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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-18Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning18.05.2001CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT: "IMF SUPPORT IS NOT A DONATION BUT A LOAN"Speaking at the Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting, Prime Minister and DSP Chairman, Bulent Ecevit said on the recent support decision taken by the IMF Executive Directors Board, "Our duty now is to make use of this support rationally. We must avoid all kinds of wastefulness." Emphasising the IMF support was not a donation but a loan, Ecevit said the new economic stability program should be implemented with a great determination. /Cumhuriyet/[02] DERVIS' STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC PROGRAMSpeaking at the press conference he held at the OECD Office of Turkish Permanent Representative, State Minister Kemal Dervis evaluated the recent developments in Turkish economy and the IMF decision to support Turkey. Dervis began his speech with a message of condolences for those who died during the military plane accident in Malatya. Stating Turkey would receive a great support from the IMF, Dervis said, "This loan will be the biggest in the history of the IMF financial assistance. We must use the loan very carefully and in a very responsible way. This is a crucial opportunity for us." He added that Turkey could sustain a 7% growth rate since her relations and conditions are very convenient for such a rate. Recalling that Turkey should fight against inflation with great determination, Dervis said, "Policy makers should work without violating the principles of the market economy and should refrain from intervening in the market all the time. He pointed out they attached great importance to the resources to be received from the private sector as well as the support of the international financial institutions. Emphasising that another significant aspect of the economic program was the implementation of monetary and financial policies, Dervis said if Turkey makes any concessions regarding these policies that would mean an increase in the inflation rate. /Cumhuriyet/[03] EU SUPPORT FOR STATE MINISTER DERVISThe Minister of Finance in Sweden, the EU Term President Bosse Ringhom, said they hoped the economic program declared by the Turkish government would be successful. Stating they closely followed the recent economic conditions in Turkey, Ringhom said they evaluated the economic program as a positive step for Turkey. He added that they viewed the program as very comprehensive and assertive. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister in Belgium who will be the next EU Term President said they also supported the new economic program in Turkey. Swedish Economy Minister Pascal Couchepin met with Dervis yesterday. Replying to the questions by the reporters, Couchepin said he congratulated Dervis and conveyed the message that they gave their full support for the economic program. /Cumhuriyet/[04] TUSIAD STATEMENT ON THE IMF LOANTurkish Industrialists' and Businessmen' Association (TUSIAD) stated the key element for a radical change in Turkey was not the IMF loan but the change in the mentality concerning the economic management in Turkey. TUSIAD members said they wanted an acceleration in the reforms concerning policy making processes. /Cumhuriyet/ANAP'S 18TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE MARKED THIS SUNDAY The Motherland Party's (ANAP) 18th anniversary ceremonies will be held on May 20 at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Center in Istanbul. Within the scope of the commemoration activities, the ANAP Leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and other party dignitaries will visit Ataturk's Mausoleum (Anitkabir) on Sunday morning. /Turkish News/ [05] "TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT ALLY OF THE US"During a session of the US House of Representatives Assignment Committee's foreign operations sub-committee meeting, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Turkey is an important ally of the US. Responding to questions posed by the representatives, Powell said, "We are helping Turkey to overcome the recent economic crisis. Additionally, we are working together with Turkey regarding an agreement on the European Security and Defense Identity. I am proud of the relations with Turkey." /Turkiye/[06] BAHCELI: "THERE IS NO CABINET REVISION"Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister, Devlet Bahceli, yesterday paid a visit to Kadirli town of Osmaniye and Hatay province which suffered from the recent flood in the region accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Housing, Koray Aydin. After his observations, Bahceli replied to questions posed by journalists. He said, "We do not believe that for the time being a cabinet revision is necessary. The 57th government is continuing on its way." /Turkiye/[07] INTERNATIONAL FINANCE REPRESENTATIVES IN TURKEYInternational finance representatives who attended the conference "Turkey After Crisis" met yesterday with Turkish representatives from various sectors. During the meeting closed to press, about 100 finance directors from Europe and the US were briefed about the recent economic situation in Turkey and possible investment opportunities. /Turkiye/[08] ORAL: "BANKS WILL BE UNDER CONTROL"Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral, said at the new economic period the banks will be followed more closely. Oral said, "The most important leg of the new program is again the finance sector." The Minister noted that big steps were taken in tax regulations which encourage merging of the banks. Oral also promoted Pension Fund's new card application. /Turkiye/LOAN AMOUNTING TO 450 MILLION EUROS TO TURKEY Following the approval of the loan amounting to 15.7 billion US dollar by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Union (EU) opened a fund amounting to 8.5 billion euros, for the use of every EU member country. The EU also opened the 'Special Action Fund' of 450 million euros to Turkey in order to support the Customs Union. It was revealed that the EU was waiting for the approval of the IMF aid package to open these funds to Turkey. The opening of the EU funds to Turkey was stated by the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Gunther Verheugen, to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem. If Turkey presents her projects to Brussels in line with the standards of the EU, then she will be able to receive the fund amounting to 8.5 billion euros. /Hurriyet/ [09] AKISIK'S STATEMENTChairman of the Executive Board of the State Owned Banks, Vural Akisik, said there is a more hopeful atmosphere that Turkey will be able to build the macroeconomic balances following the economic crisis. Akisik added, "When the macroeconomic imbalance is not removed, the financial crises occur as a way to remove these inconsistencies. Our economy will be able to ensure the stable growth rate of 5% in an atmosphere of no inflation." Akisik also suggested that the banking sector will grow by 30% in the following 5-6 years. /Hurriyet/$3.9 BILLION IMF LOAN TO BE RECEIVED The IMF will release the first portion of Special Drawing Rights(SDR) in $3.9 billion for Turkey today. The announcement made by the Central Bank said, "We will from now on carry out foreign exchange transactions by way of foreign exchange biddings." The IMF will extend a total of $19 billion loan in three years. A portion worth $12.8 billion will be used this year. /Milliyet/ [10] COTTARELLI: "GOVERNMENT DECISION ON TELEKOM PRIVATIZATION WAS CRUCIAL"On his last day at work, the IMF Chief of Turkey Desk, Carlo Cottarelli answered the questions of the press. Cottarelli said the implementation of the new economic program should be carried out with due compliance. Cottarelli said transitional improvements should not lead to any deviance in the economic program, because the target is to achieve a permanent amelioration in the economy. Cottarelli said, "The adoption of the law on privatization of Telekom is a positive sign given to international financial markets signifying the determination of the government in privatization." /Milliyet/[11] DERVIS TO CLOSELY OBSERVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECONOMIC PROGRAMState Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, said under the leadership of the Treasury each month they will gather data regarding the implementation of the economic program and specify the hitches parts and take measures accordingly. Dervis said drawing portfolio investors to Turkey is important, but speculative money is least needed, rather long-term investments focusing on production will be welcome. /Milliyet/[12] OKUYAN: "TURKEY IS DETERMINED TO APPLY ILO STANDARDS"Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan said on Thursday that Turkey was determined to translate International Labor Organization (ILO) standards of working conditions into life. Speaking at the "ILO Declaration on Basic Working Principles and Rights Seminar" organized by the ILO Bureau and ILO's Ankara Representative, Okuyan said that Turkey was an ILO member since 1932. "I believe that this seminar will contribute greatly to the strengthening of friendly ties between regional countries," Okuyan declared. "Turkey attaches great importance to the ILO Declaration on Basic Working Principles and Rights, which reminds its members of their responsibilities and obligations as delineated in the ILO Main Contract. /Turkish News/[13] BLUE STREAM PROJECTThe First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Natural Gas Company, Gazprom, Nuri Komarov, stated that the work to lay the pipeline of the Blue Stream Project will begin in the Black Sea in July. Komarov said the Italian vessel, which will lay the pipeline in the depths of the Black Sea, will come to Turkey on 17 July and will begin to lay the pipeline on 26 July. He added, "It is planned that the Saipem-7000 vessel will come to the Black Sea on 3-6 August, will be ready in three weeks and will begin to work in the first week of September. The main problems were solved and the necessary agreements and the financial contracts were completed. Now the problems are not on the technical, but on the bureaucratical level." /Hurriyet/[14] JOHNSTON: "CONDITIONS IN THE F-TYPE PRISONS SHOULD IMPROVE"The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) David Russel-Johnston, who is currently in Turkey for the PACE meeting, said conditions in the F-type prisons should be improved as soon as possible. Johnston said PACE was also interested in the Southeastern Region issue and would prepare a report on the issue. /Cumhuriyet/[15] FUNERALS OF PLANE CRASH VICTIMS TODAYThe funerals of the 34 officers and soldiers who died in a military air accident will be held in 13 provinces and seven districts across Turkey today, the Anatolia news agency reported. A service will be held for those to be buried in Ankara at Kocatepe mosque this afternoon. Those who will be laid to rest elsewhere have already been sent to their respective towns and villages. /Turkish Daily News/[16] GUREL: "US MORE REALISTIC THAN EUROPE ON CYPRUS ISSUE"State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who is in the United States to take part in the annual Turkish parade to be held in New York and to attend a meeting with US officials in order to explain Turkey's view on the Cyprus dispute, met with the US officials and held a press conference on Wednesday. Gurel said he met with the State Department's special envoy to Cyprus, Tom Weston and US President George W. Bush's National Security Council's European Director Dan Freed, former US Ambassadors to Turkey Morton Abramowitz and Mark Parris in addition to Turkish and Jewish communities' representatives in Washington. He added that he will meet with former assistant defense secretary, Richard Perle. /Turkish Daily News/[17] STATE MINISTER YALOVA TO GO TO MOSCOWState Minister Yuksel Yalova is to go to Moscow on an official visit over May 21-23. There he will attend a conference on "General Problems in Turkish and Russian Economic Policies" and will explain the problems being faced regarding privatization in Turkey. Yalova will also hold talks with representatives from the Turkish-Russian Businessmen's Union and the Turkish-Russian Business Council. /Turkish Daily News/[18] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER IN PARISEnvironment Minister Fevzi Aytekin is in Paris attending a meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Addressing the conference, Aytekin said the OECD had chosen an appropriate time for the meeting and that this demonstrated the attention being given to environmental policies. He noted that the increase in problems concerning the preservation of the ecosystem showed that the success in this area was insufficient. He noted that disruption to the environment could be prevented when made free of economic growth. /Turkish Daily News/[19] CANCELLATION OF TURK TELEKOM BIDDINGThe Privatization Administration Board(OIB) announced that the bidding for the privatization of Turk Telekom was cancelled, which was suspended on March 20 by the judgment of Ankara Sixth Administrative Court. OIB said seven entrepreneur groups had asked for the bidding contract for the block sale of 33.5% of the Turk Telekom shares. /Milliyet/[20] ZORLU HOLDING OPENS FACTORY IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAZorlu Holding opened a textile factory in Sanliurfa Organized Industry Region with an investment worth $1.5 million. 220 persons will be employed in the factory. /Milliyet/[21] KOC-ISRAELI COOPERATION IN EDUCATIONKoc System has established the first b-learning (electronic education) system in the educational sector. "Koc Bryce Technological Education Services" was established with the 50% partnership of the technological education company of Israeli origin, John Bryce Training. The company will provide the individuals and institutions with all their educational needs on-line. /Hurriyet/[22] POAS IN THE EUROPEAN LISTPOAS Petroleum Office entered the 'European 500' list made by the 'Times' according to the market values of the companies this year. In the list, there are seven other Turkish companies. Chairman of the Privatization Administration Board, Ugur Bayar, made a speech at the conference, organized by Finansinvest, and said, POAS, 51% of which was sold, turned out to be a modern company in the private sector. Bayar added that the remaining public shares in the Petroleum Office would be sold as well. /Hurriyet/[23] TURKEY IS A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN AVIATION AUTHORITIES ASSEMBLYTurkish Civil Aviation Director-General Topa Bilgatin Toker said Turkey took the first step to EU membership with civil aviation. He said Turkey was accepted as a member to the European Aviation Authorities Assembly at the meeting held on April 4, 2001 in Brussels. /Turkiye/[24] TURKISH STARS TO HOLD AIR SHOW FOR BATMANThe