TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 25, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 25, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE CIVILIAN CONSTITUTION

  • [02] PRIVATE SECTOR UNDERTAKES INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOSM UNION

  • [03] TANKER PLANES TO STRENGTHEN TURKISH AIR FORCE

  • [04] ANKARA LINKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELGRADE TO REGIONALDEVELOPMENTS

  • [05] BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE REACTION

  • [06] GOLD EXCHANGE TO OPEN TOMORROW

  • [07] PKK MILITANTS KILLED

  • [08] GHALI TO VISIT TURKEY IN AUTUMN

  • [09] BARZANI AND TALABANI TO MEET IN EUROPE

  • [10] SAHINOGLU IN BEIJING

  • [11] A BOSNIAN DEFENCE DELEGATION TO TURKEY

  • [12] EU SUPPORTS ANKARA ON TERRITORIAL WATERS

  • [13] TURKEY TAKES NEW STEPS FOR OIL

  • [14] LEADER OF WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY DIES IN ACCIDENT

  • [15] CULTURE MINISTER LEAVES FOR ROME

  • [16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RETURNS FROM THE US

  • [17] EX-SOVIET REPUBLIC LEADERS PEREFER TURKISH COASTS

  • [18] MARTYRS OF KOREAN WAR WEEK

  • [19] GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JULY 25, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE CIVILIAN CONSTITUTION

    The business world has reacted positively to amendments made in the Constitution. Congratulations had been pouring in from all sectors in the business world to the Assembly. The European Parliament has looked upon the amendments as a first positive step towards the customs union. It stated that now obstacles in the way of freedom of thought should be lifted. The foreign press also had words of praise for the amendments. The Financial Times wrote that this was a victory for Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. The Le Figaro daily wrote that one of the expectations of the EP has been realized. The Liberation daily wrote that three parties have united to effect amendments in the Constitution. The La Libre Belgique has written that Turkey is on the way to democratization and the country has taken important decisions. US Ambassador to Ankara, Marc Grossman has also extended his congratulations to Parliament and the government for the amendments made in the Constitution.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said these amendments took place on Turkish people's own free will not after pressures coming from foreign countries. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/

    [02] PRIVATE SECTOR UNDERTAKES INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOSM UNION

    The Constitutional amendments taken at the National Assembly has expedited the initiatives taken by the private sector for the customs union. The Economic Development Foundation represents the private sector in the EU. Chairman of the Foundation Sedat Aloglu that the democratic measures taken will result in closure ties between Turkey and the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] TANKER PLANES TO STRENGTHEN TURKISH AIR FORCE

    Ankara yesterday formally received two tanker aircraft leased from the US in a development that will boost the capabilities of Turkey's Air Force. "This is a happy day for us" President Suleyman Demirel told a ceremony held at Akinci Air Base near Ankara. "These tanker aircraft will bring new capabilities to the defence of our country". Turkey signed an agreement with the US in late 1994 to acquire seven KC-135R-type tanker aircraft to be upgraded by Boeing Aircraft at $292 million. The first deliveries are scheduled for 1997. The aircraft should considerably increase the flight range of Turkey's F-16 and F-4 fighter aricraft with their in-flight refuelling abilities. To meet its requirements until 1997, the Air Force leased the two aircraft it received yesterday for $13.5 million. US Ambassador to Turkey Marc Grossman said at the ceremony taht the tanker aircraft demonstrated the importance of Turkey for the US. Turkey is the first country other than the US to use the KC-135Rs. "That our air force is becoming a major power doesn't mean it will be used for aggressive purposes" Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said at the ceremony. "Our defence strength is the guarantee of peace and stability in our region". Chief of the General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi said Turkey should continue to improve and modernize its armed forces since it is situated in a highly volatile region of the world, clearly referring to the instabilities in the Balkans, the Middle East and Caucasia. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/

    [04] ANKARA LINKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELGRADE TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

    Turkey announced yesterday that the issue of establishing closer relations with Yugoslavia depends upon developments in the region. Ankara has diplomatic relations with Belgrade, Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said in answer to a question at this press conference yesterday. Akbel noted that human rights violations have reached an unacceptable level in Bosnia. He also said that Bosnia's cultural heritage had been greatly harmed by the conflict. He commented that the Turkish people have close historical and cultural links with the region and are following the tragic developments with great concern. /All papers/

    [05] BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE REACTION

    Hajruddin Somun, the Bosnia-Herzegovina's Ambassador to Ankara, said that his government wanted immediate measures to be taken by the international community in view of escalating Serb attacks on Bihac and Zepa. Somun announced that he had handed his government's message concerning Serb aggression to Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu. He added that Serb aggression around Zepa was continuing. In a related development, about 2,000 people staged a demonstration near the Kapikule border gate near Edirne, to protest against the latest developments in Bosnia. After the demonstration, the Bosnia Platform, which includes various foundations and associations, released a statement condemning Serb agression in Bosnia. Turkey's Constitutional Court has also comdemned the UN and other international institutions. /All papers/

    [06] GOLD EXCHANGE TO OPEN TOMORROW

    Turkey's first gold exchange, the Istanbul Gold Exchange, will start operations tomorrow, July 26, a statement from the Central Bank (CB) said yesterday. The Bank said that the foreign currency-indexed gold market within the CB, operational since April 10, 1989, would terminate activities as soon as the new gold exchange starts business. The Bank said in the same statement that it would not act as a broker in gold trading as of July 27. The exchange will remove the CB's monopoly on gold imports. /All papers/

    [07] PKK MILITANTS KILLED

    31 militants of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed during military operations in the Southeast and two soldiers also died. Meanwhile, five PKK militants, who were responsible for the death of 12 people and the wounding of a further 13 in an attack on a pro-government village in the southeastern Turkey, were themselves killed during a military operation. The five PKK militants, using rockets and automatic weapons, attacked a village near Atabinen in the province of Van on Sunday night. Thirteen people were wounded, and six women and one child were among the 12 dead, officials of the regional governor's office in Diyarbakir said. /Milliyet/

    [08] GHALI TO VISIT TURKEY IN AUTUMN

    Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan, who attended the West Contact Group's Bosnia Meeting in London, said that UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali wanted to come to Turkey in autumn. Golhan stated that Ghali said: "There is the Security Council and I am obliged to implement its decisions. Everyone blames me". Noting that most members at the meeting indicated that the problem could be solved not through military force but politically, Golhan pointed out that Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said: "You are talking about a political solution, but you cannot achieve a result by a political solution. Possibly military force is also not a full solution, but at least it can prepare grounds for a political one". Golhan said: "Air strikes must be carried out. Zepa has not fallen yet. If you want to make safe havens secure, then there must be a security zone around them". /Sabah/

    [09] BARZANI AND TALABANI TO MEET IN EUROPE

    Worried by the escalating internal strife of the Iraqi Kurds, the US and Turkey made separate calls to the warring sides to stop their fight and negotiate, Kurdish and Turkish officials said. Washington's call was made by Robert Deutsch, Director of the US State Department's Office of Northern Gulf Affairs. Deutsch sent a letter to Celal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), urging a meeting with him, Mesut Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and senior US officials to reach a final settlement, the PUK's Ankara office announced in a press release. The letter proposed an earlier meeting in Europe in the last week of July. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it called on the two parties last week to resolve their differences peacefully. Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said: "Turkey would also welcome all initiatives directed at stopping the clashes between the two sides "provided such initiatives respecting Iraq's territorial integrity". PUK leadership accepted the proposals for the meeting of high-level officials "in the chosen European venue", to be followed by the gathering of Talabani and Barzani with US officials. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] SAHINOGLU IN BEIJING

    Ankara Mayor Erdogan Sahinoglu is currently visiting Beijing as the official guest of Beijing municipality. Sahinoglu met Chinese Public Security deputy minister and observed Beijing's economic and technical development region, Asian games village and Chinese metro. Sahinoglu is scheduled to visit Chengie city. The visit will end on July 27. /All papers/

    [11] A BOSNIAN DEFENCE DELEGATION TO TURKEY

    While Western countries remain idle, Turkey takes concrete steps to end the tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Within this framework, a delegation from the Bosnian Ministry of Defence will come to Turkey to prepare grounds for cooperation in defence. A high-ranking official stated that the problem of what can be done in the face of the embargo will be taken in hand and also what will be done in the event the embargo is lifted. /Milliyet/

    [12] EU SUPPORTS ANKARA ON TERRITORIAL WATERS

    The EU legal commission has issued a report supporting Turkey on the problem of 12-mile limit of territorial waters created by Greece. The report states that the problem should be solved by a dialogue and mutual negotiations. /Hurriyet/

    [13] TURKEY TAKES NEW STEPS FOR OIL

    Turkey has proposed a new formula whereby a concern is to be established to handle oil projects. Chief Adviser to the Prime Ministry, Emre Gonensay will reveal the new plan to the authorities in Washington. Turkey, Russia and the US will be represented in this new project concern and will deal with all aspects related to the oil pipeline to the Caspian Sea. /Hurriyet/

    [14] LEADER OF WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY DIES IN ACCIDENT

    Ahmet Sadik, former independent deputy and leader of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace died in a car accident last night. President Suleyman Demirel has extended his condolences to members of his family. /Hurriyet/

    [15] CULTURE MINISTER LEAVES FOR ROME

    Culture Minister Ismail Cem will be leaving for Italy to attend the culture forum meeting in Rome, where leading politicians from Mediterranean countries will also attend the meeting. Politicians from Spain, Italy, France, Lebanon, Tunisia, Greece and Turkey will exchange views on the Mediterranean and its cultural problems, during the two-day meeting. It is noted that Ismail Cem will dwell on "the necessity of the realization of contemporary, effective, and tolerant dialogue among different cultures, civilizations, religions and national communities in the Mediterranean region" in his address. /Cumhuriyet/

    [16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RETURNS FROM THE US

    Environment Minister Riza Akcali returned to Turkey on Sunday after participating in the Mediterranean Environment Technical Aid Programme consultation meetings that took place in the US. Akcali told after his arrival that the aid programme was supported by the EU, the UN Development programme, World Bank and European Investment Bank. Akcali said he conveyed Turkey's improvements and problems on environment issue and he called for the US businessmen to invest in Turkey. Akcali said he held bilateral contacts with the World Bank and European Investment Bank officials and presented them Turkey's several projects adding these officials will soon come to Turkey to investigate these projects. /All papers/

    [17] EX-SOVIET REPUBLIC LEADERS PEREFER TURKISH COASTS

    Three ex-Soviet republic leaders have been vacationing on the Turkish Mediterranean coasts lately, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Moldovan President Mircea Snegur arrived in Antalya yesterday morning, whence he will proceed to Kemer for a week's stay. Meanwhile, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev left this same resort yesterday after two weeks of rest. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Albert Chernishev is on vacation in Side, where he is holding official talks with the town governor, Saim Cotur.

    [18] MARTYRS OF KOREAN WAR WEEK

    The Martyrs of the Korean War Week will take place in Washington DC on July 26-30. Officials from the 20 countries that fought in the Korean War under the auspices of the UN have been invited to the commemoration, which will include the unveiling of the Monument of Warriors in Korea. The group of officials representing the Turkish Armed Forces will leave for the US today. The Turkish team will organize a photograph and film exhibition. /All papers/

    [19] GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL

    Omer Akbel, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a press conference that a group from the German ministry of cultural cooperation, under the leadership of its chairman Herr Witman, was expected to arrive in Istanbul yesterday for meetings in connection with the proposed establishment of a German university in the city. Akbel, who will also head the Turkish delegation at the meetings, said they will build on initiatives already started. /All papers/

    END

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