteria of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH CITIZENS RETURN TO TURKEY

A group of 60 Turkish citizens returned to Turkey from Pakistan due to the increased tension in the country for a possibille US attack on Afghanistan. A special plane of THY brought 60 citizens, most of them wives and children of Turkish diplomats and of people in duty at Turkish firms in this country to Istanbul yesterday. /Turkiye/

INCIRLIK: A POSSIBLE COMMAND BASE

While the preparations are continuing for an US attack on Afghanistan, White House and Penthagon authorities are working on alternative plans for a military operation. Reportedly, Turkey is being foreseen as the command base for the operation. The British Observer newspaper said US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld requested preparation of an emergency plan for Incirlik Air Base being the operation base following Saudi Arabia's rejection of the usage of the Prince Sultan Air Base. /Turkiye/

IZGI RETURNS FROM CYPRUS

On his return from Cyprus, Parliamentary Speaker Omer Izgi said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Turkish Republic shared the same ideals and feelings about the solution to the Cyprus problem. A parliamentary delegation heaed by Izgi who went to the TRNC at the invitation of TRNC Parliamentary Speaker Ertugrul Hasipoglu, returned to Turkey. Izgi said the visit was very beneficial and they had several meetings with President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and other state officials. /Turkish Daily News/

ANKARA STEPS UP EURASIA DIPLOMACY

As United States is preparing for a retaliatory strike on Afghanistan after the sep. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in Eurasia. A senior Turkish Diplomat, just back from a trip to Uzbekistan, flew to Iran on Sunday and a trip to yet another regional country was on the agenda, Foreign Ministry sources said. Turkey has had a broad evaluation with Uzbekistan on the recent situation of the Afghan opposition, in a recent meeting in Tashkent held between the visiting Turkish envoy Ambassador Aydemir Erman, and the Uzbek Foreign Ministry officials, including the Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov. /Turkish Daily News/

WINDS OF CHANGE IN ANAP

The Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz and some Ministers attended the last day of the meetings of the Chairmanship Board, who have been appointed following the 7th ordinary congress. Following the meeting, which was closed to press and also attended by 81 provincial leaders, the Deputy Chairman, Erkan Mumcu, said, "We prepared the provincial leaders' Work Meeting Document. This is not a political document. In addition, the works to prepare the Party's Political Document are continuing." Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Mustafa Tasar, who went to Frankfurt, Germany, to meet with the officials from the German tourism agencies and tour operators, opened the Motherland Association's branch in Frankfurt. /Sabah/

ANKARA MOVES IN WAR ON TERRORISM

As preparations for U.S. operations against Afghanistan, to lay its hands on Usama bin Laden, carry on full steam ahead, three important developments from Turkey's point of view have emerged. The country is preparing to test the sincerity of European countries in their fight against terrorism and has also sent diplomatic messages to the United States, warning it not to leave Turkey in a different position as regards the rest of the Muslim world. /Turkish News/

CEM : "OUR PRIORITY IS TURKISH NATION'S SECURITY AND HAPPINESS"

Speaking on the CNN Turk, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem evaluated the recent developments in the world. Stating that Turkey would lend every support to the US in fighting against international terrorism, Cem said, "However, no one should expect us to lead Turkey in an adventure." Reminding the losses Turkey suffered due to the Gulf War, "Cem stated, "A new period has begun concerning the struggle against terrorism. Turkey will give her full support to this struggle for humanity and herself. However, our priority will be Turkish people's happiness and security. We must remain cautious and serious in the period." He added that Turkey did not separate any geography or nationality in her fight against terrorism. Cem said, "We view this incident as a crime committed against all humanity. That's why we think we are not supporting just the US but all humanity against terrorism." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY'S ROLE MAY CHANGE

World famous historian and social scientist Bernard Lewis who is lecturing at the Princeton University in the US, in an article he wrote to French 'Le Figaro' newspaper, evaluated the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the US and the recent geopolitical situation in the Middle East, examined the role of Turkey and Iran in the reigon in detail. Lewis, noted that Iran and Turkey had differend models for determining and solving regional problems and with the new developments these two countries may lose their importance. Noting that Turkey had entered a development process without having any oil or natural gas, Lewis said this may work in Turkey's advantage./Turkiye/

TURKISH TROOPS NOT GOING TO AFGHANISTAN

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey would not send troops to Afghanistan in the event of possible US military action. "But we can train opposition groups in Northern Afghanistan," said the Prime Minister on a Turkish television on Friday. Ecevit said the US operation should not have multiple targets, as this might cause feelings of unrest among the Muslim world, when asked whether he thinks the operation might include neighboring Iraq as well. /Turkish News/

ATTACKS TOWARDS TURKS IN SKOPJE

The shops of Turkish people were the targets of the attacks towards Muslims in Skopje yesterday. An explosion in front of the Turkish shops in the Skopje Bazaar caused a significant damage in the shops and houses. /Cumhuriyet/

OZDAG EVALUATES RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Eurasia Strategic Researches Center (ASAM) Chairman Prof. Umit Ozdag said that US Administration would follow a pragmatic policy rather than a romantic one. Evaluating Turkey's position within the new developments all around the world, Ozdag said that Turkey's strategic importance would not change spontaneously but was dependent on Turkey's her own policies to pursue. Ozdag said, "Turkey's strategic importance will decrease or vice versa depending upon her own policies. We mustn't expect any country to increase our importance in the region." /Cumhuriyet/

BAHCELI: BEING CAUTIOUS IS DIFFERENT FROM BEING PASSIVE

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said over the weekend that Turkey was a country who was aware of the fact that terror is a crime against humanity. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Bahceli said in response to a question on how a possible war would effect Turkey, that the world witnessed an extensive and agonizing terror attack on the US, and that the US considered Afghanistan to be the source of these attacks. Reiterating that Turkey was a country that was aware of the fact that terrorism was a crime against humanity, Bahceli said that this was because Turkey suffered terrorist attacks for many years, and waged a long, painful, and determined fight against this threat. In response to a remark that the government was accused of being passive and remaining idle, Bahceli said that being cautious and being passive were different things, and said, "It is essential to help each other in solidarity, cooperation, and dialogue, and be cautious at the same time. Turkey has to act cautiously to minimize risk of losses." /Turkish News/

YUCELEN CALLS FOR TEAM EFFORT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said over the weekend that the Security General Directorate's Intelligence Department was in touch with and was cooperating with EU countries in its efforts to fight against terrorism and organized crime. In response to a remark that EU countries were preparing a list of terror organizations, including DHKP/C and PKK, Yucelen said that the Security General Directorate and the Intelligence Department were cooperating with EU countries, that this kind of information was not made public. Yucelen underlined that Turkey suffered many problems caused by terrorism, and pointed out that the international community had to wage a joint fight against this threat in order not to suffer similar consequences. /Turkish News/

OZILHAN'S CALL TO THE IMF

Chairman of the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), Tuncay Ozilhan, suggested the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to hold discussions with the industrialists and workers and to make a revision in the program. Ozilhan also suggested that the except interest over-all target should be decreased from 6% to 3% and the resource to be created this way should be transformed to the manufacturing industry. Ozilhan added, "Some resource is necessary so the manufacturing industry can produce and export. Within the program, the tax burden within the production and employment can be decreased through revision. If the IMF rejects this, it should be explained to them." /Hurriyet/

TEXTILE AND READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHES FAIR TO BE OPENED

Turkish Textile and Ready-to-wear sectors, which have been organizing fairs separately for many years, will meet at the same fair this year. The International Textile and Ready-to-wear Fair, ITSE, will be opened on October 19-21 at the CNR International Fair Centre. The ITSE will be organized with the support of the Turkish Union of Textile Industrialists and Employers, Cotton Textile Industrialists Union and Ready-to-Wear By-products Association. /Hurriyet/

TURSAB TO ORGANIZE WORKSHOPS ABROAD

The Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB) continues its work so that FEMTA, which was established by the travel agencies in Egypt, Greece and Turkey two years ago in order to improve the Southern Mediterranean tourism, can develop its relations with the US. 20 American tour operators will attend the annual meeting of the FEMTA that will be held in Turkey between October 30 and November 7. During these meetings, journeys will be made to various touristic and historical places in Turkey and seminars will be held to promote particularly Southern Mediterranean. In addition, workshops about the Turkish tourism will be the most important part of these meetings. /Sabah/

TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN TOURISM CONGRESS

It has neen announced that Turkey is to participate as a "partner country" in the Trends and Technology in the Tourist Industry Congress to be staged by a major German trade magazine, Fremdenferkehrs Wirtschaft. Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar is to attend the congress, to be held in Wiesbaden between September 25 and 27, in person. It is expected that up to 1,000 travel agencies actively involved in marketing Turkey will stage a number of workshops. /Turkish News/

NAZIM'S PLAYS TO BE STAGED

The State Theatres General Directorate will be presenting five plays by Nazim Hikmet in the 2001-2002 theatre season on the 100th anniversary of his death. In the first tour, Hikmet's "Bir Olu Evi," "Bu Bir Ruyadir," "Yolcu," "Kuvayi Milliye Destani" and a children's play "Sevdali Bulut" will meet with the audience. /Turkish Daily News/

NATO'S MIND BY GUNGOR MENGI ( SABAH)

Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on the news that the US is preparing to form a NATO shield to prevent the spread of fundamentalist religious terrorism in the Balkans. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is reported that the US will form a 'NATO Shield' in the Balkans to prevent the spread of fundamentalist terror. Cannot Turkey, the only secular democratic state in the Islamic world, inspire the necessary confidence on the issue that new measures are sought for? In an interview to the Sunday Times, the US Ambassador to London William Farish, officialy stated that the Bush Administration is concerned over the rise of a possible fundamentalist religious movement in Turkey. The newspaper wrote that the project proposed by Vice President Richard Cheney was also supported by Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Turkey must oppose such a project. The most concrete guarantee against the spread of fundamentalist religious terror in Europe by way of the Balkans is Turkey who shoud be sincerely supported by her allies. Forming a second defence line instead of enhancing a bulwark such as Turkey will be a folly which will show that the Western world has not learned a lesson from the tragedy most probably incurred by the fundamentalist religious terror in the USA. Furthermore, it will provoke the designs on Turkey. In Turkey there is the accumulation of knowledge, tradition, experience and faith which will protect the secular-democratic regime against all kinds of terrorism. This front is so strong that there is no need for a second front line. The only condition is that our allies should not cast a shadow on us. Our friends must not protect ideologies which produce terror and terrorist organizations. For years Germany fostered Kaplancilar known as 'Kara Ses'(Black Voice) who dreamt of bringing a regime worse than the Taliban in Afghanistan. It is the US who did not deliver the leader of a community to Turkish justice who said 'Take pour places in the arteries of the State, hold the most important positions and wait for my signal for the last strike'. Western Statesmen are searching for countries who are supporting fundamentalist religious terrorists. When they are wondering who those are, we would suggest them to look into the mirror. "