|
|
Turkish Press Review, 97-10-21
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
CONTENTS
[01] YILMAZ STRESSES PRIVATIZATION, REFORMS TO OVERHAUL ECONOMY
[02] ANKARA REJECTS GREEK AIRSPACE PROTEST
[03] TRANSPORT MINISTER MENZIR IN AUSTRIA
[04] TURKISH SHIP SINKS IN THE AEGEAN
[05] TURKISH SUCCESS AT OIL CONTEST
[06] CYPRUS PLANS OF U.S.
[07] YILMAZ TO WASHINGTON
[08] CEASEFIRE MEETING
[09] SEZGIN EXTENDS SUPPORT TO PRAGUE
[10] WORLD TOURISM SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
[11] US: MANEUVRES WILL BE HELD
[12] INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN HOLD CRITICAL SUMMIT MEETING
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION,OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER
21.10.97
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this
morning
[01] YILMAZ STRESSES PRIVATIZATION, REFORMS TO OVERHAUL ECONOMY
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz held a press conference at the ministry on
the occasion of the government celebrating its first 100 days in
office. Yilmaz, sho spoke about the government's achievements, stated
that they had started a new programme to introduce the required
structural changes in Turkey. Calling the programme the "process of
normalization", Yilmaz stated that the government aimed to set out
long term plans for social changes in Turkey.
Prime Minister Yilmaz vowed to speed up the country's privatization
programme and pull down the inflation rate to below 10 percent within
three years. Speaking at the joint press conference with Deputy Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, Yilmaz said revenues of more than $4 billion
expected from sell-offs this year would strengthen the country's
financial position. Yilmaz also noted that in 1998 orders of, six
hydro electric power plants, one nuclear power plant and two thermal
power plants were planned to be realized and the investments would
start. The prime minister listed the achievements of the government
on the issues of education, health, justice, defense, fight against
terrorism and domestic security, under the title of "The main duties
of the state".
Meanwhile, the French press has devoted wide coverage to Prime
Minister Yilmaz. The Liberation and Le Monde newspapers described
Yilmaz as a "moderate and modern leader". /Milliyet/
[02] ANKARA REJECTS GREEK AIRSPACE PROTEST
Greek Ambassador to Turkey yesterday protested to the Turkish
government over alleged violations of Greek airspace last week by
Turkish military jets, the Anatolia news agency reported. Greek
Ambassador, Dimitrios Nezeritis, issued a strong verbal protest at a
meeting with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials.
Ankara rejected the Greek protest, describing it as "groundless",
according to Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli.
Atacanli noted that Turkish planes had not violated Greek airspace and
had only carried out "reconnaissance flights".
[03] TRANSPORT MINISTER MENZIR IN AUSTRIA
Transport Minister Necdet Menzir left yesterday for Austria to attend
a symposium of the European Conference of Transport Ministers. The
symposium will be held in the Austrian town of Innsbruck on October
21-23. Transportation planning and financing as well as cooperation
with the private sector in materializing transportation projects are
among the issues to be taken in hand during the symposium. /Hurriyet/
[04] TURKISH SHIP SINKS IN THE AEGEAN
A cargo ship owned by a Turkish amateur has sunk in the Aegean. The
ship sailing under Saint Vincent flag was carrying the cargo of the
Mehtap Denizcilik company. While 23 sailors from the crew have been
rescued, one seaman is missing. Search continues. /Milliyet/
[05] TURKISH SUCCESS AT OIL CONTEST
A Turkish student has won the first prize at a contest organized by
the Union of World Oil Engineers held in Texas, US. Burc Guven Arpat,
who won the contest, is a student of the Middle East Technical
University. /Milliyet/
[06] CYPRUS PLANS OF U.S.
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Denktas
will go to the US at the end of the next week. Washington
administration plans to decrease the tension on the island without
concession. The U.S. administration will wait until the end of the
military exercise of the Turkish Armed Forces between 1-2 November in
northern Cyprus and the meeting between the Turkish and Greek Prime
Ministers at the Balkan States summit in Crete and later start its
initiatives. /Sabah/
[07] YILMAZ TO WASHINGTON
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will go to Washington on 19 December as an
official guest of President Bill Clinton. The Turkish Foreign
Ministry announced that Yilmaz will be accompanied by Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem and will discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.
/Sabah/
[08] CEASEFIRE MEETING
Co-chairmen of the Ankara Process, Turkey, the U.S. and Britain and
also representatives of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP)
and Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) met at the Turkish
Foreign Ministry yesterday. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel
said that at the meeting, importance of the continuation of the peace
process had been stressed and the IPUK had been asked to withdraw its
forces to the ceasefire line determined on 12 October, 1997. /Sabah/
[09] SEZGIN EXTENDS SUPPORT TO PRAGUE
Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin
started his contacts in Prague yesterday afternoon. Sezgin was
received by the Czech President Havel and met with the speaker of the
Parliament and the Prime Minister. At his talks with the Czech
Defence Minister Vborne, Sezgin stated that Turkey was supporting the
NATO membership of the Czech Republic. Sezgin and the accompanying
delegation will conclude their visit to the Czech Republic on
Thursday, October 23 and will proceed, the same day to the Slovak
Republic. /Milliyet/
[10] WORLD TOURISM SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
In a speech at the 12th General Assembly of the World Tourism
Organization (WTO), WTO Secretary General Francesco Frangialli praised
Turkey and described Istanbul as the "queen of Europe and Asia." In
his address to the assembly delegates from 130 countries all over the
world at the opening ceremony, President Suleyman Demirel invited the
delegates to be acquainted with Turkey as the cradle of civilization.
/Hurriyet/
[11] US: MANEUVRES WILL BE HELD
US Pentagon Spokesman Kenneth Bacon announced that even though Turkey,
Israel and the US have not agreed yet on a definite date for joint
maneuvres, the maneuvres will be held as soon as possible. Kenneth
added that the maneuvres will last five days and will include rescue
and search operations. /Milliyet/
[12] INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN HOLD CRITICAL SUMMIT MEETING
More than 550 members of 51 business organizations from around Turkey
met Friday for the first time to discuss the creation of a foundation
for exchanging views and working together. The meeting, dubbed SIAD,
was organized by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association (TUSIAD), the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Associations Council (TUSIBAK), the Aegean Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association (ESIAD) and the Southeast Industrialists'
and Businessmen's Association (GUNSIAD).
TUSIAD Chairman Muharrem Kayhan stressed that the participants in the
meeting were a movement and the businessmen who were represented in
this movement wanted a productive and rational public sector
administration. State Minister Isin Celebi also attended the meeting.
/All papers/
END
|