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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-05
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
05.04.2001
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER IN HOLLAND
[02] SEZER SUPPORTS DERVIS
[03] ECEVIT: "WE SHALL OVERCOME THE CRISIS"
[04] IZGI ADDRESSES TURKMENISTAN PARLIAMENT
[05] AEGEAN ISSUE, THE EU AND THE BALKANS ON THE AGENDA OF
PAPANDREOU'S VISIT
[06] SIMITIS: "WE CAN BE IN COOPERATION"
[07] TURKEY CONCERNED OVER THE CYPRUS ISSUE
[08] CEM: "WE SHOULD SWEEP MINES IN THE BORDERS"
[09] 'TURKISH ARMY DOES NOT ARM ITSELF AGAINST US'
[10] 'TURKEY IS IMPORTANT FOR EUROPEAN DEFENSE'
[11] DERVIS SEEKS SUPPORT FROM WORKERS CONFEDERATIONS
[12] HOPES ARE WITH EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM
[13] WORLD BANK DEPUTY CHAIRMAN LINN IN TURKEY
[14] CHHIBBER: "TAKE GALATASARAY AS AN EXAMPLE"
[15] US PRESIDENT BUSH IN
[16] TURKISH SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU VURAL'S STATEMENT
ON ECONOMIC CRISIS
[17] "SUGAR BILL" ADOPTED
[18] BAHCELI'S STATEMENT
[19] SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT
[20] ANOTHER GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN HOLLAND
[21] PKK MILITANTS SENTENCED
[22] ISRAEL SUPPORTS TURKEY
[23] NAVAL DEAD HONORED IN COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES
[24] FIGHTER PLANS FOR HIRE
[25] TURKEY SAYS BOSPHORUS SHIPPING BOTTLENECK WORSENS
[26] KILICOGLU: THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE EXIMBANKS' UNION
[27] BILKENT STUDENTS REPRESENT GREECE AT CONFERENCE
[28] TOURIST BOOM FORCES HOTELS TO HALT RESERVATIONS
[29] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[30] FATHERS, SONS AND OPPORTUNITY BY ALI SIRMEN
(CUMHURIYET)
[01] SEZER IN HOLLAND
Prime Minister Ahmet Necdet Sezer, continuing his
contacts in Holland, attended a lunch given in his honor by Prime
Minister Wim Kok. During the lunch, at which Queen Beatrix was also
present, the success of Galatasaray was discussed. Kok, said, "I
appreciate the steps Turkey has taken to become a member of the
European Union (EU). Turkey can be an important player in the EU
league, just as Galatasaray is a successful team in the Champions
League. Kok praised Sezer for his determination to increase democracy,
the rule of law, and the struggle against corruption. During Sezer's
meeting with Netherlands' Prime Minister Wim Kok and the Head of the
Senate, Korthals Altes, Altes said, "We are observing the
economic conditions of Turkey with great concern. Turkey will overcome
this crisis with assistance from the West." /Milliyet-Aksam/
[02] SEZER SUPPORTS DERVIS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer gave his political
support to Kemal Dervis. Sezer said he spoke with Dervis and received
information about Dervis' contacts in the US. Sezer said "Both I
and the government support Dervis. The important thing now is the
announcement of the economic program." /Milliyet/
[03] ECEVIT: "WE SHALL OVERCOME THE CRISIS"
Delivering a speech at the Democratic Left Party
(DSP) group meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "I
believe we shall overcome the crisis. The economy will recover. This
is not an irreparable crisis." Stating last week Turkey had
experienced some important and positive developments, Ecevit relayed
information about the National Security Council (MGK) declaration, and
the meetings of the High Planning Board and Economic and Social
Council. Adding the Turkish economy yielded positive outcome until
December 2000, demonstrating its great potential, Ecevit said,
"However, the recent crisis has shown the Turkish economy also
had certain important deficiencies. We must now remove these
deficiencies all together." He added the most urgent problem was
finding new financial resources. Ecevit said, "How can we close
the gap between the salaries and living standards of different social
groups? How can we provide the domestic resources needed for an
economic recovery. We will deal with these issues in the following
weeks. This is a tough period. We have to remember what we have
managed and what our successes were before the crisis, and not lose
our self-confidence or be pessimistic." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] IZGI ADDRESSES TURKMENISTAN PARLIAMENT
Parliament Speaker, Omer Izgi, visiting
Turkmenistan on the last stop of his 13-day visit to Central Asian
Countries, was received by Turkmenistan Head of State, Saparmurat
Turkmenbasi, yesterday. During the meeting, Turkmenbasi said there are
no political or economic problems between the two countries. Izgi also
addressed the Turkmen Parliament. Stating Turkmenistan has made very
important developments in the last two years, Izgi said Turkish
