TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 5, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 5, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] DYP COMES OUT AHEAD IN LOCAL BY-ELECTIONS

  • [02] DEMIREL TO HOST THREE HEADS OF STATE IN JUNE

  • [03] IRAQI DEPUTIES IN TURKEY

  • [04] MOGULTAY TO ATTEND ILO MEETINGS

  • [05] 27 MILITANTS KILLED, THREE SURRENDERED

  • [06] OSCE: "WE ATTRIBUTE IMPORTANCE TO TURKEY'S TERRITORIAL UNITY"

  • [07] THREE WOMEN KILLED, TEN INJURED IN THE SOUTHEAST

  • [08] TURKISH INDUSTRY RECOVERS, REACHES POSITIVE GROWTH

  • [09] "WORLD'S CHILDREN FIRST ENVIRONMENT CONVENTION" IN ANKARA

  • [10] GOLHAN: "TURKEY DESIRES TO SEND TROOPS TO THE MULTINATIONAL RAPID REACTION FORCE"

  • [11] LEADING SPECIALIST TO COME TO TURKEY

  • [12] US REPORT: A NEW TRUMP CARD FOR TURKEY

  • [13] BSEC PARLIAMENTARIANS ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE TOMORROW

  • [14] TURKEY'S UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN CREDIT DECREASES

  • [15] CREDIT FROM IMF

  • [16] CEYHAN TO BE THE OIL CENTER OF TURKEY IN THE FUTURE

  • [17] ANTIQUE STATUE DISCOVERED IN PATARA

  • [18] JICA TO OPEN OFFICE IN ANKARA

  • [19] PKK SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATE IN GERMANY

  • [20] PRODUCTION OF STEEL RODS AND SHEETS INCREASE

  • [21] COMMENTS ON PKK TERRORISM AND NORHERN IRAQ

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JUNE 5, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] DYP COMES OUT AHEAD IN LOCAL BY-ELECTIONS

    Local by-elections were held in two administrative districts and 34 towns yesterday by the participation of 88,448 voters. The main partner of the coalition the True Path Party (DYP) was first and the junior partner the Republican People's Party (CHP) was second. DYP won the elections in the Inebolu district of Kastamonu, the Kilis district of Gaziantep, and in 20 towns. The Motherland Party (ANAP) won the elections in five towns, the Republican People's Party four, the Welfare Party (RP) three and the National Movement Party (MHP) two towns. /Cumhuriyet/

    [02] DEMIREL TO HOST THREE HEADS OF STATE IN JUNE

    President Suleyman Demirel will host three heads of state and pay two foreign visits himself during the month of June, according to a statement from the President's office over the weekend. The heads of state that Demirel will pay host to will be the President of Slovenia Milan Kucan, who will be in Turkey during June 6-8, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, who will visit on June 19 and the President of Portugal Mario Soares who will come to Turkey for an unofficial visit on June 21. President Demirel himself will visit Kazakhstan on June 12-14 to attend the foundation laying ceremony for the International Turkish-Kazakhsant Ahmet Yesevin University. He will also travel to Romania on June 29- July 1 for a Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) summit. President Demirel will attend the Naval Exercises-95 in Bodrum-Antalya on June 15-16. /All papers/

    [03] IRAQI DEPUTIES IN TURKEY

    "An Iraqi parliamentary delegation left here Saturday for Ankara on a mission to boost ties with their Turkish counterparts. The visit is part of moves to promote and strengthen friendship and cooperation at a parliamentary level between neighbouring countries" said Safaa Saleh al-Omar, chairman of the parliamentary committee for Arab and international affairs. The visit was at the invitation of the Turkish parliament, the official agency INA said. The delegation would meet with Turkish leaders to discuss the "unfair" UN oil and trade embargo imposed when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, INA added. Arriving in Ankara yesterday, the delegation will meet with head of the Turkish parliamentary foreign affairs committee, Mumtaz Soysal and committee members today. Welcoming the delegation, Soysal stated that they desired the relations between the two brother and neighbouring countries to develop and said: "This month is important for our assembly as it is a month to make a decision on northern Iraq. Therefore, we are pleased with this visit". /Milliyet/

    [04] MOGULTAY TO ATTEND ILO MEETINGS

    Justice Minister Mehmet Mogultay will attend International Labour Organization (ILO) meetings to be held in Geneva in place of Aydin Guven Gurkan, the minister for Labour and Social Security who resigned late on Saturday, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Mogultay will visit Bucharest to attend a meeting of justice ministers and later attend the ILO meetings in Geneva, the agency reported.

    [05] 27 MILITANTS KILLED, THREE SURRENDERED

    Twenty seven militants of the PKK terrorist organization were killed and three surrendered during military operations in the Southeast, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Officials from the governorship of the state of emergency said that 27 were killed in Bitlis' Tatvan district while three others surrendered in Siirt's Pervari district and Adiyaman. Officials said that 21 automatic guns, 14 hand grenades, 15 mines, two bazookas, ammunition and many documents were confiscated during military operations in Adiyaman, Mardin, Siirt, Van, Sirnak and Hakkari, Anatolia reported.

    [06] OSCE: "WE ATTRIBUTE IMPORTANCE TO TURKEY'S TERRITORIAL UNITY"

    The deputy chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) parliamentary assembly, Willy Wimmer, said on Friday the organization attributed major importance to Turkey's territorial unity, the Anatolia news agency reported. Wimmer, who visited Turkey on May 1-6, said a report would be prepared on Turkey soon. He also condemned the terrorist attacks on Turkey and those giving support to terrorism.

    [07] THREE WOMEN KILLED, TEN INJURED IN THE SOUTHEAST

    Three women were killed and ten women injured by unidentified assailants while visiting the Shrine of Veysel Karani in Batman's Besiri District, the Anatolia news agency reported on Friday. The ten injured were taken to Dicle University Hospital in Diyarbakir. Salih Sarman, Governor of Batman, blamed the attack on militants from the PKK terrorist organization. Officials said that a total of eight people had been killed and 24 injured in the city during the past month, Anatolia reported.

    [08] TURKISH INDUSTRY RECOVERS, REACHES POSITIVE GROWTH

    Turkish industrial output recovered in April, reaching positive growth after a yearlong plunge and recession, officials figures revealed on Friday. The State of Institute of Statistics (DIE) disclosed that industrial sector output grew by a rapid 14.2 % in April compared with the same month of last year. The statistics agency said manufacturing industry output in April this year grew by 13.1 % and energy sector output by 24 %. /All papers/

    [09] "WORLD'S CHILDREN FIRST ENVIRONMENT CONVENTION" IN ANKARA

    A meeting of children from all over the world will take place in Ankara from June 6 to June 8 on the occasion of World Environment Week. Over 100 children from 21 countries as well as 70 Turkish children will attend the meetings to discuss environmental issues. President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Environment Minister Riza Akcali will attend the opening of the convention. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] GOLHAN: "TURKEY DESIRES TO SEND TROOPS TO THE MULTINATIONAL RAPID REACTION FORCE"

    Returning to Turkey following the meeting in Paris yesterday in which ministers and General Staff officials of 15 NATO and UN countries were present, Turkish Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan said that Turkey was desired to send troops to the Multinational Rapid Reaction Force which is being considered to be established. Golhan said that Turkey's acceptance to the union and the scope of the union would be determined after the negotiations to be held this month and that the Turkish F-16 fleet deployed at the Ghedi base of Italy could be sent to reinforce this force. Stating that Turkey wanted to participate in the Multinational Rapid Reaction Force with aircraft defence and ground support units, Golhan said that this issue would be considered in the Council of Ministers. Noting that this force would defend the UN Peace Force, provide logistic support, and would undertake speedy military operations, Golhan stated that this would be a deterrent force against the Serbs. Golhan said: "It is evident that the Serbs have not been made to see reason. Taking the Peace Force troops prisoners, fastening them to columns comprise the last straws. The stand taken by the Serbs has been condemned in the meeting. Decisions have been made in regard to more effective measures. New deployments will be made in critical regions.The Sarajevo airport will be kept open." Commenting on the presence of the Greek representative at the meeting in Paris, even though he was not invited, Golhan said: "It is good that they have participated as now they can see what is going on". /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

    [11] LEADING SPECIALIST TO COME TO TURKEY

    Dr.Noel Brown, a leading specialist in the world for the environment and former Chairman of the UN Environment Programme is coming to Turkey on June 14-18 as the guest of the Amyway Turkiye concern. During the 1992 Global Environment Summit held in Rio, Dr.Brown's work "Agenda 21" had been published and had won wide acclamation. It is believed that this subject will also be touched upon during his visit. Dr.Brown will participate in a luncheon where Minister of the Environment Riza Akcali and other government officials and representatives of the private sector and academicians will be present. /Hurriyet/

    [12] US REPORT: A NEW TRUMP CARD FOR TURKEY

    The statement in the report of the US State Department to the effect that some European countries extend support to the PKK terrorist organization will serve as a guideline for Turkey's foreign relations policy with Europe. An official has stated that this accusation has time and again been directed by Turkey to Europe but it had all been ineffective. "Now a third party, the US has officially confirmed this, by stating clearly and openly that European countries extend support to the PKK. This official document will be a great contribution to solve the PKK stalemate with Europe" he added. /Hurriyet/

    [13] BSEC PARLIAMENTARIANS ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE TOMORROW

    The Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Parliamentarians Assembly meeting is to be held in Moscow tomorrow. Turkey will be represented by a 9-person delegation of deputies headed by Kocaeli Deputy Ibrahim Artvinli. A welcoming speech will be made by the Chairman of the sub-wing of the Russian Parliament (Duma), Ivan Ribkin. Subjects to be taken in hand will comprise cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and education. A decision will also be taken on the subject of holding a future meeting of the Organization on a head of state level. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] TURKEY'S UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN CREDIT DECREASES

    Turkey's medium and long term foreign credit utilization has decreased by $529 million which represents a decrease of 41% for the first three months of 1995 as compared with the same period of the previous year. This figure was on the level of $898 million during the same period the previous year. It was ascertained that 16.4 % of medium and long term credits has been utilized by the Treasury, 4.2 % by commercial banks, 60 % by other public and private sector institutions. The remaining 19.4 % comprised project credits financing of investment goods for the public sector and exports of the private sector. /Cumhuriyet/

    [15] CREDIT FROM IMF

    A delegation of five from International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to arrive Turkey, today. During a ten-day visit of the IMF, there will be meetings with the Treasury and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, Finance Ministry, the Central Bank, the State Planning Institution, and the Privatization Administration officials. During the meetings monetary developments, price movements, borrowing and other macro-economic indications will be discussed. The forth portion of the stand-by agreement has been released. It is expected to be transferred to Turkey within the next few days. /Hurriyet/

    [16] CEYHAN TO BE THE OIL CENTER OF TURKEY IN THE FUTURE

    According to the recent decision of the UN Security Council, Iraq will sell a limited quantity of oil. Upon, Iraq's acceptance to comply with the decision, the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline will re-open. Also, within the framework of the agreements signed last year Kazakh and Azeri oil will be pumped through the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Ceyhan will be come the oil centre of Turkey. According to the agreements, annually 25 million tons of crude oil from Azerbaijan, 20 million tons from Kazakhstan and 70 million tons from Iraq will be pumped annually Turkey. In other words 115 million tons of crude oil will annually find its way to international markets through Turkey. /Milliyet/

    [17] ANTIQUE STATUE DISCOVERED IN PATARA

    An antique statue has been discovered in the Mediterranean village of Patara. Archaeologist at the excavation site Sencer Sahin said that the statue dating back to AD 41-54 had been used as a direction guide for the city of Likia in ancient times. Sahin also noted that the text written on the statue proved the fact that Likia had become a Roman state during the term of Emperor Claudius. The statue, which is broken into several pieces, is to be restored. /Cumhuriyet/

    [18] JICA TO OPEN OFFICE IN ANKARA

    The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), founded to transfer technology and finance to developing countries, has decided to open an office in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported from Tokyo on Friday. The JICA administrative manager, Kazutoshi Iwanami, said with the new office, they aim to develop technical cooperation between Turkey and Japan and also to assist Central Asian Turkish-speaking republics financially and technically. /All papers/

    [19] PKK SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATE IN GERMANY

    Supporters of the PKK terrorist organization held a demonstration in Cologne to protest the closing of a publishing house that publishes PKK documents, the Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday. At least 300 supporters were taken into custody by the police during demonstrations. Three police officers and many demonstrators received injuries, the agency reported.

    [20] PRODUCTION OF STEEL RODS AND SHEETS INCREASE

    There has been an increase of 11.41 % in the production of rods and steel sheets for the first 4 months of this year when compared to figures for the same period last year. According to the Iron Steel Producers' Association, the figure for last year was 3 million 865.8 thousand tons. The figure for the current year is 4 million 306.8 thousand tons. /Cumhuriyet/

    [21] COMMENTS ON PKK TERRORISM AND NORHERN IRAQ

    FINANCIAL TIMES (April 19, 1995) Edward Mortimer

    "How, the Turks ask, could any country fail to react when terrorism against it is carried on from bases in a neighbouring country, in an area over which the government of that country has no control? That is a fair question. The power vacuum in northern Iraq is a real problem, for which the western countries that briefly occupied the area in 1991 should take responsibility."

    THE NEW YORK TIMES (March 29, 1995) Steven Greenhouse

    "The Administration also justified Turkey's offensive by saying that because Iraq was powerless to stop terrorists from operating in the zone, it seemed logical for Turkey to take the matter into its own hands.

    'There is an administrative vacuum in that area,' said Christine Shelly, a State Department spokeswoman. 'Countries have certain rights under international law to stop actions that may be taking place across international borders against them.'"

    THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, (April 18, 1995) Alan Makovsky

    TURKEY MERITS US BACKING AS IT HUNTS TERRORISTS

    "Turkey's 35,000-troop incursion into northern Iraq is part of an ongoing battle against terrorism. It deserves support from the United States and other Western nations.

    Two points should guide Western policy. First, the West's interests lie with Turkey. Ankara has been a loyal NATO ally, a stategic partner in the Gulf war, and the host of Operation Provide Comport, whose planes protect Iraqi Kurds from Saddam Hussein. It is a source of stability in the Middle East, an important future partner in our ties with resource-rich Central Asia, and a key bulwark against a resurgence of Russian imperialism. Most important, Turkey has long been the most democratic government in the Islamic world. Its democratic efforts, however imperfect, deserve to be rewarded and nurtured.

    By contrast, the terrorist PKK is trained in Lebanon's Syrian- controlled Bekaa Valley and supported by three sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Iraq, and particulariy Syria. The PKK targets not only the Turkish military but also state officals and others - including teachers, whom it accuses of purveying state propaganda - and their families. Its persistent attacks on Turkish institutions throughout Europe led both France and Germany to ban the organization in 1993.

    Second, Turkey's actions to preserve its territorial integrity and prevent terrorist infiltration across its borders are justified. There is little doubt the US would respond powerfully were we victimized by cross-border terrorism that a neighboring state would not or could not control. Indeed, as our 1986 raid on Libya showed, we are willing to go well beyond our borders to try to inflict damage on terrorists .

    Carrying out reform while fighting terrorists is treacherous. Terrorists can mistake reform for weakness. If Turkey is to follow through with its reforms, it should know that its friends fully support its right to oppose terror and protect its borders."

    END

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