Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (April 7, 1995)
President Suleyman Demirel arrived in the Chilean capital Santiago yesterday on the second leg of his trip to three
Latin American countries. Before flying to Santiago, Demirel said in the Argentina capital of Buenos Aires that
he was shortening his visit to Brazil, the last leg of his tour, by two days and that as a result he would return to
Turkey on April 12 instead of April 14. "My early return is not related to Turkey's military campaign in northern Iraq
or other domestic issues. I only thought that this shortened version of my Latin American tour would still be
sufficient" he told reporters. Demirel is the first Turkish president to visit the three Latin American countries. He
is due to fly to Brazil's capital Brasilia on April 9 before returning home. /All papers/
In response to the questions of British government officials about the Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq,
Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said yesterday that "Turkey too, was a strike force" like the UN "hammer" rapid
deployment force stationed at Incirlik base near Adana.
Cetin then went on to say that if the west accepted the need for a foreign strike force to protect the security of
northern Iraq, then it would also have to accept Turkey's right to defend itself in the face of similar problems.
When giving details about a fatal attack against a Red Crescent unit in the region, Cetin primarily blamed German
Foreign Minister Kinkel amongst Turkey's "western friends" for their comments about "only one or two being killed" in
the conflict."Cetin told his listeners at a press meeting that this "was provocation leading to this incident."
During his London visit, as part of Turkish diplomatic moves to explain Turkey's position regarding northern Iraq, Cetin
has had talks with Britain's Foreign Minister Douglas Hurd, and other officials. According to Cetin's comments to these
officials, Turkey will pull out of the region "during the next few weeks." /All papers/
Yesterday's message to Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu from the US administration was that Turkey should withdraw quickly
from northern Iraq. Inonu, now in Washington to improve the situation between the US and Turkey in regard to the
northern Iraq military incursion, spoke for some time with Warren Christopher, who although sympathetic about Turkey's
problems in the region, made it clear that the US wanted a clear date for withdrawal.
Other leading US officials, including Richard Holbrooke noted that one military strike against the PKK terrorist
organization, no matter how large or extensive, was likely to eradicate the PKK entirely.
During his talks with US officials, Inonu let it be known that Turkey would respond to further US pressure by taking
up the matter of the future of the UN mandated "Provide Comfort" strike force presently deployed in Turkey.
Party leaders and others have met with Inonu have noted that they were impressed with Inonu's style despite the
anti-Turkish lobby including individuals like Claiborne Pell and Paul Sarbanes. /All papers/
The Foreign Ministry delegation now in northern Iraq seeking a solution to the conflict in northern Iraq has had talks
with Kurdish leader Mesud Barzani, and told him that regional leaders and groups will have to pull themselves
together to resolve the situation.
The delegation also wants to see Celal Talabani, but reports from the area say that he is difficult to reach in the
Suleymaniye district. Approach by road is almost impossible and even helicopters would be risky. It is hoped that
special arrangements can be made to further plans for a regional solution satisfactory to all sides. /Milliyet/
Yesterday the European Parliament took up the question of Turkey's military involvement in northern Iraq. Represen-
tatives examined the role of the Turkish armed forces with regard to "cleaning out PKK strongholds" in the region, and
the time involved in the operation.
It was also noted that so far no connection was being made between the military incursion and Turkey's future with
regard to customs union. /Cumhuriyet/
Meanwhile reports from Turkish military representatives note that the military operation is extending more into the north
of the area of military activity. By the end of the eighteenth day of operations against PKK terrorist camps,
340 have been reported killed.
Ground forces are being moved towards new locations following days of observation from the air. Helicopters are
supporting troops as they move in to attack more PKK mountain strongholds.
On the domestic front, PKK terrorists in the Hatay region yesterday evening attacked a village house and killed seven
people. /Hurriyet/
Following in the wake of proposals from Baku about increasing Turkey's share in new Azeri petrol production
projects, it is likely that Prime Minister Ciller will visit the capital Baku later this month to sign new agreements.
The new agreements will ensure that Turkey will get a larger share in the consortium of foreign companies lined up to
develop Azeri petrol interests. Although dates have not been confirmed, April 12 seems the most likely. /Hurriyet/
Turkey will continue with a massive relief operation for Iraqi Kurds despite the murder of three Red Crescent
officials by a mob inside northern Iraq, officials said yesterday. The bodies of the three relief officials, killed
and mutilated by a frenzied mob outside the city of Dohuk were brought back to Turkey yesterday. Adressing
participants at a ceremony held at the Habur customs point, Muhammed Majid Isa, the governor of the Iraqi border town of
Zakho voiced regrets over the murders and said they should not affect the aid program. Ender Tamer, the deputy
president of the Turkish Red Crescent Association gave assurances that Turkey would continue to help the Kurdish
population of northern Iraq. /All papers/
Prime Minister Tansu Ciller challenged international reactions against the "Operation Steel" military incursion
in northern Iraq. Ciller said: "We will not withdraw from northern Iraq unless the PKK is eradicated and the final
goal has been attained. There has been an authority vacuum which causes terrorism in N.Iraq following the Gulf War.
