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Turkish Press Review, 99-11-29Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>29.11.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY COMES FOURTH IN 70TH WORLD MEN'S WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP[02] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ISPARTAYesterday, President Suleyman Demirel was in Isparta in order to attend some inauguration ceremonies. Azerbaijan President Haydar Aliyev, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Rauf Denktas, Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu, Health Minister Osman Durmus and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu accompanied him. /Turkiye/[04] 'BLUE STREAM` AGREEMENTAn additional protocol, related to the agreement on the transport of Russian natural gas under the Black Sea, was signed by Nabi Sensoy, the Turkish Ambassador to Moscow and Alexandir Avdayev, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, in Moscow yesterday. /Turkiye/[05] 'GREECE MAY VETO`Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu declared that in the case of the refusal of his country's demands, Greece may vote against Turkey's EU membership, however, they couldn't be held responsible for this. Papandreu said that he belived Turkey's EU membership would be beneficial for both countries, but his country has certain interests which should be preserved. /Turkiye/[06] NICHOLAS BURNS: DON'T VETOThe American Ambassador to Greece, Nicholas Burns, said that Washington expected Greece not to contravene Turkey's EU expectations. Burns emphasized that Turkey's EU acceptance is of a great importance in abolishing the differences between the two countries and finding a peaceful solution to the existing problems. The Ambassador also stressed that the situation also serves Greek interests in the long term and the Greek government's decision should be 'yes` to Turkey's EU membership. /Turkiye/[07] GERMAN PREFABRICATED HOUSES DELIVEREDThree hundred and fifty prefabricated houses, constructed by the German aid organization "Cap Anamur" in Adapazari, were handed over to the Sakarya Governor's Office in a ceremony. The founder of "Cap Anamur", Rupet Noydek, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony and said, "This establishment serves those who are in need of assistance. Thanks to the help of people who live in Germany, 2-3 thousand people can live in this village." The General Director of the Baydemirler Foreign Trade and Textile Company, Omer Asici and a delegation of five people with him, distributed fifty heating stoves and donated a total of three billion TL to 60 families in villages close to Duzce. /Cumhuriyet/[08] NEW SCENARIO FOR CYPRUSDifferent scenarios concerning Cyprus are being suggested before the negotiations that will begin in New York on 3rd December. The latest of them is as follows: it was revealed that a document has been drawn up by the U.S.A. envisaging the implementation of a confederation solution and the political recognition of both groups on Cyprus. In the 'Simerini' newspaper, which is published on Greek-Cypriot Cyprus, an article stated that, as part of the logic of "acknowledgement" or recognition under international law, the Greek-Cypriot side will be given land in return for recognizing the existence and regime of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Greek-Cypriot radio stated that another scenario was to place Gazimagosa Harbour under the control of both Turkish and Greek-Cypriot municipalities. The radio station, which did not supply information on the content or authors of this idea, stated that it was envisaged that the trade would be freed up at the harbour. /Cumhuriyet/[09] 'NEW YORK MEETINGS WILL AFFECT HELSINKI'The Foreign Minister of the Greek-Cypriot Administration, Yannakis Kasulides, said that the indirect negotiations in New York between the two sides on Cyprus would affect Helsinki. Kasulides remarked in a statement to the 'Fileleftheros' newspaper that these meetings could seriously affect the EU Summit in Helsinki in December. He added that, however, it would not be realistic to anticipate that the Cyprus stalemate would be overcome before the Helsinki Summit. /Milliyet/[10] CEM IN 'TOP 12 WORLD MINISTERS'Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was among the 12 Ministers from five different categories of Ministry to make it to the final of 'Worldlink' magazine's 'Dream government of 1999". 'Wordlink' is a publication of the 'World Economy Forum', which nominates who it considers to be the world's most successful politicians. In the finals, five winners were announced, one for each of the departments represented, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer being chosen as best foreign minister. /All papers/[11] THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENTThe Bills concerning the trial of public officials and amendments to the Capital Markets Law will be discussed in Parliament this week. The Legal Practice Bill will be discussed by the Justice Commission, as will a protocol in the Social Works Commission regarding premises for the Ankara office of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Members will be delegated to working parties, and investigations into Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent) and the earthquake-hit regions will continue. Additionally, recent developments will be evaluated in individual parliamentary group meetings. /All papers/[12] ANKARA PLAYS DOWN DER SPIEGEL STORYAnkara is playing down a story that has appeared in the German political magazine 'Der Spiegel' which said that German Chancellor Gerhard Schoreder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer had tied the sale of German tanks to Turkey the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. According to the story, Germany had wanted Turkey not to carry out a death sentence recently handed down to Ocalan and had used a deal for 1,000 Leopard-2 tanks as a bargaining chip towards this end. Turkey had staged a tender to acquire tanks, but the tank manufacturer was unable to submit bid due to the strong opposition voiced by Fischer.The Der Spiegel report also said that the German government had stipulated that Turkey should agree to southern Cyprus' becoming a member of the EU. Officials in Ankara evaluated the report as a way of interfering in the ongoing tender for tanks and called its baseless. According to news reports German officials have, similarly, denied the allegations put forward in the story. /All papers/ [13] TURKEY TO HOST NAVAL MANOEUVRESThe Eastern Mediterranean Invitational Manoeuvres, hosted every year by Turkey, will be held this year from November 29-December 10. Turkey, the US, France, Italy and Spain have been invited to participate. The exercise, directed by Vice Admiral Metin Atac, will start in Izmir Harbour and will visit the ports of Antalya, Marmaris and Aksaz. /All papers/[14] TURCO-KUWAITI ACCORDAn accord and its supplementary protocol for the prevention of double taxation, signed between Turkey and Kuwait, has been approved by the Council of Ministers. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers published in the Official Gazette yesterday, under the agreement, companies will be subject to taxes only in the countries where they were set up and taxes will be imposed on real people only at their place of residence. The agreement aims to develop bilateral commercial relations and mutual investments, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[15] TURCO-GERMAN COOPERATION IN ENERGYSome German firms G.E.G. Geo Energy Group, Terrawat mbH, CIMOTEC GmbH and EGE Energy Integrated Agricultural Products Production Food Industry and Commerce Company have united all their investment funds in the Salavatli Geothermal Integrated Scheme, the first private integrated investment in geothermal energy. The first stage of investment, which amounts to 104 million Deutsche Marks, will be financed by foreign capital. The venture will be located somewhere between the Kosk and Sultanhisar districts of Aydin. The agreement was signed by the Under-Secretary of Foreign Trade, Kursat Ozmen, EGE Energy's Executive Board Chairman, Mehmet Tufekcioglu, TERRAWAT's Executive Board Chairman, Johannes Ruhland, GEG Energy's Executive Board Chairman, Michael Schmitz and CIMOTEC Executive Board Chairman, Heinz Peter Laub. /Aksam/[16] TURKISH FIRM WILL CONNECT TURKMENISTAN AND CHINAAOne of the leading engineering establishments in Turkey, Sey Architecture and Engineering Company (SEYAS), signed an agreement with Tajikistan's Minister of Communications, Faruk Muhiddinov to supervise the Murgap-Kulma Pass that connects Tajikistan and China. Tajikistan's Minister of Communications, Faruk Muhiddinov delivered a speech at the Conrad Hotel, where the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the firm was being celebrated, in which he said, "The Murgap-Kulma venture amounts to 15 million dollars, which is being financed by the Islamic Development Bank. This will increase commercial traffic between Kazakistan, China and Pakistan and will connect the West of China with the Western World." /Aksam/[17] WTO MEETINGThe World Trade Organization's (WTO) Conference of Ministers will be held in Seattle, the US, between November 30 and December 3, 1999. At this, the third meeting of the Conference of Ministers, the WTO's supreme decision-making body, a delegation headed by State Minister Tunca Toskay will represent Turkey. A declaration [Bis expected to be issued at the end of the meeting, the Anatolia News Agency reports. State Minister Toskay will also attend bilateral meetings on commercial and economic relations with the Ministers of various countries.[18] ISRAEL AND SINGAPORE TO MODERNIZE F-5 JET FIGHTERSThe Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), in a bid to have their F-5 jet fighters modernized, have signed deals with IAI of Israel and Singapore Technologies, the Anatolia News Agency reports. It is estimated that the project, which will be financed through the Undersecretariat for the Defence Industry, will cost Turkey $130 million. In five years' time, the TSK's 48 F-5s will be able to be used for training purposes.[19] TURKISH STUDENT'S SUCCESS ATTRACTS NASATurkish-American student Cemocan Yesil, previous winner of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey's (TUBITAK) competition, has attracted the attention of the US Air Force with his achievements at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has won several prizes relating to his research into astrophysics and meteors. As a result of his performance in MIT's "Space Systems Laboratory" he had his first meeting with NASA. Yesil also participated in the Air Force's reserve officer training programme, jointly organized by MIT, Harvard, Tufts and Wellesley universities. He is planning to apply to NASA to become an astronaut after graduating from university. /All papers/[20] RUSSIA PERMITS PKK CELEBRATIONDespite a number of promises given to Turkey, Moscow is continuing its tolerance of the PKK terrorist organization. According to an Anatolia News Agency report from Moscow, Russian officials allowed the PKK to stage a celebration of the 27th anniversary of its founding at which 300 members or sympathizers were present. The celebration was held in a movie theatre, and members of the press were prevented from taking pictures. PKK flags and posters of Abdullah Ocalan and four dead terrorists were hung in the cinema.[21] DSP CELEBRATES ITS 14TH BIRTHDAYA celebration to mark the 14th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) was held in Ankara yesterday. Ministers and deputies as well as numerous party members attended the event. After speeches from various party members, Prime Minister and DSP leader Bulent Ecevit addressed party members in the afternoon. /All papers/[22] BIGGEST MOSQUE IN AUSTRALIA OPENSThe 'Gelibolu' mosque, the largest in Australia, built by the Auborn Turkish Islamic Centre, has opened in Sydney, according to the Anatolia News Agency. The chairman of the centre said that the mosque took 13 years to build at a cost of $5.5 million.[23] 'PROMOTE TURKEY IN THE USA'State Minister Edip Safter Gaydali attended a meeting which was held in the Turkish House in New York, and, addressing Turkish students in the U.S, the minister asked them to promote Turkey. Gaydali talked about the present education system in Turkey and replied to the students' questions. /Turkiye/[24] TRNC PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN EARTHQUAKE REGIONA delegation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) Parliament has visited and inspected the earthquake region. The delegation paid a visit to Kocaeli Governor Kemal Onal and later to the military tent-cities. They distributed blankets to the quake survivors. Following a tour of Golcuk, the delegation returned to Istanbul. /Turkiye/[25] TURKEY'S EXPORTS TO SUBCONTINENT SOARTurkish exports to India and the other two subcontinent countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh, soared dramatically between January and October 1999, exporters' unions reported. Turkey's exports to India rose from $44 million in the first 10 months of 1998 to $109 million in the same period in 1999. Exports to Pakistan more than doubled from $51 million to $116 million and those to Bangladesh jumped from $11 million to $23 million. /All papers/[26] HAK-IS ASSEMBLY COMES TO AN ENDThe Labour Confederation (Hak-Is) General Assembly held on November 26, chose Salim Uslu as its new chairman. After the election, Uslu said that the confederation would show more courage in the struggle against its problems and added, "We are going to work with stability and strengthen the position of the syndicate union within the framework of democracy and justice". /All papers/[27] PROF.ISIKARA IN THE PHILIPPINESThe Director of Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Prof.Ahmet Mete Isikara, has gone to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to attend a meeting on the earthquakes and mega-cities. Replying to reporters' questions prior to his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Prof.Isikara stated that he had been invited to an international meeting during which precautions to be taken in the event of an earthquake and emergency aid would be discussed. Prof.Isikara said that the meeting was supported by the UN and had been jointly organized by various institutions including UNESCO, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[28] TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL IN ITALYTurkish films will be introduced at a Festival held in the city of Cesena, Italy. Masterpieces of Turkish cinema will be presented between November 29 and December 3. Eighteen Turkish films - comedies, melodramas, historical and social subjects - are expected to be shown during the five days of the Festival. /All papers/[29] TURKEY COMES FOURTH IN 70TH WORLD MEN'S WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPTurkey as a team gained fourth place in the 70th World Men's Weight-Lifting Championship, thereby qualifying for the Sydney Olympic Games as a whole team. During the Championship, which lasted for seven days in Athens, the Greek team came top of the table with 580 points while Bulgarians were runners-up with 462 points; the People's Republic of China followed close behind with 435 points and Turkey made it to fourth place with 384 points. In addition to these top four teams, Poland came fifth with 377 points, followed by the Ukraine with 362 points; both teams also qualify for the Sydney Olympic Games in all categories. Turkey received three gold and one broze medals during the 70th World Men's Weight-Lifting Championship, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[30] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[31] ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL BY CAN DUNDAR (SABAH)Columnist Can Dundar comments on the beating of five Turkish businessmen and their being taken into custody in Germany. A summary of his column is as follows:If five German businessmen shopping on Istiklal Avenue were detained after being beaten by Turkish police right in front of the press, kept there for 24 hours without being questioned and then were told, "We are sorry, we thought you were members of the Mafia", how would Germany react and what would Turkey's situation be before the whole world? Probably all hell would be let loose. However, when the German police took five Turks, three of them businessmen and two medical doctors, into custody, beating them, believing that they were members of the Russian Mafia, no one lifted a finger. The reason for this lies in the fact that the Turkish Government does not care for its citizens, in much the same way as foreign Governments. In every corner of the world, the police can make the same kind of errors. The important point is how governments and societies react to such an incident. I know one of the five Turks who was beaten up. Dr. Ercument Cengiz is a qualified medical doctor in addition to being a man of Western attitudes, a forward-thinking person with a colourful personality. I saw how his belief in the "European standards of human rights" he has always held up as an example to Turkey was shattered by this incident. This is one factor increasing the trauma of being taken into custody for the first time. Another factor raising the significance of the experience is the attitude of both the German and Turkish Governments in regarding the incident as an ordinary mistake which occurred in public. The incident was reflected in the German press as 'Scandal' and the Greens brought the issue to the attention of the German Parliament. They Acalled for the resignation of the Dusseldorf police chief. An investigation was launched right away. And finally, six days later, the Dusseldorf Director of Security and the Mayor apologized to the Turkish Consulate in a letter. In his letter the Mayor said, "I was deeply concerned when I learnt of the matter. Even though I do not have any influence over the police, I believe the incident concerns me. Mistakes can be made during arrests, but I cannot in any way tolerate your citizens, who were in our city as guests, being detained there for 24 hours without having any justifiable reason for it." What did Turkey do concerning the maltreatment of its citizens? Apart from the sincere efforts of our diplomats and the press to make the matter known, none whatsoever... The State Minister responsible for Human Rights called four days after the incident and told them that the Government was behind them. Not one reaction was heard from the Foreign Ministry, human rights' institution nor from the Government. With its passive attitude, the Turkish Government was unable to use this golden opportunity to confront Europe when it was being cornered on human rights issues, in addition to disappointing its citizens. These five men are attempting to prepare a legal case, retaining a lawyer in Germany, to sue the German Government. Turkey has to stand behind them." [32] CONCEPT OF SOVEREIGNTY BY IZZET SEDES (AKSAM)Columnist Izzet Sedes writes on the concept of sovereignty. A summary of his column is as follows:A famous English lawyer of the 19th century, John Austin after lengthy study decided that sovereignty was a power vested in the parliament. The conditions prevailing in the 19th century were no any different to those of now. The great English politician and statesman, Winston Churchill who played an important role in the establishment of the Council of Europe, declared in the House of Commons, "I believe that we can ensure our security and advancement only by cooperating with other forces in Europe. The important thing is to maintain up cooperation with other States in Europe. We may be faced with difficulties, but we will encounter the greatest difficulty in establishing a United Europe. We do not have to fight those States who do not agree with us, we have to succeed in this integration among ourselves." The important factor which distinguishes a Statesman from the man on the street is that he evaluates current issues comprehensively, and considers the future. Turkey was one of the founder members of the Council of Europe. Far-sighted statesman Ismet Inonu managed to ensure Turkey's acceptance in the Council of Europe, notwithstanding the difficulties he encountered. Member countries are obliged to conform with the agreement they have signed on entering the Council and fulfil their commitments. The European Court of Human Rights has been functioning for fifteen years and has formed a jurisprudence of its own concerning democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. In a way, it is believed that the European Court has established a European Constitution. In our day, the concept of unlimited and absolute sovereignty has taken on a new shape among the democratic states. The concept of sovereignty has been restricted to the establishment a legal order and a peaceful atmosphere. Sovereignty has taken on a characteristic used by international organizations. The unification of Europe has restricted the concept of sovereignty. Some politicians in Turkey, who want to enter the EU, need to learn these new stages. In international institutions, when the sovereignty rights of member States are in conflict with the authority of the community, the States to relinquish their powers without quarrel. If a State does not want to give up these rights, it may withdraw from the organization. That is its own business. However, no-one has the right to have Turkey excluded from Europe in the 21st century." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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