LEADERS VOW TO WORK IN HARMONY
At a meeting yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leaders of the coalition government vowed to continue to work in harmony. Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli, Mesut Yilmaz, Husamettin Ozkan, ministers for the economy and other economy bureaucrats attended the three-hour-plus meeting spotlighting Turkey’s economic issues. The meeting was held in two sessions. During a recess, Ecevit met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Presidential Palace. Following the leaders’ meeting, a written statement was issued by the Prime Ministry Press Office. It emphasized that Turkey’s European Union harmonization work would be speeded up, the economic program would continue to be carried out decisively, and elections would be held at the normally scheduled date. The statement also said that necessary attention would be paid, avoiding public misunderstandings, concerning the government’s work in harmony. “Coordination will be strengthened between the economy administration and ministers, and institutions related to economy will hold regular meetings to evaluate developments,” it said. /All Papers/
TOBB VISITS LEADERS
Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchange (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu and an accompanying delegation yesterday held separate visits with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan. During the meeting with President Sezer, the state leader reportedly stressed that he had closely followed recent developments but had no desire to intervene in politics. He added though that when necessary, he would act in line with his authority. Hisarciklioglu told reporters that he had conveyed the TOBB’s view on the current situation in Turkey’s politics and the economy. He underlined that politics itself should overcome any barriers standing in its way. “If political uncertainty continues, then politics and the economy should be de-linked from each other,” Hisarciklioglu said. /Turkiye/
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ: “TURKEY IS CLOSED TO ANY BARGAINING ON THE ESDP”
Speaking to the press yesterday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz stated that Turkey did not want to discuss the issue of the European Defense and Security Policy (ESDP) with any EU members as a matter of bargaining related to its own EU membership bid. Dirioz underlined that the ESDP problem should be solved between the EU and NATO, whose assets the EU wants to access to under an ESDP military force. Turkey is a member of NATO but not the EU. Remarking that the Ankara Document signed by Turkey, Britain and the US should be considered a “basic text” for the issue, Dirioz said, “The Ankara Document lays out the participation of non-EU NATO member countries in the ESDP. Turkey won’t make any concessions from its views for the sake of its EU membership bid. These are completely separate matters.” /Cumhuriyet/
US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WOLFOWITZ TO VISIT TURKEY
United States Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz is scheduled to visit Turkey on July 14. Wolfowitz has frequently singled out Turkey for great praise in speeches and public addresses. Major issues which Wolfowitz is expected to discuss with Turkish officials are possible US intervention in Iraq, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under the command of Turkey in Afghanistan and the dispute over the European Defense and Security Policy (ESDP). The US will strive to ensure Turkey’s support if it decides to launch a military operation in Iraq with the aim at overthrowing Saddam Hussein. Wolfowitz is expected to tell Turkish officials about US plans for the operation itself as well as the post-Saddam period. The US also wants to expand the territory under the control of the ISAF. However, Turkey is opposed to this idea since the US Congress has yet to allocate $228 million in aid which it had promised to deliver to Turkey for the command of the peacekeeping force. Concerning the ESDP, Turkey and the US share similar views since they both believe that the Ankara Document as signed by Turkey, the US and Britain does not need to be revised or re-opened for discussion. /Cumhuriyet/
TUSIAD CHAIRMAN MEETS WITH DERVIS
Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan yesterday met with State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis at the Treasury Ministry. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ozilhan said that he had expressed to Dervis his concern over the current political uncertainty and its effects on the economy. Ozilhan also said that this April and May everything had gone well, with inflation and interest rates moving down as well as a desirable stability on foreign exchange markets. “But after the onset of the slight sickness of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, all the economic indicators suffered,” said Ozilhan. Ozilhan also said that politicians should play an important role in solving problems, whether the current government or the opposition carries out this responsibility. /Hurriyet/
CILLER ASKS KOHL FOR SUPPORT IN EU BID
True Path (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller yesterday met with former German Prime Minister Helmut Kohl. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ciller said, “During the Customs Union process, Germany was sometimes against Turkey, but now that Turkey is ready for European Union membership, we asked for its support for Turkey’s membership bid.” Ciller was prime minister in 1995 when the Customs Union agreement took force. /Hurriyet/
IZGI: “PARLIAMENT NEEDS THE VIEWS OF EVERY SECTOR OF SOCIETY”
