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Turkish Press Review, 99-07-16Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>16.07.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] SCHENKER: "A POSSIBLE ISRAEL-SYRIA AGREEMENT WOULD NOT HARM TURKEY"[02] THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF PEACE AND SECURITY -BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)[03] DEMIREL CONTINUES HIS MIDDLE EAST TOURPresident Suleyman Demirel, who is continuing with his Middle East tour, yesterday attended a ceremony at Ashdod Harbour together with his Israeli counterpart Eizer Weizman to launch the "Mediterranean Link" which will ensure harmonized ferry schedules between Turkey and Israel. During the ceremony, Demirel said that Turkey and Israel were important economic actors in the region. Weizman said for his part that Turkey has contributed a lot to the peace process in the region. Later the two Presidents visited the facilities in which Turkish F-4 aircraft are being modernized. Within the same day, Demirel and Weizman attended the "Caeseria National Economic Conference'.President Suleyman Demirel attended the banquet given in his honour by the Turkish Ambassador to Israel. Today, Demirel will meet Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and later King Abdullah of Jordan. It is announced that Demirel will return home on Friday night. /Hurriyet/Aksam/ [04] TURKEY TO SELL DRINKING WATER TO ISRAELIt is reported that Turkey and Israel have held negotiations concerning the possibility pf Turkey selling drinking water to Israel. According to official Israeli sources, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem and his Israeli counterpart, David Levy, decided to set up a committee to research into the issue. With this aim the committee will pay a visit to Turkey in September to discuss the matter. /Aksam/[05] ECONOMIC PACKAGE TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENTA package of measures to enliven the economy will be presented to the Council of Ministers today for discussion. It is expected that after the meeting the package will be announced to the public. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit declared yesterday that the 57th government had prepared the package in order to ensure a sustainable development in the Turkish economy. He stated that the package includes flexibility in taxes, an increase in Eximbank credits, greater facility in borrowing, etc. /Sabah/[06] PARLIAMENT VOWS SUPPORT FOR TRNCOnly days before the 25th anniversary of the Turkish intervention on Cyprus, Parliament convened yesterday in an extra-ordinary session to discuss the Cyprus issue and pledge support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). TRNC President Rauf Denktas was also present at the session. Denktas delivered a speech reiterating that the only viable solution on the island would be a confederation and that no talks for a settlement could take place if the equality between the two Cypriot sides is not provided on a state-to-state basis.State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Chairmen of the other four political parties in Parliament also delivered speeches on the Cyprus issue. In a rare show of unity all parties expressed support for the government's Cyprus policy and vowed no concessions. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and a number of other ministers will take part in the celebrations on Tuesday for the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. On Monday, the day before the celebrations, the Turkey-TRNC Association Council will convene to discuss further measures to advance economic integration between the two countries. /All papers/ [07] COHEN: NO PRESSURE ON CYPRUSUS Secretary of Defence William Cohen said yesterday that Washington would not exert pressure on Turkey to modify its Cyprus policy and assrted that the US did not aim at the establishment of a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. Cohen was in Ankara for a brief visit yesterday. Cohen had talks with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, his deputy Devlet Bahceli, Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen.Hilmi Ozkok. "At his press conference in Athens, Cohen said that they do not intend to put pressure on Turkey on the Cyprus issue. He confirmed the same position in our meeting today", Ecevit told reporters after his talks with Cohen.Speaking at a joint press conference with Cakmakoglu later in the day, Cohen stressed that the US favoured the establishment of a bi-zonal bi-communal federation in Cyprus. "We believe that a non-conditional direct dialogue on Cyprus will be to the benefit of all interested parties", Cohen said. In response, Cakmakoglu said that 'talks between Turkish and Greek-Cypriots based on equality can facilitate a solution while the interference of third parties can only complicate the issue". In further remarks at the press conference, Cohen played down suggestions that Turkey and the US were divided in their policies on Iraq. "We are in complete agreement. Iraq's territorial integrity is important for the stability of the region", Cohen said. Cohen also