TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 2, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (May 2, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] DEMIREL CONGRATULATES KAZAKH LEADER

  • [02] CILLER WELCOMES TROOPS HOME

  • [03] EUROPEANS CHECK SITUATION IN TURKEY

  • [04] CINDORUK VISITING AUSTRIA

  • [05] AKTUNA VISITING THRACE

  • [06] 16 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

  • [07] US EMBARGO AGAINST IRAN

  • [08] ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

  • [09] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS

  • [10] NO CHANGES TO IRAQ-TURKEY BORDER

  • [11] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IN TURKEY

  • [12] TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER IN TURKEY

  • [13] MAY DAY PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENT

  • [14] NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF VISITS TURKEY

  • [15] COUNCIL OF EUROPE REGRETS TURK BOYCOTT

  • [16] BARZANI DELEGATION COMES TODAY

    •

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    TUESDAY MAY 2, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning

    [01] DEMIREL CONGRATULATES KAZAKH LEADER

    President Suleyman Demirel has sent a congratulatory message to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev following the extension of his presidency to the year 2000.

    Following a national referendum on April 29, Nazar- bayev was given the support he needed to carry on with reforms and measures to bring Kazakhstan into the modern world. Demirel congratulated him on his success. /Cumhuriyet/

    [02] CILLER WELCOMES TROOPS HOME

    Prime Minister Ciller led ceremonies held at Silopi yesterday to welcome back Turkish military units from northern Iraq after an almost two-month long campaign against PKK terrorists.

    The returning soldiers were given an enthusiastic welcome, and the prime minister together with top military representatives confirmed the success of the military incursion, and the impossibility of destroying the unity of the Turkish nation. /All papers/

    [03] EUROPEANS CHECK SITUATION IN TURKEY

    A delegation of European parliamentarians represent- ing the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) presently in Turkey to examine the situation regarding human rights and other issues, has already had talks with leading political figures.

    The visit of the delegation is seen by some as being "critical" to Turkey's interest in becoming a full member of the European community. Nevertheless, Par- liamentary Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk said yesterday that the delegation would be allowed to follow their inspection of the country without let or hindrance- as befits a democratic country. /All papers/

    [04] CINDORUK VISITING AUSTRIA

    Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk goes to Austria today to pay an official visit. Cindoruk and his commission will visit Austria as the guests of Austrian Parliament Speaker Dr. Heinz Fischer. Cindoruk and his commission will return to Ankara on May 4. Cindoruk will be received by Austrian President Thomas Klestil during his visit. True Path Party (DYP) Bal}kesir Deputy Sami Sozat, Motherland Party (ANAP) Cankiri Deputy Ilker Tuncay, Republican People's Party (CHP) Denizli Deputy Adnan Keskin and Welfare Party (RP) Konya Deputy Deputy Abit Kivrak are amongst those in the commission accompanying Cindoruk. /Hurriyet/

    [05] AKTUNA VISITING THRACE

    State Minister and Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna is going with a delegation of parliament- arians and journalists to Western Thrace today. The 45 person-group will visit places in the region where the Turkish minority has come under pressure from the Greeks.

    The visit of the group has already aroused feelings of high anticipation among the Turks in Thrace, who are having to deal with many difficulties at the hands of the Greek administration. /Milliyet/

    [06] 16 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

    Five Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) terrorists have been killed in the Eruh township of Siirt and during the clashes four members of the security forces have also been killed. In fighting between security forces and PKK terrorists in the Ozbek township of Kulp, Camdal} region of Hakkari, and the Pertek township of Tunceli eleven terrorists were killed yesterday. Twenty-six PKK members have been arrested in Bitlis, Mus, Siirt and Tunceli. /Hurriyet/

    [07] US EMBARGO AGAINST IRAN

    President Bill Clinton claimed yesterday that Iran was the main supporter of terrorism in many countries and also in Turkey, and he declared that the US would cut-off all trading and investment relations with Iran. Clinton called upon all US allies to re-evaluate own their relations with Iran. In his speech at the World Jewish Congress in New York, Clinton said: "With this embargo, we are determined to block Iran, which is purchasing chemical weapons. There are strong evidences that Tehran supports terrorism. I believe that imposing this embargo is the most effective way to stop Iran's efforts to purchase destructive weapons, and its support for terrorism."

    In a press conference yesterday, US Secretary of State Warren Christopher asked China, Japan and Russia to re-evaluate their relations with Iran. Christopher pointed out that Iran supported terrorist activities not only in Turkey, Egypt and Sudan, but also in the Gazza Strip. He added that Clinton's recent decision regarding Iran was vital to the security of the world and the US.

    Christopher accused Iran of being a supporter of terrorism; a threat to the Middle Esat peace; and of building up a stock of nuclear weapons. In the wake of these developments, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Mahoud Muhammedi said that the embargo would be much more damaging to America than Iran. Ankara is following these developments with great attention. Nevertheless, immediately after the US embargo decision, Iran Oil Minister Gulam Agazade is making his planned visit to Ankara today. It is said that Turkey never did plan to postpone the visit as a sign of her neutrality.

    The US has also claimed that terrorist organizations in Greece are freely conducting their activities and that the police do not interfere with terrorist organizations.

    In a recent annual report regarding the Greek 17-November terrorist organization, US officials pointed out that the Greek government was indifferent, and that the police were ineffective against terrorism. However, Greek Foreign Minister, Karolos Papulyas, has denied the report, and said that Greek was strongly resisting terrorism. /Hurriyet/

    [08] ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

    Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beillin arrived in Ankara yesterday as the guest of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ozdem Sanberk. Beillin holds multi-lateral meetings of the Middle East peace process on behalf of Israel. It is reported that at the meetings various issues will be taken up including Turkey's contribution to the peace process, joint cooperation with the Central Asian Republics and commercial and economic relations between Israel and Turkey. Beillin was received yesterday by Sanberk, State Minister responsible for economy, Aykon Dogan, and Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu. It has been decided that undersecretaries of the foreign ministries of the two countries will meet twice a year. In response to a question regarding terrorism, Beillin said: "Both countries are fighting against terrorism separately. Even though we do not fight together, our shared struggles contribute to peace". /Hurriyet-Milliyet/

    [09] COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS

    A protocol agreement for cooperation and good intent between the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) and the Russian Journalists' Union (RGB) has been signed. The protocol envisages that opportunities will be sought for cooperation between the media institutions. Further, in addition to professional information exchange, mutual visits between the TGC and RGB have been ratified. /Hurriyet/

    [10] NO CHANGES TO IRAQ-TURKEY BORDER

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry has categorically stated that there will be no changes made to the present Turkey-Iraq border. The statement said that there had been recent news suggesting changes to prevent PKK infiltration. The statement pointed out that Turkey had made no political decision regarding the Iraqi border and that no meeting had been held with the Iraqi administration and leaders about border changes. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IN TURKEY

    Charles F.Meissner, the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy, arrived in Turkey yesterday. Meissner will hold a press conference today about his visit aimed at increasing commercial relations between the US and Turkey and developing the "Big Emerging Markets" (BEM) strategy of the US administration.

    Meissner is to meet with government and business leaders in Istanbul and Ankara. Meissner co-chaired the working group on investment and finance at the US-Turkey Joint Economic Commission Meeting in Washington at the end of March. /Cumhuriyet/

    [12] TURKMEN FOREIGN MINISTER IN TURKEY

    Turkmen Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Boris Sihmuradov is in Turkey for an official visit. During contacts, Sihmuradov is exchanging views with Turkish officials on bilateral relations and on regional and international problems. Sihmuradov and his accompanying delegation will leave Turkey today. /All papers/

    [13] MAY DAY PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENT

    May Day began quietly, with labor union leaders and politicians laying wreaths at the Republic monument in Taksim Square, Istanbul. Labor confederation leaders were led by Turk-Is Chairman Bayram Meral, the Confederation of Progressive Labor Unions Chairman Ridvan Budak and the Public Sector Workers Unions Confederation spokesman Yildirim Kaya. Minister of Culture Ercan Karakas and members of the Republican People's Party (CHP) also visited the Taksim Republic monument. /All papers/

    [14] NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF VISITS TURKEY

    The Commander-in-Chief of NATO's European Allied Forces, Gen.George A.Joulwan, arrives in Turkey today for an official visit, upon the invitation of Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi. Gen.Joulwan, who will start the official part of his tour tomorrow, will be welcomed by Gen.Karadayi. He is expected to travel to Izmir today where he will inspect NATO Southeastern Ground Forces as well as the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force Headquarters. /All papers/

    [15] COUNCIL OF EUROPE REGRETS TURK BOYCOTT

    The Council of Europe's rapporteur for Turkey has expressed his regret over the decision by Turkish parliamentarians to boycott the Council's Parliamentary Assembly, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. "I am very surprised at the decision. It would have been better to stay and keep the channels of dialogue open. The Council of Europe does not want to lose Turkey", Rapporteur Andreas Barsony said.

    [16] BARZANI DELEGATION COMES TODAY

    A high level delegation from northern Iraqi Kurdish leader Mesut Barzani is expected to come to Ankara today. A proposal of Turkey regarding "cooperation against the PKK for the security of Turkey" will be discussed with the delegation. Necirvan Barzani and Sami Abdurrahman, members of the KDP political party will be in the delegation.The parameters of the cooperation against the PKK and the contribution of Turkey will be decided during talks. Barzani has stated that one of his conditions for a cooperation agreement involves the re-population of villages along the border emptied by Saddam in 1975, instead of establishing control points for the security of the border.

    The Turkish side is wary about this condition, believing that it could create difficulties over operations to be made in the region. A delegation from Celal Talabani, another Kurdish leader with whom Turkey is having dialogue about cooperation against the PKK, will come to Ankara after the Festival of Sacrifice. /Hurriyet/

    END

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