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Turkish Press Review, 96-09-02Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWMONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO UZBEKISTANPresident Suleyman Demirel sent a message of congratulations to Uzbekistan President Islam Kerimov to mark five years of independence for that country.In his message Demirel noted the bonds of friendship between Uzbekistan and Turkey, and expressed the hope that these would deepen and grow even stronger. Demirel also stressed that Turkey would continue to meet its obligations when it came to helping Uzbekistan develop. /Hurriyet/ [02] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISITItalian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will make a courtesy visit to see President Demirel tomorrow. Although Prodi will stay for only one day, he will stress during his contacts that Turkey is vitally important for Europe.Prodi will have talks with Prime Minister Erbakan and Foreign Minister Ciller. This will be the first visit to the Welfare Party coalition government of a prime minister from the West. Prodi has already noted that there are many similarities between Turkey and his own country. Prime Minister Prodi knows Turkey well and his visit has already created large interest in European circles. /All papers/ [03] TURKEY CALLS FOR IRAQI FORCES TO WITHDRAW 'IMMEDIATELY'Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller yesterday demanded the immediate withdrawal of Iraqi forces from northern Iraq. Indicating that Iraqi forces, in cooperation with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) forces attached to Mesut Barzani had heightened tension in the Erbil region with their operation on Saturday, Ciller said this had in turn heightened tension in the world. "Turkey is on the side of peace. It prefers that all the powers in the region resolve their problems through dialogue and not through fighting. We are working for this" Ciller told reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara. "Since yesterday, we have been conducting intensive diplomatic efforts with Iran, the US and Iraq" she said.She went on to indicate the "three main points" that Turkey was primarily concerned with regarding the latest developments in northern Iraq. "First of all the withdrawal of Saddam's forces. It is imperative for peace that Saddam ends the attacks it has launched, with Barzani's forces, around Erbil" Ciller said. "The second problem is the protection of people's live in the region. This is very important. As you know, we are monitoring the situation of the Turkmens, Kurds and Arabs. Thirdly, Turkey will not allow its security and economic concerns in the region and on its borders to be compromised" she added. Ciller went on to indicate that Turkey's overall policy regarding Iraq had not changed and reiterated Ankara's opposition to the establishment of an independent Kurdish state to be formed in northern Iraq. "We will not allow it. Iraq's territorial integrity and its sovereignty is vital" Ciller said. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mehmet Agar said over the weekend that the Turkish Interior Ministry and the Office of the General Staff were closely following the developments in northern Iraq. Agar said in a statement in Diyarbakir that they would make a general evaluation of both Iraq's territorial integrity and dangers which the PKK terrorist organization could create in the region. Agar said: "We will do our best to reach a peaceful solution within the framework of Iraq's territorial integrity and take the necessary measures". Later, Agar attended an evaluation meeting on northern Iraq. /Sabah/ [04] KALEMLI VISITS EGYPTParliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli and a delegation will visit Egypt between September 1-6. Kalemli will deliver a written message to Egyptian President Husni Mubarak from President Suleyman Demirel. Kalemli will meet with his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmet Fathi Sorour, and Advisory Assembly President Mustafa Helmy. The group will also visit museums, dams and other historical sites in Luksor and Asuan during the trip. /All papers/[05] AYFER YILMAZ VISITING UKRAINEA foreign trade delegation headed by Ayfer Yilmaz will visit Ukraine on September 2-5. During the visit, Ayfer Yilmaz will take part in a seminar on "Turkish economy, joint investments and opportunities for cooperation". The contacts of the delegation will aim to encourage bilateral commercial relations. On September 23-27, Ayfer Yilmaz will pay another visit to China. /Sabah/[06] SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION VISITS GAPA delegation from South Africa will visit Sanliurfa on September 4-5, upon the invitation of the Istanbul Union of Textile and Ready-Wear Exporters. The delegation will be briefed on the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) and will be received by Sanliurfa Governor Sahabettin Harput. /Sabah/[07] STATE MINISTERS VISIT LIBYAState Ministers Namik Kemal Zeybek and Abdullah Gul travelled to Libya on the weekend to ask for $320 million that it owed to Turkish contractors. Zeybek and Gul explained that their visit had no political implications. Prior to their departure on Saturday the ministers held a press conference at which they outlined the goals of the visit; to solve the problems of the Turkish contractors working in Libya and to demand their compensation, a total of $600 million. /All papers/[08] TURKEY CELEBRATES WORLD PEACE DAYPresident Suleyman Demirel issued a statement yesterday on the occasion of World Peace Day, saying he believed that peace was necessary for Turks to become wealthy and have better living conditions. The president said hostility to foreigners, supporting micro-nationalist, separatist, terrorist activities, and arousing religious hatred could not be tolerated.He noted that this century had witnessed the most disastrous wars in history and that it still had not been possible to compensate for the damage caused by those wars. He said this had led to serious attempts to achieve a universal and sustainable peace and that the UN, which was established to solve conflicts among nations by way of dialogue and not by force, was a solid proof of these attempts. He also emphasized that since its establishment Turkey had been following a peaceful policy. "It is our very wish that the words of Ataturk, our great leader, 'Peace at home, peace in the world' guide all nations" he concluded. /All papers/ [09] TURKEY RANKS 16TH IN WORLD STEEL OUTPUTAmong the world's steel producing countries, Turkey currently ranks 16th in output. The rating is based on figures from the first half of 1996. In 1995, Turkey held 15th spot globally. China, has for the first time, hit number one in the world for steel output with a total of 48.881 million tons of raw product. /All papers/[10] TURKISH ECONOMY GROWS 10.3 % IN FIRST HALF 1996Turkey's Gross National Product (GNP) grew by a radical 10.3 % at 1987 constant prices in the first half of 1996, according to State Institute of Statistics (DIE) figures, State Minister Sabri Tekin revealed on Friday. The DIE said Gross Domestic Product (GDP) jumped by a close 9.1 % in real terms in the same period.DIE also said Turkey's per capita income soared by 22.9 % to $2,685 at current prices. That represents a 6.2 % rise at constant prices, the DIE said. Per capita income, in terms of the national currency, jumped 93.2 %, at current prices, to TL 124 million. It said Turkish GNP in the first half of the year was TL 5.333 quadrillion at current prices and TL 45.724 trillion at constant prices. DIE also reported that the GNP grew by 8.6 % in the second quarter while the GDP grew by 8.2 % in the same period. GNP in the first quarter went up by 12.2 % from a provisional 9.9 %, and GDP grew by 10.3 % in the same period. /All papers/ [11] TURKISH TOURISM IN BRITISH PRESSThe Daily Telegraph, one of the leading British daily newspapers reported that British tourists were interested in especially in Bodrum and Marmaris and added that a holiday in Turkey was much cheaper than Greece and Spain. /Sabah/[12] PKK DEMONSTRATION IN LONDONA group of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) supporters held a "Peace Festival in Kurdistan" demonstration in the world-famous Trafalgar Square in London. The square was adorned with posters of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. /Cumhuriyet/[13] TURKEY CONNECTED TO EUROPE VIA THE DANUBEVladimir Lomen, Slovakian Charge d'Affaires to Ankara said that the shortest and cheapest way to improve trade between Turkey and Slovakia was the Danube River. Lomen said: "We can establish a trade bridge between Trabzon and Bratislava." /Milliyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |