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Turkish Press Review, 01-02-20
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Foreign
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#F0F0F0"> Turkish
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Press
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Summary of the political and economic
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<td width="100%">20.02.2001</td>
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CONTENTS
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CONTENTS
[01] LAW ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM PUT INTO EFFECT IN
BRITAIN
[02] FRENCH PRESS HOLDS TURKEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
REFUGEES
[03] GUREL ON THE CONCERN OF EXTREME RIGHTISM AND
RACISM IN EUROPE
[04] A DELEGATION FROM FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT
TO VISIT IRAQ
[05] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[06] TENSION BETWEEN ECEVIT AND SEZER
[07] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT AFTER THE TENSION
[08] BAHCELI ON THE CRISIS BETWEEN SEZER AND ECEVIT
[09] CEM'S STATEMENT ON NATIONAL PROGRAM
[10] TRNC'S ADDITIONAL INTENT LETTER
[11] FUDARI'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY-IRAQ RAPPROCHEMENT
[12] AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
[13] LAW ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM PUT INTO EFFECT IN
BRITAIN
[14] FRENCH PRESS HOLDS TURKEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
REFUGEES
[15] GUREL ON THE CONCERN OF EXTREME RIGHTISM AND RACISM
IN EUROPE
[16] STRAITS UNDER THREAT AGAIN
[17] TURKEY ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
[18] CRISIS AFFECTS THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY
[19] ECEVIT MEETS WITH FISCHER
[20] PAPANDREOU OPENS TURCO-GREEK CHAMBER OF TRADE
[21] A DELEGATION FROM FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT TO
VISIT IRAQ
[22] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALY IN MEDICINE
[23] TURKISH AIRLINES TO PURCHASE BOEING 737-800
[24] KURE MOUNTAINS: A GIFT TO THE WORLD
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[26] COLIN POWELL'S MESSAGE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
[27] CRISIS BY TAHA AKYOL ((MILLIYET)
[01] LAW ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM PUT INTO EFFECT IN
BRITAIN
[02] FRENCH PRESS HOLDS TURKEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
REFUGEES
[03] GUREL ON THE CONCERN OF EXTREME RIGHTISM AND
RACISM IN EUROPE
CAGLAYAN: "EMBARGO ON IRAQ CAN NOT BE
DEFENDED"
DEMIRALP: "TURKEY IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SOLVE
IT"
[04] A DELEGATION FROM FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT
TO VISIT IRAQ
[05] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[06] TENSION BETWEEN ECEVIT AND SEZER
Tension emerged yesterday between Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer during the National
Security Council (MGK) meeting. Ecevit accused Sezer of behaving
"beyond the rules of politenesness or the traditions of the
state" and that a "serious situation" has arisen. The
latest crisis started last week when President Sezer instructed the
State Inspection Board, affiliated to the Presidency, to investigate
the banktrupt banks. Ecevit immediately reacted saying the newly
established Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BBDK) was the
state establishment to investigate the banktrupt banks and the
presidential move was nothing but an order to investigate an
investigation. Sezer did not waste time replying to Ecevit declaring
that the presidential State Inspection Board was above all other
investigative bodies of the state and would look into the banktrupt
banks, not the BBDK. /All papers/
[07] ECEVIT'S STATEMENT AFTER THE TENSION
The crisis occurred during the National Security
Council (MGK) meeting and was discussed during the meeting of the
Council of Ministers, which convened extraordinarily. Ecevit issued a
statement while the the meeting of the Council of Ministers was
continuing and said, "The crisis is very saddening. The
government is continuing the arrangements concerning the economic
program and the structural reforms with great determination. This
incident will not affect the determination of the government in terms
of the implementation of the economic program." Ecevit also held
a press conference following the meeting of the Council of Ministers
and said, "President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has created obstacles for
the works of the 57th Government since he was elected the President.
In turn, the government displayed the respect due the President. Today
Mr. Sezer is targeting the government through the disrespect that he
displayed towards me today. The President might have some complaints
about the government or about me as the Prime Minister. However, it
would be expected of him to select the style, time and place of
mentioning this carefully." /Turkiye/
[08] BAHCELI ON THE CRISIS BETWEEN SEZER AND ECEVIT
National Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime
Minister Devlet Bahceli, who is currently in the capital of
Turkmenistan, Ashkabat, learned about the crisis between President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit upon a phone call
from Ecevit. Bahceli did not stop his visit upon the wish of Ecevit
and said, "The manner of the President was not right. It is
impossible to reach a conclusion with these things. Mr. Sezer should
have complied with the State tradition. If there was a problem or if
he wanted to be briefed, Mr. Sezer could have mentioned it during the
private meeting between Mr. Ecevit and himself that is organized each
week. Deepening the crisis will not be beneficial for anyone or for
the country. In addition, Mr. Sezer previously stated that the
Presidential duties given by the Constitution were a little bit too
much. Within this framework, a draft law prepared by the government is
on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly." /Sabah/
GREECE: "IT IS TURKEY'S INTERNAL AFFAIR"
The Greek Government Spokesman, Dimitrios Reppas,
said that the developments that occurred during the National Security
(MGK) meeting were an internal affair of Turkey. Reppas said,
"This is Turkey's internal affair. Greece wishes Turkey to
establish a modern rule of law on the level of the European Union (EU)
with the cooperation of the political powers. Athens wants Turkey to
be in harmony with the EU and become a member of the EU." Reppas
recalled that Turkey's preparations for the National Program were
discussed during the cabinet meeting and said, "There are some
changes that should be made by Turkey to be in step with the EU.
However, there is a disagreement due to the different approaches of
some powers in the country." /Aksam/
[09] CEM'S STATEMENT ON NATIONAL PROGRAM
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem stated that
the National Program would be presented to the EU by the middle of
March. After meeting with his Portugese counterpart Jaime Gama, Cem
answered questions from reporters. Cem stated that terrorist leader
Abdullah Ocalan's punishment would not be reduced even if the EU
demands such a prerequisite for the full membership of Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
[10] TRNC'S ADDITIONAL INTENT LETTER
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime
Minister Dervis Eroglu stated that the additional intent letter
concerning the economic stability program prepared to overcome
economic problems was sent to Ankara yesterday. Stating the letter
mainly covers the regulations on social security, development tax and
the retired, Eroglu said the letter includes the scheduling of the
economic stability program. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] FUDARI'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY-IRAQ RAPPROCHEMENT
Kuwait's Ambassador to Ankara Halaf Abbas El Fudari
stated in a press conference at the Kuwati Embassy that his country is
not concerned over the recent Iraq-Turkey rapprochement. He added
relations with Iraq was only a matter of concern for Turkey. It was
stated that Kuwait would give $55 million to Turkey for the
reestablishment of roads damaged by the Marmara quake. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner is
expected to visit Turkey on February 23. According to the statement of
the Foreign Ministry, Ferrero-Waldner will come to Turkey as an
official guest of the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. They are expected
to discuss bilateral relations between Turkey and Austria as well as
international and regional issues. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] LAW ON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM PUT INTO EFFECT IN
BRITAIN
The British Labor Party government enacted a law on
the fight against terrorism. The law restricts the activities of
terrorist organizations including the PKK, which are engaged in
separatist, seccecionist and violent activities in many countries. The
preparations for a terrorist organization list to be included into the
domain of the law are continuing. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] FRENCH PRESS HOLDS TURKEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
REFUGEES
The French press holds Turkey responsible for the
recent refugee flow to France. The demands to harden the migration
policies in the EU countries have increased due to the recent rush of
910 Iraqi Kurds to France's south coast border. French politicians and
the French press argued that Turkey sent those Kurdish refugees to
France to take revenge after the approval of the so-called Armenian
genocide bill. Meanwhile the Directorate General of Security Forces
stated that French authorities' accusations were unfair. /Turkiye/
[15] GUREL ON THE CONCERN OF EXTREME RIGHTISM AND RACISM
IN EUROPE
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel attended the United
Nation's Asian Meeting of the World Conference Against Racism, Race
Discrimination, XenoPhobia and Intolerance. Gurel delivered a speech
during the meeting and said, "The Turkish government is watching
with great concern the re-emergence of racism in Europe. The increase
of the extreme rightist political parties and such other organizations
is the source of worry." /Sabah/
CAGLAYAN: "EMBARGO ON IRAQ CAN NOT BE
DEFENDED"
The chairman of the parliamentary delegation which
recently visited Iraq, Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Suat
Caglayan said, "An embargo which resulted in dead children cannot
be defended." Caglayan gave information about the aim of the
delegation's visit to Iraq. He said, "The conditions are very
unhealthy in Iraq due to the ongoing 10-year embargo. Our aim was to
determine both quantity and quality of the medical aid to Iraq. The
other aim was to hold meetings with ministers and ministries related
to commerce for the improvement of trade in Iraq." Caglayan
conveyed his impressions in Iraq as follows: "The rate of
children's deaths has dramatically increased. They told us they have
lost their children due to dehydration, diarrhea and other
heat-related illnesses in summer simply because the import of climate
control equipment is banned. The number of children who have cancer
has significantly increased." Meanwhile, Minister of State Tunca
Toskay stated Turkey would not delay the businessmen council's visit
to Iraq despite the opposition of the US. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] STRAITS UNDER THREAT AGAIN
Two foreign-flagged cargo ships, the
"Khaleda", registered in Malta and the Norwegian
"Spareigot", almost collided yeterday morning when both
attempted to enter the Bosphorus Straits simultaneously, the Anatolia
News Agency reports. Being slightly damaged in the scrape, the two
ships dropped anchor in Ahirkapi anchorage area. /All papers/
[17] TURKEY ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Ankara Police Department Deputy Director Ramazan Er
spoke at the opening of the second regional Anti-Drug and Organized
Crimes Education Program held in the Academy for Combating
International Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes. He stated that
Turkey was continuing its struggle against drug smuggling by means of
multi-faceted searches and believed that international cooperation was
essential. Narcotics officials from various countries such as Albania,
Azerbajian, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Moldavia, Uzbekistan,
Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine will be attending
the education program that will end on March 2. /All papers/
[18] CRISIS AFFECTS THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY
Tension between the Prime Minister and the
President which immediately escalated to a government crisis yesterday
hammered the markets, prompting an approximately $5 billion capital
outflow in a single day and creating increased risks for the ongoing
program. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) main-100 index slipped
11.54 % in the first session of the day to 8,996 points, and ending
the day at 8,683 points, down 14.62 %. The Treasury is scheduled to
hold two auctions today and sell 12-month bonds and 7-month bills
through which it hopes to borrow TL 2.9-3.2 quadrillion, whereafter it
must serve domestic debt amounting to TL 3.9 quadrillion. Turkish
Exporters' Assembly (TIM) Chairman Okan Oguz criticized the government
for sparking a political crisis despite the overly sensitive economic
balance. Oguz indicated that this sort of tension between the
government and the president was unexpected and unwanted at a critical
time for the economy. "It is obvious this will affect the economy
negatively". /All papers/
[19] ECEVIT MEETS WITH FISCHER
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met yesterday with the
IMF's Deputy Chairman Stanley Fischer. IMF's Europe Director Micheal
Deppler, Chief of the Turkey Desk, Carlo Cottarelli, Central Bank
Governor Gazi Ercel, and Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp also
attended the meeting. They discussed the effects of the current crisis
between Prime Minister Ecevit and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on the
financal market. They also discussed the Turkish government's
determination to pursue the economic program without making any
concessions and eliminating the obstacles concerning the privatization
process. /Cumhuriyet/
DEMIRALP: "TURKEY IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SOLVE
IT"
Treasury Undersecretary, Selcuk Demiralp, evaluated
the changes that occurred in the markets following the National
Security Council (MGK) meeting yesterday and said there was no reason
for distress concerning the issue and pointed out that the markets
would be in a better situation tomorrow morning. Demiralp issued a
statement to journalists after the G-20 meeting in Istanbul and said,
"An unexpected development occurred yesterday. However, the
markets will be balanced soon. An evaluation of the situation will be
made after returning to Ankara. Turkey's economic capacity is
sufficient and there will not be a divergence from the economic
program. All the economic transactions, including the Treasury bidding
to be carried out tommorrow, will be performed as planned."
Demiralp then left the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where the G-20 meeting was
held, with the 1st Deputy Chairman of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), Stanley Fischer, and returned to Ankara. /Aksam/
[20] PAPANDREOU OPENS TURCO-GREEK CHAMBER OF TRADE
Greeek Foreign Minister George Papandreou opened
the Turco-Greek Chamber of Trade yesterday. Papandreou, who attended
the opening ceremony in Athens, said that he was determined to develop
the friendship between Turkey and Greece. He pointed out that Greece
would continue to stand by Turkey on the path toward its full EU
membership. /Hurriyet/
[21] A DELEGATION FROM FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARIAT TO
VISIT IRAQ
Within the framework of the recent policy towards
evaluating the trade potential in neighboring countries, a delegation
from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat will visit Iraq in March.
/Cumhuriyet/
[22] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALY IN MEDICINE
Menarini, one of the leading medicine producers in
Italy, which ranks fourth in the world's medicine production sector,
has become a partner with the Ibrahim Etem Ulagay Pharmaceuticals
Industry Company. Menarini has come to Turkey with $50 million capital
and purchased 62 % of the Ulagay Company. Menarini will also pay an
additional $20 million and will sell its products under the name
'Ibrahim Etem Ulagay by Menarini'. /Hurriyet/
[23] TURKISH AIRLINES TO PURCHASE BOEING 737-800
American aviation and space company, Boeing, will
deliver 8 planes to Turkey. According to a statement issued by Boeing,
Turkish Airlines (THY), which had ordered 26 pieces of 737-800 type
planes in 1997, will receive 2 planes, Pegasus will receive 5, and
Cyprus Airlines will receive one new Boeing 737-800 into its fleet.
There are currently 34 new generation Boeing 737 planes in the fleet
of the Turkish airlines companies. /Aksam/
[24] KURE MOUNTAINS: A GIFT TO THE WORLD
The Kure Mountains, which were turned into a
National Park last year, will be announced as 'A Gift to the World'
during a ceremony to be held in London on Thursday. According to
information received from the Foreign Ministry, Forestry Minister Nami
Cagan will participate in the ceremony organized by the World Wild
Life Foundation (WWF) at St.James Palace. /Hurriyet/
"I, ANATOLIA" TO BE STAGED ON BROADWAY
Gungor Dilmen's play "I, Anatolia" (Ben
Anadolu) will be staged on Broadway. The play narrates the history of
Anatolia from the perspectives of different female characters. There
are 15 different characters in the play from the first female
historian Anna Comnena to Turkish woman novelist Halide Edip Adivar.
The play will be staged in February and March. /Cumhuriyet/
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[26] COLIN POWELL'S MESSAGE BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on US Secretary of
State Colin Powell's message. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Prime Minister Ecevit has to continually face bombs these days.
However, I am not going to speak about President Sezer's bomb, but the
message given by US Secretary of State Powell on Friday. I believe
this should not be ignored among all that has happened. It may be
asked why is it defined as a bomb by Powell and not by President Bush.
It seems that President Bush is not the person in the forefront of
this issue. In the US newspapers, it is written that as Powell did not
order the fall of Baghdad during the Gulf War, it stayed as a sore
point in his mind. This time he may have decided to use the
opportunity. However, it will be wrong to reduce the issue to that
standard as Powell never hid his opinions and intentions on Iraq
during the election campaign and when in power. Since President Bush
did not stop him, we can believe that this is the new Washington
policy. If so, why did Washington take such an initative without
informing anyone? What kind of a message did it want to convey by
carrying out this bombing? Although the man in the target may be
Saddam Hussein, I believe there were messages to other addresses as
well. In fact, the least important of them all was Saddam himself. One
important message was directed at Turkey. The Bush Administration did
not hide its political irritation with Turkey, who sent an ambassador
to Iraq. Turkey has also resumed civilian airline flights to Iraq,
further confounding the US. The US officially announced that she could
not understand the meaning of these steps. Washington could not have
made harsher statements as there is a 'strategic alliance' between the
two countries. At present the Middle East issue has entered a complex
stage. Therefore, she decided to convey these messages indirectly. The
US did not inform Turkey of the planned operation. In order to avoid a
procedural issue, she did not use the bases in Turkey for the
operation. However indirect the message, she says clearly, 'You may
flirt with Iraq as much as you like, this will be my policy. Whether
you like it or not I will proceed in this direction. It does not
concern me if this policy is an obstacle for your plans in the
region.' The message is clear. There is no alternative left for Prime
Minister Ecevit, but to express his displeasure that he was not
informed of the operation beforehand. There are crises on the horizon
where Turkey will need the US Administration's assistance. The first
to be mentioned is the so-called 'Armenian genocide bill'. It will
come to the agenda sometime and hopefully, the stance of the Bush
Administration will be clearer by then. In short, there is a
connection between President Bush's keeping his word to Armenians
during the election campaign and Ankara's approach towards the Iraqi
issue. Certainly, Ankara is not only focused on this issue. There is
the issue of Turkey's exclusion from Europe's new security
establishment. Turkey will need US support against other EU member
countries such as France and Germany. It can be said that Turkey's
alternatives are not much in a uni-polar world when the country is
under political bombardment. During the stage we are in Washington
holds an important place in Turkey's foreign policy stance."
[27] CRISIS BY TAHA AKYOL ((MILLIYET)
Columnist Taha Akyol writes on the crisis which
erupted due to a disagreement between the President and the Prime
Minister. A summary of his column is as follows: "The dispute
between the President and the Prime Minister before the official start
of the National Security Council Meeting led to a political crisis. It
upset the economic balances... It took away almost half of the aid
which will come from IMF in a few hours. Certainly, the sensitivity of
the President against corruption and on law is admirable. This is one
of the essential duties of the Government. The Government has to lead
the economy through a long and narrow tunnel in addition to fighting
against corruption. If only the President and the Prime Minister had
talked on these issues during bilateral meetings.. The President could
have discussed these problems with the Prime Minister face to face, or
could have used a softer style in addressing the issues. On the other
hand the Prime Minister could not have left the meeting, and after
listening to the President, could have calmly explained his own point
of view with his great political experience and tact. Thus Turkey
would not be seen as a politically quarrelsome country that has a
structure producing crises continually. The relations between the
Presidency and Government institutions are important and decide the
character of the policial systems...We need to learn a lesson from
this crisis and it should be that a closer dialogue is necessary
between President Sezer and Prime Minister Ecevit. Turkey should find
a path succeeding in the fight against corruption but not weakening
democracy. The relations between the President and the Goverment
should be improved as soon as possible."
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