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Turkish Press Review, 97-03-12Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning. [01] HUGE EU DEBATE ABOUT TURKEYDebate about Turkey and its ties with the European Union (EU) continues as a prelude to meetings this coming weekend about EU expansion and Turkey. In what are described as "informal" talks, EU foreign ministers will debate further on EU growth and also hope to find something that will ease the sting of the recent sharp rebuff to Turkey from EU Christian Democrat Party leaders.EU ministers will try to find a way of getting round opposition to Turkey's full membership on the grounds of a poor human rights record, economic problems and other domestic issues, say news reports from Europe. /All papers/ [02] US BECOMING MORE INVOLVED IN EU ISSUESUS State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said on Monday that likely the US would be more involved in moves to hold the European customs union together and thus preserve Turkey's ties with the EU.The view from Washington is that in the short term, Turkey's membership in the EU could be delayed. Washington, however, wants to remain closely connected to developments to ensure that Turkey does eventually join the EU. Burns said that the US would like to see more positive signals sent out to Turkey. /All papers/ [03] OTHER EU PARTIES SUPPORT TURKEYAlthough the EU Christian Democrats severely snubbed Turkey last week, the European Parliament's Socialist Group leader Pauline Green has stood up and challenged those in the lead in movements against Turkey's full EU membership. Green has challenged those against Turkey to deny that membership can be refused on grounds of religious differences. Reports from London note that there is nothing in the Charter of the EU that says that a state can be barred just because of religion or culture.Back at home, CHP party chairman Deniz Baykal has also taken up the cudgels and declared at a party meeting yesterday that Turkey was not the EU's poor relation, and should be viewed as such. He went on to say that the decision of the Christian Democrats' was serious, but wondered at the same if they had an underlying ulterior motive. /All papers/ [04] MEDITERRANEAN EXERCISES STARTThe Eastern Mediterranean 97 military and naval exercises started yesterday off the port of Izmir. Naval vessels from the US, France, Spain, Italy and Turkey will join in the exercises which will end on March 22.Command tactics will be developed and efforts to improve coordination will be made. Officials noted on Tuesday that live ammunition will be used. /All papers/ [05] DEFENCE MINISTER TO VISIT ISRAELGovernment officials said on Tuesday that Defence Minister Turhan Tayan planned to visit Israel in April. The Anatolia news agency said yesterday that top Israeli officials also want to visit Turkey, and that if all the arrangements actually work out, then April will be the busiest month for diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel. /Cumhuriyet/[06] PKK GIVEN A BEATINGMopping up operations against the PKK terrorist organization continue in the southeastern regions of the country. During the current ATAK-3 security operation, 42 PKK terrorists have been killed and large amounts of equipment have been seized. Large numbers of Turkish soldiers supported with air cover have been involved in action against the PKK, reports the Anatolia news agency.[07] EUROGOLD DETERMINED TO START MINING IN NOVEMBEREurogold says that it is determined to start mining gold using the controversial cyanide leaching process at its site in Ovacik near Bergama, in November, the Anatolia news agency reported. Eurogold Managing Director General Jack Testard said the Ovacik gold mine project had been approved by all of the necessary authorities. He said the people opposed to the project are in the minority.In a recent unofficial referendum, in which eight villages in the area participated, 89 percent of the people who actually voted came out against the mine. [08] BELGIAN ECONOMIC MISSION MEETS HIGH LEVEL TURKISH OFFICIALSBelgian Crown Prince Philippe had talks yesterday with President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller. Prince Philippe expressed support for Turkey's EU full membership drive. However, he urged Turkish officials to refrain from being too insistent on including a Turkish representative in the "family photo" of EU leaders, noting that this could arouse adverse effects. Prince Philippe also noted that Turkey may not be invited to the the summit of EU leaders in Amsterdam because the agenda of discussions included mainly issues of domestic importance.Belgian businessmen from the delegation showed great interest in new projects being implemented in Turkey and expressed willingness for cooperation in the fields of energy supply, telecommunications, transport and textile equipment. /Cumhuriyet/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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