Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris
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Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Basm Öz<strong>et</strong>i<br />
some time. with the Russian Fe<strong>de</strong>ratiöjlover the Revolutionary Gùaids, and IrdIl<br />
the objections of the West'<br />
is believed to have an estimated<br />
The militari situation<br />
Iran is trying to strengthen its<br />
Though Iran claims that its<br />
nuclear facilities are subject to<br />
400-500 ~ons ofchemic~ weapons.<br />
Along with short-range ballistic<br />
anned forces in'line wim its goals in~tiOi1 by the International missile production. Iran is trying to<br />
of having a say m' the Middle East Atomic Energy Agency, and that expand the range of its SCUD BIC<br />
and in Ùle Central Asian republics. these facilities are being used for missiles - obtained from the - '<br />
Since its Islamic Revolution peaceful aims, the country is Russian Fe<strong>de</strong>ration and North<br />
this country has co\'ered significant expected to gain in the medium Korea ~ beyond the 100 kilom<strong>et</strong>er<br />
ground not only in îts conventional term the technology nee<strong>de</strong>d for range to gain the capacity to hit tararmaments<br />
drive but also in the nuclear weapons production. No g<strong>et</strong>s in Israel.<br />
fieId f <strong>de</strong> . substantive information exists as to Although the T-";an anned<br />
0 mass strucbon weapons. . al 1J cuu<br />
Efforts to create a nuclear infrà- the production of biologiC forc;es are <strong>de</strong>ployed primarily<br />
tru .. 'all weaoons in h:m. butjt is belièved towards the Gulf Remon, Iran has<br />
s c~e are connnumg, espeC1 Y that work in this area is still at the C"<br />
to reparr and ren<strong>de</strong>r operational the research stage. Chemical weapons become a greater potential military<br />
Bushehr reactor in cooperation production is be, ing Qrgaru, .zed by threat for Turkey as a result of the<br />
, intensified- Irarùan arms buildup.<br />
Business as usual with Iran <strong>de</strong>spite crises<br />
ELlF SEMÎHA KÜFLÜ<br />
Ankara-Turkish Daily News<br />
Though political controversy, bor<strong>de</strong>r<br />
security and regime problems usually<br />
take center stage in the relations<br />
b<strong>et</strong>ween Turkey and Iran, things do<br />
move forward when "mutual interests" are at<br />
stake,<br />
On the whole, Turkish-Iranian links have<br />
been a mine field of crisis but in the realm of<br />
economic tiesthere have been more ups than<br />
downs over the past seven years.<br />
Economic interests have been a conclusive<br />
factor during this period for both nations and,<br />
specifically, the huge natural gas supply<br />
scheme recently signed is the crowning <strong>de</strong>al.<br />
International business circles li~t Turkey and<br />
Iran as large "emerging mark<strong>et</strong>s" and attempts<br />
to capitalize on this opportunity are growing.<br />
, Irait is rich in resources, with human<br />
, resource potential to me<strong>et</strong> the <strong>de</strong>mands of the<br />
region as well as Western <strong>de</strong>mands - and<br />
Turkey is not the only country with a geograph-'<br />
, ic .arid,strategie advantage... ' '<br />
Iran can be seen as a dome that covers and<br />
negcitia~~s within a prospective ~ea - .<br />
Azerbw)an,AnneD.I8, Turkmemst1Jn, Pakist1Jn<br />
andAfghanistan- with the major portion of<br />
the world's cru<strong>de</strong> oil being exported through<br />
the Strait ,of Hormuz and, of course, the world' s<br />
. largest inland water basin, the Caspian Sea. ,<br />
The 2Sooyearnatural. gas .<strong>de</strong>al<br />
Iiài1 bal; 21 trillion cubie m<strong>et</strong>ers of gas reserves,<br />
ranking itst;cond to Russia in this commodity.<br />
The country' is the world' s third largest oil<br />
e~porter behind Saudi Arabia and Norway,<br />
earning $16 billion' a year from such exports.<br />
Turkey came to the brink of losiog its longtime<br />
and most,important ally, the United States,<br />
when it signed a multibillion dollar natural gas<br />
.<strong>de</strong>al with Iran to buy Iranian and Central Asian<br />
natural gas, and announced the construction of<br />
a pipeline b<strong>et</strong>ween Turkey and Iran.<br />
.Turkey,perhapsfor the frrst time in its history,<br />
acted without bending to its strongest<br />
ally's views and openly signed the <strong>de</strong>al. TIùs<br />
Chronologyof key events<br />
in Turkish-Iranian ties<br />
1IH<br />
Part. 2.<br />
, JANUARY.<br />
31- A three-man Turkish <strong>de</strong>legation<br />
leaves for Iran to investigate .<br />
damage done by a Turkish air raid<br />
on a Kurdistan Workers' Party<br />
, (PKK) camp the previous week and<br />
a claim that nine Iranians were<br />
killed. Iran <strong>de</strong>mands an apology<br />
and compensation.<br />
FEBRUARY<br />
3- Turkey says an air raid aimed<br />
at PKK camps in Iraq had killed<br />
Iranians by mistake, and expresses<br />
"<strong>de</strong>ep sorrow" over the inci<strong>de</strong>nt,<br />
indicating it will do what it can to<br />
make reparations.<br />
MARCH<br />
26- Turkey says Iran has turned<br />
over 14 PKK members who had<br />
escaped over their joint bor<strong>de</strong>r from<br />
a sweeping military operation in the<br />
East'<br />
APRIL<br />
1- Iran's Ambassador in Turkey<br />
Mohammed Reza Bagheri and<br />
Iranian Erzurum Consul General<br />
Mohammed Reza Rasit visit the<br />
newly elected Erzurum Mayor<br />
Ersan Gema1maz, who is from the<br />
pro-Islamic Welfare Party (RP).<br />
JULY<br />
25- Turkish Presi<strong>de</strong>nt Demirel<br />
holds talks \Vith Iranian P..resi<strong>de</strong>nt<br />
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in<br />
Tehran.on secwity cooperation and<br />
economic and regional issues.<br />
1IH<br />
APRIL<br />
16- Turkish Foreign Minister<br />
Erdal Inonu tells a concerned Iran<br />
that Turkey plans to withdraw its<br />
troops from northern Iraq in the<br />
immediate future after compl<strong>et</strong>ing a<br />
sweep against the PKK in the<br />
region.<br />
MAY<br />
3- Iranian Oil Minister<br />
Gholamreza Aghaza<strong>de</strong>h says in<br />
Ankara Iran would sell Turkey 4<br />
million tons of cru<strong>de</strong> oil in 1995,<br />
the same amount as in 1994.<br />
5- Turkey and Iran sign an energy<br />
agreement worth around $20billion<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r which Tehran would<br />
supply Turkey with natural gas for<br />
23 years.<br />
JUNE<br />
26- Iran backs a Turkish plan for<br />
joint mili~ action against the<br />
PKK on th<strong>et</strong>r common bor<strong>de</strong>r, but<br />
stopped short of l<strong>et</strong>ting Turkish<br />
troops enter its territory.<br />
21- Turkey insists that PKK<br />
members driven away from their<br />
bases in northern Iraq are now<br />
installing themselves in Iranian territory.<br />
AUGUST<br />
3- Iran has han<strong>de</strong>d over 34 terrorists<br />
to Turkey, Ali Reza Barati,<br />
, ,<br />
36