|
|
|
Turkish Press Review, 01-01-08
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
08.01.01
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] OFFICE OF CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF OPERATION
IN IRAQ
[02] TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TALABANI
[03] OFFICE OF CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF OPERATION
IN IRAQ
[04] CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN TGNA THIS WEEK
[05] YILMAZ TO ATTEND EDU MEETING
[06] PARLIAMENTARIANS EXAMINE EDIRNE F-TYPE PRISON
[07] ATTACK TO POLICE IN KAGITHANE
[08] ARMENIAN LOBBY CONTINUES ITS ACTIVITIES AGAINST TURKEY
[09] CHINESE MINISTER IN ANKARA
[10] FISCHER: "TURKEY CANNOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THE EU"
[11] US ENVOY EXPECTED IN CYPRUS
[12] EU'S PRODI SAYS TURKEY ON RIGHT TRACK
[13] GOVERNMENT'S BREAKTHROUGH IN EASTERN REGION
[14] ISTANBUL'S SECOND AIRPORT TO OPEN
[15] EXPLOSION IN THE CANAKKALE STRAITS
[16] URKISH SOLDIERS READY FOR DISASTERS
[17] RIORITY FOR TOURISM INVESTMENTS
[18] OOPERATION IN DEFENSE INDUSTRY
[19] ANUFACTURING FACTORY IN BATMAN
[20] ESTEL PRODUCES A TV WITH MEMORY
[21] OREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
[22] REASURY REPAYS $140 MILLION DEBT
[23] YTEKIN:"WE EXPENDED $2 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS"
[24] ARTHQUAKE SEMINARS
[25] ROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[26] QUESTIONS TO BAHCELI BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
[01] OFFICE OF CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF OPERATION
IN IRAQ
[02] TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO TALABANI
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, on a TRT television program, said
Turkey was giving technical assistance to Talabani forces
fighting against the PKK in Northern Iraq. Mr. Ecevit said PKK
forces could not be totally eliminated yet. They are using
Northern Iraq to recoup. Mr. Ecevit said the fight between
Talabani forces and the PKK show that the PKK danger is not
completely over. Regarding broadcasting in Kurdish, Ecevit said
the parties composing the coalition government do not have the
same opinion. They worry that acceptance of this demand will
bring about new unacceptable demands. Some western states are
supporting the terrorist groups in Turkey. "The weakening of
terrorism pave the way for political separatism. Some western
states support these efforts. If they leave the issue to us we
can easily solve the problem." said Ecevit. /Hurriyet/
[03] OFFICE OF CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF OPERATION
IN IRAQ
The Office of the Chief of the General Staff announced that the
news stating Turkish soldiers had entered Northern Iraq were
untrue. Certain TV channels and papers, known to be PKK
supporters, alleged that Turkey had sent its soldiers to Northern
Iraq upon Talabani's demand. However, Secretary General of the
Chief of the General Staff stated, "We are aware the PKK and its
supporters in the media are trying to pursue propaganda against
Turkey. Their aims is to create an public opinion against Turkey.
We are closely following their attempts." /Cumhuriyet/
[04] CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN TGNA THIS WEEK
Leaders of the coalition parties will meet today or tomorrow to
have the final word on the amendment of the 63rd article of the
constitution regulating the closing of political parties. After
the leaders' approval, the package, including more constitutional
amendments like new regulations in the term of the President, is
expected to be discussed in the Turkish Grand National Assembly
(TGNA) Constitutional Commission. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
said the package might pass in the TGNA within a week or 10 days.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] YILMAZ TO ATTEND EDU MEETING
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will attend the meeting of the
European Democratic Union (EDU) in Germany Jan.10-11. Mr. Yilmaz
will meet with the leaders of fourty democratic parties. The
representatives of 11 countries which are also candidates for
full EU membership will attend the meetings. /Sabah/
[06] PARLIAMENTARIANS EXAMINE EDIRNE F-TYPE PRISON
Members of the parliamentary Human Rights Commission visited the
Edirne F-type prison in response to the criticisms of "Operation:
Return To Life". Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Hasan Macit,
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Deputy Abbas Bozyel, Virtue Party
(FP) Deputy Nazir Aydin, Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Mirac
Akdogan and True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Kamer Genc met with the
Public Prosecutor Ali Sanver and then went to the F-type prison.
Macit held a press conference after examining the prison. He
stated they spoke with various inmates and received information
on the implementation of the F-type prison. He further added the
inmates could buy whatever they wanted from the canteen and they
had no complaints about the prison guards. In response to
questions about ending the hunger strikes and death fasts, Macit
said the state attaches great importance to F-Type prisons and
they learned some immates had ended their hunger strikes. The
Commission members then departed in order to examine the Kocaeli
F-type prison. /Turkish Daily News/
[07] ATTACK TO POLICE IN KAGITHANE
Two people attacked a police car in Kagithane, Istanbul. A
policeman was wounded during the attack. Security forces began an
investigation in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] ARMENIAN LOBBY CONTINUES ITS ACTIVITIES AGAINST TURKEY
The allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide was brought to
the agenda again in France through the efforts of the Armenian
lobby. The bill on the so-called Armenian genocide will be
discussed in the Foreign Relations Commission on Wednesday, and
is expected to be discussed in the Assembly's Plenary Session
January 18, 2001. Stating the Armenian lobby has been somewhat
successful in their attempts, specialist at the Eurasian
Strategic Research Center (ASAM), retired Ambassador Omer Engin
Lutem said, "The bill might be approved in the French Assembly.
The French government has not tried to prevent the attempts."
/Cumhuriyet/
[09] CHINESE MINISTER IN ANKARA
Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Tang Jiaxuan,
paying an official visit to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, will begin official meetings with
Turkish authorities today. The Chinese Minister will also be
received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit. /Turkiye/
[10] FISCHER: "TURKEY CANNOT BE EXCLUDED FROM THE EU"
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said, "We cannot allow
Turkey to prefer any other establishment other than Europe."
During an interview with "Der Tagesspile" newspaper, Fischer
evaluated of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt's viewpoint.
Schmidt said recently that he believed it was a mistake to have
given Turkey candidacy for EU membership. Fischer said, "It
should not be evaluated as a mistake." /Turkiye/
[11] US ENVOY EXPECTED IN CYPRUS
President Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus, Alfred Moses, and US
State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston,
are to travel to Cyprus on Jan. 8. The officials will have talks
in both northern and southern Cyprus. They had earlier postponed
their visit to the island, which is to take place before the
fifth round of the proximity talks. The British Special Envoy,
Sir David Hannay, will visit the island on Jan. 11. /Turkish
Daily News/
[12] EU'S PRODI SAYS TURKEY ON RIGHT TRACK
"Turkey is starting from a low point in building the modern
democracy needed for membership of the European Union but, it is
moving in the right direction," EU President Romano Prodi was
quoted on Saturday in a Greek newspaper interview. "They know
that if they want to be a member of the EU, they have to develop
into a modern democracy," Prodi told the daily To Vima. "As I
told you Turkey moves in the right direction but the starting
point is very low," he said. "That is why we offered a
partnership agreement, a sort of guideline for how Turkey should
progress if it wants to become a member state at some point."
/Turkish Daily News/
[13] GOVERNMENT'S BREAKTHROUGH IN EASTERN REGION
The government will give low interest loans to the firms for the
completion of the partly-finished investments in the Eastern and
South Eastern regions in Turkey. Reportedly, a 70-trillion TL
fund has been allocated for those investments in agriculture,
industry, health, education and tourism for 26 provinces. The
firms with partially completed investments can use an investment
loan at 10% and those who do not have operating capital can apply
to the Turkish Developing Bank and Vakiflar Bank for an operating
loan at 15%. /Turkiye/
[14] ISTANBUL'S SECOND AIRPORT TO OPEN
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul's second airport,
will open today. Two planes, a military and a Turkish Airways
plane, will land at the airport today. Two runways at the airport
are 3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] EXPLOSION IN THE CANAKKALE STRAITS
An explosion occurred yesterday on a Turkish ship named Kaanbey
sailing in the Canakkale Straits. A sailor died from the
explosion and another was wounded. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] URKISH SOLDIERS READY FOR DISASTERS
Turkish soldiers prepare for a possible disaster at the Natural
Disasters Education Foundation in Izmir. Search and rescue teams
will be established and dogs will also be trained for use in
rescue operations. /Aksam/
[17] RIORITY FOR TOURISM INVESTMENTS
Priority has been given to investments in tourism for 2001. When
compared to last year, this year's public investments will
increase by 16.6%. The tourism and production industry
investments will increase 51.8% and 48% respectively. According
to the program, the tourism industry envisions spending 41
trillion TL this year. Only 27 trillion TL was spent last year.
/Turkiye/
[18] OOPERATION IN DEFENSE INDUSTRY
The decision on a licencee company is to be made on one of the
biggest defence projects of the 21st century, the production of
145 attack helicopters. The meetings with the American Bell
Textron Company, held in accordance with the arrangement of the
Defense Industry Executive Board, are nearing the end. It was
stated that the meetings with the American company will end
February 28, 2001. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] ANUFACTURING FACTORY IN BATMAN
Businessman Sami Demirci living in France, will establish a
factory producing ready made clothes in Batman, his hometown. The
equipment and machines necessary for production were brought to
Batman. It was stated that Demirci's aim is to complete the
establishment of the factory as soon as possible. /Aksam/
[20] ESTEL PRODUCES A TV WITH MEMORY
Turkish company Vestel exhibited a TV with memory in the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Additionaly, Vestel
exhibited the first world internet terminal at the exhibition.
/Aksam/
[21] OREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
The Central Bank's foreign reserves increased. The bank had to
sell $7 billion foreign reserves during the fiscal crisis in
November. The reserves increased to $29.4 billion. /Milliyet/
[22] REASURY REPAYS $140 MILLION DEBT
The Treasury will pay $138.4 million foreign debt this week. With
this week's payment, the total debt payment of the Treasury for
Jan.1-12 will total $169 million. /Milliyet/
[23] YTEKIN:"WE EXPENDED $2 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS"
Minister of the Environment Fevzi Aytekin said around $2 million
was expended on 58 environmental projects of the 130 prepared in
2000. Mr.Aytekin said a greater share will be given for
environmental projects to be carried out in Thrace region.
/Sabah/
[24] ARTHQUAKE SEMINARS
The Chambers of Turkish Civil Engineers and Greek Technics will
jointly organize seminars on earthquake. The first will be held
in Athens. The second will be in Istanbul Jan. 11-12. /Turkiye/
[25] ROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS
[26] QUESTIONS TO BAHCELI BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the foreign policy views of
the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). A summary of his column is as
follows:
If we recall correctly, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist
Action Party leader Devlet Bahceli, has not expressed his party's
views on foreign policy. In the next three years beginning with
2001, the developments that will be seen on foreign policy
platforms will probably influence Turkey more than the
developments within the country. However, the Coalition
Government's second largest partner chooses to remain silent on
the issue.
Either they do not want to interfere in the actions of a Ministry
belonging to the Democratic Left wing of the Government for fear
they may negatively influence the working of the coalition, It
may very well be they do not want to voice any radical ideas at
the moment.
MHP leader Bahceli expresses his views on all issues relating to
domestic policies such as the amnesty and the closing down of a
party but does not utter a word on foreign policy. However, we
are not living in the 1970s. The globe is moving towards a world
order where everyone intervenes in everyone else's business...The
joint monetary system and lifting of borders are two examples. We
are in an era where a Greater European Federation is being
discussed.
Therefore, we would like to learn the views the Nationalist
Action Party holds on various foreign policy issues such as
relations with EU, the Cyprus problem, the bills on the so-called
Armenian Genocide, and relations with Washington, Athens, the
Caucasus and the Balkans. We also believe this is our right as
Bahceli occuppies a seat from where he will have an important
role in future decisions of historical import. Today, as the
dynamics of foreign policy are changing at the speed of light,
the Nationalist Action Party should be trained on foreign policy,
preparing plans, and developing scenarios directed towards
thefuture. The Nationalist Action Party should prepare reasonable
plans in accordance with its own ideals. Everyone wonders what
the views of MHP are on foreign policy, both the man in the
street and its ardent followers.
|
