Daily Review of Turkish Media

e-mail: amutlu@superonline.com Editor: Aylin Sagtür Mutlu

This sample issue of the NTA Daily Review of Turkish Media has been reposted with permission on the Eurasia Research Center Web Site. For subscription information contact the editor at: News & Translation Agency.

December 24, 1998 – Thursday

1. HEADLINES

4. ECONOMY ………………………….5

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CHOICE OF KIOSK: YALIM EREZ

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He had been first the architect of the Motherland-True Path, then the Welfare-True Path party coalitions.

President Suleyman Demirel charged independent deputy Yalim Erez, of forming the government. Yalim Erez who, a while ago had declared that he is a candidate for the Prime Ministerial post, now has caught such a chance. Erez said he was self-confident to form a government and "I am not making formulations of a government in advance. I shall establish a broad-leaning government. The day is not for political interests and hatred."

Erez said his distance to all political parties, is equal.

True Path Party leader Tansu Ciller reacted very strongly at the duty given to Yalim Erez. Criticising President Demirel’s method in naming the prime minister, Ciller said "No one has the right to appoint prime ministers."

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Leader Deniz Baykal will act according to the structure of the government to be established by Erez and his attitude when doing so.

Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan is rather cautious towards Erez and is preparing to put forward two conditions. These namely will be; Holding elections on April 18 and including FP into the new government.

DSP leader Ecevit said his party will not create any difficulties to a government to be led by Erez.

Motherland Party leader Mesut Yilmaz said "Charging Erez with the duty, is a positive thing. We shall give him full support."

EREZ: THE CONSTANT MINISTER OF THREE GOVERNMENTS

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Yalim Erez was one of the architects of the Motherland-TruePath (ANAYOL) Party, Welfare-True Path Party (REFAHYOL) and Motherland-Democratic Left and Democratic Turkey Party (ANASOL-D) coalitions. He acted also in demolishing the REFAHYOL. After the February 28 process (Launched by the soldiers against the fundamentalist uprising caused by the Refahyol government-nta), he launched political engineering, by saying "Either death or change!" He served as minister in three separate governments.

One of the important missions of Erez is expected to be separate local and general elections and have two-round elections. There is rumor that President chose Erez, so as to dissolve the True Path Party, under Ciller.

After being named by Demirel, Erez said "I shall not quarrel. I will implement the policy of Ismet Pasha (The brilliant Turkish commander and Second President, Ismet Inonu-nta). "Like Ismet Pasha did, I will not hear those willing to quarrel. I know my job is tough. Until now God did not have me receive any duty which I could not suceed. I shall succeed. I will contact leaders, starting from Kutan."

Erez said he will start his tour among leaders Monday and "Will conclude in 2.5 days."

Erez has been serving for 18 months as the Industry and Trade Minister.

KEY OF EREZ, IS AT CHP

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The Republican People’s Party’s position towards the selection of Erez as the next prime minister, has been rather distant. However CHP did not shut the doors completely to Erez. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said "This sohuld be tried. He said he will come and talk with us. We shall first listen to him."

Baykal said "We may extend support if we are equally represented and we agree on the principles.

The Editor of Cumhuriyet, Mustafa Baybay says in his column "The line pursued by Erez exemplifies the situation of politics in Turkey. ..Erez is know for his closeness to press kartels. He was the first signatory of the law which barred newspapers from making promotions (like offering plates and home appliances-nta).

But again it was Erez, as a minister who went around that ban and indulged the dailies. He is still resisting the ruling produced by the Constitutional Court to implement this ban."

"Erez is set not to receive any vote of confidence for his government as the total seats of FP,DYP and CHP at Parliament is 298, whereas the total seats of ANAP,DSP and DTP is only 209."

(Zaman,1,10; Hurriyet,1,30,32; Cumhuriyet,1,8; Milliyet,1,19)

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HIDE AND SEEK WITH APO

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There are rumors that Apo has returned to Russia, while Ukraine and Estonia are willing to take him.

Italian Prime Minister D’Alema showed the direction to Apo, whom he described as a free person, at his press conference; The judiciary authorities released Abdullah Ocalan after Germany withdrew its demand for extradition. Under our legislation he may go wherever he wants to. This is not the problem of the government, but the law.

Before half a day elapsed after this announcement of the Italian Prime Minister, the Russian ORT Television made a bomb-like announcement at its prime-time news; Abdullah Ocalan returned to Russia, to which he had demanded political asylum!

ORT said that Russian and Italian secret services agreed among themselves and brought Ocalan to Russia. The ORT did not elaborate on whether Apo came here to stay permanently.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir said that Italy wanted to get rid of Ocalan and "The mouse wants ot escape; we are filling the holes." Haktanir added that Yeltsin and Primakov had made assurances to Turkey.

