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Turkish Press Review, 98-05-27
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
27.05.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] NSC GATHERS TO DISCUSS VITAL ISSUES
[02] DENKTAS: "NO NEW IMPROVEMENT"
[03] INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CASPIAN OIL
[04] PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTER GIVES FLOOD DETAILS
[05] ROMANIAN PREMIER CONTINUES HIS VISIT
[06] TURKISH-AMERICAN DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN
[07] INTERIOR MINISTER TO VISIT US
[08] TASAR IN ESTONIA
[09] US WANTS MORE TRADE WITH TURKEY
[10] 10 NEW FERRY-BOATS FOR ITALIAN LINE
[11] OECD REPORT
[12] US CONCERN OVER S-300 MISSILES
[13] BIR IN ISRAEL
[14] THE GUARDIAN PROPOSES SATELLITE STRUGGLE AGAINST PKK
[15] MENZIR IN COPENHAGEN
[16] US LAWYERS' COMMITTEE VISITS TURKEY
[17] IRANIAN PROPOSALS FOR OIL TRANSPORTATION
[18] TENSION IN FRENCH-TURCO RELATIONS
[19] TURKEY TO WAIT FOR CARDIFF SUMMIT
[20] HIGH STANDARDS IN TRNC UNIVERSITIES
[21] ENVIRONMENT AWARD TO PROF. BOYDAK
[22] TRNC FLOOD DISASTER AID
[01] NSC GATHERS TO DISCUSS VITAL ISSUES
The National Security Council (NSC) gathered yesterday at the
Presidential Palace in Ankara to discuss issues vital to the country.
The recent flooding in the western Black Sea region was one of the main
topics during the meeting. The council discussed the necessary measures
to be taken in an effort to cover the millions of dollars in damage.
The meeting, chaired by President Suleyman Demirel, also touched on the
case of Akin Birdal, who was attacked by gunmen two weeks ago. Interior
Minister Murat Basesgioglu gave a briefing on the incident.
Terrorism, the Cyprus missile threat, Greece and Cyprus were among
the the other issues discussed. Ties with Europe were also on the
agenda. Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi also briefed the council about his
recent visit to Russia, from which he returned with positive results.
/All papers/
[02] DENKTAS: "NO NEW IMPROVEMENT"
US special coordinator to Cyprus, Thomas Miller met yesterday with
the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf
Denktas. Evaluating the meeting as "fruitless" Denktas said that if the
European Union (EU) continued with its "double standard" attitude, the
TRNC would intensify efforts to join forces with Turkey. /Sabah/
[03] INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR CASPIAN OIL
At the "The Tale of Two Seas: Black Sea-Caspian Regions
Conference" in Istanbul, proposed pipeline routes for Caspian oil and
natural gas were discussed yesterday. At the conference, Turkey
stressed that it was against the transportation of Caspian oil through
the Turkish Straits. Chairman of the International Energy Agency (IEA),
Robert Priddle said that they supported Turkey's proposals about a
pipeline route for Caspian oil and natural gas.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the US Trade Department, Jan
Kalicki stressed that they were against any pipeline route projects to
transport Caspian oil and natural gas through Iran. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTER GIVES FLOOD DETAILS
Public Works and Housing Minister Yasar Topcu announced yesterday
that the towns of Bartin, Bolu, Zonguldak and Karabuk which are among
the 11 cities hit by the devastating floods and landslides which
happened last week in the western Black Sea and east Mediterranean
regions, will be given special attention. The floods have led to 19
deaths, while eight people are still missing. Topcu noted that his
ministry has taken the necessary measures to prevent further damage and
normalize peoples' lives in the disaster regions , adding that over one
trillion liras had been sent to the regional administrations.
/Milliyet/
[05] ROMANIAN PREMIER CONTINUES HIS VISIT
Romanian Prime Minister Radu Vasile is continuing his official
visit in Turkey. Accompanied by Turkey's Ambassador to Bucharest,
Volkan Bozkir, Vasile met yesterday with president of the Istanbul Stock
Exchange(IMKB), Osman Birsen, who briefed him about the system used by
the IMKB. /Milliyet/
[06] TURKISH-AMERICAN DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN
A delegation from the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations
will visit Istanbul, Ankara and Azerbaijan between May 30-June 10, the
Anatolia news agency reported. President Suleyman Demirel and
Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev are expected to receive the
delegation. The visit aims to bring the members of the Assembly of the
Turkish-American Associations together with representatives of the
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), private sector and state
officials in Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will receive
the delegation on June 5, which will later proceed to Baku on June 6 and
return to the US on June 9.
[07] INTERIOR MINISTER TO VISIT US
Turkish Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu will go to the US on
June 7 to attend a "UN Special Meeting for the Struggle Against Drugs".
The meeting will be held in New York on 8-10 June, the Anatolia news
agency reported. Basesgioglu will return to Turkey on June 11.
[08] TASAR IN ESTONIA
Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mustafa Tasar,
went to Estonia yesterday to participate in the 21st European Regional
Conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to be held
in Tallinn, Estonia on 25-29 May, the Anatolia news agency reported.
[09] US WANTS MORE TRADE WITH TURKEY
US International Trade Undersecretary David L.Aaron, during a press
meeting held prior to a "At the crossroads of the world" conference for
the development of Turkish-US relations, said that during the conference
60 different projects, which will raise Turkish-US relations to a new
level, would be discussed and added that the US wanted to make exports
worth $20 billion to Turkey.
Expressing the important role which Turkey plays in the region,
Aaron noted that with the implementation of the new projects, Turkey's
role in the region would be strengthened. Aaron stated that following a
tax reduction agreement in mutual trade signed in January, Turkish-US
relations registered a significant development. He added that a
decision to increase the US textile quota for Turkey taken in April also
improved relations between the two countries. /Hurriyet/
[10] 10 NEW FERRY-BOATS FOR ITALIAN LINE
The Maritime Undersecretariat has given permission for a total of
seven ferry-boats representing four companies, including two from Greece
and two from Germany, apart from Turkish maritime companies, to sail
between Turkey and Italy. When three Turkish ferry-boats are taken into
consideration, a total of 10 ferry-boats will operate between Turkey and
Italy during this summer. /Hurriyet/
[11] OECD REPORT
A report has been prepared following the meetings of the "Economic
Policies Committee", which is the highest consultation department of the
the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based in
Paris. According to the report, if general elections are held in
Turkey, the rate of inflation will increase. The OECD report also said
that foreign exchange reserves in Turkey could total nearly $20 billion
in 1998. It added that the Turkish economy was continuously growing and
that privatization income was expected to amount to $4-5 billion in 1998
and 1999. /Hurriyet/
[12] US CONCERN OVER S-300 MISSILES
The US administration, which has increased its efforts to defuse
the missile crisis in Cyprus, has harshly warned the Greek Cypriot
Administration regarding the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles.
US officials, who noted that Turkey was determined to eliminate the
missiles, said that the Greek Cypriot Administration would be
responsible for this. /Hurriyet/
[13] BIR IN ISRAEL
Deputy Chief of General Staff Cevik Bir met with Israeli Defense
Minister Izak Mordehay in Tel Aviv yesterday. Gen.Bir was briefed on
the current situation of the Middle East peace process. According to a
later statement made by the Israeli Defense Ministry, Mordehay noted
that he was very pleased with the cooperation between Turkey and Israel
and pointed out the importance of joint exercises to be shared in by the
US and other countries.
Bir said for his part that Turkey had a balancing role in the
region and that Turkey was planning to further develop Turkish-Israeli
relations. Mordehay sent an invitation to Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin to Israel with Gen.Bir. /Hurriyet/
[14] THE GUARDIAN PROPOSES SATELLITE STRUGGLE AGAINST PKK
The Guardian, one of the most influential British newspapers, has
noted that the PKK terrorist organization has lost its power. The same
article in the newspaper noted however that due to technological
developments, MED-TV was making PKK propaganda via satellite. The
newspaper suggested that the Turkish Armed Forces should reinforce the
struggle against the PKK by using satellites as well. /Hurriyet/
[15] MENZIR IN COPENHAGEN
Turkish Minister of Communications and Transportation, Necdet
Menzir, who has gone to Copenhagen to attend a European Transportation
Ministers' meeting, went to Malmo yesterday together with Turkish
Ambassador to Copenhagen Turan Morali and Undersecretary Sureyya Ozden,
and examined the super-fast trains which Turkey wants to purchase from
Sweden. If an agreement is achieved between Turkey and Sweden, Turkey
will purchase 12 of these trains, which are produced in Sweden and
travel at 200 km per hour. The trains carry 260 passengers in four
carriages. /Hurriyet/
[16] US LAWYERS' COMMITTEE VISITS TURKEY
The United States Lawyers' Committee members and professors from
Fordham Law School are visiting Turkey in order to make observations on
the Turkish law system and human rights issues. After a survey in
several Turkish cities, and evaluating to what extent Turkish courts
practice conforms to international human rights standards, the committee
members and law professors have moved on to Diyarbakir where they are
focusing on the activities of Diyarbakir State Security Court.
/Milliyet/
[17] IRANIAN PROPOSALS FOR OIL TRANSPORTATION
The Wall Street Journal has reported in its recent issues that Iran
has developed new projects for the transportation of oil from the
Caspian Sea reserves to the Persian Gulf. Oil transported through Iran
will be transferred to Mobil Oil Company which has officially applied to
the US government for the realization of the project. /Milliyet/
[18] TENSION IN FRENCH-TURCO RELATIONS
The French Parliament has approved discussion of the so-called
Armenian massacre in the General Council. A draft proposal the will be
discussed next Friday in the French Parliament. Diplomatic circles said
yesterday that the approval of the draft about the so-called Armenian
massacare was the result of the lobbying activities of Armenian Prime
Minister Robert Kocaryan. Regarding the Armenian lobby activities in
France, Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz sent a letter to his French
counterpart Lionel Jospin and Speaker of the Parlianment Hikmet Cetin
sent a letter to his French counterpart Laurent Fabius to try to prevent
the final approval of the draft proposal. /Cumhuriyet/Sabah/
[19] TURKEY TO WAIT FOR CARDIFF SUMMIT
Turkey will wait for the Cardiff Summit to be held in June to
re-assess relations with the European Union (EU). Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said yesterday in a press conference that the
expressions used in the Cardiff Summit would play an important role in
evaluating Turco-EU relations. Atacanli stressed that the EU should
change the Luxembourg decisions by lifting political conditions on
Turkey's full EU membership. /Cumhuriyet/Milliyet/
[20] HIGH STANDARDS IN TRNC UNIVERSITIES
Universities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are
being brought up to the same standards as those in Turkey through
academic appointments, academic promotions and transfers between
universities. Chairman of the Higher Education Board (YOK), Kemal Guruz
and TRNC Minister of Education, Culture and Youth, Gunay Caymaz signed
yesterday in Lefkosa a protocol on cooperation in higher education to
improve the educational system in TRNC universities. /Cumhuriyet/Sabah/
[21] ENVIRONMENT AWARD TO PROF. BOYDAK
Dean of the Forestry Faculty of Istanbul University, Prof. Melih
Boydak has been awarded by the United Nations "Global 500 Honour Merit"
award for his support for protection of the environment during his 30
years of professional life. Boydak will be presented with his award on
5 June in Moscow. /Cumhuriyet/
[22] TRNC FLOOD DISASTER AID
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Flag Radio Institute (BRT)
has started an aid campaign in Northern Cyprus to help victims of the
flood disaster which happened in Turkey last week. Nilgun Tumerken,
responsible for BRT foreign relations said that the financial aid
collected within the framework of the campaign would be sent to the
victims of the disaster as soon as possible. /Sabah/
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