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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-18
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
18.01.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT PLEASED WITH US VISIT
[02] DERVIS: "LETTER OF INTENT TO BE SIGNED"
[03] ADVANCE TURKISH FORCE TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN TODAY
[04] AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL DOSTUM VISITING TURKEY
[05] CYPRUS MEETINGS TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK
[06] HOPE SPRINGS TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS
[07] VERHEUGEN: "GREEK CYPRUS SHOULD BECOME AN EU
MEMBER"
[08] IMF LOAN WAITS FOR SEZER
[09] IMF DIRECTOR DAWSON PRAISES REFORMS IN TURKEY
[10] TOBB TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S VIEWS TO THE WORLD
[11] TURK EXIMBANK TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS
[12] INTERNATIONAL SHOE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[14] CYPRUS IN A SQUEEZE BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
[15] FOREIGN AID SUPPORTS BUT DOESN'T STRENGTHEN BY
MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[01] ECEVIT PLEASED WITH US VISIT
After meeting with the US President George W. Bush
yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit answered reporters' questions
at a press conference. Ecevit said that he was very satisfied with how
the two leaders' talks had gone, adding, "Our strategic
partnership had so far focused on political and security issues, but
now we would like to see our economic cooperation at the same
level." He said that Turkey and the US had established an
Economic Partnership Commission in order to discuss how to improve
trade and commercial relations, with its first meeting to be held in
Ankara on Feb. 26-27. Turkey has now become a powerful state dealing
with world problems, or in other words a world state, Ecevit stated.
He recounted that the question of Iraq had been discussed in his talks
with Bush, but nothing was said about an operation, and Ecevit
remarked that it was understood that there were no plans for an
operation at this stage. Bush also assured Ecevit that he would
consult Turkey about any possible military strike against Iraq as part
of the war against terrorism. Ecevit also said the US administration
would continue to support Turkey in its relations with the
International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Ecevit also thanked
Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill for the US' support. At the same press
conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey had
received US support for its bid to assume lead roles in the
peacekeeping force in Afghanistan as well as the reconstruction of
that country. Turkey would work together with the World Bank on this
issue, Cem added. /Hürriyet/
[02] DERVIS: "LETTER OF INTENT TO BE SIGNED"
Yesterday at a press conference in Washington,
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit referred a question about his
country's Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund over to
his economy minister, Kemal Dervis. "The Letter of Intent is
ready, aside from a few details, and it will be signed today, Dervis
said. "According to our timetable, Turkey's economic program must
meet certain criteria before the end of this month. If we can do this,
then the IMF Executive Board is expected to convene and make a
decision at the beginning of February. There is of course a difference
between completing the Letter of Intent and meeting the criteria laid
out in it. As usual, we will release the Letter to the public after it
is finalized." /Aksam/
[03] ADVANCE TURKISH FORCE TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN TODAY
An advance military delegation of 20 soldiers which
is to lay the groundwork for the full Turkish contingent of 261
soldiers in the Afghanistan peacekeeping force will travel to Kabul
today. Brigadier Gen. Emin Alpman will reportedly command the advance
group. Col. Tuncer Erinmezler, the highest-ranking officer slated for
the main unit of the peacekeeping force, will also go to Afghanistan
today. A half-dozen liaison officers will also take part in the team
that will have duties at the peacekeeping force's headquarters. After
doing preliminary work in the Afghan capital, the group is expected to
go back to Turkey, excepting Col. Erinmezler and six liaison officers.
Those remaining will wait at Kabul until the main unit arrives. _Sabah
[04] AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL DOSTUM VISITING TURKEY
Gen. Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in
Afghanistan's interim government, arrived in Ankara yesterday to visit
his family living in the city and to carry out a series of meetings
with Turkish officials. Dostum is also expected to meet with Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Turkiye/
[05] CYPRUS MEETINGS TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK
Following a historic meeting with his Greek
counterpart earlier this week, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas said that he and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos
Clerides would evaluate their previous negotiations next Monday and
then discuss the functions of both sides in a proposed new republic on
the island. Speaking to reporters, Denktas stated that after this week
face-to-face meetings, inter-delegationary meetings would begin at the
scheduled meeting on Monday. He said, "We will preview our
previous negotiations and then determine the controversial points. The
next step will be to discuss the functions of the both sides in a new
republic to be established." He added that at an appropriate time
UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is attending the talks as an
observer, would travel to New York to report on developments in the
meetings. /Turkiye/
[06] HOPE SPRINGS TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS
The press on both the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus gave wide coverage yesterday to the
meeting between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader
Glafcos Clerides on Wednesday of this week. The two leaders had agreed
to return to the negotiating table last month after a groundbreaking
meeting in early December and to furthermore meet three times a week.
The Turkish and Greek Cypriot took hope from the two leaders'
commitment to a series of talks with a view to finding a solution to
the island's problems. Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris evaluated the
meeting as a "good beginning which is expected to pave the way
for positive new developments on the island." Another daily,
Halkin Sesi stated that talks were an encouraging start for new
developments towards reaching a permanent solution on the island. Yet
even while describing the meeting as a turning point and despite the
relevant air of optimism, a number of dailies from both the north and
the south sounded a note of caution. "The real test of this new
beginning" they said, "will come when the two leader discuss
the major issues which have traditionally stood in the way of progress
on the island." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] VERHEUGEN: "GREEK CYPRUS SHOULD BECOME AN EU
MEMBER"
Speaking yesterday on the BBC's "Newsnight"
program, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said,
"Greek Cyprus should become an EU member. A step like that would
encourage efforts to reach a settlement on the island." Verheugen
added, "For the first stage of EU enlargement, Cyprus membership
is a sine qua non. We will make our decision at the end of this year.
We have to take Greece's views seriously, as they have clearly stated
that they wouldn't sign the enlargement agreement if Greek Cyprus
didn't become an EU member." /Turkiye/
[08] IMF LOAN WAITS FOR SEZER
Turkey's new stand-by agreement with the
International Monetary Fund is now awaiting President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer's signature on Banking bill which recently passed Parliament. In
related news, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis told a press
conference yesterday that Turkey's Letter of Intent was ready and
would be signed today in Washington. /Milliyet/
[09] IMF DIRECTOR DAWSON PRAISES REFORMS IN TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Affairs
Director Tom Dawson yesterday praised recent reforms in Turkey and
stated that the nation had recently taken more significant steps when
compared to the past. Noting that Turkey's Letter of Intent was
expected to be approved at the end of this month, Dawson added,
"Turkey has recently made good progress and everything is going
well." /Cumhuriyet/
[10] TOBB TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S VIEWS TO THE WORLD
The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities
Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday announced plans for new initiatives to
promote Turkey's views on the international stage. Recalling that
Spain's Union of Chambers had played an active role in Spanish-EU
relations, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that his group was
currently launch campaigns to bring Turkey's views to European
countries as well as help the Turkish government on its path towards
EU membership. Hisarciklioglu stated that he believed that TOBB's
initiatives would help improve Turkey's commercial relations with
European countries. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] TURK EXIMBANK TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS
Turk Eximbank Director General Ahmet Kilicoglu said
yesterday that his bank would provide exports with total financing
support of $6.7 billion this year, $3.4 billion of which will be in
cash. Kilicoglu added the financing to be extended this year
constituted a fully 21% of the targeted exports. He added, "Last
year we extended financing support for exports totaling $5.6 billion,
and we're increasing our support this year by 19.6%. This year we
expect exports worth $32 billion, but I hope that they will reach $34
billion." /Milliyet/
[12] INTERNATIONAL SHOE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
Turkey is Europe's third biggest shoemaker country,
and it is proving at the 26th International Shoe Fashion Fair (AYMOD
2002) that it has a great potential not only for making shoes, but
also for designing them. Nearly 300 Turkish and foreign companies are
taking part in AYMOD 2002, which was opened in Beylikduzu, Istanbul
yesterday by the RDF Fair company. The fair's opening ceremony was
attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu.
