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Turkish Press Review, 99-12-27Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>27.12.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] AN INCOME OF 15 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STOCK EXCHANGE TO ECONOMY[02] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[03] WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S STATEMENT BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)[04] ECEVIT'S DETERMINATIONPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit had decided to end his political life after the elections held on 18th April. He is to announce his decision in the new year. According to the claims within the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Prime Minister would choosen the State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel to be his successer. However, the announcement of Turkey's candidacy to the EU begins a new process and Ecevit does not want to cause political instability in an historical period. Ecevit, who is also the leader of the DYP, thought that a bringing a shake-up in the government would cause Turkey to lose a big opportunity and, thus, gave up his decision of retirement. Ecevit declared the year 2004 to be the year for EU membership and decided to implementing the economic and political reforms at the cost of his own health. /Aksam/[05] 11 TERRORISTS CAPTURED IN SIRNAKDuring a crack-down by security forces against terrorist organizations in Sirnak's district of Dereler, a conflict occurred with a group of terrorists. During the conflict, 11 armed terrorists were killed and three security officials also died. Operations for capturing escaped terrorists are continuing. /Aksam/[06] SOUTH EAST WILL RECEIVE SPEACIAL CARE BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)The EU's Agricultural Directing and Guarantee Fund will finance Turkey's activities in every area needed. On acceptance of full membership to the EU, East and South East Anatolia, the whole of the East Black Sea Regions, and some parts of Inner Anatolia and the Aegean, will be able to make use of these funds. Member countries involved in agriculture and even Meditarrenean countries have made use of this fund up to now. /Sabah/[07] EXPORTATION TO BECOME BETTERAn increase of 11% occurred in exports in November and the greatest increase was in the tobacco sector with 213.2%. During the period between January and November, increases occurred in five sectors and the greatest increase was in the olive and olive oil sector, with 135.3%. According to the records of the Exporters' Association, an exportation of 54 million dollars was made in the tobacco sector in November. The automotive sector and subordinate industry, with 56.8% followed the tobacco industry and mining products became third with 31.9%, tree and forestry products became fourth with 27.7% and iron and metals expect iron became the fifth with 17.4%. /Sabah/[08] KOC HOLDING COMPANY'S MIGROS SHOP PROJECT IN GREECEKoc Holding Company is taking the "Migros Shop to Greece" project is on the agenda again. This company gave this project up due to the chief terrorist Abdullah Ocalan organization crisis. Koc Group, which is aiming at contributing to the friendship wind between the two countries, hopes to establish a shopping centre in Greece within a short period of time. /Hurriyet/[09] TURKISH EMPLOYER STATE-UNIONS CONFEDERATIONS' OPINIONTurkish Employer State-Unions Confederation (TISK), which issued a decleration entitled "Turkey in the 21st Century", defended that the decision to give Turkey the mission of being a leader in the 2000s. TISK, pointed out that all parts of the society had to make sacrifices in order to reach this goal. In the decleration, it emphasized that Turkey, had secured political stability and had begun to gain the first positive results of the reformist ideology and implemented a serious programme that aimed at reducing inflation to the level of the modern countries and to secure the economic stability, deserves to look towards the future with self-confidence and optimism. /Hurriyet/[10] TURKISH TELECOMMUNATIONS TO BE IMPROVEDThe Telecommunications Council, which will direct the communication system in Turkey and will comply with the principles to direct the communication system objectively, in accordance with the private sector mentality and profitability bases. The Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, said, "When the Council of Telecommunications starts working, then all the obstacles regarding Turkish Telecommunications will be removed. Turkish Telecommunications will continue its works as a company and will make use of all the dynamics of the private sector." /Hurriyet/[11] TURKEY IS ERICSSON'S FAVORITETurkish market was Ericsson's favorite in 1999. Turkey became one of the most rapidly growing markets in Europe in the telecommunications sector for Ericsson. In Ericsson's 10 markets categorization, Turkey was 10th at the beginning of the year and then climbed to 7th place in the last days of 1999. Ericsson has a market share of 50% of the cellular phone market and a market share of 70% in the GSM background. /Sabah/[12] SEISMIC RESEARCH SHIP WAS APPROVEDThe approval for the purchase of the seismic research ship was taken by the by the State Planning Organization and the High Planning Council after the earthquake in the Marmara Region. The new seismic research ship will cost nearly 15 million dollars. The movements of the sea bottom following the earthquake will be able to be observed thanks to this ship. /Sabah/[13] AN INCOME OF 15 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STOCK EXCHANGE TO ECONOMYThe Chairman of Istanbul Stock Exchange, Osman Birsen, stated that during the last fourteen years, they have taken important steps and that the Istanbul Stock Exchange decreased the difference between itself and the developed stock exchanges. Birsen said, "The hindrances before the stock exchange had been removed thanks to the decrease in inflation and interests. Its source tranformation during the fourteen years had been 15 billion dollars. The stock exchange is not only important for investors, but also for the Turkish economy and its importance for the Turkish economy is both more different and larger." /Sabah/[14] RESTRICTION IN THE RENTThe draft law that restricts increase in rents was presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). According to this draft law, the rents will only be able to be increased by an average of 25% in the year 2000 and 10% in the year 2001. However, if the current rent value's increase is below the amount in the region, then the rent increases envisaged will not be carried out. /Sabah/[15] MOBILIZATION IN JANUARYThe Coalitian Government, aim for a fresh beginning in the new Millennium and await for January 2000 in order to implement the reforms. These are the targets of the Government: 1) Democratization: Capital punishment will be abolished, amnesty law will be taken up again, revisions in the Constitution will be done. 2) Hit on terrorism: Terrorism in the East and Southeastern Anatolia will be ended, infra-structural ventures will be carried out to develop the region. 3) Economical development: The button will be pushed to decrease the inflation rate to single digits. 4) Justice reform: Radical changes will be implemented with regard to the Turkish Criminal Law and judgement will be brought to the Eu standards. /Turkiye/[16] COUNT DOWN FOR NUCLEAR POWER STATIONThe company to construct the Akkuyu power plant, is going to be announced by Premier Bulent Ecevit this week. French, German, and Canadian companies' bids are being evaluated in the tender which includes world famous nuclear power plant constructors in the bids. After completing the construction which starts in the year 2000, after 6-7 years, a 10-billion-kwh energy production is expected to be produced yearly. /Turkiye/[17] NO BAN FOR LPG GASEnergy and Natural Resources Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, declared that there was no prohibition for LPG gas in taxis. Stressing that they encouraged the use of LPG gas usage before. Minister Ersumer said that the price increase in fuel had become unbearable and they would establish a council in order to find a solution to the situation. /Turkiye/[18] STOCK EXCHANGE IN 2000The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has reached unbeleivable levels in 1999. The IMKB reacted harshly against the Aug. 17th earthquake disaster. From the date of the disaster to Dec. 24th, the IMKB National_100 Index increased 176,7% and the National Financial Index 184,8% which were about 10 fold of the increases in the foreign exchange rates and inflation rates for that specified period. There are especially two reasons for this increase; the stand-by agreement with the IMF and Turkey's EU candidacy. /Turkiye/[19] TOURISM'S TARGET FOR 2000The tourism sector experienced its worst season in 1999, but was expected to reach at least the level of 1998 in the year 2000. The deputy Chairman of the Oger Tour Travel Agency, Unal Oger, whose agency brings most tourists to Turkey, said, "The 1997 was a wonderful year, however, in 1998 the number of tourists and income decreased. On the other hand, 1999 had become almost a black year due to the known facts." Oger also expressed his expectations for the year 2000 hoping that it would be a better season with positive factors such as Turkey's EU candidacy, revival in economy and political stability. /Turkiye/[20] STATESMEN OF MILLENNIUMWorld famous news channel CNN has broadcasted a programme taken from Time Warner's 'Men of the Millennium` survey. In the Statesmen category, Ataturk and Mandela have followed Gandi. Michael Jackson, Christopher Columbo and Muhammed Ali are first in their fields, and the 'computer` is first in the inventions category. /Milliyet/[21] NEW FOREIGN LINE TERMINALAtaturk Airport, next week, it is going to have a new Foreign Lines Terminal, suitable for the new millennium. The new terminal, completed eight months before its planned date, has a 14-million-passanger capacity, shopping centres and is also equipped with a security system, with 292 cameras. The construction has been built by a consortium of Tepe, Akfen and Vienna Airport with build-operate-transfer model and will be completed on Jan. 3rd 2000. The terminal cost $306 million. /Milliyet/[22] DECEMBER ABUNDANCE IN AUTOMOBILEThere is a boom in sales during December due to the fact of an expected increases in the Vehicle Buying Tax and the Motorized Vehicle Tax in 52.1% and in Additional Vehicle Buying Tax increase from 6% to %12. /Milliyet/[23] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[24] WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S STATEMENT BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the recent press conference of President Demirel. A summary of his column is as follows:"During his last press conference of the 20th century President Demirel showed the horizons of the 2000s. He stated the targets of the Republic of Turkey. He noted that Turkey should be a member of the European Union in three or four years following compliance with the required reforms. The message President Demirel wants to give is important and needs to be understood. If he is re-elected and continues to serve, it is certain that he will carry out this mission with the same determination, energy and tirelessness. It is also certain that if he is not re-elected he will continue with active politics as before and can easily form a group in the TGNA. The centre-right wants to regain its old strength, otherwise the Nationalist Action Party will lead the right wing as it only has to grasp the meaning of the 21st century nationalism. The presidential election will be an important topic in the country's agenda. However, it should not hinder the implementation of radical reforms which should have been carried out a long time ago. President Demirel praised the Government and Parliament for their performance. The momentum of this performance should not be allowed to slow down but instead gain speed. President Demirel stressed that he wanted to see the accomplishment of a complete State Reform. He added that if it had not been for the three interventions Turkey would have entered the European Union much sooner. This press conference was of the highest level and on the eve of the new year and the Ramadan holiday." [25] TURCO-ISRAELI RELATIONS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Turco-Israeli relations. A summary of her column is as follows:"Following the surrender of Golan Heights to Syria, will Israel defend the claims of Damascus concerning GAP and the waters flowing from Turkey into the international regions is a question asked by many. This is followed by another, and that is, will Washington support Syria? To guess how the Israeli-Syrian rapprochement will influence Turkey, it is necessary to know the importance of Turkey for Israel and the region. An experienced Israeli diplomat Zvi Elpelg, in a conversation with a group of Turkish reporters, in Istanbul, replied to the concerns on Israeli-Syrian rapprochement by saying that it was understood by everyone that without Turkey, Israel would remain as a small island of democracy and liberalism in the region. Israel enjoys good relations with Egypt, Jordan and some Gulf countries, however, they are different in nature with those with Turkey. As can be understood from the words of Zvi Elpelg, a partnership with Turkey takes Israel out of its isolated state and bestows on it a legal status for which it has worked hard for 50 years. Elpelg came to Turkey to start a joint initiative in order to establish good relations between Turkish and Israeli people and to provide opportunities for them in order to know each other better. This initative is supported by leading Israeli businessmen and politicians and is awaiting a reply from the Turkish side. Israeli diplomats want the Turkish side to take on the responsibility of the chairmanship for the initiative for the first term. Hikmet Cetin is elected as Chairman for the Turkish side. This initiative, which aims to bring no-governmetal organizations together, shows that Israel is aware that peace cannot be achieved without Turkey. The rapprochement between Israel and Syria will certainl affect Turkey and the water question will also be brought to the table. However, the power of the countries depend upon the diversity and strength of the cards they hold in their hands. The important point is to benefit from the opportunities leaving aside groundless concerns. Peace in the Middle East will open new opportunities for Turkey and the region. It is time for Turkey to prepare projects for peace and lead the way in many fields." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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