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ANKARA: Historical Warnings From TUSIAD

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  • ANKARA: Historical Warnings From TUSIAD

    HISTORICAL WARNINGS FROM TUSIAD
    By Turhan Bozkurt, Abdulhamit Yildiz, Istanbul

    Zaman, Turkey
    Sept 30 2006

    Sabanci: While negotiations continue, there are concerns about
    compliance in some industries. They are the minority, but their voices
    are louder.

    Kaslowski: The EU agenda shouldn't change. While we are lobbying,
    there should be no blunders inside. We want stability.

    Omer Sabanci, president of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen
    Association (TUSIAD), said that after negotiations began with
    the European Union, Turkey's position had become attractive to
    international markets for investment. Indicating that in order for
    the trend toward investment and employment to continue, determination
    toward EU accession should not be compromised, Sabanci said. "With
    the situation like this, we have no choice but to remain cool-headed
    and reasonable regarding short-term stalemates in the EU process.

    Let's stop tripping over ourselves." Referring to Article 301 of
    the Turkish Penal Code as "the most striking example of stalemate,"
    Sabanci said: "The new formulation of Article 301 was aimed at
    making a breakthrough in the area of freedom of speech, but it didn't
    happen. Cases of speech violations and the tableau created by those
    who want to use these cases as a stage for political shows have
    once again given material amenable to exploitation into the hands of
    anti-Turkish lobbies."

    Sabanci continued, "Has the EU topic been abandoned to its own
    destiny? We want to know the truth." According to him, it was not
    right for the government to leave the EU agenda this empty during
    such a time.

    Sabanci explained why some want to use warnings from Brussels in a
    different way: "While negotiations are continuing with the European
    Union on the one hand, a fear of compliance can be seen in some
    places. Negative dialectics and steps coming from the EU front and
    aimed at short-range internal political gains lead to powerful waves
    of reaction. This environment gives courage to EU opponents and,
    although they are in the minority, it makes their voices louder."

    Sabanci gave important messages to the meeting on "the Turkish
    Economy and EU Process," organized by the Silivri Industrialists and
    Businessmen Association. Sabanci wants all articles of the Turkish
    Penal Law related to freedom of speech, particularly Article 301, to be
    developed in accordance with the goal of democratization. He pointed
    out, "We have to immediately eliminate our image as a democratically
    immature country, an image I believe we don't deserve."

    Great responsibilities fell to the opposition as well as to the
    administration to remove obstacles in front of individual rights and
    freedoms, Sabanci said, alluding to the Republican Peoples Party.

    "The opposition should abandon political maneuvers it has undertaken
    for the sake of weakening the government. We follow with dismay the
    statements made by a social democrat party regarding changing Article
    301. In our country where individual and regional income distributions
    are significantly unbalanced, where there are still many deficiencies
    in the area of democracy, and where the fight against poverty and
    social development is not advancing at a desirable speed, it is the
    right of all of us to expect a political approach to Western standards
    from a social democrat party."

    We Fought Tooth and Nail to get to the Point of Beginning Negotiations

    Omer Sabanci said that Turkey would be better able to explain
    to the world that, although Turkey has fulfilled its membership
    criteria fully, the European Union has used a double-standard on some
    subjects. However, emphasizing those current discussions have led to
    different concerns, the TUSIAD president said: "Has the subject of
    the European Union been abandoned to its own destiny? We want to know
    the truth. Our government doesn't want to accept that not much has
    been done on the EU subject during this period. It doesn't do much of
    anything in the name of informing the public." Indicating that Turkey
    was passing through a period in which the economy had made certain
    improvements and in which stability was predominant, he indicated that
    the same thing could be said for relations with the European Union.

    Sabanci stated, "We have fought tooth and nail to get to the point of
    beginning negotiations; there's no turning back." Mentioning debates
    on elections, he pointed out that elections are the biggest risk for
    the economy. "If an election year economy is implemented, balanced
    budgets that have successfully continued during recent years will
    be destroyed and the cost will be very heavy for the economy." He
    underscored that careless approaches to the economy's supply side must
    be ended. Indicating that the struggle against the informal economy was
    inadequate, Sabanci summarized, "Shouldn't a government that claims
    at every opportunity to support entrepreneurs show favoritism toward
    unfair competition? Isn't it necessary to more effectively monitor
    individuals and companies that work under the table as opposed to
    large and small, domestic and foreign investors who operate with
    respect toward the laws?"

    International President of TUSIAD Aldo Kaslowski said: "There should
    be no blunders inside while we're lobbying. The EU agenda shouldn't
    change. We want stability. There has been prosperity for the last
    four years; EU membership will come, also. Let's not fear individual
    rights. This is not supporting terror."

    Discussions about Turkey's failure to complete its homework on the road
    to EU membership and an increase in attempts to interrupt stability
    have upset the business world.

    Kaslowski, international president of ITUSIAD or "the Bosses' club,"
    indicated that 20 years worth of reforms had been made during the past
    four years. He emphasized that Turkey needed to attain EU standards
    without changing its agenda. Referring to statements and discussions
    that gave the European Union secondary importance, Kaslowski said,
    "We are holding promotional activities in Europe.

    However, blunders are made from the inside, and the country doesn't
    have this luxury. In situations like this, the hands of those in the
    European Union supporting Turkey are weakened."

    In addition, Kaslowski gave Zaman many important views on subjects
    ranging from presidential elections to the government's EU performance
    and from political and economic stability to Article 301.

    Qualifying the European Union as "our vital goal," Kaslowski indicated
    that some topics taking prominence in recent days could prevent this
    goal from being attained. He reiterated that Turkey had not reached its
    EU goal for 37 years due to deviating from the agenda. Explaining that
    discussions at this time of who was going to enter the Cankaya Kiosk
    not only hurt the government, but all institutions, Kaslowski said:
    "Why debate this issue so early on?

    When the time comes, the election will be held anyway. We believe
    the most appropriate person will be elected. Speculation wears down
    those involved and our people."

    Underscoring reforms should continue for the sake of the Turkish
    nation, not out of consideration for the European Union, Kaslowski
    emphasized that stability should not be interrupted. He summarized the
    reasons as follows: "Forget about three or five year plans; businessmen
    previously had difficulty even making daily decisions. We couldn't
    see in front of our noses. The stability we've seen for the last four
    years has brought prosperity. While the EU economy was stagnant,
    Turkey grew continuously. Why don't we continue? What's the reason
    for changing the agenda? Is it the head cover? Is this our goal? Or
    is it the European Union and the economy? There are weak leaders at
    the head of countries that don't appear in the league of developed
    countries. We need courageous action. We have been caught up by a
    beneficial wind; let's not abandon it."

    Stating that TUSIAD had formed a delegation under the chairmanship
    of Umit Boyner for promotion of the country, Kaslowski indicated that
    they would organize publicity activities in Brussels, Paris and Berlin
    October 3-5. Pointing out the importance of cultural activities,
    Kaslowski stated, "While we are making such good programs, a wrong
    step is taken, and all of our work goes for nothing." Saying that in
    the past four or five years wonderful results that were previously
    unseen had been realized by working hand-in-hand, Kaslowski continued:
    "We have not made any kind of bend; we're continuing. We want to
    continue without waiting. These pauses make us uncomfortable. If we
    continue on the right path and don't give the opposition ammunition,
    we will be right about some sticky issues." Pointing out that
    the steps Turkey took on Cyprus have left the Greeks in a bind,
    the TUSIAD international president said that with a similar attack,
    the Armenian border could be opened.

    Kaslowski remarked that in this way the trump cards could be taken from
    the hands of the Armenian Diaspora. According to him, the neighbors
    have an effect on the country's image being tarnished outside. "We have
    to improve our relations with them a little. Let's open the doors and
    begin a dialogue with Armenia. Anyway, everything they eat comes from
    us. From now there's no wanting something like land. Europe wouldn't
    even want it, so a little courage is needed," he said. Regarding
    the Cyprus issue, he said the European Union regretted accepting
    the Greek side as a member. Kaslowski made the following evaluation:
    "Cyprus hasn't been resolved for this many years; will it be resolved
    today? Yes, it should be resolved. Let me explain. We can say, 'We'll
    resolve it while being a member, and if the embargo is lifted, the
    ports can open.' We have to be this strong. We can't just beg. You put
    this on the scales and say, 'I'm giving this, so you give this.' From
    now on, things will be like this."

    In the Social Council, the Private Sector is just a Showpiece

    Noting that social and economic consensus was formed in countries
    that previously entered the European Union, Kaslowski continued:
    "In environments where this is not the case, the regime's name is
    different. We don't want that." He said that there were between
    100-200 councils in European countries, depending on their size. He
    continued: "Ninety percent are civil and ten percent are public. With
    us, however, 99 percent are public and one percent is TUSIAD. And
    that is participating at the invitation of the Turkish Chambers and
    Stock Exchanges Union. This shouldn't be. If voices don't come from
    all industries, things won't work." Pointing out that politicians were
    afraid such groups would weaken their hands, Kaslowski added: "Actually
    the strength of non-governmental organizations strengthens the hands
    of the government. Civil groups put into words what politicians fail
    to say, thus supporting them." Pointing out that it was necessary for
    different segments of society to make their voices heard, Kaslowski
    said: "However, everyone can't make his voice heard.

    TUSIAD is successful in this due to its powerful structure and it
    influences public opinion. If only there were 100 TUSIADs; then Turkey
    would be at a very different point."

    Voluntary "EU" Ambassador

    Aldo Kaslowski is the president and founder of the Organic Companies
    Group, the most important producer of high-tech chemical material
    in Turkey and our region. The most important areas of activity for
    the Organic Companies Group are domestic and foreign production,
    distribution, research and development of industrial products, such as
    polymer, silicone, pigment, leather, textiles, paint, tape, detergent,
    cosmetics, chemicals, and medicine. Acting as vice-president of the
    Supreme Advisory Board of TUSIAD, Kaslowski is a member of the board of
    directors of EU's Sacepo (EU Patent Organization) based in Munich. He
    was also on the board of the Sabanci Holding Inc., a prominent holding
    in Turkey's industrial and financial fields. In addition, he was
    also active in the headquarters of the Italian Chamber of Commerce
    in Istanbul as founder of the Turkish branch of the Young President
    Organization (YPO) and in Europe and Africa as vice-president of the
    organization. Kaslowski was on active duty in Turkey's EU Customs
    Union and the EU membership process in Helsinki and Copenhagen. In
    addition to being recognized for his contribution to Turkey's EU
    journey, his outspokenness, and his convictions, Kaslowski is also
    known as an effective "Volunteer Ambassador to Europe."

    The Government Raced Forward for Reforms

    Indicating that there was some truth in statements from European MPs
    regarding the slowdown of Turkish reforms, Kaslowski said: "There
    should be absolutely no slowdown. The government raced forward to
    make reforms and partially implement them. Now we don't make any sense
    out of pausing along the way. The only reason could be the proximity
    of elections." He stated that the European Union was not a card that
    would bring a premium to politicians before the elections.

    He added that Turkey didn't have that luxury, because as reforms that
    have been awaited for years will be delayed, the economy will not be
    straightened out either. The reforms were not only going to broaden
    rights and freedoms, at the same time they would increase the level of
    prosperity parallel to developing the economy. According to Kaslowski,
    the government that achieves this will gain no matter what.

    301 is Still in Force; I can be tried, too

    Wanting to cooperate with the European Union in fighting terror,
    Kaslowski said: "It's not known where and when terror will
    occur. To resolve it we definitely need the support of Western
    countries." He stated that in spite of steps taken, personal freedoms
    were insufficient. According to this, opening the way to individual
    rights and freedom of thought didn't mean supporting terror. Kaslowski
    remarked: "We have been using the current system for half a century.

    If this method were correct, the problem should have been solved. It
    means there's something missing." Pointing out that in spite of
    journalist Elif Shafak's acquittal, Article 301 was still in effect,
    the TUSIAD international president said: "Elif Shafak went but
    another can come or I can go because of what I'm saying now. If we
    don't correct this, they'll hit us over the head. It's necessary to
    immediately straighten out these trouble spots one by one."
    From: Baghdasarian
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