9 October 2001

1. "Yilmaz: Adaption Bills ready", Yilmaz says eight amendments to bring laws into line with amended Constitution ready in Rights and Freedoms package Izgi states no question of deputies getting increased salaries and pensions right away, unclear when necessary adaption law will be passed.

2. "Turkey and the US discuss relations with Iraq", columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on Turkey's stance considering a possible attack on Iraq.

3. "PKK reacted against the "terrorist list", PKK Council of Leaders stated that the fact that USA had listed PKK as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in its renewed list was contrary to the realities and in fact encouraging the real terrorist forces. Warning the related sides to give up such a grave mistake, the Council called on the Kurdish people and democratic public to be sensitive.

4. "The aftermath of September 11 and turkish model", former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the clash of civilisations in the aftermath of the attack against the USA.

5. "Just a whisker away from unity", Greek Cypriots will have a commanding advantage if they board the EU train alone.

1. - Turkish Daily News - "Yilmaz: Adaption Bills ready":

Yilmaz says eight amendments to bring laws into line with amended Constitution ready in Rights and Freedoms package Izgi states no question of deputies getting increased salaries and pensions right away, unclear when necessary adaption law will be passed.

ANKARA

Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz has announced they have prepared a "Rights and Freedoms" package in his capacity as EU General Secretary following the amendments to the Constitution.

Yilmaz visited Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and thanked him for their participation in getting the amendments pushed through. He stated that the Rights and Freedoms package contained amendments to eight laws needed to bring them into line with the amended Constitution. These Adaption Bills apply to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Criminal and Sentencing Procedures Law, the Police Procedures Law, the Law on the Establishment and Trial Procedures of State Security Courts (DGM) and the Law on Administrative Court Procedures.

Stating they would submit the package to the opposition parties for their perusal, Yilmaz expressed his wishes that the same accord seen over the constitutional amendments would be seen over these Adaption Bills as well.

Izgi also noted they would get these bills legislated as quickly as possible.

When asked by journalists about when the arrangements increasing deputies' salaries would come into effect, Izgi replied that there was no Adaption Bill for this at the moment. He admitted the topic had come under severe criticism from the press but said there was no question of the deputies getting a pay rise just now. "There is criticism over the timing of this. However, there is no Adaption Bill to get this amendment put into law and so the criticisms are not necessary," he said.

2. - Milliyet - "Turkey and the US discuss relations with Iraq":

Columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on Turkey's stance considering a possible attack on Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:

"An important problem, has been discussed during the security summits. America is in favour of striking Iraq after Afghanistan. Turkey is opposed to this view and is trying to persuade the US not to attack Iraq. At present Ankara is incredibly busy . From Turkey's standpoint, we are on the verge of deciding on the most critical issue probably for the next hundred years. There is great activity in Ankara due to the 'New Order Wars' waged by the US and her allies.

America may target Iraq and other neighbouring countries in the course of these wars. Turkey is opposed to this and says that if the US strikes Iraq, it will be wrong and lead to critical consequencues for Turkey. In this historical turning point, Turkey agrees with the US on the definition of terrorists. However, she differs in the methods and targets during the fight against it.

The US had not listened to what Turkey had to say on the Iran-Iraqi war. What will happen now? The General Staff which is the most influential organization in these issues, believes that the wars for the new world order would create great troubles if they cross the borders of Afghanistan and reach Iraq or Turkey's other neighbours. The concerns over Pakistan may constitute an example for this. The possibility of a war with Iraq disturbs Turkey. The territorial integrity of Iraq cannot be maintained if there is an attack to this country . This means new formations and consequently new clashes.

Some of the allies want to support the Kurdish fractions in the region as before and form a new state. As their stances cannot be seen clearly by Ankara, problems grow. It is not known how China, India, Russia or Pakistan will react in such a situation. What is more it is not clear how Germany and France will receive the decision to attack Iraq and other countries besides Afghanistan.

Turkey has openly declared that she would not allow the establishment of a Kurdish state. At the moment, Ankara is trying to stay clear away from the war, and defend the territorial integrity of Iraq. However, the US who knows the Turkish stance, is conveying her views to the people and is trying to apply public opinion pressure over the Turkish Government. Will the US and Turkey reach a compromise over the issue?"

3. - Kurdish Observer - "PKK reacted against the "terrorist list":

PKK Council of Leaders stated that the fact that USA had listed PKK as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" in its renewed list was contrary to the realities and in fact encouraging the real terrorist forces. Warning the related sides to give up such a grave mistake, the Council called on the Kurdish people and democratic public to be sensitive.

PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) Council of Leaders stated that the fact that USA had listed PKK as a "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" in its renewed list was contrary to the realities and in fact encouraging the real terrorist forces.

PKK Council of Leaders made a statement the other day, expressing the discomfort and anger for the list on PKK and the Kurdish people. The statement said "It is well known by us that the Turkish State has been attempting to make pressure on the European Union. It is well known that international reactionary forces aim to make a new attack against our party and to the Kurdish people."

A process of two years…

The Council reminded that PKK has put an end to the war for two years and declared several times that it is ready to work hand-in-hand with everybody for democratic transformation and solution and waged a similar struggle determinately. The statement emphasized that in spite of this, no related forces including Turkey and USA have displayed a democratic and creative approach, adding the following: "Therefore the decision of the American Ministry does not reflect the reality as well as it hides the real terrorist forces and in fact encourages them to violence. The list is considered by our people and democratic circles a decision against the Kurdish people. It is also thought-provoking that the list is formed once again after the attacks on September 11. As far as the declaration of "the III. World War against terrorism" by US government is concerned, it can be clearly seen that this decision is a grave threat and more important than it seems."

Warning against blind terrorism

The statement continued to say that such an approach which might cause blind terrorism is a serious mistake and would make those responsible face with more grave Gordion knots. The Council of Leaders made the following call: "Thus our party call on everybody to give up making such mistakes which remind the mistakes in the past, on all democratic circles to be more sensitive to these threats which means an attack against our people, to struggle more for peace, democracy and justice."

A claim of a "possible action"

It is striking that PKK appears in the list "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" including 25 organizations although it declared an ceasefire one-sidedly two years ago. The comments on the list claim that although PKK has declared a ceasefire it makes preparations for possible attacks and actions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the following: "PKK is less active. But they continue their preparations for possible terrorist actions."

4. - Sabah - "The aftermath of September 11 and turkish model":

Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the clash of civilisations in
the aftermath of the attack against the USA. We summarize his comments.

"Terrorist attacks perpetrated against the US, have brought political scientist Samuel Huntington's theory into the agenda which says that the clash between communism and capitalism was replaced by the clash of civilizations or religions. Huntington's argument stressed that the West would be challenged by the Islamic world and that the fight between the religions would take place either between the West and Islam or the Asian civilization under the influence of Confucius and the West.

With this concept, another argument concerning Turkey has come to the fore. That is, Turkey can undertake a mission to secure peace and harmony between the Western and Islamic civilizations due to the values she has adopted and represents today. In fact, leading American historian Bernard Lewis in his article in the French 'Le Figaro' daily said that none of the Arab countries were able to create a state system in the Islamic world. He added that Turks and Iranians had formed two different state systems. Lewis compares 'Kemalism', which aims to reach modern standards, with Iran's model which sees modern civilization as an enemy and puts religion at the center of the state.

He says that the only system which has the chance for survival is the Turkish model and suggests the countries lying from the Middle East to the Cental Asia to take Turkish model as an example.

Michael Radu, one of the specialists in the Foreign Policy Institute in Washington also underlined the fact that the state system established by Ataturk, is a successful example which shows that Islam and Western political values are not at odds with each other. He regarded the struggle against terrorism being viewed as a violation of human rights by European countries far from being serious.

Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi's words scorning Islamic civilizations shoud not come as a surprise. In the West there is a widespread prejudice that Islam is anti-democratic in essence and Islamic and democratic values contradict eah other. Therefore, the Christian world believes that pluralistic democracy and industrial societies can only exist in an environment where Christian cultural values are prevalent. Japan is accepted as an exception to this belief. However, Turkey is the only state which can disprove this claim as the only system sheltering Islam, secular state structure, pluralistic democracy and market economy.

For this system to be accepted by the whole world, she has to eliminate her shortcomings in the areas of democracy, human rights and transparency and take her rightful place among the the first group of countries. The road to accomplishing this passes through becoming a full EU member.

As the representative of 'secular-democratic-republic' Turkey's promotion to the first league will acquire a special importance in both the East and the West. The EU also needs such a Turkey as much as the world does. From a strategic point of view, the EU will greatly benefit by admitting such a Turkey into the Union in this enlargement process."

5. - The Times - "Just a whisker away from unity":

Greek Cypriots will have a commanding advantage if they board the EU train alone

BY MICHAEL THEODOULOU

Autumn was meant to herald the start of the most vital attempt in years to bring a settlement in Cyprus before it becomes a member of the European Union.

The island's looming accession has given the long-running Cyprus problem an effective deadline for the first time. Mediators believed that this had created the best opportunity in a generation for a settlement.

Instead, a dismayed international community is scratching its head, after Rauf Denktas, the veteran Turkish Cypriot leader, supported by Turkey, last month refused to return to United Nations-sponsored negotiations.

He said there was not sufficient common ground to bring him back to the table, which he abandoned last November, insisting that "proximity" talks could resume only if the UN recognised his breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.

Because Cyprus is steaming towards EU membership, ahead of all the other candidates in the race to join in 2004, the deadlock is of great concern to Brussels. The EU expressed deep "disappointment" with Mr Denktas, the leader of a tiny, twilight state that is recognised only by Turkey. He was seen to have rebuffed the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. President Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader who heads the internationally recognised Government of Cyprus, readily accepted Mr Annan's invitation to talks.

The Government of Cyprus, represented by the Greek Cypriots, is negotiating EU membership on behalf of all Cypriots and once the accession process is complete, the island and all of its citizens will legally be part of the EU. Yet if the Cyprus problem is not resolved by the end of 2002, the date for concluding accession negotiations, there is a real possibility of ushering in a country divided by a Berlin-style wall.

That would leave the isolated Turkish Cypriot community out in the cold and a new member with 37 per cent of its territory under occupation by an aspiring one. Turkey, itself a candidate for EU membership, has been told it must strongly back international attempts to find a Cyprus settlement in order to begin its own accession talks. It has had 35,000 troops stationed in northern Cyprus since 1974, when it invaded following a short-lived coup in Nicosia engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece.

"Unless Ankara can cajole Denktas back to the table, Turkey is heading towards a disaster for her foreign policy and for her own EU aspirations," a European diplomat in Nicosia says.

Turkey has warned the EU not to admit a divided island against the wishes of the Turkish Cypriots, but the EU has refused to give Turkey any veto against Cyprus's membership. EU members also agreed in 1999 that the absence of a political settlement would not be an obstacle if Cyprus met the other criteria.

"If the Government-controlled part of the island accedes alone, Turkey could go as far as withdrawing its own EU application or at least putting it into cold storage, and it will have a very hostile EU," the diplomat says.

That possibility also presents the US with a headache: it has no desire to see Turkey, a friend and strategic Nato ally, at odds with Washington's main European partners. Cyprus also remains the main bone of contention between Nato members Turkey and Greece. To improve bilateral relations and hoping for greater Turkish co-operation on Cyprus, Athens two years ago agreed to Ankara's EU candidacy.

Culturally and historically the Greek Cypriots feel European. But their motivation in joining the EU is overwhelmingly political: being part of the bloc would remove the fear of further Turkish expansionism.

In turn, Cyprus is confident that with its strategic location and good relations with both the Arab world and Israel, it has much to offer the EU.

"The fact that the European space will go to the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, the fact that Tel Aviv or Damascus will be 35 minutes from Europe, will be an additional political asset to the EU," says Cyprus's Foreign Minister, Ioannis Cassoulides.

For years, the UN has attempted to reunite the island under a loose federal system in which each community would exercise a large degree of autonomy. The Turkish Cypriots would return "an appreciable amount of land" but remain a large majority in the area under their control.

That the lengthy settlement process did not resume last month caused inevitable disappointment on both sides of the island's dividing green line, but little surprise.

For Mr Clerides, a British-trained lawyer who served with distinction in the RAF during the Second World War, the current deadlock is deeply depressing, aides say. Aged 82, he has spent decades of his long political career attempting to negotiate a Cyprus settlement. His second five-year term is due to expire in early 2003.

"If he could leave office with Cyprus in the EU and a settlement on the island, it would be the high point of his life," a former government adviser says. The impasse carries some consolation, however: "The present positioning of Denktas makes it much easier for us to go into Europe," the adviser adds.

Foreign envoys in Nicosia agree, adding that the Greek Cypriots will have a commanding advantage in securing a favourable settlement in the future if they board the EU train alone.

"They're steaming towards a massive change in circumstances and a massive advantage," one European diplomat says.

It was because of this that mediators were so taken aback by Mr Denktas's refusal to return to the negotiating table. Many were convinced that he had a unique opportunity to work out a first-rate deal for his people. Diplomats say that if he made what the UN considered genuine moves to help a settlement and the Greek Cypriots resisted, their EU application could be delayed.

International isolation and an EU ban on trade with breakaway northern Cyprus have meant that the per capita income is little more than a quarter of what it is in the Greek Cypriot south. There has been a mass emigration of Turkish Cypriots from northern Cyprus since 1974 as people seek a brighter future.

EU negotiators have spoken eloquently of the many economic, political and security benefits awaiting the Turkish Cypriots if they entered the EU as part of a reunited Cyprus. But Mr Denktas, who has spurned Greek Cypriot offers for Turkish Cypriots to join the EU accession negotiations, has opposed the EU application adamantly, arguing that it was made without the consent of his community.

Meanwhile, frustrated by years of deadlock, a growing number of ordinary people from both sides of the divide are no longer waiting for politicians and outside powers to bring a settlement. After years of separation, they are getting to know each other at meetings mainly held in neutral, UN-controlled territory. Building confidence at a grass-roots level can only boost the political process, participants say.

As time slips away to Cyprus's accession, the EU refuses to accept that the window of opportunity has been slammed shut. It is hoping that Turkey will cajole Mr Denktas back to the table. So far, Europe is reluctant to plan for the possibility of a divided Cyprus entering its ranks.

"We believe we should be channelling all our energies into finding a solution before accession," one senior European official says. "To even start thinking about other possibilities is to dilute your efforts on the main issue. As far as the EU is concerned, there is no contingency plan. There is only plan A. The ball is in Turkey's court."