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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-08-14Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 147/98 -- 14.8.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Turkish Cypriot Unions express support for Incirlik Base StrikeAccording to Anatolia News Agency (13.8.98) Turkish Cypriot Labour Unions sent a message of solidarity to the workers of Harb-Is (Federation of Turkish War Industry and Allied Workers Unions) who have been on strike at the Incirlik Air Base since 23 July.The ``Solidarity Message'' was issued by the Turkish Cypriot Labour Unions and Revolutionary Labour Unions Federation and 20 labour unions in the occupied area. (MY/Chr.L) [02] Turkey repays $7 billion in foreign debtsAnatolia News Agency (13.8.98) reports that Turkey repaid 122.6 million US dollars in foreign debts between 3 and 12 August. The foreign debt payments since the beginning of the year reached 7 billion US dollars.The Central Bank data show that between 3 and 12 August, the Treasury paid 91.3 million US dollars; the Central Bank paid 7.1 million US dollars and the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry paid 24.2 million US dollars in foreign debts. As of 12 August, the total amount of foreign debt repayments since 1 January 1998 reached 6 billion 966.9 million US dollars. [03] Turkish parties (MHP,BBP) consider mergerTurkish daily YENI YUZYIL (13.8.98) reports that the ``nationalist right'' parties, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Great Unity Party (BBP), which decided not to join the ``front'' under Tansu Ciller´s leadership, are taking the first step towards merger. The informal talks have begun between the two parties, which under pressure from the grass roots, first considered an election alliance and then a merger.The first signals of a merger between the two parties appeared when Yasar Yildirim, BBP´s Kizilcahamam district mayor in Ankara, went over to the MHP a month ago and encountered no obstacles from the BBP leadership for his move. What is more, Yildirim announced that he would be the joint MHP-BBP mayoral candidate for Yenimahelle district of Ankara. The growing grass roots pressure and the approaching elections have spurred moves towards a merger between the two parties. The MHP leadership said that though there have not been discussions at the central administrative level, the ``sounding out'' talks are continuing between the parties. It was also said that the continuation of these talks was the reason why MHP and BBP did not join the ``front''. [04] Turkey extends contract with US lobbying firmEsen Unur writes in HURRIYET (13.8.98) that Turkey has extended for another three months, as of 15 September, its contract with Patten Boggs, to whom it had paid $2 million (548 billion lira) for a year of lobbying activity in the United States. Turkey will pay another $500,000 (137 billion lira) to Patten Boggs for the three-month period extending from 15 September to 15 December.In accordance with the contract signed by State Minister Cavit Kavak in the name of the Turkish Republic on 15 September 1997, Patten Boggs is expected to do the following:
The company, with which a contract has been signed to fulfill the above tasks, was paid $1 million on 30 September 1997, $500,000 on 15 April 1998, and $500,000 on 15 July 1998. According to the official records in Washington, which are open to the public and are available for anyone´s inspection, in one year, Patten Boggs secured certain appointments for visiting Turkish officials and organized receptions. Having noticed shortcomings in Patten Boggs´ lobbying activities, the Turkish officials asked for cancellation of the new three-monthly contract, and that to obtain the new contract the firm has told the Turkish officials that it is going to cooperate with another lobbying firm. Patten Boggs, which is known as a good law firm but without much lobbying experience, is said to be the favourite of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. Unal Durak, a Turk working for this firm, is said to have played a role in the signing and the extension of the contract. [05] Turkish Islamic intellectuals on the religion-state relationshipTurkish Islamic intellectuals have gathered recently in Aban and had a three-day debate on the religion-state relationship and secularism.Following the debate a final declaration was issued, the main points of which are as follows: ``We believe that with the exception of the universal and fundamental values and principles of a democratic law-based state, Islam leaves the ordering of the details of a political regime to the society itself. The state, acting as a law-based institution, should be neutral as regards religious beliefs and philosophical convictions. It should protect the citizens´ right to believe or not to believe and remove obstacles before the exercise of their beliefs. Secularism, in essence, is a standpoint confined to the state, and therefore a secular state cannot arbitrate in matters of religion or pursue a religious policy. Secularism should not be used as a restrictive principle in determining and cataloging fundamental rights and freedoms. At the root of some current problems of Turkey lies the intervention in and sensitivity towards the lifestyle of the citizens. Secularism is not the antithesis of religion, and should be interpreted as non-interference in the lifestyle of individuals. Secularism should rather expand the individual´s field of freedom, and should not, in particular, engender discrimination against women and deprive them of their public rights. The obstacles before the deepening of the liberal democracy and the strengthening of the civilian society should be removed for Turkey to overcome its predicaments. While the citizens should put an end to the habit of expecting everything from the state, the state in turn should stop seeing the citizens as being in need of a guardianship. No reason or justification could be advanced to prevent the people from living according to their religious or philosophical beliefs and convictions, or to penalize, dismiss from public position, and deprived anyone of educational or other public services in the absence of a clear public order law that derives its legality from the supremacy of the law. The principle of secularism should be constitutionally defined as no concessions to any religious or philosophical outlook in the exercise of human rights on the basis of absolute equality and in the impartial enforcement of justice. And in the second stage, all the relevant regulations should be revised to eliminate the citizens´ anxieties and suffering that have reached serious dimensions. We, the congregates in Abant, believe in the following: Having different views and dispositions and the preference for different lifestyles do not prevent people from adopting sound decisions for the benefit of the country. No matter how big our problems are, they could still be solved through a citizens´ initiative. We believe that the conclusions we have drawn from the three-day debate on the religion-state relationship will help provide an answer to the common aspirations and expectations across Turkey.'' (Source: ZAMAN daily 29.7.98) From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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