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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (December 13, 1995)From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)Turkish News DirectoryCONTENTS[01] HISTORIC DAY AS TURKEY JOINS EUROPE[02] CILLER WRITES LAST-MINUTE LETTER TO MEPs[03] ELECTION BANS TO COMMENCE TOMORROW[04] ANKARA SET TO REJECT CALL FOR CEASE-FIRE BY THE PKK[05] BULGARIAN GROUND FORCES COMMANDER IN ANKARA[06] JORDANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN ANKARA[07] DENKTAS APPROVES NEW GOVERNMENT[08] FIVE PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN SOUTHEAST[09] TRADE WITH MONGOLIANS TO INCREASE[10] RECORD NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY IN NOVEMBER
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13, 1995Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish pressthis morning[01] HISTORIC DAY AS TURKEY JOINS EUROPEIn what could be a most historic event for Turkey, European Parliamentarians will vote today on whether or not to accept Turkey into the European Union (EU) customs treaty.All the signs are that the EU member countries will vote in favour of Turkey. After intensive lobbying by top Turkish officials, Turkey has to a large extent overcome negative images in connection with human rights, and looks set now to join the Europeans. Unless something totally unexpected happens, Turkey will join the customs union on January 1, 1996. By far the majority of EU parliamentarians have said that they agree with the union and will vote accordingly. A last survey shows that eighty percent of the EP voters will vote positively. The remaining twenty percent have hesitations over the fact that Turkey is a moslem country or could create negative trends in the EU after becoming a member. Despite the efforts of the dissidents however, Turkey has the overwhelming support of the major voting groups in the EP assembly. Although some of the more strongly affected groups in the EP are even now pressing for a new deal between Turkey and the PKK separatist organization, even these hard-liners have softened the wording of the draft bill they are proposing on this issue in favour of Turkey. From every standpoint, December 13 will likely go down in the history books as being a most important day for Turkey. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah-Milliyet/
[02] CILLER WRITES LAST-MINUTE LETTER TO MEPsPrime Minister Tansu Ciller wrote a last-minute letter to all members of the European Parliament, pledging her commitment to democratic reform. "We will bring a different perspective and cultural heritage to the EU" she said. "It may seem appealing to some of you to postpone this vote while pressuring Turkey to enact even more reforms" Ciller said in her letter. "But for those of you who advocate further reforms, a delay would actually have the opposite effect". /All papers/
[03] ELECTION BANS TO COMMENCE TOMORROWThe official campaign for the upcoming December 24 election will commence tomorrow, December 14, and the election bans will become effective on that date. On December 17, campaign speeches by the parties will begin on radio and TV. Under the new Electoral Law, private radio and television stations may only broadcast campaign statements relayed by the state-owned radio and television corporation (TRT). Local radio and television stations are not allowed to broadcast campaign publicity and will be closed down if they do. /All papers/
[04] ANKARA SET TO REJECT CALL FOR CEASE-FIRE BY THE PKKRejecting suggestions that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is preparing to call for a cease-fire, Interior Minister Teoman Unusan said yesterday that Turkey would "not take such a call seriously".Turkey has said that it will continue to refuse to accept dialogue with terrorists, and therefore has not heeded previous cease-fire calls by the PKK. Unusan noted that the PKK was calling a cease-fire at this time because it was losing strength. "The PKK has entered into a process of decline, they have problems in Syria and northern Iraq as well" he added. /All papers/
[05] BULGARIAN GROUND FORCES COMMANDER IN ANKARAThe Bulgarian ground forces commander, Maj.Gen.Zahari Iliyev, arrived in Ankara for a four-day official visit. He was met by the Turkish ground forces commander, Gen.Hikmet Bayar at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. The Bulgarian commander and his delegation will visit military facilities and meet with officials in Antalya and Istanbul. /All papers/
[06] JORDANIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN ANKARAJordan Chief of General Staff Gen.Abdal Hafiz Marei Kaabneh is expected in Ankara today as the official guest of Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi. According to the press office of the General Staff, the Jordanian commander will visit his counterpart Gen.Karadayi, Defence Minister Vefa Tanir, Ground Forces Commander Gen.Hikmet Bayar and Air Force Commander Gen.Ahmet Corekci in their offices. Gen.Kaabneh will leave Turkey on Thursday. /All papers/
[07] DENKTAS APPROVES NEW GOVERNMENTPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas yesterday approved a modified version of the right-left coalition government that resigned last month. Denktas told reporters he had approved the coalition headed by Prime Minister Hakki Atun. Atun had led the previous government coalition of the right-wing Democratic Party and the left-wing Republican Turkish Party, then headed by Ozker Ozgur. Ozgur is not in Atun's new cabinet. /All papers/
[08] FIVE PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTFive militants of the PKK terrorist organization were killed yesterday by security forces in the rural area of Hakkari's Cukurca district. According to the Office of the Emergency Rule Region Governor, three PKK militants surrendered in Sirnak, Tunceli and Hakkari, and 21 PKK militants were captured in Tunceli and Hakkari. Two members of the outlawed Hezbollah organization were arrested in Van. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] TRADE WITH MONGOLIANS TO INCREASEA minutes of accord which was signed at the 1st term-meetings of the Joint Economy Commission previously held between Turkey and Mongolia has been approved by the Council Ministers. The two sides will intensify their efforts to diversify types of goods to be traded between the two countries. A protocol has been signed for the establishment of a Business Council. /Sabah/
[10] RECORD NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY IN NOVEMBERIn November 1995, 610 thousand foreign tourists visited Turkey. This represents a 50 percent increase in comparison to previous years. During the first eleven months of the year, a record number of foreigners chose Turkey as the place to spend their holidays. Tourism Minister Irfan Gurpinar noted that this trend is expected to continue also in December. The total number of tourists visiting Turkey in 1995, so far amounting to 7.6 million, is expected to exceed eight million. Tourism revenues from the January-November period of the year reached $5 billion, grading tourism second among the sectors bringing in the greatest amounts of foreign currency. /Sabah/
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