Compact version |
|
Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
|
Turkish Press Review, 96-07-18Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY JULY 18, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] TURKEY CONCERNED OVER TERRORIST ATTACKS ON IRAN BORDERPresident Suleyman Demirel yesterday expressed concern over PKK militant attacks along Turkey's border with Iran and warned neighbouring countries not to support the separatist militants. "I say to our neighbours who support these terrorist movements..this is a futile activity" Demirel said. He was visiting a border post where PKK militants killed five Turkish soldiers last week. He said he would send a letter to Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsancani in connection with the incident but did not blame Tehran for the attack. The Turkish Foreign Ministry called for Iran to take urgent action to stop border incursions occuring in the future. Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi and Defence Minister Turhan Tayan accompanied Demirel on the visit. /Sabah-Milliyet/[02] BURUJERDI TO VISIT TURKEYIranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alaadin Burujerdi will visit Turkey on Thursday for talks with Turkish officials. Burujerdi is expected to give messages from Iranian President Hashimi Rafsancani to Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. It is reported that in addition to recent developments in the Middle East, meetings will take up "security problems" between the two countries. Burujerdi is the first top-level official to come from Iran to Turkey following the establishment of the Welfare Party (RP)-True Path Party (DYP) coalition government. Meetings will also be held between the delegations of the two countries where the Turkish delegation will be headed by Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Tuygan. /Cumhuriyet/[03] CILLER IN DUBLINForeign Minister Tansu Ciller said yesterday she welcomed the EU's agreement on an ambitious trade and investment plan for the Mediterranean, blocked for months by Greece. But she said Turkey was still studying an EU declaration on external relations in the region, which Greece says Turkey must accept before the so-called MEDA agreement goes ahead. Ciller, in Dublin for talks with Ireland, which currently holds the EU presidency, said Greece's decision to lift its veto on the MEDA plan was "a good step in the right direction". She said Turkey's acceptance of a declaration by EU foreign ministers calling on Mediterranean states to show "good neighbourliness" and respect for democracy was not a precondition for implementation of the plan. Ciller met with Irish Prime Minister John Bruton. Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Onur Oymen and Turkish Ambassador to Dublin Taner Baytok were also present at the meeting. Ciller noted that she had invited Bruton to Turkey. Ciller also met with Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring yesterday.On Monday, Greece agreed to lift its veto on the MEDA plan, but said it would only allow the plan to progress if Turkey accepted the EU declaration. "We discussed the declaration because we wanted to find out if it was in any way related to, or a precondition to, the lifting of the veto, and we found out that it was not" Ciller told a news conference after the talks in Dublin. "What we want to do is study the declaration in detail" Ciller said. Ciller called on the EU to honour its agreements with Turkey. "The veto being lifted will lead the way for the implementation of already existing agreements, which we view as a major principle which should be adhered to" she said. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/ [04] TURKEY WARNS ARMENIA OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKHThe Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday warned Armenia that it regards the appointment of an Armenian governor to Susa in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh as a dangerous development and a threat to the ongoing peace negotiations. The Foreign Ministry written statement said that "It is clear that while the peace negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh still continue, these kinds of de facto developments will be harmful for the peace talks". The Foreign Ministry said that Turkey wished to remind Armenia that it should refrain from such behaviour. /Cumhuriyet/[05] UN ENVOY HOPES CYPRUS RESOLVED BEFORE EU TALKSThe recently appointed UN special representative for Cyprus, Han Sung-Joo of South Korea, said that yesterday it was important to resolve the Cyprus question before the start of negotiations on Cyprus' accession to the EU. "Any solution would be better to come as soon as possible. But once the EU negotiations start, it will even complicate the matter and the EU will want to see what kind of solution there is" he told reporters after briefing the Security Council on recent contacts he had in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and number of other European countries. "It is not only a necessity but also an opportunity that we have, and we want to maximize that opportunity" he added, referring to talks expected to start next year on EU membership. /All papers/[06] SABANCI SIGNS JOINT VENTURE WITH DANONEThe Sabanci Group signed yesterday a 50_50 percent joint venture deal with one of the world's leading food producing giants, the French company the Danone group. The Danone group is active worldwide in 30 countries and produces the world famous Evian spring water and various food products. With its assets totalling $15 billion, the Danone Group is the biggest company in France and has third place in Europe and sixth in the world. The joint venture, DanoneSa, will start with the production and marketing of Hayat Su and expand to other branches of the food sector during the next few years. The joint venture agreement was signed by Danone Executive Board Chairman Frank Riboud and Sabanci Executive Board Vice-Chairman and Food Group Executive Board member Haci Sabanci. /Sabah/[07] 84 TURKS BEING HELD IN GREECEEighty-four Turks travelling by ferry-boat from Italy to the Turkish port of Cesme, were stopped and taken to Igoumenitsa in Greece where they are still being held in detention.The ferry-boat Artemis 1, belonging to Rainbow Lines, appears to be involved in some kind of monetary dispute but the Turkish passengers and their vehicles are still being held in Greece. The issue will be taken to court today when it is hoped that a solution will be reached. The Turkish passengers are reportedly not happy with the running of the ferry-boat either, voicing complaints that the vessel was not seaworthy insofar as navigation and running lights were not working and all the sea-doors were not properly secured for the journey. /Hurriyet/ [08] NEW US CYPRUS AND AEGEAN INITIATIVESUS permanent representative at the UN, Madeleine Albright, often referred to as President5 Clinton's "right arm" has brought a number of proposals with her for her tour of Cyprus, Athens and Ankara. Top of the list of proposals for solving disputes between Turkey and Greece, is that the moratorium on the Aegean Sea should continue.The US has started serious moves to remove the tensions between Greece and Turkey that stem from disputes ýnvolving the Aegean and Cyprus. Albright has stressed a number of times that Clinton was ready to help where possible. Greek officials said that they were still waiting for a full explanation of what the US wanted from them before commenting on the visit of Albright. Albright also wants to propose that if the Greeks are to be persuaded that they must stop their arming of the Greek Cypriot side of the island, then Turkey must withdraw its troops from the northern Turkish side of the island. /All papers/ [09] US SEEKING EXTENSION OF FORCE MANDATEUS special representative Madeleine Albright will bring a special message to Ankara in connection with the stay of the multinational "Provide Comfort" military force in Turkey.The US wants the Turkish government to extend the stay of the force, deployed in Turkey to protect the Kurds living in northern Iraq, but Ankara is under pressure to say no to the proposal. So far Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan has avoided coming out with a clear response to US suggestions on the issue, but the US wants to know now what will happen to avoid problems in the future. Meanwhile, Turkey asked the US, the UK and France to limit the number of Provide Comfort training flights over Turkish territory. The proposal was accepted by Provide Comfort partners within the framework of the amendments in Provide Comfort engagement rules. While negotiatons for extending the period of stay of the Provide Comfort multinational force that expires at the end of July are still going on, newly drafted engagement rules regulating the Provide Comfort status foresee measures for strict control over the force that will benefit Turkey. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/ [10] INVASION IN LONDONThe Turkish Tourism Ministry Promotion Office in London was invaded yesterday by a 30-40 member group, including women and children. In a statement to Cuprus Turkish Radio, the invadors said that their aim was to protest Turkish prison policies. The group was arrested after two hours by the British police. /Cumhuriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |