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Turkish Press Review, 98-11-18Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>18.11.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] ITALY RESISTS TURKEY'S PRESSURE OVER OCALANResisting Turkish pressure to extradite the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema on Tuesday appeared confident that Ocalan would renounce terrorism. He also confirmed that the separatist leader had requested asylum from Italy. D'Alema indicated that Italy would not simply extradite Ocalan, but would first try him for entering the country with a forged passport. He said that the Italian government had not been involved in any bargaining with Ocalan.The Italian Prime Minister underlined Italy's friendship with Turkey, but said Turkey should comply with the rules of the European Union (EU) 'if it wants to become a full member'. D'Alema tried to assure Turkey that the Italian government would not allow any terrorist organization to remain in Italy and suggested that Ankara solve its PKK problem 'through dialogue'. He denied his government's links with the PKK, but confirmed that some Italian parliament members 'have strong ties with the Kurdish people throughout their history'. Ocalan's request for asylum, he added, would be evaluated by the Italian judicial authorities. In reaction to the Italian voices against extraditing Ocalan to Turkey, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said that he believed the Italian government would not give political asylum to the PKK leader. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Ocalan's promises to renounce terrorism 'do not excuse the killings of tens of thousands of innocent people' in the past. Cem reiterated Ankara's demand for Ocalan's extradition, saying that Turkey would expect its NATO ally to treat the PKK leader as a terrorist. Turkish Ambassador to Rome Inal Batu yesterday criticized the loose security by the Italian authorities who allow the supporters of Ocalan to visit him in his hospital room. "I wonder if Ocalan is receiving guest treatment" Batu said. He noted that the Italian authorities had earlier informed him that Ocalan had been arrested. /All papers/ [02] US SPEAKS UP ON OCALAN ARRESTUS State Department Spokesman James Rubin said: "We welcome the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's arrest as an important step in the fight against global terrorism. We condemn the Italian government for its action on this matter. The US designated the PKK as a foreign terrorist organization under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. We believe that he should be extradited and brought to justice, and we believe the governments of Italy, Germany and Turkey should work together to find a solution that brings him to justice". /Sabah/[03] DEMIREL IN AUSTRIAPresident Suleyman Demirel called yesterday on Austria, the EU term-president, to back Turkey's EU membership bid, while the Austrian head of state expressed conditional support in return. Demirel, on an official visit in Austria, had talks with his counterpart Thomas Klestil, and the two organized a joint press conference after the meeting. "We expect the EU, during Austria's presidency, to endorse and start to implement the recent EU Commission report in which Turkey was mentioned as the 12th candidate" Demirel told reporters.However, the Austrian president did not sound that promising. "Naturally, Turkey is a candidate. But there are conditions that should be wholly fulfilled" Klestil said. He added: "Austria attributes great importance to a stable and West-oriented Turkey. The way in which Turkey's candidacy process will develop in the future depends on the attitude of the other 14 EU members as well". Another issue on the agenda of the Demirel-Klestil meeting was separatist terrorism. Responding to questions over Italy attitude towards Turkey's demand for the extradition of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, Klestil said: "The decision is up to Italy. Austria is against any kind of terrorism and and in favour of the highest possible human rights standards". The two presidents praised the state of Turkish-Austrian relations, particularly in the economic realm. /All papers/ [04] CETIN POSTPONES HIS VISIT TO PAKISTANTurkish Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin postponed his visit to Pakistan because of recent political developments. Cetin and a parliamentary delegation were supposed to pay an official visit to Pakistan as the official guest of Pakistani Parliament Speaker Illahi Buksh Soomro on November 22-26, the Anatolia news agency reports.[05] BAYKAL'S CALL TO EUROPE: 'EXTRADITE OCALAN'"Extradite Ocalan, naming him as a terrorist" Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal appealed to social democrats in Europe, speaking at his parliamentary group meeting yesterday. Baykal said that Turkey now has to use all means at its disposal to persuade Italy to extradite Ocalan. Baykal announced his plans to send letters to European social democrat party leaders and prime ministers, to the general chairman of the Socialist International and to the general chairman of the European Socialist Party."Giving political status to Ocalan" Baykal added: "and allowing him to act in Europe, means to accept, to justify, all the murders that his organization has committed, and thus to support terrorism. Such a person must be extradited to Turkey as a recognized terrorist". Without losing any time the government must appeal for a NATO council meeting, because NATO comitted itself to the struggle against terrorism as its 1991 Rome summit and the fourth article of the NATO agreement gives Turkey the right to call a NATO meeting. /Sabah/ [06] PKK SYMPATHIZERS FACE ANGRY CROWDSympathizers of the PKK terrorist organization, whose leader Abdullah Ocalan has been detained in Rome, wanted to stage a demonstration in Istanbul yesterday. Shouting pro-Ocalan slogans, the nearly 200 PKK supporters started to walk towards Taksim Square from Odakule. The demonstrators were saved by the police from angry citizens.The Italian government's persistent stance in favour of Ocalan is intensifying the waves of protests all around the country. Turkey's most influential non-governmental organizations and associations have united against Rome, threatening to reduce mutual trade links and boycott Italian goods. A great number of petition campaigns and other demonstrations were inaugurated by different groups all over Turkey. In Ankara, members of the True Path Party (DYP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP) staged separate demonstrations in front of the Italian Embassy. Black wreaths were laid in front of the embassy building. Later in the day, a group of citizens, led by Kecioren Mayor Turgut Altinok, staged another protest in front of the embassy. /All papers/ [07] CENSURE MOTION SCHEDULE IS READYThe schedule has been prepared for the censure motions against Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. The decision to put the censure motion on Parliament's agenda will be voted on November 19. According to the schedule, the Parliament General Assembly will meet on Monday to work on the censure motion. /All papers/[08] TANER: "EMBARGO WILL AFFECT ITALY"Turkish State Minister responsible for the economy, Gunes Taner, said in a statement yesterday that the extradition of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was very important for Turkey and added that Italy should be aware of this. Taner said: "Italy is playing with fire. A mistake will damage both Italy and the world. It is very wrong to tolerate terrorism". Taner noted that a possible embargo would affect Italy not Turkey. He pointed out that losing Turkey's friendship would not be beneficial for anyone. /Sabah/[09] TUSIAD SEEKS SUPPORTThe Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) will open its representative office in Washington today. The TUSIAD will hold meetings in the US and want support from US officials for the extradition of the leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan from Italy to Turkey. TUSIAD Chairman Bulent Eczacibasi and Head of the Executive Board Muharrem Kayhan will point out during the meetings that terrorism is an international problem. They will say: "It is not possible to prevent terrorism without international cooperation". /Sabah/[10] TIME: 'NO WAY OUT'While Italy is discussing whether the leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan will be extradited or not, Time magazine issued an article on international terrorism. The article noted that European countries were cooperating in the struggle against international terrorism and said that no way out for terrorists. /Sabah/[11] GERMANY AND BELGIUM DO NO WANT OCALANGermany and Belgium have stated that they do not want the extradition of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan from Italy to their countries. Belgian Foreign Minister Erik Derycke and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer made statements yesterday following a meeting of the Western European Union (WEU) in Rome and noted that they do not want the PKK leader to be sent to their countries. Derycke said: "We do not want to see Ocalan in Belgium". He added that they had many problems with the terrorist organization in Belgium. /Sabah/[12] YILMAZ ASKS SUPPORT FROM TURKISH CITIZENS ABROADPrime Minister Mesut Yilmaz asked Turkish citizens living abroad to be more active in order to support Abdullah Ocalan's extradition. Yilmaz noted that non-governmental organizations should be more effective and Turkish citizens living in Europe should increase their lobby activities to make pressure on Italy about the extradition of Ocalan to Turkey. /Hurriyet/[13] ATHENS SUPPORTS PKKA Foreign Ministry statatement issued yesterday said that Athens clearly supported PKK terrorist organization. It reported: "Greece used her border with Turkey to support the bloody terrorist organization PKK against Turkey. 110 Greek parliamentarians asked their government to officially invite Ocalan to Greece. This invitation is a clear evident of their support for terrorism." /Hurriyet/[14] PKK THREATENS ITALYPKK terrorists announced that if Abdullah Ocalan was not granted political asylum by Italy, they would start violent attacks against Italian offices abroad. They noted that they were cautiously waiting for the decision about Ocalan to take necessary measures. /Hurriyet/[15] BANDINI IN TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRYForeign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir invited Italian Ambassador to Ankara, Massimilliano Bandini yesterday to the Foreign Ministry to warn him about the PKK. Stressing that Turco-Italian relations would be seriously damaged if Ocalan's extradition would be prevented, Haktanir asked for detailed information from Bandini about the issue. /Hurriyet/[16] "OCALAN CAN BE EXTRADITED TO TURKEY"Leader of the Italian Values Party and former judge Antonio Di Pietro, said that the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan could be extradited to Turkey on conditions. Di Pietro noted that Ocalan would set free to Turkey on conditions that "death penalty would not be applied whereas international law would be applied". /Hurriyet/[17] PKK'S REAL FACE IN GERMAN PRESSGerman magazine Focus reported in its latest issue how PKK persuaded Kurdish youth in Germany to make them join the terrorist organization. According to the report based on the evaluation of Federal Criminal Department, young people were invited to culture centres and convinced there to attend the organization. After they were given a three-month military training, they were forced to sever their relations with their families. According to United Nations (UN) research, 3,000 teenagers from different countries were convinced to attend the terrorist organization. Meanwhile, the magazine reported that girls were abused by leaders in the organization. /Hurriyet/[18] LAWS WILL BE IMPLEMENTEDItalian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini stated that for a decision to extradite or grant poltical asylum to Abdullah Ocalan laws will be implemented. In an answer to a question, Dini said that they were in support of Prime Minister D'Alema's statement and added: "There are rules and regulations on demands for extradition and political asylum. Ocalan was arrested because of two extradition demands, one coming from Germany, the other from Turkey. We shall take a decision within 40 days recognized by the rules. The courts will not grant a political decision. /Milliyet/[19] FIRST STATEMENT BY OCALANPKK leader whose identity was determined at the hospital he was staying on Monday night, denied all accusations levelled against him and claimed that he was not 'a terrorist'. He also added that he did not want to be extradited to Turkey. In another development his lawyer Italian deputy Saraceni said that Turkish-Italian relations should not be affected by the recent developments. /Milliyet/[20] TURKISH-SPANISH TRADE SOON TO BE ON THE RISETurkish-Spanish trade relations are expected to increase in 199 as a result of the Joint Action Plan for Development of Turkish-Spanish Relations, which was signed by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in July 1998. Turkey will open a fair in Barcelona in January and Spain will open a fair in Istanbul in April. /All papers/[21] PRESIDENT BUSH'S MEMOIRSThe former US President published his memoirs in a book called 'A World Transformed.' Describing former Turkish President Turgut Ozal as 'my close friend', Bush wrote about his contacts with Ozal prior to and after the Gulf War. The former US president also stated that during the Gulf War former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said: "If Saddam attacks Turkey, we will fight for the defense of Turkey." Bush also noted that Ozal was very sensitive on the use of Turkish territory for the attacks on Saddam and therefore cruise missiles were not launched from Turkish airspace. /Cumhuriyet/[22] TL 9.3 TRILLION GROSS PROFITSIn the first eight months of the year Turkish Airlines (THY) had a gross profit of TL 9 trillion 379 billion. In the first half of the year THY had a net profit of TL 3 trillion 54.3 billion. Director General of THY Yusuf Bolayirli stated that their aim in entering partnership with Qualifyer Group was to lower the costs, to travel to more points, and carry passengers with higher incomes. He also touched upon their intention of forming a domestic lines company where THY would be the owner. /Milliyet/[23] KOSE ELECTED DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TO NATOChairman of the Turkish Group at the North Atlantic Assembly and Democratic Left Party (DSP) Istanbul deputy Tahir Kose was elected as deputy chairman to North Atlantic Assembly at the meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. /Milliyet/[24] TURKISH-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIPCelebrations on the occasion of the second Turkish-Japanese Friendship and Culture Week are being held in Istanbul. Japanese Consul-General in Istanbul Tomohiro Ishido said in his speech yesterday that there were nearly 1,000 Japanese citizens living in Turkey. He added: "There are also 50 Japanese firms operating in Turkey. Nearly 87,000 Japanese tourists visited Turkey in 1997. The education in Japanese at the Anatolian Trade Vocational High-School in Istanbul will also make great contributions to the development of economic and cultural relations between Turkey and Japan". The celebrations will last for one week. /Sabah/[25] DEMIRBANK IN KYRGYZSTANThe first bank with foreign capital in Kyrgyzstan is the Demir Kyrgyz International Bank. Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev visited the bank last week. Demirel said in his speech during his visit that he was very pleased with the benefits which the Demir Kyrgyz International Bank provided for the Kyrgyz economy. He added: "During such a period when globalization and competition is very high, the achievements of Demirbank on the international platform are Turkey's great honour". The Demir Kyrgyz International Bank was opened in May 1997. /Sabah/[26] APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL OF STATEThe Council of State approved yesterday a project for the Izmit Gulf Bridge with a length of 2,808 metres. The construction, which will be undertaken jointly by Turkish and Japanese firms, will begin in the near future. The construction will be undertaken with a model of build-operate-transfer (BOT). The bridge will be the second biggest suspension bridge in the world and will cost $1.8 billion. /Sabah/[27] OECD REPORT ON TURKEYOrganization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) noted in its latest report that the annual inflation rate in Turkey will be 20 percent in 2000 if the present economic programme continues. The report pointed out: "The Turkish economy developed in 1998 in line with the stability programme of the government. Also budget income has increased by 15 percent during the first six months of 1998 because of new measures in tax collecting." /Hurriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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