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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-03
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
03.04.2001
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER SUPPORTS DERVIS
[02] QUEEN BEATRIX TO MEET PRESIDENT SEZER
[03] US PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH VISITS TURKEY
[04] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
[05] HUNGARIAN DELEGATION VISITS TURKEY
[06] SWEDEN STRENGTHENS TIES WITH TURKEY
[07] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TRAVELS TO THE US
[08] TURKEY SIGNS BLACKSEAFOR AGREEMENT
[09] BOTAS TEAM TO VISIT BAGHDAD
[10] THE FIRST BIG MILITARY TENDER IN THE RECESSION
PERIOD
[11] YALOVA CALLS FOREIGN INVESTORS
[12] NEW HABITAT MEETING HELD IN ANKARA
[13] DAY OF TENDER
[14] BIDDING FOR IMF
[15] TENDER FOR FREQUENCY FRANCHISING
[16] EXPORTS INCREASE, IMPORTS DECREASE
[17] OWNER OF DOGUS HOLDING, AYHAN SAHENK PASSES AWAY
[18] ME FASERSYSTEME BUILDS STEEL FIBER FACTORY IN IZMIR
[19] SIR WINSTON TEA INVESTS IN TURKEY
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[21] TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS BY OZGEN ACAR (CUMHURIYET)
[22] STATE AS EMPLOYER BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] SEZER SUPPORTS DERVIS
State Minister Responsible for Economy, Kemal
Dervis, met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for the second time
yesterday. Dervis, who met with Sezer for almost forty minutes,
relayed information on his contacts with World Bank and International
Monetary Fund (MF) officials in Washington and Paris. It was stated
that Dervis, reporting the process for domestic resources and the
legal preparations necessary for foreign resources were underway,
received Sezer's support. During the meeting Sezer pointed to the
importance of social consensus and support. In addition, Dervis
emphasized the importance of the Economic and Social Committee, which
convened during the weekend, telling Sezer these meetings would
continue. /Aksam/
[02] QUEEN BEATRIX TO MEET PRESIDENT SEZER
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is traveling to the
Netherlands today to meet with Dutch Queen Beatrix. The Netherlands
will be the first EU country the President has ever visited. Sezer is
also expected to meet Prime Minister Wim Kok. /Star/
[03] US PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH VISITS TURKEY
Father of the US President George W. Bush and
former US President, George Bush, is coming to Turkey today. Mr. Bush
is accompanied by the Carlyle Group administrators. They will be
hosted by Rahmi Koc, Koc Holding Chairman of the Executive Board. The
Carlyle Group, based in Washington, is investigating cooperation
possibilities in various fields with Koc Group. /Turkiye/
[04] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT TURKEY
Days before his scheduled visit to Turkey, Greek
Foreign Minister George Papandreou signaled the visit would contribute
to a further development of relations. He said,
"Misunderstandings have been overcome as the dialogue between our
two countries has improved." Evaluating his visit and
Turkish-Greece relations on the eve of his April 5-6 visit to Ankara,
Papandreou said the two countries have made a great strides in
relations over the last one-and-a-half years. The rapprochement
process began after an outpouring of public sympathy stemming from two
quakes hitting both Turkey and Greece within a short time. Since then
Turkey and Greece have signed nine protocols envisaging cooperation in
several comparatively uncontroversial fields ranging from education to
tourism. Papandreou pointed to the ratification by the Greek
Parliament of seven of these agreements, all unanimously, as a very
positive sign. He will be discussing with the Turkish authorities how
to better implement them in practice, in addition to a raft of several
bilateral and regional issues. /Turkish News/
[05] HUNGARIAN DELEGATION VISITS TURKEY
A Hungarian parliamentary delegation led by
Turco-Hungarian Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chairman, Andras
Kelemen, has arrived in Turkey. The Hungarian delegation will meet
with the Turco-Hungarian Friendship Group April 4. The delegation will
also meet with Turkish Deputy Speaker Nejat Arseven and State Minister
and Joint Economic Commission (KEK) Co-Chairman, Tunca Toskay the same
day. The delegation will depart from Kutahya April 5 and visit the
house of Hungarian hero, Kossuth Lajo which has been turned into a
museum. They will travel to Istanbul April 6. /Turkish News/
[06] SWEDEN STRENGTHENS TIES WITH TURKEY
Sweden has decided today to reinforce its
diplomatic presence in Turkey by establishing a new center within the
Consulate General in Istanbul, according to a statement given by
Swedish Consul General Sture Theolin. This decision indicates the
importance Sweden attaches to bilateral relations with Turkey as well
as the importance attached to Turkey's candidacy for membership in the
European Union. Hence, the purpose of the Istanbul Center for
Turkish-Swedish Cooperation will be to further promote contacts
between Sweden and Turkey, between Turks and Swedes as well as support
Turkey's goal to achieve EU membership. /Turkish Daily News/
[07] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TRAVELS TO THE US
A parliamentary delegation chaired by the Chairman
of Foreign Relations Commission Kamran Inan, traveled to the US for
contacts with the US Congress and the new Administration. The
delegation consists of Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Mehmet Ali
Irtemcelik, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Deputy Oktay Vural,
Socialist Democratic Party (DSP) Deputy Tahir Kose, True Path Party
(DYP) Deputy Ayfer Yilmaz and Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Abdullah Gul.
/Star/
[08] TURKEY SIGNS BLACKSEAFOR AGREEMENT
Turkey has signed the BLACKSEAFOR (Black Sea Naval
Cooperation Task Group) agreement. Other parties to the agreement are
Bulgaria, Georgia, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Romania. Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem and Commander of Naval Forces Vice-Admiral Ilhami
Erdil signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey. A joint naval force
was established within the framework of the agreement. The force will
be deployed for various tasks from humanitarian aid to environmental
issues. The Agreement aims to promote regional cooperation among the
party countries. /Star/
TURKISH PARLIAMENT ALERTED OVER 15 NEW LAWS
The Turkish Parliament is alerted over the 15 new
laws declared essential for the new economic program by the Minister
of State responsible for Economics. The Advisory Council will meet
today to determine the Parliament's schedule. The Council plans to
work for 24 hours until new laws are enacted. Coalition partners
called on all deputies to participate in the parliamentary process on
the new laws. /Star/
[09] BOTAS TEAM TO VISIT BAGHDAD
A delegation from Turkey's state run pipeline
company, BOTAS, will arrive in Iraq Tuesday to discuss a planned gas
line. The gas line will handle Baghdad's exports to Turkey's
Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan, Nabdh al-Shabab (Pulse of Youth),
weekly newspaper said. Iraq's Oil Ministry Undersecretary Taha Hmoud,
in press remarks published on Sunday, said contract talks between
Baghdad and Ankara to set up the gas pipeline were at an advantageous
stage. /Turkish Daily News/
[10] THE FIRST BIG MILITARY TENDER IN THE RECESSION
PERIOD
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is planning to delay
production of new tanks and ships after devaluation caused the Turkish
lira to lose value compared to the US dollar. However, the TSK is
planning to accelerate the production of attack helicopters. The first
big military tender in the recession period was opened for affixing
electronic war system to the helicopters. /Milliyet/
GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS TL 2.5-3 QLN SAVINGS
The government is looking at saving TL 2.5-3
quadrillion through new austerity measures in the government budget
according to an announcement by State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen
following yesterday's Cabinet meeting in Ankara. Yucelen told
reporters that the government would not impose new taxes, but rather
carry on saving measures to build up funds. He said all ministers
would give up the parts of their budgets they could forsake
voluntarily, and that a coordinator minister or undersecretary of the
Prime Ministry would decide on these savings. Every minister will
present savings in his ministry's budget to the Cabinet meeting next
week. Yucelen said the authorization bill for revising year-end
budgetary targets would be submitted to Parliament this week. The
nationalization bill which makes changes in the banking law, will be
sent to Parliament before the weekend, said the minister. /Turkish
News/
[11] YALOVA CALLS FOREIGN INVESTORS
Yuksel Yalova, State Minister Responsible for
Privatization, attended a conference titled, "Turkiye",
organized by Investmentbank AG. Addressing the conference, Mr. Yalova,
spoke to British businessmen about the privatization progress in
Turkey. Pointing out that Turkey was in the midst of a major change,
Mr. Yalova called upon foreign investors, to not only observe these
developments, but to participate in it actively. /Turkiye/
[12] NEW HABITAT MEETING HELD IN ANKARA
HABITAT's European Continent 16th study meeting
will be held in the Parliament building. HABITAT Regional Chairman
Peter Gotz, State Minister Faruk Bal and Environmental Commission
Chairman Ediz Hun will address the opening ceremony. The agenda for
the next HABITAT meeting scheduled for New York in June will be
discussed. /Turkish News/
[13] DAY OF TENDER
The Treasury Undersecretariat has four tenders
scheduled in April. The first bidding begins today. The tender, open
to the public, has a four month maturity date and will realize a 500-
trillion TL loan. The repayment will be due August 8, 2001. /Turkiye/
[14] BIDDING FOR IMF
Reportedly, the State Minister for the Economy,
Kemal Dervis, will invite IMF Chairm, Horst Kohler, in a letter. The
IMF delegation is expected to arrive in Turkey this weekend. On the
other hand, Johannes Linn, Vice Chairman of the World Bank, is
scheduled to arrive in Turkey tomorrow after completing his meetings
in Russia. /Turkiye/
[15] TENDER FOR FREQUENCY FRANCHISING
The Supreme Board for Radio and Television (RTUK)
announced the tender date to franchise all national television channel
frequencies in the Official Gazette yesterday. The tender will take
place at 10 am April 26 at the Ankara Bilkent Hotel. The offers will
be non-sealed bids and stations that are not present at the start of
the tender will be left out. /Turkish Daily News/
[16] EXPORTS INCREASE, IMPORTS DECREASE
The export rate increased during February. Minister
of State responsible for Customs, Mehmet Kececiler, said exports
reached $3.3 billion and imports $2.6 billion in February. The
export_import rate which was 53 % last year, reached 73 % in February
of this year. Devaluation is expected to affect the export rate
positively. /Star/
[17] OWNER OF DOGUS HOLDING, AYHAN SAHENK PASSES AWAY
Owner of Dogus Holding, Ayhan Sahenk died of cancer
yesterday. He had spent the past year traveling to the US for
treatment. He was known for his charity works such as the building of
many education, health and sports institutions. /Star/
[18] ME FASERSYSTEME BUILDS STEEL FIBER FACTORY IN IZMIR
German construction materials producer ME
Fasersysteme is launching a joint venture factory in Izmir with Tamer
Taskin, a member of the Aegean Region Industrial Chamber Board of
Directors. Taskin and ME Fasersysteme Chairman Michael Engelbrecher
spoke about the joint project which will produce steel fiber at a
press conference in Izmir yesterday, Anatolia Agency reported.
Engelbrecher, also Chairman of Germany's Steel Fiber Producers
Association, said his company would bring new technology into Turkey.
"We are considering investing in Turkey. I'm sure we'll be
successful with our projects in Turkey. Supporting Turkey in these
difficult times is very important for us. We believe that Turkey's
economy will recover in the future." /Turkish News/
[19] SIR WINSTON TEA INVESTS IN TURKEY
One of the world's leading tea brands, Sir Winston
Tea, began production in the Teeanne and Kutas Food Company's
facilities in Turkey. Sir Winston Tea is producing a blend
specifically prepared for Turkish tastes. The facilities were built
for 4 million US dollars. Teeanne Project Director Stefan Quack
delivered a speech during a meeting organized to promote Sir Winston
Tea and said, "The aim of the company, established in 1881, is to
control the blend process and to maintain the same high quality."
/Aksam/
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[21] TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS BY OZGEN ACAR (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Ozgen Acar writes on the improvement seen
in Turco-Greek relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou is coming to Turkey
Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Papandreou are using
every opportunity to come together whenever they find themselves in
the same city for an international meeting or convention. However,
this time Papandreou will pay a working visit to Turkey. The two
Ministers will discuss various issues during the Greek Foreign
Minister's stay in Ankara. Following the earthquake tragedies
experienced by both nations, the improvement in diplomatic relations
between Athens and Ankara was seen in almost every field. In the past
two years, the political directors for both Ministers have come
together and produced nine agreements, in addition to the one between
the Agriculture ministers. This is a considerable improvement when
compared to the days of hostility witnessed even in the commercial
field. The two Ministers will evaluate the recent developments in the
Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East in the light of information
given to them by the political directors. They will review the
developments concerning the ten agreements, and discuss prospective
fields for agreements to be made. One of the new agreements may
concern the prevention of double taxation. This agreement, expected by
the businessmen in both countries, is being delayed due to an internal
legal problem concerning the Greek Parliament. Cem and Papandreou will
discuss all of the agreements and see which of them are working to the
best advantage of both countries."
[22] STATE AS EMPLOYER BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the recent
economic crisis in the country. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The Government has received the full support of the President,
the National Security Council, and the Armed Forces to take the
country out of this economic crisis. The main opposition, the Virtue
Party, has shown its patriotism by giving a blank check (carte
blanche) to the Government, even though it put forth some unclear
conditions for lending this support. It is understood that a wing of
the party will continue to follow hard-line policies. This crisis has
political, social and economic reasons and causes. One such cause is
the mentality which sees the State as employer, added up with the
conviction that anyone with brains can rob the State. The State is the
entire body made up of institutions and organizations. It was apparent
the system would be dealt a blow and a crisis would unfold when
subjected to such treacherous aggression. The State could not get rid
of its State Economic Enterprises (SEE) and banks, and what is more,
continued shoring them up. The State regarded the SEEs as tools of its
employment policy. In addition, every party coming into power employed
its loyal members in these institutions. Balances were upset and the
rules of contemporary economies were disregarded. Social justice and
income distribution were in shreds. The Modern State is not an
employer. It cannot own factories or provide mass employment. A
socialist state, having this structure, is bogged down in red tape and
resulting in poverty; privatization does not occur and foreign
investors are reluctant to come. All legal and illegal income is
transferred abroad. When this comes to pass, laws for political
parties will be prepared in Washington and election laws will be
prepared in Brussels."
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