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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-09
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
09.01.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT'S US VISIT TO BEGIN JAN. 14
[02] KIVRIKOGLU CHIDES EU OVER TERRORIST LIST
[03] SEZER SIGNS TOBACCO BILL INTO LAW
[04] CEM: "CYPRUS IS IN A PERIOD OF
TRANSFORMATION"
[05] AYGUN CRITICIZES EU TERRORIST LIST
[06] EU COMMISSION EXERTS PRESSURE OVER CYPRUS
[07] PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD CURTAIL PRESIDENT'S
REFERENDUM POWER
[08] DEFENSE NEWS: "TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSURANCE FROM
THE US IN CASE OF IRAQ INTERVENTION"
[09] KEMAL DERVIS, MINISTER OF THE YEAR
[10] RUSSIAN FIRM YUKOS TRYING FOR ROLE IN BAKU-CEYHAN
PIPELINE
[11] NO SOLUTION IN ENERGY TRANSFERS
[12] ARCELIK PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO BUY BRANDT
[13] AYGUN: "THE REAL SECTOR, NOT BAILED-OUT BANKS,
NEED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT"
[14] ISTANBUL TO HOST INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL
FAIR
[15] "SULTANS OF THE DANCE" PLANS WORLDWIDE
SHOWS
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[17] SAUDI ARABIA AND THE ECYAD CASTLE BY OKTAY EKSI
(HURRIYET)
[18] GENERAL'S STATEMENT BY FİKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
[01] ECEVIT'S US VISIT TO BEGIN JAN. 14
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will begin his visit
to the US on next Monday, Jan. 14. Ecevit will be accompanied by four
government ministers, six deputies, 110 businessmen, a number of
economy bureaucrats and some 50 journalists. This visit will be
Ecevit's second to the US during his current prime ministry after his
1999 visit. Ecevit will stay in Ritz Hotel in Washington. On Jan. 16,
Ecevit will be received by US President George W. Bush. He is also
expected to meet with the chairmen of both the IMF and World Bank.
During his visit, great security measures will reportedly be taken.
/Turkiye/
[02] KIVRIKOGLU CHIDES EU OVER TERRORIST LIST
Speaking at a ceremony yesterday to mark the
founding of Turkish think tank the Center for Strategic Research
Studies (SAREM), Chief of the General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu
criticized the European Union for failing to include the separatist
PKK in its recent list of terrorist groups. Kivrikoglu said the
omission had underlined a difference in views between the EU and the
US, since contrary to its European allies the US does recognize the
PKK as the terrorist group it is. Speaking on Iraq, Kivrikoglu said
that for Turkey the current regime in Iraq was not important, whereas
Iraq's territorial integrity is very important. Kivrikoglu also said
that exactly when and how many troops Turkey would send to the
international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan was still uncertain.
/Hürriyet/
[03] SEZER SIGNS TOBACCO BILL INTO LAW
The controversial Tobacco Bill which had been sent
back to Parliament by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for reconsideration
was approved yesterday by Sezer, as the Constitution requires.
However, the president still has the right to appeal to the
Constitutional Court for nullification of the law. /Hürriyet/
[04] CEM: "CYPRUS IS IN A PERIOD OF
TRANSFORMATION"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated in an
interview with German daily Frankurter Allgemeine Zeitung this week
Cyprus was in a period of transformation following Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' 1998 proposal that a
confederation be established. Cem remarked that recent meetings
between Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides should be
considered significant steps forward. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] AYGUN CRITICIZES EU TERRORIST LIST
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Sinan Aygun
yesterday added his voice to the chorus criticizing the European
Union's list of terrorist groups. In a letter to EU Commission
Turkey's Representative Karen Fogg, Aygun pointed out that the PKK and
DHKP-C terrorist organizations, which were excluded from the list, had
cost Turkey 40,000 lives and $100 billion in economic losses. "It
is indeed regrettable that the EU Commission's recently announced
terrorist list failed to include the dangerous terrorist organizations
the PKK and DHKP-C," Aygun said. "Efforts to whitewash these
textbook examples of terrorist as 'innocent' will only encourage them
to continue their murderous campaigns." /Turkiye/
[06] EU COMMISSION EXERTS PRESSURE OVER CYPRUS
The European Union Commission is increasing its
pressure on Turkish government, this time by insisting that Turkey
make a free trade agreement with the Greek Cypriot administration.
Adriaan Van Der Meer, the commission's Deputy Chairman for the Turkish
Desk, presented a proposal to this effect during the Turkish-EU
Customs Union Joint Committee meeting held in Brussels this week.
However, the Turkish side rejoined that such an agreement was
impossible before the political problems between the two Cypriot
nations were solved. The commission also put forward that there were
complaints that goods from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) were being exported through mainland Turkey. The commission
said that it did not want TRNC goods to be exported through EU
countries, and demanded information concerning any agreements between
Turkey and the TRNC. The commission also suggested that a consultation
committee be established for the solution of problems faced by
European importers to Turkey. The Turkish side stated that work had
been initiated to establish this committee. During the meeting, the
commission brought the Tobacco bill to the agenda and asked that it be
put in compliance with EU regulations. A written reply from State
Minister Tunca Toskay stated that the Tobacco bill was on the Turkish
Parliament's agenda and that it was in compliance with EU norms.
/Star/
[07] PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD CURTAIL PRESIDENT'S
REFERENDUM POWER
The Parliamentary Reconciliation Commission agreed
yesterday to amend Article 115 of the Constitution, which lays out the
president's powers and duties concerning referendums. The commission
convened yesterday under the chairmanship of acting Parliament Speaker
Yuksel Yalova to discuss a proposal amendment which would curtail the
president's referendum power. The proposal would end the president's
obligation to refer constitutional amendments to referendum when they
are approved with a majority of 330-367 votes (2/3 to 3/5 majority in
the unicameral 550-seat Parliament), leaving it to the president's
discretion whether or not to refer to a national vote. The proposal
says that under such a scenario the president would either sign the
amendment into law, or return it to Parliament for reconsideration. If
however the amendment is approved by a majority of 367 votes or more,
the president would lose the power to decide whether or not to refer
the amendment to a referendum; the president would be obliged to sign
the amendment into law. /Turkish Daily News-All Papers/
[08] DEFENSE NEWS: "TURKEY ASKS FOR ASSURANCE FROM
THE US IN CASE OF IRAQ INTERVENTION"
Britain-based journal the Defense News reported
this week that if the US launches an operation in Iraq, Turkey will
indeed support the US, but unwillingly, and will furthermore ask for
guarantees that it will not suffer any harm due to such an operation.
According to the journal, a Turkish official serving in Washington
said that if Turkey is asked to take sides in a US-Iraq conflict, it
would surely stand with the US. /Hürriyet/
[09] KEMAL DERVIS, MINISTER OF THE YEAR
The Banker, a magazine published by prominent
British daily the Financial Times, has selected Turkish State Minister
for the Economy Kemal Dervis as its "Minister of the Year."
The current issue of the Banker features an interview with Dervis.
/Cumhuriyet/
[10] RUSSIAN FIRM YUKOS TRYING FOR ROLE IN BAKU-CEYHAN
PIPELINE
Prominent Russian oil firm Yukos publicly announced
yesterday that it wanted to take part in the construction of the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. Yukos sent a letter to the Azerbaijani state oil
firm SOCAR last month expressing its desire to participate in the
project. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] NO SOLUTION IN ENERGY TRANSFERS
No result emerged from yesterday's meeting of
Energy Ministry, Treasury, Privatization Board and Energy Market
Council officials, during which the transfer of eight thermal
power-station's right to operation was discussed. Several
International jurists briefed Energy Minister Zeki Cakan and State
Minister Kemal Dervis during the meeting. Cakan stated that he favored
the transfer of the right of operation but added that the Treasury
wanted a sale of assets. State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis
said that they were still looking for a common solution. /Milliyet/
[12] ARCELIK PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE TO BUY BRANDT
A French commercial court will begin this week to
examine the proposals of four foreign companies, including Turkish
Arcelik-Beko, who are vying to purchase French concern the Brandt
Group. Arcelik has proposed adding over 4,000 jobs to Brandt's six
factories and investing 500 million euros in the company over two
years. The other candidates, the Israeli Elco and US firm Whirpool,
plan to invest 200-400 million euros. French press reports indicate
that Arcelik-Beko is one of the favored candidates. If Arcelik
purchases Brandt, it will become the fourth-largest household goods
producer in the world. Brandt's new owner will be determined in a
week. /Milliyet/
[13] AYGUN: "THE REAL SECTOR, NOT BAILED-OUT BANKS,
NEED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT"
Ankara Chamber of Commerce Sinan Aygun yesterday
criticized the government's real sector support package and said that
the government was not sincere in its efforts to save the real sector.
A meeting with State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis and economy
bureaucrats as well as other social organizations' representatives was
held at the beginning of this week to discuss real sector's problems.
Expressing his views on the meeting, Aygun said that the plan's true
aim was to save the bailed-out banks and that all the loan received
from the IMF would be transferred to those banks. He added, "We
ask the government for full assurance that the real sector will
receive appropriate loans." /Turkiye/
[14] ISTANBUL TO HOST INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL
FAIR
This year's International Tourism and Travel Fair
2002 as organized by the ITF Istanbul Fair Company will gather
hundreds of firms together from dozens of sectors that are active in
the field. Nearly 300 foreign and Turkish firms including airline
companies, tour operators, travel agencies and yacht and marina
managements will participate in the fair to be held on Feb. 28-March
2. The fair is supported by Turkish Tourism Ministry and expects to
attract some 40,000 visitors. /Aksam/
[15] "SULTANS OF THE DANCE" PLANS WORLDWIDE
SHOWS
Famous Turkish dance extravaganza the Sultans of
the Dance has delighted and amazed audiences of over 650,000 to date,
and a proposed deal with American Entertainment One Ag Company may
help it reach more. Ag's Marcel Avram, who previously was named
"International Organizer of the Year," has begun preliminary
meetings this week to set up Sultans of the Dance performances in some
15 countries. Over the years the company has organized many world
tours, and this time it is expected to organize 300 new performances
in countries such as Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and France. Mydonose
Showland officials estimate that if the tour goes as planned, the
Sultans will reach an audience of over 3 million. /Milliyet/
[16] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[17] SAUDI ARABIA AND THE ECYAD CASTLE BY OKTAY EKSI
(HURRIYET)
Columnist Oktay Eksi writes on the demolition of
the Ecyad Castle in Saudi Arabia. A summary of his column is as
follows: "It has been learned that the Ecyad Castle, a piece of
both Ottoman and Saudi Arabian history, has been demolished under the
orders of Saudi King Fahd. It remains to be seen if the revenues of
the hotel to be built in its place will be used to help cover the
expenses of Harem-i Sherif as claimed or rather fill lthe purse of a
prince. In either case, the Ecyad castle built by the Ottomans in 1780
to protect the sacred assets of the Islamic world will be forgotten.
The Saudi leaders aren't short on historical awareness, but we can add
that they do lack national honor. We know this is the case because
they have made a house that the British spy Thomas Edward Lawrence
once stayed in into a museum. It is true that Lawrence provoked them
to rebel against the Ottomans, but he also saw them as tools of the
British. You cannot explain to them the importance of the Ecyad
Castle. Therefore, there is no use in talking the issue over with the
Saudis, especially when the castle is already demolished. The
important thing is to take the matter to international platforms, and
organize an international reaction similar to the one shown when the
Taliban destroyed the great Buddha monument in Afghanistan. It cannot
be said that we are seriously protecting our historical values. Our
behaviour in protecting other cultural legacies within our borders is
not enlightened either. However, Turkey recognizes these assets today
and probably it must teach this to the Saudis."
[18] GENERAL'S STATEMENT BY FİKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the statements by
Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu in the aftermath of a
think-tank organization's promotional meeting. A summary of his column
is as follows: "Gen. Kivrikoglu talked with journalists for a
long time and answered many questions on their minds. The situation in
Argentina was brought up, and many questions were asked about the
similarities between the two countries. Gen. Kivrikoglu had optimistic
evaluations. He said that Turkey had entered the new year in high
spirits and added that he did not expect a social explosion. He also
remarked that if corruption was not eradicated altogether, Turkey
would not be able to stand on its own two feet. However, he stated
that he was hopeful for the future. On a new banking law, the chief of
staff said that he believed everything in the interests of Turkey
should be carried out. He said the military was not a party to the new
law, and that they were no economists either. However, he believed
everything should be done after careful study. Another of his
statements was directed against the EU. Gen. Kivrikoglu pointed out
that in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, the US made legal the trial
of foreigners accused of terrorism in military courts. On the other
hand, he said, Europe even while giving support to the US' fight
against terrorism, has failed to include an organisation such as the
PKK in its list of terrorist organizations. He asked, 'In such a
situation, which criteria should be taken as bases for Turkey's
national security and unitary structure?' This question was directed
against Europe's double standards and those who defend such views both
within the country and abroad."
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