Selections From Todays Turkish Press

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attended a program on NTV Channel yesterday and answered questions posed by Murat Akgun. On a possible strike to Iraq, Ecevit said, "We do not wish an intervention to Iraq, as there are issues other than terrorism which cannot be solved by occupation in the region. We have close relations with Iraq, however we support the precautions against Iraqi disarmament. A strike against Iraq would make it hard to keep her territorial integrity. Turkey would suffer the most from such a situation." Ecevit also pointed out that the US had not requested any Turkish troops for the operation yet. He also noted that the government, President and the Office of General Staff were working in great harmony. /Turkiye/

CEM: THE IMPORTANCE OF TURKEY AND THE US IN CENTRAL ASIA WILL INCREASE SIMULTANEOUSLY"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem evaluated the latest developments in the world in regard to Turkey's position on TRT 1 yesterday. Stating that circumstances and balances of power in Central Asia were being re-shaped nowadays, Cem said Turkey's and the US importance in the region would increase simultaneously. He added, "We are closely following Russia's activities in the region. We are determined to launch any initiative necessary to protect the territorial integrity of Georgia. An agreement will be signed between Turkey, the US and Georgia in the following days. Georgia is our door to Central Asia." Cem said they would be ready to present certain proposals to the European countries soon, on re-defining terrorism in accordance with the newly emerging conditions after the September 11th attacks. Recalling that Turkey clearly stated in what ways she would support the US since September 11, Cem said that certain countries tended to withdraw their support as the operation continued. Cem said that the US was satisfied with Turkey's support. He added," It would harm us to say that Turkey would join the war. We should refrain from such speculative statements. Tourism is negatively affected by such untrue statements." /Cumhuriyet/

TRNC SUPPORTS THE US

The government of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has decided to support the US in combating terrorism. The government announced that the US could use the airports and airfields in the TRNC, if she requested. Reacting to the Greek Cypriot Administration's statement announcing that the US could use the airspace and territorial waters of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot officials said that it was the TRNC government who has the right to take such a decision for the Northern part of the island, not the Greek Cypriot Administration. /Cumhuriyet/

CAKMAKOGLU: "WE ARE NOT SENDING TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN FOR A LAND OPERATION"

Attending a political discussion program on CNN Turk, Minister of National Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu evaluated the "Enduring Freedom" operation. Cakmakoglu said that it was out of question for Turkey to send troops to Afghanistan. Stating that they did not consider sending troops to Afghanistan for a possible land operation, Cakmakoglu said, "The US has not requested such a support from us yet. If she does and the circumstances contradict Turkish nation's grand interests, we will never send Turkish troops there. Our priority is to protect our own people." Pointing out that the war tended to spread to other countries, Cakmakoglu said, "Turkish Armed Forces are ready for such a possibility." Stating that Turkey could send troops to Afghanistan not to join a possible land operation but to train Northern Alliance forces fighting against Taleban Administration, Cakmakoglu said he believed that the US would continue to fight via the Northern Alliance forces rather than carrying out a land operation. He added, "The US has requested intelligence support and to be able to use Turkish air space so far. Our soldiers who traveled to Florida will help the American officials on the issues concerning intelligence and communications." /Cumhuriyet/

PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENT

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that in case Turkey respects the European Union (EU) principles, Ankara would be considered as a close friend and would be supported by Athens. Speaking at the 6th Congress of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement Party (PASOK), Papandreou talked also about Turkey and Cyprus issues. Stating that they have been supporting Turkey's European process enabling her to take place in the EU, which is a society of laws.,Papandreou said that they have been supporting Turkey in trying to make her closer to a society which respects the International Court of Justice at the Hague and International law. /Turkish Daily News/

TREACHEROUS TRAP TO POLICEMEN

A terrorist attack on a patroling police car was made yesterday morning in Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul. Two policemen, Mustafa Kocak (35) and Koksal Bulut (42) were killed while, Mustafa Biricik was seriously injured in the attack. An investigation is underway./Turkiye/

COMCEC TO MEET IN ISTANBUL

The Standing Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) will have its 17th meeting in Istanbul between October 18 and 21, 2001. State Planning Organization (DPT) issued a statement and said delegations led by ministers responsible for economic affairs, were invited to the meeting from member countries. Turkey will be represented at the meeting by a delegation led by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is also expected to address the meeting on Oct. 20. /Turkish Daily News/

BOSTANCIOGLU OFF TO UNESCO'S 31ST GENERAL CONFERENCE

Minister of Education Metin Bostancioglu held a press conference before his departure to Paris for the 31st general conference of UNESCO, saying that they had started a new review of religious education. He mentioned UNESCO's conference stating that it would be held between Oct. 15 and Nov. 3 and new strategies would be determined for the years 2002 through 2007. "Studies will be carried out for the decisions accepted in the World Education Forum in 2000," he pointed out. "Our aim is to provide basic education opportunities, including pre-school education, to all social segments equally. Increasing the quality of education, benefiting from up-to-date communication technologies and developing literacy among adults are other major goals." /Turkish News/

TURKEY'S AIRSPACE TO BE CONTROLLED BY ONE CENTER

The State Airfields General Directorate is carrying out studies to provide better services in airports in Turkey. The authorities said that a new control center would be established in Ankara to control all Turkish airspace. Turkey will buy nine new radars to control her air traffic more safely, and efficiently under the EUROCONTROL standards. The project aims to provide air traffic control services automatically, which means operation without human assistance. /Turkish News/

EURASIAN ECONOMY SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL

The Fourth Eurasian Economy Summit will begin on Nov. 8th and will last three days.. Representatives from 36 countries will attend the Summit to be organized by the Foundation of Marmara Group. During the meeting regional issues and ways for a further cooperation will be taken up. /Turkiye/

2002 BUDGET TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCT. 17

The draft 2002 Budget is to be submitted to Parliament by Oct. 17. The bill is expected to reach the Plan Budget Committee on Oct. 25. and be reviewed by the Committee in November according to a time-table yet to be determined. /Turkish Daily News/

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DEPT REPAYMENT

The Treasury will pay some of its foreign debt amounting to 197.8 million US dollars and domestic debt amounting to 1.1 quadrillion TL this week. The Treasury will pay 30.7 million US dollars today, 27.7 million US dollars on Tuesday, 9.8 million dollars on Wednesday, 126.7 million US dollars on Thursday and 2.8 million US dollars on Friday. /Cumhuriyet/

FUJITSU SIEMENS

Fujitsu Siemens promoted its new production and services during the beer festival "October Fest 2001" in Ausburg, Germany. The Chief Executive Officer of Fujitsu Siemens, Paul A. Stodden, said that they were attaching importance to the Turkish market and that they were closely following the economic crisis in Turkey. Stodden said before the crisis, the Turkish market had been a rising value and that it was attracting the attention of the whole world. He added that Turkey would overcome this crisis in a short period of time and would become an attractive market again. He further stated, "As a company, we have confidence in Turkey. In spite of everything, our perspective concerning Turkey has not changed. Therefore we will continue our investment in Turkey in spite of the economic crisis." /Milliyet/

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET FOR STRAITS' RADAR

The Finance Ministry has approved the Maritime Undersecretariat's request for a supplementary budget for the sea radar system in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, Anatolia reported over the weekend. The system will be installed by Lockheed Martin of the United States and the TL 5 trillion for the project has been found. Officials stated that if the project is implemented without any problems, the system will be fully operational in June 2002. Due to the increase in the US dollar in recent months, the supplementary budget has reached TL 12 trillion, of which TL 5 trillion has been received from the Finance Ministry. They indicated that all equipment for the system will arrive in Turkey this month. The construction of the 15 radar towers is being carried out along the shore of the two straits, and the entire project will cost some TL 25 trillion. All finances for the system will be provided by the undersecretariat's budget, and nearly 35 public and private institutions will use the system for safe passage through the straits. /Turkish News/

POLICE SEEK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TIES

The Interior Ministry has launched a campaign to develop ties between the police and the public. A circular issued by Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said improving police ties with the public would be helpful in preventing crime. "An organization which lacks public support is bound to fail," said Yucelen's circular, and added, "The most important element in the fight against crime and criminals is good relations with the public." Modernization efforts in the Police Directorate are underway to achieve better relations with the public, the circular said. Yucelen noted that social, economic and technological developments at the global level necessitated changes within the police to better handle the tasks it is facing. "The policy of the General Directorate of Security will be to accomplish the task of ensuring public security with due regard to people's well-being and pleasure." /Turkish News/

RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT TO MEET IN ANKARA

The International Red Cross and Kizilay (The Turkish Red Crescent) will hold a meeting in Ankara on October 18-19, to discuss the latest sitution in Afghanistan, Anatolia news agency reported over the weekend. According to a statement by the Foreign Ministry, representatives from 15 countries will participate in the meeting. Due to the raids on Afghanistan, problems have increased in Pakistan and Iran because of the refugee crisis. "Our government is paying great attention to the human element of the problems in Afghanistan," it said. "The meeting will support and coordinate aid programs to that country." /Turkish News/

EXPECTATIONS FOR WINTER TOURISM SEASON

After a good summer season, Turkey will have an active winter tourism season. So much in fact that some European countries have added new flights to Antalya. Antalya Airport Regional Director Hasan Ozsahin told Anatolia news agency that many airline companies from Russia, France, Romania and Italy added additional flights to Antalya. Ozsahin said that the operations agains Afghanistan would not affect Turkey's tourism very much. /Turkish News/

TURKISH ADVENTURE TEAM

A team of four will represent Turkey during the "International Eco Challenge Competition", which is considered to be the hardest contest throughout the world, and the 7th of which will be held in the New Zeland this year. The team set off yesterday. The Turkish adventure team, consisting of Zeynep Atabay, Cemal Gulas, Serdar Kilic and Oguz Omur, held a press conference in Istanbul the day before. Atabay, who will participate in the competition for the second time this year, said they were going to New Zeland to get a good degree. During the competitions that will begin on October 21, certain stages of mountaineering, rafting, cycling and horse races will be held. The competitions cover an area of 350 kilometers and 76 teams from 28 countries will participate in them.. /Hurriyet/

INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL BIENNIAL IN TOKYO

The curator of the 7th International Istanbul Biennial, Yuko Hasegawa, moved a small part of the Biennial, which gathers together 63 artists from 22 countries, to Tokyo. The artists from the Istanbul Biennial, Omer Ali Kazma, Huseyin Caglayan, Francis Alys, Maja Bayevic, Evgen Bavcar, Chris Cunningham, David Noonan&Siman Trevaks, Odani Motohiko, Philippe Parreno, Sone Yutaka, Magnus Wallin, Apichatpong Weersasethakul and Jane&Louise Wilson had been invited to the exhibition titled "Ego Fugal: From the 7th International Istanbul Biennial/Ego." /Cumhuriyet/

WHY ARE WE HESITATING? BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the war against terrorism and the stance taken by Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: "The war against terrorism will go on for years. It will pass through various phases. However, it does not seem to be possible to erase terrorism from the face of the world, just as other crimes against humanity. Turkey, one of the countries who has paid a high price to eradicate terrorism is still hesitating. The reasons may be listed as such: Even though we were subjected to terrorist attacks supported from abroad, the most important and crucial article of the NATO agreement, Article V was not invoked despite our repeated calls on the issue. Turkey was the country who suffered the most, second to Iraq because of the Gulf War. At the time, she supported Washington openly and sincerely without hesitation. Egypt's debt amounting to nine billions of dollars were erased immediately. However, Turkey lost $ 100 billion despite the fact that since 1952 she sincerely defended the free world against the Soviets who were bent on to take the whole world under the Russian authority. Turkey maintained the strongest army in Europe. This is one of the reasons why we have not been able to reach the economic growth seen in countries like Germany, Italy and Japan. We defended the southeast flank of the European continent with determination. We could not receive American aid as much as Egypt, Pakistan or Israel. The Turkish Government could only comprehend the meaning of the September 11 tragedy a week later and she was not able to explain the stance Turkey had to take to her people since the most reasonable explanations coming from the Government would be received with doubt and reaction due to the economic crisis stemming from the incapability and clumsiness of the Cabinet. Hesitations on the issue were largely due to these facts. However, these should be left in the past and cannot be valid for today."