Speakers at the ceremony stated that Turkey's number three status in
European shoemaking was boosting its exports and that Turkey's shoe
sector made up fully 20% of its leather exports. Shoe Industrialists
Association Chairman Selahattin Akaydin recalled that his group had
helped to set up a foreign trade company with 43 partners and also
open a retail store in Prague. He added, "From now on, the sector
needs to cooperate with the state and to strive to improve. We have to
increase the number of our shops to around 100. The state has promised
to support us concerning this issue." /Aksam/
[13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[14] CYPRUS IN A SQUEEZE BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the Cyprus
negotiations and interventions from abroad. A summary of her column is
as follows: "It is clearly understood that during the Cyprus
negotiation process both sides will be on pins and needles when
getting news from abroad. EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement
Gunther Verheugen's words to the press to the effect that 'Turkey has
a debt regarding Cyprus' strengthen this opinion. With the beginning
of the negotiation process in December, Verheugen began to talk more
than before. Whenever he opens his mouth he irritates either one or
both sides in the Cyprus problem. In December he said that the EU
would admit the Greek Cypriot administration whether the problem were
solved or not. This statement angered both sides. It infuriated the
Greek Cypriot side because Verheugen had said that they would not
admit the entire island but only the Greek Cypriot side to the EU. The
style of Verheugen in his recent interview with the German daily was
repugnant. What does he mean by saying that 'Turkey owes'? Is Northern
Cyprus Turkey's debt to the South? However, in a statement to the BBC,
Verheugen changed his stance and stressed that Europe had not given
its final word on admitting the Greek Cypriot administration to the EU
before a solution is found to the problem. In fact, the Helsinki
declaration stresses that before making a decision, contributions by
both parties would be reviewed and all problems would be taken into
consideration. The European policy is based on pressure on both sides.
We must be ready for new statements during the negotiations between
Denktas and Clerides. Some may anger, and others may please. There is
no room for exaggeration. This is a part of the pressure policy.
During the post-Sept. 11 process, the stability of Southeastern Europe
has assumed an important place in both European and US policies. If
the satisfaction of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side lies on one leg
of the stability, the meeting of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot demands
lies on the other. Gradually, everyone is understanding that an
agreement reducing Turks to a minority status won't go any further
than the paper it's printed on. In fact, 'United States of Cyprus'
plan recently leaked to the press demonstrates this fact. However, the
determining factor in this process is Turkey's stance. It has to
believe that it will be an EU member to begin talks with the EU for
full membership. The negative and discouraging statements made by
important and influential figures only increase Turkey's lack of
confidence and make the situation more difficult. This is true not
only for the Turks and Cypriot Turks, but the work of the Greeks is
also getting harder. It seems that the Greek Cypriots are not terribly
confident in their getting full membership. They also need a solution
which would not lead to more complicated issues. The leaders on the
island have decided on a moratorium on speeches. However they should
speak out right now. If they really are trying hard to reach a
solution, they should speak and prepare their public for a peaceful
co-existence. Otherwise, Verheugen is waiting his mouth at the
ready."
[15] FOREIGN AID SUPPORTS BUT DOESN'T STRENGTHEN BY
MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on Prime Minister
Ecevit's visit to the US and its consequences. A summary of his column
is as follows: "Prime Minister Ecevit's meeting with US President
Bush which formed the backbone of his visit to America can be
interpreted as a declaration of what is known or merely a bunch of
words. At the moment the uncertainty over Iraq is still lingering. The
only achievement made here is time, meaning a delay of two to six
months. If Iraq doesn't permit UN observers President Bush will show
what action the US is to take, and only before the last step will it
consult Turkey. It seems like Turkey has a key role here, but the key
is in the hands of the US. Just before Ecevit's meeting with Bush, the
announcement by Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq stating that Iraq's
territorial integrity important for them was an interesting
coincidence! At this point, the US, Turkey and Iraq seem to agree on
one point namely that, the problem is not Iraq but Saddam Hussein. The
meeting between Denktas and Clerides came just before the Ecevit-Bush
meeting. The US was pleased with the continuation of the talks. Greece
is also following Ecevit's visit closely. The Greek press stated that
Ecevit's visit was more influential than that of their own leader
Simitis. This seems to be the case because Turkey has historical ties
with regions that the US has its eyes on for the 21st century. The
USSR vacated two main spheres with its collapse in 1991: its
territories outside Russia and these countries under the USSR's sphere
of influence. US policies over the last 10 years were carried out
through a process of 'trial and error'. In the next, more planned
steps will be taken. The argument that US steps in this direction will
be strengthened if it acts in cooperation with Turkey seems to have
been adopted by the Washington administration. On the issue of trade,
the US will form a committee to investigate present state of affairs.
The results coming from this commission will be seen later. One of
Bush's concrete promises was in the tourism sector. The US lifted the
travel advisory it had issued last fall for the security of US
citizens coming to Turkey. Tourism operators believe that US tourists
spend more money than Europeans. The consequences of Ecevit's visit
will be discussed in the coming days. The prime minister has
strengthened foreign support for his government. However, foreign
support doesn't strengthen the government structure, but just keeps it
alive. The structure can be strengthened only when it is based on
pillars grounded in the country itself."
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