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Turkish Press Review, 00-04-06Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>06.04.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[02] DEMIREL'S TERM IN OFFICE IS OVERThe Turkish Parliament rejected a Constitutional amendment which would have allowed President Suleyman Demirel for a second term in office on Wednesday. Parliament voted 303 to 177, well short of the minimum three-fifths majority of 330 votes needed to accept the proposal. A two-thirds majority of 367 votes was necessary to legislate the amendment without having to submit it to a national referendum.Although the other two amendment proposals included in the package earlier yesterday had received Parliament's approval, the three ruling parties decided to withdraw the package before the legislature voted on the whole amendment package. /All papers/ [03] 'GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN POWER`Following the ballot on the Constitutional amendment, Premier Bulent Ecevit said, "We are respectful of the decision of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA)". After meeting with his partners, Ecevit stated that the Government will continue as it was. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli emphasized that the Government and the voting on the Constitutional amendment were separate matters and the result of this ballot would not affect the ruling of the Government. Motherland Party (ANAP) Leader Mesut Yilmaz also stressed that the True Path Party (DYP) was not sincere. He said that the result of the ballot showed that the 5+5 formula had not been supported by the TGNA and added, "Let's not insist on it". /Aksam/[04] RAU IN TURKEYGerman President Johannes Rau arrived in Ankara on an official visit yesterday evening. Rau and his wife Christina were welcomed by State Minister Tunca Toskay at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. An official ceremony for Rau will take place at the Presidential Palace this morning. During his meetings with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Rau is expected to issue these four messages: * Helmut Kohl was the one who prevented Turkey's EU candidacy in Luxembourg but the 'Kohl period' is over now. All of Europe, including Germany, is aware of Turkey's importance. Germany extended its full support to Turkey in Helsinki and will continue to support Turkey in its bid for EU membership to happen as soon as possible. * Human rights violations and some deficiencies regarding democratization are causing difficulties in Turco-EU relations. * Germany is making every effort to ensure harmony between Turks living in Germany and the German population, and expects support from the Turkish State on this issue. * Germany is aware of Ankara's concern over the publication of an Islamic magazine in Berlin by a pro-National View (Milli Gorus) organization. Letters have been sent to German President Rau and Chancellor Schroeder on this matter by Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit. /Hurriyet/[05] CEM EXPECTS INCREASE IN JAPANESE LOANS TO TURKEYOn his first day in Japan, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stressed that Japan is one of the leading countries to loan to Turkey and expected these loans to increase in the near future. "The amount of loans we have received over the last three years is almost one-third of what Turkey had been granted over the previous 26. I believe it will increase even more. The reason for this is simple; the creditor country wants to earn money. Turkey's improved economy, its acceptance as a candidate for the EU and its improved position vis-a-vis debts enable a more conducive environment to obtain less expensive loans far more easily. That is why I expect the amount of money loaned from Japan to increase".As Cem continues his visit amid the reshuffling of the Japanese Cabinet following the unexpected stroke of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, some of his schedule has changed. Cem's meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono will be held today because the new Japanese government formed under the leadership of Yoshiro Mori was sworn in yesterday. After meeting the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives, Soichiro Ito, Cem attended a lunch hosted in his honour by Toshifumi Takei, President of the Japanese wing of the Turco-Japanese Business Council. /All papers/ [06] POLISH PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEYPolish President Aleksander Kwasniewski will visit Turkey on April 14-16. Kwasniewski will participate in an April 16 meeting in Istanbul organized by the Turco-Polish Work Council, part of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). According to a DEIK statement, a luncheon will also be organized in honour of Kwasniewski's visit, and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel is planning to attend. The statement points out that Poland is Turkey's most important trade partner in Central Europe. DEIK also says that representatives of several large Polish companies will come with the Polish President on his visit. /All papers/[07] CILLER GOES TO SARAJEVOTrue Path Party (DYP) Leader Tansu Ciller will go to Sarajevo today as the guest of the President of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Alija Izzetbegovic. Ciller will meet Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic as well as meeting with Izzetbegovic. Ciller will also visit the Democratic Movement Party building and make a statement at a party meeting. /Turkish Daily News/[08] 46,000 PERMANENT HOUSES FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORSThe second big step will be taken by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing concerning the need for permanent housing after the earthquake in the Marmara Region on 17 August last year. It was revealed that the tender specifications concerning the construction of 32,000 permanent dwellings in the earthquake-hit region had been completed. Officials stated that the foundations of these houses will be laid in May and their construction will be put out to tender to nearly 40 or 50 companies. Essential financing for the construction of these houses will be provided by international loan establishments. Most of these houses will be built in Adapazari, Yalova and Izmit and are planned to be built at least in one year. /Turkiye/[09] PILOT BURIEDTwo days ago, after taking off from Merzifon Fifth Main Air Base on a training flight, two F-16 war planes collided in mid-air. One of the pilots, First Lieutenant Gungor Ozer, was rescued alive but the other, Captain Murat Ozaydin, was found dead 500 metres away from the wreckage. An investigation into the collision is underway. In the meantime, Captain Murat Ozaydin has been buried in Izmir after a funeral ceremony at Merzifon Fifth Main Air Base. /Star/[10] FOREST FIRES IN TURKEYThe strong wind sometimes blows up storms in the Marmara and Aegean regions has once again affected life badly; a total of 52 forest fires occurred in the various provinces of Turkey due to the strong wind yesterday. Firefighters are still trying to bring the forest fire that occurred near Goktepe, a village in the district of Organeli near Bursa, under control. The Governor of Bursa, Ali Fuat Guven, stated that a barricade had been set up to the East in order to prevent the fire from spreading to Uludag. Moreover, Bursa is surrounded by fire on all four sides. Officials from the Directorate General of State Meteorology stated that the storm will lessen this morning. /Cumhuriyet/[11] EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN 2000 MANOEUVRES BEGINThe Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will take part in the 'Eastern Mediterranean 2000' manoeuvres on April 12-22 in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. The Office of the Chief of General Staff stated that the main aim of the manoeuvres was to promote cooperation between Turkey and other countries' naval forces. Admiral Metin Atac will direct the manoeuvres, which will include Turkey, the US, France, Italy, Spain and the NATO Standing Naval Force in the Mediterranean. /Turkish Daily News/[12] TWO IMPORTANT DECISIONS BY THE EUROPEAN UNIONA meeting of the Association Council, the highest judicial organ between Turkey and the European Union (EU), will be organized for 10 April. It was stated that two important decisions that concern Turkey will be taken during the Association Council gathering which had been unable to meet since 1997. It will be decided whether negotiations concerning the service sectors should be officially started. Also eight sub-commissions will be established to manage the work required during the EU membership process procedures under the second decision. /Turkiye/[13] TURKISH PEOPLE REACT AGAINST ALBRIGHTRepresentatives of the Turkish groups in the US have reacted to US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright's description of the Greek-Cypriot Administration as a 'color' photograph and the Turkish-Cypriots as a 'black and white' photograph. Turco-American Association Chairman Tolga Cubukcu and the Federation of Turco-American Associations' Chairman Egemen Bagis sent a letter to Albright expressing their shock at her words concerning Cyprus. In the letter it was stated that the Greek-Cypriot Administration has placed an embargo on the Turkish-Cypriots since 1963. /Turkiye/[14] TURKS IN EUROPEThe 'Turkish Economy in the EU` report prepared by the Turkish Research Center (TAM) was announced by TAM Chairman Faruk Sen in Ankara and by TAM Representative for Turkey, Orhan Kural in Istanbul. In addition to Faruk Sen, the Chairman of Oger Tourism Company's Executive Board, Vural Oger, and German Ambassador to Ankara Rudolf Schmidt also attended the meeting held in Ankara. According to the report, those Turks who had emigrated to European countries to earn their their living, many years ago, especially to Germany, now, employ 366,000 workers, 78,000 of them German, at their work places numbering 73,000. The Turks in Europe have also begun to have some clout in the political life of the countries in which they reside. The number of the German citizens originating from Turkey is expected to reach 900,000 in three years, and they will constitute the largest ethnic group influencing political voting in German. /Aksam/[15] MOBIUS: "PRIVATIZATION ATTRACTS CAPITAL INFLUX"Dr.Mark Mobius, the Head of Templeton Global Emerging Markets Fund, said that if Turkey accelerates privatization, foreign capital influx will begin to occur. Mobius delivered a speech at the 'Conference on Developing Global Stock Exchanges' in Istanbul yesterday and indicated that the Fund's investment in the Turkish market accounted for 3.9 % of Templeton's total investment in Eastern Europe. He added that Turkish markets will attract foreign capital like a magnet provided the government's economic programme continues to be carried out with determination. /Hurriyet/[16] ONAL DELIVERS A SPEECH AT A CONFERENCE IN ISTANBULDuring his speech at the opening of the three-day conference entitled, 'Developing Global Stock Exchanges`, while explaining the Government's anti-inflation programme, State Minister Recep Onal stressed that to ensure again permanent development coupled with a low inflation rate has great importance. He stated that they had tried to decrease the deficit in the public sector. Onal also pointed out, "To increae the prosperity of our citizens, our financial markets should be strengthened by merging with world markets." /Hurriyet/[17] WB: "TURKEY MAY BECOME A LEADER IN PRIVATIZATION"A report entitled "The Financing of Global Development 2000", released by the World Bank, suggests that Turkey, along with Poland, will have the fastest momentum as far as privatization is concerned in Eastern Europe between the years 2000 and 2001. The report predicted that Turkey and Poland will raise a substantial revenue from sell-offs over the next two years. With sufficient foreign exchange reserves and a reasonable borrowing capacity, Turkey is capable of meeting short-term foreign currency debt, it said. /Hurriyet/[18] FIRST TEST FOR STAND-BY AGREEMENT ON APRIL 26The Treasury stated that arrangements made as part of the stand-by agreement signed between Turkey and the IMF as well as current economic developments, have been achieved in line with the time-schedule previously envisaged. The Treasury published a monthly report in which was mentioned that a letter of intent, that looks to the stand-by agreement, was sent to the IMF on March 10. The report added that the IMF Executive Directors' Council would convene on April 26. /Hurriyet/[19] TURCO-GREEK AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONSTurkey and Greece are getting ready to strengthen their friendship also in the field of military. As part of NATO's 'Dynamic Mix' Manoeuvres, Turkish and Greek war planes will land at each other's military bases on May 20 and the land forces of each country will engage in joint amphibious operations along each other's coastlines. /Hurriyet/[20] TURCO-IRANIAN POSTAL ORDER SERVICE BEGINSA postal order service has been launched between Turkey and Iran, the Anatolia News Agency reports. According to a statement from the Postal and Telecommunications General Directorate (PTT), the money orders will be processed by the PTT and the Iranian Postal General Directorate, and their highest value will be $1,000.[21] BIRECIK DAM CLOSE TO COMPLETIONGaziantep Governor Muammer Guler stated that the Birecik Dam reservoir would be filled at the end of April. Guler said that the dam and its hydroelectric power plant would provide 2% of Turkey's energy needs. Guler also announced that the dam and its turbines would be operational by December. He added that water from the Birecik Dam would contribute to the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Currently a mere 7,000 hectares are being irrigated out of the 187,000 hectares in the region that need water. Once the dam is finished, 135,000 hectares will be able to be irrigated. /Turkish Daily News/[22] EGYPT STRIKES DEAL TO DEVELOP LNG EXPORTAn agreement covering the future development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export venture in Egypt has been signed by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), British Gas International and Italy's Edison International, and was announced on April 3. Egypt is currently in negotiations with several LNG buyers in the Mediterranean region and a major potential customer is Turkey's state-owned Pipeline Transportation Company, BOTAS. "The British-Italian venture is hopeful of being called on to negotiate with BOTAS in the near future" said George Conchar, British Gas International's General Manager for Turkey. /All papers/[23] NETAS TO SELL CIRCUIT BOARD BUSINESS TO SOLECTRONNetas Northern Electric Telecommunications Joint Stock Company will transfer its circuit board manufacturing activities to US electronics producer Solectron Corporation, Netas announced yesterday. The move is amed at supporting Netas' investment in new technology along with an expanding product line. The transaction, which is Solectron's first investment in Turkey, is scheduled to be completed in three months. /All papers/[24] EARTHQUAKE LOAN FROM THE KKTBThe Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (KKTB) and the Industrial Investment Bank (SYB) have signed a loan agreement to support earthquake-hit companies in Turkey which amounts to 10 million dollars over a six-year term. KKTB Chairman Ersoy Volkan, the General Director of the SYB, Aymet Aydin, and his Deputy Yavuz Isbakan put their signatures to the document. Volkan stated that the above-mentioned loan was the first to be provided to Turkey by the KKTB. /Turkiye/[25] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION COUNCIL ESTABLISHED IN TURKEYThe 'International Communication Council' has been established in Turkey in order to provide the concept of modern communications, in order to bring the public's right to be informed, their freedom of thought, expression and communication, to world standards. In a statement issued by the Turkish Association of Journalists (TGC), the 'International Communication Council', set up by a partnership between the TGC, the Advertisers' Association and the Public Relations' Association, will be introduced to the public during a conference at the TGC's premises tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet/[26] 500 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE WORLD BANKWorld Bank Director for Turkey Ajay Chibber stated that they were thinking of releasing a fund of 500 million dollars to Turkey so that the public banks can be restructured. Chibber spoke at a press conference yesterday, saying, "We are envisaging a financial