Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-16

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

16 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-TERRORISM - OPERATION AGAINST TERRORISTS END IN SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF SIRNAK - NUMBER OF TERRORISTS KILLED REACH 55

[02] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[03] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[04] TURKEY-IRAQ - IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY IN ANKARA

[05] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION GRANTS FIVE BILLION TL TO "YENI ADANA" NEWSPAPER

[06] 50,4 KG PURE HEROIN SEIZED IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF VAN

[07] THE BALKAN PEACE FORCE - DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF GEN. BIR MEETS MILITARY DELEGATIONS OF FOUR COUNTRIES IN ANKARA

[08] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: - ''NATO INTERVENES TO KOSOVO IF NECESSARY'' - ''WE ARE IN CYPRUS AS A GUARANTOR STATE'' - ''GERMAN STATESMEN MUST THINK WELL BEFORE THEY SPEAK'' - ''TURKISH ARMY DOES NOT THINK TO REALIZE A MILITARY COUP''

[09] EU-TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS REJECTS THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE'S PROPOSAL PRESENTED BY BRITAIN - DENKTAS: ''THE INVITATION IS ONE FOR US TO FALL INTO A CLEVERLY PREPARED TRAP WITH OUR EYES SHUT''

[01] TURKEY-TERRORISM - OPERATION AGAINST TERRORISTS END IN SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF SIRNAK - NUMBER OF TERRORISTS KILLED REACH 55

Emergency Regional Governor's Office said that the heavy fighting backed by air power, which started on March 12 in the remote areas of Besteler and Dereler of Sırnak, ended on Monday morning.

Three members of the security forces died during the four-day operations.

Officials said that the operations are underway to install peace and security of the regional people.

[02] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

FOREIGN MINISTER IN QATAR
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has gone to Qatar's capital city Doha to attend Foreign Ministers' Summit meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). In his speech at the summit, Cem said that the Kosovo issue was in no way to be underestimated. Commenting on the fact that Turkey, Egypt and Iran had prepared three different draft proposals for resolving the turmoil in Kosovo, Cem said that these would be unified and a common resolution would be declared shortly.

Cem also conducted brief meetings with his counterparts from Iran and Turkmenistan.

Along with Cem, the Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is also participating in the OIC meeting as an observer. /Milliyet/

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST
Using US military technology, Turkish military units are blasting the areas around Sirnak in the southeast of Turkey in early Spring operations against the PKK terrorist organization. Reports from the region say that during the last ten days, around 100 terrorists have been killed, together with some military losses.

The military are reinforcing the secuity presence in the region in readiness for the "Nevruz" new year festival which is celebrated at this time of the year-often with increased terrorist activity. Military representatives said over the weekend that measures had already been taken to guarantee security throughout the whole of the southeast. Sabah/Milliyet/

STRONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION FOR NEVRUZ
The government will be strongly represented in the southeast of the country for the start of Nevruz celebrations on March 21. Leading government leaders including Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Minister for Culture Istemihan Talay and others including Ismet Sezgin, will all go to major cities like Siirt, Diyarbakir, Sirnak and Cizre in a show of governmental interest and support. /Milliyet/

TWO PKK HEROIN COURIERS DETAINED
Narcotics Bureau detectives yesterday detained two heroin couriers in Istanbul. The two suspects, carrying 20 kilos of heroin worth TL 29 billion, are alleged to have been working for the head of the so-called "Kurdish Parliament." /Milliyet/

OPERATION "HIZBULLAH"

Following a series of operations by the police in Mus, 18 members of the illegal Hızbullah organization have been taken into custody. Seven of those arrested have been accused of giving lectures to children aged 7-13 under the guise of teaching them Koranic verses, and have been sent to court. The accused are believed to have been waging a Hizbullah propaganda campaign among children aged 7-14 without the knowledge of the Directorate General of Religious Affairs./Milliyet/

TURKEY AT UN HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING
State Minister Hikmet Sami Turk yesterday went to Geneva to participate in the United Nations Human Rights Commission's 54th term meetings. Speaking at the airport before leaving Istanbul, Turk noted that today's meeting had a special importance because it coincides with the 50th anniversary of "the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights". /Cumhuriyet/

''ARMENIA WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH TURKEY''
Armenian Deputy Head of State and Prime Minister Robert Kocaryan said that Armenian would like to improve relations with Turkey. In a written statement to Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet, Kocaryan said that ensuring good relations with Turkey had priority in the Yerevan administration's foreign policy. He added that there had been a dynamic improvement in economic relations between the two countries although border gates were still closed. Kocaryan noted that political problems between Turkey and Armenia would have to be discussed and that relations in every field should be improved between Turkey and Armenia.

A group of Turkish parliamentarians will monitor the presidential elections in Armenia on Monday, as observers for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. The group of Turkish observers in the OSCEPA monitoring group left for the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday and met high-ranking Armenian politicians. /Milliyet/

(continues)

[03] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA
Mogolian President Natsagiy Bagabandi will pay his first visit to Ankara today. Bagabandi said that his visit would be the replay of his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel's visit to his country in 1995. He added that bilateral relations would contribute to improve between Turkey Mongolia. /Milliyet/

GEORGIA AND TURKEY ANNOUNCE START OF CRUDE OIL PROJECT
Georgia and Turkey signed an accord on Saturday launching a joint project to transport oil from Azerbaijan's Caspian oil fields across Georgia to Turkey. The deal, which also includes the construction of a Trans-Caucasian pipeline, was signed by Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who later flew back to Ankara. On Friday, Georgia and Turkey signed intergovernmental accords on border cooperation in the Black Sea region and for exchange programmes in sport, education, science and culture. /All papers/

COMMUNICATIONS AWARD FOR DENKTAS
A "communications award", set up cooperatively by Istanbul University Faculty of Communications, and "Panatel", was yesterday presented to President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas. Expressing his appreciation for the award Denktas said that it was necessary to upgrade the TRNC economy to a level equal to that of the Greek Cypriot Adminstration. /Cumhuriyet/

EU SHOULD MAKE UP ITS MIND
Following the London European Union (EU) conference, during which Turkey's non-inclusion and the future membership of Cyprus was discussed, public thinking in Turkey is dwelling on the issues that the EU is currently faced with. Current thought is that the EU needs to make up its mind on these vital issues, before it divides even more over the Cyprus question. Although the EU again called on Turkey to meet the standards of the EU in some important areas, the EU itself needs to make some adjustments and determine a workable policy to resolve questions involving north and south Cyprus, and just where Turkey stands in relation to future full membership in the Union. /Sabah/

BRITISH GAMES IN CYPRUS
The British are at it again, playing with words in the kind of diplomacy for which they are famous. In moves to speed up EU membership for Cyprus, Britain has put forward proposals to the UN for the "Cyprus Republic" in an effort win UN support for the inclusion of Cyprus. According to some diplomatic sources, Britain hopes to unite the five permanent members of the UN Security Council around the theory of a superficially united Cyprus, and thus open the way to "take some practical steps forward."

Reaction from northern Cyprus remains cool. President Rauf Denktas said that "we have no choice but to continue along the road we have decided to take. While our rights are being ignored, we will stay bound to Turkey." /Milliyet/

TENSION IN TURKEY-GERMANY RELATIONS
The German Der Spiegel magazine was reported that the increasing tension between Turkey and Germany in recent days could harm their "legendary friendship". Quoting the words of German Prime Minister Helmut Kohl, the magazine said that "Germany was a good friend of Turkey". It reported Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel as saying that Germany would like Turkey to join in the European Union (EU).

On the other hand, in a statement to the German daily newspaper Bild am Sonntag, Klaus Kinkel said, "The EU door is open to Turkey and it must remain open. However, by giving way to emotion, Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz should not damage Turkey's EU membership opportunities"./Hurriyet/

[04] TURKEY-IRAQ - IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY IN ANKARA

A Foreign Ministry official said that Al-Faissal will hold contacts in Ankara in return to the visit of then Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen to Iraq in September 1997.

Al-Faissal will meet Co-President of Turkish-Iraqi Joint Economic Commission the same day. Al-Faissal, who is expected to meet Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanır on Tuesday, is expected to return to his country on Wednesday.

[05] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION GRANTS FIVE BILLION TL TO "YENI ADANA" NEWSPAPER

This grant of five billion TL will be presented to "Yeni Adana" by State Minister Cavit Kavak in a ceremony to be held in Ankara o nMarch 17, 1998.

As a symbol of journalism at its best, "Yeni Adana" newspaper has enjoyed many successes both nationally and internationally, and was similarly awarded for journalistic achievements in 1968.

The newspaper has been in continuous publication from the start of the War of Independence to the present day, a witness to the history of the Republic of Turkey.

[06] 50,4 KG PURE HEROIN SEIZED IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF VAN

Acting on a tip-off, narcotic officials stopped a lorry full of sheep near Gevas township of Van.

Police found out 50,4 kg of pure heroin, worth of approximately one trillion Turkish liras, hidden in spare wheels of the lorry.

Officials said that Ali Sumen, the driver of the lorry, was taken under custody.

Meanwhile, police seized 2,2 kg heroin and 1,8 kg hashish in two separate operations launched in Istanbul province and took eight people including five foreigners into custody in connection with the incidents.

[07] THE BALKAN PEACE FORCE - DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF GEN. BIR MEETS MILITARY DELEGATIONS OF FOUR COUNTRIES IN ANKARA

General Bir met military representatives of the US, Bulgaria, Romania and Macedonia, who will participate in ''the Balkan Peace Force'' meeting which will start the same day.

Speaking before the meeting, Gen. Bir said that the aim of the meeting is to discuss the issues concerning the ''the Balkan Peace Force'' which is foreseen within the framework of increasing cooperation opportunities in the region by respecting the principles of Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and NATO.

Noting that the Balkans needs security, cooperation and transparency more than any other regions of the world, Gen. Bir pointed out that ''the protection of peace and stability in our region is under our responsibility as the Balkan countries. The Balkan Multi-national Peace Force will be an important milestone to this end.''

Stressing that Turkish Armed Forces has the capacity to prepare required troops for protecting peace and providing humanitarian aid in the world within two-three days, General Bir added that the Turkish army contributes to peace today in Bosnia, Macedonia, Georgia and Hebron, in addition to its earlier missions in Somalia, Kuwait, Iran and Iraq.

[08] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: - ''NATO INTERVENES TO KOSOVO IF NECESSARY'' - ''WE ARE IN CYPRUS AS A GUARANTOR STATE'' - ''GERMAN STATESMEN MUST THINK WELL BEFORE THEY SPEAK'' - ''TURKISH ARMY DOES NOT THINK TO REALIZE A MILITARY COUP''

Addressing a press briefing in Brussels after watching the ''Strong Resolve- 98'' operation of NATO, Ismet Sezgin said that the operation is the most comprensive and meaningful one staged by NATO since today, adding that 50, 000 personnel participate in the operations from NATO and Partnership For Peace (PFP) countries.

Sezgin said that Turkey contributes to the operation by 30 officers, four F- 16 aircrafts and one warship, noting that the successful operations proved the strength and determination of NATO.

Mentioning the Kosovo issue, Sezgin stated that ''we launch efforts to prevent the re-occurance of another Bosnian drama and humanitarian tragedy there. Terrorism and violence should stop without any preconditions and regardless of the place it comes.''

''We are concerned about the further escalation of the tension by spreading to neighbouring countries and affecting all the Balkans. We believe that everybody and every institution which feel responsibility over the integrity, independence and stability of Europe, should exert great efforts regarding the solution of Kosovo problem,'' Sezgin said.

