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Turkish Press Review, 00-10-31
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
31.10.00
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] PRESIDENT SEZER TO TRAVEL TO JORDAN
[03] ESAD'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SEZER
[04] DUTCH PREMIER KOK: "TAKE EU CRITERIA SERIOUSLY"
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TRAVELS TO BUDAPEST
[06] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN: "CORRUPTION IS THE PRIME THREAT"
[07] PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS TO ATTEND PROXIMITY TALKS
[08] YILMAZ: "AMNESTY SHOULD NOT ANNOY THE PUBLIC CONCIENCE"
[09] SECOND BORDER GATE TO IRAQ
[10] ARMENIAN BILL IN FRENCH PARLIAMENT
[11] AMERICAN ARMENIANS TO CELEBRATE TURKISH DAY
[12] PKK EXTORTS MONEY FROM TURKISH WORKERS ABROAD
[13] 12-YEAR BASIC EDUCATION TO BE COMPULSORY
[14] TURKEY CALLS FOR MORE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN
[15] BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENT DAY
[16] COTTARELLI'S PROPOSALS TO TURKEY
[17] DALLARA TO VISIT TURKEY
[18] TPAO TO ESTABLISH FIRMS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
[19] CANADIAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN TURKEY
[20] TURKISH FIRMS ATTEND TUNISIAN FAIR
[21] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN IZNIK
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[23] ARE THE FOREIGN POWERS ONLY TO BLAME? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[02] PRESIDENT SEZER TO TRAVEL TO JORDAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will visit Jordan November 14-16 at
the invitation of King Abdullah. Mr. Sezer is expected to discuss
Turkey's bilateral relations with Jordan and certain regional
issues with King Abdullah. /Sabah/
[03] ESAD'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SEZER
Syrian Head of State Bessar Esad will send his assistant
Abdulhalim Haddam to Ankara Thursday to convey a message to
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. According to diplomatic sources,
Mr. Esad will send his first assistant Haddam as his special
representative for meetings in Ankara Mr. Haddam will also be
received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and TGNA Speaker Omer
Izgi. /Aksam/
[04] DUTCH PREMIER KOK: "TAKE EU CRITERIA SERIOUSLY"
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with his Dutch counterpart Wim
Kok yesterday in Ankara. Speaking about Turkey's accession period
after the meeting, Mr. Kok said, "Turkey should complete its
homework concerning the EU criteria as soon as possible." Stating
that Europe was not just a market but also an entity with common
political values, Mr. Kok said, "Turkey should catch up with the
conditions of the European countries immediately, regarding
certain basic issues like preventing the violation of human
rights." In the post-meeting press conference, Mr. Kok and Mr.
Ecevit briefed on bilateral relations between the Netherlands and
Turkey and Turkey`s accession period to the EU. Mr. Kok said,
"Mr. Ecevit, in additon to informing us on economic and social
issues, conveyed the latest develoments on human rights,
democracy, the supremacy of law and the rights of minorities
(known as the Copenhagen criteria) to us." After his meeting with
Prime Minister Ecevit, Mr. Kok was received by the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Omer Izgi and President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer. During the Sezer-Kok meeting, Turkey-EU relations
were primarily discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TRAVELS TO BUDAPEST
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem traveled to Budapest
yesterday to attend the meeting of North Atlantic Assembly. Many
high level officials from different countries including Greek
Foreign Minister George Papandreu, will attend the meeting. Mr.
Cem and Mr. Papandreu are expected to meet in Budapest. Recent
tension between Turkey and Greece over the Destined Glory 2000
exercises are expected to be discussed during the Cem-Papandreu
meeting. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN: "CORRUPTION IS THE PRIME THREAT"
Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan attended a conference yesterday
regarding the Struggle Against Corruption organized by the
Interior Ministry and the Turkish Economic and Social Study
Foundation. Addressing the conference, Minister Tantan described
corruption as "the robbing and plundering of the civil assets
and national savings." He said, "Corruption, underlies
many of the problems in our country and threatens our future and our
constitution. It is the number one threat against Turkey." Pointing out
that the social cost of corruption is also very high, Mr.
Tantan quoted from a philosopher saying, "Corruption is worse
than prostitution. Prostitution is the deterioration of one
person's but corruption jeopardizes all of society's moral."
/Turkiye/
[07] PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS TO ATTEND PROXIMITY TALKS
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf
Denktas and an accompanied delegation leave for Geneva today
to participate in the fifth round of proximity talks aimed at solving
the Cyprus issue. Stressing that the consequence of an artificial
agreement with the Greeks will bring only blood and tears, Mr. Denktas
said, "No one can force Turkish-Cypriots to sign an agreement
without the guarantee of Turkey." Underlining that cooperation
between Turkey and the TRNC will go on and gradually increase,
Mr. Denktas emphasized they will never give up Turkey's
guarantorship. /Turkiye/
[08] YILMAZ: "AMNESTY SHOULD NOT ANNOY THE PUBLIC CONCIENCE"
Mesut Yilmaz, the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader, State Minister, and Deputy
Prime Minister visited the Kars province yesterday
to attend various foundation laying and opening ceremonies.
Answering questions posed by journalists, Mr. Yilmaz said his party
will propose that the government deny amnesty for the suspects of
the bailed-out banks and gangs. He also pointed
out that the state has not yet realized any payment from its own
budget to those bailed-out banks and a part of the
losses will be met by the sale of their assets. Mr.
Yilmaz also joined the ceremonies held to mark the Kars' 80th
anniversary of liberation from enemy occupation. /Turkiye/
[09] SECOND BORDER GATE TO IRAQ
State Minister Tunca Toskay met with the Iraqi Transport
Minister yesterday in Baghdad. They discussed the possibility of
increasing the trade potential between the two countries, opening
the Baghdad railway, the renovation of Iraqi railways by Turkish
firms and the opening of a new border gate to Iraq. In
the meeting an agreement was reached to start the operation of
Turkey-Baghdad railway which has been closed for 18 years. Via
this railway, it would be possible for Turkey to import petroleum
from Iraq. The new border gate will be 10 km. south of the
Habur gate. The new gate will by-pass Northern Iraq. Mr.Toskay
will meet today with the Deputy President, Taha Yasin Ramazan.
Commercial matters will primarily be discussed in the meeting.
Turkey wants to increase exports, which have declined as low as
$200 million, to $300 million. Turkey plans to increase the
exports to Iraq $500 million next year. /Milliyet/
[10] ARMENIAN BILL IN FRENCH PARLIAMENT
15 senators of the Republican Unity Party (RPR) prepared a
Genocide Bill to have the so-called Armenian Genocide recognized
in France. If the bill is accepted at the "urgent" convening of
the Senate Nov.7, it will be submitted to the parliament. There
is a distinction between this bill and the previous one. The
first was prepared by the Secretary Generale of the RPR, Senator
Adrien Gouteyron and approved in parliament, but not included in
the Senate agenda. The approved bill stated, "France recognizes
the genocide carried out against the Armenians." On the other
hand, the new bill includes the following statement: "France
officially recognizes the genocide that Armenians were subjected
to in 1915." /Milliyet/
[11] AMERICAN ARMENIANS TO CELEBRATE TURKISH DAY
Serge Hodjalian, one of the leaders of the Armenian Diaspora in
the United States is organizing a "Turkish Day" Nov.14 at the
Princeton Club in Manhattan. The New York Rotary Club, headed by
Mr. Hodjalian, aims to make Turkey known to the American
Rotarians and their families. One of the most prestigious Rotary
clubs, the New York branch has 200 members. These members include
prominant names in financial, commercial and cultural circles.
Therefore, the club's activities also function as an "image
campaign" aimed at influential parts of the American business
world. The organization of a "Turkish Day" carries both a message
of good-will to the Turkish public and a support for moderate
approaches within the Armenian Diaspora. /Milliyet/
[12] PKK EXTORTS MONEY FROM TURKISH WORKERS ABROAD
As the activities of the terrorist organization PKK were not
officially restricted by authorities in Great Britain, it extorts
money from Turkish citizens living in Britain. It was stated the
members of PKK wanted 2,000 pounds from Turks owning restaurant,
shop or cafes in Northern London and have extorted 400,000 pounds
since Oct.17. The members of the PKK do not give any receipt for
money so as not to run afoul of British authorities. The PKK
threatens people who do not want to give money. The terrorist
organization extorts money under the name of "Sport, Culture or
Public House" to disguise the organized criminal nature of its
activities. /Hurriyet/
[13] 12-YEAR BASIC EDUCATION TO BE COMPULSORY
After the decision was taken by the Board of the National
Security (MGK) made their decision, National Education Minister,
Metin Bostancioglu, announced that compulsory basic education
will be 12 years beginning the next school year. Mr. Bostancioglu
said, " The high school education will be four years. The share
of contribution to education (a kind of tax) should be continued
at least 10 years. Only 56 percent of the expected revenues could
be collected since the beginning of the implementation of
"contribution to education." /Hurriyet/
[14] TURKEY CALLS FOR MORE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN AFGHANISTAN
Turket called on the international community to contribute more
effort to solve the humanitarian problems emerging in the face of
increased Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan. In a statement
yesterday from the Foreign Ministry said a ministry delegation
headed by Afghanistan coordinator, Ambassador Aydemir Erman paid
a visit to northern Afghanistan Oct. 12-19. The statement says
the UN and other international organizations should intensify
their efforts in the region to solve the humanitarian problems,
such as the growing waves of refugees, emerging as a result of
attacks by the Taliban administration. /Turkish Daily News/
[15] BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENT DAY
The Secretary of Turkey National Forum of the Black Sea Voluntary
Enviromental Protection Institutions, Kenan Kuri, stated that
rivers carry waste materials to the Sea causing environmental and
sea pollution. Mr. Kuri issued a statement for the occasion of
"October 31, Black Sea Environment Day". He said, "Until very
recently, the Black Sea was five times richer than the
Mediterranean Sea in the resources it provided to the Eastern
European and Turkish fishery. Fishing was the primary income
source for the people living on the shores. Nowadays, however,
this sector is on the brink of collapsing. The rich water
resources are being demolished by the poisonous waters flowing
into the Sea. /Hurriyet/
[16] COTTARELLI'S PROPOSALS TO TURKEY
IMF's Turkey desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli began to work on an
additional letter of intent within the framework of stand-by
deal. It was stated that Mr. Cottarelli, who met with the
technicians of the Treasury Undersecretary, would focus on ten
issues including the expectation of 2001 current account balance,
legal preparations for the autonomization of the state banks, the
calender for Turk Telecom privatization and structural reforms
of 2001. In the briefing held in Minister of Treasury Mr.
Cottarelli was given the expectations for the results of 2000
budgetary implementations and the objectives for 2001. /Sabah/
[17] DALLARA TO VISIT TURKEY
Chairman of the International Institute of Finance (IIF) Charles
Dallara will visit Turkey to give a seminar hosted by the Turkish
Union of Banks. Mr. Dallara will give a seminar November 2 in
Istanbul Conrad Hotel to the bankers. He will also hold a press
conference on the world economy and international banking.
/Sabah/
[18] TPAO TO ESTABLISH FIRMS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
The Council of Ministers decision permitting Turkish Petroleum
Joint Stock Company (TPAO) to establish firms in foreign
countries was issued in Official Gazette the day before
yesterday. With the decision, TPAO is given permission to
establish firms functioning in areas such as the search for,
production of, transportation of and marketing of petroleum.
/Sabah/
[19] CANADIAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN TURKEY
Turkey's Honorary Consul in Montreal, Canada, Gen. G. Emin
Battika, said Canadian firms were very interested in Turkey. He
said 120-125 Canadian firms were currently doing business in
Turkey. Continuing he said Canadian firms were persuaded that
Turkey was a good place to invest and that Canadian firms were
being encouraged to transfer technology to Turkey in certain
sectors, such as telecommunications, dam building and water
purification. /Turkish Daily News/
[20] TURKISH FIRMS ATTEND TUNISIAN FAIR
The Turkish stand at the International Tunisia Fair on Oct. 19-29
created the opportunity for joint ventures between Turkish
businessmen and their counterpart in Algeria, Morocco and Egypt.
The stand, organized by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), was
represented by 13 Turkish firms from the food, textiles, lastics,
construction goods, shoes, cosmetics industries as well as other
sectors. /Turkish Daily News/
[21] INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN IZNIK
The Iznik Education and Training Foundation will organize
the first International Iznik Symposium on Nov. 1-4. The symposium
sponsored by Is Bank, will bring many historians and experts together.
During the meetings, the history of Iznik over the Ancient,
Byzantine and Turkish periods will be discussed and artifacts excavated
in the region will be taken up. /Cumhuriyet/
[22] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[23] ARE THE FOREIGN POWERS ONLY TO BLAME? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the responsibility of foreign powers
in the solution of problems. A summary of his column is as follows:
"In a statement he made a few days ago, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
said that if foreign powers do not intervene and would leave the Middle East
to itself, a solution could be found more easily. The Prime Minister
hasmade similar statements concerning the dispute in the Aegean, Cyprus
issue and conflicts in the Balkans. In other words, Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit believes that if foreign states, led by the US and international
organizations, do not intervene in disputes, the
issues would be more easily solved by direct talks. The
intervention of foreign powers to further their interests and
positions makes the problems more complex.
It is true that in some cases the intervention and pressure of
foreign powers has led to negative results. However, we have to accept
that, in general, these initiatives slow down or completely stop regional
conflicts and disagreements. The Balkans makes a good example for the
case. If the Western nations, and especially the US, had not intervened
it would have been impossible to find a solution (providing a
transitional period for the region) to stop the bloody
incidents in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. If there had been no
interventions, the bloodshed would have continued and the conflict
would have escalated and expanded.
Certainly, the most desirable solution is for the parties to resolve
their problems amongst themselves. However, the leadership and the will
to compromise, which can lead to such a decision, cannot be seen. In
these cases, leaving the sides to themselves does not contribute to
the solution of the problems and only endangers the peace and stability
of the region. In other words, the policy of 'let them
fight, let them kill each other and find the solution by themselves'
is not acceptable today.
It is true that the US has openly intervened in the Middle East
problem and directed the issue in line with its own stance. The Camp
David initiative is the work of Clinton Administration. It is clear
that this initiative has not yielded any results. According to some
analysts, the impositions and pressures starting with the Camp David
process have led to the conflicts and critical situation seen today.
At present Washington hopes to see some results (the start of a new
peace process) by continuing the pressure. However, this policy has
resulted in more harm than good.
Certainly it would have been best if the sides, namely the Israelis
and the Palestinians could have reached an agreement between themselves
not leaving the path open to foreign intervention. They cannot come to an
agreement and prefer to fight. The best way to stop foreign intervention
for the parties involved is to find a solution to their problems."
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