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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>23.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] CEM BUSY IN NEW YORKForeign Minister Ismail Cem continued his bilateral talks in New York. Meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazzi, Cem demanded the early implementation of Security Committee decisions related to the PKK terrorist organization. Turkey complained about the PKK presence and its passage over Turkey's border with Iran. But Iranian officials continued to insist that their territories were not being used for actions hostile to Turkey. In the meeting betwen the two Ministers, the decrease in the volume of trade between the two countries was another issue placed on the agenda.Cem also met Macedonian Foreign Minister Alexander Dimitirov in New York. The Macedonian Minister argued that Kosovo should remain within the Yugoslavian border. Cem met Pakistani Foreign Minister Gohar Eyyup Khan and thanked him for his government's relief efforts in Turkey's earthquake-hit Marmara Region. Cem was also expected to meet Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Al-Shara and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. /All papers/ [03] CLINTON AND KOFI ANNAN DISCUSS CYPRUSU.S. President Bill Clinton, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meetings, met the Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan, and discussed the Cyprus issue, reported the Anatolian News Agency. It was reported that the UN wished to be informed of Washington's opinion of the timetable that will be organized.A high-ranking official from the American Administration, who issued a briefing on Clinton's meetings in the UN, said that during the meeting, generally Kofi Annan talked to most to Clinton. The official said, "The Secretary-General stated that preparations were underway, aimed at a solution to the Cyprus issue. The Secretary-General also pointed out the importance of the U.S. role in this and said that he wanted to work with the U.S. on the Cyprus issue. Annan reported that he wanted to be aware of the President's views concerning the steps to be taken on resolving the Cyprus question." Furthermore, it was proposed that Kofi Annan would invite the Turkish-Cypriot President, Rauf Denktas, and the leader of the Greek-Cypriot part of Cyprus, Glafkos Klerides, to meet face-to-face in the Autumn in accordance with the instructions of the Security Council. It was further added that for this purpose, a `one-line letter' will be sent to the leaders; Annan was said to be satisfied with the wording: `You are cordially invited to the meetings during which all matters concerning the Cyprus issue will be discussed'. Sources stated that the time and place of the meetings have not been determined yet, however, the U.S. and England are waiting for the outcome of Ecevit's visit to Washington and his meeting with Clinton. According to these sources, the U.S. and England will go into action after Ecevit's visit and Annan will post the above-mentioned letters to the leaders. [04] CEM'S MEETINGSThe Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem's discussions with the other countries' Ministers of Foreign Affairs during the UN's General Assembly at times became the setting for interesting developments, reported the Anatolian News Agency.The Faroe Islands' Administrators, who arrived with Denmark's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Niels Helveg to meet Cem, suggested the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands, whose main income provision is from fishing, is dependent on Denmark as far as her international relations are concerned. The Faroe Islands' measure only 1,399 square kilometres, with a population of 50 thousand people. Ismail Cem placed the Turco-Austrian social security issue on the agenda during his meeting with Austria's State Secretary for International Relations, Benita Halldner. Austrian officials stopped paying the Child Benefit monies that, until a while ago, were being given to Turks, in accordance with a ruling they had made. It was reported that Cem had requested that Halldner solve this problem and Halldner had promised to examine this issue carefully. It was reported that during the meeting between Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joschka Fischer and Minister Cem, the Cyprus issue had been discussed. The German Minister had expressed his pleasure at the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece and had stated that they would help with the development of the Cyprus issue. Furthermore, Fischer pointed out that the Turkish people living in Germany are a well-organized society, and that he would contribute to the improvement of relations between Turkey and Germany. [05] IMKB DONATIONSThe amount donated by the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) to support the eight-year uninterrupted education programme and to help the victims of the earthquake has reached 160 trillion TL. IMKB Chairman Osman Birsen visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday and briefed him concerning the donation, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[06] NEW VOTE IN COUNCIL OF EUROPEA proposal with reference to the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, will be voted on during the General Council session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to be held today. The proposal requests that the Legal Affairs Commission look into the issue of whether Ocalan's trial, which has been passed on to the Court of Appeals, is in line with the European Human Rights Convention or not. The proposal was submitted to the General Council by Dutch Member of Parliament Eric Jurgens on Monday. An earlier report issued by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that Ocalan had been tried in line with the Law, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[07] REPPAS: "CONDITIONS FOR EU CANDIDACY ARE VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES"Greek Government Spokesman Dimitri Reppas stated that the entrance conditions, as part of the decisions taken during summit meetings concerning EU candidacy, were valid for every country. Reppas held a press conference yesterday and contradicted reports claiming that Athens seems to agree to unconditional approval of Turkey's EU candidacy. Reppas said, "The entrance conditions for all countries are plain. The issue of Turkey's EU candidacy will be discussed during the Helsinki Summit to be held in December, during which we will reveal our position. Turkey should show that she has reached Europan standards". Reppas remarked that there was no tension in Turco-Greek relations and said that the atmosphere between the two countries was currently positive. He added, "Our next steps should be stable ones in order to continue this positive rapport". Reppas stated that the third round of Turco-Greek meetings would be held in October, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] ONE TURKISH SOLDIER DIES IN KOSOVODuring two separate incidents in the region controlled by Germany in Kosovo, one Turkish soldier stationed there as part of the Kosovo Peace-Keeping Force (KFOR) died, and two Turks and five Germans were wounded, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A statement issued by European NATO Command in Germany said that as a result of a bomb explosion, one Turkish soldier had died and two wounded. No information was given regarding the reason for the explosion. Meanwhile, five German soldiers were wounded when a mine exploded near Prizren.[09] EARTHQUAKE LOANS FOR VICTIMSState Minister Recep Onal said that a new incentive package was being prepared to revive businesses damaged by the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region. Onal issued a written statement and stated that the Decree on Investments covering those Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBIs) damaged by the earthquake had been transmitted to the relevant officials. Investment and company shoring-up loans of $200 billion will be made available. /Turkiye/[10] $170 MILLION FOR YAPI KREDIYapi Kredi Bank has received a new foreign loan of $170 million. With this loan, provided from a consortium consisting of 17 banks, the total amount of foreign loans received by Yapi Kredi Bank since the beginning of this year has reached $420 million. /Turkiye/[11] DAM CONFERENCE IN TURKEYThe 67th Executive Council Meeting of the International Large Dams Commission has started in Antalya. Experts and guests from 60 countries are attending the Meeting which will close with a speech by Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer on September 25. During the Meeting, workshops and a fair will also be held. The Head of the Turkish National Committee of the International Large Dams Commission, Mumtaz Turfan, praised the achievements of Turkish engineers and contractors in this field. /Turkiye/[12] SHUTTLE DIPLOMACYTurkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met the British Special Representative on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, yesterday in New York. Sir David Hannay is carrying out diplomacy between Turks, Greeks, Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots in New York. In particular, he is trying everything in his power to have Turkey persuade the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas, to sit at the negotiating table. The U.S. President's representative on Cyprus, Alfred Moses, who Foreign Minister Cem also met yesterday, is also supporting Hannay's initiatives. /Turkiye/[13] TERRORISM BEING RE-DESCRIBEDTerrorism will be re-described during the Autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. A report concerning terrorism prepared by Spanish Member of Parliament Lopez Hanarez has been approved by the Human Rights Commission. The report envisages the adoption of the fight against terrorism in line with the requirements of the 21st century. The Nationalist Action Party's (MHP) Konya Deputy, Faruk Bal, stated that terrorism was a crime against humanity. /Turkiye/[14] FRIENDSHIP STRENGTHENINGThe U.S. is proposing the establishment of a Balkan Countries' Joint Energy Network. The financing of the system is planned to be obtained from the World Bank, EU resources and various international financial funds. In addition to Turkey and Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria will also have a place in the network. The first technical meeting is expected to be held on October 3-4 in Vienna and Deputy Undersecretary of the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, Haldun Danisman, will participate in the meeting to develop economic and commercial relations between the member countries. /Turkiye/[15] U.S. TO INCREASE QUOTAIt is reported that there will be an increase in the U.S. quotas for imported textiles. Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen headed the Turkish delegation during the meetings which began yesterday in Washington and will end today, while Ambassador Don Johnson headed the U.S. delegation. Meanwhile, businessmen representing the Turkish textile sector in Washington also pointed out that the positive U.S. tendency towards an increase in quotas following the earthquake disaster in Turkey was extremely pleasing. They said that Turkish textile exports to the U.S. could reach $1.5 billion by the end of this year. /Turkiye/[16] EU'S TURKEY DESKThe Head of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi, has set up a Turkey Desk. Prodi has adopted the Desk System for all candidate countries. It is expected that meetings on the European Strategy for Turkey will begin to be discussed between Turkish and EU Commission officials in the near future. /Turkiye/[17] GREECE CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT FOR PKKDespite the present good neighbourly rapport between Turkey and Greece, Greece is continuing its support for the PKK terrorist organization. PKK members who are currently in Greece are planning to hold an international conference in October. Intelligence sources remarked that countries such as Iran and Greece will continue to use the PKK as a trump card against Turkey. /Turkiye/[18] AID CONCERT FOR VICTIMSAn aid concert was held yesterday in Istanbul to help the victims of the earthquake. The concert organized by the TGRT TV station included many famous Turkish and Greek singers. The proceeds of the "Concert of Friendship and Brotherhood" will be sent to the victims. /Turkiye/[19] CHURCH KEY FOR DEMIRELA 28-person delegation from the Antakya Greek Orthodox Church visited President Suleyman Demirel at Cankaya Palace yesterday. Demirel said, "Every person can freely practice his religion in the Republic of Turkey". The delegation gave the key of the Church as a gift to Demirel. /Turkiye/[20] TURKEY WILL BE AN ENERGY CORRIDOREnergy Minister Cumhur Ersumer delivered a speech at the opening of the meeting on "Natural Gas and Energy" yesterday and evaluated the energy potential of Turkey and its hinterland. Ersumer stated that Turkey neighboured countries which enjoy rich underground resources and was a bridge for the transport of these resources. He added, "The initial target of Turkey is to become the Eurasian Energy Corridor of the 21st Century". /Star/[21] LAW TO CONTROL THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGSThe Minister of Public Works and Housing, Koray Aydin, said that the draft law for the control of the construction of buildings has been prepared by three different commissions. Aydin stated that the draft law would be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in October. /Star/[22] JAPANESE LOANS FOR TUNNEL PROJECTTransport Minister Enis Oksuz returned to Turkey yesterday after completing his visit to Japan. Oksuz issued a statement at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and said that loans needed for the 'Istanbul Tunnel Project' have been found and an agreement relating to this had been signed. Oksuz added, "The construction of the 1,300-metre long tunnel will start in a year's time at the latest". /Hurriyet/[23] CYPRUS PLANAccording to the 'Eksusia' newspaper published in Greece, the U.S. plan prepared by the Clinton Administration concerning the Cyprus issue includes factors which will satisfy both Turkish- and Greek-Cypriots. The U.S. plan also brings some new proposals for a 'tri-partite administration' on Cyprus to the table and adopts the formula of a 'rotating presidency with limited authorities'. /Hurriyet/[24] OCALAN URGES PKK TERRORISTS TO SURRENDERThe head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, called on a group of his militants to surrender in order to show that they are sincere in their calls for peace. "I call on a PKK group to come to Turkey, with their weapons, to join the democratic Republic as an expression of goodwill and to prove that the PKK is not an obstacle to democratic reforms", Ocalan said in a statement released by his lawyers yesterday. /All papers/[25] IZZETBEGOVIC IN TURKEYA member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina rotating triple presidency, Alija Izzetbegovic, arrived in Istanbul yesterday, while Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova is expected to pay a visit to Ankara in mid-October. Izzetbegovic visited the areas worst-affected by the August 17 earthquake yesterday. Izzetbegovic will later travel on to Ankara for a meeting with President Suleyman Demirel on Friday. /All papers/[26] KOC APPEALS TO ECEVITThe Chairman of the Turco-American Business Council, Mustafa Koc, has appealed to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit not to reduce the content of his upcoming trip to the U.S. to the topic of the August 17 earthquake. "Turkey is able to repair its own earthquake damage", said Koc. "The basic need is to open the way for commercial relations with the U.S.", Koc told a press conference held prior to Ecevit's visit as the official guest of U.S. President Bill Clinton.Koc pointed out that the Turco-American trade volume, which had been $1.6 billion in 1985, had reached $3.4 billion in 1989. Drawing attention to the fact that trade had not reached the desired level despite this increase, Koc stressed that Turkey had to achieve an influence over the U.S. in order to increase this volume and provide a sound position for itself on the international stage. /All papers/ [27] EURASIAN ECONOMIC SUMMITThe Second Eurasian Economic Summit will be held in Eyup, Istanbul, on October 5-7. President Suleyman Demirel will open the Summit to be attended by Heads of State and Government officials from Central Asian Republics in addition to high-level officials from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank, Israeli State Ministry, the EU, the Council of Europe and the UN as observers. The First Turkish-Speaking States Economic Summit was held last year. /Milliyet/[28] TURKEY IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE MARKETS IN THE WORLDU.S. Trade Undersecretary John Bridenstine said that Turkey is one of the most active and rapidly developing markets in the world at a meeting organized by the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (ITO) to introduce the Caspian Finance Centre in Turkey. Bridenstine pointed out that Turkey is a very attractive country for American exporters, who want to be a part of this market and cooperate with Turkish businessmen. He stated that the Turkish economy was growing more than that of the EU countries. /All papers/[29] MORATORIUM IN AEGEAN ENDSEven though Turkey and Greece mutually ended their military manoeuvres exercises following the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region, according to the 'To Vima' newspaper published in Athens, the earthquake moratorium seems to have come to an end. The newspaper claimed that the Nikiforos-Toksotis exercise to be jointly carried out by Greece and the Greek-Cypriot Administration had caused tension. The newspaper asked the politicians why the extent of the Nikiforos-Toksitos manoeuvres had been enlarged even though the Permenion exercise had been cancelled its expenses had been decided to be donated to the victims of the earthquake. /Aksam/[30] MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT DUE IN GREECETomorrow, the Minister of Environment, Fevzi Aytekin, will go to Athens in order to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation's (BSEC) Conference for Environment Ministers. According to a statement released by the Environment Ministry, Aytekin will meet the Greek Environment Minister and talk about the damage which has occurred in the two countries thanks to the earthquakes. Among the countries attending the Conference are Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation,and the Ukraine, countries bordering on the Black Sea, and also other member countries such as Moldova, Greece, Albania, Azerbaijan, as well as observor countries and representatives of international organizations. It is declared that the aim of the meeting, on the threshold of the year 2000, is to protect the environment and to obtain the social welfare while ensuring the development of the region. The applied policies and programmes will also be discussed and transmitted among the countries. Fevzi Aytekin, will be back on Sept.25th, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[31] THREE PKK TERRORISTS IMPRISONEDThree PKK militants, who engaged in molotov cocktail attacks on some vehicles after the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan, were imprisoned by the State Security Court. The sentences are as follows: Hasan Berk, 10 years 9 months; Aydin Dogan, 23 years 7 months; and Mehmet Sagat 18 years. /Cumhuriyet/[32] KLERIDES' NEGATIVE ATTITUDEThe Greek-Cypriot Leader, Glafkos Klerides, rejected the shuttle diplomacy proposed by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas. Klerides met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, in New York. He said that they insist on the application of the Security Council's No.1250 resolution for progress on the Cyprus issue. /Cumhuriyet/[33] DELAY OF REPAYMENTSThe amount for the collective housing loan has been increased three-fold in the quake region. It has been also decided that the collective housing loan repayments of the victims would be delayed until Jan. 1st 2001 and an additional time will be given to the investors who have invested in the region with encouragement certificates covering the Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises. /Cumhuriyet/[34] CHINESE EXHIBITION IN ANKARAAs part of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, there will be an exhibition entitled 'Chinese Peasant Painters' at the Ankara State Painting and Sculpture Museum between September 27 and October 5. The exhibition was prepared under the guidelines of the current cultural exchange programme between Turkey and the People's Republic of China. /Turkiye/[35] ATATURK DAM TO HOST FIFTH WATER SPORTS FESTIVALAtaturk Dam, near Sanliurfa's Bozova county, will host the fifth water sports festival on September 24 and 25. A total of 380 sportsmen will compete in sailing, rowing, canoeing, swimming and underwater sports on the Ataturk Dam reservoir, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[36] YUCELEN RECEIVES BELARUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEYState Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen received the Belarussian Ambassador to Turkey, Nikolai Lepeshko. Yucelen said that the trade volume between Turkey and Belarus was not currently at the desired level. Yucelen stated that there would be Joint Economic Commission meeting between the two countries in November. He added, "The construction of a new cigarette factory will be completed soon". Lepeshko said that they gave priority to cooperation with Turkey since Turkey was a developing and dynamic country in the region, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[37] TURCO-RUSSIAN MAIN NATURAL GAS PIPELINEA loan of $28.9 million has been provided for the Loop Lines Phase II Project which was planned to increase the capacity of the Turco-Russian main natural gas pipeline. The loan agreement, under the guarantorship of the Undersecretariat of the Treasury, was signed on Tuesday by Oil Pipeline Transport Inc. (BOTAS) and the Mitsubishi Corporation, which supplied the loan, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[38] TURKISH EXPORT PRODUCTS FAIR IN BAHRAINThe Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (OTO) has completed the first stage of its Turkish Export Products Exhibition in Bahrain, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, the Minister of Industry and Trade, and Ali Saleh Al Saleh, Bahrain's Industry and Trade Minister, opened the Fair. Tanrikulu said that a trade protocol would be signed between the ITO and Bahrain's Trade Council and remarked that Bahrain's Industry and Trade Ministry would prepare plans for a venture regarding the construction of oil pipelines and would submit it to the Turkish Embassy, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[39] EU'S TOURISM AGENCIES DUE IN ISTANBULThe European Travel Agencies' and Tour Operators' Union will hold its meeting in the year 2000, in Istanbul. The Chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies, Talha Camas, said that this organization was important in order to also develop our relations with Europe in tourism sector. He added that they were expecting an increase in the number of tourists visiting Turkey of between 15% and 25%, following the meeting. /Aksam/[40] DEDEOGLU: REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE WORLD BANKAt the Treasury Undersecretariat, in the scope of new assignments, officials for the posts of representatives for the IMF and the World Bank have been designated. The General Director of Public Financing, an experienced bureaucrat, Emin Dedeoglu, will represent Turkey at the Headquarters of the World Bank in Washington. Selim Cakir, Branch Manager of Public Financing will be posted to the IMF's centre in Washington, and also the Foreign Economic Relations' Deputy General Director, Ali Umit Gonulal, is expected to be assigned to the post of Economic Counsellor in the Turkish Embassy in Washington. The foreign assignments will be taken up in October. /Aksam/[41] A LOAN OF 367.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE STATE GRAIN OFFICE (TMO)The TMO has obtained a loan of 350 million Euros (367.5 million dollars) from foreign markets in order to finance its purchases this year. The loan amounts to nearly 168 trillion Turkish liras; 54 trillion Turkish lira of which has been used up to now. In the next two months, the remainder will be used for payments. The TMO has subsidized farmers with 193 trillion lira up to now. The payments that will be made to buy cereal crops will amount to a total of 350 trillion lira. The TMO had been financing part of its purchases with the export of cereal crops. However, Derince Harbour is closed because of the damage caused by the earthquake, and also Mersin and Iskenderun Harbours are also closed due to maintenance work. /Sabah/[42] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN CONQUERING THE WORLDTurkish expatriate businessmen have begun to establish close cooperation between the organizations that they have founded. According to the hand book that was prepared for Turkish businessmen by the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, they are organizing themselves rapidly and are taking steps aiming at becoming a bigger economic power in the countries in which they live. Turkish expatriate businessmen are organized under a total of 84 organizations, foundations and chambers. Germany contains 20 different organizations, the highest number of such expatriate Turkish organizations. The U.S.A. comes second to Germany with 11 Turkish business institutions. In Holland, there are 10 such associations, foundations and chambers.Furthermore, Turkish businessmen are exporting to 196 countries in five continents. The exporting companies' number 24,000; the number of different export items totals 13,000. Turkey is the fifth best country as far as ceramic medical equipment exports are concerned and the sixth largest exporter of ready-to-wear clothes, carpets and rugs. /Sabah/ [43] WE RESCUED AGAINThe Turkish search and rescue team (AKUT) and the civilian defence teams performed together in Taiwan and were successful in rescuing a person trapped under the rubble under which no-one could enter. AKUT, who became famous with its self-sacrificing efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake that occurred in the Marmara Region in Turkey and with their success in Greece, this time became a star as soon as the earthquake struck in the Far East. As soon as the earthquake in Taiwan was heard about, the necessary connections with this country had been made and a team from AKUT and the Turkish Civil Defence Organization set out to the earthquake-hit region in Taiwan and began their work.AKUT and the Civil Defence members worked hard in Changhwacouhty street in the capital city, Taipei, which saw terrible destruction in the earthquake. A total of 100 corpses were removed from under the rubble of a 15-floor building before 23:00, Turkish time. However, there were some parts of the rubble that no-one could enter; AKUT and Civil Defence members succeeded in entering these parts and rescued a person. Our teams began to work in the area again and it was reported that there are 400 more people under the rubble. /Sabah/ [44] PAPANDREU: "TURKEY SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE EU"The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yeorgos Papandreu, said that he was supporting Turkey's membership to the EU. Papandreu said, "Turkey should advance along the path to the EU and should become a member of the EU. Greece will support Turkey's every step on the path to the EU." Papandreu provided a loan amounting to 650 million ECUs from the European Investment Bank. Papandreu further added, "Turkey needs the political courage to fall in step with the American criterion and to make some changes." /Sabah/[45] SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK CONTINENTStudents from Drakensberg Boy's Chorus School will meet Turkish music lovers. The Chorus will stage a concert at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Istanbul on 25th and 26th September. The children affected by the earthquake, who live in the tent city, will listen to the concert sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. The proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Foundation for Children in Need of Protection and the Levent Rotary Club for projects aimed at helping the earthquake victims."The Turkish Musical Parade" will be staged in London on 11th and 12th September, which will be presented by Haldun Dormen and Yildiz Kenter. Proceeds from the parade will be donated to the earthquake victims. /Aksam/ [46] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[47] OSCE ISTANBUL SUMMIT -BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz states that preparations for the OSCE Istanbul Summit have begun. A summary of his column is as follows:"The preparations for the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit to be held in Istanbul on 18-19 November, the last Summit of the Millennium, have begun. . The representatives of OSCE members and 55 countries related to the OSCE, who met in Vienna, began the first round of technical meetings. The same officials will come to Istanbul for the second round of talks on 8-10 November. In the second round, the finishing touches to the historic documents to be signed by the Heads of State and Goverment during the Istanbul Conference will be made. These documents are expected to guide the OSCE member countries into the 21st century. The most important document among them will be the one which will either be called the Istanbul Act or the Istanbul Charter. This document will state the main goals and basic principles of the OSCE. World attention will be focused on Istanbul on 18-19 November when many Heads of State and Government, including President Clinton, will come for the Summit. The recalling to mind of the document bearing Istanbul's name will provide international prestige for Turkey. The main subjects to be discussed at the Summit will be the "Human Dimension", Economic Dimension" and "Political-Military Dimension". Apart from these, there is also a technical dimension dealing with the bureaucratic structure and working mechanism of the OSCE. It is expected that the development of human rights issues, the supremacy of law, democracy and democratic institutions within the framework of the OSCE will be taken up under the heading "Human Dimension". It is also stated that cultural and educational issues, non-governmental organizations and minorities will be given priority. Economies in the process of developing, regional economic cooperation and the economic dimensions of the environment and security problems will also be discussed as part of the "Economic Dimension". In the "Political and Military Dimension", the decreasing of military threats through openness and clarity, guided by OSCE basic principles, and the enhancement of regional stability through confidence-building measures will be deliberated. It will be an interesting coincidence that Demirel will sign the Istanbul Act as President a quarter of a century after he signed the Helsinki Final Act as Prime Minister. However, our priority should be to fulfil our obligations under the Istanbul Act, as it would be a bitter coincidence if other countries use the Istanbul Act against us. Therefore, we believe that Turkey will take on great responsibilities both before and after the OSCE Summit." [48] THE STANDARD OF DEMOCRACY -BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the report prepared by State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik on the democratization process. A summary of his column is as follows:"One of the most comprehensive reports presented to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit prior to his visit to Washington has been prepared by State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik. The Minister responsible for Human Rights does not forget how difficult it was to defend Turkey's human rights' record when he was an Ambassador and expresses his view that the standard of democracy should be raised in Turkey. As in the Copenhagen criteria, which Turkey is expected to fulfil for acceptance of her membership of the EU, "human rights violations" come as an important point of agenda in the relations between Turkey and the US. If Turkey is still faced with these charges, the civil administrations which put their stamp on the 1990's bear responsibilityfor the situation. It cannot be denied that a blind eye was turned todeaths under torture in the name of combatting terrorism. The actions escalated by the PKK in the East and Southeast of Turkey drifted to the upholding of the Kurdish Problem through armed conflict which cannot be defended in any way, whatsoever and ended with the seizure of Ocalan and punishing him with thedeath penalty. As Ocalan confessed that terrorism, which took the lives of 30,000 people in 15 years, was not a way out the claims of the terrorists in the mountains were proven groundless. Statements such as 'cease-fire', 'laying down of arms', 'leaving the country' show that the "secessionist" movement in the Southeast has come to the end of the road. The cost of conditioning people who have lived in peace for a thousand years to ethnic division has been high. Turkey had to be content with less democracy due to reacting in the national self-defence. However, State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik touches upon the facts abandoned in the background and says that Turkey can easily tackle the obstacles facing democratization from now on. However, it would still take time to legalize these good-willed intentions and have them adopted by our security forces as a culture of democracy and human rights. The TGNA increased the severity of the penalties laid down in the Penal Code to prevent torture, however, it accepted the suggestion to place those who had committed these kind of crimes under the wing of a proposed amnesty. This has been seen as a "double standard". It has constituted a blow to the confidence shown in this government. The Minister responsible for Human Rights expressed his reaction to this action. Democracy covers all periods. If we can make democracy a life-style instead of being content with the current measures, we can enter the league of first-class countries. If we are planning for only three months, restricted to the visit to the US, the OSCE Summit and candidacy for the EU, we cannot be successful. Therefore, Turkey has to pay atttention to the quality of her laws and not the packaging. If the TGNA works with this in mind, we can build the next century upon hope." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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