TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 18, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L  Turkish Press Review (April 18, 1995)


CONTENTS

  • [01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL WARNS OF NEW BLOODSHED IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

  • [02] DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO SYRIA

  • [03] MILITARY FORCES ERADICATING PKK

  • [04] NO FIRM DATE FOR WITHDRAWAL

  • [05] CILLER: "NO PROBLEM WITH THE US ON NORTHERN IRAQ"

  • [06] NEW PARTNERSHIP CALL TO THE US

  • [07] CILLER: "CONDITIONAL AMNESTY FOR CRIMES OF THOUGHT"

  • [08] TALABANI IN SOLUTION NEGOTIATIONS

  • [09] TURKISH CONSULATE IN SWEDISH TOWN ATTACKED

  • [10] TURGUT OZAL COMMEMORATED

  • [11] INONU WINS ATHENS APPROVAL

  • [12] BELGIUM TELLS DEP ITS OFFICE IS NOT "PARLIAMENT"

  • [13] US ADVOCATES STRONG TURKEY FOR SAKE OF GREECE

  • [14] WORLD TURKISH-SPEAKING YOUTH COUNCIL: "END THE VIOLENCE"


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    APRIL 18, 1995

    Summary of the political news in the Turkish press this

    morning.

    [01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL WARNS OF NEW BLOODSHED IN

    BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

    Assessing the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, President Suleyman Demirel said the international community had been

    unable to bring about a durable peace and warned about the approach of a new wave of bloodshed in this part of former

    Yugoslavia. Addressing a conference organized jointly by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Bilkent

    University under the auspices of Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, President Demirel said that racism and

    expansionism had emerged as a regime in former Yugoslavia at a time when new horizons were being opened for many

    countries in the world. He said ethnic cleansing and genocide in Bosnia brings to mind dark periods in history.

    "The international community has failed to stop Serbian aggression and failed to fulfill its duty against this

    tragedy taking place in the middle of Europe" he said. The president noted that historians will mention this failure as

    a dark period in contemporary civilization. Demirel said: "Time is going by for the establishment of a just and

    durable peace and we are still waiting for an effective move". He said the UN should strive to regain confidence.

    Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a message to the conference which said that it was very proper

    for Turkey, a country which has profound understanding of all the dimensions of the Bosnia-Herzegovina situation, to

    hold a conference of this kind in its capital, Ankara. Thatcher also accused the international community and the

    civilized world for its insensitive attitude towards Bosnia. She called for punishment of the Serbs and the lifting of

    the arms embargo imposed on the Bosnians. /All papers/

    [02] DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO SYRIA

    President Suleyman Demirel sent a congratulatory message to Syrian President Hafiz Al-Esad on the celebration of

    national day in the Syria Arab Republic. In his message, Demirel said: "I want to confirm that Turkey is ready to

    develop the present good neighbourly and cooperative relations with Syria. I convey my best wishes on behalf of

    the Turkish nation in regard to the Syrian nation's prosperity and happiness". /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] MILITARY FORCES ERADICATING PKK

    Military units are forcing PKK terrorists into surrender in the Tunceli region after inflicting serious losses on PKK

    groups active in the south-east areas of the country.

    Reports from units around Tunceli say that between 26 to 45 more terrorists have been killed in clashes in the Tunceli

    and Mardin regions. /All papers/

    [04] NO FIRM DATE FOR WITHDRAWAL

    The report from the US, where Prime Minister Ciller is making an official visit, is that she will not give a firm

    date for the withdrawal of Turkish military forces from northern Iraq when she meets with President Clinton later

    this week.

    Speaking to the press, Ciller said that Turkey would make its own decisions according to its own needs. She also

    noted that to date the military incursion had been a success "with the aims of the operation achieved." Despite the

    success of the operation however, there is no mention of a date for complete withdrawal of military units from the

    region. /All papers/

    [05] CILLER: "NO PROBLEM WITH THE US ON NORTHERN IRAQ"

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said just prior to her meeting at the White House tomorrow, that there was no problem left

    between the US and Turkey on the northern Iraqi issue. It is reported that the US has been convinced that Turkish

    soldiers will withdraw when the northern Iraqi operation attains its goal, and supports the plan that Turkey is

    implementing. It was stated at a meeting with US officials that there was a completely illegal situation in northern

    Iraq which badly damaged Turkey. Meanwhile, a Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation will go to Baghdad in the coming

    days. The current situation in northern Iraq will be taken up and Iraqi leader Saddam will be told to comply with the

    UN Security Council's No:688 decision. /Hurriyet/

    [06] NEW PARTNERSHIP CALL TO THE US

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller pointed out at a meeting of the Business Council for International Understanding yesterday

    that the "new world" necessitated the establishment of a new partnership between the allies, Turkey and the US. Ciller

    said that Turkey would play an important role in the transportation of Central Asian and Caspian Sea gas and oil

    products into Europe and added: "We invite American firms to come into partnership with us". /Hurriyet/

    [07] CILLER: "CONDITIONAL AMNESTY FOR CRIMES OF THOUGHT"

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller stated that a "conditional amnesty" would be announced for those in prison because of

    crimes of thought. Ciller said that amnesty would come to the fore with the democratization package in the coming

    months. At the meeting in New York yesterday, Ciller said: "We will make radical reforms. I believe that necessary

    steps will be taken for a conditional amnesty and all parties and public opinion will support this". /Hurriyet/

    [08] TALABANI IN SOLUTION NEGOTIATIONS

    Kurdish leader Celal Talabani is also included in the negotiations for a "regional solution" to the problems

    besetting northern Iraq. There will be talks between Talabani and yet another Turkish delegation that plans to

    visit northern Iraq towards the end of the month.

    It is anticipated that the Foreign Ministry delegation will stress that the Turkish military operation is being limited

    to eradicating the PKK terrorist organization. It will clarify the role of the multinational "hammer" strike force

    stationed at Incirlik, near Adana. The delegation will also take up the matter of regional and border security, and seek

    suggestions from the Kurdish side on further cooperation in these areas. /Sabah/

    [09] TURKISH CONSULATE IN SWEDISH TOWN ATTACKED

    A window was broken in the Turkish Consulate in the southern Swedish city of Malmo and cans of paint were thrown into the

    premises. No threats or political statements have been reported in connection with the attack. There were no

    casualties, nor messages left in the attack, police said. /All papers/

    [10] TURGUT OZAL COMMEMORATED

    Turgut Ozal, Turkey's eighth President, was commemorated yesterday, the second anniversary of his death, with a state

    ceremony organized at the Anitmezar in Istanbul's Topkapi district, the Anatolian news agency reported. Both

    President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller sent messages.

    [11] INONU WINS ATHENS APPROVAL

    The Greek government described statements on Turco-Greek relations made by Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu in

    Athens as "positive", the Anatolian news agency reported. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that Inonu's

    soft-spoken, moderate words, so different from those used by previous statesmen, had decreased tension.

    [12] BELGIUM TELLS DEP ITS OFFICE IS NOT "PARLIAMENT"

    Belgium has informed the outlawed Pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) Solidarity Office based in Brussels it cannot

    not conduct its activities under the guise of a Kurdish Parliament in-exile, the Anatolian news agency reported

    yesterday. The Kurdish representatives have thus started using the "DEP Solidarity Office" again for fear of being

    restricted by the Belgian government.

    [13] US ADVOCATES STRONG TURKEY FOR SAKE OF GREECE

    Joseph Nye, US Deputy Defence Secretary, stated that a weak Turkey could create big problems for Greece, the Anatolia

    news agency reported yesterday. "Nationalisn and Islamism in a weak Turkey, would be more problematic for Greece as

    well as for Turkey" Nye said to the Greek daily Apoyevmatini. Richard Holbrooke, Deputy Secretary of State

    for Canadian and European Affairs, explained to the same newspaper that "Turkey's future will directly affect Greece.

    I don't mean to say that Turkey is more important for us than Greece, just that its location and neighbours gives

    Turkey a special status. The two countries should work together to solve the problems of the region".

    [14] WORLD TURKISH-SPEAKING YOUTH COUNCIL: "END THE VIOLENCE"

    The three-day World Turkish-Speaking Youth Council meeting ended in Ankara yesterday and a communique summarizing the

    highlights was presented to the press, the Anatolia news agency said. The council called upon international

    organizations to prevent violence against ethnic Turks around the world and urged Turks to unite for strength. The

    council also protested the construction of nuclear plants in Tatarstan and Bashkurdistan as well as nuclear tests in

    eastern Turkistan. The council stated that they were very disturbed about human rights violations all around the world

    and condemned the Serbian savageness in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan, and called upon the

    international organizations to carry out their obligations in these vital areas. /Cumhuriyet/

    END


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