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Turkish Press Review, 98-06-19Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>19.06.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL TO VISIT MOLDOVAPresident Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to Moldova between 25 and 26 June as the official guest of Petru Lucinschi, Moldovan President, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement yesterday that the positive bilateral relations between the two countries will be evaluated from all aspects and that the two presidents will discuss steps to further improve relations during the visit.[02] TURKISH F-16s IN NORTHERN CYPRUSSix Turkish F-16 fighter planes, which were sent to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday in retaliation to the landing of Greek airplanes in Southern Cyprus, were welcomed by Turkish Cypriots at Gecitkale military airport. TRNC President Rauf Denktas and high-level military officials also welcomed the pilots. Three of the planes later returned to Turkey while the other three planes stayed in northern Cyprus.It is reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen.Cevik Bir will go to Cyprus today. Yesterday, meetings were held regarding the Cyprus issue at the Foreign Ministry and Office of the General Staff and the recent situation in Cyprus was assessed. During the meetings it was decided that if any Greek obstruction is encountered, the strongest reaction will be shown in line with the principle of retaliation. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has accused Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration of preparing a long-term strategy of aggression against Turkey. "Greece's military preparations on southern Cyprus, the illegal joint Greek-Greek Cypriot military doctrine and the S-300 missiles, which they intend to deploy on the island, are clear indications that southern Cyprus is planned to be used as a springboard for an attack on Turkey" Cem stated at a press conference. Cem added that Turkey had taken and would continue to take all the necessary countermeasures in order to protect the TRNC and stability in the east Mediterranean. "Greece will be directly responsible for all the consequences that may occur as a result of the tensions, which actually began in Cyprus" Cem stressed. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said he would also call on guarantor power Britain to help head off a confrontation. Yilmaz stated that he wished to avoid any increase of tension on the island which could lead to conflict, adding: "Turkey does not want war on Cyprus". Yilmaz made these comments yesterday in Romania, where he is on an official visit. He said Greece had displayed an aggressive attitude directly against Turkey by landing its military aircarft in Cyprus and by having allowed the Greek Cypriot authorities to transfer ground-to-air missiles to the island. Yilmaz said that Turkey would be using the Gecitkale Air Base in the TRNC more often and would show that the Turkish Cypriots would not be left alone in the face of an emerging joint Greek-Greek Cypriot threat. US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said in a statement that Turkey and Greece should avoid activities that could raise tension on the island. /All papers/ [03] ENGIN CIVAN ARRESTED IN USTurkish State Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who is currently on an official visit to the US, said yesterday that the former general director of Emlakbank, Engin Civan, had been arrested in the US according to an agreement between the two countries on the extradition of criminals following an application made by Turkey on March 21, 1997. Engin Civan, who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and a fine of TL 62.5 billion for bribery, fled to the US after 1.5 years in prison, and without paying his fine. /Hurriyet/[04] ASSASSINATION TEAM ARRESTEDTeams from the Istanbul Department for the Struggle Against Terrorism which are carrying out operations to find and arrest Demir Demirok, the driver of Semih Tufan Gulaltay, who planned and financed the recent attack against Chairman of the Turkish Human Rights' Association Akin Birdal, have uncovered plans for another attack. During operations to arrest Demirok at a farmhouse in Yalova, Ekrem Kahtali and Cevdet Kaya, who planned an attack on two noted businessmen who participated in bidding for the purchase of the Turkish Trade Bank (Turk Ticaret Bankasi) were arrested. The Istanbul Police noted that in line with information received from Kahtali and Kaya, who are the assistants of Alaattin Cakici, a notorious member of the Turkish underworld, 11 other people were also arrested. /Hurriyet/[05] TURKEY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANNULMENT OF ARTICLE 19Turkey is cautious about the annulment of Article 19 of the Greek Law on Citizenship, which allows for the possibility of depriving people of non-Greek origin of their Greek citizenship, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement yesterday that the effects have to be seen first in respect to the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace. "We hope this development will be a step taken to stop the discrimination shown towards the Turkish minority in Western Thrace" noted the statement, adding that the annulment will not have any retroactive effect.[06] TURKEY PLEASED BY RECONCILIATION IN IRAQTurkey has welcomed the reconciliation reached in Iraq concerning the disarmament of Iraq as a result of the contacts of Richard Butler, Chairman of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) responsible for control of weapons of mass destruction, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that Turkey attributes importance to the solution of the Iraqi problem by peaceful and diplomatic ways, adding: "Turkey welcomes this development and hopes that the steps to be taken will be successful".[07] EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE TO USThe exports of agricultural produce to the US from the Southeastern Anatolia Region in the first five months of 1998 increased by 24.7 % to $6.970 million, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Total exports in the same period last year came to $5.586 million. Meanwhile, a total of $772,000 in produce was exported to Canada and $47,000 in produce to Brazil in the same period.[08] EU-TURKEY JOINT CONSULTATION COMMITTEEThe sixth meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultation Committee that was formed by representatives of the economic and social sectors in Turkey and representatives of the EU Economic and Social Commission, was held yesterday in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported. President Suleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will receive members of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultation Committee today.[09] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UPCentral Bank foreign exchange reserves rose to $26.691 billion. According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves, which increased by $320 million in a week, reached $26.691 billion on June 12. /Hurriyet/[10] STANDARD AND POORS GIVES B RATING TO TURKCELLOne of the leading rating institutions Standard and Poor's have given a B rating to Turkcell for long term credit, and have announced that Turkcell is "stable". In a written statement, of the institution it was said that an increase in Turkey's rate would increase the grade of Turkcell. The statement said that Turkcell had high operational performance and profits in the Turkish market.General Director of Turkcell, Cuneyt Turktan said that the company had passed the necessary tests and was registered in international markets. /Sabah/ [11] BLAIR PRAISES TURKEYBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday evaluated the past six-month European Union (EU) term presidency of Britain in the House of Commons. In his speech Blair said he believed that the Cardiff Summit conclusions were positive. He added: "The Cardiff conclusions reemphasized that Turkey's candidacy to join the EU must be treated on the same basis as other candidates. I hope that decisions taken at the summit will remove the obstacles to extending EU financial aid to Turkey." /Sabah/[12] TURKEY, IRAN SIGN SECURITY COOPERATION AGREEMENTOfficials from Turkey and Iran signed a security cooperation agreement late on Wednesday, reports the Anatolia news agency. Following the signing ceremony, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Yahya Gur said that delegations from both countries had discussed various security issues, including the struggle against the illegal narcotics trade and terrorism.[13] TURKEY PREPARES FOR A LEAP FORWARD IN SCIENCETurkey is preparing to be the chief of an organization representing 25 European countries in the field of science, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Responsibility for the European Research and Coordination Agency (EURACA) term presidency will be assumed by Suat Karabiyik of Turkey, effective July 1, 1998. In making the announcement, Assistant Prof. Cemil Arik said that the EURACA, an agency which provides technical and financial support to project owners and sponsors and as much as 50 percent of financing in long-term credit, and stressed that the term presidency represents an historical opportunity for Turkey.[14] IMF AND TURKEY WORKING ON 18-MONTH ACCORDTalks concerning the 18-month "staff monitoring programme" between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Turkey are continuing. Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen told journalists at a press conference in Ankara yesterday that negotiations for the accord, called the staff monitoring programme, will be completed in Washington next week, after which it will be presented to the IMF board of directors. He added: "The negotiations have been going on for 11 months. The accord will only provide the legal grounds for the actual situation." Authorities from the Finance Ministry, the State Planning Organization, the Central Bank and the Treasury also participated in the meeting with the IMF delegation in Washington. /Milliyet/[15] TURKISH SCIENTIST ACCLAIMED IN USTurkish Scientist Ali Erdemir's discovery of a kind of carbon film plating, which is smoother and more resistant than silver coatings, has been awarded by Discovery, a science magazine in the United States. Erdemir ranked second following Wolfgang Ketterle in a competition which is seen as the "oscar" of science. /Cumhuriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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