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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-10Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning10.04.2001CONTENTS
[01] TRNC LOBBY IN GERMANYLobbies within the small partner of the Federal Government, Union 90_Greens, will accelerate their attempts to have the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognized and to find a solution for the Cyprus issue. The TRNC Presidency Undersecretary, Ergun Olgun, recently held contacts in Berlin and said they appreciated those attempts in Berlin. Ozcan Mutlu, a Berlin State Assembly Deputy of Turkish origin said, "After one and a half years of work, the recognition of the TRNC by the Greens European Work Group is an important step towards a solution. Turkish Cypriots are exposed to various boycotts however, these people are not at fault. We will discuss the issue within our party." Claiming that without official recognition of the TRNC, the problem could never be solved permanently, Mutlu said, "The sides would be equal only after TRNC'c recognition by the Western countries. This is why we took such a decision." /Cumhuriyet/[02] PERES: "IT WAS A TRAGEDY, NOT A GENOCIDE"Before making his one-day working visit to Turkey, Israeli Foreign Minister Simon Peres had openly supported the Turkish view regarding Armenian allegations. Peres said, "History should be left to the historians." Replying to the Armenians' claim that they were victims of genocide, Peres said, "We oppose this definition. What happened to the Armenians was a tragedy, not a genocide." On the other hand, pointing to very good relations between Turkey and Israel, Simon Peres said during his meetings with Turkish authorities bilateral relations will be discussed, as well as recent developments in the Middle East. /Turkiye/[03] ATTEMPTS OF ARMENIAN AND GREEK LOBBIES10 US House Representatives presented a bill to the Congress, on behalf of the Armenian and Greek lobbies, asking for greater sensitivity over Turkish demands to islands in the Aegean. The bill reminds the US that it is also a party to the Lausanne and Paris Agreements which determined the borders in the Aegean Sea, and argues that the Turkish government demanded islands in the Aegean which belong to Greece according the above-mentioned agreements. /Cumhuriyet/[04] CZECH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYCzech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan will pay an official visit to Turkey between April 10 and 12. According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Kavan will be received by Parliamentery Speaker Omer Izgi, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, as well as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem during his stay in Ankara. Kavan and his delegation will travel to Istanbul April 12 to come together with the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) and Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (KEIK) officials there. The visiting minister will leave Turkey on the same day. /Turkish Daily News/[05] BAHCELI CALLS FOR HARMONYDeputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said the government should be determined and work together in harmony. Addressing yesterday's Ministers Council meeting, Bahceli pointed out the 57th government ensured political stability and peace in the country. He added the government had started a three-year economic program. Stating positive results were obtained in the first year, Bahceli said, however, the recent economic crisis has created some problems in the society. He said, "Certain circles are trying to turn the economic crisis into a political crisis."/Turkiye/[06] COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON DYP CENSURE MOTIONThe Parliamentary Advisory Committee will decide today whether or not to bring onto the weekly parliamentary agenda a censure motion from the opposition True Path Party(DYP) against Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on matters concerning agriculture policy. Meeting at the Motherland Party(ANAP) parliamentary group meeting hall on Monday, representatives of the coalition parties decided the Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from the five political parties represented in Parliament, would convene Tuesday. The committee will debate a proposal from the coalition parties, who are trying to extend the working hours of Parliament in order to have time to debate the DYP's censure motion. Also on the Advisory Committee agenda is a parliamentary investigation proposal by the opposition Virtue Party (FP) against Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. The FP accuses Ozkan of ignoring inspectors' reports on a series of private banks which were subsequently bailed-out on the grounds that they were unable to repay deposits. /Turkish News/[07] CANADIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN TURKEYCanadian Minister of Defense Arthur Eggleton, paying an official visit to Turkey at the invitation of Ministry of Defense, visited Minister of Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu yesterday. At the meeting, reportedly, the two ministers discussed NATO and European Security topics. /Turkiye/[08] CAKMAKOGLU: "THERE IS NO DECLARATION REGARDING ARMED FORCES IN THE LETTER OF INTENT"Minister of National Defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said there is no statement regarding the Turkish Armed Forces in the letter of intent submitted to the IMF. This is contrary to Greek claims that Turkey would cut its defense expenditures. Regarding the Turkish-Greek rapprochement Cakmakoglu said, "Fundamental contentious issues have not been discussed thus far in the Turkish-Greek dialogue. We hope our friendship will develop by finding a settlement to these issues." /Milliyet/[09] KIVRIKOGLU TO TRAVEL TO CHINAThe Chief of the General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu will travel to China in the upcoming days. On his week-long trip, Kivrikoglu will also visit South Korea to discuss the arrangement for artillery procurement embargoed by German authorities. /Milliyet/[10] BILL ON TURKISH AIRLINES IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERSA bill foreseeing a change to the Civil Aviation Law that will affect the privatization of the Turkish Airlines was submitted to the Council of Ministers. The bill includes articles allowing license holders to determine the price list. The new price list will be operational one week after the Transportation Ministry is informed. Under the former law, Ministry approval was required in order to implement a new price list. /Sabah/[11] US AID TEAM ARRIVES IN TURKEYAn 11-member US European Command(EU-COM) team has arrived in Turkey to evaluate disaster management and intervention possibilities. According to a statement by the US Consulate in Istanbul , the team consists of military and civilian specialists trained in search and rescue, fire, substructure, public health, communication, naval accidents and hazardous materials. The EUCOM aid program includes equipment aid for Istanbul, Kocaeli, Ankara, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Batman, Hakkari and Van. The emergency aid package also includes an emergency trauma training program and a child care program. The aid project hopes to train Turkish officials to cope with natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires. The visit is the first installment of a long-term project, the US Consulate stressed. /Turkish News/[12] IMF AND WORLD BANK DELEGATIONS IN ANKARAIMF and World Bank delegations have arrived in Ankara. The IMF delegation will discuss the final version of the economic program in order to determine the targets and the required financial assistance. The supplementary letter of intent will be completed by Thursday. The World Bank delegation will determine the amount of resources to restructure the state-owned banks and those banks currently under the control of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund(MSF). The amount of monetary sector adjustment credit which will be given by the World Bank and Japan to Turkey is expected to increase to $5 billion. /Milliyet/[13] DERVIS:"NO ONE WILL ALLOW IMF TO INTERVENE DOMESTIC AFFAIRS"The State Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis,said, "No one will allow the IMF to intervene in Turkey's internal affairs," in response to a question on whether the IMF leaked secrets regarding Turkey to Athens. Dervis said, "We should only answer IMF questions regarding the economy and the budget. But, this program is national in nature. The IMF has justifiable questions on the general economic balance, but not on the details." /Milliyet/[14] GOVERNMENT TAKES MEASURES AGAINST SOCIAL UNRESTAs there are widespread tradesman demonstrations protesting the government all over Turkey after the recent economic crisis, the government has taken certain measures to protect the economic conditions of the tradesmen. It was decided to keep the interest rates of loans taken from Halk Bank and Ziraat Bank at the same level as before the crisis. A bill concerning the establishment of big shopping centers, which negatively affect tradesmen, outside municipality boundaries was sent to the Council of Ministers yesterday. Minister of State Tunca Toskay said the decrease in the interest rates on loans taken by tradesmen did not contradict the economic program. He said two important decisions were made to provide the tradesmen and farmers with certain leeway. He said certain facilities in paying off accumulated tax debts and in paying Social Security taxes would be provided. /Cumhuriyet/[15] PAPANDREOU'S SUGGESTIONTwo messages were given to Turkey during the meeting of the European Union (EU) Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Luxembourg. EU term president, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anna Lindh, gave information to colleagues on Turkey's National Programme during a press conference. Lindh considers the National Programme "an important step" in spite of its inadequacies. Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Papandreou, also attended the meeting saying he would present the economic crisis in Turkey to the EU troika so the crisis can be overcomed. /Hurriyet/[16] STATE HIGHWAYS GENERAL DIRECTORATE TO REPAIR EAST AND SOUTHEAST ROADSRepair of roads in the East and Southeast regions to support social and economic development has started, the Anatolia reported on Monday. An announcement from the State Highways General Directorate said if they have enough money in the budget, all the roads will be repaired and the surrounding areas improved. /Turkish Daily News/[17] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL TO ATTEND ECOFIN MEETINGSFinance Minister Sumer Oral will represent Turkey at an unofficial gathering of the EU Finance and Economy Ministers Council (Ecofin) scheduled to be held in Sweden April 20 to 22, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The meeting will focus on the EU enlargement process and economic crisis management, Anatolia said. Ministers and central bank officials from the 13 EU candidate countries will attend meetings for the first time. This is the follow-up of a decision to include the candidates in a strategy drawn up in Lisbon. It aims to improve the EU's competitive strength. /Turkish Daily News/[18] RUSSIAN DELEGATION IN BURSA FOR SEMINAR ON JOINT VENTURESA Russian delegation of 50 businessmen arrived in Bursa yesterday to attend a seminar on Russian-Turkish trade opportunities. The seminar was organized by Uludag Exporters Union (UIB). At the seminar, Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Exports Deputy Manager Riza Tuna Turagay said although Turkish-Russian trade relations had a long history, the tremendous trade potential between the two countries never materialized. Turagay indicated Turkish automotive exports to Russia had increased last year, but textiles and ready-to-wear exports had decreased. He suggested Turkish and Russian businessmen launch joint ventures in addition to trading. /Turkish Daily News/[19] BUSINESSMEN MEET WITH HIGH LEVEL BUREAUCRATSMembers of the Executive Council of TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association) met with high-level bureaucrats yesterday before their meeting with ministers today. Stating they would give their full support to the new economic program to be declared by the Economics Minister Kemal Dervis soon, TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said the country should not waste any more time. The TUSIAD delegation will meet today with Kemal Dervis, Minister of State Responsible for Privatization, Yuksel Yalova, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Cumhuriyet/[20] SPK'S NEW INITIATIVEThe Chairmanship of the Capital Market Council (SPK) will issue regulations concerning the Fund for the Protection of Investors that will operate if the mediatory institutions are closed. Chairman of the SPK, Dogan Cansizlar, said works concerning the Fund for the Protection of Investors was in its final stage. /Hurriyet/[21] DAIMLER CHRYSLER TRUSTS TURKEYDaimler Chrysler has not stopped its investments in spite of the economic crisis and promoted its new lorry, Axor, last week. It announced projects to be carried out on 30 April and the first of May, and thus, gave the message of confidence to Turkey. Daimler Chrysler AG's Coordinator of Politics and Foreign Affairs, Matthias Kleinert announced their plans during a meeting in Istanbul saying they considered Turkey, not only as an important market, but also as a strategic country east of Germany. Kleinert said a seminar on the issue of Turkey and Europe will be held 30 April and on 1 May. The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra will stage a concert in Istanbul. /Hurriyet/[22] GUREL ASKS AMERICAN TURKS TO SUPPORT TURKEY'S INTERESTSState Minister Sukru Sina Gurel stated, upon his return from American state of Florida, that he had useful meetings with US representatives in Florida to try and block Armenian initiatives on the so-called genocide. In his statement at Istanbul Ataturk Airport yesterday, Gurel said Turkey should improve its relations with American states as well. Stressing Florida has a very important geographic situation, Gurel said Turkey could bolster its trade ties with South America through Florida. Indicating a Floridan trade delegation would come to Turkey soon, Gurel said he had very useful contacts with American authorities. /Turkish Daily News/[23] STOCK EXCHANGE AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETS WAITING FOR THE NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAMThe stock exchange and foreign exchange markets are waiting for the new economic program to be declared. Istanbul Stock Exchange rates increased by 1.49 % and reached 8359 points. /Cumhuriyet/[24] DEUTSCHE BANK IS THE MEDIATOR BANKThe Chairmanship of the Privatization Administration Board has chosen Deutsche Bank to act as mediator during the public auction of state owned shares at the Petroleum Office Joint Company. The Deutsche Bank was chosen from among seven investment banks who had submitted offers. /Turkiye/[25] GIANT TERMINAL IN IZMIRThe Egegaz Aliaga Terminal Project will be completed in the second half of this year. It is the first private sector project in the natural gas sector in Turkey. The natural gas convertion terminal, constructed by Egegaz in Aliaga, Izmir, will be the second largest in the world. Currently, 650 employees are working on the terminals construction at a cost of $400 million. /Turkiye/40TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAN'S FIRST STEP IN THE OUTER SPACE Man's first step in outer space will be celebrated in various ceremonies in 24 countries. Middle East Technical University (ODTU) and TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technical Researches Institution) have organized a joint celebration program. Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece "2001:A Space Odyssey" will be screened at the ODTU campus April 12. /Cumhuriyet/ [26] TOURIST BOOM AT ANTALYA AIRPORTThere has been a boom in the number of tourists visiting Antalya during the first days of the tourist season. A total of 286 airplanes have landed at Antalya Airport last Friday, Saturday and Sunday bringing nearly 50,000 tourists to Turkey. 70% of the airplanes were from Germany, whereas there has been an increase in the number of airplanes coming from Austria and Sweden. In addition, charter flights from Russia will begin 15 April. /Hurriyet/100 BEACHES TO RECEIVE BLUE FLAG THIS YEAR Turkish Environmental Education Foundation Chairman Erol Gungor said the foundation was aiming to host Blue Flag 100 beaches and 10 marinas in Turkey. At a conference Gungor said 78 beaches and 12 marinas received the Blue Flag in 2000. "The Blue Flag is an international environmental award given to beaches and marinas which meet our stipulations," siad Gungor. /Turkish News/ [27] BERLIN PHILARMONIC ORCHESTRA TO STAGE CONCERT IN ISTANBULThe Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra, the world's best known orchestra, will come to Turkey for the first time. The Orchestra, with a history of 120 years, has been staging concerts for 20 years. The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra has been celebrating its birthday for 10 years in various countries under sponsorship by Daimler Chrysler under the title of "European Concerts." It chose Istanbul's Aya Irini Museum this year for its celebration. The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra will stage two concerts at Istanbul's Aya Irini Museum, on 20 April and 1 May. The concert will be seen live by 1 billion people from 25 countries. /Hurriyet/[28] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...[29] EVERYBODY IS WAITING BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent economic crisis and people's expectations. A summary of his column is as follows:"As is everyone, foreign countries are also waiting for the crisis to unfold...All attention is focused on Ankara. The countries upon whom we have pinned our hopes, are becoming impatient, waiting to see what Turkey will do before delivering on their promises of financial aid. When the crisis erupted in Turkey, some believed that all our friends and allies, in particular the US, would lend us the money required. Some even believed the words of support saying financial aid would be given in no time. The newspapers fanned these expectations with headlines "Aid is Coming". We do not know if, at present there is anybody still expecting any aid from abroad. If so, they will be highly disappointed as no country is eager to help without first seeing what the Turkish Government is planning to do. This should be clearly understood, and priority should be given to domestic resources and reforms. Therefore, no one should expect any direct economic assistance from the US. American diplomats are explaining the promises of support as contributions to help Turkey out of the crisis. Clearly, this support will be influential with the participation of finance institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. There is no question of the US sending money from her own budget. America is in close touch with G-7 countries and is trying to form an aid package program with them. The US can give us aid only within a collective framework. In the past, Turkey could get direct financial aid. Today it is not possible considering the different stance of the Bush administration on foreign aid and the US recession. The same goes for all other friends and allies. They all say Turkey has to recover, mobilize her domestic assets, and carry out radical economic and political reforms. This policy of wait-and-see can go on for some time. Certainly the Westerners are aware the importance foreign aid carries in getting the country through this crisis. However, without knowing what Turkey will do for certain, they are concerned that any help they will give will be in vain. Russia is being held up as an example in how the aid was given and then wasted. This picture may lead those who expect foreign aid to pessimism. However, Ankara should have seen the picture by now. Turkey should not expect foreign aid to come 'in a short while', as the countries who will lend this aid are still waiting to see what Turkey will do to get this aid." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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