Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review
Following his arrival in the capital of Brazil, the last stop in his tour of South America, President Suleyman
Demirel discovered that this country also had a PKK-style seperatist organization in the rich Southern provinces like
Sao Paulo and Rio De Janerio, which wants to establish a new republic called "Pampas" after leaving the union. Attending
a dinner given in his honour by Tahsin Tarlan, Turkish Ambassador in Brazil, Demirel was pleased to meet Erol
Erdinc, conductor of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra following a performance of the Symphony Orchestra of Brazil.
Demirel held private talks at the Planolta Palace yesterday with Fernando Henrigue Cardoso, President of Brazil and
later visited Luiz Eduard Sarney, head of the Brazilian Senate and Luiz Eduardo Magalhes, Brazilian Assembly
spokesman. President Demirel will return to Ankara on Wednesday. /Milliyet/
In an interview with the O Globo newspaper published in Brazil, President Suleyman Demirel has said that Turkey was
ready to answer European criticisms of the northern Iraq military operation. Answering a question relating to the
Kurdish problem and human rights, Suleyman Demirel said: "The people known as Kurds are completely free in our
country. They enjoy all rights and freedoms. Turkey is ready to answer and discuss all the European charges against
Turkey regarding this subject". Stating that the Turkish operation in northern Iraq had no relation with the Kurds
and that the operation was aimed at the PKK, which was condemned as a terrorist organization by all the world,
Demirel said: "This organization has been completely supported by Iraq" and added that Turkey aimed to eradicate
the PKK terrorism in two years. /Hurriyet/
Even while the "Celik Operation" continues in northern Iraq, the Turkish Red Crescent Society has again begun to send aid
to the people of the region. A commission chaired by Ender Tamer, Deputy General Director of the Turkish Red Crescent
Society yesterday went to Darkajan and Hezova villages and delivered 62 tons of humanitarian aid including flour,
sugar, lentils, oil and soap. Aid work stopped when Turkish Red Crescent Society officials Osman Bulut, Metin Mithat
Okan and Yasar Mutlu were killed in a terrorist attack near Dohuk on April 5. The General Directorate of Tekel
monopolies has donated cigarettes worth TL 11 billion 400 million for the Turkish soldiers participating in the
military incursion. Fourteen tons of cigarettes have been delivered to Regional Governor with Special Powers Unal
Erkan by Cevdet Terliksiz, Deputy Director of Tekel. /Hurriyet/
In a speech to young journalist students attending a forum in Ankara, Prime Minister Ciller said yesterday that the
west was not aware of the intentions of the PKK terrorist organization, and did not understand Turkey either.
Addressing the students from 23 European countries, Ciller added that she "was leading the way" in the fight against
terrorism and democratizing Turkey. She noted too that within the framework of improving human rights in Turkey,
she might request a bill approving limited amnesty in line with the law on fighting terrorism.
The Prime Minister also said that Turkey was not the only country fighting terrorism, and commented that Turkey was
however, the only country to be faced with so much opposition for the course taken in the fight against
international terror. /Hurriyet/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is due to travel to Baku tomorrow to sign an official share transfer agreement with
Azeri President Haydar Aliyev. Azerbaijan has let companies from several countries compete fiercely to obtain some of
its shares in a multibillion dollar deal to develop Azeri oil fields in the Caspian Sea. Eventually it has favoured
Turkish and US firms, scrapping a previous agreement with its eastern neighbour Iran. Baku officially announced on
April 3 that it would provide Turkish Petroleum and the US Exxon with 5 % shares each. For Turkish Petroleum, the
stake was raised to 6.75 %. Transferring half of its 20 % share to Turkey and the US company, Azerbaijan state oil
company SOCAR is now left with a 10 % share. Suffering from a severe economic crisis, Azerbaijan was unable to
financially guarantee its 20 % share, and therefore capital, in the consortium and raised the money it needed by selling
part of its shares. /All papers/
According to Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu in an interview made with El-Hayat newspaper, relations between Turkey and
Syria are "very good" -especially in view of Syria's moves to close down PKK terrorist camps in the notorious Bekaa
valley.
Foreign Minister Inonu is concerned however, about reports that PKK terrorist leader Abdullah "Apo" Ocalan is taking
refuge in Syria again. Inonu wants to convince Syria that this kind of support will not -in the long term- help
Turkish-Syrian ties. Ankara now wants to see convincing evidence that Syria will withdraw support for terrorist
groups. /All papers/
Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said yesterday that Turkey would not negotiate over water supplies from Turkey
to neighbouring countries as part of anti- terrorism packages.
"We will not allow Turkey's natural water supplies to be used as a bargaining factor in agreements against terrorism"
Cetin said, and noted that Turkey had no in- tention of using water supplies as a way of exerting pressure on
neighbouring governments. He added however, that Turkey was not about to bring issues involving water supplies to
international platforms. He said that terrorism was another matter entirely. /Hurriyet/
Following in the wake of talks with Kurdish leaders Mesud Barzani and Celal Talabani, government officials said
yesterday that Ankara will make new contacts with the Baghdad administration. According to diplomatic sources no
date has been set for a meeting, but a meeting "is certain."
The special US delegation now in Ankara for talks on regional problems has made it clear that the US wants to
help in resolving deepening issues and cooperate more with Turkey. The US delegation includes top US State Department
officials Strobe Talbott and Richard Holbrooke.
All the indications are that Turkey will want to hold talks with Baghdad to negotiate a lasting settle- ment for the
region, and resolve the power vacuum in northern Iraq. Other issues involving the Kurds are seen as something to be
resolved by the "political authorities." /Hurriyet/
The US delegation in Ankara will also take up the problems of the Aegean and Cyprus. Although the Turkish military
incursion into northern Iraq occupies first place, the Aegean and Cyprus issues are included as regional problems.
The delegation will discuss with Turkish government officials measures to reduce tensions in both Cyprus and the
Aegean. Richard Holbrooke will discuss these measures in greater detail with both the Greek and Turkish governments
in the near future. The US package for peace includes measures for reducing the military presence in the Aegean,
with more control over military exercises and over-flights. /Hurriyet/
The annual Houston International Festival, which this year honours Turkey, will open on April 18 with the participation
of Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and Culture Minister Ercan Karakas, the Anatolia news agency reported. The festival,
which attracts a million visitors each year, presents cultural features ranging from historical and contemporary
art to presentations of everyday life.
The 67th anniversary of recognition of secularism was celebrated yesterday throughout the country. The CHP
(Republican People's Party) Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said: "Secularism is the guarantee of
democracy, national unity, equality, peace, becoming contemporary and human rights. Our party will never
compromise over secularism whatever the conditions".
State Minister responsible for human rights, Algan Hacaloglu also held a press conference on the 67th anniversary of
recognition of secularism yesterday, and said: "Secularism is the guarantee of freedom of thought, conscience and
belief and is a basic and indispensable tenet of our democratic Republic". /Cumhuriyet/
The T-1 irrigation tunnel near Sanliurfa, one of the major projects of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), is to
be opened today by Prime Minister Tansu Ciller in the presence of many government ministers; State Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, State Minister Necmettin Cevheri, Interior Minister Nahit Mentese and Public Works
and Housing Minister Erman Sahin. The inauguration coincides with the 75th anniversary of Sanliurfa's
liberation. The T-1 tunnel will reportedly deliver sufficient water to irrigate 30,000 hectares of the
now-arrid Harran Plain. Baki Atac, state minister responsible for GAP, said in a written statement that Turkey
was determined to complete the huge GAP project in the near future. /Sabah/
Dutch Ambassador to Turkey, Jan Horak, was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and told that his country should
not allow the establishment of the Kurdish Parliament in-exile. It is reported that at the meeting the objections
to the establishment of Kurdish Parliament in Holland were pointed out, and that such an initiative would target the
territorial integrity and political unity of Turkey. /Sabah/
Donnal Charles McKinnon, deputy prime minister and foreign relations and trade minister of New Zealand, will be in
Ankara for an official visit on April 16, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Turkish Foreign Ministry
officials said McKinnon will visit Turkey to further relations between the two countries. McKinnon will leave
Turkey on April 19.
Chief of General Staff officials said 417 PKK terrorists had been killed, and 12 captured since the beginning of the
operation in northern Iraq, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Military officials said the region is
completely under the control of the Turkish Army.
Meanwhile, troops killed 12 militants of the PKK terrorist organization during operations in Sirnak's Silopi district
and Siirt's Eruh district, and three militants surrendered in Tunceli's Cemisgezek district and Sirnak's Silopi
district, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Regional officials said one automatic rifle, 15 hand
grenades, 7 mines and 2 rocket-launchers were seized during operations in Siirt's Kurtalan district.
'DISTANT THUNDER-95' EXERCISE IN AEGEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN
The NATO military exercise "Distant Thunder-95" will be held in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas on April 11-20, the
Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Military officials said the operation will begin in the middle and eastern
Mediterranean and continue in the Turkish air zone.
Onur Oymen, Turkish Ambassador to Bonn, yesterday accused several German newspapers and magazines of trying to
ridicule -with stories and drawings- the honour of the Turkish people, the Anatolia news agency reported from Bonn.
Oymen, interviewed by the German magazine Focus, said, "making fun of a nation is even worse than imposing an arms
embargo". Oymen, who warned that humiliating stories might cause riots among Turkish people in Germany, expressed his
wish that the traditional friendliness between Turkey and Germany should be restored as soon as possible.
The Croatian Chief of General Staff General Janko Bobetko arrived in Ankara for an official visit yesterday in order
to meet with his Turkish counterpart, General Ismail Hakki Karadayi. General Bobetko, who visited Anitkabir (Ataturk's
mausoleum) upon his arrival, was later greeted by General Karadayi with military ceremony. The Chiefs of General
Staff reviewed military relations between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/
The Cabinet has approved 40.86 millions ECU of credit provided by the European Council Social Development Fund,
the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to the agreement details published in the Official Gazette, the
loan, which is for ten years at 8.67 % interest, will be used to finance two projects for the State Water Works (DSI)
and the Aegean Mass Housing Cooperatives.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR (April 3, 1995) David Rohde
"Some Kurds even expressed relief that the Turkish Army has arrived in the area. The PKK, a Marxist guerrilla
movement fighting for a Kurdish homeland for the last eight years, had been recently setting up road blocks and
demanding 'tolls' at gunpoint, they say... fighting between the two main Iraqi Kurd leaders - Masoud Barzani and Jalal
Talabani - has created a power vacuum in the area that has allowed the PKK to move in and launch attacks that have
destabilized neighboring Turkey."
JYLLANDS-POSTEN : "PKK'S MOUTHPIECE IS THE GUN" (March 22, 1995) Per Nyholm
Kurdistan Workers Party, against which the Turkish Army has just started a large-scale offensive, is not a political
apparatus in the classical sense of the word but a so-called liberation organization whose popular backing is probably
extremely modest. The PKK functions in cadres according to the best Marxist-Leninist prescription and has never
permitted free elections. Opposition is an almost unknown phenomenon. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, known as Apo or
Uncle, is apt to engage in regular and merciless purges among his opponents, real as well as imagined. In Ankara,
The PKK is considered a Syrian-controlled terrorist group whose only purpose is to destabilize the NATO country,
Turkey. Ocalan, a failed student who once associated with semi-Fascist and extreme nationalistic circles in Istanbul,
dreaming of becoming an officer in the Turkish Army, is now staying in Damascus at the mercy and payroll of Syrian
President Hafez Al-Assad. Ocalan is actually very far from being the democratic and popular leader that certain western
romantics are in the habit of imagining. Rather, he is the Middle Eastern equivalent of Pot Pol, Cambodia's now
disappeared tyrant. Inter alia, he has forbidden every one except the PKK VIP's to smoke American filter cigarettes,
use after-shave; go to the cinema; watch TV and read Turkish newspapers.
SURPRISE IN ANKARA
In October last year, Ocalan attracted unfortunate attention with a decree forbidding foreign journalists, at
the threat of immediate liquidation, to visit and report from the `Kurds' main city Diyarbakir' in southeastern
Turkey. "The PKK," said the journalist Ismet Imset, who has studied the group thoroughly, "is the strongest and most
brutal of all lawless terror groups not only in Turkey but in the entire Middle East."
In Germany, the PKK is prohibited and, without much success the Bonn Government is trying to expel Kurdish
activists who are using violence there as well as elsewhere, including Denmark. During a visit to Ankara last year,
Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen declared that he was against bans and expulsions. He preferred a "dialogue," he
said to the surprise of his hosts, who long ago learned the bitter lesson that Ocalan's only mouthpiece is the
Kalashnikov storm gun.
END