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Turkish Press Review, 01-03-16
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
16.03.2001
CONTENTS
[01] DERVIS TO VISIT NEW YORK
[02] ECEVIT: "FOREIGN INVESTORS WILL BE WELCOME"
[03] ITO SUPPORTS DERVIS
[04] YILMAZ IN SLOVAKIA
[05] ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY
[06] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO GO TO WASHINGTON
[07] NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR EU IS READY
[08] SEZER SIGNS DECREE ON OZTRAK'S APPOINTMENT
[09] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO MEET IN DIYARBAKIR
[10] TGNA SUB-COMMITTEE TO DEBATE ALGERIAN GENOCIDE BILL
[11] MACCARTHY AND MANGO: "THE ARMENIANS, FULL OF HATRED, WILL BE DISAPPOINTED"
[12] CHECHEN TERRORISTS HIJACK RUSSIAN PLANE
[13] TURKEY STANDS FIRM ON ESDI
[14] ALIYEV BRINGS PEACE PLAN FOR KARABAKH
[15] BRITISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW BILL IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
[16] PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN SIRNAK
[17] CEM PRESENTS A SHIELD TO FORMER TRNC MINISTER ERTEGUN
[18] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
[19] RUSSIA'S BACKWARD STEP
[20] NATURAL GAS PIPELINE OF 980 KM TO BE CONSTRUCTED
[21] FEHRIYE ERDAL CASE POSTPONED
[22] ANTI BRIBERY MEETING TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
[23] FOUTH AND MOUTH DISEASE ALARM
[24] BAHCELI'S STATEMENT ON RECENT ECONOMIC CRISIS
[25] IMF SATISFIED WITH GOVERNMENT'S DECISION
[26] TRESURY PREPARES FOR INTERNAL DEBT PAYMENT
[27] PUBLIC BORROWING FOR DEBT REPAYMENT ON MARCH 21
[28] TUSIAD: "CENTRAL BANK SHOULD INTERVENE TO THE MARKET"
[29] TOBB MEETING
[30] FOUNDATION LAID FOR MOBILE POWER PLANT
[31] BDDK BAILS OUT IKTISAT BANK
[32] NEW BILL FOR TURK TELEKOM
[33] SABANCI UNIVERSITY IN FOREIGN PRESS
[34] TOURISM DEVELOPS IN TURKEY
[35] IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
[36] POYRAZOGLU'S NEW PLAY ON AUSTRALIA TOUR
[01] DERVIS TO VISIT NEW YORK
As the Urgent Precautions Package has been announced, it is time to
announce the technical infrastructure and details of the package and to
determine the framework of the National Program. Within this context,
the macroeconomic figures will become clear, and details of the program
will be announced. State Minister Kemal Dervis will go to the US March
24. Meanwhile, the Executive Boards of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank will meet March 28, during which Turkey's
letter of intent will be discussed and the amount of resource for
Turkey will be determined. In addition, the block sale of 51% of
Telekom, the legal changes concerning the autonomization of the World
Bank, budget changes and additional budget laws will be discussed as
priority issues. The 2001 Budget will be brought in line with the new
macroeconomic targets. /Aksam/
[02] ECEVIT: "FOREIGN INVESTORS WILL BE WELCOME"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said non-urgent public investments will be
delayed for a period of time. However, foreign invesment institutions
will be welcome to invest in Turkey on a "build-operate-transfer"
basis. Ecevit said, "If the floating exchange rate is used for the
purpose of increasing exports and touristic services, the economy will
gain momentum. The increase in exports will stimulate domestic
production and the unemployment rate will decline." /Milliyet/
[03] ITO SUPPORTS DERVIS
The Head of Istanbul's Chamber of Trade (ITO), Mehmet Yildirim said the
urgent economic measures package are not the measures needed to
mobilize the real sector, nevertheless the ITO will lend support and
assess the results at the end of the first three months. Yildirim said
the announced measures are in fact long-term in nature. "Short term
priorities should be to decrease interest rates and to transfer $5
billion to Eximbank for export credits." said Yildirim. /Milliyet/
[04] YILMAZ IN SLOVAKIA
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz left for Bratislava, capital of
Slovakia, on a one-day official visit at the invitation of his
Slovakian counterpart. Before leaving, Mr. Yilmaz said Turkey and
Slovakia are supporting each other during their EU membership process
and added that Turkey supports Slovakia's desire to become a NATO
member. /Turkiye/
[05] ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, travelled to
the Syrian capital, Damascus, upon the invitation of his Syrian
counterpart Munib Saem el-Dahr, and returned to Turkey yesterday.
During his visit Ersumer participated in the opening ceremony for a
Syrian-Jordanian electricity grid link up. He also held bilateral
meetings with Syrian officials. /Turkish Daily news/
[06] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO GO TO WASHINGTON
The "Annual Conference" of the Turco-American Business Council,
attached to the Foreign Economic Relations Committee, and of the
American-Turkish Council will be held March 25-28 in the capital,
Washington. State Minister Kemal Dervis and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ismail Cem will attend the conference to discuss the issue of 'Direct
Investment in Turkey and the US'. The conferences will discuss how
Turkey can increase US investments and foreign capital as well as
increasing Turkish investments in the US. The conference will include
sessions on energy, defence, telecommunication, finance, agriculture
and food products, textiles and ready-made clothing, investments in
Turkey and in the US, and the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP).
/Aksam/
[07] NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR EU IS READY
The Secretary General for the EU, Ambassador, Volkan Vural has finished
drafting Turkey's National Program for EU membership. Thursday Vural
visited the Turkish Parliament Foreign Policy Committee and relayed
information about the program's final draft. The program will be
discussed by the Cabinet and made public at a press conference by
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. Vural gave some details on
sensitive issues, such as issues, such as education in Kurdish and the
abolition of capital punishment. /Turkish News/
[08] SEZER SIGNS DECREE ON OZTRAK'S APPOINTMENT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed the decree appointing Banking
Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) Deputy Chairman, Faik Oztrak,
as Treasury Undersecretary. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO MEET IN DIYARBAKIR
European Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), Daniel
Cohn-Bendit, which serves as the bridge between the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA) and the European Parliament (EP), said the JPC
wants to hold its meeting in Diyarbakir. Cohn-Bendit added, "If Turkey
does not accept this suggestion, then a delegation from the EP will
want to visit Diyarbakir. Mayor of Diyarbakir Metropolitan
Municipality, Feridun Celik, currently in Strasbourg as Cohn-Bendit's
guest, attended the meeting of the JPC's European wing yesterday.
/Aksam/
[10] TGNA SUB-COMMITTEE TO DEBATE ALGERIAN GENOCIDE BILL
A bill denouncing the massacres and violence perpetrated by France in
Algeria and all other places, is being debated in the TGNA Interior
Affairs Commission. The bill was prepared after France's approval of
the so-called Armenian genocide. The Commission sent the bill to a
sub-committee. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] MACCARTHY AND MANGO: "THE ARMENIANS, FULL OF HATRED, WILL BE
DISAPPOINTED"
British Researcher Andrew Mango and American historian Prof. Justin
McCharty attended a meeting organized by the Democratic Principles
Foundation in Istanbul, to discuss Turco-Armenian relations. Before the
meeting, Mango and McCharty spoke with journalists, saying the
Armenians, engaged in a smear campaign, will be disappointed by
Turkey's professional efforts to make clear the historical realities
and to explain them to the world. /Turkiye/
[12] CHECHEN TERRORISTS HIJACK RUSSIAN PLANE
A Russian plane was hijacked yesterday by two Chechen terrorists soon
after its departure from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. The plane is
carrying 162 passengers, 59 of whom are Turks, and a crew of 12. The
terrorists carried knives and claimed to have a bomb. Women, children
and a wounded person were released by the terrorists late last night.
The plane initially headed out of Turkish airspace towards Cairo, but
Egyptian air traffic control said the plane had turned in the direction
of Medina. The plane landed at an airport in the Muslim holy city of
Medina in Saudi Arabia, according to Qatar's al-Jazeera TV channel and
Saudi Arabian civil aviation authorities. Demanding an end to war in
Chechnya, the terrorists demanded to go to Afghanistan. After the
hijacking, the Russian Federation sent a note to Turkey. The letter
stated they had warned Ankara before about possible Chechen terrorist
activities that might take place in Turkey. Russia demanded extra
security measures for Russian citizens and institutions. The Foreign
Ministry conveyed Ankara's worry over the incident. Meanwhile, Saudi
officials said they had formed a special desk to deal with the
hijacking adding that they hoped a solution would be found.
/Cumhuriyet-Turkish News/
[13] TURKEY STANDS FIRM ON ESDI
Turkey has not changed its policy of blocking European Union access to
NATO military facilities in future peace keeping operations. The EU
wants access to NATO facilities as a part of its European Security and
Defence Identity (ESDI). The issue was an item during a meeting in
Brussels between NATO's North-Atlantic Council (NAC) and the EU's
Political and Security Committee. The committee is designed as an
advisory body for common foreign and security policy activities within
the EU. Turkey's permanent NATO representative, Ambassador Onur Oymen,
said the issue was discussed briefly, but no significant change was
recorded. The main topic of the Brussels meeting was the tension along
the Macedonia border. /Turkish News/
[14] ALIYEV BRINGS PEACE PLAN FOR KARABAKH
Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev is reprotedly trying to gain the
support of the Turkish government in an effort to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Aliyev has proposed working together with
Turkish officials in convincing the US government to support a plan
being drawn up by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) Minsk group. The new plan specifies the withdrawal of
Armenian troops froma section of the "occupied" territories of
Azerbaijan, the opening of a corridor between Azerbaijan and
Nakhechevan, and the deployment of international peacekeeping forces on
the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. /Turkish News/
[15] BRITISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW BILL IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
The British Parliament has approved a new bill in the fight against
terrorism by prohibiting the activities of 21 terrorist organizations
including the PKK and DHKP-C. The bill was prepared by Interior
Secretary Jack Straw to reinforce the new Anti-Terror Law enacted in
February. British political circles stated the bill was going to be
discussed at the House of Lords. The bill foresees heavy punishments
including expulsion for the members of these organizations, as well as
for people aiding to these organizations and sympathizers who carry
their emblems or flags. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN SIRNAK
Nine PKK terrorists were killed in operations by security forces in
Sirnak. Officials said that operations in the region were continuing.
/Milliyet/
[17] CEM PRESENTS A SHIELD TO FORMER TRNC MINISTER ERTEGUN
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem presented a shield to former
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Minister
Necati Munir Ertegun for his service in the TRNC. Cem and
Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu emphasized Ertegun's contributions to the
TRNC in the speeches they delivered at the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
[18] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
It is reported that Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou will come
to Ankara April 6 for one day visit. /Milliyet/
[19] RUSSIA'S BACKWARD STEP
Moscow has stepped back from it's harsh stance regarding Kazakhstan's
signature on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline protocol. During a visit to
Astana, Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin's Special Advisor for the
Caspian Region, Viktor Kalyujni, claimed that Russia did not oppose any
feasible project, including the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. /Turkiye/
[20] NATURAL GAS PIPELINE OF 980 KM TO BE CONSTRUCTED
General Director of BOTAS, Gokhan Yardim, stated, "A pipeline of 980
km, extending from Azerbaijan to Erzurum-Horasan, will be constructed
as a part of the project transporting Azerbaijani natural gas to
Turkey. The Azerbaijani natural gas pipeline will connect with the
Iranian natural gas pipeline in Erzurum. In addition, it will connect
with the Blue Stream pipeline 50 km east of Ankara. /Aksam/
[21] FEHRIYE ERDAL CASE POSTPONED
The Fehriye Erdal hearing was postponed at the request of defense
attorneys until May 3. The case against Erdal was brought by the
Sabanci family for crimes she committed in Turkey. The lawyer for the
Sabanci family, Fernard Schmitz, stated Belgium, which refused to
extradite Erdal, had to try her. /Sabah/
[22] ANTI BRIBERY MEETING TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
The meeting of the Coalition to Fight Against Bribery in Transitional
Economies, organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) will be held in Istanbul March 20-22 this year. The
main aim of the meeting is to determine effective precautions which can
be taken to avoid bribery in transitional economies. /Sabah/
[23] FOUTH AND MOUTH DISEASE ALARM
As foot and mouth disease has become widespread in England, Belgium and
Germany, Turkey has taken increased precautions. Turkey has decided
not to import animal products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, angora
wool and spring-shorn wool. Meanwhile, the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated the foot and mouth disease has
become a global threat and that no country is safe in terms of this
disease. /Aksam/
[24] BAHCELI'S STATEMENT ON RECENT ECONOMIC CRISIS
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said Turkey could overcome the
crisis by taking further steps based on sound decisions and a
determination to implement those decisions without making concessions.
Stating everbody should do his utmost to accomplish his duties, Bahceli
said, "On the one hand, we should try to sustain a more stable
atmosphere, on the other hand, we should not be late in taking the
necessary steps for Turkey to continue her progress." /Cumhuriyet/
[25] IMF SATISFIED WITH GOVERNMENT'S DECISION
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is satisfied with government's
decision to accelerate banking reform. IMF circles strongly stress the
burden of the banking sector on the economy which resulted in the
fiscal crisis and the collapse of the former program. /Milliyet/
[26] TRESURY PREPARES FOR INTERNAL DEBT PAYMENT
With the Treasury's internal debt payment due next week, the economic
administration is looking for new formulas to make these payments
easily. Alternative solutions, formulated through the works conducted
by the State Minister Kemal Dervis, will be discussed by the officials
from the World Bank and the Union of Banks and the Economic Supreme
Administration. /Aksam/
[27] PUBLIC BORROWING FOR DEBT REPAYMENT ON MARCH 21
The Treasury will sell bonds to finance debt repayments on March 21. A
three-month bond will be offered to banks. /Milliyet/
[28] TUSIAD: "CENTRAL BANK SHOULD INTERVENE TO THE MARKET"
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD)
suggested the Central Bank intervene in the financial markets by
selling foreign exchange thereby removing the financial system`s
deadlock. The Head of the TUSIAD, Tuncay Ozilhan, said the important
thing was to secure the financial base of the economic program.
"Currently, the interbank , bond and TL markets are not functioning.
The Central bank has enough exchange money at hand to regulate the
financial markets. If the bank sells the foreign currency in a
controlled manner, the foreign currency will not be pulled out of the
markets. Otherwise, the crisis will deepen," said Ozilhan. /Milliyet/
[29] TOBB MEETING
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli,
Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan and State Minister for the Economy,
Kemal Dervis will participate in the enlarged meeting of the Turkish
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). The Head of the TOBB,
Fuat Miras said 350 representatives will meet with Dervis and will have
a say regarding the new economic program. /Milliyet/
[30] FOUNDATION LAID FOR MOBILE POWER PLANT
The foundation for a mobile power station was laid yesterday in the
Hacilar town of Kirikkale. The power station will be jointly
constructed by GAMA and BARMEK on 30 acres. The planned completion date
is nine months from now. 5,694,000,000 kw hours of electricity produced
by the plant in five years will be purchased by TEAS. /Turkiye/
[31] BDDK BAILS OUT IKTISAT BANK
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) bailed out Iktisat
Bank yesterday. The BDDK said Iktisat Bank had placed its operation in
danger by transferring its resources to firms owned by shareholders.
"The bank's losses exceeded its equity capital. The bank's financial
weakness has reached a point where it cannot meet its obligations.
Iktisat Bank's continued operation in its present situation imperils
the rights of depositors and the financial system's security and
stability.", the BDDK stated. Iktisat Bank's management was transferred
to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund. The decision was published in
the Official Gazette. /Cumhuriyet/
[32] NEW BILL FOR TURK TELEKOM
The Transport Ministry has prepared a bill for the privatization of
Turk Telekom to domestic and international investors. The Cabinet will
determine the number of company shares to be sold off. The bill
consists of four articles. and says Turk Telekom is required to be sold
off to a consortium of foreign and Turkish firms with a strategic
majority shareholder. Turk Telekom will be removed from the regulation
supervising State Economic Enterprises (SEEs) by the bill. The measure
is being taken to prevent a would-be cancellation of the Turk Telekom
sell-off by the Council of State. /Turkish News/
[33] SABANCI UNIVERSITY IN FOREIGN PRESS
The New York Times said Sabanci University in Istanbul represents a new
model for education in Turkey with its international academic team. The
production of interactive information and interdisciplinary studies are
the main features of this new education model. /Hurriyet/
[34] TOURISM DEVELOPS IN TURKEY
Minister of Tourism, Erkan Mumcu, stated Turkey's 2001 promotion
campaign would be implemented in eight countries by five advertisement
agencies. He added, "State biddings will be carried out with the
participation of the civilian sector, which is a first in Turkey".
Meanwhile, Turkey is going through many important developments in spite
of the economic crisis; according to the State Instute of Statistics
(SIS) data, 2,984 companies and 1,512 firms were established in Turkey.
In addition, American Cotton Incorporated's European and Asian
Marketing Director, Dean Pelezar, said the Turkish textile sector could
undergo an export boom. /Turkiye/
[35] IMPLEMENTATION OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Implemention of daylight saving time will begin on 25 March at 01:00
a.m. A statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and National
Resources outlined the reasons for implementing daylight savings. The
one hour charge will save energy, ensure Turkey is insync with European
time, and decrease the evening energy demand. /Aksam/
[36] POYRAZOGLU'S NEW PLAY ON AUSTRALIA TOUR
After the success of his highly acclaimed play Kobay (Guinea Pig), Ali
Poyrazoglu will perform his new play "Borrowed lifes" in Australia and
Singapour. Poyrazoglu adapted the new play from his book published last
year. /Hurriyet/
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