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Turkish Press Review, 00-11-03Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>03.11.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CELIKKOL: "TURKEY SHOULD CHARGE FEE FOR PRVENTION OF POLLUTION IN THE STRAITS"[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[03] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETINGThe Council of Ministers met yesterday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. During the meeting, defense industry projects were discussed. Minister of National Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu and the Undersecretary of Ministry of Defense, Dursun Ali Ercan, informed members of the Cabinet of on-going projects. /Cumhuriyet/[04] YILMAZ IN ATHENSYesterday, Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Responsible for EU Affairs, in Athens to participate in the Turco-Greek Business Council's Congress, met with Former Premier Konstantinos Mitsotakis and Athens Mayor Dimitri Avramopulos. Stressing Athens support for Turkey's full EU membership, Mitsotakis said, however, Turkey should compromise with Europe's conditions. He emphasized that Turco-Greek rapprochement is the right policy and added the need to respect each other's sensitivities. During a dinner hosted by the Turco-Greek Business Council, Mr. Yilmaz met with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou. The two ministers discussed the EU and Cyprus issues. Mr. and Mrs. Yilmaz also visited the Acropolis in Athens. /Turkiye/[05] GREEK-CYPRIOTS DEMAND LANDDuring the fifth round of the proximity talks on the Cyprus issue held in Geneva under UN supervision, it was reported that Greek-Cypriots brought in a land-demand, including the Guzelyurt area. The UN asked for land and map experts to be brought in Geneva. Although the Turkish Cypriots' viewpoint is that main topics can only be discussed on an equal footing, the Greek Cypriot side asked for land from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). They also want 65,000 Greek-Cypriots return to the north of Cyprus. However, political observers state that the demands on returning a significant number of Greek-Cypriots to the north and important amount of land are against to "two regions" principle, supported by the UN and the US Administration. /Turkiye/[06] EU TROIKA IN ANKARAOne week before Turkey's accession partnership document is to be declared by the EU, the EU troika will meet today with Turkish officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The troika is expected to discuss the latest deveopments on the accession partnership document with Turkish officials. The representatives of the EU troika, including EU Term President France, next term president Sweden, the EU Commission and Secretary-General of EU Council will meet today with the Turkish delegation chaired by Deputy Undersecretary Akin Alptuna. The last draft of the accession partnership document will be taken up during the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[07] ANOTHER DECREE ANNULLEDThe Anatolia News Agency reported the Constitutional Court has annulled government decree with the power of law number 615 after the Authorization Law, under which the decree was issued, was annulled by the court. The Authorization Law was annulled after the Virtue Party (FP) appealed to the Constitutional Court on grounds that the law was unconstitutional. Once the court found in favor of the FP, the party then applied to have 16 decrees issued under said law annulled also. Number 615 pertained to amendments to the decree on State Economic Enterprises (SES) which itself amended decree number 233. Although the decree has been annulled, no effective date was given for the annulment order. /Turkish Daily News/[08] PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES ECO GENERAL SECRETARYPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) General-Secretary Abdulrahim Gavahi at the Prime Ministry yesterday. The meeting lasted 20 minutes. Gavahi, who is Iranian, was paying a courtesy visit to Turkey now that the general-secretary's position has been transferred from Turkey to Iran. /Turkish Daily News/[09] SESTANOVICH IN ANKARAAmabassador to the Commonwealth of Independent States in the US State Department, Stephan Sestanovich, arrived in Ankara yesterday. Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem and Deputy Undersecretary Yigit Alpogan, Mr. Sestannovich stated US demands for the improvement of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia. Reminding that he met with Armenian Head of State Robert Kocaryan in Yerevan, Mr. Sestanovich said, "Armenia wants to improve its relations with Turkey and to establish a friendly dialogue." He also stated that Turkey and the US had common policies and interests in Central Asia, adding the US Administration found President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to the Central Asia beneficial. /Cumhuriyet/[10] HADDAM VISITS ANKARAAbdulhalim Haddam, the first assistant of Syrian President Besir Esad, arrived in Ankara to hold official contacts. Mr. Haddam, who brought a special message from Syrian President Esad to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, will begin his meetings today. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli welcome Mr. Haddam at the airport. He is expected to meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem. Mr. Haddam`s visit is seen by diplomatic sources as a positive develoment for the newly improving relations between Turkey and Syria. The two countries are about to prepare a "principles declaration" determining a route for bilateral relation between them. After completing the declaration, Mr. Cem is expected to visit Syria. Water problems and certain issues on security cooperation between the two countries are among the subjects to be mentioned in the declaration. /Cumhuriyet/[11] CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYCroatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan will come to Turkey for an official visit, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Racan will take part in official meetings in Ankara between 5 and 7 November, as the official guest of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. It was announced that Racan and Ecevit were to consult on such issues as the recent developments in the Balkans and continuing good relations between Turkey and Croatia. /Turkish Daily News/[12] EURASIA ECONOMY SUMMITEurasia Economy Summit, organized by the Marmara Group Foundation in Istanbul, yesterday brought Eurasia's women together. Businesswomen and female deputies from Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Tataristan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Israel attended the summit. After the State Minister Hasan Gemici's opening speech, Berna Yilmaz, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, addressed the meeting. Semra Sezer, the President's wife sent a message to the summit saying Turkey differs from the other countries in broking down barriers many years ago enabling Turkish women to participate actively in society. The Eurasia Economy Summit which began on Nov. 1, is ending today after a session on the "Economic Developments and Cooperation in Eurasia in the 21st Century." /Turkiye/[13] CAKMAKOGLU'S GUEST FROM JORDANMinister of National Defence Sabahattin Cakmakoglu received the Jordanian Chief of the General Staff Lietuenant General Muhammad Yusuf Al-Malkawi, who arrived in Turkey for official visits. Before the meeting, Cakmakoglu briefed Al-Malkawi about the defence industry at the Council of Ministers. Cakmakoglu said the expenses of the defence industry were on a 'reasonable level'. Undersecretary of Defence Industry, Ali Ercan, said while the new world order is being formed, economic problems, ethnic and religious tensions, and historical land claims have gained importance. Ercan added that countries neighbouring Turkey are arming themselves and in contrast the Turkish Armed Forces equipment is 30-40 years old. /Aksam/[14] ERSUMER'S STATEMENT ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECTMinister of Energy and Natural Sources Cumhur Ersumer attended the "International Energy Conference" organized as a part of the third Eurasia Economy Meeting. Mr. Ersumer said the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is essential to the region's economy its economic benefits and is being constructed according to sound ecological practices. Stating that Baku petroleum would be transferred to Ceyhan in 2004 and a new market would emerge in the Mediterranean, Mr. Ersumer said, "Eurasia should be the owner of the rich oil reserves, not just the policeman." Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Islam Tagaiyev also delivered a speech at the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[15] NORWEGIAN ENERGY MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYNorwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Olav Akselsen will pay an official visit to Turkey between 6 and 8 November at the invitation of Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer. A written statement from the Norwegian Embassy in Ankara said the visit would reflect the increased cooperation between Norwegian and Turkish companies in the energy sector and the political will of both governments is to faciliate and further strengthen that cooperation. A protocol on energy cooperation between Norway and Turkey was signed during Ersumer's visit to Norway last May. Ersumer and Akselsen are scheduled to attend a conference in Istanbul organized jointly by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and the Norwegian Business and Industry Confederation (NHO) on "Business, Globalization and Corporate Responsibility". Akselsen will meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and members of the Parliamentery Energy Commission. He will also meet with officials from the state-owned Turkish Pipeline Company (BOTAS), the Turkish Petroleum Company(TPAO) and the State Waterworks Authority (DSI). /Turkish Daily News/[16] DALLARA HOPEFUL ABOUT TURKISH BANKINGDirector of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Charles Dallara meeting with Turkish economy bureaucrats in Ankara and bankers in Istanbul, the success of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board. Stating the current economic program in Turkey was successful in decreasing the inflation rate, Mr. Dallara said, "The lower the inflation rate is, the more investments are made." He added, "As long as the inflation rate keeps decreasing and political stability is maintained, foreign banks will invest in Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/[17] COTTARELLI'S PRAISES THE BANKING REGULATION AND SUPERVISION BOARDCarlo Cottarelli, Chief of IMF Turkey Desk, visited Zekeriya Temizel, Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board, to gather information about the operation of the committee in the banking sector. Cottarelli expressed his appreciation for the preparations of the Operation Plan. The IMF will evaluate the High Committee's Operation Plan. The authorities point out that a positive sign from the IMF will effect the decisions of the foreign banks willing to buy the Banks under the control of the Deposit Account Insurance Fund(MSF). /Hurriyet/[18] FOREIGN RESOURCE OF 461 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR THE TREASURYAs a part of its 2000 borrowing programme, the Treasury exported three-year-term bond totalling 50 billion Japanese Yens in the Samurai market. The bond export was carried out under the leadership of Nomura Securities and Daiwa Securities SB Capital Markets. /Aksam/[19] AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKCELL AND MOTOROLATelsim and Motorola signed an agreement of mutual good will to establish the 3rd Generation (3G) GSM network ensuring an advanced multimedia service. Motorola estimates that the potential value of the agreement will surprass 2 billion US dollars. 3G GSM phones, IMT2000 family's European member is called Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). Leading GSM operator, Telsim, will use UMTS's analyses first in Ankara and then in Istanbul. Telsim's customers will be able to benefit from the completely interactive services thanks to the GSM phones. /Star/[20] DISBANK ISSUES BONDS TOTALING 100 MILLION EURODisbank issued five-year bonds totaling 100 million Euro to be sold in international financial markets. The related agreement was signed yesterday. The bond issue was organized by transforming the foreign currency into securities dependant upon assets (VDMK). Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Investment Bank underwrote the issuing of the bonds. The buyers of bonds include insurance companies, investment funds and banks based in Europe. Disbank announced its nine-month profit as $63 million. Last year during the same period, Disbank showed $56 million net profit. /Milliyet/[21] TUPRAS THE GREATEST IN EAST EUROPE AND BALKANSGeneral Director of Turkish Petroleum Refineries Company(Tupras), Husamettin Danis, said Tupras has a 86 percent share in Turkey's total refinery capacity. It has the eigth biggest potential in Europe. Tupras is the largest refinery company in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Mr. Danis, in a speech he delivered at the Energy Conference, said Tupras had a loss totaling $1 billion in 1994-1997, but the implementation of the automatic pricing system started last year, paved the way for a $471,4 million profit. /Sabah/[22] NUH GROUP INVESTS IN SPAINNuh Group's General Coordinator Atalay Sahinoglu held a press conference and gave information on the targets of Nuh Cement Joint Stock Company, which became the partner of Spanish Cementos Esfera Sa Company. Sahinoglu said they were planning to make an investment of 5 million US dollars. He added that the partners would establish a grinding mill facility in the city of Traggona. /Aksam/[23] MATTHYSEN'S STATEMENT CONCERNING ERDALBelgian Ambassador to Ankara, Jan Matthysen, stated that Fehriye Erdal, who assassinated Ozdemir Sabanci and then took shelter in Belgium, was a danger for Belgium. Ambassador Matthysen answered questions from the press during the visit of Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu. He said, "Fehriye Erdal is being kept in a secret place in Belgium now. Her actions are monitored at all times and she cannot act independently. Certainly, Belgium does not protect Fehriye Erdal. We have to protect ourselves from Erdal and her organization. We cannot extradite Erdal. Turkey is our friend and ally. Even if we make changes in our law, nothing we do now will change the past." /Aksam/[24] TCG GEDIZ LEAVES SAN DIEGO FOR TURKEYThe frigate TCG Gediz, recently decommissioned by the United States Navy and transferred to the Turkish Naval Forces, will leave San Diego Naval Base today. According to the Naval Forces Command, the Gediz, which raised the Turkish flag on 1 September, will visit Acapulco, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Ponto Delgada on its way to Turkey. The frigate will reach Aksaz Harbor on 6 December after its trip, which will last about a month. /Turkish Daily News/[25] OCALAN: "PROTECT TURKISH FLAG"Abdullah Ocalan, head of the terrorist PKK organization and sentenced to death published an article in the organizations periodical, Serxwebun.In his article, Ocalan said "Our ancestors, as well, fought for this flag. Protect this flag and have respect for Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic." /Hurriyet/[26] CELIKKOL: "TURKEY SHOULD CHARGE FEE FOR PRVENTION OF POLLUTION IN THE STRAITS"Head of the Machine and Maritime Technologies Department in New Hampshire University, Prof. Barbaros Celikkol, said in the Conference on Pollution in the Black Sea and Mediterranean due to Petroleum, that a fund should be established to prevent pollution in the straits. Prof. Celikkol said each tanker entering the New Hampshire estuary pays 25 cents per ton on the petroleum it carries. Mr. Celikkol said, "If Turkey charged this amount of money to the tankers passing through the straits, the annual revenue would reach $20 million. This fund would provide enough resources for environmental protection, planning and operation. Pollution is caused by ships during their passage as well as by the tanker accidents. A traffic control system to be made operational in the straits will ensure prevention of the accidents." Prof. Celikkol also said services of tugboats and guiding captain should be compulsory for a safe passage of ships through the straits. /Hurriyet/[27] ANOTHER HUGE STEP FOR MARMARAYAn important step was taken concerning the Marmaray project, a construction and tube passage plan aimed at finding a radical solution for innercity traffic. The Ministry of Communication completed the system's technical marking in the engineering and advisory services and sent it to the Japanese rating company, JBIC. The company that will undertake the system's engineering and advisory services is expected to be chosen soon. The system will begin construction in 2001. /Aksam/[28] SPECIAL JURY AWARD TO TURKISH FILM IN BEIJINGA Turkish film named "Bir Golge Gecti (A Shadow Passed)" received the special jury award in the Beijing International Scientific Films Festival. In the film, directed by Tulin Sertoz, incidents observed in Elazig, Amasya and Osmancik after the eclipse of the sun in 1999 are narrated. The film was dedicated to the people who died in the August 17 Marmara eartquake. /Cumhuriyet/[29] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[30] YILMAZ OPTIMISTIC BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Turco-EU relations. A summary of her column is as follows:"Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has taken an important role in Turco-EU relations. Years after the Davos process launched by Prime Ministers Mitsotakis and Ozal ended in disappointment, Yilmaz is taking responsibility for the rapprochement process between Turkey and Greece. Yilmaz, whose words created a stir during the critical period in the rapprochement, has calmed down the climate in Athens yesterday. Despite the crisis over Limnos and the negative atmosphere of the meeting between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in Skopje, Deputy Prime Minister Yilmaz believes the point reached in Turco-Greek relations during this past year is the closest since the 1950s. According to Yilmaz, who said dialogue requires patience, Greece sees dialogue as a unilateral taking process. Yilmaz said, "We want a real dialogue. The problem is we do not agree on the concept of dialogue." He also mentioned he was optimistic about the outcome. Yilmaz met with Mitsotakis for the first time after Yilmaz had cut off all relations at the 1991 Paris meeting. Mitsotakis has not changed his position. He stated that unless the Cyprus problem is solved, there will not be a rapprochement between Turkey and Greece. However, Yilmaz left the meeting in a different frame of mind. Although he believes the necessary climate for a dialogue was not there, he said, "We have to continue the dialogue as we have no other choice." However, he also stressed that there won't be a radical change in Greek public opinion and it would be incorrect to expect such a change. The Turco-Greek Business Council meets at at time when the dispute between the hawks and those supporting dialogue has reached its peak. However, this time however, there is a different picture. Those supporting dialogue seem to be stronger. Prime Minister Simitis said the dialogue would continue despite verbal attacks by the opposition. Two Foreign Ministers agreed to carry out confidence-building-measures in Budapest. A decision was made for a dialogue between the military of both countries to parallel the political dialogue. Despite ups and downs, the rapprochement process is continuing. Mesut Yilmaz believes he views the situation realistically. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also sent the message saying Turkey's problems on the road to full EU membership will be overcome. He added that Turkey should take steps regarding the issue. He stated that in the wake of the declaration of Accession Partnership Document, on November 9, there will be a Government meeting. Turkey's answer will be shaped in this meeting and the Accession Partnership Document will be evaluated." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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