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Turkish Press Review, 01-06-28
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
28.06.2001
CONTENTS
[01] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO DISCUSS THE REPORT OF TURKEY
[02] ECEVIT RECEIVES LOGOGLU
[03] TRNC REACTS TO LOIZIDOU DECISION
[04] IMMUNITY TO BE DISCUSSED
[05] NEW TAX MEASURES SENT TO PARLIAMENT
[06] CAKMAKOGLU IN BULGARIA
[07] TURKEY RECOGNIZES NORTHERN KOREA
[08] A BOOK WHICH REPLIES TO ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
[09] BILL ON ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FACILITIES APPROVED
[10] FRENCH FOREIGN MINSTER TO VISIT TURKEY IN JULY
[11] CILLER'S PROPOSAL REJECTED
[12] THREE TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEAST
[13] DERVIS: "I WILL RESIGN UNLESS THE TELECOM PROBLEM IS SOLVED"
[14] GERMAN LOAN FOR ENERJISA
[15] NEW IZMIR-LIBYA COMPANY TO BE FOUNDED
[16] "TURKISH FIRMS MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS"
[17] TURKISH BANKING IN FINANCIAL TIMES
[18] AYDIN DOGAN CARTOON CONTEST
[19] TOURISM TO DEVELOP ANTALYA'S ECONOMY
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[21] EUROPE IS WATCHNG US BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO DISCUSS THE REPORT OF TURKEY
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will discuss and vote for the report of Turkey foreseeing the continuation of the monitoring process over Turkey today in its Plenary Session. The report says that the implementation of the National Programme would ease the concerns of Council of Europe over the democratization process in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] ECEVIT RECEIVES LOGOGLU
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Faruk Logoglu yesterday. Reportedly, Lološlu briefed the Premier about his recent visit to Iran following the re-election of Iranian President Mohammed Khatemi. /Turkiye/
[03] TRNC REACTS TO LOIZIDOU DECISION
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Ministry has said that the TRNC must be the addressee of the Council of Europe on the Loizidou issue-whether the council recognizes the TRNC or not. In a written statement released by the ministry on Wednesday, it has stated that the Council of Europe continues to contact Turkey on the Loizidou issue, which angered the Greek-Cypriot people and the government. The Council of Europe on Tuesday once again asked Turkey to pay compensation to Greek Cypriot Loizidou. /Turkish News/
[04] IMMUNITY TO BE DISCUSSED
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Constitution-Justice Joint Commission will decide on the 59 files for 57 Parliamentary representatives. The commission will decide whether to abolish the immunities for the representatives in question, or the postponement of the inquires until the end of their term in duty. /Turkiye/
[05] NEW TAX MEASURES SENT TO PARLIAMENT
The Office of the Prime Ministry presented a bill on the set of additional tax measures to Parliament. The bill foresees the collection of TL 1 million special transaction tax from holders of time deposits, and a $50 surcharge from Turkish citizens on overseas trips. /Cumhuriyet-Turkish Daily News/
[06] CAKMAKOGLU IN BULGARIA
The Minister of National Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu attended the VIP-day of the Sevenstars-2001 exercise organized by the Multinational Peace Force for Southeastern (SEEBRIG) based in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Besides Cakmakoglu, Bulgarian Minister of Defense Boyko Noev, Greek, Albanian and Romanian Deputy Chiefs of the General Staff, as well as a number of Bulgarian and foreign military authorities observed the exercise. Replying to questions posed by reporters on the clashes in Macedonia and the probability to send a SEEBRIG force to the region, Cakmakoglu said, SEEBRIG was established by seven countries to preserve and carry out peace. He added, if violence increases in Macedonia, Turkey will participate in the international military forces as she did previously. /Turkiye/
[07] TURKEY RECOGNIZES NORTHERN KOREA
Turkey has announced that she recognizes Northern Korea. The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Turkey supports the rapprochement between Southern and Northern Korea since she believes it would contribute greatly to regional and global peace and stability. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] A BOOK WHICH REPLIES TO ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
A book, entitled, "The Armenians in the Late Period of the Ottoman Empire" was promoted to the public with a reception held in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). The Parliament Speaker, Omer Izgi said, the book was prepared by a number of Turkish and foreign academicians and replies to the Armenian's so-called genocide allegations. /Turkiye/
[09] BILL ON ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FACILITIES APPROVED
The bill on extending the take-over process of management-rights of the electricity production and distribution companies until October 31st, 2001 was approved in the Parliamentary Plenary Session. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] FRENCH FOREIGN MINSTER TO VISIT TURKEY IN JULY
France's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hubert Vedrine, will pay a one day official visit to Turkey in the second half of July. According to diplomatic sources Vedrine's visit will be held within the scope of the Turkish-French action plan. Important topics such as Turkish-EU relations, bilateral relations in addition to certain regional issues, including the Middle East peace process and growing tension in Macedonia, are expected to be discussed during the visit. /Turkish Daily News/
[11] CILLER'S PROPOSAL REJECTED
The Chairwoman of the True Path Party (DYP) Tansu Ciller's proposal concerning the enactment of the constitutional amendment package of 37 articles between July 1-15 was rejected by the leaders of the coalition parties. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said there is a need for time to discuss the possible constitutional amendments and added, "That is why the Parliament will give break on 1st of July. Ciller also met with Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz. Yilmaz said the coalition decided to debate the amendments on September 17 but added he would convey Ciller's proposal to his partners. Ciller is expected to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli today. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] THREE TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEAST
Soldiers killed three PKK terrorist organization militants in Southeastern Turkey and suffered two wounded from a land mine explosion. The three terrorists, one of whom was Iraqi, were killed in an exchange fire in a rural part of Diyarbakir province, some 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the capital Ankara, the local governor's office said. /Turkish Daily News/
[13] DERVIS: "I WILL RESIGN UNLESS THE TELECOM PROBLEM IS SOLVED"
Minister of State Kemal Dervis said he would resign unless the bargaining over the appointments, which would be made to the Telecom Management, be resolved as soon as possible. Dervis announced that he canceled his visit abroad after the Telecom Executive Council meeting delayed. It was stated that there are certain disputes about the figure to be appointed as the Director General of the Telecom. Authorities from the Treasury stated that Dervis did not resign but on the contrary, he showed he had a great determination to work by canceling all of his visits to foreign countries and staying home. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] GERMAN LOAN FOR ENERJISA
The German Investment Bank KFW will extend a 167-million Euro loan for the construction of the Enerjisa's three combined transfer autoproductor power station. According to a Sabanci Holding statement, the agreement regarding the loan for the three power stations to be constructed in Adana, Mersin and Canakkale will be signed today at the Sabanci Center. /Turkiye/
[15] NEW IZMIR-LIBYA COMPANY TO BE FOUNDED
A sea transport company will be founded by Izmir's businessmen and the Libyan government so as to bring tourists from Libya and other North African countries, Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) Chairman Ekrem Demirtas said on Wednesday. Demirtas said IZTO was working hard to bring the Libyan ship Toletela to Izmir with 145 tourists, and a sea-transport company would be established to maintain a continuous flow of Libyan tourists arriving in Turkey. /Turkish News/
[16] "TURKISH FIRMS MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS"
A Spokesperson for a leading international credit insurance company, Coface Group's Risk Management Regional Director Thierry Graffin, said Turkish companies meet their obligations. Graffin said in the panel "Export Opportunities and Risks in a Globalized World"
on Wednesday, that Turkey was below the average world risk, according to the 50 years of debth payment tendencies by companies. He said the previous crisis in Turkey had no negative traces on Coface, and that they never lost confidence in Turkey. /Turkish News/
[17] TURKISH BANKING IN FINANCIAL TIMES
The Financial Times stated that the Turkish banking system, which is the Achilles heel for the Turkish economy, began to be reformed. Stating the restructuring in the banking sector was going well, the Financial Times said the reform in the banking sector was one of the most important parts for the new economic program in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[18] AYDIN DOGAN CARTOON CONTEST
The winners of the 18th Aydin Dogan International Cartoon Contest which was held by the Aydin Dogan Foundation has been announced. While the cartoons of Alexander Kostenko were in the first place, Turkish cartoonist Sait Munzur's works was the second and Polish cartoonist Andrzej Graniak's the third. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] TOURISM TO DEVELOP ANTALYA'S ECONOMY
The Tourism sector is the major development factor in Antalya's economy. The Chairman of the Mediterrenean Union of Touristic Hotels, Ahmet Barut said, "Tourists contributes to Antalya economy in the amount of $4 billion. $1.5 billion of it is spent for hotel tourist guests." /Turkiye/
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
[21] EUROPE IS WATCHNG US BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the efforts to amend the Constitution. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The EU states are watching the efforts for amending the Constitution continuously. The West believes that, the Ankara Government is making promises it cannot keep and when the time of delivery comes is putting forth reservations. Even though in a covert manner, they are blaming us with insincerity and unscrupulousness. Yesterday, the German Ambassador to Ankara visited the State Minister responsible for Human Rights, Edip Safter Gaydali, and asked why the amendments to the Constitution were postponed until September. The Minister replied, that this parliament would pass the first civilian Constitution of the Republic of Turkey in the fall. The main opposition party leader Prof. Tansu Ciller chided the Government because the amendment to the Constitution was postponed to autumn without asking the opinion of her party. During all these events, the amendments to the Constitution are hanging like the Damocles' sword over our heads. Politicians who are unable to comprehend this fact should leave politics. All parties are responsible. There is no time for excuses or reinterpretation of words.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly is entering summer recess tonight. Although some consider it a vacation, deputies will go to their constituencies and meet with citizens to fulfill a part of their duty. They will have to listen to the complaints of the citizens, which have never reached such dimensions in any period. This will be a hot summer in every way but we are expecting a cooler autumn. All the indications point this way."
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