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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-07

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

07.05.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] AGREEMENT REACHED ON TURK TELEKOM
  • [02] TWO TOUGH DAYS FOR DERVIS
  • [03] CENTRAL BANK LAW GOES INTO EFFECT
  • [04] PRISON REFORM, BANKING LAW AMENDMENT TOP PARLIAMENT AGENDA
  • [05] ECHR DELEGATION IN TURKEY
  • [06] EU SPECIAL ENVOY MORATINOS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAY
  • [07] BRITAIN SUPPORTS TURKEY AT ESDP
  • [08] TANTAN TO VISIT IRAN
  • [09] BARZANI VISITS TURKEY
  • [10] GREECE TAKES STEPS TO IMPROVE RIGHTS OF TURKISH MINORITY
  • [11] DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY
  • [12] VIRTUE PARTY AWAITS COURT REPORT ON CLOSURE
  • [13] TEN-MONTH STATE BOND OFFER
  • [14] BRIDGES TO BE BUILT BY THE BUILD-OPERATE-TRANSFER SYSTEM
  • [15] EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS TO GET HOUSING
  • [16] NEW LABOR SECURITY BILL READY
  • [17] POLISH-TURKISH COOPERATION IN CONSTRUCTION
  • [18] AYCELL JOINS GSM SCENE AFTER ARIA
  • [19] SYKES OPENS 'SOLUTION CENTER' IN ISTANBUL
  • [20] MOBILE ELECTRICITY POWER PLANT FOR TRNC
  • [21] MINISTER OF CULTURE TALAY PRAISES 'SULTANS OF THE DANCE'
  • [22] TURKISH CULTURE AT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIRS
  • [23] THE SUCCESS OF TURKISH DOCUMENTARY
  • [24] TOURISTS IN CAPPADOCIA
  • [25] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [26] VISIT TO THE LAST FISHERY IN THE BOSPHORUS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)

  • [01] AGREEMENT REACHED ON TURK TELEKOM

    Meeting under the auspices of Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz, high-ranking bureaucrats from relevant ministries and organizations hammered out a bill on the privatization of Turk Telekom over the weekend thus ending weeks of controversy over the matter. Announcing the result Oksuz told reporters later that this whole issue should now cease to be a matter of curiosity. Officials from the Transportation Ministry, the Undersecretariat for the Treasury, and the Privatization Administration got together on Saturday morning in the Prime Ministry and worked out the final draft of the bill that will enable privatization of Turk Telekom. Oksuz explained that the issues that are sensitive for the Chief of the General Staff's office, as well as his own ministry, had been fully addressed in the draft bill. According to the deal hammered out, 95 percent of Turk Telekom will be sold. But foreigners will only be allowed to buy 45 percent of this and will be prevented from gaining a strategic decision on making position. The remaining five percent of Turk Telekom will be reserved for the small investor, and will first be offered to PTT and Telekom and Telekom workers. /Turkish News/

    [02] TWO TOUGH DAYS FOR DERVIS

    Representatives from labor and economy bureaucrats will meet today to discuss new proposals concerning collective bargaining accords. Turk-Is Chairman Bayram Meral and members of the executive council, Ministers of State Kemal Dervis, Mehmet Kececiler and Finance Minister Sumer Oral will meet today to reach a consensus on the collective bargaining accords. Meanwhile employers are expected to meet with Dervis tomorrow. Turkish Employers Unions Confederation (TISK) will present a report titled "Economic Program and Our Working Life: Observations and Proposals" to Dervis tomorrow. Th Confederation is expected to demand an immediate solution to the high interest rates problem. /Cumhuriyet/ $15 BILLION ON MAY 15 State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the IMF Executive Board would discuss Turkey's program on May 15 and make its decision. Dervis held a press conference at the Treasury Undersecretariat yesterday. Dervis recalled that the Executive Board of the World Bank had already decided to accept a policy in line with the IMF Executive Board's decisions. Dervis stated that the proposal to be presented to the IMF Executive Board envisaged the entry of nearly $15 billion from IMF and World Bank sources for the next nine months of the year. Dervis noted that Turkey presented the letter of intent to the IMF last Friday and added that the financial assistance was based on the enactment of the laws. He said that the Banking and Telecom Laws were very important in this regard. /Turkiye/

    [03] CENTRAL BANK LAW GOES INTO EFFECT

    The law which foresees amendments to the Central Bank law went into effect after it was published on the Official Gazette on Saturday. No government authority will be able to give orders to the Central Bank, and a Money Market Committee will be set up within the body of the Central Bank. The preamble of the law, comprised of a total of 17 articles, said the need to make amendments to the law arose within the framework of international developments, especially European Union norms, regarding economic conditions and central banking since 1970, when the Central Bank Law originally took effect. The preamble said that the law pointed out that the principle target of the Central Bank was to provide price stability, and that the bank was the only authorized unit responsible for the determination and implementation of monetary policy for the bank. /Turkish News/

    [04] PRISON REFORM, BANKING LAW AMENDMENT TOP PARLIAMENT AGENDA

    The agenda of the Turkish Parliament is expected to be dominated this week with two crucially important drafts. The Speakership Council is expected to decide to offer to parliamentary debate with priority the drafts amending laws on the execution of penalties and administration of prisons. The government will present the draft amending the Banking Law. If debates at the Planning and Budget Commission on the draft are completed by midweek, parliamentary debate over the draft is expected to be held on Thursday or Friday. The Parliamentary Justice Commission will continue debating the draft amending the Civil Code. /Turkish Daily News/

    [05] ECHR DELEGATION IN TURKEY

    A European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delegation of four, chaired by the ECHR Chairman Luzius Wildhaber, arrived in Turkey to hold meetings. The delegation, which will meet with the members of the High Court of Appeals and Constitutional Court, also includes Turkish judge Riza Tulmen. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] EU SPECIAL ENVOY MORATINOS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAY

    EU Special Envoy for the Middle Eastern Peace Process, Miguel Moratinos, will arrive in Ankara today. Moratinos, who will discuss Jordanian Egyptian peace plan with the Turkish officials, will be received by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Foreign Ministry's Deputy Undersecretary, Ambassador Ugur Ziyal. The EU and Turkey are trying to fill the gap which was opened due to the decrease in the US interest in the Middle Eastern Peace Process after the election of the Bush Administration. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] BRITAIN SUPPORTS TURKEY AT ESDP

    The National Program Turkey prepared for EU membership has been debated at the House of Lords in Britain. Some of the Lords who participated in the debate called on the British government to strengthen relations with Turkey and support Ankara in its bid for EU membership. Responding to questions on Turkey, the parliamentary spokeswoman responsible for international relations Baroness Scotland of Asthal indicated that the British government had welcomed the National Program but added that they expected more information on the process of reforms. Answering a question on Turkey's place in European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), she said they supported Turkey's position on the issue. /Turkish Daily News/

    [08] TANTAN TO VISIT IRAN

    Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan will travel to Iran on the invitation of his counterpart, Abdulvahit Mousavi Lari. Tantan will reiterate his request for cooperation in the fight against terrorism. This will be the first visit of its kind since 1994. Gendarmerie Chief of Information, Gen. Ali Aksoz and Head of the Security Department, Emin Aslan, Head of Information Department, Muzaffer Erkan, and the Head of the Foreigners Department Mustafa Ilhan will accompany Tantan. Tantan will also be received by Iranian President Muhammed Hatemi and relay the goodwill messages of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. /Milliyet/

    [09] BARZANI VISITS TURKEY

    Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party Leader Mesud Barzani will arrive in Turkey tonight. Barzani will be received by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit tomorrow. He is expected to discuss security issues such as the fight against the PKK terrorist organization and recent developments in Northern Iraq with the Turkish officials. Additionally, Washington Agreement is among the issues to be discussed during the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] GREECE TAKES STEPS TO IMPROVE RIGHTS OF TURKISH MINORITY

    The Greek government has decided to take certain important steps in improving the rights of the Turkish minority living there particularly in Western Thrace. The steps include plans to increase quotas in Greek universities for Turkish students, to give more autonomy to Turkish foundation administrations, provide more state aid to Turkish minority's schools and to re-accept citizenship for those who formerly lost their citizenship within the scope of these new steps. /Turkish Daily News/

    [11] DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY

    Former Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, who is the member of Middle East Fact-finding Commission, completed his work in New York and returned to Turkey yesterday. The final report prepared by the members of the commission was presented to US Secretary of State Colin Powell by commission chairman George Mitchell. Speaking after his arrival, Demirel held a press conference in Istanbul saying that people who want peace in the Middle East should be patient and have good intentions. /Turkish Daily News/

