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Turkish Press Review, 01-03-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning22.03.2001CONTENTS
[01] SEZER'S MESSAGE OF POLITICAL SUPPORTPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer phoned Macedonian President Boris Traykovski yesterday to give a message of political support. Sezer pointed out his desire for a peaceful end to the incidents along the Kosovo border as soon as possible. He added the expectations of Macedonia by the international community were expressed during bilateral contacts and in international platforms. Traykovski thanked for Sezer's support.Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz held a press conference yesterday and said: "We support Macedonia's territorial integrity and condemn the acts of violence". /Cumhuriyet/ [02] SEZER: "I AM READY TO ASSIST"President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said the National Program, which includes commitments for full EU membership, is a good move for the government and that he is ready to assist. EU Secretary General for the EU Affairs, Ambassador Volkan Vural, presented the National Program to the President and the Parliamentary Speaker. Sezer said to Vural, "I am backing the program. I will do whatever I can do to assist implementing the program. Sezer said implementation was important at this stage. /Milliyet/[03] ECEVIT: "NATIONAL PROGRAM IS PREPARED BY NATIONAL WILL"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the National Program approved by the government represents the national will rather than external influence. At the group meeting of DSP in parliament, Ecevit said, "I have no doubts that the spirit of national solidarity can overcome all kind of problems. Our economy will improve and the inflation rate will drop." /Milliyet/[04] DENKTAS RECALLS HIS DEMAND FOR EQUALITYPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas said: "In the National Program put forth by the Turkish government, the Cyprus issue was mentioned and a framework was drawn up. This framework is valid for us since it mentions two equal sovereign states". Denktas delivered a speech at a panel at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/[05] GERMAN AMBASSADOR: "NATIONAL PROGRAM COMPREHENSIVE, ASSERTIVE"Turkey has announced a comprehensive and assertive National Program, according to Rudolf Schmidt, the German Ambassador in Ankara. In a written statement released late Tuesday, Schmidt emphasized how Turkey's National Program spells out the way it will implement the reforms needed for European Union (EU) membership. Schmidt noted the National Program was ready just two weeks after the Accession Partnership Document was legally approved and published in the EU's Official Gazette. "I am especially glad the Turkish government has adopted a positive and constructive stance towards the issue," he said. Schmidt also said the National Program was a step in the right direction. "The government has shown it won't shy away from confronting its challenges," he stated. /Turkish Daily News/[06] LILJEGREN: "EU IS WAITING FOR IMPLEMENTATION"The Swedish Ambassador in Ankara, Henrik Liljegren, (Sweden holds the EU Term-Presidency) stated that the National Program was a result of compromise. He said: "The Turkish government has shown its determination concerning EU membership. We are now waiting for the implementation". He added that the National Program would be a driving force in overcoming the economic crisis as well, and the EU attaches great importance to Turkey's economic stability. /Cumhuriyet/[07] A NEW INITIATIVE BY THE EU ON RESEARCHESThe European Union (EU) Commission's Directorate General, responsible for all the Commission's research, will announce all new developments to the Turkish public through the 'Star' daily. The Department of Research, a newly established directorate, will deliver all sorts of news on social developments in the EU, statistics, the environment, new technologies, and scientific research, to four Turkish journalists, one of whom is from the 'Star' daily. Chairman of the Research Department, Anna Avilagarad, said this new program was being implemented so all member countries could receive a greater amount of information more rapidly. For this purpose, four institutions were selected from the media and written press of each member country. Among the other newspapers selected from the Turkish press are the Hurriyet, Milliyet and Radikal. /Star/[08] ISMAIL CEM'S VISIT TO USForeign Minister Ismail Cem will meet with Bush administration officials next week in Washington. Cem will meet with US Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. /Milliyet/[09] YILMAZ'S STATEMENT ON THE ABOLISHMENT OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENTMinister of State and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, "We should complete the works to abolish the capital punishment in five years." Meanwhile, Secretary General for the EU, Volkan Vural, said the National Program (NP) would fail unless it is implemented in parallel to the new economic program. Denying allegations that certain political promises in the NP are not clearly defined, Vural said the NP was based on country facts, the goverment's priorities and the Accession Partnership Document. /Cumhuriyet/[10] GROSSMAN'S SUPPORT FOR CYPRUSMark Grossman was appointed as the State Department's Undersecretary of Political Affairs. Grossman said Cyprus, as a whole, should become a full EU member rather than just including the Greek-Cypriot Administration. Grossman said, "A solution to the Cyprus problem is required for full EU membership. This membership is in the interest of both Turkey and Turkish-Cypriots. The future is in full EU membership." /Milliyet/[11] TUNISIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARAOn the eve of his visit to Turkey which will start today, Tunisian President Zeynel Abidin bin Ali, speaking to the Anatolia news agency, said that his visit would be an opportunity to start a new term in Turkish-Tunisian relations. "I hope that my visit will be an opportunity to seek ways to open new terms in the relations between the two countries" he said. /Turkish Daily News/[12] TOUR OF PEACE IN JERUSALEM9th Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, a member of the International Middle East Research Commission, met Israeli President Simon Peres along with other members. Members of the Commission will stay in the region until 25 March and continue to meet with Peres. They had previously visited the region and received reports from the parties involved. Peres met with the delegations and said, "I am against the United Nations (UN) Peace Keeping Force being located in the region. Such a force will not be effective. I prefer to use money, not for creating an imaginary force, which will add anger to anger, but for developing the economy. Commission members then went to Gazze to visit hospitals. Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Commission stated that Israeli soldiers were carrying out extreme violence against Palestinians. /Aksam/DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SECURITY TO BUY 20 HELICOPTERS The Directorate General of Security will buy 20 helicopters and two jet planes from American and English firms during the biddings to be opened in the following months. The police have an air fleet of 23 helicopters in Ankara, Istanbul, Diyarbakir and Adana. A fleet will be established in Samsun, Izmir and Erzincan thanks to this project amounting to 297 million US dollars. The fleet in seven provinces will begin operation in 2002. /Star/ [13] OZKOK ATTENDS EUROPEAN LAND FORCES CONFERENCELand Forces Commander General Hilmi Ozkok attended the European Land Forces Conference held in Heildelberg, Germany. Land Forces Commanders from 30 countries and high ranking officials from Canada and European countries are participating in the two-day meeting. /Turkiye/[14] GENERAL SHUNYAO IN TURKEYChinese Air Forces Commander Liu Shunyao arrived in Ankara yesterday at the invitation of Turkish Air Forces Commander General Ergin Celasin. The Commanders told reporters that these kinds of visits are aimed at improving the current friendship and relationship between the two countries' air forces. /Turkiye/[15] IZGI TO VISIT CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICSParliament Speaker Omer Izgi will visit Central Asian Turkish-Speaking countries on his first visit abroad on March 25-April 6. Izgi, together with a parliamentary delegation, will fly to Uzbekistan at the beginning of next week. /Turkish Daily News/[16] KIVRIKOGLU TRAVELS TO PAKISTANThe Chief of the General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, left for Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, yesterday. During his four-day official visit, Gen. Kivrikoglu will hold a series of meetings with high ranking Pakistani officials. He is scheduled to meet with military leader Gen. Pervez Muserref and President Muhammed Refik Tarar. Reportedly, Gen. Kivrikoglu will also attend the Pakistani National Day celebrations on March 23. /Turkiye/[17] GUNMAN ATTACK TO GENERAL'S CARUnidentified gunmen attacked a military escort guarding Gendarmerie Regional Commander, Maj. Gen. Bekir Ugurlu, Wednesday afternoon. Immediate reports said there were no casualties. Security forces were reported to have launched an immediate investigation into the attack under the lead of Maj. Gen. Ugurlu himself. /Milliyet/[18] "PKK EXTORTS MONEY"An article in the French "Le Figaro" newspaper said PKK terrorists escaped to Northern Iraq, occupied 30 villages, extorted money from villagers and kidnaped young people. It stated that both Kurdish leaders in the region, Celal Talabani and Mesut Barzani, complain about PKK activities. /Hurriyet/[19] DEVLET BAHCELI TO TALK ECONOMICSDeputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli will discuss economics today as part of the preparations for the fourth Economic Congress. Before the meeting, Bahceli will stress the importance of economic congresses and will underline the significance of overcoming the economic crisis. Today's meeting will be the most expanded form of the Economics Congress. It will be held in Izmir June 5-8. The meeting will be of crucial importance to the economy in these extremely difficult times. /Turkish Daily News/[20] PEARSON SUPPORTS DERVISThe US, which supports Turkey's economic program, continues to carry out its good will initiatives. US Ambassador to Turkey, Pearson, invited Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Group Deputy Chairman, Oktay Vural, Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) National Defence Commission Chairman, Hasan Gulay, TGNA Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman, Kamran Inan, North Atlantic Assembly's Chairman to the Turkish Group, Tahir Kose, some military officials and their wives to his home. American officials were also present during the unofficial meeting. It was stated that at the meeting, relations with NATO was the main topic. Dervis was also on the agenda. American officials discussed the reform laws. Meanwhile, the US Embassy's Deputy Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Lawrence R. Silverman, met with coalition party representatives at the TGNA last week. Answering a question about Dervis, Pearson said he completely supported him. /Aksam/[21] DERVIS LOOKS FOR FOREIGN SUPPORTState Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis, begins his tour to secure foreign credits. Dervis will first travel to Germany, then to the US. For state-owned banks and the banks under the funds control, $27 billion is required. Dervis will meet today with the German Finance Minister and explain the economic program. Dervis will try to secure an amount of credit from EU resources. Dervis will later meet with the US Treasury Secretary, the Chairmen of IMF and the World Bank. Dervis will tell the officials that the Turkish government has the political will to take the necessary steps. The IMF Executive Directors will convene April 28 and decide on the nature of the credit to be given to Turkey. It is expected that at least $3 billion of the additional reserve facility will be released for Turkey's use. /Milliyet/[22] FRANCE SUPPORTS ECONOMIC PROGRAMFrench Ambassador to Ankara, Bernard Garcie, said France gives its full support to Kemal Dervis' economic program. Garcie said, "We fully support the IMF, the World Bank and the G-7." Garcie said he believes financial assistance will be given by the IMF. /Milliyet/[23] IMF POLICIES BECOME MORE FLEXIBLEIt was stated that the IMF is planning to make its policies more flexible. According to a statement by IMF officers, the conditions the IMF places on the loans given to countries demanding IMF aid will be made more flexible and easy. This will create more room for the countries to act freely in determining their own national economic program. IMF's new regulations will be relevant for any new credits to be given, however, old regulations will be in effect for old debts. /Cumhuriyet/[24] TUSIAD DELEGATION IN FRANCEThe TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) delegation chaired by Executive Council Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan represented Turkey at a panel organized by the French daily Le Monde. The delegation evaluated political, economic and social issues during the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[25] OKSUZ'S CONCERN OVER TURK TELEKOMMinister of Transportation Enis Oksuz warned the State Minister Responsible for the Economy Kemal Dervis over the sale of 51% of Turk Telekom, saying it was unconstitutional. Minister of State responsible for Privatization, Yuksel Yalova, rejected the Ministry of Transportation's proposal to turn over 33.5% of Turk Telekom to a foreign company. Oksuz stated, "51% of Turk Telekom's shares can be sold if the Constitution is amended. We will evaluate what can be done within the Turkish legal system." /Cumhuriyet/[26] BUSINESSMEN MEET OZKANBusinessmen will discuss the rising credit interest rates with State Minister Husamettin Ozkan. They will submit a plan for loan repayments on March 30. The plan will involve a reasonable reduction in the rates. The Heads of the Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Association(TOBB), Istanbul Chamber of Industry(ISO), Aegean Chamber of Industry(EBSO), Izmir Chamber of Trade(IZTO), Istanbul Chamber of Trade(ITO), Ankara Chamber of Industry(ASO) and Ankara Chamber of Trade(ATO) will participate in the meeting with Ozkan. /Milliyet/[27] TISK SUPPORTS IMF-BACKED FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTThe Turkish Employees Unions Confederation (TISK) declared its support for the government's IMF-backed framework agreement. Demanding the program focus on the unemployment issue, TISK suggested flexible employment. TISK said the state must ensure internal coordination in order to maintain political stability. The main strategy of the stability program should be to increase the nation's competitive power. The prerequisites of economic stability are political stability and social consensus." /Cumhuriyet/[28] EXPORTERS ASK LOANA delegation from the Turkish Exporters Assembly met with Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral, and State Minister Tunca Toskay. The delegation, headed by Okan Oguz, expressed the issues faced by exporters and their urgent loan requirements from Eximbank. Oguz said, "Exporters expect $450-million loan in total from Eximbank. They should grant it soon so exporters can benefit from the advantages of devaluation." /Turkiye/[29] ARIA BEGINS TO OPERATEThe Italian mobile phone company, Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), and the Turkish Is Bank partnership, Is-Tim's mobile phone network, Aria, began operating yesterday. Aria created GSM 1800 networks in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Aria is planning to incorporate 50% of the Turkish population in the next two years, and 90% of the population in five years into its coverage area. The first conversation using the Aria network was between Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, and Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit. /Aksam/[30] THREE OFFERS FOR DEMIRBANKFor the sale of Demirbank, which is under the control of the Deposit Insurance Fund (MSF) since November, the offers were made by Aydin Dogan Consortium, Uni Credit Italiano Spa. and HSBC(Hong Kong-Sangai Bank). The Banking Regulation and Supervision Board(BDDK) will negotiate with each group over its offer. The results will be evaluated within a month-period and the BDDK will sell the bank to the group which gives the most appropriate offer. /Milliyet/[31] TURKEY'S LARGEST VIRTUAL LIBRARYBilkent University has formed Turkey's largest virtual library. The virtual library allows users to conduct research among its one hundred thousand books. Users can search Bilkent University Library Information (BLISS) on the Internet without paying any fee. /Cumhuriyet/[32] IOC IN ISTANBULThe International Olympic Committee (IOC), consisting of 16 experts, began to make observations in Istanbul, a candidate city for the 2008 Olympics. A briefing held yesterday was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and the Chairman of the Turkish National Olympic Committee Sinan Erdem. Later, the IOC delegation later visited sports facilities. /Cumhuriyet/[33] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[34] TURKS DESERVE TO HOST THE OLYMPICS BY ILNUR CEVIK (TURKISH DAILY NEWS)"Hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games may well be the much sought catalyst to hasten the speed of our democratization and reformation drive which will put us among the civilized parliamentary democracies of our age...Many feel the prospective membership to the European Union has been an incentive for the Turks to push for improvement in the quality of democracy in Turkey as well as improvements in human rights and respect for basic freedoms. It has also highlighted the urgency of serious economic, political and social changes. The Olympics will no doubt have a similar affect on Turks. It will add to the urgency for serious improvements in Turkey and thus give help to an important cause. We all know the Olympics are no longer just sporting events. They create new prospects for the host countries beyond sports propaganda. So Turks are ready for the challenge. We see that our sports facilities are already flourishing. We have proven our organizational capabilities by hosting important international events in Istanbul. We are also doing our best to improve transportation and communications facilities in Istanbul as well as throughout Turkey... Turkey is full of innovative and dynamic people who believe in high ideals which are represented by the Olympics. The Olympics will be a golden present for all those who want progress and reformation in Turkey. It will boost the cause of democracy and the true democrats." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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