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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 14, 1996)From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>Turkish Press Review DirectoryCONTENTS[01] UNITED AGAINST TERRORISM[02] DEMIREL DECRIES LACK OF COOPERATION ON TERRORISM[03] TEXT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPEECH TO MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT[04] YILMAZ IN PARIS[05] PANGALOS: DIALOGUE MAY BE INITIATED[06] ANKARA READY FOR BOSNIA CONFERENCE[07] TWO POINT STRATEGY FOR CYPRUS[08] BUNDESBANK PROMISES SUPPORT[09] CILLER DEMANDS IRAN CLEAR HITMAN CLAIM[10] KURDISH EXILE PARLIAMENT MEETS IN COPENHAGEN[11] US COMMERCE SECRETARY PLANS TRIP TO TURKEY[12] HILLARY CLINTON TO VISIT TURKEY ON MARCH 27[13] EFES PILSEN WINS EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN KORAC CUPTURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY MARCH 14, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] UNITED AGAINST TERRORISMWorld leaders at the "peace makers summit" in Egypt have unitedly declared that they will fight against all the different manifestations of terrorism. Leading statesmen from around the world, including President Suleyman Demirel, decided that they would "stand shoulder-to-shoulder" in the struggle against terror.Reports from the conference note that President Demirel took the lead in taking a firm stand against terrorism, with concrete suggestions and a positive outlook. One proposal that he put forward called for a media ban on all terrorism propaganda. Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay was also pleased with the results of the meeting, and said yesterday that the closing statement of the delegates "was in line with what we wanted." Other top officials agreed and noted that Turkish representatives had gone well prepared to the conference and also to Israel. Assessments of President Demirel's visit to Israel and the Egypt meeting agree that Turkey has done well. /All papers/
[02] DEMIREL DECRIES LACK OF COOPERATION ON TERRORISMPresident Suleyman Demirel yesterday called on the international community to cooperate effectively in order to combat terrorism, which he said had become a global concern.Demirel arrived in Sharm el Sheikh yesterday morning from Israel where he was on an official visit as the guest of President Ezer Weizman. Demirel and his delegation were greeted warmly on their arrival at the airport by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who together with US President Bill Clinton is co-hosting the summit. Demirel was accompanied by newly appointed Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen and Deputy Undersecretary and Spokesman Omer Akbel. "The high level of participation at this summit reflects our interest in taking concerted action against terrorism. We would have wished all the states invited to this forum to be present here" Demirel said when starting his address. Demirel's remarks were clearly addressed to Syria, which is boycotting the summit. Demirel has been vocally accusing Damascus in recent days of supporting the PKK terrorist organization which is waging a violent separatist war. "Combating terrorism requires effective international cooperation. Unfortunately, compared to the cooperation seen among terrorist organizations, international cooperation falls far short of our expectations. On of the basic reasons that hinders the effective fight against terrorism, both at the national and international levels, is the lack of unified international response and established international law. Terrorist violence can neither be a valid nor a legitimate means to achieve political goals or to promote human rights or other rights. Any acceptance of the contrary would encourage the terrorist organizations to continue to carry out their violent activities, and, at the same time, would be interpreted as a sign of defeat of the international community. In this respect, it is extremely significant that there should be no discrimination whatsoever in the fight against terrorism. The power and the determination should be ever-present in order to properly eliminate it" Demirel said. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
[03] TEXT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SPEECH TO MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT"From all around the world we have come to the Sinai to deliver one simple, unified message. Peace will prevail. This summit is unprecedented in the history of the Middle East. It would have been inconceivable just a few short years ago. It stands as proof and promise that this region has changed for good. Leaders from Israel and the Arab world, from Europe, from Asia, from North Africa. Twenty-nine of us, shoulder to shoulder, joined in support of peace. We have gathered before to celebrate new milestones in our journey. Today we join in common defence against those who would turn us back. We are here because we know what is at stake. Let our charge go forth from the Sinai today. We will win the battle for peace". /Cumhuriyet/
[04] YILMAZ IN PARIS"Turkey has made it clear that its destiny is interrelated with that of Europe's by joining in customs union, now Europe should prove Ankara's importance by inviting it to the EU's Intergovernmental Conference in Turin" said Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in Paris yesterday. Yilmaz was addressing a one-day meeting of European Democrats' Union (EDU). Yilmaz underlined that the solidarity mechanism which the EU has launched with non-member countries should also include Turkey. Yilmaz also repeated that Mediterranean countries had an important role with respect to the security of Europe and stressed that the peace process in the Middle East should be supported.Yilmaz later moved on to a joint conference of leaders where, pointing out that both Greece and Turkey were members of NATO, Yilmaz said that good relations between the two countries were also for the good of Europe. "We as a government are ready to solve our problems through dialogue, however we should first agree on what these problems are" he said. Criticizing Greece for its opposition within the framework of Turkey's customs union with the EU, Yilmaz said that French Prime Minister Alain Juppe had made a commitment that France would continue to support Turkey. Referring to the Cyprus question, Yilmaz said that it was not possible for the Greek Cypriot side to become a full member of the EU on behalf of the whole island before a solution was brought to the whole island. Yilmaz, later in the day, had contacts with Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus and Albanian President Sali Berisha. Yilmaz on his way back to Turkey is scheduled to stop in Germany to pick up his wife and his son who is there to undergo medical treatment for his eye. /Milliyet/
[05] PANGALOS: DIALOGUE MAY BE INITIATEDGreek Foreign Minister Teodoros Pangalos said Greece was ready to discuss the Kardak issue with the newly established Turkish government, if the pre-crisis situation is restored in the region. In a speech at a "Greece and the Balkans Management Cooperation" meeting held in Thessalonica, Pangalos noted that now, when tension is over, both parties could come together to find a settlement to the problem. "Greece has never denied discussion with Turkey or given up proposing solutions to the problem," Pangalos stressed. Nevertheless, he noted that discussions could only be started after Turkish troops had withdrawn from the Aegean.This statement by the Greek foreign minister led to negative reactions in the Greek press and among Greek political circles, and caused disagreements among Greek cabinet members. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/
[06] ANKARA READY FOR BOSNIA CONFERENCETurkey will host an international conference for Bosnia on Friday. The countries who have confirmed their participation so far are Bangladesh, Albania, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, the Organization of Islamic Conference Secretariat and Italy -representing the EU term presidency as an observer. The meeting will be co-chaired by Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] TWO POINT STRATEGY FOR CYPRUSThe European Union (EU) has outlined a two point plan for solving the Cyprus situation. Two series of talks will continue in parallel, one series for membership in the European Union and the other talks on the island itself with closer contact between the two communities in view.Chairman of the EU Foreign Relations Commission, Hans Van Den Broek, said that talks on membership should begin even though problems on the island had not been settled. Although in general terms, the recommendations of Broek were accepted in the EU Commission, there have been dissenting voices - especially in connection with revelations from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas about 1619 missing Greeks following the 1974 Turkish intervention on the island. /Milliyet/
[08] BUNDESBANK PROMISES SUPPORTThe Turkish Central Bank has been promised the support and cooperation of the German Bundesbank. According to Central Bank (CB) Vice-President Prof. Selcuk Abac, talks in Germany with Bundesbank officials have led to positive results.Talks between bank committees at technical level continue, however, and it is expected that new understandings on many bank operations will emerge from the talks. Officials on both sides agree that all the signals are very positive. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] CILLER DEMANDS IRAN CLEAR HITMAN CLAIMCoalition partner-True Path Party (DYP) Chairwoman Tansu Ciller on Tuesday demanded Iran prove it had no hand in training an Islamist hitman involved in attacks in Turkey or face Ankara's wrath as a "terrorist" collaborator. "What we want from the Iranian administration is to follow the clues, and if there are links (between groups in Iran and the attacks) they should bring them to light" Ciller told reporters. "If our neighbours are working not with us but with terrorists, then we will do what is necessary. Neighbours can trust our friendship but must fear us as enemies" she said. /Milliyet/
[10] KURDISH EXILE PARLIAMENT MEETS IN COPENHAGENThe so-called Kurdish Parliament in-exile has started its meetings in Copenhagen, the Cologne-based DEM agency reported yesterday. Ankara responded by issuing a severely-worded warning to Denmark, both in Copenhagen and Ankara, saying that bilateral ties between the two countries will deteriorate if Denmark does not do more than call the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a terrorist organization. "Turkey has said to Denmark that it cannot accept the realization of such a meeting, expects Copenhagen to stop it and if this is not done, it is inevitable that relations will suffer" a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The statement noted that it was a great blow to international cooperation against terrorism when a country like Denmark, under international obligations to fight terrorism, allowed such a meeting while an international anti-terrorism summit was taking place. /All papers/
[11] US COMMERCE SECRETARY PLANS TRIP TO TURKEYUS Commerce Secretary Ron Brown will visit Turkey this year in an effort to attract the interest of US investors and business in the opportunities Turkey presents as a Big Emerging Market (BEM), according to the US Information Agency (USIA). Brown announced his trip in a March 7 speech to the Annual Conference and Trade Exposition sponsored by the American-Turkish Council and American Friends of Turkey. "As we look to the future, I can say without hesitation that Turkey -with its young, energetic population and its great wealth of resources and opportunities- will continue to grow and prosper" the USIA quoted him as saying. "The US wants to be part of this growth. That is what our BEM program is all about, and we are already seeing results. Turkey has made a great start" Brown said. "In anticipation of the customs union and other changes, inflows of foreign direct investment into Turkey reached a record $1.3 billion in 1995 -a 50 % increase over 1994. /All papers/
[12] HILLARY CLINTON TO VISIT TURKEY ON MARCH 27American first lady Hillary Clinton will come to Turkey on March 27 as a part of her private visit program. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said in a response to a question that the ministry was preparing for her visit to Ankara and Istanbul. He added that he thought she would also visit Greece. Hillary Clinton will leave Turkey on March 29. /All papers/
[13] EFES PILSEN WINS EUROPEAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN KORAC CUPAlthough defeated by Italians' Stafanel Milan team with a score of 77-70, Turkey's Efes Pilsen basketball team won the men's Korac Cup with an aggragate points last night in the second leg of the final. This is the first European Cup that Turkey has won as a team. /All papers/
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