contribution amounting to 2 billion dollars for the financial sector; 1.56 billion dollars of this sum will be released as part of the financial sector harmonization loan." Chibber added that important developments have occurred within the government and it will be of benefit of Turkey if these developments continue. /Turkiye/[27] QAD TURKEY RECEIVES HUGE AWARDThe American QAD Company, which deals with e-trade practices, has given the traditional award for 'best sale and service' to QAD Turkey from among the other countries in Europe. QAD Turkey was deemed worthy of this award due to the fact that it had increased its client profile from 22 customers to 46 and had ensured a growth rate of 100% and due to its successful after-sales service. /Turkiye/[28] TEKFEN'S SUCCESSThe General Electricity Illumination Company (GE) will move its electric bulb production to Hungary, which was elected the 'Perfect Place to Produce Electric Bulbs'. The reason for this decision is that the GE Company is trying to gather its production together in the large centres of population which are equipped with the latest technology as part of its globalization strategy. From now on the GE Company will import all sorts of electric bulbs from Hungary for the Turkish market. /Sabah/[29] GALATASARAY IN UEFA SEMIFINALSGalatasaray defeated German team B. Dortmund and Spanish team R. Mallorca to reach the Semifinal in the UEFA Cup and is to play against British team Leeds United today at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul. Cim Bom aims to obtain a good score during the first round match of the semi-final. The referees at tonight's match, starting at 21:00, are Helmut Krug, Frank Schumacher and Harry Ehing from the German Football Federation. /Turkiye/[30] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[31] PRINCIPLES NOT PERSONS BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)"Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the ballot on the constitutional amendment. A summary of his column is as follows:"Rejecting the imposition of persons instead of principles is a success in itself. The formula to amend the Constitution, to allow for the re-election of Demirel for a second term, would have created a king. Yesterday, Prime Minister Ecevit acted like someone who was imposing what he knew to be best on others. He called on the members of the TGNA to violate the principle of secrecy during the ballot on the alterations to the Constitution. If a proposal threatening the regime is voted on in an atmosphere of such pressure, how will they defend the future of the country? It would have been a great mistake to open the way to removing the guarantee of a secret ballot from the TGNA. Yesterday, Parliament proved that it would not bow to any such pressure, and has placed the future of the regime under a guarantee. The challenge to the autocracy of leaders will help the tradition of compromise to take root in our democracy. Yesterday, Prime Minister Ecevit stated that they respected the TGNA's decision and would continue to govern with determination and in harmony. No-one should be afraid of the surfacing of instability, as the greatest potential for instability has been overcome. The Government should not be the centre of a new conflict. The aim of all parties should be to carry someone equipped in every way and respected by everyone to the position of the Presidency." [32] BETWEEN CHANGE AND STABILITY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the General Election in Greece. A summary of his column is as follows:"Interestingly, both in Greece and Turkey a choice concerning the future of their respective political establishment is taking place between the concepts of "change" and "stability". The General Election in Greece, is based on a race between the socialist PASOK Party of Kostas Simitis and the right-wing New Democracy Party of Kostas Karamanlis,a choice between very ideas. It is not surprising that PASOK is defending stability today. Simitis won the General Election in September 1996 and went on to change the policy of the previous government, headed by Andreas Papandreu, and to follow new policies both within the country and abroad. Economic reforms were carried out; Greece integrated with Europe in addition to joining the EMU, played an active role in the Balkans and improved her relations with Turkey. The reason why Simitis called for an early election is that he wants to ride the wave of the results of his policies before these results fizzle out and continue them. Therefore, PASOK stressed the theme of stability during its election campaign. Contrary to this, the New Democracy Party claims that the reins of power must change hands, as PASOK has been in government since 1981, excluding the period 1989-1993. However, it is not clear what he means by the term unless he means a change of parties those in power. In fact, it is ironic for the left to defend stability while the right is looking for change. At the beginning of the 1980s, the situation was reversed. The difference between the past and the pesent for these parties lie in these areas where they look for support. Andreas Papandreu was against the US, NATO and the EU. Simitis altered all of this, carrying out a series of economic reforms and taking steps towards a new rapprochement with Turkey. PASOK has gone through a transformation and slided twoards the centre. In short, there are huge differences in the choices of parties in Greek political life as compared to the past." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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