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Turkish Press Review, 00-08-28
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
28.08.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TANRIKULU MEETS FOREIGN DELEGATIONS AT IZMIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FAIR
[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[03] BARAK TO VISIT TURKEY
[04] AKBULUT HEADS TO NEW YORK
[05] TURK DEFENDS F-TYPE PRISONS
[06] TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
[07] TURKEY, MONGOLIA READY TO IMPROVE JUDICIAL COOPERATION
[08] EU SECRETARIAT CIRCULAR IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE
[09] TURKEY'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE UN ASSUMES OFFICE
[10] GOKALP SET TO VISIT HUNGARY AND CZECH REPUBLIC
[11] IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR OPENS FOR 69TH TIME
[12] TANRIKULU MEETS FOREIGN DELEGATIONS AT IZMIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FAIR
[13] LARGEST IRRIGATION CANALS TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR
[14] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S SUCCESS
[15] SAHARA SAND CAUSES SNOW
[16] GIANT PROJECTS ARE READY TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT
[17] TURKEY TO SELL 211 ARMOURED VEHICLES TO MALAYSIA
[18] KERNEL INFLATION MONITORING COMMITEE
[19] PEACE FESTIVAL IN ALIAGA
[20] EXCAVATIONS UNEARTHS MESOPOTAMIAN CULTURE IN MALATYA
[21] GALATASARAY: WINNER OF THE SUPER CUP
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[23] EVENTS OF LAST WEEK BY YILMAZ OZFATURA (TURKIYE)
[01] TANRIKULU MEETS FOREIGN DELEGATIONS AT IZMIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FAIR
[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[03] BARAK TO VISIT TURKEY
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will pay one-day official visit
to Turkey today. Mr. Barak's visit to Turkey is interpreted as an
important step, as it highlights Ankara's increasing role in the
Middle East peace process. During his visit, Mr. Barak will hold
talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit and Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem will be present at all meetings. Mr. Barak is
expected to brief the Turkish officials on the latest
developments in the peace process and Mr. Cem is expected to
convey the results of his talks with Palestinian Head of State
Yasser Arafat to Mr. Barak. Turkey prepared proposals on one of
the most important issues of the peace process, Jerusalem's
status. These proposals will be presented to Mr. Barak during his
meetings. In addition, the economic and political relations
between Turkey and Israel and the Manavgat water project through
which Turkey will sell water to Israel will be discussed at the
meetings.
[04] AKBULUT HEADS TO NEW YORK
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Yildirim Akbulut
is flying to the US today to attend the National Parliamentary
Speakers meeting in New York. The meeting which will be held
between 30 August and 1 September will be inaugurated by United
Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan. Parliemantary Speakers
will make speeches on "Parliamantery Perceptions on International
cooperation in the beginning of the Third Millenium." Akbulut
will return to Turkey on 8 September.
[05] TURK DEFENDS F-TYPE PRISONS
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk denied accusations over the
weekend that F-type prisons were being built in an effort to
isolate inmates. "Those who are against the new type of prisons
are the ones who are benefiting from the dormitory system.", Turk
said. The government has been pursuing a determined policy on
F-type prisons, which consist of one- or three-inmate cells. The
government holds the dormitory system responsible for unrest in
prisons. "The aim of the government is to get rid of the
shortcomings of the dormitory system. Only leftist and rightist
terrorist groups are opposed to the new type prisons in the fear
that they won't be able to give ideological training and run
terrorists actions. Apart from these groups, some
well-intentioned people are opposing F-type prisons in the name
of human rights," Turk stated. Denying some accusations that
F-type prisons are being built in an effort to isolate inmates,
Turk said: "This is totally unfounded. It is claimed that the
cells in F-type prisons are too small. We have organized tours to
the construction site of an F-type prison to get rid of
misleading claims. Some people are speaking out against the new
type of prisons without being well-informed or without visiting
the newly built F-type prisons." In addition Mr. Turk said, " The
F-type prisons will be inspected by civilians."
[06] TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
Turkmen Foreign Minister Batir Berdiev will pay an official visit
to Turkey on Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at the official invitation of
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Berdiev's visit is expected
to focus on the development of bilateral and multilateral
cooperation and on ways to strengthen peace and security in
Central Asia. Other regional and international issues concerning
both countries will also be discussed during his visit.
