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Turkish Press Review, 97-03-28Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWFRIDAY MARCH 28, 1997Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] DEMIREL CALLS FOR CLOSER ECONOMIC TIES WITH BANGLADESHPresident Suleyman Demirel stressed stepped-up economic relations on the final day of his official visit to Bangladesh. The president said small- and medium-scale business had become the backbone of the Turkish economy and added that Turkey was willing to share its experience in this field with Bangladesh. Demirel explained that Bangladesh should explore business and trade opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia.Flying to the port city of Chittagong, Demirel was escorted to Dakka Airport by President Shahabuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaa Wajed. He attended a ceremony for the naming of a Chittagong street after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and later addressed a group of Bangladeshis at the Interkalla Mosque. In his address at the mosque, Demirel emphasized the role of Islam as the key element bringing the people of Turkey and Bangladesh together. He thanked Bangladeshi Muslims for their support during the Turkish War of Independence. Demirel later attended a luncheon hosted by the mayor of Chittagong, where he again stressed the potential for closer economic ties and said many Turkish contracting firms were ready to invest in Bangladesh. Demirel arrived in Ankara late Thursday night after concluding his five-day visit. /All papers/ [02] KINKEL REASSURES: "WE WANT TURKEY IN EUROPE""We want to see Turkey in Europe" said German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel yesterday at a luncheon given in his honour at the Istanbul Ciragan Palace. Kinkel was on the last leg of a two-day visit to Turkey which included talks with Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and other Turkish leaders. The German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the Thursday luncheon, which was attended by prominent businessmen. During the course of his remarks, Kinkel stressed the need for Turkey, as a big country, to take the first step in approaching Greece in an effort to solve the problems between the two countries. Warning against tying the Cyprus problem to the European Union, Kinkel pointed out that the subject of Cyprus' membership in the EU would be discussed at a later date. Kinkel said that when he compared economic relations between Turkey and the eight developing Islamic countries with which the Erbakan government has established relations, he saw that trade among them only amounted to 10 % of the trade being conducted between Turkey and Germany. The luncheon was opened by Horst Kaiser, German-Turkish Chambers board chairman, who said: "We want Turkey to enter the EU and we are supporting Turkey".During his visit to Istanbul, the minister held meetings with representatives of human rights organizations in Turkey. Kinkel toured Istanbul's 17th century Blue Mosque and the 6th century Aya Sofia Museum in the Sultanahmet district in the morning. Due to his busy schedule, he had to cancel a visit to the German high school in Istanbul. Kinkel left Istanbul in the late afternoon. /All papers/ [03] WASHINGTON TO 'DOWNSIZE' INCIRLIKThe number of US Air Force people at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey will be cut by up to 50 % as part of a realignment of US bases in Europe, Defence Secretary William Cohen announced yesterday. In a statement on the announcement, the Defence Department said reduction of the US Air Force staff permanently assigned to Incirlik would begin immediately for a total cut of 40 to 50 % by September 30, 1998. The reduction was part of a general realignment of US bases in Europe in which more than 800 US military installations have been returned to European countries, reduced or place on standby. "The US government is not reducing its commitment to Europe or Turkey" the statement said. "Turkey remains a vital US ally and key regional partner". Defence officials said the reduction would not affect a separate operation at Incirlik for US flights to enforce a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. /All papers/[04] BODIES OF TURKISH FIRE VICTIMS TO BE BROUGHT HOMETurkey's ambassador to the Netherlands, Baki Ilkin, expressed his sadness over the deaths on Wednesday of five members of a Turkish family in a fire at their apartment in The Hague. "We share the grief of the Kosedag family" the Turkish envoy said. Ilkin noted that they would help the family to bring the bodies back to Turkey today. "On the same night, arsonists attacked two other buildings so the fire that destroyed the apartment could also be a part of this arson attack" added Ilkin. However, he said that they would have to wait for the results of investigation being carried out by Dutch officials. /Sabah/[05] RUSSIA IS LOBBYING TO SELL ITS HELICOPTERSRussian defence company Roosvoorujenie is lobbying to sell its KA-50 or Mi-28 assault helicopters to Turkey. A delegation headed by Sergei Mihiyev, representative of the company, has met with Turkish Defence Minister Turhan Tayan and other officials. The delegation said that Russia wanted to sell these helicopters to Turkey and in the future wanted to put into operation a joint production project in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[06] OYMEN SAYS GANGS EARN DM 100 M SMUGGLING PEOPLE EACH YEARTurkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen said that a big trade in smuggling people has been going on between Turkey and Germany, noting that "illegal gangs smuggle 70 people daily from Turkey to Germany and are earning DM 100 million each year from this activity". The Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission identified on Wednesday the problems of Turkish people living abroad in a special agenda meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Oymen said that there is not a single European country that does not demand visas from Turkish citizens, thus in the guise of "political refugees", Turkish citizens are being smuggled by illegal organizations. /Cumhuriyet/[07] STATE MINISTER GUL TO VISIT TURKMENISTANState Minister Abdullah Gul will go to Turkmenistan on a five-day official visit between March 30 and April 3, 1997, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. During the visit, which will take place within the framework of a "research, planning and coordination" assignment forwarded to Turkish-Speaking Republics, a first Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting will be realized between Turkey and Turkmenistan. Gul will be accompanied by an official delegation specially set up for JEC meeting as well as a crowded group of businessmen. Gul and the delegation will be received by Turkmen President Saparmurad Turkmenbasi and will meet with Turkmen ministers.[08] GREEK AND ARMENIAN LOBBIES ON THE ATTACKThe Greek and Armenian lobbies in the US are girding their loins for new attacks against Turkey by trying to exert more united pressure against the US government. The Armenian lobby has already influenced decisions to have the so-called Armenian massacres recognized, and a new bill has been drafted to that effect.President Clinton has shown his support for the Greek National Day by having it announced that it will also be called national democracy day. Both lobbies are behind the circulation of anti-Turkey letters and circulars in governmental departments. Turkey has fallen far behind in the lobbies battle for influence, without the machinery or contacts to resist the Greek and Armenian onslaught. Reports in the US press suggest that agreements have been made with some US PR companies but results seem be slow in coming. /All papers/ [09] TURKISH OBSERVERS IN FRONT LINEEighteen Turkish officers are in the troubled area of El Halil, where they are observing developments between Israel and Palestine. The officers are part of an international mission set up to control the tense situation that centers on the town of El Halil and they have been fully occupied doing this for the past week. /Milliyet/[10] TURKISH ASSOCIATION BOMB ATTACK IN GERMANYA building used by the Turco-German Friendship Association in Limburg, Germany, was bomb attacked yesterday by persons so far unidentified. Police officials say that although enquiries are being made, there has been no indication about who the attackers were.A Yugoslavia-made hand grenade was used in the attack which caused a lot of damage, but no one has been reported killed or injured. /Cumhuriyet/ [11] CENTRAL BANK-BUNDESBANK COOPERATIONGerman Bundesbank officials, paying a visit to Turkey, held talks with Turkish Central Bank officials yesterday to discuss ways for improving cooperation between the two financial establishments. Last August the two banks signed an agreement for technical cooperation and training. /Cumhuriyet/[12] NEW BRITISH AMBASSADORDavid Logan, the new British ambassador to Ankara, arrives today in Turkey. Logan will replace the former British Ambassador to Ankara who has since been appointed UN Deputy Secretary-General. Logan is a specialist in European security, and has served in Moscow and Washington as UK deputy ambassador. /Cumhuriyet/[13] US CREDIT FOR HELICOPTER IMPORTSThe First National Bank of New England (FNB), one of the leading financial institutions in the US, is pouring out credits to Turkish entrepreneurs. The bank is extending credits of up to $10 million for financing exports of US-made equipment. FNB officials note that Turkish entrepreneurs demanded credits especially to import second-hand helicopters to Turkey. /Hurriyet/[14] TEXPO'97 FAIRThe 11th Texpo'97 International Fabrics Fair was opened yesterday in Istanbul with a ceremony. 194 Turkish and foreign companies are participating in the fair. More than 12 thousand visitors are expected to come to the fair, providing opportunities for initiating cooperation with companies from Europe, America, the Middle East and the Turkish-speaking republics. /Cumhuriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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