    [12] VIRTUE PARTY AWAITS COURT REPORT ON CLOSURE

    Sabih Kanadoglu, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, will make his verbal statement about the additional indictment in the closure case against the Virtue Party(FP) on Tuesday. The Constitutional Court has invited Kanadoglu to present his verbal statement following the FP's submission of its last defense on April 24. After the submission of the verbal statements of the chief prosecutor to the FP, FP officials will make their verbal defense on May 15. The reporter of the case, Mehmet Turhan, will prepare a report about the additional indictment if the court considers it necessary. Later, the case will be heard on its own merits, at a date to be determined by Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin. /Turkish News/

    [13] TEN-MONTH STATE BOND OFFER

    The Treasury will repay $137.4 million in foreign debts. This week the Treasury will also issue ten-month state bonds worth $600 million this week. Single price system will be implemented at the offer. Bond repayment will be carried out on March 6, 2002. /Milliyet/ 13 MILLION EURO GRANTED FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT The European Union granted 13 million Euro for projects to improve the quality infrastructure. The Quality Association(Kalder) and the Treasury Under-Secretariat will supervise the grant. The fund will contribute to the improvement of standards, competitive power and efficiency for achieving a stronger economy. /Hurriyet/

    [14] BRIDGES TO BE BUILT BY THE BUILD-OPERATE-TRANSFER SYSTEM

    Three important Bosphorus passage projects and Izmit Gulf Passage project will be built by the build-operate-transfer system. The projects are expected to cost about $5.3 billion. They will be operated by the related firm group for a while and then will be transferred to Directorate-General of Highways. /Cumhuriyet/

    [15] EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS TO GET HOUSING

    A total of 80 percent of all permanent housing units in Kocaeli, Duzce and Sakarya have been completed with the help of World Bank credits, Prime Ministry Project Management Unit Izmir Regional Director Ahmet Ericdem said on Saturday. "Some 7,476 housing units in Kocaeli, 2,608 in Sakarya, and 1,004 in Duzce are being built with a $240 million World Bank credit. The foundation for these housing units was laid on August 15 last year. The high-tech methods and concrete used in the construction render these buildings resistant to high-magnitude earthquakes. /Turkish News/

    [16] NEW LABOR SECURITY BILL READY

    The Commission consisting of nine lecturers who convened for the preparation of the labor security bill has completed its studies. According to the bill based on the ILO Convention No 158, the employers will not be able to dismiss any employees due to unjust reasons. The bill has been presented to Labor Minister Yasar Okuyan. /Turkiye/

    [17] POLISH-TURKISH COOPERATION IN CONSTRUCTION

    Turkish contractors will come together with the representatives of the Polish construction sector which has an annual volume of $18 billion. With the joint initiatives of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) and the Polish Economy Ministry's Foreign Capital Agency (PAIZ), Turkish contractors will meet with the representatives of the Polish construction sector. The representatives of the both sides will attend the seminars to be held on May 7 in Ankara and on May 9 in Istanbul. /Turkiye/

    [18] AYCELL JOINS GSM SCENE AFTER ARIA

    GSM operator Aycell will start cell phone services on the GSM 1800 band all over the world before the end of May. Aycell is currently working to establish representative offices, and will start signing up customers within the month. /Turkish News/

    [19] SYKES OPENS 'SOLUTION CENTER' IN ISTANBUL

    US based company Sykes, which acts as an "information technologies solution partner" for companies all over the world, has opened a "solution center" in Istanbul. Sykes provides services from 62 centers in 15 countries with 17,000 employees and a $603 million annual revenue. Sykes Executive Board Chairman John Sykes, who came to Turkey to visit the Sykes center in Istanbul, held a press conference yesterday. He said that they opened the center in Istanbul to show their confidence in Turkey and its strategic location. /Turkish Daily News/

    [20] MOBILE ELECTRICITY POWER PLANT FOR TRNC

    A mobile electricity power plant will be installed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC) to supply electricity demands there to avoid dependency on foreign sources. The Turkish Electricity Corporation(TEAS) and the Cyprus Electric Corporation(TEK) will cooperate in the project. The mobile power plant is rated at a 30 megawatt production capacity, and will be managed by Cyprus TEK for the first five years. The complete energy production project, costing nearly $5 million, includes transportation and transformer systems that will carry electricity from the plant to consumers. /Turkish News/ TURKISH TRAIN IN BAGHDAD TRAIN STATION AFTER 19 YEARS Turkish train which departed from the Nusaybin Train Station arrived in Baghdad Train Station. Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen and Iraqi authorities welcomed the train which carried State Railways (TCDD) Director General Vedat Bilgin and other authorities in the Baghdad Train Station. Speaking to the press, Bilgin said trade volume between the two countries before 1982 was great and added their current aim was to reach that level again. Stating Turkey was trying to improve her commercial relations with Iraq, Tuzmen said, "Our policy is completely aimed at improving our foreign trade especially with our neighbors. Certain products, which are permitted to be carried to Iraq by the UN, will be transported by train between Turkey and Iraq which started operating after 19 years again. /Cumhuriyet/

    [21] MINISTER OF CULTURE TALAY PRAISES 'SULTANS OF THE DANCE'

    Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay, said the dance show named 'Sultans of the Dance' should also be performed abroad. Replying to the questions of the press after watching the show in Mydonose Showland two days ago, Talay said, "This performance is not just a show. It is a ritual, a kind of worship and a prayer. This an extraordinarily successful work of art." 90 dancers perform Anatolian music, rhythm, folk dances and dances in a modern style in the 'Sultans of the Dance'. The show will be performed in the Broadway next season. /Cumhuriyet/

    [22] TURKISH CULTURE AT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIRS

    The Culture Ministry will participate in international book fairs to take place in Warsaw, Prague, and Jerusalem, a Culture Ministry statement said on Sunday. According to the statement, the Jerusalem book fair will take place between May 7-11, the Prague book fair will be held between May 16-20. At these fairs, the Culture Ministry will display Turkish Linguistic Association (TDK) publications, Is Bank publications, and its own publications about Turkish language, culture, art, history, and tourism and Ataturk. /Turkish News/ TUBITAK GATHERS 200 CHILD INVENTORS The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) will hold an "Invention Festival" in TUBITAK's Feza Gursey Hall on May 11-12 in Ankara. The festival, to which 200 child inventors applied thus far, is encouraging creativity not only in adults, but also in children. /Turkish News/

    [23] THE SUCCESS OF TURKISH DOCUMENTARY

    The Turkish documentary, "Anatolia's Light" by Nedret Cagatay was elected as the best documentary by UNESCO, reflecting the tolerance in Anatolia. The documentary focuses on religions in Anatolia lived throughout centuries. The Asian Broadcasters Union(ABU) offered to telecast the documentary in 13 Asian countries. "Anatolia's Light" will also participate in 12th International Archaeological Science Festival in Italy. /Milliyet/

    [24] TOURISTS IN CAPPADOCIA

    The famous touristic site Cappadocia has seen a 100 percent increase in the number of tourists coming into the area in the first four months of the year when compared to the same period last year, the Anatolia News Agency reported yesterday. /Turkish Daily News/

    [25] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [26] VISIT TO THE LAST FISHERY IN THE BOSPHORUS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)

    Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the pollution in the Bosphorus due to the the passage of oil-tankers and extinction of fish species in the Straits. A summary of her column is as follows: "Yesterday we went fishing in the last remaining fishery in the Bosphorus. From an old fisherman in the Bosphorus who came from a family of fishers for two centuries, we learnt that at the beginning of the century the number of fisheries in the Bosphorus, where nets were cast, was 52. At the moment there is only one such fishery left. That is the Beykoz Dalyan. It is on the verge of closure too. Due to the pollution and maritime traffic in the Bosphorus the fishers are close to calling quits. One of the seamen said that the increase in maritime traffic was so high that no fish was left in the Bosphorus. He added that most of the responsibility lay with the oil tankers. These tankers left their bile waters and when the fishers woke up early in the morning they saw that their nets were covered with tar. Even if there was fish in the net under the tar, it was of no use and they were returned to sea. The species seen not too long ago are no more caught in the Bosphorus. The organizer of this visit, Chairman of Turkish Sea Research Foundation Prof. Bayram Ozturk showed the jelly-fish in the muddy waters and said that they ate all the fish and larvae. These jelly-fish entered the Bosphorus with the ballast-waters of the oil tankers in 1987. The ships passing through the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus are leaving 40 tons of toxic dyes. Today the amount of toxic dyes left only in the Istanbul Strait is close to three tons a year. What about tomorrow? Does anyone calculate the damage the increasing traffic will incur when the Kazakh oil coming to Russian Novorississk port incur on the Bosphorus? The fight for survival of the last fishery in Istanbul may be considered the fight of Istanbul for survival. How long can Turkey stand on her own feet with Istanbul fighting for survival?"
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