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Turkish Press Review, 01-10-16
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Foreign
Press in Turkey
Turkish
Press Review >>
Press
Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
16.10.2001
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER RECEIVES VATICAN'S AMBASSADOR
[02] REFERENDUM FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS' SALARIES
[03] BAYKAL TO MEET SEZER
[04] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT
[05] CEM RECEIVES KOSOVAR POLITICIAN HASHIM TACHI
[06] CEM TO VISIT CENTRAL ASIA
[07] TURKEY PREPARES TERROR FILE
[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO CONVENE
[09] TRIPLE SECURITY ALLIANCE IN THE CAUCASUS
[10] YILMAZ: "OPERATION CAN SPREAD TO IRAQ"
[11] YILMAZ INFORMS EU OFFICIALS
[12] MINISTER PLEDGES RESOLUTION IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORIST ACTIVITIES
[13] ISLAMIC COUNTRIES KNOW LITTLE ABOUT CYPRUS ISSUE
[14] KUANGYI: WE HOPE THE WAR ENDS SOON
[15] GENDARMERIE COMMANDER URGES GLOBAL COOPERATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM
[16] PRIMAKOV COMES TO ANKARA
[17] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE 2002 BUDGET
[18] DURMUS: ANTHRAX NOT A DANGER
[19] ALI ER RESIGNS FROM ANAP
[20] PETROLEUM COMMISSION
[21] KAZAKH WIND IN ANKARA
[22] DERVIS HOLDS MEETINGS
[23] A NEW ADJUSTMENT TO THE EU PROGRAMME FOR KOBIs
[24] GARANTI BANK AND OSMANLI UNITE
[25] PAKER OPENS TURKISH HENKEL'S FACILITY IN TUZLA
[26] DE KEERSMAECKER ON THE TURKISH ECONOMY
[27] THY WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD
[28] NUMBER OF FRENCH TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY INCREASES
[29] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[30] ON WHICH SIDE IS TURKEY? BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[01] SEZER RECEIVES VATICAN'S AMBASSADOR
Vatican's Ambassador to Turkey, Luigi Conti, paid a farewell visit to
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer as his duty in Ankara comes to an end.
/Turkish Daily News/
[02] REFERENDUM FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS' SALARIES
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer decided to go to a referendum on the article
which foresees amendment on the deputies' personnel rights and salaries of
the 34-article Constitutional amendment package. Sezer approved other
amendments and sent them to the Office of Prime Minister to be issued in
the Official Gazette. /All Papers/
[03] BAYKAL TO MEET SEZER
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal will meet President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer today. According to the statement released by CHP,
Baykal will mention his opinion concerning the "Constitutional Amendments
Package" to Sezer during the meeting to be held at 14:00. /Sabah/
[04] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he regretted the fact that civilians were
harmed due to the American operation against Afghanistan. He further stated
that there is not any news from the liaison officers in Florida. While
leaving a television program, Ecevit answered the questions of journalists.
He evaluated the operation and considered the operation to be unsuccessful
due to the fact that Bin Laden could not have been captured. He added, "It
is too hard to be successful without a land operation in a country like
Afghanistan because it is a very poor country and it does not have
important facilities. Similarly, during the era of the Soviet Union,
Russians stayed in Afghanistan for many years but they could not be
successful." Ecevit also pointed out the importance of the removal of
Taleban regime and added that this regime had threatened all the Central
Asian countries and affected the processes of democratization. /Hurriyet/
[05] CEM RECEIVES KOSOVAR POLITICIAN HASHIM TACHI
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem received Hashim Tachi, the head of Kosovo
Democratic Party, who is having meetings in Ankara. "Kosovo is the homeland
of the people whom we have always considered to be like us," Cem said, just
before the meeting. Stating that they had been following Tachi's efforts
for the reformation of Kosovo with great respect, Cem said that as the
elections in Kosovo are getting closer they are praising Tachi's
contributions to bring Albanians and Turks in Kosovo closer together. Tachi
thanked Cem for the support and interest he has shown, and added that
Turkey had helped them to overcome their difficulties. Tachi said that in
Kosovo's reformation process, all of the ethnic groups in the country would
participate in the administration equally. "We are not putting any
preconditions on the minority groups," Tachi said. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] CEM TO VISIT CENTRAL ASIA
Turkey will convey her support to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan which were
threatened by the Taleban Administration since they supported the US
retaliation against Afghanistan. Minister of Foreign Affairs will visit
Ashkabat and Tashkent between October 21-23 to evaluate the recent
developments and the repercussions of the "Enduring Freedom" on these
countries. It was stated that Turkey wanted to locate the Turkish military
training units in Uzbekistan and that this issue would be discussed during
Cem's visit. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURKEY PREPARES TERROR FILE
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem will travel to Brussels to attend a
meeting on terrorism. During the meeting to be held on Oct. 18-19, Cem will
inform his European counterparts about terrorist PKK and other illegal
leftist and radical organizations' activities in Turkey and abroad.
