TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 13, 1995)
Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (June 13, 1995)
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL IN KAZAKHSTAN
[02] CILLER TO MEET WITH JUPPE
[03] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN TURKEY
[04] 25 PKK MILITANTS AND 18 SOLDIERS DIE IN CLASHES
[05] MERCEDES-BENZ EYES EXPORT MARKETS WITH NEW BUS PLANTS
[06] DE TELEGRAAF: "SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY IN TURKEY"
[07] TURCO-GERMAN DEPUTY OZDEMIR IN TURKEY
[08] IKDP PESHMERGAS REPEL PKK ATTACK IN N.IRAQ
[09] MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT MEETING IN SPAIN
[10] STATE PETROCHEMICALS FIRM POSTS HUGE PROFITS
[11] CYPRUS BECOMING A CRIME CENTRE
[12] EUROPEAN VOTE ON CUSTOMS UNION
[13] NEW DEALS WITH IRAN IN THE AIR
[14] INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN GAP
[15] DUAL CITIZENSHIP
[16] RELIGION MAP FOR THE TOURISTS
[17] STATE MINISTER ATAC GOES TO ISRAEL
WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
JUNE 13, 1995
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish
press this morning.
[01] DEMIREL IN KAZAKHSTAN
President Suleyman Demirel went to Kazakhstan for a
three-day official visit yesterday, accompanied by Deputy
Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, State Minister Ayvaz Gokdemir
and some deputies, businessmen and press members. Speaking
at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure, Demirel
said Turkey's relations with Central Asian republics were
improving speedily. The president said he would be visiting
the cities of Almaty, Cimkent and Turkistan, and attending
the foundation-laying ceremony for the International Hodja
Ahmet Yesevi Turk-Kazakh University in Turkistan. He also
pointed out that there were 1,400 Kazakh students with
scholarships studying in Turkey. "We will exchange views on
international and regional issues and problems. I believe
that the results of my visit will be fruitful" he concluded.
Demirel, who arrived in Kazakhstan yesterday afternoon, was
greeted by his Kazakh counterpart Nazarbayev and his wife at
Almaty Airport. Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasim Comart
Tokayev, Interior Minister Bolat Baecenov, Almaty Governor
Salbay Kulmahanov and Turkish Ambassador to Almaty Mustafa
Asulada were also present at the ceremony. Young girls
wearing traditional dress presented the Turkish president
and his wife with flowers. The streets of Almaty were
decorated with Turkish and Kazakh flags and welcome
placards. The official welcoming ceremony will be held
today in the Presidential Palace, where official talks
between Demirel and Nazarbayev will take place. Demirel is
also expected to receive a delegation of Turkish businessmen
today. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/
[02] CILLER TO MEET WITH JUPPE
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller will meet with her French
counterpart Alain Juppe during the Western European Union's
(WEU) meeting in Paris on June 19. Ciller will also be
received by French President Jacques Chirac. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN TURKEY
Georgian Foreign Minister Alexander Chikvaidze arrived in
Turkey yesterday on an official visit during which he will
sign several consular accords with Turkey. Welcomed by his
Turkish counterpart Erdal Inonu, Chikvaidze said that
relations between the two countries were flourishing in an
atmosphere of understanding and would be further enhanced by
his visit. Inonu, for his part, pointed out that ties with
Georgia had always been excellent. "We think it is both
possible and beneficial that Georgia takes its place as an
element of peace and stability in the region" Inonu said.
/All papers/
[04] 25 PKK MILITANTS AND 18 SOLDIERS DIE IN CLASHES
At least 25 PKK militants and 18 soldiers were killed in
clashes in the eastern province of Tunceli yesterday,
according to officials. Meanwhile, the Governorship of the
State of Emergency said in a separate statement yesterday
that at least 119 PKK militants had been killed by the
security forces since Friday in ongoing operations in
southeast Anatolia. The statement from the Governorship
said clashes had taken place in five provinces in the
Southeast. Officials said that clashes between the security
forces and the PKK continued sporadically yesterday.
/Hurriyet/
[05] MERCEDES-BENZ EYES EXPORT MARKETS WITH NEW BUS PLANTS
The bus factory set up in Istanbul by the Mercedes-Benz
Turkish Company Incorporated has been opened by President
Suleyman Demirel. The President qualified as extremely
important and a cause for joy the fact that a world-famous
firm of the automotive industry had established in Turkey a
factory foreseen as an element for the 21st century
development. President Demirel pointed out that Turkey's
commercial relations with Europe, with which she was about
to establish customs union, occupied an extremely important
position. The President of the Mercedes-Benz Board of
Directors, Helmuth Werner, for his part, pointed out that
the bus assembly facilities set up in Istanbul conformed to
world standards. /All papers/
[06] DE TELEGRAAF: "SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY IN TURKEY"
The high circulation Dutch newspaper "De Telegraaf" devoted
a whole page to the historic and touristic values of Turkey.
Titled "The Treasures of Turkey" and under the sub-title
reading "A hospitable population and low prices", the
article points out that Turkey's historic and cultural
riches are beyond comparison. Noting that it is possible to
see the traces of a good number of civilizations in
Anatolia, the article declares that it is the Modern Turkey
which is situated today on these territories rich in
historic works and natural beauty. "De Telegraaf" stresses
in particular that as compared with other countries, Turkey
is an extremely safe country from the standpoint of tourism
and it advises Dutch tourists to spend their holidays in
Turkey.
"Kurier"
The Austrian newspaper "Kurier" has named Turkey as one of
the most reliable tourism countries. An article in the
newspaper named Turkey as one of the countries where the
least number of robberies and violence are encountered.
Meanwhile, the Dutch magazine "Reisrevue" has called upon
Holland to support holiday organizations aiming for Turkey.
It is pointed out that the tension which arose between the
two countries with the setting up in Holland of a so-called
Kurdish Parliament in-exile has not reflected on tourism.
The article cautioned "Do not change your mind about going
to Turkey, stick to your selection", people and
organizations engaged in travelling are urged to support
organizations working on holidaying in Turkey. /All papers/
[07] TURCO-GERMAN DEPUTY OZDEMIR IN TURKEY
Cem Ozdemir, German parliamentarian of Turkish origin, has
declared that Turkey has an important mission in Europe,
being a country with a strong Muslim majority. Addressing a
news conference in Istanbul, Cem Ozdemir qualified as
unacceptable the attacks carried out by the PKK terrorist
organization against Turkish concerns in Germany. Pointing
out that extremist nationalism was dangerous for every
country, Ozdemir added that the best response to this danger
was through democracy. Addressing a news conference late
yesterday at the Foreign Press Centre, Ozdemir said Turkey
should enter, not only the customs union, but the EU as
well, and for that it "had to become and will become
European in respect to democracy and human rights". Ozdemir
said the Turks living abroad would play a key role in the
country's integration with Europe. Referring to the problem
of Kurdish separatism in the southeast, Ozdemir said this
had created a "black hole" for the economy, consuming great
sums and hampering Turkey's economic integration with
Europe. /All papers/
[08] IKDP PESHMERGAS REPEL PKK ATTACK IN N.IRAQ
Inhabitants of Batufa village in northern Iraq's Zakho
region and peshmergas of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic
Party (IKDP) repelled attacks by militants of the PKK
terrorist organization. The villagers defended themselves
successfully and were supported by the peshmergas during the
clashes. IKDP officials said further PKK attacks are
expected in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT MEETING IN SPAIN
A meeting on the theme of "Protecting the Mediterranean
against Pollution" was held between June 5-10 in Barcelona,
Spain, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. During
the meeting, plans for pollution control were drawn up.
Nergis Yazgan, director general of the Protection of Natural
Life Association, was one of the Turkish delegates at the
meeting as a guest of the Environment Ministry and the UN's
Environment Programme.
[10] STATE PETROCHEMICALS FIRM POSTS HUGE PROFITS
The state-run petrochemicals producer PETKIM has reported TL
5.1 trillion in 1994 profits, the firm's general director,
Mehmet Yilmaz said. "We worked with private sector spirit.
This is the gist of our success" Yilmaz told the Anatolia
news agency. Yilmaz pointed out that PETKIM had become
competitive with world standards and is projected to
undertake exports worth $168 million this year. At PETKIM,
the current capacity utilization is 97 % -compatible with
European standards. The company is expecting record high
profits of TL 20 trillion this year.
[11] CYPRUS BECOMING A CRIME CENTRE
Reports from Cyprus note that the Greek community on the
island is turning the southern part into a new Middle East
centre of crime.
Many foreign companies are now operating in the Greek
sector, and all the evidence points to big money laundering
operations and international smuggling of weapons and drugs.
Reports say that vessels carrying drugs are often seen in
Greek ports, and that there is a heavy traffic in heroin and
other drugs between southern Cyprus and the notorious Bekaa
valley. This suggests that the southern Greeks are lending
their support to the PKK terrorist organization which also
has strong connections with the Bekaa valley and
international drug trafficking.
Companies in the Greek sector are also engaged in importing
goods from Israel and some of the Arab countries and are
then re-exporting the same goods with a "Made in Cyprus"
label. At least 15 thousand mainly Iranian illegal workers
are working in southern Cyprus. Many are involved in
rackets and prostitution. /Hurriyet/
[12] EUROPEAN VOTE ON CUSTOMS UNION
Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member
countries yesterday voted in Luxemburg on Turkey's own
customs union with the EU starting on January 1, 1996.
This formality will be followed by further voting in the EU
parliament in the near future. Reports from the EU note
that a number of parliamentarians abstained from voting
because of doubts about Turkey's human rights record.
/Cumhuriyet/
[13] NEW DEALS WITH IRAN IN THE AIR
Following in the wake of recent visits by Turkish officials
to Tehran, top Iranian Foreign Ministry representative
Gholamhousein Boulandian arrived in Ankara yesterday .
The main items that will be discussed with Turkish officials
will involve border security measures already agreed upon.
Nevertheless, comments by Boulandian suggest that Iran would
like to see improved ties stem from border agreements.
/Hurriyet/
[14] INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN GAP
Many states and international institutions with doubts about
the approved Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), feeling that
Turkey could use the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers as a weapon against other countries, have begun to
change their attitudes. France, the US and Canada are among
the first to change their attitudes. It has been reported
that these countries have made more grants as their interest
has grown. Israel and many other countries are also showing
more interest in GAP. TIMES magazine has also noted that
the GAP project should be counted among the eight modern
wonders of the world in regard to its massive
infrastructure. The World Development Council has included
the GAP project in the list of "Global Super Projects" which
include the ten biggest projects of the world. The most
important development regarding GAP's approval in the
international field was stated to be the agreement made with
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). GAP has
been decided to be one of the four areas for partnership
projects determined by the UNDP and Turkey for the years
between 1996 and 2000. Noting that this decision meant that
GAP would be registered by the UN, officials stressed this
provided easier financing for projects which were
internationally registered. On the other hand, it has been
learned that the World Bank which did not want to give
credit to GAP because of the critical water balance in the
region, has been revising its attitude and has contacted
Ankara with a view to extending new credit facilities. The
European Union (EU), putting this issue on its own agenda,
is also understood to have been considering the extension of
credit. /Milliyet/
[15] DUAL CITIZENSHIP
An agreement setting out the conditions for the economic
activities of Turkish citizens in Turkey who in the future
plan to apply for dual citizenship has been put into force.
According to the agreement, which has been published in the
Official Gazette, these individuals and their heirs will
benefit from certain economic rights. Benefitting from dual
citizenship rights, these people can continue to benefit
from all the rights given to Turkish people in regard to
residence, travel, working and owning moveable and real
estate on condition that rules regarding national security
and public order are not infringed. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] RELIGION MAP FOR THE TOURISTS
The Tourism Ministry has prepared a map of religious sites
for tourists interested in the religious history of Turkey.
The map shows in detail the holy sites accepted by Muslims,
Christians and the Jews. Tourism Minister Irfan Gurpinar
said yesterday that his Ministry gave importance to
religious tourism as a way of increasing the number of
tourists coming Turkey, thus also increasing tourism income.
Minister Gurpinar noted that the 2000th birthday anniversary
of the Christ will be celebrate at Meryem Ana, near Izmir,
and that preparations continue for the anniversary
ceremonies. Minister Gurpinar said that there was a 3.6 %
increase in the number of tourists coming to Turkey in the
first four months of the year, when compared with last year,
and that there was a 14 % increase in tourism income.
/Hurriyet/
[17] STATE MINISTER ATAC GOES TO ISRAEL
State Minister Baki Atac, who has gone to Israel as the
official guest of the Israeli Agriculture Minister said that
in his interview with the press at Ataturk Airport before
his departure to Tel Aviv, Israeli public and private sector
institutions were closely interested in the southeast
Anatolia GAP project. State Minister Atac said that the aim
of the GAP project was to contribute to the economic
improvement of people of the region by raising their income
level and living standards. He added that the giant
dimensions of the project had been widely accepted by
international public opinion as one of the biggest
influences in regional and social development ever.
/Cumhuriyet/
END
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