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Turkish Press Review, 98-01-27
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
27.01.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] US WORRIED OVER HEAVY ARMAMENT IN CYPRUS
[02] TURCO-EGYPTIAN CULTURAL COOPERATION
[03] TANER MEETS WITH IMF
[04] TURKISH COMPANY SETS UP COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN BAKU
[05] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA
[06] KARADAYI CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
[07] WELFARE PARTY TOPS AGENDA OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
[08] TURKEY EXAMINING US DECISION
[09] CEM IN BONN
[10] ATHENS SAYS 'NO' TO ANKARA'S INVITATION
[11] TURKISH CULTURE IN FRANCE
[12] TURKEY PLANS NEW AIRPORT, TECHNO-PARK IN ISTANBUL
[13] TURKEY TO BUY MORE ELECTRICITY FROM BULGARIA
[14] ANKARA CRITICIZES SYRIAN COMMENTS ON WELFARE PARTY
[15] TURKEY HOLDS BEST INTERNET PROMOTIONAL WEB SITE
[01] US WORRIED OVER HEAVY ARMAMENT IN CYPRUS
US State Department Spokesman Jamie Rubin said that intensive armament
in Cyprus was disturbing, and noted that Turkey had the right to apply
to the UN Security Council to convey its anxiety over the
establishment of a new military base in Baf, Southern Cyprus. The US
State Department Spokesman urged both communities on the island to
refrain from moves that could end in a new escalation of tensions on
the island. /Hurriyet/
[02] TURCO-EGYPTIAN CULTURAL COOPERATION
Culture Minister Istemihan Talay paid an official visit to Egypt on
January 14-19. Commenting on his contacts with Egyptian officials,
Minister Talay said that a number of important decisions for improving
bilateral cultural relations had been taken. In line with these
decisions, Turkish and Egyptian specialists will cooperate in
researching archives as well as in the restoration of Turkish
monuments in Egypt. /Hurriyet/
[03] TANER MEETS WITH IMF
State Minister Gunes Taner had yesterday a one-hour meeting with IMF
Chief of the Turkish Desk, Martin Hardy, and World Bank Deputy
Chairman Ajan Chibber. In a press conference after the meeting, Taner
gave details about the decisions reached during the discussions.
The World Bank will continue to support ongoing infrastructural
projects and education reforms in Turkey. At the same time, World
Bank officials promised to extend programme credits if the Turkish
government manages to carry out structural reforms.
Commenting on relations with the IMF, Minister Taner said that Turkey
needed no new stand-by agreements, but will instead cooperate with the
IMF in the implementation of a stabilization programme. Late in
February Taner is planning to pay a visit to Washington to work out
details related to this programme with IMF officials. /Sabah/
[04] TURKISH COMPANY SETS UP COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN BAKU
The Turkish Alcatel-Teletas company will undertake an ambitious
project for the modernization of the Baku telephone system.
