Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-02

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

02 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] STATEMENT FROM STATE MINISTER BATALLI REGARDING GNP: - ''TURKEY GREW BY EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR, MORE THAN THE SIX PERCENT RATE OF GROWTH TARGETED IN THE PROGRAMME''

[02] A MILD QUAKE SHAKES ZONGULDAK PROVINCE IN THE BLACK SEA REGION

[03] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER MENZIR: - ''AN ELECTRONIC REVOLUTION IS COMING AND IT WILL AFFECT THE WORLD LIKE A CYCLONE IN THE COMING YEARS'' - ''THE RAILWAYS IN TURKEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED''

[04] INCIDENTS IN PRISONS

[05] TWO OF EIGHT IRANIANS WHO ENTERED TURKEY ILLEGALLY, FROZE TO DEATH NEAR BORDER

[06] MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL GET 32 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS FROM TURKMENISTAN''

[07] TURKISH-GERMAN RELATIONS

[08] DEPAR LEADER CAPOGLU AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

[09] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN LEAVES FOR THE TRNC - CETIN: ''TURKEY TOGETHER WITH HER POLITICAL PARTIES, GOVERNMENTS, PARLIAMENTS AND CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE JUST CASE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS AS SHE HAS ALWAYS DONE BEFORE''

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[12] THE PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONCLUDES OBSERVATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

[13] INDUSTRIAL LPG TUBE EXPLODES AT THE SINCAN ORGANIZED INDUSTRY ZONE - 11 WORKERS INJURED, 8 OF THEM CRITICAL

[14] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN TRNC

[15] HIGH COURT OF APPEALS UNANIMOUSLY ANNULS VERDICT OF THE COURT AGAINST EIGHT STUDENTS WHO OPENED A BANNER IN THE PARLIAMENT

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO ARMENIA

[17] FORMER DEPUTIES CEYLAN AND CELIK ARE BEING TRIED

[18] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DINCMEN'S PRESS CONFERENCE... - DINCMEN: ''DOMESTIC BORROWING WILL BE 4.2 QUADRILLION TL AND THE FOREGIN DEBT WILL BE 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN SECOND QUARTER OF 1998''

[19] THE CASE OF THE MISSING TURKISH BOY DUE TO OPEN AGAIN AFTER 13 YEARS

[20] AWARD FOR THE TURKISH SCIENTIST - DR. ALI ERDEMIR RECEIVES AWARDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND EDMOND E. BISSON

[21] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS... - TURKEY REPAYS 3 BILLION US DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE JANUARY 1, 1998

[22] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 2, 1998

[23] CASE OF THE ACZMENDIS AT THE HIGH COURT OF APPEALS - APPEAL HEARING OF THE CASE OCCURS IN WHICH 123 ACZMENDIS WERE SENTENCED

[01] STATEMENT FROM STATE MINISTER BATALLI REGARDING GNP: - ''TURKEY GREW BY EIGHT PERCENT LAST YEAR, MORE THAN THE SIX PERCENT RATE OF GROWTH TARGETED IN THE PROGRAMME''

The Press Attache of Mehmet Batalli, the State Minister, issued a detailed statement regarding the Gross National Product (GNP) Realizations in 1997, announced by the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) on Tuesday.

According to the DIE statistics mentioned in the statement that Turkey's GNP together with current prices were 29 quadrillion 695 trillion Turkish Liras and the 1997-prices were 115 trillion Turkish Liras last year.

Turkey's growth rate with current prices was 98.3 percent and 8 percent with fixed prices.

The growth of the agricultural sector decreased by 2 percent while the manufacturing sector grew by 11.4 percent; the trade sector by 11.2 percent and transportation sector by 7.2 percent last year.

The wholesale and retail trades grew by 10.5 percent last year. The tourism income, which was 5 billion 962 million US dollars in 1996, increased 35.7 percent to 8 billion 89 million US dollars last year.

The statement said that the per capita GNP increased 95 percent to 465 million 839 thousand Turkish Liras last year and the increase in the per capita GNP on the basis of US dollars was 4.1 percent and the per capita GNP was calculated to be 3 thousand 48 US dollars in 1997.

The statement added that the per capita GNP with fixed prices was 1 million 798 thousand Turkish Liras last year.

[02] A MILD QUAKE SHAKES ZONGULDAK PROVINCE IN THE BLACK SEA REGION

The Kandilli Observatory officials said that the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale occurred at 3:26 a.m. and that the epicenter of the earthquake was Zonguldak.

There were no reported casualties in the region.

[03] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER MENZIR: - ''AN ELECTRONIC REVOLUTION IS COMING AND IT WILL AFFECT THE WORLD LIKE A CYCLONE IN THE COMING YEARS'' - ''THE RAILWAYS IN TURKEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED''

Necdet Menzir gave information about the activities of the Ministry of Transportation in the meeting organized at the Dedeman Hotel by the Marmara Group's Foundation for Strategical and Social Research.

Pointing out that the transportation and communications sectors, because of their functions, had become the most important sectors for all economic, social, cultural and political activities in countries, Menzir said that all of these activities can be provided by a reliable and sufficient communications in this century.

Stressing that the railways, motorways, seaways and the pipelines should be established within such a structure so that they are complementary, while it has been attempted to specify a transportation policy in Turkey, Necdet Menzir said, ''the railways in Turkey have been neglected. Thus, 90 percent of the transportation of passengers and goods is made by land. This is the main reason for the traffic accidents causing a number of casualties and damage.''

''We want to improve and develop the public transport systems in the urban areas. This is the main reason for our proposal of the ''Bosphorus Crossing'' project for Istanbul. We are encouraging combined transportation. We are trying to make the necessary legal changes on the issue of renewing the operation and control of the sector. Our goal is to let the Ministry of Transportation be a ministry that can change the rules and control the sector,'' Necdet Menzir added.

[04] INCIDENTS IN PRISONS

The convicts started their protests at ten separate prisons after the decision of the Ministry of Justice to transfer 10 convicts to separate prisons as the Buca prison was a ''jail.''

The convicts took four prison officials as hostages at the Ankara Ulucanlar Central Prison, 11 in the Bursa Prison, 11 in the Umraniye Prison, six in the Sakarya Prison, 12 in the Bergama Prison, nine in the Cankiri Prison and two in the Aydin Prison. During protests in the Bartin and Buca prisons no hostages were taken.

The incidents which continued nearly two days ended on Wednesday evening when the talks reached an outcome. The incidents ended first of all in the Umraniye Prison. The others ended one after the other and the officials who were taken as hostages were released. The health conditions of those released are good.

A compromise could be reached when the Istanbul Republic Chief Prosecutor Ferzan Citici held a meeting in the Bayrampasa Prison representing the Ministry of Justice.

A compromise could be reached with the convicts on:

''-The 10 convicts, who were transferred to several prisons from the Buca Jail, will be transferred to either the Bursa or the Aydin Prisons according to their own wishes.''

-No other convicts will be sent into exile or tranferred to other prisons apart from their wishes.''

-An investigation will be initiated against the Buca Jail administration and there will be a punishment given.

-No disciplinary investigation will be opened against the convicts who started this protest.''

The Ministry of Justice officials said that 350 of the 751 members of the DHKP-C organization who are in prison participated in the protest.

Meanwhile, Ercan Demir, the Chairman of the Human Rights Association in the Aegean province of Izmir said that the convicts had two demands. The first one was their tranfers to prisons close to their families and the return of convicts who were transferred to other prisons.

Officials said that the conditions in the prisons had gone back to normal.

[05] TWO OF EIGHT IRANIANS WHO ENTERED TURKEY ILLEGALLY, FROZE TO DEATH NEAR BORDER

It was reported that security officials started an operation to capture the Iranians, who went to different regions after their illegal entrance into Turkey from the mountainous land near the border village of Tulgali in Ozalp County in eastern Van Province and after walking for four hours.

Security officials captured six Iranians during their control in the region. Security officials then found the dead bodies of two Iranians, Ismail Cevanpur (28) and Cemile Budakzade (34) after questioning of the captured Iranians.

The investigation related to the incident is underway.

[06] MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL GET 32 BILLION CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS FROM TURKMENISTAN''

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, while addressing the General Committee said that the agreement in question foresaw the purchase of 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Recalling the views that ''this natural gas won't come'', Ersumer said, '' the Turkish and Russian side carry out efforts related to the land passage of the pipeline and feasibility studies are also underway related to the sea passage.''

Noting that there were baseless allegations that Turkey's natural gas agreement with Iran was annulled, Ersumer said they take into consideration all the agreements related to natural gas.

Ersumer said that 32 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be purchased from Turkmenistan, adding, ''we have signed agreements about two routes. These are the Iran and Caspian passage. Feasibility studies are underway about the Iranian passage and we have made a decision to initiate feasibility studies about the Caspian passage.''

[07] TURKISH-GERMAN RELATIONS

Addressing a written statement Vural said it was revealed that news reports and interpretations related to the conversation of German reporters in soutern Antalya Province failed to reflect the facts, adding that he personally talked with the Prime Minister on the issue and got information.

Vural noted that Yilmaz spoken in Turkish, but mistakes were made in the translation to German, adding, ''during the chat Prime Minister Yilmaz said that there was an old friendship between him and the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.'' Vural reminded that there is a saying in Turkish that former friends will not be enemies.

Vural also said that nevertheless Yilmaz at the same time expressed disappointment at not receiving the expected support from Germany about Turkey's approach to the European Union (EU).

The statement said, ''Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz responding to questions if his recent statements effect the number of tourists coming from Germany, said Turkey is one of the major holiday resorts when considered from the aspect of price and quality. Thus, I do not expect a negative development in the field of tourism. However, if there is a decrease in the number of tourists, tourists from other countries will make use of this and come to Turkey which has advantages due to price and quality.''

Meanwhile, the Bonn Embassy said that 1.6 million German tourists visited Turkey in 1995, 2.3 million in 1997 and that three million tourists from Germany are expected in 1998.

[08] DEPAR LEADER CAPOGLU AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Capoglu, currently in Strasbourg as the guest of the EU, met with the political party group representatives at the European Parliament (EP).

Responding to the questions of Turkish reporters following his meetings at the EP, Capoglu said that the reaction which Turkey showed against the resolutions of the Luxembourg Summit was justified, but at the same time a delayed one. Capoglu said this reaction had to be made after the negative response of the EU given to Turkey's application for full membership in 1989.

The DEPAR leader said that the commencement of the full membership negotiations between the EU and the Greek Cypriot side won't bring a solution to the problem, but will prevent the solution, adding, ''as long as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is not recognized as a state, it will be very difficult to find a solution.''

[09] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN LEAVES FOR THE TRNC - CETIN: ''TURKEY TOGETHER WITH HER POLITICAL PARTIES, GOVERNMENTS, PARLIAMENTS AND CITIZENS WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE JUST CASE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS AS SHE HAS ALWAYS DONE BEFORE''

Hikmet Cetin left for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with an accompanying delegation upon an official invitation from Hakki Atun, the Speaker of the TRNC Parliament.

Cetin prior to his departure from the Esenboga Airport said that the TRNC and the Cyprus issues had entered into a critical and sensitive process. ''My visit to the TRNC during such a sensitive period carries a great importance for the relations,'' Speaker Cetin said.

Stressing that the negotiations continued up until now were made according to the parameters of the agreements in 1959-1960, Cetin said, ''the Greek- Cypriot administration has been accepted as the only addressed side with the decision of the European Union (EU). All of the parameters in the past have been removed. It can be said that the EU has accepted the existence of the two states on the island. Starting a negotiation process with one side and seeking a solution by putting one of them inside, means that it has tacitly accepted both the TRNC and the Greek-Cypriot side.''

''The validity of the negotiations held up until now was also obstructed. Because, now the EU and Greek-Cypriot administration are trying to have their own proposed solution accepted by Turkey and the TRNC. The acceptance of this is out of question.''

Cetin stated that his visit would enable them to show the Turkish Parliament's determination to support the rightful case of the Turkish Cypriots and to show to the world that the TRNC is not alone.

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

''TURKEY-TRNC FEDERATION''
Sukru Sina Gurel, the Turkish Minister of State responsible for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), displayed harsh reactions to the negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Greek Cyprus when he said yesterday, ''Everyone should know that the island of Cyprus can't be separated from Turkey. The Turkish Cypriots can't be reduced to a minority in overnight. Turkey can't and won't let such an attitute prevail.'' Minister Gurel added that all the agreements between Turkey and the TRNC up until today would carry the two sides towards the formation of a federation. /Cumhuriyet/

WESTERN PAPERS REFLECT EUROPEAN CONCERN ABOUT THE TURKEY-TRNC CLOSENESS
Leading newspapers of the Western press, including the Washington Post, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the German ''Suddeutsche Zeitung'', in their previous day's issues, all included comments on the intensifying cooperation between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The articles evaluated this accelerating closeness between the two countries as a step towards integration. The Washington Post, in its editorial, criticized the EU by stating that the EU had wasted an opportunity to ease the tension between Turkey and Greece and also between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, by following a policy which ignored Turkey and the TRNC. ''Now 'war' speculations have started up again and US diplomacy is being requested to avert a possible unpleasant situation. The EU, at least, could have been more cautious in its enlargement process,'' it said. The Guardian considered the latest occurrences as ''intensifying the division on the island.'' /Hurriyet/

REQUEST TO GREECE
Klaus Kinkel, the German Foreign Minister has made a special request to Greece saying, ''Within the structure of the European Union (EU) Athens should abandon its policy of preventing financial aid to Turkey. Greece should therefore, consider taking a step back.''

On the other hand, Kinkel wants Turkey to attend the EU membership negotiations, and added that the door to Europe was still open to Turkey. /Sabah/

HOLBROOKE TO CYPRUS
Richard Holbrooke, the Special Envoy of the U.S. administration, will go to Cyprus tomorrow. Diplomatic circles report that Holbrooke will try to persuade the leaders of the two communities on the island to start UN brokered negotiations. /Sabah/

KARADAYI TO GREECE
Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff will go to Athens in order to attend a Western European Union (WEU) meeting between 6-7 April. Officials report that ways to improve the operational ability of the WEU will be on the agenda of the meeting. After the WEU meeting in Athens, the WEU Defense Ministers will meet on the Greek island of Rhodes between 11-12 April. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY CONGRATULATES KOCARIAN
Turkey has congratulated Robert Kocarian who won the recent elections in Armenia and asked him to leave his hard line attitude towards the Nagorno- Karabakh problem, and work instead to find a solution to the issue. Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue demanded an immediate solution and that Kocarian should take positive steps towards finding a peaceful conclusion. /Cumhuriyet/

(To be continued)

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

296 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS
A total of 296 PKK terrorists have been killed at the end of military operations in the southeastern region of Turkey in the first three months of 1998. According to the security forces officials, there have been serious divisions in the PKK organization recently. The cross-border operations have extensively damaged the logistic support system of the PKK. /Cumhuriyet/

ELECTRONIC TRADE SEMINAR
A seminar on ''Electronic Trade'' will be held today within the framework of the Economic Development Foundation's (IKV)-Information Network Project Education Activities. Many Turkish and foreign officials including Haluk Nuray, the IKV Brussels Representative and Karel Uyttendaele, the EU Commission Representative for the Industry General Directorate Responsible for the Eastern Mediterranean, will deliver speeches during the seminar where the electronic trade concept in the developing world economy, legal aspects of electronic trade in the EU and the role of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in the European electronic trade will be examined. /Milliyet/

220 REFUGEES DETAINED IN ITALY
Yesterday, 220 refugees were detained on the southeastern coast of Italy. According to a statement made by the police, 39 of the refugees were Turkish. /Milliyet-Cumhuriyet/

EOKA AND PKK HAND-IN-HAND
The 43rd anniversary of the EOKA terrorist organization, which supports the integration of Cyprus with Greece, was celebrated yesterday at the Greek Cypriot Community. The Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides also attended the celebrations. Meanwhile, it is reported that EOKA together with the PKK is about to carry out attacks against Turkish missions abroad. /Milliyet/

THY MONOPOLY FOR TURKEY-DENMARK FLIGHTS
The Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will completely remove its daily flights from Copenhagen to Istanbul as of today. Turkish Airlines (THY) will now be the only company to fly directly from Copenhagen to Turkey. Therefore, this will increase the THY market share in Denmark. /Milliyet/

GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER IN MOSCOW
Igor Sergeyev, the Russian Minister of Defense, said yesterday that he was sure that the Russian-made S-300 missiles will win bids for missiles put up for tender by Greece. Yesterday Sergeyev met with Akis Cuhacopulos, the Greek Minister of Defense, who is paying an official visit to Moscow. During the meeting, military and technical cooperation between the two countries was discussed. Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Head of State, has already declared that the S-300 missiles will definitely be sold to the Greek Cypriots.

Russia is participating in bidding for missile sales to Greece with the S- 300 missiles, while the US is pushing for the sale with the Patriot missiles. The results of the bidding will be announced on 15 May. /Milliyet/

PARLIAMENT APPROVES DEAL WITH RUSSIA ON NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTS
The Parliament has approved a recent natural gas transport deal with Russia, which plans to transport Russian natural gas by a pipeline to be constructed under the Black Sea. In accordance with the agreement between BOTAS, the official Turkish oil and natural gas transportation board, and the Russian Gazprom, the pipeline's construction will begin in 2000. The purchase of an additional 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas will be assured until 2007 by means of the pipeline. /Hurriyet/

UN's KINDNESS TO ITS MUSLIM EMPLOYEES

The United Nations General Council has declared that the UN will recognize two major Muslim religious celebrations by closing for the holiday periods, following a proposal by nearly 100 Muslim countries and despite objections from some non-Muslim countries, including Bill Richardson, the US Permanent Representative, who claimed that this decision was not in accord with the secular structure of the UN. /Hurriyet/

[12] THE PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONCLUDES OBSERVATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

Addressing a press conference at the Southeast Journalists' Association Piskinsut said that the violence in the region decreased due to those who were taken into custody and their interrogations when compared with the past, but there is still some violence. Piskinsut said that terrorism had decreased in the region due to the intense efforts of the security forces, the contributions of the public and a new point of view.

Stressing that no officials were taken to the meetings of the convicts with their relatives, Piskinsut said that they also made an inquiry in prisons. Piskinsut said that the inquiry investigated whether or not the government kept its promises, the legal support of it and many other issues including the Repentance Law and Anti-Terrorism Law.

Piskinsut said that they determined the deficiencies causing interruption in the functioning of the justice system and that all of these would be voiced.

The commission returned to Ankara after concluding their contacts.

[13] INDUSTRIAL LPG TUBE EXPLODES AT THE SINCAN ORGANIZED INDUSTRY ZONE - 11 WORKERS INJURED, 8 OF THEM CRITICAL

It was reported that the container in a business place on the Buyuk Selcuklu Boulevard in the Industry Zone blasted at 9:55 a.m. due to a defect in its hoses.

The seriuosly injured workers, Fikret Kocak, Turhan Keles, Ayhan Ulus, Abbas Birhan, Murat Doruk, Naim Aslan, Erkan Ucler and Ersahin Erdemir were taken for medical treatment at the Social Security Administration (SSK) Diskapi Hospital.

[14] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN TRNC

Addressing the meeting Denktas said that Turkey's support gives a great strength to the Turkish Cypriots. Denktas said that the full membership negotiations between the Greek Cypriot side and the European Union has damaged the stability on the island.

Cetin, in his part, said, ''We want a just peace. Turkey wants you to live together so long as the TRNC's political equality and sovereignty are recognized.'' He also added that the deputies from several parties want to visit the TRNC and show their support to the Turkish Cypriots.

[15] HIGH COURT OF APPEALS UNANIMOUSLY ANNULS VERDICT OF THE COURT AGAINST EIGHT STUDENTS WHO OPENED A BANNER IN THE PARLIAMENT

Hulya Yesilyurt, Mahmut Yilmaz, Ozgur Yilmaz, Ibrahim Etem Altun, Devrim Oz, Ahmet Bahadir Ahiska, Haci Ferhan Temiz and Deniz Kartal were earlier sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by the Criminal Court on charges of opening a banner in the Parliament General Assembly.

The verdict said the local court implemented a sanction saying that it was an act contrary to Resolution No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstration Marches, but failed to show which legal norm was violated by the act and also failed to specify the type of crime.

The reasoned verdict said the Constitution says each Turkish citizen has the right to make use of basic rights and freedoms after specifying the attributes of the basic rights and freedoms. It was also said that there were limitations in the related articles of Resolution No. 2911 and that meetings and demonstration marches were a right.

The reasoned verdict said, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was also adopted by Turkey, says, ''each person has the right for education.'' The Paris Pact, regarding the Preservation of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms, which Turkey also signed, said that no one can be deprived of the right for education.

''In the light of this national and universal criterion, the students performed an innocent act in the Parliament as a democratic reaction with the suspicion that the university registrations of several of their friends would be deleted only because of their financial difficulties, it is impossible to evaluate this act within the context of Resolution No. 2911.''
The students will be judged again. If the local court insists on its first decision, then the issue will be taken up in the High Court of Appeals Legal General Committee.

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO ARMENIA

Demirel who participated at the ceremonies which were organized for the 80th anniversary of Van's liberation day, emphasized that 20 percent of Azerbaijan is under the occupation of Armenia, adding, ''Turkey and Azerbaijan are sister states. We will remain friends with Azerbaijan under any conditions. We hope that Armenia will leave Azerbaijan without bloodshed.''

Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Nahcevan Assembly has congratulated Van's liberation day on behalf Haydar Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. Talibov also thanked Turkey for her support in the Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute.

[17] FORMER DEPUTIES CEYLAN AND CELIK ARE BEING TRIED

A term of imprisonment varying from one year up to six years is demanded for Ceylan and from two years to 12 years for Celik.

The Chairman of the Court Nuri Yilmaz postponed the hearing to another day.

The indictment prepared by Levent Tacer, the Republic Prosecutor said the suspect Ceylan, addressing a meeting in Germany used the words below against Turkish Armed Forces:

''...the military says (we will let you support the separatist PKK but not fundamentalists). You can't solve the question with this mentality. Do you want a solution? It is Islamic law. You people who have no pride. The soldiers capture the PKK terrorists in Cudi mountain but later let them go because they are afraid that the West would react to human rights violations,'' he said.

The indictment said that with these words Ceylan openly insulted the military forces of the state. The last part of the indictment called for a term of imprisonment for Ceylan of up to six years under Article 159-1 of the Turkish Penal Code.''

The indictment which was prepared against Halil Ibrahim Celik said that a statement of the suspect was issued in the Sabah Newspaper dated May 9, 1997 and in the speech Celik defended,

''... there will be bloodshed if you try to close the Imam-Hatip (religious) schools during the rule of the Welfare Party (RP). The country will be worse than Algeria. Moreover there will be a French revolution. There will be bloodshed, I want this. Democracy will be improved in this way. They could not overcome 3,500 PKK terrorists, how will they overcome the six million political Islamists? When the National Security Council (NSC) insists on closing the Imam-Hatip schools, will these six million Moslems remain silent? There will be bloodshed if there is persistency.''

The indictment called for a term of imprisonment of up to 12 years for Celik, for whom a decision of arrest in absence was made, as he insulted the moral personality of the military forces of the state and the government and according to Article 159-1 of the Turkish Criminal Code.''

[18] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DINCMEN'S PRESS CONFERENCE... - DINCMEN: ''DOMESTIC BORROWING WILL BE 4.2 QUADRILLION TL AND THE FOREGIN DEBT WILL BE 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN SECOND QUARTER OF 1998''

Undersecretary Dincmen held a press conference and gave information about the economic implementations and the three-month borrowing programme in the first quarter of 1998, and their targets for the second quarter of this year.

Stressing the importance of the realization of the structural reforms for decreasing inflation, Dincmen said, ''a total of 4 quadrillion 167 trillion Turkish Liras in domestic borrowing will be made in the April-June 1998 period. This will be composed of 2 quadrillion 476 trillion Turkish Liras in domestic borrowing and 1 quadrillion 691 trillion Turkish Liras in interest.''

''The total foreign debt payment in the same period will be 2 billion 156 million US dollars. This will be composed of 1 billion 315 million US dollars in principal and 841 million US dollars in interest payments,'' Dincmen stated.

Dincmen said that the surplus excluding interest, which was 372 trillion Turkish Liras in the first three months, was targeted to be 450 trillion Turkish Liras in the second quarter.

Yener Dincmen said that the domestic borrowing stock, as of March 31, was 7.3 quadrillion Turkish Liras.

''When we look at the realizations in the previous year, we see that there was a two percent decrease in real terms in the domestic borrowing stock in March 1998 compared with the prices in January 1997,'' Undersecretary Dincmen said.

Pointing out that the foreign debt for the first quarter was foreseen to be 800 million US dollars, Dincmen said that the total foreign borrowing reached 940 million US dollars.

Dincmen mentioned that the 1998 budget revenues were targeted to be 10.8 quadrillion Turkish Liras and expenditures to be 14.7 quadrillion Turkish Liras.

Recalling that the budget deficit was targeted to be 8.1 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) and that the surplus except interest to be 3.9 percent of the GNP, Dincmen said, ''however, we are planning to increase the surplus excluding interest to 5 percent of the GNP in order to be successful in the struggle against inflation by increasing the surplus.''

Dincmen emphasized that their first target in the struggle against inflation was to cut the public financing deficits since these deficits were the most important factors for chronic inflation.

Noting that the borrowing of the Treasury from the markets in the first quarter was 2 quadrillion 470 trillion Turkish Liras and the additional sales of the Treasury to the public organizations and institutions was 220 trillion Turkish Liras and that the total borrowing of the Treasury reached 2 quadrillion 690 trillion Turkish Liras at the end of the first quarter.

[19] THE CASE OF THE MISSING TURKISH BOY DUE TO OPEN AGAIN AFTER 13 YEARS

The family of Gevriye Cavus who disappeared in the Molenbeek region of Brussels on February 1985, have been continuing their attempts to find him.

It was discovered that the security forces which displayed an accusing attitude to the Cavus family in those days, had a great neglect during the investigation.

The Belgium' public opinion became more sensitive on the subject of missing or murdered children who were mostly the victims of the pedophiliac gangs, and Gevriye Cavus became a symbol of the missing children.

The judicial officials said that the case of Gevriye has been given to ''a new investigation team'', and added that this team will make investigations and excavations.

[20] AWARD FOR THE TURKISH SCIENTIST - DR. ALI ERDEMIR RECEIVES AWARDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND EDMOND E. BISSON

Dr. Erdemir has been awarded with 2.1 million US dollars by the US Department of Energy, and also won the Edmond E. Bisson award with his research concerning the technology of friction and corrosion.

Meanwhile Dr. Erdemir is a candidate for the Discovery award of the famous science magazine and science television channel ''Discovery''.

The Discovery Organization said that 40 scientists in 10 branches have been selected from 4 thousand scientists.

Further information about Dr. Ali Erdemir's invention can be obtained from the Argon Laboratory's web page:

http://www.anl.gov/

[21] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS... - TURKEY REPAYS 3 BILLION US DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE JANUARY 1, 1998

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 2 billion 273.2 million US dollars, the Central Bank paid 79.3 million US dollars, the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry paid 706 million US dollars and the Turkish Defense Fund paid 35 million US dollars in foreign debts in the period between January 1 - April 1, 1998.

Meanwhile, Turkey paid 44.9 million US dollars of the total foreign debt payments on April 1, 1998.

Turkey repaid 1 billion 346.7 million US dollars in foreign debts in January, 916 million US dollars in February and 785.8 million US dollars in March.

[22] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 2, 1998

Addressing the signing ceremony at the Merit Altinel Hotel in Ankara, Mehmet Rifat Kose, the General Director of the Ministry of Health's Department of Maternal Child Health, said that the people should be provided with accurate information to let them maintain their health.

Stressing that they should make use of the mass communication techniques to let the public become conscious in the field of health, Kose said, ''the education made by using the communication techniques are effective and successful.''

Pointing out that the protocol signed would include the Republic of Turkey and some Balkan countries, Kose said that the representatives of the participant countries would be trained in the field of audio-visual communications in family health.

Tugay Ozcelik, the Chairman of the TIKA; Naoyashi Sasaki, the Local Representative of the JICA's Bureau in Turkey and Mehmet Rifat Kose signed the protocol.

Then Naoyashi Sasaki gave to the Ministry of Health the gold medal that it had won at the ''Sony International Education Programme Contest''.

ANKARA - Tu Mingde, the Foreign Relations General Director of the Chinese General Sports Administration, Che Xiangdong, the General Bureau Deputy Director and Song Xueying, the Secretary of the Foreign Relations Department will come to Ankara on Thursday upon the invitation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

During the talks which will take place between the Chinese delegation and the Turkish sports delegation on April 3, the sports exchange program between the two countries for 1998 will be determined and afterwards Tevfik Sarpkaya, the General Director of Youth and Sports and Tu Mingde will sign a sports exchange program.

The program includes participation at international tournaments in the branches of bicycle riding, climbing, swimming, table tennis and weight lifting, activities and mutual development camps, exchange of experts on the performance and health of athletes and the exchange of scientific and technical documents in every field of sports.

The Chinese delegation will depart from Turkey on April 5.

KAHTA - The first visitors to the monuments which were belonging to the era of the ancient Kommagene Kingdom on Nemrut Mountain which is known as the ''eighth wonder of the world'' in Kahta County of Adıyaman Province, arrived on Thursday.

The first tourists of the season who came to Turkey from Germany, were welcomed by Recep Kizilcik, the governor of Kahta. Kizilcik said that the inaccurate propaganda caused the number of tourists to be decreased, and added, ''we do our utmost to eliminate this wrong image.''

ANKARA - Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said on Thursday that a technical delegation will be set up to research the effects of the Deriner Dam and the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) on the environment. The Deriner Dam and the power plant are planned to be constructed in the region near Georgia on the Coruh River.

The Turkish and Georgian delegations have signed a cooperation protocol after the meetings lasting for two days. Cumhur Ersumer and Nino Chobadze, the Minister of the Environment, signed the protocol on behalf of their countries.

Ersumer said that the foundation of the Deriner Dam will be laid on April 26 and the Turkish and Georgian Presidents will participate at the ceremony.

[23] CASE OF THE ACZMENDIS AT THE HIGH COURT OF APPEALS - APPEAL HEARING OF THE CASE OCCURS IN WHICH 123 ACZMENDIS WERE SENTENCED

Defendant Ilker Dortel and the lawyers of others participated in the hearing which took place at the High Court of Appeals.

In his defense, Dortel said he began to search for other ways due to his familiy problems and that he met the Aczmendis at that time. He said ''I wanted to learn religion, but I was disappointed. I want to be a person who is beneficial to the nation and state. Your decision will give a direction to my life.''

The lawyer of Dortel defended the view ''the apparel and life style of people doesn't concern the secular state'' adding that ''the Aczmendis is a non-governmental organization, a verification of culture. They have not been involved in any violence.''

Claiming that the incidents erupted due to the provocation of security forces, Ciftci defended that the court made subjective evaluations. He said apparel is not an adequate evidence for membership in an organization.

Many Aczmendis were taken into custody following an outlawed demonstration after a Mevlut (Religious prayer) staged on the commemoration of the death of Said-i Nursi at the Ankara Kocatepe Mosque.

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