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Turkish Press Review, 98-12-31Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>31.12.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] "THE BALANCESHEET OF FOREIGN POLICY" - BY ERGUN BALCI (CUMHURIYET)[02] EREZ SAYS GOVERNMENT LIST READY BY NEXT WEEKThe Prime Minister-designate Yalim Erez yesterday said he would hand President Suleyman Demirel a government list by next week. Speaking to reporters after completing his first round of visits to party leaders, Erez said he was now ready to propose a government model to party leaders. Erez repeated his claim that his 56th government would receive the highest vote of confidence ever. "In the first few days of 1999, the new government will take action concerning the important issues of the country" Erez said.The Virtue Party (FP) yesterday made it clear they would not join an Erez government if he decides to postpone elections set for April 18, 1999, as decided by Parliament. Meanwhile, Erez received a slight setback yesterday when the Grand Unity Party (BBP) refused to take part in the government. BBP leader Muhsin Yazicioglu said Erez's standing by a report on the Southeast, that he had commissioned when he was the Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), was the main reason for the BBP turning Erez down. After a half-an-hour meeting with Erez, Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), told reporters said his party favours a broad-based government based on consensus and on the will of Parliament and remains loyal to Parliament's decision to hold elections on April 18, 1999. On the other hand, President Suleyman Demirel yesterday expressed optimism saying the current process was 'something that occurs in politics'. Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Palace, Demirel said: "Turkey will have a government". /All papers/ [03] TURKEY WILL HAVE A GOVERNMENTPresident Suleyman Demirel touched upon the problems arising in forming a goverment and said that these were a natural result of politics but a government would be formed soon. President Demirel received Levent Yanęk,the Chairman of the Union of Associations of Turkish Students in the US, and an accompanying delegation in the Presidential Palace. Yanęk stated that they were fighting the slander campaign against Turkey waged by Greek, Armenian, and Greek-Cypriot lobbies. Demirel thanked the delegation and said, "These activities are nothing new. It is a well known fact that various lobbies both in Europe and the Unites States have engaged in activities against Turkey due to the prevailing circumstances after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire." /Cumhuriyet/[04] ANKARA RELIEVED BUT WARY OF CRETE OPTION FOR MISSILESAnkara appears to be welcoming the decision by Greek Cypriot authorities not to deploy the controversial Russian-made surface-to-air missiles on Cyprus. But it also seems wary of the possibility that the same missiles may instead be deployed on the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean. "Turkey is taking and will continue to take all necessary measures against any attempts to threaten it" Foreign Minister Ismail Cem woved yesterday.Cem, appearing in the last regular ministry briefing of the year, said the decision means that the Greek Cypriots would not be able to threaten Turkey or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with the S-300 missiles that they had intended to deploy on the island. However, Cem also underlined that sending missile batteries to Crete, rather than to Cyprus, could further escalate the current tension between Turkey and Greece concerning the Aegean region. A Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said yesterday that Moscow would 'rigorously' fulfill the terms of its contract to supply Greek Cypriots with anti-aircraft missiles. The spokesman, Vladimir Rakhmanin, said it was important that the Greek Cypriots also fulfill 'their fundamental obligations'. Referring to the joint Greek-Greek Cypriot Defense Doctrine of 1993 as an 'attack doctrine' against Turkey, Foreign Minister Cem warned: "No one should dare to expect us to bind our hands and simply look on as the militarization efforts in Southern Cyprus, which are part of that attack doctrine, continue". Cem noted that he never believed the anti-aircraft missiles would be for defense purpose as the Greek Cypriots had claimed. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot daily, Mahi, reported that the Greek Cypriot Administration would buy short-range S-15 missiles instead of S-300s and that a consensus was reached between the Greek government and the Greek Cypriots. Athens dailies called the cancellation of the S-300 deployment on Cyprus a step backward for both Greece and the Greek Cypriots. Moreover, the Vradini daily commented that the national honour of Greece was sullied by the cancellation of the S-300 deployment on Cyprus. /All papers/ [05] NEWS ON S-300 MISSILES ON INTERNATIONAL PRESSThe Guardian newspaper gave the news with the title, "Greek Cypriots submits", from the first page. The newspaper said that Britain and the Western countries also did not support the plan and Russia did not react against the change in the plan.The Daily Telegraph newspaper said in its title, "Greek Cypriots are afraid". The newspaper noted that the Greek Cypriot administration was afraid of the threats from Turkey and decided to change the plan. The Independent newspaper also evaluated Greek Cypriots administration recent decision regarding the S-300 missiles saying that the missiles would be deployed on Crete instead of Cyprus. It was claimed that the missiles which have 100 miles range will be ineffective in Crete which is 500 miles far away from Cyprus. The Times newspaper also reminded that Greek Cypriot administration retrograded as they did not receive enough support from Athens administration. It was also claimed that Greek Cypriots did not want to put the chance of European Union (EU) membership into danger. /Turkiye/ [06] GREEK CYPRIOT DECISION RECEIVES PRAISEThe Greek Cypriot decision regarding the cancellation of the deployment of S-300 missiles on Cyprus received praise from the international community. Germany, the most influential member of the EU, welcomed yesterday the Greek Cypriot Leader's decision not to deploy the missiles on Cyprus and called on Turkey, in turn, to reduce its military presence there. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Martin Erdmann said such a move by Turkey would contribute to confidence-building in Cyprus.The EU yesterday also applauded the move by the Greek Cypriots. Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel said the decision to scrap the missile deployment on Cyprus representing a 'great success for quiet diplomacy' by the US, Britain and the US. Washington also delighted with the Greek Cypriot move, praising the Greek Cypriots for backing down. The State Department's acting spokesman, Lee McClenny, said that the decision would accelerate the UN efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue. Britain also expressed a positive response to the decision. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said on Tuesday in a written statement that the move was aimed at reducing tension. The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has also welcomed the Greek Cypriot move. The Force's spokesman, Paul Kolken, said that UNFICYP would support any moves that would ease the tension on the island. /All papers/ [07] "KLERIDES PROVOCATES THE SIDES IN CYPRUS"An article issued one of the leading newspapers of the US, the "Washington Post", evaluated yesterday the recent developments on the S-300 Russian-made missiles. It is pointed out in the article that the leader of the Southern Cyprus, Glafkos Klerides, was responsible for bringing the sides to the edge of a war in Cyprus. The article continued: "Klerides himself decided to purchase S-300 missiles from Russia claiming that they were under threat by Turkey and Northern Cyprus. On the other hand Russia, acted unfriendly against the West by including in the dispute of two NATO member countries. Russia's inclusion in such a dispute is an act of "playing with fire". However, it is open and clear that the real provocator of the crisis is Glafkos Klerides". /Turkiye/[08] POLITICAL TURMOIL EXPECTED IN SOUTHERN CYPRUSForeign observors said the Greek Cypriot decision not to deploy the missiles on Cyprus could mean the socialist partner of the Greek Cypriot coalition government will withdraw from the coalition with Glafkos Klerides' ruling Democratic Rally Party (DISY). At the same time, the voice of opposition from House of Representatives Speaker Spyros Kyprianou, is expected to get louder.Kyprianou said this was a 'very sad' decision. He noted that his own Democratic Party (DP) was all for deploying the missiles in Cyprus. The main opposition communist party, AKEL, seemed to agree with Klerides' decision, saying this was the only option available to Cyprus and the only way to help resolve the deadlock in peace talks with the Turkish Cypriots in the north. Socialist Leader Vassos Lyssarides, who is also disppointed by Greece's stance, said that this was a 'political defeat' and a 'retreat in the face of Turkish pressures'. /All papers/ [09] 'GREECE PROTECTING TERRORISM'Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem made a strong criticism against Greece, accusing the country of recently undertaking a 'concerted anti-Turkish campaign' waged by Greek poiticians from all points on the political spectrum. "Greec is the main supporter of all acitivities aimed against Turkey's territorial integrity" Cem said, adding that Athens was providing support and shelter for the separatist terrorists who fight against Turkey.The Foreign Minister said that Ankara was informing the international community about Greece's misconduct and its violations of international agreements that both it and Turkey had signed. Among the violations, Cem cited Athens as having committed were the repression of ethnic minorities in Greece, particularly of the ethnic Turkish-Muslim minority in Western Thrace. /All papers/ [10] DENIZKURDU MAKES A STATEMENT ON OCALANThe Minister of Justice, Hasan Denizkurdu, said yesterday that there was not a verdict for the imprisonment of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Denizkurdu noted that the dossier, which was prepared for the extradition of Ocalan to Turkey, was submitted to the Foreign Ministry on November 5, 1998, but they didn't receive a response to that request. Denizkurdu added: "There is a decision for his arrest in absentia for terrorist crimes but there is not a verdict for his imprisonment", the Anatolia news agency reports.[11] CEM: "DEAL WITH SYRIA PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY"A deal signed between Ankara and Damascus known as the Adana Agreement regarding terrorist elements in Syria that are threatening Turkey is being smoothly implemented, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday at a press conference. When asked by reporters about the agreement, Cem noted that the implementation of the accord's terms was progressing along a positive path. /All papers/[12] TAI IS READY TO PRODUCE PARTS OF BOEINGThe Turkish Aviation and Space Industry A.S. (TAI) which has succeeded in the production of a series of projects will produce some parts of the airplanes of Boeing and Airbus, two leading airplane firms in the world. Officials noted that within this framework, TAI would produce the passenger doors of regional jet EMB-2345s and emergency exists of Airbus planes belonging to A340-500-600. /Aksam/[13] US MARKET READY TO BUY MORE TURKISH PRODUCTSTurkish textile and clothing companies are only using a limited sector of the huge US market, said Philip W.Byrd, the Turkish regional director of the International Exporters Federation. The demand of American consumers is sufficient to purchase a greater amount of Turkish products, said Byrd, who added: "Turkey has a wide variety of products in textiles and if their brands are well promoted, then they can be sold very easily on the US market". Byrd said that there will be no quota between the US and Turkey until 2005. /All papers/[14] KOBI CORP. STARTED WITH ECEVITKOBI Corp. (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Corp.) was established by a ceremony at the Union of Turkish Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday. Speaking at the ceremony, Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said: "We owe much to the KOBIs both as the country, the state and the nation. We are giving our thanks to KOBIs which have only considered production and generalized their investments in all around the country." The founding capital of the corporation is $1 billion, which is planned to be amounted to $3 billions next year. /Hurriyet/[15] TREASURY BONDS ARE AT THE STOCK EXCHANGEThe bonds exported by the Treasury with a total nominal value of $200 million dollars have been put into transaction at the International Bonds and Notes Market of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB). The interest rate for the 10-year due bonds are determined as 12%, while the investors are given the right to demand the payment of the debt by the debtor in the fifth year. /Aksam/[16] HEAVY BLOW TO THE IBDA-C ORGANIZATIONThe Chairman of the illegal reactionary Islamic Great Eastern Raiders-Front (IBDA-C), Salih Mirzabeyoglu was taken into custody with his eleven friends. The Security officials stated that the bloody incidents planned by the organization were averted. The organization planned these operations because this year the holy month of Ramadan and new year's eve are being celebrated at the same time. The investigation of Mirzaoglu was going on but no information was given as the operations against the organization were continued./Cumhuriyet/[17] 10 PKK MEMBERS KILLEDAs a result of the operations continued in the Southeastern region, 10 PKK members were killed. According to the military sources at the end of the clashes between Turkish security forces and terrorists nine terrorists were killed in Kulp township of Diyarbakir and one in Kozluk township of Batman. Meanwhile two terrorists, who escaped from the terrorist organization, surrendered to the security forces in Sirnak and Lice, Diyarbakir. It is noted that operations will continue. /Turkiye/[18] DRUG OPERATION IN ISTANBULDuring an operation in Istanbul, 13.7 kilos of heroin worth nearly TL 60 billion were seized by members of the Security Office of the Avcilar District in Istanbul yesterday. Six people including two Iranians were taken into custody regarding the incident, the Anatolia news agency reports.[19] TOWARDS COALITION IN THE TRNCThe Prime Minister-designate of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Dervis Eroglu and the leader of a centre-left party agreed yesterday to form a coalition government that would pursue the goal of international recognition. The coalition protocol signed by the two parties said that the policy of Cyprus will be carried out together with Turkey. "Since the Greek Cypriots do not have the right or the authority to act on behalf of the whole island or on our behalf in matters related with the EU, the EU issue can only be discussed after a consensus over the Cyprus question and a common policy to be followed together with Turkey" the protocol said. /All papers/[20] MIGRATION OF 8.000 TO THE US SUBJECT OF PH.D. DISSERTATIONThe migration of 8.000 people from Yaglidere township of Giresun to the US at various times became the subject of a ph.d. dissertation. Lisa Dicarlo who is a post-graduate student is preparing a dissertation on "Turkey's Migration Culture and Migration From Giresun to the US". Lisa Dicarlo who noted that she will complete her dissertation in 1999, said she learned about the migration when she worked as an English teacher at the Anatolia University. /Cumhuriyet/[21] TURKISH CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE `GATES OF VIENNA'Within the framework of the cultural activities for the 700th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire, a Turkish classical music concert will be presented at Vienna. Hakan Erdogan, the organizer of the concert, said: "After 700 years, Turkey will knock the doors of Europe not by sword, but by a cultural activity this time." /Hurriyet/[22] THE SUCCESS OF THE TURKISH ACTRESSSahnaz Cakiralp, a young Turkish theatre actress, is continuing her international career with an operetta in Vienna. Having drawn attention in the "Istanbul Way", an Austrian production with Karl Markovics two years ago, Cakiralp is now on the stage with the "Bat Operetta" of Johann Strauss. /Aksam/[23] JUVE SAYS 'NO' TO HAKAN'S TRANSFERThe Italian Division One Club Juventus announced yesterday evening that it has given up in its bid to acquire Galatasaray striker, Hakan Sukur, the Anatolia news agency reports. The agency quoted Celalettin Bilgic, Juventus' representative in Istanbul, as saying that the Italian club had decided to give up because the transfer issue had 'dragged on for too long'.[24] `CEMRE MUZIK' WILL ATTEND MIDEM '99' FROM TURKEYCemre Muzik will represent Turkey at the Midem 99 Muzic Festival which will be held in Cannes, France on 24-28 January. 'Cemre Muzik' will open a stand at the fair where 20.000 CDs will be displayed with the contributions of the Culture Ministry. The CDs will include traditional Turkish Music, ethnic and mystic music. Midem Music Festival organized every year since 1967 prepares ground for new partnerships and contacts. Important subjects concerning the music industry are discussed at the conferences organized. Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Elton John, Tito Puente, Bryan Adams, Yehudi Menuhin, Fazil Say are among some of the names which participated in the festival until today. /Cumhuriyet/[25] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ...[26] AN ACCOUNT OF 1998 - BY A.SAVAS AKAT (SABAH)A. Savas Akat, a columnist in the Sabah daily, reflects on the general economic trends of 1998 and the consequences of the economic policies of the government. Akat writes:"Our estimations about the possible consequences of the financial policies implemented by the government has come to be wrong: The budget gave a 2,5 quadrillion excess before interest payments. Interestingly, the financial policy declared by the government has been practiced with meticulous care. The increase in GNP has remained between the 3,5 - 4% interval whereas there has been a significant decline in the rate of inflation which is now estimated as 56%. Consequently, due to the tight financial and monetary policies implemented by the Yilmaz government, we had a year which posed a serious decrease both in inflation and growth, exacerbated by the pressures from the foreign economic trends. The year 1998 has become an extraordinary year for Turkish economy. In the first place, during 1998, the government tried to struggle with the inflation. While the economy was slowing down, inflation started to decrease. In this way, Turkey could avoid the world crisis to a certain extent. Secondly, the economy, and especially particular sectors like textile and leather, began to pay the expenses of the overinvestment impass this year. When this negative atmosphere was added to the turmoil in the market and the tax reform, the consumption and investment expenditures had to be decreased. In this way, underconsumption has been generalized and the first signals of a stagnation has become apparent. I am pleased with these developments. Because, for my own part, the most important target for Turkish economy is a decline in the rate of inflation. I am positive to every development that may decrease the inflation. I believe this will be extremely beneficial in the long term. " [27] "THE BALANCESHEET OF FOREIGN POLICY" - BY ERGUN BALCI (CUMHURIYET)In his column in Cumhuriyet, Ergun Balci dwells on the problems facing the 55th government and how they were handled. A summary is as follows:"The end of the 55th Mesut Yilmaz government and the beginning of 1999 coincides. Mesut Yilmaz was going to resign at the end of December anyhow, but due to initiatives launched by Republican Peoples Party Chairman Deniz Baykal, he had to resign on 25 November. However as a new government is not formed we are entering the new year with the 55th government. The most important problem faced by the 55th government when it came to power was 'credibility' as Turkey had suffered the most severe loss of prestige during the Republican Era under the Erbakan administration. The greatest change achieved by the Yilmaz government has been to restore the honour and respectability of Turkey which had diminished. The new understanding by the new government brought Turkey's geostrategic location, political and economic power in addition to its history, and both European and Asian character into the foreground. The 55th government enjoyed good relations with the US, improved relations with Russia. Moscow's rejection to grant political asylum to Ocalan is a proof of this fact. Rooting Ocalan out of Syria is another success. However, it should be noted that Yilmaz government did not follow the development of Kurdish problem in Europe as it should have. The determined stand of Ankara on S-300 missiles has played an important role in barring their deployment in Cyprus. Despite some setbacks the pluses are more than minuses in foreign policy of the 55th government." /Cumhuriyet/ [28] "A NEW START" -BY ABBAS GUCLU (MILLIYET)Abbas Guclu, a journalist from the Milliyet daily newspaper, says the following in his article today: "We are entering a new year. However this year is different from others, because its end will be the beginning of a new century and a new millenium. In 1999, we will experience various feelings wherever we are. May be those who are lucky have seen the end of centuries. Evaluations on 1,000 years will replace those of five, 10, 100 or 500 years. We will choose the events, people, issues, cities and discoveries of the last 1,000 year.Until the last centuries, the wrist power has been superior to the power of brain, in other words, information. Those who were powerful were ruling the world. However with the transformation of information into technology, the biggest power has become information. The 2000s called as the 'Era of Information' will be a millenium during which we will intensively feel the power of information. It will be very beneficial to make an evaluation on 'What is our situation at the threshold of the 21st century?'. What have we done to date? What are our expectations? To what extent we have been successful? What are we expecting from the future? I wish all of you a happy new year.... Note: The Turkish Press Review will not be published tomorrow. We wish you a Happy New Year. Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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