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Turkish Press Review, 01-07-20

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

20.07.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] SEZER'S BUSY AGENDA
  • [02] EU CIRCULAR BY ECEVIT
  • [03] CEM IN MACEDONIA
  • [04] DENKTAS'S STATEMENT
  • [05] GOOD NEWS TO REFORMISTS
  • [06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S DECISION CONCERNING THE RENT INCREASES
  • [07] RELATIONS WITH GERMANY ARE ON A SOUND TRACK
  • [08] IRANIAN GAS SALE TO BE POSTPONED TO MID-AUGUST
  • [09] EARTHQUAKE IN CESME
  • [10] ORAL: "NO TURNING BACK FROM THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM"
  • [11] YILMAZ ON THE LATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
  • [12] DERVIS MEETS FOREIGN BANKS' REPRESENTATIVES
  • [13] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS IN ANKARA
  • [14] TOBB'S STATEMENT
  • [15] PARRIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY
  • [16] TURKEY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO CHINESE READY-WEAR IMPORTS
  • [17] DEMIRBANK'S SALE
  • [18] AKUT TO CLIMB MOUNT ARARAT WITH SIX FOREIGN MOUNTAINEERS
  • [19] CHAMPIONSHIP
  • [20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [21] INTERNAL CRISIS , AND EXTERNAL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
  • [22] (CUMHURIYET)
  • [23] GENOA INITIATIVE BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)

  • [01] SEZER'S BUSY AGENDA

    President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The meeting between Sezer and Ecevit lasted for half an hour. Ecevit has not made any comments concerning the meeting. In addition, Sezer also met Chief of the General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu at the Cankaya Presidential Palace yesterday. The weekly ordinary meeting between Sezer and Kivrikoglu lasted for one hour. Sezer also received Equador's Ambassador to Rome, also accredited to Turkey, Arturo Gangotena Guarderas. During the meeting, Guarderas has presented his letter of confidence to Sezer. /Turkiye/

    [02] EU CIRCULAR BY ECEVIT

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has issued a circular concerning restructuring to go on with the financial cooperation between Turkey and the European Union (EU). It was stated that the financial aid to be provided by the EU would play a very important role in the implementation of the National Programme, which was accepted by the Council of Ministers on March 19, 2001. The aids and donations to be received and the loans to be received by the European Investment Bank will be within the framework of the projects harmonized with the priorities that take place in the Accession Partnership Document and the National Programme in line with Turkey's full membership. In addition, it was stated that the a reconstruction will be made to implement the financial cooperation between Turkey and the EU. In the circular, it was further stated that the Financial Cooperation Committee was established to ensure the necessary harmonization among the works concerning the financial cooperation. The Financial Cooperation Committee will consist of the representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Undersecretary of State Planning Organization, Undersecretariat of Treasury and the Secretariat General of EU. In addition, the National Aid Coordination Council will be established and chaired by the State Minister responsible for the relations with the EU, Mesut Yilmaz. /Turkiye/

    [03] CEM IN MACEDONIA

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, has given important messages concerning the domestic turmoil in Macedonia, where he paid a one-day visit. Cem said the Macedonian government should not ignore the needs of the nation and requested that the Turkish political parties should also participate in the political dialogue searches. Cem also warned that the Albanian minority should be modest in their wishes. Cem also criticized the point that the economic aids to be extended by the Western countries and institutions, such as the US or the European Union (EU), have political preconditions. Within the framework of these contacts, Cem met his Macedonian counterpart, Ilinka Mitreva, and then met the Macedonian President Boris Traykovski, the Macedonian Prime Minister Lubco Georgievski, and the representatives of the coalition party political parties, which were established by the Turkish people in Macedonia. Cem also went from Skopje to Manastir and met the Turkish people, who have faced various attacks there, and the members of other organizations. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] DENKTAS'S STATEMENT

    President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyrus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas held a press conference within the framework of July 20, Peace and Freedom Festival celebrations and mentioned the developments concerning the Cyprus issue. Denktas said a possible agreement over the Cyprus problem, should be on the basis of the Turkish people's sovereignty. Denktas said, "We want the structure of our State to be recognized. As long as the world treats the Greek Cypriots as the 'Cypriot government', the problem of Cyprus cannot be solved." Denktas called on the international arena to reevaluate and correctly diagnose the Cyprus issue and added, "The unfair attitude over the Turkish Cypriots, which has been continuing for 38 years, was not removed and the world closes its eyes to the truth. A solution cannot be reached by only taking the Greek Cypriots' opinion into consideration." /Cumhuriyet/ JULY 20TH CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION CELEBRATION MESSAGES Speaker of the Turkish Grand Assembly (TGNA), Omer Izgi, has sent a message of celebration to the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and the Speaker of the Republic's Assembly, Ertugrul Hasipoglu, due to the 27th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. In his message, Izgi said, "TGNA will support the Turkish Cypriots' struggle of maintaining their legal rights peacefully, continue to live independently, and will shoulder its responsibilities." Meanwhile the 9th Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, has celebrated the 27th Cyprus Peace Operation. It was stated that Demirel has phoned Denktas and Eroglu, congratulated them and extended his best wishes for the Turkish-Cypriot people. In addition, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, General Secretary of the Presidential Office, Vahit Erdem, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Akin Alptuna, and the member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Inal Batu, have come to the TRNC to attend the celebrations. /Turkiye/

    [05] GOOD NEWS TO REFORMISTS

    The Constitutional Court has decided to annul the decision concerning the expulsion of Hasan Celal Guzel, former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), from politics. Guzel had been in prison for infringing on Article No. 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) concerning "the provocation of the people into enmity and hostility." This verdict has also enabled the leader of the reformist wing of the former Virtue Party (FP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to become chairman of the party he is to form. Erdogan, like Guzel, had been given a prison sentence for charges of infringing Article No. 312 of the TCK. /Turkish Daily News/

    [06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S DECISION CONCERNING THE RENT INCREASES

    The Constitutional Court has cancelled the Rent Law's article, which envisages a rent increase of 10% this year, as it found the provision against the Constitution. The Supreme Council made an evaluation that the changing economic conditions and price increases in the other fields of life are above 10% and, thus, this situation was found unfair and against the Constitution's "right of property" basis. /Milliyet/

    [07] RELATIONS WITH GERMANY ARE ON A SOUND TRACK

    The Turkish Ambassador to Germany, Osman Koruturk, has said that there have been recent positive developments in German-Turkish relations, according to Anatolia news agency. The Ambassador touched on a number of matters of interest regarding relations between the two countries, including a request forwarded to the Foreign Ministry on a request that the German Federal Parliament debate the so-called Armenian genocide. "We are not of the opinion that Parliament is competent in such matters. The Foreign Ministry shares our view that this subject should be left to historians," he stated. /Turkish News/

    [08] IRANIAN GAS SALE TO BE POSTPONED TO MID-AUGUST

    The launching of the Iranian gas transfer to Turkey will not be realized on July 31st as earlier announced, senior energy bureaucrats said. Because of the Turkish argument that the Iranian side was not ready yet, the project will start in the middle of August, officials briefing the Turkish Daily News said on Wednesday. However, Iranian officials said that they have made all the arrangements for starting the project at the earliest possible time. The Iranian Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), which is under debate at the US Congress, is to be renewed on August 1st. ILSA was first started to be applied on August 1996. The US administration is for a two-year extension of ILSA. US officials commented that the Turkish-Iranian gas deal is not being evaluated within the framework of ILSA in terms of the natural gas sale to Turkey. /Turkish Daily News/ POLICE KILL ONE HIZBULLAH MILITANT, ARREST 10 Police said on Thursday they had killed one suspected armed Islamic militant and wounded another in operations this months in the southeastern capital of Diyarbakir. The police said 10 suspected militants, including the wounded one, were arrested in the operations. All were believed to be the members of the Hizbullah armed group which Ankara holds responsible for scores of massacre killings aimed at replacing Turkey's officially secular order with one based on Islamic Sharia Law. /Turkish Daily News/

    [09] EARTHQUAKE IN CESME

    An earthquake measured 3.5 on the Richter Scale occurred in Izmir's province of Cesme yesterday at 12:23. During the earthquake, there were not any losses of life or property. However, the citizens panicked for a short time. Officials from Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory stated that the earthquake was not strong and that it lasted for a short time. /Hurriyet/

    [10] ORAL: "NO TURNING BACK FROM THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM"

    Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral, pointed out that the economic program would be implemented carefully and in a determined manner and said, "These kinds of programs will not be effective without the support of the nation." In his statement in Malatya, Oral said, "45% of the Budget is used for the interests. Such a structure of public finance does not exist in any of the developed countries. However, the economic crisis, which has occurred in February, has imbalanced all the interests. We have to balance them again and this is not impossible. We will solve this problem by seriously implementing the economic program. Without solving this problem, it would be too hard to reserve more resource for the basic investments, education and health." /Turkiye/

    [11] YILMAZ ON THE LATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

    Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, said there were rumors that the foreign banks were making speculations and said, "We, as well as the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board have heard the same things. There is a opportunistic approach to benefit from excessive profits from the temporary economic problems. We will prevent them just like every State." Yilmaz toured the Technology Park in the Middle East Technical University and answered the questions concerning the economic developments. He added that the situation concerning the foreign currency and interest rates was temporary. /Hurriyet/

    [12] DERVIS MEETS FOREIGN BANKS' REPRESENTATIVES

    State Minister Responsible for Economy, Kemal Dervis, said the fluctuation was not expected in the markets from now on and wanted the foreign bankers to be optimistic. The representatives of the foreign banks, who are interpreted as those responsible for the shocking increases in the foreign exchange rates, have met Dervis. Representatives from Citibank, Chase Manhattan, ABN Amro, HSBC and Deutsche Bank. During the visit, Dervis asked, "There are some articles claiming that the foreign banks are the reason of the increase in the foreign currency rate. What do you think?" While replying to this question, representatives from the foreign banks said they were not taking place in any speculative actions and that they were only meeting the demands of their customers. Thus, Dervis said, "The disagreements, which can be observed in any democratic country, sometimes reflect with exaggeration on the press. This situation causes instability in the markets. You should not be so pessimistic. /Sabah/

    [13] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS IN ANKARA

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, chaired by the IMF's Representative to Turkey, Juha Kahkonen, continues to maintain contacts in Ankara. The delegation's contacts continue in the Undersecretariat of Treasury and the Central Bank. The IMF delegation is closely following the developments in the foreign exchange rate and interest boundaries and the precautions taken against it. The IMF delegation, which has been divided into groups, has held meetings at the Treasury and discussed the developments in the public financing and the domestic loan stock and the issues about the social security institutions and the unemployment insurance yesterday. The IMF delegation held another meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Finance and Budget targets and implementations of the year 2001 and tax revenues and the Budget of the year 2002. In addition, the delegation went to the Central Bank and discussed the developments in the foreign exchange rate and interest boundaries yesterday. The delegation also met the experts from the State Planning Organization and discussed the financial structure of the State Economic Enterprises, the developments occurred in the investment precautions and the agricultural support. The IMF delegation is expected to stay in Turkey for ten days and to prepare a report by the weekend. /Turkiye/

    [14] TOBB'S STATEMENT

    Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges' (TOBB) Council Chairmen, asked for revision from the government. In the explanation issued by the TOBB's Council Chairmen following the meeting in Istanbul's Chamber of Industry, it was said, "The basic condition of removing the atmosphere of inconfidence and instability is to make a radical and realist structural change." Chairman of the TOBB Industrial Chambers' Council, Kemal Colakoglu said, "We want a change of team so the confidence in our government can continue. It can be achieved by decreasing the number of ministers to 22." /Milliyet/

    [15] PARRIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY

    The former US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, was received by the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz. Following the meeting, Parris answered the questions of the journalists and said he found it more convenient to make a short explanation in order not to cause any speculations concerning his visit. He said, "I am not here as a representative of the Bush Administration or an investor. I am here as the Chairman of the Association of Turkey's American Friends. During my contacts, I have discussed the latest developments in Turkey. During this period of time, Turkey has made improvements particularly in the fields of banking and legislation." While answering the question of a journalists, Parris said, "The economic program is given importance not only by the State Minister Kemal Dervis, but also by the government." /Cumhuriyet/

    [16] TURKEY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO CHINESE READY-WEAR IMPORTS

    Turkey's Foreign Trade Undersecretariat has launched an official investigation into Chinese ready-wear materials upon a considerable increase in imports, according to a communiqué published in yesterday's Official Gazette. Imports of Chinese goods including gloves, socks, ties, tents, blankets and curtains will be subject to supervision as an emergency measure, the Gazette said. Overall ready-wear imports by Turkey have risen by 28.4 percent in 2000, compared to the previous year, which prompted authorities to start an inspection. /Turkish Daily News/

    [17] DEMIRBANK'S SALE

    Within the framework of Demirbank's sale, the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has found HSCB Bank's proposal as convenient for evaluation. In the written statement issued by the TMSF, it was announced that HSCB Bank, which has proposed to buy 1_3 of Demirbank's legal personality balance, will unite the Bank with the HSCB Limited Company in Turkey. The meetings concerning the share's sale and the taking over agreements are expected to be completed in two months. /Turkiye/

    [18] AKUT TO CLIMB MOUNT ARARAT WITH SIX FOREIGN MOUNTAINEERS

    Members of the Turkish Search and Rescue Team (AKUT) will organize a "Climbing of Peace and Friendship" to Mount Ararat with six mountaineers, who have climbed the Everest peak before. State Minister Responsible for Economy, Sukru Sina Gurel, will also attend the climbing, which will continue until August 10. /Sabah/ TURKEY TO HOST 71ST WORLD ADULTS WEIGHTLIFTING

    [19] CHAMPIONSHIP

    The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) decided that Turkey will host the 71st World's Adults Weightlifting Championship organization. Chairman of Weightlifting Federation, Kenan Nuhut, made an explanation about the organization that will be held on 3-11 November in Antalya and said, "This organization is of the utmost importance in terms of Turkey's prestige. Our success in the previous organizations have played an important role in taking a positive decision in our favor." /Cumhuriyet/

    [20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [21] INTERNAL CRISIS , AND EXTERNAL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the problems facing the Government both at home and abroad . A summary of his column is as follows: "The side effect of the economic crisis we are going through for weeks is being seen in foreign policy. At present, foreign problems do not take priority in Turkey who has been dealing with problems within the country. Ankara is not launching any initiatives on issues ranging from Cyprus to ESDI but insisting on old views known by all. The Government that has turned its attention solely on the economic crisis does not have any time to think about foreign policy matters. Such deep crises hamper the strength of a country in foreign policy issues and narrow its area of influence in the international arena. It is not possible for an economically weak state to follow a strong foreign policy. This is the difficulty facing Turkey who is dealing with economic and political crises and asking for foreign aid. In fact, at the moment Ankara is encountering certain urgent problems requiring new assessments and creative initiatives. One of them is the Cyprus issue. The reason why it has acquired urgency is the full EU membership of Greek Cypriot administration. All EU officials are candidly saying that if there is no progress on the way to a solution the EU is ready to accept Greek Cypriot Administration as a full member. The calendar on the issue is quickly ticking away. At the end of the year, the negotiation process will begin and the entrance to the EU, even in a divided status, will be finalized within two or three years. It is clear that Turkey's warnings or protests do not have any effect on the issue. Turkish diplomacy has to follow a different policy and launch new initiatives. However, Ankara is not concerned with this problem at this point. Another issue requiring urgent attention deals with the EU army known as the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI). This has a calendar similar to that of the EU membership of Greek Cypriot Administration. The EU is determined to carry out the project at the end of the year even if Turkey insists on her own conditions. Messages to the point are reaching Ankara from the EU Commission and the capitals of the EU member countries. If a compromise cannot be reached, Turkey can be left in a difficult position to use her veto power against the EU countries, most of them NATO members. Another urgent problem is also waiting. The 'Progress Report' of the EU on Turkey will be published in November. EU officials are complaining that some important steps mentioned in the National Program have not been carried out as yet. In fact, the Government does not have any time to deal with these problems. When the Parliament convenes in September it will have other priorities. One of the problems of concern to the EU is that Turkey cannot come close to EU standards due to the economic crisis she is experiencing. This will delay Turkey's membership to the EU. The Financial Times of London was saying in an editorial that it was not the time for Ankara who is in need of IMF support to pick a quarrel with the EU or the US. 'Turkey should know that her present stance would weaken her influence in the Western club she wants to enter.' This reflects the widespread opinion in the West. If only Ankara had the time and capability to evaluate this statement!" EUROPE, CYPRUS AND JULY 20th BY EROL MANISALI

