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Turkish Press Review, 97-02-25
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS ISRAEL
[02] BRITAIN CALLS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF DIRECT CYPRUS TALKS
[03] EU GETTING TOUGH WITH GREECE
[04] ANKARA SUPPORTING MOSCOW
[05] TURCO-GREEK TRADE MEETING IN MARCH
[06] EU REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS
[07] TURCO-MACEDONIA JUSTICE AGREEMENT
[08] SILK ROAD PROJECT
[09] ECZACIBASI OPENING UP TO THE WORLD
[10] ISTANBUL STOCK EXCHANGE LAUNCHES EUROBOND MARKET
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning.
[01] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF VISITS ISRAEL
Chief of General Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi left for
Israel at Monday on the beginning of his official visit which is
due to end on Thursday, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Karadayi, the first Turkish chief of staff to visit Israel, will
aim to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries,
already marked by two accords. The visit will focus on electronic
weapons systems, exchanges of information between the Turkish and
Isreali intelligence services, upcoming military exercises and
gaining Israel's support for Turkey to buy four Sea Hawk
helicopters from the United States, which has been blocked by the
Armenian lobby in Washington. Karadayi's schedule includes
meetings with Israeli President Ezer Weizman, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Itzak Mordeyah.
[02] BRITAIN CALLS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF DIRECT CYPRUS TALKS
The British envoy on Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, said on Monday
that Britain's objective was to bring the two sides of the
dispute to the negotiation table before the end of the first half
of the year with the aim of achieving a comprehensive settlement.
Hannay met with Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller who
indicated that Turkey wants to open a dialogue but Greek
Cypriots, instead of negotiating, were buying missiles and this
was unacceptable to Turkey. Ciller added that Turkey was always
in favor of peace. At the meeting with Ciller, Hannay said that
Britain welcomed the fact that Turkey shared the same analysis of
the situation as his government, namely, "The time has come to
begin direct negotiations and the objective must be a
comprehensive solution."
Sir David is to travel on to Cyprus and Greece after he leaves
Turkey./Cumhuriyet/
[03] EU GETTING TOUGH WITH GREECE
Greece and the Greek Cypriot community on Cyprus came in for some
tough words yesterday during a meeting of European Union (EU)
member country foreign ministers. Although Germany still wants to
have the Greek Cypriot community brought in as a member, Britain
and France oppose the idea saying that the divided island must
first resolve its difficulties.
Although Greece replied sharply to the opposition of Britain and
France, a further meeting to discuss the Greek Cypriot situation
was cancelled. /Milliyet/
[04] ANKARA SUPPORTING MOSCOW
Government officials in Ankara noted yesterday that Turkey was
looking more closely at the problems facing Russia in view of
proposed NATO expansion. They added that Ankara was inclined
towards supporting Russia and the Russian problem should be taken
up by NATO even though "expansion was already decided upon by the
allies" regardless of criticism coming from non-NATO countries.
/Cumhuriyet/
[05] TURCO-GREEK TRADE MEETING IN MARCH
Trade delegations from the Greek Cypriot community, Greece and
Europe will all come together in Istanbul on March 6-7 to share
in a "common trade platform". The meeting, planned by the
Istanbul Chambers of Industry and Trade, will take up regional
issues including resolving political and economic problems.
/Cumhuriyet/
[06] EU REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS
The European Union (EU) is starting a new diplomatic attack to
solve the Cyprus issue and Cyprus' membership in the EU. Within
this framework foreign relations representative of the European
Council, Hans Van Den Broek, is going to Cyprus on Wednesday. On
Thursday, Broek will meet separately with President of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktaž and leader of
the Greek Administration, Glafkos Klerides./Cumhuriyet/
[07] TURCO-MACEDONIA JUSTICE AGREEMENT
Justice Minister Sevket Kazan and his Macedonian counterpart
Vlado Popovski signed a justice cooperation yesterday. In their
speeches after the agreement was signed both ministers gave out a
message of friendship and cooperation./Hurriyet/
[08] SILK ROAD PROJECT
A Working Committee meeting of the Silk Road Conference, to be
organized in Askabad, Turkmenistan, to restore the historical
Silk Road, was held in Istanbul yesterday. Sending a message to
the meeting, President Demirel said that it was not only a
transportation project but was also to design unite people living
in different continents./Cumhuriyet/
[09] ECZACIBASI OPENING UP TO THE WORLD
Yesterday an agreement was signed between Eczacibasi Holding and
one of the leading US medicine companies Warner Lambert Co; in
order to establish a new company. Head of the Eczacibasi
Executive Board Bulent Eczacibasi and Medicine Group Coordinator
Oktay Tulpar and Group Chairman of Warner Lambert Godecke,
Dr.Horst Freisler signed the agreement. This is the third
international agreement which Eczacibasi has signed with foreign
companies. Health products which Warner Lambert will develop and
sell throughout the world will be produced at Eczacibasi's
facilities in Luleburgaz. Initially, the number of products to be
produced and sold will be 14 and then expanded to 28 in three
years' time. It is expected that sales volume will total $20
million. /Sabah/
[10] ISTANBUL STOCK EXCHANGE LAUNCHES EUROBOND MARKET
The Istanbul stock exchange launched an international bond market
on Monday to facilitate trading in Turkish Eurobonds. The market
is open from 0800 to 1500 GMT. Turkey's 40 international issues,
launched since late 1988, are listed on the market, including 11
Samurai, nine Euromark and 13 Eurodollar bonds. Bankers, who
welcomed the move, said they expected initial trade to be in
dollars and marks. Turkish stock exchange officials expect
trading to reach $50 million a day by the end of this year./All
papers/
END
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