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Turkish Press Review, 99-10-21Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>21.10.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL AT INAUGURATION CEREMONYPresident Suleyman Demirel attended the Sabanci University inauguration ceremony. During his speech Demirel said, "Being our 71st university, this education centre is our pride; it is an establishment of the 21st century." /Aksam/[03] ECEVIT: TURKEY IS NOT ILLPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit, criticized the statement of the Deputy Chairman of the IMF, Stanley Fischer, concerning the Turkish economy saying, "It is clear we have some problems but the Turkish economy is not unwell. We are taking brave decisions to tackle the economic problems. However, we cannot put our regime at risk and we cannot allow our people to be crushed. We are doing whatever we can, taking into consideration these facts, and we will continue to do so. Besides, if the Turkish economy were in a desperate position, Turkey would not have been invited to participate in the G-20 forum." /Aksam/[04] ECEVIT-YELTSIN MEETING NOT CLEAR YETIt is not yet clear whether Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will meet President Boris Yeltsin during his visit to Russia between 4th and 6th November. This uncertainly is said to be due to the Russian President's current illness. It was reported that during the meetings, the Russian side would bring up the Tchetchen question and that the Turkish line that "the support of terrorism is out of the question" would be reiterated. It was further added that during the meeting the Blue Stream Project would be discussed and that both sides are eager to sign an agreement concerning this issue. /Cumhuriyet/[05] MOSES MEETS DENKTAS AGAINUS President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alfred Moses, met the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) again. Moses did not make a statement following the 45-minute meeting. Officials also avoided issuing information concerning the details of the talks.The President's Special Representative had met the Greek-Cypriot Administration's leader Glafkos Klerides, a short time before the encounter with Denktas. He had stated that the meeting had been constructive but had not given any details. Following his meeting with Klerides, Moses cancelled his scheduled meeting with the Greek-Cypriot Foreign Minister, Iannis Kasulides, and passed on to Lefkose for an unexpected meeting with Denktas, Anatolia News Agency reported. [06] TURCO-GREEK DIALOGUEThe first meetings of the third round of talks in the Turco-Greek dialogue process are starting today in Ankara. During the meetings, which will be held both today and tomorrow, improvements to the draft agreements, on which a concensus was reached during the second round of talks, will be discussed. Representatives of other Ministries, as well as those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will attend the meetings, during which mainly technical issues will be discussed. After the talks, it is expected that cooperation agreements in many areas, from the fight against terrorism to tourism, will be signed between Turkey and Greece. /Cumhuriyet/[07] 'AMNESTY LAW STILL NOT PERFECT'The Amnesty Law Bill, which the government partners agreed on, has not fully satisfied the DSP wing. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk critized the Bill and said, "It is not perfect, but this a coalition government. We revised the Bill according to both our and our partners desires." Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also said that, with the cooperation of all parties, those points which bother the public have been mostly revised. /Aksam/OCALAN The appeal hearing of Ocalan, the chief of the PKK terrorist organization, who was sentenced to capital punishment, will be held today. During the appeal hearing, which will be held in the Supreme High Court's chambers, Judge Demirel Tavil will state that the session was begun on the day and at the hour appointed openly and fairly. During the session, which Ocalan will not be able to attend, the defendant's lawyers will defend him in accordance with the appeal requirements. If the defendant's lawyers cannot attend the hearing due to the postponement of the first session before a certain time, the panel will make their investigations using the documentation and without a hearing. Furthermore, the internal settling of accounts within the PKK, an organization breathing its last, daily increases in pace. /Hurriyet/ [08] EU VISA FROM ATHENSGreek Foreign Minister George Papandreu said in his statement to the Italian 'Corriere della Sera' newspaper, "The Greek nation has exhibited its desire to improve our relations with Turkey." Emphasizing that the EU's decision on Turkey's candidacy status, depends on 'a few points', Papandreu stressed, "However, in general, we are in favour of Turkey's candidacy." /Aksam/[09] COMPULSORY EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE OF 50 DOLLARSThe payment of compulsory earthquake insurance and the establishment of a Earthquake Insurance Fund have been envisaged as part of the new arrangements for the earthquake insurance. At the end of the Treasury's work on drafting the insurance bill the opinion that the earthquake insurance should be widespread within Turkey and everyone who pays 50 dollars should be able to own an earthquake insurance policy was appropriated. The most important point of the draft concerning earthquake insurance is that everybody who pays the premium of 50 dollars will be insured to the tune of 25 thousand dollars. Everybody whose house becomes impossible to live in, will have the right to compensation of $25,000.Furthermore, the World Bank will contribute to the Earthquake Insurance Fund that will be established with a fund of 100 million dollars. It was stated that officials from the World Bank have contributed technically to work on the draft. /Hurriyet/ [10] ISTANBUL SHAKEN AGAINYesterday, at 02.15, a magnitude 4.4 quake shook Istanbul. The epicentre of the tremor was south of the Islands. According to the first investigations it has not caused any loss of life. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Isikkara declared, "This is a medium-seized earthquake, nothing to be scared about. We have to learn to live with tremors from now on. The quake caused panic among people in Istanbul and the Islands. Meanwhile, aftershocks are still continuing to shake the Marmara region. /Milliyet/[11] AID FROM HEIDELBERGWorkers of the greatest printing machinery producer in Germany, Heildelberg Durckmaschinen, collected 32.2 billion TL for the earthquake victims. The Deputy Chairman of the firm, Rolf Demmerle, handed over 13 billion TL in aid to Kocaeli University, 9 billion TL to AKUT, 1.3 billion TL to Cumyeri, a village in Duzce and 9 billion TL to Kocaeli Hospital during a ceremony. /Milliyet/[12] PLATE FROM TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO GROSSMANThe American Deputy State Secretary, Marc Grossman, was given a `plate of thanks' due to America's warm interest and support following the earthquake disaster in Turkey, by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Undersecretaries of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, Huseyin Dirioz and Namik Tan were present with the Turkish Ambassador to Washington, Baki Ilkin, at the American State Department. Ilkin said, "We are offering this plate in order to show our gratitude and thanks to the American Administration, the search and rescue teams and to the American people, who helped us after the earthquake disaster." Grossman, while receiving the plate, said, "All the American people felt the pain of this earthquake tragedy and used all their resources in order to help Turkey." /Turkiye/[13] FAMOUS SMUGGLER CAPTUREDAbuzer Ugurlu became renowned for smuggling weapons, alcohol and cigarettes in the 1980s. In addition, it was claimed that Ugurlu bribed the former Minister and helped Mehmet Ali Agca, who organized a conspiracy against the Pope. Ugurlu was judged by the Martial Law Court after 12nd September 1980. Ugurlu was captured at his home by the Drugs Squad yesterday after being on the run for four years. A forged idenity card was found on Ugurlu in the name of `Mehmet Yavuz Altinsir" but no evidence of any other crime could be found. It was stated that the infamous smuggler will be judged today by the Court. /Aksam/[14] LOAN OF 611 MILLION EUROS FROM EU COMMISSIONThe EU Commission gave the green light to a low-interest-rate loan of 600 million Euros to be given to Turkey by the European Investment Bank. The loan that is envisaged by the EU Commission aims to support the reconstruction work following the earthquake that occurred in Turkey and will be given as a resource for the repair and reconstruction of destroyed buildings and infrastructure. The loan covers such infrastructural needs as "roads, bridges and railways, water, gas and electricity distribution networks, telecommunication networks, houses and the industrial needs of Small-and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBI)". /Hurriyet/[15] FIRST G-20 MEETING IN BERLIN IN DECEMBERThe first meeting of the G-20 group, which brings together the richest and the most important developing countries such as Turkey will be held in Berlin on 16th December. The G-7 member countries' Finance Ministries decided on the establishment of the G-20 group during the meeting that was held in Washington last month. This forum aims to faciliate the management of global economic problems and to avoid new crises such as the one which began in 1997. /Sabah/[16] TUSIAD ON EUROPEAN TOURIn order to obtain support for Turkey's EU candidacy before the Helsinki Summit, the members of the Turkish Industrilists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) are continuing their tour of persuation in European countries. The businessmen were received yesterday by French Prime Minister, L�onel Jospin. Jospin repeated France's definite stand-by. /Milliyet/[17] "TANK" FOR TURKEY FROM GERMANYThe German Federal Security Council has decided to give a Leopard tank to Turkey on a year's trial. The Anatolia News Agency reports that in a short statement following the meeting of the Federal Security Council, presided over by Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder, it was declared that before a tender was launched by the Turkish Armed Forces for 1,000 new battle tanks, it had been decided that a "Leopard 2" tank produced by the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company would be given to Turkey for a trial period.[18] TURKISH DEPARTMENT AT HARVARDThe Harvard Graduates' Association has made its first donation of 100,000 dollars to the Turkish History Department at Harvard. The Association's donation of 100,000 dollars was given to one of the first professors of the Turkish History Department, Cemal Kafadar. This section has been established with contributions from the Turkish Government, the Koc family and Harvard graduates. Efforts to ensure the provision of a total of 300,000 dollars in donations, needed for the Turkish History Department at Harvard, have been intensified. /Sabah/[19] KOC ENTERS INTO THE U.S.A.'S FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEEThe Koc Holding Company's Head of the Board of Directors, Rahmi Koc, has been elected by the U.S.A. Foreign Relations Committee. Rahmi Koc held a dinner for the Committee's Honory Chairman, David Rockefeller, and 20 members an accompanying delegation in the Cafe Du Levant Restaurant in the Koc Museum. In addition, a total of 120 guests attended the banquet, as well as members of the U.S.A.'s Foreign Relations Committee. Koc said, "The American Foreign Relations Committee is formed by the richest and most educated people in the world. This delegation has a great influence on the American Government and financial circles. Therefore, the opinions of American businessmen who came on a tour of inspection of Turkey are very important for us." /Hurriyet/[20] AMERICAN HOSPITAL SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH JOHN HOPKINSThe Koc Holding Company's Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rahmi Koc, stated that the Vehbi Koc Foundation's American Hospital had signed an agreement with one of the best health centres in the U.S.A, the John Hopkins International Medical Institute, in order to provide the best service in every field.Koc issued a written statement: "I believe that the American Hospital will make great use of the mastery, `know-how' and technology that will be transferred to our country in the next few years. The Chairman of John Hopkins University, William R. Brody sent a letter to Koc, in which it was written: "The exchange of experts and information will be provided between Istanbul and Baltimore thanks to the education exchange programmes envisaged as part of the cooperation agreement. We will try to reach perfection in treating patients, by using our present technology and opportunities such as education, medical symposiums and conferences organized cooperatively, permanent medical education initiatives and an electronic exchange of medical knowledge. /Hurriyet/ [21] AMERICAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2,000 FAMILIESFour hundred families from Turkey have applied for a "Green Card", which is another name for the foreigners' work and residence permit in America. The U.S.A. has declared that a total of 55,000 people would be given a Green Card; a quota of 2,000 has been reserved for Turks. There is no age limit for application in the "Green Card Lottery", however, applicants are required to be high school graduates. In addition, husbands and wives have the right to apply for a Green Card separately. /Sabah/[22] GREENPEACE ACTIVITS DEPORTEDThe seven members of the international environmental organization, Greenpeace, were deported yesterday. The activists had held up placards, to protest against the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power station, on the Bosphorus Bridge the day before. The Greenpeace members said that they were leaving Turkey happily since their protest has caused a great stirring of interest in the issue within the country. /Milliyet/[23] ACHIEVEMENT BY TURKISH MOUTAINEERTurkish mountaineer Ugur Uluocak, who succeeded in climbing the 8-thousand-metre high Shishapangma and Cho Oyu Mountains in the People's Republic of China, has arrived back in Turkey. Uluocak stated that after reaching the summit of Shishapangma, seven days later he climbed to the top of Cho Oyu. He further added that only one person up to now had managed to climb mountains higher than 8 thousand metres twice in such a short period of time. /Cumhuriyet/[24] "ISTANBUL: WORTH A LIFETIME"The famous `National Geographic' magazin has determined 10 cities in which "to live a lifetime" among 500 important cities worldwide. These 10 cities are: Istanbul, New York, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, San Fransisco and Venice. The magazine's editor, Keith Bellows, said, "These cities not only capture the soul and multi-ethnic diversity of our world, but also leave unerasable memories in our minds. Approaching the end of this century, we congratulate these cities. If you are really fond of travelling, you ought to visit these cities." In the article on Istanbul, it is written: "There is no other city which enjoys the products of orchards, many countries' products and schools established by famous people as does Istanbul." In the magazine is also an article by French traveller Petrus Gyllius. In this article, Gyllius says, "I think all the other cities are mortal. However, only this city will live as long as people live on this earth. This is my Istanbul." /Hurriyet/[25] TURCO-GREEK FRIENDSHIP CONCERTThe improvements recently seen in relations between Turkey and Greece which were boosted by the Marmara earthquake, will be enhanced by the "Turco-Greek Friendship Concert" to be staged by the Bursa Regional Symphony Orchestra. Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Erdogan Bilenser, Uludag University President Prof. Ayhan Kizil, and orchestra consultant Prof. Hikmet Simsek issued some information about the concert at a jointly-held press conference.Bilenser stated that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's work composed by Muammer Sun and entitled "Blue Magic" will also be played for the first time during this concert. The revenue earned from the concert will be given to Turkish and Greek earthquake victims, the Anatolia News Agency reports. [26] GALATASARAY DEFEATEDGalatasaray were defeated British team Chelsea, 5:0. Cim Bom experienced its worst defeat in its history and also lost all hope of second place in its group. /All Papers/[27] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[28] A NEW AGE IN EUROPE AND TURKEY - BY ILTER TURKMEN (HURRIYET)Former Ambassador Ilter Turkmen comments on the recent developments concerning Turkey's candidacy to the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:"The part concerning Turkey in the European Commission's report on expansion has drawn greater attention from the public. In fact, this report is the herald of a new vision in Europe. First of all, the expansion process achieves a new comprehensive dimension because of the crisis and conflicts seen in the Balkans following the conclusion of the Cold War. The incidents in Kosovo gave the impression that stability and peace in the Balkans could only be achieved under the EU umbrella in the long run. Therefore, the Commission recognizes the States established following the collapse of Yugoslavia and allows them to glimpse the possibility of being a member of the EU in the future. However, there are some additional conditions to the Copenhagen criteria which these States have to fulfil. Some of these are the recognition of mutual borders, the solution of all problems concerning minorities and taking steps towards regional integration. As the field of expansion is enlarged, the process gains momentum. Meetings on the membership process for Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia are foreseen to start in the year 2000. Within the framework of this political strategy, it is suggested that Turkey be accepted as the 13th candidate. The start of the negotiations with the six countries depends on their degree of harmonization with the Copenhagen Criteria accepted in 1993. These countries may differ in what they have achieved so far, but is a fact that all of them are working hard towards this goal. Briefly, it can be stated that the EU insists on its standards, economic and social principles, legal and political values being accepted by all. As regards Turkey, if the European Commission's proposals are approved at the Helsinki Summit, a comprehensive political dialogue with the EU will be started and democratization and human rights issues will be at the core of these negotiations. The stances of the EU and the European Commission coincide on the issue. If we are to take EU membership candidacy seriously and make full-membership a basic goal of our foreign policy, we have to start a process which will work on not only this subject but also on all political issues mentioned in the Commission's report. We have to determine our priorities, draw up a consistent policy and follow it with determination." [29] WASTE OF TIME - BY BURHAN OZFATURA (TURKIYE)Columnist Burhan Ozfatura writes on the economic crisis experienced in 1999 and offers his suggestions regarding the issue. A summary of his column is as follows:"The year 1999 has been an extremely hard year for Turkey. The economy is going from bad to worse and, from the small businessmen to the industrialists, from exporters to artisans, everyone is in difficulty. When economic crises abroad started, especially those in Russia and the CIS countries, the measures needed were not taken in time. To top them all, political instability was also experienced which resulted in economic instability. Due to insufficient advertising abroad, not taking the steps needed to thwart any adverse effects of this development, the exaggeration of the Ocalan affair, and most important of all, the irresponsible behaviour of the press, dealt a harsh blow to tourism. The steps we must take to come out of this crisis relatively unscathed can be listed as follows: 1) All social security institutions should be gathered under one roof and turned over to private insurance companies. 2)Privatization should be completed. 3)Education and health should be paid for and loans should be granted to medium-and low-income families. The private sector should be acknowledged in the fields of education and health by providing encouraging incentives. Everyone should know that the State cannot be exploited any more, and the way to becoming rich requires hard work. 4) The staff employed by the State should be reduced and local administrations must be strengthened. 5) Tax rates should be reduced and the State should decide to decrease the rate of inflation. 6) The complex relations between the media, holding companies and banks should be ended. 7) Every politician, including party chairmen, should serve only for two terms. 8) Incentive measures should be introduced and the potential of investments and exports should be improved. We should not waste any more time." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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