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Turkish Press Review, 99-01-12Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>12.01.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] 56TH GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHEDThe list of Cabinet members prepared by Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit has been approved by President Suleyman Demirel. Ecevit's Cabinet, supported by the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP), consists of 24 Ministers. Ecevit's government programme will be announced today in Parliament, with debates scheduled for Friday. The vote of confidence will be held on Sunday.Cabinet list: Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Hikmet Ulugbay, State Ministers Sukru Sina Gurel, Mustafa Yilmaz, Hasan Gemici, Fikret Unlu, Aydin Tumen, Justice Minister Prof.Selcuk Oztek, Defence Minister Prof.Hikmet Sami Turk, Interior Minister Cahit Bayar, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel, Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu, Public Works and Housing Minister Ali Iliksoy, Health Minister Mustafa Guven Karahan, Transport Minister Hasan Basri Aktan, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mahmut Erdir, Labour and Social Security Minister Nami Cagan, Industry and Trade Minister Metin Sahin, Energy Minister Ziya Aktas, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Tourism Minister Ahmet Tan, Forestry Minister Arif Sezer and Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin. /All papers/ [02] CILLER: "NO PROBLEM FOR THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE"Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), expressed her pleasure at the formation of the 56th government and said: "Despite many difficulties, this government has been formed in total compliance with the procedures of the democratic system. It has been established within a consensus, revealing the importance not of polarization but of pre-election dialogue. I think the government will not face any problems in taking the vote of confidence and I wish Mr. Ecevit success". /Hurriyet/[03] CINDORUK: "THE FIRST GUIDED GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC"Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), argued that the 56th government formed by the Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader, Bulent Ecevit, is the first completely left-wing government of the Republic of Turkey. Cindoruk said, "This success does not belong to Ecevit and the left-wing parties. The Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP) have given the left-wing doctrine the opportunity to come into power in Turkey." Describing the 56th government as the "first guided government in the history of the Republic of Turkey", Cindoruk argued that the crisis had not been overcome but in contrast had been exacerbated. /Hurriyet/[04] RESIGNATIONS JUMP FOR APRIL 18 ELECTIONSBureaucrats have begun to resign from their positions in order to take part in the upcoming elections on April 18. The deadline for resignation is today. The Chairman of the Competition Board, Aydin Ayaydin recently resigned from his post, announcing that he will be a prospective candidate for the Motherland Party (ANAP), Istanbul's third region deputy. Turkey's Ambassador to Rome, Inal Batu, has also announced his resignation, saying that he hoped to be a candidate for the Republican People's Party (CHP). /All papers/[05] TOP US GENERAL IN ANKARAGen.Joseph W.Ralston, the Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has been in Ankara since late last week, yesterday attended the inauguration of the Civic-Military Cooperation Course (CIMIC) at the Partnership for Peace (PFP) Training Centre. The course is being attended by 25 high-ranking officers and senior civilian government employees from Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The PFP Centre in Ankara has been open since last July.Gen.Ralston said at the inauguration that the NATO PFP Programme has made a significant contribution to peace in the region covered by the PFP countries. The US General is also scheduled to visit the Commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces, including Chief of General Staff Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu. /All papers/ [06] ITALIAN PREMIER SAYS 'NO' TO ASYLUM FOR OCALANItaly will be denying political asylum to the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, according to Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema. Not only did D'Alema say that Ocalan won't be granted political asylum, but he also reiterated Rome's position that the PKK leader will be sent to Turkey for trial. Italian law bans sending suspects to countries where they are likely to face the death sentence. He also stated that Italy will try Ocalan if he doesn't leave Rome. "He can go at any time" D'Alema said at a press conference yesterday. Citing the Geneva Convention, D'Alema said yesterday that he believed that Italy could not grant Ocalan asylum given the severity of the accusations against him.Meanwhile, Augusto Sinagra, a lawyer hired by Turkey to help facilitate Ocalan's extradition, said that Ocalan should be tried in this country. Sinagra's remarks were carried in an Italian daily yesterday. He accused Italian Justice Minister Oliviero Diliberto of violating the law. He also said that he was sure that the Communists had prepared the way for Ocalan's coming to Italy. /All papers/ [07] LIBYAN ALTERNATIVE FOR OCALANSearches for a 'third country' to which to send the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan are going on. Ocalan left Syria, then Russia due to the Turkish pressurization and arrived in Italy. Diplomatic sources say that Italian officials accepted a preliminary agreement with Libya and the PKK leader would probably go this country. The same sources also express the view that Ocalan would go to Libya on an Italian plane if an agreement is reached. According to these sources Turkey is not against the alternative of Libya. /Milliyet/[08] DEMIREL RECEIVES MACUNFRAIDHPresident Suleyman Demirel received the Irish Ambassador to Ankara, Antonie Macunfraidh yesterday. Macunfraidh presented his letter of credentials to Demirel. The Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, was also present at the meeting, the Anatolia news agency reports.[09] HEROIN OPERATION IN ISTANBULNarcotics teams carried out a raid on a house in the Kocamustafapasa district of Istanbul yesterday and seized 1.5 kilos of heroin. Three people were taken into custody. In another operation in the Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul, 26 kilos of heroin were confiscated and three people were also taken into custody. /Sabah/[10] TURKISH EXPORTS TO ISRAELIsrael has become an important market and a transit country for Turkish firms which are seeking new opportunities for exports. According to recent foreign trade data, the highest rate of development in commercial relations was achieved between Turkey and Israel. As known, the Israeli Free Trade Agreement went into effect on May 1, 1997. With this agreement, Turkish firms gained the opportunity to export products without any quota restrictions or customs duty to Israel, neighbouring countries and the US. Moreover, the economic transportation of goods by sea between the two countries also boosts the importance of bilateral relations. Turkey's imports from Israel also increased following this agreement. According to data furnished by the Foreign Economic Relations Council, following this agreement, 1,000 new export products and 800 new import products have been introduced and their import and export is now in progress.The Chairman of the Turkish-Israeli Business Council, Ekrem Esat Guvendiren, said that the trade volume between Turkey and Israel was expected to amount to $800 million by the end of 1998. /Sabah/ [11] TEXTILE INDUSTRY RECEIVES 45 % PAY HIKETextile sector negotiations between the employers' union and the workers' union TEKSIF have resulted in a consensus. Representatives of the employers' and workers' unions announced yesterday that pay rises for 51,000 textile workers were decided on during the talks. Wages will be increased by 45 % for the first six months and 30 % for the second six months of the working year. /All papers/[12] TREASURY TO HOLD BOND TENDERS THIS WEEKThe Treasury is preparing to hold two critical tenders this week, in which the cash-strapped administration hopes to borrow between TL 500 and 800 trillion. The first tenders will be held today, offerring 13-month (392 day) bonds which will mature on February 9, 2000. Payments for the bonds will have to be made on January 13 and the amount expected to be raised from this first tender is between TL 400-550 trillion.In the second tender to be held on Friday, net sales TL 100-250 trillion are expected from the issue of second-party 14-month (420 day) bonds. The maturity period for these second-party bonds wil start on January 22, 1999 and they will be paid back on March 15, 2000, the Anatolia news agency reports. [13] CRITICAL WEEK FOR BAKU-CEYHANThe representative of the AIOC, the Azerbaijani International Oil Consortium, in Baku, Robin Brenegan and the Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Oil Company SOCAR, Alex Kerov, arrived in Ankara yesterday. During the meetings to be held in Ankara and Istanbul, passage payments and the pipeline transit regime will be drawn up. The cost of the pipeline could total $2.7 billion when the interest from the credits to be received is taken into consideration. The pipeline will also be a huge oil depot. It is expected that nearly $75 billion in investments are envisaged for the operation of the wells; there are reserves of 2.2 billion tonnes in the Caspian Region. /Sabah/[14] RUMELIAN SUMMIT ON JANUARY 30The Rumelian Turkish Associations' Federation founded in October 1998 will hold a summit on January 30, 1999. The aim of the Federation in Istanbul is to establish a bridge between the Turks in the Balkans and Turkey. /Sabah/[15] AGREEMENT ON BALKAN PEACE FORCE TO BE SIGNED TODAYThe agreement formalizing the formation of a Balkan Peace Force will be signed today in Athens. On Monday, the Defence Ministers of the participant countries met in the Greek capital to put the final touches to the agreement. Due to the just-finished government crisis, Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tuygan, will sign the founding treaty on behalf of Turkey.The Force, formally named the Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe, is designed to play humanitarian roles in areas such as truce keeping and aid relief. It is similar to the concept of UN multinational peace forces. /All papers/ [16] ANKARA CHAMBER OF TRADE HOLDS AWARDS CEREMONYDuring a speech at an awards ceremony held by the Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO), President Suleyman Demirel stated that it is impossible to form a government and ensure stability while political parties are only receiving 5 to 20 % of the vote. Demirel stated that soon the Turkish economy will be independent from politics, saying: "Without regarding politics, businessmen will carry out their own duties in their fields and will continue to produce"."The latest figures show us that Turkey has doubled her Gross National Product. The national income level, which was $2500 is now $5000, and the export level has doubled, reaching $28 billion" he added. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Yalim Erez, Governor of Ankara Erdogan Sahinoglu and Chief of Police Cevdet Saral were honoured by ATO and received their prizes from Demirel. /All papers/ [17] FIVE PKK CAMPS CLOSED IN IRAQThe leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Celal Talabani, who reached an agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), closed the PKK offices in the Suleymaniye region under his control. The PKK, which continues its military and political activities in the region, was stated to have withdrawn to mountainous areas in Iran following this warning. The leaders of both parties, who met in Salaadin city in Iraq, agreed on putting the provisions of the Washington accord into effect. The decisions taken during the meeting are:--The distribution of fair income and power --The sharing of income from the Habur gate with the KYB --The holding of regional elections as soon as possible --The mutual opening of offices mutually in those regions under the control of both parties --The creation of opportunities for families to return to their villages --The release of 'peshmerges' mutually captured by the parties. /Milliyet/ [18] COMPROMISE REACHED ON BANKING LAWA compromise was reached on the Banking Law which was the only condition for the True Path Party (DYP) to support the government of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). The draft law would be brought to Parliament at the beginning of February. The Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel said that the reservations of the DYP had been eliminated. Upon agreement by both parties a commission formed by the Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel and Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu from the DSP and DYP officials Ufuk Soylemez and Ayfer Yilmaz completed their studies on the draft law. /Milliyet/[19] BANKS GIVE 22% INTEREST RATE FOR THE DOLLARThe interest given to foreign exchange by some small banks is three times more than the larger banks. The state security recognized for currencies and TL funding in terms of foreign exchange attract great interest and therefore some banks who are in need of cash give an annual 22% interest rate on the dollar. The interest rates recognized by larger banks on the dollar stand at an annual 7%. /Milliyet/[20] NEW MEASURES FOR RADIATION CONTROLAfter the radiation posioning incident in Istanbul, H.Ibrahim Ozsoy, the Minister of Health, declared yesterday that a new regulation was being prepared in order to control where radioactive material is sent following their usage in hospitals. Noting that Cobalt 60, which was involved in the accident in Istanbul, is used in the treatment of cancer, Ozsoy said that the the material most probably came from the Radiotherapy Department of Ankara Numune Hospital. /Hurriyet/[21] PRIVATE BANKS CRITICIZE CB'S CONFISCATIONSBanks belonging to the largest two conglomerates in Turkey criticized the confiscation of Interbank last week, which has come to be the third bank taken over by the Central Bank Deposit Insurance Fund in recent months. It is reported that top executives from Akbank, which belongs to Sabancı Holdings, and Kocbank, which belongs to Koc Holdings, argued that the Deposit Insurance Funds' confiscation of the management of those private banks under unbearable financial burdens is a "fallacious and unjust ruling". Engin Akcakoca, the General Director of Kocbank, said: "Under free market conditions, banks should be assessed just as any firm which faces financial difficulties". Likewise, "There is no point in protecting banks with public resources; it has become inevitable to abrogate unlimited state guarantees for deposits", said Hayri Culhacı, the Deputy General Director of Akbank. /Hurriyet/[22] JOINT FRONT LINE AGAINST HIGH INTEREST RATESAt the second summit held between industrialists and banks yesterday, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), the Turkish Union of Banks (TBB), the Turkish Assembly of Exporters (TIM), and the Turkish Union of Textile Employers (TTIS) decided to establish a joint front against high interest rates. They decided to bring the problem of high interest rates as well as that of budget deficits first to the Economic and Social Council, and then to the government. /Hurriyet/[23] ENERGY SUMMIT IN ANKARAAnkara is preparing to host an energy conference with the aim of gathering together countries in need of alternative energy sources. The main topic of the conference, which is going to be organized between 24-27 May 1999 on the Middle East Technical University's campus, will be on the transfer of fossil fuels in the Eurasian region into energy and the models and applications to be followed during these studies. During the four-day meeting, regional energy working groups will be established between the Black Sea and the Central Asian countries in order to seek new cooperation opportunities. The Turkish National Committee of the World Energy Council, the US Department of Energy, the US International Development Agency, the US Energy Union and the World Energy Council under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Energy will finance the conference.It is expected that President Suleyman Demirel and the General