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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-29
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
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Press
& Information
Turkish
Press
Turkish
Press Review >>
Foreign
Press Guide
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
29.01.2002
CONTENTS
[01] ECEVIT TO VISIT BULGARIA
[02] TURKISH LEADERS SEND LETTER TO IMF
[03] US TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY VISITS TURKEY
[04] ARAFAT ASKS FOR TURKEY'S HELP
[05] YILMAZ: "BANKING LAW TO BE SENT BACK IN THE SAME FORM"
[06] DERVIS LOOKS TO BOOST FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN TURKEY
[07] DENKTAS, CLERIDES MEET
[08] EU-OIC MEETING SLATED FOR ISTANBUL
[09] EU GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL DISCUSSES CYPRUS
[10] EUROPEAN CAPITALS MEETING TO BE HELD IN ANKARA
[11] BAYKAL: "DON'T SQUEEZE THE MIDDLE CLASS TOO MUCH"
[12] BRITISH DELEGATION INVESTIGATES TURKISH HEALTH SYSTEM
[13] GREEK MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP YALOVA RECONSTRUCTION
[14] FORMER DSP DEPUTY PISKINSUT FORMS NEW PARTY
[15] WORLD BANK COULD RELEASE LOAN
[16] RENAULT WORLD CHAIRMAN PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] JUST AS EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
[19] EUROPE WITHOUT TURKEY BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
[01] ECEVIT TO VISIT BULGARIA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit Bulgaria tomorrow as a guest of his
Bulgarian counterpart Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Ecevit said yesterday that
during his visit he hoped to boost Turkish-Bulgarian commercial relations
from already good state to an even better level. /Sabah/
[02] TURKISH LEADERS SEND LETTER TO IMF
A letter signed by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and deputy prime ministers
Mesut Yilmaz and Devlet Bahceli was sent to the International Monetary Fund
yesterday as an addendum to Turkey's Letter of Intent which was signed by
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis and Central Bank Governor
Sureyya Serdengecti earlier this month. The government leaders state in the
letter that Turkey would apply a new economic program as well as continue
to give priority to its fiscal policy.
/H�rriyet/
[03] US TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY VISITS TURKEY
John Taylor, the US Treasury's undersecretary for foreign affairs, arrived
in Istanbul yesterday and held meetings with representatives of the banking
sector and businessmen in the city. Taylor will continue his contacts in
Istanbul today and proceed to Ankara tomorrow. He is expected to meet with
officials from the Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry as well as State
Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis to discuss the nation's reform
program along with how best to cut off terrorist organizations' financial
resources. /Turkiye/
[04] ARAFAT ASKS FOR TURKEY'S HELP
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat sent messages to Turkey's President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday reiterating his
request that Turkey act as a go-between in the stalled Middle East peace
process. "We are currently doing our utmost to end the violence," said
Arafat in his message. "For approximately three weeks, we have been taking
a number of significant measures to reach peace and stability in the
region. I believe the Palestinian side is trying to do its best to fulfill
any responsibilities. However, Israel has shown no inclination to stop
using unjustified force against the Palestinian people. The Israeli
government has turned a blind eye to its responsibilities. We request
Turkey's help to persuade Israel to end the violence in the region."
Turkish diplomats stated in reponse that they had begun to discuss Arafat's
proposals. "Turkey is determined to support efforts aimed at reaching peace
and stability in the region. However, the current atmosphere charged is
with hostility and this is wreaking havoc on Turkey's efforts." Meanwhile,
Israeli officials continued to accuse Arafat of supporting terrorism and
reiterated that they expected him to take serious measures on the issue.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] YILMAZ: "BANKING LAW TO BE SENT BACK IN THE SAME FORM"
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party leader Mesut Yilmaz said
yesterday that the coalition leaders have agreed to finalize this week a
bank recapitalization law vetoed partially by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
last Friday, and send it back to Parliament in the same form. The leaders
have decided not to make any changes to the law and to return it to
Parliament quickly in its current form, he stated. Yilmaz added that the
law would be sent first to Parliament's Planning and Budget Committee and
then to the president in order to pass it before an International Monetary
Fund deadline for the legislation. Under Turkey's system the President
cannot veto a bill twice, but does have the right to send it to the
Constitutional Court for possible cancellation.
/H�rriyet/
[06] DERVIS LOOKS TO BOOST FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN TURKEY
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis is due to attend meetings of
the World Economic Forum in New York on Jan. 31- Feb.4. Dervis said
yesterday that during his visit, he would try to convince foreign concerns
to invest more in Turkey.
/H�rriyet/
[07] DENKTAS, CLERIDES MEET
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek
Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides met yesterday for the fifth time in
Lefkosha as part of a direct talks process begun in January to reach a
lasting settlement on the island. Following the meeting, both leaders
declined to make any comments to reporters. Meanwhile, Greek Foreign
Minister George Papandreou said that important developments were happening
concerning Cyprus. Speaking at the monthly EU General Affairs Council
meeting, Papandreou pointed to the new direct talk process on the island
and said that it inspired hope for a solution to the issue. He added, "We
would be satisfied with the Turkish Cypriots joining the EU." /Turkiye/
[08] EU-OIC MEETING SLATED FOR ISTANBUL
Turkish diplomatic sources stated yesterday that 42 countries were expected
to attend the European Union-Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC)
joint meeting which is scheduled to be held on Feb. 12-13 in Istanbul.
/Cumhuriyet/
[09] EU GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL DISCUSSES CYPRUS
Foreign ministers from European Union countries discussed the Cyprus issue
at the EU General Affairs Council's regular meeting yesterday. A number of
the ministers expressed their satisfaction with signs of progress on the
island as shown in recent meetings between its two leaders. The European
Union Commission is expected to announce the figures for financial aid to
be delivered to 10 EU candidate countries this week. Diplomatic sources in
the Commission stated that the northern part of Cyprus might receive aid if
a permanent solution is reached on the island. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] EUROPEAN CAPITALS MEETING TO BE HELD IN ANKARA
A meeting of the Association of European Capitals will be held in Ankara on
April 23. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Education and Culture Department
head Hayati Kirli said yesterday that representatives from 16 European
capitals would attend the meeting and that a delegation consisting of
observers from 15 countries would also come to Ankara. Kirli told reporters
that he had attended a European Capitals Pedagogy Club meeting in the
Ukraine last week. There, he said, "As the Education and Culture Department
chairman, I suggested our 2002 meeting be held in Ankara and this was
accepted. We will host the European Capitals summit." /Aksam/
[11] BAYKAL: "DON'T SQUEEZE THE MIDDLE CLASS TOO MUCH"
Commenting on a recent report prepared by his economic aide Bulent Tanla,
Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Turkey's
situation is different from Argentine's. "I don't expect Turkey to face the
same problems as that unfortunate country," he stated. "However, we should
take care not to squeeze the middle class too much, because they are the
leading force in our society." /Sabah/
[12] BRITISH DELEGATION INVESTIGATES TURKISH HEALTH SYSTEM
A delegation from Britain's Conservative Party began contacts yesterday to
investigate Turkey's health care system. Great Britain announced last week
that it was looking into sending some of its patients to receive care in
other countries in the region, including Turkey, due to problems in its own
government health service. The delegation in Turkey is being led by
Conservative MP Liam Fox, who is also the "shadow" health secretary for his
out-of-power party. Fox visited Istanbul Provincial Health Director Osman
Karaaslan at his office yesterday. During their two-hour meeting, Fox said,
"As we hope to make evaluations and subsequent investments fairly quickly,
we are looking into many countries, including Turkey. This is a logical
step for us." Saying that Britain wanted to make use of other countries'
experiences, Fox added, "A great deal of red tape exists in our central
administration and hospitals and we are getting information on the
autonomous working system in Turkish hospitals." For his part, Karaaslan
told reporters, "I briefed the delegation on the structure of our health
organizations, our hospitals and rural health centers." Then the delegation
visited Istanbul Medical School and was briefed by its dean, Professor
Faruk Erzengin. Fox visited the hospital's intensive care unit and said
that he was impressed by what he saw. /Milliyet/
[13] GREEK MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP YALOVA RECONSTRUCTION
Two Greek municipalities announced yesterday that they would help to
establish an early warning system for the Turkish city of Yalova with a 5
million euro grant for the EU's Marmara Earthquake Reconstruction and
Rehabilitation Program. The municipalities will play an important role in
the reconstruction of Yalova under the guidance of Exandas, a fund
established for that purpose. Yalova was the city hardest hit in the
devastating 1999 earthquakes in Turkey's Marmara region, and the Greek
municipalities have also experienced quakes. During a meeting held to
promote the reconstruction project, officials from the municipalities said,
"Our two countries should work together. We have to act together over the
next decade and from a partnership. Our aim is to transform Yalova into the
most modern city in the Marmara region." /Milliyet/
[14] FORMER DSP DEPUTY PISKINSUT FORMS NEW PARTY
Independent Aydin Deputy Sema Piskinsut yesterday formally established a
new party called the Socialist Democratic Party (TDP), Turkey's 44th
political party. Piskinsut, a former Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy,
said that the new party would meet the expectation of citizens and that she
would not allow the party to be "contaminated." Piskinsut is best known for
her tenure as head of Parliament's Human Rights Committee as well as a
tumultuous, unsuccessful bid to stand the DSP's chairmanship. /Turkiye/
[15] WORLD BANK COULD RELEASE LOAN
A World Bank delegation is continuing its contacts in Turkey today
concerning the bank's Programmed Public and Finance Sector Adjustment Loan
(PSFSAL2). After completing its meetings with authorities from the Treasury
and the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK), the delegation is
expected to leave Turkey within the week. If the necessary regulations can
be enacted, the WB's Executive Board may decide to extend the $1.3 billion
PSFSAL2 loan to Turkey at its meeting on Feb. 5. The loan was due to be
released last year but it was postponed. Meanwhile, World Bank Vice
President for Europe and Central Asia Johannes Linn is expected to visit
Turkey in mid-February to hold meetings to discuss the possibility of the
WB extending additional financial resource Turkey this year as well as its
Country Aid Strategy (CAS) with Turkish officials. /Turkiye/
[16] RENAULT WORLD CHAIRMAN PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
Louis Schweitzer, world chairman of the Renault car company, said yesterday
that he trusted Turkey and predicted that the Turkish economy would soon
improve. Schweitzer made the comments at a Paris celebration of Renault's
return to Formula 1 racing competitions. "Currently I see few signs of
improvement in the Turkish market," he stated. "However, I have trust in
Turkey. The economy always undergoes great fluctuations, but the Turkish
people continue to be economically active and this is very important. Thus,
a way out is not so far down the road. There have been crises due to high
inflation and this has hindered the economic growth. If we had thought of
the Turkish market only in terms of this factor, we would have closed our
factory in Bursa. But I think the Turkish lira is beginning to pick up
value. Renault is busy developing new projects for Turkey following our
success with the Megane model." /Aksam/
[17] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
[18] JUST AS EVERYTHING WAS GOING WELL BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on recent developments regarding Turkey's
relations with the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Everything was going well... At the Laeken EU summit it was stated that
due to Turkey's recent initiatives, the prospect of opening accession
negotiations was going forward. Turkey was being granted the right to
participate in a convention to shape the future of Europe. Just the same
time, a serious negotiation process had started on Cyprus and the Turkish
side's initiative on the issue was appreciated by the international
community. The Turkish-Greek dialogue is improving, and the problems
regarding the Aegean are being handled at last. But now, It is very
unfortunate to see certain negative developments which could reflect
adversely on Turkey's improving image. One of these is the 'mini-democracy'
package and the hitches coming out regarding the harmonization laws. The EU
has officially expressed its concern and displeasure over the harmonization
laws. First, the three representatives of the EU countries in Ankara
conveyed their opinions orally to the prime minister and then in a written
statement to the Foreign Ministry. The EU expects our harmonization laws to
be in compliance with the main EU criteria. However, although the laws'
text coming from the parliamentary Justice Commission is supposedly based
on an agreement between the coalition parners, it is far from complying
with the EU criteria. Later, it was noted that there was no accord between
the coalition partners and that furthermore there was no agreement between
the Secretairat General For EU Affairs and the Foreign Ministry. The
Secretariat General, which made the first studies on the issue, was
surprised to see the text coming out of the commission. No one informed
their experts on the issue of the changes in the draft while it went
through various stages. The EU ambassadors stressed three points: first,
finalizing the harmonization laws as they now stand won't meet the
expectations of the EU. Secondly, they reminded us that the laws themselves
are as important as their implementation. That is to say, the 'spirit' of
the amendments to the Penal Code, or the Anti-Terror law should be taken
into consideration by all those concerned, such as judges, prosecutors,
security forces, etc. In other words, the implementation of the law must be
in accordance with these changes. If the mini-democracy laws become a real
harmonization package in Parliament, there will be no problem. However, if
there is insistence on keeping the current text, the start of accession
negotiations will be further delayed. What is more, Turkey's recently
polished image would be rudely tarnished. However, the most important
issue here is that the hopes and expectations of the Turkish people for
democratization and modernization would be shattered."
[19] EUROPE WITHOUT TURKEY BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna recounts a brief history of Turkish-EU relations.
A summary of his column is as follows:
Greece became a member of the European Uinon on Jan. 1, 1981, even before
Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden and Finland. Turkey began talks for
official membership at the foundation of the EU in 1959. Prime Minister
Inonu continued the initiatives launched by Menderes before him by signing
the Rome agreement. In 1974, both Turkey and Greece were invited into the
Union. Greece accepted the invitation but Turkey asked for ten years' more
time. This was the greatest mistake, blunder and error made in the
twentieth century by the Turkish Republic. Looking at the situation in
Turkey today, we can see what we have lost by this decision. However,
Europe has also lost with this decision. Yet Europe without Turkey cannot
see what it has lost. It didn't raise academics or politicians who could
understand this. Some Europeans who say that Turkey wasn't a European
country are forgetting the fact under the 1856 Paris Agreement that they
accepted Turkey as one of the seven greatest states in the world.
There is no need to mention that Turkey is a great market, or has the
youngest population or the most powerful army or an important geostrategic
location. Europeans are known for not getting along with people from other
cultures. They have seen people of other cultures as masses bound to be
exploited. They have put forth pretty-sounding principles but have been
hard pressed in impelementing them. In the last century it tried to destroy
itself twice over 20 years, lost half of the continent to communism, and
ceded world leadership to the US. Turkey is the most convenient, sound
bridge which will help Europe to adopt a humanistic view. Turkey, as it
has lost the EU membership, has also harmed the EU. However, it is in
Europe's hands to make up for this loss. There are those in Europe who are
now thinking about it."
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