Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-17

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

17 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ARRIVES IN TURKEY

[03] CELEBI, THE MINISTER OF STATE COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO BULGARIA

[04] PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS ARTICLE ONE OF THE DRAFT LAW EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME FOREIGNERS CAN STAY IN TURKEY

[05] GREEKS HARASS TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN THE AEGEAN SEA - UNAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ESIAD: ''THE GREEK CONSUL TO IZMIR CALLED US AND APOLOGIZED''

[06] EU-CIVILIAN INITIATIVE MEETING - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO MEET WITH CHAIRMEN OF TURK-IS, DISK, TISK, TOBB AND TESK

[07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[08] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[09] DENKTAS MEETS WITH SCHUSSEL, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRIA

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 17, 1998

[11] ANTALYA SUMMIT.. - PRESIDENTS STAGE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE

[12] THE DIRECTORS OF THE TUSIAD MEET WITH MARTIN BANGEMANN, THE MEMBER OF THE EU COMMISSION

[13] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''INTERROGATION PROCESS OF SEMDIN SAKIK UNDERWAY''

[14] THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN WANTS HELP FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES FROM THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR OF BODRUM

[15] THERE IS A GREAT PROBABILITY OF DEPLOYING THE BALKAN PEACE FORCES IN WESTERN EDIRNE PROVINCE

[16] TRADE VOLUME TARGET OF FREE TRADE ZONES: 8 BILLION US DOLLARS...

[17] EARTHQUAKES IN THE EASTERN REGION

[18] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS - TURKEY REALIZES 4 BILLION US DOLLARS IN EXPORTS AND 6.8 BILLION US DOLLARS IN IMPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1998

[19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH ROMANIAN PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU

[20] DECISION IN THE OUTLAWED LEFTIST ORGANIZATION'S CASE - 16 OF THE 32 SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT TERMS VARYING FROM THREE YEARS AND NINE MONTHS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

[21] LANDSLIDE DANGER IN THE BLACK SEA PROVINCE OF GIRESUN - 34 HOUSES TO BE EVACUATED IN KANLICA VILLAGE

[22] DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT: ''IF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS BRING THE S-300 MISSILES TO THE ISLAND, WE WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR MARAS''

[23] TUSIAD DELEGATION TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT AND DTP LEADER CINDORUK IN ANKARA BETWEEN APRIL 20-21

[24] RATE OF CAPACITY USE IN MARCH 1998 80.7 PERCENT

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) 81 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
Security forces killed 81 terrorists from the separatist terrorist PKK organization during the Spring operations launched on April 10 in the eastern and southeastern Van-Sirnak-Siirt triangle and on the Northern Iraq side.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The Parliament accepted on Thursday an investigation motion given by the government on grounds that Tansu Ciller, leader of the True Path Party (DYP) gained two million US dollars in unjust wealth.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The third bridge will be constructed with the ''build-operate-transfer'' model. Foreign company groups will hand over the bridge to the General Directorate of Highways after operating the bridge for 10 or 15 years.

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ARRIVES IN TURKEY

Tuncer Kilic, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense and Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey welcomed Cohen at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.

Cohen will pay a two-day visit to Turkey as the official guest of Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of National Defense.

Turkey will be the first stop on his tour to regional countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece.

Cohen is scheduled to meet with Gen. Cevik Bir, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and will stage a joint news conference with Sezgin after his contacts.

President Suleyman Demirel is also expected to receive Cohen in the evening hours.

Cohen will proceed to the Incirlik Base on April 18 and will leave for Jordan after concluding observations the same day.

This visit of Cohen which was planned to take place in February was postponed after the tension escalated in the Gulf.

Bilateral military relations, modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish-Greek relations, the Aegean and Cyprus will be discussed during the visit.

Also, within this framework, talks are expected to be held on frigates, F- 15 war planes and attack helicopters.

The ''Northern Watch'' air control operation, carried out to control the no- flight zone in the northern part of Iraq, will also be discussed.

William Cohen, will discuss military and strategic issues during his visits to countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece.

In Athens, Cohen will discuss the 40 F-15E type war planes which Greece wants to purchase. Realization of the purchase in question will upset the military power balance in the Aegean.

The Boeing company participated in the international bid opened by Greece for the F-15E type planes.

Washington, D.C. earlier gave permission to Boeing to participate in the bid, but the ratification of the US congress is required if the bid is given to Boeing.

[03] CELEBI, THE MINISTER OF STATE COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO BULGARIA

The protocol concerning the mutual agreement of the sides has been signed between Isin Celebi, the Minister of State, on behalf of Turkey, and Valentin Vasilev, the Minister of Trade and Tourism, on behalf of Bulgaria.

The protocol foresees cooperation in the fields of industry, shipbuilding industry, agriculture, tourism, transportation, free trade zone and customs.

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Celebi pointed out that they discussed commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Bulgaria and the sides reached an accord to improve the relations. He noted that they will work to encourage the special sector meetings which undertake the main duty in commercial and economic relations, the mutual participation at fairs, exhibits and seminars.

Celebi said that Bulgaria will support the ''The Balkan Countries Trade Development Center'' which will be established in the building of the Export Development Study Center of Turkey. He added that they agreed to develop the cooperation between the customs officials in both countries, to set up a joint customs point to speed the transactions and to open the Hamzabeyli-Elhovo border gate.

Noting that the energy cooperation between Turkey and Bulgaria will be increased, Celebi said that Turkey will buy more electricity from Bulgaria and the two countries will work together for the modernization of the existing gas pipelines.

Stressing the importance of privatization, Celebi invited the Turkish and Bulgarian firms to participate in the privatization process.

Vasilev described the protocol as an evidence of the good neighbourhood relations between the two countries.

[04] PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS ARTICLE ONE OF THE DRAFT LAW EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME FOREIGNERS CAN STAY IN TURKEY

Necati Cetinkaya, Konya Deputy of True Path Party (DYP), which decided on a partial boycott of Parliament, voiced the views of his party related to the second article of the draft.

Under the first article of the draft which was adopted the period of time foreigners can stay in Turkey was extended from two to five years. This time will be extended or shortened according to the principle of reciprocality of the Ministry of the Interior.

[05] GREEKS HARASS TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN THE AEGEAN SEA - UNAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ESIAD: ''THE GREEK CONSUL TO IZMIR CALLED US AND APOLOGIZED''

Unal said, ''the Greek Embassy and Greek Consul to Izmir called us and conveyed their regret about the event. Fryganas apologized on behalf of his country and I believe that he was really sorry. He offered to come together and find a solution by holding talks. Meanwhile, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey send us a fax message and said that they will investigate those who were responsible for the harassement and let us know the latest developments. We hope that this event will put an end to the tension between Turkey and Greece.''

During the recent holiday period, three businessmen from Izmir and their families hired some local cruise boats to sail around the Aegean Sea coastline. They also sailed around Kardak island where they were confronted by a Greek Navy assault boat, which harassed them until a Turkish Navy vessel came along and saved them all from a difficult situation.

After spending a night in Bodrum, the three families sailed on to the Greek island of Kos where again they were subjected to harassment and attacks when even the young children on the island pelted them all with rubbish. At the first opportunity, they all left the island and returned to Turkish waters. Later the businessmen noted that Greek police officials on the island did nothing to help them.

[06] EU-CIVILIAN INITIATIVE MEETING - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO MEET WITH CHAIRMEN OF TURK-IS, DISK, TISK, TOBB AND TESK

Turkey's full membership in the European Union (EU) and developments in Turkey about democratization will be discussed during the meeting which will be held between the Chairmen of non-governmental organizations and EP members.

The participants will also re-evaluate the issues which had been taken up during a meeting that took place in Strasbourg city in France between Sept 16 and 17.

[07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

CHP LEADER SUPPORTS POLLS IN MARCH '99
Mesut Yilmaz, the Prime Minister and leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) met yesterday with Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) which has been keeping the minority government in power with its outside support. Following the meeting, Baykal indicated that an early general election may be held in March 1999 at the same time as the nationwide local elections. The meeting at Baykal's office at the Parliament lasted for 90 minutes. /All papers/

BALKAN LEADERS AGREE TO FIGHT CRIME
The Balkan neighbours Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria signed an agreement yesterday for jointly combatting terrorism, organized crime, money laundering, drug trafficking and human and arms smuggling, as well as other major crimes. The agreement was signed by the presidents of the three countries after a meeting in Turkey's Mediterranean port of Antalya, in which each side's foreign and interior ministers also participated. The general content of the agreement includes intensive judicial and technical cooperation between the police organizations of the signatory countries. Diplomats participating in the meeting said that the agreement was a major blow to the PKK terrorist organization, which has recently been expending efforts to establish itself in Bulgaria and Romania.

In another significant move, the three parties agreed to establish a free trade zone among themselves. Turkey and Romania have already established such an area. With the completion of a bilateral free trade agreement with Bulgaria, the trilateral free trade zone is expected to be realized in the years between 2000-2005, and negotiations on the issue are expected to begin before the end of 1998. /All papers/

MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN THE BALKANS
Civilian and military specialists from Turkey, Romania, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia met in the Romanian capital of Bucharest to discuss details related to the establishment of a multinational peace force in the Balkans. Turkey is pressing for basing the force in Edirne. General Koksal Karabay, who represented Turkey at the Bucharest meeting, said that Turkey was ready to provide within a month all the logistic support necessary for the establishment of the force if her proposal for basing the force in Edirne is accepted. During the meeting, the Balkan representatives decided to change the name of the force, initially agreed upon as the ''Urgent Intervention Force'' into the ''Multinational Force for Peace''. The force will act not only in the Balkans, but all over the world under the UN command. /Sabah/

COHEN IN ANKARA
William Cohen, the U.S. Secretary of Defence, will come to Ankara today for official contacts. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defence, during the visit Cohen will discuss the modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkey-Greece relations and the Aegean and Cyprus issues. It is reported that Cohen will meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismet Sezgin, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Cevik Bir and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister. /Cumhuriyet/

SEZGIN GOING TO ROMANIA AND AUSTRIA
Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence will pay official visits to Romania and Austria. Sezgin will fly to Vienna on 20 April and meet with Werner Easslahend, the Austrian Minister of Defence. Later, on 22 April he will go to Romania and return home on 25 April. /Cumhuriyet/

MILITARY OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN SOUTHEAST
Military operations continued yesterday against the PKK terrorist organization in the mountainous region wedged between the southeastern provinces of Van, Sirnak and Siirt and the border areas near Iraq. Military sources reported that the operations had been launched following intelligence reports which indicated that the PKK was planning attacks with the coming of spring. It is reported that the total number of terrorists killed during operations over the last week has reached 81.

Meanwhile, Turkey has presented the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva with a proposal condemning terrorism. The proposal will be discussed on Friday and Turkey is expected to emphasize the supression of terrorism during the commission's meeting which will take place next year. /Hurriyet/

[08] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

US: PKK STATEMENTS ARE UNFOUNDED
James Rubin, the US Department of State Spokesman has said that no one or no state should be tolerant towards the PKK terrorist organization. Upon the question of a US journalist, who asked, ''The PKK made a peace call to Turkey. What is the US point of view regarding this issue?'', Rubin said, ''The statements made by the PKK are unfounded. The PKK continues with its merciless terrorist activities. The US regards the PKK as a terrorist and separatist organization.'' Following questions regarding the Syrian support for the PKK, Rubin said, ''For a long time, we have been pointing out that Syria is supporting various terrorist groups in her Bekaa valley and we believe that the PKK members are being trained in this region.'' /Hurriyet/

GREECE APOLOGIZES TO TURKEY
Greece apologized to Turkey over incidents involving three Turkish businessmen and their families, who were attacked by fanatical Greek people on the island of Kos, while they were cruising in the Aegean Sea. Representing the Greek Consulate in Izmir, Andreas Fryganas, telephoned Tufan Unal, the Chairman of the Aegean Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (ESIAD), and expressed his sorrow over the incident and promised that there would be no further incidents of this kind. Fryganas added that the Greek Foreign Ministry had launched an enquiry into the incident. /Hurriyet/

THIRD BRIDGE FOR ISTANBUL WORTH 200 TRILLION TL
The General Directorate of Turkish Highways has started work to determine the site for a third bridge over the Bosphorus. The bridge, the construction of which will be completed in four years, will cost 200 trillion TL and will likely be located 500 metres south of the first bridge. /Hurriyet/

PARLIAMENT CLEARS WAY FOR CILLER'S TRIAL
The Parliament yesterday passed a motion calling for the launching of an investigation into the controversial assets of Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) and former Prime Minister. Thus, the first step has been taken in the process which could lead to a trial against her in the Constitutional Court on corruption charges. /All papers/

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
The Central Bank foreign exchange reserves have increased to a record level of 22.1 billion US dollars. In the week preceding the religious holiday, the foreign exchange reserves jumped by 922 million US dollars. The Turkish foreign exchange reserves have increased by 3.4 billion US dollars since the end of 1997. /Sabah/

EU THREATENS TURKEY
Hans Van Den Broek, the Representative of the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Committee, said in Washington, D.C. that there was no doubt that Turkey was a vital and strategic partner. He added that Turkey would convince the Turkish Cypriots to attend EU membership talks, participating in the same delegation with the Greek Cypriots. /Cumhuriyet/

POLICE PURSUE DRUG SMUGGLERS
Police officers from the Narcotics Department seized 102 kilos of heroin in Van's Baskale District, and a kilo of drugs in Istanbul during a nationwide operation. According to the Istanbul Narcotics Bureau, three people were arrested in the operation and a kilo of drugs valued at an estimated 650 million TL was confiscated. The officials said that operations would continue in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/

OPENING CEREMONY OF MAUSOLEUM FOR TURGUT OZAL
Turgut Ozal, the founder of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the eighth President of the Republic of Turkey will be commemorated today. A mausoleum constructed for President Ozal, who died five years ago, will be opened by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. /All papers/

TURKEY, GEORGIA SIGN DEFENCE MEMORANDUM
Turkey and Georgia yesterday decided to share in joint military manoeuvres aimed at improving cooperation in this field. Having completed his contacts in Azerbaijan, Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of the General Staff, proceeded on to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi where he met with Vardiko Nadibaidze, the Georgian Minister of Defence. The two officials signed a joint memorandum including the implementation of a joint manoeuvre and the training of the Georgian officers in Turkey. Signing the memorandum, Karadayi noted that this cooperation, the first to be made by an ex-Soviet republic, doesn't target any third parties, referring to Russia. The Georgian Minister told a press conference held after the signing ceremony, that Turkey would help Georgia to ''organize peace forces'' which would serve in countries oppressed by confrontations. /Milliyet/

''ATATURK INTERNATIONAL PEACE AWARD'' PRESENTED TO AMERICAN HISTORIAN
The Ataturk International Peace Award Committee chaired by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday decided to present American historian Bernard Lewis with this year's award. The committee considered him worthy of this award because of his historical research proving that the claims of massacre by the Turkish forces at the time of the First World War are totally wrong. / Milliyet/

CINEMA FESTIVAL IN ISTANBUL
The 17th Istanbul International Film Festival is opening at the Emek Cinema, Beyoglu, with the screening of ''Brassed Off'' directed by Mark Herman, which has already been presented with the Cesar best foreign film award. A total of 151 films from five continents will be shown during the festival. /Milliyet/

[09] DENKTAS MEETS WITH SCHUSSEL, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRIA

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Denktas said, ''We will think what to do if the European Union invites us as the TRNC.''

Stressing that they will hold talks only on a state to state basis from now on, Denktas said that shuttle diplomacy is necessary for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Dektas said that they discussed at the meeting the latest situation on the island after the EU started the full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side.

Schussel pointed out, ''we want to see a reunited Cyprus in the EU.''

Wolfgang Schussel also met with Glafcos Clerides, the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, and Gustave Feissel, the UN Secretary General's Special Deputy Representative to Cyprus.

Austria will take over the EU's 6 month period presidency from Britain on July 1.

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 17, 1998

Karadayi said that they discussed at the meeting the relations between the two countries and the development of military cooperation. In the meantime it was reported that the importance of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline which is being planned for the transports of the Caspian oil via Georgia and providing cooperation for securing the oil pipeline were also stressed during the meeting.

General Karadayi attended the dinner in honour of him given by Burak Gursel, the Turkish Ambassador to Georgia. He will return to Turkey later today.

ANKARA - The agreement concerning ''the mutual encouragement and security of the investments'' signed between Turkey and the Ukraine on November 27, 1996 in Ankara has been approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday.

According to the approval, the agreement will come into force when the exchange of information is completed. The agreement which will be valid for ten years, aims to encourage the economic developments between two countries.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, is due to proceed to New York on Friday.

Taner, who came to the US to join the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, met with Thomas Hardy, the Chief of the IMF Turkey Desk and Stuart Eisenstad, the Assistant Secretary of State Responsible for the Economy on the second day of his visit to the US.

It was reported that Taner and Eisenstad discussed bilateral economic relations and energy policies. Meanwhile, Taner met with Stanley Fisher, the Deputy Chairman of the IMF, for the second time.

LEFKOSA - Huseyin Aslan, the Director General of EGE-KOOP which plans to construct 5 thousand residences in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), came to the TRNC on Thursday to hold talks.

Aslan who was received by Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, and Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister, said that they had completed the technical studies and they are ready to begin the construction.

NEVSEHIR - A total of 930 children from 48 countries who came to Turkey to join the 20th April 23 International Children's Festival organized by the TRT (Turkish National Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization), will visit the historical and touristic places of Nevsehir on April 25, it was reported on Friday.

Kursat Numanoglu, the Mayor of Urgup County, pointed out that the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Festival is the first and only children's festival in the world, and they will do their utmost to host the children from all over the world.

IZMIR - It was reported on Thursday that 21 groups from 16 countries will join the 6th Karsiyaka International April 23 Children's Festival.

Addressing a press conference, Kemal Baysak, the Mayor of Karsiyaka, said that 800 children and 200 musicians will join the festival which will be held between April 18-24, and they will form a ''Friendship Forest of the Children of the World'' on Yamanlar Mountain.

ANKARA - Rustu Kazim Yucelen, the Minister of State, and Ivıca Kostovic, the Croat Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Science and Technology, signed a scientific cooperation protocol on Thursday.

The protocol foresees the cooperation on the issues of information, telecommunications, marine biology and technology, medicine and ecology.

[11] ANTALYA SUMMIT.. - PRESIDENTS STAGE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE

The Presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria staged a joint news conference after the signature ceremony.

Addressing the joint news conference Demirel said that the exchange of views of the three Presidents was very useful.

Demirel recalled that in a summit which took place in Varna on Oct 3, 1997, the Presidents decided to sign a cooperation agreement to struggle against terrorism and organized crime and pointed out that ''the agreement signed today gives facilities to struggle effectively against terrorism and organized crime.''

Demirel said that during the meeting they agreed that the most important security issue of the Balkan region was the situation in Kosovo.

Demirel noted that there was a consensus of opinion between Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria to solve this question, adding that this question should be solved peacefully and by supporting the legal rights of the Albanians, Serbs, Turks and other people. He said ''such a solution should be based on the full respect of the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, UN law and the standards of the OSCE.''

Noting that Turkey strongly supported the full membership of Romania and Bulgaria to the NATO, Demirel said, ''Turkey has an initiative to establish a multinational Balkan Peace Force to contribute to efforts to preserve peace in the region. Our related experts convened in Bucharest on Thursday and recorded important developments to realize this initiative.''

Demirel said that cooperation between the countries increased in the field of security as well as political and economic fields and identified this meeting as a very important step.

Demirel said that one of the most important outcomes of the Antalya meeting was to make a decision to establish a ''Free Economy and Trade Zone.''

Meanwhile, addressing the joint news conference, Petar Stoyanov, the Bulgarian President said the agreement included practical measures to struggle against organized crimes and struggle against terrorism.

Emphasizing that the agreement was open to other regional countries and required cooperation, Stoyanov said that none of the countries was able to overcome this problem on its own.

Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President stressed the importance of overcoming differences between the regional countries. The Romanian President said that the atmosphere of cooperation was also open to other Balkan countries and emphasized that ''fright balance'' should be turned into ''hope balance.''

The three presidents signed the ''Agreement on Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illegal Drugs, Laundering of Black Money, Smuggling of Weapons and Human Beings and Cooperation Against Other Important Crimes'' at the end of the meeting.

The agreement which foresees the strengthening of existing cooperation between the three countries in the stated fields, urges them to cooperate against terrorisms and organized crime, to set up mechanisms that will provide a rapid exchange of information and to increase high ranking contacts.

These three Presidents issued a joint declaration following the tripartite summit. The joint declaration said that the Presidents exchanged views on stability and security issues in Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region.

The Presidents stressed the importance of the international organizations to provide democratic development and preserve peace in Bosnia, adding that full support of these organization to the implementation of Dayton agreement was very important.

The Presidents said that the measures that will be taken against Yugoslavia should consider the political and economic stability of the region and that no damage would be given to the interests of the region.

President Suleyman Demirel later hosted a dinner in honor of the quest Presidents.

Demirel also held separate tete-a-tete meetings with the Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and Romanian President Emil Constantinescu on Friday morning.

The leaders exchanged views on bilateral political and economic issues during these meetings.

[12] THE DIRECTORS OF THE TUSIAD MEET WITH MARTIN BANGEMANN, THE MEMBER OF THE EU COMMISSION

Bulent Eczacibasi, the Chairman of the High Consultation Councel, and Muharrem Kayhan, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, represented TUSIAD at the meeting.

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Kayhan said, ''We expressed to Bangemann Turkey's disappointment in the EU-Turkey relations after the Luxembourg Summit. We also told Bangemann that we found positive points in the European Commission's document, 'The European Strategy for Turkey' published in March.''

Reminding that Turkey has reserves for the political dialogue with the EU, Kayhan said, ''Turkey has already pointed out that she will continue her political and economic initiatives on the issues concerning economics and the Customs Union. TUSIAD has a positive attitude about the Customs Union. In the meantime, we asked Bangemann if there was a political will behind the sentence, ''the financial aids which the EU has to make to Turkey in the framework of the Customs Union'' in the document and he answered that there was.

