TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 11, 1995)

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] NEW DEALS WITH UZBEKISTAN

  • [02] WARM WELCOME IN AZERBAIJAN

  • [03] TURKEY UNEASY OVER ARMS IN AEGEAN ISLANDS

  • [04] SHELTON VISITS TURKEY

  • [05] MILITANTS KIDNAP MUFTI IN VAN

  • [06] INONU HOLDS TALKS IN TURKMENISTAN

  • [07] BULGARIAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARRIVES IN TURKEY

  • [08] 34 MILITANTS CAPTURED IN ADANA

  • [09] FOREIGN INVESTMENT PERMITS UP 79.5 %

  • [10] PKK HOLDS KEY PLACE IN EUROPE'S DRUG PROBLEMS

  • [11] SERGE ABOU IN ANKARA

  • [12] NEW CYPRUS TENSIONS

  • [13] TURKEY ECONOMICALLY STRONGER THAN GREECE

  • [14] WASHINGTON TIMES REPORTS ON BODRUM

  • [15] AID FOR CYPRUS

  • [16] COLD RESPONSE FROM ATHENS

  • [17] EU SUPPORT FOR CILLER

  • [18] 146 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

  • [19] BALKANS TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JULY 11, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] NEW DEALS WITH UZBEKISTAN

    Prime Minister Ciller has completed her visit to Uzbekistan and closed a number of vital deals for the transport through Turkey of Uzbekistan natural gas and oil.

    Both Ciller and Uzbekistan Head of State Islam Kerimov agreed on a route for new overland oil and natural gas pipelines to Turkey that would cut out Iran. Both leaders agreed that more cooperation and joint projects would benefit both countries. /Milliyet/

    [02] WARM WELCOME IN AZERBAIJAN

    After a warm welcome by Azeri leaders, Prime Minister Ciller continued her brief Central Asian tour with talks with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev.

    During the talks, the situation regarding Armenia was discussed and Turkish plans with Uzbekistan for new oil pipelines were reviewed. Azerbaijan promised full support for the pipeline project prepared by Turkey.

    Ciller is continuing with her contacts in Azerbaijan, with both sides reaffirming their support for mutual cooperation and closer ties. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] TURKEY UNEASY OVER ARMS IN AEGEAN ISLANDS

    Ankara disclosed yesterday that it was closely monitoring reports about Greece's attempts to arm the Aegean islands. "Our stance toward this issue is known. I do not want to repeat it, but we are closely monitoring every development related to the issue" Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said in a press conference. Athens has deployed AT-4 type guided missiles on the Greek Aegean islands, according to reports from Greece. Under the Treaty of Lausanne, the Aegean islands are not to be armed. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] SHELTON VISITS TURKEY

    Sally Shelton, the assistant administrator for Global Programs of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is in Ankara to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on family planning. During her visit, Shelton is scheduled to meet with a number of Turkish public and private sector leaders to discuss Turkey's economic and environmental conditions, the status of women and the development of non-governmental organizations. She will also discuss ways in which USAID can cooperate with the government of Turkey in the areas of environment, housing and democracy and government, a press release said. /All papers/

    [05] MILITANTS KIDNAP MUFTI IN VAN

    Oguz Metin, mufti of Van's Baskale district, was kidnapped by militants of the PKK terrorist organization while taking a child to hospital in Van yesterday. Security officials said that militants set up a road block between the city and the Baskale district where they stopped the mufti's car. The child with Metin was also kidnapped and the mufti's car was burned. Operations have started to find the kidnappers and release the hostages. /Hurriyet/

    [06] INONU HOLDS TALKS IN TURKMENISTAN

    Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, on an official visit to Turkmenistan, visited Turkmen President Saparmurad Turkmenbasi (formerly Niyazov) yesterday, the Anatolia news agency reported. Right before this talk, Ambassador Yigit Alpogan presented his credentials to Niyazov, who reminded him that Turkey had been the first country to establish an embassy in Turkmenistan. "Turkey has a special place in our hearts. Turkey is number one for us" he added. Inonu, in turn, replied that although it was his first visit to the country, he was surprised by the high degree of development. Turkey would do all it could to increase cooperation between the two countries, he added.

    [07] BULGARIAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARRIVES IN TURKEY

    Bulgarian Commander-in-Chief Tsevetan Mladenov Totomirov is to arrive in Ankara today as the guest of his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Hakki Karadayi. The Bulgarian general is scheduled to hold talks with several military officials. /Sabah/

    [08] 34 MILITANTS CAPTURED IN ADANA

    Thirty-four militants of the PKK terrorist organization -two trained in Greece and six of them women- were captured during a military operation in Adana. Officials from Adana governor's office said that two of the 34 militants had been trained in Greece and that Abdulsamet Yaman, former provincial chairman of HADEP (the pro-Kurdish People Democracy Party) headquarters in Adana, was one of those detained. Two pistols, bullets, four hand grenades and many documents were also confiscated. Meanwhile, two people were killed and four were injured when the minibus they were riding in ran over a mine in Bitlis Hizan district. The mine was laid by militants of the PKK terrorist organization. The four injured people were reportedly taken to the medical school's hospital in Diyarbakir. /Cumhuriyet/

    [09] FOREIGN INVESTMENT PERMITS UP 79.5 %

    In the first six months of 1995, foreign investment permits issued by the government soared 79.5 % over the same period last year, reaching a high of $1.23 billion. In the same period last year, permits worth $684.1 million were issued. /Milliyet/

    [10] PKK HOLDS KEY PLACE IN EUROPE'S DRUG PROBLEM

    Turkish security officials are saying that while it has "dawned" on their European colleagues that there is a growing involvement by the PKK terrorist organization in the West's drug problem, the full impact of this involvement has yet to sink in among these western colleagues. They concede however that there are officials in Europe, principally in Germany, whose awareness of the problem has led them to make statements to the effect that anything up to 80 % of the trade in drugs in Europe is controlled by the PKK. On the basis of Interpol reports, and those of prosecutors in various countries, Turkish officials estimate that the PKK is today netting about DM 500 million annually through the drug trade alone. They say the PKK's involvement in this trade is strongest in those countries where it has managed to set up various front organizations, the implication being that allowing "innocent-looking" Kurdish associations to be established may be aggravating Europe's own drug problem. They suggest that the PKK is also getting actively involved in the trafficking and marketing of drugs in Europe from as far off as Asia. /All papers/

    [11] SERGE ABOU IN ANKARA

    Serge Abou, the head of the Mediterranean desk at the European Commission, starts talks today with Turkish officials on preparations for the Turco-EU customs union. Abou will hold talks with officials from the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, Industry Ministry, State Patent Office and the Treasury. "The main focus will be on the efforts aimed at technical harmonization" Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said at a press conference yesterday. /All papers/

    [12] NEW CYPRUS TENSIONS

    Greece and the Cyprus Greek community are creating new tensions with Turkey as reports circulate about the way the Greek Cypriots are spending two million dollars a day on new weapons.

    Greece is supporting the Greek Cypriots in their efforts to beef up their military strength. Further, the Greek community is full of complaints about developments on the Turkish side. Claiming that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is also setting up new military emplacements in what the TRNC says is children's play gardens, the Greek side says that it is merely taking precautions. /Hurriyet/

    [13] TURKEY ECONOMICALLY STRONGER THAN GREECE

    During a meeting of the European Union (EU) Economic Incentives Board in Izmir, chairman Peter Killmann said that Turkey was economically stronger than Greece.

    Killmann also noted that it was essential that Turkey was also made a member of the EU, especially in view of the fact that weaker Greece was also a member. Added Killman, "until now Turkey's position has been evaluated in relation to its role in NATO. But Turkey's economic role in the future will be more important." /Hurriyet/

    [14] WASHINGTON TIMES REPORTS ON BODRUM

    The Washington Times, one of the leading U.S. newspapers, published two articles by Rafet Kaplan about Bodrum. The articles, together with nine color photographs, describe Bodrum as a centre of entertainment and pleasure attracting everybody, from the European jet set to British rock stars. In his article, Kaplan makes a tour of Bodrum's night clubs, citadel, hotels and market places, and speaks with admiration about the white houses of Bodrum and its beautiful coves and beaches. /Milliyet/

    [15] AID FOR CYPRUS

    Forestry Minister Hasan Ekinci, who arrived in Northern Cyprus to follow the developments regarding the fire on the island, was received by President Rauf Denktas and Assembly Chairman Ayhan Halit Acarkan. Ekinci offered Turkey's help for repairing the fire damage President Denktas noted that Turkey has always supported Northern Cyprus and expressed his gratitude. /Sabah/

    [16] COLD RESPONSE FROM ATHENS

    Upon President Suleyman Demirel's call for signing a friendship agreement between Turkey and Greece, Greek Ambassador to Ankara Dimitrios Nezeritis said: "I do not believe in miracles." Nezeritis stressed that there were "deep rooted problems" between the two countries so it was futile to expect friendship within the short term. He pointed out that more effort should be made in order to ensure understanding between the sides. The Ambassador said that the Greek government did not recognize either the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) nor the ERNK as "political parties". He added that Greece did not recognize the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile. Regarding Greek parliamentarians meeting with the PKK leader, Nezeritis said: "It is their own choice. It does not have any connection with the government's attitude". /Hurriyet/

    [17] EU SUPPORT FOR CILLER

    In recent report, the Brussels Commission of the European Union, (EU) pointed out that the Turkish government had shown great determination in making constitutional amendments and furthering the process of democratization. The report said: "Turkey's institutions are democratic, secular, pluralistic and close to Europe. Although there are complaints about human rights violations, these complaints are being looked into with the utmost care by the EU. Security forces have been up-graded and the Turkish government is determined to struggle against PKK terrorism." General Secretery of the European Council, Daniel Tarschys, said that the EU hoped that Parliamentary constitutional amendment sessions would be re-started as soon as possible. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/

    [18] 146 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

    The Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has claimed that some units of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) under the leadership of Celal Talabani carried out attacks in the Saklava region yesterday morning. Officials from the KDP also claim that the PUK forces suffered massive losses. Turkish military representatives say the number of PKK militants killed during the cross border operation started on 4 June and carried out until yesterday by the Turkish Armed Forces, has increased to 146. 26 PKK militants were killed yesterday morning during operations carried out in the regions near the northern Iraqi border in the Cukurca province of Hakkari. Stating that the majority of 3,000 troops participating in the cross border operation had been withdrawn, military sources said that the region would be evacuated shortly, and they repeated that care had been taken to avoid inflicting damage on civilians in the area. Over ten PKK camps, cleaned out by Operation Steel-1 units are being checked again in the current operation carried out in an area of 70 kilometers in length and 40 kilometers in width. /Cumhuriyet/

    [19] BALKANS TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT

    Ali Sevki Erek, the Minister of Transportation went to Romania to attend Turkey-Romania and Turkey-Bulgaria Joint Transportation Committee meetings. In a press meeting held at Ataturk Airport before flying to Romania, Erek said that representatives from the private sector and officials from the Turkish Ministry of Transportation would attend these meetings to be held at the invitation of the Bulgarian and Romanian Ministers of Transportation. /Sabah/

    END

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