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Monday, 18 November 2024
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Turkish Press Review, 98-04-21Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>21.04.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CAUCASUS SUMMITFollowing initiatives by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Turkey is going through a period of intense foreign policy activity. Demirel, who met with the presidents of Bulgaria and Romania during a recent Balkan summit in Antalya, will now convene a Caucasus summit in the Black Sea region. Demirel, who invited the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia for the foundation laying ceremony of the Deriner Dam in Artvin on 26 April, will meet with Aliyev and Shevardnadze and discuss the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, a natural gas pipeline and new cooperation issues in the Caucasus on the same day. A message will also be sent from the Caucasus summit to the new administration in Armenia. /Milliyet/[02] BLACK SEA OLYMPICSAt a meeting of the Council of Ministers yesterday, it was adopted that Black Sea Olympics should be held once every four years among the countries which have shores along the Black Sea. Ministers from Russia, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Georgia and Turkey will hold a meeting regarding the summer olympics to be organized in Turkey in May. If an agreement is achieved, the first olympics will be held in Turkey in May 1999. The committee centre for the olympics will be in Trabzon. /Milliyet/[03] MILITARY EXCHANGE WITH JORDANWithin the framework of joint military education and training agreements, the Land forces of Turkey and Jordan exchanged units between 20 April and May 10 to provide mutual training of military personnel, the Anatolia news agency reported.The Land Forces High Commander said a 100-person group from the First Army Commander went to Jordan on April 20 and will return on May 10. Similarly, a 100-person group from Jordanian Armed Forces has already come to Turkey between the same dates to receive training. [04] CEM-HANDZISKI MEETINGForeign Minister Ismail Cem met yesterday with his Macedonian counterpart Blagoy Handziski, who is on a two-day official visit to Ankara, reported the Anatolia news agency.Speaking before the meeting, Cem said that Macedonia's membership to NATO is essential to achieve stability in the Balkans. Cem also emphasized that ways of improving economic cooperation with Macedonia would be carefully considered. Handziski, for his part, praised Turkey's efforts to enhance stability in southeastern Europe and expressed satisfaction over the current level of ties. Today, Handziski is expected to have talks with President Suleyman Demirel and Speaker of Parliament Hikmet Cetin. [05] AGRICULTURE TO BRING $ 7.4 BILLION TO GAPThe Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), which is Turkey's biggest integrated development project, will provide 7.4 billion dollars annual income only in the agriculture sector, reported the Anatolia news agency. 13 billion dollars has been spent on GAP so far which has a total cost of 32 billion dollars, but only with the agriculture income, GAP will be able to pay for itself in 4.5 years.Olcay Unver, GAP Regional Development Administration Chairman said the contribution of GAP to the economy of the country has begun to be seen in the Harran Plateau. He added that with the completion of irrigation projects the agriculture sector will contribute 7.4 billion dollars to the region per year. [06] HEALTH SERVICES IN EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIATurkish Health Minister Halil Ibrahim Ozsoy said yesterday that the government was giving priority to the development of health services in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Noting that in 10 months' time 42 provinces and 58 rural health centres had been equipped with necessary medical equipment and trained health staff, Ozsoy stated that with a TL 2.2 trillion-credit provided from the World Bank, standard polyclinic equipment was being sent to 796 health centres in the region.Meanwhile, according to recent data issued by the World Bank, all the people living in Turkey can be assured that health services are fully competent. It is reported that Turkey's continuing success in this field was first realized in 1993. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/ [07] TURKEY-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETINGThe 42nd meeting of the Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) starts today, after EU parliamentarians began meetings in Ankara yesterday. The Turkish co-chairman of the meeting, Bulent Akarcali, earlier said that Turkish members of the JPC would convey the disappointment on Turkey's side over the Luxembourg decisions last December. /Cumhuriyet/[08] MILLER TO VISIT CYPRUSThe US is continuing its efforts to find a solution to the decades-long disputes on the divided island of Cyprus with its special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller visiting the island for talks. Miller met with Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas on Monday afternoon. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Denktas denied that a Dayton-like negotiation process had been proposed to solve the Cyprus problem. Miller is preparing the ground for the visit of US special presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke, who is expected to visit the island for the second time in a month at the beginning of May.Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said yesterday that Holbrooke's visit would most probably take place on May 2. There was no definite information yet on whether he would visit Ankara as well, Utkan added. /All papers/ [09] TURKISH DIPLOMAT ON ISRAELI STAMPSThis year stamps have been issued in the name of Selahaddin Ulkumen, a former diplomat who has been honoured by being counted among the select group of "Internationally Honest People" by the Yad Vashem Institute in Israel. This title is being given to non-Jewish people who devoted themselves to saving the lives of Jewish people during the genocide in the Second World War. Ulkumen saved 50 Jewish people from being sent to German work camps by saying that they were Turkish citizens. /Hurriyet/[10] 17 FUNDAMENTALISTS ARRESTEDDuring pro-fundamentalist activities in Batman and Bingol's Solhan district, 17 people were arrested. During the incidents, which occured following the time for prayers on Friday, a total of 158 people were taken into custody. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu said that an operation was carried out against the outlawed fundamentalist Hizbullah organization over the last 10 days. He added that this was the biggest operation against this organization carried out to date. /Hurriyet/[11] TURKISH-CHINESE JEC MEETINGS TO BE IN BEIJINGThe 12th Turkish-Chinese Joint Economic and Trade Comission meetings will be held between April 22-23 in Beijing, reports the Anatolia news agency. Economic and commercial relations between the two countries will be revised during the meetings, which will be headed by State Minister Isin Celebi, and Shi Guangsheng, the Chinese Minister for Trade and Economic Cooperation. Issues like participation in fairs, exhibitions and seminars that will be held in both countries, support of the Business Council's activities, standardization and banking will be taken up during the meetings.Isin Celebi will be received by the Chinese Prime Minister during his stay in China. [12] ERSUMER IN BAKUMinister of Energy and Natural Resources, Cumhur Ersumer, went to Azerbaijan yesterday to discuss the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. Before his departure Ersumer said at Ankara's Esenboga Airport that feasibility studies on the oil pipeline had been completed and that now Azerbaijani officials would evaluate the studies. /Cumhuriyet/[13] 7 VALDERAS IN TURKEYSpanish Chief of General Staff, General Santiago Valderas is visiting Turkey. Valderas yesterday spoke with his Turkish counterpart General Ismail Hakki Karadayi. Karadayi said that the visit would contribute to strenghtening military relations between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/[14] STARFISH-98 EXERCISESStarfish-98 exercises of the Navy Forces High Command started yesterday. According to military sources, the exercises are being held in the Marmara Sea and Black Sea. During the exercises, to which foreign observers have been invited, coordination and cooperation between the Navy and Air Forces will be tested. /Cumhuriyet/[15] EXPORTS FROM SOUTHEASTERN TURKEYThere has been a 32.4 % increase in the exports of agricultural and animal products, for a total of $27.1 million, from the Southeastern Anatolia Region in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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