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Turkish Press Review, 01-03-15Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning15.03.2001CONTENTS
[01] ALIYEV AND SEZER IN ISTANBULYesterday, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev attended a conference at the War Academy Command in Istanbul. During the conference, President Sezer delivered a speech. Stressing the necessity of working hard to keep up with the information age, Mr. Sezer said, "We have to attach great importance to research and development." After the conference, Sezer and Alivey returned to Ankara. /Turkiye/[02] DERVIS TO MEET WITH SEZERState Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer today. Dervis will brief Sezer on the new economic program and request support. Dervis will also meet with Chief of the General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu. /Star/[03] NEW ECONOMIC PACKAGEState Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis announced yesterday the urgent economic measures package. Dervis said they will determine next week the amount of foreign resources required from the international public and from private financial institutions. Dervis said with urgent measures taken for normalizing the fiscal markets, they will try to build confidence in the economy. The duty losses of state-owned banks will be transferred directly to the state budget and the banks will only perform the usual banking services. Dervis said the crisis recovery will be completed in three stages. In the first stage, confidence for the economy will be built. In the second stage, from June on, inflation will be put on a downward trend. Third stage, beginning in the second half of the year will see economic growth. Dervis said the economic problem cannot only be solved through large sums of foreign resources, domestic resources should also be utilized. /Milliyet/[04] NEW APPOINTMENTSDuring yesterday coalition government leaders' meeting, Faik Oztrak's appointment to the Undersecretariat of Treasury and Engin Akcakoca to the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) Chairmanship were determined. The decrees which foresee Oztrak and Akcakoca's appointments were presented for the ministers approval. /Turkiye/[05] DERVIS SEEKS CONSENSUS OVER PROGRAMEconomy Minister Kemal Dervis contacted labor leaders yesterday in an effort to secure a national consensus over the new economic program, the details of which are expected to be made public by next week. Yesterday Dervis visited Suleyman Celebi, Chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), in the first stop of his tour to raise support from social parties for new economic policies. In the afternoon, he met with Bayram Meral, Chairman of the major labor confederation, Turk-Is. Both meetings were open to the press and aired live on television channels. Dervis said a three-stage plan would be implemented to resolve the current economic crisis, which entail a set of stopgap emergency measures as the first stage. Dervis warned, however, that he had no miracle cures. /Turkish Daily News/[06] WORLD BANK: "WE CANNOT FINANCE ALL THE DEFICIT"World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said the appointment of Kemal Dervis as the Minister for the Economy was an appropriate decision. Chhibber said the IMF and the World Bank will collectively support the new economic program. Works have been carried out to finance the duty losses of state-owned banks, but it is not possible to cover all the losses. /Milliyet/[07] FOGG TO ASK FOR EU'S ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAMThe EU Representative to Turkey, Ambassador Karen Fogg said she will engage in talks in Brussels to obtain support from the EU for Dervis's economic program. Fogg said the assistance of the EU may differentiate from that of the IMF and the World Bank. "Technical assistance may be provided for the program," said Fogg. /Milliyet/[08] DEPPLER: "THE FORMER PROGRAM WAS ALSO NATIONAL"The IMF says it cannot be held responsible for the failure of the economic program. The ensuing crisis is the result of not paying attention to the recommendations of the IMF. IMF Turkey Director, Michael Deppler, said the delay in implementing reforms in banking sector is the cause of the crisis. The program was designed to specifically meet the needs of Turkish economy and the demands of the government. The Turkish government has the sole responsibility for the failure. Deppler said if Turkey hastens the banking reforms it will be successful. /Milliyet/[09] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARATerm President for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mircea Geona arrived in Ankara on an official visit. Geona first visited Ataturk's Mauseloum. Meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Geona said Romania was Turkey's strategic partner. /Cumhuriyet/[10] TERROR LAW IN BRITISH PARLIAMENTThe bill on prohibiting the activities of 21 terrorist organizations, including the PKK and DHKP-C, was brought to the British Parliament agenda. Explaining his reasons for preparing such a bill, Interior Minister Jack Straw said the activities of these terrorist organizations should be prohibited in Britain as their use of violence and terrorism could not be tolerated. He used the PKK as an example during his speech. /Cumhuriyet/[11] TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONSResearcher and author Andrew Mango and Prof. Justin McCarthy will discuss the 'Past, Present and Future of the Turco-Armenian Relations' during a conference organized by the Foundation of Democratic Principles at Marmara Hotel this evening. An expert in Modern Middle East history, Prof. Justin McCarthy's latest book titled 'The Ottoman Peoples and the End of an Empire' was recently published. Andrew Mango has also written many books on Turkey. /Aksam/[12] REACTIONS TO ARMENIA'S DEMAND FOR TURKISH TERRITORYThe Foreign Ministry has responded to the Armenian campaign to cancel the Kars Treaty by saying, "No one has the right to demand land from Turkey." Huseyin Dirioz, Spokesman for the Ministry, said it is impossible to get along with the Armenian Republic as long as it keeps trying to cancel the Kars Treaty, which determines the border between the two countries. Dirioz said the call for goodwill made by the Turkish Republic is still valid. Another reaction to Armenia's demand for land came from Erzurum Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz. He responded to the claims of Paruir Hayrikyan, Chairman of the Armenian Human Rights Commission, who believes the treaty gave land to Turkey and Azerbaijan which actually belongs to Armenia. Uykusuz said, "Turkey does not even have an inch of land to give to anybody". /Turkish Daily News/[13] INAN'S BILL ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN INTERIOR AFFAIRS COMMISSIONThe Interior Affairs Commission will discuss today the Chairman of TGNA Foreign Affairs Commission Kamran Inan's bill on the allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide. The bill states Turkey considers Armenia's persistent allegations, a distortion of historical facts and a hostile attitude. The bill rejects all Armenian allegations and denounces the support given to the ASALA terrorist organization. /Cumhuriyet/[14] HALF OF THE STATES IN US SUPPORT ARMENIANSThe so-called Armenian genocide thesis has come to the political agenda in the US. A bill similar to the one rejected in November will be submitted to the House of Representatives in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the New Mexicon state senate adopted a resolution to commemorate "Genocide Day" on April 24, supposedly the anniversary of so-called Armenian genocide. 25 of 50 states in the US have adopted April 24 as the anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide. /Milliyet/[15] SKOPJE SUMMIT IN APRILThe Ministers of Defense from Balkan countries will meet in Skopje in April to discuss the problems stemming from the killing of three Macedonian soldiers by Albanian soldiers on the Macedonia-Kosovo border. Turkey and Romania will also be invited to the meeting which was held before participation by Macedonia's neighbors. /Cumhuriyet/[16] GREEK-CYPRIOTS' NEW INITIATIVEThe Greek-Cypriot Administration has begun propaganda activities in order to gain entrance to the European Union (EU) Army. Greek-Cypriots, who aim at destroying the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), invited the EU Army to the Island. The Greek-Cypriot Administration stated they would contribute to the EU Army with the Baphos Air Headquarters, Larnaka and Limasol Harbors, Greek-Cypriot National Guard Army's radars and an armored unit of 200 people. The Greek-Cypriot Administration's Defense Ministry sent an invitation to the representatives of the Organization of Security and Cooperation for Europe (OSCE) members to tour the military facilities in the Greek-Cypriot Administration. Representatives of the OSCE countries will visit the Greek-Cypriot Region June 5-8. Meanwhile, President of the TRNC said the Greek-Cypriot Administration's initiative to provide headquarters for the EU Army would result in a clash between Turkey and the EU. /Aksam/[17] ERSUMER IN DAMASCUSMinister of Energy and Natural Sources Cumhur Ersumer attended the ceremony held to celebrate the energy cooperation among Syria, Jordan and Egypt yesterday in Damascus. Syrian Head of State Besir Esad, Egyptian President Husnu Mubarek and King of Jordan Abdullah II and Lebanon Prime Minister Refik Hariri also attended the ceremonies. /Cumhuriyet/[18] DIYARBAKIR METROPOLITAN MAYOR FERIDUN CELIK IN STRASBOURGDiyarbakir Metropolitan Mayor Feridun Celik traveled to Strasbourg to hold contacts in the European Parliament. Celik will attend the Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting today and will deliver a speech at the meeting. Celik is also expected to meet with the representatives of political groups in the European Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/[19] MERVE KAVAKCI LOSES DEPUTY STATUSMerve Kavakci, elected to National Assembly from the Virtue Party (FP) as deputy for Istanbul in the 1999 elections, has lost her deputy status. Since she refused to take off her headscarf at the Plenary Session, she drew all the attention in the ensuing discussions of secularism and the turban. Later it was disclosed that she had obtained a US nationality without securing the permission of Turkish authorities. The TGNA Presidency presented a note at the Plenary Session pointing out that after a drawn out trial at the Council of State, the Cabinet decision to revoke Kavakci's nationality had been legally upheld. The note stated that as such Kavakci was no longer entitled to be a parliamentary deputy in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet-Turkish Daily News/[20] ERDAL CASE IN BELGIAN COUNCIL OF STATEThe Belgian Council of State will discuss today the case of Fehriye Erdal who is in custody in Belgium. According to the lawyer for the Sabanci family, Fernand Schmitz stated a case was brought against Erdal due to their initiatives. A coroner was appointed for the case which will be discussed at the Council of State. /Cumhuriyet/[21] AID TO GEORGIAIt was stated that Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Georgia and Chechens living in Georgia. According to the Foreign Ministry statement, "Georgia suffers from the worst drought in 30 years. Therefore, Turkey has sent foodstuffs amounting to $1 million to Georgia." /Cumhuriyet/[22] BAKU-CEYHAN MAKING GOOD PROGRESSOver half the basic engineering studies on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline which will transfer Azerbaijan oil to Western markets has been completed. Part of the basic engineering studies involves determining a 10 kilometer transit corridor through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, as well as fixing the best location for a 500-meter portion of this corridor. /Turkish Daily News/[23] SOCIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY TO BE ESTABLISHEDDuring a meeting, 40 former provincial leaders decided to establish a party called the 'Social Democrat Party'. 25 former provincial leaders announced they would be in compliance with the decision. Meanwhile, 12 lecturers resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP). /Aksam/[24] TAI TO ATTEND TRADE FARE IN ABU DHABIThe Tusas Aviation and Space Industries Company will attend the INDEX-2001 trade fare in the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates March 18-22. INDEX 2000 is one of the world's largest defense industry trade fares. Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Defense Industry Undersecretary Prof. Dursun Ali Ercan, and 12 companies active in the defense industry sector will reportedly attend the fare. /Turkish Daily News/[25] JOURNALIST CETIN EMEC COMMEMORATEDThe death of journalist Cetin Emec, was commemorated yesterday with graveside ceremonies in the Zincirlikuyu cemetery on the 11th anniversary of his assassination. The ceremony was attended by Emec's wife Bilge, his daughter Mehves, daily Hurriyet Chief Editor Ertugrul Ozkok, Turkish Journalists' Association Deputy Chairman Orhan Erinc, and many journalists and friends. /Turkish Daily News/[26] PROFESSIONAL AND CULTURAL COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND GREEK ARCHITECTSA period for Professional and Cultural Cooperation between Turkish and Greek architects was initiated to contribute the peace and friendship. Turkish Chamber of Architects, architecture organizations in Greece and International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) are the initiators of the cooperation. At the March 9 meeting in the ICOMOS building in Athens, the parties reached a consensus to jointly protect the historical heritages of the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/[27] FRENCH CENSORThe French media undermined the violence which occurred during yesterday's match in Paris between Galatasaray and Paris Saint German soccer teams. While broadcasting the match, French channels neither filmed the violence against Turkish spectators, nor mentioned it. The UEFA Disciplinary Board will review the events March 21. the Turkish Foreign Ministry is continuing diplomatic initiatives for punishment of the perpetrators. /Turkiye/[28] REGULATION AND COMPETITION SYMPOSIUMThe symposium entitled "Regulation and Competition" organized due on the fourth anniversary of the Competition Board's establishment will begin today. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Devlet Bahceli, Ministers of State Sukru Sina Gurel and Yuksel Yalova and Minister of Industry and Commerce Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu will deliver the opening speeches of the symposium. /Cumhuriyet/[29] ARIA BEGINS SERVICEAria, the third GSM operator in Turkey, is expected to begin service this month. The Is-Tim Telecommunications Service Joint Company, a partnership established by Turkiye Is Bank and Italia Mobile, hopes to reach 50% of the Turkish public in two years and 90% in five years. /Turkiye/[30] NEW BOEING IN TURKISH AIRLINESTurkish Airlines' (THY) new plane, the Boeing 737-800 will land in Istanbul today. The number of planes THY owns will rise to 65. /Milliyet/[31] KUNT FILM COMPANY MAKES A MOVIE ABOUT DUMLUPINAR SUBMARINE ACCIDENTThe Kunt Film Company will make a movie about the Dumlupinar Submarine Accident. A Turkish submarine returning from a NATO maneuvers sank after crashing into a Swiss flagged cargo ship. The accident resulted in 81 deaths. The scenario is based on information and documents provided by the surviving officers aboard the submarine during the accident. /Cumhuriyet/[32] CRUISE SHIPS IN ANTALYA HARBORAntalya Harbor is included in the routes of the cruise ships carrying tourists from the US, Italy, France and Britain. Middle East Antalya Harbor Management Joint Stock Company Manager Hayrettin Akartuna said the number of tourists visiting Turkey by ship is expected to reach 60,000. Akartuna said the agreements with luxury and cruise ships are already completed. /Cumhuriyet/[33] ARCELIK, KIPA AND INTEMA RECEIVE AWARDIntema, Kipa and Arcelik Companies were deemed worthy of 'the companies whose principle is to please customers' award. In a statement, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Kenan Tanrikulu, said the Council of Customers, convened at least once a year, will be held March 19-20 this year. The awards will be presented during the first day of the Council meeting. /Aksam/FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... [34] SUPPORT TO DERVIS BY ESEN UNUR (STAR)Columnist Esen Unur comments on State Minister Kemal Dervis and Turkey's economic crisis. A summary of his column is as follows:"I have had the opportunity to follow the recent crisis and the developments in the US from afar. During his press conference in Washington, State Minister Dervis seemed more like a realist economist than a savior. He was candid in describing Turkey's situation as 'critical'. As far as I can see, he is continuing his candid approach. Dervis stressed the seriousness of the situation several times during his contacts with labor organizations. He stressed another point saying, 'The urgent measures package and the national program should be supported by all coalition parties.' Although there is no alternative for the coalition parties but to support him, it is interesting that Dervis has reiterated this at every opportunity. The Minister, who has lived abroad for many years, seems to recall some events in the past. It is a positive step that Dervis has begun searching for support from trade unions. Whatever the urgent measures package may be, however perfectly the national program is prepared in the end, Turkey will look to Washington. No one in Washington thinks they should loan money to Turkey just because Kemal Dervis is in charge. They say, if we are convinced the program can be implemented and there is social support behind the program, we shall do everything possible. Certainly the circles in Washington are closely following the developments in Turkey. Kemal Dervis is a new hope for the society. We do not have the luxury of losing this chance. Therefore, the Government needs the support of everyone. It is naive to believe only one person can save the nation. We should all support him. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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