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Turkish Press Review, 98-04-30
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
30.04.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] US: PKK IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
[02] ELECTIONS AFTER MAY 1999
[03] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES
[04] ROBIN COOK TO VISIT TURKEY
[05] US EXPANDS TEXTILES QUOTA IMPLEMENTATION
[06] FOREIGN MINISTRY EVALUATES SAKIK'S REVELATIONS
[07] MILITARY CLAMPS DOWN ON PKK
[08] ISRAEL: "TURKEY IS IMPORTANT"
[09] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[10] CETIN IN US
[11] "MODERN TURKEY"
[12] 'BOSPHORUS MEETING' IN LONDON
[13] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL IN ANKARA
[14] ANKARA: PANGALOS' REMARKS OVER ISLANDS RAISE TENSION
[15] COLLECTION OF SACRIFICED ANIMAL SKINS
[16] CILLER IN BOSTON
[17] JAPANESE ROYALTY TO VISIT TURKEY IN MAY
[18] DEMIREL OPENS PRIMARY SCHOOL IN ISTANBUL
[19] TURKEY HOSTS 'GLOBAL CHILDREN'S WALK'
[20] CB CANCELS SHORT-TERM OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS
[21] PHILOSOPHY OLYMPICS
[22] AWARD FOR TURKISH LECTURER
[23] GALLEY OF ABDULAZIZ GOING TO LISBON
[24] TURK WINS DUTCH AWARD
[25] BARZANI: "PKK MEMBERS COUNTINUE SHELTER IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
[26] ANKARA FILM FESTIVAL OPENS
[27] NEW WORK ON CANAKKALE MONUMENT
[01] US: PKK IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
The US administration has again declared that the PKK is "one of
the most dangerous international terrorist organizations" and that
Syria is supporting the PKK. Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, North Korea
and Cuba are also among the countries supporting international
terrorism. In an annual report now published by the US government, it
is pointed out that Greece shows tolerance to the PKK terrorist
organization. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] ELECTIONS AFTER MAY 1999
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
and Chairman of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) Husamettin Cindoruk
convened yesterday at the residence of the Prime Minister. State
Minister Husamettin Ozkan from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and
Deputy Prime Minister Ismet Sezgin also attended the meeting. They
agreed that "early general elections will not be held before May 1999
and that there will be no new election government". /Cumhuriyet/
[03] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES
The National Security Council, chaired by President Suleyman
Demirel, convened yesterday for its usual monthly meeting in which the
issue of measures to be taken against Islamic fundamentalism topped
the agenda. After the meeting Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Democratic
Left Party Chairman Bulent Ecevit and Democratic Turkey Party
Husamettin Cindoruk, who are the top level representatives of the
parties constituting the coalition government, proceeded on to the
official Prime Ministry Residence where they discussed suggestions put
forward by Republican People's Party chairman Deniz Baykal who
proposed an early election. /Hurriyet/
[04] ROBIN COOK TO VISIT TURKEY
European Union Term President, and British Foreign Minister Robin
Cook will visit Turkey before a planned meeting on May 25 of the
Cooperation Council in order to revive the Turkish-EU Cooperation
Council which could fould-up because Greece still vetos the economic
support that the EU had promised to Turkey. Meanwhile, a Turkish
delegation in London, headed by Foreign Ministry official Uluc
Ozulker, has started contacts with British officials concerning
Britain's EU term presidency and the EU-Turkish Cooperation Council.
/Hurriyet/
[05] US EXPANDS TEXTILES QUOTA IMPLEMENTATION
The US has expanded the textiles quota implementation for Turkey.
This expansion will include five product categories and last for seven
years. State Minister Isin Celebi noted yesterday that this expansion
will create an additional $80 million in exports in 1998.
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] FOREIGN MINISTRY EVALUATES SAKIK'S REVELATIONS
The latest alleged revelations by Semdin Sakik, the second leader
of the PKK terrorist organization, stating that the PKK was
responsible for the 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf
Palme, are being evaluated by Turkish Foreign Ministry officials.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Necati Utkan held a press
conference yesterday and said that the questioning of Sakik has been
completed and that Sakik has been transfered to the State Security
Court (DGM). Utkan noted that a number of state institutions were
involved in enquiries into Sakik's statements. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] MILITARY CLAMPS DOWN ON PKK
Thirty-eight people have been killed since the renewal of
security operations in the Southeast by the nearly 40,000-strong
security forces against the remaining members of the PKK terrorist
organization beginning on April 25. Military officials say that
security forces have surrounded 400 armed terrorists in a mountainous,
triangular area located between the provinces of Diyarbakir and
Bingol, in the biggest operations against the PKK since 1984.
Military spokesman and operations division commander Brig.Gen.Hayri
Kivrikoglu briefed reporters, saying that the main purpose of the
operations was to destroy one of the biggest PKK strongholds in the
Southeast.
The general said that the military had so far killed 35
terrorists and captured eight, adding that there had been three
military casualties. The current operations are being supported by
helicopter gunships and Air Force jets. /All papers/
[08] ISRAEL: "TURKEY IS IMPORTANT"
Israeli Consul to Turkey Eli Shaked said that close relations
between Turkey and Israel benefit the region. Shaked added that
Turkey was very important to Israel, celebrating its 50th anniversary
today. Current agreement between Turkey and Israel, two democratic
countries in the Middle East share common denominators with the US,
which is beneficial for the Middle East. /Milliyet/
[09] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
Chief of the Turkish desk of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), Martin Hardy and the delegation accompanying him met with
General Secretary of the Banks Union, Ekrem Keskin, yesterday in
Istanbul. After the meeting Hardy evaluated the meeting as being
"very useful" and added that they had exchanged information about bank
structuring and technical details about financial sector. Completing
their contacts in Istanbul, the delegation flew on to Ankara the same
day. /Sabah/
[10] CETIN IN US
Parliamentary Speaker, Hikmet Cetin continues his visit in the
US. Today, Cetin will be given an honorary doctorate by Atlanta
University in Florida. Later he will attend a ceremony for handing
over the Turkish flag which was sent into space during a by NASA
project. /Milliyet/
[11] "MODERN TURKEY"
Editor of the Swedish Dagens Nyheter newspaper Hans Bergstrom has
accused the European Union (EU) of making big mistakes in relations
with Turkey. In an article published yesterday Bergstrom said:
"Turkey is a modern country. The EU Luxembourg decision has deeply
hurt Turkey. The EU applies double standards and takes the side of
Greece. How can the EU member countries easily pardon Greece, which
continuously attacks Turkey and treats with injustice the Turkish
minority in Western Thrace?"
In his article Bergstrom also criticised the Swedish government
because of its anti-Turkish attitudes. /Sabah/
[12] 'BOSPHORUS MEETING' IN LONDON
Turkey and Russia will meet at an International Maritime
Organization (IMO) meeting in London on 11 May to discuss the
Bosphorus issue.
Government advisor on the Bosphorus issue and former Navy Forces
Commander Guven Erkaya and a delegation will represent Turkey at the
meeting. The Turkish delegation will try to win approval of the
Bosphorus Regulations which were put into effect in July 1996.
/Milliyet/
[13] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL IN ANKARA
The Turkish-Japanese Business Council, acting under the Foreign
Economic Relations Committee, will hold its 11th meeting in Ankara on
May 4, the Anatolia news agency reported. The Foreign Economic
Relations Committee said the sides will evaluate the joint business
visit of Business Council and its interlocutor organization KEIDANREN
to Central Asia and Caucasia. Also cooperation facilities aimed at
Russia and the Balkan countries and potential areas of cooperation
between Turkey and Japan will be evaluated during the meeting. Nearly
150 businessmen from each country will participate in the meeting.
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and State Minister Gunes Taner will speak
at the opening ceremony of the meeting.
[14] ANKARA: PANGALOS' REMARKS OVER ISLANDS RAISE TENSION
Turkey said yesterday that Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros
Pangalos' recent remarks over some islands in the Aegean were a
distortion of historical realities which only serves to the further
exacerbate Turco-Greek relations. "Greece cannot claim sovereignty
over those geographical formations in the Aegean, which are not
accorded to Greece in international agreements" Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Necati Utkan said yesterday. /All papers/
[15] COLLECTION OF SACRIFICED ANIMAL SKINS
The authorization to collect the skins of sacrificed animals has
been withdrawn from the Turkish Aeronautics Institution (THK) and
transferred to the Social Cooperation and Solidarity Foundation. The
statue was prepared by the Interior Ministry and published in
yesterday's Official Gazette. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] CILLER IN BOSTON
True Path Party (DYP) Leader Tansu Ciller made a speech about
Turkey's political problems at the World Women Leaders Summit in
Boston, Massachusetts yesterday. Ciller said: "I believe the
Islamist vote in Turkey is below 10 %. But the Welfare Party (RP) got
20 % in the 1995 elections because of domestic economic hardships".
Ciller also noted that the anti-terror struggle would continue because
of Turkey's neighbours. /All papers/
[17] JAPANESE ROYALTY TO VISIT TURKEY IN MAY
One of the top figures in the Japanese royal family, Prince
Tomohito, will pay a visit to Turkey in early May on the occasion of
the opening of a Turco-Japanese Cultural Centre in Ankara. Prince
Tomohito will arrive in Ankara on May 2 and will stay in Turkey until
May 5, a Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday.
[18] DEMIREL OPENS PRIMARY SCHOOL IN ISTANBUL
President Suleyman Demirel opened the Enka Primary School in
Istinye, Istanbul yesterday and urged private companies and
businessmen to help finance new schools in Turkey. President Demirel,
accompanied by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, later laid the foundation
for the second phase of construction of a new culture and convention
centre in Maslak, Istanbul. /All papers/
[19] TURKEY HOSTS 'GLOBAL CHILDREN'S WALK'
On April 27, Turkey staged its own part of the "global children's
walk" which protects and endorses the rights of child workers. 40
children from different countries joined a walk to Ankara, the
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The global children's walk
began in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines on October 17 and
will end on June 2 in Geneva.
[20] CB CANCELS SHORT-TERM OPEN MARKET OPERATIONS
The Turkish Central Bank said yesterday that it will cancel
short-term open market operations due to a policy change in daily
liquidity management. "The Central Bank is changing its daily
liquidity management policy and as of May 4, 1998, the bank is
refraining from overnight repo and reverse repos unless an
extraordinary volatility in the short-term interest rates emerges" the
bank said in a statement. /Cumhuriyet/
[21] PHILOSOPHY OLYMPICS
During the "International Philosophy Olympics" held in Romania,
Cevat Yildirim from the Ankara Private Tevfik Fikret High School and
students from Saint Benoit High School, Istanbul, who represented
Turkey, ranked third. Poland ranked first and Romania came second.
/Cumhuriyet/
[22] AWARD FOR TURKISH LECTURER
Prof.Cigdem Kagitcibasi, lecturer from Koc University's
Psychology Department, will be given the "1998 High Scientific
Contribution Award" for her contributions to science by the
International Psychology Association. The award will be presented to
her with a ceremony at the 24th International Psychology Seminar to be
held in San Francisco on August 9, 1998. /Cumhuriyet/
[23] GALLEY OF ABDULAZIZ GOING TO LISBON
A galley belonging to the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz has been sent
to Portugal to be exhibited in the EXPO '98 Fair to be held in Lisbon
between 22 May and 30 September. In addition to the galley, 93 works
of art will also be sent to Lisbon. /Cumhuriyet/
[24] TURK WINS DUTCH AWARD
Adnan Dalkiran, chairman of the Culture and Arts Foundation in
Amsterdam, has been awarded the "Dutch Kingdom Medal", presented to
individuals who contribute services to society. Dalkiran, who is
working as a "social advisor" in Amsterdam, was a member of the
Assembly of the Amsterdam Municipality between 1994-1996. /Sabah/
[25] BARZANI: "PKK MEMBERS COUNTINUE SHELTER IN NORTHERN IRAQ"
In a statement to the "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, head of the
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) Mesut Barzani said that about
500 members of the PKK terrorist organization were sheltering in
Northern Iraq. He noted that the PKK members continued to seek
shelter in northern Iraq without being discouraged by the latest
operation that was carried out by the Turkish forces to apprehend PKK
leader Semdin Sakik who had surrendered earlier to the IKDP.
/Hurriyet/
[26] ANKARA FILM FESTIVAL OPENS
The 10th Ankara International Film Festival will start tomorrow.
During the festival, which will last until the 10th of May, both short
and full length films and animations will be screened. A national
full-length films contest has also been organized for the festival.
/Hurriyet/
[27] NEW WORK ON CANAKKALE MONUMENT
Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay has initiated new work to
complete the Canakkale Monument project which started to be in 1992.
The work on this monument, for those who died in the First World War
Canakkale Battle, will be financed by the Istanbul Stock Exchange.
/Hurriyet/
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