ALL GOES ON AS BEFORE BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Turkey is continuing to take measures against France upon the
approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill. After the
cancellation of the defense bids, Turk Telecom decided to exclude
ALCATEL from the GSM 1800 bid. Turk Telecom Executive Council
evaluated the proposals presented for the bid on the GSM 1800
technical infrastructure. The Council agreed to exclude French
company ALCATEL from the bid. /Cumhuriyet/
The bids that were cancelled by Turkey due to French President
Jacques Chirac's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide
resolution alarmed France. France prefered to watch the harsh
denouncement by Turkey concerning recent developments without making any
comment. In a written statement, the French Ministry of Foreign
Affairs reported, "The French officials confirm their wish for
the improvement of relations with Turkey in every field and for
Turkey's rapprochement with the US." Meanwhile, the Armenian
Administration announced its pleasure due to the approval of the
bill. The French newspapers published many articles concerning
the Armenian law and the cancellation of defense bids amounting
to 8 billion US dollars. In the article published in 'Le Figaro'
daily, entitled 'Ankara Punished France', it was
stated that Turkey was retaliating against France. 'Liberation'
daily, in an article, 'Ankara Chose to Fight' stated that
the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem had lost his
confidence in France. /Aksam/
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem said the final word
concerning the new military purchases from France. Cem stated
that some of Turkey's military purchases from France will be
unthinkable from now on. Cem repeated his view that Turkey will
not trust France concerning the economic decisions that effect
her own security and strategic future and said, "As the
government, we do not announce this issue with big campaigns.
However, we have done what is necessary. Turkey cannot consult
with France concerning a big communication system. It is out of
the question that Turkey will make some of her purchases from
France. A country who can treat Turkey in such an unfair manner
might repeat that similar unfair behaviour towards Turkey in some
vital issues that concern us in the future." Cem stated that
Ankara supported the erection of the Algerian genocide monument
and made warnings concerning terrorist attacks. Cem said, "This
development might encourage the enmity towards foreigners. The
security of the Turkish diplomats and the Turkish people is
within the responsibility of France, where 300,000 Turks live."
/Aksam/
The Council of Turkish Cypriot Organizations held a demonstration
to protest the British government support of the allegations of
the so-called Armenian genocide. The council is planning
new protest activities against the British government. Chairman
of the Council, Ahmet Nazim said new strong actions were
necessary. Stating they sent letters to the British
parliamentarians and received certain affirmative replies, Nazim
said, "We will launch every necessary initiative to prevent the
Armenians from attending the Holocaust Commemoration Day next
year and to bring the genocide carried out against the Turkish
Cypriots into the agenda." /Cumhuriyet/
The preparations to bring the allegations of the so-called
Armenian genocide resolution back before the US Congress are
continuing. Democratic Party member Adam Schiff, expected to be
the speaker for a new Armenian bill, was elected as a member of
the Foreign Relations Committe at the US House of
Representatives. Armenian lobbies are pleased with Schiff's
election. Stating he would serve the interests of the American
people and work for human rights, Schiff said, "Being a member of
the Committee will allow me to struggle for the recognition of
the Armenian genocide in the US." /Milliyet/
Mehmet Ali Birand, the producer of a program broadcast on CNN
Turk, interviewed Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who
claimed that Armenians want only Turkish recognition of genocide
and the opening of Ottoman archives. He said the Armenian state
is neither in a position nor has an intention to demand
compensation or land from Turkey. Kocharian added that
descendants of those killed in 1915 may ask for compensation from
Turkey. /All papers/
The Daily Moscow Times stated Armenia has received a great amount
of financial support from the US in recent years. The US
Administration, which is willing to cut back the revenue for
foreign aid, allocated $ 90 million for Armenia. The Moscow Times
stated the US began to restore the buildings in certain Armenian
villages. The close relations between certain members of the US
Senate and Armenian lobbies is another important point emphasized
by the Moscow Times. /Milliyet/
Newspapers published in France stated that the Turkish press
continued to show reaction against the so-called Armenian
genocide law in France. 'Le Monde' newspaper devoted wide
coverage to the news in the Turkish press and to the series of
articles by the Editor-in-Chief of the daily 'Turkiye', Kenan
Akin, entitled 'The French Massacre in Algeria'. /Turkiye/
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, who met with the UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De
Soto the day before yesterday, said that the talks would continue
only if the UN proposes more creative ideas. Cem stated, "We
still believe in the Secretary General's good intentions.
However, the meetings so far could not provide the conditions
necessary for a just and equal peace. We want the UN to come to
the discussion table with new and more creative ideas."
/Cumhuriyet/
France, which approved the so-called Armenian genocide bill, is
in close touch with the PKK terrorist organization now. In spite
of the warning from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a French
delegation visited the PKK's camp in Northern Iraq last week. It
was stated that the French delegation, which included the
Marseilles State's Deputy Chairman of Parliament, Juel Gutto,
Manager of the Freedom Solidarity Organization, Resiemmer Durye
and an official from the United Nation's High Commission, had
visited the PKK's Makhmur camp in Northern Iraq on 20-25 November.
It was also stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is
aware of the French delegation's visit, has informed France
concerning the actions of the camp through the United Nations
(UN) Ankara representative. Officials stated that the militants
in this camp include children who are trained and held by force.
This camp is the center of PKK activities in Northern Iraq.
/Aksam/
Turkey and Iran are seeking ways to bolster cooperation to
upgrade railway, airway and maritime transportation. The Minister
of Transportation, Enis Oksuz, who is in Iran to attend the
second meeting of the Joint Transportation Commission has stated
that it would be in the interest of both countries to cooperate
on transportation. /All papers/
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will go to Macedonia today as the
official guest of his Macedonian counterpart Srgjan Kerim. Cem
and Kerim are expected to first discuss bilateral relations and
then regional and international issues. /Turkish Daily News/
Security forces seized a large number of weapons of various types
and equipment from shelters belonging to the PKK terrorist
organization in operations carried out in southeastern Turkey.
Security operations in the region are reported to be continuing.
/All papers/
When an answer was not received to the former Prosecutor Vural
Savas' document concerning the change of regulation in the Virtue
Party (FP) within seven months, the current Chief Republican
Prosecutor of the high court of appeals, Sabih Kanadoglu went
into action and sent a second document to the FP. Kanadoglu
stated that if an answer is not received to this document within
45 days, a closing action will be brought against the FP. /Aksam/
Stating there were ongoing hunger strikes in the Turkish prisons at the
EP's short term meetings in Brussels,
certain European Parliament (EP) members demanded EP Chairman
Nicole Fontaine, to launch an initiative against Turkey. Danish socialist party
member, Pernille Frahm, claimed most of the prisoners in Turkey
were on hunger strikes and there would be deaths in the following
weeks. /Cumhuriyet/
The Turkish search and rescue team received praise from the
Indian people. The Turkish team finally rescued a man in Anjar
with the help of the Hungarian team. /Milliyet/
TUSIAD and DEIK Turco-French Business Council delegations decided
to continue the economic cooperation at the meeting held to
reconcile after the approval of the so-called Armenian genocide
bill. In the written statement by Turco-French Business Council
delegations, French and Turkish businessmen said the cooperation
between the private sectors of the two countries would continue.
"The political crisis which adversely affects the economic
relations should be overcome. The cooperation between French and
Turkish businessmen should be maintained." said the statement.
/Cumhuriyet/
Belgian Fleming Socialist Party (SP) decided to allocate the
contigency chair, which was vacated at the Senate, to its member
of Turkish origin, Fatma Pehlivan. Pehlivan will take the
oath and start her duties today. A politician, Meryem Kacar, was
chosen from the Greens Party and also entered the Senate. Thus,
the number of Senators with Turkish origin increased to two.
/Aksam/
Secretary General of Tour Operators Huseyin Baraner, stated
Antalya will be the favorite holiday paradise in the 2001 holiday
season. He said, "The European tourists now choose Antalya. In
addition, `Turistik Aktuel', which is the biggest sector research
magazine in Germany, published many articles praising Turkish
tourism. This magazine wrote that most of the planes in Europe
changed their routes to include Turkey. In the 2001 tourism
season there will be an incredible increase in the number of
tourists visiting Turkey." /Aksam/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday dismissed reports that
Turk Telecom privatization has been shelved and gave reassurances
that the Telecom privatization will materialize in the coming
months. The government has budgeted $3.4 billion for the Telecom
sale proceeds for 2001. /All papers/
The Treasury sent the fourth supplementary letter of intent to
the IMF within the framework of the struggling program against
inflation. The letter of intent was prepared following the fifth
review by the IMF delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli between
January 12 and 19 and it will be discussed by the IMF Executive
Board during the first week of February. With the approval of the
letter of intent, Supplemental Reserve Facility (SFR) worth $1.1
billion and the standby credit portion worth $300 million will be
released. /Turkiye/
A statement issued by Osmanli Bank announced that the bank has
been awarded 'The Best Bond Clearing and Storing Bank in Turkey'
by a survey of two foreign magazines.
An agreement for the maintenance of 138 million Saudi Arabian
Riyals in credit was signed yesterday between the Saudi Arabian
Development Fund and the Treasury Undersecretariat. These credits
will be used for the construction of the research medical
facility of Kocaeli University, which was devastated by the 1999
earthquake. /Turkiye/
State oil refinery TUPRAS aims to process 11.5 % more crude oil
and meet more than 80 % of the domestic oil demand in 2001, a
high-level company official announced yesterday. Including the
refinery output and imports, TUPRAS plans to market $10 billion
worth of oil this year, 25.1 million tons of which will be sold
in the domestic market and 1.1 million tons exported. /All
papers/
Turkey's sixth dynamic Multi-media and Internet fair, COMPEX,
will be opened in Istanbul today. During the fair which will last
for three days, recent computer technologies will be exhibited.
Many Turkish and foreign people are expected to visit the COMPEX
2001 Fair. /Star/
A competition began between Turkish and Spanish flower producers
because the extra production was put on the European market.
Antalya Cut-Flower Exports Union Chairman Lutfu Gobus said the
prices were discounted since the countries who produce flowers
sent the extra production to the European markets. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkey's central government budget beat the government's original
targets in 2000; however analysts cautioned that it would be
difficult to repeat such fiscal success in 2001 as the economy is
slowing down and uncertainty remains on privatization proceeds.
/All papers/
Experienced Director Informative (ATID EDI), which works as the
mediator for the American Small and Medium Scale Enterprises
(KOBI), came to Turkey for economic and commercial cooperation.
The Company's Director to Israel, Ben Dansker, stated, "Our aim
is to promote Turkey to the American KOBIs and to invest in
Turkey. The bilateral meetings were held during the conference
organized by the Association of Turco-American Businessmen. ATID
EDI's report to Turkey is as follows: "American KOBIs do not know
Turkey. This is our second visit to Turkey. Last year we met more
than 100 companies and 25% of these meetings had positive
results. We have signed agreements with two companies." /Aksam/
Dr. Michael Peters, Chairman of the famous promotions firm, Messe
Frankfurt, made a speech during the press conference that was
organized at Messe Frankfurt's office in Istanbul to mark its
grand opening. He said, "The Turkish business world will be able
to receive direct information about the Messe fairs thanks to
this office. Most of these fairs are of the utmost importance for
Turkish industry. This close relationship will create
opportunities for us to develop new strategies to increase
Turkish exports." /Aksam/
The Treasury shortened the terms of two bids that will be opened
before payment of 4.3 quadrillion TL and decreased the term of a
bid that will be opened in March from three years to 14 months.
According to the borrowing program that was announced yesterday,
the Treasury has not changed the term of the three months term
bonds of 13 February but shortened the terms of the bids of 20
February. Treasury targets are a net borrowing amount up to 802
trillion TL in the three-months-terms bid. /Milliyet/
The Turkish movie, "Journey to the Sun" (Gunese Yolculuk)
directed by Yesim Ustaoglu will be released in New York. It will
be the third Turkish movie to be screened in New York. The movie
tells the story of the friendship between a Turkish boy and a
Kurdish boy. Ustaoglu stated she characterized a local story with
a universal perspective. "Journey to the Sun" was awarded the
Blue Angel Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
/Cumhuriyet/
The Turkish service of the VOA (Voice of America) will not be
closed. The US Secretary of State prevented the service from
being closed. However, the broadcasting period was reduced to 15
minutes from 45 minutes. /Cumhuriyet/
Columnist Semih Idiz comments on Turco-Georgian relations. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's visit was widely
covered by the Turkish press. However, I do not believe that its
significance has been stressed as it should. To view this as only
a protocol or regular visit would be wrong as it has an important
background plan. Russia has not ended its ploys to regain its
influence in the Caucasus. The tool of Russia in pursuing this
policy is none other than Armenia who does not deny the fact.
Yerevan states that the presence of Russian soldiers in her
territory is a must against Turkish threat. Armenian Defense
Minister Sergei Sarkisian repeated this argument only yesterday.
However, it is doubtful if these troops are stationed in Armenia
against an imaginary Turkish threat or to use Armenia as a
stepping stone by Moscow in the Caucasus.
Meanwhile Sarkisian has shown that Armenia does not have a clear
idea on matters. He said that Armenian-NATO relations formed a
guarantee for the security and independence of the country. Both
Russia and NATO are guarantees?
In fact, Russian Head of State, Putin's recent visit to
Azerbaijan was concerned with the 'NATO' aspect of the matter.
Putin was concerned over the fact that Azerbaijan is moving
towards NATO and American camps. Therefore, with a visit to Baku
he tried to regain Azerbaijan. He even apologized for the
Azerbaijanis who were run over by the Soviet tanks and laid a
wreath on the monument erected in memory of the fallen.
Armenians were angered by this action. Armenian television said,
'Those Azerbaijanis were killing us, and Russians saved us from
them. How can Putin apologize?' There is a fine point missed by
Yerevan. Moscow is supicious of her closeness to both Russia,
NATO and the US. Armenian Head of State Robert Kocharian's close
ties with the Armenian community in the US increases this fear.
Some Russians have already begun to say that such a policy would
make Armenia the weakest point in the Caucasus policy. Therefore,
I believe that Putin's historical visit to Azerbaijan passing
under warm circumstances is in fact a warning to Armenia.Thus,
Putin wants to say 'Do not automatically rely on me. I may
withdraw my support in accordance with the games you are
playing.'
Another chain in the Caucasus games is Georgia. This small, frail
and economically weak country is trying to hold her head high
despite all. In doing so, she does not want to come under the
wings of Russia saying, 'I have gained my independence and cannot
jeopardize it once more.' Therefore, she is viewed suspiciously
Russia who is trying to further weaken Geogia.
First of all, Russia blamed Tblisi for supporting Chechnian
guerillas. The Russians then tried to incite the minorities,
which also closely concern Turkey against the Government. As if
trying to split up the country, Moscow unexpectedly began to
require visas for citizens living in certain regions of Georgia.
This being the case, Shevardnadze wanted to draw Turkey, an
important regional power, to his side. Ankara, even though she
does not agree on the issue of minorities with Georgia, attaches
great importance to these relations. The military aspect of the
relations which came to the fore gained a meaning within the
framework of the background plan I have tried to explain. In
brief, the games over the Caucasus are continuing. It is not
known how they will end."
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the reactions to the approval of
the bill on the so-called Armenian Genocide by France. A summary
of his column is as follows:
"Turkey has to be selective in determining short and long term
strategies against the Armenian problem which has taken on an
international dimension, in view of the new situation arising
from the French approval of the so-called Armenian Genocide bill.
If Ankara cannot select her aims and means in the fight against
this campaign which has spread to a wide area, the steps taken
will not give the desired result and may resul in a backlash
against Turkey. Therefore, the response to be given to a negative
stance taken by France or any other country should be based on
pre-planned strategies, rather than a show of anger and
retaliation.
The measures to be taken against France, following the
indignation shown by the whole nation should in fact hurt them or
teach them a lesson. Just after the approval of the French
National Assembly, people were inclined to bring measures which
would not be of any use. At least, the general public has
understood the nonsense of such practices. In fact, aside from a
few tenders of great volume, economic measures will not shake the
French economy. The important thing is to reduce the law accepted
by France into a dead piece of paper. Such laws which do not have
any importance are frequently forgotten. Certainly we have to
show some reaction and respond by retaliatory measures.
However, we have to correctly evaluate the role of the Armenian
powers which worked for the approval of such resolutions and
determine the strategy according to it. Those who closely follow
the issue believe that although Yerevan is an important actor
within the campaign, the real forces behind it are the radical
Armenian organizations. In fact, even when Armenia was not
independent, these organizations within the world Armenian
community were continuing their campaigns against Turkey. Today,
these radical Armenian groups in various countries stretching
from Canada to Australia, the US to France are harping on the
theme of genocide and trying to keep problem alive. From time to
time, these groups help Yerevan with moral and material support.
Certainly, Armenia is in cooperation with these groups.
Therefore, the sincerity of Armenian President Kocharian's
statement that Armenia does not have any territorial or
compensation demands from Turkey is doubtful. Is he ready to
reiterate these words in a more offical and binding manner? This
is worth finding out."
