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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-13Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>13.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] DEMIREL CONVENES "ENERGY SUMMIT"The rapprochement between the Turkish Government and Russia as far as the purchase of natural gas is concerned has caused alarm in Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which wish to market natural gas to Turkey, and, for this reason, President Suleyman Demirel called officials from the Government together. Last night he convened the "Energy Summit" at Cankaya Presidential Palace.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan, Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem and other high-ranking bureaucrats involved in this issue attended the Summit that lasted for two hours. Demirel, who wishes to sign agreements over energy with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan as soon as possible, gave instructions for the problems with Russia concerning the natural gas and oil pipelines to be solved. /Sabah/ [03] DEMIREL ADVISES TURKISH RED CRESCENTPresident Suleyman Demirel has advised the Turkish Crescent's new Chairman, Yuksel Bozer after welcoming Yuksel Bozer and the delegation with him. Bozer said that their aim was to regain the respect of the public towards them and that they intended to computerize their stores. President Demirel pointed out the need to listen to criticism of the Red Crescent and declared, "It is impossible to survive by insisting on making the same mistakes. There is no substitute for the Red Crescent.".The President Demirel underlined the fact that criticism of the Red Crescent has been harh and further added, "Correct the mistakes that are found to be verifiable and declare any unfair criticism to the public. The respectability of the institution should be preserved. We cannot forsake the Red Crescent. The Red Crescent's productive and positive attitude will also be appreciated by members of the press. Yesterday President Demirel also welcomed the children whose parents died during the earthquake that occurred in Kobe, Japan. The Japanese children presented the donation that was have collected in Japan for the children who lost their parents during the earthquake that occurred in the Marmara Region in Turkey. /Aksam/ [04] LETTER FROM ECEVIT TO IRAQIt was reported that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had sent a letter to Iraq's Deputy Head of State, Taha Yasin Ramazan. Iraq's official agency, the INA, reported that Ecevit's letter concerned the importance of cooperation between Iraq and Turkey that would serve to the mutual benefit of the two countries. However, information concerning the content of the letter has not been yet been released. /Cumhuriyet/[05] GREEK MINISTER MANDELIS IN ISTANBULGreece's Minister of Communications, Haralambos Anastasios Mandelis, arrived in Istanbul to touch on certain subjects. Minister Mandelis stated that the earthquakes that had occurred in Athens and Turkey proved that the people of the two countries were very close to each other. Minister Mandelis and his wife, who came to Turkey to listen to the friendship concert, visited Ayasofya Museum. Greek Minister Mandelis said, "If the earthquake had not occurred, there would not have been such a rapprochement. Maybe it would have happened but the earthquake made it occur more quickly." Then the Greek Minister met the Turkish Minister of Communications, Enis Oksuz, and they exchanged their opinions on various topics. /Aksam/[06] CRITICISM FROM MESUT YILMAZMotherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz directed criticism against the coalition government, in which his party is a partner, for the developments that took place following the devastating Izmit earthquake. During a speech he delivered at the ANAP group meeting on Tuesday, Yilmaz said that while a pessimistic attitude and loss of morale is prevailing throughout the country, this must not be interpreted as a sign of hopelessness. The ANAP leader expressed doubt that the Ministry of Housing and Public Works could live up to the claims of its head, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Koray Aydin, who promised that the work to remove the rubble remaining from the Aug. 17 quake would be completed within 50 days. He added that he hopes the construction of prefabricated houses will be completed by late November as Minister Aydin has declared. /All Papers/[07] KUTAN DEMANDS PUBLIC REFERENDUMDuring a speech at a Virtue Party (FP) parliamentary group meeting, FP leader Recai Kutan requested that a vote of the people be solicited for the controversial dress code as well as on the vetoed Amnesty Law. Noting that despite the fact that the two months had passed since the earthquake, people were still living in terrible conditions in the devastated areas, Kutan said that this necessitates the Government's immediate resignation. /All Papers/[08] TURKISH AND RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN MEET IN ANTALYAThe Turco-Russian Business Council's 7th Joint Meeting will be held in Antalya between 14th and 16th October, reported the Anatolia News Agency.Turkish and Russian Ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats will also attend the meeting in Belek Topkapi Palace Hotel in Kundu. At the meeting, during which mutual relations in basic cooperation sectors such as energy, tourism, trade and communication will be discussed from a different perspective, also certain issues such as the increase in the number of mutual meetings between Turkish and Russian members of the press will be discussed. Some issues such as the establishment of cooperation between the two countries for Small-and-Medium -Scale Enterprises (KOBI) and the improvement of mutual relations between the regions of the two countries will be on the meeting's agenda for the first time. [09] TROOP-CARRIER CRASHES: TWO DIEA troop-carrier, during a training flight, crashed near the 4th Main Jet Base in Ankara. Two flying officers, Erdal Ozmen and Huseyin Topkaya, lost their lives during the accident. An investigation has been launched to determine the reason for the crash. President Demirel sent a message of condolence to the victims' families and to the Turkish Armed Forces. /Aksam/[10] PRIVATIZATION SPEEDS UPState Minister Yuksel Yalova, the Minister responsible for privatization, has declared the Supreme Board of Privatization's (OYK) decision, taken at its recent meeting that the privatization drive is to be vigorously pursued. Forty-nine of the current 74 state-owned companies will be sold off immediately, while 25 others will await privatization by the Privatization Board (OIB) prior to the end of the year 2000. Yalova said that they expect privatization income to amount to 5.3 billion dollars in the year 2000. /Hurriyet/[11] ATTACK ON DOGAN MEDIA CENTREThe Dogan Media Centre in Bagcılar, Istanbul, was attacked by armed unknown assailants around 5:00 a.m Tuesday. The building houses the offices of the 'Milliyet' and 'Radical' newspapers. There were no deaths or injuries in the attack. Istanbul police began a city-wide investigation following the incident. /Hurriyet/[12] THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2000The Supreme Planning Council meeting presided over by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was unable to determine targets for the year 200 due to a lack of resources for civill servants' wage increases and agricultural subsidies. The meeting was adjourned until Thursday to give the Ministers time to conclude their research in their respective fields. /Milliyet/[13] "WE SHALL NOT LEAVE THE FLOOR"The Chairman of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen, (TUSIAD) Erkut Yucaoglu, stated that Turkey should not change its path directed towards the EU, and further added that they should not leave the floor to others but ought to explain Turkey's views to the EU. The TUSIAD delegation left Brussels for Sweden in connection with the EU tour it had started. Yucaoglu said that during their tour they explained the economic situation of Turkey, the influence of the earthquake on it, the achievements of the Government and the political and economic reforms undertaken so far./Turkiye/[14] 'MILLENNIUM BUG' IN 2000Turkey has failed in her preparations for the 'Millennium bug' which is expected to be faced by computer systems in the year 2000. The State Planning Department (DPT) declared in October that Turkey is only 81.5% ready for the problem by October only in 81.5%. A breakdown according to sector reveals that the health sector's preparation rate stands at 65.9%. Thereupon, for every 100 surgial operations held from midnight on Dec. 31st. 1999, 35 patients on the table will risk death. Up to now, the highest rate of compliance has been obtained in the defense industry with 96.5%. /Hurriyet/[15] CUSTOMS OFFICES MEETThe 8th European Customs Investigation Administrators' meeting will be held in Antalya on 14th and 15th October. Members of the World Customs Organization, the EU's Anti-Fraud Department and representatives of Interpol will attend the meeting, which will be chaired by the Customs' Undersecretary, Ramazan Uludag. During the first day of the meeting these issues will be discussed: - The World Customs Organization's present policies in the fight against smuggling - Automation and modernization of investigation units with the customs administrations - Information exchange and cooperation in Europe and drug trafficking in Europe". /Cumhuriyet/[16] CAR SHOW IN PARIS54 Turkish firms from the automotive sector will attend the "Equip Auto 99" Fair that will be opened today in Paris. Turkey has the second biggest national stand in the Fair that will be held in the Parc D'Expositions, Paris Nord, and will be open until 18th October. In addition to our national stand, 10 big Turkish firms will take part in the car show with their personal stands.The Turkish aoutomobile industry has enjoyed a leap in its export performance with the support of the spare parts industry and has become one of the leading sectors in the country's economy. [17] GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIP ORGANIZEDAfter Turkey declared that it was unable to organize the 1st European Aerobics Gymnastics Championship due to the earthquake disaster, that it was supposed to organize, the British Gymnastics Federation made a big gesture by taking on the responsibility of organizing this championship, reported the Anatolia News Agency.Ambassador Ozdem Sanberk made statements during a press conference that was held in the Turkish Embassy in London and said, "The British Gymnastics Federation's gesture is an unprecedented incident in the history of sports. Sports are serving the aim of uniting people closely. During a time when Turkey was looking forward to organizing this competition, the earthquake disaster ruined our opportunity. In such hard times, the support of one country for another cannot be forgotten easily." The Deputy Chairman of the British Gymnastics Federation, Paul Garber stated that the earthquake disaster that had occurred in Turkey had saddened them deeply and that both the British Gymnastics Federation and the European Gymnastics Union were ready to help Turkey in any way possible. Garber further added that the monies collected during the competition would be donated to the earthquake victims in Turkey. The 1st European Aerobics Gymnastics Championship will be held in Birmingham, England between the 3rd and 5th December. Almost 400 sportsmen from 29 countries, including Turkish gymnasts, will take part in the Championships. [18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[19] WHAT DOES CONCESSION MEAN? - BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)Columnist Sedat Sertoglu discusses the meaning of concession for Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"Recently there have been rumours that if Turkey or Denktas sit at the negotiating table they would give concessions. Haven't Turkey and Denktas alrleady expressed their views on the ratio of land or on Maras at the table? They have discussed the new structure of Cyprus with the Greek-Cypriots. Since we did not utter a single word at the time, why are we raising our voices today? Diplomacy is a matter of exchange based on intellect and calculation. No country in the world can attain the targets it has set for itself by itself. In general, countries are searching for ways through regional, multilateral, and bilateral means. Therefore, Ankara is in touch with a number of countries concerning not only Cyprus but also membership to the EU, and the latest developments in the Caucasus. Ankara is expressing its views and listening to what others have to say. Today, Turkey needs allies. When the time comes, countries have to back away from some of their aims. This is the truth of our day and age and, in a negotiation, the Greek-Cypriot Administration will have to withdraw some of its demands, as willthe TRNC. If the negotiations take place on the Island, Denktas cannot explain his views to anyone. No-one will know the games the Greek-Cypriots play. We can reach the mass media more easily if these meetings are held in New York or Washington. There are channels, circles and persons which will enable us to communicate our views to the press." [20] PETITION BY THE INTELLECTUALS - BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the petition signed by intellectuals expressing their wishes. A summary of his column is as follows:"Preparing a petition on democracy and human rights, 46 writers and artists, called on Parliament to implement the arrangements needed for Turkey to become an exemplary state in the 21st century. The petition can be summarized thus: "Everyone knows that Turkey, which we consider to be a part of the modern world, has serious problems as far as human rights and modern democracy are concerned. This point is expressed even by State officials. We believe that democratic and civilized steps, which should be taken will strengthen and enrich Turkey both economically, socially and culturally. We are calling on the President, the Prime Minister, the Government and all officials to relieve Turkey of this shame." The petition by the intellegentsia also includes some implications for the Southeastern and Kurdish problems. "As we are patching up the damage caused by the earthquke which deeply saddened all of us, let us treat the wounds which have been bleeding for more than 70 years. Turkey should be a country respectful of cultural and human rights, modern and democratic, shining like a bright star in the 21st century. Like the intellectuals in our country, ordinary citizens are also looking forward to a Turkey where hopes are rebuilt, within a just system and in peace. The Turkish Parliament took some steps to change the Constitution before the summer recess, but there should be more." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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