28 March 2007

1. "Confident Turkey looks east, not west", Turkey was not invited to Europe's big birthday bash yesterday despite being an official candidate for EU membership. Ankara expressed disappointment at a "missed opportunity". Media reaction to the perceived snub was sharper.

2. "Clarify confusion on EU bid: Turkey", Turkey on Tuesday called on the European Union to clarify the confusion over its bid for membership.

3. "Iraqi vice president warns against Turkish incursion into Iraq", Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on Tuesday warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas and promised to prevent cross-border attacks by the rebels.

4. "Turkish general slams Zana statement", an official investigation has been launched against Leyla Zana, who said during March 21 Nevruz celebrations that Kurds saw Barzani, Talabani and Ocalan as their leaders.

5. "Article 301: Liability for National Assembly", Journalists' Association of Turkey traditional yearly awards of merit have been given in a ceremony. TGC chair Erinç criticized the government's approach to press freedom and lack of reforms. Nothing changed from last year, he said.

6. "Syria: Kurds To Boykott 22 April Election", Kurdish political groups in Syria say they will boycott parliamentary elections scheduled for 22 April because they allege some 100,000 people from the country's Kurdish community have not been allowed to participate in the poll.

1. - The Guardian - "Confident Turkey looks east, not west":

26 March 2007 / by Simon Tisdall

Turkey was not invited to Europe's big birthday bash yesterday despite being an official candidate for EU membership. Ankara expressed disappointment at a "missed opportunity". Media reaction to the perceived snub was sharper.

"In the 1990s, the EU was a giant organisation governed by prominent leaders," said leading columnist Mehmet Ali Birand. "Today it has become a fat midget that lacks perspective and is governed by small-thinkers."

Disillusion with the EU has deepened since Brussels part-suspended talks in December after a row over Cyprus. The hostility, as seen from Ankara, of French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has poisoned the pot further.

But anger and frustration is slowly giving way to a new, more assertive idea: that perhaps Turkey does not really need Europe after all ... - ... and the EU will come to regret its insultingly complacent chauvinism as Turkey goes its own way.

"Europeans underestimate the importance and influence of Turkey," said Fuat Keyman, professor of international relations at Istanbul's Koc university. "If they are serious about the future of Europe as a power in global affairs, they need to change their thinking."

Turkey was recalibrating its external ties and the EU was but one part of the equation, Dr Keyman said. "Membership should not be seen just as a gift to Turkey. There are benefits for Europe, too."

Semih Idiz, a foreign affairs columnist, goes further: "The EU is off the radar. It has confirmed Turkey's worst expectations. At present, it's an irrelevancy."

Turkey's new-found confidence about life beyond Europe is based in part on a booming economy, whose sustained, IMF-supervised 7% annual growth rate far outperforms large EU states. Export earnings are rising too, including in the Arab lands of the old Ottoman empire.

Demographic trends are also boosting independent thinking, said Guven Sak, an Ankara-based economist. "In Turkey the working age population as a proportion of the total population is growing. In Europe, the opposite is true."

Nor should Europe fear a new barbarian horde at the gates. Rates of growth meant that by 2015, Turkey could become a net importer of labour, he said.

Turkey's increasingly important regional leadership role is also changing the way it views the EU. As a vital transit hub, it provides much of Europe's oil and gas from the Caspian basin, Russia and, prospectively, the Turkic republics of central Asia. This is leading to closer cooperation with Moscow and reviving ideas of a Turkic Commonwealth from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan.

The "reformed Islamist" government in Ankara is also cultivating the Arab and Muslim world. It signalled a new strategic relationship with Egypt this week. It sent peacekeeping troops to Lebanon last year. It talks to Iran when many will not or cannot. Close links to Israel have not prevented the building of ties with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. And despite tensions with the Kurds, Turkey is northern Iraq's main economic partner. Istanbul is the likely venue of next month's Iraq summit.

Rising ultra-nationalism and "neo-Ottoman" thinking, Islamist extremism and political instability are the acknowledged dangers of Turkey's rise. But its strength is its 70 million people's drive and energy, a dynamic resource that flabby, middle-aged western Europe lacks.

And then, there is fierce pride. "Ours is the only country to reconcile Islam with a fully functioning, multiparty democracy in a modern, secular republic," said opposition MP Sukru Elekdag. "Our experience shatters the myth that Islam cannot accommodate democracy."

Officially, Turkey still wants to join the EU, says Faruk Logoglu of the Centre for Eurasian Strategic Studies in Ankara. But Europe must banish its ignorance and acknowledge its own needs. "Europe is not yet ready for Turkish membership," he said. "It's going to take a long time to educate the European public."

2. - AP - "Clarify confusion on EU bid: Turkey":

ANKARA / 27 March 2007

Turkey on Tuesday called on the European Union to clarify the confusion over its bid for membership.

"If the EU has negative thoughts about Turkey, it should make its decision so that we can continue on our own road. Let's not waste money or energy," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an apparent reference to Germany, which declined to invite Turkey to the summit held in Berlin over the weekend.

Erdogan contended that Turkey will not be a "burden" on the EU but is ready to help shoulder some of the EU's responsibilities.

Turkey has criticized Germany for not inviting Ankara to the summit, saying it was a missed opportunity to showcase a united European family.

The predominantly Muslim country began EU membership talks in October 2005, but EU leaders partially froze negotiations in December because of Turkey's refusal to open its ports to EU-member Cyprus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is skeptical about Turkey joining the EU.

Instead, she has called for a "privileged partnership" with the country that would fall short of membership.British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who is on a three-day visit to Turkey, renewed her country's support to Ankara and offered encouragement.

"We strive to always be your staunchest ally," Beckett said during a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

"Applying to joining the EU can be a lengthy process. It was many years before the United Kingdom was able to join. In every enlargement, the process has been difficult, it has often been controversial, but always it has been worth it for all concerned," Beckett said.

"We are sure it will be to the advantage of the EU and to the advantage of Turkey when Turkey's membership application succeeds," she added.

3. - AP - "Iraqi vice president warns against Turkish incursion into Iraq":

ANKARA / 27 March 2007

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on Tuesday warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas and promised to prevent cross-border attacks by the rebels.

"We want both countries to respect the borders of each other and expect the sides to be against such a thing," al-Hashimi said upon his arrival in Ankara for a one-day visit. He was responding to a question about a possible Turkish incursion into his country to hunt down guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

Al-Hashimi reiterated promises by Iraq to prevent attacks by the rebels. "Iraq will never allow its soil be used as a base for attacks against other countries, especially against its brother and friend, Turkey," he said.

Turkey's political and military leaders have expressed frustration with the level of Iraqi cooperation and U.S. help in eradicating PKK rebels holed up in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The United States has warned Turkey against entering Iraq, fearing such a move could lead to tension with local Iraqi Kurdish groups, a key U.S. ally.

A Turkish general earlier this month said up to 3,800 Kurdish rebels were positioned in northern Iraq near the Turkish border and he reasserted his country's right to cross the border to hunt separatist Kurds who launch attacks from bases there.

"Turkey can always take the appropriate measures against the separatist organization in northern Iraq," Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said during a visit to Diyarbakir.

Basbug said, however, that the issue of possible Turkish military operations should "not feature more than is necessary in the public agenda" -- a sign that the military did not want the issue to stir tension with Iraq.

Last week, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul ruled out any cross-border attack amid unconfirmed reports that Turkey was massing troops on the Iraqi border.

Al-Hashimi was scheduled to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday to discuss the security situation in Iraq -- which he described as "bad" -- and opportunities for more investment there.

On Sunday, al-Hashimi asked for more support from fellow Arabs, saying that could help keep his country from being abandoned to terrorists and foreign powers.

Regional leaders are to convene for an Arab Summit on Wednesday in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. Turkey's prime minister also was scheduled to attend the Riyadh meeting.

4. - NTV - "Turkish general slams Zana statement":

An official investigation has been launched against Leyla Zana, who said during March 21 Nevruz celebrations that Kurds saw Barzani, Talabani and Ocalan as their leaders.

WASHINGTON / 27 March 2007

A statement by well known activist Leyla Zana that Kurds saw two senior Iraqi Kurdish politicians and Adbullah Ocalan as their natural leaders was an invitation to Kurds in Iraq to interfere in Turkey’s domestic affairs, a senior Turkish general said late Monday.

