TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review(April 24, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L  Turkish Press Review(April 24, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] PRAISE FOR CILLER FROM US

  • [02] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF TGNA CELEBRATED

  • [03] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN BRUSSELS

  • [04] PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT IRAQ

  • [05] EXPORTS TO EU INCREASE

  • [06] ANKARA OUTLINES TOUGH CURE FOR TRNC

  • [07] DAY OF NATIONAL CELEBRATION

  • [08] BIG PROTEST IN THE HAGUE

  • [09] CANAKKALE MEMORIAL

  • [10] STATE MINISTER DOGAN ATTENDS IMF MEETING

  • [11] FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GORBACEV IN TURKEY

  • [12] PTT ISSUES COMMEMORATION STAMP

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    APRIL 24, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning

    [01] PRAISE FOR CILLER FROM US

    The "Arizona Republic" newspaper published in the US praised Prime Minister Tansu Ciller in an editorial over the weekend, which stated that it was not an ordinary thing for a US President to welcome two female leaders in a 15-day time period, and dwelt on the Washington visits of Ciller and Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Writer Bonnie Erbe said that Ciller represented the "female leader of the new generation". Noting that the northern Iraqi operation was an important decision likely to affect the political future of Ciller, Erbe said that only the US supported Turkey on this issue among its other allies. Erbe added: "Ciller must respond to the concerns of the US regarding human rights in order to be successful. However, Turkey must also be determined to fight against terrorism. When these issues are taken into consideration, the Washington performance of Ciller was wonderful".

    Ciller and her accompanying delegation arrived in Istanbul yesterday. Ciller, at a press conference, stated that the savage bombing in Oklahoma City affected everyone, and said: "There cannot be a political dimension to terrorism". Indicating that she had had useful contacts with US President Clinton and US administration officials, Ciller added that she had used the opportunity to talk about the northern Iraq military operation, the fight against terrorism, Turkey's democratic identity, reforms and economic stability programmes.

    Ciller noted that she had also talked about these problems with people who were prejudiced and understood little about Turkey. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

    [02] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF TGNA CELEBRATED

    The 75th anniversary of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) was celebrated yesterday.

    The first celebration was held in Anitkabir, the Ataturk Mausoleum. Later, Speaker of the TGNA, Husamettin Cindoruk, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, parliamentarians, Foreign Embassy representatives visited the First Assembly, where Husamettin Cindoruk gave a speech. In his speech Cindoruk said: "In the 75th year of the TGNA, we have a strong and peaceful country with parliament and its institution functioning in harmony."

    President Suleyman Demirel later gave a banquet to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the TGNA. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN BRUSSELS

    There is an important conference in Brussels todat where "Trade in Turkey-Business Opportunities in the Customs Union" will be discussed. The one-day conference will be chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, and representative of the European Union (EU) responsible for Turkish issues, Hans Van den Broek.

    "Turkey's determination to establish firm ties with the EU", "Customs Union envisages application of a joint tariff", "new business opportunities between Turkey-EU and third world countries" are some of the subjects that will be dealt with by the conference.

    The conference has been organized by "Forum Europe". /Sabah/

    [04] PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT IRAQ

    A delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Parliamentarians Union, Zeki Celiker, will go to Iraq today as the official guests of Iraqi Assembly Speaker Sadi Mehdi Salih. Celiker, at a parliament press conference, said that the authority vacuum in northern Iraq could be overcome by the full application of Iraqi state authority in the region. Celiker said: "Our wish, as the Turkish Parliamentarians Union, is to prepare the necessary base for better commercial and social relations with friend and neighbour Iraq, and to establish Iraqi state authority as soon as possible". /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] EXPORTS TO EU INCREASE

    Turkey's exports to European Union (EU) countries have increased. According to the State Institute of Statistics (SIS), $1.6 billion, in total, exports were made in February. $807.2 million, or 52 % of total exports, was made to European Union countries. /Sabah/

    [06] ANKARA OUTLINES TOUGH CURE FOR TRNC

    Although Ankara has responded to the reelection of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas with pleasure, nevertheless the Ankara government has come up with some measures to resolve the Cyprus problem.

    In general terms, the TRNC will move towards full economic integration with Turkey now that the election for president is over. But the stability package pre- pared by Ankara also foresees a tough period of belt tightening designed to reduce the economic differences between the Greek community and the TRNC.

    Officials commented over the weekend that the time had come to get the TRNC economy back on the rails and that tougher measures were required to do this. With full integration with Turkey in view, President Denktas said after the election results were complete that "the Cyprus problem can be solved within the year."

    There are reports too of other deals between Turkey and the TRNC which have not been revealed. Whatever has passed between Ankara and the TRNC however, does not alter the fact that President Denktas now faces some pretty difficult days. The first problem to be solved is the two month old crisis in the government. After that will come the new economic measures.

    The success of Rauf Denktas in the presidential election has been welcomed everywhere, with President Suleyman Demirel leading the way with congratulatory messages. /All papers/

    [07] DAY OF NATIONAL CELEBRATION

    National sovereignty was celebrated at every level on Sunday, April 23, with special sessions in parliament and local celebrations throughout the country. Prime Minister Ciller attended a special meeting in parliament where she commented that freedom of thought was of special importance, adding that "we have to be worthy of Ataturk."

    Leaders of the major political parties made their speeches and children everywhere shared in celebrations. President Demirel reminded the nation that sovereignty belonged to the people. /All papers/

    [08] BIG PROTEST IN THE HAGUE

    According to reports, seventy thousand Turkish workers flooded into the Hague over the weekend to protest the Dutch decision to allow a Kurdish parliament-in-exile to meet in the Hague.

    The crowds of protestors blocked the streets and shouted slogans about brotherhood between the Turks and Kurds and that Turkish soldiers were the best in the world. Turkish organizers of the protest marches said that the event was massive evidence of Turkish national unity and that Holland had been shown to be wrong.

    Support marches in various places throughout Germany also took place over the weekend, voicing protest against the attacks against Turks and Turkish property that have been happening for some time now.

    Although the protest marches went off without incident, there have been reports that pro-PKK groups did try to block the marches, especially in the Hague. Tight security measures taken by the Dutch authorities prevented any serious' break-out of violence from any quarter and the protestors handed out leaflets stating their case without interference. /All papers/

    [09] CANAKKALE MEMORIAL

    The battle for the Dardanelles will be celebrated again tomorrow, eighty years after the campaign during the first world war. President Demirel and leading government officials, including Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan and Forestry Minister Hasan Ekinci, will be in Canakkale tomorrow for memorial cele- brations with veterans from Turkey, England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. /Milliyet/

    [10] STATE MINISTER DOGAN ATTENDS IMF MEETING

    Noting that a stand-by agreement with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) had been renewed on 21 April, State Minister Aykon Dogan said that the agreement demonstrated the improved performance of the Turkish economy in world monetary markets and added that the Turkish Treasury had paid TL 220 trillion off the domestic debt in June 1994. Aykon Dogan said: "If the treasury can pay off TL 220 trillion then it can easily pay out TL 45-50 trillion". Flying to the US in order to attend World Bank and IMF committee group meetings. Aykon Dogan said at Ataturk airport that the main issue of the meetings to be held in Washington would be activity in the world economy. Dogan said that he would hold talks with both the representatives of the IMF and the World Bank, and with the ministers from the IMF countries. /Hurriyet/

    [11] FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GORBACEV IN TURKEY

    Arriving Turkey as a guest of the Construction and Credit Bank (Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi), the last president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Mihail Gorbacev, will hold a press meeting at the Yapi Kredi Plaza today in Istanbul and will attend a conference at the Bogazici University tomorrow. Gorbacev will also visit Husamettin Cindoruk, Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly at the Dolmabahce Palace, followed by meetings at various media institutions on 26 April, and attend a banquet in his honour at the Ciragan Palace.

    Flying to Ankara on 27 April, Gorbacev will visit Ataturk's Mausoleum (Anitkabir) and will attend a conference to be held at the Middle East Technical University. Gorbacev will also meet President Suleyman Demirel on 27 April. He will give a conference at Bilkent University and attend a dinner at the Sheraton Hotel on 28 April, and return to Istanbul to tour historical and touristic sites in the city. Gorbacev will leave Turkey on 30 April.

    Forced to leave active politics in 1991, Gorbacev now gives speeches at conferences in different countries. The speech making tours of Gorbacev in foreign countries are considered as preparation for the Russian Presidential elections in which he will compete against tought rival Boris Yeltsin. /Hurriyet/

    [12] PTT ISSUES COMMEMORATION STAMP

    "75th year of the Turkish Grand National Assembly" commemorative stamps and first day covers issued by the PTT are now on sale. The commemorative stamps will remain on sale until December 31, 1996. According to the General Directorate of the PTT, the stamps are on sale at TL 500, and 3,500 covers will be sold at TL 6,500. /Hurriyet/

    END

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