Subject: TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (MARCH 21, 1995) From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" [01] BIG TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ [02] US SUPPORT FOR TURKEY [03] CABINET RESHUFFLE THIS WEEK [04] HAND IN HAND WITH LOVE [05] DOUBLE STANDARDS FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP [06] GERMAN POLICE WORRY AS ANTI-TURKISH ARSON CONTINUES [07] AGAR BRIEFS AMBASSADORS ON TERRORISM FIGHT [08] US HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF AGA [09] YAKOVAS IN ISTANBUL [10] TURKEY STARTS EU PROMOTION CAMPAIGN [11] TURKEY CREEPING UP THE SCIENTIFIC SCALE [11] ATUN TO FORM NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT [12] IRANIAN-GREEK COOPERATION NOT AGAINST TURKEY, SAYS VELAYETI [13] CINDORUK RECEIVES TURKISH-POLISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP [14] TURKEY AND SYRIA SIGN AGREEMENTS [15] EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN NAVAL EXERCISES BEGIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION TURKISH PRESS REVIEW TUESDAY MARCH 21, 1995 Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning [01] BIG TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ After almost five months of preparation, Turkish military forces have entered northern Iraq in a massive assault against PKK terrorist strongholds known to be in the region. According to reports, almost 35 thousand troops are being deployed in the biggest Turkish military operation since Cyprus in 1974. Turkish forces are penetrating up to forty kms into northern Iraq, an area already split by opposing Kurdish factions. Fearing a power vacuum in the region, the Turkish government wants to stabilize the area and neutralize PKK influence. Ground forces are being supported by armoured units and from the air. Military spokesmen have issued assurances that the armed forces are not about to begin a period of military occupation of the region. According to reports, Cobra and Super Cobra helicopters have already carried out more than thirty strikes against PKK terrorist camps hidden away in the mountains of the Haftanin, Metina, Siva and Sinad region. One report quotes a military representative as saying that three thousand PKK terrorists are trapped in the mountains as a result of the first strikes. Although military officials have been at pains to make clear that civilians and civilian communities are not targets in the campaign, Kurdish leaders in the region are disturbed by developments. The Turkish government has also briefed a number of foreign ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry, notifying them of developments and targets and providing them with assurances that the military forces will not harm civilians. There have also been a number of government statements denying any connection with the "nevruz" mainly Kurdish spring festival now being celebrated. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said yesterday that the operation would however, prevent anyone from using the nevruz festival as an excuse for crossing the border or other incidents detrimental to security. /Milliyet-Sabah/ Prime Minister Tansu Ciller said that the operation would last until the "terrorists" attacking Turkey from their bases in northern Iraq were totally cleared from the area. She said the utmost care was being taken to avoid civilian casualties and the operation had been conducted in keeping with the "international law" giving Turkey the right of hot pursuit. Ciller said: "Turkish Armed Forces are launching the final and the most comprehensive operation. This will be the end of the PKK. After the operations, we will bring in democratization". She added that due to the lack of authority in northern Iraq, the PKK had settled there and carried out its activities with aid from neighbouring countries. Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna said Turkish Air Force jets had flown 33 sorties against the rebel positions by early afternoon, and that a total of 12 PKK camps had been targeted. Aktuna said: "This operation is the most important operation since the Cyprus Peace Operation. It will continue until all the terrorists are removed from the region". He added that when the operation was over, Turkish forces would withdraw. /Milliyet/ [02] US SUPPORT FOR TURKEY US Ambassador Grossman has reaffirmed US support for Turkish democracy, national integrity and economic growth. During a meeting with city officials in Adana, Grossman said that he expected ties between the US and Turkey to expand even more. The US has also shown its support for Turkey in connection with the military operation now going on in northern Iraq. In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Ciller, US President Bill Clinton was "positive" about the move against PKK terrorism. Demirel called Iranian President Hasimi Rafsancani and gave information about the operation. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/ [03] CABINET RESHUFFLE THIS WEEK The government structure, which has been unclear since the merger of the social democratic parties at the end of January, is expected to be clarified this week. Following the agreement between the senior coalition partner True Path Party (DYP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP) on the manifesto known as the "application program" which contains the pledges the government promises to fulfil before the next elections, the CHP members of the new cabinet are expected to be appointed this week. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is then expected to ask for a vote of confidence from Parliament. The members of a joint committee set up by the DYP and the CHP announced at a press conference yesterday that they had reached complete agreement during their meetings held last week. /All papers/ [04] HAND IN HAND WITH LOVE For the first time, Turkey is officially celebrating "Nevruz" spring festival. Attending the Nevruz ceremonies herself Prime Minister Tansu Ciller wants everybody to celebrate the festival freely. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, who attended the International Nevruz Information Festival held between 20-22 March, 1995, by the Ataturk Institution of Culture, Language and History decribed Nevruz as "the revival of nature, the beauty of spring, and the messenger of hope, joy, love and brotherhood". "Nevruz is a symbol of unity and cooperation" said Ciller and added that Nevruz was celebrated long before Islam. Ciller said: "The Moslem Alevi Sect also celebrated Nevruz as the birthday of the prophet Ali and his marriage with the prophetess Fatma" Noting that Nevruz was celebrating throughout the Turkic World Ciller added: "This year we are also celebrating Nevruz throughout our country. I hope that these celebrations will strengthen friendship and unity". Ministers of Culture from the Turkish-speaking republics have decided to celebrate Nevruz as a common holiday of the Turkish World. In a written declaration the Turkish Culture and Arts Joint Administration (TURKSOY), said that Nevruz had been celebrated for centuries by the Turkish peoples, and it was a festival during which the traditional customs of the Turkish world's customs were remembered. According to the same declaration it was noted that 21 March was also as the "Day of Struggle Against Racism and Xenophobia" as announced by the United Nations. Culture Minister Timurcin Savas said: "Only a few years ago we could not even think about celebrating Nevruz. Today, things have changed. It is a result of globalization. Ethnic cleansing and extremist nationalist policies have been destroying the cultural heritage of the people." Culture ministers from the Turkish speaking countries who came together for the "Nevruz Meeting" lighted "Nevruz fires" in the mountains of Abant. /Sabah/ [05] DOUBLE STANDARDS FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP Ethnic Turkish students living in Bulgaria have sent a letter of protest to President Jelu Jelev regarding the "double standards" applied to them with regard to their having dual citizenship, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. In their letter, the students pointed out that the Bulgarian Education Ministry viewed them as Turks, and therefore as foreigners they had to pay three times the regular university fees. On the other hand, the Defence Ministry regarded them as Bulgarians, forcing them to do their military service in Bulgaria. [06] GERMAN POLICE WORRY AS ANTI-TURKISH ARSON CONTINUES The German police issued a call for help from politicians and the courts yesterday as firebombers attacked an Alevi prayer room in the seventh straight day of anti-Turkish violence. The Anatolia news agency reported that Klaus Steffenhagen, deputy head of the Police Union (GDP), said lawbreaking foreigners must be deported immediately because the police could not guarantee the safety of all possible targets of foreign conflicts that spilled over into Germany. Police said arsonists threw a Molotov cocktail at a Turkish prayer room in Bonn, but it bounced off the thick windows and burned out without causing much damage. Meanwhile, Cornelia Schmalz-Jacobsen, the federal government's commissioner on foreign matters, charged yesterday in Bonn that police had been lax in warding off attacks against Turkish travel agencies, mosques and meeting places. "These facilities could certainly be protected more effectively" she said. The Turkish Embassy has demanded that German police beef up security for potential targets. /All papers/ [07] AGAR BRIEFS AMBASSADORS ON TERRORISM FIGHT Chief of Security, Mehmet Agar, said that Turkey was trying to combat terrorism while remaining within the bounds of human rights. Agar, in a unique briefing in Ankara to ambassadors and senior diplomats from Council of Europe countries and the US, said that it was Turkey's right to expect understanding from friends in the West in this respect. He also said that Turkey had possession of documents which proved that the PKK leadership had given instructions to its combatants to ensure that the attacks it carried out would be pinned on the security forces. Conceding that there were "isolated incidents of torture" in Turkey, Agar reminded the foreign envoys that Ankara had signed international accords for the prevention of ill treatment. "It is not right to accuse Turkey of practicing torture in a systematic way when it has allowed its citizens the right to take their case to the European Commission of Human Rights" Agar said. He also explained that the use of Kurdish nationalism by the PKK, a Marxist-Leninist organization, had led to the formation of an illegal fundamentalist organization called the Hezbollah. /All papers/ [08] US HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF AGA The US Human Rights Council, which investigates the human rights situation in the Balkans, gave a statement to the Washington Post calling for the release of Iskece Moslem Mufti Mehmet Emin Aga, recently arrested in Greece. Noting that he was elected by the votes of the Turkish minority, the Council said that Greece had violated the human rights of the Turkish minority. Indicating that these violations were clearly pointed out in the human rights report by the US State Department, it called upon Greece to respect the beliefs of the Moslem minority. /Milliyet/ [09] YAKOVAS IN ISTANBUL Archbishop of the North and South American Orthodox Church Yakovas, said yesterday that mufti Mehmet Emin Aga, who has recently been arrested was chosen for that position by the Turkish Muslim in Western Thrace community and that his arrest was against religion independence. At his arrival, Yakovas answered the questions of journalists at Ataturk Airport, and said that there were some problems with the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Yakovas added that it was likely these problems would be resolved during meetings planned for today. Archbishop Yakovas will leave Turkey tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet/ [10] TURKEY STARTS EU PROMOTION CAMPAIGN The government is preparing a big promotion directed campaign towards the European Parliament, which will pave the wave for Turkey's entry into the European Union. European deputies and members of the US Congress will be invited to Turkey provided with information and assisted to examine the issues directly. No restrictions will be made on visiting European Parliamentary deputies or on their research, and opportunities will be provided for making studies in pre-determined regions and for talking with representatives of the opposition parties and with former deputies of the Democracy Party who are presently in prison. Reports say that preperation will be completed by August and that an effective promotion campaign, aiming to improve image of Turkey damaged by terrorist incidents and the latest religious violence in Istanbul by establishing better relations with Western public relations companies. Reports also say that the decision regarding the promotion campaign was made by President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller in a meeting about furthering relations with the European Union. /Hurriyet/ [11] TURKEY CREEPING UP THE SCIENTIFIC SCALE Turkey has jumped three places up the list of countries showing development in scientific fields and number of people involved in scientific research. During the last two years, Turkey has moved up from 37th place to 34th -leaving behind Ireland, Egypt and Bulgaria. Representatives of TUBITAK, Turkey's only research centre note the leading role of TUBITAK and have reported that more funding will be made available to promote TUBITAK research internationally. /Cumhuriyet/ [11] ATUN TO FORM NEW TRNC GOVERNMENT Hakki Atun, Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been appointed by President Rauf Denktas to form a new government, the Anatolia news agency reported. In other TRNC political news, four out of the seven candidates in the April 15 presidential elections began their campaigns yesterday. [12] IRANIAN-GREEK COOPERATION NOT AGAINST TURKEY, SAYS VELAYETI Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Ekber Velayeti has stressed that Iran's cooperation with Greece in the Balkans did not target Turkish interests, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Velayeti underlined that peace in Central Asia and Caucasia was essential to both Turkey and Iran for their common interests in the region's oil reserves. [13] CINDORUK RECEIVES TURKISH-POLISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP Parliament Speaker Husamettin Cindoruk received yesterday members of the Turkish-Polish friendship group headed by Jacek Cieciora, the Anatolia news agency reported. Cindoruk, who recalled the historical ties between Turkey and Poland, said parliamentary relations had been enhanced following his visit to Poland. Cieciora, speaking on behalf of the group, also expressed their belief in further progress in bilateral relations between Turkey and Poland. [14] TURKEY AND SYRIA SIGN AGREEMENTS Sanliurfa Mayor Ziyaeddin Akbulut and Aleppo Mayor Muhammed Mustafa Miro signed agreements on security and commercial issues yesterday. Miro, head of a Syrian delegation visiting the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP), expressed the wish that the agreements would be the start of further cooperation between Turkey and Syria. Mayor Akbulut said that he hoped that the Euphrates would become a river of peace and serve as a bridge of friendship between the two countries. /All papers/ [15] EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN NAVAL EXERCISES BEGIN The "Dogu Akdeniz '95" (Eastern Mediterranean '95) military exercises, organized by the Turkish Naval Forces, began yesterday off Izmir. Military officials said warships of Turkey and allied countries-the US, France, Spain and Italy- will participate in the exercises, which will continue until March 30 in Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean territorial waters. /All papers/ END ------------------------------------------------------------------------------