TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 26, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 26, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] LESSON IN DEMOCRACY FROM CILLER

  • [02] HEALTH COOPERATION WITH JAPAN

  • [03] INVITATION TO CILLER FROM MEXICO

  • [04] AKCALI GOES TO US

  • [05] CALL TO ATHENS FOR DIALOGUE

  • [06] KARAYALCIN: "COMBATTING TERRORISM AND ESTABLISHING DEMOCRACY CAN GO HAND-IN-HAND"

  • [07] TURKEY AND KYRGYZSTAN SIGN PARLAMENTARY COOPERATION ACCORD

  • [08] THE CILLER TULIP

  • [09] TURCO-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL TO MEET THURSDAY

  • [10] ITALIANS DONATE $12 MILLION TO GAP

  • [11] HOLLAND ON TURKEY'S "RED LIST"

  • [12] WITHDRAWAL FROM NORTHERN IRAQ

  • [13] TURKISH DELEGATION IN BAGHDAD

  • [14] GALLIPOLI COMMEMORATIONS

  • [15] GORBACHEV: "TURKEY IS OUR BEST FRIEND"

  • [16] CHERNISHEV TO VISIT TURKEY

  • [17] TURKEY WARNS BRITISH GOVERNMENT ABOUT PKK TELEVISION BROADCAST

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    APRIL 26, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] LESSON IN DEMOCRACY FROM CILLER

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller stated that the world wanted to benefit from Turkey's experiences in the struggle against terrorism and said: "We will give a lesson in democracy to the world". Pointing out that there should be international cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, Ciller added: "Saying that let's take up terror from the political standpoint, means that you do not understand terror. If that was so, was there a struggle against human rights violations in Oklahoma, Tokyo subway, or the New York Trade Centre? Terror has nothing to do with political solutions. When they say that "You have experience in terror, let's tell us about it", tehn we will give lesson in democracy to the world". Noting that her US visit had been very useful, Ciller indicated that the bad heritage of the Gulf crisis had been paid by Turkey. Ciller said: "I will not announce a date for the end of the northern Iraqi operation". Ciller condemned the Netherlands because of the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile. Ciller said: "Holland is a NATO member. She signed international agreements. She mustn't support terrorism. It is contrary to all agreements including NATO and the OSCE". Meanwhile, speaking at a "Human Rights" meeting in Ankara, Prime Minister Ciller said: "It is out of the question for the state to condone torture". /Hurriyet/

    [02] HEALTH COOPERATION WITH JAPAN

    A protocol has been signed between the Turkish Health Ministry and the Japanese Technical Cooperation Agency (JIKA) in order to continue a $3 billion project started two years ago. It is reported that as the Hifzissiha (a medical helath foundation) is equipped with modern medical systems, 18 Japanese experts have been in Turkey for training within the framework of the project, and that 9 Turkish specialists have been sent to Japan. /Cumhuriyet/

    [03] INVITATION TO CILLER FROM MEXICO

    Mexican Head of State Ernesto Zedillo has invited Prime Minister Tansu Ciller to his country. Zedillo's invitation letter was presented to Ciller by Mexican Ambassador to Ankara, Raphael Steger Catano via the Foreign Ministry. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] AKCALI GOES TO US

    Environment Minister Riza Akcali went to the US yesterday to attend the "United Nations Third Development Committee Meeting". Minister Akcali said that at the meeting that will last until 28 April, issues such as forestation, desertification, drought, resource management, biologic variety, trade, environment and technologic transfer would be taken up. Akcali will present information to the commission on a "Regional Environment Centre" planned to be established in Turkey. /Hurriyet/

    [05] CALL TO ATHENS FOR DIALOGUE

    President Demirel said to the new Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Dimitrios Nezeretis, who presented his credentials yesterday: "Let's talk about our problems at the table. We can start by solving our less important problems first". Offering further cooperation with the Greek government against terrorism, Demirel requested that Iskece (Xanti) Mufti Mehmet Emin Aga, who is in prison, should be released. /Hurriyet/

    [06] KARAYALCIN: "COMBATTING TERRORISM AND ESTABLISHING

    DEMOCRACY CAN GO HAND-IN-HAND"

    Murat Karayalcin, former chairman of the defunct Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) and former foreign minister, has said that combatting terrorism and establishing human rights and democratization in Turkey can go hand- in-hand, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Speaking at a conference in Belgium on job opportunities that would be created by Turkey's customs union with the EU, Karayalcin said that the conference was very important in regard to the debate concerning Turkey's integration with the EU.

    [07] TURKEY AND KYRGYZSTAN SIGN PARLAMENTARY COOPERATION

    ACCORD

    Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk and his Kyrgyz counterpart Colpan Bayev met at Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, yesterday to sign a parliamentary cooperation agreement between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, the Anatolia news agency reported. Bayev noted the brotherly relations between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan and said bilateral relations should be further developed.

    [08] THE CILLER TULIP

    Turkey, which was the guest of honour at the Tulip Festival held in Canada last year and is recognized as the homeland of the tulip, has finally been granted an international tulip of its own, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The Dutch Royal General Bulbgrowers Association presented a certificate naming a new variety of tulip after Prime Minister Tansu Ciller to Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu at the Foreign Ministry. Ciller could not be present because of her heavy schedule. The tulip went to Holland from Istanbul 400 years ago, when the Dutch fell in love with the flower and introduced it to the rest of the world. On Monday, Canadian Minister Brian Tobin presented the prime minister with a certificate naming a new Canadian tulip after her.

    [09] TURCO-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL TO MEET THURSDAY

    The Turco-Russian Business Council will meet in Istanbul on April 27, according to a written statement made by the Foreign Economic Relations Council yesterday. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Albert S.Chernishev and his delegation will attend the meeting as the guests of the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency. /All papers/

    [10] ITALIANS DONATE $12 MILLION TO GAP

    An Italian committee, which visited the South East Anatolia Project (GAP) last month, has decided to donate $12 million for forest irrigation technology, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The committee expressed an interest in the irrigation systems of the Harran and Akcakale plains.

    [11] HOLLAND ON TURKEY'S "RED LIST"

    Following Dutch permission allowing for the formation of a Kurdish parliament-in-exile in The Hague directed by the PKK terrorist organization, Turkey has put Holland on the "red list". Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu yesterday signed a decision which means that Holland will be excluded from bidding for any military or public contracts along with other countries on the red list. The decision which will be presented to the Council of Ministers was taken as a result of meetings with the Treasury and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, Defense Industry Undersecretariat and the Chief of Staff. It is also reported that the representatives were expending effort in order to get the private sector "to take necessary measures" against Holland. Representation will be made by Turkey to Dutch Embassies throughout the world on the "Dutch 30 April Royalty Day" in a diplomatic protest. Meamwhile, the Kurdish problem in Turkey has been discussed in a panel discussion held by the Danish parliament. Ilnur Cevik, Akin Birdal from Turkey, Sertac Bucak, head of the German Institute for Protecting Kurdish Human Rights, Mehmet Umin Necef, Soren Mog from the Odensa University and Claus Slovenski, Lasse Butz, representatives of the Danish Institution for protecting Human Rights shared in the panel debate. Participation was low in the panel, and only 75 person listened to the discussions against Turkey. A performance flight of the famous "Turkish Stars" acrobatic team of the Turkish Air Forces Commandership in Holland was cancelled as a military protest against Holland. /Hurriyet/

    [12] WITHDRAWAL FROM NORTHERN IRAQ

    According to reports from northern Iraq, about a third of the military units involved in the more than one month long military operation there have been with- drawn. Military spokesmen say that the Derkar region has now been completely vacated.

    This means that about ten thousand soldiers are still being deployed in the northern Iraq region. Certain strategic points are still in the hands of Turkish units. On the other hand, military and security units are getting more involved in clashes with terrorists in the Tunceli, Batman and Adana areas of southeastern Turkey. /All papers/

    [13] TURKISH DELEGATION IN BAGHDAD

    Reports from the Iraqi capital say that talks with Iraqi government officials about developments in northern Iraq are continuing. Dialogue centres mainly around the Turkish military operation against PKK terrorist forces and preserving the national and territorial integrity of Iraq.

    The Foreign Ministry delegation led by Ambassador Gun Gur left for Baghdad on April 21, and looks set for a few more days. In the meantime, another Foreign Ministry delegation will move into the northern Iraq region for talks with Kurdish leader Celal Talabani who has been involved in setting up a cease-fire. Officials report that the cease-fire has been ex- tended to May 21. /All papers/

    [14] GALLIPOLI COMMEMORATIONS

    President Suleyman Demirel led the commemorative celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign yesterday. Veterans from New Zealand, Aus- tralia, Britain and other countries shared in the ceremonies which recalled one of the major military campaigns of the first world war.

    Government leaders from New Zealand and Australia shared in the celebrations and noted that friendship had grown out of war and strife. Representatives from Germany, France and Canada also laid wreaths at the Memorial to those killed in the battle for Canakkale won by Turkish forces under the direction of Kemal Ataturk. /All papers/

    [15] GORBACHEV: "TURKEY IS OUR BEST FRIEND"

    In Turkey at the invitation of the Yapi Kredi Bank, former Soviet leader Mihail Gorbachev said yesterday that Turkey was Russia's best friend.

    Yesterday Gorbachev and his wife attended a conference at Bogazici University and later spoke with Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk. During his discussions, Gorbachev noted that Turkey was Russia's most trust- worthy neighbour. /Cumhuriyet/

    [16] CHERNISHEV TO VISIT TURKEY

    Turco-Russian relations which have cooled because of the "Kurdish issue" will be discussed in Ankara.

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Albert Chernishev, starts offical visit to Turkey today. During his visit, Chernishev will attend an international meeting in Istanbul, and then travel on to Ankara to discuss "mounting" problems between Turkey and Russia. The visit will be the first high level contact between the two countries during recent years.

    Prior to Chernishev's current visit to Turkey, two unhappy incidents in Russia disturbs Turkey. First, sub-section of the Russian Parliament (Duma) declared 24 April as the "Day to Commemorate Victims of Genocide and of Cooperation with the Armenian People", to which Ankara showed strong reaction. The Duma later hosted two members of the "Kurdish Parliament-in- exile".

    At official meetings, Russian officials say that the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) activities in Moscow are under control, and that the Duma does not interfene in the activities of political parties. However, Ankara will express its sensitivity about the PKK issue to Chernishev.

    It is expected that a pipeline route through Turkey to transport Caspian oil to world markets will be also one of the subjects on the summit. /Milliyet/

    [17] TURKEY WARNS BRITISH GOVERNMENT ABOUT PKK TELEVISION

    BROADCAST

    Turkey has warned the British government because TV broadcasts which a live phone connection was made with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in the PKK-financed MED-TV channel operating in Britain. Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu sent a note to the British Embassy in Ankara yesterday, in which he requested that British TV authorities cancel the contract of MED-TV for going beyond the terms of its broadcasting contract by making political propoganda. MED-TV broadcasts for three hours a day via the Eutelsat satellite. /Hurriyet/

    END

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