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Turkish Press Review, 00-12-05Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>05.12.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[02] ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT CRISIS OVERCOMEThe European Union General Affairs Council convened yesterday in Brussels and discussed Turkey's Accession Partnership Document. The council decided to put the Cyprus and Aegean issues in the document under the title of "The Strenghtened Political Dialogue and Political Criteria". EU Term President France's Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, said a compromise parallel to the Helsinki decisions was reached. He added, "The new formula found for the Cyprus issue was accepted both by us and Turkey." /Turkiye/[03] ECEVIT ATTENDS NICE SUMMITTurkey found the revised Accession Partnership Document generally positive. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem are leaving for Nice, France today to attend the EU Summit to be held Dec. 7-9. /All Papers/[04] DE SOTO MEETS WITH DENKTAS AND CLERIDESUN Special Representative to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, travelling to Cyprus to resume the proximity talks, met with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday. It was stated that Mr. de Soto tried hard to persuade Mr. Denktas, who had announced his withdrawal from proximity talks. Mr. Denktas said, "Proximity talks are ended for the Turkish side." /Cumhuriyet/[05] CAKMAKOGLU IN BRUSSELSMinister of National Defence, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, flew to Brussels yesterday to participate in the NATO meetings. During the two-day meeting, defence ministers of NATO member countries are expected to discuss topics such as the recent situation in the Balkans, NATO-EU relations and the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI). /Turkiye/[06] ESDI MEETINGS BEGINSThe European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) Assembly began meetings in Paris. During the first session, Turkish parliamentarian from the Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) Atilla Mutman critisized Turkey's exclusion from the ESDI decision mechanisms. Recalling that Turkey was ready to participate in the European army with a 6-thousand soldier brigade, Mutman said this demonstrates the importance Turkey attaches to the ESDI. /Turkiye/[07] IMF TO ENSURE FOUR TYPES OF LOANThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussions reached the final stage. It was stated the opening of an urgent 'bridge loan' was on the agenda. Spokesperson for the IMF, Conny Lotze, speaking to an Anatolia News Agency reporter in Washington, said if an agreement is reached during the negotiations and if decision concerning the additional source is discussed on 21 December, then the loan would be available to the Turkish government on 23 December. He added the Executive Board of the IMF would decide the number of the slices into which the additional loan would be divided. IMF's Turkey Desk Chief, Ajah Chibber, IMF's 1st Region Chairman Michael Deppler, the Turkish Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli and the IMF Banking Expert Stephan Ingues, began their contacts yesterday, while Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp, and the Cenral Bank Governor Gazi Ercel met at the Prime Ministry to evaluate the situation. Chairman of the IMF delegation, Deppler then went to the Prime Ministry with Cottarelli and Ingues to meet with Ozkan. The IMF's requests concerning the bridge loan are as follows: clean the sick banks in the banking industry without spoiling the system; give firm guarantees to the foreign market concerning privatization; speed up the purification of the funds; strengthen the measures to restrict consumptionand be devoted to the inflation target in the price politics. /Aksam/[08] US SUPPORT FOR TURKEYIt was learned that the US Consul General to Athens, Nicholas Burns was holding contacts in Athens himself. It was further stated that Burns pointed out the economic problems in Turkey and adding that if this crisis grows, will have some negative impact. Meanwhile, US Consul General to Ankara, who paid a courtesy visit to the 9th Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, said, "The US is strongly supporting Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU)." /Aksam/[09] ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY DENOUNCES THE EUROPEAN UNIONIstanbul University Rector denounced the letter sent by the European Union (EU) Commission's Turkish Desk Chief, Alain Servantie, to the so-called Chairmanship Council of the PKK terrorist organization. The statement issued by the IU Rector, stated, "This letter is a lack of respect and is a latent attack against our unitary State structure and against our national unity." /Hurriyet/[10] LEADERS MEET WITH BUREAUCRATSLeaders of government parties and economy bureaucrats met yesterday after completing their contacts with the IMF delegation. Prime Minister and Chairman of Democratic Left Party Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Ministers, Chairman of Nationalist Action Party, Devlet Bahceli, Chairman of Motherland Party, Mesut Yilmaz, Ministers of State Husamettin Ozkan, Recep Onal, Minister of Finance Sumer Oral, Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp, Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel and Chairman of Banking Regulation and Supervision Board Zekeriya Temizel, attended the meeting. Mr. Ecevit informed the officials on the latest developments and conveyed demands by the business organizations on the economic program. /Hurriyet/[11] BUSINESSMEN VISIT ECEVITA group of businessmen, including President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Fuat Miras, and President of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), Erkut Yucaoglu, visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday. The businessmen requested a series of measures be taken to reduce the negative effects of the fiscal crisis on industry and exports. After the visit, President of TOBB, Fuat Miras said, "We still have faith for the continuance of the economic program and believe the government will take the necessary measures to improve the situation." President of TUSIAD, Erkut Yucaoglu said, "Prime Minister Ecevit said they are close to an agreement on the principles with the IMF. Mr. Ecevit said with the new supplementary credits of the IMF, the interest rates will decline." /Sabah/[12] HUMAN RIGHTS BUREAU IN DIYARBAKIRIn response to the meeting of the Human Rights Coordinator High Council in Diyarbakir, a Human Right Bureau was established for the city. The goal is to establish a Human Rights Bureau in every city and province. /Cumhuriyet/[13] GERMANY LOOKS FOR NEW WAYS TO SELL LEOPARD II TANKS TO TURKEYGerman Prime Minister Gerhard Schroder is looking for new ways to sell Leopard II tanks to Turkey. The sale is strongly opposed by the German Greens Party. According to the Spanish daily El Correro, Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Aznar, and his German counterpart, Gerhard Schroder, decided to sell Spanish weapon firm Santa Barbara, under licence to produce Leopard II tanks, to German Leopard Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann firm. It was stated the Spanish government made the decision after Mr. Schroder's proposal regarding production of Leopard II tanks for Turkey in conjunction with the Spanish firm. /Cumhuriyet/[14] TURKEY'S THIRD SATELLITE : TURKSAT 2-ATurkey's third satellite, Turksat 2-A (Eurosiasat-1) will be launched on December 8 at the French Kourou base if meteorological conditions are good. Turksat 2-A, which will meet most of Turkey's communication needs, will be the biggest and powerful satellite in Europe. With this satellite, Turkey will be the fifth NATO country to have a military communication satellite. /Cumhuriyet/[15] OYK TO MEET THIS WEEKThe government will make important decisions about the privatization of certain public institutions this week. The Privatization High Council (OYK) is expected to meet this week. The OYK is also expected to discuss and decide upon the privatization of THY, Turk Telecom, Tupras and Isdemir. /Cumhuriyet/[16] ATATURK AIRPORT, ONE OF EUROPE'S BEST AIRPORTSAccording to an interview by the daily International Herald Tribune, Ataturk Airport Foreign Flights Terminal is one of Europe's best airports. /Hurriyet/[17] EU'S FINANCIAL AID FOR TURKEY APPROVEDThe framework regulation for the financial aid Turkey will receive was approved at the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. Turkey will receive Euro 177 million from the EU each year. In addition, the way for Turkey to receive aid totalling Euro 5 billion from the Europe Investment Bank and the Mediterranean Development Aid (MEDA) is opened. /Hurriyet/[18] RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET IN RAMADAN SUPPERAll the religious leaders attended the traditional Ramadan supper organized by Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation in Istanbul Dedeman Hotel. The leaders delivered speeches during the supper which was also attended by the Chairman of the Religious Affairs, Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz. The speeches noted that the fact that the festivals of the three major religions coincided this month and was a goodness of God. The supper was attended by 12 religious leaders, including Greek Orthodox Patriarch Saintete Bartholomeus L., Acting Chief Rabbi in Turkey Leon Adoni and Acting Turkish Armenian Patriarch Kirkor Damatyan. The religious leaders said this unity should set an example for the whole world. After the speeches, plaques were given to the leaders. /Aksam/[19] TUZMEN: "TURKEY SHOULD ENTER CHINA'S MARKET"Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen said the foreign trade volume with China is unfavorable to Turkey. Mr. Tuzmen said export opportunities to China should be sought out and exports to China should increase. /Sabah/[20] SURVEILLANCE IN ACCIDENT-PRONE HIGHWAYSDirectorate General of Security will install special cameras on major highways, where a lot of accidents occur, with World Bank loans designated for improving traffic security. Electronical surveillance devices and cameras will be put on various points in the roads. Further, traffic police will not stop the cars to charge fines for exceeding the speed limit. Devices will track cars going over the speed limit and fines will automatically be issued by the center. /Milliyet/[21] IKTISAT-SOCIETE COOPERATIONThe statement issued by Iktisat Financing Renting, Factofinans Asset Collection and Emek Insurance Company to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stated, "Societe General Bank and Iktisat Bank are in close cooperation. As a continuation of this process, a discussion of probable cooperation between the two banks is underway. Within this framework, the discussions concerning the financial and legal dimensions of the cooperation are continuing. The conclusion of the negotiations are not dependant upon a timetable. The need for intervention by authorities has not yet been seen required." /Aksam/[22] STATUE OF ATATURK IN MEXICO CITYState Minister Suayip Usenmez returned to Turkey from Mexico. He had attended the hand over ceremony of Mexico's Head of State. At Ataturk Airport Minister Usenmez outlined the purpose of his visit saying efforts to put a statue of Ataturk in Mexico City were underway. Usenmez said, "There are also some contacts to make Istanbul and Mexico City 'twin cities'. I went to Mexico to attend the hand over ceremony of the Mexican Head of State Vicente Fox Quesada representing the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The Mexican people and administration were pleased to see Turkey there. I also held some contacts to improve the commercial relations between Turkey and Mexico." /Aksam/[23] AWARD TO TURKEY'S PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIATurkey's Promotional Campaign for the year 2000 was chosen "The Best and Attractive Advertisement Campaign" in Russia. Dream Design Factory (DDF) the producer of the campaign received the award. The campaign is being sponsored by the Tourism Ministry. The promotion films are stressing Turkey's cultural diversity and historical richness. /Sabah/[24] 'LES MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE' PRAISES AHMET ALTANThe French magazine 'Les Monde Diplomatiqu' published an article praising Ahmet Altan's novel "Kilic Yarasi Gibi" published in France. The article titled "Love and Power Games" stated Ahmet Altan is a successful writer, impressing his readers. /Hurriyet/[25] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[26] WAR CLOUDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the turmoil in the Middle East and its effects on Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"In Turkey all eyes are turned to the West and to the EU these days. Turkey is at an historic crossroads. However, as all attention is given to the West, the dangerous escalation in the Middle East is going unnoticed. The bloody conflicts between the Palestinian youth and Israeli soldiers can be witnessed every day on television screens. However, daily television broadcasts desensitizes the watchers. The idea that these people have been clashing for years and that tomorrow the situation will be no different, occuring to everyone. Naturally, this opinion presumes that the dangerous situation in Israel will not spill over any borders, therefore, Turkey should not be too concerned over the situation. We have seen that Turkey cannot separate itself from the developments in the region through the provocative visit of Israeli politician Ariel Sharon in late September. Although Ankara does not have a comprehensive Middle East policy, the countries in the region look to to Turkey for different reasons. Sensing this, Ankara increased its interest in the regional developments. The recent news coming from the region clearly reveal that the incidents are not limited to Israel, but there is always the possibility of an escalation covering Lebanon and Syria. Certainly, we are aware of the conflicts between the Hizbullah and Israeli soldiers on the Lebanon-Israeli border. However, we are not aware of the campaign waged by the Christians in Lebanon against Syria and their pronouncements as if they had some expectations from this turbulent climate. One of the most dangerous pronouncements on the issue was published in French newspaper 'Liberation'. The Patriarch of the Maronite Christians in Lebanon, Nasrallah Sfeir, claimed that Syria's continued presence in the country would ignite a fire in the region. Such a dangerous and provocative announcement by Sfeir has blurred the issue. Various observers making statements to the Arabian press say that Sfeir is trying to create a 'fait accompli' in favour of the Christians who feel themselves unprotected with the withdrawal of Israel from Southern Lebanon. Certain Lebanese officials, sensing the danger, are saying the words of Sfeir were taken from a statement made a month ago. They claim that during the intervening time, Damascus and the Maronite Patriarch have patched up their differences. Another development illustrating the deteriorating situation is the statement given to the Jerusalem Post by US Ambsassador to Israel, Martin Indyk. Indyk said Israel may soon find itself in a war with its Arab neighbours. Indyk, who used expressions suggesting that there was no hope for establishing peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, clearly presented the situation. Certainly these developments should be closely followed by Turkey. Ankara's close ties with Israel make this inevitable. If the region is swept into a new war, the future of relations between Turkey and Israel as well as Turkey-Arab relations gain importance. The negative effects of such a war on Turkey should be calculated very well. In short, we have to keep our eyes on the West but also pay attention to the winds blowing from the East." 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