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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-11
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
11.01.2002
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER: "STATE'S ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE MODERNIZED"
[02] ECEVIT: "FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BANKS WILL NOT BE A DONATION"
[03] CEM: "THE EU OWES AN EXPLANATION TO TURKEY"
[04] CEM: "THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT BROKE ITS PROMISE"
[05] YILMAZ: "CANCELLATION OF PILGRIMAGES WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS"
[06] DEMIREL: "IT'S TIME FOR A SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS ISSUE"
[07] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES UN CONVENTION ON TERRORIST FINANCING
[08] BUSH: "DON'T BE LIKE ARGENTINA"
[09] TURKEY-EUROPE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS TURKISH CYPRIOTS
[10] CONTROVERSIAL BANKING BILL PASSES PARLIAMENT
[11] $300 MILLION FOR VILLAGE-CITY PROJECT
[12] AFGHAN DETAINEES TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM INCIRLIK TO US BASE
[13] SIMITIS RULES OUT VISIT TO TURKEY FOR NOW
[14] CREDIT SUISSE: "OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN TURKEY CONTINUES"
[15] TURKEY WINNING BACK INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
[16] RIDVAN BUDAK EXPELLED FROM DSP
[17] JAPAN TO MAKE A LOAN FOR BOSPHORUS BRIDGE
[18] AZERBAIJANI PRESS TOUTS EU DECISION
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE US BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)
[21] WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTHERN CYPRUS'S PROBLEMS? BY ISMET GIRITLI (TURKIYE)
[01] SEZER: "STATE'S ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE MODERNIZED"
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that the state's administrative
structure needed both modernization and a number of other changes in order
to make it function better. Speaking to the Turkish Administrators
Association, Sezer said that in order for Turkey to become a fully
democratic state of law where human rights are better established, society
must play an important role. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] ECEVIT: "FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BANKS WILL NOT BE A DONATION"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday addressed Democratic Left Party
(DSP) deputies in his party's group meeting. On a celebrating note, Ecevit
said that the New Year would be a "year of hope." Pointing to a number of
positive signals in the economy, Ecevit said that 2002 would be a year of
democracy, development and breakthroughs. Regarding the banks bill, Ecevit
said the government would aid banks in line with their own support for
production and investment. He added, "Our support naturally, will not be a
donation. We will keep a tight leash on the banks." /Turkiye/
[03] CEM: "THE EU OWES AN EXPLANATION TO TURKEY"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated yesterday that Turkey's target
for the year 2002 in its relations with the European Union was "to
determine a specific date to begin its negotiation process." Remarking that
Turkey was determined to take significant steps during Spain's current EU
term presidency, which will change hands in July, Cem said that the next
six months were very important to Turkey. Cem also stated that the EU owed
an explanation to Turkey considering its recent list of terrorist
organizations, which failed to include a number of terrorist organizations
such as the PKK and DHKP-C which target Turkey. He commented that since the
United Nations Security Council had very clearly defined what terrorism is,
it was incumbent also upon the EU to clarify its definition. Continuing on
the issue of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Cem said,
"After the recent reconciliation between Turkey and the EU, the ball is now
in the EU's court." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] CEM: "THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT BROKE ITS PROMISE"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stated yesterday that although Turkey
had done its utmost to prevent the demolition of the historic Ottoman
fortress in Mecca, Saudi Arabia paid no heed to Turkey's concerns. "Despite
all our efforts, the Saudi administration broke its promise to protect
historic places," said Cem. "We will always be against one country's
destruction of another country's historic heritage. Saudi Arabia should be
ashamed of this act of destruction, and we won't let the world forget it."
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] YILMAZ: "CANCELLATION OF PILGRIMAGES WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS"
Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz stated
yesterday that visits of Turkish pilgrims to Mecca might be cancelled as a
reaction against the demolition of the historic Ejyad Castle by the Saudi
Arabian government but added that such cancellations would be wrong since
the directorate and travel agencies had already rented houses, booked
hotels and bought plane tickets for the trips. He further stated that
pilgrimage cancellations would cause legal problems between Turkey and
Saudi Arabia and that prospective pilgrims might also suffer unjust
treatment. /Milliyet/
[06] DEMIREL: "IT'S TIME FOR A SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS ISSUE"
Former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel left for the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday to deliver a conference in Lefkosha. At
Cyprus' Ercan Airport Demirel told reporters that the conditions needed for
a permanent peace in Cyprus were now present, "It is time for a settlement
on the issue." Expressing his hope that TRNC President Rauf Denktas'
recent initiatives would result in success, Demirel said, "Turkish Cypriots
have suffered greatly. Turkey wants to end their sufferings and reach a
peaceful settlement." Commenting on EU Commissioner Responsible for
Enlargement Guenter Verheugen's recent statement, saying, "If needed, Greek
Cyprus may become an EU member alone," Demirel said, "There are two
separate states on the island, and this fact can't be ignored. Before the
island reaches settlement, the membership for Greek Cyprus would be
unjust." Demirel also reiterated that Turkey's full support to the TRNC
would continue under all circumstances. /Turkiye/
[07] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES UN CONVENTION ON TERRORIST FINANCING
The Turkish Parliament ratified the United Nations Convention for the
Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism yesterday in its plenary session.
Diplomatic sources stated that Turkey's ratification of the convention
prior to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the US next week
was of great importance as far as Turkish-US relations are concerned. The
convention applies to the offence of direct involvement or complicity in
the collection of funds with the knowledge that such funds may be used to
carry out any acts of terrorism. Under the convention, the collection of
funds in this manner is defined as a separate offence whether or not the
funds are actually used to carry out those acts. The offences addressed in
the convention are considered to be extraditable offences between party
states under current extradition treaties. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] BUSH: "DON'T BE LIKE ARGENTINA"
During Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's his visit on the United
States due to begin in three days, US President George W. Bush is expected
to talk to him about the Turkish economy. Bush is expected say to
Ecevit, "Everything is going well, don't go down Argentina's road" and to
reiterate the US continued support for Turkey in line with it not deviating
from its economic program and its commitment to reforms. For his part,
Ecevit is expected to focus on trade and economics but address the subjects
of Iraq, Cyprus and the Aegean, Europe, Afghanistan, the Middle East, the
fight against terrorism and the strategic partnership between the US and
Turkey. Ecevit will also ask Bush to continue the US' support for Turkey's
European Union membership.
/Hürriyet/
[09] TURKEY-EUROPE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS TURKISH CYPRIOTS
The Turkey-Europe Foundation has decided to lend its support to the
"January 11th Millennium March" to be held by Turkish Cypriots with the aim
of promoting the Turkish identity on Cyprus to the world at large. In a
message to the march's organizing committee, Ziya Muezzinoglu, the
foundation's executive council chairman, said, "We support the January 11th
march which will be held to show the world that the Turkish community on
Cyprus has its own culture, values and political will. We believe this
march will contribute greatly to the promotion of the Turkish Cypriot
identity." /Cumhuriyet/
[10] CONTROVERSIAL BANKING BILL PASSES PARLIAMENT
A controversial bill concerning support for Turkey's banks passed
Parliament yesterday by a resounding majority of 218-2. At the conclusion
of the vote State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis expressed
satisfaction that the bill had passed but added that the important thing
now is to carry the new law out. /Star/
[11] $300 MILLION FOR VILLAGE-CITY PROJECT
World Bank Representative to Turkey Ajay Chibber visited Prime Ministry
Deputy Undersecretary Selcuk Polat yesterday to discuss the Village-City
Project and told him that the World Bank had decided to start supporting
the project with an initial investment of $300 million. After the meeting,
Chibber told journalists that he had previously visited Ordu's district of
Mesudiye together with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, his wife Rahsan Ecevit
and Undersecretary Polat to investigate the pilot region there. He added,
"Following this visit, the bank decided to support the project. We think
that this project is very innovative and important for Turkey. Particularly
in rural areas, the villagers will enjoy better services thanks to this
initiative." Chibber added that the World Bank's $300 million dollar
investment would increase through including local contributions. /Aksam/
[12] AFGHAN DETAINEES TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM INCIRLIK TO US BASE
Flights for the transport of al-Qaida and Taleban fighters from Afghanistan
to a US base at Guantanamo Bay began late Thursday. US Chief of General
Staff Richard Myers stated that detainees would be transported to the US
base in Cuba via Air Force C-141 aircrafts which would pass through
Incirlik Airbase in Turkey. More groups of 15-20 detainees are expected to
be transported in aircrafts passing through Incirlik in upcoming days.
Pentagon officials said US crews that are to provide security for the
transfer flights have received special training. According to diplomatic
sources, a number of other measures are also being taken to ensure that the
prisoners are kept under control during the flights, such as using secure
enclosures on the planes to confine them. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] SIMITIS RULES OUT VISIT TO TURKEY FOR NOW
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday that despite an
invitation from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to visit Turkey, he would
decline such a visit under current conditions. Simitis said that before
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George
Papandreou reach an agreement and certain things change, he would not come
to Turkey. Simitis made the remarks in the midst of an official trip to the
US, which will include a visit with President George W. Bush at the White
House. Following talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York,
Simitis told reporters that he did not like the expression that Cem and
Papandreou were "flirting" and that the two were instead carrying out
serious work in order to solve the countries' bilateral problems. Recalling
that Ecevit had invited him to Turkey, Simitis said, "I would like to visit
Turkey, but I have some preconditions. It wouldn't work to go to Turkey
only to underline that we have disagreements. Thus, I will go there when
Papandreou and Cem are able to express more hope for changes in the future
between our countries." Simitis stated that Greece's policy concerning
Turkey had not changed and that the only problem between the two countries
was the continental shelf, adding that the parties should solve this
problem at the European Court of Justice at the Hague. He also said that he
had discussed the Cyprus issue with Annan and that Annan believed that a
solution would be found for the issue. /Aksam/
[14] CREDIT SUISSE: "OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN TURKEY CONTINUES"
In an evaluation of Turkey released yesterday, prominent investment bank
Credit Suisse First Boston
(CSFB) reported that there were continued opportunities to invest in Turkey
in the long term. The report added that opportunities to make new
investments would surely emerge.
/Hürriyet/
[15] TURKEY WINNING BACK INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
Recent positive developments in the Turkish economy have galvanized players
in the international capital and finance markets into action. International
funds, which had fled and reduced their exposure to Turkey since its
economic crisis began, have now started to rapidly flow back in. This week
international investment bank JP Morgan stated that the Turkish markets
have been displaying a good performance in recent months and that it was
time to once again invest in Turkey. The bank's daily bulletin also stated,
"Since the end of October, the Turkish markets have been very successful.
The Turkish lira gained value against the US dollar by 15%. The interest
rate on bonds has decreased by 10%. And all this has been achieved with
little foreign contribution and thanks to an atmosphere based on confidence
in the domestic market." The report added that Turkey's geopolitical
importance had provided the country with strong international support and
that this support had increased particularly during the crisis in
Argentina. /Aksam/
[16] RIDVAN BUDAK EXPELLED FROM DSP
Yesterday, the Democratic Left Party (DSP)'s Central Disciplinary Board
decided to expell Istanbul Deputy Ridvan Budak from the party. The decision
was made unanimously during the board's four-hour meeting. Budak has the
right to appeal the decision. /Turkiye/
[17] JAPAN TO MAKE A LOAN FOR BOSPHORUS BRIDGE
Shoji Motooka, deputy chairman of Japan's Senate, announced yesterday that
a $100 million loan would be granted to Turkey for a project designed to
strengthen the base and legs of the Bosphorus Bridge. Pointing to Japan's
own experience with earthquakes, Motooka said that the bridge should be
strengthened to prevent its collapse in case of a strong earthquake. He
added that Japan was ready to grant some $13 billion in loans for the
Bosphorus Tube Crossing venture. /Turkiye/
[18] AZERBAIJANI PRESS TOUTS EU DECISION
A purported EU decision that a proposed European army could carry out
military operations that affect Turkey only after informing Ankara was
touted in Azerbaijani newspapers yesterday with such headlines as "The
Caucasus people under Turkey's wings." A report on Azerbaijani channel ANS
quoted unnamed Ankara sources as saying that the decision had put the
Caucasus region under Turkey's control and that the European army could
conduct operations there only with Turkey's permission. Azerbaijani daily
Express wrote that "this latest development touts Turkey in the upper
echelons of world politics." The Azadlik daily wrote that the European army
involvement in developments in the Upper Karabagh and the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be possible only with Turkey's permission.
/Aksam/
[19] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[20] ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE US BY TUNCAY OZKAN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Tuncay Ozkan writes on Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to
the US and expectations of that visit. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"The meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Ecevit has been
indexed to unbelievable economic expectations. In fact the meeting will
last only 45 minutes and there won't be a joint press conference. A dinner
might be added to the meeting to please the Turkish side. However, in trade
or aid the American administration doesn't show the same understanding. US
circles believe that the invitation for this visit had the aim of thanking
Turkey for the stance it adopted following the Sept. 11 attacks. This is
not a visit made for Turkey's economic salvation. That is why the Americans
are surprised at the size of the delegation of businessmen accompanying the
prime minister. The loosening of textile quotas will be carried out
according to a plan, and the US sources believe that it would be impossible
to alter the planned quotas. The quota rate will be loosened by 50% through
2005 in stages, as American textile producers are already facing stiff
competition and are applying pressure on the US Congress and the
administration. However, there is a treaty between the US and Turkey signed
in 1929 which is still valid. This was called the 'Trade and Maritime
Traffic Treaty." Under this accord, both countries granted each other most
favored nation status. Despite the existence of this treaty, the textile
quotas are lower than the one already granted for Taiwan which only became
a nation in 1949. During the US senate delegation's recent visit to Turkey,
it was stressed that a second border gate with Iraq should not be opened.
An operation against Iraq is not an issue which will be discussed in the
near future, and that should relieve Turkey. However, the US believes that
Saddam Hussein must be overthrown. These concerns were answered by Ankara
before the prime minister's visit with a statement that it held the same
opinion regarding Saddam. In fact, it will be very hard for some Turkish
trade demands to be met during this visit. If we base our expectations and
calculations on realities, we won't be disappointed."
[21] WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTHERN CYPRUS'S PROBLEMS?
BY ISMET GIRITLI (TURKIYE)
Columnist Ismet Giritli gives information on the history of Turksh Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in order to address certain misconceptions. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"In some articles it has been claimed that Cyprus was being used by the
followers of
Its leader Rauf Denktas Denktas and because of mistaken policies pursued,
the TRNC was turned into a desert whereas the Greek Cypriot administration
became an oasis. To address these claims, the TRNC Constitution and
political realities must be understood. The Constitution of the TRNC based
on the Turkish-Cypriot's right to self-determination and stressing
political equality was accepted on 15 November 1983 by a referendum held in
northern Cyprus and after being published in the Official Gazette.
According to this Constitution, the TRNC president is elected for a five-
year period and he has to receive the absolute majority of the valid votes.
If none of the candidates is able to attract an absolute majority, the
election is repeated between the two candidates who have received the
highest number of votes. Legislation in the TRNC is carried out by a
Republican Parliament comprised of 50 deputies belonging to various
parties. The executive wing consists of the president and the council of
ministers. President Rauf Denktas has been elected every five years since
1983 by the Turkish Cypriots. The parliament and the council of ministers
is not made up by Denktas' followers but by members of various political
parties. If today the national per capita income in Southern Cyprus is over
$13,000 but is $4,000 in the TRNC, it would be unjust to lay all the blame
on the TRNC administration. Since its foundation in 1983, boycotts in
numerous fields beginning with tourism have been implemented against the
TRNC. Since 1994 this has turned into an economic embargo, and as if this
were not enough, upon the request of Greek Cypriot administration the Court
of Justice of the European Communities banned exports from the TRNC to the
EU countries, which had made up fully 60% of its trade, while the aid
extended to the Greek Cypriot administration until recently reached 9
million EUROs. That this figure is due to reach 57 million EUROs before
Greek Cypriot Cyprus becomes a member of the EU, and in compliance with the
Constitution of the Cyprus state, Greek Cyprus is getting the share
allotted for the Turkish side as well. The adverse effects of all these
developments on the TRNC cannot be denied."
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