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Turkish Press Review, 98-03-19
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
19.03.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY REPRESENTED IN INTERNATIONAL WATER CONFERENCE
[02] UN THREATENING TRNC
[03] FP SEATS IN PARLIAMENT INCREASE TO 141
[04] SIX TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST
[05] SEZGIN GIVES STATEMENT TO GREEK TV STATION
[06] 83rd CANAKKALE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
[07] THRE-DAY MEETING ON "BALKAN PEACE FORCE" ENDS
[08] "BATTLE OF CANAKKALE" STAMPS
[01] TURKEY REPRESENTED IN INTERNATIONAL WATER CONFERENCE
An "International water conference" is starting in Paris today.
Organized by French President Jacque Chirac, who is acutely aware that
1.5 billion people in the world suffer from lack of water, this
conference will seek ways to find concrete solutions to overcome water
shortages. The conference will continue for three days in the Paris
UNESCO building and will be attended by representatives from 79
countries. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer will
participate on Saturday, by presenting a briefing about Turkey's water
resources and the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). /Hurriyet/
[02] UN THREATENING TRNC
The United Nations Secretary General's special Cyprus envoy,
Diego Cordovez, after arriving in Cyprus where he is intending to
reinforce contacts between the two sides living on the island, spoke
in a sharply warning the Turkish Cypriot government that the attention
currently being given to the Cyprus issue might come to an end if
there were intentions of using this attention to gain advantage.
"Ignoring the United Nations' interest could lead to tragic
consequences. I am trying to prevent this happening", Cordovez said
yesterday. Observers say there are parallels between Cordovez's
current remarks and those of Greek Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides who
on March 14 on Greek radio said that the UN security council would
exert pressure on the Turkish side which refuses to agree to
participate in negotiations without having international recognition.
Observers are sure that the Turkish side will be accused of being the
uncompromising side in Cyprus, in a report that Cordovez will present
to the United Nations at the end of March. /Hurriyet/
[03] FP SEATS IN PARLIAMENT INCREASE TO 141
Independent deputy for Erzurum Abdulillah Firat yesterday joined
the Virtue Party (FP). The number of FP seats in Parliament has thus
increased to 141, and the number of independent deputies has dropped
to 18. /Sabah/
[04] SIX TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST
Six PKK terrorists were killed yesterday in clashes with security
forces in Bingol. In Tunceli, one terrorist gave himself up to the
security forces. At the same time in Batman two people were killed in
terrorist attacks, and two others were injured. /Sabah/
[05] SEZGIN GIVES STATEMENT TO GREEK TV STATION
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin in
statement to the Greek Mega television channel said that Turkey had
discussed signing an anti-aggression agreement with Greece. He added
that "hot clashes" between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean were be
"impossible". /Cumhuriyet/
[06] 83rd CANAKKALE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
A warrior's monument, honouring the soldiers who fought and died
in the battle of Canakkale, was dedicated yesterday in a ceremony
attended by Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi.
Attending 83rd anniversary ceremonies of the Battle of Canakkale,
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz made an opening speech. He said, "Turkey
has already proved its military power. It will be one of the leading
democratic countries on the threshold of the 21st century. Now we
should strengthen our democracy, economy and defense in order to be a
model country in the world." /Cumhuriyet/
[07] THRE-DAY MEETING ON "BALKAN PEACE FORCE" ENDS
A three-day meeting in Ankara to discuss the formation of a
multi-national military force to prevent a possible crisis in the
Balkan region has ended. It is expected that a military force of
between three or five thousand will be based either in Edirne, Turkey
or Filibe, Bulgaria.
At the end of the meeting in which Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania,
Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and the U.S. participated, it was
announced that in line with the Southern European Defense Ministers
Process, other regional countries could later contribute to the force.
/Cumhuriyet/
[08] "BATTLE OF CANAKKALE" STAMPS
With the cooperation of the Turkish General Directorate of Postal
Services and the New Zealand Postal Administration, "Battle of
Canakkale" commemoration stamps were introduced during a cocktail last
night in Ankara. Transportation Minister Necdet Menzir and State
Minister Rifat Serdaroglu attended the cocktail. /Cumhuriyet/
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