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Turkish Press Review, 98-11-02Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>02.11.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CEM TO VISIT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIESAccording to a statement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay official visits to Brazil, Chile and Argentina between 2-11 November. It is reported that during his official meetings in these countries, Cem will once again point out the importance attached by Turkey for the UN Security Council membership for the years 2001-2002. Foreign Minister Cem departed from Turkey for Brazil, the first leg of his Latin America visit, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.Turkey belives that establishing close economic ties with Latin American countries will lay the necessary groundwork for productive political cooperation. [02] US CALLS ON ARMENIA TO MEND TIES WITH TURKEYThe US has urged the Armenian government, led by Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan, to mend fences with Turkey. American Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon confirmed at a press conference in Yerevan that US Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had conveyed a message to the Armenian government urging it to mend ties with Turkey.Emphasizing the importance that the American administration attributed to cooperation in the region, Ambassador Lemmon said: "Turkey is at the same time a Caucasian state. Armenia should mend its ties with this country". /Cumhuriyet/ [03] DENIZKURDU IN FRANCEJustice Minister Hasan Denizkurdu arrived in Strasbourg, France yesterday to hold various contacts. Denizkurdu will meet with the Chairman of the European Court of Human Rights and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe today. He will also participate in a symposium on human rights, the Anatolia news agency reports.[04] INTERNATIONAL BAGHDAD FAIRThe 31st International Baghdad Fair was opened by Iraqi Deputy Head of State Taha Yasin Ramazan yesterday. During the fair attended by US, British and Canadian firms, Turkey is being represented by State Minister Mehmet Batalli, the Anatolia news agency reports. The fair will last for 10 days.[05] DIALOGUE BETWEEN DAMASCUS AND ANKARAFollowing an agreement signed between Ankara and Damascus, the Syrian government has stated that it wishes that other problems between Turkey and Syria will also be solved. After a meeting headed by Deputy Head of State Zuheyir Masarka was held two days ago, it was pointed out that problems between Turkey and Syria could be solved through dialogue and diplomatic means. /Cumhuriyet/[06] ALIYEV SIDES WITH BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECTAzerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev stated yesterday that he had given instructions to the State Petroleum Company SOCAR to investigate whether the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project to transport Caspian oils was $1 billion more expensive than the alternative proposed by the international consortium. Aliyev, who participated in the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, made a statement to journalists upon his return to Baku and said that he did not believe that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project was $1 billion more expensive than the alternative proposed by the international consortium. Aliyev noted that meetings between the delegations of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia and the international consortium on the project would begin on November 5.During the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, two declarations for the transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey and the realization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline were signed with Central Asian leaders. /Cumhuriyet/ [07] 19 % OF TURKEY'S ENERGY FROM GAPIt is reported that a total of 141.08 billion kwh of energy has been produced until 1991 to October 1998 at the Karakaya and Ataturk dams within the framework of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). During the first six months of 1998, 53,706 gwh (million kilowatt hour) of energy was produced throughout Turkey while 18.5 % of this energy was provided from the GAP region. /Cumhuriyet/[08] DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES FOR NORTHERN IRAQA meeting between the Chairman of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Mesud Barzani and the Chairman of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Celal Talabani will be held in the second half of November. Meanwhile, Barzani is expected to visit Turkey tomorrow. Turkey, which has cut Syrian logistic support for the PKK terrorist organization, now will explain its determination to Barzani and Talabani. During his visit to Ankara, Barzani will inform Turkey on a joint declaration signed between the two Iraqi Kurdish groups under the auspices of the US at the level of the Secretary of State. /Cumhuriyet/[09] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYBulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, due to pay an official visit to Turkey on November 4-6, has expressed concern over the clandestine immigration of Bulgarian Turks to Turkey, saying that it is harming both countries. Kostov said that the main reason for the wave of illicit migration was economic and maintained that migration would halt when the economic situation in Bulgaria improves, according to the Anatolia news agency.[10] COMCEC MEETING IN ISTANBULThe 14th meeting of the Permanent Committee of Islamic Conference Organization Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMCEC) started yesterday in Istanbul under the chairmanship of President Suleyman Demirel. 56 ministers responsible for economy of the member countries, representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the World Bank officials are attending the meeting. Application of the economic cooperation action plan, relations with the World Bank, economic and trade relations between Islamic countries have been discussed during the 14th meeting of the Committee. /Hurriyet/[11] INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IS THE BIGGEST CONSUMER OF ENERGYIt was reported that more than half of the energy produced in Turkey is consumed by industrial sector. According to the 1997 energy report prepared by Turkish National Committee of the World Energy Council, industry is the biggest energy consumer in Turkey. 44.7 million kwh energy out of the total 82.3 million kwh was used by industry last year. /Hurriyet/[12] FIRST DOMESTIC COUGAR HELICOPTER IN 1999An important project which will strenght the present defense structure of the Turkish Defense Industry had gained acceleration. According to an agreement between Defense Industry Undersecretariat, Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) and French Eurocopter Corp. The production of the first of the 30 As-532 Cougar helicopter has started at the end of September in TAI facilities. According to the EUROTAI consortium formed by TAI and French Eurocopter Corp. two helicopters which are still being produced in French by Eurocopter Corp. will be delivered in Turkey in 1999. The remaining part of the helicopters will be produced by TAI in Turkey. Within the scope of the agreement between Turkey and France, TAI engineer will be trained in French Eurocopter Corp. for two years. /Hurriyet/[13] TURKMENISTAN NATURAL GASPreparations for the construction of the pipeline to carry Turkmen natural gas to Turkey was concluded. According to the BOTAS Transportation Company, credit agreements between the related firms and BOTAS officials were signed and private lands on the way through the pipeline have been nationalized. The 1285 kms long pipeline will be constructed in four parts by four companies. /Milliyet/[14] BRIGHT FUTURE IN TURKISH TOURISM SECTORAccording to a survey, "Tourism Vision in 2020", of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Turkey will be among the first ten countries in gaining revenue in tourism sector in 2000 whereas it is still among the first twenty in regard with tourism revenues. It is reported that Turkey aims 25 million tourists and $ 20 billion revenue in 2010. /Sabah/[15] EIGHT TURKS DIE IN DISCOTHEQUE FIRE IN SWEDENEight Turkish citizens died at the end of the fire in the discotheque of the Macedonians Association in Gotebourg, Sweden. Officials said that investigation about the fire had been conducted and they were suspected about a sabotage. /Sabah/[16] PRIME MINSTER YILMAZ IN KAYSERIPrime Minister Mesut Yilmaz laid foundation of the 7th dam on the Kizilirmak river, Yamula Dam, yesterday in Kayseri. In his speech at the ceremony, Yilmaz said that after the construction of Yamula and other dams in the region would be completed, there would be a second GAP in the middle of Anatolia. He added that he would come to Kayseri fifteen days later, this time, to lay the foundation of the construction of an airport.Yilmaz pointed out that they would continue their struggle against PKK terrorists and their leader Abdullah Ocalan and they would not let the Republic of Turkey be damaged by terrorist activities. Meanwhile, if Russia keeps its promise, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan should leave Russia today. According to a message brought to Turkey on 29 October, Moscow had given Ocalan a period of time to leave the country until on 2 October. /Milliyet/ Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |