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Turkish Press Review, 99-05-26Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>26.05.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[02] SPECIAL KOSOVO[03] NEW GOVERNMENT TO BE ESTABLISHEDBased on the agreement to form the new coalition government reached by the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP), two separate joint commissions established by the partners reportedly commenced their studies as of Tuesday. It is further reported that the commissions will complete their work today, after which the three party leaders will meet for the second and last time. If the agreement reached by the leaders is approved by each party's executive board, then the new Cabinet list will be submitted to President Suleyman Demirel on Friday morning. /All papers/[04] DEMIREL: "TURKEY WILL RESOLVE ITS PROBLEMS"Remarking that Turkey is powerful enough to resolve all of its current troubles, President Suleyman Demirel said, "I think we will transcend all these problems in the near future with some patience, some effort and some motivation." Attending a series of foundation-laying and opening ceremonies at a number of education complexes in Istanbul, Demirel also said that every child should have sufficient access to the means of education. /Cumhuriyet/[05] OCALAN TRIAL TO PROCEED WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONThe trial of the PKK Chief, Abdullah Ocalan, scheduled to start next Monday, will proceed uninterrupted in Ankara's No.2 State Security Court (DGM) excluding the weekends, the Head of the Court said yesterday. "With the exception of the weekends, there will be hearings every day", Turgut Okyay told journalists upon arrival in Bursa, from where he and other officials headed to the prison island of Imrali. He said that Ocalan would benefit from all the rights provided under Turkish law and asserted that Ocalan's lawyers could ask for additional time for their defence in court if they wished to do so.Referring to Ocalan's lawyers' objections to the glass enclosure in which Ocalan will be placed during the trials, Okyay said that its purpose was to ensure Ocalan's safety and was a widespread method employed throughout Europe. /All papers/ [06] FOREIGN MINISTRY WARNS OVER OCALAN'S TRIALThe Turkish Foreign Ministry, which has received information claiming that there might be bloody terrorist activities against Turkish institutions in Europe during the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, is on the alert. The Foreign Ministry has demanded that these institutions implement the most stringent security measures. The Foreign Ministry also said that countries in which the PKK is active should not tolerate PKK activities.Meanwhile, it is reported that the PKK has connections with some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Europe and thus has saved millions of DM to keep Ocalan's trial alive in the European media. The PKK, which has particularly close relations with some left-wing organizations in Germany and Italy, will try to disseminate anti-Turkish propaganda on those TV stations which side with these organizations. /Aksam/ [07] CNN, AFP, AP AND BBC IN MUDANYAA great deal of Turkish and foreign members of the press will follow the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. Among the foreign media, there are CNN, AFP- AP, Reuters, RAI, ANSA, the BBC, ARD and Mega TV. Rooms in the Montania Hotel in Mudanya have already been fully booked: forty rooms are booked for the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) and 26 rooms are allocated to members of national press institutions; forty-six rooms are allocated to the foreign members of the press. /Milliyet/[08] 16 FOREIGN MPs TO FOLLOW OCALAN TRIALAlthough no Turkish Member of Parliament will attend Abdullah Ocalan's trial, six Italian, two Swedish, two Norwegian, and three Swiss politicians, a Hungarian, a British and a German MP will follow the trial. The representative of the European Council, Egbert Ausems, Swedish former Justice Minister Carl Lidbon, American, Norwegian and Dutch legal personnel and the Deputy Consul of Greece to Istanbul will attend the trial. /Hurriyet/[09] RUBIN: 'NO KURDISH STATE'US State Department Spokesman James Rubin emphasized that Turkey's concerns that American support for the Iraqi opposition might lead to the establishment of a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq were unfounded. Rubin categorically denied that Washington would encourage the establishment of a Kurdish state in the region.Meanwhile, the opposition leaders, newly-united under the re-formed Iraqi National Congress (INC), have said they planned to seek military protection for their efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein. The opposition leaders will meet US President Bill Clinton's National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger, tomorrow. The Iraqi opposition leaders came to Washington on the official invitation of Congress; they will remain there until May 28. /All papers/ [10] GERMANY WITHOLDS TURKEY'S INVITE TO COLOGNE SUMMITGermany, whose Presidency of the EU will finish on June 30, has not invited Turkey to the Cologne Summit, giving as a reason the fact that 'the enlargement process will not be discussed'. German State Secretary Wolfgang Ischinger arrived in Ankara yesterday on behalf of German Foreign Minister Fischer who was supposed to come to Turkey to discuss how to resolve the impasse in Turco-EU relations. Ischinger first met Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Then he met the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, and evaluated the recent situation regarding Turco-EU relations. During the meetings, Turco-German relations were also deliberated. /Aksam/[11] AKBULUT RECEIVES YILMAZ AND MUTLUERYildirim Akbulut, the Speaker of Parliament, received seperately the Religious Affairs Director, Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, and the Court of Accounts Chairman, Kamil Mutluer, the Anatolia News Agency reports. "We are pleased that you have been elected as the Speaker of Parliament at a time when the country is in need of unity, brotherhood and peace", Yilmaz told Akbulut. Akbulut stressed that religious affairs and state affairs are two different issues and should be expressed that way in every context.When Akbulut later received Mutluer, the new Speaker expressed his respect for the services provided by the Court of Accounts. Mutluer also congratulated Akbulut. [12] CILLER STANDS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITIONTansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), demanded that the government be formed and that the country's pressing problems be resolved as soon as possible. Ciller remarked that even if they remain in the Opposition, they will continue their constructive attitude and ensure that every issue beneficial to the public is placed on the agenda of Parliament. Expressing her gratitude for the recent developments which increased the possibility of a coalition government, Ciller said that Turkey is faced with serious problems that should immediately be resolved. /Turkiye/[13] VITAL CALL FROM DENKTASDelivering a speech during the opening ceremony of the "Turkey-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) Second Comparative Law Symposium" organized by the Eastern Mediterranean University's Faculty of Law, Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, said that to ensure coherence between the legal systems of the two countries is a vital goal to accomplish. Remarking that certain difficulties occur because of a lack of similarity and coherence between the legal systems of Turkey and the TRNC, Denktas said, "Comparing the legal systems of the two countries, we have to identify the contrasting points and rapidly ensure coherence between them. This is of vital importance for us." /Turkiye/[14] PERINCEK RESIGNS FROM HIS PARTYThe Republican Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals, Vural Savas, requested the Chairman of the Labour Party (IP), Dogu Perincek, to be excluded from the Party. This is because Perincek has been sentenced on the charges concerning Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Law and is currently in prison. Therefore, Perincek complied with the request. A message sent by the IP to Savas stated that this legal problem has been dealt with. /Aksam/[15] PKK ENGAGED IN DRUG SMUGGLINGThe General Directorate of Security's Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Organized Crime Department has stated that 181 incidents concerning drug smuggling carried out by the PKK terrorist organization have been revealed during the last 15 years and a total of 43 tons of drugs was seized. A statement issued by the Security Office said that the PKK is the greatest factor in drug smuggling in Turkey. /Milliyet/[16] PKK-RED BRIGADES RELATIONThe Italian Intelligence Service is inquiring into relations between the PKK and the Red Brigades after last week's terrorist outrages in Italy. It is reported that the Red Brigades had helped the PKK in the attack on the Turkish Airlines (THY) office in Rome. The Intelligence Service is also investigating to see if the PKK contributed to the recent terrorist attack, which killed the Italian Undersecretary from the Ministry of Labour Massimo D'Antona, carried out by the Red Brigades. /Hurriyet/[17] ROCKET ATTACK ON TUPRASPKK militants launched a rocket attack on the Batman Regional Directorate of TUPRAS (the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp.) last night. It is reported that the militants fired two rockets at the building, yet nobody was injured during the terrorist attack. /Cumhuriyet/[18] PKK TERRORISTS KILLEDA statement issued by the office of the Emergency Rule Region in Diyarbakir said yesterday that two PKK terrorists had been killed in clashes in Van and two in Hakkari, while four others surrendered and another was captured. Two security forces also died in the shooting. The statement added that security operations were still in progress. /All papers/[19] EU POLITICAL DIRECTORS' MEETINGA delegation headed by the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary, Ambassador Aydin Sahinbas, will represent Turkey at a meeting of EU Political Directors. This will be held as part of a stability pact proposal made by the EU to establish peace and re-construct the Balkans. According to a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the meeting will be held in Germany today, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[20] TURKISH VIEW ON BAKU-CEYHANTurkey and Azerbaijan are doing their best to speed up the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ziya Aktas, adding that the Turkish view will be conveyed to Baku today. Aktas said that the decisions in the Istanbul Protocol signed in Istanbul in April have been implemented as planned and that all the projects will be finished by the end of June.He clarified that Azerbaijan had previously suggested that the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation build the pipeline and now the Turkish side will make its conditions clear. /All papers/ [21] GERMANS INTERROGATE THE NATIONAL VIEW ORGANIZATIONThe German weekly `Die Zeit' interrogated the Islamic Community National View Organization's (IGMG) attempts to establish a religious state by exploiting German laws. Reporting that the National View Organization has obtained an incredible amount of financial support in order to carry out its social and educational activities, `Die Zeit' noted that the organization had spread thoughout Germany within a short space of time and obtained thousands of new members. Accordingly, the organization has started to gain political identity following the amendment of the German Law of Citizenship and it will become a very important political power in Germany if the 1.7 million Muslims in this country are allowed to enjoy German citizenship. However, `Die Zeit' also pointed out that the German laws themselves facilitate the activities of this organization which is known to be `fundamentalist' in essence, stressing the proposal of Otto Schily, the German Minister of the Interior, to give equal status to both Christian churches and Islamic organizations. `Die Zeit' also asked, "Does this organization take advantage of democracy in order to establish a `shariah' state?" /Cumhuriyet/[22] INDEPENDENCE DAY OF JORDANPresident Suleyman Demirel sent on Tuesday a message of congratulation to King Abdullah Bin-Hussein of Jordan to celebrate the Independence Day of Jordan, reported the Anatolian News Agency. The Presidential Press Center quoted President Demirel as saying, "I would like to present my sincere congratulations on behalf of the Turkish nation for the Independence Day of the Jordanian Hashemite Kingdom."[23] TURKISH-JORDANIAN TRAINING MANOEUVRESJoint manoeuvres will take place in Kaynarca region in Pinarhisar county in Kirklareli province within the context of training manoeuvres, realized under an agreement signed between Turkey and Jordan, reported the Anatolian News Agency. A statement of 5th Army Corps Commandership said the manoeuvre will start on Wednesday with the participation of 24 officers and non-commissioned officers and 102 soldiers from Jordan and Turkish soldiers. The joint training manoeuvres will end on May 30.[24] TOBB VOICES DEMANDSAmendments must be made in the political parties and in the election system, asserted Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Fuat Miras. The TOBB Chairman's statements appeared in TOBB's 1998 Economic Report, which will be presented this weekend at the TOBB's 54th General Convention.The report's introduction includes Miras' evaluation of the current situation in Turkey. According to the TOBB Chairman, structural regulations governing privatization, social security and the financial sector should be enacted as soon as possible, taking into account the need for economic stability to underpin sustainable, balanced and rapid development. /All papers/ [25] UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE NEXT GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITYThe draft bill on unemployment insurance will be one of the first issues to be handled by the new government, said Labour and Social Security Minister Hakan Tartan yesterday. Tartan added that Turkey is the only one of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that lacks unemployment insurance and that all EU countries have such insurances, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[26] WORLD BANK: "IMPLEMENT REFORMS"The World Bank Director responsible for Turkey, Ajay Chhibber said that they expected the new government to implement structural reforms at once. Attending the promotional tour of the Esatern Anatolia Water Basin Rehebilitation Project, Chhibber noted that after the new government was set up, World Bank representatives would discuss its financial contribution to Turkey in order to facilitate these reforms. /Hurriyet/[27] "EASTERN ANATOLIA WATER BASIN REHABILITATION PROJECT"The World Bank nominated the "Eastern Anatolia Water Basin Rehabilitation Project", which aims to prevent erosion in the Firat Basin and to decrease poverty in the region, as the "Best Project in the World". The project which started five years ago shows how water and land will change life if they are used rationally. The total cost of the project is $ 110 million and the World Bank is to meet $ 77 million of this amount. The project is a fully-integrated system including irrigation, forestry and agricultural managements. The main aim of the project is to discover regional people's ideas and expectations before each new stage and to teach them to use their lands more productively. /Hurriyet/[28] TUSIAD DELEGATION IN GERMANYA delegation from the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) headed by Bulent Eczacibasi and Erkut Yucaoglu is holding meetings in Germany as the guest of the German Industrialists' Confederation (BDI) prior to the Cologne Summit. Olaf Henkel, Head of the BDI, which is a very influential institution in German political circles, gave a banquet in honour of the TUSIAD delegation yesterday. The TUSIAD delegation will meet some Ministers and members of the Turco-German Parliamentary Group today. /Aksam/[29] RUSSIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEYThe Head of the Foreign Economic Relations Council's Turco-Russian Business Council, Yavuz Kilic, said that new opportunities were emerging in the Russian market, which had dropped from $10 billion to $3 billion. Concerning a visit to be paid by a Russian delegation to Turkey on June 8, Kilic remarked in a press conference held yesterday that there were some political problems in Russia. Kilic said: "I hope that these problems in Russia will be overcome by the end of this year. Then, the Russian market will regain its buoyancy. Turkey's aim is to increase the trade volume to over $10 billion. Therefore, the visit by the Russian delegation is of great significance especially for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBIs)". /Aksam/[30] SOUTHEAST INCREASES FOOD EXPORTS TO USThe amount of agricultural products exported from Turkey's Southeast to the US increased by 25.7 % during the January-April period, generating $7.5 million in income. According to information obtained by the Anatolia News Agency from the Union of Southeastern Anatolian Exporters, agricultural products worth $252,000 were exported to Argentina; $18,000 to the Dominican Republic; $6,000 to Honduras, $833,000 to Canada; $99,000 to Mexico and $30,000 to Uruguay during the same period.[31] IMKB COMING TO ANKARA FOR INFORMATIVE MEETINGThe Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) is meeting with the Ankara business community today to provide information to investors in the capital. Similar meetings are being held all around the country to inform people about capital markets, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[32] FATAL CRASH IN PAKISTANThe wife of the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Bozkurt Aran, was killed in a car crash on Tuesday morning when the couple was driving from Islamabad to Lahore together with their daughters. Ambassador Aran and his daughters are in a critical condition, and are receiving medical treatment. /All papers/[33] PRAISE FOR TURKISH TOURISM IN THE RUSSIAN MEDIAThe Russian "Rossiyskiy" Magazine issued an article under the title "Turkey in Fashion". The article said, "Our neighbour is a perfect country as a whole with its historic fabric, hospitality, rich cuisine and its tolerance of people. Another Russian magazine "Vlast" claimed that PKK terrorism in Turkey is exaggerated, adding that Russians should not hesitate to go to Turkey on holiday. /Sabah/[34] SAHIN IN TRNCTurkish Industry and Trade Minister Metin Sahin went to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. A delegation headed by Sahin will attend a seminar on 'the improvement of commercial relations among cooperatives' which will last for two days, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[35] PRAISE FOR THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITYPaying a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prof. Kemal Guruz, the Chairman of the Board of Higher Education (YOK), pointed out that the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) enjoys some of the highest standards among Turkish universities due to its faculty, infrastructure, campus, and the facilities it provides to the students. Guruz also stated that universities in the TRNC are rapidly developing and that they aim to increase the number of students educated in these universities to 40 thousand in the following years. Meanwhile, Prof. Ozay Oral, the President of the EMU, emphasized that their university has achieved remarkable scholarly and scientific improvements and that they will become the most prestigious university in the region in the near future. Prof. Oral also noted that they aim to increase the number of their students to 15 thousand from the current number of 11,400. /Turkiye/[36] TURKISH WORLD AWARDThe Turkish World Authors and Artists' Foundation's "1998 Turkish World Award" will be given to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) Eastern Mediterranean University Research Centre. The award will be prsented to the Dean of the University by President Suleyman Demirel on 28 May at Cankaya Presidential Palace. /Hurriyet/[37] PACKAGING AWARD FOR ULKER KING TOPUlker King Top has received the "Worldstar 98 Award" that was won at the World Packaging Competition, in Dusseldorf, Germany. The award is given to the firms which have the most consistent, high-quality packaging and presentation system. Sergio Haberfeld, the Chairman of the World Packaging Organization, presented the award to the senior representative of the Ulker Firm. /Sabah/[38] TURKISH BANK REVENUESThe Turkish State Ziraat Bank achieved 20.9 trillion TL clear profit in 1998; the profit of the bank increased by 96.9 % in the same year. Deutsch-Turkish Bank, which is one of the partners of the Ziraat Bank, earned 2.5 trillion TL in 1998.Meanwhile, the private bank Turkbank made a profit of 5.6 trillion TL at the end of the first four months of 1999. The bank achieved 5.26 trillion TL revenue at the end of 1998. On the other hand, the General Director of Garanti Bank, Akin Ongor, said yesterday that they aimed to be the first in Europe. Attending the Human Resources Seminar in the Middle Esat Technical University (METU), he noted that an effective team in the banking system was very important and that any in human resources administration should invest in the company's personnel in order to be successful. /Sabah/ [39] THY FLIES TO SIMFEROPOLTurkish Airlines' (THY) flights to Simferopol, a city in the Ukraine start today. The flights will be organized twice a week, from Istanbul to Simferopol on Wednesday and Sunday, and from Simferopol to Istanbul on Monday and Thursday. /Cumhuriyet/[40] TURKISH AND GREEK THEATRE ACTORS' CO-OPERATIONTurkish and Greek theatre actors are co-operating in the Arts. The Turkish actress, director and singer, Ayla Algan, accepted a request to set up an international theatre project by the world-famous Greek theatre director, Theodoros Terzopulos. As part of the project, the play staged by Turkish and Greek artists will be performed at the International Theatre Olympics to be held in Japan in June. The play to be directed by Terzopulos will consist of three stages: in the first Act, Greeks will act, followed by Turks in the second Act; in the third and final Act, Turkish and Greek artists will act together. The theme of the play is the agony that Hercules suffers in Hell after his power and determination in the world. /Sabah/[41] CONSTANTA INTERNATIONAL PUPPET THEATRE FESTIVALThe Ministry of Culture will participate in the "International Festival of Puppet Theatre" which will be held in Constanta city of Romania between May 27-June 2 with shadow play and puppet groups, reported the Anatolian News Agency yesterday. The Ministry of Culture said in a written statement that Mustafa Mutlu, an actor of the State Theatre and Orhan Kurt and Hayret Kurt, two operators of Turkish famous shadow play "Karagoz" will represent Turkey in the festival in order to promote Turkey and Turkish stage-art abroad.[42] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[43] DGM AND THE OCALAN CASE - BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Fikret Bila, a columnist for the `Milliyet', reflects on his interview with Prime Minister Ecevit concerning the Ocalan case and the civilianization of the State Security Courts (DGMs). Bila writes:"While meetings among party officials to determine the details of the coalition protocol are in progress, we spoke to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to discover the priorities of the coalition government which is likely to be formed in the following days. We asked Ecevit that what kind of preparations they have made to ensure the civilianization of the State Security Courts. Ecevit says that the leaders of those parties that will take part in the coalition government have similar approaches regarding this issue. Given that the trial will start on May 31 and the new government is still on the way to being formed, we ask whether or not the trial will be postponed. He answers, `We cannot determine the date of the trial. Yet I should note that the new government will possibly be formed in a few days, and the first issue on our agenda will be a Constitutional amendment or a draft bill that will change the structure of the DGMs. During my previous contact with the leaders of those parties represented in Parliament, I gained the impression that all parties approve of such a change in the DGMs. Thus, I hope that this issue will be discussed and approved in Parliament at the earliest convenience. Is there a possibility that the trial be postponed? The Prime Minister reminds us of the efforts of Ocalan's lawyers to postpone the trial on the basis that they did not have enough time to examine the indictment. It is quite likely that the judges will find this demand reasonable. Such a decision will both remove the criticism from the defence party and will provide time for the civilianization of the DGMs. Therefore, prior to the beginning of the trial, the most significant point of criticism from the Western world levelled at this trial will have been undermined. Ecevit is making every effort to initiate this amendment prior to the start of the trial, whereas other coalition partners also approve of his effort. Ecevit stresses that other essential issues that will be put on the agenda of the tri-partite coalition will be the Banking Law, the Law of Penitence and the political immunity of the MPs. Remarking that his meetings with Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), were quite positive with regard to these questions, the Prime Minister hopes that the government will be formed in the near future without any further tension. Ecevit is awaiting the establishment of the new government, yet he is watching for both the inter-party commissions and the efforts to amend the Constitution." [44] FOREIGN BOYCOTT AND BEYOND - BY YALCIN DOGAN (MILLIYET)Columnist Yalcin Dogan comments on the position of European Union countries towards Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows:"In June the European Union Summit will be held, Turkey's situation will be discussed and relations between Turkey and the EU will be analyzed. Therefore, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer wanted to visit Turkey to obtain some information beforehand. However, as the formation of a new government was delayed this has not been possible and it is not certain who would meet him as the new Foreign Minister. In fact, this step taken by the German Foreign Minister is the only meaningful recent political initiative as no one has asked for Turkey's opinion for months. Let alone a dialogue at a ministerial level, even at an ambassadorial level, Turkey's dialogue with the world is non-existent. This is especially true for the EU countries who do not feel the need to call our Ambassadors, neither do their Ambassadors in Ankara exchange any information with the Turkish Foreign Ministry. This stance taken by the EU countries could even be called a 'political boycott'. The reason they give for this is that democracy in Turkey is deficient and there are human rights violations here and as a result they have misgivings concerning the fair trial of Ocalan. These statements offend us because we are aware of our deficiencies in democracy and human rights in our country. There is a consensus of opinion throughout the community that we must eradicate them. However, when outside pressure on democracy and human rights are tied to the Ocalan case, this hurts us deeply. To tie these deficiencies which have been in existence for years to the Ocalan case does not befit the West. In fact, it does not befit Europe to distance itself from Turkey using the Ocalan case as an excuse. The coalition government which will be formed is aware of this situation. In the new government programme democracy and human rights are of great significance not only due to their impact on relations with the West but also in the the implementation of national law and for the sake of Turkish citizens. I believe that improvements on this subject, legal and constitutional amendments are listed in the government programme. As part of this, the civilianization of the State Security Courts, and the removal of a military member from among its judges are also stressed. However, this is not due to the pressure of the West. The National Security Council took a decision on this subject two months ago. Finally, it will be a part of the government programme. This government, which will be established through serious negotiations, may be responsible for democratization in Turkey. That is what we hope for and expect from this government." [45] SPECIAL KOSOVO[46] NATO CAMPAIGN ENTERS THIRD MONTHNATO ended its ninth week of air attacks by striking at abandoned Serb police headquarters in Belgrade and a residence of President Slobodan Milosevic. In Kosovo, fierce fighting was reported yesterday between ethnic Albanian rebels and the Yugoslav army. /All papers/[47] TURKISH PILOTS' SUCCESS IN NATO STRIKESSince the beginning of the NATO strikes against Yugoslavia Turkish pilots have sucessfully completed every mission that they were responsible for. The 182th Turkish squadron has returned home after handing over their mission to the 191st Turkish squadron. Upon returning home the pilots said that they were proud of being actively involved in the Balkans. They added that they had gained a great deal of experience during the operations and they had taken on some missions that other NATO member countries had not been able to do because of some technical problems with their aircraft. Finally, they stressed that NATO's trust in the Turkish Air Force had been further strengthened. /Sabah/[48] "TURKEY READY TO STRIKE"The Chief of the General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu was thoroughly pleased with Balikesir 9th Main Aircraft Base. After visiting the base yesterday accompanied by senior commanders, Kivrikoglu said that the Turkish Air Forces was organized in such an excellent way that the Turkish nation could be as proud of our pilots now as they were in the past. During the press conference, Kivrikoglu pointed out that Turkey would initially supply 18 aircraft to Balikesir and Bandirma Bases. He added, "According to the agreement with NATO, there will be a total of 36 F-15s in Balikesir and 18 in Bandirma. Negotiations are in progress concerning a third base which will be Incirlik or Corlu. The targets comissioned to the aircraft are very risky."Meanwhile, it is reported that NATO Chief of General Staff Wesley Clark will arrive in Turkey on 10 June. It is expected that Clark will thank Turkish officials for their contribution to the recent NATO airstrikes. /Sabah/ [49] SAMI KOHEN ON WALL STREET JOURNALThe 'Wall Street Journal', a leading US newspaper, has praised Turkey's efforts in the NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia and devoted wide coverage to the views of Milliyet columnist, Sami Kohen. The newspaper described Kohen as 'one of the most respected foreign policy columnists in Turkey'. The newspaper quoted Kohen who said: "We hope that Western countries will review their stance regarding Turkey in the light of Turkey's contributions to the solution of the Kosovo crisis".The newspaper recalled that Turkey has been allowing Allied forces' jets to hit Iraq for years and stated that Turkey has once again proved its strategic importance by opening up its bases to be used for air strikes against Yugoslavia. The newspaper added that Turkey's current role resembled its role during the Cold War years. /Milliyet/ [50] AFTER KOREA, NOW KOSOVOApproximately 50 years after her participation in the Korean War in 1950, Turkey has found herself in the midst of an international conflict, actively taking part in the operation to find a solution to the Kosovo crisis. While Turkey's participation on the Kosovo and Korean fronts shows some resemblances, Ankara has no reservations concerning the introduction of land forces into the operation which is currently limited to airstrikes. /Cumhuriyet/[51] "TURKISH INTEREST IN KOSOVARS' PLIGHT GOES ON"The French "Liberation" newspaper said in its issue yesterday that humanitarian aid campaigns have been going on in every part of Turkey and Turkey has opened its doors wide to refugees. The paper goes on to say, "The Turkish nation's interest in the Kosovars' plight has not decreased and they are trying to help refugees find their relatives in Turkey. They not only sent humanitarian aid to Kosovo but also offer financial support to the volunteer Kosovo Liberation Army." /Sabah/[52] TWO MONTHS OVER - BY HADI ULUENGIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Hadi Uluengin from "Hurriyet" writes on the recent situation in Kosovo. A summary of his column is as follows:"Recently much has been written about the Extraordinary Congress of the Republican People's Party(CHP) but I believe that the developments in the Balkans will affect the future of our country much more deeply than this Congress. Foreign dynamics will affect circumstances at home and our fate will be decided by the on-going battle in the Balkans. It has been two months since the strikes on Yugoslavia started; the situation has not changed. None of the parties have been able to change the situation in its favour. The reason why the Western countries have been unable to establish supremacy over the forces of Milosevic right away is that they have followed the wrong strategy. Ground forces should have been used and in particular, the unwillingness of the Allied Forces to use it should not have been expressed. During these two months one million Kosovar refugees have fled their homes, and tens of thousands have been massacred by the Serbian forces. Despite President Clinton's speech in New York implying the use of ground forces the implementation of such an operation is still in doubt. Whatever the strategic and tactical criticisms may be, the ethical fairness of this war cannot be discussed. Freedom-loving humanity is supporting the Allied powers and will continue to do so. Therefore, a definite victory by the Allied Forces is of vital importance. A 'draw' will mean the victory of totalitarianism and entail dangerous conseqwuences. Such a result may lead to the dismantling of NATO in the medium-term and the US presence in Europe may end. Instability will be seen everywhere. Can the US and the EU take this risk in order not to prevent human loss in their forces? Let us hope that the Allied Forces will come to their senses and realize that an ethical victory in Kosovo can be achieved only through the use of ground forces." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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