TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (MARCH 28, 1995)

From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>


CONTENTS

  • [01] IMPORTANT MEETING WITH USA

  • [02] SEEK AND DESTROY OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

  • [03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL APPROVES CABINET RESHUFFLE

  • [04] NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR FOR ANKARA

  • [05] NATO'S CLAES TO VISIT TURKEY

  • [06] EU AND TURKISH YOUTHS MEET IN SILIFKE

  • [07] DEATH TOLL IN SORGUN COAL MINE DISASTER RISES TO 20

  • [08] 'HIGHWAY SAFETY WEEK' STARTS IN ANKARA

  • [09] 'FLORANTALYA' STARTS IN ANTALYA

  • [10] 'ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL' SET UP

  • [11] SECOND FERRY BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MARCH 28, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] IMPORTANT MEETING WITH USA

    Tomorrow sees the start of an important meeting in Washington about economic developments between Turkey and

    the US. Both Turkey and the US want to see the Economic Cooperation Committee revived, and top advisor in the Prime

    Ministry, Emre Gonensay will therefore represent Turkey in the talks.

    Turkish government officials say that the talks are extremely important to Turkey. Thirty-three people are

    included in the delegation that will work to set up new trade and other agreements with the US that will include a

    double taxation agreement and a new deal between the Turkish and US Eximbanks.

    Other areas of economic cooperation that will come under discussion include more cooperation about environmental

    issues, with the US providing technology transfers in return for base concessions. Likely there will be talks about

    patent rights as wellincluding unlicenced mass production of videos and cassettes. /All papers/

    [02] SEEK AND DESTROY OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

    Turkish military forces are combing the hills in northern Iraq -flushing out pockets of PKK separatist resistence.

    Operations in and around the central point of Zakho continue at maximum intensity as military units try to block every

    avenue of escape.

    Some reports from the region say that more mobile units are being deployed to reach the more inaccessible areas in the

    mountains. Although reports do suggest that many PKK terrorists have already fled the region, Turkish forces are

    still finding large caches of weapons and other materiel.

    There are even some reports that military units penetrating deep into PKK country have discovered poppy fields being

    cultivated by the PKK, with a view to using the drug product as a way of financing their terrorist attacks.

    In the meantime, messages of concern about the deepening complications in northern Iraq and the likelihood of Turkish

    forces staying longer than first anticipated have come from the US and some European Union (EU) countries.

    So far in the military operations, 172 terrorists have been killed, and twelve have been taken alive. Losses in the

    Turkish forces are reported to be low. /All papers/

    [03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL APPROVES CABINET RESHUFFLE

    President Suleyman Demirel approved the Cabinet reshuffle made by the junior coalition partner, Republican People's

    Party (CHP), following an hour's meeting with Prime Minister Tansu Ciller on Sunday evening.

    Demirel was the first to congratulate his former partner, Erdal Inonu, on his appointment as foreign minister in the

    new cabinet.

    The new deputy prime minister and chairman of the unified CHP, Hikmet Cetin is reported to have considered party

    balances when making the appointments.

    New ministers are as follows; Onur Kumbaracibasi-State Minister, Aysel Baykal-State Minister, Algan Hacaloplu-State

    Minister, Ziya Halis-State Minister, Mehmet Mogultay-Minister for Justice, Erdal Inonu-Foreign Minister,

    Erman Sahin-Public Works Minister, Aydin Guven Gurkan-Labour Minister, Hasan Akyol-Industry Minister, Ercan

    Karakas-Culture Minister, Irfan Gurpinar-Tourism Minister. /All papers

    [04] NEW GREEK AMBASSADOR FOR ANKARA

    Greek Ambassador to Ankara Alexander Philon has made his official farewell to President Demirel, making way for

    successor Dimitrios Nezeritis, the Anatolia news agency said on Monday.

    [05] NATO'S CLAES TO VISIT TURKEY

    North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Willy Claes will visit Turkey on March 29-30 for official

    talks, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In his first visit to Turkey since he took office in September,

    Claes will confer with Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller,

    Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin and Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan. /All papers

    [06] EU AND TURKISH YOUTHS MEET IN SILIFKE

    Silifke will welcome a group of 60 youths from European Union countries on June 26-29 for a "warming-up" meeting

    with young Turks, the Anatolian news agency reported. The TL 1 billion gathering, funded by the European Council, was

    the idea of the Council's Youth for Development and Cooperation (YDC) and the Turkish volunteer-run Friendly

    Surroundings Group (ACG).

    [07] DEATH TOLL IN SORGUN COAL MINE DISASTER RISES TO 20

    Twenty coal miners were killed in a coal-mine explosion on Sunday in the town of Sorgun in the Central Anatolian

    province of Yozgat. The bodies of five miners were brought to the surface on Sunday night and 15 more dead were

    recovered on Monday. Eight injured miners were rescued immediately following the explosion.

    Ertugrul Ersoy, governer of Yozgat, said on Monday that the explosion, which took place at the Medsan coal mine near

    Sorgun, appeared to have been caused by coal dust. He added that there was no evidence of methane gas accumulation

    having caused the explosion.

    The rescue operation is continuing at the pit and air conditioning equipment has been brought into operation 900

    meters below the surface. /All papers

    [08] 'HIGHWAY SAFETY WEEK' STARTS IN ANKARA

    "Highway Safety Week" started in Ankara on Monday, organized by the United Nations European Economic Commission.

    Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the occasion at the Police General Directorate, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese

    pointed out the need for more highway education for both drivers and pedestrians. /All papers

    [09] 'FLORANTALYA' STARTS IN ANTALYA

    The sixth international flower, greenhouse and gardening fair "Florantalya" begins today and will continue until

    April 2 at the Antalya warehouses of the Ground Products Bureau. The fair, which aims to increase flower production

    and sales, brings together some 32 companies from the United States, the Netherlands, Israel, Belgium, Spain, Austria,

    Russia and Italy as well as 76 companies from Turkey. /All papers

    [10] 'ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL' SET UP

    The coalition government of Prime Minister Tansu Ciller has formally established an 'Economic and Social Council' an

    idea first mooted by the first coalition government under the premiership of Suleyman Demirel.

    The Council, seeking national consensus on key economic and social issues and policy making, will either be chaired by

    the prime minister or by a Cabinet minister assigned by the prime minister.

    It will be in charge of advising the political authorities, preparing regulations and ensuring coordination among

    government and private sector agencies. /All papers

    [11] SECOND FERRY BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA

    A second private ferry connection between the cities of Trabzon in Turkey and Sotchi in the Russian Federation will

    start on April 3. The ferry will make two trips a week and has room for 700 people and 22 trucks. It also has

    luxurious accomodations, a bar, a restaurant and air conditioning. /All papers/

    END


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