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Turkish Press Review, 97-04-14Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWAPRIL 14, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] TURKEY MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF EU BIDMonday marks the 10th anniversary of Turkey's application to join the EU, with the country continuing to wait for an answer on its bid for membership and a more secure future firmly within the fold of Europe. Turkey's permanent representative to the EU, Uluc Ozulker, told the Anatolia news agency that by the end of 1997 the EU would have gained a new shape with Turkey as a part of Europe. If the Union refused to recognize Turkey's rightful place, it would be to its own detriment, he added.[02] UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ACCEPTS TURKEY'S ANTI-TERROR CLAUSEThe UN Human Rights Commission accepted a clause from Turkey which says that terrorism is a violation of the most basic human right of life, the Anatolia news agency reported. The clause did not define terrorism, but included a demand for strict obedience to human rights from governments in their struggle against terrorism. /All papers/[03] BIG MONEY BOOST FOR MILITARYThe Turkish Armed Forces are about to get a 31 billion dollar shot in the arm, now that the Defence Ministry has approved a a huge modernization programme. The programme will be carried out under a ten year acquisition concept that includes the purchase of thousands of armoured tracked and wheeled combat vehicles, tanks, helicopters, naval vessels, warning systems and new communications systems including satellite defence programming. /All papers/[04] ACTIVITY BETWEEN HOLLAND AND TURKEYA Dutch delegation has been active in both Athens and Ankara seeking ways to arbitrate a new deal between the two capitals. The conclusions reached by the delegation members will later be discussed at EU Association Council meetings. Greece has already shown a negative response to proposals put forward by the Dutch delegation.Following up the visit by the Dutch delegation, a Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Commission delegation has gone off to Holland to pursue contacts there. The main issue that the Turkish delegation will take up while in Holland will involve racism and aggression against the Turkish community in Holland. /Cumhuriyet/ [05] TURKISH COMMISSION IN ALBANIAA Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission departed for Albania over the weekend. The commission wants to examine regional security and assess how the 700 Turkish troops who will likely be sent to Albania will be affected by the internal disruption in Albania.The delegation, led by Sedat Aloglu, will pinpoint areas of responsibility involving Turkey's share in peace-keeping activities in line with UN Security Council decisions, and then return on Wednesday. /Sabah/ [06] MILITARY TO ASSESS TANK PROJECTGeneral Cevik Bir is visiting a number of countries to examine what foreign tank producers have to offer. Turkey will spend 4.5 million dollars in the short term and is expected to share in tank production projects for at least 2,500 tanks. /All papers/[07] NEW WEU FORMULA FOR TURKEYEnding a two day meeting with West European Union (WEU) leaders, Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff General Bir said that Turkey had succeeded in fixing a new formula up with the WEU for more participation in the military wing of the WEU. General Bir did not reveal just what the formula was, but seemed optimistic that Greece would no longer block Turkey's influence in the WEU. /All papers/[08] DUTCH PM GIVES TURKEY HOPE FOR EU MEMBERSHIPRepublican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal visited Holland over the weekend to discuss Turkey-EU relations with Dutch officials. Baykal, underlining that Turkey's dynamic structure was suitable for EU membership, stated that Turkey should not be kept in the Union's "waiting room". Piet Dankert, a Dutch deputy at the European Parliament's Socialist Group, said he shared Baykal's views that Turkey met the basic terms for EU membership but that the Cyprus problem and certain constitutional amendments still stood in the way. Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and Head of the Durch Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Marten Van Traa visited Baykal at his hotel Saturday. Baykal said that these visits were a proof that Holland was mindful of Turkey's situation. /All papers/[09] 46 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED OVER THE WEEKENDIn operations in Tunceli, Batman, Van and Siirt against the separatist PKK organization, 46 terrorists were killed during the last two days. Operations against the PKK organization continue in the Southeast with the participation of more than 40 thousand troops. /Cumhuriyet/[10] TURKISH ASSEMBLY ENDSThe Fifth Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Assembly of Turkish States ended yesterday. The Final Declaration released at the end of the assembly included measures for improving cooperation among the Turkish states. The establishemnt of a Permamnent Education Council to follow the implementation of the measures was decided upon. The participants agreed that the next assembly will be held in Northern Cyprus. /Sabah/[11] TURKEY WILL PRESS AHEAD WITH NATURAL GAS COOPERATION WITH IRANWhile European countries are breaking diplomatic relations with Iran, Turkey has decided not to change its foreign policy course towards that country. At a meeting at the Turkish Foreign Ministry over the weekend, Turkish relations with Iran were reviewed. At the end of the meeting, Turkish officials decided that Turkish foreign policy will be dictated by national interests, not by the attitudes of Western countries. Separating economics and politics from each other, Turkey will press ahead with a natural gas project agreed upon with Iran, but will refrain from appointing a new Turkish ambassador to Tehran. /Hurriyet/[12] MECIAR: TURKEY IS A WINDOW TO THE WORLDFollowing official contacts in Ankara, Slovakian Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar went to Istanbul over the weekend. Having signed five agreements for bilateral cooperation with Turkey, Meciar invited Turkish businessmen to invest in Slovakia and expressed readiness for economic cooperation in every field. Meciar described Turkey as a "window opening to the world" for Slovakia and added that an agreement for the establishment of a free trade zone could be prepared by June. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize the republic of Slovakia established on January 1, 1993. /Hurriyet/[13] IMF TO EVALUATE THE TURKISH ECONOMYAn IMF delegation will start on April 14 meetings to summarize the results of its contacts in Turkey and announce its final conclusions following ten days of research related to the present situation in the Turkish economy and contacts with Turkish officials and businessmen. Officials from the Treasury, the State Planning Administration, the Privatization Board, Central Bank and Ministry of Finance will take part in the meeting with the IMF delegation chaired by IMF Turkey Desk Chairman Martin Hardy. Issues like balanced budget calculations, tax reform, reforms in unregistered economy and social security will be taken in hand at the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[14] GREECE VOWS TO VETO TURKEYGreek Deputy Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis said over the weekend that Greece would continue to block the way to Turkey's full membership in the European Union (EU).Minister Kranidiotis said that Turkey would first have to stop "aggression" in the Aegean, positively work to resolve the Cyprus problem and improve its human rights record before Greece would lift its veto. He noted that although the problem between Greece and Turkey was "a political problem", Greece would be prepared to help resolve the situation once Turkey complied with the conditions laid down by Greece. Yet Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos was rather warmer in his approach over the weekend to ties with Turkey. Speaking quite warmly, Pangalos said that he hoped to meet his Turkish counterpart, Tansu Ciller, at an upcoming meeting of Balkan foreign ministers, and accordingly sent her an invitation to attend. /All papers/ [15] TURKS SOUGHT OVER ALLEGED BOSNIA PLOT TO KILL PONTIFFFour Turkish nationals are wanted in connection with the aborted assassination attempt against Pope Jean Paul II in Sarajevo over the weekend. The Anatolia news agency quoted the Italian News Agency (ANSA) that four "ultra-religious" Turks were behind the plot.Other sources however note that ANSA accusations were groundless and that this was a plot to denigrate Turkey since the mines found under the bridge over which the Pontiff's motorcade was to pass had no detonators. [16] RACIST EDITORIAL IN 'DER SPIEGEL'Noted German weekly Der Spiegel magazine has described Turkish presence in Germany as a "potential danger to the order of society". Stating that the the integration efforts of the German government had collapsed, Der Spiegel said that the social problems in society had currently attained an "ethnic identity". As racist attacks against Turks in Europe and Germany were on the increase, these statements by a leading magazine have created anxiety. The magazine, which published a cover photo of a Turkish girl with a flag in her hand, gave little place to the 'Mykonos case' now being followed by the whole world./Sabah/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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