TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 15, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 15, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] INONU IN LISBON

  • [02] TURKEY DONATES $10,000 TO VICTIMS OF OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

  • [03] SPANISH NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER IN TURKEY

  • [04] COMMISSION IN BRITAIN

  • [05] MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATED IN TURKEY ON SUNDAY

  • [06] SEVENTY NINE MILITANTS KILLED, 105 CAPTURED IN 10 DAYS

  • [07] MOVES TO STRENGTHEN TURKEY-EUROPE TIES

  • [08] US WARNS ANKARA AND ATHENS

  • [09] TURKEY EXTENDS A HELPING HAND

  • [10] "EUROPE SUPPORTS TURKEY"

  • [11] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT ATHENS AND ANKARA

  • [12] UN PRAISE FOR CILLER

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MAY 15, 1995

    Summary of the political news in the Turkish press this

    morning.

    [01] INONU IN LISBON

    Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu and Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan left for Lisbon yesterday for a Western European Union (WEU) conference, thus starting a week of defence-heavy diplomacy for Turkey. This WEU meeting in Lisbon is important for Turkey because Greece, a member of NATO and the EU, will be formally declared a full member of the WEU. Ankara, not yet a member of the EU, is to become an associate member, although this status has not yet been ratified by either the Turkish Parliament or the WEU. "We think we are entitled to full member status. It is a handicap that we are not a full member of the WEU" Inonu said before his departure to Lisbon. The Lisbon meeting brings together foreign and defence ministers from 27 western, central and eastern European states. Inonu said that besides new security problems in Europe, the Bosnia-Herzegovina issue would come to the fore at the meeting, adding that they would voice their views for providing a lasting and just peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Answering a question, Inonu and Golhan said that Turkey could join a 180-person WEU police force on duty in Mostar. Golhan indicated that the issue of increasing the function of the WEU utilizing the possibilities of NATO would be brought into the agenda at the meeting. He pointed out that European defence was a whole, and that Turkey was an indispensable part of this whole. /Sabah/

    [02] TURKEY DONATES $10,000 TO VICTIMS OF OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

    Nuzhet Kandemir, Turkey's Ambassador to the US, has presented a check for $10,000 to the American Red Cross to assist the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Kandemir said the donation from the Turkish Red Crescent was a token of sympathy from the Turkish people "during this time of healing and rebuilding" in the US. The $10,000 donation was received by Jose Aponte, general manager for Red Cross international services. In a letter sent yesterday to Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, Kandemir said "the devastating bombing disaster which shocked Oklahoma City and forever altered the lives of so many of your citizens has particularly touched the Turkish nation" since the Turks have suffered for so long from PKK terrorism. /All papers/

    [03] SPANISH NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER IN TURKEY

    Spanish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Juan J.Romero arrived in Turkey yesterday as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart, Vural Bayazit. The Spanish commander, who will be in Turkey until May 19, is also expected to visit the Turkish Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi as well as senior military officials. /Cumhuriyet/

    [04] COMMISSION IN BRITAIN

    Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Bosnia-Herzegovina Research Commission Chairman Vehbi Dincerler, who went to London to hold meetings with British government officials and parliamentarians, said that the only reason for the massacre continuing in Bosnia-Herzegovina was the policy followed by Britain. Addressing a press conference at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Dincerler stated that they would make studies to lift the arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding: "We want British officials to end these wrong policies and lift the arms embargo". /Cumhuriyet/

    [05] MOTHER'S DAY CELEBRATED IN TURKEY ON SUNDAY

    While mothers across the world were being praised by their children, Turkish politicians released messages and expressed their goodwill on Mother's Day on Sunday. President Demirel said that the most precious person in one's life was his mother and celebrated Mother's Day for all mothers in his messages, while Prime Minister Ciller stressed her own motherhood. /All papers/

    [06] SEVENTY NINE MILITANTS KILLED, 105 CAPTURED IN 10 DAYS

    Security forces have carried out anti-terrorism operations both in the Southeast and in tourist areas of western Turkey, a press release issued by the Interior Ministry said on Thursday. Between May 1 and 10, a total of 79 PKK militants were killed and 107 were captured. Heavy artillery pieces and weapons were also seized. The number of militants who have surrendered since the beginning of 1995 has reached 154, according to the statistics provided by the Interior Ministry. /All papers/

    [07] MOVES TO STRENGTHEN TURKEY-EUROPE TIES

    As the countdown to the final signatures on the customs agreement between Turkey and the European Union (EU) draws closer, Ankara has initiated a new and intense period of shuffle diplomacy de- signed to improve Turkey's image in Europe.

    On Sunday, Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu and Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan set off for Lisbon to attend a meeting of the Western European Union, where once again they will explain the purpose of the recent northern Iraq military operation to the delegates.

    In moves designed to soften the stance of the Europeans against Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin will also go on a tour of European capitals, and Turkish ambassadors in the main centres will work to enhance European understanding of Turkey's position in the region. Over the weekend, Cetin noted that although "Europe has begun to understand us" there was still a need for more information about Turkey to be made available. /Cumhuriyet/

    [08] US WARNS ANKARA AND ATHENS

    The US administration has warned both Ankara and Athens about creating new tensions in the sensitive Aegean Sea. US officials have drawn attention to the possibility of new disputes arising by either side insisting on the right to hold military and naval exercises in the region.

    The warning comes in line with a new package to increase security between Turkey and Greece. The US has officially spoken to both sides about the risk of increasing tension, and that plans for military exercises in the near future should be cancelled. There is still a lot of feeling in Greece and Turkey about Greek plans to extend coastal limits to twelve miles. Turkey is strongly opposed to this and describes Greek efforts to es- tablish new limits as "provocation." /Milliyet/

    [09] TURKEY EXTENDS A HELPING HAND

    Despite severe domestic economic problems, Turkey has still not hesitated to extend a helping hand to countries in greater need. During the past few years, Turkey has paid out 200 million dollars in humanit- arian aid to 48 countries.

    Azerbaijan has benefitted the most with 52 million dollars, but 26 million has also gone to Bosnia. In TL, Turkey has paid put something like ten trillion TL, noted State Minister Ayvaz Gokdemir yesterday. /Sabah/

    [10] "EUROPE SUPPORTS TURKEY"

    Following an official visit to Germany, State Min- ister responsible for human rights, Algan Hacal- oglu said yesterday that European countries, and especially Germany, supported Turkey's fight against terrorism.

    Hacaloglu also touched on the proposed changes to laws related to terrorism and human rights, par- ticularly the controversial change to article 8, within the framework of further democratization. /Sabah/

    [11] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT ATHENS AND ANKARA

    NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes will arrive in Ankara on May 17 for a two-day visit which had been postponed earlier. Diplomatic observers say Claes' main focus will be to iron out problems that have cropped up between the two alliance members concerning the NATO military budget. Ankara's objections to proposed NATO investments in Greece have led it to block the entire budget, forcing NATO to freeze all military projects just as it is in the process of finalizing plans for a possible pull-out of UN peacekeeping forces from Bosnia. Greece had previously vetoed the funding of alliance facilities in the port of Izmir, pushing the case for a new NATO command centre to also be established in its own territory.

    NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes is going to visit both Greece and Turkey. He will meet Prime Minister Andreas Papandreu and President Karolos Papulyas. Claes will meet with Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu. On 18 May, Claes will be received by President Suleyman Demirel and have talks with Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan.

    The visit will be occur at the same time as the US tries to convince both Greece and Turkey on a was security measures package for the Aegean Sea. /Hurriyet/

    [12] UN PRAISE FOR CILLER

    The "Diplomatic World" newspaper, published by the United Nations (UN) reported widely on the recent visit of Prime Minister Ciller to New York. The Diplomatic World noted that Ciller was distributed that the Western world knew so little about her country and people.

    Moreover, the paper pointed out that Ciller had clearly explained the real reasons for the northern Iraq military operation, and stressed that the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) was a "merciless terrorist organization".

    The journal also noted that Prime Minister Tansu Ciller had emphasized Turkey was devoted to the principles of secularism, superiority of law, freedom and democracy. /Sabah/

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