Our aim is to destroy terrorism and secure our borders. Then we will withdraw". Yesterday, the European Parliament
called on Turkey to withdraw from northern Iraq "immediately". The Parliament also wanted other member
countries to start the same implementations of Germany regarding military aid to Turkey. The European Parliament,
which has the authority to give final approval to the customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU, wanted
the EU countries to make weapon sales to Turkey conditional upon withdrawal from N.Iraq. Ciller stated that Turkey had
given every kind of support at great cost by closing down the pipeline. She added: "If you are on the side of human
rights and democracy in Turkey and in the region, then let's work hand in hand". /Hurriyet/
Turkey continues with its "diplomatic offensive" regarding the northern Iraqi operation. Turkey will call on the
countries which have soldiers in the Provide Comfort security programme, including the US, France and Britain, to
an urgent meeting. It is reported that Turkey aims to give information to these countries about the military operation.
The meeting is expected to be held following Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu's visit to Western capitals. It is
stated that this meeting was first mentioned by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ozdem Sanberk during the EU Troika's
meeting with the Ambassadors to Ankara. /Hurriyet/
It is reported that following a meeting with President Bill Clinton in the US, British Prime Minister John Major is
convinced about the reasons behind the Turkish military operation in northern Iraq. In a statement after the
meeting, it is said that they understood Turkey's concern over its struggle against the terrorist PKK organization.
/Sabah/
Turkey's current account balance in January, 1995, showed a surplus of $604 million, official statistics revealed
yesterday. Central Bank (CB) officials said that the balance of payment account for the same period in 1994
showed a deficit of $422 million. The surplus in this year's current acccount balance this year was triggered by a
42 % reduction in the foreign trade deficit. In January 1995, Turkey's exports amounted to $1.99 billion while
imports reached $1.55 billion. The Turkish economy produced last year an all-time high current account surplus of $7.63
billion. Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves in the Central Bank (CB) reached the highest amount in March 31
with $11.3 billion. Foreign exchange reserves increased by 242.8 % compared with March 1994. /Hurriyet/
The European Alevi Unity Federation (AABF), the Federation of Immigration Associations (HDP) and the Federation of
Social Democratic People's Associations met in Bonn yesterday and urged the authorities to introduce measures to
stop the attacks carried out on members of the Turkish community in Germany. The chairmen of the federations said
they were against any sort of terrorism and called on the German police to be more active and step up security.
Dozens of attacks on Turkish mosques, travel agencies, banks, and other businessses have fuelled racist sentiment
and raised questions about the German authorities' resolve to fight crime, the leaders said. /Cumhuriyet/
Russian Federation Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart, Tansu Ciller, calling for
more cooperation in the business sectors between the two countries, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.
Chernomyrdin expressed his satisfaction with the progress of economic ties between the Russian Federation and Turkey, but
urged more cooperation in areas including railway modernization, road construction and energy.
Liberation newspaper, published in France, has given considerable coverage to the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk reforms
in an article written by researcher Semih Vaner. Vaner works in in the French Scientific Research Centre. In his
article, Vaner said while the statues of Stalin, Enver Hoca, Lenin and Shah Riza were being demolished, those of Ataturk
remained. This showed that Ataturk's views were still as affective as ever both in Turkey and other countries.
/Hurriyet/
For the first time in five years, the New York Times newspaper is publishing a Turkey supplement. The newspaper
included extra pages on Turkey during 8th President of Turkey, Turgut Ozal's US visit in 1990. Now, the New York
Times will print news about about Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's US visit on April 18 in its national edition and
will publish a four page Turkey Report on "Commercial connections:5" in the new pages. /Hurriyet/
North Atlantic Assembly Chairman Karsten D.Voight and Secretary-General Peter Corterier visited Parliament Speaker
Husamettin Cindoruk and discussed Turkey's relations with Europe and NATO, particularly those with Germany. Voight
said that Turco-German relations had almost become a domestic issue for Germany rather than being a solely
external matter. He said NATO wanted Turkey to be stronger in the region, emphasizing that Turkey was not only a member
of NATO but also a member of the European family. He wished Turkey success in its struggle against terrorism and also in
finding political solutions which would eliminate the causes for terrorism. /All papers/
Interior Minister Nahit Mentese and other security officials visited General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Chief of the General
Staff, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Police General Directorate, the Anatolia news agency
reported yesterday. Karadayi, who was presented with a commemorative plaque, reportedly said during the visit that
security forces were essential to the prosperity of the country and he congratulated the Directorate on its success.
Mehmet Agar, director of the security forces, said that the General Staff and Police General Directorate work together
in the struggle against terrorism.
Mediterranean Young Ecologists will meet on Sakiz Island to discuss environmental problems in the Mediterranean region
on April 10-17. They will discuss environmental education, the reproduction area of the Caretta-Caretta sea turtles on
Turkish and Greek shores and nuclear controls. Spokeswoman Aylin Gencoglu said that Umit Ozturk, the representative of
Turkish Environmentalists and the Friend Environmental Group, will participate in the meeting. The previous
meeting was held in 1994 in Tunisia. The third meeting will be held in Silifke in six months time. /All papers/
END