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Turkish Press Review, 01-06-05Turkish 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 morning05.06.2001CONTENTS
[01] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT THE TRNCTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci has received deputies from the European Parliament. Great Britain's Chris Davies and Belgium's Monica Frassoni arrived in northern Cyprus to hold talks. Akinci said after the meeting that the relations between the European Union and Cyprus would be on the agenda today. Improving good relations between Turkey and the EU, Turkey and Greece, and the two societies on the island, would guarantee the Turkish-Cypriots' status, he added. "The Greek-Cypriots' membership of the EU may cause undesired results for both societies in Cyprus, and therefore this should not happen," he said. /Turkish News/[02] CONFERENCE ON FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTIONThe Prime Ministry took a concrete step about the "fight against corruption" and established "Steering Committee" and "Working Group" concerning the issue. In addition, a conference about "Struggle Against Corruption and Good Administration" will be held on 19 June, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. To the Steering Committee and Working Group, representatives from the Undersecretariat of Treasury, Prime Ministry's Supervision Council, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance will be assigned and their international experiences concerning this field will be put to use. /Sabah/[03] TURKEY TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES IN THE MIDDLE EASTIsrael has warned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that the deadline for the period given to him to keep his promise of cease-fire was nearing. Meanwhile international attempts to prevent a possible war in the Middle East due to the mounting violence in the region are continuing. Within this framework, Turkey has sent Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk Logoglu to the region as a special envoy. Logoglu, who will meet with high level Palestinian and Israeli officials, is expected to convey the message that the violence has to be ended immediately. /Cumhuriyet/[04] RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT ANKARARussian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will visit Ankara to pay an official visit. Ivanov's visit is important for the political circles in the sense that it will be the first official visit of a Russian Foreign Minister for the last nine years. Ivanov will meet with Turkish businessmen who have made investments in Russia. /Cumhuriyet/[05] ARMENIAN PATRIARCH SAYS WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOATArmenian Patriarch Mesrob II attended the unveiling of a memorial to Armenian Intellectuals and Performing Artists at the Armenian graveyard in Sisli, Istanbul, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Pointing out that the one in Sisli is the largest of 16 Armenian graveyards in Istanbul, Patriarch Mesrob II said it had been in the charge of Beyoglu Uc Horan Armenian Church since 1884. He said there were many intellectuals and performing artists laid to rest in the graveyard who had served both the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey. He said these intellectuals were to a society what brains were to people: without them nothing could be done. /Turkish Daily News/[06] "SOLUTION IS IN DENKTAS' HAND""The European Voice" newspaper published in Brussels said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is "the biggest headache in the EU enlargement plans." Qualifying Denktas as a national hero, who resists all pressures, the article said, "The main key for a settlement in Cyprus is Denktas." /Turkiye/[07] EP DELEGATION TO VISIT F-TYPE PRISONSA European Parliament (EP) delegation including EP Parliamentarian and Deputy Co-Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Commission, Ozan Ceyhun, arrived in Turkey yesterday to visit F-type prisons. Ceyhun, who will visit two F-type prisons in Istanbul together with the delegation, will travel to Ankara on June 7, Thursday, to meet with Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk. /Cumhuriyet/[08] GENERAL BUYUKANIT'S STATEMENT ON ESDPTurkey has conveyed the message that she is determined to participate in the decision-making mechanisms concerning the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) to US Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld. Stating that Turkey's regional interests and security concerns should be taken into consideration during the discussions of the ESDP in case of an EU intervention in the crisis regions geographically close to Turkey, Secondary Chief of the General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit demanded a guarantee for participating in the decision-making mechanisms concerning the ESDP. Buyukanit conveyed the explicit message to Rumsfeld that ensuring Turkey's participation of those decision-making mechanisms is a vital matter for her national interests. /Cumhuriyet/[09] MONACO PRIME MINISTER VISITS ISTANBULMonaco Prime Minister Patrick Leclercq, who arrived in Istanbul to attend the ceremonies for the 78th birthday of Monaco Prince Rainier III, visited Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and Istanbul Chamber of Industry Executive Board Chairman Husamettin Kavi. He said, "The aim of my visit to improve bilateral relations between Monaco and Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/[10] TURKEY BOOSTS TIES WITH TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIESCulture Minister Istemihan Talay attended the "Turkey's common values with Turkish speaking countries and communities" exhibition on Monday in Ankara. After seeing Turkmen, Mongolian and Kyrgyz handicrafts and cultural item stands he said, "The Turkish world and Anatolia need to know each other in all aspects and share the common values that unite