TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 28, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] NUMBER OF DEPUTIES IN COMMISSION LOWERED TO 500

  • [02] EMERGENCY RULE TO STAY IN SOUTHEAST

  • [03] ARMY: 754 TERRORISTS KILLED SINCE JAN.1994

  • [04] SHALIKASHVILI DEFENDS HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESS IN TURKEY

  • [05] GURPINAR TAKES OVER AT CULTURE MINISTRY

  • [06] AZERI FM CONDEMNS TURKISH CONSULATE BOMBING

  • [07] EXPERTS SAY EUROPE SHOULD BE MORE HONEST WITH TURKEY

  • [08] ISRAELI TOURISTS PUT TURKEY FIRST

  • [09] DEMIREL PRAISES TOFAS ACHIEVEMENTS

  • [10] GROSSMAN REPEATS US VIEWS ON PKK

  • [11] THANK YOU CHIRAC

  • [12] PKK BOMB PLAN FOILED

  • [13] BIG FOREST FIRES IN CYPRUS

  • [14] TURKEY ISSUES CYPRUS WARNING

  • [15] CETIN-YILMAZ REACH AGREEMENT ON CONSTITUTION CHANGES

  • [16] PKK LEADERS IN ATHENS

  • [17] TURCO-GREEK SUMMIT EXPECTED IN BUCHAREST

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JUNE 28, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] NUMBER OF DEPUTIES IN COMMISSION LOWERED TO 500

    The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Constitution Commission has lowered the number of the deputies from 600 to 500. During debates on the 9th Article of the Constitution, the Welfare Party (RP) was against increasing the number and ANAP wanted it lowered to 450. /Milliyet/

    [02] EMERGENCY RULE TO STAY IN SOUTHEAST

    Parliament yesterday extended the eight-year-old State of Emergency in Turkey's southeast for another four months, endorsing a government recommendation with 225 votes to 140 against. Addressing the Parliament before the vote, Interior Minister Nahit mentese said the extension was necessary because of the continuing combat against the PKK terrorist organization in the area. Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday also gave a Turkey-based Western air force protecting the Iraqi Kurds a fresh mandate, prolonging its stay until the end of the year. The lawmakers endorsed the government recommendation for the six-month extension for the UN Operation Provide Comfort by 202 votes to 153 in a key ballot. /All papers/

    [03] ARMY: 754 TERRORISTS KILLED SINCE JAN.1994

    In a press briefing by the Third Army yesterday about the terrorist activities within its area of responsibility, officials said that 754 terrorists had been killed and 221 terrorists had been captured since January 1994, and 143 terrorists had turned themselves in during the same period. Because of the loss of personnel in the PKK terrorist organization, its mountain cadres had changed and now youths from 15 to 16 years of age were being brainwashed and used for terrorism. The information given indicated that the right-hand man of PKK commander Semdin Sakik, Nevzat Ciftci, also known as "Kucuk Zeki", turned himself in on June 23. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese stated that 19 PKK militants have been killed in Kagizman, Kars. Two terrorists were killed in clashes with the security forces in Malatya yesterday. /Hurriyet/

    [04] SHALIKASHVILI DEFENDS HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESS IN TURKEY

    General John M.Shalikashvili, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a letter he wrote to Rep.Sonny Callahan (R-AL) on June 21, recalled Turkey's value as a staunch ally and warned that if the US Congress succeeds in cutting aid to Turkey for alleged human rights violations and "taking on the role of adversary" the US leaders will "lose access to key (Turkish) decision makers. Callahan is the chairman of the House Appropriations Foreign Operations subcommittee. Defending the progress the Turkish Armed Forces had made in regard to human rights issues, Shalikashvili said: "I have personally engaged General Karadayi, Turkey's Chief of Staff, in dialogue regarding human rights and found him to be willing to assist in moving forward with new measures aimed at enhancing Turkish democracy and human rights. Karadayi is backing progress on human rights and is ready to make a concerted effort to see democratization legislation pass. Imposing more restrictions on this valued ally will only hinder our attempts to encourage progress and bring about lasting change. Recent progress combined with Turkey's unquestioned strategic importance, should drive the US to increase support to Turkey in order to achieve our objectives, not destroy bilateral relations. The Turkish military is actively engaging in efforts to improve human rights awareness among its personnel. Progress is visible in their newfound willingness to discuss this sensitive issue openly. They instituted new rules of engagement for all military operations and provided additional training to many soldiers assigned to anti-terrorist operations. While the recent operations in northern Iraq drew sharp criticism from many of Turkey's European neighbours, evidence indicates that the Turkish military went to great lengths to protect the lives of innocent civilians while destroying terrrorist camps". Shalikashvili reminded Callahan of the crucial role played by Turkey as a US ally in NATO, the Gulf War, Korea, Provide Comfort and in Somalia. "As of June 19, the coalition has flown over 23,000 sorties out of Incirlik in support of humanitarian operations protecting the Kurds in N.Iraq. Further, without Turkish military support, our humanitarian operations in Provide Comfort would have long since been terminated and Saddam Hussein would have subjugated the Kurds of N.Iraq" Shalikashvili said. In a similar effort to block Rep.John Porter's (R-IL) attempt to cut aid -especially economic support funding- to Turkey, three influential leaders of the House Appropriations Committee circulated a "Dear colleague" letter last Friday. Bob Livingston (R-NJ), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep.Callahan and Charlie Wilson (D-TX), ranking member of the House appropriations foreign operations subcommittee urged the House members to read Chairman Shalikashvili's letter. /Milliyet/

    [05] GURPINAR TAKES OVER AT CULTURE MINISTRY

    Irfan Gurpinar took over as Culture Minister yesterday, following Ercan Karakas' resignation from the post on Friday. Speaking at a special ceremony to mark his appointment, Karakas said that during his short time as Culture Minister he had tried to establish cultural activities and arts at every level of society. He also indicated that during his three months in office, the Law on Intellectual Property Rights had been ratified and changes in the Tax Law had been approved. This, he said, would encourage many people to invest in the arts. /All papers/

    [06] AZERI FM CONDEMNS TURKISH CONSULATE BOMBING

    Azeri Foreign Minister Hasan Hasanov said that he condemned the bomb attack on the Turkish consulate in Nakhichevan, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. He added that he was very sad that such an attack could have occurred in the democratic state of Azerbaijan where the rule of law reigns. "There are forces behind this who are jealous of the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey" he claimed.

    [07] EXPERTS SAY EUROPE SHOULD BE MORE HONEST WITH TURKEY

    Experts participating in a seminar organized by the Federal Security Policy Academy in Germany said that Turkey was faced with hypocritical attitudes, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to an article in the German daily General Anzeiger, the speakers said that Europe should be honest towards Turkey with regard to the latter's demands from the EU. One expert said that information about the Kurdish question in Turkey which German parliamentarians received was usually one-sided and incomplete and added that Turkey was the only country towards which Germany showed such a conflicting attitude. Experts at the seminar concluded that Turkey's exclusion from Europe would be detrimental to Europe's security policy in the long run.

    [08] ISRAELI TOURISTS PUT TURKEY FIRST

    An opinion poll has revealed that Israeli tourists have made Turkey their first choice for vacations. The poll showed that while only 4.5 % of Israeli tourists had chosen Turkey as their holiday destination during the 1985-1992 period, this number had increased by 300 % in the last three years.

    [09] DEMIREL PRAISES TOFAS ACHIEVEMENTS

    President Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that Turkey's number one carmaker TOFAS had become an international company. In a speech delivered at the celebrations held to mark the 25th anniversary of the TOFAS foundation, Demirel noted that the company, set up originally to produce 20,000 automobiles, had grown 12 times over and currently produced 250,000 cars. The president said it was a success story for Turkish industry that TOFAS was selling its products in world markets. "I hereby introduce a new term into the Turkish language: factories of globalization. This is the name for factories which dare to challenge the world". Prime Minister Tansu Ciller also attended the TOFAS celebrations and identified competition as the main criteria for the success. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] GROSSMAN REPEATS US VIEWS ON PKK

    US Ambassador to Turkey, Marc Grossman yesterday repeated that his country had always considered the PKK a terrorist organization and added that all the countries in the region were aware of this, the Anatolia news agency said yesterday. Grossman spoke during a visit to the governor of the southeastern city of Sanliurfa, Ziyaeddin Akbulut. Indicating that he had visited the region of the massive Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP), a network of dams which is expected to transform the region, Grossman said it was impossible for visitors to the region to be unaffected by the magnitude of the project.

    [11] THANK YOU CHIRAC

    In the absence of Turkey at the European Union (EU) leaders conference at Cannes, French President Jacques Chirac devoted a lot of his time to talking about Turkey.

    Chirac silenced Greek complaints about Turkey and then said that in order for Turkey to be able to attend future similar meetings, a "special status" would have to be given to Turkey.

    France at the moment is very supportive of Turkey and is exerting every effort on Turkey's behalf to find ways of making sure that customs union goes ahead -clearing the way for Turkey's full membership in the EU. Much of the French interest stems from the fact that France feels Greece has overstepped the mark in certain areas and is siding with Turkey as a result.

    The Cannes meeting has opened new debate on just what can be done about Turkey-EU relations. With Greece blocking moves to bring Turkey into the fold where it can, and other countries tending to remain impartial, Chirac's moves in support of Turkey are that much more welcomed by Ankara.

    Spain too has shown that it favours a quick decision in favour of Turkey. With new currents in favour of Turkey moving more deeply through the EU, some reports suggest that Turkey is likely to be invited to attend a similar summit planned for December. That would mean Prime Minister Ciller would be the first Turkish prime minister to attend such a high level EU summit-style meeting. /All papers/

    [12] PKK BOMB PLAN FOILED

    Greek supported PKK plans to plant time bombs in and around the main holiday centre of Antalya have been foiled by security officials. Antalya police have arrested nine people suspected of being involved in the PKK bomb plan.

    According to details so far known, two members of the PKK arrived in Antalya from Greece to check the place out before going ahead with planting their bombs. The bombers had previously been trained for months in camps in Greece. /Sabah/

    [13] BIG FOREST FIRES IN CYPRUS

    In the wake of the hot spell, forest fires in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are wreaking massive damage. Members of the public and the fire services are fighting the flames in a losing battle. Villages in the region of the fires have been evacuated.

    In Turkey, fires have broken out in the forests around Mugla and nearby centres. Officials in the TRNC and Turkey describe the situations as disastrous. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] TURKEY ISSUES CYPRUS WARNING

    Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu has warned the EU about the situation on Cyprus and what moves towards accepting the Greek Cypriot community into the EU could lead to.

    Inonu has pointed out to the European Unity that bringing Cyprus into the EU without considering the problems of both communities on the island will only worsen an already very difficult situation. Inonu added that a new evaluation of the situation was vital before any new steps were taken to involve Cyprus as a whole in the EC. /Hurriyet/

    [15] CETIN-YILMAZ REACH AGREEMENT ON CONSTITUTION CHANGES

    Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin visited Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz yesterday and they agreed on changes to the constitution. At the meeting it was decided after the first round of the vote for approving the constitutional changes, the True Path Party (DYP), the Motherland Party and the Republican People's Party would prepare a minutes of accord about giving union rights to the personnel of the State Economic Enterprises, and lifting political restrictions against academicians. /Milliyet/

    [16] PKK LEADERS IN ATHENS

    It has been reported that three PKK leaders are in Athens and have begun contacts with Greek officials. However, Evangelos Venizelos, Greek Government Spokesman said that he had no information about the matter. Yasar Kaya, Chairman of the so-called Kurdish parliament-in-exile in Holland, Abdulrahman Dure and A.Satan laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Greek Assembly building together with PKK organization members residing in Athens. Reports note that the three PKK members asked for a rendezvous with Greek Assembly Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis. /Cumhuriyet/

    [17] TURCO-GREEK SUMMIT EXPECTED IN BUCHAREST

    After the lapse of a considerable period of time, now a Turco- Greek summit is to be realized on a head of state-level on June 30 in Bucharest during a planned Black Sea Economic Cooperation summit. Participating in the summit will be President Suleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu and their Greek counterparts, President Konstantin Stafonopulos and Foreign Minister Karolos Papulyas. Neither side has put forward a request for a meeting. However, it has been emphasized that the possibility of a realization of the summit is very likely. The question of the extension of territorial waters, the PKK and Cyprus will be brought up in the search for a solution to end the crisis. Turkey's expectation is that Greece will give a guarantee not to extend support to the PKK. In the meantime, the US is acting as intermediary to find a solution to the problems of the Aegean Sea. /Hurriyet/

    END

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