Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-18

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

18 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] US DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF GEN. RALSTON VISITS AIR FORCES COMMANDER GEN. KILIC

[02] SEZGIN, DEFENSE MINISTER AND COHEN, THE US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE STAGE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE

[03] PROTEST IN SOLHAN TOWNSHIP

[04] THE US REITERATES ITS SUPPORT TO BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE

[05] QUAKE IN WESTERN AYDIN PROVINCE

[06] UNIT EXCHANGE WITH JORDAN - 100-PEOPLE TEAMS TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN TURKEY AND JORDAN BETWEEN APRIL 20 AND MAY 10

[07] SUPPORT FROM TURSAB TO THE SOUTHEAST

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''TURKEY WAS NOT TAKEN TO EU AS IT WAS TURKISH AND MOSLEM''

[09] EU COMMISSION MEMBER BANGEMANN: ''IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY IS NOT THE GUARANTEE OF TURKEY'S FULL MEMBERSHIP TO EU''

[10] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY

[11] TURKISH-AUSTRIAN SECOND TERM JEC MEETING

[12] UN ADOPTS DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY TURKEY ON TERRORISM ISSUE

[13] PROJECT TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER TO MOLDOVA

[14] BOMB ATTACK IN MALTEPE DISTRICT

[15] NEGOTIATION MECHANISM ESTABLISHED BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE US TO IMPROVE TRADE

[16] GAP TO BRING 7.4 BILLION DOLLARS ONLY IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

[01] US DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF GEN. RALSTON VISITS AIR FORCES COMMANDER GEN. KILIC

Speaking before the meeting Kilic said Turkey became a country producing strategy adding that ''Turkey's security is related with Asia's, Europe's and the world's security.''

Ralston in his part said there was a close cooperation between Turkish and the armies adding that they aimed at further strengthening this friendship.

Ralston also said he would also visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Greece.

[02] SEZGIN, DEFENSE MINISTER AND COHEN, THE US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE STAGE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE

Cohen and Sezgin staged a joint news conference following the contacts of the US Secretary of Defense in Ankara.

Addressing the news conference Cohen said the talks mainly intensified on broadened security cooperation issue including modernization of Turkish army.

Cohen said during the talks ''tranferring of Caspian oil via Turkey, preservation of human rights, ways of decreasing tension in the Aegean and Cyprus'' were taken up and pointed out that they also discussed the requirement of maintaining Turkish-European Union (EU) relations on the highest level and keeping Iraq under control.

Noting that within the framework of his contacts, expansion of NATO was also taken up, Cohen stressed that the US favored this expansion and expressed hope that Turkey and Greece would confirm this expansion.

Cohen stressed that the US supported Multinational Balkan Peace Power project proposed by Turkey adding that ''this initiative is another indication that Turkey played role as an aspect of stability.''

Noting that they hoped problems between Turkey and Greece to be solved through peaceful ways, Cohen said Turkey and Greece should negotiate to solve question as being responsible members of NATO.

He said they extended efforts to make Turkey and Greece to sit at negotiation table adding that the US President Bill Clinton was also hopeful to this end.

Sezgin, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister in his part said Turkey and the US took important steps to improve relations on the direction of strategic interest. Sezgin expressed pleasure over the support extended by the US on Caspian region oil, struggle against separatist terrorist PKK organization and Turkey's full membership to EU.

Noting that he conveyed the uneasiness Turkey felt over the decisions issued after Luxembourg summit, Sezgin said he also told Cohen that EU's starting of full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side was a grave violance of the international law.

Responding to questions related with Turkish-Greek relations, Sezgin said Turkey favored peace and friendship adding that Turkey's always thinks of its principle ''Peace at home, Peace in the World.''

When asked about modernization of Turkish Army, Sezgin said ''Turkey, within the framework of its own facilities, is in an effort to modernize its weapons.''

Noting that Turkey did not have any other demand on the issue from the US apart from the purchase of helicopter and frigates, Sezgin said modernization of Turkish Armed Forces was made to provide regional and global stability.

Cohen in his part recalled that Turkey and Greece were members of NATO adding that the US supported modernization of the armies of the two countries within this framework.

Cohen departed Ankara on Saturday morning and left for southern Adana province to visit Incirlik base.

Cohen will later proceed to Jordan which is the second leg of his tour.

[03] PROTEST IN SOLHAN TOWNSHIP

The incident happened when a group of people including men and women chanted slogans and made a demonstration for three hours after noon prayers without getting permission. The group wanted to attack governorship's lodgings and attacked to security forces with sticks and stones who wanted to stop them.

Five people from security forces were wounded during incidents. They were immediately hospitalized.

Suleyman Kamci, Bingol Governor said the ones who were involved in the demonstration were specified an that investigation was underway.

Kamci said the clashes erupted when the group attacked security forces with sticks and stones who told them to withdraw.

Kamci said the group who chanted slogans against secularism were withdrawn after the intervention of security forces and that controls were underway in the township.

Officials said the atmosphere was calm in the township.

The government has encouraged local officials to enforce bans on women civil servants and female pupils at universities wearing headscarves.

[04] THE US REITERATES ITS SUPPORT TO BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE

Gunes Taner, Minister of State responsible for Economy, who concluded a visit to Washington to participate in Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, said the US Administration reiterated its support to the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Speaking to A.A correspondent before leaving Washington Taner briefed about his meeting with Stuart Eisenstad, Assistant Secretary of State, and said Washington expressed willingness to show a more closer interest to Turkish economy.

Taner said Eisenstad reiterated the support the US extended to Baku-Ceyhan and told him that they would do their best for the realization of this project.

Taner stressed that Turkey and the US were in full consensus of opinion to implement Baku-Ceyhan project.

Taner is scheduled to address the UN and will return to Turkey at the weekend. An IMF delegation will come to Turkey by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Jan Kalitksy, the US Trade Secretariat Advisor, said oil and natural gas which will be produced in Eastern regions of the Caspian should be transported to the West via Turkey.

Addressing a meeting with Haydar Aliev, Azeri President, expressed pleasure over the recent developments related with the operation of oil beds in Caspian, Euroasia transportation corridor project and separation of Caspian to sectors belonging to states in the shore.

Aliev in his part said preparation studies related with the main oil pipeline were underway. Aliev stressed that they extended efforts to transport not only the Azeri oil but also Turkmen and Kazakh oil and natural gas via Azerbaijan.

Jan Kalitsky who also staged a news conference said Iran was a country importing weapons and producing nuclear weapons adding that they supported all routes, apart from the Iranian route, to transport Caspian oil.

[05] QUAKE IN WESTERN AYDIN PROVINCE

Kandilli Observatory officials said the epicenter of the quake which happened at 12:15 was Germencik.

There was no reported casualities or financial damage in the quake which caused panic among people.

Officals said such quakes should be regarded as normal in Aydin which is situated in fault belt.

[06] UNIT EXCHANGE WITH JORDAN - 100-PEOPLE TEAMS TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN TURKEY AND JORDAN BETWEEN APRIL 20 AND MAY 10

Land Forces Commandership said a 100-people team from the first Army Commandership will go to Jordan on April 20 and will return on May 10.

Similarly, a 100 people team from the Jordanian Armed Forces will come to Turkey between the same dates to receive training.

[07] SUPPORT FROM TURSAB TO THE SOUTHEAST

Camas in a written statement said members of TURSAB will participate in the program by re-arranging their tour programs and include the Southeastern region to it.

Camas said they will hold one of the executive board meetings of TURSAB in the region adding that ''Southeastern region will be given place in the tour programs that will be prepared by our members. Thus, the members will be able to create a new market to this sector.''

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''TURKEY WAS NOT TAKEN TO EU AS IT WAS TURKISH AND MOSLEM''

Addressing a panel discussion titled ''Cyprus Case'', Denktas said Turkey became the master of the region.

Stressing that TRNC citizens were in an effort to form lobbies in the US and in Germany against the lobbies of the Greek Cypriot Side, Denktas said ''Europe supports Greek Cypriots as they are christians. Greece is in an effort to take Greek Cypriots to EU by blackmail.''

Denktas said ''we can not exist even one day without Turkey'' and called on Turkish enterpreneurs to invest in TRNC.

[09] EU COMMISSION MEMBER BANGEMANN: ''IMPROVEMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY IS NOT THE GUARANTEE OF TURKEY'S FULL MEMBERSHIP TO EU''

Addressing a news conference which he made in EU Ankara Representation Bangemann said ''Turkey's full membership to EU may not be realized before the solution of Cyprus question'' and added that an experts delegation from the EU will come next week to Ankara to negotiate expansion status forwarded to Turkey.

Bangemann said customs union which was realized between Turkey and the EU positively effected bilateral relations.

Bangemann said during his contacts he proposed to form a round table composed of businessmen and politicians to solve existing problems between Turkey and the EU.

''Decisions of the EU taken during Luxembourg Summit disappointment in Turkey because Turkey gained less from what was expected'' he said.

Bangemann said if Turkey loses belief on its EU full membership, this will be for the benefit of circles who are against Turkey's EU membership.

Rejecting the views that Turkey, being a Moslem country, can not be a full member of the EU as it is a Christian Club, Bangemann said ''EU is not wholly a Christian club.''

Bangemann pointed out that satisfactory developments could not be recorded in Turkey in privatization and on foreign capital issues adding that economic and political developments should be carried out simultaneously in Turkey.

Responding to a question Bangemann said Cyprus and human rights questions should be solved adding that ''a commission, composed on impartial people, could be established to solve human rights question. This commission may bring proposals to solve human rights violation problem.'' Bangemann said Cyprus question was a special one and that Turkey's full membership to EU may not be realized before solution of Cyprus question.

[10] MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY

Foreign Ministry statement said political, economic and regional issues will be taken up during bilateral talks that will take place during the visit.

The statement said the visit was important as it was the first one in Foreign Ministry level from Macedonia to Turkey.

[11] TURKISH-AUSTRIAN SECOND TERM JEC MEETING

Hikmet Sami Turk, Minister of State, who headed Turkish delegation called on support from Austria for Turkey's full membership to European Union (EU) during the meeting.

Hannes Farnlestner, Austrian Federal Economy Minister, said Turkey should cover a long term and wise policy to reach its target of becoming a full member of the EU.

Turk said Turkey should be regarded in a more improved status than other candidate countries as Turkey realized customs union without any financial support of EU, took responsibilities on implementations of EU procedures and at the same time had a market economy.

Stressing that the EU should improve a new strategy which will provide integration of Turkey with the EU and equal competition conditions with eastern Europe countries, Turk said ''we believe that this process to reach full membership goal could be overcomed with the contributions of EU member countries like Austria.''

Noting that the countries who want to enter to EU should not have problems with its neighbors, Farnlester said Turkey has problems with Greece namely the Cyprus question.

[12] UN ADOPTS DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY TURKEY ON TERRORISM ISSUE

The draft stressed that terrorism was one of the most grave violation of human rights adding that it should be condemned harsly whatever its aim was and whoever did it.

The recommendatory draft resolution said terrorism targetted right of living which is the basic right of a person and pointed out that terrorism was also a serious threat for democracy and principles of the legal state.

The resolution called on all member countries of the UN to cooperate in struggle against terrorism and stressed the importance of the solidarity between international public to this end. It said ''terrorism can never be justified and all terrorism acts should be condemned.''

The draft resolution also called on the UN Secretary General to focus on studies forwarded to struggle against terrorism and called on cooperation from the related UN organizations.

The draft resolution proposed by Turkey, called on terrorism issue to be taken up in details during human rights commission meetings that will take place next year.

[13] PROJECT TO PROVIDE POTABLE WATER TO MOLDOVA

Resit Umar, Foreign Minister Eastern Europe Affairs General Director speaking during the signature ceremony said President Suleyman Demirel attached a great importance to the project and that this project will be concluded with the mutual good will of the sides.

Viktor Isvirkun, Trade Undersecretary of Moldova to Ankara said they used credit for the first time in their history adding that this project will further strengthen friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Turkish Eximbank will meet 15 million dollar of the first 17.7 million dollar part of the project which has a total cost of 35 million dollar. Moldovan Republic will meet 2.7 million dollar of the credit.

Within the framework of the project, potable water will be extracted from the wells and will be given to cities after being gathered in pools.

[14] BOMB ATTACK IN MALTEPE DISTRICT

The incident happened when unidentified assailants threw the bomb under the bus belonging to ''Soydem Tur'' company at 02:30 a.m.

The bomb exploded causing financial damage in the bus and breaking the windows of a car and neighboring houses.

There were no reported casualities or wounded ones.

An operation is underway to capture the assailants who fled after the incident.

[15] NEGOTIATION MECHANISM ESTABLISHED BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE US TO IMPROVE TRADE

Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US on Jan 20, a trade negotiation process will be established to increase trade cooperation between the two countries. Commercial obstacles causing concerns for the two countries will be specified and overcomed. The two sides will search for cooperation facilities in sectors which will contribute to the growth of economies of the two countries including Energy and infrastructure.

Cooperation in Statistical Field Protocol signed between Turkey and Macedonia on Dec 25, 1997 foresees implementation of a technical aid program to strengthen technical capacity of the Macedonian Statistical Office personnel.

[16] GAP TO BRING 7.4 BILLION DOLLARS ONLY IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

13 billion dollars were spent to GAP so far which has a total cost of 32 billion dollars. Only with the agriculture income, GAP will be able to pay itself in 4.5 years.

Olcay Unver, GAP Regional Development Administration Chairman said contribution of GAP to the economy of the country began to be seen in Harran Plateau.

Evaluating recent situation in GAP, Unver said with the implementation of Sanliurfa tunnels at the end of 1994, which are the longest irrigation tunnels of the world, irrigation started in Sanliurfa.

Unver said with the completition of irrigation projects agriculture sector will contribute 7.4 billion dollars to the region per year.

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