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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-05Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>05.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] LEADERS SUMMITPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli and Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz held a meeting yesterday. It is reported that Ecevit's visit to the U.S. was discussed during the meeting. Ecevit said that the statement made by U.S. President Bill Clinton saying that there could be no return to the pre-1974 situation on Cyprus was a positive and realistic approach. /Turkiye/[03] PAPANDREU RETURNS HOMEGreek Foreign Minister George Papandreu pointed to a bright future between Turkey and his own country based on dialogue and the assistance of politicians who were interested in peace in the region. Speaking yesterday at the opening of Istanbul University's 1999-2000 academic year, Papandreu said that the peoples of both countries were in favour of peace and would bring it about no matter what differing interpretations there may be on the meaning of 'world peace'. He stressed that he saw the university as the strongest platform to push for peace.Papandreu stated that where Turkey's membership of the EU was concerned, no double standards should be applied. Greece was applying a single standard, but at the same time it was essential that Turkey equally apply a single standard. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who opened the session at Istanbul University stressed that he and his Greek counterpart were trying to break new ground and find new words to utter concerning the rapprochement between the two countries. These words included 'peace, understanding and shared benefits'. After Papandreu spoke at the Istanbul University opening, he met Cem for lunch before returning to Greece. /All papers/ [04] ITALIAN COURT GRANTS OCALAN POLITICAL ASYLUMAn Italian court granted political asylum to the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who is currently imprisoned in Turkey awaiting the decision of an appeals court regarding the death sentence that he was given in June. /All papers/[05] ECEVIT: "ITALIAN DECISION IS OF NO VALUE"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit evaluated the Italian Court of Appeal's decision to grant political asylum to the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, and said that this decision is of no value since Ocalan is currently in Turkey. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk described the asylum decision as impossible to be implemented. He added, "This issue will be used by some circles against Turkey in the upcoming days". /Turkiye/[06] AMNESTY BILL DISCUSSIONS POSTPONEDParliament's Constitutional Commission has postponed the discussions on the Amnesty Bill, which are to focus on making revisions to the proposed legislation. The commission's decision to postpone the debate came as a result of Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk's inability to attend the meeting that had been scheduled for Monday. The Commission decided to ask for an additional 10-day period to work on the Bill and to form a sub-committee. /All papers/[07] TURKISH AGRICULTURAL DELEGATION IN TASKENTA Turkish agricultural delegation headed by Ali Ihsan Gultekin, the General Director of the Agricultural Companies, left for Taskent, Uzbekistan yesterday. The delegation will go on a tour of inspection in Taskent, Namangan, Andican, Cizzah and Semerkant. The Heads of the Agricultural Unions of Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay and Urfa and the Regional Director of State Water Works (DSI) in Adana are some of the members of the delegation, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] REPORTER FROM THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN TURKEYBritish reporter Michael Hancock assigned by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in order to investigate the negative impact of the earthquake disaster will go on a tour of inspection and conduct his research in Turkey on October 5-7. Hancock will prepare a report containing his observations and then present it to the Commission for Social Health and Family Affairs. The Social and Development Fund's Executive Council had previously decided to offer loans totalling 300 million Euros to Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster. The Social Development Fund is expected to present the loans in November after Turkey submits plans prepared for the reconstruction of the disaster region, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[09] NIKIFOROS EXERCISESThe Foreign Ministry said that the 'Nikiforos' military exercise jointly organized by the Greek-Cypriot Administration and Greece was causing concern over security and stability on Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said that it weas natural for Turkey to take every precaution against military preparations which constitute a direct threat towards the security of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The statement remarked that the exercise carried out using fighter aircraft and military vessels from Greece was not in line with the positive atmosphere which is trying to be established on Cyprus. The 'Nikiforos' exercise is being held between October 2 and 7, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[10] PUBLIC BANKS TO BE PRIVATIZEDThe State Minister responsible for the Economy, Recep Onal, said that during the meetings with the IMF, the issue of the privatization of public banks was taken up. Onal added, "The Ziraat and Halk Banks will be made autonomous while others will be privatized". Onal stated that the Supreme Banking Council would be activated as of September 23, 2000. Recep Onal, who returned to Turkey after completing his round of talks in the U.S., held a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport yesterday. Onal pointed out that during the meetings, they had also discussed certain restrictions on public expenses. He recalled that they would submit the Budget to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in mid-October. Onal said, "The IMF delegation will again visit Turkey at the end of this month. Since the stand-by agreement concerns the years 2000 and 2001, our deadline for making a decision ends on December 31, 1999. We will declare our decision concerning the stand-by agreement to the IMF before that date". Onal remarked that the emergency relief aid offered by the IMF to Turkey because of the earthquake disaster would be $500 million and added that this amount would be presented to Turkey after October 15. Meanwhile, it is reported that 20% of Tupras will be offered to the public both inside and outside Turkey in March. Meetings have been held with nine banks to find a Turkish partner for consultancy and mediation services together with Salomon Smith Barney in the privatization of Tupras. /Star/[11] KENT-NESTLE CHOCOLATE COOPERATIONMeetings concerning the manufacture of chocolate have been on-going between the Swiss Nestle firm and the Turkish Kent Gida company. The Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Kent Gida, Ozcan Tahincioglu, said, "We have investment incentives totalling $20 million for the manufacture of chocolate. It will be a good beginning to enter the market with Nestle". /Hurriyet/[12] AWARD TO LIVANELI FROM ITALYThe International Composer Award, which competition has been held in Sanremo, Italy for 25 years, was given to a Turkish singer and composer, Zulfu Livaneli, this year. Livaneli will receive his award during a ceremony to be held at Sanremo Ariston Open Air Theatre on October 22. Livaneli will also stage a concert. /Hurriyet/[13] FOREIGN DEBTS OF $81 BILLION TO BE PAIDTurkey will pay nearly $81 billion in foreign debts during the 1999-2004 period. This amount includes a total of $17.9 billion in interest. Meanwhile, the Treasury achieved a net sale of 812.5 trillion TL from the sale of two-year term bonds yesterday. /Milliyet/[14] D'ALEMA TO VISIT TURKEYItalian Prime Minister D'Alema wants to pay an official visit to Turkey at the end of October. Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini visited Turkey last month and declared a new period of peace between the two countries. Turco-Italian relations had become tense because of the crisis over the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. D'Alema is also expected to attend the Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul in November. /Milliyet/[15] 'NO COMPROMISE ON CYPRUS'Gen.Nahit Senoglu, the Commander of the War Academies, said, "We cannot accept any assistance which necessitates a solution based on a Greek view on Cyprus". Senoglu delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the academic year at the National Security Academy yesterday. /Milliyet/[16] SWISS AIR-THY PARTNERSHIPSwiss Air has purchased Lufthansa's shares in Sun Express, in which Turkish Airlines (THY) and Lufthansa were both partners. Thus, Swiss Air has become THY's partner. Swiss Air is also interested in the privatization of THY. /Sabah/[17] DYO TO TRAIN AZERBAIJANI CAR SPRAYERSThe Turkish DYO company will open a 'Training Centre for Automobile Sprayers' in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sprayers who use DYO's car paints and other products will be trained at the Centre. /Sabah/[18] GERMAN TEXTILE COMPANY MERGES WITH DURANER GROUPRudolf Chemie, a German raw material's producer, has merged with the Turkish Duraner Group. The new company is called Rudolf and Duraner. It will produce textile chemicals at a factory in the Bursa Organized Industrial Region. /Sabah/[19] EXPORTS UPExports increased in many sectors in September. In particular, a 30 % increase in exports of automobiles and associated products was remarkable. There was also an increase in the tobacco, mining, tree and forestry products, olive and olive oil sectors./Aksam/[20] FIRST COUGAR TO BE DELIVEREDThe first Cougar out of 30 Cougar helicopters will be delivered within this month. A tender was put out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in February 1997 and the Eurocopter firm won the bidding. The delivery of the helicopters will be completed in October 2002. /Aksam/[21] MASSIVE AID FROM JAPANPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the Japanese Ambassador to Ankara, Asuka Toyama, yesterday. Ecevit said that Japan would donate $3 million for the victims of the earthquake and added that the initial portion of $600,000 had already been delivered. The Japanese Government has also decided to offer loans totalling $200 million for the reconstruction of the disaster region. Five hundred prefabricated houses donated by the Japanese government will come to Turkey on October 19. /Aksam/[22] TURCO-GREEK FRIENDSHIPProf.Spyros Kyritsis, the Head of the Greek Rectors' Committee, who has been invited to the opening of the academic year of the Middle East Technical University (METU), gave the first lecture of this term yesterday. He briefed students on the history of the two countries and explained the technological developments and the conjuncture caused by these developments. He added that the positive atmosphere currently in existence between the two countries should continue. /Aksam/[23] SCHROEDER: "WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TOWARDS CANDIDACY"German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder said that they were looking into ways which will enable the approval of Turkey's EU candidacy during the Helsinki Summit to be held in December. Schroeder who has gone to Athens to attend the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the German-Greek Chamber of Trade met Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis yesterday. Schroeder said that they had also discussed Turco-EU relations. /Aksam/[24] AWARD FOR GLASS PYRAMID IN ANTALYAThe 'Glass Pyramid Sabanci Congress and Fair Centre' constructed in Antalya by the USKON firm received the 'Great Award' by the European Steel Union. A ceremony to mark the occasion was held in London yesterday. /Turkiye/[25] ERTUGRULOGLU REJECTS CAMP DAVID-STYLE TALKSThe Turkish-Cypriot Foreign Minister, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, said yesterday that they will not accept Camp David-style proximity talks on a solution for Cyprus and stressed that any indirect negotiations should take place on the Island. /All papers/[26] DEMIREL'S 'WORLD HABITAT DAY' MESSAGETo mark the occasion of 'World Habitat Day', President Suleyman Demirel circulated a message praising the technological advances mankind has experienced this century and addressing the serious issue of urban migration in Turkey, giving some indications of how this problem should be tackled, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[27] TURCO-POLISH FREE TRADE AGREEMENTA Free Trade Agreement and a Reciprocal Administration Aid and Cooperation Agreement were signed between Turkey and Poland in Ankara yesterday. Following the signing ceremony, replying to questions by journalists concerning the textile quota negotiations with the U.S., State Minister Tunca Toskay indicated that during the meetings, for the last three months of this year and for next year, the possibility of 110 million dollars in additional quota had been obtained. After a journalist recalled critics' comments that "the results expected would not be able to obtained", the Minister replied, "Our delegation performed very well during the meetings and a significant increase in quotas has been obtained. This a point reached after hard negotiations", the Anatolia News Agency reports.[28] JORDANIAN COMMANDER VISITS GEN.ATESThe Anatolia News Agency reported that Jordan's Commander of the Land Forces, Major General Shaher Dergham Al-Naimi, visited Turkey's Commander of the Land Forces, General Atilla Ates.Major General Al-Naimi was welcomed by General Ates when he came to the Land Forces Command. Ates issued a statement to the members of press before the meeting and said that Jordan is a "friendly country" and that there were very close relationships between Jordan and Turkey. General Ates further added that they would discuss cooperation in training with Jordan's Commander of the Land Forces, Al-Naimi and that he believed that this visit would further improve present relations. Major General Al-Naimi said that he was very pleased to be in Turkey. Al-Naimi added that Jordan and Turkey were "brother countries" and that they had a common history. He also pointed out that they were