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Turkish Press Review, 99-09-20Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>20.09.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[02] ECEVIT TO SEEK LOW-RATE LOANSPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit the U.S. between September 26 and October 1. This visit includes developments which will change the future of Turkey from the economic point of view. It is reported that Ecevit will meet representatives of banks in New York and will look for low-rate, long-term loans. A 55-person delegation consisting of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer, State Minister Recep Onal, Industry and Trade Minister Kenan Tanrikulu, high-level officials, businessmen and journalists will accompany Ecevit during his visit to the U.S. The Baku-Ceyhan project, the Cyprus issue and U.S. support for Turkey's EU membership are among the matters to be taken up during this visit. Meanwhile, Ecevit will also pay an official visit to Russia before the end of this year. /Turkiye/[03] CEM IN NEW YORKForeign Minister Ismail Cem arrived in New York yesterday and had preparatory meetings that day with Turkish diplomats at the United Nations. He is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Thursday. On the General Assembly's sidelines, Cem is scheduled to meet 30 of his counterparts in five days. Cem is also expected to meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and EU Commissioner Chris Patten. He will participate in foreign ministerial gatherings of NATO, the Organization for an Islamic Conference (OIC) and contact groups for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. /All papers/[04] HIGH COURTS FACE BUSY SCHEDULECertain lawsuits that have attracted public interest are expected to be finalized in the Constitutional Court, the High Court of Appeals or in the Council of State during the new judicial year, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The court case initiated by High Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas against the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) is near completion. The Virtue Party (FP) has recently submitted its preliminary defence statement to the court in relation to a lawsuit against it aimed at closing down the party. The request for an appeal by the PKK chief, Abdullah Ocalan, who was issued the death sentence by Ankara's No.2 State Security Court (DGM), will also be reviewed by the Ninth Criminal Chamber of the High Court of Appeals. The appeal proceedings are scheduled to be held on October 7 with Savas expected to request that capital punishment be carried out. The court's final decision will be announced again during a court session to be held on an as yet undetermined date. Meanwhile, the case initiated to reverse the Council of Ministers' decision pertaining to the revocation of FP Istanbul Deputy Merve Kavakci's citizenship rights will be processed by the Council of State. /All papers/[05] CANADIAN RELIEF TEAM COMES TO TURKEYFollowing the August 17 quake that devastated the Marmara Region, Canada, along with many other countries, quickly responded with assistance. Canada answered Turkey's call for disaster relief with 200 members of the Canadian Forces' Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), arriving on August 22. They immediately assisted in rescue operations in Adapazari's district of Serdivan and established a camp and first Aid post. DART also has the capability to produce a significant quantity of drinking water. DART has begun the final phase in the creation of a tent city designed to house more than 500 displaced people and is expected to leave Turkey by the end of this month. /All papers/[06] GERMAN OPEL FIRM TO CONSTRUCT PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GOLCUKThe German Opel firm will construct a primary school in the Golcuk district of Kocaeli. Opel Representative Peter Jaschik visited the Golcuk Sub-Governor, Cumhur Ersoy, and handed over the 110,000 DM cheque which they had allocated for the construction of the primary school. Jaschik stated that the firm was preparing to organize a friendly match between one of the most important German football teams and a leading Turkish football team -either Besiktas, Fenerbahce or Galatasaray - and remarked that the proceeds of this match would also be transferred to the construction of this primary school, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[07] ISTANBUL MAYOR IN ATHENSAthens Mayor Dimitri Avramopulos gave a banquet in honour of Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna yesterday. Gurtuna said that he was in Athens to express that their readiness to help the Greek people in the aftermath of the earthquake there. Gurtuna also visited the Turkish Embassy in Athens and met Turkish Ambassador Ali Tuygan. During the visit, Gurtuna gave an album and a CD promoting Istanbul, and a porcelain plate to Ambassador Tuygan, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[08] BRITISH MINISTER IN TURKEYThe British Minister for Public Works and Housing, Nick Raynsford, has arrived in Ankara to hold a series of talks. Raynsford made a statement at Ankara's Esenboga Airport and said that they would visit Adapazari, Izmit and Golcuk and they would meet those who had been seriously affected by the earthquake. He remarked that he had come to Turkey with British construction experts and they would investigate what kind of assistance they could offer to those people living in the disaster region. During his two-day visit to Ankara, Raynsford will meet State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, State Ministers Hasan Gemici and Sadi Somuncuoglu, Minister of Public Works and Housing Koray Aydin and officials from the Collective Housing Administration and the State Planning Organization. Raynsford will later go to Istanbul and then proceed on to the disaster region, the Anatolia Neews Agency reports.[09] RAIDS IN SOUTHEASTDuring raids carried out by security forces in Batman, Bitlis, Diyarbakir and Hakkari, seven members of the PKK terrorist organization were killed. A statement issued by the Emergency Rule Region said that two terrorists have been captured in the Sason district of Batman. The statement added that a crack-down in the region was still underway, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[10] STATE MINISTER CAY IN BAKUState Minister Abdulhaluk Cay went to Azerbaijan yesterday to represent President Suleyman Demirel during a ceremony to be held in Baku. Cay who went to Baku upon the invitation of the Azerbaijani President, Haydar Aliyev, will attend the ceremony to be held today to mark the fifth anniversary of the Mega Project and deliver a speech. The U.S. President's Special Advisor to the Caspian Basin, John Wolf, and representatives from Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Britain, Japan, Norway and France are also expected to take part in the ceremony. The Mega Project was signed between Azerbaijan and the international consortium, AIOC, in order to operate Azerbaijani oil reserves in the Caspian Sea. Cay who will also meet Turkish businessmen there will return to Turkey on Wednesday, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[11] TURCO-U.S. TEXTILE MEETINGSTurco-U.S. textile meetings will begin in Washington on September 22. The Foreign Trade Undersecretary, Kursad Tuzmen, will head the Turkish delegation while the U.S. Trade Representative for the textile sector, Ambassador Don Johnson, will head the U.S. delegation during the meetings which will last for two days, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[12] BMC TO STRENGTHEN TURKISH INDUSTRYThe BMC Industry Company based in the Pinarbasi district of Izmir will produce special vehicles for the Turkish defence industry. The Acting Chairman of the Executive Board of the BMC, Mehmet Demirpence, said, "We have accelerated our production in line with demands from the Turkish Army. Tactical vehicles produced will be sold both to the Turkish Army and to neighbouring countries". /Aksam/[13] OLIVE OIL STOCK EXCHANGE IN EDREMITThe Ministry of Trade and Industry gave the green light to the Edremit Olive Oil Stock Exchange Project. Edremit Mayor Tuncay Kilic said that they had received a great many demands from the producers for the establishment of a stock exchange for olives and olive oils, which are of great importance for the region. He added that the project would be implemented as soon as possible. /Aksam/[14] DAMAGE: $115 MILLIONState Minister Yuksel Yalova said that the total damage sustained at the TUPRAS oil factory in Izmit caused by the earthquake disaster was $115 million, and added that 95 % of this cost would be paid through insurance. /Aksam/[15] FOUR NEW MOBILE POWER PLANTSThe Energy and Natural Resources Ministry have included the construction of four mobile and eight wind-powered plants in its programme. The power plants will have a capacity of 15 MW/hr and 30 MW/hr. TEAS, the Turkish Electricity Joint Stock Company, which meets a great deal of its energy production needs from hydroelectricity, thermic power plants and natural gas, is planning that these mobile and wind-powered plants will be put into service before the year 2001. /Aksam/[16] FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH EUROPEThe Council of Ministers has approved the decision of the Joint Committee concerning an amendment to the protocol on origin rules contained in the Agreement previously signed between Turkey and the European Coal and Steel Community. The amendment to the protocol was issued in the Official Gazette yesterday. The amendment, which will be valid as of January 1, 2000, will also be published in the EU's Official Gazette. /Aksam/[17] $225,000 RECEIVED IN EARTHQUAKE AUCTIONAt the end of an auction held at the Aya Irini, a total of $225,000 was received from the sale of works of art donated by artists who participated in the Sixth International Istanbul Bi-Annual Festival to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. /Hurriyet/[18] TURKISH SUCCESS IN GERMANYThe 'Alternatif Genclik Grubu' (Alternative Youth Group) performed a play called 'Siddet-Yasam' (Violence-Life) in Erfurt, a city in Germany, which was received with great interest. The Group, which has gone to Germany as part of the International Youth Exchange Programme, has been devoted extensive coverage in the German press. The Group will grant the proceeds received from the play to the victims of the earthquake which hit the Marmara Region last month. /Hurriyet/[19] GREASE-WRESTLING IN HOLLANDThe European Grease-Wrestling Championship was held in Amsterdam, the capital of Holland, yesterday to help the victims of the earthquake. A total of 40 wrestlers, including 16 Turkish wrestlers, attended the third Championship organized on the initiatives of the Amsterdam Turkish Association. Kenan Simsek won the Championship, and the money collected will be granted to the construction of a primary school in Adapazari. /Hurriyet/[20] DEIK IS LOOKING FOR NEW BUSINESSESIt is reported that the Turco-Russian and Turco-Dutch Business Councils, as part of the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK), will hold business meetings in October and November. The Head of the Kayseri Chamber of Industry and a member of the DEIK Executive Board, Mustafa Capar, stated that during the seventh joint meeting of the Turco-Russian Business Council to be held in Antalya on October 14-16, joint energy, trade and tourism projects will be discussed. Capar remarked that the Turco-Dutch Business Council will hold a meeting in Utrecht, Holland, on November 8-9. During the meeting, the reconstruction of the facilities affected by the earthquake disaster in Turkey and export connections will be deliberated. /Turkiye/[21] TURKEY'S GNP RANKS 22ND IN WORLDTurkey moved up one place from 23rd to 22nd in the list of the top 150 countries with the highest Gross National Product (GNP), according to the World Development Report published by the World Bank for 1999. According to the report, Turkey's GNP rose from $199.5 billion in 1997 to $200.5 billion in 1998, demonstrating steady growth in the Turkish economy. The report placed Turkey 89th among the countries with the highest per capita income. /All papers/[22] TIM WANTS TO DELAY EXPORTER'S DEBTSThe Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM) launched an Urgent Action Plan in order to determine the effects of the August 17 earthquake on exports and the problems of exporters. The Plan is supported by the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade (DTM). /All papers/[23] SUBCONTINENT REPLACES RUSSIA AS PROMISING TRADE PARTNERIndia is the country which has increased its volume of imports from Turkey the most in the January-August 1999 period, showing a rise of 263.5 %. In the same period, Russian imports from Turkey decreased drastically by 68.7 %. In August, Yemen was the country whose import volume from Turkey showed the largest increase: 430 %. In this same period, Russia again saw a slump in imports from Turkey, dropping by 64.9 %, the greatest reduction in imports for that month. /Sabah/[24] PRIVATIZATION AT FULL SPEEDState Minister Yuksel Yalova gave a briefing concerning the privatization timetable yesterday. Yalova stated that they had not given up their privatization target of $4 billion for the year 1999. Yalova remarked that the Privatization Administration Board (OIB) had put the privatization of the Ankara Insurance and Guven Insurance Companies out to tender and more will also be put out to tender in the next few days. /Star/[25] INCENTIVES FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMSThe Treasury Undersecretariat will launch new plans for an incentive package totalling 30 trillion TL to support those Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBIs) which have been seriously affected by the earthquake disaster in the Marmara Region. Initial financial assistance will be offered to those who apply and will be given in October. /Star/[26] PRE-CONDITION IS CYPRUSThe Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Yannis Korantis, said in an interview with the daily 'Star' newspaper, that the positive atmosphere which emerged between Turkey and Greece in the aftermath of the earthquake would prevail for a long time. He stated he believed that the Governments of the two countries would continue on the road revealed by the two nations. Korantis claimed that the Cyprus issue was still a pre-condition from the standpoint of bilateral relations and Turco-EU relations. /Star/[27] QUAKE HITS ISTANBUL TOURISMTurkish Travel Agencies' Union (TURSAB) Chairman Talha Camas has said that 7,600 foreigners who had planned to attend a number of conventions in Istanbul have cancelled their reservations, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Camas said that more than 40 % of international conventions are held in Istanbul, and these cancellations are a great loss to the travel agency sector. He added that tourists coming to Turkey spend on average $786 per person, whereas this amount is about $3,200 for those taking part in conventions or cultural tours.[28] PLANE PLUMMETS INTO LAKE MOGANTwo people were injured during a single-engined plane crash yesterday. The plane belonged to the 'Young Aviation' organization and plummeted into Lake Mogan in the Golbasi district of Ankara. The pilot Mustafa Buyuksonmez, and photographer Taner Ozturk are being treated in hospital. /Cumhuriyet/[29] BURNS: READY TO HELP TURCO-GREEK DIALOGUEThe U.S. Ambassador to Athens, Nicholas Burns, said that his country supported the positive improvements between Turkey and Greece and they were ready to help the dialogue between the two countries. Burns made a statement to the 'Kathimerini' newspaper, published in Athens, and said, "Here the important thing is the two countries doing whatever they do by themselves and this is the most effective way as regards sincere peace and natural relations." Stressing that the U.S Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, would meet next week with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and the Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papadreu to discuss the Cyprus issue, Burns pointed out, "Diplomats never step back. We are also determined to do everything to ensure peace on Cyprus." Meanwhile, he evaluated relations between the EU and Turkey and said that for a long time they had been requesting the EU and Greece to give Turkey the status of candidate. Burns also emphasized, "We believe that it is beneficial for both the U.S. and the EU to be on good terms with Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/[30] TURKISH POSTAL ADMINISTRATIONAfter 40 years, the Turkish Postal Administration has been selected for the membership of the Administration Board of the World Postal Union's (WPU) Administration Council and the Postal Operation Council for the first time during the WPU's 22nd Congress. The Turkish Directorate of Postal Services declared that the WPU's 22nd Congress was held in Beijing between Aug. 23rd and Sept. 15th with the attendance of 1,800 delegates from 189 countries. During the Congress, the Turkish Postal Administration committee mentioned the earthquake disaster in Turkey and delegates from a lot of countries promised their help. /Cumhuriyet/[31] INTERNATIONAL CARTOON EXHIBITIONThe 'International Cartoon Exhibition' organized in Istanbul for the gathering of cartoonists from the Turkish-Speaking Republics will be opened by Culture Minister Istemihan Talay on September 29. The proceeds of sales at the exhibition will be granted to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. The Head of the Cartoonists' Association, Bedri Koraman, will also attend the opening of the exhibition, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[32] GREEK DELEGATION WELCOMED WITH FLOWERS IN AYVALIKThe friendship between Turkey and Greece has intensified in the district of Burhaniye, Balikesir. Mitylene Island's Giera Mayor Pavlos Vogiatzis, Mandamatos' Mayor Dimitris Karacicis, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Pangiotis Mathiellis, an official from the Red Crescent, Zoi Livadiov, Fire-Brigade Chief Konstantinos Tatakis and their wives came to Antalya. Burhaniye's Mayor, Aytekin Eser, welcomed the group at the airport with flowers.Eser said, "We are glad to see you here. This is your home." Mitylene's Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Pangiotis Mathiellis, stating that his father was born in Bergama, said, "May our children fall in love with each other and market olive oil in the same bottle. Let us live in peace all the time." The guests attended a discussion panel concerning the earthquake. Mayor Esen said, "Both our countries have been deeply saddened by the earthquake. We should stop all the sorrows." /Milliyet/ [33] 'WE BELIEVE IN RUSSIA'The leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, pointed out the importance of permanent investments and links when he met a group of businessmen. Yilmaz said that they were considering the crisis in Russia to be an opportunity improve their ties. Yilmaz, who is continuing his talks with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer met the Turkish businessmen in Moscow. Yilmaz stated that he demanded their support in ensuring the approval of the agreement by the Duma, the Russian Parliement. The above-mentioned agreement had been signed in order to improve economic relations concerning the mutual protection of investments.Yilmaz yesterday stated that the leader of the Motherland Action Party in Russia, Yuri Lujkov, and the leader of the Communist Party, Gennadi Zuganov, had promised to support him concerning this issue. Yilmaz added that Russia would be one of the most important markets for Turkey in the future. Yilmaz said, "The crisis is likely to continue in the following years. We believe in the future of this country and, thus, invite businessmen to evaluate this period of crisis well and to make permanent investments here. While Western investors are leaving this country, I want you to make good use of this period to consolidate your investments. As the government, we promise to lend our support to Turkish businessmen. The Blue Stream Project, which aims to transport natural gas through a pipeline under the Black Sea, is one of the most important energy projects. The natural gas that we receive from Russia will rise to 30 billion cubic metres thanks to this project." /Milliyet/ [34] WINNERS ARE IN NATOUniversity students who came in the top ten in a composition competition on "Turkey-NATO relationships", which was organized by Milliyet to celebrate NATO's 50th year, visited the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. The group of ten people, selected by experts in international politics, were able to seize the opportunity of receiving first-hand information from political and military officials. Those who were placed in the top ten, thanks to the compositions they wrote, were: Onur Isci, Serif Alp Akakcan, Zeynep Ersahin, Ipek Bozkurt, Evren Guldogan, Hakan Kerimol, Pinar Odabasi, Umit Ugurlu, Seda Gurkan and Ferruh Zor. They said that their visit to NATO in Brussels, because of NATO's Allied Force Operation in Kosovo, was very useful in terms of increasing their knowledge. /Milliyet/[35] "VESTEL WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ANY RIVAL IN EUROPE"Vestel, which outclassed its rivals with its 470 million dollars in exports in the private sector last year, is trying to increase its proportion of the European market with its products produced using the foremost technology. The Head of the Administrative Council of the Zorlu Group, Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, said that Vestel had exhibited its wares, including the Real Flat TV, Plasma TV and Internet TV, at a fair in Berlin, which attracted a great deal of attention. Zorlu pointed out that they would now begin to export new products after which Turkish consumers will encounter these products at the beginning of December.Zorlu said, "Vestel has grown 15-fold since 1995 and is now in the global monopolies' club. Vestel products, produced using the latest technology, are being improved in the Research and Development Centre. The only one of our departments that does not have a budget is the Research and Development department. Electronics are advancing every day so if you limit your budget, then you cannot improve. In our American branch, Vestel USA, only research and development is being undertaken. Vestel has the capacity to produce 5 million TVs and 2 million monitors. Our computer at 29.95 dollars a month for everyone and free Internet access for 3 years' deal attracted a huge amount of interest. In the first month, there has been an explosion of demand for 80 thousand items. However, we were expecting it to be only 10-20 thousand. Now we can deliver 3,600 products in only three days. We provide our clients with new computers as quickly as possible as we have promised." /Milliyet/ [36] GERMAN AID FOR EARTHQUKEThe Hannover Metropolitan Municipality and members of the German Army have joined the drive launched by "Down Dresden China's Earthquake Aid Committee" in order to repair the damage caused by the earthquake. Hannover Metropolitan Municipality's Mayor, Herbert Schmalstieg, and Germany's Deputy Chief of General Staff, General Gunzel, donated a cheque for 50,000 Deutsche Marks to the Chairman of Down Dresden China's Earthquake Aid Committee, Ahmet Guler. During the ceremony, Schmalstieg said, "15,000 Deutsche Marks of the donation that we gave was obtained from the traditional summer entertainments of the members of the Army. The workers of the Municipality collected 4,300 Deutsche Marks from among themselves and 30,700 Deutsche Marks was obtained from the Municipality's budget."/Milliyet/[37] AID CONCERT FROM FRANCEThe worldwide famous music-hall, Olympia, is opening its doors for Turkey on 17th October. The organizer Erkan Ozerman, who is determined to organize a concert in Paris for the earthquake victims, came to Paris 15 days ago. He called his friends, the founder of Olympia, Paulette Coquatrix and administrators Patricia Coquratrix and Jean-Michel Boris; his old friends agreed to help him. Then, Erkan Ozerman began to look for the French artists who have been coming to Turkey for 41 years. Many of them cancelled their projects and said yes to Ozerman's plan. Enrico Macias will start the night with his song "Enfants de tous pays". Tickets will be sold for 150-200-250 and 300 French francs and all the money earned by the concert will be given to the earthquake victims. /Milliyet/[38] PKK CAMP IN HOLLANDThe testimony of the chief of the terrorist PKK organanization, Abdullah Ocalan, saying "The PKK rented a house for its militants to be trained in Holland. Officials in Holland knew about the camp" was confirmed by the `De Telegraaf' newspaper published in Holland. In the newspaper it was written that PKK militants were being trained at the camp in Graningen. The newspaper also reported that the PKK's 130 young militants from Europe gave 20 thousand guldens each for 10 days of training to the site's owner, Geert Steeman. Steeman also did not deny this fact. The area's Mayor, J.J. Stam, said to the reporter of the newspaper that he did not know that the PKK was being trained here and that, however, it did not surprise him." /Milliyet/[39] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[40] ECEVIT TO ASK FOR US GUARANTEE -BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)Columnist Fikret Bila writes on Ecevit's expected visit to the US. A summary of his column is as follows:"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is preparing for his visit to the US. He has stated that mainly economic issues will be discussed during the visit. Among them we can cite relations with the IMF and World Bank and aid for the earthquake disaster. An issue he will stress is that of state bonds as the Government was planning to issue state bonds guaranteed by the US; Congress has to decide whether to declare such a guarantee and, therefore, it may not be solved soon but such a request will be made. Ecevit believes that a US guarantee will constitute an important reference among international financial sources of funding for Turkey. The Government thinks that if the US Congress approves such a decision, Turkey will be able to borrow easily and inexpensively and this in turn would open the path for aid and loans. This is seen as a means of liquidating expensive domestic borrowing. This kind of implementation was used by Mexico in the past. Those defending the US-guaranteed bonds believe that Turkey's credibility will increase through this method. Those opposing the implementation are of the view that Turkey will lose its ability to borrow money by herself. As Prime Minister Ecevit takes up the issue on his agenda, it seems that the Treasury believes that its advantages are more than its disadvantages. On the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Ecevit will not compromise and he does not expect any pressure on the subject. He hopes that his talks in Washington will pass in a peaceful atmosphere. Initial contact on economic issues prior to the talks will be undertaken by State Minister Recep Onal. Both State Minister Onal and Prime Minister Ecevit are hopeful regarding the results of the talks. [41] CYPRUS AND ECEVIT -BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna analyzes the situation in Cyprus and Turkey's candidacy to the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:"We have to promote new formulas on Cyprus which will bring us closer to the EU. There should be a Turkish sector in Cyprus and Turkey's guarantee should continue. All proposals which will leave the Turkish side as a minority on a Cyprus which might become a member of the EU are invalid. They only serve to create tension. If equal status can be granted to both sides, as in Switzerland where French-speaking Swiss and German-speaking Swiss are equal, the question can be solved. A request for more will show that Athens prefers to follow a constant policy of antagonism towards Ankara, and once the EU and the US realize this Greece will be left in a tight spot. We hope that Athens will not make such a mistake and the Aegean can become a sea of peace. Greece could save millions of dollars in military expenses and both sides could profit from a peaceful appproach. We all believe in Prime Minister Ecevit on the Cyprus policy and his talks at the White House. The image of Turkey refusing to come to the the negotiation table and the exploitation of such an image cannot be acceepted by anyone. Then, foreign powers will start to play with Turkey's interests. As Turkey is too important a country to be scorned, in such a case both Europe and the United States will be left in a difficult position and everyone will have to share the responsibility for the harm done. The Turkish State was founded in l074 and since that day she has never been colonialized. It should be remembered that Turkey is one of the oldest states in the world. The talks in the White House will affect Turkish politics. For the sake of Turkey's interests and world peace everyone hopes that the talks in Washington will yield concrete results. " Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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