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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-16
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
16.07.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL VOICES SUPPORT FOR ALBANIANS
[02] STOCK EXCHANGE RISES
[03] GOVERNMENT APPROVES AGREEMENT WITH SWEDEN
[04] KARADAYI LISTENING AND LEARNING
[05] GERMAN INDUSTRIALISTS IN TURKEY
[06] S-300 MISSILES TO CYPRUS IN AUGUST
[07] LAKE CRITICIZES GREECE AND GREEK CYPRIOTS
[08] PKK AMBUSH MILITARY PATROL KILLING 17
[09] SUPRISE POAS PRIVATIZATION DEAL
[10] GURKAN RESIGNS FROM CHP
[11] TER PETROSYAN CRITICIZES KOCHARIAN POLICY ON TURKEY
[12] BRITAIN RETURNS TURKEY'S HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS
[13] NATIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED
[14] TUSIAD CALLS FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
[15] TURKISH EXPORT FIGURES RELEASED
[16] LEADING 16 BANKS JOIN 'COMMON ATM' PROJECT
[17] TURKEY-TRNC SECOND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
[18] MONEY, CREDIT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
[19] 'ALL DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AGAINST TURKEY REJECTED'
[01] DEMIREL VOICES SUPPORT FOR ALBANIANS
During a speech delivered at the Albanian parliament yesterday,
President Suleyman Demirel of Turkey expressed yesterday Turkey's
concern over the clashes in Kosovo. Demirel called on
international communities to take necessary measures without
delay in order to curb Serbian attacks, noting that the situation
threatens international peace and security. Demirel also said
that Turkey is ready to join all the peace missions. /Hurriyet/
[02] STOCK EXCHANGE RISES
Just as all stock exchanges the world over have been boosted by
the recent agreement between Russia and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and by positive signals from the Japanese
economy, the Istanbul Stock Exchange yesterday gained a few
points when the Turkish Privatization Council announced its
surprising decision about the privatization of the Turkish
Petroleum Corporation (POAS) and plans for further
privatizations. The council declared that it had withdrawn from
an earlier decision to sell POAS to Hayyam Garipoglu, who made
the highest bid, and that instead it would transfer the
corporation to a joint enterprise comprised of Is Bank, Bayindir,
Park and PUIS, which made the the third highest bid. The stock
exchange responded immediately to the news of this decision and
reached 4,435 points, an increase of 1.44 percent, thus
recovering from a recent down trend caused by the government
coalition partners' disagreement about a salary increase for
civil servants. /Hurriyet/
[03] GOVERNMENT APPROVES AGREEMENT WITH SWEDEN
The Council of Ministers approved yesterday an agreement between
Sweden and Turkey signed in Stockholm on April 11, the Anatolian
news agency reports. A "Protection and Encouragement of
Investments" agreement, published in the Official Gazette
yesterday, aims to equalize Swedish and Turkish investors when
they invest in these countries. The agreement will be effective
for 15 years.
[04] KARADAYI LISTENING AND LEARNING
Chief of General Staff General Ismail Hakkı Karadayı currently
visiting the US, has so far made no comment on US efforts over
Cyprus, saying merely that first he will listen to what the US
has to say on the matter. Last week, in Washington Greek Defence
Minister Akis Cohacopoulos proposed that Cyprus be declared a
"no-flight zone". The US Administration has officially stated
that it does not support this proposal, but was in favour of a
moratorium to end provocative flights over Cyprus./Milliyet/
[05] GERMAN INDUSTRIALISTS IN TURKEY
A delegation from the German Industry Confederation (BDI), in
which some of the largest industrial institutions of Germany are
members, is in Turkey on the invitation of TUSIAD (Turkish
Industrialists and Businessmen's Association). BDI members who
have an influential lobby in Germany yesterday met with Prime
Minister Mesut Yılmaz, TGNA Speaker Hikmet Çetin, and TOBB
Chairman Fuat Miras. Following their visit to Prime Minister
Yılmaz, BDI Chairman Henkel said that they aimed to improve
relations between Turkey and Germany. /Sabah/
[06] S-300 MISSILES TO CYPRUS IN AUGUST
The first parts of Russian made S-300 PMUI missiles systems will
be delivered to the Greek Cypriot Administration in August, it is
claimed. Following Greek Cypriot Administration leader Glafkos
Klerides' departure from Moscow, information given by Russian
sources indicates that the missiles will be delivered in line
with the conditions stated in the delivery contract. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] LAKE CRITICIZES GREECE AND GREEK CYPRIOTS
Former European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ankara, Michael Lake,
has prepared a report prior to his departure from Turkey and sent
it to Brussels. The 27-page report criticizes Greece and the EU
over their stance regarding the Cyprus issue. In his report, Lake
says: "Greece is a member of the EU, however Turkey is not. This
situation creates instability in the region and is against the
West's economic and strategic interests". He adds: "Whenever
Turkey abides by the conditions put forth by Greece, Athens
changes the conditions and brings forth new ones". Lake also
noted that negotiations with an administration which aimed to use
Russian missiles against a NATO ally, was unacceptable. He stated
that provided Turkey was included in the group consisting of
Romania and Bulgaria in the EU expansion process, Turkey would
have acted more flexibly on the Cyprus issue. /Milliyet/
[08] PKK AMBUSH MILITARY PATROL KILLING 17
Members of the PKK terrorist organization ambushed a military
patrol last night in the southeastern province of Hakkari,
killing 17 soldiers, the Anatolia news agency reported. Regional
sources told Anatolia that a military unit and village guards
were patrolling an area 10 kilometres away from Hakkari's
Yuksekove district when they were ambushed by the terrorists.
Among those killed were two second lieutenants, eight privates
and seven village guards. Following the killings, security forces
launched a large-scale operation in the area to pursue the
terrorists, the sources added.
[09] SUPRISE POAS PRIVATIZATION DEAL
In a surprise move yesterday, the Supreme Board of Privatization
decided not to approve a decision by the Privatization Board for
the privatization of a 51 % stake of the state-owned Petroleum
Products Inc. (POAS) and gave the deal to another consortium. The
Akmaya-Orteks consortium was the highest bidder on June 29 for
the 51 % stake in POAS, offering $1.16 billion. The two companies
in the consortium are owned by Hayim Garipoglu, an industrialist
with interests in mining and banking. The Supreme Privatization
Board decided yesterday to make a deal with a consortium of
IsBank, Park Holding, Bayindir Holding and PUIS with the same
$1.16 billion price offered by the Garipoglu consortium for the
51 % stake in POAS.
Briefing reporters about the surprise move, State Minister Isin
Celebi said that the decision was taken in order to have a wider
capital base and benefit for the expertise available in the
companies involved in the sector in which POAS is functioning.
The minister claimed that the decision of the Supreme
Privatization Board was 'in line with the laws' of the country.
/All papers/
[10] GURKAN RESIGNS FROM CHP
Republican People's Party (CHP) Izmir Deputy Aydin Guven Gurkan,
a former social democrat leader, has resigned from the CHP. Upon
the resignation of Gurkan, who has made plain his opposition to
the party hierarchy for some time, the number of CHP seats in
Parliament has dropped to 55. /All papers/
[11] TER PETROSYAN CRITICIZES KOCHARIAN POLICY ON TURKEY
Former Armenian President Levon Ter Petrosyan has criticized
current President Robert Kocharian's policy on Turkey, pointing
out that this line may alienate the country. In an article
published in a monthly magazine called "Hayk", Petrosyan said
that Armenia's place and international status was very much
linked to its relations with its neighbours. Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanyan was also harsly criticized in the article beacuse
of his policies which are aggravating the current situation.
"Turkish-Armenian relations go back 10 years" Petrosyan added.
Petrosyan proposed the formation of better trade ties,
cooperation in the area of culture and taking steps for better
diplomatic ties to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey.
/All papers/
[12] BRITAIN RETURNS TURKEY'S HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS
Marble Roman Period works collected from eastern Anatolia by
Dutch Counsellor Alfred Van Lennep on duty in Izmir in 1894 were
intended to be taken back to Holland by ship. However, the ship
sank, and the historical artifacts have been lying under waters
of the English Channel. Now, Britain will return them to Turkey,
the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Speaking at a
ceremony held at the Turkish Embassy in London, Ambassador Ozden
Sanberk thanked everyone who had helped put forth the great
effort to see the marbles returned to where they belong. He also
noted that the artifacts discovered by underwater acrhaeologists
after 101 years do not constitute the only example of such lost
artifacts in the world, and added that there are many cultural
and historical treasures waiting to be discovered.
[13] NATIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED
The Tourism Ministry has completed the preliminary work to
establish a National Tourism Council, the lack of which has
previously been identified as a deficiency, it was announced
yesterday. This work has been conveyed to organizations in the
tourism sector to obtain their opinions before the plan is
presented to the Cabinet. After the tourism sectors' assessment
has been made, a draft will be sent to the Prime Ministry and
then a decision will be made by the Cabinet. /All papers/
[14] TUSIAD CALLS FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD) has prepared a report to inform Turkish industrialists
of the possible damage that will be caused by the EU's technical
environmental protection measures. According to TUSIAD, the
measures actual aim is to protect industrialists in the EU
countries. TUSIAD's report outlines the work that needs to be
done concerning the prevention of environmental degradation in
order to save Turkish businessmen from being harmed by the EU
measures. /All papers/
[15] TURKISH EXPORT FIGURES RELEASED
The total export figure for Turkey has risen from $2.09 billion
in 1980 to $26.24 billion in 1997. This represents an increase in
Turkey's share of total world exports from 1.5 % to 5 % over 17
years. According to data from the State Insitute of Statistics
(DIE) and the Foreign Secretary Undersecretariat (DTM), Turkey's
imports increased from $7.9 billion to $48.58 billion during the
same period. Ready-to-wear clothing is the top exporting sector
with 26 % of total Turkish exports. Agricultural products,
textiles and iron and steel follow on the list of the
best-performing exporters.
[16] LEADING 16 BANKS JOIN 'COMMON ATM' PROJECT
Leading Turkish Banks have founded a cooperative organization
called the "Common Point ATM Share Group". Customers can use
participating banks' credit and cash cards at any other
participating banks' ATMs. The group formed by 16 banks accounts
for 500 ATMs and a million bank cards. The group aims to include
at least 1,000 ATMs and two million bank cards by the end of
1998. /All papers/
[17] TURKEY-TRNC SECOND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL
Five ministers from Turkey, who decided to strengthen the
political and economic ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) following the EU's Luxembourg Summit, will go to
the TRNC to participate in the second meeting of Turkish-TRNC
Partnership Council. The Partnership Council meeting will be held
during the visit of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on July 20 to
participate in the celebrations of the anniversary of the Cyprus
Peace Operation on July 20 and President Suleyman Demirel's visit
that will take place on July 25, the Anatolia news agency
reported.
[18] MONEY, CREDIT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
The Money, Credit and Coordination Committee will convene today
under the chairmanship of State Minister Isin Celebi. During the
meeting in which the private sector representatives will
participate for the first time, the textile sector will be
discussed, the Anatolia news agency reported.
[19] 'ALL DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AGAINST TURKEY REJECTED'
Tekin Enerem, Chairman of the Turkish Group of the Organization
of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said yesterday that
all the draft resolutions against Turkey were rejected in this
year's OSCE meeting. Addressing a press conference staged at the
Parliament, Enerem briefed about the seventh General Committee
meeting of the OSCE held in Denmark between 7 and 10 July. Noting
that as the Turkish group they performed a successful activity,
Enerem recalled that Turkey became the target of many unjust
criticisms of the Western Parliamentarians in particular at the
international forums, the Anatolia news agency reported.
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