    [22] (CUMHURIYET)

    Columnist Erol Manisali comments on the recent developments in Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows: "The European Union does not recognize international agreements concerning Cyprus. It views the Greek Cypriot Administration as the only republic on the Island. In fact, the 1960 London and Zurich Agreements establishing a bicommunal republic did not grant such a right to the Greek Cypriots. The agreement stipulated that the Island belonged to both the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the republic established on a bicommunal basis had a special status. In accordance with this status Turkey, Greece and England were the guarantor powers and Turkey and Greece could deploy troops on the Island. It also added that this Republic could not enter any international organization in which one of the parties was not present. In 1963 Greek Cypriots occupied the whole Republic and Europe did not utter a word against this illegal stance. When in 1974 Athens and the Greek Cypriots tried to solve the problem through a short cut and annex the island to Greece, Turkey intervened and the present structure formed of two states was established. Today, Europe ignores the presence of one party and wants to take the Greek Cypriots as representing the whole of the Island. This is completely illegal. Brussels and the experts on the issue know it very well. What the EU wants to do is to get Cyprus out of Turkey's sphere of influence benefiting from the weak point she has against the EU and say that it is her political choice and she is not concerned with the legal point of view. With her policy on Cyprus, the EU is displaying her intentions of not taking Turkey into the EU."

    [23] GENOA INITIATIVE BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the demonstrations against globalization held in Genoa in protest of the G-8 Summit. A summary of his column is as follows: " The G-8 Summit which will be hosted by Italy has made Genoa the focus of demonstrations against globalization. Due to the incidents, which occurred in Seattle and Prague, Berlusconi Administration has almost announced martial law. The 'red zone' surrounding the Ducal Palace where the Summit will take place has been closed to demonstrators. Missiles have been deployed in Christopher Columbus Airport to protect the G-8 leaders from a possible air attack. Marines are protecting the ship 'European Vision' where the leaders will spend the night. The Genoese are puzzled by such high security measures for a meeting, which will be held for the benefit of the world. As the economies of countries are in a state of stagnation, the influence of multinational companies on national states increase, the inequality and unfairness in distribution of income, pestering poor countries rise the wave against globalization grows. Environmental concerns lead to the reactions of younger generations. The 'Global Warming Conference' in Bonn taking place just before Genoa Summit has triggered the demonstrations. The US is dragging her feet not to sign the Kyoto Pact made in Kyoto to decrease the amount of industrial gases, which is shown as one of the main reasons for global warming. Japanese Prime Minister is acting rather shyly on the measures, which will go into effect in 2002 as a result of the Pact signed in his country. The future of Kyoto will also be discussed in Genoa. In Turkey non-governmental organizations have organized a series of panels, and press conferences to support the demonstrations in Italy.
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