Deputy Prime Minister Sezgin pointed out that a lasting solution in Kosovo depends on the full protection of Kosovonian people's rights within the standarts of UN Charter, Helsinki principles and Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) principles.

Ismet Sezgin stressed that putting the status of autonomous region into effect will be an effective means concerning the solution of problems in Kosovo, adding that he wants to belive that NATO will not be late in taking action in Kosovo and will not have dual-standarts.

Responding to a question on the expressions of Kinkel concerning Cyprus, Sezgin asked, ''Does Mr. Kinkel remember just today that Turkey is an occupying power in Cyprus?''

Pointing out that London and Zurich agreements gave responsibilities to Turkey on Cyprus, Sezgin said, ''we are in Cyprus as a guarantor state which is a requirement of duties and responsibilities given by these agreements. Thanks to this, Cyprus has stability, security, and peace today. We are not occupiers, we are a country who fulfills the responsibilities of international agreements.''

Sezgin said that the full membership talks of Greek Cypriot side will be an ''open-close meeting.'' Responding to a question if it will not be so, Sezgin said, ''I do not think that they can make such a big mistake. This will be the underestimation of laws, along with injustice.''

Stating that some mistakes can occur when acted with prejudgements, Sezgin said, ''Germany is our friend, our traditional ally. If the aim is to cause trouble, I can find many things against Germany. German statesmen should think well and freshen their memories before they speak on violation of human rights, racism, terrorism, and violence.''

Sezgin said Turkey tries to carry out its struggle even against a terrorist group which aims to destroy Republic of Turkey, by respecting to human rights within a transparent democratic system based on the superiority of law.

''The ones who are caught are brought into the court. We could have filled the prisons with the terrorists, and issued reports the next day saying that they committed suicide, as it happened in some places sometimes. We never thought that. If the EU puts forward the human rights as a reason to exclude Turkey, it will be baseless. The EU has made a mistake in Luxembourg, and we believe that this will be corrected.''

Sezgin also said that ''Turkish army does not think of a military coup.''

Responding to another question, Sezgin said Turkey has experienced an unlucky period, and still trying to clean the remains of that period.

''Even in that period, Turkish army has proved its devotion to democracy,'' he said.

Sezgin also said that early elections is not on the agenda.

Ismet Sezgin left Brussels for Turkey after the press briefing.

[09] EU-TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS REJECTS THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE'S PROPOSAL PRESENTED BY BRITAIN - DENKTAS: ''THE INVITATION IS ONE FOR US TO FALL INTO A CLEVERLY PREPARED TRAP WITH OUR EYES SHUT''

Denktas also stressed that the Greek Cypriot side cannot represent the Turkish Cypriots.

''This offer aims to get us to indirectly recognize the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government of Cyprus and to get us attached to Greece while eliminating all of Turkey's rights on the island,'' Denktash told reporters, emphasizing that the aim of Greek Cypriot side is to realize an indirect enosis (union) with Greece by means of the EU full membership.

He spoke after David Madden, the high commissioner of Britain, presented him the invitation.

''The invitation is one for us to fall into a cleverly prepared trap with our eyes shut. They can count us out. We refused this proposal the moment we received it. There is nothing in this proposal,'' Denktash said.

Stating that he accepted Madden as the representative of British government, not as a representative of the EU, Denktas said that it is out of question for themselves to join into a Greek Cypriot delegation, and this application serves for the national case of the Greek Cypriot side.

Denktas emphasized that Cyprus cannot be a member of the EU as a whole.

''Our 34 years of struggle, and the decision of our Parliament are the realities for us. That's why, we do not take into consideration the EU issue. If they are going to make Cyprus a member, they should know that this (Cyprus) expression consists only the Greek Cypriot side in the south. Cyprus has not applied for full membership. Cyprus cannot be made a member as a whole. Discussions and an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side will only emphasize the existence of two Cypruses,'' Denktas said.

David Madden in his part said he only presented the invitation and fulfilled his duty, and declined to comment.

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