ECEVIT: “I WILL TELL THE PEOPLE ABOUT OUR ACHIEVEMENTS"
Speaking to Sabah daily yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit pledged to conduct a vigorous election campaign this fall, trumpeting the success of the coalition government under his leadership to the voting public. He added, though, that he would “not lead the DSP forever,” and spoke of stepping down as chairman “at a reasonable time” after November’s elections. Reaching our to his former Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the DSP’s refusal to consider leftist party alliances, Ecevit said that the DSP’s door was open to him. “We opposed early elections since our government has scored so many successes,” he continued. “But we needed one-and-a-half or two more years to reap these successes’ full benefits. Our coalition partners agreed with us on this, but then Mr. Bahceli and Mr. Yilmaz started to openly advocate early elections. In doing so, they did harm to both our government and Turkey itself. Despite these setbacks, we are now patiently telling the people about our accomplishments and we will continue to do so. In the next few short months, we will concretely lay out both our past successes and future plans. The media must do this too. For example, I recently took part in a campaign rally in Duzce, my first in some time. One or two times I made slips of the tongue and the media criticized this, correctly. However, I would like the substance of my speech to be focused on, not its slips.” /Sabah/
GUREL: “WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE DSP WILL BE IN PARLIAMENT AFTER ELECTIONS”
Speaking to daily Aksam yesterday, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that he had no doubt that the Democratic Left Party would be represented in Parliament after November’s elections. “The DSP is very lucky to have a veteran leader like Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, something which the other parties clearly lack,” he stated. “We don’t care about those who left our party because we know what to do as the DSP. Nor are we interested in Dervis’s political decision.” Gurel also stated that the DSP had proved that it was an enduring political party. “Bulent Ecevit will better explain this to the nation during this fall’s election campaign,” he added. /Aksam/
YILMAZ GOES TO DENMARK TO PUSH TURKEY’S EU BID
Speaking to reporters at Istanbul Airport before flying to Denmark yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that he would discuss Turkey’s European Union membership bid with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller. Denmark currently holds the rotating EU term presidency. “I will tell them of the steps Turkey has taken for its EU bid and our expectations from them,” he said. Yilmaz stated that Turkey had adopted a broad package of EU harmonization laws and that now it was the EU’s turn to give Turkey a date to start membership negotiations. In related news, Rasmussen said that Yilmaz had played the leading role in adopting the EU harmonization laws and that he was awaiting Yilmaz’s briefing on these reforms. /Aksam/
DERVIS MEETS WITH CHP LEADER BAYKAL
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and former State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis held a much-awaited meeting yesterday. Following six hours of talks, Baykal told reporters that they had had a very fruitful meeting and would continue their work to form a strong, democratic option to lead Turkey and bring it closer to the rest of the world. Dervis, for his part, said that their talks had been very intensive and valuable. When asked whether or not he would join the CHP, Dervis declined to comment. The two are expected to meet again tomorrow to continue their work. /All Papers/
NINE DSP DEPUTIES: “WE WILL NOT JOIN THE CHP”
Nine Democratic Left Party (DSP) opposition deputies yesterday met with Prime Minister and DSP leader Bulent Ecevit. In a brief statement on behalf of the group issued after the meeting, Uluc Gurkan said that they had expressed their view that the DSP should enter into an alliance with other leftist political parties. Answering journalists’ questions, the deputies asserted that they had no thought of joining the Republican People’s Party (CHP), a leftist DSP rival but also candidate for an alliance. Meanwhile, meeting with Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) Chairman Bayram Meral yesterday, Ecevit proposed that the labor leader stand as a candidate from the DSP in November’s elections. Meral told reporters that the Turk-Is Executive Board would consider Ecevit’s proposal. /Turkiye/
CEM: “OUR CHANCES FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ARE HIGH”
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem accompanied by the party’s Secretary-General Istemihan Talay yesterday spoke to daily Aksam and Milliyet about Turkey’s current political situation. Stressing that the Nov. 3 elections would be “merciless,” Cem said that people want new politicians and new understandings rather than old ones. Pointing to positive public reaction to the YTP, Cem said that his party was still a newborn, only three weeks old, and that its prospects would be moving ever upwards beginning in September. “We are hopeful that our chances are high in the elections,” Cem stated. Reiterating his opposition to alliances among leftist parties, Cem said, “Nothing could be obtained from such alliances.” Regarding the YTP’s rapprochement with the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), he stated, “Our political lines are different. However, we can understand each other.” Turkey has a vast potential, Cem said, and our citizens should be aware of their country’s power. “Both production and investment should be boosted in order to overcome our economic problems,” he added. /Turkiye-Milliyet/
TOPTAN AND ERDEMIR JOIN AKP
Former Education Minister Koksal Toptan and Mehmet Erdemir, mayor of the central Anatolian city of Yozgat and a former Nationalist Action Party (MHP) deputy, yesterday joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaking at their induction ceremony, AKP leader Tayyip Erdogan stated that efforts to the contrary notwithstanding, elections would be held in November. In any case, the AKP is the hope of Turkey’s citizens and the most powerful among all its political parties, he added. /Turkiye/
NEW CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN CLAIMS
As part of a new Education Ministry curriculum designed to address claims of a so-called Armenian genocide and set to be implemented this school year, Turkey’s history and social studies teachers are to receive special training in the subject. A care group of 110 teachers are to learn the facts concerning the claims through courses in Ankara, facts which they will then carry back to their home districts. /Star/
TURKMEN GROUPS TO BE INVITED TO SECOND IRAQI OPPOSITION MEETING
The United States is reportedly trying to organize another Iraqi opposition meeting in London. Iraqi Turkmen groups, which were not invited to the Washington meeting earlier this month, are expected to attend the planned London meeting this time. Ankara had previously criticized the Bush administration for failing to invite Turkmen groups to the Washington gathering. Meanwhile, Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) leader Jalal Talabani is expected to visit Turkey after the London meeting to brief Turkish officials on recent developments. /Cumhuriyet/
IRAQI TRADE DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY
A delegation of Iraqi commercial officials led by Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh is due to arrive in Turkey this week. M. Mutlu Oktem, secretary-general of the Istanbul Mine and Metals Exporters Union, stated yesterday that Saleh would visit Turkey in order to attend the opening of the International Izmir Fair and hold contacts in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. As part of the Iraqi delegation’s itinerary, Turkish Foreign Trade Deputy Undersecretary Abdullah Koten and other high-ranking officials from the undersecretariat will organize a seminar on job opportunities in Iraq with the participation of the representatives of various professional organizations and exporters on Aug. 24. /Hurriyet/
JP MORGAN: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS PROCEEDING WELL”
A report on the Turkish economy released yesterday by investment bank JP Morgan stated that Turkey’s economic balances had not been hurt by recent developments in the political arena since people had full confidence in the economic program. Remarking that Turkey should continue making new reforms in line with its European Union membership bid, JP Morgan stated that the financial markets would maintain their balances in the future no matter what results come from early polls this fall. The report also added that as all parties had expressed their full commitment to the economic program, the new post-election government was expected to continue pursuing the program with great determination. /Cumhuriyet/
GERMAN TOURISM CENTER: “TURKEY IS A HOSPITABLE DESTINATION WITH FRIENDLY PRICES”
According to a recent survey conducted by the German Tourism Research Center, German tourists prefer taking their holidays in Turkey since they find the country both “inexpensive and hospitable.” The results of the survey showed that Germans consider Turkey a “must-see” destination for its historical treasures, interesting regional cultures and rich, diverse cuisine. “The Turkish people’s hospitality and generosity are also very important for foreign visitors,” said the Center’s Chairman Armin Vielhaber. The survey demonstrated that Turkey was the most preferred country by German tourists among other Mediterranean countries. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION