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Turkish Press Review, 01-08-02
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
02.08.2001
CONTENTS
[01] YAS MEETING
[02] BUMIN: "WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE
ECHR DECISION ON THE RP CASE"
[03] EL-SHARA INVITES CEM TO DAMASCUS
[04] AMERICAN EMBARGO ON IRAQ HAS A HIGH
COST FOR TURKEY
[05] REPORT: TURKEY MAY LOOK FOR ARMS
SUPPLIERS OTHER THAN US
[06] PENTAGON'S IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO TURKEY
[07] LAVASANI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR MITHAT
BALKAN
[08] RUSSIAN POLICE RAIDS PKK CAMP
[09] ADDITIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SENT TO IMF
[10] WORLD BANK SAYS IT'S TIME TO SHIFT
FOCUS TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
[11] AUTOMATIZATION IN THE CUSTOMS
[12] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR: THE LEADER OF THE
EXPORTS
[13] FEE FOR PASSAGES THROUGH THE STRAITS
[14] QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATE
TO ANAP
[15] FOREX AUCTIONS
[16] MONEY MARKET IS POSITIVE AFTER SECOND
SWAP
[17] TURSAB TO HOLD ECUMENICAL SYMPOSIUM
[18] TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP CONCERT IN
ANCIENT EPHESUS
[19] TRAVELLER MAGAZINE GIVES WIDE COVERAGE
TO ISTANBUL
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[21] WAKE UP, AND SMELL THE COFFEE! BY
GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
[22] THE THIRD BASIC DECISION BY MUSTAFA
BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[23] STOPPING POLITICAL ISLAM BY DERYA
SAZAK (MILLIYET)
[01] YAS MEETING
The Supreme Military Council (YAS)
convened yesterday to discuss future promotions and
retirements in the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
Delivering a speech at the opening of the meeting, Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit informed the members of the
Council about the current situation of the economic
crisis, reminding that the TSK put off certain military
projects due to the economic crisis even before it was
requested by the government. Ecevit said this attitude
of the military was very important for Turkey and the
government. Stating that YAS was so very important in
the structure of the TSK. Ecevit said, "TSK is
aware that domestic and foreign security cannot be
isolated from economic and social matters." He
added that they were considered the projects which were
delayed by the TSK as duties to be realized as soon as
the economy recovers. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] BUMIN: "WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE
ECHR DECISION ON THE RP CASE"
Evaluating the European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR) decision on the banned Welfare Party
(RP), The Chairman of the Constitutional Court Mustafa
Bumin said, "I'd like to express that we are very
content with the ECHR decision which has not found the
decision of the Constitutional Court to close down the
FP as contrary to the European Convention of Human
Rights." Bumin said the Constitutional Court's
decision did not either violate the Human Rights
Convention nor the Law on Political Parties.
/Cumhuriyet/
[03] EL-SHARA INVITES CEM TO DAMASCUS
Turkey has conveyed proposals to the
Damascus Administration to overcome certain problems
between Turkey and Syria. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister
Seba Nasir noted down these proposals during his
meetings in Ankara yesterday. Being received by Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem, Nasir presented an invitation
letter to Cem from his Syrian counterpart Faruk El
Shara. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] AMERICAN EMBARGO ON IRAQ HAS A HIGH
COST FOR TURKEY
The Gaziantep Trade Chamber Chairman
Mehmet Aslan said that the American embargo on Iraq
resulted in a $35-40 billion loss and social problems
that could not be recorded. Aslan said, "The
problem has been continuing for 12 years without
reaching a solution. Turkey can not export any goods not
just to Iraq but also the countries to which she can
reach only by passing through the Iraq, for the past 12
years. After the Gulf Crisis, Turkey was deprived of the
revenue that she could gain from exports and
transportation in the Middle East. Since the traffic
ended in the regions, all the facilities like hotels
also shut down." /Cumhuriyet/
[05] REPORT: TURKEY MAY LOOK FOR ARMS
SUPPLIERS OTHER THAN US
Recent difficulties in the purchase
of weapons from the United States might force Turkey to
look for alternative suppliers, said the eminent US
defense journal Defense News. Turkey and the US have
been having a series of hitches in certain major defense
deals. According to the Defense News, these major deals
in which the two countries have had disputes and which
have created a tendency on the part of Turkey to look
for new alternatives, are as follows: First, the two
countries have come to loggerheads over a project for
the co-production of some 50 attack helicopters.
Turkey's demand that an essential part of these
helicopters, the mission computers, be produced by a
Turkish firm in Turkey has been rejected by the US
Defense Department. The second hitch concerns the
projected purchase of Airborne Warning and Control
System (AWACS) planes from the US. The US refusal to
transfer technology to Turkey is creating problems
between the two countries. A final problem stems from
the US insistence that electronic warfare systems which
are used in US-made war planes and helicopters be
developed by US companies. /Turkish News/
[06] PENTAGON'S IMPORTANT MESSAGES TO TURKEY
Assistant Secretary of State, Dr.
Paul Wolfowitz, known as "the brain of the
Pentagon" has given important messages to Turkey in
two matters. These messages can be summarized under
three headings. The first; points out the transformation
of Turkey's economy which necessitates a powerfull
political will. The second message says Kemal Derviş is
a world known economist but not a magician.The core of
the last message involves a kind of support to Turkey's
interest over the new situation in Iraq. Wolfowitz
believes important steps should be taken to solve the
problems of the Turkish economy which needs a strong
political will. Turkey is not in an extraordinary period
and bearing very heavy burdens. However one thing is
clear, from now on , Turkey cannot go on its way as it
has in the past. I believe that political leaders must
understand the situation and take urgent steps in time
in carrying out economic and institutional reforms in
order to reach compatibility with the necessities of the
new age. We want to see a strong Turkey which has
healthy and firm structures. Dr. Wolfowitz said
"Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is a dictator who
oppresses his own people and threatens his neighbours.
Saddam used chemical gas againts his people in Halepçe.
He may have mass destruction weapons and the situation
in Iraq cannot continue this way. We shall take the
necessary measures so as not to let this situation be
permanent. The new situation resulting from the expected
change of the status-quo in Iraq must not pose a risk
against Turkey. The territorrial unity of Iraq is
necessary and a must, and the rights of all the people
in the country including the Turkmen population must be
respected. The expected situation to emerge in Iraq will
be much better on behalf of Turkey than it is during the
tyranny of Saddam."/ Hürriyet/
[07] LAVASANI MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR MITHAT
BALKAN
In the midst of the debate regarding
the transfer of Iranian natural gas to Turkey, the
Iranian Ambassador in Ankara Hussein Lavasani visited
Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat
Balkan, who is responsible for Economic Affairs.
Lavasani and Balkan discussed ways to overcome the
deadlock between Turkey and Iran on the transfer of
natural gas to Turkey. After his visit to the Foreign
Ministry, Ambassador Lavasani told reporters that the
foreign ministries of the two countries will seek ways
to remove the barriers in front of launching the
project. /Turkish Daily News/
[08] RUSSIAN POLICE RAIDS PKK CAMP
It was revealed that Russian Federal
Police raided a training camp of the terrorist PKK in
the city of Yaroslav, 300 km. northeast of the Moskow.
Itar-Tass Agency reported that The PKK camp was
uncovered during the investigations of a kidnapped
Russian businessman. In the report the camp was said to
be set up in a holiday village with the help of a Syrian
assistant manager responsible for the place who was also
arrested. Itar Tass reported that the camp was being
used as a base to extort ransom after kidnapping the
citizens of Turkey, Iraq and Syria. In spite of Turkey's
repeated warnings on terrorist activities of PKK in the
camp, Russian autorities argued for years that the camp
was being used as a "culture centre."/Hürriyet/
[09] ADDITIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SENT TO IMF
Turkey has sent her additional letter
of intent to the IMF. The letter consists of
macroeconomic balances and the targets for the end of
the year. The IMF Executive Council is expected to
release a $1.5 billion loan on August 3. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] WORLD BANK SAYS IT'S TIME TO SHIFT
FOCUS TO MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
World Bank Turkey Director Ajay
Chhibber said it's time for Turkey to shift the focus of
its efforts to ride out the crisis toward the
manufacturing industry and social issues from the
financial sector. "It's time to put the
manufacturing industry into serious focus,"
Chhibber was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news
agency. "It's important to help productive and
successful firms in this period, as it will take time to
overcome the crisis." /Turkish Daily News/
[11] AUTOMATIZATION IN THE CUSTOMS
Customs Undersecretary Nevzat
Saygilioglu held a meeting to give information about the
activities of the Customs Undersecretariat and new
projects. Saygilioglu said, "After the
automatization began in the 56 customs administration,
the transaction value reached $120 billion." He
added that they would prepare a system for customs
ethics. The system will determine the relations between
the customs personnel and people with whom the personnel
are engaged in business." /Turkiye/
[12] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR: THE LEADER OF THE
EXPORTS
The exports in the automotive sector
increased by 47.6 % in July compared to the last year's
same period. The number reached $212, 104,000,000 in
July. /Turkiye/
[13] FEE FOR PASSAGES THROUGH THE STRAITS
The radar control system, the
buildings which were transferred to the American
companies Lockheed and Martin last year, will pay itself
off by the fees to be gathered from the ships passing
through the Straits. The authorities from the
Undersecretary for Maritime Affairs said that the fees
would be doubled after the radar control system starts
working. Authorities said the transportation traffic in
the Straits would increase significantly, after the
security is sustained. They are expecting a $30 million
revenue from the fees in 2002. /Turkiye/
[14] QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CERTIFICATE
TO ANAP
Austrian OQS firm presented the Onorm
En ISO 9002 Quality Management System Certificate to the
Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz. A quality
management system had been established within the
structure of ANAP last year. ANAP completed its studies
for quality management last week. /Turkiye/
EXPORTS RISE 13.3 PCT IN JAN-JULY
Turkey's exports rose by 13.3 percent
in the first seven months of the year compared to the
same period of 2000, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly
announced yesterday. Exports during Jan-July 2001
totaled $17.7 billion, versus $15.6 billion in the
comparative 2000 period. /Turkish Daily News/
CENTRAL BANK TO SELL $600 MLN AT AUG.
[15] FOREX AUCTIONS
The Central Bank plans to sell $600
million through forex auctions in August, the bank said
in a statement yesterday. The statement also said the
bank would maintain its policy to stop excessive
fluctuations in exchange rates, apart from its regular
forex auctions. /Turkish Daily News/
[16] MONEY MARKET IS POSITIVE AFTER SECOND
SWAP
After the second swap of public debts
by the Treasury , the day before yesterday, the
statements of Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit to the
public about the new legal arrangements during the new
period of the Grand National Assembly, resulted with the
relief of the financial markets in Turkey. The market
analysts say this announcement points out that the
situations would get better in a short period of time,
but involves some long term risks. Meanwhile, State
Minister Kemal Derviş held a meeting with the
bureaucrats and executives of the market-maker banks
yesterday.. Derviş made it clear to bankers that the
system of floating exchange rates would not change, and
the Treasury will issue loan bills at foreign exchanges
if required. /Hurriyet/
60 TRILLION FOR THE FARMERS
The government decided yesterday that
if farmers would give up the tobacco and hazelnut
production and begin sowing alternative agricultural
products such as red lentil, cotton and vegetables, they
will have financial support of about 60 trillion TL.s.
The government began to prepare a bill on supporting the
farmers in two ways. The firts involves the direct
income which would be 10 million liras for every 1_4
acre of 100 hectar. The financial cost of this can
account to 36 trillion liras. The second is planned on
giving support indirectly through main inputs which can
amount to about 20 Trillion Liras. To finance these
costs the government will apply to international
creditors and other credit means. /Hürriyet/
[17] TURSAB TO HOLD ECUMENICAL SYMPOSIUM
Representatives of the three holy
revealed religions will come together at a symposium
organized by the Turkish Travel Agencies' Association
(TURSAB) in Izmir at the end of September. Erhan Golbey
from TURSAB2s Izmir office told reporters that they
invited representatives from Islam, Christianity and
Judaism to the symposium, which will also be attended by
tour operators who will have the chance to see the
historical and religious sites in the region. "Our
goal is to determine shortcomings and restore objects
and sites which have religious significance.", said
Golbey. /Turkish News/
[18] TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP CONCERT IN
ANCIENT EPHESUS
Turkish and Greek artists are holding
a concert named "The Great Concert" in order
to strengthen relations between Turkey and Greece. The
concert, at which the music from the two countries will
be performed, will be held at the Ancient Ephesus
Amphitheatre on Aug. 3. It was also reported that 270
musicians from the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra,
Thessaloniki Harmony Choir and the Sayar Nova Choir will
come together at Ephesus. /Turkish Daily News/
[19] TRAVELLER MAGAZINE GIVES WIDE COVERAGE
TO ISTANBUL
Traveller Magazine gave wide coverage
to Istanbul's historical, touristic and cultural
features as well as social life and political
developments in Turkey. Stating that Istanbul was one of
the oldest cities in the world, the Traveller stated
that old times and new times can both be experienced in
Istanbul. Praising Ataturk's reforms, the magazine also
mentioned social and daily life in Turkey. /Turkiye/
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[21] WAKE UP, AND SMELL THE COFFEE! BY
GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)
Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on
the suggestions of the World Bank regarding the economic
situation. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The World Bank has suggested that now is the time
to turn attention to unemployment and poverty. Since
those governing the country could not courageously
encounter the provocations leading to unemployment and
poverty, we could not overcome the crisis soon enough.
The World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chibber called on
the Government to undertake an active part in solving
the problems between the manufacturing industry and the
banks. The joint studies to solve the situation began
yesterday. The assistance in the amount of $ 500 million
which the World Bank will allocate to poor families will
be distributed in the beginning of October. The cries of
people are heard from all over Turkey. It is important
that Washington, before Ankara, has seen this social
fire. The Government has to show the power to revive the
'social state' taking every risk into account."
[22] THE THIRD BASIC DECISION BY MUSTAFA
BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on
the decision of the European Court of Human Rights
regarding the closure case of the Welfare Party. A
summary of his column is as follows: "The ruling of
the European Court of Human Rights regarding Erbakan and
his friends will affect all the parties in the
discussions over secularism in Turkey. The recent ruling
of the ECHR is in conformity with the ruling on those
dispelled from the Armed Forces ,abiding the decision of
the Supreme Military Council (YAS). The lesson Europe
has learnt from the religious wars, which lasted a
hundred years is that, secularism is the basis of
democracy. The political movements, which wanted to
exploit religion to get into power, used two main paths.
One of them wanted to get into power through elections
and the other by seizing the state bureaucracy. Erbakan
used the first road, and Gulen the second. These
movements which covered important distances, during the
90s, applied to the ECHR when the wearing of
head-scarves to the university were banned. They were
confident of themselves and said that they wanted
freedom. Their aim was to practice the requirements of
their religion freely and to complete their education.
However the ECHR did not accept this view. In its ruling
the ECHR said that if a student came to school in a
dress which he or she said was demanded by religion, he
or she would put pressure on other students in the
school. Universities are institutions which should be
devoid of any elements of pressure. The ECHR answered
the request of those dispelled from the Armed Forces in
July 1997 by saying that those who chose the military
profession accept to abide by its rules with their own
free will. With its recent ruling the ECHR issued the
following messages: First, democracy is a regime of
rules. Those who do not play by the rules are left out.
Secondly, it may be necessary to resort to bans to
protect the democracy. Thirdly, in democracies there
cannot be parties with two different policies. If such a
tendency is seen in a party sanctions are implemented
against it. Finally, any slight tolerance for violence
cannot be accepted in a party."
[23] STOPPING POLITICAL ISLAM BY DERYA
SAZAK (MILLIYET)
Columnist Derya Sazak writes on the
ruling of the European Court of Human Rights regarding
the closure of the Welfare Party. A summary of his
column is as follows: "The European Court of Human
Rights' ruling on the closure of Welfare Party which
found Turkey to be in the right, brought concrete
results regarding the suspicions of Western views
concerning 'political Islam'. If religious parties begin
to use democracy to impose their own legal system
through violence, closure can become an indispensable
social necessity to protect the society. The ruling on
the Welfare Party's closure is significant because it
displays that the instinct to preserve democracy is
still intact and delineates limits. There is one
important reason why the supporters of political Islam
should meet under the banner of democracy, tolerance and
secularism and that is the ruling of the European Court
of Human Rights."
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