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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-31Turkish 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 morning31.05.2001CONTENTS
[01] SEZER IN EASTERN ANATOLIAPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer said the fight against terrorism was successful in Southeastern Anatolia and asked the private sector to invest in the region. The Chief of the General Staff also accompanied Sezer in his visit to Van and Hakkari. Sezer received information regarding the problems of the cities and border trade. Sezer also visited the border patrol in Hakkari. Sezer said, "An environment of peace and stability has been achieved due to the successful efforts of the Turkish security forces in Southeastern Anatolia hit by terrorism for many years. Our primary aim is to enhance the living standards and social conditions of people in the region. In this regard, the private sector should be more sensitive on the issue." /Milliyet/[02] ECEVIT TO TRAVEL TO SIRNAKPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will travel to Southeastern Anatolia province of Sýrnak on June 3 to make observations for the city-village project in the region. He is also expected to address the citizens. /Turkiye/[03] BAHCELI TO VISIT GERMANYThe Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Devlet Bahceli, will travel to Germany today for a private visit. He will also proceed to France and return to Turkey on June 5. /Turkiye/[04] LEADERS DISCUSS ECONOMYThe leaders of the coalition parties met yesterday at the Parliament to discuss the economic developments. Speaking after the meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said they had discussed the problems of the real sector. He added, "We discussed the possible ways to overcome the problems of the real sector and to revive the economy. The High Planning Board will meet in the next two weeks for that purpose." /Cumhuriyet/[05] DERVIS ADDRESSES ASO MEETINGState Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis, delivered a speech at the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) meeting yesterday. Dervis explained his views on interest rates, debts, state banks and the economic program. He pointed to following major topics: Interest rates will be decreased through a compromise, domestic borrowing will be realized with low interest rates, state banks will be liberated from the influence of politicians, the program will be revised. /Turkiye/[06] MINISTERS OF JUSTICE MEET IN THE HAGUEMinister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk traveled to the Netherlands yesterday to attend the 'The Second Global Meeting for Struggle Against Corruption and Protection of Honesty' to be held in the Hague. Turk said a successful struggle against corruption would only be possible with international cooperation. He added, "The Hague Conference will be a milestone for such a cooperation." /Cumhuriyet/[07] IVANOV IN ANKARA IN JUNERussian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, is to visit Ankara as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on June 7-9. The two ministers are expected to discuss the planned visit by Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin to open the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline in the second half of 2002. Cooperation in combating terrorism will also be on the agenda. /Turkish Daily News/[08] DENKTAS TO VISIT ANKARAFollowing after the statement made by the National Security Council (MGK) on Tuesday on the Cyprus issue, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas will be visiting Ankara. He is scheduled to visit Ankara on June 6. After meeting with members of the Joint Parliamentary Commission, Denktas will give conferences on "Cyprus" at Gazi University. /Turkish Daily News/[09] DETENTE WITH THE EUA sign of compromise arose regarding the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) issue between Turkey and the EU. The compromise entails the method of making use of NATO capabilities by the ESDI. These capabilities were divided into two categories as strategical and non-strategical. In this framework, AWACS airplanes, the airbases and satellite systems will be used by the ESDI by approval of NATO. In other words, Ankara's approval will be required. For the less strategical capabilities, the EU will have automatic access. The impasse regarding Turkey's taking part in decision-making mechanism still continues. The EU continues to reject the inclusion of Turkey in this process. /Milliyet/PROPOSAL FOR DEPLOYING S-300 MISSILES IN TURKEY While seeking support for its National Missile Defense System (NMDS), the US proposed to purchase Russian-made S-300 missiles and to deploy them in ally countries such as Turkish. But, this proposal could not convince Russia to give up its insistence on keeping the Anti Ballistic Missiles Agreement valid. The US tries, in a sense, to incorporate Russia into the NMDS. However, the US has not received the support of her allies so far for this project. European states rejected the argument that there is a serious threat to the Western society originating from Iran, Iraq and North Korea. /Milliyet/ [10] THE NEW YORK TIMES: "TURKEY SHOULD MAKE A CHOICE"The New York Times claimed that Turkey should make a choice between abolishment of the death penalty or entering the EU. The paper reminded that Turkey has not executed any death penalty since 1984. Stating a constitutional amendment package was being debated in the parliamentary sub-committees, the New York Times said party leaders have certain concerns over the Ocalan case (leader of the PKK terrorist organization) who is sentenced to death. /Cumhuriyet/[11] MGK DECLARATION ON CYPRUSIt was reported that Turkey aims to reinforce her position and stance on the Cyprus issue with the National Security Council (MGK) Declaration she announced two days ago, before the new UN initiative expected to be launched this summer. The agenda on Cyprus has gained more importance after Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's proposal on a Czech model foreseeing two separate states on the island. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to call on both sides to meet in the near future. The MGK declaration is important in the sense that it strongly advances the position of the Turkish side. /Cumhuriyet/[12] FIRST EDITION OF "ARMENIAN STUDIES" PUBLISHEDFirst edition of a quarterly journal of History, Politics and International Relations "Armenian Studies" was published. The first edition of the journal which will be published by the Eurasia One Foundation Institute for Armenian Research, includes options and research of Turkish and foreign academicians and experts on the Armenian issue. The preface was written by Eurasia Strategic Research Center Chairman Prof. Umit Ozdag. In the first edition, Institute for Armenian Research Chairman and retired ambassador Omer Lutem stresses that there were many developments regarding the Armenian issue in the first four months of 2001 and he comments on these developments. Other articles in the first edition and their writers are as follows: "Let the Historians Decide" (History Professor Justin McCarthy from Louisville University); "The Armenian Question" (retired ambassador Dr. Sukru Elekdag); "Project on Founding of Greater Armenia" (Inonu University Science and Literature Faculty History Department Chairman Prof. Salim Cohce); "About Historical Origin of Armenian Troubles" (retired ambassador Dr. Bilal Simsir); "The Unnoticed Side, Psychological Dimension of the Armenian Problem" (Numune Hospital Psychiatry Clinic Director Dr. Erol Goka); "The Armenian Lobby: The formation of the Armenian Lobby in US and Lobby Activities" (Assc. Prof. Senol Kantarci from Erzurum University) /Anatolia News Agency/[13] BAHCELI ESTABLISHES AN ARMENIAN RESEARCH COUNCILDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Devlet Bahceli has established a council to strengthen the Turkish views on the Armenian issue. The Council, which will examine the allegations of the genocide, will carry out research to give scientific responds to those allegations. /Cumhuriyet/[14] TURKISH JUDGE IN THE HAGUEThe United Nations has appointed Turkish judge Mehmet Guney to the Court of Appeals which was established in the Hague to try war criminals in Yugoslavia and Rwanda. It was stated that Guney would assume his post as soon as possible. Guney had previously worked in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, in various Turkish Embassies and Nuclear Energy Court in Paris. /Cumhuriyet/[15] RTUK DRAFT LAWThe Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) Draft Law has 28 articles and 11 of them were accepted at the Plenary Session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Thus, a total of 16 articles had been approved. /Sabah/[16] PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO DEBATE NEW ENVIRONMENT LAWParliament's Environment Committee has finally started debates over a bill envisaging amendments to the Environment Law, which has been on the government's agenda for almost a year. The committee decided on Wednesday that the debates will be carried out in the light of a report prepared by a sub-committee. Chairman of the sub-committee, Sedat Cevik of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said the sub-committee had contacted some 183 different environmental institutions and prepared an amendment package that would make the Environment Law up to the European Union standards. /Turkish News/[17] SERDENGECTI'S CONTACTS WITH INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSCentral Bank Governor, Sureyya Serdengecti, will attend meetings with the representatives of German and American banks next week. Serdengecti said, "We will explain the economic program to financial circles and request financial support for the program and for Turkey." /Milliyet/[18] "TURKEY'S FUTURE LIES IN SPACE"The First International Space Symposium discussing the topic "World Space Studies and Turkey's Potential" organized on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force began in Ankara yesterday. In his opening address, Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said that with her young minds, Turkey was going to join the space race. Commander of the Turkish Air Force Gen. Ergin Celasin said the Turkish Air Force was one of the oldest in the world and said it was appropriate that the celebrations of the 90th anniversary were to be a springboard for the transition from the past to the future. /Turkish Daily News/[19] ISTANBUL MAYOR GOES TO FRANCEIstanbul Greater City Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna went to France to attend Council of Europe's Eight European Local Government and Regional Administrations Congress in Strasbourg. He is also expected to meet President Jaques Chirac and French Senators. /Turkish Daily News/[20] FORESTRY MINISTRY HIRES THK FIRE-FIGHTING PLANESThe Forestry Ministry has hired two reconnaissance and eight fire-fighting planes from the Turkish Aviation Board (THK) to battle against forest fires this year, the Anatolia News Agency reported on Wednesday. The ministry invited bids to lease planes at the Central Purchasing Commission under Chairman Hasan Tasci. The tender was carried out by a bargaining method, and at the fourth round of the tender, THK offered TL 147 million for the daily hire of a plane and TL 90 million for a one-hour flight. The commission agreed with THK's proposal for two reconnaissance and eight fire-fighting planes. /Turkish News/ISTANBUL+5 TO CONVENE IN NYC The Istanbul+5 Conference, organized by the United Nations as a continuation of HABITAT, will be held between June 6-8 in New York, the Anatolia News Agency reported on Wednesday. At the end of the conference, in which a delegation chaired by State Minister Faruk Bal will be representing Turkey, a joint communiqué on "cities and settlements in the new millennium" will be issued. The participants will focus on urbanization, the impoverishment of women, and the effects of globalization on urban areas. In a report prepared to be presented at the conference, it was said that cities were turning into islands struggling for capital, and that there were over 1 billion people across the world living in the