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Turkish Press Review, 97-08-19
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] FRANCE SUPPORTS TURKISH THESIS
[02] QUIET FUNERAL FOR MURDERED TURKISH CYPRIOT
[03] TURKISH FIRM DEVELOPS NEW CANCER TREATMENT
[04] DEMIREL AWARDS TOP TRAVEL AGENCIES
[05] STATE FUNDS TO OHAL PROVINCES INCREASE IN 1991-97 PERIOD
[06] INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS INSTITUTE OPENS MEETING
[07] 'SPECIAL TEAM' TO FIGHT MONEY LAUNDERING
[08] FIRE IN TURKISH HOUSE
[09] GAP IS A MODEL FOR THE WORLD
[10] ECEVIT GIVES HISTORIC WARNING TO EUROPE
[11] IMF SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT
[12] ACCELERATION IN THE PRIVATIZATION PROCESS
[13] MOODY'S: TURKEY DOES NOT NEED IMF SUPPORT
[14] TURKEY-TRNC PARTNERSHIP IMPROVES
[15] IRAQ OPENS DOORS TO EXPORTERS
[16] FOREIGN TRADE COMPLEX IN ISTANBUL
[17] INCENTIVES FOR EXPORTERS
[18] TURKEY TENDER TO SELL 250,000 TONS OF BARLEY
[19] RESEARCHERS UNCOVER ANCIENT RUINS
[20] RESTORATION OF DIYARBAKIR CITY WALLS VITAL
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
AUGUST 19, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning
[01] FRANCE SUPPORTS TURKISH THESIS
It is reported that France supports Cyprus integration with the EU as a
whole island. French Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Yves Doutriaux
made a statement regarding the meetings held in the Glion town in
Switzerland in order to solve the Cyprus problem and said: "It is
evident that the process of EU membership should be realized following a
political solution to the Cyprus problem". Meanwhile, Britain also
wants the international society to exert more efforts for the solution
of the Cyprus problem. Deputy Foreign Minister Doug Henderson said in a
statement that they were determined to find a solution to this difficult
problem. /Milliyet/
[02] QUIET FUNERAL FOR MURDERED TURKISH CYPRIOT
The murder of a Turkish Cypriot on Saturday in Greek Cyprus continues to
draw strong criticism from the top levels of the Turkish Cypriot
administration. Earlier on Saturday police reported that a hooded
gunman shot dead a Turkish Cypriot in the Greek Cypriot coastal town of
Limassol. Cihan Necip Hakyemez, 38, was killed as he was riding a
motorcycle in the Turkish Cypriot neighbourhood of the town, by four
bullets fired from a close range.
Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas said yesterday that Greek
Cypriots consider all Turkish Cypriots, living on the Greek side as
"spies of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". The body of
Hakyemez was handed over, for burial, to relatives in northern Cyprus
and to the Turkish Cypriot administration by the United Nations Peace
keeping force residing on the island. /All papers/
[03] TURKISH FIRM DEVELOPS NEW CANCER TREATMENT
A Turkish company has developed a promising new drug to treat several
different types of cancer and has announced that tests on humans will
begin soon. Forbes magazine reported that medical circles are excited
about the new drug developed by Turkish doctor Rifat Pamukcu at a
company founded by Dr.Pamukcu and a colleague. /Hurriyet/
[04] DEMIREL AWARDS TOP TRAVEL AGENCIES
President Suleyman Demirel presented commemorative awards to last year's
top 134 Turkish travel agencies in ceremonies held in Istanbul
yesterday. In speaking to the assembled guests, Demirel pointed out
that tourism was one of the most important development sectors.
"Tourism activity is not just an economic affair" said the President.
"It is one of the best shortcuts that will bring us closer to the
civilized world". The travel agencies were those that earned $1 million
or more in foreign currency revenue in 1996. Demirel presented each
agency with a plaque. All the travel agencies are members of the
Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), which is made up of
3,066 travel agencies. /Sabah/
[05] STATE FUNDS TO OHAL PROVINCES INCREASE IN 1991-97 PERIOD
In the 1991-97 period, some TL 228.3 trillion have been invested into
the provinces of the Emergency Rule Region (OHAL). According to the
State Planning Institution (DPT) data, public investments to the OHAL
were not effected by state budget cuts. Among 10 OHAL provinces,
Diyarbakir received the most state investment with TL 83.1 trillion in
the 1991-97 period. /All papers/
[06] INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS INSTITUTE OPENS MEETING
The 51st Term International Statistics Institute Conference opened late
Monday afternoon at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre. President
Suleyman Demirel officially inaugurated the conference which is to
continue until 26 August. Participants have come from all over the
world to attend the extensive meetings. /Hurriyet/
[07] 'SPECIAL TEAM' TO FIGHT MONEY LAUNDERING
The Financial Crimes Research Council has announced the creation of a
"Special team" to fight money laundering. Turkey was given until
September by the OECD to implement measures to stop the spreading of
money laundering and the introduction of a "Special Team"- a name that
has until now only been used for special police anti-terrorist squads-
should go a long way to allay OECD concerns. The OECD's Financial
Action Group is set to meet again in Paris on August 26-28 where they
will discuss Turkey's latest moves in trying to stop the laundering of
dirty money. /Hurriyet-Sabah/
[08] FIRE IN TURKISH HOUSE
The house of a Turkish family living in the Goldenstedt area of Germany
burned down the previous night. There were no casualties during the
fire. Police officials have noted that the reason for the fire was
probably an electrical fault. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] GAP IS A MODEL FOR THE WORLD
Leading water experts of the world, who gathered in Stockholm on 8-16
August for an International Water Symposium, discussed water problems
around the world. Stockholm Water Symposium Scientific Committee Member
from Oxford University Prof.Asit Biswas said that the basic theme of
next year's symposium would be "Key role of the water in economic and
social development" and added that the Southeastern Anatolia Project
(GAP) would be the best example. He noted that the Turkish nation
should be proud of GAP. /Milliyet/
[10] ECEVIT GIVES HISTORIC WARNING TO EUROPE
Deputy Prime Minister Ecevit has issued a historic warning to a Europe
that is shying away from opening its doors to Turkey. Ecevit pointed
out that Turkey does not need to become an EU member to improve its
economy. "There are a number of other choices like the US, Canada,
Japan, China, India and Russia," the Turkish deputy prime minister said.
