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Turkish Press Review, 97-05-22
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: TURKEY IS STILL ON THE FRONT LINE
[02] 'WISE MEN' MEETING
[03] UN GOES UNDER COVER FOR DIRECT TALKS
[04] JOURNALIST MUSTAFA EKMEKCI DIES
[05] NEW LAW: WOMEN CAN KEEP MAIDEN NAME
[06] HOT-LINE SET UP BETWEEN BULGARIAN AND TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTRIES
[07] TURKS ALLOWED TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN FRANCE
[08] TURKEY AMONG THE 10 EMERGING GIANTS
[09] SYRIA WARNED ABOUT TERRORISM
[10] TURKISH FORCES IN NORTHERN IRAQ
[11] CLASHES AROUND SEMDINLI
[12] GREEK DEMONSTRATION
[13] ATTACK AGAINST GERMAN-TURCO ASSOCIATION
[14] KAZAKH OIL TO BE PRODUCED IN 2003
[15] BOND SUMMIT AT IMKB
[16] AMSTERDAM INVITES ERBAKAN
[17] TURKISH FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN RANK 44TH
[18] SUCCESS OF TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN TURKMENISTAN
[19] WEIGHT-LIFTER HALIL MUTLU WING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
[20] MUSIAD DELEGATION VISITS THE US
[21] ANKARA MAYOR IN WASHINGTON
[22] URGUP AND LARISSA BECOME SISTER-CITIES
[23] NEW NATO TARGET: THE MEDITERRANEAN
[24] WASHINGTON WELCOMES PEACE CONCERT IN CYPRUS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
MAY 22, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning.
[01] US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: TURKEY IS STILL ON THE FRONT LINE
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said that Turkey had
been an important ally in the Cold War version of NATO and had an
important role to play in the post-Cold War version of NATO, as well.
Deputy Secretary of State Talbott, speaking to an audience at the
Atlantic Council of the United States, said that Turkey was still on
the "front line" of many of the important struggles and issues that
face America./ Cumhuriyet/
[02] 'WISE MEN' MEETING
Turkey says obstacles and diffrences exist on the Greek side which
could hold up a meeting of "wise men" from the two countries, Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel told reporters at his weekly press
conference on Wednesday. Akbel added that preparations for the first
wise men meeting would continue. He added that although a joint
report has to be submitted by mid-June, it would not be in any way
binding on the two countries./Cumhuriyet/
[03] UN GOES UNDER COVER FOR DIRECT TALKS
The United Nations will be paying extra attention to Cyprus in the
near future when the two leaders of the communities on the island meet
far away from the attention of the public and especially that of the
press, the Anatolia news agency reported. The direct talks aim to
bring the two leaders of Cyprus together by the end of June or the
beginning of July for a series of talks.
[04] JOURNALIST MUSTAFA EKMEKCI DIES
Mustafa Ekmekci, one of Turkey's most renowned and respected
journalist passed away on Wednesday at the age of 70. Ekmekci was
elected as the president of the Association of Contemporary
Journalists in 1992 and held this job until 1996. Ekmekci, who wrote
eight books had received a number of prizes for his writings, which
covered a wide range of topics on Turkish political and social life
and which over the years brought him a large following of
readers./Cumhuriyet/
[05] NEW LAW: WOMEN CAN KEEP MAIDEN NAME
President Suleyman Demirel has approved changes in the law which will
allow woman to keep their maiden name along with their husbands name
after marriage and enable university professors more career
flexibility, the Anatolia news agency reported.
[06] HOT-LINE SET UP BETWEEN BULGARIAN AND TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTRIES
A direct hot-line will be established between the interior ministries
of Turkey and Bulgaria to be used in emergency cases, the Anatolia
news agency reported. Bulgarian Interior Minister General Col.Bojidar
Popov said that the interior ministers of the two countries had agreed
to establish the link so that the two countries can cooperate in the
fight against international terrorism, organized crime and drug
smuggling.
[07] TURKS ALLOWED TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN FRANCE
The Central Bank has signed a deal with Banque Du Bosphore to enable
Turkish citizens in France to open foreign currency accounts in French
banks and to draw money from those deposits, the Anatolia news agency
reported. According to a statement released by the Central Bank on
Wednesday, Turkish citizens may open accounts with a minimum of 10,000
French francs and will receive 6 percent interest for one year
deposits, and 9 percent for two year deposits. If the money is
withdrawn before the specified time, interest of only two percent will
be paid by the bank.
[08] TURKEY AMONG THE 10 EMERGING GIANTS
The 10 emerging giants of the world economy, a group which includes
Turkey, contribute 30 percent of the world's total production,
according to the World Bank's 1997 World Development Indicators
Report. With a population of 62 million people, Turkey is one of the
smallest of the 10, which altogether have a population of 3.011
billion, 53 percent of the total world population. In regards to GNP
size Turkey came eighth with a GNP of $ 352 billion./Sabah/
[09] SYRIA WARNED ABOUT TERRORISM
Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel has again warned Syria about
giving support to PKK terrorism. Akbel noted that terrorism in the
region would not have reached its present dimensions without the
support of Syria.
The Foreign Ministry warning also noted that despite international
condemnation of the PKK, Syria persisted in providing aid amd
logistical support to the PKK terror organization. The Foreign
Ministry warning to Syria also declared that the Syrian military
exercises now being carried out along the border with Iraq were
nothing more than an excuse to occupy border regions where the PKK was
known to be active. /All papers/
[10] TURKISH FORCES IN NORTHERN IRAQ
As the first seven days come to completion after Turkish forces began
cross border operations in northern Iraq, reports from the region say
that Turkish military forces have so far succeeded in reaching their
planned targets. Whole areas of northern Iraq, including Haftanin,
Pirbela, Sive, Sinde and the Zap valley are all under the control of
the Turkish military.
Military representatives say that groups of PKK terrorists are on the
run after being severely mauled by Turkish units. Fighting however
continues, and the Kurdish IKDP party under the direction of Mesud
Barzani continues to support the Turkish cross border operation. /All
papers/
[11] CLASHES AROUND SEMDINLI
Back on the Turkish side of the border, security forces continue to
force the PKK into submission. Around the town of Semdinli in the
southeast of Turkey, another three PKK members have been killed during
clashes with the security forces. Over in the Cudi mountains PKK
terrorists raided coal mines there, leaving behind propaganda material
and carrying off five mine workers. /Hurriyet/
[12] GREEK DEMONSTRATION
Fanatic Greek youths demonstrated in front of the Ataturk House in
Thessalonica, shouting slogans and damaging property. The Greek
youths took advantage of the Turkish May 19 celebrations to vent their
spleen against all things Turkish, and despite the efforts of Greek
police to contain the disturbance, managed to invade the gardens
surrounding the house where Ataturk was born. /All papers/
[13] ATTACK AGAINST GERMAN-TURCO ASSOCIATION
Yesterday morning inflammable materials were thrown at the
German-Turco Culture Association in the Bad Kreuzhach district of the
Rheinland Pfalz Province in Germany. There were no casualties in the
incident, a statement by the Mainz Security Office said. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] KAZAKH OIL TO BE PRODUCED IN 2003
Following an agreement of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (KTK) signed
in Moscow last week, it is reported that the production of oil planned
to be transported via Turkey will begin in 2003. According to the
Vremya po Grinvic Newspaper published in English and Russian, Turkey
will not obstruct the the KTK project because of the need to keep the
Bosphorus straits clear of petrol tanker traffic. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] BOND SUMMIT AT IMKB
The second ordinary meeting of the European Bond Commission headed by
term-chairman responsible for the Irish Treasury, John Corrigan, will
begin today in Istanbul. Chairman of the Istanbul Commodity and Stock
Exchanges (IMKB) Tuncay Artub furnished information regarding the
meeting and said that on the first day of the two-day meeting,
sub-committee studies would be undertaken and on the second day
reports submitted by the sub-committees would be examined and
information regarding Turkey's financial markets would be given.
/Hurriyet/
[16] AMSTERDAM INVITES ERBAKAN
EU Term-President Holland has officially invited Turkey to a summit to
be attended by all EU 'candidate countries' in Amsterdam on 27 June.
Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok's letter for the invitation of Turkish
Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan arrived in Ankara yesterday.
/Hurriyet/
[17] TURKISH FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN RANK 44TH
Acoording to a public survey made among high-level administrators in
the international field, Turkey ranks 44th in the global competition
list. In addition to the results of the research conducted among
3,000 businessmen throughout the world, in 1997, a Global Competition
Report prepared by the World Economic Forum according to market
trends, Turkey ranked 36th following Taiwan. /Cumhuriyet/
[18] SUCCESS OF TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN TURKMENISTAN
According to the Turkish Ambassador in the Turkmenistan capital of
Ashkabad, Turkish businessmen are carrying out a number of ambitious
projects in Turkmenistan and in this way are supporting the
development of the country. Turkish investors are operating in a wide
range of sectors such as the textile, construction, and tourism
sectors. Appreciating the value of Turkish support, Turkmenistan
President Saparmurat Niyazov has appointed many Turkish businessmen to
key posts in the government. /Cumhuriyet/
[19] WEIGHT-LIFTER HALIL MUTLU WING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
At the European Weight-lifting championship held in Croatia, Turkish
weight-lifter Halil Mutlu has won all the gold medals in his category
and become European champion. According sports journalists, Mutlu is
the new "pocket-Hercules", succeeding Turkish weight-lifting star Naim
Suleymanoglu. /Milliyet/
[20] MUSIAD DELEGATION VISITS THE US
A 100-member delegation of the Association of Independent Businessmen
and Entrepreneurs (MUSIAD) will pay a 12-day visit to the US. MUSIAD
representatives will hold their eighth general assembly meeting in New
York. They are also scheduled to meet with US governmental officials,
as well as representatives of various companies and financial
institutions. /Milliyet/
[21] ANKARA MAYOR IN WASHINGTON
Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek is paying an official visit to the US.
During his visit, Gokcek has so far met with Washigton Mayor Marion
Barry and two influential senators, and discussed problems encountered
in the realization of various urbanization projects. /Milliyet/
[22] URGUP AND LARISSA BECOME SISTER-CITIES
The Greek city of Larissa and the Turkish town of Urgup in Cappadocia
will become sister-cities. A 30-person delegation of representatives
from the Urgup municipality went yesterday to Larissa on the
invitation of Larissa Mayor Hristos Kafes. The associations of
Turkish and Greek engineers and architects will also meet in Athens to
discuss prospects for improving cooperation. /Sabah/
[23] NEW NATO TARGET: THE MEDITERRANEAN
In the aftermath of the Cold War, the region extending from the
Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean is seen by specialists as one of the
most dangerous areas in the world. NATO South Wing Commander Admiral
Joseph Lopez says that tensions in the region related to a wide range
of issues from economic problems to water scarcity, from religious
fundamentalism to migration, could flare up in a real confrontation.
/Sabah/
[24] WASHINGTON WELCOMES PEACE CONCERT IN CYPRUS
US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns welcomed the concert
jointly held by a Turkish and Greek singer as a positive step that
will contribute to resolving disagreements in the region. UN
officials also expressed their pleasure with the concert and said that
in this way both sides had expressed their desire for peace and their
willingness to compromise. /Sabah/
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