Turkish Air Force (TUAF) Command's aerial precision flying team, the Turkish Stars, will hold an air show in Batman on Saturday. The authorities said that due to the interest the people of Batman were showing , the Turkish Stars will fly over Batman on May 19 Youth and Sports Day. /Turkish News/[25] MUMCU: "EVERYONE SHOULD EXERT AN EFFORT FOR ISTANBUL TO ATTRACT CONVENTIONS"Work has started for Istanbul, which does not often host international conventions, to be a center of conventions. The work is being conducted by the Istanbul Convention and Visitor Office(ICVB) whose aim is to direct world convention tourism to Istanbul. ICVB held a meeting yesterday in Swissotel to express the importance of convention tourism and what should be done for Istanbul to be a convention city. Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and ICVB Honorary Chairman Ali Mufit Gurtuna attended the meeting. Mumcu said, "A process has already started to give Istanbul its rightful place in world convention tourism. We have to make efforts to accelerate this process." /Turkish Daily News/[26] EUROPEAN OPHTHALMOLOGISTS CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL13th European Ophthalmologists Congress will be held on June 3-7 in Istanbul. 4,000 physicians will attend the congress. /Milliyet/[27] CARTOGRAPHERS MEET IN ISTANBULYoung cartography engineers will meet in Istanbul at the "Young Cartographers' Days" to be held between May 18-20. The organisation aims at improving occupational and social relations between the cartographers from all around the world. /Cumhuriyet/[28] TURKISH-GREEK TOURISM FORUM WILL BE HELDThe Third Turkish-Greek Tourism Forum will be held in Marmaris between May 18 and 20. According to a Tourism Ministry statement, tourism and maritime cooperation, visa requirements for travel between Turkey and Greece, sea and air travel, investments and other subjects will be discussed in the forum. /Turkish News/[29] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[30] HOW TO STAY IMPORTANT? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the credit extended to Turkey and its reasons. A summary of his column is as follows:"British newspaper Financial Times at the end of its editorial published on 16 May, commented on the loan extended to Turkey by the IMF and said, 'The main reason for supporting Turkey once again is political rather than economic. A debt default would destabilise an important US ally in a vital and sensitive region.' The newspaper thus connects the extension of the loan to Turkey by the IMF and the Western world to the importance attached to Turkey's location in the region. This argument was frequently heard during the recent crisis. Certainly, the reason why the allies promised to help Turkey and the rush by the IMF and the World Bank to help is her geostrategic importance. The reason is apparent: in the present international situation neither the US nor the West have the luxury to lose Turkey. In the unstable triangle of the Middle East-the Caucasus- the Balkans full of conflicts and risks, Turkey's staying strong and loyal to the West has great importance with respect to Western strategic interests. The latest example for it can be seen in the place the Bush Administration wants to give Turkey in the new missile defense system. Certainly we are pleased to receive attention due to Turkey's geographic location and her role in the international arena and therefore be supported during these turbulent times. The issue is for how long this 'importance' will continue and to what conditions it will be tied. As one of the leading Turkey analysts in the US, Dr.Ian Lesser has stressed the Bush Administration attaches great importance to Turkey due to US strategic interests, as its predecessor. However, this support should not be interpreted erroneously and it should not be presumed that it would continue if Turkey does not fulfil what is expected from her. In other words, we should not regard the helping hand extended to Turkey as a carte blanche. We received the same impression during our talks with other Western diplomats. The EU, the IMF and other friendly countries all expect Turkey to fulfil these conditions. Foreign analysts all emphasize the fact that the West does not want to lose Turkey but no one can lend this support forever only because of her geo-strategic importance. Chairman of Turkish Educational and Social Studies Foundation Can Paker stated that Turkey does not have the luxury not to do anything other than solely relying on her geo-strategic advantage. The West can attach great importance to Turkey in other fields as well. In fact, she can become a role model for the countries in the region with an improvement in political, economic and social fields and the democratic standards enjoyed. Then, Turkey's importance will increase and she will become a country where her friends cannot ignore her and continue wit their support." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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