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Turkish Press Review, 98-04-24Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>24.04.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] PM YILMAZ GOES TO AUSTRIAPrime Minister Mesut Yilmaz went yesterday evening to the Austrian city of Salzburg where he will participate in the 18th Party Leaders' Summit of the European Democrats' Union (EDU). /Cumhuriyet/[02] CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATEDThe April 23 International Children's Festival brought the world's children together. More than 1,200 children from 44 countries asked for peace. As they sent their best wishes to the world they enjoyed their one-day festival in Ankara. /All papers/[03] POLLS IN MARCH '99, ELECTION GOVERNMENT IN OCTOBERTurkey will go to early polls on the last Sunday of March 1999, and an election government will be set-up this October. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal told a news conference following a working lunch with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz that he and the prime minister had reached a consensus to hold local and parliamentary elections on March 28, 1999. The CHP leader also disclosed that he and the prime minister were in full agreement to bring-in an election government headed by an independent deputy. He said that at a date to be decided after October 1, the coalition government would be replaced with a cabinet headed by an independent. This, Baykal said, would be a guarantee that there would not be an election economy in the country from October to March.Following the Yilmaz-Baykal meeting, Yilmaz met with Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at his office in Parliament to convey to him the results of his meeting with Baykal. After his meeting with Ecevit, which lasted for 20 minutes, Yilmaz stated that he and his colleagues would establish a study group with the parliamentary group deputy chairmen, and that they would reach agreement on bills which were to be passed in Parliament before the summer recess. /All papers/ [04] TURKEY AND TRNC REAFFIRM DETERMINATION ON CYPRUSTurkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday declared that they would maintain their firm stance on a solution to the Cyprus problem and would further enhance rapprochement and cooperation between themselves. A joint declaration was issued yesterday at the end of a meeting between Turkish and TRNC delegations, headed by presidents Suleyman Demirel and Rauf Denktas. The declaration stressed that the TRNC would continue to exist as an independent and sovereign state, adding that all relations between Turkey and the TRNC would be further deepened and strengthened.The declaration harshly criticized the European Union's (EU) decision to start accession talks, which it deemed illegal, with Greek Cyprus, dubbing the EU Luxembourg summit at which the decision was taken as an "historic mistake". It stressed that the consequences of this process would in no way influence the TRNC or affect Turkey's rights and obligations over the island, stemming from the 1959-1960 founding treaties. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/ [05] KARADAYI: "PKK HAS ALMOST BEEN DESTROYED"Responding to questions by journalists during a cocktail held yesterday to commemorate the 78th opening anniversary of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Chief of the General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi said that he was confident that PKK terrorism would soon be brought to an end. Karadayi told a group of journalists that the PKK terrorist organization had almost been destroyed and that members of the organization were in a panic trying to save themselves. /Cumhuriyet/[06] HAKTANIR: "SYRIA, GREECE, GREEK-CYPRUS SUPPORT TERRORISM"The recent increase in diplomatic traffic between the US and Turkey continues this week with the visit to Washington of Korkmaz Haktanir, Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs. In the light of new information provided by one of the PKK terrorist organization's leaders Semdin Sakik, there is no question that Syria provides not only logistical but operational support to the PKK, Haktanir told the Turkish press on Wednesday. The PKK is a Kurdish terrorist group which received heavy blows recently from the Turkish military and has been listed as a "foreign terrorist group" by the US State Department.Besides Syria, Greece and Greek Cyprus also give support to the PKK, Haktanir said, and he further emphasized that the unprecedented and well-documented support for terrorism by a NATO-member neighbour country will be brought to the attention of US officials during his meetings with them. Haktanir has already met with the National Security Council's Jim Steinberg. In the days ahead, he is scheduled to hold talks with State Department officials including Strobe Talbott and Haktanir's counterpart Thomas Pickering. /Milliyet-Sabah-Hurriyet/ [07] OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN THE SOUTHEASTTurkish Armed Forces operations are continuing in the southeast of Turkey. Following the Mehmet Isikal operation in the Sirnak-Hakkari-Van region, a new operation has been started in the Saggoze region Diyarbakir-Mus-Bingol triangle. Almost 10,000 members of the security forces are involved in the operation.Military sources report that the operation has been set-up in line with information revealed the interrogation of Semdin Sakik, a PKK terrorist. It was also noted that the Air Forces is supporting ground forces. /Sabah/ [08] FINANSBANK OPENS OFFICE IN RUSSIATurkey has been strengthening its place in the financial market in Russia. Finanbank, which is the fourth Turkish bank operatingin Russia, has opened a branch in Moscow. The opening ceremony was attended by State Minister Gunes Taner.After the opening ceremony, Gunes Taner was given a honorary doctorate by the Plehanov Economic Institution. Today, Taner will meet with the Chairman of Gazprom, Rem Vyahirev, and tomorrow he will attend a foundation laying ceremony for a second uotlet for the Ramstore supermarket chain, constructed by the Turkish Koc-Enka partnership. /Milliyet/Hurriyet_ [09] MORE AMERICAN TOURISTS IN TURKEYAccording to the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB), the number of American tourists visiting Turkey has increased in recent years. It has reported that America was the 10th biggest Turkish tourism market in 1990, but moved up to fifth place in 1996. TURSAB also noted that American tourists visiting Turkey had high level incomes and that they preferred cultural tourism instead of the classic sea-sun-sand holiday and that they visited historical places.Chairman of TURSAB, Talha Camas, said that Turkey realised a 14 % growth in tourism last year and had reached its targets in tourism revenues. /Milliyet/ [10] ALIYEV: TIME TO REALIZE BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECTCumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said that Haydar Aliyev has given instructions to realize the Baku-Ceyhan project. Speaking to press members about his Azerbaijan visit last week Ersumer said that the results of feasibility studies on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline had been presented to the Azerbaijani side. He said that official delegations from both sides would discuss the most beneficial alternatives shown in the feasibility studies. Ersumer also noted that there were Turkish firms prepared to undertake the financing of the project. /Sabah/Hurriyet_[11] DEMIREL WELCOMES THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF NEW ZEALANDPresident Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that the visit to Turkey of Sir Michael Hardie Boys, the Governor General of New Zealand will contribute to the further strengthening of bilateral relations established 80 years ago, the Anatolia news agency reported. Speaking at the official ceremony held to mark the visit of Sir Boys to Turkey, President Suleyman Demirel said that bilateral relations will be reviewed during the visit.[12] TURKEY BECOMES A FULL-MEMBER OF OECD EXPORT CREDITS GROUPIt was reported on Wednesday by the Anatolia news agency that Turkey had become a full member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Export Credits and Credit Guarantees Group. The Turkish Eximbank also said in a written statement that the full membership application of Turkey in 1994 was accepted by the OECD Export Credits and credit Guarantees Group during a meeting in Paris on April 21.[13] RESEARCH INSTITUTION INDICATES REDUCTION IN NUCLEAR WEAPONSAn extensive survey carried out in Sweden by the International Peace Reseacrh Institution reveals that the number of nuclear weapons have been vastly reduced in the world. The research also reports that US nuclear missiles in Turkey has been reduced from 467 to 15, while there are only 10 US nuclear missiles in Greece. /Cumhuriyet/[14] BRAIN OLYMPICS TO BE HELD IN TURKEYTurkey will host an important olympics this year. The International Intelligence Olympics Committee has decided that the "World Intelligence Games Championship and Congress" will be held in Istanbul on 22-27 September. The Turkish Brain Team ranked third during the championship held in 1996 in Holland. /Hurriyet/[15] PROTOCOL BETWEEN TURKEY AND CHINAA 12th term protocol of the Turkey-People's Republic of China Joint Economic and Trade Committee has been signed in Beijing. State Minister Isin Celebi signed the protocol on behalf of Turkey, while Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Shi Guangsheng signed on behalf of China. Prior to the signing of the protocol, Celebi met with Chinese State Council member Wu Yi and received information from her about the Chinese economy. Celebi noted that China had succeeded in reducing its domestic inflation rate from 21 % to 3 %.According to the protocol signed between Turkey and China, trade volume between the two countries will be increased to $1.2 billion. Exports from Turkey to China will also be increased. Chinese investors will make investments in Turkey and Turkish banks will open branches in China. A fair, in which Turkish construction materials and contracting services will be exhibited, will be opened in China in early 1999. Completing his contacts in Beijing, Celebi proceeded on to Shanghai, which is the industrial and trade centre of China. /Hurriyet-Sabah/ [16] SEALS TO BE DELIVERED TODAYTurkish businessman, Nezih Erdem, who has purchased the personal seals worth TL 22 billion whcih once belong to Abdulhamit II during a public auction held in Paris, will deliver the seals to the Topkapi Palace Museum with a ceremony to be also attended by Turkish Culture Minister Istemihan Talay today. Meanwhile, within the framework of the activities for the 700th anniversary of the foundation of the Ottoman Empire, an exhibition in which Ottoman historical treasures will be presented, will be held at the Versailles Palace in Paris in 1999. /Hurriyet/[17] D-8 OFFICIALS DISCUSS MORE COOPERATIONSenior foreign ministry officials of the Developing 8 (D-8) nations met in Istanbul yesterday to discuss areas of cooperation, including the development of a joint project for the production of special crop-spraying agricultural aircraft, State Minister Ahat Andican said. The D-8 countries include Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Nigeria. Andican noted that more cooperation among the eight nations was necessary to speed up economic development. The meeting will end today. /Milliyet/[18] VATICAN ORGANIZES 'FIFTH WORLD FAITH TOURISM CONGRESS'The "Fifth World Faith Tourism Congress" organized by the Vatican will be held in Ephesus from May 5-7. Nearly 200 religious clerics and tour operators are expected to attend the congress, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.[19] AYKUT TO GO TO NEW YORKTurkish Minister of Environment, Imren Aykut, will attend a meeting of the United Nations Sustainable Development Commission to be held on April 28-May 2 in New York, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.[20] TURKCELL SIGNS $500 MLN CREDIT ACCORD FOR LICENCETurkish mobile pehone service operator Turkcell said yesterday that it has signed a $500 million credit agreement to finance purchase of a 25-year operating license. Turkcell said its partners signed an accord along with a banking consortium led by Bankers Trust and also including JP Morgan and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. /All papers/[21] ISRAELI PAPER CLAIMS TURKEY, ISRAEL PLANNING MISSILE PROJECTSThough not based on official sources, the Israeli "Haaretz" newspaper reported yesterday that Israel and Turkey had signed an accord to work jointly in a project aiming to determine whether or not Turkey should be protected against ballistic missiles. Furthermore, Turkish sources in Israel noted that although this issue was on the agenda of last month's meetings in Ankara, no agreement had yet been signed. /Cumhuriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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