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Turkish Press Review, 00-05-15Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>15.05.00Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] HISTORIC WEEKThis week marks two important events in the history of the Republic of Turkey. The 10th President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will begin his office tomorrow after swearing in at the Turkish Grand National Assembly's General Session. The same day, a take-over ceremony will be held at the Cankaya Palace. The other important event involves the field of sports, and will take place on Wednesday May 17th. A Turkish football team, Galatasaray, will face British Arsenal in Copenhagen for the UEFA Cup' final match. /Turkiye/[03] WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION MEETINGThe Western European Union (WEU)'s Foreign and Defence Ministers' Spring meeting is beginning today in the Porto province of Portugal. The Minister of National Defence, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, will represent Turkey at the two-day meeting. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem decided not to attend the meeting at the last minute, to prevent a possible diplomatic crisis with Iran due to the developments in the Ugur Mumcu assasination. During the meeting, the make up of the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) which the European Union is trying to form as a separate entity from NATO, is expected to be determined. Turkey will continue its objection to being excluded from the ESDI. /Hurriyet/[04] TURKEY TO SENT ITS MESSAGES TO EUROPEA decision is to be taken at the Western European Union (WEU), which is the only organization in Europe, except NATO, that has a defence duty. The Ministers of Defence and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries of the WEU will meet in Porto today. During this meeting, Turkey is expected to push its demands concerning the European Identity of Security and Defence (AGSK). Turkey wants to be involved in the daily actions of the AGSK, to take place in its decision mechanism and to reflect its contribution and opinion to the AGSK, just like it does within the WEU. Therefore the meeting of the WEU, which will be held today, is an important platform for Ankara. /Milliyet/[05] KISLALI'S MURDER TO BE SOLVEDAs part of the UMUT operation, which was started to find the murders of Ugur Mumcu, three of the people accussed in the murder of the journalist and lecturer Ahmet Taner Kislali were captured in Istanbul and one other suspect was captured in Ankara. It was stated that Necdet Yuksel, one of the accused and a member of Tevhid-Selam group, confessed that he put the bomb in Kislali's car and that Iranian diplomats wanted him to do this. Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, questioned regarding the news concerning the murderer of Kislali, suggested that journalists be patient and said, "It is true, although the case contines to be scrutinized." /Milliyet/[06] EIGHT PEOPLE WERE DETAINED CONCERNING THE MUMCU MURDEREight of the nine people detained under suspicion of being involved in the murder of Ugur Mumcu were arrested and sent to prison. Hasan Kilic, who revealed the identity of those accused of murdering Ahmet Taner Kislali in his confessions, was taken into interrogation and his period of detainment was renewed. Therefore Kilic could not be brought in front of the public prosecutor. The nine people detained were brought to the Ankara State Security Court's (DGM) Chief Counsel for the Prosecution yesterday afternoon. Then the interrogation of the accused, which was led by the Public Prosecuter of the DGM, Hamza Keles and Semsettin Ozcan, lasted for six hours. After the testimony of the accused was taken, they were sent to prison. /Milliyet/[07] IRANIAN MEDIAIranian media stated that the assertions about Iran's involment in the Ugur Mumcu assasination were part of Israel's and zionists' plan to damage Iran's reputation and despite all their differences, Turkey and Iran should continue to develop their relationship. /Turkiye/[08] VIRTUE PARTY CHAIRMAN: KUTANDuring the balloting of the RP's congress, Recai Kutan, supported by Necmettin Erbakan, was re-elected as the chairman of the Virtue Party (RP). While Kutan got 633 votes of the 1,238 delegates, the nominee of the reformist wing, Abdullah Gul with 521 votes, was the big suprise. 43 of the delegates didn't attend the balloting and 41 votes were declared invalid. /Hurriyet/[09] EUROPEAN COUNCIL OPENS UP TO CAUCASIAEuropean Council is getting ready to accept Azerbaijan and Armenia as full members from Caucasia after Georgia. During the meetings of the European Council's Parliamentarians Assembly, which will begin in Dublin, Azerbaijan and Armenian's reports will be discussed. From Turkey, a delegation headed by a DSP deputy, Uluc Gurkan, will also attend the meeting. /Turkiye/[10] "WE HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS FOR FIFTY YEARS"The 50th anniversary of rise to power of the Democrat Party was celebrated by activities organized by the Democrat Party (DP), the True Path Party (DYP), the Justice Party (AP). The leader of the DYP, Tansu Ciller visited Ataturk's Mausoleum together with former DP, AP and DYP deputies. Celal Bayar, Adnan Menderes, Fatin Rustu Zorlu and Hasan Polatkan's mausoleums were also visited. /Turkiye/[11] UNITED NATIONS' MISTAKE CONCERNING THE MAKHMUR CAMPThe situation of the Kurdish people, who were forced to be relocated to the Makhmur Camp in Northern Iraq by the threat and pressure of the PKK in 1997, turned out to be a disgrace. When the United Nations (UN), which considered the Makhmur to be a 'refugee camp' after being convinced by the propaganda of the PKK, understood its mistake and decreased its relations with this camp to a minimum. Nearly 1,200 citizens could return to Turkey with the help of the UN since 1996. However, the PKK terrorist organization did not give permission to the return of the remaining 300 families. It was revealed that these 300 families began to try to leave the camp. When it failed to practice its plans, the PKK tried to bring the Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish and German private television channels to the camp. However, this initiative of the PKK was prevented by Turkey. /Aksam/[12] MORE NEWS OF GENOCIDE FROM ISRAELFollowing Israel's Minister of Education Yossi Sarid's statement that he would do his best to teach Israel's youth about the Armenian genocide, another negative article was published in Israel's press. The 'Jerusalem Post' daily published an article in its weekend issue, entitled, "Dealing with Another Genocide' and 'The Tragedy that cannot be Ignored.' In this article, it was stated that the decision of Sarid was a very important one in terms of giving up Israel's traditional position concerning this issue. /Aksam/[13] MEANINGFUL DECLARATION ON CYPRUSPatriot Movement Union (YHI) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the United Democrats' Movement (EDI) stated that a common declaration should be issued and a solution for the Cyprus problem should be found. The General Secretary of the YHI, Izzet Izcan, Alpay Durduran, Ozker Ozgur, Ural Baltaci, Ozbek Ersin from the YHI and the Greek-Cypriot Administration's Speaker, Mihalis Papapetru, Yannakis Ioannou and Andreas Michael from the EDI attended this meeting, which was held at the General Centre of the YHI. In the declaration, it was stated that the Cyprus problem could be solved in a way that would unite Cyprus under a federal flag and secure the basic rights and freedoms of all the citizens within the framework of the decisions of the high-level agreements and of the United Nations.[14] RAUF DENTAS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEYThe President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktas, will come to Ankara on Tuesday, May 16th to attend the Presidential take-over ceremony. During his visit, Denktas will meet the 10th President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Rauf Dentas will come to Ankara again on May 19th to receive the Ataturk International Peace Award. /Turkiye/[15] SAMI SELCUK RETURNS HOMEThe Head of the Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk, returned to Turkey from the US yesterday. Selcuk had gone to the US as the guest of Harvard University. Selcuk remarked that he had met Harold Koh, US Deputy Secretary of State Responsible for Human Rights and said that his visit was very beneficial. He added, "I will continue with these activities in order to accelerate the EU process." /Cumhuriyet/[16] MIRZAOGLU RETURNS FROM CUBAState Minister Salih Mirzaoglu who has gone to Havana as the guest of Cuban Transport Minister Alvaro Perez returned to Turkey yesterday. Mirzaoglu stated that 22 crew members of the Turkish-flagged vessel called 'Cemre-1' which has been kept in Cuba since January 26, 2000, because of a commercial disagreement would start for Turkey in the upcoming days. /Cumhuriyet/[17] MEETING OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSThe Representative of the European Commission in Turkey, Karen Fogg, said that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should work together. Karen Fogg delivered a speech to congress entitled 'Civil Society in Turkey and in Europe' organized by the French Anatolian Research Institute and German Orientalism Institute and described the NGOs as the watchmen of human rights and democracy. /Cumhuriyet/[18] ECONOMIC LOSS DUE TO THE EARTHQUAKE: 4 BILLION DOLLARSIt was reported that the economic loss suffered in the five provinces struck by the earthquake reached four billion dollars. In addition, only the loss of the industry of Kocaeli alone was 3.5 billion dollars. The economic loss of the merchants reached 378.8 million dollars in Sakarya, 60 million dollars in Duzce, 22 million dollars in Bolu and 5 million dollars in Yalova. It was further stated that Adapazari Sugar Factory could not continue its production and there were a great deal of los at Bolu Cement Factory and Filiz Macaroni Factory. Meanwhile, the economic loss due the damage to goods and buildings reached nearly 2 billion 570 million dollars. /Milliyet/[19] INFLATION BRIEFING FOR THE ARMYTurkey's Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) and the Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM) will visit the General Staff to receive their support concerning the struggle against inflation. As part of the campaign called 'Turkey beats inflation,' which is to be implemented throught out society, the Chairmen of the TOBB and TIM will visit the Chief of the General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and give him information on the latest stage reached in the struggle against inflation. Chairman of the TOBB, Fuat Miras, stated that they would also bring a file to Kivrikoglu regarding inflation and that they also had wanted the permission of the government for the establishment of a 'screening council.' /Milliyet/[20] 115.8 BILLION DOLLARSThe number of the shares that are traded at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and have a market value surprassing one billion dollars reached 23 and the market value of these shares is nearly 69% of the value of all markets. According to calculations made in terms of the closing values of 5 May 2000, the total value of the companies with a market value surprassing one billion dollars is 79 billion 382 million dollars. Meanwhile, the total amount of all companies traded at the stock exchange is 115 billion, 804 million dollars. /Milliyet/[21] STONE: "TURKEY IS THE PILOT COUNTRY IN ELECTRONIC TRADE"Deputy Chairman of the Europay International, Donald L. Van Stone, gave a speech at a meeting on credit card forgery, an annual meeting which was held in Istanbul this year, and said that Turkey was elected the pilot country in electronic trade upon the request of Turkish banks. Stone added, "The interest of the young Turkish population in technological developments also had a great impact on this decision. Turkey is the second largest user of visual cards." Stone also pointed out the Turkish population's tendency towards consumption and stated that Turkey, which attracts market attention with its tourism industry, had an important place in terms of electronic commerce. /Milliyet/[22] ONAL: "TURKEY WILL REACH ITS GROWTH TARGET"State Minister responsible for economy, Recep Onal, stated that the economy had recovered since last October and November and that the Turkish economy was expected to grow by 5.5% in the year 2000 and to grow at a faster rate in the years 2001 and 2002. Onal attended the seminar on the 'The Programme for the Struggle Against Inflation and Its Effects on the Non-Registered Economy and Social Politics' and said, "Turkey has implemented an economic programme five times in ten years. However, all of them failed to decrease inflation. The most important reason for the chronic inflation is the deep structural weakness of public financing. However, predictions concerning the growth of inflation have lowered since the beginning of this year, when this economic programme began to be implemented." /Sabah/[23] ORAL'S STATEMENT ON INVESTMENTMinister of Finance, Sumer Oral, stated that the low rate of inflation removed the obstacles that blocked investors and also revived the climate of investment. Oral added, "The balance of public financing should be created in order to have a stronger economy. Therefore the budget deficit of the gross domestic product, which amounts to nearly 11%, should be decreased to 2-3%. We are trying very hard to reach these targets." /Sabah/[24] FOREIGN LOAN PAYMENT OF 93.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN THREE DAYSThe Treasury Undersecretariat is planning to pay off 93.6 million dollars (57.8 trillion TL) in cash of its foreign loan between 15 and 18 May. According to the data of the Treasury Undersecretariat, this will be the highest amount paid by it in terms of foreign debt repayment. The Treasury is planning to pay 57.5 million dollars on 15 May, 13.5 million dollars on 16 May, 2 million dollars on 17 May and 20.6 million dollars on 18 May. /Sabah/[25] FOREIGN INVESTMENT FUNDS' SUCCESSThe foreign investment funds, which go to the public in Turkey, pleased its investors in the first three months of the year, during which none of the funds suffered a loss. According to the data of the Capital Market Council, the American Growth Protfolia fund was the most profitable fund during the first three months of this year with a profit amounting to 6.95 dollars in base. /Sabah/[26] HARBOURS TO BE PRIVATIZEDState Minister Yuksel Yalova stated that six harbours, including Kusadasi Harbour, would be privatized within three months at least. Yalova also made investigations at Kusadasi Harbours, which is entered by nearly 1500 ships each year. Yalova stated that the harbours should be privatized as soon as possible and that the bidding dates of the harbours of Yalova, Kusadasi, Dikili, Cesme, Antalya, Trabzon and Marmaris for their block sale would be determined soon. /Sabah/[27] TURKISH ECONOMY BANK PRODUCED CD-ROM OF TOPKAPI PALACETurkish Economy Bank (TEB) produced a CD-ROM entitled 'Topkapi Palace,' which displays the known and unknown aspects of the Topkapi Palace that is among the most valuable treasures of our cultural heritage. As part of this special project, which will be introduced at Topkapi Palace today, all the secret corners of this palace will be opened to spectators. /Aksam/[28] AMERICANS LIKE TURKISH CIGARETTESA Turkish market in Chicago recently sold Maltepe and 2000 cigarettes brought from Turkey. The official of this Turkish market, stated that they had sold all of these Turkish cigarettes for two and a half dollars in only two hours. This official added that the Turkish cigarettes were in particular demand among the ethnical groups in Chicago and that export companies in Turkey should focus on this market. /Aksam/[29] TURKISH ICE-CREAM TO BE SOLD IN GREECEChairman of the Executive Board of Yasar Ice-Cream Company, Mehmet Kambur, stated that they would include Greece in the countries to which they sell ice-cream. Kambur added, "We sell the ice-cream that we produce under the brand of 'Mado' and 'Mardo' in 17 branches in England, Austria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We also received a proposal from Greece and they will also be introduced to our ice-cream soon." /Aksam/[30] TURKISH AVIATION INDUSTRY'S FIRST COUGAR HELICOPTER IS READYTurkish Aviation Industry (TAI) finished the production and assembly works of two helicopters within the framework of the Phoenix programme, which was signed in 1997. Officials of the TAI stated that the first Cougar helicopter will be delivered to the Air Forces Command with a ceremony on 31 May 2000. The second helicopter is supposed to be delivered to the Air Forces Command in one month. /Aksam/[31] OYAK-RENAULT, TOP CAR PRODUCER FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHSOyak-Renault produced the highest number of automobiles in the first four months of this year. The domestic auto industry manufactured 78,452 automobiles between January 1 and May 1, said the Automotive Industry Association (OSD) in a report issued yesterday. The OSD's report indicated that so far this year Oyak-Renault and Tofas have produced 42,048 and 24,290 automobiles respectively. /All papers/[32] ALIYEV REPLIES TO DEMIREL'S LETTERAzerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev replied to Demirel's letter of May 5 concerning the relations between the two countries and peace in the Caucasus, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Aliyev stated in his letter that the stability pact in the Caucasus would play a great role in providing peace and security in the region, and added that the military conflicts in the southern Caucasus and especially that between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be brought to an end and peace established. Aliyev also stated that Suleyman Demirel had contributed greatly to the development of relations between the two countries.[33] TURKISH NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER IN GREECETurkish Naval Forces Commander Adm.Ilhami Erdil will go to Greece today to attend the Marcomet-00 meeting in which navy commanders from NATO southern region countries and partnership countries for peace (BIO) will participate. Issues such as recent developments in NATO, its future, relations between the naval forces in NATO's southern region, and developing relations with BIO countries, will be discussed during the meeting which ends on May 18. /All papers/[34] STANDARD BANK LONDON OPENS ISTANBUL OFFICEStandard Bank London of the Standard Bank Group, an African banking, finance and insurance conglomerate, officialy inaugurated its Istanbul office last week, which it aims to use as a springboard to the Balkans, Caucasus and eastern Mediterranean. Standard Bank Group Chairman Conrad Strauss told a news conference that the group has been interested in Turkey for two years because of its dynamism and active role in the region's trade. /Turkish Daily News/[35] TURKISH FIRMS IN TURKMENISTANA Turkish Company, Eltem, won the 62.5-million dollar international tender, launched by the Turkmenistan government to revise the electric network in this country. In the meantime, Turkish ST-FA civil works' company won the bid for the "Turkmenistan Habour Development" project, with an 27-million dollar offer. /Turkiye/[36] DIFFICULT TEST IN ECONOMICSLoan meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are beginning again. Turkey, which has achieved success in the fields of inflation, privatization and a series of constructional reforms, will now meet around the table with the IMF and World Bank's authorities. The first leg of the meetings with IMF will be held on May 18 in Ankara. James Wolfensohn, the Chairman of World Bank, is also expected to come to Ankara on May 24. During the meetings, the 5-million dollar finance sector and adjustment loans will be taken up for discussion. /Turkiye/[37] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[38] EU FROM THE EYES OF THE MILITARY BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the interest of certain circles in the Turkish Armed Forces with regard to Turkey's membership in the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:"Certain circles which cannot accept Turkey's early membership to EU due to cultural or other reasons, have turned their eyes to the Turkish Armed Forces. Forgetting that Turkish Armed Forces have a reformist tradition, these circles expect that the higher ranks of the TAF will delay Turkey's membership to the EU due to their obsession with politics. The reasoning for this belief is that, 'An army which has intervened in democracy three times cannot accept the Copenhagen criteria which covers the political conditions for membership in the EU. These criteria require that civilians be in control of the army and this is not compatible with Turkish tradition.' The Office of the General Staff has been increasingly disturbed by this view which has even begun to be accepted by some circles looking favourably towards Turkey, and the Office has begun to issue messages to the contrary on the issue. Last week, the Office of the General Staff stated that they were ready to cooperate with the Government on the harmonization process of the EU in all fields. This intention of the General Staf was stated during a meeting of Human Rights Coordination Higher Council. In this statement it was also mentioned that the higher echelon of the TAF, were not against strengthening the power of civilians within the National Security Council, the abolishment of capital punishment and other important legal measures. As there has not been any denial by the the General Staff on the issue, this may be considered as true. This comes as a surprise mostly to the Western diplomats. However, the Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrioglu had stated that Turkey's full-membership to EU and WEU is a geo-political necessity. In other words, Turkey's inclusion in these organizations is essential. In fact, this is not the first time the military has voiced this opinion. When viewed from this angle, it is clear that the Armed Forces will not be an obstacle for Turkey's membership to the EU. These certain circles should turn their focus toward the civilans, as they are the ones shuffling their feet on the issue." [39] FIRM STANCE AGAINST IRAN BY (SUKRU ELEKDAG) (MILLIYET)Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on Ugur Mumcu's murder and the solving of the case. A summary of his column is as follows:"State registers show that following the assassination of Ugur Mumcu, the murder was related to the 'Selam' group which had connections to Iran. It is also clear that a serious and determined investigation was not made on the issue. In fact, Turkish civilian and military intelligence services were aware that Iran had formed fundamentalist religious groups to export its Islamic regime to Turkey and had trained their members in Iran. It was also known that Iran not only used these terrorist organisations to kill those opposing its own regime but also to weaken and destabilize Turkey by committing political murders. When the Foreign Minister of the time, Hikmet Cetin went to Iran in 1993 to voice his complaints and the measures he expected to be taken, Iran did not even deign to reply. The Turkish Government, fearing that these issues would create tension in its relations did not pursue the subject. In 1996, Turkey continued following such a passive stance even after the capture of Cetin Emec's murderer who stated that his mission was given to him by an Iranian diplomat. The results of the investigation showed that Iran was behind the murder. When Turkey approached Iran regarding the issue, Iran denied all charges and Turkey reacted quietly. Iran, however,showed that it was not afraid of increasing the tension and retaliated. Ankara once again retreated to its old stance. It was clear that Turkey was late in forming a strategy to dissuade Iran from damaging its interests. If the Government wants to bring a radical solution to the problem, it should take into consideration that for years the passive stance against Syria had led to great losses. A deterrent strategy involves a certain amount of risk. The National Security Council should take this into consideration and state to Iran that its actions will not be left unanswered and will cost dearly. Such a strategy should make all the Iranian powers aware that a destructive policy followed against Turkey cannot be executed with a minimal cost. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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