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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-02
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
02.05.2001
CONTENTS
[01] IMF PROMISES FOR MORE SUPPORT
[02] MOODY'S: "LET'S SEE THE PERFORMANCE"
[03] CALL FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
[04] DERVIS TO MEET WITH KUTAN AND CILLER
[05] TURCO-EU RELATIONS
[06] CENSURE MOTION DISMISSED IN PARLIAMENT
[07] TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO PROMOTE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
PRODUCTS
[08] FP CLOSURE HEARINGS SET FOR THIS MONTH
[09] CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF F-TYPE PRISONS
[10] NATURAL GAS LAW APPROVED
[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY DENOUNCES ATTACK IN MACEDONIA
[12] DIPLOMATIC TRAFFIC IN ANKARA
[13] LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS SUMMIT
[14] FOREIGN INTEREST IN TURKISH FIRMS INCREASES
[15] MIDEAST COMMISSION COMPLETES ITS MISSION
[16] SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN YENIKOY
[17] FIRST WOMAN TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO AN ARAB COUNTRY
[18] PROF. MEHMET OZ RECEIVES TURKISH-AMERICAN OF THE
YEAR AWARD
[19] TURKISH ART SHOW IN WASHINGTON
[20] ISLAMIC WORKS AUCTION IN LONDON
[21] GERMAN PRIME MINISTER SCHROEDER'S BROTHER VOSSELER
WRITES A BOOK ON TURKEY
[22] BOX OFFICE SUCCESS OF TURKISH FILM DIRECTOR IN ITALY
[23] BERLIN PHILHARMONY ORCHESTRA IN ISTANBUL
[24] AWARD FOR TURKISH HOTEL
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[26] ON THE EVE OF CABINET REVISION BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
(TURKIYE)
[01] IMF PROMISES FOR MORE SUPPORT
During the IMF-World Bank spring term meetings, it
was decided to give more financial aid to Turkey in the future and $10
billion aid will be given in the near future. Evaluating the
developments towards increasing foreign aid to Turkey, Treasury
officials said IMF Executive Directors Council will say the final
word. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] MOODY'S: "LET'S SEE THE PERFORMANCE"
One of the credit rating organizations Moody's'
Turkey analyst Kristin Lindow said the support of the IMF, the World
Bank and G-7 countries for Turkey are very encouraging and this will
make positive effects on the markets. Emphasizing the importance of
re-establishing trust in the markets, Lindow said the structural
reforms should be enacted and implemented soon. To raise Turkey's
"negative" credit rate, Lindow stressed first they should
see all the details of the economic program and than the
implementations. /Turkiye/
[03] CALL FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
State Minister for Economics Kemal Dervis attended
a meeting organized jointly by the American-Turkish Association, the
Merril Lynch Financial Institute and the Foreign Policy Association in
New York. Addressing the meeting, Dervis said, "We are determined
to draw foreign investors in Turkey." Stressing today Turkey has
a great competitive power due to foreign currency rate, he said they
expect a great boom in tourism sector. Pointing to two legs of the
program, strong tax policy and increase in development rate, Dervis
said, "Both the IMF and the World Bank believe that we can
achieve the targets specified in our program." He also declared
99% of the Turk Telekom will be privatized. /Turkiye/
[04] DERVIS TO MEET WITH KUTAN AND CILLER
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis will
meet with the leaders of Virtue Party(FP) Recai Kutan and True Path
Party(DYP) Tansu Ciller to receive their support for the economic
program. /Hurriyet/
$53.8 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT DUE TO CUSTOMS UNION
In response to EU parliamentarian Renate Sommer who
claimed that Turkey is reluctant in implementing the requirements for
the full EU membership, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the
reason for current economic crisis in Turkey is the trade imbalances
resulting from the Customs Union with the EU. Between the years
1996-2000, Turkey had a deficit of $53.8 billion in trade with the EU.
Turkey was the party who made concessions for the Customs Union. Since
1996 Turkey could not achieve the required level of foreign
investments which will come from the EU countries, neither could she
increase the exports to the Union. /Hurriyet/
[05] TURCO-EU RELATIONS
Delivering a speech at the "Turco-EU relation
in the New Millennium" Conference in Bahcesehir University, EU
Representative to Turkey Ambassador Karen Fogg said, "We are
interested in concrete steps Turkey will take rather than the details
of the National Programme." /Cumhuriyet/
[06] CENSURE MOTION DISMISSED IN PARLIAMENT
Parliament dismissed the censure motion proposed by
the True Path Party(DYP) against Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. DYP
blamed the government for causing economic crisis and deterioration in
the society. The debate on the censure motion was rejected. Deputy
Parliament Speaker, Ali Iliksoy said there is no need to debate the
censure motion against Cumhur Ersumer, since he resigned from the
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. /Milliyet/
[07] TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO PROMOTE DEFENSE INDUSTRY
PRODUCTS
The Turkish Office of the General Staff will
organize a meeting in Karapinar, Konya to promote defense industry
products. During the meeting to be held on May 11, recent developments
in the Land, Naval and Air weaponry systems and other products will be
displayed. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi
and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit are expected to join the meeting.
/Turkiye/
[08] FP CLOSURE HEARINGS SET FOR THIS MONTH
The Constitutional Court has invited Sabih
Kanadoglu, the Supreme Court of Appeals' chief prosecutor, to make his
verbal statement on May 8 in the closure case against the Virtue Party
(FP). Constitutional Court Assistant Chief Hasim Kilic told reporters
yesterday that Kanadoglu would make his verbal statement on May 8.
Kilic noted that the Constitutional Court would listen to the FP's
verbal defense on May 15. Later, Ahmet Turan, the case's court
reporter will prepare an additional report by taking into
consideration the additional indictment, the defense, and the views of
the chief prosecutor about the merits of the case. Constitutional
Court Chief Justice Mustafa Bumin will submit the report to the
justices and set a date to debate the case. /Turkish News/
MAY 1 LABOR DAY CELEBRATED
The Labor Day was celebrated yesterday. In Istanbul
and Ankara, public meetings were held with the participation of the
Labor Unions. No major event took place during the meetings.
/Milliyet/
[09] CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF F-TYPE PRISONS
The draft foreseeing the amendment to the 16th
article of Anti-Terror Law was adopted at Parliament. Following the
amendment, the inmates in F-type prisons will participate in various
activities held in common spaces. Meanwhile, 27 inmates in Edirne
F-type prison stopped continuing their death fast. 24 more inmates are
expected to end death fasts. /Milliyet/
[10] NATURAL GAS LAW APPROVED
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved Natural Gas
Market Law. The law, one of the 15 urgent laws, was sent to the Office
of Prime Ministry to be issued. /Turkiye/
[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY DENOUNCES ATTACK IN MACEDONIA
In a statement made by the Foreign Ministry, it was
declared that Turkey strongly denounced the killing of eight
Macedonian security officials on the weekend. The attack was made a
time when the Macedonian government was taking serious steps for
moving the inter-ethnic relations in the country onto a stronger base.
/Turkish Daily News/
[12] DIPLOMATIC TRAFFIC IN ANKARA
Turkey will host top-level delegations from Nigeria
and Senegal this week. Nigerian Federal Republic Foreign Ministry
Political Director O.A.Ashiru is expected to arrive in Turkey today to
hold political consultations with Turkish officials. Senegalian
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Mamadou Fall will also pay an official
visit to Turkey on May 6. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS SUMMIT
A "Local Administration in the EU Period
Summit" will be held at Ankara's Altinpark on May 3-4 in a joint
project of the Turkish Municipalities Union and Comart International
Exhibitions Ltd. More than 1,500 mayors, deputies and several foreign
guests will participate in the meetings. /Turkish News/
[14] FOREIGN INTEREST IN TURKISH FIRMS INCREASES
Foreign investors' interest is increasing in the
Turkish firms which have been suffering losses after the recent
economic crisis. Turkish firms such as Tansas, Banvit and Garanti
Bank, are continuing their contacts with foreign investors.
/Cumhuriyet/
[15] MIDEAST COMMISSION COMPLETES ITS MISSION
The investigation commission on the Middle East, a
member of which is former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel,
completed its studies in New York. A final report signed by the
members of the commission will be presented to US Secretary of State
Colin Powell by commission chairman George Mitchell. /Turkish Daily
News/
[16] SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN YENIKOY
The Egyptian-flagged "National Star", a
cargo vessel weighing 6,160 tons has run aground in the Bosphorus near
Yenikoy. Authorities state that the vessel attempted to navigate
through the Straits without a pilot and its rudder jammed causing it
to run aground. The vessel's crew successfully refloated the ship
without asking for assistance from Turkish rescue authorities.
/Turkish Daily News/
[17] FIRST WOMAN TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO AN ARAB COUNTRY
The Foreign Ministry appointed Hilal Baskal as the
first woman Turkish Ambassador to an Arab country, Bahrain. /Hurriyet/
[18] PROF. MEHMET OZ RECEIVES TURKISH-AMERICAN OF THE
YEAR AWARD
One of the most prominent cardiac surgeons, Prof.
Mehmet Oz, working at the Colombia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York,
was elected "The Turkish-American of the Year". Prof. Oz is
a well-known surgeon for his successful research and works. He
previously received many awards such as "The Doctor of the
Year" and "The Future Leader". /Cumhuriyet/
[19] TURKISH ART SHOW IN WASHINGTON
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen'
Association(TUSIAD) Washington Representation office will stage an art
performance on the evolution of Turkish Art tonight in collaboration
with the Library of American Congress. Prof. Talat Halman and Yildiz
Kenter will take part in the performance. /Milliyet/
[20] ISLAMIC WORKS AUCTION IN LONDON
There are many Ottoman and Turkish works of art in
the "Islamic Works" public auction to be held by the
Sotheby's in London. Many Iznik tiles, Ottoman jewelry boxes and
engravings will be sold by public auction. A special section was
reserved for the Middle Eastern painters. Turkish painter Fahrunisa
Zeid's paintings will be exhibited for the auction in this section.
/Cumhuriyet/
[21] GERMAN PRIME MINISTER SCHROEDER'S BROTHER VOSSELER
WRITES A BOOK ON TURKEY
German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder's brother
Lothar Vosseler is preparing a book titled "Turkish Riviera in 14
Days". Visiting Antalya anbd historical and touristic sites in
the Mediterranean Region on his vacation, Vosseler is carrying out
research in Turkish villages to collect data for his book. He will
mention Mediterranean coasts, 5-star hotels, pensions, lives in cities
and villages, Turkish food and traditions in his book. He aims to
guide German citizens preferring to spend their vacations in Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
[22] BOX OFFICE SUCCESS OF TURKISH FILM DIRECTOR IN ITALY
Le Fate Ignoranti(Ignorant Fairies) directed by
Turkish director Ferzan Ozpetek has a great box office success in
Italy. The film will be shown in Spain, Germany and France. /Hurriyet/
[23] BERLIN PHILHARMONY ORCHESTRA IN ISTANBUL
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra gave its 11th Europe
Concert in Istanbul two days ago. The concert, expected to reach one
billion music lovers in 25 countries, is considered to be a great
opportunity for Turkey's promotion. /Cumhuriyet/
[24] AWARD FOR TURKISH HOTEL
Turquoise Hotel in Side, Antalya, was included in
the 23 best hotels in the world, in a survey conducted by Kuoni, one
of the largest travel agency in Switzerland, polling its customers in
335 hotels which it worked with around the world. /Turkiye/
[25] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[26] ON THE EVE OF CABINET REVISION BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
(TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the signals of a
cabinet revision. A summary of his column is as follows: "There
are indications that a cabinet revision is imminent. The nature of a
Government and its members will be apparent in the few months
following its establishment. Everyone will form an opinion as to what
they can do. This has to be first realized by the Prime Minister
forming the Cabinet. When the second year in office starts, the Prime
Minister should think about whom he should relieve of his duty and
contact his close circles. In a single party Government this process
is easily completed. In coalitions the situation is rather difficult.
All the coalition leaders have to agree on such a change. Turkey has
been no exception to the rule. The capabilities of ministers have been
understood before the one year period is up. As there were ministers
in the Cabinet who were elected to the Parliament for the first time,
not much was known about them. However, at the end of the first year
requests for a revision increased. These were considered to be a
pressure from the public and therefore revision was delayed. It was
apparent that the Coalition leaders had made many wrong choices.
However, in my view the biggest mistake was in the high number of the
ministers. The Cabinet seemed more like small Parliament with 37
ministers. The execution has lost its ability to act quickly.
Furthermore, the high number of ministers resulted in unnecessary and
unreasonable amount of spending. Today, it is estimated that the
present three party Coalition Government will go on for another two
years. The ideal number of ministers is 16 or 20 at the most. However,
hope for such a radical reform is not high. In any case, the number of
ministries will be decreased in an inevitable revision which seems
imminent. We hope that those who will govern Turkey going through hard
times will be chosen with commonsense. Turkish nation is dissatisfied
with the choice of ministers from among ordinary people devoid of
comprehension, foresight, and capability."
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