TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 17, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 17, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] BOUTROS GHALI TO TURKEY

  • [02] DEATH TOLL REACHES 52 IN SENIRKENT FLOOD DISASTER

  • [03] THE STAIN OF BOSNIA

  • [04] GERMANY SUPPORTS TURKEY ON PKK ISSUE

  • [05] BRITAIN OFFERS CONDITIONAL ASSURANCES

  • [06] CULHAOGLU REPLACES SAHIN

  • [07] RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

  • [08] CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON AGENDA

  • [09] FUTURE OF TURKISH TOURISM DISCUSSED IN PAMUKKALE

  • [10] UNIDO OPENS OFFICE IN ISTANBUL

  • [11] EURASIAN WOMEN JOIN FORCES PRIOR TO BEIJING CONFERENCE

  • [12] EUROPEAN THESPIANS IN TURKEY

  • [13] KYRGYZ INTERIOR MINISTER

  • [14] 27 PKK MILITANTS KILLED, 23 CAPTURED IN SOUTHEAST

  • [15] TURKEY TO SEND TL 2.3 BILLION IN MEDICAL AID TO BOSNIA

  • [16] TURKISH PROFESSOR TO RECEIVE ALFRIED KRUPP AWARD

  • [17] TECHNICAL CUSTOMS AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

  • [18] FOREIGN CAPITAL CREATES EMPLOYMENT

  • [19] TURKISH STUDENTS AWARDED WITH MEDALS

  • [20] GIANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR THE EAST

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JULY 17, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] BOUTROS GHALI TO TURKEY

    United Nations Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali's scheduled visit to Turkey starting Tuesday, is drawing angry protest in Ankara. Reaction from political parties and the public grew against the visit with weekend street demonstrations and stronger remarks from opposition spokesmen against the "bestowing of honors" on the chief of the world body, which has been discredited by its failure to prevent Serb attacks on Bosnia Muslims. A group of Turkish deputies said that they were against Ghali's policies, which they characterized as "against Muslims." /All papers/

    [02] DEATH TOLL REACHES 52 IN SENIRKENT FLOOD DISASTER

    The death toll in the destructive mud slide which buried parts of the southern township of Senirkent has climbed to 52, the Anatolian news agency said on Sunday. Hundreds of volunteers, assisted by rescue specialists and military units are continuing efforts to dig out bodies from the houses buried by mud and rubble carried by torrential rains from the slopes of a mountain on the outskirts of the town. President Suleyman Demirel, who cancelled a tour of his home province of Isparta to visit the disaster zone in the same province, witnessed the rescue. Demirel promised that the state would mobilize all its efforts to help the disaster victims. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin are scheduled to visit the town today.

    [03] THE STAIN OF BOSNIA

    According to Warren Christopher, events in Bosnia are a "massive stain" on the record of the western countries. The US government has also noted that at this time further Turkish involvement would not improve the situation. "Neither do we want to see a confrontation between Greece and Turkey at this crucial time" add US officials.

    Christopher warned over the weekend that UNPROFOR had to be strengthened and brought into a more effective position. "We do not want the war to extend beyond its present limits" said Christopher. /Hurriyet/

    [04] GERMANY SUPPORTS TURKEY ON PKK ISSUE

    German Foreign Minister Manfred Kanther said that although Turkey had to make extensive changes to its constitution in line with European standards, certain things would have to remain as they are -for example, laws dealing with the PKK terrorist organization.

    Noting the benefits stemming from the lawing banning the PKK and related terrorism issues, Kanther said that Germany would continue to apply rigid laws against the PKK and terrorism. Kanther added that while Turkey was having problems changing its constitution, it would be no easier in Germany. /Milliyet/

    [05] BRITAIN OFFERS CONDITIONAL ASSURANCES

    Britain's Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd has also offered guarded assurances to Turkey about customs union with the European Union (EU) countries.

    In an interview with Sabah newspaper, Hurd said that if Turkey makes some concrete steps towards improving human rights standards then nothing could prevent customs union. "This is all we want to see, improvement in the area of human rights" confirmed Hurd. Noting that Turkey's position in the EU was virtually assured, Hurd nevertheless noted that full membership was still not quite in the bag.

    Hurd also commented on the Cyprus issue and the tense relations between Turkey and Greece, suggesting that that these too, had a bearing in the matter of Turkey's customs union and eventual EU membership.

    [06] CULHAOGLU REPLACES SAHIN

    The government on Saturday appointed Halil Culhaoglu as Public Works Minister to replace Erman Sahin who resigned on Friday. The appointment has been announced in the Official Gazette. Sahin and Culhaoglu are both from the junior coalition partner the social democrat Republican People's Party (CHP). Culhaoglu served as Public Works and Tourism Minister in previous coalition governments but lost his post earlier this year after Hikmet Cetin took over as CHP chairman.

    [07] RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Albert Chernishev is expected to visit the Turkish capital later this week to discuss several issues of interest for Moscow and Ankara with Turkish officials, diplomatic sources said on Sunday. Chernishev's Ankara talks are expected to concentrated on the Chechnya problem, the Bosnia crisis, developments in Transcaucasia, security matters, oil projects and bilateral issues, they said. /All papers/

    [08] CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON AGENDA

    The constitutional amendments that were suspended last week should return to the Parliament's agenda as a result of a consensus reached by political parties, Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday. The Parliament's schedule will be determined by the Parliament Advisory Board, which is expected to hold a meeting today. The Board will discuss the proposal, which foresees an open vote in the debate for constitutional amendments and its schedule.

    [09] FUTURE OF TURKISH TOURISM DISCUSSED IN PAMUKKALE

    "One of Turkey's greatest problems is its negative image. In order to overcome this, deputies should take responsibility for their actions, and Turkey should take steps on the democratization issues," Minister of Tourism, Irfan Gurpinar, said at a panel on tourism last week. "Other issues that cause a negative image will also stop tourists from coming to Turkey." The tourism panel on "Administration and Security", organized by Turkey's Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB) and Turkey's Touristic Hotel Owners Association (TURTOB), discussed security in tourism centers, Turkey's infrastructure problems and the future of tourism. Tourism Minister Irfan Gurpinar, various mayors, general directors of police forces, governors, and representatives from travel agencies participated in the panel.

    [10] UNIDO OPENS OFFICE IN ISTANBUL

    The United Nations Industry and Development Organization (UNIDO) will open an "Investment Development Office" in Istanbul, the Anatolian news agency reported on Sunday. The agreement was signed in Vienna in June 1994 between UNIDO and Turkey and was published in Sunday's Official Gazette. According to the agreement, the cost of the project is estimated as $630,325 and financed through Turkey's Industrial Development Fund (IDF). The project is expected to be completed in 21 months.

    [11] EURASIAN WOMEN JOIN FORCES PRIOR TO BEIJING CONFERENCE

    The "Eurasian Women's Cooperation Congress", organized by the General Directorate of Women's Status and Problems in cooperation with the Turkish International Cooperation Agency, will take place in Ankara today. The congress aims to form a bond of cooperation between the participants prior to the fourth International Women's Conference which will be held in Beijing on September 4-15. Aysel Baykal, the state minister responsible for Women and Family Affairs, will deliver the opening speech at Monday's congress. Rizayeva Abat Sahatova, the Turkmenistan Parliament's deputy speaker; Bozgul Dadhudaeva, Tajikistan's deputy prime minister; and B.A.Kalieva, Kyrgyzstan's deputy health minister, will also be attending to Congress. There will also be representatives from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Macedonia, Moldavia, Uzbekistan, Romania and Ukraine.

    [12] EUROPEAN THESPIANS IN TURKEY

    A total of 220 actors from European countries have came to Ankara to support art facilities in Turkey and to participate in the fourth meeting of European theater players in Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday. Culture ministry officials said that they have started a "Yes to Art" campaign to support art facilities in Turkey. Hugh Lovegrove, chairman of the International Amateur Theatres' Association (IATA), said that the world will become more aware of the campaign.

    [13] KYRGYZ INTERIOR MINISTER

    Kyrgzstan Interior Minister General Madabak Moldasev is to come to Turkey today as the guest of his Turkish counterpart Nahit Mentese. Moldasev will visit Istanbul after completing official talks. The main item on the agenda will be security cooperation. /All Papers/

    [14] 27 PKK MILITANTS KILLED, 23 CAPTURED IN SOUTHEAST

    Twenty-seven militants of the PKK terrorist organization were killed during military operations in the Southeast, the Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday. Officials from the emergency rule region said that 12 militants were killed in Hakkari's Semdinli and Yuksekova districts; eight in Diyarbak}r's Lice district; four in Bitlis' Hizan district and three in Mardin's Savur, Siirt's Eruh and Sirnak's Gabar districts, and their weapons were confiscated. Twenty-three PKK militants were captured during military operations in Bitlis, Bingol, Batman- Diyarbakir and Tunceli, the agency reported.

    [15] TURKEY TO SEND TL 2.3 BILLION IN MEDICAL AID TO BOSNIA

    Health Minister Dogan Baran said on Friday that Turkey would be sending further medical aid worth TL 2.3 billion to Bosnia, the Anatolian news agency reported. Baran told a press conference that Turkey had sent medical equipment and medicines worth TL 17.3 billion to Bosnia since 1992. He made it clear that the aid provided by his ministry was in addition to the humanitarian aid given by the Turkish government. He also talked of the Bosnia-Herzegovina hospital established in Istanbul by the Health Ministry and designed for the treatment and care of war victims from former-Yugoslavia. Turkey had sent medical aid to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the Gagauz Turks, and the Crimea, the minister told the meeting, as well as being engaged in cooperative ventures with the health ministries of these countries.

    [16] TURKISH PROFESSOR TO RECEIVE ALFRIED KRUPP AWARD

    Turkish Professor Onur Gunturkun, a lecturer at Bochum-Ruhr University in Germany, has won the Alfried Krupp award, officials from the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Prof.Gunturkun, chairman of the Biopsychology Department at the university, will receive the DM 850,000 award on Dec.30. Professor Gunturkun, who studies brain functions, is the thirteen recipient of the award. /All Papers/

    [17] TECHNICAL CUSTOMS AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

    The Turkish-French Technical Customs Union Agreement, which is the first step of the project controlling customs gates in Turkey with an electronic computer system, will be signed in Paris today. French Customs General Director Jean Luc Vialla and Turkish Deputy State Minister responsible for customs Edip Aktas will sign the agreement which will equip Istanbul customs, as a pilot area, with the SOFIX computer system. /Milliyet/

    [18] FOREIGN CAPITAL CREATES EMPLOYMENT

    When 120 foreign capital-investment projects are realized, there will be new employment areas for 8,923 people. It is stated that foreigners will contribute TL 26 trillion to the projects, for which the total investment amount is TL 148.6 trillion. The biggest share belongs to the Japanese. /Milliyet/

    [19] TURKISH STUDENTS AWARDED WITH MEDALS

    Turkish students, who participated in the International Science Olympics this year, were awarded with a gold, a silver and eight bronze medals in physics, biology and computer. Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Chairman Prof.Tosun Terzioglu and National Education Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mehmet Gunduz, in a press conference yesterday, announced the students who won medals and gave information about the competititon. Terzioglu said that they expected Turkish students to succeed also in International Mathematics and Chemistry Olympics. /Cumhuriyet/

    [20] GIANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR THE EAST

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's economic war which started the other day in the east and southeast of the country will be supported by social projects encompassing health, education and urbanization. TL 25 trillion has been set aside for these projects in 23 provinces. The textile sector will spearhead these activities. In construction of dwellings, priority will be given to Diyarbakir, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa. Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin summed up the contemplated activities as follows: *Effective struggle against terrorism will be continued. *The Ziraat Bank will give a TL 2 trillion credit for animal husbandry. *Incentives will be given to encourage people to return to their villages. *The Turkish Halk Bank will extend a credit of TL 2.7 trillion to small businesses. /Milliyet/

    END

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