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Turkish Press Review, 97-01-23Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWJANUARY 23, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] DRUG TRAFFICKING CRISIS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GERMANYThe papers today give wide coverage to the drug trafficking case in Germany where three smugglers had been sentenced by a German court, which also implicated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, which in turn has given rise to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.It is noted that in two days Turkey has presented four notes to Germany, and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen summoned the German Charges de'Affairs in Ankara and presented him with ultimatum that Germany should either produce evidence to substantiate its claims or extend an apology. Turkey's Ambassador to Bonn, Volkan Vural, has also submitted a note of protest to the German Foreign Ministry. Ankara is presently debating the measures that will be taken in case Germany does not withdraw its claims. Ciller has sent a letter to German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel expressing the anxiety of Turkey over the developments and has asked for an explanation. However, a German document that will put Ciller at ease was "found". The document was sent by the Frankfurt Customs to the German Police and states that in investigations related to the drug trafficking initiated by Mustafa Karuc and two other smugglers, no evidence connecting Ciller to the case was found. In a written statement yesterday, Minister of the Interior Meral Aksener said that the German court decision was part of PKK slander campaign against Turkey and was nothing more than a fabrication. Meanwhile, Germany declared that its judges were independent and that the government could not exercise pressure on the German judicial organs. /All papers/ [02] CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE NORTHERN CYPRUSTurkish embassies have been instructed to do more about promoting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In view of developments on the island, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has called for more support for the TRNC, as a way of generating more foreign interest in finding a lasting solution to the island's problems.The decision to promote Northern Cyprus or the TRNC as a way of bringing the problems of the island to international attention comes in the wake of an official visit to Ankara by TRNC president, Rauf Denktas, who has since returned to the TRNC "well pleased" with his visit. /All papers/ [03] TURKISH NAVY SHOWING FLAG IN CYPRUSA Turkish navy frigate and two gun boats will visit TRNC ports from tomorrow on in a show of strength in response to Greek Cypriot militarization. Turkey and the TRNC have signed a joint declaration that deepens economic and defence ties between them.President of the TRNC, Rauf Denktas, described the naval vessels as "peace ships" and stressed that no one should think about trying to interfere with their visit to the island. /Cumhuriyet/ [04] RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: MISSILES NOT REASON FOR CRISISForeign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Onur Oymen gave a briefing on the Cyprus issue to ambassadors of the member countries of the U.N. Security Council.Russian Ambassador to Ankara, Kuznetsov, said: "The missile agreement is only a trading agreement. There is no reason why Russia should not send these missiles. The agreement is very clear and Russia is determined to send these missiles."/Sabah/ [05] AMERICAN SUPPORT TO TURKEY OVER MISSILE CRISISIn response to the Russian-made S-300 missiles that Moscow will sell to the Greek Cypriots, Washington will sell four Sea-Hawk helicopters to Turkey. The helicopters will carry short-range "Hell-Fire" missiles. It is expected that the Turkish Defence Industry Undersecretariat and the American helicopter firm will sign an agreement in February. The helicopters will delivered to Turkey by the end of 1997.Diplomatic sources announced that America shared Ankara's anxiety that the security balance in the Mediterranean could be damaged. Washington decided "to give a message" both to Moscow and Athens by selling helicopters to Turkey./Hurriyet/ [06] EARTHQUAKE IN THE MEDITERRANEANAn earthquake occured yesterday at 19.57 hours in the Mediterranean and southeastern Anatolia region. The earthquake registered 5.5 on the Richter scale. Seven people were injured and buildings were damaged. /Cumhuriyet/[07] ISRAEL PRAISES TIES WITH TURKEYIn an interview with the Turkish press, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stressed that both he and Israel were glad that ties with Turkey were developing so well. Netanyahu said that in all areas of cooperation important progress was being made.During his interview Netanyahu repeated his invitation to Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan to visit Israel. He said that they should sit down together and seek ways of further cooperation to resolve the situation in the Middle East and develop economic and technical areas of growth. Netanyahu noted that Israel was ready to cooperate with Turkey in the fight against terror and to share experience and information. He stressed that Turkey and Israel had large roles to play when it came to bringing peace to the region. /Milliyet/ [08] ERBAKAN TO GIVE AN "IFTAR" MEALPrime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will give an "iftar" dinner (the evening meal during Ramadan) to 28 ambassadors of 28 Islamic countries in Ankara at the Prime Ministry Residence this evening. It is reported that ministers from the Welfare Party (RP) and True Path Party (DYP) and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller are also invited to the dinner. Erbakan will deliver a speech at the dinner and brief the ambassadors regarding the D-8 project set up with the participation of eight developing Islamic countries. /Milliyet/[09] TURKEY EXTENDS NUCLEAR BID ENQUIRY PERIODTurkey has extended the period for companies to request information on bidding for the construction of the country's first nuclear power station. "The period for providing details about bid conditions has been extended at the request of some companies for ten days after it expired on Monday, January 20," the Anatolian agency reported about the Akkuyu plant bidding.[10] TURKEY ASSISTS RETURN OF ATRUSH CAMP SETTLERSAfter the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) took down its flag from Atrush refugee camp in northern Iraq on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said that Turkey would help its citizens return home.Atrush refugee camp was established under the control of the UNHCR and 14,000 Turkish Kurds have lived there for three years. The settlers in the camp were forced to migrate from Turkey to northern Iraq by PKK terrorists.The UNHCR has admitted that control of the camp had been taken over by the PKK and stopped humanitarian assistance for the camp. Akbel said that Turkey would welcome back whoever wanted to return voluntarily, but if the PKK tried to prevent anyone from returning, Turkey would take all necessary measures. /Milliyet/ [11] TURKEY TO INVITE TENDERS FOR 150,000 TONS OF BARLEY EXPORTSTurkey's State Grain Board (TMO) is likely to invite international tenders soon to sell about 150,000 tons of feed barley from its reserves, a senior agriculture official said. Turkey had a barley harvest of about seven million tons in 1995/96 and sold 125,000 tons from its excess to Glencore last September. /All papers_[12] $80 MILLION FOR SMALL ENTERPRISESIt is reported that foreign credits worth $80 million will be extended to small and medium-scale enterprises (KOBIs). State Minister Ayfer Yilmaz said that in addition to the $870 million foreign credit used for KOBIs to date, credits worth $80 million will also be extended. State Ministers Ayfer Yilmaz and Sabri Tekir, and Industry and Trade Minister Yalim Erez attended the "KOBI Year Symposium" organized jointly by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).Yilmaz noted that credits extended to the KOBIs during 1996 reached TL 155 trillion and it was envisaged that it would reach TL 265 trillion in 1997. /Sabah/ [13] TURKISH EXPORTERS IN USRepresentatives from leading ready-to-wear export firms in the Aegean region have gone to the US to increase cooperation in this sector and to hold bilateral meetings. The General Secretariat of the Aegean Exporters' Union affiliated to the Prime Ministry Foreign Trade Undersecretariat held a business meeting in New York, with the cooperation of the International Business and Economic Research Institution based in Washington.Turkish businessmen in New York noted during the meetings that they aimed to increase exports to the US, an important alternative market for Turkey in ready-to-wear exports, and to bring Turkey into a more effective and stable situation in this market. Representatives of Turkish firms said that they hoped the quota which the US imposed on Turkish textiles would not affect them to a great degree. /Milliyet/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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