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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>06.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... "WE SHOULD NOT BE THE MOST LONELY LONER IN THE WORLD"- BY IZZET[02] SEDES (AKSAM)[03] ECEVIT DUE IN MOSCOW IN NOVEMBERPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will go to Moscow to pay an official visit following his U.S. visit. The visit will be held between 4th and 6th Nov. and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer will accompany Ecevit. The Blue Stream Project will be an important subject on the agenda and the latest work into it will be revised. Military cooperation between the two countries is also be expected to be taken up during the meetings. /Turkiye/[04] CEM TO VISIT CUBA AND VENEZUELAForeign Minister Ismail Cem will pay official visits to Cuba and Venezuela in the second half of October. Cem's visits are within the guidelines of Turkey's programme of opening up to Latin America in search of new markets and economic opportunities as well as for broader political support of Turkish causes handled in the UN. Cem will go to Venezuela on October 17-19 and then will have talks with Cuban officials on October 20-23. He is scheduled to meet President Fidel Castro. /All papers/[05] SIMITIS: "POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE PREVAILS IN TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS"Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said that a positive atmosphere prevailed in Turco-Greek relations and called upon Turkey to take decisions which would establish a strong base for the improvement of its relations with both Europe and Greece. Simitis delivered a speech to mark the opening of the Greek Parliament and pointed out that they were against any kind of tension in relations with Turkey. Simitis stated that he believed that Turkey's future was in Europe and said, "Turkey's future in Europe will be beneficial for both Turkey and Greece, for the establishment of peace and security and for economic development in the region", the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MILITARY OFFICIALSAn opening ceremony was held yesterday at the NATO Southern Europe Sub-Regional Command Headquarters in Larissa, Greece. The Turkish Naval Forces' Commander, Vice-Admiral Ilhami Erdil, attended the ceremony. Erdil pointed out the pleasing state of relations between Turkey and Greece and said that such a warmth was also prevalent between the naval and armed forces of the two countries. Turkish Major General Metin Yavuz Yalcin will become Chief of Staff at the Larissa Headquarters. /Star/[07] TOBB AND EUROCHAMBERS: JOINT SEMINARA seminar on the 'Administration of Chambers and their Support for KOBIs', jointly organized by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Eurochambers, started yesterday in Istanbul. The Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO), Dundar Ucar, delivered a speech at the opening of the seminar and said that the 'Archimedes Programme' coordinated by the European Union of Chambers of Trade and Industry and the Mediterranean Union of Chambers of Trade and Industry was extremely beneficial for cooperation between chambers in the whole region. The Deputy Director of the Eurochambers Project, Beke Stover, said for his part that joint initiatives between the chambers were making great contributions to economic and commercial activities. Stover stated that 14 million European companies were being represented in Eurochambers, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] U.S. PRESS PRAISES TUSIAD'The Washington Times', a leading newspaper published in the U.S., praised the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) for its contribution to the democratic reforms in Turkey. An article written by James Morrison described TUSIAD as an 'effective and independent reform lobby'. /Aksam/[09] BAKU-CEYHAN READY FOR SIGNATUREEnergy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer replied to questions posed by jounalists following the Second Eurasian Economic Summit yesterday and said that both U.S. President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore supported the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. Ersumer added, "Turkey has done its best with reference to this issue". Azerbaijani Trade Minister Serhad Aliyev, who also attended the Summit, stated that the Baku-Cyehn project was on-going in line with the protocol signed between Turkey and Azerbaijan on October 29, 1998. The Second Eurasian Economic Summit, organized by the Marmara Group's Strategic and Social Research Foundation, started yesterday in Istanbul. At the Presidential Palace, President Suleyman Demirel received high-level officials attending the Summit. Demirel stated that Turkey was giving every support to Eurasia in every area and would continue to do so. /Aksam-Star/[10] VITRA AND TEE: EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD NOMINEESThe best companies in Europe will be announced during a Forum of the European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM) to be held in Brussels on October 6-8. Those institutions which will receive the European Quality