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Turkish Press Review, 00-12-22
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
22.12.00
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] PRESIDENT SEZER RATIFIES AMNESTY BILL
[03] AMNESTY BILL APPROVED IN TGNA
[04] PRESIDENT APPROVES LAW FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS
[05] TGNA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION APPROVES PRISON OPERATIONS
[06] TURK'S STATEMENT ON PRISON OPERATIONS
[07] OPERATION IS OVER IN CANAKKALE PRISON
[08] DEMONSTRATIONS IN EUROPE AGAINST "BACK TO LIFE" OPERATION
[09] TURKEY GIVES INFORMATION TO EUROPE ABOUT PRISON OPERATONS
[10] GOVERNMENT'S BUSY SCHEDULE
[11] CEM'S STATEMENT ON ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT
[12] TGNA ON HOLIDAY
[13] TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO HELP THE BALKANS
[14] GREECE IBDA-C'S NEW BASE
[15] KANADOGLU'S STATEMENT
[16] COUNT DOWN IN TUBE CROSSING
[17] BOTAS SIGNS AGREEMENTS TO BUY NATURAL GAS
[18] SYRIAN JOURNALISTS VISIT TURKISH JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
[19] MOODY'S CONFIRMS TURKISH RATINGS, POSITIVE OUTLOOK
[20] UMUT: "FINANSBANK IS GROWING CONSTANTLY"
[21] LOAN OF 75 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR VAKIFBANK
[22] EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES IN TURKEY
[23] A TURKISH MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION
[24] 'TURKISH COLLECTION' EXHIBITION ON THE INTERNET
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS..
[26] WHO IS AGAINST WHOM? BY EROL MANISALI (CUMHURIYET)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS..
[02] PRESIDENT SEZER RATIFIES AMNESTY BILL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the Amnesty Bill foreseeing
the release of prisoners on parole and the delaying of penalties,
after it was sent back to him by the TGNA without any changes.
Since the president cannot re-veto the bill which was accepted by
the TGNA without any changes, Mr. Sezer approved the bill.
Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk said 35 thousand peope will
be released in a month. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the
bill does not foresee a complete amnesty but a release on parole.
He added, "If one commits a crime after being released, he will
be put into prison again. This will keep people from committing
another crime." /Cumhuriyet/
[03] AMNESTY BILL APPROVED IN TGNA
The Amnesty Bill, which will parole certain prisoners, was
approved in TGNA yesterday. The bill, vetoed by President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer before, was sent back to the President for the
second time. As the President cannot veto it again, he signed the
bill. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] PRESIDENT APPROVES LAW FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS
President Sezer ratified the law giving authority to the
government to make arrangements to improve the social,
administrative and financial rights of public employees. The law
will be in effect for three months. The Council of Ministers will
be able to issue more than one regulation regarding the issue.
/Star/
[05] TGNA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION APPROVES PRISON OPERATIONS
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Human Rights
Commission approved the operations carried out in the prisons.
The commission said, "The intervention implemented in the
prisons was carried out to protect the most sacred right,
security of life. Therefore, we do not regard operations as
infringing upon human rights. /Star/
[06] TURK'S STATEMENT ON PRISON OPERATIONS
Minister of Justice, Hikmet Sami Turk, said he found the prison
operations successful. Stating that the number of inmates
transferred to the F-type prisons totalled 524, Mr. Turk argued
that the operations, which would have ended in an hour, lasted
longer because the security forces were trying to prevent deaths.
He added that necessary conditions for inmates to consult with
their lawyers will be ensured from today on. Meanwhile, the
Minister of Interior announced that twenty inmates died during
the operations and 94 were injured. Additionally, according to
the Minister of Interior's statement, 187 of 277 prisoners on
death fasts and 634 of 802 prisoners on hunger strikes were
saved. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] OPERATION IS OVER IN CANAKKALE PRISON
Nineteen of the twenty prison operations are over. Resistance
continues in Umraniye Prison. During the operation in Canakkale
prison, four inmates died and 26 wounded. Minister of Interior
Sadettin Tantan said the structure of Umraniye Prison had been
changed by the prisoners therefore the operation is lasting
longer than expected. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] DEMONSTRATIONS IN EUROPE AGAINST "BACK TO LIFE" OPERATION
A number of demonstrations were carried out in Europe to protest
the prison operations in Turkey. A group of protesters invaded
the general center of the Social Democratic Party in Netherlands.
In various German cities, protesters walked with signs and
invaded Sekerbank office. 26 of the protesters were arrested.
/Star/
[09] TURKEY GIVES INFORMATION TO EUROPE ABOUT PRISON OPERATONS
Due to European protests against Turkey's prison operations,
Turkey began to disseminate information about the operations to
the European countries via its foreign representatives.
Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry, Faruk Logoglu, said all the
information on the operations was conveyed to Turkey's
representatives in foreign countries. As protests have spread to
Europe from Brussels, Amsterdam to Berlin, Turkey's
representatives began meeting with the officials in the related
countries. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] GOVERNMENT'S BUSY SCHEDULE
The government has a busy schedule today before the beginning of
the ten-day holiday. The National Security Council (MGK) will
convene at 9.30 am under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer. The Council of Ministers will convene this afternoon. The
main issues at both conventions will be the amnesty law and the
prison operations. The MGK will take up operations in prisons,
possible developments on the issue and the conditions of F-type
prisons. Protest demonstrations by the police forces will also be
discussed. The Interior and Justice Ministers will give
information to the council members regarding the operations and
the current situation. MGK Secretary General Cumhur Asparuk will
present a report on the measures taken against the reactionary
and separatist movements. The Interior Minister will give
information about operations against corruption. /Aksam/
[11] CEM'S STATEMENT ON ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem received representatives
of the European-Turkish Businessmen Association yesterday.
Recalling that acceptance of Turkey's Accession Partnership
Document was an important legal development on Turkey's path
towards the EU, Mr. Cem said Turkey's National Action Plan was
near completion. He added, "I hope the National Action Plan will
be a means for unification not a reason for political struggles
and division." /Cumhuriyet/
[12] TGNA ON HOLIDAY
The Turkish Grand National Assembly's (TGNA) General Council
completed its work early yesterday morning. The Deputy Speaker
Murat Sokmenoglu suggested not to assemble the plenary session
yesterday for voting. As this suggestion was accepted, the TGNA
will be in recess until 2 January after the Ramadan Holiday and
New Year's Day. /Sabah/
[13] TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO HELP THE BALKANS
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), continuing its contribution in
social, cultural and economic areas in the Southeastern Turkey,
as well as fighting against terrorism in the region, is also
carrying out similar activities in the Balkans. The TAF's aid in
Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina is on-going in various
ways, such as, the restoration of churchs, mosques, roads,
factories, health services, and the opening of profession
courses. /Turkiye/
[14] GREECE IBDA-C'S NEW BASE
Following a series of crackdowns in Turkey in 1999, the terrorist
organization, IBDA-C, is continuing its activities in Europe,
particularly, in Greece. Reportedly, an increase has been
observed in death and bomb threats made against the leading
figures of the Turkish society living in the Western Thrace.
/Turkiye/
[15] KANADOGLU'S STATEMENT
Sabih Kanadoglu, appointed as the Supreme Court of Appeal Public
Prosecutor by the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said, "Secularity
is the compulsory condition of democracy. It is impossible to
agree with the opinion that the Turkish Republic is theocratic in
terms of State organization, and that it is a secular State in
terms of religious direction." /Sabah/
[16] COUNT DOWN IN TUBE CROSSING
A count down has begun for the tube crossing and its related
systems project, to be constructed in Istanbul. Negotiations were
started with the Turkish-Japan group for the Engineering and
Advisory Services of the 70.5- km suburb train line, called
"Marmaray", including a 1.8-km tube crossing construction
project. Discussions are expected to be completed in the
beginning of 2001. Following the engineering and advisory work,
an international tender will be launched for the construction.
Marmaray is planned to be completed in 2005 and expected to cost
one billion doolars. The project will be financed by Japan.
/Turkiye/
[17] BOTAS SIGNS AGREEMENTS TO BUY NATURAL GAS
BOTAS's Director General Gokhan Yardim stated the purchase of 61
billion cubic meters of natural gas was ensured by the agreement.
At the speech he delivered at the "Financing of Energy Projects
in Turkey" Conference yesterday, Mr. Yardim said, "Through BOTAS
projects, an important amount of natural gas will be transferred
to Turkey as soon as possible." /Cumhuriyet/
[18] SYRIAN JOURNALISTS VISIT TURKISH JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
A six-person delegation of Syrian journalists visited the Turkish
Journalists Association (TGC). The Chairman of the TGC, Nail
Gureli, said at the reception they highly regard the first visit
of their colleagues. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] MOODY'S CONFIRMS TURKISH RATINGS, POSITIVE OUTLOOK
Moody's Investors Service announced yesterday it is confirming
the country ceilings of Turkey at B1 for foreign currency debt
and B2 for foreign currency bank deposits, which were placed on
review for possible upgrade in July. As a consequence, Moody's
confirmed its B1 ratings on the long-term foreign
currency-denominated bonds and notes issued by Turkey. The rating
outlook remains positive, the agency said. Moody's emphasized
that the ongoing stabilization program has achieved considerable
success in shrinking the fiscal deficit and inflation this past
year. Policymakers have taken the opportunity afforded by the
government's strong majority in parliament - as well as
heightened prospects for eventual membership in the European
Union - to implement meaningful structural reforms across a broad
range of sectors. /Turkish Daily News/
[20] UMUT: "FINANSBANK IS GROWING CONSTANTLY"
General Director of Finansbank Onur Umut said Finansbank presents
a positive outlook as it is one of the two banks receiving a
"D"rating from international rating institution, Moody's. Umut
said Finansbank is one of the banks with the highest liquidity
after the crisis, according to Moody's report. /Aksam/
[21] LOAN OF 75 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR VAKIFBANK
Turkiye Vakiflar Bank received a syndication loan amounting to 75
million US dollars to finance exports. In a statement issued by
Vakifbank, the syndication was ensured with the leadership of
Citibank, NA, Natexis Banque, Fujibank, Credit Lyonnais and Banca
Commerciale Italiana. /Hurriyet/
[22] EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES IN TURKEY
Turkey's first comprehensive country club, Kemer Golf_Country
Club, which includes equestrian, golf and tennis facilities and
individual bungalows with 1450 bed capacity, won the appreciation
of the officials for the 2008 Olympic games. It was stated that
these facilities, visited by the Secretary General of
International Federation of Equestrian, Bo Helander, Turkish
Olympics Committee's Sports Director Nese Gundogan and the
Chairman of the Turkish Equestrian Federation Sencer Gunessoy, is
of the utmost importance in terms of creating a high quality
arena for the world's equestrian community. Secretary General of
the International Federation of Equestrian Bo Halender said these
facilities was very convenient due to its proximity to Istanbul
and its high standards. /Cumhuriyet/
[23] A TURKISH MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION
Zisan Ugurlu taking part in the play "Transit" at the UBU
Repertoire Theatre became a member of the New York Artists
Association. Artists are then able to audition for plays if they
are the member of the Associaiton. /Cumhuriyet/
[24] 'TURKISH COLLECTION' EXHIBITION ON THE INTERNET
Suleyman Sahin is presenting his work entitled 'Turkish
Collection' on the Internet. He has been working on the
collection for five years and it reflects the natural beauties of
Turkey. 250 paintings on seven regions of Turkey is presented for
art lovers in the 'Turkish Collection'. The website address is
www.coban-ressam.com. Sahin will issue his works on the Internet
for five years and then publish them. /Hurriyet/
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS..
[26] WHO IS AGAINST WHOM? BY EROL MANISALI (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Erol Manisali writes on the Turkey-European relations.
A summary of his column is as follows:
"These days, some claim the recent incidents were provoked by
those opposing the EU and those wanting to prevent Turkey's
admittance into the EU. These claims should be carefully
analyzed. The people spreading these rumors aim to draw attention
away from the colonialist demands imposed by the EU; are trying
to cover up the contradictory statements they are making in the
country and abroad, and to pull down the barriers to put Turkey
under the sovereignty of foreign circles.
They clearly define their opposition to the EU. They are against
the imposition of demands by the EU leading to the division of
the country under the guise of ethnic minorities. They are
opposed to seeing Greek demands on Cyprus and the Aegean put
forth as conditions at the negotiation table. They are against
impositions tying the so-called genocide to the improvement of
relations. They are opposed to being delayed at the door of the
EU in hopes to be admitted into the Union some 10 or 15 years
later. The unilateral independence, which began in 1995,
continued with the Helsinki Accord in 1999 and the Accession
Partnership Document in 2000. They are opposed to Turkish troops
being under the command of the EU. They are opposed to the EU
circles who are trying hard to protect their national interests,
while asking Turkey to forget its own interests."
Note: The Turkish Press Review will not be issued until 2 January
2001 due to the Ramadan Holiday and the New Year's Day. We wish
you a Happy New Year.
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