Read The Treatment of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire (Part 2) (by Viscount Bryce) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Turkish Press Review, 01-05-10

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

10.05.2001


CONTENTS

  • [01] SEZER ON THE EUROPE DAY
  • [02] BUSH SENDS LETTER TO ECEVIT
  • [03] CEM VISITS SKOPJE
  • [04] TURKEY SENDS NOTE TO GREECE
  • [05] GREEK NEWSPAPER ON GREEK-CYPRIOTS' FULL EU MEMBERSHIP
  • [06] PARLIAMENT PREPARES TO CONDEMN FRANCE
  • [07] BAHCELI OPENED THE ISEDAK MEETING
  • [08] EUROPE DAY CELEBRATED
  • [09] PRODI'S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASSION OF THE EUROPE DAY
  • [10] OKUYAN DEFENDS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW
  • [11] HUNGER STRIKES AT THE AGENDA OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE
  • [12] TANTAN IN IRAN
  • [13] COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CRISIS OVERCOMED
  • [14] NEW CIVIL CODE
  • [15] BOSPORUS COAST GUARD STEPS UP ALERT STATE
  • [16] FIRST AID REACHES FLOOD-STRICKEN ANTAKYA
  • [17] TELEKOM BILL READY
  • [18] DERVIS: "WE SHOULD RETRIEVE MONEY FROM MALPRACTISING BANK OWNERS"
  • [19] COUNTDOWN SPEEDS UP FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
  • [20] THE NUMBER OF TURKISH ENTREPRENUEURS IN THE EU COUNTRIES INCREASES
  • [21] FISCHER'S STATEMENT
  • [22] INVESTMENT IN ARDAHAN
  • [23] TYD AND TUROB UNITE
  • [24] TOURIST COME IN INCREASING NUMBERS
  • [25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
  • [26] THOUGHTS ON 'EUROPE DAY' BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

  • [01] SEZER ON THE EUROPE DAY

    President Sezer gave a banquet to the EU member and candidate countries' Ambassadors to Ankara at the Cankaya Presidential Palace on the occassion of the 'Europe Day'. During the banquet, the EU Commission's representative to Ankara, Karen Fogg, asked Sezer, "One of the conditions for being a member of the EU is to share the sovereignty in some issues. How do you consider this sharing out?" Sezer replied, "The international agreements in Turkey are on the level of law but below the Constitution. I think we will have to review the 90th article concerning the sharing of the sovereignty when the time arrives." Sezer also gave the message that Turkey should make some legal reforms on the way to the EU and said, "Turkey is determined to make the required improvements and strengthen all the necessary developments, mostly in the legal field, in the changing conditions of the world." Meanwhile, EU's current president, Swedish Ambassador to Ankara, Henrik Liljegren, also made a speech during the banquet and said, "Turkey belongs to Europe." /Hurriyet/

    [02] BUSH SENDS LETTER TO ECEVIT

    US President George W. Bush sent a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit through US Ambassador to Turkey, Robert Pearson. In the letter, Bush said, "We strongly support your reform efforts regarding the Turkish economy." Stressing the government's intense efforts are encouraging, the US President said, "I understand that reforms such as privatization of telecommunications and restructuring of banking sector are not easy and require great political courage." Regarding the recent raid on the Swiss Hotel in Istanbul, Bush congratulated Turkish security forces for their success in solving the hostage-taking incident. /Turkiye/

    [03] CEM VISITS SKOPJE

    Turkey, who has concerns over the recent developments, is increasing her diplomatic initiatives in the Balkans. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will travel to Skopje today after his visit to Kosovo. He is expected to convey Turkey's support messages to Skopje. Ankara denounced the recent attack of the extreme nationalist Sebin groups to the Osman Pasha Mosque in Trebinye. "Turkey harshly denounces the recent developments and demands the Serbian Administration catch the assailants and punish them as soon as possible. Cem will meet with the officials from the UN mission, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and KFOR (NATO Kosovo Force) today. He is also expected to meet with people of Turkish descent and to visit Turkish Battalion Mission Force in Kosovo. After paying his one day official visit in Kosovo, Cem will travel to Skopje. Cem, who supported international initiatives launched after the struggles between Macedonian majority and Albanian minority have mounted, is expected to be received by the Macedonian President Boris Traykovski. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] TURKEY SENDS NOTE TO GREECE

    Turkey has presented a diplomatic note to Greece over a new spat that has developed, after Turkey rejected a flight plan for a helicopter taking Greece's navy chief to a NATO ceremony, because it would have taken off from the Greek island of Rhodes, which Turkey wants demilitarized. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said Wednesday that the flight plan was unacceptable under a 1947 agreement saying that Rhodes should be demilitarized.Greek Defense Minister Akis Cohacopoulos argued that Turkey was wrong in taking such a decision and said, "Ankara's stance over the issue causes problems concerning Turkey's cooperation with Greece and strengthens Greece's thesis which claim there is nothing to be discussed about the Aegean issue. He also said he would inform NATO about the issue. /Cumhuriyet, Turkish News/

    [05] GREEK NEWSPAPER ON GREEK-CYPRIOTS' FULL EU MEMBERSHIP

    The US, NATO and the EU are said to initiate effort to persuade Turkey to accept Greek Cypriot Administration's full EU membership by 2004. According to the Greek newspaper "Etnos", no matter what the attitude of Turkish-Cypriots is, western community aims to recruit the Greek-Cypriot Administration as an EU member. The newspaper said these three powers propose Turkey to furher develop relations with the EU and to become a member of the European Security and Cooperation Identity(ESDI) before being a full member, in return for withdrawing her objection for the Greek-Cypriot full EU membership. /Milliyet/

    [06] PARLIAMENT PREPARES TO CONDEMN FRANCE

    The Internal Affairs Commission of Parliament approved the draft law calling the denouncement of France which issued a law recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide. The draft law, which is expected to be debated in the General Assembly soon, says Turkey rejects the claims of the so-called Armenian genocide which has been neither determined or accepted by history. It continues to state that France and other foreign powers provoked the Armenians for their own purposes during World War I. "We strongly condemn the loss of life and the support and shelter given to ASALA terror," said the draft. The draft also underlines France and other European countries' moral responsibility by keeping silent during the invasion of Azeri land, forcing the people to migrate, and perpetrating genocide to the people of Bosnia because of their religion. /Turkish Daily News/

    [07] BAHCELI OPENED THE ISEDAK MEETING

    Islamic Conference Organization and the Permanent Committee of Economic and Commercial Cooperation's (ISEDAK) Monitoring Committee's 17th meeting began at The Marmara Hotel in Istanbul. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli made a speech during the opening session of the meeting and said that the process of globalization consists of opportunities of improvement and welfare for the developing countries. Following the speech of Bahceli, who is also the Chairman of the ISEDAK Monitoring Committee, messages were read. Secretary General of the Islamic Conference Organization, Abdulvahid Belkeziz called the international arena to establish a system of protection for Palestine and to convince Israel to stop its violent actions. /Sabah/

    [08] EUROPE DAY CELEBRATED

    The Europe Day, which has been celebrated since 1985 by the European Union (EU) member countries, is also among the special days in Turkey. The Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) led this initiation in Turkey, which is not a member of the EU yet. Chairman of TUSIAD, Tuncay Ozilhan, said, "The celebration of this day is an expression of our desire to share the basic values of the EU. The Europe Day is celebrated during an activity, jointly organized by the TUSIAD and the EU Commission, for the first time in Turkey, which has taken the status of the candidate country during the Helsinki Summit in 1999. /Hurriyet/

    [09] PRODI'S MESSAGE ON THE OCCASSION OF THE EUROPE DAY

    Chairman of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, sent a visual message to the Europe Day activities, and suggested Turkey not to lose her original values while being a European. Prodi said, "If you aim to be a member of the European Union (EU), adhere to the rules not only on human rights and democracy, but all of them. Then you will enter a process of great change. But do not forget that first of all, you are Turks and do not lose your own characteristics. I am a European but also an Italian and I do not forget this fact. As the EU, we are born as six countries, this number has reached 15 and new countries will join us in 2004. The EU is a market of 500 million people and all the countries, which will become a member of this market, will win." /Hurriyet/

    [10] OKUYAN DEFENDS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW

    Minister of Labour and Social Security Yasar Okuyan said there was no problem between him and State Minister Kemal Dervis. Recalling there is a consensus between employees, employers and the government about the Bill on the Employment Security Law, Okuyan said he hoped there would not be a problem concerning the bill. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] HUNGER STRIKES AT THE AGENDA OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE

    Belgian Greens Party parliamentarian Leen Laenens declared a report on the hunger strikes and F-type prisons in Turkey at the meeting held in the Representatives Assembly Chairmanship. The report will be discussed tomorrow at the Council of Europe meeting. Stating Turkish officials were very cooperative and helpful to himself during his Turkey visit to prepare the report, Laenens said The Committee to Prevent Torture at the Council of Europe had positive views about the F-type prisons in Turkey. The report states inmates who lost their consciousness go on hunger strike again because of the oppression by the terrorist organisations after taking medical treatment. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] TANTAN IN IRAN

    Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan, who is currently in Iran for a 3-day official visit, met with Secretary of the Iranian National Security High Council Huccetulislam Hasan Ruhani and President's Primary Assistant Hasan Habibi. After the meetings, Ryhani said, "Such meetings condtituted a guarantee for our nations that the borders will always be protected and respected by the two countries. Meanwhile Tantan stated, "Iranian and Turkish nations have close relations and have common interests in the region. We believe the economic and cultural relations between the two countries should improve." /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CRISIS OVERCOMED

    Long lasting meetings between Turk-Is, representative of 50 thousand civil workers, and the government were ended. Following a meeting yesterday at State Minister Mehmet Kececiler's office, the sides said they are close to a final agreement and they expect to sign it on Tuesday. /Turkiye/

    [14] NEW CIVIL CODE

    Parliament passed on Wednesday all articles of the new Civil Code, except the one relating to the property regime. The Parliamentary Justice Commission passed 92 articles of the new civil code. The members of the governing coalition proposed that the new Civil Code be enforced as of Jan. 1, 2002, after debating on whether to put the law into force after a six-month period following its approval by Parliament. /Turkish News/

    [15] BOSPORUS COAST GUARD STEPS UP ALERT STATE

    Following the capture of 448 illegal migrants aboard a sand coaster vessel, the coastguard has stepped up its security measures. /Turkish Daily News/

    [16] FIRST AID REACHES FLOOD-STRICKEN ANTAKYA

    Aid has started to arrive at the flood-stricken Southern Anatolian town of Antakya, paralyzed by torrential rains that began on Tuesday. Mayor of Antakya, Iris Senturk said the electricity lines were cut due to the threat of electrocution. Senturk said that settlement near the banks of the River Asi are still unreachable. Many cattle and sheep are also reported lost or drowned. Two people drowned and one is reported to be lost. There is over $10 million in damage. The rain is expected to continue two more days and move eastward. /Turkish Daily News/

    [17] TELEKOM BILL READY

    The Telekom crisis was solved yesterday at leaders meeting. Following the 4.5-hour meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "A compromise was reached on the privatization of the Telekom and the bill will be sent to the Parliament tomorrow." /Turkiye/

    [18] DERVIS: "WE SHOULD RETRIEVE MONEY FROM MALPRACTISING BANK OWNERS"

    State Minister responsible for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, said both Turkish public and international financial circles exert strong pressure on the government to establish sanctions for individuals, who are responsible for the deterioration of a bank's finances, by changing the Banking Law. The new law allows the freezing of assets of bankers, administrators and their relatives. Dervis also said the Treasury has a considerable amount of burden of debt repayment in June and July and the required resources should be obtained before that time. Dervis said limitless guarantees granted to banking sector through savings accounts fund should be reduced, because currently the state shoulders all savings accounts by giving guarantees. /Milliyet/

    [19] COUNTDOWN SPEEDS UP FOR BAKU-CEYHAN

    The countdown has started for the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, which was planned to carry Caspian oil to world markets. Detailed engineering studies, which are the first step before the construction of the pipeline, will start in June. The final financing and construction of the project will be certified after the cmpletion of detailed engineering studies, which will last around 12 months. Then, the tender for construction will be opened. The pipeline will be 1,037 kilometers long and the $1.3 billion-worth financing will be provided by company groups to construct the line. The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is expected to be completed by 2005. The whole cost of the line will be up to $3 billion. /Turkish Daily News/

    [20] THE NUMBER OF TURKISH ENTREPRENUEURS IN THE EU COUNTRIES INCREASES

    It was reported the number of Turkish entrepreneurs in the EU countries will reach 160.000 in 2015. According to data by the Turkish Researches Center (TAM), 960,000 people from different countries will be employed in Turkish managements within the next 15 years. TAM Director Prof. Faruk Sen said Turkish entrepreneurs bridged the EU and Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [21] FISCHER'S STATEMENT

    Stanley Fischer announced that he would resign from his duty as the First Deputy Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and held a press conference concerning the issue. During the press conference, he also pointed to the economic situation in Turkey and said the IMF, the US and the G-7 countries were fully supporting Turkey in her efforts to overcome the economic crisis. /Hurriyet/

    [22] INVESTMENT IN ARDAHAN

    Koc Holding, Dogan Holding and Ata Insaat chairmen of the executive boards are getting ready to invest in Ardahan. Reportedly, businessmen and Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will travel to the region in following days to make observations in the region. /Turkiye/

    [23] TYD AND TUROB UNITE

    Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD) and the Turkish Association of Hotel Owners (TUROB) were united under the same roof. The TYD and TUROB decided to act together by preserving their autonomy and will be managed with the system of co-chairmanship. They will continue their works in a single center as of 1 June. /Sabah/

    [24] TOURIST COME IN INCREASING NUMBERS

    The number of tourists visiting Turkey is significantly increasing. According to data by the Tourism Ministry, there is a 17.4 % increase in the number of tourists who visited Turkey during April compared to the same period last year. Germany, Russian Federation and France are the three countries who send the greatest numbers of tourists to Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [25] FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...

    [26] THOUGHTS ON 'EUROPE DAY' BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

    Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the views concerning Turkey's full EU membership. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) organized a ceremony to mark the 'Europe Day'. A distinguished audience attended the ceremony where President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, businessmen, intellectuals, youth representatives, and man-on-the-street expressed their views on Turco-EU relations. According to foreign diplomats participating in the ceremony the message which came out from the 'Europe Day' celebrations was that Turkey had to keep the desire to integrate with the EU alive.. 'Europe Day' is celebrated in the EU member countries to mark the anniversary of May 9, 1950, when the foundations of the community were first laid. As Secretary General for the European Union Affairs, Ambassador Volkan Vural, pointed out in his speech that 'May 9 Europe Day' was a day to celebrate for Turkey as well. EU representative to Turkey Karen Fogg expressed her expectation that 'Europe Day' would raise hopes in the country and be a source of inspiration for Turkey on the issues she must deal with. One of the issues attracting our attention during the speeches delivered yesterday was the difference in the aproaches by the politicians and the civil society. For example, Prime Minister Ecevit stated Turkey was a European country but accepted the fact that she had certain shortcomings in democracy and economy. Is it not the duty of the politicians to eliminate these shortcomings? The voices heard from the civil society were more determined and energetic. Particularly the youth expressed their expectations from the EU and what must be done to be a member more clearly. One of the students attending the ceremony said that the EU would broaden the horizon for Turkey and guide her. However, the transition process will be carried out by Turks themselves. We would all like Turkey to make this transition by her own free will. It is a fact that adherence to rules set by the EU is a driving force and keeps the vision of change alive."
    Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    trkpr2html v1.02a run on Thursday, 10 May 2001 - 11:06:38 UTC