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Turkish Press Review, 00-04-24
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
24.04.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[02] COUNTDOWN FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
[03] CELEBRATIONS FOR APRIL 23
[04] AKBULUT ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY
[05] YILMAZ MEETS BAHCELI
[06] AUSTRALIAN PREMIER IN TURKEY
[07] DEMIRALP: "INTEREST RATES WILL DECREASE"
[08] NEW ENERGY ADVISER
[09] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY FAIR
[10] ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON GREEK CYPRIOTS
[11] SERDAR DENKTAS: "TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE NOT A MINORITY"
[12] TURCO-ALGERIAN COOPERATION
[13] CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING FOR QUAKE VICTIMS TO START
[14] ISO SUBMITS BILL FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
[15] TURKEY CALLS FOR CONTINUED IMF-WORLD BANK SUPPORT
[16] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU: "NO CHANGE IN GREECE"
[17] LEADERS' MEETING
[18] FOLK SONGS OF FRIENDSHIP FOR PAPANDREOU
[19] TURSAB'S INVITATION TO CLINTON
[20] KREMLIN AND SAN MARCO SQUARES IN ANTALYA
[21] IMPROVEMENT IN TOURISM
[22] DISCUSSION OF 'HIGH PRIORITY REGION' BETWEEN ADANA AND GAZIANTEP
[23] 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR WIND ENERGY
[24] TURCO-BRITISH PARTNERSHIP
[25] ARMENIAN PATRIARCH INVITES POPE TO TURKEY
[26] NEW BREAKTHROUGH IN CAUCASIA
[27] TIGEM TO PRIVATIZE SOME OF ITS FACILITIES
[28] STOCK EXPOSURE OF INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS AT 61%
[29] SIMITIS: "CONTINENTAL SHELF IS THE ONLY PROBLEM"
[30] COASTAL SECURITY PRECAUTION
[31] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO CELEBRATE ITS 38TH ANNIVERSARY
[32] TWO NEW AIRPLANES JOIN IN KHTY FLEET
[33] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[34] WILL THERE BE A CONSENSUS? BY SABAHATTIN ONKIBAR (TURKIYE)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[02] COUNTDOWN FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
The first round of voting for the election of the 10th president
of Turkey is planned to be held on Thursday April 27. The
application of candidates for presidency will end tomorrow at
12:00 p.m. Following this, the Advisory Council will meet to
determine a calender for the ballot. According to the draft
schedule, the first round of the voting will be held on Thursday.
If none of the nominees can obtain 367 votes, the second ballot
will be carried out on Monday, May 1. /Hurriyet/
[03] CELEBRATIONS FOR APRIL 23
The April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day and the 80th
inauguration anniversary of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
(TGNA) was celebrated enthusiastically yesterday accross the
country, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), in
Turkish Missions abroad and in Turkish-Speaking Countries.
Hundreds of thousands of people filled stadiums to attend the
ceremonies, disregarding the cold weather. President Suleyman
Demirel received 3,200 students and teachers at Cankaya Palace
and toasted their festival. In the meantime, the Speaker of the
TGNA, Yildirim Akbulut, hosted a reception to mark the 80th
openning day of the TGNA. President Suleyman Demirel, the Chief
of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Leader of the
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of State, Devlet Bahceli, the Leader of Virtue Party (FP), Recai
Kutan, the Leader of True Path Party (DYP), Tansu Ciller and a
number of high-level bureaucrats, parliamentarians, military
commanders and diplomats from foreign missions attended the
reception. /Turkiye/
[04] AKBULUT ANNOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY
The Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Yildirim Akbulut announced
his candidacy yesterday. Akbulut reportedly talked to the
Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz on Sunday
and informed him that he will definitely run for office. The
Executive Council of ANAP is expected to hold a separate meeting
before noon today to make an assessment of four names which were
mentioned as the most appropriate presidential candidates during
the leaders' summit last Saturday, upon which the position
adopted by the ANAP will be clarified. Other candidates who
officially nominated themselves for the presidency are the
Democratic Left Party (DSP) Eskisehir Deputy Mail Buyukerman,
ANAP Balikesir Deputy Agah Oktay Guner and DSP Ankara Deputy Oguz
Aygun. /All papers/
[05] YILMAZ MEETS BAHCELI
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, in a surprise move,
met the coalition partner, Devlet Bahceli, yesterday evening, a
meeting which lasted for 55 minutes. After this meeting, Yilmaz
answered the question of a journalist, asking if he was a
candidate for President, which Yilmaz replied to saying, "I am
still saying the same thing that I said from the very beginning.
If certain developments occur, you will learn this from me."
While answering another question, Yilmaz said that they had made
a general evaluation with Bahceli concerning the presidential
election and that they had not discussed specific names. /Sabah/
[06] AUSTRALIAN PREMIER IN TURKEY
Turkey, which aims to develop its relations with the countries in
the Pacific Ocean, is hosting Australian Prime Minister John
Howard, after New Zealand's Premier, Helen Clark. During his
reception of the Australian Premier, President Suleyman Demirel
stated that there were various investment opportunities in
Turkey, especially in energy and privatization areas. Stressing
that relations between the two countries were perfect, Demirel
invited Australian investors to Turkey and asked to increase the
trade volume. Australian Premier Howard pointed out that about
150,000 Turkish citizens were living in Australia and they made
great contributions to their society. Howard also invited Demirel
to Australia. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] DEMIRALP: "INTEREST RATES WILL DECREASE"
Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said that with the recent
Treasury tender, the interest rates decreased to the 1985 levels.
Demiralp stated that the domestic borrowing policy was
progressing succesfully and added that the decrease in interest
rates would continue. /Aksam/
[08] NEW ENERGY ADVISER
The Energy Ministry has begun a search to find a new advisory
firm for the project to harmonize the energy market with free
market conditions. Since the Energy Sector Reform Programme
prepared by Coopers and Lybrand, an advisory company, has been
viewed as inadequate by the World Bank, a new advisory company
will be brought in. The World Bank suggests a the Turkish
Electricity Transmission and Centre Services Company would be
established for the distribution of energy. /Aksam/
[09] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY FAIR
The Cukurova Imports and Exports Turk Joint Stock Company has
received much attention at the 'Sixth International Construction
Machinery, Technology and Equipment Fair'. The General Director
of the Company, Onder Alp, said that constructors and
industrialists in particular showed great interest in the fair,
which was attended by many guests. /Aksam/
[10] ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON GREEK CYPRIOTS
The Greek Cypriot Archbishop Hrisostomos has called upon the
Greek Cypriot Administration to review its stance concerning the
Cyprus problem. Hrisostomos said that Greek Cypriot leaders
should attempt to implement the UN resolutions on the Island in
order to bring about the withdrawal of the Turkish Army from the
Island. Hrisostomos pointed out that the withdrawal of Turkish
soldiers from the Island should be a pre-condition. /Aksam/
[11] SERDAR DENKTAS: "TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE NOT A MINORITY"
The Chairman of the Democrat Party in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Serdar Denktas, said that Turkish
Cypriots are not a minority on the Island and that they would
never accept such a label. In a statement to the 'Elefterotipia'
newspaper published in Greece, Denktas stated that the final
agreement to be reached concerning the Cyprus issue should be the
one that would not cause new conflicts on the Island. He said,
"We should form a new style of state in which we will also be a
partner. The issue of our low population density is not
important. We do not want our children to go through the negative
experiences we have lived. The Island is all of us". He added
that the TRNC supported Turkey's foreign policy on the Cyprus
issue and that the implementation of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem on the issue was viewed positively by all Turkish
Cypriots. Meanwhile, the TRNC Supreme Election Board officially
announced the re-election of Rauf Denktas as the President of the
TRNC. Denktas will swear in at the Assembly for his duty, to last
until the year 2005. /Aksam/
[12] TURCO-ALGERIAN COOPERATION
Turkish has stated, through Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's two-day
official visit to the country, that it wants to improve its
relations with Algeria, with which Turkey has historical and
cultural ties. Received by Algerian President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika and Prime Minister Ahmed Benbitour, Cem conveyed
President Suleyman Demirel's invitation to Bouteflika to visit
Turkey. The President responded positively to the call. In a
written statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was
stated that bilateral political, economic, commercial and
cultural ties were taken up during the talks along with regional
and international topics. Cem had also conveyed Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit's message to Benbitour in which Ecevit reiterated
the Turkish nation's desire to improve its relations with
Algeria. Cem has stated that Turkey was ready to contribute in
every possible way to developing the Algerian economy. /All
papers/
[13] CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING FOR QUAKE VICTIMS TO START
Bids will be invited by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works
for the construction of houses in quake-stricken northwestern
Anatolia at the end of April. Ministry officials said that 40,000
residences will be built for those whose houses were destroyed by
the August 17 earthquake last year. Turkey granted $1.1 billion
in international loans for the cosntruction of the houses. The
applications should be completed within 10-15 days and the
construction of houses will start in May, with a plan to finish
in December. /All papers/
[14] ISO SUBMITS BILL FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) prepared a draft bill proposal
for the foundation of an Economic and Social Council, in
compliance with European Union laws and regulations. In the ISO
bill, the council would be composed of government, employer,
labour organization and professional chamber representatives.
Each group will have 16 members and the council will consist of a
total of 64 members, each elected for a two-year term by their
organizations. The bill proposes that representatives from the
European chamber of industry, Eurochamber, also take part in the
employers' group. ISO has submitted its bill to the government.
/All papers/
[15] TURKEY CALLS FOR CONTINUED IMF-WORLD BANK SUPPORT
Turkey has called on the IMF and the World Bank to continue
assisting member countries for structural reform, the State
Minister responsible for the Treasury, Recep Onal, told the
Anatolia News Agency. Onal, who attended the IMF-World Bank
spring meetings and the UN Economic and Social Council in the US
last week, said that the IMF has a tendency to deprive countries
with an income per capita above $4,000 of assistance. Noting that
Turkey's national income per capita has come close to the $4,000
mark, Onal stated he suggested that both institutions recognize
the exception of developing countries that are carrying out
structural reforms. Onal added that the new tendency has not yet
evolved into an official policy, but it would not affect the
current IMF-World Bank financial assistance to Turkey in either
case.
[16] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU: "NO CHANGE IN GREECE"
During the reception, held in the TGNA, the Chief of General
Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, replied to the questions posed by
journalists. Concerning the declaration of the Greek Premier
Kostas Simitis that the only issue with Turkey was the
"continential shelf", Gen.Kivrikoglu stated, "It is understood
that there was no change in the Greek view. This statement may be
made in an attempt to gain a vote of confidence. While they are
claiming that there is only one issue, we assert that there are
four or five. We should agree on that." Kivrikoglu noted that the
Greek Chief of General Staff would visit Turkey in the fall and
he, Kivrikoglu, would visit Athens. He emphasized that they aimed
to develop the rapprochement between the two countries, also in
military areas. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] LEADERS' MEETING
The leaders of the coalitian partners will convene today to
determine a presidential candidate. Premier Bulent Ecevit
stressed his belief that they could reach an agreement on a
candidate with their partners. If a compromise can be obtained,
the leaders will also visit the oppositon party leaders to obtain
their support. If they cannot agree, every party will declare its
own candidate. During the last meeting of the government
partners, four names, the Minister of National Defense,
Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and from
outside, Prof.Mehmet Haberal and Prof.Kamil Turan were put
forward. /Turkiye/
[18] FOLK SONGS OF FRIENDSHIP FOR PAPANDREOU
Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Papandreou, visited the
Turkish products fair for the first time in Athens. Papandreou
was welcomed by Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, Ali Tuygan, at the
entrance to the fair. Papandreou toured the whole fair and
visited the stands separately, as well as speaking to the Turkish
businessmen. During these speeches, Papandreou pointed out the
importance of Turco-Greek economic cooperation. Papandreou also
visited Koc Holding Company's stand and asked them questions
about the productions of Beko Company and the activities of RAM
Foreign Trade Company and showed interest in their contacts with
Greek. In addition, RAM Company's Foreign Relations
Administrative, Suna Koc, gave Papandreau a CD that included
Turkish and Modern Greek folk songs. /Milliyet/
[19] TURSAB'S INVITATION TO CLINTON
The Turkish Association of Travel Agencies (TURSAB) sent a letter
to American President Bill Clinton, inviting him to take a 'Blue
Tour' through Turkey when he retires. If Clinton accepts this
invitation, he will spend a holiday in the bays of Fethiye,
Bodrum and Marmaris on a yacht called 'Savarona' that will be
given to him for ten days. Chairman of TURSAB, Basaran Ulusoy,
said that they had delivered this letter to the American
Ambassador to Turkey and that they were expecting an answer from
Clinton in a few days. /Milliyet/
[20] KREMLIN AND SAN MARCO SQUARES IN ANTALYA
MNG Holding Company will build four hotel facilities in Antalya's
district of Aksu, including a facility that will be a replica of
the Kremlin Palace and, in addition, an imitation of the
Iskenderiye Lighthouse will be built next to the Kremlin, while
HSC Construction Company will stimulate Venice's famous San Marco
Square. MNG is also planning to build the White House in the same
region after a period of time. Project Director of Targem, which
is the project and architecture company attached to MNG Holding
Company, Serdar Canoglu, stated that they started the research
and analysis works for the construction of the Kremlin and that
they would start the construction in a short period of time.
Canoglu stated that this hotel will have a capacity of 2,000 beds
and that they had designed the whole surrounding area the same as
the original. /Sabah/
[21] IMPROVEMENT IN TOURISM
In an article entitled 'Contributions of Tourism Investors to
Economy II,' which was prepared by the Turkish Association of
Tourism Investors (TYD), the developments that have occurred
since 1980 up to now were documented. In this research, it was
stated that the tourism sector's foreign exchange profit
increased by an average of 23.7% per year between 1983 and 1997.
In this report, it was added, "Tourism's profit was increased by
two fold in each of three year period, which breaks the previous
record. In no other sector has the foreign exchange profit
improved this much. In the same period of time, the annual export
average increased by 11.5%." /Sabah/
[22] DISCUSSION OF 'HIGH PRIORITY REGION' BETWEEN ADANA AND GAZIANTEP
The efforts on the 'High Priority Region,' which was placed on
the agenda by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during his visit to
the US, caused some quarrels between two provinces, Adana and
Gaziantep. Businessmen from Adana claim that Yumurtalik is the
best place for this 'High Priority Region' because of its
harbour, whereas the businessmen from Gaziantep state that
Gaziantep is more suitable due to the fact that it is closer to
the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Region and due to the
rate of industrialization in this region. The items that are
produced in the 'High Priority Region' will be exported to the US
through Israel without customs and quota. /Sabah/
[23] 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR WIND ENERGY
Bilgin Holding Company is preparing to make huge investments in
the energy sector. Bilgin Holding-Escort Energy Joint Initiative
Group, will establish five wind power-stations amounting to 100
million dollars in the Izmir region if the Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources gives the necessary permission for investment.
The Deputy General Director of Bilgin Holding Company, Emre
Bilgin, stated that they were likely to decrease the period of
production from one year to nine months with Bilgin
Holding-Escort Energy Joint Initiative Group. Bilgin added that
they began to search for a loan from abroad for the financing of
this project and that they would be able to meet the financing of
this project after receiving the licence. /Sabah/
[24] TURCO-BRITISH PARTNERSHIP
Many foreign and Turkish firms are preparing to give proposals
for Asil Celik Company, which entered into the bidding with
Isdemir Company. One of the biggest companies among those who
gave proposal for Asil Celik Company, is the British Steel
Company, which also meets Toyotasa's need for steel in Turkey.
Within this framework, Asil Celik Company, which exports 60% of
its production, attracts the attention of not only the Turkish
companies, but also foreign ones. /Sabah/
[25] ARMENIAN PATRIARCH INVITES POPE TO TURKEY
On the occasion of Easter, one of the biggest celebrations of the
Christian world, Turkey's Armenian Patriarchate organized a
'Great Easter Ceremony' yesterday. Armenians living in Istanbul
attended the ceremony in Kumkapi Patriarchate Church. Painted
eggs, the symbols of rebirth, were distributed to the
participants. The Patriarch sent an Easter message to Pope Jean
Paul II, inviting him to Turkey. /Milliyet/
[26] NEW BREAKTHROUGH IN CAUCASIA
Ankara stated that it is ready to help the establishment of a
NATO information centre in Azerbaijan. Ambassador Onur Oymen,
Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, who is currently
paying an unofficial visit to Baku, was received by Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Vilayet Guliyev yesterday. According to the
Russian Interfax agency, Oymen stated that the NATO information
centre in Azerbaijan could be active in a wide region consisting
of Central Asia as well as Caucasia. Oymen pointed out that the
participation of Baku in NATO programmes would be beneficial for
both sides and added that these programmes would not be limited
to the military, but also comprise science, education and
culture. Oymen is also scheduled to be received by the Head of
State Haydar Aliyev. /Milliyet/
[27] TIGEM TO PRIVATIZE SOME OF ITS FACILITIES
The General Directorate of the Agricultural Facilities (TIGEM),
one of the biggest agricultural companies in Turkey, will
privatize some of its facilities. TIGEM General Director Mehmet
Ali Unal said that the announcement for the privatization of the
10-12 companies would be published within 15 days. Unal pointed
out that initially, a tender for every company from every region
would be put out. /Star/
[28] STOCK EXPOSURE OF INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS AT 61%
Grocery store chain Migros is the most popular share among 21
investment partnerships trading on the Istanbul Stock Exchange,
the Anatolia News Agency reports. According to portfolio
statements dated March 31, the total value of the 21 investment
partnerships is 79.2 trillion TL. Their exposure to stocks is
61%, that is, 48.6 trillion TL. Migros shares held by 13
investment partnerships are valued at 2.8 trillion TL, which
amounts to 5.7% of their portfolio.
[29] SIMITIS: "CONTINENTAL SHELF IS THE ONLY PROBLEM"
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis claims that the only problem
Greece has with Turkey is the determination of the continental
shelf in the Aegean Sea, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
Speaking at the Greek Parliament about his government's
programme, Simitis touched on the issue of bilateral relations
with Turkey and also the Cyprus dispute. Simitis stressed that
Greece would pursue a foreign policy regarding its differences
with Turkey according to the conclusions of the Helsinki Summit
under which Turkey was declared a candidate for EU membership. He
also said that it was out of question for Athens to change its
well-known stances over these differences.
[30] COASTAL SECURITY PRECAUTION
Another project has been included on the Defence Industry
Undersecretariat (SSM) programme. This is to establish a
helicopter fleet for coastal protection to maintain order in
Turkish waters with the primary emphasis on preventing weapons
smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal immigration, the Anatolia
News Agency reports. With the establishment of the helicopter
fleet, which is aimed at enforcing the law and safeguarding life
and property, an effective monitoring of our territorial waters
will be possible.
[31] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO CELEBRATE ITS 38TH ANNIVERSARY
The Constitutional Court will celebrate its 38th anniversary of
its establishment tomorrow with various activities and
ceremonies. President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit are expected to attend the ceremony to be held at the
court tomorrow. Court Chairman Ahmet Necdet Sezer, European Court
of Human Rights Chairman Luzuis Wildhaber and the European
Court's Turkish judge will make speeches at the ceremony. Then a
symposium titled "The Constitutional Judge" will be held,
continuing until Wednesday. /Turkish Daily News/
[32] TWO NEW AIRPLANES JOIN IN KHTY FLEET
Two new Boeing 737-800 airplanes have joined the Cyprus Airlines
(KHTY) fleet. The planes, which landed at Ankara's Esenboga
Airport on Saturday night, were hired from an Irish company,
Sancrod, for 73 months. The planes, whose custom procedures were
completed yesterday, will fly to Ercan Airport today after having
got their flight certificates from the Ministry of Transport.
/Turkish Daily News/
[33] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[34] WILL THERE BE A CONSENSUS? BY SABAHATTIN ONKIBAR (TURKIYE)
Columnist Sabahattin Onkibar writes the following in his article
today:
"It seems unlikely that a consensus will be reached on Prof.
Mehmet Haberal, Ismail Cem, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu and Prof. Kamil
Turan concerning the presidential election. If Ecevit or Bahceli
accepts the proposal of one another, then the one who accepted
the proposal will be placed in a difficult situation with his
party and in the public eye. If we are to analyse these
candidates one by one, it would be as follows: Prof. Haberal is
the symbol of ambition, convinction and success, as well as a
medical authority in terms of organ transport in Turkey. In
addition, I do not agree with those who claim that he does not
know enough with regards to economy and foreign policy. I think
his chance in the presidential election are very high due to the
fact that he is from the central right-wing party, which will
assure him votes not only from Democratic Left Party (DSP), but
also from the True Path Party (DYP) and from the Nationalist
Action Party (MHP).
As for Ismail Cem, I can say that his quality as a candidate and
his personal charisma cannot be disputed. He is very much
esteemed not only in Turkey, but also abroad. However, it is not
very easy for Cem, who is a theoretician of leftist policy, to be
accepted by an Assembly with a right-wing majority. As for
Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, who was the apple of the eye of deceased
President Turgut Ozal and MHP's deceased leader Turkes, I claim
that he is one of the few men who can be a perfect President.
There is no need to list his positive characteristics, and his
only handicap would be the low possibility of receiving a vote
from the DSP. If Yilmaz does not become a candidate, Cakmakoglu
is likely to receive the vote of the Motherland (ANAP) Party. As
for Prof. Turan, I can say that we do not know much about him, in
contrast to the other candidates. According to the things we have
heard, he is close to Mr. Bahceli and has very positive
characteristics. Those whom I mentioned above are not the
official candidates, but there are those who have become
candidates officially and their number is increasing rapidly.
However, ANAP leader Yilmaz is not a candidate yet and if he
becomes a candidate, then all the balance in the Turkish Grand
National Assemly (TGNA) will be turned upside-down. Today, the
issue of his candidacy will be settled and it will become clear
whether or not a consensus can be reached on the presidential
election.So the one word is continuing".
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