x0x Turkish news for week ending 10 August 2002
Turkish Radio Hour
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x0x Turkish news for week ending 10 August 2002
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A service of the TURKISH RADIO HOUR, producer of:
TURKISH CULTURAL PROGRAM
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Ahmet Toprak edited today's news. Your host today is Senem Ozer.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Edited for the Turkish Radio Hour by Sevtap Schreff
* The International Monetary Fund's senior resident representative talked
to Dow Jones Newswires Friday about Turkey's increasing interest rates.
"Because of political uncertainty, interest rates have gone up, but we
haven't seen any major impact on the real economy," Odd Per Brekk said.
"If the political uncertainty can be solved fairly soon, and if a new
government that's committed to economic reforms takes over, interest rates
can come down fairly rapidly." he added.
Turkish interest rates spiked from an annual 52% in early May to 80%
amid political concerns triggered by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's health
problems.
Rates then dropped by 10 percentage points following the July 29
parliamentary vote to hold general elections Nov. 3. They are currently in
the 67%-68% band, compared with the end-2002 consumer inflation target
rate of 35%.
"For the year as a whole, level of rates are broadly in line with the
program, " Brekk said, adding that it was "put together on fairly
conservative assumptions," to allow for economic and political volatility.
The IMF's average annual rate projection is 60%-69%. Brekk said the 35%
inflation target can also be met comfortably. "The program has shown that
it can deliver results," he said, citing stronger- than-expected economic
data in the first half of the year. As Turkey struggled to recover from
the financial crisis that started in 2001, gross domestic product rose
unexpectedly by 2.3% on the year in the first quarter. The program's
target is for 3% annual growth.
* The Turkish Daily News reports that the Supreme Board of Radio and
Television issued a written statement explaining the points that the
broadcasting institutions should adhere to during the election period.
The rules are as follows:
- The radio and television corporations should avoid one-sided
broadcasting and equality of opportunity should be provided for political
parties between Aug. 7 and Oct. 27;
- Divisive broadcasting on race, gender, social class and religious
issues should not be made;
- Radio and televisions should broadcast in the framework of democratic
rules;
- These institutions should not broadcast the propaganda of a given
political party or parties apart from the political parties' propaganda
speeches according to the Law No. 298.
It was also mentioned that before the voting date radios and televisions
should not make broadcasts in favor of a candidate or a political party.
* Turkish Parliament approved a proposed budget Thursday to cover the
country's election cost reports the Turkish Daily News.
Turkish parliament is in summer recess but was recalled to approve 150
trillion Turkish lira to spend on the elections.
Legislators met in an emergency session last week and voted to hold
elections on Nov. 3 and passed a series of reforms, including abolishing
the death penalty.
The lawmakers on Thursday were also scheduled to debate and vote on a
job-security law. The proposal led to the resignation Wednesday of
Turkey's labor minister. Labor Minister Yasar Okuyan resigned citing
"serious divergence of opinion" with Deputy Premier Mesut Yilmaz, the
leader of his center-right Motherland Party over the proposed labor laws.
Mr. Okuyan backed the laws, but hinted Thursday that Yilmaz opposed them,
with the deputy premier apparently pressuring the labor minister to
resigning.
The draft laws would increase job security for private-sector employees
by making layoffs more difficult and requiring higher compensation.
Business leaders strongly oppose the proposal. Business leaders had called
the proposed law a ploy by the Motherland party to gain support ahead of
the elections.
But Mr. Okuyan hinted on Thursday that the proposal did not have
Yilmaz's backing.
Turkey's new Labor Minister Nejat Arseven, also from the Motherland
party, announced on Thursday that the law will go into effect on March 15.
Recent opinion polls show that the Motherland Party is likely to face
difficulty reaching the 10 percent threshold needed to enter the
parliament.
Eight ministers from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's party have resigned
in the past month, sparking a crisis that led parliament to call early
elections.
The resignations were sparked by a lack of confidence in the sickly
Ecevit's ability to keep his coalition together.
* The Anatolian News Agency reported that the draft law on job security
was accepted late Thursday by the Turkish parliament.
* According to the daily Turkiye, US Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the
US Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited International Security and Assistance
Force Commander Gen. Hilmi Akin Zorlu at his post in Afghanistan.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with General Pace, General Zorlu
stated that his visit demonstrated the United States' support for the
International Security and Assistance Force under Turkey's leadership.
General Zorlu also said that the two generals had discussed the latest
situation in Kabul.
For his part, General Pace thanked the Turkish government for its
contributions to humanitarian aid and the fight against terrorism.
* The Turkish Daily Sabah reports that before leaving Turkey to attend
yesterday's Iraqi opposition leaders meeting in Washington, Iraqi
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Mr. Jalal Talabani told reporters that
he wanted to build a united, democratic Iraq, not a divided one.
"We don't want Turkey and Iran to intervene in northern Iraq in case of
a US military attack," he added.
Mr. Talabani also stated that there was no need for a war to form a
democratic Iraq and that holding elections would be the best way to
achieve this goal and create a democratic environment in the region.
"We are taking Muslim, democratic Turkey as our model," he said
* Triggering the division process of Turkish parliament's biggest party,
the Democratic Left, by asking a date for the elections, Turkey's minister
responsibel for economy Mr. Kemal Dervis is now said to be paving the way
for strengthening the Justice and Development Party, even though he tries
to create a political alternative against this party reports the Turkish
Daily News.
The establishment of the New Turkey Party will probably decrease the
votes of the Democratic Peoples Party, which according to polls carried
out recently has been the second most favored party after the Justice and
Development Party.
Moreover, this may result in Democratic Left Party, the New Turkish
Party and the Republican People Party's vote count to stay below the ten
percent national threshold to get any representation in the parliament.
An alliance of the Motherland Party, the True Path party, the New
Turkish Party, the Democratic Turkey Party and Mr. Dervis may surpass the
threshold narrowly and this may lead to Justice and Development party's
increasing of its votes.
* According to daily Cumhuriyet, the Turkish Radio and Television
Corporation officially opened its Washington bureau on Thursday in a
ceremony presided over by State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu. Speaking at
the opening at the National Press Building, Karakoyunlu said, "It is quite
important for essential institutions such as TRT to open bureaus in
foreign countries."
* According to the daily Cumhuriyet, speaking yesterday on Turkey's
European Union membership bid, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Yusuf
Buluc said that Turkey had enacted required regulations to fulfill the
European Union's political criteria.
"Now it's the European Union's turn to give us a date at this December's
Copenhagen summit to start membership negotiations," he added.
He also remarked that implementing the reforms was important but that it
shouldn't stand in the way of Turkey's European Union bid.
In a related development, Turkish Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said that
the European Union reforms just signed by the Turkish president, in
particular those on mother tongue languages, had not been enacted solely
for Turkey's ethnic Kurds. Some 35 ethnic groups live within Turkey's
borders, he pointed out.
* The Turkish Daily News reported that in an operation carried out in Van,
approximately two kilograms of heroin were confiscated.
From information received, the Smuggling and Organized Crimes teams
searched a passenger bus traveling on the Ercis road and found 1.8
kilograms of heroin in bags belonging to a passenger named Iskender Mr.
Durmaz. Mr. Durmaz was arrested.
ARTS AND CULTURE
* Hundreds of works of art from Istanbul's Sabanci Museum and Modern Art
Museum as well as from 80 galleries from over a half-dozen countries are
set to be shown at the "Art Istanbul 2002-Istanbul International Modern
Art Gala" on Sept. 24-29, reports the daily Aksam.
Istanbul Art Gallery Owners' Association president Mr. Dogan Paksoy
stated that nearly 2,000 original paintings would be exhibited in this
event.
Istanbul's Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall with an area of
10,000 square feet will host the gala.
"At a time when Turkey is taking committed steps forward in its European
Union membership bid, this event has added importance," said Mr. Paksoy.
"In putting together this art gala, our sights are set on turning Turkey
into one of Europe's major art centers." Mr. Paksoy added.
* After seven years of restoration, the 1001 Column Cistern was opened to
the public at a ceremony on Thursday, attended by the deputy governor of
Istanbul, officials of the US consulate and other Turkish dignitaries,
reports the private channel NTV. Models taking part in ceremonies were
dressed in old Byzantine clothing.
It is hoped that the cistern will become a tourist attraction like the
nearby smaller Basilica Cistern. The 1001 Column Cistern has been fitted
out with indoor restaurants and cafes, and also has souvenir shops.
Located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul and built during the
Byzantine era, the 50,000 square feet cistern in fact has 224 columns and
used to serve as a source of water for the Lavsus Palace.
The underground cistern will serve as a museum where the art, cultural
and entertainment events will be staged.
See http://www.hakankiran.com/pages/binbirdirek.htm for photographs.
* According to the Anatolian News Agency, 28 inmates from a nearby prison
is taking part in the archeological dig in the remains of the ancient city
of Kaunos.
Dr. Adnan Biler of the Mugla University says that in addition to the
inmates,16 scholars from Kiel University of Germany, Mediterranean and
Mugla Universities of Turkey are participating.
The inmates are selected from the prison population based on their good
behavior. They are paid to the going rate. According to the prison
authorities, there is high interest among the prisoners for the work.
The history of the ancient city goes back to 4000 B.C. The first
excavations in the area were carried out in 1967 and have been continuing
ever since. So far remains of most of the city has been uncovered.
Currently a terrace-temple is being restored.
* Preparations for the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival are continuing.
The Festival will take place Sept. 1st to Sept. 5th.
In addition to the screening of interesting films, 12 painters from
eight countries will also exhibit their works.
Among the exhibitors will be:
- Alek Aleksandrov, Dimitar Velichkov and Maria Lugova of Bulgaria.
- Istban Balog and Adriana Bazilia Ilie of Rumania.
- Gina Fleiss and Karola Teschler of Germany.
- ElenaGarstea of Moldova.
- Eva Mazzucco of Austria.
- Pataj Pal of Hungary.
- Ahmed Sakr of Egypt.
- Özlem Kalkan Erenus of Turkey.
EXCHANGE RATE
Exchange rate for the U.S. dollar in Turkish Liras:
1,652,000
WEATHER
High and Low Temperatures in Degrees F, Weather
Istanbul (Marmara Region)--------: 88/72 Clear
Trabzon (Black Sea Region)-------: 81/72 Showers
Izmir (Aegean Region)------------: 97/73 Clear
Antalya (Mediterranean Region)---: 99/77 Clear
Ankara (Central Anatolian Region): 86/61 Clear
SEA WATER TEMPERATURES
Trabzon (Black Sea) 75
Kumkoy (Marmara Sea) 77
Bodrum (Aegean Sea) 77
Alanya (Mediterranean Sea) 86
SPORTS NEWS
Edited for the Turkish Radio Hour by Mark Novak
* Turkish Soccer- Premier Division
Week 1 matches
Ankaragucu - Malatyaspor
Bursaspor - Besiktas
Diyarbakirspor - Altay
Galatasaray - Samsunspor
G.Antep - Denizlispor
G?ztepe - Elazigspor
Istanbulspor - Adanaspor
Kocaelispor - G.Birligi
Trabzonspor 0-0 Fenerbahce
* Galatasaray slipped from 16th to 25th place in the world club rankings.
Besiktas rose from 125th to 119th and Fener from 139th to 132nd. The
International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) made
Real Madrid its top club followed by Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
* Turkey's leading international goalscorer Hakan Sukur has been released
by Parma and immediately after this was announced he paid a visit to
Galatasaray's Florya Metin Oktay training complex.
* South Korea left-winger Lee Eul-yong signed a two-year contract with
Trabzonspor
* Following his appearances there for Turkey at the World Cup, Besiktas
striker Ilhan Mansiz has become a cult figure in Japan.
* The Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) has a new disciplinary rule on the
use of foul language at matches. If a referee causes one warning
announcement to be made at a match, the club whose fans are responsible
for the misbehavior receives a formal warning. If a second announcement
is necessary, it is fined TL 1 billion and its stadium is closed for the
next home game. A third announcement and the fine goes up to TL 2.5
billion and the club is ordered to play a match behind closed doors.
* Basketball
Coach Aydin Ors has trimmed his 19-man candidate squad for the World
Basketball Championship to 15. Gone are Ender Arslan, Arda Vekiloglu and
Alper Yilmaz, all of Efes Pilsen, and Ulkerspor's Fatih Solak. The squad
will again be cut to 12 shortly before the championship begins. The
present 15 are: Kerem Tunceri, Omer Onan, Kaya Peker (all Efes), Hakan
Koseoglu, Ufuk Sarica (both Darussafaka), Tutku Acik, Harun Erdenay, Haluk
Yildirim, Asim Pars, Kerem Gonlum (all Ulker), Ibrahim Kutluay
(Panathinaikos), Hidayet Turkoglu (Sacramento Kings), Mirsad Turkcan
(Montepaschi Siena), Mehmet Okur (Detroit Pistons), Huseyin Besok (Maccabi
Tel Aviv).
* Efes Pilsen Istanbul World Cup
Final
Yugoslavia 101 - 82 Canada
3rd place match
Turkey 65-69 Brazil
5th place match
Bulgaria 97-95 China 97-95
Wooden Spoon Match:
Angola 95-71 Algeria
Peja Stojakovic was named tournament MVP. Todor Stoykov capped was the
leading scorer. Brazil's Guilhermo Giovannoni was the top rebounder.
Hidayet Turkoglu headed the assists table.
* Izmir Municipality said that it is to pull out of the Men's Basket Ball
1st division league in order to merge with Goztepe, another newly-promoted
Izmir side, so that the two clubs can use their joint resources to
establish a stronger team.
* Other sports
* Turkey's 56-kg Olympic champion Halil Mutlu announced that he will not
defend his title at the World Championship in Poland in October. Mutlu is
still recovering from surgery on his upper arm.
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