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Turkish Press Review, 02-04-15
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
15.04.2002
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER TO VISIT LITHUANIA, ESTONIA AND LATVIA
[02] PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU ACCESSION
[03] CEM, PAPANDREOU’S MIDEAST VISIT SET TO FOLLOW POWELL’S
[04] YILMAZ HEADS TO BRUSSELS FOR EU CONVENTION
[05] CHINESE PRIME MINISTER, US DIPLOMAT BOUND FOR ANKARA TODAY
[06] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE MEDIA ISSUES
[07] NEW PARTY GOES OFFICIAL ON APRIL 26
[08] DERVIS INVITES GREEK INVESTORS TO INVEST IN TURKEY
[09] IMF EXPECTED TO RELEASE $1.1 BILLION IN LOANS TODAY
[10] OECD SAYS COUNCIL OF STATE SHOULD NOT HANDLE ENERGY LAWSUITS
[11] 62ND ANNIVERSARY OF VILLAGE INSTITUTES CELEBRATED
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS.. FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] NEW LEADER OF DEMOCRATIC TURKEY PARTY
BY COSKUN KIRCA (AKSAM)
[14] IF POWELL DOESN’T SUCCEED BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[01] SEZER TO VISIT LITHUANIA, ESTONIA AND LATVIA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is today scheduled to begin a five-day
official visit to the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.
Sezer is first to travel to Latvia as the official guest of his Latvian
counterpart Vaira Vike Freiberga. He will then visit Lithuania on April 16-
18 and Estonia on April 18-19. Among the issues to be addressed during
Sezer’s meetings are bilateral relations as well as recent international
and regional developments concerning European countries. /Star/
[02] PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL TO DISCUSS TURKEY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS EU ACCESSION
The Partnership Council, one of the most important institutions in Turkish-
European Union relations, will meet tomorrow in Luxembourg. The council is
set to discuss a report on Turkey’s progress towards EU accession which
addresses such matters as changes to harmonize Turkey’s Constitution with
EU standards. The report reportedly also says that Turkey should do move to
advance reforms in freedom of expression, cultural rights, and human
rights. Sources also said that the council will express the EU’s
satisfaction with Turkey’s economic program and urge it to continue its
reforms. /Milliyet/
[03] CEM, PAPANDREOU’S MIDEAST VISIT SET TO FOLLOW POWELL’S
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou are
expected to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week.
Ankara and Athens will establish a calendar for the two ministers after
evaluating the results of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to the
region, which is due to proceed to Lebanon and Syria today. In addition,
Cem will pay an official visit to Luxembourg today to chair a Turkish
delegation at the Turkish-EU Partnership Council meeting. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] YILMAZ HEADS TO BRUSSELS FOR EU CONVENTION
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is scheduled to visit the Olympic
Stadium in Istanbul today. After touring the facility, Yilmaz will leave
for Brussels to attend meetings of the EU Convention on Europe’s Future.
/Anatolia News Agency/
[05] CHINESE PRIME MINISTER, US DIPLOMAT BOUND FOR ANKARA TODAY
Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and US Assistant Secretary of State for
European Affairs Marc Grossman are both to arrive in Turkey today to make
contacts with Turkish officials. The Middle East conflict is expected to be
a major topic on the agenda of the Chinese leader and the US diplomat
during their visits. Turkish officials will convey the message to Rongji
and Grossman that a united front must be formed by the international
community in the interests of achieving peace and stability in the region.
Ankara is expected to propose that a conference bringing all the involved
parties together should be held as soon as possible. Rongji’s meetings are
very important to Turkey, since he will be the first Chinese prime minister
to visit Turkey in over 15 years. In addition to the Middle East conflict,
Rongji is also expected to discuss other important issues with Turkish
officials such as improving bilateral relations, regional developments and
the situation of Cyprus. Since Rongji is a member of the United Nations
Security Council, Turkey places a high premium on Rongji’s views concerning
the Cyprus issue. The visit today of Grossman, a former US ambassador in
Ankara, counts as one of the stops on his nine-nation European tour in the
leadup to NATO’s Prague summit. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE MEDIA ISSUES
Parliament is set to debate tomorrow an investigation motion forwarded by
deputies of various parties concerning certain issues and problems of the
Turkish media. Following its debate, an investigation commission is
expected to be established. Additionally, this week Parliament will
continue to debate a bill which proposes limiting some of the powers of the
president, prime minister and other government ministers. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] NEW PARTY GOES OFFICIAL ON APRIL 26
The Social Democratic Nation Party (SHP), led by former Deputies Murat
Karayalcin and Fikri Saglar, is set to join Turkey’s political life on
April 26. The petition to establish the new party is expected to be
forwarded to the Interior Ministry on April 26, and the following day its
founding members will begin official operations. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] DERVIS INVITES GREEK INVESTORS TO INVEST IN TURKEY
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis yesterday visited Salonika,
Greece to attend a meeting of the Black Sea Improvement and Trade Bank.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dervis invited Greek investors to
invest in public bids, the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) and
privatization in Turkey. Dervis added that the financial crisis and panic
in Turkey had largely come to an end but that the nation still had hurdles
to overcome. /Milliyet/
[09] IMF EXPECTED TO RELEASE $1.1 BILLION IN LOANS TODAY
The International Monetary Fund Executive Board will meet today to discuss
its first review of the Turkish economy. Since Turkey has met all of the
conditions set by the IMF during the review period, the executive board is
expected to approve the extension of a $1.1 billion loan tranche to Turkey.
Meanwhile, the World Bank Executive Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow to
take up a $1.3 billion civil and financial sector adjustment loan (PFSAL2).
That loan is to be granted to Turkey in three tranches, the first totalling
$450 million. /Turkiye/
[10] OECD SAYS COUNCIL OF STATE SHOULD NOT HANDLE ENERGY LAWSUITS
A new Organisation Of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report on
Turkey says that in order for energy sector decisions to be made quickly
and efficiently, Turkey’s Council Of State should not handle energy-related
lawsuits. The report, due to be released today in Paris, also calls the
Energy Markets law and a new Energy Sector Regulation Board “vital
measures” for Turkey to overcome its economic crisis. The report says that
existing energy sector lawsuits need to be addressed quickly but have not
received the proper urgent attention. Since the sector’s problems have
unique technical aspects which necessitate quick handling, it continues,
these delays in the suits are causing problems. The report contends that
the Council Of State is unsuited as a court of appeal since it lacks the
technical expertise for such suits. /Milliyet/
[11] 62ND ANNIVERSARY OF VILLAGE INSTITUTES CELEBRATED
The 62nd anniversary of the Village Institutes is being celebrated with
various activities throughout the country beginning tomorrow. The
institutes were educational centers established in the early years of the
Republic of Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS.. FROM THE COLUMNS
[13] NEW LEADER OF DEMOCRATIC TURKEY PARTY
BY COSKUN KIRCA (AKSAM)
Retired Ambassador Coskun Kirca writes on the new leader of the Democratic
Turkey Party (DTP). A summary of his column is as folows:
“There is an extreme abundance of political parties in Turkey. There are
two main parties on the center-left of the political spectrum, namely the
Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP). There
are no important differences between the ideas of these two parties. One of
the important results of globalization is that the similarities between
leftist and rightist parties exceed their differences. Therefore, it is
perfectly normal to see a decrease in the number of differences between
left-of-centre parties. For example, Mrs. Piskinsut’s new party on the left
can receive votes only if Prime Minister Ecevit withdraws from politics. As
long as Ecevit leads the DSP his charisma for his party and voters will
continue. This does not rule out a decrease in the number of votes for the
DSP, but Ecevit’s charismatic influence may continue at the party’s core.
There are two main parties on the center-right and they are the True Path
Party (DYP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP). With the help of Mr. Bahceli,
we can add the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) to their ranks. Nowadays a
change in the leadership of the DTP is expected. With Mr. Mehmet Ali
Bayar’s becoming the leader of the DTP, a new development will be seen on
the right. It will be seen not because of a change in doctrines but rather
because people are tired of ANAP and the DYP. With a fresh beginning, the
DTP will bring a young leader to counter old and worn-out leaders.
Therefore, this new movement can get votes from those who are dissatisfied
with ANAP, the DYP, and the MHP and even from some who are displeased with
the Felicity Party (SP) and the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Mr.
Mehmet Ali Bayar is one of the ablest diplomats I have ever known. He knows
Turkey and Turkish politics closely and is an honorable person with strong
ethics. Therefore if Mr. Bayar becomes the new leader of the DTP, he would
bring a breath of fresh of air into Turkish politics. However, other centre-
right parties will try to benefit from their old affiliations. The
leaderships of these parties have a special relationship with the
supporters of their parties. Therefore they can often count on getting a
number of votes in any election. Thus, a DTP led by Bayar may not get the
total votes of those supporting the old Democrat Party. The success of the
DTP will depend on the race between its getting these votes and the ability
of the old parties to use their old affiliations.”
[14] IF POWELL DOESN’T SUCCEED BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the Middle East problem. A summary of her
column is as follows:
“How easy it was to shatter a fragile peace! Following a year of obstinacy
on both parts, the limits of destruction were surpassed within a very short
time. Now, neither can Arafat control his people without guaranteeing a
solution nor can Sharon give the Israelis a guarantee that he has
eradicated the roots of terrorism. It is a historical lesson in politics
that achievement is knowing where to conclude the negotiations successfully
without getting to a point of no return. After crossing that threshold,
it’s not possible to calculate what will happen and what effects will
follow. Will Secretary of State Powell’s visit to the region lead to the
desired result? Not just Israel, but a large map which will be influenced
by developments in the Middle East is curiously waiting the answer to this
question. It cannot be said that Secretary of State Powell got the support
of the Arab world before he arrived in Israel. As long as the Israeli
occupation continues, no open support should have been expected. For days
on end there have been demonstrations in Arab countries supporting Arafat
and the groups resisting occupation. While Arafat is denouncing suicide
bombings against Israelis in the harshest of terms, the statement by his
wife that she sees them as the legal fight of a nation under occupation
showed what kind of a balance the public reaction required. The Israeli
public is in a different mood entirely. The announcement by the Labor Party
that it would not withdraw from the government during a a state of war
gives some idea of the public support for Sharon’s policies. Today in
Israel, everyone shares the belief that Sharon is working for Israel’s
right to exist. The support for the army has grown contrary to the early
days of the war. Commentaries in Israeli newspapers have requested that the
US not act as a mediator but rather deliver an ultimatum to the Arabs. On
the other hand, Hamas is saying that whatever Arafat might declare, suicide
bombings would continue as a measure for self-defence.
Following his talks with Arab leaders, the picture greeting him in Israel
and Palestine showed Powell how difficult his job was. The statement
issued after the three-hour Powell-Arafat meeting was not promising. Both
sides held their positions. Israel would like a cease-fire first, and then
a statement by Arafat as to how he would develop control mechanisms to stop
suicide bombings. The Palestinian administration isn’t satisfied by
Israel’s decisions to loosen the occupation in Ramallah, Jennin, and
Bethlehem, and would like the occupation to end. What will happen if
Powell’s initiative fails? Most probably the region will have to try fresh
beginnings, which will then lead to more suffering.”
ARCHIVE
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