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Turkish Press Review, 98-11-25Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>25.11.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] YILMAZ: "PKK WILL NOT SUCCEED"Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz acknowledged suggestions for an eventual politicization of the PKK terrorist organization, but stressed that it would never be able to achieve its aims even if it is converted into a political movement. Commenting on the Italian government's attitude on the persisting controversy over the fate of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, Yilmaz said that his extradition to Turkey was one of the weakest possibilities.He blasted the Italian government on its attitude in the growing dispute between Ankara and Rome, particularly criticizing Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema for thinking that Ocalan's capture could be an opportunity for the resolution of the Kurdish problem. Yilmaz called on the Turkish people to be prudent and not to overact to the stance of the Italian government. He said that Turkey's policy on the PKK would not change regardless which government is in power. Also yesterday, Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin said that he felt that Italy would not provide shelter for Ocalan, underlining that Ocalan is a confirmed terrorist by the entire world. "Italy, which has been confused by the spontaneous developments, is acting sentimentally, leaving to one side the international agreements it has signed and its NATO alliance with Turkey" he told reporters. /All papers/ [02] US AGAIN CALLS FOR OCALAN'S EXTRADITIONFollowing the release of the leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan by an Italian court last Friday, the US has reiterated that it wants to see the terrorist leader 'brought to justice'. Speaking to journalists on Monday, US State Department Spokesman James Rubin announced: "The US wants to see Ocalan brought to justice in a way that meets the domestic and international legal requirements of the countries involved in this case. We are working closely with Italy, Turkey and Germany to review the full range of options that would achieve this goal"."The PKK is a terrorist organization and Ocalan must be held accountable for his role in the PKK's terrorist activities. We believe that there is clear evidence linking Ocalan to numerous specific terrorist acts" Rubin said. /All papers/ [03] GERMANY DOES NOT WANT PKK CHIEFGerman Justice Minister Herta Daublergmelin held a conversation on the phone with his Turkish counterpart Hasan Denizkurdu saying that the extradition of Abdullah Ocalan should be solved between Turkey and Italy. He added Turkey and Italy would find a solution within the framework of law. Meanwhile German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Germany, at the moment, did not ask Italy for the extradition of the PKK chief.On the other hand, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said that Germany issued a new decision about the detention of Abdullah Ocalan and that Italy was awaiting Germany to ask for the extradition of Ocalan. Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema said after a meeting with the chairman of the European Union (EU) Commission, Jacques Santer, that Italy was a friend of Turkey and did not want Turco-Italian economic relations be harmed. D'Alema added: "Italy is against terrorism and condemns terrorist activities. We act within the limits of our laws and also in line with the EU decisions." /Cumhuriyet/ [04] PKK: SOURCE OF TERRORISMThe Turkish Defense Ministry collected all threats against Turkey's territorial integrity such as the PKK terrorist organization and fundamentalist activities in a book. In the 'White Book', it was pointed out that the PKK was responsible for the quarter of all terrorist activities carried out throughout the world during the last three years. The book said: "The PKK and the illegal DHKP-C organization, which have close relations, are terrorist organizations which are carrying out activities throughout the world". The book added that the PKK terrorist organization received financial resources from drug smuggling and money laundering. /Sabah/[05] OCALAN COMPLAINS ABOUT RUSSIAThe Russian Kommersant newspaper devoted wide coverage to an interview made with the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in Rome. The newspaper said that Ocalan had said: "When I demanded political asylum, Russian Prime Minister Primakov said 'No'".Meanwhile, the Die Welt newspaper published in Germany pointed out that Ocalan would deteriorate relations between Italy and Germany and claimed that Italy was left alone with the PKK problem. The Le Soir newspaper published in Belgium noted that Italy wants Germany to demand the extradition of Ocalan. On the other hand, an Italian Parliamentarian and a member of the North Atlantic Assembly, Enzo Savarese, apologized to Turkey for Italy's stance on the issue of the PKK leader Ocalan. He said: "It is a shame for Italy. I strongly support Turkey on this issue". /Sabah/ [06] ORDER OF THE ITALIAN GMC FIRM IS CANCELLEDThe Tepe, Akfen and Vie Investment consortium, which is still constructing the Istanbul Ataturk Airport foreign flights facilities, cancelled the order given to the Italian GMC firm. Representatives of the consortium announced after the meeting held yesterday in Istanbul that they cancelled the TL 1.5 trillion order given to the Italian GMC firm and they would immediately start contacts with other European countries instead of the cancelled order. /Hurriyet/[07] PKK IS SETTLING IN IRANIt is announced that the PKK is settling in Iran. One of the experts of the Paris International Strategic Relations' Institution, Didier Billion said that after the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan fled to Italy, his brother Osman Ocalan took over the responsibility of the military wing of the organization. Billion, who is an expert on Turkey, added that Osman Ocalan had friends in Iran and that he wanted to move the organization to Iran. /Hurriyet/[08] EREZ CALLS INTO COMMON SENSE IN BOYCOTTTurkish Minister of Industry Yalim Erez called into common sense in protests against Italy. Speaking in a conference by the Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Commodity Exchange (TOBB), Erez criticized Italian government's attitude concerning the extradition of Ocalan and warned that the Italian people should not be disenchanted by means of some severe protest actions. Erez noted: "The problem that we face today is completely due to the Italian government. Yet this issue must not be turned into a Turkish-Italian hostility. Turkey and Italy are two countries hitherto living in friendly relations. What we should do is to reveal the truths to the Italian people and businessmen so that they can also take a stand against the government." /Milliyet/[09] TURKISH LAW PROFESSOR: "ITALY SHALL TRY UNLESS IT EXTRADITES"Professor Cetin Ozek, an expert on the Italian legal system, mentioned that unless Italy extradited Ocalan to Turkey, it would necessarily try him in its own courts. Prof. Ozek said: "Political asylum is always a political decision in principle. In any way, I do not give much chance to such decision. For if Italy grants Ocalan the right of asylum, he will be set free and that will be an extremely doctrinarian attitude. However, that person has unequivocally committed terrorist crimes. Unless Italy extradites, it will be bound to try him itself. In such a condition, Turkey will also bear the right to become an intervener because Italy shall consider the Turkish law as well." /Milliyet/[10] GREEK CYPRIOT AGAINST UEFA ON BEHALF OF TURKEYThe representative of the Greek Cypriot Administration became the only member supporting Turkey in the UEFA Executive Board. In the face of the security guarantees that Turkey provided with Juventus for the match which would have been played on November 25 in Istanbul, it is reported that only the Greek Cypriot representative declared no reservations against the date and the place of the match. /Milliyet/[11] CEM ON A EUROPEAN TOURForeign Minister Ismail Cem will explain Turkey's opinions on the recent crisis regarding the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during international meetings in the upcoming days. Cem first will attend a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Western European Union (WEU) member countries in Paris on November 30-December 1. Cem will later visit Oslo, Norway, on December 2-3 and participate in a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Cem will also to go Brussels to attend a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on December 8-9. /Sabah/[12] TANER TO VISIT USState Minister Gunes Taner will go to the US on Friday. Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen, Treasury Deputy Undersecretary Cuneyt Sel and many high-level officials will accompany Taner. During the visit which will last for one week, Taner will meet officials from the IMF and the World Bank and international finance institutions and furnish them information regarding the developments in the Turkish economy. Taner and the accompanying delegation are also expected to meet officials from the international rating institutions such as Moody's and Standard and Poor's, the Anatolia news agency reports.[13] NSC TO MEET ON NOVEMBER 30The National Security Council (NSC) headed by President Suleyman Demirel will convene on November 30. During the meeting, developments following the capture of the leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan in Italy, the struggle against fundamentalism and organized crime and recent domestic and foreign events will be taken up, the Anatolia news agency reports.[14] EU LIFTS PROHIBITION ON TURKEYThe European Union (EU) has ended a prohibition on Turkish exports of fish and fish products. The EU Parliament which convened on November 18 removed the prohibition, which was being implemented for seven months. /Sabah/[15] SEMINAR ON EXPORTSA "Seminar for Exports Without Quota to the US via Israel" organized by the Turkish-Israeli Business Council, which activates within the structure of the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) will be held in Istanbul today. Officials from the Israeli Industry and Trade Ministry and US Advisory Firm Arnold and Porter will furnish information to Turkish firms regarding Free Trade Agreements between Israel and the US, and Israel and Turkey. /Sabah/[16] TURKEY AND LITHUANIA TO COOPERATE IN MILITARY TRAININGForeign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday that Turkey and Lithuania will launch cooperation in the realm of military training, the Anatolia news agency reports. Cem was speaking before a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, Algirdas Saugardas, who was on an official visit in Ankara. "Lithuania is trying to catch NATO military standards. Turkey will contribute to Lithuania's efforts in this aspect" Cem said. Saugardas, for his part, said that Turkey and Lithuania had similar poiitical and economic interests. He praised the results of the Turco-Lithuanian Business Council, which met on Monday in Istanbul. Later in the day, Saugardas and Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel signed an agreement on the prevention of double taxation.[17] TURKEY, TRNC SIGN PROTOCOLIn line with their determination on economic integration, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday signed a cooperation protocol on social security that is aimed at bringing about a 'common social security system'. The document was signed in Lefkose by TRNC Labour Minister Onur Borman and her Turkish counterpart Nami Cagan, the Anatolia news agency reports. Under the protocol, legislation regarding the social security rights and obligations of Turks and Turkish Cypriots, as well as social security standards and norms will be harmonized, a joint press statement of the two ministers said.[18] GREEK GOVERNMENT CONTRADICTS SIMITIS' LETTERThe Greek government has contradicted the news which claim that Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has written a letter to Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides not to deploy Russian-made S-300 missiles on Cyprus. Meanwhile, it is reported that Klerides will visit Athens on Friday. /Sabah/[19] EMERGENCY RULE EXTENDED FOR FOUR MONTHSAt the end of a General Council meeting of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) yesterday, emergency rule (OHAL) in Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Tunceli, Siirt, Sirnak and Van was extended for four months beginning on 30 November. After the meeting Interior Minister Kutlu Aktas said that the terrorist organization had lost its power in the region but security measures should be applied for a period of time. /Cumhuriyet/[20] 20 TERRORISTS KILLEDAs a result of the operations carried out by security forces in the southeast region 20 terrorists and three members of the security forces were killed. According to military sources there were intense clashes between security forces and terrorists yesterday in Bestler and Dereler regions of Sirnak and Yuksekova township of Hakkari. Same sources noted: "Operations have been continuing in and around Tunceli for five days with the participation of air forces. And another operation is going on in Alibogaz region which is used as a passage way to the Black Sea region by terrorists." /Cumhuriyet/[21] TURKEY OFFERS COOPERATION IN TOURISMDeputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Izmir Trade Chamber (IZTO), Mehmet Akyelli said that commercial relations between islands and Turkish coasts should be supported. Stressing that tourism sector was very important both for Turkey and Greece, Akyelli proposed cooperation to Greece in using touristic sources between the two countries in a rational way. /Cumhuriyet/[22] GERMAN INTEREST IN BAKU-CEYHANA German firm Wintershall declared that it wanted to finance part of the Baku-Ceyhan project which has been decided as the major pipeline for the transportation of Caspian petroleum, by purchasing shares in turn. After meeting with the Azerbaijani President Aliyev and the representatives of SOCAR, Herbert Getsharbing, the Chairman of Wintershall remarked that they could participate in the financement of the project with a share of 10%. On the other hand, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan expressed in a phone call with the US Vice President Al Gore that concrete steps were required in the Caspian pipeline project, the one that would be linked to the Baku-Ceyhan major route from the east. /Milliyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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