Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
In a message issued by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to mark '8
March as the World Women's Day`, he congratulated Turkish Women
on their rights and the freedoms they have gained in the wake of
a secure and democratic Republic. Emphasizing that woman-man
equality, in all areas, was a necessity for civilization and
democracy, Ecevit stated, "To respect woman, is a major condition
in respect for humanity." He also stressed that Turkey had become
a world model in giving voting and electoral rights to women at
the very beginning of the Republic. /Turkiye/
King Abdullah of Jordan together with his wife, came to Turkey
for a two-day official visit. During his address in the Turkish
Grand National Assembly, King Abdullah pointed out Turkey's power
in the region, and stated, "Turkey has an important role in
obtaining peace in the Middle East". Stressing that Turkey and
Jordan had historical ties, he stated, "Your country has a specal
place in my heart. To share a common destiny caused us to have
similar views on certain issues." Demirel and the King had a 1
hour 20 minute tete-a-tete in which they exchanged views on the
sale of Turkish water to Jordan, the improvement of military
relations, including training, the signing of a free trade
agreemeent in order to boost economic relations in the near
future and the Middle East Peace Process. /Hurriyet/
The declaration from one of the US Presidential Democrat nominees
Bill Bradley stating, "Cyprus is an issue that we can solve. We
know the solution; the Turkish Army should leave the Island" has
caused a great reaction from the Turkish community in the US. The
Chairman of the Turkish-American Associations' Assembly, Tolga
Cubukcu and the Chairman of the Turkish-American Associations'
Federation, Egemen Bagis, sent a letter to the nominee,
explaining the realities of the Cyprus issue and asked for him to
further develop his understanding on the matter. /Turkiye/
Turkish Armed Forces' East Mediterranean manoeuvres were to have
been joined by a Greek battle ship for the first time. However,
it will not be able to go ahead because of Cyprus. Turkey
declared to Greek officials that the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) would also take place in this manoeuvres area,
which caused some surprise in Athens. The Greek government had
previously stated that a Greek frigate would join the Eastern
Meditarrenean manoeuvres, but the declaration that Turkey sent to
Greece also had the official mark of the TRNC, and as a result
the Greek battle ship will not be able to attend these
manoeuvres. /Sabah/
The Clinton Administration, who want an improvement for the
solution of the Cyprus issue, is starting new diplomatic
initiatives at the third round of the proximity talks between
Turkish and Greek-Cypriot leaders, in New York, on 23 May.
American President Bill Clinton's Special Representative to
Cyprus, Alfred Moses, and US State Department's Coordinator to
Cyprus, Thomas Weston will visit Cyprus within this framework.
The American representatives will meet with Rauf Denktas and
Glafkos Klerides separately. /Milliyet/
The General Secretary of NATO, George Robertson, will come to
Turkey for a two-day visit on March 9. Robertson is expected to
meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem and Minister of National Defence Sabahattin Cakmakoglu.
During the meetings, European Security and Defence Identity
(ESDI) and other topics related to the Union will be discussed.
He will also attend the opening of the '10th International
Security and Cooperation Conference` in Antalya on March 10.
/Turkiye/
The change in the 69th and 86th articles of the Constitution,
presented in the government's tri-package, was opened for
signature as a separate issue yesterday. Prime Minister, Bulent
Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister, Devlet Bahceli and the Motherland
Party (ANAP) leader, Mesut Yilmaz, were the first to sign.
Signatures from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) amounted to more
than 100, 48 signatures from the ANAP, however, three signatures
were lacking from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) for the 5+5
formula. The coalition partners will try to complete the
signature collections before the Feast of Sacrifice. The work of
the Constitutinol Commission of the Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA) will be made after the Feast of Sacrifice.
/Sabah-Aksam/
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Altan Oymen, will leave
for Brussels today, to attend the European Socialist Party's
ordinary meeting. Oymen will also hold bilateral meetings with
other leaders from the European socialist and left democratic
parties, including Greece. /Cumhuriyet/
Abdullah Gul, Virtue Party (FP)'s Parliamentary Representative
from Kayseri is going to declare his candidacy for the FP's
Leadership at a press conference today. Gul will confront present
leader of the FP, Recai Kutan who represents the conservative
wing of the Party, and had already declared his candidacy, as a
nominee of the reformist wing at the Congress to be held on May
14th. /Hurriyet/
Parliamentary Representaive Ali Guner, who recently resigned from
the FP joined the Motherland Party (ANAP) yesterday. The number
of representatives in Parliament for the ANAP has increased to
88. Before this, FP deputies, Hasim Hasimi from Diyarbakir and
Celal Esin from Agri, had also changed parties and joined the
ANAP. /Hurriyet/
The World Bank's Director responsible for the economic policies,
John Page, stated that if the economic policy in Turkey is
successful, they will declare it as a model for other countries.
Page pointed out that the economic policy in Turkey up to now was
successful. He said that Turkey had the largest economic capacity
in the region and offered some advice to Turkey, in Cario, where
he was attending the IIIrd Medite rranean Development Forum. He
also wanted the inflation rate to be decreased to create a
balance between the foreign exchange rate. Page also wants the
programme on privatization to be followed and added, "Turkey has
begun to practise structural harmonization programmes. If this
continues, the World Bank would continue to give loans to Turkey.
Relations between Turkey and the IMF also affect the World Bank
and I can easily say that the World Bank is content with the
economic developments in Turkey." /Aksam/
The economic and cultural festival, 'Britain-Turkey 2000` opened
yesterday. The festival held to further develop relations between
Turkey and Britain and will go on until October. During a press
conference, the British Ambassador to Turkey, Sir David Logan,
opened his speech with a message from the British Premier, Tony
Blair. Blair stated, "I hope that this festival will start a new
and exciting period between the two countries." Stressing that
Turkey was 19th on the list of countries to which Britain
exported the most, Ambassador Logan pointed out that Turkey was a
key market in the region. /Hurriyet/
Turkcell will cooperate with CNN and bring the CNN Mobile news
service to Turkey. Turkcell subscribers will be able to follow
world developments in English, on their mobile phones thanks to
the CNN Mobile news service and WAP. CNN Mobile news service,
which prepared by the CNN for the GSM operators, is being used by
40 million mobile phone users in 18 countries by 20 operators.
/Aksam/
Sea Transportation's Turkish Joint Stock Company is being sold to
the Ship-owners Joint Enterprise Group. In a statement made by
the Privatization Administration Board, 25% of this sale will be
paid in advance of the contract signature date. The remainder to
be paid over three years with equal instalments and the interest
will be applied 15%. /Aksam/
27 firms from eight sectors applied for the Scientific and
Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Turkish
Foundation for Developing Technology (TTGV) and the Turkish
Industralists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) 1999 Tecnology
Awards. 24 appliations were, 12 were nominated for the Highest
Award and 12 for the Award of Achievement. Evaluation of these
applications by the council of experts will be concluded on 15
May. /Aksam/
The Garanti Bank launched its e-trade site, aiming to be the
first electronic commercial site for Turkey. Turkish news and the
Garanti Bank, developments and the most frequently asked
questions on the subject of electronic commerce will be published
on this web site. The web address is
http://www.garanti.com.tr/eticatet. /Sabah/
The Minister of Industry and Trade, Kenan Tanrikulu, stated that
aid, amounting to 2 trillion TL, collected from the agricultural
cooperatives, was transfered to the earthquake aid account
yesterday. Food and cleansing materials amounting to more than
200 tons, were sent to the earthquake-hit region also from the
agricultural cooperatives. /Cumhuriyet/
The General Director of Turkish Petrolum's Joint Stock Company
(TUPRAS), Husammettin Danis, stated that their net profit was 213
trillion TL in 1999, and 117 trillon TL of this would be paid as
tax. Danis added, "We do not have problem with making investments
and we will distribute profits to our shareholders. Our aim is to
increase the total endorsement by 25%." /Milliyet/
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD)
prohibited the use of the word 'Islam' during the meeting held on
Monday with 18 holding company chairmen who are members of
MUSIAD. A common decision was taken and the 'declaration of
result' was prepared during the meeting, in which the holding
companies criticized themselves. The decision was made to avoid
using holy and symbolic values in their advertising and
promotional work and that to be careful in using the commercial
and economic materials. It was also decided that the Capital
Market Council and the Treasury would have closer relations with
each other. MUSIAD also decided that the member companies who
fail to comply with these new rules, will be excluded from MUSIAD
membership. /Milliyet/
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) met
with the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Yasar Okuyan,
concerning new arrangements with regard to Social Security
Reforms. Okuyan said, "28,000 people are still receiving
retirement pension and paying their Bagkur premiums. The social
security draft reforms will be sent to the Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA) this week, or, after the Feast of Sacrifice." The
Chairman of TUSIAD, Erkut Yucaoglu, stated that if inflation
decreases to 30%, then it would be a huge success." Yucaoglu
added that they were holding meetings in order to create a
'delicate balance' in the economy. /Milliyet/
Koc Allianz Insurance Company, is starting a new system in
Turkey, with its travel insurance incorporating medical
assistance. This insurance offers protection against all types of
travel incidents. The travel insurance with medical assistance
will be able offered for travel both in Turkey and abroad. /Star/
'The 7th European Jazz Festival' organized by the Izmir Culture,
Art and Education Foundation, will come to an end today with a
concert given by the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band and Burhan
Ocal. George Gruntz, which is one of the leaders of European jazz
bands, is working with musicians from different cultures and
finds Turkish music different and interesting. Gruntz has been
working with Burhan Ocal, who for the last two years, has been
considered to be the most effective name of rtyhm repertory
between genres'. /Cumhuriyet/
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on Verheugen's expected visit to
Ankara. A summary of his column is as follows:
"A key-name in Turco-European relations, Gunther Verheugen is
visiting Turkey today, and will meet with Turkish offificals.
Verheugen, will probably be one of the EU's most frequent
visitors to Turkey, as he is the Commissioner for the Expansion
of the EU.
However, developments in recent weeks in Turkey and Verheugen's
statements prior to his visit to Ankara, reveal that this visit
will be in the shadow of the "Kurdish problem". The situation has
reached the point that if Verheugen does not open the subject,
others will ask why.
There is no doubt that Europe has a 'Kurdish card' in her pocket
under the heading of "human rights". However, she should not have
played this card this early and so openly. The presence of
countries such as Denmark and Sweden, who have a close interest
with the issue cannot change the situation as they are not the
countries who can determine the agenda of the Union. Countries
like France and Germany who carry more weight in determining the
EU programme until recently were silent. In fact they were
planning to bring the "Kurdish question" onto the agenda in
stages, as the relations between Turkey and the EU improved. They
believe that certain positive developments in the country would
provide a suitable background for discussion on the problem
without rocking the boat.
Not granting members of the Turco-European Joint Commission
permission to visit Leyla Zana in prison, and the ensuing HADEP
crisis, brought Kurdish-European relations on agenda. On top of
this, the attitude of the Swedish Foreign Minister when he came
to Turkey and made a "Kurdish show" did not help the matters.
Verheugen, in answer to a question by the Financial Times,
confirmed what we have already stated. Verheugen noted that
Ankara should be treated gently and that he would not begin his
visit with a list of demands which would lead to loss of support
of the pro-European powers. The words of Verheugen were directed
at the stance taken by the Swedish and Danish Foreign Ministers.
However, he also added that they could not ignore those who kept
the Kurdish issue warm in Europe. His words which pointed out
that an advancement on the Kurdish issue was necessary for the
start of the opening of negotiations with Turkey clearly show
this attitude.
Certainly, during Verheugen's visit other issues will be taken
up. However, they will all be left in the shadow of the Kurdish
question. This in turn will show that this visit will lead to a
heightening of tensions rather than a result being achieved."
Columnist Derya Sazak analyzes recent drevelopments concerning
women's rights on Women's Day. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"The fight against "violence and discrimination" is on the
forefront of the activities for World Women's Day. Turkey
participated in the Fourth World Conference meeting with China
five years ago, and the Beijing Declaration and Action Plan was
signed by Minister of the time without any reservations.
Although Turkey had advanced rights regarding equality between
men and women, participation in political and economic life
during the Republican era, they have not moved one inch on
entering the year 2000. The Central Bank Governor tried to
organize women in the fight against inflation. It may seem to be
a rational idea but would not it be better to encourage the
"opposite sex" into the Parliament.
If the Parliament,and the Government move away from women they
keep aloof from the public. We may ask why one of our woman
parliamentarians has not declared candidacy for the Presidency?
As long as the ratio of women in Parliament does not reach 50%
the quality of politics will not be elevated, and many modern
arrangements expected to be realized, with the change in the
"Civil Code", cannot be carried out.
In fact, the Beijing Declaration bestowed many responsibilities
on governments, local administrations and non-governmental
organizations. The problems concerning education, health and
employment should be solved. Infant mortality is one of the most
important questions of mothers in under-devoloped countries and
violence within the family threatens even the most developed
countries. Great duties befall the justice system, health,
security and social service organizations.
We shall see if activities organized in the year 2000 will change
the fate of women and if new initiatives and ideas will come
forth. Universities, women's associations and political parties
have important duties regarding this subject."
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
ECEVIT: 'MEN-WOMEN EQUALITY IS CIVILIZATION`
KING OF JORDAN IN TURKEY
REACTION TO BRADLEY ON CYPRUS
TRNC HINDERS TURCO-GREEK JOINT MANOEUVRES
US' DIPLOMATIC INITIATION
ROBERTSON TO VISIT TURKEY
TRI-PACKAGE OPENED FOR SIGNATURE
OYMEN TO VISIT BRUSSELS
ABDULLAH GUL DECLARES HIS CANDIDACY
ALI GUNER AT ANAP
PAGE: "TURKEY HAS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE REGION"
'BRITAIN-TURKEY 2000`
CNN NEWS TO BE ON TURKCELL MOBILE PHONES
SEA TRANSPORTATION APPROVAL
COMPETITION FOR TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
GARANTI BANK WEB SITE
AID OF 2 TRILLION TL FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
TUPRAS' PROFIT
MUSIAD'S NEW DECISIONS
OKUYAN'S STATEMENT
KOC ALLIANZ INSURANCE'S SYSTEM
7TH EUROPEAN JAZZ FESTIVAL ENDS TODAY
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
VERHEUGEN'S VISIT TO ANKARA BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)
THE WOMEN OF 2000 BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)