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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-22
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
22.07.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] HANNAY IN CYPRUS
[02] SIKORSKY NEARS $700 MILLION TURKISH ACCORD
[03] PARLIAMENT LIFTS IMMUNITY OF SEVEN DEPUTIES
[04] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCIL
[05] ROSY PICTURE OF TURKISH ECONOMY IN 2020
[06] SPANISH PM AZNAR MEETS WITH YILMAZ
[07] TURKISH STRAITS DISCUSSED AT IMO MEETING
[08] TURKEY URGES SWITZERLAND TO RECONSIDER ITS STANCE
[09] BYZANTINE ARTIFACTS IN SULTANAHMET
[10] CELEBRATIONS IN SWITZERLAND
[11] FOREIGN CREDIT TO AKBANK
[12] WEB-SITE FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL
[13] ERCEL: "ZEROS WILL BE CANCELLED"
[14] EIGHT PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
[15] "US WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO SOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE"
[01] HANNAY IN CYPRUS
Cyprus Special Envoy for Austria, the current EU term-president,
Sir David Hannay has started a series of contacts in Cyprus.
Hannay met with Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides yesterday
morning. Hannay, who later went to the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), attended a conference organized by the
Turkish Businessmen's Association. It is reported that Hannay,
who restated his proposal for resuming meetings between the two
sides on the island, also noted that he would deal with three
basic issues. He stated that he would seek ways to resume the
dialogue for a solution to the Cyprus problem. He said too that
negotiations between the Greek Cypriot Administration and the
European Union (EU) should be also attended by Turkish Cypriots,
and that security on the island was another important issue.
Hannay proposed that meetings between Turkish and Greek Cypriots
should resume under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] SIKORSKY NEARS $700 MILLION TURKISH ACCORD
The US Sikorsky Aircraft Co. is close to reaching a final accord
with Turkey to sell up to 50 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters
and eight CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift platforms, a deal
together worth some $700 million, government sources said. If
concluded, the deal will be a major blow to the French-German
consortium Eurocopter, which still has plans to extend a current
agreement with Turkey to sell 30 AS-532 Cougar utility and
search-and-rescue helicopters for $500 million, to provide the
Turkish Armed Forces with more air resources.
Also, the expected sale of the CH-53E will mark a victory for
Sikorsky against another US firm, Boeing Co, that has sought to
sell its rival CH-47 Chinook to the Turkish army for years. /All
papers/
[03] PARLIAMENT LIFTS IMMUNITY OF SEVEN DEPUTIES
The political immunities of the Republican People's Party (CHP)
Deputy and Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman
Murat Karayalcin, True Path Party (DYP) Deputies Omer Bilgin,
Mehmet Agar, Kemal Aykurt, Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy
Sema Piskinsut, Virtue Party (FP) deputies Kahraman Emmioglu and
Mustafa Bayram were lifted by Parliament yesterday. In other
words, judicial procedures against these deputies concerning
allegations of corruption could start soon. /All papers/
[04] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCIL
The Turkey-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Council, in
its second meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday in
Lefkose, will outline additional economic and financial measures
in line with the two countries' decision to integrate their
economies. "During the meeting, the implementation of the
decisions envisaged in the Association Council declaration of
March 31 will be revised and new measures to be implemented in
the near future will be outlined" a statement from the Foreign
Ministry said yesterday. /All papers/
[05] ROSY PICTURE OF TURKISH ECONOMY IN 2020
The Turkish economy will improve considerably in the next two
decades with an average income per capita expected to reach
$30,000 in 2020, a study coordinated by the Foreign Ministry has
predicted. The report, entitled "The World and Turkey in 2010 and
2020" estimates that by 2020 Turkey will take its place among the
five largest economies within the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) and will hold a 3 percent
share of the total gross world product, the Anatolia news agency
reported yesterday.
The study also predicts that Turkey's exports will reach $665
billion, while its imports will increase to $750 billion. In
addition, the ratio of Turkey's foreign trade volume to the gross
national product (GNP) is expected to rise from 0.43 % in 1995 to
0.88 % during the projected period. The research, which has also
been submitted to President Suleyman Demirel, will be appended to
the OECD's "The World in 2020" report.
[06] SPANISH PM AZNAR MEETS WITH YILMAZ
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar met with Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz in Ankara yesterday, discussing bilateral relations
between Turkey and Spain, with the emphasis on trade relations.
Following the talks in Ankara, Aznar will travel to Istanbul. The
Turkish-Spanish Business Council also will hold meetings on July
22 and 23 in Istanbul, where Aznar will give a speech and meet
with leading Turkish industrialists. /All papers/
[07] TURKISH STRAITS DISCUSSED AT IMO MEETING
The current situation in the Turkish Straits is being discussed
at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in
London. Accompanied by officials from the Turkish Maritime
Organization and experts from the Naval Forces, Mithat Rende,
counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in London, spoke about his
concerns, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. "Turkey's
approval and contribution should be basic to any system to be
implemented for the Turkish Straits. Turkey will never give up
its initiative regarding the regulations related to the Turkish
Straits" said Rende, Turkey's permanent representative to the
IMO.
[08] TURKEY URGES SWITZERLAND TO RECONSIDER ITS STANCE
Turkish Ambassador to Switzerland Taner Baytok has once again
called on Swiss authorities to reconsider their refusal to permit
celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the
Turkish Republic to take place in the palace where the historical
Lausanne Treaty was signed on July 24, 1923.
"We expect that Switzerland will correct its mistake. By opening
Rumine Palace for the celebrations, Switzerland will show that it
attributes importance to the Lausanne Treaty and friendly
relations with Turkey" Baytok told reporters in Montreaux
yesterday, according to the Anatolia news agency.
[09] BYZANTINE ARTIFACTS IN SULTANAHMET
As a result of excavations carried out by the Istanbul
Archaeological Museums for seven months, an ancient building near
the Ayasofya and Topkapi Palace in Sultanahmet, Istanbul has been
discovered. Head of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Alpay
Pasinli, noted that the building on a 1,000 square metre-area was
possibly used during the Byzantine period as an official
residence. He said that its function would be determined after
investigations are made. Following a restoration, the building
will be opened for tourism, it is reported. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] CELEBRATIONS IN SWITZERLAND
The 62nd anniversary of the Montreaux Straits Agreement was
celebrated in Montreaux, Switzerland yesterday. High ranking
officials from Turkey and Switzerland attended the celebrations.
Turkish Ambassador to Bern, Taner Baytok stressed the importance
of the Lausanne Treaty for Turkey. At the end of the celebrations
Ankara Olgunlasma Finishing School presented a fashion show, and
Turkish folk dance groups gave performances. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[11] FOREIGN CREDIT TO AKBANK
Turkish private Akbank has ensured $ 250 million in foreign
credit from international finance markets. According to bank
officials, the bank obtained $ 250 million in funding from
international finance markets by exporting stock exchange credit
card assets. They added that sales are continuing through Credit
Suisse First Boston. /Hurriyet/
[12] WEB-SITE FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL
It was announced yesterday that the Foreign Capital Department of
the Treasury Undersecretariat was opened a web-site on the
internet. According to officials, the site, which is prepared in
English, aims to give information about investment opportunities
in Turkey and regulations in Turkey on establishing companies,
incentives, employment, taxes, accounting and foreign capital.
There is also statistical information and necessary addresses and
phone numbers to find out more about the Turkish economy.
/Hurriyet/
[13] ERCEL: "ZEROS WILL BE CANCELLED"
Central bank Chairman, Gazi Ercel said yesterday that they will
cancel a few zeros from the Turkish Lira in 2000. Ercel, who is
still in Tokyo to attend an International Central Bank (BIS)
meeting, said in statament to Nihon Keizai from Shimbun newspaper
that they have finished studies on transferring to a "New Turkish
Lira" monetary system. He added that they would reach their
target in pulling down inflation to 50 percent in 1998 and 20
percent at the end of 1999. The zero application would help to
bring inflation under control. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/
[14] EIGHT PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
Eight PKK terrorists have been killed during clashes between
security forces and terrorists in Bingol, Diyarbakir, Hakkari,
Tokat and Mardin. Two members of the security forces have also
been killed.
PKK terrorists stopped an ambulance from the health centre
attached to Esentepe village, Yuksekova and carried-off its
driver after setting the ambulace on fire. They also kidnapped
four more civilians after stopping their cars as they travelled
between Yuksekova and Esentepe. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[15] "US WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO SOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE"
Spokesman for the US Secretary of State, James Rubin, said
yesterday in a press meeting that America would continue its
efforts to solve the Cyprus issue under umbrella of the United
Nations (UN). Regarding the deployment of the Russian-made S-300
missiles on the island Rubin said that turning the island into
weapons depot would only serve to increase tension on the island.
/Sabah/
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