|
|
|
Turkish Press Review, 99-03-09
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
09.03.99
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....
[02] HADEP TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS
[03] PAPANDREU: "PKK IS NOT LEGAL IN GREECE"
[04] OKCUOGLU AND KAPLAN IN MUDANYA
[05] GENERAL STAFF DENIES DOWNED CHOPPER REPORT
[06] TURKEY SENDS NEW OCALAN INFORMATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS COURT
[07] ITALY SEEKS SUPPORT FOR OCALAN IN EUROPE
[08] INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED
[09] TIKKO HIDEOUT RAIDED BY POLICE
[10] ACTION PLAN OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
[11] DEMIREL TO WARN ATHENS
[12] OPERATION IN TOKAT
[13] SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
[14] ERDIR TO VISIT ROME
[15] GLOBAL FINANCE CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
[16] `GRATIS LAND' ENCHANTS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS
[17] CHP ANNOUNCES ITS ELECTION MANIFESTO
[18] BAHCELI: "MHP WILL ENTER PARLIAMENT"
[19] CILLER ASKS THE SUPPORT OF TURKISH WOMEN
[20] DTP CRITICIZES THE SOUTHEASTERN PACKAGE
[21] GUVENEN TO THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY
[22] TURKISH STUDENTS TO MALTA UNIVERSITY
[23] INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS OF THE FUTURE MEET IN ISTANBUL
[24] GREEK UNDERSECRETARY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
[25] TREASURY EXPORTS BONDS
[26] ULUGBAY IN WASHINGTON
[27] SYNDICATION CREDITS FOR TOPRAKBANK
[28] RATE OF INTEREST UNDER 100 %
[29] OPENING UP TO AFRICA
[30] GERMAN ENVOY IN CYPRUS
[31] IMKB IS THE 'STAR' OF EUROPE
[32] TOURISM CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTHEAST
[33] RUSSIA ASKS TURKEY TO ACCELERATE THE "BLUE STREAM" PROJECT
[34] ISLAM ACADEMY IN VIENNA
[35] INCIRLIK ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED IN ANKARA
[36] KIVRIKOGLU IN BELGIUM
[37] ECZACIBASI-SCHWARZKOPF COOPERATION
[38] TURKEY'S GREAT SUCCESS
[39] "FESTIVAL GREETINGS AT TURCO-SYRIAN BORDER"
[40] AN INVENTION BY TURKISH BIOLOGIST
[41] 24TH DUBAI SPRING TRADE FAIR
[42] LEBANIDZE: "BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE HAS VITAL IMPORTANCE"
[43] TWO TURKISH GALLERIES IN STOCKHOLM
[44] YEKTA KARA TO CONDUCT NABUCCO IN GERMANY
[45] TARKAN IN GERMANY
[46] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....
TERRORIST STATES -BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)
[47] THE MISSION OF MILLER -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[48] THEY DESERVE TO BE OUT OF THE LISTS - BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....
CETIN CALLS PARLIAMENT TO EXTRAORDINARY SESSION Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), called yesterday Parliament to an extraordinary session, scheduled for Saturday. Having gathered the necessary 110 signatures, disgruntled deputies have petitioned Cetin to call Parliament to an extraordinary session on March 10. Abdulkadir Oncel, a Virtue Party (FP) deputy and Mahmut Isik, a Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy, jointly submitted their petition to the Speaker. The deputies stated that they signed the petition because they believe that holding two elections together will harm Turkey. The disgruntled deputies stated that Turkey is face to face with a conspiracy, and that these matters need to be discussed in the General Assembly. "Reflections of the anti-terror measures in the international arena have forced us to call Parliament into session", they said. /All papers/
[02] HADEP TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS
The Constitutional Court yesterday rejected an attempt by Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas to prevent the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) from participating in the April 18 local and parliamentary elections. The Court is currently hearing a case for the closure of the HADEP on charges that it is linked with the PKK terrorist organization. /All papers/
[03] PAPANDREU: "PKK IS NOT LEGAL IN GREECE"
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu said yesterday that the PKK terrorist organization is not a legal organization in Greece and stressed that Greece wanted to cooperate with Turkey. "The tension between Turkey and Greece is a result of harsh rhetorics... I believe the crisis can be overcome with prudence" Papandreu said, according to the Anatolia News Agency. "I hope the tension in bilateral relations will slow down and they will come back at least to their previous state", he added. He stressed that Greece should encourage Turkey's rapprochement with the European Union (EU) within the framework of European principles. Greece will give support to a possible EU package aimed at the improvement of human and social rights of the people in Turkey's Southeast, the Greek Minister said.
[04] OKCUOGLU AND KAPLAN IN MUDANYA
Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu, attorney for the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan, was preparing to visit Ocalan for the second time, together with Hasip Kaplan, at the Imrali Island prison facility where the terrorist leader is being held. The visit was planned for Monday, but was postponed to Tuesday, Okcuoglu said. The two attorneys will be accompanied by Mudanya Notary Hacibey Erdogan, who will complete the official procedure for the attorneys defending Ocalan. The notary had also travelled to the island yesterday, Okcuoglu said. Meanwhile, Huseyin Cinar, one of the prosecutors for Mudanya, went to Imrali Island to replace prosecutor Ayhan Koksal. Mudanya's prosecutors rotate their duty on the island. /All papers/
[05] GENERAL STAFF DENIES DOWNED CHOPPER REPORT
The Turkish General Staff yesterday denied news reports that a Turkish helicopter had been downed by PKK terrorists. "Reuters, CNN, BBC, the Associated Press and the Agence France Press reported on March 8, 1999, that a helicopter was hit and 20 Turkish soldiers lost their lives after the attack. The report is completely baseless and aims to encourage the terrorist organization, which is passing through a splitting up period. Such news should not be taken into consideration and it should be known that all the information will be given by Turkish officials" the TGS statement said. /All papers/
[06] TURKEY SENDS NEW OCALAN INFORMATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS COURT
Turkey sent a second set of documents to the European Court of Human Rights on the Abdullah Ocalan case, the Anatolia News Agency reports. In response to a result from the court, technical information regarding the arrest of Ocalan and his transfer to Turkey was sent to Strasbourg, diplomatic sources stated.
[07] ITALY SEEKS SUPPORT FOR OCALAN IN EUROPE
Italian Prime Minister, Massimo D'Alema, decided to start an initiative in Europe in order to prevent Ocalan from being punished to death sentence. It was reported that D'Alema would ask European leaders to put pressure on Ankara about Ocalan. It was also reported that the Italian Prime Minister asked his European counterparts to mediate with Ankara for a fair trial to Ocalan. /Turkiye/
[08] INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CELEBRATED
Turkey marked International Women's Day with various activities and meetings nationwide yesterday. In Ankara, politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGO) commented on women's status in Turkey and issued good wishes. In Ankara, the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Women Status and Problems organized a celebration to mark March 8, International Women's Day. Talking about the improvement in women's status from the establishment of modern Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk till now, President Suleyman Demirel asserted that Ataturk was aware of the importance of women in the progress of the society and that he had given women the right to vote and to be elected in 1923. The President also pointed out that the 1926 Civil Code was a very modern document for its time which give women more rights than their contemporaries. Accepting members of the Turkish American Women's Culture and Solidarity Association, Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA),said that the status of women in a country is an indicator of its modernization. Cetin asserted that the the Republic of Turkey is based on gender equality. /All papers/
[09] TIKKO HIDEOUT RAIDED BY POLICE
The house used as a hideout by the terrorists who are the suspects in the bombing in Cankiri was raided by police on Sunday in the town of Polatli, just outside of Ankara. A large cache of weapons, reminding one of an ammunition store, was found in the house -the hideout of the illegal TIKKO organization- along with false identity cards, false number plates and sketches of the cities of Cankiri, Tokat and Amasya. The terrorists were planning an attack against Nami Cagan, the former Labour and Social Security Minister, who had opened a dispensary just 100 meters away from the terrorists hideout last month, police were quoted as saying by the Anatolia News Agency. A stolen car used by the terrorists in the Cankiri bombing was found left in Polatli, only 500 meters away from the raided house and the terrorists. Meanwhile, Necati Bilican, the Head of the Turkish Police, visited Ayhan Cevik, the wounded Governor of Cankiri, who is undergoing treatment in Ankara's Hacettepe Hospital. Bilican, who expressed his pleasure over the good condition of the governor, said that Cevik was told by his doctors that he would be able to stand up in a few days.
[10] ACTION PLAN OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
Terrorist Kemal Erturk, who is reponsible for the bloody attack when Cankiri Governor Ayhan Cevik was severely wounded and three civilians died, was seized in Sivrihisar, Afyon. During his hearing, Erturk said that they had aimed to kill senior Turkish officials. He added that there were many bomb experts in TIKKO terrorist organization and they had been trained in Greece and Lebanon. /Aksam/
[11] DEMIREL TO WARN ATHENS
President Suleyman Demirel will aim at Greece during a Turkish-Bulgarian-Romanian summit on the "Struggle Against Terrorism" to be held in Bucharest on March 11, 1999. It is reported that during his speeches, Demirel will talk about Greece which clearly supports terrorism. The first of these summits was held in Varna and the second was held in Antalya last year. The last summit will be held in Bucharest, Romania. The summit will be at the presidential level. Opportunities for economic and political cooperation between the three countries and regional problems especially in Kosovo will also be taken up during the summit. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] OPERATION IN TOKAT
During conflicts between Turkish security forces and the illegal TKP-ML TIKKO organization in Tokat, five members of this illegal organization were killed. It is reported that operations in the region are on-going. /Hurriyet/
[13] SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail met Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday to discuss ways of extending cooperation in the political and economic fields. The two ministers signed a cooperation protocol over the formation of a political consultation mechanism. The Sudanese Foreign Minister was received by Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin and President Suleyman Demirel following the talks between the Turkish and Sudanese delegations. /All papers/
[14] ERDIR TO VISIT ROME
The Turkish Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister, Mahmut Erdir, will go to the Italian capital of Rome today to attend a meeting on fishery. Erdir will make a statement on the issue at Istanbul's Airport today prior to his departure. Erdir will return to Turkey on March 12, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
[15] GLOBAL FINANCE CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
The Global Finance Conference, which brings together a number of world-renowned financial experts, will be held in Istanbul by the Bilgi University between April 7-9. The main theme of the Conference this year is the question of `Global Risk Management'. It is expected that approximately 150 scholars and other financial experts will participate in the Conference, including Franco Modigliani, the Nobel winner in Economics, and Gazi Ercel, the Governer of the Central Bank of Turkey. /Sabah/
[16] `GRATIS LAND' ENCHANTS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS
The Turkish Ministry of Finance has allocated `gratis lands' for 36 factories and middle-scale plants in underdeveloped regions in order to encourage industrial investments. In addition, 38 enterpreneurs have also applied to the Ministry of Finance to benefit from the `gratis land' application pursued by the government. In this respect, a total of 74 factories and plants, which will provide employment opportunities to 11,000 people, will have been established in underdeveloped regions in two years' time. A great majority of the plants will be established in Southeastern Anatolia, particularly in Diyarbakir, Elazig and Siirt. /Sabah/
[17] CHP ANNOUNCES ITS ELECTION MANIFESTO
The Republican People's Party (CHP) announces its election manifesto, the `Solution 2000', in Istanbul today. Deniz Baykal, the leader of the CHP, said that their manifesto is "not a mere list of promises but a document which proposes concrete solutions to concrete problems. In `Solution 2000', we define our policy goals concerning the Turkish economy, public education, social insurance, the Southeastern question, judicial system and the human rights question." /Milliyet/
[18] BAHCELI: "MHP WILL ENTER PARLIAMENT"
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said, "We will surely enter Parliament." Noting that the April Elections are a chance for Turkey for empowering honest politics, Bahceli demanded that the political disputes among political parties be overcome. /Milliyet/
[19] CILLER ASKS THE SUPPORT OF TURKISH WOMEN
The leader of the True Path Party (DYP), Tansu Ciller, attended a meeting on "World Women's Day" organized by her party yesterday in Ankara. At the meeting Ciller asked for the support of women. She said that the 18 April elections would be referandum for Turkish women. Ciller said that her party wanted to start the "Second Democratic Movement" not only in Turkey but also in all Turkish-Speaking countries with the support of women. /Turkiye/
[20] DTP CRITICIZES THE SOUTHEASTERN PACKAGE
Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP), described the Southeastern Package announced by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit as "a positive attempt which is nevertheless far from being a hope for the region." Remarking that the people in the region does not need a package but tolerence, equity, rule of law and freedom, Cindoruk said, "We should enact laws which will ensure the surrender of the PKK militans to the judicial organs. We should abolish the Emergency Law in the region. The Democratic Left Party (DSP) is a small group in Parliament. The government should bring its own power to the region." /Milliyet/
[21] GUVENEN TO THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY
Orhan Guvenen, the Undersecretary of the State Planning Organization (DPT), has been admitted as a member of the European Sciences and Arts Academy during the General Council of the Academy which was held in Vienna last Saturday. The Academy aims at an intellectual, geographical and political redefinition of Europe towards the third millenium. Guvenen remarked that his central concerns due to his new duties will be the question of information technologies and the representation of women in the realm of politics. /Milliyet/
[22] TURKISH STUDENTS TO MALTA UNIVERSITY
According to the protocol endorsed between the Malta University and the Turkish Higher Board of Education (YOK), 200 Turkish students will be able to be educated in Malta. Meanwhile, it is reported that Prof.Roger Ellul Micallef, the President of the Malta University, continues his meetings in Turkey. /Milliyet/
[23] INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS OF THE FUTURE MEET IN ISTANBUL
The "International Industrial Engineering Students' Symposium", organized by the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and sponsored by Hewlett Packard, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, will start tomorrow. More than 500 international sudents from 25 universities will participate in the Symposium. /Sabah/
[24] GREEK UNDERSECRETARY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
The Greek Undersecretary at the Embassy in Ankara, Michael Christides, who held some suspicious meetings in the Haymana district of Ankara, was taken into custody yesterday. After it was learned that he was the Greek Undersecretary and has diplomatic immunity, he was released. Information on the issue was given to officials of the Security and the Foreign Ministry. /Cumhuriyet/
[25] TREASURY EXPORTS BONDS
The Treasury will export bonds having a 371-day term. The date for the exports which are expected to total 500-700 trillion TL is March 10, 1999. The repayment of the bonds will be realized on March 15, 2000. /Cumhuriyet/
[26] ULUGBAY IN WASHINGTON
During meetings in Washington, the Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Ulugbay will insist on a 'moderate' plan for a two-and-a-half year-period with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To date, 16 stand-by agreements have been signed between Turkey and the IMF. Credits extended within the framework of stand-by agreements strengthen the balance of payments by increasing the reserves of the Central Bank. Turkey signed a Staff Monitoring Programme which went into effect in July 1998. /Cumhuriyet/
[27] SYNDICATION CREDITS FOR TOPRAKBANK
Toprakbank has been provided with syndication credits worth $55 million. According to a statement made by Toprakbank officials, an agreement regarding the syndication credits has been signed in Paris. /Hurriyet/
[28] RATE OF INTEREST UNDER 100 %
The interest rates of bonds have fallen under the level of 100 % after nearly seven months. The interest rates of bonds which have been over 100 % since last August dropped to 97 % yesterday. There has been an optimism in the markets following the capture of the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan, officials noted. /Hurriyet/
[29] OPENING UP TO AFRICA
Turkey is launching a new series of initiatives within the framework of opening up to African countries. To this end, Ankara has decided to open three new embassies in Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast. Moreover, Turkey will send new ambassadors to nine African countries through a partial ambassadorial system. According to the new implementation, ambassadors working at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara will go to these countries for a three or four month-period every year. Meanwhile, the Kenyan Head of State will arrive in Ankara at the beginning of June. A delegation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry will go to Kenya next month to hold various contacts. It is also reported that Nigeria will open an Embassy in Ankara. Turkey will send observers to Nigeria for the Elections to be held in May. /Hurriyet/
[30] GERMAN ENVOY IN CYPRUS
Germany's Cyprus envoy Detlev Count Zu Rantzau arrived in Cyprus yesterday for talks with the Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides and the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas. Rantzau met Klerides and said after the meeting that it was both 'interesting and informative'. On Wednesday, the German envoy will meet Denktas and leaders of Turkish Cypriot political parties. /All papers/
[31] IMKB IS THE 'STAR' OF EUROPE
Despite the economic crisis in Russia, the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) was among the first five among emerging markets in Europe concerning the transaction volume in 1998. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the IMKB was the fifth emerging market in the world with a $ 68.5 billion transaction volume and it was at the first among the emerging markets in Europe with a $ 68.5 billion transaction volume. /Turkiye/
[32] TOURISM CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTHEAST
The Turkish Travelling Agencies' Union (TURSAB) will start the second leg of the "Tourism to be Revived in the Southeast" campaign in Van. Talha Camas, Chairman of TURSAB, said yesterday in his written statement that they had started a tourism campaign in the Southeast region from Urfa, Mardin and Diyarbakir. Camas added that the second leg of the campaign would start in Van. He noted that they aimed to make the Southeastern Anatolia a tourism destination as it had been in the past. /Turkiye/
[33] RUSSIA ASKS TURKEY TO ACCELERATE THE "BLUE STREAM" PROJECT
Representatives of the Russian Gazprom firm asked Ankara to accelerate the studies on the "Blue Stream" project. Member of the Gazprom Executive Board, Yuri Kamarov, said that they wanted Ankara to start studies as soon as possible in order to realize the part of the project to be constructed in Turkey. After the meeting with BOTAS representatives in Ankara, Kamarov said they had exchanged views on studies concerning transporting natural gas to Samsun Harbour by laying pipe-line down through the Black Sea. He added that the project should be completed by 30 September, 2000. "The project will highly contribute to the energy sector of Turkey. And it will help Turco-Russian relations to improve," Kamarov said. /Turkiye/
[34] ISLAM ACADEMY IN VIENNA
The Islam Academy founded by the Austrian Islamic Society was officially opened yesterday in Vienna, Austria. Academicians from Turkey, Egypt and Austria attended the opening ceremony of the academy. It was reported that the aim of the establishment of the academy was to promote the real Islam in Europe. /Turkiye/
[35] INCIRLIK ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED IN ANKARA
Deputy Secretary of the US State Department, Martin Indyk, who will come to Ankara today, will start the first leg of his Middle East tour. Meanwhile, James Rubin, Spokesman of the US Secretary of State, announced that Indyk would discuss the use of the Incirlik Air Base and the control of Iraq and Northern Iraq by air forces with Turkish officials. On the other hand, it is expected that the Turkish side wanted to negotiate the struggle against terrorism and the support given to the terrorist PKK organization by Greece during the meeting. Turkey has already announced that Greece ought to be put in the list of the countries which support terrorism. /Turkiye/
[36] KIVRIKOGLU IN BELGIUM
General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of the General Staff, is in Belgium to attend the 132nd Meeting of the Military Committee of NATO. The Committee will discuss the establishment of a probable peace force to be missioned in Kosovo. There will be also special mettings with Russian and Ukranian Chief of General Staffs. Meanwhile, Greek diplomatic circles and media expect that Turkish Chief of General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu will severely criticize Greece during his speeches at the meeting. Turkish military sources noted that Kivrikoglu would stress the danger of terrorism and the necessity of cooperation against terrorism in his speeches. /Turkiye/
[37] ECZACIBASI-SCHWARZKOPF COOPERATION
Turkish Eczacibasi and German Hans Scwarzkopf signed an agreement yesterday in Istanbul to establish a joint venture, Eczacibasi-Schwarzkopf Hairdressers' Products Marketing, with equal shares. Eczacibasi will promote Schwarzkopf products in Turkish markets. After the signing ceremony, the chairman of Eczacibasi Corp., Bulent Eczacibasi said that their company had the 32 percent of the cosmetics market in Turkey. He added that with the new agreement they would increase their effect in the market. Meanwhile, Bulent Eczacibasi, the Chairman of the Consultation Council of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), said that they were very hopeful for the future eceonomic developments in Turkey especially in the second half of 1999. He added inflation rate had been decreasing and there would be new projects to be implemented especially in the East and Southeast Anatolia regions. "If there is not an unexpected negative development in world markets, Turkish economy will continue to develop positively," Eczacibasi noted. /Aksam/
[38] TURKEY'S GREAT SUCCESS
The European-Mediterranean Parliament Speakers' Meeting ended in the Island of Majorca, Spain. Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Uluc Gurkan represented Turkey at the meeting during which there were also the Parliament Speakers from 28 countries. In the Final Communique, issued at end of the meeting, it was accepted that "terrorism is the biggest threath against democracy". Gurkan noted in his speech during the meeting that Turkey was annoyed with the support given to the terrorist organization by some of the allies. And the support, he continued, would threaten the whole Mediterranean in the future. Gurkan also separately met Italian, German and Austrian Parliament Speakers following the meeting. /Aksam/
[39] "FESTIVAL GREETINGS AT TURCO-SYRIAN BORDER"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday in Ankara that people of Hatay would exchange festival greetings with their relatives in Syria not behind fences but by embracing each other. Ecevit added that he attached great importance to the issue and that he discussed the issue with Syrian officials. He pointed out that if Syria exhibited a positive approach to the issue, Turkish citizens in Hatay and Syria would meet at the border at the coming Muslim Festival at the end of March. /Aksam/
[40] AN INVENTION BY TURKISH BIOLOGIST
Nevah Ciftcioglu, a Turkish biologist aged 35, has been awarded with the 'Medix Title', the greatest medical award in Finland, by inventing 'Nanobacteria' microbe which causes nephrolithiasis. Ciftcioglu together with his Finnish friend Assc.Prof.Olavi Kajander will receive her award during a ceremony today in Helsinki. Meanwhile, the CNN TV station has noted that Dr.Nevah Ciftcioglu should be a nominee for Nobel. /Hurriyet/
[41] 24TH DUBAI SPRING TRADE FAIR
Turkey will participate in the 24th Dubai Spring Trade Fair, which will be held on March 14-18, with 20 exporter companies, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The Exports Development Centre (IGEME) said the 20 Turkish exporter firms will exhibit several stationery equipment, porcelain, ceramics, glass and steel kitchen utensils etc.
[42] LEBANIDZE: "BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE HAS VITAL IMPORTANCE"
Tariel Lebanidze, the Georgian Ambassador to Ankara, said yesterday that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline has a vital importance for both Turkey and Georgia. Lebanidze, who went on a journey covering the provinces having shores to the Black Sea, visited the same day Metin Ilyas, the Governor of Samsun, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
[43] TWO TURKISH GALLERIES IN STOCKHOLM
The Asmalimescit Art Gallery in Istanbul and the Cosku Art Gallery in Izmir will participate in the International Stockholm Art Fair to be held in Stockholm, Sweden, on March 11-14, with the works of art from Ekrem Kahraman and Nuran Ipek. The owner of the Asmalimescit Art Gallery, Ugur Bekdemir, has prepared a catalogue regarding Ekrem Kahraman in English and Swedish. /Cumhuriyet/
[44] YEKTA KARA TO CONDUCT NABUCCO IN GERMANY
The General Director and Art Director of Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, Yekta Kara, has been invited to the Chemnitz Opera in Germany as the guest director. Kara will conduct Verdi's Nabucco opera in Germany. /Hurriyet/
[45] TARKAN IN GERMANY
Turkish pop singer Tarkan continues his tour in Europe. After his great success both in France and Belgium, Tarkan is now climbing to the top of German music charts. He will promote his first cassette in Germany in April. Answering the questions by the German Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Tarkan said that he believed Turkish pop music would become popular not only in Germany but also in Europe. /Turkiye/
[46] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....
TERRORIST STATES -BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Orhan Birgit looks into the activities of terrorist states in the world and Greek manipulation of the PKK in accordance with its desires over Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: An increase in the number of terrorist states at the beginning of the second millenium, only concerns the states suffering from their activities. Hitherto it was known that Greece had fostered hostile ambitions over Turkey, however they were believed to be focused on the continental shelf in the Aegean and Cyprus. It is becoming clear that Turkey's western neighbour has never given up the ambition of dividing Turkey....Until recently, in international symposiums against terrorism, the countries who were named in this connection were Libya and Syria. Following Ocalan's departure from Damascus, Greece has taken its place in this triangle and brought shame on its glorius civilized past. The PKK camps in Greece, the Greek banks, where the enormous wealth obtained from drug trafficking is kept, and the seminar centres where bombers are trained are coming into light one by one. These are only a few examples... When all these incidents come together it can be understood why Greece was excepted by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in sending the letter to the leaders of the NATO and European Union member countries. In his letter Ecevit said: "If it had not been for the external support given to the PKK in contraventinon of international conventions, we could have eliminated terrorism much earlier and would have been able to save many lives...I strongly wish to urge you to take a firm and prompt legal action against a PKK presence on your territory no matter how it is disguised, to ban de jure and de facto the activities of this terrorist organization."
[47] THE MISSION OF MILLER -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
In his column in "Milliyet", Sami Kohen analyzes the recent visit of Thomas Miller, US Special Cyprus coordinator. A summary of his column is as follows: Thomas Miller is known by all who are interested in Cyprus. For the last two years he has been exerting every effort to solve the Cyprus problem. The experienced diplomat is launching a new initiative between Ankara-Athens-Nicosia. This time Miller's visit comes at a time when the Ocalan crisis has negative repercussions on Turkish-Greek relations and when new tensions and disputes emerge... Miller believes it is necessary to carry on the mission he has undertaken no matter what the conditions are. He accepts that the latest crisis makes it more difficult for him to succeed but adds, "The Ocalan crisis puts the opportunities for a compromise into danger. But my real mission is to prevent missing any opportunities"... Although Miller accepts the complexity of the Cyprus problem, he believes that what is needed on the island is a dialogue. He thinks that without talking these problems face to face nothing will be solved... Miller already knows what he will hear in Ankara, Athens and Nicosia. However his mission as a mediator is to ease the atmosphere or at least prevent the tension from increasing. Although it may seem impossible at this time, the insistence on this mission can be regarded as "useful" in keeping the communication lines open and preventing a break."
[48] THEY DESERVE TO BE OUT OF THE LISTS - BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)
Oktay Eksi, a columnist in the `Hurriyet' daily, reflects on the recent attempt of 116 MPs, who were excluded from the party lists for Parliamentary candidacy, to re-convene Parliament. Eksi writes: "When we implored them, `Do not hold the elections in April; do not make trouble while the country has achieved a relative stability', they were speaking of the inefficacy of the regime or Parliament. Thus they decided to hold `early elections' nine months ago. Both `early' elections and `nine months later'! The process does not make any sense. Now they are trying to postpone the elections. In this respect, 116 MPs who called Parliament for an extraordinary general session are more honest than their leaders. Yet honesty is not sufficient to cover their lack of political ethics. They say that an extraordinary meeting was necessary to discuss the vital measures to be taken against the current problems of Turkey... If they had been honest enough, they would have tried to convene Parliament before they had been excluded from the candidate lists. Apparently, their only goal is to postpone the April 18 Elections. The rest is a game. However, we should remind them that, in 1987, a similar attempt was made by 101 MPs. Unfortunately (!), none of those 101 MPs has been able to succeed in staying in the realm of politics until today. Every one of them has faded away from political life. What I mean is that, the current attempt of those 116 MPs proves that they were rightfully excluded from the candidate lists. This should be a warning to those who engage in politics for mere daily interests."
|
