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Turkish Press Review, 97-06-11Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWJUNE 11, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] AWARD FOR PRESIDENT DEMIRELPresident Demirel has been presented with an award by the Moscow Academy of Medical Sciences. Demirel has been presented with the award for his contributions to world peace. /Cumhuriyet/[02] ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEYAlbanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino arrived yesterday in Ankara for an official visit on the invitation of Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. Fino expressed his appreciation for Turkish support extended to Albania in the recent period of domestic turmoil. He voiced his pleasure over Turkish participation in the multinational peace force stationed in Albania to restore stability and balance there adding that this was an expression of Turkish friendship. /Sabah/[03] TURKEY TELLS IRAN: WE WILL FIGHT PKKTurkey reiterated its security concerns to Iran yet again during the unexpected visit to Ankara of the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alaadin Boroujerdi yesterday. Boroujerdi, who brought a message from Iranian President Hasimi Rafsanjani to his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel, met with Deputy Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir and Undersecretary Onur Oymen for more than four hours.Prior to his meeting, Oymen described Turkey and Iran to the press as two large states with ties of friendship between them. "Friends speak openly, we have common interests in the region but there are also security problems. This year alone we have had high-level contact 49 times in relation to the struggle against terrorism. Maximum attention should be paid to the improvement of reciprocal cooperation; we will have open and sincere talks" Oymen said. Boroujerdi had, before his arrival, in a public statement in Iran said he would discuss the situation in northern Iraq, and later reported to the press that his meetings were very positive. "Even if we have problems, the solution is talks. We want to help our neighbour with its security problems and we want to do our best. This is our wish. We will make every effort to improve our relations and this is our hope" Boroujerdi said. He also recalled that Iranian President Rafsanjani would be in Turkey for the D-8 summit in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/ [04] STATEMENTS FROM ARMENIA AND BULGARIAArmenia has stated that it does not help the PKK terrorist organization. Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arsen Casparyan said in a statement yesterday that claims noting that Armenia helps the PKK will only help increase the tension in the region. Casparyan pointed out that they had no connection either with Kurdish groups in northern Iraq or with the PKK.On the other hand, Bulgaria has denied news in the Turkish press claiming that there are PKK training camps in Bulgaria. A statement made by the Bulgarian Interior Ministry said that there were no PKK camps in Bulgaria. /Hurriyet/ [05] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETINGForeign ministers from the Balkan states opened two days of talks in the Greek port of Thessalonica on Monday, stressing the need to close ranks to gain EU and NATO membership. Ali Tuygan, deputy undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, representing Turkey at the Balkan foreign ministers' meeting, claimed that the Balkan region was moving into a new era and said that Turkey supported efforts for cooperation among the Balkan countries. Decisions taken during the meetings pointed out that cooperation should be increased in the struggle against drug smuggling, crime and terror.Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos proposed that following the meeting of Balkan foreign ministers, a meeting at the level of heads of state should be held every year. If his proposal, approved in principle, is also accepted by governments, a Balkan summit meeting will be held on the island of Girit in November. The next meeting of Balkan foreign ministers will take place in Turkey. /Sabah/ [06] SEPARATISTS FACE HEAVY LOSSESTurkish soldiers, having achieved great succss in their battle against the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists within Turkey, are now repeating their success across the border in northern Iraq. Wide-ranging precautions have been taken near Cudi Mountain in the Emergency Rule Region against the PKK. The PKK is losing logistic support at a rapid rate. During recent operations, 1,079 terrorists have been killed and a further 134 captured.Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces cross-border operation in neighbouring northern Iraq, which began on May 14, has entered its 28th day. According to reports, 2,500 terrorists have been killed during the operation. One of the main achievements of the operation is reported to be the control of the Sedera and Karfiyo camps run by the PKK on the Gara Mountain. A statement made by the General Secretariat of the General Staff said that 35 terrorists had been captured with their ammunition. The statement also noted that to date 2,418 terrorists have been killed, a total of 2,848 terrorists, including 430 wounded terrorists, have been captured during the operations. /Hurriyet-Sabah/ [07] SPECIAL COURIER BETWEEN TURKISH AND EGYPTIAN TOP MENState Minister Abdullah Gul is to take President Suleyman Demirel's reply to Egyptian President Husnu Mubarak, who earlier last week sent a message to his Turkish counterpart "about regional matters and bilateral relations", the Foreign Ministry confirmed yesterday. Gul goes to Egypt today specifically to convey Demirel's letter to Mubarak and will return home the same day. /All papers/[08] DENKTAS POSTPONES TALKS WITH HANNAYPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas postponed his scheduled yalks with Britain's special envoy to Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, protesting what he called unequal treatment of the island's two communities. "Treating the Greek Cypriots as the official government and treating us as a community cannot be reconciled with the principle of equality" Denktas told reporters announcing his change of plans. Hannay started an intensive round of contacts in Cyprus at the start of the week, ahead of UN-sponsored settlement talks next month. /All papers/[09] $250 MN TRNC AID AGREEMENTThe first portion worth $50 million of a $250 million credit facility planned to be extended for the improvement of the economy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) within the framework of an economic protocol signed between Turkey and the TRNC last January was handed over to the TRNC yesterday. According to TRNC Finance Minister Salih Cosar, for $50 million in credit conveyed to the Ziraat Bank, a credit protocol would be signed between the governments of Turkey and the TRNC in the forthcoming days. /Cumhuriyet/[10] TURKISH POLICE ANNOUNCE SEIZURE OF 240 KG HEROINTurkish police said yesterday they had seized 240 kg of heroin in the western town of Gebze, the Anatolian news agency reported. Seven people, including one Moroccan and three Iranians, were arrested in raids on June 4 after a three-month operation, the agency said. It quoted Adana police chief Mehmet Gundogdu as saying the heroin belonged to the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He said the heroin was on its way from southeastern Turkey to Istanbul where it would be shipped on to Western Europe.Meanwhile, a report on the "PKK-drug smuggling connection" issued by the Interpol General Secretariat of the General Security Office said that to date drugs worth TL 110 trillion being smuggled by the PKK had been seized. The report noted that the PKK terrorist organization, which now suffering heavy losses from operations held in the southeastern region and in northern Iraq, had started to engage in smuggling more drugs to purchase weapons. /Sabah/ [11] 14TH BORDER SECURITY SUB-COMMISSION MEETING IN VANThe 14th Border Security Sub-Commission Meeting was held in Van yesterday between Van Governor Abdulkadir Sari and Governor of Hoy, Iran, Ismail Kerimzade. Sari said in a statement following the meeting that border commanders of Turkey and Iran will meet if any incident occurs and will try to solve the problems. He added: "I believe that the continuation of these kinds of meetings will benefit both countries". /Sabah/[12] AGREEMENT SIGNED TO PROTECT MEDITERRANEANAn agreement for the natural protection of the Mediterranean Sea has been signed between the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and "Fritidressor", a consortium of tour organizers from northern European countries. According to the agreement, each tourist from northern Europe who visits the Mediterranean region will pay $1 toward the program for protecting the Mediterranean Sea. The revenue collected as a result of the WWF-Fritidressor agreement will be used to assist various programs, such as the Protocol of the Barcelona Convention on Pollution, a program to safeguard sea turtles, and other educational programs.Twenty journalists from European countries will visit Portugal, Italy and Turkey in order to inspect the WWF's projects. The journalists will arrive in Turkey on June 16. [13] SABANCI AND HOECHST SET UP JOINT FACILITIESWith a ceremony on June 16, Prime Minister Erbakan will lay the foundation of new Hoechsa facilities, jointly set up by the German Hoechst company and Sabanci Holding. The facilities for production of polyester will be set up in Izmit Kentsa, and will cost DM 166 million. 80 percent of the production will be exported to foreign countries. /Hurriyet/[14] GREEK PROVOCATION DURING SEAWOLF '97 NAVAL EXERCISESThe first and second parts of the planned naval exercises Seawolf 1997, taking place in the international waters of the Aegean and the Mediterranean have ended. During the exercises, the Greek navy closely followed Turkish Naval Forces from the time they entered the international waters of the Aegean. Vessels anchored near Antalya will complete the other stages of the exercises which will until June 13. /Hurriyet/[15] TURKISH HIGH SCHOOL IN ENGLANDThe first international Turkish High School (UTL) has been opened in England. A former staff member of Cambridge University Dr.Sinan Bayraktaroglu who is one of the founders said that education at the high school will last for four years and at the end, successful students will be given an IB diploma, valid for entering universities throughout the world. /Milliyet/[16] HOY-TUR TO REPRESENT TURKEYHoy-Tur folklor dance group from the Cankaya municipality, will go to the Confolens Festival in France. A statement made by the Cankaya municipality said that Hoy-Tur has won many national and international awards. /Milliyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |