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Turkish Press Review, 97-07-17Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWJULY 17, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] TURKEY BLASTS EU FOR 'MISTAKE' AND 'ILLEGALITY'Turkey reacted angrily on Wednesday to the European Commission's recommendation that the European Union begin accession talks next years with the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Estonia, as well as the Greek Cypriot community acting on behalf of the whole island.The Commission has not only broken its promise to apply the same objective criteria to all applicants, but has also violated international agreements, Ankara said in a written statement on this latest development. Speaking to the private NTV news channel Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that the EU Commission's decision should not be exaggerated in an "obsessive" manner, adding: "Turkey's dawn will not go dark because of its relations with the EU. WE will continue our development and growth." He also warned the EU to "think and act according to its own interests."/Cumhuriyet/Milliyet_ [02] ARMY TO BOOST CAPABILITY WITH 10 CARGO CHOPPERSTurkey is planning to buy ten Sikorsky CH-53 cargo helicopters under the U.S. Surplus Arms Program, in an effort to boost the capability of its special forces, while the country is still evaluating proposals for another bid to procure four large transport choppers for its land forces.[03] IRAQ: "TURKEY ALWAYS HAS PRIORITY"Iraq's relations with Turkey are strategic and Baghdad gives top priority to its link with Ankara, a top Iraqi official said. Speaking on the occasion of Iraq's 29th national day, Dr.Saad al-Samarrai, Charge de Affaires, said Turkey should be Iraq's major gateway, yet in recent years this has not been the case and both countries have suffered.He said the two countries have several common causes including security issues, adding; "Relations between Turkey and Iraq should be at the highest possible level in view of our historical and cultural relations."/All papers/ [04] EXPANSION OF TURKISH DEMOCRACY A MAJOR US GOALMarc Grossman, a former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, stressed during his Senate confirmation hearing for a new State Department post that expansion of democracy in Turkey is one of the fundamental United States' objectives. Grossman said that U.S. policy towards Turkey has three main dimensions; expansion of Turkish democracy; the continuation of security relations between the United States and Turkey and getting 'the right kind of security relations' and expanding economic relations between the two NATO allies.The United States has to follow these three goals "simultaneously" in order to be effective, Grossman said during his testimony at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee./Sabah/ [05] GERMAN CHANCELLOR KOHL INVITES PM YILMAZGerman Chancellor Helmut Kohl has invited Prime Minister Mesut Y�lmaz to Germany. Peter Hausmann, German government spokesman, in a written statement, declared that Chancellor Kohl had invited the Turkish Prime Minister to Bonn on September 30./Milliyet/[06] BILICAN: "GIANT STRIDES MADE AGAINST PKK SEPARATISTS"Emergency Rule Region Governor Necati Bilican said on Wednesday that the Turkish government had taken giant steps in its struggle against separatist terrorism in the Southeast, adding that since the beginning of 1997, 4783 terrorists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) had been killed by security forces.Governors from the provinces where the emergency rule region is being implemented gathered in the eastern town of Van to discuss measures against the separatist PKK, and to seek ways to create jobs in the region./Milliyet/ [07] MILITARY TRAINING PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDINGA Turkish training aircraft made an emergency landing on Wednesday on the Dilek Peninsula near the western tourist town of Kusadasi on the Aegean coast. Three military personnel received minor injuries. The Cessna, property of the Turkish Land Forces, was forced to land due to technical failure. The aircraft had been on a training flight./Milliyet/Sabah_[08] AWARD TO YURTCUJournalist Isik Yurtcu was presented his " 1996 International Press Freedom" award in the library of the Saray Prison, where Yurtcu has been detained because of committing "crime through the press". Representatives of the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, and Journalists Without Frontiers, Author Yasar Kemal and CNN reporter Peter Arnett, who came to the Saray Prison to give Yurtcu his award, were welcomed by the Public Prosecutor of the prison, Ihsan Karacan./Sabah/[09] "WISE MEN" MEETING SOONThe committee of so-called "wise men" set up to resolve differences between Turkey and Greece will meet soon according to reports in the papers. A previously planned meeting failed to materialize because of preconditions laid down by Greece, but this time around as a result of initiatives taken by the US, the meeting of experts looks likely to take place.Main topics of the meeting will include dealing with organized crime, the drug trade and commercial growth. /All papers/ [10] AIR PASSENGER DEAL WITH JAPANTurkish Airlines (THY) has signed a new agreement for cooperation with Japanese Airlines (JAL) that will be effective from November 1 this year. The agreement, signed in Tokyo, means that on flights between Turkey and Japan in either direction, THY will carry a percentage of JAL passengers in both the economy and business class sections. The idea behind the scheme is the development of cultural and commercial ties between Japan and Turkey. /Sabah/[11] YILMAZ UNITING THE RIGHTExpert on Turkey from the Washington Institute, Alan Makovsky, issued an analysis of Turkey yesterday. Evaluating developments in Turkey, Makovsky said: "With Demirel's support, Yilmaz can unite the right. It will be strong medicine for the Islamic concerns of high-level Turkish officials". /Hurriyet/[12] ATTACK ON TURKISH ASSOCIATION IN USAn attack against a Turkish association representing over 10,000 Turkish people living in Chicago and its surrounding region was carried out yesterday. Attackers broke the windows of the building and left a Greek flag inside it. Officials of the Association stressed that there has been no friction between the Turkish and Greek communities in Chicago to date. /Cumhuriyet/[13] CONTROVERSIAL REPORT BY EU COMMISSIONIn its "Agenda 2000" report commenting on the future of the EU, the European Commission avoided touching upon Turkey's integration withe the Union. In the report, it was recalled that in a Commission report released in 1989, Turkey had already been recognized as a country eligible for integration with the EU and it was pointed out that Turkey would be treated according to the same criteria applied to other countries in line to join the Union. The customs union set up between Turkey and the EU was decribed as an "important achievement in bilateral relations", but it was added that political conditions had so far not allowed to improve further improvements in bilateral dialogue. Thus, Turkey was not included in the list of EU candidate-countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has invited EU officials to reconsider their decision.At the same time in the EU report it was pointed out that negotiations for accepting Southern Cyprus into the Union could be initiated without waiting for a political solution to the problems on the island. EU Commissioner in charge of Foreign Relations Hans Van Der Broek, said that Turkey's objections would not affect the EU decision. Turkish top level officials criticized the the EU decision for integration with Cyorus as a heavy blow against the process for resolving disputes on the island. Turkey is considering partial economic integration with Northern Cyprus in reaction to the EU move. /All papers/ [14] ECEVIT'S DIPLOMATIC ATTACK IN CYPRUSDeputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecev�t accompanied by eight ministers will pay an official visit to Cyprus to participate in celebrations held for the 23rd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation initiated on the island by Turkey in 1974 when Ecevit was prime minister. During his visit, Ecevit will meet Northern Cypriot (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas to discuss recent developments related to the Cyprus issue. Both leaders are expected to announce a decision for partial economic integration between the two countries. This move is designed as a reaction to the EU decision to accept Southern Cyprus into the Union.President Demirel received yesterday TRNC Ambassador to Ankara, Nazif Borman, on the occasion of the anniversary. Demirel stressed that Turkey would press for a just solution to the problems on the island and pointed out that Turkey would stick to a bi-zonal federal formula for resolving disagreements on the island. Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides in turn said that the Greek Cypriot community was not afraid of the plans for economic integration between Turkey and Northern Cyprus, but added that they would resort to all possible diplomatic and legal measures to prevent such a development. /Cumhuriyet/ [15] PKK ATTACKSA group of PKK terrorists yesterday attacked a village in Hakkari, Yuksekova, killing two civilians and wounding seven others, including five children, ages 4-17, and a baby. At the same time, the Turkish Armed Forces initiated air and land operations in Tunceli designed to sweep terrorists out of region. /Milliyet/[16] DEMIREL IN KYRGYZSTANThe Anatolian press agency reports that President Demirel is paying an official visit to Kyrgyzstan on the official invitation of his Kyrgyz counterpart Askar Akayev. Demirel will participate in a forum jointly organized by UNESCO and the Foundation for Protecting and Developing Humanity.[17] KOC HOLDING IS AMONG THE BIGGEST 500 COMPANIES IN THE WORLDIt is reported that Koc Holding ranks 362nd among the biggest 500 companies in the world. The list called 'Global 500' will be published in Fortune magazine on 4 August, 1997. Koc Holding ranked 376th in last year's list. The holding came 12th in another list with its 11.6 % profit in 1996. The biggest 50 companies in the world are also listed. /Milliyet/[18] TURKISH CAR PRODUCTION RISES BY 14 PERCENT IN JUNETurkish passenger car production rose by 14 percent in June to 22,697 units, compared to June 1996, a statement by the Automotive Industry Association (OSD) said on Tuesday. Car production over the first six months of 1997 rose by only one percent to 111,247 units from the same period of 1996, while overall motor vehicle output increased by nine percent to 180,478 units, said OSD./All papers/[19] TV PRODUCTION EXCEEDS 1.3 MILLIONThere has been a boom in the production of television sets during the first five months of 1997. According to data from the State Statistics Institute, TV set production in the January-May period increased by 51.1 % compared with the corresponding period last year and reached 1,374,439 units. The production of videos increased by 243.9 % and reached 3,095. The production of music sets increased by 42.6 % and reached 548,960, while the production of electrical ovens rose by 34.4 % reaching 304,549, the production of washing machines increased by 18.7 % reaching 532,801. /Hurriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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