Selections From Todays Turkish Press

The reports are from the selection by Turkish Directorate General of Press and İnformation online publication. The authenticity and validty of the content is under the source's responsibility

? ECHR DECISION ON THE WELFARE PARTY CASE

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey right in the Welfare Party case. The administrators of the banned Welfare Party (RP) had applied to the Court against Turkey. ECHR said, "A country might prevent a political goal, which carries a potential of threatening the peace and democracy in that country, just before it turns itself to political activism. The sanctions on the former administrators of the RP like former Chairman of the party, Necmettin Erbakan, can be considered as inevitable social requirements to protect the democracy." Taking RP's statements including violence into consideration, the Court stated that the goals of the party were against the democracy. The Court added, "the Welfare Party declared that they would establish a system based on religious discrimination and a radical fundamentalist state which would be contrary to the basic principles of the European Convention OF Human Rights. They also gave the impression that they would tend to use violence to keep their position." /All Papers/

KANADOGLU: "ECHR DECISION ON RP IS A GUARANTEE FOR SECULARISM"

The High Court of Appeals Prosecutor in Chief, Sabih Kanadoglu, said the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision on the banned Welfare Party (FP) case which found Turkey right, proved that there was no right to destroy democracy in democratic regimes. Kanadoglu said the decision would be a guarantee for the secularism which is sine qua non for a democracy. Meanwhile High Court of Appeals, Retired Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas said, "RP was the center of the anti-secular movements. Additionally, the leaders of the party delivered speeches against our Constitution. That's why Turkey is right in reaching such a decision." /Cumhuriyet/

US OFFERS A NEW ROLE TO TURKEY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The United States demanded Turkey to be included in the list of countries to which the American observers' reports in the Middle East, will be presented. According to the Jerusalem Post, Washington proposed an International Higher Committee to be established to which the observers will present their views on the violations of the cease-fire. The proposal names the countries to form the committee as follows: the attendees of the Sharm El Sheih Summit US, Jordan, Egypt, EU, and also Russia, and the members of the Mitchell Committee, Turkey and Norway. Previous proposal included only the attendees of the Summit to form such a committee. /Cumhuriyet/

ITALIAN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY

Italian State Minister responsible for production, Antonio Marzano, will visit Turkey on August 6th. It was stated that Marzano would visit Turkey due to the Sapiem 7000 ship's passage through the Bosphorus. Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Zeki Cakan met with Italy's Ankara Ambassador Vittoro Surdo to discuss the cooperation on energy between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/

TOBB DEMANDS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RESTRUCTURING MANUFACTURING SECTOR

The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) delegation met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Minister of State Kemal Dervis and Ministers of Finance and Industry yesterday. TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that they were satisfied with the statement of the government. Speaking after his meeting with Ecevit, Hisarciklioglu said TOBB demanded an active role in the restructuring fund which is planned to be established to overcome the problems in the manufacturing sector. Stating the government was seeking solutions for the problems of the manufacturing sector, TOBB Chairman added holding meetings with related ministers was a positive development. The TOBB delegation conveyed the problems of the manufacturing sector to the Ministers. Hisaciklioglu said that they agreed to hold joint meetings among the sectors and that these meetings would begin next week. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS SAYS NO TO PACKAGE PLAN

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that they are against a "package solution" for Cyprus. He noted that the targets for the negotiations should be determined as a result of an agreement in principle with Greek Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides. Denktas, who received the TRNC Association for Struggling with Erosion (KEMA) representatives, said that it was essential to discuss in what new framework the equal sovereignty of Cyprus Turks will be out, and how bridges for cooperation with the Greek Administration were to be formed. Moreover, Denktas emphasized that the EU membership issue should be discussed in two parts. /Turkish News/

SWITZERLAND DELIVERS $870 MILLION TO TURKEY

The Swiss government will deliver a grant of $870 million to Turkey for Bursa, Canakkale and Sakarya provinces for use of precaution against expected earthquake. Swiss Ambassador Kury Wyss and UN Turkey Representative Alfredo Witschi Cestari signed the Switzerland-Turkey Development Cooperation Agreement yesterday with a ceremony. The Agreement foresees a grant of $870 million to be delivered to the local administrations and people in the provinces which are under the risks of earthquake such as Bursa, Canakkale and Sakarya for better preparations against the earthquake. The project, financed by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Institution, includes campaigns to inform people how to prepare against the earthquake. The members of the local administrations will be educated about the disaster management and emergency cases. /Cumhuriyet/

ISRAIL WANTS BARGAIN FOR WATER

The Israeli government offered Turkey a tank modernization project in return for Manavgat waters. After the Israeli government held talks with Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Administration of State Hydraulic Works for years, to buy Manavgat waters, withdrew suddenly from negotiations in last June. Then Israel called upon a new bargain with a new offer during the visit of Defence Minister Ben Eliezer in July. /Milliyet/

AMENDMENT OF THE LAW FOR PRIVATIZATION

The State Minister responsible of the privatization, Yılmaz Karakoyunlu said they began to work for the amendment to the privatization law, by which new principles will be applied to the selling processes. Karakoyunlu explained that a new draft is being prepared because the law dated 1994 is not responsive to today's needs. This is the maximum amount of privatization which could be done with the old law. We are working on the draft to be put on the agenda of the Grand National Assembly on September 17. Before giving shape to the draft we will specify the principles. For a comprehensive privatization to be realised , financial and administrative regulations are needed . /Milliyet/

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION LAW DRAFT SENT TO PARLIAMENT

A draft law amending some articles of regional administrations has been sent to the Parliament. The draft, prepared by the Interior Ministry, organizes issues such as job distribution between regional administrations. Central administration will carry out missions related to justice, defense, security, foreign policy, financial, foreign trade and customs issues. The draft also enables regional administrations to be more effective when making financial decisions about themselves, and organizes the establishment conditions of municipalities and greater city municipalities. /Turkish Daily News/

NO HITCH ON YUCEL YENER'S APPOINTMENT

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu said on Tuesday that the required official signatures to appoint Yucel Yener to the Director General of state-run Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) are almost completed. Denying allegations that Nationalist Action Party (MHP) deputies were at odds with the other coalition partners about Yener's appointment, Karakoyunlu said there is no crisis in the government. /Turkish Daily News/

PAYING TO GO ABROAD STARTS TODAY

Starting with effect Wednesday Aug. 1 all Turkish nationals leaving the country for whatever reason will be obliged to pay $50 and have a special sticker to that effect put into the passports. The amount does not have to be paid in US dollars and can be paid in TL at the daily Central Bank exchange rates. /Turkish Daily News/

CSFB'S REPORT ON TURKISH BONDS

The Investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) stated that purchase of the Turkish Eurobonds might be suggested to the foreign investors in its report on Turkish bonds. The report argued that stability in the financial sectors might be sustained if Turkey continues to pursue the IMF Program with a determination. /Turkiye/

OIL PRODUCTION REACHES FIVE MILLION TONS

According to the data by the Office of the Adiyaman Governor and Turkish Petroleum Board (TPAO), five million tons oil were produced in seven months in Adiyaman and neighboring provinces, which have the greatest oil reserves in Turkey. TPAO extracted the 90 % of the oil and foreign companies the rest. /Turkiye/

THREE TURKISH FIRMS IN THE LIST OF TOP 100 DEFENSE FIRMS

Three Turkish firms placed in the "Top 100 Defense Firms in the World prepared by the Defense News Magazine. Aselsan placed 80th, Hava Electronics Industry, 96th and TAI, 97th. /Hurriyet/

VOYAGE TOWARDS HISTORY

The Silk Road Voyage, which will begin in Istanbul and end in Malaysia, started at the Sultanahmet Square yesterday. Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, Toursim Ministry Undersecretary Savas Kuce and the Malaysian Ambassador Dakin Paduka Mealnie Leong attended the ceremony held, due to the beginning of the journey. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Gurtuna said, "I hope this voyage would reinforce the friendship and cooperation between the two countries." /Turkiye/

JEWISH CULTURE AND EUROPEAN DAY COMING UP

A series of activities will be held in Istanbul on Sept. 2 to mark "Jewish Culture and European Day" activities organized by the European Jewish Communities Council in 21 European countries. Reportedly, the event, which was first organized in France's Alsace region in 1996, is now being organized in 21 European countries by the European Jewish Communities Council. /Turkish News/

IHSANOGLU: NEW CHAIRMAN OF IUHPS

Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Founding Chairman of the Turkish Institution of History of Science, was elected as the Chairman of the International Union for History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS). The elections were held during the 1st International History of Science Congress in Mexico City. Prof. Ihsanoglu was presented with "Golden Success Award" by the American Institute for Biography. /Cumhuriyet/

13 TURKISH ACADEMICIAN IN THE HONOR LISTS

13 Turkish economists have been placed on the ten lists of best economists which were prepared for their works during the period of 1994-98. The lists are made considering various criteria, such as number of research papers in international publications, and factors of influencing. The works of Daron Acemoğlu from MIT, Efe Ok from New York and Faruk Gül from Princeton University took place on six lists. Timur Kuran have places on four, Selahattin İmrahoğlu in three, Abdullah Yavaş and Naci H. Mocan on two, Tayfun Sönmez Vefa Tarhan, Cem Karayalçın, Erinç E. Yeldan on one list. Last year, seven Turkish academicians had placed among "the Most successful 1,000 economists of the World List" prepared by the EEA(European Economic Agency). /Milliyet/

RAPPROCHEMENT IN ART WITH GREECE

The Ministry of Culture Amateur Youth Folk Dances and Folk Music Group will travel to Greece today to attend Cultural August Festival and Secek Festivals. Speaking about the activities of the Group, the Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay, said that festivals were great opportunities to improve bilateral relations and to meet new people. Our aim is to introduce our culture to the Greeks, to support our citizens living in Greece psychologically, and then to reinforce the friendship between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/

AN ERA IS COMING TO AN END BY OKAY GONENSIN (SABAH)

Columnist Okay Gonensin comments on the European Court Of Human Rights decision regarding the closure of the Welfare Party (RP). A summary of his column is as follows: "Erbakan was a political figure coming to the scene of Turkish politics in the 1960s. The first party he formed was defending radical Islam. The turning point for this party was the coalition it formed with the Republican People's Party following the 1973 general elections. The coalition Government formed with the True Path Party after the 1995 elections was the beginning of the end for Erbakan. Prime Minister Erbakan and his team caused concern in the Turkish public with every word they uttered. 80% of the people saw the indications that the society was being shoved towards an outdated lifestyle. However, just before the Welfare Party was closed, Erbakan and his team discovered 'democracy'. Those who stayed far away from democracy, who likened it to a streetcar, which should be used to reach their purpose until then, began to talk incessantly about human rights, the Copenhagen criteria and even Turkey's full EU membership. The European Court of Human Rights stressed two points while rejecting the case opened by the Welfare Party; the statement of their desire to form a Shariat state and the start of actions which would turn violent. With this decision the ECHR has dealt a severe blow to political Islamic movements which see democracy in Turkey as a tool. This is a severe blow because it has confirmed that these movements do not take place within a democratic framework. The democratic style used by these movements recently has not been enough to influence the Court. A period, in which Erbakan was one of the main political figures, is coming to an end in Turkey. Erbakan had ruled the Virtue Party (FP) with remote control, and behaved like the real leader of the Felicity Party (SP). One of the reasons for his influence was that following a decision in his favor coming from the ECHR, the ban on his entrance to politics would be lifted and he would return to chair the party. This belief was smashed yesterday. Following this decision it is inevitable to see a rapid drop in the support for the Felicity Party. Tayyip Erdogan and his reformist friends who are trying to form a new party against Erbakan were the directors, spokesmen, ministers and leading mayors elected from the Welfare Party, which is confirmed to be anti-democratic by the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. This is also a severe blow on them."

AND THE COURT HAS SPOKEN BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the European Court of Human Rights ruling regarding the closure of the Welfare Party. A summary of his column is as follows: "Erbakan will not learn a lesson from the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights he has waited with high hopes until yesterday. In fact this ruling declares the bankruptcy of the policy Erbakan has followed for over 30 years exploiting religion. ECHR found Turkey to be in the right in the closure of the Welfare Party. The gravest dangers Turkey has faced concerning the democratic regime since it has passed on to a multi-party system were exploiting religion for political purposes and the views held by political parties who wanted to bring a shariat system, that this was their democratic right. However hard we tried to explain the danger of a mentality which tried to bring religion into power, we could not express it to a world which had taken out religion from politics some 300 hundred years ago. If they did not witness the despotism of mullahs in Iran or the Taliban in Afghanistan may be they would not have listened to it. They have finally realized the realities and decided on this ruling which said secularism was an indispensable part of democratic system. They also rejected the plurality of legal systems some Islamic intellectuals have defended referring to the Medina Agreement. This ruling has put an end to the discussion whether it was a democratic right or not to want to abolish the democratic regime and stated that it was illegal to want to wipe out democracy. Therefore, this is not a ruling only concerned with the closure of party. "