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Turkish Press Review, 98-03-18Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>18.03.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] OIC SUMMIT ENDSForeign Ministers attending the Qatar meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), ended the meeting on Tuesday by issuing a final comminuque. A draft resolution also "condemns strongly the large-scale repression, measures of discrimination and violations of human rights" in Yugoslavia's Kosovo region. The resolution also urges an immediate dialogue between the parties without preconditions.Turkish Foreign minister Ismail Cem, who returned home yesterday, said that the suggestions put forward at the gathering were of great importance for the future of the region and the world. /Sabah/ [02] 'HONORARY DOCTORATE' TO BAGABANDIMongolian President Natsagiin Babagandi was yesterday presented with an honorary doctorate with the approval of the of Ankara University Senate for his contributions to improving political and cultural relations between Turkey and Mongolia. Turkish President Suleyman Demirel also attended the ceremony and conveyed his thanks and appreciation for all that his Mongolian counterpart was doing to further Turkish-Mongolian relations.On Tuesday, Bagabandi visited the Turkish Aviation Industries (TAI) plant near Ankara and attended a briefing by TAI representatives./Sabah/ [03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL BRIEFED BY THE GENERAL STAFFThe General Staff yesterday gave to President Suleyman Demirel a yearly briefing on national security. The military pointed out that fundamentalist trends were the greatest threat to Turkish security and stressed their determination to fight against religious reactionism. Demirel was also given details about the struggle against the PKK terrorist organization. General Staff representatives noted that the organization has suffered heavy blows as the result of successful operations by the Turkish security forces, and discussed with Demirel reports about support of foreign countries to the organization.After the briefing, President Demirel received Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and leader of the junior DTP coalition partner, Husamettin Cindoruk. /Cumhuriyet/ 83rd ANNIVERSARY OF CANAKKALE VICTORY The approaching 83rd anniversary of the Canakkale Victory, a turning point in the War of Liberation, will be marked with nation-wide celebrations. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will also participate in the celebrations. (Cumhuriyet) [04] GREEK OPPOSITION TO BALKAN PEACE FORCECumhuriyet daily newspaper reports that last month Greek Defense Minister Akis Chohacopulos sent letters to his counterparts in the US, Italy, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Albania, and Slovenia suggesting that the Balkan Peace Force to protect peace and security in the Balkans, as suggested by Turkey, should be based in Greece and that Turkey should be excluded from the initiative.Turkey in turn, continues to press for the establishment of a multi-national peace force in the Balkans empowered to intervene in cases of emergency. A related meeting with officials from the Balkan countries has been discussing for three days details related to the establishment of the Peace Force. (Cumhuriyet) [05] PAPANDREAU: TURKEY SHOULD JOIN EUROPEGreek Deputy Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreau said that Turkey should join the European Union. According to the Greek minister, Turkey should exert efforts to meet the requirements for EU full membership and should accept the jurisdiction of the Hague International Court of Justice in disagreements with Greece. Papandreau blamed Turkey for increases in tensions in Turco-Greek relations. /Cumhuriyet/[06] 'THE EUROPEAN' PRAISES TURKEYThe European, one of the leading British newspapers, said that Turkey had the only dynamic economy in the region, and compared the Turkish economy to the economy of Sweden. The paper noted that the EU should exert every effort to have Turkey join the Union and said that Ankara was right in reacting strongly to EU decisions to exclude Turkey from the EU expansion process. /Hurriyet/[07] BRITAIN: TURKS SHOULD ATTEND CYPRUS-EU TALKSBritish Ambassador to Southern Cyprus David Madded said that Turkish Cypriots should participate in discussions for EU membership scheduled to begin between representatives of the Union and Greek Cypriot officials on March 31. He added that all EU member countries wanted to see Turkish Cypriots participate in the talks and added that there must be a way for reaching a compromise with the Turkish Cypriots. /Milliyet/[08] GERMAN STATE MINISTER: "TURKEY CANNOT BE IGNORED"German State Minister Helmut Schaefer, said that Turkey should be included in the European Union. In a conference on "cooperation in the Mediterranean region", organized by the Bertelsmann Group, one of the press giants of Europe, Schaefer yesterday held private talks with M.Ali Yalcındag, Head of the Dogan Media Group. Schaefer told Yalcındag that he believed that current unease created by remarks by Prime Minister Yılmaz, would soon be forgotten because the long-standing friendly ties between Germany and Turkey could not easily be broken by diplomatic strains of this nature. He also added: "Turkey is a part of Europe. It is not possible to leave Turkey out." /Milliyet/[09] MESSAGE OF PEACE FROM ARMENIARobert Kocharian, a front runner in the Armenia general elections and expected to win the second round of elections to be held in Armenia on 30 March, has sent warm messages from the Armenian capital of Yerevan to Turkey. Kocharian, after meeting with DTP deputy Jefi Kamhi who is in Yerevan with other observers from the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, sent a message through Kamhi that he was in favour of dialogue.Kocharian, who is expected to win the second round of elections following his 40% victory in the first round, made unexpectedly positive statements on relations with Turkey and the Karabagh problem. / Hurriyet/ [10] 'ATATURK AND TURKISH REPUBLIC INFORMATION BANK' OPENSThe 'Ataturk and Turkish Republic Information Bank,' established by the Turkish Democracy Foundation in cooperation with the Turkey Promotion Fund and Forsnet, opens on March 19 on the Internet. Turkish Democracy Foundation Chairman, Bulent Akarcali, stated that the bank, which will offer services via the Internet, is the biggest, most informative bank comprehensive information bank in Turkey. He added that information services, which is currently presented only in Turkish and English, will be available in other languages and Turkish dialects in the future.[11] TURKISH EXPORTS TO CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARYNearly 100 exporters will go to the Czech Republic and Hungary to promote Turkish export products after the signing of free trade agreements, reports the Anatolia news agency. This visit, staged with the coordination of the Foreign trade Undersecretariat and organizated by the of Aegean Exporters Union will be realized between March 22 and 27. Foreign Trade Undersecretary Yavuz Ege will head the delegation.Seminars on trade relations and business and investment facilities will be held and businessmen will hold bilateral contacts within the context of the visit programme. [12] EU SUPPORT FOR EIGHT YEAR COMPULSORY EDUCATIONAccording to the Anatolia news agency, the European Union (EU) has offered support for Turkey's eight year compulsory education project, to which Turkey attributes great importance. The EU is extending 80 million ECU out of the 272 million ECU MEDA fund, allocated to Turkey for the 1998-1999 period, to be used for projects contributing to the eight year compulsory education programme.It is also reported that there will be no regional limitations and that investment will be made to further extend the benefits of the 80 million ECU (86 million dollars) which will be given as a grant. Officials stress that this 80 million ECU will be used for the purchasing of school equipment and computers rather than the construction of schools. [13] "CRISEX-98" MANEUVERS TO BE HELD IN ANTALYAThere will be a Western European Union (WEU) meeting held on March 23 and 27 in preparations for the WEU ""Crisex-98" exercises planned for November 20 and 26, 1998 in Antalya.The General Staff General Secretariat said yesterday that "Crisex-98" will be the second "crisis administration" maneuver held by WEU headquarters. Turkey will participate in this maneuver on an equal footing with other WEU countries. Representatives from Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Sweeden, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Greece will participate in the opening meetings. Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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