EVERYBODY IS WAITING BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Lobbies within the small partner of the Federal Government, Union
90/Greens, will accelerate their attempts to have the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognized and to find a
solution for the Cyprus issue. The TRNC Presidency
Undersecretary, Ergun Olgun, recently held contacts in Berlin and
said they appreciated those attempts in Berlin. Ozcan Mutlu, a
Berlin State Assembly Deputy of Turkish origin said, "After one
and a half years of work, the recognition of the TRNC by the
Greens European Work Group is an important step towards a
solution. Turkish Cypriots are exposed to various boycotts
however, these people are not at fault. We will discuss the issue
within our party." Claiming that without official recognition of
the TRNC, the problem could never be solved permanently, Mutlu
said, "The sides would be equal only after TRNC'c recognition by
the Western countries. This is why we took such a decision."
/Cumhuriyet/
Before making his one-day working visit to Turkey, Israeli
Foreign Minister Simon Peres had openly supported the Turkish
view regarding Armenian allegations. Peres said, "History should
be left to the historians." Replying to the Armenians' claim that
they were victims of genocide, Peres said, "We oppose this
definition. What happened to the Armenians was a tragedy, not a
genocide." On the other hand, pointing to very good relations
between Turkey and Israel, Simon Peres said during his meetings
with Turkish authorities bilateral relations will be discussed,
as well as recent developments in the Middle East. /Turkiye/
10 US House Representatives presented a bill to the Congress, on
behalf of the Armenian and Greek lobbies, asking for greater
sensitivity over Turkish demands to islands in the Aegean. The
bill reminds the US that it is also a party to the Lausanne and
Paris Agreements which determined the borders in the Aegean Sea,
and argues that the Turkish government demanded islands in the
Aegean which belong to Greece according the above-mentioned
agreements. /Cumhuriyet/
Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan will
pay an official visit to Turkey between April 10 and 12.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Kavan
will be received by Parliamentery Speaker Omer Izgi, Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, as
well as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem during his stay in Ankara.
Kavan and his delegation will travel to Istanbul April 12 to come
together with the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) and
Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (KEIK) officials
there. The visiting minister will leave Turkey on the same day.
/Turkish Daily News/
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said the government should
be determined and work together in harmony. Addressing
yesterday's Ministers Council meeting, Bahceli pointed out the
57th government ensured political stability and peace in the
country. He added the government had started a three-year
economic program. Stating positive results were obtained in the
first year, Bahceli said, however, the recent economic crisis has
created some problems in the society. He said, "Certain circles
are trying to turn the economic crisis into a political
crisis."/Turkiye/
The Parliamentary Advisory Committee will decide today whether or
not to bring onto the weekly parliamentary agenda a censure
motion from the opposition True Path Party(DYP) against Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit on matters concerning agriculture policy.
Meeting at the Motherland Party(ANAP) parliamentary group meeting
hall on Monday, representatives of the coalition parties decided
the Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from the five
political parties represented in Parliament, would convene
Tuesday. The committee will debate a proposal from the coalition
parties, who are trying to extend the working hours of Parliament
in order to have time to debate the DYP's censure motion. Also on
the Advisory Committee agenda is a parliamentary investigation
proposal by the opposition Virtue Party (FP) against Deputy Prime
Minister Husamettin Ozkan. The FP accuses Ozkan of ignoring
inspectors' reports on a series of private banks which were
subsequently bailed-out on the grounds that they were unable to
repay deposits. /Turkish News/
Canadian Minister of Defense Arthur Eggleton, paying an official
visit to Turkey at the invitation of Ministry of Defense, visited
Minister of Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu yesterday. At the
meeting, reportedly, the two ministers discussed NATO and
European Security topics. /Turkiye/
Minister of National Defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said there is
no statement regarding the Turkish Armed Forces in the letter of
intent submitted to the IMF. This is contrary to Greek claims
that Turkey would cut its defense expenditures. Regarding the
Turkish-Greek rapprochement Cakmakoglu said, "Fundamental
contentious issues have not been discussed thus far in the
Turkish-Greek dialogue. We hope our friendship will develop by
finding a settlement to these issues." /Milliyet/
The Chief of the General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu will travel to
China in the upcoming days. On his week-long trip, Kivrikoglu
will also visit South Korea to discuss the arrangement for
artillery procurement embargoed by German authorities. /Milliyet/
A bill foreseeing a change to the Civil Aviation Law that will
affect the privatization of the Turkish Airlines was submitted to
the Council of Ministers. The bill includes articles allowing
license holders to determine the price list. The new price list
will be operational one week after the Transportation Ministry is
informed. Under the former law, Ministry approval was required in
order to implement a new price list. /Sabah/
An 11-member US European Command(EU-COM) team has arrived in
Turkey to evaluate disaster management and intervention
possibilities. According to a statement by the US Consulate in
Istanbul , the team consists of military and civilian specialists
trained in search and rescue, fire, substructure, public health,
communication, naval accidents and hazardous materials. The EUCOM
aid program includes equipment aid for Istanbul, Kocaeli, Ankara,
Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Batman, Hakkari and Van. The emergency aid
package also includes an emergency trauma training program and a
child care program. The aid project hopes to train Turkish
officials to cope with natural disasters such as earthquakes and
fires. The visit is the first installment of a long-term project,
the US Consulate stressed. /Turkish News/
IMF and World Bank delegations have arrived in Ankara. The IMF
delegation will discuss the final version of the economic program
in order to determine the targets and the required financial
assistance. The supplementary letter of intent will be completed
by Thursday. The World Bank delegation will determine the amount
of resources to restructure the state-owned banks and those banks
currently under the control of the Savings Deposit Insurance
Fund(MSF). The amount of monetary sector adjustment credit which
will be given by the World Bank and Japan to Turkey is expected
to increase to $5 billion. /Milliyet/
The State Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis,said, "No one
will allow the IMF to intervene in Turkey's internal affairs," in
response to a question on whether the IMF leaked secrets
regarding Turkey to Athens. Dervis said, "We should only answer
IMF questions regarding the economy and the budget. But, this
program is national in nature. The IMF has justifiable questions
on the general economic balance, but not on the details."
/Milliyet/
As there are widespread tradesman demonstrations protesting the
government all over Turkey after the recent economic crisis, the
government has taken certain measures to protect the economic
conditions of the tradesmen. It was decided to keep the interest
rates of loans taken from Halk Bank and Ziraat Bank at the same
level as before the crisis. A bill concerning the establishment
of big shopping centers, which negatively affect tradesmen,
outside municipality boundaries was sent to the Council of
Ministers yesterday. Minister of State Tunca Toskay said the
decrease in the interest rates on loans taken by tradesmen did
not contradict the economic program. He said two important
decisions were made to provide the tradesmen and farmers with
certain leeway. He said certain facilities in paying off
accumulated tax debts and in paying Social Security taxes would
be provided. /Cumhuriyet/
Two messages were given to Turkey during the meeting of the
European Union (EU) Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in
Luxembourg. EU term president, Swedish Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Anna Lindh, gave information to colleagues on Turkey's
National Programme during a press conference. Lindh considers the
National Programme "an important step" in spite of its
inadequacies. Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, George
Papandreou, also attended the meeting saying he would present the
economic crisis in Turkey to the EU troika so the crisis can be
overcomed. /Hurriyet/
Repair of roads in the East and Southeast regions to support
social and economic development has started, the Anatolia
reported on Monday. An announcement from the State Highways
General Directorate said if they have enough money in the budget,
all the roads will be repaired and the surrounding areas
improved. /Turkish Daily News/
Finance Minister Sumer Oral will represent Turkey at an
unofficial gathering of the EU Finance and Economy Ministers
Council (Ecofin) scheduled to be held in Sweden April 20 to 22,
the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The meeting will
focus on the EU enlargement process and economic crisis
management, Anatolia said. Ministers and central bank officials
from the 13 EU candidate countries will attend meetings for the
first time. This is the follow-up of a decision to include the
candidates in a strategy drawn up in Lisbon. It aims to improve
the EU's competitive strength. /Turkish Daily News/
A Russian delegation of 50 businessmen arrived in Bursa yesterday
to attend a seminar on Russian-Turkish trade opportunities. The
seminar was organized by Uludag Exporters Union (UIB). At the
seminar, Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Exports Deputy Manager
Riza Tuna Turagay said although Turkish-Russian trade relations
had a long history, the tremendous trade potential between the
two countries never materialized. Turagay indicated Turkish
automotive exports to Russia had increased last year, but
textiles and ready-to-wear exports had decreased. He suggested
Turkish and Russian businessmen launch joint ventures in addition
to trading. /Turkish Daily News/
Members of the Executive Council of TUSIAD (Turkish
Industrialists and Businessmen Association) met with high-level
bureaucrats yesterday before their meeting with ministers today.
Stating they would give their full support to the new economic
program to be declared by the Economics Minister Kemal Dervis
soon, TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said the country should not
waste any more time. The TUSIAD delegation will meet today with
Kemal Dervis, Minister of State Responsible for Privatization,
Yuksel Yalova, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. /Cumhuriyet/
The Chairmanship of the Capital Market Council (SPK) will issue
regulations concerning the Fund for the Protection of Investors
that will operate if the mediatory institutions are closed.
Chairman of the SPK, Dogan Cansizlar, said works concerning the
Fund for the Protection of Investors was in its final stage.
/Hurriyet/
Daimler Chrysler has not stopped its investments in spite of the
economic crisis and promoted its new lorry, Axor, last week. It
announced projects to be carried out on 30 April and the first of
May, and thus, gave the message of confidence to Turkey. Daimler
Chrysler AG's Coordinator of Politics and Foreign Affairs,
Matthias Kleinert announced their plans during a meeting in
Istanbul saying they considered Turkey, not only as an important
market, but also as a strategic country east of Germany. Kleinert
said a seminar on the issue of Turkey and Europe will be held 30
April and on 1 May. The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra will stage a
concert in Istanbul. /Hurriyet/
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel stated, upon his return from
American state of Florida, that he had useful meetings with US
representatives in Florida to try and block Armenian initiatives
on the so-called genocide. In his statement at Istanbul Ataturk
Airport yesterday, Gurel said Turkey should improve its relations
with American states as well. Stressing Florida has a very
important geographic situation, Gurel said Turkey could bolster
its trade ties with South America through Florida. Indicating a
Floridan trade delegation would come to Turkey soon, Gurel said
he had very useful contacts with American authorities. /Turkish
Daily News/
The stock exchange and foreign exchange markets are waiting for
the new economic program to be declared. Istanbul Stock Exchange
rates increased by 1.49 % and reached 8359 points. /Cumhuriyet/
The Chairmanship of the Privatization Administration Board has
chosen Deutsche Bank to act as mediator during the public auction
of state owned shares at the Petroleum Office Joint Company. The
Deutsche Bank was chosen from among seven investment banks who
had submitted offers. /Turkiye/
The Egegaz Aliaga Terminal Project will be completed in the
second half of this year. It is the first private sector project
in the natural gas sector in Turkey. The natural gas convertion
terminal, constructed by Egegaz in Aliaga, Izmir, will be the
second largest in the world. Currently, 650 employees are working
on the terminals construction at a cost of $400 million.
/Turkiye/
Man's first step in outer space will be celebrated in various
ceremonies in 24 countries. Middle East Technical University
(ODTU) and TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technical Researches
Institution) have organized a joint celebration program. Stanley
Kubrick's masterpiece "2001:A Space Odyssey" will be screened at
the ODTU campus April 12. /Cumhuriyet/
There has been a boom in the number of tourists visiting Antalya
during the first days of the tourist season. A total of 286
airplanes have landed at Antalya Airport last Friday, Saturday
and Sunday bringing nearly 50,000 tourists to Turkey. 70% of the
airplanes were from Germany, whereas there has been an increase
in the number of airplanes coming from Austria and Sweden. In
addition, charter flights from Russia will begin 15 April.
/Hurriyet/
Turkish Environmental Education Foundation Chairman Erol Gungor
said the foundation was aiming to host Blue Flag 100 beaches and
10 marinas in Turkey. At a conference Gungor said 78 beaches and
12 marinas received the Blue Flag in 2000. "The Blue Flag is an
international environmental award given to beaches and marinas
which meet our stipulations," siad Gungor. /Turkish News/
The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra, the world's best known
orchestra, will come to Turkey for the first time. The Orchestra,
with a history of 120 years, has been staging concerts for 20
years. The Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra has been celebrating its
birthday for 10 years in various countries under sponsorship by
Daimler Chrysler under the title of "European Concerts." It chose
Istanbul's Aya Irini Museum this year for its celebration. The
Berlin Philarmonic Orchestra will stage two concerts at
Istanbul's Aya Irini Museum, on 20 April and 1 May. The concert
will be seen live by 1 billion people from 25 countries.
/Hurriyet/
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent economic crisis and
people's expectations. A summary of his column is as follows:
"As is everyone, foreign countries are also waiting for the
crisis to unfold...All attention is focused on Ankara. The
countries upon whom we have pinned our hopes, are becoming
impatient, waiting to see what Turkey will do before delivering
on their promises of financial aid. When the crisis erupted in
Turkey, some believed that all our friends and allies, in
particular the US, would lend us the money required. Some even
believed the words of support saying financial aid would be given
in no time. The newspapers fanned these expectations with
headlines "Aid is Coming".
We do not know if, at present there is anybody still expecting
any aid from abroad. If so, they will be highly disappointed as
no country is eager to help without first seeing what the Turkish
Government is planning to do. This should be clearly understood,
and priority should be given to domestic resources and reforms.
Therefore, no one should expect any direct economic assistance
from the US. American diplomats are explaining the promises of
support as contributions to help Turkey out of the crisis.
Clearly, this support will be influential with the participation
of finance institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. There
is no question of the US sending money from her own budget.
America is in close touch with G-7 countries and is trying to
form an aid package program with them. The US can give us aid
only within a collective framework.
In the past, Turkey could get direct financial aid. Today it is
not possible considering the different stance of the Bush
administration on foreign aid and the US recession. The same goes
for all other friends and allies. They all say Turkey has to
recover, mobilize her domestic assets, and carry out radical
economic and political reforms.
This policy of wait-and-see can go on for some time. Certainly
the Westerners are aware the importance foreign aid carries in
getting the country through this crisis. However, without knowing
what Turkey will do for certain, they are concerned that any help
they will give will be in vain. Russia is being held up as an
example in how the aid was given and then wasted.
This picture may lead those who expect foreign aid to pessimism.
However, Ankara should have seen the picture by now. Turkey
should not expect foreign aid to come 'in a short while', as the
countries who will lend this aid are still waiting to see what
Turkey will do to get this aid."
