Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
The Finnish Prime Minister, Paavo Lipponen, personally cleared up
the confusion and declared that he wrote the letter which had
caused polemics between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and his
Greek colleague Kostas Simitis, under his title of the 'Current
EU Chairman`. During his speech at the European Parliament,
Lipponen said that following the EU's decision over Turkey's
membership, they had held meetings with Ankara and, in addition
to that, he had sent a letter to Ecevit in his roles as Current
EU Chairman. So, with his declaration, Lipponen denied the Greek
Prime Minister's assertion that he had sent the letter as the
Finnish Prime Minister. /Hurriyet/
The European Parliament (EP) was contented with noting the
decision on Turkey's membership. A joint article, presented to
the General Assembly, said, "We note the decision on Turkey's
membership". The Parliament also emphasized that membership
negotiations with Turkey could not begin before the
implementation of the Copenhagen Criteria. /Hurriyet/
Following the UN Security Council's calling the Greek-Cypriot
Administration the 'Government of Cyprus` in a Bill related to
Cyprus, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has
rejected cooperation with the UN Peace Force (UNFICYP) deployed
on the Island. This alteration stops the UNFICYP functioning in
the TRNC region. Now, UN authorities are striving to find a new
formula to overcome the issue. /Hurriyet/
The Greek-Cypriot Foreign Minister, Yoannis Kassulides, asserted
that with the EU's recent decision, Cyprus became an EU issue.
Stressing that the Summit had encouraged all sides to seek a
solution, the Greek-Cypriot Minister said, "These problems cannot
last indefinitely and Cyprus cannot remain a 'black hole' in the
region." During his interview with the 'Hurriyet` correspondent
in New York, Kassulides pointed out, "We tried strained relations
but it didn't work, now it is time to give peace a chance.
/Hurriyet/
The second act in the tank crisis experienced between Turkey and
Germany will be staged next week during German Defence Minister
Rudolph Scharping's Ankara visit. The tank purchasing issue will
be the major topic of discussion during his meetings. Scharping
is known as the Minister who, together with Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer, applied a 'shadow embargo` on tanks which were
supposed to be sold to Turkey, giving human rights violations as
their reason. /Hurriyet/
President Suleyman Demirel stated that Turkey's quick accession
to the EU depended on Turkey's performance in certain areas.
Stressing that Turkey faces the responsibility of accelerating
the pace of radical reforms in many fields, Demirel confidently
said Turkey would soon be a full member of the EU, and also one
of the 10 strongest countries in the next century. Speaking at
the Turco-EU Association on the current state of their relations,
Demirel pointed out Turkey's advantages over the other
candidates, including her being the only country who has entered
into the Customs Union with the EU and, therefore, is ahead of
the other candidates for full membership.
In his speech, Demirel outlined Turkey's 'homework' which is
needed to speedily achieve membership. The harmonization of
Turkish laws with administrative system reforms should be
integrated and carried out simultaneously. Demirel underlined the
need to lose no time in making the essential constitutional
amendments so as to clear the road for reforms. /All papers/
Yesterday, at a press conference following his meeting with Prime
minister Ecevit, the President of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktas stated that for the first time the
TRNC's desire for a confederation with the Greek-Cypriot
Administration had been presented to the UN. Denktas informed
Prime Minister Ecevit of his talks in New York for an hour at the
State Guest House at Ataturk Airport, the Anatolia News Agency
reports. At Ecevit and Denktas' joint press conference held by,
the Prime Minister expressed his pleasure at seeing Denktas in
Istanbul. He then handed over to Denktas who stated that the
negotiations in New York would continue in January and the world
would listen to the confederation plan.
NATO allies who are not members of the EU, including the US,
Canada, Turkey, Norway, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and
Iceland, on Wednesday engaged in discussions with their EU
partners concerning the exact nature of the proposed links
between NATO and the EU in future crisis-management situations.
Turkey, one of the most vocal critics within NATO of the European
Security and Defence Identity (ESDI), yesterday once again made
it known to Brussels that it was determined to participate in the
decision-making process of the ESDI.
Speaking in Brussels, now that Turkey has been accepted as a
candidate for EU mmembership, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem
warned the EU countries that the exclusion of Turkey from this
ESDI process could cause problems within the Alliance. Speaking
to the press as negotiations at NATO headquarters continued, Cem
said it would be unfair to non-EU allies if they were excluded
from decision-making by an inner core of EU countries proposing
to undertake future crisis-management missions that would rely on
NATO's military assets. /All papers/
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said during a speech in the
Parliament yesterday evening, "We tried not for a visual, but for
a real candidate status for Turkey. Some of our partners wanted
to give Turkey a purely symbolic candidacy, the details of which
were not determined. However, we wanted true candidacy for our
neighbour and we are glad that we were able to grant it. Turkey
needs to be in compliance with democratic measurements in order
to enter the EU. Turkey, who says that she does not demand any
Greek land, should outline exactly what she wants." /Turkiye/
Amongst other supportive countries, Italy is continuing to back
Turkey after the acceptance of her candidacy to the EU. Italian
politicians, declaring that they were supporting Turkey in every
area, stated that they had wanted to see Turkey within the EU.
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs who is the person within
the Forza Italia Party responsible for foreign affairs, Antonio
Martino, said, "The slogan 'Turkey should enter the EU', which we
started while in government, was supported by the D'Alema
government and the contributions needed were made, which is a
positive result." /Turkiye/
In the past Syria used to continually demand the handing-over of
the whole of the Golan heights from Israel which Israel did not
want to give up due to its 'vitally important' water sources. It
was stated that Prime Minister Balak, who knows that the
agreement with Syria is vitally important for the security of the
country, then agreed to sign an accord with Syria, giving up most
of the Golan heights because he believes that water sent from
Turkey via pipelines will solve the problem. /Turkiye/
The Spokesman of the American State Department, James Foley, said
that they would be extremely pleased if the parties involved in
the Cyprus issue come together once more. Foley answered
questions during a press conference yesterday: "I heard the news
concerning the meeting of the President of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, and the leader of the
Greek-Cypriot Administration, Glafkos Klerides. We can greet the
news of the re-starting of indirect talks with great gladness."
/Turkiye/
In an explanation published in one of the leading American
newspapers, 'The Washington Times', it was argued that Turkey's
process of advancing along the road to the EU will not contribute
to the solution of the Cyprus problem. It was also striking that
this newspaper used the term "President of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)" when speaking of Rauf Denktas. In this
summing-up it was written, "In spite of the approval of Turkey's
EU candidacy in Helsinki, the situation of Cyprus being divided
will continue. The major reason for the lack of a solution is the
hostility existing between the two societies." /Turkiye/
The Turkish Parliament yesterday approved a joint declaration
urging Russia to halt the offensive it is conducting in Chechnya.
"The Turkish Parliament believes it necessary to bring an end to
the humanitarian tragedy taking place in Chechnya, and wants the
problem to be resolved by peaceful means and within the
guidelines of the law", the declaration reads. It also urged the
Russian government to abide by the Kasavyurt Agreement which was
signed between the Russian and Chechen governments on May 12,
1997. It also refers to the fact that 400,000 people have been
forced from their homes to take refuge from the violence.
Moreover, within the declaration the Turkish Parliament has also
called on governments around the world to contribute towards
finding a peaceful solution in Chechnya. /All papers/
The head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan,
faced charges in Ankara's Criminal Court yesterday for crimes he
is alleged to have committed over 20 years ago. Ocalan, who is
currently imprisoned on Imrali Island, did not attend yesterday's
session. He is being tried with 100 other members of the PKK,
including his estranged wife Kesire, who currently resides in
Europe, and top militant commanders Cemil Bayik and Murat
Karayilan. /All papers/
Turkey hopes that the decision of the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) concerning the Mufti of Komotini (Gumulcine),
Ibrahim Serif, will end the religious oppression of the Turkish
minority in Western Thrace. A statement issued by the Turkish
Foreign Ministry recalled that the case had been taken to the
ECHR by the Mufti of Gumulcine against Greece; the ECHR has
condemned Greece for violating Articles 9 and 11 of the European
Human Rights Convention. The statement further declared Turkish
hopes that Greece's unfavourable attitude towards the Mufti of
Xanthi (Iskece), Mehmet Emin Aga, who faces a minimum 100-month
prison sentence, will also be reviewed, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that it welcomes the
resumption of the Cyprus peace talks, the Anatolia News Agency
reports. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vladimir Rahmanin, at a press
conference yesterday, stated that Greek-Cypriot Leader Glafkos
Klerides and Turkish-Cypriot President Rauf Denktas had not
limited the talks to general principles, and added that they had
enabled discussion of basic problems. Rahmanin pointed out that
the negotiation process which will resume in January will be a
lasting one, and added that Russia would continue to contribute
actively to an enduring and fair solution to the Cyprus problem.
Members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) delegation were briefed on the latest
situation of those cities in the earthquake zone during a meeting
in Izmit yesterday. The Director of the OECD's Monitoring
Department, Val Koromzay, and an accompanying seven-member
delegation met Coordinating Director of the Disaster Region
Kutluay Oktem yesterday. Oktem said that they had examined the
latest state of affairs in the public institutions and industrial
facilities in the region. Koromzay remarked that they would
prepare a report on the economic assistance they could offer the
region and then present it to the OECD member countries, the
Anatolia News Agency reports.
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk held a press conference
yesterday during which he discussed France's return to Turkey of
notorious mafia boss Alaattin Cakici, which took place on Monday
evening. Turk first provided specific details about the
extradition of suspects according to a 1957 international
agreement signed by 35 nations in Paris. According to this
agreement, if a country seeks the return of a suspect from the
country to which he or she has escaped, the returnee can only be
tried on the charges agreed to by the extraditing country. Turk
said that Turkey wants Cakici to stand trial on five counts but
that France had extradited him only for the two charges that do
not carry a death sentence. /All papers/
Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, the State Minister Responsible for Human
Rights, indicated that 'in order to effectively and efficiently
motivate essential progress in society, a Human Rights Board and
Human Rights Advisory Council will be established under the
auspices of the Prime Ministry', the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
Following a two-hour meeting with the Supreme Coordination Board
of Human Rights, Irtemcelik, the Board's Chairman, addressed
those present, announcing that there are certain structural
changes being planned in the Prime Ministry so that the
requirements for the new models of human rights organizations can
be accommodated.
THe Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul has officially
requested the extradition of Yalcin Ozbey, who is one of the key
names in the Abdi Ipekci murder, from Belgium. The application
made through the Ministry of Justice was rejected due to
existence of the death sentence in Turkey. Because of this, it
was requested that Ozbey's statement be taken down by an
authorized proxy. /Cumhuriyet/
'The Times' newspaper, published in England, stated that the EU,
having granted candidacy status to Turkey, had greatly
contributed to stability in the Mediterranean in this way. The
newspaper summed up the issue in its headline and pointed out
that there were some difficulties still being experienced
particularly concerning the terminology being used on the Cyprus
issue. In the article, it was written that the EU's Foreign
Policy and Common Defence Representative, Javier Solana, had
arrived in Turkey, and explained that the term "the end of the
year 2004" was the date set not for the solution of problems in
Turco-Greek relations, but for reviewing the point that will have
been reached by then. In the article, it was also stated that the
Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, who had agreed to go to
Helsinki, had come back to Turkey as a 'hero'. /Cumhuriyet/
Judicial proceedings in the case brought against the Virtue Party
(FP) by Supreme Court of Appeals' Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas,
who is seeking the closure of the party for 'becoming a nucleus
of anti-secular activity" are still in progress. The Anatolia
News Agency reported that, on January 18, Savas will issue a
verbal statement and the Constitutional Court, which is in charge
of deciding the case, will hear the verbal testimonies of the
party's leaders on January 25.
Two giants of Turkish industry Koc and Sabanci, have declared
their support for the Central Bank's monetary and exchange rate
policies. The Chairman of Sabanci Holding Company's Executive
Board, Sakip Sabanci, said, "We will continue to remain in
solidarity with the Central Bank." A statement made by the Koc
Group said that they had also decided to support the government's
macro-economic targets as they thought that their decisions were
right and inevitable. A member of the Koc Holding Company's
Executive Board, Temel Atay, said, "For the year 2000, all of our
companies will arrange their work schedules according to Central
Bank data." /Hurriyet/
One of the most famous magazines in the American business world,
'Forbes', assessed Turk Telecom, which is being included in the
privatization programme, as 'an uncut diamond`. In the article it
was stated: "Turk Telecom ranks 14th in the world with its 17
million lines. It has a turnover of 3.3 billion dollars and 1.2
billion dollars of net profit. The article also asserted that the
Turkish government, which needed money urgently, was planning to
sell 20% of the company shares for 3 billion dollars in the year
2000. /Hurriyet/
Prior to the G-20 countries' Finance Ministers' gathering, which
is going to commence today in Berlin, Turkish Finance Minister
Sumer Oral arranged a press conference. The Minister said, "At
the final Summit of the Millennium, the world economy and its
future will be raised for discussion. Turkey also has a say in
the world economy and will contribute to the foundations of a
new formation." Oral also stated, "It is important for Turkey to
take positive steps within the EU and in the mean time to take
her place in an important Summit where the world's financial and
economic situation will be discussed." /Hurriyet/
After Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis underlined "economic
business possibilities" between Greece and Turkey, three big
ventures have come to the attention. The first plans to enlarge
the "Free Trade Zone" in the Maritza region between Greece and
Bulgaria, to include Turkey; the USA backs this enlargement. The
second scheme is the re-openning of the former Customs House in
Thrace. The third is the addition of an Ipsala-Istanbul highway
to the Greek highway which is still under construction.
/Milliyet/
An MBA thesis on scientists developing nuclear weapons after the
Cold AWar in Russia by two Turkish students, Ali Tanman and
Serhat Pala, has drawn the attention of the American Congress and
State Department. Tanman and Pala are studying for their MBA at
San Diego University; accompanied by the Dean of San Diego
University, Tanman and Pala left for Washington this week to
present their reasearch to the US State Department's Disarmament
Committee. They are hoping to receive financial assistance from
the US government for their research, the Anatolia News Agency
reports.
TUBITAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey) has
begun joint research work with NATO in order to look into the
fault system in the Marmara region, to equip the reqion with a
unified seismic network of observation posts, and to strengthen
buildings against earthquakes. Deputy Chairman of TUBITAK Tugrul
Tankut said, "As it was decided that NATO's seismic research ship
which was to investigate the sea-bed fault-lines which might
cause an earthquake in Istanbul, did not have sufficient
equipment, the French seismic ship will be sent to Turkey instead
in April." /Cumhuriyet/
The Deputy Chairman of the Boyner Holding Company and the person
responsible for its financial affairs, Umit Boyner, was placed
among the 20 most successful businesswomen by 'Working Women'
magazine published in the U.S.A. Interviews made with 20
businesswomen, who had succeeded in coping with sexual
discrimination and who had transformed the changes in the markets
into profit by making good use of technology, were published in
the magazine. /Cumhuriyet/
Businessman Sakip Sabanci was awarded this year's Top Prize in
Culture and Art, annually presented by the Culture Ministry. A
written statement by the Culture Ministry said that the prize has
been presented to a number of people since 1979 and stated that
Sabanci was deemed eligible for this year's prize for his
contributions to the spread and revival of art and culture. /All
papers/
It was stated that after a delegation chaired by State Minister
Mehmet Kececiler had gone to Saudi Arabia to discuss the loan
that will be received by the Islamic Development Bank for
infrastructural investments, positive results had been obtained
from the meetings there. It was further stated that the loan that
will be given to the Islamic Development Bank amounted to 20
billion dollars. Moreover, massive steps were being taken to
increase investments by large-scale businessman in these
countries. /Turkiye/
Turkey, Israel and the US on Wednesday began conducting the
Mediterranean naval manoeuvres dubbed 'Reliant Mermaid-99' in
international waters off Marmaris. "The sole objective of this
exercise is to practice coordinated emergency search and rescue
procedures for assisting people in distress at sea", said Capt.
Ahmet Aksoy at a naval base near the southwestern Turkish resort
of Marmaris. The manoeuvres were scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m.
on Wednesday in the Eastern Mediterranean and finish on Thursday
morning. They will involve two Turkish frigates, two Turkish
coast-guard vessels, a US guided-missile frigate, a US marine
patrol aircraft, an Israeli frigate and an Israeli assault
vessel. /All papers/
The Turkish government yesterday signed $1.6 billion worth of
loan agreements to finance a new section of the Afsin-Elbistan
thermal power station. The agreements for Afsin-Elbistan B were
signed at a ceremony in the presence of Energy Minister Cumhur
Ersumer. "I wish we had signed deals for C and D as well",
Ersumer told reporters at the signing ceremony. "This is going to
be a new Ataturk Dam", he said, making a reference to Turkey's
largest dam. /All papers/
Turkey is hoping to receive $1.5 billion worth of stand-by loans
from the IMF during 2000, the Anatolia News Agency reported from
Berlin. The Agency, quoting senior economic officials, said that
the remaining $2.5 billion portion of the IMF loan, including
$500 million in emergency assistance, would be delivered in 2001
and 2002. The stand-by loan will be released quarterly after
endorsement by a team of IMF officials, who will visit Turkey to
confirm whether the government is complying with the stand-by
agreement. The IMF loan, repayment of which will be deferred for
three years, will have an annual interest rate of 7%. The
Anatolia News Agency said the loan will not be used to finance
the rollover of domestic debts, but to increase the Central
Bank's foreign currency reserves, currently at around $22.6
billion.
The London-based international rating agency Duff and Phelps
(DCR) has rated Turkish mobile phone operator Turkcell's proposed
bond issue at 'BB-' (BB minus), the Anatolia News Agency
announced yesterday. In a statement, DCR said that the 'BB-'
rating is based on Turkcell's powerful position in Turkey's
mobile phone market and on its increasing number of subscribers.
Turkcell is planning to issue abroad $200 million worth of bonds
that will mature in 2005. The bond issue will be handled through
the cellular operator's finance company, Cellco. /All papers/
After a lengthy debate, the Turkish Parliament's General Assembly
yesterday ratified a controversial Capital Markets Bill which,
according to independent analysts, owerpowers an existing capital
markets watchdog. The Assembly enacted all 33 articles of the
Bill. Under the articles passed, a central depository
registration office will be formed to monitor all securities'
issues and transactions. One article in the Bill sets out rules
for the appointment of a Chairman and members of a watchdog, the
Capital Markets Board (SPK). The Chairman will be appointed for a
six-year term and will not be allowed to own a business or hold
another governmental or private position. Neither the Chairman
nor members of the Board will be allowed to own securities in
their private portfolios. The Bill also aims to authorize the SPK
to 'amend and/or correct' companies' balance sheets.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Parliament's Budget and Planning Committee
on Wednesday endorsed a Bill allowing the build-operate-transfer
(BOT) model to be used in energy sector contracts. The Bill adds
energy production, distribution and trade business into existing
BOT legislation. /All papers/
Cooperation between the world's largest exhibition organizers,
Deutsche Messe and Interpro will make Istanbul into Eurasia's
technology centre. At Turkey's biggest technology fair Bilisim
`99, which started yesterday organized by Interpro, a treaty on
cooperation was signed with Deutsche Messe, which [Borganizes the
world's biggest telecommunications exhibition, Cebit. Using
BCebit's international network, Istanbul will become a connection
point. /Sabah/
Turkey's Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer has said that they have
not received any official information on Iranian natural gas and
added, "Negotiations are still underway. The Pipeline Transport
Company's (BOTAS) General Manager will go to Iran in the next
few days." After it was said that Iranian natural gas would be
brought to the Turkish border on 1 January, Ersumer said that
there had been no official confirmation of this as yet. /Sabah/
Two gestures by the Prime Minister's Office for minorities, in
the light of OSCE and EU membership candidacy, have satisfied
minority representatives. Certain regulations have been put into
effect under State Minister Yuksel Yalova's signature. Issued the
day before yesterday, the circular talks of two amendments: From
now on minorities will be allowed to employ their own lawyers in
case of a conflict with the State, moreover, they will not have
to obtain permission from the State in order to restore
charitable institutions and buildings consecrated to
worship./Sabah/
The government is preparing itself for a long, hard race -a
marathon- which will take 4 years to amend the Turkish legal
system to be in line with EU norms. Coalition partners with
opposition parties plan to put this extensive reform package into
effect and for this reason, an EU Committee is to be established
in which all the parties in the TGNA will be represented. /Sabah/
German consumer goods producer Miele has established Miele
Limited, Turkey, the General Manager of which is Remzi Mirdogan.
Miele has nine factories, marketing companies in 56 countries and
15,000 employees. /Aksam/
Shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) rose yesterday. The
IMKB 100 Index shot up by 495 points to 12,560 points. The
transaction volume exceeded one billion dollars for the day's
trading. /Aksam/
A US investment company has said that it will give a $300 million
loan to establish electric power stations to produce `clean'
energy in Turkey. With the US Overseas Private Investment Company
(OPIC) loan, two electric power stations will be built. /Aksam/
With the registering of diesel brought into Turkey from Iraq
under `border trade', the Treasury now obtains about 10 trillion
Turkish Liras in monthly revenues. /Aksam/
German industrialists have decided to invest $ 1,200,000,000 in
Turkey in the year 2000. German officials met Turkish
industrialists at the Aegean Regional Chamber of Industry and
discussed investment possibilities. /Aksam/
A $3 million "Seismological real-time web system" will be
established to predict earthquakes in Istanbul. The establishment
of a more refined type of the system, which has already saved
millions of lives in China, has been accepted by Istanbul
Governor's Office./Milliyet/
The European Union (EU) will donate 75 million Euros to Turkey in
the year 2000. The second and most recent stage of the EU's draft
Budget for the year 2000 will be voted on today during the
European Parliament's (EP) General Council session. Donations of
30 million Euros and 45 million Euros for the earthquake
survivors, the first instalments of the total 135 million Euros
envisaged as part of the EU's strategy of rapprochement, will be
made. /Turkiye/
In the draw made in Geneva yesterday, Turkish champion
Galatasaray was matched against German Bundesliga's Borussia
Dortmund in round four of the UEFA Cup. The first leg of the
match will be played on March 2, 2000, in Dortmund. /All papers/
Columnist Osman Ulagay writes on the importance of the G-20 and
the reason why it was established. A summmary of his column is
as follows:
"At the first meeting of the G-20 countries in Berlin today,
Turkish Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel will most probably
explain the foreign exchange and monetary programme he revealed
on 9 December for the first time. Discussions on the structural
problems of international finance systems and the role of the
International Monetary Fund in the future, in addition to foreign
exchange policies are expected to take place during this meeting.
The G-20 group was formed to prevent a new crisis, similar to the
one seen in the Far East countries, at the request of the US.
Europe did not look favourably upon this new formation which
included small European countries whose shares in the world
economy were increasingly growing and who were considered
newly-emerging markets, but could not resist the American request
after a certain point.
Meanwhile, the positive effects of the monetary and foreign
exchange programme as stated by Gazi Ercel have begun to be seen
on international markets. A rise in the price of Turkish bonds
and a drop in their profits have been seen. The Wall Street
Journal stated that EU candidate Turkey had attracted the
attention of investors. The stand-by loan agreement between the
IMF and Turkey is expected to enhance this positive effect."
Columnist Sahin Alpay comments on the decisions adopted at the
Helsinki Summit and TRNC President Denktas' stance. A summary of
his column is as follows:
"No-one can deny that Turks have a great capacity in adapting to
changes. Who would have fathomed that Ecevit, who suspended
Turkey's relations with the EEC in 1978 when Greece was admitted
to the organization, would be the Prime Minister who worked so
hard for Turkey's EU candidacy in 1999? That is why I believe
that the only person who can solve the Cyprus question is in fact
the TRNC President, Denktas himself.
Denktas may have been offended by Ankara's acceptance of the
Helsinki Summit decision without consulting him, or he might
possibly think that the decisions taken at Helsinki may prevent a
solution and do not leave any reason for the Greek-Cypriot
Administration to go on with the talks. However, he may also
think that Ankara is giving out a signal that the question has to
be solved after all as it is to the advantage of all parties.
He may change his policy based on good reasons. First of all, he
had wanted to be treated equally with the Greek-Cypriot
Administration in New York and he has got what he wanted
otherwise he would not have participated in the proximity talks.
Secondly, the claim that the TRNC could not participate in any
international organization of which Turkey was not a member is no
longer valid. Turkey has begun on the road to the EU.
Denktas desires to be re-elected in the Presidential Elections in
April and serve his people for another term. If he begins his
Election campaign with the slogan "Solution to the Problem and
Membership of the EU", he will do a favour to Turkey, the EU and
himself as all will be freed of the burden of the issue."
LIPPONEN: I WROTE LETTER AS EU CHAIRMAN
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 'NOTED` TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP
NO COOPERATION WITH PEACE FORCE
KASSULIDES: 'AFTER ALL, CYPRUS IS AN EU ISSUE`
SECOND ACT IN TANK PURCHASING CRISIS
DEMIREL: "TURKEY WILL SOON BE A FULL EU MEMBER"
PRESS CONFERENCE OF DENKTAS
TURKEY INSISTS ON PARTICIPATING IN ESDI DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
SIMITIS: "WE TRIED FOR REAL CANDIDACY"
SUPPORT FROM ITALIANS FOR TURKEY
TURKISH WATER FACTOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST
U.S.A.: "WE WOULD BE GLAD IF NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED"
THE WASHINGTON TIMES: "PRESIDENT OF THE TRNC: DENKTAS"
TURKISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES JOINT DECLARATION ON CHECHNYA
NEW TRIAL STARTS AGAINST OCALAN
ECHR'S DECISION ON SERIF
RUSSIA PLEASED OVER CYPRUS TALKS
OECD DELEGATION IN IZMIT
TURK: CAKICI TO BE TRIED ON TWO COUNTS
MEETING WITH SUPREME COORDINATION BOARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OZBEY'S EXTRADITION WAS REJECTED
"EU CONTRIBUTES TO STABILITY"
FP'S CLOSURE TRIAL CONTINUES
SUPPORT FROM GIANTS
FORBES: 'TURK TELECOM IS AN UNCUT DIAMOND`
ORAL: 'TURKEY HAS A SAY IN WORLD ECONOMY`
FREE TRADE ZONE CALL FROM GREECE
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT OF TWO TURKS IN AMERICA
FRENCH SHIP TO ARRIVE IN APRIL
UMIT BOYNER IN AMERICAN MAGAZINE
SABANCI AWARDED BY CULTURE MINISTRY
NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSMEN IN ISLAMIC COUNTRIES
TURCO-ISRAELI-US MANOEUVRES START
TURKEY SIGNS $1.6 BILLION LOAN DEALS
TURKEY SEES $1.5 BILLION IMF LOANS IN 2000
DCR RATES TURKCELL BONDS 'BB-'
PARLIAMENT RATIFIES CAPITAL MARKETS BILL
ISTANBUL: EURASIA'S TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
ERSUMER: THERE IS NO OFFICIAL INFORMATON ON IRANIAN GAS
THANKS FROM MINORITIES
EU LAWS UNDER WAY
MIELE IN TURKEY
RECORD TRANSACTION VOLUME ON IMKB
US LOAN FOR `CLEAN' ENERGY
10 TRILLION TO TREASURY FROM IRAQI DIESEL
GERMAN BUSINESSMEN IN TURKISH INVESTMENT RUSH
CHINESE PREDICTION SYSTEM TO MARMARA
75 MILLION EUROS FROM THE EU
GALATASARAY-BORUSSIA DORTMUND MATCH ON MARCH 2
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE G-20 BY OSMAN ULAGAY (MILLIYET)
ONLY DENKTAS CAN SOLVE BY SAHIN ALPAY (MILLIYET)