(Milliyet,1,14)

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CHP IS THE KEY PARTY AGAIN

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After President Süleyman Demirel gave the duty to establish the 56^th government to independent deputy Yalim Erez the controversy on the government models started again. In this point the attitudes of the opposition parties are very important. It was claimed that DSP (Democratic Left Party) will not support a government with FP (Virtue Party). On the other hand DYP (True Path Party) does not want to be in a government with ANAP (Motherland Party) and DSP which it had opposed before. It was claimed that DYP will not support this government because of Yalim Erez who was the minister of Industry in Yilmaz government. CHP now becomes the key party for the 56^th government. To get the majority in the parliament Erez needs the support of CHP. Deniz Baykal, CHP leader very well knows that being a rules party is an advantage for the election. But CHP insists on the equal distribution of the ministries.

(Milliyet 15)

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ÇILLER OPERATION IN DYP

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Tension increased between DYP leader Tansu Çiller and President Süleyman Demirel when Demirel became the president and left the control of party to Tansu Çiller. Many people were thinking that DYP would be under control of its ex-leader President Demirel. But Çiller resisted the shadow leadership of Demirel and a silent war was started. Isparta organization which was very close to President Demirel (Isparta is Demirel’s hometown) was dissolved by the DYP administration. It was known as the fortress of Demirel family and Süleyman Demirel’s brother Sevket Demirel was holding the control. A key figure in DYP said: "We made an operation. Sevket Demirel was controlling Isparta. But it is over now"

(Milliyet 15)

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CASSETTES BELONG TO THE GANG

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CHP Deputy Fikri Saglar said DYP Vice chairman Meral Aksener had committed a crime by wire tapping the phones of Hürriyet administrators when she was the minister of Interior. He said the cassettes are the product of a "special organization". This organization was established in Çiller period and it was called Social Intelligence Organization. "This was called Çiller Private Organization and It was alleged that two American advisors Jay Kriegel and David Barchard had organized it" said Saglar.

(Hürriyet 23)

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HUMAN RIGHTS:

TRIAL OF MANISA YOUNGSTERS TODAY

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The trial of ten policemen, charged of torturing youngsters from Manisa city during detention, is still pending. The policemen will stand trial for the second time, today. The High Court is expected to take a decisive step in the trials.

Fifteen children from manisa city were detained by police for being members of an illegal gang and assisting the illegal DHKP-C.

Their lawyer Pelin Erda, Sema Pektas and CHP deputy Sabri Ergul had then applied to the Prosecutor, saying that their clients were tortured during the eleven days under custody. The Manisa Prosecutor had launched a legal suit against Anti-Terror branch Police Chief Halil E. and 6 other policemen. The police had faced a prison term upto 70 years.

After a year-long trial, the prosecutor had said that the actions of these police were "Bad treatment" , not torture and the court had acquitted the police. In today’s hearing the reversal ruling of the High Court will be read.

(Cumhuriyet,8)

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CLINTON WILL SOLVE CYPRUS IN 1999

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UN Security Council demanded a grass roots solution in Cyprus issue with the decision taken yesterday. UN is against a division in the island and it is also against a unification with another country. US President Bill Clinton said he supports the decision of UN Security Council: "We are determined to end the division in the island" said Clinton. The S-300 missiles were not discussed and the period of UNFICYP was extended to June 1999. It was claimed that there are more weapons and soldiers in the island than it is needed. Southern Cyprus was labeled as The Government of Cyprus. "The military expenditures must be decreased and the peace must be reestablished. The foreign military force must be withdrawn. " said the UN decision. A statement released by the White House Press office said that President Clinton supports the decision of UN and will do everything to solve the problem. "I think there will be chances to solve the problem in 1999 which will satisfy both sides" said Clinton.

(Hürriyet 16)

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COMMENTARY / GUNDUZ AKTAN / RADIKAL

GOICHI KOJIMA OR KURDISHES

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"... According to EU countries, what is needed to solve the problem, called the ‘Kurdish problem’, is to set free using Kurdish as an ethnical right. They consider Kurdish is the main element of the identity of those who live in the east and southeast of Turkey. (...)

An old colleague of mine (G. Aktan is an ex-diplomat –nta) sent me the photocopy of a letter, printed in the ‘letters from the reader’s’ column of Le Monde, on November 30. Turkish public opinion does not know very well this Japanese originated great linguist (...) He had written a report on the languages (spoken) in Turkey, in 11.9.1986. He was a lecturer then in Lyon University. This report had been given to the Consul General of Lyon Ambassador Özcan Davaz. We had not declared neither this report nor the name of its writer against the threat of PKK. Now, since he showed himself, we can talk of his reports.

After the working of years, Kojima, in 1985, had determined the numbers of the languages and the dialects spoken in the 80 Per cent of Turkey , as 56. Practicing this model to the other 20 Per cent, he estimated that the total number is 70-71 for all Turkey. (...)

According to the findings of Cojima, it’s not possible to talk of the Kurdish as a whole language. Perhaps it might be mentioned as the ‘group of the Kurdishes’.

In this group, ‘Kirmanchi’ and the ‘Zaza’ are two separate languages. That is, ‘Zaza’ is not a branch of the Kurdish (Kirmanchi-nta). When fundamental vocabulary of the ‘Kirmanchi’ and ‘Zaza’ is compared, it can easily be seen that there is no common word between them.

Furthermore, ‘Zaza’ had three branches. Kirmanchi had five sub-dialects. Those who spoke these sub dialects could not understand each other, as if they spoke the different languages. (...)

Kojima has seen that nobody can understand the texts, written by the ‘Institute of Kurdology’ of Paris in ‘Zaza’. Also, the text which was written in the only written form of Kurdish, the ‘Souleymaniye Kurdish’, can not be understood by those who live in (eastern –nta) Anatolia.

Kojima, writes in his reports that the dialects of Kirmanchi are not suitable for the education because they haven’t got enough words. (...)

On March of 1996, after the speech of Mesut Yilmaz in Igdir, I invited Kojima to Turkey and asked him if he could make ready some books for the preferential lessons in Kurdish. He laughed and said that it was impossible, because every sub group had a lot of dialects. (...)

That’s the situation of the ‘Kurdish’ (...)"

(December 23, p.11)

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19% INCREASE IN THE PAYS OF CIVIL SERVANTS

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Minister of Finance Zekeriya Temizel said the pays of civil servant s will be 19 % increased in 1999 budget. The 1999 budget of Turkey was being prepared by Yilmaz government but it could not be finished because the 55^th government was dissolved by the opposing parties. Temizel said according to the temporary budget civil servant will get a 19 % increase for the first half of 1999.

(Hürriyet 13)

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COMMENTARY / SEREF OGUZ / MILLIYET

THE CONSOLIDATION

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"The consolidation which was proposed by the Union of the Chambers is waiting its time to be discussed. It’s hard to find a place for it now in the agenda of Turkey, but in the coming days it will take the first place.

It is not an exaggeration to say that 1999 will be a year of payments. For the first four months of the year, the debt which will be paid will be 7.2 quadrillion Turkish Liras. That is 23 billion dollars.

This is the 45 Per cent of the gross domestic debt which has to be paid. The biggest party is in April. What a coincidence. This is the month, the elections will be held.

The April will be a turning point not only for politics but also for economy. A concentrated payments, the money on tap in the election atmosphere, the markets trying to save themselves from the effects of the crisis, plus the banks... It will be a very stirring April.

We don’t know which party will emerge from the ballot boxes. But we can estimate which kind of economy will emerge.

Before doing this, let’s take a look at the dynamics of the markets which will take us to the April.

At first, let’s look at how much money we will pay for the months: January 1.9 quadrillion TL, February 1.7 quadrillion TL, March 1.6 quadrillion TL, April 2 quadrillion TL. According to the Treasury, the payment on the base of dollar will not be different from that of this year.

They (the rulers of economy –nta) say "No problem". But, the public (sector) which can borrow with an interest of 150 Per cent will not find this money easily.

The alternatives are limited: Domestic borrowing, external borrowing or the working of the printing house of banknote. In this situation, the debt will be paid by the inflation monster.

Domestic borrowing: In the yesterday’s bid, the Treasury could insure 238.5 trillion TL for the 4,5 months with an interest of 136 Per cent. (...) In this tempo, it’s not possible to find 7.2 quadrillion until the elections.

External borrowing: This is the second alternative. But it does not appear that credit which IMF promised and it can not be found the loan in spite of ‘libor plus libor’. The syndication credits of the banks is still available.

But there is no sound from the 9 billion dollars IMF credits which was pronounced by Günes Taner (The Minister of State, responsible from the economy –nta). (...)

Another alternative is to print the bill. It is suitable for the nature of the election economy. (...) (In this way –nta) the markets are kept in a synthetic boom until the ballot boxes are opened.

The bad side of this alternative is that: The efforts which was made for two years to lower the inflation fizzles out. (...)

Those who will emerge from the boxes, will find these in his lap: The postponement of the debts, the consolidation of the banks and the industry and the increase of prices by leaps. (...)

Consequently, we can say that what will be emerge from the boxes, will be an economical (measures –nta) package.

(23 December, p.7)

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CENTRAL BANK FOREIGN CURRENCY RATES

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SECTION TWO

NEWS ON THE AIR December 23, 1998

Here are the highlights of the prime-time news of Atv on Wednesday evening;

• It was reported that Rome days of APO will be over soon. Atv reporter said Italian officials are making pressure on PKK leader APO. "Italian officials met with PKK leader. It was claimed that the tension increased between APO and Italian officials. Italian officials told APO to leave Italy as soon as possible. But Öcalan refused this and said he wants some guarantees" said Atv reporter.

* Today temperatures will be as follows: