TURKEY TO COMPETE FOR NO. 3 SPOT IN WORLD CUP
After a valiant effort, Turkey lost to four-time World Cup champion Brazil in a heated game yesterday, by a score of 1-0. Playing in the World Cup for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Turkish National Team advanced further than any of its predecessors, and the nation rejoiced that the team had played well even in defeat. But the games aren’t quite over: Turkey’s team is set to face South Korea on Saturday to claim the World Cup’s number three spot. /All Papers/
SEZER, ALIYEV OPEN NEW AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN ANKARA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Haydar Aliyev yesterday opened the new Azerbaijani Embassy building in Ankara, constructed on a new area reserved for diplomatic buildings in the Oran district. Speaking at the ceremony, Sezer said that the opening of the new embassy would encourage other countries to build in this designated area. Sezer also said that the two countries had cultural and historical ties and added that he believes Turkish-Azerbaijani relations would continue to develop positively. /All Papers/
ECEVIT TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER ONE-TWO WEEKS OF RECUPERATION
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit underwent a comprehensive checkup at Baskent University Hospital yesterday. While leaving the hospital, Ecevit told reporters that he was completely recovered from his illnesses other than damage to his vertebrae. Remarking that he was continuing to fulfill his duties, Ecevit stated that following one or two more weeks of recuperation he would be able to fully return to his work. The prime minister added that Turkey’s economy was getting better and that his health situation was not the only reason for instability in the economy. /All Papers/
TURKEY PROTESTS TERRORIST GETTING ACCESS TO YILMAZ IN BELGIUM
The Turkish Foreign Ministry submitted a note of protest to the Belgium government concerning an incident on Sunday in which a member of a terrorist organization attempted to give a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz during a dinner hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) in Brussels. Turkey’s Ambassador to Belgium Erkan Gezer said yesterday that after the ministry sent the note, security measures had been strengthened. /Turkiye/
DERVIS SPEAKS AT EIGHTH MONTREAL CONFERENCE
Stating that Turkey had implemented deep structural reforms after being hit by an economic crisis last year, State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis said yesterday that the implementation of these reforms, which were too difficult to be made during periods of stability, were the crisis’ “silver lining.” Speaking at the meeting on “International Financial Reforms” during the eighth Montreal Conference, Dervis argued that problems in the country’s financial and banking sectors were major contributing factors behind the economic crisis. Dervis added, “In trying to solve these problems, we firstly worked to improve the situation of our public banks.” /Sabah/
CILLER: “ELECTIONS WON’T HARM THE ECONOMY”
Speaking to the Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) yesterday, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that holding early elections wouldn’t harm the economy. “Fearing elections means fearing democracy,” she remarked, adding, “The uncertainty caused by the government is harming the economy very badly.” She also touched on the subject of the recent takeover of Pamukbank by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), saying that Pamukbank had more deposits covered by the TMSF than all the other banks combined. /Aksam/
DYP GIVES PROPOSAL TO DSP, AKP AND SP FOR PARLIAMENT TO WORK THROUGH SUMMER
True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Group Chairmen Nevzat Ercan along with the DYP’s Turhan Guven and Ali Riza Gonul yesterday gave a proposal to the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Felicity Party (SP) groups requesting that Parliament work this summer in order to pass needed European Union accession legislation. Meeting with the groups, Ercan said, “Parliament is the institution which should address governmental issues.” The DYP delegation later visited the Motherland Party (ANAP) group. ANAP Deputy Group Chairman Beyhan Aslan said that it would be better to call Parliament to work when a consensus had been reached on these laws. /Aksam/
CLERIDES LEAVES ONE-FOURTH OF CYPRUS TO TURKISH SIDE
Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros daily reported yesterday that Greek leader Clafcos Clerides had made a proposal to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas on the territory issue, under which one-fourth of the island, or 24%, would be left to the Turkish Cypriots. Denktas said that he would give Clerides an answer after examining the proposal. /Star/
US SENATE QUESTIONS NEW AMBASSADOR TO GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION
US President George W. Bush has appointed Michael Klosson as the new ambassador to Greek Cypriot administration. Speaking to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday, Klosson said that finding a solution to the Cyprus issue would increase Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union. Klosson also said that there is a window of opportunity now to reach a settlement in the direct talks between the two leaders, before the EU makes its decision on enlargement at its Copenhagen summit in December. “It is ultimately up to the two leaders, with the support of all in the international community who care about the Cyprus issue, to reach an agreement that will lead to a comprehensive settlement,” Klosson added. Klosson stated that the United States had articulated many times over the years that it believes that a Cyprus solution must be based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and that it is possible to reach a settlement that addresses the legitimate concerns of both sides and promotes regional stability. /Star/
TOWNSHEND: “BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR”
Michael Townshend, oil company BP Amoco’s project director for Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project, said yesterday that the physical construction of the project would begin next March and that the pipeline would be fully operational by 2005. Concerning the timetable for its construction, Townshend said, “In the final quarter of this year, pipeline contractors will be moved to the field. There will be personnel numbering nearly 10,000. The pipeline will be able to transport 10 million barrels of oil.” Stating that the cost of the project was less than $3 billion, Townshend added that financing totaling $2 billion was necessary for its completion. /Sabah/
ISO: “TURKEY SHOULD CARRY ITS FOOTBALL SUCCESS TO OTHER AREAS”
The Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) yesterday held its regular meeting in the early afternoon, before its usual 3:00 p.m. time so there would be no time conflict with watching Turkey’s semifinal World Cup against Brazil. The members of the ISO Assembly Chairman commented that markets were being affected by the World Cup matches. ISO Chairman of assembly Hüsamettin Kavi said, “We hope that the national football team’s success will extend to politics and the economy and that its successes will help us bring forth the necessary change.” Board of Directors Chairman Tanil Kucuk also stated that the team’s success had been an example for everyone in Turkey. /Hurriyet/
TASAR RAISES FUNDS TO PROMOTE TURKISH TOURISM
Speaking at a press conference at his office yesterday, Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar told reporters that he had started a campaign to raise funds for promoting Turkish tourism abroad. “We will work to establish a new strategy for Turkey’s promotion with tourism experts, universities and tourism sector institutions,” he said. “We are laying the groundwork for studying tourism market trends in 52 countries.” /Hurriyet/
NGOs LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO PUSH FOR EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP
A campaign calling itself “European Movement 2002” was recently launched by a number of Turkey’s nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Economic Development Foundation (IKV) Secretary-General Sebnem Karacak and a group of IKV members yesterday began circulating the petition campaign among chairmen of the nation’s chambers and commodities exchanges. The campaign also includes 10 other NGOs. The letter calls on the Parliament to quicken the pace of needed EU reforms, stressing that limited time was left for Turkey to begin its EU negotiation accession process. The NGO representatives remarked that a date for the beginning of Turkey’s negotiation accession process must be determined by the end of this year. /Cumhuriyet/
POLITICIANS MAKE PLANS FOR SUMMER
Following Parliament’s recess for summer scheduled for July 1st, the pulse of politics will not slow down as political parties will start to get ready for possible elections, the date for which is not yet clear. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli is set to visit provinces throughout Turkey one-by-one every week through summer, touting his parties’ views on many topics, especially a death penalty ban and broadcasting and teaching in mother tongues. An opposition group within the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the main partner of the coalition, will try to convene an extraordinary party congress to select for a new leader. Main opposition party the True Path Party (DYP) will focus on its internal affairs as the party gets ready its general congress in November. Attending regional party congresses in many provinces and towns throughout the country, DYP leader Tansu Ciller will reiterate her calls for a new government. Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz is also expected to continue his initiatives on Turkey’s European Union membership bid and will continue to spread the message that his party is a champion of EU membership, while the MHP is standing in the way of it. /Turkiye/
PROTOCOL SIGNED FOR BOTAS’ OIL EXPORTS TO EASTERN EUROPE
A protocol was signed yesterday concerning the BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation’s natural gas exports to Bulgaria and Romania. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said that Turkey was soon planning to apply to the European Union to receive financial assistance for this project. Cakan also added that public and private Turkish companies were currently engaged in business activities such as exploration and production in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. /Cumhuriyet/
IKDP SCALES BACK DEMANDS
The Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (IKDP), which hopes to establish a federation in northern Iraq after a possible US military intervention in the country, yesterday announced that they were no longer demanding that the cities of Kirkuk and Mosul be included in the territories of the federation. The IKDP’s Ankara office yesterday issued a statement underlining that the draft document prepared for the establishment of a federation in the region had not yet been discussed with other Iraqi Kurdish political groups and parties. “Contrary to recent media reports, all Kurdish people, not just some minority group, want the establishment of a federation in northern Iraq,” said the statement. Turkey had previously stated that it would respect the decision of the Kurdish people but emphasized that the structure of the federation should not be based on any ethnic division. /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION