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Turkish Press Review, 99-01-14Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>14.01.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] SHIELD FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICEPresident Suleyman Demirel yesterday received both the Chairman of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Foundation (TUSIAV), Veli Saritoprak, and an accompanying delegation yesterday. During the meeting a shield for his 50 years of service to the Republic of Turkey was presented to President Suleyman Demirel by the representatives of the associations, societies and foundations forming TUSIAV. President Demirel, who also received Aegean businessmen yesterday stated that the hardships suffered by the economy were due to the crises in the Far East and Russia and had been experienced only in the last four or five months. /Turkiye/[02] THREE INDEPENDENTS JOIN DYPIndependent Elazig Deputy Hasan Belhan and Adana Deputy Cevdet Akcali, who remained independent following the closure of the Welfare Party, and Bingol Deputy Kazim Ataoglu, who recently resigned from the Virtue Party (FP), joined the True Path Party (DYP). The number of seats the DYP holds in Parliament rose to a hundred. In a statement, the DYP Chairman Tansu Ciller, said that with the newcomers the party grew stronger and added: "They deemed it proper to unite under the umbrella of a cause representing the whole nation at the end of its fight for democracy." /Turkiye/[03] PROSECUTOR CALLS FOR LIFTING OF IMMUNITY OF THREE DYP DEPUTIESThree deputies from the True Path Party (DYP) could find themselves in court over a statement criticizing Public Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel of being biased. The Public Prosecutor's office at Ankara State Security Court, also headed by Yuksel, yesterday sent a memorandum to the Justice Ministry calling for deputies Riza Akcali, Necati Cetinkaya and Nevzat Ercan to have their immunity from prosecution lifted because they had made Yuksel a target for terrorist attack. Before the DYP deputies can face court, the Justice Ministry must first hand the files over to Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, who must then pass them on to a Parliamentary Commission and then finally to a full sitting of Parliament. /All papers/[04] ECEVIT PROTESTING THE AGAINST USE OF INCIRLIKPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit clearly stated that in case the US continues to strike Iraq, Turkey would not permit the use of the base in Incirlik. In answer to questions on a television programme, Ecevit expressed his concern that the US would strike Iraq again after the holy month of Ramadan was over and in such a situation he did not consider permitting the use of Incirlik base. Adding that he hoped the US would give birth to peaceful solutions, Ecevit blamed the US Administration for having no clear policy over the situation in Iraq and underlined the fact that there was no change in the status which allowed only for the flight of planes from the base to supervise the no-fly zone and not for air strikes. During the air strikes, which took place last month, Incirlik air base was not used; however US planes taking off from Incirlik last week bombed three Iraqi radars in Northern Iraq.Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said the use of Incirlik air base was determined by certain rules and regulations and to use it for other purposes than for what it had been intended was out of the question. He added that Turkey wanted a return to normal conditions in the region, and whatever the consequences, Iraqi territorial integrity and political unity should be respected. /Turkiye/ [05] US OPERATIONS FROM INCIRLIK BASE IRK ANKARAFollowing the US fighters' attack on Iraqui missile facilities in Nothern Iraq yesterday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the Incirlik base cannot be used for any purpose other than its primary function, citing US declarations of self-defence as mere `claims'. Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the frequent attacks on Iraqui targets by US fighters from the Incirlik base in Adana have been anxiously followed by Turkey. Utkan said: "The use of Incirlik within the guidelines of Operation Northern Watch is lied down in detailed, strict rules. The Operation is, as mentioned in the resolution of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA),oriented towards observation, and prevention when necessary, in compliance with the relevant UN resolutions. It is not possible to use Incirlik for a purpose other than the function I mentioned. It has never been devoted to such a purpose, and it will never have such a purpose." /Cumhuriyet/[06] ECEVIT IN FOREIGN PRESSNew York Times journalist Stephen Kinzer said in his column yesterday that Turkey had overcome the government crisis with Bulent Ecevit. He described Ecevit as a powerful secular politican. He added that Ecevit was the "powerful pillar of the left" in Turkey.The Novi Izvestiya Russian newspaper said that Bulent Ecevit had a very positive image in Turkish politics, adding that the "father of the social democracy in Turkey" had never abondoned ideology. /Sabah/ [07] NEW GOVERNMENT TARGETS SOCIAL SECURITYSalim Uslu, the Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), said in a written statement yesterday that he is happy to see the issue of social security on the priority list of the 56th government, despite its agenda being crammed with preparations for the upcoming April 18 elections. /All papers/[08] YSK TO RECEIVE TL 19 TRILLION FOR ELECTION EXPENDITUREThe budget for the upcoming elections to be held on April 18 has been determined by the Finance Ministry, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Supreme Election Board (YSK) has been allocated TL 19.6 trillion for election expenditure.[09] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEYAn IMF delegation headed by Chief of the Turkish Desk, Martin Hardy, will arrive in Turkey on January 27, the Anatolia news agency reports. According to a statement made by the Treasury Undersecretariat, the delegation will visit Turkey within the guidelines of a Staff Monitoring Agreement signed between Turkey and the IMF. The delegation will hold meetings in Ankara and Istanbul between January 27 and February 8, 1999.[10] RECORD FINE TO THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF TUPRASKemal Isik, the former General Director of TUPRAS (Turkish Oil Rafineries Corp.), found a heavy fine imposed on him for being liable for losses during his term of office in 1993. It was revealed in a Prime Ministry Inspectorate examination that Isik had invested 27 million dollars of TUPRAS in Impexbank and Marmara Bank in order to obtain high repo revenues and thereby had been responsible for losses on the part of the corporation upon the bankruptcy of these banks in the 1994 crisis. The court decided that Kemal Isik would repay that 27 million dollars to the corporation and imposed on him an additional fine of $70 thousand. It is reported that this decision constitutes one of the largest fines ever imposed on a bureaucrat in Turkey. /Hurriyet/[11] RAMADAN DINNER GIVEN BY PATRIARCHMesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, held a Ramadan dinner for his friends before his first journey abroad following his election as Patriach. Noting that he would be in Jerusalem during the Ramadan Festival to pay a visit to the patriarchs and rabbis there, Mutafyan said: "Therefore I will not be able to be in Istanbul during the Holiday. I wanted to celebrate your Festival with this dinner". /Hurriyet/[12] TURCO-SPANISH RELATIONSA memorandum accord regarding the first-term meetings of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between Turkey and Spain was approved by the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette yesterday. According to the accord, the two sides agreed that they will exert efforts to further develop and diversify commercial relations. The accord also pointed out the importance of mutual visits by commercial delegations and of participation in fairs and exhibitions in Spain and Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reports.[13] FIRE IN A VESSEL OFF AHIRKAPIA fire which occurred in a dry-cargo vessel off the Zeytinburnu Ahirkapi coast of Istanbul has been extinguished with the support of tugs and fire-tender vessels. The Sao Tome-flagged vessel was on its way from Venice and was to go to Venezuela. The 13-member crew including seven Turks and six Azerbaijanis were brought to Karakoy Port by boats, the Anatolia news agency reports. Great material damage has occurred in the vessel.[14] OCALAN TRIES TO FRIGHTEN PKK MEMBERSThe PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan is trying to frighten the members of the PKK terrorist organization. Ocalan, who has received senior PKK party members in Rome, said that he would take them to his next destination if they fail to help him gain asylum there. It is reported that Ocalan's threats have created a moral decay in the organization and some PKK members are supporting the opposition front led by journalist Cemil Gundogan, which is attempting to establish itself against Ocalan. /Cumhuriyet/[15] ITALIAN PRESS ON OCALANThe La Repubblica newspaper published in Italy issued an article under the headline 'D'Alema and Turks are fighting for Ocalan' and said that if the leader of the PKK terrorist organization does not leave Italy he will be tried in that country.The Corriera della Serra newspaper recalled that D'Alema had said that the PKK leader could be tried under the rules of international reconciliation against terrorism of 1977. /Cumhuriyet/ [16] ITALY LIKELY TO TRY OCALANItaly will put Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, on trial for terrorism if he does not find some other place to live, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema has warned, according to press reports yesterday. Italy would use the European Convention Against Terrorism as the legal basis for charges against Ocalan. "If he stays here, he will have to expect that he will be put on trial" said D'Alema."This is a paradoxical situation" D"Alema said, adding: "Ocalan is a free man whom we cannot give political asylum because of the terrorist crimes he is accused of but whom we cannot deport because we don't know where to send him to". /All papers/ [17] TURKISH STOCKS PLUNGE 8.26 % OVER BRAZILIAN WOESShares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) plunged 8.26 % yesterday over investor's fears that the global economic crisis could hit Brazil and spread to the US, brokers said. The IMKB-100 Index fell 220 points to 2,447 points. Brazil, the biggest economy in Latin America, has been in turmoil since the beginning of the year, when one of the country's most wealthy regions announced a moratorium on debts to the central government. /All papers/[18] COLLAPSE IN COALMINEAs a result of a cave-in a coalmine in the Koroglu village of Zonguldak yesterday, two people, Serdar Kuku aged 26 and Adem Kuku aged 19, lost their lives. /Cumhuriyet/[19] THREE EXPERTS IN ISTANBULA three-expert delegation from the World Nuclear Energy Institution arrived in Istanbul yesterday to observe 15 people injured during a radiation accident in the Ikitelli district of Istanbul. Prof.Christopher Sharp noted that the treatment of the injured was in progress and and said: "We have made some recommendations". /Cumhuriyet/[20] REACTION AGAINST TURKISH-AZERBAIJANI PACTArmenia has reacted against the 'Azerbaijani-Turkish Military Pact' voiced by the Azerbaijani Foreign Political Advisor to the Presidency, Vefa Gulizade. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said that such a pact would cause polarization in the region. Oskanyan noted that military cooperation between Armenia and Russia was not aimed at a third party and said that the reaction of Azerbaijan against this cooperation stemmed from its likely negative effect on the solution of the Karabakh problem. /Cumhuriyet/[21] S-300 MISSILES TO CRETEIt is reported that there has been no official reply to a proposal made by the Greek Cypriot Administration for an amendment to the agreement regarding the Russian-made S-300 missiles. According to Greek Cypriot radio, the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece have agreed upon the deployment of the missiles on Crete. However some amendments should be made to the agreement concerning the deployment of the missiles on Crete instead of southern Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/[22] GRRECE BUYING PATRIOT MISSILESGreece in its attempts to militarize the Aegean has come to the last stages of an agreement wth the US Defence company Roytheon Co. concerning the order for patriot missiles. The officials of Roytheon Co. who noted that meetings had been held throughout 1998 to sell Patriot missiles worth $ 1.1 billion, noted that the delivery of the Patriots to Greece would start in the near future. In another development, Greece signed a new contract for 1999 worth $ 150 million for the defence system called HAWK 11, again with the Roytheon Co. The company began to become known as a producer of Patriot missiles following the Gulf War. The General Director of the Company, William H. Swanson, said that they would sign a contract with Greece amounting to $ 18 billion until the end of the year. Greece which aims to deploy these missiles in the Aegean region and Cyprus will strengthen its defence system. /Turkiye/[23] DENKTAS-HERCUS MEETINGThe President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and the Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Ann Hercus, held a meeting yesterday. No statement was made regarding the meeting held as part of the shuttle diplomacy being carried out by Hercus between the two sides in Cyprus. Hercus left Cyprus yesterday in order to meet the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. /Cumhuriyet/[24] KIRCI REMAINS SILENTTwo days after he formed the 56th government, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made one of his first visits as the new Prime Minister to Ankara's Security Department. The goal of the visit was to raise his level of awareness with regard to the current traffic problems in Turkey. Most of the discussion, however, concerned Haluk Kirci, the man accused of the murders of six Workers' Party (IP) members, an incident which became known as the Bahcelievler massacre.Responding to a question regarding whether the mysterious gaps in information surrounding the incident could be filled in by information that Haluk Kirci may provide, Ecevit said it would be possible if Kirci were to actually 'provide information'. The Head of the Security Department, Necati Bilican, stressed that Kirci had once again declined to say anything when he was questioned yesterday. /All papers/ [25] DUAL CITIZENSIP RESEARCHAccording to a survey carried out in Germany, one out of every two German citizens is against the implementation of dual citizenship. While furnishing information regarding the new draft law, German Interior Minister Otto Schilly said that the PKK terrorists and Metin Kaplan would not be made German citizens. According to a survey carried out by Forsa Research Institute for the weekly 'Stern' magazine, 39 % of 1,000 people who participated in the survey supported dual citizenship rights for foreigners. /Cumhuriyet/[26] TURKISH INVESTORS SETTLE IN BULGARIATurkish firms are highly interested in privatization in Bulgaria. They have been successful in purchasing most of the establishments in the chemical, iron and steel, food, textile and tourism sectors. It is expected that Turkish investment in its neighbour will reach $ 1 billion by the end of this year. Some of the Turkish firms investing in Bulgaria are as follows: Sise Cam, Isiklar Corp., Sudi Ozkan Company, Erdermir, Garipoglu Corpo., and Ceylan Corp. /Aksam/[27] EURO REQUIRES EUROPEAN PARTNERSThe General Directorate of Economic Research and Evaluation of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat of the (DTM) announced that competition would increase in Europe in line with the Euro and that Turkish firms should seek partnership with European firms. According to a report issued by DTM, it was recalled that 50 percent of Turkey's foreign trade was with the European Union (EU); therefore, the Euro is of great importance for Turkey. Also, it was added, almost 45 percent of foreign debts were in European currency. Pointing out that the share of the EU countries in foreign investment during the last five years in Turkey was 70 percent, the report noted that there were three million Turkish citizens living in EU countries, who had a total of DM 21 billion savings in the Central Bank. /Aksam/[28] TURKEY'S PICTURE IN 2023The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) issued a report about Turkey's picture in 2023. The report discussed Turkey's soci-economic situation and made predictions concerning population, urbanization and employment in 2023 in Turkey. According to the report there will be a significant decrease in population, there will be more working women, unemployment will be decreased step by step, urbanization will increase, new economic centres will be established and the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will play a vital role in Turkish economy in 2023.The report announced six suggestions to grasp business opportunities; the economic system should be re-organized to harmonize with the global market economy, the local administrative system should be supported, educational reform should be sustained, social policies should be improved to the benefit of social flexibility in working conditions should become widespread and burdens such as income taxes on employing should be decreased. /Milliyet/ [29] TURKEY'S PRIDEThe US Converse company decided to produce its textile goods entirely in Turkey. The Chairman of Converse, Willy Umland and the African and Middle East Director, Tony Keen came to Turkey to discuss the issue with the Chairman of the Executive Board of Converse in Turkey, Kerim Gozalan. Umland announced that they wanted to start production as soon as possible. /Sabah/[30] TARKAN IN FRANCETurkish pop singer Tarkan signed an agreement with Polygram last summer. Since then, reported Sabah journalist Nurdan Bernard, Tarkan has been rising in popularity in European music markets. Bernard reminded her readers that all the tickets for the concert that Tarkan would give on 27 January in Olympia, Paris had already been sold out. She added: "Tarkan has been invited onto almost every entertainment programme on television channels since last September. As a result of his successful promotion by Polygram, his CD are among the top five best-selling CDs. There is great competition among French magazines to interview Tarkan. /Sabah/[31] "GOOD AND BAD NEWS FROM IRAQ" -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Milliyet columnist Sami Kohen evaluated the recent developments in his article today. Kohen said that the first development in the region had been the meeting between the two Kurdish leaders in Northern Iraq. He noted that at the end of the meeting a decision was taken to put an end to the presence of the PKK in the region. Kohen said: "It is known that the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Mesut Barzani, does not allow the activities of the PKK within the region under his control and gives support to the operations of the Turkish Armed Forces in the region. At the meeting it was understood that the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Celal Talabani, had decided to ban the activities of the PKK." Kohen evaluated the results of the meeting as follows: "If Barzani and Talabani are acting together against the PKK and cooperate with Turkey, the terrorist organization will lose its effect in the region after Syria."Sami Kohen noted that the other development in Iraq was the tension between the regime of Saddam Hussein and the US administration. Kohen claimed that if an American aircraft was hit by Iraqi powers, there would be serious repercussions in the region. Kohen added, "The US aircraft are based in Incirlik Airbase. Thus, recent incidents in Northern Iraq area cause of anxiety among Turkish diplomatic and military circles. However, the real anxiety is that the US forces will bomb the region again immediately after the Festival at the end of the Muslim religious month of Ramadan. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that although the US administration had not asked to use the Incirlik base, such a request would harm Turkey's relations with Iraq and would damage the ongoing cooperation atmosphere towards America." Kohen concluded his article saying that it was a pity that the chance for diplomatic solution was less than the possibility of clashes. /Milliyet/ [32] POWER PLANT-BANK-MEDIA -BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)Cuneyt Arcayurek, a columnist from the daily 'Cumhuriyet' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "The Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, who delivered a speech to his party group yesterday said that the 56th minority government, headed by Ecevit, would continue on the 'understanding of governmental activities' similar to those of the 55th governnment. This statement clarifies that the minority government will definitely be the successor of the Yilmaz government. Actually, the programme of the Ecevit government proves this reality. Ecevit has devoted wide coverage to the achievements of the Yilmaz government in his programme.However, maybe because of the brief government agenda, some sensitive issues are not mentioned. For instance, the decisions regarding the distribution of the network of electricity power plants implemented just before the fall of the Yilmaz government are not mentioned. The former Eenergy Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, transferred the 14 electricity distribution networks and eight electricity power plants to big conglomorates on January 7-8. An interesting point is that on January 8 Ecevit was given the mandate to form the new government. While the Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader was seeking ways to form the government, ANAP was distributing the power plants. The 55th government did not permit the Ecevit government to deal with the distribution of the power plants and did not postpone the decision for even two days. This hurry raises some questions in our minds". /Cumhuriyet/ Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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