TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 30, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 30, 1995)

Topic: trkn Fdate: 95-03-30


CONTENTS

  • [01] IRAQ OPERATION

  • [02] WEST OBSERVES PKK MASSACRES PASSIVELY

  • [03] KARADAYI: "SHAME ON WORLD"

  • [04] ATAMAN REPLIES TO CLAIMS OF GERMAN GOVERNMENT

  • [05] US WAITING FOR TURKEY'S ANSWER TO REGIONAL ISSUES

  • [06] ANKARA WARNS UNITED NATIONS

  • [07] FM SPOKESMAN ATAMAN: "THERE WILL BE NO BUFFER ZONE"

  • [08] THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: "PKK IS A WILD TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"

  • [09] ANKARA REACTS ANGRILY TO GERMAN LABOUR MINISTER'S STATEMENT

  • [10] 269 TERRORISTS KILLED IN 10 DAYS

  • [11] ALIYEV SENDS MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT DEMIREL

  • [12] SECOND TURCO-MACEDONIAN SYMPOSIUM IN ANKARA

  • [13] ANTALYA TO RECEIVE $115 MILLION

  • [14] WORLD'S LARGEST IRRIGATION TUNNEL SET TO BEGIN OPERATION NEAR SANLIURFA

  • [15] NEWT GINGRICH: "I LOVE ATATURK"

  • [16] SOUTH AMERICAN MARKETS FOR TURKISH TEXTILES


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MARCH 30, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] IRAQ OPERATION

    As the military operation in northern Iraq carries on into yet another day, controversy stalks the moves by the

    Turkish military to clean out the pockets of PKK terrorist resistance. While Turkey claims that national security is

    at stake, international pressure for an "international solution" to the PKK-Kurdish problem continues to grow.

    While Turkish armed forces comb the hills around Hakurk, a major PKK base, foreign interest in the military op-

    eration against PKK separatists also increases, especially as Turkish officials have said openly that Turkish forces

    could remain in northern Iraq for quite some time. Instead the suggestion from Ankara is that the West should

    do more about persuading Iraqi leader Saddam to get in line with UN demands, and mediate a peace between the

    Kurds and Baghdad. Turkey has made it clear through government spokesmen that it prefers a "more practical"

    solution to the question of resolving the power vacuum in northern Iraq. Nevertheless, western countries are still

    most concerned about when the Turkish military force of at least 35 thousand troops and logistic suppport units will

    withdraw. According to a press release from the General Directorate of Press and Information, foreign and domestic

    journalists are allowed free access to all parts of northern Iraq, and even some British parliamentarians have

    visited the regions where fighting continues. Yet another aspect of the controversy surrounding the military

    incursion into northern Iraq, is the growing dispute with Germany over military grants to Turkey. Germany has

    frozen a 150 million mark grant that was part of an agreement to promote defence cooperation between Turkey

    and Germany. Other countries are thinking of doing the same thing regarding their own agreements with Turkey.

    Ankara has responded to German moves to pressure the government by announcing that cooperation with Germany in

    this area could well be coming to an end. /All papers/

    [02] WEST OBSERVES PKK MASSACRES PASSIVELY

    The PKK has answered German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, who unwillingly supports Turkey's military operation in

    the northern Iraq and said: "The first photograph of a dead civilian will be to the disadvantage of Turkey".

    Photographs of four dead civilian killed in Gorumlu township by the PKK have been shown to the world by news

    agencies. The recent PKK attack was a response to the military operation of the Turkish armed forces in northern

    Iraq which aimes to finish off terrorism, and these are the first photograps of dead civilians. However, they are

    not photographs of dead civilians killed by Turkish soldiers; they were innocent Kurdish children massacred by

    the PKK. One of the leading German TV channels, NTV, presented these photographs as Kurdish children killed in

    northern Iraq by the Turkish armed forces. The French Euronews TV channel in Lyon which broadcasts throughout

    Europe also fell into the same trap. On the other hand, British Labour Party deputies Anne Clwyd and Jim Cousins

    and their assistant Clive Forness visited Gorumlu township which the PKK attacked and they were astounded by the

    things they saw. The British parliamentarians said: "It was very sad. We hope that such a sad event will never be

    repeated. We believe that Turco-Iraqi and Syrian Kurds will live together in peace in the region. Turkey is

    right in its struggle against terrorism. During wars civilians are killed. This is a tragedy. Civilians are

    innocent victims of wars. Turkey should stop terrorist attacks. We share Turkey's views about terrorism. Turkey

    should protect itself from terrorist attacks." Regarding the operation, the British parliamentarians said: "We

    believe that European countries understand Turkey's operation beyond her southern border. A secure

    environment has been established following the Turkish armed forces incursion into the region. It is important

    that press members should be in the region. Turkey is now in the northern Iraqi territories. We hope that forces

    will withdraw as soon as possible once the operation is concluded." /Sabah/

    [03] KARADAYI: "SHAME ON WORLD"

    Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Ground Forces Commander, said yesterday that whoever opposed the "Steel Operation" was

    infact, supporting terrorism. Karadayi added that a lot of arms were found and most of them were German made. He

    said world should be ashamed by these findings./Sabah

    [04] ATAMAN REPLIES TO CLAIMS OF GERMAN GOVERNMENT

    It has been stated that Ankara's attitude towards the German government is changing due to Germany's latest

    announcement that the German government will suspend military aid to Turkey. It has also been noted that there

    is a move towards not giving any more defence tenders to Germany. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said

    yesterday that the frigates were not a grant and added :"We are not getting any military aid from Germany now.

    The projects are mostly purchases. Turkey is paying DM 9.9 billion to Germany for military supplies. Turkey

    contributes to the German economy more than Germany contributes to the Turkish defence sector. I think that

    the continuation of these relations are good for the German economy." /Milliyet/

    [05] US WAITING FOR TURKEY'S ANSWER TO REGIONAL ISSUES

    Reports say that the US administration is waiting for Turkey's views on regional problems-especially in

    connection with the power game now being played out in northern Iraq. Spokeswoman for the US State Department,

    Christine Shelly said yesterday that telephone conversations with Prime Minister Ciller had not been

    explicit enough where the northern Iraq power vacuum was concerned. The US has indicated clearly that until Ankara

    comes up with "a concrete solution" measures to deal with the situation as it now stands should be taken through the

    "hammer" force de- ployed in Incirlik near Adana, as part of the UN Provide Comfort mandate to protect Kurds in

    Iraq. In fact, reports suggest that initiatives for a Turkey-US security base in northern Iraq could be on the

    cards. A dele- gation to the US led by Prime Ministry Advisor Emre Gonensay has already put this idea to US

    government representatives. New deals in the air will not exclude the Kurdish leaders in the region, and Mesud

    Barzani and Celal Talabani will be given a say in what is planned as a solution for the regional problems now

    plaguing northern Iraq. There are also tentative reports that a US commission will visit Turkey during the first

    two weeks of April. The special commission will include top US officials like Strobe Talbott, Richard Holbrooke,

    John Deutch and Joseph Nye. Later in the month of April, Prime Minister Ciller will have talks with President

    Clinton in Washington about developments in north- ern Iraq and the new security mechanisms even now being

    planned. /All papers/

    [06] ANKARA WARNS UNITED NATIONS

    Turkey has warned the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) about the UN program to move Turkish

    citizens of Kurdish origin migrating to northern Iraq out of the military operation region. Noting in his weekly

    press meeting that PKK terrorists had infiltrated civilian refugee groups, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman

    said that Turkey had asked the UNHCR to take every measure needed regarding this issue. Ahmet Uzumcu, Foreign

    Ministry representative in Diyarbakir during the initial phases of the operation, has also stressed that they have

    been no complaints from the civilian population. Meanwhile, the UN force is charged with protecting

    northern Iraq Kurds from Iraqi leader Saddam, and responsible for distributing humanitarian aid. /Hurriyet/

    [07] FM SPOKESMAN ATAMAN: "THERE WILL BE NO BUFFER ZONE"

    While the West was waiting whether Turkey would constitute a "security-aimed buffer zone" in northern Iraq or not,

    Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said: "At this level, it is not foreseen to form a buffer zone at our

    borders". About the time of the operation, Ataman said: "The operation will last until conditions that require

    another operation are removed". There was no complaint or information given to the Foreign Ministry from the Red

    Crescent, the UN or non-governmental organizations in the region that civilians were harmed, Ataman added: "On the

    contrary, we are in close cooperation with international institutions. Kurdish-origin Turkish citizens who

    migrated from Turkey to northern Iraq, have been taken under the protection of the UN. Turkey has conveyed to

    the UN that measures should be taken to prevent these people infiltration by PKK militants". Regarding the

    Habur border gate, Ataman said: "The roads from the Habur border gate are separated into two: for humanitarian and

    commercial traffic. These facilities continue and we are very sensitive on this issue." /Milliyet/

    [08] THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: "PKK IS A WILD TERRORIST

    ORGANIZATION"

    The Wall Street Journal newspaper described the PKK as a "wild terrorist organization". The article said that the

    PKK was one of the most bloody terrorist organizations in the Middle East and did not hold a worthy place among the

    Kurds in Turkey. The article described Turkey as a needed friend, and complained about the reactions of the West

    regarding the military operation in northern Iraq. It noted that the West misunderstood the objectives of the

    operation which was being carried out by a democratic and legal government against a terrorist separatist

    organization. The article added: "This bloody organization has friends in the West who are unaware of

    the PKK reality. The PKK utilizes human rights as a trump card and affiliates with the people in Germany, Sweden and

    other Western countries to ensure their stand against the Turkish government". It went on: "The main target of PKK

    drug traffic is Europe. The PKK is also aided by Syria and Iran". /Sabah/

    [09] ANKARA REACTS ANGRILY TO GERMAN LABOUR MINISTER'S

    STATEMENT

    Ankara has reacted angrily to a statement from Germany's Labour Minister Norbert Blum that Turkey treated Kurds

    worse than animals and let Kurds fleeing to Turkey from Iraq during the Gulf War die by closing its borders.

    Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said that Blum's statements showed he lacked information on Turkey and

    northern Iraq. Ataman also said Blum's statements were not consistent with the friendship that existed between

    Turkey and Germany. /All papers/

    [10] 269 TERRORISTS KILLED IN 10 DAYS

    General Staff Press and Public Relations Department Chairman Colonel Dogu Silahcioglu has stated that the

    military operation is continuing with great success and that everything is under control. Silahcioglu said that

    search and destroy operations of the Turkish armed forces were going on in the region. He added that since the

    beginning of the operation 269 terrorists had been killed and twelve others had been taken alive. Silahcioglu noted

    that three soldiers wounded by mines are not in serious danger. Meanwhile, 11 terrorists have been killed in

    Gercus (Batman) and Kulp (Diyarbakir). Four terrorists in Bitlis have been arrested together with their weapons and

    ammunition. Two terrorists surrendered to the security forces in Gercus and Eruh. 24 terrorists have been

    arrested in Bitlis, Bingol, Mus, Hakkari, Siirt and Tunceli. /Sabah/

    [11] ALIYEV SENDS MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT DEMIREL

    Azeri President Haydar Aliyev has sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel, thanking him for

    Turkey's consideration during recent clashes in Azerbaijan. /All papers/

    [12] SECOND TURCO-MACEDONIAN SYMPOSIUM IN ANKARA

    A second symposium on Turco-Macedonian relations, organized by the Turco-Macedonian Friendship Association,

    was held in the Turkish capital yesterday, the Anatolia news agency reported. Bahaeddin Guney, the president of

    the Association, said at the symposium that the aim of the meeting was to develop relations between Turkey and

    Macedonia. He reported that there were now 1,000 Turkish companies operating in Macedonia. Sotir Glavince, the

    head of the Macedonian Jurists' Association, declared that everything possible would be done to develop economic and

    cultural relations between the two countries.

    [13] ANTALYA TO RECEIVE $115 MILLION

    Antalya Mayor Hasan Subasi announced yesterday that the World Bank has agreed to advance $115 million in credit

    for Antalya to renew its infrastructure, the Anatolia news agency has reported. The credit, which will be paid back

    within the next 17 years, is expected to be handed over in May after final approval from the World Bank's Executive

    Board. The money will be specifically used to help environmental and infrastructural development.

    [14] WORLD'S LARGEST IRRIGATION TUNNEL SET TO BEGIN OPERATION

    NEAR SANLIURFA

    The world's biggest irrigation tunnel, "Sanliurfa T-1", will begin operations on April 11, contributing to the

    agricultural production of 62 villages in the area, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The 7.62

    metre-wide and 26.4 kilometre-long tunnel, which will bring water from the Ataturk Dam into villages

    agricultural regions in the plain of Harran, will guarantee four different harvests each year, officials

    said.

    [15] NEWT GINGRICH: "I LOVE ATATURK"

    Republican Newt Gingrich, speaker of the US House of Representatives, has expressed once more his deep

    admiration for Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The occasion was a dinner party hosted by an Atlanta-based defence contractor

    which has projects going in Turkey. "We have to discover the secret of Ataturk" Gingrich said, adding that as

    Republicans they should study the swiftness with which Ataturk introduced one reform after another within a

    matter of a couple years. /All papers/

    [16] SOUTH AMERICAN MARKETS FOR TURKISH TEXTILES

    Venezuela provided a "cure" for the Turkish textile and ready-to-wear industry in 1994, which was suffocating in

    search of new markets, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to the figures in Hedef Magazine,

    exports to Venezuela, which stood at $76,000 in the January-November period of 1993, rose to a high of $4.14

    million in the same period of 1994. Following Venezuela came Ecuador with exports to Turkey increasing 50 times in

    1994.

    END


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