Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel pointed out that Turkish women
are the symbol of modern Turkey and the guarantors of the
democratic Republic in his message to mark the 65th anniversary
of the Turkish woman's right of suffrage. He further stated that
the Republic was a social transformation project and that one of
the most important elements of this transformation was the fact
that women can participate in every area of life under conditions
equal to those for men. Moreover, Demirel added, "The rights of
women, which are legally present, are not able to be used in
their entirety in daily life. At this point, voluntary women
organizations become important." Meanwhile, the leader of the
True Path Party, Tansu Ciller, issued a statement emphasizing the
meaning and importance of the day in which it was said, "The
Turkish woman gained her rights thanks to our great leader
Ataturk. Turkish women's place in our communities makes Turkish
society modern." /Hurriyet/
President Suleyman Demirel will leave for Bosnia-Herzegovina
today as the guest of the Bosnia-Herzegovinan Presidential
Council on a two-day official visit. In a statement issued by the
Presidential Press Centre, State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik,
Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay, other politicians and a
delegation comprising high-ranking officials and businessmen will
accompany President Demirel. During his visit, Demirel will meet
the leaders of three republics which form Bosnia-Herzegovina
(Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia) and discuss mutual relations as well
as the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accord, which brought
peace to the country. /Turkiye/
While all of the EU countries seem to support Turkey's EU
membership, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu, who is
fearful of his domestic Opposition, is issuing self-possessed
declarations. Papandreu said that Turco-Greek relations and the
Cyprus issue have become a part of Turco-European relations,
which situation he viewed as a Greek achievement. The Greek
Foreign Minister also stated that they desired the problem of
Cyprus to be solved before Greek-Cypriot EU membership is
finalized, however, he believes the issue should not be a
precondition for such membership. /Turkiye/
It is asserted that Greece, in return for not veto-ing Turkey's
EU candidancy, has asked the U.S to initiate pressure on EU
countries in order to ensure Greek-Cypriot membership before the
Helsinki Summit. A Greek official said that Greek Foreign
Minister George Papandreu had called the U.S Secretary of State,
Madeleine Albright, and asked for such initiatives to be taken.
/Turkiye/
During the 'Dynamic Mix' military manoeuvres, which will be
conducted under the auspices of NATO in late May next year,
Turkish war planes are planned to land at Greek military
airports. It is stated that Turkish F-16s will fly over Greece
under the supervision of Greek commanders and will refuel at the
military airports in Larisa and Aghialu. As part of the NATO
manoeuvres, this will be the first time that Turkish war planes
will land at Greek military airports. /Turkiye/
While debates over the execution of Ocalan are on-going, those
families, who lost their relatives during the fighting with the
PKK, have cried out, "We have borne our grief for a long time so
as to see the execution of Ocalan. We can wait no longer. If he
is not executed, we will send our medals of honour to the TGNA
and the European Court of Human Rights, to your shame." /Aksam/
Early on Sunday members of the Islamic Great East Raiders Front
(IBDA-C) reacted with violence when soldiers attempted to carry
out an unannounced search of their prison ward at Metris high
security prison. The clash broke out at about 8:30 a.m. in the
wing in which IBDA-C leader Salih Izzet Erdis (known as Salih
Mirzabeyoglu) is being imprisoned. During the clash, 54 security
personnel were wounded and the inmates took 152 soldiers hostage.
While security forces were in process of organizing a raid, the
rebels declared that they had ended the riot, the hostages were
then released. /Turkiye/
A quake caused damage in 25 villages in the province of Erzurum
and left 340 residences uninhabitable, said Erzurum Governor
Derya Kadioglu. The moderate-size quake, with a preliminary
magnitude of 5.5, hit the Eastern region of Turkey on Friday,
killing one man and injuring five others. The epicentre of
Friday's Erzurum earthquake has been reported to be located near
the Turco-Georgian border. /All papers/
The Council of Ministers has decided to approve the World Bank
loan agreement and additional letters concerning the loan
amounting to 757.53 million dollars, on condition that it will be
valid after the date of signing. The decision to approve the
World Bank loan of 757.53 million dollars to repair the
earthquake damage was published in the Official Gazette
yesterday. /Aksam/
Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan declared that everywhere in
Turkey designated as being prone to earthquakes all the
precautions necessary would be taken. Tantan stated, with that
plan in mind, the map of Istanbul would be changed. He also said
that settlements would be moved from loose ground to strong
ground and construction on unstable ground would not be
permitted. Not only that, the Interior Minister pointed out that
in every province, two search and rescue teams similar to AKUT
would be established. /Sabah/
Following the Marmara Earthquake, the ensurance of a new seismic
research ship has been taken up by the Supreme Planning Board. It
will give a third dimension to seismic research and will act as
an alternative to the Seismic-1 ship which belongs to the Mineral
Research and Administration Institute (MTA) which is
technologically obsolete. The new ship is expected to cost 15
million dollars. /Cumhuriyet/
The sister of Alaattin Cakici, who is now under arrest in France,
and her husband were shot yesterday while shopping at Akmerkez
Shopping Centre. Then Gonul Cakici (Alaattin Cakici's sister) and
her husband were taken to hospital. It was claimed that the
aggressors were two 15-year-old youths. /Aksam/
During the 18th Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) of Turk-Is, which
began on the 1st of December, Bayram Meral was re-elected
Chairman with 224 votes. Four candidates from Meral's list took
their places on the Executive Board; the General Chairman of
Maden-Is, Cetin Altun, who was on the list of the General
Chairman of Condense, Zeki Polat, took up his position within the
administration. The 18th AGM of the Turk-Is (Turkish Workers'
Unions' Federation), which began on the 1st of December, came to
an end yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/
Basaran Ulusoy was elected Chairman during TURSAB's 14th Annual
General Meeting. During the elections, in which a total of 1,196
votes cast, Ulusoy received 663 votes and, of the other
candidates, Bahattin Yucel dotained 358 and Deniz Tufekci 437
votes. After the election, Ulusoy delivered a speech during which
he said that he would carry TURSAB to the place it deserved and
that they would solve their problems together in solidarity.
/Milliyet/
A reunion for the 1949 high school graduates was organized as
part of the 518th anniversary of Galatasaray High School.
Seventy-two graduates were presented with medals and experienced
exciting, emotional moments during the ceremony. Former French
Prime Minister, who is also the political representative of Lyon
and Chairman of the Association Supporting Galatasaray High
School, Raymond Barre, also attended the ceremony. The Chairman
of the Galatasaray Education Foundation, Inan Kirac, presented a
certificate and medal to Barre, who has worked on the French
economy for many years. /Milliyet/
The government is getting ready for a new reform after
introducing eight-year compulsary education. According to the
reform package which has been signed by all Ministers, High
Schools will charge. Following this reform students will
contribute to their educational expenses. /Hurriyet/
The Minister of Communications, Enis Oksuz, stated that the GSM
bid, which will be competed for by three firms on the market,
would most probably be organized during the year 2000. Oksuz
said, "Turkcell and Telsim are still present; Three more firms
will enter the running on condition that one licence remains at
Telecom itself." Oksuz met Communications bureaucrats the day
before yesterday concerning the privatization of Telecom and the
GSM bid. Oksuz made a statement to 'Hurriyet' newspaper in which
he said, "We are expecting the latest technology, low prices and
service of the highest quality as a result of this competition."
/Hurriyet/
The Chairman of the Executive Board of the Zorlu Holding Company,
Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, stated that their target was to increase
monitor and television production to 7 million units in the year
2000, from 4.5 million today. Zorlu further added, "Our aim is to
make Vestel among the top three in the world. Recently, Vestel
has been in the American press, which increases our motivation.
During the year 2000, we will increase a production to 7 million
units thanks to our self-sacrificing workers and engineers."
/Aksam/
The Sevda Cenap And Musical Foundation's award ceremony was held
at the Ankara Hilton Hotel yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel,
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish National Grand Assembly Murat
Sokmenoglu, Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay, former State
Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, Public Prosecutor of the Supreme Court
of Appeals, Vural Savas, former Chief of General Staff Ismail
Hakki Karadayi and many politicians and artists attended the
evening. Ferhunde Erkin was deemed worthy of the Foundation's
highest award due to her being the first interpreter of piano
concertos by modern Turkish composers. /Cumhuriyet/
The last Ottoman auction of the century will be held in Paris,
France, today. During the auction Drouot Hall, a total of 385
Ottoman pieces, including the Big Koran that was stolen from
Erzurum during the age of the Republic, will be presented for
sale. Well-known collectors both from Turkey and abroad are
expected to attend the auction. /Milliyet/
Famous Turkish artist Turkan Soray has been awarded the 'Top
Prize` at the Rome Film Festival. Italian director Mario
Monicelli presented the prize to Turkan Soray during the
Festival's awards night. Soray stated that she was extremely
happy to have received such a prize. /Cumhuriyet/
Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the results of the
OSCE Summit in Istanbul. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and Trans-Caspian Turkmen natural gas
agreements signed during the OSCE Istanbul Summit have
geo-political consequences affecting the global balance in
addition to being a fuel-line between Turkey and the Caspian
Basin. If these projects are carried out, the Caucasian and
Central Asian States situated on a line extending from Anatolia
to the Chinese borders will be politically attracted to the
Western hemisphere and thus integrated into the world economy.
This geographical belt coinciding with a Turkish cultural axis
inevitably creates a natural Turkish hinterland in the region.
The reason why such an opportunity has arisen before Turkey is
that US and Turkish interests are very much the same.
The primary reason for such a policy for the US is geo-strategic
in nature. The primary goal of the US in the 21st century is to
preserve her status as the only super-power in the world. She has
to continue her control of the power balance in Eurasia.
Therefore she does not want the newly-independent states to fall
under the yoke of Russia. For that reason, these states have to
transport the energy they are going to produce to world markets
without using Russian territory.
In fact, in a statement during the signing ceremony of the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline protocol President Clinton said that the oil
and gas projects had these aims: first, to enhance the
independence of States in the Caspian region; secondly, to
integrate these States with the West both politically and in
terms of trade and, thirdly, to transport the region's energy
resources via different routes to world markets without leaving
them in the hands of only one State.
The carrying- out of the venture depends upon surmounting massive
political and economic problems, notwithstanding the strong
support of the US. According to the oil companies the most
significant issue before the project is Azerbaijan's not being
able to produce the one million barrels of oil expected to be
carried by the pipeline. Therefore, in a way, the success of this
sheme depends upon the transport of Kazakh oil through the same
pipeline.
The Trans-Caspian Turkmen natural gas venture is of the utmost
importance in creating a "Turkish hinterland". However, neither
research nor the launching of the financial plans for the scheme
have been completed as yet.
In spite of these difficulties, Turkey should not lose this
opportunity. Therefore, Turkish leaders should adopt the
strategic vision we mentioned at the beginning of our article as
their policy."
Columnist Ismet Solak writes on the approval of suffrage rights
for women 65 years ago. A summary of his column is as follows:
"I attended a discussion panel organized by the Union of Turkish
Women in Denizli on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of
Turkish women gaining suffrage rights. Only 25 years ago, in one
the most civilized countries in the world, Switzerland, it was
being discussed whether or not to grant this right to Swiss
women.
Ataturk never discriminated between men and women and asked of
those near him not to do so. He said it should be accepted that
everything on earth was the work of women. There are not many
words which express the role of a woman and her real value better
than these. Ataturk also said that Anatolian women, who ploughed
the land, sowed seed, brought wood home from the forest, took
their produce to market and sold it in all weathers, come rain or
shine, with their children in their arms, were always the members
of the household placing their land and others before themselves.
Those who have not lived under Occupation cannot appreciate the
greatness of Ataturk. Women in Denizli are very much aware of his
outstanding qualities and what would have happened if he had not
been the leader during the War of Independence and in the first
years of the Turkish Republic."
THE STATUS OF TURKEY BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURİYET)
Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the status of Turkey before
the Helsinki Summit. A summary of his column is as follows:
"We are entering a difficult week. We shall start our day with
the EU, go on with Greece, Helsinki and the US. This week a new
milestone will be added to the last fifty years.
During the establishment process following the War of
Independence, Turkey knew how to swing the balance of the world
to her advantage. Currently, a new 'war' of formation is being
fought all over the world. The balance is being rearranged. This
situation brings new difficulties and opportunities with it to
Turkey.
The Helsinki Summit, to be held on December 11-12, can be
evaluated from Turkey's viewpoint as the race between the US and
the EU to become closer to Turkey. We can use this race to our
advantage.
Following ythe visit of the US President to Turkey, two important
situations have arisen within our relations. First, the US has
proposed a "missile umbrella" over Turkey to be used against
Iran, Iraq and Syria. Turkey requested this proposal to be
carried out within the framework of NATO, but the US has insisted
on the implementation of the project between the two countries.
Secondly, an agreement was reached with the US to use nuclear
energy for peace. The US is signing this agreement with every
country with which she take a part in the bidding. Neither of
these issues were reflected in the press.
On the road to Helsinki, the US is expressing at every
opportunity that she is behind Turkey. Although this may seem to
contradict US-EU competition, it does not. The US knows what the
EU can do and tries to point out that she is working hard for
Turkey, but Europe would not budge.
If the US believes that Turkey belongs to the EU, why does she
want to draw up a separate agreement with her without taking NATO
into consideration?
Turkey was described as NATO's outlying post. We hope that the
country does not turn into a Central Station due to being
mentioned in conjunction with the Caucasian, Middle Eastern and
Balkan countries.
The EU will be busy discussing various subjects. Today, the EU
General Affairs Council is meeting; the first signs of the
consequences of the Summit at the end of the week will be issued
from there. Until recently, Sweden did not look warmly upon
Turkey's candidacy as she believed that Turkey had not fulfilled
the required conditions to become a candidate. However, she has
changed her attitude and decided to correct Turkey's inadequacies
on the way. This leaves only Greece opposed to Turkey's
candidacy.
Yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu stated that
their initiatives to ensure the acceptance of their conditions
before granting candidacy to Turkey will go on right up to the
last minute. It should not be expected that Greece will grant
Turkey a "visa" in one day. Even if she is in favour of such a
decision, she would not declare it openly. They will apply
pressure to get what they want; Athens' decision will become
known at the last minute. "
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
DEMIREL: "TURKISH WOMEN, THE GUARANTEE OF THE FUTURE"
PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL TO VISIT BOSNIA
HARD TIMES FOR PAPANDREU
GREECE'S CYPRUS BARGAIN
NATO MANOEUVRES IN AEGEAN
'WE WILL RETURN MEDALS`
PRISON RIOT
340 HOMES DESTROYED BY QUAKE IN EASTERN ANATOLIA
EARTHQUAKE LOAN APPROVED
TANTAN: ISTANBUL'S MAP WILL CHANGE
NEW SEISMIC RESEARCH SHIP
CAKICI SHOOTING
BAYRAM MERAL ELECTED AGAIN
NEW CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF TURKISH TRAVEL AGENCIES (TURSAB): ULUSOY
GALATASARAY HIGH SCHOOL IS 518 YEARS OLD
FEES FOR HIGH SCHOOLS
OKSUZ: "GSM BIDS OUT IN JANUARY 2000"
"VESTEL WILL BE AMONG TOP THREE IN THE WORLD"
AWARD OF HONOUR FOR FERHUNDE ERKIN
THE LAST OTTOMAN AUCTION OF THE CENTURY
GREAT AWARD FOR TURKAN SORAY
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
CATCHING UP WITH THE TIMES BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)
THE WORK OF WOMEN BY ISMET SOLAK ( HURRIYET)