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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 18, 1996)From: TRKNWS-L <[email protected]>Turkish Press Review DirectoryCONTENTS[01] PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN TERRORISM[02] US AND GERMANY WARN SYRIA[03] "GREECE DISTURBS REGIONAL STABILITY"[04] TURKEY TO SEND AID TO LEBANON[05] TURKEY COUNTS ON ITALIAN SUPPORT TO ATTEND FLORENCE SUMMIT[06] TURKEY NAMES NEW MONEY BOSS[07] IRANIAN FM TO COME TOMORROW[08] FRENCH BLOW AGANIST PKK[09] TOURIST BOOMTURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY APRIL 18, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] PARLIAMENTARIANS CONDEMN TERRORISMThe delegates attending the Inter-Paliamentary Union conference in Istanbul unitedly condemned international terrorism yesterday. One of the points made by the speakers was that those convicted of acts of terrorism must be returned to their country of origin for legal trial.Another important point was that the media must not be allowed to become a tool of terror by publishing or broadcasting terror propaganda. The PKK terrorist organization came in for strong words of condemnation from those attending the meeting which began on Sunday. Parliamentarians from ten member countries of the Union have agreed to set up a commission which will produce a statement condemning increasing terrorism worldwide. The statement will be made at the end of the meeting. Many are now curious to see what the commission will make of issues involving Cyprus and the situation in the southeast of Turkey. /All papers/
[02] US AND GERMANY WARN SYRIAFailing to find a solution to PKK terrorism through dialogue with Syria, a country known for its support to the separatist PKK organization, Turkey is preparing radical measures to eradicate terrorism. Germany and the US, being notified of Turkish determination to solve the problematic issue, have warned Syria to give up support for terrorism and to develop friendly relations with its northern neighbour, or to be ready to face cross-border intervention by Turkey. /Sabah/
[03] "GREECE DISTURBS REGIONAL STABILITY"EU Liberal Group Chairman, Dutch deputy Gijs de Vries, criticized Greek attempts for blocking financial cooperation between Turkey and EU, as foreseen by the customs union agreement. De Vries noted that in this way Greece was disturbing also regional stability, and added that the EU Council of Ministers voting system should be amended to neutralize Greek efforts for hindering similar agreements. On the grounds of the recent Kardak dispute with Turkey, Greece had decided to veto an EU decision for extending aid worth ECU 375 million to Turkey.On the other hand, newly appointed UK Ambassador to Athens, Sir Michael John Llewellyn-Smith said that he was ready to exert every effort for improving Turco-Greek relations. /Sabah/
[04] TURKEY TO SEND AID TO LEBANONTurkey declared yesterday that it was going to send humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people who have been displaced because of the Israeli air raids. "Turkey wants to join in the international efforts to help the displaced people in Lebanon" Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said. He noted that Turkey had pledged aid as soon as the needs of the people were determined. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] TURKEY COUNTS ON ITALIAN SUPPORT TO ATTEND FLORENCE SUMMITThe Turkish Foreign ministry said yesterday that it had received no invitation to the European Union summit that will be held in Florence in July but indicated it counted on the Italian term-presidency's support for an invitation. "We think our participation in the summit is necessary for the EU" Foreign Minister Spokesman Omer Akbel said in his weekly press conference. Akbel said that the upcoming elections would determine the new government that would be in power at the time of the summit. "During the Essen summit (in 1994) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister of the time, launched an initiative for Turkey's participation in the summit" Akbel added. /All papers/
[06] TURKEY NAMES NEW MONEY BOSSPresident Suleyman Demirel reportedly endorsed a Cabinet decree appointing prominent banker Gazi Ercel as new Central Bank governor. The decree will take effect today after being published in the Official Gazette. The Central Bank has been governed by its acting chief since its former head, Yaman Toruner, resigned on December 1, 1995, to stand for elections on December 24. Ercel, a former government bureaucrat, was chief executive at Tutunbank from 1994. /All papers/
[07] IRANIAN FM TO COME TOMORROWIranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayeti will arrive in Turkey tomorrow. Velayeti's visit is aimed at delivering to President Suleyman Demirel an invitation from his Iranian counterpart Hashemi Rafsancani to the opening of the Turkmen-Meshet railway. The opening, which will take place in May, marks a step toward what is known as the "Silk Railway" which aims to tie Turkey to Central Asia. "But Velayeti's visit will naturally provide an opportunity for both sides to assess bilateral ties and regional developments" Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said yesterday.Turkey and Iran have gone through a tense period in ties when Iran, during a key visit of a senior diplomat, accused four Turkish diplomats in Iran of spying. Last month, Ankara asked Iran to withdraw its four diplomats who were accused of being involved in various terrorist activities in Turkish territory. Akbel said yesterday that the Turkish diplomats, whom Turkey has called back to Ankara for their own security, had not yet returned. "We expect them to come shortly" he said. "As far as we know, the Iranians will also return to their country soon". The spokesman also denied any "military tension" in the Iranian border. "There is no tension in the border. News that there is a build-up on the border is fictitious" he added. /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
[08] FRENCH BLOW AGANIST PKKThirteen members of the PKK terrorist organization have been sentenced in France. According to the Agency France Press (AFP), the members of the separatist organization have been sentenced because they used extortion to collect money from Turkish citizens living in the southwest of France between 1993-1994. It is reported that among those who were sentenced was a "PKK member responsible for the region". /Cumhuriyet/
[09] TOURIST BOOMThe Tourism Ministry has disclosed that there was a boom in the number of tourists who visited Turkey in March. The Ministry stated that the number of tourists which was 368,195 in March 1995 reached 537,452 this year. The Ministry said that German ourists ranked first while the US ranked second. It added that 269,055 tourists from OECD countries visited Turkey in March. /Hurriyet/ |