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Turkish Press Review, 97-01-22Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWJANUARY 22, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] TURKEY UPS STAKES IN CYPRUS STANDOFFTurkey further raised the stakes in the Cyprus stand-off yesterday by saying that Turkish Navy ships will call on Turkish Cypriot ports in a display of solidarity with its "brethren" on the eastern Mediteranean island. "According to information I received from the General Staff today, our warships will soon visit Cyprus" Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan said after meeting with Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas. "Turkey and Cyprus are tied to each other in every way. The whole world must know this and see it clearly" the prime minister said. Erbakan said that Greek Cypriots were saying that the S-300 missiles purchased from Russia would be brought to Cyprus in 16 months. "We are not going to wait passively for 16 months. It has to be declared that the missiles will definitely not be coming. If it is not declared within a certain time that the missiles will not be coming, we will definitely not hesitate to take the steps required. We will make certain just what we will do. We will take the initiative". Erbakan stressed that the more Turkey has remained passive, the more Greece and southern Cyprus have increased their "intolerable violations and provocations".Meeting with Denktas, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi had more to say on the issue: "I confirmed to the Prime Minister last night that our navy ships are ready to call on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)". Asked by reporters when the Turkish "warships" would make the trip, Denktas intervened saying they were "peace ships" and Karadayi disclosed that the visit of the Turkish "peace ships" to the TRNC would take place on Friday. Denktas also met with Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli. Delivering a speech in Parliament, Denktas called on the European countries to recognize the TRNC. Visiting Denktas, Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller declared that "whatever Edirne is for us, the TRNC is the same. We shall never accept a fait accomplis on the island". Ciller said it was out of the question for Turkey to leave unanswered Greek and Greek Cypriot "illogical and irrational attitudes on Cyprus such as the purchase of missiles". Hours later, the Turkish Parliament listened to a speech by President Denktas and later adopted a motion endorsing the joint declaration issued by the two presidents of Turkey and the TRNC. In its decision, the Turkish Parliament also stressed that Turkey cannot and will not allow Greece to upset the balance of power either in Cyprus or "elsewhere" and warned the EU that if Greek Cyprus joined the European bloc without the consent of the Turkish Cypriots, and before a settlement on the island, it would not only be unacceptable but lack legitimacy according to the 1960 international treaties of guarantee and alliance. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/ [02] ANKARA SENDS PROTEST NOTE TO GERMANYFollowing yesterday's claims by the Frankfurt Provincial Court that Turkey was involved in drug trafficking, the Turkish Foreign Ministry sent a late night protest note to the German government refuting the court claim. The note was sent through the German Embassy in Ankara.Ankara has also taken serious exception to the Frankfurt Court claim that Foreign Minister Ciller had "personal connections" with the trade in drugs. The court claim was the leading evening news item in Germany yesterday and has created waves of reaction throughout Turkey. The German claim that Turkey protects drug smugglers and even benefits from the proceeds has been described as "scandalous" and in his protest note Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen said that the German claim was damaging to Turkey's national pride. /Sabah/ [03] NATO COMMANDER TALKS TO GENERAL STAFFAdmiral Joseph T.Lopez, Commander of NATO forces in Southern Europe, paid a visit to Turkey's deputy chief of General Staff, General Cevik Bir yesterday. General Bir expressed his pleasure over Admiral Lopez' visit and said that it would help in the exchange of views. The admiral would be explaining developments in Southern Europe to the General Staff, he said. Admiral Lopez for his part said that he welcomed the opportunity to visit Turkey. Later, the two commanders held a meeting closed to the press. /All papers/[04] TURKISH-GREEK ARGUEMENT AT SI MEETINGDeniz Baykal, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) met Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis at the Socialist International (SI) meeting in Rome, where they discussed the Cyprus issue. Baykal told Simitis that the Greek and Greek Cypriot joint defence doctrine was an obstacle to solving the problem. He added that the issue should be discussed not only between governments, but also between parties.Before the meeting, Simitis held a press conference where he said the EU should put pressure on Turkey to ensure obedience to UN resolutions. "If Turkey wants to work on a partnership agreement with the EU, it has to understand there must be peace and stability in the Mediterranean" he said. /Hurriyet/ [05] PKK THREATEN FORCE IF ATRUSH REFUGEES RETURN TO TURKEYPKK militants announced that they would resort to force if the refugees living in Atrush Camp are made to move to Turkey. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) withdrew its flag from Atrush yesterday and stopped supplies of humanitarian aid. Although the UNHCR called on the refugees to travel to Mukubli and Balkoz provinces, it was reported that the PKK was trying to prevent this. It also appeared that the PKK had threatened to use weapons if the refugees were forced to go to Turkey. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/[06] 24 PKK MILITANTS KILLEDWhen it was found out that there was a large group of terrorists near Saggoze village in the Genc District of Bingol, security forces initiated an operation and killed 15 militants of the PKK terrorist organization. One Turkish soldier died during the operation. Meanwhile, nine of the terrorists, who killed one police and one gendermarie officer on Sunday night in the Savur District of Mardin, were also killed. /Hurriyet/[07] BALKAN COUSINS SEEK TURKISH SUPPORTPeter Pasali, chairman of the Gagaouze Public Assembly in Moldavia, on Monday said the Gagaouze wanted support from Turkey and wished to develop mutual economic and cultural relations. Noting that the Gagaouze delegation came to Turkey after an invitation from Bursa Mayor Erdem Saker, Pasali explained that one of the aims of their visit was to meet with officials from the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA). "TIKA has helped us to a great degree. It is impossible for us to forget TIKA's support" Pasali said. Pasali urged Turkish businessmen to make investments in Gagaouze land. /All papers/[08] IBCA SAYS TELEKOM PRIVATIZATION VITAL FOR THE TURKISH ECONOMYIBCA, the Britain-based European rating agency, said privatization is vital for the Turkish economy and termed the Turk Telekom sell-off as "the most precious jewel of the Turkish privatization crown". In the Turkey section of "Countries, Annual Report '96" IBCA said the privatization of Turk Telekom was anticipated to boost foreign capital inflow while at the same time help stabilize international reserves. /All papers/[09] SOYLEMEZ SAYS TURKEY WILL REACH $5 BN SELL-OFF TARGETTurkey will reach its target of $5 billion in privatization revenues this year if there are no legal obstacles to sell-offs, State Minister Ufuk Soylemez said. Privatization officials said the $5 billion did not include the $3.5 billion expected to be raised from the sale of Turk Telekom, the keystone of Turkey's privatization efforts, and revenue from the sale of power plants. /All papers/[10] BSEC MINISTERS TO MEET ON FEBRUARY 7Economics ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries will meet in Istanbul on February 7. The Istanbul meeting of the BSEC economics ministers will be dominated by discussions on the establishment of a free trade area in the Black Sea basin. Other issues on the agenda include establishment of a customs standard among BSEC countries.Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller is scheduled to deliver the inaugural speech of the BSEC economics ministers meeting. Turkey is currently holding the term chairmanship of BSEC. The BSEC secretariat, which will be located at the newly renovated Musir Fuat Pasa Mansion, will be inaugurated by Ciller also on February 7. /All papers/ [11] IRAN COMPLETES ENGINEERING ON 260-KILOMETER GAS LINE TO TURKEYIran has completed engineering work on a 260 km (162 mile) pipeline that will link its domestic gas grid to Turkey under a $23 billion export deal, an Iranian energy official said. "We have just finished the engineering and design work" said R.R.Sani, director for international affairs at the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC). The 40-inch diameter pipeline from Tabriz to the border town of Bazargan would be in place to allow the first supplies of Iranian gas to Turkey at the end of 1998, said officials. /All papers/[12] TURKEY AN ATTACTIVE MARKET FOR BRITISH INVESTORSThe London Chamber of Trade has organized a visit to Turkey for British businessmen under the name "British Trade Mission". The visit to Turkey is scheduled for March 10-14. The British government is also expected to support financially the visit. Turkey is seen by the British government as a platform for improving British commercial relations with Middle East countries and Central Asian republics. At the same time it is pointed out that Turkey, influenced by Western means of communications and life style, was a country open to innovations with respect to consumer and industrial goods.In a bulletin sent to its members, the London Chamber of Trade said that customs union with the EU had increased Turkey's competitive power and the quality of Turkish products. It was further pointed out that Turkey had a good record with respect to paying back its debts. In the long term, the Turkish economy promised stability with respect to its strong private sector and free sectors of the economy. /Cumhuriyet/ [13] TURKCELL SETS UP COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN GEORGIAThe Turkcell company, one of the giants in Turkish communications, has opened its tenth exchange in Ankara, and the number of its users has reached 550,000. In 1997, Turkcell is making preparations to include Gergia in its area of operation. Steps for establishing cellular phone exchange in Kyrgyzstan and Moldavia have also been undertaken. The networks in Georgia will be opened for service in February. /Sabah/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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