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Turkish Press Review, 98-05-26
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
26.05.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH YILMAZ
[02] TURKEY, US HOLD EXERCISE IN MEDITERRANEAN
[03] DENKTAS TO MEET MILLER
[04] TURKISH LABOUR MINISTER IN GERMANY
[05] ENERGY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
[06] NEW EU STRATEGY FOR TURKEY
[07] ARMENIAN DRAFT TO BE DISCUSSED BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
[08] INCREASE IN TURKEY'S ARMS EXPORTS
[09] DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN ISRAEL
[10] SWEDISH TRADE DELEGATION IN TURKEY
[11] NETHERLANDS RANKS THIRD AMONG COUNTRIES INVESTING IN TURKEY
[12] BAYKAL RE-ELECTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF CHP
[13] FOREIGN POLICY AND GAP PROJECT ON THE AGENDA OF MGK
[14] BORTTSCHELLER: "PKK AIMS TO CREATE CHAOS"
[15] SLOVAKIA TO BAN MED TV
[16] HANS VAN DEN BROEK HOPEFUL ABOUT TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
[17] THIRD EURASIAN ISLAMIC COUNCIL HELD IN ANKARA
[01] ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH YILMAZ
Prime Minister of Romania, Radu Vasile, who is in Istanbul to
attend a conference on the Energy Future of the Caspian and Black Seas,
met in Istanbul on May 25 with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to discuss
trade relations between the two countries, reported the Anatolia news
agency. Prime Minister Yilmaz said after the meeting that the growth of
two-way trade between the two countries was very satisfactory. He added
that Turkey and Romania would be key players in economic development,
and promoting peace and stability in the region. Vasile said for his
part that there was good cooperation between Turkey and Romania in every
sector from banking to tourism.
[02] TURKEY, US HOLD EXERCISE IN MEDITERRANEAN
Turkish and American naval and air forces are to carry out a
military exercise between May 26 and 29 in the international waters and
airspace of the eastern Mediterranean. The exercise will include
warships from the US Sixth Fleet and Turkish naval forces and warplanes.
/Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
[03] DENKTAS TO MEET MILLER
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf
Denktas will meet with Thomas Miller, US special envoy to Cyprus, on
Tuesday. Miller will participate in a conference in Greek Cyprus on
Tuesday morning and then cross over the TRNC to meet Denktas. Miller is
also scheduled to have talks with the representatives of the Greek
Cypriot Administration to cancel the deployment of Russian-made S-300
missiles, which are scheduled for installation on the island in
mid-August. /Hurriyet/
[04] TURKISH LABOUR MINISTER IN GERMANY
Turkish Labour Minister Nami Cagan, who has gone to Germany as the
official guest of his German counterpart Norbert Blum, described his
visit as an "important opportunity for the further development of
relations and dialogue between the two countries". Following a meeting
between the two ministers yesterday, German Labour Minister Blum said:
"We know that Turkey is an important country and has a significant role
in world policy". The two ministers and the delegations of the two
countries will also hold a meeting today. /Milliyet/
[05] ENERGY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said at
an energy conference attended by regional countries yesterday in
Istanbul that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project had no alternative from
many standpoints. Demirel noted that the Turkish straits were being
subjected to danger and that a new transportation line was required.
Yilmaz stated that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project was superior to
other alternatives from many aspects such as security, technology and
the environment. Demirel thanked the countries involved especially the
US for their support for Turkey regarding the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
project. /Milliyet/
[06] NEW EU STRATEGY FOR TURKEY
In response to the "European Union (EU) Strategy for Turkey"
prepared by the European Commission, the EU Coordination Council has
completed its study, which aims to develop relations between Turkey and
the EU. The Council presented its study called "Strategy for the
development of Turkish-EU Relations" to Turkish State Minister
responsible for EU affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel, yesterday. Gurel said
that if the EU changed its discriminative stance against Turkey, then
Turkey would review its attitude towards the EU.
He indicated that the study included a proposal for the
establishment of a consultation mechanism, which will provide for
Turkey's participation in joint decision-making while determining
relations especially with third countries. It is reported that after
Gurel submits the study to Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Deputy Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, Gurel is planning to visit Brussels. /Milliyet/
[07] ARMENIAN DRAFT TO BE DISCUSSED BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
The so-called Armenian genocide draft, which has created diplomatic
problems between France and Turkey, will be discussed today for the
first time by the French Parliament. The draft will be initially
discussed at the Foreign Relations Commission and then at the Bureau of
Assembly. Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz had earlier said that if
the draft was approved, relations between Turkey and France would be
seriously damaged. /Milliyet/
[08] INCREASE IN TURKEY'S ARMS EXPORTS
The Turkish Machinery and Chemicals Industry (MKEK) exports arms to
50 countries. According to officials from the MKEK General Directorate,
Turkey's arms exports made via the MKEK, have tripled during the last
five years. MKEK officials have noted that South Korea, Pakistan, Oman,
Jordan, Tunisia, Switzerland, Britain, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the
US are all major importers of Turkish-made weapons. /Milliyet/
[09] DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN ISRAEL
Deputy Chief of General Staff Cevik Bir started contacts in Israel
yesterday. Director of the Middle East Department of the Foreign
Ministry, Aykut Cekirge is accompanying Bir who is participating in
strategic assessment meetings held by Israel and Turkey twice a year in
line with an agreement signed by the two countries which want to
cooperate in military fields. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] SWEDISH TRADE DELEGATION IN TURKEY
A delegation of Swedish tradesmen, headed by the undersecretary of
the Swedish Industry and Trade Ministry, visited yesterday the Turkish
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD). The delegation
will continue contacts in Ankara where it will seek ways to improve
bilateral commercial relations between Sweden and Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] NETHERLANDS RANKS THIRD AMONG COUNTRIES INVESTING IN TURKEY
In an interview with "Cumhuriyet" daily newspaper, Dutch Consul,
Adrian J. Quanjer noted the huge investment capacity of the Netherlands
in Turkey. He said that the Netherlands takes third place among
countries investing in Turkey while the United States and France hold
the first and second places. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] BAYKAL RE-ELECTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF CHP
The Republican People's Party (CHP), held its 28th national
convention over the weekend in Ankara. Deniz Baykal was re-elected as
the chairman of the CHP with 875 votes out of a total 1,169 voters.
/Sabah/
[13] FOREIGN POLICY AND GAP PROJECT ON THE AGENDA OF MGK
The National Security Council (MGK) will meet today under the
chairmanship of President Suleyman Demirel. The current situation of
the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), the flood disaster which happened
last week in Turkey, and Turkey's Syria, Cyprus and Greece policies are
all on the agenda of the Council. /Sabah/
[14] BORTTSCHELLER: "PKK AIMS TO CREATE CHAOS"
Bremen Interior Minister Ralf Borttscheller visited his Turkish
counterpart Murat Basesgioglu yesterday in Ankara. During the visit
Basesgioglu said that prevention of separatist terrorist activities had
the priority on the agenda of Turkey. Borttscheller said for his part
that there should be cooperation throughout the world against terrorist
activities. He added: "The PKK aims to hold demonstrations against
Turkey in Europe and cause clashes to create chaos." /Sabah/
[15] SLOVAKIA TO BAN MED TV
Speaker of the Slovakian Parliament, Ivan Gasporovic met yesterday
with Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin in Ankara. At the meeting Gasporovic
said that senior officials of the Slovakian telecommunications
institution would come to Ankara to meet with their Turkish
counterparts. He added that they had already started initiatives to
cancel the contract with MED TV. /Sabah/
[16] HANS VAN DEN BROEK HOPEFUL ABOUT TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
Hans van den Broek, the European Commission's commissioner for
foreign relations, expressed hope that the European Union (EU) could
still find a way to improve relations. Van den Broek expressed
disappointment over "Turkey's staying away", saying this was not a way
to solve problems.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said he intended to
meet Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem in Luxembourg on Thursday at a
meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kinkel said
the EU must work hard to mend fences with Turkey while also attempting
to persuade Greece to lift its veto against a 375 million ECU ($415
million) aid package for Ankara. /Hurriyet/
[17] THIRD EURASIAN ISLAMIC COUNCIL HELD IN ANKARA
The third meeting of the Islamic Council of Eurasia began in Ankara
on Monday with the participation of 48 foreign guests from several
countries, from Albania to the Russian Federation. Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz,
the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Deputy Prime Minister and
Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin, Hafiz Sabri Koci from the Islamic Society
of Albania, Allahsukur Pasazade of Azerbaijan, Mehmet Emin Aga of
Western Thrace, Mustafa Efendi Ceric from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ahmet
Kadirov from Chechenya were among the participants.
/Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/
END
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