giving importance to the improvement of relations between the two countries. The meeting between the two commanders was closed to the press. [29] ERSUMER GOING TO TURKMENISTAN TOMORROWThe Anatolia News Agency reported that Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer will go to Turkmenistan tomorrow.During the meetings that will be held in Turkmenistan by Ersumer, the project, which envisages the transportation of Turkmenistan's natural gas to Turkey through Caspian and from Turkey to Europe, will be discussed. Ersumer, who will also be welcomed by Turkmenistan's President, Saparmurad Turkmenbasi, will hold meetings with the Minister of Energy Saparmurad Nuriyev and the Minister of Gas and Petroleum, Yollu Gurban Muratov. Cumhur Ersumer will visit Turkmenistan's Deputy Minister of Textile, Ahmet Calik's textile factory near Ashkabad. Ersumer also will lay a wreath at the Earthquake Monument that was erected in memoirs of those who died in the earthquake that occurred in Ashkabad and observe a minute of silence. Ersumer and the delegation with him will return to Turkey on October 7. [30] "TURKEY SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL CANDIDACY STATUS"The Chairman of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi, said that Turkey should have been given the equal candidacy status. Prodi stated that he is expecting the EU Heads of State and government to make a decision evaluating Turkey under the same criteria as the other candidates during the Helsinki Summit. He further added, "We should be open to Turkey; we have this responsibility towards Ankara." Romano Prodi stated that it was important to request all the required political and economic criteria from Ankara in an open way. Prodi also pointed out his opinion on the giving of deadlines to the other candidate members at the Helsinki Summit. Prodi said, "Every country should work according to these. Before my period of duty comes to an end in the year 2005, the EU will certainly have enlarged." /Turkiye/[31] CONCERT OF FRIENDSHIPThe 'Friendship Concert' organized by Turk-Is, Hak-Is, KESK and DISK together with the Greek General Workers' Confederation will be staged on Oct. 12th. at the Harbiye Open Air Theatre in Istanbul. Greek singers Mikis Theodorakis and Maria Farandouri and Turkish singer Zulfu Livanelli will be on stage. The concert will take place in Athens on the following day. /Cumhuriyet/[32] CRACK-DOWNS IN NORTHERN IRAQSome of the units have returned to Turkey who participated in crack-downs which began last week in Northern Iraq by the Turkish Armed Forces in order to destroy PKK camps in the region. Other units are continuing their operations against PKK camps beyond the border in the Metine region. During the crack-downs, 30 terrorists were killed and five soldiers became martyrs. /Cumhuriyet/[33] TROIKA MEETING HELDTroika meetings between Turkey and the European Union were held yesterday in Ankara. In the meetings with Troika, which were organized by Finland, the present President of the EU and its successor, Portugal, in conjuction with the European Commission, the period up to the Helsinki Summit was evaluated. Turkey has indicated that this Summit was the last but the most important chance for the future of relations with the EU. During the meetings, Turkey was represented by a delegation headed by the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, Uluc Ozulker. /Cumhuriyet/[34] TURKISH ART OF CALLIGRAPHYWorks of art chosen from the Sakip Sabanci Collection were exhibited in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Los Angeles County Museum in 1998 and 1999 under the title "Golden Letters". This valuable collection will be donated to the Sakip Sabanci University Museum by Sakip Sabanci and then it will be exhibited in Harvard University's M. Sacler Museum of Art between 7th October 1999 and the 2nd January 2000 for the first time. /Turkiye/[35] U.S. BUSINESSMEN TO VISIT SANLIURFAA U.S. team headed by Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, will come to Sanliurfa on October 20 after Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit brought up the issue of Southeast development during his U.S. visit. Ismail Demirkol, the Chairman of the Sanliurfa Trade and Industry Chamber, said that the U.S. has started taking concrete steps in its investments in Southeast Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[36] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[37] THERE IS NOTHING NEW ON PAPANDREU -BY DOGAN HEPER (MILLIYET)Dogan Heper is a columnist on the daily `Milliyet' newspaper. This is an article by him published in `Milliyet':"What do the answers of Greece's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yorgo Papandreu, who attended the Taksim Meeting as a speaker, express? It expressed the fact that the formal Athens has not changed so much. The earthquake disaster brought something to light that has been presumed for many years: the Turkish and Greek people are not the enemies of each other. These two countries' people want to shout that they are friends; the business world and science world want to cooperate. There is only one obstacle in front of it, that is, the Athens Administration. No matter which party becomes the government of the day, the party-in-power lags behind the public as far as the rapproachement between Turkey and Greece is concerned. Turkey has disposed of the visa entry requirement but Athens is still insisting on Turks having a visa before entering Greece. Because of the earthquake, the public did their best and the administration showed its sympathy. Is it possible not to be glad at this ? However, there were those who said, "we should be dignified, cautious and realistic" about the sincerity of the Athens administration. Now it is better understood that we should not be impatient. Greece's Minister of Defence, Akis Cohacopulos' not-so-warm words, uttered a while ago, and the Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis' claim that "Turkey has to solve the problem of the Aegean in order to become a member of the EU" have revealed the truth once more. Impatience and exaggerated optimism may be misleading. Athens used to defend these views before the earthquake in the most-uncompromising manner and now we understand that Athens has not become in the least bit flexible. After the earthquake as far as these issues are concerned. So what has changed? Papandreu's visit to Turkey and his speech at the Taksim Meeting and his attendance at the opening of Istanbul University's new academic year are of course important, very good, a total gesture but international relations also need the governments' demonstrations of decisiveness that go beyond personal gestures. "We have to work hard to continue the warming of relations that began in the aftermath of the earthquake. Our relations will bloom soon, and none of the fault lines will be able to divide our friendship." Positive steps should not only realize that such bright words make good sentences, but also should go beyond them. Furthermore, the pleasing words at the Taksim Meeting formed a catalyst and the main thought behind them formed the speakers' paragraphs in the most open way. If Athens wants to show real change, would it make one effective gesture and vote for Turkey's membership of the EU? Let us see and understand sincerity". [38] BECOMING A STATE IN THE WORLD IN SPITE OF YOURSELF -BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)Sedat Ergin is a columnist on the daily `Hurriyet' newspaper. This is an article by him published in `Hurriyet':"The American President, Bill Clinton, made this evaluation to the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, during his visit to the White House last week: "The first fifty years of the 20th century were spent in changes that derived from the division of the Ottoman Empire's heritage. The first fifty years of the 21st century will be shaped by Turkey's direction." Then Clinton explains what he meant by these words. After pointing out that Turkey is of a great importance within its region, the President adds: "Turkey is the only democratic, secular and prosperous country in the Islamic world. This example will affect the Islamic world, the region in which it is located and Europe." Clinton continues his speech at the same time supporting Turkey's full membership of the EU: "Those who have the ability to see fifty years into the future, will make Turkey a member of the EU." President Clinton's words are closely related to the answer to the question that asks why he talks about Turkey as a "strategic partner". There is a geographical area that extends from the Balkans to the Middle East following the end of the Cold War and on the other axis, from Russia through Caucasus and Central Asia, which has become the scene of uncertainty; this is the answer to the question. According to those Americans who make the decisions, Turkey appears to be the most important geostrategic centre at the point of intersection of these unstable regions and is the only element of stabilization that America can depend on. In order to understand the importance that Turkey will bear into the next century, maybe we should approach the issue from another perspective. What would be Turkey's contribution to this geographical instability if her influence became weak and dissolved completely? With the dissolution of Turkey, the increase in instability would correlate at a positive rate to the deepening chaos. In this scenario, the democracy, secularity and free market prices that Turkey takes as the norm will lose ground". Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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