TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 7, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 7, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] SLOVENE PRESIDENT IN TURKEY

  • [02] TURKEY STALLS GREEK ACCESS TO BLACK SEA ASSEMBLY

  • [03] AKYOL URGES RESUMPTION OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH IRAQ

  • [04] FM INONU IN BRUSSELS

  • [05] TURKEY INFORMS UN OF INTENT TO JOIN BOSNIA FORCE

  • [06] TURKEY, ALBANIA START NAVAL EXERCISE

  • [07] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES ON JUNE 9

  • [08] US CYPRUS COORDINATOR ON THE MOVE IN EUROPE

  • [09] TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER SECURITY

  • [10] FIFTEEN MILITANTS KILLED

  • [11] PRESS AND INFORMATION DIRECTORATE CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

  • [12] TURKEY'S AUTO INDUSTRY INVESTMENTS SOARED 39.8 % LAST YEAR

  • [13] THE US CAUTIONS TURKEY ON TERRORISM

  • [14] HOPE OF CONCILIATION IN CYPRUS, ACCORDING TO THE UN

  • [15] $500 MILLION FINANCING FOR THE BAKU-YUMURTALIK OIL PIPELINE

  • [16] ATHENS OBSESSION WITH TURKEY

  • [17] CILLER GOES TO THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (WEU) MEETING

  • [18] BULGARIAN RACISTS RAZE TURKISH DWELLINGS

  • [19] GERMANY AT LAST REALIZES THE TRUTH

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JUNE 7, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] SLOVENE PRESIDENT IN TURKEY

    Slovene President Milan Kucan was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Cankaya Presidential Palace by President Suleyman Demirel yesterday. Turkish Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, President of the Constitutional Court Yekta Gungor Ozden and state ministers Onur Kumbaracibasi and Sukru Erdem were also present. Pointing out that both countries had the political will to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperate on regional issues, Demirel said: "Our two countries can play a major role in the reestablishment of peace and stability in the region and actively contribute to international efforts to bring peace and stability to the former Yugoslavia. Turkey and Slovenia have a similar approach toward peace and stability". Recalling that Turkey was the first country which recognized Slovenia, Demirel stated that the last stage had been reached for the agreements on protection and encouragement of the investments, prevention of double taxation, and friendship and trade between the two countries. Noting that Slovenia shared the same views with Turkey on the Bosnia- Herzegovina issue, Kucan said: "The events in Bosnia-Herzegovina prove that there is no effective security mechanism in Europe". At the meeting with Kucan, Cindoruk stressed that as Slovenia was located in this "disturbed" region, Kucan was better placed to talk about the problems of the region. Later, Kucan met with Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. /Cumhuriyet/

    [02] TURKEY STALLS GREEK ACCESS TO BLACK SEA ASSEMBLY

    Turkey yesterday stalled Greece's request to become a member of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly (BSECPA) by vetoing it at the permanent committee level. A decision for Greek accession failed to pass in the permanent committee, which had met in Moscow to determine the agenda of the 5th BSECPA general meeting, when Turkey, backed by Azerbaijan, rejected Greece's participation. Any decision in the permanent committee requires a permanent consensus. Even though Greece is a member of the BSEC, it is not represented at the BSECPA. If Greece fails to overcome Turkey's veto, it will have to attend the BSECPA meeting as an observer. Ibrahim Artvinli, the head of the Turkish delegation, said that Turkey could not understand the Greek motive to apply suddenly to the BSECPA, when it had rejected Turkish invitations twice before. "What we are asking for is simply sometime to enlighten the situation" Atrvinli said. Stating that the BSECPA desired peace and stability in the region, Artvinli expressed Turkey's reaction against the Chechen war. Recalling that many civilians had been killed during the war, he added that Turkey supported a peaceful solution to the problem, and called upon BSECPA members to evince sensitivity on the matter. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/

    [03] AKYOL URGES RESUMPTION OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH IRAQ

    Industry Minister Hasan Akyol said yesterday that Turkey should resume economic, industrial and commercial ties with its southeastern neighbour Iraq. Meeting a visiting parliamentary delegation from Iraq, Akyol said Turkey had lost over $20 billion during the past five years because of the stoppage of trade with Baghdad. Safaa al-Omar, head of the Iraqi Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission, said he hoped his visit would contribute to the improvement of Turkish- Iraqi relations. Turkish officials said the case of a dormant Iraqi-Turkish pipeline, which once carried oil from the Kirkuk oil centre in Iraq to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Yumurtalik, was discussed at the meeting. Ankara now says the oil trapped in the pipeline in must be flushed in order to avoid corrosion. To date, Iraq has rejected UN proposals to export a limited amount of oil through the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline, calling for a complete lifting of the economic embargo.

