THE BALKANS IN THE PROCESS OF BALKANIZATION AND TURKEY
BY ALI SIRMEN (CUMHURIYET)
Stating that Turkey has entered into a promising phase concerning
financial matters since $16 billion in financial aid would be
received, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he hoped there would
be no obstacles against Turkey in the future. He said, "US
President Bush's letter is a proof that Turkey has entered into a
promising phase. Mr. Bush emphasises the US will be a vanguard in
supporting Turkey in the international arena. We must appreciate
the US, IMF and World Bank's confidence in Turkey. Without this
confidence we could not have reached such a positive phase."
Praising the works of the Turkish Parliament, Ecevit recalled
that a series of measures were taken for the regulation of the
state banks. He added, the bill on the privatization of the Turk
Telekom was sent to the Parliament. He said, "I absolutely
believe that Turkey will overcome the crisis with the
implementation of the new economic program" /Cumhuriyet/
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem travelled to Kosovo yesterday. Cem
conveyed the message that Turkey would not leave Kosovar Turks
alone. He also met with certain Turkish and foreign authorities
including Kosovo Democratic Union Chairman Ybrahim Rugova,
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Kosovo
Mission Chief Daan Everts and UN Kosovo Mission Chief Hans
Haekkerup. Cem conveyed his views on the ways of sustaining
stable peace in Kosovo and maintain the position of Turkish
language in the previous Constitution while preparing the new
Constitution. Cem then travelled to Skopje and met with the
Macedonian President and the Prime Minister. Cem relayed the
message that Turkey was in favor of establishing a national unity
government immediately as NATO and the EU were. Cem returned to
Turkey after completing his meetings in Skopje. /Cumhuriyet/
A message by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on the occasion of
"Disabled Persons' Week" states that Turkey should create
solutions to the problems faced by disabled people in line with
the principles of any social state, and should provide them with
the means to live normal daily lives. Sezer said the ability for
all individuals within society to benefit equally from all rights
and freedoms was a sign of the level of development in that
country. Sezer said, "We should make disabled people productive
and independent. Education is important in this regard." /Turkish
Daily News/
Former US Ambassador to Turkey, Marc Grossman, is currently
visiting Turkey to explain US President George Bush's plan on
establishing a new anti-missile defense system instead of the
Antiballistic Missile Agreement. Turkish side will seek an
answer to the question of what effects this new system will have
on current NATO defense system at negotiations. Turkey is
believes that until present the Antiballistic Missile Agreement
has established an international strategic balance. However,
Ankara at the same time does not oppose to the establishment of
individual country's defense systems. Washington wants to develop
a defense system to protect itself from the threat of countries,
such as Iraq and North Korea. Among the allies of the US, Turkey
is the most vulnerable country to missile attacks and may benefit
from this kind of defense system. /Milliyet/
Following the US President George W. Bush's letter, another
letter of support was received by Turkey from the European Union
(EU). The Prime Minister of Sweden, the Eu Term-President, Goran
Persson, sent a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in which
he wrote, "I believe your government's undertaking to implement a
firmer economic program deserves an exceptional foreign financial
aid." In his letter, Persson also wrote that Turkey's carrying
out her national program would create the conditions necessary
for establishing close relations with the EU. Persson added that
he supported the efforts to overcome the economic crisis in
Turkey. /Hurriyet/
The leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party Mesud Barzani, who
will leave Turkey today, evaluated his contacts with the Turkish
officials yesterday in a press conference. Barzani said Turkey's
concerns over the territorial unity of Iraq were unnecessary.
Barzani also refuted the allegations claiming they supported a
group who left the PKK terrorist organization. He said, "One of
Turkey's concerns is the territorial unity of Iraq. We said
during the meetings that we do not constitute a threat for Iraq
and support Iraq's territorial unity. Other critical issue was
the Turkmens. We have no problem with our Turkmen brothers."
/Cumhuriyet/
People's Republic of China Deputy Chief of General Staff, General
Shugen Quian, will visit Turkey on May 11-17 as the official
guest of Turkish Land Forces Commander, General Hilmi Ozkok,
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to a statement
from the Land Forces Command, General Quian will visit the Aegean
Army commander, the second chief of General Staff, National
Defense Ministry Undersecretary and Air Force Training commander
while in Turkey. The guest commander will also carry out some
studies in several military establishments. He will visit Land
Forces Commander, General Hilmi Ozkok, at the command, after
touring Ataturk's Mausoleum on May 15. He will depart Turkey on
May 17. /Turkish News/
Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk presented their certificates
to the 20 members of the Court of Appeals, who were newly elected
by the Supreme Council for Judges and Prosecutors. Delivering a
speech at the ceremony, Turk said independence of judiciary was
one of the preliminary principles of the rule of law which is
indispensable for the Republic of Turkey. Stating no person or
organ could be influential upon the decisions of the judiciary,
Turk said, "Everybody is equal before law. This is a general
principle relevant for all state institutions. Therefore,
judiciary never discriminates people in terms of their political
ideas. No political idea can affect judiciary." /Cumhuriyet/
Speaking on the 133rd anniversary of the establishment of the
Council of State, Chief Justice Nuri Alan said that society saw
the Council of State as a constitutional body they could trust.
However, Alan criticized the executive and the legislative bodies
for not having any trust in the institution and seeing it instead
as an obstacle.Alan said this attitude had to change at once and
that the executive had to protect the Council of State and hold
it in high esteem. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament
Speaker Omer Izgi and Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan also
attended the ceremony. /Turkish Daily News/
Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Turkey's
Ambassador to France, Sonmez Koksal will return to France to
resume his post. The statement said, "The return of Ambassador
Sonmez Koksal, summoned to Turkey for having consultations
following the approval of the resolution by the French Parliament
on the so-called Armenian genocide, was considered to be
appropriate. The relations with France continue in a framework
determined by the government and announced to the public."
/Milliyet/
Turkey and Iraq agreed to start scheduling railway services after
a suspension of 19 years, official statements from both sides
said. "The two parties have agreed in broad terms to operate a
train between Turkey and Iraq via the Syrian borders," the head
of the Turkish rail department, TCDD, Cahit Soyler said. He said
Turkish, Iraqi and Syrian railway officials will meet in Istanbul
on June 2. Trains from Iraq take 12 hours to reach the Turkish
city of Mardin. /Turkish Daily News/
Delivering a speech at the conference held by the Turkey-Europe
Foundation due to the "Europe Day", Prof. Erdal Inonu said
Turkish nation chose to be a part of the Western world with the
establishment of the Republic of Turkey. He added Turkey's
strategic importance stems not just from geographic conditions
but also from the man power and the power of Turkish military.
Inonu demanded Turkey find ways for cooperation and agreement
with the EU. He said, "We are European but not Western European,
we are from Southeastern Europe. There are significant
differences between the two regions of Europe. Turkey is known as
a bridge between Europe and Asia. However we should not forget
since one cannot live on the bridge, Turkey has to choose where
to live. Turkey has chosen the Western side with the principles
of Ataturk." /Cumhuriyet/
The ambassadors of Australia, South Africa and Switzerland
arrived in Van on an informal visit, Anatolia reported yesterday.
Australian Ambassador Ian Kenneth Forsyth, South African
Ambassador Thomas F. Wheeler, Swiss Ambassador Kurt O. Wyss, met
with Van Governor Durmus Koc at his office and the meeting was
closed to the press. They said to reporters, when leaving, that
they had visited Van as part of a tour of the region. The
ambassadors also visited Mayor Sahabettin Ozaslaner. Ozaslaner
said to the ambassadors that migration was the biggest problem
for Van and the current infrastructure was sufficient for the
city. /Turkish News/
The Sea-Lion 01 Search and Rescue Manoeuvres held with the
cooperation of the civilian and military units within the Turkish
search and rescue institution began yesterday in the
international waters of the Aegean Sea. One general and nine
officers from the US, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Israel, Tunisia,
Russian Federation and Jordan were observers in the manoeuvres.
/Cumhuriyet/
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey guilty of
violating human rights. The decision was taken upon the Greek
Cypriot Administration's fourth application as a state.
