Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-01-14

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

14 JAN 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-NORTHERN IRAQ - TURKEY-PUK MEETINGS END - PUK: ''WE HAVE NEVER SUPPORTED PKK''

[03] TURKEY-GERMANY-TERRORISM - TURKEY TO EXAMINE STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR NEHM - TURKISH EMBASSY IN BONN: ''WE FEEL REGRET OVER THE STATEMENT OF NEHM''

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY OF CHP DEPUTY KARAYALCIN LIFTED

[05] TURKEY-EU - TURKISH-EU JPC TO CONVENE IN FEBRUARY IN BRUSSELS

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW<B></B>

[07] TURKEY-AUTOMOBILE SECTOR - OPEL DIRECTOR TO TURKEY KEVIN JACKSON: ''TURKISH AUTOMOBILE SECTOR WAS DYNAMIC IN 1997''

[08] TURKEY-EU - BRITAIN: ''WE HAVE TO INCLUDE TURKEY IN ENLARGEMENT PROCESS''

[09] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - GENDARME CAPTURES 46 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN KARABURUN

[10] TRNC-US - US CONGRESS DELEGATION TO VISIT TRNC

[11] TURKEY-GERMANY - STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''IF AN ORGANIZATION KILLS PEOPLE OF ANOTHER STATE, IT IS WRONG NOT TO REGARD THEM AS TERRORIST''

[12] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''GREECE WANTS TO REALIZE ITS EXPANSIONIST AIMS IN THE AEGEAN AND DISTORT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ARRANGING STATUS QUO IN THE AEGEAN''

[13] TRNC-GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE - UNIONISTS FROM TRNC AND GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE TO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS BETWEEN JANUARY 18-22

[14] TURKEY-GREECE - TURKEY LAUNCHES INITIATIVE AGAINST GREECE - ANKARA ADVISES GREECE TO AVOID FROM ACTS THAT MAY LEAD TO CRISIS IN THE AEGEAN''

[15] TURKEY-CENTRAL ASIA - ANKARA WELCOMES SUMMIT JOINT COMMUNIQUE

[16] TURKEY-GERMANY - REACTION TO THE STATEMENTS OF GERMAN FEDERAL CHIEF PROSECUTOR - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''THE ISSUE WILL TOP OUR AGENDA UNTIL IT IS CLARIFIED''

[17] TURKEY-BRITAIN - BRITISH FM COOK TALKS TO FM CEM ON THE PHONE - COOK: ''MY STATEMENTS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD''

[18] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 31 FOREIGNERS CAPTURED IN THE BORDER

[19] TURKEY-TRNC - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''A SPECIAL KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH TRNC IS BEING DEVELOPED''

[20] TURKEY-US - US CONGRESS HELSINKI COMMISSION TO VISIT TURKEY

[21] TURKEY-CHURCH - FIRE IN AYAZMA CHAPEL - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''WE CONDEMN THE PERPETRATORS OF THE FIRE''

[22] TURKEY-PRIVATIZATION - PAB APPROVES SALE OF ETIBANK'S PUBLIC SHARES AND POAS'S BORAY TANKER - PAB DECIDES TO PRIVATIZE ISDEMIR - 40 PERCENT OF HAVAS'S PUBLIC SHARES TO BE PUT FOR SALE BY JANUARY 19

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HÜRRİYET (LIBERAL)

MİLLİYET (LIBERAL)

SPECIAL TEAM LINKED TO PRIME MINISTRY
The Prime Ministry Investigation Council Chairman Kutlu Savas offered two proposals to Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz in his report about Susurluk report: to abolish the special team which work within police, gendarme and General Staff and to set up another special team which is linked to Prime Ministry and composed of 40 members. Secondly it is important to adopt repentance law.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURİYET (LEFT)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

RADİKAL (LEFT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

The business world, opposition and trade unions think that the government, which wasted its time for six months, will not be able to adopt taxation, social security and local administration reforms within three months.

[02] TURKEY-NORTHERN IRAQ - TURKEY-PUK MEETINGS END - PUK: ''WE HAVE NEVER SUPPORTED PKK''

Responding to questions of journalists after the meetings, PUK Representative to Washington Behram Salih reiterated that they are hopeful about the meetings and positive steps were taken to improve the neighbourhood relations between Turkey and PUK.

Salih pointed out that they did not fix a date regarding the fifth meeting of Ankara process, but efforts are underway concerning this issue.

Responding to a question of a journalist who asked whether the reports saying that ''Talabani extends hidden support to PKK'' was taken up during the meetings or not, PUK Representative to Ankara Sahzad Saib said, ''PUK has never extended support to PKK.''

Ankara Process, which aims to bring the clashing sides together, was interrupted by the violation of the ceasefire in Northern Iraq by PUK forces.

[03] TURKEY-GERMANY-TERRORISM - TURKEY TO EXAMINE STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR NEHM - TURKISH EMBASSY IN BONN: ''WE FEEL REGRET OVER THE STATEMENT OF NEHM''

Foreign Ministry officials said that Turkish Embassy in Bonn was ordered to examine the content of German Chief Prosecutor's words. Officials pointed out that an evaluation will be made regarding the issue after the examination results.

Turkish Embassy in Bonn said the same day that it feels regret over the statement of German Federal Chief Prosecutor Kai Nehm who claimed that ''PKK is no longer to be classified as a terrorist organization'' and Turkish Republic will continue to struggle with terrorism despite everything.

''This organisation has over the years been responsible for the massacre of thousands of innocent people, particularly Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin for the sake of a distorted Marxist-Leninist ideology,'' the statement said.

Noting that the separatist terrorist organization continues its activities by the support of countries which regard this as a policy, the Turkish Embassy pointed out that ''claiming that PKK, which was banned in Germany, is no longer terrorist will only serve the goals of the terror organisation.''

The Turkish Embassy stressed that no country or person is entitled to extend support to terrorism in order to save itself/hisself from terrorism.

Pointing out that German Federal Chief Prosecutor knows the activities of PKK in Germany well, the statement added that ''nevertheless such kind of evaluations which mislead German public order, will not cause the expected result at the national level.''

The statement went on saying that struggle with terrorism can only be realized by international understanding and cooperation,

''We examine the issue at the level of German Federal Prosecution. If the statements of German Prosecutor are true, this is unlucky for himself,'' said Turkish Embassy.

German Chief Prosecutor Nehm claimed that ''PKK has the character of a criminal organization, rather than a terrorist organisation,'' adding that ''it has not been proven that PKK involved in arson attacks and murder.''

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY OF CHP DEPUTY KARAYALCIN LIFTED

The Joint Parliamentary Commission took up the files that were brought against 19 deputies. The file brought against Chairman of Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission Karayalcın claimed that a subway tender foresaw the construction of Ankara subway by build-operate-transfer model, but Karayalcın violated this.

The Joint Commission decided to discuss two other files regarding Karayalcın together with 25 files which were brought against 18 deputies including Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan and RP Deputy leader Aydın Menderes at the end of parliament term.

[05] TURKEY-EU - TURKISH-EU JPC TO CONVENE IN FEBRUARY IN BRUSSELS

Luxembourg Summit, customs union and other issues between Turkey and European Union (EU) are expected to be taken up during the JPC meetings.

The future of JPC activities were not clear after the decision of Turkey to curtail political dialogue and cooperation with EU due to Luxembourg Summit decisions.

Turkish Co-President of JPC is Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy Bulent Akarcalı and European Co-Chairman is the Dutch Socialist deputy Pieter Dankert.

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW<B></B>

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

GERMANY: PKK CRIMINAL GROUP, NOT TERRORIST
As Ankara investigates recent German remarks made on Tuesday by Federal Chief Prosecutor Kay Nehm that PKK is no longer to be classified as a "terrorist organization" in Germany, the German Interior Ministry immediately announced it had no intention of lifting the ban against the outlawed organization. He said it appeared that the PKK had renounced an earlier strategy which led to be repeated arson attacks on Turkish targets within Germany, and so could now only be classified as a "criminal organization."

Ankara was suprised by the prosecutor's earlier statements and called on the embassy to investigate the exact context in which the remarks was made. However, an announcement followed by German Interior Ministry spokesman Detlev Dauke said the bans for the PKK still remain. /Hurriyet and all papers/

BILICAN AND PARRIS MEET TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION
Head of the Security Department Necati Bilican said Turkey and its close ally the United States have enchanced cooperation in fighting drugs smuggling, terrorism and organized crime, during a courtesy visit by the new U.S. Ambassador Marc Parris. Bilican said, "Turkey and the U.S. have had security relations since 1968. We are going to discuss all organized crime-related issues, including the immigration issues." /All papers/

TURKISH SAILORS RECEIVE NEW FRIGATES IN S.CAROLINA
Three Perry class decommissioned U.S. frigates were long last transferred on Monday to Turkish sailors at the port of North Charleston, South Carolina. In a ceremony attended by Turkish military and naval attaches and Turkish crews, Turkish ambassador to Washington Nuzhet Kandemir addressed those invited, assuring that the modernization of the Turkish navy through such acquisitions was 'solely defense related and not aimed at threatening any other country whatsoever." The acquisition of the frigates would also strengthen the bonds of alliance and common purpose Turkey and the U.S. shared as NATO members, Kandemir said. /Hurriyet - all papers/

TURKEY WARNS TALABANI ABOUT PKK
A delegation of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is paying an official visit to Ankara to discuss developments within the framework of the Ankara Process aiming to establish peace and stablity in Northern Iraq. During the meetings, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials have urged PUK representatives to shy away from cooperating with the PKK terrorist organization. /Cumhuriyet/

INVESTIGATION INTO CONTROVERSIAL PARLIAMENT RECONSTRUCTION
Parliament decided yesterday to initiate an investigation into the corruption charges directed against former Parliament Speaker Mustafa Kalemli in connection with the expensive reconstruction of Parliament General Assembly Hall meeting. The decision was accepted unanimously. Kalemli said that the accusations directed against him were groundless. /All papers/

FIRST STEP TOWARDS INTEGRATION WITH CYPRUS
In retaliation to EU decision to accept Southern Cyprus into the Union, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have undertaken steps towards integration. Representatives of the two countries signed yesterday a protocol for functional and structural cooperation. Turkey will especially initiate moves to protect TRNC foreign policy interests. /Hurriyet/

GREEK CYPRUS CLAIMS TURKISH PLANES INFRINGE ON ITS AIRSPACE
Greek Cyprus on Tuesday claimed that two Turkish reconnaissance planes violated its airspace on Monday, flying close to a nearly completed Greek Cypriot military base on the divided island's western coast. /Cumhuriyet/

FIRE IN TURKISH FAMILY'S HOUSE
In Germany, a building, where a Turkish family lived, was burned down. Police declared that they did not know how the fire broke out. They also said the fire would have ruined the family, if the family hadn't recognized it early. There was not a likelihood of arson in this fire which injured two members of the family, the officials said. /Cumhuriyet/

CHIRAC:" WE LOVE TURKISH PEOPLE"

French President, Jacques Chirac invited Turkish press members to the traditional new year meal, and sent a message to them: "We love Turkey and Turkish people. The Summit of the European Union utterly disappointed me. I hope we, together with England, will compensate the mistakes." /Sabah/

[07] TURKEY-AUTOMOBILE SECTOR - OPEL DIRECTOR TO TURKEY KEVIN JACKSON: ''TURKISH AUTOMOBILE SECTOR WAS DYNAMIC IN 1997''

Responding to questions of A.A correspondent, Jackson stated that the harmonization of customs rates between imported and Turkish made automobiles within the framework of Customs Union Agreement signed between Turkey and European Union played a great role in creating a full competition atmosphere in Turkey.

Noting that 344,000 cars were sold in internal market in 1997, Jackson pointed out that they expect this number to reach 375,000 in 1998.

Jackson stressed that 37 percent of the cars that were sold in internal market were imported, while 63 percent were produced in Turkey.

''Many different automobile marks are produced in Turkey today and the decrease of customs rates will not effect imports from third countries,'' said Jackson.

Pointing out that the Turkish automobile market can reach one million by stable policies, Jackson added that this can come true by the resolved policies of the government.

[08] TURKEY-EU - BRITAIN: ''WE HAVE TO INCLUDE TURKEY IN ENLARGEMENT PROCESS''

Addressing the European Parliament (EP) regarding the issues that will be given priority during Britain's term of presidency, Cook noted that Britain recognizes the place of Turkey in Europe, yet he refrained from giving a clear message about the inclusion of Turkey to other 11 candidate states till the next European Union (EU) summit.

Robin Cook stressed that Turkey's application to EU full membership should be evaluated by the same objective criteria that are valid for other countries, namely market economy, respect for human rights and democracy.

British Foreign Secretary Cook added that Britain will launch efforts to strengthen its relations with Turkey, which has played an important role in the region for a long time.

Pointing out that Britain supports the initiatives of UN Secretary General regarding Cyprus question, Cook expessed his belief that the participation of Cyprus to EU will contribute to peace and prosperity of all people in the island.

Robin Cook also claimed that a solution to Cyprus problem should not be forwarded as a precondition for the Island's full membership process to EU.

[09] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - GENDARME CAPTURES 46 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN KARABURUN

Acting on a tip-off, Karaburun Gendarme took 46 foreigners and two Turkish people under custody on Tuesday night who were caputred in a bus in Dikencik bay of Karaburun.

Officials said that 33 Iraqis, one Pakistani, one Algerian, six Bangladeshis and five Nigerians were captured, including one woman and one child.

The illegal immigrants are believed to sail to Greek islands and then proceed to European countries.

Investigation is underway regarding the incident.

[10] TRNC-US - US CONGRESS DELEGATION TO VISIT TRNC

TRNC President Rauf Denktas will receive US delegation the same day. Denktas and the delegation are expected to take up the latest situation of Cyprus issue and to exchange views regarding the issue. US Embassy in Lefkosa said that the delegation will also visit Turkey and Greece after concluding its two-day contacts in TRNC and Greek-Cypriot side.

Embassy said that the delegation including four European Security and Cooperation Commission members and US Congress members Steyn Hoyer, Ben Cardin and Louise Slaughter, will be led by US Congress member John Edward Porter.

[11] TURKEY-GERMANY - STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''IF AN ORGANIZATION KILLS PEOPLE OF ANOTHER STATE, IT IS WRONG NOT TO REGARD THEM AS TERRORIST''

Responding to a question which said ''How do you evaluate Germany's evaluation of separatist PKK as a crime organization not a terror organization?'', Cem said ''View of of Ministry has been revealed. We think that this is a serious mistake.''

When asked if illegal immigration wave was effective in Germany's attitude or not, Cem refrained from making a comment on the issue.

Cem said ''we think approach of several European countries to this end aimed at initiatives to shake balances in the Middle East.''

He said ''I hope that all Western European countries will approach the issue with serious evaluations not with historical obsessions and not become a promoter of several racist developments.''

[12] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''GREECE WANTS TO REALIZE ITS EXPANSIONIST AIMS IN THE AEGEAN AND DISTORT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ARRANGING STATUS QUO IN THE AEGEAN''

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan during a weekly news briefing responded to the statements of Greek Defense Minister Akis Cohacopulos related with the Greek air Space in the Aegean and the Aegean islets.

Utkan said ''Greek Minister in his statement said Greek air space in the Aegean was 10 nautical miles and that all Aegean islands belonged to Greece. He also accused Turkey of violating territorial integrity of Greece and creating tension in the Aegean. These claims are baseless.''

Utkan said ''according to the international law, wideness of air space should be the same with the wideness of territorial waters'' adding that ''Greece is the only country which did not abide by the principle of international law and implement different air space.''

Utkan said flights of Turkish military planes in the internatioal air space of the Aegean and aside from six mile Greek territorial wates was suitable to international law.

FM Spokesman said allegations of Greece that all Aegean islands belonged to them was a ''distortation of history and facts'' and stressed that there was no island, islet or rock islands left to Greece apart from the islands listed in Lausanne and Paris agreements.

[13] TRNC-GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE - UNIONISTS FROM TRNC AND GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE TO CONVENE IN BRUSSELS BETWEEN JANUARY 18-22

The representatives of Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants' Union (KTAMS), Turkish-Syndicate and Dev-Is Union met TRNC President Rauf Denktas and briefed him on the aim of the meetings in Brussels.

PEO, SEK and PASIDI unionists will represent Greek-Cypriot Side in the meetings.

[14] TURKEY-GREECE - TURKEY LAUNCHES INITIATIVE AGAINST GREECE - ANKARA ADVISES GREECE TO AVOID FROM ACTS THAT MAY LEAD TO CRISIS IN THE AEGEAN''

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan told a weekly news briefing that they had launched inititiaves against Greek Embassy in Ankara regarding the fire of Greek coastguard forces to a Turkish fishing boat ''Burak Reis'' on Jan 9.

Utkan said ''A Greek coastguard boat opened fire on Burak Reis fishing boat on Jan 9, 1998 at midnight without making any warning.''

He said the fishing boat was brought to Ayvalik harbour safely accompanied by Turkish coastguard boat.

Utkan said such provocations endangering security of Turkish fishing boats were protested and the Greek Embassy was recalled that there was no sea borders in the Aegean.

[15] TURKEY-CENTRAL ASIA - ANKARA WELCOMES SUMMIT JOINT COMMUNIQUE

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan told a weekly news briefing that Turkey followed with pleasure the efforts of the attending countries to ''improve their regions, strengthen their freedom, to improve their economy by making use of natural resources, to guarantee socio-economic and cultural future of their people and to solve regional problems through dialogue.''

Utkan stressed that Turkey would continue to support the efforts of the Republics in question as a requirement of friendship and brotherhood relations.

[16] TURKEY-GERMANY - REACTION TO THE STATEMENTS OF GERMAN FEDERAL CHIEF PROSECUTOR - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''THE ISSUE WILL TOP OUR AGENDA UNTIL IT IS CLARIFIED''

Addressing a weekly news briefing Utkan recalled that the first reaction was voiced by Turkey's Embassy in Bonn.

Utkan said they were investigating in which framework did the German Chief Prosecutor utter these words and the effectiveness of this to implementations in Germany.

''Whatever the outcomes of these investigations would be, the fact that PKK is a separatist terrorist organization would not change. It had proved that it was such an organization with its cruel acts. This organization aimed at people, borders and territory of Turkey. It had massacred 5,000 security forces and 5,000 civilians so far. It did not refrain from applying to violent methods that will remain as a human shame forever.''

Utkan stressed that such initiatives can not make people forget the facts about the separatist terrorist PKK organization. He said all responsible members of the international community should meticulously refrain from such statements and acts which will encourge people to terrorism.

''They should sincerely think what they would do, think and feel if the terrorists had done these to them. They should not confuse the address where they would ask what PKK is. This address is the address of the martyrs'' Utkan added.

Recalling a resolution of Council of Europe (COE) Human Rights Court dated Nov 25, 1997, Utkan said 58th Article of this resolution clearly stressed that PKK was a terrorist organization and that it applied to violant acts.''

Utkan noted that Turkey's Embassy in Bonn issued a press statement upon the words of the German Chief Prosecutor and stressed that no country or person has the right to tolarate terrorism to get rid of terrorism and stressed that terrorist activities of the separatist PKK should be well known by the Chief Prosecutor.''

Utkan said PKK should make use of a concession organization to continue its existance in countries which shelter and bring facilities to this sheltering to terrorist organizations.

''Such concessions start simply at the begining. Then the amount of concession increases and comes to a point that the authorities of that country could not meet them. Later, the organization and the authorities of that country fell into a conflict.''

Responding to a question Utkan said sending a note to Germany was not a condition to this end adding that ''Turkish Embassy in Bonn launches necessary initiatives. The issue will top our agenda until it is clarified.''

[17] TURKEY-BRITAIN - BRITISH FM COOK TALKS TO FM CEM ON THE PHONE - COOK: ''MY STATEMENTS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD''

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said in a press briefing that Turkey launched initiatives regarding the issue in Ankara and in London. Utkan said that Cook had talked to Cem on the phone on January 12 and had said his statement that ''uncertainty of Turkish borders'' was totally concerned with the evaluation regarding the situation in Northern Iraq.

Ankara had asked for an information from Britain and expressed the uneasiness felt over Cook's statements. Cook had said in the interview broadcasted by BBC that the important thing for Turkey is its evaluation under equal standards with the candidate countries. However, Turkey should fulfil those standards and there were several serious reasons for rejecting of Turkey's application, he said, adding that those reasons were human rights and the uncertainity of its eastern borders.

[18] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 31 FOREIGNERS CAPTURED IN THE BORDER

Turkish gendarme captured 29 Iraqis and two Romanians on their way to Greece in military zones in Kumdere village of Lalapasa province and Subasi and Kadidondurma villages of Meric province.

[19] TURKEY-TRNC - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''A SPECIAL KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH TRNC IS BEING DEVELOPED''

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan told a weekly press briefing that ''it was found out in the contacts of Haktanır in TRNC that Luxembourg Summit decision destroyed the parameters of a solution that were put forward during Cyprus talks process.''

''From now on, anything can be done only between the two states in Cyprus, '' he said, ''these two states should solve their main disputes, and lasting peace and stability can only be reached like this.'' Utkan said that they wished 1998 to be a solution year.

Stating that the existance of TRNC as an independent and sovereign state was very important regarding the protection of peace and stability in Eastern Mediterranean, Utkan said that improvement of cooperation between Turkey and TRNC was necessary to this end.

In response to a question whether an article in the protocol signed between Turkey and TRNC which foresees the inclusion of TRNC representatives in Turkish delegations that participate in international meetings in which TRNC is not permitted to participate can be considered as unification between Turkey and TRNC, Utkan said, ''we can say that a special kind of relationship is being developed with Cyprus.''

Stating that necessary steps will be taken to integrate TRNC with international public, Utkan said that the framework of a special relationship that aims protection of foreign political interests of TRNC, was decided in Haktanır's meetings in TRNC.

[20] TURKEY-US - US CONGRESS HELSINKI COMMISSION TO VISIT TURKEY

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said in a press briefing that US Embassy in Ankara had earlier conveyed the delegation's willingness to Foreign Ministry to hold meetings regarding Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and human rights issues.

Pointing out that he evaluated the delegation's visit as ''the visit of an allied country's parliamentary delegation,'' Utkan said that they provided all necessary legal and practical conditions for those contacts.

Utkan said that the delegation will visit several associations, Fener Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul and meet the Jewish community leaders, adding that Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin will receive the delegation in Ankara.

The delegation will then proceed to southeastern Diyarbakir province to meet Emergency Rule Governor and Diyarbakir Mayor.

[21] TURKEY-CHURCH - FIRE IN AYAZMA CHAPEL - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''WE CONDEMN THE PERPETRATORS OF THE FIRE''

Addressing a weekly news briefing, Utkan said Turkey strongly condemns the perpetrators of the incident, stressing that they will be captured and punished soon.

Unidentified assailants killed the caretaker of the Ayazma Chapel and throw him into a well and set the Chapel into fire after stealing a priceless hand-written ancient Bible and icons.

[22] TURKEY-PRIVATIZATION - PAB APPROVES SALE OF ETIBANK'S PUBLIC SHARES AND POAS'S BORAY TANKER - PAB DECIDES TO PRIVATIZE ISDEMIR - 40 PERCENT OF HAVAS'S PUBLIC SHARES TO BE PUT FOR SALE BY JANUARY 19

PAB said in a written statement that they decided to put Iskenderun Steel- Iron Factories Inc. into privatization content and programme in five-hour meeting with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.

PAB said it briefed Yilmaz on the privatization of Turkish Telekom, Is Bank, Havas and Sivas Steel-Iron Factories Inc. in the meeting.

PAB said that it decided to put 40 percent of Havas's public shares for sale by January 19, 1998.

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