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Turkish Press Review, 97-08-25Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>CONTENTS
TURKISH PRESS REVIEWDIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER25.08.97Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning.[01] GOVERNMENT TO INSURE INVESTMENTS IN CENTRAL ASIAState Minister Ahat Andican said on Sunday that the government has been working on a project in an attempt to insure the investments of Turkish businessmen in the Turkic nations of central Asia. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Andican reported that Turkish businessmen are already willing to make monthly payments for insurance on investments in the region.They plan to bring together Turkish businessmen investing in central Asia, Turkish firms, and related organizations in October in Istanbul, in an attempt to find solutions to the problems concerning investment in the region, Andican said. [02] 'PEACE TRAIN' CANCELLEDAlthough Germany has cancelled the charter of the 'peace train initiative' and Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania have all announced they will not let the train pass through their territories, the passengers of the train are still determined to be in Diyarbakir on September 1 as planned. The Turkish Foreign Ministry, after a series of contacts with other governments, has succeeded in preventing the trip, initiated by the Hannover Von Appeal group in order to draw the world's attention to a 'political solution of the Kurdish question in Turkey'.It has been alleged that the peace train initiative was being used by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a propoganda tool. Despite the cancellation, the supporters of the train journey pledged they will arrive in Istanbul on Friday, and in Diyarbakir next Monday. /All papers/ [03] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN TO MAKE JOINT INVESTMENTS IN CENTRAL ASIAJapanese businessmen have started to send out signals that they want to get more involved in central Asia, and they want Turkish businessmen to help do it. Nihat Gokyigit, the chairman of the Turkish-Commonwealth of Independent States Business Council said Japanese business circles admired Turkish businessmen's successful work and investments in the Commonwealth. /Milliyet/[04] TURKEY-U.S.-BULGARIA-ROMANIA-GEORGIA-UKRAINE JOINT MANEUVRESIn spite of Russia's objections, Sea Breeze-97 Military Maneuvers start today in Odessa and the Donuzlav_Crimea peninsula in Ukraine. The U.S., Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia are also participating in the maneuvers which are organized under the auspeices of NATO's "Partnership Programme for Peace". The maneuvers will last until 31 August.An official statement from the press office of the General Staff said that, by taking part in these exercises, Turkey plans to improve its naval cooperation with its neighbouring Black Sea countries. The 'Inonu' submarine and the 'Fatih' frigate are participating in the exercises. /Milliyet/ [05] NUSAYBIN BORDER GATE TO OPENState Minister Salih Yildirim said over the weekend that initiatives had been started to open the Nusaybin border gate on the Turkey-Syria border. He added that the matter would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting. /Cumhuriyet/[06] BLOCK AT TRNC BORDERGreek Cypriots are blocking tourists who would like to go to the Turkish Cyriot section. They have organized campaigns at the Ledra Palas Border gate to exert pressure on tourists, blocking their way to Turkish Cyprus. Many Italian tourists could not get into the Turkish section because of the demonstrations. /Cumhuriyet/[07] TURKEY PLAYS KEY ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESSThe Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Zvi Al Peleg has declared Turkey to be in the best position to play the biggest role in the Middle East peace process, affirming once again that 'relations between Turkey and Israel' are not detrimental to other countries, the Anatolia news agency reported. Peleg, whose stay in Turkey has to come to end, commented on the peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel. The ambassador pointed out that Turkey's importance geographically, historically and relation-wise in the peace process. /All papers/[08] TURCO-GERMAN FORESTRY PROJECT COMPLETEDZonguldak Forestry Director, Osman Erenoglu, announced that the Turco-German forestry project, which has been in progress in the western Black Sea region since 1988, was completed, the Anatolia news agency reported. Erenoglu further stated that during the course of the project, which covered the Zonguldak, Bartin, Karabuk, Kastamonu and Sinop provinces, work was also carried out relating to the social needs of the residents of the areas, and the need to rehabilitate and rejuvenate the forests in the region.[09] 'AMISOS TREASURE' OPEN TO THE PUBLICThe Amisos treasure, found when the Samsun munacipality was working on the construction of a city road, will be placed on public exhibition in the Samsun Museum, reported the Anatolia news agency. The treasure, discovered in 1995, is Turkey's second most important find. The director of the Samsun Museum, Mustafa Akkaya, noted that the treasure could have belonged to the sixth Pontus King Mitridat, and his family. The collection is the biggest find in Turkey after the treasure of Karun.[10] GREENPEACE ORGANIZES CAMPAIGN AGAINST NUCLEAR ENERGY IN ADANAThe Mediterranean branch of Greenpeace has started a 3,000 kilometer 'Sun Tour' as part of an 'energy campaign', in the Osmaniye district of Adana. The tour, which aims to prove that electrical and solar energy obtained from sunlight could meet our energy needs to a great extent, and therefore reduce the need for nuclear energy, will last 15 days and visit 15 regions. /All papers/[11] TURKS VISITING CENTRAL ASIA MUST REGISTERTurkish citizens planning to stay in Azerbaijan, Bellarus, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldovia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine for more then 72 hours are obliged to register for residence, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. "Our citizens who stay longer than the 72 hours period will face difficulties. Therefore an application to the relevent offices for residence registration would save Turkish citizens, planning to stay for a longer period, both difficulties and money," the Foreign Ministry notice advised citizens planning to visit the countries mentioned. /All papers/[12] TURKEY, US NAVIES TO GIVE FREE FUEL TO EACH OTHERThe Cabinet approved an agreement that foresees the exchange of fuel oil between the warships of the Turkish and American navies in a reciprocal system in which no money is to be exchanged. According to the Official Gazette quoted by the Anatolia news agency, the agreement states that when both sides' warships visit each other, they will not be billed for the fuel that they obtain in order to continue their mission. The deal envisages that the agreement will last for five years, with a planned extension of five more years, subject to a maximum term of 20 years.[13] TURKEY OFFERS TO SELL IRAQ 50,000 TONS OF SUGARTurkey's State Sugar refinery, Turkseker, has offered to sell 50,000 tons of sugar to Iraq under the second term of the oil-for-food deal monitored by the United Nations, a Turkseker official said. "We have offered them 50,000 tons of sugar. We are hopeful that we will win the tender," Mustafa Turan, acting general manager of the company, said. If it wins the tender, Turksever will ship the sugar from the Mus and Bor refineries in eastern and central Turkey. /All papers/[14] COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA IN OIL TRANSPORTATIONTurkey is pressing for the construction of a Turco-Russian pipeline to carry Azeri early oil to world markets. In line with its decision to give priority to the transportation of Azeri and Caucasian oil, the government has undertaken a fresh diplomatic drive. State Minister Gunes Taner who is scheduled to visit Moscow this week will try to work out a compromise with Russia over the controversial pipeline issue. Previously, the transportation of oil from Novorossisk to Samsum via tankers and then to Ceyhan by a pipeline was on the agenda, but the Turkish government was overwhelmed with domestic problems and failed to attach the needed attention to the project. Now Ankara is well aware of the fact that Russia can not be eliminated from the oil race and is seeking ways for improving cooperation with Moscow. Russia is also facing problems in the oil transportation issue and is expected to welcome the Turkish moves.The fact that Foreign Minister Cem will visit Azerbaijan to discuss the oil transportation issue with Azerbaijani leader Aliyev also indicates that the transportation of early oil has once more emerged as an issue with primary importance on the Turkish agenda. Within the same framework, Prime Minister Yilmaz will visit Turkmenistan in the next few weeks to discuss details related to carrying Turkmen natural gas to world markets. /Milliyet/ [15] FM CEM VISITS EUROPEToday Foreign Minister Cem will begin visits to a number of European countries. Cem will try to improve Turkey's image in Europe and influence positively EU attitudes towards Turkey. He will stress Turkey's advantages in comparison to other countries waiting to join the Union with respect to democratic developments, political structure, economic and geographical characteristics. Cem will convey the message that rejecting Turkey merely because of its Islamic identity would become one of the greatest obstacles on the way to a united Europe.EU heads of state will meet in December in Luxembourg to reconsider their list of EU candidate members. /All papers/ [16] IRAQ OPENS DOORS TO EXPORTERSThe Foreign Trade Undersecretariat has announced that there could be great opportunities for Turkish firms to invest in Iraq. It is reported that with the permission of the Security Council of the United Nations Iraq could realise $ 1.3 billion's worth importing within the next four months.Officials said that according to the decision of the Security Council, Iraq could export oil and oil products worth up to $ 2 billion by 8 December, 1997, and that the income would be used to meet food, medicine and humanitarian needs. They wanted Turkish exporters to be quick to to take advantage of exporting to Iraq. /Cumhuriyet/ [17] FOREIGN TRADE COMPLEX IN ISTANBULOkan Oguz, Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly said that Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz would lay the foundation of a new foreign trade complex in Istanbul which will cost $ 120 million. He added that the complex would help Istanbul to take its place among world fashion and trade centers. /Cumhuriyet/[18] INCENTIVES FOR EXPORTERSIn order to increase exporting to $ 50 billion by 2000, the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) has prepared new incentives. The Money, Credit and Coordination Board has approved some of the incentives which will be used for foreign promotion, fairs and education. The DTM has also worked on new incentives to increase the technology level of small and middle scale enterprises. /Milliyet/[19] EXPORTS FROM GAP REGIONDuring the January-July 1997 period, biscuits, chocolate and sweets worth $18.916 million were exported from the Southeastern Anatolia (GAP) region, an increase of 23.8 % compared with the corresponding period last year when exports totalling $15.273 million were made to mainly Iraq, Germany, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. During the same period, 47.3 tons of crystal sugar worth $16.9 million were exported to Iraq and Iran. /Sabah/[20] INDIA WANTS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERIt is reported that India wants to transfer technology and receive information regarding their current technology from firms and Research and Development institutions in Turkey. An article in the Foreign Trade Bulletin issued by the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce said that the Indian Industry Confederation has launched initiatives to increase the competitive power of the country and develop technology. /Sabah/[21] THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN THREE YEARSWorld Bank representative in Turkey, Frederich Temple, said that additional financial aid worth $3 billion would be extended to Turkey within the next three years if necessary harmonization and stability programmes were carried out. Temple noted that the Country Aid Strategy which determines the programme of the World Bank to be implemented in Turkey was prepared jointly by the Turkish government. The executive board of the World Bank will convene on 4 September to discuss the programme. /Sabah/[22] 25 PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN NORTHERN IRAQThe Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) radio announced over the weekend that during conflicts between IKDP peshmergas and PKK militants, 25 terrorists were killed and that 50 hand grenades and other ammunition was seized. /Sabah/[23] ATATURK IN TOP THREEIn a campaign opened by Time magazine to select the most important 100 people of the 20th century, the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ranks third. With over 17,000 votes, Ataturk left behind the US national hero F.Roosevelt. Many people are sharing in the campaign via Internet, faxes and letters. /Hurriyet/[24] ART FESTIVAL IN CESMEThe First Aegean Art Festival organized jointly by the Cesme Municipality and Fine Arts Education Culture Foundation began yesterday with the participation of Turkish and Greek artists. The festival will last until 30 August. /Hurriyet/END Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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