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Turkish Press Review, 01-02-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr><LINK href="http:/_www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css_tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="20%"><_td> <td width="60%"><map name="FPMap1"> </map></td> <td width="20%"></td> </tr> <_table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="20%" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Press & Information</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Turkish Press</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Foreign Press in Turkey</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080" bgcolor="#F0F0F0"> Turkish Press Review >></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> Press Guide</td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <_td> <td width="80%" valign="top" style="border: 0 solid #808080" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 1 solid #808080"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%">23.02.2001</td> </tr> </table> </td> <_tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> CONTENTS <ul> SEZER: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES"CONTENTS
[01] ANOTHER BILL ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN CALIFORNIA[02] FRENCH POLITICIANS' CONFESSIONS ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILLGREEK PRESS: "TRY ALL CRIMINALS CONCERNING OCALAN CASE"[03] PROPOSAL FOR NON-AGRESSION PACT BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEIMF MANAGING DIRECTOR KOHLER : "WE SUPPORT TURKISH GOVERNMENT"PROF. VASSILOPULOS: "EUROPE SHOULD NOT EXCLUDE TURKEY" JAPANESE AMBASSADOR: "RELATIONS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED" [04] MUMCU'S STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND TOURISM[05] TURKEY PAYS FOREIGN DEBT AMOUNTING TO 741 MILLION US DOLLARS"ADOPTION OF FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATES DOES NOT SUFFICE"[06] LAW CONCERNING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS APPROVED BY TGNA[07] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... SEZER: "TURKEY WILL OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES" The presidential office held an informative press meeting yesterday. Press Advisor to the President, Metin Yalman, said "Our President performs his duties and authorities specified in the Constitution by paying attention to the orderly and harmonious functioning of the state bodies. The President is confident that Turkey will overcome her difficulties. He believes everybody should work to achieve this goal. The President sees no use in explaining the details of the National Security Council (MGK) meeting." /Milliyet/ [08] PRESIDENT SEZER TO TRAVEL CAIROPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer will travel to Cairo tomorrow to attend the Developing Countries Economic Cooperation Group (D-8) meeting. Spokesman for the Presidential Office, Taclan Ildem, gave information about President`s Cairo visit between February 24-25 at the press conference held yesterday. Stating Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem will also accompany the President, Ildem said Commerce Experts Group meeting, Business Forum and the D-8 Commission meetings will be held today and tomorrow before the D-8 meeting. Ildem added the meetings of the Council containing the Foreign Ministers from D-8 countries will be held on February 24. Ildem stated if Sezer's busy schedule allowed, the President would hold bilateral meetings, especially with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. /Cumhuriyet/[09] ECEVIT ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ECONOMYWhile giving information on the arrangements in the economy, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit spoke about the economic situation's relationship with the crisis that occurred during the National Security Council (MGK) and said, "It was already necessary to make some changes in the economy. Ecevit held a press conference with the coalition partners, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz yesterday. Ecevit said, "During the meeting that lasted for twelve hours the day before, the economic problems were examined closely and the foreign exchange rates were left to float. We believe that this decision will activate our economy a great deal and will ensure a great increase in income from the tourism sector. Maximum care will be displayed so that the workers will not be harmed by inflation. The struggle against poverty will be given more importance. We believe that the artificial increase in the foreign exchange rates and the interest rates that has been going on for the last three days will end soon. The citizens sharing this confidence with us will accelarate the rehabilitation of the economy." /Sabah/[10] ECEVIT AND SIMITIS MEET IN SKOPJEPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will meet at the Balkan Summit in Skopje. Overcoming the so-called Greek genocide crisis, the two prime ministers are expected to meet in a positive atmosphere. Simitis is expected to give information about the recent developments on the so-called Greek genocide bill to Prime Minister Ecevit. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met with his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou yesterday. Since the meeting was interrupted because Cem left to welcome Prime Minister Ecevit, two foreign ministers agreed to complete their contacts at the NATO meeting in Brussels. /Hurriyet/[11] ECONOMIC PROGRAM REVISEDThe economic program implemented by Turkey for 14 months determinedly, will be revised. Both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Turkish government authorities stated that the a new program was initiated. IMF Turkey Desk Chief, Carlo Cattorelli, who left Turkey the day before, arrived again in Ankara yesterday due to recent developments. He began his contacts with ministers and bureaucrats related to the economy. Regarding the floating foreign exchange rates, Cottarelli said, "The decision was a necessary step to be taken. Now, there is a need for certain adjustments in the general program. However, our strategy will not change." Cottarelli also added an IMF delegation would arrive in Ankara next week for the preparation of the new program. /Turkiye/[12] SUPPORT FROM THE WORLD BANKFollowing the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank announced its full support for the Turkish goverment's recent decision on transition to a floating currency. A World Bank statement issued in Washington said the World Bank would work in coordination with the Turkish government, IMF and other related groups for the success of the economic program and reforms carried out in Turkey. Additionally, US Secretary of Treasury, Paul O'Neill stated the US government would continue to back the IMF's support for the Turkish economy. /Turkiye/[13] CENTRAL BANK TO MAINTAIN TIGHT MONETARY POLICYCentral Bank pledged to stick to a tight monetary policy aimed at strengthening the stabilization program in the wake of the government decision to drop the exchange rate and to float Turkish lira. The bank will assume a more active role in markets to sustain the new economic balances, as it maintains the tight monetary policy, the bank said in a written statement yesterday. It said the IMF would continue to release loan tranches as scheduled and to finance Turkey's program during the float, which practically means a devaluation of the lira. It added that the Central Bank would present a new central banking law to the government, which is of critical importance in terms of inflation targetting, and make sure that it is quickly enacted. /Turkish Daily News/[14] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN IN BULGARIATraveling to Bulgaria to hold official contacts, Minister of Interior Affairs, Sadettin Tantan demanded the Bulgarian government take measures to prevent the terrorist organization PKK from extorting money and threatening Turkish businessmen. Tantan said, "Turkish businessmen would invest more if this problem was overcome." /Cumhuriyet/[15] NEW DOCUMENTS REGARDING ARMENIAN ISSUEWriter Aytunc Altindal obtained reports of 550 foreign doctors who worked between 1885-1920 in Armenian-populated area. Reports prove Armenians were not killed. The reports of French, Italian, German and Swiss doctors will be published as a book and will be distributed in the UN and European Parliament. Reports say Armenians died of diseases, accidents and old age. There are also reports on killed persons, but the notes say they were killed during the attacks of Kurdish groups. These Kurdish groups immigrated later in 1923 to Iran and Iraq. Reports say the number of Turkish, Kurdish and Circassian people killed are much greater than the Armenians killed. /Sabah/[16] ANOTHER BILL ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN CALIFORNIAA bill on the so-called Armenian genocide was presented to the California State House of Representatives in the US. The bill calls for plans to declare April 24 as the commemoration day for the so-called Armenian genocide. The bill prepared by the Democrat Daro Frommer, proposes that California should recognize the so-called Armenian genocide between 1913-1925. There are certain allegations in the bill stating that Armenians in Azerbaijan`s Sumgait region in 1988 and those in Baku in 1990 were totally exiled. /Cumhuriyet/[17] FRENCH POLITICIANS' CONFESSIONS ON THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILLFrench politicians have begun to confess that they approved the Armenian bill to be able to acquire more Armenian votes. The Mayor of Issy-Les-Moulineaux, a town near Paris, Andre Santini said, " Armenian voters in my electoral district are more than the Turkish votes." and he clearly confessed that the bill on the so-caled Armenian genocide was used as a means of vote-getting. According to the French Daily Liberation, Santini is the first politician to reveal he used the bill as a political means. Additionally, Michele Rivasi, deputy from Valance, also confessed that he supported the bill by taking the Armenian votes into consideration. /Hurriyet/ GREEK PRESS: "TRY ALL CRIMINALS CONCERNING OCALAN CASE" The Greek press has reacted to the decision of the Judges Council at the Greek Court of First Instance over the Ocalan case. The newspaper, Daily To Vima said the number of people that should be tried concerning the Ocalan case was more than 13. The paper said other criminals should also be caught and tried. According to To Vima, many figures who helped Ocalan in Greece were not included in the list of the Council. Certain diplomatic and politic circles demanded officials from the Greek intelligence service, EIP, and the former Prime Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, should also be tried. /Cumhuriyet/[18] PROPOSAL FOR NON-AGRESSION PACT BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEOpposed to the tense foreign policy attitudes of Greek government, the Greek public adopted a more sensible attitude towards Turkey. The Elefterotipiya Newspaper, published in Athens, proposed a non-agression and a freezing of armament agreement to be signed between Turkey and Greece. Elefterotipiya said financial crisis had put Turkish society under difficult conditions. It said Turkish people suffer from the economic depression but not foreign investors who escape easily from the country during difficult economic times. /Milliyet/ IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR KOHLER : "WE SUPPORT TURKISH GOVERNMENT" The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Horst Kohler, said the IMF supported Turkish government's decision to allow exchange rates to float. Speaking after the evaluation meeting in Washington, Kohler said the IMF hoped the inflation rate would keep decreasing and stability would be mantained in the exchange rates. Kohler said, "The IMF supports the Turkish government's decision to allow floating of the lira. We are pleased with the Turkish government's determination to maintain a sustainable development and stable exchange rates. The inflation rate is expected to keep decreasing and the acquirements from the IMF-backed economic stability program will be protected." /Hurriyet/[19] US AIRCRAFTS BOMB IRAQThe US war planes, which are based at Incirlik Air Headquarters, bombed Iraqi targets in northern Iraq. In a statement issued by the US Command to Europe in Germany, it was stated that after the Iraqi anti-aircrafts sites locked onto the American aircrafts in Musul, the targets were hit. In the statement, it was said the aircrafts returned to the Headquarters without any losses. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave a statement concerning the issue and said, "Within the information and approval of the Turkish officers, an air manoeuver was carried out between the two countries in accordance with the rules." In the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was said that this incident was not the continuation of the bombing of Baghdad last week. Meanwhile, in the statement issued by Incirlik Air Headquarters, it was said that this was not an extraordinary situation. /Aksam/[20] SWEDISH POLICE FORCES INVESTIGATE OCALANSwedish police forces will investigate terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan about Prime Minister Olof Palme's assasination in 1986. Ocalan had stated before that he was not involved in the assasination but certain members of the PKK may have been. /Cumhuriyet/ PROF. VASSILOPULOS: "EUROPE SHOULD NOT EXCLUDE TURKEY" Christopher Vassilopus, a professor of Greek origin in the International Affairs Department at the Connecticut University in the US, said exclusion of Turkey from the EU would be dangerous and the US must do whatever she could to prevent this. Pointing to Turkey's role in the region, Prof. Vassilopus said, "Turkey's importance is much more now than in the cold war period. In case Turkey is refused by the EU, it will turn to Central Asia. If I were Turkish Premier, I would think so too. However, this does not serve both American and regional interests." /Turkiye/[21] EU-TURKEY RELATIONSThe Director of Turkish Economic and Social Studies Association (TESEV), Ozdem Sanberk, said Turkey should be a country which is stable and able to solve problems on her own. He added Turkey should not be in tension with the EU and should not reflect her problems to the Europeans. /Cumhuriyet/ PHIL GORDON: "LET'S NOT OFFEND TURKEY" Phil Gordon, an expert in a think-tank, the Brookings Institute, based in Washington, said Turkey should not be offended over the US Iraqi policy. Speaking in a panel, Gordon said the policy espoused by the US ex-president, Bill Clinton on Iraq was not successful. He added, "Turkey is our most reliable ally in the region. She is opposed to the support of Iraqi opposition against Saddam. The new American administration should listen to everybody in the region and ensure support for her policy." /Turkiye/[22] DEVELOPMENT IN HUMAN RIGHTSGeneral Command of Gendarmerie and Directorate General of Security gave a briefing on 'human rights' to the Human Rights Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Chairman of the Commission, Huseyin Akgul, said there were improvements in both of these two units in terms of human rights. Officials from the Gendarmerie stated that during the process of pre-service training human rights courses will be given to the privates twice a week. /Star/[23] EU TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECTSThe European Commission reserved 38 million euros for the projects that will be confronted within the "European Democracy and Human Rights Initiative'. The applications must be received by 19 March. The Commission also extended the deadline to 2 April for the projects for the victims of torture. /Sabah/ JAPANESE AMBASSADOR: "RELATIONS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED" Shigen Takenaka, Japanese Ambassador to Ankara, met Samsun Mayor Muammer Guler and said, "The current problems of Turkey will not affect the economic relations between our two countries." Takenaka visited the Hasan Ugurlu and the Altinkaya Dams in the Black Sea Region, which were constructed under the terms of Turco-Japanese cooperation. He expressed his pleasure that he had the opportunity to observe the mechanical and financial efficiency of the dams. Mayor Guler and Takenaka consulted regarding the latest economic crisis. /Turkish Daily News/[24] MUMCU'S STATEMENT CONCERNING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND TOURISMThe increase in the foreign exchange rate which was implemented by the government after the economic crisis, will be a benefit for the tourism sector. Minister of Tourism, Erkan Mumcu, said, "2001 will be a year of records for Turkey and everything will be better this year." Mumcu attended the International Travel and Tourism Fair in Istanbul and issued statements that will please tour operators. Mumcu said, "In the World Tourism Organization's Year 2000 Report, it was stated that Turkey had broken a record in growth and that it resulted in great returns for the tourism sector." Mumcu added that Turkey was the only country in the world which had succeeded in growing by 17.3% between 1983 and 2001, which is a world record. He also spoke concerning the economic crisis and said that even if there is shrinkage in the internal market, the demand coming from abroad will meet this. /Aksam/[25] STOCK EXCHANGE RATES INCREASEIstanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), which experienced its greatest fall with 18.14% the day before, increased by 666 points and gave the signal that the economic program will be implemented with the fluctuating foreign exchange system. IMKB gave a value of 9.88% on the daily basis and reached 7,980 points. Brokers say it is hard to estimate how much will be the increase in the exchange market. Brokers further stated that the changes in foreign exchange and inflation rates will be monitored. /Aksam/[26] TUSIAD'S SUGGESTIONThe Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) suggested that a new Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for the economy and who will give confidence to the markets, should be appointed. In a statement issued by the TUSIAD, it was said that the failure of the Macro Economic Program, which was supported by the whole society and which was about to reach the target, mostly resulted from the lack of coordination in terms of economic issues. In the statement, it was added, "The government should appoint a new Deputy Prime Minister, knowledgeable of the financial markets in Turkey and of the international capital markets and one who is ready to bear these responsibilities." /Aksam/[27] TURKEY PAYS FOREIGN DEBT AMOUNTING TO 741 MILLION US DOLLARSTurkey paid its foreign debt amounting to 741.62 million US dollars on 1-21 February 2001. According to the data of the Central Bank, 684.20 million US dollars of this amount was paid by the Treasury, 21.70 million US dollars by the Central Bank. 35.72 million US dollars of payment included the stationary expenses of the management within general and public-private budgets. /Aksam/[28] JP MORGAN AND DEUTSCHE BANK'S STATEMENTJP Morgan and Deutsche Bank stated that simply the release of the foreign exchanges would not be enough and that a package including strict budget and monetary policies would be announced soon. Deutsche Bank issued a bulletin and stated, "We think that after the first fluctuation in the foreign exchange rates and after the liqudity is ensured for the banking system, very strict monetary and budget policies will be followed." Meanwhile, JP Morgan stated, "Devaluation is necessary but it is not enough to inspire confidence in investors. The measures that will be announced should solve the weaknesses of the banking system, include confidence-building measures and explain how to make new public borrowing in the short term. /Aksam/ "ADOPTION OF FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATES DOES NOT SUFFICE" The international investment bank, Chase JP Morgan, stated the decision on flexible exchange rates is correct, but does not have any utility on its own. The bank said this exchange rate policy should be supported with tight fiscal policies and a decrease in expenditures. /Sabah/ "IMF INCITED CRISIS IN TURKEY" Reuters reported on comments of analysts regarding the economic crisis in Turkey. The comments converged on the idea that the crisis emanated from IMF policies. According to Reuters, Turkey could not recover after signing the stand-by agreement with the IMF. Emerging markets strategist of the Brunswick Direct, Paul Luke, said if the IMF did not support Turkey, Turkey would be in a much better position. /Sabah/[29] LAW CONCERNING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS APPROVED BY TGNAThe law that aims to make some changes in the Intellectual Property Rights was approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Within this framework, people who change a work art without the permission of its artist will be sentenced to a heavy prison term of maximum six years and fined punishment of 150 billion TL. Radio and television broadcasters will have to take the written permission of the artists before broadcasting their works. /Star/[30] HOPES FOR EXPANDED RAIL SYSTEM IN ISTANBULIstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna briefed reporters on the latest developments in the Istanbul tramway system project. He said Minister of Housing and Public Works Koray Aydin had given approval in principle for a tramway link between Harem and Tuzla but that no signature had been given. Gurtuna said, "The Highways Department has also said `yes' and now we are hammering out the details. I reckon everything will be in place within a month." The planned Harem-Tuzla link will be 33 km long and comprise of 13 stations and carry 35,000 people an hour on 132 carriages. /Turkish Daily News/[31] NAZIM HIKMET DEBATE IN THE BRITISH PRESSThe prominent British daily newspaper, The Guardian, gave coverage to the Nazim Hikmet debate. The Guardian stated that Nazim Hikmet, the most famous Turkish poet, has caused tense debates even 38 years after his death. Stating the Turkish Ministry of Culture prepared a bill on returning his right of Turkish citizenship, the paper gave informaiton on Hikmet's life and poems. The Guardian said, "The rightist politicians in Turkey are trying to obstruct Nazim Hikmet's citizenship campaign." /Hurriyet/[32] THE IGNORANT FAIRIES' PREMIER IN ROMEThe premier screening of the Turkish Film Director Ferzan Ozpetek's latest movie, "The Ignorant Fairies" (La Fate Ignoranti) took place in Rome. The film received positive criticism from the audiences. Many prominnet figures of the Italian cinema and several famous politicians attended the screening. Ozpetek said he believed his movie would be successful in both Italy and other countries where it will be released. The Ignorant Fairies is expected to be released in Turkey during May. /Hurriyet/[33] AWARD TO ARIF MARDINThe Turkish music producer, who has been living in United States for a long time, has won a Grammy Award. Mardin received the Trustees Award for his lifelong contribution to the music industry. Mardin , who worked with famous singers, such as Diana Ross, Ringo Starr, Aretha Franklin and Barbara Streisand, is currently the deputy chairman of the Atlantic Records Music Company. /Sabah/[34] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... [35] CRISIS BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)Columnist Taha Akyol writes on the latest economic crisis in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: "The recent crisis brought an additional burden of 30 billion dollars to the real sector, according to the Chairman of Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchange, Fuat Miras... There is no other country who is going through economic crises as often as Turkey. Even Russia who has collapsed with her system has left the recent economic crisis behind and attained political stability. The giant automotive company General Motors, is preparing to invest in Russia. The foreign capital in Turkey is leaving the country. We had such high hopes! Turkey was the most attractive country for investment as she lay between three continents. Turkey would export to Russia, Europe and Asia. However, it did not turn out to be so. General Motors is investing in Russia, Toyota which had decided to make Turkey an exports center, went to France believing there was no political stability in Turkey. Those governing the country were at odds with each other, a series of governments were unstable. Juridicial organs were cancelling various laws and decisions with the influence of 'etatism' tradition. Certain members of the National Security Council were saying that there would be uprisings similar to those seen in Iran. Who would invest in such a country? Development and investment are all very well, but what we are not aware of, is that all these need a stable democracy and a strong government along with a settled legal establishment and a minimal state structure withdrawn to its limits. In other words, these are the criteria mentioned in the Accession Partnership Document. There is no alternative but to entrust the political power required for governing the country, in the hands of the elected officials. If Turkey implements such a system, everybody will see that former President Ozal's vision of the 21st century as the century of Turks is not a dream." <_ul> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <dl> <dt>FORMER ISSUES</dt> </dl> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <_table> Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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