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Turkish Press Review, 99-07-19Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>19.07.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS... THE WEST IS SORRY - THERE IS NO BLOODSHED ON CYPRUS -TUFAN[02] TURENC (HURRIYET)[03] SPECIAL KOSOVO[04] DENKTAS CRITICIZES EUROPEPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas evaluated the recent situation in the Cyprus issue during a TV programme last night. Denktas said that he has been meeting leaders of the Greek-Cypriot side since 1968, however, they had been unable to attain any result. This, he added, was because they have insisted on two points: first, the Turkish guarantee will continue and Turco-Greek equality will be ensured and second, Turkish Cypriots will not be given the status of a minority. He said they only want Europe to recognize their State, they do not want help from Europe. Denktas said, "At the moment we should talk about an agreement between the states. This is called confederation. Up to now we have not give any concessions and we are determined not to do so. Europe should recognize us as an independent State. If they invite us without pre-conditions then I will attend the negotiation talks." Denktas pointed out that if the Greek-Cypriot were accepted into the European Union, a solution on the Island would be more difficult.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and high-level Turkish officials will go to the TRNC tommorrow to attend the Peace and Independence Festival to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Peace Operation. It is announced that almost 100 Members of Parliament and journalists from Romania, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Albania will attend the Festival. Also six Turkish battle ships anchored in Girne Harbour yesterday to take their part during the celebrations. Additionally, the Turco-TRNC Partnership Council will meet today in Lefkosa. /Star/Aksam/ [05] EROGLU: "THEY LEARNT THEIR LESSON 25 YEARS AGO"The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Dervis Eroglu, said that the Greek-Cypriots and Greeks who did not recognize that Turks have a right to live on Cyprus and were trying to annex Cyprus to Greece learnt their lesson 25 years ago. Eroglu made a statement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation and said: "We are celebrating our freedom". He added that the July 20 Peace Operation not only saved Turkish Cypriots but also established peace and tranquility in the region. /Turkiye/[06] TURKISH MARCH IN LONDONTurks held a march in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation. Celebration activities organized by the British-Turkish Cypriot Associations' Council started from Marble Arch yesterday. Nearly 1,000 Turks participated in the march which ended in front of the building of the Turkish Embassy in London. /Hurriyet/[07] PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL IN CEREMONYPresident Suleyman Demirel, presented the 11th Air Main Base Commandership with a flag during a ceremony. The Chairman of the Grand National Assembly, Yildirim Akbulut, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Armed Forces Commanders and National Security Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu also attended the ceremony. The President submitted the flag to the Air Base Commander, Colonel Cevdet Kurnaz, and during his speech he said, "This Flag is the honour of the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkish Military Forces have protected and raised this flag and also died honourably for it during our history as an example to the world." /Sabah/[08] GREEK MINISTER: "WE ARE READY TO NEGOTIATE EVERY PROPOSAL"Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Yorgo Papandreu said that they are ready to discuss every proposal during the bilateral meeting to be held on 26 July. He said, "We believe that the Cyprus issue will be solved if Turkey abandones its one-sided attitude in the Aegean Sea and the Greek-Cypriot EU membership is approved". /Star/[09] GERMANY UNDERSTANDS PKK REALITYOne of the leading German magazines, "Focus", said in its report dependent on information from German security units that the terrorist PKK organization earns a great deal of revenue from drug traficking. According to the German police, the PKK annually earns 250 million German Marks from drug smuggling. The report revealed that the Head of the Hannover Police Department, Hans-Dieter Klosa, had stated that at the end of lengthy investigations, the PKK's relation to organized crime had been revealed. /Star/Aksam/[10] TWO TIKKO MEMBERS KILLEDAt the end of clashes between TIKKO members and security forces in the Almus township of Tokat, two terrorists were killed. Another two of them escaped. Military sources announced that operations will be continued to seize the other terrorists. /Star/[11] 4 TERRORISTS KILLEDDuring fighting with terrorists, security forces killed two terrorists in Golgeli village, Almus, Tokat. Also in Cadirvan village, Baskale, Van, last night, 2 terrorists, one of whom was a woman, were seized as dead. Yesterday, in Gebze, Kocaeli, 13 PKK militants were sent to court and Yilmaz Colak, Cemil Goyler, Yusuf Varol, Nurettin Orhan and Mehmet Ali Dere were detained and put in prison. The suspects had been taken into custody the day before, since it was determined that they were planning bomb attacks, in order to protest against the death sentence on Abdullah Ocalan. /Sabah/[12] TWO TERRORISTS KILLEDThirteen PKK terrorists who were captured during operations carried out by Kocaeli Security Office's Anti-Terrorism Department have been interrogated and were later brought to Gebze Security Office.Additionally, during raids carried out by the Gendarmerie in Van, 102 kilos of heroin worth 5 trillion TL were seized. Ten people have been taken into custody regarding the incident. /Turkiye/ [13] TURKISH BAYINDIR HOLDING COMPANY GETS BANKING LICENCE IN MOLDOVOA member of the Executive Board of the Bayindir Holding Company, Engin Erem, said that they had obtained a banking licence will be valid from October in Moldovo. He also added that they were setting up a partnership with foreign investors in the food sector. Erem stated that they were engaged in meetings with American, German, Spanish, French and Israeli firms which would be concluded at the end of 1999. They aimed to unite with foreign investors in order to obtain financial clout and also to obtain a foothold in foreign markets more easily. /Aksam/[14] ALTAN HAS DIEDGunes Altan, Advisor to State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, died yesterday in Lekfosa, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Altan was in Lefkosa to attend the Turco-TRNC Partnership Council meeting to be held today. /Cumhuriyet/[15] FUJITA IN ANKARAThe Japanese Naval Forces' Commander, General Kosei Fujita, arrived in Ankara as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart Salim Dervisoglu. Fujita will start his official round of talks today. /Cumhuriyet/[16] HURRIYET ON CNNThe American CNN TV channel, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, also covered the first page of the daily 'Hurriyet' newspaper together with other leading foreign newspapers while announcing the John Kennedy Jr's aircraft accident to the world. Hurriyet's Internet site was also broadcast on CNN. /Hurriyet/[17] TURKEY TO REPAY $82 BILLION IN FOREIGN DEBTS BEFORE 2004Turkey will repay a total of $81.7 billion in foreign debts before 2004, including this year. According to a projection made by the Treasury Undersecretariat considering the foreign debt stock at the end of March 1999, Turkey will repay $17.732 billion including foreign debt principal funds and interest payments in total this year. /Hurriyet/[18] LAST DAY FOR AKKUYU TENDER IS OCTOBER 15The tender for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Project launched by the Turkish Electricity Production Transmission Company (TEAS)is expected to be completed on October 15. The proposals from those firms which participated in the bidding and the research conducted by those committees and groups set up in order to make an economic and technical evaluation have been finalized. When it is considered that the firms' proposals will be valid until October 15, it is expected that a decision concerning this Project will not be made until this day. /Hurriyet/[19] EMC IN TURKEYThe rapidly-developing information sector is continuing to attract world giants to Turkey. The US information technology giant EMC gained a foothold in the Turkish market by setting up a company at the beginning of 1999. The Middle East Director of the Company, Adrian McDonald, pointed out that Turkey was located at a very important transit point in the Middle East and said: "Turkey is an extremely rapidly-developing market. It is perfectly rational for us to direct our procedures in the Middle East from Turkey". /Hurriyet/[20] ONE TOURIST FOR EVERY TURKISH CITIZENA campaign for one tourist for every Turkish citizen will officially start today. The General Director of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Yucel Yener, and the Giresun Deputy from the True Path Party (DYP), Rasim Zaimoglu, said that if the campaign which aims at bringing 12 million tourists to Turkey is achieved, an additional revenue worth nearly $8 billion will be obtained. The campaign will be announced on the TRT TV channel today. During the programmes to be broadcast on the TRT-INT, TRT 1 and TRT 2 TV channels, Turkey will be promoted to both Turkish and foreign tourists. /Hurriyet/[21] SOLIDARITY IN READY-TO-WEAR SECTORThe decrease in exports from the ready-to-wear sector has made the Associations' and Exporters' Unions convene to overcome the crisis in the sector. Exporters' Unions in Istanbul, the Aegean, Mediterranean, Uludag and Denizli and the Associations representing the clothing, jumper, sock and secondary industry sub-sectors established a platform of solidarity. The Head of the Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association (TGSD), Bulent Atuk, and the Head of the Istanbul Ready-To-Wear Exporters' Unions (IHKIB), Nuri Artok, have become the Spokesmen of the Platform called the 'Turkish Ready-To-Wear Solidarity Platform' which is expected to convene next week and announce their problems to the public. /Hurriyet/[22] CUSTOMS SUMMIT IN AUGUSTThe State Minister responsible for Customs, Mehmet Kececiler, and Customs Undersecretary Ramazan Uludag will meet together with the Istanbul Ready-To-Wear Exporters' Unions (IHKIB) next month in order to discuss the Internal Processing Regime and the Specialist Customs issues. The Head of the IHKIB, Nuri Artok, said that they would bring proposals to control imports and increase exports to the table. /Hurriyet/[23] NEW CUSTOMS REGULATIONSState Minister Mehmet Kececiler said that they would change the Customs Law and close at least 100 Customs Offices. Visiting Erenkoy, Kadikoy and Halkali Customs, Kececiler said that they would provide the Customs offices with computer systems. With the computer systems, he declared, they aimed to limit contact between citizens and Customs officials. Kececiler also said that the 57th government was continuing its research into changes to the Customs Law. /Aksam/[24] TURKEY CRITICIZES IRANStatements made by Tehran claiming that Turkish jets crossed the border and bombed some villages and police stations have caused new tension in Turco-Iranian relations. Turkey said that the claims were nothing to do with reality and cannot be accepted. Turkish officials who denied the Iranian claims remarked that there were still neighbouring countries supporting the PKK terrorist organization and said: "Turkey is deeply concerned over the terrorists who carry out terrorist attacks in Turkey and later escape to Iran, Syria and Iraq. Turkey is closely following the reports that some countries are sheltering these terrorists. However, it is out of the question for Turkish jets to bomb military outposts in Iran". /Hurriyet/[25] AZERBAIJAN TO SELL NATURAL GAS TO TURKEYThe Azerbaijani Ambassador to Washington, Hafiz Pashayev, stressed that there were rich natural gas reserves in the Sah Sea region of Azerbaijan and said that Azerbaijan wants to sell a large proportion of this gas to Turkey. Pashayev pointed out that the 700 billion cubic metres of natural gas reserves in the Sah Sea affected the strategical energy evaluation of the Caspian region and said: "Azerbaijan is not only a transit country for natural gas but also exports natural gas. We want to add Azerbaijani natural gas to the gas planned to be purchased by Turkey from Turkmenistan". He added that Azerbaijan supports the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project and that new important developments were expected in the near future. Pashayev stated that Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev was expected to visit Iran in the Autumn. /Turkiye/[26] SELF-CRITICISM BY EUThe six-page report 'A European Strategy for Turkey' prepared by the EU Commission and presented to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) says that Turkish public opinion is very sensitive concerning the exclusivist stance of the EU towards Turkey. The report adds: "Turkey's full membership perspective is not clear. And without financial assistance, the strategy cannot be implemented". Meanwhile, during the unofficial part of the EU Foreign Ministers' Council Meeting, Turco-EU relations will be discussed. Between July 20-25, the European Parliament will hold its final meeting of the current working term. During the meeting, the EU Term-President, Finnish Foreign Minister Tarja Holonen, will explain their policy concerning the issue of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. /Turkiye/[27] TUZ LAKE TO BE SAVEDThe Environment Ministry will launch initiatives to save Tuz Lake (Salt Lake) which has been extremely badly polluted. The 'Tuz Lake Environmental Integration Project' worth nearly 23 trillion TL will be implemented. Tuz Lake, which is a unique natural resource in Turkey and meets 73 % of Turkey's salt requirements, is also an important place as a nesting and rearing site for flamingos. /Turkiye/[28] MUMCU: "TOURISM SECTOR WILL DEVELOP"Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu said that there were pleasing developments being experienced in the tourism sector in July. Mumcu added: "There is an increase both in the number of Turkish and foreign tourists". Mumcu remarked that the support loan worth $33 million for the tourism sector would be increased to $100-105 million and pointed out that they aimed to receive $6.5-7 billion in tourism income this year. /Turkiye/[29] TURKISH LECTURER'S SUCCESSA lecturer at the Dental Faculty of Hacettepe University, Arzu Ozkavaf, has come second in the International Dentists' Congress in Slovenia thanks to her research which expounds on the relationship between gum diseases and the immune system. /Cumhuriyet/[30] 2,203 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTUREDSince 1996, a total of 2,203 illegal immigrants have been captured by the Coastal Security Command while 1,418 people who got into difficulties in the sea have been saved. During these activities, 900 tons of smuggled fuel, 128 kilos of hashish and 750 kilos of unadulterated cocaine were seized. Officials said that a contract was signed with the Agusto firm for the purchase of five helicopters to support the Coastal Security Organization. They added that meetings were held concerning three CASA CN-235-type aircraft. /Cumhuriyet/[31] GAZIANTEP CASTLE RESTOREDGaziantep Castle is being restored. The Director of the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum, Dr.Rifat Ergec, said that the first stage of restoration at Gaziantep Castle had been completed and the Castle was now open to visitors. Ergec also remarked that in the ancient city of Zeugma, sealed stamps which allegedly belong to the state archives of the Roman Period were found during exacavations carried out under the chairmanship of the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum. /Cumhuriyet/[32] TURKISH DELIGHT: "THE FILM OF THE CENTURY"'Turkse Fruit' (Turkish Delight) has been elected the most successful film of the century in Holland. In a survey conducted by the Dutch Film Festival Committee, 'Turkse Fruit' received 700 votes among 1,000 people. The film was directed by Paul Voorhoeve in 1973. /Turkiye/[33] EUROPEANS EXHIBITION IN ISTANBULThe 'Europeans Exhibition' of noted photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson will be opened in Istanbul on August 3. In addition to the Europeans Exhibition, there will also be various activities to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Bresson in Istanbul. The exhibition will last until September 30. /Turkiye/[34] GAP ADMINISTRATION TO COOPERATE WITH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITYThe Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration Directorate will cooperate in training field with Arizona State University (ASU), the Anatolia News Agency reports. The cooperation programme will include technology transfer and training experts at the International Research and Training Centre which will be set up in GAP region in 2000. The 'GAP Master Plan' will be revised to complete the GAP project in 2010. Meanwhile, exports of agricultural products from the GAP region to the US increased by 82.3 % to $13.839 million in the first half of the year.[35] AYTEKIN TO VISIT TRNCFevzi Aytekin, the Minister of Environment, will pay a one-day visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on July 23, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Aytekin will sign the 'Year 2000 Joint Action Protocol' that will be prepared within the framework of the agreement for cooperation in the field of environment between the Environment Ministries of Turkey and the TRNC.[36] FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...[37] THE WEST IS SORRY - THERE IS NO BLOODSHED ON CYPRUS -TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)Columnist Tufan Turenc remembers the night of the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974 and narrates how as young journalists they worked 24 hours a day for a month at the time. Recalling these extraordinary days he comments on the pesent situation. A summary of his column is as follows:"Looking back, it can be seen that 25 years of peace have passed from the day of the Cyprus Peace Operation until today. During that time, there has been no bloodshed on the Island and both communities have lived in an atmosphere of peace and calm. However, this atmosphere of peace and calm must have disturbed the West as they are trying to solve the problem by artificial formations. They are making every effort to melt the two societies, differing in every conceivable way, in one pot. Their aim is to put the Turkish-Cypriots under the sovereignty of the Greek-Cypriots. They are preparing all kinds of traps for this purpose. However, they have not been able to entrap Turks as they have encountered in Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC), a hard nut to crack. Therefore, the Greeks, Greek-Cypriots and the West which wants to annex the Island to themselves are infuriated by him. They are not only angered by him, but they want to discard him from this game. Let us listen why to they are infuriated with Rauf Denktas in his own words:"To the Western diplomats who come to impose a solution upon me, I ask these questions: Is this a State, with all its rules? Are the rules of democracy in effect and is there an elected President? All the answers to these questions are in the affirmative, and what you want do is to sit around a table with this President and expect him to accept that there is no such State. Is there a precedent for this? If you can show me one, I will accept your proposals." Cypriot Turks are right in their cause and they are lucky to have a leader like Denktas who is working for this cause. What is more, Turkey is behind Denktas and the Turkish Cypriots completely." [38] TURKEY DEFIES THE WORLD -BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag comments on the Cyprus problem. A summary of hhis column is as follows:"The extarodinary meeting of the TGNA on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, provided an opportunity for the Ecevit Government to issue harsh and challenging messages to the Western World. In the plenary session attended by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus(TRNC), Prime Minister Ecevit and all the party leaders taking the stand after him supported Denktas completely. Thus, it has been shown to the world that Turkey has a policy on t he Cyprus question which is above party politics. The main factors in the statement accepted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly(TGNA) are as follows: - The presence of two separate and sovereign States on the Island should be accepted. The Greek-Cypriot Administration cannot be accepted as the only and the sole legal representative of the Island. - The acceptance of the Greek-Cypriot application for EU membership has blocked the way towards a solution and has opened up Greek settlement in Cyprus within the framework of the EU. This unacceptable situation has invalidated the proposal for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. - The proposal put forth by the G-8 for a meeting with no conditions attached in itself constitutes a condition as the negotiations would be centered around a federation. Therefore, it has been rejected. - President Denktas will negotiate with the Greek-Cypriots only under equal conditions. That is, he will sit around a table with them only when the presence of two equal political entities on the Island is accepted. - The regional Turco-Greek balance foreseen by the international agreements which have established the Cyprus Republic will be protected. It is a well-known fact that the G-8 decision concerning Cyprus has been taken with the urging of the US and the UK. It will not be wrong to say that the US has resorted to such a solution with the purpose of intimidating Ecevit and Bahceli who are known for their hawkish views concerning Cyprus. However, it should not be forgotten that the driving force behind the revival of the Cyprus question is the Greek lobby in the US. Traditionally, ethnic lobbies in the US try to obtain the utmost concessions just before the Election and the candidates compete with each other in giving concessions to satisfy these lobbies. As Vice-President Al Gore is not as popular as the Republican Party Presidential candidate Bush, he is expecting the support of these minorities. That is to say Washington, is trying to impose solutions on Turkey which could lead Cyprus to a time of instability and probably into a war, as if it has not learned anything from the crisis in Kosovo, so as to increase the chances of Al Gore by satisfying two million Americans of Greek or Greek-Cypriot origin. Prime Minister Ecevit has sharply reacted against this unfairness, selfishness and political blindness and burnt the bridges. It should not be forgotten that there is a fine calculation behind this stance... In fact, the US, like the EU, knows that it has exhausted all means of pressure on Turkey. As Turkey has seen that the doors of the EU are closed to her, she has no expectations from her. When the EU understands that she cannot solve this question by reducing the Turks to a minority status and expect Turkey to accept it, the road in front of the Turkish policy envisaging the issue to be solved within a framework of equality will be opened. In this context, we should note that some European countries have already understood that accepting the Greek-Cypriot Administration into the EU is tantamount to dividing the Island and this is a development strengthening the proposals based on equality. The EU States are disturbed by the fact that the acceptance of the Greek-Cypriot Administration into the EU will bring them up against Turkey continually and, therefore, are seeking a way out. The Cyprus question has come to a crossroads and the important point is for Turkey to continue its resolute stance. [39] SPECIAL KOSOVO[40] EM VISITS TURKISH BRIGADE IN KOSOVOMinister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem visited the Turkish brigade in Dragas, Kosovo. During the visit Cem remarked that Turkish soldiers have been given a very important mission in Kosovo which they are undertaking very successfully. Later, the Minister went to Prizren, where Kosovars of Turkish origin are living, to open the Turkish Coordination Centre. After the opening ceremony, Cem headed to Mamusa where he was welcomed with great affection by the people. During his speech to the people of Mamusa, Cem said that Turkey will continue to support Kosovo and the Kosovars. He said, "Turkey and Kosovo share a 500-year long history. And we attach great importance to their problems. We also believe that Albania behaves very sensitively towards the Kosovars." /Aksam/Milliyet/[41] KOSOVAR REFUGEES RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRYKosovar refugees who have taken shelter in Turkey as a result of ethnic-cleansing campaign in Kosovo continued to return to Kosovo on Saturday. The Interior Ministry said yesterday that the number of Kosovar refugees who left Turkey reached 14,472, the Anatolia News Agency reports.END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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