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Turkish Press Review, 99-01-13Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>13.01.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] ECONOMY HAS PRIORITY IN ECEVIT GOVERNMENTDemocratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit promised that his government will carry Turkey forward to clean, fair general and local elections in April 1999 and will not implement an election economy. While explaining his government programme to Parliament yesterday, he also thanked his backers, the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP). Ecevit also stressed that these two parties had given him full support without any preconditions. "Our main duty is to fulfill all the requirements of this confidence in us" he stated. Ecevit also reminded deputies that since this government will remain in power only for the short period until the upcoming elections, Parliament's programme and agenda will not be busy.Ecevit also noted that they will obey the secular and social regulations of the state, respect freedom of speech and thought and refrain from damaging human rights. Ecevit pointed out that the next duty of the new government would be to implement healthy financial and economic policies. He also said that the 1999 budget has to become effective immediately. "The 1999 budget will help us to prove ourselves both in Turkey and abroad". After the economy, the second most important measure taken by the new government will be to see that the new banking law is enacted. Ecevit also said that the third measure that has to be taken immediately is the enactment of social security laws. Ecevit stressed the importance of these three laws, saying they would enable Turkey to secure the necessary foreign financial resources. Ecevit also maintained his government's commitment to the struggle against the mafia and money laundering operations and praised the 55th government for its decisive and stable policies that have resulted in the failure of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, to find refuge abroad. The 56th government will use all the diplomatic and legal means at its disposal to have Ocalan brought to trial, he added. Ecevit stated that during the process of integration with Europe, Turkey would eventually take its rightful position without compromising its national interests. The new government will take great care in promoting relations with the US, with special emphasis on mutual interests, friendship and agreements, remarked Ecevit. Ecevit added that the improvement of relations with Russia will continue to be strived for, and Turkey's national interests will also be protected by providing support to Russia in overcoming the economic crises. The success in achieving the cancellation of the deployment of Russian missiles on southern Cyprus is a result of initiatives to promote multidimensional cooperation and solidarity between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ecevit said, adding that this process will be accelerated during the term of the new government. The government will continue to pursue its target of fulfilling the Eurasia Energy Corridor and of finalizing the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. /All papers/ [02] ACCUSATIONS FROM BAYKALRepublican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal stated that the real intent of covering up corruption charges surrounding Mesut Yilmaz and Tansu Ciller is being hidden behind the Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP)'s support for a Democratic Left Party (DSP) minority government. Negotiations took place between key political figures to determine who to appoint as the Ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs and Transportation, said Baykal. It is reported that the CHP group will not give a vote of confidence to the DSP minority government. /All papers/[03] KUTAN: THIS GOVERNMENT IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ONEDuring his speech at the Virtue Party (FP) Parliamentary group meeting, FP leader Recai Kutan criticized the two right-wing parties' support for the left-wing party which has recently assumed power. "Although it is a minority government, we at least have a government now to conduct transitional procedures. The new government will face difficulties in areas such as unemployment, inflation and foreign policy. These problems are now being handed over to those in charge of this situation" Kutan said. /All papers/[04] ELECTION GOVERNMENTDuring the Motherland Party (ANAP) Parliamentary group meeting, Mesut Yilmaz stated that the most important reason for ANAP's support for the minority government is to preserve peace and tranquility in the country for the next three months so that elections can be held as scheduled. The minority government that has now been formed has an authority similar to that which an election government would have had, had it been formed by the President as stipulated in the Constitution. /All papers/[05] FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF ECEVIT'Data Watch', a weekly publication, noted that the establishment of the minority Turkish government headed by Bulent Ecevit showed that the possibility of postponing the April General Election had lessened and it was expected that this government would perform with a similar financial stance to last year. The bulletin prepared by JP Morgan economist, Emin Ozturk, last week, touched upon the economic and political results to be yielded by the Ecevit government. The bulletin said that the True Path Party (DYP) supported the Ecevit government on the condition that the General Election would be held in April. /Milliyet/[06] US DOES NOT COMMENT ON THE NEW GOVERNMENTThe US Ministry of Foreign Affairs written declaration prepared for journalists questions concerning the formation of the Ecevit government reads: "We do not comment on potential government changes in our democratic allies." Meanwhile, during the luncheon held by Ismail Cem, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the ambassadors of the 15 EU member countries declared that they were pleased with the formation of the new government which would bring Turkey to the elections in April. /Hurriyet/[07] ISRAEL: CYPRUS CONQUEROR AGAIN PRIME MINISTERThe 56th government headed by Bulent Ecevit has been welcomed both by Israeli political circles and by the media. Israeli radio and TV stations have devoted wide coverage to the establishment of the new Turkish government and said: "Turkey eventually found its government". The second channel of the Israeli TV station said that the Ecevit government pleased both the military and secular sections of society. The Maa'riv newspaper published in Israel noted that the Cyprus conqueror had become Prime Minister again. The Haaretz newspaper pointed out that Ecevit had taken office for a three-month transit period until the April 18 General Election. /Milliyet/[08] WORLD PRESS: ECEVIT IS THE GUARANTEE OF SECULAR ORDERThe world press regarded the premiership of Bulent Ecevit, after a break of 20 years from that position, as the guarantee of secular order. The Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper published in Germany noted that Ecevit, who is almost as old as the Republic of Turkey itself, had become Prime Minister again. An influential British newspaper, the Financial Times, said that the Turkish Armed Forces was disturbed at the long period during which the government could not be established. 'Eksousia', published in Greece, claimed that Turco-Greek relations would freeze. /Milliyet/[09] TERRORIST OCALAN IS OFFICIALLY FREEThe Fourth Penal Division of the Rome Court of Appeals rejected Turkey's objection to the decision of the Italian Ministry of Justice concerning the release of the terrorist PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan. With this new decision by the Court of Appeals, Ocalan is set free according to Article No.617 of the Italian Penal Code. However, Ocalan also runs the risk of being tried unless he leaves Italy. /Hurriyet/[10] ITALIAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS ASYLUM FOR OCALAN TODAYThe Italian Parliament is convening today to discuss whether to provide political asylum to the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. During a meeting of political party group chairmen at the Italian Parliament, the centre-right Forza Italia party initiated an official process to discuss a parliamentary query motion, the Anatolia news agency reports. Italy's opposition centre-right parties want to debate the issue of giving Ocalan asylum, but the left-wing parties prefer to postpone it. The debate has already been postponed from late December. The Parliament's decision will not be binding, but Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema's attitude is expected to follow the direction of the legislature.[11] OCALAN MUST STAND TRIALIn a statement made by the US Department of State, it was noted that the Ocalan crisis was being closely watched. The statement also said, "It is important for us that he should be brought to justice." A US official who evaluated the recent situation following Ocalan's arrival in Italy on November 12, said that they wanted a consensus to be reached between Turkey and Italy on bringing Ocalan to court. He also added that they were continuing to exert efforts to this effect in these countries. The US official noted that they welcomed the news that Italy would not grant political asylum to Ocalan. The US Administration believes that granting political asylum to a terrorist leader would be a severe blow to the fight against terrorism./Turkiye/[12] BALKAN COUNTRIES AND ITALY SIGN PEACE FORCE AGREEMENTDefence Ministers from the Balkans and Italy signed an agreement yesterday creating a multinational peace force loosely based on the model of the UN. The brigade, known as the Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe, will be made up of NATO members Greece, Italy and Turkey, and Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania. Observers from Slovenia and the US were also present at the meeting, while Turkey was represented by its Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tuygan, due to a change of government in Turkey.Under the agreement signed yesterday, the location of the force's headquarters will rotate every four years, beginning in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv starting in 1999 and moving on to Romania, Turkey and Greece. Commanding officers will also rotate, but on a two-year basis. The first will be a Turk, who will hand over to a Greek, followed by an Italian, a Bulgarian, a Romanian, an Albanian and a Macedonian. The force's political secretariat also will rotate every two years starting in Greece this year and moving on to Romania, Turkey, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Italy. /All papers/ [13] UTKAN EXPECTED TO REPLACE BATU IN ROMEForeign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary and Spokesman Necati Utkan is expected to succeed Turkey's Amabssador to Rome, Inal Batu, who is quitting the diplomatic arena to try his hand at politics, Foreign Ministry sources said. Batu formally sent his resignation to the Foreign Ministry on Monday. He is expected to return to Ankara by Friday. The appointment of Utkan is expected to be made within the next few days. /All papers/[14] KIVRIKOGLU IN BULGARIAThe Chief of General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu, went to Sofia, Bulgaria yesterday to hold official meetings. During his first day in Sofia, Kivrikoglu met his Bulgarian counterpart, Miho Mihov. At the meeting Kivrikoglu said that Turkey would give her military support to the Balkan Peace Force. He added that if NATO decided to intervene to Kosovo, Turkey would send soldiers to participate in the operation. /Aksam/[15] BOMB AT MHP OFFICE: SEVEN INJUREDAs a result of a bomb attack at the election office of the National Movement Party (MHP) in Uskudar, Istanbul yesterday, seven people were injured, including two seriously. Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and Chief of Security Hasan Ozdemir visited the injured in hospital and said that an investigation into the incident was in progress. /Milliyet/[16] HALUK KIRCI ON HUNGER STRIKEOn the third day of the interrogation of Haluk Kirci, a key name in the Susurluk accident that exposed state-underworld links and the accused murderer of hundreds, Kirci said that he will continue fasting until the conditions he put forward are accepted. Kirci will be sent to the State Security Court (DGM) tomorrow, and his trial is expected to be combined with the Susurluk case and to be held under special security conditions. Officials indicate that Kirci's statements are already 80 pages long. /All papers/[17] ALARM AT THE HOSPITALSThe treatment of 10 patients diagnosed with radioactive exposure continues at Haseki Hospital in Istanbul. Former Health Minister Halil Ibrahim Ozsoy organized a press conference stating that the danger is still present and indicated their intention to put private and public hospitals on full alert. Sisli Etfal, Social Security Institution (SSK) and Haseki Hospitals have both special wards for cases involving radiation. Besides the 10 being treated, another forty-eight people visited clinics and hospitals in Ikitelli yesterday. /Milliyet/[18] CEM HOLDS LUNCHEON FOR EU AMBASSADORS IN ANKARAThe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, held a luncheon yesterday for the European Union (EU) Ambassadors in Ankara. The German Ambassador to Ankara, Hans Vergau, said that Germany's EU term presidency was to Turkey's advantage. /Sabah/[19] MERAL DUZGUN ON THE COVER OF DER SPIEGELThe discussions launched by the conservative parties against the Social Democrat-Greens government, which decided to grant dual citizenship right to all foreigners including Turks living in Germany, are on-going. Meanwhile, the Der Spiegel magazine devoted wide coverage to these discussions. On the cover of the magazine, a photograph of a Turkish girl aged 18, Meral Duzgun, was displayed. Duzgun noted that she hardly understood the discussions, saying: "I was born in Germany. I live like all Germans and I even dream in German. The important thing is not my passport but my identity". She added: "I have only a Turkish passport. Even though they issue German passports, it will not be so useful for me. Actually, I have not attached any importance to it to date. However if I had a German passport, it would be confidence-inspiring for me". Duzgun stated that she was scared because the conservative parties were trying to show foreigners in highly dangerous light and pointed out that it was an extremely racist approach. /Milliyet/[20] PUK CLOSES BUREAUS ASSISTING PKKShazad Saib, the Representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Ankara, said yesterday that some bureaus in the region controlled by the PUK were closed the previous month under the suspicion that they support the PKK terrorist organization, the Anatolia news agency reports.[21] HERCUS TO LEAVE FOR NEW YORKAnn Hercus, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Deputy Special Representative to Cyprus, will leave Cyprus late on Wednesday for New York to meet Kofi Annan, the Anatolia news agency reports. Hercus will be received today by Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).[22] TRNC GOVERNMENT WINS CONFIDENCE VOTEThe new coalition government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) won a vote of confidence yesterday, the Anatolia news agency reports. The government, led by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, the Chairman of the centre-right National Unity Party (UBP), received the support of 31 coalition deputies in the 50-member Parliament.[23] DEBATES OVER STATE GUARANTEE OF DEPOSITS INTENSIFYThe debate over the unlimited state guarantee of deposits, triggered by the confiscation of Interbank by the Central Bank Deposit Insurance Fund, has been ramified by the declarations of several banks and other institutions. Following the declarations by Kocbank and Akbank the previous day, the General Directors of Osmanli Bank and Yapi Kredi Bank also took part in the debate yesterday. Aclan Acar, the General Director of Osmanli Bank, stated that the banking system is a whole and attitudes towards an uncontrolled banking environment are implausible. Acar said: "Obviously, unlimited state guarantees of deposits cannot be defended. On the other hand, there should be a guarantee system (perhaps for deposits of up to $10 thousand) in order to protect the ordinary citizen who is unable to analyse the financial stability of the banks." In this respect, Burhan Karacam, the General Director of Yapi Kredi Bank, claimed that the most urgent issue for the sector is the contol of those banks giving very high rates of interest, including public banks. He said: "If equal conditions for competition in the sector are to be ensured, the measures should apply to all of the banks within the system. Under the current conditions, it will be better abrogate the state guarantee of deposits only after the privatization of public banks." Meanwhile, a more radical declaration came from the former Chairman of the Board of Capital Markets (SPK), Ali Ihsan Karacan, who noted that under the current circumstances, it would be very expensive to allow for the failure of banks. Karacan said: "Once confidence in the system is challenged, neither the name of Sabanci nor the name of Koc can survive the banks. The troubles in the entire economy have not been overcome yet. If the support provided for the banking system by means of the state guarantees of deposits is removed suddenly, the whole system will pay the cost." /Hurriyet/[24] THE CONSENSUS IS OVER, DISK ON STRIKEWhile the collective bargaining meetings in the textile sector ended with an agreement between the Turkish Union of Textile Employers (TTSIS) and those trade unions involved in the Turk-Is and Hak-Is Confederations, the cooperation between the three trade unions organized in the sector has been disrupted. Formerly, it was declared that a proposal had been signed between Teksif, involved in Turk-Is, Oz-Iplik Is, involved in Hak-Is, and Tekstil, involved in DISK (Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions), concerning joint action in the meetings. However, upon the violation of this proposal through the recent agreements between TTSIS and Teksif and Oz-Iplik Is, DISK declared its decison to go on strike with more than 11 thousand workers organized under Tekstil in the sector. Starting the strike with 3,500 workers in the Sabanci Group's Bossa factory, the DISK leader Ridvan Budak said in the speech he gave to the workers: "We do not recognize the agreement. Currently there is a psychological war. We do not want to lose our present rights won throughout a 40-year struggle. The fundamental reason for our strike is not wages but the demand of the employer's union to abrogate some articles existent in former contracts, which would unequivocally undermine our former achievements." /Hurriyet/[25] DISK HOLDS AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN ISTANBULThe Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) held an international symposium on "The Invasion of Rights" in Istanbul with the contributions from the European Union and the European Trade-Union Confederation (ETUC). The political consultant of the Trade-Union Advice Committee (TUAC) of OECD, Roy Jones, attended the symposium as a speaker. In his speech Jones said that the system in Turkey was working in separation from the government. He added that as for the developments of the last 15 years, the freedom of being organized in Turkey resembled the systems in Southern Korea and Mexico. Jones pointed out that the Turkish economy had developed by almost five percent during the last 15 years but, he added, everybody had benefitted from this development. "One of the most important developments in Turkey is that there is unification between the different trade-unions, which have different point of views," said Jones. /Cumhuriyet/[26] IMPORTANT INITIATIVE BY VESTELVestel, one of the most important electronic companies in Turkey, has secured a place for itself among the giants of the world in the third Amillenium. The only Turkish company to attend the International CES Fair in Las Vegas, Vestel has entered US markets with the products on display there. The General Coordinator of Zorlu Holding, Metin Caglar, stated that they had received orders for close to a million televisions during the fair. Noting that they had exported goods to over a 100 countries last year, Caglar added that they were preparing to increase their production capacity for television sets to five million. Metin Caglar went on to say that they also had expanded their markets abroad besides markets in Europe./Turkiye/[27] SABANCI WRESTLES GREEK FIRM FOR BULGARIAN TELECOMThe international bidding opened for the privatization of the Bulgarian telecommunications corporation has resulted in new tension between Athens and Ankara in the Balkans. The Sabancı Group, one of the leading holdings in Turkey, attended the bid via a consortium with its Spanish and Portuguese partners. In turn, Ote, the Greek telecommunications firm, has entered the competition for Bulgarian Telecom with its Dutch partner. However, the Simitis government, which is striving for leadership in the Balkans, has launched initiatives against the Sabancı Group and has been trying to establish a new consortium with a strong firm alongside the Dutch firm. It is reported that Greek government officials are perturbed by the possibility that relations between Ankara and Sofia will be strengthened and Greece's influence over Bulgaria will be reduced if Sabancı wins the bid. /Hurriyet/[28] BP GAS TARGETS LEADERSHIP IN TURKEYThierry Faure, the Director General of the Turkish Branch of British Petroleum (BP), said yesterday that Turkey will be the most important Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) market in Europe in 2002 and that BP targets the leadership in the Turkish market of LPG, the Anatolia news agency reports.[29] DHKP_C ILLEGAL TERRORISTS CAUGHT RED HANDEDIt was learned that four terrorists, members of the DHKP_C illegal organization, arrested during raids organized by Ankara Anti-terrorism Directorate, were preparing bombed attacks on intelligence organizations such as MIT, JITEM and the General Directorate of Security. The operations by the police prevented these bombed attacks. The organization had a draft plan of the Ankara Central Prison. A list in which the names of prosecutors of the military courts and some journalists were mentioned was also seized. /Turkiye/[30] "REPUBLIC TRAIN" TO TRAVEL AROUND TURKEYThe State Railway (TCDD) and TRT Children's and Youth Foundation organized the "Republic Train" project with their aim: "to contribute to the education of the next generation by a moving museum in which there is both knowledge and documentationto promote contemporary Turkey, as it was established by Ataturk". The steam train, called the "Republic Train", will travel around Turkey for a year. In the written statement of the organizers, it was stressed that the project aimed to make Turkish youth better understand Ataturk's struggle during the War of Independence forthe contemporary Republic of Turkey. Domestic and foreign authors, photographers and teachers will also be among the passangers on the train. The train is scheduled to travel between 1 March and 31 December 1999. /Cumhuriyet/[31] R.J. REYNOLDS SUPPORTS PHOKAIA EXCAVATIONSThe cigarette-producing company, R.J. Reynolds, decided to support the Foca (Phokaia) excavations, in which some of the most important examples of Anatolian culture have been found. As for their decision they contacted with the Archeology Professor, Omer Ozyigit, from Ege University, who has been conducting the excavations for the past 10 years. Representatives of the R.J. Reynolds company announced that they would extend $ 20,000 as the first part of their financial aid for the excavation studies. /Cumhuriyet/[32] $89 MILLION OF CARPETS EXPORTED FROM GAZIANTEPThe exports of carpets from Gaziantep in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in 1998, increased by 29.7 % to $89 million, the Anatolia news agency reports. In the same period last year, Gaziantep exported $68.7 million of carpets.[33] YACHT TOURISM IN TURKEYApproximately 25 % of Turkey's tourism income is obtained from yacht tourism, and foreign exchange income provided in this field reached $2 billion, the Anatolia news agency reports. Zafer Ergul, Antalya Setur Marine Director, said that there were 14 marines along Turkish shores having the capacity for 6,769 yachts.[34] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS"GOLDEN TRIANGLE" FROM DEMIREL TO ECEVIT by YAVUZ DONAT (SABAH)Today, in his columun, journalist Yavuz Donat told his readers about his meeting with President Suleyman Demirel after he had approved the new Ecevit cabinet. Donat reported that immediately after Demirel approved Ecevit's new government, he sent the new Prime Minister, BUlent Ecevit, a "memo" saying, "From my point of view, what are the topics on the agenda of Turkey? Turkey's short and long term issues. Everything hangs on this note." What was the content of the memo? asked Donat and he added "Everything". "For instance: Turkmen natural gas, terrorism, the Moldovo irrigation project, Deriner Dam on the Coruh river, Semdinli-Derecik highway, the opening of the Hamzabey bordergate on the Bulgarian border, dams on the Kizilirmak river, Hakkari Dam on the Zap river, the construction of airports in border regions, reforms in the economy and banking system and attention to payment balances." Donat noted that Demirel evaluated the memo as a "golden triangle", saying the first angle of the triangle was "good defence", the second one was a "healthy economy" and the last one was a "running democracy". Regarding the "government" Demirel noted that it had been established on democratic grounds. Donat quoted Demirel saying that he had aimed at government depending on the National Assembly and he had reached his target. Yavuz Donat stressed that Parliament should show its loyalty to the regime and its mission. "This should be necessary for the respect of Parliament and for a healthy democracy". /Sabah/ [35] LOOKING FOR A MOTIVE - BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)In his column in Cumhuriyet, Orhan Birgit discusses the new government and the reactions to the appointment of the Education Minister. A summary of his column is as follows:"The reactions to the appointment of the Education Minister of the 55th government, Hikmet Ulugbay, to both Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister in the 56th government should be received with tolerance and even with some pleasure. Until three years ago, Turkey did not know anything about uninterrupted eight year education. The implementation started with Hikmet Ulugbay as Education Minister.The first year of this implementation has not been completed as yet. However it was approved of and accepted by the majority of the population. Metin Bostancioglu who took over the Education Ministry from Prof. Ulugbay stated that the implementations concerning uninterrupted education would be ongoing and free from obstacles. Bostancioglu added, "Bulent Ecevit is the first leader to bring uninterrupted education issue to the fore. Therefore our point of view on the matter is expressed as a binding decision during a group meeting of the Democratic Left Party. " The only result which can be derived from these discussions is that majority of the population wants to read, to be enlightened and to reach modern standards. Those who were against the uninterrupted education when the law was being passed, do not seem to want to oppose this law anymore. Therefore it is wondered for how long a the appointment of Ulugbay to an office where he can solve economic matters, which he knows only too well, is going to be used as a ground for discussions?" Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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