Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
President Suleyman Demirel paid a one-day visit to Moldova
yesterday, where he opened the first phase of a water-supply
facility built with Turkish financial aid. The facility is being
built in Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauz. The construction
of the facility started in June of last year with a loan from the
Turkish Eximbank to fulfill the need for potable water in the
drought-stricken Gagauz region. The foundation was laid by
Demirel himself and the construction is being carried out by a
Turkish company.
Demirel held talks with his Moldovian counterpart Petru Lucinschi
yesterday. The two leaders discussed ways of improving economic
ties and bilateral trade. Demirel invited Lucinschi to pay an
official visit to Turkey and also to participate in the September
celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the foundation of the
Ottoman Empire. /All papers/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has called on Greek Prime Minister
Kostas Simitis to cooperate in order to draw the two countries
closer to each other. Ecevit who delivered a speech on the Greek
MEGA-TV channel said that in order to begin a realistic dialogue
between Turkey and Greece, the Simitis government should
cooperate with Turkey in the struggle against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Greek Government Spokesman Dimitri Reppas once again
rejected claims of Greek support for the PKK terrorist
organization. /Hurriyet/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that the economic
situation is under close observation and that the government has
not yet decided on the rate of salary increases. Ecevit stated
that it is essential to discuss the budget, Banking Law and
Social Security Law before Parliament goes into recess.
Ecevit stressed that order, dependent on a very sensitive
balance, is trying to be established in Kosovo. The Kosovo issue
will be on the agenda for a while, he commented. Concerning the
Cyprus issue, Ecevit remarked that there is peace and harmony on
the Island. Ecevit also mentioned that the PKK has camps in
several Western countries and plays a large role in illicit drug
trafficking. /All papers/
The Head of the IMF-Turkey Desk, Carlo Cottarelli, has declared
that the key to bolstering anti-inflation policies in Turkey was
structural reforms. Cottarelli stressed in a statement following
meetings held at the Treasury Undersecretariat that among these
structural reforms, the most important ones were the Banking
Draft Law, the Social Security Reform, the Agricultural Policies
Reform and Privatization. Cottarelli remarked that the Turkish
economy held a significant place within the world economy and
added that therefore, the IMF was interested in supporting Turkey
through funds, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
An IMF delegation headed by Turkey-Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli
suggested that government securities indexed to the consumer
price index (TUFE) could be the solution to high interest rates.
The IMF mission which arrived in Turkey on June 15 stressed the
problem of high interest rates, a topic that had been previously
discussed during talks in Washington. IMF officials stated that
there was no problem concerning Turkey's borrowing capacity and
added that although inflation is dropping, interest rates are
rising and that this will increase the domestic debt burden in
2000. /All papers/
A Conference on 'Financial Reform in Central and Eastern Europe
and in Newly-Independent States' organized by the US
International Development Agency started yesterday in Istanbul.
High-level representatives from 24 countries which are
experiencing a transition process and officials from the IMF,
World Bank, the European Union (EU) and OECD are attending the
Conference which will end later today, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
The Justice Ministers from the member countries of the Council of
Europe came together in Kishinev, the capital of Moldova,
yesterday. The meetings will last for two days during which the
independence of the judiciary and the impartiality of judges will
be discussed, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The Justice
Ministry's Undersecretary, Ihsan Erbas is representing Turkey at
the meetings which are also being attended by representatives
from the EU and some international institutions.
A Turkish business delegation, having completed their round of
talks in Hong Kong, have proceeded to Shanghai, the biggest
commercial centre in Southern China. The Deputy Chairman of
Shanghai Municipality's Foreign Economic Relations and Trade
Commission, Hu Zhonghua delivered a speech at a seminar, saying
that trade relations with Turkey mean trading with the Middle
East, Europe and Central Asia. Hu also invited Turkish
businessmen to invest in Shanghai. /Aksam/
The Head of the Turkish Industralists' and Businessmen's
Association (TUSIAD), Erkut Yucaoglu, and members of the
Executive Board, visited Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday.
The TUSIAD delegation congratulated Ecevit on the new government
and expressed their support for it. /Aksam/
A Turkish businessman, Lemi Kurtulus, has been awarded the
'Exporter of the Year' prize in Chicago, the US. Kurtulus has a
company, Amexco, which develops and exports new environmental
engineering technologies to Peru, Egypt, Brazil and Argentina.
Kurtulus has been living in Chicago for 35 years. /Aksam/
In order to provide international cooperation opportunities to
Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBIs), an information
session will be organized in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on
September 23-24, 1999. According to a statement issued by the
Economic Development Foundation, 300 firms from 15 countries will
take part in the session hosted by 100 electronics and
information technology firms. /Aksam/
Turkey paid off $1.3 billion in foreign debts in the first half
of June this year. According to Central Bank data, Turkey has
paid off $4.8 billion in foreign debts since the beginning of
this year. /Aksam/
The Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman, Mesut Yilmaz, said that
relations between Turkey and the EU should be re-evaluated
following the Cologne Summit. Yilmaz received the Head of the
Economic Development Foundation (IKV), Meral Gezgin Eris, and
members of the Executive Board yesterday. Yilmaz stated that a
joint assessment should be made in conjunction with all economic
institutions via the IKV. /Aksam/
An article published in 'The Washington Times' newspaper in the
US said that the Turkish and Greek Armed Forces were jointly
taking part in a NATO exercise in the Black Sea. The article
added: "Is this a dream?". It was pointed out that the
'Cooperative Partner-99' Exercise' organized according to the
Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme, was directed by Turkish
officers. Furthermore, it was stressed that Turkey and Greece
should hold further joint exercises in order to contribute to the
solution of their problems. /Aksam/
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has reacted to a
three-stage plan by the US which aims to solve the 'refugee
problem' in Cyprus. Ergun Olgun, the advisor to TRNC President
Rauf Denktas, said that the plan was a fantasy. Meanwhile, the
'Simerini' newspaper published in Southern Cyprus stated that the
Greek-Cypriot Administration approved of the plan. /Aksam/
Following an attack carried out two days ago by members of the
PKK terrorist organization in Diyadin, Agri, security officials
took 43 people into custody. During the PKK attack, no casualties
were reported whereas two PKK terrorists were killed. /Star/
Central Bank foreign exchange reserves increased by $60 million
between June 4-11, 1999. According to Central Bank data, foreign
exchange reserves which stood at $21.576 billion on June 4 rose
to $21.636 billion on June 11. Meanwhile, as of May 28, 1999,
gold reserves totalled $1.012 billion whereas foreign exchange
reserves at commercial banks amounted to $10.144 billion.
/Hurriyet/
The first five Sykorsky helicopters, out of 50 purchased by
Turkey from the US, arrived in the country yesterday. The
remaining 20 helicopters will come to Turkey within three months.
A huge project worth nearly $632 million was drawn up between
Turkey and the US and is expected to be completed in March 2000.
/Hurriyet/
It is reported that members of the illegal DHKP-C organization
have said that there would not be any joint activities undertaken
with the PKK terrorist organization anymore. DHKP-C members
stressed that the statements of the head of the PKK terrorist
organization, Abdullah Ocalan, were the signals of a weak person
and a weak organization. /Hurriyet/
The Anatolia News Agency reported that Greek soldiers attacked
Turkish villagers living in Gokcepinar village in Xanthi
(Iskece). A few villagers and soldiers were wounded during the
attack. /Hurriyet/
The Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Yannis Korandis, said that Greece
had never supported the PKK terrorist organization. Korandis
stated that what was spoken by the head of the PKK, Abdullah
Ocalan, was nonsense. Korandis and the Greek Consul to Izmir,
Andreas Fryganas, visited Izmir Mayor Ahmet Piristina yesterday.
Korandis stressed that Greece always supported the territorial
integrity of Turkey. /Aksam/
The US State Department said that they regarded claims that there
are PKK tarining camps in Greece as serious. US State Department
Spokesman James Foley stated at a press conference that they are
aware of PKK camps in Greece. Foley added that the Greek Foreign
Minister, George Papandreu, had assured the US of their
cooperation in the fight against terrorism. /Sabah/
An Iranian delegation arrived in Ankara two days ago, headed by
H.Penah Azer from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The Turkish
delegation which will hold meetings with them is headed by the
General Director of Consulate Affairs from the Foreign Ministry,
Ambassador Erkan Gezer. The meetings are aimed at strengthening
the fight against terrorism; a protocol was signed on the issue
yesterday. /Sabah/
Nineteen members of the PKK terrorist organization have been
killed and four Turkish soldiers died in clashes in Southeastern
Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The clashes took place
in Mardin, Hakkari and Sirnak, according to a statement issued by
the Office of the Emergency Rule Region (OHAL). The operations in
the region are continuing, the statement added.
Abdulaziz Tunc, a member of the illegal Hizbullah organization
which aims to establish an Iranian-model Kurdish state in the
Southeast, has confessed that Iran is offering both strategic and
armed training to members of the Hizbullah organization. Iranian
officials have been rejecting the claims that Iran supports
terrorist organizations. /Milliyet/
The Head of the German Constitution's Protection Organization,
Peter Frisch, said that the head of the PKK terrorist
organization, Abdullah Ocalan, should not be executed. Frisch
said in a statement to the German 'Tagesspiegel' newspaper that
if Ocalan is sentenced to death, the PKK terrorist organization
is likely to its attacks. Frisch also wanted the German
government to put pressure on Turkey not to execute Ocalan.
/Milliyet/
The military judge, Abdulkadir Davarcioglu, will not sit in
judgement at the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist
organization, Abdullah Ocalan, on June 23. The reserve judge,
Mehmet Maras, will participate in the trial from now on. /Sabah/
US officials and representatives of the two main Kurdish groups
in Northern Iraq have asserted that their joint efforts to topple
the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the future envisaged for a
post-Saddam Iraq will not harm Turkey's interests and sensivity
in the region. Representatives from the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) met on
Wednesday in Washington hosted by Elizabeth Jones, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. Turkish and British
Embassy officials were also present at the meeting as observers.
/All papers/
As a result of a forest fire in the Bozkurt district of Denizli,
100 hectares of forest and agricultural area have been burnt.
Officials stressed that following the extinguishing efforts, the
situation is now completely under control, the Anatolia News
Agency reports.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out yesterday morning caused by
lightning, which has destroyed two hectares of pine forest. Since
the fire was located near the peak of Cam Mountain, a land
approach was not possible. Attempts to put out the fire were
carried out by three helicopters and a team from Antalya's
Forestry Commission's Headquarters. /Turkiye/
During raids in Istanbul, 59 kilos of heroin, 35.5 kilos of
hashish and 100 grammes of cocaine worth 2.5 trillion TL were
seized by members of Istanbul Security Office's Anti-Narcotics
Department yesterday. Fifteen people were taken into custody
regarding the incident. /Aksam/
The US administration has allocated $558,000 for feasibility
studies into a possible Bulgaria-Macedonia-Albania oil pipeline,
a big threat for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline that Turkey favours and
which will transport Caspian petroleum to the Mediterranean. The
announcement by the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington was later
confirmed by the US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) which
allocated the funds. /All papers/
The President of Azerbaijan, Haydar Aliyev, said: "I entrusted
myself to Turkish Doctors" at his reception of the Turkish
Ambassador to Baku, K. Ecvet Tezcan. Aliyev also gave thanks to
Demirel and to the Turkish people for their concern during his
illness. /Cumhuriyet/
Nine warships have left Iskenderun Harbour in order to
participate in "Sea Wolf-99" which is one of the Turkish Military
Forces's planned manoeuvres. After undergoing maintenance at the
harbour, TC Salih Reis, TC Barbaros, TC Ege, TC Akdeniz, TC
Gaziantep, TC Gelibolu, TC Yarbay Kudret Gungor, TC Binbasi
Sadettin Gurcan and TC Ulubat sailed to the Mediterranean Sea for
the fifth stage of the manoeuvres. This period will end after the
units and ships have arrived in Bozcaada and Gokceada Harbours.
The final phase will begin on 22th June and will be completed on
25th June. /Cumhuriyet/
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer,
declared that Holland was aspiring to the construction of the
Southeastern Anatolia Project's (GAP) irrigation canals, after a
meeting with the Ambassador of Holland to Ankara, Sjoerd Gosses,
yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/
The 48th Venice Biannual, one of the most important cultural
activities in the world, started on June 12 and will continue
until November. For the first time, a film by a Turkish person,
Kutlug Ataman entitled 'WWWWW' has been nominated in the Venice
Biannual Festival. /Hurriyet/
Grand Princess, the biggest Trans-Atlantic of the world, will
arrive in Kusadasi county of Aydin today, the Anatolia News
Agency reports. Officials said that US flagged Grand Princess
will be welcomed by a ceremony.
Columnist Sedat Ergin comments on the statements by a Minister
from the Motherland Party (ANAP) on the EU. A summary of his
column is as follows:
"One of the coalition partners' State Ministers, Mehmet Ali
Irtemcelik of ANAP believes that Turkey should not be unrealistic
concerning its full-membership of the EU during the Helsinki
Summit to be held at the end of this year. He adds that it will
not be wise to be obsessed with the matter.
Irtemcelik shows that he does not look favourably upon Turkey's
knocking on Europe's door for membership once more. Instead he
suggests a different approach, in other words to leave questions
and sentimentality aside and build a new relationship on a
realistic and concrete base. Irtemcelik, who is responsible for
the coordination of relations with the EU, states that the first
problem to arise would concern the Customs Union. He believes
that the Customs Union was a step on the road to full-membership
but which did not consider the balance of interests between the
two parties. There are some disproportionate imbalances in the
commitments Turkey has undertaken in so far as the Customs Union
is concerned. However, this lack of equilibrium was ignored
under the presumption that mutual ties would in the end be
completed in full-membership.
According to the Minister, the impasse faced by Turkey lies in
the fact that at a time when full-membership of the EU is being
questioned, it would be hard to consider the preservation of the
Customs Union agreement with its shortcomings and imbalances, as
being in our interests.
Irtemcelik believes that the imbalance and negligence seen in the
Customs Union should be immediately removed. While doing so,
Turco-EU relations could go further beyond the Customs Union and
cooperation in the agriculture, service and industrial sectors
could be improved. The State Minister says that ties have been
weakened to the point of breaking; to avoid such a situation
everyone has to work to establish solid foundations for this
relationship.
In other words, Irtemcelik is of the opinion that instead of
insisting on full-membership, Turkey has to preserve the present
situation, correct its shortcomings and find a new balance. He
believes that this stance will facilitate a new beginning
concerning the full-membership of Turkey in the EU. If relations
with the EU can be enriched within this perspective and Turkey
can elevate its standards to more modern levels throughout the
country and has a strong economy, in practice it means that we
have already reached the conditions equal to integration.
The State Minister believes that at this point full-membership
will be placed on the agenda spontaneously and adds that when
Turkey reaches that point it would not matter whether she is a
member of the EU or not. The membership issue would be reduced to
the status of a detail."
Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on the recent developments
concerning Northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
"While all eyes have been turned on Kosovo, certain developments
have been taking place in Northern Iraq. The representatives of
the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) met in Washington. The opening statement of the
meeting remains unchanged: "There will be no developments which
could disturb Turkey as we are aware of Turkish sensitivity."
American diplomats reply to these statements by saying that the
KDP and PUK should not ask of them anything Turkey would not
accept.
Following these statements they began their meeting. Turkish and
English diplomats were also present as observers during the
meeting. However, Turkey is not a party to these meetings; Ankara
is informed about them from time to time. According to unofficial
information the issues discussed at these meeting are:
reconciling the parties so as to envisage a separate formation in
Northern Iraq; to discuss the future government structure on the
agenda; and the strengthening of the local structure in the
region with the newly-formed three provinces.
None of these issues are new. In the light of these new
developments in the US, we can list the situation in Northern
Iraq as follows:
1- The US is meeting the Northern Iraqis and excluding Turkey
from these discussions. When Turkey opposes such a development,
she is provided witdh information on the issue and attempts are
made to soothe her by saying that nothing will be done against
Turkey's will. The participants in the discussions go to Northern
Iraq via Ankara. A few months later the same development is
repeated.
2- As these meetings are going on in Washington, the
representatives of the Iraqi national opposition, who are being
encouraged to topple the Saddam Administration, are also meeting
frequently under the control and supervision of the US. If there
is no last-minute change, a meeting will be held on July 7. The
US supports all kinds of formations in Northern Iraq while saying
on the one hand that she is in favour of Iraqi territorial
integrity and on the other she does not spare any effort to
topple the Saddam Administration.
3- The infrastructure needed for a new structure north of the
36th parallel is being enhanced. This is crowned with a
television channel; there is KTV in Northern Iraq.
4- Turkey is the greatest supporter of KTV which broadcasts in
Kurdish; Turkish firms have invested in the infrastructure of
this channel. Two different opinions concerning KTV are heard in
Turkey. One claims that the region can be controlled with this
channel while the other believes that this channel will
strengthen the new formation in the region and separate it from
Iraq which would in the end be against our interests.
5- At a time when there is such strong support in place, the
struggle between the Kurdish leaders continues unabated.. When
official statements are viewed, one believes that Saddam did not
do as much against the Kurds as Ocalan!
6- When Northern Iraq comes to mind, Turkomans are always left in
second place. According to information provided by the Iraqi
Turkoman Front (ITF), the West has finally begun to consider the
Turkomans when the establishment of a new structure is placed on
the table. There is no certain information on the population
figures as no population census has been carried out in Northern
Iraq. It is believed that there are 4 million Kurds and 2 million
Turkomans in the region.
7- Turkey is always talking about what 'cannot be' in Northern
Iraq. Aside from the territorial integrity of Iraq, there is no
certain policy concerning the issue. As the situation has
reached the point of no return, Turkey should be able to say more
strongly what could happen .
8- The US, on the other hand, wants to implement the plan in her
mind but does not wish to unsettle Turkey. However, she is moving
towards her goal step by step. Or can we say that Graham Fuller
is right in his statement:
"Great countries are like elephants: they get what they want
slowly and squash whatever is in their way."
A Turkish military unit will be deployed at the 'Zero Point'
along the Serbian border, one of the most dangerous places in
Kosovo. The 987-strong Turkish unit will be in the region,
stationed at the highest point in the eastern part of Kosovo. It
is reported that the Turkish unit will be transferred to this
region known as the 'firing line' within one week at the latest.
/Hurriyet/
Turkish F-16 war planes that participate in NATO's air strikes
against Yugoslavia accumulated a total of 2,189 flight hours, the
Anatolia News Agency reports. 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 28 hours on June 16.
In an article issued in the " New York Times" newspaper, Jason
Goodwin wrote that the Balkans has not been a lasting a battle
area in history. In the 14th century the Ottomans arrived
bringing with them their traditions based on love and peace. They
led to the harmonization of the different cultures, languages and
beliefs in the area from the 14th to the 19th Century. In the
Ottoman period the native people of the Balkans had the chance to
live together in peace. Giving examples of the Ottomans'
administration, he also cited that the people drawing up the
peace plan for Kosovo and the Balkans should learn from the
Ottoman Empire's just and peaceful administration. /Turkiye/
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
SPECIAL KOSOVO
DEMIREL VISITS MOLDOVA
ECEVIT PROPOSES COOPERATION WITH GREECE
ECEVIT: "WE WILL DO OUR BEST"
IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
IMF DELEGATION SUGGESTS TUFE-INDEXED SECURITIES
FINANCIAL REFORM AND STABILITY CONFERENCE
JUSTICE MINISTERS FROM COUNCIL OF EUROPE
TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN SHANGHAI
TUSIAD SUPPORTS THE NEW GOVERNMENT
TURK ELECTED "EXPORTER OF THE YEAR" IN US
KOBIs MEET IN BELFAST
TURKEY PAYS OFF $4.8 BILLION IN FOREIGN DEBTS
YILMAZ CRITICIZES EU
TURCO-GREEK EXERCISE SURPRISING
TRNC REACTS TO US PLAN FOR CYPRUS
43 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
FIVE SYKORSKYS ARRIVE IN TURKEY
DHKP-C AND PKK COOPERATION ENDS
ATTACK ON TURKISH MINORITY
GREEK AMBASSADOR: "OCALAN'S WORDS ARE NONSENSE"
US: "WE REGARD ALLEGATIONS AS SERIOUS"
IRANIAN AND TURKISH DELEGATIONS MEET
19 PKK MEMBERS KILLED
IRAN TRAINS HIZBULLAH MEMBERS
GERMANY: "DO NOT EXECUTE OCALAN"
MILITARY JUDGE WILL NOT TAKE PART IN JUNE 23 SESSION
US: IRAQI KURDS WON'T ACT AGAINST TURKISH INTERESTS
FOREST FIRE IN DENIZLI
DRUG RAIDS IN ISTANBUL
BALKAN ROUTE RIVAL FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
THANKS FROM ALIYEV
SEA WOLF-99 MANOEUVRES
HOLLAND ASPIRES TO GAP CANALS
FIRST TURKISH ARTIST AT VENICE BIANNUAL
BIGGEST TRANS-ATLANTIC OF WORLD IN TURKEY
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
MOTHERLAND PARTY'S NEW EU STRATEGY - BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)
CLEAR UNCERTAINTY IN NORTHERN IRAQ -BY MUSTAFA BALBAY
(CUMHURIYET)
SPECIAL KOSOVO
TURKISH SOLDIERS TO KOSOVO
TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES
EULOGY FOR OTTOMANS NEW YORK TIMES