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TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (January 31, 1996)From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>Turkish Press Review DirectoryCONTENTS[01] TURKEY STANDS FIRM, ISLAND DISPUTE DEFUSED[02] NEW MISSILES FOR TURKEY ON THE WAY[03] US WARSHIPS FOR TURKEY[04] TURKISH FORCES TO PRESERVE PEACE IN BOSNIA[05] SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE MINORITY GOVERMENT[06] BORDER CROSSING DEAL WAITING FOR SYRIA[07] JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE VISITING[08] TURKISH CONTRACTORS LOOKING TO GAZA STRIP[09] TURKISH COMPANY IN BILLION DOLLAR POWER DEAL[10] ARCELIK SELLING TO THE US[11] TURKEY AND EU COMPROMISE OVER CYPRUSTURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY JANUARY 31, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] TURKEY STANDS FIRM, ISLAND DISPUTE DEFUSEDThe flare-up between Turkey and Greece about a tiny, uninhabited island 3.8 miles off the coast of Turkey appears to have been defused by US government intervention.The US has already warned both sides that whoever fired the first shot would be held responsible. But the ultra-sensitive Aegean region is very important to both sides and the stand-off over the island of Kardak brought feelings to a head. With neither side about to give way, despite intense diplomatic activity, and offers from Turkey to negotiate, yesterday saw a peak in the dispute over the ownership of the island. US intervention however has taken the heat out of the situation opening the way for talks about the future of Kardak -and according to some sources- the future of other small islands in the region. With both countries members of NATO, friction between Turkey and Greece creates much concern in the governments of the other NATO member countries including the US, and as reports indicate, in the Russian Federation as well. Turkish officials hope that now the dispute will be solved peacefully. /All papers/
[02] NEW MISSILES FOR TURKEY ON THE WAYThe US Defence Dapartment says that Turkey will take delivery of new AMRAAM air-to-air missiles by November of 1998. These advanced technology medium range missiles are mostly used with F-15 Eagle and F-16 fighter planes. Turkey wants to increase combat capability with these missiles.Contracts have been signed with the giant US arms companies of Hughes Missile Systems and Raytheon of Massachusetts. Both companies will build about 650 missiles each for the US Defence Department which will sell off 68 percent of the missiles to various countries, including Turkey. /All papers/
[03] US WARSHIPS FOR TURKEYThe US Senate has approved a bill that will allow Turkey to transfer three Oliver Parry class frigates and also put Turkey in line for defence export loan guarantees. The bill has to be approved by President Clinton. US government officials think that Clinton will sign the bill even though he still does not like some of the details.The bill stipulates that Turkey must repair, refurbish and maintain the three frigates in US shipyards however./All papers/
[04] TURKISH FORCES TO PRESERVE PEACE IN BOSNIATanks for supporting Turkish forces under the NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) umbrella in Bosnia have reached to Zenica. Turkish forces in Bosnia, reinforced with new arms and personnel have begun to support the peace plan in Zenica that includes the Serbian district of Doboj. The reinforcement troops now in Zenica include 13 tanks, a tank rescuer, 10 armoured personnel carriers, weapons and ammunition.It is reported that Turkish forces will also carry out humanitarian activities as well as security matters./Hurriyet/
[04] ALIYEV TO PAY A VISIT TO TURKEYIt has been reported that Azerbaijan President Haydar Aliyev will pay a visit to Turkey soon. Worried by the news about plans for a new pipeline route prepared by the International Oil Consortium, endangering the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project, Turkey will discuss the oil pipeline projects during Aliyev's visit. /Cumhuriyet/
[05] SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE MINORITY GOVERMENTThe leader of the True Path Party (DYP) Tansu Ciller held talks with Democratic Left Party leader Bulent Ecevit yesterday and agreed in principle on a minority government to be formed respectively by the DYP and ANAP. Ciller and Ecevit said that they were ready to support from the outside a possible minority government that would be formed by the DYP and ANAP. Ciller offered Ecevit the brief to form a minority government but it was later reported that Ecevit refused the offer./Hurriyet/
[06] BORDER CROSSING DEAL WAITING FOR SYRIAThe opening of the border crossing point at Nusaybin in Turkey, and Kamisli in Syria, is waiting for the go-ahead from Syria. Turkey is ready to open the border crossing to trade, just as soon as Syria agrees to the deal, reported the Anatolia news agency yesterday.Local officials say that the opening of the border crossing will bring new employment and prosperity to the region. Despite the moves to open the crossing, border trade between Turkey and Syria has taken a knock following the recent discovery of three trucks loaded with guns and ammunition at the Cilvegozu crossing. /All papers/
[07] JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE VISITINGCrown Prince Hassan bin Tallal of Jordan will arrive in Turkey today for a one day working visit, the Foreign Ministry has announced.While in Turkey, the Crown Prince will be received by President Suleyman Demirel and other top officials. Talks will center mainly on bilateral relations between Turkey and Jordan as well as regional developments and international issues. Iraq and northern Iraq will feature in the talks. /All papers/
[08] TURKISH CONTRACTORS LOOKING TO GAZA STRIPLeading Turkish construction and contracting companies are looking to the Gaza Strip and the expanding opportunities there as a way of developing Turkish interests in the region. A rep- resentative of the Turkish Contractors' Association said yester- day that Turkish companies could take part in a contract to build 100,000 houses in the battered Gaza Strip area, reports the Anatolia news agency. /All papers/
[09] TURKISH COMPANY IN BILLION DOLLAR POWER DEALThe giant Turkish Otak Construction company, and its US Amoco Corporation partner, are studying plans for a one billion dollar gas-fired power plant project in western Turkey, a company representative told Reuters.Otak will have a ten percent share in the project which includes the construction of storage units for natural gas and petro- chemicals. "The project will be carried out on a build-operate- transfer (BOT) basis, and will be financed by Amoco" said Otak general manager Mete Gun. It could be that the State Pipeline Authority (BOTAS) could later be involved in the joint venture project as the supplier of natural gas for the power plant. /All papers/
[10] ARCELIK SELLING TO THE USOne of Turkey's leading white goods producers, Arcelik AS, has signed an agreement with the US Whirlpool Corporation, to sell dishwashers in the US. According to the deal, Arcelik will sell 100,000 dishwashers a year for five years to the US through the Whirlpool Corp.Arcelik is the sixth largest company of its kind in Europe, and has notably increased its standing in the domestic and inter- national markets. /All papers/
[11] TURKEY AND EU COMPROMISE OVER CYPRUSAfter months of tough, but silent diplomacy, Turkey and the European Union (EU) have reached a compromise about a formula for Cyprus. The EU has shelved its plans for an EU coordinator to initiate plans for a solution to the island's problems. Instead, the EU will appoint a "term presidency envoy."President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas does not view the development negatively say reports on the situation. Denktas is however, against the involvement of outside countries and warns that such efforts can only damage fragile negotiations. The TRNC Assembly has again said that it is against membership of Cyprus in the EU before problems between the two communities on the island are settled. /All papers/
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