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Turkish Press Review, 01-06-25Turkish 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 morning25.06.2001CONTENTS
[01] FP IS CLOSEDFriday's Constitutional Court decision to ban the main opposition Virtue Party (FP) on the grounds of being a hub for anti-secular activities has sparked concerns over political stability and the prospects for membership of the European Union. It has also given rise to calls that the strict party rules should now be amended. /Turkish News-All papers/[02] FP AT THE AGENDA OF EUROPEThe closure of the Virtue Party (FP) will be discussed this week at the meetings to be held both in Luxembourg and Strasbourg this week. The political party closures in Turkey are widely discussed in the Report of Turkey prepared by the Council of Europe Parliamentarians Assembly. The FP case will also be debated at the Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting to be held with the participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs including the Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Hurriyet/[03] PARLIAMENT'S BUSY SCHEDULEBefore the summer recess, the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) is getting ready to have a busy week. Beginning from tomorrow, the Parliament will work between 14:00-24:00 for five days. The ruling parties will convene their Advisory Councils to specify the agenda of the week. The Parliament is expected to deal with the civil servants' union and collective bargaining rights and the revision of the 76-year old Civil Law, as well as amendments to the Constitution before the recess. /Turkiye/[04] BAHCELI VOWS LOYALTY TO COALITIONThe Nationalist Action Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli on Saturday pledged loyalty to Turkey's three-party coalition after the banning of the main opposition Islamic party. According to the coalition protocol signed in 1999, changes in the strength of the parties would have no impact on the share of power between the three coalition groupings. The Constitutional Court shut down the Islamic based Virtue Party on Friday for "being the focus of anti-secularist activities." The top court expelled two virtue deputies from parliament but left 100 representatives independent. Its verdict added to market fears that the balance between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Bahceli's Nationalist Action Party (MHP) could be reversed if a large number of former Islamic deputies joined the MHP. /Turkish Daily News/[05] DERVIS IN IZMIRState Minister responsible for economy, Kemal Dervis, said Turkey would enter July strongly. During his contacts in Izmir, Dervis said, "The real sector should be provided with loans by the public and private banks. We have reached a certain point in terms of public financing and economic balances. We should now transform it to the real sector. A certain amount of resource should be transferred without creating public imbalances. /Milliyet/[06] KEMAL DERVIS TO VISIT LONDONMinister of Economy Kemal Dervis is to visit London next week to drum up support in financial circles for Turkey's $15.7 billion International Monetary Fund rescue package, ministry officials said. Turkey signed an agreement with the IMF in May after a February crisis that slashed more than 70 percent off the lira's value, sending an original IMF pact up in flames. Dervis is also expected to attend a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Salzbourg, Austria, and visit Brussels where he will discuss Turkish-European Union relations next week. /Turkish News/[07] FINAL WEEK FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGEThe leaders of the coalition parties will say the final word this week for the "constitutional amendment package" prepared by the Parliamentary Reconciliation Commission. The leaders are expected to meet today in order to be able to draw up a schedule. /Cumhuriyet/[08] PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE POLITICAL IMMUNITYThe Turkish Parliament will handle 80 files concerning the abolishment of the political immunities of the parliamentarians this week. The Parliamentary Constitution and the Justice Joint Commission will review the reports on the files prepared about the abolishment of immunities' of 80 parliamentarians. /Cumhuriyet/[09] DURMUS IN THE USThe Minister of Health Osman Durmus left for New York yesterday to join the UN special session for "HIV/AIDS". Before his departure, Durmus said during the meeting he will inform the participants about the situation of the illness in Turkey and the measures taken. Representatives from 191 countires are expected to attend the meeting. /Turkiye/[10] LOLOGLU IN IRANThe Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Faruk Lologlu, who is in Iran for an official visit, will present a message from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Iran's President Mohammed Khatemi today. Sezer reportedly said in his message that in order to further bilateral relations, he was ready to show more efforts. Sezer is expected to visit Iran before end of the year. Lologlu and the Turkish delegation convened with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Eminzade yesterday and then visited co-chairman of the Turkish-Iranian Joint Economic Committee Sadik Avsar. /Turkish Daily News/[11] PEACE WINDS IN THE AEGEANAfter their visit to Samos, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papendreou, were in Kusadasi yesterday. The two ministers replied to questions posed by journalists in a press conference. Cem said during these contacts they explored new opportunities to cooperate with. Papandreou pointed out the rapproachment between the two countries has exceeded the level of ministers and owned by the nations and it should continue for long years. The two ministers also decided a direct telephone line for emergency cases to be established. /Turkiye/[12] GERMANY'S JUSTICE MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYGermany's Minister of Justice Bertha Daeubler-Gmelin will visit Turkey for four days as the official guest of Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk. German Ministry of Justice Press Spokeswoman Maritta Strasser said that Minister Daeubler-Gmelin would arrive in Istanbul today, and would visit historic and touristic places in Istanbul on Sunday. The German guest will arrive in Ankara on the same day and start official contacts on Monday. She will also meet with Germany's Ambassador Rudolph Schmidt, and Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mustafa Bumin. /Turkish News/[13] COEPA LISTS NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS IN HR AND DEMOCRACYThe Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) Monitoring Committee, said in a report written on Turkey and a non-binding decision prepared in the light of this report, that Turkey had made progress recently regarding its human rights and democracy records. The report says that Turkey still has to make greater efforts, however, and called for the continuation of the monitoring process. The reports says Turkey has to work harder, particularly as far as constitutional reforms, the abolition of the death sentence, prison reforms, and organizational rights are concerned. According to the report, Turkish officials are open and sincere about issues of greater importance, and the implementation of the National Program will be enough to eliminate a great part of the anxieties of the Council of Europe. /Turkish News/[14] DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS VIA THE STRAITSTurkish Environmental Cocoon held a demonstration to protest the transportation of the hazardous waste materials via the Straits. Chairman of the "Peace with The Nature Association", Yuksel Ustun, said they would protect and defend their right to live in a healthy environment. The Turkish Environmental Cocoon consists of 224 non-governmental organizations and is supported by 427 associations. /Cumhuriyet/[15] TURKEY TO NORMALIZE HER RELATIONS WITH NORTHERN KOREASouthern Korean National News Agency Yonhap announced that Turkey would normalize her relations with Northern Korea. Pyongyang Administration established diplomatic relations with 11 countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and Spain this year. /Hurriyet/[16] CHAIRMAN OF THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS YILMAZ'S STATEMENT ON THE NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIESThe Chairman of the Religious Affairs, Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, said that the Directorate General of the Religious Affairs demanded to make use of new information technologies. Directorate General will make a deal with a private company to use the satellite technology in the education of the imams (preachers). Yilmaz said, "We will use satellite technology to inform and educate the Muslim community." /Cumhuriyet/[17] ORAL: "THERE ARE NO MIRACLES IN THE ECONOMY"Stating that they were trying to re-sustain the equilibrium in the economy, The Minister of Finance Sumer Oral said, "There are no miracles in the economy.". Oral stated that without a political stability, an economic one could not be achieved. Pointing out he was well aware of the problems of the real sector, Oral added that were trying to find new resources for the farmers and tradesmen. /Cumhuriyet/[18] TOBB TO FORM A COMMISSIONThe Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) will form a commission next week which will work on the immediate enactment of the TOBB Law. The Chambers of Industry and Commerce, of Industry, of Maritime Commerce, and the Councils from the Maritime Industry Chambers will announce their members who will form the commission this week. The Commission is expected to consist of 15 members. /Hurriyet/[19] FOREIGN INVESTORS READY TO INVESTAfter the enaction of the International Arbitration Law, important investment ventures are expected to be evaluated. Until today, foreign investors, hesitating to invest in Turkey as the laws regarding the arbitration and its related harmonization laws were not enacted, are expected to show interest in big projects, such as the Ankara-Istanbul Railway Project, and metro projects in various provinces. /Turkiye/[20] TREASURY BORROWINGThe political tension due to the Virtue Party's (FP) closing and not reaching a consensus about the appointments to the administration of Turk Telekom are expected to reflect on the four-months-term bond bidding to be carried out on Tuesday. The Treasury is aiming to borrow 2.5 quadrillion TL. The Treasury decreased the amount of repayment from 4.6 quadrillion TL to 4.2 quadrillion TL. /Milliyet/[21] ADDITIONAL LETTER OF INTENT WRITTENThe additional letter of intent, which is of the utmost importance in terms of the second slice of loan to be extended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been completed. The letter, consisting of 17articles, will be sent to the IMF Chairman Horst Kohler. In this letter, which was prepared in line with the principles of the main letter of intent that forms the basis of the agreement made with the IMF in May, the economic situation since May is reported. In the letter, it is also written that the economy was in a process of recovery." /Sabah/TURKEY TO SELL F-16s TO AUSTRIA Turkey is getting ready to sell F-16 planes to Europe. During Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel's official visit to Turkey, the sale of Turkish F-16 planes was discussed. During the official talks, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has offered to sell Turkish F-16s to Austria. Prime Minister Schussel welcomed this offer, and stated that Austria is planning to buy war planes. "We will be pleased if the Turkish Defense Industry attends the auction that we will offer," he said. /Turkish News/ [22] TURKEY TO INSPECT OVERSEAS CIVIL AVIATION ACTIVITIESAfter becoming a full member in the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), members from Turkey's Civil Aviation General Directorate (SHAM) will inspect civil aviation activities in other countries this year. SHAM authorities said that all JAA member countries were inspected once a year. Turkey was fully authorized in aviation inspections after signing the membership agreement on April 4, they added. Inspections in Turkey will be carried out July 2 to 6, and maintenance procedures for aircraft and approved maintenance companies will be inspected. /Turkish News/[23] TURKEY TAKES PLACE IN EU'S E-EUROPE INITIATIVETurkey was recently included in the EU's e-Europe initiative that aims to make Internet services more available. The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) represented Turkey at the preparatory meetings for this initiative, TUBITAK Chairman Prof. Namik Kemal Pak attended the last meeting in Brussels where the action plan was developed. An official press statement came after the EU Gothenurg Summit, which was attended by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. If the action plan is implemented faithfully, the Internet will receive wide use in many areas by the end of 2003. /Turkish News/[24] TURKISH PLANES EXHIBITED IN PARISThe Turkish Aviation Industry (TAI) exhibited its training plane "Turna" in the 44th International Aviation Fair in Paris.Two large aviation companies, Airbus and Boeing competed in the fair. Airbus sold 376 planes, while Boeing 240. Turkey is among the countries that ordered Airbus planes with 10. /Turkiye/[25] UNDERGROUND STORAGE OF NATURAL GASThe bidding stage has been reached for the storage of the natural gas exported from Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan which is expected to increase in the coming years. Following the Salt Lake (Tuz Golu) storage facilities' project, Turkish Petroleum Joint Stock Company (TPAO) launched an international tender for the transformation of the Northern Marmara and Degirmenkoy facilities to storage facilities. The biddings will be delivered by Oct. 15, 2001. /Turkiye/[26] CONFERENCE ON HANDICAPPED EDUCATION READYThe "First International Special Education Conference" will start today in Antalya expecting the participation of 19 countries. The conference's Organization Committee Director Cigdem Avtur said that education and other problems affecting the handicapped would be discussed in an international conference in Turkey for the first time and added, "Topics of interactivity and cooperation will be discussed by some 1,000 participants from 19 countries who will attend the conference. Associations to Support the Mental Handicapped from Anatolia, Ankara, Abant Izzet Baysal and Mustafa Kemal Universities are supporting the conference. /Turkish News/[27] SUCCESS OF YOUNG PSYCHOLOGISTSThe ODTU (Middle East technical University) Psychology Club will host the 16th European Federation of the Psychology Students Associations (EFPSA) meeting next year. Currently searching for financial aid, the students said the theme of the meeting will be the "Post Trauma Syndrome". The theme was chosen with the effect of the 1999 Marmara Earthquake. The meeting will be held between April 24-30, 2002. The ODTU Psychology Club will host 250 students and experts from other countries and 100 Turkish students. /Cumhuriyet/[28] RMK MARINA'S SUCCESSRMK Marina dockyard, which is active within the Koc Holding Company, has become one of the best four dockyards in the world with the logistic tankers and yachts that it produces. General Director of RMK Marine, Sezai Isik, said, "We are aiming to set higher targets in the Turkish vessel construction sector with our endorsement amounting to 50 million US dollars and international projects that we are increasing year by year. /Sabah/16TH YEAR OF THE TROI EXCAVATIONS The Troi Excavations have entered its 16th year. An international group of 76 chaired by the archeologist Prof. Dr. Manfred Korfmann will continue their works to unearth the outskirts of the city. /Cumhuriyet/ [29] FOUR MEDALS IN GYMNASTICSThe 10th International Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship ended yesterday in Izmir. Turkey received two gold and two silver medal in the Championship. /Cumhuriyet/[30] GREASE WRESTLING IN THE US PRESSNew York Times gave coverage to the annual Kirkpinar Grease Wrestling which is organized in Edirne. The article gave detailed information about the history and organization of the wrestles. The New York Times also emphasized that many tourists watch the wrestling matches very carefully as well as many Turks. /Cumhuriyet/[31] THREE AWARDS TO FERZAN OZPETEK"Ignorant Fairies" directed by Turkish director Ferzan Ozpetek received three awards at the 42th Globo d'oro Film Festival in Rome. The film received the Best Director and the Best Leading Actress and Actor awards. /Cumhuriyet/[32] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS..[33] RECOMMENDATIONS BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the decision of the Constitutional Court to close down the Virtue Party. A summary of his column is as follows:"In Iran a great resistance has begun to the regime where Islamic rules were strictly implemented... The voters have begun to vote for those who promised to reform the political system based on religion and tried to do so. Symbols of reform took the place of religious symbols during the Election. Despite all pressures, people continued to use satellite antennas. Iranian people are not voting for candidates who come before the people with the slogans of the Homeini regime. The Iranians are for democracy, the equality between men and women, joining the international community, no intervention from anyone to the life style they prefer. Therefore, we believe that these reasons are the best indication of the retreat in political Islam. If Iran had been happy under the Homeini regime, the Iranians would not have voted for those promising reforms, more democracy, equality between sexes and an end to interference in their private lives. In Turkey the Virtue Party is closed down. At least two more parties will be formed in its place. The Virtue Party has based politics on religion continuously exploiting religious themes under various names and under the leadership of Erbakan... During the last Election it received 15% of the votes. That means about five million of the votes counted. This amount also covers the votes of the center-right voters who were not satisfied with the other center-right parties implementations. If the two parties to be formed with the closure of the Virtue Party base their politics on the policy of Erbakan, their total votes may reach only 10% of the votes. In Turkey, there are millions of voters who are not pleased with the actions of the Administration, but also do not want the country to be governed according to Islamic rules. A policy, which will aim at this group may help them to reach a greater vote potential. Naturally, the best indication of this will be the political stance they will adopt. The moment they realize the fact that economic, political and reform themes hold greater importance for the overwhelming majority of the country, they will move ahead. The Virtue Party under the leadership of Erbakan lived in the past. They whiled away their years by absurd statements such as bloody or bloodless coups, expression of their pleasure on bloodshed, or producing six thousand tanks... They used women's headscarves as a political symbol, preached politics in mosques, and reached this point after 30 years..." This means they have to change their ways. They always have to defend democracy and not only when they need it. They should discuss the reasons for the desire to change in the Iranian society. They will find the right path." [34] AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)Columnist Gungor Mengi comments on the closure of the Virtue Party. A summary of his column is as follows:"Virtue is learning lessons even from others' experiences, let alone one's own. The Virtue Party has repeated the mistakes of Erbakan. Did they not realize that it was in vain to divide the people into Moslems and secularists and base politics on hostility? It shall be seen in time. Erbakan is not promising as a leader. A chairman whose only capital is headscarves, almost 80 years old cannot produce new policies from now on and he cannot reconcile with new values. Certainly, five million voters will not be left out of politics and no one wants it. The most important thing for them is the emergence of a modern, democratic conservative party and the formation of an example, which will be beneficial to Islam, democracy and the country. Certainly, it is their preference to divide the party or not. However, it is highly unreasonable to be oppressed by bankrupt, and outdated arguments. If Erbakan had not turned the headscarf issue into a political symbol, may be headscarves would not be banned in Turkey. They are delaying their supporters with the dream that the European Court of Human Rights will accord them their rights. However, Prof. Bakir Caglar who is an expert on the issue, stated that in the decision to close the party, anti-secular actions and headscarves as their symbol took place in the foreground. He said, "ECHR rejected the cases concerning headscarves until now. Therefore the chances of the Virtue Party winning the case are low. Europe is sensitive to fundamentalist and Islamist parties." The formation of a few new parties from the legacy of the Virtue Party is a chance to be supported. Being an individual in the party rather than subject in a community may help us move forward." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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