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Turkish Press Review, 99-05-12Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>12.05.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS KIVRIKOGLUPresident Suleyman Demirel will receive General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of the General Staff, at the Cankaya Presidential Palace today. It is reported that Demirel and Kivrikoglu will discuss the `headscarf crisis' and the ensuing developments, those events in Malatya and Iran, and other domestic and international security issues including the NATO operation in Kosovo. /Sabah/[03] DEMIREL'S IMPORTANT MESSAGEPresident Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that there were 55 countries in the world, the majority of which is Muslim and added that among those, only Turkey was secular and democratic. Demirel who received students from the Business Administration Faculty of Istanbul University at the Presidential Palace yesterday stated that Turkey was at a crossroads where many different cultures met.Demirel pointed out that Turkey would enter the 21st century safeguarding both democracy and equality and stressed that opportunities were available to all citizens of the country. /Turkiye/ [04] FIRST ROUND OF VOTING FOR PARLIAMENT SPEAKERCandidates for the post of Parliament Speaker emerged yesterday. Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Uluc Gurkan, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Deputy Sadi Somuncuoglu, Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Nevzat Yalcintas, Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Yildirim Akbulut and True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Ahmet Iyimaya are the candidates for the post. The first two rounds of voting to elect the new Speaker of Parliament will be held today. If a conclusion is not reached, the third round of voting will be held on 18 May and the fourth one, if needed, will be on 20 May. In order to be elected as Speaker of Parliament, a candidate ought to gain two-thirds of the absolute majority of votes in the first two rounds of voting. In the third round an absolute majority will be enough to elect the new speaker. The candidate who obtains the most votes at the end of the fourth round of voting will be elected. /Milliyet/[05] IRAN CONTINUES TO PROVOCATEDemonstrations against Turkey are still going on in Iran. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kemal Harazi, said yesterday that they do not welcome secular Turkey's attitude towards Islam.The Iranian Ambassador to Ankara, Muhammed Lavasani, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry yesterday and requested to be respectful of the principle of non-interference in another country's domestic issues. Turkey's worries concerning anti-Turkish demonstrations in Iran were expressed to Lavasani. Meanwhile, Iran has started anti-Turkish TV broadcasts on the Sahar TV channel; the Tehran-based TV channel criticises the secular system in Turkey. /Milliyet/ [06] `IRAN SUPPORTS TERRORISM'According to a report issued by the General Directorate of the Police, Iran supports terrorist activities. The report reveals the separatist and reactionary activities undertaken by terrorist organizations. It is claimed that the Head of the Iranian Intelligence Service, Ali Fallahiyan, attends meetings organized by the PKK, Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It is added that Iran meets the expenditure of terrorist activities through drug and weapons smuggling. It has also ensured the provision of training camps, shelters, weapons, health and logistic support to the terrorist PKK organization. /Cumhuriyet/[07] ATHENS TRIES TO COVER UP THE OCALAN SCANDALWhile the Greek Parliamentary Commission has completed its investigation into the Ocalan Scandal which resulted in political turmoil in Greece, it is reported that the Greek Parliament will deliberate the issue on June, 17. As the Commission was unable to present a common report, the discussion will be based on the report prepared by the PASOK MPs. In this way, the Government will have been exonerated and the scandal will have been covered up. Meanwhile, the Greek `Elefteros Tipos' daily argued that the most important factor behind the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist PKK, was that three Turkish officials had penetrated the Greek Intelligence Service. /Hurriyet/[08] RECORD APPLICATIONS FOR OCALAN'S TRIAL ON IMRALIA total of 777 applications has been made to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Ankara State Security Court (DGM) to attend the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. Foreign politicians and diplomats are also among those who submitted applications. A total of 353 applications were entered by Turkish and foreign press institutions. /Aksam/[09] BAHCELI: "WE WANT CONCILIATION"The Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, stated that socio-political tension stemmed from the exploitation of beliefs and secularism. He said: "This will not be of benefit to anyone. Exploitation should be abandoned". Bahceli wanted conciliation and tolerance from society. He added: "The expectations of society should be well-evaluated and analyzed. Members of the Parliament, who hold power over the future of the country, should be aware of this great responsibility. As the MHP, we will be always aware of this duty". /Turkiye/[10] YILMAZ: "NO GOVERNMENT WITHOUT MHP"It is reported that the Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, said that the exclusion of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) which came second during the General Election in Turkey on April 18, from the new government could yield negative results. During meetings between Yilmaz and other ANAP representatives, it was decided that the most convenient model for a healthy government was a Democratic Left Party (DSP)-ANAP-MHP coalition. /Aksam/[11] CINDORUK QUITS DTPChairman of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) Husamettin Cindoruk resigned from his party. In his written statement Cindoruk said that the reponsibility for his party's defeat in the 18 April election belonged to him so he had decided to resign from being party chairman. /Milliyet/[12] TURK MEETS HIS GREEK COUNTERPARTTurkish Defence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who is in Bremen for a WEU meeting, held a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Akis Tzohatzopulos, yesterday. Turk said that they discussed issues related to the WEU and not bilateral matters, according to the Anatolia News Agency. Turk stressed that the bilateral issues between Turkey and Greece should be solved before they grow into crises. "However, Greece's stance on certain issues, particularly its support for terrorism, is unacceptable", Turk said.[13] ECONOMY DISCUSSED AT THE PRIME MINISTRYPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit evaluated the recent economic developments with Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, Finance Minister Nami Cagan, Social and Security Minister Hakan Tartan, Aydin Deputy Ertugrul Kumcuoglu and former Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel yesterday in Ankara. After an hour long meeting it was reported that besides the inflation rate in April, economic targets for the next six months and bank interest rates, the new budget was discussed during the meeting. /Milliyet/[14] ARMY CONTRIBUTES 6 TRILLION TL TO SOUTHEASTThe Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), which has been continuing to fight against the PKK terrorist organization for 15 years, has contributed 6 trillion TL to the solution of the problems of infrastructure, health, education, etc., in the Southeast. As part of an initiative launched in June 1998, various kinds of services have been brought to a total of 1,004 villages within the Emergency Rule Region (OHAL) during the first five months of 1999. /Aksam/[15] DENIZKURDU '99 MANOEUVRESOne of the planned exercises by Naval Forces Command, "Denizkurdu-'99" will be held on 1-25 June. The Manoeuvres will be conducted in international waters in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. /Cumhuriyet/[16] PKK TERRORISTS RAID AN OFFICEA group from the PKK terrorist organization has raided a Village Services office in the Cat district of Erzurum, killed one worker and wounded four others. Officials said that operations against the PKK were still in progress in the region. /Turkiye/[17] HIZBULLAH MEMBERS ARRESTEDDuring operations carried out in Sanliurfa, 48 members of the illegal terrorist organization, Hizbullah, were arrested. The Security Chief of Sanliurfa, Salih Tuzcu, remarked that fundamentalist terrorists are trying to demolish the constitutional order in Turkey and establish a satellite state connected to Iran. /Aksam/[18] ISTANBUL STOCK EXCHANGE BREAKS RECORDSThe Istanbul Stock Exchange has been breaking record after record since last Thursday, reaching 5,811 points with a 2.51 % increase yesterday. Meanwhile, the transaction volume increased by 42% and amounted to 117 trillion TL. It is reported that the main reason for this persistent rise in the General Index is the increasing expectations of the formation of a new government under the Prime Ministry of the Democratic Left Party leader, Bulent Ecevit. Experts note that a second factor behind this rapid increase is the growing interest of `big players' in the key shares on the Stock Exchange. /Sabah/[19] TREASURY EXPORTS BONDS WORTH 524 TRILLION TLThe Treasury exported 12-month bonds worth 524.2 trillion TL yesterday. The repayment of the bonds will be on May 17, 2000. The nominal value of the bonds was 1.028 quadrillion TL. /Aksam/[20] FOREIGN TRADE IN 1998Foreign trade data for 1998 was issued by the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday. Exports of $2.147 billion in December 1998 rose to $2.239 billion following a new Customs evaluation. Imports for the same month increased from $3.842 billion to $3.870 billion. In line with the increase in the foreign trade figures for December 1998, imports in 1998 rose to $45.935 billion, exports to $26.974 billion. /Aksam/[21] BRITISH AND TURKISH FIRMS MEET IN ISOThe Catalogue Fair organized by the British Consulate and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) in Istanbul is convening British and Turkish firms. Nearly 250 firms from 100 sectors which want to do business with Turkish firms are being promoted at the Fair. Meanwhile, British Trade Secretary Brian Wilson, British Amabassador David Logan and an accompanying delegation will arrive in Istanbul today. The British delegation will visit the Fair and meet ISO Chairman Husamettin Kavi. /Aksam/[22] TURKISH FINANCIAL MARKETS SEMINAR IN NEW YORKThe Turkish financial markets seminar organized by the Turco-American Council and the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) was held yesterday. Mustafa Koc, one of the co-chairmen of the DEIK, delivered a speech at the seminar and said that the new government, as yet to be established, was expected to be a stable coalition. Koc added that the new government should initially reduce the inflation rate and public deficits, and achieve both the social security reform and privatization, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[23] TURKEY TO PURCHASE ELECRICITY FROM TURKMENISTANAn agreement concerning the purchase of electricity by Turkey from Turkmenistan will be signed in Ankara today. According to a statement issued by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, the agreement will be signed under the eye of the Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Saparmurat Nuriyev and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ziya Aktas. Meanwhile, it is reported that initiatives concerning a natural gas agreement between the two countries are in progress. /Aksam/[24] READY-TO-WEAR TO OVERCOME BANK CRISISTurkish Ready-to-Wear Industrialists' Association (TGSD) representatives and bank officials met yesterday in Istanbul to discuss new measures to overcome the banking crisis. Both parties decided to establish a working group to investigate loaning project depending on orders from abroad. Bank officials supported the project, said TGSD Chairman Bulent Atuk adding that they would organize a meeting with representatives of foreign trading companies at the end of May. He also noted that they aimed to organize such meetings with the representatives of banks and foreign trade firms in every three months. /Milliyet/[25] INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TOURISTSAccording to Antalya's Provincial Tourism General Directorate, 790,000 foreign tourists had arrived in the region by the end of the first four months of 1999, whereas the number was 755,000 last year. The same sources reported that a higher number of French, British, Danish, Belgian and German tourists in particular had visited the region. /Milliyet/[26] IHLAS OPENS UP TO SPAINThe Ihlas Holding Company will enter the Spanish market. It will establish a partnership with the Mondragon Zagros Company, which is active in many sectors such as food, banking and electronics. The Head of the Executive Board of the Ihlas Holding, Dr.Evren Oren, remarked that following meetings based on trust, cooperation and success were inevitable. The Coordinator and Head of the Executive Board of the Spanish Company, Saeed M.Feyz, who visited Oren yesterday, said that the Spanish Company wanted to purchase household equipment, textile and magnetic products from the Ihlas Holding. The Mondragon Zagros Company consists of 120 firms. /Turkiye/[27] 22 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DEPORTEDSecurity forces who were patrolling in the Yuksekova district of Hakkari two days ago captured 22 Iranian immigrants who were illegally trying to enter Turkey. The 22 Iranians who were brought to the Office of the Yuksekova Republican Prosecutor were later deported. /Turkiye/[28] COUNCIL OF APPEALS TO CUT OFF WORKER' PENSIONSThe Appeals Council's General Legal Board has decided that workers who return to Turkey from Germany on a permanent basis would not be allowed to simultaneously receive both a retirement pension in Turkey and an unemployment pension in Germany and ordered that the payment of pensions in this country to such persons be stopped, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[29] SWISS PARTNER FOR YASAR HOLDINGSThe Akmaden Mining Co., part of the of Yasar Holding Company, and Swiss-based Pluss-Staufer AG_Omya have signed a cooperation agreement. According to the written statement issued by Yasar Holdings, the ongoing deliberations between Akmaden and Omya have been concluded with a cooperation agreement between the two firms concerning industrial mineral production plants and the take-over of mining regions. /Hurriyet/[30] THRACIAN FREE ZONE BECOMES `EUROPE'The name of the `Thracian Free Zone' has been changed into the `European Free Zone'. According to the relevant resolution of the Council of Ministers published in the Official Gazette, the title of the `Founder and Keeper of the Thracian Free Zone Co.' has also been changed into the `Founder and Keeper of the European Free Zone'. /Hurriyet/[31] TWO MONTH-EXTENSION PERIOD FOR GULF PASSAGE PROJECTThe General Directorate of Highways has granted an extension period until July 15 for the signing of the Gulf Passage Project taken on by the AJTC Consortium. The Izmit Gulf Passage Project was initialled in 1997. Officials from the General Directorate of Highways stated that following July 15, 1999, negotiations would be held again with the AJTC Consortium. They said that if the AJTC Consortium does not sign the agreement, then they will begin negotiations with a second consortium. /Aksam/[32] TURKISH STARS IN USMany Turkish performers have gone to the US to attend the events to celebrate Turkish Day, Turkish Week and the 'May Festival' organized by Turco-American Associations in New York. In addition to concerts and demonstrations, Turkish artists will also take part in various meetings. /Aksam/[33] COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALYThe 500th year of the commercial relations between Turkey and Italy will be celebrated next week, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A conference on the '500th Year of a Complicated Mediterranean History' will be organized in the Italian capital Rome on May 17 by the Turkish-Italian Friendship Association, the Italy-Latin America Institute and the Bonca di Rome.[34] OZBEK ROBE OF HONOUR FOR RAHMI KOCOn the occasion of the opening of the SamKocAuto, which went into service to produce light commercial vehicles in Semerkand, Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Automotive Industry Ministry has given a robe of honour to the Head of the Executive Board of the Koc Holding, Rahmi Koc. During a ceremony held at Koc Holding's Nakkastepe facility, the Uzbek Automotive Industry Deputy Minister, Shoahror Sh.Shomansurov, said he was honoured to present the robe of honour to Rahmi Koc who had invested in Uzbekistan. Koc said for his part that he was very pleased with the cooperation between Turkey and Uzbekistan. In the SamKocAuto Plant opened on March 16, 1999, 660 people are working; nearly 500 vehicles have been produced by the factory to date. /Turkiye/[35] TURKISH DOCTORS IN USScientific studies presented by Turkish doctors during the 'American Cataract and Laser Surgical Eye Congress', which was attended by many doctors from around the world, received a great deal of interest from international medical circles. Nearly 50 doctors represented Turkey during the Congress which is held once a year. /Turkiye/[36] SIXTH SUMMIT OF TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIESThe sixth Summit of the Heads of States of the Turkish-Speaking Countries will begin in the Azeri capital Baku on June 14, the Anatolia News Agency reports.[37] TURKISH CUISINE TO BE INTRODUCED TO SINGAPOREThe Singaporen Embassy in Turkey has launched an initiative to introduce Turkish cuisine to Singapore, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A group of 10 people from the Singaporen Prime 12 TV shot a film in Kusadasi county of Izmir.[38] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVALThe sixth International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival will begin on June 12, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The Festival will start with the 'Carmen' of Georges Bizet which will be performed by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet.[39] FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS[40] NATIONALISM AND ECONOMY - BY MUMTAZ SOYSAL (HURRIYET)In his column in `Hurriyet', Prof. Mumtaz Soysal reflects on the economic priorities of the new government that is likely to be formed of a coalition of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). Soysal writes:"No doubt, Parliament is dominated by a nationalist majority. Given that there are many MPs claiming to be `nationalist' in addition to the `left-wing nationalism' of the DSP and the `right-wing nationalism' of the MHP, nobody can suspect this fact. However, one still wonders how this nationalism will be revealed in certain issues. Everybody in Parliament allegedly stands for a `nationalism based on the priciples of Ataturk', but it is still open to dispute how their views of nationalism will apply to the current problems in the Turkish economy. The new government is faced with a stringent examination regarding the economy. There have been dangerous signals in the Turkish economy for the last few months. There are serious questions in the textile, metal production, cellulose and machinery sectors. This has resulted in an inevitable decrease in exports. Naturally, the gradual contraction both in production and exports has created a falling trend in inflation. Yet this nominal slow-down of inflation has not been reflected in the daily life of the people, for price increases of primary consumer goods have continued. There is no significant decrease in public debts and interest rates. The foreign debts stock has exceeded $100 billion while domestic debts have reached 12 quadrillion TL. The real interest rates isolated from inflation are still around 50%. Under these circumstances, `structural reforms' are usually pronounced; and the term `structural reform' generally relates to the social security sector and privatization. Yet reforms concerning the public administration system, public banking and the autonomy of public facilities are not counted as `structural reforms'. Moreover, everybody knows that cut-backs in the social security system will merely exacerbate economic problems under the conditions of unemployment, inflation and a decrease in production. They also forget that privatization also means the loss of public instruments which may help regulate the economy. Now it is time to test whether or not the application of the IMF and the World Bank receipts as a last resort can be considered compatible with nationalism. It is apparent that those `Ozalist' policies which have been hitherto pursued blindly in the name of `globalization' have resulted in the complete destruction of the welfare of the people. However, this situation will continue unless `nationalism' is understood as a nation's conscious defence of its own assets rather than the current unreal wave of emotion. Those `right-wing nationalist' and `left-wing nationalist' parties which are on the way to form the new government should know that the day they surrender to Ozalist economic policies will also be the last day of their nationalism." [41] SPECIAL KOSOVO[42] NATO CONTINUES TO HIT YUGOSLAVIA HARDNATO forces rained bombs near the Kosovo capital early yesterday as well on petroleum storage facilities in Nis, Serbia's third largest city and a military headquarters, Yugoslav media reported. The escalating attacks underlined NATO's rejection of Yugoslavia's announcement of a partial pull-out of its forces from Kosovo. NATO said there was no sign of any withdrawal. NATO warplanes bombed the Jugopetrol storage facility in Nis, a frequent target and Headquarters of the 3rd Army group which commands operations in Kosovo, yesterday morning.NATO says it will continue the bombardment until Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic meet all its demands, including a complete withdrawal of Serb forces and the return of ethnic Albanian refugees. Yugoslavia also said it would reduce troops in Kosovo to 'peacetime' levels once there is an agreement in place to deploy a UN peace-keeping mission in the province, but gave no indication of how many troops have been withdrawn, or how many are left. /All papers/ [43] "TURKEY WILL LOOK AFTER THE UCK"The French `Le Point' argued in its latest issue that Turkey and the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) had outlined an agreement concerning the treatment of UCK militants. Accordingly, due to the agreement made between Ankara and the UCK officials, two secret zones will be constituted in Albania and Macedonia. Those UCK soldiers wounded while combatting the Serbian forces will be brought to these zones and then conveyed to Turkey for better medical treatment.Meanwhile, Pierre Beylau of `Le Point', who conducted an interview with President Suleyman Demirel in Paris, stated in his editorial that Turkey has undertaken a leading role in the NATO plans for Kosovo and increased her credibility within the Organization. In this respect, compared to Greece, the Turks seem to be the `good student' of NATO. /Sabah/ [44] FIRST STEP OF THE CEASEFIREThe EU's Special Kosovo representative, Wolfgang Petrisch, has described the statement which said that the Yugoslav army would withdraw from Kosovo as 'the first step towards the ceasefire'. Petrisch stated that this could be an indicator of one of the pre-conditions for a likely ceasefire. Petrisch pointed out that with the displacement of the Kosovars, the ethnic balance has changed in accordance with Serbian goals. /Turkiye/[45] NATO TO HIT YUGOSLAVIA FROM TURKEYNATO has requested permission from Turkey to establish a base in Turkey in order to expand its operations against Yugoslavia. The Turkish government issued a Cabinet Ministers' decision allowing NATO to use the present airports and airbases and to construct additional bases in Turkey. According to the Foreign Ministry, technical issues concerning the operation will be the responsibility of the Chief of General Staff. It was added that NATO has not yet officially stated which airports and bases it wishes to use or where a new base might be establish.Meanwhile, diplomatic sources announced that a NATO delegation, who visited Turkey a while ago, had decided that airports in the Thracian region are suitable for the operations. It was also noted that NATO planned to deploy an F-16 and an F-15 squadron and three tank aircraft in the region. /Milliyet/ [46] RED CRESCENT CAMP IN MACEDONIAThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the improvement studies into Bojane aid camp, which was handed over to the Turkish Red Crescent, have been completed, reported the Anatolian News Agency. It is reported that since Red Crescent tents have been pitched at the camp, hot meals have been served three times a day. Children are continuing with their education in the school which was established with the cooperation of UNICEF. In the camp there is also a nursery under the supervision of an educational expert from Turkey. Bojane camp is the only camp in Macedonia where hot meals are served and which has a nursery school. There are also two doctors and two nurses from Turkey and an ambulance providing a proper health service. One of the tents is organized as a social centre where there is access to television broadcasting and a telephone facility. Refugees are not only given food but also cleaning materials such as soap and detergent.[47] FINANCIAL AID FOR KOSOVARSIstanbul Governor, Erol Cakir said that almost 250 billion TL has been collected up to now in a charity campaign to ensure financial aid to the Kosovars, reported the Anatolian News Agency yesterday. Cakar noted that Turkey has done her best to help Kosovar refugees. Adding that more than half of the refugees in Istanbul are staying with their relatives, Cakar pointed out that they would like to construct a refugee guest-house in Istanbul.[48] KONYA STATE THEATRE TO PERFORM TWO MUSICALSThe Directorate General of State Theatres try to ease the pains of Kosovar refugees who had to leave their homes, families, and country due to war, with plays, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Konya State Theatre will perform two musicals for Kosovar refugees.[49] WITHDRAWING TROOPS - BY HADI ULUENGIN (HURRIYET)Columnist Hadi Uluengin writes on Slobodan Milosevic's decision to withdraw troops from Kosovo. A summary of his column is as follows:"Mr. Milosevic stated the previous day through the official Yugoslav press agency Tanjug, that he has started to withdraw Serbian troops from Kosovo. As he has lost his credibility, this statement is far from satifying. As his word does not carry much weight the Alliance does not believe his statement. Representatives of leading states in the Alliance said that until the five conditions put forth by the Alliance were met the Organization would continue its strikes. Thus, the operation was not stalled and NATO planes continued on their way to the targets set. It seems incredible to think of Milosevic sitting at the negotiation table, saying that he is withdrawing his troops, after deporting half the Kosovar population and waging an "ethnic cleansing" war on those remaining, besides the massacres he has perpetrated on innocent people. Just as he did last October, he would pull out two police cars without any control mechanism whatsoever, continue his terrorist activities with the remainder of his troops, and use refugees as a trump card at the negotiation table. Milosevic has an excellent sense of timing and plans to kill two birds with one stone. He is aiming at reaching the diplomatic arena, and just in the wake of NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy, is planning to obtain more support from China and Russia. Milosevic is trying to divide the Alliance, which is not as strong as it had been, with this statement. However, despite all its weaknesses the Coalition stands united and does not believe him." [50] COME ON MR.MILOSEVIC! - BY IZZET SEDES (AKSAM)Columnist Izzet Sedes expounds on the situation in Kosovo. A summary of his column is as follows:"It is difficult to understand what is going on. Belgrade says that it has withdrawn some of its troops and police from Kosovo. However, the Kosovo Liberation Army denies this. NATO is investigating the issue. The US Secretary of State describes this development as "insufficient", whereas Moscow views it as step in the right direction. China is considering the matter in a different light. Beijing remains dissatisfied with the apology of President Clinton. It says, "Peace cannot be made under the shadow of bombs. The strikes should be halted immediately. If not, no decision can be taken at the UN Security Council, we will delay the discussions." That is to say, China will prevent peace at the Security Council. It has not been clearly understood whether Mr. Milosevic is attempting a propaganda campaign by lying, or taking a step back as a result of Russian pressure. There are some moves towards peace but they are being taken at a snail's pace. The bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, is proof that the conflict, which was limited in the beginning, has unfurled in an uncontrollable way as it continued. There are signs of fatigue. This is seen not only in those controlling diplomacy or military operations but also among the international public. The international community is faced with two tragic situations. The first picture shows hundreds of thousands of people fleeing from Milosevic's massacres, deported from Kosovo, their homeland. The second one shows Yugoslavia, a European state, where bridges have collapsed, refineries are burning, and if the strikes continue where nothing will be left. However, none of these pictures move Milosevic. If we think of the camps, each of which gives shelter to 30,000 people, some healthy, others ill and handicapped, it is impossible not to be terrified. We have to think of the hot summer days and infectious diseases expected then. If a solution is not found, their plight in the cold days of the coming winter should also be considered. That is why these refugees have to return to their homes, as soon as possible, under the control of NATO forces or the United Nations. If there is some humanity left in Milosevic, he has to see this situation and must surrender. The cost of peace in Kosovo will be dear. The peace will have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children. Come on Mr. Milosevic, show some effort." Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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