Selections From Todays Turkish Press
Sezer Calls On Israel For A Compromise On Mideast Issue
During Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's one -day visit to Ankara, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer asked for the Israeli side to begin to the peace negotiations with Palestines. At the meeting with Sharon, Sezer pointed out he understands the measures taken by Israel to prevent its citizens against terrorism, however they must not be oversided. He also called on Israel to lift the economic embargo imposed on Palestines soon. /Hurriyet/
Cem: "We Work Very Harmoniously With The Soldiers"
Speaking with the reporters lunch time yesterday, at the Foreign Ministry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem gave information about the relations between the civilian politicians work with the soldiers upon the reporters' questions about the Motherland Party Chairman Mesut Yilmaz's statement on the concept of National Security. Stating he did not want to make any comments on any other politician, Cem said, "We work very harmoniously with the soldiers. This matter is multidimensional. What is important here is we should understand the each other's sensitivities." Pointing out that they had very harmonious relations and work method with the soldiers on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), Cem stated, "We have similar thoughts on the ESDP with the Office of the Chief of the General Staff. If there were any divergence of opinions, we would again reach an agreement anyway." Stating he would never take offense from staying in contact with the soldiers, Cem said, "European defense architecture is to be rebuilt. This is a very important development for us. We shouldn't be excluded from this process. " /Cumhuriyet/
Yilmaz: "Let's Discuss The National Security Topic"
Leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz asked for the National Security topic to be discussed in public. IN an interview on a television program, Yilmaz said, "Turkey is experiencing a big variation.We are in a very critical stage of this variation. We have to discuss certain topics openly in public. Ii my opinion this is a delayed discussion. If we do not take certain steps in the next few months, we can confront with the danger of missing the EU train." /Turkiye/
Dervis: "A New Council Will Be Established"
State Minister Kemal Dervis announced that a council, consisting of the establishments in the finance sector, would be established to solve the problems of the real sector. During the Council of Ministers, Dervis said, "I have held meetings with the Union of Banks and the World Bank to prevent the relations between the real sector and the financial sector to negatively influence each other." Hearing that in some countries such as Thailand and Korea, the resources are delivered from the public to the real sector, Dervis said, "The delivery of resource from the public is out of the question in Turkey. Therefore the public sector should activate its own resources. Within this framework, the Union of Banks and the establishments should find solutions to their problems of liquidity. A council will be established, consisting of the institutions in the finance sector to direct the real sector. The World Bank will give a considerable deal of support to this council, which will include many institutions such as the chambers of commerce, the unions of agriculture and the union of chambers." /Milliyet/
Sharon On The Economic Crisis And The Watering Projects
During his visit to Ankara the day before, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, met the State Minister Kemal Dervis and brought the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) on the agenda. The guarantee of the Treasury is needed, so six watering projects, which were suggested by Israel, can be implemented. The fate of the four projects has become unclear due to the investment precautions, which occurred following the economic crisis. Sharon requested the guarantee of the Treasury for the other four projects. Sharon said, "Both we and you will earn money from these projects." Meanwhile, Dervis said the negotiations could begin. Dervis has not shown any certain responsibility concerning the guarantees, but he gave positive signals. During the meeting, the economic crisis in Turkey also came on the agenda. Sharon said, "We have also experienced the same problems. We are ready to help you." He added that if requested, the Israeli experts might come to Turkey. /Milliyet/
Meetings On Sharon's Visit
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting to brief on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Turkey visit to Arabian countries' Ambassadors today. The Ambassadors of the EU countries will be also briefed about Sharon's visit in the afternoon. Diplomatic sources said that Ankara would send a special envoy to the Palestinian Administration. /Cumhuriyet/
Israeli Press Evaluates Sharon's Visit To Ankara
An article issued in the Jerusalem Post newspaper said Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit harshly criticized Israel's policy on Palestine during Sharon's visit to Ankara. It also stressed that Ecevit did not share the idea of Palestinian leader supports terrorism. Anoher newspaper El Hayat issued in London in Arabian said Sharon threated Ankara to withdraw the support of the Jews' loby's support in the US. /Turkiye/
Ciller: Artificial Debate At State Summit
Senior opposition party, the True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller visited her party's offices in Mugla and the market place in the town and said the recently debated 'national security' issue was an artificial debate some people were trying to generate at the summit of the state. Ciller said National Security was a very important issue but that it should be discussed with the seriousness and sensitivity history had shown. "Let us not debate it for the sake of debating the topic. Let us narrow it down and let us know that we shall determine the facts," she said. /Turkish Daily News/
Iraq Says Exception Will Be Granted For Neighboring Countries' Companies
Iraqi Oil Ministry Undersecretary Faiz Abdullah Sahin said that an exception is being granted for Turkish, Russian, Syrian and Jordanian companies regarding the financial deals. In remarks to Daily Al Zevra, Sahin said that Iraq wanted to boost its trade ties with the neighboring states. /Turkish Daily News/
Australia's Special Representative To Visit Cyprus
Jim Short, Australia's special representative to Cyprus will visit the island to present a report and to have contact meetings. According to information from the Mahi newspaper, Short will finish his report and visit the island to represent it to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot President Glafkos Klerides. Short will meet with representatives from Turkish Cypriot and Cyprus Cypriot institutions to finish his report quicker. Besides Denktas and Klerides, Short will present his report to the officials that are involved in the Cyprus issue. However, the exact date when Short will visit is still unknown. /Turkish News/
Rtuk Chairman Takes Rtuk To Court
Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Chairman Nuri Kayis said that he will take RTUK to court to overturn the supreme board's decision to cease Deutsche Welle and BBC Turkish broadcasts. In a written statement issued by the board, it read that during a meeting on Aug. 8, 2001, the board decided to cease all broadcasts of Deutche Welle and BBC's Turkish service that reach listeners via radio stations on the FM band. The Board took this decision as a result of Article 26 of the RTUK Law that regulates transmissions. /Turkish News/
Mumcu Hands Over His Duty
Newly appointed Minister of Tourism Mustafa Tasar took over the duty from Erkan Mumcu. In his speech Tasar said they will continue to struggle with the problems in tourism. The Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Chairman and former Minister of Tourism Erkan Mumcu said he hands over the duty with a great pleasure and he is happy with today's situation of tourism. /Turkiye/
Erbakan To Apply The European Court Of Human Rights
Necmettin Erbakan is preparing to apply to the Supreme Council of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the appeal of the decision that was given concerning the Welfare Party (RP). In his written application, Erbakan will defend the idea that "The decision of the ECHR is against the European Human Rights Accord. This should be corrected." /Milliyet/
Yucel Yener Re-Appointed As Trt's General Director
Yucel Yener has been re-appointed to the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) General Directorate, for the second time. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decree regarding his appointment yesterday. It will be issued in the Official Gazette today. /Turkiye/
PKK WAnts To Slide To Political Arena
According to the reports prepared by intelligence units PKK which lost its military power wants to slide to political arena. The PKK report said the terrorist organization has influence on over 400 institutions and listed institutions which support it. The economic, political and social issues are also specified as the ones helping the terrorist organization increasing its power. /Turkiye/
Researches In The Marmara Sea
The Marmara Sea has been studied through by Turkish and foreign scientists since the August 1999 Marmara earthquake. The Marmara Research Center carries out researches jointly with Italian and French ships. After the "MTA Seismic-1" and Italian "Uraina" ships, French ship "Le Nadir" will also pursue researches in the sea in August. /Cumhuriyet/
Bal's Statement On Earthquake Survivors
The Minister of State Faruk Bal briefed about the houses constructed for the earthquake survivors with the World Bank loan in the press conference he held yesterday. Bal said 3,568 houses which were built in Golcuk would be delivered to their owners today. He also said 980 houses in Haneke would be delivered on August 14, 2,820 houses in Izmit on August 17. /Cumhuriyet/
Brochure For Inmates
The Ministry of Justice prepares a brochure on the improvements of the conditions in the prisons, in delivering all the inmates and convicts. Addressing the inmates, the brochure said, "New legal regulations in line with the human rights and modern international standards have been made in order to provide you with safe and modern prison conditions. With the amendment in the Anti-Terror Law, inmates might attend social and cultural activities and certain vocational training courses. /Cumhuriyet/
Cooperation Between Universities And Industrial Sector
The universities, institutions from industrial sector and chambers of vocations which cooperate with the aim of improving technological capacity of the national industry will hold "Advancement in Technology with the Information Technologies and National Renewal" activities. The program includes exhibitions, scientific shows, seminars, symposiums, panels, conferences and artistic activities. Further information on the program can be obtained from the following web site address: http://www.mmo.org.tr/istanbul/uso. /Cumhuriyet/
New System In The Inflation Targeting
The works to implement the system of setting an inflation target, which will be announced with the Budget and the economic program of the year 2002 by the Central Bank, Treasury, State Institute of Statistics (SIS) and the Ministry of Finance, have been intensified. Officials from the Central Bank state, "It is mandatory that all the sectors should be in compliance with the three-months inflation targeting strategy, which will begin to be implemented in accordance with the annual inflation target that will be announced following the presentation of the Budget of the year 2002 to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in October. The inflation target set for the year 2002 will be announced as the "single spot number" in periods of three months as from January." /Milliyet/
Forex Reserves Up $405 Mln To $17.6 Bln
The Turkish Central Bank's foreign currency reserves rose from $405 million to $17.593 billion in the week ending August 3, the bank announced on Thursday. The total foreign currency reserves of commercial banks and special finance institutions were at $11.627 billion as of July 27, according to the most recent data available. /Turkish Daily News/
Mckinsey Elected As The Advisor
The World Bank delegation, which is currently in Ankara for the works concerning the rehabilitation and restructuring of the real sector, has decided to work together with an Advisor so the system to be implemented in Turkey can be determined. Within this framework, a foreign advisory company was elected. It was learned that the McKinsey Company was elected as the Advisor. The officials from the McKinsey Company have met the bureaucrats and experts from the economic units and collected data and information the day before and yesterday. It was stated that McKinsey would complete its report by the end of the month. /Milliyet/
ENI Tells The Consortium Of Its Desire To Take Part In BTC
Italy's great energy company EHI group had told of its desire to participate in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline project. But representatives from the Azerbaijani state-owned oil company SOCAR said they had not made any official contact with ENI. ENI is also the main sponsor of the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline which aims at bringing Russian gas to Turkey beneath the Black Sea. /Turkish Daily News/
Nahum's Statement
Tofas will be the Italian Fiat's center of research and development. The Chief Executive Official of Tofas, Jan Nahum, said he would take over the Fiat Group's Department of Research and Development concerning the seat to Tofas until the year 2005. Nahum said, "All the seats that are needed by all the brands of the Fiat Group, will be developed by the Turkish engineers in the factory of Tofas in Bursa. We aim to be a center that determine the world standards about the seats." The seats that will be developed by Tofas will be used in Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari and Maserati, which are the brands of Fiat Group. /Hurriyet/
Sumerbank To Cooperate With Oyakbank
The agreement of take over and purchase contract of Sumerbank, which is within the Investment Deposits Insurance Fund (TSMF) was signed between the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board (BDDK) and the Army Solidarity Institution (Oyak) yesterday. The Chairman of the BDDK, Engin Akcakoca, and the Chairman of the Oyak Group, Yusuf Selcuk Saka, signed the agreement. The General Director of Oyak, Coskun Ulusoy, also attended the signing ceremony. Engin Akcakoca said, "The sale of Sumerbank will strengthen the Oyak Group. I believe that the sale of Sumerbank will be a right step in terms of Oyakbank's growth, which it has been deserving for a long time." Meanwhile, Yusuf Selcuk Saka said, "I hope this will contribute to the Turkish economy." /Hurriyet/
New Target: Telecommunication
Oyak Group has determined its vision of growth as the finance, telecommunication and energy. The General Director of Oyak Group, Coskun Ulusoy, said, "The importance of the capital market will increase due to the fact that the significance given to the finance has decreasead. We are also interested in the Yasar Investment, which is one of the initiatives of Sumerbank." /Milliyet/
The Rise Of Mavi Jeans
Mavi Jeans, which is the most famous Turkish brand in the US, aims to increase its share of market in this country to 50 million US dollars annually through the advertisement campaign that was started on the American television channels. The advertisement campaign titled "maviland", which was prepared for 5 million US dollars by the DavidSirieix.com Company in New York, will be broadcasted on the MTV,E and VH-1 channels. The "New York Times" daily describes the Mavi Jeans as one of the most improving jean companies in the US, together with Luckybrand. Yesterday the newspaper wrote that Mavi Jeans was rising rapidly, although it was a ten-year-old company. /Hurriyet/
A Project On Turkey's Cultural Heritage
The Ministry of Culture and Turkish Sciences Academy have initiated a joint project to document and record Turkey's rich cultural heritage. The Turkey's Cultural Inventory Documentation Studies" is being carried out in two development areas: Denizli-Buldan region and Sanliurfa, Birecik-Suruc region. NGOs, scientists and academicians attend the project which was initiated with the aim of analyzing qualitative and quantitative features of Turkish cultural heritage and promoting Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
Koc Museum In Skylife Magazine
The Skylife Magazine gave coverage to the Koc Museum in its August issue. The magazine stated that Koc Museum was the first "industry museum" of Turkey and also gave information about the historical Lengerhane building in which the museum was located. /Cumhuriyet/
A Turkish Deputy Chairman For Whirlpool
Esat Sezer was appointed as the Deputy Chairman to one of the world's largest durable goods producer, American Whirpool. Sezer , at the age of 39, completed his all education in Turkey and has taken part in various positions in large foreign companies. /Hurriyet/
Turkish Doctor's Success
A Turkish medical doctor in the US, Murat Digicaylioglu discovered out a new method to brain cells from dying following brain hemmorage. World famous science magazine, "Nature" reserved nine pages for his studies. /Hurriyet/