Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
A ceremony was held on Monday in commemoration of the 13th
anniversary of the Founding of the Council of State, the
country's highest administrative legal authority. Those in
attendance at the ceremony included Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
Chairman of the Constitutional Court Ahmet N. Sezer, State
Ministers Husamettin Ozkan and Aydin Tumen, Interior Minister
Cahit Bayar, Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals Vural
Savas, and other officials.
Erol Cirakman, the Chairman of the Council of State, said in his
speech at the ceremony that some changes were necessary to
improve the functioning of the organization. He added that
administrative bodies should act in accordance with decisions
handed down by judicial bodies.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the establishment of the
Council of State was an important step for a democratic state,
but the Turkish judicial system needs reforming, especially in
the field of administrative judgements. Meanwhile, President
Suleyman Demirel released a statement to congratulate Erol
Cirakman. /Turkiye-Sabah/
The Supreme Election Board (YSK), which has the final authority
in matters pertaining to the election of deputies in the Turkish
Grand National Assembly (TGNA), has submitted an application to
the US for information concerning the Virtue Party's (FP)
Istanbul Deputy Merve Kavakci's US citizenship via the Foreign
Ministry. The Deputy Chairman of the YSK, Sabri Coskun, said:
"The YSK can request information both inside Turkey and outside
Turkey via the Foreign Ministry". The Foreign Ministry has
launched inquiries into Kavakci's citizenship status in the US.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli has stated that
the directive has been conveyed to the Turkish Embassy in
Washington. It is reported that no reply has yet been received.
Coskun pointed out that they would issue a decision on this
matter within three months. /Milliyet/
The Chief Economist from Deutsche Bank AG, Laura Papi, said that
they had held meetings with officials from the Nationalist Action
Party (MHP) concerning its policies and programme because the MHP
might become part of the coalition government as yet to be
established in Turkey. Replying to questions concerning his
expectations from the new Turkish government, Papi said: "It is
better for Turkey to achieve stability with or without the IMF.
If you wait for the IMF, you may lose the opportunities before
you. The IMF agreement is not an essential factor for investment
in Turkey. Investors do not seek an IMF programme". As have
representatives from other foreign banks, the representative from
Deutsche Bank also held a series of meetings in Turkey last week
to receive information concerning the political successes arising
from the General Election held in Turkey on April 18. /Milliyet/
Defence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk is in Bremen to take part in
the spring meetings of the Ministerial Council of the Western
European Union (WEU). Speaking at the meeting Turk said that
Turkey is the top country sending humanitarian aid to the
Kosovars. Up to now, he added, the amount of humanitarian aid
that Turkey has dispensed stands at $ 4 million. Turk added, "The
cost of the refugee camp in Turkey has attained to $ 12 million.
Turkey has also spent $ 2 million on the establishment of
tent-cities in Albania and Macedonia. /Turkiye/
According to news in the Greek press, the US has suspended the
delivery of weapons worth $1.1 billion to Greece because of its
pro-Serbian, anti-US and anti-NATO stance over the Kosovo crisis.
The US Ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns, has sent secret
reports to the US State Department outlining the negative role of
Greece in the Kosovo crisis. According to Burns, aid which was
suggested should be sent from Greece to Kosovo has gone to Serbs
instead of Muslims. According to American officials in Athens,
this aid is continually increasing.
The reports said that 87 % of Greek public opinion was all for
supporting the Serbs and pointed out that anti-US and anti-NATO
demonstrations were being supported by terrorist organizations.
/Cumhuriyet/
The Red Crescent sent aid to Albania, Macedonia and Azerbaijan
yesterday. Addressing a ceremony before the departure of 21
trucks carrying aid particularly foodstuff to these three
countries, Fatih Evren, the Director General of the Red Crescent,
said that services given to Kosovars who escaped from Serb
violence and who took shelter in city-tents founded by the Red
Crescent in Albania, Macedonia and Kirklareli of Turkey are
carried out with success, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
Turkish F-16 war planes that participate in NATO's air operation
against Yugoslavia accumulated a total of 1,287 flight hours,
reported the Anatolian News Agency on Monday. The General Staff
Information Centre issued a statement saying that the Turkish
F-16 war planes which are deployed at the Ghedi Airbase in Italy,
stayed in air for 24 hours on May 3.
The number of Kosovar refugees, who came to Turkey since the
beginning of NATO air operation, reached to 14,954 on Monday,
reported the Anatolian News Agency. The Interior Ministry
statement said that a total of 6,522 refugess entered into Turkey
from Corlu airport, 6,905 Kosovars from Kapikule Border Gate, and
1,527 Kosovar refugess from Istanbul today. The statement noted
that 6,210 out of 14,954 Josovar refugees are staying in the
camp-site in northwestern Kirklareli provinces.
NATO pounded an airport near Yugoslavia's third-largest city
early on Moday, despite China's outrage over the allied campaign
sparked by the mistaken bombing of its embassy in Belgrade. In
the only strike reported early on monday, the private Beta News
Agency said several detonations were heard near Nis, about 200
kilometers southeast of Belgrade. It said the Nis airport was
targetted.
In Brussels, NATO said the reduced bombing was due to bad
weather, and had no political significance, including the fact
that there were no attacks on Belgrade.
Meanwhile, the Serbian government issued a written statement
yesterday saying that they have partly withdrawn from Kosovo.
According to the Tanjug News Agency the statement said Serbian
operations ended against Kosovo. /Sabah/
The European Union (EU) formally approved a package of new
sanctions against Yugoslavia on Monday, including a travel ban on
President Slobodan Milosevic. The EU also froze funds held by
Milosevic and his associates and companies controlled by the
Yugoslavian and Serbian governments. The new sanctions forbid
companies from the EU nations from providing export finances to
the Yugoslavian and Serbian governments and ban all commercial
flights between Yugoslavia and the EU. The sanctions were drawn
up April 26 and formally adopted on Monday by EU Finance
Ministers.
The Turkish Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan II, accompanied
by a five-person delegation will go to Armenia today. The
Patriarch who will attend the High Spiritual Council to convene
in the holy Armenian city of Surp Ecmiyadzin, will return to
Turkey on May 18. /Cumhuriyet/
The Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association (TGSD) will
present its quarterly evaluation report on the ready-to-wear
sector to representatives from the banking sector during a
private meeting in Istanbul today. Through these quarterly
meetings, the current situation in the sector will be explained
to officials in the banking sector. /Milliyet/
The German Kemalist, Association (AADD) named after Founder of
the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, called on Turkish
citizens abroad to spend their holidays in Turkey. A written
statement issued by the AADD stated that some countries were
trying to damage Turkey's image abroad by saying that Turkey was
unsafe for visitors. The statement stressed that a person who
enjoys safety in any European country is just as safe in Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration
Chairmanship and the International Centre for Agricultural
Research in Drought Areas (ICARDA) will hold a meeting entitled
"Southeastern Anatolia's Agricultural Research and Development
Strategies: GAP's role" in Sanliurfa between May 13-15, the
Anatolia News Agency reports. Erkan Alemdaroglu, the GAP
Development Administration's Regional Director, said that
sustainable agricultural production is becoming important as the
increasing need for food keeps threatening the world.
A General Staff Chairmanship delegation, composed of 10 experts,
has gone to Tbilisi upon the invitation of Valeri Ckeidze,
Georgia's Border Forces Commander. Gela Hutsisvili, the Deputy
Commander of the Georgian Border Forces, said that the team will
stay in Tbilisi for two months and will train units deployed on
Lilo base. The experts' team is also expected to meet David
Tevsadze, the Georgian Defence Minister, and Coni Pirtikalasvili,
the Chief of General Staff, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
Gen.Ilhan Kilic, the Air Forces Commander has gone to Washington
to hold bilateral talks with his American counterparts. Kilic is
expected to meet Gen. Joseph Ralston, the Deputy Chairman of the
General Staff, and some high level commanders. He will leave the
US today.
A Lecturer at the Periodontology Main Department of Istanbul
University's Dentistry Faculty, Assoc.Prof.Erhan Firatli, has
become a member of the Executive Board of the International
Academy for Pediontology (IAP) as the representative of European
countries for the 1999-2003 period. The IAP Executive Board
consists of 12 people from four main regions, Europe, Asia and
Oceania, America, Africa and the Middle East. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkey and Malta will cooperate with regard to tourism.
Meanwhile, Air Malta has achieved its first flight to Libya
following the re-opening of Libyan airspace since the embargo was
imposed in 1992. According to a protocol signed at the
Turco-Maltese First Term Tourism Joint Commission meeting, the
two countries will exchange information on tourism. A common
tourism data network will be established in the Mediterranean.
/Hurriyet/
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ziya Aktas said that the US
Administration saw the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
as being of great significance and because of this, it had opened
an office in the US Embassy in Ankara. Replying to questions from
the 'Voice of America' after attending the Turco-US Business
Council meeting in Washington last week, Aktas remarked that
Turkey had historic ties with the Caucasian and Central Asian
Turkish-Speaking Republics. /Hurriyet/
Ceramics is one of the most highly developed industrial sectors
in Turkey. Especially in the crockery sub-sector, Turkey has
developed 90 fold in the last 35 years and now is fifth in the
world and third in Europe with a production capacity of over 135
million square metres. According to estimates, production will
further increase until 2008 and reach 600 million square metres.
/Hurriyet/
The 'Consultative Council' of the Confederation of Turkish
Employers' Unions (TISK) will convene in Istanbul today. The
Consultative Council consisting of the chairmen of some chambers
of trade and industry, the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and
Artisans, the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges,
the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association and
representatives from the banking sector and the press, will be
opened with a speech to be delivered by the TISK Chairman, Refik
Baydur. /Hurriyet/
The Greek Cypriot-Greek lobby has presented a draft decision to
the American Congress. In the draft decision, it is claimed that
Turkey occupied Cyprus and violated UN Security Council
resolutions. Meanwhile, the US administration will implement new
initiatives to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. /Hurriyet/
Representatives from the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation
(TRT) and the Anatolia News Agency (AA) who will convey to the
world news concerning the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist
organization, Abdullah Ocalan, to be held on Imrali Island,
arrived on the Island yesterday. A technical team consisting of
five people from TRT and three from the AA carried the equipment
necessary for the press centre to be established on Imrali Island
for the period of Ocalan's trial. /Hurriyet/
Two members of the outlawed DHKP-C have been killed by three
other members of the same organization. It is reported that the
terrorists were murdered as they had given information to the
police about the activities of the organization. The incident
occured in Avcilar, Istanbul yesterday. /Sabah/
One of the experts on economy and technology from the World
Future Society based in Washington, McKinley Conway, has stated
that Istanbul is one the nominees to be a 'super city'. A list
consisting of candidate cities sees each city's geographical
location in addition to a high level of population as being of
importance. Vuhan and Shanghai in China, Denver and Atlanta in
the US, Bangalore in India, Bangkok in Thailand, Cancum-Tulum in
Mexico, Madrid in Spain and Vancouver in Canada also are on the
list. /Hurriyet/
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Ulugbay said that
the Turkish economy was among the top 20 in the world and now
Turkey's goal was to take its place among the top 10 most
developed economies in the world. Speaking at the 73rd
Anniversary of the establishment of the State Institute of
Statistics (DIE) and the 10th Turkish Statistics Day Ulugbay said
that statistical data and their evaluation were very important to
industrialized countries.
President Suleyman Demirel said for his part at the ceremony that
the DIE was among the most important institutions in Turkey,
helpingthe government to make sound decisions by collecting and
updating information concerning technology, economy, science and
sociology. /Sabah/Turkiye/
Minister of Tourism Ahmet Tan declared that the stagnation being
experienced in Turkish tourism would be overcome from next week
onwards. He stated that the Ministry of Finance would give a
one-trillion-TL financial aid package to the promotion of Turkey
abroad adding they would start advertising campaigns particularly
in Germany, Britain and Russia in order to enliven tourism. Tan
pointed out that the best holiday in Europe could be taken in
Turkey at the most reasonable price. /Sabah/
A weekend rally in Tehran that was held in support of Turkey's
newly-elected female deputy has provoked Ankara to file a protest
with the government of its neighbouring country. Officials in
Ankara said that Turkey is preparing to convey its concerns to
the Iranian government and the Turkish Embassy in Tehran will be
assigned to relay those concerns. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
directed his criticism at the government of Iran saying that the
neighbouring country was trying to "export" its Islamic
administration to Turkey despite the fact that Ankara does not
interfere in Tehran's affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an evaluation meeting
yesterday and decided to summon the Iranian Ambassador to Ankara,
Huseyin Lavasani, to the Ministry in order to rebuke him
concerning the recent developments in Iran aimed at interfering
in Turkey's domestic affairs. /Sabah/
Turkey is one of the biggest hazelnut producers and exports
hazelnuts to 80 countries around the world. According to the
Black Sea Hazelnut Exporters' Union, the greatest part of the
exports was to European countries which comprise 91 % of the
exports. The Chairman of the Union, Ahmet Baskan, said that they
had started advertising campaigns in the US and the People's
Republic of China and they aimed to increase the number of the
countries to which they exported. /Turkiye/
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Republican
People's Party (CHP) headquarters, Ercan Karakas, former Istanbul
SHP deputy stated, "In order for the CHP to once again be an
attractive political party it has to renew itself from top to
bottom. It has to show that it can come up with solutions to the
problems bothering people, and it has to become a dynamic party
united with them." Karakas added that it was time for the party's
General Chairman to be chosen from among his or her equals in the
best possible way. /Turkiye/
Members of the Izmir Trade Centre (IZTO) promised businessmen
from Erzurum that they will contribute to the region. A
183-member IZTO delegation visited Erzurum and Ekrem Demirtas,
the Chairman of IZTO, said that they would invest in the region.
Erzurum Metropolitan Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz said for his part that
natural gas would be brought to the region in the year 2000 which
would give the investors the opportunity to take advantage of
energy. Uykusuz added that they would give free land to
businessmen investing in Erzurum. /Aksam/
Turkey will buy natural gas from Nigeria. According to a written
statement issued by the Turkish Embassy to Logos, Nigeria will
sell $ 260 million of liquidated natural gas to Turkey within two
years. It is reported that the transport of the gas will start in
October and at the end of the two years the agreement will be
re-evaluated. /Aksam/
The 100 biggest gold-exporting jewellery companies in Turkey have
decided to establish the "ANAGOLD Foreign Trade Company" to order
to lead in the world in the year 2000. Muammer Alki, the Chairman
of the Jewellers' Association, said that they aimed to increase
the total amount of gold exported from $ one million to $ two
million. He added they would establish a company in order to
reach their target. /Aksam/
As of yesterday, no candidates have applied to fill the post of
Parliament Speaker in the new Parliament. The General Assembly
will convene on Wednesday to begin the first round of voting on
the next Parliament Speaker. It is speculated that among the
names being discussed as possible candidates are Democratic Left
Party (DSP) deputies Hikmet Sami Turk and Uluc Gurkan,
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies Sadi Somuncuoglu, Tunca
Toskay and Murat Sokmenoglu, Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy
Yildirim Akbulut and Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Yasin Hatipoglu.
According to the Constitution and parliamentary bylaws, a
candidate must secure the support of two-thirds of the entire
parliamentary body during the first two rounds of voting in order
to gain the position. /Aksam/
Peace Party (BP) leader Ali Haydar Veziroglu said he has decided
to disband the BP as a result of the degree of public apathy
toward the party that was made apparent in the April 18
elections. Because of the public's lack of support and interest
in the party, the BP delegation council decided that it is
unnecessary for the political life of the BP to continue. /Sabah/
A fine group of marble sculptures dating back to the Roman period
and four 13th century walnut panels taken from Seljuk Mosque in
the central Anatolia province of Sivas have been brought back to
Turkey from Britain, the Anatolian News Agency reported on
Monday. Culture Ministry Undersecretary Tekin Aybas and the
Foundations General Director, Mustafa Keten organized a press
conference saying that the marble sculptures are to be put on
display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, while
the walnut panels will be on view at Istanbul's Turkish Islamic
Arts Museum.
Third International Petroleum '99 Fair will be held between May
13-16, 1999, in Istanbul, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Ziya
Aktas, Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, the
former Energy and Natural Resources Minister, and many other
officials will participate in the conference.
Serdar Akar's 'Gemide' and Ferzan Ozpetek's 'Harem Suare' will
represent Turkey at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival, the Anatolia
News Agency reports. Eight more films which have not been entered
for awards in the competition will be shown during the Festival
so as to draw attention to Turkish films abroad.
Columnist Orhan Birgit analyzes Yilmaz's decision to go to the
Supreme Court to prove his innocence on certain corruption
charges. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The recent Election showed that Yılmaz and Ciller clearing each
other of any wrong doing with the support of their political
staff was not forgiven by the public. The insistence of the
aides of both the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party
(DYP) that the result of the 18 April Election was due to success
in the Ocalan affair was not realistic and, therefore, it
prevented a rational explanation of the reasons for the rise of
the Nationalist Action Party (MHP).
During the meeting held with Prime Minister-designate Ecevit
concerning the formation of a new government it was seen that
Mesut Yilmaz has finally understood the real reason for the
defeat of the centre right. At the meeting Yilmaz stated that he
supported his party's participation in such a coalition but added
that he did not want to assume any responsibility as a Minister.
The reason why he does not want to assume any responsibility is
his desire to be cleared by the Supreme Court.
Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit, during his meetings with
the party leaders proposes certain amendments to Article 83 of
the Constitution which provides wide-ranging political immunity
for politicians in the TGNA, and to Article 100 which adhers to
convoluted investigations into both Prime Ministers and Ministers
accused of wrong-doing. While all the leaders favoured this
proposal, the Chairman of ANAP, Mesut Yilmaz, wants to be tried
without waiting for such amendments to the Constitution. Thus, a
coalition probably made up of the Democratic Left Party, the
Nationalist Action Party and the Motherland Party will support
him.
His desire to change a decision etched in the minds of the public
regarding the corruption charges brought against him can only be
respected. A natural question this brings to mind is what will
the Chairman of DYP, Tansu Ciller do over these charges?"
Columnist Hasan Cemal from the daily "Milliyet" writes on the
meetings concerning the formation of a coalition government. A
summary of his column is as follows:
"The cauldron of politics is boiling in Ankara. There is intense
lobbying going on for the formation of a government. The sides,
that is, the Prime-Minister-designate, Bulent Ecevit, and the
Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party, Devlet Bahceli, are
trying to find the right time to see each other's hands. At the
same time both Ecevit and Bahceli are trying to follow a policy
which would not go against the opinions of the grassroots of
their parties.
Can we say for certain that a coalition comprising of the
Democratic Left Party (DSP), Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and
the Motherland Party(ANAP) will be established? In a slippery
political environment, it would not be right to take anything for
granted. However at the moment the most probable solution seems
to be a coalition of these parties. That it to say Ecevit is
still dancing with Bahceli. This causes restlessness in the
grassroots of his party. There is a rumour that if Ecevit forms
a coalition with the MHP, some deputies in the parliamentary
group of the DSP would like to serve under the roof of the
Republican People's Party. Therefore, he is trying to feel the
pulse of the members of his parliamentary group well.
Others are saying that if such a coalition was formed there would
be some deputies in ANAP who would cooperate with the Nationalist
Action Party. Whatever the rumours be, the first test will be
over the election of a Speaker to the Parliament. Even though
both leaders want the Speaker to be elected from among their
deputies, they are cautious in their statements. They are trying
to draw a line between the election of the Speaker and the
formation of the government. In other words, if both parties do
not impose a solution, and put forward reasonable candidates the
election of a Speaker to the Parliament will not affect the
formation of a government.
The process of bargaining is going on. Both parties are trying to
show their supporters that they are trying to form a government
without conceding any of their principles or values."
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
PM ECEVIT: JUDICIAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE REFORMED
TURKEY APPLIES TO US ON KAVAKCI
FOREIGNERS CLOSELY OBSERVE TURKEY
TURKISH PRESS ON KOSOVO
TURKEY COMES TOP IN HELPING KOSOVO
US IS CAUTIOUS ABOUT ATHENS
RED CRESCENT SENDS AID
TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES ACCUMULATE A TOTAL OF 1,827 FLIGHT HOURS
NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEY
NATO AIR RAIDS CONTINUE
EU APPROVES SANCTIONS ON YUGOSLAVIA
PATRIARCH TO ARMENIA
TEXTILE-BANKING SUMMIT
'SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS IN TURKEY'
INTERNATIONAL MEETING TO BE ORGANIZED IN SANLIURFA
GENERAL STAFF DELEGATION IN TBILISI
AIR FORCES COMMANDER IN WASHINGTON
FIRATLI IN IAP ADMINISTRATION
TURCO-MALTESE COOPERATION IN TOURISM
BAKU-CEYHAN OFFICE IN ANKARA
TURKEY RANKS THIRD IN CERAMICS IN EUROPE
ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
GREEK CYPRIOT-GREEK LOBBY IN US
TRT AND AA TO OPEN A BUREAU ON IMRALI
MURDER IN DHKP-C
ISTANBUL TO BE A SUPER CITY
ULUGBAY: "TURKISH ECONOMY TO BECOME ONE OF THE 10 MOST DEVELOPED"
TAN: "1 TRILLION TL FINANCIAL PACKAGE FOR TOURISM"
TURKEY PROTESTS TO IRAN
HAZELNUT EXPORTS TO THE WORLD
KARAKAS: CHP SHOULD BE RE-STRUCTURED
IZTO IN THE EAST
NATURAL GAS FROM NIGERIA
TURKISH JEWELLERS TO BE NUMBER ONE
STILL NO CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
PEACE PARTY TO CLOSE DOWN
STOLEN ARTIFACTS RETURNED TO TURKEY
THIRD INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM '99 FAIR
TURKEY TO JOIN CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
INITIATIVE BY YILMAZ -BY ORHAN BIRGIT (CUMHURIYET)
THE BOILING CAULDRON OF POLITICS -BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)