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Turkish Press Review, 97-03-26Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWMARCH 26, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] DEMIREL VISITS BANGLADESHPresident Demirel arrived in the Bangladeshi capital of Dakka on Tuesday having completed contacts in Pakistan, the Anatolia news agency reported. Demirel, accompanied by Turkish politicians, businessmen and journalists was welcomed by Bangladeshi President Shahabuddin Ahmet. In a meeting with President Ahmet and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Demirel discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. Opportunities for improving commercial cooperation were taken in hand. A civil aviation treaty concerning air travel between Bangladesh and Turkey was signed along with a cultural exchange programme protocol.[02] ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL MEETINGThe Economic and Social Council comprised of several Cabinet members and representatives from a number of leading Turkish economic and social organizations gathered on Tuesday to discuss economic issues of major importance. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Finance Minister Abdullatif Sener, Labour and Social Security Minister Necati Celik, Industry and Trade Minister Yalim Erez and representatives of trade unions like Turk-Is and Hak-Is. /All papers/[03] DUTCH FM TO PRESS FOR EU-TURKEY ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETINGEU Term President and Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo said on Tuesday he would work hard to see that the Turkey-EU Association Council meeting goes ahead as scheduled on April 30, the Anatolia news agency reported. Speaking after the monthly meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, van Mierlo said the decisions taken by the EU Council in Appeldoorn earlier this month - which were favorable to Turkey - had been recorded in the minutes of the foreign ministers meeting.According to van Mierlo, only EU leaders would be present at the EU summit to be held on June 15-16. He said prospective members would not be invited due to time constraints, but added that Turkey would come together with EU members on June 27 for an information meeting in Amsterdam. On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette told the press that he also believed that Turkey had a right to join the EU. [04] MORE COOPERATION WITH KUWAITA top Kuwaiti official now making an official visit to Turkey said yesterday that Kuwait wanted more cooperation with Turkey in the areas of religious foundations. During talks with Turkish state minister Ahmet Cemil Tunc, Kuwaiti minister Dhaifallah Sharar said that people in both countries would benefit from more cooperation between Kuwait and Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[05] CRISIS WITH GERMANY AVERTEDA deepening of the diplomatic crisis between Germany and Turkey was only narrowly averted during the last few days when it seemed that an official visit by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel was going to be cancelled.Intense diplomatic activity resolved a "misunderstanding" and Kinkel in the end arrived in Ankara late yesterday evening. He was met at Ankara Esenboga airport by Foreign Ministry officials. /All papers/ [06] WARMER WINDS BLOWING BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECEChief of General Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi attended the Greek National Day reception last night at the Greek Embassy in Ankara.He commented on the warmer winds blowing between the two countries and said that Turkey and Greece lived in exactly the same goegraphic location, that the two countries were very close neighbours indeed. "We are like neighbours living in the same apartment" declared Karadayi. There has been an interval of eight years since a top representative of the General Staff attended a Greek reception, but General Karadayi seemed determined to make up for the years lost by adding that should the situation arise, he would even be prepared to make a visit to Athens. Greece too has responded to the defrosting in ties with Turkey, and sent an invitation to Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli to attend a meeting in Athens early next month. /All papers/ [07] TURKEY-IRAQ JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETING IN BAGHDADA Turkey-Iraq joint economic commission will convene in Baghdad at the end of this month to discuss Turkey's disappointment over the low volume of trade between the two countries despite the oil-for-food agreement. The agreement between Iraq and the UN allows Baghdad to sell $2 billions worth of oil to buy food and medicine for six months.[08] KANDEMIR SLAMS GERMAN STANCE ON TURKEY EU MEMBERSHIPThe Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nuzhet Kandemir slammed Germany for its stance on Turkey's EU membership in two separate speeches made in Houston on Tuesday, the Anatolia news agency reported. Kandemir described an earlier remark by Bonn officials - that culture and religion were major factors to consider when debating Turkey's integration with the EU - as "very dangerous" and dismissed negative German attitudes towards Turkey by saying "Can a Germany that demands visas from children born there become an example for human rights?"[09] BALKAN CONTACTS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALSFollowing contacts in Albania, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen and an accompanying delegation proceeded on to the Macedonian capital and met yesterday with Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, conveying messages from Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and other high-ranking officials. The Turkish delegation will also hold talks with Bulgarian top-level officials before returning home. Turkey is deeply concerned over the unrest in Albania and developments in Macedonia, as well as the problems faced by the Turkish minority living in Bulgaria. /All papers/[10] IMF EXPECTS STRUCTURAL MEASURESAn IMF delegation will arrive in Ankara on April 1 for consultations with Turkish officials. Structural measures for improving the Turkish economy and issues related to the privatization drive initiated by the Refahyol coalition government will be discussed during meetings between IMF specialists and Turkish officials.[11] CHANGES IN TURKISH TAX SYSTEM IN THE OFFINGThe Turkish Ministry of Finance and the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have signed an accord for cooperation within the framework of the World Bank Financial Aid and Technical Cooperation project, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday. An IRS team will arrive early in April to launch a two-year programme expected to cost $7 million to improve the Turkish tax system. The programme will especially target tax evasion, legal loopholes and improvements in Tax Office organizational structure.[12] TEN SEPARATISTS KILLEDDuring security forces operations in the regions around Diyarbakir in the southeast of Turkey, ten PKK separatists have been reported killed. Road checks have led to the capture of two others.Reports from the region note that four hostages held by the PKK were released yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |