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Turkish Press Review, 97-05-23
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS BREAK INTO UN EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS
[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO JOIN NATO-RUSSIA SUMMIT
[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY HONORS ITALIAN PROFESSOR
[04] TURKEY, AN ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR JAPANESE
[05] U.S.: TURKEY INVOLVED IN INCURSION, NOT OCCUPATION
[06] TWENTY-TWO TERRORISTS KILLED IN BITLIS
[07] CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRAQ
[08] BIG MEETING IN CASABLANCA
[09] TROY TREASURES SURPRISE
[10] DEMIREL CALLS ON GREEK NATION
[11] TURKMEN PASSPORT FOR ZEYBEK
[12] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
[13] AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY IN TURKEY
[14] TURKISH TOURISM ON INTERNET
[15] S-300 MISSILES IN CYPRUS
[16] PKK RESPONSIBLE FOR ARSON IN HOLLAND
[17] GOLD MEDALS RAINING
[18] TURKISH SOLDIERS IN ABHAZIA
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
MAY 23, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning.
[01] KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS BREAK INTO UN EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS
Some 200 Kurdish demonstrators forced their way into the United
Nations' European headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, making their way
past security guards and smashing glass doors. The protestors,
brandishing large red banners, said they were demanding action by the
international community to halt action against their people by Turkey.
They stormed into the main area of the building. Diplomats from 61
states were meeting in the building, for a regular meeting of the
U.N.-sponsored Conference on Disarmament./Sabah/
[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO JOIN NATO-RUSSIA SUMMIT
President Suleyman Demirel is to fly to Paris on May 26 to participate
in a NATO-Russia summit and on May 27 put Turkey's signature on the
deal that foresees a peaceful, new relationship between the former
Cold War enemies.
On May 28, Demirel will visit the Hague where a ceremony will be held
to mark the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. The ceremony will
be attended by the presidents of member countries of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)./Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet_
[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY HONORS ITALIAN PROFESSOR
Turkey's Foreign Ministry Award, an honor given to personalities who
make significant contributions to Turkish interests abroad, will be
presented to Anna Masala. An Italian professor and an expert on
Turkish culture, Masala will receive her award from the Turkish
ambassador in Italy, Umut Arik./All papers/
[04] TURKEY, AN ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR JAPANESE
Turkey is an attractive investment opportunity for Japanese companies
according to Takeshige Hamasoto, managing director of Juki company.
With a population approaching 70 million, its location, and its
dynamic and lively market, Turkey has great investment potential.
Hamasoto told the Anatolia news agency. Hamasoto said: "Foreign
capital doesn't take Turkey as a single market. It is exciting to
reach the Turkic Republics through Turkey."
[05] U.S.: TURKEY INVOLVED IN INCURSION, NOT OCCUPATION
The U.S. administration has stressed that the Turkish government does
not seek to occupy northern Iraq but rather that it aimed to destroy
the base of a terrorist organization that threatens Turkey -
particularly, the civilian population in the southeast of Turkey.
US spokesman Department Burns said that they believed that Turkey had
the right to defend itself against terrorism. Burns added: "We
believe this incursion should be short, brief in time, as well as
scope." Burns noted that what Turkey was involved in was not an
'occupation' but an incursion. Burns said the incursion was against
the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), a terrorist organization that had
killed many innocent Turkish people in southeastern Turkey./Sabah/
[06] TWENTY-TWO TERRORISTS KILLED IN BITLIS
During operations against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) conducted
by Turkish security forces, twenty-two terrorists have benn killed.
One terrorists was surrendered, two were seized. Twenty-two weapons,
14 bazookas and a number of missiles were found./Milliyet/
[07] CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRAQ
Turkish military forces continue to fight it out with PKK terrorists
in northern Iraq. Reports from the region say that in and around the
key area of Zap, Turkish forces have disarmed 750 terrorists. Turkish
forces maintain control in Atrush, Duhok, Pirbela and Batufa. /All
papers/
[08] BIG MEETING IN CASABLANCA
A "Mediterranean Women's Meeting" is being planned for September 24-30
in Casablanca. There women from all the Mediterranean countries,
including Turkey, will be able to air their views on rights for women
and other issues of concern to women the world over. Officials
readying for the meeting say that Turkish participation will "lend
colour to the meeting". /Milliyet/
[09] TROY TREASURES SURPRISE
Russian Head of State Boris Yeltsin has again refused to sign a draft
law that will make Second World War booty stolen by Soviet military
forces the legal property of Russia. For the law to become effective,
Yeltsin has to sign it, but he says that the draft proposal is against
the constitution.
Yeltsin's refusal to sign the law leaves a spark of hope remaining
that perhaps one day the Troy treasures will be returned to Turkey.
Ankara has long been pressing Moscow to return the stolen artifacts
from Troy according to the demands of international law. /Hurriyet/
[10] DEMIREL CALLS ON GREEK NATION
In order to further develop the increasingly moderate atmosphere in
Turco-Greek relations, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel has made a
statement on the Greek ANTENA TV channel. The MEGA TV channel is also
preparing to screen an interview with Turkish Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Onur Oymen, who will go to Athens to attend a panel
discussion on 26 May. During these interviews, Turkey's expectations
from Greece and Turkey's general stance will be voiced. /Sabah/
[11] TURKMEN PASSPORT FOR ZEYBEK
State Minister Namik Kemal Zeybek has been presented with a
Turkmenistan passport. Zeybek will be able to benefit from all the
rights possessed by Turkmen citizens. After completing his contacts
in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Zeybek arrived in Kazakhstan
yesterday. He attended the opening ceremonies of the Hodja Ahmet
Yesevi University. Zeybek, who had the Turkmen Koroglu epic
translated into Turkmen with the Latin alphabet, was presented with an
"International Award" by Turkmen Head of State Turkmenbasi last
Monday. /Hurriyet/
[12] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
Foreign exchange reserves in the Central Bank reached $15.5 billion on
16 May. According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves,
which totalled $15.412 billion on 9 May, increased by $96 million. On
the other hand, according to details released on 2 May, foreign
exchange reserves in commercial banks, amounted to $8.7 billion and
gold reserves $1.4 billion. /Sabah-Hurriyet/
[13] AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY IN TURKEY
The noted Korn-Ferry International company has opened a bureau in
Turkey. The company, which keeps a computer record of successful
administrators, advises these same people on companies looking for
administrators. Head of the Executive Board of Korn-Ferry
International, Michael Boxberger, said that they aimed to capture a 10
% share of the Turkish market worth $7 million during the first year.
/Hurriyet/
[14] TURKISH TOURISM ON INTERNET
Touristic facilities in Turkey will be available bookings by Internet.
A Tourism Net project, expected to increase the potential of tourism,
has been promoted in the press within the framework of the Compex
Communications Fair. The project will be realized by a consortium
consisting of Sim.net, Turas A.S. and Kalafatoglu A.S. Releasing
information about the project, Sim.net Commercial Director Selcuk
Demirel said that with this project, which is Turkey's biggest
Internet project, connection could be made with tourism facilities in
Turkey and direct reservations would be possible. The Tourism.Net.Web
is expected to go into effect by the end of 1997. /Sabah/
[15] S-300 MISSILES IN CYPRUS
Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said that despite all the
objections of Turkey, the first shipment of Russian-made S-300
missiles arrived in Southern Cyprus. The efforts of the US to delay
the deployment of the missiles on the island have failed. The Greek
Cypriot administration signed an agreement with Russia on January 4,
1997 for the purchase of the missiles.
The missiles deployed in Cyprus will give the Greek Cypriot
administration the ability to target Turkey. Cyprus is already one of
the most heavily armed areas of the world. /Cumhuriyet/
[16] PKK RESPONSIBLE FOR ARSON IN HOLLAND
NRC Handelsblad newspaper published in Holland reported that at least
two of the suspects arrested in connection with an arson attack in the
Hague on March 26 were acting in behalf of the outlawed PKK terrorist
organization. A Turkish family of six was killed in the blaze.
/Cumhuriyet/
[17] GOLD MEDALS RAINING
During the first two days of the European Weight-lifting Chaimpionship
held in Croatia, Turkish weight-lifters won eight golds and one silver
medal. Hafiz Suleymanoglu became European Champion in the 64-kg
category, lifting a total of 307.5 kg, and Ergun Batmaz in the 70-kg
category won two gold and one silver medal and also became champion.
/Sabah/
[18] TURKISH SOLDIERS IN ABHAZIA
The Russian Sevodnia newspaper reported that Georgian officials have
suggested the establishment of a Black Sea Peace Force with the
participation of Turkey that would be deployed in hot spots in the
region. According to the paper, the proposal was discussed during a
recent visit to Georgia of a General Staff delegation headed by
General Cetin Dogan. The proposal plays a special importance in the
light of the fact that the mandate of Russian troops in Abhazia
expires on July 31. /Milliyet/
END
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