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Turkish Press Review, 98-06-19
From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>
19.06.98
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
[01] DEMIREL TO VISIT MOLDOVA
[02] TURKISH F-16s IN NORTHERN CYPRUS
[03] ENGIN CIVAN ARRESTED IN US
[04] ASSASSINATION TEAM ARRESTED
[05] TURKEY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANNULMENT OF ARTICLE 19
[06] TURKEY PLEASED BY RECONCILIATION IN IRAQ
[07] EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE TO US
[08] EU-TURKEY JOINT CONSULTATION COMMITTEE
[09] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
[10] STANDARD AND POORS GIVES B RATING TO TURKCELL
[11] BLAIR PRAISES TURKEY
[12] TURKEY, IRAN SIGN SECURITY COOPERATION AGREEMENT
[13] TURKEY PREPARES FOR A LEAP FORWARD IN SCIENCE
[14] IMF AND TURKEY WORKING ON 18-MONTH ACCORD
[15] TURKISH SCIENTIST ACCLAIMED IN US
[01] DEMIREL TO VISIT MOLDOVA
President Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to Moldova
between 25 and 26 June as the official guest of Petru Lucinschi,
Moldovan President, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Foreign
Ministry said in a written statement yesterday that the positive
bilateral relations between the two countries will be evaluated from all
aspects and that the two presidents will discuss steps to further
improve relations during the visit.
[02] TURKISH F-16s IN NORTHERN CYPRUS
Six Turkish F-16 fighter planes, which were sent to the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday in retaliation to the
landing of Greek airplanes in Southern Cyprus, were welcomed by Turkish
Cypriots at Gecitkale military airport. TRNC President Rauf Denktas and
high-level military officials also welcomed the pilots. Three of the
planes later returned to Turkey while the other three planes stayed in
northern Cyprus.
It is reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Deputy
Chief of General Staff Gen.Cevik Bir will go to Cyprus today.
Yesterday, meetings were held regarding the Cyprus issue at the Foreign
Ministry and Office of the General Staff and the recent situation in
Cyprus was assessed. During the meetings it was decided that if any
Greek obstruction is encountered, the strongest reaction will be shown
in line with the principle of retaliation.
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has accused Greece and the Greek
Cypriot Administration of preparing a long-term strategy of aggression
against Turkey. "Greece's military preparations on southern Cyprus, the
illegal joint Greek-Greek Cypriot military doctrine and the S-300
missiles, which they intend to deploy on the island, are clear
indications that southern Cyprus is planned to be used as a springboard
for an attack on Turkey" Cem stated at a press conference. Cem added
that Turkey had taken and would continue to take all the necessary
countermeasures in order to protect the TRNC and stability in the east
Mediterranean. "Greece will be directly responsible for all the
consequences that may occur as a result of the tensions, which actually
began in Cyprus" Cem stressed.
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said he would also call on guarantor
power Britain to help head off a confrontation. Yilmaz stated that he
wished to avoid any increase of tension on the island which could lead
to conflict, adding: "Turkey does not want war on Cyprus". Yilmaz made
these comments yesterday in Romania, where he is on an official visit.
He said Greece had displayed an aggressive attitude directly against
Turkey by landing its military aircarft in Cyprus and by having allowed
the Greek Cypriot authorities to transfer ground-to-air missiles to the
island. Yilmaz said that Turkey would be using the Gecitkale Air Base
in the TRNC more often and would show that the Turkish Cypriots would
not be left alone in the face of an emerging joint Greek-Greek Cypriot
threat.
US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said in a statement that
Turkey and Greece should avoid activities that could raise tension on
the island. /All papers/
[03] ENGIN CIVAN ARRESTED IN US
Turkish State Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who is currently on an
official visit to the US, said yesterday that the former general
director of Emlakbank, Engin Civan, had been arrested in the US
according to an agreement between the two countries on the extradition
of criminals following an application made by Turkey on March 21, 1997.
Engin Civan, who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison and a fine of TL
62.5 billion for bribery, fled to the US after 1.5 years in prison, and
without paying his fine. /Hurriyet/
[04] ASSASSINATION TEAM ARRESTED
Teams from the Istanbul Department for the Struggle Against
Terrorism which are carrying out operations to find and arrest Demir
Demirok, the driver of Semih Tufan Gulaltay, who planned and financed
the recent attack against Chairman of the Turkish Human Rights'
Association Akin Birdal, have uncovered plans for another attack.
During operations to arrest Demirok at a farmhouse in Yalova, Ekrem
Kahtali and Cevdet Kaya, who planned an attack on two noted businessmen
who participated in bidding for the purchase of the Turkish Trade Bank
(Turk Ticaret Bankasi) were arrested. The Istanbul Police noted that in
line with information received from Kahtali and Kaya, who are the
assistants of Alaattin Cakici, a notorious member of the Turkish
underworld, 11 other people were also arrested. /Hurriyet/
[05] TURKEY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANNULMENT OF ARTICLE 19
Turkey is cautious about the annulment of Article 19 of the Greek
Law on Citizenship, which allows for the possibility of depriving people
of non-Greek origin of their Greek citizenship, the Anatolia news agency
reported yesterday. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement
yesterday that the effects have to be seen first in respect to the
Turkish minority living in Western Thrace. "We hope this development
will be a step taken to stop the discrimination shown towards the
Turkish minority in Western Thrace" noted the statement, adding that the
annulment will not have any retroactive effect.
[06] TURKEY PLEASED BY RECONCILIATION IN IRAQ
Turkey has welcomed the reconciliation reached in Iraq concerning
the disarmament of Iraq as a result of the contacts of Richard Butler,
Chairman of the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) responsible for control
of weapons of mass destruction, the Anatolia news agency reports. The
Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that Turkey attributes
importance to the solution of the Iraqi problem by peaceful and
diplomatic ways, adding: "Turkey welcomes this development and hopes
that the steps to be taken will be successful".
[07] EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE TO US
The exports of agricultural produce to the US from the Southeastern
Anatolia Region in the first five months of 1998 increased by 24.7 % to
$6.970 million, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. Total
exports in the same period last year came to $5.586 million. Meanwhile,
a total of $772,000 in produce was exported to Canada and $47,000 in
produce to Brazil in the same period.
[08] EU-TURKEY JOINT CONSULTATION COMMITTEE
The sixth meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultation Committee
that was formed by representatives of the economic and social sectors in
Turkey and representatives of the EU Economic and Social Commission, was
held yesterday in Ankara, the Anatolia news agency reported. President
Suleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will receive members of
the EU-Turkey Joint Consultation Committee today.
[09] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
Central Bank foreign exchange reserves rose to $26.691 billion.
According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves, which
increased by $320 million in a week, reached $26.691 billion on June 12.
/Hurriyet/
[10] STANDARD AND POORS GIVES B RATING TO TURKCELL
One of the leading rating institutions Standard and Poor's have
given a B rating to Turkcell for long term credit, and have announced
that Turkcell is "stable". In a written statement, of the institution
it was said that an increase in Turkey's rate would increase the grade
of Turkcell. The statement said that Turkcell had high operational
performance and profits in the Turkish market.
General Director of Turkcell, Cuneyt Turktan said that the company
had passed the necessary tests and was registered in international
markets. /Sabah/
[11] BLAIR PRAISES TURKEY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday evaluated the past
six-month European Union (EU) term presidency of Britain in the House of
Commons. In his speech Blair said he believed that the Cardiff Summit
conclusions were positive. He added: "The Cardiff conclusions
reemphasized that Turkey's candidacy to join the EU must be treated on
the same basis as other candidates. I hope that decisions taken at the
summit will remove the obstacles to extending EU financial aid to
Turkey." /Sabah/
[12] TURKEY, IRAN SIGN SECURITY COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Officials from Turkey and Iran signed a security cooperation
agreement late on Wednesday, reports the Anatolia news agency.
Following the signing ceremony, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Yahya
Gur said that delegations from both countries had discussed various
security issues, including the struggle against the illegal narcotics
trade and terrorism.
[13] TURKEY PREPARES FOR A LEAP FORWARD IN SCIENCE
Turkey is preparing to be the chief of an organization representing
25 European countries in the field of science, the Anatolia news agency
reported yesterday. Responsibility for the European Research and
Coordination Agency (EURACA) term presidency will be assumed by Suat
Karabiyik of Turkey, effective July 1, 1998. In making the
announcement, Assistant Prof. Cemil Arik said that the EURACA, an
agency which provides technical and financial support to project owners
and sponsors and as much as 50 percent of financing in long-term credit,
and stressed that the term presidency represents an historical
opportunity for Turkey.
[14] IMF AND TURKEY WORKING ON 18-MONTH ACCORD
Talks concerning the 18-month "staff monitoring programme" between
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Turkey are continuing.
Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen told journalists at a press
conference in Ankara yesterday that negotiations for the accord, called
the staff monitoring programme, will be completed in Washington next
week, after which it will be presented to the IMF board of directors.
He added: "The negotiations have been going on for 11 months. The
accord will only provide the legal grounds for the actual situation."
Authorities from the Finance Ministry, the State Planning Organization,
the Central Bank and the Treasury also participated in the meeting with
the IMF delegation in Washington. /Milliyet/
[15] TURKISH SCIENTIST ACCLAIMED IN US
Turkish Scientist Ali Erdemir's discovery of a kind of carbon film
plating, which is smoother and more resistant than silver coatings, has
been awarded by Discovery, a science magazine in the United States.
Erdemir ranked second following Wolfgang Ketterle in a competition which
is seen as the "oscar" of science. /Cumhuriyet/
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