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Turkish Press Review, 98-10-14
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
14.10.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY'S PATIENCE WORN OUT
[02] DEMIREL: "A CLASH IS THE LAST RESORT"
[03] MOSSAD: "APO IS IN RUSSIA"
[04] SYRIA SUMMIT IN ANKARA
[05] "PKK LEADER IS NOT IN SYRIA"
[06] SHARA: "NO OBSTACLE TO AGREEMENT"
[07] SYRIAN OBSTACLE TO TURKISH BORDER TRADE
[08] JORDAN SUPPORTS TURKEY'S POLICY
[09] YILMAZ-SIMITIS
[10] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANKARA'S PROCLAMATION AS THE CAPITAL
[11] THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PKK WILL BE EXPLAINED TO ITALY
[12] YUGOSLAVIA JOINS BALKAN NATIONS IN COMMON POSITION ON KOSOVO
[13] SPEAKER OF POLISH PARLIAMENT IN ANKARA
[14] WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION PRAISES TURKEY
[15] DINCMEN: "CHANGING TARGETS DO NOT AFFECT IMF AGREEMENT"
[16] FIRST FINANCE FAIR
[17] ALIYEV'S GUARANTEE FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
[18] FOREST FIRES
[19] FRENCH-TURKISH TRADE RELATIONS
[20] EXPO BUILDING FAIR OPENED
[01] TURKEY'S PATIENCE WORN OUT
Turkey, while expecting Syria to take concrete steps to resolve
deepening tensions, is preparing for military exercises in
Southeast Anatolia at the beginning of November. Chief of General
Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu visiting units in the region
said: "Turkey cannot allow this situation to go on any longer."
In another development Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin said that
they were under the impression that Ocalan, the leader of the PKK
terrorist organisation, had left Syria. The messages Syria has
conveyed to Turkish leaders through the mediation efforts of
Egytian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa have been received with
caution by political party leaders in the Turkish Grand National
Assembly. While Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy Agah Oktay Guner,
said that Syrian Head of State Hafiz Esad was trying to gain
time, the CHP leader Deniz Baykal said that preparations should
not be suspended without seeing concrete developments from the
Syrian side." /Cumhuriyet/
[02] DEMIREL: "A CLASH IS THE LAST RESORT"
President Suleyman Demirel received chairman of the Turkish-Greek
Friendship Group, Hakan Tartan, and some members of the group
yesterday and stressed that when a situation was a "powder-keg" a
small spark would suffice to start a war. He added that an armed
clash between countries should be a "last resort" in conflicts
between countries. Demirel said: "If we cannot improve the
situation we should try at least not to worsen it." He pointed
out that in Greece harsh criticisms were directed against
politicians who preferred to solve problems through peaceful
means. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] MOSSAD: "APO IS IN RUSSIA"
Following claims that the leader of the PKK terrorist
organization Abdullah Ocalan (Apo) has left Syria, Israeli
intelligence is evaluating claims that Apo may have gone to
Russia. It is claimed that Ocalan departed from Syria three days
ago and went to Russia. A high-level official from the Israeli
Intelligence Service (MOSSAD) said yesterday that he had
important evidence that Apo has gone from Syria to Russia.
Meanwhile, it is reported by Turkish Intelligence Service
officials that their own investigations are continuing. On the
other hand, Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arsen Gasparyan
noted that news claiming that Ocalan is in Armenia was unfounded.
/Hurriyet/
[04] SYRIA SUMMIT IN ANKARA
The Chief of General Staff, the Foreign Ministry and the National
Intelligence Service (MIT) held a meeting yesterday in Ankara to
discuss the Turco-Syrian crisis. Deputy Chief of General Staff,
Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir,
MIT Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun, Chief of General Staff Action
Department Lt-General Yasar Buyukanit and other high-ranking
officials attended the meeting. After the meeting it was
announced that Syria's response conveyed to President Suleyman
Demirel on Monday by Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, and
recent information about PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's whereabout
were discussed at the meeting. It was also reported that a
high-ranking Foreign Ministry official would go to Arab the
countries to give brifings about the Turkish-Syrian crisis.
/Sabah/
[05] "PKK LEADER IS NOT IN SYRIA"
National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin said yesterday that PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan was not in Syria territories. Sezgin noted
that Syria had stopped PKK camp activities in the Bekaa Valley.
Sezgin added that a committee including officials from the
Foreign Ministry, MIT, Office of the Chief of General Staff and
the Security Department would inquire into PKK activities in
Syrian and Lebanese territories under the control of Syria.
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] SHARA: "NO OBSTACLE TO AGREEMENT"
Following a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mossa, who
visited Damascus after completing his one-day visit to Ankara,
Syrian Foreign Minister Faruk el-Shara said that Turkey had
always been a friend of Syria and other Arab countries. Shara
added that since the beginning of the crisis between the two
countries, they had tried to solve the problem through diplomatic
ways and did not see any obstacle to new agreements.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said that they had tried to
organize a meeting between Turkish and Syrian Foreign Ministers
for sometime next week.
On the other hand, Ankara is very careful about the mild
statements of Faruk el-Shara, and diplomatic sources yesterday
added that Turkey would continue its diplomatic attack supported
by military determination. /Milliyet/
[07] SYRIAN OBSTACLE TO TURKISH BORDER TRADE
Syria aims to decrease the trade volume between Turkey and
Northern Iraq by opening up three border customs points. Turkish
businessmen examined these customs facilities last week and found
that Syria was not applying customs tax on any goods. The
businessmen reported that this application was aimed at
decreasing the trade volume of Turkey. /Milliyet/
[08] JORDAN SUPPORTS TURKEY'S POLICY
Jordanian Prince Hasan Bin Talal said yesterday in a special
interview with Milliyet daily newspaper that the PKK problem was
a reality and that Syria should prove with concrete evidence that
there were no PKK members in Syria. Turkey has long been
suffering from terrorist attacks during which many people have
lost their lives. Finally, Turkey's rightful stance should be
well understood by international circles, said Hasan Bin Talal,
adding that Jordan had always supported Turkey's struggle against
terrorism. /Milliyet/
[09] YILMAZ-SIMITIS
At the end of a meeting of the Prime Ministers of the
Southeastern European Countries, Turkish Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz and his Greek counterpart Kostas Simitis held a joint
press conference. Yilmaz said that Turkey could not endure
anylonger Syrian support for terrorist activities, adding that
the Turkish government was determined to stop foreign support for
separatist activities. Simitis said for his part that Greece was
against terrorist activities and that Greek security units did
not tolerate PKK activities in Greece. On Turkey-Greece
relations, Simitis said the authority of the Hague International
Court of Justice should be accepted. /Milliyet/
[10] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANKARA'S PROCLAMATION AS THE CAPITAL
The 75th anniversary of Ankara's proclamation as the capital of
Turkey was celebrated yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel
stated that choosing Ankara as the state capital was one of the
important turning points in Turkish history and added: "Ankara as
the capital symbolizes the existence of the Turkish Republic till
eternity." /Cumhuriyet/
[11] THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PKK WILL BE EXPLAINED TO ITALY
The Turkish parliament is sending a set of books and booklets,
including pictures of children killed during bloody attacks
carried out by PKK terrorists, to the Italian Parliament even now
preparing to embrace the Armenians after opening their doors to
the so-called Kurdish parliament-in-exile. The TGNA will invite a
large group of deputies from Italy to explain Turkey's position
to them. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] YUGOSLAVIA JOINS BALKAN NATIONS IN COMMON POSITION ON KOSOVO
In line with the apparent thawing of Yugoslavian President
Slobodan Milosevic's position on the Kosovo conflict, the
Yugoslavian delegation participating in the Balkan summit in
Antalya reached a compromise with its counterparts, and the
summit ended yesterday with a joint declaration calling for the
implementation of UN resolutions on the issue. Although the
Albanian delegation also made considerable concessions and signed
the declaration, it did not openly condemn Yugoslavia.
The declaration calls on all parties in the Kosovo dispute to
agree to an immediate cessation of violence, the inauguration of
immediate dialogue without preconditions, a political solution
based on Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and a large degree of
autonomy and self-government for Kosovo. Speaking after the
meeting, the Turkish Prime Minister defined the summit as a
"political and diplomatic success" and emphasized that it had
been the only international gathering in which Yugoslavia had
participated on an equal footing. The Balkan countries also
agreed to increase economic cooperation and signed an agreement
on the establishment of a Trade Promotion Centre to be based in
Ankara. /All papers/
[13] SPEAKER OF POLISH PARLIAMENT IN ANKARA
Speaker of the Polish Parliament Maciej Plazynski will meet with
his Turkish counterpart Hikmet Cetin today. Plazynski and an
accompanying delegation will first visit Ataturk's Mausoleum
today. The delegation will later meet with Hasan Korkmazcan,
Acting Speaker of the Turkish Parliament and Chairman of the
Turkish-Polish Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem. The delegation will visit Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz on Thursday and will also be received by President
Suleyman Demirel. Plazynski will leave Turkey on Thursday, while
the delegation will depart from Turkey on October 17 after making
contacts in Istanbul, the Anatolia news agency reports.
[14] WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION PRAISES TURKEY
A report prepared by the World Trade Organization (WTO) notes
that Turkey's trade agreements with the European Union (EU) have
helped the development of the business atmosphere for foreign
investors. The report says that together with structural and
legal reforms, the Customs Union (CU) agreement signed between
Turkey and the EU created access to a more secure business
atmosphere and market for all investors in Turkey. The report
points out that reforms will provide important benefits for the
Turkish economy. The report gives detailed technical information
regarding the CU agreement and recalls that Turkey is trying to
harmonize its own legal procedures with those of the EU.
/Hurriyet/
[15] DINCMEN: "CHANGING TARGETS DO NOT AFFECT IMF AGREEMENT"
Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen noted yesterday that the
revision of inflation targets would not create any problems from
the standpoint of the Monitoring Agreement signed between Turkey
and the IMF.
An IMF delegation led by Turkey-desk chief Martin Hardy arrived
in Ankara yesterday. The delegation will hold talks with
high-ranking Turkish finance bureaucrats on the economic
achievements of 1998 and the objectives for 1999. Before the
arrival of the IMF delegation, Treasury bureaucrats announced
that the objectives set for 1998 will be achieved and that the
IMF is expected to express positive opinions on the performance
of the Turkish economy. /All papers/
[16] FIRST FINANCE FAIR
An International Finance, Banking and Financial Technology Fair
will be opened in Istanbul on November 19. It is reported that
the first finance fair of Turkey carries great importance because
it shows not only the developments achieved in the financial
sector for 75 years but also demonstrates Turkey's place in the
world economy and sheds light on the future of the Turkish
financial sector. /Hurriyet/
[17] ALIYEV'S GUARANTEE FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
Azerbaijani Head of State Haydar Aliyev held a press conference
yesterday and said that he had always supported the Baku-Ceyhan
pipeline project. Aliyev added: "When I come to Turkey for the
celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, I
would like to sign an agreement for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
project".
Meanwhile, the US State Department made a statement yesterday and
said that the US continued to support the Baku-Ceyhan oil
pipeline project. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said:
"When Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said that the US
supports Turkey regarding the oil pipelines, he was absolutely
right. We will continue to keep our promise on this issue".
/Hurriyet/
[18] FOREST FIRES
A total 50-acres of forests have been destroyed by fire in the
Toprakkale district of Osmaniye, and the Kuzuculu and Ulucinar
districts of Hatay. It is reported that efforts to extinguish the
fires are continuing. /Hurriyet/
[19] FRENCH-TURKISH TRADE RELATIONS
French State Minister responsible for foreign trade, Jacques
Dondoux, yesterday evaluated Turkey's political and commercial
relations with France. Noting that France was in fourth place
among the countries exporting goods to Turkey Dondoux said:
"Turkey is our second client after the China-Hong Kong group
among the developing markets." State Minister Dondoux also said
that they wanted to buy Turkish Telekom which is going to be
privatized. /Cumhuriyet/
[20] EXPO BUILDING FAIR OPENED
Expo Building "Construction and Building Equipment Fair" to
improve trade in these sectors between Turkey and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was opened yesterday. 70
firms from Turkey are participating in the fair. It is aimed at
supporting the "bag trade" and erasing the bad image of Turkish
products in the CIS. /Cumhuriyet/
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