The new leadership of Turkey’s Journalist’s Association visited Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi yesterday. At the meeting, Izgi said, “Parliament needs the views of the full range of society, including press and non-governmental organizations [NGOs].” He added, “Democracy works best when Parliament takes into consideration the views of every sector of society. Otherwise democracy can stall and stifle.” /Milliyet/
ERDOGAN: “SERIOUS STEPS FOR OUR EU BID SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE DECEMBER”
Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that serious steps should be taken for Turkey’s European Union accession before the EU’s Copenhagen summit in December. He touched on the issues of freedom of religion, conscience and expression mentioned in the Copenhagen criteria as well as education in mother tongues, saying that these rights should be guaranteed. Erdogan added that he hoped Germany would support Turkey’s EU bid. /Milliyet/
TUGIAD: “TURKEY NEEDS A NEW GOVERNMENT”
Turkish Association of Young Businessmen (TUGIAD) Chairman Hayati Kaya said yesterday that uncertainty in both politics and the economy would be dispelled if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit were to step down. Stressing that the TUGIAD didn’t want early elections as they could damage the nation’s economic stability. Kaya stated, “Ecevit is unable to carry out his duties properly due to his health problems. Turkey needs an active premier in this process.” Pointing to what he called an urgent need for a new government, Kaya also thanked Ecevit for his contributions to the country as a powerful statesman up to this time. /Turkiye/
BREKK: “TURKEY GREW FASTER THAN WE PREDICTED”
Speaking to Reuters yesterday, International Monetary Fund Turkey Representative Odd Brekk said, “Turkey grew faster than we predicted in the first quarter of 2002,” and added, “There are also signs that this growth will continue in the second quarter despite some negative developments such as fluctuations in financial markets, increase in interest rates and decrease in the lira’s value.” Meanwhile an IMF delegation is due to arrive in Turkey next Wednesday to conduct the Fund’s third review of the economic program. Public debt management is one of the most important issues which the IMF delegation will explore. /Milliyet/
DOUIN: “WE ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE TURKISH MARKET”
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Georges Douin, Renault's executive vice president for international operations, congratulated the Turkish National Football Team and said that Turkey had become a European Union member in terms of football. He said that this year close to 130,000 cars from all makers would be sold on the Turkish market and predicted that by 2005, this number could more than triple to as much as 500,000. Stating that Turkey had proved itself capable of overcoming difficult economic crises in the past, Douin added, “No matter what the economic situation is, there is a great deal of demand. Therefore, the future of the Turkish market seems to be bullish. The increase in value of the euro is a negative factor in terms of competitive strength. However, we have factories in such countries as Turkey, and this situation provides us with flexibility and advantages.” /Star/
DOGAN MEDIA GROUP OPENS NEW FACILITY IN GERMANY
Turkey’s Dogan Media Group yesterday opened a new press facility in Frankfurt, Germany. Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, and State Minister Tunca Toskay attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Dogan Chairman Aydin Dogan called on Turkish leaders to open the roads which would bridge Turkey to Europe. Dogan also urged German leaders to open the doors of the European Union to Turkey. /Hurriyet/
CELEBI HOLDING SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SPANISH COMPANY
Celebi Holding Inc. yesterday signed an agreement of strategic cooperation and common development with Spanish company FCC Aqua y Entorno Urbano S.A., a leading European construction and services holding. Stating that Celebi had spent two years evaluating its possible strategic partnerships with European companies, Celebi Director General Murat Ozturk said that they decided on FCC Aqua y Entorno Urbano following a host of meetings with several other companies. Ozturk added that under the deal, the two companies had agreed to jointly enter bids in regions such as Central Europe, the Turkic-speaking countries, the Middle East and North Africa. This agreement will not change the partnership structure of the two companies, he added. /Star/
SUCCESSFUL HITTITE EXHIBIT MOVES TO BERLIN
A popular exhibit of ancient Hittite artifacts co-organized by Turkey’s Culture Ministry is moving to Berlin after a successful six-month run in Bonn. “The Hittites: People of 1,000 Gods” attracted nearly a quarter of a million visitors to Bonn’s Federal Exhibition Hall during its showing this January-June, and it is due to open next Thursday at Berlin’s Martin-Gropius building. The exhibit boasts over 150 rare, precious artifacts such as clay tablets, seals and miniature statues made by Anatolia’s ancient Hittite people. Turkish Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, who will attend the opening in Berlin, had this to say: “This exhibit will strengthen the centuries-long ties of culture and mutual activities which connect Turkey and Germany. We are very pleased to see this show make the move from a successful run in Bonn to Berlin, where even more people will have the opportunity to see its wonders.” For more information on the exhibit, which will stay in Berlin through the end of September, visit http://www.kah-bonn.de or http://www.kultur.gov.tr. /Aksam/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION