PULSE of TURKEY No

PULSE of TURKEY No: 95-99 .................................................... MARCH 1999

PULSE of TURKEY No:95 ECONOMY MARKS TIME PENDING ELECTIONS

There are some promising signs in the economy such as steadily declining inflation, but the key to success

-Reducing interest rates proportionally- is still unsettled. PM Ecevit says everything will be all right after the elections if they can prevent the economy from going haywire during the campaign. Deputy PM Ulugbay goes to Washington for talks with the IMF to work out details of economic stability program with external financial support after the elections.

PULSE of TURKEY No:96 CIVILIAN PUTSCH ON EVE OF ELECTIONS

PM Ecevit described as a civil putsch the attempt to call parliament to an emergency session on Saturday. He says the attempts to cancel the April 18^th elections are a desperate move impossible to come by because "the arrow has left the bow concerning the elections". Indeed, it is almost impossible to reverse the decision to hold the elections in April if the Government does not co-operate, and it is sure it will not.

PULSE of TURKEY No:97 NO WINNER IN PARLIAMENT’S WAR OF TACTICS

The battle was clearly to postpone the elections from April 18^th but no one had it on their agenda because early elections were decided upon twice, almost unanimously, on two consecutive days at the end of July. As the real aim of postponing the April elections is almost impossible what might be the real outcome of the debates on March 16^th and thereafter?

PULSE of TURKEY No:98 ECONOMY PREPARES FOR POST ELECTION PERIOD

Now that the adventure for toppling the Government in Parliament and postponing the elections to next year is almost over, it is time to deal with more serious post-election affairs in both the political and economic fields.

Below is the story of what to expect in the economic field after the elections, as the expectations for the political developments are too clear to bother about. It will be an ANAP-DSP coalition with possible "spare tyres" (the DYP or a smaller party which may pass the 10% national threshold such as the MHP or the CHP) to keep the vehicle going if they fail to get over 50% of the seats. The nation will go to the elections on April 18^th and the State will help its smooth functioning as General Kivrikoglu did during the latest crisis.

PULSE of TURKEY No:99DEMIREL SAYS RUSSIA IS IN THE WRONG ABOUT KOSOVO

Turkey has taken every measure to receive migrants from Kosovo with refugee camps in Kirklareli and Istanbul. They had already served for the Bosnian refugees during the previous crisis. A four-phase Nato plan is in force over Kosovo and Turkey has committed itself to do its share. Turks ruled over Kosovo for 524 years between 1389 and 1913 and is determined to safeguard its kinsmen’s safety. The Kosovo confrontation starts a new era in world history requiring new arrangements in defence and international relations.

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