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Turkish Press Review, 00-07-31
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
31.07.00
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] SEZER REQUESTS AN APPOINMENT FROM CLINTON
[03] ENERGY FILE SENT TO SEZER
[04] TURK: " WARD SYSTEM FAILED"
[05] CAY ON ARTICLE 312
[06] EKINCI CRITISIZES AMENDMENTS ON CIVIL SERVANTS LAW
[07] NEW LAW TO INSPECT THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS
[08] TURKISH-ISRAELI JOINT MILITARY TRAINING
[09] EROGLU IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN
[10] PLAN OF SOVEREIGNTY IN RETURN FOR LAND IN CYPRUS
[11] HOLBROOKE'S STATEMENT
[12] LAND FORCES COMMAND'S AID FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
[13] DER SPIEGEL ON PKK CRUELTY
[14] A COOPERATION PROTOCOL WITH ROMANIA
[15] FENER ORTHODOX PATRIARCH: "A MOSQUE SHOULD BE BUILT IN ATHENS"
[16] 122 KG OF HEROIN SEIZED IN THE TURKISH BORDER
[17] REVOLUTIONIST WORKERS ELECT NEW CHAIRMAN
[18] BLUE STREAM PROJECT
[19] TARGETS OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RISE
[20] JET-PA GOES BANKRUPT
[21] STATE INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS' STATEMENT CONCERNING INSURANCE
[22] TURKEY TO HOST TWO ORGANIZATIONS
[23] TPAO'S INVESTMENTS
[24] GLOBAL ONE ESTABLISHES SUB REGION
[25] EXPORT TO INCREASE
[26] GERMANY WON'T SELL LEOPARD II TANKS TO TURKEY
[27] CENTRAL BANK WARNS TURKS IN GERMANY ON TAX
[28] 91% OF TURKS HAVE SOCIAL INSURANCE
[29] SHOW THEATRE IN ITALY
[30] OTTOMAN EXHIBITION IN USA
[31] WORLD YOUTH MEETS IN AKKUYU
[32] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[33] WALKING TOWARDS THE TARGET BY GUNGOR MENGI ( SABAH)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[02] SEZER REQUESTS AN APPOINMENT FROM CLINTON
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will call on the world leaders at
the beginning of the September in the United States. President
Sezer who will represent Turkey in United Nations Millenium
Meeting requested an appointment from US President Bill Clinton.
President Sezer will also have the chance to meet other world
leaders during the meeting. It is expected that President Sezer
will meet the presidents of the leading Western countries and
those of the Turkish Speaking Republics. /Milliyet/
[03] ENERGY FILE SENT TO SEZER
The fact that the Constitutional Court rejected the cancellation
of the law no. 4501, which aims at the transfer and participation
of the energy projects into the private sector, speeded up the
energy projects that are on the agenda. It was revealed that the
legal decision on 18 projects, which were planned to be
implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
primarily, was prepared by the Council of Ministers and sent to
the Presidential Office. If this law, which will ensure the
closing of the energy gap of Turkey and the entrance of money
into the budget, is enacted, then no obstacles will be left
concerning the implementation of these 18 projects. /Turkiye/
[04] TURK: " WARD SYSTEM FAILED"
Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk said that the negative
aspects of the ward system in the prisons were well-known. Turk
stated that the ward system which led to the mafia-like gangs and
let the illegal organizations enforce their own laws in the
prisons should be abolished. Stating that the abolition of the
death penalty could be interpreted as an effort to save certain
criminals, Turk said, "Abolishment of the death penalty should be
discussed together with rearranging the Turkish Penal Code".
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] CAY ON ARTICLE 312
State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay said, "Article 312 is the only
article which protects the unity of the Turkish Republic". Cay
stated that Turkish government will make important decisions on
Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code, European Union,
agricultural and economic policies in the next three or four
months. Stating that no country in the world would make
concessions concerning its unity Cay said, " Government should
not abolish the Article 312 as it is an essential article for
the unity of the Turkish Republic". /Aksam/
[06] EKINCI CRITISIZES AMENDMENTS ON CIVIL SERVANTS LAW
Deputy Chairman of True Path Party Hasan Ekinci stated that new
amendments on dismissing the civil servants who are involved in
separatist or reactionary actions should not be made with a
decree in force of law. He added that this amendment should have
been made by the parliament itself. Ekinci said, "This issue
should be solved in accordance with the requirements of a rule of
law." Stating that the government did not follow the principle of
the public sovereignty and replaced it with the sate sovereignty,
Ekinci accused the government of acting contrary to the law.
/Aksam/
[07] NEW LAW TO INSPECT THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS
A circular defining the duties and scope of authority of
laboratories attached to both public and private institutions
which will operate to inspect the construction phase of buildings
has been issued. /Hurriyet/
[08] TURKISH-ISRAELI JOINT MILITARY TRAINING
Turkish Air Forces and Israeli Air Forces began to train their
members together for the first time. The joint training program,
which began two months ago,is being carried out in both
countries. The training is focused on F-15 and F-16 fighter
planes. With the security cooperation agreement signed four years
ago parties had began training flights in each other's airspace.
/Hurriyet/
[09] EROGLU IS EXPECTED TO RESIGN
Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Dervis Eroglu is expected to resign due to his long disagreement
over the type of political system the country should have with
President Rauf Denktas. TRNC Prime Minister Eroglu sent a letter
to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit concerning the economic measures
which the government plans to take and asked for an appointment.
However TRNC Prime Minister Eroglu did not receive an answer from
Prime Minister Ecevit. Prime Minister Ecevit had announced his
support for the establishment of a presidential system in the
TRNC. As Prime Minister Ecevit did not reply to TRNC Prime
Minister Eroglu's appoinment request, Eroglu had no chance but to
resign. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] PLAN OF SOVEREIGNTY IN RETURN FOR LAND IN CYPRUS
The US, which wants to play an active role in the efforts to find
a solution for the Cyprus problem, insists on its plan of
'sovereignty in return for land'. US also wants the delivery of
the village of Akdogan and some other villages, attached to
Guzelyurt and Gazimagosa, to the Greek-Cypriots and in return for
this, US suggests the mutual acceptance of two federal states
with the condition that it will be the first stage of the final
solution. According to the news in the Greek-Cypriot press, it
was stated that the US Administration wants the lifting of
embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in
return for the delivery of Varasho to the Greek-Cypriot
Administration. Greek-Cypriot press also wrote that these
above-mentioned plans were sent to the Administration of the
Greek-Cypriots and to Athens. It was further stated that Athens
welcomed the second alternative positively and that the
Greek-Cypriot Administration was against the first article.
/Aksam/
[11] HOLBROOKE'S STATEMENT
America's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN),
Richard Holbrooke, stated that they were determined to find a
solution to the Cyprus problem. Holbrooke, who said that they had
dedicated themselves to this issue, added, "Certainly final and
permanent solution will be found for this issue. We are grateful
that the Cyprus proximity talks will be held in New York."
Holbrooke also implied that he would play an active role in the
proximity talks, which will begin on 17 September. Holbrooke
further stated, "We are in favour of the idea that the two
leaders in Cyprus should not hold indirect, but direct meetings.
If this can be ensured in the proximity talks in New York, then
the solution for this problem will be found earlier". /Turkiye/
[12] LAND FORCES COMMAND'S AID FOR THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
In a written statement issued by the Land Forces Command (KKK),
it was stated that the KKK held search, rescue and aid activities
with 70 battalion and 50,000 personnel during the earthquake that
occurred on 17 August in the Marmara Region. In addition, a share
of 23 trillion TL was used from the budget of the KKK for
materials, aids and services. It was further stated that after
these earthquakes the KKK acted as the planner, coordinator and
executor in cooperation with branches of the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) and with the local and administrative offices. /Aksam/
[13] DER SPIEGEL ON PKK CRUELTY
The news magazine published in Germany 'Der Spiegel' has
revealed the bloody face of the violent terrorist organization
PKK in its last edition issued today. Serif Alpsozman and Ayse
Dizim who were the members of PKK were brutally killed by other
members of the terrorist organization. The victim Alpsozman was
bodily handicapped and living together with Dizim who was also
taking care of him. The murderers confessed to the crime.
/Hurriyet/
[14] A COOPERATION PROTOCOL WITH ROMANIA
'Cooperation Protocol on the Military History, Museology and
Archives' was signed between the Turkish General Staff and the
Romanian Ministry of National Defence and published in the
Official Gazette. This protocol, which was signed in Bucarest on
20 February 1992, aims at the establishment of a framework of
cooperation concerning museology, history and archives. As part
of this protocol, the parties will hold joint scientific studies
and exchange their personnel in order to carry out scientific
researches and organize joint activities concerning exhibitions
and museology. /Turkiye/
[15] FENER ORTHODOX PATRIARCH: "A MOSQUE SHOULD BE BUILT IN ATHENS"
Fener Orthodox Patriarch, Dimitri Bartholomeos, visited the
village of Kaya in Fethiye, in which Turkish and Greek-Cypriot
people had lived together until the first half of the 20th
century and which is known as the 'village of peace'.
Bartholomeos, who arrived in the village of Kaya as the guest of
the Chairman of the Turkish Association of Industrialists and
Businessmen (TUSIAD), Basaran Ulusoy, defended the idea that a
mosque should be built in Athens. During his visit, Bartholomeos
was welcomed by the Sub-Governor of Fethiye, Cengiz Aksoy. The
Patriarch was accompanied by the Governor of 12 islands, Savas
Karayannis, four popes and nearly 300 Greeks. He also toured the
restoration works in a church, which were being made by the
TURSAB and the Chamber of Architects, and said that to begin such
restoration efforts made everyone happy and thanked the support
of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Barholomeos also
congratulated the Turkish and Greek Ministers of Foreign Affairs
and said that it was not too late for the ensurance of peace
between the two nations. /Aksam/
[16] 122 KG OF HEROIN SEIZED IN THE TURKISH BORDER
122 kg 660 grams of heroin was seized on the border between
Turkey and Bulgaria, at the Kapitan Andrevo customs gate. In a
statement furnished by the Directorate General of Customs, when a
lorry with Moldovian number-plate was inspected, 122.66 kg of
heroin was found in 241 packages and the Moldovian driver was
taken into custody. /Turkiye/
[17] REVOLUTIONIST WORKERS ELECT NEW CHAIRMAN
General Council of Confederation of Revolutionist Workers (DISK)
have convened between July 28-30 for 11th time on matters such
as: action plan to remove the obstacles in front of the rights
and freedoms of the unionism, the renewal of elections etc. At
the general assembly, it was decided that elections be held once
in every 3 years instead of 4 years. At the third round of the
election Suleyman Çelebi won the votes of the delegate and
elected new chairman of DISK./Aksam/
[18] BLUE STREAM PROJECT
Turkey is planning to increase the amount of natural gas to be
bought from Russia and also the capacity of the current Russian
natural gas pipeline by the Blue Stream Project. It was stated
that Turkey will have no natural gas shortage by 2001. According
to the context of the agreements, Turkey will start to take
natural gas from Russia and Iran in 2001. Turkey will have to pay
even if she does not receive any natural gas in 2001. Because of
Turkey's responsibility to pay even if the necessary
infrastuctures for the pipelines are not completed, it was stated
that the establisment of the infrastructure in 50 cities which
will use natural gas should be completed until 2001. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] TARGETS OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RISE
Turkish Automotive Industry with its annual production capacity
of 900.000 is going to increase the numbers of its exports as
well. The Chairman of the Automative Industry Association Ali
Ihsan Ilkbahar estimated that the exports of the automative
sector will exceed $6 billion annualy from the year 2003 on.
Ilkbahar, also said that more than 450.000 pieces of automobiles
will be sold until the end of this year and the figures of 1993,
which was a succesful year for the automobile sales, will be
exceeded this year. /Hurriyet/
[20] JET-PA GOES BANKRUPT
Jet-Pa Holding, which closed its European offices one by one, had
announced that they had no money left and could not pay back the
partnership shares of the partners. Increasing number of people
apply to the courts in Germany to get their money back and at
least to get a verdict of guilty for Jet-Pa. /Hurriyet/
[21] STATE INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS' STATEMENT CONCERNING INSURANCE
The number of insured people was 79 out of 100 in 1995, but this
number reached 91 as of the last year. According to the data of
the State Institution of Statistics (SIS), the rate of people
covered by health insurance was 68.3% during the period between
1995 and 1999 and this amount reached 86.4% this year. /Aksam/
[22] TURKEY TO HOST TWO ORGANIZATIONS
Turkey will host the 'Summit of the Agricultural Ministers from
Eurasia to Africa' and 'Foodtech-2000 International Food and Food
Technologies Fair'. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,
Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, made a statement concerning the issue and
said, "Work has begun concerning these organizations that will be
held on October. The fair, that will be organized at the Expo
Centre Congress Centre in Altinpark, Ankara, will be attended by
the countries from the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, with
whom Turkey has close commercial relations and which are
potential markets in commerce regarding food-stuff. /Turkiye/
[23] TPAO'S INVESTMENTS
It was stated that the total amount of the investment of Turkish
Petroleum Joint Stock Company (TPAO) surpassed 800 million
dollars. General Director of the TPAO, Osman Demirag, stated that
there was a great increase in the production and sharing
activities abroad during the recent years. Demirag added that
during the first six months of this year, TPAO's investment
volume in Turkey was above 600 million dollars. Demirag added,
"TPAO has taken the lead in the work carried out concerning the
joint crude oil and natural gas in Kazakhstan, Algeria,
Turkmenistan, Libya and Iraq. TPAO also has large share in the
petroleum production in Azerbaijan, in the project called 'mega
project'. /Turkiye/
[24] GLOBAL ONE ESTABLISHES SUB REGION
Global One, which began to reconstruct its facilities after being
purchased by the France Telecom, established its sub regions in
Turkey, Middle East and Israel. Global One's General Director to
Turkey, Cagatay Ozdogru, was appointed as the Regional Director
Responsible for the Middle East. As a result of this new
reconstruction, Turkey will be the directing and leader country
of the region. /Turkiye/
[25] EXPORT TO INCREASE
The revised value of transactions that were made in the first
four months of this year for the period between May and June this
year, was interpreted as an increase in export will continue.
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat recalled that the export, which
has been increasing for the last six months, was going to
increase by a rate of 36.3% and added, "The amount of money spent
for the crude oil export increased by 64%; the increase in the
consuming goods exports reached 80%; the stocking in investment
and semi-processed goods sped up the increase in export; as a
result of the fact that the period of stocking has come to an
end, the speed of increase in the export will continue to
increase, which will be felt more concretely during the second
half of this year. /Aksam/
[26] GERMANY WON'T SELL LEOPARD II TANKS TO TURKEY
Germany has announced that Leopard II tanks can not be sold to
Turkey for now. Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping again expressed
his concerns about "human rights violations" in Turkey. Minister
Rudolf Scharping called the crisis which broke out within the
German Government when a Leopard II tank was going to be sent to
Turkey for testing. Minister added that If the sale went on more
problems would arise./Sabah/
[27] CENTRAL BANK WARNS TURKS IN GERMANY ON TAX
Turkish citizens living in Germany did not declare interest
earnings on their deposits in German Banks(nearly DM 21 billion)
since this constituted tax evasion, led to a great loss for
Germany. As they may be considered to mislead the tax autorities,
evasion caused more harm then expected as they mislead the tax
autorities, Turkey's Central bank issued a warning on Turkish
newspares published in Europe for Turks not to refrain from
declaring their real incomes. /Sabah/
[28] 91% OF TURKS HAVE SOCIAL INSURANCE
According to the data issued by State Planning Organization the
rate of population who have social insurance rose to 91 in 100
persons by the year 1999 while it was 79 in 100 persons in
1995.The data showed that population rate in the category of
health insurance rose to 86.4% from 68.3% during the 1995-99
period./Aksam/
[29] SHOW THEATRE IN ITALY
'Show Theatre', which continues its work under the direction of
Cengiz Ozek, went to Italy. This group, sponsored by Ulker, will
attend an international puppet festival called 'Arrivano Dal
Mare' in Cervia, by the end of August. The director of this
theatre, Cengiz Ozek, will participate in this festival as an
observer. /Turkiye/
[30] OTTOMAN EXHIBITION IN USA
Topkapi's Magnificent Treasuries Exhibition was opened in San
Diego after its successful display in Washington. Another
exhibition entitled 'Sultans' Empire' was opened in Detroit. The
exhibit includes precious hand made pieces, such as hand-written
books, ceramics,embroideries, guns and a map of Istanbul drawn in
17th century from the private collection of an arts collector
Nasser Khalili. /Hurriyet/
[31] WORLD YOUTH MEETS IN AKKUYU
Akkuyu will host world youth between August 19 and 25. The
meeting will be held in Egribuk Valley with anti-nuclear slogans.
There will be tours to historical places in Akkuyu in the program
of the meeting. Youth will plant trees in the region with the
people living there. There will be concerts, panels, film and
theatre workshops and sports activities in the meeting which will
continue for a week. /Milliyet/
[32] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[33] WALKING TOWARDS THE TARGET BY GUNGOR MENGI ( SABAH)
Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on Turkey's efforts to become a
full-member of the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The coach of the Besiktas Football Team, Scala had this to say
to Turkish politicians:'Turkey wants to enter the EU. It is not
important to reach the goal itself but to set goals for oneself.'
In other words, the aim should not be the title of membership but
to meet the conditions it stands for. The norms we have to reach
to become an EU member should be considered the minimum standards
of living we deem ourselves worthy of.
A Turkey free from all kinds of pressure, corruption and
inflation is necessary for us more than the European Union. The
Prime Minister is correct in saying that our path to
democratization is opened as terrorism issue has been solved to a
great extent. However, this path should not be closed by too many
delays.
The ruling parties try to find a solution to their frustration by
a decree in the force of law in the face of fundamentalist and
separatist civil servants' betrayal. At the moment there is no
other punishment than warning or denouncement which can be given
to the civil servants whose crimes have been established. The
Parliament has delayed the issue and the Government had to fill
this vacuum by a decree in the force of law. These retrictive
measures should be enforced together with steps expanding
democratic rights and freedoms. Now it is the time to show that
as the regime defends itselfs it believes in itself and has
confidence in the people.
In Turkey's democratization plan, the lingual and cultural rights
of citizens of Kurdish origin, rewriting Article 312 by
clarifying its concept of crime and abolition of death penalty
have priority. It would be very constructive to pass the decree
in the force law concerning the situation of the civil servants
with an action plan on these issues. It would have issued
messages to everyone concerned both in Turkey and abroad. The
Government has to be more creative and courageous."
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