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Turkish Press Review, 98-09-02
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
02.09.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURCO-BRITISH CONSORTIUM TO CONSTRUCT OIL PIPELINE IN
TURKMENISTAN
[02] CRISIS STRIKES IMKB
[03] REACTIONS AGAINST DENKTAS' PROPOSAL
[04] TURKEY SEEKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA COUNTRIES
[05] WORLD PEACE DAY CELEBRATED
[06] FOREST FIRE IN MARMARIS
[07] YILMAZ TO ANNOUNCE NEW MEASURES TODAY
[08] PEACEFUL MESSAGE IN AEGEAN
[09] BELGIUM INTERROGATES CAKICI
[10] FRENCH-TYPE OMBUDSMAN
[11] ERCAN-ROME LINE
[12] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM RED CRESCENT TO AZERBAIJAN
[13] INTEREST RATES INCREASED BY THE TREASURY
[14] TURKISH BANKERS MEET
[15] TURCO-BRITISH CONSORTIUM TO CONSTRUCT OIL PIPELINE IN
TURKMENISTAN
[16] RUSSIA TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS
[17] PA CHAIRMAN BAYAR TALKS TO WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE
[18] ORIENT EXPRESS IN TURKEY
[19] SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MARKET INCREASES BY 31.6 PERCENT
[20] PKK TERRORISTS TAKE MEDICAL TREATMENT IN IRAQ
[21] GHANAIAN INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER IN ANKARA
[22] OIL PRODUCTION IN ADIYAMAN
[23] STATE MINISTER SECKINER LEAVES FOR ALBANIA
[24] INTERNATIONAL FISHERY SYMPOSIUM IN TRABZON
[25] ARCELIK EXPANDS INTO UZBEKISTAN
[26] RENOWNED TURKISH FILM DIRECTOR DIES
[01] TURCO-BRITISH CONSORTIUM TO CONSTRUCT OIL PIPELINE IN
TURKMENISTAN
[02] CRISIS STRIKES IMKB
The shocking fall on the stock exchanges in the Far East and in
the US and Europe has caused a severe reaction on the Istanbul
Stock Exchange (IMKB). The index in trading yesterday morning
lost 257 points. A total of TL 52 trillion was traded on the IMKB
and at the end of trading, the market closed at 2,524 points,
down 111 from the day before. The brokers characterized this as a
small loss. /All papers/
[03] REACTIONS AGAINST DENKTAS' PROPOSAL
In Paris, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Anne Gazeu-Secret said that
France was against a Cyprus confederation on grounds that it
would mean recognition for the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC). She called on the Cypriot sides for the
establishment of a federation on two communities and not states.
Meanwhile, the British Foreign office reiterated its line on
Cyprus and said that they would welcome any constructive approach
on Cyprus' accession to the European Union (EU). "The
international community endorsed the UN secretary-general's set
of ideas to promote negotiations in Cyprus" a Foreign Office
spokesman said, adding that they wished to see a bi-zonal,
bi-communal settlement "as agreed to in 1977 and 1979 high-level
agreements".
While the Greek Cypriots were blasting his suggestion for a
confederation, TRNC President said yesterday that the Greek
Cypriots never wanted a solution on Cyprus since they are happy
at being internationally recognized as the only government on the
island. "They cannot enslave us. We are equal and sovereign. We
will never relinquish anything from Turkey's guarantorship. A
confederation can be set up, this is an opportunity" Denktas said
during a visit to the newly-appointed commander of the Turkish
forces in the TRNC, Gen.Aydin Sen. /All papers/
[04] TURKEY SEEKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA COUNTRIES
A high-level meeting with the participation of the six Turkish
ambassadors to Latin America was held in Ankara yesterday under
the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to hammer out a
comprehensive project for boosting Turkey's relations with the
continent. In his opening speech at a meeting yesterday, Cem said
that Turkey's priority regarding Latin America would the
establishment of close economic ties, which would lay the
necessary groundwork for a productive political cooperation.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir also took part
in the meeting.
In line with this new initiative, high-level Turkish government
officials will pay visit to Latin America in the upcoming weeks.
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is scheduled to visit Mexico by the
end of September, while Foreign Minister Cem will tour Brazil,
Argentina and Chile in October. /All papers/
[05] WORLD PEACE DAY CELEBRATED
Ceremonies took place all around Turkey to celebrate World Peace
Day yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel issued a message for
World Peace Day, stressing that the aim of all people should be
peace throughout the world, adding that all people had equal
rights, regardless of their religion, nationality or color. "Many
changes have occurred in the world in the last 10 years. Some
ideological conflicts have ended and human rights have started to
play a large role in national polcies" he said. /All papers/
[06] FOREST FIRE IN MARMARIS
Forest fires are again threathening the Marmaris district of
Mugla. 16 hectares of forest burnt out yesterday in Marmaris.
Officials noted that six helicopters from Marmaris, Dalaman,
Mugla and Bodrum are supporting the operations to put out the
fire. /Milliyet/
[07] YILMAZ TO ANNOUNCE NEW MEASURES TODAY
The Turkish government is trying to take new measures to
alleviate the effects of the crisis in the world. Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz yesterday received full authority from the Council
of Ministers to determine the measures to be taken against the
crisis and to announce them. It is expected that Yilmaz will make
a statement regarding the new measures today. During a meeting of
the Council of Ministers yesterday, a general evaluation of the
global crisis was made and developments in Turkey were taken up.
Meanwhile, State Minister Gunes Taner noted that there has been
no significant effect of the crisis on the Turkish economy so far
and added that Turkey's credibility was continuing.
[08] PEACEFUL MESSAGE IN AEGEAN
Didim Mayor M.Soysalan, Leka Mayor G.Kzitikos, Poleokastro Mayor
C.Andereu, Greek writer Elsa Hiu and many Turkish and Greek peace
supporters attended a ceremony held yesterday on the occassion of
the World Peace Day. Tow boats sailed from the Didim Altinkum
wharf and gave messages of peace and friendship to each other.
/Milliyet/
[09] BELGIUM INTERROGATES CAKICI
A four-member police team from Belgium, who arrived in the Nice
district of France yesterday, interrogated Alaattin Cakici, head
of a large criminal organization. No details have been announced
to the press regarding the interrogation made to clarify money
laundering by Turkish gangs and a murder committed by Cakici in
1996 in Belgium. Three French police also attended the
interrogation. /Milliyet/
[10] FRENCH-TYPE OMBUDSMAN
Under the directives of President Suleyman Demirel, Fahri Ozturk,
Head of the State Supervision Institute (DDK) and a group of
professors went to France to make observations on the Ombudsman
system. The delegation, who stayed in France for 10 days, met
with many officials from various juridical organs including Court
of Account, Council of State and the Constitutional Court. A
report prepared by the delegation following their visit to France
has been presented to President Demirel. The report proposed that
an Ombudsman mechanism should also be established in Turkey.
/Milliyet/
[11] ERCAN-ROME LINE
Members of the Forsa Italia (The Power of Italy) Party, who are
currently visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC), met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday. The
delegation said that they launched initiatives for flights
between Italy's Rome and the TRNC's Ercan Airport. /Milliyet/
[12] HUMANITARIAN AID FROM RED CRESCENT TO AZERBAIJAN
The Turkish Red Crescent has extended humanitarian aid consisting
of 192.6 tons of dried food, cleansing and medical products and
an ambulance to Azerbaijan, the Anatolia news agency reported
yesterday.
[13] INTEREST RATES INCREASED BY THE TREASURY
Treasury increased the rate of interests, yesterday, for the bid
of short term bonds which will play a key role in the future
course of the economy. While guaranteeing to get the repayment of
630 trillion with the sale made yesterday, Treasury has taken a
step to change the course of the downward trend. Bankers who
expected a favourable influence by the visit of the US President
to Russia, believed that upward trend will start in the stock
exchange markets. /Hurriyet/
[14] TURKISH BANKERS MEET
The Administrative Board of Turkish Bankers' Union is meeting in
Ankara today and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will also attend the
meeting. At the meeting, the prime minister will listen to the
demands and suggestions of the bankers. Chairman of the Bankers'
Union Unal Korukcu, recalling the crisis in Russia said that
world economy was passing through hard days while giving
information about the agenda of the meeting. /Hurriyet/
[15] TURCO-BRITISH CONSORTIUM TO CONSTRUCT OIL PIPELINE IN
TURKMENISTAN
A Turco-British consortium won an international bid to construct
a 180-km oil pipeline in Turkmenistan. According to the Turkmen
Press, Turkmenistan State Company, "Turkmengaz" and the
Turco-British consortium reached an agreement which will be
signed in the upcoming days. Turkmenistan suggested that the
expenditures of the construction be met in return for natural
gas. /Sabah/
[16] RUSSIA TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS
Russia, where official imports have been decreasing because of
negative developments in its economy, is going to lift the
restrictions applied on suit-case trade in order to meet the
needs of civilians. According to the Interfax news agency, State
Customs Committee and Ministry of Economy have been trying hard
to enliven the suit-case trade between Turkey and Russia.
