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Turkish Press Review, 98-03-05Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>05.03.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY SEEKS SPANISH PUSH FOR TIES WITH EUTurkish President Suleyman Demirel, who is paying an official visit to Spain, delivered a speech at the Spanish Parliament yesterday. He reminded his audience of the difficulties and osbtacles faced by Spain while joining the EU, and he expressed appreciation for Spain's support for Turkey's bid for EU membership, which entails similar struggles and similar problems. Demirel called for enhanced ties between the two parliaments.At a luncheon held in his honour by Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Demirel emphasized Turkey's strategic importance as a bridge to the world's richest oil reserves, such as the Caspian basin and the need for both countries' cooperation in the Mediterranean. Demirel will continue his visit today with a trip to the northeastern region of Catalonia, where he will meet Barcelona's mayor, Joan Clos, and Catalonia regional party leader Jordi Pujol. /All papers/ [02] EQUAL STATUS FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS AT EU MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONSThe European Union has made a surprising proposal in order to persuade Turkish Cypriots to participate in EU membership negotiations. What this proposal includes is a formula giving equal status to both sides in the negotiations, proposing that both sides be represented in a common delegation without having to recognize each other. The proposal, called the "Sovereign Umbrella Formula" was developed by European Union Foreign Relations Commissioner Hans Van den Broek and Britain's special representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay, who yesterday arrived in Cyprus. The proposal will be presented to the Greek Cypriots for their approval. Details of the formula, as published in Greek newspapers, have not been fully explained yet. Meanwhile, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, has announced that he will not receive Hannay or Van den Broek, both of whom are meeting with Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides today. /Hurriyet/[03] KARADAYI GOES TO KAZAKHSTANAccording to a representative of the General Staff, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi went to Kazakhstan yesterday for official contacts. /Hurriyet/[04] KOSOVO APPEALS FOR TURKISH SUPPORTYesterday, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that in addition to contributing to the peace efforts in Kosovo, Turkey aimed at having a leading role in the solution process. Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on his way to Bosnia for a meeting of the Turco-Bosnian Joint Economic Council, Gurel stressed that "Finding a democratic solution to the democratic demands of the Kosovo people should be a priority in international efforts to resolve the issue". /Cumhuriyet/[05] EU COMMISSION REPORTThe European Commission, asked by the European Union (EU) at the Luxembourg summit to prepare a "European strategy for Turkey", presented yesterday its "customs union plus" proposal for Ankara. The proposals still have to be agreed on by both the EU and Turkey. The commission, adopting a set of operational proposals for Turkey, argues that the move aims at "strengthening relations between the EU and Ankara". The "European strategy for Turkey" was adopted along with the Commission's annual report to the European Parliament on the customs union."The customs union makes an important contribution to our ties which should be supported by healthy macro-economic policies, a reinforcement of the protection of human rights and an improvement in relations between the two Aegean neighbours, Turkey and Greece. The customs union is functioning in a satisfactory way" concluded the Commission. /All papers/ [06] ANKARA: RUSSIA NOT EXCLUDED FROM CASPIAN OIL DEALTurkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli told a news briefing yesterday: "We reminded the Russians that it is out of the question for Turkey to exclude Russia from Caspian Sea projects". Atacanli said that Russia would be invited to a more comprehensive meeting later and that the Istanbul meeting focused mainly on the countries that would be selling oil and those that the pipeline would pass through. Moscow argued that all states around the Caspian Sea should take part in discussions on oil projects in the region.Russia on Tuesday expressed surprise at having been excluded from talks on March 1-2 between Turkey and four ex-Soviet republics for a proposed pipeline that will carry oil from the Caspian in an $8 billion international project. /All papers/ [07] KLERIDES: "WE WANT THE MISSILES"Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides has thanked Russia for the supply of S-300 missiles. Klerides said in a statement to the Kommersant daily published in Moscow, that Greek Cypriots absolutely would not give up the missile agreement. Noting that a solution to the Cyprus problem could not be achieved only through the United Nations, Klerides stated that the permanent members of the Security Council along with the European Union (EU) should also be kept in the picture and exert pressure against Turkey to assume a more flexible stance. /Milliyet/[08] CZECH PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT TURKEYA delegation headed by Vilem Holan, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Czech Republic, will arrive in Ankara tomorrow evening. Czech Parliamentarians will meet with Turkish Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin. /Cumhuriyet/[09] ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR TEMAThe TEMA Foundation has been awarded with an environment prize given by the Green Globe, which has members in 100 countries. Green Globe, which is based in Britain and aims at the prevention of damage to the environment because of tourism, will make its awards this year during a Tourism Fair to be held in Berlin on 11 March. /Cumhuriyet/[10] ANNAN SENDS LETTER TO DENKTASUN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said in a letter to President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, that he is ready to meet Denktas in principle, but that UN Special Consultant to Cyprus Diego Cordovez will visit Cyprus as a first step, because he is so busy, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday. "I belive that you and Klerides will launch efforts to reach an agreement concerning the need to meet face-to-face during your contacts with my consultant" Annan said.Responding to the letter, Denktas said: "It is sad that Annan thinks that face-to-face negotiations between the two sides, which totally ended after the decision of the European Union (EU), can continue". [11] TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN COOPERATIONArtur Rasizade, Azerbaijani Prime Minister, said on Tuesday that the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline will further strengthen cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan, the Anatolia news agency reported. Rasizade received on Tuesday Nami Cagan, Turkish Minister of Labour and Social Security, who is currently holding contacts in Baku. Rasizade said that current relations between the two countries at the level of ministers "are very useful".Addressing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Labour and People's Social Security, Cagan proposed the setting up a joint working group composed of high ranking officials from the two ministries to strengthen relations in this field. Ali Nagiyev, Azerbaijani Minister of Labour and People's Security, said that they would like to benefit from the rich experience of Turkey concerning the realization of reforms in the area of social security. [12] TASAR IN FRANCEMustafa Tasar, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, left on Tuesday for France to attend a meeting on "Agriculture in the Changing World: The policies of Tomorrow" organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.Tasar said that during his visit the French Agriculture Minister and himself had re-evaluated studies made up until now within the framework of agricultural cooperation between Turkey and France. Tasar will return to Turkey on March 9. /Hurriyet/ [13] GAP REGION EXPORTS SUCCESSAgricultural and animal products worth a total of $82.155 million were exported from the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) region in January and February 1998, the Anatolia news agency reported. Responding to the questions of the A.A. correspondent, Abdulkadir Cikmaz, Director of the Export Unions in Southeastern Anatolia, pointed out that exports increased by 27 % for livestock, 25 % for dried fruits and 42 % for textiles and decreased by 42 % for grain-pulses. He said: "The crisis between Iraq and the US caused a decrease in the exports of grain-pulses". He also added that he believed the reconciliation reached in Iraq will lead to an increase in exports in the region.[14] CIVIL SERVANTS PROTESTPolice dispersed thousands of civil servants in Ankara's central Kizilay Square who were protesting a government draft on trade union rights that falls short of recognizing collective bargaining and the right to strike for blue collar workers. The demonstration that brought together civil servants from all across the country, started at the Hippodrome and continued with a march to Kizilay Square. All participating civil servants, members of the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), gathered at Ankara's Hippodrome and marched towards Kizilay Square, chanting slogans and carrying banners. /All papers/[15] LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY BEING ORGANIZEDThe Liberal Democrat Party, headed by Besim Tibuk, has completed the process of organization in 50 provinces of Turkey and gained the right to participate in elections. /Hurriyet/[16] EXPORT UP IN FEBRUARYAccording to the the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) there was a 13 percent increase in exports in February. TIM chairman, Okan Oguz, said that exports reached 2.2 billion dollars at the end of February. /Sabah/[17] ACTIVITIES OF PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION EXTENDEDThe activities of the Privatization Administration (OI) have been extended by the Privatization High Board. According to new regulations, privatization activities up to TL 232 billion can now be approved by the (OI), whereas this amount was previously pegged to only TL 75 billion. With the new application OI will also be able to export Treasury guaranteed stock worth up to TL 35 trillion; it will approve final transfer operations for up to TL 100 trillion in buying-selling operations and it will sell and buy shares in companies activities within the framework of the Istanbul Stock Exchange privatization programme. /Sabah/[18] US CRITICIZES GREEK MINISTERBoth the American administration and the American Jewish lobby have reacted strongly to Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos' criticism of Turkish-Israeli cooperation. The American Jewish Congress (AJC) based in New York has sent a letter to the Greek Ambassador to Washington, Loucaf Tsilas, saying that it was a serious mistake to evaluate military cooperation between Turkey and Israel as a development which would begin a new Cold War period. Spokesman for US Secretary of State, James Rubin, said that the American administration supported the defense cooperation between the two regional democratic countries. He added that although there were countries which did not approve of the copperation process, the US administration however, did not share their views. /Sabah/[19] FUTURE OF THE BALKANSA meeting on the "Future of the Balkans" organized by the Aspen Institution in Berlin has begun in Istanbul. Academicians, scientists, representatives of non-governmental organizations, businessmen and press members are attending the meeting which started yesterday morning. The recent developments in Kosovo, the future of the Balkans and Turkey's role in securing a long lasting peace in the Balkans are the topics of the meeting. President Suleyman Demirel will make the closing speech of the meeting on 7 March. At the end of the meeting a report of the Balkans International Commission will be submitted and foreign and domestic representatives will discuss their views. /Sabah/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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