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Turkish Press Review, 97-10-15
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] MESSAGE TO GREECE FROM GENERAL KARADAYI
[02] RAIN WRECKS HAVOC IN ISTANBUL
[03] NO PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER ELECTED YET
[04] YILMAZ WILL SEEK SUPPORT IN PARIS
[05] TERRORIST ATTACK IN GIRESUN
[06] STAND-BY AGREEMENT WITH IMF
[07] ECEVIT IN SWEDEN
[08] JOINT MISSILE PRODUCTION WITH ISRAEL
[09] BRITISH TRAINING FOR TURKISH POLICEMEN
[10] EUROPEAN INTEREST IN TURKISH STOCKS
[11] TANER IN LONDON
[12] WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS CONTINUES
[13] TURKEY WILL HOST WTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER
15.10.97
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning.
[01] MESSAGE TO GREECE FROM GENERAL KARADAYI
Today's papers privide extensive first-page coverage to mounting
tensions in Cyprus. Observers note that Greece is pursuing
provocative policies and quote Turkish Chief of the General Staff,
General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, as saying that Greece is exerting
efforts to artificially raise tensions on the island. According to
Karadayi, "behind all these moves there is the Greek desire to provoke
us." At the same time, Karadayi dismissed Greek initiatives as "not
serious" stressing that the balance of forces in the region was clear
for any observer following the developments. "The grandeur of the
Turkish army on its own is sufficient to deter the Greek," the Chief
of the General Staff said. State Miniser Sukru Sina Gurel in turn
noted that Greece was "playing with fire" and added that Turkey will
undertake the necessary measures to ensure its security.
Turkey is making preparations to respond to the Nikiforios military
exercises jointly staged by Greece and Southern Cyprus on the island
by holding military maneuvres in the region. Military officials
stress that the exercises, code named "Toros", were not designed as a
hostile act, but as a show of determination to protect the interests
of Turkish Cyprus and Turkey in Cyprus against Greeks who violated the
moratorium on military flights over Cyprus.
US President Bill Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus, Richard Holbrook,
invited both sides to refrain from provocative acts. /All papers/
[02] RAIN WRECKS HAVOC IN ISTANBUL
Heavy rainfall that started on Sunday has paralyzed life in Istanbul.
Hundreds of homes were flooded in areas located in the lower parts of
the city. Traffic became frustrating. Four people died in various
accidents. Residents are emptying the water from houses taken over by
waste from the overflowing sewage pipes because efforts by the city's
firemen have been inadequate. With trousers rolled up, the local
people in these areas are busy emptying the water with buckets even as
they chase after their possessions being dragged away by flood waters.
/All papers/
[03] NO PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER ELECTED YET
The two rounds of balloting held yesterday to elect a new
parliamentary speaker rendered no results because none of the seven
nominees managed to win the constitutionally required majority of two
thirds. The elections have been postponed until Thursday when the
candidates will seek to win 276 votes. If no result is obtained, the
two candidates receiving the highest votes will compete in a fourth
round. /All papers/
[04] YILMAZ WILL SEEK SUPPORT IN PARIS
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is scheduled to arrive in Paris late on
Thursday for a swift visit to rally French support for Turkey's
integration with Europe. Having already met with French Prime
Minister Lionel Jospin in Strasbourg, Yilmaz will hold talks with
President Jacques Chirac and will ask for support for Turkey's EU
drive. Turkey will lobby for the EU heavyweights to reconfirm
Turkey's full membership prospects in the eve of an informal meeting
of EU ministers in Luxembourg on October 24-25. /All papers/
[05] TERRORIST ATTACK IN GIRESUN
PKK terrorists stormed a mine 30 kilometers far from Giresun on Monday
night and set to fire four vehicles and 12 tons of diesel oil. Three
engineers have been abducted, and one of the engineers was found dead
yesterday 4 km away from the mine. Security forces launched an
operation in the region following the attack.
At the same time, 22 PKK terrorists were killed in operations in
Hakkari initiated after ten soldiers were killed by a mine laid down
by PKK terrorists. According to a terrorist who surrendered to the
security forces in Northern Iraq, the PKK terrorist organization
dsiposed of SA-7B type missiles. /Cumhuriyet/
[06] STAND-BY AGREEMENT WITH IMF
Stabilization policies pursued by the government and the 1998 budget
draft law helped the Motherleft-D coalition win the support of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF officials have agreed to sign
an accord with Turkey to support moves for privatization, social
security and tax reforms. Officials said that the IMF Executive
Director responsible for European Affairs, Willy Kiekens will come to
Ankara to discuss the terms of the agreement to be signed.
/Cumhuriyet/
[07] ECEVIT IN SWEDEN
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is paying an official visit to
Sweden. During his contacts with Swidish officials Ecevit
concentrates on Turkey's EU cause. Yesterday the Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister met Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, Deputy Foreign
Minister Pierre Schori and other top level officials. Ecevit is also
scheduled to visit Finland within the framework of his Scandinavian
tour. /All papers/
[08] JOINT MISSILE PRODUCTION WITH ISRAEL
Israeli Chief of General Staff, General Amnon Lipkin Shakak, who is
paying an official visit to Turkey, and his Turkish counterpart
General Ismail Hakki Karadayi have agreed to cooperate in the
production of "Delilah" missiles. According to the report, these
missiles are superior to the Russian-made S-300 missiles to be
deployed in Southern Cyprus. Delilah missiles have 500-km range of
action and have the capacity to hit surface, air and sea targets.
During his contacts in Ankara, Shakak also made new proposals with
respect to the Tank 2000 project, Phalcon early warning systems and
5.56 mm guns purchased for the Turkish infantry. /Milliyet/
[09] BRITISH TRAINING FOR TURKISH POLICEMEN
Turkish policemen will be trained abroad within the framework of
Turco-British cooperation in the field of human rights. Britain will
assist Turkey in the project and British specialists will help Turkish
policemen appreciate the importance of the human rights issue.
British State Minister Doug Henderson said they were willing to
cooperate with Turkey in a number of fields. "We want to share our
experiences with Turkey," said Henderson. /Cumhuriyet/
[10] EUROPEAN INTEREST IN TURKISH STOCKS
The Treasury has exported to the Eurobond market stocks and bonds
amounting to DM 1.5 billion. European investors have shown great
interest in the Turkish bonds. Specialists evaluate this development
as a positive sign with respect to Turkey's ability to raise foreign
debts. /Hurriyet/
[11] TANER IN LONDON
State Minister Gunes Taner will go London tommorow to attend a meeting
on "Capital Market and Investment in Turkey" organised by the
Turco-British Business Council. Central Bank Chairman Gazi Ercel and
Head of the Privatization Administration, Ugur Bayar, will accompany
Taner in London.
Completing his contacts in London, Gunes Taner will pay an official
visit to Washington on 24-27 October to meet with IMF officials.
Next, Taner will go to Germany for contacts with business circles.
/Milliyet/
[12] WORLD FORESTRY CONGRESS CONTINUES
The eleventh World Forestry Congress, "Forestry for Sustainable
Development Towards the 21st Century" is continuing in Antalya this
week. In a move to cope with frequesn forest fires, participants will
discuss the establishment of an international organization with a
structure similar to that of NATO. Turkish officials have initiated
contacts on technical level with representatives of Russia, Israel and
Italy to elaborate possibilities for cooperation in extinguishing
forest fires. /Hurriyet/
[13] TURKEY WILL HOST WTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 12th general assembly of the World Tourism Organization will be
held in Istanbul on October 17-24. 1500 delegates are expected to
attend the assembly, described by observers as the biggest tourism
assembly in the world. /All papers/
END
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