25 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News

• Ahad Andican: Taliban, as a remote controlled movement, can be erased by Afghans themselves
  • Taliban leaders visited California last year upon invitation by the US company UNOCAL'
• Mongolia calls on Turkish investors
• US consoles Turkey
• Former statesman blames Europe for terrorism
• Attacks against US postpone Faith Summit in Izmir
• Turkey finances KKTC
• Objections to new US policy arise
• Safire: Don't forget about Baghdad
• Cem speaks to Abd-Ul Sattar

Ahad Andican: Taliban, as a remote controlled movement, can be erased by Afghans themselves

• Taliban leaders visited California last year upon invitation by the US company UNOCAL'

SAADET ORUC

The elimination of the Taliban movement from the political arena of Afghanistan can only be achieved by a movement launched by the Afghan people, a Turkish expert on Afghanistan said on Monday.

"The Taliban administration is a system exported by Pakistan to Afghanistan and in case of an operation against the Taliban, the Afghan people will launch resistance against such a regime, which is seen to be unfitting to Afghans," Ahad Andican said, in remarks to the Turkish Daily News.

Former State Minister Ahad Andican, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), is very well-known for his studies on the region and particularly on Afghanistan. Andican had been in close contact with the Afghan opposition groups during his state ministry.

Commenting that the Taliban had no reason for waging a war against the international community, Andican made reference to the connections between Pakistan and U.S. oil companies, particularly UNOCAL and Chevron.

"It is known that leading Taliban figures visited California last year upon invitation by the U.S. UNOCAL company," Andican said, raising a very interesting fact.

Other countries also

Andican also said that Turkey should pay efforts for taking other Muslim states, to participate in the operation.

"Their offer of military bases for a possible operation, of course, is not enough. They should be persuaded to send troops for land operations. Turkey should not remain as the sole Muslim country to be targeted for its contributions to an international operation," he said.

Ifs?

Concerning the possible scenarios to be seen on the Eastern parts of the maps, Andican made the following forecasts:

• If the United States succeed in eliminating the Taliban and manage to cooperate with the Northern Alliance in a good way, the balances in the region may shift into new forms,"
• If the United States fails to succeed, a domino affect may be seen and fundamentalist regimes could spread into the neighborhood of Afghanistan.

Concerning both options, Pakistani leadership will certainly have troubles, Andican commented.

Why Turkey should be interested in Afghanistan?

"Some 30 percent of Afghanistan is of Turkish-origin, and any development on Afghanistan will certainly have a direct affect on the Turkic republics. Because of these two aspects, Turkey should be active concerning the developments in Afghanistan," Andican said.

Andican is referring to Uzbeks and Turkmens with his expression on "30 percent of Afghanistan is of Turkish origin."

Stating that he was the person who urged the necessity of a special coordinator on Afghanistan, Andican said that during his state ministry he had close contacts with the leaders of Afghan groups.

"We had invited Kerim Halili, the leader of the Hazaras and Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the Tajiks, aiming to act as a mediator between the Turks and these groups. Halili came, but Shah Massoud was not able to come to Ankara due to intensive clashes in the country," Andican said.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Mongolia calls on Turkish investors

A Mongolian delegation in Turkey are continuing their contacts before the Turkish-Mongolian Third Joint Economic Commission (KEK) meeting to enhance relations between the two countries. The delegation visited State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay to assess the prospects of further relations with Turkey.

In his speech after the visit, Mongolian Education, Science and Culture Minister A. Tsanjid called Turkish entrepreneurs to Mongolia. Tsanjid said the relations were initiated by the individual efforts of former President Suleyman Demirel, and had improved relatively in the last couple of years. Tsanjid also informed reporters that there are already 11 active Turkish companies in Mongolia.

Tsanjid said the second KEK in Mongolia had contributed to the improvement of bilateral relations, however, the distance, and consequently, transportation remain two essential problems to be solved.

Cay points opportunities

Cay told reporters that there are already 15 or 20 agreements signed between two countries, however, only a few of them are active. Cay said that Turkey must keep the agreements active for its national benefits.

Speaking about business prospects, Cay mentioned the rich metal resources of Mongolia, which Turkey may benefit from by supplying transportation via a seaport close to Mongolia.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

US consoles Turkey

People are counting the minutes that tick by over here. The first thing everyone does each morning is turn on the TV to check if retaliation strikes took place overnight.

Almost everything has become dependent on this thought.

The reason is fear...

The American public wants its state to strike the Taliban and his forces. Polls reveal that 82 percent of American people are in favor of military action. However, fear is also evident in people's eyes.

This fear arises from the possible aftermath of the retaliation -- Americans also fear that punishing Bin Laden and striking Afghanistan might lead to threatening reactions.

It is believed that the organizers of such an event must have calculated an American retaliation before having carried out the act.

The biggest fear is that of a chemical bomb in the subway (as in Tokyo) or another plane attack. The fear is so great that people do not board flights unless absolutely necessary. Tourism has witnessed a 60 percent decline in revenue. Hotels are empty. People living in tall buildings are on standby. They are suspicious all the time.

People await the aftermath of the upcoming retaliation in such an environment pervaded by fear...They can not see the future.

The same sentiment has started to diffuse into the political arena as well.

Conspiracy theories consisting of bombing the wrong place, killing hundreds of civilians and children due to selecting a wrong target and leading to a mass uprising in the Islamic world are all possibilities being debated at the moment.

Such uncertainties are driving people crazy.

Ankara breathes a sigh of relief

Turkey, who has lent significant support to America even though it does not see showing off in Washington as being something that suits its pride (!), seems to have breathed a sigh of relief with news coming in from the States.

While supporting Washington, Ankara had made the reservation that the support would only be given in a move concerning Afghanistan. This goes to say that, even though Ankara did not clearly set any conditions, it openly refused to be part of a move regarding Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan. The nuances and words composing Ecevit's speech during a press conference he held all hinted at his timidness when it came to that topic.

The second element was postponed to a future date once Bush announced that priority would be given to Taliban and Bin Laden.

Warm breeze from Iran and Syria

Makers of American policy that I spoke to in Washington all said the same:

"Sept. 11 is perceived to be the start of history for us. Time before that is not taken into consideration at all. However we will hold consultations with countries breeding terrorism, like Iran, Iraq, Syria (the Beqaa Valley), Sudan etc., and will monitor them more closely. There will be no problems if they cut off their ties with terrorist groups and prove that they lend them no more support. A negative stance will mean, however, that we will take diplomatic, economic and military measures aiming to punish those states in question. Not only us, but all the countries fighting on our front will take part in this action..."

This message has started to get its first replies.

For example, Iran and Syria have stated that they understand the concern of the U.S. The Tehran trip of English Prime Minister is very significant at this point. If Blair returns from Tehran convinced that will be a major step. Syria is expected to go along with the flow and to empty the Beqaa Valley without much commotion. Saddam Hussein will be the only variable left to deal with...

Observing Washington hints that days in which Iraq will face trouble are close. How and when are questions we can not answer, but it is not hard to see that Turkey will earn a chronic headache once and if Iraq faces problems.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Former statesman blames Europe for terrorism

Former Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin has joined the Europe blamers because of their tolerance of terrorist groups. Cetin claimed it is no longer possible for Europe to show the same level of tolerance to various terrorist organizations. He said that the fight against terror is a whole, therefore, both the fight and this tolerance cannot get along.

Cetin claimed European countries would assess with a different eye Turkey's demand for the return of those suspected of terrorist acts. However, he also noted that capital punishment still forms an obstacle to their return, and this pretext would be eliminated should capital punishment be abolished.

Cetin said Turkey has long been aware of the dangers that terrorism could cause. Taking Turkey's role in an anti-terrorist campaign making use of Turkish bases during a possible attack on Afghanistan into consideration, Cetin was reserved on speculations, and stated that Turkey must consider her own benefits while providing the necessary cooperation and contribution.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Attacks against US postpone Faith Summit in Izmir

The Faith Summit, which was meant to be held between Oct. 4 to 7, was postponed due to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States.

In information from the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB), the deadly attacks against the United States had made the date of the summit require a change. On the other hand, the chairman of the union, Basar Ulusoy, gave different reasons for the postponement.

The summit, which is being organized by the Turkish Union of Travel Agencies (TURSAB) to promote faith tourism, will bring together leaders of the Islamic, Christian and Jewish religions in Izmir to discuss faith tourism. Turkey wishes to obtain its share in the faith tourism market, which is worth $50 billion and moves around 100 million tourists globally. In Turkey there are 316 sites of potential interest for "faith tourists" of any of the above three faiths.

The TURSAB center informed its members that some 200 religious and tourism representatives who were to participate at the summit, cancelled their visits to the summit due to the terrorist attacks on the United States. It was said that the date of the summit was postponed because of the difficulties in transportation.

Contrary to the explanation of the TURSAB center, Ulusoy said that the postponement decision had no relation to the attacks on the United States, and that the decision to postpone the Faith summit, was because the date of the summit was not appropriate for the participants and it was for this reason alone that they had postponed the summit. Ulusoy stated that they planned to hold the summit just after the Ramadan Holiday, in January.

Izmir - Turkish Daily News

Turkey finances KKTC

Amid one of the most serious crises of its history, Turkey has provided $160 million to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), including $20 million to KKTC Development Bank.

State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar and Finance Minister Mehmet Bayram signed an Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol and Economic Stability and Transition Program on behalf of the two countries.

In the press meeting, Gurel told reporters that the Cypriot economy would benefit from the new regulations in the program, which introduces productivity in production and exports. Gurel said Turkey never secludes the development of Cyprus from its own development.

Cypriot Deputy Prime Minister Cosar stressed that Turkey is their only support, nevertheless, Northern Cyprus makes great efforts to be a self-sufficient economy. Cosar stated that they are sure Turkey would help them until they attained their goal.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Objections to new US policy arise

Worldwide opposition has increased against the new anti-terrorism measures proposed by Congress, which allow a series of measures limiting democracy, including the expulsion of suspected foreigners from the country without any judicial process.

American nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) lead the opposition with their advocating of civil liberties. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urged Congress to follow a deliberative and democratic process as it considers significant changes in federal law in response to the deaths of thousands of innocent people from the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"We are now in a fight against an enemy that has targeted not only our lives and property, but also the fundamental values of freedom and equality that are the hallmarks of our democracy," said Anthony Romero, ACLU executive director.

"Terrorism, by its very nature, is intended not only to kill and destroy," Romero continued, "Terrorism is also designed to intimidate people and force them to take actions that may not be in their long-term best interests. If we allow our freedoms to be undermined, the terrorists will have won."

Attorney General Ashcroft, a couple of days ago, asked Congress to adopt and send to the president by the end of the week legislation that would include many provisions to expand federal law enforcement authority in ways that would infringe on civil liberties.

The ACLU officials also related that last week, Senate adopted new wiretapping measures in the middle of the night with little or no debate.

"Obviously there is a need for heightened security," said Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU's Washington National Office. "The ACLU's goal is to monitor the proposals for increased law enforcement powers to ensure that they have maximum effectiveness with a minimal erosion of civil liberties."

Murphy urged the Bush Administration and Congressional leaders to work to instill public confidence in the legislative process by making its proposals public and giving Congress enough time to hold hearings and debates before moving proposals to the floor in a timely manner.

"We cannot let our grief and anger overwhelm our democracy," Murphy concluded. "Now is the time for the people's representatives to be even more thoughtful and deliberative than usual."

Immigrant Counsels Union Director Jeanne Butterfield also defined the expulsion of a foreigner without any court appearance as unacceptable, just relying on the impression of the police.

The ACLU also launched a fax petition at its website at "www.aclu.org" to urge Congress not to pass the law.

Turkish NGOs oppose 'New World Order'

The Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD) also made a statement related to the anti-democratic measures that the American Congress are trying to pass. Chairman Husnu Ondul stated that although it has been said that a worldwide campaign against terrorism will be initiated, it soon turned into a process of limitations on human rights and freedoms.

Ondul claimed that authoritarian countries such as Turkey immediately try to benefit from this tendency, by trying to export their system as the "Secure State of Public Order" to countries of a democratic tradition.

Ondul also recalled the words of wisdom that violence breeds violence, and called on the presidents to give up the national policies to back groups that conduct politics based on violence. Ondul continued: "The armed individuals and/or groups may turn against those who trained and backed them. This mistaken and dangerous policy must be abandoned. The efforts to enhance human rights and democratic standards must be supported in every country."

Ondul quoted the words of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that Turkey has backed the opposition to Afghanistan by introducing material and moral support. Ondul said this is exactly what the IHD opposes because it is the basic reason of the problem.

Ondul noted that the parties that signed the OSCE Helsinki Document, which prohibited states from interfering in domestic policies, soon violated this convention and that this situation is still continuing. Ondul also called on the United Nations, whose basic foundation is to establish and preserve peace, to take urgent action towards restoring peace.

The Association for Human Rights and Solidarity for the Oppressed People (Mazlum-Der) also expressed concerns over the new aggressive policy that the United States has adopted, both in domestic and foreign policy.

Mazlum-Der Chairman Yilmaz Ensaroglu said in regards to the recent statements and actions, it is quite doubtful that the United States and allied countries have comprehended this tragedy and taken their lessons to step towards world peace.

The statement follows, "The statements of the American officials give the impression that, instead of making a sound analysis, the United States conceives the case as a war between 'the good and the evil' within the perspective of 'civilization versus barbarism,' and wants to win the 'first war of the century.'

"On the contrary, the first question must be why that happened. The United States must understand that the threats of destruction don't mean much to people who are already prepared to die. Instead, they have to think why people would sacrifice their lives to hurt the United States."

Ensaroglu also pointed out that terror cannot be eliminated with terror. He called for some democratic measures instead, such as the provision of security of life and the property of foreigners living in Western countries, and the prevention of attacks against the Muslim population in Western countries.

The statement also noted that the fight against terrorism must be made within the rules of law, and justice mustn't be sacrificed to anger. Just like the IHD, Mazlum-Der also voiced concerns about the probability that countries with an inferior human rights record may now exploit this possibility of war to limit rights and freedoms.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Safire: Don't forget about Baghdad

Amidst the common focus on Afghanistan, New York Times correspondent Safire has focussed attention on Baghdad, claiming that Saddam Hussein was a sponsor and supporter of Osama bin Laden.

In yesterday's article in the New York Times, Safire claimed that America does not want to acknowledge any evidence of the sponsorship of bin Laden by Iraq because that would demand a crushing blow at an Arab state. Safire followed:

"The clear link between the terrorist in hiding and the terrorist in power can be found in Kurdistan, that northern portion of Iraq protected by U.S. and British aircraft from Saddam's savagery. Kurdish sources tell me (and anyone else who will listen) that the Iraqi dictator has armed and financed a fifth column of Al Qaeda mullahs and terrorists that calls itself the Jund al Islam (Soldiers of Islam)."

Safire alleged that this group's purposes are to assassinate the leaders of free Kurdistan, to sabotage the relief efforts of the United Nations and to whip up religious fervor in that free Muslim region.

Safire related a key member of the Kurdish resistance reached by cellphone in Suleymaniyah, some 400 "Arab Afghan" mercenaries armed with Katyusha rockets transported by Toyota Land Cruisers, have been infiltrating the liberated region by Saddam's secret intelligence force, the Mukhabarat. They have already murdered a high-level Kurdish official as well as a Muslim scholar who dared to interpret the Koran humanely.

Safire also stated that Barzani and Talabani are busy identifying and isolating Saddam's fifth columnists. The Kurds are awaiting word from Washington about when to move on the Afghan terrorists in their midst, and eagerly look forward to joining an allied assault on Baghdad.

Safire also alarmed the world that: "Iraqi scientists today working feverishly in hidden biological laboratories and underground nuclear facilities would, if undisturbed, enable the hate-driven, power-crazed Saddam to kill millions. That capability would transform him from a boxed-in bully into a rampant world power."

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Cem speaks to Abd-Ul Sattar

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem called his Pakistani counterpart Abd-Ul Sattar to exchange ideas about the latest developments in the region.

Cem told Sattar that Turkey fully supported and understood Pakistan in their hard times, and added that the solidarity that Pakistan had shown was of great importance.

Sattar thanked Turkey during the phone call, which lasted for approximately 25 minutes, and briefed Cem on the Pakistan government's attitude and assessments of recent developments.

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

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