Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-05-09

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

09 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA - TURKEY PROMISES TO EXTEND 20 MILLION DOLLAR EXIMBANK CREDIT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR

[02] PKK BUREAU IN ATHENS - GREEK AMBASSADOR SAYS THERE IS NO PKK REPRESENTATION IN ATHENS AND THAT THEY WILL NOT PERMIT IT

[03] ANKARA REPUBLICAN CHIEF PROSECUTORSHIP APPEALS AGAINST IMPRISONMENT TERMS GIVEN FOR OZER CILLER

[04] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN BERLIN

[05] BASESGIOGLU, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, RETURNS FROM ROMANIA

[06] DANGER IN THE BLACK SEA AND IN STRAITS

[07] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL SUPPORT TURKISH COMPANIES' ENTERING INTO ENERGY INVESTMENTS WITH THEIR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS''

[08] SPORTS MINISTERS OF COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SHORES TO THE BLACK SEA CONVENE

[09] RAID TO TURKISH TOURISM CONSULTANCY IN LONDON

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS TO ARAFAT ON THE PHONE

[11] FOUNDATION OF GAP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LAID

[12] DECISION WEEK FOR 17 IMMUNITY FILES

[13] ISRAEL'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA BAR NER PLANS TO INCREASE TURKISH- ISRAELI TRADE VOLUME TO TWO BILLION DOLLARS

[14] HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM - TURK, MINISTER OF STATE: ''WE PREPARE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO TURN TURKEY INTO AN EXAMPLE COUNTRY IN HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD''

[15] ECO MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING

[16] NAVAL SECURITY COMMITTEE TO START STUDIES IN LONDON ON MONDAY

[01] RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA - TURKEY PROMISES TO EXTEND 20 MILLION DOLLAR EXIMBANK CREDIT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR

Foreign Ministry statement said besides 20 million dollar Eximbank credit, a total of 15 million dollar ''risk insurance facility'' was given. Five million dollar of it will be short term and 10 million dollar will be medium term.

A total of 1.25 billion dollar aid was collected during the meeting from the participant countries.

[02] PKK BUREAU IN ATHENS - GREEK AMBASSADOR SAYS THERE IS NO PKK REPRESENTATION IN ATHENS AND THAT THEY WILL NOT PERMIT IT

Foreign Ministry statement said Nezeritis told them that there was no separatist terrorist PKK representation in Greece and that this will not be tolarated.

Foreign Ministry statement said in order to accept statements of Greece as satisfactory, this country should condemn separatist PKK as a terrorist organization and should close every organization related with the PKK.

The statement expressed hope that the assurance Greece gave about the PKK representation issue will be a start of necessary mentality change for a more harmonized struggle against separatist terrorism.

The statement said Greece should eliminate its negative attitude concerning the Muslim Turkish minority in Greece before it critized any other country on human rights

[03] ANKARA REPUBLICAN CHIEF PROSECUTORSHIP APPEALS AGAINST IMPRISONMENT TERMS GIVEN FOR OZER CILLER

Ankara Chief Prosecutorship objected the decision of the Criminal Court to sentence Ozer Ciller to five months imprisonment terms on charges of abusing his duty. The sentence was later turned to a fine.

Chief prosecutorship give a petition to the Ankara Criminal Court demanding to prevent legal time limit which is seven days. The Prosecutorship will prepare its reasons for the appeal during this time.

Meanwhile, Bulent Acar, lawyer of Ozer Ciller, also gave a similar petition to the court. Acar will also list appeal reasons in favor of Ciller during this time.

File of Ozer Ciller will be sent to the Court of Appeals together with Chief Prosecutorship's call for appeal against Ozer Ciller and the lawyer's call for appeal in favor of him.

[04] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN BERLIN

Speaking to reporters in Berlin Tegel Airport Korkmazcan said Turkish- German relations were taken up during the meeting which took place in Bonn with Burkhard Hirsch, Federal Parliament Speaker.

Korkmazcan said he told his German interlocutors that tension between the two countries were conjunctural and that Germany was in an election atmosphere which affect the developments to this end.

Korkmazcan said the German officials whom he met said they attributed importance to relations with Turkey, pointing out that ''Our contacts are carried out according to Turkish-German friendship.''

[05] BASESGIOGLU, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, RETURNS FROM ROMANIA

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on his return from Romania where he visited as the offical guest of his Romanian counterpart, Basesgioglu said details of an agreement foreseeing joint struggle against illegal formations like struggle against terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering were taken up.

Noting that as of their geographical locations, Turkey and Romania were on the position of transit countries on drug trafficking and illegal human smuggling Basesgioglu said there was a necessity to launch joint struggles on these issues. Basesgioglu said he exchanged views with Romanian officials regarding the measures that will be taken against the separatist terrorist organization.

Basesgioglu said all leading Romanian officials told him that PKK was a separatist terrorist organizations and that they will not tolarate any activity of the organization against Turkey including the propogandas on Romanian territory.

Basesgioglu noted that they had to cut the foreign links of the separatist terrorist organization which is about to melt in Turkey yet pointed out that several neighboring countries of Turkey continue to expend support to this terrorist organization despite all these.

Basesgioglu said Turkey prefers to solve its problems through peaceful means on negotiation table. ''Nobody will benefit from extending support to terrorism. We hope that they will give up this attitude which is a crime according to the international law'' he added.

[06] DANGER IN THE BLACK SEA AND IN STRAITS

Yuksel Ustun, Chairman of Peace with the Nature Association, speaking on behalf of Environmental Cocoon Initiative said it is inevitable that Turkey and regional countries will recive industrial, trade and social destruction in case of a diseaster that may happen in intense maritime traffic in water way.

Ustun mentioned the importance of a national and international power unity that may be established with the contribution of everybody and institution.

Ustun said national activities will be staged on June 7 and international activities will be staged between Jun 22 and 28 to attract the attentions to the dangers in the Black Sea and in the Straits.

[07] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL SUPPORT TURKISH COMPANIES' ENTERING INTO ENERGY INVESTMENTS WITH THEIR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS''

Ersumer held observations in Karkamis Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant before President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region.

Responding to the questions of reporters Ersumer said the government supported Turkish companies' entrance to energy investments with their international partners as it happened in Karkamis Dam. He also said that Deriner Dam was constructed with this system.

Ersumer said streams in Turkey will be turned to energy with these investments adding that they would expend efforts for the solution of problems that were met in ''Build-Operate-Transfer'' model.

[08] SPORTS MINISTERS OF COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SHORES TO THE BLACK SEA CONVENE

The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting realized in Istanbul with the participation of Sports Ministers of seven countries which have shores to the Black Sea namely Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Russian Federation.

During the meeting which is hosted by Yucel Seckiner, Minister of State Responsible for Turkish Youth and Sports, all the participants discussed and adopted each of the Articles of the Black Sea Sports Games draft status.

Seckiner said the Games will take place between May and September in the year 1999 and will last for 10 days.

Opening and closing ceremonies of the games will take place in Trabzon province.

[09] RAID TO TURKISH TOURISM CONSULTANCY IN LONDON

The terrorists took Nilgun Atalay, Tourism Attach&eacute;, and a group of officials as hostages in the Tourism Consultancy that is at the Picadilli Avenue.

The terrorists hanged banners on the windows of the building and chanted slogans. The police came to the spot acting on tip offs and surrounded the building.

The terrorists ended the occupation after talking to police. The terrorists were taken under custody.

Responding to the questions of A.A correspondent on the issue Atalay said the group of terrorists told them that they staged the activity to provide the release of people who were arrested during incidents which erupted on March 31 and to find the ones who were claimed to be missing after the incidents.

Atalay said there were seven women and four children among the terrorists.

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS TO ARAFAT ON THE PHONE

Presidential Press Center statement said during the telephone conversation Demirel reiterated the sensitivity of Turkish public towards the case of Palestinians and support to Arafat.

The statement said ''President Demirel expressed uneasiness over the deadlock of the Middle East peace process and that failure of the talks in London increased Turkey's concerns. Demirel attributed importance to the maintenance of talks and its resulting in a positive outcome.''

During the telephone conversation Demirel also told Arafat that he met Israel's Ambassador to Turkey and told him that Turkey attributed importance to the protection of legal rights of Palestinian people and to the success of peace process.

The statement said Demirel told Arafat that he told the Israeli Ambassador that his country should fulfill its committments and show a realistic approach as providing a just and lasting peace will create facilities for the installation of tranquility and calmness in the region. Demirel said Turkey wanted the sufferings of Palestinian people to end and wished Palestinia to take its justified place in the world.

Arafat in his part thanked to Demirel and Turkish people and expressed belief that this support will continue in the future.

[11] FOUNDATION OF GAP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LAID

Addressing a ceremony staged to lay the foundation of Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) International Airport Menzir said transportation and communication services are the most important indications showing the development level of a country.

Menzir said all necessary measures are taken to further improve these services and for the success of the government to this end. ''We make use of all facilities provided by new technologies within this context and we reached to modern services and systems in communication and transportation fields'' he added.

Noting that there will not be any exportation without investment, Menzir said ''it is impossible to increase exportation incomes without making infrastructure investments. The pre-condition of this is the construction of modern airports and therminal buildings.''

Sehabettin Harput, Governor of Sanliurfa, said Turkey's potential in agriculture, industry and tourism field will be further increased when GAP International Airport takes effect.

The installation, which will be at international standards, will be realized by the Turkish engineers and workers. GAP Airport will open new horizons to the Southeast.

The Airport is planned to be concluded within three years with an investment of six trillion Turkish Liras. It will have a six plane park and annnual capacity of two million passengers.

[12] DECISION WEEK FOR 17 IMMUNITY FILES

The sub-commission, which was established under the leadership of Ali Sahin, Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) deputy to Kahramanmaras, prepared a report related with these files, apart from the files of Tansu Ciller, True Path Party (DYP) leader, and Mehmet Agar, DYP Deputy to Elazig, and submitted the report to the joint commission.

Immunity files prepared against Ciller due to her criticisms forwarded to the Western Work Group and against Agar related with the giving of false weapon licence to Abdullah Catli will be negotiated in the sub-commission later on.

Joint Commission meeting which will take place under the leadership of Atila Sav this week, will take up the files which the sub-commission decided that there was no necessity to lift the immunities.

The files which the Joint Commission will decide to lift the immunities will later be discussed in Parliamentary General Assembly.

[13] ISRAEL'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA BAR NER PLANS TO INCREASE TURKISH- ISRAELI TRADE VOLUME TO TWO BILLION DOLLARS

Bar Ner who presented his letters of credence to Demirel staged a news conference to meet with the press. The Ambassador's post was vacant for eight months.

Addressing the meeting Bar Ner said he would be in an effort to improve economic relations between Israel and Turkey adding that he aimed at increasing last year's 650 million trade volume to two billion dollars. Bar Ner noted that Turkish-Israeli relations have been taken up in defense cooperation field adding that he wanted to provide cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, education and health.

Responding to the questions of reporters Bar Ner said Turkish-Israeli defense cooperation has been improved in the recent 3 or 4 years and pointed out that this agreement did not have any objectives forwarded to a third country. He said Turkey got defense equipment from Israel and Israel got information on education field. Bar Ner also said tourism links, which brought 400 million dollar incomes was as important as the defense field.

Bar Ner said defense agreement was important as a stability factor and a measure which prevents all aggressive thoughts pointing out that his agreement was distorted and exaggrated by various sides. Bar Ner said ''we cooperate with Turkey just to produce high technology together, only peaceful and trade outcomes of this is in question.''

Stressing that he did not identify Defense cooperation as ''strategic'', Bar Ner said this is not a cooperation similar to NATO.

Recalling that Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Tunusia, Morocco had similar agreements, Bar Ner said he could not understand why the agreement Israel signed with Turkey was criticized so much. Noting that several countries were in an effort to isolate Israel in the region, Bar Ner said relations established with Turkey further strengthened Israel.

Mentioning about the water problem in the region Bar Ner expressed belief that Turkey would assume a helping role on the issue. Bar Ner said a pipeline could be established to carry the water and that water issues would contribute to the peace in the region. Israeli Ambassador underlined that his country was not dependent of any country on water issue adding hat they were interested in the water in Turkey.

Responding to a question related with the Middle East peace process Bar Ner said the it did not stop and that it will continue.

Responding to statements that S-300 missies which Greek Cypriot side will get from Russia will threaten not only Turkey and also Israel, Bar Ner said ''we have very positive relations with Cyprus. We have perfect relations with Turkey. This problem is outside us.''

Bar Ner said they expended full support to Turkey's full membership to European Union (EU) yet also said they supported Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline politically.

Uri Bar Nar, who arrived in Turkey ten days ago, spent most of his 35-year diplomatic career in the US and has very positive relations with the US.

It is reported that the target of Bar Nar is to increase cultural, economic, industrial and trade relations and to increase the Turkish-Israeli volume of trade to one billion US dollars as of the end of this year. Last year the Turkish-Israeli volume of trade was 650 million US dollars.

Ehud Toledano was earlier appointed as the Israeli Ambassador to Turkey, but the Foreign Ministry didn't give accreditation to Toledano, who was a university professor, due to his speech which he made earlier claiming that the Turks had comitted the Armenian genocide.

[14] HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM - TURK, MINISTER OF STATE: ''WE PREPARE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO TURN TURKEY INTO AN EXAMPLE COUNTRY IN HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD''

Addressing the opening ceremony of a ''Human Right Symposium'' staged by Turkish Democracy Foundation and the UN Development Turkey Representation due to the 50th anniversary of the issuing of the UN Human Rights Charter, Turk said new changes happen in Turkey in human rights field everyday. Noting that human rights problems could only be solved through international cooperation, Turk said required economic and social conditions should be provided to this end.

Turk said basic rights and freedoms were taken under guarantee in Turkey under Constitution adding that human rights is a problem that could not be violated.

Meanwhile, Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) briefed about the historical development of human rights adding that the state should assume a positive responsibility on human rights issue.

Baykal said the problem of refugees was one of the violations of today and pointed out that this is a legal problem stemming from the choices of states and governments.

Baykal said another reason of human rights problem was the inability to distribute economic, social and cultural development facilities equally.

[15] ECO MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING

Ahat Andican, Minister of State, said an agreement that will be signed after the meeting regarding transit transportation which will lift a very big obstacle for the Turkish transporters.

Andican represents Turkey during the meeting which is attended by ministers or deputy ministers of 10 ECO member countries.

Transportation between member countries, communication, trade, energy, agriculture, science, culture, environment, health, struggle against organized crime and drug trafficking and establishment of Trans-Asia-Europe fibre optical line top the agenda of the meeting.

Andican stressed that ECO was an organization covering 250 million population and a very large geography from 10 countries. Andican said ''basic principle of the organization is the organization model focused on improvement of transportation, communication, trade and energy sources.''

[16] NAVAL SECURITY COMMITTEE TO START STUDIES IN LONDON ON MONDAY

Turkey participates in the studies of the Committee with a crowded team including Omer Kilic, Acting Maritime Undersecretary and experts group.

The developments which made the committee meeting important for Turkey started with the opposition of several countries to the traffic signs which Turkey made member countries confirm during IMO General Assembly in 1995.

Russia, in September in 1996, proposed IMO to establish an international Commission to observe the situation in Turkish Straits. Turkey evaluated this paper as a text prepared with ''political considerations'' and stressed that it will not share its right to speak on Straits. This arguement was reflected to the 20th IMO General Assembly which took place in London in the past months.

As Russia was in an effort to make its report to be ratified, Turkey defended that the report in question included several economic considerations as well as the political ones. Russia, getting the support of Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Greek Cypriot Side, presented its report to the ratification. Yet, Turkey said the report failed to include Turkey's views and contributions and far away from reflecting the situation in the Straits.

Turkey called on the report not to be ratified and proposed cooperation to IMO to overcome the slowness in traffic flow in the Straits by increasing technical measures.

Turkey also said Russia's insistency was forwarded to the increasing of the chance of Novorrossyk on the issue of transportation of Caucasus and Caspian oil. Turkey also said Russia's initiatives would mean opening Montreux to arguement.

Turkey, on Monday, will present the measures it prepared to speed up the traffic in the Straits.

Another aim of Turkey during the committee meetings would be to prevent the report prepared by Russia to be presented to the committee's ratification.

Turkey will also mention about the negative aspects of the report that may be created on bilateral relations.

The committe, having 155 members, will conclude studies on May 20.

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