ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 6th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES ASSIGNMENT OF DERVIS AS NEW ADMINISTRATOR OF UNDP
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously approved assignment of Kemal Dervis, a Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul parliamentarian, as new administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
General Assembly members approved assignment of Dervis as UNDP chairman between August 15th, 2005 and August 15th, 2009.
As the UNDP chairman, Dervis will at the same time chair UN Development Group (UNDG) which coordinates re-structuring studies and international assistance of the UN institutions.
WE DO NOT EXPLOIT TURKEY
Rolf A. Konigs, the CEO of the German Aunde Group, currently in Turkey to attend Turkish-German Economy Congress, stated that they made an investment worth of 200 million Euro in Turkey since their arrival to Turkey in 1989. Konigs said, ''we have opened two hotels as well as five factories. We do not want to exploit or misuse Turkey.''
Turkey gradually becomes the production base of international giant companies of the world in automotive area.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHAT KIND OF CONTRADICTION IS THAT?
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer warned German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that the resolution which is on the agenda of the German parliament about Armenian genocide claims would hurt the bilateral relations. Sezer told Schroeder (who said he supported Turkey's proposal of a joint commission between Turkish and Armenian historians) that ''then why don't you take decisions without waiting for the results of the commission? Isn't this a contradiction?''
MFA WARNS HALACOGLU
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu, chairman of the Turkish Institute of History (TTK), said that he wouldn't give testimony within the scope of the investigation launched by Swiss authorities about himself for telling in a conference in Switzerland that there was no such thing as Armenian genocide. ''This will mean accepting their parliamentary decision,'' said Halacoglu. Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) warned Halacoglu that he should not go to Switzerland.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ECHR LOOKS FOR A TURKISH LAWYER
Council of Europe looks for an experienced Turkish lawyer, who speaks English or French, to be assigned in European Court of Human Rights.
5,500 Euro salary will be paid to the lawyers who will reside permanently in Strasbourg, France. The applications will be made to the human resources desk of the Council of Europe till May 25th.
IMF: WE DID NOT EXPECT THIS MUCH
International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Managing Director Anne Krueger said they could not imagine that Turkey would be so successful in reforms. ''However, the reforms should be maintained,'' she noted.
Stating that even the most optimists did not imagine Turkey would be this much successful, Krueger said the reforms were extremely important to prepare Turkey for full membership.
Krueger said the fundamental target of the reforms was to improve living conditions of the Turkish citizens. She said, ''macro-economic stability is reached to a great extent with the reform program. However, there are still lots of things to be done.''
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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TUZMEN: ARAB CAPITAL CAN BRING 10 BILLION DOLLARS
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who met businessmen from Gulf countries at the Turkish-Arab Business Forum in Istanbul, said that the Arab capital was just like a cloud ready to rain onto the world. Tuzmen stressed that Turkey could draw 10 billion dollars of Arab capital to Turkey annually. Noting that Turkey had a foreign trade volume of 20 billion dollars with Arab countries, Tuzmen said that that amount could increase up to 24-25 billion dollars in 2005.
CONTEST OF REMARKS IN CYPRUS
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said that withdrawal of the Turkish soldiers from Cyprus was the main condition for unification of the island. TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat replied to Papadopoulos who said he didn't believe a solution could be reached in Cyprus before October 3rd. Talat said Turkish Cypriots were ready for talks and to find a solution before October 3rd. Talat also stressed that Papadopoulos's demand regarding withdrawal of 30,000 Turkish troops from the island was a 'wishful thinking' on the way of returning back to pre-1974 period, and it was not a realistic demand.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MEETING PLAN WITH KOCHARIAN
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert Kocharian who have been exchanging letters may meet during Council of Europe Summit in Warsaw. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also confirmed such a meeting. He said, ''they can meet but there is no scheduled meeting.''
BRAINSTORMING FOR 2023
During the 4th Forum Istanbul, participants discussed the strategy of Turkey through 2023 which will be the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic. Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied statements that Turkey slowed down after December 17th, 2004.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DERVIS OFFICIALLY BECOMES UNDP'S HEAD
The candidacy of Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Kemal Dervis to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chairmanship was accepted in the voting that took place at UN General Assembly yesterday. None of the UN General Assembly members raised objection to Dervis's candidacy, and Dervis became the head of UNDP.
GUL TAKES PULSE IN KYRGYZSTAN
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul visits Kyrgyzstan where Akayev was overthrown in a civil coup. Gul who had the opportunity to meet the new Kyrgyz leadership said that Turkey would extend all sorts of support to ensure stability in the country. Gul also brought 2.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY BECOMES CENTER OF ATTRACTION
Firstly CEOs of 19 giant companies in the world came to Turkey, later Asian countries convened in a joint forum in Istanbul and discussed world trade. Turkish-German economy summit was also held and Europeans decided to invest more in Turkey. Then oil rich Arab countries came to Istanbul for Turkish-Arab Forum yesterday. On May 9th, the American mortgage giants will come to Istanbul and take the pulse for getting a place in Turkish market.
KRUEGER: YOU GET GOOD RESULTS OF REFORMS
IMF First Managing Director Anne Krueger said that the benefits of the reforms started to be seen in Turkey. Speaking at 'Forum Istanbul 2005', Krueger said that the Turkish economy grew by nearly 10 percent last year and the inflation rates decreased. Krueger said reducing further the country's debt would help cushion the Turkish economy against the damage of rising interest rates in the world. ''The objective now should be to increase the growth rate,'' she added. Krueger also called for the need to continue and implement the reforms in Turkey.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GIMA CRISIS ENDS KOC-SABANCI PARTNERSHIP IN TELECOM
Turkish Koc and Sabanci holdings ended their partnership which they formed for the sale of Turkish Telecom.
The parties on Thursday afternoon sent statements to Istanbul Stock Exchange putting an end to their partnership but they did not disclose the reasons of their separation.
Sources close to the issue said tension in sale of Gima ended their marriage.
Turkish Koc Group's Migros earlier announced it would purchase Gima and Endi food chain stores belonging to businessman Husnu Ozyegin, however, both trademarks later were transferred to French Carrefour with which Sabanci is also a partner.
Following their separation, Koc said it would enter tender for privatization of Telecom on its own.
ANKARA IS MODERATE TOWARD FACE TO FACE MEETING
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian Head of State Robert Kocharian could meet in Moscow or Warsaw but at the moment there is no any scheduled meeting.
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Kyrgyzstan, Gul said, ''after collapse of Soviet Union, Turkey recognized Armenia but there is no diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia at the moment.''
''This should be understood well. There were several meetings in presidential level in the past, and now meetings in foreign ministers level are being held,'' he added.
Gul said that such meetings can be held within the scope of international meetings, but there is no scheduled meeting between Erdogan and Kocharian at the moment.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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INVESTMENT IN WEAPONS STRENGTHENS TERRORISM
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said almost no investment was made in poverty although 900 billion USD investment was made in weapons last year. ''After this, we thought what we can do against the globalizing terrorism.''
Addressing a session of ''Forum Istanbul 2005'', Erdogan said, ''we can do nothing against terrorism with this mentality. On the contrary, you strengthen globalizing terrorism.''
OLLI REHN: TURKEY'S EU ROAD IS OPEN
European Union Commissioner For Enlargement Olli Rehn indicated that they will try to open the way for Turkey's membership with the beginning of accession talks in October. ''Turkey's road is very open,'' stated Rehn.
Participating in a conference as part of Forum 2005, titled ''What kind of a world is waiting for us in 2023? Turkey's position and importance at this time,'' in Istanbul, Rehn stated that the political climate in Turkey is very positive.
Rehn stressed that in 2023 the EU would be more united, deeper, wider and stronger. The EU would be stronger in protecting its citizens, peaceful order and living standards, told Rehn.
''EU would be bigger by including southeast Europe, Balkans and Turkey. Turkey will be successful with its reforms. Turkey, however, must continue making political, legal and economic reforms in order to be at a good point on the 100th anniversary of its foundation, namely 2023,'' expressed Rehn.
2005-05-06