|
|
Turkish Press Review, 01-03-15
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
15.03.2001
CONTENTS
[01] ALIYEV AND SEZER IN ISTANBUL
[02] DERVIS TO MEET WITH SEZER
[03] NEW ECONOMIC PACKAGE
[04] NEW APPOINTMENTS
[05] DERVIS SEEKS CONSENSUS OVER PROGRAM
[06] WORLD BANK: "WE CANNOT FINANCE ALL THE DEFICIT"
[07] FOGG TO ASK FOR EU'S ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM
[08] DEPPLER: "THE FORMER PROGRAM WAS ALSO NATIONAL"
[09] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
[10] TERROR LAW IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT
[11] TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
[12] REACTIONS TO ARMENIA'S DEMAND FOR TURKISH TERRITORY
[13] INAN'S BILL ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN INTERIOR AFFAIRS
COMMISSION
[14] HALF OF THE STATES IN US SUPPORT ARMENIANS
[15] SKOPJE SUMMIT IN APRIL
[16] GREEK-CYPRIOTS' NEW INITIATIVE
[17] ERSUMER IN DAMASCUS
[18] DIYARBAKIR METROPOLITAN MAYOR FERIDUN CELIK IN STRASBOURG
[19] MERVE KAVAKCI LOSES DEPUTY STATUS
[20] ERDAL CASE IN BELGIAN COUNCIL OF STATE
[21] AID TO GEORGIA
[22] BAKU-CEYHAN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
[23] SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY TO BE ESTABLISHED
[24] TAI TO ATTEND TRADE FARE IN ABU DHABI
[25] JOURNALIST CETIN EMEC COMMEMORATED
[26] PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND GREEK ARCHITECTS
[27] FRENCH CENSOR
[28] REGULATION AND COMPETITION SYMPOSIUM
[29] ARIA BEGINS SERVICE
[30] NEW BOEING IN TURKISH AIRLINES
[31] KUNT FILM COMPANY MAKES A MOVIE ABOUT DUMLUPINAR SUBMARINE ACCIDENT
[32] CRUISE SHIPS IN ANTALYA HARBOR
[33] ARCELIK, KIPA AND INTEMA RECEIVE AWARD
[34] SUPPORT TO DERVIS BY ESEN UNUR (STAR)
[01] ALIYEV AND SEZER IN ISTANBUL
Yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Azerbaijani President
Haydar Aliyev attended a conference at the War Academy Command in
Istanbul. During the conference, President Sezer delivered a speech.
Stressing the necessity of working hard to keep up with the information
age, Mr. Sezer said, "We have to attach great importance to research
and development." After the conference, Sezer and Alivey returned to
Ankara. /Turkiye/
[02] DERVIS TO MEET WITH SEZER
State Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, will meet with President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer today. Dervis will brief Sezer on the new economic
program and request support. Dervis will also meet with Chief of the
General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu. /Star/
[03] NEW ECONOMIC PACKAGE
State Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis announced yesterday the urgent
economic measures package. Dervis said they will determine next week
the amount of foreign resources required from the international public
and from private financial institutions. Dervis said with urgent
measures taken for normalizing the fiscal markets, they will try to
build confidence in the economy. The duty losses of state-owned banks
will be transferred directly to the state budget and the banks will
only perform the usual banking services. Dervis said the crisis
recovery will be completed in three stages. In the first stage,
confidence for the economy will be built. In the second stage, from
June on, inflation will be put on a downward trend. Third stage,
beginning in the second half of the year will see economic growth.
Dervis said the economic problem cannot only be solved through large
sums of foreign resources, domestic resources should also be utilized.
/Milliyet/
[04] NEW APPOINTMENTS
During yesterday coalition government leaders' meeting, Faik Oztrak's
appointment to the Undersecretariat of Treasury and Engin Akcakoca to
the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) Chairmanship were
determined. The decrees which foresee Oztrak and Akcakoca's
appointments were presented for the ministers approval. /Turkiye/
[05] DERVIS SEEKS CONSENSUS OVER PROGRAM
Economy Minister Kemal Dervis contacted labor leaders yesterday in an
effort to secure a national consensus over the new economic program,
the details of which are expected to be made public by next week.
Yesterday Dervis visited Suleyman Celebi, Chairman of the Confederation
of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), in the first stop of his tour
to raise support from social parties for new economic policies. In the
afternoon, he met with Bayram Meral, Chairman of the major labor
confederation, Turk-Is. Both meetings were open to the press and aired
live on television channels. Dervis said a three-stage plan would be
implemented to resolve the current economic crisis, which entail a set
of stopgap emergency measures as the first stage. Dervis warned,
however, that he had no miracle cures. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] WORLD BANK: "WE CANNOT FINANCE ALL THE DEFICIT"
World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said the appointment of Kemal
Dervis as the Minister for the Economy was an appropriate decision.
Chhibber said the IMF and the World Bank will collectively support the
new economic program. Works have been carried out to finance the duty
losses of state-owned banks, but it is not possible to cover all the
losses. /Milliyet/
[07] FOGG TO ASK FOR EU'S ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM
The EU Representative to Turkey, Ambassador Karen Fogg said she will
engage in talks in Brussels to obtain support from the EU for Dervis's
economic program. Fogg said the assistance of the EU may differentiate
from that of the IMF and the World Bank. "Technical assistance may be
provided for the program," said Fogg. /Milliyet/
[08] DEPPLER: "THE FORMER PROGRAM WAS ALSO NATIONAL"
The IMF says it cannot be held responsible for the failure of the
economic program. The ensuing crisis is the result of not paying
attention to the recommendations of the IMF. IMF Turkey Director,
Michael Deppler, said the delay in implementing reforms in banking
sector is the cause of the crisis. The program was designed to
specifically meet the needs of Turkish economy and the demands of the
government. The Turkish government has the sole responsibility for the
failure. Deppler said if Turkey hastens the banking reforms it will be
successful. /Milliyet/
[09] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
Term President for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mircea Geona
arrived in Ankara on an official visit. Geona first visited Ataturk's
Mauseloum. Meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Geona said Romania
was Turkey's strategic partner. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] TERROR LAW IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT
The bill on prohibiting the activities of 21 terrorist organizations,
including the PKK and DHKP-C, was brought to the British Parliament
agenda. Explaining his reasons for preparing such a bill, Interior
Minister Jack Straw said the activities of these terrorist
organizations should be prohibited in Britain as their use of violence
and terrorism could not be tolerated. He used the PKK as an example
during his speech. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
Researcher and author Andrew Mango and Prof. Justin McCarthy will
discuss the 'Past, Present and Future of the Turco-Armenian Relations'
during a conference organized by the Foundation of Democratic
Principles at Marmara Hotel this evening. An expert in Modern Middle
East history, Prof. Justin McCarthy's latest book titled 'The Ottoman
Peoples and the End of an Empire' was recently published. Andrew Mango
has also written many books on Turkey. /Aksam/
[12] REACTIONS TO ARMENIA'S DEMAND FOR TURKISH TERRITORY
The Foreign Ministry has responded to the Armenian campaign to cancel
the Kars Treaty by saying, "No one has the right to demand land from
Turkey." Huseyin Dirioz, Spokesman for the Ministry, said it is
impossible to get along with the Armenian Republic as long as it keeps
trying to cancel the Kars Treaty, which determines the border between
the two countries. Dirioz said the call for goodwill made by the
Turkish Republic is still valid. Another reaction to Armenia's demand
for land came from Erzurum Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz. He responded to the
claims of Paruir Hayrikyan, Chairman of the Armenian Human Rights
Commission, who believes the treaty gave land to Turkey and Azerbaijan
which actually belongs to Armenia. Uykusuz said, "Turkey does not even
have an inch of land to give to anybody". /Turkish Daily News/
[13] INAN'S BILL ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN INTERIOR AFFAIRS
COMMISSION
The Interior Affairs Commission will discuss today the Chairman of TGNA
Foreign Affairs Commission Kamran Inan's bill on the allegations of the
so-called Armenian genocide. The bill states Turkey considers Armenia's
persistent allegations, a distortion of historical facts and a hostile
attitude. The bill rejects all Armenian allegations and denounces the
support given to the ASALA terrorist organization. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] HALF OF THE STATES IN US SUPPORT ARMENIANS
The so-called Armenian genocide thesis has come to the political agenda
in the US. A bill similar to the one rejected in November will be
submitted to the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. In the
meantime, the New Mexicon state senate adopted a resolution to
commemorate "Genocide Day" on April 24, supposedly the anniversary of
so-called Armenian genocide. 25 of 50 states in the US have adopted
April 24 as the anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide.
/Milliyet/
[15] SKOPJE SUMMIT IN APRIL
The Ministers of Defense from Balkan countries will meet in Skopje in
April to discuss the problems stemming from the killing of three
Macedonian soldiers by Albanian soldiers on the Macedonia-Kosovo
border. Turkey and Romania will also be invited to the meeting which
was held before participation by Macedonia's neighbors. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] GREEK-CYPRIOTS' NEW INITIATIVE
The Greek-Cypriot Administration has begun propaganda activities in
order to gain entrance to the European Union (EU) Army.
Greek-Cypriots, who aim at destroying the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC), invited the EU Army to the Island. The Greek-Cypriot
Administration stated they would contribute to the EU Army with the
Baphos Air Headquarters, Larnaka and Limasol Harbors, Greek-Cypriot
National Guard Army's radars and an armored unit of 200 people. The
Greek-Cypriot Administration's Defense Ministry sent an invitation to
the representatives of the Organization of Security and Cooperation for
Europe (OSCE) members to tour the military facilities in the
Greek-Cypriot Administration. Representatives of the OSCE countries
will visit the Greek-Cypriot Region June 5-8. Meanwhile, President of
the TRNC said the Greek-Cypriot Administration's initiative to provide
headquarters for the EU Army would result in a clash between Turkey and
the EU. /Aksam/
[17] ERSUMER IN DAMASCUS
Minister of Energy and Natural Sources Cumhur Ersumer attended the
ceremony held to celebrate the energy cooperation among Syria, Jordan
and Egypt yesterday in Damascus. Syrian Head of State Besir Esad,
Egyptian President Husnu Mubarek and King of Jordan Abdullah II and
Lebanon Prime Minister Refik Hariri also attended the ceremonies.
/Cumhuriyet/
[18] DIYARBAKIR METROPOLITAN MAYOR FERIDUN CELIK IN STRASBOURG
Diyarbakir Metropolitan Mayor Feridun Celik traveled to Strasbourg to
hold contacts in the European Parliament. Celik will attend the Joint
Parliamentary Committee meeting today and will deliver a speech at the
meeting. Celik is also expected to meet with the representatives of
political groups in the European Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] MERVE KAVAKCI LOSES DEPUTY STATUS
Merve Kavakci, elected to National Assembly from the Virtue Party (FP)
as deputy for Istanbul in the 1999 elections, has lost her deputy
status. Since she refused to take off her headscarf at the Plenary
Session, she drew all the attention in the ensuing discussions of
secularism and the turban. Later it was disclosed that she had obtained
a US nationality without securing the permission of Turkish
authorities. The TGNA Presidency presented a note at the Plenary
Session pointing out that after a drawn out trial at the Council of
State, the Cabinet decision to revoke Kavakci's nationality had been
legally upheld. The note stated that as such Kavakci was no longer
entitled to be a parliamentary deputy in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet-Turkish
Daily News/
[20] ERDAL CASE IN BELGIAN COUNCIL OF STATE
The Belgian Council of State will discuss today the case of Fehriye
Erdal who is in custody in Belgium. According to the lawyer for the
Sabanci family, Fernand Schmitz stated a case was brought against Erdal
due to their initiatives. A coroner was appointed for the case which
will be discussed at the Council of State. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] AID TO GEORGIA
It was stated that Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Georgia and Chechens
living in Georgia. According to the Foreign Ministry statement,
"Georgia suffers from the worst drought in 30 years. Therefore, Turkey
has sent foodstuffs amounting to $1 million to Georgia." /Cumhuriyet/
[22] BAKU-CEYHAN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
Over half the basic engineering studies on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) oil pipeline which will transfer Azerbaijan oil to Western
markets has been completed. Part of the basic engineering studies
involves determining a 10 kilometer transit corridor through
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, as well as fixing the best location for
a 500-meter portion of this corridor. /Turkish Daily News/
[23] SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY TO BE ESTABLISHED
During a meeting, 40 former provincial leaders decided to establish a
party called the 'Social Democrat Party'. 25 former provincial leaders
announced they would be in compliance with the decision. Meanwhile, 12
lecturers resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP). /Aksam/
[24] TAI TO ATTEND TRADE FARE IN ABU DHABI
The Tusas Aviation and Space Industries Company will attend the
INDEX-2001 trade fare in the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab
Emirates March 18-22. INDEX 2000 is one of the world's largest defense
industry trade fares. Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Defense
Industry Undersecretary Prof. Dursun Ali Ercan, and 12 companies active
in the defense industry sector will reportedly attend the fare.
/Turkish Daily News/
[25] JOURNALIST CETIN EMEC COMMEMORATED
The death of journalist Cetin Emec, was commemorated yesterday with
graveside ceremonies in the Zincirlikuyu cemetery on the 11th
anniversary of his assassination. The ceremony was attended by Emec's
wife Bilge, his daughter Mehves, daily Hurriyet Chief Editor Ertugrul
Ozkok, Turkish Journalists' Association Deputy Chairman Orhan Erinc,
and many journalists and friends. /Turkish Daily News/
[26] PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND GREEK
ARCHITECTS
A period for Professional and Cultural Cooperation between Turkish and
Greek architects was initiated to contribute the peace and friendship.
Turkish Chamber of Architects, architecture organizations in Greece and
International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are the
initiators of the cooperation. At the March 9 meeting in the ICOMOS
building in Athens, the parties reached a consensus to jointly protect
the historical heritages of the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/
[27] FRENCH CENSOR
The French media undermined the violence which occurred during
yesterday's match in Paris between Galatasaray and Paris Saint German
soccer teams. While broadcasting the match, French channels neither
filmed the violence against Turkish spectators, nor mentioned it. The
UEFA Disciplinary Board will review the events March 21. the Turkish
Foreign Ministry is continuing diplomatic initiatives for punishment of
the perpetrators. /Turkiye/
[28] REGULATION AND COMPETITION SYMPOSIUM
The symposium entitled "Regulation and Competition" organized due on
the fourth anniversary of the Competition Board's establishment will
begin today. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Devlet
Bahceli, Ministers of State Sukru Sina Gurel and Yuksel Yalova and
Minister of Industry and Commerce Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu will deliver
the opening speeches of the symposium. /Cumhuriyet/
[29] ARIA BEGINS SERVICE
Aria, the third GSM operator in Turkey, is expected to begin service
this month. The Is-Tim Telecommunications Service Joint Company, a
partnership established by Turkiye Is Bank and Italia Mobile, hopes to
reach 50% of the Turkish public in two years and 90% in five years.
/Turkiye/
[30] NEW BOEING IN TURKISH AIRLINES
Turkish Airlines' (THY) new plane, the Boeing 737-800 will land in
Istanbul today. The number of planes THY owns will rise to 65.
/Milliyet/
[31] KUNT FILM COMPANY MAKES A MOVIE ABOUT DUMLUPINAR SUBMARINE
ACCIDENT
The Kunt Film Company will make a movie about the Dumlupinar Submarine
Accident. A Turkish submarine returning from a NATO maneuvers sank
after crashing into a Swiss flagged cargo ship. The accident resulted
in 81 deaths. The scenario is based on information and documents
provided by the surviving officers aboard the submarine during the
accident. /Cumhuriyet/
[32] CRUISE SHIPS IN ANTALYA HARBOR
Antalya Harbor is included in the routes of the cruise ships carrying
tourists from the US, Italy, France and Britain. Middle East Antalya
Harbor Management Joint Stock Company Manager Hayrettin Akartuna said
the number of tourists visiting Turkey by ship is expected to reach
60,000. Akartuna said the agreements with luxury and cruise ships are
already completed. /Cumhuriyet/
[33] ARCELIK, KIPA AND INTEMA RECEIVE AWARD
Intema, Kipa and Arcelik Companies were deemed worthy of 'the companies
whose principle is to please customers' award. In a statement, Minister
of Industry and Commerce, Kenan Tanrikulu, said the Council of
Customers, convened at least once a year, will be held March 19-20 this
year. The awards will be presented during the first day of the Council
meeting. /Aksam/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[34] SUPPORT TO DERVIS BY ESEN UNUR (STAR)
Columnist Esen Unur comments on State Minister Kemal Dervis and
Turkey's economic crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:
"I have had the opportunity to follow the recent crisis and the
developments in the US from afar. During his press conference in
Washington, State Minister Dervis seemed more like a realist economist
than a savior. He was candid in describing Turkey's situation as
'critical'. As far as I can see, he is continuing his candid approach.
Dervis stressed the seriousness of the situation several times during
his contacts with labor organizations. He stressed another point
saying, 'The urgent measures package and the national program should be
supported by all coalition parties.'
Although there is no alternative for the coalition parties but to
support him, it is interesting that Dervis has reiterated this at every
opportunity. The Minister, who has lived abroad for many years, seems
to recall some events in the past. It is a positive step that Dervis
has begun searching for support from trade unions.
Whatever the urgent measures package may be, however perfectly the
national program is prepared in the end, Turkey will look to
Washington. No one in Washington thinks they should loan money to
Turkey just because Kemal Dervis is in charge. They say, if we are
convinced the program can be implemented and there is social support
behind the program, we shall do everything possible.
Certainly the circles in Washington are closely following the
developments in Turkey. Kemal Dervis is a new hope for the society. We
do not have the luxury of losing this chance. Therefore, the
Government needs the support of everyone. It is naive to believe only
one person can save the nation. We should all support him. "
|