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Turkish Press Review, 98-05-08
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
08.05.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] CEM'S CONTACTS IN NORWAY
[02] BULGARIA HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CEM'S VISIT
[03] TURKEY WINS 15 MORE 'BLUE FLAG' AWARDS
[04] TURKISH CLOTHING EXPORTS TO US RISE
[05] FORESTRY COOPERATION WITH US
[06] IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO VISIT TURKEY
[07] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
[08] UN SHOCKS GREEK CYPRIOTS
[09] CETIN: ANTI-TURKISH LOBBIES ARE STRONG
[10] PKK STRIKE KILLS SOLDIER
[11] HEROIN WORTH TL 2 TRILLION SEIZED
[12] THE SPIRIT OF 68
[13] SAKIK FOUND GUILTY OF 254 CRIMES
[14] CLINTON WANTS MORE SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
[15] EUROPEAN EXPERT COMMENTS ON CYPRUS PROBLEM
[16] INTERIOR MINISTER IN ROMANIA
[17] "TURKISH WORLD WRITERS AND ARTISTS FOUNDATION AWARDS"
[18] US DETERMINED ON CYPRUS ISSUE
[19] NEW ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA
[20] TURKEY REACTS TO SYRIAN STATEMENT
[01] CEM'S CONTACTS IN NORWAY
Turkey and Norway have decided to establish regular political
ties in the future during a current two-day official visit by Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem to Norway. Cem said in a joint press conference
with his Norwegian counterpart, Kunt Vollebeak, that Norway and Turkey
have a mutual interest in Central Asian oil reaching Western markets
and in the Middle East Peace Process. Cem has met with the King of
Norway and is expected to meet with members of Parliament's Foreign
Relations Commission. /All papers/
[02] BULGARIA HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF CEM'S VISIT
Bulgaria emphasized yesterday the importance of Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem's official visit to the country on May 13-14, Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Radko Vlaykov said. Vlaykov said that the visit
was a sign of enhancing relations in many fields between Bulgaria and
Turkey and added that the Foreign Ministers of the two countries would
sign a protocol of cooperation. /All papers/
[03] TURKEY WINS 15 MORE 'BLUE FLAG' AWARDS
The European Jury of the Environmental Education Fund has awarded
11 coastal areas and four marinas in Turkey with the organization's
Blue Flag prize, signifying that the areas are clean and unpolluted.
According to the Tourism Ministry, the jury announced the winners
after reviewing files on coastlines in 18 other countries. Turkey had
25 coastal areas and six marinas awarded with the "Blue Flag" in 1997.
With this year's awards, Turkey has won a total of 56 such prizes.
/Milliyet/
[04] TURKISH CLOTHING EXPORTS TO US RISE
Turkish clothing exports to the US jumped 36.9 % in the first
three months of 1998 to $218.2 million, but fell 9.8 % to $690.9
million to Germany, the Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Turkey
(TGSD) said yesterday. In a report made public yesterday, the TGSD
said Turkish clothing exports to Russia plunged 14.3 % to $135 million
in the first three months of the year, compared to $157.6 million in
the same period in 1997. Clothing exports to England and France also
rose 10.2 % and 6.7 % respectively. The report said that the US
represented Turkey's fourth biggest market for Turkish clothing and
garment exports. An estimated 11.7 % of Turkey's clothing exports
went to the US in the first quarter of 1998. /Hurriyet/
[05] FORESTRY COOPERATION WITH US
Studies to initiate a joint training research programme between
the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry and Virginia Technical
University in the United States. To this end, an eight-person
delegation will visit Washington, Virginia and Roanoke beginning on
May 9. /Hurriyet/
[06] IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO VISIT TURKEY
Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Willy
Kiekens will arrive in Turkey on May 10. After meeting with officials
in Ankara, Kiekens is expected to leave Turkey on Tuesday. Officials
have noted that Kiekens will participate in consultation studies.
Meanwhile, IMF Chief of the Turkish Desk Martin Hardy, who is
also making contacts in Turkey, said that Turkey had made a good start
in reducing the rate of inflation and added: "I hope this will
continue also in the forthcoming months". Hardy met with State
Minister Isin Celebi and Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel separately
yesterday. The IMF delegation is expected to leave Turkey on Tuesday.
/Hurriyet-Sabah/
[07] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
Central Bank foreign exchange reserves have reached $24.7
billion. According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves,
which totalled $23.004 billion on 24 April, increased by $1.655
billion, and reached $24.659 billion. Turkish international reserves
have risen to $31.545 billion, while gold reserves amount to $1.124
billion on 17 April. /Hurriyet/
[08] UN SHOCKS GREEK CYPRIOTS
When UN Representative Gustave Feissel noted the existence of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), he created strong
reactions in Greek Cyprus. Permanent Representative of the UN
Secretary-General for Cyprus, Gustave Feissel said: "Whether you view
them as legal or illegal, general elections were held in the TRNC when
Denktas was elected as President". Greek Government Spokesman Hristos
Stilyanides noted that Feissel's remarks were "unbecoming" for a UN
official. The Simerini newspaper said: "Following the US, the UN has
also opened the way to recognizing this fictitious state". /Hurriyet/
[09] CETIN: ANTI-TURKISH LOBBIES ARE STRONG
Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Hikmet Cetin, who is making
contacts in the US, said yesterday that anti-Turkish lobbies imposed
intense pressure on the American Congress regarding Turkish-Greek and
Turkish-Greek Cypriot problems. Delivering a speech at a reception
given in his honour by the "Forum" institution consisting of young
Turkish businessmen in the US, Cetin said: "There are a lot of
anti-Turkish lobbies activate in the US. They block the purchase of
defense equipment from the US, and negatively affect other relations."
Cetin also made a statement at the Turkish House in New York and
said: "Turkey may have some problems, but there are also some
positive aspects. I believe that we will overcome our problems.
Turkey is trying to reach the level, which Western countries reached
in 200 years, within 50 years' time". /Hurriyet/
[10] PKK STRIKE KILLS SOLDIER
When PKK terrorists fired on a taxi with a rocket-launcher in
Hakkari, one Turkish sergeant died and two sergeants and the taxi
driver were wounded. /Hurriyet/
[11] HEROIN WORTH TL 2 TRILLION SEIZED
During operations carried out jointly by the Security
Directorates of Bilecik and Bursa, 51.5 kg of heroin worth TL 2
trillion was confiscated. Bilecik Security Chief Sevki Dincal said it
was discovered that the heroin was from Iran and was being taken to
Istanbul. /Sabah/
[12] THE SPIRIT OF 68
The Foundation for 1968 Generation will hold a series of
conferences on "World, Youth and Turkey from 1968 to 1998" on the 30th
anniversary of the movement. Many leading writers, scientists and
intellectuals will participate in the activities where "the spirit of
68 and new horizons" will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] SAKIK FOUND GUILTY OF 254 CRIMES
Responding to questions by journalists during a visit to the
Southeast Anatolia Journalists' Association yesterday, Governor of the
State of Emergency Region Aydin Arslan declared that the enquiry
involving about Semdin Sakik, a leading PKK terrorist who was
apprehended recently was continuing and that the results so far showed
that Sakik was responsible either directly or indirectly for 254
different crimes of terror. Arslan did not go into details.
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] CLINTON WANTS MORE SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
In a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Romando Prodi US
President Clinton suggested that Turkey's full membership in the
European Union should be supported by Italy. During a press
conference held after the meeting, Clinton noted that the problems
between Greece and Turkey must be overcome in order to secure
stability and peace in the region. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] EUROPEAN EXPERT COMMENTS ON CYPRUS PROBLEM
In a statement to Cumhuriyet newspaper, the European Political
Research Center's Cyprus specialist, Dafne Papacpopulos, said that it
was not surprising that US Cyprus envoy Richard Holbrooke had not seen
any real result from his latest contacts in Cyprus because it was too
early to determine Cyprus' future, Papacpopulos added that the
solution would be found by the people actually on the island.
/Cumhuriyet/
[16] INTERIOR MINISTER IN ROMANIA
Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu started a three-day visit to
Romania yesterday within the framework of his Balkan tour visits to
block PKK activities in the Balkan region. In his high level meetings
Basesgioglu called on Romanian security officials to bring PKK
activities under control and close their offices in Romania. At the
meeting Romanian officials assured Turkey of their support against the
PKK. Turkish-Romanian delegations also discussed the struggle against
organized crime in the Balkans.
Later Basesgioglu was received by the Romanian Foreign Minister,
Prime Minister and President. /Milliyet/
[17] "TURKISH WORLD WRITERS AND ARTISTS FOUNDATION AWARDS"
President Suleyman Demirel yesterday presented the Turkish World
Writers and Artists Foundation awards. Azerbaijani President Haydar
Aliyev, State Minister Isilay Saygin, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem,
leader of the Crimean Turks Mustafa Cemiloglu and Head of the
Religious Affairs M.Nuri Yilmaz were among those who won awards.
/Milliyet/
[18] US DETERMINED ON CYPRUS ISSUE
Spokesman for the Secretary of State, James Foley, said that US
special envoy to Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke and coordinator Thomas
Miller would visit the island at the end of May. Foley added that the
US administration supported the establishment of a federation on the
island. /Milliyet/
[19] NEW ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA
President Suleyman Demirel received Israel's new Ambassador to
Ankara, Uri Bar Nar yesterday at the Presidential Palace. At the
reception Nar said that he would try to increase cultural, economic,
industrial and trade relations, and boost trade volume to one billion
dollars between Turkey and Israel by the end of 1998. /Milliyet/
[20] TURKEY REACTS TO SYRIAN STATEMENT
Turkish parliamentarians showed strong reaction to the words of
Syrian Ambassador to the US, Velid El-Muallim who had declared that
Syria would invade Hatay, in the southeast of Turkey, after taling the
Golan Heights. A group of Hatay deputies said that the controversial
statement would have a negative impact on Turkey-Syria relations and
the Middle East peace process.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry, however, has not take seriously
El-Muallim's statement, saying that Turkey does not have a Hatay
problem. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also said that the statement was
so obviously misguided that it did not deserve an answer. /Milliyet/
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