Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-05-04

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

04 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS MEETS WITH HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS - DENKTAS: ''WE WON'T COMPROMISE OUR SOVEREIGNTY''

[02] STATE MINISTER ANDICAN LEAVES FOR TATARSTAN - ANDICAN: ''TURKEY PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TATARSTAN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

[03] OPENING OF THE TURKISH-JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I AM SURE THAT TURKISH-JAPANESE RELATIONS WILL FURTHER IMPROVE'' - JAPANESE PRINCE MIKASA: ''RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND JAPAN HAVE BEEN CONTINUING FOR 108 YEARS''

[04] NEW ATLANTIC INITIATIVE - BRZEZINSKI, FORMER US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HOLDS A PRESS BRIEFING

[05] TURKISH AND GREEK WOMEN'S DIALOGUE - A PEACE INITIATIVE NAMED ''WINPEACE'' DUE TO BE SET UP

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR TUNISIA

[07] WORLD FREEDOM OF PRESS DAY - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''OUR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE FREEDOM OF PRESS IS A PUBLIC FREEDOM''

[08] THE TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ REQUESTS THE JAPANESE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TRUSTING IN TURKEY

[09] EXPANSION OF THE KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT - RAILWAY LINE WILL EXTEND TO TRABZON

[10] ''MURAT OPERATION'' - SECURITY FORCES KILL 15 TERRORISTS IN THE MURAT OPERATION AND NINE OTHERS IN RURAL AREAS NEAR SIRNAK AND HAKKARI

[11] TURKEY-SLOVENIA JEC MEETING

[12] HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS: - ''THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS AND CLERIDES KNOWS IT''

[13] SUSURLUK CASE - AGAR, THE FORMER MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AT THE STATE SECURITY COURT

[14] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES BY 6 PERCENT IN MARCH

[15] THE TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING ... - TARA, THE TURKISH- JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN: ''THE TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES DEVELOPS AGAINST TURKEY''

[16] BOLAYIRLI, THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE THY: - ''OUR PASSENGER CAPACITY INCREASES 10 PERCENT ANNUALLY'' - ''OUR TARGET IS TO CARRY 11 MILLION PASSENGERS THIS YEAR''

[01] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS MEETS WITH HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS - DENKTAS: ''WE WON'T COMPROMISE OUR SOVEREIGNTY''

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Denktas said that Holbrooke and Thomas Miller, the US Special Coordinator to Cyprus, will leave the island on Monday. He stated that it isn't clear when Holbrooke will come to the island again, but they will continue their contacts, and Miller will come to Cyprus to attend a conference at the Greek Cypriot side.

Responding to a journalist who asked the context of the meeting, Denktas noted that the Cyprus question is a 34 year old problem and it can take a long time to solve it.

Denktas said, ''if the world keeps on saying 'you are the legal government of Cyprus' to the Greek Cypriots, then they'll continue their wrong and dangerous attitude and won't approach the principles of the April 23 Declaration. They still don't recognize the political equality of the Turkish Cyptiots.''

Addressing a question on whether or not the issue of sovereignty was discussed, Denktas pointed out, ''sovereignty is our right, therefore we didn't discuss it. We won't compromise our sovereignty.''

Denktas criticised the Greek Cypriot side for not allowing the Turkish journalists who wanted to attend the meeting between Clerides and Holbrooke, based on the reason that they entered Cyprus from the Turkish Ercan Airport. Holbrooke, who proceeded to the Greek Cypriot side after the meeting, noted that he will discuss this incident with Clerides.

Holbrooke will join the opening of the 20 line telephone exchange, on Monday. He will leave the island for Germany with Thomas Miller, after completing his contacts on Cyprus the same day.

[02] STATE MINISTER ANDICAN LEAVES FOR TATARSTAN - ANDICAN: ''TURKEY PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF TATARSTAN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

Addressing the journalists before he left for Tatarstan as the guest of the Tatar President Farid Mehammet Sin, Andican pointed out that his visit aims to develop the commercial, social and cultural relations between the two countries.

Stressing that for the first time a high level Turkish official is visiting Tatarstan, Andican added, ''Turkey opened her first Consulate General in Tatarstan, among the autonomous republics in Russia. Tatarstan's reconstruction is very significant for Turkey. 15 private sector representatives are coming with me to hold talks on the modernization of some of the enterprises in Tatarstan.

Andican pointed out that he believes the annual 90 million US dollars trade volume between Turkey and Tatarstan will increase after his visit.

Andican will return to Turkey on May 7.

[03] OPENING OF THE TURKISH-JAPANESE CULTURAL CENTER - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I AM SURE THAT TURKISH-JAPANESE RELATIONS WILL FURTHER IMPROVE'' - JAPANESE PRINCE MIKASA: ''RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND JAPAN HAVE BEEN CONTINUING FOR 108 YEARS''

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Turkish-Japanese Cultural Center, President Demirel stated that Turkey and Japan are two large countries which are at the opposite edges of Asia, adding that there aren't any problems between the two countries and the Turkish people admire the Japanese miracle.

Noting that Japan had developed very rapidly and had become one of the most developed countries in the world, President Demirel pointed out that the economic relations between the two countries have a great potential and Japan has shown her trust in Turkey by sending Japanese enterpreneurs to Turkey for investments.

''Turkey is a big market, the Turkish and Japanese enterpreneurs are cooperating and they have opened together to the world markets. We expect to further improve the Turkish-Japanese economic relations,'' said Demirel, adding that the two peoples have to know each other better.

''We want cultural cooperation, we know that knowing each other depends on that and in this respect the Turkish-Japanese Cultural Center is important, '' added Demirel.

Prime Minister Yılmaz said, ''cultural and emotional relations are important factors in diplomatic and economic relations. Solidarity and greater cooperation will be both beneficial for our people and also it will bring peace to our regions.''

Japanese Prince Tomohito Mikasa said that the relations between the two countries have been continuing for 108 years. The shared works done in the field of archaeology also contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations, he added.

Turkish-Japanese relations started at the level of states in 1887 with the visit of Japanese Prince Komatsu to Istanbul, while the first diplomatic relations were set up between the two countries in 1925. Economic relations started to develop in the 1960s and Turkish-Japanese business councils were reciprocally established in 1986.

[04] NEW ATLANTIC INITIATIVE - BRZEZINSKI, FORMER US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HOLDS A PRESS BRIEFING

Addressing a press briefing at the end of the ''New Atlantic Initiative'' meetings held in Istanbul, Brzezinski stated that Turkey has been implementing a comprehensive democratization programme since 1920 in spite of ''some deficiences.''

Responding to a question about Turkish-Greek relations, Brzezinski said that the relations between the two countries can be improved by constructive policies.

Brzezinski said the important role of the Turkish Army in Turkish political life can't be found strange, but the coups in Latin American countries are different from military interventions seen in Turkey, because the Turkish army doesn't have the aim to overthrow the existing system and establish a military regime instead.

Responding to another question about American-Iran relations and the future of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, Brzezinski said that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is very important for diversifying the West's energy sources, adding that the US favours a stable Central Asia.

[05] TURKISH AND GREEK WOMEN'S DIALOGUE - A PEACE INITIATIVE NAMED ''WINPEACE'' DUE TO BE SET UP

It was pointed out, ''joint working committees will be set up for the educational, cultural and media services for the development of the women, the works of the Turkish and Greek women writers will be translated into the two languages and published in framework of the WINPEACE).''

Margaret Papandreu, the ex-wife of Andreas Papandreu, the former Prime Minister of Greece, said that the Turkish-Greek Women's Initiative was begun last year and the women of both countries want to find peaceful solutions for all disagreements.

Responding to a question concerning the offices of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, Papandreu said that these offices aren't legal, but such offices were opened not only in Greece, but in all of the European countries, stressing that she is opposed to such organizations.

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR TUNISIA

Isın Celebi, the Minister of State, Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transportation and Communications, Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture, Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism, businessmen, representatives from organizations and institutions and journalists will accompany Demirel during his visit to Tunisia.

Meanwhile the Tunisian students studying at the Bilkent University, presented a plaque to Demirel.

Adressing the journalists at the Esenboga Airport before his departure, Demirel said the friendship links between Tunisia and Turkey are very strong and his visit aims to consolidate the relations.

[07] WORLD FREEDOM OF PRESS DAY - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''OUR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE FREEDOM OF PRESS IS A PUBLIC FREEDOM''

Yilmaz issued a message for the World Freedom of Press Day and pointed out, ''the press is one of the indispensible elements of democracy and the only way for the active participation of the masses in public life. Many radios, televisions, newspapers and magazines which have different publication policies, give information to the public freely. I present my respects to the worthy members of the Turkish Press who work at providing accurate news.''

[08] THE TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ REQUESTS THE JAPANESE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TRUSTING IN TURKEY

Addressing the opening of the 11th Joint meeting of the Turkish-Japanese Business Council, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz stated, ''Turkey is resolved to implement stable economic policies.''

Yılmaz stressed that the share of the Japanese firms among the foreign capital institutions which invest in Turkey, is increasing every day.

Noting that Turkey is the most convenient country for Japan to cooperate with concerning the Japanese initiatives in the Caucasus and Central Asia, Yılmaz pointed out, ''the joint working visits of the Turkish and Japanese businessmen to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia were very productive. Turkey has a dynamic, strong and stable economy, which is able to solve any problems with which she is confronted.''

Stressing that Turkey is becoming a center of interest for foreign capital investments, Prime Minister Yılmaz stated, ''the exports of Turkey, which were 2.9 billion US dollars in 1980, have reached to 26 billion US dollars last year. During the same period, our imports increased from 7.9 billion US dollars to 46.7 billion US dollars. Today, the private sector constitutes the dynamic and pushing power of the Turkish economy and we are resolved to lift all the obstacles that stand in front of the development of the private sector in Turkey.''

Prime Minister Yılmaz added that the activities of the Turkish-Japanese Business Council will continue to contribute to improvement of the relations between the two countries, particularly in the field of the economy.

[09] EXPANSION OF THE KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT - RAILWAY LINE WILL EXTEND TO TRABZON

It is expected that the railway which will transport the current economic potential between Turkey, Georgia and the Turkish Republics, will be 620 kilometres long.

Describing the Kars-Tbilisi-Trabzon railway project as an ''integrated'' project, officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications told the A.A correspondent that a tender will be opened by the General Directorate of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) for the feasibility study for the new railway line after the tender for the 120 kilometre part of the Kars-Tbilisi line.

According to the tender programme of the TCDD, the Kars-Tbilisi railway line will be finished within 36 months. Officials said that the conclusion of the Kars-Trabzon part of the railway line will take 4 years.

The Tbilisi-Trabzon railway line, which will cost nearly 600 million US dollars, will be financed by foreign loans.

[10] ''MURAT OPERATION'' - SECURITY FORCES KILL 15 TERRORISTS IN THE MURAT OPERATION AND NINE OTHERS IN RURAL AREAS NEAR SIRNAK AND HAKKARI

The Emergency Regional Governor's Office said that the number of terrorists who were killed during these two operations has reached 125.

Officials said that the ''Murat Operation,'' which is being carried out in the southeastern provinces of Bingol, Mus, Bitlis and Diyarbakır, is underway and it is sometimes backed by aircraft and helicopters.

The number of terrorists killed during the Murat Operation since April 26 has reached 82, while 33 terrorists, who tried to leak out from Northern Iraq into Turkey, were killed in operations at the Cudi Mountain and the rural areas near Sırnak-Hakkari Provinces since May 1.

[11] TURKEY-SLOVENIA JEC MEETING

The Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade noted in its written statement that after the conclusion of the talks, the Turkey-Slovenia JEC first term meeting protocol and Free Trade Areas Agreements will be signed tomorrow by Kazim Yucelen, the Minister of State, and Marjan Senjur, the Minister of Economic Relations and Development of Slovenia.

The first joint meeting of the Turkish-Slovenian Business Council will be held in Istanbul on May 7.

Meanwhile the agreement for mutual encouragement and protection of investments and the agreement for prevention of double taxation have not been signed yet, but the measures to be taken for the signing of the agreements will be discussed at the meeting.

The Free Trade Areas Agreement which will be signed tomorrow, aims to accelerate the commercial relations which were nearly 65 million US dollars in 1997, and to create new commercial opportunities between Turkey and Slovenia.

[12] HOLBROOKE, THE US SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS: - ''THE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS AND CLERIDES KNOWS IT''

Addressing a press conference at the Ledra Palace in buffer zone before he left the island, Holbrooke described the solution of the Cyprus problem as ''very hard'', and noted that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)'s two conditions for starting the negotiations, are not ''realistic''.

Reminding that the United Nations decided not to recognize the TRNC previously, Holbrooke said that it would be unrealistic for the Greek Cypriot Administration to withdraw the full membership application to the European Union. He added that if the TRNC insists on these two conditions, then nothing can be done for the solution of the problem. Holbrooke stressed that he holds no one responsible for not receiving a positive result from the meetings.

Holbrooke pointed out that he couldn't make progress on the issue of the S- 300 missiles which will be deployed at the Greek Cypriot side.

Richard Holbrooke said that if the EU accepts starting negotiations with Turkey, then the Cyprus problem can be solved. He added that he can come to the island again on an invitation.

[13] SUSURLUK CASE - AGAR, THE FORMER MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AT THE STATE SECURITY COURT

Responding to the questions of journalists after the decision of the court, Mehmet Agar said that ''our trust in justice is eternal.''

Noting that his case will be heard before the Constitutional Court from now on, Agar stressed that ''there is justice, law and judiciary organs in Turkey and our belief in the Turkish state continues.''

The State Security Court referred the case of Mehmet Agar to the Constitutional Court under a rule that prevents lesser judicial bodies from trying former ministers alleged to have committed crimes during their time in office.

Agar, also a former police chief, resigned as Minister of the Interior in 1996 and later lost his parliamentary immunity along with Sedat Bucak amid public pressure to clear up a security scandal, namely Susurluk.

Meanwhile, the same court decided to refer the file of Sedat Bucak, a DYP deputy whose name was also mentioned in the Susurluk scandal, to the main Susurluk case, because there is legal and actual connection between the two cases.

[14] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES BY 6 PERCENT IN MARCH

The increase in the industrial production in March 1997 was 10.4 percent.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data shows that the highest production increase in March was in the mining sector with 17.2 percent.

The production increase in the electricity, gas and water sector in March was 10.7 percent and 4.7 percent in the manufacturing sector.

The industrial production in the first quarter of this year increased by 8.1 percent compared with the same period in 1997. The increase in the industrial production in the first quarter of 1997 was 4.8 percent.

In the first three months of 1998, the production in the mining sector increased by 19.4 percent, while it rose by 7.1 percent in the manufacturing sector and 10.1 percent in the electricity, gas and water sector.

[15] THE TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING ... - TARA, THE TURKISH- JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN: ''THE TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES DEVELOPS AGAINST TURKEY''

Addressing the Turkish-Japanese Business Council meeting, Tara said that the trade volume, which is 10 billion US dollars today, is expected to reach 25 billion US dollars within ten years.

Sarık Tara stressed that the number of Japanese tourists who visit Turkey should increase, adding that the Japanese investments in Turkey are only 800 million US dollars and this amount is very low.

Tara also asked Japanese investors to invest in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), noting that Turkish and Japanese businessmen can carry out joint investments in the Central Asian Turkish Republics.

Kazuhira Seki, the Chairman of Japanese-Turkish Economic Committee said, ''Japan is interested in countries having a shore with the Caspian Sea, because they have energy and natural resources. Turkey and Japan can carry out joint investments in these countries.''

''Investments of the Turkish businessmen in Japan can be another idea, just like investments of the Japanese investors in Turkey,'' Seki added.

Shoichiro Toyoda, the Chairman of KEIDANREN, a Japanese business institution responsible for foreign affairs said ''the economic developments seen in Turkey in the last years are really excellent and I really appreciate them, particularly in Istanbul and Ankara.''

[16] BOLAYIRLI, THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE THY: - ''OUR PASSENGER CAPACITY INCREASES 10 PERCENT ANNUALLY'' - ''OUR TARGET IS TO CARRY 11 MILLION PASSENGERS THIS YEAR''

Bolayirli told the A.A correspondent that they realized important changes in the THY fleet through the end of the previous year and that they would include 51 more airplanes in the fleet in 1999 or in 2000 at the latest.

Pointing out that they would start flights to Beijing and Shanghai in the Far East and to three spots in the US by including those planes in the THY fleet, Bolayirli said, ''we joined the Quality Group in March 1998. With this integration, we came to a such level that we can reach 294 spots in addition to our existing 66 routes.''

Bolayirli said that the Group had 401 airplanes and a capacity for 47.5 million passengers.

''Our goal for being a member in this Group is to secure our flights by increasing the level of quality. A total of 10.3 million passengers flew with the THY last year on the foreign and domestic lines. Our target for this year is to carry 11 million passengers. Our passenger capacity is increaseng by ten percent every year,'' Bolayirli said.

Bolayirli said that the endorsement was 1.3 billion US dollars last year and that their aim was to increase it to 1.5 billion US dollars this year.

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