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Turkish Press Review, 01-03-21

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

21.03.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] SEZER'S MESSAGE ON NEVRUZ
  • [02] ECEVIT EVALUATES NATIONAL PROGRAM
  • [03] DERVIS: "SOME FOREIGN BANKS TEND TO IMPROVE THEIR POSITION IN TURKEY"
  • [04] OZKAN MEETS WITH DERVIS
  • [05] EU AMBASSADORS MORE INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTATION RATHER THAN THE TEXT OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM
  • [06] TURKISH AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR EU SUPPORT
  • [07] BUSINESS CIRCLES' CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC PROGRAM
  • [08] TREASURY SEES RECORD BID AT LANDMARK AUCTION
  • [09] IMMIGRANTS RUSH TO TURKEY FROM MACEDONIA
  • [10] TURKEY TO SIGN PROTOCOLS WITH GEORGIA, LITHUANIA
  • [11] KIVRIKOGLU TRAVELS TO PAKISTAN
  • [12] GEN. OZKOK IN GERMANY
  • [13] TUNISIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY
  • [14] JAPAN DAILY PRAISES MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK
  • [15] MARTYR DIPLOMATS BOOK
  • [16] TWO MEETINGS ON TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS
  • [17] DEMIREL TRAVELS TO ISRAEL
  • [18] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN FRANCE
  • [19] NEW PROJECT IN TOURISM
  • [20] STOCK EXCHANGE RATES INCREASE
  • [21] KOC: "WE DO NOT GIVE UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT"
  • [22] "ARIA" TO BEGIN OPERATING
  • [23] SIEMENS TO ESTABLISH POWER PLANTS
  • [24] ENKA TO CONSTRUCT ARTIFICIAL ISLAND IN KAZAKHSTAN
  • [25] MEMBERS OF OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN ISTANBUL
  • [26] ABDI IPEKCI PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AWARDS
  • [27] FAZIL SAY'S CONCERT IN PARIS
  • [28] "CLOUDS OF MAY" TO BE EXHIBITED IN PARIS
  • [29] DOCUMENTARY ON TURKEY COMPLETED
  • [30] PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION ON CANAKKALE CAMPAIGN
  • [31] UNESCO AWARD TO INTERNATIONAL YOUTH THEATER MEETING
  • [32] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [33] "OUR 'NATIONAL PROGRAM,' RIGHT OR WRONG" BY SEMIH IDIZ (TURKISH NEWS)

  • [01] SEZER'S MESSAGE ON NEVRUZ

    President Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a message to mark the Nevruz celebrations. Pointing to Nevruz's humanist and unifying qualities, Mr. Sezer said, "Wishing great happiness and new hopes, I congratulate my citizens on Nevruz, the day nature starts to awaken." /Turkiye/

    [02] ECEVIT EVALUATES NATIONAL PROGRAM

    Evaluating the National Program, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit called on the EU to accept Turkey as it is and said "Turkey has a special and unique position." Ecevit touched upon concerns the EU might not accept Turkey with such a National Program. He added, "Turkey's position is very different from all of the other candidate countries. Its geographical position makes Turkey unique. Turkey is also the only democratic, secular and modern country among all other Muslim countries. In addition, there are separatist threats within Turkey. We should be able to tell to the EU countries that Turkey has a special position in the international arena." /Sabah/

    [03] DERVIS: "SOME FOREIGN BANKS TEND TO IMPROVE THEIR POSITION IN TURKEY"

    State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis, aiming to prepare the economic program by resorting to the public at large, met with the Head of the Turkish Employers' Confederation (TISK), Refik Baydur yesterday. Dervis said the framework agreement signed with the IMF eased the economic situation to a degree. Dervis added some foreign banks tend to improve their positions in Turkey. Dervis said current exchange rates are convenient for the increase in exports. /Milliyet/

    [04] OZKAN MEETS WITH DERVIS

    Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan met with State Minister for Economy, Kemal Dervis, to discuss new arrangements to be completed in three weeks. The arrangements are as follows: the general board meetings of the state-owned banks will be held next week; borrowing limits will be increased by issuing the additional budget; the duty losses of state-owned banks will be included in the new budget; an amendment will be made in the Banking law to facilitate the liquidation of banks; arrangements will be made to give greater autonomy to the Central Bank and amendments will be made for selling 51 % of the Telekom shares. /Milliyet/ G-7 SUPPORTS ECONOMIC PROGRAM On behalf of the Group of Seven (G-7), comprised of the US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada, the US Treasury issued a statement regarding the new economic program in Turkey. The statement said long-term political determination is needed to obtain positive results from the implementation of the program. The statement continued, "We are glad Turkish authorities announced a new economic program supported by the agreements with the IMF. This program focuses on a low level of inflation and sustainable public finance which will be secured by implementing sound fiscal and monetary policies backed by the structural reforms. We especially appreciate the problems of the banking sector will be solved with the cooperation of the World Bank and the IMF." /Milliyet/

    [05] EU AMBASSADORS MORE INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTATION RATHER THAN THE TEXT OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAM

    Foreign Minister Ismail Cem invited the Ambassadors of the EU countries to discuss the National Program (NP). The Ambassadors did not give any comment on the content of the NP, but stressed the important thing is the implementation the NP. They asked Cem when the program began to be implemented and when Turkey plans to begin negotiations for full membership. /Milliyet/

    [06] TURKISH AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR EU SUPPORT

    "Turkey will need not only the technical and financial aid of the EU in its accession process, but also its moral support, its understanding and its encouragement rather than disdain", Turkey's Permanent Representive to the EU Nihat Akyol told a colloquium at the Belgian Senate. The Ambassador, speaking at a meeting called "The Nice Treaty and the Frontiers of Europe" stressed that Turkey, in accepting its status as a candidate, had also given his accord to the political and economic criteria and open membership negotiations with Turkey. /Turkish News/

    [07] BUSINESS CIRCLES' CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC PROGRAM

    The members of the Council for Textile and Ready-to-Wear Associations and the Sectoral Associations Platform met in Istanbul to evaluate the recent economic crisis. Representatives from 35 sectors laid down a condition to give their full support to the new economic program. The representatives demanded the government take concrete steps before they will give their support. Stating one of Turkey's most important problems was the lack of resources, representatives said the obstacles against foreign capital should be removed as soon as possible. /Hurriyet/

    [08] TREASURY SEES RECORD BID AT LANDMARK AUCTION

    The Treasury yesterday saw what dealers called an unexpectedly high bid for three-month bills at a critical borrowing auction. The Treasury sold a TL 2.2 quadrillion net worth of 98-day bills yesterday, against a nominal bid totalling TL 7.4 quadrillion. The yield was seen at the higher end of market expectations at an annual compound rate of 193.71 percent. The success of the auction was interpreted as market confidence in, and support for, new Economy Minister Kemal Dervis and his economy recovery plan. /Turkish Daily News/

    [09] IMMIGRANTS RUSH TO TURKEY FROM MACEDONIA

    Many immigrants from Macedonia have begun to come to Turkey due to the struggles between Albanian militants and Macedonian security forces at the Kosovo-Macedonia border. According to the information received from officials at the Kapikule Border Gate, 750 Macedonian immigrants came to the border. Officials said, "Macedonians are going to take shelter at the houses of their friends or relatives. We expect these people to return to their countries after the struggles end. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] TURKEY TO SIGN PROTOCOLS WITH GEORGIA, LITHUANIA

    Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said Turkey and Georgia had agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the field of justice, Anatolia reported. Turk met his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili in Istanbul, where the two attended the third annual Anti-Corruption Network for Transition Economies meeting, jointly held by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Turkish government. Turk also had a meeting with the Lithuanian Justice Minister Bartkus Ginttautos. Speaking after their half-an-hour meeting, Turk announced they had agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the field of justice, which will contribute to an improvement in relations. Turkey will pay a visit to Lithuania in line with an invitation from Ginttautos. The agreement will probably be signed during that visit. /Turkish News/

    [11] KIVRIKOGLU TRAVELS TO PAKISTAN

    The Chief of the General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu travels today to Pakistan for a four-day official visit. Gen.Kivrikoglu will attend Pakistan's National Day ceremonies. /Sabah/

    [12] GEN. OZKOK IN GERMANY

    Commander of the Land Forces, General Hilmi Ozkok, traveled to Germany yesterday to participate in the European Land Forces Conference to be held in Heildelberg. He will return to Turkey tomorrow. /Turkiye/

    [13] TUNISIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY

    Tunisian President Zeynel Abidin bin Ali will pay an official two-day visit to Turkey March 22-24. The Tunisian Foreign Minister, the Foreign Investment Minister and the Industry Minister will accompany the President. /Turkish Daily News/

    [14] JAPAN DAILY PRAISES MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK

    One of the prominent Japanese dailies, Mainichi Shimbun, praised the founder and the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his reforms. The paper said, "Ataturk, who formed a Republic from a ruined Empire after World War I, is the figure who united the Turkish people by pursuing a path unique from all the other Muslim countries." The Mainichi Shimbun also gave coverage to the photos of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his adopted daughter Sabiha Gokcen. /Cumhuriyet/

    [15] MARTYR DIPLOMATS BOOK

    Retired Ambassador Bilal Simsir's book titled "Our Martyr Diplomats" was promoted the day before yesterday at the Ankara State Guest House. Delivering the initial speech of the ceremony, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk Logoglu said the book is a detailed work. Logoglu said as the most damaged institution of the Turkish state by Armenian terrorism, the Foreign Ministry attaches great importance to this book. He added, "The memories of our martyr friends are still in our hearts. Nobody can daunt us. Everybody should read this book and draw the moral from it." /Hurriyet/

    [16] TWO MEETINGS ON TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

    Soon after the Turco-Armenian relations conference organized by the Democratic Principles Association, another meeting on Turco-Armenian relations will be held this weekend in Germany. Turkish historians Halil Berktay and Taner Akcam will represent Turkey at the meeting to be organised jointly by the German-Armenian Association and the Turco-German Social Sciences Association. Another meeting will be held at the TGNA between April 13-14 by the Turkish Parliamentary Union. Besides Ilber Ortayli, Gunduz Aktan and Mumtaz Soysal, three Armenian historians are expected to attend the meeting for the first time. /Hurriyet/

    [17] DEMIREL TRAVELS TO ISRAEL

    Former President Suleyman Demirel left for Tel Aviv to participate in the meetings of the Middle East Commission. Before his departure, Mr. Demirel told reporters that the members of the commission would visit disputed areas both in Israel and Palestine and meet with Arafat and Sharon, as well as other authorities to discuss the situation. The commission, headed by former American Senator, George Mitchell, was established to help find a solution to the Mideast problem.The commission had suspended activities because of the political uncertanity in Israel. /Turkiye/

    [18] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN FRANCE

    Today in Paris, Turkish and French businessmen will discuss the crisis ensuing from the approval of the so-called Armenian genocide law by the French Parliament. Topics including the possibilities to overcome the problems between the two countries, Turkey's full EU membership and economic and fiscal precautions taken after the crisis in Turkey will be discussed at the meeting. The representatives of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and Turkish-French Business Association will participate in the meeting. /Aksam/ CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES TL 992.6 TRILLION PROFIT The Turkish Central Bank has posted a 2000 profit of TL 992.6 trillion (around $1 billion). According to the bank's balance sheet, banknotes in circulation amounted to $3.8 billion. The Central Bank's gold assets totalled $811 million. The Central Bank is expected to transfer around $500 million to the Treasury at the shareholders meeting in April. /Turkish Daily News/

    [19] NEW PROJECT IN TOURISM

    The Ministry of Tourism is attempting a new project to promote Turkish cuisine to the world. With an organization named "Turkish Weekends", various activities will be organized in a number of countries. The project to be implemented in June, will promote delicious Turkish foods. /Turkiye/

    [20] STOCK EXCHANGE RATES INCREASE

    After the success of the Treasury's borrowing auction, Istanbul Stock Exchange rates increased by 3.97 % and reached 8,860 points. Stating the Treasury auction was very important for the markets, experts said the stock exchange will closely follow and react to movements in the bond market. /Cumhuriyet/

    [21] KOC: "WE DO NOT GIVE UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT"

    The Head of the Koc Holding Executive Board, Rahmi Koc said, "We will closely, and stage-by-stage observe the implementation of the new economic program. In case of a deviation from the program we will withdraw our support." Koc said there is an inclination to stagnation in the market, therefore, TL should be circulated to the market. /Milliyet/

    [22] "ARIA" TO BEGIN OPERATING

    Turkey's third GSM operator Aria will begin its activity today with a ceremony to be held in the Istanbul Ciragan Hotel today. Minister of Transportation, Enis Oksuz, partners of the Is-TIM, General Director of Is Bank, Ersin Ozince, Chief of the Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), Roberto Colaninno, TIM General Director Marco de Benedetti and Is-TIM General Director, Giuseppe Farina will attend the ceremony. The tariff of the network is expected to be declared today. /Turkiye/

    [23] SIEMENS TO ESTABLISH POWER PLANTS

    German Siemens Company will establish three power plants in Canakkale, Adana and Mersin. The power plants, estimated to cost 145 million Euro, are planned to begin operation at the end of the year 2002. /Turkiye/

    [24] ENKA TO CONSTRUCT ARTIFICIAL ISLAND IN KAZAKHSTAN

    ENKA Construction Company undertook the construction of an artificial island on the Caspian Sea to be used for oil search activities in Kazakhstan. ENKA signed a contract with OKIOC (Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company) for three years at a cost of $75 million. /Turkiye/

    [25] MEMBERS OF OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN ISTANBUL

    The members of the International Olympiad Committee (IOC) arrived yesterday in Istanbul. 17 members of the committee will evaluate Istanbul for a candidate host city for the 2008 Olympiad. The committee will stay five days and make observations in Istanbul. /Aksam/

    [26] ABDI IPEKCI PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AWARDS

    The winners of the Abdi Ipekci Peace and Friendship Awards, the symbol of peace between Turkey and Greece, have been announced. Special awards were presented to Istanbul University Rector Kemal Alemdaroglu and Athens University former Rector Kosta Dimopulos. A Turkish basketball player in Greece, Ibrahim Kutluay, also received an award. /Cumhuriyet/

    [27] FAZIL SAY'S CONCERT IN PARIS

    Famous pianist Fazil Say gave a concert on the Champs Elysees, Paris. Say performed works of famous composer such as Bach, Stravinski and Liszt. The French Daily Liberation gave wide coverage to Say's successes before the concert. /Cumhuriyet/

    [28] "CLOUDS OF MAY" TO BE EXHIBITED IN PARIS

    The Turkish film "Clouds of May", directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan will be exhibited in Paris beginning today. The film came in first among 220 films from 23 countries in the "2000 European Film Awards" competition's "Critics Award" branch in Paris. /Turkiye/

    [29] DOCUMENTARY ON TURKEY COMPLETED

    A documentary titled "A Journey Through An Amazing Country" directed by Selcuk Kizilkayak on Turkey's historical and cultural heritage as well as characteristics of the Turkish people has been completed. The documentary is based on the article of a Indiana University Mass Communications student, Brandie Barbour. Her article was published in the Skylife magazine. Evaluating the Turkish people as extraordinary, her experiencesn in Turkey as amazing and Turkish food as excellent, Barbour expressed her delight and pleasure with her entire Turkish adventure. Before the premier at the Ataturk Culture Center, Zeynel Yesilay's photographs will be exhibited. Yesilay's exhibition has the same name as the documentary. Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay will deliver a speech before the screening. /Cumhuriyet/

    [30] PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION ON CANAKKALE CAMPAIGN

    The "Canakkale (Dardanelles) Campaign Exhibition", including photographs from Australian, British and Turkish archives was opened by Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay. /Aksam/

    [31] UNESCO AWARD TO INTERNATIONAL YOUTH THEATER MEETING

    The play titled "Bilge Nathan" performed by a joint international group was elected the best project of the year within the framework of the UNESCO 2001 "Inter-cultural Dialogue Year" in Germany. The play, prepared by 45 young people from Germany, Israel, Greece and Turkey with the support of the EU, to emphasize religious tolerance. /Cumhuriyet/

    [32] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [33] "OUR 'NATIONAL PROGRAM,' RIGHT OR WRONG" BY SEMIH IDIZ (TURKISH NEWS)

    "The National Program, which was announced on Monday, and subsequently submitted to the European Union, has many shortcomings of course. The approach to certain issues which have, I think somewhat artifically, been transformed by some in Europe and in this country into the principle items of Turkish-EU relations, is obviously not going to satisfy everyone. The most notable of these issues of course concerns the linguistic and educational rights of minorities (and no one should doubt that what is meant here are the Kurds). There is also the issue of reforming the National Security Council by turning it into a predominantly civilian consultative body, and the abolishing of the death penalty. What Turkey said in its National Program concerning these issues was basically "maybe later but not now; and certainly not under present conditions." But when one looks at the Program as a whole, on realizes that it is still a major blueprint for change and, some aspects of which will represent a major reform of the system. Therefore the worst thing that over-officious EU representatives can do is to focus on the trees, miss the forest all together, and basically throw the baby out with the bathwater, simply because some of their prejudices may not have been satisfied by Turkey's National Program. However, talking to some EU ambassadors after their meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem the other day, I get the impression that the general mood is not conducive to letting those prejudiced quarters carry the day. In other words there appears to be a broad understanding in EU circles that this program is as good as they are going to get at this juncture, and that, while it may not be perfect, there is enough meat on it to chew on. It must be said that in presenting the Program to the public the other day, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who is charge of Turkey's harmonization efforts with the EU's Aquis Communitaire, made it clear that this was not a static document, and could change in time to meet the requirements of the day... So this is our National Program, for good or for bad, and the ball is now not exclusively in "Ankara's court" anymore, as it has been since the EU announced the Accession Partnership Agreement for Turkey. The EU is now going to have to assess the Program and together with Ankara plan the next stage. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will be in Brussels in the next few days to explain the Turkish position. The EU side will no doubt want to air its views also, and the groundwork for post-National Program Turkey-EU relations will be laid. This does not mean, of course, that simply because the ball is no longer in Turkey's court exclusively, that this somehow exonerates the Ecevit Government from taking further steps now. In fact, if anything, eyes are trained on this government to see how fast it is going to start implementing the National Program it has announced to the world... So this is our National Program and it has to be supported right or wrong."
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