Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 18, 1995)
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Assessing the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, President Suleyman Demirel said the international community had been
unable to bring about a durable peace and warned about the approach of a new wave of bloodshed in this part of former
Yugoslavia. Addressing a conference organized jointly by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Bilkent
University under the auspices of Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, President Demirel said that racism and
expansionism had emerged as a regime in former Yugoslavia at a time when new horizons were being opened for many
countries in the world. He said ethnic cleansing and genocide in Bosnia brings to mind dark periods in history.
"The international community has failed to stop Serbian aggression and failed to fulfill its duty against this
tragedy taking place in the middle of Europe" he said. The president noted that historians will mention this failure as
a dark period in contemporary civilization. Demirel said: "Time is going by for the establishment of a just and
durable peace and we are still waiting for an effective move". He said the UN should strive to regain confidence.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a message to the conference which said that it was very proper
for Turkey, a country which has profound understanding of all the dimensions of the Bosnia-Herzegovina situation, to
hold a conference of this kind in its capital, Ankara. Thatcher also accused the international community and the
civilized world for its insensitive attitude towards Bosnia. She called for punishment of the Serbs and the lifting of
the arms embargo imposed on the Bosnians. /All papers/
President Suleyman Demirel sent a congratulatory message to Syrian President Hafiz Al-Esad on the celebration of
national day in the Syria Arab Republic. In his message, Demirel said: "I want to confirm that Turkey is ready to
develop the present good neighbourly and cooperative relations with Syria. I convey my best wishes on behalf of
the Turkish nation in regard to the Syrian nation's prosperity and happiness". /Cumhuriyet/
Military units are forcing PKK terrorists into surrender in the Tunceli region after inflicting serious losses on PKK
groups active in the south-east areas of the country.
Reports from units around Tunceli say that between 26 to 45 more terrorists have been killed in clashes in the Tunceli
and Mardin regions. /All papers/
The report from the US, where Prime Minister Ciller is making an official visit, is that she will not give a firm
date for the withdrawal of Turkish military forces from northern Iraq when she meets with President Clinton later
this week.
Speaking to the press, Ciller said that Turkey would make its own decisions according to its own needs. She also
noted that to date the military incursion had been a success "with the aims of the operation achieved." Despite the
success of the operation however, there is no mention of a date for complete withdrawal of military units from the
region. /All papers/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said just prior to her meeting at the White House tomorrow, that there was no problem left
between the US and Turkey on the northern Iraqi issue. It is reported that the US has been convinced that Turkish
soldiers will withdraw when the northern Iraqi operation attains its goal, and supports the plan that Turkey is
implementing. It was stated at a meeting with US officials that there was a completely illegal situation in northern
Iraq which badly damaged Turkey. Meanwhile, a Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation will go to Baghdad in the coming
days. The current situation in northern Iraq will be taken up and Iraqi leader Saddam will be told to comply with the
UN Security Council's No:688 decision. /Hurriyet/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller pointed out at a meeting of the Business Council for International Understanding yesterday
that the "new world" necessitated the establishment of a new partnership between the allies, Turkey and the US. Ciller
said that Turkey would play an important role in the transportation of Central Asian and Caspian Sea gas and oil
products into Europe and added: "We invite American firms to come into partnership with us". /Hurriyet/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller stated that a "conditional amnesty" would be announced for those in prison because of
crimes of thought. Ciller said that amnesty would come to the fore with the democratization package in the coming
months. At the meeting in New York yesterday, Ciller said: "We will make radical reforms. I believe that necessary
steps will be taken for a conditional amnesty and all parties and public opinion will support this". /Hurriyet/
Kurdish leader Celal Talabani is also included in the negotiations for a "regional solution" to the problems
besetting northern Iraq. There will be talks between Talabani and yet another Turkish delegation that plans to
visit northern Iraq towards the end of the month.
It is anticipated that the Foreign Ministry delegation will stress that the Turkish military operation is being limited
to eradicating the PKK terrorist organization. It will clarify the role of the multinational "hammer" strike force
stationed at Incirlik, near Adana. The delegation will also take up the matter of regional and border security, and seek
suggestions from the Kurdish side on further cooperation in these areas. /Sabah/
A window was broken in the Turkish Consulate in the southern Swedish city of Malmo and cans of paint were thrown into the
premises. No threats or political statements have been reported in connection with the attack. There were no
casualties, nor messages left in the attack, police said. /All papers/
Turgut Ozal, Turkey's eighth President, was commemorated yesterday, the second anniversary of his death, with a state
ceremony organized at the Anitmezar in Istanbul's Topkapi district, the Anatolian news agency reported. Both
President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller sent messages.
The Greek government described statements on Turco-Greek relations made by Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu in
Athens as "positive", the Anatolian news agency reported. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that Inonu's
soft-spoken, moderate words, so different from those used by previous statesmen, had decreased tension.
Belgium has informed the outlawed Pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) Solidarity Office based in Brussels it cannot
not conduct its activities under the guise of a Kurdish Parliament in-exile, the Anatolian news agency reported
yesterday. The Kurdish representatives have thus started using the "DEP Solidarity Office" again for fear of being
restricted by the Belgian government.
Joseph Nye, US Deputy Defence Secretary, stated that a weak Turkey could create big problems for Greece, the Anatolia
news agency reported yesterday. "Nationalisn and Islamism in a weak Turkey, would be more problematic for Greece as
well as for Turkey" Nye said to the Greek daily Apoyevmatini. Richard Holbrooke, Deputy Secretary of State
for Canadian and European Affairs, explained to the same newspaper that "Turkey's future will directly affect Greece.
I don't mean to say that Turkey is more important for us than Greece, just that its location and neighbours gives
Turkey a special status. The two countries should work together to solve the problems of the region".
The three-day World Turkish-Speaking Youth Council meeting ended in Ankara yesterday and a communique summarizing the
highlights was presented to the press, the Anatolia news agency said. The council called upon international
organizations to prevent violence against ethnic Turks around the world and urged Turks to unite for strength. The
council also protested the construction of nuclear plants in Tatarstan and Bashkurdistan as well as nuclear tests in
eastern Turkistan. The council stated that they were very disturbed about human rights violations all around the world
and condemned the Serbian savageness in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan, and called upon the
international organizations to carry out their obligations in these vital areas. /Cumhuriyet/
END