Compact version |
|
Wednesday, 18 December 2024 | ||
|
TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 19, 1996)From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>Turkish Press Review DirectoryCONTENTS[01] DEMIREL TO VISIT EGYPT[02] 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF CANAKKALE VICTORY[03] SECURITY UNDER REVIEW[04] FOUR MESSAGES FROM YILMAZ[05] LETTER FROM OCALAN TO YILMAZ[06] BUDGET TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT ON 21 MARCH[07] NEW BOSS FOR PRIVATIZATION[08] DENKTAS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL[09] INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO MEET IN ANTALYATURKISH PRESS REVIEWTUESDAY MARCH 19, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] DEMIREL TO VISIT EGYPTPresident Suleyman Demirel will go to Egypt for a one-day working visit as the guest of his Egyptian counterpart Husnu Mubarak. A written statement by the Foreign Ministry yesterday said that the two presidents would take up regional and international issues.Demirel's agenda of talks with President Mubarak is topped by the issues of water and terrorism, the two major problems in the peace-searching Middle East. Given this agenda, it is inevitable that Turkey will complain to Egypt, a regional power, about neighbouring Syria which supports Kurdish separatist terrorism and lobbies against Turkey on the water question within the Arab world. Demirel's water talks with Mubarak take place in the appropriate setting of Aswan, a city in the southeastern part of the country which is known for two large dams regulating the flow of the Nile River. Demirel will visit the Aswan High Dam, the larger, more recent of the two and the tenth- largest in the world, after talks with Mubarak. Before the visit of Demirel to Egypt, the seat of the Arab League, the Turkish Foreign Ministry remained determinedly quiet on the recent statements of the Arab League on the water conflict between Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said that no statement was made as of Monday. "It is my understanding that the ambassadors of the Arab League will draft the final settlement this week. I would rather wait until I see the statement before I comment on it" Akbel told a press conference. /Cumhuriyet/
[02] 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF CANAKKALE VICTORYThe 81st anniversary of the Turkish victory at Canakkale was marked with ceremonies throughout Turkey to commemorate those who gave their lives for their country. Prominent politicians issued statements to celebrate this historic day in Turkish history. President Suleyman Demirel said in his message that the defeat of the invading allied force was a miracle created by the determination of the Turkish people who put their country before themselves. Demirel said the victory was a monument to the indivisible integrity of Turkey throughout history.Adressing the crowed in Canakkale's Cumhuriyet Square, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that he was extending Turkey's friendly hand to all neighbouring countries, following the example of Ataturk's behaviour after the war. He added that the countries which accepted Turkey's friendship would benefit. Deputy Prime Minister Nahit Mentese said in his message that Turkey was announcing once more to the world that it was impossible to enslave Turkey. True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said in her message that the Canakkale victory was one of Turkey's values that must be protected. Ciller pointed out that if it were necessary, the Turkish nation would fight for its lands even while knowing that its sons could die. /Milliyet/
[03] SECURITY UNDER REVIEWToday there will be a big meeting between members of the Cabinet and Chief of Staff. During the meeting the chiefs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) will brief the Cabinet on the threats against Turkish national security and provide details on internal security.The countries that surround Turkey will come under review beginning with Greece. The military leaders will cover Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Matters that involve internal security mainly involve the PKK terror orgainization and the upcoming Nevruz celebrations. The southestern regions of the country are already in a state of alarm, and fears that Nevruz celebrations will explode into violence like they did last year are making a difficult situation worse. Turkish military leaders say that all of Turkey's forces must be brought into the struggle against divisive factions determined to split the nation. /Milliyet/
[04] FOUR MESSAGES FROM YILMAZCoalition government Prime Minister Yilmaz has sent out four messages -including a call for peace to Turkey's immediate neighbour countries. Speaking yesterday at the 81st anniversary of Turkey's Canakkale victory, Yilmaz called upon Turkey's neighbours to embark upon a new period of peace and friendship.Yilmaz also had a message for Germany, the essence of which was "you reap what you sow." This in connection with weekend PKK terror violence which put a number of policemen in hospital and led to hundreds of arrests. Yilmaz added that Turkey was tired of warning Germany about the PKK and allowing it to function, and noted that Germany was now well aware of what the PKK was all about. There was also a cautiously worded message for Iran which suggested that matters involving murders in Turkey by Iran trained hit-teams would be dealt with through diplomatic channels. In his message to Iran, Yilmaz stressed that although Turkey and Iran lived under two vastly different regimes, Iran was nevertheless an important, friendly neighbour country. Getting back to domestic issues, Yilmaz said yesterday that the government would be reassessing the mandate of the "Hammer" multi-national strike force deployed in Turkey. This has long been a sensitive issue in Turkey, and Yilmaz did not enlarge on just what would happen, saying merely that he could say nothing in detail before the coalition government had examined the matter. /Hurriyet/
[05] LETTER FROM OCALAN TO YILMAZSpeaking o of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The three ministers agreed on joint steps to help economic development of the Balkans, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said on Sunday. "We outlined a number of joint steps based on common positions for the development of regional cooperation and our integration with the EU" Georgi Pirinski told reporters at the end of the ministers' two-day meeting. "I have not seen the declaration made after the meeting" Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said at Monday's weekly conference. Akbel added that Turkey was supportive of conferences on peace in the Balkans "provided they were done in a constructive atmosphere". The next trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers will be held at the beginning of next year in Romania. /All papers/
[06] BUDGET TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT ON 21 MARCHThe Turkish Assembly Planning and Budgetary Commission will determine a date to discuss the 1996 Fiscal Year budget draft at a meeting tomorrow. The draft will be presented to the Assembly on Thursday. /Sabah/
[07] NEW BOSS FOR PRIVATIZATIONDistribution of state ministers' portfolios in the Motherpath government has been re-determined. According a circular issued by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on 17 March 1996, State Minister Rusdu Saracoglu will be responsible for the Privatization Administration by representing the prime minister. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nahit Mentese will be responsible for the Inter-Ministerial Implementation and Coordination Council. /Sabah/
[08] DENKTAS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITALTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has been discharged from hospital in Ankara, where he was recovering from a recent heart attack, and returned to Cyprus yesterday. /All papers/
[09] INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO MEET IN ANTALYAThe Executive Board and Council of the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC) will meet in Antalya in November. The ICC Executive Board and Council generally meet in Paris. Turkish businessmen in the ICC have lobbied for the meeting to be held in Turkey. The Executive Board of the ICC will meet in Paris on 26 March to discuss technical details of the programme.There will be a seminar on environmental pollution in the Mediterranean region during the 5-day Antalya meeting. /Hurriyet/
|