businessmen have made important investments in Turkmenistan. /Turkiye/
[05] AEGEAN ISSUE, THE EU AND THE BALKANS ON THE AGENDA OF
PAPANDREOU'S VISIT
The recent rapprochement period between Turkey and
Greece is continuing. Meeting in Ankara, Turkish and Greek political
directors tried to determine the topics to be discussed during Greek
Foreign Minister George Papandreou's visit. Among issues to be
discussed during Papandreou's visit to Turkey are confidence building
measures in the Aegean region, Turco-EU relations and the Balkans
issue. Turkey and Greece are seeking common areas for confidence
building measures package. Papandreou is expecting to discuss the
recent developments after the National Programme's declaration.
Papandreou will also look at the progress made by group established to
share Greece's experience concerning the EU membership with Turkish
officials. Additionally, incidents along the border of
Macedonia-Kosovo will be discussed. Deputy Spokesman for the Foreign
Ministry, Huseyin Dirioz, said prior to Papandreou's visit,
"Reducing military purchases is a matter which must be discussed
by the military authorities. Turkey's geopolitical conditions are
different from those of Greece." Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister
Kostas Simitis said Turkey and Greece could cooperate in
demilitarization and in reducing military expenditures. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] SIMITIS: "WE CAN BE IN COOPERATION"
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said Greece
could cooperate with Turkey to bilaterally decrease armament
expenditures. After meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Cincic,
Simitis held a press conference. Simitis said the cooperation might be
based on decreasing the amount spent on armaments. Turco-Greek
Monitoring Committee, discussed confidence building measures and the
issue of double taxation. /Aksam/
[07] TURKEY CONCERNED OVER THE CYPRUS ISSUE
Turkey is concerned over recent promises made by
the EU about the Greek Cypriot Administration's full EU membership.
Stating the Greek Cypriot administration is a big obstacle to Turco-EU
relations, a high level Turkish diplomat said Greek Cypriot
Administration would probably be an EU member by 2003. He added,
"This issue may cause big problems for Turkey's membership."
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] CEM: "WE SHOULD SWEEP MINES IN THE BORDERS"
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, "Greece has
put forth the issue of mine sweeping along Turkish-Greek borders in
its parliament. We should also debate this issue in our
Parliament." /Hurriyet/
[09] 'TURKISH ARMY DOES NOT ARM ITSELF AGAINST US'
Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatsopoulos said,
"The question of balancing defense expenditures between Greece
and Turkey is being discussed on unequal footing. Balance is achieved
between similar powers having equal means. Turkey considers Greece a
small regional problem. With 600,000 soldiers, Turkey needs to arm
itself against Iran, Iraq and Syria. In this context, there cannot be
an arms balance between Turkey and Greece." /Hurriyet/
[10] 'TURKEY IS IMPORTANT FOR EUROPEAN DEFENSE'
Acting NATO President Murat Sokmenoglu issued a
statement on the alliance's 52nd anniversary saying Turkey has proved
its importance for the security and stability in Europe, Anatolian
Agency reported yesterday. In the second half of the 20th century,
NATO took on an important and effective role to increase its members'
security and defense, he added. He said NATO was still in charge today
of the Europe-Atlantic region's security, and had entered the new
century as a military and economic power. He stressed the Kosovo KFOR
operation proved the NATO countries would never allow human tragedies
to threaten stability and security in the area. /Turkish News/
DERVIS: "US DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE 1,100,000TL IN
APRIL"
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said
the US dollar exchange rate should be 1,100,000TL by the end of April
to represent the real economic balance. Dervis said an amount greater
than this would lead to another crisis, adding the current rate does
not represent the real conditions. Dervis said, "The government
announced the Central Bank will not be able to keep constant a
specific exchange rate. Right now, there is no specific currency rate
target." /Milliyet/
[11] DERVIS SEEKS SUPPORT FROM WORKERS CONFEDERATIONS
Stating the new economic program would be declared
as soon as possible, Economics Minister Kemal Dervis demanded support
from the workers confederations. The confederations said the new
program must include solutions to the laborers' problems. Dervis met
with representatives from the workers confederations yesterday.
Turk-Is Chairman Bayram Meral, DISK Secretary General Murat Tokmak and
Hak-Is Secretary General Recai Baskan attended the meeting. Replying
to questions by reporters after the meeting, Meral argued the recent
price increases has made the poor poorer, and the rich richer. Meral
said they conveyed the problems of the laborers to Dervis.
/Cumhuriyet/
[12] HOPES ARE WITH EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM
Treasury and Central Bank officials said a European
Consortium will be established under Germany's lead to provide some
portion of the $10-12 billion urgent foreign funds urgently needed by
Turkey to recover from the economic crisis. Head of the IMF, Horst
Koehler, a German, is said to have met with German banks and the
Treasury Ministry directly to discuss Turkey's situation. /Milliyet/
[13] WORLD BANK DEPUTY CHAIRMAN LINN IN TURKEY
Johannes Linn, a deputy Chairmen of the World Bank,
arrived in Turkey yesterday for contacts. Linn said he would take up
possible ways for the World Bank to contribute the new economic
program with Economics Minister. Linn added he would hold meetings
concerning the restructuring of the banking sector. Linn is expected
to leave Turkey April 6. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] CHHIBBER: "TAKE GALATASARAY AS AN EXAMPLE"
The World Bank's Director for Turkey, Ajay
Chhibber, used Galatasaray's success against Real Madrid in a soccer
game Tuesday evening, as an example for Turkey to find a solution to
the economic crisis. Speaking at a panel titled "Crisis and Small
and Middle Scaled Enterprises", Mr. Chhibber expressed his views
over the recent economic crisis in Turkey. Stressing a serious
restructuring in the banking sector and state finances is necessary,
Chhibber said, "Otherwise, the problem may continue."
Chhibber added, "How will the economy will be stabilized in the
short term? How will the Turkish economy be healed? Galatasaray shows
the answer. They were down 2-0, however, they did not give up and
continued to struggle. Acting together, they scored three goals. I
believe Turkey can overcome the crisis the same way." /Turkiye/
[15] US PRESIDENT BUSH IN
Former US President George Bush arrived in Turkey
yesterday at the invitation of Koc Holding. Mr. Bush, a member of the
Carlyle Group Executive Board, attended a dinner hosted by Rahmi Koc.
Carlyle Group and Koc Holding agreed to invest to interfirm-trade on
the Internet. /Star/
[16] TURKISH SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU VURAL'S STATEMENT
ON ECONOMIC CRISIS
Turkish Secretary General for the EU, Volkan Vural,
said the National Programme would be very important for the economic
recovery. Vural said implementing the National Programme and the new
economic program jointly was very important. Realizing many IMF
programs were unsuccessful thus far in different countries, Vural said
because the IMF's program did not include structural reforms. Vural
emphasized the structural reforms demanded by Economics Minister Kemal
Dervis to be immediately enacted were also included in the Economy
Chapter of the National Programme. Vural stated, "The National
Programme foresees great economic transformations, the new economic
program and National Programme complement each other." Stating
the Economy Chapter of the National Programme was rewritten jointly
with Treasury officials after the crisis, Vural said he has met twice
with Dervis to discuss the issue. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] "SUGAR BILL" ADOPTED
The Sugar Bill, 15 bills up for passage needed to
obtain foreign currency, was adopted yesterday in the Turkish Grand
National Assembly despite objections by the opposition parties. The
law foresees the privatization of 27 state owned sugar factories which
are far from efficient. Additionally, the price of sugar will be set
by the market, a "Sugar Council" will be formed, and a quota
system will be established in sugar production and marketing to
harmonize with the EU. /Star/
[18] BAHCELI'S STATEMENT
Alparslan Turkes, founder and leader for thirty
years of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), was commemorated on the
fourth anniversary of his death. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli visited
Turkes' grave, pointing out the crisis could be overcome with
reconciliation, solidarity and cooperation. State Ministers Abdulhaluk
Cay, Faruk Bal and Suayip Usenmez, Minister of Health, Osman Durmus,
and Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, also visited Turkes'
gravesite. /Aksam/
[19] SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN GERMAN PARLIAMENT
The so-called Armenian genocide will be debated in
