18
November 2002
2. "Turkish moderate vows Islamic-democratic model", Turkey's newly named prime minister, a moderate politician from a party with Muslim roots, proclaimed over the weekend that his administration would show the world that Islam and democracy could work together.
3. "Tough tasks ahead for Turkey's new prime minister", Turkey's new prime minister Abdullah Gul faces pressing issues both at home and abroad as he sets down to cobble together a government to fulfill a set of comprehensive reforms announced by his Justice and Development Party (AKP), observers said Sunday.
4. "Turkey's ruling party in waiting hardens position on Cyprus", the leader of Turkey's polling-winning Justice and Development Party (AKP) toughened its position on Cyprus Saturday, insisting he did not want to see even a reunified island join the European Union ahead of Turkey.
5. "Filori: Turkey's and Cyprus's memberships not linked", European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement Guenter Verheugen's spokesperson Jean-Christophe Filori, stated that they felt the need to react against Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).
6. "Turkey – Free Elections?", Fayik Yagizay is 37 years old, and the European representative of the Kurdish organization HADEP [People’s Democracy Party], the strongest force within the Turkish election alliance DEHAP [Democratic People’s Party], which with its 6.2 percent of the votes was unable to surmount the 10-percent electoral threshold.
1. - Kurdish Observer - "Abdullah Ocalan: "Isolation makes Turkey lose":
KADEK President Abdullah Ocalan stated that the isolation around himself was a deliberate decision, saying "My isolation is related with the international conspiracy. Ocalan reminded that obstruction would make Turkey lose.
FRANKFURT / MHA / 16 November 2002
KADEK President Abdullah Ocalan who had been allowed to see his lawyers for a while, stated that the isolation was a deliberate decision. The Kurdish leader said that AKP leader Erdogan must develop a dialogue with Kurds.
Drawing attention that in the near future his visits might be put an end, the KADEK President said the following: "It is related with the international conspiracy. Those who are opposed to the democratic line play the game." Ocalan emphasized on the importance of the sensitivity of the people against repression and isolation, saying that they would make Turkey lose. The Kurdish leader continued to say the following: "The old government resorted to these tricks just before leaving. I have made a call to the coalition government when I have been first taken here. I have said them to open democratic channels for us, create necessary opportunities, declare a general amnesty and then we can abandon our weapons. But it continued its old denial policy. Now they are all under the national electoral threshold. They got only 1% of votes. I have said that if the coalition government did not agree my line it would cease to exist. MHP tries to make me rot by keeping me here. I have said that MHP will rot actually and it is proven to be true. As a result the point we have come is important. The truth of the democratic line is all clear. We are insistent on the democratic line and it is in favor of Turkey."
Priority: Democratic reforms
On the subject of elections Ocalan asked for AKP leader Erdogan to use the chance given by the people well. Ocalan stressed that in case that they gave democratic reform priority the crisis would be passed over easily.
Calling attention that Erdogan must develop a dialogue with Kurds. "If he does not take steps on the matter, then I will allow KADEK to make up their mind about peace or war on their own. They can use the democratic rights to their extreme. I have tried to develop a democratic and peaceful line for 4 years. I have made great efforts. But do not expect from me from now on. My health condition and physical conditions do not allow me to make more than that" said the Kurdish leader.
Free municipalities
KADEK President Ocalan mentioned that local administration would gain importance in the near future, emphasizing that free municipal movement must be developed. "Our democracy will be developed around free municipalities" said the Kurdish leader. He continued to say the following: "I have said it before. My approach to state is not like in the classical socialist texts. State was seen as a means to be used by the oppressed and workers against bourgeoisie. For me it is the most reason which have rendered the real socialism a failure. For me the aim of the oppressed and workers should not be to seize the state. They should develop democracy wherever he/she is. The oppressed should not have a problem like establishing a state. They should struggle by means of non-governmental organizations."
Reminding that everybody had a definition of society, Ocalan continued with words to the effect: "Some say capitalist society, some socialist society. I say democratic ecological society. Humans and society must co-exist with nature harmoniously. In this way, society work for democratisation of state against state."
DEHAP must be re-structured
Abdullah Ocalan stated that the fact that DEHAP was the first party in 13 provinces in the elections but it was not right to consider it a regional party. He said that DEHAP was a party for democracy, asking for it to continue playing the role of an umbrella-party. Drawing attention that DEHAP must be re-structured as soon as possible, the Kurdish leader pointed out that the structuring must be done according to the demands of the people.
The KADEK President continued to say the following: "The results of the election are clear. People have won, party bureaucracy and its administrators have lost. Their meetings were exuberant but it did not reflect in the ballot-boxes. People are exuberant and prepared. They are ready but the cadres are weak. I have given them the perspectives. I have said revolution of mentality, now I say revolution of conscience. There are opportunities, the rest lies in using the party, the means. Backwardness must be overcome. DEHAP can continue to be an umbrella-party even its scope can be broaden. It must be open to other groups. An umbrella-party means a super-structure embracing everybody. It may be a democratic coordination. There is no need to abandon their legal parties. If it is not closed down, HADEP may remain too.
The increase of votes in Urfa is important. I have stated in my Urfa
defence. Urfa was in darkness, now it comes to light gradually. The
sun rises once again there. There must be a through work there."
2. - International Herald Tribune - "Turkish moderate vows Islamic-democratic model":
ANKARA / 18 November 2002
Turkey's newly named prime minister, a moderate politician from a party with Muslim roots, proclaimed over the weekend that his administration would show the world that Islam and democracy could work together.
The politician, Abdullah Gul, became a leading candidate for prime minister after the overwhelming election victory of the Justice and Development Party, which swept aside much of Turkey's governing class in elections this month. With his party firmly in control, Gul, a former economics professor and son of a machinist, seems certain to be affirmed in the post when the new Parliament gathers this week.
The victory of Gul and his party was an important moment in this country of about 67 million people, which has long struggled with its identity as a largely Islamic nation oriented toward the West. The victory challenges the foundations of the Turkish republic, which was established in 1923 as a secular state. Turkey's sole previous experience with an Islamic-minded government ended in 1997 when the military forced it from power.
Appearing at the president's office, Gul, who was appointed on Saturday, expressed confidence that both Turkey's democracy and its Western leanings could thrive under an Islamic leadership. He declared that one of his top priorities would be to win Turkey's admission into the European Union, and he carefully refrained from spelling out any sort of Islamic agenda.
"We want to prove that a Muslim identity can be democratic, transparent and compatible with the modern world," Gul said in an interview. "We will prove this. Turkey will be an example for the world."
Gul, 52, emerged as an unusual choice for prime minister. Ordinarily, the post would have gone to the party's leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is also Turkey's most popular politician. But Turkish law prohibits Erdogan from holding elected office because of a conviction four years ago for reading aloud a poem that was regarded as inciting religious hatred. Many Turks believed that the conviction was politically motivated, and Gul may try to amend the constitution to allow Erdogan to replace him. Gul, who is fluent in English, affirmed Turkey's friendship with the United States and its membership in NATO. But he is likely to come under political pressure should the United States attack Iraq. Turkey's economy sustained huge losses in the Gulf war in 1991, and the country was swamped by 500,000 Kurdish refugees.
Turkey has been battling a Kurdish-led insurgency for years, and Turkish leaders fear that an attack on Iraq might inspire Kurds on both sides to seek their own state.
Though Turkish public opinion is running against an invasion of Iraq, Gul hinted that he would support the Americans if war came.
"As far as Iraq is concerned, of course the first thing is to avoid war," Gul said. "But at the same time we don't want to see weapons of mass destruction in a neighboring country."
Both Gul and Erdogan were previously members of the Welfare Party, which espoused an Islamic agenda and formed a coalition government in the mid-1990s. After a year in office, that government was forced from power by the Turkish military, which has long regarded itself as the guardian of a secular state.
Gul has spoken of abolishing a law that prohibits women from wearing headscarves in schools and government offices. Indeed, his wife often wears a headscarf, and under the present law, it would be illegal for her to attend public functions if she wore one.
But political analysts say both Gul and Erdogan learned from their experience in 1997 that they cannot push an Islamic agenda too far. They campaigned on a promise to rid the government of corruption and revive the economy.
"There is nothing wrong with having democracy, secularism and
Islam," said Hikmet Cetin, a former foreign minister and a leading
member of the opposition in Parliament. "We have to show the
world that."
3.
- AFP - "Tough tasks ahead for Turkey's new prime minister":
ANKARA / November 17, 2002
Turkey's new prime minister Abdullah Gul faces pressing issues both
at home and abroad as he sets down to cobble together a government
to fulfill a set of comprehensive reforms announced by his Justice
and Development Party (AKP), observers said Sunday.
Gul, a 52-year-old economist and the AKP's deputy chairman, pledged
to assemble his cabinet in two days and take immediate action on the
poor democratic record of the EU-hopeful country and the crisis-hit
economy, shortly after he was given Saturday the job of founding the
next government.
