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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>22.07.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] HANNAY IN CYPRUSCyprus Special Envoy for Austria, the current EU term-president, Sir David Hannay has started a series of contacts in Cyprus. Hannay met with Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides yesterday morning. Hannay, who later went to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), attended a conference organized by the Turkish Businessmen's Association. It is reported that Hannay, who restated his proposal for resuming meetings between the two sides on the island, also noted that he would deal with three basic issues. He stated that he would seek ways to resume the dialogue for a solution to the Cyprus problem. He said too that negotiations between the Greek Cypriot Administration and the European Union (EU) should be also attended by Turkish Cypriots, and that security on the island was another important issue. Hannay proposed that meetings between Turkish and Greek Cypriots should resume under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). /Cumhuriyet/[02] SIKORSKY NEARS $700 MILLION TURKISH ACCORDThe US Sikorsky Aircraft Co. is close to reaching a final accord with Turkey to sell up to 50 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters and eight CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift platforms, a deal together worth some $700 million, government sources said. If concluded, the deal will be a major blow to the French-German consortium Eurocopter, which still has plans to extend a current agreement with Turkey to sell 30 AS-532 Cougar utility and search-and-rescue helicopters for $500 million, to provide the Turkish Armed Forces with more air resources.Also, the expected sale of the CH-53E will mark a victory for Sikorsky against another US firm, Boeing Co, that has sought to sell its rival CH-47 Chinook to the Turkish army for years. /All papers/ [03] PARLIAMENT LIFTS IMMUNITY OF SEVEN DEPUTIESThe political immunities of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy and Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Murat Karayalcin, True Path Party (DYP) Deputies Omer Bilgin, Mehmet Agar, Kemal Aykurt, Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Sema Piskinsut, Virtue Party (FP) deputies Kahraman Emmioglu and Mustafa Bayram were lifted by Parliament yesterday. In other words, judicial procedures against these deputies concerning allegations of corruption could start soon. /All papers/[04] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCILThe Turkey-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Council, in its second meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday in Lefkose, will outline additional economic and financial measures in line with the two countries' decision to integrate their economies. "During the meeting, the implementation of the decisions envisaged in the Association Council declaration of March 31 will be revised and new measures to be implemented in the near future will be outlined" a statement from the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. /All papers/[05] ROSY PICTURE OF TURKISH ECONOMY IN 2020The Turkish economy will improve considerably in the next two decades with an average income per capita expected to reach $30,000 in 2020, a study coordinated by the Foreign Ministry has predicted. The report, entitled "The World and Turkey in 2010 and 2020" estimates that by 2020 Turkey will take its place among the five largest economies within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and will hold a 3 percent share of the total gross world product, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.The study also predicts that Turkey's exports will reach $665 billion, while its imports will increase to $750 billion. In addition, the ratio of Turkey's foreign trade volume to the gross national product (GNP) is expected to rise from 0.43 % in 1995 to 0.88 % during the projected period. The research, which has also been submitted to President Suleyman Demirel, will be appended to the OECD's "The World in 2020" report. [06] SPANISH PM AZNAR MEETS WITH YILMAZSpanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar met with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in Ankara yesterday, discussing bilateral relations between Turkey and Spain, with the emphasis on trade relations. Following the talks in Ankara, Aznar will travel to Istanbul. The Turkish-Spanish Business Council also will hold meetings on July 22 and 23 in Istanbul, where Aznar will give a speech and meet with leading Turkish industrialists. /All papers/[07] TURKISH STRAITS DISCUSSED AT IMO MEETINGThe current situation in the Turkish Straits is being discussed at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. Accompanied by officials from the Turkish Maritime Organization and experts from the Naval Forces, Mithat Rende, counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in London, spoke about his concerns, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. "Turkey's approval and contribution should be basic to any system to be implemented for the Turkish Straits. Turkey will never give up its initiative regarding the regulations related to the Turkish Straits" said Rende, Turkey's permanent representative to the IMO.[08] TURKEY URGES SWITZERLAND TO RECONSIDER ITS STANCETurkish Ambassador to Switzerland Taner Baytok has once again called on Swiss authorities to reconsider their refusal to permit celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic to take place in the palace where the historical Lausanne Treaty was signed on July 24, 1923."We expect that Switzerland will correct its mistake. By opening Rumine Palace for the celebrations, Switzerland will show that it attributes importance to the Lausanne Treaty and friendly relations with Turkey" Baytok told reporters in Montreaux yesterday, according to the Anatolia news agency. [09] BYZANTINE ARTIFACTS IN SULTANAHMETAs a result of excavations carried out by the Istanbul Archaeological Museums for seven months, an ancient building near the Ayasofya and Topkapi Palace in Sultanahmet, Istanbul has been discovered. Head of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Alpay Pasinli, noted that the building on a 1,000 square metre-area was possibly used during the Byzantine period as an official residence. He said that its function would be determined after investigations are made. Following a restoration, the building will be opened for tourism, it is reported. /Cumhuriyet/[10] CELEBRATIONS IN SWITZERLANDThe 62nd anniversary of the Montreaux Straits Agreement was celebrated in Montreaux, Switzerland yesterday. High ranking officials from Turkey and Switzerland attended the celebrations. Turkish Ambassador to Bern, Taner Baytok stressed the importance of the Lausanne Treaty for Turkey. At the end of the celebrations Ankara Olgunlasma Finishing School presented a fashion show, and Turkish folk dance groups gave performances. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/[11] FOREIGN CREDIT TO AKBANKTurkish private Akbank has ensured $ 250 million in foreign credit from international finance markets. According to bank officials, the bank obtained $ 250 million in funding from international finance markets by exporting stock exchange credit card assets. They added that sales are continuing through Credit Suisse First Boston. /Hurriyet/[12] WEB-SITE FOR FOREIGN CAPITALIt was announced yesterday that the Foreign Capital Department of the Treasury Undersecretariat was opened a web-site on the internet. According to officials, the site, which is prepared in English, aims to give information about investment opportunities in Turkey and regulations in Turkey on establishing companies, incentives, employment, taxes, accounting and foreign capital. There is also statistical information and necessary addresses and phone numbers to find out more about the Turkish economy. /Hurriyet/[13] ERCEL: "ZEROS WILL BE CANCELLED"Central bank Chairman, Gazi Ercel said yesterday that they will cancel a few zeros from the Turkish Lira in 2000. Ercel, who is still in Tokyo to attend an International Central Bank (BIS) meeting, said in statament to Nihon Keizai from Shimbun newspaper that they have finished studies on transferring to a "New Turkish Lira" monetary system. He added that they would reach their target in pulling down inflation to 50 percent in 1998 and 20 percent at the end of 1999. The zero application would help to bring inflation under control. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/[14] EIGHT PKK TERRORISTS KILLEDEight PKK terrorists have been killed during clashes between security forces and terrorists in Bingol, Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Tokat and Mardin. Two members of the security forces have also been killed.PKK terrorists stopped an ambulance from the health centre attached to Esentepe village, Yuksekova and carried-off its driver after setting the ambulace on fire. They also kidnapped four more civilians after stopping their cars as they travelled between Yuksekova and Esentepe. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/ [15] "US WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO SOLVE CYPRUS ISSUE"Spokesman for the US Secretary of State, James Rubin, said yesterday in a press meeting that America would continue its efforts to solve the Cyprus issue under umbrella of the United Nations (UN). Regarding the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 missiles on the island Rubin said that turning the island into weapons depot would only serve to increase tension on the island. /Sabah/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |