TRKNWS-L Turkish Press Review
TRKNWS-L
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning
TURKISH PRESIDENT TO VISIT BOSNIA
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel will visit Sarajevo this
month. President Demirel has postponed his visit twice due to
security reasons during the Bosnian war. Rehabilitation of
Sarajevo and Turkish support for Bosnia will be discussed during
the official visit on 17-18 June. Turkey pledges $80 million in
project credits for the Bosnia-Herzegovina Rehabilitation Plan.
/Hurriyet/
YILMAZ REMINDS EU OF ITS OBLIGATIONS TO TURKEY
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who in Brussels, yesterday urged the
European Commission to carry out its contractual obligations
toward Turkey, despite the obstacle created by Athens. Yilmaz
gave two main messages to European Commission President Jacques
Santer on Turkey's links with the EU. The first of these messages
was Turkey's desire to achieve step-by-step integration with the
EU. The second message was that the customs union, which suffered
a blow due to the Greek blockade of financial funds, should be
implemented fully, with the Fourteen taking a clear stand on this
matter. To both of those messages, Santer had the same answer.
"We are committed to the customs union package, which was
accepted on March 6. We hope we can release the package" he said
at a joint press conference with Yilmaz. He added: "It will be
right to solve the problem between Turkey and Greece at the Court
of Justice in The Hague". Meanwhile, Term-President Italy invited
Turkey to the summit which will be held in Florence on 22-23 June
at the level of EU heads of state and prime ministers. Turkey was
also invited to the conference to be held between governments in
Luxembourg on 11 June. Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay will attend
this meeting.
Yilmaz began his contacts in the Belgian capital by visiting
Klaus Haensch, president of the European Parliament, in the
morning. Yilmaz and Haensch made brief statements after their
meeting, both underlining the need to have more dialogue between
Turkey and the European Parliament. Pointing out that some of the
EP resolutions stemmed from lack of information about Turkey,
Yilmaz stressed that he hoped the revitalization of the joint
parliamentary commission would prevent the recurrence of such
events. Haensch, in return, said: "Our aim is to get closer to
Turkey, not get further away" he said. He also underlined that
the EP considered the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a
terrorist organization and condemned terrorism. Yilmaz later
attended a reception which Turkish Permanent Representative to
the EU, Ambassador Uluc Ozulker give in his honour. Late on
Tuesday, Yilmaz opened the Brussels office of the Turkish
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD.
/Sabah-Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
BIR MEETS HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART
Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Cevik Bir, met
his Israeli counterpart Major General Matan Vilnai in Ankara
yesterday. Bir said that the Turkish Armed Forces were developing
foreign relations in line with new developments in the Middle
East, and added that this was the context of the relationship
with the Israeli Armed Forces. Cevik Bir recalled that a
"memorandum on Military Aircraft and Training" had been concluded
with Israel on September 18, 1995, and that on February 23, 1996
"The Agreement on Military Training Cooperation" was signed. He
said that both agreements had been approved by the Council of
Ministers.
Armed Forces General Secretary Erol Ozkasnak, also present during
the meeting, tried to clarify to journalists aspects of the
military cooperation agreements between Israel and Turkey. He
said that Turkey had to date signed similar agreements with 27
countries other than Israel. He also added that none of these
accords represented any hostility towards any third country.
Vilnai was also received by Turkish Chief of General Staff
General Ismail Hakki Karadayi and Land Forces Commander General
Dogu Aktulga. /Sabah-Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/
HABITAT II TAKES OFF
The Second UN Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, is
going on at full speed. In opening the conference, UN Secretary
General Boutros-Ghali described the Habitat Agenda to be approved
by the delegates as a "global plan of action that embodies our
vision of human settlements, our vision of the common future."
Participants at the conference amount to 15 thousand, including
8,500 foreign guests. This figure is about half the number
realistically expected to come to Istanbul. However, Ayman
El-Amir, the UN Secretary General's Spokesman, pointed out that
the figure excluded those involved in "parallel activities"
outside the "conference valley", including many NGO
representatives, delegates still to arrive (including those
coming to the three-day "high-level segment" of heads of state
and government next Wednesday), and family members staying as
tourists in Istanbul. /All papers/
SLOVAKIA'S INTERIOR MINISTER ARRIVES IN ANKARA
Ludovit Hudek, Slovakia's interior minister, has arrived in
Ankara as the official guest of Interior Minister Ulku Guney.
Hudek will pay a visit to Guney this evening, and will attend a
meeting at the General Directorate of Security after his visit to
Anitkabir, the Ataturk Mausoleum, on Thursday. Hudek will visit
the president of the Police Academy on June 7 and depart from
Turkey the same day. /All papers/
INTENSE CONTACTS UNDERWAY FOR OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT
Following Defence Minister Oltan Sungurlu's visit to the US, US
Ambassador Marc Grossman paid a call on opposition Democratic
Left Party (DSP) Chairman Bulent Ecevit yesterday. Before the
government takes a final decision on the Operation Provide
Comfort (OPC), the Turkey-based multinational relief force for
the northern Iraqi Kurds, the mandate for which expires at the
end of the current month, Sungurlu will reportedly have another
meeting with US Defence Secretary William Perry at the NATO
Defence Planning Committee meeting scheduled to take place on
June 13.
Accompanied by two diplomats, one of them the embassy counsellor,
Ambassador Grossman had a 75-minute meeting with Ecevit at the
latter's office in Parliament at noon yesterday. Assessed at the
meeting was the "regional security plan" recently proposed by the
DSP. The US ambassador reportedly referred to certain steps taken
in the direction sought by Turkey, and asked the DSP to agree to
a further renewal of the OPC mandate. /All papers/
10 PKK MILITANTS KILLED IN SOUTHEAST
Security forces have killed 10 PKK militants and captured three
alive in operations in Southeast Anatolia. Five other militants
surrendered to the security forces. Meanwhile four militants, one
a woman, members of an illegal organization, were also captured.
Weapons, bullets, a cordless telephone, counterfeit identity
cards and other documents were found in locations revealed by the
terrorists. The security forces also captured three people who
had supplied the PKK with weapons in Mardin's Midyat district.
Meanwhile, 20 supporters of the PKK terrorist organization have
been arrested in Brussels. /Sabah/
AEROSPORTS '97 TO BE HELD IN TURKEY
The first World Aviation Games, organized by the Turkish Aviation
Institute (THK) and Federation of Aviation International (FAI),
will be held in Turkey on September 13-21, 1997, the Anatolia
news agency reported. About 4,000 sportsmen from 75 countries are
expected to participate in Aerosports '97. It is reported that
Professor Atilla Tacoy, chairman of THK, has been named as the
head of the organization committee. /All papers/
MAGAZINE FOR TURKS IN EUROPE PUBLISHED
The first issue of Anadolu, a monthly magazine published by a
group of journalists living in Europe and Turkey which will be
distributed especially in Western Europe, has gone on sale this
week in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, the Anatolia news
agency reported.
Dolunay Uluc, editor of Anadolu magazine, said that they had
planned to present the first issue to Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz, who is in Brussels, and added: "We have published, with
great effort, a magazine which will reflect Turkish-EU relations,
which will establish communication between European Turks and
Turkey, and which is devoted to Ataturk's principles". /All
papers/
TURK MARITIME TRADE GROWING
During the last ten years Turkish maritime trade has grown 2.5
times over. During the same period Turkey's place in world
listings has gone up from 27th to 16th. Representatives in the
shipping sector say that by the year 2000 they want to be 10th in
the list.
During 1995, the Turkish shipping sector secured five billion
dollars in foreign exchange with a maritime fleet of eighteen
cargo vessels. Sector leaders said yesterday that they were
exerting every effort to boost Turkey's place in international
shipping markets and that new markets in luxury yacht production
were being developed. /Sabah/
GREECE STIRS UP ANOTHER ISLAND CONTROVERSY
In what looks at first like a storm in a teacup, Greece has taken
issue over the small island of Gavdos, just off the southern end
of Crete. Greece now wants to involve this small island, with a
population of only three hundred, in a battle over whose
sovereignty it lies underjust like the still unresolved question
regarding the Kardak islets in the Aegean Sea.
Turkey is already involved in sovereignty issues with the Greeks
and sees this latest ploy by Athens as a continuation of the
Kardak dispute. Turkey has been obliged to voice its opinions
over Greek claims of sovereignty over Gavdos because of the NATO
"Dynamic Mixed" exercises planned for September in the area
around Crete. /Milliyet/
MOVES TO BEEF UP LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
Steps are being taken to present to the Interior Ministry and the
Cabinet draft bills on seven new regional administrations and the
funding needed to support them. The idea is to reinforce local
administration in housing, services and other areas by ensuring
that certain sectors share in meeting costs. Thus a certain
percentage will come from transport tax, advertising,
investments, natural gas charges, entertainment and state
lotteries. /Milliyet/
TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 5 June 1996
Turkish inflation remains unbeaten amid political turmoil
* Consumer prices surge 4.5 percent in May
* Year-on-year inflation soars to 82.9 percent
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- Turkey's rampant inflation remained unchallenged in May when
annual consumer price inflation rose to 82.9 percent, the highest
since October, official figures revealed on Tuesday.
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that consumer prices in
May soared by 4.5 percent, sending the year-on-year rate to 82.9
percent, up from 80.8 percent in April, 79.3 percent in March, 77.5
percent in February and 78.1 percent in January. Monthly inflation in
May was, however, the lowest since November's 4.7 percent.
DIE said that wholesale prices went up by 4.1 percent in May, down on
8.1 percent the previous month. It was the lowest monthly rate since
November's 3.5 percent.
It said that year-on-year wholesale inflation was 73.7 percent in May,
the highest annual rate since last October. Wholesale prices had risen
on an annual basis by 69.9 percent in April, 65.3 percent in March, 63
percent in February and 64.9 percent in January.
The national statistics agency also said that the annual average
consumer and wholesale inflation rates in May were 80.8 percent and
70.3 percent respectively.
Retail prices, according to the DIE price index, based on the 1994
prices, went up by 33.3 percent in the January-May period. Wholesale
price inflation in the same period was 39.9 percent. Turkey's original
target for the year 1996 is 65 percent.
The DIE statistics suggest that the government remained relatively
reluctant in raising state sector prices but private companies were
seen to be more tempted to hike prices. The government sector's
(wholesale) price inflation was 3.3 percent in May, down on 4.4
percent in the private sector.
Analysts see further rises in Turkish prices. They say any further
political complications and heavier anticipation of early polls would
push particularly private sector firms to raise prices. They also say
that the government might remain reluctant on public sector price
hikes in the event of early polls.
The International Monetary Fund, with which Turkey recently concluded
a round of consultation meetings, sees higher inflation for Turkey.
Martin Hardy, head of an IMF mission which left Ankara last week, said
he expected higher rates of inflation ahead for Turkey.
Intense contacts underway for Operation Provide Comfort force
* Reduced: Interior Minister Guney says emergency rule in troubled
Southeast may be limited to four provinces
By Kemal Balci
TDN Parliament Bureau
ANKARA- An intense flurry of discreet diplomatic activity is taking
place concerning the Operation Provide Comfort (OPC) force, the
Turkey-based multinational relief force for the northern Iraqi Kurds
the mandate for which expires at the end of the current month.
Following Defense Minister Oltan Sungurlu's visit to the United
States, the U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Mark Grossman paid a call on
opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) Chairman Bulent Ecevit
yesterday. Before the government takes a final decision on the OPC
issue Sungurlu will reportedly have another meeting with U.S. Defense
Secretary William Perry at the NATO Defense Planning Committee meeting
scheduled to take place on June 13.
Accompanied by two diplomats, one of them the embassy counsellor,
Ambassador Grossman had a 75-minute meeting with Ecevit at the
latter's office in Parliament at noon yesterday. Those present
included Chairman of the DSP parliamentary group Mumtaz Soysal and DSP
Izmir Deputy Sukru Gurel.
Assessed at the meeting was the "regional security plan" recently
proposed by the DSP. The U.S. ambassador reportedly referred to
certain steps taken in the direction sought by Turkey, and asked the
DSP to agree to a further renewal of the OPC mandate.
The DSP plan says, among other things, that Turkey should strive to
ensure cooperation between the administration in northern Iraq and the
Baghdad government. Referring to that suggestion Grossman made a
remark along the lines of, "One can not rely on the Baghdad regime.
When putting forth such a suggestion Turkey should be prepared for the
future risks."
Grossman reportedly reacted negatively to the part of the DSP plan
which said that the OPC headquarters in the northern Iraqi town of
Zakho should be moved to Turkey's Silopi district. He stressed that
Turkish military officers were serving anyway in the unit based in
Zakho.
Ecevit's reply to that was to say that as a concrete step intended to
relieve the worries of the Turkish public, it would be far better to
set up a 'liaison office with northern Iraq' in Silopi. Without that,
that is, without seeing a concrete development, Ecevit said he could
not support a renewal of the OPC force mandate.
The DSP delegation emerged from the meeting with positive impressions.
Without taking a final party decision on the issue, party officials
will have another meeting with the representatives of the Chief of
Staff's office. That will be the second briefing the DSP delegation
will receive from these officers.
Meanwhile, there are reports that at the forthcoming NATO Defense
Planning Committee meeting Defense Minister Sungurlu will again
explain to U.S. officials the difficulties the government would face
in Parliament to push through a renewal of the OPC mandate.
Also, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has sent two high-level diplomats
to northern Iraq to get first-hand information about the situation
there. The visit has been kept confidential. The ministry's aim is to
determine to what extent Turkish worries about OPC activities in
northern Iraq are justified. Ministry officials said that the two
diplomats intended to discuss the issue with Iraqi government
officials, and that there was the possibility of their proceeding to
Baghdad for that purpose.
When the Turkish Parliament extended the OPC mandate for three months
ending on June 31, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz declared that the
mandate would not be renewed again if the present conditions
continued.
The Southeast
Meanwhile, there are reports which claim that the government is
preparing to take certain steps regarding another thorny issue: the
future of emergency rule in the Southeast. The government is said to
be planning a four-month extension of emergency rule when its mandate
expires on July 19.
For the time being, emergency rule is in force in 10 provinces.
Interior Minister Ulku Guney has announced that they are thinking of
limiting emergency rule to only four of these provinces. These will be
the provinces situated on the border. To fill the vacuum to be created
in the remaining six provinces the Provincial Administrations Law
would be duly amended.
Yilmaz reminds EU of its obligations to Turkey
By Nazlan Ertan
Turkish Daily News
BRUSSELS- Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, abandoning domestic
instability for a visit to Brussels, Tuesday urged the European
Commission to carry out its contractual obligations toward Turkey,
despite the obstacle created by Athens.
"We believe that the obstruction of Greek to the implementation of the
customs union is an issue that should be solved within the community,"
he said after his meeting with European Commission President Jacques
Santer.
Yilmaz gave two main messages to Jacques Santer on Turkey's links with
the European Union.
The first of these messages was Turkey's desire to achieve
step-by-step integration with the European Union. The second message
was that the customs union, which suffered a blow due to the Greek
blockade of financial funds, should be implemented fully, with the
Fourteen taking a clear stand on this matter.
To both of those messages, Santer had the same answer. "We are
committed to the customs union package, which was accepted on March 6.
We hope we can release the package," he said at a joint press
conference with Yilmaz This was also the answer he gave while dodging
a question on Turkey's full membership.
Stressing the close ties between Turkey and the European Union through
the customs union, Yilmaz reiterated once more that Turkey's goal was
full membership.
Ankara has been angered by the Greek blockade of the EU financial
assistance to Turkey. A positive step was seen on this, however, when
Greece allowed last week the MEDA funds of the strengthened
Mediterranean program to be sent to the European Parliament for
approval.
But Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said that he would veto
it when it came back to the Council of Ministers, if it benefited
Turkey.
Yilmaz began his contacts in the Belgian capital by visiting Klaus
Haensch, the president of the European Parliament, in the morning.
The visit takes place on the eve of a Joint Parliamentary Commission
meeting which comprises of deputies from Turkey and the European
Parliament. The meeting, the preparations for which have already been
made, is to take place in Turkey later this month, thus officially
breaking the ice between Ankara and Strasbourg, the seat of the
European Parliament.
Yilmaz and Haensch made brief statements after their meeting, both
underlining the need to have more dialogue between Turkey and the
European Parliament.
Pointing out that some of the EP resolutions stemmed from lack of
information about Turkey, Yilmaz stressed that he hoped the
revitalization of the joint parliamentary commission would prevent the
recurrence of such events.
Haensch, in return, said that the European Parliament had some
criticisms of Turkey from time to time but these were constructive
ones, aimed at achieving more positive steps in Turkey.
"Our aim is to get closer to Turkey, not get further away," he said.
Haensch also underlined that the EP considered the Kurdistan Workers'
Party or PKK a terrorist organization and condemned terrorism.
The meeting of the joint commission was suspended two years ago when
the Turkish Parliament stripped eight former deputies of the
pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) of their parliamentary immunity.
But the European Parliament decided to resume its ties with the
Turkish Parliament last December in a move consecutive to its vote, by
343-149, in favor of the customs union.
With a resolution adopted right after the vote, however, the European
Parliament urged the European Commission to report annually to the
Parliament on human rights developments in Turkey.
By the inclusion of Haensch in his contacts, Yilmaz is not only
respecting protocol but aiming to explain to the head of the
generally-cool Euro Parliament the developments and the plans of his
government -- now a lame duck one -- for democratization.
But the lack of steps taken by the coalition between feuding True Path
Party and Yilmaz's Motherland Party is causing rising voices of
discontent from both the European Parliament and the European
Commission.
Last week in an interview with daily Milliyet, Ambassador Michael
Lake, the representative of the European Communities in Turkey, said
that there had been no improvements at all in the human rights
situation since the customs union vote.
Decidedly quiet
Yilmaz, as was the case in his visit to Sarajevo two weeks ago,
carefully avoided any questions on domestic politics.
He was received on Monday night by Turks living in Belgium, who
cheered at him at the airport.
Late on Tuesday, he opened the Brussels office of the Turkish
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association.
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TRKNWS-L
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
TUESDAY JUNE 11, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning
DEMIREL WARNS AGAINST 'POLITICS IN THE MOSQUE OR BARRACKS'
President Suleyman Demirel warned yesterday that politics and
religion were different things, and that politics should not be
permitted to "enter the mosque or the barracks". "If you spill
politics into the mosques you would be dividing the Muslims. You
would be dividing the people of this country. No one should come
between God and believers" Demirel said. But he underlined the
importance of "fredom of belief and conscience, the most valuable
of all the freedoms in Turkey. If Turkey managed to ensure that
differentation it would be able protect its secular republic and
its "indivisible unity" he stressed.
Speaking at the general assembly of the Journalists' Association
yesterday, at a meeting held to mark the 50th anniversary of the
association, Demirel summed up the history of the Turkish
Republic. /Sabah/
TURKEY SAYS ACCORD WITH ISRAEL THREATENS NO ONE
Turkey has repeated that the accord it concluded with Israel last
February for cooperation between the two countries in the area of
military training is not directed against any other country.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel said yesterday that
the accord, which has caused so much controversy in the Arab
world as well as Turkey's Islamist circles, was merely a "routine
agreement". Akbel was responding to questions during a regular
press briefing on the call by the leaders of Syria, Egypt and
Saudi Arabia to review the accord.
Akbel said during his briefing for foreign media that the accord
with Israel was similar to accords Turkey had concluded with Arab
countries such as Egypt. He also confirmed Israeli reports that
Turkish air force pilots had been receiving training in Israel
under the framework of this agreement. He said 12 Turkish planes
had flown in Israel and had since returned. Israeli President
Ezer Weizman might meet his Turkish counterpart, Suleyman
Demirel, during a visit to Turkey on Tuesday, Akbel added.
Weizman will be in Istanbul today to attend a UN conference on
human settlements. He is also expected to meet Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz. Akbel noted that nearly 30 heads of state and
government, including Palestinian Head of State Yasser Arafat,
would attend the Habitat Leaders Summit. /Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet/
TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN SIGN MILITARY AGREEMENT
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Major General Sefer Abiyev and
Turkish Chief of General Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi
yesterday signed a military agreement in Ankara. The agreement
calls for technical, scientific and educational cooperation
between the military establishments of the two countries. Under
the agreement, the two countries will also cooperate with each
other with respect to the social, medical and cultural aspects of
the military.
Abiyev said that the agreement marked a historic event for his
country and that he believed the agreement would create a strong
foundation for the further development of the Azerbaijani Armed
Forces. Karadayi, in return, stressed that Turkey wanted
Azerbaijan, which speaks the same language as Turkey and shares a
similar culture, to be successful in every field. "Azerbaijan,
with its strategic location, oil reserves and pipelines, has
emerged as a very important country in recent years" Karadayi
emphasized.
Sungurlu, who received his Azerbaijani counterpart earlier in the
day, noted that Turkey wanted to see peace and stability in the
Caucasus and Azerbaijan. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY ELECTED TO ILO BOARD
Elections to the board of the International Labour Organization
(ILO) were held yesterday as part of the 83rd ILO International
Labour Conference in Geneva. The Turkish government has been
elected a titular member of the ILO Board for the first time
since 1957. Bayram Meral, chairman of the Confederation of
Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), has been elected a reserve
member while Kubilay Atasayar, general-secretary of the Turkish
Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK), has also been elected
to the board.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Emin Kul said that the
elections to the board of such a significant organization showed
the importance attached to Turkey on the international level.
Meral and Atasayar said that it was an important development that
Turkey would now be represented at the ILO both as government and
as organizations of employees and employers. Turkey will serve on
the board until 1999. /Hurriyet/
TURKISH TREASURY SIGNS $500 MILLION BOND ISSUE
The Turkish Treasury signed an agreement in London on June 7 with
the US finance house J.P.Morgan and the Union Bank of Switzerland
(UBS) whereby its bonds can be sold to European and Far Eastern
investors. Speaking at the signing ceremony the general director
of the foreign trade department of the Turkish Treasury, Aydin
Karaoz, said that due to the sound borrowing policies followed by
the Turkish Treasury, foreign entrepreneurs were confident about
Turkey, and that the June agreement on bond sales was an
indication of this confidence.
"With this sale of bonds, Turkey will have a financial capability
worth $500 million in the Far East and in Europe. What is more
important is that we have three years to pay it back, and the
interest we got is the lowest ever, at 6.25 %" he added. Karaoz,
speaking later at a luncheon, said that the structure of the
Turkish economy had unique features and potentials which were
hardly shared by any other country. Anthony Best from J.P.Morgan
said that they had chosen Turkey this year beacuse of the
developments it had achieved in the region, which he described as
increasing the trustworthiness of Turkey from the financial
institutions' point of view. /All papers/
TURKEY SUBMITS NATIONAL REPORT TO HABITAT II
Yesterday, Turkey's National Committee presented its national
report and plan of action to the Second United Nations Conference
on Human Settlements Habitat II, the head of Turkey's Mass
Housing Administration (TOKI) declared at a press conference in
Istanbul. Flanked by conference secretary general Wally N'Dow and
National Advisory Board president Ilhan Tekeli, TOKI president
Yigit Guloksuz declared that the 155-page report aimed at
"finding good solutions" to Turkey's settlements issues. N'Dow
described the report as "one of the most thorough" submitted to
the conference. Each of the nearly 140 countries participating in
the conference will present a national report to Habitat II that
will serve as raw material for a global plan of action.
The recommendations of the National report reflected the
expertise of nearly 300 organizations, three-quarters of which
were non-governmental bodies or civic societies. Top officials of
national and local governments, senior members of the academic
and scientific world, representatives of trade unions, public
institutions and professional associations and NGOs comprise the
Turkish National Committee. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/
ILO: UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER ONE PROBLEM FOR WORLD'S CITIES
In its new report for Habitat II, the International Labour
Organization (ILO) has claimed that urban unemployment will be
the number one problem facing the world's cities next century.
The ILO estimates that 1.2 billion job seekers will come on the
world labour market by the year 2025, and most of these jobs will
have to be created in cities, as the share of nonagricultural
employment has grown by 93 % in the last four decades and now
accounts for 40 % of all employment in developing countries - a
trend that means that by the year 2000, "one-half of humanity
will be living and working in cities, with developing countries
accounting for the major share of the world's new urban
population" according to ILO Deputy Director general, Katherine
Hagen.
To formalize the ILO's thoughts on the unemployment crisis, the
organization is presenting to Habitat II an "Urban Employment
Charter", which has been prepared by worker, employer and
government organizations from 20 different countries. The Charter
calls for the mobilization of additional financial resources at
local, national and international levels, and for municipal
authorities to evaluate policies with a view to maximizing their
impact on employment, while responding to social needs and
improving the urban environment, for, as Katherine Hagen states,
"only the generation of productive employment can break the
vicious circle of urban poverty that is taking root in cities
worldwide". /Cumhuriyet/
HERITAGE FOUNDATION WARNS TURKEY ABOUT RUSSIA
The American Heritage Foundation has reported that Gennady
Zyuganov and Vladimir Jirinovsky, hard-line Russian leaders, see
Turkey as the enemy of Russia. In a report by the Foundation,
details of a report prepared for the Nationalist-Communist
alliance which supports communist leader Gennady Zyuganov in the
Russian presidential election to be held on June 16 are given.
The foundation says that the report was prepared by prominent
defence and security experts including Boris Yeltsin's advisers.
The foundation has stated that the report, noting that the
Turkish naval fleet is stronger than the Russian fleet in the
Black Sea, says that Turkey threatens Russian interests by
unilaterally changing the status of the Bosphorus straits. The
report claims that Turkey tries to influence Central Asian
countries by using various threats against Armenia. The report
also claims that Turkey supports Chechnya, Azerbaijan and
military-nationalist organizations in other countries, the
foundation claims. The Heritage Foundation has stated that the
report calls on Russia to increase nuclear deterrent power and to
give priority to developing strategic nuclear power. /Hurriyet/
TURKEY LIKELY TO ATTEND EU SUMMIT
Reports say that Turkey is planning to attend an upcoming EU
Summit on June 22 in Florance, Italy. Turkey will meet with
fourteen other EU member countries, except Greece, during the
summit. Reports also say that Turkey will hold a meeting with the
"Troika" that includes rotating president member countries -
Spain (formerly), Italy (now heading the EU) and Ireland (the
next). It is also reported that other member states will
participate in the meeting. /Milliyet/
TURKEY SHOWING STRONG FREE SHOP COMPETITION
Turkey's free shop market compares favourably with the rest of
the world. Compared with Dubai for example, free shops in Turkey
are somewhat cheaper. London is one of the best tax-free places
for shopping, but Istanbul is coming up fast.
Free shops are sprinkled fairly liberally throughout Turkey. Tax
free shoppers can take advantage of Turkey's system at road
border facilities, ports and airports and in-flight sales.
According to research by the Turkish Union of Tourism Agencies
(TURSAB), the whole free market sector is fiercely competitive
not only on the international front, but also on the home front.
The increasing popularity of the free market system, however, has
ensured that it has become one of the domestic market's biggest
money-spinners. /Sabah/
ALL SERVICES MILITARY EXERCISES
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are joining in combined exercises
from tomorrow on under the "EFES-96" programme which will
continue until June 14. Almost 13 thousand military personel will
share in the exercises, along with over 100 naval vessels, tanks
and helicopters. During the programme, fighter planes will make
over 117 practice sorties. Officials note that live ammunition
will be used.
In the meantime, parliament will be taking up debate on the
advisability or not of inviting foreign troops to join in similar
exercises. /Hurriyet/
ISRAELI FIGHTER SYSTEMS WILL BEEF UP STRIKE POWER
The high-tech Israeli systems that are being installed in Turkish
F-4 fighter planes will add an extra 90 kms to the range of
missiles fired from the planes. This means for example, that
Turkey will be able to deal with Syria's SAM ground missile sites
without having to put planes at risk by entering Syrian defended
air space.
The whole of Turkey's air force is being built up with new
technology, new equipment and new training. Tanker planes are
also being used. /Cumhuriyet/
BIG NEW TRANSPORT PROPOSALS FOR BLACK SEA REGION
Extensive new land and sea transport measures for the Black Sea
region within the framework of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
are being proposed. "Intermodal" projects for new roads, railways
and even river transport are nearing concrete conclusions, and a
"Black Sea Ring Corridor" system is starting to look as though it
could work.
The system will take in large areas of what is sometimes called
Euro-Asia, tying in the Balkans, Caucasia, Central Asia and parts
of western and Eastern Europe. Turkish railways will have a large
part to play in the regional development. /Cumhuriyet/
EXEMPLARY BROTHERHOOD
The municipality chairmen of Eregli, Zonguldak, and of the Greek
Hydra island, Halil Posbiyik and Kostas Anastopulos, have come
together for the 3rd International Ottoman Strawberry Culture
Festival held in Eregli. Both chairmen noted that the brotherhood
of the two towns should be an example for those trying to create
crises. Eregli Municipality Chairman Posbiyik presented the
golden key of the city to his guest, and Anastopulos gave
Posbiyik a honorary citizenship certificate. /Milliyet/
CHINESE WILL CHEW TURKISH CHEWING GUM
Turkish chewing gum producer Baycan is putting up a new factory
in Beijing. Factory investments so far amount to $14 million. The
factory will have the capacity to produce one million pieces, or
5,000 tons of chewing gum yearly. Talat Sinnar, General Manger of
Baycan China facilities, says that with its cheap prices and high
quality, Baycan will be able to compete with the famous chewing
gum producers already established at the Chinese market. Baycan
is also planning to export to neighbouring countries. /Milliyet/
MONDAY JUNE 10, 1996
ERBAKAN ASKED TO FORM NEW GOVERNMENT
President Suleyman Demirel on Friday asked Welfare Party (RP)
leader Necmettin Erbakan to form the new government. After
meeting with the leaders, Demirel invited Erbakan to the
Presidential Palace to assign him the task. Demirel told
reporters, however, that he made the appointment after the other
party leaders failed to present him with a viable alternative.
"If any of the leaders could come forward and say 'We have agreed
among ourselves; we can set up a government that is assured a
vote of confidence' then the appointment could take another form"
Demirel told reporters. Demirel conferred separately with the
leaders of the mainstream political parties on the right and left
other than the Motherland Party (ANAP) of caretaker Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who had submitted his resignation to the
president the previous day.
Addressing a press conference after the appointment, Erbakan said
that he would draw partners to a coalition to be led by his
Welfare Party (RP). Noting that he would prefer a four-party
coalition without 'left' parties, Erbakan said: "RP + ANAP + DYP
+ BBP total 430" -Motherland Party (ANAP), True Path Party (DYP),
Grand Union Party (BBP)-. Erbakan stated that he would begin his
work to form a new government by meeting BBP leader Muhsin
Yazicioglu today. He will complete his contacts with leaders on
Friday.
Meanwhile, DYP leader Tansu Ciller said that the government
problem could only be solved through a four-party coalition
consisting of DYP, ANAP, Democratic Left Party (DSP) and
Republican People's Party (CHP). She added that someone other
than a party leader should be prime minister. /Cumhuriyet-Sabah/
INTERNATIONAL WHEAT CONFERENCE IN ANKARA
The 5th International Wheat Conference will be held in Ankara on
June 10-14. The event is being sponsored by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Centre, the International Centre for Agricultural
Research in Arid Areas, Oregon State University and the German
Agency for Technical Cooperation.
"Wheat conferences" have been held since 1972 in order to enable
scientists to gather information to develop wheat production
around the world. At the conference in Ankara approximately 300
wheat scientists from 67 countries will present recent scientific
papers on wheat research. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKSOY AND UNESCO AGREE TO COOPERATE
A cooperation agreement has been signed between TURKSOY, the
Turkish-speaking people's culture promotion agency, and UNESCO in
order to achieve common goals and establish working relations,
the Anatolia news agency reported. The agreement between Turksoy,
which was established by six Turkish-speaking republics to
improve cultural relations among Turkish-speaking countries and
to conduct research on Turkish cultural values, and UNESCO, aims
to provide universal respect for basic human rights and
liberties, to develop international cooperation through
education, science and culture and to maintain peace and
security.
RAID IN TUNCELI
Two more Turkish soldiers who were injured during a raid made on
a construction site where there were workers and officials
safeguarding the Uzuncayir Dam and the hydroelectric power plant,
under construction, died yesterday. The number of those who died
during the raid the previous day has thus reached nine. The
outlawed TIKKO organization has assumed responsibility.
/Cumhuriyet/
BUS PRODUCTION INCREASES
The highest production increase in industrial goods during the
January-April 1996 was in fertilizers, bus and crystal sugar
production. According to the State Institute of Statistics (DIE),
the highest production increase was in TSP (triple super
phosphate) fertilizer with 492.09 %. Bus production, which
amounted to 792 during the first four months of this year, ranked
second and increased by 283.46 % compared to the same period of
last year. /Milliyet/
MILITARY CALLS FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH SYRIA
The Chief of Staff Military History and Strategic Research
Ministry (ATASE) has been looking into the situation regarding
Syria, and over the weekend said that ties between Turkey and
Syria needed to be improved.
Although Syria is known to support the terrorist PKK
organization, as a neighbour country Turkey needs to take steps
to rectify the poor relations now affecting problems between
Turkey and Syria. The "Strategic Studies Bulletin" published by
the Chief of Staff also comments on the situation and notes the
problems that could stem from a neighbour country harbouring deep
grudges against Turkey.
The Bulletin examines a number of possibilities that could affect
the region, and compares the relations that countries in the
region have with one another. /Cumhuriyet/
HABITAT II ENVIRONMENT AWARDS
During a ceremony held in Nisantas, Istanbul, over the weekend,
President Demirel and Prime Minister Yilmaz handed out awards to
environmentalists during the opening of the Istanbul Habitat II
park.
Following World Environment Day, leading figures in the work to
preserve the environment, were presented with "Global 500" awards
in recognition of their services. During his speech at the
ceremony, President Demirel called the environmentalists the
"real heroes" /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY BARGAINING WITH US OVER FRIGATES
Turkey is tied up with talks with US officials about the delivery
of three naval frigates to Turkey. Because of pressure from the
powerful Greek and Armenian lobbies in Washington, the US
administration has seen fit to postpone delivery to Turkey.
Turkey, in a move to exert pressure of its own against Washington
has brought up the issue of extending the stay of the "hammer"
international force deployed in Turkey to protect the north Iraq
Kurds from Baghdad violence. Turkey has intimated that there will
be no extension of the stay of the force if the US continues to
bend to the will of the anti-Turkey lobbies.
Turkey has already proposed a number of changes to the strike
force mandate-which comes up for renewal at the end of this
month- but the US has not been slow to indicate that the changes
do not entirely meet with Washington's approval. Washington has
proposed in return that the US-run Military Coordination Centre
in Zakho, northern Iraq, should be withdrawn.
/Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
TURKISH PILOTS IN ISRAEL
According Israeli State Radio, Turkish pilots are in Israel with
their Phantom F-4 fighter planes to have up-dated radar equipment
fitted. In a deal worked out with Israel, Turkish fighter planes
are going to try out Israeli developed electronic equipment, that
could lead to a contract worth 600 million dollars. Special terms
for the financing of the project have already been worked out
together with low credit rates over the long term. /Milliyet/
CROSS BORDER OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ
Second Chief of General Staff, General Cevik Bir, went to
southeastern Anatolia to inspect the Turkish security forces
deployed there. General Bir was given briefings about recent
developments in the region. Upon information indicating that PKK
terrorists were setting up new camps in northern Iraq near the
Turkish border, and were engaged in preparations for new attacks
against Turkey, a cross border operation in northern Iraq was
organized. Turkish jet fighters bombed and destroyed PKK camps in
the mountain regions 10 km into northern Iraq. /Hurriyet/
EU SUPPORT FOR TURKEY
Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has been invited to the
Troika meeting of EU former, present and future chairmen
scheduled for June 21-23. Inviting also all EU member-countries
to participate in the meeting, Italy has in a way shown that the
EU will not support the Greek anti-Turkish campaign. /Hurriyet/
NEW MARKETS FOR TURKISH EXPORTS
The work carried out by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM)
to create new markets for Turkish exports, has led to good
results. Accordingly, Bulgaria, China, Romania, Israel and
Ukraine have been determined as "target markets".
A trade delegation will first visit Ukraine. The delegation will
include mostly businessmen in food, construction materials,
chemicals and machinery and equipment sectors. The Foreign Trade
Undersecrateriat is also planning to send trade delegations to
China in September and to Bulgaria in December. Export products
exhibitions, and symposiums on the economic conditions,
potentials and investment opportunities in Turkey, will also be
held during the visits. These visits will also create
opportunities for closer relations between Turkish businessmen
and those of the target countries. /Sabah/
FRIDAY JUNE 7, 1996
LOOKING FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT
Turkey's 53rd government since the founding of the Republic came
to an abrupt end yesterday when Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz
presented his resignation to President Suleyman Demirel.
Now the search is on for a new coalition, one that will perhaps
include four of the leading parties. Yilmaz has 45 days in which
to set up a new government formula, after which the country will
go to the polls again if he fails to achieve a working
arrangement.
Today President Demirel will personally meet with party leaders
including pro-Islam Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan.
Again feeling is running high about letting Erbakan into a new
coalition government. On the other hand, more and more people
think that the Welfare Party could no worse than the other
parties to date.
During his meeting with the party leaders, Demirel will be
looking for a suitable mix, one that will put government on a
firm foundation. The fact that Demirel will first meet with
Erbakan has caused many to wonder just what is going on behind
the scenes in the Ankara political areana. Although Erbakan is
not the flavour of the month in political circles, it is a fact
that he is in the strongest position of all the parties.
One new formula that seems to be figuring prominently is a
coalition between the ANAP (Motherland) Party led by Mesut Yilmaz
and the main parties on the left. Yilmaz wants to reinforce his
party with 30 members of parliament from the left- if he can do
that, says Yilmaz, he can save the government. DSP party leader
Bulent Ecevit is deeply involved in new negotiations by means of
which it is hoped that the left will be united enough to meet the
terms of a coalition deal.
Prime Minister Yilmaz has also spoken with CHP party leader Deniz
Baykal. Following his talks with Baykal, Yilmaz again affirmed
that he was not about to form a coalition with Erbakan. He also
said that he would consider letting another ANAP party member
assume the position of prime minister. Although the other party
leaders on the left agree with Yilmaz that Erbakan should be kept
out, again it has to be said that his party probably holds the
key to the next coalition government. /All papers/
TURKEY REJECTS US AID
The US House of Representatives, bowing to pressure from the
Armenian-American lobby voted 301 to 118 on Wednesday to stop
President Bill Clinton from sending economic aid to Turkey on the
grounds that Ankara is blocking the flow of humanitarian aid to
Armenia. Reacting almost immediately to the move by the House of
Representatives blocking the $25 million Economic Support Fund
(ESF), the Turkish Ambassador in Washington announced that Turkey
had decided not to accept the amount in question. Ambassador
Nuzhet Kandemir said the refusal, which is said to be the first
of its kind in the annals of Turkish-US relations, was decided by
him in accordance with the authority delegated by Foreign
Minister Emre Gonensay. "If both of the anti-Turkish amendments
are accepted, you are authorized to reject the ESF assistance"
Gonensay reportedly told Kandemir during a phone conversation
they had on Wednesday. Kandemir's letter explaining Turkey's
decision was delivered to Secretary of State Warren Christopher
and House Speaker Newt Gingrich by hand on Wednesday evening.
"The substance of the US-Turkish relationship is based on mutual
interests and common values, and not foreign aid" Kandemir said.
Meanwhile, a joint written statement issued by political party
groups in the Turkish Parliament said: "It is impossible to
accept these decisions taken in the US House of Representatives
against Turkey which made sacrifices during the Cold War period
for defence and always cooperated with the US, which still
deploys forces in our territory. Friendship and alliance between
Turkey and the US have suffered a great blow". /Cumhuriyet/
DENKTAS HOPEFUL ABOUT NEW UN APPOINTEE
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) expressed hope yesterday that a new UN representative for
Cyprus would be able to solve the deadlocked issue of the
island's division. Denktas spent over an hour in talks on the
Cyprus problem with UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
in Istanbul to attend a UN conference on human settlements. "We
hope his new representative, to whom we shall give all the help
we can, will finally succeed in finding a solution with us for
what seems to be an intractable problem" Denktas said in a
statement to journalists following the meeting. Denktas said he
hoped Ghali would be able to bring the two sides together after
the UN chief meets Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides in
Geneva on June 11.
Ghali described yesterday's talks with Denktas as constructive
and expressed optimism about the appointment of the new UN Cyprus
representative. "We hope that his presence will help us to
maintain the dialogue between Denktas and Klerides and that the
UN will be able to continue to negotiate to find a solution to
this problem" Ghali said. He reminded reporters that Hang
Sung-Joo, a former South Korean foreign minister, had been
appointed recently as the new UN Cyprus representative.
In another meeting following the one with Denktas, Ghali met with
Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay. In a statement
afterwards, Gonensay said that they had discussed general, global
topics and the need to reform the UN system. He described the
meeting as having been extremely constructive. Ghali himself
praised the contributions which Turkey made to the UN and thanked
the Turkish people. Among the topics which were discussed at the
closed-door meeting were; the UN embargo on Iraq; Cyprus; Habitat
II; Turkey's geopolitical importance; and Turkey-EU and
Turkey-Russian relations. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH GENERAL: "TURKEY SHOULD PROMOTE ITS SECULAR MODEL"
General Cevik Bir, second in command in the Chief of Staff, in an
interview with the Washington Post newspaper, said that Turkey
should promote its secular model to Bosnia and the Central Asian
countries.
Cevik Bir said that there are 2,000 officers from Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan who are now being trained
in Turkish military schools and academies along with 190 Bosnian
soldiers already well-advenced in their training. General Bir
stated that Turkey's goal and policy was to present secular
Turkey as a model to other developing countries. /Hurriyet/
HABITAT BRINGS TANGIBLE RESULTS WITH ACTION PLAN
Many thousands of words are being spoken at the Habitat II
conference, and specific, direct results are not expected until
next week, with the issuance of the "Habitat Agenda", the "global
plan for action" for implementing the plans. Also possible is an
"Istanbul declaration", which is being drafted for consideration
during the "high-level segment" next week, in which heads of
state and government will participate. This does not mean that
the "spirit of Habitat" has already had no practical effect.
Several items of work carried out in preparing the conference
have been finalized in the past few days and announced during the
meetings. /All papers/
TURKISH INDUSTRY GROWS 6.1 % IN JANUARY-APRIL
Turkey's industrial production rose 6.1 % in the first four
months of the current year, official figures reveal. The State
Institute of Statistics (DIE) said the manufacturing sector grew
by 5.4 % in January-April, while the mining sector grew by 1.8 %.
Energy output rose by 12.2 %. In April, the manufacturing sector
grew by 3 %, while the mining sector expanded by 4.2 %. Energy
output rose by 9.2 %. /Hurriyet/
US TO SYRIA: "WE WILL STAND BY TURKEY"
US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns has made it clear
that when push comes to shove, the US would certainly choose its
NATO ally Turkey over Syria, a country still on Washington's list
of nations supporting international terrorism. Burns commented on
the issue in the context of rising Turkish-Syrian tension over
Syria's support for the PKK terrorist organization. "There's
awareness at the State Department of rising tensions between the
two countries, Burns admitted. But "these are issues that we
normally deal with through diplomatic channels" he added. "We
would hope that Syria and Turkey could have a normal
relationship" Burns said, despite the fact that "We are concerned
that there is terrorism directed against Turkey that emanates
from Syria. We've made that clear to the Syrian government, that
we are concerned about that".
"And I think it's useful to remember that Turkey is a NATO ally
of the US, and we have an excellent relationship with Turkey"
Burns continued. "And we'll stand by Turkey" he said.
/Cumhuriyet/
ICEM MEETING
The International Chemistry, Energy, Mine and General Service
Workers' Federation (ICEM) Chairmanship and Administrative Board
meeting has started in Izmir. ICEM represents 20 million members
in 403 unions active in 113 countries. The chairmen had a meeting
on the first day, presided over by ICEM Chairman Hans Berger and
Secretary-General Victor Thorpe, to which the press was not
admitted. The Administrative Board, which comprises 38 union
representatives from various countries, will be meeting today.
Every representative will be talking about the problems in their
own country and will ask for support in solving these problems.
/Cumhuriyet/
TOURISM MINISTRY PROMOTES TURKEY
The Tourism Ministry has printed about 14,800,000 publications in
1996 to promote Turkey in which the country's natural and thus
far historical treasures as well as the various activities
available for tourists are emphasized. Ministry officials said
that they had invited 23 members of the media from European,
American and Far Eastern countries this year to promote Turkey.
/Cumhuriyet/
SEA WOLF 2-96
Sea Wolf 2-96, one of the planned maneuvers of the Turkish Naval
Forces, started this morning with the departure of ships from
their bases and ports in Golcuk, Istanbul and Marmaris. Sea Wolf
2-96, which will take place in international waters and air space
of the Aegean and East Mediterranean, will last for 22 days.
/Cumhuriyet/
IFAD PRESIDENT VISITS TURKEY
Favzi El Sultan, president of the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency that promotes
agricultural development, has come to Turkey to attend Habitat II
and visited Ankara yesterday to pay an official visit to Forestry
Minister Nevzat Ercan. The IFAD gives financial support to rural
development projects, basically in third world countries. Its
headquarters is in Rome, and Turkey has been a member of the
agency since 1977. /All papers/
MORE AEGEAN TENSIONS
A disabled Turkish yacht, registered in Bodrum but needing help
in the ill-fated Kardak rocks region of the Aegean Sea was towed
yesterday by another Turkish yacht to the small Greek port of
Kilimli (Kalimnos). Greek residents on the island however reacted
strongly to the arrival of the Turkish owned yachts, and demanded
that the yachts should fly the Greek flag.
Later reports from the Governor of the Mugla region noted however
that the Turkish yachts refused to submit to the Greek demands.
/Cumhuriyet/
PIPELINE DELEGATION RETURNS
A delegation of experts from the BOTAS government affiliated
pipeline administration has returned from Baghdad in Iraq where
talks have been going about the overland Kirkuk-Yumurtalik
pipeline. This pipeline will be reactivated after lying idle for
six years following the Gulf war and the imposition of an embargo
against Iraq by the UN.
Now that Iraq and the UN have reached agreement on restricted oil
sales from Iraq, Turkey and Iraq want to get the pipeline
operative again once techical problems have been resolved.
/Cumhuriyet/
REUTERS PRAISES FILM ON HAZEREFEN
Reuters News agency has published a comprehensive news-commentary
on a controversial film "Istanbul Beneath My Wings". Reporting
that the film traces Hazerefen Ahmet Celebi's first flight across
the Bosphorus, Reuters has stated that a record 325,000 people
watched the film in the first 75 days after release at cinemas
across Turkey. Reuters also added that the film has led to
dispute about whether or not the film presents a false view of
Turkish history. /Sabah/
DANGER AT THE BORDER
According to "Stern" magazine published in Germany, Syria has
established top secret chemical military facilities near the city
of Halep on the border between Turkey and Syria. The factory, set
up under the ground, has been traced from satellite photos, and
CIA officials claim that it represents a deadly threat for Turkey
and Israel. The strategic location of the military facilities
gives Syria the opportunity to "asphyxiate" Turkey in toxic gas
without using any long-range missiles, but by simple cannon fire
with poison gas loaded shells. Syrian officials have not denied
the existence of the factory, and have stated that they had the
right to resort to any measures to protect themselves. /Hurriyet/
GREECE-PKK COOPERATION DEVELOPING
According to the INAF news agency, Greek Deputy Parliamentary
Speaker Panayotis Sguridis had a meeting in South Cyprus with a
representative of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. There are claims
that Sguridis has asked the PKK terrorist organization to
sabotage the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline newly opened with UN
permission. Sguridis has also assured the terrorists that Greece
will continue its support for the outlawed organization.
/Hurriyet/
CROSS BORDER OPERATIONS IN SYRIA
Having asked Syria to stop its support for terrorism with a
strongly-worded note submitted on January 23, 1996, Turkey has
twice initiated cross-border operations in the territory of its
southern neighbour. With a National Security Council decision
taken at a meeting in January, Turkish security forces pursuing
PKK terrorists, have penetrated five to ten kilometres into
Syrian territory. Some Syrian newspapers have tried to establish
a connection between these cross-border operations and recent
bombimg incidents. Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin
Nurkan has denied the claims. Nevertheless, Foreign Ministry
officials have stated that cannon fire opened by Turkey against
PKK terrorist infiltrating across the Turco-Syrian border was
indeed followed by clashes between Turkish and Syrian security
forces. Intelligence sources draw attention to the fact that
these developments have not been immediately reported by the
Syrian press, because news about PKK terrorist trying to
penetrate into Turkish territory from Syria, and related clashes
between Turkish and Syrian security forces would only expose
Syrian support for terrorism, strongly denied by the Syrian
government. /Cumhuriyet/
AMERICANIZATION TRENDS IN THE TURKISH ARMY
In its latest issue, the French foreign policy magazine "Le Monde
Diplomatique" has published an article on recent developments in
the Turkish army. An article titled "An army caught between
Kemalist heritage and American alliance" says that since the
1940s, with Turkey's entrance into the NATO alliance, the Turkish
army has gradually assumed more American characteristics, while
at the same time Kemalist influences have still remained strong.
/Milliyet/
THURSDAY JUNE 6, 1996
TUSIAD OPENS OFFICE IN BRUSSELS
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD), has opened an office in Brussels expressly for the
benefit of Turkish business and trade circles at home and in
Europe.
While in Brussels on an official visit, Prime Minister Mesut
Yilmaz attended the opening ceremony together with Turkish and
European officials. The office will be a "Turkish base" in
Europe, designed to develop ties between the Turkish business
sectors and the European Union (EU). /Hurriyet/
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY MARKED WITH SPEECHES
World Environment Day was marked by President Suleyman Demirel
with a message in which he expressed optimism that worldwide
awareness of the dangers of environmental destruction was leading
to the issue being addressed before it was too late. Demirel
defended Turkey's determination to continue its economic
development with the doctrine of "sustainable development" and
said: "This is a problem of balances. Conservation of the
environment by abandoning development is not an adequate way. We
are not candidates to be the poor watchdogs of rich resources".
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz pointed out in his message the
importance of international cooperation in the solution of
environmental problems. Yilmaz said: "The Habitat II conference
in Istanbul discusses the environment as well as other issues,
and guests from around the world are engaged in an exchange of
knowledge to initiate significant decisions and determine common
positions on environmental issues". /All papers/
TURKISH AND JAPANESE TALKS START TOMORROW
Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen departed for
Tokyo yesterday to attend high level political talks with his
Japanese counterpart Ambassador Shunji Yanai. Oymen's talks will
concentrate on bilateral and international issues and will take
place within the framework of the political consultation
mechanism that exists between the two countries. The talks, which
will be the fifth such meeting between the sides, are due to
begin on Friday. /All papers/
TURKEY URGES INVESTIGATION OF ISLAND'S STATUS
Turkey yesterday called for an investigation into the legal
status of a Mediterranean island. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer
Akbel told reporters yesterday, during a regular briefing, that
the trouble arose when Greece attempted a "fait accompli" and
tried to have Gavdos an island near Crete included in the NATO
exercise. "It should be investigated whether this Gavdos island
is also among the islets whose status needs to be determined"
Akbel said. "Our representative in the NATO meeting did not make
a political but a technical announcement that an investigation
into the legal status of this island was needed" Akbel said. A
NATO exercise around Crete will take place this autumn. Akbel
said Gavdos island had not reached the stage of being disputed
territory. "After the investigation, if necessary, the status of
the island might be the subject of dispute" he said. /Cumhuriyet/
GHALI APOLOGIZES TO TURKEY
UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's "feelings toward
Turkey are nothing but the most friendly, warm, cordial and
respectful" his spokesman said yesterday. Ahmad Fawzi made the
comment in responding to reports in the Turkish-language press
quoting various Turkish political figures as attacking Ghali for
referring to the "Federal Republic of Turkey" at Monday's opening
session of the Habitat II conference. He said the reference to
Turkey as a "federal republic" was included in notes prepared by
the conference undersecretariat and "put in front of the
secretary general seconds before" he was to introduce Turkish
President Suleyman Demirel on Monday. The notes contained this
mistake four times, Fawzi said, but Ghali caught it on the second
reference. Fawzi "once again" apologized on behalf of the
secretariat for making the error and on behalf of the secretary
general for "not having caught the mistake for the first time".
Meanwhile, it is reported that a meeting, due to be held
yesterday between Ghali and President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), will be held today.
/Cumhuriyet-Hurriyet-Sabah/
TURKEY-EU MEETINGS
The Maritime Undersecretariat and the Southeast Anatolia Project
(GAP) Regional Development Administration were also included in
the "Coordination Council of the European Communities" to improve
cooperation between the European Communities and Turkey following
the customs union. A circular regarding this issue has been sent
to related departments by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.
/Cumhuriyet/
IRAN RECEIVES A 10 % SHARE
Iran has received a 10 % share from $4 billion worth of a project
pertaining to Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea. Ankara has expressed
its satisfaction over the agreement signed between Baku and the
consortium in which the Turkish Petroleum Board (TPAO) has a 9 %
share. Even though the US has been worried about Iran's share, it
is reported that the consortium needs Tehran's cooperation to
operate the project. /Cumhuriyet/
TENSION IN TURCO-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS
Ankara has expressed "surprise" over remarks by Egyptian Foreign
Minister Amr Moussa concerning the military cooperation accords
concluded between Turkey and Israel. Turkish Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Omer Akbel said at his press conference yesterday that
the Egyptian Ambassador in Ankara had been summoned to the
Foreign Ministry for an explanation. Amr Moussa was quoted as
saying in a statement to the official Syrian daily Tishreen that
Turkish-Israeli military cooperation would cause the
establishment of new pacts and subsequently new clashes in the
Middle East. "When Amr Moussa was in Ankara (in May) he met with
President Suleyman Demirel and Turkish Foreign Minister Emre
Gonensay. After these meetings Moussa expressed his satisfaction
over the information furnished him about the Turkish-Israeli
agreement. We cannot understand these remarks of his now and meet
them with great surprise" Akbel said.
The Egyptian Ambassador told journalists after the meeting at the
Turkish Foreign Ministry that Moussa did not use any expression
against Turkey and added that his statement was not different
from those he had made in Ankara. /Milliyet/
TURKEY AMONGST TOP FORTY HOUSING PROJECTS
In a housing project competition organized by Habitat II, the UN
sponsored conference on world housing currently being held in
Istanbul, a Turkish project placed among the top forty entrants
out of 600.
The project, a satellite urbanization project for Ankara,
although highly placed did not make it into the top twelve
projects which won special awards. During the presentation
ceremony by UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali, Ghali noted that
the top twelve projects perticularly reflected the need for close
cooperation between the government and the private
sector-especially in connection with resolving the huge housing
problem. /Cumhuriyet/
HABITAT DELEGATES ACCEPT "ISTANBUL MANIFESTO"
Delegates attending the giant Habitat II conference on world city
and housing problems yesterday voted in favour of the "Istanbul
Manifesto" on protection of the environment and the need for more
effort to preserve what there is left of the world's natural
resources.
In a later statement it was stressed that the manifesto urged new
ways of protecting the environment and called for more
determination to preserve the natural heritage of mankind.
/Cumhuriyet/
GERMAN MINISTER TOURS NEW HOUSING ESTATE
German Housing Minister Klaus Topfer and an accompanying
delegation toured the Esenkent housing project near Istanbul, and
examined one of the houses in detail.
Esenkent officials noted that the project and other similar
projects connected to other large cities in Turkey were designed
to do away with slum suburbs and hastily built poor quality
housing schemes. The German delegation was briefed on the
projects and was later given lunch along the Bosphorus. Local
administrations in Turkey have also been encouraged by the news
that top World Bank official Koch-Weser has announced a new
funding package that Turkish city authorities will be able to
benefit from. The 15 billion dollar aid package will be open to
local authorities struggling to resolve city urbanization
problems without the cast resources. /Cumhuriyet/
NEW GUARANTEES FOR BOSNIA INVESTMENTS
The World bank is setting up a new fund to safeguard investors in
Bosnia concerned about the political risk involved. The fund will
guarantee the investments of companies and individuals now
looking for new markets in the re-building of Bosnia. Although
the fund project is only at the drawing-board stage, World Bank
expert Peter Glenshaw has been in contact with the Turkish
Economic Relations Board (DEIK), for its views on the Bosnia
situation. /Sabah/
TURCO-ISRAELI COOPERATION IN ACTION
Turco-Israeli relations, which improved after a visit to Israel
in 1993 by the then Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin, resulted in
reapprochement between the two countries. Bilateral cooperation
in the modernization of Turkish F-4 and F-16 fighter plane pilot
training are concrete consequences of improving Turco-Israeli
friendship. According to Turkish Air Force Commander General
Ahmet Corekci, the F-4 jets will be equipped with radar produced
by the Israeli Elta company, and as a result of this
modernization, a flying F-4 jet will be able to locate ground
targets as well as targets in the air. This modernization will
improve the deterrent power of Turkey against countries like
Syria possessing SAM misiles. /Cumhuriyet/
KIRKUK-YUMURTALIK PIPELINE WORKING AGAIN
Inactive for five years as a result of the UN embargo imposed
against Iraq after the Gulf War, the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline
was brought into operation again last Thursday. According to the
new accord reached between Iraq and the UN, 450 thousand barrels
of oil will be pumped through daily and sold on the international
market. Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Mohammed Reshid noted that the
oil will be transported via Ceyhan Port in the Mediterranean and
Bekir Port in the Gulf. In exchange for the oil, Iraq will bug
food and medicine. Reshid pointed out that Iraqi oil resources
were rich enough to meet the needs of the region as well as of
Europe and added that Turkey and Iraq were discussing the joint
construction of a pipeline to carry Iraqi oil through Turkey to
Europe. /Sabah/
TRKNWS-L
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
WEDNESDAY JUNE 12, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning
DEMIREL AND WEIZMAN DISCUSS PEACE PROCESS
President Suleyman Demirel and visiting Israeli President Ezer
Weizman met in Istanbul yesterday and discussed the Middle East
peace process in the wake of Israel's general elections. Israeli
Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu said that under his
leadership Israel's policy toward Turkey would continue
unchanged, and gave this message to Weizman to extend to Demirel.
It is reported that after visiting the US in the near future,
Netanyahu will also pay a visit to Turkey.
Weizman, in Turkey for Habitat II, told reporters after the
one-hour meeting at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Centre that the
peace process would continue, despite the election of Likud bloc
leader Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's new prime minister. Weizman
also said the Arab nations need not fear an Israeli military
agreement with Turkey. "This is a military training agreement not
a military pact. If they, the Arab nations, believe the two
countries will stage a grand attack on Syria, this is absolutely
stupid" he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrived in
Istanbul yesterday to attend the Habitat II City Summit. Bhutto
met President Demirel and will meet Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.
She said: "We will exchange views regarding bilateral, regional
and international problems".
While the Tanzanian Deputy Head of State came to Istanbul the
previous day, heads of state of Albania, Kenya, Uganda, Bulgaria,
prime ministers of Burundi, Gine Bissau, Cibuti and Armenia and
deputy prime ministers of Lesotho, Turkmenistan, Moldova and the
People's Republic of China arrived in Istanbul yesterday.
Istanbul has been included in the Mega-Cities project which aims
to bring common solutions to common problems by an exchange of
experience among big cities of the world. The Mega-Cities
project, which was drawn up by Dr.Janice Perlman in 1986,
celebrated its 10th anniversary in Habitat and included Istanbul
as the 19th Mega-City. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/
DEFENCE MINISTER SUNGURLU VISITS BELGIUM
Defence Minister Oltan Sungurlu is going to Brussels to attend
NATO meetings there and a dinner in which the defence ministers
of the European countries will participate. Sungurlu will attend
meetings of the Defence Planning Committee, the Nuclear Planning
Group and the North Atlantic Council on June 13. On June 14,
Sungurlu will attend a meeting of defence ministers, and return
on June 15. /All papers/
GERMANY WARNS GREECE ABOUT ANTI-TURKEY VETO
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, speaking to his Greek
counterpart Theodoros Pangalos, warned that Greece should stop
trying to block the road to customs union with Turkey.
Talking with Pangalos in Berlin, Kinkel said that Germany did not
want to see the present tension between Turkey and Greece
continue. In order to put relations on a better footing, Kinkel
recommended that Greece review its stance about its veto against
European Union (EU) financial aid to Turkey through the customs
union agreement. Hurriyet/
ARMENIA SUPPORTS FULL EU MEMBERSHIP FOR TURKEY
Just prior to making a three day official visit to France,
Armenian Head of State Levon Ter Petrosyan said that his country
would welcome Turkey's full membership in the European Union.
Petrosyan said that Armenia too would benefit from Turkey's
inclusion in the Union. /Hurriyet/
GONENSAY COMMENTS ON AEGEAN SITUATION
Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay, commenting on the Aegean Sea
situation, said that problems in the region stemmed from
uncertainties. He noted that Turkey had not given way in the
region, but rather, was still open to dialogue and was ready to
reach a compromise agreement. Stressing this point, Gonensay said
that "this was the only way to solve the problem."
Shortly after making his comments, Gonensay set off for
Luxembourg preparatory to attending an EU meeting in Florence,
Italy, where it appears that the Greek veto against Turkey will
be taken up at higher levels. Gonensay has already informed the
EU meeting that Greece has done its best to foment problems with
Turkey-first by creating the Kardak islets problem and then by
raising the question of sovereignty over the Gavdos island near
Crete. /All papers/
RED CERSCENT CELEBRATES 129TH ANNIVERSARY
Kemal Demir, chairman of the Red Crescent, said that the number
of blood donations is rising but the organization needs more. At
a press conference called on the occasion of the 129th
anniversary of the Red Crescent, Demir said that the organization
was working on establishing a site from where the whole country's
blood product needs could be met. Demir said that a medical
centre would be opened in Istanbul in one or two months time and
that the Red Crescent had sent medical materials, in the range of
12,850 tons, to 15 countries since the beginning of 1995 and
added that they had sent about 10,000 tons of food, medicine,
medical materials and clothing to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
President Suleyman Demirel sent a celebratory message to Demir in
which he said that the Red Crescent carried out its services not
only in Turkey but also abroad giving help to anybody, no matter
what nationality or religion they were. "The Red Crescent has
given aid worth over $200 million to 42 different countries in
the last five years. It has also given money aid, in different
amounts, to 24 other countries" Demirel said. Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz also sent a congratulatory message to Demir. "The
Red Crescent is a symbol of solidarity, equality and kindness. We
are proud of it due to its efforts to improve tolerance,
friendship, respect and peace between people" Yilmaz said. /All
papers/
AUTO INDUSTRY EXPORTS UP 48 % IN JANUARY-MAY
Exports by Turkish motor vehicle and parts producers rose by 48 %
in January-May 1996 to $575 million from $387.38 million in the
same 1995 period, the Association of Turkish Automotive Industry
(OSD) said in a statement. Exports of motor vehicles made up
$244.05 million of the total amount, up 132 % from January-May
1995. Automotive parts exports increased by 17 % to $330.96
million over the same period.
Bus exports boomed by 179 % up to $82.47 million in the first
five months of 1996 from a previous $29.59 million. Car exports
leapt by 169 % to $141.3 million from $52.6 million in the first
five months of last year. Turkish automotive exports rose sharply
to $1.19 billion in 1995 from $750.3 million in 1994. /All
papers/
AZERI PRESIDENT ALIYEV LAUDS ANKARA-BAKU TIES
President of Azerbaijan, Haydar Aliyev, said yesterday that
relations between his country and Turkey were unique in the world
and added that these relations were based on "special factors".
Aliyev made these remarks while receiving a delegation from the
Turkish Parliament which is in Baku to attend a meeting of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization (BSEC). Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan had been trying
over the past five years under very tough conditions to preserve
its independence. He said that the biggest obstacle facing them
today was the dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a
predominantly Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. Aliyev stated
that his country obtained the most support for its position
vis-a-vis this problem from Turkey.
Speaking on behalf of the Turkish delegation, Kamer Genc, a
deputy speaker for the Parliament, said that Turkey considered
Azerbaijan's problems as if they were its own problems. Genc said
that the two countries had to support each other in every
international forum. /All papers/
12 PKK MILITANTS KILLED
Turkish security forces killed 12 militants of the PKK terrorist
organization during separate clashes in the southeast of Turkey,
security officials said yesterday. The emergency rule regional
governor's office said in a statement that 12 PKK terrorists were
killed in Bitlis, Hakkari, Diyarbakir and Tunceli provinces. The
statement did not say when the clashes took place but one PKK
would-be bomber was killed in Tunceli on Monday when a crude
device she was carrying exploded. /All papers/
TURKISH NAVAL FORCES STAGE EXERCISES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Reports say that the area of the Turkish Naval Forces' "Sea
Wolf-2/96" military exercises in international waters of the east
Mediterranean has been extended.
"Saa Wolf" exercises, which started under the command of Admiral
Salim Dervisoglu, the fleet commander, on June 6, are planned to
continue for three weeks contrary to the previous years' two-week
period. The "Sea Wolf" war games will end on June 28.
/Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH - WORKING LANGUAGE OF BSECO
Turkish has been accepted as the working language of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSECO). Prior to the
meeting of the BSECO Parliamentary Assembly that will start
tomorrow in Baku, the Permanent Committee has convened to discuss
organizational issues. During the meeting, the Permanent
Committee accepted Russian, French and Turkish as the
organization's working languages. English is the official
language of BSECO. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY ELECTED MEMBER OF ILO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During the 83rd General Assembly meeting of the International
Labour Organization (ILO), Turkey was elected to membership in
the Organization's Board of Directors. Labour Minister Emin Kul
noted that this was an indication of Turkey's prestige in the
international arena. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH TELECOM BREAKS OFF RELATIONS WITH FRENCH TELECOM
Turkish Telecom has broken off relations with its French
counterpart on the grounds that the French company has continued
its cooperation with MED TV owned by the PKK terrorist
organization. Following warnings by Turkey, French Telecom did
not renew its agreement with MED TV, but rented a Portuguese
transponder for the same channel instead.
Prior to the MED TV disagreement, the French telecommunications
company offered Turkey a cooperation deal in a "Global Star
Communications Project" worth $4 billion, as well as a share in
the establishment of a new pocket telephone network. Rejecting
these French proposals, Turkish Telecom decided instead to
cooperate with US companies. /Sabah/
TOURISM BOOM EXPECTED IN 1996
Having hosted more than seven million foreign tourists in 1995,
in 1996 Turkey is expecting 9.5 million visitors from abroad.
Even before this year's summer season opened, nearly 1.7 million
foreign tourists visited Turkey. This year's tourism revenues are
expected to reach TL 6 billion. Tourism Minister Isilay Saygin
noted that the international popularity of Turkey, offering "sea,
sun and sand" was gradually increasing. Winter tourism, hunting,
caving, rafting, trecking and cycling, all newly established in
Turkey, have further increased the attraction of Turkey among
foreign visitors. According to the World Tourism Organization
(WTO) Turkey ranks 20th among countries earning the highest
revenues from tourism. /Milliyet/
TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 12 June 1996
Ciller ready for coalition with RP
* Conditions: Ciller to propose 'long-term coalition' to RP provided
DYP gets Prime Ministry plus nine ministries with portfolio and
eight ministries without
* Solid: Believing that DYP opposition to coalition with RP would be
'limited,' DYP leader reportedly expects no more than five or six
desertions
By Kemal Balci
TDN Parliament Bureau
ANKARA- True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller is now reportedly
ready to form a "long-term" coalition government with the Islamist
Welfare Party (RP) of Necmettin Erbakan, something she has publicly
rejected in the past, saying that a DYP-RP coalition could only be
formed for the specific aim of steering the country to an early
general election.
A leading DYP figure and former minister said Ciller would propose a
coalition based on a (9-8-1) formula. In a potential DYP-RP coalition,
Ciller would demand for her party nine out of a total 17 "ministerial
positions with portfolio" as well as eight of the 15 state ministries
and the Prime Ministry.
Ciller has been meeting with DYP deputies to obtain their views on the
possibility of a DYP-RP government. She has determined that the
majority of these deputies want the DYP to remain in power, and that
no more than five or, at worst, six deputies who resent the RP's
Islamist platform would resign from the party in reaction to a DYP-RP
coalition.
During the meetings Ciller reportedly told her deputies that the
government would not be an "election government." On the contrary, it
would be a "long-term government of action."
Ciller's willingness to form a coalition with the RP is believed to
stem, to some extent, from the hope that the combined votes of the DYP
and the RP in Parliament would stop the parliamentary probes initiated
into alleged irregularities by Ciller being a problem. Members of the
two parties will have the majority in the probe committees.
To deflect the negative reactions of anti-RP non-parliamentary power
groups, Ciller is expected to argue that the secular DYP will have a
majority in the 32-member Cabinet and will not permit any extreme
behaviour on the part of the RP."
The DYP maintains that Erbakan's party would soften its views, for
example the "No to Operation Provide Comfort" slogan to which the RP
has adhered stubbornly in the past. They point to the fact that
Erbakan has said he would reach a final decision on the force after
"consulting with the military."
Sources close to Ciller claim that when it finds itself in government,
the RP will drop its opposition to Provide Comfort and the customs
union and adopt a conciliatory attitude. They argue that there would
be no extreme reactions to a DYP-RP coalition except certain
provocative moves aimed at inciting the army against the coalition.
Formal talks between Prime Minister-designate Erbakan and DYP leader
Ciller are scheduled to start on Friday but DYP sources say that since
things are proceeding swiftly the two leaders may decide to meet one
day earlier.
The biggest obstacle for a DYP-RP coalition seems to be Ciller's
insistence on being prime minister. The DYP says that in his eagerness
to come to power, Erbakan may even make that concession, agreeing to
let Ciller have priority. If Erbakan agrees to let Ciller be prime
minister, this may draw flak from the RP rank and file but the DYP
says that this would be of limited scope.
Currently the DYP has 135 seats the Parliament while the RP has 158.
Between them the two parties would command 293 votes, more than the
simple majority of 276 needed to win the vote of confidence although a
few DYP and RP deputies may choose to vote against the government.
Syrian Turkmens targeted as scapegoats
* Syria has increased pressure on Turkmens; arrests of Turkmens
started in April and still continue
* Bayirbucak Solidarity Association based in Hatay, whose members
mostly have relatives in Syria, will meet President Demirel in
order to demand help on behalf of the Syrian Turkmens
By Ayse Karabat
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- Syria has increased its pressure on Turkmens and still
continues to detain Turkmens, whose relatives mostly live in Turkey,
the Turkish Daily News has learned.
Syria has even arrested Turkmens who are members of the ruling Baath
party. Sources said that the arrested Turkmens are mostly engineers,
doctors and also relatives of university students in Turkey who have
scholarships from different private firms and the Turkish state.
A member of the Bayirbucak (the Turkish name for the Syrian city
Latakia) Solidarity Association said these arrests had started in
April. "We don't know what did happen to these 20 people who were
arrested before the Feast of Sacrifice.These 20 people have good
relations with us. We don't want to give our names, because it will be
dangerous for these 20 people," he said. "Without the knowledge of
(Syrian President) Hafez al-Assad nothing can happen in Syria. There
are some bombing attacks but Turkmens cannot do that. Also it is true
that the arrests of Turkmens emerged after these attacks." The number
of Turkmens arrested has reportedly now reached over 600, with many of
them released only to be arrested again later.
The Bayirbucak Solidarity Association will meet President Suleyman
Demirel at the end of this month. The association will demand help
from Demirel on behalf of the Syrian Turkmens. The Bayirbucak
Solidarity Association is based in Hatay, over which Syria still
claims sovereignty, and many of its members have relatives in Syria.
At the weekend Presidents Hafez al-Assad of Syria and Hosni Mubarak of
Egypt, and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, met in Damascus and called for
a review of the Israeli-Turkish military agreement, which caused much
reaction in the Arab world.
Syria is especially unhappy about this accord and claims that it is
aimed against Syria. An Arab diplomat living in Ankara said that a few
days ago a chemical gas factory was discovered under a mountain in
Syria near the Turkish border, and Arabs believe that Israeli planes,
which were flying over Turkey according to the military training
agreement, discovered this factory.
According to the press, Syria has also increased its military
facilities along the Turkish border. Some Syrian paramilitary troops
have been shifted from Lebanon to the Turkish border, the Turkish
Daily News learned.
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan is known to be
living in Syria. Turkey says Damascus harbors the PKK in order to
counterbalance what it feels is Turkey's "water weapon" against it.
The Southeast Anatolian Project, involving a network of dams on the
Euphrates, has led to deep concerns in Damascus where the fear is that
Turkey is preparing to cut of the vitally important waters of the
river.
There are also claims that Syria is following an assimilation program
aimed at Arabizing the Turkmens by changing the names of the Turkmen
villages. Under its earlier program of land reform, Syria deported
Turkmens from Latakia and replaced them with Arabs. The number of
Turkmens in Syria is estimated at about 800,000 to 1 million, mostly
living in Aleppo, the district of Kunterya near the border with
Israel, Telkele (between Hama and the Lebanon border), and Azaz (south
of Gaziantep).
Greece accuses Turkey over fresh incident in Aegean
* Government spokesman claims new "provocation" by Ankara
Turkish Daily News
ATHENS- Greece on Tuesday accused a Turkish warship of violating its
territorial waters and sailing close to a Greek hydrofoil before
heading back to the Turkish coast in the southern Aegean.
"The two vessels came as close as 70 metres from each other, sailing
on a parallel course for a few minutes inside Greek waters. The
Turkish warship then headed back to the Turkish coast," government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas was quoted saying by Reuters reporting from
Athens.
He told journalists the incident took place between the Greek holiday
islands of Kos and Rhodes and Athens would make an official protest to
Ankara.
"Today's incident justifies our view that Turkish provocations will
continue," Reppas said.
Reppas said on Monday the Athens would "soon decide on a huge order of
weapons to face the Turkish threats."
He did not say what kind of weapons Greece would buy but government
sources said they would include F-16 fighter.
Relations between the two NATO allies have worsened since January when
they both sent naval forces to claim an uninhabited island in the
eastern Aegean.
A clash was averted with U.S. mediation but Athens has since accused
Ankara of having territorial claims on several Greek islands.
Turkey refutes this by saying it is committed to the Lausanne Treaty
which sets the legal status of the Aegean Islands. But Ankara argues
there are "gray areas" concerning the ownership of certain rocks and
islets which are not listed on any map or chart.
"Greece is the only European country facing an open threat against its
territory not only in the Aegean but its entire borderline (with
Turkey)," Prime Minister Costas Simitis claimed in a speech to his
socialist party parliamentary group.
Athens accused Turkey last week of adding an inhabited Greek island in
the Mediterranean to its list of territorial disputes with Greece.
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has said Turkish naval officer
Hussein Ciftci, Ankara's representative at NATO's naval command in
Naples, had raised the question of the sovereignty of Gavdos, an
inhabited island south of Crete.
"The outrageous example of Gavdos ... is part of a Turkish strategy
which not only violates international law but is also against common
logic," Simitis said. "Greece will defend its territory with all
means."
"It should be investigated whether this Gavdos island is also among
the islets whose status needs to be determined," Turkish Foreign
Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said last week.
Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay told reporters on Tuesday before
travelling to Luxembourg that Turkey's position on Gavdos was "purely
technical in nature" and not "political."
TRKNWS-L
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
THURSDAY JUNE 13, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning
TURKEY UNDER WEAPONS THREAT
As officials from NATO member countries meet in Brussels, a new
NATO report shows how Turkey is one of the most threatened
countries in the region-living under the shadow of weapons of
mass destruction in surrounding countries.
The NATO report notes that Turkey is actually threatened on all
sides, with Syria, Iran and Iraq posing the biggest threats. The
report is mainly about containing the spread of nuclear,
chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction, but
mentions Turkey as being one of the countries in the world facing
a serious threat from the use of these weapons. /Sabah/
US VOTE ON FOREIGN AID
The US House of Representatives has voted through proposals on
which countries will benefit from the US Economic Support Fund
(ESF). Israel and Egypt again figure prominently, but because of
the issues created by the Armenian and Greek lobbies in
Washington, Turkey has been given a package that has been reduced
by 25 million dollars.
Turkish Ambassador to Washington, Nuzhet Kandemir, has already
sent a note of protest to top US officials including Warren
Christopher and Newt Gingrich, which says that Turkey is not
prepared to accept the aid package on the terms that Washington
is offering it. /Cumhuriyet/
DEMIREL SENDS SHARP NOTE TO SAUDIS
In answer to criticisms from Saudi Arabia about the military
training agreement between Turkey and Israel, President Suleyman
Demirel has sent a sharply worded note to the Saudis. The note
makes it clear that the Saudis have missed the point of the
agreement, and that if they want to do something about saving the
situation in the Middle East, then they would be better occupied
with complaining about Syrian connections with the PKK terrorist
organization, instead of objecting to normal procedures between
Turkey and Israel. /Milliyet/
GREECE TRIES TO TAKE GAVDOS ISLAND ISSUE TO US
Greek Defence Minister Gerassimos Arsenis said that they would
complain to US Secretary of Defence William Perry about Gavdos
island over which Ankara and Athens are at odds. The crisis over
Gavdos island arose when Turkish military officials asked during
the planning of a NATO exercise two weeks ago that the inhabited
island of Gavdos south of Crete should not be included in the
maneuvers because it was disputed territory.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has found out that there
are many islands in the Aegean that are "no man's land". Along
with islands, to which Greek nationality has been apportioned
through bilateral or international agreements, there are many
other islands, islets and rocks belonging to no one, but which
are seen by Greece as being part of its own territory. Foreign
Ministry officials have noted that Turkey was willing to resort
to the jurisdiction of a third party to decide the sovereignty of
the islands in question. Turkey is refraining from announcing the
names of the problem islands. Nevertheless, Foreign Ministry
officials have pointed out that in case of extreme Greek
attitudes, such as adopting a 12-mile limit, Turkey reserves the
right to make known the names of these islands.
Athens is trying to reduce the escalating tension in its
relations with Turkey. Taking a step back, Greek government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the "modernization" programme
in the Greek army was not aimed at touching off a war with
Turkey, but at deterring possible aggression. Commenting on the
statement of Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay, Reppas said
that Turkey should support its good intentions with acts. "We are
willing to develop friendly relations with Turkey, but Turkey
should abandon policies threatening Greek security. We have
proposed improving Turco-Greek dialogue step by step, and we
expect Turkey to accept our proposal" Reppas noted.
/Milliyet-Sabah/
TURKEY DISAPPOINTED BY CHINESE NUCLEAR TESTS
Turkey is disappointed by the recent nuclear tests carried out by
China, a written statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry
said. The statement says that at the UN Disarmament Conference
discussion of the banning of nuclear testing is gaining speed.
"While international public opinion is looking for the conclusion
of this agreement, the nuclear tests of China disappoint us" the
statement said. "We hope that these tests will not harm the
discussion process and we are expecting China's support for the
banning of nuclear testing". /All papers/
HABITAT II CONFERENCE
During its first seven days, participants in the second UN
Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, statements made by
officials from 140 nations and representatives of public and
private organizations, all aimed at coming up with answers to the
manifold problems of urbanization. However, Wednesday morning, in
his keynote speech at the first session of the conference's
"high-level segment" with heads of state and government and
cabinet ministers participating, UN Secretary General Boutros
Boutros-Ghali rose not to suggest solutions but to raise
questions. "How do we improve the governance and financing of
human settlements?" Ghali asked. "Which policies can improve the
living and working conditions of the poor, of families and
communities? How can economic growth and employment opportunities
be greatly expanded in cities without long-term environmental
damage and waste of the planet's natural resources? How do we
provide both town and countryside with scarce resources? How do
we provide affordable housing and services to the world's growing
population?". Ghali added: "The decisions taken at the Istanbul
Conference should be implemented in the coming conferences".
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, in welcoming the delegates,
said the previous seven days had "plainly revealed" four points:
*The issues related to human settlements lie at the very core of
both economic growth and sustainable development. *The problems
associated with 'adequate shelter for all' and 'sustainable human
settlements' in a rapidly urbanizing and globalizing world are
common challenges faced by all countries, in varying degrees.
*There remains much ground that needs to be covered, both at the
national and international levels, in order to resolve these
problems. It is imperative that existing policies are reviewed
and new ones formulated and implemented at the national levels
and that effective cooperation, collaboration and solidarity are
enhanced at the international level. *It is essential to mobilize
all available resources and exert every effort, taking into
account the needs of all groups, including those of women,
children and the elderly, as well as to incorporate as broadly as
possible every component of society, ranging from parliaments to
the private sector and local administrations to non-governmental
organizations, in the activities aimed at redressing these
problems.
Meanwhile, Head of State of Cuba, Fidel Castro will come to
Turkey to attend the Habitat II City Summit. He will deliver a
speech at the Habitat II General Council. Kyrgyz Prime Minister
Abbas Cumagulov and Burundi Prime Minister Antone Nduwayo arrived
in Istanbul yesterday to attend the Habitat II Conference Leaders
Summit. President Demirel gave a banquet in honour of guest
leaders at the Dolmabahce Palace yesterday. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/
WEIZMAN LAUDS TURKISH-ISRAELI TIES
Israeli President Ezer Weizman began his speech at the Habitat II
Conference by referring to "my dear friend, President Suleyman
Demirel" (as head of state of the host country, Demirel was
chairing the session). Then, after reviewing his country's urban
progammes and efforts to absorb immigrants, the Israeli President
noted that he had "come to know, appreciate and admire the
Turkish state, the Turkish people and the leader of these people,
President Demirel".
The "close and warm friendship" between the Demirels and
Weizmans, forged during an earlier exchange of visits, "is an
accurate reflection of the relations between our peoples and
countries" which have recently "improved rapidly and impressively
in diverse ways". He pointed to the existence of a "regular
dialogue" between the two nations' political leadership and
cooperation "for the economic well-being of both of our peoples".
Israelis consider Turkey an "important, central, stabilizing and
positive factor" Weizman stressed, mentioning support for
"Turkey's wish to join the EU" and awareness of "Turkey's special
relations with the new republics in Central Asia and the
Caucasus". And, as a Middle Eastern nation, he continued, "we
identify Turkey as a country that shares our democratic and
progressive values- values that, unfortunately, have not been
accepted throughout this complex region". Weizman also met with
Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Romanian President
Ion Iliescu also delivered speeches at the session.
/Hurriyet-Milliyet/
72 PKK MILITANTS KILLED
Turkish security forces have killed 72 militants of the PKK
terrorist organization for the loss of six soldiers in separate
clashes in southeast Turkey, security forces said yesterday. The
regional governor's office in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir
said the fighting took place in the provinces of Hakkari, Bitlis,
Bingol and Sirnak. It did not say when the clashes occurred. The
heaviest clashes were near the mountainous border with northern
Iraq where 39 terrorists were killed, the office said in a
statement. "Operations will continue until the separatist,
terrorist organization is rendered completely ineffective" the
statement said. /Sabah/
SEA WOLF-2/96 AND EFES-96 MILITARY EXERCISES CONTINUE
The second part of the Sea Wolf-2/96 military exercise ended with
the warships' return to their ports yesterday as the armed
forces' joint exercise Efes-96 completed the "Pioneer Force
Operation". Some parts of the Sea Wolf-2/96 and Efes-96 military
exercises are being monitored by Chief of General Staff
Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi and other top level commanders as well
as foreign military experts. /All papers/
NEW VISA REGULATION
Turkey will require visas from citizens of Holland and Belgium
visiting Turkey. The decision of the Council of Ministers was
published in yesterday's edition of the Official Gazette. The
regulation will enter into force on December 31, 1996.
/Cumhuriyet/
WORKING AGE FOR CHILDREN
Turkey has initited steps at international levels to bring an end
to employing children younger than 15 years. Within this
framework, Turkey will become a party to agreement 138 of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) regulating the minimum
ages of workers. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 13 June 1996
Erbakan draws blank with the left
* Snag: The reported deal with DYP hits problems with Ciller
demanding a short first term at helm to appease the military
TDN Parliament Bureau
ANKARA- Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the pro-Islamic Welfare
Party (RP) trying to draw partners into a coalition to succeed the
collapsed center-right partnership, received a firm rebuttal from the
Democratic Left Party (DSP), a key player on Turkey's confused
political stage.
Addressing a press conference after the hour-long meeting with DSP
leader Ecevit, Erbakan reported the leftist leader to be set on
remaining in opposition.
The Islamist leader, assigned by President Suleyman Demirel last week
to form the new government after the resignation of the center-right
minority coalition led by caretaker Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz,
indicated he was still confident about bringing his task to fruition.
He said he preferred a four-party coalition including Yilmaz's
Motherland Party (ANAP), Tansu Ciller's True Path Party (DYP) and the
small Islamist-nationalist Grand Unity Party (BBP) beside his RP.
The new government is to succeed the ANAP-DYP partnership which
collapsed early this month over the resurfacing feud between the two
center-right leaders and Yilmaz's support for corruption probes into
Ciller which threaten her political future.
But so far there has been no concrete progress in the formation of the
new alliance since last Friday when Erbakan received his mandate --
the second since the inconclusive Dec. 24 poll -- to justify his
confidence.
Although the RP is consistently reported to be close to a deal with
the DYP following discreet contacts between the officials of the two
parties, Ciller's insistence on leading the partnership first is seen
as a potential stumbling block.
Sources close to Erbakan told the TDN that the DYP leader has sent
word to Erbakan, calling for his agreement to her premiership for the
first four months, to be followed by Erbakan's leadership for the next
four years.
Ciller reportedly based her request on the allergy of the (secularist)
military to seeing Islamists in power while the command chain of the
powerful caucus is up for a reshuffle in the upcoming meeting of the
Supreme Military Council.
President, prime ministers and key Cabinet ministers participate in
the meetings of the council which decides on the promotion and
retirement of senior officers, always a delicate business in Turkey
given the military's traditional influence over the country's
politics.
Ciller, however, failed to explain how the military would drop their
allergic reaction for the next four years during which she is happy to
concede the command of the partnership to Erbakan. The RP leader,
fighting to improve his party's suspect domestic and international
image, has been hotly denying any military opposition to an
Islamist-led government.
Parliament sources say a stint in the command seat, no matter how
short, is important for Ciller assailed by in-party adversaries ahead
of a crucial party convention and the object of critical public focus
on her controversial private wealth.
But Erbakan left no doubt after Wednesday's meeting that he was averse
to relinquishing the premiership at any point, telling reporters that
he would not agree to any formula based on a rotating premiership.
Although Erbakan has repeatedly manifested his preference to draw both
center-right parties onto his side, he has received a
less-than-encouraging response from Yilmaz who has already rejected
his overtures twice after the December poll.
After their meeting with Yilmaz on Tuesday, the ANAP leader told
Erbakan that he should pass him first in the current round, and if he
still thinks a coalition with ANAP is essential, then the sides can
sit down for talks once more.
The position was interpreted as a diplomatic "no" and a tactical move
to scuttle the projected RP-DYP partnership, given unequivocal earlier
statements from Yilmaz about the difficulty of a partnership with the
RP and the open hostility of many mainstream ANAP politicians to any
deal with the Islamists.
Despite his air of confidence, Erbakan did not completely rule out
failure in his efforts, telling the Wednesday news conference that "it
will not be a great surprise."
But, he warned, if the RP returns to opposition, it will further beef
up its strength.
Erbakan also reacted firmly but diplomatically to the remarks
attributed to the visiting Israeli President Ezer Weizman, expressing
concern about a RP-led Turkish government and predicting that
President Suleyman Demirel will not allow it.
"He (Weizman) is a veteran politician, an old stalwart; I do not think
he has said such a thing. I guess his words had been distorted,"
Erbakan told reporters.
UN chief presents questions to world leaders at Habitat
* Boutros-Ghali: "Economic and social change casts a shadow over
cities in the industrialized North as well. Common problems demand
a common global agenda to address them"
* Demirel: Participants must "display the resolve and political
will of the international community to solve the problems ..., as
well as to reflect this political will in the effective
implementation of policies"
By Don Cofman
Turkish Daily News
ISTANBUL- During its first seven days, participants in the second
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, heard a
couple of hundred statements by officials from nearly 140 nations and
representatives of public and private organizations, all aimed at
coming up with answers to the manifold problems of urbanization.
However, Wednesday morning, in his keynote speech at the first session
of the conference's "high-level segment" with heads of state and
government and cabinet ministers participating, U.N. Secretary General
Boutros Boutros-Ghali rose not to suggest solutions but to raise
questions.
"How do we improve the governance and financing of human settlements?"
Boutros-Ghali asked. "Which policies can improve the living and
working conditions of the poor, of families and communities? How can
economic growth and employment opportunities be greatly expanded in
cities without long-term environmental damage and waste of the
planet's natural resources? How do we provide both town and
countryside with scarce resources? How do we provide affordable
housing and services to the world's growing population?"
These questions, the U.N. leader emphasized, "are not aimed only at
the developing South," many countries face overwhelming problems
resulting from the flow of people from rural areas to the cities.
"Economic and social change casts a shadow over cities in the
industrialized North as well. Common problems demand a common global
agenda to address them," Boutros-Ghali said.
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, in welcoming the delegates to the
three days of deliberations involving about 20 heads of state or
government and their deputies and a much larger number of cabinet
ministers, said the previous seven days had "plainly revealed" four
points:
* "The issues related to human settlements lie at the very core of
both economic growth and sustainable development."
* "The problems associated with 'adequate shelter for all' and
'sustainable human settlements' in a rapidly urbanizing and
globalizing world are common challenges faced by all countries, in
varying degrees."
* "There remains much ground that needs to be covered, both at the
national and international levels, in order to resolve these problems
.. It is imperative that existing policies are reviewed (and) new
ones formulated and implemented at the national levels and that
effective cooperation, collaboration and solidarity are enhanced at
the international level."
* "It is essential to mobilize all available resources (and) exert
every effort, taking into account the needs of all groups, including
those of women, children and the elderly, as well as to incorporate as
broadly as possible every component of society, ranging from
parliaments to the private sector and local administrations to
nongovernmental organizations, in the activities aimed at redressing
these problems."
"The question at hand now," Demirel said, "is to display the resolve
and political will of the international community to solve the
problems ..., as well as to reflect this political will in the
effective implementation of policies."
In this phrasing of the "question" Demirel foreshadowed the two major
documents expected to be approved by the conference before it ends on
Friday: the "Istanbul Declaration" of the delegates' political
intention to work toward solving the urban crisis and the "Habitat
Agenda," a "global plan of action" of specific activities aimed at
that goal.
The declaration, the Turkish president forecast, will "send forth a
loud and clear political message to the entire world." It and the
agenda "will serve as our guide and road map in our quest, as we stand
on the eve of a new millennium, to render all human settlements
increasingly more healthy, equitable, prosperous and safe."
"It is not possible to remain indifferent to this common cause,"
Demirel asserted. "We are all in the same camp. We are all on the side
of humanity."
Also speaking in the conference's Wednesday morning session were the
presidents of Kenya, Romania, Poland and Israel, the vice president of
Tanzania, the prime minister of Pakistan and the acting prime minister
of Afghanistan, while the president of Albania, the vice president of
Sudan, the prime ministers of Armenia, Guinea Bissau, Djibouti and
Burundi, the deputy prime minister of China and lower-ranking
representatives from 33 other governments spoke in the afternoon.
Officials, mostly cabinet members, from 62 countries are to address
the conference on Thursday.
Turco-Israeli agreement still under discussion
* The discussions over Turco-Israeli military agreement go on.
Defense Minister Oltan Sungurlu says the agreement is not against
a third party
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- As discussions over a Turco-Israeli military agreement
continue, Defense Minister Oltan Sungurlu said that this agreement was
not against a third party, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Sungurlu said that he did not regard the reactions of the Arab
countries with respect to the agreement as appropriate. He pointed out
that Syria and Greece would sign the same kind of agreement.
"They said that (Greece and Syria) this accord will be against Turkey.
Our agreement with Israel is not against a third party. We are saying
another thing to Syria. (Let us sign an agreement wider than this and
solve the problems. Give up supporting the PKK and be friends). A
country which does not respond to this call has no right to talk about
Turkey's agreements," Sungurlu said to Anatolia.
Meanwhile Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Nurettin Nurkan in
a written statement said that explanations with respect to the
Turco-Israeli Military agreement have been given several times and the
countries which wanted more information have received it. "Any further
speculation does not concern us at all," he said.
The ambassador of Syria, Abdul Aziz Al Rifai, told journalists at the
Russian National Day reception that reports claiming that the Arab
world has created a new pact against Turkey were not true.
Rifai, referring to the meeting in Damascus between the presidents of
Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia and calling upon Turkey to review the
Turco-Israeli accord, said that this was not indicative of a hostile
attitude towards Turkey.
Rifai added that the news claiming that Turkmens have been arrested in
Syria did not reflect the reality. These are new games of the United
States, he said, aimed at trying to establish pressure on Syria in the
wake of the Israeli elections.
The ambassador of Egypt told the journalists that the peace process
entered a critical period following the Israeli elections and at such
a time it was natural that "some doubts concerning developments in the
region have emerged. And in this context, it is natural for Arab
countries to ask some questions about whether the Turco-Israeli
agreement has a strategic aspect or not."
TRKNWS-L
TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
FRIDAY JUNE 14, 1996
Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press
this morning
HABITAT II FINISHES TODAY
Billed as the "last great conference of the century" the UN
sponsored Habitat II conference on human settlements and
improvement of urban living draws to a close today.
The conference will end in a fanfare of closing ceremonies in the
evening that will include fireworks displays, receptions and a
twenty-one gun salute. The displays and water traffic,
celebrations and gatherings of top officials from many countries
will close the Bosphorus Bridge to all traffic for two hours.
Vehicles still on the move during the late hours of Friday
evening and early Saturday morning, will have the options of
using other bridges or extended ferry-boat services between
Sirkeci and Harem. /All papers/
BUSY DAY FOR DEMIREL
Today will be an exceptionally busy day for President Suleyman
Demirel, who has already been more than occupied with chairing
large segments of the conference. As the end looms up, today will
see the final plans and the Istanbul Declaration passed by the
government leaders attending the vital closing sessions.
President Demirel has already been involved in many talks with
various heads of state and government leaders, and his programme
will be just as heavy today.
One leader who arrived yesterday attracting huge attention was
Cuban leader Fidel Castro. During his first visit to Istanbul,
Castro has already spoken with President Demirel and Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz. During his talks with Yilmaz, Castro
invited him to Cuba. Yilmaz said in turn that Turkey was ready to
sign agreements to further trade ties with Cuba. Castro later
attended a reception given by President Demirel. /All papers/
TURKISH BUSINESSMEN INVITED TO WEST BANK
Also attending the final segment Leaders Summit, special
representative of Yasser Arafat, Marwan Abdelhamid, also spoke
with President Demirel. He later spoke to the Turkish press and
issued an invitation to Turkish businessmen to look more closely
at Palestinian developments and share in the reconstruction work
and new projects planned by his government.
Following his interviews with the press and other Turkish
officials, Abdelhamid said that he would leave Turkey with hopes
that Turkey would help to secure a bright future for the
Palestinian people in certain vital areas. /All papers/
DEMIREL SUPPORTS YELTSIN IN RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Reports say that Turkish President Suleyman Demirel supports
Yeltsin against communist leader Zuganov at the weekend Russian
presidential elections. It is also reported that President
Demirel, who is closely following the Russian presidential
elections, discussed the elections during his contacts with
leaders who are in Istanbul for the HABITAT II Conference.
/Milliyet/
SUPPORT FOR BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE
Turkey, which is proposing Baku-Ceyhan overland pipeline to carry
Azeri oil to world markets, will start talks with the World Bank
in the middle of July for realization of the pipeline.
The World Bank plans to carry-out a feasibility study costing $5
million of the pipeline proposal, for which construction is
expected to be 2.5 billion dollars.
A World Bank delegation held talks with Turkish officials and
discussed construction of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline during
their contacts in Ankara last week. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH PILOTS EXONERATED
According to a report by the US Department of Air Safety, the
Turkish pilots flying a Boeing passenger plane on lease to the
Turkish Birgenair air company which crashed into the sea with the
loss of 189 lives, have been shown to be blameless.
Instead, the report actually blames Boeing for failing to provide
proper warning systems in the pilot's cabin and flight deck. The
recent plane crash happened because the pilots were misinformed
about flight conditions the report claims. /Hurriyet/
CROATIAN PRESIDENT TUDJMAN TO VISIT ANKARA
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman will visit Ankara at the
invitation of Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and the two
countries will sign a military cooperation agreement as well as
tourism, technology and science cooperation agreements. Croatia
considers a military cooperation agreement with Turkey very
important to its goal of becoming a member of NATO, particularly
because Turkey has a lot of experience as a NATO member.
President Tudjman will visit Ankara for two days on June 19-20
with Defence Minister Gojko Susak and Foreign Minister Mate
Granic. During the visit, a protocol will also be signed, which
will enable the Turkish International Cooperation Agency to open
a bureau in Zagreb. Recent developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina
will be discussed during the talks where the Turkish side will
reportedly try to promote the importance of strengthening the
Bosnian-Croat Federation. /Cumhuriyet/
STATE DEPARTMENT GRATEFUL FOR TURKISH TRAINING OF BOSNIANS
The US State Department praised Turkish efforts to train Bosnians
in Turkey and denied that Washington had told Ankara to stop its
training programme. Ideally, "we would have preferred that the
training would have been delayed until the last foreign fighter
left Bosnia" admitted State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns.
But now that "the Turks had started", the US was determined "to
accentuate the positive" he said. "Turkey is a major supporter of
the US initiative. Once the last foreign fighter leaves, then we
will initiate our programme. The Turks will be a great part of
that" he said.
"We are grateful for the support of the Turks" Burns added.
"Turks are acting consistently with European values. I think that
some of the other European countries want to emulate Turkey in
this regard". "However, we would appreciate no further
initiatives by the Turks until the last foreign fighter has left"
he said. /Sabah/
LABOUR MINISTER PROMOTES ILO
Labour Minister Emin Kul said fighting against unemployment and
inequalities is the first and foremost mission of the
International Labour Organization (ILO). Speaking at the ILO's
83rd plenary session in Geneva yesterday, Kul focused upon the
cooperation between Turkey and the ILO; in this respect he
indicated improvements had occurred putting Turkey in a bridge
position between the newly independent Central Asian Republics
and the ILO. He stated Turkey strongly desired that an ILO
Information Centre project in Turkey should be completed as soon
as possible.
Kul also pointed out Turkey's efforts to make working conditions
and social rights compatible with the ILO's standards, not only
by accepting the ILO's contract, but also by reflecting it in
internal law. He commented on Turkey's ongoing projects to
achieve employment security and unemployment insurance. A reform
of the public personnel system and the clarification of public
officials' union rights have already been completed, Kul said at
the end of his speech. /All papers/
CLINTON CONCERNED ABOUT TURKISH-GREEK TENSION
US President Bill Clinton, appearing on Wednesday at a joint
press conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and
European Commission President Jacques Santer, was asked a
question on the "heightened tension between Greece and Turkey".
After saying that he had not discussed the matter with Santer or
Prodi, Clinton added: "But I can tell you that I am very
concerned about it. Both those nations are our allies and
Europe's allies through NATO, and I believe that the future of
the region which they both occupy would be immeasurably brighter
if they can resolve their problems, and would be immeasurably
darker if they cannot". "And so it's a source of great concern to
me, and we have invested quite a bit of time on it in the last
few months, and I expect to invest even more time on it in the
months ahead, and if the people decide (on reelecting Clinton),
in the years ahead. The resolution of the difficulties between
Greece and Turkey is central to having the kind of future for
Europe and particularly for the Mediterranean region that we
want".
Meanwhile, commenting on the Greek TV channel ET-1 broadcast, US
State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said on Wednesday: "I
don't think there is a heightened prospect of any altercation or
confrontation between Greece and Turkey". Burns noted that
working out their problems was completely up to Turkey and
Greece. He said that the US would help if it was asked to, "They
know our address".
Turco-Greek tension also has angered NATO-member countries.
Defence ministers of Canada, Germany, France and Portugal have
given a message to Athens and Ankara saying: "You must solve your
problems as soon as possible". The German Minister proposed
mediation for the solution of problems between Turkey and Greece.
/Cumhuriyet-Milliyet/
ISRAEL DENIES ANTI-RP COMMENTS
Israel declared yesterday that the "internal affairs of Turkey
interests only Turkey". A written statement from the Israeli
Embassy in Ankara denied press reports that quoted Israeli
President Ezer Weizman as saying that Israel wants the Islamist
Welfare Party (RP) prevented from coming to power in Turkey. The
statement added: "Israel is sure that a solution will be found
(to the current political problem in Turkey) within the
democratic process and is ready to cooperate with all the
political parties".
Commenting on the alleged remark of Weizman, RP leader Necmettin
Erbakan said he believed the words attributed to Weizman did not
reflect the truth. He recalled that Weizman was a veteran
politician who knew that he should not make such comments.
/Cumhuriyet/
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES BY 8.4 %
Production in the Turkish industrial sector increased by 8.4 %
during the first three months of 1996 compared to the same period
last year. According to a statement issued by the State Institute
of Statistics (DIE) yesterday, industrial production increased by
12.1 % in the private sector and 1.4 % in the public sector,
totally 8.4 %, during the first three months of 1996. Production
in the mining industry soared by 2.5 % during the same period
this year. Production in the manufacturing industry increased by
7.9 %, 9.3 % in the private sector and 4 % in the public sector.
Production in the energy sector increased by 177.1 % in the
private sector during the first three months of 1996 compared to
the same period last year. /Cumhuriyet/
TURCO-GERMAN PATENT COOPERATION
Chairman of the German Patent Institution, Norbert Haugg will
come to Turkey next week as the guest of the Turkish
Representation of the Kondrad Adenauer Foundation and the Turkish
Patent Institute. During his contacts, Haugg will give
information on the patent laws implemented in Germany.
Representative of the Kondrad Adenauer Foundation, Dr.Max Georg
Meier, said that this visit would develop cooperation between the
two countries regarding sensitive patent issues. /Sabah/
5,000 TURKISH SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN IRAQ
In a new cross-border operation in Northern Iraq, Turkish
security forces have struck down PKK terrorists reportedly
preparing for subversive action against Turkey. The operation in
currently being carried out in the border regions with the
participation of 5,000 Turkish soldiers. So far 56 PKK terrorists
have been killed in the operation.
The cross-border operation was ordered by Second Chief of the
General Staff, General Cevik Bir, upon reports that large groups
of PKK terrorists were gathering in the region close to the
Turkish border in preparation for armed attacks against Turkey.
/Hurriyet/
"YOU DECIDE ON PROVIDE COMFORT STATUS"
US Deputy Secretary of State responsible for Near East Affairs,
Robert Pelletreau, expressed his belief that the Turkish
Parliament understood the regional importance of the operation,
and would extend the period of stay of the Provide Comfort force
deployed in Turkey. "Decisions regarding the development of the
operation are to be given by Turkish officials" Pelletreau
pointed out.
According to representatives of the Turkish Foreign and Defence
Ministries, contacts with US officials are about to be completed.
Aiming to allay misgivings of the Turkish Parliament regarding
the future of the Provide Comfort operation, Washington looks
warmly at the release of a political declaration against PKK
action in the region. On the other hand, Ankara does not find the
declaration sufficient and is calling for amendments in
operational rules. Nevertheless, both sides, aware of the need
for security are refraining from giving too many details about
related developments. /Milliyet/
ROMANIA WILLING TO CONSTRUCT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN TURKEY
While disputes about the establishment of a nuclear power plant
in Turkey are still continuing, Romanian President Ion Iliescu
has offered a Turco-Romanian cooperation deal for the
construction of a nuclear plant in Turkey. During a recent
meeting with President Demirel, the Romanian guest gave details
about nuclear energy production in Romania and suggested that
Turkish and Romanian companies could cooperate in the
construction of a nuclear power plant in Turkey. /Milliyet/
ISRAELI CREDIT FOR TURKISH PHANTOMS
Israel has agreed to finance the modernization of Turkish Phantom
fighter planes within the framework of a recent agreement for
military cooperation signed between Turkey and Israel.
Approximately $410 million of the total amount of $600 million
needed for the modernization will be extended by the biggest bank
of Israel, Hapoalim. Officials note that the agreement for
financing the deal is about to be completed and noted that it
will be signed within 15 days. /Milliyet/
TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 14 June 1996
Message to Erbakan: Army not against Refah forming a coalition
government
* Denial: DYP claims that military does not want Erbakan because
he will head the Supreme Military Council as prime minister are
denied
By Ilnur Cevik
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- Pro-Islamic Welfare Party (Refah) Chairman Necmettin Erbakan
has received word from the military that the Armed Forces are loyal to
democracy and will not object to him becoming prime minister through
the parliamentary system, Refah sources told the Turkish Daily News on
Thursday.
According to the sources who asked not to be named, the military feels
the center-right politicians are trying to make the Armed Forces their
scapegoat and that this will not be tolerated.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz had virtually nailed an agreement
with Erbakan three months ago for a coalition partnership but decided
to scrap the deal at the last minute to form a coalition with the True
Path Party (DYP). At the time there were speculations that the
military had dissuaded Yilmaz from forming the coalition with Erbakan
and had forced him into a partnership with the DYP.
The TDN learned from Refah sources that True Path Party (DYP)
officials who are negotiating a possible coalition partnership with
the Islamists said DYP leader Tansu Ciller should be prime minister
for the first six months because the military did not want Erbakan as
prime minister to head their Supreme Military Council meetings
scheduled for early August.
The military reportedly does not care who is prime minister and thus
chairs the Supreme Military Council. The prime minister is the
symbolic head of the council but does not take part in the
deliberations and decision-making process of the council which decides
on promotions, appointments and retirements of top level military
officials. Refah was reportedly told as the presence of the prime
minister is a mere formality there is no reason why Erbakan or someone
else should not lead the council.
Sources said the military prefers to keep a certain distance from
Refah but this does not mean it will oppose the party from coming to
power as a coalition partner.
Clinton concerned about Turkish-Greek tension
* State Department plays down chances of confrontation
By Ugur Akinci
Turkish Daily News
WASHINGTON- The Clinton administration today put slightly different
spins on Greek press reports that a "Greek-Turkish collision is
possible." While President Clinton talked in a manner to confirm such
reports by saying that he was "very concerned" about escalating
tensions, the State Department downplayed the issue and advised
skepticism against "those who talk in the background."
Greek Prime Minister Simitis and Defense Minister Arsenis within the
last few days have gone on the record claiming that Turkey presented
an "immediate threat" to the national security of Greece. The Greek
National Security Council recently convened to discuss the military
and political measures to be adopted if there is conflict with Turkey.
It reportedly endowed Arsenis with the authority to launch an attack
on Turkey without even having to consult Prime Minister Simitis.
Burns on ET-1
Greek TV channel ET-1 reported on June 9 that "U.S. State Department
officials consider a Greek-Turkish collision probable." Referring to a
report published in daily I Kathimerini newspaper, ET-1 went further
and said that, according to the same reports, "U.S. State Department
officials unofficially use harsh language regarding Turkish policy,
saying that the Turks seem to have gone crazy on this issue."
Commenting on the ET-1 broadcast, State Department spokesman Nicholas
Burns said on Wednesday: "I don't think there is a heightened prospect
of any altercation or confrontation between Greece and Turkey. I
wouldn't pay too much attention to people who are talking on the
background about this. I'd pay attention to what we are saying
authoritatively on the record."
Burns also implied that political instability in Turkey is a part of
the problem. "Turkey needs time to work out its own internal political
questions before there could be some stability in the government,"
Burns said. He said that once that happens, the two NATO allies could
discuss how they could resolve some of their problems, he said.
Burns said that working out such problems was completely up to Turkey
and Greece. He said that the United States would help if it was asked
to, "They know our address." But added that "if they don't want us
there, we won't be there."
Clinton
President Clinton, appearing on Wednesday at a joint press conference
with Italian Prime Minister Prodi and European Commission President
Jacques Santer, was asked a similar question on the "heightened
tension between Greece and Turkey."
After saying that he had not discussed the matter with Santer or
Prodi, Clinton added: "but I can tell you that I am very concerned
about it. Both those nations are our allies and Europe's allies
through NATO, and I believe that the future of the region which they
both occupy would be immeasurably brighter if they can resolve their
problems, and (would be) immeasurably darker if they cannot.
"And so it's a source of great concern to me, and we have invested
quite a bit of time on it in the last few months, and I expect to
invest even more time on it in the months (ahead), and if the people
decide (on reelecting Clinton), in the years ahead... The resolution
of the difficulties between Greece and Turkey is central to having the
kind of future for Europe and particularly for the Mediterranean
region that we want."
State Department grateful for Turkish training of Bosnians
By Ugur Akinci
Turkish Daily News
WASHINGTON- The U.S. State Department praised Turkish efforts to
train Bosnians near Ankara and denied that Washington told Ankara to
stop its efforts. Ideally, "we would have preferred that the training
would have been delayed until the last foreign fighter left [Bosnia],"
admitted Nicholas Burns, State Department spokesman. But now that "the
Turks started," the United States was determined "to accentuate the
positive," he said.
"Turkey is a major supporter of the U.S. initiative. Once the last
foreign fighter leaves ... then we will initiate our program. The
Turks will be a great part of that," he said.
Grateful
"We are grateful for the support of the Turks," Burns added. "Turks
are acting consistent with ... European values. I think that some of
the other European countries want to emulate Turkey in this regard."
"We appreciate no further effort by the Turks until the last foreign
fighter has left," he said. Previously Burns said there were only four
Iranian fighters left, whose names, identities and addresses were
given to the Bosnian government.
Turkey and Croatia to sign military cooperation agreement
* Turkey and Croatia will sign the agreement during the two-day
visit of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to Ankara on June 19
Turkish Daily News
ANKARA- Croatian President Franjo Tudjman will visit Ankara by the
invitation of Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and the two countries
will sign a military cooperation agreement as well as tourism,
technology, and science cooperation agreements.
Croatia considers a military cooperation agreement with Turkey very
important to its goal of becoming a member of NATO, particularly
because Turkey has a lot of experience as a NATO member, the Anatolia
news agency reported.
The current cooperation agreement may pave the way for other
cooperation agreements between Croatia and Turkey in the defense
industry field. Such a cooperation has been made already between
Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
President Tudjman will visit Ankara for two days on June 19 and 20
with Defense Minister Gojko Susak and Foreign Minister Mate Granic.
During the visit, a protocol will also be signed, which will enable
the Turkish International Cooperation Agency to open a bureau in
Zagreb.
Recent developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be discussed during the
talks where the Turkish side will reportedly try to promote the
importance of strengthening the Bosnian-Croat Federation.
The Olympic struggle for human rights?
By David O'Byrne
Turkish Daily News
ISTANBUL- "Turkey is dedicated to advancing the cause of human
rights despite the presence of malign element- terrorism- pinching the
Turkish nation from within and without."
This rather ungainly quote is taken directly from the introduction to
a brochure on human rights published by the Turkish Minister of
Foreign Affairs. One of a package of material prepared for
participants in the UN Habitat II conference, this heavily qualified
and ungrammatical statement is fairly typical of the document as a
whole. For a country like Turkey with a more than dubious record in
the human rights department and aspirations to host the 2004 Olympics,
this government publication is far from unequivocal acceptance of
widely accepted standards.
In fact, the tone of the brochure is decidedly defensive. Much of the
brochure is concerned with alleged criticisms of the Turkish human
rights record by the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and its supporters.
But as a terrorist organization the PKK is certainly not noted for its
human rights record, so it's indeed strange that their opinions should
carry such weight. Shorter mention is made of other religious and
ethnic minorities, again aimed at countering what the Foreign Ministry
sees as unwarranted criticism from, apparently, foreign sources.
The unfortunate implication is that human rights are something only
demanded by "minority groups", and then only at the bidding of
'outside' forces. Despite giving details of numerous amendments to the
Turkish constitution and listing Turkey's many accessions to
international treaties, nowhere are human rights referred to as
something to which the Turkish population as a whole should be
concerned with.
At the Habitat NGO forum however, there was no sign of Turkish people
ignoring the human rights issue. In fact many ofthe stalls were
occupied with Turkish groups whose sole concern was human rights.
Chilling photographs and texts in several languages detail terrible
human rights' abuses in several different countries. Turkoman people
in Iraq have, not surprisingly perhaps, suffered terribly under the
despotic regime of Saddam Hussein. In western China - or eastern
Turkistan as it is also referred to - native Turkomens have been
removed from positions of authority as the region has been settled by
increasing numbers of Han Chinese moved in by the Chinese government.
Continued nuclear testing in the region has left many parts
uninhabitable and has led to the predictable increases in cancers.
Displays showing the results of Russian occupation of Chechenya and
the occupation of parts of Azerbaijn by Armenian government forces
were equally disturbing.
The Turkish speaking minority from Greece were also represented. Greek
government policy has long centered around moving the Turkish Muslim
community from Western Thrace to areas where it can more easily
assimilated. The closure of schools and mosques coupled with continued
harassment by the police and civil authorities has forced many to
Turkish Greeks leave. Another Foreign Ministry brochure available to
people attending Habitat details these and other human rights abuses.
Groups concerned with minorities inside Turkey received no such
official sanction however. This in spite of the government statement
reprinted above. On the contrary, foreigners attending the NGO forum
complained constantly about the presence of plain clothes policemen.
One utterly innocuous seminar on the "colourful life of dark people"
-- ie gypsies -- attracted 11 people, two of whom were plain clothes
police. While one of the policemen dominated the discussion with loud
irrelevant contributions, the other attempted to interview the three
Turkish participants and ascertain why they were interested in
gypsies.
Outside of Habitat too further Turkish interest in human rights issues
made itself evident. The Turkish human rights group IHD organized an
"Alternative Habitat" conference, only to find it closed down
practically before it started. Further interest was shown by the
friends and relatives of the 400 or so people who, since 1979, are
alleged to have "disappeared" whilst in police custody. Their silent
peaceful protests have been taking place outside Galatasaray school
for the past year. Coverage by the press was minimal, with journalists
attending dutifully in case of incident.
Last Saturday they were rewarded (sic). Although officially banned the
demonstration went ahead anyway with predictable results. A larger
than usual but none the less peaceful group of people attempted to sit
down in Galatasaray Square but were immediately set upon by the
legions of waiting police. Journalists, photographers and even
delegates from the Habitat conference were arrested, many being
severely beaten in the process. Television pictures of the unwarranted
brutality were shown all over the world and photographs were published
in many of the world's leading journals. A press conference held the
following day to protest at the arrests was also broken up by the
police with many arrests.
There were by this time an estimated 1500 people in custody. As
releases began - without charge - groups of people congregated outside
police stations to welcome their friends. Prominent human rights
lawyer Serpil Kaya emerged from her incarceration to find a group of
her friends being harassed by the police. On pointing out that they
weren't breaking the law she was immediately rearrested. Judging the
reaction of shocked delegates to the Habitat conference was not
difficult, they were only too happy to express their anger at what
they had witnessed. As a spokesman for the NGOs explained in a press
conference, "We have witnessed that hundreds of individuals have been
beaten, arrested and detained while demonstrating peacefully on the
city streets. We will not forget what we have seen."
During the whole length of the Habitat conference another
demonstration has been going on, largely unnoticed. Teams of runners
have been jogging along the Bosphorus bearing Olympic flags. Turkey's
bid for the 2000 Olympics failed to make much impression. The Habitat
conference is one of the first major international events to be staged
in Turkey. The current bid for the 2004 Olympic games has been making
good use of Habitat to show the international community what Turkey is
capable of. Those efforts now appear sadly wasted.
Until a Turkish government can make a statement regarding human rights
that is both unqualified and is seen to be put into practice it is
most unlikely that the international community will see fit to trust
Turkey with another event of major significance. After the events of
the past two weeks the effort required to bring the 2004 games to
Istanbul would seem to be more herculean than olympic.
Wounded Turkey takes on confident Portugal
* Up against the wall: Failure this evening means the end of the
line for Fatih Terim's side in Euro 96
By Keith N. Dearn
Turkish Daily News
ANTALYA- Following the heartbreaking goal five minutes from time
which dashed Turkey's hopes in its opening Euro 96 match against
Croatia on Tuesday, coach Fatih Terim maintained a spirit of optimism
in his statements to the press.
"Nothing has been lost," he said. "We still have a chance to make the
quarterfinals." Fighting words, but in its second Group D appearance
against Portugal this evening Turkey is right up against the wall. A
second defeat means curtains for its hopes of further progress. The
mathematics of this group are such that losing against Portugal would
give that country plus either Croatia or Denmark an unassailable lead
over Turkey whatever happens in the subsequent match between the
latter two. A draw for the Turks would keep their chances alive, but
they would then require victory in their final fixture against
Denmark.
Fatih Terim is still saying that he will leave the national team job
after this tournament to take over at Galatasaray. One of the possible
successors being tipped by the media is, astonishingly, the Gambling
Man Christoph Daum, the German coach who departed in disgrace from
Besiktas before the end of the domestic League season. Terim's team
selection on Tuesday was worthy of that master of the lunatic risk
himself and, although the players in the main did him proud, the coach
must know that he has to make changes once again. This time there is
no alternative to risk-taking -- Turkey has to go all out for three
points against Portugal.
What will Terim do? Here we, along with the rest of the sporting media
are guessing. We believe that he will probably stay with the same
defensive formation, which means keeping Rahim Zafer and young Vedat
Inceefe in the team, to allow Ogun Temizkanoglu to move into a more
attacking role once again.
Despite that late goal, the problem against Croatia lay not in defense
but in midfield and up front. In the second half, there was a yawning
gap in the center of midfield where Tugay Kerimoglu failed to
establish himself as playmaker. Tugay should either go or be relegated
once again to a supporting role. In our opinion, Terim has two options
here. He may move Sergen Yalcin to a more central position. Sergen did
not have a bad game against Croatia, though we do not share the
opinion of some that he was the star of the team. His problem was that
he spent most of the 90 minutes wide on the left, whence he had little
influence in setting up attacks. The other alternative, probably the
likelier one, is the return of captain Oguz Cetin. Terim may also be
tempted to add more speed and bite by bringing in Tayfun Korkut.
The coach's other problem is at the heart of the attack. Hakan Sukur
worked hard against the Croats but was tightly marked and received
virtually no support where it mattered, in the penalty area. Terim
must find a way of giving him that support and this could mean a place
in the starting lineup for Hami Mandirali at the expense of Arif
Erdem. Hami is, in any event, worth having around for his usefulness
in dead ball situations.
What of the opposition? Some pundits rated Portugal as the best side
in the competition after the opening round of matches, even though it
was, somewhat unluckily, held to a draw by Denmark. I wouldn't go that
far. I have not seen every minute of every game and, in any case, I do
not believe any one side has yet emerged as dominant. What I would say
is that of those I've seen, Portugal was by far the most fun to watch,
playing with a youthful swagger, invention and bravado that nobody
else quite matched. For certain the Portuguese midfield is more mobile
and more innovative than the Croatian one, which makes Terim's team
selection even more important.
But Portugal has its problems, too. Against the Danes, the defense
showed that it can be caught napping even by quite a moderate
attacking side. And the Portuguese strikers failed to turn superiority
into victory. It is no accident that coach Antonio Oliveira has had
his players practicing shooting skills in training. Nevertheless
Turkey will need to keep a tight grip on the likes of Rui Costa,
Ricardo Sa Pinto and, perhaps most of all, Joao Vieira Pinto, who
seems to have lost a shade of the aggression which took him to
Atletico Madrid and later to Benfica but who is still capable of
coming good on the big occasion. Although Domingos Oliveira appears
not to have fully recovered from a serious injury which kept him out
of the latter part of FC Porto's domestic campaign and probably will
not be a starter, he is a dangerous second-half wild card should
Oliveira need one.
Oliveira is not a man who speaks overmuch to the press, but his
assistant, Joaquim Teixeira, told journalists on Wednesday that major
changes are unlikely for this game. "When you are playing well, it is
best not to change anything," he said, "and in our last game we did
well." Predictably, Teixeira promised to attack the Turks: "We are
more developed technically, we have good attacking players, so it is
natural if we take the game to them."
Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan has been selected for a special fair
play award by Czech Soccer Association President Frantisek Chalovsky
because he did not bring Goran Vlaovic down illegally from behind in
the match against Croatia but instead allowed him to run on and score.
This is part of the Euro 96 Fair Play and Charity Project. The
fanatical Turkish fans who will pack the City Ground, Nottingham once
again this evening will not be looking for fair play so much as
victory. Who knows? Portugal is, make no mistake, a very tough nut to
crack but Turkey has cracked tough nuts already on its way to these
finals and there is no lack of courage and willpower in the team. Now
it's up to Fatih Terim to harness that courage and apply it in
productive ways.
PROBALE TEAMS
* Turkey: 22-Rustu Rencber, 4-Vedat Inceefe, 3-Alpay Ozalan,
15-Tayfun Korkut, 8-Ogun Temizkanoglu, 13-Rahim Zafer, 10-Oguz
Cetin, 17-Abdullah Ercan, 19-Tolunay Kafkas 7-Hami Mandirali,
9-Hakan Sukur.
* Portugal: 1-Vitor Baia, 3-Paulinho Santos, 16-Helder, 5-Fernando
Couto, 13-Dimas, 18-Folha, 10-Rui Costa, 19-Paulo Sousa, 20-Figo,
15-Dominguez 63, 9-Sa Pinto.
Standings
P W D L GF GA Pts
Croatia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Denmark 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Portugal 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Turkey 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
[end]