A STEP AHEAD IN CYPRUS BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)
The Turkish National Basketball Team, which rose to
final in European Championship for the first time, was defeated by
Yugoslavia in the European Basketball Championship with a score of
69-78 at the match played in Istanbul last night and won the silver
medal. Spain Basketball Team became the third defeating Germany 99-90.
/All Papers/
The new scholastic year begins today. Nearly 13
million students and 500,000 teachers will go to school after a
three-month summer holiday. Issuing a message on the occasion of the
beginning of 2001-2002 scholastic year, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
called on every Turkish citizen to support the efforts aiming at
improving the educational conditions in Turkey. Stating that the
initiatives to improve the educational conditions were investments in
Turkey's future, Sezer said, "Turkish children should be educated
as self-confident, responsible and socially active citizens with great
awareness of universal values. He said that contributing to the
efforts trying to eliminate Turkey's deficiencies in educational
infrastructure was a duty of citizenship. Meanwhile, Parliamentary
Speaker Omer Izgi pointed out that illiteracy constituted an obstacle
against the efforts of modernization. He said, "The better the
educational conditions are, the higher our expectations on Turkey's
future can be." He added that they are determined to educate
Turkish youth in accordance with the scientific and modern principles.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit reminded that the 8-year
Compulsory and uninterrupted education resulted in a significant
increase in the number of the girl students and increased the level of
quality in the educational services. /Cumhuriyet/
Speaking at the "720th Ertugrul Gazi
Commemorating Ceremonies" at Sogut town of Bilecik, Deputy Prime
Minister and State Minister Devlet Bahceli said if the country's
potential is used effectively, the economic crisis will be overcome
soon. Stressing Ertugrul Gazi, the father of the founder of the
Ottoman Empire Osman Gazi had played a very important role in Turkish
history, he said, " We should learn lessons from history."
State Ministers Faruk Bal and Suayip Usenmez, Minister of Labor and
Social Security Yasar Okuyan, the Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay,
the leader of the Great Union Party Muhsin Yazicioglu and thousands of
citizens attended the ceremonies. On the otherhand, President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued messages to mark
the Commemorating Ceremonies. /All papers/
Attending the meeting of EU countries' and
candidates' Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Genval (Belgium)
yesterday, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that the party who does
not desire a permanent solution to the Cyprus issue must be determined
very carefully. Cem met with EU Term President Belgium's Foreign
Minister Louis Michel during the breakfast. They discussed the issues
of Cyprus and European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI). During
the meeting, Michel demanded Turkey to put pressure on Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas about
returning to the proximity talks. Michel also requested Turkey to
change her attitude on the ESDI since the EU would not alter its
policies over the ESDI. Stating that EU must be aware of the fact that
Greek-Cypriot side did not desire a permanent solution to the issue,
Cem said that it was not correct to insist on resuming the proximity
talks no matter what the conditions may be. He added that talks should
begin with a new understanding and atmosphere. Cem also drew attention
to the determination of the Turkish government on the foreseen
constitutional amendments during the meeting. He also met with his
British counterpart Jack Straw and discussed Turco-EU relations and
Cyprus with him. Holding a press meeting yesterday night, Cem argued
that Turkey's attitude was totally correct on the ESDI. /Cumhuriyet/
It was stated that Greek-Cypriot leader Glafkos
Clerides would travel to New York today upon the invitation of UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan to resume the proximity talks. Stating
that there was no proper platform to resume the talks, Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas rejected the
invitation to New York. Denktas said he was invited to a table where
an understanding of partnership was absent. Clerides is expected to
meet with Annan on September 12th and representatives of the UN
Security Council's member countries during his visit to New York.
Denktas said that they need to know the conditions and their status
before the meetings but nothing was explained to them. /Cumhuriyet/
The Constitutional Court will debate 21 appeals
from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the main opposition True Path
Party (DYP) for the cancellation of certain clauses of various laws on
Sept. 12. The Constitutional Court delegation will carry out its
preliminary studies on an appeal made by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
for the cancellation of an article relating to "the use of land,
and construction projects and procedures" of the Technology
Developing Regions Law. Yet another appeal Sezer made was for the
cancellation of a law to amend the exploitation of immovable property
under the Treasury and Value Added Tax (VAT) Law. The Constitutional
Court will examine an appeal made by the DYP for the cancellation of a
regulation under which Turkish citizens are charged $50 for going
abroad, which was enforced on Aug. 1, 2001. /Turkish News/
Following the Chief Justice of the High Court of
Appeals, Sami Selcuk's opening speech of the judicial year, the
Minister of Justice, Hikmet Sami Turk, said organized crimes, banking
and similar issues did not concern the State Security Court (SSC).
Turk added, "The removal of the SSCs can be discussed. I think
the SSCs can serve as a field of expertness." Turk answered the
questions of journalists during the reception given in the honor of
Karaelmas University in Zonguldak and said, "The SSC's tasks are
about the crimes concerning terrorism and territorial unity and they
should be limited with them. The SSCs have been envisaged by the
Constitution. How can it be claimed that they are against the
Constitution?" /Sabah/
The Minister of the Interior, Rustu Kazim Yucelen,
went to Damascus, Syria yesterday. Yucelen has not answered the
questions of the journalists at Ataturk Airport concerning his visit.
It was learned that Yucelen will sign an agreement of cooperation with
the Syrian Minister of the Interior and exchange opinions regarding
the extradition of criminals between the two countries. /Sabah/
The Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Progress
Party (AKP), Abdullatif Sener, said the parties in power will give a
test of sincerity during the voting of Koray Aydin's resignation from
his post as a deputy with the claim of corruption. Sener said,
"If this resignation is not accepted, it becomes clear that the
parties in power, who have given the resignation petition, are only
showing off. If they are sincere, then all the deputies of the parties
in power will accept this resignation." /Sabah/
The Republican People's Party (CHP) celebrated its
78th foundation anniversary yesterday. On the occasion of the day,
party members, headed by the leader Deniz Baykal visited Ataturk's
Mausoleum and laid a wreath. Baykal emphasized CHP's loyalty to
Ataturk, his principles and targets in a statement he wrote in the
Special Notebook. /Turkiye/
Minister of Environment Fevzi Aytekin traveled to
Bucharest as the official guest of his Romanian counterpart Aurel
Konstantin to sign bilateral agreements and hold meetings on the
protection of environment. Aytekin and Konstantin were reported to
review the current cooperation between Turkey and Romania on the
environmental issues and exchange information on the EU regulations
during the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkish Desk
Chief, Juha Kahkonen, will meet the Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral,
today. During the meeting the incomes and expenses performance
concerning the Budget of the year 2001 will be discussed and
preparations concering the Expenses Reform will be viewed. Kahkonen is
also expected to meet the Chairman of the Executive Board of the
Public Banks, Vural Akisik, today. During the contacts to be held
between the IMF delegation and the officials from the Central Bank,
the monetary program implementations, developments in the markets and
the effects of the latest arrangements concerning the taxes will be
discussed. In addition, the "Project for Determining the
Administrative Obstacles before the Investments", which was
prepared with the contribution of the World Bank and the Treasury in
order to evaluate the atmosphere of investment in Turkey, will be
promoted to the public today. /Hurriyet/
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, said the
economic crisis in Turkey has damaged Turkey's image abroad and this
has not affected the principles, direction and determination of the
present foreign policies. Cem said, "Neither the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, nor I, have taken any step back in any issue in the
foreign policy during the latest period and this is the best example
of it." Cem delivered statements to the "Hurriyet"
daily and added, "We should enter the process of membership
negotiations with the European Union (EU) in the period 2001-2002. In
addition, it is asked if Turkey and the EU are sincere as far as
Turkey's membership is concerned. This is not sincerity, but a matter
of mutual benefits. If the EU had not seen any benefit in this issue,
it would not have made us a candidate of the EU. Turkey will bring the
richness of a different culture and historical accumulation to the EU.
The EU is getting "secular" with Turkey's membership because
it will learn how to blend with a muslim country. In addition, we
follow a policy of balance in the Middle East." /Hurriyet/
The Chairman of the European Commission, Romano
Prodi, stated that the Cyprus issue should be solved before the
enlargement of the European Union (EU). This opinion, which was
uttered for the first time by a high-ranking official within the EU,
has contradicted the decision taken by the European Parliament last
week. During the press conference held by the EU member and candidate
countries' Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Genval, Belgium, Prodi
answered the questions of the journalists and said, "We should
try to reach a solution." The unofficial meeting of the 28
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which was also attended by their Turkish
counterpart, Ismail Cem, started with a working breakfast between Cem
and the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louis Michel. In
addition, the issue of the European Security and Defense Policy was on
the agenda. /Hurriyet/
David Hovanissian, a key member of the
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, said on Sunday that Turkey
was Armenia's biggest post-independence foreign policy problem.
Hovanissian was talking at the opening of the second meeting of
Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists being held in the
Armenian capital that was due to end on Tuesday. The meeting, which is
trying to bring journalists from the three countries together to
contribute to regional peace and stability, opened on Saturday.
/Turkish News/
The Tourism Minister has said that Turkish tourism
will develop with China's recommendation of Turkey being a country to
be visited. At the opening of a hotel in Malatya, Tasar said that as a
result of the bilateral meetings with China, the Chinese government
had decided to recommend Turkey among the countries to be visited.
Adding that Chinese people give more importance to cultural tourism,
Tasar continued: "With visits by Chinese tourists, Turkish
tourism will develop even more. We should make cultural tourism. We
aim to increase Turkey's tourism income above exportation
income." /Turkish Daily News/
The Minister of Tourism Mustafa Tasar said tourism
sector will help the country to overcome the issues in economy.
Stressing 8,147,983 tourists have visited Turkey in the first eight
months of this year, Tasar said 1,600 million tourists have arrived in
Turkey in August only. Adding a very comprehensive study has been
begun to use all potential in tourism sector, Tasar said, "We
will bring an understanding of four seasons-12 months tourism
throughout the country." /Turkiye/
The Turkish Chambers and Stock Exchanges Union
(TOBB) Industry Chambers Council will convene in Izmir today. The
Minister of State for Economy Kemal Dervis is also expected to attend
the meeting to be hosted by Aegean Region Industry Chamber. Economic
issues will be debated at the meeting. /Turkiye/
Turk Telecom's preparations about Aycell, the
fourth GSM mobile phone system in Turkey, are continuing. Aycell will
give service to 7 provinces and 1,5 million people are expected to use
Aycell by next April. General Director of Turk Telecom, Ismail Hakki
Alpturk, said the new system, which will bring inexpensive
conversations on the mobile phone and improve the quality, will serve
all Turkey next April. In addition, the preparations concerning the
establishment of the infrastructure of the new system, are about to be
completed. An investment of nearly 300 million US dollars is envisaged
for the infrastructure and base stations of the new mobile phone
system." /Sabah/
The Treasury will organize a 105-days term Treasury
bond bid tomorrow. The export date of the bonds to be sold by the
Treasury through a bid was determined as September 12 and the
repayment will be made on December 26, 2001. /Sabah/
Sudan, which will soon be petroleum-rich, has
called on Turkish businessmen to invest in Sudan, in what they call,
"The country of opportunities." During the business trip,
organized by the Aegean region Chamber of Industry (EBSO) to Sudan,
businessmen from Izmir have found the opportunity to do business with
Sudanese businessmen. At a meeting held by the Sudan Investment and
Industry Ministry, Sudanese Minister of Finance, Abelrahim Hamdi,
talking to the Turkish Daily News, said that they expected Turkish
businessmen to make industrial investments in Sudan: "Turkey is
an experienced country, and we are a new agricultural country. We need
expertise and know-how, but we have begun to launch the
infrastructure. Furthermore we have made some arrangements about
investment encouragement and taxation, but we need more than this. We
should inform Turkish investors that there are big opportunities in
Sudan. For that reason EBSO's visit to Sudan is very important."
/Turkish Daily News/
Turkey is launching a campaign to promote her
economy today. A delegation consisting of representatives from the
Treasury, the Central Bank and the Banking Supervision and Regulation
Board will participate in a road show in Los Angeles today to inform
investors about the Turkish economy. The delegation will hold other
road shows in the finance centers of the US and Europe until September
20th. /Cumhuriyet/
The international ODTU (Middle East Technical
University) Economy Congress will begin today in Ankara. Many
prominent economists including Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Assistant Governor Kenneth Kuttner, World Bank Economist William
Easterly and famous Marxist theoretician Ricardo Bellofiore will
attend the congress to evaluate the current economic policies in
Turkey. The congress will begin with the conference to be held by the
Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti today. /Cumhuriyet/
With cooperation from the Turkey Researach Center
(TAM) and Duisburg Public High School (Volkshochschule), a
photographic exhibition named "Turkish Tourism" has opened
in Duisburg. At the exhibition, photographs by Turkish Daily News
correspondent and Tour News photographic director Halil Tuncer about
Turkish tourism have been exhibited. Volkshochschule Manager Wolfgang
Esch, who made a speech at the opening of the exhibition, stated that
the exhibition showed the beauty of Turkey and wished for the Turkish
and German nations to have close relations. Duisburg Foreigners
Assembly President Niyazi Sahin said in his speech that during the
40th year of migration, Germans need information about Turks and
Turkish tourism, and that Tuncer exhibited the cultural treasure of
Turkey. Tuncer said that his photos showed the unknown cultural and
historical face of Turkey and added that Turkey should be saved from
its "sun and sea country" image. /Turkish Daily News/
In Ödemiş, Izmir, architects Uğur Bengisu and
his wife Rose Bengisu have discovered a boatwreck estimated to be 2600
years old in Gölcük Lake. The 4.5 meter long, 65 cm wide and 1 ton
weight boat was brought to the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum.
The curator of the museum Oguz Alpözen said: " The oldest wreck
known so far was from the year 1400 BC in Kaş. It was a merchant
ship. The boat that has been found in Gölcük is the world's oldest
fishing boat known so far. It is about 2600 years old and from the
Lidian period. The boat was made of chesnut tree by cartving it."
/Hürriyet/
Turkey became the first in the 14th Mediterranean
Games held in Tunisia, with 26 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze medales in
Weight Lifting, Wrestling, Boxing and Swimming categories. /All
Papers/
As the 27th Balkan Rowing Championship wound down
on Saturday, Turkey paddled its way to two gold, one silver and one
bronze medal. /Turkish News/
Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the amendments to
the Constitution and the Cyprus poblem. A summary of his column is as
follows: "The TGNA meetings on the amendments to the Constitution
which will begin on 17 September are of great importance as they will
influence Brusssels' report on Turkey to be presented in the Fall. The
State Minister responsible for human rights Nejat Arseven stated that
if the climate of conciliation seen in the Commission is reflected in
the Constitutional Commission, these amendments will pass through the
Turkish Grand National Assembly without having to resort to a
referendum. In answer to the question if there would be an imposition
on Cyprus following the acception of amendments to Constitution,
Arseven said, "I believe it will be beneficial to review the
Cyprus issue by all the sides within the framework of the EU once
more. Turkey who wants to enter the EU, which is ready to abandon
national monetary units, the most important symbol of sovereignty,
will review the question rather differently. I believe an important
step taken forward and a solution reached in Cyprus during the
premiership of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will bear great importance
for our Government." An ANAP deputy Arseven's messages on Cyprus,
following the debate Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has started
are interesting. It is reported that the military has presented a 26
page report on the amendments to the Constitution to the Prime
Minister. On the other hand new arrangements have to be made on human
rights violations in Turkey. A historical duty awaits the Turkish
Grand National Assembly to increase the prestige of politics. If
Turkey makes amendments to her Constitution she will make a great leap
forward. The path to EU will be opened before us."
