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Turkish Press Review, 01-04-25Turkish 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 morning25.04.2001CONTENTS
[01] COALITION LEADERS DISCUSS PRIOR LAWS TO BE ENACTEDThe Minister of State Responsible for Economy, Kemal Dervis discussed the recent economic conditions with the coalition leaders yesterday before beginning his visit to the US. Certain hotly debated issues on the prior laws which were put as conditions by the international financial institutions for future credits were primarily discussed during the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[02] NSC MEETINGThe main topic discussed during the National Security Council yesterday meeting was the economy. State Minister for Economics, Kemal Dervis, accompanied by Undersecretary of Treasury, Faik Oztrak and Governor of the Central Bank, Sureyya Serdengecti, participated in the meeting and gave a comprehensive brief to the NSC members about the new economic program. Reportedly, Mr. Dervis cited the expected foreign financial support may be about $15.3 billion. Additionally, at the meeting presided over by the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the effects of the new economic program on defense and security ventures were also evaluated. /Turkiye/[03] DERVIS TO TRAVEL TO THE USState Minister for Economics, Kemal Dervis, will leave for the US today to attend the IMF and the World Bank Spring Meetings. During the meeting to be held in Washington on April 26-30, Mr. Dervis will give information about the economic program. Additionally, he will meet with international finance circles to get financial aid for Turkey. Minister Dervis will proceed to New York on April 30 and will leave the US on May 1. On his way to Turkey he is also expected to visit Germany. /Turkiye/[04] CEM-DOWNER MEETINGForeign Minister Ismail Cem met yesterday with his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer, who is currently in Turkey for an official visit. Speaking after the meeting, Downer said, "Australian people view Turkish people as very good friends. Bilateral relations between the two countries is a symbol proving how a war can make two different nations friends." /Cumhuriyet/[05] US PRESIDENT BUSH'S STATEMENT ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDEDelivering a speech on the April 24 Commemoration Day for the Armenian Genocide Victims in the US, President George Bush did not use the term "genocide" in his statement recollecting the pains suffered by the Armenians in the post-World War I period despite the intense pressure by Armenian lobbies. Refraining even from using term "massacre", which was used by former American Presidents when speaking on the issue, Bush used the term "killing" in his declaration. Bush said, "Today is the day commemorating one of the worst tragedies in modern history. Today is the date when 1.5 million Armenians were deported by force and killed in the last years of the Ottoman Empire." Stating the killing of the Armenians left its mark on the 20th century, Bush said he shared the grief of Armenian- Americans and other Armenian people abroad. He added the best way to honor the memories of Armenian people killed in the past was to help improve today's Armenian welfare and security. Bush's declaration is expected to create great anger within the Armenian community in the US since they were putting pressure on the President to use the term "genocide". Members of the Armenian lobbies at the American House of Representatives held a ceremony yesterday in the Congress building. Meanwhile, Turkish Coordination Council in Germany held a meeting protesting the allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide. /Cumhuriyet/[06] ANKARA CALLS ON THE USAnkara warned the US up to the last minute not to use the term "genocide" in President George Bush's declaration commemorating April 24. The warnings by Turkey stated if the term genocide is used, bilateral relations would be seriously damaged. Stating politicians cannot decide upon a historical incident, Turkey said it is the duty of historians and academicians to judge the past. Turkey is concerned over Armenian attempts to have their allegations approved as they have successfully done so in 17 states of the US. Turkish officials are closely following the ceremonies held to commemorate the so-called Armenian genocide victims. /Cumhuriyet/[07] FRANCE EXTRADITES ASALA TERRORIST TO ARMENIAFrance has extradited the ASALA terrorist Varujan Garbisyan, the criminal responsible for the Orly Massacre (bombing the Turkish Airways bureau in the Orly Airport), which resulted in 8 deaths in 1983. Garbisyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. /Sabah/[08] A TURKISH FLAG BURNT IN ATHENSArmenian groups organized anti-Turkey demonstrations on April 24, the so-called Armenian genocide day. Around 400 Armenians gathered in Athens and walked towards the Turkish Embassy. Greek police prevented them from reaching the street where the Embassy is located. The demonstrators burnt a Turkish flag. Similar demonstrations also occurred in Thessalonica, Moscow and Tehran. /Milliyet/[09] EXPROPRIATION LAW APPROVED AT TGNA PLENARY SESSIONThe expropriation law, one of the laws which was named as priority law for the success of the economic program by Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, was approved yesterday at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Plenary Session. The law compels the state institutions not to expropriate without obtaining enough appropriations. /Sabah/[10] TGNA PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION BRIEFEDState Minister for Economics, Kemal Dervis, gave information about the economic program to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Planning and Budget Commission members for 2.5 hours. Following the meeting, closed to media, Mr. Dervis said, "I had the opportunity to explain the economic program to commission members. I think it was a fruitful meeting." /Turkiye/[11] HERALD TRIBUNE: "THE US WILL HELP TURKEY FOR HER STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE"The Herald Tribune stated the US would help Turkey because of her strategic importance. According to the Herald Tribune, the Bush Administration thinks the IMF failed in its Turkey program. An American committee chaired by US Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neill has begun its work to avoid a bigger economic loss. /Sabah/[12] ESDI PANEL HELD IN WASHINGTONThe European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) was discussed at a panel held in Washington on Monday. While some speakers defended the necessity of the formation of the EU members' self security and defense policies, former CIA head, James Woolsey, and former Secretary of Defense deputy, Richard Perle said a new formation to rival NATO is unnecessary. Additionally, emphasizing that it would be a big mistake to exclude non-EU member NATO countries from the ESDI, including Turkey, Perle and Woolsey pointed out that NATO and EU should act together. /Turkiye/[13] KAZAKH PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEYKazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will come to Turkey to attend the Summit of Turkish speaking Countries. Tonight Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association(TUSIAD) will host Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev for a dinner on the celebration of tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Kazakhstan Republic. Kazakh Foreign and Culture Ministers will also participate in the dinner. /Star/[14] ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FROM IMFA high ranking official in the IMF said the Fund will provide new credit to Turkey. The official said, "The international community thinks Turkey deserves to be supported and an amount of new resources will be provided for Turkey's use." /Milliyet/[15] TENSION IN FINANCIAL MARKETS DECLINESTHE Istanbul Stock Exchange index surpassed 10,000 point level thanks to the signal for the new resource to be received from the IMF. The Treasury sold TL210 trillion three-month state bonds at a 110.8% and TL716.5 trillion six-month bonds at a 107.8% compound interest rate at yesterday's public offer. /Milliyet/[16] CENTRAL BANK TO CURB INCREASE IN THE FOREIGN CURRENCY RATESAddressing the Central Bank 69th Share Holders Meeting, the Governor, Sureyya Serdengecti said, "The Central Bank will intervene in the foreign currency markets to a limited extent when necessary, within the framework of the floating currency exchange regime in coming days." He added they will intervene only if an excessive floating occurs. /Turkiye/[17] ORAL IS CONTENT WITH EUROPEAN ATTITUDEFinance Minister Sumer Oral said the G-13 Finance Ministers have a supportive attitude towards the decisions taken to restore the economic conditions in Turkey. /Star/[18] GREEK MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYGreek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will come to Istanbul on Friday. Venizelos will attend the meeting of the Turkish-Greek Business Council. /Star/[19] BOOM IN TOURISMThe head of the Turkish Association of Travel Agencies(TURSAB), Basaran Ulusoy, said Russians are the highest spending tourist group in Turkey. "We expect around 1.5 million Russian tourists to visit Turkey," said Ulusoy. After the raid by an armed group at Swiss Hotel, conditions were quickly normalized there. The representatives of grand hotels said there is no cancellation of reservation to date. /Milliyet/[20] INDEPENDENT: 'TURKEY A THRIFTY HOLIDAY RESORT'The British newspaper "The Independent" advised travelers to go to Turkey, as holiday in Turkey are very inexpensive. /Milliyet/[21] YUCELEN: "HUMAN RIGHTS NO DREAM"The State Minister Responsible for Human Rights, Rustu Kazim Yucelen said on Tuesday that human rights issues should be practiced daily and not considered a dream. "If Turkey wants to keep in touch with this era and reach a developed, civilized level, it must consider human rights issues in this context," Yucelen stated. Protecting and improving human rights issues are not responsibility only of the state, Yucelen said, and all related sides of the issue should cooperate. Yucelen added that his ministry is organizing regional meetings on human rights issues as part of his activities. /Turkish Daily News/[22] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORKFormer Turkish President Suleyman Demirel will travel to New York today to attend the Middle Eastern Research Commission meetings. Demirel is expected to meet with the Committee members. The Committee was established to search for the reasons behind the struggles in the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/[23] BILL ON CHANGE AT F-TYPE PRISONS CONDITIONSThe Justice Ministry sent the bill regarding the change of Article 16 in Anti-Terror Law. The bill provides the inmates the opportunity of education and sports. Death fasts were held in F-type prisons for protesting the former content of article 16. /Star/13 INMATES QUIT HUNGER STRIKE Amid the Justice Ministry's present submission of bills introducing certain ameliorations to F-type prison conditions, one inmate in a special prison in the western province of Kocaeli's Gebze district announced that she has decided to quit her death fast. A further 12 other inmates at the same prison announced an end to their hunger strike protest soon after. All were protesting the transfer of prisoners to new F-type prisons last December, and were putting forward some political requests, including the abolition of State Security Courts. /Turkish News/ [24] FINAL DECISION ON THE FP CASE TO BE TAKEN IN JUNEThe Virtue Party (FP), the closure trial of which is still continuing in the Constitutional Court, presented its final written defense yesterday. The case is expected to end in June. Stating they will give an additional period to the FP for oral defense, President of the Constitutional Court, Mustafa Bumin, said, "We will first listen to the Public Prosecutor in Chief and then the party." /Cumhuriyet/[25] NANE ANNAN IN IZMITUN Secretary General Kofi Annan's spouse, Nane Annan visited the earthquake victim children in Izmit. Nane Annan took information about the Psychosocial School Project carried out jointly by UNICEF and the Turkish Ministry of National Education during her visit to Kocaeli Governor, Kemal Onal. /Cumhuriyet/[26] TURKISH GENERAL CONSULATE IN NOVOROSSISSKRussian Federation has approved Turkey's establishment of a General Consulate in Novorossissk. The Consulate's domain will include the Republic of Adigey, and the regions of Krasnodar and Rostov. /Cumhuriyet/[27] RIZA TURMEN REELECTED IN ECHRAn election was held yesterday for the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Judges from 18 different countries who completed their term of duties at the Plenary Session of European Council Parliamentarians Assembly. Turkish judge Riza Turmen was reelected to the ECHR. /Sabah/[28] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT MARKS ANNIVERSARYThe Constitutional Court celebrates the 39th anniversary of its foundation today. The court checks whether laws, decrees with the power of law and statutes are in harmony with the constitution, and hears party dissolution cases. /Turkish News/[29] AWARD TO PROJECTS FOR THE FUTUREThe Turkish Young Businessmen Association(TUGIAD) presented awards for successful projects designed in 2000. Enka-Intergen, Ford-Otosan, Is-Tim, Petrol Ofisi, Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV) and Turkcell received awards in different categories. /Hurriyet/[30] ANZACS IN CANAKKALEThousands of Australian and New Zealand tourists came to Canakkale to attend the "Dawn Ritual" which takes place on the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the occasion of the 86th Anniversary of ANZAC deployment, on Wednesday. /Turkish Daily News/[31] RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE HAS FIRST FEMALE MEMBERProf. Mualla Selcuk, the first female member appointed to the Religious Affairs General