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Turkish Press Review, 99-06-10Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>10.06.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT WINS CONFIDENCE VOTETurkey's coalition government won its first vote of confidence in Parliament yesterday with an overwhelming majority. The coalition, which brings together Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and the Motherland Party (ANAP), won a 354-192 vote in the 550-member Parliament. Parliament's vote approved the formation of the government and its programme, which pledges to stand by the anti-inflationary policies and privatization plans of previous governments. The coalition is now expected to pass through the 1999 fiscal year's Budget and the law on banking and to try to improve the taxation laws. /All papers/[02] SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT FROM RAHMI KOCThe Chairman of Koc Holding, Rahmi Koc, has declared that the new coalition government will last. "Urgent, much-needed decisions must now be made for the benefit of the country. The three-party coalition government is positive and balanced. We do not have another chance", he added. Koc attended the 45th General Assembly of the International Trade Chambers' Turkish National Committee where he responded to questions about the new government and the economy. He asserted that he had listened to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's government programme and that he found to be positive. /All papers/[03] FIRST STEP FOR CIVILIAN DGMsThe first step to place the State Security Courts (DGMs) under civilian control was taken yesterday with the election of the members of the Turkish Parliament's Constitutional Commission. A proposal for the Constitutional amendment which envisages the replacement of the military judge with a civilian judge will be discussed by the Constitutional Commission on Monday. /Milliyet/[04] TURKEY CLOSELY FOLLOWS THE COUNTRIES SUPPORTING OCALANTurkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said yesterday that they had recorded the names of those countries which were mentioned during the confession of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, and added that they were closely following Ocalan's trial. Atacanli stressed that if measures needed to be taken against those countries, this would be done. He further stated that they know the names of those countries supporting the PKK terrorist organization. /Star/[05] GEORGIANS AND ABKHAZIANS TAKE STEPS FORWARDRepresentatives of Georgia and its separatist region of Abkhazia completed three days of peace talks in Istanbul yesterday with a declaration of intent outlining the basis of future work aimed at establishing confidence-building measures. In the Istanbul Declaration, as it was named, both sides expressed their readiness to allow displaced people to return home, exchange prisoners of war, implement security measures and encourage economic projects, as well as to carry out essential work to prevent further outbreaks of terrorist activities in Abkhazia.Commenting on the outcome of the talks, the UN special envoy to the region, Liviu Bota, said that 'the agreed measures went beyond initial expectations'. Bota coordinates the so-called Geneva process, which has been underway since 1997 in search of a peaceful solution in Abkhazia. /All papers/ [06] EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SECURITY CONFERENCE HELDIncreased political and economic cooperation between Turkey, Israel and the US has enhanced security in the Eastern Mediterranean, diplomats and scholars from the three countries told a conference in Istanbul yesterday. They said their ties had neutralized those countries in the region that sponsored international terrorism and provoked ethnic tensions -Iran, Iraq, Syria and Serbia. The two-day international conference on 'Security and Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean' is being sponsored by the Ari Movement, a liberal Turkish think-tank, the BESA Centre for Strategic Studies and the Friedrich Neaumann Foundation of Germany. /All papers/[07] NO CHANGE IN TURKEY'S EU POLICYPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that he had had to send a second letter to the German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder to erase a misunderstanding. Ecevit added: "There has been no change in our domestic and foreign policy". Ecevit stated in his first letter dated May 26, 1999, that if the European Union (EU) Summit gave Turkey a view of full membership, Turkey would continue with her reform process. Ecevit pointed out that Turkey would increase her efforts to complete her democratic and social reforms. Schroeder said in his reply dated May 28 that he would convey Ecevit's proposal, also stressing that 'Turkey is open for a political solution' to the EU summit. This comment made by Schroeder seriously concerned Turkey and Ecevit sent a second letter to Schroeder to explain that he had been misunderstood. Ecevit said: "Political solution is a statement which we have not adopted; therefore, we changed it. In the letter presented by Schroeder to the EU summit, this statement was replaced with a 'constructive solution'. /Hurriyet/[08] RECOMMENDATIONS BY EUROPEThe Delegates Committee of the Council of Europe decided to make some important recommendations to Turkey concerning applications made to the European Court of Human Rights. It is reported that reforms should be undertaken in Southeast Anatolia and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights against Turkey should be implemented as soon as possible. /Star/[09] COLOGNE SUMMIT UNSATISFACTORYTurkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said yesterday that EU's Cologne Summit had not been satisfactory for Turkey. Atacanli stated that during the Summit, there had been no change to prevent EU discrimination towards Turkey. /Star/[10] CAKICI TO REMAIN IN JAIL UNTIL HIS EXTRADITIONTurkish mafia boss Alaattin Cakici will remain imprisoned until his extradition to Turkey, a French court ruled yesterday. The Aix-en-Provence court rejected the defence lawyers' demand that Cakici be either released on bail or kept under house arrest until the procedures for his extradition to Turkey are completed. Speaking after yesterday's hearing, Cakici's Turkish lawyer said that the defence would have to agree on his extradition to Turkey because there was no other option left. The French judge has said that Cakici can be extradited to Turkey on condition that he is not executed. /All papers/[11] TURKISH WORLD CHILDREN'S FESTIVALThe fifth Turkish World Children's Festival, organized by the Turkish World Investigation Foundation and supported by the National Education Directorate, began yesterday with a parade from Galatasaray High School. 450 children from 37 Turkish-Speaking Republics took part in the parade in their traditional costumes and staged displays of their folk dances. /Cumhuriyet/[12] PKK ATTACK: 2 DEADDuring the wide-spread crack-down by military forces in Tunceli, PKK militants attacked Ulukala village, near Cemisgezek yesterday night and murdered two citizens: Mehmet Cicek and Suleyman Aydin. /Cumhuriyet/[13] PRESS IN THE USThe inauguration has taken place of the seminar "The Press Applications and Ethics in the US", organized with contributions from the American Embassy in Ankara, the American Consulate in Adana and the Cukurova Press Organization. Stuart E. Jones, US Consul in Adana, delivered a speech, saying, "Turkish press is free and dynamic. Freedom of the press is the main requirement for democracy. We believe that this freedom and dynamism should be supported." /Cumhuriyet/[14] `FOREIGN POLICY' CRITICIZES EUROPEAN APPROACH TOWARDS TURKEYThe US-based `Foreign Policy' Journal reported that Europe, which refused to extradite Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist PKK, to Turkey and which rejected Turkey's application for full membership of the EU by ignoring her Western and European identity, is misbehaving. In the latest issue of the Journal, the European approach to such issues as terrorism and expansion, which concern Turkey as well, is evaluated and criticized from various standpoints, reports the Anatolia News Agency. In an article on terrorism, the German and Italian approaches to the terrorist PKK and its leader, Ocalan, are scrutinized whereas Italy is also criticized for her refusal to extradite Ocalan to Turkey and Germany for her unwillingness to try him before her own courts. On the other hand, in another article which reflects on the EU expansion process, Europe has been compared to a `child which grows up quickly but unconsciously". According to this article, the issues of sovereignty and defence have been subject to debate in the EU, whereas it is still unclear whether the Union will be able to pursue a common Middle Eastern policy. In this respect, it has been claimed, "Turkey, which has been rejected by Europe, is not only a Western power but also a European power in the full meaning of the word. However, Europe seems to have forgotten the significant role played by Turkey in European history, in particular throughout the nineteenth century."[15] GORDION MUSEUM IN 'EUROPEAN MUSEUM OF THE YEAR' COMPETITIONTurkey has chosen the Gordion Museum located in Polatli as its candidate to compete for the 'European Museum of the Year' award, which is given each year by the European Museums' Union. Each year museums throughout Europe compete for the distinction of receiving the coveted award, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[16] US CONSULATE IN ADANA OPENS WEB-SITE FOR SOUTHEASTThe US Consulate in Adana put a new Internet site into use yesterday to attract US investment in Turkey's southeastern region. This will allow American businessmen to select the largest and most dynamic firms in the region and get in touch with them. In addition, the site will provide news concerning economic development in the area. /All papers/[17] TURKISH JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 53RD ANNIVERSARYThe 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) will be celebrated today. A written statement from the TGC said that arrangements to further democratization should be made as soon as possible. /Milliyet/[18] OTTOMAN VETO FOR YEREVANPresident Suleyman Demirel has invited the leaders of nearly 60 countries including Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Libyan leader Muammer Kaddafi to Turkey to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. However, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who has been declared a 'war criminal' by the International Court of Justice, and Armenian President Robert Kocaryan, who has given priority to the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, have not been invited to the celebrations. /Milliyet/[19] A NEW ECONOMIC PROTOCOL BETWEEN TURKEY AND TRNCThe Undersecretary of the State Planning Organization of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, said that a new economic protocol would be signed between Turkey and the TRNC in the upcoming days. Bulunc stated that the TRNC would also issue a new demand for funding from Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[20] TURKISH SUMMIT POSTPONEDA Summit of Turkish-Speaking Republics which was supposed to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 14, has been postponed until the Autumn. It is reported that the reason for the postponement was that doctors recommended that Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, who has been convalescing for a while in Antalya, should continue to further recuperate. The Summit will be held in early September, again in Azerbaijan. A message issued by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel to announce the postponement of the summit was sent to the Heads of State of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In a previous statement on the Summit, it was reported that Demirel would visit Azerbaijan on June 13-15. /Hurriyet/[21] WAN SUMMIT IN ZURICHThe General Council of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) will be held in Zurich, Switzerland between June 13-16, 1999. During the WAN General Council, the owners of 15,000 newspapers from 105 countries will come together. Aydin Dogan, the owner of the 'Hurriyet' and 'Milliyet' newspapers, is a member of the WAN Executive Board. /Hurriyet/[22] ILO WILL NOT EXAMINE TURKEYTurkey was dropped from the list of countries to be examined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Application Committee for violating ILO Agreement No.98 over the right to collective bargaining. Labour and Social Welfare Minister Yasar Okuyan said that Turkey's absence from the list for the first time after 11 years was a positive development. According to information obtained by the Anatolia News Agency, Turkey was left of the list because a new government had come to power and because some positive steps had been taken in recent years concerning working conditions.[23] KAVAKCI TO APPLY TO COUNCIL OF STATEThe Anatolia News Agency reported that Merve Kavakci, the Virtue Party (FP) Istanbul Deputy who lost her Turkish citizenship in a May 16 decision by the Cabinet, will file a case in the Council of State on Friday 'to stay the order and reverse the Cabinet's decision'. It is reported that Kavakci's lawyers will submit the 14-page petition to Council of State on Friday.[24] ALTINYILDIZ TO ESTABLISH A COMPANY IN NEW YORKAltinyildiz Textiles and Ready-to-Wear, part of the Boyner Group, has decided to establish a company in New York to organize and increase its present textile and ready-to-wear sales volume in New York. According to a written statement from the Altinyildiz Group, the title of the company will be "Altinyildiz Corporation", starting with a $ 100,000 capital fund. The corporation will be set up using only Turkish capital investment and its trademark will be "Network by Altinyildiz". Umit Boyner, the financial representative of the Boyner Group, said that the corporation will be up and running within two months. /Sabah/[25] BANKS' UNION MEETING IN ISTANBULThe Banks' Union and the Banks' Comptrollers organized a seminar, entitled "Controlling Principles in Banking", yesterday in Istanbul. During the seminar it was stressed that the "Controlling Council", which will be established by the new Banking Law, should be a totally independent body and its members should be appointed very carefully. It was added that the watchdog should not be put under pressure by political authority. It was stressed that the Banking Law should be passed without delay. /Sabah/[26] "TURKEY'S VICTORY"One of the leading American dailies, "The Wall Street Journal", criticised Western media saying that leftist Western authors unjustly criticised Turkey due to their ideology. Yesterday's editorial of the paper, entitled "Victory of Turkey", asked why the European left hates Turkey and continued that it was very natural that Turkey was defending herself against a person who had damaged the country and ordered the killing of thousands of people. It added, "Turkey used its power to extradite Ocalan from Syria. Turks are very careful not to become a threat, under normal conditions, in their region. It is a fact that there is no Kurdish issue in the region."It said Turkish judges wanted to pronounce the death penalty for Ocalan. Turkish Chief of General Staff turned down Ocalan's peace process request claiming that Ocalan's terrorist organization was not Turkey's counterpart and, therefore, couldn't reach an agreement. The article reported, "Terrorist activities in Turkey have almost been ended by the Turkish Armed Forces and Ocalan, who understands that his life is in danger, now requests a peace accord from the Turkish authorities." /Sabah/Turkiye/ [27] MAKOVSKY: "TURCO-U.S. RELATIONS ARE AT PEAK"Mark Makovsky, an expert from the Washington Near East Policies Institution, arrived in Istanbul yesterday to attend the two-day "International Conference on Security and Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean". He evaluated Turco-Israeli cooperation and Turkey's place in the world. He claimed in his speech that Turkey is the only country on the rise in the Middle East while the weight of all other regional countries is decreasing. He added, "Turkey is very powerful in the region, particularly militarily. Turkey's importance has been increasing daily; Turkish aircraft are in Kosovo and they are also in El Halil in the Middle East." He stressed that Turkey's and Israel's political and military targets were similar and the U.S. backed Turco-Israeli cooperation in the region to the hilt. /Sabah/[28] "ATHENS SHOULD CUT ITS SUPPORT FOR PKK"Minister of Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said in his statement to the Reuters News Agency that Turco-Greek relations would return to normal if Athens cut its support to the terrorist PKK organization. In order to discuss the problems between the two countries, Greece should declare that it would not support terrorist activities, said Cakmakoglu. He also asked Greece to close the PKK training camps and political offices within its territories. /Turkiye/[29] NEW HORIZONS FOR TEXTILESMustafa Karaman, the Vice-President of Istanbul Textile City (ISTEK), said that the Eastern European newly-established, rapidly emerging textile ready-to-wear sector was a new market for Turkish textile industrialists. He added that textile investments required a great deal of capital and that Eastern European countries such as the Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria preferred textile investments to be set up using a low capital funds. Karaman claimed that the Eastern European markets, containing a population of 400 million, would be more beneficial for Turkey than Western Europe. /Turkiye/[30] TURKISH PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORTS THE GOVERNMENTTurkish businessmen support the government programme; the Chairman of the Koc Group, Rahmi Koc, said that he himself found the government agenda very positive and hoped that all the policies would be implemented. Attending the 45th A.G.M. of the Turkish International Trade Chamber's National Council, Koc said that the new goverment foresaw radical reforms which could bear fruitful results at least within the next two or three years. He added, "The government should be given time to initiate their reforms. I believe that the 57th Government is a powerful, balanced one".On the other hand, the Executive Board Chairman of the Turkish Chambers and Stocks Union (TOBB), Fuat Miras, said that 90 % of the government plan comprised their suggestions and that they gave their full support to the programme. /Aksam/ [31] YIRCALI, THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF ICCRahmi Koc, Executive Board Chairman of the Koc Group, has stepped down as Deputy Chairman of the Turkish National Committee of the International Trade Chamber (ICC). The President of the Balikesir Trade and Industry Chamber, Rona Yircali, has been appointed to the post, whereas Koc has become an the Honorary Member of the Committee. /Aksam/[32] RAMSTORE TO BE SET UP IN SIBERIARamstore supermarket chain, part of the Migros and Enka Partnership, has decided to expand in Russia. The partnership will set up new shops and a supermarket in Russia. According to officials from the Migros-Enka Partnership, firstly hypermarkets will be constructed in St.Petersburg, Niji Novgorod, Rostov and Siberia. /Aksam/[33] ATATURK: THE FACE OF THE 20TH CENTURYThe U.S. based CNN International News Agency used its choce Ataturk in a survey entitled "Faces of the Century". The channel described the founder of modern Turkey, Ataturk, thus: "There is no doubt that Ataturk is one of the primary characters of the 20th Century". CNN broadcasted the survey comprising the years between 1915-1924 on its Internet web-site pages, evaluating Ataturk as a "Turkish hero". It added that Ataturk was the most important figure in Turkish history and modernized Turkey with his reforms. /Aksam/[34] FRENCH MEDAL FOR CEVIK BIRFrench government will present an honorary medal to the Commander of the 1st Brigade, General Cevik Bir. According to the French Consulate in Istanbul, the medal will be awarded to General Bir by Ambassador Jean-Claude Cousseran during a ceremony to be held on 18 June at the "French Palace" in Galatasaray, Istanbul. /Aksam/[35] PKK PROTEST IN FINLANDTurkey voiced her objections to Finland concerning an incident which happened during the first half of the Turkey-Finland match in Helsinki last weeken when pro-the PKK demonstrators invaded the pitch. Turkey's concern was outlined to the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Turkish Ambassador to Helsinki, Onur Gokce, on Monday. Gokce said that they had previously warned the Finnish authorities that members of the terrorist organization could demonstrate during the match but the Finnish administration had taken no notice of Turkey's warnings. /Aksam/[36] U.S. AMBASSADOR VISITS TGNA SPEAKERThe U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, visited the Speaker of Parliament, Yildirim Akbulut, yesterday in his office at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). After the visit, Parris talked to the members of the press saying that he had paid a courtesy visit to Akbulut which was very as they had discussed had discussed the agenda of the new Parliament and some world developments. In reply to a question, he said he did not want to talk about the Ocalan trial which was still in progress. However, he remarked that the death penalty was used in America, contrary to some European countries. /Aksam/[37] FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO CAPPADOCIA AIRPORTThe first international flight took place on Wednesday in Cappadocia Airport which was opned in Tuzkoy district of Nevsehir's Gulsehir county last year, reported the Anatolia News Agency. A Boeing 737-400 owned by Pegasus Air Management firm brought 178 Turkish citizens from Germany's Munster city Cappadocia Airport which was opened by President Suleyman Demirel last year. Mehmet Yilmaz, the Nevsehir Governor said that there will be flights from Germany's different cities to Cappadocia Airport three days a week until September 14.[38] ATO DELEGATION IN TRNCRauf Denktas, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), yesterday, received the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) delegation, reported Anatolia News Agency. Addressing the meeting, Denktas said that Turkey and TRNC are carrying out a national case and this should not be forgotten. Sinan Aygun, the Chairman of the ATO, said in his part that the aim of their visit was to make researches on what kind of things can be done in the TRNC.[39] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[40] HOT SUMMER -BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the work awaiting the new Government. A summary of his column is as follows:A "hot summer" which should be spent working hard awaits the government now it has received the vote of confidence in Parliament. Election fever does not last long in Turkey. Therefore, so as not to disappoint those who have pinned their hopes on the new Government, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has to follow a more aggressive policy. He is not the leader of the minority anymore. He has the backing of a three-party majority which could well enable him to amend the Constitution. The two camps which bore a great deal of animosity towards each other before the 1980s have come together in a coalition to carry Turkey into the 21st century. If this historic compromise can achieve the 'progress' Chairman Bahceli of the Nationalist Action Party, aims at, politics will be re-organized. However, the most pressing question at the moment is the high cost of living and, therefore, the economy. Turkey is going through the greatest economic crisis seen in the last 10 years: unemployment and bankruptcy are rampant; devastating the blow to tourism has also hit the agricultural sector. In order to see these problems there is no need to tap the Prime Minister's phone lines. The Government is trying to re-arrange the tax reform which was introduced and thereby ease the conditions of those feeling the burden of interest rates and debts. However, valuable time has been lost. Today the Democratic Left Party has taken on the responsibility of governing the economy. State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, who is respected by all, may well be helpful in taking new steps forward during the meetings with the IMF. The expectations of the middle class are also high and they should not only be remembered just before the elections." [41] THE GUARANTEE OF SECURITY -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent developments concerning the EU in 'Milliyet'. A summary of his column is as follows:"The European Union is trying to complete its economic and ultimate integration, which is already in its final stages, with a new political and military structure. Important steps were taken in this direction during the Cologne Summit. The new defence mechanism called the "European Security and Defence Identity" will take the place of the the military Western European Union organization, with effect from next year. Thus, the EU hopes to carry out the establishment of a joint security and defence system like NATO, consisting of European members. As a result, the EU will not feel as powerless as it has done during the crises in the Balkans (as in Bosnia and Kosovo). It will not need the help of the US and when necessary can act with this joint military force. This is the aim of the new organization. How much they can achieve their goal is another matter for discussion. Yesterday, this issue was discussed during an international conference held in Istanbul. Many famous experts from the US, Israel and Europe attended this conference entitled "Eastern Mediterranean Security Cooperation". The discussions centered on the cooperation between Turkey, the US and Israel; the importance of such a formation was commented on. The subject is of great significance to Turkey but, at the same time, she is closely interested with the new mechanism being established within the EU and does not want to be excluded from it. However, there is one question, can Turkey be in this strategic system while being a member of the "rival" European system. Can a balanced policy concerning them be followed? In fact, who should want Turkey's inclusion in the future EU defence system more: Europe or Turkey?" [42] * * * *[43] SPECIAL KOSOVO[44] AGREEMENT REACHED ON KOSOVOAn agreement which envisages the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo was signed yesterday. It is reported that NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia will continue until it is proven that Serbian units have begun to withdraw from Kosovo. Ninety-six hours after the withdrawal of Belgrade troops, NATO ground units will arrive in Kosovo. /Hurriyet/[45] HERALD TRIBUNE: "A VICTORY WHICH COULD BRING BACK THE REFUGEES"The 'Herald Tribune' has given extensive coverage to the recent development in the Kosovo crisis. The paper notes, "In the current stage of the Kosovo crisis, the main purpose of Belgrade and Moscow is to direct the question towards UN control in order to exhaust the power of NATO in Kosovo. This is the underlying reason behind NATO's failure to persuade Moscow to enact a Security Council resolution to deploy an international force in Kosovo. The battle has been turned into a political struggle in which Milosevic is more successful than any of his Western counterparts. However, NATO entered this battle because it had been unable to find a solution to the question by means of political deliberations. In order to obtain control in Kosovo, NATO has to be delegated extensive power by the Security Council. Yet both China and Russia enjoy the right of veto. The peace agreement offered to Belgrade by Martti Ahtisaari from Finland and Viktor Chernomirdin from Russia last week did not involve the promise of a future referandum concerning for the independence of Kosovo. However, in the Rambouillet Agreement, the solution to the problems pertained to the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) in which there was a referandum promise for Kosovo as well." /Turkiye/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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