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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-14Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>14.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] AFTERSHOCK IN MARMARA REGIONAn earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 struck northwestern Turkey yesterday, shaking much of the same area devastated by the August 17 quake, Turkey's seismological institute reported. At least six people were killed and several others were injured, apparently when they jumped from buildings. The quake, which struck at 2:55 p.m. was centered on Izmit, some 80 kilometres southeast of Istanbul, the city's Kandilli Observatory reported.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit immediately suspended classes in the area shaken by Monday's quake. Schools had re-opened throughout Turkey yesterday after summer recess. The quake, which was an aftershock to the August 17 7.4 magnitude tremor, was felt as far away as Istanbul, where inhabitants rushed into the streets in panic. Telephone lines in Istanbul were down after the quake. /All papers/ [03] HOPES FOR TURKEYForeign Minister Ismail Cem addressed his EU counterparts yesterday, underlying his hope that the signs shown in unofficial foreign meetings in Finland earlier this month would create the momentum for an improvement of Turco-EU ties. Cem has outlined three proposals: conflicting positions should be avoided in relations; there should be joint initiatives taken to improve mutual understanding on behalf of Turkey, the EU and Europe; Western Europe should stop viewing Turkey as 'an outsider'. Finnish Foreign Minister Halonen said, "I would like to congratulate the determination of Cem and Turkey. We unanimously support Turkey's integration". /Sabah/[04] FOREIGN PRESS REVIEWS TURCO-GREEK RELATIONSNewsweek: Friendship which began with mutual assistance offered in the aftermath of the earthquakes will ensure calm in the region. The achievement which Washington was trying for through diplomacy has been realized as a result of the earthquake.The Guardian: The model being imposed on Turkey is the one that was implemented for Germany and France. They were enemies but now they are our allies. New York Times: Turco-Greek relations have softened due to the earthquake. The U.S. Ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns, was quoted as saying, "We are in the midst of seismic diplomacy". Greece will abandon her blockade of Turkey's EU membership process during the Helsinki Summit. /Sabah/ [05] CEM RETURNS HOMEForeign Minister Ismail Cem, who went to Brussels as the guest of the EU Council, has returned to Turkey. Upon his arrival, Cem issued a statement at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and said that the EU Council meeting in Brussels had been beneficial adding, "I explained Turkey's views on every issue. I was invited there to deliver a speech. Some Ministers also expressed their opinions. In this atmosphere of understanding, a friendly meeting was held". Cem recalled that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit would be held in Istanbul on November 17 and said, "Heads of State and Foreign Ministers of many countries will arrive in Turkey. The 15 EU Foreign Ministers will also come to Turkey. I have invited them to a luncheon". Ismail Cem pointed out that the outcome of the meeting was 'very good', and added, "There should be no exaggeration. However, I believe that we can better explain our efforts and they can better understand our views". Cem also expressed his sorrow at the aftershock earthquake registering 5.8 on the Richter scale which occurred in the Marmara region yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] PAPANDREU IN THE GUARDIANGreek Foreign Minister George Papandreu stated that Greece wanted to be the country which not only would see Turkey in the EU but also would pull the wagon that carries Turkey into the EU. Papandreu issued a statement to 'The Guardian' newspaper published in Britain and said that despite the prevailing belief, Greece regards Turkey's full EU membership as in its own interest from a variety of points of view. Papandreu said: "We prefer a Turkey which is a part of the EU, instead of a Turkey which is in continous conflict with the EU and its standards". He pointed out that Athens had a constructive approach towards Turkey's full EU membership and remarked that Greece would share the experience which it had gained on the path towards its own full EU membership with Turkey. Papandreu added: "Greece is determined to realize the common European dream of all its neighbours".Papandreu stated that they wanted all neighbouring countries in the Balkans not only to be a part of the EU but also to become developed and prosperous countries. Papandreu reaffirmed that the development of relations with Turkey was in line with stability in the Balkans. Papandreu stressed that developing Turco-Greek relations had begun in Kosovo and then continued during the assistance offered in the aftermath of the earthquakes both in Turkey and in Greece. [07] APPROVAL FOR AID TO TURKEYThe EU Council which held its monthly meeting in Brussels approved an additional aid package of 30 million Euros to be used for the victims whose houses collapsed during the earthquake disaster in Turkey. This amount was released in addition to 4 million Euros previously allocated for Turkey from the EU's humanitarian aid fund, Echo, and will be immediately given to Turkey. The EU Foreign Ministers also gave the green light to low-rate loans to Turkey worth 600 million Euros from the European Investment Bank. The Council also decided to launch initiatives to release 150 million Euros blockaded by the European Parliament. The EU Council reached a consensus to allocate a large proportion of the Mediterranean Fund, MEDA II, to Turkey by the year 2000. Macro-economic financial assistance for Turkey is also on the agenda of the EU Council, the Anatolia News Agency reports.Meanwhile, France's State Minister responsible for the EU, Pierre Moscovici, said, "There are efforts being made concerning Turkey's becoming a member of the EU in Helsinki". Moscovici said, "Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, met the French President, Jacques Chirac, and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in Paris a short while ago. We want these sensitive issues to improve. We hope the new climate between Greece and Turkey will solve the problem easier. We feel the presence of an opportunity in the Helsinki Summit; the approach is positive. In three months, a decision will be made." [08] AID FROM GREEK JOURNALISTS TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMSThe Association of European Journalists' (AEJ), comprising 2500 journalists from 26 countries, held their 37th Congress in Berlin which was opened with the observation of a minute of silence for those who died during the earthquakes that occurred in Greece and Turkey. Greek journalist Athanese Papandropulos, who is the honorary President of the AEJ said, "The earthquake that occurred in Turkey was 180 times stronger than the one that occurred in Greece. We have collected 16 thousand dollars in donations from the journalists in Greece and the Greek-Cypriot part of Cyprus. We will go to Turkey and give this donation to the earthquake victims."/Hurriyet/[09] GREAT SUPPORT FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE SUGGESTION`Hurriyet' and `The Turkish Daily News' newspapers suggested that AKUT, the Turkish search and rescue team, should be given the Nobel Peace Prize, a suggestion which received a great deal of support yesterday. The suggestion of AKUT's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize has attracted great attention. The Turkish and Greek Presidents supported this suggestion in statements issued yesterday. President Stefanopulos and Prime Minister Simitis of Greece, spoke to the `Hurriyet' newspaper and said, "It is impossible for us to forget the things you have done for us. We have seen that the road of cooperation is becoming clear with your help. We will try to make it permanent. The governments should follow the wishes of the public. I agree with all these suggestions."Prime Minister Simitis further said, "I consider it to be a very good idea and we will evaluate it and may look for ways to achieve it. The Greek side has also a suggestion in mind concerning this issue. So we are also looking for ways to connect these two suggestions. The Turkish and Greek search and rescue teams' cooperative efforts will be remembered with gratitude. This is a very important improvement. Theodorakis also tried hard to build friendship between the two countries in the past. I am waiting for Turkey's suggestion." At his residence Greek President Stefanopulos welcomed the search and rescue teams that worked so hard after the earthquake and thanked the ENKA and civilian defence teams one by one. The President said, "Our people want peace to be permanent and I hope it will be this way. The Greek people have great respect for the Turkish search and rescue teams. Not only I, but also the Greek people thank them. The ENKA search and rescue team, who have been working for five days without a break, have been asked to stay for a while longer by the Greek official rescue team, EMAK and the Greek Natural Disasters' Council. The Greek voluntary search and rescue team, Elenic Omada Disosis (EOD), said, "We want these efforts to continue from now on. Let us institute a joint rescue team and go to every disaster hand in hand." The Turkish side accepted this suggestion immediately and the group leader of ENKA, Ugur Koyunoglu, received EOD's flower of peace. International news agencies announced the news of the possibility of the Turkish search and rescue team AKUT and the Greek team EMAK's joint nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize to the world. The American news agency AP broadcasted the suggestion by `Hurriyet' and `The Turkish Daily News'. AP also pointed out the fact that AKUT and EMAK had provided an emotional raproachment between Turkey and Greece. AP also stated that those who had previously received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Prize Committee, national parliaments, some professors and a few international organizations would give their suggestion who to nominate for the Nobel Peace Prize. /Hurriyet/ [10] TURKEY IS ISUZU'S THIRD BIGGEST MARKETThe Isuzu Administration Council President, Takeshi Inoh, said that Turkey was Isuzu's third biggest market after China and the U.S.A for light truck manufacturing and sale. Inoh said, "We will help bandage the wounds of the earthquake as soon as possible. Turkey can cope with this disaster and we are glad that the trucks we donated were used for carrying food. We want to be at the top in truck manufacturing." Inoh showed off the testing facilities and huge factories to Turkish journalists and said that their products were being exported to 130 countries.The Anatolian Isuzu Automotive Industries Group which was jointly founded by Isuzu, Itochu and the Anatolian Automotive Company will be in service in the upcoming days in Gebze. The Anatolian Isuzu Automotive Industries' General Director, Kemal Eser, said, "The new investment cost nearly 50 million dollars (22.5 trillion Turkish lira). The annual production output of 12 thousand vehicles will be increased to 20 thousand vehicles." Anatolian Isuzu exported 4.5 million dollars worth of vehicles in 1997 and 16.2 million dollars worth of vehicles in 1998. It was stated that their goal was to increase exports to 25 million dollars annually./Hurriyet/ [11] DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: 4 BILLION DOLLARSAfter their inspection of the earthquake-hit regions, the World Bank determined the damage at roughly 3.5-4 billion dollars; the bill is not as high as was expected. In a report by the State Planning Organization, they thought the general destruction due to the earthquke had cost 9-13 billion dollars; its reflection in public finance was 6.2 billion dollars. The American administration estimated the bill to be 7.1 billion dollars. However, the World Bank experts' estimate is less than the other two. Financial experts from the World Bank, who predicted a bill of 3.5-4 billion dollars, stated that 1-1.5 billion dollars would be spent on the construction of buildings and that Turkey would have to bear an additional burden of 2-2.5 billion dollars due to the decrease in manufacturing, tax losses and the working losses of the public banks.The experts from the World Bank also did not forget to give hope instead of money. After the importance of the earthquake-hit regions had been pointed out, it was stated that it was not necessary for the big industrial conglomerates in the region to stop manufacturing because these companies had not been greatly affected. It was reported that, by contrast, small companies had sustained many losses but that the Turkish economy could cope with this loss not only with her inner resources, but also with donations from outsiders. The economic staff said, "The calculations in the report may change. The earthquake's effects are three-pronged. In a narrow perspective, the burden that it may place on the budget and the way of financing is important. In addition, we should also have a look at the national income, the balance of payments and its effects on manufacturing." Furthermore, the Chief of the IMF's Turkey desk, Carlo Cottarelli, is going to visit the earthquake-hit region today. Cotarelli first will go to Adapazari, then to Izmit. It was reported that Cotarelli also wanted to pay a visit to Golcuk./Sabah/ [12] 70 GENERATORS FROM MITSUBISHI TO THE TURKISH RED CRESCENTThe Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation has donated 70 portable generators to the Turkish Crescent; this is one of the most essential pieces of equipment needed in search and rescue efforts. 70 Temsa-Mitsubishi portable generators which run on petrol are being manufactured in Japan using Mithsubishi technology under the Temsa guarantee./Sabah/[13] 5 TRUCKS OF BABY FOOD FROM HIPPThe baby food company Hipp, which gave 5 trucks of baby food via the international aid organizations to the baby victims of the earthquake, delivered 35 thousand items, nearly 170 thousand DM worth of baby food to their Turkish distributor Titan Inner and External Trade Channel and the Turkish Armed Forces in Izmit's district of Derince./Sabah/[14] IVECO SENT ITS TRUCKS TO HELPIveco, which has been producing trucks with Otoyol and the Koc group for more than 30 years, is contributing to the donation efforts with 5 Euro-Trakker-type dumper-trucks. Iveco's Euro-Trakker-type heavy trucks are being in Turkey in the construction, mining and excavation industries./Sabah/[15] RUBIN: "WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS"U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said that there have been some improvements in Turco-Greek relations in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and in Greece and stated that the U.S. would continue to support the development of relations between these two countries. James Rubin held a press conference and remarked that the U.S. has had good relations both with Turkey and Greece dating back many years and added that the earthquake disaster had softened Turco-Greek relations, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[16] FINAL PROPOSAL FROM THE U.S.The U.S. President's new Cyprus Special Representative, Alfred Moses, has proposed this time to Turkish-Cypriots, Greek-Cypriots and the three guarantor countries have sit at the table together with representatives of the UN Security Council's five permanent members during the negotiations on the Cyprus issue. The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, came together with Alfred Moses and the U.S. State Department's Cyprus Coordinator, Tom Weston, for the second time in 24 hours for breakfast. Denktas made a statement to journalists, "They want also to have those people sit at the table who accept the Greek-Cypriot administration as the legal government of Cyprus. The Greek-Cypriots take this to mean: "Go on your way and don't be afraid. We are not ready for that. Our aim is not to conduct the negotiations other than with the four-sided framework." /Hurriyet/[17] CHIRAC DUE IN TURKEY IN NOVEMBERThe President of France, Jacques Chirac, is going to come to Turkey in November. The President talked to Hurriyet's Paris representative, Muammer Elveren, during his flight to Canada where he was going to attend the 'Summit of the French-Speaking Countries'. He said that he would come to Turkey for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's meetings in Istanbul between Nov. 18th-19th and he would be glad to do that. The French President will also come on an official visit to Turkey in the year 2000. Chirac added that he was very pleased with the dialogue and rapprochement occuring between Turkey and Greece. /Hurriyet/[18] TURCO-CROATIAN JEC MEETINGThe second term meeting of the Turco-Croatian Joint Economic Commission (JEC) started yesterday in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. State Minister Fikret Unlu headed the Turkish delegation while Minister of the Economy Nenad Porges headed the Croatian delegation during the meeting in which concrete steps towards the development of commercial and economic relations are being taken, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The JEC protocol between the two countries will be signed today.[19] SABANCI-DUPONT COOPERATIONThe Sabanci Conglomerate and DuPont have signed a final partnership agreement to establish a company which will produce yarn for Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Middle East and African markets. A joint statement issued by Sabanci and DuPont said that it is planned that the company will be active in November. Sabanci and DuPont will hold equal shares (50-50 %) in the company which will provide employment for nearly 4,500 people. The annual turnover of the company is expected to be $1 billion. /Aksam/[20] SYNDICATION FOR TEXTILEBANKThe Textilebank has received a syndication loan worth $35 million. According to a statement sent by the Textilebank to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), the syndication loan provided by the consortium of Commerzbank of Frankfurt, the Hypo-Vereinsbank and the Standard Bank- of London will be available on September 16. /Aksam/[21] ISRAELI DELEGATION IN SIVEREKIsraeli agricultural experts have arrived in the Siverek district of Sanliurfa. The Israeli delegation went on a tour of inspection of the vineyards. The Gucbirligi Conglomerate and Israeli agricultural experts will cooperate in order to develop viniculture. The Head of the Executive Board of the Gucbirligi Conglomerate, Medet Abbasoglu, said that they would make every effort to revive viniculture which was an important source of income in the past in Siverek. /Aksam/[22] DRUGS RAIDS IN VANDuring raids carried out in the Edremit and Gurpinar districts of Van, drugs worth 9 trillion TL have been seized in the last eight days. Fourteen people have been detained in connection with the incident. Six more, including one Iranian, are being sought. /Aksam/[23] BAYINDIR OPENS SHOPPING CENTRE IN BUCHARESTBayindir Fiba SA has opened a shopping centre called 'Bucuresti Mall' in Bucharest. The shopping centre was opened during a ceremony attended by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer, Romanian Industry and Trade Minister Radu Berceanu, Bucharest Mayor Viorel Lis, the Head of the Executive Board of the Bayindir Conglomerate, Kamuran Cortuk, and the General Director of Bayindir Fiba SA, Fehim Tobur. The Bucuresti Mall was achieved with an investment of $45 million. /Turkiye/[24] BIRECIK DAMThere are only a few days left for the completion of the Birecik Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES) constructed as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Birecik Dam and HES, which will be the third dam on the Euphrates following the Karakaya and Ataturk Dams, is being built using the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. The Birecik Dam and HES will produce 2.518 billion kwh of electricity every year and provide 92,700 hectares of agricultural land with irrigation. /Turkiye/[25] ILO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HANDICAPPEDTurkey has approved an International Labour Organization (ILO) agreement which envisages measures for vocational rehabilitation of the handicapped and an increase in opportunities for employment for the handicapped. The declaration of approval was published in the Official Gazette yesterday. /Turkiye/[26] EARTHQUAKE FUND FROM DAUThe Rector of the Eastern Mediterranean University in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prof.Ozay Oral, said that an Earthquake Scholarship Fund worth $300,000 would be established to help the victims of the earthquake disaster in Turkey which happened last month. /Turkiye/[27] DEMIREL EXPRESSES HIS SORROWPresident Suleyman Demirel expressed his sorrow at the aftershocks which occurred yesterday in the Marmara Region. A statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre said, "After the disaster which occurred in the Marmara Region on August 17, this aftershock also caused some casualties. Our sorrow is deep".Demirel also received delegations from Pakistan and Nigeria. The Pakistani delegation, which visited Demirel due to the earthquake disaster, donated $10 million while the Nigerian delegation granted $100,000 to the victims. /Turkiye/ [28] IMF DELEGATION IN THE DISASTER ZONEThe IMF delegation will visit the disaster zone on a tour of inspection today. The IMF delegation will examine the extent of the devastation in order to prepare a report concerning the disaster. /Turkiye/[29] THANKS TO FOREIGN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS IN GREECEIt is reported that the number of those who died during the earthquake in Athens has reached 122 while 20 people are still trapped under the rubble. Greek President Kostis Stefanopulos and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis received the foreign search and rescue teams including the Turkish team, AKUT, and expressed their thanks on behalf of the Greek nation. /Cumhuriyet/[30] UTKAN: NEW PAGE IN TURCO-ITALIAN RELATIONSThe upcoming visit of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini to Ankara will mark the beginning of a new period in ties between Turkey and Italy, the Turkish Ambassador to Rome, Necati Utkan, said yesterday. Dini is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Thursday. /All papers/[31] CAKICI TO SUE FRANCE IN HUMAN RIGHTS COURTTurkish mafia boss Alaattin Cakici will file a suit against the French government at the European Court of Human Rights on grounds that the authorities there have prolonged legal procedures and violated his rights. Cakici who was wanted on an Interpol red Bulletin was arrested in Nice in August last year. /All papers/[32] ONAL SAYS EARTHQUAKE CONSTITUTES ADDITIONAL BUDGET REQUIREMENTSState Minister Recep Onal made a statement indicating that negotiations over the export of state bonds to the U.S. are continuing but that no agreement has yet been reached. Addressing members of the press following his meeting with Carlo Cotarelli, the IMF Turkey-Desk Chief, Onal announced that the negotiations with the IMF are centered around the earthquake issue. He added that part of the standby agreement discussion will initially be carried out in the U.S. and that the agreement will later be finalized in Turkey during the IMF's scheduled visit in October. Onal maintained that the budget had no provisions for a disaster of this magnitude and that there is no possibility of absorbing the costs involved without an additional budget. /All papers/[33] IN THE WAKE OF THE QUAKEIt was announced by Sefin Diyazi, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) representative in Turkey, that the IKDP had sent 2 million litres of diesel fuel to Turkey as its contribution to the earthquake relief efforts, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Diyazi further maintained that the earthquake disaster in Turkey has caused great soorow among his people, adding that 'all people should try to help one another in difficult situations'.[34] PRIVATIZATION TO CONTINUEThe Privatization Administration Board (OIB) has reviewed its 1999-2000 privatization programme and has issued its new timetable to the IMF delegation which is continuing its meetings with Turkish officials in Ankara. According to the new calendar, the last quarter of this year will be intensive from the standpoint of privatization. During this period, tenders will be put out for 13 institutions. /Sabah/[35] JAPAN TO SEND 500 PREFABRICATED HOUSESJapan, which has lent a helping hand to Turkey following the earthquake in the Marmara Region, will send 500 prefabricated houses prior to October. The Turkish Ambassador to Tokyo, Yaman Baskut, said, "We will be able to receive as many prefabricated houses as we want if the Turkish Government pays the bill for their transportation". Baskut stated that $2.5 million worth of donations collected by the Japanese people to help the victims had been sent to Turkey and an additional $7.5 million in aid would also arrive in Turkey in the upcoming days. /Sabah/[36] TRABZONSPOR-HAMBURG MATCH IN AID OF VICTIMSTrabzonspor football team went to Germany yesterday to play Hamburg football team. The match will be held today in order to support the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. /Sabah/[37] TURCO-PAKISTANI POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONSDelegations from the Turkish and Pakistani Foreign Ministries have come together to negotiate on the political situation between the two countries. The Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, and the Undersecretary of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Shamshad Ahmad Khan, had a tete-a-tete before the meeting. During the negotiations, bilaterial, regional and international issues related to both two countries, will be discussed, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[38] DRUGS RAIDSNear Sason, a town in Batman, 100 kilos of hashish have been seized by gendarmes. Following a tip-off, the Gendarmerie discovered the narcotics store containing 100 kilos of powdered hashish during a raid in Sari Yayla, a village near Sason. A thorough investigation into the incident is underway, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[39] NEAR EAST EXHIBITIONAn exhibition entitled 'The Near East Under Ottoman Administration' will be opened on Sept. 29th at the Turkish and Islamic Works of Art Museum. The display consists of photographs chosen from the collection in the Israeli Museum. The exhibition has been arranged with the sponsorship of Osmanli Bank; it includes 94 photographs mostly taken by French and British artists in cities such as Jerusalem, Cairo and Damascus, between 1850 and 1900 during the period when the Ottoman Empire was losing its power. The exhibition will be open until Nov. 14th. /Hurriyet/[40] F-16 WARPLANESThe production of F-16 warplanes, which the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) started in the year 1987, will be concluded in October, the Anatolia News Agency reports. TAI, which started the first fighter production programme in 1987 under the licence of the U.S. General Dynamics Company, have produced a total of 232 planes within the Oncel-1 and Oncel-II projects so far. A total of 152 F-16 warplanes were produced for the Turkish Air Forces between 1987 and 1995. The first eight planes constructed within the project, which covers 160 planes, were produced in General Dynamics' Fort Worth factory, and delivered to the Turkish Air Forces. TAI, within the guidelines of this project, constructed 70 % of the body of the plane locally.[41] THREE-BILLION-DOLLAR GESTUREPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will request the write-off of Turkey's Foreign Military Sales' debt of 6 billion dollars during his U.S. visit, which he will go on as the guest of President Bill Clinton in the second half of this month. It is declared that Washington has a positive attitude to that request. The Undersecretary of the Defense Industry, Yalcin Burcak, stated that the request for the write-off of Turkey's FMS debt has been conveyed and it is expected that at least 2 to 3 billion dollars of it will be erased. Burcak said, "But they could erase all the debt; the U.S. Government's attitude is very positive on the subject. Turkey's annual repayment is 350 to 400 million dollars for the FMS debt. In the case of the cancellation of the debt, the Turkish economy will be greatly relieved. /Mİlliyet/[42] STATE MINISTER CAY IN KAZAKHSTANState Minister Abdulhaluk Cay arrived in Kazakhstan in order to attend the meeting of the "Council for Cooperation and Security Precautions in Asia" that will be held today, reported the Anatolian News Agency.Cay and the delegation with him were welcomed by the Turkish Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Cinar Aldemir, and Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yerlan Idirisov. Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev will also attend the Council meeting, during which 16 countries' Ministers of Foreign Affairs will sign a declaration that envisages the arrangement of relations between the member countries. State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay will represent Turkey instead of Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem. A total of 10 countries, including the U.S., will attend the Council meeting as observers and Turkey is also member of the Council. In addition, the EU, OSCE and the Arabian Countries' Association and the Central Asian Economic Union comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will attend the Council as observers. State Minister Cay will come back to Turkey on 15th September. [43] INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTSThe agreements that were signed between Turkey and Cuba, and with Estonia and the Philippines, have been approved by the Council of Ministers, reported the Anatolian News Agency.According to the declarations of approval that were promulgated in the Official Gazette today, the agreement envisages cooperation between the Turkish and Cuban governments in tourism. The aim is to take the steps necessary in order to improve relations between the two countries. As part of the agreement, the parties will be able to open formal national tourist information bureaus in both countries. The `Cooperation Agreement for Education, Culture, Science and Sport', which was signed between Turkey and Estonia and approved by the Council of Ministers, aims to create cooperation towards the above-mentioned goal between the involved institutions of the two countries. `The Agreement Concerning Entrance Visas for Diplomatic, Private, Formal and Service Passport Bearers Between the Turkish and the Philippines Governments' that had been approved by the Council of Ministers, aims to make travel easier for citizens between these two countries and to improve relations and cooperation between the two. [44] THY IS STARTING ITS KUALA LUMPUR FLIGHTSTurkish Airlines (THY) is launching flights to Kuala Lumpur on 17th September, in THY's 66th year, reported the Anatolian News Agency.In a written statement from THY, the Kuala Lumpur flights, which will be THY's 73rd International route, will go via Dubai. Tickets will cost $666 until 26th September, an introductory special offer to promote flights to Kuala Lumpur. THY's A-318 aircraft will take off from Istanbul on Fridays and Sundays and arrive back in Istanbul on Tuesdays and Sundays. [45] AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SEEKS GOVERNMENT MEASURESErcan Tezer, Secretary-General of the Automotive Industry Association (OSD), indicated that the August 17 Marmara earthquake had a significant impact on the automotive industry based in the region affected by the disaster. He predicted that 'in the medium term the automotive sector will sustain the greatest damage from the earthquake compared to other sectors', the Anatolia News Agency reports. Tezer explained that the earthquake occurred in an area encompassing cities like Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya and Yalova, where 90 % of the country's car manufacturers base their operations. Tezer disclosed that requests have been made to the government for the implementations of measures that would alleviate the problems faced by the industry.[46] TURCO-SWISS AGREEMENTAn agreement for the establishment of a 'Joint Committee' between Turkey and Switzerland to further develop economic and commercial cooperation was approved by the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[47] ANKARAGUCU IN SPAINThe Ankaragucu football team went to Spain yesterday to play Atletico Madrid in the first match of the first round of the UEFA Cup. The match will be held on Thursday. /Aksam/[48] THIRD INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS SYMPOSIUMThe third 'International Ceramics Symposium' organized by the Ceramics Department of the Fine Arts Faculty of the September 9 (Dokuz Eylul) University in Izmir began yesterday. Workshops organized as part of the Symposium are being attended by many Turkish and foreign artists. /Turkiye/[49] STATE THEATRE GROUP TO BULGARIAThe State Theatre Group (DT) will be the guest of the Razgard district of Bulgaria with a play called 'Arka Bahce' (Back Garden). A written statement issued by the Ankara State Theatre (ADT) said that Bulgarian art lovers would encounter the play between September 14 and 17. /Turkiye/[50] SAIM AKCIL IN ALMATIProf.Saim Akcil, a lecturer at Mimar Sinan University's State Conservatoire, has been invited to Almati to conduct the opening concert of the Kazakh State Academy on September 18.Meanwhile, the opening date of the Children's Rights School, supposed to be opened on October 4, 1999, has been postponed to World Children's Rights Day on November 20 due to the earthquake disaster. /Cumhuriyet/ [51] ZEUGMA'S ANCIENT ARCHIVESA total of 70,000 official seals have been found so far as a result of the excavations carried out in the Zeugma ancient city on the banks of the Euphrates by the Gaziantep Archaeological Museum. They are presumed to be state archives from the Roman Period. /Cumhuriyet/[52] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[53] THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP: CYPRUS -BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Orhan Birgit comments on the improvement in Turco-Greek relations and its effects on Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows:"The earthquakes in Turkey and Greece led to a display of mutual friendship between the two countries. The bridge of friendship was built by Ataturk and Venizelos. The chairman of the delegation at the Lausanne Treaty, Inonu, later enhanced this friendship with a visit he paid to Athens. The present generations may not know it, but during the Second World War, when the Greek people were in the grip of famine, Turkey sent food and other aid to Greece. At the time Turkey sent this aid, there was not an abundance of food in Turkey and everyone had to wait for his or her share in queues. Therefore, the aid sent by our neighbour should be received gratefully but is nothing new in the friendly relations between the two countries. Is there a political reason for our search and rescue organizations rushing to the help of Greece in the aftermath of the earthquake? Are some people expecting Turkey to make a gesture over Cyprus and the Aegean problems so as not to eliminate the friendly atmosphere? They are trying to show that by compromising on these problems Turkey would pay the price of the friendship revealed during the earthquake disaster. It is as if Turkey has been wanting more than its fair share of the continental shelves, sea and air space in the Aegean and for its kinsmen on Cyprus. The whole world knows Turkey's situation on both issues and I believe that the initiatives it has taken to unite the TRNC under a confederation with the Greek-Cypriot Administration have been received more positively than before throughout the world. However, prior to the Clinton-Ecevit summit expected to be held at the end of this month in Washington, some lobbyists want to change this positive atmosphere. The US is wanted as a fourth guarantor state for the Island in addition to the other three States. In another development they are trying to bring about the alternative of excluding Rauf Denktas from the scene at a time when Denktas is insisting on his recognition as the equal of Klerides. At the same time, Greek politicians in their interviews with Turkish journalists are saying that in order to accept Turkey's candidacy to the EU they have to see some improvements on the Cyprus issue. It is clear that there is a friendship and closeness between both peoples but some politicians are somehow disrupting these feelings." [54] DIALOGUE WITH THE EU -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the dialogue between Turkey and the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:"Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, addressing his counterparts in Brussels at the EU General Affairs Council, gave a significant signal concerning the improvement of Turco-EU relations. Official sources state that Cem's meeting with EU officials and his address to his counterparts on their invitation does not show a deviation from the policy followed since the Luxembourg Summit which foresaw the suspension of dialogue with the EU concerning candidacy. However, the Brussels visit by the Foreign Minister reveals that such a dialogue has been started. If it should be called a dialogue or not, it is clear that a new process has begun between Turkey and the EU. This process should be seen as the success of Turkish diplomacy as it is due to the stepping down of the EU and some of its members which, until today, had assumed a negative stand towards Turkey. It should be recalled that the invitation given to Cem to express Turkey's views is the result of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu's efforts. Papndreu had stated that Greece not only wants Turkey in the EU but also wants to see a European Turkey. At such a time, Ankara could not be expected to remain passive. Some cynics may still see a conspiracy on the issue and say that the difference in style aims to force compromises from Turkey on human rights issues, the Kurdish problem, on Cyprus and in the Aegean. However, Turkey should not be afraid of entering into dialogue. The goal of the dialogue was to express Turkey's stance with clarity and determination as Cem has done in Brussels. Turkey's candidacy is not a bargaining matter. The route to membership can only be determined after its candidacy is accepted, as it has been in the case of the other 11 candidates. We believe that if Turkey can express its position, equal candidacy status will be granted at the Helsinki Summit to be held in December. For this purpose, Turkey has to continue its search for support through official and private channels and a great responsibility falls on non-governmental organizations as well as the Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, in the next three months Turkey has to increase its efforts in democratization. In fact, at the speed Turkey is concluding its homework, its expectations concerning the EU will be possible." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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