/Turkiye/
[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO CONVENE
The Council of Ministers to be presided over by Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit will convene today at 2:00 p.m. Before the meeting, the leaders of
the coalition parties will gather at 11:00 a.m. at the Office of Prime
Ministry. /Turkiye/
[09] TRIPLE SECURITY ALLIANCE IN THE CAUCASUS
According to the agreement signed by the US, Turkey and Georgia, the three
countries will launch an initiative to strengthen their cooperation on
combating terrorism and sustaining stability in the Caucasus. Within this
framework, Turkey and the US will increase the military aid they provide
for Georgia. Stating that Turkey had contributed a lot to the stability and
security in Georgia so far, Georgian officials said that improving this
cooperation was much more important taking the new circumstances in the
region into consideration. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] YILMAZ: "OPERATION CAN SPREAD TO IRAQ"
Deputy Prime Minster Mesut Yilmaz said that there was the risk that the US-
led military operation in Afghanistan could spread to Iraq. "We do not
expect this, but the possibility does exist," said Yilmaz, and added, "We
will do our best to prevent this from happening." Yilmaz, speaking to
reporters in the headquarters of his party, the Motherland Party (ANAP) in
Ankara, said that the government would again do its best to ensure that
Turkey will not be harmed in the event of the operation spilling over into
Iraq. /Turkish News/
[11] YILMAZ INFORMS EU OFFICIALS
Turkey informed EU officials on the steps Turkey took so far in
implementing the National Programme. Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of
Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz met with the Ambassadors of EU
countries and EU Commission Turkey Representative Karen Fogg yesterday.
Presenting two information notes to Ambassadors, Yilmaz conveyed the
message that since Turkey took a significant step regarding adjustment with
the EU acquis by approving constitutional amendments, EU should provide
Turkey with financial support for the implementation of the reforms as soon
as possible. The notes informed the Ambassadors on the connection between
constitutional amendments and the National Programme and also the
adjustment laws which are thought to be enacted. Stating Turkey was doing
her utmost in her accession period to the EU, Yilmaz said he hoped the
Progress Report to be prepared by EU Commission would agree with him.
Pointing out that Turkey carried out many reforms in a very short period of
time, Yilmaz requested the EU to assist Turkey financially. He added the EU
should provide Turkey with the same amount it grants to the other candidate
countries. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] MINISTER PLEDGES RESOLUTION IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORIST ACTIVITIES
Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said terrorist group attacks in rural
areas or city centers would not discourage the police in their fight
against terrorism. "No one should ever doubt State's resolution in the
fight against terrorism," he said. Speaking at a funeral ceremony held for
two police officers who died in a Sunday attack by unknown assailants,
Yucelen said efforts to make the State give up its fight against terrorism
would be in vain. "The integrity and unity of the state will continue to be
maintained today, as in the past," he said. /Turkish News/
[13] ISLAMIC COUNTRIES KNOW LITTLE ABOUT CYPRUS ISSUE
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas,
said Monday that Islamic countries did not know much about the facts in
Cyprus, and that an enlightening campaign for Islamic countries had to be
initiated. Reiterating his call to the Greek side to get together at an
international forum to discuss the Cyprus issue, Denktas said that the
Greek side had to stop claiming rights over the Turkish side before they
could reach an agreement on a lasting solution. He said, "We don't think
that the Islamic countries know much about what has happened in Cyprus.
They know either little or nothing about the realities of this island. We
therefore assume that there are very few Islamic countries which actually
are aware of the fact that the TRNC is against terrorism, and so strongly
believe that it is necessary for us to launch an enlightenment campaign
targeting Islamic countries, to let them know about the realities on the
island." /Turkish News/
[14] KUANGYI: WE HOPE THE WAR ENDS SOON
Chinese Ambassador in Ankara Yao Kuangyi said yesterday, referring to the
US operation in Afghanistan, that the fight against terrorism would not
remain limited to one country, since it has become an issue of
international concern. Kuangyi was hosted by the Turkish Industrialists'
and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) in an informal meeting. In the
speech he delivered, Kuangyi dwelt on the economic relations between Turkey
and China, and said that the trade volume between Turkey and China was
about $1.2 billion, but that the foreign trade balances were to Turkey's
disadvantage. He said that one way of bettering the situation could be
increasing Turkey's hazelnut, construction material, and automotive
products exports to China. Regarding the issue of Varyag, Kuangyi said that
Turkish and Chinese experts working on it were about to complete their
studies. /Turkish News/
[15] GENDARMERIE COMMANDER URGES GLOBAL COOPERATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM
Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman said that technological
developments provided terrorist groups with unprecedented means and
capacities, which in turn urges states to have more comprehensive
cooperation among each other. Speaking at a meeting of representatives from
Gendarmerie organizations of European and Mediterranean countries in
Istanbul, Yalman said that the classical military threat of the Cold War
era was replaced with brand new threats starting from the 1990s. Coping
with these new risks requires international cooperation. Fighting against
these criminal elements would be possible not through regional but through
global cooperation," he said. /Turkish News/
[16] PRIMAKOV COMES TO ANKARA
Russia's former Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov is coming to Ankara today.
According to the Foreign Ministry officials, Primakov will attend the AGM
of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) in Istanbul but then come to
Ankara to meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Meanwhile, Cem will
reportedly have breakfast today with representatives of the Central Asian
republics. /Turkish Daily News/
[17] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE 2002 BUDGET
The 2002 Fiscal Year Budget will be presented to the Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA) by 24:00 o'clock tomorrow. The Budget Bill is expected to
be debated in Parliament Plan and Budget Commission in November and taken
up at the Plenary Session in Parliament in December. /Turkiye/
[18] DURMUS: ANTHRAX NOT A DANGER
Minister of Health Osman Durmus said that Turkey's industry is ready for a
biological or nuclear weapons attack, and anthrax is not a danger for
Turkey. Following the 2001-2002 academic year opening ceremony at Ankara
Numune Education and Research Hospital, Durmus told journalists that there
is nothing to worry about anthrax in Turkey. /Turkiye/
[19] ALI ER RESIGNS FROM ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy from Icel, Ali Er resigned from his party
yesterday. Following the resignation, the number of ANAP deputies in the
Parliament dropped to 81 while independents reached to 22. Regarding the
topic, ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz said, "We cannot solve our friends personal
issues, the resignation has not surprised us." /Turkiye/
[20] PETROLEUM COMMISSION
The possibility that the "Enduring Freedom" operation that is carried out
by the USA against Afghanistan will spread to Iraq and that Turkey will
suffer from lack of petroleum alarmed the Turkish government. In the
circular signed by the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, it was stated that by
the time the Petroleum Draft Law is enacted, the petroleum stock needed by
Turkey will be determined by the "petroleum stock administration temporary
commission". /Milliyet/
[21] KAZAKH WIND IN ANKARA
A ceremony, marking the 10th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of
Kazakhstan and the 3rd year of Astana being the capital city, was held in
Ankara yesterday. Ankara Mayor of Greater City, Melih Gokcek, Governor of
Astana Adilbek Djaksybekov and bureaucrats, as well as businessmen from
both countries attended the ceremony. /Turkiye/
[22] DERVIS HOLDS MEETINGS
The "Istanbul Approach" which gathers together the manufacturing industry
and the banking system, will be complemented by the end of October. As the
preparations concerning the inclusion of the public and fund banks into the
system began, Minister of State responsible for economy, Kemal Dervis met
with the Finance and Production Advisory Council yesterday morning and with
the bankers in yesterday afternoon. Following these meetings, Dervis made
an explanation to the press and said, "We will complete this approach until
the end of this month." /Sabah/
[23] A NEW ADJUSTMENT TO THE EU PROGRAMME FOR KOBIs
A new programme is being prepared for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(KOBIs)' adjustment to the EU. The program, which is prepared jointly by
the US Tong Bert Group and its strategic partner in Turkey, Partnec, will
develop solutions to assist KOBIs in Turkey to overcome the economic
crisis. Stating that KOBIs had to adjust with the EU laws and advanced
technologies, one of the Partnec strategists, Ozgur Cakir said, the program
aimed at conveying the foreign e-business experience to Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
[24] GARANTI BANK AND OSMANLI UNITE
The Italian Intesa BCI group, which was holding the meetings of partnership
with Garanti Bank, stated, "In spite of everything, the meetings with
Garanti Bank are continuing. However, this is not time to invest now."
Meanwhile, according to the information received, Garanti Bank and Osmanlý
Bank decided to merge. Garanti Bank is the biggest shareholder of Osmanlý
Bank, which was previously united with Korfezbank. An explanation
concerning the issue is expected to be made today. One of the
administrators of Intesa BCI, Lino Benassi, released a statement in Milano
yesterday and said, "This is not a proper time for further investments.
However, our relations are good." /Sabah/
[25] PAKER OPENS TURKISH HENKEL'S FACILITY IN TUZLA
Turkish Henkel's construction chemicals facility that amounted to 5 million
euros, was opened to service during a ceremony held in Tuzla. During the
opening ceremony, Chairman of the Executive Board of Turk Henkel, Can Paker,
said the investment that is made in spite of the economic crisis is for the
future of Turkey. He added, "We should display our optimism. The opening of
the factory in this period is lifting the spirits of everyone. We had to
revise our plans that we had made in the beginning of the investment due to
the economic crisis and we envisage a period of four years for the return
of the investment. 15% of the production to be made in Tuzla facility will
be exported to the Turkish-speaking republics and the Middle Eastern
countries and a possibility of war in this region is not important in the
long run." /Milliyet/
[26] DE KEERSMAECKER ON THE TURKISH ECONOMY
Member of the Executive Board of Henkel and the Responsible of the
Construction Chemicals Production, Guido De Keersmaecker, said German
Henkel put the Turkish Henkel into the A group and that Lebanon, Iran and
the Turkish-speaking republics will be under Turkey's area of
responsibility. He added, "We consider the investments in Turkey in the
long-run. It has a population of 65 million and geopolitical importance. It
is probable that Turkey will be closer to Europe in the future years.
Therefore we constructed this facility." /Milliyet/
[27] THY WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The International Aviation Federation (FAI) is to award Turkish Airlines
(THY) after it hosted the World Aerobatics Championships. The award will be
given at the opening ceremony of the FAI general conference to be held at
Lausanne on Wednesday October 17. /Turkish Daily News/
[28] NUMBER OF FRENCH TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY INCREASES
A significant increase in the number of French tourists visiting Turkey has
been observed this year. According to the data Turkish Tourism Consulate in
Paris, the number of French tourists visiting Turkey reached 454,426
increasing by 24.90 % compared to same period last year, the first nine
month of 2001. Additionally, 55,299 French tourists visited Turkey in
September. /Cumhuriyet/
[29] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[30] ON WHICH SIDE IS TURKEY? BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the recent US operation against
Afghanistan. A summary of his column is as follows:
"We are on the tenth day of the operation against Afghanistan. There is no
change in Turkey's stance since September 11. However, as the background
is continually changing certain differences may be seen in Turkey's
approach. Turkey's stance can be summarized as: 'Terrorism is a universal
problem. It does not have a religion, faith, politics or geography.
Everyone with a little bit of commonsense should oppose it. We stand by
the US in her fight against terrorism.' This is a correct statement.
However we have to ask, if the US is now only fighting against terrorism,
or laying the foundations of the new world balances to be established in
the 21st century? Apparently, the second statement seems to prevail. In
this case, Turkey has to question her place in the new balances to be
established. Circles who are certain to consider the national interests of
Turkey may not want to share all the aspects of their opinions with the
society. When we read between the lines of the statements made by officials,
our policy seems to be thus: 'The US and Britain alliance has started the
war. Let us take our place by their side. They will come out victorious
and in the right. This will increase our importance. We have not been able
to penetrate the Central Asian countries, could not influence them properly
during the last ten years. The US will help in this respect too.' However,
is that so? We have to stress the fact that it is impossible to succeed by
depending upon the victory of another country. Even if it may seem to be so,
you can lose what you have gained any moment. You willl be left only with
your own achievements. The September 11 process has displayed once more
that Turkey is the only country who is a member to both NATO and the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). A negative aspect of this
characteristic may be that the OIC may view us within the framework of NATO
and perceive as the sub-contractor of the West and therefore exclude us.
NATO may view Turkey as a country standing in awe of the OIC and say that
the country has done what she can and that they do not need any more help
from her. They too may exclude us. Thus, we will be left without getting
into either side's good graces.We willl be left with the damages incurred
on our economy all by ourself. Turkey will be suspended by both sides. The
US may see Turkey as a support in waiting, and the Arab countries view
Turkey as a country not around the table but one that is suspended.
Certainly, the opposite may also come true. We may exert both powers in
right places and be on the agenda of both sides. However, we have not been
able to see an information which will support the second assumption.
While thinking that she may take strides on the road to Central Asia with
the US, Turkey also has to take Russia into account. In all of the Central
Asian countries, the most crowded minortiy coming after the local
population is Russian. All of them have Russian troops within their
borders and Russians occupy the most critical posts.
There are Russian ministers in most of the cabinets in these countries. If
September 11 incident did not occur, Eurasia Cooperation Agreement would
have been signed between Turkey and Russia at the end of September.
According to the agreement, joint steps would be taken by both countries in
the region. The Agreement is expected to be signed this month. It is clear
that September 11 attack has influenced this will. The region Turkey is in,
seems like a gun which has three or four barrels pointed to different
directions, with only one trigger. When she decides to fire, aiming at a
direction, she finds out that one of the barrels is turned against her."
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