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Turkish Press Review, 00-10-31Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>31.10.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[02] PRESIDENT SEZER TO TRAVEL TO JORDANPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer will visit Jordan November 14-16 at the invitation of King Abdullah. Mr. Sezer is expected to discuss Turkey's bilateral relations with Jordan and certain regional issues with King Abdullah. /Sabah/[03] ESAD'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SEZERSyrian Head of State Bessar Esad will send his assistant Abdulhalim Haddam to Ankara Thursday to convey a message to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Esad will send his first assistant Haddam as his special representative for meetings in Ankara Mr. Haddam will also be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and TGNA Speaker Omer Izgi. /Aksam/[04] DUTCH PREMIER KOK: "TAKE EU CRITERIA SERIOUSLY"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with his Dutch counterpart Wim Kok yesterday in Ankara. Speaking about Turkey's accession period after the meeting, Mr. Kok said, "Turkey should complete its homework concerning the EU criteria as soon as possible." Stating that Europe was not just a market but also an entity with common political values, Mr. Kok said, "Turkey should catch up with the conditions of the European countries immediately, regarding certain basic issues like preventing the violation of human rights." In the post-meeting press conference, Mr. Kok and Mr. Ecevit briefed on bilateral relations between the Netherlands and Turkey and Turkey`s accession period to the EU. Mr. Kok said, "Mr. Ecevit, in additon to informing us on economic and social issues, conveyed the latest develoments on human rights, democracy, the supremacy of law and the rights of minorities (known as the Copenhagen criteria) to us." After his meeting with Prime Minister Ecevit, Mr. Kok was received by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Omer Izgi and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During the Sezer-Kok meeting, Turkey-EU relations were primarily discussed. /Cumhuriyet/[05] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TRAVELS TO BUDAPESTMinister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem traveled to Budapest yesterday to attend the meeting of North Atlantic Assembly. Many high level officials from different countries including Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu, will attend the meeting. Mr. Cem and Mr. Papandreu are expected to meet in Budapest. Recent tension between Turkey and Greece over the Destined Glory 2000 exercises are expected to be discussed during the Cem-Papandreu meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[06] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN: "CORRUPTION IS THE PRIME THREAT"Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan attended a conference yesterday regarding the Struggle Against Corruption organized by the Interior Ministry and the Turkish Economic and Social Study Foundation. Addressing the conference, Minister Tantan described corruption as "the robbing and plundering of the civil assets and national savings." He said, "Corruption, underlies many of the problems in our country and threatens our future and our constitution. It is the number one threat against Turkey." Pointing out that the social cost of corruption is also very high, Mr. Tantan quoted from a philosopher saying, "Corruption is worse than prostitution. Prostitution is the deterioration of one person's but corruption jeopardizes all of society's moral." /Turkiye/[07] PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS TO ATTEND PROXIMITY TALKSPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas and an accompanied delegation leave for Geneva today to participate in the fifth round of proximity talks aimed at solving the Cyprus issue. Stressing that the consequence of an artificial agreement with the Greeks will bring only blood and tears, Mr. Denktas said, "No one can force Turkish-Cypriots to sign an agreement without the guarantee of Turkey." Underlining that cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC will go on and gradually increase, Mr. Denktas emphasized they will never give up Turkey's guarantorship. /Turkiye/[08] YILMAZ: "AMNESTY SHOULD NOT ANNOY THE PUBLIC CONCIENCE"Mesut Yilmaz, the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader, State Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister visited the Kars province yesterday to attend various foundation laying and opening ceremonies. Answering questions posed by journalists, Mr. Yilmaz said his party will propose that the government deny amnesty for the suspects of the bailed-out banks and gangs. He also pointed out that the state has not yet realized any payment from its own budget to those bailed-out banks and a part of the losses will be met by the sale of their assets. Mr. Yilmaz also joined the ceremonies held to mark the Kars' 80th anniversary of liberation from enemy occupation. /Turkiye/[09] SECOND BORDER GATE TO IRAQState Minister Tunca Toskay met with the Iraqi Transport Minister yesterday in Baghdad. They discussed the possibility of increasing the trade potential between the two countries, opening the Baghdad railway, the renovation of Iraqi railways by Turkish firms and the opening of a new border gate to Iraq. In the meeting an agreement was reached to start the operation of Turkey-Baghdad railway which has been closed for 18 years. Via this railway, it would be possible for Turkey to import petroleum from Iraq. The new border gate will be 10 km. south of the Habur gate. The new gate will by-pass Northern Iraq. Mr.Toskay will meet today with the Deputy President, Taha Yasin Ramazan. Commercial matters will primarily be discussed in the meeting. Turkey wants to increase exports, which have declined as low as $200 million, to $300 million. Turkey plans to increase the exports to Iraq $500 million next year. /Milliyet/[10] ARMENIAN BILL IN FRENCH PARLIAMENT15 senators of the Republican Unity Party (RPR) prepared a Genocide Bill to have the so-called Armenian Genocide recognized in France. If the bill is accepted at the "urgent" convening of the Senate Nov.7, it will be submitted to the parliament. There is a distinction between this bill and the previous one. The first was prepared by the Secretary Generale of the RPR, Senator Adrien Gouteyron and approved in parliament, but not included in the Senate agenda. The approved bill stated, "France recognizes the genocide carried out against the Armenians." On the other hand, the new bill includes the following statement: "France officially recognizes the genocide that Armenians were subjected to in 1915." /Milliyet/[11] AMERICAN ARMENIANS TO CELEBRATE TURKISH DAYSerge Hodjalian, one of the leaders of the Armenian Diaspora in the United States is organizing a "Turkish Day" Nov.14 at the Princeton Club in Manhattan. The New York Rotary Club, headed by Mr. Hodjalian, aims to make Turkey known to the American Rotarians and their families. One of the most prestigious Rotary clubs, the New York branch has 200 members. These members include prominant names in financial, commercial and cultural circles. Therefore, the club's activities also function as an "image campaign" aimed at influential parts of the American business world. The organization of a "Turkish Day" carries both a message of good-will to the Turkish public and a support for moderate approaches within the Armenian Diaspora. /Milliyet/[12] PKK EXTORTS MONEY FROM TURKISH WORKERS ABROADAs the activities of the terrorist organization PKK were not officially restricted by authorities in Great Britain, it extorts money from Turkish citizens living in Britain. It was stated the members of PKK wanted 2,000 pounds from Turks owning restaurant, shop or cafes in Northern London and have extorted 400,000 pounds since Oct.17. The members of the PKK do not give any receipt for money so as not to run afoul of British authorities. The PKK threatens people who do not want to give money. The terrorist organization extorts money under the name of "Sport, Culture or Public House" to disguise the organized criminal nature of its activities. /Hurriyet/[13] 12-YEAR BASIC EDUCATION TO BE COMPULSORYAfter the decision was taken by the Board of the National Security (MGK) made their decision, National Education Minister, Metin Bostancioglu, announced that compulsory basic education will be 12 years beginning the next school year. Mr. Bostancioglu said, " The high school education will be four years. The share of contribution to education (a kind of tax) should be continued at least 10 years. Only 56 percent of the expected revenues could be collected since the beginning of the implementation of "contribution to education." /Hurriyet/[14] TURKEY CALLS FOR MORE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN AFGHANISTANTurket called on the international community to contribute more effort to solve the humanitarian problems emerging in the face of increased Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan. In a statement yesterday from the Foreign Ministry said a ministry delegation headed by Afghanistan coordinator, Ambassador Aydemir Erman paid a visit to northern Afghanistan Oct. 12-19. The statement says the UN and other international organizations should intensify their efforts in the region to solve the humanitarian problems, such as the growing waves of refugees, emerging as a result of attacks by the Taliban administration. /Turkish Daily News/[15] BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENT DAYThe Secretary of Turkey National Forum of the Black Sea Voluntary Enviromental Protection Institutions, Kenan Kuri, stated that rivers carry waste materials to the Sea causing environmental and sea pollution. Mr. Kuri issued a statement for the occasion of "October 31, Black Sea Environment Day". He said, "Until very recently, the Black Sea was five times richer than the Mediterranean Sea in the resources it provided to the Eastern European and Turkish fishery. Fishing was the primary income source for the people living on the shores. Nowadays, however, this sector is on the brink of collapsing. The rich water resources are being demolished by the poisonous waters flowing into the Sea. /Hurriyet/[16] COTTARELLI'S PROPOSALS TO TURKEYIMF's Turkey desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli began to work on an additional letter of intent within the framework of stand-by deal. It was stated that Mr. Cottarelli, who met with the technicians of the Treasury Undersecretary, would focus on ten issues including the expectation of 2001 current account balance, legal preparations for the autonomization of the state banks, the calender for Turk Telecom privatization and structural reforms of 2001. In the briefing held in Minister of Treasury Mr. Cottarelli was given the expectations for the results of 2000 budgetary implementations and the objectives for 2001. /Sabah/[17] DALLARA TO VISIT TURKEYChairman of the International Institute of Finance (IIF) Charles Dallara will visit Turkey to give a seminar hosted by the Turkish Union of Banks. Mr. Dallara will give a seminar November 2 in Istanbul Conrad Hotel to the bankers. He will also hold a press conference on the world economy and international banking. /Sabah/[18] TPAO TO ESTABLISH FIRMS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIESThe Council of Ministers decision permitting Turkish Petroleum Joint Stock Company (TPAO) to establish firms in foreign countries was issued in Official Gazette the day before yesterday. With the decision, TPAO is given permission to establish firms functioning in areas such as the search for, production of, transportation of and marketing of petroleum. /Sabah/[19] CANADIAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN TURKEYTurkey's Honorary Consul in Montreal, Canada, Gen. G. Emin Battika, said Canadian firms were very interested in Turkey. He said 120-125 Canadian firms were currently doing business in Turkey. Continuing he said Canadian firms were persuaded that Turkey was a good place to invest and that Canadian firms were being encouraged to transfer technology to Turkey in certain sectors, such as telecommunications, dam building and water purification. /Turkish Daily News/[20] TURKISH FIRMS ATTEND TUNISIAN FAIRThe Turkish stand at the International Tunisia Fair on Oct. 19-29 created the opportunity for joint ventures between Turkish businessmen and their counterpart in Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. The stand, organized by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), was represented by 13 Turkish firms from the food, textiles, lastics, construction goods, shoes, cosmetics industries as well as other sectors. /Turkish Daily News/[21] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN IZNIKThe Iznik Education and Training Foundation will organize the first International Iznik Symposium on Nov. 1-4. The symposium sponsored by Is Bank, will bring many historians and experts together. During the meetings, the history of Iznik over the Ancient, Byzantine and Turkish periods will be discussed and artifacts excavated in the region will be taken up. /Cumhuriyet/[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[23] ARE THE FOREIGN POWERS ONLY TO BLAME? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the responsibility of foreign powers in the solution of problems. A summary of his column is as follows:"In a statement he made a few days ago, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that if foreign powers do not intervene and would leave the Middle East to itself, a solution could be found more easily. The Prime Minister hasmade similar statements concerning the dispute in the Aegean, Cyprus issue and conflicts in the Balkans. In other words, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit believes that if foreign states, led by the US and international organizations, do not intervene in disputes, the issues would be more easily solved by direct talks. The intervention of foreign powers to further their interests and positions makes the problems more complex. It is true that in some cases the intervention and pressure of foreign powers has led to negative results. However, we have to accept that, in general, these initiatives slow down or completely stop regional conflicts and disagreements. The Balkans makes a good example for the case. If the Western nations, and especially the US, had not intervened it would have been impossible to find a solution (providing a transitional period for the region) to stop the bloody incidents in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. If there had been no interventions, the bloodshed would have continued and the conflict would have escalated and expanded. Certainly, the most desirable solution is for the parties to resolve their problems amongst themselves. However, the leadership and the will to compromise, which can lead to such a decision, cannot be seen. In these cases, leaving the sides to themselves does not contribute to the solution of the problems and only endangers the peace and stability of the region. In other words, the policy of 'let them fight, let them kill each other and find the solution by themselves' is not acceptable today. It is true that the US has openly intervened in the Middle East problem and directed the issue in line with its own stance. The Camp David initiative is the work of Clinton Administration. It is clear that this initiative has not yielded any results. According to some analysts, the impositions and pressures starting with the Camp David process have led to the conflicts and critical situation seen today. At present Washington hopes to see some results (the start of a new peace process) by continuing the pressure. However, this policy has resulted in more harm than good. Certainly it would have been best if the sides, namely the Israelis and the Palestinians could have reached an agreement between themselves not leaving the path open to foreign intervention. They cannot come to an agreement and prefer to fight. The best way to stop foreign intervention for the parties involved is to find a solution to their problems." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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