the German Parliament in May, despite numerous statements by the
Socialist Democratic Party (SPD) and Democratic/Christian Social Unity
Parties(CDU/CSU) saying the issue should be left for historians to
study. The Parliamentary commission debated the application of the
Armenian Associations and unanimously decided to send it for
consideration to the Federal Parliament. /Hurriyet/
[20] ANOTHER GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN HOLLAND
The Dutch Supreme Court decided a so-called
Armenian genocide monument could be erected in the country on the
application by a group of Armenians. The decision's timing should be
noted as President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is on an official visit to
Holland. /Turkiye/
[21] PKK MILITANTS SENTENCED
Four PKK militants, convicted of killing two
militants who had left the organization, were sentenced to various
prison terms. The decision was made by the Bremen State Court.
/Cumhuriyet/
[22] ISRAEL SUPPORTS TURKEY
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,
Shimon Peres, will arrive in Turkey April 10. Peres has requested an
appointment from the Minister of State Responsible for Economics,
Kemal Dervis, via the Israeli Ambassador in Ankara, Uri Bar-Ner. It
was stated Peres sent a message to Dervis saying Israel had always
supported Turkey during hard times. Israeli resources stated Peres
might send a group of experts to Turkey which could benefit from their
experiences and suggestions. He added they might also suggest various
models to help the Turkish economy recover. Peres is a politician who
managed to reduce a 400 % inflation rate to 1 % during his term in
Israel. /Cumhuriyet/
[23] NAVAL DEAD HONORED IN COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES
Commemoration ceremonies were held Wednesday in
various towns and cities in honor of those who gave their lives while
serving in the Navy. Ceremonies were held in Golcuk, Izmir,
Iskenderun, Canakkale and Eregli with the participation of various
military officials. During the ceremonies, participants laid wreaths
at monuments commemorating dead sailors, observed a minute's silence
in respect of the fallen, and sang the National Anthem. Military
officials then delivered speeches in praise of the brave sailors who
sacrificed their lives while defending their country. President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer, issued a message on the occasion, saying, "The
Turkish Armed Forces, the immortal symbol of Turkish patriotism,
national unity, and independence, is one of the biggest and most
successful military forces in the world. The Navy, a part of this
honorable force, has played a very important role in defense of the
country." /Turkish News/
[24] FIGHTER PLANS FOR HIRE
Turkish Land Forces announced on its web site that
it will rent out its vehicles to Turks and foreigners in urgent
situations. The rental price for Turkish Land Forces helicopters and
aircraft can be found at the following internet address:
www.kkk.tsk.mil.tr. Land Forces Command says the practice has nothing
to do with the current economic crisis. "The practice has been on
our books for many years now," said one commander. "This is
just the first time we have put it on the web. We hoped to reach a
broader audience." The aircraft available for hire are: B-200,
T-41, T-42A, C-241 and helicopters AB-204, AB-205,UH-1H and H-300
models. /Turkish Daily News/
[25] TURKEY SAYS BOSPHORUS SHIPPING BOTTLENECK WORSENS
Tuesday Turkey warned that waiting times for ships
passing through Istanbul's congested Bosphorus strait would be
radically increased by new shipments of Kazakh oil from southern
Russia. A Kazakh-Russian oil pipeline was opened last week, and this
year is expected to carry an average of 800,000 barrels per day (bpd)
to the Russian seaport terminal of Novorossisk. The only sea route out
of the Black Sea for the pipeline is through the Bosphorus. "The
people of Istanbul are seriously concerned about the possibility of a
major accident in the Istanbul Straits," Turkey's Minister for
Maritime Affairs Ramazan Mirzaoglu said "Kazak oil passing
through the Straits will increase waiting time sharply." Turkey
will stand by the 1936 Montreux treaty granting free passage during
peace time through the narrow, winding 16-mile (26-km) strait, one the
world's busiest. /Turkish Daily News/
[26] KILICOGLU: THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE EXIMBANKS' UNION
The annual meeting of the Union of International
Export Credit and Investment Insurance Institutions(Union of
Eximbanks) was held in Madrid March 26-30. The Director of Turkish
Eximbank, Ahmet Kilicoglu, was elected the new Union chairman.
/Milliyet/
[27] BILKENT STUDENTS REPRESENT GREECE AT CONFERENCE
As part of the 10th Annual World Model United
Nations Conference, in which 750 students and 54 universities took
part, Bilkent University's student delegation represented Greece at
the conference and was honored with "Best Delegation."
Turkish universities such as Bilkent, Koc, Bogazici, Galatasaray, and
Istanbul have attended this conference in the past representing
various countries. During the conference, delegations discussed
several world events such as disarmament, health problems and NATO's
future role. Onur Isci and Ozum Saydam of the Bilkent delegation were
invited as honored guests to the European Union Young Parliamentarians
Assembly, which will be held in April. Meanwhile, the Greek Ambassador
to Turkey, Ioannis Corantis, congratulated the Bilkent delegation for
their success at the conference. /Turkish News/
[28] TOURIST BOOM FORCES HOTELS TO HALT RESERVATIONS
The booming demand for Turkish holiday resorts has
triggered a "double booking" problem in many hotels, Antalya
City Council Tourism Commission Chairman Turgay Alp said. Alp told
reporters hotel owners had announced a greater number of beds were
available than the actual capacity to attract more tourists. Due to a
boom in the demand for Turkish resorts, hotel operators have reached
the point of having to refuse reservations, so as to avoid double
booking. /Turkish News/
[29] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[30] FATHERS, SONS AND OPPORTUNITY BY ALI SIRMEN
(CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Ali Sirmen writes on the improvement seen
in Turco-Greek relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Greek Foreign Minister coming today on a visit to Turkey is the
youngest member of a family which has been in politics for three
generations. Grandfather George Papandreou was Prime Minister during
the turbulent times before Greece passed to a democracy. He was
constantly in trouble with either the monarchy or the Greek army. In
1967, he was toppled by a military coup carried out by "the
Colonels'" junta. His son, Andreas Papandreou was a complex,
charismatic leader who based his politics on anti-Turkey hostility. In
his book 'Democracy at Gunpoint' Andreas describes how together with
Archbishop Makarios, they prevented the acceptance of the Acheson plan
. If the 'Acheson plan', which Ankara thought acceptable at the time,
had been agreed upon, today the Turkish unit temporarily deployed to
Northern Cyprus would have been withdrawn after its time ran out, and
Cyprus would have become a part of Greece proper. By preventing the
acceptance of this plan, A. Papandreou acted against the interests of
Greece. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, representing the
third generation in his family, is trying to improve relations with
Turkey, contrary to the policies of his father. He and his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem, will be remembered as men who have served
their people by trying to advance the relations between their
countries. Prior to his arrival in Turkey, in an interview with
Turkish journalists in Athens, Papandreou explained the Greek stance
towards Turkey which as being greatly different than before. In short,
Greece seems to have shed her fear of Turkey. Certainly, a view of
Turkey who goes from one crisis to another has been a part of this
change. Another instrumental factor is the desire of Greece to
allocate her financial sources towards economic development rather
than towards armaments. Whatever the reason may be, we are faced with
a positive development. Greece's positive views concerning Turkey's EU
membership is an important development. Greece has announced she was
not going through with the $4.4 billion Eurofighter project, and
called on Turkey to slow down its military expenditures. Turkey,
justly stated her location was different than that of Greece, and she
felt it necessary to continue arming due to policies of her border
countries in the East and Southeast. However, the economic crisis
forces us to take a more moderate stance. On the Cyprus issue, it
would be highly optimistic to expect an important development when
there has been no change in the policies of both sides. This visit
stresses that how beneficial it is for both countries to continue with
their rapprochement policy."
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