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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-08Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>08.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] TUSIAD VISITS EUROPEThe Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) will go on a lobbying tour in Europe prior to the Helsinki Summit, which Summit will be a turning point from the standpoint of Turkey's EU candidacy process. The first leg of the tour, consisting of a toal of nine EU countries, will be Belgium. The TUSIAD Executive Board headed by Erkut Yucaoglu will convene in Brussels on October 11. The TUSIAD delegation will visit the Swedish Industrialists' Federation on October 12-13 and the Finnish Industrialists' and Employers' Confederation on October 14-15. The countries which the TUSIAD delegation expect to go to are: Italy on October 19, France on October 20-21, Denmark on October 27-28, Holland on November 8-9, and Austria and Greece also in November, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[03] FOREIGN AID FOR VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKEThe Spanish Embassy in Ankara has decided to cancel the reception planned to be held in Ankara on October 12 on its National Day and to donate the monies for this event to the victims of the earthquake disaster in Turkey. The Spanish Ambassador to Ankara, Jesus Atienza, issued a statement and said that they had decided to cancel the reception to help the victims of the earthquake which occurred in the Marmara Region on August 17.Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Italian Embassy in Ankara said that aid supplies, consisting of 240 containers which Italy has sent to Turkey to help the victims of the earthquake, would arrive in the Port of Derince on Saturday. The statement added that the supplies included clothing, tents and hygiene equipment, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The German Finance Ministry also approved the donation of 20 million DM for 1,635 prefabricated houses in Adapazari. [04] GREEK JOURNALISTS TO COME TO TURKEYThe Press Council and its Solidarity and Development Foundation have invited Greek journalists to Turkey in order to transform the positive atmosphere in Turco-Greek relations experienced in the aftermath of the earthquakes into lasting and healthy friendly relations between the two countries. A statement issued by the Press Council and the Foundation said that Greek journalists would come to Istanbul on October 15 and Turkish and Greek journalists would hold meetings on October 16 and 17, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[05] OPERATION IN EAST AND SOUTHEASTDuring raids carried out by security forces in the East and Southeast regions against members of the PKK terrorist organization, 36 terrorists were killed while one Turkish soldier died during the conflict. Officials said that a crack-down in the region was on-going. Meanwhile, 15 terrorists surrendered to security forces in the Catak district of Van yesterday. Two terrorists were also captured in the Gevas district of Van. /Milliyet/[06] TURCO-CZECH BUSINESS COUNCIL CONVENESThe Turco-Czech Business Council, active as part of the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK), will hold a meeting on October 11 in Istanbul. A statement issued by DEIK said that during the meeting, cooperation opportunities in areas such as banking, machinery, textiles, petro-chemistry, the environment, energy, food, the automotive sector, aviation industry, international transport and construction will be discussed, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[07] TURKEY CRITICIZES EP DECISIONForeign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said that the decision reached by the European Parliament (EP) with reference to Turco-EU relations showed that the EP had not sufficiently evaluated Turkey's sentivities and positive developments experienced in this country. Atacanli stated that the decision included some positive aspects when compared to previous ones and said, "The decision reached by the EP concerning Turco-EU relations in Strasbourg on October 6, 1999, has been examined. This decision shows that the EP has been unable to manage to sufficiently assess Turkey's sentivities. The decision also says that Turkey's EU membership will make a great contribution to the development of the EU in the future and peace and security in Europe. The statements made by the EU Commissioner responsible for the enlargement process, Gunther Verheugen and Finnish State Minister Kimmo Sassi during the EP session and their constructive approach towards Turkey have been positively welcomed", the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] $30 MILLION IN SYNDICATION LOANS FOR FINANSBANKFinansbank has received $30 million in syndication loans from international markets. An agreement concerning the loans set up by the American Express Bank, the Arab Banking Corporation, the Bank of Montreal, Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank and coordinated by the Bank of New York was signed yesterday in Istanbul. Finansbank General Director Onur Umut said that the loans would be used to finance exports, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[09] 'LE SOIR': "EUROPE DRAWS CLOSER TO ANKARA"'Le Soir', a leading newspaper published in Belgium, said that Europe is drawing closer to Ankara and pointed out the importance of the sturggle by the EU Commission to have Turkey's official EU candidacy approved. The newspaper remarked that Turco-Greek relations had become warmer but added that Athens was waiting for a gesture to be made by Ankara on the Cyprus issue, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[10] ISRAEL WANTS WATERIsrael, in desperate need of water, has requested water from Turkey. If the Israeli Government approves the emergency plan, water will be transported from the Manavgat River by tanker to Israel's Port of Ashkelon. One cubic metre of the Manavgat River's water will cost 60-70 cents. /Aksam/[11] CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM WORLD BANKFollowing the initial support from the World Bank totalling $1 billion in the aftermeath of the earthquake disaster, an additional loan of $750 million is also on the agenda. However, the World Bank's conditions imposed on this loan are to see economic developments and structural reforms in Turkey. It also requests that Turkey establish the Supreme Banking Council and the reform banking system as soon as possible. /Turkiye/[12] AGREEMENT WITH TURKMENISTANAn agreement has been reached with the PSG, Shell, Behtel, General Electric and the Capital Group which will bring Turkmen natural gas to Turkey. The consortium will complete its financial work within the year 2000. The construction of the natural gas pipeline will begin in 2001 and Turkmen natural gas will arrive at the Turkish border in 2002. Energy and Natural Resources Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer, who has returned to Turkey following his visit to Turkmenistan, said yesterday that an agreement concerning the purchase of electricity from Turkmenistan had also been reached. /Turkiye/[13] GREEK-CYPRIOTS: "LET'S TALK FOLLOWING THE SUMMIT"The Spokesman of the Greek-Cypriot Administration, Mihalis Papapedru, said that the Greek-Cypriot Administration did not want to discuss the Cyprus issue with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) prior to the Helsinki Summit to be held on December 6. /Turkiye/[14] OCALAN'S APPEAL HEARING POSTPONEDThe first hearing of Abdullah Ocalan's appeal to have his death sentence reserved got underway at the 9th Criminal Chamber of the High Court of Appeals yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The court granted a motion presented by Ocalan's lawyers for an immediate postponement. The next hearing is scheduled for the morning of October 21. /All papers/[15] YUKSEL BOZER: NEW CHAIRMAN OF RED CRESCENTAfter Dr.Kemal Demir tendered his resignation, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) board elected Prof.Yuksel Bozer as its new chairman, to serve until the next convention of the Turkish relief organization scheduled for April 2000. /All papers/[16] FRENCH COURT DENIES CAKICI'S CONDITIONAL RELEASEAix En Provence Court denied mafia boss Alaattin Cakici's demand for conditional release yesterday. Cakici's application to be extradited to Turkey has not yet been signed by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. /All papers/[17] SECOND BREAKTHROUGH IN GAPIt is reported that the T-1 and T-2 tunnels to be used for irrigation as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will be completed in 2000. The construction of the tunnels will cost 5 trillion TL. /Cumhuriyet/[18] GORDION MUSEUM OPENSThe 'Gordion Museum' which received the award of 'European Museum of the Year' will be opened tomorrow. Culture Minister Istemihan Talay will open the Museum in Polatli. /Cumhuriyet/[19] U.S. SUPPORT FOR TURKEYThe U.S. Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Mark Medish, said that they were in support of the Turkish Government's struggle, together with the IMF, and stated that the determined stance of the Government was a positive thing. Medish delivered a speech on the last day of the Second Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul and remarked that Turkey had a high commercial culture. /Hurriyet/[20] ONAL: "THERE MAY BE AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN STAND-BY ONE"State Minister Recep Onal said yesterday that there may be agreements other than the stand-by agreement which could be reached with the IMF. Onal stated that there were other convenient types of agreements that could be signed with the IMF. /Hurriyet/[21] THREE PASOK DEPUTIES SUPPORT TURKEYThree deputies from the Greek PASOK party in power have supported Turkey's EU membership. Other PASOK deputies within the European Parliament and opposition party deputies voted 'No' during a vote taken on Turkey and held two days ago in the EP. /Hurriyet/[22] TURCO-EU RELATIONSThe Finnish Minister, Kimmo Sasi, responsible for the European Affairs of the European Union's current President Finland, said that to begin meetings on the Cyprus issue under the auspices of the UN, will help the announcement of Turkey's EU candidacy at the Helsinki Summit, reported the Anatolia News Agency. Responding to questions posed by journalists in Strasbourg, Sasi asserted that the reforms in Turkey which will be carried out before December and the beginning in a positive atmosphere of the New York meetings will 'ease Turkey's labours'. The Anatolia News Agency's correspondent asked the question 'So you accept the beginnings of the New York meetings apparently as a precondition for the candidacy of Turkey?', to which the Finnish Minister replied, "No, we don't accept that as a precondition. An immediate result is not expected from the meetings, however, I assume that if positive progress is achieved, it will also affect the Helsinki Summit positively." Emphasising the important reforms which have been carried out in Turkey recently, Sasi remarked that they want to see progress in human rights and democracy.[23] COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TURKISH AND GREEK CENTRAL BANKSThe Chairman of the Turkish Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, said that they will build a school in the quake region in conjuction with the Greek Central Bank. Ercel stated that the 'Turkish and Greek Central Banks' School' will be built somewhere in the region and following the meetings with the Education Ministry, the details of the education centre will be established, reported the Anatolia News Agency.[24] CNN TURK IS ON AIR ON 11TH OCTOBERThe "CNN Turk" news channel, which was established with cooperation between the Dogan Media Group and the Time Warner Group will begin its broadcasting life following a ceremony that will be held at the Conrad Hotel attended by President Suleyman Demirel on 11th October, reported the Anatolia News Agency.In a written statement, CNN, which is based in Atlanta, gave its name to the "CNN Turk" channel and initiated its second foreign investment outside the U.S. in Turkey after its joint establishment of "CNN ?" in Spain with the Spanish. "CNN Turk" will enjoy equal communications rights with the basic channels in Turkey. In the statement it was reported that "CNN Turk" would consist of a news team of 80 persons, 30 producers, more than 60 technical staff and 20 programme producers and that the channel would broadcast in Turkish. It was also reported that "CNN Turk" would make use of news sources in Turkey and from CNN worldwide and would produce both news and programmes. At the same time, "CNN Turk" will be in contact with 36 CNN bureaus worldwide and with more than 750 publishers, with which it is in cooperation, and use their news sources. "CNN Turk" will broadcast the news, weather forecast, the programmes on the economy, sports, talk shows, discussion programmes and programmes on technology, art and culture, history, the cinema, music, the environment, travel and cars, fashion, health and the business world as well. This news channel will also broadcast "stop press" news 24 hours a day in which the improvements in Turkey and in the world will be shown. [25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[26] AFTER ECEVIT'S VISIT TO THE U.S. - BY ISMET GIRITLI (TURKIYE)Ismet Giritli is a columnist on the daily `Turkiye' newspaper. This is an article written by him published in `Turkiye':"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit came back home on the 2nd October from his visit to the U.S.A. that lasted for six days between 26th September and the 1st October. We believe that the Prime Minister was successful in terms of the professionalism that he displayed, though not in terms of the results obtained. We think that the biggest achievement of this journey in terms of diplomacy is that the American President declared, concerning the Cyprus issue, that it is impossible to go back to the period before 1974. In addition, Ecevit also met the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan, in the U.S.A. and during the visit Ecevit was able to seize the opportunity of explaining Turkey's views on Cyprus in a sincere atmosphere and in detail, which was very useful in terms of the "Cyprus issue" on the UN's agenda. Furthermore, as we believe that the American Administration needs time to evaluate Turkey's suggestions and that we cannot expect to obtain results on all the issues that have been discussed immediately, we do not approve in any way whatsoever of the pessimistic and negative interpretations of certain people who think that the journey did not give us what we expected and who think that it was even a 'fiasco'". [27] IS THE DOOR OF THE EU HALF-OPEN? - BY DOGAN HEPER (MILLIYET)Dogan Heper is a columnist on the daily `Milliyet' newspaper. This is an article written by him published in `Milliyet':"The day before: "Western Europe is racial." Yesterday: "It is our right to receive full membership but it is impossible for us to put our national unity on the line for the sake of membership to the EU." On the one hand, it is stated that the EU Commission and the EU Council have decided to suggest that Turkey be given the status of candidate country at Helsinki, on the other hand, we have Ecevit's harsh words. Prime Minister Ecevit did not talk without understanding. An inquiry that was undertaken by the EU Commission also shows this xenophobic tendency openly. Maybe there is no need for an inquiry. During the elections in Austria, in the middle of Europe, the victory of a radical right-wing party proves this fact; in Austria, a fascist party, an admirer of Hitler, is advancing towards power. There is a large proportion of people in Europe who think this way whether they express their views openly or not. Those who say, "Turkey is a Muslim country and the EU is a Christian club," are they not engaging in separatism in a roundabout way? On the threshold of the third millenium there appears to be a rusty primitiveness underneath if you scrape away the European veneer of civilization. TURKEY: Those who think this way do not represent Europe; Turkey should continue optimistically in its aim to become a member of the EU. At the very least, the issue of candidancy should be resolved in a positive way in Helsinki. It is understood that the EU Commission and the EU Council is for granting Turkey the status of candidate but the European Parliament is still confused about the issue of recognizing Turkey's membership. Up to now, hopes have been buoyed up by various moves; it is as if a game of "cops and robbers" has been being played out. The "bad guy" role that was Greece's, some want to be given to Sweden these days. Among all these tricks, it is impossible to predict if the Council's and Commission's attitude, which seems to be positive, will be useful in obtaining a result. But this is a fact that was expressed by the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit: "After seeing Europe's manner, we have noticed that the world does not consist of Europe only". Europe should pay attention to this sentence." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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