slums, without the opportunities of modern life. /Turkish News/ [21] DOMESTIC BORROWING PROGRAM TO BE DECLARED TODAYThe Treasury is expected to declare the domestic borrowing program for June today. In June, the Treasury has two domestic borrowing repayments, on June 20 and 27. /Turkiye/SUMERBANK EYES $100 MILLION FROM SALE OF PROPERTIES OF BANKS AT THE FUND Sumerbank, under whose roof the six banks at the Saving Deposits Insurance Fund are united, aims to raise some $100 million through the auction of thousands of assets and real estate between June 4 and 23. The auction will include buildings, offices, cars and office equipment as well as ATM machines. Sumerbank Deputy General Manager, Halil Sunali, said among the items to be auctioned are some factories, paintings owned by these banks. /Turkish Daily News/ [22] JVC IN TURKISH MARKETFamous world brand JVC entered Turkish market under the Mercansoy Distribution. Mercansoy Company, General Distributor of Grunding since 1996, also included JVC in its organization. JVC will try to grasp the leadership in Turkish market in the area of music sets, video cameras and home cinema systems in two years. /Turkiye/[23] TRADE FAIR OPENS IN TEL AVIV DESPITE OIC DECISIONThe Sixth Turkish Export Products Fair in Israel will be opened in Tel Aviv on June 5. Anatolia News Agency reported that 60 Turkish export companies would participate in the fair, which will end on June 7, and exhibit food, textiles, clothing goods and construction materials. Turkey's trade attaché in Tel Aviv Hamiyet Yagci held a press conference on Wednesday. She said that bilateral trade volume between the two countries had exceeded 1 billion US dollars last year and now it is expected that this will reach 2 billion US dollars in a few years. /Turkish News/[24] BALLMER TO COME TO TURKEYSteve Ballmer, who is among the founders of the world's huge software company, Microsoft, will come to Turkey on 6 June to promote the product called Office XP, which was developed for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBIs), with the partnership of Koc Holding Company. Ballmer's visit is believed to show the importance he attaches to Turkey. /Sabah/[25] AWARD FOR PROF. JUSTIN MCCARTHYAddressing a conference in Istanbul, American Historian Prof. Justin McCarthy, said, "Turks did not carry out a genocide against Armenians. Politicians act with prejudice. You should try to explain the realities." He also said the Ottoman archives must be opened and the section of the archives that are already open, should be accessible to everyone who wants to examine them. Meanwhile, historian writer Cemal Kutay and Prof. Justin McCarthy were awarded with the "Award for Writers Loyal to Historical Realities" and the "Paul Harris Friendship Award." /Turkiye/[26] KORFMANN RECEIVES AN AWARD FOR EXCAVATIONS IN TROYArchaeologist Manfred Korfmann received the Helga and Edzard Reuter Award for his contributions to the archeological excavations in Troy. The Helga and Edzard Reuter Foundation stated that Korfmann was presented with the award for his works in revealing the close relations between the Anatolian and European cultures dating back to Early Ages. /Cumhuriyet/[27] AWARD FOR KERESTECIYANThe Rotary 2420th Regional Governorship presented an honorary certificate to a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin, posthumously Berc Keresteciyan Turker, who has saved Ataturk's life in 1919. Osmanli Bank the then General Director, Berc Keresteciyan Turker, informed the officials that the ship on which Ataturk would be traveling on May 19, 1919, would be attacked, and thus, saved Ataturk's life. His honorary certificate was received by the Turkish Armenians Deputy Patriarch, Krikor Damadyan, on behalf of Berc Keresteciyan, who died 50 years ago, during a ceremony organized at Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall yesterday. /Hurriyet/[28] MOVIE FANS TO MEET IN ANKARAThe second Israeli Movie Festival will be held between June 14-17 in Ankara. The festival is jointly organized by Ankara Cinema Association and Israeli Embassy. /Cumhuriyet/[29] AN AWARD TO PIANIST FAZIL SAYPianist Fazil Say received the greatest German record award "Echo" for his last CD titled "The Spring Ceremony". Say will give a concert on September 30, after receiving his award. The concert will be broadcast in German ZDF Channel. Say will also stage concerts on June 1-4 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. /Milliyet/[30] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[31] INADEQUACY OF POLITICS BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the inadequacy of politics in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"Politics did not suffice in governing Turkey as it could not carry out the necessary reforms. The Government had to invite a minister from outside the Parliament who did not have any political ties. Reform means a radical change and is done to catch up with the modern standards of living. It is hard to carry out reforms since there will be masses and individuals who would look unfavorably towards a change as they do not want to alter their old habits besides those who support them. Reformists lose their lives to accomplish their goals. The greatest, most radical and successful reformist in the history is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. What lies behind the economic crisis is an administration losing its ability to make reforms and a deformity in politics. A strictly socialist administration strongly supporting a hardliner etatism, and increasing the number of civil servants without any consideration for tomorrow has had to face the realities of the times. It could not close its outmoded institutions, and could not improve those working, in line with the requirements of our times. No one can make reforms by vague promises. I do not believe you ever remember a vague promise given by Ataturk. In the year 2001, the most etatist regime in the world has become an entity losing its ability to move, strength and finally the power of the state. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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