TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 28, 1996)

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

Turkish Press Review Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

THURSDAY MARCH 28, 1996

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

[01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL BEGINS US VISIT

Friday afternoon, Demirel will make a speech at Georgetown University, where he will also be given a medal of rectorship. The same evening, he will meet with the Turkish community in the Turkish Embassy in Washington. He will mark the end of his working visit with a press conference for Turkish journalists. Demirel will leave for Turkey on Saturday, after meeting Colin Powell, former chief of staff.

Addressing reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before his departure, Demirel said that ties between the US and Turkey had moved beyond being solely concerned with security and had become a relationship of "broad-based cooperation". "In the past, our relations mostly focused on security issues; now, we are making efforts to increase our cooperation in the fields of commerce, economy, science, culture and technology". /Hurriyet/

[02] TURKEY SENDS 30 MORE POLICE TO BOSNIA

Nicholas Burns, US State Department Spokesman, praised Turkey for its efforts to train and arm the Bosnian army, to make them a match for Serbs. Burns harsly criticized European countries, saying that during the pledging conference for the "Train and Equip" project, held in Ankara on March 15, most European countries refused to support any of the measures decided upon. He underlined the vital importance of training the Bosnian army, saying that Bosnian forces must be trained or else when the Implementation Force leaves the area, the imbalance in military power could lead to new disputes. In another development, a meeting will be held on April 12-13 in Brussels to discuss aid for Bosnia. /All papers/

[03] GERMANY DECIDES AGAINST PKK

The central German government has relayed the decision to the provincial governors who will be expected to use their powers in this area to the full. Germany as a whole has turned against the PKK terror organization following a serious increase in violence generated by the PKK and its supporters throughout Germany. /Hurriyet/

[04] TURKEY AND RUSSIA DRAWING CLOSER

Both top level Turkish and Russian officials hope that recent initiatives will lead to better relations between the two countries. It is further expected that in the future there will be new agreements on trade, visa requirements and aid. /Cumhuriyet/

[05] TURKISH BUSINESS CENTERS BUILT IN RUSSIA

[06] US TELECOM INTERESTED IN TURKCOM

The US Justice Department is studying applications from US companies interested in working a deal. Offciials from the Department say that although the legal framework is sound, "we don't want any disappointments." They also say that the right environment for development has yet to be created -both for for investment and customer growth potential. /Cumhuriyet/

[07] US SUPPORTS TURKEY'S ECONOMIC INTEGRATION WITH EU

On the question whether the US would mediate between Greece and Turkey to solve as to bilateral issues, Burns told journalists on Tuesday that the US had not received any official offers as such. "We can only mediate if the both sides want us to. We have not been asked to mediate. We are going to have meetings with Greek Prime Minister Simitis and Turkish President Demirel" he said.

When a Greek journalist questioned the way Burns praised on Monday the call Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz made to Greece for dialogue, Burns told the Greek journalist "you should take seriously what we said yesterday. Prime Minister Yilmaz has done a good thing here. Now, perhaps his proposal didn't deal with every issue in Greek-Turkish relations. But what he said was positive. It was constructive, and, you know, it was an offer to begin to discuss the differences between Greece and Turkey on an equitable basis. There was a spirit of reconciliation in his offer; and we think that is positive, and so we commended him for that. And I stand by everything I said yesterday on this".

Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, John Shattuck, in a speech at the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the House of Representatives, evaluated how violations of human rights in various countries affected their relations with the US and excluded Turkey for the first time from the list of "The most troubled countries from the point of human rights". /Milliyet/

[08] HILLARY CLINTON IN EPHESUS AND ISTANBUL

Hillary Clinton visited the Social Security Administration's Bakirkoy Maternity Clinic and the Women and Children's Disease Education Hospital. In a brief address, she stressed how she had been affected by the progressive family planning which Turkey has been carrying out over the past 10 years. She also emphasized how very important family planning was for the whole world. Clinton then proceeded to the Ciragan Palace where she delivered an address to approximately 400 guests of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). Before she leaves on Friday, she is expected to tour some historical places in Istanbul and visit the Islamic History, Art and Culture Reseach Center. /All papers/

[09] ANKARA WARNS BARZANI

[10] TWO PILOTS DIE IN TURKISH AIR FORCE F-5 FIGHTER JET CRASH

[11] REFUGEE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND SWITZERLAND

[12] VOTE ON EXTENSION TO PROVIDE COMFORT TODAY

[13] US TOURISM INTEREST IN TURKEY GROWING

With a view to getting to know Turkey better, US tourism representatives are staying in Istanbul setting-up new initiatives with contacts in Turkey. The US delegation of tourism agents reckons that there is a "huge potential" for expanding tourism in Turkey. /Hurriyet/

[14] ANKARA COLLEGE EUROPEAN 3RD IN MATHS