THE REASONS OF THE CRISIS BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
(TURKIYE)
The Banking and Telekom Laws, among the 15 priority
laws, were sent for the approval of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Ruling parties are expecting the ratification of the bills soon, while
opposition claims the bill will turn back from the President, as they
are against the Constitution. The Parliament passed the Banking Bill
on May 11 and Telekom Bill on May 12. /Turkiye/
After the support extended by the US President
George W. Bush, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and Prime Minister
of the European Union's (EU) current term-president, Sweden, Goran
Persson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also said he supported
Turkey to overcome the economic crisis. Blair wrote a letter to Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit and expressed his pleasure over the joint work
carried out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In his letter,
Blair wrote, "I know that this period, in which you try to ensure
a stability in the economy, is very hard. I just wanted to assure you
of our support." /Hurriyet/
Turkey has sent letters to the chairmen of the UN
General Council and UN Security Council stating the Armenian terrorism
was still a threat for the world. Main issues mentioned in the letter
concened the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee in America
(ANCA), Murat Topalyan and the threat caused by the Armenian terrorism
in general. /Cumhuriyet/
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem and
Minister of National Defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu left for Brussels
yesterday to attend EU Foreign and Defense Ministers' meeting.
/Turkiye/
American Jewish Committee and Bnai Brith
International Administration have sent letters to President George W.
Bush stating they supported Turkey and thanking him for his support
and sincerity towards Turkey. They said Turkey would sustain stability
and complete its democratic and financial restructuring to integrate
with Europe within a few years. Stating Turkey deserved support as one
of the closest allies of the US, the Jewish community said the
American support to Turkey must continue. Claiming Turkey's success
was very important for the realisation of the US long-term targets in
the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia, the letters said
American support is vital for Turkey in the economic recession period.
/Cumhuriyet/
Visiting Western Thrace on the occasion of 80th
anniversary of Komotini's annexation to Greece, Greek Parliament
Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis stated in the press conference he held in
Komotini that Greece regards Turkey as a friend. Stating Greece showed
her friendship in Helsinki very clearly, Kaklamanis alleged that
Greece has a consistent policy regarding her relations with Turkey
however Turkey does not react in the way Greece expects. /Cumhuriyet/
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, said the recent European Court of Human
Rights decision which found Turkey guilty left no reason for proximity
talks. Denktas said, "This is not the first ECHR decision which
is biased. This Court is politicised." Stating political struggle
has been continuing in Cyprus for 38 years, Denktas said, "We
would not name a court, which takes decisions privileging
Greek-Cypriot human rights but at the same time ignoring rights of the
Turkish Cypriots, as a Human Rights Court. Claiming the ECHR decision
was a decision solving the Cyprus problem in favour of the Greek
Cypriots, Denktas said, "Giving the chance to apply to the courts
as a state to one party and then trying to bind the other party for
the proximity talks are not in line with justice. Such a stance makes
the proximity talks meaningless." /Cumhuriyet/
France granted the free movement right to the
terrorist organization PKK's so-called presidential council member,
terrorist Riza Altun. Previously, France rejected his demand for
political asylum in July 2000 and gave him residence permission until
June 2001. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced France for
the decision as it will be an example for other PKK terrorists.
/Turkiye/
Iran continues to support the PKK terrorist
organization violating the anti-terror agreement she signed with
Turkey. The investigations of the security forces showed that Iran
continued to support the PKK. It was reported the Iranian Intelligence
Organisation SAVAMA trained PKK militants in military barracks in
Tehran. SAVAMA is reported to change the locations of the PKK
militants in every 10-15 days. It was informed that 50 militants, who
are being trained by Iranian officers would enter Turkey after
completing their training. SAVAMA also helps PKK militants concerning
accommodation and health facilities. /Sabah/
The Federation of Turkish American Associations
(FTAA) and World Turkish Council will hold a joint "Turkish
Reality" symposium for US history lecturers and teachers,
Anatolia News Agency reported yesterday. The symposium will begin on
May 18 at the New York Hilton Hotel. The truth about the Armenian
problem, the so-called Armenian Genocide, and other information about
Turkey will be furnished to participants. Turkey's Ambassador in
Washington Baki Ilkin, FTAA Chairman Egemen Baris and World Turkish
Council Chairman Ata Erim will attend the symposium. Panel discussions
will be headed by Lousville University lecturer Justin McCarthy and
Hunter College lecturer Pierre Oberling. /Turkish News/
The German Bremen State's Second Chairman of the
Red Cross, Ulrike Schreiber, is preparing to apply to the Turkish
Ministry of the Interior to be a Turkish citizen. Schreiber, who began
to live in Dalyan, Turkey, in 1992, said she loved Turkey and the
Turkish people very much. Schreiber was a Deputy of the German
Christian Democratic Party and the Turco-German Community in Bremen
until 1999. She said, "I have always tried to develop the
friendship between Turkey and Germany. I have struggled for the
Turkish people living in Germany for many years. I admire the
revolutions of Ataturk and the country he created. I want to live my
life in Turkey as a Turkish citizen." /Hurriyet/
The Command of the Mine Counter Measures Forces
Mediterranean (MCMFORMED) were hand over to Turkey by Greece yesterday
with a ceremony in Marmaris Aksaz Naval Base Command. Although he was
invited, Greek Naval Forces Commander Vice Admiral Georges
Theodoroulakis did not attend the ceremony. Turkish Naval Forces
Commander Admiral Ilhami Erdil said Turkey has provided MCMFORMED with
minehunters and minesweepers since 1999 and would continue with her
support. Mentioning the recent Rhodes crisis between Turkey and
Greece, Erdil said, "Despite the fact that there are many
alternative transportation ways to Turkey, Greece stated the Commander
would fly over Rhodes, a disarmed region according to the 14th article
of 1947 Paris Treaty, with a military helicopter. Greece also wanted
to land the helicopter on the island of Rhodes while waiting for the
ceremony to end. Turkey conveyed the message that it would be an
honour to host the Greek Commander in the ceremony if he chooses
another way of transportation." /Sabah/
Chinese Land Forces Commander and Deputy Chief of
General Staff, General Shugen Qian, visited the Army Command in the
Aegean province of Izmir, as part of his official visit to Turkey.
This visit was scheduled as part of a prior invitation by Turkish Land
Forces Commander Hilmi Ozkok. He was welcomed by a military ceremony
by the Aegean Army Commander General Cetin Dogan upon arrival at the
command's headquarters. Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Qian
said that he and the delegation accompanying him expressed the
friendly views of the Chinese people to Turkey. /Turkish News/
The 12th Pan-European Cooperative Research and
Development (EUREKA) inter-parliamentary conference will be held in
Madrid on May 16-18, Anatolia News Agency reported yesterday.
Democratic Left Party (DSP) Adana Deputy Ali Tekin, Nationalist
Movement Party (MHP) Agri Deputy Nidai Seven and Virtue Party (FP)
Bursa Deputy Altan Karapasaoglu will depart for Madrid today as the
delegation representing the Turkish Parliament. EUREKA aims to
establish and develop joint projects to research highly competitive
technologies and services between small and medium-sized companies in
Europe. /Turkish News/
The Southeastern European Countries Cooperation
Process (SECCP) interior ministries' annual meeting will be held in
Tirana on May 16, Anatolia News Agency reported yesterday. The Foreign
Ministry has issued a statement saying that Deputy Undersecretary
Ambassador Yigit Alpogan will participate in the meeting as Turkey's
representative. The decisions which came out of previous meetings of
the SECCP and other international events will be evaluated in the
meeting, the statement said. Every year, one member country holds the
SECCP chairmanship and once a year a presidents' and government
leaders' summit and a foreign ministers' meeting are held. /Turkish
News/
Virtue Party (FP) will submit its final plea to the
Constitutional Court today concerning the closure of the party. The
case was opened due to the allegations that the Virtue Party is the
successor of the Welfare Party which was previously closed and a
center for the anti-secular movements in Turkey. The final plea will
be given by FP Deputy Mustafa Kamalak. After listening to the verbal
plea, President of the Constitutional Court Mustafa Bumin will
determine a specific date for the delegation to give the final
decision on the case. /Cumhuriyet/
The cabinet has decided to provide aid and
subsidies to the southern province of Antakya, which was badly hit by
heavy rainfall. Announcing the results of a one-and-a-half hour
Cabinet meeting on Monday to the press, State Minister Rustu Kazim
Yucelen said he, together with Agriculture Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp
and State Minister Mustafa Yilmaz, briefed the Cabinet about the flood
disaster in the province. They were visiting the region last week.
"Our government has said that it would display the same
sensitivity over this disaster it has so far displayed for all other
natural disasters," Yucelen told reporters. Accordingly, the
government has postponed the tax due date for tradesmen and artisans
in Antakya by two months. /Turkish News/
Two cargo ships, one Greek and the other Turkish,
were confined to the Greek port of Neapolis pending an investigation
into their collision late Sunday. No injuries or serious damage were
caused by the incident that occured near the island of Kythria, about
200 kilometres (124 miles) southwest of Athens. The Turkish vessel had
16 people on board and was carrying iron, while details of its route
were not immediately known. /Turkish Daily News/
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive
Directors' meeting will be held in Washington today. During the
meeting, Turkey's 30-page Letter of Intent will be discussed. The
letter which includes the new economic program and the $14.3-billion
loan to Turkey is expected to be ratified. Following the approval,
$3.9 billion will be released soon. /Turkiye/
Belgium Minister of Finance Didier Reynders, who
arrived in Turkey on Sunday, met with Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral
after a breakfast with State Minister for Economics, Kemal Dervis.
Reynders said, "Turkey presented her program to the IMF. This
plan is important for Turkey to enter the EU." /Turkiye/
A commentary in The Wall Street Journal said even
if Turkey cannot implement the reforms and use loans efficiently, the
US cannot stop her aid to Turkey. As Turkey is a NATO member and a
base for operations against Iraq, the article said, in every case the
US continues to aid Turkey. /Turkiye/
The Transportation Pipeline Company (BOTAS)
declared the gas purchase from Russia will begin in January or
February 2002 in the scope of the Blue Stream Project. The pipes
produced in Japan and then processed in Malaysia will be transported
to Turkey. The pipes are expected to be installed beneath the Black
Sea at the beginning of September. /Turkiye/
Turkish Petroleum Joint Company (TPAO) announced
$10.2 million was spent for oil exploration in Southeastern Anatolia
last year. According to the statement, during last 13 years, 612,471
meters of drilling has been carried out. /Turkiye/
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) index increased by
117 points and ended the day with 11,896 points yesterday. The rates
of the shares in the IMKB rose by 0.99 points. /Hurriyet/
Nobel prize winner, economist Harry M. Markowitz,
came to Turkey as the guest of Sabanci University and answered the
questions of the journalists before the conference at Sabanci
University. While replying to the question of a journalist concerning
the privatization, Markowitz said, "Privatization is useful but
great attention should be paid while privatizing. Every privatization
effort may not be successful. In California, where I live, the
electricity privatization is an unsuccessful example." /Hurriyet/
Milet Publishing will issue a selection of the
books of Buket Uzuner titled "A Cup of Turkish Coffee" in
Britain. The selection consists of Uzuner's stories. Milet Publishing
will also publish the books of other Turkish writers including Aziz
Nesin, Rifat Ilgaz and Furuzan. /Cumhuriyet/
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the recent
crisis, its reasons and effects. A summary of his column is as
follows: "Foreign pressure on Turkey has increased. Crisis in the
country activates the negative factors abroad. This is the general
rule. As we have repeated many times Turkey's problems abroad will
lessen as much as she gets closer to Europe, and increase to the
extent she will move away from it. We are on the verge of being
treated as a country beyond the borders of the European system. The
reason why they cannot pressurize us further is our ties with NATO and
the Customs Union. However, the European Union is determined to take
the Greek-Cypriot Administration as a member to the organization. The
US follows a similar policy. They want to carry out this decision by
getting the Turkish approval and not inspite of her. The policy of
maintaining the status quo has come to an end. This had gone on long
enough. Russians are deploying missiles in Armenia, close to our
borders. The situation on our eastern and southern neighbours is known
by all. There is no problem with Georgia. Relations with Bulgaria and
Greece are improving. As these countries began to adhere to the
European standards they are acting more wisely. Armenian and Kurdish
issues will last for a long time and occupy our agenda in the future
too. However, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on
Cyprus is in the forefront now. It is apparent that such a decision
which considers Turks in Cyprus as second class citizens outside the
European system and believes Greek-Cypriots to be worthy of modern
human rights is devoid of all legal and humane considerations. It
cannot be implemented. However, it will always hang over us as the
sword of Damocles. Turkey has suspended all problems in the Balkans,
the Caucasus and Central Asia because of the economic crisis. We are
faced with all these problems because we have discussed the principles
of modern civilization standards too long and hesitated in adopting
them claiming we had special conditions."
