Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Özeti
move came on the heels of U.S. President
Clinton's August 5, 1996 signing of the controversial
Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, which gave
him power t~ ~nalize non-U.S. f~ ~at
invest $40 nullion or more per year ID either
country's
''1be
oil and natural gas sectors.
value of the deal- Tehran's largest
gas export project to date - is $23 billion over
23 years," Akbar Torkan, Iran's Roads and
Transport Minister said in a press conference
last year.
Currently, Turkey imports around 10 billion
cubic meters of gas yearly from Russia and
Algeria. Construction of the Tabriz-Erzurum
pipeline, which will pump another.10 billion
cubic meters from Iran and Turkmenistan is set
to begin in a few months. The construction is
forecast to be finished by the end of 1999.
Rapidly-growing domestic demand and
lucrative reexport opportunities to Western
markets provide strong incentives for Ankara to
expand its natural gas imports.
Geographic proximity to major producers of
the commodity place Turkey on the cutting
edge of the market.
The agreement involves the sale of 4 billion
cubic meters of gas annually, which will be
increased gradually to hit 10 billion cubic
meters by the year 2010. The plan is scheduled
to take effect in 1999 after the construction of a
260-kilometer pipeline from the Iranian city of
Tabriz to Turkey. Iran will also build a pipeline
from Tabriz to the bordertown of Teba under
the agreement.
Iran has had its sights set on a jewel deal
such as the 23-year agreement gas supply projectwith
Turkey since the Islamist Welfare
Party came into power as the senior coalition
partner. "Under Premier Erbakan Turkey is no
longer a province of the United States of
America," the English-language Tehran Times
said in an editorial. Iran News commented,
''1be 'Friendship Pipeline' will block the way
of hostile foreign influence and will allow the
two countries to endure proper and friendly
relations for generations to come."
But Ankara had been searching for possible
ways of negotiating with its close neighbor
since the late President Turgut Ozal' sattempts
for closer economic coo~ration
Islamic republic were imtiated.
with the
Commercial ties remain Important
Two years ago, political and economic relations
between Iran and Turkey witnessed an upward
trend. High-ranking officials from both countries
held meetings and contacts which were
seen as "constructive" on both sides. Im{X>rt
and export figures rose considerably dunng
1995, state statistics indicated. Turkeyalso
renewed its oil import agreement with Iran for
at least 4.5 million tons annually, the amount
which it currently imports from its neighbor.
During the recent official visit in December
by Iranian Presideqt Hashemi Rafsanjani, deals
on trade, mutual enterprise protection and promotion,
marine tradè, the environment, agriculture,
joint industry and commerce chamber protocol,
and many other plans were signed,
bumping trade volume between Iran and
Turkey upward by an estimated sum of $2 bil-
chief of Iranian-Security Forces
Tansu Ciller says sbe has warned
says.
Iran to halt its support for the PKK.
SEPTEMBER
17- Ankara criticizes Tehran for
8- The foreign ministers of Iran failin2 to IlT'Cyentinfùtrations of
Syria and Turkey hold talks in ,PKK separatIst from Iran to Turkey.
:Tehran on the situation in neighbor- OCTOBER
~g ~ and defend the territorial 6- Iran says it has arrested a
mtegnty of that country. Turkish spy and implies that three
.DECEMBER Turkish diploma~ at the e~bassy in
, . Tehran knew ofhis operatIons.
25- Iran s state-run radio wel- 7- Turkey rejects Iranian allegacome~
the succc;ss of the Welfare tions that its diplomats had helped a
Paf!Y II! Turkey' s general elections, spy.
saymg It was likely to shift secular
Ankara toward a pro-Islamic stand.
.1111
MARCH
11- Istanbul Police Chief Orhan
T~ar says that Iran Ça~Cl an
Islami!it hit man involved m a siring
of attacks on journalists, businessmen
and Iranian dissidents bad
been trained in Iran. '
APRIL
.9- Turkey reassures Iran that an
accord it signed with Israel does Dot
ÏJ?volve opening Turkish bases and
arrspace to the Israeli Air Force.
9- An Iranian security official
says four Turkish diplomats have
been arrested for spying in western
~. Turkey denies the Iranian allegatiOn.
11- Four Iranian diplomats,
accused by Turkey of mvolvement
in the killing of secular figures and
ordered withdrawn
by Ankara. say
DECEMBER
19- Iranian President Rafsanjani,
accompanied by a large delegatIon,
starts a four-day visit to Turkey.
20- The Umted States expresses
disapproval of a visit by President
Rafsanjani to Turkey and advised
Ankara against improYing ties Mth
Tehran.
23- Turkisb Foreign Ministry
spokesman Omer Akbel says that
cooperation with Iran in the defense
industry field is out of the question
for the time being.
1112
JANUARY
31- Iran' s ambassador to Ankara
Mohammed Reza Ba2heri speaks
during a "Jerusalem Night" cerem