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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-23
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
23.05.2001
CONTENTS
[01] PRESIDENT SEZER APPROVES TURK TELEKOM BILL
[02] CEM WARNS THE EU ABOUT CYPRUS ISSUE
[03] ISMAIL CEM SUPPORTS THE REPORT OF TURKISH
INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN ASSOCIATION (TUSIAD)
[04] ANKARA WARNS BOTH PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
[05] YALOVA: "RUSSIA IS AN INDISPENSIBLE
PARTNER"
[06] DENKTAS: "ECHR DECISION IS POLITICAL"
[07] BELGIUM SUPPORTS TERRORISTS
[08] NEW LIST OF TURKISH AMBASSADORS BECOMES CERTAIN
[09] GERMAN AMBASSADOR TOURS EASTERN ANATOLIA
[10] TURAN GENC RETURNS FROM ROMANIA
[11] US PROPOSES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CONTROL BORDER
TRADE WITH IRAQ
[12] AL-SABBAH TO VISIT ANKARA
[13] ECONOMY BUREAUCRATS TO MEET FINANCIAL CIRCLES
[14] MOTION FOR INVESTIGATION AGAINST ERSUMER OVERRULED
[15] TUSIAD'S INVITATION TO ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN
[16] TURKEY TO SELL NATURAL GAS TO REPUBLIC OF CZECH
[17] INTEL: "TURKEY WILL WEATHER CRISIS AFTER
SEPTEMBER"
[18] EU-TURKEY CONFERENCE
[19] KOC'S BOOKINTURKEY WEB SITE
[20] AWARD TO PROF. SAYLAN
[21] "MAN OF THE YEAR": ARIF MARDIN
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[23] IS THIS A POLITICAL GESTURE ? BY ILNUR CEVIK
(TURKISH DAILY NEWS)
[01] PRESIDENT SEZER APPROVES TURK TELEKOM BILL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has ratified the bill
envisaging the privatization of 99.9 % of Turk Telekom, which received
opposition based on the allegations that it is against the
Constitution. The opposition alleges that the Telekom bill violates
both the Constitution and the Constitutional Court decision. The
enactment of the Telekom Law is one of the most important
prerequisites which IMF put as a condition for approving Turkey's
letter of intent and loan to be given to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] CEM WARNS THE EU ABOUT CYPRUS ISSUE
Stating the main target for the Cyprus issue is to
reach a solution which can be mutually accepted, Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem said, "If the Greek Cypriot Administration is accepted
to the EU as the representative of the whole island, this would cause
a serious crisis." Visiting the Economic Development Foundation
yesterday, Cem said they wanted to reach a solution in favor of both
sides. Both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey
are doing their utmost to reach such a solution." Meanwhile,
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said at his meeting with the
US officials that they wanted to see the Greek Cypriot Administration
as an EU member. He emphasized that if the Greek Cypriots were
successful in meeting the necessary criteria to become a full EU
member, their membership should be approved. /Hurriyet/
[03] ISMAIL CEM SUPPORTS THE REPORT OF TURKISH
INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN ASSOCIATION (TUSIAD)
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem viewed TUSIAD's report
on democratization including demands from the government as positive.
Cem visited Economic Development Foundation(IKV) yesterday and
answered the questions of the press members. Cem stressed that steps
towards democratization and freedom of expression should be
immediately taken by the end of the legislation year. Cem said,
"We have one and half month left and we should use this time
effectively, otherwise it may be too late for something." Cem
said the Copenhagen criteria are not difficult to meet and constitute
the principles we have been discussing about for 20-25 years. "In
order to start the negotiations for the full EU membership, we do not
have to fully meet all criteria, rather we should make understand the
EU that we are serious in this process and eager to implement
reforms." Cem said the European Bank of Investment will extend a
loan totaling 450 million Euros from its Special Action Fund.
/Hurriyet/
[04] ANKARA WARNS BOTH PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
Turkey has warned both Turkey and Israel because of
the increasing violent incidents in the Middle East. Stating the
parties were gradually becoming remote from the peace process, Turkey
warned both sides that the incidents could become widespread in the
region unless the violence is ended immediately. A statement by the
Foreign Ministry said, "It is not possible to deem the terrorism
excusable. On the other hand, it is not also acceptable to approve the
Israeli government's response to these sporadic terrorist incidents by
bombing the civilian targets. Turkey regards such retaliations as
extreme power uses and believes they adversely affect the conditions
in the region, at the same time, causing the violent incidents to
mount." /Cumhuriyet/
[05] YALOVA: "RUSSIA IS AN INDISPENSIBLE
PARTNER"
State Minister Yuksel Yalova said cooperation but
not competition comes first in Turco-Russian relations. Delivering a
speeching at a seminar, titled, "Daily Problems in Turkey's and
Russia's Economy Politics" in Moscow, Yalova said Russia is an
important market for Turkey. Stressing the trade volume between the
two countries is $4.5 billion, he said Turkish investments in Russia
amount to over half billion US dollars. Yalova also emphasized Turkey
aims at being the 10th largest economy in the world in the next ten
years. /Turkiye/
[06] DENKTAS: "ECHR DECISION IS POLITICAL"
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President, Rauf Denktas, pointed out Turkish side will not take a
backward step on the Cyprus issue. In a television program, Denktas
said the European Court of Human Rights decision against Turkey is
political. Underlying that the Cyprus issue could not be solved with
courts' decisions, he said, a settlement can only be reached by taking
the current realities of the two sides into consideration. Stressing
he does not expect an improvement on Cyprus issue until September,
Denktas said, "Diplomatic games wanted to be played again. We do
not want games but acceptance of the realities. As De Gaulle said, for
a unification, first the current separation should be accepted."
/Turkiye/
[07] BELGIUM SUPPORTS TERRORISTS
The DHKP-C terrorist organization organized a press
conference in International Press Center in Brussels. In addition to
relatives of the prisoners in Turkey, Belgian parliamentarians
attended the meeting. Following the meeting, conservative
parliamentarian Karel Van Hoorebeke, said, "We are against human
rights violations in Turkey. Belgian parliamentarians are trying to
put pressure on Turkey. Human rights violations cannot be acceptable
in an EU candidate country." /Turkiye/
[08] NEW LIST OF TURKISH AMBASSADORS BECOMES CERTAIN
The long awaited list of ambassadors has been
finalized and received a preapproval from President Sezer last
weekend. The list will be confirmed after the related countries
approve the appointments. Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu will be
appointed as the Turkish Ambassador to the United States. The present
ambassador, Baki Ilkin, will be recalled to Ankara. /Turkish News/
[09] GERMAN AMBASSADOR TOURS EASTERN ANATOLIA
German Ambassador Rudolph Schmidt's excursion to
eastern Turkish cities and towns to oversee progress on German-Turkish
joint projects has ended. He visited a host of cities and towns during
his one-week trip, including Trabzon, Gumushane, Siran, Bayburt, Kars,
Uzundere, Mus and Erzurum, where he inspected German-Turkish joint
projects, and also toured a number of historical sites. "The
Turkish-German Cooperation Program is the way Germany expresses its
support for Turkey as it readies itself for European Union
membership," he stated. /Turkish News/
[10] TURAN GENC RETURNS FROM ROMANIA
Security Director General Turan Genc returned to
Turkey on Tuesday from Romania, where he attended an international
meeting on "illegal immigration." Speaking to reporters at
Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Genc said that there were gangs who were
organising illegal immigrations, and that many countries, disturbed by
the illegal immigrations were waging a joint struggle against the
menace. "The participants of the meeting took up possible means
of overcoming this serious problem, and reached full accord over the
necessity of international cooperation against illegal
immigration", said Genc. He added, "Until today, about
100,000 illegal immigrants have been seized in Turkey while attempting
to cross to Europe from Eastern or African countries." /Turkish
News/
[11] US PROPOSES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CONTROL BORDER
TRADE WITH IRAQ
The United States proposed to extend special
financial assistance to Turkey and Jordan if they prevent diesel oil
smuggling and allow the controls of the border trade. The United
States and Britain presented this proposal to the UN Security Council.
The proposal includes to liberalize civil trade and to prevent diesel
oil smuggling and sales of military equipment. "Smart
sanctions" will be implemented by preventing smuggling on the
borders of neighboring states. /Milliyet/
[12] AL-SABBAH TO VISIT ANKARA
In order to convey a message from Kuwaiti Amr to
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, former Oil Minister Saud Nasir Al-Sabbah
will visit Ankara on Wednesday. In a written statement from the
Kuwaiti Embassy, it was declared that the mission headed by Al-Sabbah
was aimed at boosting solidarity between the two countries and to
confirm the goodwill of the State of Kuwait towards Turkey, for
Turkey's determination against the anti-Kuwaiti policies of the Iraqi
government. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] ECONOMY BUREAUCRATS TO MEET FINANCIAL CIRCLES
High-ranking officials of the Central Bank and the
Treasury will visit Germany, the United States and Japan to discuss
foreign debt repayments, new loans and bond offer with international
financial circles. Officials will first meet with the representatives
ofDeutsche Bank to discuss the foreign liabilities of private sector
and syndication credits. /Milliyet/
[14] MOTION FOR INVESTIGATION AGAINST ERSUMER OVERRULED
Parliament overruled on Tuesday night a motion
demanding a parliamentary investigation against former Energy Minister
Cumhur Ersumer on charges of corruption. The motion was presented by
the opposition Virtue Party. /Milliyet/
"DERVIS PUTS TURKISH ECONOMY ON TRACK IN 18
MONTHS"
American finance newspaper "The Wall Street
Journal" evaluated Turkish economy in an article. In an
interview, World Bank's Representative in Turkey Ajay Chhibber said
that State Minister Kemal Dervis could put Turkish economy on track in
18 months. The article pointed out Dervis and his team has tried hard
up to now. However, it said the reforms are under threat of certain
political, economic and social powers. /Turkiye/
WORLD BANK TO EXTEND $3.2 BILLION
The World Bank will extend to Turkey $6.2 billion
in total in three years. The $3.2-billion loan is expected to be given
this year. The maturity date of the loan will be 10-17 years and
interest rate about libor plus two points. Meanwhile, in the scope of
three year program, Turkey will receive $ 25.2 billion loan in total,
$19 billion from IMF and $6.2 billion from the World Bank. /Turkiye/
TOSKAY: "$1 BILLION NEEDED FOR EXPORTS"
State Minister Tunca Toskay said a $1-billion
financial source is required to meet the exporters' demands and to
finance the exports. Replying to questions posed by journalists at the
opening of the Turkish-Czech Joint Economy Commission 2nd term
meetings Toskay said, the economic program foresees the financing of
the exports from sources in and out of budget. Pointing out TL300
trillion is allocated for exports in the budget, the Minister said to
realize the program and implement foreign commitments they need a
$1-billion financial source. /Turkiye/
[15] TUSIAD'S INVITATION TO ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association (TUSIAD) sent a invitation letter to Armenian Union of
Businessmen and Industrialists to contribute to the works trying to
develop bilateral relations. TUSIAD officials have confirmed that they
sent a letter to Armenia and said they has not received a response
yet. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] TURKEY TO SELL NATURAL GAS TO REPUBLIC OF CZECH
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Zeki Cakan
stated Republic of Czech demands to purchase natural gas from Turkey.
Meanwhile Turkey is planing to increase her purchase of natural gas
from east and west with new agreements in order to meet the increasing
demand for the natural gas. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] INTEL: "TURKEY WILL WEATHER CRISIS AFTER
SEPTEMBER"
Intel's Director of Eastern Europe, Middle East and
Africa Juergen Thiel said, "Turkey is very important to us.
Turkish economy will absolutely recover by September." Stating
Intel is supporting its Turkish customers in the economic recession
period, Thiel said, "Turkey has a great potential in terms of
qualified personnel." /Hurriyet/
THK'S INONU FLIGHT FACILITY 2ND BIGGEST IN THE WORLD
The Turkish Aviation Flight Training Facility
director, retired Col. Cenan Bilgili, said that the facility was the
second biggest flight training center in the world after Russia's. The
facility was put into operation in 1936 on a 1,250 hectare field, and
includes 360-bed dormitory, 400-person restaurant, 621 official
houses, a swimming pool, parking zones and aircraft hangars. /Turkish
News/
TREASURY SELLS TL 2.16 QLN OF BILLS AT 72-75 PCT
YIELDS
The Treasury Undersecretariat on Tuesday sold a net
TL 2.16 quadrillion of six-month and 10-month bill before today's TL
3.38 quadrillion domestic debt servicing. The maximum yields for the
six-month bills stood at 75 percent and for the 10-moth bills, 72.37
percent. /Turkish News/
[18] EU-TURKEY CONFERENCE
Germany's Former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister Dr. Hans Dietrich Genscher will give a conference in June in
Istanbul, the theme of which will be "Turkey and the European
Union". Genscher will evaluate EU views on Turkey and answer the
questions of the participants during the conference. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] KOC'S BOOKINTURKEY WEB SITE
Koc Holding Group opened a web private life and
travel web site named "BookinTurkey". The web site includes
information about various hotels, features of the regions, a map for
Istanbul hotels, essays on touristic facilities and information about
restaurants. It is also possible to reserve tickets online for
concerts and sports matches. /Cumhuriyet/
[20] AWARD TO PROF. SAYLAN
American Ataturk Association presented the
"Ataturk Education and Modernization Award" to Prof. Turkan
Saylan, the award titled "Ataturk is Our Guide in Science"
to Prof. Behram Kursunoglu and "Ataturk Secularism and Democracy
Award" to Orhan Tarhan. A ceremony will be held on May 25 in
Turkish Consulate-General in Washington. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] "MAN OF THE YEAR": ARIF MARDIN
Turkish music producer Arif Mardin was elected as
the "Man of the Year" by New York University
"Nordoff-Robbins" Music Foundation. /Hurriyet/
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[23] IS THIS A POLITICAL GESTURE ? BY ILNUR CEVIK
(TURKISH DAILY NEWS)
Columnist Ilnur Cevik writes on the recent attempts
towards sticking a political label on Minister of State Kemal Dervis.
A summary of his article as follows: "For days Kemal Dervis and
his elegant wife have been the front page stories in mass circulation
Turkish dailies. It is clear that there are quite a few people who
want Dervis to get involved in politics... What they are doing at the
moment is a disservice to Dervis and the country. Dervis is here with
a mission. To put out the fire and bring the country out of a serious
crisis and then lead it to recovery... Just because the IMF and the
World Bnak have provided bail out money for Turkey, just because we
managed to announce an austerity program while the stock market
recovered some of the lost ground, just because the lira has started
to stabilise against foreign currencies after a huge devaluation and
just because the government has managed to strike a pay deal with
workers employed by the state does not mean we have solved everything
and we are back on track for recovery. Those who think Dervis is on a
political campaign trail are seriously mistaken. Dervis is going to
places in Anatolia which are the heart and soul of our industry. He
will have a first hand impression of the huge problems that have
halted production in Turkey... So at the end of the day Dervis will
get a flavor of the depth of the problem in Turkey and what the
ordinary Anatolian people have to face...Then he will be able to make
much healthier assessments and draw better conclusions. Let's leave
Dervis alone to do the good work. Stop pestering him and his wife
trying to get a feel of the country and its people...If we push him
too hard to try to stick a political label on him, we may all end up
the losers."
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