TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 29, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <[email protected]>

Turkish Press Review Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

A the summary of political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning

[01] PROVIDE COMFORT GETS CONDITIONAL NEW LIFE

Yilmaz, who heads the partnership between his Motherland Party (ANAP) and Tansu Ciller's True Path Party (DYP) carried the day with 243 votes to 199 when the Democratic Left Party (DSP) abstained in a crucial vote on a new mandate for Provide Comfort.

The compromise won at least three more months for the US-British-French air strike force based at Incirlik, southern Turkey, made up of 72 combat and support aircraft.

Under the Operation Provide Comfort (OPC) umbrella, the Western warplanes have been patrolling the skies of northern Iraq to deter Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's troops from attacking Kurds living in the region. /All Papers/

[02] DEMIREL CALLS FOR UNITED FRONT AGAINST TERROR

Talking about the power vacuum in the region of northern Iraq, Demirel clearly warned that Turkey would not tolerate the situation for much longer. Noting that the prevailing situation there was a threat to Turkey's security, Demirel called upon the US to support Turkey in a united front against the increasing terrorism in the area.

Demirel further warned the US administration that the worsening situation in northern Iraq would eventually come to affect US security as well. He stressed that Turkey would not allow the situation to deteriorate or allow Turkey to be adversely affected by the actions of other "unnamed" neighbour countries known for their support of terrorism.

During his first speeches and contacts with top US officials, Demirel has already covered a lot of vital topics including relations with the European Union (EU), and that the Turkish model of Islamic secularism really works -meaning that Turkey was indeed a suitable and important country for inclusion as a full member in the EU.

Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who is on a working visit to Washington D.C., has presented a message from Bosnian President Alia Izetbegovic to US officials, the Anatolian news agency reported.

The message urged all signatories of the Dayton Accord to fulfill their obligations. In a phone conversation between the two presidents, Izetbegovic pointed out that the Bosnians had carried out everything they had agreed to in the Accord, and that Zagreb and Belgrade should do the same.

[03] ANKARA WARNS KURDISH LEADER

Watching developments closely, Ankara has seen how Barzani especially has played into the hands of the PKK hoping to wrest an advantage from the situation. In the meantime, Kurdish leaders wrangle among themselves, allowing the PKK to divide and conquer to its own very real advantage.

Ankara has told Barzani that he and other Kurdish leaders must reach a compromise agreement for stability in the region and keep the PKK out, stop the terrorists from gaining an even stronger position in the region. /Cumhuriyet/

[04] TURKS COULD FACE EXTRADITION FROM GERMANY

German authorities say that it has yet to be determined just where the 500 and other suspects stood in connection with violence of a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, the authorities are adamant that those guilty of terrorist related activity will be sent out. /Cumhuriyet/

[05] US DEFENCE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY TO MEET TURKISH COLLEAGUE IN ALBANIA

However, Greece has turned down an invitation to attend the meeting. /All Papers/

[06] TURKEY, SWITZERLAND AGREE ON PROJECT FOR REPATRIATION OF REJECTED ASYLUM SEEKERS

Deputy Foreign Minister Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan said that repatriation would take place under a project prepared by the International Organization for Migrants (IOM)./All Papers/

[07] PILOTS SAY GREEK CONTROL OF AEGEAN INTERNATIONAL AIR ZONE IS INSUFFICIENT

Greek pilots were criticized by the Greek government for voicing their concerns./All Papers/

[08] CLINTON WINDS UP VISIT TO TURKEY

Characterizing the meeting as "warm", Ciller noted that Clinton had said she found Turkey to be much more beautiful than she had expected./All Papers/

[09] IRAQI TRADE WITH TURKEY CLIMBS

Diplomats said Iraq was trying hard to persuade either Turkey or Syria to allow Iraqi travellers to use them as transit to the outside world. Iraq does not have diplomatic relations with Syria.

Iraqi-Turkish ties are bound to improve further if the talks, scheduled to resume on April 8, in New York, succeed./All Papers/

[10] REACTION AGAINST EP RESOLUTION

Rasid said that the resolution was incompatible with the realization of Cyprus and "unbinding" for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and added that it would contribute to a further widening of the atmosphere of unease between the two sides on the island.

The European Parliament, besides calling for withdrawal of "foreign troops" on Cyprus, criticized a statement by Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas that there were no living "missing persons" on Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Aydan Karahan, declared that Turkey would continue to fully support the TRNC. The ambassador said that the international community should realize that a settlement of the Cyprus problem could not be reached only with the constructive stand of the Turkish side and underlined that Turkey could in no way exert pressuure on the Turkish Cypriots to make concessions.

He added that Turkey's military presence in Cyprus was based on the Treaty of Guarantee and no reduction would be made within the framework of the treaty before solutions for the island's problems were found. /All Papers/

[11] TURCO-GREEK COOPERATION IN ROMANIAN TOURISM MARKET

[12] TURCO-FRENCH COOPERATION FAIR

[13] EUROPEANS LIKE BEKO

[14] GREECE PUSHING FOR REVENGE

Greece is now moving to act during the Torino EU summit that begins today. Using the Kardak rocks affair, Greece wants to force Turkey into an unacceptable position. Because Turkey will not accept the conditions that Greece wants to impose, Greece will call for Turkey's exclusion from this and other meetings.

for renewed dialogue with Greece to restore stability to the sensitive Aegean region -which Greece has refused to even consider. /All papers/