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Turkish Press Review, 99-06-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>22.06.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] SPECIAL KOSOVOThe Turkish unit to be deployed in Prizren will depart from Turkey in the upcoming days. A request for the transit passage of the 1,000-strong Turkish unit via Bulgaria, which was conveyed to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry last Friday, has been approved by the Bulgarian Government. Coordination of the passage of the Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo (KFOR) will be carried out by a centre to be established under the chairmanship of the Bulgarian Defence Ministry. The request was conveyed to the Bulgarian Parliament and then to the Bulgarian President. It is expected that it will be approved and go into effect after it is published in the Official Gazette on Thursday. The Turkish unit is expected to arrive in Kosovo on Friday. /Aksam/[03] SOROS: NEW GLOBAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENT NEEDED[04] 'STRAITS CANNOT BE AN OIL PIPELINE"President Suleyman Demirel pointed out that Turkey could not allow the Bosphorus and Canakkale Straits to be turned into an oil pipeline. President Demirel delivered a speech at the conference 'A Tale of Three Seas' in Istanbul yesterday and said that Turkey's new regional and global role was becoming more active in the new energy axis established in Eurasia. Demirel remarked that Turkey would be the key country in both the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Caspian natural gas pipeline projects. He added that Turkey was the most economic, shortest and safest way via which to transport these resources to world markets. /Turkiye/[05] OCALAN'S TRIAL TO CONTINUEThe trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, on Imrali Island will continue tomorrow following a 15-day interval. During tomorrow's session, Ocalan will make his defence on the merits of the case. Military judge Abdulkadir Davarcioglu will be replaced by the civilian judge, Mehmet Maras, tomorrow. /Aksam/[06] BARSONY: "OCALAN'S TRIAL IS FAIR"The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly's Reporter to Turkey, Hungarian Parliamentarian, Andreas Barsony, said that the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, was fair and in line with Turkish justice. Barsony stated that they welcomed the amendment to the structure of the State Security Courts (DGMs). He also remarked that Ocalan was trying to organize a political stand and to underline international influences on the PKK. Barsony stressed that if Ocalan is sentenced to death by the court, then the responsibility for the consequences will belong to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). He added that the TGNA would act in line with this responsibility, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[07] ECEVIT: "UZBEK MISTRUST BASELESS"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday said Uzbekistan's suspicions that Turkey provides support and shelter for Uzbek anti-government sources were baseless. "The suspicions and concerns of Uzbek President Islam Kerimov are unfounded. We attribute great significance to our relations with Uzbekistan. I cannot accept that our bilateral relations are harmed because of such a sensitivity", Ecevit told reporters.He played down suggestions that the schools opened in Uzbekistan by Turkish religious leader Fethullah Gulen, who faces charges of anti-secularism, had added to the tension between Ankara and Tashkent. "I don't think this is the reason. I think there is an unnecessary mistrust", Ecevit said. /All papers/ [08] TURKEY APPLIES TO BRITAIN FOR CTVTurkey has applied to the British Foreign Ministry and the British Independent Television Commission (ITC) for the closure of CTV which disseminates pro-PKK propaganda in place of MED-TV. /Hurriyet/[09] ECTAA YEAR 2000 SPRING MEETING IN ISTANBULThe Year 2000 Spring Meeting of the EU's Travel Agencies' and Tour Organizers' Unions Group will be held in Istanbul. The Turkish Travel Agencies' Union (TURSAB), which is a member of the Group, will host the meeting in Istanbul to be held on May 25-26, 2000, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[10] TURCO-US COOPERATIONThe US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, said that a Turco-US partnership was essential for peace, stability and prosperity. Ambassador Parris delivered a speech at a conference on 'Turco-US partnership in and beyond 2000' organized in Istanbul with contributions from the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and the American-Turkish Associations' Assembly (ATAA) and remarked that Turco-US cooperation would yield very productive and vital results in the near future. Parris also underlined important issues such as energy, macro-economic reforms, democratization and regional matters from the standpoint of the Turco-US partnership, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[11] BLACK SEA TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT BANKThe Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, which was officialy opened in Thessalonica, Greece, yesterday, will inspire hope for many Central and Eastern European and Balkan countries. The Bank will mainly engage in healing the economic wounds caused by the Kosovo crisis rather than development projects. The biggest share-holders of the Bank are Turkey, Greece and Russia. /Aksam/[12] TREASURY EXPORTS BONDSThe Treasury Undersecretariat will export seven-month (210 days) and 21-month (two-year) bonds today. The Treasury aims at a net sale worth 700-900 trillion TL. The repayment of the bonds will be on January 19, 2000, and on March 21, 2001, respectively. /Aksam/[13] FOGG: "COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT"The Representative of the European Commission to Turkey, Karen Fogg, stated that commercial interests were very important in relations with the EU. The EU-Turkish Journalists' Conference organized in Gaziantep ended yesterday. The Foreign Ministry's General Director of the EU Relations Department, Selim Kuneralp, delivered a speech at the Conference and remarked that even though Turkey, which had applied to the EU in 1963, was supposed to gradually become an EU member, nowadays it was not on the agenda. Fogg said for her part that they hoped that the dialogue begun between Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder would continue. /Aksam/[14] ECEVIT, BAHCELI AND YILMAZ TO MEET TOMORROWPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and the Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, will come together tomorrow. During the meeting, mainly economic issues and the struggle against fundamentalist activities will be discussed. /Aksam/[15] QUALITY CONTROL EXPERTS IN TURKEYQuality control experts from Japan have arrived in Turkey to meet their Turkish counterparts. A variety of activities which started with a conference on 'Integral Quality Administration' delivered by the Advisor from the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), Ichiro Miyouchi, will continue until June 23. During the seminars, the concept of quality administration in Japan and the issue of daily business administration will be discussed. /Turkiye/[16] SABANCI TO SELL MINERAL WATERAkmina Mineral Water Factory, part of DanoneSa, established within the partnership between Danone, a leading global company in the food sector, and the Sabanci Conglomerate, was opened yesterday in Bolu. The factory has an annual 50 million-litre capacity and will provide employment for 100 people. Factory investment costs were $11 million. /Sabah/[17] BANKS GROW BY 90 %Total assets in the Turkish banking system increased by 88 % in March 1999 when compared to the same month last year and reached 42.9 quadrillion TL, according to the report 'March 1999: Quarterly Information on the Turkish Banking System'. /Cumhuriyet/[18] GOLTAS' INVESTMENT IN PALESTINEAccording to a declaration issued by the Goltas Cement Company's Board of Directors, the company will establish a plant for cement grinding, packing, and marketing in Palestine together with seven businessmen from Palestine and the Kýsan Company. The capital will be 2.5 million dollars of which Goltas Cement will contribute 30 percent. /Star/[19] FOREIGNERS SELL SHARES IN MAYForeign investors achieved shares sales worth $823.6 million in May while they bought $697.8 million in shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB). Thus, foreign investors made a net sale of $125.8 million in May. /Sabah/[20] 700 PINE TREES DESTROYAs a result of a fire in Ankara, 700 pine trees in the Karsiyaka Graveyard were destroyed. Officials said that the fire has been bought under control. /Sabah/[21] SEVEN TERRORISTS KILLEDSeven members of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed in clashes with security forces in Southeastern Anatolia. Three terrorists were captured and four others surrendered to the security forces during the same operations. /Star/[22] TERRORISTS ATTACK THE HOUSE OF SUB-GOVERNORMembers of the PKK terrorist organization attacked the house of the Sub-Governor in the Kiziltepe district of Mardin yesterday. During the attack, seven policemen were wounded, two of them seriously. Sub-Governor Mesut Yildirim was unharmed during the attack. /Cumhuriyet/[23] TURKEY: CYPRUS TALKS CAN START ONLY WITH TRNC'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTTurkey said yesterday that the acknowledgment of the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the only way that can lead to the resumption of bilateral talks in Cyprus. "Instead of forcing the parties to negotiate under a definite timetable, the reasons for the failure of previous talks should be carefully examined and an appropriate atmosphere and basis should be created for productive talks", a Foreign Ministry statement said. The statement pointed out the facts: "At present there are two equal sovereign and democratic states in Cyprus which represent the two peoples there. A solution to the problem can be durable only if it is outlined not by third parties but by these two states and if it maintains the balance between Turkey and Greece". /All papers/[24] UN ROLLS UP ITS SLEEVES FOR CYPRUSThe permanent members of the UN Security Council have rolled up their sleeves to prepare a draft law concerning Cyprus. It is reported that the draft law, to be prepared by the five permanent members, will be submitted to the Security Council within this week or at the latest at the beginning of next week. /Aksam/[25] DENKTAS: "WORLD COUNTRIES SACRIFIED US FOR THEIR OWN INTERESTS"Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said yesterday that the world countries sacrified the Turkish Cypriots for their own interests' adding that the world countries gave the fake and baseless title of 'the government of Cyprus' to the Greek Cypriots for their own interests, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[26] GREECE IS PLEASED WITH THE DECISIONIt is reported that Greece has welcomed the G-8 decision concerning the Cyprus problem. The Greek Defence Minister, Akis Cohacopulos, claimed that the Cyprus and Kosovo problems were similar and said that he supported the G-8 proposal which envisages the solution of the Cyprus problem before the Autumn. The Greek Government Spokesman Dimitri Reppas, stressed that the decision taken during the G-8 Summit concerning Cyprus was positive and added that this decision showed the 'lively interest' of international society in the solution of the Cyprus problem. /Cumhuriyet/[27] YOUNG TURKISH PEOPLE IN GERMANYDuring a meeting organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Turkish Research Centre in Istanbul, young Turkish people in Germany and Turkey were discussed. The Director of the Turkish Research Centre, Prof.Faruk Sen, said that there were many young Turkish people living in Germany who wanted to stay there. He added that their problems should be dealt with as soon as possible. /Cumhuriyet/[28] CHAMBER OF ARCHITECTS IN BEIJINGA delegation from the Chamber of Architects went to China to represent Turkey at the 'World Architecture Congress' and the 'General Council of the International Architects' Union' attended by 7,500 people from 140 countries. The meetings began in Beijing on June 20 and will continue until June 30. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Architects showed Istanbul as a nominee location for the World Architects' Congress to be held in 2005. /Cumhuriyet/[29] POPE OFFICIALLY INVITED TO TURKEYPope John Paul II has been officially invited to the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the establishment of the Ottoman Empire to be held in Turkey in September. The Turkish Ambassador to the Vatican, Altan Guven, will convey the invitation letter from the Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, to the Vatican Foreign Ministry today. As known, the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was also officially invited to the celebrations. /Hurriyet/[30] CULTURAL ASSETS UNDER PROTECTIONSix projects are being carried out to protect cultural assets in Sanliurfa, Mardin, Sirnak and Batman. The projects aim to restore both historic buildings and cultural assets. /Hurriyet/[31] FOLK DANCE FESTIVALThe Antalya International Folk Music and Dance Festival, organized under the auspices of the Culture Ministry, will begin today and continue until June 28. Folk dance teams from Bangladesh, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Romania, Albania and Kazakhstan will participate in the Festival. In addition to 400 guests, the Culture Ministers of Albania and Azerbaijan will also attend the Festival. /Turkiye/[32] TURKEY BECOMES MATHEMATICS PROJECT CHAMPIONDuring the second 'International Mathematics Projects Competition' held in Almati, Kazakhstan, on June 15-19, two Turkish students, Cenk Sen and Oray Kan, became champions. 135 students from 16 countries attended the Competition which included 40 projects. /Sabah/[33] NATIONAL YOUNG WRESLING TEAM LEAVES FOR LITHUANIAThe National Young Wrestling Team will leave for Lithuania today to participate in the European Free Style Wrestling Championship in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[34] GERMAN JOURNALISTS: TURKEY IS VERY SAFEJournalists from Ingolstadt, the twin city of Manisa, came to Manisa on a five-day visit. The guest members of the press said; "We also had been influenced by the articles against Turkey which have been issued in the German press lately but the truth is completely different; Turkey is extremely safe." /Hurriyet/[35] THANKS TO TURKEYWhile European tourists have not been coming to Turkey due to the fear of terrorism, the Russians who have the chance to spend their holidays on our low-priced south coasts have written to their newspapers saying 'Thanks to Turkey' (Spasiba Turtsiya). A journalist from the 