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Turkish Press Review, 00-08-22
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
22.08.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] CRISIS ON THE DECREE WITH THE POWER OF LAW
[02] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY
[03] YILMAZ VISITS BULGARIA
[04] CEM TO VISIT PALESTINE
[05] IRANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEY
[06] MEDALS OF HONOUR FOR COMMANDERS
[07] TAKE-OVER CEREMONY AT THE FIRST ARMY
[08] ART TREASURES SMUGGLERS CAPTURED
[09] STOLEN PICASSO SEIZED IN SANLIURFA WORTH $17 MILLION
[10] PACKARD GIVES $5 MILLION TO ZEUGMA
[11] MOODY'S ON TURKEY
[01] CRISIS ON THE DECREE WITH THE POWER OF LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer refused for the second time to sign
the decree with the power of law no. 605 (KHK), on dismissal of
civil servants who are allegedly involved in reactionary and
separatist activities. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit held a press
conference yesterday on the issue and said: "There are certain
differences in understandings of the duties, authorities and the
Constitution between the Presidency and Council of Ministers. It
would have been better for the President to have signed the
decree and then took the issue to the Constitutional Court.
However, instead of carrying out this process, he assumed the
duty of the Constitutional Court. He does not have the right to
do so. We have a serious problem." Pointing out that the the
President's reservations on the KHK included many contradictions,
Mr. Ecevit emphasized that the aim of the KHK was to prevent the
separatist and anti-secular activities within the state
institutions. The Prime Minister also told that the three leaders
of the coalition government would meet today to discuss the
issue.
[02] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY
The National Security Council (MGK), presided over by President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, will meet on Wednesday at the Presidential
Palace. This will be the last such meeting for Ground Forces
Commander General Atilla Ates and Gendarmerie Commander General
Rasim Betir, who would retire on August 30.
[03] YILMAZ VISITS BULGARIA
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz left for Varna, Bulgaria to
pay a one-day visit at the invitation of Bulgarian Prime Minister
Ivan Kostov. After meeting with Mr. Kostov, Mr. Yilmaz said that
during the meeting they had reviewed bilateral relations and
joint economic ventures.
[04] CEM TO VISIT PALESTINE
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay a one-day official
visit to Palestine tomorrow. Mr. Cem will meet Palestinian leader
Yaser Arafat in Gazze to exchange views and information on the
Middle East peace process.
[05] IRANIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEY
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Muhsin Eminzade arrived in Ankara
yesterday to hold talks with Turkish officials. Mr. Eminzade, who
will be received by President Sezer today, brought a written
message from the Iranian President Muhammed Hatemi. Mr. Eminzade
said: "I will deliver President Hatemi's message to President
Sezer. We are willing to establish healthier relations between
the two countries." Mr. Eminzade will also meet Turkish Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem and will hold a press conference after his
contacts.
[06] MEDALS OF HONOUR FOR COMMANDERS
The Commander of the Navy Admiral Ilhami Erdil and Commander of
Air Force General Ergin Celasin were presented the Medal of
Honour of the Turkish Armed Forces, due to their contribution to
the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The Chief of General Staff Gen.
Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Minister of National Defence Sabahattin
Cakmakoglu, Force Commanders and a number of officers attended
the ceremony. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Yasar Buyukanit and
Lieutenant General Sener Eruygur were awarded with the TSK Medal
of High Performance.
[07] TAKE-OVER CEREMONY AT THE FIRST ARMY
Commander of the First Army General Hilmi Ozkok handed over his
duty to General Necdet Timur at a ceremony held yesterday. Gen.
Ozkok has been appointed to the Land Forces Commander recently.
[08] ART TREASURES SMUGGLERS CAPTURED
Sarkisla Gendarmerie in Sivas announced that 15 people were
caught at an unauthorized archeological excavation-site. A total
715 smuggled historical treasures and artifacts were seized with
an estimated market value of TL 5 trillion (approximately $8.5
million). The artifacts include a statue of bronze bull, a silver
statue of a goddess, nine hand-written Korans in gold-plated
covers and many statues, necklaces and gold, silver and bronze
coins from Hittite, Urart, Roman, Byzantian, Seljuks and Ottoman
civilizations. Experts of Sivas Museum said that the artifacts
date back to the Bronze Age and Anatolian Civilizations in the
Hellenistic period.
[09] STOLEN PICASSO SEIZED IN SANLIURFA WORTH $17 MILLION
Stolen from Kuwait, taken by the Peshmerga in northern Iraq and
then on the black market in Sanliurfa, the "Portrait of a Young
Woman" by Picasso had been seized by Turkish police forces in
Suruc, Sanliurfa. The painting was painted circa in 1903 in
Barcelona and measures 50 by 36 centimeters. The painting
reportedly is worth $17 million.
[10] PACKARD GIVES $5 MILLION TO ZEUGMA
Owner of Hewlett-Packard Inc. David Packard gave $5 million for
rescue operations in Zeugma. A protocol was signed between the
Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration and Packard
Humanities Institute. According to the protocol, Mr. Packard will
double the number, if necessary. Chairman of the GAP
Administration Dr. Olcay Unver said, "The rescue operations in
Zeugma are going well. We do not have money or personnel
shortage."
[11] MOODY'S ON TURKEY
An analysis by the Moody's reportedly found Turkey's economic
program successful. The analysis emphasized that the Turkish
government had a powerful parliamentary support. "Due to the
positive political developments in Turkey, there may be an
increase in Turkey's rate. Interest and inflation rates have a
tendency to decline. In order to maintain a stable decline in the
inflation, financial adaptation, structural reforms and
privatisation should be completed," the analysis concluded.
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