12 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
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Planes hijacked by terrorists destroy Twin Towers in New York, hit Pentagon, car bomb at the State Department. More hijacked planes crash

World reaction: General revulsion, only Palestinians rejoice

Towers.jpg (17807 bytes)Ankara deplores attacks, expresses solidarity with the US

Turkey was shocked Tuesday with reports from Washington about what appeared to be a well-orchestrated massive terrorist attack. Turkish officials deplored the wave of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania and expressed solidarity with the American people in messages of condolence to President George Bush.

In a message to Bush, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed the sorrow of the Turkish nation with the reports of the unprecedented terrorist campaign against the American civilians and expressed his sympathy and solidarity with the American people.

According to the Presidential Palace, Sezer wrote in his message to Bush that he strongly deplored the unprecedented attacks and underlined that the Turkish people shared the grief of the American people.

Talking to reporters after a crisis meeting at the Prime Ministry, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stressed that he was shocked by the reports. "Whatever affects the United States, affects the world and us," Ecevit said expressing hope that the United States would overcome the situation soon and heal the wounds of the attacks.

The prime minister said he had sent a letter of condolence to Bush and expressed the solidarity of the Turkish people with the American people against terrorism.

The crisis meeting at the Prime Ministry was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan, Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and National Security Council (MGK) Secretary-General Gen. Tuncay Kilic.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines flights to the United States were ordered back home after they were diverted by the American Federal Aviation Administration to Canada as all airports in the United States were closed.

World reacts with revulsion to US attacks

World leaders reacted with revulsion on Tuesday to what President George Bush called an "apparent terrorist attack" by aircraft that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

Palestinian and Israeli leaders joined Europe in condemning the devastating attacks that caused as yet unknown casualties.

Arafat and his top advisers huddled at his seaside office in Gaza City, watching the events unfold on television. Arafat later emerged to speak to reporters.

"We are completely shocked. It's unbelievable," he said.

"We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American president and to the American administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinian people.

Palestinians celebrate

But thousands of celebrated the terror attacks in the United States, chanting "God is Great" and distributing candy to passers-by, even as their leader.

The U.S. government has become increasingly unpopular in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the past year of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, with many Palestinians accusing Washington of siding with Israel.

In the West Bank town of Nablus, about 3,000 people poured into the street shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and government targets in Washington.

Demonstrators distributed candy in a traditional gesture of celebration. Several Palestinian gunmen shot in the air, while other marchers carried Palestinian flags. Nawal Abdel Fatah, 48, wearing a long black dress, threw sweets in the air, saying she was happy because "America is the head of the snake, America always stands by Israel in its war against us."

Her daughter Maysoon, 22, said she hoped the next attack would be launched against Tel Aviv.

In traditionally Arab east Jerusalem, there was a smaller gathering of about two dozen people, many of them young children led in chants by adults. Some drivers passing the scene honked their horns and flashed victory signs from their windows.

In the West Bank, meanwhile, the leader the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine denied his group was involved in the attacks.

Qais Abdel Rahim was reacting to reports that two Arab satellite stations in the Gulf had received anonymous claims of responsibility on behalf of the DFLP, a radical PLO faction. Abdel Rahim said his group condemned the attacks.

World leaders sympathize with US

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep sympathy to the American people "in connection with this terrorist act, this terrible tragedy."

President Jacques Chirac expressed outrage and assured the United States of France's support and sympathy.

"France is deeply upset to learn of the monstrous attacks," he said as he broke off a regional tour to rush back to Paris.

"France has always condemned terrorism, condemns it without reserve and thinks we must fight terrorism by all means."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his horror before racing back to London from a conference in the south.

"This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of life," he said.

Berlin said it was shocked and said Germany's security council was convening, chaired by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

German air traffic authorities said all European flights to the United States had been suspended.

Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel's Army Radio it was "simply a tragedy."

"I sympathize with the American people," he said. "It's simply a terrible thing."

In Brussels, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Affairs, said:

"We are all watching events with absolute horror. Our prayers and deepest sympathies go out to our friends in the United States."

laden2.jpg (7813 bytes)Report: Bin Laden warned of
'unprecedented'
US attack

Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he and his followers would carry out an unprecedented attack on U.S. interests for its support of Israel, an Arab journalist with access to him said on Tuesday.

Abdel-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper said Islamic fundamentalists led by bin Laden was "almost certainly" behind the attack of the World Trade Center in New York.

"It is most likely the work of Islamic fundamentalists. Osama bin Laden warned three weeks ago that he would attack American interests in an unprecedented attack, a very big one," Atwan told Reuters.

"Personally we received information that he planned very, very big attacks against American interests. We received several warnings like this. We did not take it so seriously, preferring to see what would happen before reporting it."

Atwan has interviewed bin Laden and maintains close contacts with his followers.

Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center as office workers began work on Tuesday morning, causing the south tower to collapse, eyewitnesses said.

In Washington, another plane crashed next to the Pentagon, a U.S. official said. Eyewitnesses said the building was being evacuated. The White House and State Department were also evacuated.

US takes extreme security measures

In the aftermath of the ruthless attacks in New York and Washington, extreme security measures were taken on Tuesday at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.

According to information from the police, the roads near the embassy and the consulate were closed to car traffic.

The Anatolia news agency reported that Deputy Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir had visited the U.S. consulate in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, maximum security measures were taken at the NATO Base in Incirlik. According to officials from the base, there were already no U.S. officers in the base due to it being off-hours, however, the incident was closely followed. The entrance and exit to the base were halted. No extraordinary development was observed at the U.S. Adana Consulate, however.

Turkish police increase security in US buildings

The Police Department sent an instruction to district offices to increase the security in American buildings, including the Embassy, consulates and American residences in Turkey.

The Ankara Embassy officials, however, said that every single measure was taken to provide security for Embassy workers. Officials said the evacuation of the Embassy is out of the question for now.

Meanwhile, Turkish citizens couldn't establish contacts with their relatives because the ece.jpg (13336 bytes)communication infrastructures in New York and Washington were severely damaged.

Ecevit: We hope the U.S. will recover soon

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told reporters that they had held a crisis meeting in the Prime Ministry building about the attacks in the United States. Ecevit said the United States faces one of the biggest disasters in its history. Ecevit said:

"The United States is a superpower, therefore the disaster could affect the whole world. I hope our friends in the United States will recover soon from this disaster. We met with the General Staff, Foreign Ministry officials, the MGK Secretary-General and the Interior Minister to make a general assessment of what occurred."

Ankara - Turkish Daily News


SCENE ...          Witness: 'I just saw the top of Trade
Two come down.'

Helen O'Neill

It was the scene of a nightmare: people on fire jumping in terror from the Trade Towers just before the buildings collapsed.
"Everyone was screaming, crying, running - cops, people, firefighters, everyone," said Mike Smith, a fire marshal from the New York borough of Queens, as he sat by the fountain outside a state courthouse, shortly after the second tower collapsed. "A couple of marshals just picked me up and dragged me down the street."
"It's like a war zone."
Others compared it to Pearl Harbor as hundreds of people poured off the bridge on the Brooklyn side, covered in gray dust and debris. Many wore respiratory masks, given out by the police and fire departments.
Shirley Bates, who worked on the 88th floor of One World Trade Center, said she saw a woman on her floor with burns on her arms and legs and singed hair. As Bates and others were evacuated, they heard a second explosion.
"Everything came like a tornado," she said. "People started running."
Workers from Trade Center offices wandered lower Manhattan in a daze, many barely able to believe they were alive.
Boris Ozersky, 47, computer networks analyst, was on the 70th floor of one of the buildings when he felt something like an explosion rock it. He raced down 70 flights of stairs, and outside, in a mob in front of a nearby hotel. He was trying to calm a panicked women when the building suddenly collapsed.
"I just got blown somewhere, and then it was total darkness. We tried to get away, but I was blown to the ground. And I was trying to help this woman, but I couldn't find her in the darkness," Ozersky said.
After the dust cleared, he found the hysterical woman and took her to a restaurant being used by rescue workers as a triage center.
Clyde Ebanks, vice president of an insurance company was at a meeting on the 103rd floor of the 110-storey South Tower of the World Trade Center when his boss said, "Look at that." He turned and through a window saw a plane go by and hit the other building.
He and his co-workers raced down the stairs. When they reached the 70th floor, they felt the building shake as the second plane hit. Later, in tears, his hair covered with gray ash, he added: "I worry about some of my co-workers."
Jennifer Brickhouse, 34, from New Jersey, was on the escalator heading for her 76th-floor office in the World Trade Center when she "heard this big boom. Everyone was going crazy. We all got out. The minute I got out of the building, the second building blew up. All this stuff started falling and all this smoke was coming through.
"People were screaming, falling and jumping out of the windows," Brickhouse said.
"I just saw the building I work in come down," said businessman Gabriel Ioan, shaking in shock outside City Hall, a cloud of smoke and ash from the World Trade Center behind him. "I just saw the top of Trade Two come down."
Nearby a crowd mobbed a man on a pay-phone, screaming at him to get off the phone so that they could call relatives. Dust and dirt flew everywhere. Ash was 2 to 3 inches deep in places.
"People were jumping out of windows," said an unidentified crying woman. "I guess people were trying to save themselves. Oh my God!"
"I was in the World Financial Center looking out the window," said one woman. "I saw the first plane and then 15 minutes later saw the other plane just slam into the World Trade Center."
Another eyewitness, AP newsman Dunstan Prial, described a strange sucking sound from the Trade Center buildings after the first building collapsed.
"Windows shattered. People were screaming and diving for cover. People walked around like ghosts, covered in dirt, weeping and wandering dazed."
"It sounded like a jet or rocket," said Eddie Gonzalez, a postal worker at a post office on West Broadway. "I looked up and saw a huge explosion. I didn't see the impact. I just saw the explosion."
Morning commuters heading into Manhattan were stranded as the Lincoln Tunnel was shut down to incoming traffic. Many left their cars and stood on the ramp leading to the tunnel, staring in disbelief at the thick cloud of smoke pouring from the top of the two buildings.
On the streets of Manhattan, people stood in groups talking quietly or watching on television at ground-level network studios.
Joan Goldstein, communications project leader for The Associated Press, was on a bus from New Jersey at about 8:50 a.m. (1250 GMT) when she saw "smoke pouring out of the World Trade Center building. We said, 'Oh, my God! The World Trade Center's on fire!"
Perhaps 10 minutes later, "All of a sudden, there was an orange plume, a huge explosion. It shot out the back of the building. Everybody on the bus was just moaning and gasping," said Goldstein, who wept and trembled as she spoke.

NEWS ANALYSIS
Syrian Ambassador Al Bunni says security agreement reflects the confidence set up between the two neighbors

Sidelining contentious issues, Turkey and Syria seal security ties with an agreement

  • As a reflection of the rapidly improving ties between the two once problematic neighbors, the Syrian Embassy in Ankara issues 400 visas per day while the embassy has been receiving hundreds of faxes from Turkish businessmen seeking to do business in Turkey's southern neighbor
Lale Sariibrahimoglu

Being at odds for over a decade over Damascus' support for Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group, Turkey and its southern neighbor Syria have been continuing to improve ties so rapidly that the once-isolated Syrian Embassy in Ankara's posh Cankaya district can not now catch up with the hundreds of visits made by Turkish citizens seeking visas as well as Syrian delegations from every field. "The embassy in Ankara issues visas for almost 400 people per day with no delays while we are receiving many fax messages from Turkish businessmen seeking to do business in Syria," said Syria's Ambassador to Ankara Muhammed Said Al Bunni, who was promoted to the rank of Ambassador last February while he was serving as a Charge D'Affaires.

The security cooperation agreement signed between Turkey and Syria on Aug. 10 in Damascus between the visiting Turkish Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen and his Syrian counterpart Muhammad Harbah, who visited Turkey last year, marked an important step for ensuring the confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two neighbors in a sensitive area of security.

Under the agreement both countries will cooperate in a wide range of issues from the fight against money laundering to the fight against terrorism. Another agreement was also signed between the two Interior Ministers on preventing illegal migration.

Due to Syria's not being ready to discuss contentious issues such as the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris that Turkey controls the tap as well as Syria's claim over Turkey's Hatay province, Turkey has also concentrated on establishing confidence first with its neighbor instead of being pushy on problematic issues.

Psychological barrier to be removed

Turkey agrees that time was needed to overcome the psychological barrier existing within the Syrian state as well as among the Syrian population over Damascus' policy of claiming sovereignty over Hatay which ceded to Turkey following a referendum held in 1939.

"While improving our relations, preconditions should not be made. Time will solve everything. This [Hatay] is not a major problem, there are no claims being taken to an international court and there is no fighting for it. If we do not want to advance relations we can find excuses," says Al Bunni.

An exercise of warming up relations between the militaries of both countries as well as the security heads have been taking place in parallel with the improved political ties between Turkey and Syria since the signing of the Adana Agreement in October 1998 under which Damascus pledged to end its support for Turkey's PKK terrorists.

A Turkish military delegation headed by Lt. Gen. Resat Turgut, head of the Plans and Principles Department known as the J-3 Chief of the Turkish General Staff, was in Damascus late April, returning a visit to Ankara by his Syrian colleague Gen. Mahmut Ammar on Jan. 18. This was followed by another visit to Ankara made by a Syrian military delegation a few months ago.

But for a military training agreement to be signed between the two countries, as has been proposed by Turkey, Damascus should abandon its claims over a Turkish territory, i.e. Hatay.

GAP nightmare turns into area of cooperation

Since the Adana agreement, relations between the two counties have seen an unexpectedly speedy progress in all spheres including a recent visit by Syria's Irrigation Minister Taha Al-Atrash in late August to the region where the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is underway. Perceiving GAP as a threat posed against Syria vis a vis water shortages, Atrash's visit to the GAP region paved the way for joint business opportunities for both countries as a first step towards removing Damascus's nightmare on the project.

An agreement signed between Atrash and Turkish State Minister Mustafa Yilmaz on Aug. 23 sealed joint cooperation in the GAP region and made it possible for Syrian experts to join in the educational training programs within GAP.

'We are natural neighbors'

Turkey's search to improve ties with its problematic neighbors in the south and the southeast -- i.e. Syria, Iran and Iraq -- in fact moves parallel with its growing military ties with Israel, regarded by many in the Arab world as a number one enemy.

Syrian Ambassador Al Bunni argues that Israel would be happy to keep Turkey and Syria aside, adding that Damascus accepted several Turkish official explanations that Turkish-Israeli ties have not been developing at the expense of third countries.

"Turks and Syrians are rooted in this region. God created us, so our relationship is not artificial but it is natural. The 841 kilometer-long border between Turkey and Syria necessitates cooperation to move faster for the benefit of the two peoples," said Al Bunni.

The source of the problems between Turkey and Syria has been the lack of political will, recalled Al Bunni, adding that now both countries' leaders have the will to improve ties.

'Iraq's sovereignty is key'

Al Bunni recalled that the end of the Cold War permitted regional cooperation to be established between Turkey and its neighbors.

As Turkey's ties with Iraq and to a certain extend with Iran have been seeing improvements despite the existing political problems stemming from the PKK, Al Bunni stressed that the disintegration of Iraq, paving the way for an independent state to be established in northern Iraq, would pose a danger not only to Turkey but also to Iran, Syria and Iraq.

"If Iraq is divided this will divide Syria, Turkey, and Iran too. If fire starts one can not control it," warned Al Bunni.

Loglu@superonline.com
Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Peace is the common wish

29 Diplomats visit the Southeast

This is the first time such a crowded group of diplomats have visited the Southeast, and yet the reason is not political. After a long period of terrorist activity, 16 ambassadors and 13 diplomats are able to observe that Southeast Anatolia does have the potential to flourish with its historical and touristic values.

In this trip, the ambassadors and representatives to Turkey from 29 countries visited Diyarbakir to see historical and touristic sites within the GAP region, and visited the historical caravanserai and towers of the city. The visitors then passed to Mardin, to visit the historical stone houses and churches in the city.

A total of 16 ambassadors, including German, French and Greek ambassadors to Turkey, and 13 representatives and diplomats attended the trip, in which next stop is Sanliurfa.

Meanwhile, the trip also staged a dramatic scene, when it has been acknowledged that, in spite of the ruthless conflict and an everlasting problem between Israel and Palestine, the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors in Turkey speak the same language.

Speaking on the trip organized by the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) administration, both ambassadors gave messages concerning the urgency for peace in the region.

David Sultan, Israeli Ambassador to Ankara, told reporters that both sides have suffered enough and have to live together, and added: "It's time for us to find a peaceful solution. It is good for both to live together. We don't have any other option than peace. It's a fact that we face handicaps for now, but we will attain peace in any case."

Fuad Yasin, Palestinian Ambassador to Ankara, on the other hand, stated that peace will come to their land sooner or later. Yasin said: "We spoke together with my Israeli colleague on the plane on how peace can be achieved. No one wants to kill or die. We want peace to be achieved soon. We the Palestinians struggle for our rights."

The Palestinian Ambassador added that the Palestinians want to live just like the other peoples do in the world; however, it is a fact that peace will take time.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Tayyip.jpg (6066 bytes)karen.jpg (11084 bytes)Erdogan receives Fogg

Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Karen Fogg, European Commission Representative of Turkey.

After the meeting which was closed to the press, Erdogan and Fogg answered journalists' questions.

Fogg told journalists that she paid a cordial visit to AKP, and obtained information on the party program, and the perspective of the party in economic and social issues in particular. Fogg added that they hope all the political parties in Turkey know the EU well, and that the progressive ideas of the EU to inspire the party programs.

AKP leader Erdogan said they informed Karen Fogg on the party's attitude towards economic and social issues, and said they give emphasis to the relations between turkey and the EU in the globalization era.

Answering the question from a journalist on her predictions of the vote percentage that AKP is likely to obtain, Fogg said they didn't talk about that issue in the meeting.

On a question whether there is a limitation on women with headscarves within the party, Erdogan said that a directive on this issue is out of the question. Erdogan also reminded that the Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation did not warn AKP, but did demand the Constitutional Court to take the necessary measures. Erdogan also said that Fogg is content with the meeting, and the issue of secularism was not in the agenda.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

cem.jpg (12788 bytes)Cem gives both emphasis and caution to Israel

Turkey continues to challenge criticisms by Arab countries on its relationship with Israel.

The last indication of this challenge was the statement given by Foreign Affairs Minister Ismail Cem to the Jerusalem Post daily. Cem stated that Turkey cannot reduce its relations with Israel to a lower level just because the Arabs say so. However, Cem did not close the door, adding that they will not change their Arab policy either just because Israel wanted so.

Cem noted that Turkish-Israeli relations carry a critical weight for the region, and Turkey gives emphasis to this relation, in order to contribute to peace in the region.

Stating that Turkey is stable on contributing to the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian problem, Cem said Turkey is the only country that close to both parties. Cem added: "We want to sustain our advantage by accelerating shuttle diplomacy. We call on both sides to end the violence immediately."

However, Cem told the Jerusalem Post that the parties should talk about sensitive issues without the requirement of a complete end to the violence. Cem called on both Israel and Palestine to apply the Middle East Investigation Commission report, and added that the economic sanctions that Israel applies to Palestine do not serve stability in the region and should be removed.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Turkey's big plans for down under

  • Gurel: That entire region starting with China and Australia is a brand new area we can do business with

State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel has returned from his trip to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Australia and noted that the visit was extremely beneficial, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. "That entire region, starting with the PRC and Australia, is a brand new region we can work together closely with and with which we can trade and form relations using the broadest of opportunities," he said.

Minister Gurel said that his first stop had been to the PRC and that he had spoken with the country's foreign minister about issues of interest to both countries. He said he also passed on an important message from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the Chinese prime minister. Gurel said he later went on to Shanghai and was in meetings concerning Eti Holding and the Turkish Coal Board as well as meetings with Turkish businessmen operating there.

