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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (23 Nov. 95)From: TRKNWS-L@MIT.EDU (trh@netcom.com)Turkish News DirectoryCONTENTS[01] TURKEY WELCOMES BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT[02] BRITAIN BACKS TURKISH BID FOR EU CUSTOMS PACT[03] BAYKAL IN BONN[04] GREEK OBSTACLE FALLS FLAT[05] DEMIREL HOSTING ROMANIAN PRESIDENT[06] NEXT IS CYPRUS[07] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES BILL ON UN CONVENTION AGAINST SMUGGLING[08] DEPUTY CHIEF OF US GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEY[09] CILLER IN US PRESS CLUB HALL OF FAME[10] INDIAN STATE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE VISITS TURKEY[11] KURDISH CENTRE OPENS IN BULGARIA[12] ANKARA WARNS TALABANI[13] PKK TERROR CONTINUING[14] IRAN INITIATES OPERATION AGAINST PKK[15] EUROPEAN TRADESMEN FOR CUSTOMS UNION WITH TURKEYTURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY NOVEMBER 23, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish pressthis morning[01] TURKEY WELCOMES BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENTTurkey yesterday welcomed a Bosnian peace pact initialled by leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia that could end the 3-1/5 year Balkan war, and pledged to play an active role in the war-ravaged region.President Suleyman Demirel sent messages to the presidents of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia yesterday, congratulating them on the great effort they showed for reinstituting peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A statement from the President's office said Demirel had derived great satisfaction from the results obtained from the talks held under Washington's auspices. It said Demirel believed in the importance of the need for the full implementation of the Dayton accord. It added that Turkey was prepared to assist in all the efforts for the reconstruction and economic development of Bosnia, saying that Demirel would also increase his personal efforts by means of the close ties he has with regional leaders to ensure a positive outcome in this respect. "We see this agreement as a start of peace, stability and harmonious co-existence in the region" Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel told a press briefing. Turkey --which currently has some 1,480 troops in the UN force in Bosnia-- was preparing to join a peacekeeping force with 1,500 Turkish troops under NATO command due to replace UN troops there, Akbel said. Akbel said Turkey would also help in Bosnia's economic and structural reconstruction. "Turkey is determined to actively contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Bosnia and Herzegovina" Akbel added, but did not say what Turkey's contribution might be. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
[02] BRITAIN BACKS TURKISH BID FOR EU CUSTOMS PACTBritish Prime Minister John Major yesterday threw Britain's weight behind Turkey's bid to seal a customs pact with the EU next month. "I reiterated our support for a proper customs union agreement between the EU and Turkey and I very much hope that that is the decision that the parliament will take in Europe in a few days time" Major told reporters after meeting Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. "I think it's important for the EU and I think it will be a very welcome decision for Turkey as well".Ciller, standing next to Major said she was delighted with Britain's support and was confident Turkey could act as a bridge for peace between Europe and Asia. Ciller said the Customs Union (CU) would not only effect Turkey in economic terms but it would also help Turkey improve its human rights record and democratic development. Ciller also met with Labour Party leader Tony Blair in the House of Commons. At a press conference after this meeting, Ciller said Blair had received her very warmly. Asked about the reaction of Blair to CU, Ciller said: "He said that they, as the Labour Party, will support Turkey's CU with the EU". "I pledge to you today that Turkey will continue on the course we have set to expand rights and to strengthen our democratic institutions. Not because of pressure from Europe, but because of the passionate commitment of Turkey's people to democracy, personal freedom and individual liberties" she added. Responding to another question, Ciller said that during her talks with Major the topics of Cyprus and of the pro-Kurdish Med-TV broadcasts out of London had also been taken up. Turkey believes Med-TV to be the mouthpiece of the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK. Ciller said that Major had told Med-TV was something that concerned the British Independent Broadcasting Authority, a watchdog body. She added, however, that he had assured her they would do everything to ensure that Med-TV did not engage in anti-Turkish propaganda. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[03] BAYKAL IN BONNDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal yesterday arrived in the German capital for talks with his counterparts from Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Baykal kept the focus on Turco-EU ties, but also debated a long list of issues from the Caucasus to Bosnia. Baykal reproached the EU for not paying enough attention to the Caucasus in general and, specifically, the Azeri-Armenian conflict, and "treating the whole region as if they were situated on another planet". He also said that it was important to keep Russia "at a certain distance" from the region. He also noted that Russia should be made to respect the provisions of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE). This point was also raised by French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette.Baykal, who held a bilateral meeting with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, said that Turkey was very displeased with the meeting between German CDU Deputy Lummer and terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan. Kinkel did not deny the meeting was held, but said: "I read about it in Focus Magazine. We have banned the PKK as it is a terrorist organization. I absolutely do not approve of meeting with representatives of such an organization. This meeting has nothing to do with the German Federal government's official policy. We give support to Turkey in its struggle against terrorism". Baykal pointed out the consequences of terrorism in Bosnia, Israel and Saudi Arabia and stressed the importance of cooperation against terrorism. Following a question, Baykal recalled that it was out of the question for Turkey to sit at a negotiation table with a terrorist organization. Kinkel told Baykal that he had written a letter to the European Parliament Speaker last week saying that the German government wanted Turkey to enter the CU. Kinkel said: "Turkey belongs to Europe. It is also a model country for the Middle East and Mediterranean. We will do our best for the realization of the union". /Hurriyet-Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
[04] GREEK OBSTACLE FALLS FLATEfforts by the Athens government to block Turkey's customs union with the European community have so far failed. Last ditch obstacles placed in the path of customs union planned for January 1, 1996, have been overturned by lack of cooperation from other members of the European Parliament (EP).Although Greece hoped to at least force a postponement of final votes on the union, Greek EP parliamentarians have failed to gain the support needed to bring off the move against Turkey. Despite ill-intentioned ploys by Greece, all the indications are that the vital December 11 vote will take place as planned, making final debate on the issue a mere formalioty. With major EU member countries and top EU officials speaking out in favour of Turkey, there is now little that Greece can do to block EU customs union with Turkey. In the meantime, Prime Minister Ciller in London has confirmed Britain's support for Turkey, and Foreign Minister Baykal in Bonn has won German favour. /All papers/
[05] DEMIREL HOSTING ROMANIAN PRESIDENTPresident Suleyman Demirel will act as host to Romanian President Iliescu in Istanbul today. As announced yesterday, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu will also be in the meetings between the two leaders.Iliescu has already noted that relations between Romania and Turkey are close and special with continual high level meetings that do much to deepen ties. Officials on both sides have declared that the current visit of the delegation from Romania will yield positive results. One of the main items on the agenda is understood to be partnership between Turkey and Romania for rebuilding projects in Bosnia once details of the peace have been settled. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/
[06] NEXT IS CYPRUSFollowing Bosnia, there are indications that Washington could soon launch an initiative for Cyprus also. In his latest routine bi-monthly report to the Congress, President Bill Clinton openly declared that he was not happy at all with the stalemate in the Cyprus peace talks. Now, a new initiative appears to be on the way. Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus, Richard Beattie, will be visiting Cyprus in December for talks with the two leaders on the island. US Ambassador to Nicosia, Richard Boucher said in a statement yesterday that now Bosnia was settled, it was the turn for Cyprus to find a solution to its problems.Boucher noted that developments should be expected in 1996 and that US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrooke would also perhaps visit Cyprus in December. Commenting on the words of EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, who said that the Cyprus problem was a European issue and the solution should not be left to the US, Boucher said: "We always said that the EU was a positive factor for both communities to achieve a solution. The important thing is that we all work for the UN. We must work towards support of UN initiatives". /Cumhuriyet/
[07] PARLIAMENT RATIFIES BILL ON UN CONVENTION AGAINST SMUGGLINGParliament passed a draft bill yesterday calling for the ratification of the UN Convention on Prevention of Drug Smuggling. The convention also describes smuggling of chemicals used in the production of drugs as a crime. It also includes laundering money among the crimes set forth in the convention. It requires seizure of the income obtained from drug smuggling and also extradition of criminals involved in drug smuggling. In order to benefit from the facilities provided in the international convention, domestic legislation has to be aligned with the convention. /All papers/
[08] DEPUTY CHIEF OF US GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT TURKEYAdm.William A.Owens, Deputy Chief of the US General Staff and second-highest ranking military officer in the US, will visit Ankara and the Incirlik air base near Adana between November 22-25. During his visit to Ankara, Owens will meet with a wide range of high level military and government officials to discuss the Turkish-American security partnership. /All papers/
[09] CILLER IN US PRESS CLUB HALL OF FAMEA photograph of Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is included among world leaders in the US National Press Club of Fame. Ciller's photograph was taken on October 18, 1993 during a press conference at the club. Photographs of US Presidents Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F.Kennedy, as well as leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Henry Kissinger are exhibited in the Hall of Fame. /All papers/
[10] INDIAN STATE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE VISITS TURKEYIndian State Minister for Education and Culture H.E.Kumari Selja spent three days in Ankara from November 20 to 22 during the course of which she was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal, as well as Culture Minister Fikri Saglar. State Minister Mehmet Alp attended the signing ceremony of Indian-Turkish Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 1996-98 and hosted a banquet in honour of the Indian Minister. Kumari Selja left for Istanbul on Nov.22 on the final leg of her visit to Turkey. She will visit some cultural sites and meet with the Indian community in Istanbul on Nov.23. /All papers/
[11] KURDISH CENTRE OPENS IN BULGARIAA Kurdish Cultural Centre opened recently in Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Two other Kurdish centres have previously been opened in Russia and Greece. Turkey consistently describes these cultural centres as PKK terrorist front organizations and makes diplomatic efforts to close them. Rumen Vodenicarov, a deputy of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, criticized an agreement between Turkey and Bulgaria to cooperate against terrorism, during the opening ceremony of the Kurdish centre. Bulgarian officials persistently deny permitting PKK activities in their territory.
[12] ANKARA WARNS TALABANILeader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Celal Talabani has been warned by Ankara that moves to set up a PKK-Syria-Iran front against Turkey in northern Iraq will not be tolerated. Talabani has been told that he must make his intentions clear in connection with his ties with the PKK terrorist organization.Talabani however has denied that he has closer connections with the PKK, saying that it would be damaging to him if he were to support the PKK. Developments in the region are changing the balance sought after by Turkey, the US and Britain in the Dublin talks. /Hurriyet/
[13] PKK TERROR CONTINUINGPKK terrorists, setting-up road blocks along Diyarbakir-Lice highway, stopped a minibus and kidnapped eight people yesterday night. At the same time, a primary school teacher was killed in Van, in an attack by unidentified persons yesterday.Elsewhere, during week-long operations by the security forces in the Tunceli region, 5 TIKKO militants were killed and one was wounded. Two soldiers were also killed in the clashes. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] IRAN INITIATES OPERATION AGAINST PKKIran has begun operation against PKK terrorists in regions close to the Turkish border. Turkish border control points have doubled security measures to prevent possible border infiltrations by PKK terrorists. Regional sources indicate that terrorists, under pressure on the Turco-Iranian border, have fled to northern Iraq. /Hurriyet/
[15] EUROPEAN TRADESMEN FOR CUSTOMS UNION WITH TURKEYEuropean tradesmen and small businessmen have decided to support customs union with Turkey, Chairman of the Turkish Federation of Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK), Dervis Gunday, said. The Union of European Tradesmen (UEAPME) represents more than 15 million small entrepreneurships throughout Europe, including Turkey. The decision for official support of the customs union with Turkey was taken at a union general assembly meeting on November 20, upon the request of TESK representatives. /Cumhuriyet/
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