Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Prime Minister-designate and incumbent Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit is concentrating on the possibility of the creation of a
coalition government between his Democratic Left Party (DSP), the
Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP).
Coalition talks between the DSP and the MHP are expected to
concentrate on which party will hold the post of the Speaker of
Parliament and run Interior, Foreign, Defence, Education and
Culture Ministries. ANAP prefers to remain silent 'for the time
being'. /All papers/
After protests in Parliament when she entered the General
Assembly hall wearing her headscarf, the Virtue Party's (FP)
Istanbul Deputy Merve Kavakci, is now facing an investigation by
the State Security Court (DGM). Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel
yesterday called for an investigation into Kavakci to determine
whether or not she is a member of an illegal organization.
Meanwhile, 20 lawyers belonging to the Istanbul Bar Association
joined the protests against Kavakci yesterday with a press
conference in the Istanbul Justice Bar Chamber. In a statement
delivered in the name of the Contemporary Lawyers' group under
the slogan 'first principle', lawyer Musur Kaya Canpolat
characterized Kavakci's action as a rebellion against the
Republic's revolution. Kavakci's action also caused havoc among
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Leading women's
organizations nationwide have been sending press releases to
newspapers protesting against Kavakci's stand. /All papers/
Sali Berisha, the former President of Albania and the current
Chairman of the Albanian Democratic Party, stated that NATO has
to implement an operation of Kosovo by ground forces in order to
prevent the genocide. Berisha said that following the start of
NATO's air strikes in Yugoslavia, the Serbians have stepped-up an
uncomparable massacre in Kosovo. Pointing out that he approves of
NATO's air strikes, Berisha said, "However, Milosevic will not
surrender unless NATO sends in ground troops. The longer the
ground operation is delayed, the bitterer the massacre will be.
Turkey can play a significant role in the resolution of the
Kosovo question. She can persuade NATO of the inevitability of a
ground operation. We are also thankful for Turkey's aid and
President Demirel's visit to Albania. I am sure the NATO forces
will eventually win. As a politician, I am striving to explain
the vital necesssity of a ground operation to the international
community." Reiterating his call to NATO to accept the UCK as an
ally, Berisha claimed that the UCK may be used as initial attack
troops in a possible ground operation. /Turkiye/
The Western European Union's (WEU) Ministerial Council's spring
meetings will take place on May 10-11 in Bremen, Germany. A
statement issued by the Foreign Ministry yesterday said that the
Turkish delegation would include Defence Minister Hikmet Sami
Turk, Turkey's WEU Ambassador Guner Oztek and representatives
from the Turkish General Staff, Defence and Foreign Ministries.
Delegates at the conference will be discussing new European
security and defence matters in the wake of April's NATO Summit
and defence policy issues concerning crisis management in Europe.
/All papers/
According to the London-based International Strategic Research
Institution (IISS), a serious level of disintegration cen be seen
in both the political and military wings of the PKK. The recent
report prepared by the IISS said: "There is proof that not only
inside the military wing but also in ERNK, which is the PKK's
political wing in Europe, there are important dispersals. Ocalan
was not given political asylum in Europe and this showed that the
West did not support him. Before Ocalan's capture, the PKK tried
to reach its target through conducting terrorist activities in
the Southeastern regions of Turkey; collecting money forcefully
and earning money from drug smuggling in order to ensure their
financial funding and infiltrating political parties and
non-governmental organizations in Turkey in order to strengthen
PKK propaganda. The absence of a leader in the PKK led the
organization to a new congress; at the end of the Leadership
Congress it was decided to restructure ERNK, to establish a
political party in Northern Iraq and to accept a Marxist-Leninist
ideology. The most important problem of the Leadership Council is
to protect the unity of PKK without the leadership of Ocalan."
The report added: "PKK violence in Europe after Ocalan's capture
was limited to European support for the Kurds. Therefore,
Ocalan's capture will really mean the true beginning of the
Kurdish issue for Turkish authorities." /Milliyet/
The lawyers for the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan, saying he stands a
slim chance of a fair trial in Turkey, will take their case to
the Council of Europe's European Court of Human Rights. Ocalan is
currently imprisoned on Imrali Island in the Marmara Sea. Ocalan
is scheduled to stand trial on Imrali on charges of treason and
the murder of 30,000 people.
"Ocalan's trial has international dimensions. His trial will be
international. The process has started. With its rights and
wrongs, each state will be placed where it deserves to be", four
of the 60 lawyers defending Ocalan declared during a news
conference in Istanbul. "Ocalan will be tried in Turkey and also
in Europe", they said in a written statement. They stated they
would call all the international figures involved in Ocalan's
flight from Syria last autumn to his final capture in Kenya in
February, including the Prime Ministers of Italy, Greece and
Turkey, as well as the heads of the intelligence services of a
dozen different countries, to the stand at the European Court of
Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. /All papers/
Following the capture of its chief, Abdullah Ocalan, and
subsequent successful operations by security forces, the
disillusioned terrorist PKK organization is now planning to use a
number of its female militants as sucicide bombs in its
outrageous actions. In a top secret investigation carried out by
Turkish intelligence services, it has been revealed that the PKK
has trained dozens of its female militants specifically to be
used as 'living bombs' for sensational operations in metropolitan
areas up until May 31, the day when Ocalan's trial will begin. It
is reported that the photographs and identities of 13 militants
have been determined by security forces. In this respect,
increase security measures have been implemented and the police
have intensified their efforts to capture these suicide bombers.
/Turkiye/
Wide-ranging security operations launched in the districts of
Nazimiye, Mazgirt and Pulumur (Tunceli) and in the districts of
Yayladere and Kigi (Bingol) are still being undertaken. Members
of the PKK terrorist organization yesterday attacked a group of
Turkish soldiers patrolling near Gunesli Police Station in
Yayladere along the Tunceli-Bingol border and killed nine
security forces; four security officials were wounded. Security
officials noted that mopping-up operations to root out nearly 40
terrorists were continuing in the region. /Aksam/
The continuous crack-down by Turkish security forces against the
PKK terrorist organization following the capture and imprisonment
of its chief, Abdullah Ocalan, have reportedly resulted in a
marked decline in the number of terrorist incidents. The Anatolia
News Agency reported that the outlawed organization has been
going through a leadership crisis in the absence of Ocalan. The
PKK's logistic support has been almost completely cut off by the
recent operations in Turkey's Southeast and in Northern Iraq. The
authorities also said that security forces have neutralized a
number of urban hideouts from which the terrorists directed
suicide bomb attacks in metropolitan areas. They added that large
caches of ammunition had been recovered during those operations.
Turkish associations working under the auspices of the German
Turkish Society, an association based in Hamburg, Germany, have
protested against Rudolf Augstein, the editor of the weekly 'Der
Spiegel' magazine. It has been claimed that Augstein insulted the
founder of the Republic of Turkey, Ataturk, in his article.
Representatives of the Turkish associations laid a black wreath
in front of the central building of 'Der Spiegel' magazine and
condemned both the magazine and Augstein. /Aksam/
The Turkish Armenian Patriach celebrated the 700th anniversary of
the Ottoman Empire and the 538th anniversary of the establishment
of the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
Celebrations started with the laying of a wreat at the foot of
the Ataturk Monument in Taksim Square in Istanbul. Armenian
Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan said that this was the only example of
a Muslim Sultan letting a Christian religious administration and
leader be established on the lands under the Sultan's
administration. /Hurriyet/
Following deliberations between the World Bank and the Turkish
Treasury, it has been resolved that the Bank would allocate a
total loan of $2 billion over the three-year period between
1998-2000 for a number of projects. Those projects which were
suggested by the Treasury and confirmed by the World Bank as
worth supporting are mainly in the fields of education,
infrastructural rehabilitation, housing, science, research and
development and agriculture. Accordingly, in the energy sector, a
$270 million loan has been granted to the TEAS (Turkish
Electricity Production Corp.) in an agreement signed last year.
In addition, for the `8-year Uninterrupted Education' project by
the National Ministry of Education, an initial $300 million loan
was allocated with another $300 million to be provided next year
according to the agreement made with the World Bank. Meanwhile,
it is reported that a $250 million loan will be supplied by the
Bank to be used in the joint infrastructural rehabilitation
project between the General Directorate of Highways, the State
Water Works, the General Directorate of Rural Affairs and the
Ministry of Forestry to compensate for last years' flood disaster
in the Western Black Sea Region. /Turkiye/
Chairman of the Privatization Administration Ugur Bayar said that
Turkey would never abandon privatization but it should reform its
legal structure. He added that international financial
institutions also stressed that Turkey should complete its
reforms of the legal aspects of privatization. Bayar noted that
the privatization process would continue with public support,
without causing any disturbance to the public, due to its
political determination and stability. Stressing that Turkey had
experience of privatization, Bayar noted that this experience
showed that the legal structure, the transparency of the process
and powerful governments were the conditions needed for
privatization. /Sabah/
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) is hopeful concerning both the
establishment of a new government and meetings between
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Turkish officials. As a
result of this positive atmosphere, the National 100-Index
reached 5,580 points, an increase of 128.52 points. Macro-level
investors and foreign buyers made their mark on yesterday's
performance. /Hurriyet/
Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen began pre-retirement
formalities yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Dincmen
was assigned to the post of Treasury Undersecretary on December
7, 1997; he held a farewell meeting with Treasury workers
yesterday. He said that he had previously attempted to retire but
that his request submitted before the April 18 polls, had been
rejected by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet
Ulugbay and the Prime Minister. Following the completion of talks
with the IMF in Washington, however, he was allowed to leave his
post.
Exports increased by 4.73 % in April when compared to the same
period last year. According to a statement made by the Turkish
Exporters' Assembly (TIM), exports which stood at $1.947 in April
1998 rose to $2.039 billion in April 1999. /Aksam/
The Club of Governors consisting of Central Banks from Central
Asian, Black Sea and Balkan countries will hold its first meeting
in 1999 on May 7 in Istanbul. The Head of the Turkish Central
Bank, Gazi Ercel, who has been elected the Head of the Club for
two years, will chair the meeting. /Aksam/
Turkey, one of the 16 countries that has satellites at space, is
preparing to launch a new Turkish satellite into space. The new
Turksat-2A satellite will be sent in February 2000 to France and
launched on 31 March 2000 from French Guiana. /Sabah/
The construction of the Sanliurfa irrigation tunnels which had
been halted due to insufficient funding has resumed. The General
Directorate of the State Water Works (DSI) has received bids
under the tender put out in order to complete the construction of
the tunnels. The tunnels, planned to be completed within two
years, will cost 4.1 trillion TL. /Aksam/
Turkey's dues from Libya which Turkish contractors have been
unable to receive are included in the content of foreign exchange
bridging loans. It has been demanded that the amount of the
loans, envisaged to be used by Eximbank over a one-year term, be
increased to $75-90 million. Turkish contractors who want to take
advantage of these foreign exchange bridging loans will submit
their documents, to be approved by the relevant Turkish Embassy,
to Eximbank before May 7. /Aksam/
The Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) will contribute
their manufacturing expertise to a 'dream plane' project to be
implemented under the leadership of the US. The production of the
high-technology Joint System for Fighters is being carried out by
the US and will be put into service following the years 2008 and
2009. The TAI will also be involved in the production process. In
addition to the TAI, the US firms of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE
and P&W will also contribute to the venture. /Aksam/
Companies whose stocks are traded on the Istanbul Stock Exchange
(IMKB) have announced the results of their balance sheets for the
first three months of 1999. Out of the 183 companies reporting,
66 of them noted losses and 57 of them increased their profits.
The Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TUPRAS) raised its
profits by 592 % in the first three months of 1999. TUPRAS earned
profits of 99 trillion TL in 1998. TUPRAS continued to improve
its performance; net profits went from 4.22 trillion TL in the
first three months of 1998 to 29.26 trillion TL in the same
period of 1999. /All papers/
It is reported that in the first four months of the year 333,297
tourists came to Antalya via 2,500 charter flights. This number
can be analysed thus: in April, 43% of the tourists who arrived
in Antalya were German, while 9% of them were French and 5%
Russian. Travel agencies and tourism firms note that along with
effective advertising and international tourism fairs, the
invitation of foreign journalists to Antalya in order to provide
them with the opportunity to observe the tourism potential of the
region has also yielded fruitful results. /Turkiye/
Turkish Airlines (THY) will start to fly to Peking in the
People's Republic of China on 19 May. General Director of THY
Yusuf Bolayırlı said that direct flights to Peking twice a week,
every Wednesday and Saturday, will start on 19 May with Airbus
A340 planes. He added that there wiil also be flights from Peking
to Istanbul every Thursday and Sunday. /Hurriyet/
Turkish Airlines (THY) will resume its flights to Tirana on May
10. Albanian airspace has been closed to air traffic due to the
conflict in the region. According to a statement sent by the THY
to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Tirana flights will be
twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. /Aksam/
GSD Factoring A.S. in its first full year of operation, reported
yesterday that its net income rose to 315.8 billion TL, up 468 %
from the end of 1997. The Istanbul-based financial company, which
began operating in July 1997, is 99.9 % owned by GSD Holding, a
conglomerate involved in textile production and exports, banking
and finance. /All papers/
The annual Kizilay (Red Crescent) Blood Donation Week was
launched by President Suleyman Demirel at the Presidential Palace
yesterday. Demirel said that donating blood is an honorable and
humanitarian duty and invited Turkish citizens to participate in
this service. He also added that everybody's blood type should be
determined. Health Minister Mustafa Guven Karahan said: "A unit
of blood can save a person's life, and for that reason I hope
blood donations will increase". /All papers/
Turkish pop singer Tarkan was given a "World Music Award" in
Monte Carlo. Tarkan was given the "Middle East Award" at the
"World Music Awards" ceremony organized under the auspices of
Prens Albert. /Hurriyet/
During the Final of the 37th Turkish Cup, Galatasaray defeated
Besiktas 2-0. While Galatasaray fans were experiencing the joy of
the victory, the Director of Galatasaray, Faruk Suren, said that
it was their turn to become League Champion. /Aksam/
Hasan Cemal, a columnist for `Milliyet', reflects on President
Demirel's recent visit to France and the new path of Turco-EU
relations. Cemal writes:
"The `Ottoman Treasuries' Exhibition, inaugurated by President
Demirel and President Chirac in Versailles is a fascinating
beauty. Besides, on the same historic site, it was a privilege to
listen to world-renowned Turkish pianist Fazıl Say, performing
Mozart, Erkin, Debussy and Gershwin. Both of them belong to our
own culture. Are we from the Orient or from the Occident? Perhaps
we are a queer mixture of the two. Are we European or not?
It was in 1856 in Paris that the Ottoman Empire was accepted as a
component of the European State System. What is our place in
Europe now? The answer to this question was no doubt pursued in
the deliberations between President Demirel and President Chirac.
In turn, both Chirac and Prime Minister Jospin gave a clear
message: Do not get disenchanted with Europe. Do not isolate
yourself from Europe. Apparently, Europe is concerned about the
rise of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) in the recent
Election. There is an uncanny attitude towards Turkish politics
in Paris, the capital city of Europe. Always the same questions
are on the agenda: Will Turkey turn its back on Europe? Will it
turn inside?
President Chirac told President Demirel that they will do their
utmost to nominate Turkey as a candidate country for the EU. He
promised that they will launch initiatives to achieve this aim in
cooperation with Germany. He stated that in the past he was
unable to transcend the opposition of Chancellor Kohl, and more
recently, they are blocked by Greece. Meanwhile, he added that
they were waiting for certain contributions from Turkey as well
in order to resolve the Greek obstacle. For instance, he claimed
that Turkey should apply to the Justice Court in the Hague. In
turn, Demirel gave the expected answer: `The attitude of the EU
towards Turkey is basically flawed. It brings Greece to an
uncompromising position. Under these circumstances, if I were in
the place of Greece, I would not compromise either. You have to
distinguish between the Turco-Greek problems and the Turco-EU
relations immediately.' Demirel also stressed Greek support for
PKK terrorism.
Indeed, all European capital cities are familiar with Demirel's
message to Chirac: `In the first place, you should approve
Turkey's being a candidate country- not with a special status or
by means of the 11+1 formula, but in the way applied to all other
candidates. Then it would be easier to take steps forward...' As
a diplomatic source who closely watched Demirel's meetings with
Jospin and Chirac, `All is the same in the Turco-EU relations!'
Turkey arrives at a crossroads in its relations with Europe; both
Ankara and the European capitals are aware of this fact. There
are two reasons for that; the first one is the rise of the MHP.
Second, there is the possibility that a Democratic Left
Party-Nationalist Action Party-Motherland Party coalition may
pursue a less flexible policy towards Europe. In this respect,
Paris also wonders whether Turkey will turn its back on Europe.
This possibility may become real only on condition that Europe
also desires such a shift in Turkey's perspective. Demirel also
emphasized this fact in his meetings. Yet he made another
emphasis as well: Turkey cannot give up Europe! Thus, he seems
more positive towards Europe than the current leaders of our
political parties.
However, we should note that in spite of the fact that the EU has
committed a number of wrongs against Turkey, we also have a
remarkable amount of homework to do."
In his column in `Hurriyet' Ilter Turkmen analyzes Turkish
foreign policy. A summary of his column is as follows:
"Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali stated that
foreign policy was important for smaller states, as great states
could do without it. In fact, in particular during the period
following the Cold War, we can see that great states have not
suffered because of their mistakes in foreign policy. In the
Balkans, Bosnians, Albanians and other nations suffer because of
their mistakes.
Turkey can be described neither as a small nor a great state.
However, due to its geographic location the cost of its past
mistakes has been high. The cautious and realistic policies of
Ataturk and Inonu are based on historical experience. At
present, Turkey is a regional power and has a strong army which
can support its policies. The 55th government used this power and
prevented the deployment of Russian missiles on Cyprus and ended
Syrian support for the PKK terrorist organization. The fruits of
these policies were reaped by the 56th government and benefiting
both from the operational support of a great state, and the
failure of Greece in sponsoring the PKK, it has been able to
deliver Ocalan to Turkish justice.
The priority of the 57th government in its foreign policy will be
given where domestic and foreign developments affect each other;
reactions to the trial of Ocalan will be one of the main issues
among them. Including the administrative and technical
arrangements, the methods used, the rights granted to defence
lawyers, and the facilities provided for the journalists, all
aspects of the trial process will be observed critically by the
West. It is seen as inevitable that Ocalan will get the heaviest
punishment foreseen by the rules of law due to the numerous
murders he has committed. Therefore, it will be much better for
the trial process to be as short as possible so as not to give
way to its exploitation both internally and externally.
It should also be expected that the human rights file of Turkey
will be given priority. As the Chairman of the Constitutional
Court has drawn attention to the deficiencies in the
implementaion of the laws in this field, approaches and
suggestions by the Western states should be expected.
Those who analyze the statement given by the Chairman of the
Constitutional Court, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, point out that there
are limitations to the freedom of expression in Western
States.This observation is correct, but it should not be
forgotten that there is a consensus in those societies on the
inevitable limitations of certain freedoms and, therefore those
rules are rarely used.
The most current problems in Turkish foreign policy are related
to problems which have to be solved urgently internally. The
steps taken in this direction, will open up new perspectives in
Turkish foreign policy."
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
DSP-MHP PREPARE FOR TOUGH COALITION BARGAINING
KAVAKCI STILL ON THE AGENDA
BERISHA: "TURKEY SHOULD IMPEL NATO TO CARRY OUT GROUND OPERATION"
WEU SPRING MEETINGS TO OPEN IN BREMEN
PKK AFTER OCALAN'S CAPTURE
OCALAN'S LAWYERS TO TAKE CASE TO EUROPEAN COURT
LIVING BOMB ALARM
PKK KILLS NINE SECURITY OFFICIALS
AUTHORITIES SAY TERRORIST INCIDENTS DECLINING
PROTEST AGAINST 'DER SPIEGEL'
TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCH LAYS WREATH ON ATATURK'S MONUMENT
$2 BILLION LOAN FROM WORLD BANK
"TURKEY WILL CONTINUE ITS PRIVATIZATION PROGRAMME"
IMKB IS HOPEFUL
DINCMEN RESIGNS
EXPORTS IN APRIL
CENTRAL BANKS' SUMMIT
NEW TURKSAT IN 2000
NEW START IN URFA TUNNELS
TURKEY'S DUES FROM LIBYA
TURKISH SEAL ON THE 21ST CENTURY
TUPRAS RAISES PROFITS SIGNIFICANTLY
TOURIST FLOCK TO ANTALYA
THY TO PEKING
THY TO TIRANA
GSD FACTORING RECORDS '98 PROFIT OF 315.8 BILLION TL
RED CRESCENT BLOOD DONATION WEEK
"WORLD MUSIC AWARD" FOR TARKAN
LAST CUP OF THE CENTURY TO GALATASARAY
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
FROM CHIRAC TO DEMIREL: DO NOT GET DISENCHANTED WITH EUROPE -
BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
TURKEY'S PLACE IN FOREIGN POLICY - BY ILTER TURKMEN (HURRIYET)