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Turkish Press Review, 01-03-01
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#F0F0F0"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Press
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Summary of the political and economic
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<td width="100%">01.03.2001</td>
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CONTENTS
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CILLER: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS BY
HER OWN NATIONAL PROGRAM"
CONTENTS
[01] REPORT PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
CONCERNING THE MURDER OF OKKAN
[02] BRITAIN INCLUDES PKK AND DHKP-C IN THE TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS LIST
[03] TOP SECRET CIRCULAR ON TURCO-FRENCH ECONOMIC
RELATIONS
[04] WALL STREET JOURNAL: 'IMF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS IN TURKEY'
[05] WASHINGTON CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS
[06] TREASURY TO DISCLOSE MARCH BORROWING PROGRAM AFTER
HOLIDAY
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[08] (MILLIYET)
[09] SEZER TO RECEIVE ECEVIT TODAY
[10] TURKEY'S NATIONAL PROGRAM IS READY
[11] NATIONAL PROGRAM TO BE PRESENTED IN MARCH
[12] TURKEY AND EU'S ENLARGEMENT CONFERENCE
[13] CEM TO VISIT BELGRADE
[14] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE IN ANKARA
[15] US EMBASSY HOLDS CAUCASUS CONFERENCE
[16] HARSH REPLY TO THE WASHINGTON POST
[17] REPORT PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
CONCERNING THE MURDER OF OKKAN
[18] BRITAIN INCLUDES PKK AND DHKP-C IN THE TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS LIST
[19] TOP SECRET CIRCULAR ON TURCO-FRENCH ECONOMIC
RELATIONS
[20] DERVIS TO RETURN TO TURKEY
[21] BAHCELI'S ORDER TO HIS AIDES
[22] DHKV TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
[23] CLINTON TO VISIT TURKEY
[24] WALL STREET JOURNAL: 'IMF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS IN TURKEY'
[25] TURKISH-OMANI ECONOMIC PROTOCOL SIGNED
[26] ULUSAL BANK BAILED OUT
[27] LEADING BUSINESSMEN GATHER FOR NEW ORGANIZATION
[28] ACTION PLAN ON MARCH 12
[29] WASHINGTON CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
[30] TREASURY TO DISCLOSE MARCH BORROWING PROGRAM AFTER
HOLIDAY
[31] GAZPROM GETS 250 MLN EURO FOR BLUE STREAM
[32] 'BERLINER ZEITUNG'S ARTICLE ON TURKEY
[33] MONEY MUSEUM OPENS
[34] BROCHURES PRINTED TO PROMOTE KIZILIRMAK DELTA
[35] 20TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
[36] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[37] (MILLIYET)
[01] REPORT PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
CONCERNING THE MURDER OF OKKAN
[02] BRITAIN INCLUDES PKK AND DHKP-C IN THE TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS LIST
[03] TOP SECRET CIRCULAR ON TURCO-FRENCH ECONOMIC
RELATIONS
[04] WALL STREET JOURNAL: 'IMF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS IN TURKEY'
FERIDUN: "CRISIS PROVES CONFIDENCE IN
BANKS"
ONAL: "WE WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE"
[05] WASHINGTON CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS
[06] TREASURY TO DISCLOSE MARCH BORROWING PROGRAM AFTER
HOLIDAY
[07] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
AMERICA IS GETTING "SMART" BY SAMI KOHEN
[08] (MILLIYET)
[09] SEZER TO RECEIVE ECEVIT TODAY
As the crisis between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has subsided, a regular meeting
between the President and the Prime Minister will be held today at the
Cankaya Presidential Palace. With a new regulation announced by the
Office of the Prime Minister, Ecevit will no longer reply to
reporters' questions after the meeting. Reporters may ask questions to
the Prime Minister at the ground floor of the Office of the Prime
Minister. /Cumhuriyet/
ECEVIT'S STATEMENT: "NO RESIGNATION"
Referring to calls by the opposition groups
demanding is resignation, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said,
"During my entire political life, I have always withdrawn from
the office I was elected to when I considered it was essential. There
is no necessity for me to resign now. If I resign and cause a
government crisis now, I cannot explain it either to my own nation or
to history." Ecevit said economy bureaucrats would work during
the Feast of Sacrifice and added their main duty was to stabilize the
economy. Referring to the news regarding the World Bank's possible aid
amounting to $25 billion, Ecevit said, "We expect and hope for
such a credit by the World Bank." /Cumhuriyet/
[10] TURKEY'S NATIONAL PROGRAM IS READY
Turkey has prepared the 'National Program' for
presentation to the European Union (EU). The basis for the document's
preparation was the Constitution of 1961. In this document, on which a
consensus was reached at the National Security Council (MGK) and which
includes Turkey's commitments to the EU, there are many arrangements
from the judicial reforms to the death sentence, from the structure of
the MGK to Kurdish television broadcasting. According to the document,
the moratorium on death sentences will be upheld until the end of 2001
and the death sentence will be abolished by the end of 2004. Kurdish
broadcasting and education are still being debated. /Aksam/
[11] NATIONAL PROGRAM TO BE PRESENTED IN MARCH
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem has promised
to present EU Commissioner Gunther Verheugen the National Program in
the second half of March. Stating the National Program was the result
of a great deal of effort, Cem said, "We have fulfilled our
responsibilities." /Sabah/
CILLER: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS BY HER
OWN NATIONAL PROGRAM"
Chairman of the True Path Party (DYP) Tansu Ciller
warned the government to be careful about the new stability program
the government will pursue. She said, "Turkey can overcome the
crisis only by her own national program." /Sabah/
[12] TURKEY AND EU'S ENLARGEMENT CONFERENCE
Delivering a speech at the conference titled
"Turkey and EU's Enlargement" organized by the European
Union Research and Implementation Center, European Commission's Turkey
Desk Director Michael Leigh, said they are closely following the
Turkish economy. Replying to questions after his presentation, Leigh
stated they observed that all main issues in the Accession Partnership
Document were also mentioned in the National Program. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] CEM TO VISIT BELGRADE
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will go to Belgrade,
the Yugoslavian capital, on March 2-3, following an official
invitation from Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic. A
statement from the Foreign Ministry said that regional and bilateral
relations will be discussed in detail during the visit. Cem noted that
the visit would be a great opportunity to develop relations between
the two countries. /All papers/
[14] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE IN ANKARA
US Assistant Secretary of State Edward Walker
arrived in Ankara yesterday to hold talks with government offficials.
Diplomatic sources said Walker, responsible for the Near East Desk,
will meet with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and
other high-level officials during his one-day visit to Ankara. After
Turkey, Walker will visit Lebanon and Kuwait. /All papers/
[15] US EMBASSY HOLDS CAUCASUS CONFERENCE
The US Mission in Turkey has organized a two-day
conference in Istanbul on developing business opportunities for
Turkish and US businesses in the Caucasus. US Ambassador to Turkey
Robert Pearson made the opening speech at the conference yesterday.
Drawing attention to Turkey's geographical location, Pearson said that
being at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes Turkey very
attractive for business activities. The US-Caspian Business
Development Conference gives representatives of US and Turkish
businesses the opportunity to learn about investments and trade
possibilities. /All papers/
[16] HARSH REPLY TO THE WASHINGTON POST
The Office of the Chief of the General Staff sent a
letter to the editor of the Washington Post, a prominent US daily,
harshly protesting the paper's article criticizing Turkey's policy on
Iraq. The letter demanded the writer of the article, Jim Hoagland
prove his allegations true and added that if he could not do so, he
would be sued for slander and violating the ethics of journalism.
