TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 29, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review (March 29, 1995)

Topic: trkn Fdate: 95-03-29


CONTENTS

  • [01] CALL TO TERRORISTS TO SURRENDER

  • [02] TURKISH SOLDIERS IN HAKURK

  • [03] ULTIMATUM SENT TO GREECE

  • [04] USE OF GERMAN WEAPONS DENIED

  • [05] WARNING FOR US SENATOR

  • [06] CHILDREN MURDERED BY PKK

  • [07] PKK PROTESTS OUTSIDE

  • [08] NEW DIPLOMATIC MEASURES FOR SOUTHEAST

  • [09] HABUR BORDER GATE CLOSED

  • [10] DEMIREL'S STATEMENT

  • [11] CABINET TO ASK FOR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

  • [12] TURKISH GROCERY STORE BURNT DOWN IN HAMBURG

  • [13] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL CANCELS TRIP TO TURKEY

  • [14] ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TURKISH GOVERNMENT

  • [15] CEREMONY TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF OZAL'S DEATH

  • [16] TURKEY GIVES UP ON $500 MILLION WORLD BANK LOAN


  • WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    MAR 29, 1995

    Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish

    press this morning

    [01] CALL TO TERRORISTS TO SURRENDER

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller has sent out a call to the PKK separatists in northern Iraq to surrender to the thirty-five

    thousand strong Turkish military force lined-up against them.

    According to Ciller, the military operation started in Iraq ten days ago "is quickly reaching its targets." In the

    meantime, youths caught up in the separatist movement are being invited to hand themselves over under the protection of

    special laws guaranteeing that they will be treated fairly.

    According to reports by military spokesmen, Turkish soldiers killed seventy PKK separatists yesterday in clashes around the

    Hakurk township in northern Iraq. This brings the total of PKK losses to 269. /All papers/

    [02] TURKISH SOLDIERS IN HAKURK

    Gendarmerie law-and-order commander General Hasan Kundakci said yesterday that Turkey's cross-border operation against

    the PKK separatist terrorist organization had started to "take hold and reach its aims" and that they were now concentrating

    on "details". Kundakci was talking to Turkish reporters in Hakurk, a town in northern Iraq previously known as the "PKK's

    fortress". It is reported that 62 terrorists, who were trying to flee to Iran, have been killed and the conflicts continue.

    Meanwhile, eight terrorists were killed during a conflict in the Shindi region. A lot of ammunition and food belonging to

    the terrorists was seized in Hakurk. Kundakci said that Turkish soldiers would continue to inspect the region from

    time to time to see if the PKK was trying to move back into the camps or not. General Staff spokesman Colonel Dogu

    Silahcioglu said that since the beginning of the operation, 269 terrorists had been killed, including twelve others taken

    alive. The Turkish armed forces constituted a security corridor in northern Iraq which is the first target. All

    units deployed at the strategic points according to the plan and the operations in Haftanin and Mezi have already begun,

    the second stage of the operation.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, responding to mounting pressure from the West over the operation by Turkish armed

    forces in northern Iraq, reiterated once again yesterday that Turkey did not aim to occupy lands that belong to Iraq. "Our

    aim is not to invade territory and it can't be" Ciller said, adding that the objective of the present operation was to

    stamp out PKK terrorism. Addressing her parliamentary group, she also underlined that the basis of the operation was

    legitimate self-defence. "As soon as we complete the operation with the smallest losses possible, we will be

    pulling out of there anyway. There can be no other reason than self-defence for Turkish soldiers to be on mountains

    2,500 meters high" Ciller added. Ciller said that Turkish soldiers embraced civilians who were still in the region and

    unharmed. She said: "We have nothing to do with civilian people or organizations" and called upon the PKK to surrender,

    and benefit from the Repentance Law. Ciller added: "They are also my and our sons. They are deceived and forced to attack

    their country's integrity and their own people. Come and benefit from special laws such as the Repentance Law. The

    state will show you compassion". /Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/

    [03] ULTIMATUM SENT TO GREECE

    The US, Britain and Germany have sent a joint ultimatum to Greece strongly demanding that Athens stop creating

    difficulties where Turkey is concerned-otherwise Greek ties with within NATO will be reviewed.

    Top officials from the US, British and German Embassies in Athens presented a memorandum to the Greek Foreign Ministry

    yesterday. The Greek government has also been informed that NATO wants changes involving Greek mili- tary activity in the

    Aegean, and that new terms will have to be reached with Turkey.

    Initial reaction from the Greek government is that the demands should have been sent to Turkey, not to Greece. /Hurriyet/

    [04] USE OF GERMAN WEAPONS DENIED

    Ankara has strongly denied German claims that weapons supplied by Germany under military aid agreements are being used

    against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq.

    Officials in the Turkish Defence Ministry said yesterday that German Defence Ministry claims that German weapons and tanks

    were being used in northern Iraq were "unfounded." Turkish officials added that it was impossible to claim that the tanks

    seen on TV reports were of German origin, and said that "more than likely the tanks had been purchased from the former East

    Bloc countries."

    German newspapers have also devoted a lot of space to the demand of German Minister Kinkel who recently called for the

    immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops. Germany has also shelved a 150 million mark military aid programme in view of

    northern Iraq developments. /Hurriyet/

    [05] WARNING FOR US SENATOR

    Turkish Ambassador to Washington, Nuzhet Kandemir, has written a strongly worded warning to US senator Claiborne Pell about a

    US Congress decision to prepare a bill condemning the Turkish military operation in northern Iraq.

    Couched in the strongest terms, Kandemir's "warning" calls the claims of senator Pell "hypocritical and groundless." In the

    same letter, Kandemir said that Turkey had every right to defend its national in- tegrity against terrorism, and that it

    was impossible to merely stand by and watch as people were murdered by terrorists. Kandemir noted too, that the

    senator's claims against Turkey were remarkably lacking in fact- ual content, and that the power vacuum in northern Iraq

    was a direct result of the gulf war- in which the US was heavily involved. /All papers/

    [06] CHILDREN MURDERED BY PKK

    PKK terrorists who are in a desperate position in the face of the military operation being carried out by Turkish armed

    forces, attacked Gurumlu township near Silopi and killed two children, two adults and wounded five other civilians. During

    figthing immediately after the attack, security forces killed three of the terrorists involved. /Sabah/

    [07] PKK PROTESTS OUTSIDE

    200 Kurdish demonstrators, supporting the PKK terrorist organization protested outside the European Central Office of

    the United Nations (UN) in Geneva. Demonstrators accused the UN of ignoring the operation conducted by Turkish armed forces

    in northern Iraq. During the demonstration seven security officials were wounded. /Sabah/

    [08] NEW DIPLOMATIC MEASURES FOR SOUTHEAST

    As the operation by Turkish armed forces in Iraq continues, the General Staff and Turkish Foreign Ministry are cooperating

    to ensure that civilians are not harmed by the fighting.

    A Foreign Ministry delegation headed by Ambassador Musfik Ozdes has established a Communications Bureau in Zakho where

    measures to prevent civilian loss will be evaluated. Foreign Ministry official Ahmet Uzumcu has been appointed to the press

    center in Diyarbakir. /Milliyet/

    [09] HABUR BORDER GATE CLOSED

    The Habur border gate between Turkey and northern Iraq used by Turkish armed forces in the "Celik" operation has been closed

    to Turkish and foreign journalists on the order of the Chief of Staff as of yesterday night. Turkish and foreign

    journalists can reach northern Iraq only through the tours arranged by the Chief of Staff. /Hurriyet/

    [10] DEMIREL'S STATEMENT

    Responding to the questions of German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, President Suleyman Demirel said that Turkish Armed

    Forces will leave northern Iraq as soon as the operation is finished and added that the operation could take months but

    will not take more than one year. According to information from the presidency, during talks with delegation members and

    the previous, present and the next term chairmen of the European Union on 24 March, Demirel said: "Turkey did not

    start this and cannot compromise with terrorists. It is clear that these separatist terrorists are murderers and this

    reality must be understood by everyone." Responding to a question from French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, regarding

    Turkey's view about role of the Provide Comfort in the region, Demirel said: "Turkey must keep her border under tight

    control and must prevent the infiltration of terrorists into Turkey. Turkey will take every measure to prevent the

    terrorist's from establishing camps again in northern Iraq."

    Demirel said that Turkey respected the territorial integrity of Iraq in reply to a comment from Juppe who recalled that

    Demirel had once said that the establishment of a Kurdish government in the region could cause wars in the Middle East

    and added that this problem was not a Kurdish problem but a terrorist problem and that Europe should understand Turkey in

    this regard and accept as a full member of the European Union. /Milliyet-Sabah/

    [11] CABINET TO ASK FOR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

    During its first meeting yesterday, following the reshuffle in the social democrat wing of the ruling coalition government,

    the Cabinet has decided to ask for a vote of confidence from Parliament. The Prime Ministry is expected to send its letter

    to Parliament containing its request for a vote of confidence to be held next week. Following the meeting, State Minister

    and Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna quoted Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, and listed the four basic issues facing the

    country as anti-terrorism and security; improvement and strengthening of the economy; legal changes necessary due to

    integration into the customs union; and democratization and human rights.

    Aktuna said that when the Turkish Armed Forces' operation in northerh Iraq attained its objective, the troops would

    withdraw. He added that at Ciller's request, Justice Minister Mehmet Mogultay and State Minister Bekir Same Dace would start

    work immediately on changes to the Law on the execution of punishments. /All papers/

    [12] TURKISH GROCERY STORE BURNT DOWN IN HAMBURG

    A Turkish grocery store was set on fire in Hamburg's St.Georg district, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The

    store was completely destroyed in the blaze. Officials said an investigation had been launched, although as yet they had

    no suspects.

    [13] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL CANCELS TRIP TO TURKEY

    Willy Claes, the NATO secretary-general, has cancelled a scheduled visit to Turkey and Greece for health reasons, the

    Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Claes has flu and new dates are expected to be set once he recovers.

    [14] ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TURKISH GOVERNMENT

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller has announced the creation of an Advisory Committee to assist the State Promotion and

    Coordination Council, the Anatolia news agency said yesterday. The Committee is to be composed of former prime ministers,

    chiefs of staff, deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers and high officials of the national intelligence agency picked by

    the prime minister. Ciller announced that the committee, which will gather once a month, was essential for rapid and

    well-evaluated decision-making support for the Promotion Council in economic, social, cultural, military, security and

    political matters.

    [15] CEREMONY TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF OZAL'S DEATH

    Turgut Ozal, the 8th president of the Turkish Republic and founder of the Motherland Party (ANAP) will be commemorated on

    the second anniversary of his death, April 17, with several activities organized by ANAP officials. A delegation headed

    by ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz will visit Ozal's Mausoleum on the anniversary day and there will also be a panel discussion on

    his achievements.

    [16] TURKEY GIVES UP ON $500 MILLION WORLD BANK LOAN

    The Turkish government has withdrawn its application for a set of $500 million World Bank structural adjustment loans, the

    Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The agency said that during recent negotiations for the loans, Turkish officials

    dropped the original application. It quoted Turkish officials as saying that Ankara wished to avoid a strict schedule (as

    imposed by the World Bank). They said Ankara instead wished to have access to the Bank's financing in project terms and

    over longer periods. Turkey and the World Bank have reportedly concluded negotiations for two sets of loans to

    improve the infrastructure of the Mediterranean holiday resort of Antalya.

    END


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