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Turkish Press Review, 01-09-04Turkish 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 morning04.09.2001CONTENTS
[01] LEADERS SUMMITThe coalition party leaders will meet today. The Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli, Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan are expected to attend the Summit that will be chaired by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to begin at 11:00. During the Summit, the economic situation, the constitutional changes and the latest operations will be debated. /Hurriyet/[02] DENKTAS MEETS SOTOFollowing his meeting with the United Nations' Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, for nearly two hours, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, answered the questions of the journalists and said, "We are trying to establish a new cooperation effort based on equality between the two parties in Cyprus. De Soto is also working hard for this purpose." While answering a question concerning the European Parliament member, Jack Poos' Cyprus report, Denktas said, "This report should not be exaggerated so much, because it is not so important." Meanwhile, before meeting with Denktas, Soto has held his fourth meeting with the Greek-Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides. De Soto is expected to complete his contacts today. /Cumhuriyet/[03] INFLATION FIGURES ANNOUNCEDThe inflation figures for August were declared. According to the State Institute of Statistics, whole sale prices increased by 3.5% and consumer prices by 2.9% in August. In the period of January-August the inflation rates became 54.6% and 39.5% for whole sale prices and consumer prices respectively. /Turkiye/[04] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CRITICIZES TURKEY AND TRNCIn a report prepared by the European Parliament (EP) on the Greek Cypriot Administration's EU membership, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were criticized. During a meeting today the EP will debate on reports regarding the 12 EU candidate countries. The report prepared by Luxemburger Socialist Parliamentarian Jacques Poos, blamed the President of the TRNC Rauf Denktas for withdrawing from the UN proximity talks. The report also asserted that annexing the TRNC with Turkey if Greek Cypriots's EU membership takes place, that will be the end of Ankara's dream of EU full membership. /Turkiye/[05] PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK BEGINSThe Public Health Week to be held every year in the first week of September, began yesterday. During a press conference the Minister of Health Osman Durmus said they aim at ensuring better health conditions for citizens. The week will last on Sep. 9. /Turkiye/[06] TASAR VISITS TOURISTIC REGIONSThe Minister of Tourism Mustafa Tasar is travelling to touristic regions to observe the issues. On his visit to the Mugla region, Tasar met with representatives of travel agencies and authorities related to the tourism sector. Addressing the meeting, Tasar said, "The most important issue in the tourism sector is the difficulties faced by the tourism investors during their investments. They have to get the approvals of the Ministries of Tourism, Environment and Culture separately. It will be better if the three of them are merged. I will work on this issue." /Turkiye/[07] YILMAZ: "LOCAL ADMINISTRATION BILL WILL BE ENACTED SOON"The Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the "Local Administration Reform Bill" will be enacted as soon as the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) is opened. Attending an opening ceremony of a health center in Omerli, Istanbul, Yilmaz said the Motherland Party (ANAP) is in charge of the most of the municipalities in Turkey and they attach great importance to them. Stressing that current conditions prevent municipalities from fullfilling citizens' expectations, he said by the enactment of the bill, municipalities will have the chance of better service. /Turkiye/[08] ECEVIT SAYS LIRA CAMPAIGN NECESSARY BUT NOT ENOUGH TO RIDE OUT CRISISPrime Minister Bülent Ecevit said restoring functionality and respectability in the Turkish Lira was important, but not enough to bring the economy out of the crisis. "Investment and production is what is actually needed," Ecevit told a group of businessman led by Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygün. ATO has recently launched a campaign urging people to use the Lira instead of foreign currency in shopping and contracts, recieving support from hundreds of non governmental organizations. Imams read out prayers issued by the Religious Affairs Directorate last friday throughout the country, calling on the overwhelmingly Muslim population to abandon the use of foreign currency. The Chamber hung banners at Ankara's main square Kizilay yesterday calling people to exchange their foreign currency holding with Lira in order to help stabilize the economy and save the future of the nation. As for ATO's demands from the state to contribute to the campaign, Ecevit refused to comment and said the government would work on them. /Turkish Daily News/[09] STATE MINISTER GUREL IN AUSTRALIAState Minister Sukru Sina Gurel met representatives of Turkish associations, during his visit to Australia. In his statement, Gurel said that the Turkish society had finally gotten rid of the defensive position it had adopted for so long, and now it is in an effective position now. Participating in the meeting held in the Turkish Solidarity Culture House in Auburn, Gurel stated: "A bright future is awaiting our people abroad. However, we have to take care to inform them about Turkey, teaching our youth abroad our language and imposing on them a feeling of belonging. It is a fact that our people are politically active in countries from America to Europe, and even Australia, which is thousands of miles away." Responding to a demand from the Turkish associations to exempt youth in Australia from their military obligations, Gurel said it would be proper for an expert delegation of the General Staff to examine the demand on-site. /Turkish Daily News/[10] NARCOTICS OPERATIONS IN AKHISARSome 51 kilograms of heroin was found in Akhisar, Manisa and five people accused of being linked to the drug trafficking were arrested. It has been reported that Zeki Safak, Ali Riza Demir, Ali İhsan Donmez and Hasmet Tomkur were transferred to court upon being caught with one kilogram of heroin. Adem Kaan and Ramazan Karadag were also caught selling drugs and were taken to court. /Turkish Daily News/[11] GREEK PEACE VISITApostolos Komninakas, Chairman of the Association for Coexistence and Communication in the Aegean Region, visited Turkey as a guest of the 12th Aliaga Labor and Peace Fest. In answer to journalists' questions, Komninakas pointed out that Turkish-Greek dialogue increased dramatically after the Marmara earthquake, however, they had committed to an initiative for friendship long ago. Komninakas added that there was a lack of support from politicians. Stressing the need for positive relations between the two countries, Komninakas said if there was cooperation instead of rivalry, both countries would be richer than any other European Union country. He also added that Greece should back Turkey's efforts for EU membership because Turkey's membership would be good for both countries. /Turkish Daily News/$350-MILLION CONTRACT SIGNED WITH IRAQ Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen said a $350-million contract has been signed between Turkey and Iraq. Evaluating his Iraqi visit on the last day, Tuzmen said the meetings with Iraq were carried out in a positive and sincere atmosphere. Stating that Turkish businessmen signed agreements with various Iraqi Ministries, including locomotive, construction, food, fertilizer etc. areas, Tuzmen said, "I believe that our economic relations with Iraq will increase in the next period." Tuzmen and the accompanying delegation will leave from Baghdad tonight. /Turkiye/ [12] THE ROAD FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF PETKIMThe petrochemical facilities of Petkim in Yarımca will be taken over by Tüpraş. The protocol relating to the transfer was already signed yesterday in Ankara by the General Directorates of Tüpraş and Petkim. With this takeover the road for the privatization of Petkim has been opened. After the signing of the protocol the currently working 5 factories will be transfered to Tüpraş. To meet the 7 million tons demand for the product within the few years, Tüpraş will build new facilities ./Sabah/INFORMATICS 2001 SUMMIT STARTS Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz attended the ceremony, which was held due to the beginning of the Informatics Summit 2001 within the framework of the Informatics Week at the Military Museum last night, and said, "Turkey should do her best to catch up with the age of informatics. As the Government, we are determined to turn our State into an electronic State and our public into a public of information. We will not give up investing in the people and information." /Cumhuriyet/ [13] SYNDICATION LOAN FOR YAPI KREDI BANKYapi Kredi Bank has received the syndication loan amounting to 350 million US dollars from the international markets. In a statement issued by Yapi Kredi Bank, the agreement concerning the loan that was extended by 47 International banks, was signed by the General Director of Yapi Kredi Bank, Naci Sigin, and the representatives of the related banks with Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt hosting them. /Cumhuriyet/[14] ARCELIK TO OPEN BRANCH IN HONG KONGArcelik Company decided to establish or purchase a company in Hong Kong. In the explanation made by Arcelik, it was stated that the company, which is foreseen to be purchased or established with a capital amounting to nearly 1 million US dollars, will deal with the import and export of the durable goods. Arcelik will participate in the company by 99%. /Milliyet/[15] EXPORTS INCREASEExports increased by 21.7% in August and reached 2 billion 620 million US dollars. The exports of the period between January and August increased by 14.3% and reached 20 billion 307 million US dollars. According to the statement issued by the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), the exports of agricultural goods increased by 20.7%, the export of oil and olive oil increased the most by 355.3% and the export of industrial goods increased by 13.6% and reached 17 billion 106 thousand US dollars. /Milliyet/[16] TOURISTS RUSH TO CAPPADOCCIA996,147 tourists have visited Cappadoccia, one of the most important cultural centers in Turkey, in the first eight months of this year. This number has increased by 35% when compared to the same period of last year. The number of foreign tourists visiting Cappadoccia has increased by 58,5 and the number of Turkish tourists increased by 8,3% this year. /Cumhuriyet/[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS[18] TURKEY'S SECURITY PROBLEM BY IZZETTIN ONDER (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Izzettin Onder expresses his belief that security is based on economic conditions. A summary of his column is as follows:"Turkey who was squeezed between the East and the West during the Cold War years, is trying to preserve its existence in the uni-polar globalized conditions of our day left in the narrow space between the US and the EU. As throughout the history, today the first condition of security is economy. Conflicts are based on economic conditions rather than arms. That is why Germany and Japan who were demilitarized following the Second World War can compete with the other leading countries of the world. Although Turkey is rich in cultural heritage , the State bears different characteristics in the Western and Eastern parts of the country in parallel with the industrial growth throughout the country. Economy is the underlying reason of all wars and peace efforts. Therefore the issue is not one of social superstructure but rather one of economic wealth and organization. As the US projects concerning Eurasia, Far East, the Middle East, and Cyprus put Turkey in a mediating position in the region, EU'S policy to bend the US power in the region also covers Turkey. In addition to economic power Turkey's independence lies on the crossroads of of these axis." [19] HOW TO GET FOREIGN SUPPORT? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes that everything should not be expected of the State and with good projects and initiatives foreign support could be received. A summary of his column is as follows:" During a tour of the Southeastern part of the Turkey we have seen that citizens expect almost everything from the State, whereas they themselves and non-governmental organizations can initiate new projects. With a creative and entrepreneurist mentality , non-governmental organizations can receive foreign support and implement some projects with the help of these sources. Human Resources Management Association (INKADE) is such an institution which aims to implement various education projects with the aim of creating new employment opportunities. INKADE comprising volunteers, is making new projects and presenting them to the World Bank, the EU and similar international institutions. The Chairman of INKADE Yucel Atis says it is necessary to prepare sound projects in order to be able to receive support from foreign organizations. When necessary finances for these projects are received, it will be easy to mobilize the volunteers, and implement the educational and development projects in the region." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |