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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (August 14, 1995)From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)CONTENTS[01] CILLER BEGINNING CENTRAL ASIA TOUR[02] AMERICAN ENVOY TO DISCUSS BOSNIA PLAN WITH TURKEY[03] EVERYONE GOING TO THE US[04] TURKEY ACCEPTS PATENT AGREEMENTS[05] US REPORT: PKK IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INSTABILITY[06] BUSY WEEK AHEAD OF PARLIAMENT[07] TURKEY WELCOMES IRAQI KURDISH AGREEMENT[08] TWENTY-THREE PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST[09] MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS IN TURKEY[10] COOMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES TO BE HELD IN TRNC[11] AN EXHIBITION OF TURKISH GOODS OPENS IN MOSCOW[12] INCREASE IN RAW STEEL PRODUCTION[13] WORLD FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQTURKISH PRESS REVIEWMONDAY AUGUST 14, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish pressthis morning[01] CILLER BEGINNING CENTRAL ASIA TOURPrime Minister Tansu Ciller today begins a five-day Central Asia tour covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan mainly to further economic ties with these countries. Ciller, on her second trip to the region in one month, will push for more trade, huge oil and natural gas pipeline deals for Kazakh petrol and Turkmen gas and eventually a highway linking Central Asia to Turkey. Ciller will be accompanied by a large delegation including ministers, bureaucrats, businessmen and journalists. /Hurriyet/
[02] AMERICAN ENVOY TO DISCUSS BOSNIA PLAN WITH TURKEYA senior US official paid a brief visit to Ankara late on Sunday to discuss an American peace plan for Bosnia with Turkish officials. US National Security Adviser Anthony Lake has been touring Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Russia to get European backing for the Washington plan. Meeting with Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, Lake gave him information about the plan. A statement by the Foreign Ministry regarding the meetings, said: "Turkey welcomes this initiative of the US administration in such a critical period for Bosnia-Herzegovina". It pointed out that Turkey wished this initiative would reach a lasting solution which all sides will accept. It noted that exchange of views on this issue would continue between the two countries and said: "Turkey is determined to continue its constructive and active policy over the Bosnia-Herzegovina issue". Prime Minister Tansu Ciller received Lake yesterday at the Prime Ministry Residence. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen was also present at the meeting. Lake later went on to London. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[03] EVERYONE GOING TO THE USPresident Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Ciller and chairman of the Motherland (ANAP) main opposition party, Mesut Yilmaz are all off to the States over the next month or two.Prime Minister Ciller will go twice-the second time in October when President Demirel will also be going. Mesut Yilmaz will also go at the beginning of October when he has been invited as the guest of Princetown University. This will the second visit that Yilmaz will make to the States in an official capacity. Although Demirel will have a meeting with US President Clinton, it is unlikely that Ciller will have a meeting with Clinton this time around, especially as her second visit coincides with that of Demirel. /Hurriyet/
[04] TURKEY ACCEPTS PATENT AGREEMENTSTurkey has accepted that international patent and trade mark agreements must be signed in line with world trade developments. The cabinet has agreed that Turkey must get in line with international standards in this area and the cabinet decision has already been published in the Official Gazette.The cabinet decision will help with Turkey's integration in the European Unity (EU) and also pave the way for more international agreements on the protection of new patents. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] US REPORT: PKK IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INSTABILITYIn a new report on Middle Eastern terrorism released by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is mentioned along with some other "radical groups" like Hamas and Hizbollah. "Because the Kurds do not seek to control all of Turkey" said the report, "the PKK is not a threat to replace the Turkish government, which is an ally of the US, although the PKK is a major source of domestic instability". The report, entitled "Terrorism: Middle Eastern Groups and State Sponsors" was written by Kenneth Katzman, a CRS specialist on Middle Eastern Affairs who puts PKK strength at "a reported 10,000 to 15,000 full-time and 60,000 to 75,000 part-time guerillas". Katzman notes that "the PKK has recently moved beyond rural insurgent operations to somewhat increased use of urban terrorism". Syria is mentioned as the top country that gives aid and comfort to the PKK. "The PKK has received a safehaven in Syria and Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, which is controlled by Syrian forces. It also receives aid from Iraq and Iran". The report said that the leader of the PKK "spends time in Damascus". Syria has been on the US State Department's list of states that sponsor terrorism since the inception of the list back in 1979.
[06] BUSY WEEK AHEAD OF PARLIAMENTThe Turkish Parliament, which has been formally closed since July 25, is in store for a busy week. The Parliament will convene under the direction of Parliament Deputy Speaker Mustafa Kalemli at an emergency meeting today to hold a "general debate" over the latest developments in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Constitutional Commission of the Parliament will tomorrow tackle a proposal by the main opposition Motherland Party (ANAP), demanding by-elections on October 15 for the selection of 22 deputies whose parliamentary seats are currently vacant. If commission approves the proposal it will be discussed at the general council on Wednesday under the direction of Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk. The parliamentary groups will also hold separate meetings to discuss issues dealt with by Parliament over the week. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURKEY WELCOMES IRAQI KURDISH AGREEMENTTurkey, which wants to keep its southeastern border secure from attacks by the PKK terrorist organization, expressed its satisfaction over an agreement between warring factions of northern Iraqi Kurds concluded in Ireland. "This is a positive step toward peace and stability" said Nurettin Nurkan, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman. "The accord confirms Turkish demands for Iraq's territorial integrity and takes into consideration its anxiety over security" he told reporters. The mainstream Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) agreed in principle after three days of talks in Ireland to solve their 15-month old conflict which has killed more than 2,000 people.
[08] TWENTY-THREE PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEASTTwenty-three militants of the PKK terrorist organization were killed yesterday during military operations in the Southeast. Officials from the emergency rule region said that 13 militants were killed in Tunceli's Mazgirt district, five in Bitlis' Mutki district, three in Batman's Gercus and Sason districts and two in Bingol's Ilicalar district. Guns were confiscated and military operations are still continuing against PKK militants in the region. /Hurriyet/
[09] MACEDONIAN OFFICIALS IN TURKEYA senior Macedonian delegation headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Viktor Gaber, arrived in Ankara on Saturday for talks with Turkish diplomats about recent developments in the Balkans and bilateral ties. After meeting Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, the team will leave Turkey today.
[10] COOMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES TO BE HELD IN TRNCThe anniversary of the second phase of the Turkish Armed Forces' intervention in Cyprus on August 14, 1974, will be celebrated in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today. TRNC President Rauf Denktas will make a speech on the first day of the celebration which will continue for three days.
[11] AN EXHIBITION OF TURKISH GOODS OPENS IN MOSCOWAn exhibition of Turkish goods will be held in Moscow from August 31 to September 2 to promote business between Turkey and the Russian federation. State Minister Onur Kumbaracibasi and several high-level officials from the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade are participating in this exhibition. Within the framework of this exhibition, a seminar entitled "Turkish- Russian business relations, jobs and investment opportunities" will be held. /Hurriyet/
[12] INCREASE IN RAW STEEL PRODUCTIONThe Turkish iron-steel sector ranked 15th among those countries producing the most raw steel, with 6.5 million tons in the first half of the year. According to data from the Iron-Steel Producers' Association, Turkey produced 6.5 million tons of raw steel which constituted 1.8 % of the world's 368.4 million tons produced by 66 countries during the January-June period. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] WORLD FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQAfter the flight of Saddam's daughters and sons-in-law to Jordan, Iraq has again attracted the attention of the world. The statement of Saddam's son-in-law General Kamil Hasan El-Mecid, saying that he would overthrow the Iraqi leader, has forced Ankara observers to follow closely developments in Baghdad.Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen evaluated the latest developments in Iraq as matters primarily concerning the internal affairs of the country, but added that Turkey was very sensitive to the territorial integrity of Iraq. Oymen noted that Turkey will preserve the existing policy course towards Iraq. "The Dublin agreement has helped make clear the role of Turkey with respect to Northern Iraq. Turkish security considerations require preservation of Iraqi territorial integrity, and protection of the ethnic groups in Northern Iraq. The meeting in Dublin has given positive indications to Turkey in both aspects" Oymen said. /Milliyet/ END |