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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (August 4, 1995)From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)CONTENTS[01] CONFERENCE ISSUES BOSNIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION[02] REPORT: TURKEY'S KURDS OPPOSE SEPARATE STATE[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH MOLDOVA PRESIDENT[04] REFORMS TO BE CONTINUED[05] AGRICULTURE MINISTER SAHIN IN ALBANIA[06] UN WANTS TO HOLD SUMMIT IN CYPRUS[07] WORLD LIBRARIANS TO VISIT TURKISH PARLIAMENT[08] IRAN SUPPORTS TURKEY[09] AYAZ TO VISIT UNITED STATES[10] NEW GOLD EXCHANGE STABLE AFTER FIRST FIVE SESSIONS[11] NEW PLANS FOR CAUCASIA[12] HELP FOR CRIMEAN TARTARS[13] PKK RUNS RIOT IN EUROPE[14] GERMANY CONDEMNS PKK[15] OPERATION IN SOUTHEAST[16] TURKISH PETROL DELEGATION TO USWITH THE COMPLIMENT OFDIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATIONTURKISH PRESS REVIEWAUGUST 4, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] CONFERENCE ISSUES BOSNIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATIONA conference held in Istanbul to review the ongoing human tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina and to find ways to provide and deliver assistance and to redress the situation with a declaration on human rights and humanitarian issues has ended. At a press conference yesterday, State Minister responsible for human rights Algan Hacaloglu, who hosted the conference disclosed that measures for the international community had been proposed. At the conference organized by the State Ministry responsible for Human Rights entitled "The human dimensions of the Bosnia- Herzegovina problem" between 2-3 August, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin said that the moral values defended by Europe were being dashed to pieces one-by-one in Bosnia, the centre of the continent. In his address, Cetin emphasized that the conference was being held while events in Bosnia were reaching new dimensions. He said that for the last three-and-a-half years, one of the biggest tragedies of the 20th century was being enacted with conflicts and torture. Cetin said: "These Serbian activities of ethnic cleansing and genocide, atrocities against innocent people, women and children and violations of human rights have had no parallel in Europe since the Second World War. The international community must take measures without further delay". Hacaloglu in his speech said that one tenth of the population in Bosnia-Herzegovina had been either killed or wounded during the last 3.5 years, one quarter of the population was in slavery and a generation was disappearing in central Europe. He said that the aim of the conference was to take up the human rights dimension of the tragedy in former Yugoslavia where during the last 3.5 years human rights had been systematically violated. Hacaloplu said that notwithstanding the intervention of the international community, peace was nowhere in sight in Bosnia, 82,000 civilians and 17,000 children have been killed, 60,000 have been left crippled, 850,000 have been forced to flee their homes, also 1,440 mosques, 1,496 churches, 490 villages and 4,000 factories have been destroyed. The region has no water, electricity or gas and the passage of aid to the region is obstructed by the Serbs, he concluded. Meanwhile, the Mass Housing Administration (TOKI) will set up a 250-house "Peace Village" in Zenica where there are Turkish troops deployed under the UN flag in Bosnia. Hacaloglu said that 1,000 persons would live in the Peace Village which the TOKI, headed by Yigit Guloksuz, will complete at the end of this year. "This is the first move by Turkey for the re-construction of Bosnia and will be an example for the world" Hacaloglu said. /Hurriyet/
[02] REPORT: TURKEY'S KURDS OPPOSE SEPARATE STATEA report entitled "The Eastern Question -Diagnosis and Observations" was published yesterday by the Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). The field work was carried out in the cities among the people who are defined as "Kurdish". Permanent residents in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman and Mardin were chosen as interviewees. Three cities on the Mediterranean: Adana, Mersin and Antalya were selected as the cities which attract immigrants from the southeast. The number of people interviewed for the research was 1,267 in these six cities. 90.3 % were male; 9.7 % were female. The report stated that among those who propose an independent Kurdish state, only 9.4 % support talks with the PKK. This was interpreted as a sign that even the most radical do not want the PKK to be seen as the representative of the people of the area. "This information confirms that if the question is well understood, and a healthy approach taken, it can be solved without the involvement of the PKK" the report claimed. In conclusion, the report said: "As a primary objective, the region should be developed and the living standards of the local people should be raised. This will also prevent any further damage to the urban environment by immigration. Social, cultural and educational reforms should be carried out so that the individual is free of traditional control mechanisms. The base of politics should be enlarged and all kinds of political programs and organizational movements should be encouraged with the exception of separatism". /Milliyet/
[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH MOLDOVA PRESIDENTGagauzia was a very important bridge between Turkey and Moldova, President Suleyman Demirel said giving thanks to Moldova's President Mircea Snegur for his understanding in solving the Gagauz problem. President Demirel met with Snegur, who is paying an unofficial visit to Turkey, in Cankaya Presidential Palace. Relations between the two countries were at a very good level, Demirel said, stating that "Political and legal foundations were formed and framework agreements were almost completed to widen the cooperation between Moldova and Turkey". Two countries had also good relations on the platform of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), Demirel said. Snegur said: "I can say that Gagauz problem was solved. Gagausians were given an autonomous status. And this problem was solved during President Demirel's visit to Moldova". /All papers/
[04] REFORMS TO BE CONTINUEDThe "European" newspaper, circulated throughout Europe has reported that Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said Turkey was in a period of reform process, and that studies on reforms would continue after constitutional amendments were completed. The newspaper reported Ciller as saying: "I am determined to continue the process of reforms. We are living in a rapidly changing society. Thus, reforms must be continued." /Hurriyet/
[05] AGRICULTURE MINISTER SAHIN IN ALBANIAMinister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Refaiddin Sahin, who has been paying an official visit to Albania, met with Albania Agriculture and Food Minister Hasan Halili. During the meeting between the delegations headed by two ministers, Halili briefed Turkish delegation on agriculture sector in Albania before and after the communist rule and explained the possibilities of cooperation on agriculture and forestry. Sahin also briefed Albanian delegation on agriculture sector in Turkey and stressed the leading role of private sector in this field. A protocol on agricultural cooperation between Turkey and Albania is expected to be signed today. /All papers/
[06] UN WANTS TO HOLD SUMMIT IN CYPRUSThe UN is attempting to hold a summit meeting in Cyprus in an effort to solve the island's problems through face- to-face talks between Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides, Gustave Feissel, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Cyprus disclosed yesterday. A well-planned summit would be successful, according to Feissel, the Anatolia news agency reported. "The guarantor countries (Britain, Turkey and Greece) should make efforts and initiatives with Security Council member countries in order to solve the problem" Feissel said. Cyprus' full membership in the EU would serve as an important contribution to efforts to solve the dispute, he said. "I believe that the Turkish side's justified concerns can be erased by positive and satisfactory answers" Feissel said, noting that Turkish and Greek Cypriots should make more contact at every level to improve mutual confidence and respect. "The package of confidence building measures (proposed by the UN) can no longer be applied alone. It has to be considered within a wider package" he added. He also commented that there was no need for armaments on the island.
[07] WORLD LIBRARIANS TO VISIT TURKISH PARLIAMENTRepresentatives of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), the world's principal library organization with 284 member associations in 135 countries, will visit the library of the Turkish Parliament in Ankara on August 17 and 18, the Anatolia news agency reported. The IFLA librarians will examine the library's retrieval sytem and how it meets the information needs of the deputies, as well as meeting with Istanbul deputy Tinaz Titiz to discuss technical aspects of the library.
[08] IRAN SUPPORTS TURKEYIran, so far, has handed over 34 terrorists to Turkey, a high-ranking Iranian official said yesterday, as reported by the Anatolia news agency. Ali Rezak Berati, chief of Iranian Security Forces said that Iranian armed forces were struggling against separatist terrorists and considered them to be the common enemy of Iran and Turkey. Berati attended the 11th Joint Security Committee meeting on Wednesday in Ankara and visited the governor of Bolu province on his way to Istanbul on Thursday. He said that in the committee meeting they had reviewed terrorist activities and measures taken against them.
[09] AYAZ TO VISIT UNITED STATESNevzat Ayaz, the Education Minister, will visit the US as the guest of Ohio State University, which is the supervisor of a project for the improvement of Turkish education project being financially supported by the World Bank. Ayaz will check on the progress being made and meet Turkish students who are involved in the project. The visit will last from August 6 to 15, the Anatolia news agency reported.
[10] NEW GOLD EXCHANGE STABLE AFTER FIRST FIVE SESSIONSSince its opening on July 26 trading in the first five sessions of the Istanul Gold Exchange (IAB) has followed a stable trend reaching a volume of $44.15 million, the bourse management announced yesterday. During the five sessions there were 172 transactions involving a total of 3,538 kilograms of gold. /All papers/
[11] NEW PLANS FOR CAUCASIATurkey is planning a new economic structure for the Caucasian region based on the "Benelux model". Taking the Holland- Luxemburg-Belgium union as an example, Turkey wants to remove the borders between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to create a new economic power in the region. The recent opening of the Posof-Turkgozu border gate is seen as being the first step in the direction of setting up the Benelux system, which envisages free movement of workers, transport, information and other economic advantages. The newly opened Posof border crossing slices 300 km off the distance between Ankara and Baku. Reports suggest that soon another crossing will be brought into operation at near-by Aktas, further strengthening the infrastructure for the Benelux model. Ankara is already calling the plan the "Caucasia Union" and foresees that road transport, tourism and the development of the region in general will all grow as a result of the economic plan. /Hurriyet/
[12] HELP FOR CRIMEAN TARTARSTurkey is providing practical aid for the return of Crimean Tartars to their homeland decades after their forced migration to Siberia during the time of the Stalin regime. To support the return of the Tartars, Turkey will assist in a project to build one thousand new homes for returnees. Moscow however, wants to build up the Russian population in the Crimea and is trying to block the project. Ignoring the pressure from Moscow, President Suleyman Demirel has already announced that Turkey will not be dissuaded from lending a helping hand to the Tartars. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] PKK RUNS RIOT IN EUROPEEarly yesterday morning, a Turkish restaurant in Germany was attacked by unidentified persons. According to a police statement, the attackers tried to start a fire in the restaurant in Koenigswinter near Bonn. Happily, nobody was killed or injured in the incident. The number of attacks against houses and working places in the regions inhabited by Turks throughout Germany has exceeded 20 in the last ten days. German police officials note that the attacks were possibly organized by the outlawed terrorist PKK organization. PKK supporters have also organized demonstrations in various German cities. The PKK is also running riot in France where the Association of Turkish Federations was attacked yesterday. The atmosphere among the Turks living in France is strained. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[14] GERMANY CONDEMNS PKKInterior Minister of Bavaria, Gunther Beckstein, said that the separatist PKK terrorist organization had started a fight against Germany. In a press conference in Munich yesterday Beckstein said that attacks against Turkish homes and property in Germany were organized by the PKK, and added that every legal means would be applied in the struggle against the terrorists. /Cumhuriyet/
[15] OPERATION IN SOUTHEASTAccording to the State of Emergency Governership Office, during operations conducted by Turkish security forces in the southeast, eight terrorists from the PKK terrorist organization were killed and seven terrorists surrendered. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] TURKISH PETROL DELEGATION TO USThe US official institutions and oil companies, which are interested in the Caspian Sea oil pipeline, are waiting for a Turkish technical delegation to discuss the details of a Turkish proposal about "Early Oil". The route of the early oil, which will be the first part of the oil drilled from the Caspian Sea, will be decided by 2 October. Turkey wants a pipeline route over Baku to Suspa port facilities in Georgia, whereas Russia wants the oil to be transferred to a Russian harbour through Russia. /Hurriyet/END |