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Turkish Press Review, 96-12-12Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWTHURSDAY DECEMBER 12, 1996Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning[01] DEMIREL SEEKS EUROPEAN SUPPORTIn a letter to the leaders of the member countries of the European Union (EU), President Demirel has stressed that Turkey has done more than just meet with its obligations, and has fully justified its pursuit of full membership in the EU.Demirel has called upon EU leaders not to exclude Turkey, but rather to look upon Turkey as a real candidate for full EU membership. In his letter, Demirel notes that the trend in Europe has been to exclude Turkey, dealing with Ankara in a different way to other countries in the queue for membership. The letter deals with European-Turkey relations in a comprehensive way and draws attention to some of the negative aspects that have developed. Demirel calls for more confidence building measures on both sides and calls for a more just attitude in the EU approach to Turkey. /All papers/ [02] ERBAKAN: "D-8 WILL BE FORMED"Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan said that eight developing Islamic countries will come together to form the "D-8" group on 4 January, 1977. Erbakan held a meeting with Islamic Development Bank, State Planning Organization and Foreign Ministry officials yesterday. At the meeting he said that every D-8 member country would use its own currency instead of U.S. dollars when trading with each other. /Cumhuriyet/[03] CILLER: "INCLUDE RUSSIA IN EUROPEAN PLANS"Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller told the NATO Council yesterday that the European security framework could not be constructed without Russia. At the meeting of the NATO Council with Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov, Ciller noted Turkey's good relations with its Russian neighbour. Ciller said that the establishment of better relations between NATO and Russia was very natural and Turkey was ready to do its best in order to improve this relationship. Ciller pointed out that no country should be isolated in NATO expansion.Ciller also noted that the integration of Europe's political, economic and military spheres could not be viewed as separate issues and emphasized that Turkey's full EU membership and the Eastern European countries' NATO membership were parallel to each other thereby giving the first signal that should Turkey's full EU membership not be accepted, Turkey could oppose Eastern European countries' NATO membership. /Hurriyet/ [04] IRAQ OIL ARRIVES AT TURKISH TERMINALAs the UN completed the procedures for the resumed flow of oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline on Wednesday, Turkey laid claim to part of the UN-administered portion of the sale proceeds. Iraqi oil began to be pumped to Turkey at noon yesterday, the Anatolia news agency reported, adding that around 350,000 barrels would be pumped daily from the Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean terminal of Yumurtalik.Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, who is in Brussels to attend the NATO Council, said that the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline would be opened on 16 December. In addition to Ciller, Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will also attend the opening ceremony. /Hurriyet/ [05] UNICEF CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARYThe United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1996. UNICEF, formed after World War II to help curb suffering during the post-war period, has, over the years, changed its course in keeping with the needs and problems of the world's children.President Suleyman Demirel made a speech to commemorate the occasion at a ceremony in Ankara, emphasizing that Turkey has always given priority to and been cooperative with UNICEF. "This is because Turkey gives importance to children" he said. /All papers/ [06] TURKEY IS NOT REVIEWING ITS POLICY ON ARMENIATurkey will not review its policy towards Armenia and the Turkish-Armenian border will stay closed until a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh question is reached, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Sermet Atacanli said on Wednesday at the Foreign Ministry weekly press conference."Since Turkey's decision to close the Turkish-Armenian border in April 1993, unfortunately there has not been any progress in the search for a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue" Atacanli said. Atacanli indicated that Turkey wanted to see a compromise between Azerbaijan and Armenia that would respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, lead to the shifting of the Armenian forces out of the occupied territories and guarantee the return of refugees. /All papers/ [07] MISSILE PURCHASE STIRS UP TENSIONS ON CYPRUSTurkish Foreign Ministry deputy undersecretary Inal Batu, who is visiting Cyprus, said in reference to weapons recently bought by Greek Cyprus that the current situation was critical. Batu made this comment while meeting with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas. Batu also said that discussion and consultations between Ankara and Lefkosa would continue as a result of the purchase of the new weaponry. Batu added that current talks would focus on the military facilities and weaponry of the Greek Cypriots, and their efforts to weaken Turkey's guarantor role.Meanwhile, Han Sung-Joo, UN secretary-general special representative for Cyprus, who was also visiting the island and met with Denktas, said that he hoped that direct bilateral talks between the TRNC president and the leader of Greek Cyprus, Glafkos Clerides would soon start. /Milliyet/ [08] LAKE SATISFIED WITH DEVELOPMENTSThe representative of the European Commission to Turkey, Ambassador Michael Lake, said the customs union between Turkey and the EU was developing well and "more or less exactly the way predicted". Lake, in an interview with the Anatolia news agency, said he believed the customs union had made great strides over the past year and would continue to make significant contributions to Turkey's economy in the years ahead. He said if the customs union continued to develop in this manner Turkey would have a very bright future in the development of its trade and investments, regarding both the EU and the world at large.[09] ATHENS-ISTANBUL ENVIRONMENT COOPERATIONFollowing an economic drive initiated by businessmen to strengthen Turco-Greek friendship, steps are also being taken in environmental and social issues. While a "Mediterranean Cooperation Project for the environment" has started, the establishment of an "environmental line" between Athens and Istanbul with the efforts of the Turco-Greek Friendship Association and the TEMA Foundation is on the agenda.Turco-Greek Friendship Association Chairperson Leyla Tekul said that they aimed to make the Aegean a sea of friendship and brotherhood. A delegation comprising Greek professors is expected to come to Istanbul to discuss the projects. /Milliyet/ [10] MORE PERMITS FOR TURKISH TRUCKSFollowing initiatives by the Turkish Embassy in Vienna, The Austrian government has agreed to issue 700 more entry permits to Turkey's TIR truck transporters.The permits are mostly for transit through Austria, and will facilitate the movement of Turkish trucks moving between Turkey and Hungary. Turkish trucks will however, be permitted to off-load at locations in Austria. /Cumhuriyet/ [11] IMKB IN CNNDeputy chairman of the Istanbul Stock-exchange (IMKB) Huseyin Erkan will be a guest of the "World Business Today" programme to be broadcast by CNN International on 13 December. During the programme Erkan will provide details about the founding of IMKB and its operations. /Cumhuriyet/[12] FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN MEDITERRANEANThe 1st Europe-Mediterranean Banking Forum will be held on 12-13 December in Tunisia. "Financing of trading and investments in the Mediterranean and overcoming the investment risks" will be discussed.Turkey will be represented at the forum by the deputy Chairman of the Central Bank, Selcuk Abac. The forum aims to find solutions to international financial problems at the regional level within the framework of mutual trust and cooperation. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/ [13] TURCO-US COOPERATION IN FORESTRYTurkey has begun initiatives to cooperate with the U.S. in the forestry sector. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Marc Grossman, yesterday paid a visit to Forestry Minister Halit Dagli to discuss the framework for cooperation. In his statement Dagli said that Turkey and America were allied countries and noted that although the two countries shared climatic and geographic smilarities, they had not cooperated in forestry until now, said Dagli. He added Turkey wanted to start this cooperation. Grossman said for his part that they wanted to cooperate in forestry with Turkey and as in other fields. /Cumhuriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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