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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-08Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>08.07.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] CEM-NETANYAHU MEETINGTurkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who arrived in Israel two days ago, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. During the meeting, further development of political, military and economic relations between Turkey and Israel, the common threat imposed by weapons of mass destruction being developed by some countries, the Middle East Peace Process and cooperation in the struggle against terrorism were mainly taken up. Netanyahu noted that Turkey was a very important and strategic country in the Middle East which could contribute more to the establishment of a lasting peace and a stable atmosphere with its active policy in the region. Netanyahu said that Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz would visit Israel in September, and following Yilmaz's visit Netanyahu would pay a visit to Turkey.Foreign Minister Cem said for his part that Turkish-Israeli cooperation was not aimed at any third country. He stated that many issues including Syria and Iran were discussed during the meeting. Cem is scheduled on Wednesday to hold talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah. /All papers/ [02] CAR CRASH OVERSHADOWS YILMAZ'S MACEDONIA VISITState Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen, Parliament member Sinasi Altiner and the Ankara representative of Milliyet daily, Fikret Bila, were seriously injured in a car crash in Macedonia on Tuesday, which overshadowed the second day of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to Macedonia. The crash occurred near the town of Bitola, 60 kilometres south of the capital, Skopje, when a private car slammed into Yucelen's vehicle, which was part of a convoy following Yilmaz. Two Macedonians were killed, while Yucelen, Altiner and Bila, as well as their Mecadonian driver and a Macedonian woman in the other car, suffered serious injuries, the Anatolia news agency reported.Yilmaz, who was scheduled to open an honorary consulate in the city of Manastir, called off his official programme and rushed to the hospital to which the three injured passengers had been immediately taken and given the necessary medical treatment. Yucelen and Altiner suffered numerous bone fractures, but their condition was not critical. Prominent journalist Bila was hurt most severely and underwent surgery for serious damage to the brain. The Macedonian president's private doctor assisted in the operation. A special plane, equipped for medical transport, was sent to Macedonia to bring Yucelen, Altiner and Bila back to Turkey. On Monday, Yilmaz and Crvenkovski had face-to-face talks. The two sides signed agreements covering social security and reciprocal recognition of higher-education diplomas. The two premiers also signed a joint declaration expressing their intention to liberalize bilateral trade. Yilmaz returned to Turkey late on Tuesday evening. [03] DENKTAS MEETS WITH HERCUSPresident of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas has told the new UN envoy to the island, Ann Hercus, that the only way out from the deadlock in the Cyprus peace process is talks based on the principle of equal states. Denktas received Hercus on Tuesday, who assumed her mission on Monday, and explained to her the historical realities related to the decades-long Cyprus conflict, the Anatolia news agency reported.Referring to Greek Cypriot statements that they are ready for talks, Denktas stressed that this attitude on the part of the Greek Cypriots was mere tactics and that their real intention was to take over the whole island, using the title of "the Cyprus government". "I expect the world to tell the Greek Cypriots that they are not the government of Turkish Cypriots. I do not expect any solution until this is done, because there are two sovereign states on Cyprus" Denktas stressed. Hercus, for her part, pledged to act as an impartial mediator and bridge between the two communities. [04] TURKEY SENDS A NOTE TO GREECEAnkara gave a verbal note Greece's Ambassador Dimitris Nezeritis, complaining that the Greek military's presence on the Aegean islands violates the 1923 Lausanne Treaty that defined the two countries' current border. Ankara also sent a similar protest note to the US for sending war ships to the Greek island of Rhodes, the Anatolia quotes a senior Turkish Foreign Ministry official as saying. "They are arming the islands and tipping the balance in the Aegean" Haldun Otman, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said yesterday.On the other hand, Greek Government Spokesman Dimitris Reppas said: "Turkey's claims are historically unacceptable and legally unfounded. With this stance, Turkey is once again dynamiting the efforts being made to defuse tension in the area". [05] FOREIGN CAPITAL INFLOW CONTINUESThe Treasury permitted $243.26 million in foreign investment capital in Turkey in the month of June. The European Union (EU) countries invested $95.17 million, with an additional $116.58 million coming from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, excluding the EU. As of June 30, 4,257 companies using foreign capital are currently active in Turkey.[06] EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE NEARS TL 250 TRILLIONAdana Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal said yesterday that damage from the earthquake which caused the death of 145 people in Adana and nearby Ceyhan has neared TL 250 trillion. Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Earthquake Crisis Centre Ardahan Totuk said that the number of homes destroyed totals 1,197, with office buildings reaching 38. He added that 10,422 homes were now not suitable for living in and that 314 offices were badly damaged. Some 22,372 homes and 634 offices received minor damage. /Milliyet/[07] PKK SETS BUS ON FIREFive armed PKK terrorists blocking the road near Niksar, Tokat, set a bus on fire after forcing the passengers out. The terrorists leading the passengers to a restaurant by the highway at gunpoint, spoke Kurdish among themselves and Turkish when addressing the passengers. The terrorists, who stated that their aim was to destroy the Turkish Republic checked the identity cards of the passengers. Taking the deputy director of Unye Prison with them, the terrorists fled after setting the bus on fire. /Milliyet/[08] CHACOPULOS: "TURKEY PREVENTS SOLUTION TO CYPRUS ISSUE"Greek Defense Minister Akis Chacopulos, who is paying an official visit to Washington, said yesterday that the hostile attitude between Greece and Turkey will not serve to bring any positive solutions to the Cyprus issue. He also claimed that Turkey was increasing its weapon on the island, adding that Turkey closed the ways towards the solution of the Cyprus issue. Chacopulos noted that it was their right to buy Russian-made S-300 missiles to protect themselves. "If the missiles cause uneasiness, then the whole island should be disarmed," said the minister.Reagarding Turkey-Israel relations Akis Chacopulos said that Turkey-Israel relations were not limited only to trade and that they were opening up a dangerous perspectives. /Cumhuriyet/ [09] S-300 TO BE TESTED TODAYIt has been announced that Russia will test S-300 missiles today and on Friday in a region 1200 kms away from Moscow. According to Greek Cyprus radio, Greek Cypriot soldiers will also attend the testing in order to be trained. Greek Cyriot Administration Defense Minister Yannakis Omiru and commanders went yesterday to Moscow as the official guests of the Russian Defense Minister to observe the tests. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/[10] RUSSIAN REACTION TO CAUCASUS PEACE FORCEThe Russian Foreign Ministry has reacted against Turkey's suggestion to establish a special peace force in the Caucasia region under the umbrella of NATO. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vladimir Rahmanin said yesterday that a peace force to be established within the framework of the NATO Partnership Plan for Peace, as suggested by Turkey and announced by Deputy Chief of General Staff General Cevik Bir, would also be supported by naval forces in the Black Sea. /Cumhuriyet/[11] COMMENT ON CYPRUS ISSUEIn a statement to Hurriyet newspaper yesterday, Greek Cypriot administration spokesman Hristos Stilyanides claims that Turkey will not attack Russian-made S-300 missiles because Turkey does not want to undermine relations with Europe. He also added that should a war break out on the island because of the missiles planned to be deployed by the Greek Cypriot administration, the whole of the Balkan regions would be involved in it. Criticizing Turkey's attitude in the treatment of the Cyprus issue, the spokesman said that they wanted to remove the tension in relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. /Hurriyet/[12] KARADAYI TO VISIT CYPRUSIntending to retaliate to the latest events in the Greek Cypriot administration, including Greek President Kostis Stefanopulos's visit and the landing of Greek war planes at a base there, Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi will arrive in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) where he will announce the message that the Turkish Army will never allow any threat to the security and lives of the TRNC people. /Hurriyet/[13] INTERNATIONAL RATING FIRMS EVALUATE TURKISH ECONOMYFitch IBCA, an international rating firm has confirmed Turkey's long term foreign exhange borrowing grade as "B+". The firm noted that during the last 18 months the Turkish economy had seen developments and the growth rate had reached 8%. However, it also stressed that political problems in the country had blocked further improvement. The firm also commented that the Turkish economy had not been damaged by the Asian crisis because it actually created a positive "shock" effect on the Turkish economy.Representatives from another international rating firm, Standard and Poor's (S and P) came to Turkey yesterday. They will have contacts in Ankara in order to learn about the latest situation in the Turkish economy. The S and P officials will return to New York next week. Their evaluation report is due to be released in September. /Hurriyet/ [14] ARRANGEMENTS TO PRESERVE HISTORIC REMAINS AT MOUNT NEMRUTCulture Ministry undersecratary Tekin Aybas said yesterday that they had agreed with French officials to cooperate in preserving the historic remains at the top of Nemrut Mountain. Noting that the site is one of the Turkey's cultural heritages that must be included within UNESCO arrangements for preserving historical remains, Aybas said that remains at Mount Nemrut, especially frescoes, could be lost forever unless immediate measures were taken. /Hurriyet/[15] ITO PUBLISHES COUNTRY PROFILE ON POLANDThe Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) has published a report on Poland for Turks who wish to do business with the fast growing eastern European country, the Chamber said yesterday. The 128-page report gives information about Poland's economy, Turkish-Polish trade ties, regulations dealing with foreign investment and import duties on Turkish products.Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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