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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-09Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>09.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] AUSTRIAN VA TECH COMPANY SETS UP WATER PURIFICATION UNIT IN SAPANCA[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[03] CEM ON TOURWhile the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary responsible for EU Relations, Uluc Ozulker, visits Finland, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will go to Denmark and Sweden prior to the Helsinki Summit. Cem will point out during his visits that putting 'a road map' in front of Turkey was against the EU's internal functions. Cem will also remind them of the support offered by Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Holland. Cem will also say that if official candidate-status is not granted to Turkey during the Helsinki Summit, Turco-EU relations will enter a tense period. Cem will add that criteria imposed on Turkey which are different from those imposed on other candidate countries are unacceptable. /Hurriyet/[04] SIMITIS THANKS ECEVITGreek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis thanked Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for his 'get well soon' message in the aftermath of the earthquake in Athens. Simitis made a statement following the Council of Ministers' meeting during which the effects of the earthquake were discussed and said that the presence of the Greek team at search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and now vice versa was proof of the solidarity and friendship which should be continued between the two nations. A 20-person Turkish team is currently involved in the search and rescue efforts in Athens following the earthquake two days ago, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[05] CHINA TO OFFER LOW-RATE LOANSThe People's Republic of China will offer low-rate loans to Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster, in addition to humanitarian aid. The Chinese Ambassador to Ankara, Yao Kuangyi, visited Kocaeli Governor Memduh Oguz yesterday and stated that they were sharing the pain of the Turkish people. The Ambassador said that the Chinese Government had given 100 tons of emergency relief aid, the Red Crescent had donated $60,000 and the Chinese Embassy staff in Ankara had collected $40,000 for the victims of the earthquake. He added that China would also offer low-rate loans to Turkey. The Ambassador remarked that Chinese businessmen would be encouraged to invest in energy, highways and other infrastructural areas in the disaster zone. Kocaeli Governor Mehmduh Oguz expressed his gratitude at Chinese assistance and stated that the most significant problem for the victims now was shelter, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] TRAINING AIRCRAFT DOWNA training aircraft belonging to the Turkish Aviation Institution went down in Haymana, Ankara yesterday; the pilot, Ulker Ozkan, died. Officials said that an investigation into the accident was underway. /Star/[07] FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEThe economic and political crisis between Turkey and Greece is being replaced by friendship and joint investment projects. Greek assistance for Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster has caused new concrete steps to be taken in bilateral relations. The Turco-Greek Business Council rolled up its sleeves to develop joint investment ventures between the two countries. The Head of the Turco-Greek Business Council, Sarik Tara, said that Turkish businessmen were ready to exert every effort to help Greece, which was shaken by an earthquake two days ago. Tara also remarked that they would invest in conjunction with Greek businessmen in Finland in November upon the official invitation of the Finnish President.The Turco-Greek Business Council will hold two meetings with Greek businessmen next month. The Business Council will convene in October and November to invest together in the Balkans, Finland, Norway and Denmark. /Star/ [08] IMF DELEGATION IN TURKEYAn IMF delegation headed by Turkey-Desk Chief Carlo Cotarelli arrived in Turkey yesterday. In a statement at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Cotarelli said that financial assistance envisaged by the IMF as part of the emergency relief aid package to Turkey was $330 million. Cotarelli added: "Generally, it is not possible to increase the quota for these types of emergency relief". /Star/[09] IKV CONCERNS OVER SWEDISH OBSTACLEThe Head of the Economic Development Foundation, Meral Gezgin Eris, said that Turkey might possibly face some obstacles concerning her EU membership, such as objections from Sweden and Denmark. Eris said: "These objections are different from those of Greece; these countries only concentrate on human rights". Eris stated that the less harsh stance recently assumed by the EU towards Turkey was an important step on the road towards her membership. Eris remarked that the EU, which had not granted candidate-status to Turkey during the Luxembourg Summit, had realized its mistake. Eris pointed out that there was now an opportunity to remedy this situation. /Star/[10] IMKB INDEX RISES AND INTEREST RATES FALLThe interest rates of bonds decreased by 3.33 points to 93 % due to a reduction in quotation by the Central Bank yesterday, while the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National Index broke a historic record and reached 6,095 points. Experts say that the visit of the IMF delegation, foreign loan expectations, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S. and the approval of the Social Security Law by President Suleyman Demirel had positively affected the monetary and capital markets. /Star/[11] AKBULUT VISITS THE DISASTER REGIONThe Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Yildirim Akbulut, said yesterday that the TGNA would not use its expenses, worth 2 trillion TL, because of the earthquake disaster and many deputies had donated some part of their salaries to the victims of the earthquake. Akbulut visited the disaster region yesterday.Meanwhile, it is reported that the new educational term will begin on September 20 in Gebze and September 27 in Karamursel; these are the districts seriously affected by the earthquake disaster. The timetable for the opening of the schools in other seriously affected districts and cities will be determined following the completion of damage-assessment. /Turkiye/ [12] TURK: "AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION IS ESSENTIAL"Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that Turkey would further carry on the legal revolution which began in the 1920s and laws would be re-arranged in line with the contemporary point of view. Turk stated that Turkey had achieved a massive legal revolution following the proclamation of the Republic. He added that this was now the time to make significant amendments to the legal system. /Turkiye/[13] 'THE BEST TIME FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE EAST'The Head of the Executive Board of the Southeastern Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (GUNSIAD), Bedrettin Karaboga, said that the decision of the PKK terrorist organization to withdraw was a start and stated that measures should be taken to reconstruct the economy in the region. Karaboga remarked that industry had been concentrated in the Marmara region up to now and added: "We wish investments will be made equally in all regions following a properly-planned strategy". /Sabah/[14] HADEP'S NEW CHAIRMAN: AHMET DEMIRAfter Murat Bozlak left the post of Chairman of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Ahmet Turan was declared HADEP Chairman during the First Extra-Ordinary Council meeting yesterday. Demir received 194 votes. /Sabah/[15] 560 PKK TERRORISTS CAPTURED IN MOLDOVIAIt is reported that 560 members of the PKK terrorist organization were captured in Moldovia thanks to cooperation between the Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT) and the Moldovian police. The Turkish Ambassador to Moldovia, Oguz Ozge, said that during operations secretly carried out prior to the football match played between Turkey and Moldovia yesterday, 560 PKK members were detained. The Moldovian Government will deport the terrorists. /Aksam/[16] BAHCELI: "CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTION IS ESSENTIAL"Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that a new Constitution on the threshold of a new century was essential. Bahceli stated that the Constitution should be amended in line with the requirements of the new century and added that this issue would be placed on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) by the Government during the new legislative term.The Chairman of the Virtue Party (FP), Recai Kutan, said that the FP was ready to offer every kind of support to an amendment to the Constitution, while the Acting Group Chairman of the True Path Party (DYP), Turhan Guven, pointed out that the 1982 Constitution should be amended. /Aksam/ [17] SECOND SOCIAL SECURITY DRAFTIt is reported that a second draft prepared by the Labour and Social Welfare Ministry will come onto the agenda following the re-opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). The new draft aims at harmonizing work among the Social Security Institution, Emekli Sandigi (Pension Fund) and the Employment Office. /Aksam/[18] ECEVIT: "WE WILL NOT MAKE ANY COMPROMISE"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that during his visit to the U.S. they would hold meetings as the official representatives of two friendly and allied countries. Ecevit stated that compromise was out of the question and added that there were many issues on which the two countries have common interests. /Aksam/[19] 'GET WELL SOON' FROM TURKSThe thawing in Turco-Greek relations following the Greeks' great concern during the earthquake disaster in the Marmara region, has intensified even more after the earthquake which hit Athens yesterday. Telephone lines to the Greek General Consulate in Istanbul were jammed due to the many Turkish citizens who wanted to express their sorrow and offer their help to those affected by the quake yesterday in Athens. The General Consulate was held open yesterday night to enable the issue of visas to numerous members of press who want to go to the quake region. The diplomats in the Greek General Consulate said that they were glad to see the great concern of many Turkish people and thanked them. The Consulate's Press Attache, Sokrat Dragotis, told the Anatolian News Agency's reporter that according to information which they had been able to obtain, 63 people had died, about 600 people had been wounded and 70 buildings had collapsed. For the time being, in addition