TDN: Turkey/Israel/US/NATO

[english at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl]

TDN: Sep. 06 1997

                   Israeli trade minister to visit Ankara
                                       
     * Visiting Israeli diplomats visit GAP project
       
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
    By Saadet Oruc / Turkish Daily News
    
   Ankara - Israeli trade minister, Natasa Schcheransky, is to pay a
   visit to Ankara, most probably in September, to participate in talks
   on the recently approved free trade deal between Turkey and Israel,
   the Turkish Daily News learned on Friday.
   
   According to an earlier TDN report, a mini-commercial crisis took
   place between the two countries because of Turkey's failure to stop
   charging duties on Israeli imports, in violation of a free-trade
   agreement.
   
   Then, after repeated pressure from Israeli officials, Turkey began
   implementing the free-trade agreement with Israel.
   
  Israeli diplomats visit GAP
  
   A group of Israeli diplomats, visiting Turkey, left Ankara on Friday
   evening for the southeastern cities in order to gain detailed
   information about the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).
   
   "There are Israeli private companies participating in some of the
   constructions in the framework of the GAP project. We are interested
   in the project," said Israeli diplomats.
   
   Diplomats from various departments of the Israeli Foreign Ministry
   were invited by the Turkish Foreign Ministry's training center to hold
   discussions with their Turkish counterparts on a variety of foreign
   policy issues, regional problems and bilateral relations during their
   one-week visit to Ankara.
   
   The group also visited the plant of the Turkish Aerospace Industry
   (TAI) where the F-16 fighter jets are being produced.
   
   Turkey and Israel have been having close contact, not only in defense
   and security fields but, also in areas related to the economy. Israel
   and Turkey are making efforts to increase their cooperation not only
   in the energy field, concerning Caspian oil reserves, but also in
   water.
   
   Meanwhile, Arab countries have voiced their concerns over the joint
   Turkish-Israeli-United States naval maneuver which is reportedly
   planned to take place between Nov. 15-25.
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
                      Cohen praises Turkish role in NATO
                                       
     _________________________________________________________________
                                      
   Turkish Daily News
   
   Ankara - U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen said in Florida
   thatwith Turkey's participation in NATO since 1952, the democratic
   wall in Europe had been strengthened.
   
   Speaking at a meeting in Florida, Cohen said that he doesn't agree
   with some circles which think that the enlargement of NATO will weaken
   the body's structure, saying that on the contrary, such enlargement
   will strengthen NATO.
   
   "NATO, which was established in 1949, fortified its defenses with
   Greece and Turkey's participation in 1952, Germany's in 1955 and
   Spain's in 1982, and the recent enlargement of NATO will further
   strengthen NATO," Cohen stated.
List info: english-request at ozgurluk.xs4all.nl