[07] TURKEY, MONGOLIA READY TO IMPROVE JUDICIAL COOPERATION
A protocol envisaging judicial cooperation between the justice
ministries of Turkey and Mongolia has been signed. The protocol
will enable a series of working visits, the holding of workshops
and an exchange of information between the relevant institutions
of the two countries in the field of justice.
[08] EU SECRETARIAT CIRCULAR IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE
A Prime Ministry circular, regulating the formation and working
principles of the European Union Secretariat, was published in
the Official Gazette. The secretariat which will be attached to
the Prime Ministry, is to be formed within the framework of legal
arrangements for EU membership. The main duty of the secretariat
will be to coordinate efforts of the state institutions to
achieve harmonization with EU standards.
[09] TURKEY'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO THE UN ASSUMES OFFICE
Ambassador Umit Pamir assumed office as Turkey's permanent
representative to the United Nations on Friday by presenting his
credentials to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
[10] GOKALP SET TO VISIT HUNGARY AND CZECH REPUBLIC
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Husnu Yusuf Gokalp is
scheduled to pay a visit to Hungary and the Czech Republic in
early September. Gokalp will visit Hungary at the official
invitation of Hungarian Agriculture and Regional Development
Minister Jozsef Torgyan on Sep. 3. A series of agricultural
cooperation agreements will be on the agenda during the visit.
Gokalp will then head for the Czech capital of Prague, where he
will conduct a series of talks with Czech officials to promote
agricultural cooperation.
[11] IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR OPENS FOR 69TH TIME
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit officially opened the Izmir 69th
International Fair on Saturday. In his opening address, Mr.
Ecevit said: "It is important that this fair becomes well known
abroad since it is a fair for imports and exports. It is expected
that the Fair will be more colorful than in previous years with
conferences, entertainment and the attendance of 43 countries.
[12] TANRIKULU MEETS FOREIGN DELEGATIONS AT IZMIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
FAIR
Turkish Trade and Industry Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu met
with delegations from Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Albania and
Turkmenistan at the 69th Izmir International Fair (IEF). The
Minister signed a technological cooperation protocol on Small and
Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBIs) with Albanian delegation.
Tanrikulu said in his meeting with Irish State Minister Ryan that
Turkish-Irish trade links have not been strong but he hopes such
visits will strengthen relations. Tanrikulu also met Kyrgyz
Deputy Premier Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Esengul
Omuraliev.
[13] LARGEST IRRIGATION CANALS TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR
Key components of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), the
world's largest irrigation canals known as Sanliurfa T-1 and T-2,
will be completed by the end of 2002. State Water Works (DSI)
Regional Director Gulahi Polat said each canal will be 26.4
kilometers long and 7.62 meters wide. He said that when
completed, the canals will carry 328 cubic meters of water from
Ataturk Dam to irrigate 476,474 hectares of land.
[14] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S SUCCESS
Prof. Ali Erdemir, working at the American Argon National
Laboratory in Chicago, will head his 2,500 colleagues at the 56th
General Board of The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication
Engineers which will be held in Orlando, Florida, in May 2001.
During the three-day meeting, Prof. Erdemir will deliver the
opening speech. He won the R and D award which is given to 100
scientists in different categories every year for two times and
he was also the first Turkish scientist who received the Discover
award.
[15] SAHARA SAND CAUSES SNOW
TUBITAK Deputy Chairman Prof. Cemal Saydam has proven that sahara
sand causes snow when it is thrown over the clouds. Prof. Saydam
is planning to throw sahara sand over the clouds by planes in
Eastern Anatolia during the winter. Prof. Saydam said that sahara
sand includes special minerals. He said: "By this way,
particularly in Eastern Anatolia, the drought problem can be
solved."
[16] GIANT PROJECTS ARE READY TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT
Minister of Transportation Enis Oksuz gave information about the
latest situation concerning the giant projects on the
etransporetation field. Stressing that the work on Kars-Tbilisi
railway was continuing, Mr. Oksuz said: "Turkey has almost
completed the initial studies for her part, while Georgia is
still carrying out. Then we will evalute the situation and find
financial sources." Minister Oksuz said that there have been
important developments over the GAP railway. He said that
meetings were being held and the project would be carried out
through foreign capital. Stating that Turksat-2 satellite would
be put into its orbit at the end of September, Mr. Oksuz said:
"It will be the biggest and modern satellite in Europe."
Regarding the tube crossing project at the straits, Minister
Oksuz said that initial studies had been completed and the
bidding for the engineering would be finalized within a short
time.
[17] TURKEY TO SELL 211 ARMOURED VEHICLES TO MALAYSIA
A deal confirming Turkey's sale of 211 armoured fighting vehicles
to Malaysia has been signed in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. A
statement issued by the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
acknowledged that Turkey has signed her largest single defence
industry contract.
[18] KERNEL INFLATION MONITORING COMMITEE
State Minister responsible for economy Recep Onal, State Minister
responsible for exports Tunca Toskay and Finance Minister Sumer
Oral held a meeting with Fuat Miras, Chairman of Turkish Union of
Chambers and Stock Exchange (TOBB) and Okan Oguz, Chairman of
Turkish Exporters Assebly (TIM). During the meeting, they decided
to form a monitoring committee for manifactured goods' prices
(kernel inflation). The committee will examine private and public
sector price increases and help to clarify the reasons why kernel
inflation is beyond the expected level.
[19] PEACE FESTIVAL IN ALIAGA
Mytilini leg of Aliaga 11th Joint Labour and Peace Festival
organized by Aliaga Municipality and the Civil Organization for
Coexistence and Communication in the Aegean will start today.
There will be exhibitions, panels, conferences, concerts, theatre
and folk dance shows in the festival. Aliaga leg of the festival
will take place between 1-3 September. Aliaga's Mayor Hakki Unlu
said, "The festival will contribute to the rapprochement between
Greece and Turkey."
[20] EXCAVATIONS UNEARTHS MESOPOTAMIAN CULTURE IN MALATYA
Archaeologist Franginane of Rome University, conducting
excavations in the southeastern province of Malatya, said the
excavations had unearthed a great center of Mesopotamian culture
in the area. According to Fraginane the settlements in that area
date back to the fifth millennium B.C. and indications of the
type of social and political structure are typical of
Mesopotamian culture. Excavations are being conducted at
Aslantepe, located in Malatya's Orduzu district.
[21] GALATASARAY: WINNER OF THE SUPER CUP
The Turkish and UEFA Cup Champion Galatasaray became the first
Turkish soccer team to win the "Super Cup" by beating Spanish
Real Madrid 2-1 on 25 August in Monaco.
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[23] EVENTS OF LAST WEEK BY YILMAZ OZFATURA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Ozfatura analyzes the events of last week. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"We congratulate Galatasaray for its victory. It has been the
bearer of good news to Turkey where we urgently need one. The
fire in the archives of the Court of Audits is most certainly an
act of arson. In the past archives were frequently burnt in
Turkey. Today, many people are reviewing their past to see if
there is any wrongdoing and to avoid facing unwanted incidents in
the future, they are destroying all the documents.
During last week we have celebrated the 929th anniversary of the
Malazgirt victory which opened Anatolia to us and resulted in the
establishment of the Turkish State. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet
Bahceli has delivered a well-informed speech during the ceremony.
There are civil servants who do not adopt Turkish life-style in
all offices. Some of those were appointed deliberately, and
following governments did not pay any attention to those because
they were after important achievements. Every democracy leaves
them out of its State structure. However, millions of civil
servants are disturbed and are looking for the guarantee of the
State. In the past many civil servants have been taken from
their duties and many informers sprung up from nowhere. We do not
want to witness such incidents any more.
The present regulations are enough for such liquidations.
Certainly a new law can be passed on the issue. However, the
Government which has lost its prestige in the eyes of the
Presidential office cannot be expected to get what it wants from
the TGNA when it opens. The opposition will grab this
opportunity to defeat the ruling parties and will pose as the
defender of democracy, human rights and freedoms.
Privatization and energy are sources vital for us. Billions of
dollars are mentioned for the projects in these fields.
Indifference or inexperience cannot be used as excuses and no
rumors should erupt concerning these issues. The Coalition
leaders have to be vigilant.
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