Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
President Suleyman Demirel received Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
last night at Cankaya Pavillion and met for 1 hour and 15
minutes. While leaving the meeting Ecevit declared that he had
informed the President about the latest domestic and foreign
economical and political developments. /Star/
German Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fisher arrived
yesterday in Istanbul. Following his arrival he met his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem at Musir Fuat Pasha Guesthouse in Emirgan.
The two Ministers took a boat trip along the Bosphorus and later
visited Topkapi Palace and Sultanahmet Mosque. Fisher and Cem
attended the banquet given by businessmen Rahmi Koc in honour of
the German Minister. It is reported that Cem and Fischer
discussed the problems being experienced in Turco-German
relations as well as those between Turkey and Europe. Fischer is
expected to arrive in Ankara today. /Sabah/
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder promised a Turkish business
delegation that he would support Turkey's European Union (EU)
membership in Bonn. The Chancellor, who met five Turkish
businessmen yesterday in Bonn, said that he would visit Turkey
within this year. After the meeting Turkish businessman Sarik
Tara said that they had discussed with the German Prime Minister
ways of improving Turco-German economic relations and investing
jointly in third world countries. He remarked that it had been
accepted at the meeting that Turkey needed the status of
candidate for EU membership. /Sabah/
The Greek Government yesterday announced that Transport Minister
Tassos Mandelis was harrassed by Turkish aircraft. According to
the Greek Air Forces Mandelis' plane flying from Southern Cyprus
to Athens was harrassed twice by Turkish aircraft. Greek
Government Spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that such negative
activities just before the Turco-Greek dialogue to be held in
Ankara on 26 July did not have only military but also political
repercussions. /Sabah/
Two police officers died in a terrorist attack in Bingol
yesterday. A statement released by the Bingol Governor's Office
said that the officers, Ahmet Birkac and Mustafa Yuksel, were
killed in gunfire from PKK terrorists. A search for the persons
responsible is underway, said the statement.
In another incident in the Uludere township of Sirnak, village
guard Levent Paksoy was killed during an attack by terrorists
late last night. Meanwhile, operations have been continuing
unabatedly in the Southeastern regions of Anatolia. According to
the Office of the Emergency Rule Governor, 10 terrorists were
killed in the Hizan township of Bitlis and one was killed in
Tunceli. It added that operations would continue to maintain
peace in the region. /Sabah/
The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has captured
another terrorist, the second leading figure in the PKK, Cevat
Soysal, disclosed Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday in
Ankara. According to MIT's written statement, it was not stated
where and when Soysal was captured. The statement said that
Soysal had become more active in training PKK militants and
organizing pro-PKK actions in Europe after Ocalan was
apprehended. It added: "Cevat Soysal was trying to organize PKK
supporters in Turkey towards a massive use of violence under the
instructions of one of the PKK leaders in Europe, Ferhat Sahin.
Enquiries related to Cevat Soysal are still being conducted in
cooperation with the police and other security forces."
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the European wing of the PKK, Mizgin
Sen, said Soysal apparently disappeared in Moldovia on Sunday.
She also confirmed that he had obtained refugee status in
Germany. A travel document issued in Monchengladbach, Germany was
apparently found among Soysal's possessions at the time of his
arrest.
Now, "Aksam" newspaper has asked the German Foreign Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Josckha Fisher, who is still in Turkey, to
answer these questions: What is a travel permission document
issued by the German State doing among Soysal's possessions?; the
terrorist PKK organization is outlawed in your country. So why
did you give asylum to a terrorist?; do you know anything about
the fact that this terrorist orders suicide bombing? /Aksam/
A group of Greek and Greek-Cypriot demonstrators gathered to
protest against the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace
Operation and attacked nine Turkish-Cypriots in front of the
Turkish Embassy to London. They also broke the windows of the
Turkish Embassy and shouted out that Cyprus was Greek. Turkish
officials in London stated that the British police overlooked
these serious incidents against them. /Aksam/
Duff and Phelps' Credit Rating Corporation's (DCR) Turkish
representative, DCR Turkey, is instituting the application of a
local rating for the first time in Turkey. The establishment will
start the process after obtaining licence from the Capital Market
Board. The rating points of the Institution will be independent
of Turkey's credit rating. The DCR Turkey Executive Board's
Assistant Chairman and the Central Bank's ex-Assistant Chairman,
Selcuk Abac, said that transparency is of great importance now in
the financial markets and the application of a local rating will
contribute to the financial transparency. He affirmed that the
action will enable the entrance to Turkey of about 2 billion
dollars but before that the Social Security and Arbitration Laws
should be enacted at once and an agreement with the IMF should be
reached. /Star/
In order to prevent claims concerning corruption in the
privatization process and to distribute capital funds nationwide,
the government has redrawn the guidelines for its privatization
programme. the State Minister responsible for Privatization,
Yuksel Yalova, has begun efforts to maintian "social agreement"
on the new privatization policy. He stated the main points of the
new policy as follows: distributing funds nationwide, depending
on wide cooperation and concensus, giving autonomy to the public,
having nothing to hide and protecting the public interest. Yalova
added that they were waiting for suggestions from public and
private institutions, local administrations and unions. /Sabah/
It is reported that a Turkish company has bought an aluminium
factory under the umbrella of privatization in Bulgaria. Chairman
of the Bulgaria Privatization Agency Council Georgi Dulgerov said
the Turkish PafMetal Company bought the Alumina aluminium factory
in partnership with the Bulgarian "Alumina Invest" Company. He
added that the Turkish PafMetal Company holds a 75 % stake in the
company and the Bulgarian Alumina Invest Company holds the
remaining 25 % of the Alumina factory. /Aksam/
Prison officers in 14 prisons across Turkey remained under the
control of inmates who took them hostage in a show of support for
two comrades on hunger-strike at another correctional facility.
According to officials, left-wing inmates took their wardens
hostage in support of TIKKO members being held in Eskisehir
Prison, who began a hunger strike 65 days ago in an effort to be
transferred to another facility. The Erturk brothers were
imprisoned for planting a bomb that injured Cankiri Governor
Ayhan Cevik earlier this year. /Aksam/
Ten Turkish soldiers carrying the Turkish flag attended the
official ceremony held on the occasion of the Belgian's National
Day under the organization of Prince Albert.This year NATO member
countries' soldiers were invited to the National Day celebrations
and NATO aircraft flew over Brussels. /Aksam/
State Minister Abdulmelik Cay received the U.S. Ambassador to
Ankara, Mark Parris, yesterday. Cay and Parris discussed support
for the Turkish-speaking Republics. The Minister asserted that
the newly-independent Turkish Republics need the support of
Western nations if they are to be able to really stand on their
own. Ambassador Parris said for his part that the U.S. is very
interested in Turkish-speaking countries and added that the
interests of both America and Turkey are the same in the region.
/Turkiye/
Israeli Air Forces' Commander General Eithan Ben-Eliahu, who came
to Turkey at the official invitation of his Turkish counterpart
General Orhan Kilic, visited Anitkabir, Ataturk's Mausoleum,
yesterday. During his visit to General Kilic he thanked his hosts
for their hospitality and said that cooperation between Turkey,
Israel and European countries was bringing a peaceful atmosphere
to the region. /Turkiye/
Yurdakul Yigitguden, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and
Natural Resources said yesterday that newly-discovered natural
gas reserves in the Sah Sea, Azerbaijan would not change Turkey's
short and middle-term plans. He added that Ankara is also
involved in a natural gas project in Turkmenistan, the Anatolian
News Agency reported.
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) closed at 6,004 points on
Wednesday, breaking a record. The index was at 5,879 points at
the close of the first session, the Anatolia News Agency
reported. Six thousand points is considered a psychological
barrier for the IMKB.
A total of 306 people of foreign origin were captured in Edirne
yesterday while trying to pass the border and go to Greece.
Gendarmerie teams captured one Bulgarian, 127 Iranians, 42
Iraqis, 11 Afghans, 99 Pakistanis, 10 Syrians, 4 Africans and 11
Bangladeshis in Meric, Ipsala and Uzunkoru townships, reported
the Anatolian News Agency.
The European Union's Current Chairman Finland's Foreign Minister
Tarja Halonen asserted that Turkey should not execute Abdullah
Ocalan. During his speech in the European Parliament on the
report by his country as the EU's current Chairman, he said, "The
execution of Ocalan becomes an unlucky decision. We hope that the
Turkish Grand National Assembly will abolish the death penalty."
Halonen said that the annulment of the death penalty is the
common target of UN countries. /Milliyet/
Athens has accussed Ankara of hammering the dialogue initiatives
as a reaction to the celebrations in the Turkish Republic of
North Cyprus. The Greek-Cypriot Foreign Minister, Yannakis
Kasoulides, met the Greek Foreign Minister, Yorgo Papandreu, and
Deputy Minister Yanos Kranidiotis in Athens. After the meeting
Kranidiotis said, "The activities and speeches of the Turkish
side are hammering the Turco-Greek dialogue which is expected to
begin soon." Meanwhile, the Greek private television channel Sky
TV asserted that the Greek Transport Minister Tasos Mandelis's
plane returning to Athens following the ceremonies held in
Northern Cyprus related to the events of 1974 on Cyprus was
harrassed by Turkish F-16s 40 miles south of Rodos Island for 10
minutes. Furthermore, the Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu
also confirmed the news and said, " We are outraged at this
situation." /Milliyet/
The Kurdistan Human Rights Association which is active in
Northern Iraq has condemned the massacres carried out by the PKK
terrorist organization in the towns of Hac Umran and Coman. A
declaration issued by the Association and dated July 13, 1999,
stated that as a result of the attack by the PKK in Hac Umran on
July 8, 1999, five people died and 11 people were wounded, the
Anatolia News Agency reports.
The Association for the Support of Contemporary Life (CYDD) will
celebrate the 76th anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty in Istanbul
on July 24 with contributions by the Inonu Foundation. According
to a written statement issued by the CYDD, various events will be
held to mark the occasion, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu stated yesterday
that the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) would grant 60 trillion
TL to the Education Ministry. Bostancioglu, who held a series of
meetings in Istanbul yesterday, visited Istanbul Governor Erol
Cakir. During his visit, Bostancioglu said that he had also
visited the IMKB and announced that the IMKB would grant 60
trillion TL for education following the IMKB donation worth 32
trillion TL in 1997. /Hurriyet/
ERNK, the political wing of the PKK terrorist organization, sent
a statement to the offices of foreign news agencies in Ankara
yesterday and said that PKK European number two Cevat Soysal had
not been captured in a covert operation but had been arrested and
then delivered to Turkey by the Moldovan police. According to the
Reuters News Agency quoting Hamgin Abdullah, a PKK supporter in
Moldova, Soysal went from Amsterdam, the capital of Holland, to
Moldova on July 2, then on July 13 departed from where he was
staying in Kishinev. Abdullah claimed that when no information
was received from Soysal, he had contacted Moldovan Security
Ministry officials who said that Soysal had been arrested but
would be released soon. /Hurriyet/
Moldovan officials said that they did not have any information
concerning rumours of Cevat Soysal being taken into custody last
week. Quoting the Spokesman of the Moldovan Interior Ministry
Reuters reported that they do not have any information concerning
the issue. /Sabah/
The capture of Cevat Soysal following a successful operation
received a great deal of coverage in the foreign press. After
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made a statement to the
press that Soysal had been captured, leading news agencies in the
world said: 'Turkey deals another blow to the PKK'. The CNN TV
station headlined Soysal's capture. The French news agency AFP,
American Associated Press, the British Reuters news agency and
the German news agency DPA also devoted wide coverage to Sosyal's
capture. /Hurriyet/
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit finally accepted the resignation of
the State Minister responsible for the Economy, Hikmet Ulugbay,
who attempted suicide. It is reported that Ecevit will make an
assignment for the replacement of Ulugbay and then will present
the assignment decree to President Suleyman Demirel today. The
Treasury Undersecretariat and the Central Bank will be annexed to
the Deputy Prime Minister from the Democratic Left Party (DSP),
Husamettin Ozkan. /Hurriyet/
The Chairmen of the Parties in the Government, Prime Minister and
Chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Bulent Ecevit, Deputy
Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP)
Devlet Bahceli and Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut
Yilmaz held a summit yesterday and discussed the economic
measures to be taken and arrangements to be made in the Taxation
Law. Meanwhile, Ecevit received the head of the Turkish Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Fuat Miras, yesterday.
Miras said following the meeting that he had conveyed TOBB's
views concerning the economic package to Ecevit.
Ecevit made a statement prior to the discussions which will begin
in the Turkish Parliament's Planning and Budgetary Commission
today, concerning the draft law which foresees an increase in the
age for retirement. He stated that except for the issues
concerning the age of retirement and the unregistered economy,
there could be reconciliation on other issues. /Hurriyet/
For the privatization of Turkish Airlines (THY), CS First Boston
will render its mediation and advisory services. According to a
statement issued by the Privatization Administration, the THY is
planning to be privatized in a block sale in the last quarter of
the year and, as a result of its technical and financial
evaluation, it has been decided that CS First Boston will be
THY's advisor. /Hurriyet/
A noted German expert on Cyprus, Uli Piller, said that in order
to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) whould be recognized as soon as possible.
Piller who is known for his conferences and books concerning the
Cyprus issue made some interesting statements during a press
conference held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the
Cyprus Peace Operation. Piller, who is also the Chairman of the
Unterschleissheim youth organization within the German Social
Democrat Party (SPD), blamed Europeans for commenting on the
Cyprus problems from the Greek-Cypriot standpoint. Piller said:
"In Europe, it is being examined as if the Cyprus problem began
with the Peace Operation in 1974. Attempts are being made to
forget the Greek-Cypriot massacres carried out in 1963 and the
Turkish Army which arrived on the Island to establish peace is
shown as if it were an occupation force". /Hurriyet/
The Greek 'Eleftorotipia' newspaper said that the Greek-Cypriot
Administration is still being directed by those who carried out
an assault against Makarios, tried to destroy Turks and annex
Cyprus to Greece. Eleftorotipia stated that many Greek-Cypriots
participated in the EOKA-B organization which tried to abolish
Turkish-Cypriots on the Island, however, it added that the result
was a disaster for Cyprus. The newspaper pointed out that
administrators of the secret organization set up within the State
against Turks in the late 1960s were still in power. /Hurriyet/
Daniel Cohn-Bendit became the Head of the Joint Parliamentary
Commission, which seeks to establish relations between the
European Parliament, which was renewed during the elections in
June, and Turkey. Daniel Cohn-Bendit is now the Head of the
European wing of the EU-Turkish Joint Parliamentary Commission.
He is being supported in this duty by the Christian Democrats and
Socialists within the European Parliament. Daniel Cohn-Bendit has
always been in support of the idea that Turkey should be given an
EU membership perspective. He had previously blamed the European
Parliament and claimed that with the Customs Union, some had
tried to block Turkey's membership. A German Euro MP of Turkish
origin, Ozan Ceyhun, who is a member of the same political group
in the European Parliament, became the 'substitute member' of the
same commission. /Hurriyet/
A Chinese delegation arrived in Ankara in order to develop
relations with Turkish security forces. The delegation observed
manoeuvres during which special police teams intervened in an
illegal demonstration. Ankara Deputy Security Chief Yasar Akbas
also followed the operation which was of great interest to the
Chinese delegation. /Hurriyet/
During his interrogation by Gendarmerie teams when he was first
brought to Turkey, in his initial statements, the head of the PKK
terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan explained the role and
support of Germany in the PKK. Ocalan stated that there were many
PKK associations and representative offices in Germany. Ocalan
also pointed out that Grunevald from the German Organization for
the Protection of the Constitution, had visited him in Syria in
1995. /Cumhuriyet/
A 'Special Relationship Agreement' to be signed between Turkey
and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the
upcoming period foresees that areas of cooperation between the
two countries will also include defence. Turkey's guarantorship
based on the 1960 Agreement on Cyprus will be strengthened with
this agreement to be signed between the two countries. In
addition to the Association Council set up in order to achieve
integration in economic relations between the two countries,
cooperation in politics and defence will also be maintained.
/Cumhuriyet/
It is reported that the Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby in the US
Congress will launch initiatives envisaging that if a development
in the solution of the Cyprus problem is achieved, then
Washington will deal with the sale of weapons to Turkey. Member
of the House of Representatives from the Democrat Party and one
of the leading figures in the Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby, Robert
Menendez, made a statement yesterday and said that the
Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby would probably initiate these plans in
September. /Cumhuriyet/
Iran is trying to accelerate an increase in the tension with
Turkey which began following statements claiming that Turkish war
planes attacked a military headquarters in Iran, even though a
commission is being set up in order to investigate these claims.
Iranian politicians are blaming Turkey for assuming an agressive
stance in the region. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Ministry
officials are denying the claims and say that Iran is in search
of connecting its own domestic disorders to Turkey thereby
establishing a 'social lever'. Turkish Foreign Ministry officials
stated that the Turco-Iranian High Security Congress was planned
to be held in Ankara on August 9 and stressed that relations
between the two countries were very deep. /Cumhuriyet/
The Iranian Interior Ministry did not allow demonstrations in
front of Turkey's Tehran Embassy. It is reported that a group of
anti-Turkish supporters wished to organize a demonstration
against Turkey due to claims that Turkish aircraft had bombed
Iranian territories; however, the Iranian Interior Ministry
prevented the demonstration. /Aksam/
The Aegean Exporters' Unions have begun their preparations for
three food fairs to be held in the US in 2000. The Deputy General
Secretary of the Aegean Exporters' Unions,Sezmen Alper, issued a
written statement saying that in the light of the positive
developments attained by Turkish firms which participated in the
food fairs in New York in 1998 and in Chicago and New York in
1999, they had started preparations for participation in the 2000
food fairs. /Cumhuriyet/
A fire broke out yesterday in the Konacik county of Bodrum,
Mugla, yesterday. Teams from the fire-brigade tried to extinguish
the fire which destroyed 150 hectares of forest. Officials said
that the fire had been brought under control. /Milliyet/
Turkey has entered a new process in foreign borrowing. After a
new stand-by process with the IMF has been achieved and decisions
have been taken by the Government for many structural reforms,
foreign capital investors have decided to closely observe Turkey.
While the contacts made by US and European bankers and investors
in Turkey are still underway, representatives of six important
financial groups headed by Merrill Lynch will arrive in Turkey
today. These groups are: Fidelity, Oppen Heimer, Etna, Omnia,
Dresdner and Quantum owned by the famous speculator George Soros.
The delegation will first hold meetings with the representatives
of big banks in Istanbul and then will proceed to Ankara.
/Milliyet/
A draft which foresees an amendment to the Law concerning the
Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports was approved by the
Turkish Parliament's General Council and thus enacted yesterday.
The draft foresees that the law preventing unfair competition
will be in line with developments in the foreign trade of the
country, articles which cause problems in its implementation will
be re-arranged and Anti-Dumping and Subventions Agreement will be
parallel with EU laws. According to the Law, a council will be
established to tackle the issues of dumping and subvention.
/Milliyet/
Selim Hanay, who is a graduate of the Ankara Science High School,
has ranked third in the world at the 31st International Chemistry
Olympics held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and attended
by 200 students from 53 countries. /Milliyet/
AMBASSADOR
Prof. Husnu Gokalp, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
said they work to improve relations with New Zealand in the field
of stock breeding and betterment of pasture areas. Ian Kennedy,
the New Zealand Ambassador visited Gokalp on Tuesday. Gokalp said
New Zealand was an agricultural country famous in the world for
for its betterment of pastures. The Minister said they would
exchange views on this subject and added that he wanted to
develop agricultural and trade relations with New Zealand, the
Anatolia News Agency reported.
Turkish Eighth Energy Congress and the Energy Fair will start in
Ankara on May 8, 2000. The Congress and Fair which will be
organized at the Middle East Technical University (METU) between
May 8-12 next year will be supported by the Ministry of Energy
and Natural Resources. The subject of the Congress will be
"Energy and its Technology for Sustainable Development in the
21st Century", the Anatolia News Agency reported.
Two Turkish films have been elected to take part in a film
festival in Taormina in Italy. "Propoganda" by Sinan Cetin and
"Parcalanma" by Canan Gerede are among the 12 films to compete at
the Festival on 14-31 July in Taormina. /Sabah/
As part of the Yapi Kredi Arts Festival '99, the Belarussian
Republic's National Bolshoi Ballet Company will give three
performances on 22 and 23 July in Istanbul. Today they will
perform "Romeo and Juliet" and on 24 July "Carmina Burana and the
Carmen Suite" will be staged by the Bolshoi National Ballet
Company. /Sabah/
Former Ambassador Ilter Turkmen comments on the recent
developments concerning Cyprus. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"It is a pleasing coincidence to see Ecevit, who launched the
Cyprus Peace Operation, on its 25th anniversary again in power.
At the time of the Operation, the Prime Minister had followed a
determined and courageous policy. However, following hawkish
policies does not mean that you are courageous. Sometimes it
takes more courage to be a dove. The most striking examples of
this is the policy followed by Inonu in 1963, when he did not opt
for a military intervention in Cyprus despite the insistence of
those around him. Similarly in 1967 President Sunay had warned
the Government of the possible risks a military intervention
entailed and paved the way for intiatives leading to the
withdrawal of Greek troops from the Island through diplomacy.
At present, we are again at a crossroads concerning Cyprus. On
the one hand the G-8 and the UN Security Council are calling for
negotiations with no pre-conditions based on a federation. On the
other hand, Prime Minister Ecevit and the TRNC President Rauf
Denktas are insisting that they will not go to the table unless
the sovereignty of the TRNC is recognized. They state that a
solution must be based on a confederation.
As the recent tragic incidents in the Balkans have proven that
two nations cannot live under the same State against their will,
Turkish demands should have been found appropriate. However, the
historic developments of the Cyprus problem are not suitable for
the acceptance of these proposals. Despite the de facto
situation which created two sovereign units in Cyprus, we
defended the federation policy and the Greek-Cypriots never
accepted legalizing the division with their own hands.
Neither the US, nor the G-8 or the decisions of the Security
Council can force Turkey to accept a solution. Therefore, there
is no need to discuss the matter. However, it should be
considered carefully where the present Turkish policy will lead
from the impasse reached today.
The possibilities are that if the Greek-Cypriot Administration is
accepted into the EU, Turkey will be shown as occupying the
territory of an EU member. In the long run, the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus cannot protect its independent status and will
become a part of Turkey. However, the international community
will not accept that it belongs to Turkey. The door of the EU may
forever be closed to Turkey.
Turkey may bear these results but at a very high cost.
Furthermore, at the moment Turkey has strong cards which she can
use at a negotiation table. A majority of European countries
hesitate in making the Greek-Cypriot Administration part of the
EU so long as the Cyprus question remains unresolved. An
alternative solution close to a confederation can be found. The
negotiations could be used to prepare Turkey for candidacy of the
EU. Ecevit was a courageous hawk in 1974 and maybe he can be a
courageous dove today. The opportunity is not lost as yet."
Columnist Hasan Cemal writes on the relations between Turkey and
Germany. A summary of his column is as follows:
"German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer is in Ankara today.
Turkey is an important friend and ally of Germany. The spectrum
of relations between the two countries is wide.
There is a large number of Turkish businessmen in Germany, and
she is the largest trade partner of Turkey. Furthermore, the
majority of tourists coming to Turkey are German.
In other words, two States who have such close relations cannot
turn their back on each other. They do not have the luxury to do
so. However, Turco-German political relations have not fared well
in recent years. The responsibility for this lies mainly with
Germany, as the policies she has followed on the European Union,
the PKK and terrorism have been mistaken.
The European Union has stated 11 countries, most of them behind
Turkey in many ways, as "eligible for membership" and placed them
in the waiting room while not showing the same consideration for
Turkey. Furthermore, the EU has put forth conditions before
accepting Turkey as eligible for membership.
This policy of double standards was displayed during the
Luxembourg Summit at the end of 1997. At this Summit the main
actor was Germany and it can even be said that Greece was left
far behind her at the time. At the time Chancellor Helmut Kohl
was in power. The conservative parties led by him saw the EU as a
"civilization project" and because of her different culture and
religion were excluding Turkey out of this project. As the Cold
War was over and communism had collapsed there was no need for
Turkey.
Today, Social Democrats and the Greens are in power. Prime
Minister Schroeder and Foreign Minister Fischer are following
different policies. This is a positive development. The
improvement of Turco-German relations is a step in the right
direction.
However, while Germany was following a positive stance, during
the last EU Summit in Cologne the Greek veto could not be
overcome. If Germany sincerely wants full-membership perspective
to be given to Turkey, as to the other 11 countries, she has to
put pressure on Greece and lift her veto.
Furthermore, if Germany wants to help Turkey on terrorism she
has to stop the PKK actions in the country. Neither the EU nor
Germany denounced Greece, when Ocalan who had committed crimes
against humanity was captured in a Greek Embassy.
Certainly, Turkey has her homework to do in the economic and
political fields. However, there are some steps which have
priority and those belong to Germany. "
A Turkish General will command the Multinational Balkan Peace
Force. Bulgarian Defence Minister Georgi Ananiyev announced that
the Balkan Peace Force will be activated after an official
ceremony to be held on 11 September. The Turkish, Macedonian,
Albanian, Italian, Greek, Romanian and Bulgarian Defence
Ministers signed an agreement to set up a joint peace force
following the initiatives of the U.S. last year. The U.S. and
Slovenia will be observers of the Peace Force which will have
four thousand soldiers. It is also reported that a Turkish
General will command the Peace Force. /Turkiye/
The Kosovar refugees who were offered shelter in Turkey during
the war continue to return to their homes and the number of
refugees who left Turkey from Kapikule Border Gate reached 14,540
as of Wednesday, reported the Anatolian News Agency. The
officials reported that currently 1,964 refugees stay at
Kirklareli Refugee Guesthouse. A total of 6,769 Kosovars has left
the Guesthouse so far. About 500 of the refugees are getting
ready to return to Kosovo by plane which will depart from Corlu
Airport on July 23. Two more planes will go to Kosovo from Corlu
on 27 and 29 July.
END
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
SPECIAL KOSOVO
ECEVIT INFORMS DEMIREL
FISCHER ARRIVES IN TURKEY
SCHRODER PROMISES TO SUPPORT
ATHENS' HARRASMENT CLAIMS
PKK ATTACKS IN BINGOL
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PKK FIGURE SEIZED IN MOLDOVA
UNPLEASANT ATTACK AGAINST TURKS IN LONDON
LOCAL RATING PERIOD BEGINs
NEW PERIOD IN PRIVATIZATION
PAFMETAL IN BULGARIA
WARDENS REMAIN HOSTAGE IN 14 PRISONS
TURKISH SOLDIERS ATTEND BELGIAN NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS
PARRIS: "TURKEY AND AMERICA HAVE COMMON INTERESTS"
ISRAELI AIR FORCES' COMMANDER IN ANKARA
MINISTRY OF ENERGY: NEW RESERVES WON'T CHANGE PLANS
IMKB BREAKS RECORD
TOTAL OF 306 FOREIGNERS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE
OCALAN MESSAGE FROM FINLAND
BLAME FROM GREECE: YOU HAMMER DIALOGUE
KURDISTAN HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS PKK
76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUSANNE TREATY
60 TRILLION TL FOR EDUCATION
PKK: MOLDOVA HAS DELIVERED SOYSAL TO TURKEY
MOLDOVA DENIES CLAIMS
SOYSAL HEADLINES ON CNN
TREASURY WILL BE ANNEXED TO OZKAN
ECONOMIC PACKAGE SUMMIT OF COALITION LEADERS
THY'S ADVISOR: CS FIRST BOSTON
'TRNC SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED'
ELEFTOROTIPIA: EOKA SUPPORTERS ARE STILL IN POWER IN CYPRUS
DANIEL COHN-BENDIT BECOMES HEAD OF JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION
COOPERATION WITH CHINESE POLICE
OCALAN'S STATEMENTS ON GERMANY
'SPECIAL RELATIONSIP AGREEMENT' BETWEEN TURKEY AND TRNC
GREEK-GREEK CYPRIOT LOBBY IN US
TEHRAN ACCELERATES INCREASE IN TENSION
NO PERMISSION FOR DEMONSTRATION TEHRAN
PREPARATIONS FOR US FOOD FAIR
FIRE IN BODRUM
GREAT FUND ADMINISTRATORS IN TURKEY
DUMPING LAW ENACTED
SELIM HANAY RANKS THIRD IN CHEMISTRY OLYMPICS
AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP RECEIVES NEW ZEALAND
EIGHTH ENERGY CONGRESS TO BE HELD MAY 8-12, 2000 IN ANKARA
TURKISH FILMS IN ITALY
BOLSHOI IN ISTANBUL
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
DOVE, HAWK AND COURAGE -BY ILTER TURKMEN (HURRIYET)
IF GERMANY IS SINCERE -BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)
SPECIAL KOSOVO
TURKISH COMMANDER FOR PEACE FORCE
KOSOVAR REFUGEES CONTINUE TO LEAVE TURKEY