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Turkish Press Review, 00-10-05
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
05.10.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] LOSING ONE'S TEMPER LEADS TO TROUBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI
(SABAH)
[02] PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ANKARA
[03] ECEVIT SAYS TURKISH-US RELATIONS MIGHT DETERIORATE
[04] VISA FOR ARMENIANS
[05] INAN: "ARMENIANS WILL REGRET IT"
[06] TURKISH CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACE KEEPING FORCES INCREASES
[07] GEN. KIVRIKOGLU POSTPONES HIS VISIT TO THE US
[08] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON DECLINING INFLATION RATE
[09] TURKEY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIANS
[10] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN TO VISIT PORTUGAL
[11] EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUSA TO VISIT ANKARA
[12] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ TO ATTEND MEETING IN SPAIN
[13] EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
[14] TRNC ACCEPTS ECONOMIC PACKAGE
[15] REPORT ON TURKISH BANKS
[16] LOSING ONE'S TEMPER LEADS TO TROUBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI
(SABAH)
[01] LOSING ONE'S TEMPER LEADS TO TROUBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI
(SABAH)
[02] PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ANKARA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer welcomed President Rauf Denktas of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the
Presidential Palace, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.
While President Denktas is in Ankara, he will meet Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit. In related news, a report submitted to the
European Parliament in Strasbourg stated that were it not for the
existence of the TRNC, the Greek-Cypriots could immediately
become members of the European Union. The report, prepared by
Luxembourg parliamentarian Jacques Poos, stated that both Turkey
and the TRNC were not sincere in solving the island's problems.
The report also stated that the only obstacle to the
Greek-Cypriots joining the EU, since it has met all the economic
and political requirements for membership, is the TRNC, or rather
its existence. The report called the Turkish army in Cyprus an
"occupying force" and said that EU membership talks with Turkey
should not be started. /Turkish Daily News/
[03] ECEVIT SAYS TURKISH-US RELATIONS MIGHT DETERIORATE
Since the so-called Armenian Genocide Resolution was approved at
the US House Committee of International Relations, Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit said that the sanctions that can be imposed on the
US may include the prevention of the use of the Incirlik NATO
Airbase. Mr. Ecevit said if the US House of Representatives
approves the resolution as well, the government will put the
sanctions into effect. Mr. Ecevit said, "There is no need to name
these sanctions yet, in fact, US officials themselves have
explained the possible sanctions we may impose. We attach special
importance to our relations with the US. The US government
regards Turkey as an ally, but some ethnic lobbies in the US are
influential. This in no way complies with political ethics." Mr.
Ecevit said that he wished the US administration would achieve a
positive result in their efforts to prevent the approval of the
Resolution by the House of Representatives, otherwise Turkish-US
relations will deteriorate." /Milliyet/
[04] VISA FOR ARMENIANS
After the approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill at the
US House of Representatives' International Relations Committee,
Turkey is initiating its action plan prepared against Armenia.
The Foreign Ministry announced that Armenian citizens who want to
come to Turkey could not obtain their visas at the borders. By
Oct. 15, 2000, Armenians will be able to get entry or transit
visas only from the Turkish missions abroad. /Turkiye/
[05] INAN: "ARMENIANS WILL REGRET IT"
Kamran Inan, the Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
(TGNA) Foreign Affairs Commission and Motherland Party (ANAP)
deputy from Bitlis, said: "If our neighbour Armenia chooses
hostility, the one who suffers from this will be Armenia."
Stressing that Armenia should first account for the 52 Turkish
diplomats murdered by the terrorist organization ASALA, Mr. Inan
said: "The US Congress did not respect the memory of those
diplomats and Turkey which had great losses in Korea and
undertook sacrifices during the cold war." /Turkiye/
[06] TURKISH CONTRIBUTION TO UN PEACE KEEPING FORCES INCREASES
It was stated that Turkish contribution to the United Nations
Peace Keeping Forces' operations has increased and financial
contribution to peace operations may also increase in the future.
UN General Assembly's fifth committee on financial affairs
convened to decide on how much the member countries are going to
contribute to peace operations and it was noted that Turkey
actively participates in the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] GEN. KIVRIKOGLU POSTPONES HIS VISIT TO THE US
The Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu put off his
visit to the US. Gen. Kivrikoglu was scheduled to pay a visit to
the US in mid-October on the invitation of the US Joint Chiefs of
General Staff. However, as the Armenian bill was approved at the
House of Representatives' International Relations Committee, Gen.
Kivrikoglu decided to postpone his visit. The decision was
conveyed to the US authorities. /All Papers/
[08] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT ON DECLINING INFLATION RATE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "Even if we cannot reach the
inflation targets by the end of this year, we will be very close
to our target. The Government achieved positive results in spite
of the extraordinary increase in petroleum prices. The upward
trend in the inflation rate stopped and there is an increase and
stability in the production more than we expected. In addition to
the government's determination, the private sector has made
contributions to the decrease of inflation rate below 50%."
/Star/
[09] TURKEY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIANS
According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Turkey will provide
financial and medical aid to the Palestinian people caught in the
crossfire between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip. Turkey is to provide $500,000 and medical
supplies as listed by the Palestinian administration in a letter
to Turkey. Turkey also stated that it was continuing its efforts
to see the Middle East peace process proceed uninterruptedly and
to this end the Foreign Ministry has been in touch with
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister
Sholomo Ben Ami. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN TO VISIT PORTUGAL
Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan is to visit Portugal this month
to attend a meeting of interior ministers. The meeting will be
held in the Portuegese town of Sintra on 12 and 13 October. The
subject of the meeting is to be "Reducing the Harm of Narcotics
on the Individual and Society." /Turkish Daily News/
[11] EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUSA TO VISIT ANKARA
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa will visit Ankara on Sunday,
October 8, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. He will be
received by President Sezer and Prime Minister Ecevit,
respectively and will discuss the latest developments in the
Middle East as well as bilateral relations. /Turkish Daily News/
[12] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ TO ATTEND MEETING IN SPAIN
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will go to Spain to take part
in the Foro Formentor Round Table Meeting to be held between 6
and 8 October. This is the second time such a meeting will be
held and it will be sponsored by Spain's Sepsol Foundation. The
meeting will discuss Mediterranean security from the social,
cultural and economic points of view. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
As part of an agreement between the US Department of Defence and
L-3 Ocean Systems Company, Turkey has purchased 24 high
technology 'Helras Naval Awacs' sonars. This will enable Turkey
to control all sorts of submarines in its territorial waters.
These sonars will be installed in the Sikorsky Sea Hawk
helicopters beginning next year and then Turkey will have one of
the world's most advanced naval defence systems. /Hurriyet/
[14] TRNC ACCEPTS ECONOMIC PACKAGE
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) Council of
Ministers decided to implement an economic package, whose final
shape was given by the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot technical
delegations in Ankara last week. TRNC Prime Minister Dervis
Eroglu said, "The Council of Ministers decided that unless these
measures are taken, the economic problems cannot be solved. While
implementing this package, some problems might occur but
cooperation between the two countries' officials will continue to
solve these problems." /Aksam/
[15] REPORT ON TURKISH BANKS
Deutsche Bank stated that they may want to purchase Vakifbank,
which is expected to be privatized soon. Deutsche Bank has
explained this aim in a conference entitled, "Developing European
Stocks and Turkey" which they jointly organized with Bender
Stocks Company. At the conference, a report was distributed on
banking sector in Turkey, prepared by Deutsche Bank. It was
further stated that they might buy shares of Vakifbank and the
consolidation process that is expected in the sector is very
near. Other points that are stated in the report are as follows:
1. If certain guarantees are given, both national and
international banks may be willing to buy the banks under the
control of the Deposit Account Insurance Fund (MSF). 2. National
banks will aim to merge by way of buying new banks in order to
increase their assets. The privatization of state-owned banks
will accelerate the process of merging. 3. Larger national banks
may establish strategic partnerships with international banks.
/Milliyet/
[16] LOSING ONE'S TEMPER LEADS TO TROUBLE BY GUNGOR MENGI
(SABAH)
Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the approval of the resolution
on the so-called Armenian Genocide at the House International
Relations Committee. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The so-called Armenian Genocide Resolution which is nothing but
a propaganda bluff based on a distortion of history has reached
the feared final stage. The Resolution is approved by the
International Relations Committee after its adoption at a
subcommittee. The only consolation is that the resolution has
been toned down and narrowed in its scope. According to the last
changes in the resolution it is stated that the Ottoman
Government is held responsible for the so-called genocide and not
the Turkish Government. It also stipulates that no compensation
can be asked from Turkey. Even if the resolution is accepted
inherent with these conditions, it would offend Republic of
Turkey and the Turkish nation since there is no evidence to
suggest that the Ottomans were engaged in a genocide against the
Armenians. On the contrary, legal measures taken against
organised Armenian terrorists who stabbed the Turkish Army on the
back under Russian occupation and massacred the Muslim population
are cited. The mistake of judging the tragedy caused by this
treason on political grounds with election calculations will harm
Armenia as much as Turkish-American relations.
Chief of General Staff General Kivrikoglu postponed his visit to
the United States. Armenians who wish to visit Turkey will have
to get their visas from Turkish foreign missions abroad not at
the border gates as they used to do. The arrival of an Armenian
diplomat to serve in Turkey has been stopped. The preparations
to improve diplomatic relations with Iraq and to start
humanitarian aid are going on. The closure of the air corridor to
Armenia could also be introduced as a measure. If these signs are
not enough for the rejection of the Armenian Resolution at the
House of Representatives in spite of President Clinton's efforts
what will happen next?
At this point it is of utmost importance not to go to extremes
which would mean shooting oneself at the foot. Closing the
Incirlik Air Base to Americans, stopping operations in Northern
Iraq mean taking the Administration against us in addition to the
US Congress. Washington may counter this retaliation with
influencing the IMF. For 30 years Turkish-American relations were
marred with either Armenian or Greek influences. We should not
fall into this trap eyes wide open.
We have to see our own mistakes as well. While for 30 years the
Greeks and Armenians are waging their propaganda on every civil
platform, at the Congress and universities, Turkey has spent all
its energy to stifle internal political conflicts and fights over
profits. This error will also exact heavy prices in the problems
with the European Union. Commonsense dictates that we should not
make errors which would damage us. However, every cloud has a
silver lining. If the tiresome Armenian blackmail is going to
end, this resolution is a price which can be paid. The fact that
the Resolution will only be a suggestion and not a law and if it
awakes us to the fact that there is a great world which we have
to convince by establishing and continual relations, it can be
tolerated. It should teach us that we have to stop the internal
conflicts which damage our national interests and future aims. In
this case, the Armenian blackmail will in fact turn into a
blessing which will save Turkey from the difficult situation it
is in."
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