The Turkish government replaced the country's popular tourism minister Wednesday, August 8, and also appointed a new minister without portfolio, officials said. The shake-up involved ministers from the three-way coalition's center-right Motherland Party (ANAP) of Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.
The popular Erkan Mumcu, who has recently had several disagreements with Yilmaz, was removed as head of the tourism ministry despite a highly successful season for Turkey's tourism industry, ANAP officials said.
But in an apparent move to fend off public criticism for removing Mumcu, Yilmaz appointed him his first deputy in the administration of the party. Mustafa Tasar, a close Yilmaz aide, was named as the new tourism minister.
A second decree appointed deputy parliament speaker Nejat Arseven as a state minister in a move to fill a cabinet seat that has remained vacant since an earlier reshuffle in June. Arseven's responsibilities are expected to include the protection of human rights and the functioning of state-run foundations, sources said. ― (AFP, Ankara)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