Secretary of the World Energy Council, Gerald Douet, will attend the conference. /Turkiye/ [24] JAPAN CREDIT TO MARMARA SEAThe meeting between Turkish officials and representatives of the Japan credit institution OECF concerning the "Marmaray Project", which comprises the "Bosphorus Railway Tunnel and Underground System", finished yesterday in Ankara. An 8-member representative delegation from OECF and officals from the Ministry of Transport have been discussing the project since the begining of January. It is expected that a $ 1.2 billion credit agreement will be signed next month. Turkish officials noted that the first half of the credit which will be $ 1.2 billion will be used for the construction of the tube tunnel and the second half of it which will be $ 1.1 billion will be used in the construction of railways and stations. /Turkiye/[25] US HIT FROM INCIRLIK AGAINIt is reported that US airfighters from Incirlik base in Adana fired on an Iraqui missile facility in the no-fly zone in the Northern Iraq. An officer from the Pentagon declared that 3 US fighters had fired on the facility for self-protection after being targeted by Iraqui missiles. Noting that the fighters had returned to Incirlik base without being damaged, the officer said that the US airfighters would continue their surveillance of the no-fly zone. /Hurriyet/[26] "TURKEY IS A DETERRENT FORCE"According to an article in the US "Washington Quarterly" magazine, a Turco-Israeli deterrent force has increased the hopes for peace in the Middle East. The article by Dov Waxman said that improving relations between Turkey and Israel would be an advantage for the region. Waxman claimed that the cooperation between Turkey and Israel would change the power balance in the region to the advantage of the two countries. He said that trade relations between Turkey and Israel were also rapidly improving. Waxman noted that Turco-Israeli closeness had strengthened Turkey's situation in international circles and within its region. In his article, Waxman stressed the power of the Jewish lobby in the US and added that Turkey would have new "friends" in America in line with her improving relations with Israel. /Cumhuriyet/[27] OZTURK SERENGIL DIESThe actor, theatre performer and showman, Ozturk Serengil, died in Istanbul yesterday. Serengil, who was taken to hospital nearly 1.5 months ago due to an edema in the brain, left hospital after 25 days of treatment. However, following a respiratory interruption he lost his life. The death of Ozturk Serengil caused great sorrow in the art world. Many high-level officials including President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued messages expressing their sorrow over his death. The funeral ceremony for Serengil will be held today in Istanbul. /All papers/[28] TURKISH ARTIST IN COMPUTER ARTThe works of art of computer graphic artist, Ayse Ulay, who is living in Pasadena, California, the US, have been cited as examples in an auxiliary computer programming book called "Fractal Design-Painter 5". In the book on the Painter 5 programme used by professional computer designers and graphic artists, it is pointed out that Ayse Ulay has produced graphic designs for noted institutions such as the California Technology Institute, American Film Institute and the California Science and Technology Museum. /Sabah/[29] A PAINTER FROM ADANA IN NEW YORKErtugrul Ates, is the only Turk to have had works displayed in the Chicago Modern Art Museum, opened his new exhibition in the halls of the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Istanbul. Ates, who looks on New York as a window opening on to the world, and expressed his going abroad as a result of feeling that he had reached an endless road in Istanbul. He added that he went to New York to learn more about himself and his ability to paint. Noting that to be famous in the US one had to be authentic, Ates said that he synthisized his Anatolian culture with what he had learnt in a style peculiar to himself. /Milliyet/[30] "ISTANBUL IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD"AS part of the January activities of the Istanbul French Culture Centre, French photographer Bernard Faucon is going to take pictures in Ortakoy today, together with almost a hundred Turkish young people. Photographs will be exhibited during a photography day under the title "Istanbul is elected as the most beautiful in the World" in Kemanci Cultural Centre between 14 January and 6 February. /Cumhuriyet/[31] TROY DOCUMENTARYPreparations to make a documentary about the history of the legendary city of Troy, which was announced as belonging to the cultural inheritance of the world by UNESCO, have started. Excavations by an international team under the leadership of Tubingen University have been continuing since 1988. The head of the excavation team, Manfred Korfmann, approved a documentary project of by young Turkish group. Serdar Gunbilen will conduct the film and Manfred Korfmann will be the advisor on the documentary. /Cumhuriyet/[32] RUSSIAN SHIPS RESUME ISTANBUL-NOVOROSSIYK VOYAGESRussian ships, which halted their schedules to Turkey following the economic crisis, have resumed their voyages to Istanbul. Large-capacity Russian ships will be anchored today and tomorrow to Karakoy harbour in Istanbul. Turkish representatives noted that, following the recent development, the suitcase trade between Russia and Turkey will be enlivened. They added that the schedules would increase in frequency the Spring.Meanwhile, Turkish businessmen have undertaken intense efforts to overcome the Russian crisis. By that means a 100-member Turkish business delegation will go to Russia on 8 February to decide on the market conditions for the Turco-Russian Centre for Trade Improvement which will be opened on 1 April. The centre which will be organized by Turkish promotional Fair and Exhibition Organizations will ensure new opportunities for Turkish businessmen in Russia. /Aksam/ [33] "WINTER ADVENTURE AND SKI SHOW '99" IN ULUDAGUludag, Bursa, a centre for winter sports, is flooded by ski-lovers every winter. It is reported that despite the fog and cold weather, hotels and ski-slopes are at full capacity. This year the "Winter Adventure and Ski Show" was organized by Kayak Magazine. The French World Snowboarding Champion, Alexis Parameutier, gave a performance as organized within the scope of the show. Snow-scooter shows, fashion shows and day-time walks were also organized during the show. Mehmet Bilen, the organizer of the show, said that they aimed to promote winter sports in Turkey. /Turkiye/[34] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[35] "WOMEN MORE THAN MEN" -BY TURKAN AKIN (TURKIYE)Journalist Turkan Akin invited women into Parliament in her article today issued in Turkey newspaper. Akin complains about the indifference of women to Parliament. "If an elevated number of women attend the 18 April General Election, this will be, in a way, the success of our democracy. Although it is accepted in general that the number of women deputies among Parlamentary members is very low, there are no positive steps to increase the number," said Akin.She added, "As mentioned before, if Berna Yilmaz, wife of the former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, is elected to Parliament, there will be numerous advantages for Turkish democracy. With a very realistic approach, I would like parties to give more contingencies to women. What will be the disadvantage if one quarter or one fifth of the members in Parliament is constituted by women deputies? What will be more natural than for Turkish women, who gained the right to vote and the right to be elected before many other European countries, to have the title of being "Parliamentary deputy"? I sincerely believe that more women deputies will change the structure of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and the development of Turkish political life." After re-inviting women to attend to politics, Akin claimed that women, who have an important role in the Turkish family structure, will be very successful if they are given the opportunity. /Turkiye/ [36] WE WISH SINCERELY THAT IT WILL BE GOOD- BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)Gungor Mengi, a columnist from the daily 'Sabah' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "The new government has been announced. Bulent Ecevit has become Prime Minister after 20 years. However Ecevit is not old 'Karaoglan' (Black Boy)..Karaoglan used to say: 'This order should change'. Today, Ecevit sits in this chair because he became the intermediary between two centre-right parties which do not want any change. We hope that he will not regret anything after three for four months have passed.* To make an agreement with the IMF to overcome the economic crisis and to find foreign resources; * In line with this agreement, to raise the retirement age; * To enact the law for the struggle against organized crime; * To achieve an amendment to the Constitution to restrict the immunity of deputies, thus leading to clean politics, and to provide for the trial of Prime Ministers and Ministers without sending them to the Supreme Court...These are not the requirements but the obligations of Turkey. Every lost day has vital costs. Now we will see how many of them Ecevit will promise to achieve". /Sabah/ [37] ECEVIT OR THE POWER OF MODESTY - BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)Sedat Ergin, a columnist from the `Hurriyet' daily, evaluates Ecevit's Prime Ministership with reference to the transformation in morals and political culture in the last two decades. Ergin writes:"Bulent Ecevit, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader, became the Prime Minister once again in his 42-year political journey. What are the reasons that have given him the opportunity to become the Prime Minister after 21 years? Obviously, there are numerous factors for that, the most important of which have bearings on the current political conjuncture in Turkey. However, a more simple answer may be found in his coherence of direction, permeating both his modest way of life and his political thought. During the period of Ozal, while Turkey was achieving a structural economic improvement, the value system and moral principles prevailing in Turkish society also underwent a rapid mutation. The welfare opportunity presented to the Turkish people during the period of Ozal was limited to a marginal section of society. The rest were a majority who felt injured because of being exempted from welfare and who were implicity angry at the ostentatious lifestyle of privileged groups. Now, we see that Bulent Ecevit, who remained intact throughout this chaotic shift in values, is one of the most dramatic symbols of the old moral values still held to be respectable by the `rest' of society. The political reflection of his modesty is an understanding which is against close relations with private interest groups, which can protect itself from the filthy effects of money, and which gives no credit to the polishes of public relations companies and image-makers." 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