[13] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''INTERROGATION PROCESS OF SEMDIN SAKIK UNDERWAY''

Basesgioglu, who participated at the Summit of the Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian Presidents, responding to the questions of reporters said, ''the interrogation of Sakik still continues. I can't make a statement about what he confessed for the security of the investigation.''

Basesgioglu said that with the information which this person will give, the collapse of the organization could be accelerated.

The Interior Minister said that Turkey was resolved to put the final point on the issue of terrorism within one or two years, adding that with the successful operations of the Turkish Armed Forces, important steps were taken to destroy the organization.

Basesgioglu said that unfortunately, from the confessions of the terrorists, it was understood that they were trained in neighboring countries and received logistic support.

Noting that Turkey wanted to live in peace with her neighbors, Basesgioglu said, ''we want the Balkans, the Middle East and the Black Sea to be an island of peace.''

[14] THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN WANTS HELP FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES FROM THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR OF BODRUM

Monseigneure Patros Vakas Kuncekli, the Representative of the Vatican, and Monseigneure Bernardini Guisetti, the Researcher from the German Catholic Church, visited Ugur Boran, the Governor of Bodrum, and Tugrul Acar, the Mayor of Bodrum, and exchanged opinions about what can be done for the religious requests of foreigners.

At the meeting organized to discuss the application of a German priest from Istanbul about the two orthodox churches at Bodrum Kadikalesi and at Torba to be opened for worship, it was decided that this application should be done by the societies of the foreigners in the framework of the Lausanne Treaty.

Acar and Boran said that they will provide all kinds of help on religious issues for foreigners.

[15] THERE IS A GREAT PROBABILITY OF DEPLOYING THE BALKAN PEACE FORCES IN WESTERN EDIRNE PROVINCE

After Greece withdrew its proposal of Salonica as the place to deploy the Balkan Peace Force and with the request of Turkey, Romania withdrew its proposal for Kostence, the probability for Edirne increases.

Bulgaria, at any moment, may withdraw its proposal for Plovdiv.

Observers said that Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President said that they supported Bulgaria's proposal for Plovdiv, but this stemmed from ''lack of information.''

It was reported that the Romanian Chief of General Staff sent a letter to Turkey saying that they accepted the proposal for Edirne.

[16] TRADE VOLUME TARGET OF FREE TRADE ZONES: 8 BILLION US DOLLARS...

If the free trade zones achieve this target, then ten percent of Turkey's foreign trade volume, which was foreseen to be 80 billion US dollars for 1998, will be realized by the free trade zones.

According to the monthly report of the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade's General Directorate of Free Trade Zones, the trade volume of the active free trade zones had increased by 52 percent and reached 5.5 billion US dollars last year, compared with the statistics in 1996. The report said that this amount constituted 7.6 percent of Turkey's total foreign trade volume of 72 billion US dollars in 1997.

The report said that 22 percent of the total trade volume was realized with the European Union (EU) countries, eight percent with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, seven percent with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, 49 percent with Turkey and 14 percent with other countries in 1997 within the free trade zones.

The report said that the industrial products had a 78 percent share, agricultural products had a 21 percent share and mining had a one percent share in the total trade volume last year.

The report said that a total of 684 companies including 395 domestic and 289 foreign firms were active and a total of 8,750 people were employed in the free trade zones as of the end of 1997.

The report said that the Rize, Samsun, Adana-Yumurtalik, Istanbul-Trakya, Kayseri, Trakya (Corlu) and the Izmir Menemen Leather free trade zones, whose places and borders were decided by the Council of Ministers, were planning to be active this year.

The annual trade volumes of the free trade zones according to the statistics of the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade are as follows: (thousand US dollars)

Free Trade Zones 1996 1997 --------- ---------

MERSIN 1,650,132 1,792,600
ANTALYA 141,174 180,592
EGE 912,886 1,429,659
IST-ATATURK AIRPORT 510,333 866,232
TRABZON 119,318 96,196
IST-LEATHER 295,861 1,127,785
D.ANADOLU 3,083 1,001
MARDIN 1,433 13,808 ---------- ----------
TOTAL 3,634,221 5,507,874

[17] EARTHQUAKES IN THE EASTERN REGION

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Yilmaz said that the people in the region were not prepared for an earthquake and that they should be conscious of these incidents.

Yilmaz said 92 percent of the land in the region was on top of the fault belt, adding that the people and the officials should be alert for earthquakes at any time.

Recalling that 30,000 people died in the Erzincan earthquake in 1939, 600 again in the Erzincan quake in 1992 and 200 people died in the quake in 1983, Yilmaz said, ''we should learn to live with earthquakes, but we should live cautiously.''

Listing the measures that should be taken before and after an earthquake Yilmaz said, ''strong buildings should be constructed and earthquake alarms should be made periodically. Heavy equipment like the bookshelves should not be attached to walls. Water and foodstuffs which will be used at least for one week should be stored, a radio, torch, first aid bag and fire extinguisher should be kept.

He said people should be calm during earthquakes and be careful about things like a television set that may explode during a quake. People should keep away from exterior walls and windows and should remain under tables or doorsways.

Yilmaz said that people should give up multi-flat projects and that a network of strict control was required to this end.

[18] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS - TURKEY REALIZES 4 BILLION US DOLLARS IN EXPORTS AND 6.8 BILLION US DOLLARS IN IMPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1998

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that the exports increased by 4.5 percent and the imports increased by 1.7 percent in the first two months of this year compared with same period in 1997.

Turkey made three billion 889.4 million US dollars in exports and six billion 713.6 million US dollars in imports in the first two months of 1997.

The foreign trade deficit, which was two billion 824.2 million US dollars in the January-February 1997 period, decreased 2.1 percent to two billion 764.1 million US dollars in the same period this year.

In parallel to this, the ratio of exports meeting imports, which was 57.9 percent in the first two months of 1997, increased to 59.5 percent in the same period in 1998.

The foreign trade statistics for February 1997 and 1998 and for the January- February 1997 and 1998 periods according to the DIE data are as follows: (million US dollars)

FEBRUARY DIFF. JAN-FEB DIFF. 1997 1998 percent 1997 1998 percent

------- ------- ------- ---- ------- --------- -----
Exports 1,850,8 1,966,3 6.2 3,889,4 4,065,0 4.5

Imports 3,100,0 3,732,0 20.4 6,713,6 6,829,2 1.7

Deficit -1,249,1 -1,765.7 41.3 -2,824,2 -2,764.1 -2.1

Meeting

Average 59.7 52.7 57.9 59.5

Meanwhile, the DIE said that Turkey's imports from the European Union (EU) increased 0.3 percent to three billion 384.3 million US dollars in the first two months of 1998.

The DIE data shows that Turkey made three billion 374.2 million US dollars in imports from the EU in the same period in 1997.

Turkey's imports from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries increased 18.3 percent from 160.3 million US dollars to 189.6 US million dollars.

The imports from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries rose 4.8 percent, while the imports from the non-OECD member countries decreased 4.2 percent in the January-February 1998 period.

In the same period, the imports from the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member countries rose 18.5 percent, the imports from the Turkish Republics increased 23.1 percent and the imports from the Commonwealth of Independent States rose 33.8 percent.

The increase in Turkey's exports to the EU countries was 5.7 percent in the first two months of this yar.

The exports to the EU, which were one billion 888.6 million US dollars in the same period last year, increased to one billion 995.5 million US dollars in the first two months of this year.

Turkey realized two billion 549.8 million US dollars in exports to the OECD countries and one billion 515.1 million US dollars in exports to the non- OECD member countries in the January-February 1998 period.

In the same period, the exports to the BSEC countries increased 16.7 percent, exports to the CIS countries rose 12.9 percent and the exports to the Turkish Republics went up 7.6 percent, while the exports to the Organization of Islamic Conference decreased 2.9 percent and the exports to the Economic Cooperation Organization dropped 5.5 percent.

[19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH ROMANIAN PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Demirel said that the close cooperation between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania was perfect.

Stressing that these three countries had a very important role within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Demirel said that there were nearly 4,000 Turkish undertakings in Romania and that this number had also increased in Bulgaria.

Demirel said that an energy meeting called the ''Tale of the Two Seas'' will be held in Istanbul on May 25 and pointed out that ''our relations will continue. He said cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields is the desire of these three countries.''

Demirel pointed out that there were Turkish minorities in Bulgaria and Romania and that these people played the role of a bridge between Turkey and the people in these countries.

[20] DECISION IN THE OUTLAWED LEFTIST ORGANIZATION'S CASE - 16 OF THE 32 SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT TERMS VARYING FROM THREE YEARS AND NINE MONTHS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Of the suspects arrested Kadir Kaya, Mehmet Kayihan, Ali Ates, Ismet Unver, Huseyin Celik, Muhammet Gucum, Seyit Gulmez, Sefenur Tezgel, Aydan Odabas, Gulperi Ozen, Fatma Guzel, Ayla Ozcan and Ural Eroglu participated in the hearing which took place at the State Security Court No. 1.

The convicts who were asked to say their final word, noted that they had a revolutionist and democratic personality and that they wouldn't accept the decision of the court.

The Court Delegation said that Kadir Kaya, Mehmet Kayihan, Ali Ates, Ismet Unver, Huseyin Celik and Muhammet Gucum were sentenced to death on grounds that they were in an effort to change constitutional order by force. The Delegation later changed the decision to life imprisonment under Article 59/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Sefenur Tezgel, Aydan Odabas, Gulperi Ozen, Fatma Guzel, Ayla Ozcan, Ihsan Cibelik and Ural Eroglu were sentenced to 12 years and six months imprisonment terms on grounds that they were members of an outlawed organization. Seyit Gulmez, Sukru Ozdemir and Muzaffer Aktas were sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment terms as they aided and abetted the outlawed organization. The delegation later decided to release Seyit Gulmez by considering the time he he had spent in prison.

The others were released.

[21] LANDSLIDE DANGER IN THE BLACK SEA PROVINCE OF GIRESUN - 34 HOUSES TO BE EVACUATED IN KANLICA VILLAGE

Three houses were evacuated due to a landslide in Kanlica Village of Yaglidere Province at Giresun Province. According to an investigation by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works teams, it was determined that 31 other houses were also in danger.

Alaaddin Cakirmelikoglu, Director of the Public Works of the province told the A.A correspondent, ''we have started an evacuation process because of the danger of landslides. Families who had to leave their homes will be sheltered near their relatives. We will start construction of new houses in the shortest possible time.''

[22] DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT: ''IF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS BRING THE S-300 MISSILES TO THE ISLAND, WE WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR MARAS''

Speaking to reporters during his meeting with Lutfullah Bilgin, the Governor of eastern Antalya Province, Denktas said that their aim was to prevent these efforts and to preserve the rights of these two equal communities.

Denktas said that Hans Van Den Broek, the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Commissioner said that Turkey can't prevent the entrance of Cyprus into the EU, adding that Broek didn't know the Cyprus question or else he spoke like this on purpose. Denktas said that they had nothing to talk with the EU because of statements like this.

Recalling that he told Broek that it was not Cyprus which applied to the EU, but the Greek Cypriots, ''we should be together to make this application. We aren't together, but have been separate for 34 years'', Denktas said, ''they accepted the bloody-handed Greek Cypriot administration as the legal government and they want us to bow to this. We have nothing on our agenda like a meeting with the EU. There is nothing intercommunal anymore.''

[23] TUSIAD DELEGATION TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT AND DTP LEADER CINDORUK IN ANKARA BETWEEN APRIL 20-21

A 40-member TUSIAD delegation that will pay a two-day visit to Ankara to continue the dialogue started in the meeting with Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), will be received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on April 20.

The TUSIAD delegation will meet with Ahat Andican, the Minister of State, and then the members of the Turkish-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentarian Commission at lunch the same day.

The TUSIAD delegation will meet with M. Oltan Sungurlu, the Minister of Justice; Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of State and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister on April 21.

The delegation, the same day, will also meet with Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP).

Meanwhile, Muharrem Kayhan, the Chairman of the Tusiad, said that the issue of the ''economy'' was one of the topics on the agenda of the meetings.

Kayhan added that they would also discuss the issues regarding the EU during their contacts in Ankara.

It was reported that the TUSIAD, which oversees economic diplomacy in the opinion of the EU, continues the dialogue with the political parties and that it will also meet with the leaders of the the political parties other than the CHP, Motherland Party (ANAP), Democratic Left Party (DSP) and DTP.

[24] RATE OF CAPACITY USE IN MARCH 1998 80.7 PERCENT

The results of the State Institute of Statistics' ''Monthly Poll for the Trends of the Manufacturing Industry'' covering 571 business places were announced.

According to the Poll, the Insufficient Domestic Demand was one of the reasons for the business places' not working at full-capacity in March 1998 and that the Insufficient Domestic Demand, which was 58 percent last year, was 48 percent in March 1998.

The Inadequacy of the Foreign Market, which was 13.6 percent in March 1997, reduced to 11.9 percent this year and the Financial Inadequacies decreased from 5.6 percent to 2.9 percent.

The Raw Material Inadequacy in Domestic Products decreased from 3.8 percent to 2.4 percent.

The Problems of Workers, one of the factors preventing the business places from working at full-capacity, increased from one percent to 4.3 percent this year.

The Inadequacy of Imported Raw Materials also increased from one percent to 1.2 percent in March.

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