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Turkish Press Review, 01-01-25Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
[01] 25.01.2001Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[02] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[03] DIYARBAKIR'S POLICE CHIEF OKKAN KILLEDDiyarbakyr's police chief, Ali Gaffar Okkan, was killed yesterday afternoon by a car bomb. The assailants set off a bomb beneath Okkan's car and then opened fire with submachine guns. Okkan's four security guards and his driver were also killed in the attack. Police Chief Okkan, well-known for his successful fight against terrorism, had been receiving threats from the Hizbullah terrorist organization. He was known to be on Hizbullah's target list. The police launched a wide investigation in Diyarbakyr. Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan and Security Chief Turan Genc went to Diyarbakyr to follow-up the investigations. /All Papers/[04] SEZER: "I VEHEMENTLY ABHOR THE ATTACK"President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stated his vehement denouncement of the attack against Diyarbakir's Director of Security, Gaffar Okkar. Sezer issued a message and stated, "I vehemently abhor this attack. May the sould of our Director of Security, Gaffar Okkan and the police who were killed rest in peace and I extend my condolences to their families, on behalf of our nation and our Security organization. May the police officers who were injured during this incident get well soon." /Aksam/[05] ECEVIT'S STATEMENTPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit in a statement at the Prime Ministry said, "It is certain that those responsible for this incident want to cast a shadow to the atmosphere of peace in Turkey. However, the enemies of peace and tranquility will not reach their goal." Meanwhile, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said, "The murder of Diyarbakir's Director of Security Gaffar Okkan and five other police officers saddens us deeply. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said these kinds of attacks stop neither the State's nor the security forces' determination and resolution to fight against terrorism. /Aksam/[06] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT CALLS ON FRANCE AGAINPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated again that bilateral relations with France would be seriously damaged if the law on so-called Armenian genocide was not annulled. The bill must be signed by President Jacques Chirac to become law. Turkey expects Chirac to appeal to the Constitutional Court for the law's cancellation. Stating that Turkey had never engaged in any genocide or racist incident before, Ecevit said, "Therefore we cannot accept this law. If the law is not cancelled, Turco-French relations will be seriously damaged. We have determined the sanctions against France to express our nations' reaction to the law. I have two warnings here: First, we must avoid from sanctions that will damage our economy. Two, we must not address the French nation. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan President Haydar Aliyev expressed his uneasiness with the law during his meeting with French President Chirac yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/[07] HEALTH AND AGRICULTURAL EMBARGO ON FRANCEAfter cancelling satellite bidding, imposing an import and export embargo on agricultural and health products against France is next on the agenda. Minister of Health, Osman Durmus, said France should revoke their unfair decision, and added, "If this is not changed, the decisions taken by the Ministry of Health will hurt much more. For example, French serums and medicines will not enter Turkey. This is one alternative. We are now waiting for their final decision. If their decision is to continue in a hostile manner against Turkey, then why sould we use their goods?" In addition, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, stated the export of animal serums and similar goods produced in Turkey would be reviewed, and a limitation will be brought against France. Gokalp will visit Tunisia as the guest of the Tunisian Agriculture Minister. According to the written statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, a group of 30 representatives from the industry will accompany the Minister during his visit which ends on 28 January. /Aksam/[08] IT IS BRITAIN'S TURNNot content with the US and France, Armenian lobbies are now bringing the allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide into the agenda of House of Lords in Britain. The Armenians were included in the January 27 Holocaust Commemoration Day ceremony. The Armenian lobby, who failed to have their allegations expressed in the House of Commons due to a lack of signature, will try today to bring the allegations into the agenda of House of Lords through a motion with the help of Baronnes Cox. Birtish Construction and Environment Minister Beverley Hughes, currently in Turkey, said the British goverment investigated the 1915-16 archives and decided the incidents could not be defined as genocide. Stating the British government would not change its stance, Hughes claimed they did not invite Armenians to the ceremony. BBC Foreign News Editor John Simpson stated the Armenians should be considered as genocide victims. In a BBC news program titled Newsnight, the Armenian allegations were discussed and no one from Turkish side was there to oppose the allegations. During the program, Turkey was accused of heavy crimes and a portion of Turkey was shown as a part of Armenia. /Cumhuriyet/[09] HAKTANIR WARNS BRITAINTurkey's Ambassador to London, Korkmaz Haktanir, warned the British government in a letter to not allow Armenians to participate in the January 27 Holocaust Commemoration Day ceremony. Stating that Turkey wants to establish peaceful relations with all its neighbors, including Armenia, Haktanir said the allegations of so-called Armenian genocide were untrue and would only serve for expansionist aims of Armenia not bring peace and stability to the region. Haktanir also phoned the British Minister responsible for relations with Europe to express and defend Turkey's views. /Cumhuriyet/[10] AKARCALI'S BILL AGAINST FRANCEMotherland Party (ANAP) Istanbul Deputy Bulent Akarcaly presented a bill to recognize the genocide and cruelties carried out by France. The following statement is included in the bill: "The Turkish Grand National Assembly recognizes and condemns the Algerian genocide carried out by France, the French cruelties in Vietnam and France's contribution to the Rwandan genocide." Akarcal said, "I prepared the bill to help the French government, parliament and senate which is incapable of judging its own past." Nationalist Action Party (MHP) group acting chairman presented a bill concerning the sanctions against those countries engaged in activities against Turkey to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Presidency. According to the bill, the Council of Ministers will restrict the cultural, political and social relations with those countries and Restrictions will be placed on their participation in public biddings as well as the purchase of product and service from those countries. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said Turkey's thesis is that history cannot be judged by politicians, and therefore, reminding France of the Algerian genocide or the massacre of Native Americans to the US would be contradictory to Turkey's stance. /Cumhuriyet/[11] 'ANNUL THE LAW'The Head of the Turkish Atlantic Council, Haluk Bayulken, sent a letter to French President Jacques Chirac asking him to bring the law regarding the so-called Armenian genocide to the Constitutional Court for annulment. /Turkiye/[12] GREEK PRESS TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CYPRUS GENOCIDEWhile the Greek press was giving wide coverage to the news on the so-called Armenian genocide, the Greek government was preparing to bring allegations of the Cyprus genocide into its agenda. Delivering a speech at the Parliament, Foreign Relations and Defense Council, Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, said a 3-person commission established by the Southern Cypriot Greek Administration to investigate the missing people will continue. He added they would do whatever necessary to apply DNA testing the bodies in unmarked graves. /Cumhuriyet/[13] THREE-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR THE ARMENIAN TERRORISTArmenian terrorist Murat Topalyan was tried and convicted for his involvement in a bomb attack against the house of Turkish House in New York in 1981. Topalyan received a three-year, one month prison sentence. During the trial in the US city of Cleveland, Topalyan asked for his clemency because his seven-year old daughter has leukemia. However Topalyan was sentenced to imprisonment and five-year custody upon his release. /Sabah/[14] CANCELLATION OF SATELLITE BIDDING IN FRENCH PRESSThe French press gave wide coverage to Turkey's cancellation of the satellite bidding won by Alcatel. Le Figaro daily stated Turkey imposed her first economic sanction on France and added that France could also be excluded from other defense biddings. Additionally, Liberation daily also stated the cancellation was Turkey's first sanction against France. /Cumhuriyet/[15] FRENCH IN TURKEY SEEK FOR 60 SIGNATURESFrench investors in Turkey have rolled up their sleeves following the approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill by the French Assembly. French companies in Turkey such as Alcatel, Carrefour, Renault, Danone and Lafarge will pressure French politicians to annul the law. Company officials will send a letter to French senators saying: "Bring the law to the Constitutional Court". /Hurriyet/[16] UGUR MUMCU COMMEMORATED IN CEREMONYUgur Mumcu, writer and journalist, was commemorated on the 8th year anniversary of his death. Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputies Ahmet Tan and Ridvan Budak as well as representatives of other political parties and non-governmental organizations attended the ceremony. /All papers/[17] DHKP-C TRIES TO RECRUIT PKK MEMBERSThe illegal DHKP-C organization, behind the recent bomb attacks particularly in Istanbul, is trying to recruit members of the PKK terrorist organization. The members of the PKK terrorist organization have been in disarray since their leader Abdullah Ocalan was arrested and tried. /Turkiye/[18] TURKISH SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM RETURNS TURKEYThe Turkish search and rescue team, which went to El Salvador to help search and rescue works after the January 14 earthquake, returned Turkey. The Turkish team also provided search and rescue training at the request of El Salvador officials. The Civil Defense Search and Rescue Union and the GEA Search and Rescue Group had brought a medical team and aid to El Salvador. According to GEA's report, the El Salvador government and people praised the work by the Turkish teams working despite the threat of epidemic diseases and terrorism. /Cumhuriyet/[19] INDIAN MISSILE CREATED WORRYTurkey is worried about last week's Agni 2 ballistics missile test in India. Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Huseyin Dirioz, stated Turkey had signed all the international agreements, regulations and regimes to prevent the proliferation of mass murder weapons and launching vehicles. Dirioz added, "Turkey follows a sensible and principled policy concerning the prevention of the above-mentioned weapons. Within this framework, we hope that the Agni-2 rocket test will not increase tension in the region and will not encourage competition for the missile." /Aksam/[20] YALMAN IN SYRIAThe General Commander of the Gendermarie, Gen.Aytac Yalman, went to Syria yesterday on an official visit. It is reported that Yalman and an accompanying delegation went to Damascus within the framework of the 'Adana Accord'. The delegation will return to Turkey on January 26. /Sabah/[21] VISA CRISIS WITH SOFIAThe Bulgarian Consulars in Turkey created obstacles for Turkish businessmen, wanting to enter Bulgaria. Businessmen who wanted multiple entry-exit visa were rejected most of the time and this led to a diplomatic tension between the two countries. A statement issued by the Turkish Embassy in Sofia, stated that a note was given to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 January to explore this issue. The statement added, "The Turkish Embassies in Bulgaria will reciproeate by denying annual visas for Bulgarian citizens until Turkey receives an answer to her note." /Aksam/[22] SUPPORT FROM POLAND FOR TURKEYPolish Foreign Minister Wladyslav Bartoszewski, in Ankara for an official visit, said, yesterday that Turkey's membership in the EU was very important for Europe. Bartoszewski, on the second day of his visit, was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /All papers/[23] YILMAZ TO GO TO DAVOSLeader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will go to Davos, Switzerland today to attend the World Economic Forum between January 25 and 30. Yilmaz will participate in a meeting during which the effects of EU enlargement will be discussed. A working lunch will discuss the economic situation in Turkey. /Turkiye/[24] NEW PROGRAM BY THE WORLD BANKThe World Bank implemented the social aid program for four separate projects within the economic aid program. These projects, which were announced with a written statement by the State Minister Yuksel Yalova, aim to decrease the effects of privatization. The World Bank stated it would ensure a funding source totalling 250 million US dollars for this program. The total funding source of the project will reach 355,3 million US dollars, with Turkey's contribution amounting to 105,3 million US dollars. /Aksam/[25] BAHCELI: "WE ARE SUCCESSFUL"State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said the government attaches great importance to, and is determined to follow through on its targeted goals in order to ensure the continued success of the economic program. /Sabah/[26] DEUTSCHE BANK GIVES POSITIVE SIGNALSDeutsche Bank stated that the Turkish economy was in the process of transition. The Chief Expert of the Individual Banking Investment Strategy Department of Deutsche Bank, Dr.Raymcfall Lamm, said that the long-term standpoints regarding Turkey were positive. Dr.Lamm added that if the transition process is further accelerated, Turkey will close the gap with Europe and become a part of it". /Turkiye/[27] KOC'S NEW INITIATIVEKoc Holding Company is preparing to produce several famous English cigarette brands, Dunhill, Kent, and Pall Mall in Turkey. Koc Holding Company, which initiated the cigarette production and sale, stated negotiations between Duzey Consuming Goods Industrial and Marketing Company and the British American Tobaccoo (BAT) were ongoing concerning cigarette production marketing and distribution of the cigarettes. /Aksam/[28] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKCELL AND YAHOO!Turkcell signed an agreement with the world's leading Internet communication, e-trade and media company, Yahoo!Europe. As part of this agreement, Turkcell subscribers will be able to connect to the "Yahoo!Europe" Mobile Information Service, issued in English, in the WAP setting of Yahoo!. Turkcell subscribers can make use of this service providing they have a WAP based mobile phone. /Aksam/[29] 'DISASTER PROJECT' BREAKTHROUGH BY TURKCELLDirector of Turkcell's Network Formation, Murat Uysal, stated they were continuing to work at solving the problem of communication in case of a disaster. Uysal gave a speech during the meeting on the subject of 'GSM stations' and said, "The project, which was started so communication is not hindered in case of disaster, will be implemented first in the 17 provinces chosen as pilot cities. In this project, `the ensurance of communication by the immediate use of mobile phones' is envisaged." /Aksam/[30] TURKISH DIRECTOR'S FILM IN GERMANY"Walls", a film by director Can Candan, will be shown in cinemas in Germany from 1 February. According to the statement issued by Eiszeit cinema, where the film will be promoted, the film was prepared as a document in Turkish, German and English. The film depicts the changes in the lives of the Turkish people, who form the biggest group of foreign people in the city after the collapse of the Berlin wall. The film also depicts the past, present and future of Turkish immigrants and explores the impact of the collapse of the Berlin wall on the Turkish people. /Aksam/[31] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[32] TURCO-EU RELATIONS BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the Turco-EU relations. A summary of his column is as follows:"Turkey has almost suspended its relations with the EU, and the reason is clear. Ankara has understood it won't be able to implement the Copenhagen criteria, a requirement to become a member, at least under the present circumstances. As there is no national consensus on the issue, the problem has been left behind subordinate topics such as Kurdish television. Therefore, the National Program, which would have been prepared in response to the Accession Partnership Document, was postponed using another excuse- that the EU was not giving the credits it had promised long before. However, news coming from the European Parliament on Tuesday put Ankara in a difficult spot. The EP Foreign Relations Commission was proposing the EU loan a credit of $ 500 million to Turkey. It also wanted Turkey to benefit from the loans granted to countries who have not yet started negotiations. In short, the Commission is trying to eliminate Turkey's ace in the hole despite the opposition of Greek parliamentarians. The report prepared and adopted by the Commission on February 14th is expected to be discussed at the European Parliament General Assembly. The odds favour its acceptance. The second bit of news also came from the European Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, this time from Anna Lindh, Sweden's Foreign Minister. Lindh, who has never felt the need to hide her harsh opinions of Turkey, surprisingly made statements relieving Turkey. According to Lindh, EU intervention in Cyprus would be a great mistake. Such an intervention reminded her of the saying 'too many cooks spoil the broth'. Furthermore, while the UN process was ongoing new formulas by the EU on Cyprus would not be correct. Certainly these are words which relieve Turkey and the TRNC and cause concern for Athens and the Greek-Cypriot Administration. The Greek-Cypriots want the EU to be a party to the question and to openly say so. Lindh's words also support the claims voiced by other member countries, that the membership of a Cyprus who has not solved her problems would cause difficulties. These developments in the European Parliament show that although there are circles opposing Turkey's EU membership in Europe,and those in Turkey who hope that these relations would be slowed down, EU-Turkey relations continue on an institutional path if not at the political level. Developments due to the natural process are expected to increase in the next term. In other words, the Swedish Foreign Minister's prejudices towards Turkey may slow down Turco-EU relations but will not stop the process on an institutional level. We may consider Lindh's words on Cyprus as a bonus. As the institutional process is ongoing in Europe, when will Turkey's own institutional process will be activated? One thing is certain, if the EU takes away Ankara's excuses or takes some steps invalidating them, an interesting situation will arise. Ankara will either look for new excuses or become sincere and clearly say what it expects from the EU." [33] ARMENIANS AND FRANCE BY TOKTAMIS ATES (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Toktamis Ates writes on the history of relations between Turkey and France and the role of the Armenians. A summary of his column is as follows:"There are certain reasons why France is appproaching the Armenian issue differently. However, I would like to express my pleasure that Turkish citizzens of Armenian descent have had nothing to do with these efforts. Turkish Armenians, who had felt concern and sorrow when the ASALA terrorist organization had targetted Turkish diplomats,are again deeply disturbed. These efforts by the Armenian diaspora, fearing a loss of its identity, disturb them the most. At the beginning of the 20th century France was one of the most important colonial powers. The Ottoman Empire fought against Russia, in the East, and against Britain and France at Canakkale, in Iraqi and Syrian fronts during the First World War. When the war at Canakkale (Dardanelles) is mentioned, we remember the ANZACs from Australia,the New Zealanders and the British, but the French do not come to mind. The fact is she landed troops in many parts of the country based on the rights recognized in the Mondros Armistice. France wanted to take her share after the war and occupied Syria and Lebanon. However, when she wanted more but could not get anything else, she was discontented. A similar policy was carried out by the British using citizens of Greek descent, as was attempted by France in Cilicia dependant upon the Armenian population. Whereas there were army units in the West supported by the arms sent by Greece and Britain, there was not an Armenian State to send troops to in Cilicia. Thus, when the Armenian youth, dressed and armed by France, began engaging in terrorist activities, Turks in the region armed to defend themselves. Following the organization of national defence movements in Anatolia, the Armenian and French forces left the region. As the French were leaving, Armenians who had trusted them, migrated to Syria and Lebanon en masse. The large Armenian communities in Syria and Lebanon and especially in Beirut are the results of these migrations. An important part of those immigrating to Syria and Lebanon with the French passed on to France and others to the US. The vote potential of the Armenians is not that high, however, some radical Frenchmen still believe they are indebted to that nation. Whatever the cause, the French Republic recognized the Armenians as having been subjected to a genocide by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. They are not too happy with the law and feel the need to say that it does not qualify for sanctions, and that the law passed with only 50 members present in the Assembly. During our long history we have not had any problems with France with the exception of a few years. The French-Turkish relations will never be the same as they were before. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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