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Turkish Press Review, 98-11-10Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>10.11.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] COMMEMORATING ATATURKA parade entitled "Love for Ataturk" was held in Ankara yesterday on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Republic and the 60th anniversary of Ataturk's death on November 10. The 60th anniversary of the death of Ataturk will be commemorated throughout Turkey, in Turkish embassies abroad and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Exhibitions, conferences and panels will be held in different cities all day. /All papers/[02] TALABANI PROMISES TO FIGHT PKKFollowing talks with the Iraqi Kurdish leader yesterday, Turkey's concerns arising from the latest agreement between the Kurdish leaders in Washington, appears to have evaporated. In a meeting with senior Turkish Foreign Ministry officials, Celal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), gave assurances to Ankara that his organization would fight against the PKK terrorist organization.Talabani made all assurances demanded by Turkey. However, Ugur Ziyal, deputy undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, told the Kurdish leader that Ankara will continue monitoring the Kurdish faction for its compliance to the aforementioned assurances, 'just like the monitoring over Syria'. Talabani will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit today and attend a working lunch to be given by Ugur Ziyal. Talabani is expected to leave Ankara on Wednesday for Istanbul. /All papers/ [03] DEMIREL SPEAKS AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM"The world must renew its commitment to a free market economy" said President Suleyman Demirel. Speaking at the closing session of the two-day World Economic Forum yesterday, Demirel added: "What we need now is more open markets, more transparent institutions, more free trade and last not least more competition". He warned that the world economic system formed after World War II no longer met the needs of the international community."Turkey's economic gains are outweighing its political uncertainties and once again drawing the attention of international foreign leaders" Klaus Scwab, the president of the World Economic Forum declared at a press conference earlier in the day. Scwab praised the Turkish private sector as the driving force behind the country's economic revival. /All papers/ [04] OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ CONTINUEThe security forces are continuing their operations in northern Iraq in an effort to destroy the members of the PKK terrorist organization who have based their activities in the region after escaping from Syria. Turkish military forces encircled the PKK members in various places without disclosing the exact location of the clashes. The terrorists either want to go to Iran or to the Iraqi town of Mosul, which is below the 36th parallel and therefore in an Iraqi-controlled area.Meanwhile, 11 PKK terrorists have been killed in operations by the security forces in the Southeast. The operations took place in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Bingol and Sirnak. Two more members of the PKK terrorist organization have reportedly surrendered to the security forces in Bitlis and Diyarbakir. Operations are still underway. Furthermore, during clashes between Turkish soldiers and members of the PKK terrorist organization in the Aybasti district of Ordu, one Turkish soldier has died. /Milliyet/ [05] CHINA AND TURKEY SIGN CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROTOCOLCulture Minister Istemihan Talay said at the beginning of the year 2000, the People's Republic of China will become one of the most powerful countries and Turkey will be in the top 20 countries, and in respect to that ties between People's Republic of China and Turkey will gain great importance. Talay, who received Chinese Deputy Culture Minister Pan Zhenzhaou, noted that a cultural exchange protocol between the two countries will be a step to improve friendship and cultural ties.The cultural exchange protocol was signed by Turkey's Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir and Zhenzhaou. The protocol calls for the exchange of artists, exhibition organizations and scholarships from 1998 through 2001. Stating the importance of visits between countries to improve cultural relations, Zhenzhaou invited Talay to China. /All papers/ [06] NGOs MEET TODAYA meeting today involving the Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), Bayram Meral, Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) Chairman Ridvan Budak, Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) Chairman Refik Baydur, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Fuat Miras and Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans' Confederation (TESK) Chairman Dervis Gunday will evaluate the current political situation and recent events in Turkey, particularly the debate surrounding the next election and the economy. /All papers/[07] GERMAN SUPPORT FOR TURKEYDuring the first EU foreign ministers' meeting that he has participated in, Germany's new Foreign Minister Josckha Fischer tried to convince his Greek counterpart that Turkey should not be isolated from the EU and participated in a four-party declaration that Cyprus' full membership should benefit the whole island and serve peace and stability on the island.Meanwhile, Greece tried to prevent financial aid to be extended to Turkey during the EU foreign ministers' meeting yesterday in Brussels. Greece threathened the EU Commission to convey the issue to the European courts. Also Greece stressed that if Southern Cyprus was withdrawn from membership talks she would prevent EU meetings during which memberships of other candidates will be discussed. Foreign ministers of Holland, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint declaration saying that it would be harmful in line with the common defense and foreign policies of the EU to start membership talks with Southern Cyprus before the Cyprus problem was solved. The declaration expressed hope that Cyprus would become an EU member as a "whole". Diplomatic sources evaluated the declaration as a serious message against Greece and Southern Cyprus although it was not an 'official' EU report. The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA)-European Parliament's Joint Parliamentary Commission meeting also started yesterday in Brussels. At the opening ceremony of the meeting Eric Van der Linden, Head of the Turkish Desk of the EU Commission, said: "Turkey is an EU candidate." /Sabah/ [08] SEZGIN IN BELARUSDeputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin, who has completed his contacts in Bulgaria, arrived in Belarus yesterday. Sezgin was welcomed by Defense Minister of Belarus Alexander Chumakov with an official ceremony. After holding a bilateral meeting, Sezgin and Chumakov will attend a meeting on Belarussian-Turkish military and military technical cooperation. Sezgin will later visit the Military Academy in the Belarussian capital, Minsk, the Anatolia news agency reports.[09] REPRESENTATIVES OF 29 AMERICAN FIRMS DUE IN TURKEYRepresentatives of the 29 leading US firms will come to Turkey next week within the framework of an 'investment mission', the Anatolia news agency reports. Patton Boggs Law Firm that defends Turkey's rights in the US said that the US delegation will hold talks with Turkish government officials and representatives of Turkey's private sector. Greg Laughlin, Spokesman of the Patton Boggs and former member of the US Congress, stressed that Turkey presents great opportunities to international companies. Luaghlin pointed out that they would encourage the companies to make investments in Turkey in the fields of energy, textile, tourism and banking.[10] TURKEY MANDATES COMMERZBANK, DEUTSCHE FOR EURODMTurkey gave a mandate to Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank to explore the feasibility of a Eurobond issue in marks, the Treasury said yesterday. "The Republic of Turkey has mandated Commerzbank AG and Deutsche Bank AG to explore jointly the feasibility of a EuroDM issue" it said in a statement.Meanwhile, Commerzbank noted that if the Staff Monitoring Agreement signed between Turkey and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) achieves its goals, Turkey's credit rate could be increased. /All papers/ [11] BILICAN TO VISIT GERMANYA Turkish delegation headed by Chief of Security Necati Bilican will go to Wiesbaden, Germany, today to make official contacts. The Turkish delegation will attend the 12th planned evaluation meeting between Turkish Security Office and Federal Germany Criminal Department. During the meeting, struggle against fundamentalist and terrorist activities will be taken up. /Milliyet/[12] ATATURK SEMINAR IN FRENCH SENATEA seminar on "Ataturk and Modern Turkey" organized by the Anatolian Culture Centre and Turkish Embassy in Paris will be held in French Senate today. Editor of the daily Milliyet newspaper Guneri Civaoglu will deliver a speech on "Ataturk's Heritage". /Milliyet/[13] TURCO-GERMAN SYMPOSIUMThe fourth Turco-German Technology Cooperation and Rational Energy Usage Symposium will be held in Ankara on November 11-13. A press conference will be held prior to the symposium and explanations regarding the issue will be made to Joahim Westermann, Economy Ministry Undersecretary, who will head the German delegation, the Anatolia news agency reports.[14] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINEThe New York Times, one of the leading US newspapers, has noted that even though the US administration supports the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline for the transportation of Caspian oils, oil companies are insisting on cheaper alternative. An article written by Stephen Kinzer in the newspaper two days ago said that the transportation of Caspian oils was of great importance from the standpoint of defense policies and the world strategy. /Milliyet/[15] BAKU-SUPSA ROUTE TO BE OPERATEDIt is announced that oil will be pumped through Baku-Supsa pipeline to carry the early production of Caspian oil to world markets. Representatives of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR) said that rehabilitation works of the oil pipeline will be finalized in February 1999 and first tanker would be filled up at the end of April to carry the oil to international markets. /Sabah/[16] $34 MILLION IN CREDITS FOR DEMIR-HALKBANKThe Demir-Halkbank has received $34 million in syndication credits. The bank set up by Demirbank and Halkbank activates in Holland and Germany via its branches.Meanwhile, noted international rating institution Moody's has stated that it raised the credit financial rate of Disbank from E+ to D+. Moody's said in a statement that strategy formed by the new administration of the bank was successful. /Milliyet/ [17] GERMAN TOURISTS VISITING TURKEYA total of 306,935 foreign tourists arrived at the Antalya Airport in October 1998 while 69 % of those people were German citizens, the Anatolia news agency reports. The number of German tourists arrived in Antalya in October 1997 was 202,448 and this number was equal to 61 % of total foreign tourists who visited Antalya. This year in October, the number of German tourists reached 223,061.[18] 10 MILLION TOURISTS IN 1999Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz opened Palandoken "Golden-Lift" ski centre in Erzurum yesterday. At the opening ceremony, Yilmaz said that they aimed 10 million tourists and more than $ 12 million in tourism revenues in 1999. Yilmaz noted that Turkey was among the first 20 countries in the world tourism revenues; however, he added that it was not a satisfactory level for Turkey.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz laid foundation of a tunnel of the Drinking Water Project which will meet water need of Erzurum for 50 years. /Sabah/ [19] TURKEY TO SELL 30 F-16 PLANES TO UAEAn agreement on selling F-16 planes to United Arab Emirates is about to be signed. A short time ago the Republic of Turkey had sold 49 F-16 warplanes to Egypt. There has been a change of concept in defense projects and accordingly Turkey has decided to produce 32 F-16 warplanes in addition to the 240 warplanes of the Turkish Air Forces. Defense sources state that this sale shows the point reached by Turkey which some time ago totally depended on purchases from other countries. Turkish experts will prepare infrastructure and train personnel within the framework of the agreement worth $700 million. /Hurriyet/[20] STFA AMONG WORLD GIANTSIn a survey made by a leading constructing magazine Engineering News-Record (ENR), the STFA ranks 72nd among 225 international constructing companies working all over the world. The list has been prepared taking the volume of work realized by the company in 1997 and its turnover. The STFA is noted for its work accomplished in international arena in addition to the constructing projects achieved within the country. /Hurriyet/[21] TURKEY WARNS RUSSIA OVER OCALANThe Republic of Turkey again warned Russia on PKK terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan who had to flee Syria. Turkey's Ambassador in Russia Nabi Sensoy warned Russia again. In a statement Ambassador Sensoy said that in case the right of political asylum is granted to Abdullah Ocalan, relations with Turkey would worsen and even diplomatic ties could be severed. /Hurriyet/[22] ITALIAN CONCERNS OVER KURDISH IMMIGRANTSA surge of Kurdish immigrants brought two Italian ministries against each other. The Foreign Ministry pressurized by other European countries requested the barring of illegal immgrants and taking wide steps in the Adriatic Sea. On the other hand, The Interior Ministry stated that they had to host those who had to leave their country in line with human rights and said that they would do what was necessary. /Hurriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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