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Turkish Press Review, 97-09-03Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWDIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER03.09.97Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] 'PEACE DELEGATION' BARRED FROM ENTERING ANKARAA 'peace delegation' which was originally bound for the southeastern province of Diyarbakir to attend World Peace Day rallies, was turned back by security forces when it attempted to enter Ankara. Six buses carrying the delegation are now set to arrive in Istanbul late on Tuesday. The buses, which were heading for Ankara, were halted by security forces near the provincial border. Members of the delegation began a sit-in strike after their representatives were banned by the Security Directorate of Ankara from holding a joint press conference with a number of other representatives from political parties. /Hurriyet/Sabah_[02] SYRIA SLAMS US ROLE IN TURKISH-ISRAELI WAR GAMESFollowing reports that a controversial joint military exercise between Israel, Turkey and United States will be held in mid-November, reactions have started to grow in Arab capitals. Syria, on Tuesday, expressed 'astonishment' at an announcement that the United States would participate in Turkish-Israeli naval war games, even while Washington prepared to rescue the Middle East peace process."The announcement of the war games, while U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright prepared to visit the region to rescue the peace talks, is astonishing and could not be understood," said a Syrian foreign ministry announcement. The announcement stressed that it is a desperate attempt to pressure Syria to change its principled stand, but everybody should understand that Syria will not change its position regarding peace talks with Israel, which is firm. /All papers/ [03] TENSION ESCALATES OVER TRANSFER OF S-300 MISSILESA storm is brewing over the possible transfer of Russian made S-300 missiles to Greek Cyprus via the Turkish Straits as Turkey reiterates its determination to prevent the arms shipment, saying that it will resort to any and all means, including attacking the missiles in Cyprus. Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that the Egyptian government had informed Ankara that the missile ramps and parts found in last week's boarding of an Egyptian ship, al-Qusair, passing through the Bosphorus from the Black Sea to the Aegean, actually belonged to Egypt.Speaking to journalists before a Supreme Planning Board Meeting in Ankara, Ecevit said that the operation had demonstrated to Turkish officials that the Egyptian vessel was actually full of missile ramps and parts, adding that when the captain of the ship was questioned, it was made clear that the parts had been ordered by Cairo. Ecevit said that Turkey must take care of its security by closely monitoring the straits, both the Bosphorus and the Dardanells. Meanwhile, the Turkish military also seemed determined to prevent the missiles' transfer. /Sabah/Milliyet_ [04] HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT: 'ECONOMIC TIES WITH TURKEY A PRIORITY'Hungarian President Arpad Goncz said that building bilateral economic relations between Turkey and Hungary will be given priority when he meets with President Suleyman Demirel, who is set to visit his country this week, the Anatolia news agency reported. President Goncz said that Demirel's visit, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday, will strengthen bilateral ties. He added that they were pleased that many Turkish business people are accompanying the Turkish president.[05] CONTROVERSY REGARDING ELECTION OF A NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKERParliament convenes on October 1 for the new legislative year and there is already a legal controversy as to whether it should have a new speaker by that time. Mustafa Kalemli, the current speaker, maintains that according to the Constitution his mandate will expire on January 25, but that in order to prevent the speaker's office becoming controversial he has decided that a new speaker should be chosen three months earlier, that is, at the start of the new legislative year. /Sabah/[06] CEM TO VISIT AZERBAIJANForeign Minister Ismial Cem will make an official visit to Azerbaijan September 7-8 together with State Minister Ahat Andican. According to the Foreign Ministry, Cem will participate in discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Hasan Hasanov, on Turco-Azerbaijani bilateral relations, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the Baku-Ceyhan petrol pipeline and regional cooperation.Also, State Minister Andican, as the chairman of the Economic Commission (KEK) of the Turkish Parliament, will meet with his counterpart, the chairman of the Economic Commission of the Azerbaijani Parliament. Azerbaijan President Haydar Aliyev is expected to meet with Cem and Andican on Monday. /Cumhuriyet/ [07] EDUCATION MINISTRY ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN SCHOOL CURRICULUMEducation Ministry officials have announced that, as part of the new eight-year education programme, foreign language lessons will be compulsory in the fourth grade, the Anatolia news agency reported on Thursday. Ministry officials announced that teaching aids such as television and videos will be used in the classroom, in an attempt to use technology to the best advantage in the education program.[08] GUNERI: TURKEY AND CHINA SEEK TO EXPAND ECONOMIC TIESTurkey and China will seek to expand economic ties when businessmen from the two countries attend a joint business council meeting in Istanbul next month, the president of the Turkish-Chinese Business Council said on Monday. During the meeting they aim to discuss all opportunities for cooperation, said Asaf Guneri, president of the Turkish-Chinese Business Council and a shipping magnate, told a news conference in Istanbul, adding that Turkish investors had to be stable, determined and carry out long term business in China. /Sabah/[09] THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGEThe High Planning Council headed by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz gathered yesterday. In a statement following the meeting, State Minister Isin Celebi said that the Council had decided that a third Bosphorus bridge would be built and that bids would be put out for the construction of a second airport in Kurtkoy as soon as possible. /Sabah-Milliyet/[10] SEZGIN IN LONDONDeputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin, in London to attend the British Third Royal Fleet and Land Forces Materials Fair, made contacts yesterday. Sezgin said that the 55th coalition was a conciliation government and was determined to succeed. Sezgin, who met with Chairman of the Exports Organization of the British Defense Ministry, Sir Charles Masefield, expressed his grief and condolences over the death of Princess Diana. Sezgin also stressed that Ankara wanted controversial separatist MED-TV broadcasts from London stopped. Masefield said, for his part, that he would convey these words to British Defense Secretary Robertson. Masefield noted that they wanted to cooperate with Turkey in defense and added that they also wanted to realize a "battle tank" project jointly with Turkey. /Sabah/[11] PRISON SENTENCE FOR PKK MILITANTSTwo militants of the PKK terrorist organization on trial at the Dusseldorf Provincial Court in Germany have been sentenced to prison for a total 10 years nine months. According to a decision taken last week, a third suspect tried in the same case would be tried separately because of illness. /Sabah-Milliyet/[12] US ENERGY SECRETARY TO VISIT TURKEYUS Secretary of Energy Pena will visit Turkey at the end of this month. It is expected that during Pena's contacts in Ankara, oil and natural gas pipeline issues will be mainly discussed. According to Turkish Foreign Ministry officials, US Secretary of Energy Pena will also visit Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.It is reported that Slovakian President Michal Kovac will pay an official visit to Turkey on 18-21 September. During his visit, Turkish-Slovakian relations and regional problems will be taken up. /Sabah/ [13] PAKISTANI DELEGATION VISITS ASELSANLieutenant General Iftikhar Ali Khan, Undersecretary of the Pakistani Defense Ministry, and his accompanying delegation visited the Macunkoy Facilities of Aselsan (Military and Electronics Industry). Ali Khan was given details about the plant by Aselsan General Director Hacim Kamoy. Khan said that materials produced by Aselsan were being used by the Pakistani Army and that there was cooperation between the Pakistani Armed Forces and Aselsan. Noting that they had come to Turkey for a Military Consultancy Council meeting, Khan stated that they believed that friendship and cooperation between the two countries would further develop in every field. /Sabah/[14] TL 2 TRILLION FOR TOPKAPI PALACEThe Culture Ministry has allocated TL 2 trillion for the restoration, maintenance and security system of the Topkapi Palace, one of the foremost historical buildings in Turkey. Restoration work will continue until the year 2000. /Sabah/[15] NEW REGULATIONS FOR IRAQI OILPetroleum Office General Director Mehemet Gultekin announced yesterday that they were planning to tighten control on diesel fuel oil imported in to Turkey from Iraq. Gultekin added that Iraqi diesel fuel oil will be sold only in 11 southeastern provinces, stressing that low quality oil will be sent back to Iraq. In addition, the government is planning to raise TL 70-80 trillion by imposing taxes on diesel imports. /Cumhuriyet/[16] FM CEM IN FRANCEForeign Minister Ismail Cem who yesterday paid a working visit to France, met his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine. In a press conference after the meeting, Vedrine said that Turkey's integration with Europe would inevitably become a part of the EU expansion process, adding that there was no change in French attitudes towards Turkey's application for EU membership. Cem also met French Minister responsible for EU affairs, Pierre Moskovici. During the meeting, the Turkish Foreign Minister said that both Turkey and Europe would gain from their rapprochement. /Cumhuriyet/ ENDTurkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |