TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 25, 1995)
Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (July 25, 1995)
CONTENTS
[01] POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE CIVILIAN CONSTITUTION
[02] PRIVATE SECTOR UNDERTAKES INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOSM UNION
[03] TANKER PLANES TO STRENGTHEN TURKISH AIR FORCE
[04] ANKARA LINKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELGRADE TO REGIONALDEVELOPMENTS
[05] BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE REACTION
[06] GOLD EXCHANGE TO OPEN TOMORROW
[07] PKK MILITANTS KILLED
[08] GHALI TO VISIT TURKEY IN AUTUMN
[09] BARZANI AND TALABANI TO MEET IN EUROPE
[10] SAHINOGLU IN BEIJING
[11] A BOSNIAN DEFENCE DELEGATION TO TURKEY
[12] EU SUPPORTS ANKARA ON TERRITORIAL WATERS
[13] TURKEY TAKES NEW STEPS FOR OIL
[14] LEADER OF WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY DIES IN ACCIDENT
[15] CULTURE MINISTER LEAVES FOR ROME
[16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RETURNS FROM THE US
[17] EX-SOVIET REPUBLIC LEADERS PEREFER TURKISH COASTS
[18] MARTYRS OF KOREAN WAR WEEK
[19] GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL
WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
JULY 25, 1995
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish
press this morning.
[01] POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE CIVILIAN CONSTITUTION
The business world has reacted positively to amendments made
in the Constitution. Congratulations had been pouring in
from all sectors in the business world to the Assembly. The
European Parliament has looked upon the amendments as a
first positive step towards the customs union. It stated
that now obstacles in the way of freedom of thought should
be lifted. The foreign press also had words of praise for
the amendments. The Financial Times wrote that this was a
victory for Prime Minister Tansu Ciller. The Le Figaro
daily wrote that one of the expectations of the EP has been
realized. The Liberation daily wrote that three parties
have united to effect amendments in the Constitution. The
La Libre Belgique has written that Turkey is on the way to
democratization and the country has taken important
decisions. US Ambassador to Ankara, Marc Grossman has also
extended his congratulations to Parliament and the
government for the amendments made in the Constitution.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said these amendments
took place on Turkish people's own free will not after
pressures coming from foreign countries.
/Milliyet-Hurriyet/
[02] PRIVATE SECTOR UNDERTAKES INITIATIVES FOR CUSTOSM UNION
The Constitutional amendments taken at the National Assembly
has expedited the initiatives taken by the private sector
for the customs union. The Economic Development Foundation
represents the private sector in the EU. Chairman of the
Foundation Sedat Aloglu that the democratic measures taken
will result in closure ties between Turkey and the EU.
/Cumhuriyet/
[03] TANKER PLANES TO STRENGTHEN TURKISH AIR FORCE
Ankara yesterday formally received two tanker aircraft
leased from the US in a development that will boost the
capabilities of Turkey's Air Force. "This is a happy day
for us" President Suleyman Demirel told a ceremony held at
Akinci Air Base near Ankara. "These tanker aircraft will
bring new capabilities to the defence of our country".
Turkey signed an agreement with the US in late 1994 to
acquire seven KC-135R-type tanker aircraft to be upgraded by
Boeing Aircraft at $292 million. The first deliveries are
scheduled for 1997. The aircraft should considerably
increase the flight range of Turkey's F-16 and F-4 fighter
aricraft with their in-flight refuelling abilities. To meet
its requirements until 1997, the Air Force leased the two
aircraft it received yesterday for $13.5 million. US
Ambassador to Turkey Marc Grossman said at the ceremony taht
the tanker aircraft demonstrated the importance of Turkey
for the US. Turkey is the first country other than the US
to use the KC-135Rs. "That our air force is becoming a
major power doesn't mean it will be used for aggressive
purposes" Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said at the ceremony.
"Our defence strength is the guarantee of peace and
stability in our region". Chief of the General Staff
Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi said Turkey should continue to
improve and modernize its armed forces since it is situated
in a highly volatile region of the world, clearly referring
to the instabilities in the Balkans, the Middle East and
Caucasia. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/
[04] ANKARA LINKS CLOSER RELATIONS WITH BELGRADE TO REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Turkey announced yesterday that the issue of establishing
closer relations with Yugoslavia depends upon developments
in the region. Ankara has diplomatic relations with
Belgrade, Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said in
answer to a question at this press conference yesterday.
Akbel noted that human rights violations have reached an
unacceptable level in Bosnia. He also said that Bosnia's
cultural heritage had been greatly harmed by the conflict.
He commented that the Turkish people have close historical
and cultural links with the region and are following the
tragic developments with great concern. /All papers/
[05] BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR ASKS FOR IMMEDIATE REACTION
Hajruddin Somun, the Bosnia-Herzegovina's Ambassador to
Ankara, said that his government wanted immediate measures
to be taken by the international community in view of
escalating Serb attacks on Bihac and Zepa. Somun announced
that he had handed his government's message concerning Serb
aggression to Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu. He added that
Serb aggression around Zepa was continuing. In a related
development, about 2,000 people staged a demonstration near
the Kapikule border gate near Edirne, to protest against the
latest developments in Bosnia. After the demonstration, the
Bosnia Platform, which includes various foundations and
associations, released a statement condemning Serb agression
in Bosnia. Turkey's Constitutional Court has also comdemned
the UN and other international institutions. /All papers/
[06] GOLD EXCHANGE TO OPEN TOMORROW
Turkey's first gold exchange, the Istanbul Gold Exchange,
will start operations tomorrow, July 26, a statement from
the Central Bank (CB) said yesterday. The Bank said that
the foreign currency-indexed gold market within the CB,
operational since April 10, 1989, would terminate activities
as soon as the new gold exchange starts business. The Bank
said in the same statement that it would not act as a broker
in gold trading as of July 27. The exchange will remove the
CB's monopoly on gold imports. /All papers/
[07] PKK MILITANTS KILLED
31 militants of the PKK terrorist organization have been
killed during military operations in the Southeast and two
soldiers also died. Meanwhile, five PKK militants, who were
responsible for the death of 12 people and the wounding of a
further 13 in an attack on a pro-government village in the
southeastern Turkey, were themselves killed during a
military operation. The five PKK militants, using rockets
and automatic weapons, attacked a village near Atabinen in
the province of Van on Sunday night. Thirteen people were
wounded, and six women and one child were among the 12 dead,
officials of the regional governor's office in Diyarbakir
said. /Milliyet/
[08] GHALI TO VISIT TURKEY IN AUTUMN
Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan, who attended the West
Contact Group's Bosnia Meeting in London, said that UN
Secretary-General Boutros Ghali wanted to come to Turkey in
autumn. Golhan stated that Ghali said: "There is the
Security Council and I am obliged to implement its
decisions. Everyone blames me". Noting that most members
at the meeting indicated that the problem could be solved
not through military force but politically, Golhan pointed
out that Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said: "You are
talking about a political solution, but you cannot achieve a
result by a political solution. Possibly military force is
also not a full solution, but at least it can prepare
grounds for a political one". Golhan said: "Air strikes
must be carried out. Zepa has not fallen yet. If you want
to make safe havens secure, then there must be a security
zone around them". /Sabah/
[09] BARZANI AND TALABANI TO MEET IN EUROPE
Worried by the escalating internal strife of the Iraqi
Kurds, the US and Turkey made separate calls to the warring
sides to stop their fight and negotiate, Kurdish and Turkish
officials said. Washington's call was made by Robert
Deutsch, Director of the US State Department's Office of
Northern Gulf Affairs. Deutsch sent a letter to Celal
Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK),
urging a meeting with him, Mesut Barzani, leader of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and senior US officials to
reach a final settlement, the PUK's Ankara office announced
in a press release. The letter proposed an earlier meeting
in Europe in the last week of July. The Turkish Foreign
Ministry said it called on the two parties last week to
resolve their differences peacefully. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Omer Akbel said: "Turkey would also welcome all
initiatives directed at stopping the clashes between the two
sides "provided such initiatives respecting Iraq's
territorial integrity". PUK leadership accepted the
proposals for the meeting of high-level officials "in the
chosen European venue", to be followed by the gathering of
Talabani and Barzani with US officials. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] SAHINOGLU IN BEIJING
Ankara Mayor Erdogan Sahinoglu is currently visiting Beijing
as the official guest of Beijing municipality. Sahinoglu
met Chinese Public Security deputy minister and observed
Beijing's economic and technical development region, Asian
games village and Chinese metro. Sahinoglu is scheduled to
visit Chengie city. The visit will end on July 27. /All
papers/
[11] A BOSNIAN DEFENCE DELEGATION TO TURKEY
While Western countries remain idle, Turkey takes concrete
steps to end the tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Within this
framework, a delegation from the Bosnian Ministry of Defence
will come to Turkey to prepare grounds for cooperation in
defence. A high-ranking official stated that the problem of
what can be done in the face of the embargo will be taken in
hand and also what will be done in the event the embargo is
lifted. /Milliyet/
[12] EU SUPPORTS ANKARA ON TERRITORIAL WATERS
The EU legal commission has issued a report supporting
Turkey on the problem of 12-mile limit of territorial waters
created by Greece. The report states that the problem
should be solved by a dialogue and mutual negotiations.
/Hurriyet/
[13] TURKEY TAKES NEW STEPS FOR OIL
Turkey has proposed a new formula whereby a concern is to be
established to handle oil projects. Chief Adviser to the
Prime Ministry, Emre Gonensay will reveal the new plan to
the authorities in Washington. Turkey, Russia and the US
will be represented in this new project concern and will
deal with all aspects related to the oil pipeline to the
Caspian Sea. /Hurriyet/
[14] LEADER OF WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY DIES IN ACCIDENT
Ahmet Sadik, former independent deputy and leader of the
Turkish minority in Western Thrace died in a car accident
last night. President Suleyman Demirel has extended his
condolences to members of his family. /Hurriyet/
[15] CULTURE MINISTER LEAVES FOR ROME
Culture Minister Ismail Cem will be leaving for Italy to
attend the culture forum meeting in Rome, where leading
politicians from Mediterranean countries will also attend
the meeting. Politicians from Spain, Italy, France,
Lebanon, Tunisia, Greece and Turkey will exchange views on
the Mediterranean and its cultural problems, during the
two-day meeting. It is noted that Ismail Cem will dwell on
"the necessity of the realization of contemporary,
effective, and tolerant dialogue among different cultures,
civilizations, religions and national communities in the
Mediterranean region" in his address. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RETURNS FROM THE US
Environment Minister Riza Akcali returned to Turkey on
Sunday after participating in the Mediterranean Environment
Technical Aid Programme consultation meetings that took
place in the US. Akcali told after his arrival that the aid
programme was supported by the EU, the UN Development
programme, World Bank and European Investment Bank. Akcali
said he conveyed Turkey's improvements and problems on
environment issue and he called for the US businessmen to
invest in Turkey. Akcali said he held bilateral contacts
with the World Bank and European Investment Bank officials
and presented them Turkey's several projects adding these
officials will soon come to Turkey to investigate these
projects. /All papers/
[17] EX-SOVIET REPUBLIC LEADERS PEREFER TURKISH COASTS
Three ex-Soviet republic leaders have been vacationing on
the Turkish Mediterranean coasts lately, the Anatolia news
agency reported yesterday. Moldovan President Mircea Snegur
arrived in Antalya yesterday morning, whence he will proceed
to Kemer for a week's stay. Meanwhile, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev left this same resort yesterday after
two weeks of rest. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Albert
Chernishev is on vacation in Side, where he is holding
official talks with the town governor, Saim Cotur.
[18] MARTYRS OF KOREAN WAR WEEK
The Martyrs of the Korean War Week will take place in
Washington DC on July 26-30. Officials from the 20
countries that fought in the Korean War under the auspices
of the UN have been invited to the commemoration, which will
include the unveiling of the Monument of Warriors in Korea.
The group of officials representing the Turkish Armed Forces
will leave for the US today. The Turkish team will organize
a photograph and film exhibition. /All papers/
[19] GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL
Omer Akbel, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a press
conference that a group from the German ministry of cultural
cooperation, under the leadership of its chairman Herr
Witman, was expected to arrive in Istanbul yesterday for
meetings in connection with the proposed establishment of a
German university in the city. Akbel, who will also head
the Turkish delegation at the meetings, said they will build
on initiatives already started. /All papers/
END
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