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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (August 31, 1995)From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)Turkish News DirectoryCONTENTS[01] ANKARA HAILS RAIDS ON SERBS[02] CILLER VISITS GEORGIA[03] PAPANDREOU REJECTS CLINTON'S TURCO-GREEK DIALOGUE PROPOSAL[04] VICTORY DAY MARKED WITH CEREMONIES[05] LAST LAP FOR CUSTOMS UNION[06] BEIJING FORUM ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS[07] NEW START AMONG TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS[08] ANKARA OFFERS HELP TO KURDISH LEADER[09] TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES GEOLOGY AND MINING CONFERENCE[10] RIFKIND TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEK[11] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY[12] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION IN ANKARA[13] TURKISH HOUSE FIRE-BOMBED IN GERMANY[14] HEFTY PENALTIES FOR FOREIGNERS WORKING WITHOUT PROPER PERMITS[15] POSITIVE RESPONSE TO TURKISH PROPOSAL[16] RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS TO TURKEY THROUGH GEORGIATURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY AUGUST 31, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish pressthis morning[01] ANKARA HAILS RAIDS ON SERBSTurkey, a long-standing advocate of use of force against Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, expressed support for the continuing NATO raids on Serb military targets in Bosnia yesterday. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said Turkey's support for the raids had been conveyed to various international leaders, including US President Bill Clinton, whom Ciller phoned yesterday. Ciller told reporters that Ankara welcomed the NATO raids but hoped that they would not be stopped until they had yielded concrete results. "This is a good beginning, but there is a need to get results. This requires courage and determination" Ciller said. She noted that Turkey was ready to continue to contribute to NATO action, as it had 500 troops, 10 planes and one frigate in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu said in a written statement that the raids were "a step in the right direction" by the international community, which was committed to protect civilians in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He added that a unified and determined approach was the only way to bring Bosnian Serbs into negotiations for a peaceful settlement, and that Turkey, from the very beginning, believed NATO action was the only way to break the Serbian siege in Sarajevo and other UN-designated safe havens. Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan explained that the Turkish aircraft stationed in southern Italy had a "protective mission" according to the NATO mandate. "Their mandate does not include actual participation in the bombardment" he said, adding that Turkey had already said it would make new forces available if NATO asked Ankara to do so.President Suleyman Demirel said: "I wish they had done this before. It means that they can do it when they want". He noted that Turkey had always supported stopping the bloodshed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and wished that the operation would achieve this. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah-Hurriyet/
[02] CILLER VISITS GEORGIAPrime Minister Tansu Ciller will visit Georgia today as the guest of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze. Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu, Energy Minister Veysel Atasoy, Agriculture Minister Refaiddin Sahin and Forestry Minister Hasan Ekinci will be accompanying Ciller on her one-day visit. The ministers will meet with their Georgian counterparts. /Sabah/
[03] PAPANDREOU REJECTS CLINTON'S TURCO-GREEK DIALOGUE PROPOSALGreek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou has rejected a US proposal which called for Turco-Greek dialogue in order to solve the disputes between the two neighbouring countries. There is no possibility of dialogue on Turkey's unilateral demands, Papandreou said after US President Bill Clinton sent a letter to Papandreou on Turkish-Greek relations. The Greek press reported that Clinton stressed the need for dialogue between Ankara and Athens in his letter, which was handed over to Papandreou by the US President's advisor George Stephanopoulos, who is on a private visit to Greece. Greece claims that the sharing of the Aegean Sea's continental shelf is the only dispute between Athens and Ankara and asserts that the rest of the problems root from Turkey's unilateral demands. It is also reported that the Greek Premier will reply to Clinton's letter shortly. /Milliyet-Hurriyet/
[04] VICTORY DAY MARKED WITH CEREMONIESThere were various ceremonies held throughout Turkey yesterday marking the 73rd year of Victory Day, which is also celebrated as Turkish Armed Forces' Day. The first ceremonies in Ankara were held at Ataturk's Mausoleum, Anitkabir, where Chief of Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi laid a wreath at Ataturk's memorial and signed the "Special Guest Book". The commanders of the Armed Forces, high ranking officers, and representatives of military associations participated in the ceremony. The second ceremony was held in the Office of Gen.Karadayi where he and Land Forces Commander Hikmet Bayar, Navy Forces Commander Adm.Guven Erkaya, and Air Force Commander Gen.Ahmet Corekci were congratulated. Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, Ankara Governor Erdogan Sahinoglu, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek, chairmen of the political parties, and important people from the Justice Department attended the ceremony. Another ceremony was held in the Ankara Hippodrome, attended by President Suleyman Demirel, PM Tansu Ciller, Gen.Karadayi, state ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin, Cabinet members, representatives of the political parties and foreign embassies. There was a fly-over by the Air Force and a display of land forces at the ceremony. /Milliyet/
[05] LAST LAP FOR CUSTOMS UNIONFor thirty-two years Turkey has dreamt of closer union with Europe. Now slowly that dream has started to come true, especially in connection with the major step forward of customs union with the member countries of the European Union (EU).The work of some years of intense preparation is about to culminate in full customs union with the EU. Officials say that Turkey has started into the last lap, with little in the way of economic problems to delay the union. They caution however, that there are still some political issues that could create difficulties. These include changes to the constitution, human rights issues and related matters. On the other hand, Turkey does have some advantages in the European Parliament that could in the next round of meetings during the autumn, put Turkey in a favourable position by January of 1996, when full customs union is planned to begin. /Milliyet/
[06] BEIJING FORUM ON WOMEN'S RIGHTSThe Turkish delegation to the 4th UN World Women's Conference in Beijing has started initial work at the forum centre. The highly promoted meeting of non-governmental organizations (NGO), will meet for ten days between September 4-14 when 25 thousand women will invite the world to "look at the world through the eyes of a woman."The twenty person Turkish delegation includes state minister Aysel Baykal, ANAP party member Imren Aykut and professor Turkan Akyol. The delegation will also have a stand at the forum where information about Turkey and Turkish handicrafts will be on display. /Hurriyet/
[07] NEW START AMONG TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICSCommenting on his visit to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where he participated in the 3rd summit of Turkish-speaking countries, President Suleyman Demirel said that relations between Turkey and these countries had entered into a new phase- a new beginning- that called for new policies and new initiatives.Demirel said that it would have been impossible even five years ago to have foreseen the current developments. "Nevertheless, we have to be aware of new relationships and act accordingly. New projects and programmes will have to be followed with more care and attention." Among those new projects and programmes is the pipeline project for transporting Azeri early petrol through Turkey. During the Bishkek summit it was agreed that Azeri President Aliyev would visit Turkey in the near future to discuss the project further. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] ANKARA OFFERS HELP TO KURDISH LEADERUnder attack from Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) forces, leader of the Iraq-Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP), Mesud Barzani recently appealed to Turkey for help. Reports say that Prime Minister Ciller has responded by offering conditional support.Just over one week ago, the PKK terrorist organization attacked twenty IKDP strongholds in northern Iraq in a drive to consolidate its move into the region. Using hit-and-run techniques developed in Turkey, the PKK has dealt some severe blows to Barzani, who nevertheless still boasts that "not one member of the PKK will be left in Kurdistan territory." Although Defence Minister Mehmet Golhan has denied that Turkey will join in a quasi-military operation with the IKDP against the PKK, Barzani said yesterday that he hoped to "sandwich" PKK units between his own forces and those of Turkey deployed along the border. Both Ankara and Washington are watching developments in northern Iraq closely. US officials have already declared that the PKK has no role to play in bringing peace to the region, and will be barred from round table talks with regional leaders. Ankara in the meantime is maintaining close contact with IKDP leader Barzani in an effort to contain PKK expansion. /All papers/
[09] TURKISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES GEOLOGY AND MINING CONFERENCEThe Turkish-speaking countries Second Geology and Mining conference will take place in Ankara between September 4-13. Mineral Research and Administration Institute said in a statement that the conference aimed at improving cooperation facilities in geology and mining fields among Turkish-speaking countries, and discussing scientific studies to evaluate natural resources.
[10] RIFKIND TO VISIT TURKEY NEXT WEEKBritish Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind is to pay a one-day visit to Turkey on September 6, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Rifkind and Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu will discuss relations between Turkey and the EU as well as regional and international issues, the ministry statement said. Rifkind will also meet Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and President Suleyman Demirel.
[11] ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEYRomanian Foreign Minister Theodor Viorel Melescanu will visit Turkey as the guest of Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal Inonu from September 4-6. Foreign Ministry officials said Turco- Romanian relations and the possibilities for their further development would be discussed during the visit.
[12] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION IN ANKARAA Macedonian Red Cross delegation has arrived in Ankara. The group has been invited by the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) to visit Kizilay projects in Turkey. The Macedonian delegation will be awarded gold and silver friendship medals by the head of the Turkish Red Crescent, Kemal Demir.
[13] TURKISH HOUSE FIRE-BOMBED IN GERMANYA fire bomb was thrown into a house belonging to Kurdish Turks in Muellheim late on Tuesday night. Police said that nobody was hurt in the fire because the house was empty. Police said that the owner of the house was being blackmailed by supporters of the PKK terrorist organization, who have been collecting money for the PKK in Muellheim. In another arson case in southern Germany, in which a Turkish shop was set on fire, investigators said that they suspected Kurdish extremists of having started the fire.
[14] HEFTY PENALTIES FOR FOREIGNERS WORKING WITHOUT PROPER PERMITSZiya Halis, the Labour and Social Security Minister, said that the ministry has been working on a new draft bill for issuing work permits to foreigners living in Turkey. He said: "Work permits will only be issued by the Employment Office and only under conditions that serve the public and job market interest and benefit. Work permits will only be valid for the specific place of employment and the job for which it was issued. A work permit will not be valid without a residence permit. Foreigners working without permits will be deported". In a written statement, Halis said: "Those who want to work themselves or those who want to employ foreigners in their business will have to apply to the Employment Office for a work permit. Those foreigners who present documents showing that they have been officially residing in the country for at least five years, or a document showing that they have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least two years, will be able to apply to the Employment Office directly. Work permits will be valid for only one year, but will be renewed on demand". /Milliyet/
[15] POSITIVE RESPONSE TO TURKISH PROPOSALThe consortium set up to exploit and market Azeri oil resources has given a positive answer to Turkish proposal on transferring early production Azeri oil through Supsa port facilities. Emre Gonensay, Chief Adviser to the Prime Ministery, faxed a proposal letter to the chairman of the consortium, Terry Adams, on 26 August and detailed Turkey's proposal about Supsa harbour in Georgia. In his reply, Terry Adams said that they had informed Azerbaijan and Georgia about Turkey's proposal, which they had welcomed. He added that following Azerbaijan's and Georgia's responses they would be in touch with Turkey. /Sabah/
[16] RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS TO TURKEY THROUGH GEORGIARussian natural gas could be transferred to Turkey through Georgia. A natural gas pipeline could be constructed through Georgia, over east Anatolia to Mersin and then it could be extended to Israel under the sea. It is expected that the length of the proposed pipeline will be 1,800 km and 13 billion cubic metres of natural gas could be transferred through it. The total construction cost of the pipeline would be at least $2 billion. If the Israeli government approves the route, the project will be completed in 2000. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/END |
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