    [04] FM INONU IN BRUSSELS

    Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu arrived in Brussels yesterday. "The democratic reform will be considered in Parliament shortly and I will speak in Brussels of the positive results soon to be expected from this activity" Inonu told journalists before his departure. However, he added that democratization was "a process" that would take some time. "We are taking steps to democratize regardless of who wants it and who does not want it because our own people and electorate want to see it happen" Inonu said. On the eve of his planned meetings with leaders of the European Parliament, Inonu refrained from hard criticism of the body, which is to vote on the Turco-EU customs union. "Turkey has to maintain good ties with the EP, which is one of the most important institutions of the EU. The EP is committed to democracy" he said. He added that it was important for Turkey to explain its own commitment to democracy to the EP. Inonu met with former Belgian Prime Minister and European Christian Democrat Group Chairman Wilfried Martens and the member responsible for the EU Commission's foreign affairs, Hans Van Den Broek. Inonu said: "At both meetings, I talked about our efforts to enter the customs union at the specified time. I also learned their expectations. Now, here we are at a hopeful point. We are waiting for a positive decision in the EP following the agreements on March 6". /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] TURKEY INFORMS UN OF INTENT TO JOIN BOSNIA FORCE

    Turkey has officially informed the UN of its intention to contribute troops and equipment to an international rapid reaction force designed to be deployed in Bosnia. Turkish Ambassador to the UN, Inal Batu, told a meeting on Bosnia at the UN headquarters that Turkey was ready to take part in the air and ground elements of the force. However, the NATO-planned rapid reaction force's establishment is at stake as UN Security Council member Russia threatens to veto a resolution for the force's mandate. In his speech, Batu also criticized current UN policies on Bosnia, saying the UN, in line with a hypothetical pretext of impartiality, was approaching the Serb aggressors and the Bosnian victims as if there was no difference between them. Unal also said that heavy weaponry of the Serbs collected by the UN should be destroyed. /Hurriyet/

    [06] TURKEY, ALBANIA START NAVAL EXERCISE

    Turkish and Albanian warships yesterday started a joint exercise in the Adriatic, Turkish General Staff Headquarters announced. Turkish Frigate TCG Ege will participate alongside two corvettes, two patrol boats and four mine-sweepers from the Albanian navy in the four-day exercise Marex-1/95 to be conducted off the port of Durres, the headquarters said in a press release. The drills will include naval warfare as well as fire fighting and damage control, according to the annoucement. Turkish Navy Commander Adm.Vural Beyazit and the Albanian Chief of General Staff will reportedly observe the exercise.

    [07] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES ON JUNE 9

    The National Security Council will convene on June 9 to discuss the extension of the mandate of the Operation Provide Comfort and the duration of emergency rule. The Council is expected to recommend the extension of the mandate of Operation Provide Comfort for a further six months starting from June 30.

    [08] US CYPRUS COORDINATOR ON THE MOVE IN EUROPE

    James Williams, the US coordinator for Cyprus, headed for Europe to take part in meetings in Paris, Bonn and Brussles on the Cyprus issue. Williams is expected to return to Washington D.C. by the weekend. /Cumhuriyet/

    [09] TURKISH-IRAQI BORDER SECURITY

    Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) aims to secure the Turkish-Iraqi border region by region. IKDP resources gave information to the Anatolia news agency stating that attaining full security in some parts of the border was impossible at this level as the present villages were fully vacated and also due to the natural terrain of the region. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] FIFTEEN MILITANTS KILLED

    Fifteen militants of the PKK terrorist organization and a security official were killed in clashes in the Southeast. Officials from the State of Emergency said that the fifteen militants were killed in Hakkari's Cukurca district. In addition, five automatic guns, one bazooka, 12 hand grenades, five mines and a stock of bullets were confiscated during the military operations in the region, officials said, adding that a total of 33 militants had been killed there in the last seven days. /Sabah/

    [11] PRESS AND INFORMATION DIRECTORATE CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

    The Press and Information Directorate of Prime Ministry celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation. In a message, given on the occasion, State Minister Baki Atac said the directorate, which was established on the orders of Ataturk, had played a pivotal role in publishing and broadcasting spheres in Turkey. He said there was much pride in the Press and Information Directorate's many years of service for the benefit of the Turkish public. /All papers/

    [12] TURKEY'S AUTO INDUSTRY INVESTMENTS SOARED 39.8 % LAST YEAR

    Total investment in the Turkish automotive industry increased to $706 million last year, a significant rise of 39.8 % from $505 million in 1993. The Automotive Industrialists' Association (OSD) said in a comprehensive report that the most important change in the sector were increased investments in capacity and modernization. /All papers/

    [13] THE US CAUTIONS TURKEY ON TERRORISM

    The US Global Terrorism report has for the first time given space to fundamentalist movements in Turkey. The report states that extremist Islamic groups organize attacks on secular state institutions. As an example, it cites the Islamic Movement Organization and the IBDA-C which were implicated in the assasination of writer columnist Ugur Mumcu. The report goes on to state that the PKK also poses a threat to US interests. The terrorist organization in its campaign to set up a state resort to international terrorism. The Revolutionary Left too is a threat to US interests in Turkey. The connections between terrorist organizations, drug trafficking and weapons smuggling is one that is causing great concern in the world. During 12 international conferences covering security in the period 1992-1995, it has been pointed out that the PKK was engaged in drug trafficking. In an operation undertaken in Bahcelievler, Istanbul, a PKK courier was caught with 35 klgs of raw morphine in his possession. The drugs were for sale to secure financial support for the PKK. Five persons were apprehended in connection with the morphine. Th report also refers to the presence of ERNK, the political wing of the PKK in Europe, which is being supported by some countries on the continent. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] HOPE OF CONCILIATION IN CYPRUS, ACCORDING TO THE UN

    Joe Clark, Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali for Cyprus said that there was a hope for conciliation on the island based on the Greek sectors membership to the EU in return for recognition of the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He added that for this to materialize, the EU should hold contacts with the Turkish side. The formula of "sovereignty against EU membership" was claimed to be the agenda of the secret consultations held in London last month. In his briefing given to the Security Council members on Cyprus, Clark stated that he thought that direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities would be beneficial and he noted that TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides had put forward interesting ideas during their meeting in October. Clark said that despite the declaration of the Greek Cypriot leader to the effect that they would accept the sovereignty right of the TRNC in return for EU membership, Turks were worried on the subject of Greek EU membership. Clark said: "But these are not problems which cannot be overcome. The EU should hold contacts with the Turkish government on Cyprus and should try to find a solution." The US Administration has also taken initiatives to have Denktas and Klerides come together again. /Hurriyet/

    [15] $500 MILLION FINANCING FOR THE BAKU-YUMURTALIK OIL PIPELINE

    The first serious initiative has been undertaken in regard to the envisaged oil pipeline that is planning to transit Azeri petroleum to international markets via Turkey and the respective financing agreement for the pipeline has been signed in New York. The agreement has been signed between the Oil Capital Inc. which has its headquarters in New York, and the Austrian Steyr Daimler Punch and the Siemens concern. The 500 million dollars made available by the financing agreement will be used in purchasing the necessary construction materials for the oil pipeline that will extend from the Caspian Sea to Mediterrannean. An official from the American company reported that the oil pipeline will have a pumping capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and it will be the first serious alternative to the Russian pipeline system which is inefficient with its limited tanker capacity in the Black Sea. On the other hand, the consortium that consists of Russia, Bulgaria and Greece plans to carry oil from the Novorrossisk harbour in the Black Sea to the Burgaz harbour of Bulgaria with tankers and to bring the oil to the Mediterranean through Greece. /Sabah/

    [16] ATHENS OBSESSION WITH TURKEY

    The US State Department has reported that Greece's Balkans policy has been mainly formed on the basis of "traditional fear of Turks". The report goes on to state that Greece considers herself in a more dangeraous situation following the end of the cold war. Further information as follows was also included in the report. "According to Greece fundamentalist Islamic movements are on the increase. Athens believes that Moslem countries and particularly Turkey are trying to increase their influence in the region by taking advantage of the disturbances in the Balkans. Greek policy in the region is mostly based on their historical and religious ties with primarily Russia and Serbia and other Orthodox countries and also on their traditional fear of Turkey. This situation is also reflected in the anxiety of Greek public opinion and the Greek government relevant to Western concern regarding former Yugoslavian policies. Greece believes that the West has found the Serbs mainly responsible. /Cumhuriyet/

    [17] CILLER GOES TO THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (WEU) MEETING

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller will participate in the Western European Union Assembly (WEU) which had prepared a report directing hard criticism against Turkey. Prior to this announcement, speculations were prevalent to the effect that the Prime Minister would not participate in the Assembly in Paris on June 19 as the report had contained references on autonomy for the Kurds in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

    [18] BULGARIAN RACISTS RAZE TURKISH DWELLINGS

    Three Moslem families' houses were set on fire in Beznitza town located in the region of Gotze Delchev, Bulgaria by unidentified persons. As a result 40 people were left homeless and damages amounting to TL 9.6 billion were incurred. An investigation has been launched into the event. /Sabah/

    [19] GERMANY AT LAST REALIZES THE TRUTH

    German officials have personelly witnessed the fact that Turkish citizens extradited to Turkey have not been badly treated and the claims of torture were unfounded. They were not taken into custody entering the country. It was pointed out that extradition would henceforth be expedited. /Sabah/

    END

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