us." Pointing out in his opening speech that national objectives require the expending of efforts beyond those regular duties that countries carry out, Talay added that individuals, as well as foundations, associations and other civil society organizations, should keep these objectives alive and should inform society persistently within the framework of this objective. /Turkish News/[11] OFFICIAL DESCRIBES GAP AS UPPER MESOPOTAMIAN RENAISSANCEThe Prime Ministry's Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration Chairman Olcay Unver said that the project was spearheading a 21st century renaissance in Upper Mesopotamia as a regional development plan based on improvement of water and land resources, universal values, and a mentality of sustainable development. Unver wrote an article in the National Productivity Center's (MPM) publication Anahtar (Key). He described the chief purpose of the GAP project as raising standards of living for people by increasing their income levels. "It is also intended to close the gap between the regions of Turkey with regards to the level of development, contribute to national goals such as social stability, economic growth by increasing efficiency in rural areas, and to create employment opportunities. /Turkish News/[12] DYP DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS OF THE BOSPHORUSTrue Path Party (DYP) Deputy Chairman Hayri Kozakcioglu said on Monday that the Treaty of Montreux was no divine order, and that it could be subject to change when it came to safety questions. A panel on danger in the straits and its environmental effects was organized by the DYP Istanbul provincial organization. Speaking at the panel, Kozakcioglu said the residents of Istanbul had to take good care of the city and make sure that the cultural and historical heritage, and the natural beauty of the city, was preserved. "The Istanbul Straits are within Turkey's territorial waters. Therefore, both the straits and the Marmara Sea belong to Turkey. There might be certain rules and regulations foreseen by the Treaty of Montreux, which leaves the security, judicial and inspection issues to Turkey. The safety of human life is the basic principle on which this treaty has been structured. Turkey is authorized to implement security measures in conformity with international norms and standards," said Kozakcioglu. /Turkish News/[13] ANAP'S ORDINARY CONGRESS IN AUGUSTThe Motherland Party (ANAP) will hold its seventh Ordinary Congress on Aug. 4-5, 2001. Following the ANAP Central Decision and Administration Board (MKYK) meeting, headed by Mesut Yżlmaz, Deputy Chairman Ahat Andican said by the beginning of next month, congresses in all provinces will be completed and the big congress will be held on Aug. 4-5. /Turkiye/[14] SECURITY FORCES' OPERATION AGAINST HIZBULLAH GROUPOperations continue for capturing the accused of the murder of Diyarbakir Chief of the Security Forces, Gaffar Okkan. Diyarbakir Security Forces are carrying out operations for arresting the members of the Hizbullah terrorist organization. /Milliyet/ISTANBUL MAYOR TO ATTEND UN HABITAT-2 MEETINGS Istanbul Greater City Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna has gone to the United States to attend the United Nations Habitat-2 meetings in New York. He will take part in the second Urban and Local Governments meeting. "This is the first time local government will be voiced at the UN, our problems will be put on the table and brought to the world's attention," said Gurtuna and added they wanted to put Istanbul at the very top of the world's agenda. He also said his talks with finance circles in Britain and France had had positive outcomes. He further noted that he did not see any problems with the construction of the Aksaray-Yenikapi metro. /Turkish Daily News/ SEAWOLF 2001 NAVAL EXERCISE STARTS TODAY The planned naval exercise Seawolf 2001 is to start today. The exercise will last until June 18 and will see the Turkish navy in manoeuvres in the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean. Frigates, assault boats and submarines will be joined by aircraft from the Turkish Air Force. The exercise will be directed by Navy Commander Adm. Bulent Alpkaya. During the exercise, the vessels will call in at the ports of Izmir, Aksaz, Marmaris and Fethiye. An observers' day for foreign observers will take place on June 15. /Turkish Daily News/ [15] DYP SUBMITS CENSURE MOTION OVER ECONOMIC CRISISTrue Path Party (DYP) submitted a censure motion to Parliament against Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The censure motion, which wants to see Ecevit questioned on matters such as a wrong economic program, making wrong decisions and leading the country into an economic crisis will be seen in the week ahead. The censure motion notes that the government had planned to reduce inflation from 25 percent to 12 percent in 2001 but that the exchange rate policies and other policies applied failed to achieve this. /Turkish Daily News/[16] RUMSFELD MEETS WITH OFFICIALSDuring his visit in Ankara, US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, gave a message to Turkey that she should maintain limited commercial and political relations with Iraq,. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in return, requested the new sanctions imposed on Iraq do not increase the burden of neighboring countries. Officials also conveyed their concerns over the European Security and Defense Identity. Rumsfeld said that he understands the concerns, but did not promise any support on the issue. /Milliyet/[17] IRAQ: OIL SALE TO JORDAN AND TURKEY TO CONTINUEFollowing the implementation of the "smart sanctions" by the UN, Iraq decided to stop the oil exports causing a rise in the crude oil prices. According to the statement given to Reuters, Iraq will continue to sell cheap oil by tankers to Jordan and Turkey. /Milliyet/[18] DANIS' STATEMENT CONCERNING OILThe necessary increase in supplies is expected to be made so the price of one barrel of oil can keep on amounting to 20-28 US dollars during the OECD meeting today. General Director of TUPRAS, Husamettin Danis, said Turkey made calculations taking on the basis of 28.8 US dollars and that there would not be any price increase unless the dollar increases. /Sabah/[19] "THERE IS NO OIL SHORTAGE"Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Zeki Cakan, said Iraq's stop of the oil delivery will not affect Turkey. Before the opening of the 13th International Turkey Petroleum Congress and Exhibition, Cakan told reporters Iraq stopped oil delivery through Kirkuk-Yumurtalik Pipeline on Sunday night. BOTAS Director-General Gokhan Yardim said Turkey meets her oil needs from various sources not only via this pipeline. He added there is no trouble in petroleum reserves. Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, left for Baku last night to participate in the Eight International Caspian Petroleum and Gas Conference. /Turkiye/[20] WRITING OFF TAXES FOR QUAKE-VICTIMSThe bill regarding the writing off the tax liabilities and penalties of people hit by the August 17 and November 12, 1999 earthquakes was submitted to the Office of Parliament Speaker yesterday. /Milliyet/INTESA GROUP TO BUY 30 % OF GARANTIBANK'S SHARES An agreement of principle was signed by the Garantibank and the leading Italian banking group Intesa BCI for the sale of 30-35% of the Garantibank's shares. Further negotiations will continue to specify the exact rate of shares to be sold. The general manager of the Garantibank, Ergun Ozen, said, "We will reinforce our leading position both in internal and international arena and our market share will increase with the help of the advantages provided by our strong foreign strategic partner" /Milliyet/ [21] TURKEY'S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES UNDER DISCUSSIONThe Celebrity Speakers' Association (CSA) focuses on the economic sectors in Turkey with an internationally competitive edge. The series of conferences called "International Competition Strategies/Turkey's Competitive Advantages" were prepared under the leadership of American Prof. Michael Porter and with contributions from the Competitive Advantage of Turkey (CAT) Project Directorship. During the series of conferences, where one sector will be analyzed each month, Turkey's national competition strategies will be discussed on a sectoral basis. A total of eight sectors including tourism, textile, automotive, communications, ceramics, construction, food and banking will be discussed. /Turkish Daily News/[22] FINANCIAL MARKETSThe monthly inflation rate announced lower than expectations caused a relieving trend in financial markets yesterday. Istanbul Stock Exchange, also due to the agreement on the sale of the Garantibank's shares, increased by 4.35% yesterday. Experts said the Stock Exchange Index may surpass 12,000 points today. /Milliyet/AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS UP 89.6 PERCENT IN MAY Turkish automotive sector exports went up 89.6 percent in May compared to the same month last year. Automotive sector exports increased by 49.6 percent to $1.63 billion in the first five months from $1.1 billion last year. The Uludag Exporters Unions (UIB) reported that automotive sector exports increased from $209.97 million in May 2000 to $398.1 million in May 2001. /Turkish News/ [23] BAT TO INVEST IN TURKEYBritish American Tobacco (BAT) stated the company plans to construct production facilities in Turkey. BAT is expected to construct a factory in Tire Organized Industrial Zone, which costs more than $150 million and ensures job opportunity for 600-800 workers. /Turkiye/[24] IIF'S REPORTInternational Institute of Finance (IIF), based in Washington, issued a report evaluating world economy. Regarding Turkey, the report said, current situation in Turkey differs from the countries in Asian crisis and it is in a better position. The report emphasized Turkey has a better capacity for entering international markets. Stressing the importance of the privatization in capital flow, it said, with privatization, $3 billion investment may come to Turkey this year. /Turkiye/$5 BILLION IS READY FOR SWAP The Investment Bank, Lazard, advisor of the Union of Banks, declared banks are ready for domestic borrowing swap. Reportedly, the consultancy of the barter will be carried out by Salomon Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. /Turkiye/ [25] MERRILL LYNCH TO EXAMINE THE PROGRAMIn addition to the current IMF examination of the economic program prepared by State Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis, it will also be examined by Merrill Lynch International beginning today. Chairman of the Merrill Lynch International, Jacop Frenkel, arrived in Ankara last night at the invitation of Dervis. Frenkel will hold a series of meetings with economy circles. /Turkiye/[26] AEGEAN WATER SPORTS FESTIVAL IN KOSBodrum Life-saving and Water Sports Association and the Chamber of Maritime Trade organized the Second Aegean Water Sports Festival in Greek island "Kos". 30 Turkish sportsmen participated in the festival. The joint sporting groups raced in the festival, giving the message that the Aegean should be a sea of peace and friendship. /Milliyet/[27] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[28] UNBEARABLE INSENSITIVITY BY AHMET INSEL (RADIKAL)Columnist Ahmet Insel in his article in daily Radikal dated June 3, writes on the hunger strikes in prisons and the insensitivity he believes the society has towards them. A summary of his column is as follows:"Twenty-three peopled have died as a result of hunger strikes staged in prisons. When this article is published may be two or three more inmates will have died. Hunger strikes have become one of the ordinary news bulletins in radios, televisions and in newspapers, which form the interaction and communication channels in modern societies. The relative insensitivity of the society is also reflected in the media. The issue of hunger strikes has lost its importance