Subject: Turkish Press Review (April 4, 1995)
President Suleyman Demirel arrived in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires late on Sunday in the first leg of his tour to
three South American states. "The purpose behind my visits to several countries aims at showing that Turkey is a world
power. The countries our tour covers, and Argentina, in particular, are important powers that closely follow world
developments" Demirel told reporters during a stopover in the Canary Islands on Sunday. He was received at Aeroparque
military base by Argentine Foreign Minister Guido di Tella. A 164-strong delegation, including State Ministers Onur
Kumbaracibasi and Ayvaz Gokdemir, accompanies Demirel on his Latin America tour.
President Suleyman Demirel started his official contacts in Argentina. Demirel met with Argentine President Carlos Menem.
At a lunch given in his honour by Argentine Parliamentary Speaker Oraldo Britos, Demirel noted that there were many
similarities between the two nations and added: "Both Turkey and Argentina are elements of peace and stability in their
regions. And it is only natural that they want to improve their relations in every field". /Hurriyet-Sabah/
Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, who has begun a European tour to explain the Turkish military operation in northern Iraq met
with his German counterpart, Klaus Kinkel, in Bonn.
During the Kinkel said although Germany understood Turkey's struggle against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist
organization, Turkey should withdraw her troops as soon as possible from northern Iraqi territories.
In reply Erdal Inonu said that misunderstandings damaged Turco-German bilateral relations. He added that the aim of
the Turkish military operation was to destroy the PKK terrorist organization. Inonu confirmed that after the
operation reached its targets, Turkish troops would be withdrawn from Iraqi territories.
Inonu confirmed that Turkey upheld the territorial integrity of northern Iraq and that the operation was a matter of
self-defence.
Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu asked the German authorities to ensure the security of Turkish citizens living
in Germany.
Minister Kinkel noted that Germany had never sold arms to the PKK. He wanted to see a political solution to the Kurdish
issue in Turkey. /Hurriyet/
Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is going to visit the US on 19 April. During the visit, Ciller will inform President
Clinton about northern Iraq military incursion.
While in the US, Prime Minister Ciller will also give an opening speech at the International Houston Festival, which
will feature Turkey.
During her 6-day visit, Ciller will discuss economic issues with the Clinton administration. /Hurriyet/
Two British parliamentarians who visited the Gorumlu township of Sirnak immediately after a PKK massacre have been expelled
from their political party.
Because of their statement following their visit to Gorumlu, the Labour Party parliamentarians Ann Clwyd and Jim Cousin
have been disciplined by their party.
The party leadership has stated that two parliamentarians visited Turkey and northern Iraq without party permission.
/Hurriyet/
The General Committee of the World Energy Agency is going to meet in Istanbul. After the meeting there will be a seminer
under the title "Financing Energy Projects" on 11-12 April in Istanbul.
Turkish Energy Minister Veysel Atasoy will attend the meeting. The Agency aims to make countries more conscious of
economizing in the energy field. /Hurriyet/
Since the beginning of the "Steel Operation" the toll of Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) dead has reached 319, with 13
captured alive. Domestic operations against the PKK have also increased.
In a PKK camp in Hakkari 850 kilos of drugs, eight bombs and two mortar shells were found. Drugs are a vital source of
income for the PKK. /Hurriyet/
One of the leading journalists of the Washington Post, a major US daily, Lally Weymouth has written an article defending the
neccesity of giving support to Turkey.
In her article under the title of "We cannot be objective in the Turkey issue", Weymouth noted that the US administration
has rejected Ankara's proposals regarding a "Provide Comfort" solution with Turkish and American troops going to northern
Iraq".
She pointed out that the US administration had informed Turkey that they have no intention of changing Iraqi policies or of
giving up the Provide Comfort protective umbrella for the region. /Milliyet/
The Turkish troops continue the dragnet in northern Iraq for PKK terrorists. Turkish General Staff yesterday said that
troops had killed 11 more rebels over the past 24 hours, to bring the total of PKK casualties to 306 dead and 13 captured
since the start of the operation two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Turkish security forces have kept up the pressure on the PKK inside the country's borders, killing 10
separatists in the southeastern provinces in overnight clashes to raise the numbers of slain terrorists to over 80 in a week.
The Turkish Red Crescent began a major food distribution programme in northern Iraq yesterday which it hopes will
remove possible grudges created by the military incursion. 800 tons of food being distributed in Zakho and Dohuk will be
the first part of 9,000 tons to be distributed eventually, the Anatolia news agency said, quoting Red Crescent officials.
The relief organization, which distributed $14 million worth of aid last year, has set aside $12 million for this year.
/All papers/
Replying the criticism about the lack of adequate efforts for the promotion of Turkey abroad", General Director of Press and
Information, Murat Ersavci said: "If it were true that we were not exerting great effort, then there would be 10 times
the amount of news against Turkey than there is at present". Stating that after the northern Iraq military operation began,
his office had started to work 24 hours a day, Ersavci added: "We have some deficiencies. I accept that. However, we must
not forget that promotion is a collective work". Noting that all explanatory information regarding the operation, was being
conveyed to the offices of Press Counsellors, companies, and agencies operating abroad on behalf of Turkey, Ersavci
stressed that these companies conveyed the realities of Turkey's position to the attention of world public opinion.
Stating that important foreign publication institutions had issued good news about Turkey regarding the Iraqi operation,
Ersavci added that these had not been taken into consideration. However, the news in the 30,000-circulation
Italian newspaper had been exaggerated, and dealt with Turkish feelings of inferiority in this area would most certainly be
overcome concluded, Ersavci said. /Sabah/
The 29th World Congress organized by the World Tourism Agencies Federation will be held in Istanbul between 2-7
October, 1995. World tourism will be discussed during the meeting that is expected to be attended by 1000 participants.
/Cumhuriyet/
Foreign policy spokesman and member of the German Christian Social Union Party, Michael Glos in a statement he made to
"Der Spiegel" magazine, said that Turkey was protecting herself against terrorism and that he understood that the
operation by Turkish military forces in Northern Iraq was self-defence. /Cumhuriyet/
A high-level delegation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry will leave for Iraq to discuss a "regional solution formula" with
Kurdish leaders Mesut Barzani and Celal Talabani. Issues regarding the security in the region will be taken up. Turkey
wants to build new border control points in northern Iraq to prevent PKK terrorists from infiltrating Turkey, and has
suggested giving control of the border stations to local Peshmerges. /Sabah/
Four NATO countries have given a warning note to Greece to repair its relations with Turkey. Further, a high-level US
delegation expected in Turkey next week may reportedly arrive with a "package" of proposals for improving Turco-Greek
relations. Richard Holbrooke, the US Assistant Secretary of State, will arrive in Athens this weekend with some proposals
to give to the Papandreou government for improving ties across the Aegean. Holbrooke will meet with Greek Prime Minister
Andreas Papandreu and Foreign Minister Karolas Papulyas. Holbrooke is then scheduled to continue onto Kiev and Ankara
to join Strobe Talbott, deputy secretary of state, who will be in Turkey for a visit on April 11.
Turkey continues its diplomatic offensive regarding its incursion into Northern Iraq. Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu
went European capitals to explain the aims of the operation. Inonu will reportedly brief Syria and Iran in the near future.
Following his European contacts Inonu will fly to US. The Syria-Iran-Turkey tripartite meeting will be held after Inonu
returns from the US. Tehran is expected to host the tripartite meeting in the second half of this month.
/Hurriyet/
Ekmekci, the Chairman of the Contemporary Journalists' Association demanded the PKK to release two journalists it
kidnapped two days ago at a road-block on Cizre-Nusaybin highway. In a written statement yesterday Ekmekci condemned
the PKK for this act and stressed that function was to provide the public with true and impartial information and added that
everyone was expected to help journalists fulfill this function. /Hurriyet/
Azeri President Haydar Aliyev said yesterday that Baku had decided to transfer to Turkey 5 % of its share in a
Western-led coalition set up to develop oil fields in the Caspian Sea. Aliyev made the declaration at a meeting with
the deputy general manager of Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), Mustafa Murathanoglu in Baku. The president said Baku had
made the decision taking into account "Azerbaijan's very close ties with Turkey", the Anatolia news agency reported. TPAO's
share in the consortium is now due to rise to 6.75 % from the current 1.75 %, when an official agreement is signed in Ankara
tomorrow.
Nuzhet Kandemir, the Turkish Ambassador to Washington, gave a speech focusing on Turkey's role as a regional stabilizer, the
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The ambassador, speaking to the Turkish Students' Association based in
Washington, said that Turkish students studying abroad were a strong force against intentionally inaccurate information
about Turkey, which is in fact democratic, secular, pluralist and a strong advocate of the free market. He said that Turkey
was the biggest hope for stability in the region, and had to be supported, because it was the West's most trustworthy ally
despite the risks. He also said that to push Turkey away would be against the EU's long-term interests and added that
the customs union would have a positive effect on their relations. The ambassador told the students that because of
the presence of strong anti-Turkish lobbies in the US, Turks must organize themselves better.
Ideas on how to bring peace to war-torn Bosnia will be discussed at an international conference in Ankara between
April 17 and 19, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Several foreign and Turkish academics are to participate in
the conference, which is being jointly organized by the parliamentary office and Bilkent University, and chaired by
Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk. The conference coincides with a crucial date for the fate of Bosnia since the
4-month truce in the troubled region is due to expire in May.
The visit to Istanbul by George Bush, 41st president of the US, planned for April 27 to 29, as the guest of Rumeli Holding
has been postponed, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.
The 2,300-year-old amphitheater, at Ephesus, which seats 20,000, will be reopened to the public in May after two years
of renovation work, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Essential repair work to stop the theater from
crumbling away led to a massive renovation project.
A Turkish delegation is participating in the UN Mediterranean Action Plan (MED-UNIT) meeting being held in Athens until
April 8 to discuss pollution levels in the Mediterranean Sea, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Turkey is being
represented by the chairman of the Foreign Ministry's Naval Office, Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi, and Environment Ministry
officials Nursen Numanoglu and Gursen Kugu, who will be proposing certain changes to the MED-UNIT accord.