|
|
Turkish Press Review, 97-07-16
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL: "CAUCASUS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY"
[02] US: "YILMAZ IS IMPRESSIVE"
[03] FULL SUPPORT FOR TRNC
[04] MOODY'S ASSIGNS CREDIT RATING TO EXIMBANK
[05] PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY LEADS TRADE MISSION TO TURKEY
[06] TURKISH ADVERTISERS YOUTH GROUP ESTABLISHED UNDER IAA
[07] SCIENTISTS VISIT MOUNT NEMRUT
[08] AUTOMOTIVES LOOKING BETTER
[09] TWO VILLAGE GUARDS KILLED IN CLASHES WITH TERRORISTS
[10] GROZNI-ISTANBUL FLIGHTS
[11] ACADEMIC COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
JULY 16, 1997
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning
[01] DEMIREL: "CAUCASUS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY"
President Suleyman Demirel returned from his two-day official visit to
Tbilisi, Georgia yesterday. During the visit, Turkey and Georgia
signed a declaration that will increase cooperation between the two
countries. According to the declaration, the parties stressed the
importance to the region of the transportation of Central Asian oil to
world markets. Both parties repeated their wishes and expectations
that a significant amount of Central Asian and Caspian oil should pass
through Georgia and Turkey and that the oil pipeline would soon be
finished.
On his last day in Tbilisi, Demirel met with Georgian Speaker of
Parliament Zrab Jvania and said that different ethnic groups could
exist within one country because concepts, such as democracy, human
rights and equality would ensure the living together of many people
under one flag. Demirel noted that peace in the Caucasus was very
important for Turkey. Jvania said, for his part, that they
appreciated the efforts of Demirel to improve relations between the
two countries. He added that they wanted to integrate with Europe,
and Turkey was an example of how that could be done and there were
many other things that could be learned from Turkey. On his arrival
at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Demirel held a press conference and said
that eleven agreements, which virtually complete the legal
infrastructure of cooperation between the two countries, were signed
during his visit to Tbilisi. /Sabah/
[02] US: "YILMAZ IS IMPRESSIVE"
The Clinton administration praised the Yilmaz government on the
occasion of the vote of confidence it received from Turkish Parliament
on Saturday. "He is an impressive individual" State Department
spokesman Nicholas Burns said of prime minister and chairman of the
Mortherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz. "We are very pleased to work
with Prime Minister Yilmaz" Burns said. "We have a lot of experience
of working with him. We were impressed by the fact that he now has
the ability to govern effectively. After the period of uncertainty in
Turkish policies with the government's composition, it is good to have
a partner in Ankara. We look forward to working with him on a variety
of issues -bilateral, NATO issues, and of course, the Greek-Turkish
issues that are so important to us" Burns said.
Burns, referring to the talks in New York between the Greek Cypriot
Leader and the Turkish Cypriot President, said: "We are very pleased
they took place. We think that face-to-face dialogue on the issue of
Cyprus is quite important. In fact, it is essential. And the US
would certainly support a second round of talks if that can be agreed
to. We hope very much it will be agreed to" he told a news briefing.
Meanwhile, US President Clinton's coordinator for Cyprus, Richard
Holbrooke, will travel to Europe, in two weeks to consult with allies
on Cyprus. /Hurriyet/
[03] FULL SUPPORT FOR TRNC
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Turkish Cypriot
Ambassador in Ankara Nazif Borman and his delegation yesterday.
Ecevit noted that State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and he would go to
the island on 20 July to participate in the 23rd anniversary
ceremonies of the 1974 Peace Operation. Ecevit stated that Southern
Cyprus was being made into a military base, therefore, balances in the
Eastern Mediterranean were deteriorating and the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) constituted a guarantee for Turkey. Noting
that the S-300 missiles, which Russia sold to the Greek Cypriot side,
threatened even the internal regions of Turkey, Ecevit said that they
could not overlook this situation and they would therefore increase
military measures in the TRNC. /Cumhuriyet/
[04] MOODY'S ASSIGNS CREDIT RATING TO EXIMBANK
Moody's Investor's Service has for the first time assigned a long term
foreign currency debt rating of B1 to the Export Credit Bank of Turkey
(Turk Eximbank) for its issue of $200 million Floating Rate Notes due
in 2000. Moody's said that the rating reflects the key role that the
bank plays in the Turkish economy as the primary source of support for
Turkish exports. It also reflects the bank's 100 percent ownership by
the Treasury and support provided by the Treasury in guaranteeing
losses the bank may incur as a result of political risks. /All
papers/
[05] PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY LEADS TRADE MISSION TO TURKEY
A mission to increase trade between the Port of London and ports in
the eastern Mediterranean will be led by the Port of London Authority
(PLA) later this month. A reception and trade display will be hosted
by the PLA in the British Consulate-General in Istanbul on July 17.
British Ambassador to Turkey, David Logan, will be attending the event
which is aimed at ports and organizations in the region that are
trading with the UK. /All papers/
[06] TURKISH ADVERTISERS YOUTH GROUP ESTABLISHED UNDER IAA
A Turkish Youth Group which has been organized under the auspices of
the Turkish Committee of the International Advertisers' Association
(IAA) has been opened, bringing the total number of youth
organizations belonging to IAA to 18. The IAA is the only
organization which brings advertising agencies, advertisers, the media
and public relations and research agencies together on an
international platform. /All papers/
[07] SCIENTISTS VISIT MOUNT NEMRUT
Sixteen members of the International Association for Cultural Research
have gathered in southern Anatolia to get a close-up view of the
famous, gigantic sculptures on Mount Nemrut in the province of
Adiyaman. Scientists from Azerbaijan, Kenya, Germany, the
Netherlands, the US and India were able to get a firsthand look at the
ancient statues which date back to the Commagene Kingdom and which
dominate the 2150-meter peak. Azerbaijani expert Farida Tristjanson
pointed out that the 2000-year-old sculptures are on the World
Cultural Legacy List. The group also visited Arsemia, Cendere Bridge
and Karakus Hill during their trip. /Cumhuriyet/
[08] AUTOMOTIVES LOOKING BETTER
Compared to June last year, the automotives sector this past June
looks a lot better with a 14 percent increase which translates into a
total of 22,697 cars.
The last six months shows a one percent increase with a total
production of 111,247 units. Total production of all classes of motor
vehicles came to 180,478 for the last six months with a nine percent
increase over the same period last year. Sector leaders note that the
upswing in production points to a new surge of activity in the
economy. /Sabah/
[09] TWO VILLAGE GUARDS KILLED IN CLASHES WITH TERRORISTS
In clashes between the security forces and PKK terrorists in the
eastern Anatolian province of Van, two village guards were killed
yesterday. A terrorist also died in the clash. Operations for
apprehending the terrorists continue. /Sabah/
[10] GROZNI-ISTANBUL FLIGHTS
Following a customs union recently set up between Russia and Georgia,
regular passenger flights between Chechenya and Turkey will start
tomorrow. Last week the airport in the Chechen capital of Grozni was
opened for international filghts, and the destinations of the first
international flights from this airport are Istanbul and Dubai in the
United Arab Emirates. /Sabah/
[11] ACADEMIC COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA
Gazi University in Ankara and St. Kliment Ohridski University in
Macedonia have signed a protocol for academic cooperation. The
protocol envisages steps for improving bilateral cooperation in
education, economy and tourism. /Hurriyet/
END
|