Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review(April 6, 1995)
Relations between the Turkish troops hunting separatist rebels in northern Iraq and the local Kurdish population
threatened to sour even further yesterday after a mob attacked a Turkish Red Crescent vehicle and killed three
relief officials. Four Kurds were also killed in the incident which occured near the town of Dohuk. The Turkish
Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and blamed it on the terrorist PKK organization, which, it said "resented the
brotherly sentiments between Turkey and the local population". Foreign Ministry sources said the bodies of
the murdered officials were riddled with hundreds of bullets, their ears and noses had been cut off and their
eyes gouged out. "The pattern of the mutilation of the bodies is only too visible" said a Foreign Ministry
official, hinting that the officials and the seven murdered shepherds whose bodies were discovered on Monday and Tuesday
were killed by the same people (PKK).
The Foreign Ministry statement urged everyone to avoid provocation and issued a call for international condemnation
of the murders.
Over a hundred trucks carrying foodstuffs from Turkey have already crossed into northern Iraq in recent days to
transport relief supplies to Kurdish communities. The Turkish General Staff yesterday said the troops were
pressing on with their search for the rebels, putting the separatists losses at 321 dead and 13 captured so far. The
operation has intensified around the Haftanin and Sarsang regions. The scope of the operation has been extended.
/Milliyet/
Security operation around the towns of Tunceli and Bitlis have also been intensified. Security forces are conducting
operations not only against the PKK but also against TIKKO- DEV-SOL and TDKP terrorists. /Milliyet/
From all the reports, the visit of President Suleyman Demirel to Argentina has been a great success. After a
heavy round of contacts and official visits, the view is that the visit has done much to foster relations between
Turkey and Argentina.
During his visit, Demirel explained why Turkish military forces were in northern Iraq and also paved the way for
trade and economic development.
President Demirel noted that South American countries like Argentina were future markets for Turkey and he added that
he hoped that ties with Turkey would grow even stronger. Demirel also met with Henry Kissinger, and recalled that
their friendship went back a long way.
Today President Demirel will journey on to Chile where he will begin a new round of talks in the capital city of
Santiago. /All papers/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said yesterday that Turkey had the right to ask for NATO support in the face of terrorist
threats against her territorial integrity. Noting that within the framework of NATO agreements, Turkey which has
been a NATO member since 1952 and contributed much to the defence of the West. Ciller added in a speech on the 46th
anniversary of NATO: "Turkey is determined to make these contributions in the light of the strategic and political
circumstances and formations of the present day." Ciller stated that apart from defending contemporary values like
democracy, freedom, superiority of law and human rights, NATO was also an institution guaranteeing the security and
defence of the member countries. /Hurriyet/
During his contacts in Washington, on the second leg of his tour to justify the "Steel Operation", military incursion
into northern Iraq, Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said: "Turkey does not expect an international solution, but wants
to solve the problem within the framework of regional measures."
Replying to a question, Inonu said that it was difficult to fix an exact date for ending a military operation and added
that the operation would be "limited".
US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrook told Inonu that "We cannot object to Turkey's struggle against a
terrorist organization which aims to destroy the territorial integrity of Turkey." /Hurriyet/
Foreign Minister Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said that Turkey was highly disturbed by reports that Kurdish Workers' Party
(PKK) militants were hiding in the Atrus Refugee Camp in Iraq.
Noting that they had started contacts with the UN High Commission for Refugeees, which has responsibility for the
camp, Ataman said: "The camp is under the protection and responsibility of the UN. It is essential that refugee
camps do not turn into hiding places for terrorists."
Ferhat Ataman stressed that rumours suggesting Turkish Armed Forces would attack the Atrus refugee camp were groundless
and again drew attention to the fact that since the beginning of the operation no civilians had been harmed.
Ataman noted too, that it was natural to cooperate with the International Red Cross Organization and other international
aid institutions in protecting Iraqi civilians. /Sabah/
Turkey has sent a warning leader of the Kurdish Democratic Party, Mesut Barzani, saying "Do not let foreigners into the
region. You must ensure security in the region after the withdrawal of the Turkish military or we will strike again."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation which is in Iraq, gave clear message to the Kurdish leader that responsibility
for the region will be left to local forces, and added that Turkey was ready to play the role of mediator. /Sabah/
Massive reaction by Turkish citizens in Germany over aggression against Turks and Turkish owned property in the
German media has created the desired affect. The directors of the Welt am Sonntag newspaper have stated that describing
PKK terrorist leader "Apo" as Ataturk last Sunday was a serious mistake for which they apologized. Sigmund
Schaelling, political Editor for Welt am Sonntag also called Hurriyet newspaper and said that his newspaper would put
Ataturk's picture in their Sunday edition and they would apologize to both Turks and Ataturk. Cartoonist Fritz Rohn
also apologized to Turkey for a cartoon he drew that put Turkey in a bad light. /Hurriyet/
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is reportedly taking a "more understanding" view of the Turkish military
incursion into northern Iraq. Answering questions in connection with his views on the issue, Juppe said that the
military operation was "legal and natural" in view of the circumstances.
Nevertheless, Juppe qualified his answer by adding that he hoped the incursion was going to be limited to a short time.
Over in Germany, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel is still embroiled in the German arms embargo against Turkey
issue. Although admitting that Germany was aware that the "temporary" embargo was creating reaction in Turkey, Kinkel
said that his government was determined to apply the embargo. Germany has stopped current military aid to
Turkey, because of claims that German-supplied weapons are being used in the northern Iraq military operation.
/Hurriyet/
Despite reports of a split between Ankara and Baku, reports say that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are "good"
and that there is nothing to be concerned about.
Yesterday Anka press agency reported that despite recent political developments in Azerbaijan, diplomatic ties had
not grown cold. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman during his weekly press meeting yesterday, also denied
stories that diplomatic ties were under stress. /Sabah/
The Turkish Red Crescent organization announced yesterday that since 1991, the Red Crescent has sent seven thousand
543 tons of humanitarian aid to warplagued Bosnia. The Red Crescent has also sent considerable amounts of cash in
German marks, dollars and Turkish Lira.
Red Crescent officials also said yesterday that claims from certain quarters about doubtful Red Crescent aid operations
were "groundless." /Hurriyet/
Contacts about the northern Iraq military operation continue in Ankara. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ozdem
Sanberk has made contact with Iran, which is said to be ignoring the infiltration of PKK militants escaping from the
Turkish armed forces. Sanberk made a phone call to Iranian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Hasemi Muhammed, and gave
information about the operation to the Syrian Ambassador to Ankara and explained Turkey's position to him. Syria is
known to shelter PKK terrorists in its territory. Diplomatic sources have underlined these points during the
contacts which Ankara is carrying out in Western capitals, and with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq:
-It is necessary to establish a mechanism for the effective border security of Turkey against infiltration following
the military operation. -Intervention by an international force in N.Iraq may
cause the problem to grow. -The effective solution is the security of Iraq's territori-
al integrity and sovereignty in the region. -As Iraq has no de facto sovereignty in the region, a
solution must be found together with the local people. -Turkey suggets that a solution mechanism must be establis-
hed based on UN Security Council decision No:688, and the international community must continue to send humanitarian
aid to the region. -Mesut Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
(KDP) and Celal Talabani, leader of the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (KPU) must not let the PKK infiltration into their
territories. -The Kurdish leaders must ensure that aid sent by Turkey is
used effectively in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nuzhet Kandemir has met with Strobe Talbott, US deputy secretary of state.
Assistant Secretary Richard Holbrooke and Director of Southern European Affairs, Marshall Adair, were also
present.
Talbott, on his way to Moscow next week, orginally wanted to discuss nonproliferation issues with Kandemir as well as
conventional forces in European treaties. But the situation in Iraq was the top item on the agenda.
Kandemir reconfirmed for Talbott that Turkey would withdraw from the area. But he reportedly told Talbott Turkey would
withdraw only after establishing the conditions to avoid the same power vacuum which orginally created the situation.
Kandemir also explained to Talbott and Holbrooke the Turkish plan to secure mountain passes in question with the help of
local forces. Talbott will be visiting Moscow, meet with Holbrooke at Kiev on April 10, and then the two will travel
to Ankara to join Joseph Nye from the Defence Department on April 11. /All papers/
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international human rights organization devoted to press freedom, faxed a
letter to the PKK leader on April 4 calling for the release of the two Turkish journalists abducted by the PKK recently.
Kadri Gursel, a reporter for Agence France Press, and Fatih Saribas, a photographer for Reuters, were abducted last
Friday night at a road block near Cizre in southeastern Turkey. /All papers/
NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes in a statement to six leading European Nations has announced that initiatives
aimed at trying to bring about a rapprochement between Turkey and Greece should be speeded up, the Anatolia news
agency said yesterday. Pointing out that recently he had been obliged to cancel planned trips to the two countries,
Claes said he would make these visits as soon as possible. "Apart from anything else it is my job to try and do what I
can to strengthen NATO's southern flank" Claes said. There are many reasons which bring Turkey and Greece face to face
but there is the possibility of arriving at an agreement between the two countries on the question of the command
infrastructure of the region" he said. He added that they had prepared a package of proposals to be presented to the
two sides on this subject adding that the basis of the package was the concept that "everything is mutual".
/Milliyet/
Turkey has launched an international initiative against a television channel, broadcasting from Britain and
disseminating propaganda for the terrorist PKK organization, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Med-TV, sponsored by
pro-PKK circles, started broadcasting last week. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman told reporters that under
internationally recognized TV broadcasting rules, terrorist propaganda is not allowed. Ataman said: "We are expecting
them to take the necessary measures as soon as possible". Another Turkish diplomatic source said Turkey had contacted
Eutelsat, which runs satellite broadcasts throughout Europe, and the British agency which provided a license for the
channel. /Cumhuriyet/
The Union of Public Employees has started a "boycott of German products" to protest against Germany's policy
regarding the operation being carried out by Turkey in northern Iraq, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.
Union officials stated that they hoped Germany's attempts to end the operation would cease. They added that if Germany
did not change the economic and political decisions it had taken in the last few days, they were going to ask all
public servants to boycott all products marked "Made in Germany" and to call their relatives in Germany to tell them
to take their savings out of German banks.
Among the world's steel producing countries, Turkey ranks 15th in steel output acoording to 1994 figures, the Anatolia
news agency reported yesterday. In 1993, Turkey was 16th. The production of raw steel in Turkey increased by 5.8 % in
1994 compared to 1993 figures, reaching 12.1 million tons. It was also reported that the demand was extremely high,
especially in the home appliances market and automotive sector.
The semiofficial Anatolian news agency, which is widely known by its acronym AA, today celebrates the 75th
anniversary of its founding under an order issued by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during Turkey's war of liberation. The reason
given by Ataturk for establishing such an agency at the time was the need to have the voice of a young and struggling
Turkey heard around the world. Anatolia News Agency Chairman of the Board, Mehmet Bican, in his anniversary
message, said: "The Anatolia news agency, founded under the order of reformist Ataturk, celebrates its 75th anniversary
with this honour". Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, ANAP CHairman Mesut Yilmaz, State Minister and Government
Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna also sent celebration messages. /Hurriyet/
Ten million carnations have been exported from the Antalya region to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany,
Switzerland, Finland, the Russian Federation, Norway and Sweden for the Easter celebrations to be held in mid-April,
the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Nuran Mutlu, chairwoman of the Antalya Flower Exporters' Association,
said they had earned more than $1 million for the flowers sent for Easter and more than $8 million in flower exports
since September 1994. Mutlu added that they were rapidly preparing themselves for the newly emerging markets, namely
the Russian Federation, Romania, Bulgaria and some of the Central Asian Republics.