TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review(April 21, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L  Turkish Press Review(April 21, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] CONGRATULATIONS FROM CLINTON TO CILLER FOR ECONOMY SUCCESS

  • [02] CILLER CONTINUES CONTACTS IN USA

  • [03] TURKEY CONDEMNS THE NETHERLANDS AT NATO

  • [04] US DEPUTY ENERGY SECRETARY IN ANKARA

  • [05] ARMENIAN TEAM IN ANKARA

  • [06] TURKEY WARNS GREECE OVER PRESS REPORT

  • [07] OECD: "RESULTS OF THE APRIL 5 DECISIONS ARE POSITIVE"

  • [08] EXIMBANK MAKES $986 MILLION IN LOANS TO TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS

  • [09] TURKEY TO SELL ELECTRICITY TO SYRIA

  • [10] FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GORBACOV COMING TO TURKEY

  • [11] CALL TO THE WEST REGARDING STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING

  • [12] NEW ZEALAND HONORARY CONSULATE

  • [13] ATATURK "CORNER"

  • [14] TURKEY COMBATS PKK TERRORISM IN NORTHERN IRAQ

  • [15] WHY TURKEY IS IN IRAQ

    •

    FRIDAY APRIL 21, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning

    [01] CONGRATULATIONS FROM CLINTON TO CILLER FOR ECONOMY SUCCESS

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller stated that US President Clinton said to her: "I really appreciate you because of your success in the economy". Ciller, during a press conference at the Turkish Embassy the previous night, noted that Clinton praised Turkey as its economic development was far beyond that of Mexico. Ciller said: "Actually, when Mexico is compared with Turkey, despite aid from the US, Mexico could not reach the point that Turkey has achieved". As Ciller is the guest of honour at the Houston International Festival,US former President George Bush's son, Governor Bush gave Ciller the key to the city. /Hurriyet/

    [02] CILLER CONTINUES CONTACTS IN USA

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller pleased with her contacts in Washington, said that especially her meeting with President Bill Clinton had been very positive. After completing her contacts in Washington, Prime Minister Ciller went on to Houston to attend the Houston Festival as the guest of honour.

    During her meetings with President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Willian Perry, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller agreed that firm steps should be taken through bilateral discussions in order to ensure security in northern Iraq and continue the struggle against terrorism.

    In a press conference after the White House meeting, Ciller pointed out that a solution to the authority vacuum in northern Iraq must depend on the territorial integrity of Iraq.

    Regarding the Provide Comfort Operation, Ciller noted that while the American side was for continuing the operation, the Turkish side was looking for a new solution, one that would eliminate the auxieties of the Turkish public.

    Diplomatic sources have noted that Turkish and American officials will discuss the mission, aim and logystics of the UN operation during the next few weeks. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

    [03] TURKEY CONDEMNS THE NETHERLANDS AT NATO

    Turkey denounced the Netherlands, which has allowed the opening of a "Kurdish parliament-in-exile" in The Hague,at an extraordinary session of the NATO Council in Brussels yesterday. Turkish Ambassador to NATO Tugay Ozceri accused the Dutch government of failing to fulfill its obligations towards a fellow NATO member by allowing the exile parliament to hold its first meeting in The Hague. Ankara says the parliament-in-exile is a propaganda tool of the PKK, waging a separatist war in southeast Turkey that has cost 16,000 lives since 1984. The NATO Council meeting was called under a section of the NATO treaty used when one ally considers its territorial integrity threatened by the action of another member state. Turkey, due to the 4th article of the Washington Agreement which is the basis of NATO, demanded that the Council hold a private extraordinary meeting for the first time since the Gulf War. According to this article, when one of the allies sees that its security and territorial integrity is in danger, then it calls upon its allies to hold an extraordinary Council meeting for solidarity. Tugay Ozceri, at the meeting in Brussels yesterday, said: "This parliament which encompasses PKK terrorists, is a threat to the territorial integrity of Turkey. As Holland allowed this meeting, it means that it has not carried out its obligations to the NATO treaty and international law". Holland is called upon by Ankara to respect its NATO obligations. /All papers/

    [04] US DEPUTY ENERGY SECRETARY IN ANKARA

    US Deputy Energy Secretary Bill White and a senior delegation arrived in Ankara yesterday for talks with Turkish officials on energy issues, particularly a proposed pipeline to transport oil from the Caspian oil fields to the Mediterranean. The US team, including Congressman Greg Laughlin, co-chairman of the US-former Soviet Union energy caucus, is on a tour to seven Caspian and Caucasian countries. Other stops include Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Russia. While in Turkey, the US delegation is due to meet senior Turkish policy makers and energy officials to discuss issues involving transport of oil and natural gas, the US Information Service said in a statement. They will also meet Turkish and US business representatives to discuss trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. /All papers/

    [05] ARMENIAN TEAM IN ANKARA

    An Armenian team arrived in Ankara yesterday for talks with officials from the Transport Ministry for the reopening of an air corridor from Turkey to Armenia. Turkey closed the H-50 air corridor in 1993 following an Armenian offensive against the Azeri Kelbecer region that ended up with a big territorial gain for the Armenians. But Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, on a visit to the US, ordered the reopening of the air corridor on Tuesday in a "goodwill gesture" aimed at encouraging the Armenians to accept reconciliation for an end to an undeclared war with Azerbaijan, officials said. The corridor's reopening means resumption of flights to Armenia from Turkish airspace. Ciller stated that she had taken Azeri President Haydar Aliyev's positive view on this issue and that she told US President Clinton that a of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSEC) peace force, including Turkey, should be sent to the region as soon as possible. /Hurriyet/

    [06] TURKEY WARNS GREECE OVER PRESS REPORT

    Turkey has warned Greece over a Greek newspaper report which depicted two Turkish military attaches in Athens as "spies", Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said yesterday. The ultra-rightist Athens-based Stohos published on Tuesday the names, pictures and addresses of the military attaches, accusing them of spying on Greece. Inonu told reporters in Ankara that Turkey had launched an initiative regarding the incident. "This is an alarming action. We have asked Greece to take the necessary security precautions for the safety of our personnel" he said. Cetin Gorgu, Turkey's press attache in Greece, was killed in an armed attack in Athens in 1990. Deniz Bolukbasi, counsellor at the Turkish Embassy, was heavily injured in another attack in 1993. The vicious Greek terror group November 17 assumed responsibility for both attacks. Stohos also last year accused Turkish Embassy personnel and Turkish journalists in Athens of "collecting information" for the Turkish state and published their names and addresses. Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has also condemned Libyan leader, Muammer Kaddafi because of his comments in support of the Kurdish separatists. /All papers/

    [07] OECD: "RESULTS OF THE APRIL 5 DECISIONS ARE POSITIVE"

    The Organization for Economic Cooporation and Development (OECD), has evaluated the results of the April 5 decisions as "very positive" and noted that the Turkish economy will be improved in 1995 and that the economic future looks "very bright".

    According to a statement by the Treasury and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat at the end of the February OECD meeting, the Organization envisaged a 2.8% development rate in 1995, and 5% in 1996. It was pointed out that the inflation rate would decrease.

    The report of the OECD says: "Customs union with the European Union will contribute to the development of Turkey. With short-term measures Turkey can attain important successes, with more important developments in the future. Turkey's future will be "very bright" with its rich natural and human resources and effective dynamism of the private sector." /Cumhuriyet/

    [08] EXIMBANK MAKES $986 MILLION IN LOANS TO TURKISH-SPEAKING

    REPUBLICS

    Since 1992 Turkish Eximbank has made loans of $986 million to the Turkish-speaking republics of the former Soviet Union, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to the "Avrasya File", a bulletin published by the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency, a portion of the loans has been allocated for the financing of exports, while the rest has been used for project-financing.

    [09] TURKEY TO SELL ELECTRICITY TO SYRIA

    Turkey will build 64 kilometers of the 120 kilometer-long Birecik-Syria energy transfer line, which will carry Turkish electricity to Syria, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The project is expected to cost TL 597 billion and initially carry electricity from the Ataturk Dam Hydroelectric Plant.

    [10] FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GORBACOV COMING TO TURKEY

    Mihail Sergeyevic Gorbacov, last President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and his wife will come to Turkey on Monday. Noting that there had been no opportunity to visit Turkey during 1985-91 when he was in power, Gorbacov said that his aim was to explain the situation in Russia to the Turkish people as a person really knew the position. Coming to Turkey as the guest of Yap} and Kredi Bank (Construction and Credit Bank), Gorbacov will give talks in Ankara and Istanbul until 30 April. Following a visit to An}tkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum), Gorbacov will meet Husamettin Cindoruk, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Ciller. In a statement prior to his visit Gorbacov said " Russia also made contributions in the idea of Turkey regarding the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region put forward a few years ago. There are many opportunities to be developed in the region. Efforts regarding this issue should be speeded up and lasting relations should be established." Commenting on the political situation in Russia in a meeting of the "Gorbacov Fund" titled "Policy of the USSR and Russian Federation, Gorbacov rejected the extension plans of NATO ". /Hurriyet/.

    [11] CALL TO THE WEST REGARDING STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING

    Interior Minister Nahit Mentese, said that the struggle against drug smuggling should be pushed forward in cooperation with the West which was the main financial resource of the PKK terrorist organization because of using Turkey and the West as targets for drug trafficking.

    Mentese yesterday received Dr.Lee Brown, Director of the US White House International Administration for controlling the struggle against drugs and a delegation accompanying him. Stressing that the security forces of the US and Turkey were in close cooperation in fighting against criminal organizations internationally, Mentese expressed his gratitude to the US for supporting Turkey's struggle against the PKK./Sabah/.

    [12] NEW ZEALAND HONORARY CONSULATE

    The New Zealand Honorary Consulate will be opened with an official ceremony on 24 April 1995. The New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, Trade and Foreign Minister will attend the ceremony. As 25 April is the 80th anniversary of the Anzac soldiers landing at Ariburnu, along the Dardanelles Straits, Turkish and New Zealand officials will move on to Gelibolu and participate in an official ceremony there. /Cumhuriyet/

    [13] ATATURK "CORNER"

    An "Ataturk Corner" organized by the San Jose Peace University in Costa Rica has been ceremoniously opened by President Jose Maria Figueres.

    President Suleyman Demirel yesterday sent a congratulatory message to the opening ceremony in which he once again reminded the participants that " Peace at home means peace abroad" /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] TURKEY COMBATS PKK TERRORISM IN NORTHERN IRAQ

    NEWSWEEK (April 17,1995) Michael Elliott

    "U.S. policymakers concede that Turkey faces a genuine security threat to the southeast. After an army offensive in Turkey last year, the PKK guerrillas moved their camps into northern Iraq. But Iraqi Kurdistan is a security vacuum: Saddam Hussein's writ has not run there since the gulf war. The Iraqi Kurds, whom a multinational force is meant to be protecting, are engaged in a bitter war among themselves. So the PKK was able to operate with some impunity. A senior U.S. official says that Turkey has a right to go 'in and out on sporadic missions'..."

    THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (April 11,1995) George Melloan

    "The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a Marxist bunch based in Damascus, has been running a terrorism campaign against Turkey for years but only recently has had success in 'internationalizing' the struggle in classical Marxist fashion. PKK groups operating in Germany have brought influence to bear on the German press and public opinion. Letter-writing campaigns on behalf of the PKK have been cranked up, just like in the old days when masterful public-relations efforts were mounted in Europe on behalf of such Marxist groups as Fidel Castro's Sandinistas in Central America... the PKK, which in fact has a dubious claim to representing any Kurds other than its members. Ethnic Kurds are to be found throughout Turkey, occupying responsible positions in many cases... The Clinton administration, to its great credit, did stand up, upholding the right of Turkey to defend its national security against the predators on its southern flank."

    [15] WHY TURKEY IS IN IRAQ

    POLICYWATCH, THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE, (April 4,1995) Alan Makovsky

    "Turkey had several reasons for staging its 35,000-troop ground-and-air operation into northern Iraq March 20. First, Ankara genuinely seeks to put a dent into the PKK's capabilities. Second, the operation is intended to send several messages: to the PKK, that the Turkish military is aggressive and has long reach; to Turkish domestic audiences, that the Ciller government is resolved to be proactive against the PKK; to Iraqi Kurdish leaders, that they should plug their border, as they pledged to do in 1992; and, perhaps most important, to allies in Operation Provide Comfort - Britain, France, and particularly the United States - and the rest of the international community, that the status quo in northern Iraq, with the freedom of movement for the PKK, is intolerable."

    STATE DEPARTMENT DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON (March 27,1995) Christine Shelly

    "We have acknowledged that there were tarrorist actions being taken against Turkey that originated on the soil of Iraq... the heart of the problem - which is terrorists using northern Iraq as a springboard for attacks into Turkey... there is a vacuum of authority in some of the places that then, unfortunately, has resulted in the establishment of PKK terrorist camps across the other side of the Turkish border... we are certainly mindful of the problem that they face from the terrorist attacks which do take place against Turkey which are launched from the territory of Iraq..."

    END

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