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Turkish Press Review, 97-09-05
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] S-300 MISSILE CRISIS ESCALATES
[02] RUSSIA REACTS AGAINST TURKEY
[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VOICES SUPPORT FOR HUNGARY
[04] 33 PEOPLE KILLED IN TRAFFIC DISASTER
[05] DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO LIMIT CABINET IMMUNITIES
[06] RP GETS ADDITIONAL 30 DAYS TO PREPARE DEFENCE
[07] POSITIVE ATTITUDE FROM IRAN
[08] ECEVIT MEETS WITH ATUN
[09] TUYGAN TO VISIT MOSCOW
[10] EKK AGAINST PKK
[11] HOUSING PROJECT IN SOUTHEAST
[12] HEZARFEN-97 EXERCISE
[13] THY PLANNING TO BUY 49 AIRCRAFT
[14] AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME
[15] STOCK EXCHANGE UP
[16] INTERNATIONAL BANKING CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
[17] TURKISH SPACE AGENCY TO BE ESTABLISHED
[18] WORLD BANK AID
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning.
[01] S-300 MISSILE CRISIS ESCALATES
Tensions related to the S-300 missiles sold by Russia to the
Greek Cypriot administration are gradually escalating. Greek
Defence Minister Akis Cohacopulos poured fuel on the current
controversy by saying that a Turkish attack against the missiles
would be interpreted by Greece as a declaration of war. Turkish
National Defence Minister Ismet Sezgin in turn invited the Greeks
to abstain from resorting to "frantic moves". On his returm from
France, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem stressed that Turkey will
defend its security and interests utilizing all the opportunities
provided by international law. At the same time, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry has notified Egypt that the delivery to the
Greek Cypriots of the missile parts found on board an Egyptian
vessel passing through the Bosphorus will be interpreted as an
act justifying war.
At the same time, daily papers draw attention to the fact that
Turkish F-16 jet fighters are equipped with defence systems able
to render ineffective the Russian-made S-300 missiles, adding
that F-4 aircraft could be equipped with similar systems. /All
papers/
[02] RUSSIA REACTS AGAINST TURKEY
Russia has reacted mildly to Turkey's investigation into ships
sailing through the Bosphorus Straits. Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Gennadi Tarasov said that they were following the
developments through the press, adding that if the reports were
correct, then the controls would be in contradiction with the
principle of sailing freely through the Straits. Tarasov did not
directly criticise the government. /Milliyet/
[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VOICES SUPPORT FOR HUNGARY
President Demirel who has just paid an official visit to Hungary,
voiced support for the Hungarian drive to join NATO. At a joint
press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Arpad Goncz,
Demirel said that Turkey will back Hungary in its efforts to
become a NATO member. In an address to the Hungarian Parliament,
Demirel pointed out that after the collapse of the Iron Curtain
Turkey emerged as a strategic bridge between Europe, the Middle
East, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. "Democracy is the
only guarantee of the right to be different. A society with
strong civil traditions is the only mechanism to protect
democratic pluralism," the Turkish president stressed. He noted
that Turkey's desire to reach the high development targets set by
Ataturk was the driving force behind Turkey's efforts for
integration with Europe, but added that if integration with
Europe was not included in the process of EU expansion "this will
not be the end of the world for Turkey." At a Turco-Hungarian
Business Council meeting Demirel urged entrepreneurs from the two
countries to cooperate and invited Hungarian businessmen to take
a share in huge Turkish energy investments. /All papers/
[04] 33 PEOPLE KILLED IN TRAFFIC DISASTER
Thirty-three people died yesterday in a traffic accident on the
Ankara-Istanbul motorway near Bolu. A bus travelling from
Istanbul hit a traffic island and veered into the path of ongoing
traffic where it collided with another bus and a truck. The
driver of the bus reportedly fell asleep at the wheel causing the
accident. Another 48 passengers were injured in the accident.
Daily papers provide extensive first-page coverage to the
horrible accident and urge the government to initiate measures
designed to end traffic terror. /All papers/
[05] DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO LIMIT CABINET IMMUNITIES
The Motherland Party (ANAP), senior partner of the ruling
coalition government, is seeking a constitutional amendment to
limit the scope of legislative immunity of deputies and
ministers, including the prime minister. Under the new rules,
ministers will be exposed to interrogation and prosecution by the
Court of Appeal prosecutor when accused of crimes described as
"shameful crimes" by the Turkish law, such as bribery,
embezzlement, larceny, swindling, counterfeiting, smuggling and
committing irregularities in state biddings. The new draft law
envisages trial for such crimes by the Constitutional Court.
Under the current system this is possible only with Parliament's
permission. /All papers/
[06] RP GETS ADDITIONAL 30 DAYS TO PREPARE DEFENCE
The Constitutional Court on Thursday granted the Welfare Party
(RP) an extra month to submit its main defence statement on a
case filed for the closure of the party. The additional period
starts on September 5, the former deadline for submitting the
defence statement. A closure case was filed last May against the
RP by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal Prosecutor Vural Savas
accused the RP of "being the focal point of anti-secularist
activities". /Sabah/
[07] POSITIVE ATTITUDE FROM IRAN
Political observers report that President Suleyman Demirel's
message to his Iranian counterpart Muhammed Hatemi will normalize
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Iran. According to
yesterday's editorial in the "Iran News" daily newspaper, a
diplomatic crisis which flared up last February was rooted in
misunderstanding and lack of official relations at every level
between the two countries. The same editorial noted that although
national advantages were more important than anything else, they
should not be given priority over joint regional security and
stability. /Milliyet, Sabah/
[08] ECEVIT MEETS WITH ATUN
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with Republican Assembly
Speaker of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Hakki
Atun yesterday. Delivering a speech prior to the meeting, Ecevit
said that because of over-armament, and the contributions of the
European Union (EU), Russia and Greece, Greek Cypriots were
"filled with courage" and did not want a lasting solution to
island problems.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli also received Atun.
Noting that the Turkish Parliament was doing its best for a
solution on Cyprus, Kalemli pointed out that Turkey would not
accept a solution which the TRNC did not approve. Atun said, for
his part, that the TRNC was suffering from an extensive embargo
and stated that the Turkish-Greek balance should be safeguarded
and that Turkish Cypriots should also come under the roof of the
EU. /Cumhuriyet/
[09] TUYGAN TO VISIT MOSCOW
Deputy Undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Ali Tuygan
will visit Moscow next week. Tuygan will want Russia to stop
selling S-300 missiles to the Greek Cypriots. He will stress that
Russia will be responsible for the negative results of the
delivery of the missiles to the Greek Cypriot community on
Cyprus. /Hurriyet/
[10] EKK AGAINST PKK
Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal has
stated that they are preparing a comprehensive project to solve
the Southeast problem. The project called "EKK against the PKK"
aims at establishing an 11-member Economic Development Council
(EKK) for the Southeastern region. Baykal received members of the
executive board of the Southeast Industrialist Bussinessmen's
Association yesterday. He noted that the EKK would end the PKK
terrorist organization's activities. With a programme under EKK
management, the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will not only
be an energy and irrigation project but also will be an
integrated development project.
Meanwhile, the previous day militants of the PKK terrorist
organization seized the weapons of village guards in Yesilyazi
Village, Hinis. /Hurriyet-Milliyet/
[11] HOUSING PROJECT IN SOUTHEAST
The government is developing a huge housing project in the
southeastern regions in oder to help people who would like to
return to their homes after being forced to leave because of
terrorist activities. The project will be reviewed on 16
September in a meeting of the Council of Ministers to be held in
Sivas. Sabah_
[12] HEZARFEN-97 EXERCISE
The Hezarfen-97 exercise will be held in Kayseri-Erkilet under
the responsibility of the 12th Air Transportation Base Command
between 8-12 September. According to a statement made by the
General Secretariat of the Air Forces Command, the aim of the
exercise, which will be held in Turkey this year for the first
time, is to ensure cooperation among commanders and headquarter
officers of the member countries of NATO and Partnership For
Peace (PFP). /Cumhuriyet/
[13] THY PLANNING TO BUY 49 AIRCRAFT
Turkish Airlines (THY) will purchase 26 middle-range aircraft to
be used in flights to Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East
and in domestic lines, with another 23 planes on option.
According to a THY statement, initiatives will be launched for
the purchase of a total 49 aircraft between 1998-2002. The
statement noted that THY was in a process of rapid growth and
development. /Hurriyet/
[14] AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME
One of the leading US transportation companies, United Parcel
Service (UPS), will construct a huge education complex in
Zeytinburnu, Istanbul. The project, which will cost TL 216
billion, includes a school building, open and closed sports
centers and social facilities. Representatives of the company
said that they would be very happy to share in the education
movement in Turkey. /Sabah/
[15] STOCK EXCHANGE UP
The Istanbul Stock Exchange - 100 Index increased to 2,085 points
with an increase of 31 points yesterday. At the end of the second
trading sessions the index reached to 2,100 points. Transactions
intensified in the public, banking and energy sectors.
/Milliyet,Sabah/
[16] INTERNATIONAL BANKING CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
Representatives of leading computer, software and financial
information services companies met yesterday in Istanbul for an
international conference on emerging markets. Prominent editors,
bankers and financial experts from Turkey, Britain, Luxembourg,
Switzerland and Canada will deliver speeches at the conference.
/All papers/
[17] TURKISH SPACE AGENCY TO BE ESTABLISHED
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that it was decided at
a Communications High Council meeting that a Turkish Space Agency
would be established to determine the national space policy. The
Communications High Council headed by Ecevit gathered yesterday.
During the Council, it was also decided that the planned Turkish
Space Agency would participate in international projects and that
a comprehensive draft law would be prepared because of the
developments in communications technologies. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/
[18] WORLD BANK AID
The Executive Board of the World Bank will hold a meeting today
and discuss the aid strategy to be extended to Turkey for the
next three years starting at the beginning of 1998. Within the
framework of a Country Aid Strategy (CAS) programme, the World
Bank will extend project credit worth $1.5 billion to Turkey for
the next three years. Prior to the meeting, World Bank officials
submitted a report to the executive board of the bank and said
that the new Turkish government was determined to secure
financial stability, continue with privatization, implement a
social security reform and a rational agricultural policy.
/Cumhuriyet/
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