According to the new regulations Russian citizens will be
exempted from tax for the goods that they will bring to Russia.
/Sabah/
[17] PA CHAIRMAN BAYAR TALKS TO WALL STREET JOURNAL EUROPE
Chairman of the Privatization Administration, Ugur Bayar talked
to the Wall Street Journal Europe daily newspaper about the bid
of the Telekom. Bayar said that the three biggest companies in
Turkey, Koc, Sabanci and Dogan groups aspired for the third GSM
network. He added that Koc group attended the bid together with
American SBC company, one of the leading companies in the world
in telecommunications. /Sabah/
[18] ORIENT EXPRESS IN TURKEY
The Orient Express, a historical train, was in Istanbul yesterday
after 22 years. Chairman of the Orient Express Executive Board,
of the British Sea Containers Company, Nick Varian said that the
train stopped over in Turkey in line with the celebrations of the
75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
Nick Varian also stressed that the Sea Containers Company was
highly interested in privatization in maritime in Turkey. /Sabah/
[19] SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MARKET INCREASES BY 31.6 PERCENT
Turkey realised $ 1.6 billion revenue in Science and Technology
market in 1997. The market share developed 31.6 percent compared
to 1996. Education Services of the Production_Service sub-group
ranked first in development with a 85 percent development in the
market. /Sabah/
[20] PKK TERRORISTS TAKE MEDICAL TREATMENT IN IRAQ
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein improved his relations with PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan. It is known that Saddam provides shelter
to PKK terrorists in northern Iraq. The news was approved by the
American defense sources. It was reported that a PKK camp had
been constructed in the Mahmur township of Erbil. It was also
revealed that Baghdad administration had given medical treatment
for wounded PKK terrorists in Baghdad and the Saddam
administration had ensured financial and military aid to the
terrorists' camps in Iraq. /Sabah/
[21] GHANAIAN INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER IN ANKARA
John Frank Abu, Ghanaian Industry and Trade Minister came on
Monday to Turkey to join the First Term Turkish-Ghanaian Joint
Economic Commission (JEC) meetings. Mustafa Yilmaz, State
Minister, welcomed Abu and accompanying delegation at Ankara's
Esenboga Airport. Noting that they have developed cooperation
relations with Turkish private sector, Abu said: "Turkish private
sector will contribute to the transfer of the labour force in
Turkey to Ghana", the Anatolia news agency reported.
[22] OIL PRODUCTION IN ADIYAMAN
The Turkish Petroleum Board (TPAO) produced a total of 7.9
million barrels of crude oil during January-August period in
Adiyaman which has the largest oil reserves of Turkey, the
Anatolia news agency reported.
[23] STATE MINISTER SECKINER LEAVES FOR ALBANIA
State Minister Yucel Seckiner left yesterday for Albania to join
the Fifth Term Turkish-Albanian Economic, Commercial, Industrial
and Technical Cooperation Joint Commission meetings. Addressing
the journalists at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his
departure, Seckiner said that they aim at further improving the
economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Albania, the
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.
[24] INTERNATIONAL FISHERY SYMPOSIUM IN TRABZON
The First International Fishery and Ecology Symposium organized
by the Black Sea Technical University under the auspices of
President Suleyman Demirel, will start in Trabzon tomorrow, the
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Nearly 150 scientists
from 32 countries will join the symposium that will last until 4
September.
[25] ARCELIK EXPANDS INTO UZBEKISTAN
Arcelik, durable goods and electronic equipment producer,
embodied in the Koc conglomerate, is planning to produce
refrigerators in Uzbekistan. Arcelik will establish a joint
venture with SINO O.J.S.C, an Uzbek firm which already owns a
refrigerator producing factory in Semerkand. A statement issued
by Arcelik says that a protocol was signed by the two companies
and that the joint venture will technologically renew the
factory, owned by the Uzbek firm, where it plans to produce 250
thousand refrigerators a year. /Hurriyet/
[26] RENOWNED TURKISH FILM DIRECTOR DIES
Osman Fahri Seden, aged 74, who has served Turkish cinema as
script writer, producer and director for 46 years, died
yesterday. /Hurriyet/
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