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Turkish Press Review, 99-05-11Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>11.05.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] PM ECEVIT: JUDICIAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE REFORMEDA ceremony was held on Monday in commemoration of the 13th anniversary of the Founding of the Council of State, the country's highest administrative legal authority. Those in attendance at the ceremony included Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Ahmet N. Sezer, State Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Aydin Tumen, Interior Minister Cahit Bayar, Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals Vural Savas, and other officials.Erol Cirakman, the Chairman of the Council of State, said in his speech at the ceremony that some changes were necessary to improve the functioning of the organization. He added that administrative bodies should act in accordance with decisions handed down by judicial bodies. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the establishment of the Council of State was an important step for a democratic state, but the Turkish judicial system needs reforming, especially in the field of administrative judgements. Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel released a statement to congratulate Erol Cirakman. /Turkiye-Sabah/ [03] TURKEY APPLIES TO US ON KAVAKCIThe Supreme Election Board (YSK), which has the final authority in matters pertaining to the election of deputies in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has submitted an application to the US for information concerning the Virtue Party's (FP) Istanbul Deputy Merve Kavakci's US citizenship via the Foreign Ministry. The Deputy Chairman of the YSK, Sabri Coskun, said: "The YSK can request information both inside Turkey and outside Turkey via the Foreign Ministry". The Foreign Ministry has launched inquiries into Kavakci's citizenship status in the US. Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli has stated that the directive has been conveyed to the Turkish Embassy in Washington. It is reported that no reply has yet been received. Coskun pointed out that they would issue a decision on this matter within three months. /Milliyet/[04] FOREIGNERS CLOSELY OBSERVE TURKEYThe Chief Economist from Deutsche Bank AG, Laura Papi, said that they had held meetings with officials from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) concerning its policies and programme because the MHP might become part of the coalition government as yet to be established in Turkey. Replying to questions concerning his expectations from the new Turkish government, Papi said: "It is better for Turkey to achieve stability with or without the IMF. If you wait for the IMF, you may lose the opportunities before you. The IMF agreement is not an essential factor for investment in Turkey. Investors do not seek an IMF programme". As have representatives from other foreign banks, the representative from Deutsche Bank also held a series of meetings in Turkey last week to receive information concerning the political successes arising from the General Election held in Turkey on April 18. /Milliyet/[05] TURKISH PRESS ON KOSOVO[06] TURKEY COMES TOP IN HELPING KOSOVODefence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk is in Bremen to take part in the spring meetings of the Ministerial Council of the Western European Union (WEU). Speaking at the meeting Turk said that Turkey is the top country sending humanitarian aid to the Kosovars. Up to now, he added, the amount of humanitarian aid that Turkey has dispensed stands at $ 4 million. Turk added, "The cost of the refugee camp in Turkey has attained to $ 12 million. Turkey has also spent $ 2 million on the establishment of tent-cities in Albania and Macedonia. /Turkiye/[07] US IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT ATHENSAccording to news in the Greek press, the US has suspended the delivery of weapons worth $1.1 billion to Greece because of its pro-Serbian, anti-US and anti-NATO stance over the Kosovo crisis. The US Ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns, has sent secret reports to the US State Department outlining the negative role of Greece in the Kosovo crisis. According to Burns, aid which was suggested should be sent from Greece to Kosovo has gone to Serbs instead of Muslims. According to American officials in Athens, this aid is continually increasing.The reports said that 87 % of Greek public opinion was all for supporting the Serbs and pointed out that anti-US and anti-NATO demonstrations were being supported by terrorist organizations. /Cumhuriyet/ [08] RED CRESCENT SENDS AIDThe Red Crescent sent aid to Albania, Macedonia and Azerbaijan yesterday. Addressing a ceremony before the departure of 21 trucks carrying aid particularly foodstuff to these three countries, Fatih Evren, the Director General of the Red Crescent, said that services given to Kosovars who escaped from Serb violence and who took shelter in city-tents founded by the Red Crescent in Albania, Macedonia and Kirklareli of Turkey are carried out with success, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[09] TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 1,827 FLIGHT HOURSTurkish F-16 war planes that participate in NATO's air operation against Yugoslavia accumulated a total of 1,287 flight hours, reported the Anatolian News Agency on Monday. The General Staff Information Centre issued a statement saying that the Turkish F-16 war planes which are deployed at the Ghedi Airbase in Italy, stayed in air for 24 hours on May 3.[10] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEYThe number of Kosovar refugees, who came to Turkey since the beginning of NATO air operation, reached to 14,954 on Monday, reported the Anatolian News Agency. The Interior Ministry statement said that a total of 6,522 refugess entered into Turkey from Corlu airport, 6,905 Kosovars from Kapikule Border Gate, and 1,527 Kosovar refugess from Istanbul today. The statement noted that 6,210 out of 14,954 Josovar refugees are staying in the camp-site in northwestern Kirklareli provinces.[11] NATO AIR RAIDS CONTINUENATO pounded an airport near Yugoslavia's third-largest city early on Moday, despite China's outrage over the allied campaign sparked by the mistaken bombing of its embassy in Belgrade. In the only strike reported early on monday, the private Beta News Agency said several detonations were heard near Nis, about 200 kilometers southeast of Belgrade. It said the Nis airport was targetted.In Brussels, NATO said the reduced bombing was due to bad weather, and had no political significance, including the fact that there were no attacks on Belgrade. Meanwhile, the Serbian government issued a written statement yesterday saying that they have partly withdrawn from Kosovo. According to the Tanjug News Agency the statement said Serbian operations ended against Kosovo. /Sabah/ [12] EU APPROVES SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIAThe European Union (EU) formally approved a package of new sanctions against Yugoslavia on Monday, including a travel ban on President Slobodan Milosevic. The EU also froze funds held by Milosevic and his associates and companies controlled by the Yugoslavian and Serbian governments. The new sanctions forbid companies from the EU nations from providing export finances to the Yugoslavian and Serbian governments and ban all commercial flights between Yugoslavia and the EU. The sanctions were drawn up April 26 and formally adopted on Monday by EU Finance Ministers.[13] PATRIARCH TO ARMENIAThe Turkish Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan II, accompanied by a five-person delegation will go to Armenia today. The Patriarch who will attend the High Spiritual Council to convene in the holy Armenian city of Surp Ecmiyadzin, will return to Turkey on May 18. /Cumhuriyet/[14] TEXTILE-BANKING SUMMITThe Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association (TGSD) will present its quarterly evaluation report on the ready-to-wear sector to representatives from the banking sector during a private meeting in Istanbul today. Through these quarterly meetings, the current situation in the sector will be explained to officials in the banking sector. /Milliyet/[15] 'SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS IN TURKEY'The German Kemalist, Association (AADD) named after Founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, called on Turkish citizens abroad to spend their holidays in Turkey. A written statement issued by the AADD stated that some countries were trying to damage Turkey's image abroad by saying that Turkey was unsafe for visitors. The statement stressed that a person who enjoys safety in any European country is just as safe in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[16] INTERNATIONAL MEETING TO BE ORGANIZED IN SANLIURFAThe Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration Chairmanship and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Drought Areas (ICARDA) will hold a meeting entitled "Southeastern Anatolia's Agricultural Research and Development Strategies: GAP's role" in Sanliurfa between May 13-15, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Erkan Alemdaroglu, the GAP Development Administration's Regional Director, said that sustainable agricultural production is becoming important as the increasing need for food keeps threatening the world.[17] GENERAL STAFF DELEGATION IN TBILISIA General Staff Chairmanship delegation, composed of 10 experts, has gone to Tbilisi upon the invitation of Valeri Ckeidze, Georgia's Border Forces Commander. Gela Hutsisvili, the Deputy Commander of the Georgian Border Forces, said that the team will stay in Tbilisi for two months and will train units deployed on Lilo base. The experts' team is also expected to meet David Tevsadze, the Georgian Defence Minister, and Coni Pirtikalasvili, the Chief of General Staff, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[18] AIR FORCES COMMANDER IN WASHINGTONGen.Ilhan Kilic, the Air Forces Commander has gone to Washington to hold bilateral talks with his American counterparts. Kilic is expected to meet Gen. Joseph Ralston, the Deputy Chairman of the General Staff, and some high level commanders. He will leave the US today.