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Turkish Press Review, 00-01-13Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>13 January 2000Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] 'IF TURKEY COMPLIES WITH THE STAND-BY, ITS CREDIT GRADE WILL BE HIGH'[02] COTTARELLI: "IF ANKARA PERMITS, WE WILL OPEN IMF OFFICE IN ANKARA"[03] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[04] DEMIREL: "LET'S BECOME A CONTEMPORARY STATE"President Suleyman Demirel stated that there would be some troubles in harmonizing Turkey's national laws with the European laws but added, "I believe that we will overcome these troubles. If we do not enter such a world because of these problems, we will lose our status of being a contemporary state". Demirel delivered a speech at the ceremony held by the Turkish Administrators' Association. Demirel said, "We will also continue to protect our unitarian integrity and secular state form". /Milliyet/[05] DEMIREL TO VISIT GEORGIAPresident Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to Tbilisi between January 14-15 as the guest of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the President would be accompanied by Eenergy and Natural Resources Cumhur Ersumer, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin, some deputies, Foreign Ministry officials and businessmen, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] LEADERS' SUMMIT'S DECISION CONCERNING OCALANAfter the Summit that lasted for seven-and-a-half hours, the leaders of the coalition government, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit of the Democratic Leftist Party (DSP), Deputy Premier and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli and the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, decided yesterday to 'conditionally' abide by a European Court of Human Rights demand to a stay of execution for Turkey's number-one public enemy until after the European Court hands down a verdict on the case. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the European Court of Human Rights did not have the authority to overturn the ruling of Turkey's courts, but acting with an awareness that Turkey needs to comply with its international obligations, the leaders of the coalition government have agreed to a "temporarily stay of execution" of Ocalan. Ecevit further added that if this appeals process was exploited in a manner that could hurt Turkey's interests, then the three coalition leaders would meet again and review their decision. This meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Cumhur Ersumer, State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem and Minister of Industry Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu. /Hurriyet/[07] 'OCALAN'S EXECUTION DAMAGE TURKEY`The General Secretary of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Wolfgang Peukert, stated that the execution of Abdullah Ocalan would damage Turkey and the postpone of the death punishment doesn't show weakness but would be an indicator of strength. During his speech at congress of 'Globalization of the Law and National Sovereignty`, which was organized with in the framework of the 'Law Congress 2000, Peukert emphasized that personelly he had never been a sympathizer with terrorists, on the contrary, he sympathized with families of the victims of terrorism, however, the execution of Ocalan would cause serious harm to the Turkish nation. /Cumhuriyet/[08] DYP: "ILLEGAL DECISION"The Acting Group Chairman of the True Path Party (DYP), Turhan Guven, described the decision taken at the 'Leaders' Summit' as illegal. Guven stated that an evaluation should be made by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). The Head of the Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk, said that the decision taken concerning Ocalan's file, which will stay at the Office of the Prime Minister, was in line with the law. He added that the legal process with reference to Ocalan is not over yet. /Star/[09] D'ALEMA'S REACTION CONCERNING THE DECISION ON OCALANThe first positive reaction came from the Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, concerning the decision on the postponement of Ocalan's execution, after the Summit held by the coalition leaders yesterday. D'Alema said that he welcomed the Turkish government's decision with appreciation and enthusiasm and added, "I am pleased with the fact that Turkey acted in accordance with Europe's democratization principles. We were expecting Ankara to give this decision." The Italian TV channels broadcasted this news as the main topic and pointed out that the immediate danger of Ocalan's execution had been removed and emphasized the Italian government's pleasure concerning this decision. /Hurriyet/[10] PORTUGAL: "EXECUTION DAMAGES RELATIONS"Portugal, the EU Term-President, stated that relations between Turkey and the EU could be damaged if the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, is executed. The Minister Responsible for European Affairs, Francisco Seixas de Costa, said, "The door opened by the EU to Turkey has put forth a condition for a rationalist stance". /Star/[11] FIRST CONTACT WITH THE EUTurkey has realized its first meeting with its status of 'candidate country' officially approved by the EU in Helsinki. Officials from the Foreign Ministries of the member-countries and candidate-countries attended the meeting under the chairmanship of the EU Troika in Brussels. During the meeting, the views of the candidate countries concerning foreign policy issues were discussed, in addition to the issues of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Resit Uman from the Foreign Ministry who represented Turkey during the meeting said that the EU should be patient regarding the democratic formations in Central Asia. /Milliyet/[12] VERHEUGEN: 'MEMBERSHIP IS NOT A GUARANTEE`A member of the European Commission responsible for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen said that the proclamation of Turkey's candidacy was not a guarantee for her EU membership. During his statement for the German 'Saarbrucker Zeitung`, stressing that he was hopeful for the 'speed of the reforms` in Turkey and Verheugen emphasized that the reason for granting a membership perspective to Ankara was to prevent Turkey's break from Europe. He stated, "the EU doesn't start membership negotiations with countries who do not consider human rights issues." /Cumhuriyet/[13] 'ATATURK: THE MAN OF THE MILLENIUM'The presenter of the 'McLaughlin Show's' programme broadcasted on American PBS television, journalist John McLaughlin, announced Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to be the 'most important person of the millenium'. In his programme, McLaughlin said, "Ataturk removed sultanate, gave the right to vote and to stand for parliament to women and brought the Latin alphabet and the Western style of clothing to his country. Ataturk is the one and only leader who could have turned a Muslim community to be parliamentary order, a democracy and a secular state." However, Mc Laughlin's choice caused many Greek-Cypriot associations in the U.S.A. to react." /Hurriyet/[14] TURKEY'S WATER RESOURCESThe Spokesman of the US State Department, James Rubin, said that the water issue discussed during the peace talks between Israel and Syria not only concerned these two countries but also the whole region. Rubin said, "We are within a continuous series of contacts with Turkish officials concerning various issues including the water matter". /Aksam/[15] SOLUTION TO THE CYPRUS ISSUE IS THE 2000 OBJECTIVE OF THE WESTThe US Deputy Secretary of State, Marc Grossman, said that among the common objectives of the US and the EU for the 'transatlantic cooperation' in the year 2000, there was the strengthening of peace in Kosovo and Bosnia and the solution of the Aegean and Cyprus problems. Grossman remarked during a press conference on US-European Relations' that the EU membership perspective of Cyprus would make a positive contribution to the process. He pointed out that detailed issues had been discussed during the meetings which started in December. /Milliyet/[16] PAPANDREU: "TURKEY IS A NEW DYNAMISM IN THE EU"Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu stated that Turkey's EU candidacy status formed a new dynamism and new responsibilities would be assumed by Turkey. Papandreu said during his contacts in Southern Cyprus that Turkish officials' determination to harmonize with the EU regulations was a positive development and added that they would support the opening of an unofficial EU office with the participation of Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots. The proposal for the opening of the office had been previously made by the Leader of the Greek-Cypriot Administration, Glafkos Klerides. /Turkiye/[17] GREEK-CYPRIOT LOBBY OFFICE FOR THE TURKISH PEOPLE IN CYPRUSThe Greek-Cypriot Administration searches for ways to attract Turkish people in Cyprus to membership discussions. Within this framework, an office will be set up in Brussels in order to enlighten Turkish people concerning the European Union (EU). According to the decision taken by the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Papandreu, after his contacts in the Southern Cyprus, the above-mentione bureau will inform Turkish people in Cyprus concerning the EU's actions and the advantages. In addition, the common organizations of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish non-governmental organizations in Cyprus concerning EU membership, will be intensified. /Hurriyet/[18] WASHINGTON ANNOYED FROM ESDIWhile the debates are continuing over the EU's decision regarding the formation of the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI), the American administration asked for the EU not to exclude the six NATO countries which includes Turkey. During a meeting in Berlin, American Ambassador to NATO Permanent Representative, Alexander Vershbow, warned that in the case of the exclusion of the non-EU member NATO countries, they would not be expected to benefif from the NATO facilities for ESDI operations. /Cumhuriyet/[19] IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYIran Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi will visit Turkey between Jan. 17th and 19th as a guest of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. During the meetings bilateral, regional and international issues will be taken up. In the second day of his visit, Harrazi will proceed to Konya and in the last day of his visit he will meet with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/[20] BOTAS DELEGATION IN IRANIn order to negotiate on the natural gas agreement between Turkey and Iran, yesterday, a Turkish delegation headed by the General Director of Botas, Gokhan Yardim, met with the Iran Petroleum Minister, Bijen Namdar Zengene, in Tehran. During his statements to journalists, Yardim said that he hoped Turkey would begin buying natural gas from Iran in the September of the year 2001. Stating that the length of the pipeline on Turkish territory was 1,200 km, Yardim stressed that the meetings are to ensure financial sources for the venture. The Deputy of the Iran Petroleum Minister responsible for gas affairs, Muhammed Nejad also said that Iran accepted Turkey's requirement for the postponement of buying gas until Sep. 2001. /Cumhuriyet/[21] HOLLAND DELEGATION IN TURKEYA nine-people delegation of the Holland Mayors Union arrived Istanbul yesterday to develop relations between the mayors of the two countries and also to work to relieve the damage in the earthquake hit zone. The delegation attended the seminar of 'The Present Situation in the Quake Region` which was organized by the Marmara's and Straits' Mayors Union. The head of the Holland delegation, Van Lidt de Jeude, stressed that the Aug. 17 and Nov. 12 quakes caused great grief in Holland and they immediately formed committees for help. /Cumhuriyet/[22] AYVAZ KORKMAZ IN TURKEYThe head of an organized crime organization, Ayvaz Korkmaz, wanted by Interpol and seized in the Ukrania was brought to Turkey by a special team. Korkmaz will be tried of establishing a 'gang` by the Istanbul State Security Court and he is also charged with 18 different crimes. /Cumhuriyet/[23] ONE BRICK FOR THE GREEK POWER-STATION FROM TURKEYThe reflections of the political rapproachment between Turkey and Greece on the business world are continuing. One of the biggest construction companies in Turkey, Gama, and the Greek, Prometheus, the American, Exxon, the Russian, Gasprom and the Italian, Enelco companies, which bring natural gas to Greece, came together for the first time and representatives of these five large companies signed an agreement in Athens for the construction of an electricity power-station in Greece. The owner of the Prometheus company, Greek businessman Dimitris Copelouzos, hosted the signing ceremony which was attended by the Chief bishop of the Greek Orthodox church, Hritodulos, the Greek Minister of Development Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek Minister of Justice Yannos Yanopulos, the American Ambassador Nicholas Burns, the Turkish Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tuygan, and also other officials and businessmen. As part of the signed agreement, the consortium will be established in northern Greece near the Turkish border. /Hurriyet/[24] RESTRICTIONS IN BORDER TRADERestrictions have been brought to the border trade as far as products and their quantities are concerned. The crude petroleum brought from Iraq will be decreased to a great extent. Imports of fresh vegetable anf fruit have been removed. According to information received from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the list concerning the products which can be imported as part of the border trade has been determined in line with the decision taken by the National Security Council and was sent to the officies of the related governors last week. /Aksam/[25] LE MONDE: "ECONOMY'S PATH IS OPEN"A leading French newspaper, 'Le Monde', stated that a new period has begun for Turkey which became an EU candidate. The newspaper said that following a long economic stagnation and an increasing inflation-rate period, Turkey has entered a new period. The agreement signed with the IMF and the approval of Turkey's EU candidacy in Helsinki on December 10, 1999, had made an important driving effect on Turkey. The newspaper remarked that the Turkish Government would put forth its resolve to realize the economic and political reforms necessary for bringing Turkey into the level of European countries. /Turkiye/[26] 'BLUE STREAM' AT FULL SPEEDThe financial problem concerning the 'Blue Stream' pipeline which will enable the transportation of the natural gas from Russia to Turkey beneath the Black Sea has been completely overcome. Following the agreement for loans provided from the firm which is constructing the part of the pipeline on Turkish territories, an allocation worth 32 trillion TL has been ensured for the General Directorate of the Pipeline Transportation Joint Stock Company (BOTAS). The Turco-Russian natural gas project will be completed in due time and natural gas transportation to Turkey will begin in 2001. /Turkiye/[27] TURKEY AND BRITAIN SIGN AGREEMENTTurkey and Britain signed yesterday a 'Bilateral Employment Regulation' agreement. The agreement was signed by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Aydan Karahan and British Ambassador to Turkey David B.C. Logan, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[28] 'IF TURKEY COMPLIES WITH THE STAND-BY, ITS CREDIT GRADE WILL BE HIGH'One of the leading raiting establishments, Standard and Poors' analysist to Turkey, Marie Cavanaugh, said that if Turkey implements the structural reforms and the economic programme that it promised, then they might make Turkey's credit grade higher. Cavanaugh pointed out that they were closely following the Turkish economy and said, "Positive developments are continuing and the government is taking bold decisions, that is, it had made a stand-by agreement with the IMF and, in consequence, we have changed Turkey's situation from 'stable' to 'positive' and this enhances Turkey's chance to increase its credit grade. The important thing from now on is to comply with the policies that were promised and this will be known in the near future. To sum up, if Turkey complies with the stand-by, then we will rise its credit rating." /Hurriyet/[29] COTTARELLI: "IF ANKARA PERMITS, WE WILL OPEN IMF OFFICE IN ANKARA"The International Monetary Fund's Chairman of the Turkish desk, Carlo Cottarelli, said that they might open an IMF office in Ankara, with the permission of the Turkish authorities. Cottarelli answered journalists' questions concerning the 'office crisis' after the Chairman of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel's conference in New York. Cottarelli said, "It is not important whether or not an office in Ankara is opened. This is just routine practice and there are many IMF offices from Russia to Brazil and from Indonesia to Taiwan. However, these offices are necessary in terms of following the monetary programme. However, we do want to open an office in Ankara if the authorities say yes." /Hurriyet/[30] TURKEY EXPECTS $30 BILLION IN TOURISM REVENUE BY 2010During his visit to the Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB) Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu announced that his ministry had set a target of $30 billion per year in tourism by the year 2010, the Anatolia News Agency reports. In his speech MUmcu said that Turkey needed a sectoral bank for tourism in order to develop a new marketing techniques and competition. He also pointed out that promotion of the country should not be looked at not only in the short-term but also in the long-term.[31] ERCEL'S STATEMENT CONCERNING INTEREST RATESThe Chairman of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, said that interest rates will not be altered for 18 months. During a meeting held in New York and attended by many people, Ercel explained that the anti-inflation programme was implemented by Turkish and American investors. Ercel said, "The goal to decrease inflation to one column will be reached within three years and Turkey will prepare for EU membership within four to five years." /Hurriyet/[32] AKBANK SHARES IN USLeading US investment company Merrill Lynch has chosen Akbank shares as the most profitable stocks to purchase in Europe. Deutsche Bank, the largest bank in Germany, also designated Akbank as the best to buy among alll emerging markets in October 1999. Akbank issued a written statement stating that Merrill Lynch had published a Global Investment Strategy Report on December 21, 1999, presenting Akbank shares as the most favourable option, not only in the finance sector but in all sectors. /All papers/[33] HUGE TEXTILE FAIR IN GERMANYThe renowned International Home Textile Fair (Heim Textil) was opened in Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. Ninty-seven Turkish firms participated in the Fair, attended by 2,900 firms from 65 countries. It is expected that more than 75,000 people will visit this Fair this year. It is also expected to generate $1 billion in income. Turkish State Minister Tunca Toskay, Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen, the Head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Fuat Miras, the Head of the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) Mehmet Yildirim and many businessmen visited the Fair. /Turkiye/[34] BELGIAN PARTNER TO EGE PROFILAn agreement of strategic cooperation was signed between Ege Profil, one of the most important stock exchange companies, and Deceuninck Plastics Industries N.V. of Belgium, which is one of the leading profile and window system producers. According to a profil sent by Ege to the IMF, 47% of shares not in circulation will be transferred to Deceuninck Plastics Industries N.V. The cost of the shares was determined as 9 million 500 thousand American dollars. /Hurriyet/[35] DUPONTSA ACTIVEThe DuPontSa set up with a partnership between the Haci Omer Sabanci Holding Company and DuPont has been activated. The DuPontSa which will produce and sell polyester, yarn, fibres, polyester raw materials and related products for the markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, aims at an annual turnover worth $1 billion and has 4,500 workers. /Turkiye/[36] TURK-PIRELLI RECEIVES OSD AWARDTurk-Pirelli has been awarded by the Automotive Industry Association (OSD), of which 18 domestic vehicle producers are members in Turkey. Turk-Pirelli will receive its award during a meeting of the General Council of the OSD on February 18, 2000, due to the quality of its products and their reasonable prices. /Aksam/[37] AWARD TO GREEK JOURNALISTSThe year 1999 TV Oscars jury has decided to give the 'International Friendship and Peace Award' to two Greek journalists. The Greek journalist from the 'To Vima' newspaper, Annie Podimata, and Nikos Evangelatos from the Alpa TV, will receive their awards from Greek Foreign Minister Papandreu. /Turkiye/[38] SEZEN AKSU TO GIVE FRIENDSHIP CONCERT IN ISRAELSezen Aksu went to Israel to take part in the 'Salute to Two Countries' concert that was organized by the Association of Turco-Israeli Friendship. Income earned from the concert, which will also be attended by many Israeli artists, will be spent on the construction of schools in earthquake-hit regions. Turkish Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay, Chief Advisor of the Presidency, Hikmet Cetin and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy Gonul Say will also attend this concert. Before the concert, Talay and Cetin will attend a ceremony to celebrate the official establishment of the Turco-Israeli Association of Friendship. Talay, who is expected to deliver a speech at the ceremony, will meet with the Israeli Minister of Culture today. /Hurriyet/[39] CONCERT TO AID VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKERenowned tenors Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Andrea Becelli will stage a concert to aid the victims of the earthquake disaster in Turkey. The Director of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Nedim Tanrikulu, said that they had extended the proposal to these tenors to help the victims and had received a positive response from them. /Turkiye/[40] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[41] STATE RESPONSIBILITY BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the decision taken by the Coalition party leaders on the Ocalan case. A summary of his column is as follows:"The leaders of the coalition parties, Ecevit, Bahceli and Yilmaz have shown state responsibility. The decision made at the end of the eight-hour conference shows the confidence in Ecevit and the maturity of Bahceli. The decision also showed Mesut Yilmaz as the balancing factor. The magic formula which provided for the delay in carrying out the death sentence on Ocalan and the acceptance of the decision by the Nationalist Action Party was hidden behind the words a "reasonable period of time". Prime Minister Ecevit's promise that if this decision worked against the best interests of the country, the file on Ocalan would be sent to Parliament, led to its acceptance by the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). All parties worked on the formula, and eventually a decision was taken to wait for the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights on one condition: Turkey would swiftly take the matter to the TGNA if it had any suspicions that the decision was being exploited against itself. The results of the decision can be summarized thus: 1- The file on Ocalan would be held at the Prime Ministry until the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights is given, in compliance with the wishes of the President and the Prime minister. 2- The Chairman of the MHP, Devlet Bahceli can request the file to be sent to the TGNA if he deems necessary. Therefore, the file would be ready to go to Parliament any time. 3- Both the PKK and the EU would be affected by the decision. If the PKK terror shows an increase and the decision to delay is exploited as foreseen by the MHP, Ecevit will send the file to the TGNA. This decision can also be changed if the process for the verdict of the ECHR is arbitrarily lengthened. 4- Turkey has shown its goodwill and that it has complied with its international legal commitments. 5- From now on, the ball will be in the court of the ECHR and the PKK. The MHP has not changed its opinions on Ocalan, however, in view of the information and requests put forth by the state institutions, it has decided not to make a governmental crisis. The mature stand shown by the MHP leader Devlet Bahceli is noteworthy. The Minister of Public Works Koray Aydin stated that Turkey had to explain its opinions to other European countries through various delegations. He believes that even if Europe's opposition to the verdict is not overturned, it may be weakened. With this decision, pressuring the PKK and the EU, the Government has used the Ocalan card in the best way possible. The Coalition has passed the critical stage for the time being." [42] TURKISH ROLE IN THE CAUCASUS BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the situation in the Caucasus. A summary of his column is as follows:The two-day visit President Suleyman Demirel will pay to Georgia, beginning tomorrow, is a new indication of Turkey's increasing role in the Caucasus. Demirel's meetings with Georgian President Edouard Schevardnadze can be considered as the continuation of his talks with Azerbaijani President Haidar Aliyev. During the talks in Tbilisi two important joint issues concerning the three states will be taken up. The first one is the security question in the Caucasus, and the second one concerns the hitches in the carrying out of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. The security question in Southern Caucasus has reached dimensions leading to concerns due to the developments in Chechnya. Georgia is the most affected state by these incidents. Refugees fleeing from Russians are taking shelter in Georgia. In consequence,she is confronted with a refugee problem. Azerbaijan, if not to the extent felt in Georgia, is effects with the Chechnyan problem. Baku is concerned that the armed conflict in the Northern Caucasus may spread to the south. In that case, it may be difficult for Azerbaijan and Georgia to control the situation by themselves and the carrying out of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project may be faced with difficulties. Aliyev, during his talks in Ankara, has suggested that a joint security system should be established between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Azerbaijani leader proposes a sort of military cooperation agreement and a military pact. It is a well-known fact that Turkey has established close cooperation with Azerbaijan and Georgia in the fields of political negotiations and military aid. This cooperation can be enhanced. However, at this point, it would not be beneficial for Turkey to form an official pact. Forming a military bloc in the Caucasus will unsettle Russia and will lead to its harsh reaction. On various occasions, Ankara has stated that Moscow should leave Southern Caucasus alone. Turkey hopes to contribute to security and stability in the Caucasus by enhancing its cooperation with Azerbaijan and Georgia. On the other hand, Turkey is determined to solve the final hitches in Georgia in order to carry out the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. However, everything depends on the prevention of tension and instability and in this point Turkey's role is important." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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