as news in the media. However, the issue is a major topic, which is a matter of conversation in coffeehouses, and in homes in slum areas. These are places alien to the middle and higher classes of Turkish society. Until the1990s most of the youth who took part in leftist demonstrations and activities, and were subjected to torture came from the middle class. However, today the number of middle class children participating in these activities are minimal. Those who had joined illegal leftist organizations were children of those who had migrated from rural areas to the cities and could not adapt to the urban way of life. Desperation was evident in their eyes. Ignoring such incidents is not a new development in Turkey. Leftists were insensitive to the losses suffered by the military. Furthermore, when there are issues such as economic crises, devaluation, the stabilization package, the bankruptcy of banks, no one is interested in F-type prisons or those protesting against solitary confinement. Since the organizations directing the resistance in prisons did not realize the importance of the political gains they had achieved and adopted an 'all or nothing' attitude, the state was able to turn the tides and no one would dare go on a hunger strike. The resistance offered against F-type prisons, even when those taking part in it were not called terrorists, revealed that organizations called leftist or illegal leftist, lived in another world. We observed that an uncommon stance in politics was adopted by these organizations. When examining the expressions used by the spokesmen of these organizations we see that they did not resort to hunger strikes to incite human emotions such as justice, mercy, and compassion. These actions were started to show the power and determination of the organization. In a way they demonstrated defiance and determination. Every dying member showed the power of the organization once again. Therefore it was not tragic. There was a direct route from the world of failures, slums to prisons. The prisoners taught they were punishing the establishment and society by harming themselves through hunger strikes. This was a different behavior they had adopted and they believed they would defeat the enemy by killing themselves. The threat of this concept was sufficient for those who were well off to ignore the whole issue. However the organizations and the militants supporting them believed the opposite, hunger strikes have the arena of politics. It came to a point where the middle class, which is the soft belly of all societies is tired of the issue. Thus, the subject was isolated in a narrow area where those who were feeling furious towards this insensitivity still believed that they were punishing the society by harming themselves. There is another bitter truth, which the organizers of the resistance against F-type prisons could not see. The middle class was not only insensitive towards their problems but also to the issues facing them. In the face of this frightening insensitivity of Turkish society towards humanitarian feelings, it is meaningless to continue with hunger strikes, the outward reflection of existential hate and fury." [29] ECEVIT URGES RUMSFELD TO ENTER A DIALOGUE WITH SADDAM BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Sedat Ergin comments on US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's visit to Ankara. A summary of his column is as follows:"US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, a member of the Bush Administration which sees ousting of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from power as number one priority of its foreign policy, met with a totally different approach in Ankara. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit suggested Rumsfeld who is one of the hawks in the Bush Administration regarding Iraq and is known to be one of its strongest members to enter a dialogue with Saddam Hussein. Ecevit stated that Rumsfeld wanted to learn their opinions on the issue. The Prime Minister said he told the US Secretary of Defense that the Iraqi problem could not be solved for 11 years and this shows that it was necessary to find new ideas to bring a solution. He added, 'Turkey is the country most closely concerned with Iraq. Therefore, while discussing the issue, conveying views to the UN, it will be most helpful to take Turkey's view into consideration and indeed, it is essential.' Ecevit also stressed Turkey was adamant on the territorial integrity of Iraq. Even though the US was reiterating that she respected the territorial integrity of Iraq, a division process was continuing and this caused concern in Turkey. He expressed his concern regarding the turning of the formation in Iraq into an independent state. Rumsfeld stated that they also did not want Iraq to be divided up. However, Ecevit noted that the issue was proceeding towards such a formation and that the policies followed against Iraq for 10-11 years brought limited results. These policies were not enough to bring peace to Northern Iraq. When Rumsfeld asked what he would suggest, Ecevit answered that the issue should be discussed together. The Prime Minister said, ' Even though Iraq cannot become a democratic country overnight, we have to convince her to take steps towards establishing democracy. The dialogue with the central Iraqi government should not be stopped. The policy on disarmament may be continued, necessary steps taken to prevent arming of the country to the extreme and a dialogue should also go on. The territorial integrity of Iraq carries great significance both for Turkey's security and the whole region.' The Prime Minister did not comment on Rumsfeld's answers but stated the US secretary of Defense was not imposing any solutions. When taking these words into consideration we may say that the difference of opinion between Turkey and the US is getting far and wide." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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