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Turkish Press Review, 01-02-26
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
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<td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Press
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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%">26.02.2001</td>
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CONTENTS
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CONTENTS
[01] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ANNULS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY
LAW
[02] GOVERNMENT TO BUILD NEW STRATEGY ON INFLATION
TARGETING
[03] BULGARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN BEGAN TO RETURN
BULGARIA
[04] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GOKALP'S STATEMENT ON
POULTRY
[05] SPI PROJECTS IN EAST AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAN
REGIONS
[06] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[07] PRESIDENT SEZER RETURNS FROM THE CAIRO SUMMIT
[08] MGK CONVENES TODAY
[09] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ANNULS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY
LAW
[10] PKK TERRORISTS' SEARCH FOR TACTICS
[11] GOVERNMENT TO BUILD NEW STRATEGY ON INFLATION
TARGETING
[12] SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT IN ANKARA
[13] TOSKAY'S STATEMENT
[14] BULGARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN BEGAN TO RETURN BULGARIA
[15] NO TURKISH THREAT IN NEW GREEK MILITARY DOCTRINE
[16] MARKETS TO BE RELIEVED
[17] IMF LOAN TO TURKEY
[18] ARMENIA SIGNALS SOFTENING TO CEM'S CALL
[19] KURE COPPER FACILITIES' INITIATIVE
[20] AIRPORTS PREPARING FOR TOURISM
[21] WORLD DISCOVERS TURKISH FASHION
[22] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GOKALP'S STATEMENT ON
POULTRY
[23] SPI PROJECTS IN EAST AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAN
REGIONS
[24] TURKISH CITIZENS A POWER IN GERMANY
[25] EXPERTS IN ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
[26] INTERNATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OLYMPICS
[27] TURKEY, GERMANY'S BEST CUSTOMER
[28] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[29] FLOATING ECONOMY BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ANNULS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY
LAW
[02] GOVERNMENT TO BUILD NEW STRATEGY ON INFLATION
TARGETING
[03] BULGARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN BEGAN TO RETURN
BULGARIA
BAL: "FOREIGN CAPITAL PROMOTED THE
CRISES"
FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL : "TURKEY WILL
OVERCOME THE CRISIS"
[04] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GOKALP'S STATEMENT ON
POULTRY
[05] SPI PROJECTS IN EAST AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAN
REGIONS
OGER: "WE SUGGEST EVERYBODY INVEST IN
TOURISM"
[06] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[07] PRESIDENT SEZER RETURNS FROM THE CAIRO SUMMIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, attending the D-8
Summit in Cairo, returned home yesterday. During his speech at the
Summit President Sezer stated that poverty was a global problem and
the fight against it passed through openness in the administration of
economy. President Sezer also pointed out that notwithstanding the
importance of the economic and social problem, developing countries
will ensure the elimination of basic issues in the fight against
poverty if they attach the necessary importance to openness and
participatory democracy in the administration of economy. During his
visit to Cairo President Sezer met with Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak. /Milliyet/
[08] MGK CONVENES TODAY
The issues that were not discussed due to last
week's disagreement between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit will be discussed during today's National
Security Council (MGK) meeting. During this meeting, many issues,
including the National Program, the US and British air attacks against
Iraq, Kurdish television broadcasting and education, and new
developments in the operations against organized crime will be
discussed. The coalition partners do not plan to bring the economic
crisis to the agenda of the MGK meeting. However, government
representatives stated that if Sezer or the military wing mentions the
issue, then members of the Council will be briefed about decisions
taken at the economic Summits. /Aksam/
BAHCELI: "POLITICAL CRISIS PREVENTED"
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and the
Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli held a meeting with his aides after the
Leaders Summit and said, "The political will is an entity. It
would not be right to accuse only one party of the economic crisis.
The stability program will be revised, and the 57th government will
support this program. A new bureaucratic staff, in compliance with the
new program will be appointed. The free foreign exchange rate which
would have been implemented in June 2001, were enforced sooner, and
the targets will be revised after meetings with the officials from the
World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). In this way we will
continue to follow the economic program. It is wrong to establish a
relationship between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit's disagreement and the economic crisis."
/Aksam/
[09] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ANNULS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY
LAW
The Constitutional Court has annuled articles in
the social Security law number 4447 which envisaged a stage by stage
retirement for people currently employed. Hasim Kilic of the
Constitutional Court briefed journalists on the outcome of the case
filed by the Virtue Party (FP) to have a total of 34 articles in the
social Security Law number 4447 annulled. "You all know the age
limits set in the Social Security Law, the Pension Fund Law and the
Self-Employed Agricultural Workers Law. The new law upped the
retirement age for men to 60 and for women to 58. However, the
provisional articles in this new law also made certain provisions for
all those still employed on the date the law went into effect. These
provisions were deemed unconstitutional and annulled." /Turkish
Daily News/
[10] PKK TERRORISTS' SEARCH FOR TACTICS
In spite of a statement by the head of the PKK
terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan; saying, 'The PKK members
should leave Turkey borders and continue their activities in the
political arena', it was stated that the militants were continuing to
be trained in the camps in Northern Iraq and Iran. Information
uncovered by the intelligence units show that the PKK was still an
active threat to Turkey. The security units revealed that the PKK was
regrouping and continuing to organize. /Aksam/
[11] GOVERNMENT TO BUILD NEW STRATEGY ON INFLATION
TARGETING
Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mesut
Yilmaz said inflation target would be the one and only parameter of
the economic program. "All variables will be adjusted according
to the inflation target," Yilmaz told reporters yesterday. Yilmaz
said the move has allowed exchange rates to be naturally determined in
free market conditions, as interest rates already are. This was the
original objective of the economic program. He added, "However,
we were forced to bring forth this practice due to the poor
performance of current accounts in 2000, a current account and deficit
that had gone far beyond the target, and because the Turkish economy
is extremely sensitive to the slightest political crises. From now on
the sole parameter of the economic program is the inflation target.
The exchange rate peg is no more a parameter," Yilmaz said.
/Turkish Daily News/
[12] SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT IN ANKARA
Parliamentary Speaker of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ertugrul Hasipoglu, accompanied by a
delegation, arrived in Ankara on Sunday for meetings with Turkish
officials. Speaking before his departure, Hasipoglu said he was going
to Ankara at the invitation of Turkish Parliamentary Speaker, Omer
Izgi. He will meet Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and other ministers
and will be received by President Sezer. In related news, it has been
reported that Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou will pay a
three-day oficial visit to the Greek-Cypriot Administration on March
11. According to the news published in Greek newspapers, Papandreou
will discuss bilateral issues and Greek-Cypriot's EU membership
process. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] TOSKAY'S STATEMENT
State Minister Tunca Toskay attended a meeting on
'Crisis in the Construction Sector' in Abant and stated, "The
industrial sector is experiencing hard times due to the high interest
rates and there is a difficulty of financing in the banking sector.
Thus, the industrial sector should be relieved. The fluctuation in the
foreign exchanges will continue until the macro balances are settled.
This may go on for one month. 850,000 TL per dollar is a reasonable
amount." Meanwhile, Toskay pointed out that the Turkish
contruction sector, which is one of the top ten in the world, should
be supported, especially in foreign countries. /Aksam/
[14] BULGARIANS OF TURKISH ORIGIN BEGAN TO RETURN BULGARIA
The EU abolished the visa requirement for Bulgarian
citizens beginning May 1. Bulgarians of Turkish-origin living
currently in Turkey are returning Bulgaria. They have applied to the
Ministry of Interior. Thus far 1,500 people have returned. /Milliyet/
[15] NO TURKISH THREAT IN NEW GREEK MILITARY DOCTRINE
Until today Greece has regarded Turkey as the
primary military threat. The new military doctrine proposes a renewal
of the army. The doctrine approved by the Office of Chief of Staff,
does not name Turkey as a threat, but uses a general expression
instead. It says, "Our military doctrine is based on defense. Its
aim is to remove all kinds of threat aimed at Greece and Cyprus and
also to ease tensions." /Milliyet/
[16] MARKETS TO BE RELIEVED
The decisions taken during the Banking Summit on
Saturday will be implemented this morning. The markets are expected to
be relieved by the following decisions: The Central Bank will give
banks TL and foreign exchange when required, they will try to keep the
dolar exchange rate at 800-850 thousand TL, banks will determine the
rates for buying and selling foreign currency, and in case of a
liquidity shortage, the Central Bank, will not refrain from printing
money. /Hurriyet/
[17] IMF LOAN TO TURKEY
The goverment's decision to adopt floating exchange
rate system will lead to radical revisions in the IMF stand-by
agreement and letters of intent. Also banking and fiscal reforms will
be implemented in a shorter time. The IMF and World Bank banking
specialists began negotiations in Ankara yesterday. The $780 million
World Bank reform loan, issued to expedite the restructuring of
state-owned banks, will be tripled to $2 billion. Moreover, the
Central Bank will suggest that the IMF Managing Board issue a new loan
in the amount of the previous reserve facility loan to alleviate the
liquidity requirements of banks. By enacting of the law on the
Electricity market, around $2-2,5 billion will be obtained through the
sale of licenses. /Milliyet/
BAL: "FOREIGN CAPITAL PROMOTED THE CRISES"
State Minister Faruk Bal claimed that foreign
capital was instrumental in the recent crises. Speaking at a meeting,
"Crisis in the Construction Sector", organized by the
Tourism, Economics, Sciencitific Research and Promotion Center,
Minister Bal said an amendment had been also made in the Constitution
to increase the flow of foreign capital into Turkey. He added,
"However, foreign capital was the main factor in both for the
November and recent crises." Mr. Bal emphasized the government
would continue to fight against inflation. /Hurriyet/
FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL : "TURKEY WILL
OVERCOME THE CRISIS"
The Koc Group celebrated the 75th anniversary of
its founding with the participation of former President Suleyman
Demirel. Delivering the opening speech at the ceremony, Chairman of
the Koc Group, Rahmi Koc said Koc Group was an institution which makes
all the necessary sacrifices to Turkey. Former President Suleyman
Demirel stated Koc Group has always been engaged in beneficial
activities for Turkey. Mentioning the recent crisis, Demirel said,
"Turkey will absolutely overcome the crisis." /Cumhuriyet/
[18] ARMENIA SIGNALS SOFTENING TO CEM'S CALL
Armenian Foreign Ministry Vartan Oskanyan said
Saturday that his country was evaluating the call by Turkish Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem for a trilateral summit between Turkey, Azerbaijan
and Armenia to find a solution to their territorial dispute in
Nagorno-Karabakh. Earlier, the Armenian Foreign Ministry had said as
Armenia had diplomatic relations with Turkey, Ankara's mediation in
the Azeri-Armenian dispute was unwelcome. /Turkish Daily News/
[19] KURE COPPER FACILITIES' INITIATIVE
It was decided that the Kure Copper Facilities
would also be included in the bidding for the sale of the Karadeniz
Copper Facilities (KBI), which was taken into the privatization
process. The decision aims to promote the sale of KBI and to faciliate
its sale. The sale of KBI will be made by the block sale system during
the second half of the year. /Aksam/
[20] AIRPORTS PREPARING FOR TOURISM
As part of the investments to increase tourism
revenues, (which contribute a great deal to the Turkish economy), work
to modernize present airports and increase flight security was
accelerated. Nearly one billion US dollars will be spent on
modernizing and increasing the capacity of the airports, as a part of
the improvement program by the State Airports Management. In addition,
500 million US dollars will be spent on projects to increase flight
security. /Aksam/
"GODS' THRONE" COMPLETED
The documentary titled "Nimrod Mountain: Gods'
Throne", a narrative of the Kommagene civilization and Nimrod
Mountain with a rather different perspective, has been completed. The
movie was shot by Tolga Ornek and Ekip Film. Aimed at promoting
Turkish historical heritage and catching up with the international
filmmaking standards, the movie included interviews with foreign and
Turkish experts, dramatic scenes and 3-D animations. The project was
sponsored by the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Turkey Is Bank and Calik
Holding. Director Ornek said his aim was to promote Nimrot as the 8th
wonder of the world. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] WORLD DISCOVERS TURKISH FASHION
The fashion magazine titled, "Fashions of the
Times" published by the one of the most prominent American
newspapers, the New York Times, gave wide coverage to the Turkish
fashion designers. Examples from Turkish fashion are included in the
magazine with snapshots from Istanbul. A Turkish bath in Taksim, Pera
Palas Hotel, Harem Room at Topkapi Palace and certain private
residences were used as backgrounds in the shots. A prominent figure,
Diane von Furstenberg said her favorite city was Istanbul and added,
"In Istanbul you feel like you are in Hollywood. Some parts of
Istanbul resemble Paris, some London, New York, Rome and some
Cairo." Meanwhile fashion designer Oscar de la Renta said he was
deeply impressed by Gustave Flaubert, Lord Byron and Lady Stanhope's
writing on Istanbul and added, "I suggest you to visit Istanbul
and get lost in Halic (Golden Horn). You would discover many new
things." /Cumhuriyet/
[22] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE GOKALP'S STATEMENT ON
POULTRY
Minister of Agriculture, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp said
all necessary measures were being taken to help the poultry sector
overcome the crisis. Stating the export taxes on products used in
fodder production were dramatically decreased, Gokalp said,
preparations to increase subsidies for the sector are almost
completed. /Star/
[23] SPI PROJECTS IN EAST AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAN
REGIONS
State Planning Institution (SPI) projects will be
given priority in the East and South Eastern Anatolian Regions. A new
commission was established to develop financial resources from the
budget. The commission will hold its initial meeting March 2, 2001.
/Star/
[24] TURKISH CITIZENS A POWER IN GERMANY
Prof. Faruk Sen, Chairman of the Turkey Research
Center, said 620 thousand of Turks living in Germany will receive
German citizenship by the end of this year. He claimed the Turkish
population will have a large voting potential in the general elections
to be held in this fall in Germany. Noting that the Turkish population
in Germany is 2.5 million today, Prof. Sen said that 590 thousand of
Germans of Turkish origin will have the right to vote in the upcoming
elections. /Turkiye/
[25] EXPERTS IN ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND HISTORY
Following the adoption of the Armenian bill in the
French National Assembly and similar attemps in various other
countries, the Higher Education Council (YOK) decided to train experts
in "Armenian Language and History" as well as "Greek
Language and History". Students will be sent abroad and will also
study the Armenian and Greek allegations. /Hurriyet/
[26] INTERNATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OLYMPICS
The Turkish Philosophy Institution held an exam to
select the students to participate in the International Philosophy
Olympics. 432 students took the exam. It was stated students the first
and second place would travel to Philadelphia, the US, to represent
Turkey in the 9th International Philosophy Olympics. /Cumhuriyet/
[27] TURKEY, GERMANY'S BEST CUSTOMER
According to the recent report by the German
government titled "Weapon Exports Report", Turkey is the
best customer for the German arms market in the international arena.
The report states that Turkey purchased weapons amounting to one
billion 900 million dollars from Germany in 1999. /Cumhuriyet/
OGER: "WE SUGGEST EVERYBODY INVEST IN
TOURISM"
Stating tourism would help Turkey overcome the
recent economic crisis, Chairman of Oger Tour's Executive Council,
Vural Oger said, "We suggest that everbody invest in Turkey.
Every hotel increases the rate of employment like a factory and brings
foreign exchange into the country. The tourism sector also revives
other sectors." Stating that most of the European countries,
including Italy, Spain and Greece, have undergone similar crises, Oger
said, "There is no need to be pessimistic. The economies of
Spain, Italy and even Greece overcame their crises by investing in
their tourism industry. Our potential is even greater than those
countries. Therefore, as a person engaged in tourism, I am very
hopeful. I consider this period a transition period. This summer
Turkish economy will absolutely improve." Stating that 12 million
tourists are expected to visit Turkey, Oger said, "Turkey's
solution is dependent on tourism." /Cumhuriyet/
[28] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS
[29] FLOATING ECONOMY BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the recent
economic crisis. A summary of his column is as follows: "We are
going through such a financial crisis that it has stricken many
developing countries from Taiwan to Brazil. The crisis stemmed from a
lack of reforms and exploded with the unseemly argument in a meeting
at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. It would have exploded anyway, as
the modernization reforms in Turkey have never been completed in 200
years. The necessary radical and speedy reforms were obstructed in one
way or the other as there was never any intent on carrying them out.
This time the insistence on keeping the US dollar under its real value
and the inability to limit the interest rates were the reasons for the
crisis. This time the responsibility for the crisis belongs not only
to the Government, but also to the IMF. In fact, the IMF was chided by
Washington. The necessity of a reshuffling in the Government was
mentioned many times by journalists. Economy had to be put under the
responsibility of just one deputy Prime Minister. Decisions which
should have been made in a minute were delayed for days. There are
ministers who do not believe in, and in fact oppose privatization.
Some of the ministers were randomly chosen and lack political and
professional experience and even were incompetent. There are those
about whom there are rumors circulating. However, the three coalition
leaders did not change any of their ministers. They took the
responsibility of the unsuccessful ministers on themselves. Maybe they
were afraid of a fiasco similar to the one in Cankaya. However, it
does not seem possible for the Government to take a free breath
without a revision in the cabinet. I believe they will carry out a
sudden revision. The responsibility of the unsuccessful bureaucrats in
directing the economy is apparent. Per capita income dropped from
3,000 US dollars to 2,000 US dollars, and the Gross National Product
from over 200 billion US dollars to over 100 billion US dollars.
President Bush quickly announced he was standing by Prime Minister
Ecevit. Turkish nation has gone through good and bad days. We have
experienced the worst and certainly we shall overcome this crisis as
well. It is possible to get past this crisis in a short time, however
for this to occur, radical changes are necessary which frighten our
conservative politicians and rulers."
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