Evaluating the ECHR decision as wrong and unacceptable, Ankara
said the decision would not affect Turkey's views on the Cyprus
issue. Ankara said the addressee was not Turkey for the Cyprus
case but the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). A
high-level official from the Foreign Ministry said , "This is a
totally wrong decision which we can never accept. The decision
should be examined by the TRNC authorities." /Cumhuriyet/
The bill on the privatization of entire shares of Turk Telekom
was submitted to Parliament yesterday. The bill will be debated
on Tuesday at the plenary session of Parliament. The bill
foresees that shares owned by foreigners will not surpass 45% of
the total shares. Foreign investors will not have the majority in
administration and supervision. In order to protect national
security, the state will have a privileged share. Satellite
system owned by Turk Telekom will be excluded from the
privatization. /Milliyet/
The government is considering whether to issue an economic fiscal
update in addition to the annual program within the framework of
a public sector spending reform drive. Anatolia news agency
reported that the Treasury Undersecretariat was working to
revise the budget, and enlarge its scope so as to include
guaranteed foreign debts and institutions with revolving funds.
Officials from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund,
the Finance Ministry, the State Planning Organization (DPT) and
the Central Bank are helping Treasury officials in their efforts
to revise the budget. /Turkish News/
The Germany-based Center for Studies on Turkey (TAM) estimated
that the number of Turkish entrepreneurs in the European Union
would rise to 160,000 in 2015, with 120,000 alone in Germany.
According to previous research as by TAM completed in April last
year, there were 73,200 Turkish entrepreneurs in the EU in 1999,
with 55,200 in Germany, and their businesses employ 366,000
people from various nationalities. /Turkish News/
The agreement on the privatization of Telekom bill by the
coalition leaders led to a decline in the state bond interest
rates. The compound interest rates receded to 87%. $14.3 billion
in assistance, expected to be received following the approval of
Turk Telekom and Banking Laws at Parliament, will also have
positive influence on financial markets. /Milliyet/
The director general of "Petrol Ofisi", which was privatized two
years ago, Ertugrul Tuncer said they increased their market share
from 26% to 32% after privatization. Tuncer said in the first
quarter of the year the company's profit increased by 330%
reaching $40.6 million. /Milliyet/
Chairman of the Executive Board of Metro Agency Joint Company,
Baskurt Okaygun, said Turkish printing has made a great deal of
technological investments in the last ten years. He said,
"According to the independent research companies, Turkey will be
one of the biggest printing centers and will render services to a
broader geography. The 9th Printing and Paper Industry Fair,
which will be opened between May 11 and 17 in Istanbul, was not
affected by the economic crisis due to the dynamism of the
Turkish printing sector. /Hurriyet/
Istanbul will host two big international meetings of law at the
beginning of June. International Bar Associations (IBA) will
organize meetings, which will be hosted by the Turkish Bar
Associations. One of them is called 'IBA International Law
Conference' and will be held on 30 May and 1 June. IBA will hold
the meeting of the Executive Board for the first time after 22
years on 2 June, which will be attended by the representatives of
183 countries' bars. /Hurriyet/
Chairman of the Executive Board of Koc Holding Company, Rahmi
Koc, went to Sanliurfa yesterday to make observations at the
Koc-Ata Battery-farm and Trakmak. Rahmi Koc visited Governor
Muzaffer Dilek and Mayor Ahmet Bahcivan and said his aim was to
observe the Koc-Ata Battery-farm and Trakmak and that he would
make a detailed explanation following the visit. Bahcivan said,
"Sanliurfa is considered to be the center of the Southeastern
Anatolian Project (GAP). Koc Holding Company led Turkish industry
in many areas. We wish the continuation of the investments."
/Hurriyet/
A one percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT) rates
will take effect from May 15, according to a Cabinet resolution
published in yesterday's Official Gazette. The resolution raises
the overall VAT rate from 17 to 18 percent and the VAT on luxury
goods from 25 to 26 percent. Cabinet has powers to boost VAT
rates up to 40 percent. The Finance Ministry expects TL 400
trillion additional revenue through the most recent VAT raise,
the Anatolia news agency reported. /Turkish Daily News/
The 17th meeting of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC)
and the Permanent Committee of Commercial Cooperation (ISEDAK)
ended yesterday. State Planning Organization Undersecretary, Akin
Izmirlioglu, made a speech at the meeting and said, "The efforts
should be increased so the private sector participates much more
in the economic cooperation activities among the member
countries." /Hurriyet/
Migros Turk is continuing its Ramstore investments abroad.
Ramstore Belyaeva Mall foundation will be laid today in Moscow.
Chairman of the Ramstore Executive Board and Migros Director
General, Oktay Irsidar said the facility will cost $18 million.
Additionally, following Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in the
east, on May 18 Ramstore Sofya, the first one in the west, will
be opened in Bulgaria. /Turkiye/
Turkey was included among 20 countries, attracting a greatest
number of tourists in the world last year with 9.6 million. She
also came 14th regarding tourism incomes with a 1.6% share in the
world. According to the Association of Turkish Tourism Investors,
number of tourists in the world in 2000 was 698.3 million and
tourism incomes were $475.8 billion. /Turkiye/
Investment bank Merill Lynch said positive expectations for the
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) are prevailing. Recalling that
foreign exchange currency risk decreased, Merrill Lynch pointed
out that this situation decreased the probability of a decline in
the IMKB. The bank also suggested its investors to increase their
investments in Turkish shares. /Turkiye/
IMF Foreign Affairs Director, Tom Dawson, said Turkey deserved an
strong international support and received it. He pointed out
Turkey prepared a detailed economic program and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) welcomed it. Turkey's economic program will
taken up by the IMF Executive Directors Board's next Tuesday
meeting and it will most probably be approved. Then, the first
installment of the IMF loan is assumed to arrive in Turkey next
week. State Minister for Economics, Kemal Dervis, previously said
$3.9 billion is expected in May. /Turkiye/
The European Jury established within the framework of the
European Environmental Education Foundation declared the
countries that will receive Blue Flag Awards this year. 99
beaches and 11 marinas from Turkey will be presented the award.
/Cumhuriyet/
A lecturer from Ankara University, Dentistry Faculty, Prof. A.
Nuri Yazicioglu, was elected Chairman of the 6th Balkan
Stomatological Society unanimously, which was organized in the
capital of Romania, Bucharest. For the first time a Turkish
dentist was elected as the chairman of a professional
organization in the Balkans, during the General Council, attended
by the lecturers and dentists from the Balkan countries.
/Hurriyet/
Arif Mardin has been named "Man of the Year" by the
Nordoff-Robbins Music Foundation, a charitable organization
involved in providing therapy for autistic and other seriously
disabled children. The award ceremony will take place at New
York's one of the most prominent hotels, Essex House.
/Cumhuriyet/
The award ceremony of the 9th Fujifilm 2000 European Press
Photography Contest took place in Copenhagen yesterday. Izzet
Keribar received an award at the ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
Columnist Ali Sirmen writes on the recent developments in the
Balkans and its impact on Turkey. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"'Balkanization' is a Western expression and explains the
situation of communities which find themselves in intransigent
conflicts due to ethnic, religious or political reasons after
living in harmony together for long years. The Balkans reentered
this process following the disintegration of Yugoslavia's, in
other words Tito's utopia in 1990-1991. Great efforts were
exerted to calm down this chaos, but before a stability could be
achieved, the clashes between the Albanian militia in Macedonia
and the government forces drew the attention of everyone to the
region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has paid an important visit
to Macedonia and Kosovo in such a complex atmosphere. The
proposal to form a national unity government in Albania to
overcome the situation was faced with difficulties when the
Albanian parties put forth the declaration of a cease-fire with
the rebellious Albanians as a pre-condition. At present everyone
is afraid that the fragile situation in Macedonia will further
deteriorate. The number of Albanians crossing over to Kosovo has
reached 10,000 during these clashes where 42,500 troops from 39
countries were not able to heal the wounds of the past as yet. In
the region the tension is ready to explode any minute. When these
facts are taken into consideration it will be clearly seen that
the danger of spreading out of a minute crisis all over is great.
On the other hand, the situation reached with the Dayton
agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina is also fragile. While the
Bosnians tended towards moderate parties, the Serbs and Croatians
favoured the radicals in the elections. This is an indication of
danger for the future. Finally, in Montenegro although those
favoring independence have received 40% of the votes, they have
not abandoned their quest for independence. The only positive
factor in this picture is the promise by moderate Serbian leader
Kusturica for more democracy.
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's visit to Macedonia, in addition to
Kosovo has conveyed Turkey's message concerning the Balkans which
have reentered the Balkanization process. Ankara wants to be an
ally who is consulted more and to have more political and
diplomatic say as a member of NATO and regional country with
Greece towards the path to establishing peace and the shaping up
of the region instead of increasing her contribution. This is in
line with both Turkish and Balkan interests."
