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Turkish Press Review, 99-06-07Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>07.06.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[02] SPECIAL KOSOVO[03] DEMIREL: "NOBODY CAN PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TURKEY"President Suleyman Demirel yesterday attended the ceremony to divert the River Euphrates through to the Birecik Dam. At the end of the ceremony Demirel gave a speech to the people of Birecik, saying that Turkey was an element of stability in their region. Demirel declared, "Turkey has every opportunity to develop and nobody can prevent this; we will attain a level of prosperity and wealth very soon."After his meetings in Birecik were completed, Demirel moved on to the Karkamis Dam by helicopter. During his speech in this region he said that while welcoming a new century, Turkey's every effort was directed towards the improvement of the country. /Turkiye/ [04] ECEVIT: "EU IS INSINCERE TOWARDS TURKEY"Evaluating the results of the Cologne Summit, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit claimed that the European Union (EU) was not sincere in its attitude towards Turkey. He added that the EU uses the Greek veto against Turkey. Turkey's EU membership was a serious goal but if it was not achieved, this would not be the end of the world, stated Ecevit. He remarked that since Turkey was a dynamic country both in its economy and society new opportunities would be available to her. /Cumhuriyet/[05] OCALAN'S TRIAL WILL CONTINUE TOMORROWFollowing a three-day break, the trial of Abdullah Ocalan will continue tomorrow on Imrali Island. The trial was postponed to June 8 following a decision issued by Chief Judge Turgut Okyay on June 4. Tomorrow, the prosecutor's office will present its views on the merits of the trial and later lawyers for the accused will make their defence. Ocalan's lawyers said in a press conference yesterday that they would require a one-month in Court to present their defence. /Aksam/[06] OCALAN TRIAL IN THE FOREIGN MEDIAForeign media interest in the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist PKK organization, continues. In its issue yesterday, the British `The Guardian' argued that "the solution to all of those questions concerning democratization, human rights, economic growth and relations with Europe will be dependent upon the resolution of the Kurdish problem."Meanwhile, in a commentary concerning the Greek supporters of Ocalan, the Greek `Elefteros Tipos' said that the "sanity of those Greek MPs who supported Ocalan is under suspicion. Ocalan has revealed Greece as the leading country which supports his movement. If intellectual and physical capabilities are the precondition of an uprising, then a substantial mental stability is the precondition for undertaking foreign policy initiatives that would lead one's people in an adventure." /Milliyet/ [07] GREECE WILL BE MADE NOTORIOUOSThe Turkish Foreign Ministry will gather the confessions concerning Greece made by the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, during his the trial on Imrali Island, together in a file to prove Greece's notoriety to the whole world. The Foreign Ministry will bring the file onto the agenda of the UN, NATO, OSCE and at the Council of Europe. Turkey will explain how Greece has violated those international agreements which envisage cooperation against terrorism. Turkey, which has previously proven that Greece has connections with the PKK, will now show the Greek support for the PKK to the whole world.An official from the Foreign Ministry remarked that Ocalan's confessions have proven that Greece supports the PKK terrorist organization. The official said that the support given by Iran, Iraq and Italy had also been recorded and at all meetings to be held in the futer the file including Ocalan's confessions would be perused by our counterparts. /Aksam/ [08] OCALAN`S BROTHER LIKE A PKK MEMBERThe brother of the chief of the terrorist PKK, Mehmet Ocalan, made a statement to the Greek `Elefterotipia' newspaper and claimed that Apo has had to commit these murders because of his beliefs. He asserted that Abdullah Ocalan has indeed got an anti-violent character. Relating to a question concerning the accusations of the relatives of the soldiers killed by the PKK, Ocalan's brother asked; "But tell me; how can a nation struggle for her independence in any other way?" In answer to another question on whether he had a relationship with the PKK or not, he said, "I cannot reply, because this is not a suitable situation for that." /Sabah/[09] PKK IS COLLAPSINGThe PKK terrorist organization has confessed that members have scattered following the capture of Abdullah Ocalan. In a pro-PKK publication, it was stated that there is an atmosphere of anarchy within the PKK. /Hurriyet/[10] 20 PKK TERRORISTS KILLEDFollowing