|
|
|
Turkish Press Review, 98-07-21
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
21.07.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY AND TRNC MARK JULY 20 ANNIVERSARY
[02] DUMA CHAIRMAN: "S-300 MISSILES ARE FOR DEFENSE"
[03] US RATING INSTITUTION D AND P OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY
[04] ECEVIT: "WE CAN ALSO SELL WATER TO GREEK CYPRIOTS"
[05] THY-QUALIFLYER GROUP PARTNERSHIP
[06] INTERNATIONAL PRAISE FOR RAMSTORE
[07] NO OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM SWITZERLAND
[08] TURKISH SPEAKER FOR EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT
[09] THREE PEOPLE ABDUCTED BY PKK FOUND IN GERMANY
[10] KAZAKH AIRLINES FLY TO DALAMAN
[11] AWARD FOR ALIYEV
[12] MANYAS LAKE
[13] OIL IN ADANA
[14] CEM: "TURKEY IS A NOMINAL EU CANDIDATE"
[15] KINKEL AND SUSSMUTH TO VISIT TURKEY
[16] "CLINTON CAN PREVENT S-300 MISSILES"
[17] THREE PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN BINGOL
[18] SPANISH FAIR IN ISTANBUL
[19] KDP RADIO: "SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS A DRUG GANG"
[01] TURKEY AND TRNC MARK JULY 20 ANNIVERSARY
Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) marked
yesterday the 24th anniversary of the Turkish intervention on the
island, determinedly vowing to sustain solidarity and
cooperation. Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and State
Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, responsible for EU affairs and Cyprus,
as well as other high-level Turkish officials, flew to the island
to participate in the celebration ceremonies. President Suleyman
Demirel, who is expected to visit the island on Saturday,
telephoned TRNC President Rauf Denktas and extended his
congratulations.
Upon his arrival on the island early on Monday morning, Yilmaz
said Greece and Greek Cyprus had not learned the lessons of the
Turkish intervention. Yilmaz told reporters that Greek Cypriot
attempts to deploy Russian-made S-300 missiles on the island this
year were a dangerous escalation. In a public speech later in the
day, Yilmaz reiterated Turkey's support for the TRNC and
emphasized that Turkey would not allow the Turco-Greek balance in
the eastern Mediterranean to be upset. /All papers/
[02] DUMA CHAIRMAN: "S-300 MISSILES ARE FOR DEFENSE"
Gennady Selezniyev, Chairman of the Russian Duma, said that S-300
missiles are for defensive purposes, not offensive ones. In a
joint press conference in Ankara yesterday with Turkish
Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, Selezniyev said that Cyprus is a
state recognized by the UN and it can regulate its defense system
as it wishes. When asked about the sale of the missiles to the
Greek Cypriots, Selezniyev told reporters that within the
framework of the commercial deal between Greek Cypriots and the
Russian Federation, the S-300 missiles will be delivered to the
island.
Selezniyev has had a chain of contacts during his four-day visit
to Turkey. He has been received by Turkish President Suleyman
Demirel and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. On Tuesday he
will fly to Istanbul for meetings with Turkish businessmen. /All
papers/
[03] US RATING INSTITUTION D AND P OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY
Turkey deserves more than a BB (-) credit rating, says Hyme Hanz,
the analyst at the leading US rating institution of Duff and
Phelps (Dand P). Hanz had talks in Turkey two weeks ago when he
obtained information on the latest developments in the Turkish
economy. A D and P committee will meet and determine Turkey's new
grade in two weeks, he said, adding: "The Turkish economy is on
the right track". /All papers/
[04] ECEVIT: "WE CAN ALSO SELL WATER TO GREEK CYPRIOTS"
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Democratic Left Party
(DSP) Bulent Ecevit said yesterday that the potable water to be
transported to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
from Turkey with huge semi-submersible balloons could also be
sold to Greek Cypriots if they want. Ecevit made this proposal
during a meeting with the members of the High Board of Citizens
Living Abroad in Ankara last week. Meanwhile, a project for the
transportation of water from Anamur Soguksu to the TRNC is at the
last stage. The project will be officially put into
implementation with a ceremony to be attended by Turkish
President Suleyman Demirel on July 25. /Hurriyet/
[05] THY-QUALIFLYER GROUP PARTNERSHIP
The first joint company of the Qualiflyer Group including Turkish
Airlines (THY) is being established. In a statement made by THY
yesterday, the company, based in Zurich, Switzerland, will go
into operation on August 1. The founding partners, Swissair,
Austrian Airlines, Sabena, TAP, THY and AOM will all have equal
shares in the company. /Hurriyet/
[06] INTERNATIONAL PRAISE FOR RAMSTORE
It is reported that the Ramstore supermarket set up by the Koc
Group in Moscow, Russia, is attracting the attention of the local
population. The American Washington Post newspaper praises
Ramstore in its latest issue. The newspaper notes that Ramstore
provides quick and high-quality services. /Hurriyet/
[07] NO OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM SWITZERLAND
No official document has arrived yet from Switzerland regarding a
decision taken during a meeting between the Vaud Canton and
Lausanne Municipality to open the Rumine Palace, where the
Lausanne Treaty was signed, for the celebrations of the 75th
anniversary of the Turkish Republic. In a statement yesterday,
Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said:
"No official document has arrived from the Swiss authorities
yet". /Hurriyet/
[08] TURKISH SPEAKER FOR EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT
The first meeting of the European Youth Parliament headed by Esra
Bulut was held yesterday in Brussels. 350 young representatives
from various European countries attended the meeting. Furnishing
information regarding the nine-day meeting, Bulut said: "Issues
such as education and the health problems of young people are on
the agenda of our meeting". Bulut added: "When we talk about
Europe, this does not mean just the European Union (EU). Europe
should approach the world with a wider view". /Hurriyet/
[09] THREE PEOPLE ABDUCTED BY PKK FOUND IN GERMANY
Three people abducted by the PKK terrorist organization in Sweden
to carry out terrorist activities against Turkish soldiers in
southern Anatolia, have been found in Germany. The three people,
who were handed-over to the Swedish police on Saturday in
Hamburg, were later brought to Stockholm. The Stockholm
Prosecutor noted that the people, now united with their families,
will be questioned soon. /Hurriyet/
[10] KAZAKH AIRLINES FLY TO DALAMAN
Kazakh Airlines (Air Kazakhstan) will fly to Dalaman Airport, now
its second destination in Turkey. The first flights by Kazakh
Airlines started two years ago to Antalya. Air Kazakhstan
officials noted that there would be mutual flights on Monday and
Wednesday and that flights to Dalaman would continue until August
31. /Hurriyet/
[11] AWARD FOR ALIYEV
Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev will be presented with the
1997 Human Rights Award by Karsiyaka Municipality. Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Ankara Mehmet Nevruzoglu will receive the award on
behalf of Aliyev during a ceremony to be held today in Karsiyaka,
Izmir. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] MANYAS LAKE
A purification plant will soon be set-up to clean-up the Manyas
Lake. It is reported that the only way to save the Bandirma Bird
Haven National Park from fatal pollution will be a purification
plant that could cost $70 million. The European Union (EU) Life
Programme and Turkish Environment Ministry are conducting joint
studies into the project. /Cumhuriyet/
[13] OIL IN ADANA
After the recent 6.3 point earthquake in Adana, oil has burst out
of a water well in Soysali village near Osmaniye. Officials of
the Mining Technical Research General Directorate announced
yesterday that Soysali village is on an oil basin and that they
had already started a search for new oil reserves. /Milliyet/
[14] CEM: "TURKEY IS A NOMINAL EU CANDIDATE"
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday that there had been
hopeful developments in Turkey and European Union (EU) relations
over the last year, but that he himself was not satisfied with
those improvements. In his speech at a meeting of the 35th
General Council of the Istanbul Development Foundation (IKV), Cem
said that Turkey deserved more than merely this "improvement".
Cem recalled that although Turkey was included among the 12
candidates accepted at the recent Cardiff summit, the candidacy
was only "nominal". IKV Chairman, Meral G. Eris said for her part
that Turkey would not give up on customs union whether it was a
member of the EU or not. /Milliyet/
[15] KINKEL AND SUSSMUTH TO VISIT TURKEY
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and the Speaker of the
Federal Parliament Rita Sussmuth will visit Turkey. According to
Focus magazine, the German Foreign Ministry has approved the
visit. It was reported that before the general elections on 27
September, Kinkel will pay a visit to Turkey to smooth
Ankara-Bonn relations.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that the Speaker of the Federal
Parliament Rita Sussmuth will come to Ankara tomorrow. During her
two-day Ankara visit Sussmuth will be received by President
Suleyman Demirel and meet with Speaker of Parliament Hikmet
Cetin, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Ismail
Cem. The magazine also said that the German Prime Minister
attaches great importance to both Kinkel's and Sussmuth's visits
to Turkey. /Milliyet/
[16] "CLINTON CAN PREVENT S-300 MISSILES"
In an article William Safire published in The New York Times
newspaper on 15 July, asked US President Bill Clinton to prevent
the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles in Greek Cyprus. He
added that postponment of the deployment of the missiles would
not solve the problem, and noted, "Cyprus is the hottest point of
Turkish-Greek disagreement which extends to the Balkans. Russian
Foreign Minister Primakov has retaliated to NATO extention by
dividing the southern wing of the organization. As a result of
Primakov's tricks and the European Union's prejudicial attitude
towards Turkey, now Ankara is more strongly defending a separate
Cyprus. Turkish Republic and Greek Cypriots are being drawn into
a silly missile provocation. Bill Clinton should call the Russian
Foreign Minister to cancel the missile deal." /Milliyet/
[17] THREE PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN BINGOL
As a result of clashes between PKK terrorists and security forces
in Gokcedag village, Bingol, three PKK terrorists and five
soldiers have been killed. In another incident Catak, Van, a
village guard was killed by PKK terrorists. /Sabah/
[18] SPANISH FAIR IN ISTANBUL
Spain's giant industrial fair Expotecnia'99 will be held in
Turkey. It is reported that the Expotecnia'99 fair, in which 200
Spanish companies will participate, will be organized by the
Spanish Foreign Trade Institution. The aim of the fair is said to
be to find ways to make Turkey and Spain closer economic
partners. /Sabah/
[19] KDP RADIO: "SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IS A DRUG GANG"
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Radio said that the
separatist terrorist organization which has been given serious
blows by the Turkish Armed Forces, has been attacking innocent
people in Northern Iraq, reported the Anatolia news agency
yesterday. The radio said the separatist terrorist organization
was a "drug gang". It added that the Kurdish people should shyn
the separatist terrorist organization and continue to struggle
against PKK.
|
