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Turkish Press Review, 00-11-14Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>14.11.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] SEZER MEETS WITH KOFI ANNAN AT THE OIC SUMMITPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in Doha. President Sezer conveyed his unease about Annan's proposal to establish a confederation on Cyprus. He said neither Turkey, nor the TRNC can accept the proposal put forward in Geneva. The TRNC has the full support of Turkey. Turkey supports the proposal submitted Sep.12 which says Turkish and Greek-Cypriots will have equal political status on the island. Kofi Annan said, "From time to time proposals may be put forward making one party or the other unhappy, but these are not final proposals." Mr. Annan said the proposal of Sep.12 is still valid today. Sezer delivered a speech at the summit. He said, "Turkish and Greek-Cypriots are two different societies with different religion, culture and language. Neither of them can represent the other. If member countries of OIC develop their relations with TRNC in trade, tourism, communication and sport, TRNC may relax a bit since it suffers economically from a serious embargo. /Milliyet/[03] PREPARATIONS FOR NATIONAL PROGRAM BEGANAnkara has begun preparations for a national plan after the declaration of the accession partnership document by the EU Commission. The EU Secreatariat General Subcommittee on Political Affairs, consisting of the Secretariat General of National Security Council, the Office of General Staff, represenatives of Ministries of Interior and Justice and those from relevant institutons and associations, met yesterday. The meeting discussed the EU's expectations mentioned in the accession partnership document. The Turkish response to these expectations and its specific conditions were also taken up. The national program will be presented to the government at the beginning of December and then to the EU. Delivering a speech at the opening of the meeting, Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Volkan Bozkir said the national plan would be presented to the EU authorities as soon as possible. Stating that Turkish and EU authorities were in close contact while the accession partnership document was being prepared, Mr. Bozkir said, "After the document was declared, Turkey entered a road with no turning back." While the national program was being prepared, the "Democracy Calender" prepared by Human Rights Coordinator High Council and reports by the commission (consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affirs, the State Planning Institution and the Office of the General Staff) were accepted as a reference by the Council of Ministers and will constitute the base of the discussions. /Cumhuriyet/[04] ECEVIT TO VISIT EU COUNTRIESAnkara began to act after the last minute addition of the Cyprus issue into the Accession Partnership Document (APD). Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit EU countries to express the unfairness felt by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). He was expected to begin his European meetings by Nov. 16th at the latest. During his meetings, Premier Ecevit will recall the genocidal attemps by Greek-Cypriots on the island before 1974. He will point out that after the Peace Operation there have been no bloody clashes. Mr. Ecevit will also reiterate Turkey and TRNC's position as the parties always seeking a comprehensive solution to the issue. /Turkiye/[05] ARMENIAN LEADER ORGANIZES A TURKISH DAY IN NEW YORKA leader of the Armenian diaspora, Serge Edward Hadjolian, organized a "Turkish Day" in the New York Rotary Club today. Mr. Hadjolian said they will present a video show including the cultural and historic richness of Turkey. Turkish food will be served and the Consul General in New York, Mehmet Ezen, will give a speech. Responding to a question on organizing a Turkish Day, Mr. Hadjolian said, "Our member Kaan Soyak put forth this proposal. The proposal encourages both Turkish and Armenian societies to behave in a moderate manner. It was a positive development when the US House of Representatives did not pass the so-called genocide bill. Otherwise, militancy on both sides would make the relations tense." Around 200 people from the financial, commercial and banking circles in New York will participate in the Turkish Day. Consuls General of Russia, Israel and Greece and Rotary Club presidents in Istanbul and Yerevan will attend the activities. /Hurriyet/[06] A EUROPE-TURKEY FORUM TO BE ESTABLISHEDThe European Parliament will vote on a report titled "Steps Taken By Turkey On The Way To Full EU Membership" and a draft resolution enclosed with the report, today in Strasbourg. The report prepared by Christian Democrat Parliamentarian Phillippe Morillon stated the Turkish nation's awareness of sacrifices needed to become a full EU member. The report proposes a Europe-Turkey Forum to be established. The draft resolution enclosed with the report states the meeting for Turkey's full EU membership will not begin until Turkey has met the Copenhagen criteria. /Cumhuriyet/[07] ARMENIAN CRISIS WITH VATICANThe joint declaration, prepared by the Pope John Paul II and the Chairman of the Armenian Churches, 2nd Karakin, created tension in the relations between Ankara and Vatican and, thus, Ankara protested Vatican harshly. As the Vatican Ambassador was in Rome, the Charge d'Affaires of the Ankara Embassy was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The