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Turkish Press Review, 97-09-11
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] YILMAZ CEMENTS TURCO-KAZAKH COOPERATION
[02] FM CEM IN GERMANY
[03] MILLER-AKBEL MEETING
[04] RUSSIA CHALLENGES TURKEY OVER S-300 MISSILES
[05] "MISSILE BRIEFING" POSTPONED
[06] DEFENCE MINISTER SEZGIN TOURS BALKAN COUNTRIES
[07] KALEMLI-GINGRICH MEETING
[08] CZECH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
[09] ADVISOR TO JOSPIN TO VISIT TURKEY
[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS HADEP, BP AND DBP LEADERS
[11] TAX PRIVILEGES FOR SOUTHEASTERN INVESTORS
[12] IMPORT REGULATIONS WILL FIT EU STANDARDS
[13] EURO-DOLLAR BONDS
[14] PRESIDENT DEMIREL OPENS MUSEUM IN BODRUM
[15] TURSAB REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER
11.09.97
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning.
[01] YILMAZ CEMENTS TURCO-KAZAKH COOPERATION
Turkey's efforts to assure the transportation of Kazakh oil to world
markets via the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline have begun to yield results. An
accord for the establishment of a Turco-Kazakh Joint Working Group ha
emerged as a result of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's contacts in
Kazakhstan yesterday. The group will concentrate especially on moves
related to the materialization of the pipeline project. Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev voiced support for the Baku-Ceyhan
pipelene which is expected to carry a considerable amount of Kazakh
oil to world markets, and stressed the importance of ensuring Russian
support for this formula. /Milliyet/
[02] FM CEM IN GERMANY
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will pay an official visit to Germany
starting today. During his contacts with German officials, Cem will
stress that Turkey is a part of Europe and should not be estranged.
In a move to change Germany's negative attitudes towards Turkey's
efforts to join the EU, Cem will give German representatives details
about recent improvements in Turkey's democratization and human rights
record to both which Germany attaches great importance. Developments
in relations with Cyprus and Greece, another issue to which Germany
gives priority, will also be discussed in detail. Cem's contacts in
Bonn will at the same time prepare the ground for Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz's visit scheduled for September 30. /Sabah/
[03] MILLER-AKBEL MEETING
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Omer Akbel met with EU Special
Coordinator to Cyprus Thomas Miller, who is in Turkey to make official
contacts. Akbel held a press conference after the meeting yesterday.
Noting that he had furnished detailed information to Miller regarding
the Cyprus problem, which dates back to 1963, Akbel said that they had
exchanged views regarding the initiatives aimed at alleviating the
tension surrounding the planned deployment by the Greek Cypriot
community of S-300 missiles on the island.
Akbel also noted that Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary
Ambassador Ali Tuygan would pay a visit to Moscow today. Akbel said
that this would be a routine meeting between the foreign political
directors of Russia and Turkey and added: "Tuygan's visit will be
made within this framework. It is not aimed at any special agenda".
Akbel also stated that the deployment of S-300 missiles on the Greek
Cypriot side of the island would not contribute to the solution of the
Cyprus problem or to regional stability. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] RUSSIA CHALLENGES TURKEY OVER S-300 MISSILES
Amidst increasing tensions over Russian-made S-300 missiles to be
deployed in Southern Cyprus, Russia joined the verbal duel on
Wednesday, saying that the transfer of Russian-made missiles to the
Greek Cypriots cannot be prevented. Sergey Yastrembski, Russian
President Boris Yeltsin's press representative, said in a press
conference yesterday that Russia could easily transfer the missiles by
sea and would fulfill its commitments to Southern Cyprus.
The US in turn called upon the parties involved in the crisis to lower
the temperature of their rhetoric concerning the escalating verbal
battle over the deployment of the missiles in Southern Cyprus.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] "MISSILE BRIEFING" POSTPONED
The top level military briefing to government leaders planned for
today has been postponed until next week, the Chief of Staff announced
yesterday. The briefing, mainly about developments involving the
deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles in southern Cyprus, has been
put off because Defence Minister Ismet Sezgin is currently abroad.
Because of the nature of the briefing, the presence of Sezgin at the
meeting is vital. The Chief of Staff has however, made it clear that
in the meantime, all necessary precautions have been taken to preserve
the security of Turkey. /Sabah/
[06] DEFENCE MINISTER SEZGIN TOURS BALKAN COUNTRIES
National Defence Minister Ismet Sezgin who yesterday began a four-day
visit to Macedonia and Albania, has arrived in the Macedonian capital
of Skopje. Sezgin was welcomed at the airport by his Macedonian
counterpart Lazar Kitanoski. Both ministers had a one-hour meeting.
Sezgin described Macedonia as the heart of the Balkans and added that
stability in that country was of great importance for Turkey.
Kitanoski in turn said that improving relations with Turkey was a top
Macedonian priority. Sezgin will also have a meeting with the
Macedonian prime minister. /Sabah/
[07] KALEMLI-GINGRICH MEETING
Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Kalemli, who is paying an official visit
to the US, met yesterday his American counterpart Newt Gingrich.
Gingrich voiced support for Turkey's drive for integration with
Europe. Kalemli suggested that interparliamentary contacts be started
between Ankara and Washington, and Gingrich going one step further
proposed to establish an Internet site for parliamentarians from the
two countries. At the end of their meetings, Gingrich gave Kalemli an
autographed color photograph of himself, signed "Your friend, Newt
Gingrich." /Milliyet/
[08] CZECH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA
Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Karel Kovanda met Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Onur Oymen on Tuesday. Addressing a statement after
the meeting, Oymen said that a decision had been taken to improve
bilateral relations and that a "Free Trade Agreement" could be signed
with the Czech Republic soon.
Noting that the NATO expansion process and the European Union (EU)
were also taken up during the bilateral meetings, Oymen stressed that
"the views of Turkey and the Czech Republic are very similar to each
other". Responding to a question, Kovanda said: "We think that every
country which has applied for full membership in the EU, should be
evaluated within the framework of the objective criteria of the EU.
We support Turkey's membership in the EU". Kovanda added that he
would continue his contacts with Turkish officials in Brussels, Ankara
and Prague regarding the NATO expansion process. /All papers/
[09] ADVISOR TO JOSPIN TO VISIT TURKEY
Advisor to French Prime Minister Jospin and Foreign Minister Vedrine,
Pascal Boniface will visit Turkey. He will hold conferences in
Istanbul on 7 October and in Ankara on 9 October. During his visit,
Boniface will meet officials of the Foreign Ministry and Prime
Ministry. /Milliyet/
[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS HADEP, BP AND DBP LEADERS
On his return from Bodrum to Ankara, President Demirel received Peace
Party (BP) leader Abidin Ozguney, People's Democracy Party (HADEP)
Murat Bozlak and Democracy and Peace Party (DBP) leader Refik Karakoc.
In response to complaints lodged by HADEP and BBP that they were
facing many obstacles, Demirel said that they would have no problems
if they "do not isolate themselves from society, and respect laws."
During the meeting HADEP leader Bozlak claimed that Turkey's principle
problem was the Kurdish issue, but Demirel stressed: "I cannot accept
your view that there exists a Kurdish problem in Turkey and that it is
the country's principle problem. There is a problem of terrorism in
Turkey." /All papers/
[11] TAX PRIVILEGES FOR SOUTHEASTERN INVESTORS
The Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian Provinces Coordination Council
chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit convened yesterday.
The Council agreed on a number of moves designed to turn Southeastern
Anatolia into a paradise for investors. A number of tax reductions
and tax exemptions for entrepreneurs providing employment
opportunities to a certain number of workers were envisaged. At
yesterday's meeting measures to improve education and health services
in the region by opening new boarding schools and attracting qualified
health personnel were also taken in hand. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] IMPORT REGULATIONS WILL FIT EU STANDARDS
The government has agreed on a plan designed to harmonize import
regulations in Turkey with those in EU countries by the year 2001.
With a previous decision issued at the establishment of the customs
union, a special tax was imposed on imports of "sensitive" goods. The
tax will be gradually lifted in the next four years in accordance with
EU Joint Customs Regulations. /All papers/
[13] EURO-DOLLAR BONDS
Turkey will sell 10-year term bonds in Europe and the US. The
Treasury will begin to sell 10-year term bonds in Euro-Dollars for the
first time next week. To date, the Treasury has been exporting Yen
and Mark bonds. The bond sales, which are expected to surpass $500
million, in Euro-Dollars will be realized via the Morgan Stanley and
Salomon Brothers companies. Meanwhile, the International Monetary
Fund (IMF)-World Bank "autumn term" meetings will be held in Hong Kong
in the second half of September. A delegation headed by State
Minister responsible for the economy, Gunes Taner, will represent
Turkey at the meetings. /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
[14] PRESIDENT DEMIREL OPENS MUSEUM IN BODRUM
President Suleyman Demirel has opened a museum in which there is a
sunken ship which has lain at the bottom of the sea since the time of
the Eastern Roman Empire and which is now being exhibited in a chapel
in Bodrum castle. Delivering an opening speech, Demirel called on
neighbouring countries to make the Mediterranean a sea of peace, love
and friendship. /Sabah-Milliyet/
[15] TURSAB REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE
Chairman of the Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB) Talha Camas
said that a TURSAB representative office would be opened in Brussels
on 7 October. Delivering a speech at a meeting for the promotion of a
book "European Union Tourism Policies and Turkey" published by TURSAB,
Camas noted that it was necessary for Turkey to turn its face to
Europe. /Cumhuriyet/
END
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