TURKEY ADVANCES TO WORLD CUP QUARTERFINALS WITH VICTORY OVER JAPAN
The Turkish national football team, playing in their first World Cup for 48 years and also making their first appearance in the top 16, advanced yesterday to the quarterfinals by defeating Japan 1-0 with Umit Davala’s goal at the 12th minute in a match played at Japan’s Miyagi Stadium. The Turkish team now heads for Osaka where it will face Senegal in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Following the victory, Turks throughout the country poured into the streets and squares to joyfully celebrate the Turkish team’s triumph. Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu and all political party leaders issued messages celebrating the national team and conveying their best wishes to coach Senol Gunes and the team’s players. /All Papers/
SEZER RETURNS FROM IRANIAN VISIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday concluded his official visit to Iran after participating in the Turkish-Iranian Joint Business Council (KEK), where he learned that Turkey had advanced to the quarterfinals in the World Cup after beating Japan 1-0. After a farewell ceremony at Tehran’s Sadabat Palace, Sezer left for Tabriz. After visiting the Turkish Consulate there, Sezer returned to Turkey, where he told reporters, “We mentioned during our meetings that the territorial integrity and national unity of Iran should be protected.” He added, “We also mentioned that we believe that a Palestinian state should be established.” /Hurriyet/
ECEVIT SENDS LETTER TO AZNAR
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday sent a letter to Spanish Prime Minister José Maria Aznar. In the letter, Ecevit asks for a clear perspective on Turkey’s European Union membership bid and also mentioned Turkey’s expectations from this weekend’s EU summit in Seville and its transition from candidacy to membership. /Sabah/
ECEVIT: “I AM EAGER TO RETURN TO OFFICE”
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that he was getting better and better every day and that he was impatient to return to his office in the Prime Ministry. In an interview on news channel NTV, Ecevit spoke on a wide range of topics. Regarding his health, Ecevit said, “My doctors told me that depending on how well I take care of myself during my recuperation, I can return to my duties soon. But I am getting impatient.” Pointing to positive developments in the Turkish economy, Ecevit said that the economy was very easily affected by politics. “In many countries presidents or prime ministers may need to rest due to health problems,” he said. “But these don’t cause economic crises, they are thought of as a natural process. However, in Turkey, the public panics easily on economic and financial topics. There are also circles who exploit this panic.” Stressing that the death penalty could be lifted without an amendment to the Constitution, the prime minister stated that it should be lifted before Parliament’s summer recess. He also said that the True Path Party’s (DYP) stance regarding the issue was not yet clear. Ecevit added that he expected the government to serve its full term until elections to be held in 2004. /Turkiye/
CEM BRIEFS ECEVIT ON FOREIGN POLICY
Foreign Minister and Ismail Cem and several Foreign Ministry officials yesterday met at Ecevit’s home and gave a briefing on foreign policy. Cem briefed Ecevit on Cyprus, Turkey’s membership process to the European Union, and the Middle East and Caucasus issues. /Star/
BAHCELI: “NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR EARLY ELECTIONS”
Speaking yesterday at a panel in Gebze, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that now was not the time for early elections and that normal elections would be held in 2004 as specified in the Constitution. Bahceli stated that if Turkey were to schedule early elections, work to resolve political issues and bureaucratic efforts to advance Turkey would be delayed. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Bahceli also said that if all the parties in Parliament decided to abolish capital punishment his party would respect this decision. Bahceli has been outspoken in his opposition to ending the death penalty, and his disagreement with the other coalition partners over the issue has sparked rumors of early elections. /Aksam/
CILLER: “IF WE CAN’T TACKLE EU ISSUES, WE SHOULD GO TO ELECTIONS”
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday met with Economic Development Foundation (IKV) Chairwoman Meral Gezgin Eris at the DYP’s headquarters in Istanbul. Speaking to reporters, Ciller said that she talked about Turkey’s EU membership bid with the IKV members and that they shared the same opinion as her. Turkey should tackle the main EU accession issues as soon as possible, Ciller remarked. If it is not able to do so, she added, the country should hold elections under a two-round system both in order to form a new government and bring stability to both the political right and left. /Aksam/
REUTERS: “EXPERIENCED TURKISH FORCES UNDER GEN. ZORLU READY TO LEAD THE ISAF”
In an article marking tomorrow’s command transfer of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) from Britain to Turkey, British news agency Reuters praised the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Brigadier Gen. Akin Zorlu, who will lead the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. The article written by Ralph Boulton noted how Zorlu was ready to lead the 4,650-strong ISAF for six months, with backup help from other nations on communications, airlifting of troops, and financing. Boulton stressed that Gen. Zorlu’s team has broad foreign experience and training, and that Zorlu himself is both urbane and communicative, which will help him steer the mission. /Milliyet/
USIAD URGES FOCUS ON PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT
National Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (USIAD) members declared yesterday that Turkey’s national production should be boosted and growth should be ensured so that the nation can solve its economic crisis. USIAD members stated that the emphasis should be on production, employment, taxes and exports instead of the stock exchanges and dollar and interest rates. USIAD’s Second General Consultancy Council, held in Ankara with the participation of USIAD members and scientists within its consultancy council, ended yesterday. USIAD General Chairman Kemal Ozden said, “USIAD is concentrated much more on increasing the general welfare of the country than its own particular benefits.” /Cumhuriyet/
ERDOGAN: “TURKEY CAN’T PASS UP THE CHANCE FOR EU MEMBERSHIP”
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with Meral Gezgin Eris, chairwoman of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV). During their meeting, Erdogan pledged that the AKP’s constructive stance on Turkish-European Union relations would continue. “The political parties and non-governmental organizations [NGO] should cooperate with the nation to achieve Turkey’s EU membership,” he remarked. “Turkey can’t pass up this chance.” He added that the nation’s leadership should make a decision soon and take steps towards this aim. /Sabah/
SCHOLAR ANALYZES TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS
Tufts University Political Science Professor Malik Mufti said yesterday that after Syrian support for the terrorist organization PKK had ended, Turkish-Syrian relations had improved considerably. Mufti made the comments in a speech at a conference on “Turkish-Syrian Rapprochement: Reasons and Results” organized by The Washington Institute. He emphasized that Turkey and Syria had seemed at the brink of war only four years ago, but since then had succeeded to a great extent in bettering their bilateral relations. Mufti added that Turkey’s policies towards the Middle East didn’t favor Israel, but were in fact balanced, but added that if there was a military intervention against Iraq, it would be hard for Turkey to maintain a balanced approach towards all parties in the region. Mufti also emphasized the importance of giving permission to people to exchange greetings on the occasion of religious holidays on the border, clearing landmines, increasing bilateral commerce and establishing a military training agreement between the two countries this year. Mufti added that he did not believe the status of Turkey’s Hatay region was a problem for the two countries anymore. /Cumhuriyet/
TOBB: “HIGH INTEREST RATES HURT THE PEOPLE”
Turkish Union of Chambers’ and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu met yesterday with former President Suleyman Demirel. Speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that they had reached an agreement with the Spanish Chambers’ Union this April for their lobbying in favor of Turkey’s European Union membership. Hisarciklioglu remarked that skyrocketing interest rates were also causing increases in costs and prices. He added, “Interest rates jumping from about 50% to 70% is greatly worrying, and Turkey’s 65 million people will foot the bill.” /Milliyet/
WORLD REFUGEES DAY TO BE CELEBRATED IN ISTANBUL
June 20, World’s Refugees Day, will be celebrated with activities to be held at Istanbul Bilgi University’s campus in Dolapdere by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). During the activities that will begin with speeches by Prof. Ayse Leyla Duruiz and UNHCR Representative to Turkey Mirza Huseyin Han, Nazim Hikmet’s “poems of longing” will be read and 10 refugee children will stage a play entitled “Ah Su Genclik” (Oh, Youth). /Cumhuriyet/
I SOLISTI VENETI AND YOUNG PERFORM IN ISTANBUL
The I Solisti Veneti orchestra and Young Soloists will perform at the 30th International Music Festival in Istanbul today. I Solisti Veneti, one of the best orchestras both in Italy and worldwide, will stage a concert at the Hagia Eirene Church. The other featured performers, the Young Soloists, will entertain music lovers at the Is Sanat Concert Hall. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION