FOR A BETTER SOLUTION BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit visited Antakya which was recently
inundated due to the heavy rain. Stating the disaster of flood
caused a great damage in Antakya, Ecevit said, "As the Turkish
state managed to overcome the problems caused by the 1999
Marmara earthquake in cooperation with Turkish nation, it will
also show the same strength and cooperation for overcoming the
negative consequences of the disaster of flood." Adana Governor
and Crisis Center Chairman Oguz Kagan Koksal informed Ecevit
about the recent conditions in Antakya. /Cumhuriyet/
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, currently holding meetings with EU
authorities in Brussels, met with the EU commissioner responsible
for Enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, and EU Comman Foreign Policy
and Defense Higher Representative, Javier Solana, yesterday.
Talking to journalists, Cem said regarding the relations with the
EU, the ball is now in Turkey's corner. /Turkiye/
State Minister for the Economy, Kemal Dervis, will travel to
Paris today to attend an Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) meeting. Dervis will brief the OECD member
countries on the new economic program and recent economic
situation in Turkey. Minister Dervis is also expected to meet
with international investment institutions' and banks'
representatives to obtain financial support. /Turkiye/
The 142nd NATO Military Committee meetings began in Brussels.
During the meeetings, which will end today, Chief of the General
Staff, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu is representing Turkey.
Reportedly, alliance's various military plans and European
Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) topics will be discussed at
the meetings. /Turkiye/
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas
Turkish Cypriots were subjected to unfair treatment by the EU
member countries who are submissive to Greek blackmail. Denktas
said, "EU countries support Greek Cypriots without taking the
possible damages that may occur into account and closed all the
ways for reconciliation." He added that the aim of Greek Cypriots
for entering the EU was to make Cyprus a part of the European
land in order to expel Turkish soldiers out of the island and
then to reduce Turkish people to a minority on the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who is in the United States to
take part in the annual Turkish parade to be held in New York and
to attend a meeting with US officials in order to explain
Turkey's view on the Cyprus issue, participated in a conference
on Monday. Sukru Sina Gurel said since the parameters had been
changed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan must launch a new
initiative that will constitute the basis of the negotiations.
Gurel, in his second day, attended a conference at the George
Washington University and said it would be wrong to link the
Cyprus problem with Turkey's EU membership. Gurel critisized both
the European Union and the United Nations for turning the green
light for the Greek Cypriots' EU membership and once again warned
that in case of the Greek Cypriots' membership, the dispute will
become complicated more than before. /Turkish Daily News/
Isa Kamber, the leader of the main opposition party in
Azerbaijan, al-Musavvat came to Ankara upon the invitation of the
Eurasian Strategic Studies Foundation (ASAM). Kamber was greeted
by Bulent Akarcali, Istanbul Deputy of the Motherland Party
(ANAP) and the head of the Turkish Democracy Foundation at
Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Kamber will have regional and
bilateral discussions and visits in Istanbul and in Ankara until
May 25. /Turkish Daily News/
A Turkish delegation headed by Ambassador Aydemir Erman, the
coordinator on Afghan affairs, is planning to visit Afghanistan
on May 19. Erman and his accompanying delegation will conduct
searches on humanitarian aid projects to be carried out by
Turkey. /Turkish Daily News/
Justice Minister Prof. Hikmet Sami Turk has gone to Romania on an
official visit to speak with his counterpart Michalea Rodica
Stanoiu. Speaking at a joint press conference, the two Justice
Ministers said they had discussed drug trafficking, illegal
immigration, money laundering and other international and
cross-border crimes, and how to combat them. They also mentioned
an exchange program by which five judges from their respective
countries would go to the other for work experience. /Turkish
Daily News/
Council of Europe Parliamentarians Council Chairman Lord
Russel-Johnston is coming to Ankara as the official guest of
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi and will stay between May 17-18.
Lord Johnston will also be received by President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer as well as the Prime Minister and other coalition leaders,
the Foreign Minister and Chief Justice of the Constitutional
Court Mustafa Bumin. /Turkish Daily News/
Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Kursat Eser
negatively reacted to the recent European Court of Human Rights
decision finding Turkey guilty as charged by the application of
the Greek Cypriot Administration as a state. Eser stated the
decision ignored the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the name
of privileging the rights of the Greek Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkish Ambassador to Paris, Sonmez Koksal, who had been summoned
to Turkey for "political consultations" upon the French approval
of the so-called Armenian genocide bill, returned to France to
resume his duty. French officials stated they were pleased with
Koksal's return. France conveyed the message that she wanted to
improve bilateral relations with Turkey. French Foreign Ministry
said, "French officials are pleased with the return of an
ambassador from such a country who is a friend and an ally of
France." /Cumhuriyet/
Aviation martyrs were commemorated throughout the country and in
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday.
Relatives of the martyrs, military personnels and citizens joined
the ceremonies. Additionally, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Huseyin
Kivrikoglu, the True Path Party (DYP) leader, Tansu Ciller,
issued messages to mark the May 15 Aviation Martyrs Commemoration
Day. /Turkiye/
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
American Co-Chairman, Cary Cavano, said, "It is a reality that
Armenia invaded the Azeri territory and everybody knows it."
Addressing a meeting with the participation of US citizens of
Azeri origin, Cavano said, "Azeri territory is still under
occupation and we should find a solution to this issue."
/Turkiye/
At the press conference organized a couple hours prior to the
meeting of the IMF Executive Directors, State Minister for the
Economy, Kemal Dervis, said every citizen should support the new
economic program to achieve a stronger Turkey with a stronger
economy. The targets of the new economic program are as follows:
1.By the year's end consumer price index(CPI) will be around 52%.
2.The budget deficit will not exceed $26.5 billion. 3.
Privatization of Turk Telekom, Tupras, State Monopolies(Tekel),
Sugar Factories, Tedas and Teas will be completed. A revenue of
$1 billion will be obtained through privatization. In 2002, state
revenues from privatization will rise to $3.5 billion. /Milliyet/
Governor of the Central Bank, Sureyya Serdengecti, announced
yesterday the new monetary policy. Serdengecti said exchange
rates will be determined according to demand and supply
conditions in the market. The Central Bank will interfere the
exchange rates if extreme fluctuations occur at the rates.In
order to enhance financial stability, a policy which would
result in achieving low level interest rates would be followed.
/Milliyet/
A seminar arranged by different Russian and Turkish business
groups affiliated to the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)
and discussing "General Problems in Russian and Turkish Economic
Policies" will take place in Moscow on May 22. The seminar will
look at how crises have affected both countries' economic
relations. The switch to the market economy, seen in Turkey in
the 1980s and in Russian in the 1990s, will also be look at with
respect to the successes and failures of the process. In
addition, the standby agreements made by both countries with the
IMF as well as the restructuring of the banking sector and other
financial reforms will be discussed. /Turkish Daily News/
The Treasury sold state bonds worth around $750 million with
89.7% interest rate. The experts considered the bidding
succesful. The banks purchased the bonds with the expectation
that interest rates will fall after the announcement of the
monetary policy in the economic program. The repo interest rates
also declined by 2%. /Milliyet/
Anadolu Cam will establish a company in Amsterdam with a capital
worth 2.7 million Euros. This new company will establish a
factory in Russia for glassware production. /Milliyet/
The American financial journal "Global Finance" published the
results of the "Best Banks of 2001" survey. The evaluation was
carried out through analyzing the assets, number of branches and
the position of the banks in respective markets in 56 different
countries. The journal identified Isbank as the best and most
reliable bank in Turkey. /Milliyet/
Petrol Ofisi (Petroleum Company) Director-General Ertugrul Tuncer
said they aimed to modernize 400 stations this year. After the
privatization of the Petrol Ofisi, the restoration is continuing
under the name of "silver project". Tuncer stated this was a new
period for the company. /Hurriyet/
A member of the Heidelberg Executive Board, Klaus Spiegel, who is
currently in Istanbul to visit the ninth Printing Fair, said that
as Turkey had regional potential she would weather the crisis in
a very short period. Stating their confidence and investments in
Turkey are continuing, Spiegel said they would start a campaign
in Turkey to support printers. /Hurriyet/
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $19-billion loan
to be granted to Turkey. At the four-hour yesterday meeting in
Washington, IMF Executive Directors Board discussed Turkey's new
economic program. The Board decided to grant Turkey $19-billion
loan in total. The loan will be given in slices. The first slice
worth $3.8-billion will be transfered to Turkey soon. /Turkiye/
Bulent Ozaydinli, the Chairman of the Koc Holding Tofas Group,
declared Tofas Turk Automotive Factory Stock Company and Tofas
Auto Trade Stock Company decided to merge. He said following the
merge of the marketing and sale departments, Tofas aims at
$1-billion exports this year. /Turkiye/
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) declared the
"Restructuring Program of the Banking Sector" yesterday.
Accordingly, Ziraat and Halkbank will be privatized in three
years. Emlak Bank will be liquidated and transferred to Ziraat
Bank. Additionally, the program also foresees the privatization
of Vakiflar Bank. /Turkiye/
Two aircraft named "Fethi" and "Sadik" and that are going to
retrace the 2,515 km. route first flown by Turkish pilots in
1914, took to the skies in Istanbul. The ceremony was held at
Yesilkoy military airfield and was attended by Air Forces
Commander Air Chief Marshall Ergin Celaisn, Istanbul Governor
Erol Cakir and Turkish Radio and Television (TRT)
Director-General Yucel Yener. /Turkish Daily News/
The Forestry Ministry is establishing helicopter squadrons to
combat forest fires during the summer. These squadrons will be
deployed in fire hazard areas from June on. The Forestry Ministry
will continue to rent helicopters this year, including eight
general purpose and eight airborne fire fighter helicopters.
/Turkish News/
The situation in Turkish prisons was discussed at the EU General
Affairs Council the previous day. Belgian Foreign Minister, Louis
Michel critized the administration of prisons in Turkey. The EU's
Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen said
they are observing the situation very closely and are in touch
with the Turkish officials. Greek Foreign Minister, George
Papandreou, said Turkey should not be pressurized on this issue,
because Turkey took some important steps for reform in prisons
and before taking an initiative at the Union level, they should
wait and see the results of these efforts. /Milliyet/
Turkish Foreign Ministry presented medals for their high level
performances to the Turkish diplomats Namik Kemal Yolga, Necdet
Kent and Selahattin Ulkumen, who rescued Jews from the Nazi
cruelty during the Second World War. Delivering a speech at the
ceremony, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk
Logoglu said "Turkish diplomats added another success to their
dignified past by rescuing thousands of Jews from the Hitler
cruelty." Additionally, Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Uri Bar-Ner
thanked Turkish diplomats. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkish and Greek students attended a congress on the
"Historiography and History Education" and said the history books
in both countries should be rewritten by putting aside political
concerns. Middle East Technical University and History Foundation
organized the congress. Elina Stergatou, Panagiotis Kontolaimos,
Mary Saukalopoulou, Murat Yasar, Neslihan Tekelioglu and Secil
Yilmaz criticized the style of history writing in two countries.
Greek history students said their history books have such
expressions as "Asia Minor Disaster" for the Turkish War of
Independence. Turks are defined as enemies in the books. Turkish
students also enumerated some proverbs labeling the Greeks as
hypocrats. /Milliyet/
A culture and art foundation named the "Moon and Stars Project"
organized a Turkish folk music concert in New York Central Park
within the framework of MayFest 2001. New Yorkers showed great
interest in the concert. Stating that the concert was the first
for both the Turkish community and New York, New York
Municipality Parks Director Henry J. Stern said, "We want every
culture to exhibit their art and culture. Art helps people get
closer and destroys all negative predijuces about different
cultures. Therefore, I want to celebrate the Moon and Stars
Project for taking such an important step in the name of the
Turkish community." /Cumhuriyet/
The theme of the Kusadasi Short Film Festival to take place
between June 19-24 will be "Environment and Culture" this year.
Short films from Turkey, Germany, Spain, Britain, France and
Greece will be screened during the festival. /Cumhuriyet/
'Nemrut Dagi' (Mountain of Nimrod) received the Golden Camera
Award (Grand Prize within the section of History and Biography)
at the Chicago International Film and Video Festival. The award
will be presented to the producer of the film, Tolga Ornek with a
ceremony on June 8. /Cumhuriyet/
The Tourism Ministry's new newspaper advertisement promoting
Turkey as a holiday destination came first among 18 other ads in
Helsinki's Sanomat daily newspaper. The Tourism Ministry issued a
statement saying that the advertisement, which received much
attention, was published in Finland's best selling newspaper.
/Turkish News/
The exhibition, "Sultan's Seal", including items from Sabanci
Calligraphy Collection, will be opened today in Frankfurt by
Sabanci Holding Executive Board Chairman, Sakip Sabanci, and
Chairman of Deutsche Bank, Rolf Breuer. The exhibiiton will be
open until July 24 at Frankfurt Museums Fur Angewandte Kunst
Museum under Deutsche Bank's sponsorship. The "Sultan's Seal" was
previously exhibited at various famous museums in the world
between 1998 and 2001. /Turkiye/
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the recent ruling of the
European Court of Human Rights with regards to Cyprus and
expresses the need for a better solution. A summary of his column
is as follows:
"Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf
Denktas reacted harshly to the ruling of the international court
in a letter where he said, 'This is a result stemming from the
consensus of those who recognize the criminal Greek Cypriot
Administration as the only legal representative of the island,
carrying injustice to the highest levels and leaving nothing to
be negotiated at the table.' In other words, TRNC President says
that it is out of the question for the Turkish-Cypriot side to
come to the negotiation table and the possibility of restarting
these talks is nil.
Denktas also expressed his belief that even though the Cyprus
problem is not on the right track for the Turkish-Cypriot side,
it is not going in the direction Greek-Cypriots desire. The
separation between both communities is getting deeper. 'We are
faced with either living as a minority under the Greek-Cypriot
Administration or a return to the pre-1974 period. It is certain
that we shall not return to pre-1974 era.'
Although President Denktas believes that deepening of separation
and moving further away from the solution foreseen for years is a
positive development, we do no share his views. If the Island wil
remain divided, maybe the Greek Cyyriot Administration will not
speak for the whole of Cyprus. However, the Greek Cypriots will
always take their place as the Cypriot State in the international
arena, sustain their high living standards, improve their
political and economic ties with the whole world and finally
enter the EU. The recent developments all point to that direction
and therefore cannot be defined as negative for the Greek
Cypriots.
By pursuing the present policies, the result achieved can be the
stiffening of separation and the presence of two states on the
Island. The issue at hand is how the TRNC will maintain her
status as a separate state. Integration with Turkey seems the
only possible solution. However, it shoud be evalutated
objectively how the presence of such a state will be recognized
throughout the world if this 'integration' does not turn into an
annexation. While making such an evaluation, the expectations and
trends of the Turkish Cypriots should be taken into consideration
with their pros and cons. Importance should be attached not only
to the consequences of Greek Cypriot EU membership but also to
Turkey's relations with the EU, Ankara's foreign policy
priorities and targets while realistically evaluating the
situation.
The points mentioned in the letter sent by a university lecturer
are worth taking into consideration. He says, 'We are a people
who had long waited for Turkey and found a second chance in life
in 1974. The memories of villages burnt, destroyed and demolished
by Greek Cypriots are etched deeply in our minds. However, we,
and among us, the children of those fallen for these lands want a
peace in Cyprus which will open up Turkey's road as well... We
would like Cyprus to be viewed from a different angle, and the
issue must be discussed not with stereotype slogans but through a
perspective of Turkey's high interests. We would like everyone to
question who is representing whom, for what and how successful
they have been."
