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Turkish Press Review, 00-02-01Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
[01] 01.02.2000Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[02] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[03] IT IS TGNA'S TURNFollowing the compromise by the leaders of the coalition parties to a constitutional amendment of the 5+5 formula for the presidential election, all eyes have now turned to the coalition parties themselves. At Motherland Party (ANAP) and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Headquarters the view 'yes to the constitutional amendment, no to Demirel' is tipping the scales. The Virtue Party Leader, Recai Kutan, declared that the president should be elected by the public and underlined that they see this as a priority. Meanwhile, during an interview on television, President Suleyman Demirel announced that he had nothing to ask of anyone on the issue, and said, "If a service is required of me, I don't shirk from." /Cumhuriyet/[04] ECEVIT TO MEET LEADERS OVER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONSPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will meet True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan today. After it was decided during the coalition leaders' conference to revise the length of the presidential term to two possible 5-year terms, so as to also include President Suleyman Demirel, Ecevit will hold the second round of meetings with the opposition parties' leaders. Ecevit will discuss the decision with Kutan and Ciller and request their support for the Constitutional change. /Sabah/[05] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: "BE CAREFUL WITH HIZBULLAH"The National Security Council (MGK) stated that without having any clear-cut information and reports on the Hizbullah organization, the efforts to create a relationsip between this terrible organization and the State and its security forces are being considered no more than an attempt to hide the real criminals. The MGK decided to carry on with the raids now that they have started in a statement following their meeting yesterday. In this declaration, issued by the MGK Secretary General, the meeting was revealed to have been chaired by President Suleyman Demirel. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and those ministers who are members of the Council, Forces' Commenders, the General Commander of the Gendarmerie and the Secretary-General of the MGK attended the gathering at Cankaya Presidential Palace. In the statement, it was further disclosed that during the Council actions carried out against the country's welfare and security by discrminatory, destructive reactionary forces during the last month, and the results of the measures organized by security forces against these actions, were evaluated. /Turkiye/[06] ECONOMY ON NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AGENDAThe economy was also a topic for discussion during the National Security Council (MGK) gathering at its longest meeting since 28th February 1997. During the consultations, a briefing on the economy was presented to the MGK. State Ministers Recep Onal and Tunca Toskay, Minister of Finance Sumer Oral, Central Bank Chairman Gazi Ercel and Treasury and Foreign Trade Undersecretary Selcuk Demirel were also present at the MGK in their official capacities. During the meeting, the report prepared by the State Planning Organization (DPT) was discussed and information was supplied concerning the budget results of 1999, banking operations, the Treasury's cash flow plans and its usage of appropriation, the foreign exchange rate policy and the inflation target, the privatization timetable, the balance of payments and cross-border trade. In addition, important foreign policy developments and the reflections of these developments on Turkey's security and its foreign policy were considered. /Sabah/[07] CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKSThe second round of the Cyprus proximity talks which began yesterday in Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, is expected to last 10 days. Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas and his Greek counterpart, Glafkos Klerides, met separately with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to try to find a solution to the 37-year-old Cyprus issue. Annan disclosed that he was hopeful about this second round of talks and thought that a solution to the problem might be obtained by the end of this year. Following his meeting with the Secretary-General, Rauf Denktas said, "If you believe that a solution concerning Greek sovereignty on the Island will be reached, you are dreaming." /Cumhuriyet/[08] SUPPORT FROM ANKARATurkey has declared her full support for the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, during the Cyprus proximity talks. A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry pointed out that Turkey supports the views of the TRNC and stated, "The unceasing struggle of President Rauf Denktas to reach a confident and perpetual solution for the Cyprus question is greatly appreciated." It also emphasized that the most realistic proposal for a solution was the confederation model. /Cumhuriyet/[09] OREN MET ALBRIGHT AND DALEY IN DAVOSThe World Economic Forum, which started in Davos, Switzerland four days ago, has still not finished. During the Summit, Turkey gave a very good performance contributed to by Turkish businessmen. Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Ihlas Holding Company, Ahmet Mucahid Oren, who observed the Davos Summit every year and is the youngest member of the Forum following American President Bill Clinton, met the American Secretary of State Madeline Albright and the Secretary of Trade, William Daley, at the dinner that was hosted by the American delegation. Albright stated that they had been closely watching the state of stability in Turkey. Furthermore, Daley said that Turkey would attract foreign investors thanks to the latest economic measures taken by the Turkish government and its policy of opening up to foreign countries. Oren also said that in the upcoming days the necessary background would be made ready so as to ensure foreign investors' interest in Turkey. /Turkiye/[10] PROPOSAL FROM ECEVIT TO PRODIIt is reported that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has proposed the setting-up of an advisory group to the Head of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi. Ecevit requested a list of names from Turkish representative offices in EU countries so as to establish an Advisory Group in Turkey which will be directly responsible to the Prime Ministry. At the EU Internal Economic and Technical Coordination Council, which will be convened under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ecevit every month, problems between different Ministries and the Foreign Ministry will be discussed. The Foreign Ministry will have the final word on issues such as foreign coordination, negotiations and security policies. Deputy Undersecretary and Ambassador Uluc Ozulker will oversee the preparatory work for the EU at the Foreign Ministry. It is also reported that Ecevit has extended proposals to those officials responsible for the EU in countries such as Spain, Belgium and Greece to participate in the Advisory Group. /Aksam/[11] INTERIOR MINISTRY: 938 PEOPLE SEIZEDDuring raids carried out against the illegal Hizbullah terrorist organization, a total of 938 people have been seized in 44 cities. A written statement issued by the Interior Ministry said that among those who have been seized, 437 people had been sent to the Court and, of these, 221 people had been arrested. The statement added that raids against terrorist organizations which aim to harm the security and stability of the nation and country were on-going. It also pointed out that the bodies of 47 people killed by the Hizbullah terrorist organization have been unearthed to date but the identities of only 22 of them have been able to be determined accurately. /Aksam/[12] TRAFFIC TRAGEDYYesterday, the Antalya-Alanya road was the scene an appalling collision. Due to speeding, an Akdeniz Seyahat bus crashed into a service minibus; 22 passengers died and 29 others were injured. In another accident in Kulu, Konya, a bus carrying soldiers collided with a truck, seven soldiers died and 32 others were wounded. /Hurriyet/[13] 7 SACRIFICES TO WINTERHarsh winter conditions continue to affect life in Anatolia. Although constant efforts to re-open blocked roads are on-going, snow in Central and Eastern parts of Turkey has led to the closure of even more roads. The tough winter conditions have also resulted in deaths; two people in Hakkari and three more in Giresun froze to death, teacher Resat Ozsoy, was buried by an avalanche in Kahramanmaras, and a child fell from a cliff while playing snowballs in Denizli. /Hurriyet/[14] IMF TO COME TURKEYThe International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Chairman of the Turkey Desk, Carlo Cottarelli, and a delegation with him are going to arrive in Turkey on Feb. 16th. Following the stand-by agreement which went into effect on Jan. 1st 2000, the IMF delegation will pay an official visit to Ankara for the first time and review the implementation of these of the economic principles. The delegation is expected to stay in Turkey for two weeks. After the visit, under the stand-by agreement, 305 million dollars, the second portion of the loan, is to be released. The achievements in the first-quarter of the year of the stand-by agreement will be evaluated during another visit by the delegation in May. /Hurriyet/[15] ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE FINETurkey has finished the first month of the IMF stand-by agreement. Turkish economy completed its homework for many economic indicators. By the end of January, successful steps were taken, especially concerning the monetary programme. The most important change was experienced in interest rates and on exchange markets, and all kinds of short-term interest rates declined. Foreign exchange rates increased by 2.1% as envisaged by the Central Bank. The Treasury received a 1.5-billion-dollar loan, to be paid back over 30 years, for the first time. /Hurriyet/[16] $2.5 BILLION FOR BLUE STREAM VENTUREThe Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, has said, "Russia will invest $2.5 billion in the Blue Stream venture for the gas to be transported to Samsun". Ersumer stated that, under the scheme, a total of 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas would be purchased from Russia. He pointed out that the construction of 770 kilometres of pipeline to Samsun would be carried out by Gazprom, operating out of the Russian Federation. He added that the Russian share in the Turkish energy market would be 59% in the year 2005, 52% in 2010, and 43% in 2015 and 2020. /Aksam/[17] GARANTI-BP COOPERATIONGaranti Bank is to set up 24-hour ATMs at 50 BP fuel stations throughout Turkey. According to a protocol signed between the two organizations, the BP fuel stations' new service will mainly be in big cities and tourist sites. Every kind of banking transaction will be available through these Garanti Bank ATMs. Later on, the number of BP stations with the ATMs is expected to increase to 100. /Aksam/[18] TREASURY TO ISSUE MORE BONDSThe Treasury is to issue bonds in February. The three-month bonds (expected income: 623 trillion TL) and the 12-month bonds (1.55-1.8 quadrillion) will be issued on February 8, while the two-year bonds (600-800 trillion TL) will be issued on February 15. /Aksam/[19] FOREIGN LOANS FOR YASAR COMPANYThe IFC, an institution affiliated to the World Bank, will supply loans totalling $15 million to the Yasar Food and Beverage Group thanks to a long-term agreement reached between the two organizations. During a ceremony at the Yasar Holding Company, IFC official Elia Roumani and the Head of the Yasar Company, Selcuk Yasar, signed the agreement. /Aksam/[20] TWO TURKS AMONG GLOBAL LEADERSTwo Turkish people have taken their place among the 'Global Leaders of Tomorrow' at the 2000 World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos. There were 100 names on the list, including those of Mehmet Oz and Cansen Basaran. During the discussions, globalization and the inadequacies of the market economy from the social and moral standpoints were considered. /Aksam/[21] FASHION FAIR IN GERMANYA total of 45 Turkish firms will attend two separate fairs in Germany organized by the Istanbul Textile and Ready-to-Wear Exporters' Union (ITKIB). The CPD Dusseldorf Fair is planned for February 5-8 while the Inter-Jeans Cologne Fair will be held on February 4-6. /Aksam/[22] TURKEY TO PURCHASE NATURAL GAS FROM GREECEThe warmth in relations between Greece and Turkey, which started after the earthquakes last year, is turning into concrete cooperation at last. Turkey will purchase natural gas from Greece in order to meet its current shortage. In addition, Turkey's natural gas pipeline network will be linked to that of Greece and then to the whole of the EU. It was decided that the Greek natural gas would be sent to Turkey through Thrace in one or two months' time. The natural gas purchase was organized by a committee comprising energy and foreign relations bureaucrats from Greece and Turkey. Greek bureaucrats stated that they were aware of the natural gas deficit in Turkey and that this year Greece had too much natural gas. Within this framework, the two countries' natural gas network will be linked to each other through Thrace. /Star/[23] WORLD BANK EXPERTS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TODAYA delegation of World Bank financial experts will arrive in Turkey today. It was stated that they will examine the measures taken in the banking sector and the financial structure of those banks and public banks that were transferred to the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TSMF). These experts will also examine the financial situation of the other banks in the banking system and give their suggestions about any essential additional precautions that should be taken according to this. The bank experts will also examine the public banks and observe the work of automation and the privatization of these banks and offer some suggestions on the issue. This delegation is expected to leave Turkey on 17th February. Then they will present a report concerning the total funding that Turkey needs to the Executive Board of the World Bank. /Turkiye/[24] 'PRIVATIZATION OF 7.6 BILLION DOLLARS IS NECESSARY'The process of privatization will determine the fate of the year 2000, considered to be the most critical year in the struggle against inflation. The Privatization Administration Board (OIB) and the Treasury Undersecretary determined the calender for the year 2000's privatization revenues in three-month sections. Revenue of 7.6 billion dollars will be earned by the end of the year; 4.5 will be earned from energy, Turk Telecom and GSM sales, and 3.1 billion dollars will be earned by the sales from the privatization portfolio. In total, 6.3 billion dollars of this revenue will be directly transferred to the Budget and used to decrease the pressure of internal debts. /Sabah/[25] BIG TITLE FOR BAYLASCitroen's distributor in Turkey, Baylas Otomativ, had been given the 'Magellan Trophy', winning from among 76 countries due to the stable increase in their sales and the re-structuring works that they achieved. Baylas' authorized salesmen, who obtained the right to this title during a meeting held in Paris by the Citroen International Conglomerate, received their certificates at Bayraktar Holding Company yesteday. Director of the International Relations Department, Michel Bricout, as the representative of Citroen International also attended the ceremony. /Sabah/[26] TURKS' SUCCESS ON THE MOUNTAINSIn the 'Demavent Winter Climbing' competition that was organized by the Iranian Mountaineering Federation attended by nearly 200 mountaineers, the Turkish team of Nasuh Mahruki, Yilmaz Sevgul and Tunc Findik gained great achievements. Among the 10 mountaineers who managed to reach the summit of the mountain, on which at times the temperature dropped to -60 degrees and the wind speeds reached 90km_hr, were three Turkish mountaineers; the other successful mountaineers were from the Iranian team. The three Turkish sportsmen were accepted as honorary members by the Iranian Mountaineering Federation. /Milliyet/[27] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[28] CYPRUS AND GERMANY BY PROF.FARUK SEN (CUMHURIYET)Prof. Faruk Sen comments on Germany's leading role in European politics. A summary of his column is as follows:Germany, the most influential country in the European Union, is determined to continue in directing EU foreign policy. The country who was intrumental in having the changes in Eastern Europe accepted in the December of 1994, played an important role in having Turkey's EU candidacy approved at the Helsinki Summit. Germany has now began to handle conflicts and disputes in other countries. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has taken an important step forward for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The TRNC was founded on 15 November 1983 but not officially recognized by any state other than Turkey. President Rauf Denktas went three times to Germany to hold unofficial talks and he will be going to Germany on 11 February 2000 as the official guest of the German Foreign Minister. So, Rauf Denktas will be able to explain his views on the Cyprus question to German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Ministry officials, the Chancellor's foreign affairs secretary-general, and leading figures in the German foreign affairs mission. Denktas is expected to give several lectures during this period and has attracted the attention of the German press. Until now Germany has accepted the fact of two communities on the Island. Moreover, they recognized one of them officially, and so long as there were no armed conflicts between the two, Cyprus was not a problem for them. The Germans are now preparing to listen to Turkish arguments. Important duties befall the Turkish non-governmental organizations in Germany and the honorary consuls of the TRNC in Vienna and Germany during the visit of President Rauf Denktas. It would be proper for the Turkish Embassies and Consulates to remain in the background; Turkish diplomats in Germany have to prove that Denktas is not someone who acts on the instructions of Turkey. Turks in Europe justifiably desire a confederation in which the rights of Turkish-Cypriots would be protected on Cyprus. This year will be important for a solution to the Cyprus problem as the TRNC will be able to voice her opinions both before the United Nations and the European Union. The European Union gradually came round to the view that it would be beneficial to hold talks with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Along the Strasbourg-Brussels-Berlin axis the image of Cyprus is on the rise. There is no change in the stances of Italy, France, Holland and Germany, however, which can be summed up thus: "Cyprus cannot be a full-member until the problem is solved". Everyone, especially the non-governmental organizations, have to support Denktas today." [29] RIGHT DECISION FOR THE PRESIDENCY BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)Columnist Hasan Cemal comments on the decision by the coalition partners over the presidential elections. A summary of his column is as follows:"At the Davos Summit in 1987, Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou in answer to the question if he was in favour of Turkey's entrance to the EU or not, stated his opposition. After 13 years the same question was put to his son George who explained how relations between two countries had improved in his soft-spoken and sincere style. I asked George Papandreou whether the experienced team of Demirel and Ecevit being in power would help peace in the Aegean and on Cyprus. He answered my question carefully and just at that time we received the news that the coalition partners had agreed on a 5+5 formula for the presidential elections. Indeed, this was a realistic decision by the Coalition. In Davos, some foreign businessmen wondered at the harmonious cooperation of this team after so many years. Some even asked if Demirel would stay in power for another term. These two politicans have passed the fire of hard experience and seen how Turkey and the world have changed. In the meantime, they themselves have undergone changes; they learnt that an uncomprosing stand could be corrosive and even destructive, and felt the need to cooperate in changing Turkey. This is the first time we are able to witness a culture of compromise. The Coalition Government formed by Ecevit-Bahceli-Yilmaz is an important milestone in this respect. The agreement of the Coalition partners on the presidency of Demirel and the 5+5 formula is the result of such an understanding. As Ecevit has stated, Turkey is crossing an unstable bridge that could give way at any time. The Presidential election, of great importance in Turkey, will not lead to confusion here any longer." 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