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Turkish Press Review, 96-10-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] DEMIREL WARMS UP TIES WITH TURKISH-SPEAKING LEADERSTurkish President Suleyman Demirel has held bilateral talks with the presidents of Turkish-speaking republics during his visit to Uzbekistan for the 4th Turk summit. Demirel returned to Turkey yesterday afternoon.Demirel was invited to a dinner reception at the Presidential Palace of Islam Kerimov -president of Uzbekistan- where afterwards Demirel instructed Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel to give information on the meetings he had with other presidents. Akbel said that Demirel had met with all presidents and negotiated on common problems such as drugs and the ways to combat these collaboratively. By the end of the summit, the 'Taskent Declaration' which means an approval of the previous Ankara, Istanbul, and Bishkek communications was signed and the new and old judgements were listed in Russian and Turkish. Noting the importance of progressing and strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, the declaration ensures the loyalty of all participant leaders on issues like democracy, human rights and market economy. In the Taskent Declaration, the strengthening of the relations between the local administrations and non-governmental organizations has been emphasized. The declaration also ensures the protection and the spread of Turkish culture. In addition, solutions to problems relevant to the transport of natural gas and oil from these countries to Europe via Turkey are also listed in the declaration. /Sabah/ [02] A CALL TO ISLAMIC COUNTRIESA two-day meeting of Cooperation and Development organized by the Turkish Foreign Ministry is being held in Istanbul. Delegations from Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Egypt and Nigeria are attending the meeting. Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan has proposed the creation of an eight nation Muslim block as an alternative to the Western Group of Seven, at the meeting.The so-called Muslim Eight (M-8) "will not conflict with Turkey's relations with the EU and is not aimed against any country" Erbakan told delegates at the meeting. "Cooperation between countries in the process of development is very important in order to become stronger partners of the developed countries" said Erbakan in his address. /Sabah/ [03] TALABANI IN ANKARACelal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) yesterday held extensive talks with Turkish and US officials on his war with his Kurdish rival in northern Iraq, as Washington's envoy Robert Pelletreau fought for a settlement that would end the bloody strife which upset US plans for the area.Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, who met the PUK leader in Ankara, voiced hopes for a cease-fire soon between the warring Iraqi Kurdish factions. Talabani later met with Pelletreau, who had met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Mesud Barzani the day before. Ciller told reporters that she had also discussed the northern Iraqi situation with her Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Velayeti earlier in the day in Istanbul. She said that Tehran, which has been accused of backing the PUK, was also enthusiastic for peace in the region. The future of Iraq's Turkmens had also featured in the talks with Talabani, Ciller said. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/ [04] ANKARA CONDEMNS GREEK SENTENCEReacting to the recent jailing of an ethnic Turkish cleric by a Greek court, the Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday, in a written statement, indicated their deep regret upon learning of the courts decision. "Athens Agreement of 1913 foresees the election of the Muftis by minorities. Later, in 1920, this was incorporated into Greek law. Besides the Lausanne Treaty also guarantees this. But in 1990 by decrees in the power of law, the Greek government appointed the Mufties. Greek authorities tried to prevent the elected Mufties from doing their work on the basis of this decree" the statement said.The Foreign Ministry indicated that this attitude did not conform to the freedom of belief, democracy and human rights. /All papers/ [05] INTERPOL CONFERENCE BEGINS IN ANTALYAThe 65th General Council of Interpol (the international crime-fighting organization) begins today at Antalya's Belek Tourism Centre. The Council will host approximately 1000 delegates from 140 countries and will include interior ministers, police chiefs and experts in various branches of criminology. The conference is expected to be an exchange of ideas on organized crimes such as terrorism, the smuggling of drugs and historical artifacts, computer-related offenses and crimes against women, children and the environment. /All papers/[06] CULTURE MINISTER KAHRAMAN IN IRANCulture Minister Ismail Kahraman went to Iran to attend the dedication meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Culture Institute. Kahraman attended the first meeting of the ECO Culture Institute Board of Trustees yesterday.Iran Islamic Enlightenment and Culture Minister Mustafa Mirsalim said at the opening of the meeting that cultural relations enliven economic relations and added that the aim of ECO Culture Institute will be to strengthen relations and to revive moral values. /Sabah/ [07] CASPIAN OIL TO FLOW THROUGH TURKEYAmbassador James Collins, the most senior Middle East advisor in the US State Department, said that his country was strongly in favour of a westward-leading Caspian oil pipeline route through Turkey. At an opening ceremony for the Middle East Institute at the Johns Hopkins University, Collins said that the development of Caspian basin energy resources was a priority for the US.Collins said that his administration had been planning that one of the pipelines would travel through Turkish territory and said that this was considered a "US foreign policy" He noted that it was up to the Turkish government and investors to decide exactly where in Turkey the line would run. In his speect at the same ceremony, national security advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, said that several countries were vying for superiority in the Middle East, one of which was Turkey. Brzezinski said that the key to opening Central Asia to the west would be the Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan connection. /Sabah/ [08] BRISA WINS EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARDTurkish tyre manufacturer BRISA won the European Quality Ward in Edinburgh amongst 500 candidate firms. The two Turkish companies, tire manufacturer BRISA and telecommunications firm NETAS, were included on a short list of seven companies vying for the prestigious 1996 European Quality Award. The quality award and associated European quality prizes, together with the Quality Scotland Award for Business Excellence, will be presented as part of the European Business Excellence Forum being held in Edinburgh on October 22-23. /Sabah/[09] AGREEMENTS WITH INDONESIATurkey and Indonesia yesterday signed two accords to cooperate in technology and military aircraft manufacturing. The agreements were signed by visiting Indonesian minister of research and technology B.J.Habibie, Turkish State Minister Sabri Tekir and Birol Altan, deputy general manager of the Turkish Aviation Industry (TAI).Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller were present at the signing ceremony. The first agreement involves the general framework in technology development. The second accord involves cooperation in the marketing and manufacturing of military CN-235 and N-250 transport aircraft. "Both of our countries have developed extensive aircraft industries" the Prime Minister told reporters. "By cooperating we will develop our industries further". /Sabah/ [10] PROVIDE COMFORT OPERATION FLIGHTSFollowing the second round of talks between Turkish and American officials, 'Provide Comfort' planes have started flights pending a final solution is reached. Deputy Chief of the General Staff General Cevik Bir and deputy Chief at the European Command in Stuttgart General James Jamersan are expected to hold a second meeting on ascertaining the number of flights 'Provide Comfort' planes can make to Northern Iraq.In another development it is claimed that the report prepared by the General Staff states that Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Barzani and Kurdistan Patriotic Union leader Talabani should be encouraged to hold talks with central Iraqi Administration. It was also emphasized that the increasing influence of Syria and Iran in the region was a source of anxiety. It was added that 'Provide Comfort became a symbol of the partition of Iraq.' /Cumhuriyet/ [11] "THE QUESTION OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE EAST"The Foreign Ministry has prepared a book titled "The Question of Water in the Middle East" evaluating the water resources of Turkey and its neighbours. The book stresses that per capita water resources in Iraq were higher than in Turkey, and that Syrian resources were slightly lower than in Turkey. It is further pointed out that Turkey contributing to the formation of 88.7 percent of the water debit of the Euphrates river was benefiting from only 51.8 percent of the river waters, while Syria with a contribution of only 11.3 percent was demanding 31.8 percent of the river debit, and Iraq with no contributions at all was contesting for 64.6 percent of the river resources. /Sabah/[12] PKK SUFFERS HEAVY BLOW IN GERMANYThe German police initiated yesterday undertook an extensive operation against the PKK terrorist organization. Raids were made on 82 PKK hide-outs and the Med-TV Culture Center. Three terrorists were arrested and various illegal publications, money and a DM 40,000 donation receipt were confiscated.At the same time the Focus magazine published in Germany claimed that ultra-leftist Germans have also been trained in PKK camps in Greece and Lybia, listing related adresses and bank account numbers. /All papers/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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