Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
The initial two stages of voting were held to elect the
Parliament Speaker yesterday. Of the five candidates, the
Democratic Left Party's (DSP) Ankara Deputy Uluc Gurkan received
141 votes, the Nationalist Action Party's (MHP) Aksaray Deputy
Sadi Somuncuoglu received 137 votes, the Virtue Party's (FP)
Istanbul Deputy Nevzat Yalcintas got 98, Motherland Party's
(ANAP) Ankara Deputy Yildirim Akbulut received 84 and the True
Path Party's (DYP) Amasya Deputy Ahmet Iyimaya received 70 votes
during the second voting. A candidate should receive 367 votes in
order to become the Parliament Speaker. Therefore the third round
of voting will be held on May 18. If a result is not forthcoming,
then the fourth round of voting will be held on May 20 when the
Parliament Speaker will be determined. /Aksam/
The Virtue Party's (FP) newly-elected Deputy, Merve Kavakci, is
at the point of a possible revocation of her post as deputy as
well as facing the possibility of losing her Turkish citizenship
following the release of information by a US government agency
that she is an American citizen.
Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit told reporters that
Kavakci's status would be discussed at a Cabinet meeting. "We are
facing a totally illegal situation. Even if she takes off her
headscarf, it would be impossible for her to take the oath of
office and legally become an official member of the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA)" said Ecevit while answering reporters'
questions about Kavakci's dual citizenship. /All papers/
Speaking to the Parliamentary Group of his party, Mesut Yilmaz,
the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said the general
opinion that a `Democratic Left Party (DSP)-Nationalist Action
Party (MHP) coalition is OK' was incorrect. Yilmaz remarked that
DSP leader Ecevit has been faced with trouble in his meetings
with other parties leaders; he said, "After his second-round
meetings, Ecevit may return the mandate to the President".
In turn, Prime Minister and DSP leader Bulent Ecevit said, "I do
not know why Mr.Yilmaz issued such a statement." Meanwhile,
Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan's visit to ANAP leader
Yilmaz and ANAP MP Tasar's visit to MHP official Yahnici have
been interpreted as signs that ANAP is tending to act as a
negotiator between the DSP and the MHP. /Milliyet/
The Constitutional Court decided yesterday to ask the Court of
Appeals' Prosecutor, Vural Savas, to substantiate the charges he
made in an indictment demanding the closure of the Virtue Party
(FP). Completing the first evaluation of the Prosector's petition
for the closure of the FP on grounds that it is a continuation of
the Welfare Party (RP), which was closed down by the
Constitutional Court in early 1998, that it was exploiting
religion for political purposes and that it was instigating
separatism by dividing the nation into believers and
non-believers, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Prosecutor
should provide the Court with additional information and
documents. /All papers/
Semdin Sakik, one of the so-called commanders of the PKK
terrorist organization, has applied to the Chief Prosecutor's
Office of the State Security Court (DGM) in Diyarbakir to testify
during the trial of the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan. The Diyarbakir
DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office has forwarded the application to
the Ankara DGM for an evaluation. Semdin Sakik was captured
during an operation in Northern Iraq and then brought to Turkey.
/Aksam/
Two PKK terrorists who escaped from Mako training camp in Iran
and yielded to Turkish security forces in Igdır confessed that
the Iranian Intelligence Service is the largest supporter of the
PKK in Iran. They said, "When we arrived in Iran, we were
welcomed by members of the Iranian Intelligence Service. Our
wounded friends were cured by Iranian doctors. They also let me
stay in Iran for one year."
Meanwhile, Iran continues its positive attitude against Turkey.
An Iranian female politician said in her speech that the
headscarf has been shaking the secular system in Turkey. Although
the Iranian Ambassador to Ankara was warned by the Turkish
Foreign Ministry, demonstrations against the secular regime in
Turkey have been in progress in Tehran since last week.
/Hurriyet/
It was reported by the Anatolia News Agency that Virtue Party
(FP) Van Deputy Mustafa Bayram held a press conference yesterday
announcing his resignation from the party. Bayran stated that he
was unhappy with the actions of Merve Kavakci, the FP deputy who
entered the swearing-in ceremony in Parliament wearing a
headscarf.
In a related story, an unidentified person or persons broke into
the Van Courthouse safe and stole Deputy Bayram's criminal file.
Van Security Directorate authorities stated that the courthouse
night watchman had been taken into custody and that in-depth
investigation is continuing. Bayram was on trial on charges of
premediated murder and faced a possible prison sentence of
between 24-30 years. The trial of Mustafa Bayram, whose
parliamentary immunity was terminated last year, has been in
progress in Van Court.
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (KKTC), said that they will cease talks if the EU accepts
the membership application of the Greek-Cypriot Administration.
Remarking that Greek-Cypriot leader Klerides is proud of
achieving full integration with Greece, Denktas stated, "He says
that `Turkey's guarantorship right over Cyprus will be abolished
and our security will then be provided by the EU'. However, this
will never come to pass." President Denktas said, "On the
condition that the Greek-Cypriot Administration enters the EU,
the TRNC will engage in full integration with Turkey." /Turkiye/
Of 193 demonstrators who were detained during the illegal protest
held against the headscarf prohibition in Malatya, 181 people
were arrested. Meanwhile, the Malatya Governor's Office has
prohibited any meeting or demonstration in Akpinar Square.
/Aksam/
A group of terrorists attacked the Cat Village Affairs Office in
Erzurum killing a watch-man and wounding four officials on
Tuesday night. As a result of the crack-down conducted by
security forces in and around the region, five terrorists were
killed. Military sources announced that by the end of the clashes
two soldiers had been killed and one had been wounded.
/Cumhuriyet/
Arrow missiles, co-produced Israel and the US, will be exported
to Turkey and Jordan. Both countries, which are in alliance with
Israel and the US, worry about the security of their countries in
the face of the Scud type missiles of the regional countries. US
national security consultants have decided to support both Israel
and Turkey because of their geopolitical importance in the
region. /Sabah/
British Trade Secretary Brian Wilson and an accompanying
delegation visited the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) and the
Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) yesterday. The British
Ambassador to Ankara, David Logan, the British Consul-General to
Istanbul, Peter Hunt, and British businessmen attended the
meetings. Wilson said that they viewed Turkey as one of the 10
most developing markets in the world. Wilson remarked that they
were ready to work on commercial and political issues with the
new Turkish government as yet to be established. Wilson also
visited the British Catalogue Fair which has opened at the ISO.
The Head of the ITO Executive Board, Mehmet Yildirim, and ISO
Chairman Husamettin Kavi pointed out during the meetings that
they would be pleased to cooperate with Britain. /Aksam/
The most authorized counselling organ of the Turkish
Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK), the `Advisory
Council', has formed up a committee to prepare the report to be
presented to the new government which is likely to be established
in the following weeks. Issuing a statement following the
`Advisory Council' meeting, Refik Baydur, the Chairman of TISK,
stated that the participants had agreed on the formation of the
new government, the provision of political stability and the
implementation of effective measures to transcend the economci
crisis. Sakip Sabanci who attended the meeting said that the
first precept of the coalition protocol for the new government
should be the `amendment of the Election Law and the Law
concerning Political Parties', while Okan Oguz claimed they would
demand that the government establish a Ministry of Foreign Trade.
It is reported that propositions for more extensive economic and
social reforms will also be outlined in the report. /Milliyet/
According to data from the State Institute of Statistics (DIE),
Turkey paid out $411.7 million in official aid or similar foreign
hand-outs in 1997. Turkey assisted 67 countries financially in
1997. Among these countries, Azerbaijan, which obtained $6.217
million, received the most. Turkmenistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan,
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina
were some of the other countries assisted. /Aksam/
The Treasury increased has the amount of its bond exports from
800 million Euro to 1 billion Euro. According to a statement
issued by the Treasury, the five-year bonds which were exported
under the leadership of Deutsche Bank and Paribas on February 24,
1999, totalling 500 million Euro, increased by 300 million Euro
on April 22 and 28 and rose to 800 million Euro. The statement
said that the amount of exports further increased by 200 million
Euro yesterday and now totalled 1 billion Euro. /Aksam/
The first highway project to be implemented as part of the
Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) has begun. In this respect,
the transactions for the 54-million-dollar first commercial
syndication loan to cover the `Gaziantep-Sanliurfa Highway
Project' have been completed and contractor firm groups have
actually initiated its construction. The loan has been provided
by the German Deutsche Landes Bank (West LM). It is reported that
the contract price of the entire project is $492 million.
/Turkiye/
The much-needed drive for privatization can only be conducted by
a stable government which has three or four years in which to
implement its programme, said Privatization Board (OIB) Chairman
Ugur Bayar. Bayar expressed his views on privatization and his
policy suggestions for the new government after making a speech
at a New York seminar on Turkish financial markets. /All papers/
Businessmen from Elazig will invest in Romania. As part of a plan
jointly organized by the Elazig Chamber of Trade and Industry
(TSO) and the General Directorate of Small and Medium-Scale
Enterprises, businessmen from Elazig will travel to Romania. The
Chairman of the Elazig TSO, Suat Ozturk, said that a visit would
be paid to Romania between May 24-30. /Aksam/
The US company International Expeditors who specialize in
logistic services and the Turkish company Turnak which
specializes in transport organization have decided to merge. The
International Expeditors-Turnak joint venture will provide air
and naval transport and consolidation services, storage
faclities, Customs' clearing facilities and insurance in Turkey.
/Hurriyet/
Representatives of the Gumussuyu Carpet and Floor Covers company
have stated that they have obtained a $ 12 million loan from the
International Finance Corporation (IFC). According to the
statement, part of the loan, some $ 4 million and 2.8 million
Euro, is foreesen to be used within this month and the remainder
will be used in October. /Hurriyet/
One of the leading Spanish cement companies, Cementos Mexicanos,
has set up the Ucim company in Turkey. The General Director of
Ucim, Abut Ozsevikli, said: "We sell white cement brought from
Spain all over Turkey. Our market share has risen to 25 %".
/Aksam/
Akbank has authorized six banks to receive one-year syndication
loans worth $130 million from international financial
institutions. According to a statement sent by Akbank to the
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Akbak has given its permission to
the Banque Nationale de Paris, Commerzbank AG, Credit Agricole,
Indosuez, Dresdner Bank, Luxembourg S.A., Natexis Banque and
Paribas (Suisse) S.A. /Aksam/
The Deputy Head of the Executive Board of Duff and Phelps in
Turkey, Selcuk Abac, said during a conference jointly organized
by the Turkish Banks' Union and DCR Turkey that foreigners were
looking for stability in order to make further investments in
Turkey. He added: "Turkey surpasses the emerging markets".
/Aksam/
The Turkish Foundation for Afforestation and the Anti-Erosion
Measures (TEMA) will represent Turkey at the 17th annual Henry
Ford European Environmental Protection Awards, which is the
biggest environmental protection award in Europe. In the Turkish
final held two days ago, the TEMA project came first among 153
projects. /Aksam/
It is reported that Turkey is among the countries which have the
safest aviation standards. The Turkish Air Traffic Control System
set up under a 'turn-key job' system by the Italian Alenia firm
seven years ago consists of 19 PSR-SSR-type flight computers and
communications systems operating in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir,
Antalya, Dalaman, Merzifon and in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Aksam/
A mine has exploded in Osmaniye, killing two soldiers. Two other
soldiers who were wounded during the explosion were taken to
Osmaniye State Hospital. /Aksam/
Turkish orchestra conductor Alpaslan Ertungealp has become third
among two thousand competitors at the international "Prokofieff
Orchestra Conductorship" contest, which is held every three
years. Ertegun, who graduated from the Franz List Music Academy
in Budapest, was praised by international music experts. /Sabah/
After Europe, Tarkan becomes the favourite of Russian young
people. Tarkan will stage a concert on 29 May in Moscow. He will
perform with famous Russian pop singers at the concert which will
be organized by the General Coordinator of Hit Fm radia station,
Aleksey Astudin. He said that Tarkan was one of the most popular
foreign singers in Russia so they had invited him to Russia.
/Sabah/
Columnist Yavuz Donat writes on the recent demonstrations and
their purposes. A summary of his column is as follows:
"During our visit to the Director General of Security Necati
Bilican, the conversation turned to the recent demonstrations in
Malatya. Bilican stated that there were facts unknown to the
public. He claimed that the organizations of the pre-1980s were
also stirring up these activities. The reason why they were
aiding these demonstrations was to destabilize Turkey, to shake
the public's trust in the state. He started to name these
organizations by their known abbreviations, the DHKP-C, the TKP,
the MLKP, the DHP and others. These organizations supported the
demonstrations in Malatya, and actually were involved in them.
The Security Forces are working extremely hard and there is
harmony among them. Thus, the exchange of intelligence proves to
be excellent. Bilican adds that the wearing of headscarves was
just an excuse. There were those who wanted to keep the
reactionary forces alive by using the 'headscarf' question. And
again there were others who wanted to create an athmosphere of
agitation within the country. They were penetrating into the
demonstrations in support of headscarf-wearing. The Director
General named those associations, foundations, and people who
actively took part in these demonstrations. From his words, it is
understood that the State is in power.
Bilican has attended the meetings of the National Security
Council for years, first as Regional Governor, then the Director
General of Security. He states that police has no business with
those who wear headscarves, or accept this as a life-style. The
police is against those who want to change the structure of the
State.
He stated that an operation was launched against the "Hizbullah'
organization, and the security forces had seized many documents,
arms and explosives which showed that the "science group" of the
Hizbullah was being prepared for an armed conflict. Among the
provocators of the recent demonstrations, members of Hizbullah
were also present.
In general people live togther in peace whether they wear a
headscarf or not. The problem results from exploiting religion
for political purposes."
During a weekly press conference at the Foreign Ministry
yesterday, Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said that on-going talks are
taking place at a military level between NATO and Turkish General
Staff officials. The Cabinet late on Tuesday also authorized the
General Staff to discuss with NATO officials the technical
availability and suitability for NATO purposes of the bases in
Turkey. Ankara will take its final decision after an official
request is submitted by the Alliance. /All papers/
An EU Special Envoy will arrive in Ankara today to discuss with
Turkish officials a German proposal concerning the Stability Pact
for the Balkans. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli told
reporters yesterday that the visit of Ambassador Wilfred Gruber
and his delegation to Ankara will be carried out before the
Political Directors' meeting that will be held in Bonn on May 27
under the guidelines of the German proposal for the Stability
Pact. Gruber is to engage in talks today with Deputy
Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, Aydin Sahinbas. /All
papers/
Athens has announced that it will close its air space to NATO
planes whereas Turkey is allowing NATO to use its present air
bases and construct new ones. The Spokesman for the US Secretary
of State, James Rubin, said yesterday that Turkey is allowing
NATO planes to take off from its lands and added, "As NATO member
countries, Turkey and Hungary are participating fully in the
Allied Forces Operations. The Turkish government permits NATO
planes to take off from its lands. Both countries play vital
roles in the operations as NATO members."
Meanwhile, Dimitris Reppas, the Spokesman for the Greek
government, announced yesterday that NATO planes could not use
Greek air space during their strikes against Yugoslavia.
/Hurriyet/
Russian authorities have decided to substitute a warship that was
scheduled to sail the Adriatic Sea with an intelligence vessel to
monitor the crisis in Kosovo. In line with the Montreaux
Convention, Moscow has informed Turkish authorities that the
Kildin intelligence-gathering vessel will pass through the
Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits instead of the previously
registered Liman warship.
Meanwhile, Allied warplanes pounded Yugoslav bridges and
airfields in what NATO described yesterday as its busiest bombing
sortie of the seven-week air war. /Aksam/
The war in Kosovo has not affected Turkish investors as it has
other foreign investors with business interests in Bulgaria, said
Demirbank-Bulgaria's General Director Caner Celik. Celik said in
a press conference held in Sofia that although the air-strikes in
Kosovo have not affected Turkish companies conducting business in
Bulgaria, they have damaged Bulgaria's foreign trade. However, he
believes that the Bulgarian foreign trade situation will turn
around as soon as the war ends.
There are 2,000 Turkish companies conducting business in
Bulgaria, and Turkey is the 10th-biggest investor there. The
overall trade volume between the two countries was $450 million
in 1998. /All papers/
Hurriyet columnist Enis Berberoglu wrote in his article today
about the NATO operations in Yugoslavia. He said that after the
Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that Turkey would
allow NATO to use air bases in Turkey, aircraft to hit Serbia
would fly from Turkey. He claimed that Turkey is at war following
the recent decision taken by Cabinet Ministers.
Berberoglu noted, "For a long time NATO, in fact the US
administration, has aimed to limit the circle around Serbia. With
this aim, it is planned to hit the country with planes flying not
only from Italy but also from other countries. This is because,
they claim, Italian airbases cannot meet the requirements of the
military strikes against Yugoslavia. Another reason is the
increasing criticism of Germany and Greece directed against the
NATO operations and therefore the US is looking for new allies.
Only Turkey and Hungary accept the US's requirements; US F-18
aircraft will use Taszar Airbase in Hungary and, probably, F-16
and F-15 squadrons will use Corlu Airbase."
He added that Kosovo was not the only region with which America
was at war. It is looking for new allies, Berberoglu said,
American aircraft were bombing radar bases in Iraq, that is to
say there is a conflict going on in Iraq."
To summarize his views Berberoglu said, "The results of the wars
going on in two neighbouring regions will be as follows: While
the Kosovo issue has been deepening the crack in the NATO
organization, Turkey walks on the US side and is preparing to
send troops for a probable land operation. On the other hand, the
US is eager to use Iran in its handling of the Turkey and Middle
Eastern balance of power. However, her advantages in Northern
Iraq will contradict each other." Berberoglu finally asked
everyone to wait and see how relations in the
Washington-Ankara-Tehran triangle will develop following the
Kosovo issue. /Hurriyet/
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
SPECIAL KOSOVO
ELECTION FOR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
CABINET TO DISCUSS FATE OF KAVAKCI
THE COALITION IMPASS
COURT TELLS SAVAS: "SUBSTANTIATE THE CHARGES"
SAKIK APPLIES TO DGM FOR TESTIMONY
IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE IS A PKK SUPPORTER
FP DEPUTY RESIGNS
DENKTAS WARNS THE EU
181 DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED
CLASHES IN ERZURUM
ISRAELI MISSILES TO TURKEY
WILSON: "TURKEY IS ONE OF THE MOST DEVELOPING MARKETS"
REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM BOSSES
TURKEY'S POWER
TREASURY BONDS IN EUROPE
START FOR GAP HIGHWAY
`STABLE GOVERNMENT NEEDED FOR PRIVATIZATION'
TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO VISIT ROMANIA
AMERICAN PARTNER FOR TURNAK
FOREIGN LOAN FOR GUMUSSUYU CARPET COMPANY
NEW COMPETITION IN CEMENT SECTOR
AKBANK TO RECEIVE SYNDICATION CREDITS
TURKEY SURPASSES EMERGING MARKETS
TEMA IS THE FINALIST FOR FORD AWARD
FLIGHT SAFETY
MINE EXPLODES: TWO PEOPLE DIE
INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS OF TURKISH ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR
TARKAN IN RUSSIA
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
BEHIND THE INNOCENCE - BY YAVUZ DONAT (SABAH)
SPECIAL KOSOVO
NATO AIR BASE IN TURKEY
EU DELEGATION TO VISIT ANKARA
"ATHENS HOBBLES, TURKEY CONTRIBUTES"
RUSSIA REPLACES SHIP
TURKISH COMPANIES IN BULGARIA
"WE ARE AT WAR" BY ENIS BERBEROGLU (HURRIYET)