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Turkish Press Review, 98-06-18
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
18.06.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] PM YILMAZ GOES TO ROMANIA
[02] COMMANDERS HOLD CYPRUS MEETING
[03] KARADAYI GOING TO US
[04] TURKISH REACTION TO AEGEAN ISLANDS STATEMENT
[05] SUMMER OVERTIME FOR TURKISH PARLIAMENT
[06] IMF DELEGATION CONTACTS
[07] EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR: "THE CARGO DOES NOT BELONG TO US"
[08] TURKISH VESSELS IN KYRENIA
[09] ATHENS ANGRY ABOUT CLINTON COMMENT
[10] EP REJECTS ARMENIAN BILL
[11] ANNAN CALLS FOR NEGOTIATIONS
[12] HIGH COURT REJECTS THERMAL POWER PLANTS
[13] TWO MPs RESIGN FROM ANAP
[14] TURKEY-CROATIA TO INTENSIFY JOINT COMBAT AGAINST CRIME
[15] IRANIAN DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER IN ANKARA
[16] TURK CONTINUES CONTACTS IN WASHINGTON
[17] NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN-TURKISH CONSORTIUM OPENS FACTORY IN GEBZE
[18] COOPERATION BETWEEN THY-UZBEK AIRLINES
[19] "COOPERATION PARTNERSHIP '98" NAVAL EXERCISE STARTS IN ROMANIA
[20] UTKAN EVALUATES CARDIFF SUMMIT
[21] BRITISH PRESS COVERS CARDIFF SUMMIT
[22] OSMANLI BANK JOINS EUROPEAN BANKING ASSOCIATION
[23] SWITZERLAND WANTS TURKISH CONSULATE MOVED
[24] PKK ATTACKS WORKERS
[01] PM YILMAZ GOES TO ROMANIA
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz went yesterday morning to the Romanian
capital of Bucharest to pay an official visit to his Romanian
counterpart Rodu Vaslia, the Anatolia news agency reports.
[02] COMMANDERS HOLD CYPRUS MEETING
Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Deputy Chief of
General Staff Gen.Cevik Bir, force commanders and other high-level
military officials held an extra-ordinary meeting yesterday and
evaluated the Greek-Greek Cypriot military doctrine, which became
concrete with the landing of Greek airplanes on the Cyprus Paphos Base,
and the Turkish measures to be taken in response. The military
officials, who noted that Greek and Greek Cypriots had entered the last
phase of an integration process between their military institutions,
decided to take similar measures between Turkey and the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The officials said that the Greek Cypriot
Administration was spending $2 billion daily on defense, and that Greece
was increasing its military presence in southern Cyprus and that these
policies were raising the tension in Cyprus. The military commanders
decided to take every deterrent measure against Greece and the Greek
Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] KARADAYI GOING TO US
The US Defense Department has confirmed that Chief of Turkish
General Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi will visit the United
States. Pentagon Spokesman Kenneth Bacon told reporters in Washington
that Greek Defense Minister Akis Tshohatzopoulos and Karadayi will be
visiting the US. Bacon also said that the Pentagon was happy to hear of
the recent intention of both sides to fully implement the
confidence-building measures agreed upon between Turkish and Greek
Foreign Ministers in 1989. During Tsohatzopoulos and Karadayi's visits
to Washington, it is expected that the issue of the Russian sale of
surface-to-air S-300 missiles to the Greek Cypriot Administration will
be highly placed on the agenda. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] TURKISH REACTION TO AEGEAN ISLANDS STATEMENT
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan yesterday
criticized a statement made by US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns,
who said: "Four islands are under Greek sovereignty", and noted that
the geopraphical status between Turkey and Greece was not under third
country jurisdiction. Utkan said: "Turkey's stance regarding the
islands and islets in the Aegean, which were not given to Greece through
international agreements, has been declared to the public through
several statements. We made proposals to Greece in February and March
regarding Turkey's views for the solution to this problem and other
issues in the Aegean". /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
[05] SUMMER OVERTIME FOR TURKISH PARLIAMENT
It has been decided that the Turkish Parliament will work also in
July to enact many new laws, especially the tax reform draft. Work will
continue on the draft bill on weekdays between 14.00-24.00 until a
second decision is announced. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] IMF DELEGATION CONTACTS
An IMF delegation, which is currently holding contacts in Turkey,
has begun to discuss the provisions of a 'Staff Monitoring Programme'.
Head of IMF-Turkish Desk Martin Hardy and First Deputy Chairman Stanley
Fischer held contacts at the Treasury Undersecretariat yesterday. Hardy
noted that many issues, including the monitoring programme, which can be
viewed as "spiritual support" rather than financial support, and support
for credibility would be taken up. Hardy said: "If an election is
held, we believe that the programme will continue. The election will
not affect the Staff Monitoring Programme". Hardy added: "Meetings
will continue next week in Washington. Turkish State Minister Gunes
Taner will sign an agreement with the World Bank and will also visit the
IMF". The IMF delegation will leave Turkey on June 22. /Cumhuriyet/
[07] EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR: "THE CARGO DOES NOT BELONG TO US"
Egyptian Ambassador to Ankara Mohammed Elmahdy Fathala stated
yesterday that the cargo in the vessel registered in Malta, which was
stopped by Turkey in the Dardanelles Straits on suspicion that it was
carrying launching ramps for S-300 missiles to be delivered to the Greek
Cypriot Administration, was not on the way to Egypt. Fathala noted that
he had learned the cargo was under consignment to a private firm called
'Osman Ahmed Osman' in Egypt from Turkish Foreign Ministry officials and
said that the Egyptian government had no connection with the issue.
/Milliyet/
[08] TURKISH VESSELS IN KYRENIA
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf
Denktas received yesterday the commanders of the naval vessels, which
have been arriving in the ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta within the
framework of the Seawolf'98 exercise. Denktas noted that the visits of
these vessels gave confidence to the people of the TRNC. The vessels
will stay in the TRNC until Sunday. /Milliyet/
[09] ATHENS ANGRY ABOUT CLINTON COMMENT
The Greek Elefteros Tipos and Avgi newspapers made strong comments
yesterday regarding US President Bill Clinton's suggestions to Greece
for lifting the Greek veto on Turkey, describing Clinton's suggestions
as "rude pressure". The Athinaiki newspaper stated that Greek Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis had "bravely rejected" Clinton's proposal.
/Milliyet/
[10] EP REJECTS ARMENIAN BILL
The European Parliament (EP) has not included a proposed bill,
which calls for the recognition of a so-called Armenian genocide by
Turks, on its agenda. As the result of a vote held yesterday evening, a
proposal to put the bill on the EP agenda was rejected by 299 votes
against 70. Eight members abstained. Deputies from Christian Democrat,
Socialist and Liberal Groups noted that Turco-European relations were
already going through a difficult time and that approval of the bill
would only increase tensions. /Milliyet/
[11] ANNAN CALLS FOR NEGOTIATIONS
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday that it was very
disturbing that during the last six months the two sides in Cyprus had
not convened, and called upon Turkish and Greek Cypriots to avoid
actions that could increase the tension in Cyprus. Annan noted that his
special envoy Diego Cordovez would visit the island in the forthcoming
weeks. Annan voiced his views in a report which he presented to the UN
Security Council yesterday. /Milliyet/
[12] HIGH COURT REJECTS THERMAL POWER PLANTS
The Council of State has upheld an Aydin Administrative Court
ruling, which earlier ordered a halt to the operation of thermal power
plants in Gokova, Yatagan, Kemerkoy and Yenikoy. The high court pointed
out that since the power plants in question do not have filters, plant
waste has had an adverse impact on the environment.
/Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
[13] TWO MPs RESIGN FROM ANAP
Two Motherland Party (ANAP) deputies, Ibrahim Yazici from Bursa and
Rasim Zaimoglu from Giresun, resigned from the party on Wednesday.
While their resignation brought ANAP seats in Parliament down to 138, it
raised the number of independents to 14. /All papers/
[14] TURKEY-CROATIA TO INTENSIFY JOINT COMBAT AGAINST CRIME
Turkey and Croatia have stepped up joint efforts to carry out a
more effective offensive against drug-trafficking and other crimes,
reports the Anatolia news agency. The interior ministers of the two
countries, Murat Basesgioglu of Turkey and Ivan Penic of Croatia, came
together in Izmir yesterday to discuss bilateral issues, particularly
the fight against drug-trafficking and the deterioration of the
situation in Yugoslavia's province of Kosovo. Speaking during the
meeting, Basesgioglu emphasized the importance of cooperation in
fighting against drug-trafficking, and called for more attention to the
role of the PKK in both drug-production and distribution.
[15] IRANIAN DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER IN ANKARA
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin received
yesterday Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Gholamhossein Boladian in
Ankara, reports the Anatolia news agency. The Iranian official and his
delegation are in Turkey to attend a High Security Commission meetings.
Sezgin said after receiving Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Boladian
that he hoped that the good relations between Turkey and Iran would
continue in other areas. Boladian said for his part that he believed
his visit would further revitalize bilateral relations.
[16] TURK CONTINUES CONTACTS IN WASHINGTON
Hikmet Sami Turk, State Minister responsible for human rights, met
with US Attorney General Janet Reno on Wednesday, reports the Anatolia
news agency. Turk will meet with US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright today. Turk is expected to meet with members of the local
Turkish-American community in Chicago.
[17] NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN-TURKISH CONSORTIUM OPENS FACTORY IN GEBZE
A Norwegian-American partnership, Kenmore Brazeway, has set-up
joint-venture with Turkish Karyer AS to produce No Frost Evaporators for
refrigerators and freezers, reports the Anatolia news agency. The
consortium opened a new factory yesterday in Gebze. Total investment
for the new company is about $2 million and its main marketing
operations will be in Central Asia.
[18] COOPERATION BETWEEN THY-UZBEK AIRLINES
According to the Anatolia news agency, Turkish Airlines (THY) and
Uzbek Airlines have signed a protocol which foresees cooperation in
transportation, training and technical areas. The protocol was signed
by Vural Akgun and Cemil Kayhan, deputy general directors of THY and
Uzbek Airlines officials in Tashkent.
[19] "COOPERATION PARTNERSHIP '98" NAVAL EXERCISE STARTS IN ROMANIA
Four former eastern block countries and five NATO member countries
have started 12-day sea exercises along the Romania coasts, reports the
Anatolia news agency. 42 ships and 3,800 sailors from Turkey, the US,
Greece, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Ukraine has rendezvoused
at Constantza harbour. It was reported that the aim of the exercise was
to ensure harmony between military forces of the countries attending the
NATO Partnership for Peace Programme.
[20] UTKAN EVALUATES CARDIFF SUMMIT
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said yesterday that Turkey
had hoped that the European Union (EU) would discuss the results of the
Luxembourg summit during the Cardiff summit, reported the Anatolia news
agency yesterday. He added: "It was expected that the EU would make a
realistic evaluation and reevaluate the results of the Luxembourg
summit. However, the EU has shown no political determination because of
pressure from Greece. Utkan also stressed that the EU will have to
continue to carry the responsibility for the seemingly hopeless
situation in Cyprus.
[21] BRITISH PRESS COVERS CARDIFF SUMMIT
The Independent newspaper commented yesterday on the European
Union's Cardiff Summit where Turkey again faced Greek opposition. The
paper criticized the Greek attitude toward Turkey, calling it "hostile".
It said the Cardiff summit produced no improvement regarding Turkey's
position; neither attempting to include Turkey among full membership
candidates, nor proposing financial aid despite the Greek embargo. In
the paper France's efforts to counteract the opposition is also
mentioned, whereas Germany is seen as one of the countries opposing
Turkey's membership. /Hurriyet/
[22] OSMANLI BANK JOINS EUROPEAN BANKING ASSOCIATION
While celebrating its 135th year in banking, the Osmanli Bank has
joined the EABH, an association of Europe's at least one century old
banks. The Association, comprised of 23 banks from 11 different
countries, especially deals with historical research into banking.
General Manager of the Osmanli Bank, Aslan Acar, said yesterday that the
board of the Association was interested in the bank's archives and would
soon come to Istanbul to examine them. /Hurriyet/
[23] SWITZERLAND WANTS TURKISH CONSULATE MOVED
According to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the
Turkish Consulate-General in Zurich is in trouble with finding a new
building for its offices, following a refusal by the building's owner to
renew contracts. Zurich Municipality has disapproved two places
proposed as the consulate's new buildings on the grounds of written
complaints by neighbouring Swiss people. Ambassador to Bern Taner
Baytok has applied to the federal government requesting diplomatic
intervention to resolve the difficulty. /Hurriyet/
[24] PKK ATTACKS WORKERS
PKK terrorists attacked yesterday evening workers employed on the
Ozluce Dam near Elazig in southeastern Anatolia, killing two of them and
injuring seven. Meanwhile security forces killed yesterday three PKK
terrorists responsible for the murder of nine civilians in a recent
attack on a minibus. /Hurriyet/
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