Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-15

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

15 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] THE CHIEF OF STAFF KARADAYI IN BAKU

[03] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''A BASIS IS NEEDED FOR A FOUR-WAY CONFERENCE. THE BASIS IS RECOGNITION OF THE EQUALITY OF THE TURKISH SIDE''

[04] ISIN CELEBI, THE MINISTER OF STATE: - ''TURKEY EXCEEDS HER EXPORT TARGET DESPITE THE CRISIS IN ASIA''

[05] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''THE ARMED FORCES IS EMPOWERED TO STAGE AN OPERATION IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AND ACROSS THE BORDERS''

[06] EARTHQUAKE LEAVES 130 FAMILIES HOMELESS IN TWO VILLAGES IN KARLIOVA COUNTY OF BINGOL

[07] CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL COME TOGETHER IN TURKEY ON APRIL 23

[08] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[10] DRAFT LAWS WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISM'' TO BE DISCUSSED AT JUSTICE COMMISSION ON THURSDAY

[11] TASAR, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE IN NEW YORK

[12] SPRING OPERATION ON BORDERS - 63 TERRORISTS KILLED IN ONE DAY, WHILE 11 SECURITY OFFICIALS DIED

[13] STATE MINISTER GUNES TANER IS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

[14] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM VISITS TURKISH TROOPS IN BOSNIA

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 15, 1998

[16] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN KYRGYZSTAN

[17] CAPTURE OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST SAKIK - KDP ANKARA REPRESENTATIVE DIZAYI COMES TO FOREIGN MINISTRY AND EXPRESSES REGRET

[18] FOREIGN EXCHANGE INCOME FROM EXPORTSOF HAZELNUTS INCREASES BY 227 MILLION US DOLLARS

[19] ALLEGATIONS RELATED TO SYRIA-PKK LINK - FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''PROBABILITY OF SABOTAGE TO THE BIRECIK DAM IS NOT VALID''

[20] SOUTHEASTERN TEXTILE PRODUCERS SET UP SECTORAL FOREIGN TRADE COMPANY

[21] ARREST WARRANT FOR FORMER DEPUTY SEVKI YILMAZ ON CHARGES OF INSULTING ATATURK

[22] OPERATION AT THE BORDER...

[23] WORLD BANK'S INTEREST IN BASINS... - GAZIANTEP PUT IN THE SCOPE OF ''REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR THE WATER BASINS IN EASTERN ANATOLIA'' - INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE IN THREE BASINS IN GAZIANTEP

[24] TOURISM WEEK STARTS...

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) ENMITY IN PKK
A big dissolution started in the separatist terrorist PKK organization, after Semdin Sakık, who was the second name in the PKK, was captured.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] THE CHIEF OF STAFF KARADAYI IN BAKU

Pointing out that they accept the solution of the Karabakh problem as a foundation stone for the security and stability in the region, Karadayi said that they are extremely sorry about the one million Azerbaijanis living in tents.

Karadayi said that the Armenia-Azerbaijan problem should be solved with the mediation of the Minsk Group of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (AGIT) and in the framework of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that this solution will help to increase the security in the region.

Conveying President Suleyman Demirel's good wishes to Aliyev, Karadayı invited him to Turkey and stressed that the mutual visits will develop the relations between the two countries.

Haydar Aliyev said that providing peace and stability is the first duty of all the countries, and added, ''The Caucasus needs peace. Turkey is part of the Caucasus and there are problems in Georgia, Iraq and the other neighbouring countries of Turkey.

The problem between Armenia and Azerbaijan is very significant for both Turkey and Azerbaijan. The main strategy of Turkey and Azerbaijan is for providing peace.''

Karadayi will leave Baku and proceed to Tiflis on Wednesday.

[03] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''A BASIS IS NEEDED FOR A FOUR-WAY CONFERENCE. THE BASIS IS RECOGNITION OF THE EQUALITY OF THE TURKISH SIDE''

Denktas told the Turkish Cypriot television that as long as the the Greek Cypriot side is recognized as the government of the whole island, negotiations can't start, adding, ''the Greek Cypriots want a unitary state rather than a federation.'' Denktas stressed that the impediments and embargoes should end on TRNC for discussing a federation.

The TRNC President Rauf Denktas pointed out that Holbrooke recognizes the equality of the two sides on Cyprus, has understood that the Greek Cypriots aren't the government of the Turkish Cypriots and is searching for a formula for equality. ''However he won't succeed in this easily, anyway his search for a formula is a good initiative,'' he added.

Noting that the Greek Cypriots prefer entering the European Union (EU) to making a partnership with the Turkish Cypriots, Rauf Denktas added, ''we did not make concessions from our rights and freedoms. We can only negotiate on the principle of state to state, if this isn't the case, then we'll continue on our way. We can't approve the Turkish Cypriots being a minority within the 700,000 Greek Cypriots.''

Responding to a question, Rauf Denktas said, ''Turkey is on our side, we should benefit from that.''

Criticizing the news claiming that the Turkish Cypriots migrate due to economic difficulties, Denktas said, ''I am 74 years old and I haven't seen the Turkish Cypriots as happy and prosperous as they are today.''

[04] ISIN CELEBI, THE MINISTER OF STATE: - ''TURKEY EXCEEDS HER EXPORT TARGET DESPITE THE CRISIS IN ASIA''

Addressing the ceremony of the Association of the Sectoral Foreign Trade Members, Celebi said that the exports increased 13 percent in 1997 comparing with 1996. He added that the increase in exports for the first quarter this year is 14 percent and Turkey will experience a dynamism which has been caused by the growing exports. Reminding that he will visit the People's Republic of China on April 20-26, Celebi invited the exporters to particiate in the visit.

Yavuz Ege, the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, said that the sectoral foreign trade companies accelerate the Turkish exports and contribute to the auxiliary industries and regional development. He added that there are 1,059 firms in the organization of 27 sectoral foreign trade companies and these firms provide employment for more that 100 thousand people.

Gungor Kesci, the member of the board of directors of the Ataks Foreign Trade Company, who spoke on behalf of the exporters at the ceremony, said that the sectoral foreign trade companies should benefit preeminently from the state aids.

[05] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''THE ARMED FORCES IS EMPOWERED TO STAGE AN OPERATION IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AND ACROSS THE BORDERS''

Responding to the questions of journalists, Basesgioglu stated that ''the government was not uninformed about the operation concerning Sakık. The government was informed about the whole issue ever since Sakık took shelter at the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). These kinds of operations are staged in the region against the separatist terrorists. The interrogation of Sakık continues, but we don't want to say anything about the place of the interrogation for the safety of the interrogation.''

''We have a common attitude against the separatist terrorist PKK organization with the KDP. If members of the Barzani forces didn't act against Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces or if they didn't a commit crime, then we don't have any reason to keep them. Even if they came here, then we will return them,'' Basesgioglu said.

Responding to the questions about the operations against the PKK in the Antalya region, Basesgioglu said, ''there isn't any incident in Antalya or the other touristic regions that will negatively effect Turkish tourism. All our security forces are on the alert, the foreigners and our friends can come and spend their holiday in Turkey.''

[06] EARTHQUAKE LEAVES 130 FAMILIES HOMELESS IN TWO VILLAGES IN KARLIOVA COUNTY OF BINGOL

It was reported that the soldiers distributed tents which were provided by the Red Crescent Organization, to the families who had to spent the night outdoors.

Suleymen Kamci, the Governor of Bingol, said that the efforts to determine the damage are still continuing in the region.

Kamci said that 13 people were wounded during the panic after the earthquake and their health situation is improving.

[07] CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL COME TOGETHER IN TURKEY ON APRIL 23

A total of 930 children from 48 countries will join the 20th International Children's Festival organized by the TRT (Turkish National Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization). Children from Ethiopia, Gambia and South Africa will join the festival for the first time.

The preparations for the festival will begin on April 17. Yucel Yener, the Director General of the TRT, and the guest children will visit Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum) on the same day. The children will participate on April 23 in the ''Gala Programme'' which will be broadcast by the TRT, and visit with President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.

In the meantime a picnic and a kite festival will be organized for the children.

[08] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL: "TURKEY SHOULD BE A GOLDEN TOURISM COUNTRY"

Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who attended a Tourism Forum in Istanbul yesterday, said that Turkey should be the golden country of world tourism in the 21st century. Demirel noted that 10 million tourists visited Turkey in 1997, bringing in 8 billion dollars. Demirel added that 12 million tourists and $10 billion were expected in 1998. He pointed out that it was clear that Turkey would reach the target of 25 million tourists and $15 billion in tourism earnings as soon as possible. Demirel stated that Turkey was a huge open-air museum and gave a message to the world: "Come and see the cradle of many civilizations in this country". /Hurriyet- Milliyet/

MESUT YILMAZ IN KYRGYZSTAN
Completing his contacts in Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz went on to Kyrgyzstan where he was welcomed with a military ceremony by Prime Minister Kubanichbek Cumaliyev at Bishkek Airport.

During meetings between the Turkish and Kyrgyz delegations under the chairmanship of the two prime ministers three agreements to develop cooperation in the customs services, forestry sector and economic areas were signed. During the meeting Yilmaz asked Cumaliyev to take strong measures against the PKK terrorist organization now taking steps towards increased activity in the region. Cumaliyev said that they were ready to cooperate with Turkey in the struggle against terrorism.

Yilmaz was also received by President Askar Akayev at the Presidential Palace. /Milliyet/Cumhuriyet/

CEM IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will start today his contacts in Sarajevo. Cem will ask Bosnian, Croat and Serb representatives to bring the Dayton Agreement to life as soon as possible. Before his departure from Ankara Cem described the Bosnia war as a "shame of the century". /Cumhuriyet/

KARADAYI CONTINUES CONTACTS IN BAKU
The Chief of General Staff, Ismail Hakki Karadayi said yesterday that Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces would continue to support Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. On the second day of his visit, Karadayi was received by Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev. At the reception Karadayi said that the Armenian-Azerbaijani problem should be solved within the framework of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk group. Karadayi also presented a good- will letter from President Suleyman Demirel to Aliyev and invited him to Turkey.

Haydar Aliyev for his part said that historical relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan relations have been rapidly improving. /Cumhuriyet/Milliyet/

US LETTER REGARDING TURKEY
Democrat Robert Andrews, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives, in an article in the Washington Post newspaper, proposed a three-stage plan to the US government for Turkey's entry into the European Union (EU) and for the solution of the Cyprus problem. The proposals of Andrews are as follows: -In return for a solution to the Cyprus problem, the US should support Turkey's entry into the EU. The US should persuade Germany to pioneer Turkey's entry into the EU and for sitting at the negotiation table with Greece. The US should help Turkey by using her economic power. Andrews concluded that Turkey's membership in the EU would decrease tensions between Turkey and Greece. /Hurriyet/

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

TURKEY'S 3-300 POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED
Ankara has stated that its policy regarding Russian-made S-300 missiles to be deployed in Greek Cyprus has not changed. Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Necati Utkan said yesterday: "The security of Turkish Cypriots is under Turkey's guarantee. Turkey will respond to any initiative which aims to undermine this". /Hurriyet/

OPERATION IN SIRNAK: 62 TERRORISTS KILLED
Turkish Armed Forces have carried out an operation along the northern Iraqi border and in the Sirnak against the PKK terrorist organization. During the operation, 62 PKK militants were killed and 10 Turkish soldiers died. Many terrorists were also caught. Military officials noted yesterday that although a wider-ranging cross-border military operation was not under consideration, these kinds of operations would continue during the spring months. /Hurriyet/

ESCAPE FROM ABDULLAH OCALAN
Following the extradition of Semdin Sakik, who was first held during an operation in northern Iraq and later brought to Diyarbakir, three more top- level people from the administration of the PKK terrorist organization have also abandoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. It is reported that PKK Central Committee members Riza Altun, Murat Karayilan and Sait Curukkaya, responsible for Diyarbakir, are seeking ways for finding refuge in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Meanwhile, Ocalan has had his two closest men, who tried to escape, executed. /Hurriyet/

BLACK SEA FIRES CONTINUE
A greater part of the Black Sea region forest fires, which started on the last day of the Feast of Sacrifice holiday, has been extinguished. On the other hand, fires in the districts of Ardesen and Findikli near Rize, are continuing. It is reported that up until now, 700 hectares of forest have been destroyed during the fires. /Milliyet/

TECHNOLOGY MANAGERS ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL
Techonology managers from the world's leading electronics firms are coming to Turkey today for a technology congress in Istanbul on May 12. Technology awards, presented jointly by Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institution (TUBITAK), Turkish Technology Development Foundation (TTGV) and Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD), will be awarded to the most successful companies in this congress which will be attended by high level representatives from several American and English technology giants such as Northern Telecom, Montpellier Technopole, Cite De Science, 3M Europe and Philips. /Sabah/

IRAQI KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY INFORMED ABOUT LATEST OPERATION
The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday called the Ankara representative of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in order to brief him on the operation in which Semdin Sakik was extradited to Turkey. Ministry officials noted that the KDP had resisted handing over Sakik despite frequent calls from Turkey. They also demanded that the party should submit to Turkey a full report of the interrogation of him made by the party. /Sabah/

TURKISH STORE SET ON FIRE
A market run by Turks was set on fire in Osnabruck, Germany yesterday. German police officials said later that the incident was being investigated. So far, however, there has been no indication that the fire was the result of racist action against the Turkish community. /Cumhuriyet/

[10] DRAFT LAWS WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISM'' TO BE DISCUSSED AT JUSTICE COMMISSION ON THURSDAY

The draft law which foresees changes in the law concerning dervish lodges and convents and the Turkish Penal Law will imprison those who violate the law for one year and force them to pay fine.

Secondly, the draft law which brings changes in Civil Code foresees new regulations concerning foundations, for instance foundations having political aims or supporting one race or members of one sect will not be permitted to be established. The foundations will also be prohibited from acting contrary to the law, national union, national interests, basic rights and freedoms.

[11] TASAR, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE IN NEW YORK

Tasar told the A.A correspondent that the ''control documents'' which are being used in imports and exports will be given not from Ankara but from the local directorates of agriculture, and added, ''I invited the American investors to make investments in Southeastern Anatolia and GAP regions. An area of nearly 1.7 million hectars will be irrigated, therefore the sowing of cotton, soya, sunflowers, vegetables and fruits will be possible in the region.''

Noting that the facilities for textiles, vegetable oil and food industries will be established in the region, Tasar said that the joint investments will be made in this fields and the products will be exported generally to the Central Asian Republics. He added that the American businessmen will start to come to Turkey and the assistants of the members of the US Congress will visit the GAP region between April 30-31.

[12] SPRING OPERATION ON BORDERS - 63 TERRORISTS KILLED IN ONE DAY, WHILE 11 SECURITY OFFICIALS DIED

The security forces backed by the air force, staged an operation in Besta, Dereler and Ortabag regions of Sırnak Province and near Cudi Mountain on Tuesday after the places where terrorists started to take shelter were determined.

Many temporary village guards participated in the operation staged on Wednesday morning in the Sırnak, Siirt, Mardin and Hakkari regions.

During the 24-hour operation, which intensified in the Sırnak-Hakkari part of the Northern Iraqi border, 63 terrorists were killed, while 11 security officials including four temporary village guards died.

The Emergency Regional Governor officials said that the operations are underway and hot clashes with the terrorists also continue.

[13] STATE MINISTER GUNES TANER IS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Taner will meet with Michel Camdesus, the Chairman of the IMF, this afternoon. It is expected that Taner will meet with James Wolfenshon, the Chairman of the World Bank, and William Daley, the US Secretary of Trade.

In the meantime an official from the Turkish delegation said that the decrease in inflation will continue and they will discuss the economic developments of the last and the next quarter with the officials from the IMF and the World Bank.

In the report issued by the IMF yesterday, Turkey's efforts to struggle against the inflation were stressed. An IMF delegation will come to Turkey to hold talks at the end of this month.

[14] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM VISITS TURKISH TROOPS IN BOSNIA

Cem said, ''the Turkish soldiers in Bosnia-Herzegovina are serving for peace. I hope that the people who watched the pain of the Bosnians instead of helping them, will learn a lesson.''

Ismail Cem has proceeded last night to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia- Herzegovina.

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 15, 1998

Addressing the journalists, Karadayi described his visit to Azerbaijan as very positive.

Karadayi will proceed to Tiflis this afternoon.

ANKARA - Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz will meet with Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on Thursday, it was reported on Wednesday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as the support of the CHP to the government, the draft resolutions submitted to the Parliament by the government and early elections during the meeting that is planned to be held in the Parliament.

Prime Minister Yılmaz, who discussed the proposals of Baykal with his coalition partners, will explain the evaluations of his partners to Baykal.

Baykal had earlier proposed that the date of early elections should be announced, but the coalition partners didn't welcome this proposal.

GAZIPASA - A cave with crystal stalagmites and stalactites was found in Gazipasa county of Antalya Province, it was reported on Wednesday.

Osman Cetin who found the cave, said that he will open the cave to visits after cleaning the cave. He added that the cleaning works of the cave named ''cyrstal'' will cost 2 billion Turkish Liras.

ANKARA - The electrical energy production increased by 9.22 percdent in the last three months of 1997, when compared with the same period in 1996, it was reported on Wednesday.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that 69.1 percent of the electric energy that was produced during the last quarter of 1997 was produced by the Turkish Electric Corporation (TEAS).

[16] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN KYRGYZSTAN

Yılmaz met with Usup Mukambaev, the Chairman of the Kyrgyz Legislative Assembly on the second day of his visit to Kyrgyzstan. Mukambaev said that the relations should be further improved between the parliaments of the two countries.

Addressing the businessmen in the meeting of the Turkish-Kyrgyz Labour Council, Yılmaz said that Kyrgyzstan has realized the most successful economic and political initiatives among the Central Asian Republics.

Noting that the trade volume between the two countries should increase, Yılmaz said that the solution of problems in the field of customs and transportation will contribute to the improvement of relations in the field of commercial relations.

Yılmaz pointed out that the joint commission within the framework of the Joint Economic Commission will convene as soon as possible, adding that the Turkish businessmen also wish to produce in this country.

Stressing that Turkey has to be fully informed about the tenders that are opened in Krygyzstan in the field of construction, Yılmaz added that the two countries can also realize concrete cooperation in industry.

''We are ready to make a cooperation for joint production and operation of mines, such as gold, coal and mercury. We will benefit from the concrete proposals that will be offered in this field,'' said Yılmaz.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kubanicbek Cumaliev said, ''we have prepared the legal infrastructure that is needed for foreign investments. We invite you to invest your capital in our country.''

[17] CAPTURE OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST SAKIK - KDP ANKARA REPRESENTATIVE DIZAYI COMES TO FOREIGN MINISTRY AND EXPRESSES REGRET

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, speaking about the issue during a weekly news conference said that Safeen Dizai, the KDP's Iraqi Representative to Ankara came to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and expressed his regret about the issue.

Utkan said that the KDP Representative came to the Ministry of his own will, adding that Dizai speaking about the issue of bringing Sakik to Turkey said that it was an ''unacceptable'' event. Noting that Sakik's bringing to Turkey should be evaluated within the framework of the struggle against terrorism, Utkan briefed the points conveyed to Dizai as:

''We have told the KDP representative that Turkey continues to extend support to the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and political sovereignty, yet will never allow the separatist terrorist PKK organization to deploy in Northern Iraq and will also not let the PKK exploit the special situation in Northern Iraq. We also told him that everybody should evaluate the bringing of the terrorist in question to Turkey within this framework.''

Noting that the call for Sakik from the KDP was not realized through the Foreign Ministry, adding that there was not the appropriate atmosphere and base for the international principles of law related to the issue to be valid.

Responding to a question about the capture of Sakik, Utkan expressed the belief that relations between Ankara and the KDP wouldn't be hurt due to the recent incidents.

Utkan also identified the capture of Sakik as a development indicating that the separatist terrorist organization had come to an end.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the interrogation of Semdin Sakik and his brother Arif Sakik was carried out within the framework of the State Security Court.

[18] FOREIGN EXCHANGE INCOME FROM EXPORTSOF HAZELNUTS INCREASES BY 227 MILLION US DOLLARS

The officials from the Black Sea Hazelnut Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent that they exported 168.5 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts up until now and that the foreign exchange income reached 766 million 223 thousand US dollars. Officials said that nearly 155 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts were exported to the European countries in return for 704 million US dollars.

Recalling that Turkey had exported 145.7 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts in the previous export season and the foreign exchange income had been 539 million 371 thousand US dollars, officials said that the foreign exchange income was expected to increase to over one billion US dollars by August 31, the end of the 1997-98 export season, stressing that there had been an increase of 227 million US dollars in the foreign exchange income from hazelnuts this season.

Turkey exports hazelnuts to nearly 80 countries.

[19] ALLEGATIONS RELATED TO SYRIA-PKK LINK - FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''PROBABILITY OF SABOTAGE TO THE BIRECIK DAM IS NOT VALID''

Evaluating these allegations which erupted to this end, Utkan said that they included the news reports which appeared in the foreign media on the issue, adding that he didn't regard these allegations as possible.

According to a news report given in the US News and World Report magazine based on the Middle East Intelligence sources, it was reported that water reserves of Syria had come to an end to a great extent. It also said that Syria had trained terrorists of the separatist PKK to sabotage the Birecik Dam which is still under construction.

The news report also said that the Syrian intelligence sources concealed plans of the Birecik Dam and that preparations for the sabotage were carried out within this framework.

[20] SOUTHEASTERN TEXTILE PRODUCERS SET UP SECTORAL FOREIGN TRADE COMPANY

A foreign trade company status was given to the Diyarbakir-based GTS Southeastern Textile and Clothing Industrialists Foreign Trade Joint Stock Co.

The written notice of the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade was published in the Official Gazette and went into effect the same day.

The number of SFTCs increased to 28 together with the GTS.

Mustafa Akyil, the only southeastern member of the largest Turkish SFTC, the Aegean Clothing Industrialists Foreign Trade Co., and the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen, told the A.A correspondent that they established this SFTC to make use of the export potential of the region.

Pointing out that the exports of the shareholder companies of the GTS, which was set up with a total of 100 billion Turkish Liras in capital and with the partnerships of three companies from the Akyil Group and three other companies, was 40 million US dollars last year, Akyil said, ''nearly 30 companies have applied to us for becoming a shareholder. We will approve the applications of the serious companies. The number of shareholders would be 20-25.''

''Our goal is to be one of the top ten SFTCs in exports this year and to be one of the first three SFTCs in 1999,'' Akyil said.

Mustafa Akyil also said that they had targeted to increase the GTS's capital to 500 billion Turkish Liras in a short time.

[21] ARREST WARRANT FOR FORMER DEPUTY SEVKI YILMAZ ON CHARGES OF INSULTING ATATURK

Eyup Yagci, the Judge, recalled that the Ankara Minor Offense Court had earlier decided to arrest him in absence on charges of insulting Ataturk and the moral personality of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Yagci again made a decision for arrest of Yilmaz under Article 104 of the Criminal Trial Procedure Law (CMUK).

The verdict prepared by Nihat Artiran, the Republic Prosecutor said the suspect Sevki Yilmaz made a speech in Kecioren in 1993 and this was broadcast on Channel D on June 3, 1997.

The last part of the verdict says that such speeches had become a habitual action for Yilmaz and calls for imprisonment terms for him varying from one year to three years.

[22] OPERATION AT THE BORDER...

A hot clash is underway with a 100-person terrorist group, headed by Murat Karayilan, one of so-called responsible persons of the separatist terrorist organization in the region.

High ranking military officals said that a wide-ranged operation against the separatist terrorist organization, which was in an effort to create the impression that it hadn't collapsed, was underway.

The operation covers a 200-km area in the Sirnak, Van and Siirt triangle.

[23] WORLD BANK'S INTEREST IN BASINS... - GAZIANTEP PUT IN THE SCOPE OF ''REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR THE WATER BASINS IN EASTERN ANATOLIA'' - INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE IN THREE BASINS IN GAZIANTEP

The officials from the Provincial Directorate of Rural Affairs in Gaziantep told the A.A correspondent that investments were made on the basis of basins with the project started to be implemented in Malatya, Adiyaman and Elazig Provinces with the loans from the World Bank in 1990.

Pointing out that in addition to Gaziantep, the southern Adana and Icel Provinces were also taken into the scope of the project and the studies to specify what kind of investments would be made in those provinces were started, the officials said that they targeted to protect the environment and to increase the prosperity level in the rural areas by improving the agricultural production.

A total of 60 percent of the expenditures for the investments in the scope of the project is financed by the loans from the World Bank.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Directorate of Rural Affairs will present to the representatives of the World Bank for approval a total of five basin development projects, which will be implemented in Gaziantep.

Within the scope of the three projects to be approved by the World Bank, afforestation will be made to prevent erosion and irrigation canals and ponds will be constructed to increase agricultural production.

Another aim of the project is to make the farmers become aware of implementing modern agricultural techniques and to orient them towards engaging in apiculture and greenhouse growing as well.

[24] TOURISM WEEK STARTS...

Addressing a ceremony staged for the start of ''Tourism Week'', Gurdal said they will focus on ''Religious Belief Tourism'', ''Silk Road'' and ''Ecologic Tourism'' in 1998.

Noting that the borders of Turkey included cultures belonging to three great religions and many cultural and historical assets of many civilizations, Gurdal said ''Turkey, which became a cradle to the most important civilizations of the world, with its territories uniting east and the west, will one day sit at the table of the EU.''

Recalling that Turkey had reached her goals determined for 1997, Gurdal said that Turkish tourism will attach importance to thermal, winter and nature tourism.

Gurdal said that being a full member of the EU will not be a favor to Turkey, but a right for Turkey.

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