an operation in and around Diyarbakir, Van and Bingol 20 terrorists had been killed by security forces. According to the Office of the Emergency Rule Region, during clashes between security forces and terrorists in the Mendi region of Diyarbakir four terrorists were killed; additionally, in the Eyvantasi Mount region of Van 14 and in the Asagikoy district of Bingol two terrorists were killed. Also a member of the security forces had been killed by the end of the clashes. /Turkiye/[11] S-300 MISSILES LEFT IN THEIR CRATESIt is reported that S-300 missiles purchased from Russia by the Greek-Cypriot Administration to deploy on Cyprus but which were, however, later transported to Crete due to pressure from Turkey have been left in their boxes due to the ignorance of Russian technicians. According to an article published in the To Vima newspaper in Greece, Russian technicians who have previously assumed operational responsibility for the S-300 missiles, in coordination with other missiles in the country, have not come to Greece and the missiles have been left in storage. It is also claimed that Greece will protest Russia. /Aksam/[12] A NEW TERM FOR CYPRUS ISSUEAmerica is renewing its efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and new officials will be appointed by Washington for this purpose. The Cyprus issue will be on the agenda of the G-8 Summit to be held between 18-20 June in Cologne. Before the Summit, the U.S. will prepare a new "map" and a new "constitution" for the island. Despite this, Ankara does not want the Cyprus problem to be taken out of the hands of the Turkey- Greece-America triangle and put on the agenda of a summit. The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Turkey's uneasiness regarding the Cyprus issue was outlined to him. /Sabah/[13] GEORGIA-ABHAZIA PEACE TALKS TO BE HELD IN TURKEYGeorgian and Abhazian officials will meet today in Istanbul to discuss peace. Abhazian President Vladislav Ardzinba and Prime Minister Sergey Bagatas arrived in Istanbul yesterday. The meetings will be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Representative to Istanbul. Turkish minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, will deliver the opening speech to the gatjering, which will take place between 7-9 June. It is announced that representatives of the UN, and the European Security and Cooperation Organization, besides officials from the U.S., Germany, France and the Russian Federation, will attend the talks. /Cumhuriyet/[14] STUDENT SELECTION EXAMINATION (OSS) HELDThe Student Selection Examination (OSS) which was supposed to be held on May 2, however postponed due to a robbery of the question booklets, was held yesterday in 145 provinces and districts and in the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). 1,479,552 students entered the university entrance examination. /Aksam/[15] MINI-ELECTIONS HELD YESTERDAYA mini-election attended by 40,000 voters was held yesterday in 12 places including districts and counties. The Local Administrations Elections in these places had been cancelled for various reasons. The nominee of the Republican People's Party (CHP) won the election to become the Mayor of Bilecik receiving 5,991 votes out of 14,000 votes. It is reported that victory in the elections belonged to the CHP.Out of eight counties, three were won by the Motherland Party, two by the CHP, one by the True Path Party (DYP), one by the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and one was won by an independent nominee. /Aksam/ [16] ANAP MKYK CONVENESThe Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) of the Motherland Party (ANAP) will convene under the chairmanship of General Chairman Mesut Yilmaz. During the meeting, the election to determine the members of the Board of the Chairmanship will be held. /Hurriyet/[17] MINE EXPLODES IN SEMDINLI: SIX DEATHsA mine laid by members of the PKK terrorist organization exploded in the Semdinli district of Hakkari, killing six people including five village guards and wounding five other village guards. Those wounded were taken to Semdinli State Hospital. Officials stated that a search to find the terrorists was underway. /Aksam/[18] `REPUBLIC OF TURKEY WILL LIVE FOREVER'The Senior Priest of Turkish citizens of Armenian origin, Dermiron Ayvazyan, said that the Republic of Turkey would live forever. A traditional religious ceremony organized at Surp Krikor Lussavoric Armenian Church was attended by 180 citizens from Istanbul, Kayseri, Sivas and Malatya. Ayvazyan also prayed for those who had lost their lives during the struggle to protect the territorial integrity of Turkey. He said, "In this beautiful country, the church-bells and calls for prayer (ezan) will continue forever". /Aksam/[19] EFFORTS BEGIN FOR THE NEW BUDGETParliament, which has been unable to display a serious performance in recent months, will start working today. A draft law concerning extensive reforms in the banking system will be taken up and a subcommission will be formed to this end within the Planning and Budget Commission. Following that, Sumer Oral, the Minister of Finance, will present the Budget Draft Law to the Commission. On Wednesday, discussions on the whole of the budget will be started by the Commission, which will convene at the weekends as well and complete their deliberations in 10 days. Then, the Commission's Report will be submitted to the Office of the Speaker on June 20. /Milliyet/[20] NEW MARKETS FOR TURKISH ECONOMYThe global crisis is having a negative effect on Turkey's trading partners such as Germany, Turkey's biggest trading partner. Also, Turkey is not benefitting as much as she could from the American markets. However, new markets are emerging to enliven the Turkish economy: for instance, exports to Spain increased during the first three months of this year; Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia are other countries which are ensuring market opportunities for Turkey. For the first three months of 1999, Turkish exports to Spain increased by 65.5 %, to Egypt by 53.2 %, to Algeria by 42.2 %, those to Switzerland by 39.1 % and to Tunisia 19.1 %. However, Germany, the U.S., Britain, Italy and France are still the countries to which Turkey sends the highest amount of exported goods. /Sabah/[21] TREASURY WILL TRY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ONCE AGAINFollowing a one-year break, the Treasury will open a state bonds bid based on the Consumer Price Index (TUFE) on June 8. With the restart of the TUFE bid, the Treasury aims to renew those bonds owned by foreign investments on their redemption dates. Within the 14-month TUFE-based bid the Treasury aims to reach a total borrowing of $100 million; the rate of real interest will be declared today. /Milliyet/[22] IMF WANTS TRANSPARENCYThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants member countries, including Turkey, to adopt 'transparency' in budgetary and other implementations. The IMF sent an outline of its standards on transparency to its member countries; within these guidelines, various views and proposals which will also constitute the basis of the Public Financial Administration Project supported by the World Bank were conveyed to Turkey. Within the standards determined by the IMF, the establishment of a transparent financial structure takes its place as an important and indispensable element. Meanwhile, the Chief of the Turkish Desk, Carlo Cotterelli, will arrive in Turkey on June 15. /Aksam/[23] WORKING STANDARDS TO HARMONIZE WITH ILOThe Minister of Labour and Social Security, Yasar Okuyan, said that one of the main targets of the 57th coalition government is to improve the rights of workers and staff by improving working conditions to a standard in line with ILO standards. The Minister went to Geneva in order to attend the "87th International Labour Conference" organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Okuyan noted that he would express the Turkish government's ideas and targets at the meeting. /Sabah/[24] CONFIDENCE IN THE FOREIGN INVESTORReports which will be prepared by the commissions in charge of finding solutions concerning arbitration and taxes will be handed over to Deputy Prime Minster Devlet Bahceli. The result will be presented to the Government after they have been examined by Bahceli, as the Nationalist Action Party's (MHP) proposals. Emin Carıkcı stated that the commission has almost completed its studies on international arbitration and added that, in general, international arbitration was favoured. Carıkcı said that since Turkey was in a financial bottleneck, foreign investments were badly needed and he said, "If there is no international arbitration, foreign companies will not invest in Turkey. On this subject the necessary amendments should be made in the Constitution." Carıkcı also said that the issue of inflation accounting which is of great concern to the businessmen, should be solved in the medium-term. /Star/[25] "GAP IS TURKEY'S GARDEN"The Press Attache of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, Benjamin Krasna, said that they were happy to take part in the ventures in Southeastern Anatolia. Krasna added that they were in complete cooperation with Turkish officials concerning the projects within the GAP region. They aimed to turn the region into an area from where Turkey could meet her energy and food requirements, said Krasna adding that Israel was proud of take part in the GAP projects. /Aksam/[26] 62 FUGITIVES CAPTURED62 illegal imigrants wanting to enter Greece have been captured in Edirne. During the checks carried out by gendermarie teams, 45 Iranians, three Iraquis and one Moroccon in the Meric district, 11 Afghanians in the Ipsala district and two Iranians in the Enez district were captured. It is reported that the fugitives will be deported. /Milliyet/[27] ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES IN THE BOSPHORUS STRAITSProtests against the 'Transport of Dangerous Materials through the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits' were held yesterday on the occasion of World Environment Day. Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin said that he was also against the transport of dangerous materials through the Straits. /Aksam/[28] PROMOTION IN TOURISMThe Head of the Turkish Hotels' Union (TUROB), Ali Gureli, said that they had reached agreements with various firms for Turkey's promotion abroad. Gureli remarked that they would promote Turkey through public relations companies in Germany, Britain and Russia, and pointed out that their goal was to decrease the adverse publicity abroad which Turkey has been experiencing. He added: "We are waiting for everyone to contribute to the project. We have received a great deal of support from various Chambers of Trade and Industry". Gureli also stressed that tourism policies were as important as national defence policies and lasting principles should be established in the tourism sector. /Aksam/[29] "THE TARGET FOR TOURISM IS 12 MONTHS"Minister of Tourism Erkan Mumcu said that they aimed to boost tourism within 12 months. Visiting the Tourist Guide Foundation, Mumcu remarked that they should obtain the requirements of tourists ver and meet them. With this in mind, surveys would be conducted in the tourist regions in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[30] TURKEY HAS GREAT HOPES FOR THE GREATEST EXHIBITION IN THE WORLDThe EXPO 2000 World Exhibition, declared "the greatest commercial exhibition of the century" will be held in Hannover; last week, representatives from the participant countries were in Hannover for the preparations. The Exhibition is of great significance to Turkey. The original project including historical-cultural and environmental motives was received with great interest./Hurriyet/[31] TURKISH FIRM'S ACHIEVEMENTA computer software programme developed by Turkish engineers is much in demand by leading companies world-wide. The IMS Software firm, which received the jury special technology award in Turkey this year, also drew the attention of the US market with its new products. /Aksam/[32] TURKISH CARPETS TO THE U.S.One of the leading companies in Turkey producing machine-made carpets, Atlas Carpets, produces two different type and models of carpet especially for the U.S. The General Director of Atlas Hali Corporation, Mehmet Aytuk, said that they produced high-quality carpets at reasonable prices and that there was a great deal of foreign demand for their products. He remarked, "Our carpets are also in great demand by American consumers. We produce two different types of carpets for the American market, "Atlas Brilland" and "Atlas Dreamland". We export 85 % of the annual production to the U.S." /Sabah/[33] TURKISH RED CRESCENT AID FOR AZERBAIJANTurkey has sent 250 tents to the Agdas region of Azerbaijan, an earthquake disaster area. According to Red Crescent officials, 10,000 refugees were still sheltering in Berde and Agcabedi tent camps in Azerbaijan, which were set up in 1993 by Turkey. It was added that a group from the Red Crescent had gone to the disaster area to help the people who were in need. /Cumhuriyet/[34] TURKEY AIMS FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPTurkey won against Finland with a score of 4-2 on Saturday thus gaining a chance of a place in European Football Championship. Turkey is the best among the groups' runners-up./Aksam/[35] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[36] EUROPE IS PLAYING WITH TURKEY - BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz comments on the latest European Union Summit held in Cologne and Turkey's disappointment at not being accepted as a candidate for the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:"Inconsistencies in Turkish policy and the fact that Europe is still playing with Turkey have come out into the open. The Government, which reflected the view that Turkey did not need Europe or they would not request anything from anyone, has done just the opposite of what it said. It should be added that Europe is continuing its 'good cop-bad cop' approach towards Turkey. Prior to the Summit in Cologne, Foreign Ministry officials were saying that Ankara did not expect much from this Summit. They did not believe that a membership perspective would be given to Turkey during this Summit. However, it has been discovered that from March onwards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had launched a silent diplomatic attack concerning the EU. The first step was taken by President Suleyman Demirel during the NATO Summit with a letter he handed to the German Prime Minister and the EU-term-chairman Gerhard Schroeder. In the letter attention was drawn to the steps taken by Turkey in the light of the pre-conditions requested by Europe and the new steps which will be taken were also mentioned. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also supported the President and sent a letter to the German Prime Minister just before the Cologne Summit. The answers coming from Schroeder raised the official expectations However, it is apparent that no mention of Turkey in the closing communique of the Summit constituted a diplomatic defeat for Ankara. Schroeder says that he requested that the Turkish demands be met, but others did not. It is reported that the countries opposing these requests are Italy, Sweden and Greece. It is clear that Germany wants to improve relations with Turkey and to protect its national interests. We should know these games by now. Today Germany is playing the 'good-cop', and Italy and Sweden 'bad-cop'. When Helmut Kohl was Prime Minister, Germany was the 'bad-cop' and Italy pretended to be helpful. If there were no roles to play they were all hiding behind Greece. It is evident that they are all trying to distract Turkey's attention by these methods. Therefore, the 57th Government should take a more consistent stand and review its policy concerning the EU." [37] SPECIAL KOSOVO[38] NATO ATTACKS CONTINUEYugoslav and NATO generals met at an air base in northern Macedonia early on Sunday for a second day of talks on a Serb pullout from Kosovo, the key condition for ending the alliance's lengthy aid campaign. Western and Yugoslav army sources said key sticking points were the timetable for the pullout and Belgrade's concerns that ethnic Albanian fighters might try to ambush departing convoys. NATO has said the discussions are not negotiations, but are intended to spell out the alliance's terms for the troop withdrawal.Meanwhile, NATO held out little hope for a suspension yesterday in the air campaign against Yugoslavia, complaining instead that the Serb forces had increased fighting on the Albanian border and indicating talks with the Yugoslav military to withdraw from Kosovo could drag on. "We need to see the wihtdrawal actually moving ahead. Obviously it is going to take a while" NATO Spokesman Jamie Shea said in Brussels. He added there had to be proof of 'systematic' withdrawal which had to be fully verified, a procedure which was unlikely to be in place yesterday. /All papers/ [39] TURCO-GREEK COOPERATION IN YUGOSLAVIAWestern countries have already been preparing for the reconstruction of the Yugoslavia following the bomb damage sustained during the NATO operations. Neither Turkey nor Greece want to be excluded from the process and, therefore, they have reached an agreement to prepare "joint ventures" to aid the reconstruction of Yugoslavia. /Sabah/[40] SCHIZOPHRENIA - BY YAGMUR ATSIZ (MILLIYET)Yagmur Atsız, a columnist for `Milliyet', reflects on the question of Milosevic on the brink of peace in Kosovo. Atsız writes:"A German politician who has a considerable influence on the decision-making mechanisms of the German Foreign Ministry once told me, `If German forces participate in an inevitable ground operation, we will not be able to accommodate it politically!'. Fortunately, things have not come to that pass. But what happened in the end? Schizophrenia is now prevailing in Europe. They say, `Now let Milosevic appear to be the "peace angel" of the war after the genocide he caused. Just like in the case of Bosnia, let us reach a compromise with him, pop the cork and drink the champagne and have our photos taken with him. Yet overthrow him right after the agreement. Let us try him before the War Crimes Tribunal. Let's condemn him.' I knew what I was doing when I said a month ago that the Europeans would eventually accept Milosevic as their counterpart. Yet, what was the fault of Hitler, then? Who will overthrow Milosevic after the agreement? Will it be the Serbian people, who have acclaimed his genocide against the Bosnians and Croatians for years? Let the German Government have its pleasure, Milosevic knows very well that if NATO stops the airstrikes once, it will be quite hard to restart them. The `old' European public cannot stand this effort once more. And given that the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo has been almost completed, the only thing that Milosevic has to do is to drag on the retreat of the Serbian forces from Kosovo. The mask of the despot is his discourse! You can estimate the degree of Milosevic's loyalty to his future promises by looking at the extent to which he has kept to his former promises. Now, it is Montenegro's, Sanjak's and Vojvodina's turn. Furthermore, there awaits the `final' of Bosnia!" Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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