TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 24, 1995)

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

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 24, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

  • [02] TURKEY'S DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE ON BOSNIA

  • [03] BULGARIA CRACKS DOWN ON PKK

  • [04] MORE CASUALTIES IN THE SOUTHEAST

  • [05] RSF DEMANDS GREECE PROTECT REPORTER

  • [06] THIRD GATE ON THE BULGARIAN BORDER

  • [07] DEPUTIES ARE OFF

  • [08] NEW FACILITIES FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL

  • [09] LETTER TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

  • [10] KLERIDES TURNS DOWN PROPOSALS FOR MEETING

  • [11] WORLD BANK AID IN THE FIGHT AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT

  • [12] HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE FOR BOSNIA

  • [13] MALAYSIA WILL SELL ARMS TO BOSNIA

  • [14] TURKISH SOLDIERS SHOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA

  • [15] IRAN: "NO PKK CAMPS IN IRAN"

  • [16] GERMANS PREFER TURKEY FOR HOLIDAYS

  • [17] TURKEY'S NEW GUESTS: CANADIANS

  • [18] TURKISH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    JULY 24, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning.

    [01] CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

    The Turkish Parliament approved yesterday the first ever package of amendments to the 1980 military-era Constitution. The constitutional debates which have been going on since mid-June ended with the casting of 360 "yes" votes in the early hours of Sunday. Since the votes in favour exceed 300, a referendum is not mandatory. If the president does not call for a referendum or sends the package back to Parliament for reconsideration, the amendments will become effective after they are published in the Official Gazette. -What the Parliament changed: *The part of the preamble of the Constitution which praises the September 12, 1980 military takeover has been removed. *Trade unions and associations may now be politically active *Civil servants will now be able to form trade unions *Voting age was lowered from 20 to 18. Parliament agreed to pass a special law granting citizens abroad the right to vote. Also detainees and inmates will have the right to vote under the supervision of judges. *The age requirement to be a political party member reduced from 21 to 18. *The number of parliamentary seats raised from 450 to 550. *The beginning of the new legislative year is now October. *The condition requiring an absolute majority to accept the resignation of a deputy was removed. Also the provision which causes a deputy to lose his membership if he resigns from his party to join another was removed. Furthermore, a deputy whose party is ordered dissolved by the Constitutional Court will be able to maintain his parliamentary membership provided that he has not caused the banning of his party by his statements or activities. *It will be possible to hold local elections at the same time as general or by-elections in the event that only one year is left between them. *The ban against professional public organizations becoming involved in politics was removed. -What the Parliament rejected: *The proposed elimination of the clause barring people from claiming that laws and decrees passed during the Sept. 12, 1980 military era are unconstitutional. This proposal also called for elimination of the clause barring prosecution of the administrators of that era on charges of corruption, bribery, theft, smuggling and other such ordinary crimes. *The proposal to reduce the minimum age of Parliamentary deputies from 30 to 25. *The proposal to allow deputies to take trade unions posts *The proposal to remove the ban on strikes and lock-outs with political intentions. /Hurriyet/

    [02] TURKEY'S DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE ON BOSNIA

    Turkey has launched a massive diplomatic effort to help Bosnia-Herzegovina against Bosnian Serbs attacks. On Friday, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel visited Bosnia and Croatia and held extensive talks with the leaders of these two countries. The same day, Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan and Deputy Chief of General Staff Ahmet Corekci were in London attending the Bosnia contact group meeting where Western powers threatened military action against the Serbs if they attacked the safe area of Gorazde. Another Turkish delegation was in Geneva attending the Islamic contact group meeting on Bosnia. During his discussions with Demirel, Bosnian President Alia Izzetbegovic said that he was shocked to see the West had written off Zepa as a city fallen into Serbian hands. Izzetbegovic said this is not the case and that people of Zepa are putting up a brave resistance and are still holding on. He said it would be crucial for the Western powers to launch their air raids to save Zepa instead of threatening the Serbs in case they attack Gorazde. Demirel also discussed at length forms of cooperation between Bosnia and Turkey and also encouraged Izzetbegovic to meet and establish meaningful dialogue with Croatian President Franco Tudjman. Later, Demirel travelled to Croatia and held extensive talks with Tudjman. Meanwhile, the Turkish delegates in London told the meeting the the UN should either take effective measures to protect the safe areas or should lift the amrs embargo on Bosnia so that the Muslims can also acquire arms to protect themselves against the well-armed Serbs. /All papers/

    [03] BULGARIA CRACKS DOWN ON PKK

    Bulgarian security officials continued over the weekend a crackdown on the activities in their country of Turkey's separatist PKK organization, the Anatolia news agency said. After the extradition to Turkey of two PKK militants detained last week, the Bulgarian police arrested Seyfettin Cil, a Turkish citizen, and charged him with heading a racket smuggling PKK sympathizers illegally to European countries. The report quoted Sofia police officials as saying that Cil had been found directing the operation for ten years from his base in the Bulgarian capital. The report said the Bulgarian police were also searching for some 60 people believed to have come from Turkey and hiding near Sofia as they waited to be transported to Western Europe.

    [04] MORE CASUALTIES IN THE SOUTHEAST

    Sixteen PKK militants were killed during military operations in the southeast; two soldiers and a village guard were killed in action and three other people were injured, the Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday. Security officials said that troops had killed fourteen PKK militants in clashes in the Sisik and Pertek districts of Tunceli. Two militants were killed in Mardin's Yesilli district and Malatya's Dogansehir district. Two soldiers were killed in action during the clashes, officials said. Elsewhere, a village guard was killed and three people were injured in an attack by PKK militants in Diyarbakir's Kulp district.

    [05] RSF DEMANDS GREECE PROTECT REPORTER

    Reporters-sans-Frontiers (RSF), an international organization defending freedom of press, demanded that the Greek government begin an investigation of the extreme-right daily news paper, Stohos. For the past decade, Stohos has singled out politicians and media figures and branded them traitors, and many so- identified have been killed soon after. The paper recently published a photograph and indictment of Taki Berberakis, a Greek working for Milliyet. The RSF believes this makes him a target, and has demanded that everything be done to ensure the reporter's life. /Cumhuriyet/

    [06] THIRD GATE ON THE BULGARIAN BORDER

    A new border gate will be set up between Bulgaria's Lesova city and Edirne's Lalapasa district-Hamzabeyli village. Edirne Customs General Director, Faruk Kilic stated that at the Hamzabeyli border gate, which will be put into serice next year, there would be customs guards, police and health units. Pointing out that they expected mostly passengers from the former Eastern Block countries via the new border gate, Kilic said: "Hamzabeyli will be the third border gate to Bulgaria following Kapikule and Derekoy". /Sabah/

    [07] DEPUTIES ARE OFF

    The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) General Council will be off after tomorrow. Chairing the session of yesterday's General Council, Deputy Speaker Kamer Genc noted that after President Suleyman Demirel ratified the constitutional amendments, they would become effective, and the TGNA would begin its legislative year on 1 October 1995. Otherwise, the date will be 1 September 1995. Meanwhile, the Planning and Budget Commission of Parliament agreed to a bill foreseeing aid to victims of natural disasters. /Sabah/

    [08] NEW FACILITIES FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL

    According to a new decree passed by the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette, foreign exchange brought into the country as capital increase and funds for the purchase of shares, will be kept in foreign currency without the necessity of changing it into Turkish liras. The regulations are to be implemented by the Undersecretariat of Treasury. Furthermore, in the case of additional partners from abroad and the establishment of new branches, the amount to be bought into the country as foreign capital for each person will be $50,000. /Cumhuriyet/

    [09] LETTER TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

    The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) has sent a letter to the Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Miguel Angel Martinez, relaying the reaction of the Turkish community to the latest Serbian attacks in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The letter written by Sait Kemal Mimaroglu, Chairman of the Turkish delegation in the (CEPA) emphasizes the fact that the lack of action on the part of the international community has encouraged the Serbs. Mimaroglu futher wrote that the situation in Bosnia was reminiscent of the Gulf War, and the world should display the same sensitivity in Bosnia as it did in the Gulf for the preservation of oil. Mimaroglu requested that this subject be taken up at the European Parliament during its meeting on September 25-29. /Milliyet/

    [10] KLERIDES TURNS DOWN PROPOSALS FOR MEETING

    Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides has turned down Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' proposal for a face-to-face meeting. In a statement said such a meeting would not give a positive result due to the unconciliatory attitude of the Turkish side. He also said that the Turkish helicopters and navy vessels had violated Cypriot air space and waters during the peace and freedom day celebrations on July 20 and would lodge a complaint with the UN. /Hurriyet/

    [11] WORLD BANK AID IN THE FIGHT AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT

    The World Bank has initiated steps to help Turkey solve the problem of unemployment. Thanks to the World Bank aid amounting to $107 million, last year 15 thousand people were provided with jobs. $40 million of the aid will be utilized for job training. According to officials from the Employment Agency, a research into jobs with the highest market demand is conducted. According to results obtained, training courses are organized. The sector with the highest demand for employees is tourism, followed by the textile sector. It has been pointed out that graduates of the courses organized primarily in Izmir, Bursa, Adana and Gaziantep have no problems finding a job. According to a project undertaken by the Employment Agency, jobs for 72,500 people will be created by the year 2000. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE FOR BOSNIA

    Turkish intellectuals have started the greatest campaign initiated so far against the genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The goal of the campaign is to bring intellectuals and members of various civil organizations from Turkey and Western Europe to the regions under fire in Bosnia. Responding to a proclamation published by politician Ertugrul Gunay, intellectuals have started a "Humanitarian Initiative for Bosnia" campaign. A committee established within the framework of the initiative had its first meeting met in Ankara on Saturday. The committee is planning to bring together people from a wide range of sectors in Bosnia during the first half of next month. Many professors, writers, politicians, businessmen, journalists, doctors and lawyers have volunteered in support of the campaign. /Milliyet/

    [13] MALAYSIA WILL SELL ARMS TO BOSNIA

    Malaysian government has decided to sell arms to Bosnia. Thus, Malaysia has become the first country to implement the decision for non-compliance with the UN arms embargo on Bosnia. The decision for non-compliance was taken by the Bosnia contact group of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC). Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Ekber Velayeti said that defence ministers and chiefs of the general staff would come together within the framework of the Bosnia contact group of the OIC to estimate the needs of Bosnia for military equipment. /Hurriyet/

    [14] TURKISH SOLDIERS SHOULD REMAIN IN BOSNIA

    The Turkish Grand National Assembly published a proclamation against the genocide in Bosnia signed by representatives of all political parties. According to the proclamation, Turkish parliamentarians demand that a decision of the UN Security Council be issued to end the tragedy in Bosnia, similar to the decision taken for liberating Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina should be lifted, and urgent measures for ending the war and helping the Bosnian people should be undertaken, the proclamation says. Punishment for war criminals is demanded. /Hurriyet/

    [15] IRAN: "NO PKK CAMPS IN IRAN"

    Gholam Huseyin Bolendiyan, First Deputy of Iranian Interior Minister Ali Muhammed Beshareti said that despite Turkey's recent statements regarding PKK camps in Iran, the Turkish officials who had been invited to Iran, could not find any terrorist hide-outs or camps. Bolendiyan claimed that anybody could come to his country without any notice and could inspect any place of their choice. Bolendiyan, in reply to Turkish claims that Turkey had established a wall of men on the 500 km. long Turco-Iranian border and still could not prevent infiltrations through the border, said that this was inexplicable. He went on to say: "We are so much in close contact with Turkey that we have the possibility to have instant telephone connections with the Interior Ministry Undersecretary Bekir Aksoy and Director General of Security Mehmet Agar, which means that we are having a golden period of mutual contacts and cooperation with Turkey. Iran has handed over the PKK terrorists who were caught in the Iranian border region and Turkey, in return, has returned the terrorists which we name "double dealers" to Iran. In clashes with the PKK, 4 Iranian soldiers were killed." /Milliyet/

    [16] GERMANS PREFER TURKEY FOR HOLIDAYS

    According to statistics from the tourism ministry, most Germans prefer Turkey to other countries as a holiday destination, the Anatolia news agency reported on Saturday. Tourism Ministry officials said that travel agencies were surprised by the level of Turkey's popularity. Officials added that Turkey was one of the cheapiest countries for holidays in Europe and that 650,000 German tourists are expected this year. Officials noted that this was a big development for Turkish tourism. The Frankfurt tourism magazine FVW said that Turkey is one of the cheapiest countries in which to holiday and that the service in hotels is first class, the agency reported.

    [17] TURKEY'S NEW GUESTS: CANADIANS

    Turkish travel agencies, which have started focusing on overseas markets, are now trying to attract Canadian tourists, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Agencies have already established themselves in Israel and Russia, but in addition to the classic European markets, wish to market in the Americas. here, they focus on hunting and Anatolia tours geared toward the wealthy. The number of Canadian tourists in Turkey, 2,000 to 3,000 increases every day.

    [18] TURKISH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

    A package of 17 amendments to Turkey's Constitution were approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the early hours of Sunday, July 23.

    The changes scrap restrictions introduced under a military government in Turkey in the early 1980s and expand the freedom to organise or belong to associations such as trade unions, foundations, cooperatives. Civil servants regain the right to collective bargaining. The right to vote has been lowered from age 21 to age 18.

    University students and academic teachers will also be given the right to join political parties after new legislation.

    The amendments were approved by 360 votes to 32 the 450-member Grand National Assembly (opposed by the Welfare Party). The size of the majority marks a triumphant conclusion to weeks of work and lobbying by Turkey's Prime Minister, Prof. Dr. Tansu Ciller, to persuade members of opposition parties to support the changes.

    The Prime Minister said:

    "These amendments were achieved by a broad coalition of almost all political parties. It clearly reflects the strong sentiments of the Turkish people. It is a great triumph for the Turkish nation and the Turkish democracy."

    Sunday's majority was well above the 300 votes (two thirds of the members) needed for the change. This is the second step of further strengthening the Turkish democracy, following the acceptance last week by the Parliament a new legislation transferring more powers from the central government to the local government.

    Turkey's Parliament now goes into summer recess. It will debate an amendment to a controversial clause in Turkey's anti-terrorism legislation when it resumes in the autumn.

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