Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-05-03

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

03 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] JAPANESE PRINCE MIKASA IN ANKARA

[02] NEW ATLANTIC INITIATIVE - TURKEY'S REGIONAL ROLE DISCUSSED

[03] ''MURAT OPERATION'' UNDERWAY - TWO SOLDIERS DIE, THREE OTHERS INJURED BY LIGHTNING

[04] JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE HASAN LEAVES TURKEY

[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS MEETS HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS

[06] 26 BULGARIANS WHO ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE DEPORTED

[07] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN TO PROCEED TO WASHINGTON D.C.

[08] DRUG OPERATIONS IN ISTANBUL - POLICE SEIZE 51 KG OF HEROIN

[09] TURKISH MILITARY DELEGATION MEETS ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN ALBANIA

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT TUNUSIA ON MONDAY

[11] THREE TERRORISTS KILLED, ONE INJURED DURING MURAT OPERATION - 11 TERRORISTS KILLED IN CUDI MOUNTAIN

[12] ''GLOBAL WALK'' AGAINST CHILD WORKERS

[01] JAPANESE PRINCE MIKASA IN ANKARA

The Japanese Prince will participate in a ceremony held on Sunday upon the opening of Turkish-Japanese Culture Center in Ankara. President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz and Culture Minister Istemihan Talay will also attend the ceremony.

President Demirel hosted a dinner in the honour of Japanase Prince on Saturday evening.

Japanese Prince Tomohito Mikasa and his wife visited Ataturk's Mausoleum, the founder of modern and secular Turkish Republic, on Sunday.

[02] NEW ATLANTIC INITIATIVE - TURKEY'S REGIONAL ROLE DISCUSSED

Retired General Nezihi Cakar, the Presidential Chief Adviser said that Turkey plays an important role between Caucasus and Europe as a bridge of energy.

Mentioning the Turkish-EU relations after the Luxembourg Summit, Cakar pointed out that the decision of Turkey to cut political dialogue with EU is not an emotional decision.

Recalling the Greek veto on financial obligations of EU towards Turkey, Cakar stressed that ''if EU continues to extend support to

Greece's policies, it will loose.''

The other speakers reiterated the fact that Turkey has a crucial importance concerning the installation of regional peace and if Turkey benefits well from this potential, she will be a central country.

Wolfkang Ifchinger, the German Foreign Ministry Director General of Political Affairs Department said that Turkey has to solve her problems with Greece, so that her relations with EU can improve, adding that Turkey has to fulfil her responsibilities in order to be a full member of EU.

Bulent Akarcalı, the deputy of Motherland Party (ANAP) said in his part that Istanbul is the center of a wide region, adding that ''it is up to EU to accept Turkey for full membership. EU will either restrict itself to a small continent or open itself to wide horizons.''

Addressing the New Atlantic Initiative session held on Sunday about the Middle East, Kenan Evren, the Former President said that it is difficult to make estimations concerning the security of the Middle East.

Kenan Evren stressed that the installation of security in Europe is not possible without installation of peace and stability in the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East.

Pointing out that NATO is not very succesful in installation of dialogue with the Middle Eastern and North African countries, Evren stated that the contribution of Turkey to the security of the Middle East can be taken as an example.

The Jordanian Crown Prince Hasan Bin Tallal said in his part that all the countries in the Middle East should come together and search for common solutions regarding the abolishment of mass destruction weapons in the Middle East.

Tallal added that NATO considers the region as an area of interest in respect of security of oil.

Dore Gold, the Israeli Permanent Representative to UN said in his part that the terrorist actions against Israel increased while the peace process negotiations were held between 1993-1996.

Gold said that the relations between the regional countries can be deepened by setting up a similar organization like NATO in the Middle East.

[03] ''MURAT OPERATION'' UNDERWAY - TWO SOLDIERS DIE, THREE OTHERS INJURED BY LIGHTNING

Officials said that security forces killed nine terrorists and injured three others on April 30, while they killed seven terrorists and injured one terrorist on May 1 during the Murat operation launched against the separatist terrorist organization.

The number of terrorists killed reached 51, while the number of terrorists who were captured alive reached 11.

Meanwhile, a heavy blow was struck on the separatist terrorist organization by the operations staged in Cudi Mountain.

General Nejat Muldur told A.A correspondent that they have found out that one of the 21 terrorists who were killed during the operations staged in Cudi Mountain for the last three days, was so-called leader of the Cudi region.

General Muldur pointed out that the terrorists who came from Northern Iraq and who tried to enter Turkey from the west side of Cudi mountain were all neutralized, adding that ''the operation will continue till there will be not any terrorists in the region.''

[04] JORDANIAN CROWN PRINCE HASAN LEAVES TURKEY

Suha Umar, the Turkish Ambassador to Jordan, Hasan Ozhan, the Istanbul Deputy Governor and other officials saw the Jordanian Crown Prince off at Ataturk Airport.

[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS MEETS HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS

Responding to questions of journalists before receiving Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Cyprus, Rauf Denktas stated that Holbrooke tries to be successful concerning the solution of Cyprus question, adding that ''this is not an easy task. He has to be patient towards us.''

''I hope Holbrooke will not give up his mission if he is not succesful. The Cyprus question is a problem for 34 years. I don't suppose that Holbrooke, who is a very intelligent diplomat, believes to solve this question by few meetings or within few days. He has to give time to Cyprus,'' said Denktas, responding to a question.

Richard Holbrooke, said in his part that the shuttle diplomacy which he carries out between Denktas and Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader depends on the principle of ''secrecy,'' adding that he did not come to the island to bring the two leaders together.

Noting that they will not discuss the issue of bringing two leaders together, Holbrooke said ''I will continue to carry out the shuttle diplomacy as long as it is useful, but I have to leave the island on Monday.''

After the meeting, TRNC President Denktas told Turkish journalists that if Holbrooke does not see an rapproachment between the two sides on the island till Monday, he will leave the island and he will probably hold one side responsible for that.

Noting that if Holbrooke sees any hope, he will leave Thomas Miller on the island and he will return to the island on next Saturday, Denktas added that Turkish Cypriots expect Holbrooke to accept the fact that there are two owners of property on Cyprus and not to give the title deed of Cyprus to the Greek Cypriot side.

''The Greek Cypriot side aims to neutralize Turkey and Turkish soldiers by multi-national force,'' said Denktas, noting that ''those who consider the Greek Cypriots as the government should tell them that they are not the government of whole Cyprus. In other case, the Cyprus question will last for 100 more years.''

''We are government and we can't deny this in order to sit around a table, '' said Rauf Denktas, adding that he is trying to persuade Holbrooke that timing is not good for meetings on the island.

On Sunday, Holbrooke met TRNC President Denktas for the third time. After the meeting, Holbrooke said that he will meet Denktas again on Sunday afternoon.

Holbrooke also meets with Glafkos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader and he is expected to meet the two leaders twice on Sunday.

Richard Holbrooke will address a press briefing on Monday and evaluate his contacts on the island.

[06] 26 BULGARIANS WHO ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BE DEPORTED

The Bulgarian immigrants, who illegally entered to Ukraine and then arrived in northern province of Zonguldak by ferry six days ago, were not permitted to enter Turkey from Zonguldak Customs Gate because they did not have the necessary documents.

The Bulgarian people who also attempted to escape, were sent to Kapıkule Border Gate for deportation.

[07] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN TO PROCEED TO WASHINGTON D.C.

Cetin will meet Newt Gingrich, the US Chairman of House of Representatives, Bob Livingstone, the Chairman of Appropriations Committee of House of Representavies and Marc Grossman, the US Assistant of State Secretary in Washington D.C.

Hikmet Cetin will address the Washington Institute and meet Turkish associations and representatives of Turkish students.

Cetin, who will proceed to New York on May 6, will meet representatives of Turkish-American associations and then return to Turkey.

[08] DRUG OPERATIONS IN ISTANBUL - POLICE SEIZE 51 KG OF HEROIN

Police officers said that four people, who wanted to sell the 30 kg heroin to police, were captured on the act on April 28.

Meanwhile, acting on a tip off, police staged another operation on April 27 to a flat belonging to a former director of a hotel.

Police seized 21 kg of heroin and took four people into custody in connection with the drug.

[09] TURKISH MILITARY DELEGATION MEETS ALBANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER IN ALBANIA

Albanian Defense Minister informed the Turkish military delegation about the situation of Albanian armed forces and the recent incidents in Kosovo.

Haydaraga also expressed pleasure over the assistance of Turkey to Albania and Albanian army.

General Turker said that the Turkish army does not want Kosovo to be a second Bosnia, adding that ''Turkey will be beside you and she will continue to extend support to modernize the Albanian army.''

The Turkish delegation, which also met Albanian Chief of General Staff, will visit Pasaliman Naval Forces Base and Naval Academy in Vlore.

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT TUNUSIA ON MONDAY

During the visit, two countries will take up issues like regional problems, reviving of the Middle Eastern Peace Process, developments after the Gulf Crisis and terrorism.

Presidential Press Center said in a statement that Turkey and Tunusian foreign policies and targets are similar, adding that Turkey acts together with the Arab world in solution of the Middle East problem and defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The statement stressed that the existing economic and commercial relations between the two countries will be revised during President Demirel's visit to Tunusia and ways will be searched to increase the trade volume, to determine new possibilities of cooperation and to deepen relations in the fields of culture and tourism.

The two countries will also sign Tourism Cooperation Protocol, Cultural Exchange Programme and Veterinary Agreement during President Demirel's visit to this country.

[11] THREE TERRORISTS KILLED, ONE INJURED DURING MURAT OPERATION - 11 TERRORISTS KILLED IN CUDI MOUNTAIN

Meanwhile, security forces killed 11 terrorists, injured two and captured one alive during the operations staged in Cudi mountain.

Emergency Regional Governor's Office said that the ''Murat Operation'' which started on April 26, 1998 and the operations staged in ''Cudi mountain,'' which started on May 1, 1998 are underway.

[12] ''GLOBAL WALK'' AGAINST CHILD WORKERS

The campaign is held by 350 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 82 countries and it started in three continents. It started on January 17 in Asia, on February 25 in Rio and on March 21 in South Africa.

Hulusi Karlı, the Representative of Confederation of Revolutionary Labour Unions (DISK) addressed a press briefing held in Taksim, Istanbul and said that child workers, who work in textile, food and leather sectors have many problems in Turkey and they are exploited violently.

Kenan Kaya, the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is) said in his part that approximately four million children live in poor conditions in Turkey.

Tarık Dhital, who spoke in the name of guest children said that ''this walk has lighted a candle in the world and it has brought the problem of child workers to the agenda of world public opinion.''

Later, the guest child walked together with the representatives of labour unions in Istiklal Street and shouted slogans calling for prevention of child workers.

The guest children will proceed to Greece on Monday.

The ''Global Walk'' initiative will end in Geneva on June.

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