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Turkish Press Review, 01-05-09Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning09.05.2001CONTENTS
[01] ZEKI CAKAN NEW ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTERZeki Cakan, Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy from Bartin and ANAP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairman was appointed the Energy and Natural Resources Minister. Reportedly, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved and sent the decree on Cakan's appointment to the Office of the Prime Minister. Newly appointed Minister Cakan was born in Zonguldak in 1950 and he is an electrical engineer. /Turkiye/[02] BARZANI IN ANKARAYesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party leader, Mesut Barzani. During the 40-min. meeting, reportedly, Premier Ecevit conveyed Turkey's concern over the terrorist PKK organization. Regarding the issue, Barzani pledged to continue their fight against the PKK. Topics on trade and new US new sanctions to be imposed on Iraq were also discussed. /Turkiye/[03] TANTAN IN IRANMinister of Interior, Sadettin Tantan, said Turkish and Iranian administrations wish to develop bilateral relations. Tantan, on an official visit to Tehran at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart, Abdulvahid Musavi Lari said he is paying a visit to Iran to discuss security measures concerning both countries. Tantan said, "If we cannot establish good relations on security with our neighbors, we cannot also ensure economic development." /Turkiye/[04] ECEVIT REJECTS ROBERTSON'S REQUESTPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit rejected NATO Secretary General, George Robertson's request for increasing the number of Turkish forces in Kosovo. Ecevit said in a letter he sent to Robertson that Turkey has enough forces in Kosovo and they are completely capable to carry out the tasks assigned to them. Currently, Turkish forces are deployed in Prizren, Dragash and Mamusha, which are very sensitive regions. This rejection is considered to be a reaction against the exclusion of Turkey from the European Security and Defense Identity(ESDI). /Hurriyet/[05] SYRIAN TRANSPORTATION MINISTER IN TURKEYSyrian Transportation Minister Makram Obeid arrived in Turkey on an official invitation made by Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz. Obeid said that the main goal of his visit was to boost and strengthen the relations between the two countries. He stated that they wanted to develop cooperation on the land, air and railway transportation between the two countries. /Turkish Daily News/[06] CEM CONVEYS TURKEY'S VIEW ON EU FUTURETurkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem, conveyed Turkey's views on the future of the European Union during an unofficial meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Sweden on May 5-6. Cem delivered a speech at a working lunch for foreign ministers of both EU and candidate countries. In his speech, Cem informed the participants of Turkey's point of view on various topics. /Turkish Daily News/[07] TURKEY CONDEMS BOSNIAN SERBSThe Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Bosnian Serbs who prevented the ground-laying ceremony of a mosque demolished by Serbs during the Bosnian war. In a written statement from the Ministry yesterday, it was stressed that Ankara was deeply concerned about the latest developments in Bosnia as they showed that peace and tolerance were still distant targets after five years of the Dayton peace agreement. "Ankara calls on the Serbian Republic to find those responsible and punish them as soon as possible," the statement said. It also said the latest incidents had once more showed the necessity of NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) to stay in Bosnia for a while. /Turkish Daily News/[08] DERVIS: "SEZER APRROVED THE LAW ON TELEKOM"State Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, said during his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, they had discussed the issue of golden share in Telekom. Dervis said, "Sezer, as being a constitutional law expert, said this definition is not in contradiction with the Constitution." /Hurriyet/[09] HADDAM: "WE ARE ON TURKEY'S SIDE"Syrian Vice-president, Abdul Halim Haddam, evaluated the Abdullah Ocalan issue that has negatively influenced the Turkish-Syrian relations. Haddam said, "Ocalan and the PKK were trying to organize the Syrian Kurds. We realized that their efforts would negatively affect not only Turkey, but also Iran, Iraq and Syria. We said we did not want any harm to Turkish interests, but some circles benefiting from the Kurdish problem in Turkey did not want to cooperate. At last we decided to prevent the entry of Ocalan to Syria." /Sabah/[10] ECHR CHAIRMAN WILDHABER'S STATEMENT ON FP CASEEuropean Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Chairman Luzuis Wildhaber and an accompanying delegation visited Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin yesterday. Riza Turmen, a Turkish judge from the ECHR, and other ECHR authorities attended the meeting. Wildhaber stated closure of a political party was a matter that should be considered within the framework of freedom of organization and freedom of expression. Before the meeting, Bumin said the ECHR delegation came to Turkey to evaluate the views of the Turkish judicial authorities upon the cases related to Turkey which are being tried at the ECHR. Upon a question asking the view of the ECHR on the case of the closure of the Virtue Party (FP) which is currently being tried at the Court, Wildhaber said, "Closure of a political party is a matter within the scope of freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a must condition for pluralist democracies. All we have to consider to avoid taking a decision against the pluralist democracy." /Cumhuriyet/[11] CHIEF PROSECUTOR: "VIRTUE PARTY SHOULD BE CLOSED"The Chief Public Prosecutor, Sabih Kanadoglu, delivered a verbal statement to the Constitutional Court regarding the closure of the Virtue Party(FP). Kanadoglu said FP is the continuation of the Welfare Party(RF) and therefore, has to be closed. Following the delivery of the prosecutor's claims to the party, FP will give its verbal defense on May 15. /Milliyet/[12] SOCIALIST AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATS CONGRESS ENDSEuropean Socialists and Social Democrat Parties Union Congress ended yesterday. In the Berlin Declaration issued after the meeting, parties voiced their wish to pursue reforms in the European institutions and their request towards the acceleration of the EU enlargement. Delivering a speech at the congress, EU Commissioner Gunther Verheugen criticized the mounting opposition towards the EU enlargement and added EU candidates countries should be viewed as countries the entrance of which would be beneficial for the EU. Meanwhile, member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Executive Board Yakup Kepenek delivered a speech at the Party of European Socialists round table meeting titled "Modern Social Economy, Modern Social Democracy". Kepenek said, "Social democracy should improve within an environment of economic development, fair income distribution, social security and healthy environment." /Cumhuriyet/[13] TUSIAD: GOVERNMENT IS ON TESTTurkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) said Telekom and Banking laws will help to test government's sincerity and exhibit its understanding of the structural reforms. A written statement issued by the TUSIAD said the bills have vital importance for the success of the economic program and should be enacted soon. /Turkiye/[14] COMMON STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING138th meeting of the Southeastern Working Group consisting of Southeuropean countries established 29 years ago to fight against drug traffiking began in Istanbul. Delivering a speech at the opening of the meeting, Istanbul Security Chief Kazim Abanoz said the working of the group would be very influential in destroying the drug smuggling organizations in Europe. Abanoz emphasized Turkey attached great importance to the cooperation with the member countries in this struggle. /Cumhuriyet/[15] RHODES CRISIS WITH GREECESince Greece is continuing to arm the Aegean Islands violating the Lausanne Treaty, a new crisis emerged between the two countries. Speaker of the Greek government, Dimitris Reppas, argued Turkey's theses about the disarmament of the Aegean Islands were wrong and added nobody had the right to restrict Greece on the issue. Reppas said Turkey has not replied to the request of Greek Naval Forces Commander Admiral Georgios Theodorulakis to cross the Rhodes Island with a military helicopter during his voyage to Turkey yet. The Greek Admiral is supposed to attend a ceremony of the Mediterranean Mine Sweeping units in Turkey. However, Reppas said if Turkey rejects the request of the Greek Admiral , Greece will not be represented during the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/COUNCIL OF STATE MARKS ITS 133RD ANNIVERSARY The Council of State, established on May 10, 1868 as the first court to resolve conflicts between the government and its citizens will mark its 133rd anniversary. Council of State Chairman Justice Nuri Altan, member, judges and prosecutors will visit Anitkabir on Tuesday. Altan and Turkish Bar Association Chairman Eralp Ozgen will make a speech at the ceremony in the Council of State chamber. Later that day judges and prosecutors who have retired from the Council of State will be honored with plaques. /Turkish News/ [16] GROSMAN EXPECTED IN ANKARA ON FRIDAYSenior US officials, briefing the NATO allies Tuesday about President George W. Bush's plan for a missile defense system, said they must jointly face nations able and willing to threaten global security with long-range missiles. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grosman said he and Stephen Hadley, deputy assistant to Bush for national security affairs, stressed Washington's desire to consult the allies about the merits of the anti-missile defense system that Bush wants to deploy. Grosman is expected to arrive in Ankara on Friday as part of a shuttle tour which is planned to include the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Turkey and Russia to "explain the views the United States" about anti-missile defenses and to get feedback. /Turkish Daily News/[17] ISLAM DOCUMENTARY ON US TV FILMED IN TURKEYThe supremacy and achievements of Islam have been recorded in a televised documentary in the US. Rob Gardner, who produced and directed the documentary, said they had aimed to show the achievements made by Islam over the past 1,000 years. Parts of the documentary were filmed in Turkey, also in Egypt and other Muslim countries. /Turkish Daily News/[18] PANEL ON FACTS ABOUT ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONSA panel discussion on the facts about the Armenian allegations will be held at the Office of the President of the Gazi University in Ankara at 2:00 p.m. on May 15. The panel discussion will be headed by a lecturer from the Gazi University, Prof. Refet Yinanc. The Head of the Turkish History Institution, Prof.Yusuf Halacoglu, a lecturer from the Gazi University Prof.Osman Metin Ozturk and Coordinator of the Republican History at the Bilkent University Assc. Prof. Esat Aslan will deliver speeches at the panel.[19] TURKISH CHAIRMAN FOR VOLVONecip Soyak became the world famous automobile firm Volvo's Chairman in Japan. Previously, Soyak was Volvo's Deputy Chairman of the International Trade Section Responsible for North America, Canada, Mexico and Porto Rico. /Turkiye/[20] TOURISM AND BANKING FAVORITES OF THE IMKBLast week, favorite shares were tourism and banking in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) which began to rise following the supply of foreign aid and the declaration of the economic program. The increase in the National 100 index was 29.7% and tourism shares rose by 45.8% while banking shares 39.8% during last two weeks. /Turkiye/[21] TURKISH EXPORT PRODUCTS EXHIBITED IN AFRICATurkish Export Products Fair was held in Akra, Ghana. During the four-day fair, 110 Turkish firms displayed their products, from food sector to automotive by-products, from furniture to machines, from home appliances to durable products. Following the fairs organized by Turkel Fair Company, in Kenya and Ghana, next fair will be held in Hartum, capital of Sudan, in October 2001. /Turkiye/[22] AMERICAN ROCK BANDS TO PROMOTE TURKEYAn American rock band, "Prophets Anonymous" will promote Turkey in their concerts in the US. The band was hosted by a Turkish tourism firm and a non-governmental organization in Turkey within an activity to promote Izmir to American tourists. /Cumhuriyet/[23] INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS OF THE AUTOMOTIVE BY-INDUSTRYTurkish automotive by-industry carried its successes to the international arena. Three of the Turkish automotive firms were presented with the International by-Industry Award by the General Motors. 13,500 firms from 20 countries participated in the contest. /Cumhuriyet/[24] BLACK SEA COUNTRIES PARTICIPATE IN THEATER DAYSThe Second International Theater Days will be held in Trabzon on May 16-25. According to a Culture Ministry statement, the theater days are intended to keep international relations between the Black Sea countries warm. Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, the Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkey will participate in the Theater Days. /Turkish News/[25] EXCHANGE RATES TO BE TARGETED MONTHLYState Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, said, "If we pull down the inflation, exchange rates cannot fluctuate extensively." During his speech at the consultative meeting of the Turkish Employers' Confederation(TISK), Dervis said, in the coming months the inflation rate may be between 5% and 7%, but then, a monthly target inflation will be set. /Milliyet/[26] AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS INCREASEAutomotive exports increased by fourfold compared to the imports in the first four months of this year. Automotive exports also increased by 45% compared to last year. Imports, on the other hand, decreased by 66%. /Hurriyet/[27] MOBIUS: "TURKEY INCREASED HER CHANCE FOR INVESTMENTS"The Head of the Templeton Markets Fund Inc, Mark Mobius said Turkey's chance for investments has increased. Mobius said, "Turkey developed her ability for company management. We are here to help a group of firms." /Hurriyet/[28] TOURISTIC BOOM IN AEGEAN REGIONCompared to last year the number of tourists visiting the Mugla province in the Aegean region increased by 24% in the first four months of the year. The hotels in the region have 80-90% full capacity. Meanwhile, Air Holland organized a Cappadocia tour. /Milliyet/[29] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[30] ALL EFFORTS IN VAIN BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent developments in the Balkans. A summary of his column is as follows:"The situation in the Balkans has heated up. As tension has escalated in Macedonia with new clashes, the attack launched against a mosque in Bosnia-Herzegovina has surfaced the ethnic animosities which were thought to be dead. These incidents show that in the countries which seceeded from former Yugoslavia and witnessed the actions of separatist movements people cannot tolerate each other and they do not want to live together. The former 'mosaic' in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro has been destroyed. All efforts spent to make the people of different races, religions, languages an cultures to live together as they had done in the past are fruitless. The new attack launched by a few thousand Serbian fanatics against the Ferhadiye Mosque has shown the presence of 'a sick mentality left from the days of the Dark Ages', in the words of EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten. The mosque was built in 16th century by the Ottomans and destroyed during the bloody incidents in 1992, in Banja Luca and was going to be restored. The agreement reached with the efforts of the international community gave the right to govern the region to the Serbs. Different ethnic and religious groups would be able to live freely in their own regions and in time they would heal the wounds of the civil war, preserve their own masterpieces as in the case of Ferhadiye mosque, and in time try to live together. However, the attack against the Ferhadiye mosque shattered these hopes. Serbian nationalism and conservatism have shown that living together for the communities is a dream at lest for this generation. At the beginning of the year in Macedonia it was hoped that an agreement could be reached betwen the Government and the political powers of Albanian origin. However, the attack launched by the Albanian militants and the harsh reaction by the Macedonian army have heated up the crisis. If an agreement is not reached as soon as possible, the ethnic and religious clashes here will lead to dangerous dimensions such as witnessed in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Instability, tension and uncertainty in the Balkans can entrap all the countries of the region, including Turkey in these clashes and disagreements. These incidents can spread all over and damage the relations between the states of the region. Therefore, Turkish diplomacy has to follow a careful, balanced policy and should play an active role when necessary. Therefore, the visit Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay to Kosovo carries great significance as it comes at a time when the situation in the Balkans is extremely tense. Certainly Cem will have important messages and suggestions to convey to the authorities." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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