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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-27Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>27.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... THE U.S. STRATEGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND TURKEY -BY SUKRU[02] ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)[03] ECEVIT BEGINS HIS VISIT TO THE U.S.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit left Ankara yesterday for an official visit to the U.S. Ecevit is due to start week-long talks in Washington and New York. Accompanied by key ministers from his coalition government, Ecevit will discuss the most critical political and economic issues with top U.S. officials, President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore. /All papers/[04] ECEVIT: "FULL MEMBERSHIP IS OUR RIGHT"Ecevit responded to questions concerning Turkey's full EU membership and said, "I am not dreaming on this issue. Turkey's right stemming from our history, geography, culture and international agreements is full membership, Turkey is not only a European country but a Black Sea, Mediterranean, Asian and Central Asian country. Turkey is the country which performs the best function in the integration process of Europe and Asia". Ecevit added that sooner or later the EU would come knocking on Turkey's door. /Turkiye/[05] REPPAS: "TURKEY'S EU PATH LEADS THROUGH CYPRUS"Greek Government Spokesman Dimitri Reppas has stated that Turkey's EU path leads through Cyprus. Dimitri Reppas said in an interview in the 'Fileleftheros' newspaper published in Southern Cyprus that some negative messages had been sent in statements made by Turkish officials and the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and remarked that as an EU member, Greece had the opportunity to clamp down on the enlargement of the EU. He stated that Turkey should take steps towards a solution to the Cyprus problem in addition to its good neighbourly relations with Greece, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] STATE MINISTER UNLU CONGRATULATES WRESTLERSState Minister Fikret Unlu sent his congratulations to Turkish wrestler Nazmi Avluca, who won a gold medal during the 45th World Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship in Athens, Greece. He also congratulated Seref Eroglu, who won a silver medal. State Minister Unlu said in his message that Turkish wrestlers had delighted the Turkish people with their achievements during these hard days, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Turkey ranked fourth as a team during the Championship.[07] SO-CALLED PARLIAMENT DEMOLISHEDIt is reported that the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile convened during their 11th general council meeting in Brussels and decided that all authorities of the so-called Parliament would be transferred to the National Congress. The head of the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile, Yasar Kaya, stated that the Parliament had completed its mission and and added that they would continue with their initiatives in the political arena. /Turkiye/[08] 'DOUBLE STANDARD SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED'The Head of the Turkish delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Uluc Gurkan, said that Turkey's sensitivity concerning the fight against terrorism was beginning to be understood in Europe. Gurkan stated that the attitude of Russian politicians to terrorism had previously been contrary to Turkey's views ożn the issue; he added that, however, following the recent bombings in Moscow, they had begun to support the Turkish view. Gurkan remarked that a double standard imposed on Turkey would not be beneficial for Europe. /Turkiye/[09] SURPRISE FOR VICTIMSThe Minister of Public Works and Housing, Koray Aydin, said that the problem of temporary shelter will have been solved in Duzce by the end of October and in the whole disaster region by the end of November. The initial group of 184 prefabricated houses constructed by the General Directorate of Disasters within the Public Works and Housing Ministry, were distributed to their owners during a handing-over ceremony also attended by Koray Aydin. /Turkiye/[10] TURKISH OPERA SINGER'S SUCCESS ABROADTurkish opera singer, Umit Mithat Karakelle, achieved an important distinction abroad. During an international competition called "Concours Lyrique International De Gascogne" held in France, he ranked first in the opera category. The competition was organized by the Helia T Hezan Music Association and the Municipality of Riume. /Turkiye/[11] PROJECTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONWith the GEF-2 project, launched by the Forestry Ministry and supported by the World Bank, the main 'biogeographic zone' in Turkey including Kayseri Sultansazligi's Bird Haven, Antalya Koprulu Kanyon (Canyon with a Bridge), Artvin Camili Ormani (Forest with a Mosque) and Igneada Longos Forest in Thrace will be protected. The project is expected to cost $8.5 million. /Turkiye/[12] HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIRThe High Coordination Board for Human Rights, set up with a circular during the 55th government, will be turned into a 'Human Rights Chair'. The Chair will observe whether laws, regulations and circulars are in line with human rights or not. If the Chair is not 'positive' about them, then these regulations will not go into effect. /Cumhuriyet/[13] VIOLENT PRISON RIOTSA riot in Ankara Prison took place yesterday after last week's bloody mafia conflict in Istanbul's Bayrampasa Prison. Eleven prisoners died while 26 people, including six soldiers, were wounded in Ankara Prison yesterday. Answering questions shortly before his departure for Washington, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that he had not been informed of any uprising but that he had been told that a tunnel was being dug by the prisoners. The battle between security forces and prisoners took place after guards tried to search for weapons and to transfer some of the extremely left-wing prisoners. /All papers/[14] TURKEY PLACED WITHIN G-20The G-7 countries decided that Turkey should be placed within the G-20, a group that has been formed to prevent the possible outbreak of another global economic crisis. An 11-page report was made public following the five-hour meeting of G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Washington during which the Ministers assessed the latest developments in the global economy. /All papers/[15] YASED: "TURKEY CAN ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN CAPITAL"The Foreign Capital Association's (YASED) General Secretary, Abdurrahman Ariman, said that the earthquake disaster had revealed the good intentions of foreigners and added, "If Turkey sends out positive signals, it can attract the foreign capital it desires very quickly". Ariman said that the World Bank and the IMF had changed the outlook for Turkey to positive and that this development must be carefully assessed. /All papers/[16] TOFALFINA MOVES MAJORITY OF ITS INVESTMENTS TO TURKEYPhilippe Lamboley, director of Tofalfina Europe and Mediterranean, said that Turkey is their company's global priority investment zone. He said, "There is a huge demand for energy and the need for investment in Turkey. For that reason, Tofalfina has moved the majority of its investments to Turkey". /All papers/[17] ERCEL: "INFLATION RATE WILL DECREASE TO 25 % NEXT YEAR"Official meetings between the Turkish delegation and the IMF have started in Washington. The Head of Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, said that everyone should be aware that the inflation rate will be 25 % next year in Turkey. He added that the key issue during the meetings would be the year 2000's fiscal year budget. /Star/[18] GREENPEACE IN IZMIT GULFThe "Rainbow Warrior", the Greenpeace research vessel, has launched an investigation in order to examine the pollution in Izmit Gulf caused by the earthquake disaster last month. The mud samples taken from the bottom of Izmit Gulf will be examined in a research laboratory in Britain. /Sabah/[19] MANAVGAT "PEACE WATERS" READY TO BE EXPORTEDIt was reported that the Manavgat Water Distibution Venture, which is known as "The Peace Waters" by the public, will prevent a war over water in the Middle East countries, reported the Anatolian News Agency.The Turkish State Water Works' General Director, Dogan Altinbilek, who came to Antalya to attend the International Big Dams Congress, answered questions from the Anatolian News Agency reporter. Altinbilek said, "The Manavgat Water Distribution Venture has been planned to export water. Preparations have been completed and now this project is ready to be exported. An international tender will be put out for the export of this water. The sale of 180 million cubic metres of water is envisaged each year. During President Demirel's visit to Israel, this issue was placed on the agenda. Moves are being initiated to sell water to Jordan. 147 million dollars have been spent on this project, which will be an important element of balance, welfare and peace in the Middle East. [20] OPERA-HOUSE RAISES ITS CURTAIN FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMSThe State Opera and Ballet Company (DOB) is starting the 1999-2000 art season earlier than previous years with performances in aid of the earthquake victims, reported the Anatolian News Agency.The Directorate General of DOB, will welcome the new season with performances in Ankara, Izmir, Mersin and Antalya in October. During the new season, Ankara DOB will salute art lovers with 11 new works. DOB will present 3 pieces in Istanbul, 6 productions in Izmir and 9 performances in Mersin during the 1999-2000 art season. The youngest member of the DOB group, that is, Antalya DOB, will greet art lovers with 7 performances during the new seaon. DOB will go to Denmark with its production entitled "Aida" between 16th and 23th October. /Milliyet/ [21] DENKTAS CRITICIZES KLERIDES' UN REMARKSA speech made by Glafkos Klerides, the Greek-Cypriot leader, at the UN has contributed to the distrust on the Island and confirmed that there is no ground for joint negotiations, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas said. In a written statement, Denktas stated that he hoped that the international community will see the realities on the Island in light of his speech. Denktas harshly criticized Klerides' statement at the UN, which, he said, was made in the name of the whole of Cyprus. /All papers/[22] SEVEN THOUSAND WORKPLACES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATEDThe Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Tradesmen's and Artisans' Confederation (TTAC), Ali Pasa Aksu, declared that seven thousand workplaces have collapsed in the earthquake region. During their tour of observation with the TTAC's Executive Board Members, they discovered that seven thousand tradesman's and artisan's workplaces out of 50 thousand, had been devastated, while some others were damaged. Requesting that the province of Sakarya be included among the priority development areas, Aksu said that they were trying to help the tradesmen and artisans, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[23] PRECAUTIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000Turkey's preparations for the year 2000 are being made available for inspection by the Global 2000 Coordinating Group. Central Bank officials stated that the Global 2000 Coordinating Group's briefing and a report concerning this issue are very respectable and a sort of prestige indicator. It was stated that Turkey and the above-mentioned institution had sat down a table to evaluate the preparations to solve problem of Year 2000 (Y2K) Compliance in the finance sector and the payment systems. It was reported that the Central Bank, State Planning Organization (DPT) and the Turkish Banks' Organization had been trying to ensure that the reports and charts that will be prepared by the Global 2000 Group reflect the situation of the country realistically.The Central Bank has announced the precautions that it took previously against the problem of Y2K compliance. The most important was to prepare auxiliary bank-note stocks in order to meet the possible cash demand. The Central Bank has begun to fill stores located in various places in Turkey with auxiliary bank-notes. The Central Bank is also planning to keep sufficient cash in its foreign exchange accounts, in the opinion of reporters abroad. /Milliyet/ [24] 7.5 QUADRILLION LIRA IN INTEREST HAVE BEEN PAID IN EIGHT MONTHSThe deficit in the budget is becoming deeper because the increase in tax revenue is less than that of interest payments and other transfers. During the first eight months of this year the difference between interest payments and tax revenue increased rapidly.In the January-August term, tax revenue increased 51.3% according to last year and was 579.5 trillion lira. However, in the above-mentioned period, interest payments made from the Budget climbed to 7 quadrillion 577.9 trillion TL, an increase of 69.3%; 7 quadrillion 57.3 lira of this amount is internal and 520.6 trillion is external interest. The ratio of interest payments to tax revenue is 88.3%; this rate stood at 78.9% this time last year. /Milliyet/ [25] 951 EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN KIRKLARELIIt was stated that the number of earthquake victims who live in the Gaziosmanpasha Immigrant Guesthouse in Kirklareli is 951. In a statement made at the Guesthouse, a total of 274 families, comprising 1055 people from the earthquake-hit regions, had come to the Guesthouse. 104 earthquake-affected people had left the Guest-house for various reasons. /Milliyet/[26] KOHEN IN THE GREEK PRESSOur columnist, Sami Kohen, became the guest columnist on the Greek `Elefterotipiya' newspaper. This development, which is considered to be a new stage in the positive atmosphere between Turkey and Greece that occurred after the earthquake, is proving the fact that the press in both countries is proving the rapprochement between the people of the two country.In his article, Sami Kohen said, "The atmosphere of sympathy existing between the people of the two countries is making it easier for diplomats to solve the problems between us." Kohen pointed out the importance of this climate and said, "It is important not to miss today's dynamism. In the discussion process, let us advance without establishing great expectations and causing the planned outlook for a new future to falter." `Elefterotipiya' put a title of Kohen's article and wrote: "Turkey-Greece, let us avoid the accident". Furthermore, the newspaper introduced Kohen with the term "exclusive journalist". /Milliyet/ [27] DEFENCE SUMMIT IN ANKARATomorrow, world's giant weapons companies are coming together for the '4th International Defence Industry Aviation and Maritime Fair (IDEF' 99)', in Ankara. From 24 countries, including Prime Ministers, Defence Ministers, and Forces' Commanders, 126 guests are going to attend the Fair; 250 firms from 25 countries will exhibit their latest technologies in weapons and tools. IDEF' 99 is being organized by the Foundation for the Advancement of the Turkish Armed Forces at the Turkish Bird Facilities in Etimesgut. The inauguration of the Fair will be done in a ceremony, with the attendance of President Suleyman Demirel, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and National Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. The Fair will be held in a 15 thousand square-meter open and 8 thousand square-meter closed area, and it will be open between Sept. 28th and Oct. 1st. Meanwhile, firms competing in the race to win the tender launched by Turkey for 7 billion dollar's worth of tanks and 5 billion dollar's worth of attack helicopters during the Fair. /Aksam/[28] 'FEDERATION FOR NORTHERN IRAQ'Hasim Hasimi, a deputy from the Virtue Party, paid a 3 day-visit to Northern Iraq with a group of politicians, as the guest of Barzani, the Leader of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party. Hasimi declared his views after the visit and said that the lack of authority can be demolished only by a federal system and he also added that Barzani has no intention of establishing a free state in the region. The members who participated in the visit are Sebgetullah Seydaoglu, Nurettin Dilek, Hasim Hasimi, Macit Piruzbeyoglu, Mustafa Kemal Tugtamer and Mehmet Mir Dengir Firat. /Aksam/[29] KLERIDES: THE U.S. SHOULD APPLY PRESSUREThe U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, suggested that the Turkish side isn't revealing any good intentions towards the solution of the Cyprus issue and doesn't reply to calls. Meanwhile, according to a broadcast on Greek radio, the Leader of the Greek-Cypriots, Klerides, requesting American pressure on Turkey, stressed that in the case that the influence of the U.S is applied to