General Ergin Saygun, the deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff, said in an interview with television station NTV that by this statement Zana had invited Iraqi Kurds to intervene in Turkey and that the state would do what was necessary to prevent this.

On March 21, during an address to crowds in the south eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir to mark Nevruz, the traditional festival to celebrate the coming of spring, Zana said that Massoud Barzani, the head of the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the north of Iraq; Jelal Talabani, Iraqi’s President; and Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned chief of the PKK were seen by Kurds as their leaders.

“I see these as very serious and dangerous statements,” Saygun said.

Earlier Monday, during a meeting of the annual conference of the Turkish American Council in Washington, General Saygun said that while the PKK was on the list of "terrorist organisations" of many countries, the measures taken against it were weak in practice.

5. - Bianet - "Article 301: Liability for National Assembly":

Journalists' Association of Turkey traditional yearly awards of merit have been given in a ceremony. TGC chair Erinç criticized the government's approach to press freedom and lack of reforms. Nothing changed from last year, he said.

ISTANBUL / 27 March 2007 / by Erol Onderoglu

Journalists' Association of Turkey's (TGC) ceremony for 2006 Merit Awards has been held in Ataturk Cultural Center, which recently came to public attention with government's controversial decision to demolish.

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony, TGC chair Orhan Erinç said the speech he made at last years' awards ceremony is still valid: "Journalists are blamed for everything, they're tamed by legal penalties and practices which resemble to pressure certain media groups still persist".

A change in the infamous article 301 of the Penal Code is a must for this National Assembly's integrity, he said. Erinç also criticized the lack of application fo the changes made on the Press Law in 2004.

Many local administrators and NGO representatives attended the ceremony. A television programme shown at the venue, which honored the late Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink has been received with emotions by the audience.

Ömer Madra of Acik Radyo received the Nezih Demirkent Award for continuous programming on environmental issues and effects of global warming specifically.

CNNTurk correspondent Murat Utku has been honored for his work during Israeli occupation of Lebanon.

Milliyet daily's web team received the Internet journalism award while prominent cartoonist Semih Balcioglu who passed away recently has been honored with yet another title.

Hurriyet daily columnist Ahmet Hakan, Milliyet daily reporter Lube Ayar, Hurriyet daily reporter Asli Sözbilir also received awards on political reporting and comments by their articles.

Cumhuriyet daily economy news team received an award for a series on Turkey's problems in agriculture. Environment-Education-Health news award went to Milliyet reporter Burcum Devrez.

Culture and Arts news award went to Yavuz Rençberler from Sabah daily while Yasemin Arpa of ntvmsnbc news portal, Semih Gümüsel from aktüel weekly, Vatan daily sports service, Milliyet reporter Belma Akçura, Hurriyet daily reporter Ersin Kalkan, Milliyet commentator Mehmet Demirkol and Hurriyet graphics designer Nihat Ugurlu have also been awarded by the press organization.

Milliyet daily photographer Serdar Özsoy, Anka News Agency and Takvim daily photographer Alpar Yurtsever received photography merit awards.

TV news award went to Yunus Sen of NTV, Handan Özsoy and Zekiye Kaçak from the same station as well as Lütfi Özarslan from TRT and CNNTurk's Alp Özgen and Dogan News Agency cameraperson Mustafa Dalgaci have been honoured.

Lastly, radio news programme of the year award went to Kenan Bölükbas, Ali Fuat Sönmez and Gülay Aktar from TRT.

6. - AKI - "Syria: Kurds To Boykott 22 April Election":

DAMASCUS / 27 March 2007

Kurdish political groups in Syria say they will boycott parliamentary elections scheduled for 22 April because they allege some 100,000 people from the country's Kurdish community have not been allowed to participate in the poll. Current electoral law in Syria "does not guarantee conditions for free elections... and does not recognise political or community pluralism," the groups said in a joint statement. Kurds who number in Syria between one and 1.5 million say they face discrimination and other forms of exclusion from public life.

The decision by the Kurdish parties to boycott the election follows an announcement last week by the majority of opposition parties in Syria not to participate in the vote.

Some 10,000 candidates are set to contest 250 parliamentary seats, 167 of which are reserved for the ruling Baath part and its allies.