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Turkish Press Review, 96-06-24
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS PLEASED FROM FLORENCE
[02] ARABS CALL ON TURKEY TO RECONSIDER ACCORD WITH ISRAEL
[03] PAPANDREOU DIES
[04] IRAN TAKES A STAND
[05] MORE BIG ISTANBUL MEETINGS PLANNED
[06] GREECE SAYS NO DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY
[07] MALAYSIA TO BUY TURKISH SUBMARINES
[08] WORLD BANK LENDS TURKEY $250 MILLION
[09] BRITISH TRADE MISSION VISITS TURKEY
[10] TERRORISTS ATTACKS LEAVE TOTAL SIX DEAD
[11] TURKEY TO SET UP OIL_GAS FIRM IN CHANNEL ISLANDS
[12] TOURIST NUMBERS GROWING
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
MONDAY JUNE 24, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS PLEASED FROM FLORENCE
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz returned to Turkey yesterday pleased
with the results of a meeting with EU leaders the previous day in
Florence following a summit hosted by the Union's outgoing term
president Italy. Clearly referring to the successful manner in
which Greece has obstructed a Turkish presence at previous Union
summits, Yilmaz told reporters his meeting in Florence was "an
achievement in itself in our relations wiht the EU". Yilmaz also
said he had given assurances to the European leaders at the
meeting that even if the pro-Islamic and anti-European Welfare
Party (RP) came to power in Turkey, the nature of Turkish
democracy was such that it would not be able derail Ankara's
drive for full integration with Europe.
The meeting with Yilmaz was hosted by the prime ministers of
Italy, Spain and Ireland, the"troika" of current, previous and
next holders of the EU presidency, at the end of the EU's two-day
summit in Florence. /All papers/
[02] ARABS CALL ON TURKEY TO RECONSIDER ACCORD WITH ISRAEL
Arab leaders yesterday called on Turkey to reconsider its
military accord with Israel in order to avoid any move that would
harm the security of Arab countries. Although referrring to
Turkey by name, the Aarb leaders were careful to refrain from
condemning Turkey in any way in this regard. "There are no steps
(taken) against Turkey, but steps with Turkey to minimize or
prevent any side effects on the security of the region" Egyptian
Foreign Minister Amr Moussa told a news conference at the end of
the summit, appearing to downplay the reference to Turkey in the
final communique issued after the high level Arab gathering. The
reference to Turkey in the final communique, after the two-day
Arab summit, came despite opposition by Jordan to drop any direct
reference to Ankara.
Jordan, Israel's main friend in the region, stood up for Turkey
during the summit and dismissed Damascus' concerns about the
agreement. Jordan criticised Syria's support for Iran, which it
accused of backing "terrorism". /All papers/
[03] PAPANDREOU DIES
Ankara did not begrudge its last respects to former Greek Prime
Minister Andreas Papandreou, who died in the early hours of
Sunday morning, despite his reputation for making anti-Turkism
the mainstay of his political career and thus continually
creating political headaches for Turkey. Sending a letter to
Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos hours after
Papandreou's death, President Suleyman Demirel expressed sadness
over the passing away of the former prime minister of Greece.
Pointing out that he had the opportunity to meet Papandreou on
numerous occasions, Demirel referred to the late politicians'
contributions as a statesman to his own country" Demirel in
concluding his message sent his condolences to the Papandreou
family and the people of Greece.
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz in a similar message to his Greek
counterpart Costas Simitis also expressed his condolences, saying
he had learned of Papandreou's death with "great sorrow". Foreign
Minister Emre Gonensay, in a message to His Greek counterpart
Theodoros Pangalos, also reflected similar sentiments and
referred to Papandreou as "a distinguished personality of the
Greek political scene". /All papers/
[04] IRAN TAKES A STAND
Iran has made it clear that it is against the military
cooperation agreement between Turkey and Israel. Iranian Foreign
Minister Ali Ekber Velayeti said over the weekend that the
agreement was a betrayal of Turkey's moslem neighbour countries.
He said that there could be no excuse for the way a country like
Turkey had gone into an agreement w th Israel -purely for its own
advantage.
Turkish ambassador to Tehran Mithat Balkan has again stressed
that Turkey has no ulterior motive, and that the agreement will
not involve Turkey and Israel in action against any third
country. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] MORE BIG ISTANBUL MEETINGS PLANNED
The shipping sector is planning a Habitat II type conference in
Istanbul in June next year. The Baltic International Shipping
Cooperation Organizat on (BIMCO) says that it wants to benefit
from the oportunities coming from a big Istanbul conference.
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] GREECE SAYS NO DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY
Greek Defence M n ster Gerasimos Arsenis sa d over the weekend
that Greece was not planning any kind of dialogue with Turkey. He
blamed Turkey for maintaining an obstinate attitude and added
that while Turkey kept to this kind of attitude "it was
impossible to have a dialogue." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] MALAYSIA TO BUY TURKISH SUBMARINES
Defence Minister Oltan Sungurlu left Turkey on Thursday to pay an
official isit to Malaysia, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Sungurlu informed the press at Ankara Esenboga Airport before
leaving Turkey that Malaysia was going to buy two made-in-Turkey
submarines.//
[08] WORLD BANK LENDS TURKEY $250 MILLION
The World Bank on Friday said it had approved two loans worth
some $250 million to support road and bridge improvement and
traffic safety projects. Its mission in Ankara said in a press
release that the work, consisting a total of $389 million, will
upgrade roads nationwide, improve driver education and strengthen
the country's highways directorate. /All papers/
[09] BRITISH TRADE MISSION VISITS TURKEY
Eleven British companies will be represented on a trade mission
to Turkey organized by the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce
between June 24-28. The mission, which will be the fourth of its
kind, is supported by Briatin's Department of Trade and Industry.
/All papers/
[10] TERRORISTS ATTACKS LEAVE TOTAL SIX DEAD
A terrorist attack on a local TV station near Diyarbakir has left
six dead and 13 wounded, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Unidentified gunmen attacked the social centre of Soz TV, 10
kilometres from Diyarbakir, with hand grenades. The gunmen fled
after the incident as forest guards present at the time of the
attack retaliated.//
[11] TURKEY TO SET UP OIL_GAS FIRM IN CHANNEL ISLANDS
Turkey's state oil and gas pipeline concern, Botas, has been
authorized by the government to set up an off-shore company for
oil and gas trade, the Official Gazette said on Friday. It said
the company, to be based in Jersey, a British Channel Island off
the coast of France, would have a nominal capital of $500,000,
more than half that belonging to Botas. The company is allowed to
transfer up to $10 million from Turkey to carry out its
investments, it said. The company will be involved in projects
dealing with the production, refining, storage and trade of crude
oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas and their derivatives,
it said.//
[12] TOURIST NUMBERS GROWING
According to sources in Antalya, there has already been a 90%
increase in the number of tourists going to Antalya when compared
to the same period last year. More and more foreign visitors are
being seen in historical places and in the less frequented areas
of the Antalya region. Income from tourism in and around Antalya
is expected to grow to record levels. /Sabah/
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