PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE BILL LIMITING PRESIDENT’S AUTHORITY THIS WEEK
A bill proposing certain limits on the authority of the president and prime minister is expected to be debated in the Parliament this week. The bill, which was presented to Parliament in November 2000, aims to free the president and prime minister from the necessity of making certain appointments and also to increase the efficiency of the bureaucracy. Under the new regulations, certain appointments would be made through the signature of the relevant minister alone, rather than of that minister plus the president and prime minister. /All Papers/
TURKEY CONVEYS ITS CONCERNS ON MIDEAST TO WASHINGTON
Turkey launched a new diplomatic initiative over the weekend to help bringing about an end to the escalating violence in the Middle East. The US ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson, and Turkey’s ambassador to Washington, Faruk Logoglu, conveyed Ankara’s views to US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and his deputy Nicholas Burns that measures should taken to ensure the safety of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who was confined over the weekend to his compound under Israeli Army siege, as soon as possible. Ankara conveyed the message to the Bush administration that current developments would adversely affect Turkey’s relations with all neighboring countries and that Israel should pull back from Ramallah. However, the Bush administration has laid the onus for the current crisis on Arafat rather than Israel, saying that he needs to do more to end the attacks and suicide bombings by Palestinian militants. Furthermore, Turkish Foreign Ministry Middle East Department Director-General Turkekul Kurttekin met with Palestinian Ambassador Fuad Yasin and Israeli Ambassador David Sultan over the weekend. Turkey’s Consul General to Jerusalem Huseyin Avni Bicakli made a phone call to Arafat on Saturday to learn his demands and expectations from the US and Israel. /Cumhuriyet/
SP DELEGATION VISITS PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR
Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and an accompanying delegation yesterday paid a visit to the Palestinian ambassador to Turkey, Fuad Yasin, to show their support. Stressing that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was ready to die for the cause of a Palestinian nation, Yasin said, “If the United States had wanted, it would have stopped the bloodshed in the Middle East. Israel’s only aim is to terminate Arafat. If they do it, Arafat will become a martyr, and then they will have to fight against millions of Arafats.” Meanwhile, the Great Union Party (BBP) and the Workers’ Party (IP) members yesterday held a demonstration in front of the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul to protest Israeli’s incursion into the West Bank. /Aksam/
IRAQ THANKS TURKEY FOR OPPOSING OPERATION
Speaking to Turkish reporters yesterday after meeting with Turkish State Minister Tunca Toskay, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramazan thanked Turkey for its opposition to US military intervention in Iraq. Ramazan also said that Iraq was satisfied with Turkey’s stance during US Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent visit to Turkey. “We had serious talks with Toskay on improving relations between Turkey and Iraq,” Ramazan added. /Hurriyet/
US AMBASSADOR PEARSON: “TURKEY IS SAFE FOR TRAVELLERS”
In an open letter to US travel agencies released yesterday, the US ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson, called on booking agents in the US not to ignore Turkey when they make reservations, especially during the upcoming busy summer session. Pearson declared that US citizens traveling to the region would be safe and welcome in Turkey. The ambassador added that tourists in Turkey faced no threats after last September’s attacks. /Hurriyet/
FESTIVAL PLANNED TO BRING ASIAN COUNTRIES TOGETHER
The Foundation of the State Theater and Opera House Artists (TOBAV) has begun laying the groundwork for a festival project to bring Asian countries together. The “Asiaopalia Project” was discussed over the weekend by the representatives of TOBAV and several other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). TOBAV Chairman Tamer Levent stated that the festival would feature activities involving music, literature, poetry, architecture, dancing, theatre, photography and cinema. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY TO HOST SUBCON INDUSTRY CONVENTION
Preparations are underway for the International Subsidiary Industry Convention, “Subcon 2002” which is slated to be held at Istanbul’s International Fair Center on May 16-19. At the gathering, which is sponsored by United Nations Development Organization (UNITOD) and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), industrialists from the world over will be able to learn about trends in the global economy from seminars and displays. /Star/
CONSTRUCTION FAIR SLATED FOR ISTANBUL
Istanbul’s Tuyap Center will host the 2002 Construction Fair on May 1-5, a construction industry group announced this weekend. Some 60,000 visitors are expected at the fair, which is the largest in its sector. /Star/
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PAYMENTS BEGIN TODAY
Turkey’s first unemployment insurance payments are due to be distributed today. Some 5,700 people who are covered by the new system will receive their allowances from Ziraat Bank. Turkish Employment Foundation (TIK) head Necdet Kenar said that under the new social security law, people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and who have paid premiums to the unemployment insurance fund for at least 600 days straight were eligible for the payments. The fund began taking compensation applications on Jan. 31 of this year. /Sabah/
KARACAOGLU COMPANY RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL QUALITY AWARD
The World Quality Convention announced this weekend that it was handing out its “International Gold Star Award” for 2002 to the Karacaoglu Baklava and Food Company, a division of Turkish Corporation KRC. Speaking of the honor, which was awarded out of a field from over 160 countries, KRC Group Chairman Fatih Karaca said, “This award proves the quality of Turkish cuisine, and especially our baklava.” /Sabah/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION