25 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
Parliament launches amendment marathon
- On the first day of the debate on the constitutional reform package, the legislature decides to work at least 12 hours everyday, weekend included
Parliament started debates Monday on a 37-article constitutional reform package, supported by all six parties represented in the Turkish legislature.
On the first day of the marathon debates on the reform package, Parliament decided to work 12 hours every day, including weekend, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. In opening remarks on the package, representatives of the six parties expressed support for the reforms, although some demanded modifications in the text. Debate on the overall reform package was swiftly completed Monday and the deputies decided to open discussions on the articles.
According to calculations made in the corridors of Parliament on Monday, it is anticipated that it will take about two hours to complete debates and hold a vote for each and every article. If parties demand some amendments in the text of the package, however, the completion of debates and vote on all 37 articles is anticipated to take some 80 hours.
Parties are planning to complete debates and hold votes on six articles of the package every day. If this plan could be implemented without a hitch, the first round of debates and votes on each and every article and a vote on the overall package is expected to be completed by late Sunday evening.
If the first round of debates and votes could be completed by Sunday evening, the second debate on the package, as is stipulated by the Constitution, may start on Wednesday next week. The Constitution stipulates that at least two full days (48 hours) must pass in between the first vote on a constitutional amendment draft and the start of a second debate on it.
According to the Constitution, constitutional amendment drafts should be secretly voted on. Again, according to the Constitution at least 330 votes (a three-fifths majority of the 550-member Parliament) are required for each and every article of the package and for the overall package. If an article fails to tally the 330-vote support during the first vote, but gets over 330 in the second vote, provided that the overall package gets the support of at least 330 deputies it is considered accepted, pending a referendum. But, if an article gets less than 330 votes in both first and second votes on it, it automatically is deleted from the package irrespective of the support vote for the overall package.
Still, if the amendment package is approved with a vote in between three-fifths and three-quarters majority, that is in between 330 and 366 votes, the amendments can enter into force only after they are approved by the nation in a national referendum.
If the second vote on the overall package produces over 367 yes votes, than it is up to the president whether to sign the amendments and put them into force or call a referendum on the reforms.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
No demand for command center
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is denying claims that the United States had requested a command center for the anti-terror operation to be based in Turkey.
Answering reporters' questions, Ecevit said the coalition partners had not spoken about when the decree to allow the United States to use Turkish air space would be signed and sent to the president. Ecevit added that there had been no demand so far to base the command center in Turkey.
Ecevit's statements were confirmed by Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. Yilmaz told reporters that the decree is open to ministers' signatures, and that it will then be sent to the president. Yilmaz also repeated the words of Ecevit that no demand had been submitted to them so far for the establishment of a command center in Turkey.
After Saudi Arabia turned down the U.S. demand to use the bases for the anti-terrorism operation, all eyes turned to Turkey, which is the safest, if not the closest, possible base for a large operation against Osama bin Laden. There were even some claims that Turkey has already accepted the American demand and is ready to open its bases for the operation.
Situation at Incirlik
There is nothing more to observe than the usual traffic in Incirlik, where emergency measures were taken after the terrorist attack in the United States.
Yesterday's traffic included 19 fighter planes, two AWACS planes, one transport, one cargo, three personnel and four tanker planes. The hangar doors are kept open in the base, in case of an emergency operation or intervention. Meanwhile, patrols have increased in the last couple of days in the barb-wired area of Incirlik Base.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Universities issue brain drain warnings
- 'Turkey losing blood'
Sakarya University (SAU) Rector Prof. Mesut Gur revealed findings of research looking into brain drains in universities.
The research, which was grouped under various headings, has focused on the reasons why successful students prefer to study and work abroad and academician's poor salaries.
The main reason for the brain drain was cited as unsatisfying salaries. Whereas a professor earned over $1000 in the 1980s, this figure dropped to around $500 in the 90s. The report warned that scientific research would face serious threats if more funds were not donated to the cause.
Becoming an academician is one of the last alternatives for graduates
The fact that academicians earn very little being no secret, graduates tend to stay away from an academic career. Thus, leading academic posts to be filled by students who have mainly got nothing else to do.
The report went on to warn that such circulation in the academic field, with successful people being replaced by those with less knowledge, would have serious consequences for scientific studies if the necessary precautions weren't taken.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Straits may be closed for 6 months
- Varyag risk high, experts say
While the authorities within the state have been discussing the possible assurance methods for the passage of the 500-metre-long Chinese platform the Varyag, the voices of experts have risen concerning the risk of the movement of the platform through the Bosporus Straits.
Coast Guard and Sea Rescue Department Director Hucum Tulgar said that the minimum risk during Varyag's passage through the strait was 30 percent. Furthermore, Tulgar pointed that in the case of an accident, the strait could be closed for more than 6 months.
Tulgar said the question of when the Varyag will pass through the Straits is irrelevant because there is a list of prerequisites for the Chinese authorities to fulfil all the conditions submitted by Turkey. Tulgar followed:
"We will inspect the ship again after the prerequisites have been fulfilled. We will check whether the ship is ready for the transportation or not. This could be tomorrow, or in two years time. And seasonal, current and visual conditions must be suitable, of course."
Tulgar noted that a delegation, including Navigation Undersecretary Istanbul Regional Director Ruhan Cakiroglu, Ship Rescue Office Director Arslan Dede and a captain, two chief sea guides, an expert, representative of the owner company, and two experts from the ship's insurance company examined the ship on Sept. 11.
Tulgar said they observed some deficiencies which didn't exist in the preliminary information, including the fact that some mechanisms of the ship were hydraulic instead of mechanical. Tulgar added that the transportation through Bosporus Strait could take nine or 10 hours, therefore the ship must be equipped with the necessary lighting tools.
Risky business
Tulgar noted that the Kandilli turn is the most risky part, where the width is no more than 700 metres, and there is an 80 degree turn. Tulgar said the other risky parts are Umuryeri, Yenikoy, Kanlica, Kurucesme, Galatasaray Island and Sarayburnu.
Another risk is the diversity of seasonal changes within a day, said Tulgar, and added: "There is no way back when the climate changes during transportation. This is the real risk. You may start under ideal weather conditions, but if the weather turns, you have to do nothing but go on your route. If the current or wind changes, the risk easily goes beyond 50 percent."
Tulgar stated that the standard risk of accident is 3 percent, which is 5 percent in the straits, and followed:
"However, these are valid for ordinary ships which have rudders, machines and proper equipment. There are no rudders, no machinery, and no equipment on the Varyag. It is solely a floating steel mass. You can move it either by pushing or pulling, and this situation increases the accident risk dramatically."
Tulgar classified the potential risks as crashing and driving ashore, and claimed in case of a driving ashore, the straits would be closed to sea traffic for at least 6 months, because it would be virtually impossible to pull such a mass from the shore. Tulgar noted the only method of rescue would be to decompose the platform.
Varyag is wandering in the Black Sea far from the Turkish shores at the moment. However, in case of any modification to this huge platform, the ship will be brought to a dockyard.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
AKP ask Parliament to hold secret meeting
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked Parliament to hold secret meetings as the possibility of war emerged. Erdogan stated that even if Turkey won't openly enter into war, news reports claiming that United States may shift their command center to Turkey urged Parliament to hold a secret meeting.
During his speech at his group meeting in Parliament on Monday, Erdogan noted that only Parliament has to authority to declare war, government is not authorized to take such a decision without the permission of Parliament.
Erdogan said that the shifting of the operation command center against terrorism is not official but it still can lead Turkey to be active in a war.
"Turkey should make a balance between its responsibilities to its allies and its country's interests," Erdogan said.
Stating that everyone should be aware of the importance of the situation, Erdogan said government's possible move to use Parliament's authority will be an open violation of the Constitution.
The AKP leader said that the Constitution should be amended and noted that previous Parliaments had succeeded in amending only 23 Articles of the Turkish Constitution.
"Presently, we have been working on amending the 37 Articles. We have a full and determined support. But, as there will be a secret ballot, some deputies may use a negative vote. This may harm confidence in Parliament," Erdogan said.
Answering his rival Saadet (contentment or happiness) Party's (SP) position in the constitutional amendment issue, Erdogan explained their point of view on the constitutional amendment: "The amendment of the Constitutional should be based on principles not according to individual events or persons. If we cannot achieve a complete amendment in the system, we cannot prevent individual violations."
Erdogan added that Turkey's economic situation was getting worse and domestic and external debts were increasing, urging the government to take an early poll decision urgently.
Ankara - TDN Parliament Bureau
Fighting against corruption
- Corruption questionnaires circulating official offices
The Prime Ministry Inspection Committee has started distributing questionnaires in the framework of a project aimed at fighting corruption.
It is hoped the questionnaires will reveal the problems faced by inspectors while conducting research and observations. Once obtaining the results, the data is to be used in devising methods for preventing corruption and for enabling an easier flow of information between inspection institutions and the justice sector.
TESEV questionnaire
Turkey Economic and Social Etudes Foundation (TESEV) is preparing for a research in the private sector. The views of businessmen concerning corruption are to be taken into account with this survey. Then will come research taking place among civil servants.
A single point increase in the corruption index reportedly has led to an 11 percent decrease in foreign investments -- which will have the same effect as a 3.6 percent increase in the marginal tax rate.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
State Minister Onal pledges solution to increase the quality of education at state universities
New academic year begins despite problems
The new academic year for universities began on Monday despite enduring problems.
State Minister Recep Onal in his speech on the occasion of the new academic term said that the goal of 57th government was to solve the current problems and increase the quality of education at state universities.
"Our universities, academicians and students are facing a number of problems varying from lack of funds to a lack of basic equipment. Unfortunately, there are some students displaying some moves which are not in harmony with secular education system," Onal stated.
Onal pledged to academicians that he would make an improvement in their salaries.
Academicians giving lectures at state universities are getting low salaries, making it nearly impossible to make a proper living. Due to this problem, scores of professors preferred to give lectures at the foundation universities. Foundation universities can offer the best quality of education as well as well-equipped laboratories and sufficient libraries while state universities suffer from a lack of funds.
Uludag University Rector Dr. Mustafa Yurtkuran said that the share of universities in the budget fell by 2.2 in 2000 while the number of students had risen to 1.412 million.
Yurtkuran said that foundation universities are getting more of the share from the budget while having less students.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Kamer Genc elected deputy parliamentary speaker
As the result of a symbolic vote in Parliament, True Path Party (DYP) Tunceli Deputy Kamer Genc has become the deputy parliamentary speaker. During the vote, all but 4 deputies from the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted against Genc. He was chosen as deputy parliamentary speaker with most votes coming from the DYP, then the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Saadet (happiness or contentment) Party (SP).
After the closure of the Virtue Party (FP) by the Constitutional Court, the parliamentary speaker post passed from the FP to the main opposition DYP. The DYP has decided before to have Genc as their candidate as parliamentary speaker with his 1 year experience in this post. The main reason for the opposition from ANAP and the MHP was Genc's blaming of ANAP ministers and his arguments with MHP deputies during parliament's general assembly in 1999. Through this time, Genc acted as an independent deputy and looked like a "one-person opposition."
After Genc's election, parliamentary speaker Murat Sokmenoglu, who was directing the meeting, welcomed him.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
Demirel calls for calm
Former President Suleyman Demirel states no country could exclude itself from the new global circumstances after the terrorist attack in the United States, and Turkey must wait for her role in this new world in a calm manner.
In the opening ceremony of Istanbul Technical University, Demirel made a speech on the general situation that Turkey and the world are facing. As regards to the terrorist acts in the United States, Demirel said the global conditions changed sharply after the attack, and the agenda of the countries was formed by this change.
Demirel said: "I believe it is crucial that this incident be comprehended as a violent assault on humanity, instead of looking for some reasons, and this will have a considerable effect on the decisions on behalf of humanity."
Demirel also stated that terrorism is terrorism, and it is the greatest malignancy to turn this into an issue between cultures and religions. The former president said the actors of this attack must be punished within the rules of universal law.
Noting that Turkey was at a critical stage, Demirel said that Turkey mustn't lose her manageability, because she doesn't deserve the crisis she is in, and he believes she will recover soon.
Answering reporters' questions on Turkey's role in a possible war, Demirel said that Turkey will fulfil her engagements. Demirel classified these engagements into two, as written and moral engagements, and continued: "Turkey didn't face a demand yet. It would be ridiculous to bargain saying 'we would give this and take that' before any demands were made. Perhaps they wouldn't demand anything that you reserved earlier. As a matter of fact, Turkey should favour her benefits in a calm manner."
Demirel also criticized the comments that Turkey should play a more active role in the anti-terrorist campaign, stating that even the United States didn't exactly know what to do at the moment.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
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