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Turkish Press Review, 00-05-08Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>08.05.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] TANTAN CONFIRMS MUMCU ASSASSINS CAPTURED BY POLICEInterior Minister Saadettin Tantan confirmed yesterday that nine top members of a gang believed to be responsible for the 1993 murder of leading journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu were captured by the police and currently were undergoing questioning. Tantan stated that the terrorists believed to be directly involved in the Mumcu killing were among the nine captured on Saturday. The Istanbul State Security Court (DGM), on the other hand, ordered a news blackout on Sunday on "all types of documents" until after the interrogation and court proceedings against the nine alleged terrorists were completed. The court order was apparently taken as a measure against possible publication in the media of confessions of the nine alleged terrorists under interrogation. /All papers/[03] IRAN: "WE HAVE NO CONNECTION"The Iranian Embassy stated that they had no connection with the Mumcu assassins and refuted allegations claiming that Iran had been involved in such Islamic groups or peoples working against Turkey. /Star/[04] GREAT SUCCESS OF THE COALITIONMany fugitives and murderers were captured both in Turkey and abroad during the period in which Bulent Ecevit has been the Prime Minister. Some of the important people, who were captured are as follows: Abdullah Ocalan (16.2.1999), accused people of the action at Mavi Carsi Shopping Centre (23.3.1999), Unal Osmanagaoglu (10.4.1999), the murderers of Veli Ahyan Cevik (11.8.1999), Ali Narin (28.9.1999), Fehriye Erdal (the end of September 1999), Abuzer Ugurlu (20.10.1999), Erol Evcil (26.10.1999), Burhanettin Turkes (14.11.1999) and those captured during Hizbullah operations (January 2000 and the following months). /Milliyet/[05] FULL SUPPORT FOR SEZERAhmet Necdet Sezer, who was elected the 10th President of Turkey, also received the full support of the public. 81% of the Turkish public gave support to Sezer, who was also welcomed with sympathy by Turkish and foreign politicians, non-governmental organizations and the mass-media. Polar Investigation Company, which conducted a poll concerning the new President by posing questions to 1,227 people living in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon, Diyarbakir, Konya, Denizli, Bursa and Kayseri. 81% of these people stated that they supported Sezer and 75% of them stated that they believed that he would be successful in his new duty as a President. /Aksam/[06] CEM: "TURKEY'S IMAGE IS IMPROVING"Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, who received the award of the 'Statesman of the Year' by the East-West Institute and who made some contacts in the US, returned to Turkey. Cem evaluated his contacts there and stated that Turkey was displaying a developing image in terms of internal and foreign policy, economy and character and that Turkey's situation was better than ever. Cem added, "Turkey is passing another turning point with its successful internal and foreign policy in 1999 and the developments of the year 2000. With its economy, policy and culture, it is on the cusp of securing its place among the leading countries in the world." /Aksam/[07] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU IN BRUSSELSThe Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu went to Brussels to attend NATO meetings yesterday. According to a written statement by the General Secretariat of the Office of General Staff, Gen.Kivrikoglu will participate in the 138th Military Committee and European-Atlantic Partnership Council, NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Russian Federation Military Committee meetings in Belgium. During the meetings, views will be exchanged regarding various issues, including the NATO exercise being carried out in the Balkans and European security. /Cumhuriyet/[08] UN TO SET NEW DATE FOR CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKSThe UN is expected to set a new date for the third round of proximity talks on Cyprus, which were originally planned to be held on May 23 but were postponed due to Greek-Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides having an operation, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem had a 40-minute meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in which they discussed the latest developments of the Cyprus issue as well as the situation in northern Iraq and Kosovo and the recent attacks against UN peacekeking mission.[09] CALL FROM IRAQIn an article, issued in the Iraqi "El Tavra" newspaper, it was stated that Turkey's current Iraqi policy was not suitable to the historical and neighbourly relationship between the two countries and Turkey was called to establish "right and strong relations" with Iraq. The article said that Turkey was harmed by cooperating with America against Iraq, and it claimed that America didn't think about Turkey's security. The article also underlined Turkey's economic harm in the wake of the embargo, carried out against Iraq. /Turkiye/[10] AKBULUT RETURNSThe Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Yildirim Akbulut, returned to Turkey. A delegation headed by Akbulut was in Strasbourg to attend a conference organized by the European Council. /Turkiye/[11] DEMIREL: "I'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE"President Suleyman Demirel, whose term in office ends on May 16, declared that he would continue to serve the State and nation even after his leaving the presidency. Demirel received the members of the Turkiye Charitables' Association in Cankaya Palace. During his speech Demirel stated that he has been serving for the country for 50 years and he would go on serving as an ordinary citizen. /Turkiye/[12] AEGEAN SEA SYMPOSIUMThe former Foreign Minister Prof.Mumtaz Soysal delivered a speech at the final session of the "Aegean Sea 2000" symposium organized in Bodrum by the Turkish Naval Research Foundation (TUDAV) and said that Greece should declare its territorial waters as six miles with a bilateral declaration. Soysal stated that both countries should accept the problems and agree on the ways and methods by which to bring about a solution as a package. /Cumhuriyet/[13] ADVISORY MECHANISMTurkish and German Foreign Ministry officials who have been meeting once every month to activate an unofficial advisory mechanism since last September prior to the Helsinki Summit during which Turkey's EU candidacy status was approved have decided to do the same for the period following the Helsinki Summit. It is reported that a similar advisory mechanism was put into place last month in Berlin by the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Uluc Ozulker responsible to the EU and these initiatives will continue once every three months. /Cumhuriyet/[14] TURKEY TAKES ANOTHER STEP TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH SYRIATurkey has taken another step to improve relations wityh Syria. Yesterday State Minister Recep Onal began a four-day visit to Syria accompanied by a large delegation of businessmen to attend a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Damascus, the first there in 12 years. Bilateral relations between the two countries began a process of normalization after Syria deported the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, and signed the Adana Agreement allowing Turkey to monitor Syrian efforts to combat terrorism. State Minister Onal is expected to meet the newly-appointed Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustapha Miro and the Ministers of Public Finance, Natural Resources, Oil, Electricity and Agriculture during his visit. /All papers/[15] GROSSMAN: "DIALOGUE WAS LAUNCHED CONCERNING THE AEGEAN ISSUE"US Deputy Secretary of State responsible for European affairs, Marc Grossman, said that dialogue had been launched between Turkey and Greece concerning the Aegean problems. In a statement to the 'Kathimerini' newspaper, Grossman stated that meetings between the two countries to try to solve the bilateral problems have already started. He pointed out that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papanderou have begun to observe the confidence-building measures in the Aegean again. /Cumhuriyet/[16] CONFERENCE CALLS FOR INTER-RELIGION DIALOGUEThe International EU Conference held by the Directorate of Religious Affairs ended yesterday, and the Conference General Committee approved reports prepared by the commissions on Saturday, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The commission reports covered the issues of "Religious Problems Likely to Result from EU-Turkey Relations and Possible Gains", "Religion-Politics Relations" and "Religious Searches and Methods of Religious Exposition at the Dawn of the Third Millenium"."In order to create a healthy setting for the discussion of concepts such as secularism, religion and politics, we need to cleanse secularism and Islam from dogmatic interpretations, political calculations and ideological approaches and take up a scientific and critical approach", the report said. It emphasized that terrorist incidents taking place in numerous parts of the world are unacceptable and should not be used to characterize all Muslisms. [17] CHHIBBER: "TURKEY IS ON THE RIGHT PATH"While evaluating the inflation figures for the month of April, The World Bank's Director for Turkey, Ajay Chhibber, stated that the low figures were a result of the monetary and financial policies trhat had been carried out lately. Chhibber declared that money, finance, foreign exchange policies and privatization were as they should be but they were annoyed that structural reforms were carried out slowly. He emphasized that World Bank will grant Turkey more than 5 billion dollars in financial sources. Chhibber also noted that they accepted IMF's offer to have an expert at the World Bank's office in Ankara. Accordingly, one or two experts of IMF will work in this office and they will inform the head office about economic developments in Turkey. /Hurriyet/[18] STRUGGLE AGAINST CHILD LABOURA project implemented in order to remove child labour from the rural areas of four villages in the Uzundere district of Erzurum with the contributions of the ILO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and National Education Directorate has had remarkable results. As part of the project, 25 facilities will be set up in order to educate the people in various issues including health and family planning. /Cumhuriyet/[19] PRIVATIZATION PROCEEDS REACH $5 BILLIONThe privatization programme earned the government $5 billion in the first four months of this year, including the GSM 1800 first license transfer bid held by the Ministry of Transport. The Anatolia News Agency reported that the Privatization Administration Board (OIB) finalized tenders equal to $2.525 billion this year. This includes privatization of state economic enterprises (KITs) whose sell-off and transfer processes are complete and those for which permission for sell-off_transfer was given but contacts have not yet been signed. Economic officials indicate that two-thirds of total privatization revenue targeted for 2000 was realized in the first four months. The goal for 2000 is $7.6 billion.[20] ILO WORKING CONFERENCE TO BEGIN AT THE END OF MONTHThe 88th working conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) will be held in Geneva from May 30-June 15. More than 3,000 labour and employer representatives from 176 countries are expected to attend. Topics to be discussed include the protection of mothers, the cultivation and development of human resources, vocational training, the health and safety of farm workers, and decreasing the workday in coal mines. Labour and Social Welfare Minister Yasar Okuyan, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Bayram Meral, the Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) plan to attend the conference and give speeches there. /All papers/[21] MUSGRAVE: "PLAN THE FUTURE TODAY"Anton Musgrave, the famous futurist, issued a speech during a meeting organized by Netas and Nortel Networks in Istanbul and said, "Developments in internet technology will make numerous changes in the next 20 years, particularly in the consumer culture and technology and management affairs. One of the most important factors in the new economy, which was formed after the internet became widespread, is the development new strategic technology scenarios that will help to beat the rivals by planning the future twenty years ahead. /Sabah/[22] FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT'S STATEMENTForeign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) stated that the loss of export in the Western European market, which occurred due to the euros devaluation in January and February, totalled 345 million dollars when compared with the same period last year. According to the DTM, the fact that the euro lost value when compared to the dollar by 10% caused exports to Europe to decrease and decreased Turkish goods' power to compete in Europe. Due to the devaluation of the euro from January to February, the export loss in the Western Europe amounted to 170 million dollars in January and 175 million dollars in February. /Sabah/[23] INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BAHCESEHIR'The American Institute of Architects', one of the leading architecture establishments in the world, deemed the Bahcesehir Project worthy of award in the category of municipal design. In a statement issued by this Institute, the architecture of Istanbul_Bahcesehir Project, Mr.Torti Gallas and his partner CHK Inc Inas Joint Stock Architecture Company, Emlak Bank, Emlak Marketing Project Management and Service were deemed worthy of this award. The award ceremony was organized in the Philedelphia Convention Centre in Washington, US. /Sabah/[24] OZINCE'S STATEMENTGeneral Director of Is Bank, Ersin Ozince, stated that Turkey directed its way to the future again, and that it was time for Turkey to use its experience, talent, creativity and capital more effectively. Ozince added, "I think the level of success reached by Turkey is less than it deserves. Turkey should keep in mind the fact that it is an important power in its region." Ozince also pointed out that the economic programme that was being implemented by the government, which aims to decrease inflation, was effective as a result of its targets and tools. /Sabah/[25] 35.9 BILLION DOLLARS EARNED BY TURKISH WORKERS ABROAD IN 10 YEARSTurkish workers who work abroad have contributed 35.9 billion dollars to the Turkish economy since 1990. According to the calculation made by the Central Bank, Turkish workers who work abroad contributed 3 billion 246 million dollars to the Turkish economy in 1990 and this amount reached 5 billion 356 million dollars in 1998. /Aksam/[26] CENTRAL BANK HOLDS CONFERENCESThe Central Bank is sponsoring a series of conferences for economic officials revolving around economic stability, growth and foreign capital starting in Ankara today. The conferences will end on May 12, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Central Bank Deputy Governor Aydin Esen and former Central Bank Governor Cafer Tayyar Sadiklar will deliver speeches on the first day of the conference series.[27] BORDER TRADEA decree which regulates the border trade has been issued following an eight-month studies. The decree removes the concept of 'neighbouring city' and determines that border trade will be carried out only in border cities extending from Artvin to Hatay. /Star/[28] TPAO RAISES PROFITS SEVEN TIMESState-run Turkish petroleum Board (TPAO) increased its net profits 687% in 1999 to $24 million. TAPO Managing Director Osman Demirag told the Anatolia News Agency that TAPO's name would be mentioned among the international oil giants in the coming five years. He said that if Caspian Sea oil projects were to be put into effect more dynamically, TAPO's name would be mentioned among the multinational oil giants.[29] US IMPORTS $335 MILLION WORTH OF DUTY-FREE GOODS IN 1999Turkish products worth $335 million entered the US duty-free in 1999 due to the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The Turkish Embassy in Washington said that out of a total of $665 million in exports to the US, $335 million worth of them were duty-free. /Turkish Daily News/[30] GOVERNMENT AUDITORS LAUNCH TAX INSPECTION SEASONThe finance sector became the focus of this year's tax auditing when the Ministry of Finance's Council of Auditors launched the 2000 tax inspection programme, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Banks, other financial institutions, investment funds and investment partnerships, and insurance firms will be given special consideration this year by government auditors.[31] 5TH INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FAIR IN TURKEYThe 5th International Education Fair, which was organized by HIT International Education Centre, started the day before with the participation of 22 universities from four countries. The firs leg of the fair, which is sponsored by 'Sabah' daily and which introduces the important universities abroad to Turkish students, was held in The Marmara Hotel in Istanbul on 6 and 7 May. This fair will be held on 8 and 9 May at Dedeman Hotel in Ankara and on 10 May at Hilton Hotel in Izmir. General Coordinator of HIT International Education Centre, Asli Ucar, gave information on this fair and said, "Those who want to receive education abroad can have the necessary information here. Students can be registered with those universities here. We are presenting a very important opportunity for students who want to study abroad." /Sabah/[32] CHAIRMAN OF ROTARY IN TURKEYThe Chairman of International Rotary, Carlo Ravizza, arrived in Turkey to visit the earthquake-damaged region and to observe the Rotary services that were given here. Ravizza received information on the works of the Turkish rotary clubs in the earthquake-damaged region during a meeting that was held at Istanbul Hilton Hotel yesterday. Chairman of Rotary Disaster Aid Institution, Orscelik Balkan, stated that the amount of the project that was implemented by their club in the earthquake-damaged region was 6 trillion TL. Ravizza mentioned his pleasure with the work in the region. /Sabah/[33] TURKISH YOUTH WORKING FOR TURKEY'S CANDIDACY TO THE EUThe youth clubs of the universities and the international youth organizations, believing that they also should work for Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU), held a summit under the name 'Youth Platform Project,' which was organized by the 21st Century Education and Culture Foundation (YEKUV). Student clubs of the Bogazici University, Marmara University, Bilgi University, Istanbul University, Istanbul Technical University, Bahcesehir University, Yildiz Technical University and Dogus University, some other international youth organizations, including AIESEC, AEGEE, ELSA, Youth for Habitat and Leo and the representatives of the Handicapped Foundation were also present in this summit. The young people, who gave their opinion on problems such as education, economy, law, communication and media, social and issues, will prepare a report and present this report to the Chairmanship of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Higher Education Council and to the European Commission. /Milliyet/[34] HEROIN OPERATION IN ANKARA19 kg of heroin was seized and three people in connection with the incident were detained during an operation held by Ankara's Command of Gerdarmarine. In a statement issued by Ankara's Command of Gerdarmarine, the gendarmarine used information to investigate a lorry on the E-89 highway between Ankara and Istanbul, during which a total of 19 kg heroin in 19 separate packages was seized. /Aksam/[35] TURKISH UNITS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DYNAMIC MIX MANOEUVRESA large part of the Dynamic Mix manoeuvres will be carried out at the Kyparissia Bay, which is located west of the Mora Peninsula. Two Greek, one Turkish, three American, two French, one Italian and one Spanish siege ships will arrive in Kyparissia Bay and 150 Turkish commando soldiers will for the first time set foot in the Greek land. 2,650 NATO soldiers, including the Turkish ones, will land on the beach. In addition, twelve Turkish war-planes of F-16 type will support the attack forces from the sky. Meanwhile, the Turkish frigates and submarines will work cooperatively with the Greek and American fleets. /Sabah/[36] STRAITS' SECURITYState Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu, stated that the Ship Traffic Monitoring and Control System, to be established at Istanbul and Dardannel Straits by the Naval Undersecretariat, will begin to give service on July in 2001, and, thus, the transition security of the Straits will be ensured. Mirzaoglu further stated that the financial problems of the system, which will be built by the American Company, Lockheed Martin, had been solved. According to the information given by Mirzaoglu, 21 million dollars will be spent for the radar equipment systems. /Aksam/[37] ELECTION IN GERMANYThe German political parties have begun to try to win the votes of the Turkish voters for the election that will be made at the Northern Ren Vestfalya State in Germany on 14 May. During the open session called 'Turkish People in Duisburg on the Axial of Receival and Excluding,' which was organized by Turkish people living in Duisburg, it was stated that foreign people should not be used as political material. The State deputy from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Thomas Mahlberg, said, "We had not given much importance to having close relations with the Turkish people. Our policy does not aim to exclude them." /Aksam/[38] EASTER TO BE CELEBRATED IN CAPPADOCIANevsehir Governor Mehmet Yilmaz stated that Cappadocia is an area where different cultures and religions are in close interaction. Greek Orthodox Church Fener Patriach Bartholomoes I visited Nevsehir on the wekend, where a religious ceremony to observe Easter will be held, and visited Yilmaz at his office. He emphasized that Turkey is going through radical changes within the EU membership process and as a part of this process, which is likely to bring about positive results for the whole of Turkey, religious authorities should fulfill their duties. /All papers/[39] EDUCATION COMMISSION TO DEBATE STUDENT AMNESTYThe Parliamentary Education Commission will start to debate a proposed bill on Wednesday for students who were dismissed from their schools or who left of their own free will between the years 1983 and 2000 to be granted the right to return to their school after passing an entrance exam. The proposed bill was approved by an education sub-commission in Parliament last week. /All papers/[40] NEW YORK'S MAYFEST STARTSMayfest, a New York May Festival held by the American-Turkish Women's Solidarity Foundation youth council, started on the weekend. President Suleyman Demirel sent a message in honour of the opening of the festival saying that the cultural and artistic activities to be performed during the festival would contribute to the improvement of Turkey-US relations. The festival will continue until the end of the month and cost $600,000 to stage. /All papers/[41] OTTOMAN IN TOKYOThe final activity as part of the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the establishment of the Ottoman Empire was held in Tokyo yesterday. Ottoman cuisine and clothing attracted the greatest interest from the participants. /Star/[42] THE MARMARA BODRUM AMONG THE BEST HOTELSThe Marmara Bodrum Hotel was placed among the best new hotels in the list of the world's famous tourism magazine "Conde Nast Traveler". The Magazine evaluates the hotels in 18 countries across five continents and issues the world's 36 best hotels every three months. /Hurriyet/[43] THIRD ENERGY FAIRThe Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer will inaugurate the Third International Energy Fair. He will also attend the Eighth Energy Congress. /Turkiye/[44] "SECOND POMPEI UNDER WATER"The American "New York Times" newspaper, claimed that a new dam in the southeastern of the Ataturk Dam which was being constructed in the scope of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will leave an ancient Roman city, Zeugma, unearthed during excavations in the region, under water. The article stated that the site labeled a "Second Pompei", has the richest mosaic collection unearthed up to now. /Turkiye/[45] ISIN PLASTIC PRODUCES PLASTIC WATER SLIDERSIsin Plastic has begun to produce plastic water slides that cause no damage to body for the first time in Turkey. The General Director of Isin Plastic, Mahmut Metozade, declared that in addition to their company. there were only two companies which produce plastic water slides in the world and compared to the present polyester slides, the risk of injury on plastic water slides were zero. /Hurriyet/[46] TWO STUDENTS FROM DARUSSAFAKA TO REPRESENT TURKEYTwo students Raziye Saykili and Orhan Orhan from Darussafaka High School will represent Turkey at the "International Science and Engineering Fair" which will be organized on May 7-12, 2000 in the US, by their Chemistry projects. About 1,200 pupils from 40 countries will attend the fair with projects in 14 different science branches. /Hurriyet/[47] GREEK SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCHThree members of the Cappadocia Working Centre based in Greece and established for the restoration of the Agios Prokopios, which dates back 150 years and is located in the Agirnas country of the Melikgazi district of Kayseri, have arrived in Kayseri. The three members who have been welcomed by the Mayor of Agirnas Mehmet Osmanbasoglu have made a series of observations at the Agios Prokopios Church. /Cumhuriyet/[48] TURKISH BALLET IN SALONICAA six-student group from Hacettepe Dance Conservatory staged a performance in Salonica at the invitation of the Kalamaria Mayor's Dance School to Merih Cimenciler, State Artist and choreographer. Turkish ballets performed samples from modern and classical dance which were prepared by their trainer, Handan Ozer. /Hurriyet/[49] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[50] TANTAN AND THE MURDERERS BY FUAT BOL (TURKIYE)Columnist Fuat Bol comments on the apprehension of famous journalist Ugur Mumcu's murderers. A summary of his column is as follows:"The Interior Minister announced that famous journalist Ugur Mumcu's murderers were caught. We congratulate the determination and sensitivity of the Minister of the Interior, Saadettin Tantan and the Security Organization regarding the matter. The murders, whose perpetrators for so long remained unknown, gave Turkey a bad reputation. Turkey does not deserve to be known as such.... Turkey exists in one of the most critical regions of the world. There is only one way to live in calm and peace in this part of the world and that is to be a strong and influential state. However for years, political murders remained unsolved in Turkey as if encouraging others. As long as their perpetrators were not caught their power increased. Turkey and the Turkish nation became the losers in this situation. The Minister of the Interior, Saadettin Tantan devoted himself to fighting a wide variety of illegal acts. He went to foreign countries, signed agreements with them on the arrest and extradition of the guilty. He captured many of the so-called gang-leaders and had them brought to Turkey. He began to follow up on the unsolved murders and in the end was successful. We are sure he will continue to be successful. Interior Minister Tantan, with this success saved the State from being blamed and relieved the people. With Tantan, new horizons are opening up to Turkey". [51] ISRAELI INTEREST IN BAKU-CEYHAN BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI (STAR)Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes on the Israeli interest in the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. A summary of her column is as follows:"The Baku-Ceyhan pipeline has been a source of pride for every Turkish government for five years. Every government formed, stated that Baku-Ceyhan pipeline was to be built. However, talks on the matter did not cease. Russians interfered, Caucasia was upset, Americans applied pressure and Turkey worked. Many agreements were signed, however no light was seen at the end of the tunnel. Just as I was losing hope on Baku-Ceyhan, the news that Israel was also interested in the situation sparked new hopes in me. Israeli Government sent SOCAR, Azerbaijani petroleum company a new list. In the list, the names of the Israeli oil companies interested in the construction of the pipeline are cited. Israelis bought a tanker of oil from the Azeri oil beds and analyzed it carefully. They were pleased with the quality of the oil. They officially contacted the Azerbaijani Government. An official from SOCAR and Isreali Forein Ministry official Victor Kharel met. Following this meeting a list of companies interested in the project was sent to Azerbaijan. Israel who is interested in constructing the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, is also planning to buy a part of the oil carried by the pipeline. The Israeli interest in the Azeri oil is not limited to Baku-Ceyhan. Israelis also want to enter the petrochemical industry sector in Azerbaijan. This gave me hope. Maybe Israelis can succeed in doing what the Americans could not and the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline will one day be constructed. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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