24 October 2001

1. "Turkey Revising Male - Dominated Code", under Turkish law, the man is head of the family and the woman must seek her husband's permission in order to work. But that could be history soon.

2. "From Shanhai to Brussels", Columnist Derya Sazak commented on the two important summit meetings held over the weekend.

3. "Bahceli says EU countries are so-called friends", making a speech at his party's group meeting in Parliament, Bahceli harshly criticized the EU's attitude towards Turkey.

4. "Cyprus Peace Process", EU renews call for political settlement before conclusion of accession process with Cyprus.

5. "A playhouse in every village", a theatre show was organised under the name of "a playhouse in every village" in Haseki province of Syria where Kurdish population is high.

6. "'I Can Only See Improvement'", says Günter Verheugen in an interview on recent developments and the EU enlargement in particular.

1. - Associated Press - "Turkey Revising Male - Dominated Code":

Under Turkish law, the man is head of the family and the woman must seek her husband's permission in order to work. But that could be history soon.

ANKARA

Vying for membership of the European Union, Turkey is finally revising its 75-year-old civil code to advance women's rights. Parliament is scheduled to start debating a new draft code Wednesday, and the changes are expected to be voted on later this month.

To join the 15-member EU, a country has to be a democracy and have a free-market economy. It has to reform its legislation using an EU manual of tens of thousands of pages.
Some of the provisions of Turkey's old code -- like the one requiring wives to seek their husbands' permission to work -- are rarely invoked. But women's groups say the code was influential in shaping attitudes in the judiciary and among the public, especially in poorer rural areas.

``The old code was the husbands' code,'' said Nukhet Sirman of KADER, a group that aims to promote women in politics. ``The new code, at long last, formally recognizes that men and women are equals.''

If the changes are passed, they would take effect Jan. 1, 2002, after endorsement by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Although women's groups say the new code can be improved further, they also welcome it for the advances it makes on the old code, which is virtually unchanged since it was adopted in 1926.

Turkey adopted its old code from Swiss family law, replacing the old Ottoman system which, for example, allowed a man to have more than one wife or to repudiate a wife who was no longer in favor.

``It was the most modern code of its time, but it has been eroded with time and no longer meets our social needs,'' said Kudret Guven, professor of law at Ankara's Gazi University. The draft new code scraps the phrase ``the head of the marriage union is the man,'' giving women the right to have a say in decisions concerning the children or the family home. She no longer needs a husband's consent to go out to work. But a person could ask his or her spouse not to take up a job that would disrupt ``calm in the marriage union.''

The code also ensures that women are better off in the event of a divorce, guaranteeing that all assets accumulated during the union are shared equally. Currently, a divorced woman is only entitled to assets legally registered under her name.

But men get improvements, too, under the new code.

Men will be able to request alimony from wives who are better off. A man can also drop his own surname and take his wife's if he wishes, while the woman can use her maiden name only in connection with her husband's family name.

The new code also raises the legal age for marriage to 18 from the current 17 for men and 15 for women. It sets a legal separation period of six months before couples can file for divorce.
The code also lowers the legal age for adopting children from 35 to 30 and allows a single parent to adopt.

In a predominantly Muslim country where unmarried couples living together is still frowned upon, it makes no provisions for cohabiting families. It does, however, grant out-of-wedlock offspring the same inheritance rights as others.

It makes no mention of other 21st century issues such as surrogate motherhood or homosexual marriages.

``The code will probably have to be revised again in 10 or 15 years,'' said Ilknur Yuksel of the women's rights group Flying Broom. ``But for the time being ... the draft is more or less adequate.''

2. - Milliyet - "From Shanghai to Brussels":

Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the two important summit meetings held over the weekend.

World leaders held two important summit meetings this weekend, one in the Asia-Pacific region and the other in Europe. One should not wonder at the distance between Shanghai and Brussels. As the military operations against Afghanistan are intensifying, the steps for parcelling the world taken between the US, Russia and China recall the days following the World War II. Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit hosted by Chinese head of state Chiang Zemin saw important talks with US President Bush and Russian President Putin.

For the US President, it was important to gain the support of China, which maintained its silence on the developments in Afghanistan. Mr. Bush not only added Zemin to the rapprochement he had achieved with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but also gained APEC's support for the fight against terrorism under the umbrella of the UN. In return, the Russian and Chinese leaders are insisting on upholding Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty in a way which would prevent Mr. Bush's election dream from being carried out.

In Europe, the Western leaders met in Ghent to the north of Brussels and discussed the 'European Platform' in the process of EU enlargement. Just as at the Nice meeting, Turkey was not invited to this platform open for candidate countries. Foreign Minister Cem duly reacted by saying, 'The EU should not discriminate among candidate countries.' EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Verheugen stated that claims that Turkey's full EU membership was not favoured were untrue and told the member countries that as the negotiation process with Turkey went on, they could not say, 'You need not be concerned.

