ECEVIT CRITICIZES EFFORTS TO DELAY ELECTIONS
In his first campaign rally in the Aegean region ahead of Nov. 3 polls, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit yesterday criticized efforts to delay the nationwide elections. “Certain political parties have long called for early elections, yet these selfsame parties are now looking to the DSP to support efforts at postponement,” said Ecevit. “But we want to hold election as scheduled.” After the rally, Ecevit then visited Denizli’s mayor to be briefed on the province’s problems. /Turkiye/
KUTAN: “THE HEADSCARF ISSUE IS OUR PRIORITY”
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan yesterday said that disputes over headscarf usage were his party’s primary issue. Speaking at a meeting in Konya, Kutan said that the SP was a party which respected human rights. “Wearing a headscarf is an exercise of human rights and so should be respected,” Kutan said. Criticizing all other political parties’ policies vis-a-vis the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kutan stated, “When we come to power, we will carry out our own policies, not the IMF’s.” /Turkiye
ASPARUK: “ERDOGAN, ERBAKAN RECEIVED EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW”
Gen. Cumhur Asparuk, commander of the Turkish Air Forces, yesterday expressed support for last week’s rulings barring Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan and Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the Welfare Party (RP), from running for seats in this fall’s elections. Referring to a Turkish idiom, Asparuk said that when the law casts off a finger, that finger doesn’t hurt. “Turkey’s laws are applied equally to everyone without discrimination,” he added. In line with Turkey’s anti-sedition laws, last Friday the Supreme Election Board (YSK) disqualified Erdogan and Erbakan from running in the Nov. 3 elections. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: “WHEN SEVERED, A SOUND LIMB WILL FEEL PAIN”
Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), yesterday responded to Air Forces Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk’s defense of a ruling barring Erdogan from running in this fall’s elections. Asparuk said that a finger cast off by the law doesn’t hurt, stated Erdogan, but if that finger is sound in fact it does hurt. Both were referring to a Turkish idiom. “The Supreme Election Board [YSK] decision was unfair,” added Erdogan. /Milliyet/
GUREL: “UNILATERAL US ACTION IN IRAQ WOULD HAVE NO LEGITIMACY”
Following his official visit to the United States last week, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel told daily Sabah yesterday that he didn’t expect the US to launch an operation in Iraq in the near future. Commenting on meetings during his visit with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, US Vice President Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, the US national security advisor, Gurel stated that US officials were determined to overthrow the Iraqi regime and were furthermore in the process of considering unilateral action. However, Gurel added that unilateral action by the US would lack international legitimacy and would not be in the best interests of either the region or the US. Regarding Turkey’s views on the matter, Gurel stated that Turkish efforts to convince the Iraqi government to comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions had paid off last week with Iraq’s pledge to allow the return of UN weapon inspectors. Gurel also said that Turkey would definitely be adversely affected were an operation launched in Iraq, recalling that the Gulf War of the early 1990s had cost Turkey at least $200 billion in trade losses and security expenses. /Sabah/
CEM: “THE YTP WILL COME TO POWER WITH PUBLIC SUPPORT”
Speaking at the opening ceremony for his party’s Istanbul office, New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said yesterday that unique among Turkey’s parties, the YTP guarantee was to come to power with public support. Cem stated that the YTP had been founded this summer in order to end Turkey’s loud, divisive political struggles in favor of establishing unity and peace. Turkey’s economy is not made up of mere numbers and statistics, added Cem, rather it should exist to serve the people. /Aksam/
CILLER CALLS ON TURKISH YOUTH TO EMULATE NATIONAL TEAM SPIRIT
Speaking to her party’s Youth Committee, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday called on Turkey’s young people to wage a new “War of Independence” by emulating the spirit and drive of Turkey’s successful National Football Team. By doing so, added Ciller, we can solve Turkey’s problems. Also present at the meeting was Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar, whose party is allied with the DYP in this fall’s elections. /Hurriyet/
GUREL MAKES CALL TO BESIEGED ARAFAT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel yesterday made a phone call to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is currently under siege by Israeli forces at his headquarters in Ramallah, in the West Bank. Arafat reportedly lamented his situation and requested Gurel’s help in convincing Israel, via the United States, to end the siege. Israel has asked for the handover of 20 Palestians it accuses of terrorist offenses as well as Arafat’s departure from the West Bank. Turkey, unique in the region, enjoys good relations with the Palestinian and Israeli governments as well as the United States. /Turkiye/
DERVIS: “TURKEY CAN BE A WORLD CHAMPION”
Former Economy Minister and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy candidate for Istanbul Kemal Dervis yesterday visited his party’s district organizations in Kartal and Maltepe, Istanbul. Dervis visited the CHP’s Kartal headquarters alongside Kadikoy Mayor Selami Ozturk and CHP deputy candidates Hasan Aydin and Sirri Ozbek. Addressing CHP supporters thronged outside the building, Dervis said, “We can usher in happy days together. Our athlete Sureyya Ayhan just became world champion. If we believe in our cause as she did, we can succeed at whatever we try. We should love each other greatly, strive together mightily, and create a beautiful Turkey hand-in-hand.” /Cumhuriyet/
NAZIM HIKMET STATUE UNVEILED IN IZMIR
A massive new statue of famous poet Nazim Hikmet was unveiled at Izmir’s Arts Center this weekend. The statue, sculpted by artist Tankut Oktem, stands at over six meters tall and is cast in bronze. At the statue’s unveiling ceremony, Istanbul’s State Modern Folk Music Group performed and actors gave readings of Hikmet’s poetry. Speaking at the ceremony, Culture Minister Suat Caglayan said, “Today Nazim Hikmet is where he belongs, a truly fitting place. He is our poet of the War of Independence, which serves as an inspiration to all nations struggling in chains. Now he stands in the city where that same war reached its end. Nazim Hikmet, we welcome you!” Kiymet Coskun, secretary-general of the Nazim Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation, then thanked those who made possible the statue’s construction and transportation to Izmir. /Cumhuriyet/
ISTANBUL HOSTS COASTAL CLEANUP
This weekend saw the International Coastal Cleanup Campaign hit the shores of Caddebostan, Istanbul, courtesy of the Kadikoy Municipality in league with the Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association (Deniztemiz/TURMEPA). Aziz Duman, secretary-general of Deniztemiz/TURMEPA’s, said that the campaign took place every year during the third week of September. This year, he added, 77 countries were expected to participate to collect over 6.5 million kilograms of waste, with 50 locales participating in Turkey alone. The varieties of waste collected will be reported to the International Coastal Cleanup and the Ocean Conservancy. /Cumhuriyet/
AYHAN SCORES GOLD IN WORLD ATHLETIC CUP
Turkish athlete Sureyya Ayhan, running on behalf of the European team, came in first in the women’s 1500-meter run in the Ninth IAAF World Cup in Madrid, Spain on Saturday, thus becoming the world champion in the event. Ayhan, a previous winner at the European Championship and two Grand Prix competitions, scored the gold medal with a finish of 4.02.57, far ahead of her closest competitor. /All Papers/
MEHMET OZAL RECEIVES GOLD MEDAL
Turkish wrestler Mehmet Ozal (96 kg) scored the gold medal yesterday in the 47th World Greco-Roman Style Championship in Moscow, defeating his Bulgarian rival in the finals. /All Papers/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION