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Turkish Press Review, 98-11-09Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>09.11.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] BARZANI AND TALABANI HOLD ANKARA SUMMITThe Iraqi Kurdish leaders held a summit in Ankara yesterday, discussing Mesud Barzani's meetings with Turkish officials last week and Celal Talabani's contacts with authorities in Ankara in the upcoming days. Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Barzani briefed Leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Talabani about his meetings with Turkish government officials and the military and about Turkish expectations from the latter.Talabani, accompanied by Barham Saleh, the PUK Washington representative and Muhammed Tofiq, a member of the PUK political bureau, will be received by senior Foreign Ministry officials today and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit tomorrow. He will leave Ankara on Thursday for Tehran and Damascus. Barzani reportedly told Talabani that Ankara wants assurances that Talabani will keep his word to remove the PKK from northern Iraq as was stipulated in the Washington agreement. Talabani told Barzani he would obey the Washington accord and do whatever is necessary against the PKK terrorist organization. /All papers/ [02] ANKARA WARNS MOSCOW OVER OCALANAnkara has warned that the presence of the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, in Moscow may cause cracks in bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Russia's Interfax agency quoted Turkey's Ambassador to Russia Nabi Sensoy as saying: "Following the Duma's decision, Russia should guarantee Turkey that they won't grant political asylum to Ocalan". Sensoy noted that Ocalan is responsible for the deaths of 30,000 people in Turkey, including women and children, and reminded the Russians that Ocalan is also wanted by Interpol.Meanwhile, Germany's weekly magazine Focus has reported that the head of the PKK would prefer Belgium as his new safe haven. After extensive pressure from Turkey, Ocalan was recently forced out of Syria. [03] WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN ISTANBULThe World Economic Forum's (WEF) meeting in Turkey started yesterday in Istanbul. Monday's meetings will include an assessment of Turkey's new leadership, as well as discussions on Turkey's energy industry and key export-oriented industries for Turkey in the 21st century. Investments in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), surviving global volatility, travel and tourism, the prospects of Turkish-Russian business relations, Turkish-Greek business relations, the prospects for Turkish-European relations under the German-EU presidency, the geopolitical impact of the Turkish-Israeli axis, banking and investments will also be discussed.The final plenary session will include an address by President Suleyman Demirel on the "Changing Geo-Economic and Political Position of Turkey". /All papers/ [04] SEZGIN IN BULGARIAFollowing heated competition between Balkan nations to host the multi-national southeastern European peacekeeping force, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin has voiced Turkey's support for the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv as the first headquarters of the force. "We are giving our full support to Plovdiv", Sezgin told reporters in Sofia, where he arrived on Friday for a three-day official visit. Sezgin's Bulgarian counterpart, Georgi Ananiyev, expressed his gratitude for Turkey's backing. On Saturday and Sunday, Sezgin visited several defense industry plants and a military academy.In a clear sign of the positive state of relations between Turkey and Bulgaria, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay a visit there on November 11-12. Following Ecevit's visit, Education Minister Hikmet Ulugbay will be in Bulgaria on November 25. /All papers/ [05] TURKISH COMMERCIAL FLEET DOUBLESThe number of commercial Turkish ships has increased from 601 to 848 in the last 10 years, doubling transportation capacity. According to information obtained by the Anatolia news agency from the Maritime Undersecretariat, the number of ships in 1987 larger than 300 gross tonnage (GRT) was 601 and their transportation capacity was 5,387,000 deadweight (DWT, long tons, 2,240 pounds). This rose to 848 ships and 9,952,000 DWT this year. Of the 1,197 ships over 150 GRT in the Turkish commercial fleet, the 17th largest in the world, 282 are owned by the public sector and the remaining 715 by the private sector.[06] TAX REFORM PROVES TO BE FRUITFULThe tax reform has begun to bear its first fruits. According to calculations made by the Finance Ministry, state tax revenues will be TL 450 trillion more than estimated in 1998. The increase is a result of measures taken against the underground economy and more frequent inspections made in an effort to stop tax evasion. Although TL 8.9 quadrillion of tax income was forecast for the 1998 budget, this figure has now been revised to TL 9.35 quadrillion.[07] AMBASSADOR OF AUSTRALIA VISITS MT.NEMRUTAustralian Ambassador Ian Forsyth visited the world's eight wonder Mt.Nemrut. Forsyth, who came to the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region for a five-day visit, said that he was impressed, the Anatolia news agency reports.[08] EAST MEDITERRANEAN-98 MILITARY EXERCISEThe fourth stage of the Turkish naval forces military exercise 'East Mediterranean-98' has been successfully completed. Naval warships belonging to Britain, Holland, the US, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium and Germany also participated in the exercise. /All papers/[09] TANER: "EU COMMISSION REPORT A MISTAKE"Taner Etkin, the minister of defense and foreign affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has described the latest European Commission report on southern Cyprus' membership to the European Union (EU) as 'another ring in the chain of grave mistakes by the Union'. Speaking at a press conference in Lefkose yesterday, Etkin commented on the TRNC government's assessment of the Commission's November 4 report. /Cumhuriyet/[10] TURKEY-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETINGSThe Joint Parliamentary Commission, which serves as a body for dialogue between the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and the European Parliament, will convene in Brussels today. The Commission will be co-chaired by Istanbul Deputy Bulent Akarcali and Socialist Group Member of the European Parliament Pieter Dankert. During the meetings, which will last for two days, recent situation in Turkish-European Union (EU) relations will be taken up. Bilateral contacts and visits are also expected between the members of the TGNA and the European Parliament. The meetings will end with a joint press conference on Tuesday, the Anatolia news agency reports.[11] SMUGGLING OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS IN HAKKARIDuring operations carried out by police, 30 pieces of historical artifacts have been seized in Hakkari. Four people have been taken into custody. Officials noted that investigations into the incident were continuing, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.[12] DENIZOLGUN VISITS TRNCMinister of Transportation Ahmet Arif Denizolgun will pay a one-day visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today. Denizolgun and an accompanying delegation will observe initiatives in the infrastructure of transportation and communications, the Anatolia news agency reports.[13] DRUG OPERATIONDuring operations in the Kayadibi village of Elmadag, Ankara, 656 grammes of hashish were confiscated yesterday. Market value of the hashish totals TL 100 billion. One person was taken into custody regarding the incident. /Cumhuriyet/[14] NEW IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARASeyid Muhammed Huseyin Lavasani has become the new Iranian Ambassador to Ankara. A press bulletin issued on the occasion said: "I (Lavasani) was assigned by President of the Islam Republic of Iran Mr.Hathemi as the new Iranian Ambassador to Ankara to create an atmosphere of mutual confidence and to further develop relations between Turkey and Iran". /Cumhuriyet/[15] MARCH FOR ATATURKThere will be a march for "Love for Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey" today within the framework of the 'Commemoration Week of Ataturk' organized by the Office of Ankara Governor. This year is the 60th anniversary of the death of Ataturk, who died on November 10, 1938. /Cumhuriyet/[16] TRADE CENTRE IN ROMANIAAn agreement was signed for the establishment of a 'Bucharest Colentina Trade Centre' between Turkish and Romanian officials last week. The trade centre will take place in the Romanian capital of Bucharest. 5,000 Turkish firms are expected to make investments worth $350 million in Romania by the end of this year. /Cumhuriyet/[17] US CONSULATE PUBLISHES A GAP BOOKLETUS Adana Consul Stuart E. Jones has published a booklet promoting the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). In a statement he sent to Chairman of Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Nejat Kocer, Jones said the US Consulate in Adana was seeking ways to strengthen trade and friendship ties with Turkey and the GAP. Jones stated that he prepared this booklet to promote the accomplishments achieved in Southeastern Anatolia to the US business world and expressed that he was impressed by the opportunities created by the GAP in improving these ties. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/[18] WORLD LAWYERS TO DISCUSS QUALITYQuality in the legal system will be discussed by leading international and Turkish lawyers. The seventh Quality Congress organized jointly by Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and Quality Association (KalDer) this year will be held on November 11-12. The Congress to host many foreign lawyers is the second largest quality congress in the world. Many internationally renowned lawyers such as Catherine Lalumiere from the European Union, Stephen Saphiro from the American Liberties' Union, Parliament Ombudsman of Norway Claes Eklund will attend the Congress. /Hurriyet/[19] DIJBOUTI MINISTER IN ANKARADijbouti Trade and Industrial Minister Muhammed Barkad Abdillahi and an accompanying delegation have come to Turkey to improve trade relations between Turkey and Dijbouti. The minister and delegation will start their negotiations today with State Minister Hasan Gemici, the Anatolia news agency reports.[20] TURKEY'S PEACE THESIS IS ACCEPTEDAn agreement which was signed between Iraqi Kurdish leaders Mesud Barzani and Celal Talabani on 17 September in Washington and creates uneasiness from the point of view of Turkey will be changed by a joint declaration to be issued tomorrow. Turkey as a powerful country in its region made the US and British administrations accept the joint declaration. With the declaration the continuation of Ankara process will be stressed and it will be pointed out that Turkey will continue its rightful struggle against the PKK separatist terrorist organization in cooperation with Kurdish groups in northern Iraq. Finally the declaration will point out that a federated structure in northern Iraq could only be established at the end of the meetings which the northern Iraqi administration and all Iraqi people will attend. / Sabah/[21] TWO ISRAELI ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN CYPRUSTwo Israeli citizens were arrested yesterday in Larnaka, southern Cyprus with the claim of being espionage for Turkey. Representative of southern Cyprus in Israel, Euripides Evriviades said that the claims had been investigated and they had series evidences against two Israeli citizens. Euripides added that they would try to conclude the issue as soon as possible in order not to damage their relations with Israel.Meanwhile, Israeli President Eizer Weizman said that 'goodwill' atmosphere reached at the end of meetings during his visit last week to southern Cyprus was damaged. /Milliyet/ [22] SECOND ISRAEL-TURKEY-US JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE TO BE IN JANUARYChief Advisor of Israel Defense Ministry and one of the constructors of the Turkish-Israeli military cooperation, David Ivri said in his statament to daily Milliyet newspaper that the second Israeli-Turkey-US joint military exercise would be planned to be started in January. He noted that Israel would not like to increase the present problems, however, they would be on the side of Turkey while evaluating arms sales and military cooperation with regional countries. Moreover, Ivri noted that if Ankara interested in Arrow missiles then they will be ready to ask the approval of the US administration for a probable Turkish-Israeli cooperation in joint production of missiles. Finally he said that Southern Cyprus efforts to launch Russian-made S-300 missiles on the island was a provocative initiative. /Milliyet/[23] US JEWISH LOBBY CONGRULATES THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEYThe Jewish lobby in America gave an advertisement to one of the leading newspapers of the US, the News York Times, congratulating the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. The advertisement given by American-Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress and LIG Organization Against Separatism, said that they applaud Turkey for its democratic values, close relations with America, strategic role in NATO, improving relations with Israel and its historical tradition of giving shelter to Jewish people. /Milliyet/[24] OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQTurkish security forces started a wide-range operation in northern Iraq. Military sources announced that Turkish security forces started an operation beyond its borders three days ago since the PKK terrorist organization increased its military activities at the Turkish border. The announcement said: "Operations are still continuing in Zaho, Dohuk, Semdinli, Cukurca in Turkey and Mergasor and Hakurk regions in northern Iraq. Turkish forces yesterday seiged the PKK camps in Lolan, Hacumran, Sidekan and Coman regions by the Iran border. /Milliyet/[25] RAF MILITANTS ON THE SIDE OF PKKOne of the leading German newspaper, Der Spiegel, claimed in its today's issue that militants of the prohibited German Red Army Fraction (RAF) were participating in PKK rows in order to gain power. In the article by Felix Kurz and George Mascolo, it was said that RAF militants were trained in PKK camps in Bekaa Valley and then sent to southeast region of Turkey. /Milliyet/[26] TERRORIST CRISIS BETWEEN GERMANY AND TURKEYGerman Foreign Ministry announced that Germany had asked information from Turkish authorities on news published last week in German media that Andrea Wolf, a terrorist of prohibited German Red Military Fraction (RAF) had been arrested and later killed by Turkish security forces on 24 October. German authorities added that violent attacks against Turkish institutions in Germany would increase upon the news and that Turkey should be very careful in the face of such a sensitive issue. Diplomatic circles pointed out that if the claim was true there would be a new crisis in Turkey-Germany relations. /Hurriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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