|
|
Turkish Press Review, 00-12-01
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
01.12.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT DISCUSSED AT THE COREPER MEETING
[03] ALBRIGHT'S CONTACTS FOR TURKEY'S ACCESSION PERIOD TO EU
[04] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH LOGOGLU
[05] ITALIAN SENATOR ALLOWS TERRORIST TO ENTER EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
[06] SAAT IN ANKARA
[07] ARMENIA RE-OPENS MEDZAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
[08] TELECOM SELL-OFF TENDER BY DECEMBER 15
[09] CENTRAL BANK: "NO LONGER EXTRA LIQUDITY TO MARKET"
[10] TREASURY BID
[11] GROWTH RATE IS 6.9 % IN THREE MONTH PERIOD
[12] 150 MILLION EUROS FROM EU
[13] TEXTILE EXPORTERS IN BRUSSELS
[14] BUSINESSMEN ESTABLISH TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP
[15] TENDER FOR IZMIT BAY HIGHWAY
[16] DELEGATION FROM MEF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN TRNC
[17] THE LATEST STAR OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY IN TURKEY
[18] EUROPEAN YOUTH FESTIVAL BEGINS
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[20] DENKTAS' REPLY BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT DISCUSSED AT THE COREPER MEETING
The meeting of the Committee of Permenant Representatives of the
Member States at the European Union (COREPER) is taking up
Turkey's Accession Partnership Document (APD). Term President
France is opposing the inclusion of the Aegean issue in the
mid-term targets section. EU countries, other than Greece, say
the issue is not a cause for the EU, but rather, should be solved
by the two countries themselves. Sweden, which takes the term
presidency from France next month, also believes including the
statement related to the Cyprus issue was enough. Stating the
inclusion of the Aegean issue in the APD leads to inequality, EU
countries emphasized that border disputes are in the scope of
bilateral relations. /Turkiye/
[03] ALBRIGHT'S CONTACTS FOR TURKEY'S ACCESSION PERIOD TO EU
As the US Administration emphasizes its support for Turkey's
accession period, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is
backing Turkey. US State Department Speaker, Richard Boucher,
said the US Administration is in contact with European countries
for Turkey's full EU membership. He added, "We support Turkey's
full EU membership and we always will. Ms. Albright discussed
this issue with both Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in Vienna. She has also
discussed Turkey's status and its accession period with other
European Foreign Ministers." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] PAPANDREOU MEETS WITH LOGOGLU
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with Turkish Foreign
Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu. After his meeting with UN
Special Representative to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, Mr. Papandreu
said Mr. Logoglu conveyed Turkey's views on Turco-EU relations.
Stating he had discussed the issue with Turkish Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem in Vienna, Mr. Papandreou said, "I've repeated to them
that Turkey's accession partnership document should consist of
the Helsinki decisions." After holding contacts in Athens on the
latest developments in the proximity talks, Mr. de Soto will meet
with Turkish officials in Ankara today. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] ITALIAN SENATOR ALLOWS TERRORIST TO ENTER EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
While Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was speaking at the European
Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission, two supporters of the
terrorist organization DHKP-C disrupted his speech in protest.
It was stated the parliamentarian allowing them to enter the
parliament building was Italian Luisa Morgantini. After the
incident Turkey's EU Representative, Ambassador Nihat Akyol, sent
a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Nicole
Fontaine, demanding immediate identification of the persons
responsible. Morgantini is a member of the radical group "Leftist
Union". It was reported the Italian parliamentarian had previous
interactions with the PKK terrorist organization. She currently
leads the delegation that organizes the relation of the EU with
Palestine. Meanwhile, European Parliament is going to apologize
for the incident. The letter of apology stressing required
precautions will be taken immediately to prevent the reoccurance
of similar incidents, will be sent to Turkey after being approved
by the President Fontaine. /Milliyet/
[06] SAAT IN ANKARA
Palestinian Minister of International Cooperation and Planning,
Nebil Saat arrived in Turkey yesterday. Mr. Saat will meet with
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He is also expected to meet with
former President Suleyman Demirel, member of the Middle East
fact-finding committee. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] ARMENIA RE-OPENS MEDZAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Armenia is re-opening the Medzamor Nuclear Power Plant, 11 km.
from Turkish border, after four months. The Armenian Atomic
Energy Authority said after completing maintenance, repair and
re-fueling work, electricity production resumed yesterday.
