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Turkish Press Review, 01-07-20
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
20.07.2001
CONTENTS
[01] SEZER'S BUSY AGENDA
[02] EU CIRCULAR BY ECEVIT
[03] CEM IN MACEDONIA
[04] DENKTAS'S STATEMENT
[05] GOOD NEWS TO REFORMISTS
[06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S DECISION CONCERNING THE RENT
INCREASES
[07] RELATIONS WITH GERMANY ARE ON A SOUND TRACK
[08] IRANIAN GAS SALE TO BE POSTPONED TO MID-AUGUST
[09] EARTHQUAKE IN CESME
[10] ORAL: "NO TURNING BACK FROM THE ECONOMIC
PROGRAM"
[11] YILMAZ ON THE LATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
[12] DERVIS MEETS FOREIGN BANKS' REPRESENTATIVES
[13] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS IN ANKARA
[14] TOBB'S STATEMENT
[15] PARRIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY
[16] TURKEY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO CHINESE READY-WEAR IMPORTS
[17] DEMIRBANK'S SALE
[18] AKUT TO CLIMB MOUNT ARARAT WITH SIX FOREIGN MOUNTAINEERS
[19] CHAMPIONSHIP
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[21] INTERNAL CRISIS , AND EXTERNAL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[22] (CUMHURIYET)
[23] GENOA INITIATIVE BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)
[01] SEZER'S BUSY AGENDA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received the Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The meeting
between Sezer and Ecevit lasted for half an hour. Ecevit has not made any
comments concerning the meeting. In addition, Sezer also met Chief of the
General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu at the Cankaya Presidential
Palace yesterday. The weekly ordinary meeting between Sezer and Kivrikoglu
lasted for one hour. Sezer also received Equador's Ambassador to Rome,
also accredited to Turkey, Arturo Gangotena Guarderas. During the meeting,
Guarderas has presented his letter of confidence to Sezer. /Turkiye/
[02] EU CIRCULAR BY ECEVIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has issued a circular
concerning restructuring to go on with the financial cooperation between
Turkey and the European Union (EU). It was stated that the financial aid
to be provided by the EU would play a very important role in the
implementation of the National Programme, which was accepted by the
Council of Ministers on March 19, 2001. The aids and donations to be
received and the loans to be received by the European Investment Bank will
be within the framework of the projects harmonized with the priorities
that take place in the Accession Partnership Document and the National
Programme in line with Turkey's full membership. In addition, it was
stated that the a reconstruction will be made to implement the financial
cooperation between Turkey and the EU. In the circular, it was further
stated that the Financial Cooperation Committee was established to ensure
the necessary harmonization among the works concerning the financial
cooperation. The Financial Cooperation Committee will consist of the
representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance,
Undersecretary of State Planning Organization, Undersecretariat of
Treasury and the Secretariat General of EU. In addition, the National Aid
Coordination Council will be established and chaired by the State Minister
responsible for the relations with the EU, Mesut Yilmaz. /Turkiye/
[03] CEM IN MACEDONIA
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, has given
important messages concerning the domestic turmoil in Macedonia, where he
paid a one-day visit. Cem said the Macedonian government should not ignore
the needs of the nation and requested that the Turkish political parties
should also participate in the political dialogue searches. Cem also
warned that the Albanian minority should be modest in their wishes. Cem
also criticized the point that the economic aids to be extended by the
Western countries and institutions, such as the US or the European Union
(EU), have political preconditions. Within the framework of these
contacts, Cem met his Macedonian counterpart, Ilinka Mitreva, and then met
the Macedonian President Boris Traykovski, the Macedonian Prime Minister
Lubco Georgievski, and the representatives of the coalition party
political parties, which were established by the Turkish people in
Macedonia. Cem also went from Skopje to Manastir and met the Turkish
people, who have faced various attacks there, and the members of other
organizations. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] DENKTAS'S STATEMENT
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyrus
(TRNC), Rauf Denktas held a press conference within the framework of July
20, Peace and Freedom Festival celebrations and mentioned the developments
concerning the Cyprus issue. Denktas said a possible agreement over the
Cyprus problem, should be on the basis of the Turkish people's
sovereignty. Denktas said, "We want the structure of our State to be
recognized. As long as the world treats the Greek Cypriots as the 'Cypriot
government', the problem of Cyprus cannot be solved." Denktas called
on the international arena to reevaluate and correctly diagnose the Cyprus
issue and added, "The unfair attitude over the Turkish Cypriots,
which has been continuing for 38 years, was not removed and the world
closes its eyes to the truth. A solution cannot be reached by only taking
the Greek Cypriots' opinion into consideration." /Cumhuriyet/
JULY 20TH CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION CELEBRATION MESSAGES
Speaker of the Turkish Grand Assembly (TGNA), Omer
Izgi, has sent a message of celebration to the President of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and the Speaker of the
Republic's Assembly, Ertugrul Hasipoglu, due to the 27th anniversary of
the Cyprus Peace Operation. In his message, Izgi said, "TGNA will
support the Turkish Cypriots' struggle of maintaining their legal rights
peacefully, continue to live independently, and will shoulder its
responsibilities." Meanwhile the 9th Turkish President, Suleyman
Demirel, has celebrated the 27th Cyprus Peace Operation. It was stated
that Demirel has phoned Denktas and Eroglu, congratulated them and
extended his best wishes for the Turkish-Cypriot people. In addition,
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, General Secretary of the Presidential
Office, Vahit Erdem, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador Akin Alptuna, and the member of the Republican
People's Party (CHP), Inal Batu, have come to the TRNC to attend the
celebrations. /Turkiye/
[05] GOOD NEWS TO REFORMISTS
The Constitutional Court has decided to annul the
decision concerning the expulsion of Hasan Celal Guzel, former leader of
the Rebirth Party (YDP), from politics. Guzel had been in prison for
infringing on Article No. 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) concerning
"the provocation of the people into enmity and hostility." This
verdict has also enabled the leader of the reformist wing of the former
Virtue Party (FP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to become chairman of the party
he is to form. Erdogan, like Guzel, had been given a prison sentence for
charges of infringing Article No. 312 of the TCK. /Turkish Daily News/
[06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S DECISION CONCERNING THE RENT
INCREASES
The Constitutional Court has cancelled the Rent Law's
article, which envisages a rent increase of 10% this year, as it found the
provision against the Constitution. The Supreme Council made an evaluation
that the changing economic conditions and price increases in the other
fields of life are above 10% and, thus, this situation was found unfair
and against the Constitution's "right of property" basis.
/Milliyet/
[07] RELATIONS WITH GERMANY ARE ON A SOUND TRACK
The Turkish Ambassador to Germany, Osman Koruturk, has
said that there have been recent positive developments in German-Turkish
relations, according to Anatolia news agency. The Ambassador touched on a
number of matters of interest regarding relations between the two
countries, including a request forwarded to the Foreign Ministry on a
request that the German Federal Parliament debate the so-called Armenian
genocide. "We are not of the opinion that Parliament is competent in
such matters. The Foreign Ministry shares our view that this subject
should be left to historians," he stated. /Turkish News/
[08] IRANIAN GAS SALE TO BE POSTPONED TO MID-AUGUST
The launching of the Iranian gas transfer to Turkey
will not be realized on July 31st as earlier announced, senior energy
bureaucrats said. Because of the Turkish argument that the Iranian side
was not ready yet, the project will start in the middle of August,
officials briefing the Turkish Daily News said on Wednesday. However,
Iranian officials said that they have made all the arrangements for
starting the project at the earliest possible time. The Iranian Libya
Sanctions Act (ILSA), which is under debate at the US Congress, is to be
renewed on August 1st. ILSA was first started to be applied on August
1996. The US administration is for a two-year extension of ILSA. US
officials commented that the Turkish-Iranian gas deal is not being
evaluated within the framework of ILSA in terms of the natural gas sale to
Turkey. /Turkish Daily News/
POLICE KILL ONE HIZBULLAH MILITANT, ARREST 10
Police said on Thursday they had killed one suspected
armed Islamic militant and wounded another in operations this months in
the southeastern capital of Diyarbakir. The police said 10 suspected
militants, including the wounded one, were arrested in the operations. All
were believed to be the members of the Hizbullah armed group which Ankara
holds responsible for scores of massacre killings aimed at replacing
Turkey's officially secular order with one based on Islamic Sharia Law.
/Turkish Daily News/
[09] EARTHQUAKE IN CESME
An earthquake measured 3.5 on the Richter Scale
occurred in Izmir's province of Cesme yesterday at 12:23. During the
earthquake, there were not any losses of life or property. However, the
citizens panicked for a short time. Officials from Bogazici University's
Kandilli Observatory stated that the earthquake was not strong and that it
lasted for a short time. /Hurriyet/
[10] ORAL: "NO TURNING BACK FROM THE ECONOMIC
PROGRAM"
Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral, pointed out that the
economic program would be implemented carefully and in a determined manner
and said, "These kinds of programs will not be effective without the
support of the nation." In his statement in Malatya, Oral said,
"45% of the Budget is used for the interests. Such a structure of
public finance does not exist in any of the developed countries. However,
the economic crisis, which has occurred in February, has imbalanced all
the interests. We have to balance them again and this is not impossible.
We will solve this problem by seriously implementing the economic program.
Without solving this problem, it would be too hard to reserve more
resource for the basic investments, education and health." /Turkiye/
[11] YILMAZ ON THE LATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and the Deputy Prime
Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, said there were rumors that the foreign banks were
making speculations and said, "We, as well as the Banking Regulation
and Supervision Board have heard the same things. There is a opportunistic
approach to benefit from excessive profits from the temporary economic
problems. We will prevent them just like every State." Yilmaz toured
the Technology Park in the Middle East Technical University and answered
the questions concerning the economic developments. He added that the
situation concerning the foreign currency and interest rates was
temporary. /Hurriyet/
[12] DERVIS MEETS FOREIGN BANKS' REPRESENTATIVES
State Minister Responsible for Economy, Kemal Dervis,
said the fluctuation was not expected in the markets from now on and
wanted the foreign bankers to be optimistic. The representatives of the
foreign banks, who are interpreted as those responsible for the shocking
increases in the foreign exchange rates, have met Dervis. Representatives
from Citibank, Chase Manhattan, ABN Amro, HSBC and Deutsche Bank. During
the visit, Dervis asked, "There are some articles claiming that the
foreign banks are the reason of the increase in the foreign currency rate.
What do you think?" While replying to this question, representatives
from the foreign banks said they were not taking place in any speculative
actions and that they were only meeting the demands of their customers.
Thus, Dervis said, "The disagreements, which can be observed in any
democratic country, sometimes reflect with exaggeration on the press. This
situation causes instability in the markets. You should not be so
pessimistic. /Sabah/
[13] IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CONTACTS IN ANKARA
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation,
chaired by the IMF's Representative to Turkey, Juha Kahkonen, continues to
maintain contacts in Ankara. The delegation's contacts continue in the
Undersecretariat of Treasury and the Central Bank. The IMF delegation is
closely following the developments in the foreign exchange rate and
interest boundaries and the precautions taken against it. The IMF
delegation, which has been divided into groups, has held meetings at the
Treasury and discussed the developments in the public financing and the
domestic loan stock and the issues about the social security institutions
and the unemployment insurance yesterday. The IMF delegation held another
meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Finance and Budget targets
and implementations of the year 2001 and tax revenues and the Budget of
the year 2002. In addition, the delegation went to the Central Bank and
discussed the developments in the foreign exchange rate and interest
boundaries yesterday. The delegation also met the experts from the State
Planning Organization and discussed the financial structure of the State
Economic Enterprises, the developments occurred in the investment
precautions and the agricultural support. The IMF delegation is expected
to stay in Turkey for ten days and to prepare a report by the weekend.
/Turkiye/
[14] TOBB'S STATEMENT
Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges' (TOBB)
Council Chairmen, asked for revision from the government. In the
explanation issued by the TOBB's Council Chairmen following the meeting in
Istanbul's Chamber of Industry, it was said, "The basic condition of
removing the atmosphere of inconfidence and instability is to make a
radical and realist structural change." Chairman of the TOBB
Industrial Chambers' Council, Kemal Colakoglu said, "We want a change
of team so the confidence in our government can continue. It can be
achieved by decreasing the number of ministers to 22." /Milliyet/
[15] PARRIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY
The former US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, was
received by the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz.
Following the meeting, Parris answered the questions of the journalists
and said he found it more convenient to make a short explanation in order
not to cause any speculations concerning his visit. He said, "I am
not here as a representative of the Bush Administration or an investor. I
am here as the Chairman of the Association of Turkey's American Friends.
During my contacts, I have discussed the latest developments in Turkey.
During this period of time, Turkey has made improvements particularly in
the fields of banking and legislation." While answering the question
of a journalists, Parris said, "The economic program is given
importance not only by the State Minister Kemal Dervis, but also by the
government." /Cumhuriyet/
[16] TURKEY LAUNCHES PROBE INTO CHINESE READY-WEAR IMPORTS
Turkey's Foreign Trade Undersecretariat has launched an
official investigation into Chinese ready-wear materials upon a
considerable increase in imports, according to a communiqué published in
yesterday's Official Gazette. Imports of Chinese goods including gloves,
socks, ties, tents, blankets and curtains will be subject to supervision
as an emergency measure, the Gazette said. Overall ready-wear imports by
Turkey have risen by 28.4 percent in 2000, compared to the previous year,
which prompted authorities to start an inspection. /Turkish Daily News/
[17] DEMIRBANK'S SALE
Within the framework of Demirbank's sale, the Saving
Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has found HSCB Bank's proposal as convenient
for evaluation. In the written statement issued by the TMSF, it was
announced that HSCB Bank, which has proposed to buy 1_3 of Demirbank's
legal personality balance, will unite the Bank with the HSCB Limited
Company in Turkey. The meetings concerning the share's sale and the taking
over agreements are expected to be completed in two months. /Turkiye/
[18] AKUT TO CLIMB MOUNT ARARAT WITH SIX FOREIGN MOUNTAINEERS
Members of the Turkish Search and Rescue Team (AKUT)
will organize a "Climbing of Peace and Friendship" to Mount
Ararat with six mountaineers, who have climbed the Everest peak before.
State Minister Responsible for Economy, Sukru Sina Gurel, will also attend
the climbing, which will continue until August 10. /Sabah/
TURKEY TO HOST 71ST WORLD ADULTS WEIGHTLIFTING
[19] CHAMPIONSHIP
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF)
decided that Turkey will host the 71st World's Adults Weightlifting
Championship organization. Chairman of Weightlifting Federation, Kenan
Nuhut, made an explanation about the organization that will be held on
3-11 November in Antalya and said, "This organization is of the
utmost importance in terms of Turkey's prestige. Our success in the
previous organizations have played an important role in taking a positive
decision in our favor." /Cumhuriyet/
[20] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE
COLUMNS...
[21] INTERNAL CRISIS , AND EXTERNAL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the problems facing
the Government both at home and abroad . A summary of his column is as
follows: "The side effect of the economic crisis we are going through
for weeks is being seen in foreign policy. At present, foreign problems do
not take priority in Turkey who has been dealing with problems within the
country. Ankara is not launching any initiatives on issues ranging from
Cyprus to ESDI but insisting on old views known by all. The Government
that has turned its attention solely on the economic crisis does not have
any time to think about foreign policy matters. Such deep crises hamper
the strength of a country in foreign policy issues and narrow its area of
influence in the international arena. It is not possible for an
economically weak state to follow a strong foreign policy. This is the
difficulty facing Turkey who is dealing with economic and political crises
and asking for foreign aid. In fact, at the moment Ankara is encountering
certain urgent problems requiring new assessments and creative
initiatives. One of them is the Cyprus issue. The reason why it has
acquired urgency is the full EU membership of Greek Cypriot
administration. All EU officials are candidly saying that if there is no
progress on the way to a solution the EU is ready to accept Greek Cypriot
Administration as a full member. The calendar on the issue is quickly
ticking away. At the end of the year, the negotiation process will begin
and the entrance to the EU, even in a divided status, will be finalized
within two or three years. It is clear that Turkey's warnings or protests
do not have any effect on the issue. Turkish diplomacy has to follow a
different policy and launch new initiatives. However, Ankara is not
concerned with this problem at this point. Another issue requiring urgent
attention deals with the EU army known as the European Security and
Defense Identity (ESDI). This has a calendar similar to that of the EU
membership of Greek Cypriot Administration. The EU is determined to carry
out the project at the end of the year even if Turkey insists on her own
conditions. Messages to the point are reaching Ankara from the EU
Commission and the capitals of the EU member countries. If a compromise
cannot be reached, Turkey can be left in a difficult position to use her
veto power against the EU countries, most of them NATO members. Another
urgent problem is also waiting. The 'Progress Report' of the EU on Turkey
will be published in November. EU officials are complaining that some
important steps mentioned in the National Program have not been carried
out as yet. In fact, the Government does not have any time to deal with
these problems. When the Parliament convenes in September it will have
other priorities. One of the problems of concern to the EU is that Turkey
cannot come close to EU standards due to the economic crisis she is
experiencing. This will delay Turkey's membership to the EU. The Financial
Times of London was saying in an editorial that it was not the time for
Ankara who is in need of IMF support to pick a quarrel with the EU or the
US. 'Turkey should know that her present stance would weaken her influence
in the Western club she wants to enter.' This reflects the widespread
opinion in the West. If only Ankara had the time and capability to
evaluate this statement!"
EUROPE, CYPRUS AND JULY 20th BY EROL MANISALI
[22] (CUMHURIYET)
Columnist Erol Manisali comments on the recent
developments in Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows: "The
European Union does not recognize international agreements concerning
Cyprus. It views the Greek Cypriot Administration as the only republic on
the Island. In fact, the 1960 London and Zurich Agreements establishing a
bicommunal republic did not grant such a right to the Greek Cypriots. The
agreement stipulated that the Island belonged to both the Greek and
Turkish Cypriots and the republic established on a bicommunal basis had a
special status. In accordance with this status Turkey, Greece and England
were the guarantor powers and Turkey and Greece could deploy troops on the
Island. It also added that this Republic could not enter any international
organization in which one of the parties was not present. In 1963 Greek
Cypriots occupied the whole Republic and Europe did not utter a word
against this illegal stance. When in 1974 Athens and the Greek Cypriots
tried to solve the problem through a short cut and annex the island to
Greece, Turkey intervened and the present structure formed of two states
was established. Today, Europe ignores the presence of one party and wants
to take the Greek Cypriots as representing the whole of the Island. This
is completely illegal. Brussels and the experts on the issue know it very
well. What the EU wants to do is to get Cyprus out of Turkey's sphere of
influence benefiting from the weak point she has against the EU and say
that it is her political choice and she is not concerned with the legal
point of view. With her policy on Cyprus, the EU is displaying her
intentions of not taking Turkey into the EU."
[23] GENOA INITIATIVE BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)
Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the demonstrations
against globalization held in Genoa in protest of the G-8 Summit. A
summary of his column is as follows: " The G-8 Summit which will be
hosted by Italy has made Genoa the focus of demonstrations against
globalization. Due to the incidents, which occurred in Seattle and Prague,
Berlusconi Administration has almost announced martial law. The 'red zone'
surrounding the Ducal Palace where the Summit will take place has been
closed to demonstrators. Missiles have been deployed in Christopher
Columbus Airport to protect the G-8 leaders from a possible air attack.
Marines are protecting the ship 'European Vision' where the leaders will
spend the night. The Genoese are puzzled by such high security measures
for a meeting, which will be held for the benefit of the world. As the
economies of countries are in a state of stagnation, the influence of
multinational companies on national states increase, the inequality and
unfairness in distribution of income, pestering poor countries rise the
wave against globalization grows. Environmental concerns lead to the
reactions of younger generations. The 'Global Warming Conference' in Bonn
taking place just before Genoa Summit has triggered the demonstrations.
The US is dragging her feet not to sign the Kyoto Pact made in Kyoto to
decrease the amount of industrial gases, which is shown as one of the main
reasons for global warming. Japanese Prime Minister is acting rather shyly
on the measures, which will go into effect in 2002 as a result of the Pact
signed in his country. The future of Kyoto will also be discussed in
Genoa. In Turkey non-governmental organizations have organized a series of
panels, and press conferences to support the demonstrations in Italy.
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