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Turkish Press Review, 98-01-26
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
26.01.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] FM CEM VISITS GERMANY
[02] PANGALOS: "NO AEGEAN WARFARE"
[03] HEAVY AGENDA FOR EU MINISTERS' MEETING
[04] TURKEY TO TAKE GREEK CYPRUS BASE CASE TO SECURITY COUNCIL
[05] NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON
[06] TRUCK DRIVERS IN DIFFICULT SITUATION
[07] DISAPPOINTMENT IN WESTERN THRACE
[08] 47 IRAQI FUGITIVES IN EDIRNE
[09] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN VIENNA
[10] THY AND SWISSAIR SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
[11] US WITHDRAWS MILITARY CREDITS
[01] FM CEM VISITS GERMANY
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will start today a visit to Germany.
In a statement prior to his departure, Cem spoke out harshly against
Germany's recent declaration that the PKK organization was not a
terrorist, but a criminal organization. "The fact that the PKK
organization abstains from carrying out terrorist activities in Germany
as it continues with its attacks against innocent citizens in other
countries is no excuse for this German attitude," Cem noted. Touching
upon the international outcry following the recent flow of Middle East
and Asian refugees to Europe, the Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that
in this context European politicians should refrain from striving to
carry the Kurdish problem to international platforms, because such an
approach would only encourage separatism in the Middle East. /Hurriyet/
[02] PANGALOS: "NO AEGEAN WARFARE"
Greek Foreign Ministers Theodoros Pangalos told Milliyet's Sami
Kohen in an exclusive interview over the weekend that he saw no
possibility of warfare between Turkey and Greece. Pangalos proposed the
initiation of a new process for the solution of the Aegean dispute,
telling Kohen that the most easily-solved problems should be addressed
first. Despite all the Greek barriers put in front of Turkey in its bid
for European Union (EU) membership, Pangalos told Kohen that Athens
wants the EU to open its doors to Turkey.
In addition, Pangalos suggested that Turkey take the Kardak issue
to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. "Then we would
remove the main obstacle preventing the distribution of EU assistance to
Turkey. We are suggesting all our disagreements be taken to The Hague.
There cannot be a solution based on force in Ankara-Athens relations"
Pangalos said. /All papers/
[03] HEAVY AGENDA FOR EU MINISTERS' MEETING
European Union (EU) foreign ministers will gather today for the
first time under Britain's latest six-month term in the EU's rotating
presidency. Their agenda ranges from the union's relations with China,
Russia, the US, Iran and Turkey, to assessing the state of the Middle
East peace process, Algeria's descent into violence and a recent influx
of Kurdish refugees into the EU.
[04] TURKEY TO TAKE GREEK CYPRUS BASE CASE TO SECURITY COUNCIL
Turkey said on Saturday it would complain to the UN Security
Council about a Greek Cypriot military base under construction on the
divided island of Cyprus. "We are bringing this dangerous developments
to the attention of the UN secretary-general and the head of the
Security Council" the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It said
Ankara would stand by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC),
separated from the Greek Cypriot south by a UN-patrolled buffer zone.
"Turkey will continue to take the necessary measures against any
threat to the security of the TRNC as well as its own soil" the
statement said. The Greek Cypriot base was formally handed over to
government authorities by the contractors on Saturday. The base, on the
island's western coast, will be used by Greek air force planes under a
joint defense pact between the Greek Cypriot government and Athens, its
closest ally. /All papers/
[05] NEW TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO WASHINGTON
Bari Ilkin, Turkish Ambassador to The Hague, will be appointed as
ambassador of Turkey in Washington. Ambassador to Bonn, Volkan Vural
will be appointed permanent representative to the UN in New York, Nabi
Sensoy will become Turkey's new Ambassador in Moscow. /Hurriyet/
[06] TRUCK DRIVERS IN DIFFICULT SITUATION
It is reported that 600 Turkish trucks have been waiting for 32
days at Syria's Kamisli Customs Gate. Truck drivers, who entered Syria
and bought crude petroleum there, cannot re-enter Turkey because the
duration of a "Border Trade" agreement has expired. /Sabah/
[07] DISAPPOINTMENT IN WESTERN THRACE
A change to be made by the Greek government in the citizensip law
has disappointed the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace.
Minority representatives noted that Athens' decision to annul the 19th
article of the citizenship law did not satisfy the Turkish minority
because this article, which aims at Turks living in Greece and depriving
thousands of people of citizensip, has not officially been lifted yet.
/Sabah/
[08] 47 IRAQI FUGITIVES IN EDIRNE
47 Iraqi fugitives, waiting to cross the border illegally in the
Uzunkopru district of Edirne, have been detained and sent to the
Foreigners Department of the Edirne Security Directorate. Sixty
Albanian and Kurdish refugees were also arrested yesterday along the
Adriatic coasts of Italy. /Sabah/
[09] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN VIENNA
Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi yesterday
went to Vienna, the capital of Austria, to attend a Military Doctrine
Seminar of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE). During the seminar, which will begin today and last until
Wednesday, high-level commanders and civilian strategy experts will take
up various military issues including defense policies. It is reported
that representatives of the countries participating in the seminar will
also be able to hold bilateral meetings. /Sabah/
[10] THY AND SWISSAIR SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Turkish Airlines (THY) on Saturday signed an agreement at the prime
minister's residence for cooperation in services with the Swissair
Group. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that it was a very important
partnership. Cem Kozlu, the head of the board of directors of the
Turkish Airlines and Hannes Goetz, the head of the board of directors of
Swissair signed the deal. Yilmaz in his speech, pointed out that
globalization has similar formations in the aviation sector as well. As
a result, Yilmaz said companies are trying to set up partnerships to
increase competitiveness. Swiss Amabassador Andre Faivet, chairman of
the Directorate of Privatization Ugur Bayar and a small group of guests
attended the ceremony.
[11] US WITHDRAWS MILITARY CREDITS
The US Government is withdrawing its military credit for Greece and
Turkey, according to the AFP French News Agency. The Agency reported
that this decision was taken in line with current US government measures
to cut back expenditures.
It was also reported that there had been no official announcement
about the decision but the Agency had been informed by an official in
the US arms industry. /Hurriyet/
END
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