Alcatel-Teletas general Director Lutfi Yener signed last Friday a
related agreement with Azerbaijani Communications Minister Nadir
Ahmetov. /Sabah/
[05] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA
At a meeting yesterday, the Council of Ministers decided to appoint
Mufit Ozdes as ambassador to Libya. Former Turkish Ambassador in
Libya, Ates Balkan, has been called back to Ankara following a recent
diplomatic crisis in bilateral relations caused by Libyan leader
Muammer Kaddafi's controversial remarks about Turkey. /Sabah/
[06] KARADAYI CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi said yesterday that
international terrorism and ethnic conflicts headed the list of new
risks and threats faced by the world. Karadayi delivered a speech at
the opening session of a Defense Policies and Military Doctrine
Seminar held by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), which began yesterday in Vienna. The seminar will deal
especially with new balances and threats and call for more
international cooperation. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] WELFARE PARTY TOPS AGENDA OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
The closure of the Welfare Party (RP) by the Constitutional Court
topped agenda of the Winter-Term General Council Meetings of the
Parliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe. Political
Committee Chairman of the Assembly, Hungarian Parliamentarian, Andreas
Barsony, said that before a justification decision of the
Constitutional Court is issued, it would be wrong to make a legal
comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Britain, the current EU Term-President,
Robin Cook, said that there was no pre-condition regarding the
participation of Turkey in the European Conference. Cook said: "The
doors of the European Conference are open to Turkey". He noted that
he would be pleased with the participation of Turkey in this
conference to be held on 12 March and said: "Our efforts to
strengthen political dialogue with Ankara will continue". He stated
that they would also establish a dialogue with Turkey regarding the
refugee flow to Europe. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] TURKEY EXAMINING US DECISION
Turkey has begun to examine the US decision to cut military aid to
Turkey and Greece. It is reported that the decision will be evaluated
within the context of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement
and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Turkish Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Necati Utkan held a press conference
yesterday and said that although no official statement had made by the
US government regarding this issue, information had arrived through
international news agencies. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] CEM IN BONN
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem delivered a speech at the
Consuls-General Meeting, which began yesterday in Bonn and said that
when Turks living in Europe join forces and become unified, they could
provide a better future for themselves and their children. Ismail Cem
will meet with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel today. He will
also come together with representatives of the Turkish associations
which are active in Germany. /Milliyet/
[10] ATHENS SAYS 'NO' TO ANKARA'S INVITATION
Greece has rejected an invitation made by Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit via Milliyet daily newspaper. Ecevit had said:
"Let's come together in Ankara and start a dialogue". Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said: "We do not view this call
as positive. Turkey has been extending this invitation for a long
time. However we do not agree on this". Reppas claimed that Ecevit's
call was against 'international law'. Repass said: "Turkey should
accept the general authority of The Hague". /Milliyet/
[11] TURKISH CULTURE IN FRANCE
Turkey will attend the "16th Expolangues '98-2 International French
Culture Festival and show traditional "Karagoz" shadow theatre.
Turkey will also participate in the marriage fair called "Marriage au
Carrousel" by displaying Thracian wedding-dresses. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] TURKEY PLANS NEW AIRPORT, TECHNO-PARK IN ISTANBUL
The Turkish government has decided to lay the foundations for an
international airport and an advanced technology park in Istanbul's
Kurtkoy district in order to take the first crucial steps to meet its
21st century needs. During a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister
and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin yesterday revealed the plans
concerning the $10 billion giant project, saying that the
infrastructure will be constructed by the state, and the rest of the
project will be carried out by the private sector. /All papers/
[13] TURKEY TO BUY MORE ELECTRICITY FROM BULGARIA
Turkey will increase the amount of electricity it is currently buying
from Bulgaria to 2.5 billion kilowatts_hours (kwh) per year, Turkish
Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer told reporters yesterday, following a
meeting with Bulgarian Energy Minister Ivan Siliaski, in which the
issue was discussed. Turkey is now buying 1.8 billion kwh of
electricity from Bulgaria. In order to increase the amount of
electricity, a new electricity line will be to Hamitabad, Ersumer
continued. /All papers/
[14] ANKARA CRITICIZES SYRIAN COMMENTS ON WELFARE PARTY
Ankara described the Syrian defense minister's words last Tuesday
-that Turkey will become like Algeria due to the ban on Welfare Party
-as wishful thinking, adding: "Turkey does not need to take any
lessons from Syria, neither on democracy nor on religious tolerance".
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said: "The remarks
are inappropriate and uncalled for", when addressing the weekly press
conference yesterday. /All papers/
[15] TURKEY HOLDS BEST INTERNET PROMOTIONAL WEB SITE
The Turkish Tourism Office in New York declared that Turkey's Internet
web site, which aims to promote tourism opportunities and consists of
more than 200 pages, has been chosen the best of its kind. The
address of this web site is: http//www.turkey.org_turkey The Tourism
Office also noted that the number of American tourists visiting Turkey
increased by 11% in 1997 and reached 365 thousand. /Hurriyet/
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