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Turkish Press Review, 96-11-13Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] CILLER ADDS VOICE TO CALLS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONForeign Minister Tansu Ciller called on Tuesday for a Middle East security organization to help reduce regional conflict. "We feel that a security system in the region is a must" Ciller told a news conference in Jordan after talks with Prime Minister Abdul Kerim Al-Kabariti. Ciller, who said the two countries had agreed on cooperation in defence and combating "terrorism", and discussed the security organization in question later on Tuesday with Crown Prince Hassan, who has campaigned in the past for such a mechanism.Ciller said her talks with Jordanian officials also aimed to boost weak economic ties, including improving trade, cooperating in privatization plans, linking electricity networks and following up a Jordanian request to buy water from Turkey. "Along the lines of defence (and) anti-terrorism programmes, we did take various steps. We decided to act against terrorism together" Ciller said. /Sabah/ [02] EU COMMISSION MEMBER DEFENDS TURKEY BEFORE EURO-MPSThe European Union (EU) Commission defended Turkey before a committee of grumbling Euro-deputies amd said that the blocking of all EU aid to Turkey was a very harsh decision, even in the face of continued allegations of human rights violations. Speaking on behalf of the EU Commission, Hans van Den Broek appeared before the European Parliament Foreign Relations Committee to brief the deputies on the proceedings of the customs union and the latest commission report on Turkey.He tried to soften the stance of a very discontented group of Euro-deputies and convince them that Turkey should continue to receive aid through the Mediterranean Cooperation Fund (MEDA). Van Den Broek said: "No one should forget that this country is located in a very sensitive region. To isolate Turkey and to sever all channels of dialogue and cooperation is in nobody's best interests". /Sabah/ [03] IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IN ANKARAIraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz met with Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan yesterday in Ankara during a brief visit "to discuss all matters" as Ankara prepared for another attempt to persuade Iraq's autonomy-seeking Kurds to resolve their bloody internal disputes. "I am visiting a neighbour with which we have good relations" Aziz said, arriving in Ankara on his way back from Moscow.Addressing reporters before meeting with Aziz, Erbakan stressed that the two countries were vital for the peace and stability of the region and noted that Turkey had lost over $30 billion due to UN sanctions against Iraq. Erbakan said that Turkey consistently upheld Iraq's territorial unity but lamented that separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists were finding shelter in Iraq's (Kurdish-held) north. Emerging from the talks, Aziz told reporters that the two countries should be in regular contact. "I stress that Iraq and Turkey should always have political consultations to discuss matters of vital interest to them. Each party should brief the other about its point of view regarding the recent situation and developments" Aziz said. /Sabah/ [04] TURKISH NAVAL HELICOPTER CRASHES IN AEGEANA Turkish naval helicopter crashed in the Aegean during joint NATO exercises early Monday, killing at least three crew members, a military communique said. A statement issued by the Turkish General Staff headquarters said a fourth crew member was missing.It said the helicopter, an Augusta-Bell AB-212, had taken off from the Turkish navy frigate TGC Barbaros for night training before it plunged into the sea at about 3.00 a.m. southeast of the Greek island of Rhodes, killing the pilot, Lt.Kadir Sener and warrant officers Ahmet Sezgin and Tevfik Ozdemir. The missing pilot was identified as Lt.Selcuk Esedoglu. A search and rescue operation was underway to find the missing officer, the statement said. /Sabah/ [05] TERRORISTS KILL CIVILIAN IN MARDINA separatist terrorist group attacked the Besikkaya village of Mardin on Monday night killing a civilian and wounding another. The security forces immediately responded to the terrorist assault with a counter attack. The officials said the clash was still going on and more information would be given when available. /All papers/[06] GERMAN MINISTER VOWS TO PROTECT TURKSInterior Minister of Germany's Berlin region, Jorg Schonbohm, said that he would do everything possible to provide for