He accused Europe of deliberately undermining the Cyprus negotiation
process and added that this was a challenge not only against Turkey, but
also against the US that has pressed for the materialization of the
direct talks between the leaders of the two communities. /Hurriyet/
[11] IMF SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT
IMF officials have voiced support for the Motherleft-D coalition
government. Stanley Fisher, a top level IMF representative, has sent a
letter to State Minister in charge of the national economy, Gunes Taner,
pledging that the IMF was ready to contribute to the economic programme
initiated by the cabinet.
State Minister Taner in turn said that they had a clear picture of the
economic situation in the country, adding that the government has made
price hikes postponed for three years. He noted that the ultimate aim
was to stabilize the economy and pull down inflation to the 20 percent
mark. /Milliyet/
[12] ACCELERATION IN THE PRIVATIZATION PROCESS
Following his recent appointment as Chairman of the Privatization
Administration, Ugur Bayar is planning a number of moves designed to
accelerate the process of privatization. Etibank, GSM, Turk Telekom and
Erdemir are among the first public establishments to be sold off by
Bayar in the next few months. The new privatization boss is planning to
increase the amount of money to be deposited by companies willing to
take part in the biddings in a move to give higher chances to companies
really able to operate the establishments. Transparency in biddings is
another issue given importance by Bayar who pledges that the public will
be given detailed information about developments related to the
biddings. /Radikal/
[13] MOODY'S: TURKEY DOES NOT NEED IMF SUPPORT
David Larson, Chairman of the Turkey Desk at Moody's rating company,
said that Turkey does not need IMF financial support to stabilize its
economy. He added that the anti-inflation protocol recently signed
between the Treasury and the Turkish Central Bank was a very important
development that reinforced Turkey's credibility in international
markets. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] TURKEY-TRNC PARTNERSHIP IMPROVES
Following the failure of the second round of talks between the leaders
of the two communities living in Cyprus, now Turkey and Northern Cyprus
will concentrate on steps envisaged to accelerate the process of
integration between the two countries. The Association Council is now
working on the establishment of a commission comprised of
representatives of the two countries to elaborate measures for enhancing
bilateral cooperation. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] IRAQ OPENS DOORS TO EXPORTERS
The Foreign Trade Undersecretariat has announced that there could be
great opportunities for Turkish firms to invest in Iraq. It is reported
that with the permission of the Security Council of the United Nations
Iraq could realise $1.3 billion's worth importing within the next four
months.
Officials said that according to the decision of the Security Council,
Iraq could export oil and oil products worth up to $2 billion by 8
December, 1997, and that the income would be used to meet food, medicine
and humanitarian needs. They wanted Turkish exporters to be quick to to
take advantage of exporting to Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] FOREIGN TRADE COMPLEX IN ISTANBUL
Okan Oguz, Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly said that Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz would lay the foundation of a new foreign trade
complex in Istanbul which will cost $ 120 million. He added that the
complex would help Istanbul to take its place among world fashion and
trade centers. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] INCENTIVES FOR EXPORTERS
In order to increase exporting to $ 50 billion by 2000, the Foreign
Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) has prepared new incentives. The Money,
Credit and Coordination Board has approved some of the incentives which
will be used for foreign promotion, fairs and education. The DTM has
also worked on new incentives to increase the technology level of small
and middle scale enterprises. /Milliyet/
[18] TURKEY TENDER TO SELL 250,000 TONS OF BARLEY
Turkey's state Grain Board (TMO) will hold a tender on August 26 to
export 250,000 tons of white feed barley, board officials said
yesterday. They said the barley would come from the TMO's purchases
from the 1997_98 crop, which so far total 1.68 million tons. According
to the tender terms, the TMO will sell 150,000 tons out of Mersin and
100,000 tons out of Derince. /All papers/
[19] RESEARCHERS UNCOVER ANCIENT RUINS
Achaeologists carrying out excavations in the village of Yenikent in
Eskisehir have discovered a new underground city. Istanbul University
scholar Turan Efe headed the excavation team which found the ruins of
buildings and housing materials six meters underground, dating to
3,000-4,000 B.C. A housing complex which the researchers think was used
as a palace was also found. Aside from the architectural ruins, baked
soil, stone tools and bones were also found. The existence of two
Syrian bottles made it clear that the province had links with people
from that region. /All papers/
[20] RESTORATION OF DIYARBAKIR CITY WALLS VITAL
The historical six-kilometer walls surrounding the southeastern city of
Diyarbakir are in danger of disintegration. A report, prepared by the
Governor's Office of Diyarbakir, said that some restoration work had
been undertaken but the funds provided by the Cultural Ministry are
insufficient. It was stressed that if the Diyarbakir wall was promoted
more as a tourist destination this would be of great benefit to both the
region and the state, as well as help in the preservation of an
important historical site. UNESCO and the World Bank will provide
financial assistance to continue the project. /Cumhuriyet/
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