TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 30, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 30, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN INDONESIA

  • [02] FOREIGN MINISTER INONU TO NATO: "SHOW NO WEAKNESS"

  • [03] US OFFICIALS ARRIVE IN ANKARA

  • [04] IRAN INVITES CILLER

  • [05] ISTANBUL CELEBRATES THE 542nd ANNIVERSARY OF CONQUEST

  • [06] SANBERK IN TRNC

  • [07] EREK APPOINTED TRANSPORT MINISTER

  • [08] TURKSOY ASHKABAT MEETING ENDS

  • [09] TATARSTAN PREMIER SAYS AGREEMENTS WITH TURKEY ARE HISTORIC

  • [10] SEVEN SOLDIERS AND TWO MILITANTS KILLED

  • [11] MARTYRS OF "ERTUGRUL" TO BE COMMEMORATED

  • [12] ECONOMIC PLANNERS PREPARE FOR BUSY SCHEDULE IN JUNE

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MAY 30, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning

    [01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN INDONESIA

    Continuing his Far East trip, President Demirel arrived in Indonesia yesterday in the last step of his trip. Welcomed by a splendid ceremony in the capital Jakarta by the Indonesian President Suharto, Demirel passed over the Equator for the second time following his visit to Latin America. The streets of Jakarta were decorated with the posters of President Demirel and his wife Nazmiye Demirel all the way to the Istana Merkeda Palace of Independence. A 21 cannon salute was fired during the welcoming ceremony. Following the official ceremony, Demirel laid a wreath at the Kalibata National heroes mausoleum. Following the ceremony at the National Heroes mausoleum, Demirel held talks with Try Sutrisno, Deputy President of Indonesia and with his wife for some time and also attended a dinner given in his honour by the Indonesian President Suharto. Demirel noted that celebrating the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Indonesian Republic was a big privilege. At the beginning of his speech in the dinner, Demirel said that the hospitality shown to them in Indonesia was a natural result of a deep rooted brotherhood established over a period of 400 years. Demirel has been the second Turkish President to visit Indonesia after Evren. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/

    [02] FOREIGN MINISTER INONU TO NATO: "SHOW NO WEAKNESS"

    Turkey will urge its NATO allies not to display weakness toward Bosnian Serb aggression during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers which starts today in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Ankara's proposals, which are to be expressed by Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, are based on three points: -Withdrawal of forces would be a display of weakness: Inonu is expected to stress that the peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina should remain, without any decrease in number. "The last attacks harmed the French peacekeepers, and has consequently led to pressures in France for the withdrawal of French troops" Inonu said yesterday, before he left for the meeting. "We think withdrawal of troops would be a sign of weakness". Ankara is supported on this point by the US and Canada, which are also against a withdrawal. -The mandate of the peacekeepers should be changed: "The UNPROFOR should be given a new mandate that would make it possible for them to do their job" Inonu also said yesterday. "Only with a change of mandate the peacekeepers can be successful opposing the inhuman actions of the Serbs". -The Bosnian Muslims should be allowed to protect themselves: "We are against a withdrawal, leaving innocents to their fate. Withdrawal may be possible after they are given an opportunity to protect themselves" Inonu said. Inonu also depolred the killing of his Bosnian counterpart Irfan Ljubijankic. "We strongly condemn the killing of this fearless young man, who fought for the sovereignty and integrity of his country" Inonu told journalists. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/

    [03] US OFFICIALS ARRIVE IN ANKARA

    A US delegation arrived in Ankara yesterday to discuss alternate courses of action over shrinking US military aid to Turkey. "I am convinced that we will be able to work out mutually satisfactory alternative courses within our security relationship" Eric Newsom, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political/Military Affairs, said before his talks at the Foreign Ministry. Although Newsom did not elaborate further, he replied to a question by saying that closer cooperation in the defence industry may replace military aid, which Washington is trying to cut worldwide. The US delegation paid a visit to the General Staff Headquaters on Monday morning.

    [04] IRAN INVITES CILLER

    Alaaddin Brujerdi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister announced yesterday that Prime Minister Tansu Ciller will visit his country in the near future, the Anatolia news agency reported, quoting the English language "Tehran Times" newspaper. Brujerdi said that Ciller has accepted the Iranian invitation which was extended some time ago. "Iran attaches great importance to relations with its neighbours and their stability and security. Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan are specially important for us" the Iranian official noted.

    [05] ISTANBUL CELEBRATES THE 542nd ANNIVERSARY OF CONQUEST

    Istanbul yesterday hosted varied celebrations commemorating the conquest of the city in 1453, including a ceremony held at the mausoleum of Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the courtyard of the mosque which bears his name. Attending the ceremony was Istanbul Governor Hayri Kozakcioglu, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor R.Tayyip Erdogan and First Army Commander General Hikmet Koksal. Afterwards, a ceremony was held at the Fatih Monument in the Fatih Fire Department Square. Erdogan spoke at the ceremony about how Fatih Sultan Mehmet's conquest of Istanbul had ushered in an era of peace and tolerance and taught the world a lesson in humanity. President Suleyman Demirel issued a message, speaking of how the conquest of Constantinople was a turning point in the history of mankind. He emphasized how the present generation should do all within their power to develop the city even further and preserve it for future generations. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller sent congratulations for the anniversary. Pointing out that the city had a rich historic, cultural and artistic heritage, Ciller depicted the conquest as an opportunity for the Turkish people to make a gift of it to mankind. /All papers/

    [06] SANBERK IN TRNC

    Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ozdem Sanberk visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on the weekend before he took up his duties as Turkish Ambassador to London. It is reported that Sanberk met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas on Saturday and said that any offer forced upon the Cypriot Turks could not be accepted. Even though the Greek Cypriots put forward the full membership to the EU as a precondition, Sanberk recalled that the Confidence-Building Measures (CBM) package would help in solving the Cyprus problem. /Cumhuriyet/

    [07] EREK APPOINTED TRANSPORT MINISTER

    State Minister Ali Sevki Erek has been appointed to the post of Transport Minister which had been vacated by Mehmet Kostepen. The appointment has been ratified by Acting President Husamettin Cindoruk. The post of Undersecretary of Customs which had been under the responsibility of Erek has been given to State Minister Aykon Dogan and membership to the Privatization High Council has been given to State Minister Bekir Sami Dace. /Milliyet/

    [08] TURKSOY ASHKABAT MEETING ENDS

    The sixth culture ministers' meeting of Turkish Culture and Arts Joint Management Association (TURKSOY)-member countries came to an end in Turkmenistan's capital, Ashkabat, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The meeting enabled TURKSOY-member country ministers to come to set the main aims of the organization for the near future. The ministers decided to concentrate on cultural and artistic exchanges between TURKSOY-member countries and their equal promotion on an international level. TURKSOY-member countries are: Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Tatarstan and Bashkirdistan. TURKSOY's next meeting will take place between March 19-24, 1996, in Ankara.

    [09] TATARSTAN PREMIER SAYS AGREEMENTS WITH TURKEY ARE HISTORIC

    Prime Minister Farid Muhamedshin of Tatarstan, an autonomous republic inside the Russian federation, has qualified agreements he signed with Turkey last week as "historic" for his country, the Anatolia news agency reported from Moscow yesterday. Muhamedshin told a news conference in Tatarstan's capital of Kazan on Sunday that the agreements on commercial, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation marked the opening of a new era with Turkey. The accords with Turkey are the first bilateral pacts between Tatarstan and another country.

    [10] SEVEN SOLDIERS AND TWO MILITANTS KILLED

    Seven Turkish soldiers were killed in a clash between militants of the PKK terrorist organization and two militants were killed in Hakkari's Semdinli district, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Two automatic guns were confsicated. Meanwhile, two village guards have been killed and seven injured in a clash with militants in Siirt's Pervari District. Military officials said that the injured guards were taken to the state hospital in Siirt.

    [11] MARTYRS OF "ERTUGRUL" TO BE COMMEMORATED

    The 105th anniversary of the martyrs of the frigate "Ertugrul" will be commemorated on June 3 in Japan, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday. The Ertugrul sank in Japan in September, 1890, and is commemorated once every five years. Military officials said that ceremonies will be held in Kushimoto on Oshima Island. A delegation from the Turkish Naval Forces headed by Adm.Orhun Ozdemir will be present at the ceremonies, the agency reported.

    [12] ECONOMIC PLANNERS PREPARE FOR BUSY SCHEDULE IN JUNE

    Turkey's senior economic policy makers are preparing for the hectic schedule they will have to deal with next month when a number of foreign delegations arrive in Ankara for crucial talks. Ankara is expecting a senior delegation from the International Monetary Fund on June 5. The delegation will be chaired by Thomas Reichman, deputy director of the Fund's South European Desk. In the second half of June, two separate missions from two US rating agencies, Standard and Poor's and Moody's will arrive. Another mission from the World Bank is expected in Ankara the same month. Turkish officials said a delegation from JCR, a Japanese rating firm, will arrive in Ankara in July. /All papers/

    END

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