Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that it was impossible
for Turkey to go back on the `Blue Stream' natural gas venture.
Ecevit, evaluating his visit to Moscow, spoke to the `Cumhuriyet'
newspaper and said, "All the world is in the process of
`Eurasiaization'. The keys of Eurasia are in the hands of both
Russia and Turkey. I think our expectations have been proved
correct during my visit. Massive developments are being seen,
particularly in economic relations between Turkey and the Russian
Federation. The economic crisis that began in Southeastern Asia
spread to Russia and, thus, there was some restriction in our
commercial relations a while ago. However, both ourselves and
Turkish businessmen trust in the future of Russia. We had
interesting meetings with Prime Minister Putin and Moscow's Mayor
Lujkov concerning the improvement of economic relations. We also
have hopes for cooperation in the field of defence equipment and
its technology. The two countries have the will to improve their
economic relations. If they are ameliorated, then of course
political relations will also improve."
"The two countries have mutual benefits to be gained from the
fight against terrorism. We adopted this not due to any threat
from another country, but as a general principle. In addition, we
signed the `Blue Stream' accord with Russia in December 1997 and,
as part of the agreement, investments have begun. So it is
impossible for us to go back on this", declared Ecevit.
/Cumhuriyet/
The Deputy Secretary of State responsible for EU relations, Marc
Grossman, recalled that the US wants a solution based on a
two-society and two-region federation. Grossman made a statement
to the 'To Vima' newspaper published in Athens and said that in
line with proposals from the G-8 countries, there were
initiatives in progress under the umbrella of the UN towards
negotiations without any preconditions between the two sides.
Grossman added that the Cyprus issue would be discussed during US
President Bill Clinton's visit to Ankara and Athens. /Turkiye/
German Interior Minister Otto Schilly will visit Turkey today as
the official guest of Turkish Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan.
Schilly will be received by Tantan, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli today and will visit the
earthquake disaster region tomorrow, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
The Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and Deputy
Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli delivered a speech at the closing
session of the Permanent Committee of the Organization for
Islamic Conference (COMCEC) yesterday and said that the exchange
of views concerning human resources had been very beneficial.
Bahceli stated that on the threshold of the 21st century, global
dynamics should be accurately evaluated and that efforts should
be exerted towards the implementation of ideals. Bahceli added
that operational plans prepared by the Islamic Development Bank
to increase trade volume from 10 % to 13 % and the allocation of
$1 billion to that end were pleasing developments. /Turkiye/
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Altan Oymen, Deputy
Chairman Inal Batu, Deputy General Secretary Sule Bucak and
Socialist International Deputy Chairman Erdal Inonu are attending
the Socialist International Convention. Oymen will make a speech
and also meet socialist leaders. Inonu will again be a candidate
for this position. The Convention will begin today and last until
Wednesday in Paris. /All papers/
The Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, left for
Brussels yesterday to attend NATO's Military Committee meetings.
A statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Office of
General Staff said that Gen.Kivrikoglu will take part in the
136th Military Committee meeting, one of the scheduled meetings
of NATO, the NATO-Ukraine and European Atlantic Council Military
Committee meeting between November 7-11. During the sessions,
views will be exchanged concerning NATO activities and issues
with reference to European security, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
Turkey has given a shield of gratitude to the UN, which had
extended a great deal of support to the earthquake victims in
Turkey. The Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN,
Ambassador Volkan Vural, has presented the shield to SergioVieira
de Mello, the UN Secretary-General's Assistant and the Head of
the UN Humanitarian and Emergency Aid Coordination Department.
/Turkiye/
The year 2000 budget bill, presented to Parliament's Budget and
Planning Commission last week by Finance Minister Sumer Oral,
will be debated in the same commission this week. Discussions on
the Prime Ministry, Justice Ministry and Constitutional Court
budgets are scheduled for Tuesday. In the meantime, Parliament's
General Assembly is expected to discuss a bill envisaging
simplifications in court procedures for trials of state officials
and civil servants. /All papers/
The relations between Turkey and Iraq, which are already
promising, are further improving, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and
Finance Minister Hikmet Al-Azawi told the Anatolia News Agency.
Al-Azawi stated that Iraq had requested that Turkey provide
comprehensive support for Iraq in its effort to convince Western
leaders to end the embargo. He argued that Turkey itself has been
adversely affected by the embargo, stating that the total
financial loss incurred by Turkey due to the UN embargo was about
$30 billion. Emphasizing the importance Iraq attaches to Turkey,
the Deputy Prime Minister said Turkey is a vital country both for
the international community and the Islamic world.
The Interior Minister of Bavaria in Germany, Gunter Beckstein,
who has visited Antalya as the guest of Antalya Mayor Bekir
Kumbul said that he had prohibited activities by the PKK
terrorist organization in Bavaria and, therefore, he was being
threatened by the PKK. He added, "The PKK is continuing with its
threats. However, I am not afraid of them". Beckstein stated that
every time he visited Turkey, he saw that Turco-German relations
were further developing and pointed out that this was a pleasing
development. /Turkiye/
Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu rejected peace overtures
by PKK members as insincere, insisting that they would not be
able to talk themselves out of punishment. Cakmakoglu said PKK
members started calling for peace only after their head, Abdullah
Ocalan, was captured in February. "I do not believe in their
sincerity" Cakmakoglu said. "It is not possible to appease this
nation until the members of the terrorist organization pay for
what they have done", he added. /All papers/
During a raid in Mus, 3.5 kilos of hashish were seized by
security officials. Three people were taken into custody in
connection with the incident. Officials said that an
investigation into the incident was underway, the Anatolia News
Agency reports.
The 'Review Conference', prior to the OSCE Summit in Istanbul on
November 18-19, will start today. During the second part of the
Conference, OSCE activities during the last three years will be
reviewed. The Conference will last until November 10. The first
part of the Conference was held in Vienna between September 20
and October 1. During the OSCE Summit, leaders from 54 countries
will convene in Istanbul. /Turkiye/
Turkey will give no-one any respite concerning national and
international maritime shipping. Every ship will be able to be
monitored using on-board satellite observation devices that will
be installed. As far as smuggling, raids and SOS cases are
concerned, the interventions required and security needed will be
able to be ensured thanks to this system.
All ships will be able to be observed thanks to the Maritime
Vessels' Automatic Recognition System, which became an issue on
the Communication Supreme Council's agenda and which was approved
there. As part of the scheme, which will be implemented by
Maritime Security Command and the Directorate General of Turkish
Telecommunications Limited, a stable satellite observation device
will be installed in every ship. The ships' location and the
continental waters on which the ship has sailed will be
determined if needed. /Milliyet/
The "Children's Rights School" is being opened by the Children's
Foundation. The Chairman of the Children's Foundation, Mustafa
Ruhi Sirin, who talked about the school that will begin its
education programme in Istanbul on 20th November, stated that in
a century during which the rights of hundreds of thousands of
children have been exploited, the approach to children and
childhood should be re-evaluated. The education year will consist
of four terms comprising the topics of one's rights to childhood,
the interpretation of the Children's Rights Agreement, the agenda
of children's rights and "Where are my rights?". The first three
terms will be for adults and the fourth term will be both for
children and for adults. /Hurriyet/
Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijen Namdar Zengene stated that the
section of the pipeline in Iran which will transport natural gas
from Iran to Turkey would be completed by the end of this year.
Zengene said at a meeting on 'Gas Resources in the International
Persian Gulf and its Export Markets' that Iran was ready to
facilitate the gas transfer and organize regional energy supply
and demand. Zengene pointed out that the agreement concerning the
export of natural gas from Iran to Turkey had been signed for a
period of 22 years. According to the agreement signed in 1997,
natural gas exports from Iran to Turkey will start with an intial
2 billion cubic metres every year and then rise to 10 billion
cubic metres, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
Mike Hammer, the US National Security Council Spokesman, recalled
that the agreement concerning the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline might
be signed during the OSCE Summit in Istanbul and said, "The
tendency of Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian leaders towards the
signing of this agreement is very positive". Hammer stated that
Turkish, Azerbaijani and Georgian officials were exerting every
effort to prepare the legal and political infrastructure of the
Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline scheme. /Turkiye/
The Greek 'Kathimerini` newspaper stated that during Clinton's
visit to Greece, the U.S President would declare the initiation
of a new series of meetings between the two countries. The
newspaper said that the main subjects of Clinton's meeting in
Greece would be Turco-Greek relations and the Cyprus issue. The
newspaper asserted that Clinton would appeal for Greek Premier
Kostas Simitis to back the EU candidacy of Turkey at the Helsinki
Summit. Meanwhile, prior to the U.S President's visit,
anti-American protests are taking place in Athens. /Aksam/
According to an evaluation made by the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat, the downward trend in exports due to the
Russian crisis was finally over in September and exports rose in
October. Exports to EU and EFTA countries increased, except for
during the months of January, May, June and August this year,
while exports to North African countries have begun to decrease
following an upward trend in the first three months of this year.
/Turkiye/
The war of tactics between foreign companies for the joint
production of 3.5 billion dollars' worth of battle helicopters,
which will heighten the Turkish Armed Forces' deterrent power, is
hotting up. While the evaluation of the bids is underway, the
American Boeing Company has decided to sell 24 Apache helicopters
to Turkey. It was stated that the sudden offer of the Boeing
Company, supported by the American government, was being
evaluated and that however, a decision had not been made yet. It
is expected that American President Bill Clinton, who will come
to Turkey in the middle of November in order to attend the OSCE
Summit, will place Boeing's request to sell on the agenda.
/Hurriyet/
The 5th International Regional Conference on "21st Century Retail
Inclinations", organized by the Shopping Centres' and Retailers'
Association (AMPD), will be held at Swisshotel on 11th and 12nd
November. Four hundred guests from Turkey and abroad are expected
to attend the conference, which will bring together the managers
of and investors in shopping centres and the retail sector with
sector specialists from the U.S.A. and Europe. As part of the
conference, AMPD, aiming to introduce the whole region to each
other and create new opportunities, will also nominate the
"shopping centre of the year" and "the retailer of the year" for
the TCSC award. /Hurriyet/
A delegation consiting of members of the Executive Board of the
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD)
will hold a series of talks in The Hague, Holland, today as part
of its round of visits designed to express the views of the
Turkish business world on Turco-EU relations prior to the EU
Summit in Helsinki in December. The TUSIAD delegation headed by
Erkut Yucaoglu will initially visit Dutch Deputy Prime Minister
and Economy Minister Annemarie Joristma. Later, Turkish
businessmen will attend the Turco-Dutch Business Council meeting
in Rotterdam. Turkish businessmen will meet Dutch industrialists
and businessmen in The Hague on Tuesday. In addition to Turco-EU
relations, bilateral economic relations will also be discussed
during the meetings between Turkish and Dutch businessmen, the
Anatolia News Agency reports.
Turkey's domestic oil and natural gas supplier, the Turkish
Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), produced 12,532,000 barrels of
crude oil and 592,000 cubic metres of natural gas in the first 10
months of 1999. In the corresponding period last year, the TPAO
produced 14,207,000 barrels of crude oil and 437,000 cubic metres
of natural gas. The rise in natural gas production is said to
stem from the new fields that have begun operating in the
northern Marmara region. /All papers/
Turkey has become the most exciting country in Europe in terms of
job opportunities, said Mark R.Parris, the US Ambassador in
Ankara. Parris explained on a Website prepared by the US
Consulate in Adana that the Turkish economy is rapidly growing
and enjoys a thriving private sector and strong export structure.
He indicated that the US Department of Commerce had declared
Turkey to be one of the largest emerging markets in the 21st
century. Parris added that the US is trying to increase its trade
volume with and investments in Turkey, saying that the US'
interest in southeastern Turkey is particularly obvious.
Stuart E.Jones, the US Consul in Adana, states on the Website
that the US had arrived in the region for the first time in 1858
to open a mission in the coastal city of Iskenderun. He added
that the US Consulate in Adana was founded in 1961. Jones also
stressed that the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) offers
great opportunities to the American business community. /All
papers/
Yesterday, the Bosphorus experienced yet another threat when two
ships collided; one of them sank, while the other one was
damaged. About half an hour after a demonstration by the Nature
Fighters for the Environment which aimed to attract attention to
the possible dangers in the Bosphorus, the maritime collision
occurred. A 6-thousand-gross-ton ship the 'Semele` sailing under
the Belize flag, , collided with the 16-thousand-gross-ton
'Sipka`, flying a Bulgarian flag, in the Ahirkapi region at
around 13:00 hours. Following the crash, although 'Semele` sank
very quickly, the 'Sipka` was merely damaged. The crew of the
sunken ship has been rescued. It is stated that in the case that
the ships had been tankers full of petroleum, Istanbul would have
been faced by a great danger one more time. /Sabah/
The Turkish business world has initiated a reconstruction
campaign for Kocaeli University which was devastated completely
during the earthquake and has had to start its new academic year
in prefabricated buildings. Is Bank, Ford, Borusan, Marshall and
others were all determined to construct a new powerful university
in Izmit similar to the Middle East Technical University (ODTU).
Kocaeli University was expected to have received damage worth 16
trillion TL thanks to the earthquake. Meanwhile, the first
installment of aid, except for that of the businessmen, came from
the Greek Patriarchate with a sum of 40 billion TL for the
reconstruction of the university. /Sabah/
A Turkish member has been appointed to the executive board of one
of the leading consultancy and research companies in the world,
Ernst & Young. Umit Kizilhisar, who has been working as a
director in the company's Istanbul office for two years now, was
posted to executive board membership. A graduate from Bogazici
University's Management Department, Kizilhisar has worked for 9
years in the U.S offices of the firm. /Aksam/
Yasemin Dalkilic has broken the 'Women's World Record for Free
Diving at a fixed weight'. She managed to dive 68 metres in two
minutes and 38 seconds and broke the World Record yesterday. The
Head of the Underwater Federation, Harun Sevinc, said that this
world record was very significant for Turkey. /Turkiye/
Sezen Aksu, who comes originally from Izmir and her Greek
colleague, Haris Alexiou of Selanik enchanted their audience
during a concert that they gave in the aid of earthquake victims
the night before last. Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay,
Minister of Tourism Erkan Mumcu, the Mayor of Sisli, Mustafa
Sarigul, and retired General Cevik Bir listened to the concert
that was held at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and
Exhibition Palace. This concert will be repeated in Athens on
23th November. /Cumhuriyet/
Columnist Fuat Bol comments on Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to
Moscow. A summary of his column is as follows:
Just fifteen days before the OSCE Summit, which will convene in
Istanbul, Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Moscow was timeless
and unnecessary. Throughout history, Turkish and Russian
interests have been in conflict and it seems that this conflict
will continue in the 21st century as our aims are of vital
importance for both countries.
Russia is experiencing the weakest period in her history. The
only ace in her hand is her nuclear weaponry and this is the
concern of other powers, such as the USA, rather than that of
Turkey.
Russia is oppressing the Chechens in Caucasia, just as the Serbs
did with the Moslem population in Bosnia and Kosovo. All the
world, including the Islamic World, is remaining silent in the
face of this massacre carried out against the civilians. The
safety of Turkey's eastern borders depend upon the stability in
the Caucasus. The Russians have two problems left. One is
Chechnya and the other is Georgia.
The safe transport of Central Asian oil to the West depends upon
stability in the region. Russia attaches such great importance
to the matter that while Prime Minister Ecevit was still in
Russia, President Yeltsin was sending his representative to
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev to prevent any Turco-Azerbaijani
rapprochement. However, experienced politician as he is, Aliyev
sees this bluff by Russia for what it is. Nevertheless, Prime
Minister Ecevit has returned home without achieving any success.
The "Blue Stream" venture is mentioned with good intentions by
both sides. However, Turkey shows her weakness towards the
Chechen problem due to concern with the PKK. Instead of trying to
prevent a human tragedy in the Caucasus, where civilians have
been killed or have had to migrate, we are shaking hands with the
Russians. We are wondering who led Ecevit down such a road just
before the OSCE Summit when the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline agreement
will be signed."
Columnist Sedat Sertoglu writes on the change in the agenda of
the OSCE Istanbul Summit and Turkey's need for natural gas. A
summary of his column is as follows:
Excluding Yugoslavian leader Milosevic who is wanted for crimes
against humanity, the Heads of State or Government of 53
countries are preparing to meet in Istanbul. Important issues
will be discussed during this Summit. Certain agreements are
expected to be signed in the course of this meeting such as the
Accord on the Restriction of the use of Conventional Arms, which
has already been violated by Russia even before it has been
signed.
Therefore, the agenda of the Summit has suddenly changed. The
main issue to be discussed at the Summit is now Russia's military
operation against Chechnya. In this case the ratifying of certain
agreements is in danger. The content of the Istanbul Communique
has to be changed and this can only be done with the approval of
the countries participating in the Summit.
The Summit, preparation for which were underway without a hitch,
has become an equation with many unknown factors. There is only a
week or ten days left to finalize the Istanbul Communique.
Diplomats from all countries will be working hard to achieve a
positive result from this Summit.
The figures issued in relation to Turkey's need for natural gas
in the next 20 years reveal a great disparity between those
issued by official organizations and private institutions such as
Shell. It is not clear whether we are exaggerating our need or
their figures are incorrect. The Wood Mackenzie firm estimates
our need for natural gas in the year 2015 at almost half the
official figures. This company has undertaken some interesting
research; it says that Turkey can buy the cheapest natural gas
from Azerbeijan and they have even estimated the cost of bringing
the natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey.
The purchase of Turkmen-Azerbaijani natural gas by Turkey is a
priority and, when necessary in the future, itshould be supported
by the "Blue Stream" venture. Therefore, Prime Minister Ecevit's
stance concerning "Blue Stream" in Moscow is correct vis-a-vis
Turkey's interests. As all the other countries in the world are
diversifying their sources of gas we should not depend upon
Russia for 90% of our natural gas requirements."
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ...
ECEVIT: "EXPECTATIONS PROVED CORRECT"
US RECALLS ITS PROPOSAL ON CYPRUS
GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY
COMCEC MEETING IN ISTANBUL
SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
GEN.KIVRIKOGLU IN BELGIUM
SHIELD OF GRATITUDE TO UN
2000 BUDGET DEBATES BEGIN IN PARLIAMENT
IRAQ SEEKS TURKEY'S HELP TO END EMBARGO
BECKSTEIN: "I AM NOT AFRAID OF PKK"
CAKMAKOGLU: "PKK PEACE INITIATIVES INSINCERE"
HASHISH SEIZED IN MUS
OSCE-ISTANBUL TO START
SATELLITE CONTROL OF SEAS
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS SCHOOL IS BEING OPENED
ZENGENE: "PIPELINE IN IRAN TO BE COMPLETED"
BAKU-CEYHAN ON THE WAY
CLINTON'S GREEK VISIT
EXPORTS TO RUSSIA
BOEING WILL SELL 24 APACHES TO TURKEY
RETAILERS' SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
TUSIAD DELEGATION IN HOLLAND
DOMESTIC NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION RISES
TURKEY OFFERS GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
DANGER IN BOSPHORUS
AID FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF KOCAELI UNIVERSITY
TURKISH MEMBER ON ERNST & YOUNG'S EXECUTIVE BOARD
YASEMIN DALKILIC BREAKS WORLD RECORD
"FRIENDSHIP" CONCERT
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ...
WHO LED ECEVIT DOWN THIS ROAD? BY FUAT BOL (TURKIYE)
AGENDA HAS CHANGED BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)