Karen Fogg, the European Union Commission's representative to Turkey, said on Saturday that the target of every EU candidate state is the same, but the accession process should not be considered as a competition among the candidates. Speaking in a meeting on the latest developments in Turkey-EU relations held by the Beypazari Cultural Development and Solidarity Foundation, Turkey-EU Association and Beypazari Municipality, Fogg said that every EU candidate must make its own decision as to how rapidly it will adjust to EU norms. Fogg noted that she thought that the quickest candidate is the best candidate, and that the development speed of every candidate is different. The EU Commission wants to hold contacts with as many people as it can, Fogg stated. Fogg said that both sides have expectations and doubts as to the candidacy process, and that both sides do not know each other sufficiently. (Turkish Daily News)
German Support For Turkey
In the announcement given by a promotion company in the "Wellt am Sonntag" daily, 16 people including the former German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans Dietrich Genscher, the former German Minister of Finance, Oskar Lafontaine and the Chairman of the German Industrialists Association, Michael Rogowski, have given support to Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU). In the announcement given by the WMP Euro COM AG Company, it was stated that Turkey was an important country with its geography, history and economic opportunities and that she had been among the EU-candidate countries since 1999. In the announcement it was added that Turkey had been trying hard to meet the expectations of the institutions of the EU. The announcement added that the subjective opinions should be removed and that Turkey deserved support and partnership. (Turkiye)
European Standards iIn The Environment
The Environment Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly has accepted the draft which gives the right of individual application to the autorities for anyone who hears, sees or experiences any kind of environmental damages to stop hazardous production of matters that effect the environment. The draft has been prepared according to the EU's standards. (Cumhuriyet)
Turkey And Greece To Cooperate Against Crime
An agreement signed between Turkey and Greece on January 20, 2000 in Ankara that proposed cooperation against terrorism, organized crime, drug smuggling and illegal immigration was published in Saturday's Offficial Gazette. The agreement signed by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou foresees cooperation between Turkey's Interior Ministry and Greece's Public Order Ministry. Under the agreement, the two sides will take measures to prevent terrorist activities and crimes which threaten each other. Under the agreement, Turkey and Greece have promised to work together to prevent the production of drugs, chemical substances used in drug production and their sales. The agreement also covers cooperation in arms smuggling, smuggling of radioactive and poisonous materials, fraud in official documents and the smuggling of historical objects. (Turkish Daily News)
Bahceli: "The Government Of Technocracy Is Wrong"
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli said that the government of technocracy would be wrong. Bahceli noted that Turkey has been experiencing the regime of democracy for a long time and it would not be right to put forth such a proposal outside politics. Regarding a proposal made by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said that he would do his best for the solution of the problem between State Minister Kemal Dervis and the MHP, Bahceli stated that the MHP did not need such a mediation and said that the MHP had no problems with anyone. (Milliyet)
ANAP Regional Chairmen Meeting
As the 7th Congress approaches, Regional Chairmen of the Motherland Party organisation declared clearly that they will support party chairman Mesut Yilmaz. The Congress will be held on August 4-5. Chairmen said in a statement that they will be able to pass through these hard days and win the electoral campaigns by the lead of Mesut Yilmaz because of his experience, strong personality and deep background.(Cumhuriyet)
Turkey, Ethiopia To Cooperate In The Fight Against Drug Smuggling
An agreement signed between Turkey and Ethiopia, which proposes cooperation in the fight against drug smuggling, international terrorism and organized crime, was published in Friday's Official Gazette. The agreement, which was signed on March 2, 2001 in Adis Ababa, aims to strengthen cooperation between the security units of Turkey and Ethiopia. (All papers)
Turk: "No More F-Type Prisons"
The Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Türk stated yesterday that the prison houses in Turkey will be modernised and F-Type prisons will not be constructed any more in any part of Turkey. (Cumhuriyet)
Nuclear Threat To Straits Grows
Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin has said that Turkey would use all legal avenues open to it, to prevent foreign vessels carrying nuclear waste from passing through Turkish waters. Aytekin, who released a written statement about the transportation of hazardous products through the Turkish Straits, said that if one of these ships collided with another, or ran aground during the passage, not only the residents who live around the straits, but all the people who live in the countries on the Black Sea and Aegean coast would be negatively affected by the consequences of such a disaster. (All papers)
TPAO's Statement
Deputy General Director of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Ali Turkoglu, stated that the natural gas inspection works at Mersin and Iskenderun Bays, which have been continuing for one year, had given positive results, and that the drilling and testing level had been reached. Turkoglu said the drilling platform, which was brought from Egypt had been located 28-36 south of Adana's district of Karatas. The drilling works will be completed in 100 days and all the costs of the drilling, amounting to 30 million US dollars, will be paid by the TPAO's partner, the American El Paso Company. (Turkiye(
Bartholomeos:" Patriachate Can Work Freely"
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos said that patriarchate was able to carry out its task without any intervention from Turkey. Speaking to the Greek newspaper Elefterotipia, Bartholomeos denied allegations that the patriarchate is under the "captivity" of Turks and therefore, cannot carry out its task well. Stating that the patriarchate can carry out its religious tasks freely and without being under the influence of any authority, Bartholomeos underlined that their international activities can be seen as proof of this. (All papers(
Atlantic Pride
The ship named "Atlantic Pride" has been launched yesterday with a ceremony held under the presence of State Minister Fikret Ünlü. The ship which has a Quality 9002 certificate was constructed at the Salah ship building yard. (Cumhuriyet(
Turkey, Israel To Seek Us Approval Over Arrows
Israeli Defense Minister Ben Eliezer's Spokesman Yarden Vatikay told Anatolia news agency that Eliezer, during his recent visit to Turkey, discussed with Turkish authorities the joint production of the Arrow missile defense system as well as its development in Turkey. Vatikay said that the joint production of the missile defense systems could be done in Turkey, Israel or India and it could be exported to other countries. He said that Washington's approval is needed to include Turkey in the joint production, since Israel is currently producing the weapon jointly with the United States. "I believe that Turkish officials agreed to ask for Washington's approval during Eliezer's visit to Turkey." Eliezer is expected to discuss the matter with US officials when he visits this country next week. (Turkish Daily News(
Orient Expresss Iraq-Turkey Train Service Resumes
Regular passenger train services between Iraq and Turkey will resume on Friday, July 20th, the Associated Press reported on Saturday. The passenger service will be on a once-weekly basis. The first Iraqi passenger train will leave Baghdad on Friday, passing through Mosul in northern Iraq, then through northern Syria into Mardin, across the border to Syria. The one-way fare will be 20 US dollars. Iraqi Railways Acting Director General Falan Hassan Habsi was quoted as saying, "For the time being, it will be a daily trip. But we are planning to increase the number of trains if demands increase." (Turkish Daily News)
Isikara In The Us
Professor A. Mete Işikara, the director of the Kandilli Observatory House of the Bosphorus University, has gone to the United States of America to participate in the opening ceremony of the Centre for the Disaster Management of the Colorado University. (Cumhuriyet(
IMF Delegation's Contacts
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will hold contacts with the institutions dealing with economy and will evaluate the latest developments in the Turkish economy within the framework of the "Passage to the Strong Economy." The delegation will stay in Turkey for ten days and will be briefed about the latest situation in the economy. The delegation will also try to change the targets, which seem hard to be implemented in the second period of six months. Following the contacts of the IMF delegation, the Executive Board of the IMF will convene. The Board is expected to discuss the release the loan amounting to 1.5 billion US dollars at the end of this month or at the beginning of next month. The other loans, each amounting to 3 billion US dollars will be released on September 20 and November 15. In addition, the US Deputy Treasury Secretary, John Taylor, said the countries who have made agreements with the IMF should be in compliance with the conditions of the program. (Turkiye, Hurriyet(
IMF Hands Over Next Tranche
The Executive Board of the IMF approved the eighth review of Turkey's economic program supported by the three-year stand-by agreement. The board's decision will enable Turkey to draw $1.5 billion immediately from the IMF. Following the executive board negotiations on Turkey, Horst Kohler, Managing Director and Chairman, said: "The IMF commends the Turkish authorities' strong and comprehensive efforts to implement their strengthened program, and approves the completion of the eighth review. Much has been achieved to restructure the economy and improve Turkey's economic fundamentals". (All papers(
