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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-16
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
16.01.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT HAS IMPORTANT MEETINGS ON US VISIT
[02] WOLFENSOHN: "DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR PROGRAM"
[03] BAHCELI: "TURKISH-US COOPERATION MUST BE IMPROVED"
[04] DERVIS SPEAKS ON TURKISH AND ARGENTINEAN ECONOMIES
[05] TURKISH MILITARY DELEGATION TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK
[06] WASHINGTON TIMES: "TURKEY SHOULD BE REWARDED"
[07] LORD WALLACE'S CYPRUS REPORT
[08] DOSTUM TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA
[09] NEW CYPRUS TALKS PROCESS BEGINS TODAY
[10] KOHLER: "IMF WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TURKEY"
[11] CHHIBBER BRIEFED ON DOWNSIZING OF STATE
[12] IRISH PARLIAMENTARIAN BECOMES EP HEAD
[13] ACCORD CALLS FOR TURKISH-RUSSIAN OFFICER EXCHANGES
[14] MOODY'S UP GRADES TURKEY'S OUTLOOK TO STABLE
[15] US TRAVEL AGENTS TO VISIT ISTANBUL
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[17] THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS FROM WASHINGTON BY ERGUN BABAHAN
[18] THE OTHER SUMMIT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] ECEVIT HAS IMPORTANT MEETINGS ON US VISIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had a busy schedule on the first day of his US
visit. Yesterday, Ecevit first received World Bank President James
Wolfensohn at the Blair House which is near Washington's White House
grounds. After the 40-minute meeting, Wolfensohn told reporters that talks
between the two had been very fruitful. Then Ecevit and his accompanying
delegation met with US Vice President Dick Cheney at the White House. At
the meeting's outset, Cheney said that the US administration heartily
welcomed the Turkish premier's US visit and also supported the Turkish
government. Pointing to the importance of Turkish-US strategic relations,
Cheney said that the US administration admired Turkey's role in NATO.
Concerning Afghanistan, Cheney said they appreciated Turkey's decision to
send troops to Afghanistan. Ecevit replied that Turkey was ready to help
Afghanistan to reconstruct itself and to establish a modern army. Ecevit
stated that in addition to the strategic cooperation between Turkey and the
US, economic relations should also be developed. Cheney said that the US
supported the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, and he was briefed on the
pipeline and other energy projects by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Zeki Cakan. The Cyprus issue was also taken up during the meeting.
Additionally, Cheney stated that the agreement between Turkey, the US and
Great Britain concerning the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP)
was very sound and important and that they had conveyed this to Greece.
After the meeting with Cheney, Ecevit received members of the American-
Turkish Council (ATC), and then US Assistant Secretary of State Marc
Grossman, a former US ambassador to Turkey and IMF Chairman Horst Kohler.
As part of Ecevit's meetings today, he will meet with US Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld, Acting Secretary of State Richard Armitage and finally US
President George W. Bush. US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill is also
expected to be received by Ecevit at the Blair House today. Meanwhile,
Rahsan Ecevit, wife of Bulent Ecevit, and US first lady Laura Bush will
meet together at a tea party in the morning. /All Papers/
[02] WOLFENSOHN: "DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR PROGRAM"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had his first meeting yesterday on his current
United States visit by holding talks with World Bank President James
Wolfensohn. Also present at the gathering were Turkish Foreign Minister
Ismail
Cem, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis, State Minister Tunca
Toskay, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki
Cakan, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Central Bank President Sureyya
Serdengecti, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen and Turkey's US
Ambassador Faruk
Logoglu. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wolfensohn said "We give
full support to the current economic program that is being applied by
Turkey and we believe that Turkey should continue its program without
making any concessions." The meeting was a very constructive one,
Wolfensohn added. He said that the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline project has
also been discussed and declared, "This is an important project, and the
World Bank should support it."
/Hürriyet/
[03] BAHCELI: "TURKISH-US COOPERATION MUST BE IMPROVED"
In a speech yesterday at the group meeting of his party the Nationalist
Action Party (MHP), Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli offered his views
of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's current visit to the US. Stating
that Ecevit's visit was of great importance to both countries, Bahceli said
that Turkey and the US had been faithful allies for years. "We believe that
Ecevit's visit to the US is very important to improve our bilateral
cooperation against terrorism," said Bahceli. "Furthermore, I believe that
Ecevit's visit will pave way to new opportunities to improve our commercial
and economic ties." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] DERVIS SPEAKS ON TURKISH AND ARGENTINEAN ECONOMIES
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday Turkey had been
successful in its economic policies but regretfully added that Argentina
had not been. Dervis, who is currently in the US as part of Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit's visit to that country, spoke about recent developments in
Turkey and Argentina during a Washington conference on "Fighting World
Poverty" held by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. "We
have achieved much in addition to our successful implementation of fiscal
policies in Turkey, but Argentina unfortunately fell short," he said. "The
lesson to be taken from Turkey and Argentina's situations is that the
stable foreign exchange currency systems can fail in countries whose
banking sectors are weak and who do not pursue successful fiscal policies."
/Milliyet/
[05] TURKISH MILITARY DELEGATION TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK
Last week, Turkey announced that it would send 261 soldiers to the
International Security and Assitance Force (ISAF), which is being
established within the context of Operation Enduring Freedom, carried out
by the US in Afghanistan. New plans call for a 12-person military
delegation from Turkey to go to Afghanistan on Friday from Etimesgut
Military Airport. The Office of the General Staff had previously announced
that the delegation would be in Afghanistan on Jan. 15-22. A colonel will
command the delegation, which consists of six members of the land forces
and six forces of the air forces, and coordinate their efforts. The
delegation will travel to the capital Kabul first, with the air force
personnel going to nearby Bagram Airport. There they will coordinate
flights and ground services. The land forces contingent will carry out
their duties at the ISAF's headquarters. /Aksam/
[06] WASHINGTON TIMES: "TURKEY SHOULD BE REWARDED"
In an opinion piece published in US daily the Washington Times yesterday, a
public interest lawyer argued that Turkey's firm and unwavering support for
the US on the foreign policy stage made it incumbent that the US make an
equal demonstration of support. "Turkey has set the gold standard for
cooperating with the United States in its pivotal foreign policy gambits,
including our war against the Taleban, al-Qaeda, and terrorism generally,"
wrote Bruce Fein. "It should be rewarded accordingly." Fein, general
counsel for the Center for Law and Accountability, a US public interest
group, recalled that Turkey had been a longtime and faithful ally of the
United States from its early entry into NATO underlining that its
sympathies with the United States are enduring and deep. "Moreover, Turkey
is the sole example in the history of Islam that supports a secular and
strengthening democratic dispensation and covets Western free market and
human rights ideals," said the piece. "To reward Turkey would encourage
other Middle Eastern and Asian nations to enlist more eagerly in our
counter-terrorism ranks and to shed their trappings of autocracy for more
democratic garb." Fein also enumerated a number of measures that might be
taken by the Bush administration to support Turkey. Among those measures
are relaxing tariff barriers and quotas for Turkish exports, voicing
unequivocal support for Turkey's admission to the EU and announcing
financial support for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] LORD WALLACE'S CYPRUS REPORT
British Economy Professor Lord William Wallace presented a Cyprus report to
the press yesterday at the Office of the Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) in Brussels. In his report, Lord Wallace
evaluated the recent meetings between Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides as
representing a "historic opportunity." He called on Turkey and Greece as
well as Greek and Turkish Cypriots not to miss this opportunity, which is
unlikely to be offered again. Remarking that Greek Cypriots seemed likely
to join the European Union in four years whether a permanent solution is
reached on the island or not, Lord Wallace said that such a development
would be a tragedy for both nations on Cyprus. The report listed a number
of problems which are likely to emerge if the EU admits Greek Cypriots
without a permanent solution being reached. Lord Wallace argued that
relations among Turkey, Greece, the EU and the two nations on Cyprus would
face a serious crisis if the Greek Cypriots join the Union. He added that
since Cyprus was a problem in the EU's enlargement process, the Union had
to play a more active and productive role in negotiations over the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] DOSTUM TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA
Uzbek Gen. Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in the new Afghan
interim government Uzbek general Rasid Dostum will travel to Ankara today.
Following an opening ceremony for the Uzbek Consulate General in Mezar-i
Sherif, Dostum will travel to Turkey through Uzbekistan. Dostum will visit
his family living in Ankara, and he is additionally expected to hold
official meetings with Turkish authorities. /Turkiye/
[09] NEW CYPRUS TALKS PROCESS BEGINS TODAY
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President and Greek Cyriot
leader Glafcos Clerides will begin to direct talks today at 10:00 a.m. with
a view to reaching a lasting settlement on the Cyprus issue. The meetings
are expected to continue until a result is obtained. The Turkish and Greek
sides will attend the meetings with delegations of four each and UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Cyprus Special Envoy Alvaro de Soto as an
observer. This new period got its start following Denktas and Clerides'
face-to-face meeting last month -the first such meeting in four years,
where the two leaders decided to begin direct talks on Jan. 16. /All
Papers/
[10] KOHLER: "IMF WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TURKEY"
After meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in Washington
yesterday, International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Horst Kohler gave
positive signals concerning $14 billion in additional IMF financing for the
country. "Turkey has shown a very good performance, its inflation is
falling, and now it is time for growth," he said. Kohler added that Turkey
had made significant progress under its economic program and the IMF looks
forward to supporting Turkey's continued efforts under a new standby
agreement. The IMF Executive board is due to discuss the agreement and the
additional financing later this month. /Sabah/
[11] CHHIBBER BRIEFED ON DOWNSIZING OF STATE
World Bank Turkey Representative Ajay Chhibber met yesterday with State
Minister Mehmet Kececiler and representatives from the Finance Ministry. He
asked Kececiler questions on the current situation concerning downsizing
the state structure and decreasing the number of public employees.
/Cumhuriyet/
[12] IRISH PARLIAMENTARIAN BECOMES EP HEAD
The European Parliament (EP) has elected its new chairman. With Nicole
Fontaine's term of duty as EP chairman at an end, Liberal Group member
Irish parliamentarian Patrick Cox yesterday won the election to fill that
post. Cox's candidacy was favored by Ankara as a welcome change. Whereas
Fontaine had asserted that Turkey is far from EU membership and had praised
the possible EU membership for Greek Cyprus, Cox has issued warm messages
to Ankara as well as constructive criticisms. Another point in Cox's favor
in Ankara's eyes is that he has met with both sides in Cyprus and has said
that the EU should lend its ear to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) as well. /Milliyet/
[13] ACCORD CALLS FOR TURKISH-RUSSIAN OFFICER EXCHANGES
Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu and his Russian
counterpart Gen. Anatoliy Kvashnin yesterday signed a Military Cooperation
Agreement on behalf of their respective countries. Under this agreement,
Turkey and Russia are to participate in exchanges of officers for training.
Ankara and Moscow will also cooperate in military defense projects.
Additionally, this agreement calls on Russia not to allow any terrorist
organizations on their soil to act against Turkey.
/Hürriyet/
[14] MOODY'S UP GRADES TURKEY'S OUTLOOK TO STABLE
International credit rating agency Moody's yesterday announced that
Turkey's outlook had been raised to stable. The agency says that the
likelihood of ratings downgrades for the country has diminished for the
next year because of improved refinancing and pricing prospects for
domestic as well as external debt. The agency also reiterated that
additional efforts to lower inflation and interest rates were crucial to
regain momentum for growth and to ensure the sustainability of the public
debt dynamic. /All Papers/
[15] US TRAVEL AGENTS TO VISIT ISTANBUL
A delegation from the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) will come to
Istanbul today to lay the groundwork for this year's ASTA World Convention
to be held in that city. The Turkish Association of Travel Agencies
(TURSAB) announced yesterday that following ASTA's decision to hold their
meeting in Istanbul, a seven-person committee from that group would visit
Turkey in order to make preparations. The delegation will leave Istanbul on
Jan. 20 and before its departure, it will attend a performance of the
"Sultans of the Dance." /Aksam/
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[17] THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS FROM WASHINGTON BY ERGUN BABAHAN
(AKSAM)
Columnist Ergun Babahan writes on Prime Minister Ecevit's talks in
Washington. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Ecevit has probably held the most important meeting of his life with
World Bank Chairman James Wolfenson. It was important as it covered one of
the projects to which Ecevit has attached great importance all through his
political life. Prime Minister Ecevit began his talks in Washington
yesterday. He has a busy schedule as if to silence all speculations about
his ailing health. In his program, there was also a meeting with Vice
President Dick Cheney. During the meeting which four of our government
ministers also attended, Cheney praised Ecevit due to the efforts of the
Turkish government and reiterated US support for the Baku-Ceyhan project.
Cheney said that they supported this project both from an economic and
strategic viewpoint. Both sides agreed on the signing of the project. The
prime minister stressed that during his visit to the US he would try to
erase the mistaken and unfair prejudices against Islam seen recently in the
international community. As the prime minister is preparing to discuss a
wide spectrum of issues ranging from the economy to the Middle East,
American public opinion is preoccupied with the Enron scandal. The
collapse of energy giant Enron which claimed far greater profits than the
actual figures bore out has deeply affected the US. The campaign
contributions this company made candidate Bush during the 2000 elections
has deepened the impact of the event. Enron's bankruptcy hurt the US
badly. However, no one is trying to cover up the incident. Both the
Congress and judicial authorities are taking action to uncover all aspects
of the situation, including any connection to President Bush. Even though
the US president has stated that he had no connection to the incident, he
also hasn't accused anyone of pressuring prosecutors. Against this
background, Prime Minister Ecevit will try to to boost Turkey's share of US
the economic and political support. However, the Enron incident shows that
it is not only economic aid that we should carry back from the US. We have
to learn transparency and control open to the public and the need to
investigate all claims of corruption in order to get an accounting of the
people's money. These are all indispensable parts of the American culture.
If don't want to come to the brink of collapse again, we have to accept
these values as basic in our lives. Regarding the Middle East, Turkey's
only objection concerns the foundation of a Kurdish state. Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem has underlined the issue once again. Cem said that the Middle
East will be taken up as a whole during the discussions. These are the
impressions of our first day in Washington."
[18] THE OTHER SUMMIT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on two summits held in two capitals thousands
of miles apart from each other. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Today, in two capitals thousands of miles apart from each other, two
important summits are being held which are of great importance to Turkey.
The first summit will be between Prime Minister Ecevit and US President
Bush. The second will be held by Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Clerides
and Denktas in Lefkosha.
It is an interesting coincidence that both summits take place on the same
day. Cyprus is not one of the top priority issues on the agenda of Ecevit's
US talks. Most probably, President Bush will bring up the Cyprus issue
during their talks, expressing his pleasure over the resumption of
bilateral negotiations and calling on Turkey to help in the search for a
solution. If an accord had not been reached to resume face-to-face talks
during the Denktas-Clerides meeting on Dec. 4, the meeting in Washington
might not have taken place in such a positive atmosphere. Will this
negotiation process lead to a concrete result? It is very hard to guess at
this point. However, it can be said that they have the chance to proceed on
and even succeed.
Both leaders know that this is their last chance and if they are not
successful, unpleasant incidents may occur. Both sides are aware that
'intransigence is not a good solution.' But this is not enough. Both sides
also have to exert great efforts for a serious agreement without trampling
on their basic interests. It is hard but not impossible.
Both sides have to take care not to destroy the air of optimism or lose the
momentum gained. There are two ways to ensure this. The first is to declare
a 'speech moratorium' and act accordingly. The second is to take steps
towards building confidence rather than shaking it. Non-governmental
organizations may help in this point, as in the rapprochement between
Turkey and Greece. At the moment it is foreseen that three meetings per
week will be held in Lefkosha. The leaders had agreed before that they
would not leave the negotiation table until they come to an accord. We hope
that this will be so."
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