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Turkish Press Review, 99-08-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>06.08.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CHIEF PROSECUTOR ASKS FOR RATIFICATION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR OCALAN[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[03] CHIEF PROSECUTOR ASKS FOR RATIFICATION OF DEATH PENALTY FOR OCALANChief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals, Vural Savas has called for the ratification of the death penalty passed on Ocalan by the State Security Court.In a report he prepared following a thorough study of the file sent to him, Savas expressed his views by saying that even though it was clear that Ocalan had formed the bloodiest terrorist organization of the twentieth century and through his orders carried out many attacks, each of which could be described as a crime against humanity, the State Security Court II had allowed such a criminal and his lawyers to use their right of defence in the best way possible, fairly and in line with procedure, not ever witnessed in a similar case. Therefore, he asked for the sentence passed on Ocalan to be ratified. Following the preparation of the report by Savas, it has been to the Court of Appeals, Department 9. Since the lawyers of Ocalan have asked that the report from the Court Of Appeals have a hearing, the date of the trial will be set and the lawyers will be informed. After the trial is completed, the Department 9 of the Court of Appeals, will set another date to announce its decision; the decision will be revealed in a hearing. If the sentence on Ocalan is ratified, the decision will be finalized. At that point, Ocalan has the right to ask for an amendment of the decision. This has to be accepted by the Court of Appeals' Chief Prosecutor, Vural Savas. /All papers/ [04] DEMIREL: "OCALAN'S CALL ADDS NOTHING TO OUR STRUGGLE"President Suleyman Demirel said, concerning the call made by the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, to lay down weapons, that Ocalan's call would not add anything to the struggle of the Turkish State against terrorism. Demirel also stated that the two Turkish soldiers being detained by Iran would be released. Demirel met the Head of the Executive Board of the Samsun Chamber of Trade and Industry, Adnan Sakoglu, and an accompanying delegation yesterday. Sakoglu said that because of the global crisis, industrial investments had almost come to an end. Demirel said for his part that there was no crisis in the Turkish economy but merely some problems. He added that these economic problems would be overcome in the near future.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that the two Turkish soldiers being detained in Iran have not been released yet but added: "We are expecting Iran to release these Turkish soldiers as soon as possible". /Cumhuriyet/ [05] US COMMENTS ON OCALAN'S PEACE CALLThe Spokesman of the US State Department, James Rubin, has commented on the call made by the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who told PKK supporters to lay down their weapons. Rubin declared: "We look for its implementation not at mere words". James Rubin held a press conference yesterday in which he remarked that they knew that Ocalan has been making various statements since he was captured. Rubin added: "The US will welcome the end of terrorist activities". Rubin stated that Ocalan and his organization had not given up organizing terrorist attacks and pointed out that these actions were still on-going, the Anatolia News Agency reports.Meanwhile, Ocalan's call has caused reverberations in various countries including Britain, Germany, Russia and Greece. British officials said that Ocalan's call should be evaluated as a 'serious opportunity'. EU countries said that Ocalan's call should be regarded as a positive step. Russian officials stated that they believed that Turkey would find a solution to the problem through human rights and contemporary European standards. The PKK terrorist organization had announced that it would comply with the call made by Ocalan who urged, 'Lay down your weapons and leave Turkey as of September 1, 1999'. [06] DRAFT LAW OF TAXATION REFORM APPROVEDA draft law which envisages an amendment to the taxation reform was approved by the Turkish Parliament's Planning and Budgetary Commission yesterday. Finance Minister Sumer Oral stated that there were no basic changes in the law and said that with the new amendment, the Turkish economy would become more relaxed. /Cumhuriyet/[07] FIVE COMMANDERS RETIREAt the end of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meetings, it was decided that four Generals and one Vice-Admiral from the Army, Navy and Air Force will retire. It was also agreed to expel 42 non-commissioned officers and 16 officers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) involved in fundamentalist activities.According to a military announcement, Navy Commander Admiral Salim Dervisoglu is retiring and will be replaced by Admiral Ilhami Erdil. Air Force Chief, General Ilhan Kilic, will also be retiring and the new commander will be General Ergin Celasin, the Secretary-General of the National Security Council. Also retiring are First Army Commander General Cevik Bir and Aegean Army Commander General Dogu Aktulga who will be replaced respectively by General Hilmi Ozkok, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and