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Wednesday, 18 December 2024
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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-15Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>15.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] SUPPORT FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SCALE ENTERPRISE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE[02] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[03] DEMIREL: "TOURISM DOES NOT MEAN ONLY MONEY"Turkish President Demirel said that tourism is not only a way to earn money, but also a means of promoting Turkey abroad and enabling exports to the world. Demirel further added, "Turkey should attain her target of a capacity of 1.5 million beds, 25 million tourists and 115 billion dollars in tourist revenue before the year 2010."President Demirel attended the traditional Award Ceremony for those Travel Agencies able to bring in more than 1 million dollars in foreign exchange organized by the Union of Turkish Travel Agencies. President Demirel pointed out that as private and public sectors, we should invest 20 billion dollars more in tourism. After his speech, President Demirel presented the awards to the representatives of 170 travel agencies. /Hurriyet/ [04] TURKEY'S EU TRIAL TO BEGINTurkey will find herself at an important crrossroads if the suggestions of the European Commission are ratified at the European Union (EU) Summit in Helsinki in December. One of the Commission's most important proposals is to form a partnership united with a national programme directed towards harmonization with EU earnings. The partnership foresees the determination of the shortcomings of the countries vis-a-vis the Copenhagen criteria and the launching of joint studies to eradicate them in order to prepare the candidate countries for full-membership.Turkey had suspended political dialogue when candidacy status was not granted to her at the Luxembourg Summit in 1997. If her candidacy is approved, Turkey will not be able to say that the EU does not have the right to criticise her. EU specialists stated that Turkey will determine the speed of the membership process herself. /Milliyet/ [05] HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMITThe State Minister responsible for human rights and relations with the EU, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, expressed his wish to cooperate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during the meeting held at the Ankara Palas yesterday. Irtemcelik stated that this meeting with Turkey's NGOs was the first of its kind and must be viewed as a reflection of his government's positive policy with regard to the human rights issue. The Human Rights Association (IHD), the Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC), the Bar Organization, the bars of Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, the Association for the Solidarity of Oppressed People (MAZLUM-DER), the Press Council, the Modern Judiciary Association, the constitutional and human rights commissions and academicians attended the meeting. /All Papers/[06] GREEK MEDIA: "EU LAID OUT RED CARPET'The European Union Commission's report which gave the green light to Turkey's EU candidacy has received wide coverage in the Greek press. Asserting that Turkey has obtained more than she expected, the newspapers evaluated the report thus: 'Europe has laid out the red carpet in front of Turkey'. They pointed out that the candidacy negotiations will not start immediately. The Greek press also emphasized that Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopulu voted against the report. /Sabah/[07] U.S.A. IS PLEASED WITH EU'S DECISIONThe U.S.A's State Department, declared their pleasure at the fact that the EU Commission, in its Turkey report, suggested the official acceptance of Turkey's candidacy to the EU Council at the Helsinki Summit in December. A high-ranking official from the U.S.A's State Department made a statement on behalf of the State Department and said, "We are happy with the latest development report that was published by the EU. We believe that Turkey's future is in Europe. This report is very important in terms of relations between Turkey and the EU." /Turkiye/[08] CLINTON TO SPEAK AT ASSEMBLYThe American President, Bill Clinton, will come to Turkey in order to attend the OSCE Summit, which will be held in Istanbul on Nov. 15th. Paying a one-day official visit to Ankara as the guest of President Suleyman Demirel, Clinton will also deliver a speech at the Turkish Grand National Assembly. /Sabah/[09] UNIVERSITY RECTORS IN ATHENSSome of the Turkish universities' representatives went to Athens yesterday, with regard to the invitation of the Greek Rectors' Union's Chairman, Prof. Dr. Costantinos Dimopoulos, in order to strengthen mutual relations. /Milliyet/[10] GREAT RAID IN EUROPEIn France, Holland, Germany, England and Belgium, the six highest-ranking officials of the terrorist PKK organization were detained after a series of raids. The passports of the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile's well-known figures the DEP's ex-deputies Zubeyir Aydar, Ali Yigit, as well as and Misgin Sen were also seized. /Milliyet/[11] BLUE STREAM PROJECTIn order to solve the problems involving the "Blue Stream" project, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Deputy Prime Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, met the Chairman of the Executive Board of Gazprom, Rem Vyahirev, who manages natural gas resources in Russia.Ersumer and Vyahirev, who are at Topkapi Palace Hotel in the village of Kundu near Antalya for the 7th Joint Meeting of the Turco-Russian Business Council, exchanged their opinions about the delay in the process of signing the protocol that was prepared by Gazprom and sent to the Turkish side concerning the "Blue Stream Project". Ersumer said, "We discussed the protocol for "Blue Stream" and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the State Ministry responsible for the Treasury are working in cooperation on the arrangements for the protocol. We will hold a meeting on 23rd October and will give the protocol its final shape. /Turkiye/ [12] PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO BE CRUSHED AGAINThe bill for the economic straits and the earthquake damage will be paid off by state employees. Following discussions in the Supreme Planning Council (SPC), the partners of the government met together. Leaving the summit, Prime Minister Ecevit said, "We obtained conformity on all subjects". Pointing out that the Budget has been prepared considering the economic situation, he said, "Workers will not be crushed by inflation". However, it was leaked that public officials will be granted a wage rise of 15% in the first half of the year and 10% in the second half. After its approval by the Council of Ministers, the Budget will be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Sunday. The Budget includes these major points: savings will be make in the public sector, investment priorities will be determined, salary increases will be in proportion to social justice; privatization will speed up. /Aksam/[13] "BLACKSEAFOR"After the "Blackseafor" meeting that was held by the countries bordering the Black Sea in order to strengthen peace and stability in the Black Sea region, a cooperation decleration has been published. In a statement by the Office of the Chief of General Staff, after Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, the Ukraine and Turkey attended the 4th Blackseafor meetings, it was decided that `Blackseafor' should be implemented as soon as possible. /Turkiye/[14] NON-ISLAMIC THEOLOGY IN TURKEYIn the theology faculties in Turkey, religions other than Islam will be able to be taught. The Institution of Higher Education (YOK) and the Chairmanship of Religious Affairs said yes to the suggestions of non-governmental organizations and minorities, who desired the opening of a department to teach Christianity in the theology faculties in Turkey.YOK and the Chairmanship of Religious Affairs both sent a letter to Undersecretariat of the Prime Ministry and stated that they had approved the opening of a Department of Religion and Culture within the Theology Faculty of Istanbul University. According to the letter, the opening of this department within the Theology Faculty of Istanbul University is envisaged for next year. /Sabah/ [15] ARBITRATION PROTECTION FOR TURKISH CONTRACTORS IN PAKISTANThe practice of arbitration will save our contractors from losing 1 billion dollars. As part of the "arbitration" clause in the contractual agreements for work undertaken by Turkish contractors in Pakistan, the contractors' dues in this country are covered by international guarantee. As part of the international arbitration, the dues of some Turkish firms such as the Bayindir Construction Company, the Sezai Turkes Fevzi Akkaya (STFA) Construction Company and the Tekser Company are protected by international guarantee. /Hurriyet/[16] 2ND EURASIA ECONOMIC SUMMITState Minister Prof. Dr. Sukru Sina Gurel stated that the improvement of relations with the EU would result in very important and useful consequences for Eurasia as well. Minister Gurel delivered a speech during the first gathering of the 2nd Eurasia Economic Summit and said, "Turkey's relations with the EU also play an important role in the improvement of her foreign economic relations. Half of our imports and exports are from and to EU-member countries; 70% of direct investments in Turkey come from the EU." /Cumhuriyet/[17] SUPPORT FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SCALE ENTERPRISE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKEThe earthquake has altered the agenda of the Foreign Economic Relations Committee (DEIK). During the meetings of the Consultation Council, that will be held in Holland and Israel in November, aid for the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprise victims of the earthquake will be discussed in a paper, "aid to the earthquake-affected industialists". The Chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry in Kocaeli, Yilmaz Kanbak, the Chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry in Adapazari, Erol Isik, and officials from the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade and the Treasury will attend the meeting to explain the situation of the industry in the region. /Sabah/[18] U.S.A'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO ISTANBULThe Chairman of the Turco-American Businessmen's Association (TABA), Bulent Senver, delivered a speech during a reception organized in order to introduce the U.S.A's new Ambassador to Istanbul, Frank. C. Urbancic, to Turkish businessmen. Bulent Senver said, "In the new way of the world, there will be new priorities and Turkey will take her place in this new order." /Cumhuriyet/[19] CHILEAN MONUMENTIn memory of the founder of the Chilean Republic, Bernardo O'Higgins (1778-1842), a monument was set up in Chile Plaza, in Ankara, yesterday. The Mayor of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Melih Gokcek, and Jaime Pardo, the Chilean Ambassador to Ankara, attended the inauguration ceremony of the monument. The O'Higgins Monument has been built in return for the Ataturk Monument in Santiago, Chile. /Aksam/[20] STATE SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE THEATRESThe Ministry of Culture decided to subsidize 77 theatre projects and the repair of 8 theatres, a total of 347 billion 115 million dollars. As it caused many debates, the distribution mechanism of the money to the theatres has not been explained yet. /Cumhuriyet/[21] IPACK '99 OPENEDThe 14th International Packaging and Wrapping Industry Fair IPACK'99, was organized by the CNR and the Plastic Products and Machine Manufacturers' Associations (PUMID). Producers from all sectors, packaging producers and those involved in such technology attended the Fair that was set up on an area of 22,000 square metres. Potential customers and partners, representatives of sectors from America, Europe, the Far East, North Africa and the Middle East, attended the Fair, at which more than 600 Turkish and foreign institution and brands were present. /Turkiye/[22] MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITIONOur international ceramics artist Jale Yilmazasar's personal exhibition was opened at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Istanbul. The exhibition, sponsored by the Yasar Education and Culture Foundation and by the DYO, will be open for to viewing 15 days. Yilmabasar's exhibition called "15 years with painting" was attended by many famous names. Half of the income from the exhibition will be donated to the earthquake victims. /Sabah/[23] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[24] THE END OF THE TUNNEL IN SIGHT - BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the recent report prepared by the European Commission concerning Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"The report prepared by the European Commission concerning Turkey was declared the day before yesterday. Thus, one of the most serious obstacles to Turkey's being placed on the list of candidate countries for EU membership has been surmounted. If the European Commission had stated that the country was not eligible to be written in the list of candidates, work on the issue would have come to an end as the the Council of Europe, which is the final decision-making body within the organization, takes the word of the Commission seriously. Now it is the turn of the Helsinki Summit, which will be attended by the Heads of State and Governments of all countries in the EU, to ratify the motion that Turkey be placed on the list of candidate countries. Then Turkey will be expected to do her homework. All is well... But what happened during the last two years to change the mind of the Commission that it is suggesting Turkey be on the list of candidate countries? In fact, neither the Europeans nor the Commission can give a reasonable answer to this question as there has been no change from the time of the Luxembourg Summit, where they had shut the door to the EU in Turkey's face. The change has taken place within Europe. The Europeans have seen that the determined policy Turkey followed versus the Luxembourg decision is lasting and if they continue in the same vein Turkey may forget Europe. That is why they have partially opened the door. If a positive decision is taken in Helsinki, Turkey has to prepare herself for the EU. That is to say, she cannot delay democratization, respect for human rights, the halting of torture, judicial reform or freedom of expression any more. In fact, this is what the Turkish public wants; there is no need to become a candidate country to realize these aims." [25] CANDIDATE COUNTRY - BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak discusses the report of the EU Commission on Turkey and State Minister Irtemcelik's speech on human rights. A summary of his column is as follows:"The announcement of the EU Commission's report suggesting that Turkey be accepted as a candidate country in Helsinki, and the "human rights summit" in Ankara which took place simultaneously is a development increasing optimistic expectations. Prodi's mention of Turkey as a 'candidate country' to be given a 'route map' is a positive development. However, this is only a suggestion and the real result will be seen in Helsinki in December. A Greek veto due to the bargaining on Cyprus is a serious possibility. That is why the EU spokesmen are calling on Turkey to give out positive signals on Cyprus, including the possibility of going to the Court of Justice in the Hague for consideration of the situation. They are preparing Turkey for any last minute surprises by Greece. It is regrettable to see that at the end of a 40-year journey we have arrived not at "EU membership" but only at the acceptance of "candidacy". When the Union was called the "Common Market", the opposition centered on the theme that they would be the partners and we would be the market. Then Greece, Portugal and Spain became full-members in the 1980s. Following them, the Eastern bloc countries were accepted as candidates and, although their democracy was not fully-fledged, Romania and Bulgaria took up their position in advance of Turkey for "membership status." Finally, it was Turkey's turn to be accepted as a "candidate". They became members and Turkey a candidate. When viewed from this perspective, the recent suggestion by the Commission is nothing but the patching up of the "disappointment" experienced in Luxembourg two years ago. When the only way to enter Europe passes through democracy, we have no other choice but to look towards the EU in the next decade. Thus, the possibility of full-membership could be seen on the horizon. Turkey has to put her economy and democracy in order in the meantime. State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik's human rights summit enjoyed historical importance as this was the first time non-governmental organizations were also included in the meeting. As Irtemcelik was talking about the bright future awaiting Turkey in the 21st century, he stated, " We are a huge confluence of humanity with Turks, Kurds, Bosnians, Circassians, Albanians, Laz and others, with Sunni, Shiite and non-Muslims who have been welded together by our common history over the centuries." These words and the expression of the intention of crowning the Republic proclaimed by Atatürk with all the institutions of democracy is exciting. We hope that these promises are kept. Then we will not feel disheartened if we are not accepted into the EU. We cannot accept the fact that we have to be satisfied with candidacy status instead of membership and to lag behind the Eastern Bloc in the line up for democracy." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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