to the French, German, and Czech rescue teams, Turkish rescue teams are also joining in with the rescue efforts in the earthquake region, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[20] AID FROM TURKISH RED CRESCENTThe Turkish Red Crescent is dispatching various food and aid packages to Greece after the quake which occured in Athens. The Turkish Red Crescent declared that they were ready to send any kind of aid supplies which may be required by our neighbour, Greece, although they have mobilized all their facilities to the earthquake zone in the Marmara, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[21] VURAL OGER ON CNNThe Head of the Executive Board of the Oger Tourism Company, Vural Oger, said on a live programme on CNN TV station yesterday morning that Turkey belonged to Europe and should certainly be a full EU member. Replying to the question whether or not 'Turkish society wants Turkey to be a full EU member', Oger said that 85 % of Turkish society wants Turkey to be a full EU member. /Aksam/[22] TURKEY AND GREECE ON THE SAME FAULT LINESeismologists have said that Turkey and Greece lie on the same fault line and are in one of the most active earthquake regions in the world. They stated that hundreds of small and medium-sized earthquakes occur every year in Turkey and Greece. /Aksam/[23] FIRST FOREIGN AID FROM TURKEYThe French 'France 3' TV station said that the first team to aid the victims of the earthquake in Athens was the Turkish search and rescue team, AKUT. The French 'Le Monde' newspaper said that Turkey was among the first 10 countries to initially send emergency relief to Greece. /Milliyet/[24] LE MONDE PRAISES TURKISH GROUP NEKROPSIThe 'Le Monde' newspaper published in France praised the Turkish rock group, Nekropsi, which attended an International Music Festival held in Arles, France. The newspaper added that the group managed to integrate Eastern rhythms and rock music. /Cumhuriyet/[25] OKUYAN THANKS DEMIRELThe Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Yasar Okuyan, held a press conference yesterday and thanked President Suleyman Demirel for his approval of the Social Security Law. Okuyan said that this Law was a reform and added that preparations for the second social security draft would be finalized by the beginning of next year. /Cumhuriyet/[26] WATER SALE TO MIDDLE EASTForeign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli held a weekly press conference yesterday and replied to questions from journalists concerning the sale of water from Turkey to Israel. Atacanli stressed that Turkey aws ready to sell water not only to Israel but to other regional countries which need water. /Cumhuriyet/[27] NEBEZ CALLS ON IKDP AND IPUKAuthor Cemal Nebez has called on the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) to not permit the PKK terrorist organization, which announced that it is laying down its weapons, to settle in northern Iraq. Nebez stated that the PKK had lost its power and collapsed. /Cumhuriyet/[28] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO DISCUSS PERINCEKThe Delegates' Committee of the Council of Europe will discuss the re-gaining of political rights by the former Chairman of the Labour Party (IP), Dogu Perincek, during its session today. A previous motion agreed on by the Delegates' Committee criticized the 14-month imprisonment imposed on Dogu Perincek because of his statements concerning the closure of his Party. Furthermore, the Committee wanted the Turkish Government to take the steps needed to release Perincek. /Cumhuriyet/[29] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM GOES TO YALTA SUMMITIt has been discovered that Foreign Minister Cem will attend the Baltic-Black Sea Economic Cooperation Summit to begin in Yalta on 10 September. During the Summit at Yalta, European Security will be discussed within the context of Baltic and Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will attend the Summit in place of President Demirel who cancelled his plans as a result of the earthquake summit. Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and Armenian Head of State Robert Kocharian are expected to meet during the Summit. Russia will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Hristenko, Anatolia Agency said.[30] TURKEY SENDS RESCUE TEAMS TO ATHENSFollowing the earthquake in Athens, measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, a 20-member search and rescue team from AKUT and another four-member team went to Athens to join in with the rescue work. The four-member team went to Athens on an Olympic Airways plane. Recalling that the 20-member AKUT team had already gone before them to Athens, the leader of the team said that if necessary more people would rush to help, the Anatolia News Agency reported.[31] STATE THEATRES GOING TO GERMANYThe State Theatres will represent Turkey with three plays at the festival that will be held at Mullheim in Germany between 10th and 20th September, reported the Anatolian News Agency.In a letter by the State Theatres, it was written that the plays "Azizname", "Requiem Für Ein Spion" and "Petit Boulot Pour Vieux Clown" will be staged at the Turkish Plays Festival that will be organized by Theather An Der Ruhr, which was welcomed by Turkey a few months ago. The play entitled "Azizname", which will be staged by the Ankara State Theatre group, is directed by Yucel Erten. The actors in the play, "Azizname", which was adapted from Aziz Nesin's stories and has attracted a great deal of attention, are as follows: Hatice Aslan, Rustu Asyali, Huseyin Avni Danyal, Bilal Gurdere, Serhat Nalbantoglu, Berin Otenel, Cem Emuler and Ahmet Mumtaz Taylan. Istanbul Theatre group will present a play entitled "Requiem Für Ein Spion", directed by Cuneyt Caliskur and written by George Tabori. In the play a different slice of life in the characters of three secret service officials, who cannot meet due to the problem of settling past accounts, is being questioned. In this play, the actors are Cinan Canova, Nihat Ileri and Sema Ceyrekbasý. Istanbul Theatre group will also present a play entitled "Petit Boulot Pour Vieux Clown". The actors in this play are the famous film and serial film actor Levent Oktem, the painter Mehmet Guleryuz and a member of the music group "MFO", Ozkan Ugur. In the play, the story is told of three persons who come to a particular address on time after seeing the announcement "An Old Clown Sought" and wait to be chosen for the part. This play is written by Matei Visniec. [32] INTERNATIONAL ANTALYA TOURISM FAIRWork on the "International Antalya Tourism Fair" organized by the Antalya Organising Limited Company (AOLC) is underway. International tour operators, travel agencies and the represenatives of the residence sector will meet at the Fair that is expected to be organized in October 2000, reported the Anatolian News Agency.Officials stated that the research had been conducted into sector concerning the Fair, that will be entitled "Tourism 2000", and that they had decided to organize the Fair for next year. Officials also reported that they would meet TURSAB and the Hotel-Owners' Association and that they would determine the content and the date of the Fair. The name of the sectors that will attend the Fair to be held by AOLC at Antalya Fair and Congress Centre are as follows: residence foundations, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, coach companies, railways, shipping lines, banks, insurance firms, car rental firms, the entertainment sector, yatching, restaurants, museums, carpet and leather sellers, souvenir shops, congress and conference organizers, municipalities and those publishing firms engaged in tourism. In addition, foreign firms will be invited to the "Tourism 2000" Fair. The support of the Ministry of Tourism and other involved institutions will be requested. [33] TURKEY AND MACEDONIA SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENTA Free Trade Agreement which had been initialled between Turkey and Macedonia was signed on Tuesday. State Minister Tunca Toskay and Adnan Kahil, the Macedonian State Minister, signed the agreement, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Nikola Gruevski, the Macedonian Trade Minister, also attended the signing ceremony.[34] HAZELNUT EXPORTSThe 1998-1999 hazelnut export year ended on August 31, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Turkey has obtained 719 million 384 thousand US dollars from her exports of hazelnuts since September 1, 1998, which was the first month of the 1998-1999 export year. Officials at the Black Sea Union of Hazelnut Exporters said that Turkey had exported 173 thousand 718 tonnes of hazelnuts, and obtained an income of $719.3 million, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[35] FOREST FIRE IN OSMANIYEAs a result of a fire which broke out in the Duzici district of Osmaniye yesterday, 10 hectares of forest were burnt. Officials said that the fire had been brought under control, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[36] LEATHER MANUFACTURERS TO THE U.S.The founder of the 'Menemen Leather Industry Region', Yahya Uz, said that problems in the leather industry had reached breaking point and a lot of export markets were flooded. Uz pointed out that in Corlu, Tuzla, and in the Menemen leather industry regions many factories are being sold and, although they are being sold at very low prices, there are no buyers. He added, "Our last hope is again the export markets. For the time being, we are selling leather goods to European countries at prices which are 50 percent less than prices two years ago. Now we are also turning towards the U.S. markets; we will force open that market." Uz also said that there were more than 100 leather factories in the Menemen Leather Industry Region, but only 10 of them were continuing to manufacture and the number of workers had slumped from 9 thousand to a thousand. /Turkiye/[37] 'LET'S LIFT QUOTA'The Chairman of the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers' Association, Bulent Atuk, said that the U.S.' textile quota and taxes on Turkey should be completely lifted. To evaluate the situation after the quake, Atuk said that they had requested to hold a meeting with Premier Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He stressed, "We defend the principal of reciprocity depending on the American sense of justice. We don't want aid, but justice in foreign trade. Our aim is not a raise in the textile quota and a lowering of taxes, but their complete demolishment. We believe that this also fair for the U.S." /Turkiye/[38] SABANCI-MSI SEMINARSSabanci University, which follows the latest sciencitific improvements and research in the world, is arranging a seminar titled ' The AR-GE Studies Supported by Computers in Pharmacology' together with Molecular Simulations Inc. (MSI). The seminar will be held on Sep. 13th-14th, in the Sabanci Centre. The latest research studies in the pharmaceutical sector will be introduced during the seminar. /Turkiye/[39] ATACANLI: "WE SHOULD WAIT AND SEE"Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli commented on the possible impact of the warm Turco-Greek climate on bilateral relations and hinted that Greece's stance before and during the EU's Helsinki Summit scheduled for December would be a determining factor. "We have repeated many times that the warm response of both the Greek people and the Greek Government to the post-quake efforts in Turkey have left every positive traces. We should wait and see how this will influence other issues. The direction of Turco-Greek ties will become clearer in the upcoming months before the Helsinki Summit" Atacanli said. Atacanli played down suggestions that the improved Turco-Greek ties could facilitate the resolution of the Cyprus problem. "Cyprus is a separate issue. Our position and conditions on the Cyprus problem have been repeatedly and very clearly explained" he added. /All papers/[40] CHIBBER: THE BIGGEST DONATIONThe World Banks' Turkey representative, Ajay Chibber, stated that the donation sent by the World Bank was one of their biggest donations ever sent in aid of a natural disaster. Chibber was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, yesterday. After the meeting that lasted for half an hour, Chibber gave Ecevit a letter written by the Head of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, saying that the amount of money sent by the World Bank is one of the largest ever donated in aid of a natural disaster by this institution. Chibber stated that the World Bank would be able to provide a donation of more than 1 billion dollars to Turkey for the reconstruction of the region and to contribute to the economy of the earthquake-hit region. Chibber also stated that Ecevit had thanked the World Bank. /Sabah/[41] ERCEL: "IF WE PRACTISE THIS, THEN WE CAN BECOME MODERN"The Head of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, stating that in the new Banks' Law all the rules exist, said, "The legal arrangements are modern. Now we should practise them." During the seminar "The `Swot' Analysis and the Possible Profile of the Turkish Banking System in the year 2000", Ercel delivered a speech and stated that research into the Independent Control Council would come to an end on 23th September and that high-ranking officials of the Council would be elected and, thus, other problems would be solved."Now the world begins to prefer those structures that favor risk-taking. Also, the Bank Control Council will do the same and determine the position of banking," said Ercel. Prof. Dr. Hursit Gunes from Marmara University's Economics Faculty, said that there was a serious risk of dead loans in Turkey. In his analysis, Gunes considered the speed of growth, technological background, the increases in the consumer loans and credit cards, the quality of the banking personnel and rivalry as the power of the banking sector. Gunes listed the weakness as follows: high risk; insufficient funds of their own; low rate of working capital. According to Gunes, the dangers are those who have no experience of banking, monopolies and ownership. /Sabah/ [42] DURMUS: "I WANT GO TO ATHENS"Following the earthquake that occurred in Athens, Turkey showed her constant readiness to help the Greek people. The first search and rescue team that arrived in Greece after the earthquake was AKUT from Turkey. We were all waiting for this to happen. However, in the aftermath of the earthquake in Greece, something surprised us all; the statements issuing from the Minister of Health, Osman Durmus. Minister Durmus, who was lambasted because of his attitude towards the foreign search and rescue teams that came to Turkey, sent his Greek colleague Lambros Papadimos a `get well soon' message. In his message, it was said that Minister Durmus and officials from the Ministry of Health had learned a moral lesson from the disaster that occurred in Turkey and that now they were all ready to go to the earthquake-hit regions in Greece and help. /Sabah/[43] THE RED CRESCENT REQUESTED "HELP"The international aid organization, the Red Crescent, is concerned that the winter was about to come and has requested a donation of 27 million dollars (12 trillion 150 million TL) for the earthquake victims in Turkey. A representative of the International Red Crescent Federation, Martin Faller, stated that probably 50 thousand Turkish people would live in the tent cities during winter.The Red Crescent stated that 43 million 300 thousand dollars should be collected over the next eight months to help Turkey and added, "However, 16 million 300 thousand dollars have managed to be collected up to now." Faller stated that they were likely to extend the time for help if necessary and that the hardest thing to do was not to build new houses but to meet the basic needs of the people. He also answered criticisim directed against the Turkish Red Crescent and said, "They began to work within 3-4 days following the disaster at full capacity." /Sabah/ [44] THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HOLDING A MEETING IN IZMITThe government is planning a gesture of solidarity for the earthquake victims by assembling the Council of Ministers. The Nationalist Movement Party suggested holding the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Izmit this week. If the other parties in the government accept the suggestion, then the Council of Ministers will declare a series of decisions concerning the earthquake victims and inspire confidence in their compatriots. It is expected that the Council of Ministers will issue positive decisions concerning the construction of temporary and permanent houses. /Sabah/[45] CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCEThe European Civil Aviation Council (ECAC)'s 41st Safety Working Group's meeting began yesterday in Istanbul. ECAC members from 37 countries are attending in addition to Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Ukraine who applied for membership. Also the U.S.A, Canada, Israel and the Russian Federation are being present at the meeting as observers. The meeting will last until Sep. 10th. It is stated that a strategy will be determined concerning civil aviation safety to be applied over the following five years. /Cumhuriyet/[46] EARTHQUAKE-PROOF BUILDINGS IN UZBEKISTANThe Uzbek State of Emergency Minister, Bahadir Kasimov, said that in Uzbekistan all the buildings constructed after the earthquake in 1966 were resistant to quakes measuring between 9 and 11 on the richter scale. The Uzbek rescue team, consisting of 23 people, returned to Taskent the night before. The team had arrived Turkey on 23th Aug. after the earthquake and had been involved in the search, rescue and health aid efforts in Adapazarý. /Cumhuriyet/[47] DENKTAS AND THE U.S.The Clinton Administration wants the TRNC's President, Rauf Denktas, to start the Cyprus conferences again as part of the latest decisions of the Group of Eight (G-8) and the EU's Security Council. However, Denktas responded to this request saying, "I cannot hold a meeting under these conditions." In spite of this, officials from the U.S. pointed out that they would continue their efforts and said, "We do not accept defeat so easily on this matter."Denktas went to the U.S. to show that he would not accept the invitation that is expected to come from the Secretary-General of the EU to Cyprus' Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot leaders. This situation emphasized the gulf between Turkish and American attitudes. While the U.S. declaring "start talking without any preconditions or plan", Denktas said, "I will not come to the meeting with the `Cyprus' government. If a face-to-face meeting is held between these two countries alone, then a result can be achieved. Otherwise, if the meeting is organized by a third party, then the location of this meeting should be on Cyprus." The Assistant to the American Secretary of State, Marc Grossman, who met Denktas the night before, said about the G-8 call, "We do not consider it to be a narrow point of view. We think that this enterprise presents many opportunities to each party. Everyone should be open-minded. The only solution is to talk." As Washington does not recognize the TRNC formally, the meeting was held in the hotel in which Denktas stayed, instead of at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lasted for 15 minutes. The Cyprus special representative, Alfred Moses, and the chief of the Turkish and Greek-Cypriot desk, Mort Dworken, also attended the meeting. Furthermore, the American State Department's spokesman James Rubin, answered a question concerning the hope of improvements in the Cyprus issue after the meeting between Denktas and Grossman. Rubin said, "We believe that there will be an improvement. We do not accept defeat so easily in these circumstances."/Milliyet/ [48] DENKTAS' PHOTOGRAPHS IN BELGIUMPhotographs taken by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, will be exhibited at the 'International Free Art Fair' (Libr'Art) to be held in Libramont, Belgium, between September 25 and October 3. The coordinator of the exhibition will be painter Mehmet Aydogdu who said that in order to promote Turkish art, in addition to Rauf Denktas, Aylin Orek, Serdar Arat, Aysegul Oneren Inceisa, Canan Dagdelen, Mehmet Guleryuz and Yasemin Sanel had also been invited to the Fair. Aydogdu stated that nearly 300 artists from 15 countries would take part in the Fair expected to be visited by 25,000 people, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[49] AUSTRIAN VA TECH COMPANY SETS UP WATER PURIFICATION UNIT IN SAPANCAThe Austrian Va Tech Company set up water purification unit which can meet the water need of 20,000 people a day in Sapanca yesterday. Officials said that the water purification unit was brought to Sapanca by military planes and was set up there, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[50] NUMBER OF COUNTRIES SENDING AID TO TURKEY INCREASES TO 85Following the massive earthquake in Turkey on August 17, the number of countries sending aid to Turkey increased to 85, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Addressing a weekly press conference yesterday, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said that the Ministry's efforts to coordinate the foreign aid are on-going.[51] MOLDOVIA-TURKEY: 1-1The Turkish football team, which played Moldovia in the Euro 2000 Championship yesterday, could not manage to obtain three points; the score was 1-1. However, the Turkish team still has the chance to go through to the next round because their next fixture is against Germany on October 9. /Star/[52] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[53] ECEVIT'S VISIT TO U.S. -BY SEBAHATTIN ONKIBAR (TURKIYE)Columnist Sebahattin Onkibar writes on the visit of Prime Minister Ecevit to the U.S. on 26 September. A summary of his column is as follows:"I received the agenda of the Prime Minister concerning his visit to the U.S. on 26 September. There are many events in addition to the meeting at the White House. Prime Minister Ecevit will speak on many platforms from the Washington Institute to NPC and will meet the leaders of the Jewish Community in New York. The meeting with President Clinton will last over three hours. In comparison to the visits of former Presidents and Prime Ministers this is strikingly long. This shows the importance the U.S. Administration attaches to Prime Minister Ecevit and his visit. During the meeting for which both sides have been preparing for weeks, the issues discussed can be listed as the earthquake disaster in Turkey, the erasing of military debts, quota flexibility, the embargo against Iraq and the losses Turkey has incurred as a result, Turco-Greek relations and Cyprus, the future of the Caucasus and Turkey's membership of the EU among others. It is believed that the U.S. Administration will make some contributions to Turkey, its strategic ally. Among these contributions are $400 million of aid to be approved by Congress which is the most important. The tendency towards approving this aid now prevalent in Congress will be made concrete with Ecevit's visit. Also within this context, the U.S. will express its support for Turkey through the IMF and World Bank. A change of heart has already been seen in the positions of both the IMF and World Bank in favour of giving loans to Turkey. In addition to these, the U.S. side may act flexibly on the issue of textile quotas and if so the textile sector's hardship in Turkey will be eased. Another subject discussed is the erasing of some military debts, either the erasing of old debts or the payable interest on them. One of the issues which will be discussed is the embargo in place against Iraq and Turkey's losses due to it. Officials are preparing documentation on the issue which will cover the damages suffered by Turkey over the past nine years. Apart from these , Turco-Greek relations and especially the Cyprus problem will be discussed. It is not expected that Washington will openly impose a solution but is believed that it will insist on a final solution and present a model solution. We should not forget the future of Iraq and Saddam and the situation in Northern Iraq. Turkish officials will clearly state that they are opposed to the founding of an independent Kurdish State in the region. The future of the Caucasus will also be brought to the table. Another important issue to be discussed between Ecevit and Clinton is Turkey's membership of the EU. Turkey will ask for increased support from the U.S. on the subject. Terrorist actions carried out by the PKK and the democratization process are also among the important topics to be deliberated. We hope the Prime Minister's visit will be productive." [54] THE REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY -BY METIN TOKER (MILLIYET)Columnist Metin Toker of "Milliyet" comments on the statements of the Chairman of the High Court of Appeals. A summary of his column is as follows:"The statements of the Chairman of the High Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk have drawn mixed reactions. This is not surprising as he is not an ordinary citizen but the Chairman of the High Court of Appeals and he has expressed his own ideas on the occasion of the opening of the new legal year as the Chairman of the High Court of Appeals. Certainly, a large part of his speech contains facts, statements and solutions which have not been heard of before from lawyers holding such high posts. Therefore it was appreciated by all. The clumsiness of the State was revealed during the recent earthquake disaster. The public was yearning for statements on the shortcomings of our democracy, especially concerning human rights and freedom from someone holding such a high office. However, I do not believe that the entire High Court of Appeals is in agreement with him that the obstacle to a modern state is the Republic and that democracy is being damaged by those in favour of "secularism". I believe that the Chairman remains under the influence of certain circles. The Turkish Republic wasestablished as a State in favour of a multi-party democratic parliamentary regime. This ideal is not wrong. If there are difficulties in reaching this target, this is because of having unqualified politicians. The State is need of Law and the lawyers are supposed to provide it. To give secularism present in Anglo-Saxon societies as a model is not befitting. With secularism, France has been able wrench the State out of the hands of the Catholic Church and Moslem Turkey from Shariat(religious) law. It is a fact that since the desire of religion to rule the State has become an 'anachronism', Moslem fundamentalists have been trying to achieve their aim at the slightest opportunity. Everyone in Turkey should know that the right to damage the foundations of the Republic cannot be included in the universal human rights and freedoms. In fact, it cannot even be considered." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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