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Turkish Press Review, 00-12-08
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
08.12.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S DISCOVERY: PETROLIUM CAN BE REPLACED BY
NUTSHELLS
<BR
[02] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[03] SEZER TO UTTER THE LAST WORD CONCENING AMNESTY LAW
[04] EQUAL REPRESENTATION TO TURKEY WITH OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE EU
[05] VERHEUGEN: "NOW EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON TURKEY"
[06] SIMITIS: "TURKEY HAS OPENED A NEW PAGE"
[07] PAPANDREOU MEETS CEM
[08] US AMBASSADOR IN EARTHQUAKE REGION
[09] CAKMAKOGLU'S STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE IDENTITY
[10] TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS CONFERENCE
[11] GENERAL STAFF WARNS ABOUT PKK
[12] OPERATION AGAINST THE PKK
[13] PREPARATION FOR "HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK"
[14] SYRIAN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
[15] TOURISM MINISTRY'S HEAVY SCHEDULE
[16] LAUNCHING OF TURKSAT 2-A DELAYED
[17] DEPPLER AND INGVES LEAVE ANKARA
[18] BRITISH PRESS ON IMF AID TO TURKEY
[19] ERCEL ON TURKISH ECONOMY
[20] ERDEMIR RECEIVES INVESTMENT CREDIT FROM JAPAN
[21] TREASURY ISSUES BONDS TO DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND
[22] MOODY'S MONITORS TURKEY
[23] $1 BILLION FROM FOUR LARGEST BANKS
[24] COLLINS HAS 55% OF THE RUSSIAN MARKET
[25] VILLALTA'S BOOK "ATATURK" PUBLISHED AGAIN
[26] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S DISCOVERY: PETROLIUM CAN BE REPLACED BY
NUTSHELLS
[27] MEVHIBE INONU'S MEMORIES IN GREEK
[28] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[29] SECOND REVOLUTION BY GUNERI CIVAOGLU (MILLIYET)
[01] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S DISCOVERY: PETROLIUM CAN BE REPLACED BY
NUTSHELLS
<BR
[02] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[03] SEZER TO UTTER THE LAST WORD CONCENING AMNESTY LAW
The Amnesty Draft Law will be enacted at the General Council of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and implemented on Monday. The last
word on the amnesty, which has been long waited for by the prisoners,
will be uttered by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Sezer is expected to examine
the amnesty draft law, which will be sent to him, very closely.
/Aksam/
[04] EQUAL REPRESENTATION TO TURKEY WITH OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE EU
The Nice Summit brought together the presidents and prime
ministers of EU member and candidate countries began with the
European Conference during which relations with Turkey were
handled. Turkey attended the conference on equal terms with other
candidate countries. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in his
statement at the meeting, said Turkey holds a strategic position
with regard to the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East and
this fact would benefit the EU. Mr. Ecevit later said the Cyprus
and Aegean issues were not discussed at the meeting. He said
"Putting the political dialogue concept" into the Accession
Partnership Document related to the Cyprus issue is a positive
development and this will open the way for dialogue. He said the
National Program will be discussed by the Council of Ministers
before month's end. /Milliyet/
[05] VERHEUGEN: "NOW EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON TURKEY"
Gunter Verheugen, EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement,
said the beginning of full EU membership negotiations depends on
Turkey. Replying to questions about Turkey's Accession
Partnership Document (APD), Verheugen said the EU is now waiting
for Turkey's National Programme. He added that any steps Turkey
takes in human rights and democracy will speed up this process.
The successor to the EU Term Presidency, Sweden's Foreign
Minister Anna Lindh, also said, "The sooner Turkey implements the
EU criteria on human rights and democracy, the sooner the
negotiations will begin." /Turkiye/
[06] SIMITIS: "TURKEY HAS OPENED A NEW PAGE"
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said in a press conference
that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's attendance to at the
EU Summit in Nice showed Turkey had opended a new page. Stating
the beginning of Turkey's political dialogue with the EU was very
important, Mr. Simitis said, "Turkey may interpret the Accession
Partnership Document (APD) as it wants. However, the framework
which Europe desires is accepted in this document. Everybody
expects Turkey to take its future steps in accordance with the
APD." Meanwhile Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh said, "Sweden
is the country most supportive of Turkey's full EU membership,
However, Turkey has to do its utmost in the human rights and
political criteria." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] PAPANDREOU MEETS CEM
At a press conference, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou
said he and his Turkish counterpart, as well as Turkish Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis
had a chance to have a short meeting during the Nice Summit.
Stressing that they discussed confidence building measures,
Papandreou said, "We compromised, saying that recent developments
are very important and positive." /Turkiye/
[08] US AMBASSADOR IN EARTHQUAKE REGION
US Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson and his wife visited
Adapazari, one of the most devastated cities during of the Aug.
17 earthquake. Mr. Pearson said US aid to Turkey will continue.
Regarding a question on Turkey's EU membership, the US Ambassador
said, "Turkey deserves EU membership. Turkey has the capacity and
ability to accomplish it. We always support Turkey's full EU
membership." /Turkiye/
[09] CAKMAKOGLU'S STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE IDENTITY
Minister of National Defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, attended the
NATO's defense ministries' meeting in Brussels, returned to
Turkey yesterday. Delivering a speech at the Esenboga Airport,
Mr. Cakmakoglu said, "Turkey wants to have equal rights with
other countries in the military exercises in which NATO equipment
are used. I conveyed Turkey's views on this issue at the meeting.
However, Turkey new role is only thought of as a country to be
advised in necessary situations. We do not want be just an
advisor. Therefore, we emphasized our concern over this new
role." /Cumhuriyet/
[10] TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS CONFERENCE
During a conference organized jointly by the Ankara University
Faculty of Political Sciences, NATO, the Foreign Ministry
Strategic Research Center and International Strategic Research
Group, Turkish and Greek academicians discussed Turco-Greek
relations. /Turkiye/
[11] GENERAL STAFF WARNS ABOUT PKK
The Office of the General Staff evaluated the domestic security
developments of 2000. The report said the PKK has been encouraged
by Turkey's full EU membership process. The PKK is trying to gain
recognition in the European community. It tries to pacify Turkish
security forces carrying out the fight against terrorism. The PKK
has been receiving support from several European countries. This
encourages the PKK to continue its terrorist activities. Also,
the PKK is trying to politisize its activities by designing a
separatist movement dependant on nationalist ideas. Kurdish
Television, education and empowerment of the local
administrations are the type of demands that would strengthen
such ideals. Journalists asked Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit his
views regarding the General Staff's report. Mr. Ecevit said they
are still hearing about some European countries' continuing
support for the PKK. Mr. Ecevit also said Turkish Armed Forces
are very sensitive to the issues regarding the propoganda
activities by the PKK. /Star-Milliyet/
[12] OPERATION AGAINST THE PKK
A statement by the International Relations Bureau of the Iraqi Kurdistan
Democratic Party (IKDP) in Washington, announced on December 4 that the
Iraq Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IKYB) began an operation against the PKK
terrorist organization in Northern Iraq's region of Suleymaniye.
It was further stated that the terrorists were in a difficult
situation and that tensions between the two Iraqi Kurdish
groups had increased due to the terrorist organization. /Aksam/
[13] PREPARATION FOR "HUMAN RIGHTS WEEK"
Non-governmental organizations are preparing for the "Human
Rights 2000 Week" between December 9-15. There will be modern
art, cartoon and photograph exhibitions, panels and symposiums
among the activities of the organizations. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] SYRIAN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
With Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Siba Nasser's arrival in
Turkey on Sunday, Turkey and Syria take another step towards
improving relations at an unprecedented pace. Nasser, who is on a
two-day official visit, will hold talks aimed at finalizing the
details for the signing of a declaration of principles. In
signing the declaration, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his
Syrian counterpart Farouk-al Shara, will pave the way for Syrian
President Bashar-al Assad to pay an official visit to Turkey in
either late January or early February. /Turkish Daily News/
[15] TOURISM MINISTRY'S HEAVY SCHEDULE
The Ministry of Tourism is planning to attend 99 fairs in total
during 2001. The Ministry will be busy promoting Turkey's
touristic beauties in fairs organized in 46 different countries
throughout the coming year. /Turkiye/
[16] LAUNCHING OF TURKSAT 2-A DELAYED
The launching of Turkey's third satellite Turksat 2-A, expected
to take place today, was delayed due to a technical problem.
Minister of Tranportation Enis Oksuz said the satellite would be
launched after the problem was fixed. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] DEPPLER AND INGVES LEAVE ANKARA
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Chairman of the Europe,
Michael Deppler, who was expected to leave Ankara yesterday, will
instead leave Turkey for Washington today. Deppler came to Turkey on 3
December to discuss the financial support neede to solve the problems in
the Turkish financial markets. Deppler met the Treasury officials and
discussed the works to be done concerning the additional financial support
during the last leg of his contacts in Ankara. Meanwhile, IMF Banking
Deparment's Director, Stephen Ingves, left Ankara. He came to Ankara
with Deppler for the same purpose. It was revealed that the other
delegation chaired by the IMF Chief to the Turkish Desk, Carlo
Cottarelli, will continue their contacts in Turkey for some more
time. /Hurriyet/
[18] BRITISH PRESS ON IMF AID TO TURKEY
The British press gave wide coverage to the IMF's $10.4 billion
aid package to Turkey. Reminding Turkey's any possible economic
failure would also mean a loss of prestige for the IMF, the
British press pointed out that IMF aid was given to Turkey after
the Turkish government promised to accelarate the privatization
process and to continue the structural reforms in the banking
sector. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] ERCEL ON TURKISH ECONOMY
Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel stated there was no change in the monetary
and foreign exchange rate policy. Much more important macro economic policies,
to be implemented next year, will stop the internal dynamics' reflections on the
payments balance and we are very careful on the issue. Ercel evaluated the
situation of the Turkish lira and said, "The elements affecting the payments'
balance the most were the increase in the petroleum price and the loss of the
value of the euro. However, there is also a big increase in manpower
productivity. If we put them together, of course there is a risk, but I do
not see any problem at this stage." /Aksam/
[20] ERDEMIR RECEIVES INVESTMENT CREDIT FROM JAPAN
Eregli Iron and Steel Factory (ERDEMIR) signed an agreement with
three Japanese companies, Itochu Corporation, Kawasaki Seel
Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd for the
construction of a new section within the factory costing $43.3
million. 15% of the construction cost will be financed from the
factory's own capital funds. The rest will be received as credit
from the Japan Bank for International Corporation and a private
bank in Japan. /Hurriyet/
[21] TREASURY ISSUES BONDS TO DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND
The Treasury said yesterday it has issued three separate types
of special bonds to the Deposit Insurance Fund under a rescue
plan for bailed out banks, at the request of the Banking
Regulation and Supervision Board. /Turkish Daily News/
[22] MOODY'S MONITORS TURKEY
The international rating company, Moody's stated they would
decide in a few weeks whether or not to increase Turkey's rating,
which is currently B1_B2. It was stated that the additional loan
package, on which a consensus was reached with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), is expected to curtail the anxieties concerning
Turkey's economic stability program. Moody's also stated, "It is
predicted that taking more determined steps concerning banking reform will
remove the basic weaknesses that cause liquidity problem. If the increase
in the inflation rate continues, some banks will become weak. Therefore we are
monitoring 14 banks for a possible decrease in their financial
strength rate." /Aksam/
[23] $1 BILLION FROM FOUR LARGEST BANKS
Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan met with the directors of
the four largest banks in Turkey to get their support for the
economic program. Isbank, Garanti Bank, Yapi Kredi Bank and
Akbank will give around $1 billion foreign exchange to the market
in order to support the economic program. Hence, liquidity in the
markets will be achieved. /Milliyet/
[24] COLLINS HAS 55% OF THE RUSSIAN MARKET
Eroglu Group of Companies' top brand Collins captured the Russian market.
Chairan of the Executive Board of the Eroglu Group of Companies, Nurettin
Eroglu, said, "Collins jeans, which are exorted to 32 countries, has 55% of
the Russian market. We aim for our exports to reach 100 million dollars this
year." Eroglu Group of Companies is also targeting at investing Uzbekistan.
/Aksam/
[25] VILLALTA'S BOOK "ATATURK" PUBLISHED AGAIN
Minister of Culture Istamihan Talay published Argentinian Jorge
Blanco Villalta's book "Ataturk" again. Villalta was deputy
consul in Istanbul, 1934 and an ambassador in Ankara, 1975. /Sabah/
[26] TURKISH PROFESSOR'S DISCOVERY: PETROLIUM CAN BE REPLACED BY
NUTSHELLS
Turkish Professor Murat Dogru, working at the University of
Newcastle, has managed to run an automobile by transforming
nutshells at high temperature into flammable gas. The world press
gave a wide coverage to the discovery. /Hurriyet/
[27] MEVHIBE INONU'S MEMORIES IN GREEK
The raproachement between Turkey and Greece keeps on continuing. The book
titled 'Mevhibe', which depicts the memories of the second Turkish President
Ismet Inonu's wife, Mevhibe Inonu, written by Inonu's granddaughter
Gulsun Bilgehan Toker, was translated into Greek. The Greek Minister
of Culture, Evangelos Veniselos, is expected to attend a cocktail
party promoting the book, which will be made available to the
public market at a meeting December 19th in Athens. /Hurriyet/
[28] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[29] SECOND REVOLUTION BY GUNERI CIVAOGLU (MILLIYET)
Columnist Guneri Civaoglu writes on how the recent developments
are received by the public. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"While Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attended the EU Nice Summit, a
panel was held in Istanbul. A student attending the panel asked,
"If one of the EU representatives wrote an official letter
to one of the Corsican, Basque or IRA separatist organizations
espousing political violence, saying their rights were recognized
and ending the letter by paying his respects, how would France,
Spain and England react to such an official in the EU?
Could that person have stayed in his post? An official of the EU
has written such a letter to the PKK terrorist organisation in
Turkey and signed it. The person sending the letter is still at
his desk. How can this be?"
The question was indeed food for thought. Upon returning from
this panel, I found a statement issued by the General Staff on
my desk. It said in part, 'Certain incidents occurring in 2000,
the actions of some EU units going beyond their limits to place a
terrorist organization as an equal, have led to public suspicions
that support lent to the terrorist organisation in the
past is continuing. This encourages the PKK to carry out
terrorist actions...' The timing of the statement is another
question.
The question to the panel by the young man, and the
views of the General Staff, reveal an agreement on the issue. They
reflect the public's reactions. The inconsiderate and
careless nature of the EU, and the dark and provocative plots within
our country are making it hard to catch up with modern standards in
democracy, freedom, and human rights.
There are some sensitive issues in the Accession Partnership
Document which Turkey has accepted to become an EU member. One of the
conditions is radio and television broadcasts in one's mother tongue.
However, the APD and the National Program Turkey will prepare, are
two different matters. While preparing the National Program,
Turkey will take into consideration its own territorial integrity
and regional characteristics. It will determine its own national
priorities. The degree of understanding shown by the EU in the
near future will result in progress if trust in one another increases.
Turkey is living through a second revolution following
the proclamation of the Republic and Ataturk's reforms. It is
uundergoing a revolution to catch up with the understanding,
structuring and vision of modern times."
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