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Turkish Press Review, 97-09-12
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] PM YILMAZ: "WE ARE NOT BLUFFING ON CYPRUS"
[02] SEZGIN: MILITARY, GOVERNMENT WORKING IN HARMONY
[03] SHIFT IN TURKEY'S EU STRATEGY
[04] BAN ON GREEK CYPRIOT VESSELS
[05] MEDITERRANEAN ARMY TO COPE WITH GREEK CYPRIOT THREATS
[06] AIR FORCES COMMANDER IN SWEDEN
[07] INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE IN CAIRO
[08] TRAFFIC SAFETY GROUP MEETS WITH PRESIDENT
[09] CEM DISCUSSES EU ISSUE WITH CIVIC LEADERS
[10] NEW APPOINTMENTS AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
[11] US SUPPORTS CRETE MEETING BETWEEN YILMAZ AND SIMITIS
[12] KALEMLI'S CONTACTS IN US
[13] 2,947 TURKS WIN US VISA LOTTERY
[14] WORLD BANK PRAISES TURKEY'S EXPORT GROWTH
[15] ECONOMY BRIEFING TO DEMIREL
[16] SILK ROAD 2000 CONFERENCE
[17] UKRAINE IS LOBBYING IN ANKARA
[18] HALKBANK BRANCH ON INTERNET
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER
12.09.97
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
[01] PM YILMAZ: "WE ARE NOT BLUFFING ON CYPRUS"
Speaking to reporters on his return home from Kazakhstan, Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz has harshly warned the Greek Cypriot
administration with respect to the crisis unleashed by Russia's sale
of the controversial S-300 missiles to Southern Cyprus. "If Greece
and the Greek Cypriots persist in their hazardous attitudes, the
present tense situation in the region may turn into a chronic one. We
are not bluffing on the Cyprus issue," the prime minister said.
/Cumhuriyet/
[02] SEZGIN: MILITARY, GOVERNMENT WORKING IN HARMONY
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin said
yesterday that the Turkish Armed Forces and the government were
working together in harmony. During his four-day trip to the Balkan
countries Macedonia and Albania, Sezgin said that nobody should try to
create problems between the government and the military, adding that
under current laws both bodies of the state were in perfect harmony.
Speaking in Skopje, in reference to the role of the Turkish Armed
Forces, he defended the military saying that their role was defined by
the Constitution. /All papers/
[03] SHIFT IN TURKEY'S EU STRATEGY
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that
Turkey will pursue a new strategy in accomplishing its goal of
becoming an EU full member. "Full membership step by step" is how
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz describes the new strategy to be employed
by Turkey in its drive to join the European Union. "We will consider
moves not putting too much pressure on the Union that will keep open
our perspectives for integration with Europe. We will strive to gain
new advantages from the EU through interim formulas," Yilmaz stressed.
"Suggestions that we will resort to our veto right in NATO are
ridiculous. It is imperative that we act in unison with the EU in all
issues where our interests coincide," the prime minister noted. In
its EU membership drive Turkey will especially dwell on the view that
by rejecting Turkey, the EU would turn into a "Christian Club".
Turkey will ask for time to resolve its problems. Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz is planning to ask CHP leader Deniz Baykal and DTP leader
Husamettin Cindoruk to share actively in the government's EU
membership drive. "Turkey will no longer go begging at Europe's door.
Instead we will demand a time-table for full membership," Yilmaz
stressed. /Sabah/
[04] BAN ON GREEK CYPRIOT VESSELS
In retaliation to the economic embargo imposed against the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Turkey has banned the entrance of
vessels owned by Greek Cypriots or flying Greek Cypriot flag in
Turkish ports. Greek Cypriot papers reported that about 60 shipping
companies have applied to fly Maltese or some other country's flag.
Greek Cypriot officials complained that as a result of the
implementation, their revenews from transit trade were expected to
drop by 50 percent in comparison to the previous year. /Milliyet/
[05] MEDITERRANEAN ARMY TO COPE WITH GREEK CYPRIOT THREATS
The General Staff announced that a special Mediterranean army
will be set up to enhance Turkish security in the face of the new
dangers emerging with the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles in
Southern Cyprus. The Mediterranean army will be equipped with modern
weapons to cope with air and sea attacks. Special Chinese missiles,
especially effective against the Russian S-300 missiles will be
deployed in the region. The General Staff had undertook similar moves
to deal with Greek threats by setting up a special Aegean army.
/Milliyet/
[06] AIR FORCES COMMANDER IN SWEDEN
Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen.Ilhan Kilic left for Sweden on
Wednesday. The Air Forces Command General Secretariat said in a
statement that Gen.Kilic would participate in the European Air Forces
Commanders (EURAC) meeting in Sweden. Gen.Kilic is expected to return
to Turkey on September 14. /All papers/
[07] INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE IN CAIRO
The 98th term-conference of the Interparliamentary Union (PAB)
started work in the Egyptian capital of Cairo yesterday. The
conference which was opened by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will
last until September 16. The Turkish Parliament is represented by PAB
Turkish Group Chairman and Motherland Party (ANAP) Ankara Deputy Irfan
Koksalan and other group members and several deputies from other
parties. "The Political, economic and social situation in the world",
"Providing a lasting democracy", "Employment in a globalizing world"
top the agenda of the conference which takes place twice a year. /All
papers/
[08] TRAFFIC SAFETY GROUP MEETS WITH PRESIDENT
President Suleyman Demirel met with the administrators of
Turkey's "Destroy the 'Traffic Monster'" foundation at the
presidential palace yesterday. Demirel, the honorary chairman of the
foundation, discussed new suggestions proposed by the chairman of the
foundation, Ahmet Turkoglu. In his briefing to the President,
Turkoglu explained the most frequent causes of traffic accidents and
their solutions. Demirel said that Turkey's traffic problem was a
very important issue, which needs addressing. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] CEM DISCUSSES EU ISSUE WITH CIVIC LEADERS
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem held an assessment meeting in Ankara
yesterday with representatives of civic organizations which will visit
European countries at the invitation of the European Union (EU).
Taking part in the meeting were Refik Baydur, chairman of Turkish
Confederation of Employers' Union (TISK); Dervis Gunay, chairman of
the Turkish Tradesmen's and Artisans' Union (TESK); Muharrem Kayhan,
chairman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businesmen's Union
(TUSIAD); Orhan Morgul, representative of the Turkish Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB); Oguz Oyan, representative of
the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is); and Ahmet Asena,
representative for the Confederation of Progressive Labour Unions
(DISK).
Foreign Minister Cem said: "Our main priority is to become more
realistic, to see where we are now.". Cem expressed the government's
point of view regarding the EU and tried to provide a consensus of
opinion. Cem noted that he would continue holding similar discussions
in the future. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/
[10] NEW APPOINTMENTS AT THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
New diplomatic appointments were announced in the Official
Gazette yesterday. Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir was appointed Foreign
Ministry Undersecretary and Ambassador Nabi Sensoy was assigned to the
post of Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] US SUPPORTS CRETE MEETING BETWEEN YILMAZ AND SIMITIS
The Clinton administration has said that it supports the upcoming
prime ministerial meeting on the island of Crete on November 3 between
Mesut Yilmaz of Turkey and Costas Simitis of Greece. US State
Department Deputy Spokesman Jim Foley said: "Their meeting is
something that we encourage, because we think it promotes dialogue and
can contribute to negotiated solutions". /All papers/
[12] KALEMLI'S CONTACTS IN US
"We made very good headway towards opening a new corridor of
improved relationship between our two parliaments" said Mustafa
Kalemli, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, who is in Washington.
Kalemli met with members of the House International Relations
Committee and Senators Robert Byrd, Ted Stevens and Thad Cochran, as
well as Nelson Ledsky of the National Democratic Institute. Regarding
the Cyprus issue, Kalemli noted that President of the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, was going to visit Washington
on September 22-24. Kalemli asked the International Relations
Committee to invite Denktas to hear his side of the issue. The
committee reportedly agreed to do so. /All papers/
[13] 2,947 TURKS WIN US VISA LOTTERY
The US has announced that 2,947 Turks were among the 100,000
people worldwide who won thw first stage of the diversity visa lottery
conducted under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The overall
number will be further reduced to 55,000 after face-to-face
interviews. /All papers/
[14] WORLD BANK PRAISES TURKEY'S EXPORT GROWTH
Compared to other developing economies, Turkey's export growth
and capacity has been increasing at a good rate according to the World
Bank, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. According to the
World bank's "Global Economic Expectations and Developing Countries"
report, in the last 13 years, Turkey's average exports growth was 6.7
percent. The bank also has some pointers for Turkey, saying the role
of the state in the economy must be reduced. Turkey has been carrying
out Employment Adaptation Policies, in its efforts to reduce the role
of the state. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] ECONOMY BRIEFING TO DEMIREL
State Minister Isin Celebi and economy bureaucrats gave a
briefing regarding the macroeconomic situation, investments and
privatization to President Suleyman Demirel yesterday. Celebi noted
that studies on a supplementary budget and the 1998 fiscal budget
would be presented to the Prime Minister and official institutions
next week. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] SILK ROAD 2000 CONFERENCE
The "Silk Road 2000" conference to be attended by 80
representatives from 26 countries and organized by the Turkish Foreign
Trade Association (Turktrade) will be held in Istanbul on 15-16
September. President Demirel, Prime Minister Yilmaz and Chairman of
the Foreign Trade Associations' Confederation Albert Freei will
participate in the opening ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
[17] UKRAINE IS LOBBYING IN ANKARA
Ukraine is lobbying in Ankara to sell its T-84 tanks to Turkey.
Officials from the state-run Ukrainian arms company, Ukrspetseksport,
said that they would exhibit their tanks at the upcoming International
Defense Fair IDEF-97. Ukraine faces tough competition in selling
tanks to Turkey while the US, France, Germany, Israel and China are
hoping to land the country's $5 million tank project. /Cumhuriyet/
[18] HALKBANK BRANCH ON INTERNET
The Halkbank has taken its first step in electronic
communications technology by setting up an Internet site. Internet
users will be able to obtain information about services provided by
the bank from the following Internet address:
http://www.halkbank.com.tr/ /Milliyet_
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