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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-24Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>24.07.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL: "CYPRUS CANNOT BE A SECOND CRETE"President Suleyman Demirel noted yesterday that they would not allow Cyprus to be a second Crete. Demirel received a correspondent from the Milliyet daily newspaper at the Presidential Palace yesterday and replied to his questions regarding domestic and foreign developments. Demirel gave out important messages especially on Cyprus. Demirel, who will go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) tomorrow, stated that Turkey could not allow security in the TRNC to be damaged. He added that Turkey would bring prosperity to northern Cyprus and relations would have a new dimension.Demirel said: "The TRNC is a state, which is recognized only by Turkey. However it is a de facto situation. The TRNC people have been saved from ethnic cleansing. Security in the TRNC is Turkey's responsibility". /Milliyet/ [02] NEW ERA OPENS WITH TAX REFORM LAWParliament has passed wide-ranging tax reforms. The reforms are aimed at broadening the fiscal base. "We have worked out a tax system which we sincerely believe will play a large role in restoring the health of the country's economy and support the fight against inflation" Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel said. The reforms reduce income taxes in a bid to discourage widespread tax evasion and are expected to erode the unregistered sector. The law brings down income tax from a 25-55 % range to between 15 and 40 % next year. This means an immediate increase in the take-home pay of many tax-paying citizens. Corporate tax will rise to 30 % from 25, but there will be no changes in the rates of value added tax, which range between one and 40 % depending on the product."The tax law will make an impact on the performance of the 1998 budget and put the 1999 budget on a much more positive platform" Temizel told journalists in Parliament, adding that the tax reforms will contribute to the anti-inflation economic programme. /All papers/ [03] EMERGENCY RULE EXTENDED FOR THE 32ND TIMEEmergency Rule, which is being implemented in Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Tunceli, Siirt, Sirnak and Van, in southeastern Turkey, has been extended for the 32nd time for another four months, the Anatolia news agency reported. Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu stated that Emergency Rule would be lifted when conditions were suitable.[04] DEMIREL RECEIVES GERMAN SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENTIn a bid to revitalize bilateral ties between Turkey and Germany, German Speaker of Parliament Rita Sussmuth held a series of talks in Ankara yesterday. Sussmuth was received by President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Demirel said that a strain in German-Turkish ties was not acceptable. Sussmuth empahsized the importance of improvement in relations between Turkey and Germany. She pointed out that their primary duty is not only to combat poverty, but also to take measures against fundamentalist ideologies, which are becoming a threat for the rest of the world. Sussmuth was accompanied by Chairman of the Turkish-German Friendship Group Thomas Kossendey and Deputy Chairman Leyla Onur. /All papers/[05] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCIL HOLDS SECOND MEETINGThe Turkey-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Association Council gathered for the second time yesterday in Lefkose to revise the implementation of previous decisions and outline additional measures to strengthen political and economic ties between the two countries. Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, responsible for European Union (EU) Affairs and Cyprus, said that the agenda of the meeting was predominantly economic. He stressed that the TRNC's agricultural development, and luring Turkish investment to the TRNC were the issues given priority. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister resposible for the economy Isin Celebi, as well as high-level diplomats took part in the Turkish delegation. /All papers/[06] AZNAR CALLS FOR MORE COOPERATIONSpeaking at a meeting of the Turco-Spanish Business Council organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) in Istanbul, Jose Maria Aznar, Spanish Prime Minister, said yesterday that Spain wants to forge ahead in economic relations with Turkey. He also noted that a protocol, which he and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz signed, paved the way for increasing economic cooperation. During his speech, which frequently referred to Turkey's importance for the world economy, the Spanish PM called on Turkish and Spanish businessmen to make joint investments.Turkish Transportation Minister Necdet Menzir and Turkish Privatization Bureau Chairman Ugur Bayar also attended the meeting. "We are glad to see the Spanish delegation in Istanbul and expect this Council to be useful for both sides" Menzir said at the meeting. "As you know, Turkey has been developing several telecommunications and transportation projects such as the tube tunnel under the Bosphorus which will connect the European and Anatolian sides. We expect that all foreign businessmen and investors will be interested in these projects". /Hurriyet/ [07] MESSAGES FOR DAMASCUSThe 59th anniversary of the annexation of Hatay province to Turkey was celebrated yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz issued statements yesterday and said that Turkey would never compromise its territories. Prime Minister Yilmaz delivered a speech to the people in Hatay and said: "Those who show Hatay within their borders in their maps should not forget the historical realities. No part of our country can be separated from us. Those who sided with ASALA yesterday now side with the PKK today". President Demirel recalled in his message that Hatay was annexed to Turkey in 1939 even though it was already within the borders of Turkey as confirmed by the Turkish National Pact ratified in January 1920. /Milliyet/[08] US SUPPORTS BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINEThe US Congress has called on finance organizations in the US to help raise finance for the projected Baku-Ceyhan pipeline; and US Senate's Commission for Foreign Operations has indicated US support for the project by adding a new article to the allocations law. The article, proposed by a Virginia senator, Robert Byrd, calls for financial contributions from US institutions stating that a pipeline passing through Turkey will serve US interests.Further, a special envoy, Richard Morningstar, appointed by US President Bill Clinton, will soon visit Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan with a delegation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry and begin initiatives for the construction of the pipeline. /Sabah/ [09] TURKISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES DISPATCHING TROOPS TO ALBANIAA demand by the government to dispatch Turkish troops to Albania was unanimously accepted yesterday by the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Speaking on behalf of the government, Oltan Sungurlu, the Minister of Justice, said yesterday that Turkey was the only country that can help Albania without any ulterior motive for profit. Within the framework of a protocol signed by the Turkish General Staff and Albanian Defense Ministry, a Turkish unit will be dispatched to Albania to safeguard a port. /Hurriyet/[10] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE TREATYToday is the 75th Anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty which was the first big success of the Turkish Republic on international platforms. In a written statement on the occasion of the anniversary of the Treaty, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that with the Lausanne Treaty, the independency and territorial integrity of the Turkish Republic had been guaranteed.Meanwhile, the 79th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress, at the end of which the foundations of the Turkish republic were laid, was ceberated yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel said that with the Erzurum Congress, which was the most important part of the national war for independence, the Turkish nation had brought its future under control. /Cumhuriyet/ [11] PKK OPERATIONSFive PKK members and four civilians suspected of being supporters of the PKK, were yesterday arrested in Istanbul. Police in Belgium raided a house in Bierbeck village where it was claimed that PKK supporters were hiding out. /Cumhuriyet/[12] US: "1974 PEACE FORCE NOT AN INVASION"The US Administration has intensified efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. White House spokesman, Mike McCurry said yesterday in a press conference that the 1974 Turkish peace operation was not an invasion but a conflict. Responding to a question from a Greek journalist McCurry said: "The Peace Operation that Turkey carried out on the island in 1974 was a conflict and now both sides should make the necessary efforts to solve this conflict through peaceful means." /Cumhuriyet/[13] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER COMING TO TURKEYItalian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will pay a one-day working visit to Turkey on 27 July following an official invitation from his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz. The Foreign Ministry also announced yesterday that Yilmaz and Prodi will meet in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/[14] LE MONDE TURKEY SUPPLEMENTThe French Le Monde newspaper yesterday published a 16-page Turkey supplement. The publication discussed Turkey-France relations, Turkey's privatization efforts, the Turkish private sector and banking system, the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) and Turkish tourism and oil pipeline projects. /Cumhuriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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