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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-27Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning27.04.2001CONTENTS
[01] TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES SUMMITThe seventh Turkish Speaking Countries Heads of State Summit began at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul yesterday. The Summit, hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, was attended by the Heads of State of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Krygztan, Turkmenistan and the Uzbek Parliament Speaker. Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem also participated in the meeting. In his inauguration speech, President Sezer said unfortunately peace and stability has not been established in the region where Turkish Speaking Countries are located. He added, to surmount the issues which threaten these countries, bilateral, regional and international cooperation should be strengthened. /Turkiye/[02] ECEVIT RECEIVES FORMER US AMBASSADOR PARRISPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the former US Ambassador to Ankara yesterday. Parris said the Turkish government's measures taken after the crisis had positive repercussions abroad. /Cumhuriyet/[03] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT TO VISIT SPAINPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay an official visit to Spain on May 3-4. It was reported Spanish reporters are expected to ask biased questions to Ecevit about certain sensitive issues such as Cyprus, Southeastern Anatolian region issue, current conditions in Turkish prisons and education in Kurdish. Spanish Ambassador to Turkey, Manuel de la Camara said Ecevit should prepare for certain biased questions. Camara stated Turkey' accession period to the EU, implementation of the National Programme and certain regional issues like Cyprus were among the main topics to be discussed during the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[04] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM GOES TO MOSCOWForeign Minister Ismail Cem left for Moscow to attend the Foreign Ministerial Council of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Before his departure, while speaking to the press at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, he reminded them Turkey is assuming the term presidency of the Foreign Ministerial Council. Cem will meet with Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister, to discuss bilateral issues. /Turkish Daily News/$14.3 BILLION IN FOREIGN RESOURCES FOR TURKEY State Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis, announced an additional $10 billion will be received from the IMF beside the $4.5 billion loan, of which agreement was previously signed. The final decision for the additional loan will be taken during the executive directors meeting of the IMF two weeks later. Dervis said the Banking Law and the Telekom Law are two important laws to be enacted by Parliament before the meeting of the IMF directors. /Milliyet/ [05] FISCHER: TURKEY DESERVES SUPPORTInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Chairman Stanley Fischer said Turkey would receive the international support which she deserved after the Turkish government took determined steps to recover the economy. Fischer gave support messages to Turkey during the meeting held with the participation of Latin American countries' Central Bank Governors and Ministers of Finance. Stating the new economic program about which Turkey was consulting with the IMF was about to complete, Fischer praised Turkey's attempts to overcome the economic recession period by calling them "determined". He added, "Minister of State Kemal Dervis and other Turkish officials have proven their determination towards pursuing economic stability with the reform program initiated in 1999 and taking all the necessary steps. These steps include certain measures in restructuring the banking sector and some tough financial measures to reverse the current debt accounts. Those measures are essential for sustaining stability again and decreasing the inflation rate." Fischer's statements are evaluated as the most concrete and clear support message to Turkey after the crisis. /Cumhuriyet/[06] WOLFENSOHN'S STATEMENT TO 'LE MONDE''Le Monde' daily wrote yesterday, "The former Deputy Chairman of the World Bank, now the Turkish State Minister responsible for Economy, is working hard in many fields'. Another article in 'Le Monde' contained the Chairman of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn's reply to the question "What can the World Bank do for Turkey and Argentina concretely?' He said, "First of all, we sent Kemal Dervis to Turkey. According to the agreement between the World Bank and the International Monetary Organization (IMF), the IMF deals with the macro economic problems and crises, whereas we deal with the structural problems and the struggle against poverty. Thus, the IMF has the leading role here. The same situation is valid for Argentina. Our duty now is not to extinguish the fire, but to do something in the middle or long run to help with the structural reforms and the struggle against poverty. /Hurriyet/[07] DAMAGE DETERMINATION DELEGATION FROM THE WORLD BANKA delegation from the World Bank came to Turkey to investigate the damage to the private sector due to the economic crisis. The World Bank delegation will meet with the involved economic institutions, including the Treasury, and the representatives of the private sector. The delegation will scrutinize the sectors that were most negatively affected by the crisis. The delegation will prepare a report and the issue will be discussed in Washington within the framework of the financial aid to be extended to Turkey. The experts say that the manufacturing sector is the one that was most affected by the crisis. In addition, the energy sector experts delegation from the World Bank will also arrive in Turkey soon. /Hurriyet/[08] BUSY SCHEDULE FOR DERVIS IN THE USKemal Dervis has a busy schedule in his US trip. Dervis will meet with US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, the head of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, and the representatives of the G-7 countries. Dervis will speak with the head of the IMF, Horst Koehler tomorrow. On Monday, Dervis will meet with the head of the American Eximbank, James Harmon. /Sabah/[09] TREASURY BORROWING PROGRAM UNVEILEDThe Treasury's total domestic borrowing in April 2001 is expected to reach TL 80 quadrillion. However, this amount is expected to be reduced by the amount of external financial inflows. Meanwhile, the Treasury's total domestic borrowing repayments will reach TL 60 quadrillion. Sources said on Thursday that the domestic borrowing requirement was expected to be clarified regarding the amount of external borrowing. The duty losses of the banks that were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), and those of state banks, and the borrowing costs stemming from overnight interest rates, were the main factors which increased the Treasury's domestic borrowing burden. /Turkish News/[10] CAGLAR EXPECTED TO BE BROUGHT HOME TODAYFormer State Minister Cavit Caglar, who was arrested in New York on charges of corruption, is expected to be brought to Turkey today. Caglar, who is currently being held at the New York Manhattan Metropolitan Correctional Center, asked to be extradited to Turkey after Judge Andrew Peck refused to release him on bail. A team of three officers from the General Directorate of Security arrived in New York yesterday. After completing procedures, Caglar will be sent to Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight at 6 pm today. /Turkish Daily News/[11] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SENDS LETTER TO KOFI ANNANTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, complaining about recent remarks made by Greek Cypriot leaders. In the three-page document, which was published on April 10, and defined as "UN Document," Denktas mentioned the offensive attitude of Greek Cypriot politicians and church and military leaders, citing excerpts from remarks published by the Greek Cypriot press. Defining the remarks as provocative statements, which created enmity towards Turkish Cypriots among the Greek Cypriot youth, Denktas said the remarks displayed the hatred of the Greek Cypriot leadership towards the Turkish Cypriots. Denktas said that the main intention of Greek Cypriots wishing to become members of the European Union was to realize the goal of "enosis" with Greece. Denktas said that before restarting the talks, the historical problem of the inequality between the Greek and Turkish sides should be solved. /Turkish Daily News/[12] EP'S LIBERAL GROUP CONTINUE ANKARA TALKSPatrick Cox, the head of the liberal group of the European Parliament, continued his visits in Ankara on Thursday. Cox visited Kamran Inan, the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs and Volkan Vural, Turkish Secretary General for the European Union. Cox discussed Turkey's National Programme, the Cyprus issue and the hunger strikes with Turkish officials. /Turkish Daily News/[13] EU COMMISSIONER VERHEUGEN TO VISIT TURKEYThe EU Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, Gunter Verheugen will come to Turkey at the end of this month to attend a seminar entitled "Turkish-EU relations" organized by Mercedes Benz Turk. The visit will be Verheugen's first since the announcement of Turkey's National Programme. /Turkish Daily News/[14] NEW DRAFT LAW ENVISIONS OPEN MEETINGThe draft law, which foresees a change in the 16th Article of the Anti-terror Law, provides the terror criminals with the right to an open meeting. These people will be able to participate in the social and cultural activities and education, sports, professional education and work site activities without creating danger. The convicted who have not taken disciplinary punishment will be able to benefit from this right. However, those who were denounced will not be able to make use of this right. /Hurriyet/[15] DEMIREL IN NEW YORKFormer President Suleyman Demirel traveled to New York to join the meetings of the commission formed to examine the reasons of the conflict in the Middle East. The Commission, headed by former US Senator George Mitchell, will meet today and tomorrow to finalize the report to be given to US President George W. Bush. Meanwhile, former US President George Bush sent a message to Mr. Demirel wishing him success in his work on the commission, through Turkish Consulate General in Houston. /Turkiye/[16] GENDARMERIE COMMAND HOLDS SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON HUMAN RIGHTSGendarmerie Planning and Principles Director Maj.Gen. Ibrahim Acikmese said yesterday that the future of Turkey depended on people doing their share to protect and respect human rights. The Gendarmerie General Command held a seminar on human rights in Ankara. Acikmese said human rights are one of the pillars of democracy and the main factor in citizen-state relations. Acikmese said, "Respecting and guarding human rights is a sine qua non, a universal value of the civilized world. The Republic of Turkey is a secular and social state of law founded on democracy and human rights. Turkey's future depends on people doing their share to protect and respect human rights." He explained that last year over 4,500 gendarmerie personnel attended human rights seminars at 11 headquarters, and nine human rights conferences were held to raise awareness of human rights within the Gendarmerie General Command. /Turkish News/[17] ADMIRAL BARRIE IN ANKARAArriving in Turkey on April 23 at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Australian Chief of General Staff, Admiral Chris Barrie, met with his Turkish counterpart yesterday. During the meeting military relations between the two countries were taken up. /Turkiye/[18] PISKINSUT A CANDIDATE FOR DSP LEADERSHIPDemocratic Left Party (DSP) Representative from Aydin, Sema Piskinsut said she will announce her candidacy for the DSP leadership during the DSP Ordinary Congress at a press conference today. /Turkiye/[19] AGRICULTURE MINISTER TO VISIT LITHUANIAAgriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp will travel to Lithuania to pay an official visit, and attend a symposium on "The Effect of EU Enlargement on Candidates' Agriculture Sectors." The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry said on Thursday that Gokalp would leave for Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, on April 29. Agriculture ministers from EU countries and candidate countries will participate in the symposium. /Turkish News/[20] FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTFour terrorists were killed during an operation in a rural area of the southeastern province of Hakkari. A statement issued by the Emergency Rule(OHAL) Governorship said "on Thursday clashes erupted between the security forces and a group of terrorists after the latter opened fire on a regular patrol." /Turkish News/[21] OZTURE CALLS FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH BELGIUMNezih Ozture, Belgium's Honorary Consul in the western province of Izmir, said on Thursday that Turkey should improve relations with Belgium. Ozture told reporters that Belgium was one of the most important countries in Europe, hub of economic activity, and the Center of the European Union is Brussels. "Approximately 200 Belgians are living around Izmir". /Turkish News/[22] HISTORICAL GROUP TO MEET IN NEVSEHIRThe Council of Europe's(COE) European Association of Historical Towns will hold a meeting in the central Nevsehir province April 28-29. Nevsehir governor Yusuf Erbay told reporters on Thursday that the association, which was founded in 1975, has launched initiatives to preserve the joint cultural heritage of those European countries that are members of the COE. Erbay said that Turkey had fulfilled the requirements related to the European Association of Historical Towns. "Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan will present the official participation document to the representative of the association at the meeting for Turkey to become a member of the association. We expect Turkey to be accepted," Erbay also stated. /Turkish News/[23] YENER YILDIRIM RESIGNS FROM DYPYener Yyldyrym, a deputy from Ordu province, resigned from the True Path Party(DYP) on Thursday. Following Yener's resignation, the DYP's seats in Parliament decreased to 83, while the number of independent deputies rose to 8. The latest distribution of seats in Parliament is as follows: Democratic Left Party(DSP):134, Nationalist Action Party(MHP):126, Virtue Party(FP):102, Motherland Party(ANAP):89, True Path Party(DYP):83, Independent:8, Vacant:8. /Turkish News/[24] ITC MARKS ITS SIXTH ANNIVERSARYThe Iraqi Turkoman Front(ITC)Turkey Office, the major representative of the Turkish community in northern Iraq, marked on Tuesday night, the sixth anniversary of the front's foundation. Iraqi Turks, better known as Turkmen, experienced many dark days in the pre-Gulf War period under the Saddam Hussein Administration's assimilation and relocation policies. Also now, ITC complains about the pressure it is consistently under from the local Kurdish administration, the Kurdistan Democratic Party(KDP) of Messoud Barzani. /Turkish News/[25] IMF:'MARKET SHARE OF TURKISH GOODS MAY INCREASE DUE TO FAVORABLE EXCHANGE RATES'According to the report of the IMF on the global economy, Turkey will have a 48.4% inflation rate of consumer prices, but inflation will decline to 28.4% in 2002. The report said Turkey experienced the economic crisis due to the increasing foreign deficit and the problems in the banking sector. The import-export imbalance, the delay of reforms, political uncertainty, and the decrease in confidence resulted in letting the exchange rates float. However, according to the report, Turkey's imports will decline and following the devaluation, Turkish goods became more competitive, leading to an increase in their market share. /Sabah/[26] FOREIGN INVESTORS RETURNIstanbul Stock Exchange index rose by 7.6% yesterday. Foreign buys extensively affected this increase. The Stock Exchange reached the largest transaction volume since January 10. /Milliyet/[27] STOKES ON TURKISH JEWELERYChairman of the London Golden Stock Exchanges (LBMA), which is considered the center of the world's gold stock exchanges, Martin Stokes, stated that Turkey is a very dynamic country in terms of economy and added, "I believe Turkey will overcome this crisis thanks to the mechanisms within its valuable mining sector. At LMBA, we will organize the second of our international conferences in Istanbul, which shows our confidence in Turkey." Stokes came to Turkey to give information on the 'Second Valuable Mines Conference' that will be held on 21-22 May by the LMBA. He stated that Turkish jewelery cannot be surpassed by many countries due to its quality and style. /Hurriyet/[28] NEW INVESTMENTS IN DURABLE CONSUMER GOODS SECTORMany companies in the durable consumer goods sector are planning to increase their investments. It was stated Beko, Vestel and Arcelik will make new investments to increase their production. As Beko and Vestel received an encouragement document from Treasury, Arcelik is preparing to enter a new model of refrigerator into the market. /Cumhuriyet/[29] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR OVERCOMES CRISISThe Automotive sector managed to overcome the negative effects of the recent economic crisis by increasing exports. The export rate in the automotive sector during April increased by 42.5 % compared to the same period last year. The sector also increased the number of its markets. The automotive sector attracted attention after the crisis since it did not see downsizing as an exit from the bottleneck created by the financial crisis and the dramatic decrease in domestic demand. /Cumhuriyet/[30] TURKEY WINS MEDALS IN THE EUROPEAN WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPIn the third day of the European Weightlifting Championship in Trencin, Slovakia, the golden medals found their owners. Reyhan Arabacioglu, won the golden medal in Snatch and Ekrem Celil was fourth in this field. Celil also won the gold medal in the Clean and Jerk. Turkey won a total of 8 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in the Championship. Turkey is first in terms of medals awarded. /Hurriyet/[31] AWARD FROM RUSSIAIn the Russian Travel Awards Competition, Turkey's Moscow Promotion Counsellor of Ministry of Tourism was awarded with "The most successful and best national tourism office" as a result of a survey, conducted by ITE Firm and the Russian daily TTG, polling its 12 thousand readers. The award was presented to Turkish Tourism Ministry Counsellor to Moscow, Sezai Cetiner, in a ceremony. /Turkiye/[32] A LOCAL GROUP ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT CARETTA CARETTA SEA TURTLESA local working group was established in Mugla to protect the Caretta Caretta Sea Turtles, one of the most endangered species in the world. Officials initiated such an attempt as four of the 17 nesting habitats of caretta carettas are in Mugla. The Mugla Environment Provincial Directorate organized a meeting to discuss possible ways to protect the nesting habitat of these sea turtles. Representatives from related NGOs and institutions attended the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[33] TOURISM IN HAKKARIHakkari, a southeastern city largely affected by terrorism, is hosting a tourist group first time in 15 years. The chairman of the Turkish-American Foundation, Nesrin Uranmavita, organized the trip to Hakkari. /Milliyet/[34] TURKISH-JAPANESE CULTURE ACTIVITIES BEGIN"Spring 2001 Turkish-Japanese Culture Activities" start today with cooperation between the Japanese Embassy and the Turkish-Japanese Culture Foundation Center. According to a statement from the Japanese Embassy the program will start with the "Second Japanese Animation Days" and as part of the activities the "Japanese Space Dance " show will be staged. On May 4-6 "Kakusho and Okiraku Comedy Theater" will perform and on May 6 a play will be staged at the Turkish-Japanese village in Adapazari, which was constructed for earthquake victims after the Marmara Earthquake. /Turkish News/[35] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[36] RISE IN LEGAL AND ECONOMIC AWARENESS BY CETIN ALTAN (SABAH)Columnist Cetin Altan comments on the rise in legal and economic awareness among the public. A summary of his column is as follows:"Those who have the ambition to rule as sultans over masses who have not been able to overcome their rural culture want to prevent the growth of three awarenesses in the public. One of them is an awareness of the economic situation, such as knowing that the share %20 of the population receive from the national income is 1400 times greater than the rest. Secondly comes the legal awareness and a third is an awareness of history. Those who want to rule the masses like sultans are against the creation of an open climate which would lead to an awareness of the people. At present, Turkey is entering a period of breaking her old habits and becoming aware of what is going on within a transparency spread by the globalization process. Three principles frequently mentioned by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer are opening the doors of a new era. One of these three principles President Sezer mentions is the supremacy of law, that the laws are valid not only for the ruled but also for the rulers. He also advocates transparency. The statements made by the Chairman of the Constitutional Court on the 39th Anniversary of its foundation clearly reveal that the present Constitution has certain shortcomings in view of the Constitutional Law. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court Mustafa Bumin stated that the present Constitution must be changed, and expressed the necessity of international agreements' overriding national laws. On creating a legal awareness, the efforts of the High Court of Appeals Chairman Sami Selcuk cannot be denied. This shows that today high-ranking jurists led by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer are coming to the fore. With the economic crisis, all leading economists are appearing on the screen, this time led by State Minister Kemal Dervis. The proponents of transparency are concerned over allegations of corruption. The headlines in yesterday's newspapers were describing the problems laid on the Ecevit Government by these allegations. Politicians were not able to act quickly and amend neither the Constitution nor the Political Parties law. The Cabinet was stumbling while forcing politics to take its hand off the economy. It is being wondered by all if the Government will be able to disperse the clouds around it." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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