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Turkish Press Review, 98-10-21
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
21.10.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] YILMAZ: "OCALAN IN MOSCOW"
[02] ANAP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING
[03] CHINESE AIR FORCE COMMANDER IN TURKEY
[04] NEW DEPUTY NUMBERS ANNOUNCED
[05] FIRST TOURISM COUNCIL IN ANKARA
[06] US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE EIZENSTAT IN ANKARA
[07] DENKTAS MEETS HERCUS
[08] GAP REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GOODS
[09] TURKEY AND TURKMENISTAN INITIAL A NATURAL GAS AGREEMENT
[10] FORBES SPECIAL TURKISH SUPPLEMENT
[11] IRAN CAUTIOUS ABOUT TURCO-SYRIAN CRISIS
[12] THREE TURKISH COMPANIES TO COMPETE IN EUROPE
[13] TURKISH NOKTA NET IN 150 COUNTRIES
[14] 134,996 FOREIGNERS IN TURKEY
[15] TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN IZMIR
[01] YILMAZ: "OCALAN IN MOSCOW"
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday confirmed that the PKK
leader Abdullah Ocalan has been spotted in a Moscow suburb.
Responding to reporters in Ankara, Yilmaz said that Turkey has
already made all necessary diplomatic efforts to Russia to ask
the extradition of the PKK leader. Yilmaz told reporters that
Ocalan has been in Moscow for a week, adding that he hoped that
Russian officials would respond to the Turkish requests as soon
as possible.
Meanwhile, following meetings between Turkish and Syrian
officials which lasted for two days in Adana, Syria agreed that
it would sever all its connections with the PKK and its leader
Abdullah Ocalan. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem noted
yesterday that in an accord achieved between Turkey and Syria,
commitments were made by Syria to ease Turkey's security
concerns. Cem said that the accord was signed by Deputy
Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Ambassador Ugur
Ziyal and Political Security Chief of Syria Major General Badr Al
Hassan. In the accord, Syrian officials described the PKK as a
terrorist organization. Cem added that Turkey was expecting Syria
to carry out all its commitments on this issue. /Sabah/
[02] ANAP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING
The Motherland Party (ANAP) parliamentary group held a three-hour
meeting yesterday to discuss the election date and to determine
the party stance pertaining to early elections. Prime Minister
and Chairman of the ANAP Mesut Yilmaz stated that scheduling
elections for December would not provide any advantage for the
country. /All papers/
[03] CHINESE AIR FORCE COMMANDER IN TURKEY
The political commissioner of the Chinese Air Force, Gen.Ding
Wenchang, visited Turkish Air Force Commander Gen.Ilhan Kilic
yesterday, the Anatolia news agency reported. Ding Wenchang was
greeted by Kilic at a ceremony at the Air Force Headquarters.
Kilic told reporters that he would discuss defense industry
matters and possible reciprocal training cooperation between the
air forces of the two countries.
[04] NEW DEPUTY NUMBERS ANNOUNCED
The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) has determined the number of
deputies to be elected from each province in the upcoming
elections. According to the results of the calculations,
Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir will have the highest number of
deputies. Ankara and Izmir will be divided into two
constituencies and Istanbul into three. In yesterday's issue of
the Official Gazette, it was reported that the data received from
the census held in November 1997 was used to calculate the number
of deputies for each city. /Sabah/
[05] FIRST TOURISM COUNCIL IN ANKARA
The First Tourism Council of Turkey started in Ankara yesterday.
President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and
Tourism Minister Ibrahim Gurdal each gave speeches at the opening
of the council. Yilmaz stated that Turkey was among the 20
countries with the highest share of tourism in the world.
President Demirel noted the rapid development of tourism in
Turkey in the last half century. Demirel indicated that by 2010,
1 billion tourists and earnings $2 quadrillion has been estimated
worldwide. Turkey must attract as its share at least 25 million
tourists and earn $20 billion, he insisted. /Sabah/
[06] US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE EIZENSTAT IN ANKARA
US Undersecretary of State Stuart E.Eizenstat arrived in Ankara
yesterday to attend the Fifth Joint Economic Commission meeting
between Turkey and the US. Eizenstat had talks with State
Minister Gunes Taner and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem yesterday,
and will meet State Minister Isin Celebi and Energy Minister
Cumhur Ersumer today. Eizenstat will also hold a joint press
conference with Turkish Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Yavuz Ege
today. The US official and his delegation will focus on bilateral
economic, trade, energy, investment and finance matters.
[07] DENKTAS MEETS HERCUS
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf
Denktas will meet today with UN resident envoy in Cyprus Ann
Hercus, who has launched a shuttle diplomacy between the two
sides on the island. The talks are aimed at defusing the tension
on the island and completing a confidence-building-measures
package that was negotiated over the past few years but never
finalized.
[08] GAP REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL GOODS
The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) exported $53.5 million of
agricultural goods to the Turkish-Speaking Republics in nine
months, the Anatolia news agency reports. The exports of the GAP
to the region increased by 23.1 % compared with the same period
last year. Officials from the Union of Southeastern Anatolian
Exporters said that the GAP region exported $9.6 million worth of
cereals-pulses, $74,000 of dried fruit and $43.6 million of
textiles to Turkish-Speaking Republics between January-September
1998.
[09] TURKEY AND TURKMENISTAN INITIAL A NATURAL GAS AGREEMENT
An agreement foreseeing the purchase of natural gas from
Turkmenistan and the transport of it to Turkey via pipelines, was
initialed in Ashkabad, the capital of Turkmenistan, yesterday,
the Anatolia news agency reports. The mentioned agreement is
expected to be signed during the Turkmen President Saparmurat
Turkmenbasi's visit to Turkey on October 29.
Turkmenbasi met with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Cumhur Ersumer yesterday. Ersumer gave a speech and
thanked Turkmenbasi for his contributions to the realization of
the project.
[10] FORBES SPECIAL TURKISH SUPPLEMENT
The Forbes Global Business-Finance magazine published by the
Forbes, which is a prestigious magazine in the US business world,
has prepared a special supplement which promotes the Turkish
business world. The supplement published on October 19 pointed
out that Turkey's economic dynamism which she has achieved in 75
years' time was remarkable and encouraging. The supplement also
devoted wide coverage to the views of the Head of the Istanbul
Stock Exchange (IMKB) Osman Birsen and noted that Ahmet Nazif
Zorlu and Ahmet Oztek were among the most dynamic entrepreneurs.
/Sabah/
[11] IRAN CAUTIOUS ABOUT TURCO-SYRIAN CRISIS
Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi called on his Turkish
counterpart Ismail Cem yesterday to give information about a
meeting between Turkish and Syrian officials in Seyhan, Adana.
Ismail Cem evaluated the results of the meeting to Harrazi,
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Tehran Radio announced yesterday that Iran welcomed
the Turco-Syrian meeting adding that Foreign Minister Kemal
Harrazi, who is the term chairman of the Organization for Islamic
Conference, would continue his efforts to ease the tension
between Turkey and Syria. /Hurriyet/
[12] THREE TURKISH COMPANIES TO COMPETE IN EUROPE
Turkish private companies Arcelik, Netas and Beko will be
competitors at the European Quality Congress to be held between
21-23 October in Paris. Arcelik and Netas will compete with nine
European firms in the category of big companies. Beko will
compete in the Small and Middle-Scale Enterprises category. The
Congress will be organized by the European Quality Organization.
/Hurriyet/
[13] TURKISH NOKTA NET IN 150 COUNTRIES
Turkish users will easily communicate with INTERNET from
everywhere around the world. Turkish Nokta Net company started
international roaming services in 150 countries via more than
3,000 communications point. Turkish Nokta Net General Manager
Ahmet Yurekli said that the bill for such communications can be
paid at the end of every month directly to his company.
/Hurriyet/
[14] 134,996 FOREIGNERS IN TURKEY
134,996 foreigners from 72 countries are living in Turkey for
educational, scientific research and treatment purposes.
Bulgarians are the most crowded population among foreigners in
Turkey. Moreover, 530,567 people have applied to the Turkish
authorized departments for the right of asylum. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN IZMIR
As a result of an accident happened close to Izmir Adnan Menderes
Airport on 19 October six people died and 38 were injured.
Officials reported that injured people were still under treatment
at Izmir Dokuz Eylul and Ataturk Training Hospitals. /Cumhuriyet/
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