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Turkish Press Review, 96-09-26Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] EU STRIKES ANOTHER BLOW AGAINST TURKEYIn the wake of heavy criticism from the European Union (EU) about human rights abuses in Turkey, with a subsequent decision to block aid due to Turkey under customs union agreements, the EU has now come up with more complaints about the recent Kardak island issue.The EU has declared that the matter must be taken to international abitration at the international Court of the Hague. However Turkish officials have warned that disputes between Turkey and Greece which came to a head a few months back over the sovereignty of the Kardak islands, must be treated as a whole and not be broken into segments. Turkish Foreign Minister Ciller said yesterday that if the Kardak islands are treated as a separate issue then the matter of all the islands in the Aegean Sea which the Greeks are arming -despite international agreements against this-must also be taken to the Court of the Hague. /Hurriyet/ [02] TURKEY HEADING FOR MEMBERSHIP IN SECURITY COUNCILForeign Minister Ciller, in New York for meetings of the UN and contacts with US officials, said yesterday that Turkey was a candidate for fully participating in UN Security Council sessions from the year 2000 on.Today Ciller will leave New York for Washington where she will have meetings with representatives from the IMF and the World Bank. /Hurriyet/ [03] CILLER AGAIN WARNS IRANDuring a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Ekber Velayeti in New York, Turkish Foreign Minister Ciller again warned the Iranian administration that infiltration of the Turkish border from Iran must be stopped.Ciller informed Velayeti that Turkey was determined to defend its borders and maintain security by using whatever means were available. She noted however that Turkey and Iran were the two most powerful countries in the region, and that as such both were obliged to fight against regional terrorism. /Sabah/ [04] CILLER DEFENDS 'SECURITY ZONE' ON PBS TVFrequently referring to Turkey's need to achieve stability in northern Iraq and to stop the influx of PKK terrorists and other refugees from the area, Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller defended current Turkish policy on Public Broadcasting Syytem TV Channel 26, as a guest of "News Hour with Jim Lehrer" programme on Tuesday.As an example of Turkey's continuing cooperation with the US, Ciller highlightened Turkey's permission to have 2,500 US-employed Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq who crossed the border earlier this month, and the way Turkey increased the number of flights under Operation Provide Comfort to provide air umbrella over Iraqi Kurds to protect them from Saddam Hussein. "Turkey has been an ally of the US for a long time, including throughout the Korean War" Ciller said. "During the Cold War -we have a border with Russia; and we were there. In the first Gulf crisis we were there. And in the second Gulf crisis we were also there" she added. Ciller repeated Turkey's political position regarding the unacceptability of a power vacuum in northern Iraq and stating further that it is hurting Turkey by providing bases for the PKK terrorist organization. "That's why Turkey needs the 'security zone' Ciller said. "We do not intend to conquer Iraq. We do respect the territorial integrity of Iraq. But it is necessary for us to provide stability and security at our borders, which we are determined to do". Ciller mentioned the importance of 700,000 Turkmens, 'speaking Turkish, who happen to be Turks, in providing stability in northern Iraq. They are well- educated and a secular group of civilian people in northern Iraq" Ciller said. "We feel that they should be integrated with the Kurdish people, try to protect each other, and form some sort of local administration" she said. "That might fill the vacuum of power in northern Iraq" she added. /Hurriyet/ [05] ANKARA SEEKS DIALOGUE WITH NEW GREEK GOVERNMENTPrime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller sent messages to congratulate Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on his re-election. In his message, Erbakan remarked that the Turkish and Greek peoples shared the same fundamental interests and could live side-by-side, in peace and cooperation. Erbakan said he seeks "cooperation to develop friendly relations through a process of constructive dialogue".In her message to Simitis, Ciller called for mutual goodwill to bolster dialogue and cooperation between the nations. Ciller also sent a congratulatory message to her counterpart Theodoros Pangalos, in which she expressed her hope for better relations so as to "contribute to the peace and stability of the region". /Sabah/ [06] DEATH TOLL MOUNTS IN DIYARBAKIR JAIL RIOTTen people were killed in clashes between security forces and rioting inmates in a maximum-security prison in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The Anatolia news agency said the clashes broke out when the inmates tried to prevent the transfer of 14 of their comrades to another prison in Gaziantep. Justice Minister Sevket Kazan made investigations in Diyarbakir Prison yesterday and met with the inmates. /Hurriyet/[07] TURKISH TROOPS TO STAY IN BOSNIA UNTIL PEACE IS IMPLEMENTEDThe structure of NATO and the multi-national Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia were both high on the agenda at a NATO defence ministers meeting held in the Norwegian town of Bergen yesterday. In discussions centered on the fate of the 52,000 strong multi-national Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia, whose mandate will expire on December 20, most NATO-member countries seem to be in favour of an extension of the mandate but the US is being cautious.Officials from the Defence and Foreign Ministries said that Turkey's participation in IFOR will continue for as long as the force is needed. The ministry officials also stated that with the shakeup of the IFOR command structure, Turkish officers will be higher up in the chain of command. Another important issue is the reorganization of NATO, the term "empowering of European identity" was specifically emphasized. Turkey, an associate member of the Western European Union (WEU) and a full member of NATO, is very sensitive on this issue, demanding comprehensive participation in all joint operations between the WEU and NATO. /All papers/ [08] MILITARY OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN THE SOUTHEASTThe Emergency Rule Regional Governor's Office stated that 47 terrorists were killed and six members of the security forces died in clashes in the Southeast during the past three days. Four terrorists were captured and seven surrendered to security forces during the ongoing operations. It was also reported that an operation in Diyarbakir resulted in the capture of 11 people claimed to have been providing income to the PKK terrorist organization through arms and drug smuggling. After interrogation seven of them were arrested. /Hurriyet-Sabah-Milliyet/[09] TURKEY AND US SIGN $33.5 MILLION ECONOMIC AID DEALTurkey and the US have signed a $33.5 million economic aid agreement for 1996. Treasury officials said that the aid would be considered a donation supplied by the US government through the Economic Aid Fund. The aid will be used in foreign debt repayments. The total amount of donations by the US government between 1980-1996 has reached $1.7 billion. The deal was signed by Umit Gonual, deputy general director of the Treasury's undersecretariat for foreign economic relations and US Ambassador in Ankara Marc Grossman. /Sabah-Milliyet/[10] ISO REACTS TO EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RULINGIstanbul Trade Chamber (ISO) executive board chairman Husamettin Kavi protested at the European Parliament (EP) threatening to cut aid to Turkey and called on them to be more rational and serious. The effects of foreign policy on the economy were being discussed at the ISO's national monthly meeting on Tuesday, where the EP decision taken on September 19 against Turkey was criticized.During the opening speech, Kavi said that the start of the Customs Union had been very difficult and added that the financial opportunities that had been mentioned on paper were still being put into force. Kavi said that Turkey was searching for a solution within the framework of democracy and pointed out that they would achieve nothing by only criticizing the EU. Kavi said that Turkey had to adopt a new strategy concerning its security and mutual interests with its neighbours. /Milliyet/ [11] TURKEY MOURNS DEATH OF MUSIC IDOL ZEKI MURENThe "Sun" of classical Turkish music, "Pasha," Zeki Muren, died on September 24 in Izmir. Zeki Muren was born in 1931 in Bursa. He studied at the Decorative Arts Department of Istanbul Fine Arts Academy between 1950 and 1953.His career began in 1951 when he recorded his first album and began performing on the TRT-owned station Istanbul Radio. He was later active in the fast growing Turkish cinema industry, with major roles in 18 films, and for some of them he wrote the musical score as well. In addition to his music and acting careers, he was also known to be a gifted poet. In 1955, he became the first Turkish singer to win a Gold Record. He was chosen as "Artist of the Year" for many years. Muren made over 200 records, and composed over 100 songs, in the 45 years of his artistic career. The news of his death brought throngs of grieving fans into the streets and streams of messages from leading national figures, including President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller. /All papers/ END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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