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Turkish Press Review, 98-10-28Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>28.10.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] NCS MEETINGTurkey's recent crisis with Syria over the latter's support for the PKK terrorist organization was discussed in the latest monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) yesterday. NSC members decided to monitor Syria's compliance with the recent agreement with Turkey concerning Damascus' promise to stop providing support to the PKK.The NSC, which was presided over by President Suleyman Demirel, issued a statement saying that emergency rule in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Siirt, Sirnak, Tunceli and Van would be extended for four more months starting November 30. According to the statement, the participants 'agreed to continue the struggle against Islamic fundamentalism, separatist terrorism and organized crime with the same determination and efficiency'. The NSC also assessed possible developments in northern Iraq against the PKK's activities there. /All papers/ [02] TURKISH-S.KOREAN ECONOMIC COOPERATIONThe potential for economic cooperation between Turkey and South Korea is very high, according to the South Korean Minister responsible for foreign trade, Dr.Ducksoo Han. Speaking at a meeting of the Turkish-S.Korean Business Council in Istanbul yesterday, Han said that the potential was very high but it had to be evaluated well. Representatives of 20 South Korean companies and organizations are accompanying the minister on his trip.Han signed an agreement on Monday in Ankara to establish committees for both countries in the area of strategic cooperation and these committees are to work on overcoming the problems and difficulties between the two countries. The committee is expected to finish its official contacts today. /Hurriyet/ [03] TDA GRANTS FUNDS TO BOTASThe US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) yesterday provided a $823,000 grant to the Turkish state petroleum pipeline corporation, BOTAS, to encourage construction of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The signing of the grant took place in Istanbul during a seminar on US Trade and Investment in the Caspian region. The grant will allow BOTAS to access US expertise on technical, financial, environmental and legal matters associated with the negotiation of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, as well as the Trans-Caspian pipeline project.Speaking before the signing ceremony, Richard Morningstar, special advisor to the US president and secretary of state for Caspian energy and diplomacy, described the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline as the most commercially viable route for Caspian oil. "Only a pipeline route that avoids the Bosphorus can provide a long-term solution to the problem of Caspian oil exports" Morningstar declared. Meanwhile, Newsweek, one of the noted news magazine in the world, has devoted wide coverage to the transportation of Caspian oils in its recent issue. The magazine noted that the US Commerce Department envoy to the region, Jan Kalicki has said: "Baku-Ceyhan is going to happen. The main reason is that the governments want it, and politics do matter". [04] RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICEThe Russian intelligence service responded to Turkey's assertions that leader of the PKK terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan was near Moscow. According to the Anatolia news agency, Russia's Federal Security Bureau (FSB) said that it had no traces of Ocalan's presence in Russia. "Contacts with Turkish officials are in progress. We have asked Turkish officials whether Ocalan might have entered Russia with a false passport or a false name" said the FSB.[05] THE GUARDIAN: "PKK LEADER MAY GO TO ARMENIA"One of the leading British newspapers, The Guardian claimed in yesterday's issue that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan might go to Armenia and that Turkey and Armenia would live an unexpected crisis for same reasons. In his report Chris Morris said that the tension between Turkey-Syria had been eased with the determination of Turkey. With the agreement reached by Turkey and Syria, Syria had given Turkey the guarantee to stop its support for the separatist terrorist organization. Recalling the claims that PKK leader had went to Russia via either Greece or Armenia, Morris noted that diplomatic circles believed that Abdullah Ocalan might go to Armenia. /Hurriyet/[06] KAVAK: "TOMMOROW IS THE DAY OF UNITY"State Minister Cavit Kavak said yesterday that the state had spent $10 million for the celebration activities of the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. He noted that the 75th year gave an opportunity to evaluate Turkey's losses and earnings. Kavak added that not only public sector but also Turkish private sector gave support to the celebrations. Since the beginning of this week, an advertisement about the Republic of Turkey has been broadcast in American CNN television, added Kavak. /Hurriyet/[07] EYUP ASIK'S RESIGNATION APPROVED BY PARLIAMENTParliament has approved Motherland Party (ANAP) member Eyup Asik's resignation from his ministerial and parliamentary posts. Parliament voted on the issue yesterday, approving his resignation by a vote of 252 in favour and 65 against. /Sabah/[08] TURKISH FOREIGN TRADE DELEGATION IN CHINATurkey has given priority with her relations with China in recent years. Within this scope a delegation formed by representatives of Foreign Trade and members of the Istanbul and Karadeniz Hazelnut Exporters' Union started a visit to China to organize a meeting in order to explain a "Hazelnut Promotion Programme" in China. Turkish officials noted that China with her population over 1.2 billion was an important market for Turkish exporters. It was also noted that hazelnut had the biggest share among Turkey's agricultural products export with an annual $1 billion revenue. /Hurriyet/[09] JIRINOVSKI IN ISTANBULRussian Liberal Democratic Party Leader Vladimir Jirinovski came to Istanbul to attend Turkish-Russian Business Council meetings yesterday. After the meeting Jirinovski said in a press meeting that "Turkey and Russia are neighbours and their future relations are very important. Neither Russia nor Turkey support terrorist activities. We should improve our trade relations to overcome such problems." Jirinovski went to Antalya for a vacation following the meeting. /Hurriyet/[10] TRIPARTITE EXERCISES IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEANTurkey, Israel and the United States of America have agreed to hold tripartite exercises in Eastern Mediterranean. In a statement made by a diplomatic source in Cairo, Egypt, the exercises will be held between 29 November and 3 December. Israel was the country which suggested to hold such exercises for the second time. It is not known whether Jordan which attended the first maneuvers as an observer will participate in these exercises. /Sabah/[11] 'WE DO NOT OBJECT TO TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP'Greece has stated that it did not object to Turkey's membership in the EU, but there still was a long way before its neighbour could be a full-member of the union. Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in a report he submitted to the EU Foreign Ministers' Council meeting in Brussels, said: "Greece believes that Turkey has a future in the European family. We do not unconditionally object to Turkey's membership in the EU." In the report Greece claimed that the reason why Turkey was left outside the union was that Turkey could not meet the criteria set by the EU on democracy, economy and human rights. /Sabah/[12] INCREASE IN NUMBER OF FRENCH TOURISTSIt is reported that there has been an important increase in the number of French tourists visiting Turkey. According to information obtained from the Paris Tourism Office of the Councilor, the number of French tourists who visited Turkey in the first nine months of this year increased by 31.54 % when compared to the corresponding period last year and reached 361,735. The total number of tourists who visited Turkey in the first nine months of this year amounted to 7,843,765, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.Note: On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, Turkish Press Review will not be published until Monday November 2, 1998. Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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