Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-20

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

20 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HANDZISKI, MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

[02] DAYTON-TYPE SOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR CYPRUS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''DAYTON-TYPE NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE HELD ON CYPRUS WITH THE CONDITION OF DETERMINING STRONG PARAMETERS''

[03] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: ''THE PKK TERRORISM WILL END SOON'' - ''SAKIK WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM REPENTANCE LAW''

[04] EXPORTS FROM SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY TO THE EU COUNTRIES

[05] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''WE WILL END TERRORISM ON TURKISH TERRITORY''

[06] TURKISH AMBASSADORS VISIT THE TRNC

[07] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''NO CASINOS THAT WERE CLOSED IN TURKEY, HAVE BEEN OPENED IN THE TRNC''

[08] WORLD BANK TAKES UP TURKEY: - TURKEY'S MARK IN HEALTH IS ''GOOD'' - TURKEY'S POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE 76 MILLION IN 2010

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 20, 1998

[12] STARFISH-98 OPERATION STARTS

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 20, 1998

[14] DYP SUBMITS PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION MOTION AGAINST TOPCU, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING

[15] TURKEY EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO THE NATO MEMBERSHIP OF MACEDONIA

[16] A NEW IMPORTANT PROJECT FROM TAI.. - TAI TO PRODUCE ''CROP DUSTERS''

[17] THE 42ND TURKISH-EU JPC MEETING

[18] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A DAYTON OR CAMP DAVID- TYPE NEGOTIATION PROPOSAL''

[19] TTK TO MAKE INVENTORY OF TURKISH ARCHITECTURAL WORKS

[20] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY IS VALUABLE AND A PART OF EUROPE''

[21] FOREIGN SHAREHOLDER TO ALARKO INDUSTRY... - ALARKO HOLDING TO SELL HALF OF ITS SHARES IN ALARKO INDUSTRY TO CARRIER FOR 40.3 MILLION US DOLLARS

[22] ACTIVE DAYS IN FOREIGN POLITICS

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HANDZISKI, MACEDONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Addressing the journalists before the meeting with his Macedonian counterpart, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that he will discuss the bilateral and regional issues concerning the Southeastern European countries, and especially the Kosovo problem with his Macedonian counterpart.

He added that the two countries share many joint views and Handziski's visit to Turkey will help to develop relations between Turkey and Macedonia.

Handziski said that his visit to Turkey is not the first one, he came to Turkey before, as the guest of the Minister of Defence. He noted that Turkey and Macedonia have joint cultural and historical links, and added that his visit will accelerate the bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries.

The Macedonian Foreign Minister will meet with President Suleyman Demirel, Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament and Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz during his visit to Turkey.

[02] DAYTON-TYPE SOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR CYPRUS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''DAYTON-TYPE NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE HELD ON CYPRUS WITH THE CONDITION OF DETERMINING STRONG PARAMETERS''

Addressing the journalists, Yilmaz said that the US President Bill Clinton sent a letter and offered for him to receive Thomas Miller, the Special Representative to Cyprus.

Responding to a question about the rise of the Social Democrats in Germany, Yilmaz said, ''the Social Democrats always rise before elections and then start to fall. I hope it won't be like that in Germany.''

[03] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: ''THE PKK TERRORISM WILL END SOON'' - ''SAKIK WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM REPENTANCE LAW''

Sezgin told the A.A correspondent that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, has been left even by his closest friends.

Noting that the chief of the terrorist organization asked for a ceasefire to gain more time, Sezgin stated that the capture of Semdin Sakık, one of the leading members of the PKK, by the security forces proves that the latter does its best in its struggle against terrorism.

''We are proud of our soldiers. I hope that the separatist terrorist organization will come into a position soon where it can't cause sensational events,'' Sezgin added.

Sezgin stressed that Sakık won't benefit from the repentance law.

Sezgin also met with Kemal Onal, the governor of Kırklareli Province and told him that a country can only develop through industrialization.

Noting that the number of plants and installations have increased a lot in the Thracian region, Sezgin said ''there was only one plant in Tekirdag Province 25 years ago. Today there are many of them in the region.''

[04] EXPORTS FROM SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY TO THE EU COUNTRIES

Officials from the Southeastern Anatolia Union of Exporters told the A.A correspondent that a total of 457 thousand US dollars in animal products, 489 thousand US dollars in grain and seed, 6.2 million US dollars in dried fruits and 19.9 million US dollars in textiles were exported to the European Union countries during the January-March period.

The products exported the most were composed of dried apricots, synthetic fibres, plastic sacks, pistachio nuts, textiles, towels and cotton fibres.

[05] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''WE WILL END TERRORISM ON TURKISH TERRITORY''

Recalling that Semdin Sakık, a leading member of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, was captured, Basesgioglu pointed out that efforts will be exerted until the chief of the terrorist organization is captured and put on trial.

Basesgioglu stressed that the Istanbul police have seized 10 tonnes of drugs and one tonne of pills since he became minister, Basesgioglu added that the interrogation of Sakık continues in secret.

''If there is a problem about the period of interrogation, he will be interrogated for another six days. When the interrogation ends, he will be brought to the court,'' he said.

Responding to a question asked on whether or not Sakık will be transferred to a place other than Diyarbakır, Basesgioglu added that ''there is no need to change his place. He can be tried by the State Security Court in Diyarbakır.''

[06] TURKISH AMBASSADORS VISIT THE TRNC

Osman Ertug, the Undersecretary of the TRNC Foreign and Defence Ministries, said that the visits of the Turkish officials to the TRNC, in framework of the protocol signed between Turkey and the TRNC, are encouraging.

Speaking on behalf of the ambassadors Kurtulus Taskent, the Turkish Ambassador to Kazakhstan, said, ''we believe that our visit to the TRNC will be very useful.'' Taskent noted that they are aware of the Cyprus problem and will continue to defend the Turkish Cypriot's case.

The ambassadors who were received by the KKTC Foreign Minister and the Minister of Defence, will leave the island on Monday.

Kurtulus Taskent, the Turkish Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Varol Ozkocak, the Ambassador to Mongolia, Aydin Idil, the Ambassador to Tajikistan, Turkel Ozkarol, the Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Umur Apaydin, the Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Ecvet Tezcan, the Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Burak Gursel, the Ambassador to Georgia, are the ambassadors who visited the TRNC.

[07] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''NO CASINOS THAT WERE CLOSED IN TURKEY, HAVE BEEN OPENED IN THE TRNC''

Denktas told journalists that the news claiming that the TRNC has become a gambling place is baseless.

Noting that there are 14-15 gambling houses in the TRNC, President Denktas said, ''it has been claimed that students coming from Turkey get used to gambling, this is not true. Students can't enter to these places anymore. There are conditions to be met to open casinos in the TRNC. Only people staying at five-star hotels can gamble, people coming from outside are not allowed to do so. This is a substantial condition.''

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot government deals with these kinds of issues, Denktas added that the TRNC is launching great efforts to promote tourism.

Denktas said that the S-300 missiles don't contribute to peace on the island and the money spent for them is wasted.

[08] WORLD BANK TAKES UP TURKEY: - TURKEY'S MARK IN HEALTH IS ''GOOD'' - TURKEY'S POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE 76 MILLION IN 2010

The World Bank prepared a report based on data collected from many national and international institutions and stated that the percent of reaching health services is 100 percent for the Turkish people and this was realized in 1993.

Noting that the percent of Turkish people who benefit from preventive health services is 94 percent, the report stressed that this number decreases to 85 percent in the rural areas.

According to the 1996 data, 42 out of every 1,000 babies died during the birth.

The World Bank notes that the population of Turkey is expected to reach 76 million in 2010 and 9.7 million of this population are expected to be older than 60 years of age. Turkish men die on the average at the age of 66, while the age is 71 for Turkish women.

The Gross National Product of Turkey was 177.5 billion US dollars in 1996 and Turkey, with its economy, became the 23rd country in the world in the report. The annual per capita income was 2,830 US dollars in 1996 and Turkey became the 43rd country in the world.

