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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-18

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

<LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> <_map> Press &amp; Information Turkish Press Turkish Press Review &gt;&gt; Foreign Press Guide Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

18.01.2002


CONTENTS

  • [01] ECEVIT PLEASED WITH US VISIT
  • [02] DERVIS: "LETTER OF INTENT TO BE SIGNED"
  • [03] ADVANCE TURKISH FORCE TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN TODAY
  • [04] AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL DOSTUM VISITING TURKEY
  • [05] CYPRUS MEETINGS TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK
  • [06] HOPE SPRINGS TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS
  • [07] VERHEUGEN: "GREEK CYPRUS SHOULD BECOME AN EU MEMBER"
  • [08] IMF LOAN WAITS FOR SEZER
  • [09] IMF DIRECTOR DAWSON PRAISES REFORMS IN TURKEY
  • [10] TOBB TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S VIEWS TO THE WORLD
  • [11] TURK EXIMBANK TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS
  • [12] INTERNATIONAL SHOE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL
  • [13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [14] CYPRUS IN A SQUEEZE BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
  • [15] FOREIGN AID SUPPORTS BUT DOESN'T STRENGTHEN BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)

  • [01] ECEVIT PLEASED WITH US VISIT

    After meeting with the US President George W. Bush yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit answered reporters' questions at a press conference. Ecevit said that he was very satisfied with how the two leaders' talks had gone, adding, "Our strategic partnership had so far focused on political and security issues, but now we would like to see our economic cooperation at the same level." He said that Turkey and the US had established an Economic Partnership Commission in order to discuss how to improve trade and commercial relations, with its first meeting to be held in Ankara on Feb. 26-27. Turkey has now become a powerful state dealing with world problems, or in other words a world state, Ecevit stated. He recounted that the question of Iraq had been discussed in his talks with Bush, but nothing was said about an operation, and Ecevit remarked that it was understood that there were no plans for an operation at this stage. Bush also assured Ecevit that he would consult Turkey about any possible military strike against Iraq as part of the war against terrorism. Ecevit also said the US administration would continue to support Turkey in its relations with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Ecevit also thanked Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill for the US' support. At the same press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey had received US support for its bid to assume lead roles in the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan as well as the reconstruction of that country. Turkey would work together with the World Bank on this issue, Cem added. /Hürriyet/

    [02] DERVIS: "LETTER OF INTENT TO BE SIGNED"

    Yesterday at a press conference in Washington, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit referred a question about his country's Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund over to his economy minister, Kemal Dervis. "The Letter of Intent is ready, aside from a few details, and it will be signed today, Dervis said. "According to our timetable, Turkey's economic program must meet certain criteria before the end of this month. If we can do this, then the IMF Executive Board is expected to convene and make a decision at the beginning of February. There is of course a difference between completing the Letter of Intent and meeting the criteria laid out in it. As usual, we will release the Letter to the public after it is finalized." /Aksam/

    [03] ADVANCE TURKISH FORCE TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN TODAY

    An advance military delegation of 20 soldiers which is to lay the groundwork for the full Turkish contingent of 261 soldiers in the Afghanistan peacekeeping force will travel to Kabul today. Brigadier Gen. Emin Alpman will reportedly command the advance group. Col. Tuncer Erinmezler, the highest-ranking officer slated for the main unit of the peacekeeping force, will also go to Afghanistan today. A half-dozen liaison officers will also take part in the team that will have duties at the peacekeeping force's headquarters. After doing preliminary work in the Afghan capital, the group is expected to go back to Turkey, excepting Col. Erinmezler and six liaison officers. Those remaining will wait at Kabul until the main unit arrives. _Sabah

    [04] AFGHAN DEFENSE OFFICIAL DOSTUM VISITING TURKEY

    Gen. Rashid Dostum, the deputy defense minister in Afghanistan's interim government, arrived in Ankara yesterday to visit his family living in the city and to carry out a series of meetings with Turkish officials. Dostum is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Turkiye/

    [05] CYPRUS MEETINGS TO CONTINUE NEXT WEEK

    Following a historic meeting with his Greek counterpart earlier this week, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that he and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides would evaluate their previous negotiations next Monday and then discuss the functions of both sides in a proposed new republic on the island. Speaking to reporters, Denktas stated that after this week face-to-face meetings, inter-delegationary meetings would begin at the scheduled meeting on Monday. He said, "We will preview our previous negotiations and then determine the controversial points. The next step will be to discuss the functions of the both sides in a new republic to be established." He added that at an appropriate time UN Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who is attending the talks as an observer, would travel to New York to report on developments in the meetings. /Turkiye/

    [06] HOPE SPRINGS TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS

    The press on both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cyprus gave wide coverage yesterday to the meeting between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides on Wednesday of this week. The two leaders had agreed to return to the negotiating table last month after a groundbreaking meeting in early December and to furthermore meet three times a week. The Turkish and Greek Cypriot took hope from the two leaders' commitment to a series of talks with a view to finding a solution to the island's problems. Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris evaluated the meeting as a "good beginning which is expected to pave the way for positive new developments on the island." Another daily, Halkin Sesi stated that talks were an encouraging start for new developments towards reaching a permanent solution on the island. Yet even while describing the meeting as a turning point and despite the relevant air of optimism, a number of dailies from both the north and the south sounded a note of caution. "The real test of this new beginning" they said, "will come when the two leader discuss the major issues which have traditionally stood in the way of progress on the island." /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] VERHEUGEN: "GREEK CYPRUS SHOULD BECOME AN EU MEMBER"

    Speaking yesterday on the BBC's "Newsnight" program, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said, "Greek Cyprus should become an EU member. A step like that would encourage efforts to reach a settlement on the island." Verheugen added, "For the first stage of EU enlargement, Cyprus membership is a sine qua non. We will make our decision at the end of this year. We have to take Greece's views seriously, as they have clearly stated that they wouldn't sign the enlargement agreement if Greek Cyprus didn't become an EU member." /Turkiye/

    [08] IMF LOAN WAITS FOR SEZER

    Turkey's new stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund is now awaiting President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's signature on Banking bill which recently passed Parliament. In related news, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis told a press conference yesterday that Turkey's Letter of Intent was ready and would be signed today in Washington. /Milliyet/

    [09] IMF DIRECTOR DAWSON PRAISES REFORMS IN TURKEY

    International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Affairs Director Tom Dawson yesterday praised recent reforms in Turkey and stated that the nation had recently taken more significant steps when compared to the past. Noting that Turkey's Letter of Intent was expected to be approved at the end of this month, Dawson added, "Turkey has recently made good progress and everything is going well." /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] TOBB TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S VIEWS TO THE WORLD

    The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) yesterday announced plans for new initiatives to promote Turkey's views on the international stage. Recalling that Spain's Union of Chambers had played an active role in Spanish-EU relations, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that his group was currently launch campaigns to bring Turkey's views to European countries as well as help the Turkish government on its path towards EU membership. Hisarciklioglu stated that he believed that TOBB's initiatives would help improve Turkey's commercial relations with European countries. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] TURK EXIMBANK TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR EXPORTS

    Turk Eximbank Director General Ahmet Kilicoglu said yesterday that his bank would provide exports with total financing support of $6.7 billion this year, $3.4 billion of which will be in cash. Kilicoglu added the financing to be extended this year constituted a fully 21% of the targeted exports. He added, "Last year we extended financing support for exports totaling $5.6 billion, and we're increasing our support this year by 19.6%. This year we expect exports worth $32 billion, but I hope that they will reach $34 billion." /Milliyet/

    [12] INTERNATIONAL SHOE FAIR OPENS IN ISTANBUL

    Turkey is Europe's third biggest shoemaker country, and it is proving at the 26th International Shoe Fashion Fair (AYMOD 2002) that it has a great potential not only for making shoes, but also for designing them. Nearly 300 Turkish and foreign companies are taking part in AYMOD 2002, which was opened in Beylikduzu, Istanbul yesterday by the RDF Fair company. The fair's opening ceremony was attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu. Speakers at the ceremony stated that Turkey's number three status in European shoemaking was boosting its exports and that Turkey's shoe sector made up fully 20% of its leather exports. Shoe Industrialists Association Chairman Selahattin Akaydin recalled that his group had helped to set up a foreign trade company with 43 partners and also open a retail store in Prague. He added, "From now on, the sector needs to cooperate with the state and to strive to improve. We have to increase the number of our shops to around 100. The state has promised to support us concerning this issue." /Aksam/

    [13] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [14] CYPRUS IN A SQUEEZE BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)

    Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the Cyprus negotiations and interventions from abroad. A summary of her column is as follows: "It is clearly understood that during the Cyprus negotiation process both sides will be on pins and needles when getting news from abroad. EU Commissioner Responsible for Enlargement Gunther Verheugen's words to the press to the effect that 'Turkey has a debt regarding Cyprus' strengthen this opinion. With the beginning of the negotiation process in December, Verheugen began to talk more than before. Whenever he opens his mouth he irritates either one or both sides in the Cyprus problem. In December he said that the EU would admit the Greek Cypriot administration whether the problem were solved or not. This statement angered both sides. It infuriated the Greek Cypriot side because Verheugen had said that they would not admit the entire island but only the Greek Cypriot side to the EU. The style of Verheugen in his recent interview with the German daily was repugnant. What does he mean by saying that 'Turkey owes'? Is Northern Cyprus Turkey's debt to the South? However, in a statement to the BBC, Verheugen changed his stance and stressed that Europe had not given its final word on admitting the Greek Cypriot administration to the EU before a solution is found to the problem. In fact, the Helsinki declaration stresses that before making a decision, contributions by both parties would be reviewed and all problems would be taken into consideration. The European policy is based on pressure on both sides. We must be ready for new statements during the negotiations between Denktas and Clerides. Some may anger, and others may please. There is no room for exaggeration. This is a part of the pressure policy. During the post-Sept. 11 process, the stability of Southeastern Europe has assumed an important place in both European and US policies. If the satisfaction of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side lies on one leg of the stability, the meeting of Turkish and Turkish Cypriot demands lies on the other. Gradually, everyone is understanding that an agreement reducing Turks to a minority status won't go any further than the paper it's printed on. In fact, 'United States of Cyprus' plan recently leaked to the press demonstrates this fact. However, the determining factor in this process is Turkey's stance. It has to believe that it will be an EU member to begin talks with the EU for full membership. The negative and discouraging statements made by important and influential figures only increase Turkey's lack of confidence and make the situation more difficult. This is true not only for the Turks and Cypriot Turks, but the work of the Greeks is also getting harder. It seems that the Greek Cypriots are not terribly confident in their getting full membership. They also need a solution which would not lead to more complicated issues. The leaders on the island have decided on a moratorium on speeches. However they should speak out right now. If they really are trying hard to reach a solution, they should speak and prepare their public for a peaceful co-existence. Otherwise, Verheugen is waiting his mouth at the ready."

    [15] FOREIGN AID SUPPORTS BUT DOESN'T STRENGTHEN BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)

    Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to the US and its consequences. A summary of his column is as follows: "Prime Minister Ecevit's meeting with US President Bush which formed the backbone of his visit to America can be interpreted as a declaration of what is known or merely a bunch of words. At the moment the uncertainty over Iraq is still lingering. The only achievement made here is time, meaning a delay of two to six months. If Iraq doesn't permit UN observers President Bush will show what action the US is to take, and only before the last step will it consult Turkey. It seems like Turkey has a key role here, but the key is in the hands of the US. Just before Ecevit's meeting with Bush, the announcement by Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq stating that Iraq's territorial integrity important for them was an interesting coincidence! At this point, the US, Turkey and Iraq seem to agree on one point namely that, the problem is not Iraq but Saddam Hussein. The meeting between Denktas and Clerides came just before the Ecevit-Bush meeting. The US was pleased with the continuation of the talks. Greece is also following Ecevit's visit closely. The Greek press stated that Ecevit's visit was more influential than that of their own leader Simitis. This seems to be the case because Turkey has historical ties with regions that the US has its eyes on for the 21st century. The USSR vacated two main spheres with its collapse in 1991: its territories outside Russia and these countries under the USSR's sphere of influence. US policies over the last 10 years were carried out through a process of 'trial and error'. In the next, more planned steps will be taken. The argument that US steps in this direction will be strengthened if it acts in cooperation with Turkey seems to have been adopted by the Washington administration. On the issue of trade, the US will form a committee to investigate present state of affairs. The results coming from this commission will be seen later. One of Bush's concrete promises was in the tourism sector. The US lifted the travel advisory it had issued last fall for the security of US citizens coming to Turkey. Tourism operators believe that US tourists spend more money than Europeans. The consequences of Ecevit's visit will be discussed in the coming days. The prime minister has strengthened foreign support for his government. However, foreign support doesn't strengthen the government structure, but just keeps it alive. The structure can be strengthened only when it is based on pillars grounded in the country itself."

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