Le Monde on IMF Loans To Turkey
French Daily "Le Monde" commented on the IMF loan that of 1,5 billion US dollars to be the sign which indicates that IMF has decided to start the rescue plan for Turkey. Le Monde said that although the coalition government in Turkey is so weak, it faces no real and strong opposition in the Parliament. Therefore political and economic actors in Turkey are aware of the fact that Turkey has no choice of going to new general elections nor can chose an alternative parliament group for the formation of any other government formula against the current coalition government. (Cumhuriyet(
No Debt Rollover Problem
Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, told reporters soon after the IMF and the World Bank approved the delayed loan tranches that Turkey's domestic debt stock totalled TL 92 quadrillion ($68.9 billion) as of July 12, a rise of around nine percent on figures posted for the end of May. "Turkey does not appear to have a debt rollover problem" Oztrak said. (All papers(
Treasury's Seven-Month Bond Tender
The Treasury will hold a seven-month bond tender tomorrow. The Treasury expects to borrow at least a total amount of TL 300 trillion. (Milliyet(
Is Bankasi Is The 105th Biggest Bank
In "The biggest 1000 World Bank" competition, which is held by the Banker periodicals, Is Bankasi was deemed to be the 105th biggest bank in the world. It was reported that the best were chosen according to the size of capital, and Turkey's ranking increased 17 points as a result of this grading. (Turkish Daily News(
A Turk At The Computer Associates
Tarkan Maner has been appointed the deputy chairman responsible for the marketing department of the US soft-ware company, Computer Associates which has a total turn-over of $10 billion. Maner stated that Turkish people who migrated to the US should not cut their relations with Turkey. (Hurriyet(
Euromoney Praises Akbank And Global Personal Assets Company
The world famous finance magazine, "Euromoney" has elected Akbank and Global Personal Assets Company as the best of Turkey in their field. The "Euromoney" has organized an award ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London. During the ceremony, the General Director of Akbank, Zafer Kurtul, has represented Akbank and the Global Personal Assets Company was represented by the Finance Director of the Company, Mehmet Sagiroglu. (Turkiye(
Oldest Portraits Of Christianity Found In Ephesus
The oldest murals were found in a cave, located in Ephesus, and was claimed that these were the portraits of the Virgin Mary and Saint Paulos, one of the disciples of Jesus. It was said that the murals had a very important role for the relationship between religions and world history. The archaeological team said that after completing the restoration of the cave, which is expected to continue for three years, the cave would be opened to visitors. (Turkish Daily News(
One More Record By Yasemin Dalkilic
Yasemin Dalkilic who has previously broke a record in free diving has also completed a test record diving in Egypt. Dalkilic dove under 105 metres with an elevator in two minutes and 38 seconds. Dalkilic is also planning to break a record in Greece. (Milliyet(
Even Argentina Searches For A Solution Within Democracy By Ferai Tinc (Hurriyet)
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the recent economic crisis and the solutions sought to overcome it. The columnist states that even though Argentina is going through the most serious crisis in her history she is not talking about a formula concerning a cabinet formed of technocrats. Talking of the situation in Turkey, the columnist says the following: "Does the resent crisis in Turkey stem only from the actions of the Government or politicians? Certainly not. In every institution there are similar ailments in Turkey to those seen in Argentina.. Whoever can say that nothing of the sort happens here? A generation, which has reached the age of mastering, is experiencing the pains of not being able to perform its duties creatively, or developing its skills. The unhappiness created by a system where the order of merit is upset can be seen everywhere. Young people are left with their CVs (resumes) in their hands. They accept themselves lucky if they can find a job even with little pay. However, this is not something new. Turkey is living through this syndrome as long as I am aware of what is going around. These are the shortcomings due to the inability to establish a democratic and transparent system based on real competition. It is not possible to overcome this sickness by extreme formulas such as a cabinet of technocrats. What if we cannot solve the problems with this formula? Let us leave these outdated solutions aside. We have great ambitions, aims and desires. We have made our choice. We are a candidate country for full EU membership. Instead of freeing politicians with interim formulas, we should follow their actions and ask them to account for their deeds."