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Turkish Press Review, 98-12-15
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
15.12.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL IN ISTANBUL
[02] ECEVIT MEETS CINDORUK
[03] CILLER: "BEST SOLUTION IS A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT"
[04] TURKEY CONDEMNS GREECE
[05] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU CRITICIZES WESTERN COUNTRIES
[06] TURKEY APPEALS AGAINST DILIBERTO
[07] DINI: "OCALAN SHOULD EXPLAIN EVENTS OF THE PAST"
[08] US EXPERTS: "ITALY IS TWO-FACED"
[09] VERGAU: "OCALAN SHOULD BE EXTRADITED TO TURKEY"
[10] MILLIYET'S INTERVIEW IN EUROPEAN PRESS
[11] OCALAN: "GUERILLA WARFARE IS POINTLESS"
[12] SAYGIN IN SARAJEVO
[13] TURKEY'S OBJECTION TO UN
[14] AGA SENTENCED AGAIN
[15] CANCELLATION FORMULA FOR S-300 MISSILES
[16] MEASURES AGAINST THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
[17] SUCCESS OF THE TURKISH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
[18] TREASURY IS TESTING A 14-MONTH STATE BOND
[19] ERCEL: "HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH IMF"
[20] SURPRISE SUPPORT FROM FISCHER FOR THE EU
[21] ERSUMER: BAKU-CEYHAN TO BE CONCLUDED SOON
[22] MORNINGSTAR's VISIT TO ANKARA
[23] YILMAZ, "EDUCATION HAS PRIORITY"
[24] "SEASONS" BY ISMAIL CEM
[25] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
[26] COOPERATION IN TOURISM
[27] TWO MODERATE QUAKES
[28] "LEUKAEMIA MAY BE HIS CHANCE"
[01] DEMIREL IN ISTANBUL
Turkey, strategically located between East and West, will play a
key role in the world in the 21st century, President Suleyman
Demirel said yesterday. Demirel, addressing a large crowd of
students and teachers at Istanbul University's Faculty of
Economics, said the country's role will increase as the world
[Aheads for a single market economy. He gave a speech on
"Turkey's economy in the 21st century" on the 62nd anniversary of
the founding of the Faculty. Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, the
Head of the Higher Education Council, Kemal Guruz, and the Rector
of the University, Kemal Alemdaroglu, accompanied Demirel. /All
papers/
[02] ECEVIT MEETS CINDORUK
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister-Designate
Bulent Ecevit met Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) leader Husamettin
Cindoruk yesterday. Ecevit received full support from Cindoruk
for his minority government. Following the meeting, Cindoruk
said: "If Ecevit wants, we can also take our place in the
government". Ecevit will meet Republican People's Party (CHP)
leader Deniz Baykal today. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] CILLER: "BEST SOLUTION IS A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT"
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said yesterday that the
best solution would be a broad-based government. Ciller met
businessmen from many organizations and associations yesterday
and noted that a broad-based government to be established under
the leadership of any person, including Democratic Left Party
(DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit, would be the most realistic solution
to the problem. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] TURKEY CONDEMNS GREECE
The Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ambassador Necati Utkan,
said that Greece has been supporting the PKK terrorist
organization since the very beginning and noted that Turkey
condemns this Greek stance. Replying to a question, Utkan stated
that Greece was continuing to be non-adherent to international
agreements, which she has signed, and said that this was against
UN resolutions and international law, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
[05] GEN.KIVRIKOGLU CRITICIZES WESTERN COUNTRIES
The Chief of the Turkish General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu,
who is receiving foreign ambassadors paying him courtesy visits
in Turkey, held a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Turkey,
Muhammed Lavasani yesterday. Gen.Kivrikoglu and Lavasani mainly
discussed the issues of terror and security. When Gen.Kivrikoglu
received the Ambassadors of NATO-member countries in Turkey, he
expressed his disappointment over the stance of Turkey's allies
towards terrorism. He criticized the Western stand over the PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan.
[06] TURKEY APPEALS AGAINST DILIBERTO
Turkey's attorneys made an appeal yesterday against the Italian
Minister of Justice, Oliviero Diliberto. Augusta Sinagra, the
attorney who has been representing Turkey since the beginning of
the Ocalan case, presented a file against Diliberto that said he
was affecting the court with his personal views. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] DINI: "OCALAN SHOULD EXPLAIN EVENTS OF THE PAST"
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lamberto Dini said that
it was nothing new that PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan was trying to
distance himself from the organization but he should first
explain the past. Speaking at the International Politics
Institution in Milan he said that Ocalan's statements regarding
himself and the organization belonged to the past but not to the
future. He noted that there were not the necessary conditions to
give the right of political asylum. /Turkiye/
[08] US EXPERTS: "ITALY IS TWO-FACED"
US experts on conflict resolution, who attended a conference on
"Common interests based on economic cooperation" in Istanbul,
said that the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in Rome
was an opportunity for Turkey. The Deputy Chairman of the
International Conflict Resolution Programme of Colombia
University, David Phillips, said in a statement to the daily
newspaper 'Milliyet', that Ocalan should be extradited to Turkey
and should be tried due to his crimes committed against humanity.
He added: "Even though the Italians are launching initiatives to
establish a criminal court, they are two-faced when a war
criminal arrives in their country". /Milliyet/
[09] VERGAU: "OCALAN SHOULD BE EXTRADITED TO TURKEY"
The German Ambassador to Ankara, Hans Joachim Vergau, noted that
the PKK leader should be extradited to Turkey. Touching upon the
good relations between Turkey and Germany during a conference on
"Germany, Turkey and Europe" at the Aegean University in Izmir,
Vergau said: "The PKK terrorist organization is prohibited in
Germany. The Federal Government cannot want Ocalan to be
extradited to Germany. Ocalan should be extradited to Turkey and
should be tried". /Milliyet/
[10] MILLIYET'S INTERVIEW IN EUROPEAN PRESS
Nilgun Cerrahoglu's interview in the 'Milliyet' daily newspaper
two days ago with the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan received great
attention in the European press. Wide coverage has been devoted
to the interview in the Corriere della Sera, Il Giornale, La
Stampa and La Repubblica newspapers published in Italy. Ocalan
stated that he would be disconnected from the PKK leadership.
Denmark and Norway television stations also devoted coverage to
the interview. /Milliyet/
[11] OCALAN: "GUERILLA WARFARE IS POINTLESS"
The leader of the terrorist PKK organization Ocalan has begun to
renounce his past. He stated that he was not to blame for the
death innocent people who were killed on his instructions. He
blamed the members of the PKK for these incidents. Ocalan who
participated in a live broadcast on "Restructuring" by MED TV,
complained that his sacrifices were going unnoticed, and blamed
the terrorists for not using their brains. He suggested the
terrorists in the mountains leave their arms if they were to
fight as they did during the past 15 years. He added that if they
were to continue guerilla warfare without any changes it was
pointless. He stated that the organization had to change.
/Turkiye/
[12] SAYGIN IN SARAJEVO
State Minister Isilay Saygin went to Sarajevo yesterday to attend
a ceremony to be held celebrating the delivery of a tile-ceramic
wall panel by the Turkish ceramic artist Umran Baradan to the
Bosnia-Herzegovina State Art Historical Museum. Prior to her
departure, Saygin noted that she would continue to deal with the
problems of women in Turkey and would support them. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] TURKEY'S OBJECTION TO UN
Turkey has voiced its objection towards the discussion of the
Cyprus issue at the General Council of the United Nations (UN)
during which the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is
not represented. Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN,
Volkan Vural, told the Chairman of the General Council and
Foreign Minister of Uruguay, Didier Opertti, yesterday that the
discussion of the Cyprus issue without the representatives of the
TRNC would further increase the tension on the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] AGA SENTENCED AGAIN
In the presence of Turkish deputies, Mehmet Emin Aga, the elected
religious leader of the Turkish minority in Greece's province of
Western Thrace, was sentenced to seven months in prison yesterday
for "illegally holding an official title", the Anatolia news
agency reports. During the hearing yesterday held in the city of
Larissa, Aga was sentenced to five months and two months in two
separate cases. Aga was set free after appealing against the
sentence.
[15] CANCELLATION FORMULA FOR S-300 MISSILES
US President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Richard
Holbrooke, who met Greek officials yesterday evening, discussed a
formula for the cancellation of the deployment of Russian-made
S-300 missiles on Cyprus. However, the response of the Greek
Defense Minister, Akis Cohacopoulos, and Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos to the formula consisting of seven articles
has not been declared. /Milliyet/
[16] MEASURES AGAINST THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
In a joint press conference yesterday, State Minister Is�n Celebi
and the Minister of Finance, Zekeriya Temizel, gave a detailed
account of the measures to be taken by the government in order to
overcome the current stagnation in the real sector. Both
ministers stated that the current economic troubles were external
to the major dynamics of the Turkish economy, stemming mainly
from the deepening financial crisis in the Far East and Russia
and further exacerbated by the international recession in
particular sectors. However, it was also noted that the dynamism,
strength and industrial infrastructure of the Turkish economy,
alongside a set of reasonable measures, would clear up all
symptoms of a possible crisis.
The decisions declared at the conference are as follows: The
measures against the release onto the national market of those
commodities, which have been imported to be processed in domestic
production will be strengthened. Eximbank sources will be augmented
by transfers and capital increases in order to finance and support
theexports. The post-export credit system will be re-activated,
while both the import and inner purchase of raw materials will be
eased. The rate of cuts on foreign-based credits and consumer
credits will be decreased by 30 to 50 per cent. Last but not
least, in order to rejuvenate the trade with those former Soviet
republics which have currently been run out of international
exchange, trading in terms of Ruble and Turkish Lira will be
facilitated and major changes in the regime of payment with these
economies will be imposed.
Meanwhile, Temizel noted that the government would never step
back from its tax policies and therefore nobody should expect a
reduction or deferral in taxes due to the current problems.
Temizel said: "Those measures that would be taken at the expense
of tax revenues to the state would impose a more serious burden
on public finance.There is no establishment in Turkey that is
unable to meet its liquidity requirements under normal
conditions. The Central Bank is working in the most effective
way." /Hurriyet/
[17] SUCCESS OF THE TURKISH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
Turkish construction firms are successfully developing their
investments abroad. According to the Turkish Constructors' Union
the total volume of the business of the Turkish firms abroad up
to now has reached $ 40 billion. They have undertaken business in
the 13 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
including Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Moldovo, Armenia, etc.,
and 26 FarEastern and Middle-Eastern countries. /Turkiye/
[18] TREASURY IS TESTING A 14-MONTH STATE BOND
The Treasury is in pursuit of a new record in domestic debt bids
today, trying to sell 14-month (420 days) state bonds, due
February 2000, via bids for tender. A net revenue of 100 trillion
TL ($300 million) is expected from this sale. It is the first
time that the Treasury has offered such a long-term discount bond
with interest payments on a due date. /Hurriyet/
[19] ERCEL: "HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH IMF"
Gazi Ercel, the chairman of the Central Bank, said that an
agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would ensure
$ 10 billion credit and also help to bring foreign capital to
Turkey. Ercel noted that there would be an historical opportunity
in front of Turkey in 1999 saying that the wide scope of the
economic agreement to be signed with the IMF would be very
important for the development of Turkey. He pointed out that the
government should be established as soon as possible and that
economic balances should be maintained. If Turkey upheld the
economic requirements of IMF, there was always an opportunity to
sign and agreement between Turkey and the IMF. /Sabah/
[20] SURPRISE SUPPORT FROM FISCHER FOR THE EU
The Foreign Minister of Germany, which will take over the term
of the Presidency of the EU from Austria on January 1st,
1999,said: "Turkey is a candidate member of the EU". The German
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joschka Fischer who held a press
conference in Brussels to give information concerning the studies
on the EU presidential system, explained their policy over the
expansion of the EU and stated, "Turkey is a candidate. It is a
candidate with problems particular to itself." Indicating that
Turkey had problems with a certain EU member country, Fischer
added that they were aware that they had to present a concrete
perspective to Turkey which had great geopolitical importance.
However he added that the Copenhagen criteria were clear and for
its part Turkey had to conform to them. /Turkiye/
[21] ERSUMER: BAKU-CEYHAN TO BE CONCLUDED SOON
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, who
met the US President's Special Consultant for Caspian Energy
Policies, Richard Morningstar, and the delegation accompanying
him, stated that the meeting on the implementation of the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project with Azerbaijan ended in full
agreement. Ambassador Morningstar said that they agreed with
Turkey that there were new developments concerning the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project's implementation and,for their part,
the US side would do everything in their power to aid the
completion of this project. /Turkiye/
[22] MORNINGSTAR's VISIT TO ANKARA
The US deputy Secretary of State and Coordinator of the Caspian
Basin, Ambassador Richard Morningstar, was separately received by
President Suleyman Demirel, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
the Minister of Energy, Cumhur Ersumer, and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, in Ankara yesterday. After the
meeting with Cem, Morningstar said that oil companies finally saw
the political realities about the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. He
added that Turkey and Azerbaijan were now ready to discuss
business and trade issues. Cem said for his part that America
supported the Baku-Ceyhan oil route not only for the benefit of
Turkey and Azerbaijan but also for its own policies. /Sabah/
[23] YILMAZ, "EDUCATION HAS PRIORITY"
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz opened the 75th Mesut Yilmaz Primary
School in Pendik, Istanbul. At the opening ceremony Yilmaz said
that education was one of the essential issues of Turkey. He
added that problems in education should be solved in order to
solve other problems in Turkey. Ministers of State, Cavit Kavak
and Ahad Andican, and the Minister of Health, H. Ibrahim Ozsoy,
also attended the ceremony. Prime Minister Yilmaz and Ministers
accompanying him later visited Haydarpasa Numune Hospital, which
was recently restored by charitable people. /Turkiye/
[24] "SEASONS" BY ISMAIL CEM
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, who is a journalist
and author, is known for his interest in fine arts. Cem is a
successful photographer. His second photography book, entitled
'Seasons', has already been issued. There are hundreds of
photographs on human portraits, natural beauties, views from
cities and historical objects. /Turkiye/
[25] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
A mini-bus which was carrying students in the Kesan district of
Edirne collided with a truck yesterday and seven people,
including six students, died and 24 people were injured. In two
other traffic accidents in Sakarya and Kahramanmaras, six people
died and 25 people were injured. /Cumhuriyet/
[26] COOPERATION IN TOURISM
The Chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies' Union (TURSAB) Talha
Camas has proposed cooperation with Greek tourism agencies and
said: "Cooperation between Turkey and Greece will also bring
peace and brotherhood". In an evaluation following a two-day
meeting of the TURSAB Regional Executive Councils in Marmaris,
Talha Camas noted that the common interests of Turkey and Greece
were based on cooperation and pointed out that in order to
compete with Far Eastern and North-South American countries,
Turkey and Greece should cooperate in tourism. /Cumhuriyet/
[27] TWO MODERATE QUAKES
Two successive moderate eathquakes shook Kayseri yesterday,
causing cracks in buildings and panic among residents. But no
injuries or serious damage were reported. The first quake, with a
preliminary magnitude of 4.4, struck the nearby town of Bunyan at
12:44 GMT, the Kandilli observatory in Istanbul said. The second,
measuring 4.5, hit 16 minutes later. The Anatolia News Agency
said the walls of some old buildings in Bunyan cracked.
[28] "LEUKAEMIA MAY BE HIS CHANCE"
Sabah newpaper journalist Hincal Uluc wrote in today's column
about the concert that the world famous Spanish tenor, Jose
Carreras gave in Istanbul last weekend; it was organized on the
initiative of Berna Yilmaz for the charity, the Foundation for
Children with Leukaemia.
In his article Uluc reported how Carreras struggled against and
overcame his illness, leukaemia. He also compared Carreras with
the other famous tenors, Domingo and Pavarotti, saying that
Carreras was the best among them. The concert, which Carreras
started with "Marechiare" and finished with "Granada" was
impressive, said Uluc adding that the song, "All I Ask of You"
from the musical, the Phantom of Opera by Llyod Weber, that
Carreras sang with Turkish pop star Sertap Erener was fabulous.
Uluc reported the duet that Carreras sang with Swiss artist Eva
Lind, and said that it flew into the hearts of listeners. Uluc
finally praised the young orchestra of the Cemal Resit Rey, where
the concert was given. He finished his article, "Jose Carreras
burned our hearts in flames and went...! Big Jose...!" /Sabah/
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