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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-25Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>25.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] SOUTHEAST'99President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit went to Diyarbakir to attend the inauguration ceremonies of the 'Southeast'99 2nd International Industry and Trade Fair' and other events. During the visit, citizens expressed their desire for abolishion of State of emergency rule (OHAL) and the implementation of a general amnesty. Mayors from HADEP were also invited to the ceremonies. /Cumhuriyet/[03] TURKISH LEADERS MARK UN ANNIVERSARYTurkish leaders issued statements on Sunday to mark the 54th anniversary of the United Nations. President Suleyman Demirel said, "We hope that the UN (of which Turkey is proud to be a founding member) will continue to rally humanity around its lofty aims, such as the preservation of peace, the preventation of clashes, social justice, the elimination of poverty, the encouragement of economic development, environmental protection and cooperation against natural disasters." He noted with appreciation the material and moral support with which the world organization provided Turkey in the wake of the quake which hit the Marmara region on August 17.Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "Turkey, which supports all UN efforts in the realm of global peace, security and development, will continue to contribute to these efforts as a responsible founder member." Ecevit expressed support for the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's proposals aimed at the prevention of international problems and clashes by enhancing the "peace culture". Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem expressed his conviction that the proposed reforms would enable the United Nations to operate more effectively to prevent clashes, solve fundemental problems such as poverty, and enhance economic and social welfare in the world. Cem echoed Mr. Ecevit's underlining of the significance of the Millennium General Assembly Session to be held next year. /Cumhuriyet/ [04] OYMEN: FIND MURDERERThe Chairman of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Altan Oymen, urged the government to find Ahmet Taner Kislali's murderers as soon as possible. During the press conference Oymen read a press release prepared by the CHP Party Assembly. He stated that this murder is a fresh attempt against enlightenment. He also added, "Turkey has been the land of unsolved murders for many years. The country cannot complete its democratization process in this dark climate of criminality. This is the primary task for the officials concerned, especially for the members of the government. Unless that is done the country cannot enter the new millenium in a sound manner." Oymen was asked to comment on the fact that during Kislali's funeral, politicians were booed while the military was applauded. He said he did not believe that it was an 'organized' reaction and the majority of the people acted with a sense of responsibility. /Hurriyet/[05] ISRAELI PM BARAK DUE IN TURKEYEhud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister, is coming Turkey today. Barak is going to participate in the opening ceremony of the "Israeli Village' which was constructed by Israel in Adapazari. Barak will proceed to Ankara following the opening ceremony. /Hurriyet/[06] OUR MARK ON HUMAN RIGHTS HAS INCREASEDIn the classification concerning human rights, Turkey has dropped to 35th from 14th. `The Observer' newspaper, which is published in England, started an annual `International Human Rights Index' last year. Turkey is 35th among the countries whose listings are worst. Last year Turkey was 14th. /Milliyet/[07] TURKEY IS WAITING FOR INFORMATIONFollowing an incident in which the Greek coast-guard opened fire on a speed-boat off Sakiz Island, one Turkis citizen died and another was arrested. It has been stated that information has been received from Greece concerning this issue, and that the incident is being followed closely. Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sermet Atacanli, made a statement concerning the issue and said, "The issue was discussed with the Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Yannis Korandis, and that official information has been requested concerning the issue." /Cumhuriyet/[08] REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS IN THE U.SThe State of Minnesota in the U.S will celebrate the Oct. 29th Republic Day as 'Turk and Republic Day'. The decision was reached through the efforts of the Minnesota Turkish American Association (established by 100 Turkish family living in this state). Other Turkish Associations in the U.S are also mobilized for similar activities. /Aksam/[09] JEWISH LOBBY ON TOUR OF TURKEYMembers of the 'American-Israeli Political Activity Committee' are continuing their tour of Turkey. The 15 person-delegation is comprised of Jews living in the U.S. After their visit to Istanbul, the delegation proceeded to Ankara where they experienced a heavy schedule of meetings. They met with Yurdakul Yigitgu, Undersecretary of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Ambassador Faruk Lologlu, Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry and then the delegation was received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli. President Suleyman Demirel also received them at Cankaya Presidential Palace. /Sabah/[10] "TOUR OF MORALE" HAS COME TO AN ENDThe 21st Century Education and Culture Foundation (YEKUV) finished its `tour of morale', which lasted for 21 days in the earthquake-hit region. During the event, as part of the cooperation between Castrol Mineral Oils Industry and Trade Ltd. and Turk Petrol, 85 people were involved. The charity stated as part of the organization. They supported children and parents with the company of psychologists and they brought famous music groups to the earthquke-hit regions. /Milliyet/[11] BP-AMOCO'S DAY OF EXAMINATIONEnergy and Natural Resources Ministry Undersecretary Yurdakul Yigitguden said that if the BP-Amoco consortium is sincere about the Baku-Ceyhan, then an agreement can be reached in the next few days. He stated, "BP-Amoca used to oppose the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. But recently, they announced that they support the venture. We will be certain of their sincerity in the coming week". A delegation from the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) is arriving in Turkey today and joining final negotiations over the Baku-Ceyhan project, if a compromise is reached during the negotiations, four seperate agreements will be signed. /Turkiye/[12] SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS FROM THE CENTRAL BANKThe Central Bank will give 350 million dollars to Eximbank in order to finance exports. The funds, which were taken from forward imports, will be used as export loans. State Minister Tunca Toskay said, "Additional sources will be created, obviously, in order to increase and finance the exports. In the first stage, the Central Bank will give 350 million dollars of a 500 million dollar package to Eximbank. The money will be channeled to exports in a short period of time. /Sabah/[13] "INFLATION WILL BE IN SINGLE FIGURES"Emin Dedeoglu ceased working at the Turkish Treasury's Directorate General of Public Financing last Friday. Dedeoglu, who has worked on the problem of inflation and has a close knowledge at the public sector, has been appointed to the Directorship of the World Bank. This means, he is leaving Turkey in a stage during which a total change is beginning. Dedeoglu, with all his experiences, said, "Being in debt in order to continue the economy has come to an end, a new process has started with these reforms. Inflation will be in single figures in four or five years, this will also bring political change with it." /Sabah/[14] IMF AND WORLD BANK TO VISIT TURKEYA delegation, comprising officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are arriving in Turkey today. The delegation, who will stay in Turkey until 29th October, will discuss some issues with the Undersecretariat of the Treasury and officials from the Central Bank, such as legal arrangements in the banking sector, risk management of banks and deposit insurance. After completing this work, the delegation will prepare the background for the proposed loan of 1.5 million dollars to Turkey concerning the reconstruction of the banking sector. /Sabah/[15] OTTOMAN WOMEN IN NEW YORKAn exhibition entitled "Ottoman Women", which was opened in Aya Iryny by Reyyan Somuncuoglu last year, will be presented to art lovers between the 1st and 8th November in one of the most important cultural centres at the U.S.A: New York National Art Club. This exhibition, which consists of paintings that depict concubines without names, is the product of two years work. /Hurriyet/[16] WEBB LOOKS FOR ARTISTS IN TURKEYAnkara welcomed a surprise guest. Tom Webb has come to Turkey to make a number of films and programs. Tom Webb spoke to Sabah newspaper and said, "I want to make the `film of the millenium'. I want to make film in Pamukkale, Antalya, Efes, Kapadokya and Ankara. I have heard so many things about your country, what I have heard attracted my attention. In fact, I liked the things I saw. I want to make something for Turkey. I will do my best in order to promote Turkey in the U.S.A. /Sabah/[17] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[18] THE ROAD OF NO RETURN - BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the decision by Germany to sell a tank to Turkey. A summary of her column is as follows:"Germany's decision to sell a tank to Turkey bears greater importance than just the implementation of a commercial step. Germany's lifting of the arms embargo she has applied to Turkey, because Germany claims that Turkey was using them against people of Kurdish origin in Southeastern Turkey, shows that she no longer believes this 'punishment' is necessary. At the same time, this is a concrete indication of Turkey's acceptance into the system. With the pressure of the Social Democrats who had defended the arms embargo against Turkey, the German Government is participating in the tender in Turkey with the Leopard II tank. To the Greens, who sharply criticised the Government stating that the reason underlying this decison was commercial, Chancellor Schroeder gave answers confirming the change in Europe. "If we take a European perspective on one hand, and continue implementing an arms embargo on Turkey on the other, what would everyone say? The insistence of the coalition government on selling arms to Turkey, despite the pressure from the grassroots of the Greens reveals that the green light lit by the European Commission on candidacy is being strengthened. Those who think that this will lead Turkey to risky adventures as a result of bomb, assassinations or terrorism are mistaken. It is not possible to do what 15 years of sorrow and terrorism could not succeed in doing. The mutual security of Europe and Turkey requires integration. Both the EU and Turkey must reach such a consensus. It shows that the tendency towards change will overcome the yearning for the past. Even if the European Union does not deliver a clear perspective before Turkey in Helsinki, the voices coming from social fault lines necessitates such a change. In fact, encouraging messages are coming from Europe. "Participation Partnership" is an important concept. This means that the EU and Ankara must work together to begin Turkey's membership negotiations. However, this is not a clear programme. Turkey has to prepare her programme concerning human rights issues, democratic institutions, and reforms increasing her economic competition. The responsibility for following them and giving the necessary financial aid belongs, to the EU. The length of the process following the candidacy will be determined by Turkey. However, the process of change will start with the first step." [19] GEOPOLITICAL BLINDNESS - BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the geopolitical importance of Turkey. A summary of his column as follows:"Every Turkish Statesman should be aware of two geopolitical principles. The first is that the export route of the oil and natural gas resources in the Caspian basin will affect the fates of the young Turkish-Speaking States in the region. If the pipelines, transporting energy sources pass through Russian territory, giving Moscow the monopoly over them, it will have important political consequences. In such a situation the the Turkish-Speaking States of the Caucasus and Central Asia will continue to depend on Russia politically, and Moscow will be the primary power in deciding the distribution of the new wealth. The second one is that Turkey's becoming an energy corridor between the Western World and the Caspian basin not only adds a new and important dimension to Anatolia's strategic importance but also enhances our ties with the Turkish-Speaking World as an access road to Caucasia. It cannot be said that these principles lead to a competition which does not give way to cooperation between Turkey and Russia. What we mean is that Turkey should not support initiatives which would prevent geopolitical pluralism and lead Russa to rule over the geopolitical region all by itself. Taking this into consideration Prime Minister Ecevit, during his visit to the US, stated that Turkey gave priority to the pipeline project which would transport Turkmen natural gas through Turkey. With this statement the "Blue Stream" project rival to Transcaspian was left in a secondary place. However, the issue is not clear as yet. The most important subject is our national interest. The Blue Stream project is against those interests and therefore contrary to the geopolitical principles we have mentioned above. Moscow has not the money, the technology nor the oil to carry out the Blue Stream." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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