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Turkish Press Review, 98-05-29
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
29.05.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURCO-GERMAN RELATIONS REVIVED
[02] TURKISH REACTION TO FRENCH PARLIAMENT
[03] ECEVIT TO VISIT CHINA
[04] EUROPEAN TRANSPORT MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS
[05] US SUPPORT FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
[06] DIAMOND SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
[07] US INTEREST IN GAP
[08] BRITISH DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY
[09] PRIVATIZATION IN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION
[10] 20 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT
[12] AZERI NATIONAL DAY
[13] TRADE MEETING IN ISTANBUL
[14] $922 MILLION IN PRIVATIZATION REVENUE
[15] FOREIGN CREDIT FOR DEMIRBANK
[16] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
[17] TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONS
[18] 167 KG HEROINE SEIZED
[01] TURCO-GERMAN RELATIONS REVIVED
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his German counterpart Klaus
Kinkel met yesterday in Luxembourg where they are attending NATO
meetings. Both of the ministers decided to disregard unpleasant debates
between the two countries and seek ways for upgrading political and
economic relations. Referring to an upcoming meeting of the European
Union in Cardiff, Kinkel noted during a press briefing that Germany
would give support for Turkey adding, however, that this support might
be less than Turkey desired. Kinkel also commented that Greece was in
an isolated position in its policies against Turkey in the EU and could
not gain backing from the other 14 full members of the EU. /Milliyet/
[02] TURKISH REACTION TO FRENCH PARLIAMENT
During a meeting with his French counterpart, Hubert Vedrine, Turkish
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem gave a message to France yesterday that all
ties between Turkey and France would be ruined should a draft resolution
about the so-called massacre of Armenians by Turks during World War I,
be approved by French parliamentarians. Cem also noted that this
resolution would back terrorist activities by ultra-nationalist
Armenians against Turks and especially Turkish diplomats in France. In
answer, the French Minister said that the issue was the Parliament's
business and the French government did not back the draft resolution.
The Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey made an announcement yesterday and
expressed the displeasure of Armenians in Turkey with the claims of
genocide. Further, the reaction of French parliamentarian Jacques Myard
from the main opposition party of France, the Republican Union RPR, was
in harmony with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. Responding to a
question by Milliyet newspaper's correspondent in France why he tried to
halt draft resolution in previous sessions despite the large Armenian
population in his constituency, he remarked that such issues must be
dealt by historians, not politicians. /Milliyet/
[03] ECEVIT TO VISIT CHINA
Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister, will leave for
China today to hold official contacts upon an invitation from Cien
Chichen, Deputy Prime Minister of China, the Anatolia news agency
reported.
[04] EUROPEAN TRANSPORT MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS
Delivering a speech on the last day of a European Transportation
Ministers' Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, Turkish Minister of Transport
Necdet Menzir said yesterday that the visa problem of Turkish drivers,
who transport cargo and passangers, should be resolved. Menzir said:
"We demand that at least a one-year term visa should be given to
drivers. Turkish drivers pass through many European countries.
Therefore this issue should be solved as soon as possible". /Hurriyet/
[05] US SUPPORT FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
Chairman of the American Eximbank, James A.Harmon, has stated that if
necessary, they will extend unlimited support for the Turkish Caspian
Sea Project including the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline. Harmon, who
attended an "At the crossroads of the world" conference in Istanbul,
pointed out the importance of the Caspian Sea Project for the world and
said: "We have extended credit worth $6.2 billion to the regional
countries in the last five years, $2.2 billion of which was extended to
Turkey". /Hurriyet/
[06] DIAMOND SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
A Diamond Summit organized by the Diamond High Council in Antwerp,
Belgium, and the Istanbul Chamber of Jewellers, will be held in Istanbul
on November 17, 1998. During the summit, the world diamond market,
cooperation opportunities for the further development of Turkish
precious stones trade and industrial cooperation between Turkey and
Belgium and recent technological developments in the sector will be
taken up. /Hurriyet/
[07] US INTEREST IN GAP
State Minister Salih Yildirim, who has just visited the US to seek
foreign resources for the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP), Yildirim
noted yesterday that he had generated US interest in the GAP and said:
"The World Bank has extended credit worth $135 million for the project.
We hope that there will be a US cash flow towards the GAP project".
/Hurriyet/
[08] BRITISH DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY
A 25-person British delegation will visit Turkey for the further
development of Turkish-British commercial relations. Chairman of the
Middle East Trade Committee of Britain, Michael Thomas, said: "Turkey
will be one of the richest countries of the world in the 21st century".
Prior to the visit, Turkish Ambassador to London, Ozdem Sanberk, gave a
banquet to the British Trade and Investment Mission, and noted that
commercial relations between the two countries were improving year by
year. The delegation will be headed by Sir Jeremy Hanley, who said:
"Turkey is presenting many opportunities for business circles and
attracting the interest of many big companies". /Hurriyet/
[09] PRIVATIZATION IN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION
Privatization in the distribution of electricity is continuing.
According to the decisions of the Council of Ministers published in the
Official Gazette, the South Aegean Energy Company, will operate the
Mugla Yatagan, Yenikoy and Kemerkoy thermic power plants and
Sekkoy-Ikizkoy-Husamlar mining areas annexed to Yenikoy mining company,
and will sell electricity to Turkish Electricity Distribution Joint
Stock Company for 20 years. /Hurriyet/
[10] 20 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
During operations carried out by Turkish security forces against the PKK
terrorist organization in Southeast Anatolia, 20 PKK terrorists have
been killed. One Turkish sergeant died and two soldiers were wounded
during the operations. Officials noted that operations will continue
until the region is completely cleared from PKK terrorists.
/Cumhuriyet/
[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the words of US
Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Miller, who said: "The US will react if
Turkey intervenes in the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles in
the Greek Cypriot Administration" had been misunderstood. Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Necati Utkan said: "Miller noted that the
deployment of the missiles on the island would be a mistake and Turkey's
threat would also be another mistake". /Cumhuriyet/
[12] AZERI NATIONAL DAY
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz
attended yesterday a reception held on the occasion of the National Day
of Azerbaijan. Many high-level Turkish officials also participated in
the reception. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] TRADE MEETING IN ISTANBUL
The 40th general conference of the European Trade Development
Organization was hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO)
yesterday. Delivering an opening speech at the conference, ITO Chairman
Mehmet Yildirim said that within the framework of the Customs Union
between Turkey and the EU, Turkish industry had proven that it could
compete with the world. /Cumhuriyet/
[14] $922 MILLION IN PRIVATIZATION REVENUE
Turkey has earned $922 million in revenues for the last few months.
Officials of the Privatization Administration (PA) announced that they
would speed up privatization process. According to the June
privatization programme of PA, Turkish Airlines, Petroleum Office,
marinas and ships belonging to the Maritime Management, seven
establishments of Yarimca Porcelain and Sumer Holding will be
privatized. /Sabah/
[15] FOREIGN CREDIT FOR DEMIRBANK
Demirbank has given authority to ING Barings, Fuji Bank and Banca
Commerciale Italiana for foreign credit. The banks will ensure credit
from international money markets with two year term and it will be used
in financing new investments. /Sabah/
[16] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
Foreign exchange reserves were announced to reach $25.9 billion on 22
May. Also Turkey's international reserves increased to $34.4 billion.
Meanwhile, Turkey has paid $4.3 billion in foreign debt since January.
/Sabah/
[17] TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONS
Turkish-French relations have reached a critical point on account of a
draft bill on so-called Armenian massacre. Turkey continues its
initiatives to draw back the bill. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati
Utkan said that if the bill was legalised by the French Parliament,
terrorists and terrorist activities would be encouraged. He added:
"Terrorism spreads up in countries which show tolerance to terrorist
activities. After the World War II both Turks and Armenians experienced
pain and that it is not fair to call this experience as a 'massacre'."
/Sabah/
[18] 167 KG HEROINE SEIZED
167 kg of heroine has been seized in Gurpinar township of Van.
According to the Office of the Chief of Police, the heroine was found in
the house of a PKK supporter who has a criminal record on ensuring
weapons to the separatist terrorist organization. /Sabah/
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