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Turkish Press Review, 97-07-15
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL HOLDS TALKS IN GEORGIA
[02] RESIGNATIONS FROM DYP
[03] GUREL: EU MAY ENDANGER SECOND ROUND OF CYPRUS TALKS
[04] 26,473 PEOPLE KILLED IN SOUTHEAST OVER LAST DECADE
[05] TANER DEFENDS FUEL INCREASES
[06] "FREEDOM OF THE PRESS" GUARANTEE
[07] PAKISTANI NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER IN TURKEY
[08] ROCKET ATTACK ON ISTANBUL OFFICERS' CLUB
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
TUESDAY JULY 15, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning
[01] DEMIREL HOLDS TALKS IN GEORGIA
President Suleyman Demirel, who traveled to Georgia yesterday with a
delegation for a two-day visit at the invitation of his counterpart,
Eduard Shevardnadze, said that a third gate would be opened at the border
between the two countries. Following a welcoming ceremony, Demirel and
Shervardnadze held a bilateral meeting. Afterwards, meetings between the
delegations of the two countries were held. Agreements between the two
countries were signed following the meetings.
At a joint press conference with the Georgian president, Demirel said
that in addition to the Sarp and Turkgozu border gates a third crossing
would be opened at Aktas Cildir. He added that Turkey was defending
territorial integrity, a policy of nonviolence, and the integrity of the
region's borders in order to help solve the problems in the Caucasus.
Pointing out that Turkey would continue to support the economic
development of Georgia, Demirel stated that they were exerting great
efforts to make projects functional between the two countries. He said
that one of these projects was the Kars-Tbilisi railway and the other was
the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Demirel invited Shevardnadze to Turkey.
Shevardnadze said, for his part, that Turkey was one of the leading
countries making investments in Georgia and added: "With these
investments, there has been a remarkable economic development in Georgia".
/Sabah-Cumhuriyet/
[02] RESIGNATIONS FROM DYP
Resignations from the True Path Party (DYP) continued yesterday with
Dogan Gures, Kilis Deputy. Also Mahmut Yilbas (Van) and Mustafa Zeydan
(Hakkari), who did not appear during the parliamentary vote of confidence
along with Gures, and faced disciplinary action from the DYP have also
resigned, bringing the number of DYP deputies in Parliament down to 95.
/Sabah/
[03] GUREL: EU MAY ENDANGER SECOND ROUND OF CYPRUS TALKS
State Minister responsible for Cyprus affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel, has
said that if the European Union decides to begin membership negotiations
with the Greek Cypriot Administration, Turkey cannot support the
attendance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President
Rauf Denktas in the second round of talks. Last week Denktas and Greek
Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides met in New York.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said: "Turkey is not
helpless. Turkey and the TRNC can make a partial integration", adding
that if the EU decides to begin membership negotiations with Southern
Cyprus, this would deteriorate the conciliation process. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] 26,473 PEOPLE KILLED IN SOUTHEAST OVER LAST DECADE
Since the implementation of Emergency Rule in the southeastern
regions of Turkey in July 1987, 18,019 separatists have been killed and
4,209 security forces members and 4,245 civilians have died as a result of
clashes and raids. Reports note that Emergency Rule in the southeast was
first implemented on July 19, 1987. Official statistics show that during
the first six months of this period -up to the end of 1987- 51 terrorists
were killed. Roughly 19,700 rifles, 6,350 pistols, 1,300 rocket
launchers, 11,500 rockets, 15,600 hand grenades and nearly 3.5 million
bullets have been seized since 1987. /Sabah/
[05] TANER DEFENDS FUEL INCREASES
On the back of huge petrol price increases announced yesterday, State
Minister responsible for the Economy, Gunes Taner, defended the move to
increase consumption taxes on petroleum products. Taner said one of the
main aims of the new government would be to implement a tax system in
which everyone paid their dues. "We aim to implement a balanced tax
system which will not stop production but will see tax revenues rise.
This balance will take two-three months to put into place". /Sabah/
[06] "FREEDOM OF THE PRESS" GUARANTEE
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has issued a statement that guarantees by
the end of the month "all press freedoms." Yilmaz also promised "with
authority from the President" that journalists and others accused of
crimes of thought will be released under a new amnesty deal.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also confirmed yesterday that one
of the first things the new coalition will do is bring to reality a free
press in Turkey. CHP party leader Deniz Baykal has also declared that his
party supports all the steps about to be taken to bring new freedom to the
press and other institutions. /Sabah/
[07] PAKISTANI NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER IN TURKEY
Pakistani Naval Forces Commander Admiral Fasih Bokhari is paying an
official visit to Turkey on the official invitation of his Turkish
counterpart Admiral Guven Erkaya. The Pakistani guest also had contacts
yesterday with Chief of the General Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi
and Defence Minister Ismet Sezgin. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] ROCKET ATTACK ON ISTANBUL OFFICERS' CLUB
A rocket attack was launched yesterday on the Harbiye Officers' Club
in Istanbul. Fortunately the rocket hit the wall of the building and
nobody was killed. The wife of an officer was slightly wounded. The
assailants launched the rocket from the terrace of a nearby building.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ismet Sezgin declared that the
terrorists had been apprehended.
Reports add that PKK terrorists attacked a chrome mine in Elazig and
another group of terrorists kidnapped a minibus driver in Erzurum.
/Sabah/
END
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