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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-13
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
13.04.2001
CONTENTS
[01] FOREIGN MINISTERS SUMMIT IN SKOPJE
[02] DERVIS MEETS PERES
[03] DERVIS TO ANNOUNCE THE ECONOMIC PLAN
[04] DERVIS THANKS OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF
[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ANKARA
[06] AMENDMENT TO POLITICAL PARTIES LAW PROPOSED
[07] KARAYALCIN RESIGNS FROM CHP
[08] CALL ON BUSH
[09] GREEK PRESS GIVES WIDE COVERAGE TO TURKEY'S DELAY OF
DEFENSE PROJECTS
[10] ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CZECH REPUBLIC TO IMPROVE
[11] FRIENDSHIP MEETING BETWEEN JOURNALISTS
[12] HUMAN RIGHTS BOARD ESTABLISHED
[13] EUROFORUM BEGINS
[14] REPRESENTATIVES OF SOROS MEET WITH BANKING
AUTHORITIES
[15] AKYOL: PERMANENT HOUSING READY FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS
[16] ALMOST ALL MACEDONIANS RETURN HOME
[17] CABINET TO ENDORSE NEW QUAKE WARNING SYSTEM
[18] POLAND TO EXTEND MEDAL TO TURKEY
[19] POLICE SEIZE PKK AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS
[20] TUSIAD: "REVISION IS A MUST"
[21] SISECAM IN MOSCOW
[22] TRT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN
ISTANBUL
[23] ENKA TO CONSTRUCT MUSIC HALL IN MOSCOW
[24] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[25] COMMON REQUESTS BY DIFFERENT FRONTS BY MUSTAFA
BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
[01] FOREIGN MINISTERS SUMMIT IN SKOPJE
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem attended the
Southeastern Europe countries foreign ministers summit organized
through the US initiatives in Skopje yesterday. Cem met with US
Secretary of State Colin Powell and Greek Foreign Minister George
Papandreou. The recent developments along the Macedonia-Kosovo border
were discussed during the summit. Both the Skopje Administration and
the Albanian political parties demand the US give more support to
Macedonia and be more active in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] DERVIS MEETS PERES
State Minister Kemal Dervis has been planning a
surprise-erasing of several zeros from the Turkish Lira. Dervis calls
the new plan the "New Turkish Lira". It aims to delete three
or four zeros from the Turkish Lira. Dervis' plans were on the agenda
during his meeting with the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Shimon Peres. Dervis met Peres, known as the politician who saved his
country from the 1984 economic crisis deleting zeroes from the
currency. Dervis said he wanted to enact the same plan and benefit
from Israel's experience. /Hurriyet/
[03] DERVIS TO ANNOUNCE THE ECONOMIC PLAN
The government has decided to announce the economic
program in two stages. In the National Program to be announced by the
State Minister Kemal Dervis tomorrow, only the targets will be
declared. The program concerning financing will be announced next
week. Dervis will explain the laws prepared within the context of the
economic program. In addition, he will set an inflation rate target at
50-55%. Dervis will also inform the public on the privatization
timetable and the scope of the program. After Dervis' statements, the
leaders will hold a press conference and declare their support of him.
In their statements, the leaders will also promise to do their best in
the parties' parliamentary groups in order to meet the targets.
/Hurriyet/
[04] DERVIS THANKS OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF
State Minister for Economics Kemal Dervis visited
the Office of the General Staff yesterday to thank them for their
declaration to save $19.5 billion in defense expenditures. Reportedly,
during his visit, Dervis thanked Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin
Kivrikoglu for the decision to save on defense expenditures in a
period where all sections of the public are being asked to make a
sacrifice. The Minister emphasized the savings will increase the power
of the economic program and strengthen public solidarity. /Turkiye/
[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ANKARA
President Rauf Denktas, of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is paying a two-day working visit to Turkey.
Yesterday, Mr. Denktas met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit. He also visited Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA) Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Kamran Inan and
other commission members, as well as TGNA Speaker Omer Izgi. During
his meetings, Mr. Denktas and Turkish authorities exchanged views on
the Cyprus issue. /Turkiye/
[06] AMENDMENT TO POLITICAL PARTIES LAW PROPOSED
Senior coalition party the DSP deputy for Bursa,
Ali Arabaci has prepared an amendment proposal to the Political
Parties Law, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday saying
"Arabaci's proposal calls for the removal of the provision
stipulating that political parties work in accordance with "the
principles and reforms of Ataturk" and adds that the removal will
"prevent two-faced behavior". The proposal also calls for
the lifting of the provision which bans the forming of any party
called "communist". Following a case at the ECHR (European
Court of Human Rights) concerning the Turkish United Communist Party,
the proposal says the lifting of such bans has become an international
obligation. /Turkish Daily News/
[07] KARAYALCIN RESIGNS FROM CHP
A former leader of the dissolved Social Democratic
Peoples Party (SHP), Murat Karayalcin, has resigned from the
Republican Peoples Party (CHP). He noted, in a written statement, the
reasons for his resignation were the anti-democratic and illegal
practices going on within the party. He also said the leadership's
policies were out of touch with the needs of the country and society.
/Turkish Daily News/
[08] CALL ON BUSH
In a letter to US President George W. Bush, eleven
US Congressional Senators asked the Administration to support Turkey
in her struggle to regain a stable economy and to become an EU member.
Pointing to Turkey's strategic importance, the letter stated assisting
Turkey with her political and economic reform efforts also serves US
interests. /Turkiye/
[09] GREEK PRESS GIVES WIDE COVERAGE TO TURKEY'S DELAY OF
DEFENSE PROJECTS
The Greek press gave wide coverage to Turkey's
postponement of 32 defense projects. Greek Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatsoulos said Turkey and Greece had different reasons to reduce
the military purchases, and said Turkey's postponement of the defense
projects had nothing to do with Greece's previous decision to reduce
military purchases. The Greek Daily To Vima said the Turkish military
undertook such a decision because of the recent economic conditions.
The daily Elephterotypia said Turkey has suspended her military
projects for the first time. Additionally, the daily Katimerini said
Turkey reduced her military expenditures by $20 billion. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CZECH REPUBLIC TO IMPROVE
Czech and Turkish Foreign Ministers have reached
some important decisions during their meetings in Ankara, held to
improve economic relations between the two countries. Czech Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan proposed a package
consisting of seven projects to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. The
package consists of issues such as contributing the establishment of
pipelines from the Central Asia to Turkey and then from Turkey to
Europe, helping to establish of transportation infrastructure, and
providing Turkey with vehicles of mass transportation. Kavan met also
with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet
Bahceli. Stating they reached a consensus on increasing the trade
volume, amounting to $275 million currently, between the two
countries, Kavan said he was hopeful of May's bilateral commercial
meeting to be held in Ankara. Kavan said he proposed Turkey sign a
protocol to accelerate the works for the joint projects. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] FRIENDSHIP MEETING BETWEEN JOURNALISTS
The Mayor of the Greek island of Khios (Sakiz)
Mayor Markos Mennis visited historic and tourist sites in the
Capadoccia region. Stating the recent rapprochement between Turkey and
Greece was very important, Mennis said, "We should raise our
children by teaching peace between the two nations in order to reach
permanent peace and stability." Urgup Mayor Bekir Odemis said
they had organized various activities for years to improve bilateral
relations with Greece. A delegation consisting of the Balkan News
Agencies Union members' directors general, deputy directors, and
foreign news editors will meet in Capadoccia May 5-6. Avanos Mayor
Seyhan Duru stated Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Yugoslavia, Albania, Moldova and Macedonia would attend the meeting in
addition to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] HUMAN RIGHTS BOARD ESTABLISHED
A decree with the power of law on establishing a
Human Rights Board attached to the Prime Ministry was ratified in
yesterday's session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly(TGNA).
Committees will also be established to investigate alleged human
rights violations. /Sabah/
[13] EUROFORUM BEGINS
EUROFORUM is an intercollegiate simulation of the
European Union based on principles applied in other model conferences,
essentially Model United Nations. After the Model UN meeting, the
first session of the Euroforum will begin in Istanbul. A total of 200
university students from 18 different countries will attend the
meeting. Participatory students are supposed to defend the interests
of either the state or the political party they represent acting as
the parliamentarians, government leaders or foreign ministers of those
countries. Students acting as political representatives will discuss
the main issues concerning the international community, while
respecting the procedures and guidelines applied throughout the
proceeding of the actual simulated political bodies. Among the topics
to be discussed during the First Session at the historic Galatasaray
High School are European Defense, Institutional Reform, Xenophobia and
Immigration in Europe, and the New Economy-European Information
society. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] REPRESENTATIVES OF SOROS MEET WITH BANKING
AUTHORITIES
After meeting with the Economics Minister Kemal
Dervis, representatives of famous speculator George Soros, Antonio
Richter and Aryeh Neier, met with authorities from the private banks
yesterday in Istanbul. Discussing the recent economic developments and
problems in the banking sector, they discussed the investments which
can be made in Turkey through the Quantum Fund owned by Soros.
/Cumhuriyet/
[15] AKYOL: PERMANENT HOUSING READY FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS
The permanent housing constructed in the wake of
the 1999 Marmara earthquake is nearing completion and registration for
houses will begin soon, Housing and Public Works Ministry Deputy
Under-secretary Raci Akyol announced yesterday. Akyol stated that
6,722 residences had been built in the city of Kocaeli, 5,120 in
Yalova, 7,000 in Duzce, 2,202 in Sakarya, 650 in Istanbul, and 1,458
in Bolu. Akyol said, "Certainly we cannot ease the pain of those
who lost relatives in the quakes, but we are happy that they can now
live in houses of their own." /Turkish News/
[16] ALMOST ALL MACEDONIANS RETURN HOME
Kapikule Customs officials yesterday said 11,721 of
11,912 Macedonian immigrants have returned to Macedonia. One official
said, "Normally Macedonians can stay in Turkey for two months on
a tourist visa." /Turkish News/
[17] CABINET TO ENDORSE NEW QUAKE WARNING SYSTEM
Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and
Earthquake Research Institute Director, Ahmet Mete Isikara, said
"the Emergency Intervention and Early Warning System" for
Istanbul will be endorsed by the Cabinet in two days' time, Anatolia
reported on Thursday. Professor Isikara met with children from the
Private Anafen Primary School and answered reporters' questions. He
said he had good news for the people of Istanbul as the system will be
endorsed by the Cabinet very soon. "After that, we will start
working on it, and within a year's time the system will be
installed," he continued. He added the possibility of destructive
earthquake could occur at anytime, anywhere in the country, and
underlined the fact that investments should be made before an
earthquake actually hits. /Turkish News/
ENVIRONMENTALIST MEETING SLATED FOR APRIL 26-27
The Marmara Sea Environmental Protection's Second
Meeting will be held under the leadership of Environmental Minister
Fevzi Aytekin in Tekirdag April 26-27. At the meeting, pollution
problems in the Marmara Sea, very important for the economy and
tourism, and solution proposals will be discussed. /Turkish News/
[18] POLAND TO EXTEND MEDAL TO TURKEY
The Chief of the General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu,
will be given a special medal by Poland for his contributions to the
expansion of NATO. Kivrikoglu will receive the medal during a ceremony
to be held in the Polish Embassy in Ankara next Thursday. /Hurriyet/
[19] POLICE SEIZE PKK AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS
The Governorship of the Emergency Rule(OHAL) region
issued a statement saying several caches of ammunition and firearms
belonging to the Kurdistan Worker's Party(PKK) had been seized during
operations in Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Mardin and Sirnak. /Turkish News/
[20] TUSIAD: "REVISION IS A MUST"
The Association of Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen (TUSIAD) members held an extraordinary meeting in Ankara
yesterday. All speakers asked the government to revise the Cabinet.
Stressing they were not asking for the government's resignation,
Chairman of the TUSIAD Tuncay Ozilhan said, "We think a
resignation by the government would lead to turmoil in the country.
However, a cabinet revision would not indicate weakness, but would be
a sign of determination." The members of the Association also
called on citizens to act with common sense. /Turkiye/
TURKS SIGN 80 MILLION US DOLLARS CONTRACT IN UAE,
KUWAIT
Yesterday Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat
Tuzmen said Turkey hadn't miss the train in Kuwait and the United Arab
Emirates, although it could be too late if these small Gulf countries
are ignored much longer. Anatolia reported Tuzmen as saying the time
was appropriate to enter markets of these two countries. "Kuwait
and the UAE are trying to build permanent industries in their
countries. They want to produce domestic goods. Their officials
invited Turkish firms to (trade) fairs in 2002." /Turkish News/
[21] SISECAM IN MOSCOW
Sisecam, a glass producing company, will establish
a factory at a cost of $24 million north of Moscow. The investment
agreement was signed yesterday by the general director of Sisecam,
Dogan Arikan, and the Minister responsible for foreign investments,
Josef Orjenikidze. Arikan said Russia is a valuable neighbor with vast
natural resources, a well developed infrastructure and educated human
resources. /Cumhuriyet/
4.26 % INCREASE IN STOCK EXCHANGE
The US dollar exchange rate and the interest rate
on treasury bonds declined yesterday. The Istanbul Stock Exchange went
up 4.26 %. After the economic program is announced, the number of
foreign investors is expected to increase. The portfolio of foreign
investors in the Istanbul Stock Exchange decreased by $4.6 billion due
to the after-shocks of devaluation. /Milliyet/
[22] TRT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN
ISTANBUL
The April 23 TRT International Children's Festival
will be held April 17-26 in Istanbul. The director general of the
Turkish Radio Television Corporation(TRT), Yucel Yener said the wife
of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will also attend the festival. 1100
children from 41 countries will participate in the festival.
/Milliyet/
[23] ENKA TO CONSTRUCT MUSIC HALL IN MOSCOW
ENKA, which has many international investments,
will construct a music hall in Moscow. The Moscow International Music
Hall will be one of the largest and the most modern in the world. It
will be constructed on a 36 thousand meter square area and will have
3,200 person capacity. /Turkiye/
[24] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[25] COMMON REQUESTS BY DIFFERENT FRONTS BY MUSTAFA
BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Balbay comments on the IMF's impact on
the recent economic crisis and common requests voiced by different
organizations around the country. A summary of his column is as
follows: "The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association
(TUSIAD) Administrative Board Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan has said 'There
is an important point we must not forget. During this process the IMF
has made grave mistakes and is continuing to do so...The organization
has behaved as if Turkey was a closed economy, and did not put forth
any relieving solutions to meet the pressures coming from abroad. IMF
experts are still on the job. They are preventing the Central Bank
from supplying the markets with foreign currency. Is it because they
want to guarantee repayment of the impending credit payments of
Western Banks?...In short, the IMF has failed.' Following these
statements, Ozilhan has criticized the Government even more severely
saying the IMF could not be held responsible for the recent crisis as
the Turkish Government is the body governing the country. TUSIAD has
another request concerning a new political structure and new faces.
These requests were all expressed in the reports by non-governmental
organizations, trade unions and political relations espousing modern
and national values. Recently, these same requests are being made by
different institutions. Some of these joint requests are: not to
blindly carry out the policies of the IMF but to look and see what it
brings and what it takes away, to mobilize all national opportunities
and while doing so, not isolate the country from the world. No
institution in the world dares to face a Government trying to protect
its national interests. The Political Parties Law and the Election Law
should be changed. Laws must be enacted to fight against corruption
and poverty. The unregistered economy has grown out of proportion and
it must be registered. The imbalance in income distribution should be
eliminated. However, only problem is these suggestions do not seem to
be understood by the politicians. The way out of this crisis is by
integration the requests for change with a new political structure.
Only then can we overcome the crisis."
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