PARLIAMENT BEGINS TO DEBATE EU REFORMS
Parliament met yesterday in order to debate a package of European Union harmonization laws. All the political parties except the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) voiced support for the 14-article package. Speaking at the Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz stated that passing the harmonization laws would be to the benefit of all political parties. During the Justice Commission’s debate on the package, which included abolition of the death penalty, the six MHP members of the commission voted against every article of the draft. Facing opposition only from the MHP deputies, the Parliament decided not to observe a standard 48-hour waiting period and instead favored opening debate on the package immediately. /All Papers/
FOREIGN MINISTER GUREL TO VISIT JORDAN
As part of a “persuasion diplomacy” initiative on the Iraq issue, Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel will pay an official visit to Jordan next Tuesday. Gurel will work to convey the message through Jordan’s King Abdullah to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that Iraq should abide by United Nations resolutions on that country. Jordan’s possible role in a US operation and its talks with the US on the issue make this a key visit in efforts to head off US military intervention. Gurel’s visit comes as increased talk in both the US and Turkey indicates the probability of an operation, which would step up pressure on Turkey. Foreign Ministry officials still believe that a peaceful resolution to the issue is possible. /Cumhuriyet/
ECEVIT: “DERVIS HAS PLEDGED TO CONTINUE HIS MISSION”
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, just back from a visit to the United States, yesterday met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at the Parliament for nearly 40 minutes. Speaking after the meeting, Ecevit said, “Dervis hasn’t yet decided about what to do about his political situation, but he will continue his mission [with the government]. This is a welcome development.” In talks with Dervis, Ecevit stated, the two had agreed that Turkey’s economy was recovering despite some continued problems. “As I understood Dervis, he wants to continue his mission for as long as possible,” Ecevit added. /Sabah/
CEM: “EVEN IF TURKEY DOESN’T JOIN THE EU, THE HARMONIZATION LAWS ARE IMPORTANT”
Speaking at the Parliament yesterday, former Foreign Minister and New Turkey (YT) leader Ismail Cem stated European Union membership was needed by the Turkish people and that his party fully supported the EU harmonization laws. Cem also said that even if the EU does not accept Turkey into its ranks, the harmonization laws are an important step forward for the nation. /Hurriyet/
CILLER TO VISIT COALITION LEADERS
According to a statement released by the True Path Party (DYP), DYP leader Tansu Ciller will visit the government coalition leaders today. Ciller is scheduled to visit Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit at 3:00 p.m., Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli at 3:30 p.m. and Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz at 4:00 p.m. at the Parliament. /Turkiye/
PARRIS: “AN IRAQ OPERATION WITHOUT TURKEY IS UNTHINKABLE”
Former US Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris told hearings on the Iraq issue yesterday that Turkey would necessarily play a key role in any military intervention in that country. “Turkey’s stance will be critical in the United States’ efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime,” Parris told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Just by looking at a map we can easily see that an Iraq operation without Turkey would be impossible.” He added that the economic losses Turkey suffered as a result of the 1991 Gulf War made it extremely wary of a new operation. /Cumhuriyet/
MIDEAST EXPERT CAUTIONS OF RISKS IN IRAQ OPERATION
Speaking at US hearings on the Iraq issue yesterday, Mideast analyst Dr. Phebe Marr cautioned that a power vacuum resulting from US intervention in Iraq could mean serious problems, both in Iraq and the region at large. In a struggle to gain control of Iraq’s extensive oil fields, Turkey or Iran might feel obliged to intervene, Marr told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She remarked that though the nation would probably not break up, “retribution, score-settling and bloodletting” could follow a US operation. “If the US is going to take responsibility for removing the current leadership, it should assume that it cannot get the results it wants on the cheap,” she added. Aksam/
NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY DOCUMENT REVISED
A statement yesterday from the National Security Council (MGK) said that at its meeting last week it had reviewed and revised its National Security Policy Document in line with Turkey’s European Union National Program. In the new document, which was last revised in 1997, Greece and Syria were removed from the category of “priority threats.” The new document identifies the east as the source of current threats, and mentions Iran as the top factor in this regard. The category of domestic threats to security was also revised. In the new document, fundamentalism -- which ranked first in the 1997 document -- is now equal to separatist terrorism as a threat. The document stated that fundamentalism and separatist terrorism would continue to rank as priority threats in the domestic security arena. /Aksam/
EXPORTS JUMP 29% IN JULY
According to provisional figures released yesterday by the Turkish Exports’ Union (TIM), Turkey’s exports in July leapt 29% as compared to the same period last year, to reach a total of $3.15 billion. In addition, exports for the first seven months of the year increased by 9.1%. State Minister Tunca Toskay lauded the figures, saying they represented a historic month for Turkey. A statement from TIM Chairman Oguz Satici added, “The July export figures inject fresh hope into Turkey’s plans to escape its foreign and domestic debt spiral.” /Aksam/
JOB SECURITY BILL REMOVED FROM EU PACKAGE, TO BE DEBATED LATER
Parliament’s Justice Commission yesterday removed a job security bill from a European Union harmonization package under consideration, on the grounds that the bill was a late addition not on Parliament’s agenda. However, as a result of entreaties by the presidents of several trade unions, deputy chairman of all the parties represented in Parliament submitted a petition to Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi requesting further action on the issue. /Milliyet/
ITO HEAD: “JOB SECURITY BILL IS ELECTION POPULISM”
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Chairman Mehmet Yildirim charged that a job security bill before Parliament was “mere election populism” in the face of Turkey’s worst economic crisis. The bill in question would only result in increased unemployment and a large unregistered economy, which would benefit nobody, without broader structural adjustments, added Yildirim. /Milliyet/
IMF TO DISCUSS LETTER OF INTENT, LOAN TRANCHE NEXT WEEK
The International Monetary Fund Executive Board is set next Wednesday to discuss Turkey’s latest Letter of Intent (LOI), after which it is expected to release a loan tranche totalling $1.1 billion to the country. In a separate move, the World Bank is also to release $450 million in credits to Turkey. /Star/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION