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Turkish Press Review, 96-11-20Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] CILLER CRIPPLES WEU OVER GREEK BLOCKAGE OF ITS MEMBERSHIP BIDTurkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller yesterday vetoed the use of NATO forces by the Western European Union (WEU), practically crippling the upstart body evolving into an exclusively European defence umbrellla. Addressing reporters during a meeting of the WEU ministerial council in Ostende, Belgium, Ciller said under the present circumstances, Turkey was opposed to WEU access to NATO forces and had to block a decision to that effect. "We are determined to use all our rights" she said, making clear that the move was in reaction to Greek efforts to obstruct Turkey's full membership. "If Greece displays common sense on this question, if it recognizes Turkey's rights within the WEU parallel to its rights within NATO, the deadlock will be over" Ciller assured.During the WEU meeting, Ciller met with member of the Foreign Relations of the EU Commission, Hans Van Den Broek, Foreign Minister of Ireland -EU Term-President-, Dick Spring, and German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel. /Milliyet/ [02] CILLER TO VISIT RUSSIA IN DECEMBERForeign Minister Tansu Ciller will visit Moscow in December at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Yevgeny Primakov. The visit, scheduled for December 17-19, was arranged while both Ciller and Primakov were in New York to attend the recent UN General Assembly meeting.During the visit, Ciller is expected to meet with Russian Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin, the speakers of both the upper and lower houses of parliament and Moscow Mayor Yuri Lujkov. A delegation of Turkish businessmen will accompany Ciller on her visit to Moscow. /All papers/ [03] KANDEMIR DEFENDS TURKEY'S AGREEMENTS WITH ISRAEL-IRANTurkey's Ambassador to Washington, Nuzhet Kandemir, during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, defended agreements his country has signed with Isarel and Iran and pointed out that the partnership between Turkey and Israel could be the central pillar of Middle Eastern regional cooperation. He added that the gas deal signed with Iran was intended solely to help the Turkish economy and did not violate American laws.During his visit, Kandemir met with the Turkish representatives of various regional groups. He also had breakfast with local Jewish leaders and expressed his thoughts on Turco-Israeli relations. He reminded the group that Turkey had twice welcomed Jews escaping from violence and pressure and he noted that Ankara had continued its diplomatic relations with Israel. He added that Israeli-Turkish relationship had gained more importance due to the economic, social and political changes facing the world today. /All papers/ [04] TURKEY WILLING TO HOST MEETING OF AFGHAN RIVAL FACTIONSTurkey is willing to host a meeting under UN auspices between the warring Afghani factions. Representatives of 18 countries and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) attended a meeting sponsored by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali recently in New York to discuss the Afghan problem.At the meeting, Turkey's permanent representative to UN, Huseyin Celem, said that Afghanistan had been caught in a clash between the superpowers. "These proud people paid a heavy price because of their geography" Celem said. The Turkish envoy said that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Afghanistan should be protected. He indicated that an immediate cease-fire was crucial and after that a political dialogue could be started. He also suggested that the UN or the OIC should take temporary control of the capital, Kabul, because as long as Kabul was in the hands of one of the rival groups, the others would not agree to negotiations. /All papers/ [05] TURKEY PROTESTS AGAINST NORWAY OVER KURD MEETINGTurkey has lodged a protest with Norway for allowing a meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile to be held this week. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the necessary initiatives were being taken under the auspices of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry and Norway's charge d'affaire in Ankara after it became known that the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile planned to meet on November 18-20 in Norway's capital.The statement said Norway's attitude would have an impact on relations between the two countries. It was emphasized that it had become difficult to cooperate with Norway on human rights issues as the Norwegian attitude was encouraging terrorism by allowing the activities of the terrorist organization. /All papers/ [06] TURKEY, BULGARIA DISCUSS ENERGY IMPORTS, STORAGETurkish and Bulgarian energy officials in a meeting yesterday collaborated on issues involving Turkey's electricity import requirements and the use of Bulgarian natural gas storage facilities. "The amount of electricity we will import monthly may be around 300 million kilowatt hours" Turkish Energy Minister Recai Kutan told journalists before talks with Bulgarian energy officials. A Bulgarian delegation, headed by Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov, signed a meomorandum of understanding with Turkey later in the day. /All papers/[07] MUSIAD BUSINESS FORUM OPENS TODAYThe Second International Business Forum, organized by the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), will be opened today by Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan with a ceremony at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre. The theme of the three-day meeting is "Global Business Network Among Muslim Nations". The forum, which will bring together more than 3,000 businessmen from around the world, will continue until November 22. /All papers/[08] GEOTHERMAL ENERGY WILL CONTRIBUTE TL 500 TRILLION TO TURKEY'S ECONOMYAn international seminar on geothermal energy organized by the International Geothermal Association's European branch (IGA) highlighted the benefits and increased awareness about this relatively new technology. The meeting held in Ankara on November 19 was attended by Turkey's Environment Minister Ziyaeddin Tokar, State Minister Mehmet Altinsoy, deputies from various cities, scientists from seven European nations, IGA's European Branch Chairman Miklos Arpasi, representatives of various geothermal associations, high-profile bureaucrats and several city mayors. /All papers/[09] SENIOR BRITISH DIPLOMAT IN CYPRUSSimon Smith, deputy chief of the Southern Europe Division of the British Foreign Office, travelled to Cyprus yesterday for talks with the leaders of Turkish and Greek communities. Speaking on Greek Cypriot Radio, Smith was quoted as saying that there were many things to be done in the coming months concerning the Cyprus issue. /All papers/[10] PKK PLANS FOILEDFollowing security police operations against the PKK terrorist organization, arrested suspects have revealed PKK plans to blast schools in the big cities with molotov cocktails.Security squads have seized large amounts of PKK weapons along with molotov cocktails prepared for the attacks against schools. Acting on information from inside sources, police have blocked the PKK terror plans and have identified other specific targets. Officials say that more details on the security operation will be released soon. /Sabah/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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