TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 23, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 23, 1995)


CONTENTS

  • [01] DEMIREL VISITS THE FAR EAST

  • [02] MAJOR OIL AND GAS FAIR OPENS IN BAKU

  • [03] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO TAKE UP ISSUE OF TURKEY

  • [04] TURKEY TO EXTRACT NATURAL GAS FROM MARMARA SEA

  • [05] TURKEY, RUSSIA TO OPEN STATE ARCHIVES TO RESEARCHERS

  • [06] TURKEY PUTS HOLD ON IMPORTS FROM ZAIRE

  • [07] TURKISH URANIUM INFO TO GERMANS WELL-TIMED

  • [08] TURKEY: A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION

  • [09] SYMPOSIUM ON NATURAL DISASTERS OPENS

  • [10] EXPORTS INCREASE IN PARALLEL WITH IMPORTS

  • [11] TURKISH TEXTILE THE BEST IN EUROPE

  • [12] DENKTAS EVALUATES THE RECENT EU EFFORTS

  • [13] PKK KIDNAPPS A TEACHER

  • [14] TURCO-AZERI BANK TO BE ESTABLISHED

  • [15] TURKISH REPRESENTATION IN TATARSTAN


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MAY 23, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] DEMIREL VISITS THE FAR EAST

    President Suleyman Demirel, accompanied by Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu and a 135-person delegation, began his Far East tour covering China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Aside from official contacts, Demirel will also hold meetings with officials from commercial and industrial institutions. Stating that Turkey exerted efforts to enhance its relations with Far and South Asiatic countries in the last decade, President Demirel said: "I want to bring a new dynamism to our relations with my visit". Demirel decided to make the trip last April, but an austerity package which called on all state officials to limit their trips caused the president to cancel his visit. "I see great benefit in improving our relations with China, which is an important power centre in its region and the world" Demirel said, adding "Our trade ties with this country have improved considerably and there is a great potential that needs to be exploited". Turkish Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Chief of the General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi were present at the seeing-off ceremony at Ankara Esenboga Airport. While in China, Demirel will sign an economic accord for prevention of double taxation and a cultural exchange programme. After completing his China visit, Demirel will pass on to Hong Kong on May 27 and address business circles at a meeting organized by the "Trade Development Council". He will pay a visit to Indonesia on May 29-31. Demirel drew attention to the importance of Indonesia, which is the fourth largest country in the world with its population of 190 million. Turkey and Indonesia will sign an agricultural cooperation protocol and an accord on scientific cooperation between universities. /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/

    [02] MAJOR OIL AND GAS FAIR OPENS IN BAKU

    Following the Azeri Petroleum Consortium meeting in Istanbul the previous day, the International Caspian Oil and Natural Gas Fair-95 opening in Azerbaijan's capital Baku today brings together experts and industrialists from several major oil-producing countries. Energy Minister, Veysel Atasoy, accompanied by a delegation, represents Turkey at the fair in which the US, Britain, Norway, Russia and Kazakhstan are also taking part at a ministerial level. Over 160 oil and gas companies from 13 countries are represented at the fair, displaying the latest technologies in the petrol and natural gas field. Azeri President, Haydar Aliyev, will inaugurate the fair, the first of its kind being organized in Baku, which will be open to the public until Saturday. During the fair, Baku will be the scene of several conferences, demonstrations and talks aimed at improving cooperation among companies and countries mainly regarding the vast oil reserves of the Caspian Sea region. /Milliyet/

    [03] COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO TAKE UP ISSUE OF TURKEY

    The Council of Europe's permanent representatives committee started yesterday its three-day session in which the situation in Turkey would be discussed. The permanent representatives committee will prepare a response to the Council's Parliamentary Assembly resolution on Turkey, which called on the Council to freeze Turkey's membership if Turkey did not end its incursion into northern Iraq and bring its democracy and human rights record up to standard. The decision to freeze a state's membership can only be done by the Council of Europe ministers. /All papers/

    [04] TURKEY TO EXTRACT NATURAL GAS FROM MARMARA SEA

    Turkey will start extracting natural gas from the Marmara Sea in late 1996, Energy Minister Veysel Atasoy said on Monday. A joint venture set up by Turkish Petroleum and Romanian Orizon company has signed an agreement for the $35 million deal. Speaking to reporters at a ceremony at the drilling platform situated 2.5 kilometres to the south of Marmara's northern coast, Atasoy said recoverable gas reserves 1,200 metres under this sea were estimated at 2 billion cubic metres. He said the gas to be extracted at this platform from three wells will be pumped to the shore via pipeline. /Hurriyet/

    [05] TURKEY, RUSSIA TO OPEN STATE ARCHIVES TO RESEARCHERS

    Turkey and Russia have signed a protocol to mutually open their state archives to researchers from both countries. It said Turkish and Russian experts and academicians would be able to conduct research on classified materials in both archives. A Turkish team headed by prominent historian Ilber Ortayli has already traveled to Russia to work on several documents in the Russian archives regarding ties with Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] TURKEY PUTS HOLD ON IMPORTS FROM ZAIRE

    Health Minister Dr.Dogan Baran announced that all imports coming from Zaire have been suspended due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. Baran, who pointed out the fact that there were no direct flights from Zaire to Turkey, added that this latest decision diminished the risks of spreading the virus to Turkey, "which were already very little". Baran said that food imports have been suspended also from the African countries which might have the virus, adding that all measures have been taken in 11 border gates and 45 shore health control stations. /Hurriyet/

    [07] TURKISH URANIUM INFO TO GERMANS WELL-TIMED

    Information provided to the German police by the Turkish police on uranium smuggling was well-timed, according to an article in the weekly "Focus" magazine, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Two Iranian uranium smugglers were captured by the German police, and 2.5 kilograms of uranium-238 were confiscated, according to the article.

    [08] TURKEY: A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION

    Turkey is reported to have become one of the most popular destinations for foreign tourists in recent years, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Quoting tourism officials, the agency said foreign tourists were bored of visiting Spain, Greece and Italy and were increasingly attracted to Turkey. The officials also pointed out that Turkey's clean coasts and the traditional hospitality of its people were major advantages as far as tourists were concerned.

    [09] SYMPOSIUM ON NATURAL DISASTERS OPENS

    A symposium on "International Cooperation Against Natural Disasters" has begun in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Representatives from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, England, Japan, France and the US are participating in the symposium, the agency reported.

    [10] EXPORTS INCREASE IN PARALLEL WITH IMPORTS

    Exports worth $1.6 billion and imports worth $2.5 billion were effected during March 1995. An increase of 25.8 % in exports and 25 % in imports were seen in March 1995 compared with the same month of the previous year. The Directorate of State Statistical Institute (DIE) has announced the temporary figures for Turkey's exports and imports in 1995. Turkey's foreign trade deficit has reached $816.2 million with an increase of 23.4 % in March 1995. The ratio of export/import has risen from 66.6 % to 67 % in March 1995. Export of agricultural products decreased by 24.9 % while exports of industrial products increased by 37.6 % and exports of minerals and stone quarrying increased by 23.8 % in March 1995 compared with the same month of the previous year. Exports have totalled $4.7 billion with an increase of 24.4 % and imports have amounted to $6.8 billion with an increase of 16.5 % during the first three months of 1995 compared with the same period of last year. According to DIE, foreign trade deficit during the first three months averaged $2.9 billion with an increase of 1.7 % compared with $60.7 million in 1994. The ratio of export/import has increased from 65 % to 69.4 % during the first three months of 1995. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] TURKISH TEXTILE THE BEST IN EUROPE

    In his opening speech at the 76th World Textile Conference which began in Istanbul yesterday with the participation of 150 experts from 20 countries, Stephen Rubin, president of the Britain-based World Textile Institute said that Turkish textile products were candidates for becoming number one in Europe following Turkey's customs union with the EU. Rubin said that as a first step Turkey's yearly cotton production should be increased and secondly worker's productivity should be raised by increasing salaries to European standards. Hayri Kozakcioglu, Governor of Istanbul and Lale Aytaman, Governor of Mugla have also attended the conference where the present and future of the World Textiles were debated. Speaking at the conference, Nur Ger, president of the Turkish Clothing Industrialists Association (TGSD) said that developed countries should lift quotas. Ger called upon developed countries to welcome competition in their economies and open up their domestic markets gradually. Exhibitions were also opened in the Swissotel in which those of various firms participated. /Hurriyet/

    [12] DENKTAS EVALUATES THE RECENT EU EFFORTS

    In his press conference, yesterday, Rauf Denktas, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said that Prime Minister Tansu Ciller evaluates the Cyprus problem as "Turkey's national issue".

    Denktas pointed out that the Cyprus issue and Turkey's European Union membership and customs union were two different issues and they should not be mixed. /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] PKK KIDNAPPS A TEACHER

    The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) terrorists kidnapped a primary school teacher in the Bingollu township of Erzurum.

    During clashes between PKK militants and security forces in Diyarbakir and Sirnak, 14 terrorists were killed.

    Last night, PKK terrorists attacked the Payas district in Iskenderun. Officials stated that during the attack three civilians were massacred and two wounded. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/

    [14] TURCO-AZERI BANK TO BE ESTABLISHED

    The partnership agreement between the Ziraat Bank and the Azerbaijan Agrar Sanaye Bank for the establishment of an Azeri- Turkish Bank will be signed on May 25 in Ankara. According to a statement issued by the Ziraat Bank, the Azeri- Turkish Bank is to be established in Azerbaijan's capital city Baku. The partnership agreement of the bank will be signed by Cihan Pacaci, General Director of Ziraat Bank and Musaev Muhammed Kurbanoglu, General Director of Azerbaijan Agrar Sanaye Bank. /Hurriyet/

    [15] TURKISH REPRESENTATION IN TATARSTAN

    Turkey will open a consulate in Kazan, capital city of Tatarstan, one of the autonomous republics in the Russian Federation. Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said that an agreement has been reached between Ankara and Moscow to open the consulate. He added that they were waiting for the note of approval from Moscow to undertake respective action. Cetin signed a "Commercial, Economic, Scientific-Technical and Cultural Cooperation Agreement" with Tatar Prime Minister Farid Hyrullovic Muhametshin who has come to Ankara as his official guest. Cetin said that Tatarstan has rich natural resources and Turkish businessmen are ready to make investments and give all possible support to this country. Cetin reported that this agreement was important for Turkey not only from the point of developing relations with Tatarstan but with the Russian Federation as well. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

    END


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