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Turkish Press Review 96-06-13Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY JUNE 13, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] TURKEY UNDER WEAPONS THREATAs officials from NATO member countries meet in Brussels, a new NATO report shows how Turkey is one of the most threatened countries in the region-living under the shadow of weapons of mass destruction in surrounding countries.The NATO report notes that Turkey is actually threatened on all sides, with Syria, Iran and Iraq posing the biggest threats. The report is mainly about containing the spread of nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, but mentions Turkey as being one of the countries in the world facing a serious threat from the use of these weapons. /Sabah/ [02] US VOTE ON FOREIGN AIDThe US House of Representatives has voted through proposals on which countries will benefit from the US Economic Support Fund (ESF). Israel and Egypt again figure prominently, but because of the issues created by the Armenian and Greek lobbies in Washington, Turkey has been given a package that has been reduced by 25 million dollars.Turkish Ambassador to Washington, Nuzhet Kandemir, has already sent a note of protest to top US officials including Warren Christopher and Newt Gingrich, which says that Turkey is not prepared to accept the aid package on the terms that Washington is offering it. /Cumhuriyet/ [03] DEMIREL SENDS SHARP NOTE TO SAUDISIn answer to criticisms from Saudi Arabia about the military training agreement between Turkey and Israel, President Suleyman Demirel has sent a sharply worded note to the Saudis. The note makes it clear that the Saudis have missed the point of the agreement, and that if they want to do something about saving the situation in the Middle East, then they would be better occupied with complaining about Syrian connections with the PKK terrorist organization, instead of objecting to normal procedures between Turkey and Israel. /Milliyet/[04] GREECE TRIES TO TAKE GAVDOS ISLAND ISSUE TO USGreek Defence Minister Gerassimos Arsenis said that they would complain to US Secretary of Defence William Perry about Gavdos island over which Ankara and Athens are at odds. The crisis over Gavdos island arose when Turkish military officials asked during the planning of a NATO exercise two weeks ago that the inhabited island of Gavdos south of Crete should not be included in the maneuvers because it was disputed territory.Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has found out that there are many islands in the Aegean that are "no man's land". Along with islands, to which Greek nationality has been apportioned through bilateral or international agreements, there are many other islands, islets and rocks belonging to no one, but which are seen by Greece as being part of its own territory. Foreign Ministry officials have noted that Turkey was willing to resort to the jurisdiction of a third party to decide the sovereignty of the islands in question. Turkey is refraining from announcing the names of the problem islands. Nevertheless, Foreign Ministry officials have pointed out that in case of extreme Greek attitudes, such as adopting a 12-mile limit, Turkey reserves the right to make known the names of these islands. Athens is trying to reduce the escalating tension in its relations with Turkey. Taking a step back, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the "modernization" programme in the Greek army was not aimed at touching off a war with Turkey, but at deterring possible aggression. Commenting on the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay, Reppas said that Turkey should support its good intentions with acts. "We are willing to develop friendly relations with Turkey, but Turkey should abandon policies threatening Greek security. We have proposed improving Turco-Greek dialogue step by step, and we expect Turkey to accept our proposal" Reppas noted. /Milliyet-Sabah/ [05] TURKEY DISAPPOINTED BY CHINESE NUCLEAR TESTSTurkey is disappointed by the recent nuclear tests carried out by China, a written statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The statement says that at the UN Disarmament Conference discussion of the banning of nuclear testing is gaining speed. "While international public opinion is looking for the conclusion of this agreement, the nuclear tests of China disappoint us" the statement said. "We hope that these tests will not harm the discussion process and we are expecting China's support for the banning of nuclear testing". /All papers/[06] HABITAT II CONFERENCEDuring its first seven days, participants in the second UN Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, statements made by officials from 140 nations and representatives of public and private organizations, all aimed at coming up with answers to the manifold problems of urbanization. However, Wednesday morning, in his keynote speech at the first session of the conference's "high-level segment" with heads of state and government and cabinet ministers participating, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali rose not to suggest solutions but to raise questions. "How do we improve the governance and financing of human settlements?" Ghali asked. "Which policies can improve the living and working conditions of the poor, of families and communities? How can economic growth and employment opportunities be greatly expanded in cities without long-term environmental damage and waste of the planet's natural resources? How do we provide both town and countryside with scarce resources? How do we provide affordable housing and services to the world's growing population?". Ghali added: "The decisions taken at the Istanbul Conference should be implemented in the coming conferences".Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, in welcoming the delegates, said the previous seven days had "plainly revealed" four points: *The issues related to human settlements lie at the very core of both economic growth and sustainable development. *The problems associated with 'adequate shelter for all' and 'sustainable human settlements' in a rapidly urbanizing and globalizing world are common challenges faced by all countries, in varying degrees. *There remains much ground that needs to be covered, both at the national and international levels, in order to resolve these problems. It is imperative that existing policies are reviewed and new ones formulated and implemented at the national levels and that effective cooperation, collaboration and solidarity are enhanced at the international level. *It is essential to mobilize all available resources and exert every effort, taking into account the needs of all groups, including those of women, children and the elderly, as well as to incorporate as broadly as possible every component of society, ranging from parliaments to the private sector and local administrations to non-governmental organizations, in the activities aimed at redressing these problems. Meanwhile, Head of State of Cuba, Fidel Castro will come to Turkey to attend the Habitat II City Summit. He will deliver a speech at the Habitat II General Council. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Abbas Cumagulov and Burundi Prime Minister Antone Nduwayo arrived in Istanbul yesterday to attend the Habitat II Conference Leaders Summit. President Demirel gave a banquet in honour of guest leaders at the Dolmabahce Palace yesterday. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/ [07] WEIZMAN LAUDS TURKISH-ISRAELI TIESIsraeli President Ezer Weizman began his speech at the Habitat II Conference by referring to "my dear friend, President Suleyman Demirel" (as head of state of the host country, Demirel was chairing the session). Then, after reviewing his country's urban progammes and efforts to absorb immigrants, the Israeli President noted that he had "come to know, appreciate and admire the Turkish state, the Turkish people and the leader of these people, President Demirel".The "close and warm friendship" between the Demirels and Weizmans, forged during an earlier exchange of visits, "is an accurate reflection of the relations between our peoples and countries" which have recently "improved rapidly and impressively in diverse ways". He pointed to the existence of a "regular dialogue" between the two nations' political leadership and cooperation "for the economic well-being of both of our peoples". Israelis consider Turkey an "important, central, stabilizing and positive factor" Weizman stressed, mentioning support for "Turkey's wish to join the EU" and awareness of "Turkey's special relations with the new republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus". And, as a Middle Eastern nation, he continued, "we identify Turkey as a country that shares our democratic and progressive values- values that, unfortunately, have not been accepted throughout this complex region". Weizman also met with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday. Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Romanian President Ion Iliescu also delivered speeches at the session. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/ [08] 72 PKK MILITANTS KILLEDTurkish security forces have killed 72 militants of the PKK terrorist organization for the loss of six soldiers in separate clashes in southeast Turkey, security forces said yesterday. The regional governor's office in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir said the fighting took place in the provinces of Hakkari, Bitlis, Bingol and Sirnak. It did not say when the clashes occurred. The heaviest clashes were near the mountainous border with northern Iraq where 39 terrorists were killed, the office said in a statement. "Operations will continue until the separatist, terrorist organization is rendered completely ineffective" the statement said. /Sabah/[09] SEA WOLF-2_96 AND EFES-96 MILITARY EXERCISES CONTINUEThe second part of the Sea Wolf-2_96 military exercise ended with the warships' return to their ports yesterday as the armed forces' joint exercise Efes-96 completed the "Pioneer Force Operation". Some parts of the Sea Wolf-2_96 and Efes-96 military exercises are being monitored by Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi and other top level commanders as well as foreign military experts. /All papers/[10] NEW VISA REGULATIONTurkey will require visas from citizens of Holland and Belgium visiting Turkey. The decision of the Council of Ministers was published in yesterday's edition of the Official Gazette. The regulation will enter into force on December 31, 1996. /Cumhuriyet/[11] WORKING AGE FOR CHILDRENTurkey has initited steps at international levels to bring an end to employing children younger than 15 years. Within this framework, Turkey will become a party to agreement 138 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) regulating the minimum ages of workers. /Cumhuriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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