Gurel said that on the Australian leg of his tour he held talks with various ministers and that a bookshop in Melbourne to which they had given books on Turkey had opened a section about the country. He said he also met Turkish citizens living in Australia at a school where education is given in Turkish. He said they encouraged expatriate Turks to integrate into the communities they are living in, which would benefit both themselves and Turkey. He said the project to broadcast TRT International to Australia had achieved remarkable results and had pleased the Turks living there.

Gurel noted that he held a meeting with Turkish businessmen in Singapore at the Turkish Embassy there. He noted that as Singapore was a crossroads Turkey could benefit from all the advantages its location provided.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Washington Ambassador Ilkin prepares for return

  • Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Logoglu to officially take over duty on Sept. 25

Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu is to officially take over the duty of Turkey's ambassador in Washington on Sept. 25.

Logoglu, who's appointment has been agreed by the U.S. State Department, is expected to be in the States by Sept., 23. Logoglu's post of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary will be filled by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

Turkey's current Ambassador in Washington, Baki Ilkin, will be attending farewell receptions in Washington this week. Ilkin, who will be returning home next week, is expected to become Deputy Undersecretary.

Ilkin has played an important role in the development of Turkish-American relations ever since his arrival in Washington as Ambassador, in 1998. Turkish-American relations were termed as a "strategic partnership" for the first time, during former President Clinton's administration. Ambassador Ilkin's cooperation with America's Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, has had great influence on the development of bilateral relations.

"Cooperative, kind and good willed" are three words used by diplomatic missions in Washington when characterizing Ilkin. Former Washington Ambassador is also known for his success in thwarting Armenian aims in the Court of Representatives -- Ilkin had formed an influential Turkish lobby in the Congress.

The staff of the Turkish Embassy in Washington also put much effort into proving to America the importance of Turkey as an ally.

All this hard work had fruitful results -- many projects from Greek and Armenian lobbies were ignored by the U.S. administration right from the start while Former President Bill Clinton placed one of his longest visits abroad to Turkey. Turkey's active stance regarding the Bush administration led to senior level contacts being made between the two countries.

U.S. Defense Minister Donald Rumsfeld conducted his first visit abroad to Turkey while Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was received in a rarely seen "top level" manner during his Washington trip. Cem was accepted not only by Secretary of State Colin Powell but by Vice President Dick Cheney as well.

As Turkey struggled to cope with the crisis, the support received from the Bush administration was the biggest help it could've got -- American support was the main reason Turkey was given credits from the IMF and the World Bank.

The volume of trade between the two countries increased to $7 billion by 2001. Whereas Turkey's export to the U.S. was around $2.1 billion in 1997, this number increased to $3 billion by the year 2000.

The departing Ambassador Baki Ilkin issued a farewell message for the Turkish and American societies in which he urged the Turkish society in the United States to carry out active lobbying activities to struggle against anti-Turkish campaigns. Ilkin made a memorable conclusion to his term in the States with the words, "My wife and I feel like members of the Turkish-American society here."

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

U.S. Deputy Foreign Minister to visit Turkey

The U.S. Foreign Ministry will pay the first high-level visit to Turkey with Deputy Minister Richard Armitage and Undersecretary Beth Jones, who is responsible for the European and Eurasian regions.

The visit, due on Sept. 18, has a full agenda. Armitage, the second man in the Ministry after Colin Powell, is known for his affinity both to the White House and to Turkey. According to diplomatic sources, Armitage is known for his competence in the issues related with Turkey.

The diplomats are to meet Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Affairs Minister Ismail Cem and some other Turkish officials. Although there is no specific agenda for the meetings, Cyprus, Iraq, the European Security and Defense Policy and the tension in the Middle East are inevitably the topics that the parties will exchange ideas on. Turkish-Greek relations and the Caspian policy are also expected to be on the agenda.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

In the last eight years there have been 104 attempts to smuggle nuclear material into Turkey, according to an internal report by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority

The NY Times: Nuclear smuggling rises in Turkey

Highly influential American newspaper the New York Times has claimed that uranium trafficking has shifted from Europe to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Turkey. The NYT wrote, "The appearance of a relatively large quantity of uranium on the black market in Georgia underscored American concerns that such trafficking has shifted from Europe to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Turkey."

The newspaper also wrote that Washington has responded to the issue by sending millions of dollars worth of detection equipment to several countries in the region. The Americans are also providing training for border guards to learn to spot illegal shipments of nuclear material, and they have helped to improve security at nuclear plants and airports, according to the Times' article.

According to the report, "The nuclear material tends to come from Russia, but once it gets outside, the region is pretty wide open," Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control in Washington, said during a trip to the region to brief customs officials on suspected buyers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency provided new figures on Friday showing that the number of confirmed cases of nuclear material smuggling had fallen in the rest of the world but had risen in Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Only four of the 104 cases from 1993 to 1995 occurred in this region, the agency reported, but from 1996 to last month, 16 of the 72 cases worldwide occurred in the region. The data covered only three weapons-related elements -- uranium, plutonium and thorium -- and only incidents confirmed by the international agency.

In the last eight years, there have been 104 attempts to smuggle nuclear material into Turkey, according to an internal report by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority. Most cases, like those elsewhere, involved tiny amounts of radioactive material with no weapons uses. But officials at the authority said a handful were potentially more serious.

In September 1998, eight people were arrested for trying to smuggle nuclear material from Russia through Turkey to an unknown destination. The police seized about 5 kilograms of uranium-235 and 30 grams of a plutonium mixture.

Yasar Ozal, director of Turkey's nuclear research center, said the plutonium and uranium were not weapons-grade material, but appeared to be fuel pellets. Nonetheless, he said, the appearance of plutonium on the black market was alarming.

In another case, a Turk was arrested at the Bulgarian border carrying a small amount of enriched uranium-235 in May 1999. Authorities said that the quality was high and that the material might have been a sample that he was trying to use to drum up a larger sale.

But Ismail Caliskan, director of Turkey's police unit fighting smuggling and organized crime, said the danger from nuclear smuggling had been exaggerated. Almost every incident, he said, involved amateur criminals trying to sell radioactive material with no weapons value. The only buyers, he said, are undercover policemen.

Turkey is illustrating the difficulty of monitoring borders. The country is slightly larger than Texas and has 120 border posts, including crossings to Iraq and Syria in the south, Bulgaria in the northwest and Georgia, Armenia and Iran in the east.

A senior customs official said only two border posts have systems to detect radioactive material, both donated by the United States. He asked that the locations not be identified, but said neither is at Habur, a busy crossing between Turkey and Iraq.

Turkey and Greece detain dozens of illegal immigrants

Greek coastguards and Turkish security forces on Tuesday detained dozens of illegal immigrants.

Mostly Iranians illegal immigrants were detained by Greek coastguards off the eastern Aegean island of Kos in the latest haul of illegals attempting to reach Europe.

The latest arrests brings to 192 the number of immigrants detained on the popular tourist island in the past three days, putting further strain on near-to-capacity accommodation centres, local port officials said.

"We don't have endless space in the shelters, but for a few days we can take care of them," Kos port master Yannis Argyriou told Reuters. "Luckily we have the support of the local population, which is very helpful."

Earlier on Tuesday, coastguards arrested four Afghan immigrants aboard a rubber dinghy attempting to reach Kos.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, coastguards operating off the Greek tourist island of Corfu seized 20 immigrants aboard a cargo ship sailing for Italy.

Meanwhile, Turkish security forces detained 166 illegal migrants bound for western Europe, the Anatolia news agency reported Tuesday.

Turkish security forces detained 102 Iraqis in five separate operations in the Van region of eastern Turkey, Anatolia reported. The migrants had entered Turkey illegally, Anatolia said. It did not say when the arrests took place.

Turkish paramilitary police near the Aegean port city of Izmir detained 54 Turks and 10 Afghans who had intended to pass to nearby Greek islands, Anatolia reported.

Each year, thousands of illegal migrants pass into western Europe through Turkey.

Thousands of illegal immigrants from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe cross illegally into Greece every year either via its northern border or by sea in the hope of reaching other European destinations.

Last week, some 350 illegal immigrants, mainly Iraqis, landed on the island of Evia on a boat believed to have sailed from Turkey.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said on Sunday about 2,800 illegal immigrants and 70 people involved in transporting them to Greece illegally had been arrested by coastguards since the beginning of the year.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News with wire dispatches

Europe grows impatient, yet still has high hopes with Turkey

European Parliament (EP) Turkish Rapporteur Alain Lamassoure expressed Europe's fading patience by calling on Turkey in his report to give a decision whether they want to join the European Union or not.

The EP's Foreign Relations Commission discussed Lamassoure's report in their morning session yesterday. Briefing the Commission on his report, Lamassoure said Turkey has to decide by the end of 2002 whether it wants to be an EU member or not.

The French rapporteur also mentioned the limits on freedom of expression in Turkey, and said there are many prisoners of conscience in Turkey. Lamassoure also called on Turkey to free the former deputies of Democracy Party (DEP), which was shut down by the Constitutional Court.

Noting that there is considerable improvement in the fields of human rights and democracy, Lamassoure added, however, that these were not sufficient. Furthermore, Lamassoure stressed the situations in the prisons, and demanded that Turkey take the necessary steps.

The rapporteur also mentioned the struggle against corruption, and praised President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for his role in this struggle. Among his comments was the debate on the concept of national security, which State Minister Mesut Yilmaz initiated. Lamassoure expressed Europe's full support for Yilmaz considering the recent discussion.

On Cyprus, Lamassoure said Turkey should have a more constructive attitude and persuade Northern Cyprus Republic President Denktas to return to talks.

Criticisms hold, report moderate

Apart from the above criticisms on Turkey's attitude towards its EU membership process, the report is considered to be moderate.

Lamassoure's report also paid attention to the current Constitution amendment efforts, and encouraged Turkey's efforts for a contemporary constitution.

Some other facts which were noted as improvements in Turkey were the exclusion of military judges from the State Security Courts (DGMs), the shortening of the detention period, and the general amnesty. Turkey is called to continue her efforts to improve the human rights.

The report, which has been discussed in the EU Foreign Relations Commission and is still a draft, also stated that the forthcoming days are crucial in the context of the effects of the political and economic reforms to go ahead. They hope for the EP to be able to determine a certain attitude towards Turkish-EU relations by autumn 2002.

Furthermore, satisfaction over Turkey's National Program was expressed in the report, with the wish that this program may be activated in the time foreseen.

Loizidou still a problem

However, the report also urged Turkey to comply with the Loizidou decision of European Court of Human Rights, which Turkey rejected by claiming that the court could not make such a decision in a case which has an international political aspect.

The report also noted the constitutional amendment to remove the limitation over the use of Kurdish. Turkey was called to go for the necessary regulations in the context of the European Convention for Human Rights, however, by not endangering Turkey's unity.

The report also opened the door for the financial aid by the EU in order to help Turkey recover from the crisis it is suffering from and to realize the economic reforms in its agenda.

The report, which will be submitted to the General Assembly of the EP on Oct. 25, will be finalized with the proposals of the political groups.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Minister met Lamassoure, the EP's Turkey Rapporteur and the author of the report. Officials said various issues mentioned in the report were briefly discussed.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

'Peace water' tender close to an end

The tender for the transportation of Manavgat Water to Israel is at its final phase, said an Israeli official.

Avichai Levit, the Israeli Attache of Commerce, answered journalists' questions on the "Manavgat Peace Water Project" at the Antalya Chamber of Commerce, where he participated in a meeting.

Noting that Israel plans to buy 50 million cubic meters of water per year from Manavgat, Levit said the transportation tender is expected to be finalized this October or November.

Stating that four companies including a Turkish one is to join the tender for the transportation of water to Israel with ships, Levit said a technical meeting will be held with these four companies. The responses are expected to come in October and November, said the Israeli attache, and added that the price of the water will be determined after the finalization of the tender.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

 

 

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