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Turkish Press Review, 98-07-24
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
24.07.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL: "CYPRUS CANNOT BE A SECOND CRETE"
[02] NEW ERA OPENS WITH TAX REFORM LAW
[03] EMERGENCY RULE EXTENDED FOR THE 32ND TIME
[04] DEMIREL RECEIVES GERMAN SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
[05] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCIL HOLDS SECOND MEETING
[06] AZNAR CALLS FOR MORE COOPERATION
[07] MESSAGES FOR DAMASCUS
[08] US SUPPORTS BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE
[09] TURKISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES DISPATCHING TROOPS TO ALBANIA
[10] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE TREATY
[11] PKK OPERATIONS
[12] US: "1974 PEACE FORCE NOT AN INVASION"
[13] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER COMING TO TURKEY
[14] LE MONDE TURKEY SUPPLEMENT
[01] DEMIREL: "CYPRUS CANNOT BE A SECOND CRETE"
President Suleyman Demirel noted yesterday that they would not
allow Cyprus to be a second Crete. Demirel received a
correspondent from the Milliyet daily newspaper at the
Presidential Palace yesterday and replied to his questions
regarding domestic and foreign developments. Demirel gave out
important messages especially on Cyprus. Demirel, who will go to
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) tomorrow, stated
that Turkey could not allow security in the TRNC to be damaged.
He added that Turkey would bring prosperity to northern Cyprus
and relations would have a new dimension.
Demirel said: "The TRNC is a state, which is recognized only by
Turkey. However it is a de facto situation. The TRNC people have
been saved from ethnic cleansing. Security in the TRNC is
Turkey's responsibility". /Milliyet/
[02] NEW ERA OPENS WITH TAX REFORM LAW
Parliament has passed wide-ranging tax reforms. The reforms are
aimed at broadening the fiscal base. "We have worked out a tax
system which we sincerely believe will play a large role in
restoring the health of the country's economy and support the
fight against inflation" Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel said.
The reforms reduce income taxes in a bid to discourage widespread
tax evasion and are expected to erode the unregistered sector.
The law brings down income tax from a 25-55 % range to between 15
and 40 % next year. This means an immediate increase in the
take-home pay of many tax-paying citizens. Corporate tax will
rise to 30 % from 25, but there will be no changes in the rates
of value added tax, which range between one and 40 % depending on
the product.
"The tax law will make an impact on the performance of the 1998
budget and put the 1999 budget on a much more positive platform"
Temizel told journalists in Parliament, adding that the tax
reforms will contribute to the anti-inflation economic programme.
/All papers/
[03] EMERGENCY RULE EXTENDED FOR THE 32ND TIME
Emergency Rule, which is being implemented in Diyarbakir,
Hakkari, Tunceli, Siirt, Sirnak and Van, in southeastern Turkey,
has been extended for the 32nd time for another four months, the
Anatolia news agency reported. Interior Minister Murat
Basesgioglu stated that Emergency Rule would be lifted when
conditions were suitable.
[04] DEMIREL RECEIVES GERMAN SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT
In a bid to revitalize bilateral ties between Turkey and Germany,
German Speaker of Parliament Rita Sussmuth held a series of talks
in Ankara yesterday. Sussmuth was received by President Suleyman
Demirel, Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin and Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem. Demirel said that a strain in German-Turkish ties was
not acceptable. Sussmuth empahsized the importance of improvement
in relations between Turkey and Germany. She pointed out that
their primary duty is not only to combat poverty, but also to
take measures against fundamentalist ideologies, which are
becoming a threat for the rest of the world. Sussmuth was
accompanied by Chairman of the Turkish-German Friendship Group
Thomas Kossendey and Deputy Chairman Leyla Onur. /All papers/
[05] TURKEY-TRNC COUNCIL HOLDS SECOND MEETING
The Turkey-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Association
Council gathered for the second time yesterday in Lefkose to
revise the implementation of previous decisions and outline
additional measures to strengthen political and economic ties
between the two countries. Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina
Gurel, responsible for European Union (EU) Affairs and Cyprus,
said that the agenda of the meeting was predominantly economic.
He stressed that the TRNC's agricultural development, and luring
Turkish investment to the TRNC were the issues given priority.
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister resposible for the
economy Isin Celebi, as well as high-level diplomats took part in
the Turkish delegation. /All papers/
[06] AZNAR CALLS FOR MORE COOPERATION
Speaking at a meeting of the Turco-Spanish Business Council
organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) in
Istanbul, Jose Maria Aznar, Spanish Prime Minister, said
yesterday that Spain wants to forge ahead in economic relations
with Turkey. He also noted that a protocol, which he and his
Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz signed, paved the way for
increasing economic cooperation. During his speech, which
frequently referred to Turkey's importance for the world economy,
the Spanish PM called on Turkish and Spanish businessmen to make
joint investments.
Turkish Transportation Minister Necdet Menzir and Turkish
Privatization Bureau Chairman Ugur Bayar also attended the
meeting. "We are glad to see the Spanish delegation in Istanbul
and expect this Council to be useful for both sides" Menzir said
at the meeting. "As you know, Turkey has been developing several
telecommunications and transportation projects such as the tube
tunnel under the Bosphorus which will connect the European and
Anatolian sides. We expect that all foreign businessmen and
investors will be interested in these projects". /Hurriyet/
[07] MESSAGES FOR DAMASCUS
The 59th anniversary of the annexation of Hatay province to
Turkey was celebrated yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel and
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz issued statements yesterday and said
that Turkey would never compromise its territories. Prime
Minister Yilmaz delivered a speech to the people in Hatay and
said: "Those who show Hatay within their borders in their maps
should not forget the historical realities. No part of our
country can be separated from us. Those who sided with ASALA
yesterday now side with the PKK today". President Demirel
recalled in his message that Hatay was annexed to Turkey in 1939
even though it was already within the borders of Turkey as
confirmed by the Turkish National Pact ratified in January 1920.
/Milliyet/
[08] US SUPPORTS BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE
The US Congress has called on finance organizations in the US to
help raise finance for the projected Baku-Ceyhan pipeline; and US
Senate's Commission for Foreign Operations has indicated US
support for the project by adding a new article to the
allocations law. The article, proposed by a Virginia senator,
Robert Byrd, calls for financial contributions from US
institutions stating that a pipeline passing through Turkey will
serve US interests.
Further, a special envoy, Richard Morningstar, appointed by US
President Bill Clinton, will soon visit Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan with a delegation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry
and begin initiatives for the construction of the pipeline.
/Sabah/
[09] TURKISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES DISPATCHING TROOPS TO ALBANIA
A demand by the government to dispatch Turkish troops to Albania
was unanimously accepted yesterday by the Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA). Speaking on behalf of the government, Oltan
Sungurlu, the Minister of Justice, said yesterday that Turkey was
the only country that can help Albania without any ulterior
motive for profit. Within the framework of a protocol signed by
the Turkish General Staff and Albanian Defense Ministry, a
Turkish unit will be dispatched to Albania to safeguard a port.
/Hurriyet/
[10] 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE TREATY
Today is the 75th Anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty which was
the first big success of the Turkish Republic on international
platforms. In a written statement on the occasion of the
anniversary of the Treaty, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
said that with the Lausanne Treaty, the independency and
territorial integrity of the Turkish Republic had been
guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the 79th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress, at the
end of which the foundations of the Turkish republic were laid,
was ceberated yesterday. President Suleyman Demirel said that
with the Erzurum Congress, which was the most important part of
the national war for independence, the Turkish nation had brought
its future under control. /Cumhuriyet/
[11] PKK OPERATIONS
Five PKK members and four civilians suspected of being supporters
of the PKK, were yesterday arrested in Istanbul. Police in
Belgium raided a house in Bierbeck village where it was claimed
that PKK supporters were hiding out. /Cumhuriyet/
[12] US: "1974 PEACE FORCE NOT AN INVASION"
The US Administration has intensified efforts to find a solution
to the Cyprus issue. White House spokesman, Mike McCurry said
yesterday in a press conference that the 1974 Turkish peace
operation was not an invasion but a conflict. Responding to a
question from a Greek journalist McCurry said: "The Peace
Operation that Turkey carried out on the island in 1974 was a
conflict and now both sides should make the necessary efforts to
solve this conflict through peaceful means." /Cumhuriyet/
[13] ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER COMING TO TURKEY
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will pay a one-day working
visit to Turkey on 27 July following an official invitation from
his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz. The Foreign Ministry also
announced yesterday that Yilmaz and Prodi will meet in Istanbul.
/Cumhuriyet/
[14] LE MONDE TURKEY SUPPLEMENT
The French Le Monde newspaper yesterday published a 16-page
Turkey supplement. The publication discussed Turkey-France
relations, Turkey's privatization efforts, the Turkish private
sector and banking system, the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP)
and Turkish tourism and oil pipeline projects. /Cumhuriyet/
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