Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
The U.S., which enforces quotas on imports of Turkish textiles
and ready-to-wear products in a total of 32 categories, is
preparing to increase the import quotas in certain categories.
These are the categories in which some problems are being
experienced in the export of textiles and ready-to-wear products
from the Marmara Region which was seriously affected by the
earthquake disaster. If an agreement is reached during official
meetings to be held in Washington on September 20-21, Turkey's
exports to the U.S. will increase by $300-500 million. /Hurriyet/
The Head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges
(TOBB), Fuat Miras, said that the earthquake disaster in the
Marmara Region should be turned into an economic development
through certain measures which need to be taken. Fuat Miras
issued a written statement and stressed that the effects of the
earthquake on the economy and outlined the measures to be taken.
Miras proposed that an 'earthquake fund' should be established
for the disaster region and all domestic and foreign aid should
be collected in this fund. Miras pointed out the importance of a
stand-by agreement which is yet to be signed with the IMF and
said that it would provide long-term borrowing opportunities from
international financial markets. Miras added that new settlement
areas should be determined in the disaster region and
construction projects and plans should be designed. /Hurriyet/
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD) briefed a delegation from the World Bank yesterday. The
World Bank delegation arrived in Turkey to conduct research into
the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake in Turkey and
visited TUSIAD yesterday. TUSIAD officials outlined their
predictions of the damage to the Turkish economy and industry
during the briefing. TUSIAD Chairman Erkut Yucaoglu said that
they had expressed their views to the World Bank delegation,
which is preparing an earthquake report, and added that the
Turkish Government would not give up its year 2000 targets.
Furthermore, an additional tax loss was out of the question. The
World Bank delegation said that they regarded the views of
TUSIAD, which represents Turkish industry, as very important.
/Hurriyet/
The State Minister responsible for the EU and Human Rights,
Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, stated that the Helsinki Summit in
December would be 'an examination of will' and said: "During this
Summit, it will become clear whether the EU will go on with
Turkey or without Turkey". Irtemcelik evaluated the unofficial
meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Ivalo, Finland, last
weekend, saying that the EU was looking to compensate for its
mistake in Luxembourg. Irtemcelik remarked that there was nothing
preventing Turkey from receiving candidate status and said that
Turco-EU relations should immediately recover. He also expressed
his pleasure over the optimistic atmosphere existing between
Turkey and Greece. Irtemcelik added that the issue of whether the
Greek spirit of brotherhood, which emerged in the aftermath of
the earthquake disaster in Turkey would continue, would be
understood during the Helsinki Summit. /Hurriyet/
A leading U.S. politico-economic risk analysis institution, PRS,
(Political Risk Services), has given a good mark to the Turkish
coalition government. The PRS stated that reforms in Turkey
depended on unity within the Government and positive signs would
prevail in the economy if their promises are kept. The PRS
remarked that disputes should be avoided within the coalition and
added that the Turkish Government should also decrease the public
deficit, remove subsidies from agriculture and accelerate
privatization. It added that the continuation of this Government
stability would attract foreign investors to Turkey. /Hurriyet/
The Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Yasar Okuyan, declared
that the Red Crescent should be structurally re-organized and
modernized. Okuyan said that there were some issues that needed
to be reviewed following the earthquake and added that some
institutions, including Civil Defence and the Red Crescent,
should be re-organized. /Hurriyet/
A friendly match was played between the Turkish Kocaelispor
football team and the Greek Skoda Xanthi football team in Xanthi
yesterday. Kocaelispor beat Skoda Xanthi with a score of 3-2. The
proceeds of the match will be given to the victims of the
earthquake in Turkey. /Hurriyet/
The 'First Medical Training Congress' to be jointly organized by
Istanbul University and the American Yale University in Antalya
on September 17-19 has been postponed to the year 2000 because of
the earthquake disaster in Turkey. The Congress, to be attended
by 22 renowned scientists from around the world, will be held on
April 28-30, 2000. /Hurriyet/
The Kemer district of Antalya will be promoted at eight fairs.
Kemer Mayor Hasan Seker said that advertising leaflets and
catalogues would be distributed at the fairs. He added that
information on the infrastructure, water sources, transport
system and municipality can be found in these catalogues.
/Cumhuriyet/
Members of the Turco-Greek Friendship Forum (Russi) visited
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday. In a statement
following the meeting, the Co-Chairman of the Friendship Forum,
Ilter Turkmen, said that they aimed to develop bilateral
relations between the two countries and they would mobilize
non-governmental organizations for this purpose. /Cumhuriyet/
Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said yesterday
that Turkey condemns every kind of terrorism and added that
Turkey supports every measure taken by Kyrgyzstan to safeguard
its secular and democratic order. /Cumhuriyet/
A protocol to establish an ILO Information Centre in Turkey was
signed between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and
the Turkish Labour and Social Welfare Ministry yesterday. The
Regional Director of ILO Asia and Europe, Heribert Sharrenbroich,
said in a speech during the signing ceremony that they would
establish a 'Centre for children who do not work', for those who
lost their relatives during the earthquake disaster or are
experiencing economic conditions. He also congratulated Labour
and Social Welfare Minister Yasar Oukyan for his success in the
completion of the 'Social Security Law'. /Cumhuriyet/
The third International Economic Congress organized by the
Economic Research Centre of the Middle East Technical University
in Ankara will begin tomorrow. Nearly 100 research scientists
from 26 countries are expected to attend the Congress to be held
between September 8 and 11. /Cumhuriyet/
An Israeli delegation which has arrived in Turkey to discuss the
sale of water from Turkey to Israel visited the Turkish Foreign
Ministry yesterday. According to information received from the
Israeli Embassy in Ankara, the Israeli delegation had arrived in
Turkey to discuss the proposal made by Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel in July to sell water to Israel. The Israeli delegation
will exchange their views with Turkish officials. /Cumhuriyet/
The EU stated that Turkey should initially abide by the
Copenhagen criteria and continues to discriminate against Turkey.
While Turkey has been pleased with the efforts of Germany, France
and Spain within the EU, it underlined that the important issue
was the certain decision to be taken by the 15 member countries.
Even though Greece has stated that it will offer every aid to
Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake, it has not removed its
veto on 1.075 billion Euros stemming from the Customs Union
Agreement signed between Turkey and the EU. /Cumhuriyet/
Greek newspapers stated that Greece had made an historic gesture
to Turkey. The newspapers remarked that the statements made by
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu revealed that the EU
doors were open for Turkey. What is more, Papandreu had declared
that only under certain conditions could Turkey's membership be
approved. The newspapers stressed the 'road map' to be given to
Turkey and the timetable for this process. /Cumhuriyet/
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National Index increased by
8.6 % yesterday and reached 5,823 points. Foreign aid in the
aftermath of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and financial
assistance to be released by the IMF and the World Bank have
freed up the monetary and capital markets. /Cumhuriyet/
The Deputy Governor of the Emergency Rule Region, Nafiz Kayali,
evaluated the recent developments concerning the PKK terrorist
organization and said that military operations in the region were
on-going. He added: "The decision to withdraw PKK terrorists from
Turkey is being closely observed by intelligence units".
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Security, Turhan Genc, said that
there was no unity within the PKK terrorist organization. Genc
remarked that if the PKK is sincere in its decision, then they
can take advantage of the Repentance Law. /Cumhuriyet/
Demirbank will receive foreign loans, having launched a
syndication worth $50 million. The loan will be for a one-year
term organized by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, American Express,
the Bank of New York, Bayerische Hypo-und, Vereinsbank and
Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. /Sabah/
An anti-cancer drug developed by a Turkish scientist has been
approved by the US Food and Medicine Department. The drug
developed by Dr.Rifat Pamukcu prevents cancer of the intestine
without causing any side effects. /Sabah/
The US President Bill Clinton has sent a letter to Greek Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis and congratulated him on his attitude
towards Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster. Greek
Government Spokesman Dimitri Reppas held a press conference
yesterday and stated that Clinton had congratulated Simitis on
the Greek humanitarian aid and the solidarity between the Turkish
and Greek nations following the earthquake. Reppas pointed out
that Clinton also stressed his hopes for the recovery of
Turco-Greek relations. /Sabah/
Vitra, an institution affiliated to the Eczacibasi Conglomerate
which produces ceramic floor tiles in Turkey, will open its Vitra
Tiles Factory in Dublin, Ireland, on September 16. Vitra Tiles
Ireland Ltd., operating in Dublin, actually began its production
run in the second half of August. /Milliyet/
The Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Inal
Batu, stated that they would meet Greek Defence Minister
Cohacopulos and Deputy Foreign Minister Kranidiotis in Brussels
next week. Batu said that the CHP would exert every effort to
persuade those Scandinavian countries which object to Turkey's EU
membership. /Milliyet/
The earthquake of August 17 inflicted significant material and
human damage on the Naval Forces' units in Golcuk, Karamursel and
Derince, but it had no adverse impact on the Turkish Navy's
capability and training activities, Naval Forces Commander
Adm.Ilhami Erdil said yesterday. Adm.Erdil held a press
conference before a ceremony organized to mark Turkey's take-over
of the command of NATO's permanent naval forces in the
Mediterranean (SATANAVFORMED). The NATO forces, which have
carried out significant missions during international crises such
as those in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, comprise Turkish, US,
Spanish, Italian, British, German, Greek and Dutch troops.
Adm.Erdil stressed that the handing-over ceremony marked the
arrival of a Greek warship in Turkish territorial waters for the
first time in 25 years. Referring to the recent atmsophere of
soliadarity between Turkey and Greece, Adm.Erdil said: "I hope
that the visit of the frigate, Traki, will contribute to the
friendly atmsophere between the two countries' naval forces".
/All papers/
Harmonization laws concerning the implementation of the
International Arbitration Law which will greatly affect the
future of many energy and transport ventures are being prepared.
Following the enactment of the harmonization laws which will be
submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) by the
Government during the new legislative term and will be initially
discussed, the foreign capital influx is expected to accelerate.
/Turkiye/
The Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) stated that PKK
members who left Turkey would not be welcomed in Northern Iraq. A
statement issued by the IKDP said: "Bad experiences dating back
many years have taught us that we cannot trust their promises,
especially those concerning cease-fires". /Turkiye/
The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC),
Rauf Denktas, made a statement in New York and said that Turkish
and Greek-Cypriots were under the guarantee of their homelands
and stated that the Cyprus problem could be solved among the
representatives of the two nations on the Island, without any
foreign pressure. /Turkiye/
A Macedonian delegation consisting of the Rector of the
Macedonian St.Kliment Ohridski University, Prof.Sofronija
Miladinovski, deputy rectors and the general secretary will visit
Gazi University in Ankara as part of a cooperation agreement
previously signed between the two universities. Gazi University
will hold a luncheon in honour of the Macedonian delegation.
/Turkiye/
The cartoonist Nezih Danyal was presented with the 'Golden
Pencil' Award at the International Cartoon Festival in Holland,
for his 'Exhibitions" book in the 'Cartoon Books' competition.
The Festival, the 13th to be held, was held in the Eindhoven
province of Holland. /Sabah/
One of the leading magazines in the U.S, 'Time' magazine, has
published the list of the persons who will carry Europe into the
new Millennium. The Turkish writer, Orhan Pamuk, has a place on
the list. The article stated that Orhan Pamuk is one of the
best-selling writers in Turkey and his books have been translated
into 20 languages. /Sabah/
Andrew Mango's book, 'Ataturk', which has been published in
England, has created great interest. The British Press boasts of
Ataturk, the founder of our Republic, in a review of the
introduction of the book. Prior to this, Lord Kinross published
the book, 'Ataturk', and Bernard Lewis published the book, 'The
Emergence of Modern Turkey'. /Sabah/
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),
declared that Turkey is effectively fighting money-laundering.
According to the report prepared by the OECD, the establishment
of a 'Financial Crimes Investigating Assembly' and the
implementation of some much-needed legal arrangements, are very
positive improvements in Turkey in the fight against
money-laundering. /Star/
One of the world's leading baby food production companies, the
German Company Hipp, has dispatched 35 thousand boxes of baby
food to the earthquake region. According to a statement made by
Hipp, they have sent 5 articulated lorry-loads of baby food so
far and lately they have sent a new aid package of about 170
thousand DM. /Star/
The Greek Defense Minister, Akis Cohacopulos, said that despite
the healing of Turco-Greek relations, Greece would not reduce its
expenditure on armament due to the clear superiority in this area
of Turkey. Cohacopulos noted that European countries have been
allocating 2.5 percent of their national income to armament while
Turkey and Greece allocate 4 percent to the defence budget.
/Star/
The Chairman of the Economic Development Foundation, Meral Gezgin
Eris, pointed out that improvements in relations with the EU,
have been recognized in a wrong way by the public. She said,
"After the earthquake it is assumed by the public that the
attitude of the EU has been relaxed and it is as if they will
accept Turkey's membership immediately. However, this relaxation
had began before the quake; it is not possible to completely
change everything in a day." Eris stated that the improvements
depends on chancing the attitudes of Germany, although it should
not be commented on as the membership of Turkey will be declared.
The membership of Turkey can only be confirmed at the Helsinki
Summit, on Dec. 7th-8th. /Star/
It was reported that the usage of aluminium has increased in
recent years. The "Aluminium Sector's Report" was prepared by the
Middle East Exporters' Association (MEEA). In the report, it was
declared that, particularly in the transport, construction and
package sectors, the usage of aluminium had increased with the
use of advanced technology. It was also reported that in the
developed countries the amoutn of aluminium per person was 30 kg,
whereas this amount was 3 kg for each person in Turkey. In the
report, it was written: "Aluminium is considered to be the metal
of the 21st century."/Turkiye/
Yesterday, 76 tons of emergency aid equipment were delivered to
Turkish officials by a carrier aircraft belonging to Japan
Airlines as part of the donations for the earthquake victims. It
was reported that the total cost of the donation that was
delivered by Istanbul's Japanese Consul-General, Tomohiro Ishido,
to the Istanbul representative of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador Acar German, was 1 million 150 thousand
dollars. It was also reported that a donation of 1 million
dollars will be given to Turkey in the following days. The
Japanese government also sent the earthquake-hit regions many
search and rescue teams. /Turkiye/
US President Bill Clinton has appointed Alfred Moses, the US
former Ambassador to Romania, as his new special representative
to Cyprus. Moses, a prominent lawyer who has served as president
of the American-Jewish Committee and was an advisor to President
Jimmy Carter, will replace Richard Holbrooke, who has taken over
as the US Permanent Ambassador to the UN, the Anatolia News
Agency reports.
The 12th International Mathematics Symposium began at Inonu
University in Malatya yesterday. Nearly 150 scientists from
Turkey and abroad are attending the Symposium which will last
five days, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
The Anatolia News Agency reported that 117 immigrants including
113 foreigners who attempted ilegally to cross from Turkey to
Greece were captured in Edirne yesterday. The foreign immigrants
were later sent to the Edirne Security Office to be deported
while four Turkish citizens were transferred to the Republican
Prosecutor's Office.
During the last eight months, a total of 60.2 trillion TL in
transactions was achieved on the Edirne Trade Exchange. The Head
of the Executive Board of the Edirne Trade Exchange, Mustafa
Yardimci, stated that, as regards the turnover achieved during
the last eight months, the highest proportion of the transaction
volume -21.8 trillion TL - was seen in the oil-producing seeds
sector, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
During a raid carried out by members of Osmaniye Security
Office's Anti-Organized Crime Department, two kilos of hashish
were seized yesterday. One person was detained in connection with
the incident, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
The official office in Turkey of Oxford University Press will
donate more than 100,000 books to state schools in Kocaeli,
Adapazari, Yalova and Duzce. The Turkish General Director of the
Oxford University Press, Emrah Ozpirincci, said that they wanted
to contribute to education in the disaster region through books
and video-tapes to be used in foreign language lessons.
/Hurriyet/
The Herbalife International Products Company based in the US said
that it granted $25,000 to the US Red Cross International
Humanitarian Aid Fund for the victims of the earthquake in
Turkey. The Herbalife International statement said that the aid
will be used to meet the food, tent, potable water and sanitation
equipment needs of the survivors and called all the foreign
institutions and organizations to help Turkey, the Anatolia News
Agency reports.
Turkey welcomed a new agreement signed related with
implementation of Wye River agreement that had been signed
between Israel and Palestinian National Administration, the
Anatolia News Agency reports.
