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Turkish Press Review, 01-06-27Turkish 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 morning27.06.2001CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP DISCUSSEDIn a meeting organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Washington, the Turco-EU relations were discussed. Delivering a speech at the meeting, The Group Chairman of the European Parliament People, Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European People s Party (EPP) Group in the European Parliament, replied a question about the Turco-EU relations by stating that European conservatives were not in favor of including Turkey into the EU. Pottering said, "Turkey has to change her society in accordance with the EU values, if she wants to enter the EU." Speaking upon the statements of Pottering, Turkey Embassy to Washington, Undersecretary Mehmet Ali Bayar, said Turkey showed her determination in entering the EU since 1957 very clearly. He said, "We have done everything to enter the EU and paid every price." /Cumhuriyet/[02] WESTON: US SUPPORTS HELSINKI RESOLUTIONSThe US State Department's Cyprus Special Coordinator Ambassador Tom Weston said on Monday that a precondition to a solution was not foreseen for Cyprus's full membership to the European Union in accordance with the EU's Helsinki decisions, but general factos would be taken into consideration, and the United States supported this approach. Speaking to a television channel in Washington D.C., Weston said that Turkey was a distinguished and estimable ally of the United States and the Turkish-US alliance would not be damaged, but some difficulties might occur in relations between Turkey and the US if the Cyprus issue is not resolved. /Turkish News/[03] LEADERS' MEETINGThe leaders of the coalition government reached a consensus on the debate of the Constitutional Amendmant Package on Sep.17th, after the Parliament's summer recess. Following the 20-min. meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said they agreed to summon the Parliament on Sep. 17 and to begin debates on the Constitution. He said an inter-parties group will be established and prepare a final text over the amendments. Yilmaz added they expect to complete the debates by October and include it in the "Following Report" which is supposed to be issued by the EU Commission in November. /Turkiye/[04] ECEVIT RECEIVES BUSINESSMENYesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the Turkish Industralists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) members. A delegation headed by Tuncay Ozilhan said they asked the Premier to implement the constitutional changes before the Parliament's summer recess. The delegation also presented a report to Ecevit regarding the necesary revisions in the Political Parties and Election Laws. The businessmen also met with Deputy Prime Ministers Mesut Yilmaz and Devlet Bahceli. /Turkiye/[05] ECEVIT: "TAX INCREASE WILL NOT BE GREAT"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit held a conversation meeting yesterday with some party representatives and their wives. Following the meeting, replying to questions posed by reporters related to the new additional taxes, Ecevit said, "There is not a big hike in taxes. I believe it will not disturb citizens. The details will be debated in the Parliament." /Turkiye/[06] CEM: "WE WILL IMPLEMENT REFORMS SOON"The Minister of the Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem said the constitutional reforms have the priority among the topics to be deal with by the government. Cem and the EU Term President Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh, as well as EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen held a joint press conference in Luxembourg after the Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting. Emphasizing that the Turkish government's attachment to the importance of democratic pluralism and freedom of opinion in Turkey, Cem said the government aims to make amendments to the Constitution which makes the closure of the parties difficult. He recalled the party closure is not carried out in Turkey only but also in Europe. Regarding the Cyprus issue Cem told reporters that Cyrus is a difficult issue and both sides should do whatever they can to reach a settlement. Cem also pointed out the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) topic is not a subject between the EU and Turkey but a matter of the NATO allies. /Turkiye/[07] DENKTAS: "BE SURE THAT WE ARE RIGHT"The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas asked citizens not to worry as they are on a right and strong base and to trust Turkey. Stressing they will win their case, Denktas said their case does not depend on the hostility against Greek-Cypriots but on the cooperation between the two countries. Talking to reporters at the opening ceremony of the Is Bank Kucukkaymakli branch in the TRNC, Denktas said, "We did not escape from the table. What we escaped from is a table which disturbs our immigrants, gives a right to all Greek emigrants to return, ruins Turkey's guarantee and abolishes the two sided structure on the Island. My nation did not give me that kind of authority." Pointing out that some Greeks can not even bear the recent friendship visits, Denktas added, " We believe in Turco-Greek friendship." /Turkiye/[08] YILMAZ ON THE CLOSURE OF THE FPDeputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz considered the closure of a political party due to the judgement of Court as "saddening and a shame of democracy" and said the package of Constitutional amendments consisting of 37 articles as a "civilian revolution." /Milliyet/[09] CILLER TO BEGIN TOURS TO LEADERSThe True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller will hold a series of meetings with party leaders to ensure the debate of the Constitutional amendments which include 37 articles, before the Parliament's summer recess. Ciller is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, as well as the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli today. Ciller will also ask for the debate of the Political Parties and Election Laws before the recess. /Turkiye/[10] PERES: "WE ARE AGAINST THE WAR"The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Peres said Turkey and Israel were two countries progressing towards a better future. Stating they wanted a world without wars and poverty, Peres said, "We also want Palestinians to do so. " He added that Turkey attached sufficient importance to the Middle East affairs. /Cumhuriyet/[11] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT TRAJKOVSKI'S VISIT TO TURKEY DELAYED AGAINMacedonian President Boris Trajkovski delayed his visit to Turkey again due to mounting violence and by the occupation of the Parliament by the nationalists in Macedonia. He is supposed to arrive in Turkey today. Meanwhile, Turkey is ready to send her soldiers to Macedonia if the NATO decides as such. /Hurriyet/[12] PARLIAMENT PASSES PUBLIC SECTOR UNION LAWParliament approved a bill on the formation of the public sector labour unions on Monday. The law allows public sector workers to found labour unions and hold collective bargaining talks covering those public employees working in administrations having general, supplementary and special budgets, provincial special administrations, municipalities, state economic enterprises, banks and organizations set up under special laws, and other public institutions and organizations. However, the law does not permit the right to strike, walkout, or sign collective labour agreements with other labour unions and confederations formed by public employees, while it foresees the right of "collective bargaining." /Turkish News/[13] PROTOCOL SIGNED ON LABORDuring the Labor Life Summit, which was held at the office of the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Yasar Okuyan, a protocol was signed for the changes to be made in the world of labor. In the protocol signed by the Chairman of Turk-Is, Bayram Meral, General Chairman of Hak-Is, Salim Uslu, Chairman of DISK, Suleyman Celebi, and the Chairman of TISK, Refik Baydur, it was stated that the Law No. 1475, 2821 and 2822 will be debated and the necessary changes and arrangements will be made. It was also reported that the necessary amendments and revisions will be carried out to enact the draft laws by the end of the year 2001. Meanwhile, Okuyan said, "We will meet on June 30 again. Our aim is to enact the Labor Security Draft Law by the end of this year. /Milliyet/[14] MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT IN ISTANBULThe Ministry of Environment will host tomorrow the second meeting of the "EU Candidate Countries' Ministers of Environment" in Istanbul. The participators will discuss the developments since the last meeting, problems and possible solution ways, and exchange information and experience during the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[15] MINISTER OF STATE GEMICI VOWS TO FIGHT NARCOTICSThe Prime Ministry Family Research Institution held a meeting on the occasion of the "International Day to Fight Against the Use of Drug, Narcotics and Smuggling" with the participation of the State Minister Hasan Gemici. Minister Gemici delivered a speech in the meeting saying the government was carrying out activities to inform both youth and families about the dangers of narcotics and drug abuse. He said, "Our basic principle is to set up national cooperation between all institutions. All segments of society should participate in the solution of this serious problem." /Turkish News/[16] TURKMENBASI PRAISES TURKISH EDUCATION SYSTEMHead of State of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Turkmenbasi has praised the quality of education being received by Turkmen students in Turkey. Turkmenbasi had been speaking at a press conference when he criticized his country's education system. He noted that the current system was still based on the former Soviet system and said, "Turkmen students in Turkey are getting a much better education." Speaking with Turkish officials, Turkmenbasi told them of the success being achieved by Turkmen students in Turkey. He spoke of the need to use the Turkmen language with more care and said that Ozbek, Kazakh and Russian-origin citizens should also learn the language. /Turkish Daily News/[17] ISTANBUL PROTOCOLDue to the June 26th Solidarity with Victims of Torture Day, the Turkish Doctors' Union, the Legal Medicine Experts' Association and the Turkish Human Rights Association held a joint meeting to introduce the "Istanbul Protocol". It was stated that the Istanbul Protocol which is a UN document for fighting against torture, prepared with the scientific contributions from Turkey, is an important guide for the democratic rule of law. The Istanbul Protocol, the first international guide for legal interrogations, medical investigations and preparation of reports concerning the cases with the allegations of torture, determining the international standards. /Cumhuriyet/[18] BLACKSEAFOR AGREEMENT PUT INTO EFFECTThe Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) Agreement was published in the Official Gazette. The Agreement foresees the establishment of a task force among the party countries' naval forces, which will be ready to activate when necessary. The Agreement had been signed on April 2, 2001 by the Turkish and Georgian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Ministers and Bulgarian Naval Forces Commander. /Cumhuriyet/[19] AWARD TO SIYAMI ERSEK CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY CENTERIn the 50th European Cardiovascular Surgery Congress, a clinical research carried out in the Prof. Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular Surgery Center received the best poster award. Dr. Fuat Bilgen said that there were two different protection methods in cardiovascular surgeries. We have found new information about these methods." /Hurriyet/[20] HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR PROF. MEHMET OZFamous heart surgeon Prof. Mehmet Oz, carrying out he artificial heart device program at the Colombia University in the US, was awarded with the "honorary doctorate" by the Istanbul University. /Turkiye/[21] DERVIS' STATEMENTState Minister Kemal Dervis said, "Stop thinking about devaluation. The International Monetary Fund has given us the biggest aid. We have to make use of it in the best way." Dervis has participated in the Motherland Party (ANAP) group meeting and evaluated the developments in the economy. He said, "There will be a process of recovery after September or October. During the period of crisis, it is normal that there is an increase in the foreign exchange rate. As long as the results of the program are obtained, the program will fall into place. The foreign exchange rate will be in a better situation with the developments in the balance of payments." /Milliyet/[22] "CONSTITUTION MUST BE CHANGED IMMEDIATELY"Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Administration conveyed its views on the constitutional amendments and demands about the democratization process to the coalition party leaders. The Deputy Chairman of the TUSIAD Executive Council, and the Chairman of the Commission for Parliamentary Affairs, Mustafa Koc said the constitutional amendment package upon which the parties reached an agreement must be implemented immediately. Koc said, "There is only one democracy. We can't say that since we have different conditions we will build a democracy which is peculiar to us. If we want to integrate with the West, we can't say such a thing." Stating the constitutional amendments would increase Turkey's credits in the international arena, Koc said, "We hope that a pluralist, liberal and transparent political structure will be established in Turkey. The Law on Political Parties should be enacted as soon as possible." /Cumhuriyet/[23] IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEYThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, chaired by the IMF Chief to the Turkish desk, Juha Kahkonen, is expected to come to Turkey following the meeting of the Executive Board of the IMF on July 3. The IMF delegation will carry out the ninth visit of scanning at the beginning of July in order not to delay the program anymore. Officials say that the Additional Letter of Intent should be sent 15 days earlier so the Executive Board officials can read and inform their opinion. Officials further state that the Letter can be sent to the IMF a week earlier. /Milliyet/[24] TOSKAY ON EXIMBANK AND INFLATION RATEState Minister Tunca Toskay said the inflation rates of this month are expected to be lower by 3% in terms of the Wholesale Price Index (TEFE) and the Consumer Price Index (TUFE). Toskay held a press conference to promote the Turkish Acreditation Organization (TURKAK) and said Eximbank was on the international markets to ensure a loan amounting to 75-100 milllion US dollars. If the Turkish Association of Chambers and Stock Exchanges can ensure resources to Turk Eximbank, the funds will be used by the banks rules. He added, "We cannot change the rules of Eximbank in any way." /Milliyet/CENTRAL BANK TO SELL 9.6 BILLION US DOLLARS IN 2001 The Central Bank made a written statement and reported; "The amount of the foreign currency to be sold in the year 2001 is 9.6 billion US dollars." It was further stated that within this framework, the foreign exchange sales are to be made, as of the beginning of July and of which their timetables will be announced to the markets in advance. The Central Bank also stated that the amount of the foreign exchange that it has sold in the last four days was 1 billion 26 million US dollars. /Milliyet/ [25] TREASURY MEETS BORROWING TARGET AT EXPENSE OF HIGHER YIELDThe Treasury conceded to offer a higher yield in order to meet its borrowing target at a four-month bill auction yesterday, thereby avoiding extra liquidity in the market that could create demand for foreign currency. The Treasury borrowed a net amount of TL 2.53 quadrillion at an annual copounded yield of 92.29 percent. Nominal sales amounted to TL 3.20 quadrillion versus a total bid of TL 3.33 quadrillion. It separatedly sold TL 950 trillion to the public sector through uncompetitive bidding ahead of the auction. /Turkish Daily News/[26] FOUR BIDS SUBMITTED FOR BAILED OUT DEMIRBANKFour groups have submitted bids to buy Demirbank, one of the bailed out banks controlled by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, the officials of the fund announced yesterday. The Aydin Dogan Consortium, the Turkish Armed Forces Assistance Fund (OYAK), UniCredito Italiano Spa, and the HSBC Bank were the four bidders the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) said in a written statement. TMSF invited the bidders to make presentations to the TMSF board this week, as it has begun evaluating the offers yesterday. /Turkish Daily News/[27] MIGROS TO OPEN NEW STORESMigros Director General Oktay Irsidar said that their plans on opening new stores in the Eastern neighbors of Turkey were continuing. He said, "We want to open new stores in Iran, Georgia, Syria and Lebanon. We will begin feasibility works within one or two months." /Hurriyet/[28] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[29] THOSE WHO WON'T ACCEPT THE BLAME BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Orhan Birgit writes on the closure of the Virtue Party and to the expression of opposing views before the reasoning of the Constitutional Court is known. A summary of his column is as follows:"The reasons of the Constitutional Court ruling on the closure of the Virtue Party have not been announced yet. Every court first decides on the case, and then explains the reasons, which are the legal basis leading it to form such a decision. It is rather strange that some professors, specializing in constitutional law, are among the leading names that have announced their opposition to this judgment without waiting for the reasons to be announced. These academicians and those who base their views upon the traditional institutions of the West that only the voters should punish these parties are forgetting an important factor. That is, radical religious statements are not adopted either by the Western democracies and or by the parties who demand to govern the state. They are also forgetting the fact that political powers, which defend secessionist views, will not be allowed to govern the state. The Turkish Constitution has provisions that do not comply with the age we are living in and the future we want for ourselves. If the 1961 Constitution had not been abolished we would have been far ahead on the road to civilization. However, today those who blame others who do not share the same view with themselves by favoring militant democracy were the leaders of the groups inciting incidents leading to the acceptance of the 1982 Constitution. The Chairman of the Constitutional Court Mustafa Bumin who must have been stifled under the accusations of these circles and the Virtue Party, said it was the responsibility of the Parliament to amend the two laws, the Constitution and the Political Parties Law, still in effect. He also tried to explain that in none of the Western democracies, radical views especially those based on religious statements were allowed. Recai Kutan who saw the ruling on closure as an important factor which will accelerate the inevitable division of the party, in a speech he delivered at the TGNA the previous day, accused the Coalition Government by delaying the amendment to the Constitution and said that in Turkey there was a make-believe democracy. Certainly there are many shortcomings of our democracy. However, if there is a make believe democracy those sharing Erbakan's mentality play a major role in this. Where in the world it is permitted, to bring a lady who has made the fanatical dress code a political symbol, to enter the Parliament? This would have led to a great reversal in the dress style of the public. Prime Minister Ecevit, in a statement he gave to Hurriyet daily, said that the reformist wing of the Virtue Party was responsible for the delay to the amendment of the Constitution not the majority votes of the Coalition parties. He stressed that this group in the Virtue Party did not accept the efforts for reconciliation among the parties to the amendment of the Constitution. When the time has come to separate the ways both the administrators of the closed Virtue Party and Erbakan who has directed them are providing alternatives to prevent it. They are pressuring for one party. This will not come to pass. The judgment of the Constitutional Court only legalizes this separation." [30] THERE IS BAN IN EUROPE ALSO, BUT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the reactions to the closure of the Virtue Party in Brussels. A summary of his column is as follows:"The discussion over the closure of a political party in Turkey was also among the issues debated in the EU Partnership Council meeting in Brussels. The difference of opinion between Ankara and the EU over the matter was seen once more. The EU officials led by Gunther Verheugen are saying that the closure of the Virtue Party may be in line with the Turkish Constitution but it is against the rules of t he EU and the Copenhagen criteria. Ismail Cem voices the opinion that, just as there are strict restrictions against Nazi parties in some European countries, the political parties, which are believed to be a threat to the regime, are not allowed in Turkey. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also added that the Government was ready to make the Constitutional amendment, which would make it more difficult to close political parties. This means that he accepts the fact that he does not find the implementation thus far as democratic. The argument of the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the neo-Nazi institutions is right to an extent. However, it should not be forgotten that parties with racist or neo-Nazi tendencies are working freely under other names in various EU countries from Germany to France, and from Belgium to Austria. Nevertheless, Turkey can say that fundamentalism is a threat to Turkey as much as Nazism is to Europe. This argument should be defended wisely knowing how sensitive the Europeans are on the issue. First of all, the threat should be defined well by the laws. When the amendments to the Constitutions are made these points should be taken into consideration. Quoting the words of a European diplomat, 'the question is to find ways to render the undemocratic powers ineffective through democratic means. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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