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Turkish Press Review, 02-01-29

Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

<LINK href="http://www.byegm.gov.tr_yayinlarimiz_chr_pics_css/tpr.css" rel=STYLESHEET type=text/css> <map name="FPMap1"> <_map> Press &amp; Information Turkish Press Turkish Press Review &gt;&gt; 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. /Hürriyet/

    [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. /Hürriyet/

    [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. /Hürriyet/

    [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."

    ARCHIVE


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