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Turkish Press Review, 97-01-07Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning. [01] TURKEY SLAMS GREEK CYPRIOT MISSILE PURCHASETurkey will take the necessary steps against the recent missile deal between Russia and Greek Cyprus, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.Speaking to foreign reporters at his weekly press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel referred to Greek-Cypriot press reports on the Nicosia cabinet's approval of the purchase of long-range, anticraft Russian S-300 missiles that Turkish officials claimed are for "offensive" purpose. Referring to the U.N. Security Council's concern over Greek Cyprus' extensive arms program, Akbel said the Turkish attitude was quite clear on the issue, this being that the arms buying was a threat to the search for a peaceful solution on the island. Akbel said Turkey would not tolerate anything that hindered or threatened the security of Turkish Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet_ [02] GREEK CYPRUS SAYS MISSILES WILL NOT LEAD TO ESCALATIONGreek Cypriot Foreign Minister Alescos Michaelides on Monday dismissed claims that his community's multi-million dollar deal to buy Russian missiles and air defence systems will constitute an escalation of the arms build-up on the island. Michaelides toldjournalists that now more than ever, was there a need for countries involved in the sensitive Cyprus question to "embark on a process of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem."Michaelides maintained that though the weaponry boosts Greek Cyprus' defences, this is not considered as an intent to attack the Turkish side. On the contrary, the deal he claimed was aimed more at improving its bargaining power when meeting the Turkish Cypriot leaders at any negotiation table./Cumhuriyet/ [03] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER KALEMLI VISITS ISRAELParliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli arrived in Israel as the official guest of his Israeli counterpart Dan Tichon on Sunday and began his official meetings on Monday. Kalemli visited the genocide museum and wrote in the museum guestbook that he wished everyone could visit the museum as it displayed the terrible nature of crimes against humanity. Kalemli planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and parliament speaker Dan Tichon in the afternoon./Cumhuriyet/[04] MACEDONIAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS TURKEYChief of Staff Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi received in Ankara on Monday the Macedonian Deputy Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Yanakie Manasievski.Following the visit, the Macedonian general visited his counterpart Gen. Cevik Bir where he said that under the auspieces of the agreement signed between the two countries, mutual visits, training programs and exchange of students would start to be implemented. Gen. Bir pointed out that Turkey supported Macedonian efforts to become a NATO member and noted that both countries are aiming for the full integration of both Turkey and Macedonia with the West. Gen. Manasievski, who will leave Turkey on January 9, voiced his pleasure over warm ties with Turkey, and praising the relations between the two countries pointed out that Turkey was the first country to recognize Macedonia when it broke away from Yugoslavia./All papers/ [05] CONTROVERSY OVER CYPRUSThe Washington administration has sent a note to the Cyprus Greek Cypriot community about the way the community has ordered Russian made S-300 type missile systems. The US has warned the Greek Cypriots that by going ahead with plans to arm their side of the island they are spoiling efforts to bring peace to the problem-plagued island.In an interview with the BBC last night, Greek Cypriot leaders claimed that they were buying weapons in a search for security. They said that the weapons they were buying from the Russians were for purely defensive purposes - and that they would never be used for aggressive purposes. "As long as the Turkish side maintains occupational forces on the island, we will buy weapons" said the Greek Cypriot leaders. The US remains unimpressed by the claims of the Greek Cypriots and continues to take a tough line against anything that could ruin the chances of further peace talks between the two communities./Hurriyet/ [06] TURKEY WARNS RUSSIANSTurkey has warned the Russian government about selling their missile systems to the Greek Cypriot community on Cyprus. The Turkish Foreign Ministry sent a note through the Russian Federation Embassy last week conveying Ankara's views on the issue and warning of the consequences of the sale of more weapons to the Greek Cypriots. /Milliyet/[07] NEW TRADE DEALS WITH NORTH CYPRUSFollowing the signing of new economic agreements last week between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Turkish businessmen are hoping that new deals will lead to more prosperity for both sides.On January 10, a 160 person delegation will visit the TRNC under a programme arranged by the Istanbul Chambers of Trade (ITO). Both sides say that the new deals are positive and could lead to a stronger economy in the TRNC. /Hurriyet/ [08] ASILTURK: TURKEY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN WORLD ARENAWelfare Party (RP) Parliamentary Group Chairman Oguzhan Asilturk said on Monday that Turkey was following world developments closely and playing a key role is setting the world's agenda. Asilturk said that the D-8 movement (the economic group for developing Moslem countries) would protect the rights and interests of the developing countries and would work hard to prevent the exploitation of those countries. He added that Turkey would be the leader of the D-8 movement./All papers/[09] SECURITY FORCES KILL MORE THAN 150 REBELS IN A WEEKSecurity forces backed up by air support from fighter jets and assault helicopters killed at least 30 separatists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the last 24 hours of operations on the Cudi Mountain near the southeastern town of Sirnak, bringing the number of rebels killed in the last week in the Southeast and northern Iraq to more than 150. The Emergency Rule regional governor's office said that one member of the security forces lost his life during the operations. Meanwhile, 50 alleged PKK sympathizers were captured during operations in several southeastern towns./Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet_[10] INDONESIAN DELEGATION VISITS TURKEYAn Indonesian delegation led by Indonesian Armed Forces Parliamentary Commission Chairman Soewarno Muktiwibowo arrives today in Ankara. The delegation will meet with State Minister Abdullah Gul, Turkish Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Yasin Hatipoglu and Constitutional Commission Chairman Ahmet Iyimaya. /Cumhuriyet/[11] AGREEMENT WITH HUNGARYWithin the framework of the customs union agreement with the European Union, Turkey has signed a free trade agreement with Hungary. State Minister Ayfer Yilmaz leaves today for Hungary to sign the agreement. /Cumhuriyet/[12] ISRAEL DESIRES TURKISH PEACE FORCEParliamentary Speaker Mustafa Kalemli who is visiting Israel met yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said that an agreement had almost been reached with the Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat over the Peace force to be established in the West Bank after the withdrawal of UN forces from El Halil. Netanyahu pointed out that Israel viewed Turkey as a friendly neighbourly country and expressed his belief that Turkish forces would successfully fulfill peace keeping functions in the West Bank. Kalemli said that he would submit the Israeli request to President Demirel and Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan right after his return to Turkey. /Milliyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |