TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 1, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 1, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] DEMIREL RETURNS HOME

  • [02] TURKEY LOOKS FOR NEW FRIENDS

  • [03] ANKARA URGES IRAQI KURDS TO MAINTAIN CEASEFIRE

  • [04] TURKEY INVESTIGATES CASES OF TWO TURKS ARRESTED IN RUSSIA

  • [05] SACEUR COMMANDER VISITS TURKEY

  • [06] TRNC AND TURKISH MINISTRIES TO COOPERATE

  • [07] SOUTHEAST AID PROJECT LAUNCHED FOR TERRORISM VICTIMS

  • [08] INTERNATINAL TOLERANCE CONGRESS IN ANTALYA

  • [09] 12 TERRORISTS KILLED

  • [10] KARABAKH ARMENIANS THREATEN CIVILIAN AZERI PLANES

  • [11] "TURKISH STUDIES DESK" AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

  • [12] DENMARK IN "RED LIST"

  • [13] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS CALLS FOR A POLICY REASSESSMENT

  • [14] TURKEY WANTS AMENDMENT OF UN MANDATE

  • [15] TURKEY SHRUGS OFF LACK OF INVITATION TO EU SUMMIT

  • [16] THANKS TO CILLER FROM CLINTON

  • [17] US SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMS UNION

  • [18] INONU-PAPULYAS MEETING

  • [19] THE ANKARA '95 AMATEUR THEATRES FESTIVAL

  • [20] TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JUN 1, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] DEMIREL RETURNS HOME

    President Demirel has felt envy over everything he saw during his ten-day Far East visit. He said: "If you do not participate in the race, you will miss the train". Demirel returned to Ankara, determined to revise the economic objectives and policies of Turkey. Commenting on his visit at a banquet given in the Indonesian Embassy, Demirel said: "This trip shows that there are new gates for Turkey after Latin America. Turkey should utilize these doors". Stressing that Indonesian administrators approached Turkey in good will, Demirel said: "If we have closer contacts, our relations would be as good as we have with Pakistan". A summary of Demirel's statements at a press meeting is as follows:

    - Turkey experiences great difficulty in convincing those who have unfavourable views on Turkey. There are no such difficulties in the Far Eastern countries.

    - Turkey could use these countries as a gate for Asia and the Pacific region.

    - There are one million cars in Jakarta but there is no automotive by-industry. We could cooperate on this issue.

    - National interests require mature thought. Turkey should not hang on to the US and Europe. The country's policies will be multi-dimensional.

    - Japanese and Chinese should be taught in Turkey. Japanese is being taught at the Canakkale University but we should also teach Chinese. Turkey cannot develop without a knowledge of languages. Demirel and his accompanying delegation returned home yesterday morning. /Hurriyet/

    [02] TURKEY LOOKS FOR NEW FRIENDS

    President Demirel returned to Ankara yesterday evening after his ten-day China-Hong Kong-Indonesia trip. Sevinc Dalyanoglu, Turkish Ambassador to Jakarta has given a banquet in honour of Demirel and his wife at the embassy residence on the last night of their stay in Jakarta. Speaking with the journalists there, Demirel stressed that the trip was very beneficial. He said that in particular Hong Kong and Indonesia were competing for investments and this was evident from the number of skyscapers being constructed.

    New Friends

    Saying that Turkey was looking for new friends, Demirel stated that they had discussed bilateral issues regarding economy, policy and international developments with Indonesian President Suharto. Demirel added that they were most concerned over the Bosnia-Herzegovina problem. Asking businessmen to speedily pave the way to foreign markets, Demirel said: "Turkey, while mobilizing her forces for export on the one hand, also brings restrictions to those sent to the front on the other. Turkey will save businessmen from the hands of bureaucracy." /Sabah/

    [03] ANKARA URGES IRAQI KURDS TO MAINTAIN CEASEFIRE

    Turkey has renewed its call to the two main northern Iraqi Kurdish groups to solve their problems through dialogue rather than violence. Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said in his weekly press conference that Ankara had told delegations from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to extend the present ceasefire between them. "If the armed struggle between the two sides resumes, it would be impossible to maintain the security in the region. Such fighting would not only harm the northern Iraqi people but would be exploited by terrorist groups" Nurkan said, in a clear indication of Turkish fear that the PKK terrorist organization, whose bases were eradicated by a Turkish operation into the region, would reestablish itself there. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] TURKEY INVESTIGATES CASES OF TWO TURKS ARRESTED IN RUSSIA

    The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that it was investigating the cases of two Turkish nationals reportedly arrested in Russia on charges of collaborating with rebel Chechen leader Dzhokhar Dudayev. Russian Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday that the two Turks had been detained in the Russian Federation's autonomous republic of Daghestan bordering Chechnya. "We are waiting for detailed information about the two men, Ishak Kendir and Kamil Ozturk, from our Moscow Embassy" Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan told a weekly press briefing.

    [05] SACEUR COMMANDER VISITS TURKEY

    Gen.George Joulwan, Head of NATO's Supreme Allied Command in Europe (SACEUR), arrived in Ankara on Tuesday on an official visit to Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff. Karadayi, Gen.Ahmet Corekci, Deputy Chief of General Staff, and Gen.Hursit Tolon, General Secretary of the General Staff, participated in a military ceremony which was held in honour of Joulwan at the headquarters of the Chief of General Staff. Joulwan said military issues and Serbian attacks in Bosnia were discussed during his visit to Karadayi. /Hurriyet/

    [06] TRNC AND TURKISH MINISTRIES TO COOPERATE

    The Environment Ministry and the TRNC's (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) Youth, Sport and Environment Ministry will cooperate, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Turkey and the TRNC will work together according to the agreement signed by Ismet Karalar, director of Turkish Environment Ministry's environmental evaluating and planning department, and Mehmet Celik, director of TRNC's Youth, Sport and Environment Ministry's protection of environment department. The Environment Ministry will provide environment aid to foreign firms' projects in the TRNC.

    [07] SOUTHEAST AID PROJECT LAUNCHED FOR TERRORISM VICTIMS

    An project has been launched by the government to aid the victims of terrorism in the southeastern province of Tunceli, the Anatolia news agency has reported. Quoting the Tunceli Governor's office, Anatolia said that those who had to leave their houses or whose houses were destroyed during terrorist attacks would be supplied with the materials and land to build a new home for themselves.

    [08] INTERNATINAL TOLERANCE CONGRESS IN ANTALYA

    An International Tolerance Congress organized by HAGEM (Culture Ministry's general directorate of researchment and development of public cultures) and Akdeniz University will be held on June 10-12 in Antalya, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The Congress' aim is to develop peace and brotherhood in the world. Representatives, experts and scientists from the US, France, Germany, TRNC, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and People's Republic of China will participate in the congress, the agency reported.

    [09] 12 TERRORISTS KILLED

    Twelve militants of the PKK terrorist organization were killed during military operations in the Southeast. Military officials said three militants were killed in Siirt's Eruh and Baggoze districts, seven were killed in Kars' Sarikamis district, and two were killed in Diyarbakir's Hani and Mus' Malazgirt districts. Terrorists who blocked the road in Van's Baskale district abducted two shepherds, four village guards and 300 heads of cattle to Iran. A group of terrorists, who raided the construction site of the Village Services in Hakkari's Ogul village, burnt a bulldozer and a truck, and abducted four workers. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/

    [10] KARABAKH ARMENIANS THREATEN CIVILIAN AZERI PLANES

    The self-styled Armenian government in Azerbaijan''s enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has warned civilian Azeri planes not to use flight routes "passing near Karabakh's air space" implying that its forces may hit the planes. The "Defence Ministry" of the Karabakh Armenians said in a statement on Tuesday that two civilian planes from Azerbaijan Airways recently flew very close to Karabakh's air space during Baku-Nakhichevan- Ankara flights. "Necessary precautions will be taken if Azeri planes repeat this action" it said. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] "TURKISH STUDIES DESK" AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

    Turkey has donated $650,000 for a "Modern Turkish Studies Desk" to be established at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. The agreement to set up such a desk was signed last year and Turkey donated $100,000. Georgetwon University is also contributing to the project with $750,000. Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nuzhet Kandemir, handing over a check to the rector Leo J.O'donovan, commented that all the acute problems in the post-Cold War era were in Turkey's geographical area. Thus, he continued, it is important to learn about this country's culture, people, and political and economic structure. Kandemir concluded that the desk would be of much help in this project. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/

    [12] DENMARK IN "RED LIST"

    Denmark has joined a series of Western countries in imposing an arms embargo against its NATO-ally Turkey, protesting against an incursion by Turkish troops into northern Iraq. In retaliation, Turkey has included Denmark in a "red list" of countries, ruling out any future participation of this state in Turkey's defence industry projects, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said yesterday. Nurkan said at a weekly press briefing that Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen told a parliamentary session in late March, following the Turkish incursion, that arms deliveries to Turkey would not be permitted. Denmark has not changed its attitude after the Turkish operation in N.Iraq ended on May 2, prompting retaliation by Ankara, Nurkan said. "Denmark has lost its credibility as a reliable partner in military procurements... From now on no weapons or military equipment will be brought from Denmark and that country will be barred from entering Turkey's all future biddings in the defence industry field" he said. Nurkan also protested the recent opening of a Copenhagen office by the ERNK, the political wing of the PKK terrorist organization. /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS CALLS FOR A POLICY REASSESSMENT

    President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) called on all parties in the country to come together for a new assessment of Turkish Cypriot foreign policy. Denktas indicated that the need for a reassessment was caused by what he called the changing trends regarding the Cyprus problem following the Greek Cypriot bid to join the EU. "The EU is giving different messages to the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides" Denktas said. He added that Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides was summoned to the EU meetings on behalf of Cyprus and that increased the danger. "The Cyprus issue must be solved. It must be over in 1996" he concluded. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] TURKEY WANTS AMENDMENT OF UN MANDATE

    Turkey said yesterday that the mandate of the UN peacekeepers in Bosnia should be amended so as to enable them to cope with Serb aggression. "The UN Protection Force should be given a new mandate that would make it possible for them to do their job" Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said. "Withdrawal of UN forces would be a display of weakness and may lead to new massacres" he added. Nurkan also said Turkey strongly condemned recent bombings of Sarajevo and Tuzla in Bosnia by local Serb forces. He noted the Serb move to take UN peacekeepers as hostages was an inhuman action.

    [15] TURKEY SHRUGS OFF LACK OF INVITATION TO EU SUMMIT

    Turkey shrugged off not being invited to a EU summit in Cannes in June, saying it was the 1996 intergovernmental conference which had priority in Turkey. "What is important for us at this point is to complete our obligations and realize the customs union, which provides a cornerstone in our aim of full membership, and there-by join in the 1996 conference, where important decisions will be taken" Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said yesterday. France, currently president of the EU, asked Greek Cypriots and 10 other states seeking EU membership to attend a summit in Cannes on June 26-27. Turkish Cypriots and Ankara say Greek Cypriots cannot speak for the breakaway Turkish state in the north and object to any unilateral admission for the south into the EU. /All papers/

    [16] THANKS TO CILLER FROM CLINTON

    US President Bill Clinton sent a letter to Prime Minister Tansu Ciller thanking her for ending the northern Iraqi operation and withdrawing from the region in accordance with promise. Clinton stated in his letter that the US supports Turkey in the customs union issue with Europe. The President also emphasized that he was pleased with the discussions during Prime Minister Tansu Ciller visit to the US in April. /Hurriyet/

    [17] US SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMS UNION

    The US extends strong support on the customs union issue to enable Turkey to integrate with the European Union (EU). A concrete example of this is the visit of Turkey by the US Permanent Representative of the EU, Stuart Eizenstat. A top level Foreign Ministry official said that the US has given the biggest support ever for the customs union issue. The official added that the US was making extraordinary efforts and was bringing great pressure to bear on the EU countries. /Hurriyet/

    [18] INONU-PAPULYAS MEETING

    Turkish and Greek foreign ministers held a 60-minute meeting in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said: "The meeting is just a beginning. There have been no concrete results. We have agreed to meet again at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Meeting in Bucharest at the end of June." /Milliyet/

    [19] THE ANKARA '95 AMATEUR THEATRES FESTIVAL

    The Ankara '95 International Amateur Theatres Festival will be held on July 15-30 with the participation of groups from 9 countries. Participants will be as follows: The Maneken theatre from Russia, the Mascaruba theatre from Aruba, the La Cueva theatre from Mexico, the Silly Gone company from France, the Kiruna theatre from Sweden, the Jesters Roving players from the US, the peoples' theatre from Bangladesh, the Teatrun Group from Colombia, the Calabash from Zimbabwe and the Turkish Bogazici players. /Cumhuriyet/

    [20] TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS

    Greek Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said that 1988 Turco- Greek agreement was a good basis for Confidence-Building Measures (CBM) in the Aegean Sea. He held discussions with US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott in Washington. He said that Turco-Greek relations were discussed within the framework of NATO's southeastern wing. He said the subject would be taken up next week by the NATO defence ministers, and he hoped positive results would be obtained. /Cumhuriyet/

    END

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