TRUST IN FUTURE DECREASES BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
The two-day working visit to Ankara by Greek Foreign Minister
George Papandreou ended Friday on a high note with concrete
results obtained on various projects, although no headway was
reported on sensitive political issues concerning the Aegean. A
commitment by the two countries to adhere to the Ottawa
Convention on land mines featured among the highlights of the
visit by the Greek Foreign Minister. But, Papandreou's proposal
that Turkey, like Greece, cut its defense spending met with a
lukewarm response from Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Cem pointed
out that Greece was not Turkey's only security concern. On the
other hand following decisions were taken at the meeting: 1.The
road connecting Istanbul and Greece will be turned into a
highway. 2.Youth camps will be established on the border between
Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria. 3.Turkish contractors will undertake
some construction projects in Greece for the 2004 Olympics.
4.Greece will extend the scope of the day-passes it issues to
Turkish visitors to Greece. 5. Both sides will cooperate on the
transportation of Central Asian, Azeri or Egyptian natural gas to
Europe through their territories. Turkish officials pointed out
that adhering to the Ottawa Convention means a greater commitment
to the anti-mine effort by Turkey than first meets the eye,
because it will also cover mine clearing along the borders with
Bulgaria, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria. /Turkish News/
Finnish expert, Juha Kahkonen, recently appointed to the Chief of
Turkey Desk as Carlo Cottarelli's replacement, arrived in Turkey
yesterday. Cottarelli met with Kahkonen last night. Stating he
could not comment on allegations charging the IMF with
responsibility for Turkey's recent economic crisis, Cottarelli
said, "The new Chief of Turkey Desk is a really successful
person. He previously worked at the implementation of a very
successful program in Bulgaria. I am sure he will also be very
successful in Turkey." Cottarelli and Kahkonen met with Economics
Minister Kemal Dervis at the Treasury Undersecretariat and
discussed the details of the new economic program. /Star/
Turkey will face extremely critical days this week. The economic
program, which the Minister of Economics Kemal Dervis has been
working on for weeks will be declared this week. Dervis is
expected to make the declaration Wednesday. The Turkish
Parliament also has a busy schedule this week. /Star/
Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli
said, "Whoever has searched for answers outside the parliament or
looked to anti-democratic solutions during periods of economic
crisis have always failed thus far. There is no national will for
the formulas of technocrats or a national consensus government.
Civilians should not exceed the limits of democracy when trying
to defend their rights." / Star/
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) delegation returned
from the US after holding contacts with the new US
Administration. The delegation, chaired by the TGNA Foreign
Affairs Commission Kamran Inan, met with representatives from the
new US Administration in New York and Washington. /Cumhuriyet/
The Greek daily, To Vima, alleged Greece decided to decrease her
military purchases after learning about certain articles of the
agreement between Turkey and the IMF. The paper claims the IMF
demanded Turkey reduce her military purchases, from the current
4.6 % of the Gross National Domestic Product (GNDP), to 3.5 % in
order for Turkey to receive 1,2 billion in aid. To Vima alleges
that upon learning of the IMF's condition, the Greek government
decided to reduce her own military purchases too. Meanwhile,
Elephterotipia, another Greek daily, claimed the Greek Ministry
of Defense disagrees with the Greek Government's decision to
reduce military expenditures. The paper said, "The Greek Ministry
of Defense opposes the decrease as it means missing a historic
opportunity to bridge the military gap between the two countries
while Turkey is having to divert funds from military purchase to
the economic recovery. /Star/
Speaking on a TV program, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem warned
Greece and other EU member countries about giving full EU
membership to the Greek Cypriot Administration. He said, "If the
Greek-Cypriot Administration enters the EU, it will lead to a
social chaos violating all balances. Greek Cypriots would never
benefit from such a situation. The EU would also be in trouble."
Disagreeing with allegations stating the Turco-Greek dialogue is
only superficial, Cem said the rate of commerce between the two
countries has increased 50%. The rapprochement brought economic
vitality to both the Aegean and Thracian regions." Stating Greeks
were planning to make great investments in Turkey, Cem added the
cooperation on tourism between the two countries has developed
significantly. He added they reached a consensus on certain
articles of confidence-building measures, and others are still
being discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Omer Izgi completed a 13-day tour
of the Central Asian Countries of
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan returning home
yesterday. On his last stop in Turkmenistan, he was received by
President Saparmurad Turkmenbasi and met with Speaker of
Parliament Sehet Muradov. /Turkish Daily News/
Emphasizing the year old economic recession is continuing in
Europe, Director General of Zurich Investment, Herbert Frohne,
said new financial products should enter the market. He stated,
"Within the economic recession, European Turks constitute an
important ethnic market." He added that products which were already
controlled are attractive for Turkish investors. Financial products
licensed from central controlling organs will be very important
for investments in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
The bill regarding the Central Bank's full autonomy was submitted
to the Prime Ministry. The bill will strengthen the powers of the
Bank's administration, enhance transparency, and increase
supervision of the Bank's accounts. According to the bill, the
Bank will be equipped with new powers in line with EU standards.
The primary aims of the Bank will be to control price stability
and to determine a monetary policy in line with inflation rate
targets. /Milliyet/
In the US Maryland's House of Representatives has approved a
so-called Armenian resolution. The resolution will mark April 24
as a day to commemorate the so-called "Armenian genocide". 78 of
141 representatives voted in favor of the resolution. The
greatest support for the Armenian lobby in Maryland came from the
Greek lobby. US Secretary of State Colin Powell sent a letter to
Maryland's House of Representatives asking them not to pass the
resolution. /Turkish Daily News/
An opinion poll of 1,200 people in 11 provinces shows the public
is behind Dervis and his team. An average of 51 percent of the
people questioned believed Dervis will be successful. This figure
topped 65 percent among high wage earners. According to the
poll's analysis, conducted by the Yontem Research and Advise
Company, the subject most frequently discussed in houses, offices
and schools was the economic crisis. 59 percent of those polled
said they were concerned or even afraid for the future. This
figure rose to 63 percent for the lowest income group. While 41
percent of people polled said the country and the world were in
for worse days ahead, the number of optimistics averaged 36
percent. /Turkish Daily News/
The D-8, a group formed by Islamic developing countries including
Turkey, has agreed to pool their energy sector resources and
establish an energy development fund. According to a report
released after a three-day meeting in Abujea, Nigeria, the D-8
countries will now be able to help each other increase the
quality of their energy products and services by establishing the
fund. The D-8 was founded in 1997 by Turkey, Eygpt, Nigeria,
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan. /Turkish
News/
The Secretary General for the European Union Affairs, Volkan
Vural said it is Turkey, not the EU, that needs to act urgently.
Vural said there would be two major enlargement waves, in 2004
and 2006-2007, adding that Turkey should do whatever it takes to
be in one of those groups. "If we slow the process, the EU has no
intention at all to accelerate it," said Vural. He said the EU
has not asked anything from Turkey that is not asked from other
candidate countries or anything that does not apply to other EU
members. "The coming months and years are critical for Turkey.
Eneacting reforms cannot be left to time. If we leave it to time,
the EU perspective will be nothing, but a remote target. The EU
has been going through its largest enlargement process. Turkey
should not lag behind the other candidates in the next few years.
It is very important that we go ahead with the reforms without
delay." /Turkish Daily News/
Naval Forces Commander, Admiral Ilhami Erdil, traveled to the
People's Republic of China for an official visit at the
invitation of Chinese Naval Forces Commander, Admiral Shi
Yunshen. Admiral Erdil and his accompanying delegation will also
visit the cities of Qingdao, Hangzhou and Shanghai. /Turkiye/
The Treasury will launch a tender of six-month bills tomorrow.
The bills are value dated April 11 and redemption is scheduled
for October 10, 2001. The Treasury is planned to borrow a minimum
of TL 500 trillion at tomorrow's auction. /Turkiye/
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Kursat Tuzmen organized a meeting
in Dubai with Turkish businessmen. Stressing Turkey's need
foreign currency, Kursad said, "We can overcome the lack of
currency by increasing our exports. We have the goods but we are
not using them effectively." On economic relations between Turkey
and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tuzmen said, "The trade
volume between two countries is less than $300 million. We have
to reach at least a $1-billion dollar trade volume." Kursad
Tuzmen then visited UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, Sheikh
Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. /Turkiye/
During the visit by World Bank's Deputy Chairman, Johannes Linn,
to Turkey, important flexibility requirements were obtained in
the conditions of the World Bank's agricultural loan. Previously,
the WB declared it would grant the first $397-million slice in
2001-2004, and the remaining amount of the $600-million
agriculture reform loan in 2004-2006. However, following the
recent meetings, both sides agreed Turkey would receive the loan
in a shorter time depending on the speed of her projects. $166
million of the $397-million loan will be used to restructure the
associations responsible for the sale of agricultural products.
/Turkiye/
While Turkey's European Union adventure continues at full speed,
civilian aviation has opened the doors of the EU. The full
membership application of the Turkish Civil Aviation was
unanimously approved by the Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) in
Brussels Saturday. Turkey became a JAA member after receiving
two-thirds of the votes of JAA members. /Turkish News/
At a press conference in Izmir Friday, Professor Faruk Sen,
Director of the Center for Turkish Studies (TAM) located in
Germany, said Turkey should start the necessary initiatives to
obtain the right to free movement for the Turkish population
within EU countries. Stressing EU countries, particularly
Germany, will officially begin accepting immigrants from outside
EU countries by 2003 due to their decreasing population, Sen said
Turkish people would not benefit from this right, as
Turkey does not have the right to free movement. /Turkish Daily
News/
Yuzey Technologies Company, a small and medium scale enterprise
in Izmir Ataturk Organized Industry Area, will work for the
American defense indusry. The company invested $2.6 million for a
factory where metal surfaces will be ionized making them
resistant to corrosion. /Aksam/
Turkish aircrafts will be serviced free of charge when they land
at Marneuli Airbase in Georgia. Georgian Deputy Defense Minister,
Gela Bejuashvili said the airbase close to Tbilisi was modernized
with financial assistance from Turkey, and according to the
agreement, Turkish aircrafts will be given priority to use the
bases free of charge. /Aksam/
The Singapore-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group is due to
arrive in Istanbul on Saturday. The delegation will be headed by
Lew Syn Pau and is expected to reach the capital on Sunday. The
Singapore-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group Turkish chief
Faruk Demir, will meet with the Singapore delegation Monday
morning in Parliament. The delegation will also visit the Foreign
Trade Under-secretariat and the Foreign Ministry. /Turkish News/
This year's Abdi Ipekci Peace and Friendship Awards will be given
to Voice of America radio directors Taclan Suerdem and George
Bistis for their contributions to Turkish and Greek relations.
Suerdem and Bistis will receive their awards May 3 in Istanbul.
The award was established by Greek citizen Andreas Politakis, and
is presented in Istanbul and Greece once every two years under
the auspices of the United Nations. /Turkish News/
At a conference to introduce the Balkan Employment Project
(BALISTIP) State Minister Abdullah Cay said Turkey should help
foreign students who come to Turkey from the Balkans and Central
Asia. He stated many foreign students did not want to return to
their homes due to poor economic conditions in their own
countries. /Turkish News/
Iraq's capital city of Baghdad is hosting a six-day "Turkish
Films Week". Iraq Cinema and Theater Institute Deputy General
Director, Faisal Elabbashi gave a speech at the opening ceremony
held in Erreshid Hall. Elabbashi said this activity is a crucial
step in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
Elabbashi said the films reflect the social and cultural
structure of Turkey. Turkish ambassador Mehmet Akay gave a speech
as well, saying the relationship between the two countries is
getting closer. /Turkish Daily News/
A "Turkish Bird Atlas" project designed to document Turkey's bird
species, the regions in which they live and their habitats has
been started in Istanbul, Samsun and Kayseri. The studies will be
conducted by ornithologists Sancar Baris, Bahtiyar Kurt and Uygar
Ozesmi. Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
member Hilary-Geoff Welch will be the project's foreign
coordinator. Baris said the project would be completed in five
years. /Turkish News/
Turkey received three awards in the Second Mediterranean
Children's Theater Festival held in Tunisia. Theater groups from
Spain, Italy, France, Lebenon, Algeria and Morocco participated
in the festival. The Turkish play "Yasasin Baris!" (Long Live
Peace!) received three awards, including best director, best
actress and best actor. /Cumhuriyet/
The Second International Port Gocek Regetta Sailing Race will be
held May 14-18 in Mugla. The Turkish Sailing Federation and
Turkish Open Sea Race Club will organize the event. /Aksam/
Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the recent economic crisis. A
summary of her column is as follows:
"A crisis which has upset the economy of a country as well as the
psychology of its people cannot be solved through economic
measures only. When monetary policies and payment plans are
devised, the person faced with a situation where there are no
alternatives should be taken into consideration. The shutting
down or down-sizing of businesses may result in heart spasms for
the employer but what about those who do not have anything to
sell? It is time to listen to the crowds assembling in squares.
Pepole do not trust this Government anymore. But it is not only
the Government which does not inspire trust. People do not
believe in any of the opposition parties either. Those who have
taken on the responsibility to govern the country in the last 20
years should be able to withdraw from politics. Is it necessary
to lose the Chairmanship in a congress? A new era should begin
with new faces. This is what the people who have taken to the
streets are saying. Listen to the voice of the people and do not
lose any more valuable time.
It is no coincidence the World Bank has sent one of its officials
to Turkey to work on projects aimed at saving the women and
children first. This is a lesson learned from economic crises
experienced in Latin America and Asia. As these countries were
taking measures in accordance with their own conditions, they
were also enacting measures for the psychological welfare of the
society. It is important to preserve the psychological health of
the individual and the society. During these periods, the
atmosphere in the society creates such a climate that even the
problems which can be solved seem impossible to get over, and the
things which should be done cannot get started.
During these times the workings of the State, the private sector
and non-governmental organizations all take on a great
importance. While individual aid projects are devised to preserve
both physical and mental health, legal arrangements preventing a
reduction of manpower should be made on the other. For example,
in Thailand the Government increases severance pay during a
crisis enabling the creation of alternative programs decided upon
by workers and employers together. Those who lose their jobs
during the crisis should be supported by non-governmental
organizations. Solidarity funds take on great importance during
these times.
The most important effect of the crisis is the loss of confidence
in the future. New faces and a new beginning are necessary for a
solution of crisis."
