Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Abdullah Ocalan who is responsible for the killing of 30,000
citizens will stand trial today. At the trial, Ocalan will report
on the bloody terrorist actions which have been going on for 15
years in Turkey. During the trial Ocalan will stay in a special
protective enclosure. After the 139-page claims about Ocalan are
read out, Ocalan's defence will be heard. Officials previously
announced that the case will continue uninterruptedly with the
exception of weekends.
Meanwhile, an information desk has been established in Mudanya
for the families of those soldiers who have been killed during
the struggle against the PKK. These families will stay in Mudanya
and Bursa in hostels prepared by the State for free. Also, many
world-famous press members and representatives of the news
agencies have already been registered at Mudanya Press Centre,
establihed by the General Directorate of Press and Information in
order to follow the trial. There are 50 telephones, 10 fax
machines, 10 telephone lines attached to both satellites and
computers at the press centre. It is reported that 544 foreign
and 261 domestic members of the press have alreay arrived in
Mudanya.
Furthermore, the Western media have put the Ocalan trial on their
agenda. The German "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper claimed that the
Turkish nation had requested the dead penalty for Ocalan. The
German Minister of Interior Affairs, Otto Schilly, sent a message
through the German media asking the Turkish government to act in
line with the principles of international law during the Ocalan
case. The Greek "ToVima" and "Elefteropiya" newspapers claimed
that the Ocalan trial would be postponed because of the start of
the tourism season in Turkey. /Milliyet/
The historic trial on Imrali Island has had a great effect on
foreign newspapers, TV channels and news agencies. The American
CNN television channel set up a special section on in its web
site under the title of "Ocalan to be Trialed". The 'New York
Times' printed interviews with the families of Turkish soldiers
who have been killed in the struggle against PKK and reflected
their feelings concerning the trial. Reuters News Agency noted
that the island would stage an historic trial. The Greek
'Kathimerine' wewspaper claimed that the trial would increase
tension between Turkey and Greece. /Aksam/
PKK supporters in Europe have begun a campiagn in Europe to
demand that Ocalan's be set free. As part of this initiative they
asked the UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan, and US President Bill
Clinton to send messages to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. An
announcement was issued in Britain signed by 61 persons and
institutions all around Europe accusing Turkey of not making
enough effort to solve the Kurdish issue. /Milliyet/
The so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile based in Brussels is
reported to have been dissolved. Furthermore, the National
Congress which convened last week in Amsterdam will be the
highest institution to represent the Kurdish population in the
world. It is claimed that Necdet Bulden, the Chairman of the
so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile, has already resigned from
his post.
Adding that Ocalan experienced great dissapointment when he was
refused political assylum in Europe, it is reported that there
have been clashes going on between the PKK's European wing and
the PKK groups in the mountains. It is also cliamed that senior
representatives of the PKK have withdrawn to Northern Iraq.
/Turkiye/
The 57th Government Protocol was signed on 28 May. The headscarf
issue, the eight-year basic education period, harmony and
cooperation between the coalition partners are the highlights of
the 57th government. According to the general principle of the
government protocol, the coalition partners have resolved to
protect the integrity of the tenets of the Republic, which is
based on secular and democratic rules, from both external and
internal threats. Other important topics of the protocol are the
struggle against terrorism, the studies concerning banking
legislation, the national budget, the restructuring of the State
Security Courts, preparing economic and financial policies and
social security reforms. /All papers/
After approving the 57th Government, President Suleyman Demirel
handed over a file to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit concerning the
problems in the economy and the measures needed to solve these
problems. Demirel requires the following of the government: the
State should be excluded from industry and trade; legal obstacles
preventing privatization should be eliminated; the Budget and
Banking Laws should be given priority; the Economic and Social
Council should be convene, inflation should continue to decrease
and export totals and production capacity usage should be
increased. In his report, Demirel stressed the importance of
"stability in the economy". /Milliyet/
The commission established to prepare the government programme
has begun its work; it is expected that the programme of the
newly-established 57th Government will be read out in Parliament
this week. In line with the Constitution the programme ought to
be read out a week after the new goverment is established at the
latest. Discussions concerning the programme will be after two
days after the programme has been read out in the Turkish Grand
National Assembly (TGNA). 24 hours after the discussions, the
57th Government will request the approval of Parliament for its
programme; 276 'yes' votes out of 550 are required to obtain the
TGNA's approval. /Aksam/
Prior to the EU Summit to be held in Cologne on June 3-4,
President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit have
begun a drive to ensure the issue of Turkey's candidacy of the
Union remains on the agenda. Accordingly, President Demirel
called German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroder two days ago in
order to receive the support of Germany for Turkey's candidacy.
Demanding from Schroder that Turkey be involved in the expansion
process of the EU as its 12th candidate, Demirel also expressed
his pleasure that Germany's recent policies have been in favour
of Turkey's candidacy. In turn, Schroder told Demirel that they
wished to see Turkey's full membership of the EU as its 12th
candidate and that they would make every effort to achieve this
end. Schroder also promised Demirel that he will send Joschka
Fischer, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Turkey as
soon as possible. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ecevit has also
written an important letter to his German counterpart - a letter
considered to be the first foreign contact of the 57th
government. In his letter Prime Minister Ecevit urged Schroder to
maintain Germany's intimate policies in favour of Turkey's
candidacy of the EU, stressing the new government's sensitivity
as regards relations with the EU. /Hurriyet/
US President Bill Clinton is expected to invite Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit to Washington in the upcoming days. The invitation
to Ecevit is expected to be sent out as soon as the schedules of
the two leaders allow. The Washington administration is
reportedly satisfied with the structure of the new Turkish
government and is optimistic that it will carry out crucial
economic and democratization reforms. /All papers/
General Ilhan Kilic, the Commander of the Turkish Air Force,
warned Greece for her recent provocative actions concerning the
disputed islets and islands in the Aegean Sea. Answering a
question concerning the recent Greek enterprise to hoist the
Greek flag on an islet whose status has not been clarified, Kilic
said, "If you build a shanty on unregistered land, one will come
and demolish it." Kilic also said that currently there were no
`dog fights' in the Aegean. /Hurriyet/
The Commander of the Turkish Air Force, General Orhan Kilic, said
that the Turkish Air Force is ready to meet every mission both at
home and abroad. The 88th Anniversary of the Turkish Air Force
was celebrated in a number of ceremonies in Ankara yesterday. In
his speech Kilic said that the Turkish Air Force holds a
distinguished place in world aviation and it has the highest
strike power in Europe.
Meanwhile, celebrations were also held in Diyarbakir 2nd Air
Force Headquarters, in Adana's Incirlik Air Base, Kayseri 2nd Air
Maintenance Centre and also in Istanbul. /Turkiye/
`Seawolf-99', one of the planned manoeuvres of the Turkish Navy
for 1999, will start tomorrow. It is reported that 60 vessels -
frigates, submarines, assault boats and assistance ships - will
take part in the exercises as well as fighters and bombers from
the Turkish Air Force. `Seawolf-99' will be carried out in the
Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean. Meanwhile, Turkey warned
Greece to remove her ships from part of the international waters
and her fighters from part of the aerial defence area of the
Aegean which were previously declared the field for the
manoeuvres by Turkey. /Hurriyet/
Instead of Med-TV which operated as the voice of the terrorist
PKK until it was closed down by the British ITC due to Turkey's
intense diplomatic efforts, now another Kurdish TV station has
started to broadcast from Britain and from the frequency
abandoned by Med-TV. It is reported that following the closure of
Med-TV, the former officials of this television channel offered a
cooperation to the British CTV station, a channel which aims to
spread Christianity. Following Eutelsat's acceptance of the
application submitted on behalf of CTV for the frequency
abandoned due to the closure of Med-TV, Kurdish broadcasts
restarted on May 12. The new channel emphasized that its
objective was to reach the Kurdish population living in Europe,
Turkey and the Middle East, whereas it is observed that the
producers and the speakers on CTV are those who had been
previously employed by Med-TV. /Hurriyet/
Last night a group of terrorists attacked some village guards who
were protecting the State Water Works (DSI) workers in the
Iskenderun province of Hatay. The terrorists killled four of the
village guards. Military sources reported that a wide-ranging
rooting-out operation has begun in order to seize the terrorists.
/Sabah/
It was announced that in the course of the seven-hour meeting at
the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters, CHP provincial
chairmen decided that the elections for the CHP Party Assembly
members will be held at the party's 10th extraordinary congress,
projected to be held on 26 June. A committee was formed to
determine the location and details of the proposed congress. /All
papers/
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and the London Stock Exchange will
sign a mutual cooperation agreement on 2 June in Istanbul.
According to an IMKB statement, the agreement will be signed by
IMKB Chairman Osman Birsen and the London Stock Exchange's
Chairman, John Kemp-Welch. /Aksam/
Turkish Hotel Owners' Union (TUROB) Chairman Ali Gureli,
commenting on the newly-formed coalition government, stated, "We
are expecting the new government to make decisions that will
solve the crisis in the tourism sector". Gureli added that the
tourism sector is growing and proposed that a new authority be
formed which would include the Transport, Environment, Culture,
Labour and Interior Ministeries besides the Tourism Ministry.
Thus, a National Tourism Council should be established, headed by
the Tourism Ministry, he said. /All papers/
Turkish banks with their contemporary services are providing a
service in 26 countries spanning four continents world-wide.
According to the report, "Our Banks 1998" prepared by the Turkish
Banks' Union both private and public Turkish banks have financial
interests in 20 countries. They are also providing services
through their office outlets, particularly in those countries
where Turkish workers' are living. /Aksam/
It is reported that for the January-April period of 1999, the
greatest increase in exports was seen in the olive and olive oil
sector. According to the Exporters' Union, a total of $ 85
million-worth in olives and oil exports was achieved in the first
four months of 1999. Fruit and vegatables came second with 40.1 %
and automotive exports were third with 35.1 %. /Sabah/
The Hazelnut Advertising Campaign, started last year with the aim
of increasing hazelnut exports to the US, is bearing fruitful
results. The General Secretary of the Black Sea Hazelnut and
Products Exporters' Union, Ahmet Tunavelioglu, said that the
demand for hazelnuts has increased through cold-calling and also
through web sites and magazines in which hazelnut advertisements
have been published. /Turkiye/
Following a O-O draw with Gaziantepspor in the match played in
Istanbul, Galatasaray, known as `the Lions', became the champion
of the Turkish Premier League for 1999. This is the 13th time
Galatasaray has won the championship position in the Premier
League, having been the champion in 1997 and 1998 as well./All
papers/
The Turkish choirs established by Irfan Dogrusoz, Yasar Tanrikut,
Serpil Kislalioglu, Ilhami Gokcen and Oguz Ozkan, have been
staging performances in various parts of America. "Our Choir" was
established in 1993 in Connecticut and the "Toronto Classical
Turkish Music Choir" was established in 1987 in Toronto. These
Turkish music groups not only give recitals but also held hold
courses to teach Turkish music to the Americans. /Turkiye/
Tarkan, the world-renowned Turkish pop singer, took the stage in
Russia for the first time and performed for thousands of his
Russian fans. During the concert, Tarkan was granted the award,
`The Most Popular and Most Appreciated Foreign Singer". In the
brief speech he delivered, Tarkan said that he did not know that
he was loved that much in Russia and it was a surprise to be
given such great enthusiasm by the Russian audience. /Hurriyet/
Ferai Tınc, a columnist for `Hurriyet', reflects on the trial of
Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist PKK organization. She
writes:
"The trial of a person who has already been sentenced to
punishment in the hearts of millions might seem a small detail
for most of us. To make a claim for rights and laws for a person
who has been the instrument of the forces of evil against Turkey
might be counted as being pointless. The demand to stick
meticulously to the legal framework in its application to a
person who is the father of a movement which murders teachers,
which extorts money from businessmen, which tends to prevent
state officials who try to bring water and electricity to the
people might be accepted as a detail. The concern about `What
others will say?' about a decision on a person whose close ties
with international drug networks has even been confirmed in the
drug trafficking reports of a number of countries including the
US might be found absurd. However, this is Turkey. This country,
which has a state tradition of more than seven centuries, has to
now crown her struggle against terrorism with a legal
meticulousness.
The 57th Government declared that one of its urgent tasks will be
the Constitutional amendment concerning the State Security Courts
(DGMs). The DGMs are ever-disputed as regards their legal
independence because of the presence of a military judge among
its members. Furthermore, the view that `there can be no just
trial before the DGMs due to their contradiction of the just
trial commitment mentioned in the Sixth Article of the
International Human Rights Convention' has been made a doctrine
by the European Human Rights Court of which Turkey is a member as
well. Each day passing with no further steps taken concerning the
civilianization of the DGMs supports a mechanism which operates
against Turkey. In the situation that the Ocalan case be
concluded before the prtesent DGM, it is apparent that Turkey
will either have to pay compensation to Ocalan or she will be
excluded from the European Council. Any step which will prevent
Turkey from being treated as a `pariah' will never be too late.
Therefore, we should give full support to the Government in its
aim to carry out this much-needed amendment concerning the DGMs
at the earliest opportunity.
For Turkey, another meaning is attached to this trial which
begins today. Europe, in particular the European left which is in
power in the present conjunture, is preparing to use the Ocalan
trial as a process of exoneration of its own conscience. European
egoism, which abandoned Ocalan halfway through the process which
started with his departure from Syria and ended with his capture
in Kenya, will now pretend to be a determined `Ocalanist'. Yet
the best defence against this tendency is to prove to them that
Turkey is a country governed by the rule of law.
Another point that we have to be careful of throughout the
process of the trial is to avoid both a discourse and attitude
which may hurt the Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin. We have
cried and suffered together for years. This trial should give us
the opportunity to put an end to a bitter period. In order to go
on our way..."
Columnist Sebahattin Onkibar comments on the Ocalan trial lwhich
will start today. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The chief of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, who has
killed tens of thousands of citizens indiscriminately - women,
children, young or old - will stand trial before the independent
Turkish courts. From now on justice will have its say and we have
the utmost trust in it.
During this critical process we call on everyone to be careful
concerning security. The PKK terrorist organization may try to
engage in some despicable acts or perform acts of sabotage.
Therefore, we should stand firmly behind our security forces. No
one should doubt that the independent Turkish courts will pass a
fair sentence on him. The procedures and terms of judgement are
set down according to rules and will not be changed arbitrarily.
Therefore, we have to wait for the result calmly, trusting our
institution of Justice.
Everyone should be certain that a murderer who even deigned to
kill babies will get the punishment he deserves. Turkey, a State
governed by the rule of law, will implement whatever the Law
requires. Our belief in the Justice system bars us from passing
judgement before the trial. Such an act would show a lack of
confidence in the system and in those implementing it. Therefore,
the case is now in the courts where the last say will be had on
the matter.
Certainly, during the trial a significant part of Europe will try
to be provocative by taking a stand against our Justice system
and judges. This is to be expected. Those who supported Ocalan
in the past will naturally try to protect their tool today; the
double standards of the West are known to everyone.
One of the leading tour operators in Germany invited visitors to
Antalya to see that everywhere was calm and tourists could enjoy
the sun and the sea as they liked. They were surprised to see how
calm the city was. However, they took a photograph of hotel
bodyguards carrying their guns and, apparently, this picture was
reproduced and distributed throughout Europe. The impression
given was that no one could go anywhere without armed bodyguards.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Bursa is calling on the families of
those killed by Ocalan to be helpful. He stated that they would
try to do everything for those families but their inflow to
Mudanya and any talk of of demonstrations or meetings would be
presented in the Western press as interference in the justice
system. He asked these families to await the decision of the
courts calmly. Everyone should trust the Turkish courts and wait
for their decision. If the Turkish system is damaged by their
actions, Turkey will suffer from it."
Columnist Ipek Cem writes on the new Government. A summary of her
column is as follows:
"The 57th Republican Government formed with the partnership of
the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Action Party
(MHP)and the Motherland Party (ANAP) has begun to work. The
parties which came first second and fourth in the General
Election have agreed on the Government Protocol.
Since the new government represents a wide spectrum of the public
it may be considered a good reflection of democracy. However, it
may also be viewed as a risky union since it brings together
political structures and personalities holding views which are
poles apart. It is too early to say if hope or pessimism will
prevail.
There are important factors which will decide the success of the
govenment. The balance in the distribution of the control of the
banks should not be as important as what can be done to make them
an asset for the Turkish economy as soon as possible.
How possible is it for the new Government to achieve its aim of
being a government of 'compromise and progress'? The increase in
the number of State Ministries may not positively affect the
speeding up ofthe work of the Government when Turkey needs to
take the right decisions swiftly. The working hours of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly should also be increased.
The most difficult point the new Government may face may be in
reflecting decisions taken jointly from one source. It is
important that the decisions taken should be agreed upon. If the
government gives the appearance of a 'two or three-headedness',
the respect shown to it both in Turkey and abroad will lessen.
The work of the new Cabinet will not be easy. However, it has
the necessary knowledge and experience to overcome the
difficulties which may arise. Furthermore, as it is a government
which reflects the will of the people shown in the Election we
wish them every success."
According to information provided by the Office of the Chief of
General Staff's Press Centre, Turkish F-16 fighters located in
Italy for duration of the the Kosovo Operation undertook 30
flight hours yesterday, reaching a total of 734 hours since the
beginning of the strikes. Turkish fighters were extremely
successful in hitting their targets and returned to their bases
without any loss. Meanwhile, it is reported that there are 16,701
Kosovar refugess in Turkey. It is also reported that the Turkish
Red Crescent dispatched 49 tons of aid material worth 99 billion
TL to Albania. /Hurriyet/
According to military sources almost a thousand NATO soldiers
arrived in the 9th Main Aircraft Base at Balikesir. The US C-5
and C-17 cargo planes have been bringing logistic supplies to the
base. They added that the number of NATO soldiers at the base by
the end of the first week would reach 2,000. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
SPECIAL KOSOVO
HISTORIC TRIAL TO START TODAY
OCALAN TRIAL COVERED BY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
PKK TRIES TO DRUM UP EUROPEAN SUPPORT
SO-CALLED PARLIAMENT TO BE DISSOLVED
GOVERMENT PROTOCOL SIGNED
DEMIREL URGES "RAPID MEASURES" IN ECONOMY
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME TO BE PUT BEFORE PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK
DEMIREL AND ECEVIT BEGIN DRIVE FORWARD TO EU
CLINTON TO INVITE ECEVIT TO U.S. SOON
COMMANDER OF AIR FORCE WARNS GREECE
88TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH AIR FORCE
SEAWOLF-99 TO START TOMORROW
CHRISTIANITY PROPAGANDA ON THE KURDISH TV
FOUR VILLAGE GUARDS KILLED
CHP TO HOLD EXTRAORDIONARY PARTY CONGRESS IN JUNE
IMKB TO COOPERATE WITH LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE
TOURISM SECTOR EXPECTS CONCRETE SOLUTIONS
TURKISH BANKS SPAN FOUR CONTINENTS
INCREASE IN OLIVE EXPORT
EFFECTIVE PROMOTION FOR HAZELNUTS
THE LIONS ARE CROWNED: GALATASARAY THE CHAMPION
TURKISH MUSICIANS IN AMERICA
TARKAN SINGS IN MOSCOW
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
THE TRIAL - BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)
THE DAY OF RECKONING - BY SEBAHATTIN ONKIBAR (TURKIYE)
THE COALITION GOVERNMENT - BY IPEK CEM (SABAH)
SPECIAL KOSOVO
TURKISH FIGHTERS CONTINUE TO STRIKE YUGOSLAVIA
NATO SOLDIERS IN BALIKESIR