[19] FIRATLI IN IAP ADMINISTRATIONA Lecturer at the Periodontology Main Department of Istanbul University's Dentistry Faculty, Assoc.Prof.Erhan Firatli, has become a member of the Executive Board of the International Academy for Pediontology (IAP) as the representative of European countries for the 1999-2003 period. The IAP Executive Board consists of 12 people from four main regions, Europe, Asia and Oceania, America, Africa and the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/[20] TURCO-MALTESE COOPERATION IN TOURISMTurkey and Malta will cooperate with regard to tourism. Meanwhile, Air Malta has achieved its first flight to Libya following the re-opening of Libyan airspace since the embargo was imposed in 1992. According to a protocol signed at the Turco-Maltese First Term Tourism Joint Commission meeting, the two countries will exchange information on tourism. A common tourism data network will be established in the Mediterranean. /Hurriyet/[21] BAKU-CEYHAN OFFICE IN ANKARAEnergy and Natural Resources Minister Ziya Aktas said that the US Administration saw the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline as being of great significance and because of this, it had opened an office in the US Embassy in Ankara. Replying to questions from the 'Voice of America' after attending the Turco-US Business Council meeting in Washington last week, Aktas remarked that Turkey had historic ties with the Caucasian and Central Asian Turkish-Speaking Republics. /Hurriyet/[22] TURKEY RANKS THIRD IN CERAMICS IN EUROPECeramics is one of the most highly developed industrial sectors in Turkey. Especially in the crockery sub-sector, Turkey has developed 90 fold in the last 35 years and now is fifth in the world and third in Europe with a production capacity of over 135 million square metres. According to estimates, production will further increase until 2008 and reach 600 million square metres. /Hurriyet/[23] ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN ISTANBULThe 'Consultative Council' of the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK) will convene in Istanbul today. The Consultative Council consisting of the chairmen of some chambers of trade and industry, the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association and representatives from the banking sector and the press, will be opened with a speech to be delivered by the TISK Chairman, Refik Baydur. /Hurriyet/[24] GREEK CYPRIOT-GREEK LOBBY IN USThe Greek Cypriot-Greek lobby has presented a draft decision to the American Congress. In the draft decision, it is claimed that Turkey occupied Cyprus and violated UN Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, the US administration will implement new initiatives to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. /Hurriyet/[25] TRT AND AA TO OPEN A BUREAU ON IMRALIRepresentatives from the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and the Anatolia News Agency (AA) who will convey to the world news concerning the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, to be held on Imrali Island, arrived on the Island yesterday. A technical team consisting of five people from TRT and three from the AA carried the equipment necessary for the press centre to be established on Imrali Island for the period of Ocalan's trial. /Hurriyet/[26] MURDER IN DHKP-CTwo members of the outlawed DHKP-C have been killed by three other members of the same organization. It is reported that the terrorists were murdered as they had given information to the police about the activities of the organization. The incident occured in Avcilar, Istanbul yesterday. /Sabah/[27] ISTANBUL TO BE A SUPER CITYOne of the experts on economy and technology from the World Future Society based in Washington, McKinley Conway, has stated that Istanbul is one the nominees to be a 'super city'. A list consisting of candidate cities sees each city's geographical location in addition to a high level of population as being of importance. Vuhan and Shanghai in China, Denver and Atlanta in the US, Bangalore in India, Bangkok in Thailand, Cancum-Tulum in Mexico, Madrid in Spain and Vancouver in Canada also are on the list. /Hurriyet/[28] ULUGBAY: "TURKISH ECONOMY TO BECOME ONE OF THE 10 MOST DEVELOPED"State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Ulugbay said that the Turkish economy was among the top 20 in the world and now Turkey's goal was to take its place among the top 10 most developed economies in the world. Speaking at the 73rd Anniversary of the establishment of the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) and the 10th Turkish Statistics Day Ulugbay said that statistical data and their evaluation were very important to industrialized countries.President Suleyman Demirel said for his part at the ceremony that the DIE was among the most important institutions in Turkey, helpingthe government to make sound decisions by collecting and updating information concerning technology, economy, science and sociology. /Sabah/Turkiye/ [29] TAN: "1 TRILLION TL FINANCIAL PACKAGE FOR TOURISM"Minister of Tourism Ahmet Tan declared that the stagnation being experienced in Turkish tourism would be overcome from next week onwards. He stated that the Ministry of Finance would give a one-trillion-TL financial aid package to the promotion of Turkey abroad adding they would start advertising campaigns particularly in Germany, Britain and Russia in order to enliven tourism. Tan pointed out that the best holiday in Europe could be taken in Turkey at the most reasonable price. /Sabah/[30] TURKEY PROTESTS TO IRANA weekend rally in Tehran that was held in support of Turkey's newly-elected female deputy has provoked Ankara to file a protest with the government of its neighbouring country. Officials in Ankara said that Turkey is preparing to convey its concerns to the Iranian government and the Turkish Embassy in Tehran will be assigned to relay those concerns. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit directed his criticism at the government of Iran saying that the neighbouring country was trying to "export" its Islamic administration to Turkey despite the fact that Ankara does not interfere in Tehran's affairs.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an evaluation meeting yesterday and decided to summon the Iranian Ambassador to Ankara, Huseyin Lavasani, to the Ministry in order to rebuke him concerning the recent developments in Iran aimed at interfering in Turkey's domestic affairs. /Sabah/ [31] HAZELNUT EXPORTS TO THE WORLDTurkey is one of the biggest hazelnut producers and exports hazelnuts to 80 countries around the world. According to the Black Sea Hazelnut Exporters' Union, the greatest part of the exports was to European countries which comprise 91 % of the exports. The Chairman of the Union, Ahmet Baskan, said that they had started advertising campaigns in the US and the People's Republic of China and they aimed to increase the number of the countries to which they exported. /Turkiye/[32] KARAKAS: CHP SHOULD BE RE-STRUCTUREDSpeaking at a press conference yesterday at the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters, Ercan Karakas, former Istanbul SHP deputy stated, "In order for the CHP to once again be an attractive political party it has to renew itself from top to bottom. It has to show that it can come up with solutions to the problems bothering people, and it has to become a dynamic party united with them." Karakas added that it was time for the party's General Chairman to be chosen from among his or her equals in the best possible way. /Turkiye/[33] IZTO IN THE EASTMembers of the Izmir Trade Centre (IZTO) promised businessmen from Erzurum that they will contribute to the region. A 183-member IZTO delegation visited Erzurum and Ekrem Demirtas, the Chairman of IZTO, said that they would invest in the region. Erzurum Metropolitan Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz said for his part that natural gas would be brought to the region in the year 2000 which would give the investors the opportunity to take advantage of energy. Uykusuz added that they would give free land to businessmen investing in Erzurum. /Aksam/[34] NATURAL GAS FROM NIGERIATurkey will buy natural gas from Nigeria. According to a written statement issued by the Turkish Embassy to Logos, Nigeria will sell $ 260 million of liquidated natural gas to Turkey within two years. It is reported that the transport of the gas will start in October and at the end of the two years the agreement will be re-evaluated. /Aksam/[35] TURKISH JEWELLERS TO BE NUMBER ONEThe 100 biggest gold-exporting jewellery companies in Turkey have decided to establish the "ANAGOLD Foreign Trade Company" to order to lead in the world in the year 2000. Muammer Alki, the Chairman of the Jewellers' Association, said that they aimed to increase the total amount of gold exported from $ one million to $ two million. He added they would establish a company in order to reach their target. /Aksam/[36] STILL NO CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT SPEAKERAs of yesterday, no candidates have applied to fill the post of Parliament Speaker in the new Parliament. The General Assembly will convene on Wednesday to begin the first round of voting on the next Parliament Speaker. It is speculated that among the names being discussed as possible candidates are Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies Hikmet Sami Turk and Uluc Gurkan, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies Sadi Somuncuoglu, Tunca Toskay and Murat Sokmenoglu, Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Yildirim Akbulut and Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Yasin Hatipoglu. According to the Constitution and parliamentary bylaws, a candidate must secure the support of two-thirds of the entire parliamentary body during the first two rounds of voting in order to gain the position. /Aksam/[37] PEACE PARTY TO CLOSE DOWNPeace Party (BP) leader Ali Haydar Veziroglu said he has decided to disband the BP as a result of the degree of public apathy toward the party that was made apparent in the April 18 elections. Because of the public's lack of support and interest in the party, the BP delegation council decided that it is unnecessary for the political life of the BP to continue. /Sabah/[38] STOLEN ARTIFACTS RETURNED TO TURKEYA fine group of marble sculptures dating back to the Roman period and four 13th century walnut panels taken from Seljuk Mosque in the central Anatolia province of Sivas have been brought back to Turkey from Britain, the Anatolian News Agency reported on Monday. Culture Ministry Undersecretary Tekin Aybas and the Foundations General Director, Mustafa Keten organized a press conference saying that the marble sculptures are to be put on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, while the walnut panels will be on view at Istanbul's Turkish Islamic Arts Museum.[39] THIRD INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM '99 FAIRThird International Petroleum '99 Fair will be held between May 13-16, 1999, in Istanbul, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Ziya Aktas, Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, the former Energy and Natural Resources Minister, and many other officials will participate in the conference.[40] TURKEY TO JOIN CANNES FILM FESTIVALSerdar Akar's 'Gemide' and Ferzan Ozpetek's 'Harem Suare' will represent Turkey at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Eight more films which have not been entered for awards in the competition will be shown during the Festival so as to draw attention to Turkish films abroad.[41] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[42] INITIATIVE BY YILMAZ -BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)Columnist Orhan Birgit analyzes Yilmaz's decision to go to the Supreme Court to prove his innocence on certain corruption charges. A summary of his column is as follows:"The recent Election showed that Y�lmaz and Ciller clearing each other of any wrong doing with the support of their political staff was not forgiven by the public. The insistence of the aides of both the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP) that the result of the 18 April Election was due to success in the Ocalan affair was not realistic and, therefore, it prevented a rational explanation of the reasons for the rise of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). During the meeting held with Prime Minister-designate Ecevit concerning the formation of a new government it was seen that Mesut Yilmaz has finally understood the real reason for the defeat of the centre right. At the meeting Yilmaz stated that he supported his party's participation in such a coalition but added that he did not want to assume any responsibility as a Minister. The reason why he does not want to assume any responsibility is his desire to be cleared by the Supreme Court. Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit, during his meetings with the party leaders proposes certain amendments to Article 83 of the Constitution which provides wide-ranging political immunity for politicians in the TGNA, and to Article 100 which adhers to convoluted investigations into both Prime Ministers and Ministers accused of wrong-doing. While all the leaders favoured this proposal, the Chairman of ANAP, Mesut Yilmaz, wants to be tried without waiting for such amendments to the Constitution. Thus, a coalition probably made up of the Democratic Left Party, the Nationalist Action Party and the Motherland Party will support him. His desire to change a decision etched in the minds of the public regarding the corruption charges brought against him can only be respected. A natural question this brings to mind is what will the Chairman of DYP, Tansu Ciller do over these charges?" [43] THE BOILING CAULDRON OF POLITICS -BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)Columnist Hasan Cemal from the daily "Milliyet" writes on the meetings concerning the formation of a coalition government. A summary of his column is as follows:"The cauldron of politics is boiling in Ankara. There is intense lobbying going on for the formation of a government. The sides, that is, the Prime-Minister-designate, Bulent Ecevit, and the Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party, Devlet Bahceli, are trying to find the right time to see each other's hands. At the same time both Ecevit and Bahceli are trying to follow a policy which would not go against the opinions of the grassroots of their parties. Can we say for certain that a coalition comprising of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and the Motherland Party(ANAP) will be established? In a slippery political environment, it would not be right to take anything for granted. However at the moment the most probable solution seems to be a coalition of these parties. That it to say Ecevit is still dancing with Bahceli. This causes restlessness in the grassroots of his party. There is a rumour that if Ecevit forms a coalition with the MHP, some deputies in the parliamentary group of the DSP would like to serve under the roof of the Republican People's Party. Therefore, he is trying to feel the pulse of the members of his parliamentary group well. Others are saying that if such a coalition was formed there would be some deputies in ANAP who would cooperate with the Nationalist Action Party. Whatever the rumours be, the first test will be over the election of a Speaker to the Parliament. Even though both leaders want the Speaker to be elected from among their deputies, they are cautious in their statements. They are trying to draw a line between the election of the Speaker and the formation of the government. In other words, if both parties do not impose a solution, and put forward reasonable candidates the election of a Speaker to the Parliament will not affect the formation of a government. The process of bargaining is going on. Both parties are trying to show their supporters that they are trying to form a government without conceding any of their principles or values." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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