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Turkish Press Review, 98-01-07Turkish 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 MINISTER07.01.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning. [01] WASHINGTON DEFENDS JOINT TURCO-ISRAELI-US EXERCISESThe United States has assured Middle Eastern countries that there is nothing to worry about regarding the joint Turco-Israeli-U.S. military exercises being staged in the Mediterranean since they are not directed at any country in the region. "The objective is to practice coordinated emergency search and rescue procedures. By working together we can learn much about each other's capabilities and lay a foundation for more effective humanitarian responses to actual maritime emergencies."Speaking at a joint press conference on Tuesday, Turkish, Israeli and American officials reiterated that the exercise did not target any country and were completely humanitarian. On the other hand, Jordanian Naval Commander Hussein Ali Mahmoud Al-Khasawnah, who participated as an observer, said that he believed the exercises were "useful" for all the Mediterranean countries. Meanwhile, the exercises continued on into their second day on Tuesday in the Mediterranean off the Israeli shores. /All papers/ [02] A NEW PERIOD IN THE MIDDLE EASTThe famous U.S. Middle East expert, Daniel Pipes has evaluated Turkish-Israel relations in National Interest magazine and the Washington Post Daily News. Pipes said that the two democratic allies would form the seed of a regional partnership. He added that Turco-Israel relations could for the first time provide the opportunity to establish a pro-U.S. alliance in the Middle East. Pipes said, "Later Jordan and then Kuwait and other regional countries will enter this partnership. And that will help to establish a long-lasting peace in the region."/Hurriyet/[03] POPE PRAISES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEYLeader of the Catholic world, Pope Jean Paul II has praised religous freedom in Turkey. In the letter of acceptance he gave to Altan Guven, appointed as the new Ambassador to the Vatican, the Pope said that members of the Catholic Church living in Turkey. He added that relations between religions would strengthen relations between countries. The Pope also thanked Turkey which is preparing to host Christians for the 2000th birthday anniversary of Jesus within the framework of the "Anatolia 2000 Belief Tourism Project". He stressed that Turkey's rich historical and cultural heritage was a powerful reason for Turkey to integrate with Europe. /Hurriyet/[04] ORDU DEPUTY KOC JOINS DTPOrdu independent deputy Mujdat Koc has joined the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP). Following this move the number of DTP seats in Parliament has increased to 22. /All papers/[05] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TACKLES REFUGEE PROBLEMThe Council of Ministers convened yesterday in a move to find solutions to the flow of asylum-seekers from Asian and Middle East countries through Turkey to Europe. Minister of the Interior Murat Basesgioglu briefed the cabinet about related developments and blamed the PKK terrorist organization for the crisis. In a statement after the meeting, Government Spokesman Sukru Sina Gurel said that border controls will be intensified and added that legal regulations to cope with the problem will be worked out.Turkey has emerged as a country with key importance in the illegal flow of Asian and Middle East asylum-seekers to Europe. In 1997 alone, more than 16 thousand foreigners trying to illegally cross the Turkish borders were apprehended by the security forces. Measures to control borders with Iran and Northern Iraq have been especially tightened Military units deployed in the region to prevent PKK infiltrations into the country will now have to keep close watch also on civilian traffic. /All papers/ [06] TURKEY WARNS BRITAINA fresh diplomatic crisis has flared up between Turkey and Britain. Tensions escalated when British Foreign Minister Robin Cook said that Turkey's borders were to be debated and described Turkey as an "unreliable country".Annoyed by this statement, Turkey officially warned London. British Ambassador to Ankara David Logan was summoned yesterday to the Foreign Ministry, and Turkish officials conveyed to him their disappointment over Cook's statement. Ambassador Logan was told that Britain's questioning of the borders of NATO ally Turkey was unappropriate and was asked for an official explanation. /Hurriyet/ [07] NEW CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMANFollowing the retirement of former Constitutional Court Chairman Yekta Gungor Ozden at the end of last month, Ahmet Necdet Sezer has been appointed as the new chairman of the Court. Sezer's mandate as Constitutional Court Chairman will end in 2002. /Hurriyet/260 MILLION dollar SATELLITE The Council of Ministers has approved a $260 million project for the construction of a new satellite. The new satellite will be launched in 1999. This will be the third Turkish satellite in space. /Milliyet/ [08] TURKISH PEOPLE IN GERMANYThere are 41.5 thousand Turkish enterpreneurs in Germany where 280 thousand foreign businessmen live. Turkish enterpreneurs create employment opportunities for 160 thousand people especially in the construction, tourism and transportation sectors. /Cumhuriyet/[09] NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST KURDISH PEOPLEIn the French newspaper Le Monde, dated January 4-5, it was emphasized that European countries were responsible for the sufferings of Kurdish refugees, especially those from northern Iraq. Nevertheless, the paper also severely criticised Turkey's Kurdish policy.The criticism has been taken seriously, in view of the influence of Le Monde newspaper, which also noted in the same commentory that the Kurdish people are not really under severe political oppression. /Hurriyet/ [10] TAX AGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND TURKEYA tax agreement between the US and Turkey foresees that no tax will be received from the profits obtained from share dealing recorded in the stock exchanges. Deloitte Touche DRT tax partner Zeki Kurtcu said yesterday that this implementation went into effect with an international agreement published in the Official Gazette dated December 31, 1997, and noted that this would accelerate capital movement. /Sabah/[11] BAYAR AND SABANCI AMONG THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ADMINISTRATORSHead of the Privatization Administrations, Ugur Bayar, and Member of the Executive Board of Akbank, Suzan Sabanci Dincer have been placed among the most successful 50 administrators of the world, in a survey made by Euromoney Magazine. /Sabah and all papers/[12] ALTERNATIVES IN IMF CREDITS INCREASEIt is reported that a new alternative put forward by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), "Supplemental Reserve Facility" (SRF) could come on the Turkish agenda. To date, financial SRF aid has been extended only to South Korea. The IMF provides SRF for economies able to recover balances of payments in the short term when strict economic measures are taken and necessary finance is ensured. /Sabah/[13] OPERATIONS IN ISTANBULDuring operations launched in Istanbul by the security forces following the current flare-up over Kurdish refugee flow via Turkey to Italy, 287 illegal refugees have been detained for questioning. Nine people suspected of illegally transporting refugees were taken into custody. Two ships "Selen" and "790" were also seized for carrying refugees to other countries. Meanwhile, 18 Iraqis, who were preparing to cross to Greece over the Meric River were also arrested.On the other hand, German Interior Minister Manfred Kanther said in a statement on Sudwestfunk radio that they had taken every measure to prevent the illegal passage of refugees to Germany. Kanther noted that they would act jointly with countries, which are signatories of the Schengen Agreement. /Sabah/ [14] GREEK GAME IS OVERGreece, which has long tried to block the entry of Turkish citizens to EU countries by using the Schengen visa ploy, has not succeeded. The EU countries have drawn up a formula to exclude Greece when giving visas to Turkish citizens. According to this, EU countries within the Schengen system apart from Greece, will give a Schengen visa, which will not include "Greek territories", to Turkish citizens. A final decision regarding this issue will be taken on 14 January during a meeting of the Interior Ministers of EU countries using the Schengen system. /Hurriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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