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Turkish press 12 April 05
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom
Apr 12, 2005
The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and
commentaries published in 12 April editions of Turkish newspapers
available to BBC Monitoring
Nationalism/ Turkey
Hurriyet [centre-right, largest circulation] "...Why are the things,
which were not happening while the clashes in the southeast [between
Turkish soldiers and the PKK] were most intense, happening now? Why
has Turkish nationalism, which did not turn into fanaticism at that
time, become so extreme today? ...If you try to look for the answer to
this question in a 'simple provocation'... you don't contribute to
finding a solution to this problem. It is a pity but the political
management of Leyla Zana [former Kurdish MP] and her friends was not
very good after their release from prison. They gave us the feeling
that 'by being encouraged by the EU, Kurds have become spoilt'."
(Commentary by Ertugrul Ozkok)
Radikal [centre-left] "If Turkey had achieved better results during
the 17 December [2004] EU summit, perhaps today we would not be
experiencing these [nationalist and social] tensions to such an
extent. Perhaps, we would not be in a situation when people are being
forced to answer survey questions like: ...'EU membership or accepting
the Armenian genocide?' But it happened and there was a disappointment
which can trigger unrest. This disappointment also stems from
unemployment that will increase the possibility of unrest even more."
(Commentary by Murat Yetkin)
Cumhuriyet [secular, Kemalist] "We know that in Turkey even the basic
institutions of the republic are tried to be dissolved in order to
create obstacles for globalization. Besides, nobody has yet forgotten
that the activities under the leadership of the separatist terrorist
organization [PKK- Kurdistan Workers' Party] have deeply shaken the
country... Actually, in order to see the society strongly reacting
against this, one needed to wait for the attitude of the EU
humiliating and isolating Turkey, the USA's policy encouraging the
separatists and finally... the government's weakness in solving the
economic, political and social issues and its lack of resistance
against foreign demands. One could not expect that the society would
remain indifferent to attacks from so many directions." (Commentary by
Ali Sirmen)
EU
Posta [tabloid] "I wonder whether the Prime Minister is aware of this?
Since the day he dropped the EU from the agenda, the group [in Turkey]
which wants to say 'No' [to the EU] has started speaking with a louder
voice and questioning the AKP [Justice and Development Party]
government. More interestingly, the government is in a state as if it
has decided to put the EU dossier on the shelf... 3 October [a
starting date for Turkey's accession talks] is getting closer and we
are wasting this valuable time. This stalemate is not in the interest
of the EU at all." (Commentary by Mehmet Ali Birand)
President's visit to Syria
Hurriyet "Undoubtedly, this visit is untimely and unlucky... It will
not only annoy the people of Lebanon but also the Western and Arab
countries supporting the Security Council resolution. Particularly,
president [Ahmet Necdet Sezer], who very rarely travels, by his visit
to Damascus will inevitably send a signal that Syria is being
supported [by Ankara] in one way or another. It was not that hard to
develop our mutual relations and economic cooperation with Syria
without overshadowing our Middle East policy." (Commentary by Ilter
Turkmen)
Radikal "Tomorrow, President's [Ahmet Necdet Sezer's] visit to Syria
will take place... Why should Sezer not go to Syria? What happened to
the idea of Turkey being a model country in the region in terms of the
development of democratic processes? How can it be a model, a mediator
without visits and meetings?... It would be better if you call this [a
demand for] being a puppet of occupation policies. Then what is asked
from Turkey can be explained easily; otherwise it is impossible to
make the issue [of reacting against the visit] become clear."
(Commentary by Nuray Mert)
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom
Apr 12, 2005
The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and
commentaries published in 12 April editions of Turkish newspapers
available to BBC Monitoring
Nationalism/ Turkey
Hurriyet [centre-right, largest circulation] "...Why are the things,
which were not happening while the clashes in the southeast [between
Turkish soldiers and the PKK] were most intense, happening now? Why
has Turkish nationalism, which did not turn into fanaticism at that
time, become so extreme today? ...If you try to look for the answer to
this question in a 'simple provocation'... you don't contribute to
finding a solution to this problem. It is a pity but the political
management of Leyla Zana [former Kurdish MP] and her friends was not
very good after their release from prison. They gave us the feeling
that 'by being encouraged by the EU, Kurds have become spoilt'."
(Commentary by Ertugrul Ozkok)
Radikal [centre-left] "If Turkey had achieved better results during
the 17 December [2004] EU summit, perhaps today we would not be
experiencing these [nationalist and social] tensions to such an
extent. Perhaps, we would not be in a situation when people are being
forced to answer survey questions like: ...'EU membership or accepting
the Armenian genocide?' But it happened and there was a disappointment
which can trigger unrest. This disappointment also stems from
unemployment that will increase the possibility of unrest even more."
(Commentary by Murat Yetkin)
Cumhuriyet [secular, Kemalist] "We know that in Turkey even the basic
institutions of the republic are tried to be dissolved in order to
create obstacles for globalization. Besides, nobody has yet forgotten
that the activities under the leadership of the separatist terrorist
organization [PKK- Kurdistan Workers' Party] have deeply shaken the
country... Actually, in order to see the society strongly reacting
against this, one needed to wait for the attitude of the EU
humiliating and isolating Turkey, the USA's policy encouraging the
separatists and finally... the government's weakness in solving the
economic, political and social issues and its lack of resistance
against foreign demands. One could not expect that the society would
remain indifferent to attacks from so many directions." (Commentary by
Ali Sirmen)
EU
Posta [tabloid] "I wonder whether the Prime Minister is aware of this?
Since the day he dropped the EU from the agenda, the group [in Turkey]
which wants to say 'No' [to the EU] has started speaking with a louder
voice and questioning the AKP [Justice and Development Party]
government. More interestingly, the government is in a state as if it
has decided to put the EU dossier on the shelf... 3 October [a
starting date for Turkey's accession talks] is getting closer and we
are wasting this valuable time. This stalemate is not in the interest
of the EU at all." (Commentary by Mehmet Ali Birand)
President's visit to Syria
Hurriyet "Undoubtedly, this visit is untimely and unlucky... It will
not only annoy the people of Lebanon but also the Western and Arab
countries supporting the Security Council resolution. Particularly,
president [Ahmet Necdet Sezer], who very rarely travels, by his visit
to Damascus will inevitably send a signal that Syria is being
supported [by Ankara] in one way or another. It was not that hard to
develop our mutual relations and economic cooperation with Syria
without overshadowing our Middle East policy." (Commentary by Ilter
Turkmen)
Radikal "Tomorrow, President's [Ahmet Necdet Sezer's] visit to Syria
will take place... Why should Sezer not go to Syria? What happened to
the idea of Turkey being a model country in the region in terms of the
development of democratic processes? How can it be a model, a mediator
without visits and meetings?... It would be better if you call this [a
demand for] being a puppet of occupation policies. Then what is asked
from Turkey can be explained easily; otherwise it is impossible to
make the issue [of reacting against the visit] become clear."
(Commentary by Nuray Mert)