Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit confirmed that PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan was currently being detained under tight security, "an
island in the Marmara Sea" under tight security, referring to the
prison-island of Imrali. Ecevit added that Ocalan was caught with
a Greek-Cypriot passport belonging to a Greek Cypriot national
but bearing Ocalan's pictures. The passport, issued by the
Greek-Cypriot Immigration Department, belonged to a journalist
named Lazaros Mavros, a columnist working for the Greek Cypriot
daily "Fileleftheros". It is reported that Mavros is currently
the head of the association "Solidarity with Kurdistan" and had
contributed to the setting up of the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile.
Ecevit noted that Ocalan would initially be interrogated over a
period of two days. Ocalan is charged with countless murders,
violent attacks, drug smuggling and cooperation with foreign
nationals in order to subvert the Turkish State. The Prime
Minister stressed that the Turkish justice system will not allow
any outside intervention in its proceedings.
Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel on Wednesday called on the
nation for solidarity. Speaking to journalists, Demirel said that
no one should dare to disturb peace and stability in Turkey.
Demirel added that in the course of the last four months Europe
had seen that the PKK is a terrorist organization. He said that
anyone attempting to support Ocalan would only be sharing in his
murders. /All papers/
The arrest of notorious Kurdish separatist chief Abdullah Ocalan
sparked riots and demonstrations throughout Europe.
Four Kurdish protestors were shot and killed while trying to
force their way into the Israeli Consulate yesterday. At least 15
people were injured in the shooting at the four-storey building
near Berlin's largest Turkish neighbourhood, police said. People
were injured both in and out of the Consulate. After the incident
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the shooting
occured when dozens of Kurds tried to storm the Consulate, using
hammers and clubs. Israel immediately ordered all of its
Consulates and Embassies in Europe closed. In Bonn the Ministry
of Interior Affairs increased security at the likely targets of
Kurd attacks after demonstrators occupied Greek Consulates
throughout the country.
European governments feared they would continue to feel the brunt
of Kurdish outrage during Turkey's expected trial of Ocalan on
terrorism charges. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder issued a
statement using Kurds to stop their illegal actions which were
not acceptable under any circumstances.
In Russia, Kurds protested for two hours outside the US
Consulate. Meanwhile, Kurds in Switzerland continued occupying
several diplomatic offices and launched a new protest, pushing
their way into the office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees early on Wednesday.
In London, 40 Ocalan supporters held a man hostage inside the
Greek Embassy for a second day. More than 150 Kurds sang, shouted
and banged drums overnight in the busy main roads.
Kurds started storming Greek outposts early Tuesday after
learning that Ocalan had been arrested at the Greek Embassy in
Nairobi, Kenya. Breaking down doors and smashing windows, Kurdish
protestors occupied Greek Embasies and consulates in at least 21
European cities on Tuesday, and briefly occupied Consulates in
Vancouver, British Columbia and Sidney, Australia.
Meanwhile, PKK demonstrations took place in a number of Istanbul
neighbourhoods. In the Gazi district, a group of demonstrators
congregated in the evening in the central square, after which
they threw molotov cocktails, setting fire to one municipal bus,
four cars and two waste disposal lorries. There were clashes
between demonstrators and police officers, and a number of
demonstrators were taken into custody. In another development in
Istanbul, a group of demonstrators set a public bus on fire.
Extensive security measures were taken in that neighbourhood as
well. /All papers/
The Turkish security forces who captured the PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan through a successful operation in Kenya recorded every
minute of the operation. The National Intelligence Service (MIT)
distributed the video film, obtained on the plane which brought
Ocalan to Turkey, to all TV stations yesterday. The film,
displayed live on the CNN as well, reveals that the Turkish
special forces treated Ocalan in quite a professional and gentle
manner. In the first conversation between Ocalan and a Turkish
official, the PKK leader made some quite interesting statements.
Ocalan said, "I love my country. My mother was also a Turk. I am
ready to do any service if given the chance. I will accept to
undertake any task with all my heart. Nobody tortured me. I love
Turkey and the Turkish people. I believe that I will perform good
services on their behalf." /Hurriyet/
The capture of the outlawed PKK organization leader Abdullah
Ocalan has sparked different reactions throughout the world. In a
written statement Washington said that they welcomed the latest
development concerning Ocalan and it was a success for Turkish
security forces. The statement condemned the violent protests by
Ocalan's supporters in Europe and called for an end to them.
Ocalan's capture made front-page headlines in newspapers around
the world. The French press was mostly supportive of Turkey, with
the majority of dailies referring to Ocalan as a terrorist
leader. The daily "Le Monde" said Turkey had captured Ocalan but
the protestors' attacks against the Greek Embassies in Europe
took up more space. "Le Figaro" also criticized the PKK for not
renouncing terrorism.
The Russian press also focused on the Embassy attacks, warning
that the incidents might lead to further terrorist assaults.
The capture of Ocalan was the major issue in the British press on
Wednesday. The issue made the headlines in the mainstrean British
dailies and most of them wrote editorials in which they expressed
criticism of the PKK but called for a fair trial for Ocalan. "The
Times" described Ocalan as a "brutal Marxist terrorist." "The
Guardian" described Ocalan as an "egomanical, bloody leader". The
"Independent" also made clear that Ocalan's capture was a great
success.
The capture of Ocalan also reverberated across the Greek press.
The `Katimerini' reported that it is Greece which has lost the
most prestige due to the Turkish special forces' operation.
`Eleftorotopia' demanded that Pangalos, the Greek Minister of
Foreign Affairs, resign after the tragicomedy displayed by the
Greek administration. `Etnos' wrote that the Greek government's
policy on Ocalan had ended in a complete fiasco.
The Italian `Corriera Della Sera' said that the capture of Ocalan
was shameful for Italy and all the European governments should
accept the defeat, whereas `La Stampa' said that Ocalan is a
terrorist and Turkey would never let him shelter anywhere. /All
papers/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that an economic development
package for Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia was ready. Ecevit,
who will go on a tour of the Southeast at the end of the month
accompanied by the Ministers responsible for the Economy, is
expected to explain the projects concerning the region. Ecevit
noted that preparations had begun to develop the economy of the
region and added, "With the start of the construction season, we
shall give priority to the building of regional boarding schools,
and the completion of organized industrial sites." /Milliyet/
Following the capture of the leader of terrorist organization,
Abdullah Ocalan, the Turkish Armed Forces entered Northern Iraq.
The Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, stated that this operation had
been planned previously as part of the fight the Armed Forces has
been carrying out against the terrorist organization over a
number years; he and stressed that it was not related to the
capture and conveyance of Ocalan to Turkey. It was reported that
the operation was held against the camps where the PKK was
concentrated in Northern Iraq near the Iranian border. /Milliyet/
Turkey is supporting her military victory in the capture of
Ocalan with a diplomatic attack. The Turkish Ambassador to
London, Ozdem Sanberk, and the press counsellor are being invited
to numerous media organizations to state their opinions.
Sanberk has broken a record by appearing on 20 broadcasting
organizations ,TV stations during the same day, among them the
BBC, CNN, ITV, and Channel Four. /Milliyet/
Sermet Atacanl, Deputy Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, said on Wednesday that the developments which took place
after the capture of the chief of the separatist terrorist
organization PKK should be a lesson for certain European
countries, describing relations between Greece and the chief of
terrorist as "a serious development." He added that it was seen
that Ocalan had been taken to Kenya by an arrangement of the
Greek government and had been hosted as a guest for a period of
time. Nothing that Turkey would issue a broader statement about
the attitude of Greece concerning the recent developments,
Atacanli said that the withdrawal of the Turkish Ambassador from
Greece was out of question. Atacanli recalled that Turkey was
against terrorism wherever it came, Anatolia news agency
reported.
Following the capture and transport of Ocalan to Turkey, some
members of HADEP were taken into custody in Diyarbakir. In
Southeastern Anatolia and mainly in Diyarbakir, tight security
measures are being enforced by the security forces to prevent
demonstrations and actions by members of the terrorist PKK
organization. Entrance and exits to cities and towns are under
surveillance and those suspected are being searched./Milliyet//
German Minister of the Interior Schilly issued a final warning to
the PKK terrorists concerning the occupation of Consulates. He
said, "These actions could result in deaths. Take note of the
incident in Berlin and avoid participating in such
actions"./Milliyet/
The report issued yesterday by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and
Security Commission of the European Parliament concerning the
capture of the terrorist chief provoked reactions. The Turkish
Permanent Representative to the European Union (EU), Ambassador
Nihat Akyol, accused the European deputies of displaying a
"prejudiced attitude" towards Turkey by trying to give advice on
how to try a terrorist. "What the EP should do is not to
interrogate Turkey but address our fellow-EU-member, Greece, on
the most recent activities of this terrorist. Turkey is a State
of Law, where each Turkish citizen has the right to a just
trial". /Turkiye/
Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq who had been in the
process of visiting Turkey for three days, went back to Iraq
after completing his series of meetings with Turkish officials.
Answering questions concerning Aziz's visit to Turkey and the
latest developments in Turco-Iraqi relations, Sermet Atacanli,
the Speaker of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that
Britain and the US had requested that they be informed about this
visit and that the Turkish Foreign Ministry complied with this
request. Meanwhile, in answer to a question on Iraqi
Vice-President Taha Ramadan's threat against Turkey, Atacanli
said, "Turkey has proven in the past that it is able to confront
any threats towards herself, regardless of their source."
/Cumhuriyet/
President Suleyman Demirel stated on Wednesday that Iraqi Deputy
Prime Minister Tarik Aziz had not asked for an appointment during
his recent visit to Ankara. Questioned by reporters concerning
Aziz'z complaints about not being received at the Presendital
level, Demirel said that no request from the Iraqi side to be
received by him had reached the Presidental Palace. /All papers/
President Suleyman Demirel opened the new Ankara University
Culture and Art House on Wednesday. Demirel said during the
opening ceremony that the best investment was the investment made
in human beings and that the infrastructure of such an investment
could be provided through culture and education. After the speech
Demirel visited an exhibition in the three-storey Culture and Art
House. Demirel presented a piano to the Art House.
The US Speaker for the Secretary of Defence, Kenneth Bacon said
yesterday that any attack on the part of Iraq would be a serious
mistake and would receive an immediate response. Bacon recalled
that the Patriot missiles had been posted to Incirlik Air Base
for its protection. He added that the Patriot missiles would stay
in Incirlik for as long as Turkey wanted to keep them. /Turkiye/
Alexander Lebedev, the Russian Ambassador to Ankara, said that he
is happy with the capture and the conveyance of Ocalan to Turkey
by the Turkish forces. Lebedev, who was frequently invited to the
Turkish Foreign Ministry after the PKK leader had been driven out
of Syria, said that he is quite happy with the situation and he
hopes the question has ended on the part of Russia. /Hurriyet/
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tevfik Zulfikar said in his special
report to Sabah newspaper that soon after Turkey had agreed on
military cooperation with Israel, the Jewish lobby in the US
started to support Azerbaijan. Concerning the Baku-Ceyhan Oil
Pipeline, Zulfikar said that approval for the project could be
almost guaranteed but there was only the technical and financial
issue to be decided on. /Sabah/
It is reported that Ocalan's capture through a successful
operation is very likely to increase votes for the Democratic
Left Party (DSP), which holds power with its minority government
until the forthcoming elections. In this respect, most political
party leaders are emphasizing the success of the state security
forces rather than that of the DSP minority government, with
particular reference to the national character of the Ocalan
question and the role played by determined military and state
policies. Whereas Mesut Yilmaz, the Motherland Party (ANAP)
leader pretends to be a partner in the successful operation, DYP
leader Tansu Ciller ignores the role of the government and has
attributed the success to the Chief of General Staff and the
National Intelligence Service. Recai Kutan, the leader of the
Virtue Party (FP), describes the operation as the success of the
`Turkish State'. On the other hand, a public research corporation
declared that, following the capture of Ocalan, the DSP had
increased its votes in the polls by 6 percent. /Cumhuriyet/
The enthusiasm which pervades the capital markets due to the
capture of the PKK leader Ocalan continues. While the fall in
interest rates went on, the Istanbul Stock Exchange rose by 8.4%
and the General Index reached 3,621 yesterday, corresponding to
its highest level since August. In the same way, the total volume
of transactions on the IMKB amounted to $521 million yesterday.
It is reported that the two-day increase in the prices of bonds
on the IMKB attained 17%, whereas the interest rates on the
Treasury bonds retreated from 125% to 117%. /Hurriyet/
Mehmet Agar, a former Minister of the Interior and currently the
Elazıg MP for the True Path Party (DYP), declared surprisingly
that he is withdrawing his Parliamentary candidacy from this
constituency in favor of the DYP. It is reported that the
fundamental reason behind Agar's withdrawal is DYP leader
Ciller's decision to exclude him by pushing the current MP to the
lower portion of the candidates' list. /Hurriyet/
The Second Turkish Energy Conference, organized by the noted
British weekly newspaper "The Economist",will meet in Ankara in
early March, the Anatolia news agency reported. According to The
Economist, the Conference will gather together Turkish and
foreign energy officials between 2-3 March. The topics to be
discussed during the conference are "Turkey's energy priorities
for the coming five years," Turkey's energy balance by the year
2010", "The Fulfillment of legal requirements for investments,"
"Developments within the regulations," "Economic Energy
Development and Privatization," "The Policy on Petroleum and
Natural Gas extraction from Iran and Central Asia," and "The
Integration of Energy Solutions and A Look at the Future."
The positive report which the International Monetary Fund issued
after its meetings in Turkey has begun to bear fruit. A $ 1.6
billion loan is underwritten for the construction of
Efsin-Elbistan Geo-thermal power station by the US, Japan,
Germany, the Republic of Hungary, and France. The loan package
has already been extended to the Treasury Undersecretariat.
Officials announced that an energy output of over 10 billion kwh
is planned; the construction is planned to be completed within
four years. /Turkiye/
Philip Byrd, the Chairman of the Turkish region of the
International Exporters' Federation, said that Turkish products
have a good chance of gaining shares in the US and Canadian
markets. In his speech on Wednesday at the "Trade Opportunities
with the US and Canada" Conference, Byrd said that quota limits
for Turkish products imposed by the US are decreasing gradually
and will be completely abolished by the year 2005. He invited
Turkish companies to enter the US market, stating: "If Turkish
companies have a good strategy and send high-quality goods to the
American market, they can net a very satisfactory share of this
market and rid themselves of the negative effects of the global
crisis. In particular, I recommend that small and medium-size
companies, which have a wide variety of goods, take advantage of
this huge market. /Aksam/
Iron and Steel Industry workers at Iskenderun and Karabuk are
preparing to go on strike due to current problems in the sector.
The Oz-Celik-Is Union, which has memebers in Iskenderun
Iron-Steel Plants, has decided to hold a public meeting tomorrow
in order to inform society about the impass faced by the company
because of the current global crisis. Similarly, workers from the
KARDEMIR Plants will hold a meeting on Monday. It is reported
that the main questions pursued by the trade unions in the sector
are collective bargaining and the outstanding debts of the state
payable to the labourers. /Cumhuriyet/
The Turkish tourism sector made a good start in 1999. In the
first month of the year 358,008 tourists visited Turkey, a 3.42
percent increase compared to the same month last year. People
coming from member countries of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) constituted 46 percent of the
total number, and citizens from Eastern European countries
followed with 39.1 percent. Germans ranked as the top tourists to
Turkey, making up 23.24 percent of all visitors. The Commonwealth
of Independent States and Romania followed Germany. The US,
Yugoslavia, Iran, Greece, France, Israel and Britain are other
countries which had large numbers of citizens visiting Turkey.
/Aksam/
Cumalikizik, 700 years old and one of the most important examples
of Ottoman rural architecture, is taking part in the East
Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair (EMITT'99)
which begins today. The Fair which will start at Beylikduzu
today will be open until February 21st. Studies carried out as
part of the 'Cumalikizik Preservation "98"' partnership
projectaims to promote the Cumalikizik Settlement to the country
and the world. /Türkiye/
The Spanish Juan Martin Flamenco group gave a concert in Antalya
Culture Centre. The group demonstrated folk falk songs and dances
from Spain. Juan Martin, who is one of three most accomplished
guitarist artists in the world, impressed his Turkish audiences.
/Aksam/
In his column, retired Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the
new self-confidence seen among the people by the recent
developments and how this should be channelled. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"Everyone accepts that the capture of Ocalan in Nairobi and
transporting him to Turkey to stand trial is an extraordinary
success. This historic event has given an enormous morale and
self-confidence boost to Turks. Turkey has arrived at this
historic turning point by achieving the expulsion of Ocalan from
Syria, as a result of the pressure policy it implemented both
with courage and prudence.... Now, Turkey should channel this
energy and self-confidence into plan of action which aims to
solve the Southeastern problem once and for all. If Turkey can
use this great opportunity in pursuit of this, it will enter the
21st century as a proud country ready to implement new
strategies. It would not be wrong to say that the Southeastern
issue lies at the root of all problems Turkey faces, both within
the country and abroad. It would be ingenuous to think that
Turkey will achieve stability, security or prosperity without
solving this question...Priority should be given to wiping out
the economic and social conditions leading to and nurturing
terrorism. With this in mind, a socio-economic plan eight year
plan, in coordination with GAP, should be implemented right away.
It should be aimed at raising an educated generation by creating
suitable conditions for eight-year uninterrupted elementary
education...It should also be remembered that the branches of the
PKK in Europe will try to keep the question alive as long as the
Kurdish lobby has some power, and will use any opportunity to
exploit it against Turkey...Therefore, the new Parliament to be
formed after the elections should pass laws to eradicate the
torture and maltreatment in line with UN standards, to bring new
definitions to crimes against the freedom of expression, and
amend the Turkish Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Law, reorganize
the DGMs...The self-confidence seen in Turkey should be chanelled
towards achieving these goals."/Milliyet/
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
OCALAN UNDER ARREST
PKK'S VIOLENT ATTACKS IN EUROPE
OCALAN: "I AM AT YOUR SERVICE"
FOREIGN REACTIONS TO OCALAN'S CAPTURE
ECEVIT IS TO GO ON AN INVESTMENT TOUR OF THE SOUTHEAST
TURKISH FORCES IN IRAQ
DIPLOMATIC ATTACK BY TURKEY
ATACANLI: "TURKEY HAD NOTED DOWN THE ATTITUDE OF GREECE"
34 MEMBERS OF PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY PARTY (HADEP) IN CUSTODY
LAST WARNING FROM GERMANY
HARSH REACTION AGAINST EP
TARIQ AZIZ RETURNS HOME
DEMIREL: "AZIZ DID NOT ASK FOR AN APPOINTMENT"
PRESIDENT DEMIREL OPENS CULTURE AND ART COMPLEX
TURKEY TO DECIDE ABOUT PATRIOT MISSILES
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: "I AM HAPPY, THE PROBLEM IS OVER"
VISIT BY THE AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ZULFIKAR
THE OPPOSITION IS UNCANNY FOR THE ELECTIONS
TWO-DAY OCALAN PREMIUM ON STOCK EXCHANGE IS 17%
AGAR WITHDRAWS HIS CANDIDACY FOR THE DYP
THE ECONOMIST TO HOLD ENERGY CONFERENCE IN ANKARA
FOREIGN LOAN FOR ENERGY
BYRD INVITES TURKISH COMPANIES TO FLOCK TO US MARKET
IRON-STEEL WORKERS PREPARE FOR STRIKE
TOURISM UP IN JANUARY
AN OTTOMAN VILLAGE: CUMALIKIZIK
SPANISH WIND IN ANTALYA
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
A REVIVAL OF THE 'NATIONAL STRENGTH' SPIRIT - BY SUKRU ELEKDAG
(MILLIYET)