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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-21Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>21.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] 54TH TERM UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGSThe 54th Term UN General Assembly meetings which started yesterday in New York will be attended by high-level officials from 180 countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who is currently in New York will deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23. Cem will proceed on to Washington on September 26 and accompany Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who will pay an official visit to the U.S. between September 26 and October 1. Cem will also participate in the Coordination Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Islamic Countries to be held in the UN on October 1 and will return to Turkey on October 2. /Turkiye/[03] DEMIREL SENDS GORBACHEV MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCEPresident Suleyman Demirel sent a message of condolence to Mikhail Gorbachev following the death of his wife. A written statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre yesterday said that Demirel expressed his condolences on the death of Raisa Gorbachev, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[04] DEMIREL RECEIVES AMBASSADOR WOLFPresident Suleyman Demirel received the U.S. President's Special Representative to the Caspian Basin, Ambassador Wolf, yesterday. A written statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre said that during the meeting, developments in the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Trans-Caspian natural gas pipeline projects were discussed. The statement remarked that President Demirel had said that the rapid completion of the two projects was a high priority for him, the Anatolia News Agency reports.Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev delivered a speech at the ceremony held to mark the fifth anniversary of the 'Mega Project' signed between Azerbaijan and the International Consortium to operate the Azeri, Cirak and Gunesli reserves in the Caspian Sea. He said that oil reserves had been discovered 50 years ago and stated that Azerbaijan was pioneering the transport of Caspian energy resources to world markets at the end of the 20th century. [05] TURKEY AND GREECE UNITE IN JOINT EFFORTTurkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu agreed upon a joint Turco-Greek initiative to push forward the establishment of an international quake action team under the auspices of the UN. Cem and Papandreu decided to submit a joint draft resolution for the formation of the planned team to the UN General Assembly, which gathered for its annual session yesterday. According to the draft, Turkish and Greek rescuers will constitute the core of the planned UN team. It will be open for experts from other countries to join as well.The team, whose coordination centre will be in New York, will take action on request from any UN-member country confronted with a natural disaster. It will be funded by the participant countries and no financial contribution will be demanded from the UN budget. Papandreu and Cem will issue detailed information about the initiative in their speeches at the General Assembly scheduled for Wednesday and Friday respectively. The two Ministers will have a second face-to-face meeting on Friday to evaluate the results of the second round of the recently-initiated Turco-Greek dialogue and decide on the steps to be taken next. Meanwhile, the Joint Executive Board Meeting of the Turco-Greek Business Council will be held in Athens on October 11. /All papers/ [06] WORLD BANK HOPEFUL ABOUT FUTURE OF TURKISH ECONOMYThe World Bank's chief economist responsible for Turkey, James Parks, said that the Bank is hopeful about the future of the Turkish economy. Parks, who was recently appointed to the World Bank's Turkey department, said that although the August 17 earthquake disaster had had a negative effect on the Turkish economy, continuing economic reform and reconstruction work in the quake zone will help the Turkish economy recover, starting next year. /All papers/[07] SINGAPOREAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN TURKEYThe Singaporean Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Soo Khiang Bey, visited the Turkish Air Forces' Commander, Gen.Ersin Celasin, yesterday. Gen.Celasin delivered a speech and said that he was very pleased to see Lieutenant General Khiang Bey in Turkey. Gen.Celasin stated that an 18-strong team of Turkish military staff would receive training in Singapore concerning the modernization of military aircraft and said that, in line with the military training agreement signed with Singapore, one Singaporean officer would come to Turkey next year to be trained at the Air Force Academy. Khiang Bey remarked that the Turkish Army was extremely professional and added that, as part of the military cooperation agreements signed between the two countries, an exchange of staff would also be made, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] ENERGY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBULThe sixth International Joint Generation and Environment Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Istanbul on September 21-22, brings together the international energy sector. President Suleyman Demirel and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Cumhur Ersumer will take part in the Conference. /Sabah/[09] FOREIGN PARTNERSHIP TO BE ENCOURAGED IN TOURISMIn appropriations made by the Tourism Ministry, a 'foreign partner' will be looked for. The Tourism Ministry aims to attract foreign investment to Turkey in tourism. Tourism Ministry Undersecretary Nevzat Saygilioglu stated that Turkey should attract foreign capital in the tourism sector. /Sabah/[10] 500 MILLION EUROS IN LOANS TO TURKEYDuring the meetings of the Administrative Affairs Committee of the European Social and Development Fund to be held in Paris on September 22-23, loans for Turkey due to the earthquake disaster will be discussed. Turkey has previously applied to receive loans from the Development Fund, which is part of the Council of Europe. Council of Europe sources say that it is expected that Turkey will receive at least 300 million Euros up to a maximum of 500 million Euros in loans from the Investment Fund. The Head of the Social and Development Fund, Kari Nars, said in a previous statement that they were ready to offer every support to Turkey in the reconstruction of the disaster region. /Sabah/[11] GAP TO REACH QUADRILLIONSFollowing the completion of investment ventures within the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), agricultural production will increase from 12 million tons to 23 million tons thanks to the irrigation of 1.7 million hectares of fields. In the industry sector, production for those industries based on agriculture will reach 3.5 million tons and the added value created in the manufacturing industry in 1998 is expected to rise from 89 trillion TL to 528.8 trillion TL with the completion of the GAP. As part of the GAP, not only energy and irrigation projects have been undertaken, but also all sectors -agriculture, transport, education, health and infrastructure- have been taken into consideration. /Sabah/[12] NEW CHAIRMAN OF TUGIAD: YILMAZMuharrem Yilmaz has been elected the new Chairman of the Turkish Young Businessmen's Association (TUGIAD). Yilmaz issued a statement on the occasion and said that he was aware of the responsibility he had assumed under the TUGIAD mission. /Turkiye/[13] MEETINGS BEGINA delegation from the Turkish Central Bank will present the developments in the Turkish economy during IMF-World Bank meetings and bilateral talks. A statement issued by the Central Bank said that the delegation would attend nearly 40 meetings and added that the Head of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, would participate in four meetings as panellist and will deliver speeches in both Washington and New York. The statement remarked that during the meetings organized by Deutsche Bank, the World Bank, the Turco-American Council and Euromoney, Ercel would convey his views concerning the situation and the future of the Turkish economy within 'developing world' conditions to international financial circles. /Turkiye/[14] TREASURY TO ISSUE TWO-YEAR BONDSThe Treasury will issue two-year (18 months) bonds today. The repayment of these bonds will be on March 21, 2001. The Treasury aims to receive a total of 100-200 trillion TL in sales. When the Treasury issued a three-year term bonds on September 14, an income of 858 trillion TL was achieved. /Turkiye/[15] TUSIAD CALLS ON THE EUThe Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) issued a declaration entitled 'The Turkish business world is supporting the reform process in Turkey'. The declaration said that the Turkish business world wants the atmosphere of uncertainty prevalent in Turco-EU relations to be brought to an end. The declaration expressed the importance of the reform process in Turkey and called for its support. The declaration remarked that a positive approach towards Turkey would also be beneficial for the EU and added, "EU candidate status to be offered to Turkey and the equality of Turkey with the other candidates are of great importance and will contribute to EU peace and the economy". TUSIAD also said that the great opportunity at the Helsinki Summit should not be missed. /Turkiye/[16] THIRD SATELLITE IN MAYThe General Director of Turkish Telecom, Fatih Yurdal, said that a Telecommunications Institution would be established in Turkey in order to organize telecommunications services. Yurdal held a