Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had decided to end his political
life after the elections held on 18th April. He is to announce
his decision in the new year. According to the claims within the
Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Prime Minister would choosen the
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel to be his successer. However, the
announcement of Turkey's candidacy to the EU begins a new process
and Ecevit does not want to cause political instability in an
historical period. Ecevit, who is also the leader of the DYP,
thought that a bringing a shake-up in the government would cause
Turkey to lose a big opportunity and, thus, gave up his decision
of retirement. Ecevit declared the year 2004 to be the year for
EU membership and decided to implementing the economic and
political reforms at the cost of his own health. /Aksam/
During a crack-down by security forces against terrorist
organizations in Sirnak's district of Dereler, a conflict
occurred with a group of terrorists. During the conflict, 11
armed terrorists were killed and three security officials also
died. Operations for capturing escaped terrorists are continuing.
/Aksam/
The EU's Agricultural Directing and Guarantee Fund will finance
Turkey's activities in every area needed. On acceptance of full
membership to the EU, East and South East Anatolia, the whole of
the East Black Sea Regions, and some parts of Inner Anatolia and
the Aegean, will be able to make use of these funds. Member
countries involved in agriculture and even Meditarrenean
countries have made use of this fund up to now. /Sabah/
An increase of 11% occurred in exports in November and the
greatest increase was in the tobacco sector with 213.2%. During
the period between January and November, increases occurred in
five sectors and the greatest increase was in the olive and olive
oil sector, with 135.3%. According to the records of the
Exporters' Association, an exportation of 54 million dollars was
made in the tobacco sector in November. The automotive sector and
subordinate industry, with 56.8% followed the tobacco industry
and mining products became third with 31.9%, tree and forestry
products became fourth with 27.7% and iron and metals expect iron
became the fifth with 17.4%. /Sabah/
Koc Holding Company is taking the "Migros Shop to Greece" project
is on the agenda again. This company gave this project up due to
the chief terrorist Abdullah Ocalan organization crisis. Koc
Group, which is aiming at contributing to the friendship wind
between the two countries, hopes to establish a shopping centre
in Greece within a short period of time. /Hurriyet/
Turkish Employer State-Unions Confederation (TISK), which issued
a decleration entitled "Turkey in the 21st Century", defended
that the decision to give Turkey the mission of being a leader in
the 2000s. TISK, pointed out that all parts of the society had to
make sacrifices in order to reach this goal. In the decleration,
it emphasized that Turkey, had secured political stability and
had begun to gain the first positive results of the reformist
ideology and implemented a serious programme that aimed at
reducing inflation to the level of the modern countries and to
secure the economic stability, deserves to look towards the
future with self-confidence and optimism. /Hurriyet/
The Telecommunications Council, which will direct the
communication system in Turkey and will comply with the
principles to direct the communication system objectively, in
accordance with the private sector mentality and profitability
bases. The Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, said, "When the
Council of Telecommunications starts working, then all the
obstacles regarding Turkish Telecommunications will be removed.
Turkish Telecommunications will continue its works as a company
and will make use of all the dynamics of the private sector."
/Hurriyet/
Turkish market was Ericsson's favorite in 1999. Turkey became one
of the most rapidly growing markets in Europe in the
telecommunications sector for Ericsson. In Ericsson's 10 markets
categorization, Turkey was 10th at the beginning of the year and
then climbed to 7th place in the last days of 1999. Ericsson has
a market share of 50% of the cellular phone market and a market
share of 70% in the GSM background. /Sabah/
The approval for the purchase of the seismic research ship was
taken by the by the State Planning Organization and the High
Planning Council after the earthquake in the Marmara Region. The
new seismic research ship will cost nearly 15 million dollars.
The movements of the sea bottom following the earthquake will be
able to be observed thanks to this ship. /Sabah/
The Chairman of Istanbul Stock Exchange, Osman Birsen, stated
that during the last fourteen years, they have taken important
steps and that the Istanbul Stock Exchange decreased the
difference between itself and the developed stock exchanges.
Birsen said, "The hindrances before the stock exchange had been
removed thanks to the decrease in inflation and interests. Its
source tranformation during the fourteen years had been 15
billion dollars. The stock exchange is not only important for
investors, but also for the Turkish economy and its importance
for the Turkish economy is both more different and larger."
/Sabah/
The draft law that restricts increase in rents was presented to
the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). According to this
draft law, the rents will only be able to be increased by an
average of 25% in the year 2000 and 10% in the year 2001.
However, if the current rent value's increase is below the amount
in the region, then the rent increases envisaged will not be
carried out. /Sabah/
The Coalitian Government, aim for a fresh beginning in the new
Millennium and await for January 2000 in order to implement the
reforms. These are the targets of the Government: 1)
Democratization: Capital punishment will be abolished, amnesty
law will be taken up again, revisions in the Constitution will be
done. 2) Hit on terrorism: Terrorism in the East and Southeastern
Anatolia will be ended, infra-structural ventures will be carried
out to develop the region. 3) Economical development: The button
will be pushed to decrease the inflation rate to single digits.
4) Justice reform: Radical changes will be implemented with
regard to the Turkish Criminal Law and judgement will be brought
to the Eu standards. /Turkiye/
The company to construct the Akkuyu power plant, is going to be
announced by Premier Bulent Ecevit this week. French, German, and
Canadian companies' bids are being evaluated in the tender which
includes world famous nuclear power plant constructors in the
bids. After completing the construction which starts in the year
2000, after 6-7 years, a 10-billion-kwh energy production is
expected to be produced yearly. /Turkiye/
Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, declared
that there was no prohibition for LPG gas in taxis. Stressing
that they encouraged the use of LPG gas usage before. Minister
Ersumer said that the price increase in fuel had become
unbearable and they would establish a council in order to find a
solution to the situation. /Turkiye/
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has reached unbeleivable
levels in 1999. The IMKB reacted harshly against the Aug. 17th
earthquake disaster. From the date of the disaster to Dec. 24th,
the IMKB National_100 Index increased 176,7% and the National
Financial Index 184,8% which were about 10 fold of the increases
in the foreign exchange rates and inflation rates for that
specified period. There are especially two reasons for this
increase; the stand-by agreement with the IMF and Turkey's EU
candidacy. /Turkiye/
The tourism sector experienced its worst season in 1999, but was
expected to reach at least the level of 1998 in the year 2000.
The deputy Chairman of the Oger Tour Travel Agency, Unal Oger,
whose agency brings most tourists to Turkey, said, "The 1997 was
a wonderful year, however, in 1998 the number of tourists and
income decreased. On the other hand, 1999 had become almost a
black year due to the known facts." Oger also expressed his
expectations for the year 2000 hoping that it would be a better
season with positive factors such as Turkey's EU candidacy,
revival in economy and political stability. /Turkiye/
World famous news channel CNN has broadcasted a programme taken
from Time Warner's 'Men of the Millennium` survey. In the
Statesmen category, Ataturk and Mandela have followed Gandi.
Michael Jackson, Christopher Columbo and Muhammed Ali are first
in their fields, and the 'computer` is first in the inventions
category. /Milliyet/
Ataturk Airport, next week, it is going to have a new Foreign
Lines Terminal, suitable for the new millennium. The new
terminal, completed eight months before its planned date, has a
14-million-passanger capacity, shopping centres and is also
equipped with a security system, with 292 cameras. The
construction has been built by a consortium of Tepe, Akfen and
Vienna Airport with build-operate-transfer model and will be
completed on Jan. 3rd 2000. The terminal cost $306 million.
/Milliyet/
There is a boom in sales during December due to the fact of an
expected increases in the Vehicle Buying Tax and the Motorized
Vehicle Tax in 52.1% and in Additional Vehicle Buying Tax
increase from 6% to %12. /Milliyet/
Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the recent press conference
of President Demirel. A summary of his column is as follows:
"During his last press conference of the 20th century President
Demirel showed the horizons of the 2000s. He stated the targets
of the Republic of Turkey. He noted that Turkey should be a
member of the European Union in three or four years following
compliance with the required reforms. The message President
Demirel wants to give is important and needs to be understood.
If he is re-elected and continues to serve, it is certain that he
will carry out this mission with the same determination, energy
and tirelessness. It is also certain that if he is not re-elected
he will continue with active politics as before and can easily
form a group in the TGNA. The centre-right wants to regain its
old strength, otherwise the Nationalist Action Party will lead
the right wing as it only has to grasp the meaning of the 21st
century nationalism.
The presidential election will be an important topic in the
country's agenda. However, it should not hinder the
implementation of radical reforms which should have been carried
out a long time ago. President Demirel praised the Government and
Parliament for their performance. The momentum of this
performance should not be allowed to slow down but instead gain
speed.
President Demirel stressed that he wanted to see the
accomplishment of a complete State Reform. He added that if it
had not been for the three interventions Turkey would have
entered the European Union much sooner. This press conference was
of the highest level and on the eve of the new year and the
Ramadan holiday."
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Turco-Israeli relations. A
summary of her column is as follows:
"Following the surrender of Golan Heights to Syria, will Israel
defend the claims of Damascus concerning GAP and the waters
flowing from Turkey into the international regions is a question
asked by many. This is followed by another, and that is, will
Washington support Syria?
To guess how the Israeli-Syrian rapprochement will influence
Turkey, it is necessary to know the importance of Turkey for
Israel and the region. An experienced Israeli diplomat Zvi
Elpelg, in a conversation with a group of Turkish reporters, in
Istanbul, replied to the concerns on Israeli-Syrian rapprochement
by saying that it was understood by everyone that without Turkey,
Israel would remain as a small island of democracy and
liberalism in the region.
Israel enjoys good relations with Egypt, Jordan and some Gulf
countries, however, they are different in nature with those with
Turkey. As can be understood from the words of Zvi Elpelg, a
partnership with Turkey takes Israel out of its isolated state
and bestows on it a legal status for which it has worked hard for
50 years.
Elpelg came to Turkey to start a joint initiative in order to
establish good relations between Turkish and Israeli people and
to provide opportunities for them in order to know each other
better. This initative is supported by leading Israeli
businessmen and politicians and is awaiting a reply from the
Turkish side. Israeli diplomats want the Turkish side to take on
the responsibility of the chairmanship for the initiative for the
first term. Hikmet Cetin is elected as Chairman for the Turkish
side. This initiative, which aims to bring no-governmetal
organizations together, shows that Israel is aware that peace
cannot be achieved without Turkey.
The rapprochement between Israel and Syria will certainl affect
Turkey and the water question will also be brought to the table.
However, the power of the countries depend upon the diversity and
strength of the cards they hold in their hands. The important
point is to benefit from the opportunities leaving aside
groundless concerns. Peace in the Middle East will open new
opportunities for Turkey and the region. It is time for Turkey to
prepare projects for peace and lead the way in many fields."
ECEVIT'S DETERMINATION
11 TERRORISTS CAPTURED IN SIRNAK
SOUTH EAST WILL RECEIVE SPEACIAL CARE BY THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
EXPORTATION TO BECOME BETTER
KOC HOLDING COMPANY'S MIGROS SHOP PROJECT IN GREECE
TURKISH EMPLOYER STATE-UNIONS CONFEDERATIONS' OPINION
TURKISH TELECOMMUNATIONS TO BE IMPROVED
TURKEY IS ERICSSON'S FAVORITE
SEISMIC RESEARCH SHIP WAS APPROVED
AN INCOME OF 15 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STOCK EXCHANGE TO
ECONOMY
RESTRICTION IN THE RENT
MOBILIZATION IN JANUARY
COUNT DOWN FOR NUCLEAR POWER STATION
NO BAN FOR LPG GAS
STOCK EXCHANGE IN 2000
TOURISM'S TARGET FOR 2000
STATESMEN OF MILLENNIUM
NEW FOREIGN LINE TERMINAL
DECEMBER ABUNDANCE IN AUTOMOBILE
FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS... FROM THE COLUMNS...
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S STATEMENT BY YILMAZ
OZTUNA (TURKIYE)
TURCO-ISRAELI RELATIONS BY FERAI TINC (HURRIYET)