ISMAIL CEM'S US VISIT BY H.MESUT HAZAR (TURKIYE)
The Presidential chief clerk and foreign relations senior
advisor, Tacan Ildem, announced President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's
desire for everyone to put aside their personal interests, and
bring feelings of unity, togetherness and solidarity to the fore
so the current difficulties can be overcome. "In connection with
this, and in a manner reflecting the support which will be given
by the public, the President is resolved to support steps taken
by the government and the Turkish Parliament to pass the laws
that are needed. "continued Ildem. President Sezer is reportedly
concerned about public support for the program. "He is very
concerned about the people's lending their full support to the
austerity measures being enacted without falling into despair.
Sezer will act in a calm and collected manner, to contribute to
the atmosphere of confidence in the markets and in our economy,
without engaging in speculative commentary." said Ildem. /Turkish
Daily News/
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi continues his Central Asian trip.
Izgi arrived in Bishkek. Kyrgyz Parliamentary Speaker, Abdigani
Erkebaev, and the Ambassador of Turkey welcomed Izgi at Manas
airport. /Star/
Yesterday, State Minister Kemal Dervis and Minister of Finance,
Sumer Oral convened the high-level economic bureaucrats. Following
the four-hour meeting, Dervis told reporters they discussed
budget figures. Pointing to changes in macro-economic budget
values caused by the floating foreign exchange policy, Dervis
said, some amendments are necessary. Dervis added approximately
$3.5-billion in additional finance sources, equal to 1.5% of the
gross national product, is needed. The working meeting is
expected to continue today. /Turkiye/
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem returned from his visit the US. He
had been the official guest of US Secretary of State Colin
Powell. Deputy Speaker at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Huseyin Dirioz said Cem's visit was productive and beneficial in
terms of improving both their personal relationship and bilateral
relations with Turkey and the US. /Cumhuriyet/
Parliament may begin debates this week on a series of laws
envisaging radical economic reforms to fight against the bitter
economic crisis. The bills would be given priority in case they
are sent to Parliament for debate and ratification. Parliamentary
Deputy Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu said 15 reform bills could be
enacted in 15 days once they are brought onto the Parliament
agenda. The opposition Virtue Party(FP) said it would give full
support in the course of the debates. /Turkish News/
The State of Arkansas has recognized the so-called Armenian
genocide and its victims by declaring April 24 as the US
Commemoration Day. The State Governor has issued a decree
recognizing the so-called genocide. Distorting historical facts,
the decree states Turkey rejected paying indemnity to the
Armenians. Meanwhile, Armenian lobbies harshly criticized
Secretary of State Colin Powell's stance against recognition of
the so-called Armenian genocide. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkey is preparing to recognize Democratic People's Republic of
Korea. It was stated the Foreign Ministry has completed
diplomatic works between the two countries on the issue, and the
Council of Ministers will be ready to officially recognize the
country soon. After peace talks between South and North Korea,
Turkey decided to recognize North Korea. Turkey waged war against
North Korea 50 years ago, jointly with the American army, in
support of South Korea. 751 Turkish soldiers were killed during
the war. /Cumhuriyet/
Minister of National Education, Metin Bostancioglu, traveled to
Paris to attend the National Education Ministers meeting of the
OECD countries. /Sabah/
State Minister Yuksel Yalova traveled to London to attend a
conference titled "Turkey and Privatization". Yalova said, "We
should increase the international community's confidence in
Turkey." /Sabah/
Two policemen were killed in an ambush in Bahcelievler, Istanbul.
Two terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons on a police car
on patrol. Security forces started wide-ranging operation to
capture the terrorists. /Star/
The Black Sea Naval Cooperation Group (BLACKSEAFOR) agreement
will be signed by the representatives of six countries in Istanbul
today. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will sign the agreement on
behalf of Turkey. BLACKSEAFOR is a novelty as countries in
opposing camps during the Cold War era, are cooperating for the
first time in the Black Sea. The agreement foresees security and
control of maritime traffic, control of environmental protection,
search and rescue, humanitarian aid, protection and control of
fisheries. /Aksam/
Alan Makovsky, one of the US' foremost experts on Turkey, has
said the Bush administration does not see "Turkey near the point
of collapse" in face of the recent economic crisis. Makovsky
states the US wishes to cooperate with Turkey, particularly over
the subject of Iraq, and it is therefore obliged to help Turkey
attain some of its strategic objectives. /Turkish News/
A commemoration marking the 75th anniversary of the
Turkey-Belgium Trade Association, "Days of Turkey-Belgium " gala
was held in Istanbul. The Belgian Parliament's House of
Representatives Chairman, Herman DeCroo, said in his opening
speech, he had noticed Turkey's efforts to adapt to the EU's
criteria. He stated the gala was a good opportunity to enhance
relations between Belgium and Turkey in commerce and other on
topics. He was one of three politicians who claimed Turkey's
candidacy before the Helsinki Summit in 1999. /Turkish News/
Parliament Deputy Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu said in "The Armenian
Problem" panel that Turkey's critical geopolitical location would
always give rise to political intrigue. He stated Turkish and
Armenian people had lived together peacefully for a long time,
but Armenians were exploited by other countries for their
political and economic benefit. /Turkish News/
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, accompanied by a delegation flew
to the US. Gurel will listen to and discuss problems facing the
Turkish community in America. He will discuss these problems with
US officials and with representatives of nongovernmental
organizations during his visit. /Turkish Daily News/
Participants and speakers at the 11th Antalya International
Security and Cooperation Conference said Turkey should not be
excluded by the European Union from the European Security and
Defense Policy (ESDP) process. Under the ESDP, the EU wants to
create a military rapid reaction force using NATO capabilities.
Talks on the project have remained deadlocked for many months as
Turkey is resisting further developments. Turkey blocked a
preliminary deal between NATO and the EU last December despite
pressure from its key NATO ally, the United States. Turkish
Parliament Deputy Speaker Vecdi Gonul, said a common solution
satisfying both sides must be found on the ESDP issue. NATO
Deputy Secretary-General Sergin Balanzin also said ESDP can only
be successful if all relevant European countries take part in the
process. /Turkish Daily News/
Officials from the Central Bank and the Treasury will convene
today. The formerly issued low interest bonds will be exchanged
with the new foreign currency indexed state bonds in order to
decrease the funding costs and burden of the banks. /Milliyet/
The count-down began for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline
Project. The firm which will undertake the engineering services
for the project, will be chosen in a couple of months. BOTAS is
expected to evaluate offers given by three consortiums,
including American, British and German firms. The winner will be
declared in two months at the latest. Construction work on the
pipeline is scheduled to begin in 2002 and completed in 2005.
/Turkiye/
The Turkish Parliamentarians Union (TPU) will hold a symposium on
"Turkish-Armenian Affairs Trough History" on April 13-14.
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi and TPU Chairman Zeki Celiker are
expected to deliver speeches at the inauguration. Academicians
from Britain, Russia, Armenia and Bulgaria will also make
presentations during the symposium. /Turkish News/
Three State banks, Ziraat, Halk and Emlak, will hold their
general conventions before merging their administrations as part
of the priority measures announced by State Minister for the
Economy, Kemal Dervis. The three bank's total paid-in capital was
increased to TL 3.5 quadrillion. The Treasury Undersecretariat
will borrow TL 3 quadrillion to finance the banks' capital
increase. Ziraat Bank will convene April 3 and raise its capital
to 1.5 quadrillion. Emlakbank will increase its capital to 750
trillion and hold its general convention April 16. At the same
time, Halkbank will raise its capital investment to 1.25
quadrillion. /Turkish News/
The Turkish Naval Forces' planned Sea Star tactical maneuvers
will take place between April 2-10 in the Marmara and Black seas.
Frigates, speedboats, submarines, and back-up elements attached
to the Turkish Naval Forces, and aircraft attached to the Turkish
Air Force will take part in the maneuvers. The maneuvers will
improve the cooperation skills between sea and air units.
/Turkish News/
Ertan Gonen was re-elected chairman at the Red Crescent (Kizilay)
Congress meeting yesterday. 30 members of the Kizilay's General
and Controllers Council were also elected during the meeting.
/Cumhuriyet/
The MERNIS project, carried out by the Ministry of Interior
Affairs, has began to distribute TC Identification Numbers via
the Internet since March 12, 2001. The MERNIS project allows
officials to keep identification number files on the Internet. 70
thousand citizens have learned their identification numbers from
the following web-site address: http://www.tckimlik.nvi.gov.tr
/Cumhuriyet/
The global executive search firm, Heidrick & Struggles
International, opened a branch in Istanbul. The headhunting
company focuses on identifying, evaluating and recommending
qualified candidates for senior level executive positions. The
company provides executive search services primarily on a
retainer basis for its clients. H & S International also serves
the Common Wealth of Independent States. /Aksam/
The Foreign Trade Undersecretary will undertake promotional
activities to attract more importers to Turkey. Commercial
delegations will act as middlemen with those countries Turkey
would like to improve commercial relations, such as Britain, the
People's Republic of China, Tunisia and Kuwait. Officials said
delegations help promote Turkey as well as open new markets.
/Aksam/
The Owner of Class Hotel, Nedim Cizmeci, who established the
first five star hotel in Diyarbakir, said his group will carry
out tourism initiatives in Southeastern Anatolia Region, and
beginning in Diyarbakir. Cizmeci said a five hotel star, under
construction since 1993, has been completed in Diyarbakir. He
added they would invite officials from the Tourism Ministry to
the hotel's opening ceremony in the following days. /Aksam/
Prof. Faruk Sen, Chairman of the Turkish Research Center, based
in Essen, Germany, said a real boom in tourism is expected this
year. he said, "More than three million Germans are planning to
spend their holiday in Turkey this year, about 1,650 million
prefer the Antalya region." /Turkiye/
Akmerkez won another award in a competition organized by the
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). In the March
21,'ICSC Europe Marketing Awards' ceremony held in Turin, Italy,
Akmerkez was presented an award in " Shop Windows Display
Competitions" category. Previously, Akmerkez Shopping Center had
received other international awards. /Turkiye/
Finansbank Netherlands N.V. opened new branches in Berlin and
Munich. The Bank will open branches in Dusseldorf and Vienna in
the coming days. /Sabah/
The Union of World Aqua Parks journal "Splash" published an
article on Turkey's largest aqua park "Aqua Fantasy". Aqua
Fantasy is near Kusadasi and opened last year. The park has 5,000
daily person capacity. /Aksam/
A cartoon competition will be held around Europe with Turkey as
its theme. The "Europe Cartoon Festival and Competition",
organized by the European Cartoon Organization Federation (FECO)
will be held using Turkey as its theme "Deventer Honeyed Cookies
with Turkish Coffee." The festival will be held in Deventer, the
Netherlands. There will be a great number of participants from
all over Europe. The competitors must answer the question, "How
will Turkey and Europe change with Turkey's integration into
Europe?". /Turkish News/
Columnist H. Mesut Hazar writes on the reception accorded to
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem during his visit to the US. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"Foreign Minister Cem received a great amount of attention in
Washington. Foreign Ministers visiting the US generally meet with
their counterparts, however the new Bush Administration accorded
a better welcome to Ismail Cem. The Foreign Minister paid a visit
to the US at the invitation of the US Secretary of State Colin
Powell. He also met with White House National Security Chief
Advisor Condoleeza Rice, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. This line-up shows the significance
the US Administration attached to Cem's visit. The importance
given to his visit also revealed itself when the US
Administration discussed economic issues with Ismail Cem.
The interest shown in Cem was not limited to the US
Administration. The speech he delivered at the Turkish-American
Business Council, the bilateral talks he conducted with Grossman,
an important figure in the US State Department, and the views held
by the US press are indicators of the close interest in Cem. Cem
addressed a large crowd at the Washington Institute, an important
think tank replying to the complex questions of his listeners
with skill. However, the success of this visit was the result of
teamwork as Cem included important names in his team, and they
worked closely together.
As a result a more informed, productive climate was created in
the US regarding Turkey. The Foreign Minister stated it gave
Turkey the opportunity to get to know the new Administration. The
purpose of the visit was to ascertain the views of the new
Administration on common problems and voice Turkey's
contributions and experiences on these issues. As Turkey and the
US both expressed their will to improve the present cooperation
between them, the visit achieved its goal."