Award will obtain their awards during a ceremony to be held on October 8. Both the Turkish Eczacibasi Vitra company and the Turkish Electricity Institute (TEE) have managed to enter the finals along with their European rivals. /Aksam/[11] TURCO-ISRAELI BUSINESS COUNCILThe Turco-Israeli Business Council will convene in Telaviv, Israel, on November 20-24. Issues concerning the strengthening of commercial relations between Turkey and Israel will be deliberated during the meeting. Businessmen and industrialists who want to attend should apply to the Foreign Economic Relations Council before October 15. An "Israeli Exports Day" will be held on the first day of the meetings. /Aksam/[12] BANGLADESHI CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN ANKARABangladeshi Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman, who is paying an official visit to Ankara, visited Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu yesterday. The two chiefs of general staff held a meeting. The Bangladeshi Chief of General Staff visited Ataturk's Mausoleum yesterday morning. He will return home on October 8, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[13] GEN.CELASIN IN SWITZERLANDThe Commander of the Air Forces, Gen.Ergin Celasin, will go to Switzerland today. Gen.Celasin will attend the European Air Forces' Commanders' (EURAC) meeting and then will return to Turkey on October 9, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[14] TURCO-EGYPTIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETINGThe Turco-Egyptian Business Council meeting will take place in Cairo between November 15 and 18, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry released a statement saying that Turkish and Egyptian businessmen would have the opportunity to engage in bilateral talks on business ties during the meeting at which the massive cooperation opportunities in African countries would be discussed.[15] GERMAN PRESIDENT AWARDS ORDER OF MERIT TO TURKISH ARCHITECTGerman President Johannes Rau has awarded an order of merit to Turkish architect Ersin Ugursal, who lives in Stuttgart, Germany, because of his contribution to the development of Turco-German relations. Rau delivered a speech at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace and said that Germany was a country which offers its hand to peace, friendship and brotherhood. Ersin Ugursal, who is the founder of the Turco-German Association in Stuttgart, expressed his pleasure over the award, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[16] MILITARY APPROACH IS REASONABLEThe "Le Soir", a leading newspaper published in Belgium, has claimed that the PKK terrorist organization has increased its 'signals of good-will'. It also said that a military approach towards the organization, which has lost its power, would be reasonable. /Aksam/[17] GREEKS PREFER FRIENDSHIP WITH TURKSAccording to the results of a survey conducted by the 'Ta Nea' newspaper, the Greek nation wants good relations with Turkey and direct negotiations for the solution of the problems existing between the two countries. Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel received the Rector of the Middle East Technical University (METU), Suha Sevuk, and the Head of the Greek Rectors' Council, Prof.Sypros Kyriysiz, yesterday. Demirel reiterated that many people had lost their lives during the earthquakes both in Turkey and in Greece but added, "These disasters drew us closer to each other". /Aksam/[18] EP NOT BEING HONEST TO TURKEYPolitical parties in the European Parliament are not being honest over Turkey's EU candidacy status which is hoped to be declared during the Helsinki Summit. In the draft recommendations presented by the Christian Democrat and Socialist Groups in the European Parliament, Turkey's candidacy status was even not mentioned. /Aksam/[19] NOMURA BECOMES PARTNER OF EGSThe Japanese Nomura Bank, a world-leading investment bank, has purchased 1.5 % of the shares of the EGS Holding Company, which has now increased its capital from 25 trillion TL to 75 trillion TL. Nomura paid $2 million for the 1.5 % share of EGS. /Star/[20] GENOCIDE STATUE AND MUSEUM OPENS IN IGDIRIgdir's Genocide Statue and Museum was opened yesterday by State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu. Speaking at the opening, Mirzaoglu said, "The Republic of Turkey is always on the side of peace and friendship. We always back the improvement of cultural and trade ties with our neighbours". Idgir Governor Semsettin Uzun said that between 1915-1920 nearly 80,000 people in Igdir were massacred by the Armenians. "We are the victims. We are the ones who were massacred. However, we see that the Armenians want to show the opposite". /All papers/[21] U.S. ENCOURAGED BY FURTHER CONTACT BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEThe U.S. said it is encouraged by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu's visit to Turkey on Sunday and Monday and hoped it would help jump-start talks between the two countries for a resolution of the Cyprus problem. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said, "We hope these kinds of visit will have a positive impact". Rubin pointed out that, "The U.S. hopes the visit will also help our efforts to jump-start unconditional comprehensive Cyprus negotiations, under UN auspices". /All papers/[22] U.S. INVESTMENTSThe U.S. Consul in Adana, Stuart Jones, said that a business delegation due to come to Mersin on October 18 will launch initiatives to invest in Mersin. Jones stated that there would be representatives from various sectors such as imports, exports, energy, banking and construction. /Cumhuriyet/[23] ONAL: "THE AIM IS NOT MONEY BUT TO INCREASE TURKEY'S RATING"State Minister Recep Onal remarked that a positive signal from the IMF for Turkey would increase Turkey's rating. Onal said that the aim of the meetings held between Turkey and the IMF was not to receive financial assistance but to increase Turkey's rating. /Cumhuriyet/[24] RED CROSS: "RED CRESCENT DID ITS BEST"The General Secretary of the International Red Crescent-Red Cross Federation, George Weber, said that the Turkish Red Crescent had done its best to aid the victims of the earthquake and added, "We are members of the same familiy". /Hurriyet/[25] AUSTRIA CONCERNS ANKARAAnkara has become concerned by the rise of the extreme right-wing party headed by Jorg Haider which experienced a boom during the elections in Austria last weekend. It is reported that Austria may oppose Turkey's candidacy during the Helsinki Summit in December when the enlargement process will be discussed. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir who went to Denmark on October 1 and met Danish General Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Friis Arnepe Petersen returned to Turkey with some positive impressions of the Danish view vis-a-vis Turkey. During the meeting when the main topic discussed was Turkey's EU candidacy, Danish officials described the steps taken by Turkey regarding human rights and democratization as positive. /Hurriyet/[26] ITALIAN PRESS COMMENTS ON POLITICAL ASYLUM FOR OCALANThe Italian newspapers have commented on the Italian Court of Appeal's decision to grant political asylum to the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. Corriera Della Sera: There are accusations aimed at Turkey in the decision file documentation. La Stampa: While Italy is granting political asylum to Ocalan, Ocalan has already been sentenced to death in Turkey. Giorno: It is a technical decision, not a political one. Liberation: Italy opened its arms to Ocalan but too late. /Sabah/[27] MOSES SEEKING FORMULA ACCEPTABLE TO DENKTASU.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alfred Moses, is seeking a formula for the resumption of Cyprus talks that will satisfy the Turkish-Cypriot President Rauf Denktas, the Anatolia News Agency quoted high-level White House officials as saying. Moses is expected to pay a visit to Ankara, Athens and Cyprus next week in another attempt to bring the two Cypriot sides to the negotiating table. The officials said that Moses' talks with Turkish, Greek and Cypriot officials from the two sides would concentrate on outlining a formula that would be acceptable to Denktas.[28] EIGHT TERRORISTS IMPRISONEDThe eight terrorists who surrendered in the Semdinli district of Hakkari were imprisoned after being tried at Van State Security Court yesterday. According to information given, the eight terrorists were brought to Van from Semdinli after investigation of their cases had been completed. The terrorists were sent to a prison in Mus. /All papers/[29] EDUCATION MINISTER LEAVES FOR TRNCEducation Minister Metin Bostancioglu will go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday, together with the State Minister responsible for sports, Fikret Unlu. The Ministers will attend the inauguration ceremonies of some facilities, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[30] PRIORITY FOR INVESTMENT IN MARMARAThe earthquake, which occured on Aug. 17th., has changed the State Planning Organization's priorities as far as investment planning for the year 2000 is concerned. According to the revised plan, in the year 2000, a significant limitation will be placed on investments in order to compensate for about 10 billion dollars of economic loss and to repair the damage. Investments in other regions will be permitted only in special cases. While Turkey will spend the foreign aid sent for the quake-hit areas, an amount of over 3 billion dollars for investments in the region, a portion of the Budget will also be used in the reconstruction of the region. /Turkiye/[31] SECURITY SYSTEM IN STRAITSThe Undersecretary of the Maritime, Mustafa Kocak, said that American Lockheed Martin Overseas Corporation had won the bid for the 'Shipping Traffic Control System' based on radar and satellite control and backed by computers, which will organize shipping and ensure the safety in the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Recalling that maritime traffic has increased through the Straits in recent years, Kocak emphasized that the new system will be in compliance with all international agreements and is aimed only at shipping organization and safety. /Turkiye/[32] JAPANESE WEEKThe Japanese Week, traditionally held every year, will begin in Ankara, on Oct.21. According to information obtained from the Japanese Embassy, the events will last for two weeks. /Turkiye/[33] TURKEY GOES EUROPEAN IN MEDICINEThe European Federation of Pharmaceutical Companies (EFPIA) has accepted the Turkish Medical and Medical Chemistry Industry Employer's Union (TMCIE) as a permanent member. The EFPIA was established in 1978 in order to develop the European Pharmaceutical Industry and to work in the public interest. It includes 17 pharmaceutical industry Unions and 40 pharmaceutical establishments in its structure in Europe. /Turkiye/[34] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[35] "WE SHOULD NOT BE THE MOST LONELY LONER IN THE WORLD"- BY IZZET SEDES (AKSAM)Izzet Sedes is a columnist on the daily `Aksam' newspaper. This is an article by him published in `Aksam'.Churchill says: "Democracy is a hard regime for those who apply it, but for those who do not apply it, it seems to be the best regime". American President, Bill Clinton, gave an evaluation of Turkey to our Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit : "Turkey is a secular, democratic and prosperous country within the Islamic world. This example will have multiple effects on the Islamic world, on the region in which Turkey is located and on Europe. The first fifty years of the 21st century will be shaped by Turkey's direction. Those who have the ability to see fifty years into the future will make Turkey a candidate of the EU." The American President's evaluation is true. However, we are doing our best to "be alone in the world" with both civil and military cooperation. Our manner is like this because we are extremely introverted and we do not know much about the Western world. Therefore, although we don't want this, we lag behind and become the "most lonely loner in the world". The latest example of this is the issue of our membership to the EU. The EU is an economic and political club and an institution whose target is "a United Europe". Some conditions have been set up in order to become a member of this club; no state can be a member unless it meets these conditions fully. We have not fulfilled these conditions completely yet. One of the most important conditions, even the primary condition, that is expected from those who wish to become a member is to be a state that "applies democracy and human rights fully." We have covered a great distance but we have so far been unable to fulfill this condition totally. The end is near. Clinton told Ecevit kindly that we were "democratic" but just after this he mentioned "the direction that Turkey will take". This is the most important thing for us firstly and then for the world, that is, "the form that we will have". The world is looking forward to seeing it. Let us speak openly: in democratic regimes "the soldiers' interruption of politics" is not accepted. However, in Turkey this situation is still continuing. Our Forces' Commanders often speak into television channels' microphones and deliver "political speeches". They should be aware that they are not doing our country any favours by behaving in this way. On the contrary, they are damaging and over-shadowing our democracy although they don't want such a thing to happen. [36] CAN HAIDER SPOIL OUR WORK? - BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Sami Kohen is a columnist on the daily `Milliyet' newspaper. This is an article by him published in `Milliyet'.The result is no surprise. During the elections in Austria, Jorg Haider's Freedom Party, which is considered to be the most radical right-wing group in Europe, was expected to become a power to contend with. However, not this powerful... The fact that the Freedom Party, which is inclined towards racism and xenophobia, came second in the elections with 27% of the vote surprised and worried many observers both in Austria and Europe. Thus, the possibility of the end of the ruling cooperation between the Social Democrats and Conservatives that has been going on for 13 years and the possibility of the entrance of the most quiet and prosperous country in Europe into a period of instability appears. We do not think that this result will change so many things as far as Turkey is concerned. 180,000 Turks live in Austria and 40,000 of these people are dual citizens. As a diplomat in Vienna has told us, extreme right-wing supporters in this country do not have Turkey as their target as in Germany. Of course Turks do not love Haider and do not like this election victory. However, the situation is not such as can adversely affect their lives. Above all, this situation will remain as long as Haider is kept away from power. As far as Turkey's candidacy to the EU is concerned, Haider is generally against the EU's enlargement - in other words, any more than 11 members. Naturally he does want Turkey's candidacy. However, as an Austrian diplomat in Ankara says, he cannot affect official politics too much as long as he stays in the opposition. Of course Austria cannot be against Turkey by himself at the Helsinki Summit although this may change if others oppose it. However, first we should see what sort of a government will be established in Vienna. Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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