praised Turkey as a 'reliable ally' and asserted that the 'strong contributions' Turkey had made throughout the Kosovo crisis had shown that Europe's security would be incomplete without Turkey. Other major issues on the agenda of Cohen's talks in Ankara were the situation in Kosovo, the peace process in the Middle East, the recent developments in the Caucasus and Turkey's role in the Central Asian Republics. /All papers/ [08] 'PUT PRESSURE ON TURKEY'Leader of the Greek-Cypriot Administration Glafkos Klerides has requested that the G-8 countries, the U.N. and other independent countries put pressure on Turkey to accept the U.S. federation formula on the island. Klerides claimed that the solution of the Cyprus issue should depend on U.N. decisions. /Aksam/[09] KOHL DAMAGES, FISCHER TO REPAIRGerman Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer will arrive in Turkey next week to discuss bilateral relations and international issues with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. Turco-German relations were very chilly during the period of former Prime Minister Helmut Kohl and at the end of this period of tension accused Germany of preventing her European Union (EU) membership. Now, Joschka Fisher is trying to ease the tension of the past and repair relations between the two countries. With this aim he will arrive in Turkey next week. It is expected that Fischer will be received by President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and meet the State Minister responsible for Human Rights, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik during his visit. /Sabah/[10] EU DELEGATION TO SUPERVISE SEAFOOD PACKAGINGA European Union delegation will come to Turkey to supervise the packing of seafood in order to rediscuss the embargo imposed on Turkish seafood products. It is announced that a delegation of the EU Veterinary Committee will arrive on 19 July and leave on 23 July. Following their return they will issue a report concerning their observations.Meanwhile, Turkish officials announced that they were ready to present their products for inspection by the EU delegation and they expected that the embargo will be lifted after their visit. /Aksam/ [11] INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL CREDITSThe volume of commercial loans by the banks increased 148 trillion TL. On 25 July the volume was 4.9 quadrillion TL, whereas it reached 5.1 quadrillion TL on 2 July. At the end of the interest repayment term the volume increased by 3 %. /Sabah/[12] INVESTMENT FUNDS ON INTERNETThe Capital Market Council (SPK) has ensured that essential information about investment funds can be more easily reached. Useful information about the funds' share allocation on the market, the value and distribution of the funds can be obtained from the SPK's Internet address: 'www.spk.gov.tr/kyd/kydliste.htm'. In his written statement the Chairman of the SPK, Muhsin Menguturk said that not only daily but also past information can be accessed on the Internet's SKP website. /Sabah/[13] FOREIGN INVESTORS ON IMKBForeign investors who were selling on the Istanbul Stock Exchange in May have continued their position in June. Yapi Kredi Bank's share stocks were the most in demand by foreign investors, then those of Sabanci Holding, Eregli and Akbank. /Aksam/[14] $ 183 MILLION REPAID IN A FORTNIGHTTurkey repaid $ 183.8 million of her foreign debt during the first two weeks of July. According to the Central Bank, $ 99.3 million of foreign debt came from the Treasury, $ 8.49 million from the Central Bank, $ 26.38 million was supplied by the IMF and $ 29.93 from the general budget administrations. Turkey has paid out $ 5.3 billion in foreign debt since the beginning of the year. /Aksam/[15] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASEAccording to the Central Bank, foreign exchange reserves increased to $ 22.3 billion. As for the end of June reserves were $ 21.9 billion whereas on 9 June it had increased to $ 22.3 billion. /Aksam/[16] TURCO-RUSSIAN TRADE CENTREIn order to ensure a diversity of services to exporters at the Turco-Russian Trade Centre, which went into service in Moscow at the end of June, a membership system has been implemented. According to a statement issued by the Turco-Russian Trade Development Centre, following the membership system at the Centre which was of great interest to Turkish and Russian businessmen, there would be more services for more exporter firms. The statement remarked that using this system, Turkish firms would have the opportunity to promote their products using catalogues, brochures and CDs. Furthermore, at the Turco-Russian Trade Centre, where the products of 56 firms are being exhibited, this system would service nearly 100 firms, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The official opening of the Centre will be on September 4, 1999. The statement added that a Turkish delegation consisting of 50 businessmen would visit Moscow on August 8-11.[17] AIRCRAFT CRASHA military training aircraft which belongs to the Land Aviation School crashed yesterday near Etimesgut Airport in Ankara because of a technical failure. Three people on the aircraft, Benan Kucukoglu, Gulsah Bayraktar and Okan Hosgor, were injured during the incident. /Milliyet/[18] GERMANY WILL NOT EXTRADITE KAPLANGermany has decided not to extradite Metin Kaplan, the son of Cemalettin Kaplan known as 'Black Voice' and the so-called 'Caliph' of the illegal Anatolian Federal Islamic State, to Turkey because of the existence of the death penalty in Turkey. /Milliyet/[19] UN HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME FOR TURKEYThe UN's '10th Year Committee for Human Rights Training' has prepared a programme concerning human rights for Turkey. Within the plans' guidelines which will last until 2007, lessons on human rights will be given to everyone in Turkey. The UN Committee also suggested that a lesson entitled 'human rights and ethics' should be included in the eight-year basic education curriculum in Turkey. The State Minister responsible for Human Rights, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, gave a presentation concerning those groups which would receive training in human rights as part of the programme. He said that these groups would include families living in poor conditions from a socio-economic point of view. /Milliyet/[20] ATTACKERS CAPTUREDResul Duman, Oktay Kartal and Ragip Cetin, who opened fire on Yakacik Police Station in Istanbul's Kartal district early yesterday, have been captured by members of the Anti-Terrorism Department of Kartal Security Office. No deaths or injuries resulted from the attack. Four empty rounds of ammunition were found in front of the police station. /Cumhuriyet/[21] NUCLEAR ENERGY BOOK FOR DEPUTIESThe Greenpeace Mediterranean Office has prepared a book concerning nuclear energy and power plants to be sent to the 550 deputies in the Turkish Parliament. The book says that nuclear energy is not a scientific requirement but a political choice. Melda Keskin, an official responsible for the Energy Campaign at the Greenpeace Mediterranean Office, said that Turkey was entering the 21st century wth 35-year nuclear plans and was at a crossroads as far as energy was concerned. /Cumhuriyet/[22] SCHENKER: "A POSSIBLE ISRAEL-SYRIA AGREEMENT WOULD NOT HARM TURKEY"David Schenker, one of the leading Middle East experts of the US, said that an agreement between the Ehud Barak government of Israel and Syria would not harm Turkey. Schenker remarked that three years ago, the peace attempts by Shimon Peres, the then Israeli Prime Minister, made Turkey uncomfortable, however the situation changed since then, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[23] TURKEY EXPORTS FIGTurkey is unrivalled in fig production and exportation in the world, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The 1998 figures of Aydin Agricultural Provincial Directorate indicated that Turkey produced 60% of the world figs and becomes the first in the world fig exports with 75 %. Turkey exports a total of 50,000 tons of figs a year. A total of 150,000 tons of figs are produced in Aydin every year.[24] TRT SUPPORT FOR TOURISM IN TURKEYThe Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) has launched a campaign in order to overcome the crisis being experienced in the Turkish tourism sector which has been negatively affected by anti-Turkish propaganda abroad. As part of the campaign to begin on July 19 on the TRT-INT channel, two special tourism programmes would be broadcast on Mondays. The TRT General Director Yucel Yener said that these programmes would be in English, French and German. The tourism campaign will later be broadcast also on TRT 1. /Cumhuriyet/[25] INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATIONIn his statement evaluating a draft proposal of an amendment to the Constitution that would end the Council of State's supervisory power over franchise contracts, Erol Cirakman, the Head of the Council of State, maintained that the decision was the result of the current government's preference, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Cirakman said that to place franchise contracts under the supervision of the judiciary is reassuring for politicians; however, he added that this reduces jurisdiction, which is not a plausible approach. Cirakman stated that if the Constitution is amended, new legislation may be required to regulate the procedures followed by the Arbitration Commission. Meanwhile, a conference on 'International Arbitration' organized by the Turkish Bars' Union will be held today in Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/[26] NEW HOPE FOR PETROLEUM IN THE WESTERN BLACK SEAAccording to the Deputy Director of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Osman Demirag, TPAO is hopeful about the presence of large natural gas and petroleum deposits in the western region of the Black Sea. Demirag also stated that TPAO, ARCO (a company set up with US capital) and British Petroleum (BP) will begin drilling on July 19. To mark the occasion of the recommencement of the drilling, a ceremony to be attended by Energy Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer and the US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, will be held. Drilling in the eastern region of the Black Sea was initially conducted by TPAO and BP. /All papers/[27] MILITARY VEHICLE ROLLS INTO DITCHA military vehicle full of soldiers en route to conducting an operation rolled into a ditch in Sirnak's Beytussebap district last night, and 10 soldiers lost their lives.Meanwhile, members of the PKK terrorist organization attacked Ercis Central Police Station in Van yesterday. No casualties were reported during the attack. /Star/ [28] IMPRISONMENT FOR PKK MEMBER IN GERMANYIn Germany, Dresden Provincial Court sentenced a PKK member, the so- called the regional representative of the terrorist organization, to 2 years and 9 months imprisonment. The 35 year-old terrorist, who lives in Saxony, was accused of 3 wrongful seizures and 19 violations of the Association Law. /Turkiye/[29] ORDERLINESS IN CUSTOMSThe State Minister responsible for Customs, Mehmet Kececiler, declared that through constructive reform, idle Customs' offices will be closed down, and the Customs will be reorganized in order to provide good, effective service. By transfering personnel from the defunct Customs' Houses the busy ones, greater performance will be obtained. Kececiler said," The most important thing is that those Customs' offices which cannot be supervised since they have had less work are far beyond attention; the possibility of smuggling will be prevented." Kececiler also gave this information in summary: * In Turkey, there are Customs which have had no work for three years. For the buildings rent will be paid and five officers have been hired. It is meaningless to maintain this situation. * According to 1997 data, France has organized about 556 billion dollars' import and export via 83 Customs posts, Germany about 953 billion dollars' foreign trade through 96 Customs Houses , Italy about 446 billion dollars' foreign trade flowed through 61 Customs and Belgium about 333 billion dollars' foreign trade via 17 Customs while Turkey achived its 75 billion dollars' foreign trade through 209 Customs. * By closing down more than 100 Customs Houses which are lying idle, the savings of 500 personnel and 1.7 billion TL in budget revenue will be gained. * In 1998, at Customs, about 27.6 trillionTl of drugs and chemical substances, about 7 trillion TL of commercial goods and about 7.2 billion TL of weapons and requisites were seized. Meanwhile, in the first six months of this year, about 870 billion TL of drugs, about 7.6 trillion TL commercial items and about 43.3 billion TL of weapons and requisites were captured. * Those Customs' officers who harrass citizens and obtain bribes should be apprehended. * Ataturk Airport has been chosen as a pilot region and in 35 weeks, also in 5.2 years, all the Customs' administration will be computerized so dispelling rumours. * Officer's education levels will be raised. In the first period, 1000 expert assistants who have a university degree and knowa foreign language, will be hired. * We are obliged to enact the 'Customs Law' before the summer recess of the National Assembly which has been dispatched 5 times and has been waiting for three years in Parliament. * "An Alo Gumruk" connection has been established. Those citizens who have complaints can call 0 312 311 79 71. /Turkiye/[30] LIFE-IMPRISONMENT FOR KURSAT YILMAZKursat Yilmaz, who has been tried for killing the former Kusadasi Mayor Lutfu Suyolcu, was sentenced to life-imprisonment at Aydin's No.1 Criminal Court yesterday. /Star/[31] COURT ACQUITS HADEP'S CELIKThe Ankara State Security Court (DGM) has acquitted Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik, a member of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), the Anatolia News Agency reports. Celik was being tried on charges of providing shelter and aid to the PKK terrorist organization in connection to a speech made during a MED-TV broadcast. The DGM delivered its acquittal verdict after Celik's lawyer Fethi Gumus and prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel agreed that there were no criminal elements in Celik's statements and that there was insufficient evidence to continue with the trial.[32] BODRUM KARADA MARINA OPENSThe Bodrum Karada Marina and a shopping centre, the investment cost of which totalled $28 million, were opened yesterday. The Marina, which went into service under the Karada Tourism Company, a joint venture consisting of the Dogan Group and the Zeytinoglu Group, has the capacity to hold 375 yachts. An opening ceremony attended by nearly 2,000 people was held yesterday. Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, State Minister responsible for navigation, Prof.Ramazan Mirzaoglu, the Head of the Executive Board of the Dogan Holding Company, Aydin Dogan, the Head of the Executive Board of the Zeytinoglu Holding Company, Yavuz Zeytinoglu, the Head of the Executive Board of the Karada Marina Tourism Company, Imre Barmanbek, Mugla Governor Cemil Serhadli, Bodrum Sub-Governor Ugur Boran and Bodrum Mayor Emin Anter were also present at the ceremony. /Milliyet/[33] SULTANAHMET MOSQUE AMONG THE BEST ARCHITECTURAL WORKS OF ARTSultanahmet Mosque, one of the most important works of art from the Ottoman Empire, has been elected one of the 'best architectural works of art during the last millenium' in New Zealand, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The 'Listener', one of the leading magazines published in New Zealand, stated in its issue dated July 3, 1999, that Sultanahmet Mosque was one of the best architectural works of art in the world.[34] ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS TO CONTINUEArchaeological excavations will continue in the ancient city of Magnesia near Tekinkoy village in Germencik county of western Aydin, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[35] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[36] THE COMMON LANGUAGE OF PEACE AND SECURITY -BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)Columnist Hasan Cemal writes on President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Israel. A summary of his column is as follows:"President Demirel believes that the possibility of a peace agreement between Israel and Syria will not hamper the improvement of relations between Turkey and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak also shares the same view. He described Turkey as a "regional giant" during their meeting while stressing that Turkey had a very important place in the strategic balances of the Middle East. He added that relations between Israel and Turkey will continue to develop. Peace in the Middle East will not hamper Turco-Israeli relations, on the contrary, it will help improve them as these two countries which have common interests on many issues have a lot they can achieve. With his visit to the Middle East, Demirel gives out the message that Turkey supports the peace process in the Middle East and favours the use of this opportunity. He has conveyed this message to Barak, and will also repeat it to the Palestinian Head of State Yasser Arafat, and King Abdullah of Jordan. Peace and security are two intertwined concepts for Israelis. Therefore, the public is enthusiastic concerning the possibility of peace with Syria. However, they also approach the issue with great caution mentioning that at the moment there have only been positive statements from Esad, but nothing else. The enemies of peace can be cited as HAMAS, Hizbullah and Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy in response to a question stated that the peace process would bring a new wave of terrorism with it and therefore the Israelis and the Palestinians should be very careful and a great responsibility falls on their shoulder to prevent this." [37] NO PRESSURE! -BY ESEN UNUR (STAR)Columnist Esen Unur comments on the statements by the US Defence Secretary William Cohen concerning Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows:"US Defence Secretary William Cohen in a statement during his visit to Athens said that they had no intention of putting pressure on Turkey concerning the issue of Cyprus. Yesterday Cohen was in Ankara. He met Prime Minister Ecevit. The Prime Minister, recalling Cohen's words in Athens, stated that he repeated the same views in Ankara. Americans are extremely successful in finding solutions to problems. William Cohen, who stated that they will not put pressure on any country, began to explain their expectations. First of all, they want negotiations with no pre-conditions to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem. Then, adding that in Cyprus not the states but the communities were equal, he said that they expected the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. None of these coincide with Turkey's wishes. If it is not applying pressure to repeat the views you know to be contrary to Turkish wishes, then what is it? US officials while stating they will shun away from applying pressure are in fact pursuing a policy of pressure. Another fact which should be noted is that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyrus is isolated from the whole world. The President of the TRNC, Rauf Denktas, states that the TRNC and Turkey expect the two sides to sit around the table as equals. It is not considered probable for the US to change her policy. Furthermore, the UN Secretary-General and the international community are not expected to come to agree with the Turkish views and they are insisting on a solution to the Cyprus problem. They know that as long as the de facto situation continues on the Island, the TRNC will be strengthened and the Greek-Cypriots, Greece and their supporters in Washington do not like this idea. The desires of the US Administration will be reiterated on various platforms until Prime Minister Ecevit's expected visit to Washington in September and will reach its peak during the Clinton-Ecevit meeting. " [38] SPECIAL KOSOVO[39] KOSOVAR REFUGEES RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRYKosovar refugees who have taken shelter in Turkey as a result of ethnic-cleansing campaign in Kosovo continued to return to Kosovo yesterday. A total of 13,738 out of 17,746 Kosovar refugees have left Turkey from the Edirne-Kapikule border gate for Kosovo since the peace agreement which was reached on June 10, the Anatolia News Agency reports.Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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