envoy was received by the General Director of the European Department and was reminded of the fact that many Turkish people lost their lives during the Armenian relocation. During the meeting, it was said, "The Pope is carrying out religious discrimination. Regretfully, we consider his words subjective." /Sabah/[08] ARMON'S SUPPORT FOR DEMIRELIsrael's Consul-General to Istanbul, Amira Armon, stated they were very pleased that the 9th Turkish President Suleyman Demirel was elected by the election commission to investigate the violence between Palestine and Israel. Armon added they were relying on Demirel's objectivity. Armon evaluated Demirel's selection and said, "The members of the delegation should be objective. Therefore it is a positive result to have Demirel as a part of this delegation. Because I believe he will make objective decisions, the delegation will find real solutions." Armon added that peace could not be ensured through violence, but through discussions. /Aksam/[09] TURKEY PREVENTED BOYCOTTING ISRAELA decision to break all ties with Israel was prevented by the efforts of Turkey and Egypt at the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit in Doha. Rather, a more moderate decision, which is non-binding for member countries, was adopted in the summit. According to the decision, the 56 member countries agreed they would break off relations with those countries recognizing Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel or which have their embassies in that city. /Hurriyet/[10] GEN. MYERS IN ANKARAThe US Second Chief of General Staff Gen. Richard Myers and Secretary of Defence Political Affairs Deputy Walter Slocombe met with Foreign Ministry and General Staff officials in Ankara. Turco-US strategic cooperation, regional and the European Security and Defence Identity topics were discussed during the meetings. Turkish authorities told Gen. Myers and Mr. Slocombe that Turkey should take part in the decision mechanisms during operations carried out by Europe using NATO facilities. /Turkiye/[11] EU SCHOLARSHIP TO 400 UNIVERSITY GRADUATESThe European Union (EU) Commission will send 400 Turkish university graduates to Europe for education on a 5-year scholarship program aimed at supporting Turkey's accession period to EU. At the MEDA meeting held in Brussels last week, a proposal was made to increase Turkey's support by doubling the aid to Euro 10 million. The scholarship program will support the academic studies related to improving relations between Turkey and the EU and Turkey's integration with EU. Turkish university graduates, young civil servants and people working in the private sector can apply for the scholarship. /Cumhuriyet/[12] GREECE TO INCREASE TRADEVarious representatives of the Greek business world will come to Istanbul to develop cooperation possibilities between the two countries. The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) stated the businessmen delegations of the two countries would first meet at a seminar on Job Opportunities in Greece November 15th. During the three day visit, Chairman of Thessaloniki's Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Dimitrios Bakatselos, will organize a press conference. /Sabah/[13] WIND ENERGY AS AN ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCEThe "Third National Energy Symposium" organized by Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the Clean Energy Foundation(TEMEV), is to take place in Istanbul Nov.15-17. ITU said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer will deliver a speech at the symposium's opening in the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center. A meeting titled, "Clean and Unexacting Energies in Turkey's Future", will be held on the first day. They believe the meeting will contribute to long and short-term resolution of the energy problems in Turkey, in a healthy, economical and permanent way. All the meetings will be held at the ITU Macka Social Facilities. Talks will be given on solar power, wind mill fields, geothermics, hydrogen energy resources, and the relationship between energy and the environment, and vehicles and the environment. Meanwhile, wind mill energy, expected to be one of the most widely supported alternative energy sources, is already a popular energy source in many countries today. It causes no air pollution. Because it is natural. /Turkish Daily News/[14] TONUS' REPORTA research paper titled 'Economic and Monetary Unity in the European Union and Turkey', published by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), stated Turkey's priority was to become a member of the European Union (EU) and then to comply with the conditions of the European Monetary Unity. The report, prepared by Associate Proffessor Ozgur Tonusa, a lecturer at Anadolu University, stated that after Turkey becomes a full member of the EU, it would be easier to reach the economic level determined by the Maastricht criteria. /Sabah/[15] SSSB: "TURKISH ECONOMY SHOWS A GOOD PERFORMANCE"International Advisory Company, Schroder-Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) stated that the International Monetary Foundation (IMF) delegation, chaired by Carlo Cottarelli, expected to complete its contacts in Ankara this week, will leave Turkey having made positive statements about the Turkish economy. In its analysis of Turkey, SSSB reported that the IMF delegation, which had been in Turkey for nearly three weeks, was pleased with Turkey's success in financial performance. The analysis pointed out that the pleasing arrangements made concerning the privatization of public banks were presented to the Plan and Budget Commission. The report added this would accelerate the World Bank loan and the related slice of the IMF's stand-by loan of 4 billion dollars. SSSB reported that after economic precautions and the Additional Letter of Intention by Turkey are accepted in the Executive Board of the IMF, they would be included in the 2001 Budget. In addition, banking circles in London said Turkey was implementing a very successful economic programme. /Sabah/[16] RICARDO SEMLER IN ISTANBULRicardo Semler, Brazilian businessman well-known for destroying the classical management models, will give a conference entitled "21st Century Scenarios in Organization, Radical Management Strategies and Management Models without Managers" in The Plaza Hotel in Istanbul November, 20. /Cumhuriyet/[17] TURKISH COTTON TRADING SITE INTRODUCED ON THE WEBThe Ankara-Turkish Internet Company and the investment bank, Calik Yatirim Bank, have jointly launched Turkey's first online cotton trading center at kotonline.com. The site offers the most up-to-date information, analyses and commentaries on the market. The site reports on a variety of areas from weather to prices, yarn and cotton indexes, trends and practically all factors affecting the world cotton market. The site has been developed to become a regional cotton center in the near future. To trade through kotonline.com, producers must certify their crop. /Turkish Daily News/[18] POSTER OF THE 19TH TUYAP ISTANBUL BOOK FAIR WINS AWARDThe poster of the 19th TUYAP Istanbul Book Fair, prepared by Sadik Karamustafa, was deemed worthy of the 'Special Award' at the 'Asian Graffic Poster Trienal', organized at the capital of South Korea, Seoul. The poster, emphasizing the concept of globalization, won one of the five special awards. Designers from Hong Kong, Tayland, China, Taiwan, Korea, Turkey, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Malaysia and Japan participated in this trienal. The contest illuminated the importance of posters in terms of developing cooperation among Asian countries. /Cumhuriyet/[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[20] IS IT ENOUGH TO SAY 'INVALID'? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the Accession Partnership Document and the inclusion of the Cyprus problem on the short-term priority list. A summary of his column is as follows:"The inclusion of the Cyprus problem among the short-term priority list by the European Union in the Accession Partnership Document (APD), and the submitting of a proposal in a non-paper by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, almost simultaneously as the Cyprus proximity talks were nearing an end in Geneva, brought the issue to the foreground. In fact, Turkey and the TRNC are being squeezed into a corner. Even though officials in Ankara say they are not perturbed as these moves do not place them under any obligations, it is understood from private conversations that they are seriously concerned over the new situation. Ankara reacted to the paragraph in the APD by saying it was invalid. During the integration process with the EU, Turkey will reveal the conditions it will fulfil through preparation of the National Program (NP). Most likely, the NP due by the end of December will not mention the Cyprus issue and an expression dismissing the condition put forth in the APD will be used. The APD will be discussed in the European Council next Monday and, if the atmosphere in Brussels gives any indication, it will be adopted as is. In a short time, Turkish diplomats will call on the leaders and diplomats of friendly nations represented in the Council to withdraw the condition concerning Cyprus from the short-term problems list. However, it is doubtful anything will be changed by this move. An EU official said the APD is taken in its entirety and candidate countries could not dismiss part of the document while accepting the rest. What happens if Turkey considers the paragraph on Cyprus invalid? If the Commision's progress report, due to at the end of 2001, determines Turkey has not supported the Cyprus talks under the supervision of the UN, it will receive a failing grade. In other words, a barrier will be put before Turkey's full EU membership. Then Ankara will be left alone with its strategy. The UN Secretary General's unofficial proposal package led to harsh reactions from the President of the TRNC, Denktas and the Turkish Government. This plan does not envision the 'right to sovereignty' considered indisputable by the Turkish side. The plan only accepts the principle of equality but, even then, waters it down with 'joint state', and 'one sovereignty' concepts. In practice, the basic demands voiced by Denktas are not even considered. With a formula seeming to find a middle path, the proposals already mentioned in other UN documents are put forth again. Denktas rejected this offer from the outset and stated he would not participate in any rounds based on it. In other words, the Turkish-Cypriot side is demanding that Annan withdraw his proposal. It is doubtful the UN Secretary will give into this demand. Annan may say it is not an official proposal or call the parties to negotiate these points. This will leave the Turkish side with a difficult choice, to accept the call or not. As in the case of the APD..." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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