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Turkish Press Review, 97-04-30
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] ARMY: FIGHTING RADICALISM AND PKK IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
[02] GREECE BLOCKS EU FUNDS
[03] TURKEY AND ROMANIA SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
[04] BSEC MEETING
[05] GOOD NEWS FROM FRANCE
[06] OSCE SHARES TURKEY'S CONCERNS ON TERRORISM
[07] CHEMICAL ARMS BECOME HISTORY
[08] DEFENCE MINISTER TAYAN IN ISRAEL
[09] PKK COOPERATES WITH ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS
[10] RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE CLOSE TO TURKISH BORDERS
[11] AWARD TO THE MUSEUM OF ANATOLAN CIVILIZATIONS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning.
[01] ARMY: FIGHTING RADICALISM AND PKK IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
At a special briefing for journalists yesterday, the General Staff
declared that the Turkish military considered showing tolerance to the
rise of fundamentalism and separatist terrorism as tantamount to the
state committing suicide. General Kenan Deniz, head of the General
Staff's Domestic Security Department, said that the Turkish national
defence concept had been reviewed and that priority was now being given
to national and territorial integrity and to the domestic threat against
the fundamental principles of the republic. He added that destroying
fundamentalism and separatist terrorism were of "life and death"
importance for Turkey. /All papers/
[02] GREECE BLOCKS EU FUNDS
The Turkey-EU Association Council met yesterday night in
Luxembourg. The meeting witnessed once again Greek determination to
block EU financial support for Turkey. Referring to the controversial
Kardak issue that had previously brought Turkey and Greece to the edge
of armed confrontation, Greek Foreign Minister Pangalos said the 15 EU
member countries expected from Turkey gestures demonstrating its good
intentions. During the meeting, the parties agreed to set up a group of
"wise men" to chart a course for resolving Turco-Greek disagreements.
In a statement after the meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister Van Mierlo
said that the Turkish application for EU membership would be evaluated
in the same way that the applications of other candidate countries were.
The statement was welcomed by Turkish Foreign Minister Ciller. Ankara
has wanted a clear official statement from the EU side confirming that
Turkey does have a place in the Union, contrary to what European
Christian Democrats have been arguing since early March. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] TURKEY AND ROMANIA SIGN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Romania and Turkey signed a free trade agreement on Tuesday during
the visit of Romanian President Emil Constantinescu to Ankara. At the
signing ceremont President Demirel said that the legal framework for
improving political and economic relations between the two countries was
now completed. President Constantinescu called the free trade agreement
a first step towards free trade in the region. /All papers/
[04] BSEC MEETING
During discussions yesterday, delegates attending the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) meeting in Istanbul discussed business
opportunities in privatization, trade, finance, agriculture, energy,
transport and investment. Albania, Armenia, Greece, Moldovia, Georgia,
Bulgaria and Azerbaijan gave presentations on their countries. Today
BSEC foreign ministers chaired by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller
will meet in Istanbul. The meeting will consider several
recommendations taken during the last six months and discuss
administrative issues.
Turkey's six-month rotating term as president of the BSEC ends
tomorrow. Ukraine is the country chosen to undertake term presidency
duties. /All papers/
[05] GOOD NEWS FROM FRANCE
French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter to President
Demirel expressing French pleasure over the efforts exerted by Turkey to
improve its human rights record. "France is determined to support
Turkey's taking its place in Europe," Chirac said. /Sabah/
[06] OSCE SHARES TURKEY'S CONCERNS ON TERRORISM
A visiting delegation from the Organization for Security and
Development in Europe (OSCE) met yesterday Lutfu Esengul, Minister for
Human Rights, who asserted that the visit may help tp abolish "wrong
ideas" about Turkey. The head of the OSCE delegation Javier Ruperez,
OSCE Parliamentarian Assembly Chairman, said that Turkey supported
stability, peace and prosperity in the world and added: "We want you to
know that we have not the slightest hesitation about condemning
terrorism." He pointed out that problems should be resolved through
democracy and not terrorism. Later yesterday, the delegation met
Minister of Interior Meral Aksener in a session closed to the press.
/All papers/
[07] CHEMICAL ARMS BECOME HISTORY
The international convention banning chemical weapons signed by 165
countries came into force on Tuesday. Turkey has signed the convention
but the signatory documents failed to reach the UN by the deadline which
resulted in the absence of Turkey's name in the UN list of signatory
nations. /All papers/
[08] DEFENCE MINISTER TAYAN IN ISRAEL
National Defence Minister Turhan Tayan is in Israel for an official
visit. Second Chief of the General Staff, General Cevik Bir is also
expected to visit Israel on May 5 to review bilateral military
agreements between Turkey and Israel. /All papers/
[09] PKK COOPERATES WITH ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS
Hurriyet daily newspaper reports that the PKK terrorist
organization was cooperating with radical fundamentalist groups and that
Islamic militants were given military training at PKK camps in Northern
Iraq. The Turkish armed forces are cooperating with the Barzani led
Kurdish forces in the region in cross border operations aimed at
destroying the PKK - Islamic fundamentalist alliance.
[10] RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE CLOSE TO TURKISH BORDERS
The Armenian Parliament approved yesterday an agreement that will
allow Russia to set up a military base in the region close to the
Turco-Armenian border. The Russian Duma ratified the agreement on April
18. /Milliyet/
[11] AWARD TO THE MUSEUM OF ANATOLAN CIVILIZATIONS
The Museum of Anatolian civilizations in Ankara had been chosen
European Museum of the Year by the European Museum Council. 65 museums
from 19 European countries participated in the contest. The contest has
been running for 20 years. /HUrriyet/
END
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