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Turkish Press Review, 01-02-12
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Press
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Foreign
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#F0F0F0"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Press
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Summary of the political and economic
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<td width="100%">12.02.2001</td>
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CONTENTS
[01] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NATO
MEETING
[02] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK
DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
[03] GERMAN ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTING OF THE STATE
PLANNING ORGANIZATION
[04] STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S REPORT ON PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS
[05] UNION OF CAPITAL MARKET MEDIATOR INSTITUTIONS TO
BEGIN ITS WORKS
[06] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE
DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[08] BALKAN-CAUCASUS LINE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
[09] SEZER SENDS MESSAGE TO HATEMI
[10] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NATO
MEETING
[11] WHAT GREECE AIMS BY GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS
[12] TURKEY SHOWS STRONG REACTION
[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO TRAVEL TO IRAN
[14] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT IRAQ
[15] CHP DELEGATION VISITS GERMANY
[16] AFGHAN TURKS PROTEST FRANCE
[17] ECEVIT RECEIVES TURCO-AMERICAN ASSEMBLY
[18] AGENDA OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
[19] INDEPENDENT DEPUTY FIRAT JOINS ANAP
[20] FOGG TO VISIT QUAKE-HIT REGION
[21] NEZIH DEMIRKENT DIES
[22] IMF DELEGATION IN TURKEY
[23] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK
DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
[24] PKK INVOLED IN HUMAN SMUGGLING
[25] SEMESTER HOLIDAY ENDS
[26] GERMAN ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTING OF THE STATE
PLANNING ORGANIZATION
[27] CONSTRUCTION OF 'MARMARAY' TO BEGIN
[28] STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S REPORT ON PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS
[29] UNION OF CAPITAL MARKET MEDIATOR INSTITUTIONS TO
BEGIN ITS WORKS
[30] ETIBANK'S SALE DECISION IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE
[31] AUTOMATIVE EXPORTS INCREASE BY 30.8%
[32] FEWER BORDER GATES BE USED FOR FOOD IMPORTS
[33] TAIWANESE FAIR IN ISTANBUL
[34] SUCCESS IN TOURISM
[35] GREEK INTEREST IN BUKE
[36] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE
DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
[37] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[38] BALKAN-CAUCASUS LINE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[01] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NATO
MEETING
AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC SOURCES:"IRAQI OPPOSITION
GROUPS NEED TURKEY'S SUPPORT"
TURK: "WE PLAN TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL HIGHER
COURTS"
FOGG:"EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF EU MEMBERSHIP
TO TURKISH CITIZENS"
[02] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK
DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
[03] GERMAN ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTING OF THE STATE
PLANNING ORGANIZATION
[04] STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S REPORT ON PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS
ONAL: "NO CONCESSIONS FROM THE ECONOMIC
PROGRAM"
[05] UNION OF CAPITAL MARKET MEDIATOR INSTITUTIONS TO
BEGIN ITS WORKS
[06] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE
DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[08] BALKAN-CAUCASUS LINE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
[09] SEZER SENDS MESSAGE TO HATEMI
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a congratulatory
message to Iran Islamic Republic President Muhammed Hatemi to mark
"Iranian National Day". In his message Mr. Sezer conveyed
his best wishes on behalf of the Turkish nation, and expressed his
belief that bilateral relations will develop on the grounds of
good-neighbourliness and cooperation . /Turkiye/
[10] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NATO
MEETING
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and new American
Secretary of State Colin Powell will meet for the first time since the
new American Administration took over at the NATO foreign ministers
meeting in Brussels February 27. Diplomatic observers in Washington
and Ankara said they were expecting close dialogue to start between
Turkey and the United States when Cem and Powell meet. Sources said
the Bush Administration's approach in Iraq and developments that will
follow Ariel Sharon's election as Prime Minister in the Middle East
will require Turkey and the United States to maintain close and
continuous contact. The same sources indicated that the latest
developments in the Middle East will increase Turkey's strategic
importance even more for the United States. /Turkish Daily News/
[11] WHAT GREECE AIMS BY GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS
In recent days Turkey has been bombarded by
so-called Armenian genocide claims. Yet another surprising attempt has
come from Greece. A decree accusing Turks of genocide against Greeks
in the early 1920s has been presented to the Greek Parliament despite
the opposition of some Greeks who said the issue was historical and
should have no bearing on current relations. The decree, accusing
Turks of the massacre of Orthodox Greeks in Anatolia during Turkey's
War of Independence, was voted on by the Greek parliament two years
ago. It has now been signed by ministers and goes to the President for
signing. This attempt is not surprising as Greece always seems to add
fuel to the fire whenever Turkey is in a difficult situation. /Turkish
Daily News/
[12] TURKEY SHOWS STRONG REACTION
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he hoped
the Greek decree would not be signed. "Noone with the slightest
bit of sense could ever take these claims seriously," he told the
reporters in Ankara. "It is an historical fact known to all, that
the Greeks resorted to oppression and cruelty during their invasion of
Anatolia." Turkey's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Greek
Ambassador to discuss the issue on Friday. Asked if Turkey planned to
take action, Ecevit replied, "It is nothing to be taken
seriously." /Turkish Daily News/
[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO TRAVEL TO IRAN
Turkey aims to develop economic and politic
relations with Iran. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem is
traveling to Iran today with an accompanying businessmen delegation,
The delegation is expected to meet with the Iranian Chamber of
Commerce. Foreseeing that Iran's opening policy will accelerate after
the June elections, Turkey wants to close the trade deficit with Iran.
Cem is expected to emphasize economic cooperation with Iran during his
visit. /Cumhuriyet/
ANKARA'S MESSAGE TO TEHRAN: "BE LIBERAL"
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem will give
the message to his Iranian counterpart Kemal Harrazi that Iran should
become liberal and change her regulations in order to attract more
foreign investments. Cem is expected to convey the following message:
"Solving the crisis of confidence between the two countries might
create a platform for cooperation. Iran should change her regulations
to improve her commercial relations with foreign investors. If Iran
removes the commercial restraints amd becomes more liberal, she will
be an attractive country for foreign investors." The rich
natuaral gas and oil reserves in Southern Iran are particularly
attractive to the foreign investors. /Cumhuriyet/
AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC SOURCES:"IRAQI OPPOSITION
GROUPS NEED TURKEY'S SUPPORT"
Diplomatic sources and experts from Washington
stated that groups opposing the administration of Saddam Hussein in
Iraq would not be successful without Turkey's support. They said the
financial support of the US Administration to the Iraqi National
Congress (INC) would not be enough.Stating these groups must receive
support from Iran, Syria and Turkey to be efficient in Iraq, American
diplomatic sources said the INC should cooperate with Turkey. However
they argued Turkey was not in favour of such a cooperation because she
was concerned over the possible chaos in a post-Saddam period.
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT IRAQ
A team of 12 Turkish parliamentarians will travel
to Baghdad to observe the health conditions of the Iraqi people. The
will focus in particular on the mothers and children, who have
suffered the most from the international embargo imposed after the
Gulf War. The delegation headed by Deputy Suat Caglayan, (from the
Democratic Left Party (DSP)), has six doctors who will bring medical
supplies and stay in Iraq from February 12-15. They will visit
hospitals and nongovernmental organizations in Baghdad. The delegation
will be received by some Iraqi Ministers. /Turkish Daily News/
[15] CHP DELEGATION VISITS GERMANY
A Republican People's Party (CHP) delegation headed
by CHP Deputy Chief Inal Batu is paying a two-day working visit to
Germany. Following a meeting with German Federal Assembly Deputy
Speaker, Anke Fuchs, Mr. Batu said they were assured the so-called
Armenian genocide bill would never be discussed in the German Federal
Assembly. /Turkiye/
[16] AFGHAN TURKS PROTEST FRANCE
Protests against France over the adoption of the
Armenian bill continue. Afghanistan Turks held a demonstration in
Istanbul yesterday. After reading a press declaration denouncing
France, the crowd laid a black wreath in front of the French
Consulate. Additionally, France was also protested in a ceremoy
organized in the Kecioren district of Ankara to mark the 81rd
liberation anniversary of Maras. During his speech, Kecioren Mayor
Turgut Altinok said the people of Maras exhibited great resistance to
Armenian and French oppression. /Turkiye/
[17] ECEVIT RECEIVES TURCO-AMERICAN ASSEMBLY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the
Turco-American Associations Assembly Chairman Egemen Baris and board
members yesterday. Following the meeting, Baris told journalists they
informed Ecevit on their activities last year in the US and on their
plans for this year. Baris said Turkish lobbyists in the US were just
as respected and influential as the other lobbies. Baris said they
lobbied strongly against the so-called Armenian genocide issue.
/Turkish Daily News/
[18] AGENDA OF THE TURKISH GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
After the by-law change, the Plenary Session of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) will convene again tomorrow and
start the 'more speedy working term'. The Advisory Council will also
convene tomorrow. The Justice Commission will continue its discussions
on the change in Turkish Civil Law. /Star/
[19] INDEPENDENT DEPUTY FIRAT JOINS ANAP
The independent deputy for Istanbul, Mehmet Fuat
Firat recently joined the Motherland Party (ANAP). With Firat's
joining, ANAP seats in the Parliament rose to 89, while the number of
independent deputies fell to 8. /Turkish Daily News/
TURK: "WE PLAN TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL HIGHER
COURTS"
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk who travelled to
Germany as the official guest of his German counterpart Herta
Daeubler-Gmelin, met Court of Appeals Chief Justice Gunter Hirsch in
Karlsruhe, Germany. After the meeting, Turk said that his ministry
wanted to establish regional higher courts in Turkey similar to those
in Germany. Emphasizing the importance of the systems and the legal
integrity of these courts, Turk said the chief justice informed him on
the workings of the German legal system. Turk will be holding a
conference titled "Legal and Judiciary Reform in Turkey" at
Tubingen University today. /Turkish Daily News/
FOGG:"EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF EU MEMBERSHIP
TO TURKISH CITIZENS"
The EU Commission Representative to Turkey,
Ambassador Karen Fogg, said it was bad propaganda to claim the EU does
not want full EU membership for Turkey. In fact, there are circles in
the EU that are suspicious and pessimistic about Turkey's full
membership, just as there are the same circles existing in Turkey as
well. Fogg said, "It is a clear fact that the EU approved
Turkey's full EU membership process at the Helsinki Summit." Fogg
added, "The Turkish government should explain to her citizens the
advantages of full EU membership. The Chambers of Trade,
municipalities and other non-governmental organizations could
participate in information efforts in this process." Fogg said
negotiations to accelerate the harmonization process will resume when
Turkey truly begins to fulfill the political requirements. /Hurriyet/
[20] FOGG TO VISIT QUAKE-HIT REGION
European Union Commission Turkey Representative
Karen Fogg will travel the quake-hit region in Marmara tomorrow. Fogg,
who will visit Adapazari Arifiye Rehabilitation Center, will meet with
officials to discuss the city's problems. She is expected to proceed
to Bolu after completing her contacts in Adapazari. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] NEZIH DEMIRKENT DIES
The owner of "Dunya" newspaper, Nezih
Demirkent, died of a heart attack yesterday. Demirkent worked for 51
years in the press. He had been the Editor-in-Chief of the Hurriyet
newspaper, the Chairman of the Turkish Journalists Association, the
Chairman of the Press Senate and the Chairman of the Newspaper
Publishers Union. /All papers/
[22] IMF DELEGATION IN TURKEY
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation
headed by Carlo Cottarelli arrived in Ankara yesterday. The delegation
will meet with bureaucrats from the Undersecretariat of Treasury
today. During the IMF meetings, now in their sixth review of the
economic program, topics such as banking, privatization and the
financial performance for the month of January are expected to be
taken up. /Turkiye/
[23] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK
DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO MEET IN ISTANBUL
The meeting of the G-20 international group of
deputy finance ministers and central bank deputy governors will be
held in Istanbul February 18-19. The Treasury Undersecretary said the
meeting is a preparation for the annual meeting of the G-20 platform's
Ministers, and will set the schedule, place and agenda of the annual
meeting. Turkey will be represented by the Treasury Undersecretary at
the meeting. /Turkish Daily News/
[24] PKK INVOLED IN HUMAN SMUGGLING
The terrorist organization Kurdistan Worker's Party
(PKK) is reportedly involved in transporting illegal immigrants from
Asian countries to Europe in for $2500 US. According to an article
published in the Greek Apoyevnatini newspaper, the PKK and Albanian
mafia are the region's leading smugglers of illegal aliens. /Turkish
Daily News/
[25] SEMESTER HOLIDAY ENDS
The semester holiday, which lasted for fifteen days
for nearly 13 million students, ended today. The second term of the
education year will end on 15 June 2001. The 2001-2002 education year
will begin on 10 September 2001. /Aksam/
[26] GERMAN ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTING OF THE STATE
PLANNING ORGANIZATION
German experts will guide their Turkish colleagues
in reconstructing the State Planning Organization (DPT) as part of the
Technical Cooperation Agreement between Turkey and Germany. The
project's goal is to develop human resources in the DPT by creating a
new personnel policy and strategy. Germany will send experts and DM
100,000 worth of educational equipment. It will also pay DM 23,000 for
the project's implementation. The Turkish government will appoint
educators to give on-the-job training to DPT personnel and executives.
It will also provide coordination services for the project. /Turkish
Daily News/
[27] CONSTRUCTION OF 'MARMARAY' TO BEGIN
The first concrete steps toward the construction of
the Marmaray rail system, designed to alleviate Istanbul's inner-city
traffic congestion, have begun. The engineering and advisory service
company will be chosen soon. Three proposals by companies interested
in the project, were sent to the Japanese Overseas Rating Company
which will finance the engineering services. The construction of
'Marmaray' will begin in June. The project, totalling to 1 billion US
dollars will be completed in 2005. /Star/
[28] STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S REPORT ON PUBLIC
INVESTMENTS
The State Planning Organization (SPO)
Undersecretariat's Directorate General of Economic Sectors and
Coordination prepared a report to determine the distribution of public
investments to the provinces for the year 2001. According to this
report, the total project amount of investments made in the provinces
throughout Turkey is 11 quadrillion 656 trillion 692 million TL. The
10 provinces to receive the most public investment are Istanbul,
Sanliurfa, Ankara, Kahramanmaras, Artvin, Izmir, Bursa, Diyarbakir,
Mardin and Konya. The total amount of investments to be made in these
provinces will be 112 quadrillion TL. Istanbul is first in terms of
public investments with a total of 6.1 quadrillion TL. /Turkiye/
ONAL: "NO CONCESSIONS FROM THE ECONOMIC
PROGRAM"
Minister of State responsible for the economy,
Recep Onal, answered the questions on the economic program during the
TV program "Pazar Panorama". Claiming everbody understood it
was 'Turkey's program', Onal said all sectors of Turkish society have
agreed to make no detours from the program and to pursue it till the
end. Onal said the proposal documents presented to the government at
the last week's summit by bankers and businessmen were sent to the
related economic institutions. Emphasizing that establishing an
institution to monitor the banks, (politically neutral and
independent), was the most important reform of the economic program,
Onal said the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) have
been hard at work since August. Onal added the BDDK began the process
for the sale and merger of certain banks. Stating representatives from
both real and financial sectors attended the summit held last week at
the Office of the Prime Minister, Onal said, "We are evaluating
the proposals presented by the representatives of the private sector.
Instructions to determine the appropriate proposals which will not
delay the program have been given to the institutions such as Central
Bank and State Planning Institutiton." Onal stated the most
important problem in the Turkish economy was the lack of foreign
investments. Stating they consulted with the IMF and World Bank on the
issue, Onal said a promotion project was discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
[29] UNION OF CAPITAL MARKET MEDIATOR INSTITUTIONS TO
BEGIN ITS WORKS
The Union of Capital Market Mediator Institutions
which will provide mediation in the capital market and maintain the
necessary harmony required by the capital market among its members is
to begin its work. The Union's official status was published in the
Official Gazette. It will hold a meeting in Istanbul within a month
and elect the members of its Executive and Monitoring Council and
Discipline Commission. /Cumhuriyet/
[30] ETIBANK'S SALE DECISION IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE
The sale decision of Etibank by the Banking
Regulating ang Supervision Board was published in the Official
Gazette. Investors interested in the sale can appeal to the
institution until February 26. /Cumhuriyet/
[31] AUTOMATIVE EXPORTS INCREASE BY 30.8%
Automotive exports increased by 30.8% in January
when compared to the same period of last year. Automative exports
increased from 176 million 494 thousand 572 US dollars to 230 million
919 thousand 245 US dollars. 9,395 automobiles were exported which is
an increase of 46.9% in January. /Star/
[32] FEWER BORDER GATES BE USED FOR FOOD IMPORTS
The Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Affairs took
measures to more effectively control food imports and to prevent food
smuggling. Food imports will be carried out through 17 authorized
border gates, formerly there were 120. /Hurriyet/
[33] TAIWANESE FAIR IN ISTANBUL
2000. Turkey purchased $423 million worth of goods
from Taiwan, but its exports did not exceed $68 million. The Taiwan
Trade Center , which would like the trade between the two countries to
increase, will organize a "Taiwan Trade Fair" at the
Istanbul Marmara Hotel. Peter W.J.Huang, director of the Istanbul
office of the Taiwan Trade Center, said at a meeting yesterday, that
they wanted trade relations between the countries to improve. Huang
said 62 companies would participate in the fair. "A number of
products from electronic equipment to medical tools and sports
equipment will be sold at the fair" noted Huang. /Turkish Daily
News/
[34] SUCCESS IN TOURISM
According to the World Tourism Organization figures
for 2000, Turkey led the European countries with a 39.6% increase in
the number of tourists travelling to Turkey. The WTO report said,
"Turkey made a marvelous rebound in the tourism industry."
/Turkiye/
[35] GREEK INTEREST IN BUKE
Burcin Buke, who completed the 11 year Academy of
Music in 5.5 years, was invited to the International Piano Festival in
Greece on behalf of Turkey. Buke will represent Turkey during the
International Piano Festival organized in Thessaloniki for 8-11 March
under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture. Buke will appear
on stage with famous virtuosos from Greece, Italy, Germany, Bulgaria
and the Russian Republic. The official invitation brochure for the
festival organized for the first time by the Synchrono Conservatory of
Thessaloniki, mentions Buke as 'a special pianist to contribute to the
relations between the two countries.' /Aksam/
[36] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE
DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
The collection of Atil Kutoglu, a famous Turkish
fashion designer, will be displayed in New York on February 13 during
the Traditional New York Fashion Week, one of the most important
fashion events. The 2001 fall-winter collections for famous fashion
designers are being shown that week. Mehmet Ezen, the Consul General
of Turkey in New York, will give a reception in honor of Atil Kutoglu
on February 14. Officials from Istanbul Textile and Confection
Exporters Association (ITKIB) which sponsors Kutoglu will also attend
the reception. /Turkish Daily News/
[37] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[38] BALKAN-CAUCASUS LINE BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem's visit to Iran and Turco-Iranian relations. A summary of
his column is as follows: "Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is in Iran
today. Cem who has taken Iran into his itinerary in addition to other
far away countries, is accompanied by businessmen. If bilateral
agreements go as planned, we shall begin to buy natural gas from Iran
this July. The trade gap which is $400 million now, will increase
threefold against Turkey. The trade volume with her neighbours is 6%
of Turkey's total trade as she has moved away from her neighbours in
economic relations. This figure is very low. In addition to improving
economic relations, Turkey has three other important issues to discuss
with Iran: the warming up of Iran's relations with Armenia, the
Hizbullah, and the PKK. When Iran's activities against Turkey are
brought up, Foreign Minister Harazzi cannot be found. During bilateral
meetings, as if he does not know anything about the issue, Harazzi
says 'I do not know what you are talking about. Let's see what has
happened.' As these endless searches continue, a new line has recently
attracted attention- the Tehran-Yerevan-Athens line. When we draw
lines between these capitals we see a triangle around Turkey. In
response to this triangle, Turkey draws up another line,
Ankara-Tblisi-Baku. Where do the drawing up reciprocal triangles take
us? The US has declared her support for the line where Turkey takes
place. The line between Iran-Armenia-Greece is supported by Russia.
Russian Head of State Putin will visit Yerevan in the coming days and
and take new steps for the strengthening of strategic relations. The
support extended by France to Yerevan is another leg of this process.
On the other hand, Tehran's main supporter in Europe is Germany. 25%
of Iran's foreign trade is with Germany. The competition between
France and Germany is reflected not only in the Caucasus, but also in
the eastern and southeastern regions of this area. We can draw up a
similar picture for the Balkans. Taking the balances into
consideration Turkey has formed strategic relations with Macedonia,
the former Republic of Yugoslavia, and Albania. Turkey has military
and strategic agreements with 28 countries around the world. When the
military aspect is added to the economic and social relations between
countries, new steps taken elevate them to a strategic level. In
response, Greece has strengthened its ties with the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia. At the beginning of the 1990s when Germany said she
would recognize an independent Croatia, she pushed a button. She led
the EU and scored one against the US. In the mid 1990s the US, using
NATO facilities, became influential in Sarajevo and Kosovo. Thus, they
were even. In the year 2000 the EU spearheaded the downfall of the
Administration in Yugoslavia beginning a new process. If we take a
look at the Caucasus, we see a similar game is planned for this
region. The countries in the region will be at each other's throat,
and the US and the EU will be their saviours. What can Turkey, who is
left in the midst of both regions, do? According to a survey
published, a majority of Turks believe their number one enemy to be
their neighbours. This did not happen in a day. It is the result of a
long process. Certainly there are elements fostering the grounds for
animosity. However, we have also seen the consequences of regional
disintegration in the Balkans and the Caucasus. Turkey should neither
serve US interests in the region, help Germany or France nor, oppose
Russia. This seems like a game of chess. However, it is a little
different. Sometimes the background is shaken and the pieces are
reset."
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