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

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

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] CILLER DEFENDS TURKEY AGAINST EURO CRITICISM

  • [02] INONU TO VISIT NORTHERN CYPRUS

  • [03] ARAFAT: "NO SIMILARITY BETWEEN PKK AND PLO"

  • [04] US: "CUSTOMS UNION MUST BE REALIZED"

  • [05] VURAL'S APPOINTMENT TO BONN FORMALIZED

  • [06] COMMANDER OF NATO'S DEFENCE COLLEGE IN TURKEY

  • [07] SIX MILITANTS AND A SOLDIER KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST

  • [08] NEW TURKISH PARTY TO BE SET UP IN MACEDONIA

  • [09] 1,560 PKK MILITANTS RENDERED INEFFECTIVE IN 1995

  • [10] GERMANY SAYS NO LEGAL STATUS FOR KURDISH PARLIAMENT

  • [11] SECOND WARNING TO IRAN

  • [12] PRAISE FOR TURKEY FROM SINGAPORE

  • [13] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS GET RIGHT TO VOTE

  • [14] GHALI REPORT REVIEWS CYPRUS SITUATION

  • [15] PKK TERRORISTS KILL TWO CHILDREN

  • [16] AWARD FOR TURKISH PEACE FORCES

  • [17] TURKEY THE BEST EUROPEAN HOLIDAY DESTINATION

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JUNE 21, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] CILLER DEFENDS TURKEY AGAINST EURO CRITICISM

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller yesterday defended Ankara's stance in the face of European criticism regarding the human rights situation and the Kurdish issue, admitting that Turkey lacks some elements of a true democracy, but pledging to remove several anti-democratic legislative articles. Addressing a Western European Union (WEU) assembly meeting in the French capital, Ciller urged Europeans to show no sympathy to the PKK, which she said was a violent terrorist organization. Replying to questions by members of the WEU assembly after her speech, Ciller said Iraqi President Saddam Huseyin's administration supported the PKK in retaliation for Turkey's firm backing to the US-led multinational movement against Baghdad during the Gulf crisis. In a press statement, Ciller also reiterated Turkey's demand to become a full member of the WEU, saying this issue could be finalized during the process of a European review conference scheduled to begin in 1996.

    While in Paris for a meeting of the Western European Union (WEU), in her talks with French Prime Minister Alain Juppe, Prime Minister Ciller called upon the French government to lend more support to Turkey's efforts to join the European Union (EU).

    Noting that both Turkey and Europe were in fact part and parcel of the same democratic union, and always would be, Ciller drew attention to the unique role that Turkey played in the region as a stable, secular moslem country.

    During a two-hour dinner, Ciller and Juppe spoke about Turkey and democratization developments as they affected ties with Europe and the process of customs union with the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

    [02] INONU TO VISIT NORTHERN CYPRUS

    Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. He will meet with President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Hakki Atun, and Deputy Prime Minister Ozker Ozgur, the agency said. He will also reportedly speak to officials of the National Unity Party and the Socialist Liberation Party. After attending a piano recital at Bellapais Monastery, Inonu is to return to Turkey on Saturday.

    [03] ARAFAT: "NO SIMILARITY BETWEEN PKK AND PLO"

    Turkish officials and party leaders gave visiting Palestinian President Yasser Arafat confirmation that Turkey will continue to support Palestine and the Middle East peace process. Meeting the Parliament Speaker and party leaders yesterday, the second day of his official visit to Turkey, Arafat reiterated that Turkey, a respected country in the region, has big responsibilities in terms of the realization of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and, "Turkey's contribution in all fields is needed".

    In a press meeting held before his return to his own country, answering a question about his comment on now the PKK was taking the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as an example, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian President, said: "Palestine neither exports nor imports her ideas. The PKK and the PLO have no similarities. There are great differences between them". It has been stated that Arafat has gained power in his struggle against peace process opponents by winning "every kind of support" from Turkish officials in Ankara. Stating that Israel was not keeping her promises, Arafat asked Turkey to persuade Israel to stick to peace process agreements. Turkish officials have stated that they will exert every possible effort but have noted that a mediator role was not being considered. The Palestinian leader said that his administration was expecting the Turkish government to encourage Turkish businessmen to seek a share in the construction of houses and port facilities. A promise of support has been given to Arafat regarding these projects. Saying that Western countries were not giving support to Palestine, Arafat asked Turkey to negotiate new credit facilities with the Western countries. Turkish officials said that they were continuing initiatives regarding this issue. Arafat also asked Turkey to organize a joint project regarding $50 million Eximbank credit promised by Turkey which remains unused because of the lack of suitable projects. /Hurriyet/

    [04] US: "CUSTOMS UNION MUST BE REALIZED"

    A US State Department Spokesman, Nick Burns, reaffirmed US support for Turkish membership in the EU and said Washington had no intention of indexing Turkey's EU membership to progress in resolving the Cyprus issue. "There can be no connection between the Cyprus issue and US-Turkey relations. Turkey is an ally of the US and very important from the strategic stand point. We stand by our attempts to try to convince our European partners to integrate Turkey into the EU eventually, and certainly to facilitate the Customs Union agreement. Turkey will remain one of the most important countries in all of Europe to the US, and our policy is based upon that fundamental fact" he said. Burns said that Turkey-EU ties were discussed at the recent G-7 summit in Halifax, Canada. "Turkey and the EU should work to create a close relationship and that there should, we hope, be an agreement between Turkey and the EU on a customs agreement" Burns added. He emphasized Turkey's importance for European stability and security. "We believe that the process of Turkey's integration with the West through economic institutions and political relationships is a very important process for the future of Turkey. And we also believe that the foundation that Turkey provides, a stable foundation in its part of the world, which is a troubled part of the world, is a very important factor in European security and that the European countries have to take account of that when they develop their polticies toward Turkey" Burns said. /Hurriyet-Sabah/

    [05] VURAL'S APPOINTMENT TO BONN FORMALIZED

    The appointment of Volkan Vural, former advisor to Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, as Turkey's new ambassador to Bonn was published in the Official Gazette yesterday. Vural, who was among the candidates for Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, replaces Onur Oymen, the ministry's new undersecretary.

    [06] COMMANDER OF NATO'S DEFENCE COLLEGE IN TURKEY

    Gen.Richard J.Evraire, the commander of NATO's Defence College, yesterday visited Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan and Gen.Ahmet Corekci, deputy chief of general staff in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported. Golhan reportedly said in the meeting that, in view of increasing regional clashes, NATO had an important security role to play. Gen.Corekci said that Gen.Evraire was briefed about the Turkish Armed Forces, the agency reported.

    [07] SIX MILITANTS AND A SOLDIER KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST

    Six militants of the PKK terrorist organization and a soldier were killed during military operations in the Southeast. Officials from the state of emergency region said that three militants were killed in Hakkari's Semdinli district, two in Sirnak's Namazdagi district and another in Elazig and their weapons were confiscated. A soldier was killed in action during the clashes.

    [08] NEW TURKISH PARTY TO BE SET UP IN MACEDONIA

    A new Turkish Party is to be established in Macedonia, called the New Turkish Movement, the Anatolia news agency reported. Quoting a senior official of the party, the agency said the movement aimed to safeguard the rights of Turkish people living in Macedonia. The party is expected to be officially established within a month, Anatolia said.

    [09] 1,560 PKK MILITANTS RENDERED INEFFECTIVE IN 1995

    Unal Erkan, governor of the state of emergency region, said yesterday that 1,560 Kurdish separatists had been rendered "ineffective" in the first five months of 1995, the Anatolia news agency reported. Erkan said during a press conference that military operations are continuing against the PKK militants, but that terrorist attacks in the region had decreased from a year ago. Erkan said that a total of 113 people -72 men, 20 women, 21 children- had been killed and 142 people had been injured by PKK militants in the first five months of 1995. The governor also reported that 1,289 PKK militants had been killed, 15 were injured, 130 were captured and 141 had surrendered in the region over the same period in 1995.

    [10] GERMANY SAYS NO LEGAL STATUS FOR KURDISH PARLIAMENT

    Germany said on Monday that the so-called Kurdish Parliament had no legal status and that cooperation with the parliament was out of the question. The German government said it called for a peaceful solution to the problem in the region.

    [11] SECOND WARNING TO IRAN

    President Suleyman Demirel has again warned Iran about allowing PKK terrorist groups to filter across the border between Turkey and Iran.

    Demirel has again made it known that Turkey wants Iran to be far more aware of what the PKK is doing and take action against border activity that endangers Turkish domestic security. Demirel has in fact, spoken extensively with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alaaddin Brucerdi, who after his talks with Demirel said that relations between his country and Turkey were cordial, and that it was the hope of the Iranian government that more cooperation between Ankara and Tehran would lead to a solution of the border problem.

    But according to Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan, there is every evidence that the PKK is still using the border with Iran to get into Turkey. Recent attacks against Turkish border police stations were carried out by terrorists coming over from from Iran, say military representatives.

    In the meantime, Turkish security forces in the region around Van have been taking measures against PKK infiltration. President Demirel has been briefed a number of times on regional developments. /All papers/

    [12] PRAISE FOR TURKEY FROM SINGAPORE

    Singapore has been full of praise for a "Turkish Week" arranged by Turkish Airlines (THY) to promote Turkey in the towns and cities of Singapore. The special week of promotion was tied in with new THY flights between Istanbul and Singapore.

    With a "Cafe Turk" and other attractions including folk dancing and exhibitions by the whirling Dervishes, the people of Singapore enjoyed a special kind of week. /Hurriyet/

    [13] TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS GET RIGHT TO VOTE

    Following a proposal by Britain's Lord Finsberg at the Paris sessions of the Western European Union (WEU), European parliamentarians agreed that Turkish parliamentarians could vote in the WEU.

    Turkish parliamentarians will thus be able to vote in committee meetings and similar functions of the WEU. Noting that Turkey was not yet a full member of the WEU, Spanish representative Martinez was critical of the Finsberg proposals and said that it was too early to gove the right to vote to Turkish representatives. /Cumhuriyet/

    [14] GHALI REPORT REVIEWS CYPRUS SITUATION

    The prevailing situation in Cyprus was not peace, but rather a cease-fire of sorts, UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali said in a report submitted to the Security Council. Ghali pointed out that his initiatives for finding a peaceful solution to the Cyprus question had been unfavorably effected by the tensions between Turkey and Greece, and added that UN special representatives Joe Clark and Gustave Feissel were continuing their contacts for a meeting of the leaders of the parties. The UN Secretary-General further noted that both Turkey and Greece have considerably strengthened their military facilities. Boutros Ghali is expected to visit Turkey between July 18-22 to discuss the Cyprus question. /Sabah/

    [15] PKK TERRORISTS KILL TWO CHILDREN

    Two ten-year old shepherd girls were killed by PKK terrorists in the province of Batman yesterday. The children's relatives, hearing the sound of gunfire, rushed into the surrounding fields and were themselves wounded by a PKK mine. One of those wounded later died in the hospital. /Sabah/

    [16] AWARD FOR TURKISH PEACE FORCES

    The officers, soldiers and noncommissioned officers of the Turkish Peace Forces who will return Turkey after completing their term in the UN peace force deployed in Zenica, Bosnia- Herzegovina have been awarded with "service for peace" medals. The 160 individuals who will return to Turkey will be awarded with their medals today in a ceremony that will be held in Zenica. Meanwhile, it has been decided to give an "honorary citizenship" to Staff-Colonel and Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces, Mehmet Ali Erdogan, by the Zenica city administration. Staff Colonel Mehmet Ali Erdogan will be announced as "honorary citizen" of Zenica during ceremony tonight. Staff-Colonel Erdogan has attracted the sympathy and support of the local people because of learning and speaking the local language during his one year post in Zenica. /Milliyet/

    [17] TURKEY THE BEST EUROPEAN HOLIDAY DESTINATION

    According to research made by the noted German magazine Focus, Turkey is much better for European tourists than Italy, Greece and Spain. Focus magazine commissioned the Munich-based European Research and Information Agency "Ectrotrans" to find out which were the preferred European coasts during the 1995 summer season. Importance was to be given to environmental protection, environmental cleanliness of the coasts and sea water, and entertainment facilities were some factors taken into consideration in the research. Marmaris, Side and Kemer were the first three chosen out of 100 European cities in 16 countries. Research was carried out by international experts between March and May. Turkey won the highest scores with her coasts free of seaweed, clean waters and unspoiled nature. According to the research, it was shown that Italy, Spain and Greece although famous for being "tourism paradises" were not deserving this fame, and it was noted that it was very difficult for the holiday resorts of these countries to maintain their former high standards. Concretization, pollution caused by industrialization and irresponsibility have spelt an end to these continental centres. /Sabah/

    END

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