The World Bank added that there are 29 students per teacher in primary education in Turkey.

[09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PM MESUT YILMAZ'S PRESS CONFERENCE
The Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the government had been very successful since it came to power nine months ago and reiterated that it had agreed with the Republican People's Party (CHP) that there would not be any early elections in 1998. Speaking during a two-hour long press conference yesterday to assess the government's performance, Yilmaz said that the government's major objective would be to drop the rate of inflation. He also confirmed that he would bow to the court decision regarding the privatization of electric power and distribution. Yilmaz attended the press conference with Bulent Ecevit, his deputy and the chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and Rifat Serdaroglu, Minister of State from the coalition's junior partner, the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP).

He said during the press conference that Turkey had suspended her political ties with the European Union (EU) and had given up demands that she must join the EU. He noted that Turkey would also consider her national interests more. Yilmaz responded to a question regarding whether or not the separatist Kurdish leader, Semdin Sakik, could benefit from the Repentance Law and said that the Repentance Law had been repealed in 1995 and that there was no way Sakik, the number-two leader of the PKK terrorist organization, could benefit from it. Yilmaz also expressed his displeasure with the ''non-cooperation'' on the part of the private sector. He said that the government had expected support from the private sector for its austerity measures, but so far had not received any. Yilmaz and Baykal will have new talks on April 23 and are expected to agree on the new draft laws to be presented to the Parliament by the end of June, when Parliament will begin its summer recess. /All papers/

FRENCH DC-10 SKIDS OFF ATATURK AIRPORT'S RUNWAY
A French passenger plane skidded off the runway at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport yesterday and came to a halt off the tarmac. No injuries were reported. The DC-10, which belongs to the French charter company Air Liberte, was rescued at 4:20 p.m. as a result of a three-hour effort on the part of the State Airport Administration (DHMI) rescue teams from the Ataturk Airport. The incident closed Turkey's busiest airport to traffic for a while, but it was re-opened to traffic at 4:30 p.m. The plane, arriving in heavy rain from Paris and carrying 309 passengers, stopped in the mud after skidding about 10 metres off the tarmac. /Turkiye/

88 PKK MILTANTS KILLED
During operations in the Besta region including the provinces of Hakkari, Siirt, Sirnak and Van, 88 militants of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed, while seven Turkish soldiers and four village guards died and 10 security officials have been wounded. Aydin Arslan, the Head of the Emergency Rule Region (OHAL), said in a statement that since the announcement of the emergency rule in the region, 20,305 PKK militants have been killed and a total of 25,558 terrorists have been rendered ineffective. Noting that during 89 conflicts within this year, 36 security officials and 10 citizens died, while 459 PKK militants have been rendered ineffective. Meanwhile, Der Spiegel, a weekly magazine published in Germany, said in its recent issue that the PKK terrorist organization was panic- stricken. /Milliyet/

KINKEL IS IN FAVOUR OF SOFTENING BILATERAL RELATIONS
Klaus Kinkel, the German Foreign Minister said that he was in favour of softening relations between Turkey and Germany. During a conversation with journalists at a council meeting of the German Free Democrat Party (FDP) in Berlin, Kinkel noted that he supported the normalization and development of traditional and historical Turkish-German relations as soon as possible. In response to the Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who said that German Prime Minister Kohl prevented Turkey's full membership into the European Union (EU), Kinkel said that such an initiative was out of the question. /Milliyet-Sabah/

REPORT: ARMS SHIPPED TO EUROPE END UP IN HOT SPOTS
Despite laws aimed at curbing international weapons trafficking, US officials have discovered that the US has almost no control over the flow of guns once they reach Europe, The New York Times reported yesterday. Thousands of semiautomatic American pistols and rifles sold to European arms dealers in the last few years have ended up in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, Algeria and Turkey, the paper reported, citing American and European law enforcement officials whom they didn't identify. The weapons also found their way to organized crime syndicates, the paper said, and there are indications that some US firearms went to Iraq and Iran. To address the problem, the US is on the verge of revoking all oustanding licences for firearms exports to British companies, the paper said. The US will present her proposal in May at a summit in Birmingham, England, of leading industrial nations - the so-called Group of 7. /Hurriyet/

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

DENKTAS IN MALATYA
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said that the TRNC should improve its economy in order to be powerful in politics. Speaking at a conference titled ''Recent Political Developments in the TRNC'', Denktas said that Northern Cyprus was very eligible to make investments in education, tourism and industry and he wanted businessmen to invest in his country. /Cumhuriyet/

KILIC IN PAKISTAN
General Ilhan Kilic, the Commander of the Air Forces, went to Pakistan yesterday upon an official invitation of his Pakistani counterpart General Parvaiz Mehdi Quereshi. After completing his contacts, Kilic will return to Turkey on 23 April. /Cumhuriyet/

MARK PARRIS PRAISES TURKEY
Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, said yesterday that Turkey had the potential to be one of the economic powers in the 21st century. During his speech at the Foreign Investors' Association in Istanbul, Parris said that Turkey was certainly a part of Europe and she had enough dynamic power to improve economic development in Central Asia and the Caucasus. He added, ''If Turkey takes the necessary measures, she will be one of the economic powers of the world. Turkey's future is very bright. We are ready to cooperate with Turkish leaders to strengthen the Turkish economy.'' /Sabah/

GARIH NAMED MOST SUCCESSFUL YOUNG BUSINESSMEN
Alarko Holding Construction Group Manager Izzet Garih has been named the ''Young Businessmen of the Year'' by judges in a competition sponsored by Worldcom, the giant communications company in the world. Garih was nominated for his work on the ''Alkent Istanbul 2000'' project.

Tunc Tonger, the owner of the Tunc Tonger Construction Company, won the special success award in the same contest held in Beijing. /All papers/

BASESGIOGLU DECISIVE ABOUT ENDING TERROR
Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior, said that the latest operations carried out against terrorists were a great step in the fight against terrorism, adding that their aim was to completely destroy terrorism.

Basesgioglu, answering the questions of journalists over the weekend, said, ''There could be always some threats to a country like Turkey which is situated in a problematic area. We keep our security forces alert against any potential threat.'' /Milliyet/

SECURITY FORCES SOLVE HEZBOULLAH PUZZLE
In operations carried out by security forces against the outlawed Hezboullah organization in the Southeast for the last few years, various data about the organization's structure were discovered including information related to its background, income and the number of its supporters and militants.

The information shows that Hezboullah currently instructs about 1,000 people in 58 mosques in Diyarbakir in its political doctrines. Meanwhile, 120 Hezboullah members from its military branch have been captured by security forces up until the present time. /Milliyet/

FAO CAMPAIGN FOR POOR FARMERS
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has started a campaign called ''Bread for Everyone'' for providing financial aid to poor farmers in order to help them increase their agricultural production. Within this context, the FAO also has decided to support poor Turkish farmers with a 60, 000 US dollar share from the 2 million US dollars provided by the pooling of money collected in various countries for this purpose.

The Ministry of Culture will organize concerts and other activities to provide income for the campaign. An income of about 25,000 US dollars is hoped to be generated from the activities. /Milliyet/

ERSUMER VISITS AZERBAIJAN
Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, will go to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku today. Ersumer will have contacts on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline in this country where he will be received by President Haydar Aliyev as well. He will present the Azerbaijani officials with Turkey's new proposals for the projected pipeline, aimed at meeting their demands concerning this issue. /Hurriyet/

ANKARA MUSIC FESTIVAL
The 15th International Ankara Music Festival started yesterday with an opening concert also attended by the Turkish President Suleyman Demirel. The festival will continue until 18 May. /All papers/

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 20, 1998

With the proposal of the Ministry of the Environment approved by the President and the Board of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette, the border of the Manyas Kuscenneti (Bird Paradise) and the Burdur Lake were expanded.

Dr. Mehmet Sıkı from the Ege University, Faculty of Science, who is known for his works for protecting the Izmir Kuscenneti, said that the international guarantee given to the Izmir Kuscenneti is a great development and this decision will prevent the Izmir Kuscenneti from being shared. He added that the birds, animals and plants in the Kuscenneti will be taken under protection with this decision.

ISTANBUL - Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources left for Azerbaijan on Monday to hold contacts concerning the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline.

Addressing a statement at the Ataturk Airport, Ersumer said that the feasibility reports regarding the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline have finished and they are being evaluated by Azerbaijani officials.

Noting that he will meet with Haydar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Head of State, Azerbaijani Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and officials from the Azerbaijani oil company ''SOCAR,'' Ersumer said that they will discuss the results of feasibility reports during the meetings.

Ersumer added that issues concerning the pipelines which will carry Turkmen natural gas and Kazakh oil will also be discussed.

Cumhur Ersumer will return to Turkey on April 22.

ISTANBUL - Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence, went on Monday to Vienna, the first step of his six-day official visits to Austria and Romania.

Addressing the journalists at the Atatürk Airport before his departure, Sezgin said that Turkey and Austria have historical friendship links and these links should be developed.

Sezgin told the reporters that he will meet with the Austrian Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister along with the Defence Minister. He noted that his meetings in Austria will focus on the development of bilateral relations, the issues of security and defence, Turkey's relations with the European Union and the enlargement of the EU.

Pointing out that he will proceed to Romania as a official guest of Victor Babiuc, the Romanian Minister of Defence, after he completes his Austria visit, Sezgin said that he will hold talks about bilateral and regional relations in Bucharest.

Ismet Sezgin noted that the issue of Turkey's support to Romania's membership in the NATO in the process of the NATO's expansion, will also be taken into the agenda.

Sezgin will return to Turkey on April 25.

[12] STARFISH-98 OPERATION STARTS

The Naval Forces said that frigates, submarines, assault boats, mine sweepers, helicopters, coast security boats and bomber aircraft are participating in the operation that will be exercised in the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea.

Various communications and commanding methods will be tried, coordination and cooperation will be improved between the Naval and Air Forces and weapons will be fired during the operation to which foreign observors are also invited.

The ports of Kefken, Eregli, Amasra, Trabzon and Rize, the Bulgarian port of Varna, the Romanian port of Constanta and the Ukrainian port of Odessa will be visited between April 24-27.

The Turkish Naval and Air Forces will also visit the Russian port of Novorossisk, the Georgian ports of Poti ve Batumi between April 30-May 2.

Starfish'98 will end on May 4 when troops and ships return to their main bases.

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 20, 1998

Addressing the ceremony Mehmet Demir, the Governor of Karsiyaka, described the children of the world as the ''peace envoys'', and said that they are very pleased to host them in Karsiyaka.

Kemal Baysak, the Mayor of Karsiyaka, said that the Turkish children have been sharing April 23, the National Sovereignty and Children's Holiday Festival which was given by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, as a gift to the children, with the other children from all over the world for 6 years.

A total of 800 children and 200 families from 21 countries are participating at the festival which will last for 5 days.

ANKARA - The 15th Ankara International Music Festival organized by the Sevda Cenap Music Foundation, began with the ''Ataturk Oratorio'' on Sunday. President Suleyman Demirel also attended the concert.

ZONGULDAK - A coal mine collapsed in Damarli District of Kilimli Town of Zonguldak Province on Sunday.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Idris Sirin (aged 38) died and Dursun Eker (aged 53) was wounded when they were stranded beneath the debris.

BANDIRMA - The problems of the Manyas Bird Lake will be discussed on Monday at a meeting organized in Mandirma Town of Balikesir Province. The meeting will continue until April 24.

''The Project of the Ecologic Risk Analysis and Management of the Manyas Bird Lake'' prepared by the General Directorate of National Parks and Hunting-Wildlife and the Ankara University, Department of Agriculture, was accepted by the European Union Life Third Countries Programme and the project will also be discussed during the meeting.

ANKARA - General Santiago Valderas, the Spanish Chief of Staff visited his Turkish counterpart Ismail Hakki Karadayi on Monday.

General Karadayi said that Turkey has good relations in the military and political fields in framework of the NATO.

General Valderas noted that he will receive more infrmation about Turkey during his visit and added that the good relations between Turkey and Spain will develop even more with such visits.

ANKARA - Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transportation will join the foundation-laying ceremony of the new terminal building of the Denizli- Cardak Airport tomorrow, it was reported on Monday.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the new terminal building which will cost 1.7 trillion Turkish Liras, will be completed in 2000.

[14] DYP SUBMITS PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION MOTION AGAINST TOPCU, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING

The motion claims that Topcu was involved in corruption concerning the Black Sea Coast Motorway bid and consequently the state lost money.

The DYP had earlier submitted a censure motion about Topcu concerning the same issue, but the Parliament did not reach the necessary number (276) to unseat Yasar Topcu.

[15] TURKEY EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO THE NATO MEMBERSHIP OF MACEDONIA

Blagoy Handziski, the Macedonian Foreign Minister, who is currently in Turkey for a two-day official visit, held contacts at the Foreign Ministry.

Addressing a statement to the press after the interdelegationary meetings, Cem attributed importance to the cooperation with Macedonia in today's chaotic situation in the Balkans.

Noting that Macedonia signed several economic agreements with the European Union (EU) and Turkey is a member of the Customs Union, Cem stated that Turkey will search for ways to promote economic cooperation with Macedonia.

Ismail Cem recalled that the foreign ministers of the Southeastern European countries will meet in Istanbul in June and their head of states and governments will come together in Antalya in October.

Blagoy Handziski, the Macedonian Foreign Minister said that Turkey is a country with which Macedonia has signed the greatest number of agreements.

Noting that Turkey launches positive and constructive efforts to establish peace and stability in Southeastern Europe, Handziski stressed that Macedonia is exchanging views with Turkey concerning the start of a dialogue for peace in Kosovo.

[16] A NEW IMPORTANT PROJECT FROM TAI.. - TAI TO PRODUCE ''CROP DUSTERS''

The officials from the TAI said that they would produce the first ''multi- purpose'' crop duster in 1999.

Officials said that the preliminary studies for the design of the plane were concluded and that the Executive Board of the TAI decided on the production of a prototype.

''A new configuration can be made in the project through the requirements of the member countries of the Developing-8 (D-8), Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh,'' the officials said.

The insecticide capacity of the plane will be 1,500 litres.

The officials said that the crop dusters can also be used in the control of the forests, in sowing seeds and in transportation to the spots that can't be reached by land vehicles, in addition to crop dusting and fighting against fires.

[17] THE 42ND TURKISH-EU JPC MEETING

Addressing a weekly press briefing, Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that the Turkish-EU relations will be discussed during the JPC meeting.

The European Parliament delegation includes Pieter Dankert, the Co-Chairman of the JPC and member of European Socialist Party and Claudia Roth and Gerhard M.J. Deprez, who are Deputy Co-Chairmen.

The delegation will meet with Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament; Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State starting on Monday. The Turkish-EU JPC meeting will be held at the Parliament on Tuesday.

The delegation, which will hold a press briefing at the Parliament on Wednesday, will leave Turkey the same day.

[18] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A DAYTON OR CAMP DAVID- TYPE NEGOTIATION PROPOSAL''

Stressing that the parameters should be determined before holding negotiations which aim to solve the Cyprus question, Rauf Denktas stated that the word ''entity,'' which is mentioned within this framework, needs description.

''If a such a negotiation proposal comes onto the agenda, we should know the parameters. For instance, what will we talk about with Glafcos Clerides in front of Bill Clinton, the US President. Clinton says that there are two owners on Cyprus, one of them is the Turkish Cypriots, the other is the Greek Cypriots. We shouldn't let people forget that. The Cyprus question can't be solved by considering one of the owners as the owner of the whole island,'' Denktas said.

Noting that the world doesn't need to question the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots any more, Denktas stressed that one should know that the TRNC is ready to construct bridges of cooperation with the Greek Cypriots.

[19] TTK TO MAKE INVENTORY OF TURKISH ARCHITECTURAL WORKS

All information about the works, including their detailed photographs, will be transferred to computers.

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu, the Chairman of the TTK, said that the historiographers and several scientists are making an inventory including the information about the artistic and historical works still standing throughout the country.

''Our studies including the Aegean, Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia and Black Sea Regions have been concluded. We will make research in the Central Anatolia Region this year. We can also put this information on the Internet, '' Halacoglu said.

[20] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY IS VALUABLE AND A PART OF EUROPE''

Addressing a conference on ''Turkish-British Relations'' at the Aegean University, Logan stated that Britain wants Turkey to join the EU.

Noting that the EU has several criteria concerning issues, such as human rights, democratization and economic balance for all candidate states, Logan pointed out that these criteria are valid for all countries, rather than for one country.

''Summits like Luxembourg are held twice a year within the framework of the EU. In these summits, the defeat or victory of anyone is out of the question,'' said Logan, recalling that although the Luxembourg Summit opened the way for Turkey to participate in the European Conference which started on March 12 in London, Turkey refused to participate in it.

''We respect this decision and believe that Turkey will later join this conference,'' said Logan, stressing that Turkey will contribute to the EU's target of enlargement.

''The Turkish Cypriots should join the Cypriot delegation which negotiates with the EU for full membership,'' said Logan, pointing out that no country is expected to veto the membership of Cyprus into the EU.

David Logan added that Britain has always defended a federative state formula on Cyprus, which incorporates the two sides.

[21] FOREIGN SHAREHOLDER TO ALARKO INDUSTRY... - ALARKO HOLDING TO SELL HALF OF ITS SHARES IN ALARKO INDUSTRY TO CARRIER FOR 40.3 MILLION US DOLLARS

The Alarko Holding sent a written statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange regarding the sale. The statement said that the Alarko Holding was selling its 42.029 percent share in the Alarko Industry and Trade Inc. to the American Carrier Hvacr Investments B.V for 40 million 347.8 thousand US dollars.

The statement said that the agreement was being signed on Monday in Istanbul and that the 42.029 percent share amounts to half of Alarko Holding's total share in the company.

In accordance with the agreement, Carrier wouldn't have any right on other securities, corporations and real estate of the company, except for the Alpom factory in Dudullu and 60 acres of land in the Gebze Organized Industry Zone.

The Alarko Industry and Trade shares will be divided into three groups. The A-Group shares will belong to Alarko Holding, the B-Group shares will be opened to the public and the C-Group shares will belong to Carrier.

The six-members of the executive board of the company will be composed of three people from Alarko and three from Carrier.

The payment and shares delivery is scheduled to take place on June 30, after securing approval from the Competition Board, the Capital Market Board and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The company's name will be changed to Alarko Carrier Industry and Trade Inc. after the sale.

[22] ACTIVE DAYS IN FOREIGN POLITICS

Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will meet with Thomas Miller, the US Special Coordinator to Cyprus on Monday. Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a weekly press briefing that Richard Holbrooke, the US President's Special Representative to Cyprus will arrive on the island on May 2.

Rauf Denktas will arrive in Ankara on April 22 and address the Parliament on April 23.

Utkan stressed that the meeting of Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister with Marc Grossman, the US Assistant of State Secretary was not held in secret, as it was claimed by the press.

Utkan stressed that all issues that concern Turkey and the US were taken up during the meeting. Utkan said that Cem told Grossman that Turkey and the TRNC are not against negotiations, but the statements of Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister, who considers Turkish Cypriots as minority, can't be accepted.

Utkan added that Cem also explained the rejection by Greece of the peace note which was sent by Turkey.

Meanwhile, Korkmaz Haktanır, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary will leave for the US on Tuesday to hold contacts concerning Turkish-US relations.

Representatives from the Developing Eight (D-8) countries will convene in Istanbul between April 23-24. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will participate at a meeting of the Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which will be held between April 27-28 in Paris.

Cem will attend the Council of Europe (COE) Foreign Ministers' meeting between May 4-5 in Strasbourg and proceed to Norway to hold contacts within the framework of economic relations with Norway between May 7-8.

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