Directorate Supreme Board of Religious Affairs, took her office on Tuesday along with the board's other members. /Turkish News/[32] "DO NOT RUIN THE OTTOMAN CASTLE"UNESCO Turkey National Commission cautioned Saudi authorities not to demolish the El-Cihad castle in Mecca constructed in the 18th century by Ottomans. The commission sent a letter to Saudi authorities calling upon them to obey the Contract on Preserving the Cultural and Natural Heritage, dated 1972. Previously, Saudi Arabia declared their decision to destroy the historical castle to build a five-star hotel. /Turkiye/[33] ANKARA MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BEGIN AT WEEKENDThe 18th Ankara International Music Festival will begin on April 28, Saturday. The most famous chorus of the world, Wiener Singverein, Dimitris Sgouros and cello player Mischa Maisky will perform at the festival. /Cumhuriyet/[34] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[35] EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS BY VEYSEL GANI (TURKIYE)Columnist Veysel Gani comments on the campaign launched on education by volunteer workers. A summary of his column is as follows:"There is no need to stress the importance of education and training for the individual, family and the nation. There is a consensus on the need for education and the time has come to discuss how to provide it. Today the level of education in former British colonies in the Far East and India is above average. No one can say anything against the curriculum in the French schools being taught in Northern African countries such as Tunisia, Algiers and Morocco. However, the aim of education is to reach the targets by preserving national culture, language, ethics and values. The cost of this project which would present education opportunities for a million children is approximately $70- $100 million. The project will cover children between the ages of 7-16 and aim to raise world citizens. The organization launching the campaign is one of the most successful and credible non-governmental organizations in the country." [36] THE LOAD TURKS CAN BEAR BY AYHAN KATIRCIKARA (TURKIYE)Columnist Ayhan Katircikara comments on the recent campaigns launched by the Armenians. A summary of his column is as follows:"At a time when Turks need to shakeup and reform, they have countered Armenian terrorist actions, then the PKK terror and following that, the libel campaign of the Armenian diaspora and now the 'Pontus problem' organized by Athens. Ankara can overcome all slander and hostility campaigns only if it can put everything in its right place. Istanbul deputy Bulent Akarcali diligently works on the issue. He does not evade self-criticism. He brings some solutions to the problem. He says that the State does not have a research and action plan while the activists of the campaign are moving towards their goal. In Switzerland the so-called Armenian Genocide Allegations were rejected by a 70-73 vote. However, no note of appreciation was sent to those voting to reject the bill. In the United States, academicians should be brought together to investigate the charges. There are more documents in the United States than elsewhere. We cannot silence these allegations by force. The Turkish History Foundation does not have an English text on the issue. Genocide has become a faith in the West. Therefore, we must explain the truth about the Armenian State and the diaspora to them. Armenia is a terrorist State bearing ill-will. Armenians are unemployed in Armenia with limited use of electricity and other amenities. Armenians in Diaspora are comparing themselves to Jews. However, when Israel was founded it had a population of 600,000. Today the population is six million. Armenia had a population of 3.5 million in 1990. Today it has a population of 2.5 million. Armenians are fleeing from Armenia to live decently. The animosity towards Turkey serves to hold their own identity and it should be exposed to the world and prevented. A Turkish diplomat has said that the assassins of Ambassador Galip Balkar, murdered in Belgrade were protected first by Milosevic and then sent to Armenia. He is still there. Dashnak and Hinchak terrorist committees are still in action. The number of people they have murdered are more than those killed by the PKK or the Hizbullah. This should be explained to the world. Armenia first has to be a responsible State. Turkey sent 100,000 tons of grain to Armenia without expecting anything in return. She has recognized the Armenian State immediately. However, we have begun to discuss the issue and this is a beginning." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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