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Turkish Press Review, 96-07-31Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY JULY 31, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] PARLIAMENT GIVES OPC NEW MANDATEThe Turkish Parliament yesterday backed the coalition on the renewal of the Operation Provide Comfort (OPC) mandate, prolonging the stay of the Western air force protecting Iraq's Kurds. The majority vote taken after a long session extended the OPC's mandate for another five months. An extension of the emergency rule in 10 southeastern provinces for four more months was also approved in Parliament yesterday. Defending the government's call for the five month extension, Defence Minister Turhan Tayan said important changes had been successfully inserted into the terms of OPC, addressing Turkey's grievances and suspicions felt about US' motives.Following lengthy negotiations between Turkish and US officials, the White House issued a statement over the weekend, saying Washington had no intention of harming Iraq's unity or undermining Turkey's security. The statement also called on the Iraqi Kurds not to support or assist the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) entrenched in northern Iraq. The US, however, refused to bow down to a Turkish demand for the transfer of a Military Coordination Centre based in Zakho, northern Iraq, to Turkey. Meanwhile, the US administration has thanked Erbakan's government for the extension of the OPC mandate. US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns qualified the extension decision as a "victory for Turkey, Turco-US relations and for Erbakan's government". /Milliyet/ [02] PRIME MINISTER STARTS WITH IRANPrime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will sign an agreement with Iran on the import of natural gas during his visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Iran beginning on 10 August, he told his Welfare Party (RP) group meeting on Tuesday. Erbakan said that the import of Iranian natural gas would save the country money. The south and east of Turkey are expected to have priority in the use of the gas. Erbakan also stressed his wish for collaboration between Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, for a solution to terrorism. /Milliyet/[03] PRESS AND INFORMATION ON INTERNETKeeping up with developments in world communications, the Directorate General of Press and Information has hooked into Internet. In a written statement yesterday, the Directorate said that the step forward into the latest technology opened the way for new facilities to be made available to the domestic and foreign media -including E-mail services. /Hurriyet/[04] FOREST FIRES ALMOST UNDER CONTROLTurkey yesterday battled with raging forest fires, as the world responded coolly to appeals for help. While the fires in Adana have been completely extinguished, the forest fire in the Soke district of Aydin has been reported to be under control on three fronts, but is still continuing on the western front due to strong winds. The forest fire near the popular tourist town of Marmaris was caused by negligence during the burning of dried weeds. Officials report that it has destroyed a total of 2,000 hectares. Currently 3,000 people are fighting against the flames in the region.On Monday, the Foreign Ministry appealed to Israel, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain and the US when it was clear that Turkey would not be able to extinguish the fires with her own resources. On Monday, Justice Minister mehmet Agar, Industry and Trade Minister Yalim Erez, Forestry Minister Halit Dagli and Tourism Minister Bahattin Yucel flew to Marmaris to carry out on site investigations. /Hurriyet/ [05] GOOD NEWS ON OIL-PIPE DEVELOPMENTSAccording to Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik overland oil pipeline will be carrying oil again by September 15. Ciller announced yesterday that following talks, oil worth two billion dollars would be flowing through the pipeline -inactive since the Gulf War and the start of US sanctions against Iraq. /Milliyet/[06] COREKCI PRAISES JOINT VENTURE WITH SPAINA joint effort by private and governmental agencies in Turkey and Spain to sell the Spanish-designed CASA aircraft, produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), to other countries could boost ties between Turkey and Spain, said Defence Minister Turhan Tayan. Speaking at a meeting in Ankara attended by Turkish Air Force Commander Ahmet Corekci, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen, Spanish Ambassador to Ankara Carlos Carderera, and top defence officials both from Turkey and Spain, Turhan voiced his pleasure over the improved relations between the two countries which share military, economic and social values.Turhan pointed out that Turkey's entry into the customs union with the EU could create important opportunities and lead to further cooperation in other fields between Turkey and EU members. In order to meet Turkey's military and civil aviation needs a contract was signed with the Spanish firm in 1990 for the joint production of 52 CN-235 transport aircraft. TAI has delivered 32 of the airplanes so far and will deliver 20 more by the end of 1997. The programme is scheduled to be completed in early 1998. The CASA CN-235 aircraft in the Turkish fleet are used to transport passengers and cargo, and for electronic surveillance. /All papers/ [07] NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR APPOINTEDAtsuko Toyama has been appointed as the new Japanese ambassador to Ankara. Japanese officials stated that the appointment will become valid by August 1. Before his appointment to Ankara Toyama was involved in the Culture Ministry back in Japan. Toyama's predecessor Takehiro Togo has been appointed as ambassador to Moscow. Togo was ambassador to Ankara from 1993 to 1996. He was chairman of the East European Department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. /All papers/[08] OVER 28,000 NEW FIRMS SET UP IN TURKEY IN FIRST HALFThe State Institute of Statistics (DIE) has announced that a total of 28,417 new firms, with a total registered capital of TL 89.3 trillion, were established during the first half of the current year. DIE statistics revealed that another 5,694 firms registered capital rises to a total value of TL 167.940 trillion during January-June period, while 45 firms accounting for a total capital of TL 2.377 trillion changed their status in the same period. DIE also said that a total of 4,888 new firms, with a total registered capital of TL 10.029 trillion, were established during June alone. /All papers/[09] SECURITY FORCES KILL 16 PKK MILITANTSSecurity forces have killed 16 militants of the PKK terrorist organization in southeastern Turkey in separate clashes, the emergency rule governor's office said in a statement on Tuesday. Government forces killed nine militants in Van province, five in Hakkari province and another two in Sirnak province in fighting on Monday and Tuesday, the statement said. /All papers/[10] G7, RUSSIA FORGE FRONT TO FIGHT TERRORThe world's major powers adopted a package of 25 measures to combat terrorist on Tuesday, vowing to implement them without delay and appealing to all other states to join in a global fight against political violence. A declaration issued after a five-hour meeting in Paris listed a range of practical steps including commitments to improve transport safety, fight arms trafficking, increase police and intelligence cooperation and investigate the abuse of charities and front organizations by terrorists. The Group Seven big industrial democracies and Russia declared: "We noted that there is a growing commitment within the international community to condemn terrorism in whatever shape or form, regardless of its motives, to make no concessions to terrorists, and to implement means to effectively fight terrorism".French Interior Minister Jean-Louis Debre, who headed the summit together with French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette, listed the top terrorist organizations as the PKK and DHKP-C in Turkey, ETA in Spain and the IRA in Ireland. The statement included a pledge "to seek additional international means" to prevent the abuse of political asylum to plan, fund or commit acts of terrorism. Experts will meet before the end of the year to draft a new convention against terrorist bombings and threats to public transport, Herve de Charette announced. /Hurriyet/ [11] FIVE NEW TURKISH AIRLINES ROUTESTurkish Airlines (THY) will start flights to Beijing, Seul, Jakarta, Johannesburg and Nairobi this winter. General Director Atilla Celebi said: "We will have an 8 % growth rate by 2000. We will grow even further". /Hurriyet/[12] 21 PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVESPolice officials attacked in the Istanbul suburbs of Gebze and Eyup died yesterday in the hospitals where they were under treatment. In addition to the 12 people who died during recent hunger strikes, four police officials and five people died in protest demonstrations. Thus, the number of people who have died during the hunger strike period has reached 21. /Cumhuriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |