SEZER: “TURKEY’S ECONOMIC POLICY IS SCORING SUCCESSES”
During a state visit to Slovakia yesterday, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that the government’s economic policy was proving successful. Sezer stated that for the last year Turkey has strived to overcome a deep economic crisis and that towards this end the government had taken several important steps, especially in the banking and finance sector. After his stay in Slovakia, Sezer proceed to the Czech Republic. /Hurriyet/
ANKARA WARNS TALABANI OF PKK’S ULTERIOR MOTIVES
This week Ankara reacted swiftly to make Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani reconsider his recent statement arguing that the terrorist group PKK was preparing to dissolve and then reform itself into a political movement. Talabani, who recently visited Ankara, claimed that the PKK was preparing to change its program and disband its armed militant groups. He also asserted that the terrorist organization would no longer pose a threat to Turkey. However, Ankara conveyed to Talabani the message that the PKK’s recent efforts should be considered a tactical front to conceal its actual goals and that the PUK must continue to fight those terrorists in northern Iraq. “Initially, Talabani had indicated in his remarks that the PUK would support the PKK’s recent so-called politicization efforts,” said a high-level Turkish official. “However, he changed his statement after Ankara warned him of the PKK’s ulterior motives.” In the end, Talabani gave his assurances to Turkish officials that the PUK would continue to fight against the PKK in northern Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/
DISCUSSIONS OVER ISAF COMMAND CONTINUE
Discussions over Turkey’s possible takeover of the command of the international peacekeeping force (ISAF) in Afghanistan are continuing among Turkey, the United States and Great Britain. US diplomats have stated that they expect a decision to be made prior to US Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit to Turkey which is scheduled for March 19. Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush is expected to make a decision soon on the conditions set out by Turkey to take over the ISAF command. Turkey’s conditions can be summarized as follows: 1) The ISAF’s mission must be clearly defined. 2) The positions of the US and Britain, the latter of which currently leads the peacekeeping force, must be openly stated. 3) The number of the countries which will continue to deploy their military troops in Afghanistan after April must be determined. 4) The financial cost of the operation must be shared among other participating countries. /Cumhuriyet/
YILMAZ: “PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE EU MEMBERSHIP SHOULD NOT HIDE BEHIND THE TSK”
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday that certain circles were trying to depict the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) as opposed to Turkey’s EU membership, and that they were trying to hide their own anti-EU stance behind this. “This only helps Turkey’s foes,” he added. In a speech to his party’s Parliamentary group meeting, Yilmaz compared Turkey’s EU accession period to a marathon. He said, “No individual or party has the right to pull Turkey out of this race.” Pointing out that national policies were being followed in Turkish-EU relations, Yilmaz said that Turkey was experiencing a difficult test and that it had entered this process consciously. /Turkiye/
DERVIS INVITES 20 BUSINESS LEADERS TO ISTANBUL SUMMIT
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis announced yesterday that he had sent invitations to 20 international business leaders to attend an “Investment Council” meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on July 18 in Istanbul. Among those invited to summit are Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Cisco Systems Executive Board Chairman John Chamber, DaimlerChrysler Executive Board Chairman Jurgen E. Schrempp, as well as other chief executives from large companies in Japan, Korea, Italy, France and Germany. World Bank Chairman James Wolfensohn and International Monetary Fund Chairman Horst Koehler are to attend the summit as well. /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: “THE AKP SUPPORTS TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP”
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that politicians should fulfill the promises that they made prior to elections both orally and in their parties’ programs. Stressing that “sentimental” approachs should be avoided when the country’s interests were at stake, Erdogan said, “The AKP supports Turkey’s EU membership and to achieve this goal, necessary amendments should be implemented soon.” He underlined that the EU called upon Turkey to bolster its democracy and the rule of law, to improve individual and cultural rights, and to make its market economy work better. /Turkiye/
CILLER WARNS OF NEW ECONOMIC CRISIS
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that Turkey was in a new “stagflation” period and that it could face a new economic crisis this fall. Addressing her party’s Parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Ciller said that since citizens could not affort to buy anything, inflation and interest rates would continue to drop through autumn. “However,” she warned, “this is a stagflation period, and it will bring forth a new crisis.” /Turkiye/
CHHIBBER: “RATHER THAN BORROW, TURKEY MUST ATTRACT CAPITAL”
Speaking at a conference on foreign capital in Istanbul yesterday, World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said that Turkey’s future economic growth lay in investments, not more loans, which he added were not in the offing in any case. Chhibber stated that Turkey had to attract foreign capital investments if it wants to grow its economy, and that additional investments are needed to achieve growth this year. Turkey should have attracted more foreign capital after signing the Customs Union agreement with the European Union, he remarked but the last decade was not successful in this respect. Turkey’s macroeconomic program cannot be successful in the medium term if foreign capital doesn’t start to flow in, Chhibber predicted. /Hurriyet/
KAHKONEN: “IT’S NOW HIGH TIME FOR TURKEY TO IMPLEMENT ITS REFORMS”
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen met yesterday with representatives of the Turkish banking sector in Istanbul to discuss the recent problems of the financial sector. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Kahkonen said the participants had discussed the economic stability program and difficulties of the financial and private sectors. He remarked that the government had recently legislated very substantial reforms and that it was high time for Turkey to implement these reforms. /Cumhuriyet/
IMF’S DEPPLER PRAISES TURKISH ECONOMY
International Monetary Fund European Director Michael Deppler voiced praise for Turkey yesterday in an interview with NTV’s Washington correspondent Umit Enginsoy. Stating that Turkey could succeed under the prevailing economic conditions, Deppler said that he agreed with the government’s assessment that a new crisis was not likely. He added that recent developments in inflation and interest rates were very positive. /Sabah/
ERBAKAN GETS PRISON TIME FOR EMBEZZLING PARTY FUNDS
The Ankara Higher Criminal Court yesterday sentenced former leader of the defunct Welfare Party (RP) Necmettin Erbakan to two years and four months in prison for embezzling party funds. The decision of the court will strongly affect the political future of the veteran Turkish politician. If the Court of Cassation upholds the decision of the court, Erbakan will be unable to either join a political party and be elected to Parliament. Under the Legislators Law, any person convicted of crimes such as embezzlement, abuse of religion, or bribery in Turkey cannot be elected as a parliamentary deputy. /All Papers/
RAMAZAN: “TURKEY SHOULD SUPPORT IRAQ, NOT THE US”
Iraqi deputy head of state Taha Yasin Ramazan said yesterday that Turkey should ally itself with Iraq, not the United States. In an interview with news channel NTV Ramazan both accused and warned Turkey concerning the status of northern Iraq as well as a possible US intervention in Iraq. He said, “Iraq has no intention of crossing the Turkish border and cooperating with terrorists who want to establish a Kurdish state.” He further stated that an US operation in his country would not serve Turkey’s interests. /Turkiye/
ARMENIAN LOBBY IN THE US GEARS UP FOR NEW CAMPAIGN
The Armenian lobby in the US is relaunching its annual campaign to pressure on the US President to recognize April 24 as the commemoration day of a so-called Armenian genocide. Some 36 members of the US House of Representatives recently sent a letter to US President George W. Bush in an effort to persuade him to recognize their allegations. /Cumhuriyet/
KIVRIKOGLU OPENS HANDICAPPED EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION CENTER
The Gulhane Medical Military Academy’s (GATA) Special Education and Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped Children was opened for service yesterday in a ceremony attended by Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu. Retired physician Col. Ali Ihsan Guner spoke on behalf of the families during the ceremony, and told Kivrikoglu, “You have lit a torch for the handicapped in our country.” Gen. Kivrikoglu watched a dance performance by a group of handicapped children and a basketball match of the Land Forces Physically Handicapped Team. Air Forces Command Gen. Cumhur Asparuk and National Security Council (MGK) Secretary General General Tuncay Kilinc also attended the ceremony. /Sabah/
TALAY TOUTS CULTURE MINISTRY’S INTERNET SHOP
A new “cultural portal” and virtual shop posted at the Culture Ministry’s website were promoted by Culture Minister Istemihan Talay yesterday at Ankara’s Sheraton Hotel. Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu, Court of Cassation Chief Justice Sami Selcuk and Court of Audit Chief Justice Nuri Alan were among the distinguished guests, attending the event. The new virtual shop will feature Turkish handicrafts and rare books, Talay stated. He said that with the increasing importance of international tourism, people were becoming more interested in the cultural treasures of the countries the visit. Following Talay’s speech were a multimedia presentation and performances by the Modern Dance Group and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Then Talay made the first purchase at the new “e-shop,” which can be accessed at www.kultur.gov.tr, www.culture.gov.tr and www.cultura.gov.tr. /Sabah/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION