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Turkish Press Review, 99-11-16Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>16.11.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] PRESIDENT CLINTON IN ANKARAU.S President Bill Clinton, who arrived in Ankara late on Sunday for a five-day visit, spent a very busy day, meeting with President Suleyman Demirel and receiving Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Before addressing the Turkish Parliament, President Clinton met Parliamentary Speaker Yildirim Akbulut. During a ceremony at Cankaya Presidential Palace, President Suleyman Demirel presented Clinton with the 'State Honour Medal`. During his speeches, Clinton pledged that the U.S would support Turkey's EU membership. He also stated that he would ensure Eximbank loans of one billion dollars to go towards compensation for the earthquake damage. /Hurriyet/[03] CLINTON: "TURKEY IS KEY TO DEMOCRATIC AND UNITED EUROPE"The US President has urged Turkish leaders to steer Turkey towards greater respect for human rights and democracy. He says his visit is intended to demonstrate 'solidarity' with the Turkish nation and to encourage Ankara's ambitions to join the European Union. Clinton also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, and wrote the following in the book of remembrance: "On behalf of all Americans and out of deep admiration for Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, I am profoundly honored to pay my respects to the Turkish people and to the memory of the extraordinary statesman who guided them to greatness. There is no better way to celebrate his legacy than to enlarge it, and I intend to do everything I can to deepen the friendship that joins our two republics." /All papers/[04] PRESIDENT CLINTON RAISES SPIRITS AT THE TGNAPresident Clinton, in his remarks to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on November 15, reaffirmed America's partnership with Turkey and reviewed America's hopeS for her future. President Clinton, who praised the vision of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the leadership of President Demirel and Prime Minister Ecevit, also pointed out that the solution of the Aegean and Cyprus problems were of great significance for the stability of Turkey and the region. The US President repeated that Turkey would take on a determining role in the shaping of the next century and also spoke of a future in which a democratic and successful Turkey would be accepted into the EU. President Clinton is the first US President to adress the Turkish Grand National Assembly. In his address he also expounded on the human rights issue in Turkey, noting that much has already been done but there is still was much to achieve. Clinton mentioned the importance of the freedom of expression and also stressed Turkey's global importance and strategic partnership with the US. His speech was applauded at length./All papers/[05] PREPARATIONS FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON IN IZMITThe final preparations for the visit of President Clinton to the East Barracks tent city are underway. President Clinton and his family, who will arrive at Cengiz Topel Airport this mornig, will be welcomed by the Governor of Izmit I. Kemal Onal. Then Clinton will move on to the Bekirpasha East Barracks tent city and tour the tent city that was set up by America. The tent city, in which the CIA agents have implemented strict security measures, is now ready for Clinton's visit. /Aksam/[06] ECEVIT-SIMITIS MEETINGThe Spokesman of the Greek government, Dimitri Reppas, said that Turkish Prime Bulent Ecevit and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet on Nov. 18th. Concerning a question on the possibility of between Bill Clinton, Ecevit and Simitis, he said, "There is no specific plan for such a meeting. Simitis will meet President Clinton during his Athens visit." /Turkiye/[07] HILLARY CLINTON'S DAY IN ANKARAHillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea spent their first hours in Ankara relaxing, followed by a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum and dinner at the Washington Restaurant in Ankara Castle. Yesterday, while the meeting between Clinton and Demirel was in progress, President Clinton's wife left Cankaya Presidential Palace at 12:30 and visited the Anatolian Modern Education Foundation. First Mrs Clinton visited a classroom in which 11 women are educated and then toured the handicraft studio. Here, the First Lady shook the hands of 12 young foundation members one by one and received some gifts from them. Then, she visited the pre-school education room and chatted with the children there. After this the Foundation's library was visited and Mrs Clinton was welcomed by former State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay's wife, State Minister Hasan Gemici's wife, the Minister of Justice's wife, the wife of Turkey's Ambassador to Washington Baki Ilkin, Foundation officials and volunteers. During her visit, Hillary Clinton said, "The work of the Foundation gives self-esteem to the people and this confidence will enable their rehabilitation." /Aksam/[08] DEATH TOLL: 452The Prime Ministry's Crisis Administration Centre has stated that the death toll from the earthquake that occurred in Duzce on Friday 12th November has climbed to 452 whereas the number of the injured has reached 2,386. According to a statement that was broadcast at 13:00, a total of 20 houses in Bolu, 350 houses in Duzce, 301 houses in Kaynasli, 50 houses in Golyaka and one house in Cumayeri collapsed. In the statement, it was said, "The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is continuing its search and rescue efforts and is trying to meet health, temporary shelter, communication, security and emergency aid requirements. 388 winter-proof tents, 23,100 blankets, 2,200 body bags for the corpses, 18 generators, 50 tons of food, 1,360 stoves, 325 toilet tents, 9 portable kitchens, 1 portable bath-house and 1 portable laundry were sent by the TSK to the earthquake-hit area. /Aksam/[09] NATO'S HELP FOR RESEARCH INTO EARTHQUAKE IN ISTANBULNATO, which has changed its defence concept following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, has begun taking action concerning the measures to be implemented due to the possibility of earthquakes in Istanbul. Two research vessels belonging to NATO and France will be coming to assist "Seismic 1" which is studying the fault line anticipated to cause a new earthquake under the Marmara Sea. /Milliyet/[10] 'THERE IS NO NEGATIVENESS CONCERNING TURKEY'While the EU Council's monthly ordinary meeting was in progress, one of the spokesmen for the EU Council, Jean-Christophe Flori, evaluated the developments concerning the official acceptance of Turkey's candidacy at the Helsinki Summit. Flori declared, "There are no negative signals to be seen concerning this issue. Any kind of blockage or similar unproductive attitude is not coming from any EU member." The EU Council's member responsible for development, Gunther Verheugen, repeated their wish to solve the Cyprus problem within the framework of UN resolutions and through negotiations between the leaders of both societies on the island. /Aksam/[11] LATEST SITUATION IN THE CYPRUS DEBATEDenktas says the UN Secretary-General has retreated from the first statement describing Klerides as 'president' and referred to both leaders as 'he', and thus Denktas has decided to attend the December 3 proximity talks in New York. Reflecting the delicate balance that has enabled the Cyprus problem to carry on since 1963, the row over etiquette was resolved early on Monday morning and Turkish-Cypriot President Rauf Denktas made a second about-face in less than 24 hours, saying he would now be travelling to New York to attend the round of Cyprus talks scheduled to start on December 3.On Sunday, President Denktas first declared that he would attend the Cyprus proximity talks at the United Nations building in New York, a statement hailed by U.S. President Bill Clinton, who was on his way to Turkey for a five-day visit, and acclaimed by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a breakthrough in the 36-year-old Cyprus dispute. But, hours later, while Clinton's plane was still in the air, the Turkish-Cypriot president made an abrupt U-turn, saying he would not now be going because the format of the talks, agreed after intense shuttle diplomacy, had been changed. /All papers/ [12] YELTSIN TO ATTEND OSCERussian President Boris Yeltsin said that he would attend the OSCE Summit. Recently, Yeltsin has been sending his Prime Minister on foreign visits due to his own illness. However, Yeltsin wants to attend the Summit in order to face the Western leaders who are severely criticizing Russia for her Chechen policy. President Suleyman Demirel is scheduled to meet President Yeltsin at Ciragan Palace tomorrow evening. /Turkiye/[13] THE COST OF THE OSCE SUMMIT: 7 MILLION DOLLARSIt was stated that the OSCE Summit will cost Turkey 6-7 million dollars. In a statement by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey is only meeting the organizational expenses of the Summit. The delegations that are coming from abroad are meeting their own expenses. As part of the OSCE Summit, 7 thousand people are expected to come to Turkey. It is also thought that these people will spend nearly 2 thousand dollars during their four-day visit. Therefore, the benefit to Turkey of the Summit will amount to nearly 14 million dollars. Seven hundred of the 1,200 press members who have applied to observe the Summit proceedings, are foreign. Guests will stay in a total of 38 five-star hotels. The Conrad Hotel, which is reserved for Clinton's five-day visit, will not be open to other guests during this period. /Cumhuriyet/[14] ENERGY AGREEMENT WITH U.S.A. WORTRH 675 MILLION DOLLARSA business agreement with the U.S.A. worth 675 million dollars will be ratified today. Minister of Energy and Natural Sources and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer and American State Secretary Madeleine Albright will attend the signing ceremony for the agreements involving the sale of equipment to the State Water Works and three hydroelectric power stations. In a statement issued by the American Embassy in Istanbul, the BOTAS natural gas protocol and the letter of intent heavy freight-carrying helicopters will be signed. /Aksam/[15] WORLD BANK DISCUSS 750 MILLION DOLLARSThe agreement concerning the World Bank's loan of 750 million dollars, which was anticipated would be granted to Turkey following the earthquake in the Marmara region, is expected to be approved during the meeting of the Bank's Executive Board today. It was also hoped that Turkey would implement the procedures required for the loan within one month and then the fund activated. 250 million dollars of the loan will be used in rent support for the quake survivors while 500 million dollars will go on accommodation and infrastructural schemes in the region. /Hurriyet/[16] INCREASE IN IMKB INDEXThe Index of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) which began the week in decline due to the Duzce earthquake, has again reached for the skies following the speech of the President Bill Clinton. The Index climbed to 8,732 points; however, as far as profit-making sales were concerned, the Index fell to 8,364 points at the close of the session. Shares increased 0.8% on average. /Hurriyet/[17] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINEThe Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, declared that the four major agreements concerning the Baku-Ceyhan petroleum pipeline will be signed in Istanbul on Thursday during the OSCE Summit. The Minister also said that the declaration related to the transfer of Kazakstan petroleum through the Baku-Ceyhan petroleum pipeline will be signed during the OSCE Summit. /Hurriyet/[18] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[19] NOTES FROM CLINTON'S VISIT - BY SEBAHATTIN ONKIBAR (TURKIYE)Columnist Sebahattin Onkibar comments on the visit the US President has paid to Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"US President Clinton's official visit to Ankara revealed that Turkey and the US are not only strategic allies but also friends. Certainly, relations between States are guided by interests but they can be based on a foundation of friendship. The US President was welcomed at Esenboga Airport by President Suleyman Demirel, and the US President left for the Hilton Hotel where he was to say. The next day, President Clinton went to Ataturk's Mausoleum, and then was received by President Demirel at Cankaya Presidential Palace. Following the official reception and statement to the press, the delegations presided over by the Turkish and American Presidents started their official talks. In the course of the meeting, many issues were discussed, among them Turco-US strategic relations and regional balances. The situations in the Balkans, Caucasia and the Middle East were also taken up. The US President reiterated US support for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and praised the recent rapprochement observed between Greece and Turkey. On the Cyprus question, he pointed to the fact that Turkey and Greece should actively contribute to a lasting peace on the Island. It should be noted that the Cyprus question is of great importance during President Clinton's visit to Turkey and he seemed more determined than ever to solve the issue. Another important topic during the meeting of the Turkish and US delegations was that of Turkey's candidacy to the EU. In a statement to the press following the meeting, the US President stated that he would work for a united Europe in which Turkey should be included. He also expressed his belief that the partnership and relations between Turkey and the US would provide such an opportunity. President Clinton also announced that the US Eximbank would send one billion dollars in loans due to the earthquake disaster, over which he has expressed his grief time and time again. This decision reveals the significance the US attributes to Turkey. The American President also stated that his country would work for the World Bank and the IMF act in the same way. During the press conference following the meeting, President Demirel stated that torture existed in Turkey but it was not State policy. His realistic attitude was plausible. The US President received Prime Minister Ecevit following the meeting at Cankaya. He later proceeded to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to address the Turkish Parliament. He pointed out the vision of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ozal, and the leadership of Demirel and Ecevit and praised the enactment of laws in between June and September. He also expounded on Turkey's role as a bridge between continents and her relations with the Central Asian Republics. Pointing to the impasse in the Balkans, the Middle East and Caucasia the President stated that Turkey was a haven of stability. President Clinton mentioning that sovereignty could not be based on fear, added that neither the US nor Europe could decide for Turkey. He concluded his words by saying that the US saw Turkey as her friend." [20] APPOINTMENT WITH AN EARTHQUAKE - BY SAHIN ALPAY (MILLIYET)Columnist Sahin Alpay writes on the new measures to be taken to lessen the damage of any further earthquakes. A summary of his column is as follows:"Three months after the great earthquake disaster in Sakarya and Kocaeli, a relatively small one hit Bolu. These disasters have taught everyone the fact that Istanbul has an appointment with an earthquake. The place where the quake will hit is almost certain: the two seismic gaps in the Mediterranean which are the parts of the Northern Anatolian fault-line passing through the Marmara Sea. The time of the date with destiny is not known. Some say that the quake may happen sometime between 1 and 50 years from now, and others say that it may take place in a few months. Even though Istanbul is not prepared for such devastation, some measures need to be taken as soon as possible. Interior Minister Saddetin Tantan held a meeting for this purpose. Following the conference the Minister stated that all buildings should be inspected, those found to be substandard should be demolished and all schools and hospitals should be two-storeyed only. There is no doubt that these aims require a great deal of work. However, it would be to our advantage whenever we start it. Istanbul also needs an action plan concerning the things to be done, as much as it needs appropriate measures to be taken. Some of them are the building of an alternative communications network and a central coordination office. The power to establish order in the crisis area is that of the public. Voluntary organizations cannot rival but only be complementary to public awareness. One of the most important ways to be prepared for an earthquake is through educating people on what to do in schools, hospitals and work places." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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