The party's pledges were generally welcomed by an optimistic press
on Sunday, but commentators said it faced a tough schedule with less
than one month left to a decisive European Union summit in Copenhagen
on the enlargement process of which Turkey desperately wants to be
a part.
"The pace is picking up. We are heading into a very intense period
on critical issues straight after the (November 3) election,"
said Gulay Afsar in the daily Vatan newspaper.
Turkey wants EU leaders at the Copenhagen summit on December 12-13
to set a firm date for the opening of accession talks, but Brussels
has so far refused to do so on the grounds that Ankara needs to undertake
more reforms.
The issue is also related to the divided island of Cyprus, whose internationally-recognized
south is poised to be formally invited as a member at the same summit,
amid redoubled UN efforts to reach a peace settlement soon.
AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his party, which
has Islamist roots, supported negotiations on the UN plan, which has
been criticized by Turkish Cypriots and the outgoing government on
territorial aspects.
But he also toughened his stance on the island's prospective EU membership,
saying Turkey and Cyprus should join the Union simultaneously, a proposal
that would delay Nicosia's EU entry by years.
"The AKP seems sincere in its desire to resolve the Cyprus issue,
but it is not difficult to guess that a plan which foresees land concessions
would hurt any government in power in Turkey," commentator Sedat
Ergin said in the mass-circulation Hurriyet daily.
At home, the AKP is promising accelerated privatization, tax reforms,
cuts in energy prices and social aid programs for those hurt by the
strict economic recovery program demanded by the International Monetray
Fund (IMF) in exchange for 16 billion dollars (euros) in loans.
It is also seeking revisions in the IMF-backed program without watering
down its main principles of installing discipline in public finances
and achieving sustainable gorwth.
"The party program has been deemed impressive and sincere by
all sections of society, but it fails to answer how it will find the
funds to achieve its ambiitous aims," Gungor Mengi wrote in the
Vatan newspaper.
"The care the government will show in its relations with the
IMF ... will be decisive" in revitalizing the economy, which
is showing signs of recovering from a months-long recession, he added.
All eyes will also be on Gul to see whether he will be an effective
prime minister or a figurehead in the shadow of the charismatic Erdogan,
who has stamped his foot down by announcing the party's priorities
instead of Gul, several newspapers underlined.
Erdogan cannot becom prime minister unless his party amends the constitution
to allow a person not serving in the parliament to be selected as
the head of the government, an issue the AKP leadership said it will
address as part of reforms needed to join the EU.
But the party is just four seats short of the two-thirds majority
in parliament required to change the constitution without going to
a public referendum.
"Gul, welcomed for his moderate and pro-western views, is facing
a tough test: He has to ignore the 'caretaker' label attached to his
person and run the country effectively," wrote Erdal Safak in
the mass-circulation Sabah newspaper.
4.
- AFP - "Turkey's ruling party in waiting hardens position
on Cyprus":
NICOSIA / November 16, 2002
The leader of Turkey's polling-winning Justice and Development Party
(AKP) toughened its position on Cyprus Saturday, insisting he did
not want to see even a reunified island join the European Union ahead
of Turkey.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he saw no harm in Turkish Cypriots entering
negotiations with the island's Greek community on a UN blueprint for
reunification presented last week but added that a seven-day deadline
set down by UN chief Kofi Annan was impossible to achieve.
"The UN plan which was recently announced foresees a partnership
state" of two component states in Cyprus, Erdogan told reporters
on a visit to the breakaway Turkish Republic of North Cyprus.
"Once this foundation has been laid, Turkey and Cyprus must be
allowed the join the European Union simultaneously. Otherwise there
could be problems," he said in comments broadcast live on Turkish
television.
Earlier this week, Erdogan's deputy Abdullah Gul, who was named the
country's next prime minister Saturday, had said he believed a peace
deal could be agreed between the two communities in time for a reunifying
Cyprus to be accepted as a new EU member at a key summit in Copenhagen
next month.
"I think so, it's very crucial," Gul said Wednesday. The
negotiations "will not take much time," he told AFP.
But Erdogan told reporters that he agreed with members of the outgoing
Turkish government, including Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, a
hardliner on Cyprus, that the EU timetable was unachievable.
It is not "possible to start negotiations at a time when Denktash
is ill and there is no government yet in Turkey," he said, referring
to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, 78, who is convalescing after
heart surgery in New York.
He added that he had no objection to negotiations on the UN blueprint,
although he made no comment on the details of the plan.
"Why should it not be negotiated on? ... Sitting down at the
negotiating table does not mean that one accepts the plan," he
said.
Erdogan's one-day visit to the breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state, which
is recognized only by Ankara, is the first leg of a whirlwind tour
that will also take in nine EU countries.
The AKP chief, who has already visited Italy, will also go to Greece,
Spain, Germany, Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and France
this month for talks aimed at strengthening Turkey's own flagging
bid to join the EU.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey occupied its northern
third in response to an Athens-engineered coup aimed at uniting the
strategic island
with Greece.
5. - Turkish Daily News - "Filori: Turkey's and Cyprus's memberships not linked":
ANKARA / 18 November 2002
European Union Commissioner responsible for enlargement Guenter Verheugen's spokesperson Jean-Christophe Filori, stated that they felt the need to react against Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).
Filori said that the report from Reuters news agency would be investigated to see whether Erdogan really said, "Greek Cyprus should wait for Turkey to join the EU." Filori added that Turkey's and Greek Cyprus's membership are different issues.
Filori, speaking to Reuters and Anatolia News Agency, said, "The rule's of the game are clear: Every candidate is judged in fulfilling criteria according to their abilities and efforts. A candidate gets membership if it meets all criteria. Membership of one candidate can not be related to another candidate."
Erdogan said on Saturday that if Cyprus unites under a U.N. peace
plan it should not join the European Union until Turkey does, shocking
local observers with an apparent departure from Turkish policy.
6. - KurdishMedia - "Turkey – Free Elections?":
14 November 2002
Fayik Yagizay is 37 years old, and the European representative of
the Kurdish organization HADEP [People’s Democracy Party], the
strongest force within the Turkish election alliance DEHAP [Democratic
People’s Party], which with its 6.2 percent of the votes was
unable to surmount the 10-percent electoral threshold.
ND: You accuse the Turkish government of having hindered the vote in the Kurdish areas?
Fayik: The hindrances in this election were less than those in the elections of 1995 and 1999. Even so, there were still problems. In several districts, the election observers from our alliance were prevented from carrying out their duties. In many cases, they were simply replaced by police. In some villages, people had to hand in their votes in an open form [i.e., not sealed in envelopes, as the law requires], in the presence of soldiers and the Village Guards. And even some European teams of election observers were not allowed to enter the polling places.
ND: Can you give examples?
Fayik: In Mardin province, a Norwegian delegation, together with
representatives of a local human rights group, tried to observe the
polling.
But they were assaulted by Village Guards and candidates from other
parties. The leader of the human rights group was injured in the presence
of the Norwegians.
ND: Were there similar obstacles placed against representatives of other parties as well, or was only DEHAP affected?
Fayik: No, other parties were affected hardly at all by such disruptive efforts, and at times, as noted, even the other candidates hindered us.
ND: I am asking particularly in terms of leftist parties…
Fayik: I think that they had no great problems; at least I have not heard of other leftist groups being hindered.
ND: Did the trickery begin only during the election, or did it start earlier?
Fayik: That’s the real problem – that we were massively hindered during the entire election campaign. The Prime Minister [Bulent Ecevit] attacked us verbally, there were court cases against us, many candidates were banned, including DEHAP Chairman Mehmet Abbasoglu, and election offices were closed down. We had practically no access to the media, so that the impression was created that we were not even running. We were only able to counteract this by means of great demonstrations, with up to 500,000 participants. Yet even so there was nothing to be seen in the media about them.
ND: Did DEHAP ballots also disappear?
Fayik: There are indications that ballots were discarded. But we cannot prove this at the moment. We estimate the “disappearances” at about 1 to 2 percentage points. That means that we actually got up to 8 percent, and still didn’t get to the 10-percent threshold. But we are convinced that it was because of the obstacles during the election campaign that we were not able to utilize our full potential, which should have been sufficient to get above the 10-percent hurdle.
ND: How do you evaluate the electoral victory of the Islamist AKP [Justice and Development Party]?
Fayik: This victory is an unprecedented political landslide. Former Prime Minister Ecevit got only 1.2 percent of the votes. But even the new government is in favor of the EU. We thus believe that it will follow moderate policies. However, one cannot call the government democratic, since 46 percent of the votes are not even represented in the parliament.
ND: Are you afraid that the repression against the Kurds could increase?
Fayik: I don’t really think so. DEHAP is the strongest force in 13 of the 81 provinces in Turkey. The government has to take account of that.
Source: Translated from German; originally published in “Neues
Deutschland” on 6 November 2002. Questions posed by Andreas Schug