Rejecting and denouncing allegations in the article which claim that
Turkish soldiers are engaged in smuggling and corruption, the letter
said , "If Hoagland cannot prove his allegations true, the
Washington Post will also be responsible for the untrue news. The
Turkish Armed Forces has always struggled against smuggling and
corruption" The letter also responded to the criticism of
Turkey's Iraq policy by the Washington Post saying "Turkey has
incurred a $50 billion loss in her relations with Iraq. We think you
absolutely know why." /Cumhuriyet/
[17] REPORT PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
CONCERNING THE MURDER OF OKKAN
A report presented to the National Security Council
(MGK) concerning reactionary activities stated the Hizbullah terrorist
organization carried out the assassination of the Security Director of
Diyarbakir, Gaffar Okkan. According to the report, 20 fundamentalist
terrorists participated in the murder. /Aksam/
[18] BRITAIN INCLUDES PKK AND DHKP-C IN THE TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS LIST
Terrorist organizations PKK and DHKP-C were
included in the terrorist organizations list prepared in accordance
with the "Law on the Struggle Against Terrorism" enacted
February 19, 2001 in Britain. Activities of the terrorist
organizations included in the list ,prepared by British Minister of
Interior Jack Straw, may be banned if and only if the Parliament and
House of Lords ratify the list. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] TOP SECRET CIRCULAR ON TURCO-FRENCH ECONOMIC
RELATIONS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit sent a top-secret
circular to high level state institutions concerning certain
restrictions on Turco-French economic relations. Ecevit demanded
Turco-French relations be minimized in the circular. All tours to
France will also be canceled unless there is an obligation to visit
France. /Cumhuriyet/
[20] DERVIS TO RETURN TO TURKEY
Deputy Governor of the World Bank, Kemal Dervis,
called by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for consultations, will come to
Turkey today. The post of Governor of the Central Bank, vacated after
the resignation of Gazi Ercel, will be offered to Dervis. While
leaving the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Ecevit answered
the journalists' questions and replying to a question concerning
Dervis' request of Governorship, said, "He has not requested
anything concerning the issue. We invited him." /Aksam/
[21] BAHCELI'S ORDER TO HIS AIDES
It was stated that aides of the Nationalist Action
Party's (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli were
giving continuous reports to Bahceli on the economic crisis.
Reflecting on the evaluations between Bahceli and his aides made about
the lobbies, Bahceli said, "The crisis displayed the deficiencies
of the bureaucratic staff and asked for the establishment of a staff
who can work for the economic administration of each party, who know
the facts of the country, who is an expert in his field, speaks
foreign languages on the advanced level and who is presentable."
It was stated that Bahceli gave the order to his aides to establish a
staff of 50 people who exemplify these qualities. /Aksam/
[22] DHKV TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Protection of Wildlife Foundation (DHKV)
established by the Association for the Protection of Wildlife received
permission to join an international organization as a branch of the
World Wildlife Organization (WWF). Minister of Forestry Nami Cagan
said they attach great importance to cooperating with the
non-governmental organizations. WWF Director General Claude Martin
said "They believe Turkey will bring an original perspective to
the environmental protection program." /Cumhuriyet/
[23] CLINTON TO VISIT TURKEY
Izmir Tourism Director Ayla Karamete said the
Turkish Union of Tourism Agencies (TURSAB) had invited former American
President Bill Clinton to a ceremony to be held at the House of Virgin
Mary August 15. Karamete stated efforts to promote 'faith tourism',
which began last year on the 2000th birthday of Jesus, were contiuing
this year as well. Karamete further stated, "Clinton's visit to
Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary when he was the President last
year attracted great attention and contributed greatly to the
promotion of Turkey. We are happy that Clinton was invited again to
Turkey. We favor all sorts of activities that will activate
tourism." /Aksam/
[24] WALL STREET JOURNAL: 'IMF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS IN TURKEY'
An article published in the 'Wall Street Journal'
daily, the most famous paper on finance in the world, says the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) was responsible for the economic
crisis in Turkey. The article titled 'Turkish Bath', continues,
"The wrong policies imposed by the IMF dragged Turkey to crisis.
The IMF is the one who bought and loaded the gun that killed the
Turkish lira." The article, which brought a new dimension to the
discussions concerning the role of the IMF in the crisis, concluded by
asking if the administration of an international monetary fund should
have been thus? /Aksam/
[25] TURKISH-OMANI ECONOMIC PROTOCOL SIGNED
A Joint Economic Commission (JEC) protocol was
signed between Turkey and Oman yesterday. State Minister Mehmet
Kececiler and Omani National Economy and Finance Ministry General
Secretary Mohammed bin Nasser Ak Khusaibi signed the protocol.
Kececiler gave a speech saying a high potential for cooperation
existed between the two countries in developing commercial and
economic ties. He suggested agreements be signed to advance relations
between the two countries to a higher level within the shortest
possible time. The Omani Minister said for his part that the results
of the talks would give momentum to the Turkish-Omani relations. /All
papers/
[26] ULUSAL BANK BAILED OUT
Ulusal Bank was bailed out by the Savings Deposit
Insurance Fund (TSMF) early yesterday morning in a decision by the
Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDD) and made public in the
Official Gazette. "It was decided that Ulusal Bank A.S. would be
bailed out by the TSMF bacuse the bank's losses exceeded its equity
capital, it was unable to fulfill its obligations, and continuation of
its activities would endanger the stability and security of the
financial system" the BDDK said. /All papers/
[27] LEADING BUSINESSMEN GATHER FOR NEW ORGANIZATION
Leading businessmen gathered to discuss forming a
new platform separate from the current business organization, the
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).
Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) Chairman Husamettin Kavi said that
Rahmi Koc, president of the Koc Conglomerate, hosted a gathering of
the leading businessmen in Istanbul. Kavi stated that neither the
structure nor the principles of this new organization had been settled
yet, but the idea of having a new platform for businessmen was
discussed at the gathering. /All papers/
FERIDUN: "CRISIS PROVES CONFIDENCE IN
BANKS"
"The current economic crisis will pass, and
the fact that depositors did not rush to banks to withdraw their money
from banks last week demonstrates their confidence in the banking
sector", said Iktisat Bank Deputy General Manager Ayhan Feridun
yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reported. Speaking at a meeting of
bankers in Istanbul, Feridun said that Turkish banks were more
advanced than European banks in the diversity of their distribution
channels. /All papers/
[28] ACTION PLAN ON MARCH 12
An action plan giving importance to the structural
reforms and monetary section of the economic program, in line with the
new foreign exchange rate policy, is expected to be implemented on
March 12. The basic principles of the program being implemented with
the IMF will not be changed, while the targets and priorities of the
program will be revised. Following the implementation of the action
plan, a large delegation consisting of economic bureaucrats will go to
the US to explain the details. /Turkiye/
ONAL: "WE WILL OVERCOME THE CRISIS AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE"
The State Minister Responsible for the Economy,
Recep Onal, said that Turkey had experienced various economic crises
in the past however it had overcome all of them. He replied to
journalists' questions during the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Group
meeting yesterday and stated that the crisis would be overcome as soon
as possible. /Turkiye/
[29] WASHINGTON CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
The US State Department said that the US
Administration was closely following the economic developments in
Turkey and that US Treasury officials were in close contact with
Turkish officials. US State Deaprtment's Spokesman Richard Boucher
noted that the developments concerning the issue were discussed during
a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday between US and Turkish Foreign
Ministers. /Turkiye/
[30] TREASURY TO DISCLOSE MARCH BORROWING PROGRAM AFTER
HOLIDAY
The Treasury said yesterday it would announce its
monthly borrowing program for March after the Holiday. The program
will be publicized after the nine-day holiday, which begins this
weekend, as revision work on the ongoing economic program and efforts
to restore market balances continue. /All papers/
[31] GAZPROM GETS 250 MLN EURO FOR BLUE STREAM
Russian gas giant Gazprom said yesterday that it
had received a 250 million Euro loan to build the overland part of the
Blue Stream pipeline to Turkey. Gazprom and Italy's ENI are building
the $2.5 billion Blue Stream pipeline to carry 16 billion cubic metres
of Russian gas annually to Turkey across the Black Sea. The gas is
expected to begin flowing this year. /All papers/
[32] 'BERLINER ZEITUNG'S ARTICLE ON TURKEY
The German 'Berliner Zeitung' daily published an
article in its tourism supplement yesterday stating that there were
many reasons to spend a holiday in Turkey. The article titled 'Turkey
is a Natural Park', stated the prices in Turkey were reasonable, the
flight from Germany to Turkey was short, and there were comfortable
hotels in Turkey. The article stated that reservations were being made
in record numbers, especially in the coastal regions. /Aksam/
[33] MONEY MUSEUM OPENS
2,571 coins, tokens and medals, kept at the
archives of the Mint and Directorate General of Stamp Publishing
House, are to be exhibited at the Mint museum in Istanbul. The
marvelous museum, which displays nickel, silver and golden coins and
various tokens and medals from all eras of the Ottoman Empire and
Lidian coins stamped at the beginning of the 7th century B.C., opened
yesterday. The museum and store will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday between 13-30 and 16:30. /Hurriyet/
[34] BROCHURES PRINTED TO PROMOTE KIZILIRMAK DELTA
Samsun Tourism Directorate has printed 5,000
brochures to promote the Kizilirmak Delta, in the township of Bafra,
home to some 316 species of birds. Turkish consulates and travel
agencies have already received the brochures, which contain pictures
of birds, lakes and beautiful scenery. Tourism Director Yuksel Unal
said he hoped the brochures would help bring Turkish and foreign
tourists to the area. /All papers/
[35] 20TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The 20th International Film Festival will be held
in Istanbul on April 14-19. Nearly 180 films from five continents will
be shown during the Festival which will make Istanbul a world movie
capital. /Milliyet/
[36] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
AMERICA IS GETTING "SMART" BY SAMI KOHEN
[37] (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the change in the US
Iraqi policy and its effects on Turkey. A summary of his column is as
follows: The Bush Administration intends to change the embargo imposed
on Iraq and make them "smarter". The statements by US
Secretary of State Colin Powell following his tour of the Middle East
and his recent contacts in Brussels indicate the US will follow a
wiser policy towards Iraq. It seems that President Bush does not find
it wise to continue with the sanctions imposed for the last 10 years.
The new Administration seems to have understood that only the Iraqi
people suffered from the embargo imposed, and did nothing to help
topple Saddam. It is an important development for Washington to see
this fact. During his recent contacts Powell learned that not only the
Arab countries, but also countries like Turkey who are close to the
US, also expect a change in the old policies. In fact, the US is not
thinking of lifting the embargo altogether, but is considering easing
the sanctions. According to the new policy economic restrictions which
led to the suffering of the Iraqis will be lifted, and smart sanctions
which will hamper Saddam's military intentions will be imposed. The
details of these policies have not been determined yet. US diplomats
say these measures will become clear over the next few weeks and the
opinions of friendly countries will be taken into consideration while
determining the policy. Turkey is one of those countries. US Assistant
State Secretary Edward Walker is coming to Turkey to discuss problems
in the Middle East, including the Iraqi policy, with his Turkish
colleagues. The message conveyed to him should be, 'The sanctions
policy is not wise. It is apparent that it did not yield any results.
Therefore, it would be better to change it... Furthermore, do not
depend upon the organization uniting the Iraqi opposition
gropus(INC)to get rid of Saddam. Secret operations entrusted to an
organization where everyobdy is saying something else, may
backfire...One of the ways to prevent Saddam's acquiring weapons of
mass destruction is to enforce comprehensive controls.' In other
words, control at the source is as important as checking the weapons
sites and facilities in Iraq, so that Saddam complies with UN Security
Council resolutions. Therefore, materiel entering Iraq through
indirect paths, including the West, should be stopped. There is one
other message Turkey can convey to the US on Iraq. The US should
inform Turkey and even consult with her before making a decision
including new operations in the no-fly zones. The normalization of
relations between Turkey and Iraq provides Turkey the opportunity to
give important messages and advice to the Saddam Administration. This
could work to the benefit of all parties involved, including the
US."
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