18 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
Turkish leaders raise questions about retaliation
- Bahceli: Nobody has the right to cite a clash of religions or civilizations and make this planet, which is where we all live, a place that cannot be lived in
- Yilmaz:it will probably be possible to root out the source of this terrorism in a short space of time
- Kutan: The biggest concern on the minds of everybody with common sense is that the United States' retaliation will be unnecessarily disproportionate
- Erdogan: I hope the US leader and Congress do not allow this to turn into a war of religions or a witch hunt
Turkish political leaders all voiced their concerns over the scale and appropriateness of any armed response to last Tuesday's horrific terrorist attacks on the United States.
Islamist opposition Saadet (Happiness and Contentment) Party leader Recai Kutan stated the madness of a war between civilizations or religions would never benefit anybody and said that on the contrary it would lead to an increase in terrorism. ˜ Before Parliament convened yesterday to discuss the constitutional amendments package, Recai Kutan addressed his party's parliamentary group and strongly condemned the death of thousands of innocent people following the terrorist attack on the United States a week ago. He said his party condemned all forms of terrorism regardless of it aim, who perpetrated it and whom it was directed at. .
After calling the terrorist attack "horrifying" Kutan said:
"The biggest concern on the minds of everybody with common sense is that the United States will react out of horror and that its retaliation will be unnecessarily disproportionate. Naturally, there are military measures that can be taken against terrorism. There are security measures. This all requires international cooperation. But what is important is that the reasons for this terrorism, especially on this scale, and what causes it be researched and the right thing done. The United States and the other Western countries need to ask themselves these questions. The reason for such hatred must be found. Dispute between religions and the clash of civilizations cannot justify this hatred." :
Recai Kutan said the rich nations of the world needed to look at the reasons and pay attention to the imbalances created by speculative movements of capital away from production and commerce. He asserted that the volume of money being moved around the markets was 55 times greater the entire volume of international trade and that 95 percent of the money transactions were done purely for speculation. He noted that money which comes and goes rapidly made no contribution to the economies of developing countries. On the contrary, he said, it breaks already weak economic structures leading to crises.
Kutan said that the developed countries were exploiting the developing countries by giving them loans and that in the end starvation and a worsening of this exploitation led to social balances being upset. "This is what is understood by globalization and the integration of developing countries. Integration means the speculative transfer of capital. The introduction of "hot money" only invites crises or collapse, crisis in turn brings on poverty, hunger, misery and destroys values and social balance," he said.
Stating, "This is what feeds terrorism the most," Kutan maintained the view that "Those wishing to prevent terrorism have to see this situation." He said the sovereigns of the world understood globalization to mean the free movement of speculative capital and did not even consider dividing up their wealth justly. He said the United States and other Western countries were guilty of double standards when it came to democracy and human rights and that they were thick as thieves with totalitarian regimes while turning a blind eye to the oppression of millions of people. He said the West pretended not to notice the millions of people killed in Israel's state terrorism, the bloodshed in Ruanda, Turkey's Southeast, the Caucasus and the Balkans. He said the respectable American businessmen that sent weapons to these regions were not losing any sleep over it.
Kutan concluded by saying: "It should not be forgotten that had financial capitalism not forced the world into starvation and had the arms merchants in New York not been so greedy; had the Western countries not given so much support to totalitarian regimes and had the people in these countries not been so oppressed and had they been able to see democracy and human rights, then terrorism would at least not be so widespread and on this scale.
"If cool heads are kept out of things and if the initiative passes to the hawks there will be new terrorist incidents and new disasters. If the discrimination against Muslims and attacks on them increase because of terrorism; if Islam is seen as a potential threat and Muslims are alienated (and there is such a move afoot) then the whole world will be harmed by this."
Kutan said the United States would ask Turkey for support for the retaliation and that if this happens than Turkey should act very carefully and in accordance with whatever decision Parliament makes. -
Erdogan warns of witch hunt
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Tayyip Erdogan has joined the cautious side, raising objections to the hostile atmosphere against Muslims in the United States.
In his parliamentary group speech, Erdogan said terrorism has no religion, and the recent terrorist attacks on the United States had created a trauma. Considering the high technology, perfect planning and major capital necessary for the terrorist act, said Erdogan, it could be easily observed that terrorism has raised the benchmark. Erdogan added that this new situation is even more dangerous than war.
The AKP leader said that even war has some rules, but terrorism doesn't recognize any. Noting the symbolic values of the targets, Erdogan said the attacks on the Twin Towers, which represented the New World Order, and to the Pentagon, which represented the military power, gives an idea on who could back this terrorist act.
Erdogan proposed a common world strategy for the fight against terrorism, and said: "We understand the punishment discourse of President Bush, but we hope that our American friends would not make a punishment based on assumptions." Erdogan also called the attacks against Muslims in the United States as dangerous, and said: "Let God keep President Bush and Congress members in his way. For, as Jesus Christ said, do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
The AKP leader also raised concern about a drawback from the democratic traditions and freedoms after the terrorist attack, and said, "I hope the US leader and Congress do not allow this to turn into a war of religions or a witch hunt."
Yilmaz: Battle should not last long
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said he did not believe that any military operation launched by the United States would have long-term adverse effects on the Turkish economy, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Yilmaz said he did not believe any operation would be wide-ranging. "While there is such broad and resolute international solidarity, it will probably be possible to root out the source of this terrorism in a short space of time," he said.
When asked what Turkey's role in such an operation might be, Yilmaz replied: "Turkey is ready to provide whatever contribution is required of it. The only thing is, this contribution should be appropriate to the aim." He said that news about a possible attack on northern Iraq were pure speculation.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and deputy prime minister Devlet Bahceli said that terrorism was inhumane no matter what the reason for it or where it was committed. Stating that the American people had been the victims of a great massacre, Bahceli said, "No reason or aim will ever justify or legitimize the brutal slaughter of innocent civilians."
Bahceli's party made the first parliamentary group meeting yesterday when Parliament opened in extraordinary session. He proposed that Sept. 11 be known as World Anti-Terrorism and Terror Victims Remembrance Day. He also called for the UN to set up an International Counter-Terrorism Conference to strengthen weak international cooperation in this field.
Bahceli said the international community had to apply sanctions against those countries that supported terrorism and that terrorism should be declared a crime against humanity. He further suggested that terrorism should be judged separately from other crimes. He said that even if the death penalty were lifted in all countries for heinous crimes it should still be applied to terrorists.
Stating that Turkey was the country that had suffered the worst and paid the most because of terrorism, Bahceli said that behind this terrorism was a wish to see Turkey isolated on the international political stage and that some countries had been using terrorism as a "political" tool. Speaking on behalf of Turkey, we want to share with the world all the experience we have gaind over the last 20 painful years. There are many lessons to be learned from the tragedy that befell the United States. It is not possible to forget all this pain.
In the wake of these inhuman attacks directed against the American people, scenarios about the clash of civilizations or religions had been put into circulation in an inconsiderate manner. He said this was first and foremost a threat to the existence of humanity and bore no relation to reality. "Such mentality and propaganda is an assault on the fact that all humanity is standing in solidarity over this and an assault on international peace," he said.
Bahceli said that associating islam, a religion of compassion and tolerance, with terrorism was a grave and warped understanding. He said that all countries had to avoid making such an historical mistake. "Nobody has the right to cite a clash of religions or civilizations and make this planet, which is where we all live, a place that cannot be lived in."
Ankara - TDN Parliament Bureau
Tourism Minister Tasar soothes concerns of Turkish tourism
- Cancelled reservations an insignificant amount
The possible effects of the terrorist attacks in the United States on Turkish tourism have been assessed by Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar, who emphasized that the tourism sector would suffer no major loss following the attacks, and stressed that reservation demands had kept coming in since Sept. 14. He added that cancelled reservations were of an insignificant amount. Some 500,000 people come to Turkey from the United States annually, a certain amount of this number had already arrived this year.
Deposits compensated
Concerning the cancellation of reservations, Tasar said, "The Tourism Ministry set up a crisis center on the day the attacks took place. We have been following domestic and foreign developments very closely. The Hotel's Union has decided to return the deposits of the people who would now not come. I thank them for this thoughtful decision."
He said that Turkey would be effected the way the whole world would be, but there was no evidence to show that Turkish tourism would be especially badly affected. In reply to a journalist saying that Turkey was considered to be a "dangerous place to visit," Tasar said that this was not the case."
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Tourism managers: No need for concern
YALCIN SIMSEK
Istanbul - Turkish Daily News
Five days into the horrific terrorist attack on the U.S. that caused injury to thousands of people and the deaths of thousands, the veil of fog slowly lifts. Tourism managers now discuss the possible impact of the event on their sector. As security measures in many airports are reassessed, Turkey formed a crisis desk to prevent damage to its key tourism sector.
Expected to bring in $12 billion in revenues this year, tourism has a special importance for Turkey as the country looks at it to start its economic recovery. As Turkey entered a difficult time due to the crisis, which has seen a 100 percent depreciation of its currency, it has pinned hopes not only on exports but also on tourism to save its battered economy. The failure of exports to rise as expected has focussed even more attention on the tourism sector.
No need to worry
The greatest nightmare of Turkish tourism managers now is to see a mass cancellation of reservations after a good first nine months, while tourism minister Mustafa Tasar and chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB) Basaran Ulusoy say the attack will not adversely impact Turkish tourism.
Tasar said the tourism ministry formed a crisis desk to discuss measures and reassured sector representatives that there was nothing to worry about. Ulusoy told the TDN that the attack would not adversely affect the tourism sector.
Ulusoy suggested the U.S. would act with forethought and said: "Turkey took measures as required after the terrorist attack. There are no cancelled reservations from the U.S. except for several planes that were not allowed to take off. "Ulusoy recalled the tourism season was about to close and continued: "We had a good season and it is about to end. That is why the attack on the U.S. will not adversely impact Turkish tourism. I don't see cause for concern as things will calm down by next season."
Ulusoy pointed out that Turkey, where 10 million tourists come annually and spend behind $12 billion, was visited by 500,000 American tourists annually, who spent $1 billion.
Bad news for Turkey
Liberal Democratic Party chairman Besim Tibuk, known for his knowledge of the tourism sector, said the attack would adversely impact Turkish tourism with respect to American and Japanese tourism. Tibuk said they were cancelling reservations and continued: "The events will have less impact after several months but not a lot of tourists will come from the U.S. or Japan in the meantime. This will adversely impact tourism in Istanbul and especially the hotels which accommodate a large number of American tourists. But since there is a stream of tourists arriving from Europe, they will continue to come through the Aegean and the Mediterranean." Tibuk said the Japanese were known for being overly meticulous and would certainly travel less in the future.
Allegations of torture in Albayrak case
- Suspects in Albayrak investigation say they were given electric shocks by police while being questioned
Tufan Mengi, one of the suspects detained by police in Operation Clean City, which is investigating allegations of corruption involving the Albayraklar Group of companies and Istanbul Greater City Municipality, has been tortured using electric shocks, reported the Albayraklar Group's newspaper YENI SAFAK yesterday. The paper lists a series of violations of the law committed by police when questioning the suspects in the case. A doctor's report documented that former head of Istanbul Greater City Municipality Partnership Office Necmi Kadioglu was questioned while undergoing medical treatment. Following this, other documentary evidence appeared to show that oher suspects had been beaten and given electric shocks.
Tufan Mengi was taken by police to the Hasek Hospital. Here it was determined that his genitals had been given electric shocks and that his feet had been beaten. Police had secured another report from a different hospital saying that Kadioglu had not been tortured after they disagreed with the first report, which said he had been. They had forgotten to do this for Mengi, says YENI SAFAK.
Formal arrests made
Mustafa Albayrak, Alici Balci and Nuran Erdogan have all been formally arrested by the courts in connection with the investigation, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. They were charged with forming a criminal gang and rigging state tenders. Tufan Mengi, Necmi Kadioglu and 12 others were all released by the prosecutors after being questioned. Mengi and Kadioglu told reporters they had been tortured and that police had wanted them to incriminate former Mayor of Istanbul and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Sezer: Wrong to view incident as Clash of Civilizations
- Sezer: Rather than emphasize discrimination, it is important that a joint and wide ranging understanding prevail in the war against terrorism, which is the bane of our time
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the start of the academic year at the Middle East technical University (ODTU/METU), President Ahmet Necdet Sezer touched on the topic of terrorism and said he believed in the necessity of approaching the matter calmly and of putting up a patient struggle against terrorism. Stating that the world of today was undergoing a process of renewal as the inevitable result of changes witnessed in the last century, Sezer said, "While the world is preparing to dispel all the uncertainties this century, new problems are emerging all the time." He said that important developments aiming to destroy the atmosphere of peace and optimism that had reigned for so long now in the world had occurred in recent days.
Sezer called on people not to label others and distinguish between countries and spoke of the obligation to develop a common understanding in the fight against terrorism. "Terrorism is a huge crime against humanity, no matter where it comes from, who does it or why," he said and added that the international community had to condemn terrorism and all those country that supported it. Sezer also pointed out that terrorism had never been successful in achieving its aims throughout history.
Noting ow Turkey had also suffered many years of terrorism, President Sezer said the people of Turkey shared the pain and anguish of the American people. He added that he wanted to make it known Turkey was standing beside the people of America in solidarity during these trying times.
Clash of Civilizations
Stating that Turkey condemned all forms of terrorism regardless of its reason, President Sezer said the country had long advocated the view that countries cannot fight terrorism individually and that there was a definite need for international cooperation in this struggle. He called for international conventions aiming at severing terrorists' funding and bringing them to justice.
