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Turkish Press Review, 97-01-09Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] WINDS OF WAR BLOWING OVER CYPRUSTurkey's Security Council yesterday decided in favour of a strike in Cyprus "should the need arise." In response to the huge purchases of weapons and missile systems by the Greek Cypriots on Cyprus, Turkey has sent warning notes and made it clear that the Greek Cypriots are leading the island into a more serious situation.In line with the warning words of the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, Turkey has now declared that massive mobilation of military force in the Greek side will not be tolerated. Denktas yesterday warned that the Greeks were playing with fire and that Cyprus would be ruined if Greece continued to play dangerous games in the Aegean and other regions. According to some news sources, Ankara has now issued a "final" warning that in line with stated policy Turkish forces on the island would strike and destroy missile launchers in the Greek Cypriot community if Greek forces continue to force the issue. The international community has also condemned the aggressive attitudes of the Cypriot Greeks, supported by Athens, as they blatantly refuse to listen to warnings from Britain, France, the US and other governments concerned about developments on the island. Diplomatic initiatives to cool the situation have intensified in Ankara, the US and Cyprus. France has drawn the matter of Greek Cypriot military purchases, especially the issue of buying Russian S-300 missile systems- to the attention of the UN Security Council. Newly appointed head of the US Foreign Department Madeleine Albright said yesterday that Cyprus was the major problem involving the US today. Russia too has joined in the general dismay over developments, but from a rather different angle. Russia has offered to defuse the situation by selling the same S-300 systems to both Turkey and Greece. Russian diplomats are however expected to visit the island later this month to push through the sale of the S-300 system. Meanwhile, warnings that both communities on the island face serious consequences if current developments are not halted continue to be issued. There even thoughts that the situation is already out of control. /All papers/ [02] INVESTMENT PROGRAMME FOR EAST LAUNCHEDThe coalition government has unveiled an extensive investment programme to boost economic growth in the developing eastern provinces on Wednesday during a meeting of the cabinet which convened in the city of Agri. Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan announced a three-pronged programme which would be pursued to stimulate livestock breeding, agriculture and industry in the region. Private investment will be encouraged through cheap credits with five-year tax exempt periods. In a speech at the opening ceremony of a meat factory in Agri on Wednesday, Erbakan said: "We want to get rid of the imbalance in the levels of development between our eastern provinces and the rest of the country. We want to develop the east." /All papers/[03] TURKISH SHARES SURGE 4.57 PERCENT TO A NEW RECORDTurkish shares soared an average 4.57 percent on Wednesday in a continued rally further buoyed by privatization hopes, brokers said. The Istanbul Stock Exchange Market closed at this year's fifth consecutive all-time high of 1,144, up 50 points from Tuesday's previous record of 1,094. Gains totalled 17.2 percent since the market reopened on January 2 after a five-day New Year holiday. /All papers/[04] CILLER REPLIES TO IRAQI COMPLAINTSTurkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller sent a letter to the UN secretary-general giving details about the Turkish Army's operations in Northern Iraq. Iraq recently complained to the UN about Turkey's operations on its own territory. In her letter Ciller said that Turkey respected the territorial integrity of Iraq but that terrorist organizations were taking advantage of the power vacuum in the region. She said that Turkey's operations were aimed at securing peace and stability in the region and that Turkey would continue to take the measures necessary to protect its borders. /All papers/[05] SPEAKER KALEMLI VOICES SUPPORT FOR PALESTINEParliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli visited the Palestine Legislative Council at Ramallah on Wednesday and spoke out in support of the Middle East Peace process and a fair deal for the Palestinian side, the Anatolia news agency reported. Pointing out that peace would be permanent for as long as the rights of Palestinians were protected, Kalemli said that the Turkish Republic, Parliament, government and public were determined to support Palestine. /All papers/[06] TURKISH OBSERVERS INVITED TO HEBRONTurkey is optimistic about the recent request to include Turkish observers among other international observers in the West Bank town of Hebron, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said on Wedenesday at a weekly press conference. Akbel confirmed that such a request had already been put forward by the Palestinians, and had been renewed by Israeli authorities during the official visit of Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli to Israel. /Hurriyet/[07] FOUR DROWN IN TURKISH SHIPWRECK OFF ITALYA Turkish freighter sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the Italian island of Sicily on Wednesday and four of its 11 crew died, port officials said. Another crew member was missing. The 1,800 tonne "Onurk" sank between the western Sicilian town of Trapani and the port of Cagliary on the island of Sardinia at about 3 a.m. in stormy weather. /Milliyet/[08] TURK TELEKOM SELL-OFF TO BEGIN IN SECOND HALF OF 1997The first tranche of Turkey's state telecommunications company Turk Telekom will be privatised in the second half of 1997, the head of the country's privatization administration said on Wednesday. This is the key to the government's aim of speeding up sell-offs this year as a way of raising needed revenues. The government is aiming to raise $5 billion from privatizations this year. Karakaya said revenues of $500 million were expected in January, when the sale of Etibank, split into three banks, is to be completed. Karakaya said a consensus had been reached on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism for fuel oil, which would become effective after the legal process has been completed. This mechanism would allow the privatization of state refinery Tupras, he said. /All papers/[09] SUGAR PRODUCTION INCREASESTurkey's sugar production rose to 1.418 million tons in January-November 1996 from 853,000 a year earlier, the State Statistics Institute said on Wednesday. It said 1.192 million tons of output came from the state sugar refinery Turkseker which operates 25 of Turkey's 28 refineries. /All papers/[10] RECORD PRODUCTION BY KANDEMIRLaunching a massive campaign to reorganize and increase its production after having been privatized, the Karabuk Iron and Steel Factory (Kandemir) has broken its own records in both production and turnover, the Anatolia news agency reported. The annual 620,000 liquid steel production of the company in 1995 increased by a record 138,000 tons last year and reached 758,000 tons. Iron rod production increased from 359,000 tons in 1995 to 420,000 tons last year. The company's turnover, similarly, has increased from TL 6.5 trillion in 1995 to TL 18 trillion last year. /All papers/[11] AWARD-WINNING PROJECT IN TURKEYA state-of-the-art aflatoxin laboratory has been established in Gaziantep to assure the quality and safety of pistachios for the export market. The project was initiated in 1993 by Professor Fatih Yildiz to establish an "International Aflatoxin and Food Analysis Laboratory". The project was given financial support by the UN Industrial Organization and completed last October. This independent laboratory is now ready to serve the entire GAP region. Professor Fatih Yildiz received a plaque and an award from the president of the "Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce and Industry" for his distinguished service during the establishment of this laboratory. /All papers/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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