TDN 15 Nov.

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

 Europeans warn Turkey to expect heavier after finalization of customs union

Prospects: Foreign diplomats say current prospects 'slightly
unfavorable' but expected to improve in two weeks

Lobbying: Left-wing leaders in Britain and Germany are trying to
convince their parliamentarians to vote favorably

By Ilnur Cevik

Turkish Daily News
  _________________________________________________________________

ANKARA- Turkey, which has come under much pressure from the European
Parliament in recent months to improve its human rights record and
implement democratic reforms, will face even more severe and constant
pressure from abroad to improve its democratic performance if the
European Parliament gives the go-ahead for its entry into the customs
union on Dec. 14, ranking foreign diplomats told the Turkish Daily
News.

According to leading diplomats of the European Union member nations
who asked not to be named, the governments in the union are explaining
to European Parliamentarians that if Turkey's entry into the customs
union is delayed until democratic reforms are implemented "they may
wait for a long time and the reforms may never happen."

They are apparently explaining to European Parliamentarians that,
according to their past experience, legislating reforms in Turkey is
an extremely slow process and what is done is mostly insufficient.

The European Commission as well as the member governments are
reportedly telling the parliamentarians that "allowing Turkey into the
customs union may well accelerate the democratization process in the
country."

However, the diplomats are also warning the Turkish side that if and
when Turkey enters the customs union it will be under the constant
supervision of the European Commission, the member governments as well
as the European Parliament over its democratic performance and will
feel constant pressure to implement reforms.

"When you are in the European integrated system all member countries
expect reciprocal controls and surveillance of their performances," a
leading ambassador told the TDN. He said that, thanks to such a
system, his country had been forced to make reforms in its welfare
system.

The diplomats say that at the moment the mood in the European
Parliament is "slightly unfavorable" but stress they expect things to
improve in two weeks after intensive lobbying by the Turkish
government, the European Commission and member governments.

They say that currently the German and British social democrats lead
the front against Turkey's membership of the customs union.

The member governments are explaining to these parliamentarians that
"reinforcement of democracy in Turkey will come with a 'yes' vote for
a customs union while a 'no' vote will makes things even more
complicated." British Labour Party leader Tony Blair is said to be
positive about Turkey's entry into the customs union but still has to
convince the British left-wing members of the European Parliament to
vote in favor of Turkey. Blair reportedly exchanged messages with
French President Jacques Chirac over the issue.

German Social Democrat Party Chairman Rudolf Scharping is also said to
view Turkey positively but he too has to convince his own
parliamentarians to vote "yes."

The French socialists have reportedly been told about the consequences
of a "no" vote and are inclined to vote "yes." The diplomats, however,
stress that those who have voted in favor of Turkey will feel indebted
to the cause of democracy and will thus apply permanent pressure on
Turkey to improve its democratic performance and its human rights
record.
  _________________________________________________________________

 "We treat Turkey as most favoured nation"

Eurocopter chief Bigay seeks to compete US firms in military sector,
hopes to be major partner of Turkish defense

By Yavuz Baydar

Turkish Daily News
  _________________________________________________________________

PARIS- Jean Francois Bigay is an industrial leader of a rather rare
kind. Perhaps due to the nature of the company he chairs, his plans
for the future are deeply intertwined with world politics and the
ever-changing power balances in various corners of the earth.

When Bigay speaks rather apologetically about global policies and
Euro-American relations his intent is clear: to maintain Eurocopter's
lead in the civilian helicopter market and break America's
stranglehold on the military sector.

Eurocopter, a merger between the French Aerospatiale (70 percent) and
the German DASA (30 percent) employs around 10,000 people and serves
over 1,500 civilian and military clients in 126 countries.

"Our difference with the Americans is that we produce and adjust to
the special demands of the clients. Americans want clients buy their
'copters as they are prepared. With this strategy we believe we are
more attractive," he says. Although Eurocopter leads in the civilian
market and is proud of earning over 55 percent of its sales via
exports, its urge to increase its 15 percent slice of the military
sales pie is strong.

Thus Bigay implies, strategies designed to carry Eurocopter into the
next millennium are based on identifying which regions and countries
are hungry for helicopters.

As he ticks off South Korea, India and Turkey in this category, he is
quick to emphasize that those projections are not the results of "war
potentials" in certain areas.

"We simply calculate the factors of development, cooperation and
economic growth in those countries," he explains. "We are determined,"
Bigay says, to return Eurocopter to the Middle East, where the company
had good relations with some countries.

Why is Turkey seen as so important for Eurocopter? Bigay believes
Turkey can never be dependent on one country. "It will reject
monopolies in the weapons market. It needs to have, due to its
geopolitical situation, a powerful rapid deployment ability. In fact,
Turkey is using different alliances and strategic constellations in
the new world to its own benefit," he explains.

He pointed out that Turkey concluded a very good deal with Eurocopter.
Turks told them they wanted to buy 50 Cougars, and after having 20
Cougars ready, they were told to wait. Now Turkey has cheap Cougars
expected to be delivered soon. Bigay sees no problem with that, as it
is the long term vision that interests him.

Knowing most of the prominent personalities in Turkey, including
President Demirel, he calls himself as a friend of Turkey. It is
apparent that he wants a total Turkish approach into the European
system.

This means, naturally, that Turkish interests for the American market
must wane to a certain degree.

In his European vocation he does not mince words about the American
approach to the continent, saying he believes America actually prefers
not seeing Turkey in the Customs Union. "The United States, really,
the only obstacle to this project," he argues.

"We are very close to Turkey, much more than those countries in
Northern Europe, as France and Turkey share many similar things in
culture."

He concludes that the work for getting Turkey into Customs Union is
mostly done, although he sees serious problems on the way.

"I believe that the final decision will not take place on December
14th, I think the EU will prefer to wait. The fact that the early
elections will be held in the end of December creates difficulties for
the friends of Turkey," he says.
  _________________________________________________________________

 Turkey seeks deeper ties with the WEU

Turkish Daily News
  _________________________________________________________________

ANKARA- Turkey is trying to enhance its presence within the Western
European Union (WEU), in which it is an associate member, reported the
Anatolian news agency from the organization's autumn meeting of
foreign and defense ministers in Madrid on Tuesday.

Anatolia said that Turkish Minister for National Defense Vefa Tanir
had made four key requests with the WEU in line with this aim.

According to these, Ankara wants the number of Turkish officers
present at the WEU Planning Cell to be increased to three from the
present four.

Turkey, which is also represented in Madrid by Foreign Minister
Baykal, wants to participate in the activities of the WEU Space Group
and to avail itself of the opportunities this provides.

Talking to Turkish reporters in Madrid, Tanir also said Turkey want to
participate in the European Land and Naval Forces and in European
Corps projects.

He said that under a previous arrangement Turkey was allowed to
participate in the first stage of the three-stage "Command Location
Maneuvers," while it was only allowed to participate as an observer in
the remaining two stages.

Tanir said this had changed later so that Turkey could only
participate in all three stages as an observer and added that Ankara
wanted to go back to the original arrangement.

"In order for the European security perspective to be more successful
it has to be placed on a broader basis," Tanir said. Anatolia said
that a key issue being taken up at the meeting of WEU foreign and
defense ministers in Madrid involved the relationship between this
organization and the European Union. Turkey is said to oppose a drive
which effectively makes the WEU the military wing of the EU and thus
turns it into an "exclusive club."

Ankara wants the WEU to develop parallel with NATO and for all the
European members of NATO to also be members of the WEU.
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 * Origin: APS Amsterdam (aps.nl), bbs +31-20-6842147 (16:31/2.0)