press conference yesterday and stated that the electronic systems on TURKSAT 2 had begun to be fixed two months ago and added that Turkey will launch its third satellite into space in May 2000. Yurdal remarked that Turkish Telecom losses due to the earthquake disaster amounted to nearly $100 million. /Turkiye/[17] WHO CONGRESS IN ANKARAThe World Health Organization (WHO) Congress was held in Ankara yesterday. Health Minister Osman Durmus represented Turkey at the Congress attended by 72 delegates from 41 countries. Difficulties being experienced following the earthquake disaster in Turkey were discussed during the Congress. Health Minister Durmus delivered a speech and stated that WHO member countries should form a network. /Turkiye/[18] JOHNSON: "OCALAN WAS FAIRLY TRIED"The Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, British Member of Parliament, Russell Johnson, stated that the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, was tried in line with the laws in Turkey. He said that the Council of Europe was against the death sentence and added that Turkey was aware of the sensitivity over this issue. He also expressed his thanks to Turkish officials who enabled the public to freely view Ocalan's trial. /Turkiye/[19] DOGAN BAYAZIT DIES OF CANCERThe former General Secretary of the National Security Council, retired Gen.Dogan Bayazit, lost his battle against a brain tumour yesterday. His funeral will be held in Istanbul tomorrow. /Turkiye/[20] OTTOMAN WORKS OF ART IN ZAGREBThe Culture Ministry will organize an exhibition on 'The Treasures of Ottoman Art' between October 15 and November 30, 1999, in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The exhibition will be opened by Culture Minister Istemihan Talay. A total of 150 works of art selected from Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Cultural and Islamic Works of Art Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Sadberk Hanim Museum will be exhibited. /Turkiye/[21] IFRC CONGRATULATES RED CRESCENTThe International Red Cross-Red Crescent Federation's Istanbul Coordinator, Dr.Jari Vainino, congratulated the Turkish Red Crescent which offered every support to the Marmara Region following the earthquake disaster. It is also reported that the Japanese Red Cross had donated tents for 10,000 people, 50,000 blankets and 20 vehicles to the Turkish Red Crescent. /Turkiye/[22] STEPHANOPULOS RECEIVES GURTUNAGreek President Kostis Stephanopulos received Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna yesterday in Athens. Athens Mayor Dimitri Avramopulos, the Turkish Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tuygan, and the Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Istanbul Municipality, Mehmet Duman, were also present at the reception. Stephanopulos praised the efforts to build up friendship between the Mayors of Istanbul and Athens and said, "This will draw the two countries closer to each other". Gurtuna conveyed a message of friendship from President Suleyman Demirel to Stephanopulos. /Turkiye/[23] AKUT TO TAIWANThe Turkish search and rescue team (AKUT) will go to Taiwan to participate in the rescue efforts there following an earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale. AKUT Press Spokesman Iskender Igdir said that the 30-member search and rescue team was ready to depart and meetings with officials concerning the trip were on-going. /Hurriyet/[24] COUNCIL OF STATE REJECTS KAVAKCIThe 10th Council of State has dismissed the appeal case initiated to reverse an earlier court ruling revoking the Turkish citizenship of Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Merve Kavakci. Kavakci lost her appeal against the government's decision to strip her of her Turkish citizenship. Kavakci is expected to lose her seat in Parliament as a result of the decision to revoke her Turkish citizenship. Kavakci had worn a headscarf at the Parliamentary ceremony to swear in. /All papers/[25] INTERNATIONAL LARGE DAM CONFERENCEThe 67th International Large Dam Conference (ICOLD) began in Antalya on Sunday and will conclude on Saturday. A series of papers is to be presented today in four sessions of a symposium. Among the guest speakers attending the symposium are Mumtaz Turfan, the opening speaker and President of the Turkish branch of ICOLD, other speakers from Turkey, and representatives from Morocco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Japan, Slovakia, Argentina, Australia, Germany, France and China. /All papers/[26] IMKB ACHIEVES RECORDThe Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National Index increased by 56 points yesterday and reached 6221.99 points. Experts say that optimistic expectations concerning the official visit by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the U.S. have had a positive effect on the IMKB. /Hurriyet/[27] UN: 'TURKEY IS A STRONG COMPETITOR'The UN Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has announced that Turkey is among the countries which enjoy enhanced competitive clout almost in all sectors. The UNCTAD 1999 World Trade and Development Report was declared during a press conference yesterday in Ankara. The Report, which was revealed to the whole world simultaneously, also examined the negative aspects of extreme liberalization in commerce and finance. /Hurriyet/[28] TOURISTS FLOCK TO MOUNT ARARATIt is expected that this year 30,000 tourists will visit Mount Ararat under the auspices of Faith Tourism. The Head of the Mountaining Federation, Alaattin Karaca, said that every mountainer dreamt of climbing to the summit of Ararat. He added that foreign tourists who come to climb the Mountain normally stay in Turkey for at least two weeks. According to the holy texts, Noah's Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat. /Hurriyet/[29] DEMIREL RECEIVES BOEING DEPUTY CHAIRMANPresident Suleyman Demirel received a delegation, headed by Boeing Deputy Chairman Ken Medlin, which handed a cheque worth $250,000 to help the victims of the earthquake over to Demirel. The Head of the Executive Board of the Kale Group, Ibrahim Bodur, and the Administrator of the Spanish Roche Group, Domingo Colomo, also presented a cheque worth $200,000 to Demirel. It is reported that as part of the fund-raising campaign launched to support the victims, staff working at the Security Office donated 362.2 billion TL. /Milliyet/[30] OYMEN RECEIVES ANDRESAltan Oymen, the Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), welcomed Germany's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour, who is also the Social Democratic Party's (SDP) Turco-German Relations Coordination Group President, Gerd Andres, to his office and talked with him for a while, reported the Anatolian News Agency.Oymen said, "We will hold meetings in order to improve relations between the two parties. Gerd Andres will tour the earthquake-hit regions with Ercan Karakas." Oymen introduced Gerd Andres as the head of the team that coordinates Turco-German relations. Andres invited the leader of the CHP to meet the leader of the SDP, Prime Minister Gerhard Schroder, in Germany at the end of September or at the beginning of December. Andres, stating that his guests would be in Turkey for two days, said, "Relations between the SDP and the CHP are very good. During this meeting, we will discuss how to continue these relations. We have talked about our common problems up to now and worked to support our policies. Although the CHP had been exluded from the TGNA, its roots are very strong and it is a very powerful party within local administrations. The tour of inspection on which we are going around the earthquake-hit regions will enable us to receive first-hand information about how to organize our subsequent fund-raising efforts." [31] "HONORARY SCIENCE DOCTORATE" FOR DENKTASAdnan Menderes University will give President Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) an honorary doctorate in science, reported the Anatolian News Agency.The Rector of Adnan Menderes University, Prof. Dr. Cezmi Oncuer, stated that this degree will be awarded to Denktas, following a decision taken by the University Senate, at a ceremony that will be held on 27th October. Adnan Menderes University will begin its 7th academic year with a ceremony that will be held in the Sports and Culture Hall of the university. [32] CAKMAKOGLU IN CANADAThe Turkish Minister of National Defence, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, has gone to Canada in order to attend the informal meeting of the NATO Ministers of Defence, reported the Anatolian News Agency.Cakmakoglu made a statement at Ataturk Airport and said, "During the meetings that will be held in Toronto, we will discuss the work of NATO. These meetings are like the Autumn session of the NATO Ministers' meetings, which do not have any official mandate. During these meetings, relations between NATO and the Russian Federation, our common ties and the European Security and Defence Identity initiative will be discussed." Cakmakoglu further added, "Europe has been the strategic focus of NATO activities since the foundation of the Alliance. The improvement of the European Security and Defence Identity within NATO has been confirmed in many ways. Improvements in terms of European security and defence are of the utmost importance in our country. In this respect, to show the significance of the arrangements that will provide full equality within the area of European security is very important for our country." The Minister of National Defence further added that they would outline Turkey's experiences concerning the precautions to be taken in order to provide urgent aid if an ally confronts a natural disaster and concerning using the `civilian state of emergency' precautions more effectively within the Alliance. [33] OSCE GETS READY FOR ISTANBULThe 'Revision Conference' began yesterday in Vienna, the capital of Austria, organized as a preparatory meeting for the Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which will be held in Istanbul on Nov. 18th and 19th. In addition to 54 countries which are members of the OSCE, 13 international organizations, 107 non-governmental organizations and 'OSCE Cooperation Partners' are attending the Conference. The Organization's activities over the last three years are being discussed during the Conference. During the inauguration session, State Minister, Janne Haaland Matlary gave an address on behalf of the OSCE's current Chairman, Norway, and said that there are only two months remaining before the Istanbul Summit, namely the last great Summit of the Millenium and emphasized the importance of the final document which will be accepted during the Summit. Omur Orhun, the Chairman of the Foreign Ministry's International Security Department, also delivered a speech and pointed out that preparations for the Summit have been continuing at great speed, despite the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region and added that the importance of non-governmental organizations and human rights education has been increased in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[34] TWO TERRORISTS IMPRISONEDTwo terrorists who were taken into custody regarding an assertion that they will undertake bomb attacks in the case of the approval of Abdullah Ocalan's capital punishment sentence, Sait Inadi and Mahmut Celik have been sent to prison by the Istanbul State Security Court. /Cumhuriyet/[35] ENGINEERING SYMPOSIUMThe '28th Engineering Education Symposium' began yesterday at Istanbul Technical University. The Symposium, organized by the International Engineering Education Establishment, will last until Sept. 24th and 500 scientists and engineers from 32 countries are attending it. /Cumhuriyet/[36] SLIGHT MOVEMENT ON RAILWAYSThe Directorate General of Railways has put out the renewal of the infrastructure of the Ankara-Istanbul railway line to tender. According to the announcement issued by the Official Gazette, bids will be received for the restructuring some sections of the Ankara-Istanbul railway. /Cumhuriyet/[37] THOMAS IN ISTANBULOn 27th September in Istanbul, the second of the Focus meetings will be held by the Management Centre of Turkey as usual. Mark Thomas, who is one of the most important names in Europe concerning Strategic Human Resources Management, will attend the meeting as the speaker. /Aksam/[38] TURKEY ASSURED OF ECONOMIC GUARANTEEPresident Bill Clinton's Special Representative to the Caspian Basin, Ambassador John Wolf, stated that Turkey had guaranteed a great deal in the implementation of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. Wolf declared, "Now it is the international consortium's turn". During the press conference that was held in the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, John Wolf briefed his audience on the latest situation in the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. Wolf recalled that he was welcomed by the Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, during the meetings in Ankara, and added that they were interested in the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project that will transport Azerbaijani petroleum to Western markets. Wolf said, "The pipeline's location is very important strategically. An economic and commercial agreement is possible and Turkey is doing her best on this issue". /Aksam/[39] ECEVIT AND PARRIS DISCUSS THE "DETAILS"Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, welcomed the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, in the Prime Ministry Building. After the meeting that lasted for half an hour, Prime Minister Ecevit reported that they had discussed the `details' of his formal visit to the U.S. between 26th September and 2nd October. Ecevit answered the question, "Is there a new Cyprus plan on the agenda?", saying, "No, there is not". Ecevit added that Parris would go to the U.S. tomorrow.Prime Minister Ecevit will discuss certain issues such as Cyprus, the Aegean, Northern Iraq, the EU and IMF aid with the U.S. President, Bill Clinton. Ecevit said, "Turkey has experienced one of the most horrible disasters of the age and I am going to demand the U.S. support in order to cover the economic loss caused by the earthquake." Within the Prime Minister's accompanying delegation will be bureaucrats, businessmen, members of the Turkish Parliament from different parties and many journalists. In addition, Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem, who is currently in the U.S, State Minister responsible the economy Recep Onal and economic bureaucrats will go to the U.S. to begin preparations. Ecevit will meet Clinton and the Secretary of State Albright on 28th September. During the meeting between Clinton and Ecevit, relations between the two countries and the problems due to the region where Turkey is located will be discussed. /Aksam/ [40] IBDA_C BOMBERS COURT CASEThe Chief Prosecutor of the State Security Court in Istanbul has issued a suit against three people demanding a heavy prison sentence of up to 22.5 years. They are accused of organizing bomb attacks in the name of the illegal IBDA_C organization. The Attorney General, Enver Coban, in the legal documents that he has prepared, advocates the punishment of defendants Hasan Kapar, Okan Isgor and Orhan Derin. /Star/[41] 1,744 COMPANIES OPENED IN AUGUSTIn August, 1,744 companies and 948 firms were opened for business; 1,467 of the companies are limited companies. In August, 396 firms increased their total capital to 116 trillion 768 billion 828 million. During this period of time, 361 firms were closed down. /Star/[42] U.S. ATTRACTS THE TREASURYTreasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and his assistants, Ferhat Emil and Ayse Donmezer, will join the State Minister responsible for the economy, Recep Onal, during his visit to the U.S. on 24th September. The delegation will also touch on certain subjects connected to finance and the economy while in the U.S. The delegation's other item on the agenda will be the meetings concerning the IMF agreement that will continue in Turkey in October. /Star/[43] MUMCU TO PARTICIPATE IN WTO GENERAL ASSEMBLYTourism Minister Erkan Mumcu will participate in the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) General Assembly which will be held in Santiago, the capital of Chile, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials said that the WTO's 13th General Assembly will be held between September 24 and October 1, 1999, and that Tourism Ministers from nearly 60 countries are expected to participate in the meeting. They added that the Ministers will discuss 'the draft on ethical principles in tourism', which lists the rules that member countries should obey as of the year 2000.[44] TURKISH INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIATwo separate Turkish companies have purchased the Bulgarian Gorubso Mines and the Sumnu Aluminium Factory, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Soma Komur, a Turkish coal company, purchased Gorubso Mines, which is one of Bulgaria's giant mining enterprises. Soma Komur will run this Bulgarian company together with the Russian company, Vostak Invest.FAF Metal, a Turkish metal-producing company, bought the aluminium factory in Sumnu. FAF metal will run this factory in partnership with a Bulgarian company and will invest $38 million in the modernization of the factory. Thus, Turkish investments in Bulgaria have reached a total of $130 million. [45] BLACK SEA PARTNERSHIP-99 MANEOUVRESThe Black Sea Partnership-99 Maneouvres will be staged in the Western Black Sea between September 20 and 24, 1999, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The General Staff statement said that Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Ukraine and Georgia will participate in the maneouvres and that the maneouvres aim to improve joint training initiatives and cooperation between the countries bordering the Black Sea, to support the 'partnership for peace', and to encourage the improvement of Turkey's political and military involvement in the region. Admiral Metin Atac, the Commander of the War Fleet, will command the maneouvres.[46] BARZANI: "PKK ONLY INTERESTED IN DESTRUCTIONMesud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democractic Party (KDP) of northern Iraq, said that the PKK terrorist organization is only interested in planting land-mines on roads and blowing up schools and mosques, adding that this excludes it from becoming an influential factor in northern Iraq, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[47] FINNISH MINISTER MEETS TURKISH MINISTERSFinland's Minister for Trade and European Affairs held talks with Turkish officials yesterday to discuss Turkey's membership application into the EU. Kimmo Sasi met State Minister Responsible for Human Rights and EU Affairs, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, and State Minister Reponsible for Foreign Trade, Tunca Toskay, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[48] TURKISH-OMANI COOPERATIONAn Agricultural Cooperation Agreement between Turkey and Oman was signed in Muscat yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Addressing the signing ceremony, State Minister Mehmet Kececiler, said the Agricultural Agreement was the first agreement signed at the Turkish-Omani Second Term Joint Economic Commission meeting, adding, "This agreement is the cornerstone in the economic relations between Turkey and Oman".