Turkey, a solution for the Cyprus issue could be obtained. He also noted that they saw the meeting of Clinton-Ecevit as being of great significance. /Aksam/[30] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF NORTHERN RHINE-WESTPHALIA IN TURKEYMichael Vesper, Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, arrived in Turkey to carry out a tour of observation in the quake zone. Vesper and an accompanying delegation came to Istanbul yesterday and will go to Izmit today, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[31] EARTHQUAKE IN MANISAA slight quake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook Manisa, an Aegean region city. The Kandilli Observatory stated that the quake, whose epicentre was in the Akhisar district of Manisa, took place at 9:38 p.m. and was felt in Izmir as well. No casualty or material damage was recorded. /All papers/[32] SMALL BOMB EXPLODES IN TURKISH RED CRESCENT CLINICA bomb exploded at a Turkish Red Crescent clinic entrance without causing any injuries late Saturday. The explosion shattered ground floor windows at the five-story building on the European side of Istanbul. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. /All papers/[33] TURKISH-MADE TOY CAME FIRSTAt the 'Toy of the Year' competion, held every year in the U.S.A, this year for the second time, a toy produced by the Turkish Company 'PoliUSA', came first. The toy 'Colorful Space Ball' was chosen by a jury, consisting of a thousand children, as 'Toy of the Year'. /Aksam/[34] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[35] THE U.S. STRATEGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND TURKEY -BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the U.S. strategy concerning Eurasia and Turkey's role. A summary of his column is as follows:"The founder of geopolitical science, the Briton Sir Harold MacKinder stated in 1904 that whoever ruled Eurasia would rule the world. This statement formes the basic principle of U.S. strategy in the 21st century. Washington aims to protect its status as the only super power in the world in the next century. Therefore, the US has to protect its supremacy over the balance in Eurasia. Otherwise, if Eurasia falls under the control of a state or a coalition of states, the U.S. will inevitably lose its supremacy. Due its location between three continents and her vast territory, Turkey holds a unique identity as the only strategic tie between the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Central-Asian Turkish-Speaking Republics. Turkey, which is a door opening onto Eurasia, at the same provides an opportunity for the reflection of NATO's security zone and the U.S. influence on Central Asia. In his book on the subject former U.S. Security Advisor Bryzenski states that the Kremlin would like to take control of the territories belonging to the former Soviet Union and describes Turkey's strategic function against this threat as follows: "Turkey stabilizes the Black Sea Region, controls the transport routes from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and balances Russia in the Caucasus. Instability in Turkey would lead to an unleashing of violence in the Balkans and Russia's taking control of the independent Caucasus States." Thus, if Azerbaijan, the reservoir of the fuel resources in the Caspian Basin, came under the control of Russia, Moscow would form a wall between Central Asia and Turkey and isolate the region from the West. In that case, the independence of the Central-Asian States, which would not be able to market their energy supplies to the West without the control of Moscow, would have no meaning. Therefore, the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project has a special meaning for the US and it sees stability in Turkey as a priority. However, ethnic lobbies which are able to deviate the US policy from its national interests make it harder for Turkey's key strategic location to be evaluated properly. Therefore, it is inevitable that the most sensitive issue on Prime Minister Ecevit's agenda during the visit will be Cyprus. However, the U.S. should not allow such sensitivities to cast a shadow on the visit." [36] AS ECEVIT GOES TO WASHINGTON -BY ISMET SOLAK (HURRIYET)Colunist Ismet Solak writes on Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Washington. A summary of his column is as follows:"Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Washington is of great importance to us. We have wounds to patch up and even debts to collect from the time of the Gulf War. However, as we are looking to them for help, the US Administration is trying to obtain some concessions from us. I do not believe that Ecevit will make any concessions on the Cyprus issue. Prime Minister Ecevit will not take any decisions contrary to the wishes of the Turkish-Cypriots. The Prime Minister will also place the Nothern Iraq file on the table. The US administration will probably bring up the Clerical School in Heybeliada. If the Clerical School is to be opened, the Clinton Administration has to persuade Greece to allow the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, living under oppression, to practice their own religion and elect their own muftis under the same freedom, and put an end to Turkish hostility in school books. The earthquake disaster has opened the door to hope; Turco-Greek friendship can allow the passage through this door. As the son of a family who has felt Greek oppression with all its bitterness, I am voicing my concerns. Our hopes lie with the Prime Minister." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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