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

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

12 DEC 1997

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-US - PARLIAMENT GENERAL COUNCIL APPROVES ''AGREEMENT FOR PREVENTION OF DOUBLE-TAXATION AND TAX EVASION'' BETWEEN TURKEY AND US

[03] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITIES OF AGAR AND BUCAK LIFTED

[04] TURKEY-RUSSIA - RUSSIAN PREMIER CHERNOMYRDIN TO VISIT TURKEY

[05] TURKEY-EU - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ NOT TO LEAVE FOR LUXEMBOURG

[06] TURKEY-QUAKE - THREE MILD QUAKES SHAKE ERZURUM

[07] TURKEY-WESTERN THRACE - MEHMET EMIN AGA SENTENCED TO 16 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT

[08] TURKEY-EU - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''I DO NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS WITH A UNION WHICH DOES NOT REGARD ME AS A CANDIDATE''

[09] TURKEY-EU - EU SUMMIT STARTS - TURKISH VETO, NOT GREEK VETO DISCUSSED

[10] TURKEY-ECONOMY - BANKS' DEPOSITS RISES BY 164.8 TRILLION LIRA AND BANKS' CREDITS BY 119.6 TRILLION LIRA

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - DECEMBER 12, 1997

[12] EIGHTH OIC CONFERENCE ENDS

[13] TURKEY-MARITIME - STATE MINISTER KARA: - ''MARITIME MINISTRY WILL BE SET UP IN 1998''

[14] TURKEY-TERRORISM - SEVEN TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

[15] TURKEY-QUAKE - MILD QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM

[16] TURKEY-ACCIDENT - TWO TOURISTS DIE, 18 PEOPLE INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

[17] TURKEY-EU - BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN: ''WE WANT TO SEE TURKEY AMONG CANDIDATE STATES''

[18] TURKEY-ECONOMY - SALOMON BROTHERS'S SUBORDINATE BODY SALOMON SMITH BARNEY: - ''TURKISH MARKETS ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEITHER BAD NOR WELL IN 1998''

[19] EU SUMMIT - EU LEADERS DISCUSS EXPANSION PROCESS

[20] TRNC-OIC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS ARRIVES IN TURKEY: ''OIC SUMMIT PLEASED US''

[21] TURKEY-RUSSIA - NEW ERA IN TURKEY-RUSSIA RELATIONS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HÜRRİYET (LIBERAL)

MİLLİYET (LIBERAL)

CIVIL SERVANT DEMONSTRATION
Civil servants, who think the 30 percent increase of their salaries for the first half of 1998 is not enough and who wish to exercise the right to set up trade unions, demonstrated yesterday and they did not work. Life stopped in big cities, trains did not work, schools were closed because teachers were out. No incident took place due to sensitive attitutes of civil servants and the measbures taken by police.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURİYET (LEFT)

TURKEY ISOLATED FROM EUROPE
Eastern and Western Europe united in historical European Union (EU) Summit that will be held in Luxembourg. The Union did not extend any promises to Turkey, because Turkey reacted hershly to the concessions which EU wanted from Turkey regarding Cyprus and Greek issues. Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker said the full membrship of Turkey will take ages, adding that ''EU can not sit together with a torturing country.''

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

RADİKAL (LEFT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-US - PARLIAMENT GENERAL COUNCIL APPROVES ''AGREEMENT FOR PREVENTION OF DOUBLE-TAXATION AND TAX EVASION'' BETWEEN TURKEY AND US

Official information regarding Turkish people's properties in the US would be gathered from American authorities in accordance with the agreement approved by Parliament's General Council.

The law, which foresees the control of information exchange and commercial relations between two countries, aims at preventing of double-taxation on 56 Turkish companies in the US and 251 American firms in Turkey.

[03] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITIES OF AGAR AND BUCAK LIFTED

The Parliamentary General Council took up the report of Constitutional and Justice Joint Commission which foresees the lifting of immunuties of Agar and Bucak due the investigation files of Istanbul State Security Court. After the discussions, the lifting of parliamentary immunities of Agar and Bucak were voted separately.

In the vote regarding Former Interior Minister Agar, 473 parliamentarians participated and 273 votes against 193 said yes to lift immunity of Agar.

In the second vote, 450 parliamentarians participated and 282 against 160 voted to lift the immunity of Bucak.

Addressing a statement after the vote, Sedat Bucak said ''I respect every decision of the parliament,'' adding that the accusations brought against him are not true and the decision is political.

Responding to questions of A.A correspondent, Mehmet Agar said the decision was not surprising for him, adding that ''there are judges and prosecutors in Turkey, I will wait and see what happens afterwards.''

Meanwhile, Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said ''It is justice's turn to decide,'' regarding the lifting of parliamentary immunities of Mehmet Agar and Sedat Bucak.

Former Interior Minister Agar, and Bucak were accused of ''involving organisations with the aim of committing crimes,'' within a scandalous state gang case which caused the lifting of their immunities.

[04] TURKEY-RUSSIA - RUSSIAN PREMIER CHERNOMYRDIN TO VISIT TURKEY

Foreign Ministry officials said that Premier Chernomyrdin will start his contacts on December 15. Premier Chernomyrdin and a crowded accompanying delegation will proceed to Istanbul to meet Turkish businessmen to further improve commercial cooperation after wrapping up their contacts in Ankara.

Russian Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation will leave Turkey on December 16.

The main topic of the contacts will be ''improving political and commercial relations'' which lost their rapidity due to tense relations especially in recent years.

The issue of ''Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline'' is expected to be taken up and a new pipeline agreement is expected to be signed during Chernomyrdin's visit to Turkey.

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin before his visit to Turkey said in Moscow, ''I believe the meeting with Premier Yilmaz will contribute to two countries' relations.''

Chernomyrdin said that Turkey and Russia, the rapidly developing and neighboring countries in the region, should be ''strategic partners.''

[05] TURKEY-EU - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ NOT TO LEAVE FOR LUXEMBOURG

Foreign Ministry officials said that the decision was taken during the meeting between Prime Minister Yılmaz and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean- Claude Juncker on Thursday evening.

The same sources pointed out that the decision was taken because there is not a clear sign that Turkey will be included in EU candidate states.

Stressing that the EU will start to discuss its decision regarding Turkey on Friday evening, officials added that important developments can take place till then, because contacts between Turkey and EU countries still continue.

[06] TURKEY-QUAKE - THREE MILD QUAKES SHAKE ERZURUM

Ataturk University Seismology Center in Erzurum officials said that the quakes struck at 8:41 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 10:03 a.m. with preliminary magnitudes of 2.9 and 3.5.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

[07] TURKEY-WESTERN THRACE - MEHMET EMIN AGA SENTENCED TO 16 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT

Mehmet Emin Aga who was elected as mufti by Turkish minority in Xhanti in 1990, was accused by the Greek government of ''seizing the post'' and of acting ''illegally'' and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment by the Court in Lamia.

Aga, who was released after applying to a higher court of appeal, had earlier been accused, tried and put into prison in Larisa for six months.

In accordance with the international law and agreements, Turkish minority in Western Thrace of Greece, has the right to elect their mufti. But Greece, violating these agreements, insists to impose a mufti appointed by Athens.

[08] TURKEY-EU - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''I DO NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS WITH A UNION WHICH DOES NOT REGARD ME AS A CANDIDATE''

Evaluating Turkish-EU relations and Luxembourg Summit in private NTV Channel, Foreign Minister Cem stated he reiterated the fact to his counterparts that Turkey will not give any sign regarding the Cyprus question, adding that Cyprus question can not be solved in the short run.

Cem stressed that he told the leaders of EU countries that a federation can not be set up in the island as long as problems like S-300 missiles continue and the two communities in Cyprus are not considered as equals.

Responding to a question regarding the reaction of Turkey if a satisfying result does not come out from Luxembourg Summit, Foreign Minister Cem said ''We will do what is necassary in accordance with Turkey's interests, but on the right time.''

Cem pointed out that European Conference is not considered outside the expansion process of EU and Turkey still thinks whether to participate in it or not.

Noting that Turkey does not aim to deteriorate its relations with the EU, Cem stated that ''if we do not like the result of the Summit, naturally we will not take the questions of EU regarding Cyprus question into account.''

Noting that Turkey will continue to speak about economic issues with the EU, Cem said this is a right of Turkey which stems from the Customs Union deal.

[09] TURKEY-EU - EU SUMMIT STARTS - TURKISH VETO, NOT GREEK VETO DISCUSSED

''Turkish-EU relations'' will be the number one issue during the Summit.

Western European press members say that they expect ''possible news and statements from Ankara,'' while Eastern European journalists and diplomats are worried that the summit can be a disaster due to tense Turkish-EU relations.

Although the term president Luxembourg stated that it will not permit the Luxembourg Summit to transform into a Turkey Summit, the news claims that ''As long as Turkish issue is not solved, expansion process can come under shadow and the leaders seem uneasy about it.''

Speculations make press members excited like the possibility of Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz's visit to Luxembourg on Friday and meet Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis during a meeting held between EU leaders.

Moreover, Greek press members mention ''Turkish veto rather than Greek one in the Summit'' and note that ''the resolved attitute of Turkey created astonishment in EU.''

Meanwhile the statements of Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker who used negative words about Turkey are described as ''timeless and unlucky.''

French journalists say that Juncker was criticized by the EU leaders and he will compensate that.

[10] TURKEY-ECONOMY - BANKS' DEPOSITS RISES BY 164.8 TRILLION LIRA AND BANKS' CREDITS BY 119.6 TRILLION LIRA

The total deposits in banks rose to 4.9 quadrillion liras on November 21 from 4.7 quadrillion liras on November 14 according to Central Bank's statistics.

Public banks' total deposits rose 110.7 trillion liras to 3.1 quadrillion liras on November 21 from 3 quadrillion liras on November 14.

Private banks' total deposits rose 53.6 trillion to 1.7 quadrillion liras between November 14-21.

Foreign banks' total deposits rose 454 billion liras to 29.5 trillion liras on November 21.

Meanwhile, banks' credits increased 119.6 trillion liras to 6.3 quadrillion liras between November 14-21.

Public deposit banks' credits increased 45.5 trillion liras to 2 quadrillion liras on November 21.

Private deposit banks' credits rose 77.7 trillion liras to 3.7 quadrillion liras on November 21.

Foreign deposit banks' credits increased 2.3 trillion liras to 226.1 trillion liras on November 21.

Development and investment banks' credits rose 6 trillion liras to 314.4 trillion liras on November 21.

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - DECEMBER 12, 1997

Hikmet Cetin said in the meeting that tourism incomes provide considerable contribution to Turkish economy that rarely faces with huge problems. Pointing out that Turkey has a great tourism potential, Cetin said that a great income source will be emerged if this potential is used sufficiently.

ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin on Friday received General Jivko Budimir, Deputy Chief of General Staff of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sezgin said in the meeting that Turkey is resolved to lay lasting foundations to prevent the re-occurance of humanity tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina's Ambassador to Ankara Hayruddin Somun also participated in the meeting.

NEW YORK - New credits will be given to exporters who export unquoted textile products to the US, it was reported on Friday.

Turkish Vakifbank's bureau in New York and American Citibank have signed 130 million dollars of syndicated loan agreement. Vakifbank will pay libor- plus 1.70 interest for three year-term-loan.

ANKARA - President Suleyman Demirel on Friday sent congratulatory message to Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Turkmenbasi on grounds of Turkmenistan's ''National Day''.

Demirel said in his message that he congrutulates sister country Turkmenistan's people's national day.

ANKARA - Government plans to decrease tobacco production by 10 percent for next three years, it was reported on Friday.

Interministerial Tobacco Council decided to reduce tobacco production to 180 thousand tonnes a year for next three years and to export 100 tonnes of that amount to foreign countries.

ANKARA - The number of people visiting Turkey rose 13,9 percent to 8,753, 255 during January-October 1997 period, it was reported on Friday.

The number of people visiting Turkey in the same period last year was 7,688, 345.

ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin on Friday received the newly appointed US Ambassador to Ankara Mark Parris.

Cetin, before the meeting, said that cooperation between two countries in politics, defense and economy fields have further improved in recent years.

Cetin said that Parris and he will take up the issues of ''commercial opportunities between two countries'' and ''new dimension in relations'' in the meeting.

ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin will leave for Hungary as the official guest of Hungarian Defense Minister Ghorgy Keleti between December 17-19, it was reported on Friday.

Sezgin and Keleti will sign ''Military Training Cooperation Agreement'' after interdelegational negotiations.

Ismet Sezgin will return to Turkey on December 19.

[12] EIGHTH OIC CONFERENCE ENDS

OIC members adopted four separate documents named ''Tehran Declaration,'' ''Tehran Look'', Final Declaration and draft resolutions.

After the adoption of these documents, the conference ended by the speech of Iranian President Momammed Khatami.

The nineth OIC Summit will be held in the capital of Qatar, Doha in 2000.

Tehran Decleration urged member countries to overview all kinds of military cooperations with Israel in order to cancel them, as they are directed against the security of islamic countries.

The four documents condemned the invasion of Palestinian territory, Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights by Israel and called Israel to withdraw from these territories, to give up its expansionist policies and terrorist activities. The member states noted that they support Palestinians concerning their struggle to take their rights.

The final declaration reiterated the view that ''islamic countries have deep concern over holding military cooperation with Israel.'' The same declaration also stressed that ''Interventions to Iraq should end and countries should refrain from such interventions to protect the territorial integrity, sovereignty and borders of Iraq.''

While Tehran Declaration condemned the clashes in Afghanistan and supported the establishment of a government which includes all groups, OIC members called UN Security Council to lift its sanctions on Libya.

OIC countries also said that they support Turkish Cypriot people in their struggle to take their legitimate rights and called Armania to withdraw from Azeri territory.

Tehran Declaration also condemned all kinds of terrorism.

On the other hand, Tehran the trade sanctions of US against Iraq and Libya were criticized.

[13] TURKEY-MARITIME - STATE MINISTER KARA: - ''MARITIME MINISTRY WILL BE SET UP IN 1998''

Kara visited Maritime Undersecretariat Izmir Region Directorate. Kara said, ''the Planning and Budget Commission starts to discuss the draft law regarding the establishment of Maritime Ministry. Sub-commission will prepare its report in the coming days and submit it to the parliament. I believe Maritime Ministry will fill the gap in maritime sector.''

Pointing out that he supports government's free market economy policy and they continue to privatize the sea-ports, State Minister Kara said, ''Privatization Supreme Board has put the privatization of State Railways' ports into its programme and we will privatize harbour pilot and tug-boat services.''

[14] TURKEY-TERRORISM - SEVEN TERRORISTS KILLED IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

Emergency Rule Regional Governor's Office said that security forces killed four terrorists in Kavakbası village of Mutki township of Bitlis province, two terrorists in Altınyuzuk village of Tunceli province and one terrorist in Buzlupınar village of Hozat township of Tunceli province.

Operations are underway in the region.

[15] TURKEY-QUAKE - MILD QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM

Ataturk University Seismology Center in Erzurum officials said that the quakes struck at 10:33 a.m. and 10:37 a.m. and the epicenter of the quakes with a preliminary magnitude of 3.4 was Koprukoy township of Erzurum and its surrounding region.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

[16] TURKEY-ACCIDENT - TWO TOURISTS DIE, 18 PEOPLE INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

Nazım Ture, the driver of the bus which was coming from Baku and entered to Turkey from Sarp border gate at midnight, and one Azeri passanger Saadet Samadi (46) died immediately in the accident. The identity of the other victim was not immediately known.

Ardesen Public Prosecutor Ugur Basar said that 17 tourists and the driver of the lorry Mehmet Sarıyalcın were injured in the accident and an investigation is underway to identify the names of the wounded passengers. Two wounded passengers were taken under medical treatment in Trabzon hospital, 14 of them in Rize hospital and the other two in Ardesen hospital.

[17] TURKEY-EU - BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN: ''WE WANT TO SEE TURKEY AMONG CANDIDATE STATES''

Noting that Britain, which will be the new term EU president on January 1, 1998, wants to see Turkey among candidate countries with ''10+1+1'' formula, the British Spokesman reiterated the view that EU has expectations from Turkey.

Sceinwald stressed that EU is resolved to improve its relations with Turkey.

Meanwhile German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel also held a press briefing in Luxembourg and stated that they favour the participation of Turkey in European Conference and does not wish to isolate Turkey.

Kinkel expressed his sorrow over the rejection of dinner invitation by Turkey.

Noting that ''the doors have not been closed yet,'' Kinkel added that ''we expect an official statement from Ankara.''

[18] TURKEY-ECONOMY - SALOMON BROTHERS'S SUBORDINATE BODY SALOMON SMITH BARNEY: - ''TURKISH MARKETS ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEITHER BAD NOR WELL IN 1998''

The institution emphasized that Turkish public sectors' borrowing would be decreased if seven-ten billion dollars is provided from privatizations in 1998.

Salomon Smith Barney issued its report named ''Next Movement... Annual Monitoring and General View of 1998''. The report said that Turkish government had decided not to raise the prices of some state sector's products for the first half of 1998, however ''the freeze of prices'' is still not so clear.

The report also stated that the incomes of companies of which shares quoted in Istanbul Stock Exchange would be reduced if Turkish private sector supports governments decision regarding ''freeze of prices'' and they implement the same policy on their products.

The report said that there is an ''ambivalence'' in Turkey's economy policies so Turkish market's evaluation for 1998 will be ''neutral''.

[19] EU SUMMIT - EU LEADERS DISCUSS EXPANSION PROCESS

Although Turkish-EU relations were expected to be taken up on Friday evening, Turkey became the number one issue again in the afternoon discussions.

The report widely covers relations with Turkey and uses ''careful expressions.''

Noting that the expansion of EU is a ''historical event,'' the report defends the view that this will stop the ''division of Europe.''

The document attributed importance to European Conference, adding that 10 Central and Eastern European states, Cyprus (Greek Cypriot administration) and Turkey will participate in European Conference in the first stage.

The first meeting of the Conference is foreseen to be held on March 12, 1998 in London where the participants will take up foreign affairs, security, justice, economic and regional issues.

The part titled ''EU's Strategy for Turkey'' confirms Turkey's eligibility full membership and says that:

''It will be convenient to determine a strategy for Turkey which will make it closer to EU in all fields and prepare Turkey for full membership, although Turkey's special problems in economic and political fields will not let it to be a full member soon. This strategy will be determined by taking the below into consideration:

-Productivity of Ankara Agreement should be increased.

-Customs Union should be deepened.

-Financial Cooperation should be improved.

-Harmonization of regulation and information.

Besides, European Conference will give EU the opportunities to improve its relations with Turkey.''

The last paragraph goes on saying that:

''EU Council recalls that it supports improvement of Turkish-EU links, continuation of political and economic reforms started in Turkey, application of common standarts in human rights, setting up stable and satisfying relations with Greece and solution of Cyprus question.''

[20] TRNC-OIC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS ARRIVES IN TURKEY: ''OIC SUMMIT PLEASED US''

Addressing a statement at Ataturk Airport, TRNC President Denktas said that the Summit was held in such an atmosphere as if it could open the way to unification of Arab world. Noting that Iran opened to the world by this summit, Denktas added that:

''We witnessed a great sympathy and understanding towards Turkish Cypriots in our bilateral contacts. We understood that we should deepen our bilateral contacts to explain to other states that TRNC exists, and continues to do so, and this fact will constitute the backbone of a peace or unification in the island. During the Summit, OIC countries accepted that the Greek Cypriots cannot represent TRNC and this pleased us.''

TRNC President Denktas will return to Lefkosa on Friday night.

[21] TURKEY-RUSSIA - NEW ERA IN TURKEY-RUSSIA RELATIONS

Volume of foreign trade between Turkey and Russia is about 3-3.5 billion US dollars annualy, according to the data of Foreign Trade Center (DTM). The export to Russia was 1 billion 238 million US dollars on 1995 and increased to 1 billion 493 millon US dollars on 1996. And in first 7 months of this year, it reached to 1 billion 42 million US dolars.

On the other hand, the import from this country was 2 billion 82 million US dollars on 1995 and decreased to 1.9 billion US dollars on 1996. And it was 1 billion 106 millon US dollars during January-July term of this year.

Overall volume of the undertakings of Turkish contractors in Russia is calculated as nearly 10 billion US dollars. Beside this, many Turkish contractor firms, Enka and Tekser being the leading firms, begin to realize joint investments. This has great importance in the continuity and growth of commercial relations between two countries.

Unregistered trade between two countries is estimated to be between 6 and 9 billion dollars.

Russian Federation Prime Minister Victor Cernomyrdin's three days official visit to Turkey, that will start on 14 December, is taken as an important turning point regarding to the economical relations between two countries.

Preparations are underway for signing Mutual Protection and Promotion of Investments Agreement, Energy Cooperation Agreement, Natural Gas Agreement, High Technology Cooperation Agreement and Mutual Judiciary Assistance Agreement. These agreements are expected to be signed on ministerial level.

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