[49] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[50] MACKA MEETING -BY GULAY GOKTURK (SABAH)Columnist Gulay Gokturk comments on the Macka Meeting organized by the Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP). A summary of her column is as follows:""On Friday, close to 60 politicians, authors and university professors attended the Macka meeting organized by the ODP to discuss probable developments and offer solutions to the Kurdish issue. The discussions were held in a productive atmosphere. However, the most important part of all these discussions was that I had the chance to listen to prominent figures within the Kurdish movement. As I observed a distinct difference in their tone of voice, in their body language and their psychological stance, I was pleased to note that these people who had influenced the Kurdish movement, had undergone a change. From the second half of the 1960s I have always observed an insincerity, a defence of violence in their manner. Although most of them were against terrorism, they had not been able to severe their emotional ties with it. This was apparent in their speeches, from the words they had chosen. I suspected that they would talk differently when they were alone. I could not believe that they were sincere in their guarantee of development within democracy and through peaceful means. During the Macka Meeting, I believed that the veterans of the Kurdish question, for the first time, believed in democracy and could not see any other solution to the problem. They were listening intently to some prominent Kurdish figures whom, in the past, they had accused of being reformist, compromising. They were saying that, there was no obstacle to lifting the pressure on Kurdish identity; the problem was freedom for different identities. They wanted democratic rights not for Kurds only but the whole of Turkey. They were saying that until then they had only mourned their own losses, only believed in their righteousness and did not care to see the viewpoint or the emotions of those opposing them. They were trying to be realistic and stressing that the problem was not only theirs. Finally, they have joined the ranks of democracy. It has been a hard and long struggle but in the end they made it." [51] PRIORITY TO THE FIGHT AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISM -BY ERDAL SAGLAM (STAR)Columnist Erdal Saglam points out the danger created by the fundamentalits in trying to humiliate the Government. A summary of his column is as follows:"It is possible to talk of some fundamentalist activity in the earthquake region, even from the first day. However, the fight against this is only coming up to our attention now. Since the Goverment has begun to take control of the situation, it has begun to give priority to the fight against these kinds of actions. Therefore, even though it is known that the Red Crescent has been worn out by its exertions, the Government has proclaimed it to be the only official authority allowled to distribute aid. When we went to Adapazarý, we saw that many private aid trucks had gone into the streets, instead of to the crisis centre or hospitals to distribute the things they had brought. The appearance of the symbols of people with rounded beards and headscarves attracted our attention. However, there were no official institutions which could organize the aid. We could not find any official to deliver what we had brought from Ankara. A Government Minister stated fundamentalists had used Adapazari, Duzce, and Golcuk as bases for these kinds of activities and the steps needed would be taken against them. The Minister added that, that is why the Red Crescent would henceforward be the only official authority permitted to distribute aid in the region and all the aid distributed by others could be done under its control. The Minister noted that there were some municipalities who have been working in coordination with the crisis centre and have worked extremely hard, such as the Istanbul Municipality. However, he added, there were also those who were dressed in long dresses and wearing headscarves, almost like a uniform, engaged in propaganda the whole day long. Noting that the Virtue Party Mayors of the region were also helping those who were conducting fundamentalist activity, he claimed that the Virtue Party was opposed to the construction of prefabricated houses so as to create reaction among the people when the cold weather came before the permanent houses were completed. The fundamentalist movement in the region was launched not against the Government but against the State and the military. However, it should not be forgotten that this has resulted from the vacuum created due to the slowness and inefficiency of the State. Did not the Virtue Party increase its votes because of both injustice in the distribution of income and poverty?" Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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