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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (September 21, 1995)From: Dimitrios Hristu <hristu@corbett.harvard.edu>Turkish News DirectoryCONTENTS[01] COALITION COLLAPSES[02] EARLY REACTION TO CILLER'S RESIGNATION[03] TURKISH FM SHRUGS OFF PKK CALL[04] TURKISH MPs VISITS US[05] INONU: "WE WANT DIALOGUE IN CYPRUS"[06] GERMANY LIFTS WEAPONS EMBARGO[07] CUSTOMS UNION SUPPORT FROM SPAIN[08] TURKEY SIGNS MILITARY DEAL WITH LITHUANIA[09] GAP PROJECT ON INTERNET[10] IDEF-95TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] COALITION COLLAPSESPrime Minister Tansu Ciller yesterday put an end to four years of cooperation between her center-right True Path Party (DYP) and its social democrat partners, announcing her government's resignation after failed talks with Deniz Baykal, the newly-elected leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on terms of extending the coalition. Emerging from a three- hour bargaining on the terms for extending the partnership for the remaining year, Baykal declared that "the coalition is effectively finished, if not legally". After consulting her party aides, Ciller submitted her resignation to President Suleyman Demirel to give the legal dimension to the final demise of the country's longest-surviving coalition. An announcement from the President's office said Demirel had accepted the resignation and had asked her to stay on until the formation of the new government. Demirel is now expected to consult with the leaders of political parties before naming a new prime minister designate. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet-Sabah/
[02] EARLY REACTION TO CILLER'S RESIGNATIONAlthough there have been some warning noises from the European Union (EU) countries, cautioning that an early election would delay customs union between Turkey and the EU countries, the US has noted that relations between Turkey and the US "could not be better".A number of EU representatives have already said that human rights and democratization issues in Turkey will now get bogged down in political developments. On the other hand, US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said that the US did not want to get involved in speculation about the immediate political future of Turkey. He said that this was a matter for the Turkish public, and the US respected that. /Hurriyet/
[03] TURKISH FM SHRUGS OFF PKK CALLTurkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, asked to respond to the call for a cease-fire by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, said he would not comment. "You know that I do not comment on the statements of the PKK" he told journalists at a press conference on Monday. "You know our stance against terrorism. Our security forces are trying to combat it" Inonu said.
[04] TURKISH MPs VISITS USMembers of Parliament from four different parties flew from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport to the US yesterday as guests of the Turkish-American Associations. Speaking at the airport before departure, Ekrem Pakdemirli, deputy chairman of the main oppositon Motherland Party (ANAP), said that he was scheduled to deliver a speech on relations between Turkey and the US at the Turkish-American Associations Assembly. The deputies will return to Turkey on September 25.
[05] INONU: "WE WANT DIALOGUE IN CYPRUS"Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, who is to hold a meeting with his Greek counterpart in New York next week, accused Greece of lacking the political will to start a new dialogue. "Our problems with Greece continue. We believe that our problems can be solved through bilateral talks and we continue to believe in the virtue of dialogue. Greece, however, cannot display political will in that direction" Inonu said at a press conference held to assess his six months in office. He criticized the continuation of the Greek-Greek Cypriot joint military doctrine. "They have discussed that a new air and naval base will be opened in Baf. It is not possible to accept this situation which is against international accords on Cyprus" Inonu said. He maintained the Turkish position that the Greek Cypriot bid for full membership in the EU could not be taken up before a settlement on the island.Inonu, saying that the ratification of the customs union would be a "turning point" in relations, said that he hoped the European Parliament would act with an awareness of its responsibility when it voted on December 15. Before the possible deadline of December 15, the EU Association Council will meet on October 30. Inonu maintained that developments in northern Iraq and the infiltration of the PKK into the region continued to concern Turkey. "Our aim is to normalize the situation in northern Iraq, and to maintain Iraqi territorial integrity" he said. Inonu promised that Turkish support for Bosnia-Herzegovina would continue. "There are hopes for peace but the issue is not solved yet" Inonu said. "Therefore, we must continue our support for Bosnia-Herzegovina. If peace is achieved, we are ready to join the force to be established and contribute to the reconstruction of Bosnia". /Cumhuriyet/
[06] GERMANY LIFTS WEAPONS EMBARGOThe German parliament has officially announced that the weapons embargo against Turkey has been lifted. The embargo, imposed after the German government claimed that German-made weapons were being used by Turkish armed forces during military incursions into northern Iraq, drove a wedge between Turkey and Germany for many months.The Federal Defence Ministry has already begun to get outstanding military equipment off to Turkey. Groups on both sides are working on lists of military needs and are comparing notes on what Germany has yet to supply according to previous agreements. /Hurriyet/
[07] CUSTOMS UNION SUPPORT FROM SPAINSpain is once again showing its support for Turkey's customs union with the EU countries. Spain is the country which at the moment is acting as EU term president, and is calling for a special effort from other EU member countries to get Turkey into the customs union.Spanish Foreign Minister Javier Solana has sent out a call for a special meeting on the matter, inviting party leaders and other officials. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] TURKEY SIGNS MILITARY DEAL WITH LITHUANIATurkey yesterday signed an agreement with Lithuania for a new deal in military training, education, scientific cooperation and furthering already existing relations.During the signing ceremony, Chief of General Staff, Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi spoke about the new Lithuanian independence, and Lithuanian Defence Minister Linkevicius spoke about regional security. In the meantime, Lithuanian President Algirdas Brazauskas rounded off his contacts in Ankara and left for Istanbul. /All papers/
[09] GAP PROJECT ON INTERNETAccording to ministry representatives, details on Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), will be available on Internet, the international computer communications-information system.Information will be accessed through a "gap-web server" set up by the GAP administration, which has also begun a monthly publication about the project. /Sabah/
[10] IDEF-95IDEF-95, the second International Defense Industry and Civil Aviation Fair, was opened by President Suleyman Demirel near Ankara on September 20. Ironically, the preservation of peace and effective operation of an international security system was based on a strong deterrent military power, Demirel said in his opening speech. He added that following aggressive policies was "adventurous business" and stressed that the military products exhibited at defence fairs like IDEF-95 were produced not to be used, but rather to prevent the use of weapons at all.194 companies from 22 countries are represented at the fair organized by the Turkish Armed Forces Support Foundation. Products exhibited range from small arms and missiles to military helicopters and armored vehicles, as well as some civil aviation products. The US, Britain, France, Israel and the Russian Federation are the main foreign contributors to the fair, attended by delegations from 37 countries. /Cumhuriyet/ END |