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Turkish Press Review, 00-06-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>23.06.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CEM: "NO CONFLICT, ONLY COMPETITION BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA IN ASIA"[02] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[03] PRESIDENT SEZER IN TRNCPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer went to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday at the invitation of the President Rauf Denktas. During his first official visit abroad after his election as President, Sezer gave support to the Turkish-Cypriots. Following the meeting with Denktas, Sezer said, "Turkey will always stand by Turkish-Cypriots". Concerning the recent developments on the extension of the term of the UN Peace Force, Sezer stated, "Northern Cyprus is not a territory without any owner or is under Greek-Cypriots' authority. Here the authority belongs to the Turkish-Cypriot people and their state, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. If the Peace-keeping force desires to continue to its activities in Cyprus, it needs the Turkish-Cypriot authorities' consent and cooperation." The President of the TRNC, Rauf Denktas, also stated that President Sezer's visit gave them confidence and they were honoured to host him. /Turkiye/[04] BALLOTING AT TGNASeven reports of investigation commissions of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), which caused tension between the coalition partners of the government, were voted in the TGNA yesterday. The Motherland Party (ANAP) Leader Mesut Yilmaz, was exonerated by the votes of the parliamentarians. In addition to the SEKA, deputies voted against sending Yilmaz to Supreme Court concerning the POAS, gang and Turkbank cases. The Leader of the True Path Party (DYP), Tansu Ciller was not present in Parliament, as DYP decided not to participate in the voting. During the balloting of the SEKA case, the majority of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the Virtue Party (FP) deputies voted in favour of sending Yilmaz to the Supreme Court, while Democratic Left Party (DSP), ANAP and some MHP deputies voted against. /Milliyet/[05] CEM: "NO CONFLICT, ONLY COMPETITION BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA IN ASIA"Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Thursday that there was no conflict, only peaceful yet serious competition between Turkey and Russia in Central Asia and Causasia. During the advisory meeting with the ambassadors to Central Asia and Caucasia, Cem said that Turkey had put special emphasis on its relations with these countries and that many Turkish companies were making large investments there. Stressing the importance of bringing Central Asian energy and natural resources to the world market, Cem said that Turkey had been bridging the gap between two. Cem said, "Turkey has been playing an important role in the transportation of these countries' oil and gas to the world markets, but Turkey will not allow the use of the Turkish straits as a pipeline during this transportation. Nobody should think they can use the straits freely, since Turkey can not endanger the life of millions of people. Turkey will take the necessary precautions outlined in the Montreux Treaty and in international law." /Turkish Daily News/[06] THE GAP BETWEEN TURKEY AND CENTRAL ASIA CLOSINGForeign Minister Ismail Cem who held a comprehensive meeting with the participation of the Turkish Ambassadors to Central Asian countries, stated that the institutionalization of relations with the region was a necessity. Noting that Central Asia and the Caucasus were regions of priority for Turkey in the 21st century, Cem said that Turkey would help these countries living under the threat of ethnic and fundamentalist terrorism in the field of security. During the meeting Cem said, "Turkey has two main goals in the 21st century. One of them is to become a full-member of the EU and the other is to be a pivot country for Eurasia." The Foreign Minister added that work had begun to form new consultation mechanisms to hold regular political contacts, and that Turkey would share her experiences on security with the countries of the region. Stressing that Turkey had an important place in the economy of the region Cem stated that Turkey would not be satisfied with what it has accomplished until today and would continue to do all it can for the region." /Cumhuriyet/[07] ATHENS-ANKARA MEETING TO START TODAYSecond leg of the political consultations which was initiated between Ankara and Athens last November, will be held today. At the consultations Turkey will be represented by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Yigit Alpogan and Greece will be represented by Foreign Ministry Political Director Ambassador Anastase Skopelitis. /Cumhuriyet/[08] US SUPPORT FOR TURKEY ON ESDIThe US has lended full support for Turkey in its reaction to its exclusion from the decision-making mechanisms of the European Defence and Security Identity(ESDI). On the issue of the autamotic use of NATO's sources and excluding NATO countries which are not members to the EU from decision-making mechanisms from ESDI, Washington stated that the US and Turkey agreed on the developments concerning ESDI. A State Department official said that Turkey may not be a member of the EU but had contributed greatly to many developments. He added, taking this into consideration the US was waiting the EU decisions on ESDI. /Hurriyet/[09] EU COMMISSION HAS TAKEN TURKEY UNDER SURVEILLANCEEU official Responsible for Employment and Social Policy Anna Diamatapoulou and EU Head of the Turkish Department Alain Servantie held a series of contacts in Ankara and were informed of the work undertaken for harmonization with the European criteria. Sub-committees formed to harmonize Turkish and EU laws began their first meeting in Brussels yesterday. Diamatopoulou pointed out that women were discriminated against in Turkey. Prior to the visit of Gunther Verheugen, EU official Responsible for Expansion, the political contacts between Turkey and the EU have increased. /Cumhuriyet/[10] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF GENERAL KIVRIKOGLU IN TBLISIChief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu arrived in Tblisi for an official visit at the invitation of Georgian Defence Minister David Tevsadze. Kivrikoglu was welcomed at the Tblisi airport by Georgian Defence Minister where the Turkish Ambassador to Tblisi Burak Gursel was also present. On the first day of his visit Kivrikioglu held several contacts. He was received by the Georgian President Edouard Shevardnadze in the evening. During Kivrikoglu's visit the relations between the two countries and military cooperation issues will be discussed, Anatolia Agency reports.[11] DEMIREL: "PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM IS NECESSARY"The nineth President of Turkey, Suleyman Demirel, stated that a comprehensive reform in the state was inevitable and presidential system should be reconsidered for stability in the country. Demirel addressed businessmen during lunch, after the meeting of the Association of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) in Istanbul. Demirel emphasized that stability could not be maintained in a divided parliament. He stated that in addition to the presidential system, the Israeli model could also be considered as an alternative. Stressing that there were three important targets before Turkey, Demirel said, "They are economic and political stability and entering the EU." /Turkiye/[12] PARDON FOR STUDENTSA Draft Law, envisaging the right of taking two exams and make-up tests for the students who were dismissed from higher education, whatever the reason, between Sep. 12, 1980 and 2000, was accepted at the General Session of the TGNA. The proposal of the Virtue Party (FP) deputies that the pardon for the students also dissmissed from universities due to their head scarfs and dressing, was rejected. /Turkiye/[13] REVISIONS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSA bill, authorizing the government to enact decrees with the force of law has been submitted to Parliament. After enacting of the bill, work will be carried out to abolish the imbalance between civil servants and to restructure public institutions. The Head of the Plan and Budget Commission in the Parliament, Metin Sahin, stated that discussions on the bill would begin today. /Turkish Daily News/[14] BAY PROJECT REVIVEDThe long-delayed Izmit Bay Crossing Project is being revived. The project came to an impasse four years ago, as ENKA and British-Japanese consortium, AJTC, the winner of the tender, didn't show up to sign the contract. The Minister of Public Works and Housing, Koray Aydin, stated that they invited three consortia, AJTC, IBKO, and BV to submit their best and final offers in the next 45 days once they are notified of the invitation. The scheme, which is part of the 440 kilometer-long Istanbul-Izmir highway, will cost about one billion dollars. /Milliyet/[15] BAKU-CEYHAN RATIFIEDThe agreement on the Baku-Ceyhan petroleum pipeline project which will enable the transport of Caspian petroleum to the world, was ratified by the TGNA. /Sabah/[16] WESTERN THRACE: A PROBLEM OF EUROPEGerman researcher Dr. Michael Ackerman whose book was published recently under the name of "Turkish Minority in Western Thrace" said that Western Thracian Turks were a source of conflict which was ignored continously by Europe. Ackerman said that when compared with EU, the USA had a different approach on this issue. He said, "To form associations under Turkish names and to give Turkish names to streets are still forbidden. Turkish newspapers are being prevented from being published, discriminatory measures are being applied for minority school students. Permission for rebuilding of the collapsed mosques depends on the Greek Orthodox Church. Religious foundations are not allowed to be governed by minority members." /Cumhuriyet/[17] MARC PARRIS: TURKEY IS FULL OF OPPORTUNITIESAmerican Ambassador to Ankara Marc Parris said in Bursa yesterday, Turkey has a bright future in economic, political, social and democratic areas. As he replied the questions by the reporters he pointed out the volume of the large economic potential in Turkey saying, `US firms has just begun to realize the opportunities in Turkey. The US firms have not made enough investment yet. For this reason I'm travelling around so large an area to show the opportunities laying in the country both in business and other fields'. /Sabah/.[18] 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMASYA PROTOCOLThe 81st anniversary of the issuing of the Amasya Protocol, which is a turning point in the War of Independence, was celebrated. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in his message marking the occasion stated that Amasya Protocol was the starting point of the establishment of modern Turkish Republic based on national will. The Speaker of the TGNA Yildirim Akbulut remarked in his message celebrating the occasion that the Amasya Protocol was the most important and valuable historic document expressing the resolution of a nation for freedom, and independence and laying down the basic principles of the War of Independence. Prime Minister Ecevit also issued a message on the 81st anniversary of the issuing of the Amasya Protocol. He stated that Amasya Protocol was a spark in the instigation of the War of Independence, uniting the nation around the belief in freedom, Anatolia Agency reports.[19] IMF PREDICTS YEARLY INFLATION AS 46.5%The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted Turkey's yearly average consumer price inflation to be 46.5% this year, compared to a government projection of 43%. In the May 2000 edition of its World Economic Outlook report the IMF said that Turkey's yearly consumer price index (CIP) would be 17% next year. /Turkish Daily News/[20] IMF PRAISES TURKEY'S PROGRAM TO FIGHT AGAINST INFLATIONEvaluating the last ten years' programs to fight against inflation in Turkey, a report by an expert from the International Monetary Fund evaluated this year's economic programme as the most effective among the last ten years' monetary policies seen in Turkey. In his report the IMF Expert Rakia Mualla Fetini pointed out some good signals in economy which are encouraging. Fetini said that the 1990's inflation programme did not bear fruitfull results as the average inflation rate of those years did not fall under 80 percent in spite all the measures./Aksam/[21] TUSIAD WANTS POLITICAL CONSENSUSAssociation of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen have issued a declaration on June 22 that expressing that a consensus is necessary among the political leaders to keep up with the reform processes in the country. TUSIAD declared that the biggest danger on the way of the economic program today, was political instability and turmoil and stability was a must for the political system.But first of all `transformations are needed in the areas of democracy and human rights'./Aksam/ [22] PRODUCTIVITY OF TURKISH PRIVATE SECTOR IS RECORD HIGHThe data issued by State Institutes of Statistics point that Turkey's economy is recovering well from the crisis. In the first quarter of the year partial economic productivity has risen 9.3 percent. That is the productivity in private sector reached a record high of 14.2 percent of last five years'. In the public sector it decreased 6.7 percent although the number of workers has fallen by 8.3 percent. /Sabah/[23] ONAY TO PLAY IN GERMANYPianist Gulsin Onay will give a recital within the framework of the European Music Festival, 'Europamusicale 2000' in Munich at Max Joseph Concert Hall on 25 June. Onay will perform works by Mozart, Donizetti, Lizst, Ahmet Adnan Saygun, Muhittin Durruoglu-Demiriz and Hasan Ucarsu during the recital. /Hurriyet/[24] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[25] TURKISH CYPRIOTS FURIOUS AT THE UN BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the recent report of the UN conerning the Cyprus problem. A summary of his column is as follows:"President Rauf Denktas is furious at the UN. The recent UN decision extending the term of the peace-keeping force on the Island has upset the Turkish-Cypriots. In President Denktas' words, it has 'offended' them. In fact, in TRNC it is widely believed that just at a time when there were certain achievements which could have paved the way for Cyprus negotiations, the UN has once more yielded to Greek-Cypriot threats. The strange thing is, there was no reason for the UN to do so. In other words, the threat by the Greek-Cypriots that if the expression of 'cooperating with Turkish-Cypriot officials' was used in the text they would severe all the ties with the UN was nothing but a bluff. It was a bluff, because the Greek-Cypriots cannot dare severe all the ties with the UN or limit the activities of the Peace-keeping force on the Island. The reason being that, it is the Greek-Cypriots who need the UN. The Peace-keeping force is not the party maintaining the peace on the Island for the Turkish-Cypriots. In the light of these facts, it can be easily said that the Greek-Cypriots cannot dare to expel or severe their ties with the UN. The anger of the Turkish-Cypriots stem from this fact. The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has yielded to idle threats if there are no other considerations behind this decision. The decision which reduces the Turkish-Cypriots to a community, is taken just before the start of the negotiations in Geneva and therefore, brings certain suspicions to mind. Turkish-Cypriot officials believe that the Greek-Cypriot threat concerning the UN Peace-keeping Force may be trap directed to bar President Denktas's participation in the Geneva talks. This increases the possibility of Denktas's going to Geneva, even if he would only go there to explain why he cannot attend the talks. At this point the principle of equality is damaged. For the Turkish-Cypriots this is a 'sine qua non'. That is to say, as long as the equality of the Turkish-Cypriot side is not accepted there will be no progress in the talks. President Denktas stated that the aim of these talks was to form a bridge between the two sides. It is apparent that the Greek-Cypriots do not have such an aim. Denktas stated that Greek-Cypriots expected to remain as the sole State on the Island and to reduce the status of Turkish-Cypriots to a community. At this point there is no other choice but to implement sanctions." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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