TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 19, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 19, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] ANKARA'S OUTRAGE WITH UN, NATO GROWS OVER BOSNIA

  • [02] INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOMS UNION

  • [03] ALEVI SUMMIT AT CANKAYA

  • [04] BOSNIAN TRAGEDY CONTINUES

  • [05] CHERNISHEV TO VISIT TURKEY

  • [06] TUSIAD IN PICTURE FOR CUSTOMS UNION

  • [07] CUSTOMS AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

  • [08] WORLD BANK OPENS NEW CREDIT SYSTEM

  • [09] CONSTITUTION VOTE SCRAPES THROUGH

  • [10] TURKISH MEDICINES SELLING WELL ABROAD

  • [11] TURKEY TO RUSSIA: "DON'T SCARE OFF FOREIGN CAPITAL FROM CASPIAN SEA ZONE"

  • [12] TWENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF TRNC PEACE OPERATION

  • [13] 7TH DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS READJUSTED

  • [14] SENIRKENT FLOOD COST: $22 BILLION

  • [15] TAJIKISTAN'S DEPUTY PM PRAISES CILLER

  • [16] HALKBANK TO MAKE LOANS TO INVESTORS IN TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS

  • [17] CETIN: "TURKEY CAN ACHIEVE ITS TARGETS WITHOUT BEING AN EU MEMBER"

  • [18] TOURISM PROMOTION IN FRANCE

  • [19] ARSON ATTACK ON TURKISH SHOP IN GERMANY

  • [20] MINIBUS RUNS OVER MINE, KILLING 6, INJURED 3

  • [21] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER FLIES TO US

  • [22] TURKISH AND GERMAN POLICE TO STRENGTHEN TIES

  • [23] TURKS ACT WHILE GREEKS LOOK ON

  • [24] NEW DEAL FOR CYPRUS NEEDED

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JULY 19, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] ANKARA'S OUTRAGE WITH UN, NATO GROWS OVER BOSNIA

    Turkey's exasperation with the United Nations and NATO grew after a call to NATO foreign ministers for an emergency meeting fell on deaf ears. While Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said that Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu had called on his NATO counterparts for an emergency meeting, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen said that no answer to that call had yet come. The ministers had cited their busy schedule as an excuse for not holding a meeting, Oymen said. Turkey also called for a tripartite meeting with Bosnia and Croatia, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said. According to official sources, the presidential-level meeting is to be arranged, although no date has yet been set. The political parties, for their part expressed outrage to the United Nations and NATO over its inability to deal with what they called a critical stage in the Bosnian question. "What we see in Bosnia is shameful for the whole of mankind. Such a moral collapse will stamp its mark on the future of Europe. The history of the Balkans should not be repeated," Prime Minister Ciller told her party on Tuesday. "The least that can be done is to lift the embargo from the Bosnians, which would enable them to defend themselves," Ciller said. The lifting of the embargo was also requested by Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, who accused the United Nations of not protecting Bosnia and the Bosnians for three years. "If they are not able to do anything, then they can at least let the Bosnians defend themselves. If this goes on, the credibility of NATO, the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will erode altogether," Cetin said. Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit urged the government to declare that it would not abide by the UN-imposed arms embargo on the Bosnians. A draft proposal requested a debate on recent developments in Bosnia will be debated in Parliament today. On the other hand, Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Turkey would not withdraw its forces from Bosnia and added that Turkish troops being in the region under the UN umbrella was an actual result of Turkey's geostrategic situation. /All papers/

    [02] INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOMS UNION

    It has been decided that assistance will be needed from international companies to convince the European Parliamentarians on customs union. General Director of Press and Information, Murat Ersavci will go to Belgium today and meet with high-ranking officials of international companies making investments in Turkey such as Phillips. Ersavci, who is also General Director of the Foreign Ministry European Union Department, will request international companies to convince European Parliamentarians for the customs union. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Gunduz Aktan will visit Belgium, Holland and Portugal and seek for support from other governments for customs union. Aktan, who began his visit yesterday, will come together with Ersavci and also attend meetings with the international companies. On the other hand, EP Chairman Klaus Haensch disclosed his support for Turkey's customs union with the EU in Athens. Haensch, who recently went to Athens as the guest of Greek Assembly Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis and met with President Kostis Stefanopulos, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreu and some political party leaders, said: "Instead of viweing Muslim power as a rival, the EU must act to stand-by Turkey". /Hurriyet/

    [03] ALEVI SUMMIT AT CANKAYA

    A seven man-delegation among whom Ali Riza Gulcicek, the President of Alevi Representative Assembly and the European Federation of Alevis was present, visited President Demirel at Cankaya to request him "to solve the sectarian problem urgently". Views in the dossier they submitted to Demirel include these points: "We are disturbed about the postponement of democratization, the laws regarding human rights and freedom of thought; segregating the community racially and religiously and thereby creating domestic conflict; the human drama stemming from constantly postponing the settlement of Alevi-Bektashi problems; the unease we feel because our taxes are being used for the institutionalization of religious and canonical structures; our worries of arguing whether or not to vote for the future elections, and to take our democratic and human problems to international platforms unless they are solved".

    [04] BOSNIAN TRAGEDY CONTINUES

    More than 30 thousand women, children and elderly people have been forced to leave Srebrenica a "safe haven" not far from Sarajevo now occupied by the Serbian forces. Since the UN Peace Force has not undertaken the responsibility to care for them, many of the refugees have gone to Zenica where Turkish forces will care for them. A tent city has been established for the refugees in an empty factory in Zenica. Meanwhile, Serbian forces continue their attacks against Sarajevo, wounding a Turkish and a French officer in an assault yesterday. /Milliyet/

    [05] CHERNISHEV TO VISIT TURKEY

    Regional issues and bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia will be taken up during Russian Federation Deputy Foreign Minister Albert Chernishev's visit to Turkey tomorrow. The Caucasia, transportation of Caspian oil to international markets via Ceyhan or Novorosysk and Chechnya will be taken in hand during meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] TUSIAD IN PICTURE FOR CUSTOMS UNION

    A delegation of representatives from the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) met yesterday with some European parliamentarians in Brussels. The TUSIAD delegation members, who have voiced the Turkish private sector's desire and determination to enter the customs union (CU), pointed out that democratization was Turkey's own requirement and that this process would accelerate with CU. EP members said that if Turkey carried out its democratic commitments, they believed that there would be no problem in the EP. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] CUSTOMS AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

    A customs protocol for technical cooperation between France and Turkey has been signed in Paris. Turkish State Ministry Deputy Undersecretary responsible for customs Edip Aktas and French Customs Director Jean-Luc Vialla signed the protocol. The protocol envisages automation of all customs procedures and high technology pilot systems in customs points in Istanbul with the support of French customs. Besides this, taking into consideration Turkey's customs union entry in 1996 in principle, France supports modernization of Turkey's customs administration. Aktas expressed his pleasure at France's positive stance regarding customs union and said that French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Alain Juppe's attitude on this issue had stirred up positive reaction in Turkey. Vialla hoped that other agreements would follow. /Cumhuriyet/

    [08] WORLD BANK OPENS NEW CREDIT SYSTEM

    The World Bank is opening up new credit facilities in the developing countries, aimed at helping small businesses and even individuals.

    Operating through local and national banks, the World Bank will supply credit at low interest rates especially to the agriculture sector, small traders and tradesmen and for starting up small commercial operations.

    A top official in the World Bank, Ismail Serageldin explained that the less developed regions of Turkey could well be in line to benefit from the new World Bank system. /Milliyet/

    [09] CONSTITUTION VOTE SCRAPES THROUGH

    A parliamentary vote on alterations to the system for changing the constitution only just made the threshold for passing into effect yesterday. With a barrage of 270 required to have the proposals accepted, parliament only just made it.

    Although 383 parliamentarians voted, one hundred members voted against the open vote system, four abstained and nine votes were excluded. Prime Minister Ciller pulled all the strings she could -even threatening the main opposition ANAP party, but even so the vote only just succeeded. /Cumhuriyet/

    [10] TURKISH MEDICINES SELLING WELL ABROAD

    Turkey's fast developing pharmaceuticals sector is doing well both domestically and abroad with big sales in Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Holland.

    Sector representatives said yesterday that Turkish made antibiotics and vitamin pills were particularly popular in other countries including the States. They added that Turkey was becoming an important part of the international medicines market. /Sabah/

    [11] TURKEY TO RUSSIA: "DON'T SCARE OFF FOREIGN CAPITAL FROM CASPIAN SEA ZONE"

    Turkey on Tuesday urged Russia not to become involved in moves to scare away foreign investments involved in oil deals from the Caspian zone. "The authority to determine the Caspian Sea's judicial status lies with the states which have coasts on the Caspian. But while doing this, a situation that could scare foreign investment away from the Caspian zone should be avoided," a senior Turkish diplomatic source said. The remarks came in response to Russian diplomatic notes sent to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, which said that Moscow would not guarantee the safety of Caspian natural resource projects launched before the Caspian Sea's status was determined -meaning, without Russia's consent.

    [12] TWENTY FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF TRNC PEACE OPERATION

    The 21st anniversary of the Turkish Forces' peace operation in Turkish Cyprus on July 20, 1974 will be celebrated in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the "Peace and Freedom Holiday." The ceremonies in Nicosia will be attended by representatives of the Turkish president, the parliament, the government, and the chief of general staff will also be present at the ceremony. As these ceremonies will be taking place at a time when Turkey is faced with the active armament of Southern Cyprus, the TRNC and Turkey will be taking advantage of the opportunity to show off their own military hardware. On the other hand, Turkish Cypriot Ambassador Nazif Borman met Tuesday with President Suleyman Demirel and Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, telling both of them that the situation in Bosnia reminded him of the pre-1974 period in Cyprus, before the Turkish intervention. "If there is peace in Cyprus now, it is not because of the United Nations, it is because of Turkey," Demirel told Borman during his visit. /All papers/

    [13] 7TH DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS READJUSTED

    The 7th Development Plan was readjusted in Parliament by 270 votes to 69. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said that the plan would lay foundation to a transformation process in Turkey. /Hurriyet/

    [14] SENIRKENT FLOOD COST: $22 BILLION

    Isparta Mayor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu said on Tuesday that the cost of damages incurred in the flood in Isparta's Senirkent district on Friday was TL 1 trillion ($22 billion), the Anatolia news agency said. Speaking at a press conference Dokuzoglu said that rescue operations were continuing. He said that the flood killed at least 63 people, 153 houses were completely destroyed and 69 were in poor condition. Dokuzoglu added that the victims of the flood were being provided with TL 15 million for a new start as well as with food, clothing and tents.

    [15] TAJIKISTAN'S DEPUTY PM PRAISES CILLER

    Arriving in Ankara Monday to attend the Congress for the Cooperation of Eurasian Women, Tajikistan Deputy Prime Minister Bozgul Dadahudaeva praised Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. The Anatolia news agency quoted Dadahudaeva as saying "Tansu Ciller is an example for all the women of the region." She said that it was important for women to take administrative posts all over the world and added that to hold a Congress on behalf of the region would be very beneficial and would enable women of the area to present a united front at the Beijing cenference.

    [16] HALKBANK TO MAKE LOANS TO INVESTORS IN TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS

    Halkbank, the state-run Turkish bank, is to make loans to artisans and small-scale industrialists who are going to invest in Turkish-speaking republics. Yenal Ansen, Halkbank general manager, said that DM 20 million in loans would be provided by KWF, a financial institution from Germany. Ansen explained that after problems with financial structures in the Republics had been solved, the project would be realized. He added that at present they had already established an office in Turkmenistan, and one in Kazakhstan was expected to open soon. /Sabah/

    [17] CETIN: "TURKEY CAN ACHIEVE ITS TARGETS WITHOUT BEING AN EU MEMBER"

    Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin assured a Euro-MP that although Turkey had made a political decision to be integrated with Europe, it was also capable of realizing its goals without European Union membership. Jean Claude Pasty, chairman of the European Parliament's Democratic Allience for Europe said, for his part, that he aimed to explain democratic developments in Turkey to the Euro-Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/

    [18] TOURISM PROMOTION IN FRANCE

    The Tourism Ministry has started a project to improve Turkey's image in France to increase French demand for holidays in Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday. The slogan of the project is "Turkey treats you as a friend." The ministry will give out free holidays as prizes to French tourism agencies. "We expect the positive impression Turkey will make on French personnel will affect the sales of holidays," said Tourism Minister Irfan Gurpinar. Between September 1-25, 200 representatives of French tourism agencies will come to Turkey.

    [19] ARSON ATTACK ON TURKISH SHOP IN GERMANY

    Arsonists set fire to a shop during the night in the latest in a series of mystery arson attacks on property owned by Turks in Germany. Police said no one was injured in the blazing food store in the central German town of Seligenstadt. /Sabah/

    [20] MINIBUS RUNS OVER MINE, KILLING 6, INJURED 3

    Six people were killed and three were injured when the minibus in which they were riding ran over a mine in Bitlis' Mutki district. The mine was laid by militants of the PKK terrorist organization, officials reported. Government military operations were begun to find PKK militants. /Hurriyet /

    [21] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER FLIES TO US

    Environment Minister Riza Akcali yesterday flew to the US to attend a meeting of the Mediterranean Environmental Aid Organization, supported by the European Union (EU), the United Nations' Development Program, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, the Anatolia news agency reported. The meeting will end on July 21, the agency reported.

    [22] TURKISH AND GERMAN POLICE TO STRENGTHEN TIES

    A press release from the German Embassy in Ankara said that Turkish and German police forces will work closely together in an effort to prevent attacks against Turks in Germany. /All papers/

    [23] TURKS ACT WHILE GREEKS LOOK ON

    Turkish sailors have done well in a small sea drama in the Indian Ocean. Answering a call for help from the Egyptian vessel "Pyramids" the Turkish cargo vessel "Aslinur" sped to the rescue.

    In the wake of a typhoon in the Gulf of Aden region, the Egyptian cargo boat was being swamped with giant waves, and a Greek vessel standing by was hesitant about getting too close. The crew of the Aslinur however, never wavered and acted to get the Egyptian crew saved. Risking their lives the Turkish seamen snatched 27 Egyptian crewmen from the sea. /Hurriyet/

    [24] NEW DEAL FOR CYPRUS NEEDED

    During a press meeting yesterday, leader of the Greek Cypriot community Glafkos Klerides said a new deal was needed to put Cyprus right. However the choices he put forward merely pointed up the differences between the two sides.

    According to Klerides, the Cyprus issue will be solved by either a military confrontation, or by taking measures against Turkey. He warned however that the Greek side should be sure of the outcome before pressing for a confrontation. /Cumhuriyet/

    END

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