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Turkish Press Review, 96-07-10Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWWEDNESDAY JULY 10, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] ECHOES OF VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ABROADBritain: The Financial Times claimed that few political analysts thought the coalition would last long. The paper thought that Erbakan would not pose a direct threat to the secular structure of the country but would place his supporters in positions of influence. The Daily Telegraph was another daily which ran an article on Monday's voting. It emphasized the role of the army in Turkish politics and said that the military was cautious about the new coalition.Greece: Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos claimed that the RP-DYP coalition was just a seasonal government. Pangalos said that it was an alliance necessitated by the current situation, although he acknowledged that Erbakan was democratically elected. Syria: Syrian President Hafez al-Assad congratulated Turkey's Necmettin Erbakan on his election as prime minister, saying he hoped to improve ties between the two countries. "We are looking forward to a joint action that will promote the ties of friendship and cooperation between our two countries which are linked by religious, neighbourly and historical ties" he said. Israel: A Foreign Ministry spokesman congratulated the new government and expressed the hope that the new coalition would maintain special ties with Israel. "The change of power in Ankara will not alter the common interests of the two countries" the spokesman said. Russia: Russian Television said that the RP would have difficulty in putting its programme into practice. Before the December election the RP promised to establish an Islamic union, an Islamic common market and an Islamic NATO from Kazakhstan to Morocco, yet these would be hard to realize. /All papers/ [02] TURKEY AND BELGIUM SIGN SECURITY AGREEMENTA security agreement has been signed between Turkey and Belgium. The agreement was signed in Ankara by security chief Alaadin Yuksel on behalf of Turkey and by General Commander of Gendarmerie Willy Derrider on behalf of Belgium. Yuksel said that the agreement included such areas as international drug smuggling, terrorism, organized crimes, cooperation on illegal migration, illegal workers, expert training and the appointment of liaison teams.Derrider stated his confidence that the measures would be put into force rapidly and said that despite the differences between the two countries, efficient liaison would bring about effective cooperation. Asked his opinion of the pro-Kurdish private television channel, MED TV broadcasting from Belgium, Derrider answered that the Belgian police force would do its best as soon as concrete evidence was available. The Belgian security chief acknowledged the presence of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) offices in Belgium. He said the representations were being watched but noted that his department had limited authority because it was a political matter. After the ceremony, Derrider and Yuksel met with Interior Minister Mehmet Agar. Agar said that the large number of Turks in Belgium and the rise in terrorist activity there made cooperation between the two countries all the more important. /All papers/ [03] TURKEY SENDS PROTEST TO BONN AFTER KURDISH MEETINGTurkey has sent a protest to the German government over a Kurdish meeting held in Bonn. The Turkish Embassy contacted the German Foreign Ministry immediately after the Kurdish meeting and requested an explanation. The German ministry replied that the meeting was outside the control of the German government. The German officials also denied that German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel had sent a message to the meeting. The Turkish government had contacted Bonn before the meeting took place and demanded that the German authorities cancel it. The message from the Turkish government said: "There is a separatist organization behind the meeting and the German government should not allow this meeting to be held". The meeting took place despite the warnings. Yasar Kaya and Mahmut Kilic, members of the so-called Kurdish Parliament, also attended the meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[04] DENKTAS: CYPRUS SETTLEMENT UP TO GREEK CYPRIOTSTurkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas said a settlement in Cyprus was "up to the Greek Cypriots". Talking to reporters following his meeting with Sir David Hannay, the British envoy for the Cyprus problem, Denktas said he was ready for direct talks with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides.Stressing that the main obstacle to a Cyprus settlement was the recognition of the Greek Cypriot side by the international community as the sole legitimate government of the island, the president said a settlement would be within reach if and when Greek Cypriots abandon the title of government of Cyprus "that they usurped by force of arms" and come to negotiations with the intention of rebuilding a partnership federation with Turkish Cypriots on the basis of political equality. /All papers/ [05] US STATEMENTWelfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan's government won the vote of confidence in the Turkish Parliament on Monday. US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said in a briefing in Washington on July 3: "The actions are going to be very important. The words are also important. The words have meaning. The rhetoric has meaning. We are listening to the rhetoric as well as watching the actions". He added: "When you are a long term ally of the US, I think we have a right to expect that the political dialogue between our two countries will continue to be supportive, continue to be reasonable in terms of the vision and prospects that both governments bring to this relationship".Burns repeatedly underscored that Turkey must remain welded to NATO and the West since the security dimension forms the "bedrock" of Turkish-US relations. The Turkish government in the last decade tried hard to wean bilateral relations from one exclusively based on security concerns to an "enhanced partnership" of diversified security and trade relations. Burns made sure that his words would not be construed as being directed at Erbakan's pro-Islamic preferences. "There is nothing disturbing about the Islamic concerns of the Turkish government. It is natural" Burns said. "Turkey is an Islamic country. And if Turkey intends to build its relations with Arab countries, Muslim countries, that's fine. That makes sense for Turkey. But Turkey has Western friends as well -the US, Western Europe. Turkey has a relationship with Greece that must be carried out in a productive, constructive fashion. We hope very much that it will continue that way". /All papers/ [06] CILLER REASSURES THE WESTForeign Minister Ciller yesterday hosted leading western ambassadors at a dinner during which she reassured them that Turkey would not abandon pro-western foreign policies.During the meal Ciller told her listeners that the new pro-Islam Refah Party led coalition would not create situations likely to cause anxiety in the west. Ciller said that she felt sure the coalition would continue to foster good relations with allies of long standing. Other top government officials including Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen were present. /All papers/ [07] SEMINAR ON TOURISM INVESTMENTWith a view to introducing foreign investors to the opportunities in the Turkish tourism sector, the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TYD) will hold a seminar on 21-22 November this year.Almost fifty related institutions as well as a large number of investment groups are expected to attend the seminar which will demonstrate the diversity of the tourism market. /Sabah/ [08] TURKSAT SATELLITE LAUNCH SUCCESSFULThe launch of a new satellite in which Turkey has a large share was launched successfully at 01:25 this morning. Blown into space by a French Ariane 4 rocket, the Turksat 1-C communications satellite was soon in orbit despite a 45 minute delay in blast-off.The same French rocket carried another satellite for the Arab countries -Arabsat 2A - which will also be used for military, telephone and TV communications. /All papers/ [09] TAYAN: "WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF ATATURK"Visiting Chief of General Staff, General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Defence Minister Turhan Tayan said: "We will conduct our duties in line with the principles of Ataturk. Turkey will meet the obligations of international agreements." /Hurriyet/[10] TURKEY WORLD CHAMPION OF BIOLOGY OLYMPICSThe Turkish team is the champion of the 7th International Biology Olympics held in Ukraine among 23 countries. Mehmet Emin Yilmaz from Istanbul Fatih Boys High School won a gold medal, and Berk Bulut and Salih Inal won bronze medals.At the 27th Physics Olympics in Norway, Emre Coskun from Izmir Science High School won a bronze medal, and Baris Bayram and Emre Dagli won mentions. /Hurriyet/ [11] AWARD TO THYAIRBUS Industrie has presented an award to Turkish Airlines (THY) which is the best at flying the A 340 type airbus in the world.Vice-President of AIRBUS Customer Services, Muhammed El-Borai presented plaques to the General-Director of THY, Atilla Celebi, and assistant general directors Yusuf Bolayirli and Oktay Oztekin in Istanbul and said: "The successful performance of THY depends both on the quality of the aircraft and the professionalism of the airline itself." At the ceremony, THY General-Director Atilla Celebi said that THY air-crews were very successful, and added that they aimed to increase THY flights to America and the Far East and that a new A 340 airbus would be bought next year. /Hurriyet/ [12] TURKEY-IRAN SECURITY MEETINGSThe third meeting of the Turkey-Iran Security Commission started in Tehran, Iran yesterday. A Turkish delegation headed by Interior Ministry Undersecretary Erol Cakir was received by First Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Assembly Hasan Ruhani, and Interior Minister Ali Muhammed Besarati prior to the meetings. After the first round of talks between the two delegations was completed, the Turkish delegation was received by Foreign Minister Ali Ekber Velayeti. /Cumhuriyet/[13] SUGGESTION FROM FRANCE TO ATHENSFrench Deputy Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, who is paying a visit to Athens, has called for the implementation of the EU-MEDA programme which foresees economic aid to 12 Mediterranean countries including Turkey. Barnier, who has gone to Athens to exchange views with Greek officials on issues regarding the EU, said that Greece should lift its veto on financial aid to Turkey, and stressed that the MEDA programme should be implemented at once without excluding Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/[14] SIX PKK TERRORISTS ARRESTEDSix PKK terrorists trained abroad and ready for attacks against shopping centres ansd touristic places have been caught in Izmir. During the operation a large quantity of explosives were confiscated. /Sabah/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |