PULSE of TURKEY No: 22-35 .................................................... JULY 1998

PULSE of TURKEY No: 22 LASTING SOLUTION TO TERRORISM – DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST
NSC extends emergency rule and supervises economic growth of Southeast. Private enterprise is the locomotive of economic activities. International finance sought for GAP. An Action Plan is considered for GAP.

PULSE of TURKEY No:23 NORTH WATCH FORCE EXTENDED FOR SIX MONTHS
Extension of mandate coincided with American jet fire on Iraqi missile site. Beauty of democratic compromises were evident at debates. The course and consequences of the incident in Iraq was no embarrassment for Turkey and makes favourable impact on Turkish-Syrian talks in Ankara.

PULSE of TURKEY No:24THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES CHAIN OF COMMAND IN THE NEW CENTURY
Media keenly following alleged tension between the military and civilian rulers. Gen. Çevik Bir is the focus of attention. President Evren says Gen. Bir cannot become Chief, TGS whether or not Gen. Karadayý stays on one more year. Gen. Kývrýkođlu explains why.

PULSE of TURKEY No:25RELATIONS WITH AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA TO BOOM
Action plan prepared for Africa. Turkish goodwill missions to visit African countries. Maghreb has special emphasis.

PULSE of TURKEY No:26NATIONAL DEFENCE STRATEGY RE-ESTABLISHED
Geostrategic reappraisals basis of new strategy. National industry provides electronic devices for arms and vehicles. Private enterprise to play key role in defence industry. Dependence on abroad for procurements will be terminated. A $150 billion multiyear program has been prepared for the defence industry. $3.5 billion arms procured in a year. Turkey is becoming a full member of WEU.

PULSE of TURKEY No:27ECONOMY IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT ORBIT
Economic fundamentals are promising, but curbing inflation is slow. Quarterly targets are under IMF monitoring. First half of year is proof of success. There will be no supplementary budget this year. Privatization downgraded to $9 bn. Social security reform will be passed. Natural gas imports will reach 45 bn cubic meters in future years.

PULSE of TURKEY No:28ÇÝLLER’S DESPERATE (OR REMARKABLE) FIGHT TO SURVIVE
Former Armed Forces Chief rejoins DYP - out of character for the military. Fresh documents received from America about tax evasion. Attempts intensified to bring Çiller before the judge before the elections.

PULSE of TURKEY No:29ERBAKAN SEEKS JUSTICE IN EUROPE
What is a political party ban - a penalty, a statement of fact or a precaution? Erbakan gets away with criminal charges on lapse of time. Tayyip Erdođan is not that lucky. Inevitable clash between Erbakan and Erdođan.

PULSE of TURKEY No:30TREASURY APPLIES THE BRAKES ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Economy slows down with TL1.4 quadrillion taken out of the market. 4.5% growth is still expected in 1998. New instruments for borrowing: inflation-indexed or dollar pegged bonds. Turkey will stop being a net external debt payer by increasing external borrowings. In return, domestic debts will be reduced.(Issue No:27)

PULSE of TURKEY No:31MINI CRISIS BRINGS FOREIGN CAPITAL MOVEMENTS INTO FOCUS
PM Yýlmaz’s credibility at stake over civil servants’ salary increases. Small partner’s miscalculation causes difficulties for the Government which is already a kind of lame duck. Economy faces unnecessary difficulties at a critical point of its stability program. Focus is on foreign speculators in the Stock Exchange.

PULSE of TURKEY No:32“PRECAUTIONS” TO PERPETUATE TURKISH DEMOCRACY
Elections approach with labour pains. What will the outcome be? After troubled times for post-Karadayý period in the Armed Forces (Issue 24 on Chain of Command), post-Demirel preparations for Turkey. “Precautions” are in full swing to perpetuate Turkish democracy. A much more reliable “precaution” emerges from practice: ANAP-DSP cooperation for local elections and thereafter.

PULSE of TURKEY No:33BIGGEST PRIVATIZATION ACHIEVEMENT TURNS OUT TO BE BIGGEST HEADACHE
POAŢ handed to the third biggest bidder. “Corruption in transparency” claimed. Broadside for the move does not bother the Government because it is “too healthy a move to take criticisms seriously”. Will it affect future privatization tenders? Will it have long-term foreign policy or international energy arrangement implementations?

PULSE of TURKEY No:34TURKISH-SPANISH COOPERATION; THE NUCLEUS OF A MUCH WIDER COOPERATION
New cooperation from China to Chile is given the go-ahead. Spain is keen on energy cooperation with Turkey, with an eye to larger cooperation with the Caspian oil countries. Turkey is bent on completing the necessary legal infrastructure for larger economic relations with the Spanish speaking world. Turkey and Spain sign “Joint Action Plan” against organized crime and terrorism.

PULSE of TURKEY No:35TURKEY HANDS IN ITS ANSWER TO THE “EUROPEAN STRATEGY”
Will Turkey and the EU resume political dialogue? Ankara hands in its answer to EU Commission’s “European Strategy for Turkey”. Will Washington-London and the three big Mediterranean countries be able to reverse the “historic mistake”? Ankara proves to be ready to respond to any sincere improvement, but tests the EU’s sincerity. Meanwhile, Turkey’s economic strength explained to the world, first by the Americans and now with a book “Turkey 2010-2020”. (Issue No.7, British Foreign Secretary)

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