The Anatolia News Agency has reported that a total of 130 firms
have applied to participate in a fair which will be organized by
the Erzurum Metropalitan Municipality.
Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz stated that the Fair to be held between the
9th and the 25th September will greatly contribute to Erzurum's
economy and that the Fair will become a tradition. He further
added that the aim was to promote Erzurum and make its economy
more active. Twenty foreign firms will also be represented at
the Fair, the opening ceremony of which will take place in front
of Aziziye Monument.
A PKK terrorist , who could not be identified and who is the
PKK's representative of the district of Nusaybin, and 26
militants have been captured. During the raid, four Russian-made
hand grenades, five pistols, seven mortars, 74 projectiles, three
Kalasnikov rifles and their 208 ammunition, one mobile phone, 15
receipts sealed by "The Political Wing of the PKK", many broken
walkie-talkies, the electrical equipment, three Russian-made
field-glasses and three torches were seized. /Aksam/
The U.S.A's State Department's Special Coordinator to Cyprus,
Thomas Weston, met the administrative leader of the
Greek-Cypriots, Glafkos Klerides. Greek-Cypriot radio reported
that Klerides explained Weston the Greek-Cypriots' opinions on
the Cyprus issue. During the meeting, it was reported that the
U.S.A and the EU had new plans on the Cyprus issue. Then Weston
met the Greek-Cypriots' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yannakis
Kasulides. Weston will arrive in Turkey tomorrow. In a statement
by diplomatic sources, Weston will be welcomed by State Minister,
Sukru Sina Gurel in Ankara. Furthermore, Weston will meet the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Deputy Advisor, Faruk Logoglu.
Weston went to Brussels, Paris and Moscow last week. It was
reported that Weston is expected to meet the TRNC's President,
Rauf Denktas, in New York on 12th September. Then Weston will go
to Athens. /Aksam/
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, accepted the
invitation to the EU's General Affairs Council on 13th September
of the EU President, who is also Finland's Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Tarja Halonen.In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Cem had accepted the formal invitation, to which he had
answered by letter, and stated that he had acquiesed and would go
to Brussels. Finland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halonen,
invited Cem to the EU's General Affairs Council with the purpose
of "listening to his opinions about the reconstruction after the
earthquake". Halonen also stated that they would be glad to
listen to Cem's interpretation of the latest situation in
relations between Turkey and EU. /Aksam/
Turkey came top of the world's agenda because of the earthquake
that occurred in the Marmara Region, the aid campaigns launched
all around the world, the green light to membership of the EU,
and our national team's victory over Northern Ireland. In the
foreign press, Turkey is often written about.
First, the European leaders said that Turkey should become a
candidate for membership of the EU and then become a member of
the EU. Secondly, the foreign press states that there is a
positive atmosphere for Turkey in every areas. Belgian newspapers
interpreted the results of the EU Council that was held in
Finland yesterday and it was written that Turkey was on the way
to becoming a formal member of the EU. In `La Libre Belgique'
newspaper, it was written: "Relations between the EU and Turkey
are good. Relations, which have had their ups and downs for 35
years, have begun to `heighten' because of the rapproachment
between Ankara and Athens. In respectable British newspapers such
as `The Guardian' and `The Daily Telegraph', it was written: "The
humane approach, which began between Greece and Turkey after the
earthquake, now begins to take on a political shape. As part of
this new development, Turkey is one step closer to membership of
the EU."/Aksam/
The American President Bill Clinton's Administration is expected
to present a draft law, which envisages the donation of 300-400
million dollars to Turkey due to the earthquake disaster, to
Congress this week. In a statement by sources close to the
U.S.A's Administration, in the draft terrible natural disaster
which occurred in Turkey will be emphasized and therefore that
the U.S.A should help Turkey, who is both a friend and ally.
Sources reported that the aid package was expected to amount to
300-400 million dollars with low-interest, long-term loans. This
donation is planned to be used to cover reconstruction expenses.
The United States' Congress, comprising the Senate and the
Representatives' Assembly is entering the new legislative term
this week after a one-month summer holiday recess. Diplomatic
observers in Washington stated that Clinton's aid project would
be unconditional. They added that the parties in the Congress
that are opposed to Turkey were trying to add conditions to the
article, which would require certain developments in some issues
such as Cyprus in order to receive the donation. /Aksam/
The Directorate General of the Mint and Stamp Printing Press will
produce a set of "700th Year Souvenir Coins", to commemorate the
700th anniversary of the foundation of the Ottoman Empire. The
set will consist of a total of five coins, four of which will be
silver and the other one will be gold. On the faces of the coins
will be depictions of the Ottomans' armorial bearing (gold),
Osman Gazi (silver), the first Ottoman coin (silver), Fatih
Sultan Mehmet (silver) and Ottoman miniatures (silver). The sets
will begin to be sold on 8th September. The maximum production
run will be 2 thousand sets and they will be sold for 85 million
Turkish lira. The coins will also be sold separately. /Aksam/
The Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, stated that the work after the
earthquake would come under the coordination of the Scientific
and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). In the
circular, signed by Ecevit and sent to the Ministries and other
organizations involved in this, it was reported that a group of
experts appointed by the TUBITAK's Administration were carrying
out tours of inspection after the earthquake. In the circular, it
was reported that in the expert's reports sent to the Office of
the Prime Ministry, important information about the problems
experienced by the universities and institutions due to the
earthquake were noted down. Furthermore, it was reported that
these reports included short, middle and long-term solutions to
the problems that are being experienced due to the earthquake.
/Aksam/
The renowned Turkish bath is now on the Internet. A Website has
been launched on the Internet to advertise the Turkish bath built
by the then-Grand Vizier Okuz Mehmet Pasha 320 years ago in
Kusadasi. The Turkish bath in Kusadasi has been restored three
times to date; its Internet address is as follows:
www.turkishbath.net. The director of the Turkish bath in
Kusadasi, Alaattin Talas, said that even though only one month
had gone by since they had set up the Website on the Internet,
many people throughout the world had visited it and bookings were
being made to visit the Turkish bath in Kusadasi, the Anatolia
News Agency reports.
Columnist Erdal Saglam writes on the issues to be discussed with
the IMF. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The IMF delegation will be in Ankara tomorrow. The next day the
additional programme to repair the damage incurred by the
earthquake disaster and its financing will be discussed.
The economic administration has held 4-5 technical meetings with
the Finance Ministry and State Planning Organization led by the
Treasury. During these meetings, economic indicators and the
policy to be followed in the course of negotiations with the IMF
were discussed. Technical preparations were made and now
"political will" has to finalize the policy to be followed during
these negotiations.
Developments and changes in the economic indicators following the
last visit of the IMF delegation will be deliberated during these
meetings. In other words, the July and August data will also be
discussed. As there is no great deviation from the goals planned
before and set for this year, there will not be a problem on
these points.
However, a problem may arise for the budgetary aims determined
for next year. During these meetings, it will also be discussed
whether or not the targets decided on for next year are in danger
of not being reached. The additional burdens accepted as having
to be undertaken this year may not constitute a problem this year
but will endanger the balance next year.
The additional programme which needs to be prepared thanks to the
earthquake will be based on the "Earthquake Report" to be
published by the World Bank. In line with the figures mentioned
in this report, the financing of the damage and the amount of
expected aid will be debated.
It has been learnt that the World Bank is against the
construction of pre-fabricated bungalows. The Government has to
decide on the issue."
Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the signals out given by the EU
Foreign Ministers' meeting. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"The signals given out by the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in
Finland on Turkey's full-membership application have led to
various different and even contrasting views.
Some believe that finally the doors of the EU have been opened,
some think that the EU is still resorting to delaying tactics and
that it is still very hard for Turkey to become a member. First
of all, we have to know what this message is.
During the EU Foreign Ministers' unofficial meeting taking a
decision on Turkey's membership was out of the question; this
will be finalized at the Helsinki Summit in December. The
meetings of the Ministers just showed the differing tendencies
present among them. The general desire among them is to adopt the
candidacy of Turkey; whereas a group led by Germany and France do
not attach any conditions to this, Sweden and Denmark would like
to impose some conditions on Turkey's candidacy.
Therefore, it is hard to decide what the final decision may be
in December. However, there seems to have been a change of tune
in relations with Turkey, which may be affected by many reasons
among which we can cite the sympathy created by the earthquake
disaster, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's statements that Helsinki
would be the last chance and the improvement of relations between
Turkey and Greece.
Another point to consider is the long road between "candidacy"
and "membership". For countries such as Hungary and the Czech
Republic, which have already been accorded the status of
candidacy, full-membership will take 5 or 6 years. The second
wave of candidates will take even more time to become members.
Therefore, even if Turkey is accepted as a candidate with no
pre-conditions, the first steps towards the long road to
membership will be taken later.
For some time the acceptance of Turkey's candidacy has been the
main goal of Turkish diplomacy. Following the disappointment
created by the Luxembourg, Cardiff, Vienna and Cologne Summits,
Helsinki is considered the last chance. If the EU grants Turkey
the status of candidate, steps will taken towards the long road
leading to full-membership. If not, the application for candidacy
will be suspended and alternative strategies will be formed.
The signals emanating from the EU have brought Turkey closer to
candidacy, something for which she has made every effort to
achieve for a long time. At such a time, some are stating that
candidacy of the EU is not important. They add that the EU will
not accept Turkey as a member or will expect some compromises in
return. Some even claim that Turkey will lose much of her
national sovereignty and characteristics.
It is interesting to see these views after working so hard to
obtain EU candidacy and getting closer to it than ever before.
Do we really want to achieve the candidacy of the EU? We have to
know this, before taking any other steps."
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
ADDITIONAL EXPORTS TO THE U.S.
MIRAS: "DISASTER HAS POTENTIAL TO TURN INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT"
TUSIAD GIVES AN 'EARTHQUAKE BRIEFING' TO WORLD BANK
TURKEY: "THIS WILL CERTAINLY BE THE DECISIVE SUMMIT"
GOOD MARK FROM THE U.S. FOR TURKEY
RED CRESCENT TO BE RE-ORGANIZED
FRIENDLY MATCH
MEDICAL CONGRESS POSTPONED TO THE YEAR 2000
KEMER TO BE PROMOTED
TURCO-GREEK FRIENDSHIP FORUM
TURKEY SUPPORTS KYRGYZSTAN
ILO INFORMATION CENTRE
METU INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC CONGRESS
ISRAELI DELEGATION IN TURKEY
ANKARA NOT SATISFIED
GREEK PRESS: HISTORIC GESTURE
IMKB INDEX RISES
MILITARY OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE
DEMIRBANK TO RECEIVE FOREIGN LOANS
TURKEY'S HONOUR
LETTER OF THANKS FROM CLINTON TO SIMITIS
VITRA IN IRELAND
CHP TO MEET GREEK MINISTERS
TURCO-GREEK IMPROVEMENT
HARMONIZATION LAWS FOR ARBITRATION
IKDP: NO PLACE FOR PKK IN NORTHERN IRAQ
DENKTAS IN THE U.S.
MACEDONIAN DELEGATION IN TURKEY
AWARD FOR TURKISH CARTOONIST IN HOLLAND
ORHAN PAMUK: TURK OF 21ST CENTURY
THEY EXPLORE 'ATA'
TURKEY SUCCESSFUL IN FIGHT AGAINST MONEY-LAUNDERING
BABY FOOD AID FROM HIPP
ATHENS: WE CONTINUE TO ARM
NO NEED FOR EARLY CELEBRATION
21ST CENTURY'S METAL IS ALUMINIUM
GREAT DONATION FROM JAPAN
NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS
INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS SYMPOSIUM
117 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED
TRANSACTION VOLUME ON EDIRNE TRADE EXCHANGE
HASHISH SEIZED
BOOKS FROM OXFORD
HERBALIFE INTERNATIONAL GRANTS $25,000
TURKEY WELCOMES PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI AGREEMENT
INTERNATIONAL ERZURUM FAIR
RAID ON PKK
THE U.S.A'S DIPLOMATIC MOVE
CEM ACCEPTS EU'S INVITATION
THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT US
CLINTON'S EARTHQUAKE PROJECT
SOUVENIR COINS MINTED
COORDINATION IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF
TURKEY
TURKISH BATH ON INTERNET
FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE IMF -BY ERDAL SAGLAM (STAR)
WHAT DO WE WANT FROM HELSINKI? -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)