Anadolu Agency: News in English, 97-12-11

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>

11 DEC 1997

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-EU - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS EU TERM CHAIRMAN

[03] TURKEY-CENSURE - NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST RURAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING MINISTER REJECTED

[04] TURKEY-QUAKE - MILD QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM

[05] TURKEY-GREECE - GREEK FIGHTER JETS HARRASS TURKISH AIRCRAFTS - FM DENIES GREEK CLAIMS THAT TURKISH WAR PLANES FLEW OVER LARISSA AND SALONICA - ''GREECE TRIES TO CREATE A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION AGAINST TURKEY PRIOR TO EU SUMMIT''

[06] TURKEY-EXPORTATION - USD 207.6 MILLION OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

[09] TURKEY-EXPORTATION - TURKISH EXIMBANK'S IZMIR BUREAU DIRECTOR SELIM SENGUN: - ''WE WILL GIVE 450 TRILLION LIRAS OF CREDIT TILL THE END OF 1997''

[10] TURKEY-OIC - PRESIDENT DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY - DEMIREL: ''ALL INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES CONCERNING ISLAMIC WORLD WERE TAKEN UP IN OIC SUMMIT''

[11] TURKEY-D-8 GROUP - D-8 LEADERS CONVENE IN A DINNER IN TEHRAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES OF D-8 WORKING GROUPS''

[12] TURKEY-TOURISM - TOURISM MINISTRY TO ADD ''PHOTO SAFARI'', ''WIND SURF'' AND ''THERMAL TOURISM'' TO ALTERNATIVE TOURISMS

[13] TURKEY-US - PRIME MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN THE US

[14] TURKEY-ECONOMY - DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILE SELLINGS RISE BY 18 PERCENT AND IMPORTED AUTOMOBILE SELLINGS BY 128 PERCENT IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997 - IMPORTED AUTOMOBILES' MARKET SHARE RISES TO ITS MAXIMUM AVERAGE OF 37 PERCENT IN LAST 6 YEARS - AUTOMOBILE IMPORTATION FROM EU COUNTRIES INCREASES BY 128 PERCENT AND LIGHT-WEIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BY 533 PERCENT

[15] TURKEY-POLITICS - DTP DEPUTY SOYLEMEZ RESIGNS FROM HIS PARTY - INDEPENDENT DEPUTY PEKER JOINS DTP

[16] TURKEY-MARITIME - STATE MINISTER KARA: ''OUR TARGET FOR MARITIME INCOMES IS 10 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR'' - ''ESTABLISHMENT OF MARITIME MINISTRY WILL ENABLE US TO COMPETE WITH GREECE''

[17] EIGHTH OIC SUMMIT - ALL DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

[18] TURKEY-UN - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN'S CYPRUS REPORT DISTURBS BALANCE IN THE ISLAND

[19] TURKEY IN BRIEF - DECEMBER 11, 1997

[20] TURKEY-OIL - OIL PRODUCTION - TPAO PRODUCES 1.1 MILLION TONS OF OIL IN BATMAN REGION IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997

[21] TURKEY-TERRORISM - 17 TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTERN AND EASTERN TURKEY - APPROXIMATELY 100 TERRORISTS KILLED IN CROSS-BORDER OPERATION

[22] TURKEY-EU - GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL: ''TURKEY IS A MEMBER OF EUROPEAN FAMILY''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HÜRRİYET (LIBERAL)

MİLLİYET (LIBERAL)

ANGRY WITH ESAD AND RETURNED TO TURKEY
President Suleyman Demirel was angry with Syrian Head of State Hafız Esad, who said ''those who cooperate with Israel and think that they will encourage it regarding peace, are wrong.'' President Demirel returned to Turkey due to continuous criticisms about Turkey by saying that ''my work has finished in Tehran.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURİYET (LEFT)

EU MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG
Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz met Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker after EU decided to expand. Before the meeting, Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker met Greek Prime Minister Simitis. Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu said after the meeting that ''We wish Turkey to abide by international law and human rights just like other EU countries.''

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

RADİKAL (LEFT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-EU - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS EU TERM CHAIRMAN

Foreing Minister Ismail Cem and Luxembourg Foreing Minister Jacques Poos were also present in the meeting.

Prior to the meeting, Cem told reporters, ''we have said all we would say. Here we will not have discussions. If the result from the EU summit is positive, we do not have to celebrate, if it is negative, it will not be perceived as a disaster.''

Following the meeting which lasted three hours, the leaders refused to make any comments. But following a question bombardment from the reporters, Junker said, ''I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. My position is the same.''

Yılmaz and Cem later returned to Turkey. Upon his arrival at Ankara airport early on Wednesday, Yılmaz told reporters that his contacts in Luxembourg were ''useful.''

''We conveyed certain issues very clearly, and observed and discussed approaches on these issues. For us, it was a useful meeting,'' he said.

[03] TURKEY-CENSURE - NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST RURAL AFFAIRS AND HOUSING MINISTER REJECTED

Deputy Parliament Speaker Uluc Gurkan said the opposition had failed to find the backing of the 276 deputies necessary to bring down the coalition government at the vote, because they could only reach 244.

The parties in power rejected the censure motion, while the members of True Path Party (DYP) and Welfare Party (RP) said yes to the no-confidence voting. The members of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) did not participate in the vote where only 464 members participated.

[04] TURKEY-QUAKE - MILD QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM

Ataturk University Seismology Center in Erzurum said that the quake struck at 8:25 a.m. and the epicenter of the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.4 was 10 kilometers southeast of Erzurum.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

[05] TURKEY-GREECE - GREEK FIGHTER JETS HARRASS TURKISH AIRCRAFTS - FM DENIES GREEK CLAIMS THAT TURKISH WAR PLANES FLEW OVER LARISSA AND SALONICA - ''GREECE TRIES TO CREATE A NEGATIVE IMPRESSION AGAINST TURKEY PRIOR TO EU SUMMIT''

Foreign ministry sources told A.A that ''the Greek claims aim to create a negative impression against Turkey prior to EU summit to be held in Luxembourg.''

''These claims aim to create an impression as if Turkey makes provocative actions against Greece,'' the sources said.

Military sources also told A.A that Turkish fighter jets were on a routine exercise flight in the international airspace of the Aegean Sea.

''Our planes were intercepted by 10 Greek warplanes in the international airspace of the Aegean,'' the sources said, ''then upon their harassment, Turkish jets prevented the Greek fighters.''

The sources said Greek jets were four Mirage-2000s, four F-16s and two F- 4s.

Emphasizing that the Turkish warplanes were flying over 12500 feet and in the international airspace, the sources said the warplanes did not come close even to the 6 miles territorial waters of Greece. The sources said that their words can be confirmed with the information given to NATO.

''The Greek claims are untrue, and have political intentions in a critical period within the blackening campaign of Greece against Turkey as it always happen,'' the sources said.

[06] TURKEY-EXPORTATION - USD 207.6 MILLION OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997

The textile exportation was USD 129.5 million in the same period last year.

Southeastern Anatolia Textile Exporters' Union officials told A.A correspondent that thread exportation rose 81 percent to USD 90.4 million and fabric exportation rose 65 percent to USD 107.3 million while various textile products exportation dropped 32 percent to USD 9.9 million in last eleven months of this year.

Officials said they exported USD 26.8 million of cotton thread, USD 63.6 million of synthetic thread, USD 61.9 million of carpet, USD 25.5 million of fabrics, USD 14.5 million of plastic sack and USD 5.3 million of cotton and synthetic fabrics and towel in that period this year.

Oficials said they exported those textile products to Syria, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Italy, Jordan, Spain, France, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, USA, Israel, Greece, Russia, Algeria and Portugal.

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

(Derived from Newsspot of Turkish Directorate of General Press and Information)

ICO POURS COLD WATER ON TURKEY
President Demirel, in the Iranian capital of Tehran for a summit meeting of the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO), cut his visit short and returned to Ankara earlier than scheduled in reaction to the fierce criticism directed against Turkey at the summit. Demirel was planning to stay in Tehran until Thursday evening. Nevertheless, the tense atmosphere at the meeting and the anti-Turkish attitudes of the member-countries forced Demirel to leave the summit without waiting for the final session.

Demirel went to Tehran with reservations, because at a meeting prior to the summit the ICO Council of Ministers had accepted two drafts condemning Turco-Israeli rapprochement and the sweeping-up operation in Northern Iraq launched by the Turkish Armed Forces against the PKK terrorist organization. High-level Turkish officials even discussed whether or not Demirel should attend the summit at all.

Despite all the efforts exerted by Demirel, ICO members turned a deaf ear to Turkey's calls for cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, and two decisions criticizing operations in Northern Iraq and friendly relations with Israel were passed by the ICO summit, even though Turkey's name was not explicitly mentioned. Observers say that the final communique to be released today will harshly criticize Turkey. /Hurriyet/

EU MEETING IN LUXEMBORG
Before the European Union (EU) summit, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz met with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met his counterpart Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jaques Poos.

Diplomatic sources later reported that Junker also met with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in Athens before he talked with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. It was noted that Junker suggested a troika which would be responsible only for relations with Turkey. With this formula, Turkey-EU relations would not be discussed on platforms where agreement between all the member countries would be required, noted the same sources. However, it is also reported that Turkey does not look postively at the formula. /Cumhuriyet, Milliyet/

DEMIREL: TERRORISM IS A GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
President Suleyman Demirel released yesterday a message on the occasion of Human Rights Day. Demirel stressed that terrorism was a gross violation of human rights. He added that no country had a perfect human rights record and could give lessons to others on the issue. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also released a related message noting that attacks against Turkey under the pretext of protecting human rights were unacceptable. /Hurriyet/

CENSURE MOTION AGAINST MINISTER TOPCU REJECTED
A censure motion tabled by the opposition parties against Housing Minister Yasar Topcu for corruption charges in the construction of a Black Sea highway was rejected by Parliament yesterday. 464 deputies attended yesterday's sessions, and CHP deputies left the General Assembly when voting on the motion began. The opposition failed to collect the majority of 276 votes necessary to pass the censure motion and topple the minister. /All papers/

PUBLIC SERVANTS PROTEST UNSUFFICIENT SALARY INCREASES
Public servants, discontented with the 30 percent salary increase promised by the government, will go out on general strike today all over the country despite a circular issued by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to ban the strike. Transportation, communications and health services in the whole Turkey will be paralyzed. CHP leader Deniz Baykal voiced support for the strike and urged the government to take into account public servants' demands. /Hurriyet/

(CONTINUES)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

(Derived from Newsspot of Turkish Directorate of General Press and Information)

DEVELOPMENTS IN CASE FOR RP CLOSURE
The Constitutional Court convened yesterday to render its final decision in the case for the closure of the pro-religious Welfare Party (RP). The court decided to review once again video tapes and files related to the case, and postponed the final discussions on the fate of the RP to December 16. /All papers/

MERSIN NARROWLY ESCAPES DISASTER
A PKK attempt to sabotage the Atas Petrol Refinery in Mersin was prevented at the last moment by chance, when a gas bottle bomb was found. 900 people working in the refinery together with the 500 thousand population of Mersin were thus saved from what could have been a terrible disaster. /Hurriyet/

ANOTHER AEGEAN CONFRONTATION
It has been reported that Turkish war planes, making practice flights, were buzzed by the Greek Air Force over international waters in the Aegean Sea. It was claimed in a Greek television news bulletin that twelve Turkish Air Forces F16 war planes flew over Larissa and Thessaloniki and then over Sciros Island.This claim was denied by the General Staff yesterday.These flights were described as usual practice flights. /Milliyet/

AWARD TO RETIRED TURKISH AMBASSADOR
The Chilean government has presented a special award, given only to heads of governments and state leaders, to retired Ambassador Ildeniz Divanlioglu, appointed to Santiago between 1993-1997. The award will be presented to Divanlioglu by Chili Ambassador to Turkey, Jaime Pardo, during a ceremony in Ankara. /Cumhuriyet and all papers/

THY MAKES 2 TRILLION IN PROFITS
Following a 33 percent increase, Turkish Airlines (THY) reached 2.4 trillion TL in profits for the first nine months of this year. Last year THY made 3.4 trillion TL in yearly profits. /Sabah/

[09] TURKEY-EXPORTATION - TURKISH EXIMBANK'S IZMIR BUREAU DIRECTOR SELIM SENGUN: - ''WE WILL GIVE 450 TRILLION LIRAS OF CREDIT TILL THE END OF 1997''

Addressing a meeting titled ''Turkish Eximbank's Role In Benefiting From Aegean Region's Exportation Potential and Opportunities Offered By Turkish Eximbank'' organized by Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ESIAD), Selim Sengun said that totally 3,500 exporting companies are the customers of Turkish Eximbank.

Pointing out that nominal capital of the bank is 50 trillion liras and paid- in capital is 17.5 trillion liras, Sengun said, ''government promised to raise our paid-in capital to 50 trillion liras with the additional budget. This will help us to solve our source and assets problem. We will continue to seek for foreign sources.''

Briefing on Eximbank's Turkish Lira (TL) and foreign exchange credits programmes, Sengun said they give TL credits to uninsured companies with 75 percent rate of interest and they implement interest discount to insured ones. Pointing out that there has been a huge demand for Eximbank's credits when they started to implement less interest, Sengun said that they dropped interest rate of 0,5 percent of libor in foreign exchange credit to just libor.

Noting that Eximbank's foreign exchange credits slowed down since the sources have used for repayment of foreign credits, Sengun said they urge exporters to use TL credits.

Pointing out that the problem in foreign exchange credit will be disappeared by January 1998, Sengun said that 250 companies in Istanbul and 150 companies in Izmir are using special-programme performance credits.

[10] TURKEY-OIC - PRESIDENT DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY - DEMIREL: ''ALL INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES CONCERNING ISLAMIC WORLD WERE TAKEN UP IN OIC SUMMIT''

Addressing a statement at Esenboga Airport after he arrived in Ankara, President Demirel said that all international and regional issues which concern the Islamic world were taken up during OIC summit and member countries discussed the measures that can be taken to overcome the difficulties of Moslem societies.

''In the final declaration, which will be published by the end of the Summit on Thursday, OIC member countries extend support to the peace process regarding the solution of the Middle East problem. The declaration calls for strenghtening of Islamic solidarity regarding the situation of our kinsmen in Cyprus, Western Thrace and Azeri-Armenian conflict. Moreover, OIC Summit will take a decision about international cooperation against terrorism due to our extensive activities,'' said President Demirel.

President Demirel stated that he also made another speech as the Chairman of OIC Permanent Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation and said that OIC members can have a more effective place in world affairs by strenghtening their solidarity and cooperation among them.

Demirel pointed out that he gave information to OIC members about the sources of terrorism which effects Turkey very much and called those countries supporting terrorism to give it up. He said that OIC will adopt a decision on international cooperation against terrorism, as a result of Turkey's efforts.

Responding to a question if Iranian President Khatami's statement concerning the closure case of Welfare Party in Turkey created tension between Ankara and Tehran, or not, Demirel said, ''claims of tension are fabrications, scenarios.'' When one reporter asked ''Are you disappointed with the critics of Khatami against Turkey?'' Demirel said, ''no, I am not.''

Following a question if there will be a text concerning Iraq in the final declaration, Demirel said, ''there will be a condemnation text concerning border violations. The necessary explanations were made on this issue, and were recorded.''

Demirel stated that he held a productive meeting with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and also met Presidents of TRNC, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Gambia, Jordanian Crown Prince, Pakistani and Nigerian Prime Ministers, Krygyz Assistant President and Omani Deputy Prime Minister in Tehran.

Responding to a question about the final declaration which can include an article calling OIC countries to react against those countries which cooperate with Israel in the miliary field, President Demirel pointed out that ''we did what we could do and we have a reservation on that.''

Responding to a question of a foreign journalist in Tehran before leaving for Ankara on why he is leaving the summit early, President Demirel said that ''I have wrapped up all my work here, besides that I came here earlier on Monday. My departure in the morning or after midnight does not change anything and I do not have any problem with anybody or anything.''

[11] TURKEY-D-8 GROUP - D-8 LEADERS CONVENE IN A DINNER IN TEHRAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES OF D-8 WORKING GROUPS''

The leaders of D-8 countries met in an unofficial consultation dinner, headed by President Suleyman Demirel the same day and they took up and exchanged views about the developments regarding the D-8 group.

D-8 Executive Director Ayhan Kamel submitted a report to the leaders in the dinner regarding the progress recorded by working groups since Istanbul Summit was held on June 15, 1997 and his contacts with member countries.

President Demirel said that establishment of a D-8 Trade and Marketing Firm will contribute to improvement of insufficient trade volume between member countries.

Demirel also stressed that the pre-condition of a successful D-8 Group depends on the fact that it should attract the attention of private sector.

[12] TURKEY-TOURISM - TOURISM MINISTRY TO ADD ''PHOTO SAFARI'', ''WIND SURF'' AND ''THERMAL TOURISM'' TO ALTERNATIVE TOURISMS

Tourism Ministry officials told A.A correspondent that the Ministry aims to improve alternative tourisms like ''Belief Tourism'', ''Green Tour'', ''Steam Train Tour'', ''Rafting'', ''Trekking'', ''Photo Safari'', ''Wind Surf'' and ''Thermal-Health Tourism''.

The Ministry is planning to organize a ''Photo Safari'' tour covering the historical sites and natural regions having cultural values, flora and fauna-rich regions and bird heavens to this end. This tour is expected to cover Istanbul, Kayseri, Denizli, Pamukkale, Selcuk, Sultan Bird Heaven, Cappadocia, Izmir Agora Bird Heaven, Bandirma, Manyas Bird Heaven.

Tourism Ministry plans to organize Steam train tour, bird watching, film and photograph contests within the framework of that project lasted for 10- 12 days.

Tourism Ministry will start to set up qualified installations and determine thermal resources for improving thermal tourism. A thermal tourism project will be implemented after foreign market research.

The wind surf activity to which Turkish and foreign sportsmen and reporters will attend in Isparta Egridir will be realized within the content of 1998 tourism diversification project.

[13] TURKEY-US - PRIME MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN THE US

Prime Minister Yılmaz will participate in a reception that will be held by Federation of Turkish-American Associations in New York on December 17. Later on, effective Jewish institution named ''Anti Defamation League'' will give ''Distinguished Statesman Award'' to Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz. Yılmaz will later address a statement to New York Times and to Wall Street Journal on December 18 and he will ring the ''famous'' bell and open New York Stock Market the same day.

Prime Minister Yılmaz will proceed to Washington on December 18, and he will participate and make a speech in a dinner called ''International Forum'' hosted by American trade circles.

Prime Minister Yılmaz will receive US Energy Secretary Federico Pena, Defense Secretary William Cohen, State Secretary Madeleine Albright, Commerce Secretary William Daley, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, IMF Director Michel Camdesus and World Bank Director James Wolfenshon in Washington.

Later Yılmaz will meet leading American journalists and meet directors of various American firms in a dinner.

Prime Minister Yılmaz will hold separate meetings with US Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton on December 19 and meet Former President George Bush on December 21 and leave US the same day.

During his stay in US, Yılmaz will participate in conversation programmes in various TV channels.

US Vice President Al-Gore and Prime Minister Yılmaz will mainly take up energy issues, while the important issues of bilateral political and military relations, commercial and economic relations, Turkish-Greek relations, Cyprus, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Balkans and Caucasus, Iraq and struggle against terrorism will all be taken up during Clinton- Yılmaz meeting.

US administration is expected to permit American firms to bid in a tender that has been put out by Turkey for the joint production of helicopters, which is worth of 4,5 billion dollars.

[14] TURKEY-ECONOMY - DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILE SELLINGS RISE BY 18 PERCENT AND IMPORTED AUTOMOBILE SELLINGS BY 128 PERCENT IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997 - IMPORTED AUTOMOBILES' MARKET SHARE RISES TO ITS MAXIMUM AVERAGE OF 37 PERCENT IN LAST 6 YEARS - AUTOMOBILE IMPORTATION FROM EU COUNTRIES INCREASES BY 128 PERCENT AND LIGHT-WEIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES BY 533 PERCENT

The market share of imported automobiles rose to its maximum average of 37 percent in last six years.

Automotive Industry Association (OSD) officials told A.A correspondent that the automobile importation from European Union (EU) countries increased by 128 percent; automobile importation from Far East countries rose by 160 percent while automobile importation from former Soviet Union States decreased to 26 percent. Automobile total market share rose by 43 percent.

The importation of light-weight commercial vehicles (minibus and van) rose 112 percent to 52,875 each from 24,901 each during January-November 1997 period compared to same period in 1996.

Light-weight commercial vehicles importation's market share reached to 59 percent.

Domestic minibus and van selling increase average was 49 percent in the same period.

The motor vehicles importation from EU countries increased by 533 percent; motor vehicles importation from Far East countries rose by 59 percent and motor vehicles importation from former Soviet Union States increased by 61 percent.

Total sellings of light-weight commercial vehicles in last eleven months of 1997 rose by 81 percent compared to total amount in same period last year.

Meanwhile, total production in automotive industry in November was 38,359 each while this number was 354,639 each between January-November 1997.

The automobile selling statistics during January-November periods between 1992-1997 are as follows:

           AUTOMOBILE SELLINGS DURING JANUARY-NOVEMBER PERIOD

                     1992    1993     1994    1995    1996    1997
      ------------------------------------------------------------
      Domestic      229722  299773  180286  170929  156879  184451
      Imported       55123   84508   25045   17643   47012  107323
      Total         284845  384281  205331  188572  203891  291774
      Market share      19      22      12       9      23      37
      of importation
      (percent)

The light-weight commercial vehicles selling statistics during January- November periods between 1992-1997 are as follows:

                   LIGHT-WEIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES SELLINGS
                     DURING JANUARY-NOVEMBER PERIOD

                      1992    1993    1994    1995    1996    1997
      --------------------------------------------------------------
      Domestic        25817   28813   12653   19067   24649   36713
      Imported        11785   24707    7028    9818   24901   52875
      Total           37602   53520   19681   28885   49550   89588
      Market share       31     46       36      34     50       59
      of importation
       (percent)

[15] TURKEY-POLITICS - DTP DEPUTY SOYLEMEZ RESIGNS FROM HIS PARTY - INDEPENDENT DEPUTY PEKER JOINS DTP

Addressing a statement to A.A correspondent, Ufuk Soylemez said that ''I could hear about government decisions in the field of economy only in the newspapers and complained about this issue in the party administration, yet the latter did not take my complaints into account.''

Soylemez pointed out that True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller is his lecturer in the fields of ''customs union and privatization'', adding that he will again join his former party DYP next week.

With the resignation of Soylemez and participation of Peker to DTP, the recent number of chairs represented in the parliament according to the political parties is as follows:

Welfare Party (RP).....................150
Motherland Party (ANAP)................139
True Path Party (DYP)...................91
Democratic Left Party (DSP).............63
Republican People Party (CHP)...........55
Democratic Turkey Party (DTP)...........20
Great Union Party (BBP)..................8
National Movement Party (MHP)............2
Democratic Party (DP)....................1
Independents............................19
Vacant...................................2

[16] TURKEY-MARITIME - STATE MINISTER KARA: ''OUR TARGET FOR MARITIME INCOMES IS 10 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR'' - ''ESTABLISHMENT OF MARITIME MINISTRY WILL ENABLE US TO COMPETE WITH GREECE''

Kara told A.A correspondent that former government had planned to change existing Maritime Undersecretariat into Maritime Ministry but they will gather all organizations in maritime industry within Maritime Ministry structure.

Pointing out that Turkey has 8300 kilometers of coast and is more adventageous than its neighbours, Kara said, ''our aim is to increase ship construction volume from 500 thousand deadweight ton (dwt) to one million dwt and to be one of the top five countries in Naval Trade Fleet from existing 17th place by increasing our Naval Trade Fleet's volume from 11 million dwt to 20 million dwt.''

Burhan Kara said that Turkey had signed Naval Trade Agreements with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and Turkey will be enable to compete with Greece in the near future with the establishment of Maritime Ministry.

[17] EIGHTH OIC SUMMIT - ALL DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

The draft resolutions, which were submitted by Iraq and Syria were also adopted. Turkey had earlier put reservations on them.

Meanwhile, several member countries in a special session stated the amount of financial assistance they will extend to OIC, which has economic problems.

Saudi Arabia promised to give 10 million dollars, Qatar and Kuwait three million dollars, Iran one million dollar and Egypt will give 500,000 dollars to OIC.

Turkey did not promise to extend any financial assistance to OIC. A final communique titled ''Tehran Declaration'' is expected to be released in the closing session the same day.

[18] TURKEY-UN - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN'S CYPRUS REPORT DISTURBS BALANCE IN THE ISLAND

Secretary General Annan asked Council members for the extension of United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus' (UNFICYP) mission for another six months, until June 30, 1998, because Annan said that the situation in Cyprus continued to be marked by tension.

The Security Council will take up the Cyprus issue probably on December 19 and give its decision concerning this issue. Kofi Annan will submit another report on his good will mission before that date. Diplomatic sources told A.A that ''If the aim of the report is to give correct information to Security Council, so that the latter can take a right decision, but the report is lacking several points.''

Annan's report stressed that TRNC has modernized its tanks and bought 12 mortar guns, but it did not mention about the 50 battle tanks that were imported from Greece by the Greek Cypriot side, and the anti-aircrafts that the Greek Cypriot side will buy from Russia to protect its S-300 missiles, and the issue of Greek mercenaries in Greek Cypriot side. These issues have recently been made public by the Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides.

The report did not mention either the kidnapping of two Turkish Cypriots by the Greek Cypriot police who entered into the buffer zone without permission in October 23.

[19] TURKEY IN BRIEF - DECEMBER 11, 1997

Dr. Ali Erdemir broke the friction coefficient 20 times by his invention.

U.S Department of Energy officials said that the invention of Dr.Ali Erdemir decreased the friction coefficient to almost zero.

ANKARA - Council of Ministers on Thursday approved the protocols signed between Turkey and TRNC.

The ''Cooperation Protocol'' signed between State Ministry and TRNC National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry, the ''Cooperation Protocol'' signed between State Ministry and TRNC Agriculture and Forestry Ministry and the ''Cooperation Protocol'' signed between State Ministry and TRNC Economy Ministry were published in the Official Gazette on Thursday.

ANKARA - State Minister Mehmet Batalli and an accompanying delegation including Turkish businessmen on Thursday left for Eritrea to hold official contacts.

State Ministry said in a written statement that State Minister Mehmet Batalli and the accompanying delegation will take up the issues of ''setting up the legal infrastructure of bilateral trade and economic relations'' and ''signing of commercial, economic and technical cooperation agreement to create new foreign markets'' during their contacts in Eritrea with Eritrean high-ranking officials.

Batalli will then proceed to Ethiopia and return to Turkey on December 19.

ANKARA - State Minister Yucel Seckiner responsible for Youth and Sports and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Gunay Caymaz on Thursday signed the final communique of the meetings regarding the sportive relations between two countries.

The communique, which was issued after the contacts between two countries' youth and sports ministers between December 8-11 in Ankara, stated that the sports embargo, which has been laid on TRNC youth and sportsmen for years, was against to human rights and should be lifted immediately.

The communique also stated that some changes will be realized in concerned regulations to lift of TRNC sportsmen's foreign statue implementation in Turkey.

The communique foresees the necessary studies for the organization of tournaments of every sports-branches also in TRNC.

Turkish sports federations will launch every initiatives for the attendance of TRNC representatives and sportsmen to meetings, courses, seminars, international tournaments and championships of international sports federations within the opinion of international federations.

ISTANBUL - Businessman and industrialist Jak Kamhi was entitled with French government's honorary order of merit ''Commandeur dans L'Ordre National du Merite a'' (French National Order Of Merit), it was reported on Thursday.

Addressing the ceremony held in French Consulate in Istanbul, French Ambassador to Ankara Lebedel said that Kamhi is Turkey's and world's peace and economy envoy. Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin also participated in the ceremony.

ISTANBUL - A 12-member trade delegation led by Romanian Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Niculae Constantin on Thursday visited Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO).

ITO Deputy Secretary General Dr. Cengiz Ersun said in the meeting that the trade volume between Turkey and Romania is insufficient.

Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Niculae Constantin said that the number of Turkish-Romenian corporations recently reached to 92 from 42 in 1994.

ANKARA - An Ukranian delegation including 20 importers and investors will come to Istanbul on December 16 within the framework of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat's ''increase in exportation project'', it was reported on Wednesday.

Foreign Trade Undersecretariat said in a written statement that Miidle East Anatolia Exporters' Union (OAIB) will hold a seminar to brief Ukranian importers on Turkey's exportation potential and general position.

[20] TURKEY-OIL - OIL PRODUCTION - TPAO PRODUCES 1.1 MILLION TONS OF OIL IN BATMAN REGION IN LAST 11 MONTHS OF 1997

Atalay told A.A correspondent that thay realized 83,781 meters of drilling studies in 26 research and 14 production wells during January-November 1997 period.

Pointing out that crude oil production rose 2 percent to 7,570 thousand barrels in first eleven months of 1997 compared to same period last year, Atalay said, ''we think oil production will rise to 8 million barrels at the end of the year. Oil production in Batman region rose by 1,4 percent compared to 1996. Drilling meter rose by 40 percent this year compared to 1996.''

[21] TURKEY-TERRORISM - 17 TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTERN AND EASTERN TURKEY - APPROXIMATELY 100 TERRORISTS KILLED IN CROSS-BORDER OPERATION

Emergency Rule Regional Governor's Office said that security forces killed five terrorists in rural areas of Direkli village of Bingol province, five terrorists near Yerkaya village of Bingol province, four terrorists in Hizan township of Bitlis, two terrorists near Derince village of Batman province and one terrorist in Cal region of Siirt province.

Meanwhile, one terrorist in Direkli village of Genc province and another one in Kulp region of Diyarbakır province surrendered to the security forces.

While the operations against the separatist terrorist organization are underway in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, the cross border operation staged by Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq also continues.

Turkish Armed Forces staged air operations the same day on Hakurk region where the separatist terorist organization settled.

Turkish Forces continue to hit the targets, which were earlier determined. F-4 and F-16 aircrafts bombed the routes of the terrorists where they tried to escape to Iran on Wednesday. After the bombardement, Cobra and Super Cobra helicopters searched valleys and killed many terrorists.

Noting that the main goal of the operation is to hit winter stocks of terrorists, officials stressed that Turkish troops discovered many shelters in the triangle between Turkey-Iran-Northern Iraq.

Officials said that the cross-border operation has been succesful and approximately 100 terrorists have been killed so far.

[22] TURKEY-EU - GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER KINKEL: ''TURKEY IS A MEMBER OF EUROPEAN FAMILY''

Addressing a speech in German parliament, Kinkel stated that EU should expand step by step, adding that ''EU should not be forced concerning its expansion process.''

Stating the EU Summit that will be held in Luxembourg, Kinkel pointed out that 11 candidate states of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus should be given full membership perspective during the Summit.

Evaluating the status of Turkey in EU expansion process, Kinkel added that ''we are resolved to support further improvement of EU-Turkish relations and we know that strengthening of Turkey's status in Europe is also to our interest.''

Noting that ''Turkey belongs to European family'', German Foreign Minister Kinkel added that they owe Turkey an honest answer, and ''in that respect, we should not stay indifferent regarding free movement, human right applications and Kurdish issue. EU asked Turkey to solve these issues and we are ready to help them to this end,'' Kinkel said.

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