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Turkish Press Review, 00-07-21
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
21.07.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] SEZER'S RECEPTIONS
[03] PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR KHORI BIDS SEZER FAREWELL
[04] YOK'S FINAL MEETING
[05] 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH PEACE OPERATION ON CYPRUS
[06] MEETING OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN
[07] DECISION DAY FOR ATTACK HELICOPTER TENDER
[08] DISK'S EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
[09] GEN. MEIGS IN TURKEY
[10] ANKARA PROCESS
[11] TUMER APPOINTED ECEVIT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR
[12] CHP: OYMEN ON CULTURAL RIGHTS
[13] OPERATION HOPE TRIAL BEGINS TODAY
[14] POLICE CAPTURE 103 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
[15] TURKEY AND BULGARIA TO COOPERATE IN BREEZE-2000 MANOEUVERS
[16] INCREASE IN BUDGET REVENUES
[17] COURSE OF INVESTMENTS ARE DETERMINED
[18] UNITED NATIONS SUPPORTS AGRICULTURAL REFORM IN TURKEY
[19] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS
[20] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKCELL AND ERICSSON
[21] AKBANK RECEIVES HIGH RATING FROM THE FITCH IBCA
[22] TRANSFER AGREEMENT OF PETROLEUM OFFICE INCORPORATION (POAS)
[23] TURKEY'S GOLD YEAR IN TOURISM
[24] FAZIL SAY STAGES A CONCERT IN GERMANY
[25] TRAVEL SHIP 'COSTA ATLANTICA' IN ISTANBUL
[26] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[27] TWO MORE YEARS FOR CYPRUS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] SEZER'S RECEPTIONS
Yesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received the Chief of
General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu in the framework of regular
weekly meeting. Premier Bulent Ecevit also visited Sezer and met
him for a while. Meanwhile, Sezer's first foreign guest at the
level of a head of state will be his Nigerian counterpart,
Olusegu Obasanjo. He is expected to pay an official visit to
Turkey on July 23-25. /Turkiye/
[03] PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR KHORI BIDS SEZER FAREWELL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received outgoing Pakistani
Ambassador Khan Khori at the Presidential Palace yesterday.
Khori, who has completed his period of service in Turkey, bid
farewell to Sezer on the occasion. The meeting was closed to the
press. /Turkish Daily News/
[04] YOK'S FINAL MEETING
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had vetoed Higher Education Board's
(YOK) canditate list earlier this week. There was a public outcry
on the eve of the Friday meeting in which YOK will give its final
decision on its controversial list. YOK will decide either to
change the list or send it back to the President without any
changes. If YOK sends the list back to the President without any
changes, the tension between the President and YOK might increase
and YOK members could be requested to resign. President Sezer's
veto raised the hopes of a more democratic administration in the
universities. Students and non-governmental organizations
protested YOK accusing it of anti-democratic practices.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH PEACE OPERATION ON CYPRUS
26th anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation on Cyprus was
celebrated with great enthusiasm in Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. The celebrations are continuing with
various activities on Cyprus and in Turkey. Delivering a speech
at the celebration ceremony, TRNC President Rauf Denktas said,
"Our proposal for a confederation is the last chance for a
solution between the two parties." In his speech Denktas called
on Greek-Cypriots to accept the TRNC as a state. Addressing
Greek-Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, Denktas said that TRNC
demanded its presence to be recognized and added that two nations
must build a bridge of friendship and cooperation. In his speech
on Wendesday, Denktas stated that July 20 is the date of the
rebirth of the Turkish Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] MEETING OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN
In the framework of the July 20 Peace and Freedom Feast, the
meeting of Parliamentarians of Turkish Origin was held in the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. During the
meeting, "Constituent Assembly Preparation Committee" was formed
to enable the establishment of the "World Union of the
Parliamentarians of Turkish Origin". During his speech, TRNC
Assembly Speaker Ertugrul Hasipoglu emphasized that 250 million
Turks were living in different parts of the world. He said, "To
establish the union is very important to ensure unity and
strenghten the relations between Turks in the world living apart
each other." The next meeting was decided to be held on November
13-14 in Lefkosha. /Turkiye/
[07] DECISION DAY FOR ATTACK HELICOPTER TENDER
One of the most important military tenders on 145 attack
helicopters is expected to be announced today. Today Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit will preside over the meeting of The
Defense Industry Executive Council on the issue. There are three
companies competing for the tender. Issues such as technology
transfer, financing, local and joint production will have been
taken into consideration while selecting the company to be
awarded. According to the project, the first attack helicopter
will be delivered in 2002. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] DISK'S EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
Confederation of Revolutinary Workers (DISK) General Secretary,
Murat Tokmak announced the decisions given in the extraordinary
session of DISK held yesterday in Istanbul. Tokmak said that they
made a decision to adhere to the International Labour
Organization (ILO) laws as strictly as possible in Turkey. Tokmak
stated that they will continue their efforts until maintaining
absolute respect for unions and their rights on the part of the
legal authorities. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] GEN. MEIGS IN TURKEY
The US European Land Forces and 7th Army Commander Gen.
Mortgomery C. Meigs came to Turkey at the invitation of Land
Forces Commander Gen. Atilla Ates. After visiting Ataturk's
Mausoleum, the guest Commander and the delegation accompanying
him met Gen. Ates. During the visit, the delegation will also
meet Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Edip Baser and the
Commander of the Armoured School Major-general Zafer Ozkan.
/Turkiye/
[10] ANKARA PROCESS
Turkey decided to continue the "Ankara Process" which began in
1996 to establish peace and stability in Northern Iraq.
Yesterday, in addition to Turkish, American and British
diplomats, officials from the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party,
the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Iraqi Turkmen
Front attended the meeting held in Ankara. During the meeting,
the "Peace Watch Force", established in the scope of the "Ankara
Process", was decided to continue to its duty. /Turkiye/
[11] TUMER APPOINTED ECEVIT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISOR
Erdal Tumer, Turkey's former Ambassador to Switzerland, has been
appointed as foreign affairs advisor to Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit. Diplomatic sources say that Tumer's appointment came
after Ecevit's former advisor Umit Pamir was appointed as
Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations. Tumer is
expected to start in office soon. /Turkish Daily News/
[12] CHP: OYMEN ON CULTURAL RIGHTS
CHP Chairman Altan Oymen said that broadcasting in Kurdish within
the framework of laws could pose no concern. Oymen noted that the
democratization efforts in Turkey should not be carried out
because they are imposed by the EU; but should be done as Turks
want it so. Oymen said: "Broadcasting in Kurdish within the
framework of laws, can pose no danger". /Aksam/
[13] OPERATION HOPE TRIAL BEGINS TODAY
A total of 17 suspects who were captured during 'Operation Hope'
will face trial at Ankara State Security Court today. The
suspects are being held responsible for the assasinations of
Turkish intellectuals Muammer Aksoy, Ugur Mumcu, Bahriye Ucok and
Ahmet Taner Kislali. Up until this May, the assasinations have
remained unsolved. /Turkish Daily News/
[14] POLICE CAPTURE 103 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Turkish police have captured 103 illegal immigrants in Edirne.
According to information received from police sources, 51 of the
illegal immigrants are Palestinians and 46 are from Iran and the
remaining from other countries neighbouring Turkey. Police said
that the immigrants were planning to go to Greece. /Turkish Daily
News/
[15] TURKEY AND BULGARIA TO COOPERATE IN BREEZE-2000 MANOEUVERS
Turkey will take part in Breeze-2000 manoeuvers to be held on
July 22-30 in the Western Black Sea area, with Bulgaria hosting
the joint activity. The maneuvers will focus on the protection of
human aid convoys, mine-sweeping operations, submarine defenses,
and search and rescue operations. /Turkish Daily News/
[16] INCREASE IN BUDGET REVENUES
Minister of Finance Sumer Oral said that the budget figures in
the first half of 2000 is in conformity with the economic
stabilization program. Oral said that although they expected TL
13.6 quadrillion revenues, TL 15.5 quadrillion of tax revenues
and other revenues were collected in the first half of the year.
Tax revenues were estimated to amount TL 11.2 quadrillion, but
the real collected amount, TL 12.3 quadrillion, exceeded the
expected rate. Total budget revenues increased 106.6 percent and
tax revenues by 108 percent including earthquake taxes compared
to the last year's revenues. /Milliyet/
[17] COURSE OF INVESTMENTS ARE DETERMINED
The principles of the course of investments for the year 2001 was
determined. The institutions will prepare their investment
proposals regarding the year 2001 with this year's prices.
Meanwhile, one US dollar was determined as the equal of TL
614,463 for the foreign exchange rate of 2000. 'Circular
Concerning the Principles of Preparing Investment Programme of
2001' was published in the Official Gazette yesterday and signed
by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. /Star/
[18] UNITED NATIONS SUPPORTS AGRICULTURAL REFORM IN TURKEY
United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO)
Representative to Turkey, Maharaj Muthoo, said that the UN
supported the agricultural reform in Turkey. Muthoo said, "The
studies on agricultural reforms are going on without any problem.
These studies will be of immense benefit to consumers because
they will remove the subsiding which cause lack of fertility in
the agricultural productions and solve the problems in the
market. A high-level technical delegation will be sent to Turkey
next week in order to give information on the proposal of the
Master Plan Project and on another proposal to support
Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Rural Development Programme.
/Star/
[19] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS
Turkey repaid her foreign debts amounting to $ 398.46 million
between 3 and 19 July. According to Central Bank figures, the
Treasury made a repayment of $ 316.40 million, the Central Bank $
28.03 million. $ 54.03 million were repaid by the administrations
with general budget and annexed budget. /Star/
[20] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKCELL AND ERICSSON
Turkcell signed an investment agreement with Ericsson yesterday
in order to access the internet through the cellular phone and to
reach a higher speed of data transportation. Turkcell issued a
written statement as part of the General Packet Radio Services
(GPRS) agreement, which is planned to be implemented in the first
three months of 2001, the packet key-operated data services with
GSM base will be able to be standardized. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] AKBANK RECEIVES HIGH RATING FROM THE FITCH IBCA
The world's leading rating company, Fitch IBCA, said that they
gave 'B_C' as the personal rating and 'AA+' as the internal
rating to Akbank. In a report in which Fitch IBCA evaluated the
ratings, it was stated that Akbank was considered as one of the
successful companies in an atmosphere of competition. General
Director of Akbank, Ozen Goksel, said, "B_C" rating, which is
considered as an important rating in the internal markets,
reflects Akbank's strong structure of balance-sheet, its high
profit and its positive expectations from the future."
/Cumhuriyet/
[22] TRANSFER AGREEMENT OF PETROLEUM OFFICE INCORPORATION (POAS)
Privatization Administration and Dogan Holding-Isbank Consortium
will sign the transfer agreement on Petroleum Office
Incorporation (POAS) today. The consortium is going to pay $1.26
billion in advance for 51 percent shares of POAS. After the sale
42.3 percent of shares will remain in the state. Public shares
comprise 7 percent of total shares. /Milliyet/
[23] TURKEY'S GOLD YEAR IN TOURISM
This year Turkey is expected to catch up with the figures of 1998
in terms of tourism, which was considered to be the gold year of
tourism. According to the figures of the first six months of this
year, 3.9 million tourists visited Turkey, in other words, there
is an increase of 28% in the number of tourists who visited
Turkey when compared to the figures of the last year. /Sabah/
[24] FAZIL SAY STAGES A CONCERT IN GERMANY
Famous Turkish pianist Fazil Say staged a concert in Bochum,
Germany, yesterday as part of the 'International Ruhr Piano
Festival'. In a statement issued by the Turkish Studies Centre
(TAM), based in the city of Essen, it was stated that Say's
concert was organized as part of the 'Project for Removing
Intercultural Crises'. In addition, it was reported that this
project was considered to be an important activity for
encouraging the multicultural atmosphere. /Cumhuriyet/
[25] TRAVEL SHIP 'COSTA ATLANTICA' IN ISTANBUL
The biggest travel ship of Europe 'Costa Atlantica' arrived at
Istanbul yesterday. Costa Atlantica which started its first
journey from Venice to Istanbul on 16 July, will come every week
to Istanbul and Kusadasi until October carrying 3,000 tourists
each time. /Milliyet/
[26] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[27] TWO MORE YEARS FOR CYPRUS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc of daily 'Milliyet' writes on the solution
of the Cyprus issue. A summary of her column is as follows:
"The debates over the visit of EU Commissioner Responsible for
Enlargement, Verheugen is being distorted in Turkey. Discussing
whether Europe intends to divide Turkey or not is to construct a
new century over the fixations of the 20th century. In fact,
integration with the EU has been among Turkish strategic
priorities for some time. That is, Turkey is asking for EU
membership. The non-paper Verheugen has sent to Turkey before his
arrival states the main points which will take place in the
Participation Partnership Document which in turn will prepare
Turkey for full-membership negotiations. This draft is based on
the Copenhagen criteria which must be adhered to by all members
and which Turkey has promised to comply with. These criteria can
be taken up in two parts: political and economic.
The sub-titles of the political criteria can be listed as,
democratization and forming stable institutions which can
guarantee it; legal arrangements; human rights issues and respect
to minority rights. The Kurdish issue is taken up to comply with
democratic and human rights principles. Economic criteria can be
stated as, market economy, and its reaching a standard where it
can contend with the competition within the EU. We should not
lose any time or energy by needless discussions but concentrate
our efforts on how to carry out these criteria.
Here, the main issue to be dicussed is Cyprus. Greece is
exerting every effort to place the issue in the Participation
Partnership Document and to set a binding calendar for Turkey.
Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou has written a letter to the G-8
countries convening today to take the Cyprus issue into their
agenda. In a press conference he held in Athens yesterday Simitis
said that Cyprus problem has to be solved in order to improve
relations with Turkey and called on Europe to be more closely
concerned with the Cyprus issue. Greece is lobbying
systematically for Cyprus on wide-ranging platforms. To resist
democratization is to row against the currents. Turkey will carry
out these reforms. We have to consider the Cyprus problem to be
able to form new policies which will please both Turkey and the
Turkish-Cypriots at the end of two years."
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