Turkey can never be a member.' However, these words were not enough to hide certain blemishes. It seems that Turkey's status as a mere candidate for EU member candidacy is being preserved. Recent reforms in the Turkish Constitution had no impact on the EU summit. Due to the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, Turkey's increasing strategic importance should have blown favourable winds in Brussels. Have we been able to explain the reforms in our Constitution to the world?

3. - Turkish Daily News - "Bahceli says EU countries are so-called friends":

ANKARA

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli said on Tuesday that European Union (EU) countries are involved in an effort to confirm that they are "so-called friends" of Turkey and should decide what they are going to do.

Bahceli said that the EU's move not to invite Turkey to a "European Convention" among with 12 EU candidate countries where the future of the EU would be discussed, was the last straw on the camel's back.

Bahceli, making a speech at his party's group meeting in Parliament, harshly criticized the EU's attitude and added:

"It is not possible to understand the approach of the EU. While a part of Turkey is fighting against heavy economic crisis, its western allies are involving efforts to show that they are Turkey's 'so-called friends."

"Countries who found Turkey backing them during their hard and troubled times are busy producing excuses why they didn't back Turkey while it was fighting similar situations. The manner of heads of state and government of the EU in Saturday's summit is not only regretful but also not understandable and hypocritical," Bahceli asserted.

Bahceli said: "Statements of Term President Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt revealed that the EU administration will not change its previous ordinary approach towards Turkey. He stated that he viewed Turkish Constitutional reform "uncertain" and added that 12 EU candidate members will participate in the "European Convention" and Turkey's situation was not clear yet. These words are the last straw on camel's back."

Bahceli called on the EU administration to decide how it would act as soon as possible.
"The EU administration should see that it should avoid double standards and vague policies against Turkey and time is up for them to clarify their policies," Bahceli said.

Bahceli stated that Turkey is not asking for special treatment or privileges, it only urges to "avoid historical shortsighted policy."

Referring to domestic issues, Bahceli said that making another amendment to the Constitution will be the best way to prevent a referendum.

4. - Cyprus News Agency - "Cyprus Peace Process":

EU renews call for political settlement before conclusion of accession process with Cyprus

NICOSIA

President Glafcos Clerides has received assurances from governments actively engaged in the UN Cyprus peace process that they will continue to be interested in attempts to find a settlement of the protracted Cyprus question.

The President reiterated his staunch support for the fight to eradicate international terrorism and stressed that humanity has no alternative but to win the war against terrorism.| EU presidency - Cyprus - UN peace process.

The European Union has expressed disappointment at the refusal of the Turkish side to accept a UN invitation to resume peace talks without preconditions, with a view to finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question, a statement by the six-monthly rotating EU Belgian presidency said here today.

The EU calls on all interested parties to work for a political settlement before the conclusion of its accession negotiations with Cyprus and reiterates its full backing to the UN peace effort.
The statement, which comes only two days before Commission President Romano Prodi's visit to Cyprus for talks with the government of the Republic, reflects the letter and the spirit of a UN Security Council statement in late September on the peace process.

5. - Kurdish Observer - "A playhouse in every village":

A theatre show was organized under the name of "a playhouse in every village" in Haseki province of Syria where Kurdish population is high.

BEIRUT / by Zilan Diyar

Influences of the process of democratic transformation cause new developments at the cultural area every day. Upon the statement by PKK President Abdullah Ocalan "in every village a drama should be played", theatre department of Koma Tolhildan decided to continue its plays after play they performed on November 2000 was attracted much attention. The play they performed on October 16, 2001 was attended by every sections of the people.

The show which lasted about two hours was participated by local writers, intellectuals, artists and representatives of Koma Zilan, Koma Agiri, Koma Botan and poet Salah Xeydo. The group performed plays called Gemiya Jiyane (Life Ship), Tabut (Coffin), Dergis (Cradle), Makine (Machine) and Kene Wendayi (Missing Smile).

Enver Melle, writer of scenario and player who has worked with Mizgin Suleyman, Mustafa Muhammed and Mamoste on the scenarios of plays, stated that their group consists of 18 players and they have had much financial difficulties, and even now they do not have a certain place for rehearsals. All plays is directed Mem Sandiyar.

Making statement on the performance, Enver Melle said that there are problems arising from the fact that the members of the group do not know academic Kurdish well and for this to be overcome relations with intellectuals and other cultural groups should be increased. Melle added that there are also difficulties for symbolic motions and gestures to be understood completely by the people but their main aim is to ensure the people to see its own reality within the play and for the group to leave amateurism behind.

Melle also added that they would continue their works by dramatising some scenarios.

6. - Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung - "'I Can Only See Improvement'":

With the eastward enlargement of the European Union around the corner and an international climate of fear in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States, one might expect that the man spearheading efforts to get the next new group of member states on board would be losing a lot of sleep over a whole host of new concerns pertaining to the Union's shifting borders. But Günter Verheugen, the EU commissioner responsible for enlargement, sounded generally upbeat during a recent interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung in Brussels.

BRUSSELS

F.A.Z.:The fear of terrorist attacks has led to increased demands for heightened security of the European Union's external borders and more effective checks against immigration. Will this make negotiations more difficult?

Günter Verheugen: No, on the contrary. Anybody who claims this has overlooked the fact that accession to the EU will not automatically do away with border checks. As long as the new external borders do not fully meet our standards, our border controls will remain in place. That is why enlargement will definitely not negatively affect security. Whichever way I look at it -- I can only see a possible improvement.

Nevertheless, people -- especially in Germany -- are afraid that not only illegal immigrants but also terrorists and criminals will use the new eastern borders of the Union as a gateway to Europe.

We have to dispel these fears. I repeat -- even after accession there will still be checks at the border between Germany and Poland, and between Austria and Slovakia.

For how long?

For a number of years. But we should not put ourselves under pressure here. We must adhere to the principle that checks will only be phased out when a new member state fully complies with our requirements.

Will the candidates have to adjust to higher demands in EU domestic and legal policy?

They will have to expect EU law to develop relatively quickly in the field of internal security. All countries are prepared to react to this. Most of them have already introduced extensive packages, which is after all in their own interest. If additional investment is necessary for cooperation between police forces and the legal system as well as for border security, we are ready and willing to help.

Where will the money come from?

Certainly not from funds earmarked for accessions in 2002 and 2003, as one rumour has it. As enlargement will not happen before 2004, these billions are quite simply phantom money that we can neither spend on other things nor save. We may need a change of priorities in the assistance we provide to help candidates prepare for EU membership. A redistribution is necessary here.

How else, apart from providing financial help, can the EU support candidates in securing the new external borders?

Discussions are under way on a joint European border control system. A number of member states are tackling this issue.

German border guards on the eastern Polish border?

Especially in Poland it is difficult to imagine officers from other countries simply being posted on the eastern border. But none of the accession candidates will refuse to make border security a joint task. Some member countries with long borders have wanted this for some time. We cannot negotiate on this point because there is as yet no basis for it in EU law.

How might a joint border security system work?

So far, nobody has put the idea into concrete terms. I cannot say whether it might consist of European border troops, or merely technical support and cooperation.

You are planning to incorporate up to 10 countries in 2004, including all accession candidates, with the exception of Bulgaria and Rumania, and of course Turkey. And you describe the enlargement as a large-scale project in terms of geopolitical strategy. In view of the new political situation, wouldn't Romania and Bulgaria have to be included in the first wave of enlargement as countries crucial to the stability of south-eastern Europe?

That would contradict all our principles. It would be a mistake and also a breach of trust with regard to the accession candidates who rely on the principles set down in the accession agreements. There is no political rebate. Bulgaria and Rumania have targeted their date of entry well after 2004. Both have gained strategic importance, and it must be in our interest to help them as much as we can.

Even Turkey's application for membership now appears in a new light. In the war against terrorism, Turkey has once again been called on as a strategic and reliable ally. Can Ankara now expect speedier EU accession as a result?

I have not had the impression that Turkey is trying to capitalize on the situation, and I do not expect it to do so. Turkey has to fulfil the same -- justifiably -- stringent requirements for accession as other countries. The entire European integration project would otherwise lose credibility. When I hear people make tentative comments of this type, I tell them not to have any illusions. There will be no such deal in which we ease conditions of accession for Turkey, and in return are guaranteed strategic help.

But some people are already talking about how Turkey can regain its EU candidate status.

I cannot confirm that. The credibility of our position is a crucial factor in the question of Turkey's accession. If we give the Turkish people the impression we do not take the issue seriously, then we will lose Turkey as a reliable and stable ally for the EU and NATO. Vis-à-vis the Turks, we cannot on the surface act as though we are seriously considering the question, and at the same time convey to member states that they have no need to worry, that Turkey will never become a member.

EU enlargement could fail as a result of the Cyprus conflict, in which Turkey comes into play once again. Is enlargement without Cyprus still conceivable?


No, especially because of the situation in the Greek parliament. Either there is an enlargement that includes Cyprus, or there will be no enlargement at all for quite a while.

Do you think things will get moving before the targeted enlargement date?

I have not lost hope. The EU membership of a united Cyprus promises great advantages to both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. We can do nothing but try our best to convince Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot community to resume talks on the UN proposals. The window of opportunity is still open; however, it is beginning to close slowly. We are making good progress in the accession negotiations with Cyprus and no one intends to slow down the process. We will most likely be able to conclude negotiations in the second half of 2002. That will be the moment of truth.

Apparently, the EU is aware it is heading toward a big problem without doing anything about it.

It is aware of the problem and has been for some time now. But it is doing something about it. Politically, we are involved in no other issue more intensively than this one. The means of exerting pressure is obvious. We made Turkey a fantastic offer in Helsinki when we recognized it as a candidate for accession. Turkey accepted the offer and set into motion a process of reform. I warn people not to dismiss this action as merely cosmetic. We want to give the Turkish people a chance to stick to their promise. The large consensus they reached on the far-reaching issue of constitutional amendment is a clear sign that the course set in the direction of Europe is still a top priority in Turkish policy. That is the best instrument we have in positively influencing the Cyprus issue.

The interview was conducted by Helmut Bünder and Hajo Friedrich.