In reference to the world famous thesis "Clash of Civilizations," President Sezer said it would be wrong to evaluate these tragic incidents looking at them from the perspective of a "clash of civilizations." "Our current existence is comprised of universal values. Holding human life as sacred and observing tolerance towards different viewpoints are among the most important of these values," he said.
"It should not be forgotten that all religions and different ethnic and national values contribute to this modern civilization we are a part of. Therefore, it is not possible to impose any one religion or way of life upon today's civilization. Furthermore, terrorism has no race, no religion, no nationality. Therefore, it would be better to stay away from the 'clash of civilizations' idea when evaluating these tragic incidents and instead see them as being counter to these universal values," said Sezer.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Yilmaz plays down full scale war
- Yilmaz: As the battle will not take on war dimensions, I don't reckon the effects on the economy will be long lasting.
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said he did not believe that any military operation launched by the United States would have long-term adverse effects on the Turkish economy, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Yilmaz said he did not believe any operation would be wide-ranging. "While there is such broad and resolute international solidarity, it will probably be possible to root out the source of this terrorism in a short space of time," he said.
When asked what Turkey's role in such an operation might be, Yilmaz replied: "Turkey is ready to provide whatever contribution is required of it. The only thing is, this contribution should be appropriate to the aim." He said that news about a possible attack on northern Iraq were pure speculation.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Suspects confess that they had planned to blow a 'Suicide Bomb' in historical Kemeralti market where thousands of people visit daily
12 suspects under custody following PKK operation
Izmir police took 12 people, including the chairman of the Konak District Branch of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and one Iranian, into custody on charges of being members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Police said that during the interrogation of Iranian Ibrahim Baizi (25), he confessed that he came to Izmir one-and-a-half years ago after he had been trained in camps in Armenia and Iran. Baizi said in his testimony that he was involved in some activities and they had planned to "suicide bomb" historical Kemeralti market where every day thousands of people pass by. Baizi added that they had taken a PKK member to Izmir, however they later cancelled the suicide bomb attack at the last minute.
According to police, at the conclusion of the operation, which was organized by the Anti-Terrorism Department, at HADEP's Konak District Administration offices, the Mesapotamia Culture Association and the Ozgur Halk and Wellat newspapers, 12 suspects were taken into custody. HADEP Konak District Chairman Mahmut Sugak (53), Mezopotamya Culture Association Chairman Huseyin Acar (41), Iranian Ibrahim Baizi, Abdulsamet Rahat (35), Ali Vesek(23) Izettin Tus (21), Ali Poyraz (21), Sultan Araslan (19), Yunus Isler (22), E.D. (18), E.T. (18) and B.R. (17) were taken into custody along with some illegal documents, posters and currencies.
Police said that the suspects confessed that they had formed youth committees in cities and organized illegal demonstrations and registered militants for teams in the mountains. Police also uncovered that the suspects had hanged posters and organized illegal demonstrations. The suspects were sent to the State Security Court (DGM) after their interrogation in the police department.
Izmir - Turkish Daily News
Following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Turkish tourism was affected badly. Some cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists cancelled visits to Kusadasi and Istanbul.
A possible war would affect Turkish tourism
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, where thousands of people have lost their lives, as also affected Turkish tourism. Some giant cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists cancelled their visits to Kusadasi and Istanbul.
The cancellation of reservations comes one after the other, the negative effects of terrorism has showed itself to tourism. The world's biggest cruise ships "Golden Princes" and "Splendour of the Sea" have cancelled their visits to Kusadasi and Istanbul. The Golden Princes that regularly visits Kusadasi and Istanbul 15 times a year is carrying 2,500 American tourists. Tourism agents are afraid of the number of reservation cancellations. The Tourism Ministry also made a move by establishing a crisis desk in the ministry.
Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar said that there was an increase in reservation cancellations after the terrorist attack on the WTC. Tasar said that they have set up a crisis desk in the ministry. Yilmaz Molla, Chairman of the Kusadasi Branch of Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB), talking to the Turkish Daily News, said that most of the American tourists cancelled their reservations, however there were few cancellations from european countries,
Mollan said, "If the United States operation was restricted to Afghanistan, Turkish tourism would not be affected negatively. However if the United States strikes Iraq, it would be very bad for Turkish tourism, as we have experienced the "Gulf War" that paralyzed Turkish tourism."
Guler said, "At the moment the situation is not bad in Bodrum. But the real problem would come from the United States possible operation with Iraq."
Izmir - Turkish Daily News
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