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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 6, 1996)From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>Turkish Press Review DirectoryCONTENTS[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER KALEMLI IN GEORGIA[02] DYP ACCEPTS COALITION DEAL[03] ANKARA CONDEMNS ISRAEL BOMBINGS[04] DEMIREL TO ACT AS MEDIATOR[05] ODD HAPPENINGS ON CYPRUS[06] TURKEY SAYS US-LED IRAQI FORCE NEEDS STREAMLINING[07] TURKEY OPTIMISTIC ON UN-IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD TALKS[08] TURKEY CALLS FOR TRIPARTITE WATER TALKS[09] CYPRUS SOLUTION ON HOLD[10] GREEK ATTEMPTS TO DEFAME TURKEY BLOCKED[11] STRENGTHENING TRADE RELATIONS BY COOPORATION WITH ISRAELTURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY MARCH 6, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER KALEMLI IN GEORGIATurkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli, on his first official visit abroad, spoke with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze yesterday. While in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, Kalemli was hosted by his counterpart, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Zurab Zuvania. President Shevardnadze conveyed his congratulations to Kalemli on his recent election and said he was grateful that he had selected Georgia as his first country to visit since becoming speaker of the Parliament. Shevardnadze said his sentiments also reflected those of the Georgian people.Earlier in the day Kalemli, in an address to the Georgian Parliament, said that if the close ties between the speakers of the Parliaments of the two countries were emulated by all deputies and political parties, this would contribute to bringing the two peoples together. "Important responsibilities befall our national Parliaments in the region. I believe in the importance of close ties of cooperation between the Parliaments of countries in the region for the sake of instilling peace in the Caucasus" Kalemli said. Kalemli went on to tell the Georgian legislators that the development of ties between Turkey and Georgia was not only to the benefit of the two countries but also the region. He said that Turkey today was working to overcome violations of international law in the Balkans and the Caucasus while at the same time was trying to ward off threats to its territorial integrity. Referring also to the importance of oil pipelines in the region for carrying Caspian oil to international markets, Kalemli said that such pipelines going over Georgia and Turkey would bring great political and economic advantages to the two countries. Kalemli, who was accompanied by a group of Turkish deputies on his visit to Georgia, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Tbilisi in the afternoon. /All papers/
[02] DYP ACCEPTS COALITION DEALThe True Path Party (DYP) of caretaker Prime Minister Tansu Ciller yesterday approved a coalition deal. The deal with the Motherland Party (ANAP) was approved unanimously in a meeting of the DYP. "This government should work as a unique party" Ciller told reporters before beginning of the meeting. Premier-designate Mesut Yilmaz's ANAP on Monday approved the same deal under which Yilmaz will be first in a rotating premiership. Ciller said earlier Tuesday that she had met with Foreign Minister Deniz baykal who leads the junior partner in the outgoing coalition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), to make an assessment of four years of partnership which accomplished many important tasks. Ciller later visited the office of Baykal and thanked him for his cooperation over four years. Byakal told reporters after receiving Ciller that he had also thanked Ciller on behalf of his party, but emphasized that they would now act as an opposition party.With the coalition protocol approved by both sides, Yilmaz will seek today President Demirel's approval for his government set up by ANAP and DYP. Yilmaz will submit this list of new ministers to Demirel who is expected to give his approval. /All papers/
[03] ANKARA CONDEMNS ISRAEL BOMBINGSThe Turkish government has announced through the Foreign Ministry that it condemns the series of suicide bombings that have shattered public life in main centers throughout Israel. The statement noted that terror was a dreadful blight on the modern world and that it must be resisted by every means available. The message also extended condolences and deep sympathy to the people of Israel. /Milliyet/
[04] DEMIREL TO ACT AS MEDIATORDuring his forthcoming official visit to Jerusalem, President Suleyman Demirel will endeavour to mediate talks between the Israeli government and the Palestine administration.Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said yesterday that despite the HAMAS terror bombings, there were no doubts about lack of security in Jerusalem, and there was no thought of postponing Demirel's visit. Turkey is closely following the peace process in the Middle East and is deeply involved in certain aspects. Although nothing has been said officially about Demirel's role as mediator, sources said yesterday that provision for opening the way for talks has been built into the visit program. /Milliyet/
[05] ODD HAPPENINGS ON CYPRUSOfficials in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), are more than surprised that head of the European Union (EU) Foreign relations Commission, Hans Van Den Broek, avoided meeting with TRNC vice-president Halit Acarken when he visited Cyprus.Broek spoke with leader of the Cypriot-Greek community, Glafkos Klerides, but when he journeyed on through the TRNC, he seemed to avoid speaking with Acarken-standing in while TRNC President Rauf Denktas recovers from a heart attack. Officials claim that Broek's odd refusal to see Acarken was tantamount to taking sides. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] TURKEY SAYS US-LED IRAQI FORCE NEEDS STREAMLININGAnkara will tell Washington this week that a US-led allied force based in southeast Turkey to protect Iraqi Kurds must be streamlined, the foreign ministry said yesterday. But there was no question that the force, much maligned within Turkey, would be dissolved, the officials said. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen.Cevik Bir will hold talks in Washington focusing on the allied Provide Comfort operation Iraqi Kurds and strained Turco-Greek ties with US officials in a five-day visit beginning on Tuesday, a ministry official said. The Turkish parliament renews its mandate about every six months. The mandate will come up for review again after a newly-agreed conservative alliance is officially set up in government sometime next week. Oymen and Gen.Bir will also attend annual meeetings of the American-Turkish Council (ATC).Meanwhile, in a press conference yesterday, US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns, said: "We believe that Provide Comfort is necessary for the protection of stability in the region. We consider that our responsibility on this issue which started in April 1991 continues. I am sure that we will request all relevant countries to extend the mandate of the Provide Comfort". /Hurriyet/
[07] TURKEY OPTIMISTIC ON UN-IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD TALKSTurkey is optimistic that talks between the UN and Iraq on an oil-for-food deal will be successful, Turkish Energy Minister Sinasi Altiner said yesterday. "There is a softening on both sides. I believe that a certainty will emerge on March 11 and Iraq will be able to obtain food and medicine in its just cause by selling oil" Altiner told reporters before a meeting with Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Muhammad Rasheed. Altiner said the re-opening of the pipeline would also boost trade ties between Ankara and Baghdad. The second round of talks will begin on March 11."Iraq has suffered subtantial losses, but so has Turkey" Altiner said. "We do not want to inflict any damage on a neighbouring country, but we have to abide by the UN resolutions. I hope that the talks between Iraq and the UN, which start on March 11, will have positive results for both". The Yumurtalik-Kirkuk pipeline, which is the main outlet for Iraqi oil, is in good shape, according to officials from Turkey and Iraq. Rasheed said that he had reached Turkey through northern Iraq and saw, as he travelled along the pipeline, that it was not damaged. Altiner said for his part that the Turkish portion of the twin pipeline was also in good condition. Rasheed and his accompanying delegation are expected to pay a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal tomorrow and leave Turkey on Friday. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] TURKEY CALLS FOR TRIPARTITE WATER TALKSTurkey, which categorically calls for tripartite water talks with neighbouring Iraq and Syria, ruled out such talks within the framework of the Arab League. Yasar Yakis, Turkey's ambassador to Cairo, said that the tripartite talks should be direct, rather than under the League, in which Turkey is not a member. Yakis had just met Ismet Abdulmecid, secretary-general of the League, who reportedly told Yakis that the Arab body wanted Turkey to "make an agreement that would give a guarantee to Syria for its water needs". /All papers/
[09] CYPRUS SOLUTION ON HOLDThe US has put new initiatives to find a solution to the Cyprus problem on hold. Towards the end of last year, a new move by the US based on the so-called "Bosnia model" was heralded as the total answer. Top US negotiator Richard Holbrooke was going to work magic and bring peace and security to the island.But now, according to US government officials, "there have been changes on the island" and without due preparation in line with new conditions, the US "is not about to initiate any new measures." The same officials note that not only has Cyprus changed but so has Greece, and so has Turkey with a new coalition government about to come to power. /Hurriyet/
[10] GREEK ATTEMPTS TO DEFAME TURKEY BLOCKEDGreek attempts to bring the Kardak question to the agenda of the Council of Europe have been rejected. The Political Commission at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly did, however, take in hand a report on Turkey prepared by Hungarian Deputy Andreas Barsony during recent meetings held in Paris. During discussion of the report, Greek deputies suggested widening the scope of the report and giving place also to the Kardak crisis, and condemned Turkish attitudes to the problem. Nevertheless, the Greek proposals were not accepted by the members of the Political Commission.On the other hand, British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind has urged Greece to refrain from relating the Kardak crisis to Turkey-EU relations. British Foreign Ministry sources note that Rifkind has sent a letter to that effect to Greek Foreign Minister Teodoros Pangalos. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/
[11] STRENGTHENING TRADE RELATIONS BY COOPORATION WITH ISRAELIf President Suleyman Demirel signs a new Free Trade agreement during his visit to Israel between March 11-14, Turkey will escape textile quotas imposed by the US.The agreement will provide Turkish construction companies with three billion dollars worth of business in Israel. The agreement is important not only to the two countries involved but it also carries regional importance. According to the agreement, Turkey will be able to export to third countries, such as China, Korea and South Africa, via Israel and avoid the American textile quota limits. For talks on the final form of the free trade agreement between Turkey and Israel, a delegation of officials from the State Planning Organisation and the Treasury and Foreign Trade Department is going to Israel today. /Milliyet/ |
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