TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (February 13, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>

Turkish Press Review Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 1996

Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

[01] TURKMEN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA

In a press statement by both presidents, they promised to continue support for each other. "We carefully watch the giant steps Turkmenistan is taking toward democracy, secularism and market economies" Demirel said. His statement indicated Turkish willingness to carry Turkmen natural resources to international markets via Turkey. "This means both gas and oil" Demirel added.

The two presidents have signed a protocol on principles of long-term cooperation which includes the intention to cooperate in fields as diverse as education and military training. Demirel also praised the activities of Turkish companies in Turkmenistan, saying that a quarter of the 200 foreign companies operating in Turkmenistan were Turkish. "Relations between the two countries are based on mutual respect and non-intervention" Turkmenbasi said. Both presidents said that they hoped their bilateral relations would yield fruit and that the visit would mark a step in that direction. Turkmenbasi also held a meeting with Turkish-Turkmen Business Council members yesterday. He pointed out that Turkish investments in Turkmenistan exceeded $1 billion, noting that the issue of the construction of the natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Turkey will be taken up in Ashkabad in May at a meeting of the ECO. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

[02] TURKEY HOPES IRAQI-SYRIAN WATER TALKS WILL LEAD TO TRIPARTITE SUMMIT

[03] THREAT FROM TWO NEIGHBOURS

Iraqi Ministry of Irrigation Undersecretary Ministry Abdulsattar Salman, talked to journalists after a meeting of the Iraq-Syria technical committee and said that they were considering taking measures against the European firms involved in the projects. /Milliyet/

[04] TURKEY STILL WAITING FOR EXPLANATION FROM SYRIA, IRAN

[05] TURKEY TO LAUNCH DIPLOMATIC DRIVE ON KARDAK CRISIS

Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal will begin the Turkish diplomatic initiative in London on Wednesday, where he will have a working luncheon with British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind. On Friday, Baykal will move on to Brussels, where he will meet with NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, European Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek and possibly his Belgian counterpart.

While Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said that the focus of the visits would be "various issues of Turkish foreign policy", there is little doubt that the agenda will be dominated by the Kardak crisis. In a related development, Akbel denied that a series of Turkish exercises in the Aegean and the Mediterranean were "a provocation" at a sensitive time. "I do not see anything provocative about a previously-scheduled exercise" the spokesman said. He said that the Greek side had been informed of the military exercise, scheduled to take place between February 12 and 16. "These military exercises, called Nimble Paw (Cevik Pence), will be carried out in Turkish waters and international waters" he said, adding that the exercises would take place at nine different locations. While the Greek media continued to cover the military exercise as a "Turkish provocation", Greek Defence Minister Gerassimos Arsenis said Greece had been informed of the military exercise, which was a scheduled and routine one. "It creates no threat" he said. Meanwhile, Greek Armed Forces are holding a military exercise "Egialos 2/96". The Greek Defence Ministry said that the exercise would continue until 16 February. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet-Milliyet/

[06] EUROPEANS DEBATE KARDAK ISSUE

The EU does not want to see a gap grow between Turkey and the EU and between Turkey and Greece. The EP wants to see the matter of sovereignty over the Kardak rocks settled quickly and without resort to serious confrontation. It is expected that the Christian Democrat group in the EP will take up the matter in further sessions this week. The EP is in a difficult position because it really wants to pacify both sides without creating more dissention. It has already called on Greece to act according to international conventions regarding islands of the sea, and to act in harmony with with democratic principles. Turkey hopes that dialogue will lead to a settlement. /Cumhuriyet/

[07] TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES FOR TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS IN GERMANY

[08] "END OF PKK NEAR"

According to the US State Department experts, as talks between the US, Israel and Syria progress, so the PKK is looking harder for new training areas and bases to operate from. On the other hand, US officials say that the PKK will not go out quietly but that there could be a "final showdown" leading to massive regional dislocation. /Sabah/

[09] MIDEAST COUNTRIES PLAN TO FORM CONSORTIUM

According to the report, the most cost effective project for solving the water problem in the region is Turkey's "Manavgat Project" which is expected to be finished later this year. The report suggests building a consortium to carry water from Manavgat, Antalya to the port of Askhelon near the Gazza Strip. Another project cited in the report was a water pipeline called "Peace Water". The project aims at carrying water from the Seyhan and Ceyhan rivers to Israel and Jordan via a pipeline through Syria. However, the chances of the latter project going ahead are low because of the dispute between Turkey and Syria over Ankara's technical approach towards water related issues. /All papers/

[10] BIG BUSINESS CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL

Set-up with the support and encouragement of President Suleyman Demirel, Turkish businessmen from China to America will be in attendence. Conference organiser Ertugrul Onen from the Turkish Foreign Trade Foundation said yesterday that the meeting will go a long way towards confirming Turkey's huge efforts to establish itself in the international commercial world. /Sabah/

[11] TURKEY SEES 7 % GROWTH IN 1995