/Turkiye/
[08] TELECOM SELL-OFF TENDER BY DECEMBER 15
The Council of Ministers discussed the Telecom sell-off tender
yesterday. The government will put up a tender to privatize a
33.5 % stake in the state fixed-line monopoly Turk Telecom by
December 15. The sell-off decree was signed and then presented to
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for ratification. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] CENTRAL BANK: "NO LONGER EXTRA LIQUDITY TO MARKET"
The Turkish Central Bank yesterday said that it would no longer
provide extra liquidity through repo auctions at a time when a
massive cash crunch has shattered Turkish financial markets. It
said it would readopt the principles of its monetary program
agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a
three-year stand-by deal. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] TREASURY BID
The Treasury Undersecretariat envisions organizing a single bid
in December and borrow 100 trillion TL. In the Treasury's
statement, the only December bid which is also the last bid of
the year, will be organized on 19 December. In addition, the
Treasury will make a repayment of internal debt, the total of
which amounts to 201 trillion 937.3 billion TL. The highest
repayment amount will be on 20 December with 101.7 trillion TL.
The foreign debt amounting to $ 918.40 million US will be also
repaid by the Treasury in December. /Sabah/
[11] GROWTH RATE IS 6.9 % IN THREE MONTH PERIOD
The growth rate reached 6.9 % in the third quarter thanks to the
increase in industrial production in addition to the increase in
commerce and imports. The State Statistical Institute (DIE)
announced the growth rate in Turkey for nine months was 5.4 %.
The growth rate in 1999 was 6.1 %. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
increasing by 7.4 % in the third quarter for a total of 6.5 % for
the nine month period. The industrial growth slowed last year due
to the earthquake, but this year industrial output was 9.8 %.
/Milliyet/
[12] 150 MILLION EUROS FROM EU
The European Union Commission stated they would give Turkey a
loan amounting to 150 million euros 'with the purpose of
supporting economic and social reforms'. In a written statement
by the Commission, the loan's aim reportedly was to 'prevent the
decrease in the prices, to put economy onto the path of
continuous growth, to bring the distribution of income to a more
equitable level and to enable harmonization with the EU law.
/Aksam/
[13] TEXTILE EXPORTERS IN BRUSSELS
The problems occurring with the Customs Union concerning the
export of ready to wear clothes to European Union (EU) member
countries will be discussed in Brussels today. A private sector
delegation went to Brussels today consisting of Nuri Artok,
Suleyman Orakcioglu, Hasan Celebioglu, Altan Yalaz, Tarik Bozbey,
Sevki Altinoz, Altan Erenkul, Atilla Bagcuvan, Izzet Ille, Ertug
Yasar and Herve Giraud. /Aksam/
[14] BUSINESSMEN ESTABLISH TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP
The first Greek Industry and Commerce Exhibition, organized by
Hannover Messe International Nov. 16-19, opened new markets for
Turkish and Greek businessmen. Turkey's Bor-Tay company made an
agreement with the Greek Kothali Group to become its
representative in Turkey. This exhibition marked a new friendship
between the two countries. It is expected that Kothali and
Bor-Tay will make a joint investment in Turkey in 2001. /Turkish
Daily News/
[15] TENDER FOR IZMIT BAY HIGHWAY
The results of the tender related to the highway crossing the
Izmit Bay was announced yesterday. Vinsan-Bouygues SA gave the
best offer. The group will construct the passage and the road and
operate it for a fifteen-year period. /Star/
[16] DELEGATION FROM MEF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN TRNC
A delegation from MEF Educational Institutions chaired by Ibrahim
Arikan held some contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC). The delegation went at the invitation of the
TRNC's Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Culture,
and the Ministry of Youth and Sports and was the basis for the
Brother Student Bridge. The MEF delegation visited President Rauf
Denktas, Speaker of the Parliament Ertugrul Hasipoglu, Prime
Minister Dervis Eroglu, Minister of Youth and Sports Tansel
Doratli and the Minister of Education and Culture, Mehmet
Altinay. They also held some contacts at Girne (Kyrenia) American
University and Lefke University. Arikan stated that Girne
American University and MEF schools were twin schools. Arikan
added, "We will try to make the practice of twin schools more
widespread and will try to promote the universites in the TRNC.
/Aksam/
[17] THE LATEST STAR OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY IN TURKEY
Cukurova_INTA Space Systems, America's Lockheed Martin and Space
Imaging Companies will work together to meet the Turkish Armed
Forces' (TSK) need for satellite imagery. According to
information received by the Cukurova/INTA Company, within the
framework of this strategic cooperation, Cukurova/INTA Company
will still invest in a base station which will provide satellite
images to Ankara. In a statement by the Cukurova_INTA Company, it
was pointed out that this was a national investment and added,
"Today we can provide the IKONOS satellite images only through
the Space Imaging's base station in the US. Our base station,
which will be in direct contact with the satellite, will be
operational by the beginning of 2001. According to this plan, the
TSK will be able to receive satellite images from the base
station in Denver more securely and rapidly thanks to the base
station." /Sabah/
[18] EUROPEAN YOUTH FESTIVAL BEGINS
The European Youth Festival, organized by the Youth Services
Center (GSM) under sponsorship of the European Union, will begin
tomorrow in Ankara. The festival aims at providing contact
between Turkish and European youth organizations to establish
cultural rapport. European Commission Turkey Representative,
Karen Fogg said, "The European Youth Festival is very important
in the sense that it acts as a meeting point for different
cultures." Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay stated that Turkey
was ready to join Europe through its youth, culture and art.
Among the festival's activities are short film workshops,
concerts, exhibitions, an information fair, theatre, music and
dance shows. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[20] DENKTAS' REPLY BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the Cyprus issue. A summary of
her column is as follows:
"In my column of 27 November titled 'The interests in Cyprus can
be saved by money', I had criticized the TRNC President Denktas's
decision to withdraw from the UN sponsored talks. I had said
national interests could only be saved by staying at the table
and continuing the hard bargaining. I had added that the decision
emerging from the state summit in Ankara stating Turkey would not
abandon Cyprus in return for admittance into the EU was a
deterrant to badly needed foreign capital. It could be defined as
an indication of instability in a country which was not ready to
solve its problems. TRNC President Denktas has sent a reply to my
article.
''I read your article titled 'Interests in Cyprus can be saved by
money' Certainly the economy is of great importance. However, I
felt the need to say the following on the issue of bargaining for
the rights on Cyprus through negotiations.
Bargaining should be done on an equal footing. The proximity
talks began preparing an equal balance without any attached
conditions. During the fifth round of proximity talks we waited
for the background preparation for comprehensive talks and
submitted close to 100 documents. However, we were imprisoned in
a circle, envisioned by others, under the name of backgrond
preparation. We were left to face a blow dealt to the balance
between Turkey's guarantorship and the Greek-Cypriot-Greek
request for the restitution of Greek property and the right to
return to their own lands. We were invited to comprehensive
negotiations only if we accepted these conditions beforehand.
It is our right to withdraw from the talks under these
conditions. We can only return to the talks if we believe that a
new and valid phase is being opened. Experienced writers such as
yourself should not accept the tying of a solution of the problem
with admittance to the EU. It is an issue created by the Greeks
and the Greek-Cypriots 37 years ago, who want to maintain the
status quo as the legal government."
The negotiations for solutions which has gone on for many years,
were not able impose anything on the two parties."
|