'Komsomolskaya Pravda' newspaper wrote an article about Turkey and said, "It was like paradise, the service was wonderful, also it was very cheap. It is not possible in any other place in the world to spend a holiday in a five-star hotel for 350 dollars." /Hurriyet/[36] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[37] AND NOW THE G-8 -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the developments concerning the Cyprus problem at the G-8 Summit. A summary of his column is as follows:"The reason the G-8 gave their interest in the Cyprus problem is that the issue had remained unsolved for a very long time. This argument is correct. The Cyprus problem is listed among the issues which have not been solved for a very long period of time. During this 'long period' many international organizations, led by the UN, and many countries tried to arbitrate but none of them was successful in solving the problem. Can the the G-8 succeed in this, where others before them have failed? What makes them launch such an initiative? It seems that the G-8 is encouraged by its success in stopping the fighting in Kosovo. The group sees itself ready to play an active role in world politics, in addition to its roles in the international economy and on financial platforms. The Group is so confident that, as it launches an attempt to solve the Cyprus problem, it calls on the UN Secretary-General to invite both parties to the table. In a way, the G-8 sees itself as an authority which can give directives to the UN and lead it. In recent years, foreign solutions to Cyprus came mainly from the US and sometimes from England; this time, the same countries are the driving force behind this G-8 plan. It is widely known that England made every effort recently to enlist international support for the draft solutions she had prepared. A characteristic of the G-8 initiative is that it takes the problem to an international level. This, in turn, means that Turkey will be faced with heavy international pressure. Another characteristic which should be noted is that the US and the UK are trying to encourage Russia to participate in their efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. The West seems to derive some benefit from giving a certain role to Russia, as in Kosovo. Certainly, this gives Russia the leverage it tried to attain during the Cold War years but could not get, in reaching the Eastern Mediterranean. If the Russian role in favour of the Greek-Cypriots is recalled, her active intervention within the framework of the G-8 cannot be described as a pleasing development. Finally, a far-away country like Japan, who has been indifferent to the Cyprus problem all along is being drawn into this solution. It is wondered how Japan will contribute to the search for a solution; Japan may try to apply economic pressure. Clearly, the proposal launched by the G-8 has not been received favourably by the Turkish side. The call for 'unconditional' negotiations 'until a solution is reached' does not take Denktas' or Ankara's sine qua non principle of 'two equal states' or, in other words, the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus into consideration. Although the statement issued at the end of the Cologne Summit says that all issues can be brought to the table, the Turkish side does not want to attend a meeting which does not treat it as an equal. This would mean opening the way for putting pressure on the Turkish-Cypriots to agree to a solution which would throw their present situation into reverse. Therefore, the G-8 plan is seen as a still-born baby from the Turkish point of view. However, it is a fact that the G-8 will not give up easily and will increase its pressure on the UN Secretary-General to start the process in the coming weeks. If Kofi Annan attempts this as stated within the framework of the G-8, the Cyprus problem will enter a new and troubled period for the Turkish side. It most probably will lead to the disruption of the present peace and calm on the island instead of bringing the solution dreamt of by the G-8." [38] THE EU, AN AIM OR A MEANS TO AN END? -BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the reaction felt against the EU in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"We went to Gaziantep for the ninth Turco-European Journalists' Conference organized by the European Union Commission. These annual conferences begun by the EU Ambassador of the time Michael Lake and continued by Ambassador Karen Fogg have been helpful in providing an opportunity where the two sides could get to know each other. However, at the last Conference held with contributions from the Gaziantep Trade Chamber there is one striking difference. Many of the previous conferences were opened by President Suleyman Demirel but this year, let alone Demirel no one from the Government attended this Conference despite the fact that there is a Foreign Minister closely concerned with the EU, and a State Minister responsible for relations with the EU. This fact deamnds attention, as these conferences were considered important for reflecting Turkey's official views to foreign journalists. This brings to mind the question, "Is Ankara underlining its displeasure towards the EU?" In fact the opening statements of Turkish officials all underlined Turkey's displeasure over the Cologne Summit to foreign journalists and Ambassadors. In short, it is evident that Turkey feels angry with the EU following the Cologne Summit. The EU diplomats in Gaziantep point out that, for the first time, in Cologne a large majority of members approved Turkey's membership. They claimed that this would pave the way for Turkey's acceptance as a candidate at the Helsinki Summit. These diplomats also add that 'no mention' of Turkey in the final communique is not of significance. However, it is clear that this approach is not seen as convincing in Ankara. What angers Ankara is that notwithstanding Prime Minister Ecevit's letter which conveyed important contents to his German counterpart, Shroeder, the EU has taken such a decision. Ecevit probably said that now a strong government has been formed, we can achieve some important things and revive our frozen relations. However, this in fact may have boomeranged. The probability of Turkey's taking such concrete steps frightened some as the EU does not intend to accept Turkey as either a candidate or a member state. Only time can tell the correctness of this statement. However, it is certain that while Ecevit was taking a political risk by sending this letter, the EU did not understand its meaning and lost its opportunity. The Cologne Summit only helped to solidify public opinion that the EU will not take Turkey in, but is engaging in delaying tactics. Many believe that the responsibility for a positive result lies with the Helsinki Summit and views it cynically. In a wider perspective we believe that Turkey has been dealt with unjustly. Greece, Spain and Portugal were accepted into the Union shortly after the military regimes in these countries were toppled. The aim was to support the effort to strengthen democracy in these countries. We should look at Turkey's membership of the EU not as an aim but a meansto an end. Particularly a means which would enhance Turkish democratization efforts. However, the EU is not giving us the support it has lent to Greece, Spain and Portugal. Instead it is saying that Turkey should enter the Union after she has complied with the Copenhagen criteria. We believe that to accept Turkey as a member is a means to fulfill these criteria. It is a means for the democratization and development of Turkey. If Turkey has to achieve democratization and economic development by its own efforts why should it be a member of the EU? [39] * * *[40] SPECIAL KOSOVO[41] TURKISH UNIT TO KOSOVOThe Turkish unit to be deployed in Prizren will depart from Turkey in the upcoming days. A request for the transit passage of the 1,000-strong Turkish unit via Bulgaria, which was conveyed to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry last Friday, has been approved by the Bulgarian Government. Coordination of the passage of the Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo (KFOR) will be carried out by a centre to be established under the chairmanship of the Bulgarian Defence Ministry. The request was conveyed to the Bulgarian Parliament and then to the Bulgarian President. It is expected that it will be approved and go into effect after it is published in the Official Gazette on Thursday. The Turkish unit is expected to arrive in Kosovo on Friday. /Aksam/[42] SOROS: NEW GLOBAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENT NEEDEDA new global security arrangement will be needed in the wake of the conflict over Kosovo that should include countries which believe in democratic rights and freedoms and have access to international markets, international financer George Soros declared yesterday. Speaking on the topic 'Prospects for a Global Open Society' in Istanbul, Soros said both the UN and NATO were insufficient to curb international conflicts. /All papers/[43] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEYThe number of Kosovar refugees who have taken shelter in Turkey increased to 17,717, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials said that a total of 7,658 Kosovar refugees are being hosted at the Gaziosmanpasa camp in Kirklareli.[44] EXPLORATION COMMISSION FOR WAY TO KOSOVOAn exploration commission has set out a way to determine the route of the Turkish unit which will take part in Kosovo Peacekeeping Force. The Turkish unit will arrive in Prizren in 8 days' time, after receiving the command to go with its personnel and equipment. Half of the personnel will be dispatched by air, the others overland and by the end of the month the whole of the Unit's transmission will be completed. /Star/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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