the security of Turks residing in his country from threats by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -which he called a terrorist organization.After a meeting of the newly-founded Turkish-German Businessmen's Union in Berlin, Schonbohm met with members of the Turkish press, telling them that his government would take all necessary measures against the PKK. Minister Schonbohm said that he was a former member of the military and called Ataturk a great statesman and an incredible 20th century soldier. /All papers/ [07] ENERGY MINISTER VISITS EGYPT FOR GAS TALKSEnergy Minister Recai Kutan, who arrived in Egypt yesterday, is scheduled to hold talks on Turkey's possible purchase of natural gas. Kutan, who will stay in Egypt until November 14, will discuss and sign an agreement for purchasing gas from Egypt through either a pipeline under the Mediterranean or tankers filled with liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to officials, Turkey will import up to 10 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Egypt. This amount could decrease however, if the imported gas is in LNG form, as Turkey does not have enough storage facilities. /Cumhuriyet/[08] TURKEY GIVES 'ULTIMATUM' TO LIBYA OVER ITS DEBTSTurkey has given Libya a "24-hour ultimatum" to pay its long-overdue debt to Turkish contractors or "face unspecified consequences". The message was reportedly conveyed to Libya's Ambassador to Ankara on Monday evening. It came hours after Chairman of the Turkish Contractors' Association (TMB) Kadir Sever told reporters that a $40 million installment that Tripoli had promised to pay immediately after Prime Minister Erbakan's visit there in October had not yet been paid. /All papers/[09] WORLD BANK VICE PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEYWorld Bank Vice President, in charge of Europe and Central Asia, Johannes Linn, will visit Turkey tomorrow to meet with private sector representatives. Linn will also visit the Southeastern region to conduct observations on irrigation and health projects in Adiyaman, Malatya and Sanliurfa which are financed by World Bank credits. Linn will leave Turkey on November 20 after several meetings with government and Treasury officials. /All papers/[10] IRAQ SEEKS IMPROVED TRADE WITH TURKEYIraqi Trade Minister Muhammed Mehdi Saleh has said that Iraq wants to improve border trade with Turkey and see more Turkish firms in Iraq. Saleh visited State Minister Ahmet Cemil Tunc and urged Turkey to give support to Iraq for the implementation of UN resolution 986 which permits Iraq to sell a limited amount of oil in return for food.Saleh said Turkey topped the list of countries facing the adverse affects of the UN embargo due to the decrease in trade, adding that Iraq's losses amounted to a huge $120 billion so far. Meanwhile, State Minister Tunc said that the government hoped to improve Turkey's future prospects by developing the proposed union of Muslim countries. /All papers/ [11] PKK MEMBERS ARRESTED FOR SUICIDE BOMBING IN ADANAMembers of the PKK terrorist organization Mehmet Yamac and Adnan Yalcin, who planned the suicide bombing in Adana on 25 October which resulted in the death of three police officials, one citizen and suicide bomber Leyla Kaplan herself, have been arrested in Mersin. /Hurriyet/[12] NEW BRITISH PROPOSAL FOR RESOLVING THE CYPRUS ISSUEThe US and Britain continue to exert efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus question. According to a high level Foreign Ministry official, specialists from these two countries are working "full-time" on finding a formula that will satisfy both the Greek Cypriots and the Turks in Cyprus. The British special representative in Cyprus David Hannay, after his recent contacts in Ankara, Athens and Nicosia, has made a new proposal foreseeing premiership rotating between representatives of the two sides. /Milliyet/[13] 13TH HURRIYET INTERNATIONAL CARTOON CONTESTThe results of the 13th Hurriyet International Cartoon Contest organized by the Aydın Dogan Foundation have been released: Mihai Ignat from Romania came first, Oleg Dergatchov and Juriy Kosobukin from Ukraine came second and third respectively. The awards were presented to the winners during a ceremony held at the State Art Museum. President Suleyman Demirel, Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Kalemli, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, political party leaders and high level officials were present at the ceremony. About 850 cartoonists from 80 countries took part in the contest. /Hurriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |