24 October 2002

1. "Turkey's EU bid boosted by Ankara reforms: EU document", political reforms in Turkey have brought forward a date for the European Union to begin accession talks with Ankara, a draft EU document said Wednesday. (...) Germany to help Turkey in quest for EU membership - Germany "will try to accompany Turkey step by step on its path to membership of the European Union," Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Wednesday.

2. "Despite Turkey's EU reforms, Kurdish name problem remains", following the Turkish Parliament's recently passed sweeping laws allowing Kurds the right to broadcast and teach in Kurdish as part of its EU bid, the Kurdish name problem has escalated. Some families wanted to give Kurdish names to their children, however their requests were turned down by the Registry of Birth Administrations on the claim that it represented contradictory meanings and that furthermore it was not in accordance with the national culture.

3. "OECD says political stability essential to Turkish economic recovery", Turkey has made progress on the road to economic recovery, but political stability is essential to ensure further reforms, the OECD said here Thursday.

4. "Analysis: Turkey's war on poll leaders", the AK party's is the country's most popular in polls.

5. "Turkey seeks ban on Islamic party set to win poll", Turkey's top prosecutor, in a move designed to weaken a pro-Islamic party’s chances of winning upcoming general elections, has petitioned the constitutional court to ban the party.

6. "Kurds push U.S. for a promise of protection", Iraqi Kurds are demanding -- but not getting -- a public U.S. pledge to protect them in the event of an attack by Saddam Hussein's forces. The Kurds warn that without such a guarantee, they will not allow their territory to be used as a staging ground for a possible U.S. invasion.

1. - AFP - "Turkey's EU bid boosted by Ankara reforms: EU document":

BRUSSELS / 23 October 2002 / by James Hossack

Political reforms in Turkey have brought forward a date for the European Union to begin accession talks with Ankara, a draft EU document said Wednesday.

"Turkey has taken important steps" towards meeting the political and economic criteria for joining the EU, according to a draft agenda for a summit of EU leaders being held here on Thursday and Friday. "This has brought forward the opening of accession negotiations," the draft presented by the EU's Danish presidency said. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, angered Turkey earlier this month when it said in a report that the country was not yet ready to

start membership talks despite being a candidate since 1999.

The report said Turkey did not meet the political criteria to open membership talks, citing restrictions on freedom of thought and expression as well as widespread allegations of torture. The United States also expressed its dismay that the Commission had failed to set a date for Turkey -- a key NATO ally that shares borders with Iraq, Iran and Syria.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has urged the 15 EU leaders to set a date for accession talks at a Copenhagen summit in December, Sezer's spokesman Tacan Ildem said Wednesday. The draft agenda invited EU foreign ministers to prepare in time for the Copenhagen summit "the elements for deciding on the next stage of Turkey's candidature".

Turkey's parliament adopted a set of far-reaching human rights reforms in August, including the abolition of the death penalty and greater cultural rights for minority Kurds. But in the draft, the Danish presidency urged Turkey to pursue further reforms if it wanted to start formal negotiations. "The Union encourages Turkey to pursue its reform process and to take further concrete steps in the direction of implementation, which will advance Turkey's accession," it said.

EU officials have made clear that they will keep a close eye on snap Turkish elections being held on November 3. EU leaders would dearly like a new government to put pressure on the ethnic-Turkish administration of northern Cyprus to reunify the divided Mediterranean island before it joins the EU in 2004. Germany, which has links with Turkey through its large Turkish immigrant population, said Wednesday it was ready to help Ankara in its quest for EU membership.

Germany "will try to accompany Turkey step by step on its path to membership of the European Union," Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Wednesday. "As far as we are concerned, we are going to do all we can to get the most positive possible signal," at the EU summit in Copenhagen on December 12-13, he added. "At the moment, we can't say what form it will take" or whether the signal would be welcomed, said Fischer in Berlin following talks with his Turkish counterpart Sukru Sina Gurel.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, however, said he wanted to ensure that the Brussels summit does not overlook the reforms carried out by Ankara. "We also want tangible recognition of the recent important progress made by Turkey and support for a start date for (membership) negotiations with Turkey," he said in London. In a bid to push Turkey's candidacy, President Sezer has written to EU leaders to underline the significance of the recent reforms, his spokesman told journalists in Ankara. "The political criteria are being met," Ildem said.

Sezer and his foreign minister, Sukru Sina Gurel, will travel to Copenhagen on October 28 to meet with European leaders, the spokesman added. "We are expecting a prudent outcome from the Copenhagen summit and a decision for starting accession talks in 2003 should be taken." Sezer will also discuss the matter with fellow leaders at a NATO summit in Prague at the end of November. Turkey's membership of the military alliance, and its geographical position, have made it a critical regional ally of the United States.

Germany to help Turkey in quest for EU membership

Germany "will try to accompany Turkey step by step on its path to membership of the European Union," Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Wednesday.

"As far as we are concerned, we are going to do all we can to get the most positive possible signal," at an EU summit in Copenhagen on December 12-13, said Fischer. "At the moment, we can't say what form it will take," said Fischer in

Berlin following talks with his Turkish counterpart Sukru Sina Gurel. Turkey is a member of NATO and has been accepted as a candidate for accession talks with the EU, but the negotiations have never got underway.

A German government official, who refused to be named, said the signal that Fischer and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were awaiting was a set date for the accession talks to begin. The official said it would be "hyprocritical" to keep Turkey as a candidate without ever setting a date for membership negotiations. Schroeder is "very interested in seeing Turkey's candidature followed up," the official added.

Focus magazine's online edition claims that Schroeder told Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, which holds the rotating EU presidency, that a date for those talks should be set at the December summit. A government spokesman would not confirm that information Thursday but said Germany was among the countries favourable to improved ties between the EU and Turkey. In a draft document Wednesday, the Union said "Turkey has taken important steps" towards meeting the political and economic criteria for joining the EU.

2. - Turkish Daily News - "Despite Turkey's EU reforms, Kurdish name problem remains":

IZMIR / 24 October 2002 / by Serdar Alyamac

Following the Turkish Parliament's recently passed sweeping laws allowing Kurds the right to broadcast and teach in Kurdish as part of its EU bid, the Kurdish name problem has escalated. Some families wanted to give Kurdish names to their children, however their requests were turned down by the Registry of Birth Administrations on the claim that it represented contradictory meanings and that furthermore it was not in accordance with the national culture.

According to research from the Human Rights Association Diyarbakir Branch, within seven months between January and September of 2002, totally 39 families wanted to give Kurdish names to their children, however the Registry of Births Administration objected to the families' requests. On the other hand, the report also pointed out that two families decided not to name their children because of this application.

Some families, who wanted to give Kurdish names to their children, were interrogated and charged with breaking a law barring parents from giving their children names that "do not fit our national culture, ethical laws, norms and traditions" due to Article 16 in the "Law on Public Registrations" that was passed to prohibit names in contradiction to the national culture, traditions and moral values and not to cleanse the Turkish language of words of foreign origin. Furthermore, some families had been charged with supporting the rebels by giving their children traditional Kurdish names, but a court later dropped the case.

According to the report, the Registry of Births Administrations, on the claim that it represented contradictory meanings and that furthermore it was not in accordance with the national culture, objected to the names Dilan (dance-halay), Sefkan, Helin (nest), Nupelda (newly blossoming), Gulsilan (rose hip), Pelsin (green leaf), Emine Helen, Bersan (giving fame), Sutail Can, Nujiyan (new life), Berzan (knowledgeable), Berfin (snow plough), Zilan (name of a river in southeastern Anatolia), Baran (rain), Sipan (name of mountain), Zisar and Dilges (happy).

On the other hand, some families applied to the European Court and if the court finds Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights, it can demand a fine and request that Turkey overturn the ban.

Talking with Turkish Daily News, Selahattin Demirtas, the chairman of the Human Rights Association Diyarbakir Branch, said that despite the Interior Ministry denying the existence of such a notice banning Kurdish names, there was a notice sent to the Registry of Births Administrations. "A lawyer, Berdan Acun, who also wanted to give a Kurdish name to his child, but he was refused, has seen this notice sent by the Interior Ministry banning Kurdish Names.

Demirtas stressed that the reform to ensure the Turkish laws' accordance with the EU was passed from Parliament and the most important obstacles in front of Kurdish education was removed. "Despite the removal of these obstacles this application banning Kurdish names has been implemented."

Pointing out a danger Turkey would face, Demirtas said, "Some applied to the European Court but has not accepted the application yet, but if it accepts the application, it would accept that due to Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights that this article forbid the discrimination. And they have never been charged of discrimination before, for that reason it would be a big obstacle in front of Turkey if it wants to be a member of the EU."

Diyarbakir Bar Association chairman Mustafa Ozer also said that according to information he obtained, the government has drawn up a list of banned Kurdish names because the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), used these names as code names for its members, and has ordered local officials to curb the use of Kurdish place names.

"The name Serhat used commonly in Turkey also takes place on this list. Banning Kurdish names does not fit the constitutional right. They said these names are not in accordance with tradition and national culture, but these names are in accordance with tradition and culture. You can give an English name to your children, but you cannot give the names on the list to your children because it is not in accordance with national culture and tradition. These kind of applications are an obstacle for Turkey that aims to be a member of the European Union," Ozer said.

Pointing out that there was no such application in any part of the world Ozen said, "People cannot give names to their children. The reform ensuring Turkish laws' in accordance with the European Union passed by Parliament recently does not fit this application. For that reason the EU wants to see implementation of these reforms."

3. - AFP - "OECD says political stability essential to Turkish economic recovery":

PARIS / 24 October 2002

Turkey has made progress on the road to economic recovery, but political stability is essential to ensure further reforms, the OECD said here Thursday.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in its latest review of Turkey, suggested the country's economy would grow by about four percent this year, with inflation falling to some 35 percent by year end, in line with expectations.

Growth next year was expected to hover around 3.5 percent with a further decline in inflation "somewhat above the official target of 20 percent by end 2003," the report said. "The authorities are ... implementing an impressive range of measures to reform the public sector and bring it more in line with OECD standards," the report also said.

But it stressed the need for political stability at a time when the result of general elections in Turkey, to be held on November 3, remains in doubt. "Delaying the implementation of institutional reforms and/or prolonging the political instability would ... endanger the (reform) programme's internal consistency," the OECD warned.

4. - BBC - "Analysis: Turkey's war on poll leaders":

The AK party's is the country's most popular in polls

23 October 2002 / by Pam O'Toole

Turkey's Justice and Development Party, which the government is seeking to ban, is riding high in the opinion polls as the general election draws close.

The polls estimate that at least 30% of Turks could vote for it on 3 November, while many of Turkey's more established political parties may struggle to reach the 10% needed to win parliamentary seats.

The party - founded last year - is regarded as the moderate and modernist wing of Turkey's pro-Islamist movement.

Its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says he objects to the "pro-Islamist" label and has stressed his support for multi-party democracy, Turkey's secular system and Turkish membership of the European Union.

Mr Erdogan is a charismatic personality, and his party's pledges to improve social welfare have proved popular in a country suffering the effects of an economic austerity drive.

Its popularity is also helped by the fractured nature of Turkey's political centre and centre-left - and the fact that as a relatively new party, it has not been tainted by the political mistakes or scandals of recent years.

Suspicion

But both the powerful Turkish military and rival politicians remain suspicious of Mr Erdogan's motives.

They view Islamism and Kurdish nationalism as the two biggest threats to a united secular Turkish state and suspect that Mr Erdogan may be hiding his true political colours until after the election.

This is the latest in a series of court actions against pro-Islamist and pro Kurdish parties and politicians over recent years.

The country's first pro-Islamist prime minister was forced to resign and two successive pro-Islamist parties have been banned.

But recent constitutional reforms in Turkey - aimed at paving the way for eventual EU membership - should make it more difficult to implement such bans.

Even if the current court action is successful - which some commentators believe is unlikely - it could take more than a year for it to be implemented.

Meanwhile, some commentators are warning that if this is a tactic by part of the Turkish establishment aimed at warning Turkish voters away from the Justice and Development Party, it is one that could backfire.

5. - The Scotsman - "Turkey seeks ban on Islamic party set to win poll":

ISTANBUL / 24 October 2002 / by James Dorsey

TURKEY’S top prosecutor, in a move designed to weaken a pro-Islamic party’s chances of winning upcoming general elections, has petitioned the constitutional court to ban the party.

The petition by the chief prosecutor, Sabih Kanadoglu, to ban the Justice and Development Party (AK) comes as opinion polls predict it will win the election on 3 November with 30 per cent of the vote.

A poll released yesterday reported that only the centre-left Republican Peoples Party (CHP), would also win enough votes to cross the 10 per cent threshold for representation in parliament.

The prosecutor is believed to be basing his petition on the fact that AK has Islamic roots, having been formed by members of two Islamic parties that have been banned in recent years.

It also is believed to claim that AK has violated rules along which politically parties are supposed to be run.

The party’s charismatic leader, the former Istanbul mayor Recep Tayyeb Erdogan, 48, is banned from running for office because he spent four months in prison in 1999 for reading a poem that a court deemed incited religious hatred.

A judge yesterday ordered police to use force if necessary to bring Mr Erdogan to trial on charges of illegal earnings while he was mayor.

If convicted, he could be jailed for five years.

AK denies that it is pursuing a pro-Islamic agenda and is campaigning in favour of Turkish membership in the European Union as well as for far-reaching democratic reforms.

The military has long been suspicious of AK’s true intentions, while a majority of the country’s secular élite doubt that the party has truly broken with its Islamic past.

Mr Erdogan last week stepped down as chairman of AK in a bid to comply with the ban on his running for office.

Hayati Yazici, an AK lawyer, dismissed the prosecutor’s petition. "The petition is baseless. rather than damaging us, it may even help us," Mr Yazici said.

6. - USA Today - "Kurds push U.S. for a promise of protection":

WASHINGTON / 23 October 2002 / by Barbara Slavin

Iraqi Kurds are demanding -- but not getting -- a public U.S. pledge to protect them in the event of an attack by Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s forces. The Kurds warn that without such a guarantee, they will not allow their territory to be used as a staging ground for a possible U.S. invasion.

Farhad Barzani, Washington representative of the Kurdish Democratic Party says that absent a promise of U.S. protection, the Kurds will also bar Iraqi exiles from using Iraqi Kurdistan as a staging area for attacks against the Iraqi regime. The party is one of two main factions in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Barzani and other Kurdish leaders say they worry that unless the United States sends strong signals to Saddam, Iraqi forces could attack the Kurds during the buildup to an invasion. The Bush administration recently gave the go-ahead to train several thousand Iraqi exiles to assist U.S. forces in a possible invasion of Iraq.

Sources close to the other main Kurdish faction, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, say that group is also demanding ''robust and publicly stated'' U.S. assurances, as well as material assistance to deal with a possible chemical weapons strike.

The United States wants Kurdish cooperation to oust Saddam. The only indigenous Iraqi forces with significant military strength -- about 70,000 men in arms -- Iraq's 4 million Kurds control the routes needed to cut off Saddam's home town of Tikrit and to seal off Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, from the north. The Kurds also have ties to Iraqi Arab tribal leaders that could help influence them to support a U.S. effort to oust Saddam.

Kurds are the predominant ethnic group in the northern fifth of Iraq. They have enjoyed relative autonomy for the past 11 years because of aggressive U.S. and British patrols of the northern no-fly zone. Iraqi aircraft are forbidden to enter the zone.

Though the Bush administration probably would reach an agreement with the Kurds before an invasion, U.S. officials have refused to offer explicit guarantees or ease Kurds' fears of what might happen in the months before an attack. The administration has promised only to respond to any attack on the Kurds ''at a time and place of our choosing,'' a vague formulation that goes back to the Clinton administration, which feared being drawn into a war should Saddam attack the Kurds. The White House declined to comment on whether the policy would be changed.

U.S. officials say they have retained the policy because they want to avoid being baited into acting prematurely should Saddam attack the Kurds to try to force a U.S. response. They are also wary of angering Turkey, a crucial U.S. ally on Iraq's northern border. The Turkish government is highly sensitive to any gestures that might foster nationalism among Turkey's own large Kurdish minority.

The Kurds have reason to be apprehensive. From 1987 through 1990, Saddam's forces carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing that killed more than 100,000 Kurds, including 5,000 who were gassed in the town of Halabjah in 1988. Elite Iraqi Republican Guards are still based in Kirkuk and Mosul, cities just outside the Kurds' so-called autonomous zone in northern Iraq.

''The bottom line is that it's easier for Saddam to hit the Kurds than Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Israel,'' says Carole O'Leary, a Kurds expert at American University.

In addition to more public and concrete guarantees, the Kurds want the United States to provide clinics, gas masks, vaccines and protective suits.