CEM AND PAPANDREOU BRING AEGEAN SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION TO MIDEAST
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou met yesterday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in his headquarters in the West Bank of Ramallah, where he is currently under siege by Israeli forces. After meeting with Arafat, Cem said, “We made a number of proposals to Arafat, one of which was to condemn terrorism using very strong language.” Cem and Papandreou told Arafat as well as the Israeli side that they should convene an international peace conference and work in coordination with the US on a proposal to establish a Mideast peacekeeping force. For his part, Arafat said that until a peace agreement is established in the Holy Land there would be no peace in the Middle East. Then the two ministers met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem. Sharon told them, “We are ready to make difficult concessions,” adding, “I hope that one day we can visit your countries together with the Palestinians.” /Hurriyet/
ECEVIT CRITICIZES AKP, CHP
Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that he could see the emergency of new divisions in the political spectrum and new initiatives to form parties, adding that an uncertainty was prevailing over Turkey’s political life. Remarking that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) was an “heir to a dark past,” Ecevit said, “They depict themselves as exonerated and expect to lead other political parties.” Speaking about the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ecevit claimed that the party was daring to cooperate with a separatist party for the sake of gaining votes. “Turkey’s citizens have common sense and are not inclined to follow the foolhardy. The DSP will continue its leadership in the political arena,” Ecevit said. /Turkiye/
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
A ceremony was held in Ankara yesterday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Constitutional Court. In addition to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, present at the meeting were Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other judicial officials. Addressing the meeting, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mustafa Bumin said that the court carries out its duty in a manner which is both neutral and independent. Stressing that Turkey was criticized abroad in large part due to its decisions to ban certain political parties, Bumin stated, “Even if a political party is not fully in line with the values of the Turkish nation, such a party should not be shut down due to the thoughts and words of its members, so long as they don’t incite people to violence. Necessary amendments should be made to the Constitution as soon as possible.” Pointing to the court’s busy schedule, Bumin called upon the main opposition political parties to take care when applying to the court. He also added that no one could give orders to the judiciary and that all individuals and groups should avoid trying to influence it. /Turkiye/
NSC TO DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN AND MIDDLE EAST TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) is scheduled to meet today at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara. The Middle East conflict and recent developments in Afghanistan are expected to be major issues on the council’s agenda. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will brief the council on their recent visit to the Israeli and Palestinian territories. Cem and Ziyal are also expected to convey their views on the possible roles Turkey might assume in the international arena to help end the ongoing conflict in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS: “GREECE STILL CONDONES PKK’S ACTIVITIES”
A report recently prepared by Turkish intelligence states that Greece is still continuing to permit and condone activities of the PKK terrorist organization within its borders. The report listed recent PKK activities in Greece as follows: 1) PKK supporters held a protest demonstration in Athens this February 15 to mark the anniversary of terrorist head Abdullah Ocalan’s capture. 2) PKK militants held another demonstration on March 1 in Athens to protest Turkey and to voice their support for Ocalan. 3) The Greek-Kurdish Solidarity Association distributed written announcements at Salonica University on March 6. Furthermore, the report contends, PKK militants are still being trained in a number of refugee camps in Greece. These militants are sent to Europe or northern Iraq after completing their training. /Cumhuriyet/
LA CAMARA: “PKK AND DHKP-C WILL BE ADDED TO EU’S TERRORIST LIST”
Speaking at the fourth World Turkish Businessmen’s Convention in Istanbul yesterday, European Union Term President Spain’s Ambassador to Turkey Manuel de la Camara said that the terrorist groups PKK and DHKP-C would be added to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. /Milliyet/
DERVIS SIGNS $1.35 BILLION WORLD BANK LOAN
State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis signed yesterday a $1.35 billion structural adjustment loan with World Bank Vice President Johannes Lynn in Washington. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dervis said that domestic political changes or elections would not greatly affect the economic structure in Turkey. For his part, Lynn said that Turkey’s current economic program was going well, adding that the WB supported the social side of the program, namely programs to help agriculture, health and education. /Hurriyet/
DENKTAS CRITICIZES CYPRUS RAPPORTEUR
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas yesterday criticized the European Council Parliamentary Assembly’s (ECPA) Cyprus rapporteur, Swiss parliamentarian Dick Marty. At a press conference, Denktas spoke on his recent contacts with the European Council. Denktas said that Marty had prepared a biased report without examining the Cyprus issue from both sides and that the report needed to be amended before bringing it for debate at the full ECPA. Denktas called on the Council to prepare a report detailing the numerous violations of Cypriot Turks and constitutional rights as well as the effects of the economic embargo. Recalling that direct bilateral talks were still continuing in Cyprus, the president stated that the EU was wrong to apply pressure for a solution within a limited timeframe. He reiterated that a settlement on the Cyprus problem was only possible by a partnership founded on the principle of equality for both sides. /Turkiye/
WORLD TURKISH BUSINESSMEN’S CONVENTION BEGINS
Turkish businessmen active in many parts of the world as well as in Turkey gathered together in Istanbul yesterday. The theme of the fourth World Turkish Businessmen’s Convention, “One More Step for Turkey’s Future,” has a special significance at a time when the nation is emerging from one of its largest crises ever, one in which many Turkish businessmen and entrepreneurs moved their investments outside of the country. Some 2,000 Turkish businessmen converging from countries worldwide met in Istanbul’s Lutfi Kirdar Congress Hall for the convention. The gathering, organized jointly by the World Turkish Businessmen’s Association, Turkish Foreign Trade Foundation, Foreign Ministry and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, will last through tomorrow. Chief sectors of the Turkish economy which have a potentially significant role in Turkish industrial exports are being discussed in eight meetings. Additionally, country-specific workshops are being held to discuss strategies for Iran, Iraq, Syria, Russia, the United States, Spain, Israel and others. Many Turkish and foreign firms are expected to participate in the convention. Information booths will also help visitors with brochures and other publications from public and private institutions and professional organizations. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a message to the convention saying that the recent difficult period of economic crises represented an opportunity to reach the standards of a world class market economy and modern participatory democracy, both of which Turkey had taken important steps towards. /Turkiye/
CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES 2001 PROFIT OF TL 7.5 QLN
The Turkish Central Bank yesterday announced that in 2001 it had made profits of TL 7.5 quadrillion, mostly due to the economic crisis last year that hit the public and private sector alike. The profit will be used to offset the losses of the public sector and private banks in the government’s rehabilitation fund. According to 2001 balance sheet figures released by CB Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, the bank earned 8.2 quadrillion from high interest rates stimulated by the crisis, but also incurred considerable losses in exchange transactions when the crisis broke out. These losses decreased following the implementation of the government’s economic stability programme, which pushed exchange rates down. The CB’s total net profit in 2000 was TL 992 trillion. /Milliyet/
ARMENIA HINTS AT IMPROVED DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY
Armenia’s government recently conveyed positive messages to Turkey on improving political dialogue between Ankara and Yerevan at a panel entitled “Truth, Justice and Reconciliation” recently held in Stockholm, Sweden. Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Bulent Akarcali represented Turkey at the panel, and Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Rouben Shougarian attended the panel as the representative of Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian. During a face-to-face meeting with Shugaryan, Akarcali stated that he had the impression that Armenian policy on Turkey was evolving towards a more peaceful understanding of bilateral relations in favor of improving political dialogue. While Shougarian stressed the need for political pragmatism and policies towards regional cooperation, Akarcali underlined Turkey’s efforts to normalize its relations with Armenia. Akarcali also reiterated Turkey’s view that history should be judged by historians and scholars and criticized Armenia for not allowing historians full access to its state archives. /Cumhuriyet/
AUSTRIAN SCHOLAR: “ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS ARE BASELESS”
An Austrian scholar yesterday declared at an international conference that Armenian allegations of a genocide early in the 20th century were “baseless.” Speaking to the conference held at Gerhard Mercator University in Duisberg, Germany, Professor Erich Feigl said that the Armenians were trying to mislead the international community through unfounded allegations and false documents, especially on the so-called “genocide commeration day,” April 24. /Aksam/
RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS HEAD ON WAY TO VISIT VATICAN
Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz left for the Vatican yesterday to sign a “Declaration of Intentions” with Pope John Paul II. Before his departure, Yilmaz told reporters that he and the pope would sign the declaration in the interests of promoting human peace, prosperity and mutual cooperation between people of faith within the framework of dialogue between religions. /Turkiye/
DEMIRKUBUZ’S “CONFESSION” TO BE SCREENED AT CANNES
Organizers of the 55th annual Cannes Film Festival have announced the official selection of films for this year. Turkish director Zeki Demirkubuz’s “Confession” will be screened under the category “Un Certain Regard.” In addition, “La Mort en Exil,” a film by Turkish director Ayten Mutlu Saray, will be screened under the category “Cinefondation” in which more than a dozen short and mini-feature films from film schools will compete. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION