DEMIREL CALLS FOR ELECTION BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the Bill on International Arbitration. The bill was prepared to harmonize with the Constitution. It foresees legal and technical regulations for the problems in international economic relations to be solved via arbitration. /Cumhuriyet/
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer congratulated US President George W: Bush on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the US Independence. Pointing to Turkey-US alliance for fifty years, Sezer said in his message, "We have no doubt our strategic partnership will lead to keep peace in Europe and Eurasia, as well as in the Middle East." /Turkiye/
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received members of the Turkish Exporters Center,
headed by Okan Oguz. During the meeting, Sezer said the IMF's postponement of the loan to Turkey is not very important. Stressing his belief that the problem will be solved soon, Sezer asked businessmen not to be dissappointed. The delegation briefed the President about the issues of the exporters. /Turkiye/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has reactioned harshly to the exclusion of Turkey from the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) meeting agenda the day before. He has reflected his reaction to the Ministers during the Council of Ministers yesterday and said, "It is unfair for Turkey. Because Turkey has met her undertakings. I said to the IMF Chairman Kohler last Friday that if decision for postponement be given, it would be unfair for Turkey. Mr. Dervis is maintaining contacts. He said to me that the issue could be solved through negotiations." /Milliyet/
Belgium, who is currently the term president of the EU, stated that Britain had prepared a proposal on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) taking Turkey's concerns into consideration and that the EU would no longer have any other proposals. Belgian Ambassador in Ankara, Jan Matthyssen, said, "The proposal prepared by the British diplomacy takes Turkey's concerns into consideration. I do not see any other proposal or method except for that." Matthyssen argued that Turkey has to understand that ESDP was not developed against Turkey but it was an important part of the European integration. He added, "We have done all we can so far. It is your turn now." Stating that they would discuss Turkey's demand for the monitoring process to begin as soon as possible, Matthyssen said that they wanted to see the Progress Report for the final decision on that issue. /Cumhuriyet/
Ankara is pleased with the UN Security Council's decision on suspending the bill on smart sanctions over Iraq for five months. The UN Security Council could not reach an agreement on the smart sanctions which would change the method of embargo over Iraq. Turkey was under pressure due to the new regulations on border trade with Iraq which were caused by the smart sanctions prepared by the US and Britain. Arguing that the ongoing embargo going on for 10 years failed to reach its intended consequences and that the lifting of the embargo would be highly beneficial for the civilian Iraqis, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Turkey will try to explain her theses to both the UN and Iraq for the next five months. Turkey demands the following: 1) New sanctions must not bring about new restrictions and difficulties for the neighbor countries. 2)New sanction system must not be detrimental for Iraqi people 3) New system must not bring about regulations giving privilege to one of the neighbors of Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
Members of a out-lawed leftist organization wanted to enter the European Parliament building. During the clashes between the militants and security members, three security members were injured. As the militants insisted to meet with Co-Chairman of the Turkey-European Joint Parliaments Commission, Daniel Cohn-Bendit received them and met for a while. Previously, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem was attacked during his speech in the European Parliament. /Sabah/
A commentary in Israel's leading daily Ha'aretz on Wednesday declared Turkey as "Israel's second best friend." Penned by Amnon Barziali, the commentary indicated that Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer would be traveling to Turkey on Monday. "His trip will be a lightning visit, lasting only one day, but it is of vital importance" the commentary said continuing the following manner: "During the course of his stay in Turkey, two weeks before his scheduled trip to the United States for meetings with leaders of the Pentagon, Ben-Eliezer will be able to verify, at first hand, the nature of what can certainly be termed the most fascinating of Israel's bilateral relationships. Even Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem are impressed by this relationship. An Israeli delegation headed by the Ministry's Director-General, Ali Gil, held talks in Ankara last week in the context of the diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and Israel. The delegation returned to Israel with an official invitation from the Turkish government to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to pay a state visit." /Turkish News/
The Bill of acceptance for signing the international Basel Convention on minimizing the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes was presented to the Parliamentary Chairmanship. Turkey became a party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal in 1994. A central goal of the Basel Convention is "environmentally sound management" (ESM), the aim of which is to protect human health and the environment by minimizing hazardous waste production whenever possible. ESM means addressing the issue through an "integrated life-cycle approach", which involves strong controls from the generation of a hazardous waste to its storage, transport, treatment, reuse, recycling, recovery and final disposal. The origins of the Convention was explained as follows: "In the late 1980s, a tightening of environmental regulations in industrialized countries led to a dramatic rise in the cost of hazardous waste disposal. Searching for cheaper ways to get rid of the wastes, the "toxic traders" began shipping hazardous waste to developing countries and to Eastern Europe. When this activity was revealed, international outrage led to the drafting and adoption of the Basel Convention. The Convention was principally devoted to setting up a framework for controlling the "transboundary" movements of hazardous wastes, that is, the movement of hazardous wastes across international frontiers." /Cumhuriyet/
The Environment Council regulations were published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday. Under the regulations, the council will consist of the representatives of ministries, public institutions and organizations, and ,individuals who are famous for their studies on environmental issues. The members will be chosen by the Ministry of Environment and will be led by the Minister of Environment. /Turkish News/
Georgia has reportedly asked Turkey to help remove Russian military bases from the country during Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu's official visit. When asked about the Russian military bases, Cakmakoglu said that the issue was for Russia and Georgia to tackle, but added that Turkey was ready to offer diplomatic support to help fulfill agreements on Russian withdrawal, which were negotiated at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's summit in Istanbul in 1999. Cakmakoglu who arrived on Tuesday for an official visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, discussed bilateral military cooperation and regional security during his meetings. Turkey wants Georgia to be the "guarantor of security and stability in the region," Cakmakoglu told reporters, after meeting with his Georgian counterpart, David Tevsadze. Thanking Turkey for its help so far, Tevsadze said that Turkey had promised to help modernize the Vaziani air base, which Russia turned over to Georgia last week. The Russian military was supposed to clear another base in Gudauta, in Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia, but has failed so far to do so, cting a blockade by separatists. /Turkish Daily News/
The banned Virtue Party's (FP) reformist wing, which has been intensifying efforts to form their own party, had its first supporter from a different party on Wednesday, when True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Meral Aksener resigned from her party and announced that she would act together with the reformists. Aksener, a former interior minister, held a press conference at a working office in Ankara, together with leading figures of the banned FP's reformists. She said that she had resigned from her party to join a new political formation that would open up Turkey to new horizons, and prepare the country for elections. /Turkish News/
It was reported that Armenian Head of State Eduard Sevardnadze and BP vice-chairman John Sullivan discussed safety problems of the construction and administration of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tiflis-Erzurum natural gas pipeline. According to the statement of the Head of the Armenian State Security Department, Sulhan Papasvili, the formation of a joint information center by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey-which would provide an exchange of information-and the possibility of the establishment of a joint commission among the security units of three states, were also among subjects discussed. /Turkish Daily News/
State Waterworks Authority (DSI) 15th Regional Deputy Mustafa Ozgur said, "The reason we are stumbling in terms of irrigation is due to the lack of funds. Israel has provided funds totalling 165 million US dollars for a 18,000-hectare irrigation project. "In the plains of Harran a 121,000-hectare area has been made available for irrigated agriculture. While efforts to gain foreign funding are continuing, operations planned to be finished by 2010 have been ongoing in order to open an area of 151,000 hectares to irrigated agriculture, despite the lack of funding," said Ozgur. /Turkish Daily News/
The construction of the Black Sea section of the Blue Stream Project which foresees transfer of the Russian natural gas to Turkey through the pipeline to be constructed under the Black Sea, will begin today in a ceremony to be held in Samsun.The passing through the Black Sea will be carried out by Italian Saipem Company. The line will cost $3.4 billion in total and will be 1,200 km in length. /Turkiye/
The Topkapi Palace Treasury Department in which the Ottoman treasures are exhibited, has been renovated. The Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay , Businessmen Sakip Sabanci and a number of distiguished guests attended the ceremony organized for the re-opening of the department. Minister Talay presented shields to Gilan Juwellery Chairman of the Executive Board, Muharrem Geylan, and others worked for the renovation. /Turkiye/
An artificial heart, entitled, "Abiocor",developed by famous Turkish Dr. Mehmet Oz and his team, was implanted in a patient for the first time in the world.. Abiocor implanted in a 59-year old patient after removing his heart. Dr. Oz said, "The patient had one-month left to live only, however, now he has %90 change of living." He added that he assumes doctors will prefer to implant "Abiocor" instead of doing by-pass operation in the next ten years. /Sabah/
The Turkish population in Germany will probably feel more comfortable in this country, after an immigration report highlighted a need for more foreign qualified-workers. "This report is a revolution and proves that Germany is a country of immigration," said Vural Oger, a prominent Turkish businessman well-known for his success in the German tourism sector. "That means, Germany will use the concept of citizenship not only for the German-origin members of the German society but for everyone who accepts to be bound by the German constitution. We see the signs of Germany becoming an open society in this report." /Turkish News/
The postponement of the loan amounting to a total of 3.2 billion US dollars to be extended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World bank to Turkey has caused some difficulties for Turkey, and thus, State Minister Kemal Dervis' contacts in Washington has become the center of attention. An IMF official said, "Our aim is to remove the difficulties that caused the postponement of the meeting of the Executive Board of the IMF, during which it was planned to approve the loan. The next aim is to extend the second portion of the loan to Turkey. We think these problems will be solved in a short period of time, for example in one week." As soon as he has reached the US, Dervis met the Turkish officials working for the IMF and the World Bank. Then he has met the Deputy Governor of the World Bank, Johannes Linn the night before. Dervis will meet the Acting Governor of the World Bank, Sven Sandstrom, the American Secretary of Treasury, O'Neill and the IMF Chairman Kohler today. He will meet the American Foreign Trade Representative, Bob Zoellick tomorrow. During his contacts, Dervis will try to remove the displeasing situation caused by the Telecom appointments. /Milliyet/
Turk Telekom Manager Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk said that a bid will open in order to find an international and experienced consultation company to provide Telekom with a competitive structure. Alpturk stated studies are being carried out to build a competitive structure which is sufficient for the market conditions for Telekom. The monopoly right of Telekom will abolish in 2004. /Cumhuriyet/
The World Economic Forum evaluated the development potentials of the EU countries and EU candidate countries including Turkey. According to the data gathered from the "Preparedness for the Future Report", Turkey has a potential to develop in the future. The evaluation was made in accordance with the data on the basic issues such as distribution of income, civil rights and economic development. /Cumhuriyet/
The Governor of the Central Bank, Sureyya Serdengecti, stated that there was no danger of hyperinflation and that the increase in the dollar's currency rate was not causing any danger. He has answered the questions of the CNBC-E channel's questions during the reception given in Ankara due to the America's Independence Day and said, "The Central Bank has plans considering every possibility. We are also ready for the decisions to be taken by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank." He has pointed out his hopes for a consensus between Turkey and the IMF. /Milliyet/
Microsoft Turkey, which was considered as an example to the whole world due to the "Solution 2000" program last year, is carrying out a new program called the "Initiative Information Center" for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBI), who want their work to be put into the virtual-relity world. The KOBIs will be provided by services from three separate sources thanks to this program, which will be used for the first time in the world. Microsoft Turkey, which has held a meeting called "Journey to Success" with nearly 300 offices of it in Antalya, will support the KOBIs through the initiative information center, initiative web site and the initiative information partners. /Hurriyet/
Turkey's Central Bank said yesterday it has achieved the performance criteria on its monetary program as outlined in a standby deal with the International Monetary Fund. The bank said its net domestic assets had averaged TL 12,943 trillion during the last five working days in June, versus a ceiling limit of TL 13,250 trillion. "Thus the performance criterion concerning net domestic assets was delivered," the bank said in a statement. It also said its net international reserves declined by 3.06 billion US dollars in June, which meant that the performance criterion on that particular indicator was also met. The decline in June was preceded by a 837 million US dollars decline, which enabled the bank to use the remainder of a 1.5 billion US dollars May limit in June. That also enabled the bank to transfer a 500 million US dollars allowance to the July-August period, the statement said. /Turkish Daily News/
Members of the French Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MEDEF) will visit Turkey on July 11-13 to meet with government officials, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. At meetings held in Paris between the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and MEDEF, the sides agreed to a proposal towards improving relations betwen the two countries. /Turkish Daily News/
Turkish automotive sector's exports increased by %43.2 in June when compared to last year figure. The exports in the first half of the year reached to $1,964 billion with an increase of %48.4. /Turkiye/
Thanks to the citizens who sold their gold juwelleries due to the economic crisis, Turkey is targeting to earn $1.3 billion from gold exports. Turkey's Director General of the World Gold Council, Murat R. Akman, said during the crises periods, juwellery sector earns from processing scrap gold and export them as juwellery. He added, "Normally we import gold, however, in crises periods people prefer to sell their juwellery for an extra income and our import decreased from 10-20 tons monthly to 1-2 tons." /Turkiye
The "Istanbul Early Warning and Emergency Response to Earthquakes Project," held by Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institution has been assigned to Sentez Optic Electronics and Industrial Devices Engineering Ltd., which is located in Istanbul as a liaison company of Joint Venture Ewe-Geo-SIG Electrowatt Engineering Ltd. Of Switzerland. The amount of tender was $4.2 million, and the winning company received the tender with a 26.90 percent discount. /Turkish News/
The Turkish Fashion Fair and Leshow International Leather and Fur Fair began yesterday in Moscow. The fair was opened by the Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen, Undersecretary of the Turkish Ambassador in Moscow, Mehmet Gucuk, and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 3rd European Department Deputy Chairman Vladimir Solotsinski. Tuzmen said products of 150 Turkish firms will be exhibited at the fair which will be open until July 6. /Cumhuriyet/
According to the Managing Consortium of the External Lines Terminal of the Ataturk Airport, there has been a 3.37 percent increase in the number of passengers arriving in Turkey since last year. Whereas 301,378 passengers flew abroad, 391,408 arrived in Turkey-most from Europe. The maximum number of passengers arrived on 30 June 2001. Authorities stated that despite the number of passangers, no problems were encountered during the baggage and passport procedures. /Turkish Daily News/
Foreign tourists, who arrived in Kusadasi via ship tours, rushed to the Antique City of Ephesus yesterday. Authorities said that yesterday was one of the most crowded days seen in Ephesus and that 15,000 tourists visited Ephesus. /Cumhuriyet/
Hopeful developments in tourism, the locomotive of the Turkish economy, is continuing. In April the number of tourists that visited Turkey increased by %22.7 compared to last year figures. 885 thousand of people traveled to Turkey in one month./Turkiye/
The international medicine company, AstraZeneca, has published a book on Hasankeyf titled "Hasankeyf", which will be inundated when the construction of Ilisu Dam will be completed. In the book, which was published by the History Foundation Publications and the foreword of which was written by the Swedish Consul General, Sture Theolin, there are the photographs of Marco Pluss and an article written by Prof. Olus Arik. The sponsor of this work, AstraZeneca's Chairman to Turkey, Per Wesslau, recalled that Hasankeyf will be diminished soon in spite of all the efforts and excavations. He added that they wanted to compensate this loss through this book. /Hurriyet/
Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the real reason lying behind the recent crisis between Turkey and the IMF. A summary of his column is as follows:
"What lies behind the recent crisis which arose between Turkey and the IMF? The disagreement over Telekom and Emlakbank is the reflection of a problem lying deep down. The real reason behind these disagreements with the IMF as with the EU should be searched in the contrasting dynamics of the Turkish society. Turkey is the scene of two different currents, one aiming to modernize, globalize and integrate with the West and the other wanting to hold on to its own identity, values, and customs, traditions. This feature observed in various sections of the society has been reflected in politics and administration. At times when radical reforms are required the reformist mentality is faced with the conservatives resisting this change. The friction between them results either with the superiority of one side, or a compromise. However, the compromise reached does not always meet the expectations of those waiting for the outcome. Consequently, problems erupt between Turkey and her counterparts abroad.
The similarity between the problems experienced with both the IMF and the EU is based on this fact. This may be defined as the pains felt during Turkey's changing process. Turkey is in a process of metamorphosis and growth. However, she is faced with various difficulties and suffers pains of change due to her own national dynamics. The recent problems experienced with the IMF, as in the case of the EU, must make it clear that it is necessary to act according to the rules of these organizations. If our aim is to get financial support of the IMF to the end or to integrate with the EU there is no other way. Arguments such as having different circumstances or situation and therefore asking for privileges, and understanding do not convince either the IMF or the EU. They claim that we should strictly comply with the rules. When they believe that their decisions are not followed as should be, they warn us. When we try to hide behind the excuse that our laws do not allow such implementations, they ask why we do not change these laws? We must know that 'appeasement policy' is not valid anymore. To understand this there must a radical change in mentality."
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the former President Suleyman Demirel's call for election. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The ninth President Suleyman Demirel called for an Election at an unexpected time and situation. He showed early, and even an immediate election as the solution to the current problems. He stressed that politicians lost touch with the people. Mr. Demirel is among the leading experienced statesmen and politicians of the world. If, someone other than Mr. Demirel, apart from the opposition, had made a call for election, it would not have had any news value. This call is a 'stimulant', which has a shocking effect. The main principle of Demirel philosophy is, when there is chaos or inadequacy the only solution is an election. Those who have just begun politics must respect his call. The Nationalist Action Party (MHP) should refrain from acting inconsiderately as it does not need to use a harsh style since it is the party with the highest vote potential. The rivals of MHP are aware of its strength. Demirel's statement that there are enough parties and there is no place for another, is also striking. If there had been two large parties in Turkey one on the center-right, the other on the center-left we would not be left in the position we are today. We have not been able to constitute an Anglo-Saxon democracy and are faltering within the rules of Latin democracy.
Turkey has to get out of this crisis as soon as possible and free herself from the pressures of the IMF. Meanwhile, she has to do everything in her power to reach European standards and norms. It is not the time for conservatism. We need to make a great leap forward."
