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Turkish Press Review, 96-10-30Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] TURKEY CELEBRATES REPUBLIC DAYThe 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic was celebrated at official ceremonies throughout the country, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and in Turkish missions abroad. The first ceremony in Ankara was held at Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum) where the country's ruling elite paid their respects to the founder of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Cabinet members, political party leaders, judges, military leaders and many other high-level officials were present at the ceremony.Later, President Demirel received a large number of Turkish and foreign dignitaries at the Grand National Assembly building. Ceremonies continued at the Ankara Hippodrome where military and civilian parades were held to salute the Republic. A large crowd of spectators enjoyed the event where the Air Force's "Turkish Stars" F-5 acrobatic team drew the most cheers. /All papers/ [02] SUICIDE ATTACK IN SIVASA female suicide bomber killed herself, three policemen, a civilian and a fellow-terrorist in a bomb attack which left 10 people injured in the central Turkish town of Sivas in front of a police station yesterday marring the nationwide celebration of Republic Day. The bomber was believed to be a member of the PKK terrorist organization which has carried out four previous such attacks over the past five months. After the incident, 11 people were taken into custody. Meanwhile, police apprehended another suicide bomber in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir before he could carry out a similar attack.President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and other political party leaders condemned the attack. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/ [03] 14 SOLDIERS AND 27 PKK MILITANTS DEAD IN SOUTHEASTLate Monday, clashes in the rural areas of the southeastern province of Diyarbakir's Kulp district between security forces and militants belonging to the PKK terrorist organization resulted in the deaths of 14 soldiers, and injured ten. The injured soldiers were rushed to a hospital in Diyarbakir.The clash broke out when security forces encountered a group of separatists. A widespread operation, backed by Super Cobra choppers is underway to capture the militants involved. Meanwhile, security forces killed 27 PKK terrorists during several operations in the rural areas of Sirnak, Diyarbakir and Bitlis. /Milliyet/ [04] BELGIAN DAILY LE SOIR'S CLAIMThe well-known Belgian daily, Le Soir, said in a front page report yesterday that it has proof that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) kidnaps Kurdish children and teenagers in Germany and takes them to Belgium to brainwash them and train them as PKK terrorists. The newspaper's claim is based on an earlier report about the "Sputnik Operation" organized by security forces in several European countries against PKK-affiliated organizations such as MED-TV. The newspaper said that four abducted children had been found at the MED-TV building in Belgium during the Sputnik Operation last June.The report criticized the attitude of Belgian officials towards the PKK in the light of evidence that it was involved in kidnapping teenagers, the possession of illegal arms, and money laundering. Le Soir claimed that PKK suspects are released as soon as possible and that the investigators carrrying out the probes are put under pressure. /All papers/ [05] MALAYSIAN MINISTER IN TURKEYMalaysian Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Dato Haci Ebu Hasan Haci Omer arrived in Turkey yesterday at the invitation of State Minister and Turkey-Malaysia Joint Economic Commission co-chairman Abdullah Gul. The guest minister aims at benefiting from Turkey's experience in domestic and trade consumption during his three-day visit which will end on October 31, officials said. Haci Ebu Hasan will hold talks aimed at taking concrete steps for the improvement of cooperation between the two countries. /All papers/[06] BLACK SEA STRATEGIC ACTION PLANBlack Sea countries' environment ministers will meet in Istanbul today to sign the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan. A plan that aims not just at protecting the sea from pollution but also increasing employment in the sea's fishing and marine tourism sectors. Three years of research has gone into the drawing up of the plan, which was originally initiated by Turkey.Turkish Environment Minister Ziyatttin Tokar, and his counterparts in Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine will all sign the plan. /All papers/ [07] ESENGUN: KABUL MUST CHANGE ITS STATUSState Minister Lutfu Esengun said yesterday that Kabul must gain a new status and be demilitarized before talks can begin between the warring groups in Afghanistan. Esengun, representing Turkey at a two-day Regional Afghanistan Conference in Tehran which is to end today, said during the morning session yesterday that the parties must immediately secure a cease-fire to set the stage for negotiations and open the way to peace.Listing some alternatives, such as putting Kabul under the control of the UN or the Islamic Conference Organization temporarily, or allowing joint control of the city by the groups involved, he said these options must be given emphasis. Pointing out that third parties must avoid injecting arms and other military equipment into the volatile situation, Esengun said that the Afghanistan question could not be answered with interventions from outside. He added that Turkey remained at an equal distance from all the warring groups in Afghanistan. /Milliyet/ [08] TURKISH COMPANY WINS UN AWARDA Turkish company, Epsilon, has been awarded by the UN for its report consisting of "Best implementations" submitted to the 'World Business Forum' qualified as one of the most important forums to complement the Habitat II summit held in Istanbul in June. The award was given to representatives of the Epsilon firm at a ceremony held in New York attended by Habitat Secretary-General Wally N'Dow. /Hurriyet/[09] MORE NORTHERN IRAQ TALKS IN ANKARAA second round of talks with Kurdish leaders from northern Iraq will begin in Ankara today. But even before the talks begin, leader of the Kurdish PUK faction, Celal Talabani has stunned the Turkish Foreign Ministry by claiming that five days ago he had talks with a delegation from the terrorist PKK organization.The statement by Talabani has thrown a shadow over the talks planned to begin today. Although Talabani said during recent talks with Foreign Minister Ciller that it was the duty of the PUK to protect Turkey's borders from PKK attacks, his latest comment about having talks with the PKK has led to concern and anxiety in the Foreign Ministry. Nevertheless, the talks will go ahead under the chairmanship of Robert Pelletreau who has already been having preparatory contacts in Ankara with state officials. Ankara wants to bring stability to the battle-torn region of northern Iraq and at the same time eradicate the PKK terror problem. Representatives from Britain and the US will also attend the Ankara talks that are described as a four-party summit. /All papers/ [10] TURKEY IN DISPUTE WITH WASHINGTON OVER MED-TVAnkara has conveyed its views about pro-PKK propaganda on MED-TV to Washington officials. MED-TV is being allowed to use a US satellite to continue its broadcasts even though Turkey has strongly opposed this on the grounds that MED-TV supports PKK terrorism.The Turkish Foreign Ministry has called upon the US administration to take measures to stop MED-TV broadcasts but so far authorities have done nothing-claiming that US communications laws do not allow indiscriminate government interference. /Hurriyet/ [11] TURKEY-GREECE COOPERATION IN PRIVATE SECTORTurkish business leaders and representatives of the Turkish business and economic development foundations noted over the weekend that despite the political strain between Ankara and Athens, the private sectors of both countries were cooperating in a number of projects.Although luke-warm political initiatives were doing little to improve relations between Turkey and Greece, the business sectors were forging ahead with with new projects, commented business leaders over the weekend. /Cumhuriyet/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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