General Cetin Dogan, the commander of the forces in southeastern Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/ [08] ECEVIT ENCOURAGES OFFICIALSIn the midst of the debate on the social security reform between the government and the labour unions and opposition parties in Parliament, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in a decree he sent to officials yesterday, said not to prevent public workers from forming labour unions and confederations. The Turkish judicial system doesn't allow public workers or civil servants to form labour unions or confederations. The decree also asks the security forces not to interfere in any demonstrations or protests which conform to the law on labour unions. The decree encourages officials to hold meetings with the administrators of the labour unions to ensure dialogue and to seek consensus. The decree was sent to State Ministries, Governor's Offices, municipalities, the Supreme Board of Education (YOK) and the General Secretariat of the National Security Council as well as the Prime Ministry and its related institutions. /All papers/[09] RETIREMENT PLAN WILL BE DISCUSSED NEXT WEEKThe goverment, seeing the one-day strike planned by the 15 organizations that form the Union Platform chaired by Turk-Is, did not include the Social Security Draft Law on the agenda during the General Council yesterday. There will be a chance to discuss the draft next Tuesday. Turk-Is officially postponed the one-day strike following the decision of the Council of Ministers.The members of the Union Platform's Council of Presidents visited and met those parties whose members are sitting in the TGNA yesterday. Turk-Is President Bayram Meral said, "There will be nothing new until next Tuesday. They told us that they would listen to us and not ignore our demands. We will wait and see." Meral stated that the draft can be implemented if the government includes it on the General Council's agenda. He also added, "However, this kind of undertaking without compromise endangers peace in the country." The Turk-Is leader also summarized the demands of the Union Platform: "The age for retirement should be 50-55 or 53-55. It should not be above 56. In the draft, the transition period delays the retirement age for those who are still in work and for those who wish to retire at such and such a time by 8,10,12 years. This period is too much; it should be decreased. In addition, job security and the government's contribution for 10% insurance should be added to the draft. Only in this case can there be a compromise." /Hurriyet/ [10] WESTON REPLACES THOMAS MILLERThomas G.Weston, a foreign service officer for 30 years, was named special coordinator for Cyprus as the US again vowed to seek 'a just and lasting solution' to dispute over the future of the Mediterranean island. Announcing that Weston had succeeded Thomas J.Miller to the post, the US State Department said Cyprus continued to be a high priority of the Clinton Administration. /All papers/[11] TOR-M1 MISSILES FOR SOUTHERN CYPRUSIt is reported that Greece will give six of her 21 TOR-M1 anti-aircraft missile batteries, purchased from Russia, to the Greek-Cypriot Administration. According to the 'Simerini' newspaper published in Southern Cyprus, these batteries will be given to the Greek-Cypriot Administration in return for the deployment of the S-300 missiles on Crete. /Cumhuriyet/[12] TURKEY TO BUY 40 RAPIER ROCKETS FROM ENGLANDTurkey, taking steps to improve her Air Defence Systems in case of emergency, will buy 40 Rapier MK 2 air defence systems from England's Royal Air Force; this is as part of the plan to produce Rapier MK 2 rockets with England, reported by the Anatolian News Agency.During the final bargaining procedure negotiations concerning the purchase of this product, between the Ministry of National Defence, England's Royal Air Force and the rocket manufacturer Matra Bae Dynamics, are underway. According to an article in `Jane's Defence Weekly' a master on the subject of defence, whose administrative centre is in England dated 4th of August, the British Minister of Defence, George Robertson, was recently elected NATO Secretary-General has written a letter to Turkish Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. In the letter, Mr. Robertson warned that England would carry out the project without Turkey if the negotiations concerning the rocket's manufacture cannot be resolved. It was planned that the joint verture to manufacture the rapier rockets would be resolved in June. However, the project has taken much more time to organize than was expected because of problems estimating a price structure. Should the venture be carried, Turkey and England will jointly produce the weapons in order to meet the two countries' needs for the Rapier MK 2. Under the guidelines of the project, which is expected to take 10 years to complete, Turkey and England will manufacture 800 rockets in order to meet the needs of the Turkish Army and Air Force; also 40 rockets will be given to Turkey. As part of the same project, Turkey and England will also jointly manufacture 1,500 rockets for the British Army and the Royal Air Force. The project will cost Turkey 150 million dollars. Additionally, the joint production of 80 rockets is envisaged. Among all countries, Turkey's Air Force already has the most Rapier low-altitude (Rapier 1) SAM systems. Turkey purchased rocket-launchers and 27 Gec-Marconi radars in 1983 and 1985. Turkish sources speaking to `Jane's Defence Weekly' stated that Turkey will enjoy the most sensitive technology of its type in the joint production of Rapier 2 rockets. As part of the joint production venture for the Rapier 2 rockets, it was undertaken to supply Turkey with an offset of 47 million dollars. [13] TRNC'S REPRESENTATIVE TO WASHINGTON: ERDENGIZThe TRNC's representative to Washington, Ahmet Erdengiz, stated that the U.S. ought to go over her TRNC policies which have not been altered by the U.S. for many years. Furthermore, her TRNC polities have to be disengaged from Greek-Cypriot bonds. He also added that the U.S. moves concerning the TRNC will keep on failing if she does not change her views, reported by the Anatolian News Agency.Erdengiz, answering the Anatolian News Agency's questions, said, "These policies ought to be revised. If you add the Greek-Cypriot lobby to this, then you can understand why American initiatives fail. As long as American politics are irretrievably entangled in Greek-Cypriot bonds and as long as American politics do not alter policies from the Cold War years, then her window for opportunity to help the Cyprus problem will decrease.If American President Bill Clinton is serious, he should do them both; America should do her homework well." Erdengiz, criticizing the U.S. because she has removed all her diplomats who were knowledgeable about the Cyprus issue, said, "It is too hard to understand why they behaved in such a manner at such a time. The experienced diplomats are gone. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus Desk has also been changed." Erdengiz, stating that he had touched on the meeting's parameters before the TRNC met the Greek-Cypriots, said, "There cannot be any meeting at an international level. We have been trying to succeed in doing this since 1968. The U.S. proposition is to: "try and gain your rights at the negotiating table"; this cannot be accepted any more." Erdengiz also expressed the view that the Greek-Cypriots would prioritise their EU application by pretending to negotiate. Erdengiz, stating that the Greek-Cypriots are trying to use the E.U as a weapon against Turkey, said, "In the EU, there will be two Greek votes with the Greek-Cypriots there as well and it will be harder for Turkey to become a member of the EU. The TRNC- Greek-Cypriot problem will turn out to be the EU-TRNC problem. Greek-Cypriots will change the situation by moving it to a platform of which Turkey is not a member." Erdengiz, stating that the TRNC will not be able to wriggle out of the meeting if the UN's Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, builds the necessary ground in New York, said, "The only suggestion on the table is confederation. It also shows that the Turkish side wants the meeting to be conducted in an atmosphere of good will." [14] TURKEY STARTS PROJECT TO KEEP WATCH ON AEGEANTurkey has launched her "Long Horizon" project that will make the observation of Turkish territorial waters and the Aegean possible by the Naval Forces, reported by the Anatolian News Agency.According to an article in `Jane's Defence Weekly' dated 4th of August, the Undersecretariat for Defence published a call urging for the Integrated Naval Watching System (INWS). Turkey will improve her capacity to observe the islands belonging to Greece in the Aegean Sea near Turkish shores with the "Long Horizon" project. "Long Horizon" is in three stages, the second of which involves the obtaining of high-frequency long-distance radar. However, the provision of the radar systems has been unable to be achieved and it has been delayed because this system has not been develeoped yet.The second stage of the "Long Horizon" plan is the purchase of Advanced Warning Air Communication aircrafts AWACs. The bid put out to tender by the Undersecretariat for Defence, for which American Boing Firm and American Raytheon Firm are competing, has not been decided yet. [15] DEMONSTRATIONS POSTPONEDFollowing government's decision to postpone the debate over the controversial social security reform bill, Turkey's major labour unions declared that they, in turn, would postpone their scheduled protest demonstrations yesterday. The Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is) Administration Board yesterday stated that it had postponed the 'no work for one day' protest that was set for Friday until the government clarifies its new position on the reform bill.[16] KOH: "BRAVE STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN"The US Deputy Secretary of State responsible for Human Rights, Harold Koh, who is currently visiting Turkey, said that brave steps and social and economic measures should be taken in order to solve the problems in the southeastern region of Turkey. He added that military solutions could only fail. It is reported that Koh will prepare a report on human rights in line with his impressions of Turkey and then he will present the report to the US Congress.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said concerning a press conference held by Koh that Turks of Kurdish origin were represented at every level in the State and added: "There is no Turkish-Kurdish discrimination in Turkey. If meetings are desired with Turks of Kurdish origin, there is no need to contact a separatist terrorist organization". /Cumhuriyet/ [17] EREGLI COAL BASIN TO BE PRIVATIZEDThe Eregli Coal Basin will be privatized. A law aimed at adding an article to the Mining Law was approved by President Suleyman Demirel and then went into effect after it was published in the Official Gazette. According to the new article, the Eregli Coal Basin will be minimized and the remaining region will be rented to the private sector as 2,000 hectare-fields. /Cumhuriyet/[18] DEBT PAYMENTSDuring the first four days of this month, the public sector paid off $342.04 million in foreign debts. Foreign debt payments since the beginning of the year up until August 4 have totalled $6.290 billion. According to Central Bank data, the Treasury paid $335.97 million, Central Bank paid $2.1 million and other public sector paid off $3.97 million in foreign debts on August 1-4. /Cumhuriyet/[19] INVESTMENTS IN SOUTHEASTThe GAP Investment Holding Company, which is based in Sanliurfa and makes investments in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, has opened a connection bureau in Istanbul. The Head of the Executive Board of the GAP Investment Holding Company, Abdullah Gumus, promoted the new investment projects in the region and said that with these ventures, new employment areas would be created. Gumus invited Turkish investors to cooperate with businessmen particularly in the Southeast. /Turkiye/[20] EVERYTHING FOR GAPOne of the leading development projects in the world and Turkey's biggest, the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), is using wider and more varied incentives than other regions to draw private sector investments from both inside and outside the region. The report by the GAP Regional Development Administration's Chairman, the "GAP and Industry", recalled that the Gaziantep-Sanliurfa-Diyarbakir line had been given priority for short- and medium-term infrastructural investments and industries. This will later spread to other sub-regions which have a potential for development, the report said, and pointed out that Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir would also need investing in, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[21] SEMINARS FOR POLICEPlans to further modernize the Turkish Police during the next century are underway. According to a written statement issued by the Press and Public Relations Department of the General Directorate of Security, seminars will be held in Ankara and Istanbul between August 6-13 by Prof.Robert W.Taylor, the Head of the Criminal Law Department of the University of Northern Texas in the US. /Turkiye/[22] TURKISH SEAL ON THE BALKANSState Minister Sadi Somuncuoglu stated that Albania had a special place in security and stability in the Balkans. Somuncuoglu remarked that the Balkans meant 'Europe' for Turkey and pointed out that Greece was making every effort to leave Turkey far behind in the Balkans. He added that Albania and the Balkans were in the process of reconstruction and pointed out that the EU, the US and other developed countries attach great significance to the construction of this region. /Turkiye/[23] AWARD FOR CEVHER DOKUMThe Cevher Dokum Firm, which is active in Izmir, has been elected 'Industrial Supplier of the Year' by General Motors for the second time. This award is presented at the end of an evaluation made of 30,000 industrial suppliers in the fields of chemistry, equipment, electricity and metal. /Aksam/[24] BANVIT IN ROMANIAThe Banvit Bandirma Vitamin-Rich Feed Company, a leading company in the supply of products to chicken farmers in Turkey, has established a company with a $50,000 capital investment in Romania; the company is called 'Banvit Aliment Romania SRL'. /Aksam/[25] 55 % OF TURKISH OIL FROM KAHTANearly 55 % of the oil produced in Turkey is provided by the wells in the Kahta district of Adiyaman. Officials stated that there were 200 new wells tapped in the region and said that 2 trillion TL was needed to tap every new well. /Aksam/[26] TURKISH INVESTMENTS IN IRANThe Erdem Holding Company, which is the biggest tyre producer in the world, owned by Mehmet Nezih Erdem, will set up a factory to produce inner tyres for cars in Iran. The construction of the factory has been completed and approval from the Iranian Industry Ministry is being awaited before the opening of the factory can go ahead. /Aksam/[27] NEW LEFT-WING PARTY ESTABLISHEDA new political party called the 'Socialist Unity Movement' has been established. Thus, the number of political parties in Turkey has increased to 33. The list of the members of the Party's Founding Council has been sent to the General Secretary of the Interior Ministry, Ali Bilir. Only five of the total number of political parties are represented in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). /Aksam/[28] EIGHT HELICOPTERS FROM ITALYThe bid put out to tender by the Coastal Security Command for eight helicopters has been won by the Italian Agusta firm. The initial four helicopters will be delivered in 2000 while the remaining four will be handed as and when needed. The cost of the project is $34 million. The bid for six mine-sweepers has also been finalized. The German Lucerne-Rasmussen consortium won the bid worth $623 million and the vessels will be produced in the Taskizak ship-building yards. /Milliyet/[29] AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS UPAutomotive exports continued to increase. Exports during the first seven months of this year increased by 47.1 % when compared to last year and attained $1.462 billion. According to the General Secretariat of Uludag Exporters' Union, exports from the automotive industry and its sub-industries totalled $994.1 million during the January-July 1998 period. /Sabah/[30] TURKEY IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN SCIENCEThe Head of the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institution (TUBITAK), Prof.Namik Kemal Park, stated that Turkey has maintained her great success by coming 25th instead of 40th worldwide with a huge breakthrough in the past 10 years in science. He added that Turkey would continue her way forward in the future. /Sabah/[31] AUTO '99 IN GAZIANTEPGlobal brandnames from the automotive sector will meet at 'Auto '99' in Gaziantep. Ugur Doganer, the Southeastern Regional Director for the Official Automobile Retailers' Association said models and technologies for the 21st century will be exhibited to the people of Southeastern Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[32] 'SALIHREIS' DEPARTS FOR BULGARIAThe 'Salihreis' frigate will participate in the 120th aniversary of the foundation of the Bulgarian Navy, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The General Staff's Secretary-General said that 'TCG Salihreis' departed from Karadeniz Eregli yesterday. The 'Salihreis' will proceed to the port of Varna, arriving on August 6, and stay there until August 9. The 'Salihreis' will return to Turkey on August 10.[33] GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT'S DEPUTY SPEAKER IN ERZURUMThe Georgian Parliament's Deputy Speaker, Eldar Sengalya, stated that Georgia and Turkey were in the same line of work concerning the fight against terrorism and said: "We are against every kind of terrorism". Sengalya visited Erzurum Governor Ahmet Kayhan yesterday and stressed that he had come to Turkey in order to strengthen relations between the two countries. He added: "We will continue with our friendly relations with Turkey. We are trying to further develop economic and political relations between Turkey and Georgia. We aim at improving commercial relations especially in the border cities. We had received initial support from Turkey when we proclaimed our independence", the Anatolia News Agency reports.[34] PKK TERRORISTS ATTACK IKDPMembers of the PKK terrorist organization based in Iran organized an attack against the town of Haciumran, controlled by the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP), near the Iranian-Iraqi border and killed one person and seriously wounded four others. According to IKDP sources in Washington, folowing the attack which occured on Tuesday, PKK terrorists fled to Iran. PKK terrorists also attacked the village of Suraban in the region controlled by the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) and abducted two civilians, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[35] TWO TERRORISTS KILLED IN ERCISDuring conflicts between Turkish security forces and members of the PKK terrorist organization in the Ercis district of Van yesterday, two PKK terrorists were killed. Officials said that military operations in the region were still on-going. /Turkiye/[36] MOST TOURISTS COMING TO TURKEY ARE GERMANS AND RUSSIANSAntalya continues to be a magnet for foreigners in Turkey. In July, 327,688 tourists from various European countries especially from Germany and Russia arrived at Antalya Airport. According to information received from Antalya's Airport Management, 87,250 tourists came from Germany, 56,800 from Russia, 13,000 each from Holland and Belgium and 12,500 tourists each from Britain and Sweden in July. Germans constituted 26 % of the foreign tourists who visited Turkey while Russian tourists ranked second with 17 %, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[37] FOUR BOOKS FROM ITO FOR BUSINESS WORLDThe Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) has published four new research papers in book-form for the business world. The publications 'Macedonian Research' and 'United Arab Emirates (UAE) Research' contain a great deal of information beneficial to businessmen who want to export their products to these countries. The book entitled 'The Turkish Economy' presents the economic and social indicators of the country using graphics while the fourth book is called 'The Regulations Concerning Standardization in Foreign Trade, including questions'. Thus, the number of research papers published by the ITO has increased to 44, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[38] KURTALAN EXPRESS IN EUROPEIt is reported that a tour to European countries will be organized in September and October using a special train called the 'Baris Manco Kurtalan Express, named after the renowned Turkish pop-music group. According to a statement issued by the Turkish State Railways Company(TCDD), the first stage of the tour, to be jointly organized by the TCDD and Raytur, will be between September 26-October 5, while the second stage will be between October 5-October 14, 1999. /Cumhuriyet/[39] TOURISM INVESTIGATION BY TURKISH TOURISM INVESTORS' ASSOCIATIONThe Turkish Tourism Investors' Association (TIA) has published its research paper: "Tourism Investments' Contribution to the Economy-II". The research paper prepared by the TIA Research Department, covers the improvements since the middle of the 1980s during which time tourism investments speeded up. In the document it was stated that between 1983 and 1997 the foreign exchange earned by the tourism sector increased by 23.7% annually. In addition, it was reported that the average increase in exports was 11.5% in the same period. /Hurriyet/[40] OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN SAVEDSixteen people involved in smuggling historic artifacts and carrying forged dollars have been caught in raids organized in Bolu, Kastamonu, Ankara and Ordu over the past ten days. Our history had been saved from being sold abroad with the successful organization of the raids by the Bolu Directorate of Security. Becoming suspicious, police stopped a suspect and found forged dollars both in his pockets and at his home. Police, expanding the operation to Duzce and Akcakoca, detained 10 more people. The police, claim that the organization is chaired by a disabled person who had become involved in this business so as to receive treatment abroad.In Bolu, Kastamonu, Ankara and Ordu, five of the accused have been detained and were sent to Bolu's Court of Justice. It was reported that the historic artifacts are worth one trillion Turkish lira./Hurriyet/ [41] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[42] NO ALTERNATIVE BUT COMPROMISE -BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)Columnist Tufan Turenc writes on the problems being discussed today and the need for a compromise. A summary of his column is as follows:"Years ago a Japanese businessman said that Turkey was a country with great potential and added that a series of reforms were needed to bring this potential to life. However, without a consensus in all sections of the society on these reforms, this potential could not be realized. Today, Turkey seems like a country which cannot succeed in achieving social reconciliation. This has been seen in the Social Reform Bill, privatization, international arbitration and in a number of other issues. In the case of international arbitration, misinformation have been rife as the sides are opposed to each other poles apart. However, the truth is that Turkey is one of those countries which has trouble attracting foreign capital. Even though it has not even been 10 years since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Poland is able to attract five billion dollars of foreign capital whereas Turkey remains stuck at $600 million. Turkey has to invest $30 billion in the energy sector alone in the next 10 years and foreign firms are ready to do this. However, we are discussing whether to allow them the necessary guarantee or not. Turkey has to renew her legal infrastructure in line with the requirements of the new century. Therefore, legal amendments have to be made as fast as can be. Arbitration is used all over the world and all investors ask for a guarantee; foreigners cannot take the risk of fighting for their rights in a judicial system which works very slowly. Therefore, foreign capital investors prefer countries which give the guarantee of international arbitration. Even if international arbitration is accepted, foreign capital investors will not rush in. Political stability is more important than arbitration for them. We have to solve this matter through a compromise reached by way of discussion and persuasion. " [43] A DIIFERENT VOICE -BY EMIN PAZARCI (AKSAM)Columnist Emin Pazarci comments on the call by Ocalan and reactions to it. A summary of his column is as follows:"The chief of the PKK terrorist organization issued a message through his lawyers and called on his supporters to hold to a cease-fire as of September 1st. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit reacted to it by saying that there will be no bargaining. Then came President Demirel's statement saying that Turkey's stance was clear. All these explanations were made and Turkey's stance has once more been reiterated, as Ocalan's call was not unconditional. True, he says, "lay down your weapons" but adds that terrorism is a serious obstacle to steps towards democratization. This means that in the coming days we may expect some demands from the PKK under the guise of "democratization". Furthermore, the limits of the demands cannot be guessed as it is not clear what Ocalan means by "democratization". The policy of the State is clear and top officials are cautious. New strategies may be developed according to new circumstances. However, there are a variety of voices being heard. One of them is that of the Tourism Minister, Erkan Mumcu. He views Ocalan's call from a different perspective. Mumcu stated that the duty of a politician was "to plan the future of the country. If we are to plan the future, we should not look at it through a perspective of an accounting of the past. We have to formulate measures which will eradicate terrorism. " He also added that the country was still mourning the 30,000 lost because of terrorism, but the State should take into consideration that there should be no new loss of life. Mumcu also stated that a hawkish stance may create advantages in the short term, but these advantages would not last if the problem persisted. He also added that the Amnesty Law should also cover crimes against the State, but pointed out that he was not saying he was totally right. He only wants these subjects to be discussed. His attitude will be discussed for a long time. There will be some who support him, and there will be some who oppose him." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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