TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (August 29, 1995)

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

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

AUGUST 29, 1995

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

press this morning.

[01] THIRD TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS SUMMIT ENDS

At the end of the summit a final communique signed by the six leaders noted the following major points: -The heads of state pledged to boost bilateral and multilateral economic ties "without undermining their current international obligations". -The heads of state emphasized the necessity to develop and materialize joint projects regarding oil and natural gas "with all related countries". In this respect, they "noted with pleasure" studies to build pipelines for oil and gas through Turkey to the Mediterranean and Europe, respectively, since the last summit meeting in Istanbul. -The heads of state emphasized the necessity of fighting against terrorism and drug smuggling. They supported the territorial integrity of the Turkish-speaking countries and rejected separatist moves. -Cooperation and relations between these countries were not directed against any country. --The 4th Summit will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September or October, 1996.

President Suleyman Demirel and leaders from the Turkish-speaking republics yesterday celebrated the one thousandth anniversary of the Manas epic. Demirel said: "One of the Manas celebration's messages is that a new era in the world begins. It is very important as it is a beginning of a new era for the Turkish world from the Adriatic to the China Sea".

During his speech, and recalling the priceless cultural wealth of the ancient masterpiece of history, Demirel said that the epic was not just about Manas alone, was not just his alone, but included also Emir Timur, Alpaslan and Ataturk.

Leaders from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan posed together for photographs with Demirel along with government officials and representatives. /Sabah-Milliyet-Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/

[02] TURKEY CONDEMNS SERB SHELLING IN SARAJEVO

Inonu, noting that allowing Sarajevo to be besieged by the Serbian forces using the threat of heavy weapons, was harming the UN's prestige, said: "It is necessary to protect UN declared safe areas from the attacks. We are expecting a move aiming to remove all heavy weapons around Sarajevo, without further delay". He also asked for NATO air force intervention according to previous decisions taken to protect safe areas by the NATO Council. Inonu said that Turkey was monitoring the UN peace keeping forces withdrawal from the other safe area, Gorazde, with concern. "Turkey has launched necessary initiatives about the results of this withdrawal" he said. Inonu pointed out that it was difficult to understand this decision for withdrawal while there was a guarantee of protection given by NATO. He also asked for necessary measures to protect civilians from such attacks by the concerned parties, particularly the UN. /Hurriyet-Sabah-Milliyet/

[03] CILLER ATTENDING ASPEN CONFERENCE

Every year the US Aspen Institute holds a meeting in a different country to discuss relations between the major countries of the world and international developments. Participants from the US include Senator Joseph Lieberman, Senator Alan Simpson, Pat Schoeder, William Clay and Bob Graham. /Hurriyet/

[04] "GREECE MUST SUPPORT TURKEY"

The special advisor also said that disagreements could smoothed out with continuing dialogue, and that the US would help to see that both sides came together. He noted though that first, both sides would have to come to agreement before the US could render effective aid. /Cumhuriyet/

[05] PAKISTANI CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEY TODAY

[06] ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS IMKB

[07] TWO PEOPLE KILLED, 17 KIDNAPPED

[08] TURKEY TAKING BORDER PRECAUTIONS

Although there have been suggestions that Turkey and Barzani could unite their forces in a semi-military operation, nothing has so far been agreed upon. In the meantime, Barzani's forces have tightened up on identity checks and have increased the number of regional control points.

Reports from the region are confused, with claims that large numbers of people have been kidnapped by PKK terrorists. Security officials are trying to evaluate the position, with Ankara watching the situation even more closely.

A number of foreign newspapers have also reported on the growing tension in northern Iraq, suggesting that the PKK wants to grab a major footing in the region. Although it is barely a month since the Dublin meeting on Iraq and related regional issues, the Kurdish political parties there and the PKK are suddenly creating massive headaches for Ankara. Along with other foreign observers, Ankara too is concerned that the PKK wants to create new so-called "free zones" in areas once controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Mesut Barzani.

Initial assessments in the Turkish and foreign press say that PKK leader Abdullah "Apo" Ocalan has "stabbed the KDP in the back" by stepping up attacks against Kurdish forces. So far the PKK has taken over 18 security points belonging to Kurdish forces since Saturday when renewed fighting began in earnest. /All papers/

[09] FEARS OF NEW MIGRANT PROBLEMS

Warning that if the fighting worsened, the situation could get out of hand, Commission representative Abdullah Sait said that more civilians were getting killed in the fighting and this could spark a rush to migrate to safer areas. /Milliyet/

[10] FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE VISITS BOSNIAN CHILDREN

[11] 300,000 PEOPLE VISIT IZMIR FAIR IN FIRST TWO DAYS

END