Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-05-14

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

14 MAY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] LEQUERTIER, THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL

[02] ECONOMY SUMMIT OF THE TURKISH STATES - CHIBBER, WORLD BANK DIRECTOR TO TURKEY: - ''TURKEY IS PERCEIVED AS A DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC CENTER OF POWER IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE''

[03] CLINTON, THE US PRESIDENT: ''THE EU ENLARGEMENT PROCESS SHOULD EMBRACE TURKEY''

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BULGARIA

[05] INVESTMENT INCENTIVES FOR 27 MORE PROVINCES - PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION APPROVES LAW PROPOSAL INCREASING NUMBER OF PROVINCES FROM 22 TO 49 WHERE INVESTMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED

[06] THE US ADMINISTRATION: ''WE LAUNCH CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TURKISH-EU RELATIONS''

[07] EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS FROM THE US - THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INCREASES LOAN-GUARANTEE FOR THE US AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD TO TURKEY

[08] OGUZHAN ASILTURK, INDEPENDENT DEPUTY FROM MALATYA PROVINCE, JOINS THE FP

[09] THE IS BANK SHARES DELIVERED

[10] QUARTERLY BALANCE SHEETS OF BANKS

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[13] ARMED ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION - BIRDAL IS RECOVERING - 10 SEPARATE FINGERPRINTS ARE INVESTIGATED

[14] GULER, THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY: ''THE A.A IS NOT A STATE INSTITUTION''

[15] THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT - TURKISH, AZERBAIJANI AND GEORGIAN DELEGATIONS CONVENE IN ISTANBUL TO FIX THE SCHEDULE FOR CONSTRUCTION

[16] TORTURE ACCUSATION ABOUT 15 POLICE OFFICERS

[17] BOMB ATTACK ON KUSTEPE POLICE STATION - NO INJURIES

[18] KOSOVO ISSUE - ANKARA PLEASED WITH THE OPENING OF THE DOOR FOR DIALOGUE - ''THE TURKISH MINORITY SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIALOGUE''

[19] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' - DEMIREL URGES ARAB COUNTRIES NOT TO PERMIT THEMSELVES TO BE MISLED BY WRONG INFORMATION AND PROVOCATIONS

[20] VURAL, THE TURKISH REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN: ''THE PARAMETERS CHANGED ON CYPRUS''

[21] AGCA, THE ASSAILANT IN THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST THE POPE: ''I WOULD LIKE TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE VATICAN WHEN I AM FREE'' - ''I DON'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE EXTREME RIGHTIST GROUPS IN TURKEY ANYMORE''

[22] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' (2) - DEMIREL: ''EVEN THE EXCESS OF THE WATER THAT TURKEY WILL USE IN 30-40 YEARS WILL WASH ALL OF SYRIA 10 TIMES''

[23] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MAY 14, 1998

[24] IMPORTANT NAMES IN EXPORTS - UNDERSECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE GIVES 32 COMPANIES THE STATUS OF FOREIGN TRADE CAPITAL COMPANY - 32 COMPANIES MAKE TOTAL EXPORTS OF 5.3 BILLION US DOLLARS IN 1997

[25] UAE DELEGATION CONTACTS IN TURKEY - EL QASSIMI, MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND TRADE, VISITS TOURISM MINISTER GURDAL

[26] REPAYMENTS OF THE FOREIGN DEBTS

[27] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS ARE SENSITIVE DUE TO THE ISLETS AND ROCK ISLANDS IN THE AEGEAN''

[28] BLACK SEA OLYMPIC GAMES - PREPARATIONS TO BE CONCLUDED FOR THE GAMES

[29] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: - ''DEPLOYMENT OF THE S-300 MIISLES ON CYPRUS WOULD BE CRAZY''

[30] GENERAL KARADAYI'S VISIT TO RUSSIA

[01] LEQUERTIER, THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL

Sending a letter to Akın Birdal, Lequertier hoped that Birdal would recover soon and the assailants would be captured and legally punished as soon as possible.

Lequertier added that Birdal is a privileged member of the Turkish civilian society from the viewpoint of foreigners.

[02] ECONOMY SUMMIT OF THE TURKISH STATES - CHIBBER, WORLD BANK DIRECTOR TO TURKEY: - ''TURKEY IS PERCEIVED AS A DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC CENTER OF POWER IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE''

Addressing Wednesday's second session of the First Economy Summit of the Turkish States, Chibber recalled that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan became fully independent after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Pointing out that the Turkish Republics in Central Asia have rich natural resources, Chibber said that the economic potential of this rich heritage should be implemented.

Noting that Turkey was playing a considerable role in providing cooperation among the Eastern European and Central Asian economies and became an important regional center in the developing world, Chibber said that the Turkish economy gave a powerful response with the reforms realized since 1980.

Supporting that the Turkish economy showed a performance lower than its potential, Chibber said that the government should provide a permanent financial accord and it should decrease the interest rates and inflation which are preventing the growth in employment.

Chibber said that Turkey should show more interest in the social issues that increase the social tension and limit the advantages and prevent the economic growth, adding that the World Bank Group was ready to cooperate for the development of Turkey.

The Summit will end with a closing session on May 15.

[03] CLINTON, THE US PRESIDENT: ''THE EU ENLARGEMENT PROCESS SHOULD EMBRACE TURKEY''

Addressing the State Ceremony held for him, Clinton stated that ''we must build a Europe like Germany herself, whole and free.'' Noting that the German people launched great efforts to realize the ''dream of unity,'' Clinton said that Germany also made many sacrifices to this end.

Requesting all the countries to adjust themselves to the changing conditions of today, Clinton praised Chancellor Helmut Kohl for his vision and his contributions to the unification of Europe.

Pointing out that the US helps in the establishment of peace from Bosnia to Northern Ireland, Clinton asked all nations to complete the tasks they have started.

''Shoulder to shoulder with you in the next century,'' said Clinton, adding ''we will continue to encourage your steps to enlarge the EU as well, eventually to embrace all of Central Europe and Turkey.''

Stressing that democracies should be strengthened and expanded into a larger area, Clinton said that the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has a crucial role on this subject.

Bill Clinton said that efforts will be launched to decrease weapons in the world by holding contacts with Russia, with which the US wishes to improve her relations.

''We have to struggle together against dangers like organized crime and terrorism. Europe and the US should work together regarding the reconstruction of the world,'' Clinton added.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BULGARIA

The relations between Turkey and Bulgaria and recent developments in the region were discussed during the meetings.

After meeting with the members of the Bulgarian Parliamentary Commissions of Foreign Policy, European Integration and National Security, Ismail Cem also held contacts with the Presidential Council of the Bulgarian Parliamentary Turkish-Bulgarian Friendship Group.

Asen Agov, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Policy, said after his meeting with Cem that Cem extended support to make the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv the headquarters of the common peace force, which is planned to be set up in the Balkans. Noting that Bulgaria is against all kinds of terrorism, Agov added, ''we will never permit terrorist organizations to act in our country.''

After the signature of the Cooperation Protocol between the Turkish and Bulgarian Foreign Ministries, Cem will hold a joint press briefing on Thursday with Nadejda Mihailova, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.

Later, Cem will proceed to Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

[05] INVESTMENT INCENTIVES FOR 27 MORE PROVINCES - PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION APPROVES LAW PROPOSAL INCREASING NUMBER OF PROVINCES FROM 22 TO 49 WHERE INVESTMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED

The Commission approved the law proposal, which unites 32 law proposals into one document, foreseeing the increase in the number of provinces where investments are encouraged in one document and presented to the Commission by Refik Aras, the Istanbul Deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and by Aydin Tumen, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy from Ankara.

The approved proposal extends the scope of the law, which was legalized by the Parliament in January, to encourage the investments and create employment in the Emergency Region and in the regions having development priority, adding 27 more provinces.

In accordance with the approved proposal, a 40-60 percent exemption will be implemented on the income and corporate taxes of the newly established enterprises between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 in the Provinces of Aksaray, Bartin, Cankiri, Erzincan, Giresun, Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Kirsehir, Malatya, Sinop, Sivas and Tokat.

The exemption on the income and corporate taxes for the enterprises in the Provinces of Amasya, Artvin, Corum, Elazig, Karaman, Kastamonu, Kilis, Kirikkale, Nevsehir, Nigde, Osmaniye, Rize, Samsun, Trabzon and Zonguldak will be 20-30 percent.

The investments in the provinces and the loans for these investments will be exempted from taxes, charges and fees.

[06] THE US ADMINISTRATION: ''WE LAUNCH CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TURKISH-EU RELATIONS''

Responding to the questions of journalists about the visit of the Greek delegation to the US, Rubin said that the statement of Costas Skandalidis, the Secretary General of the Greek political party PASOK, who said that Greece doesn't oppose the membership of Turkey in the EU, is ''pleasing.''

''We have been saying for a long time that the place of Turkey is in Europe. Constructive Turkish-EU relations is beneficial for the strategical interests of the US, EU and Turkey,'' he said.

The same day, Rubin once again condemned the attack against Akın Birdal, the Chairman of the Human Rights Association.

[07] EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS FROM THE US - THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INCREASES LOAN-GUARANTEE FOR THE US AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD TO TURKEY

The Information Service of the US Embassy in Ankara said in a written statement that the US Department of Agriculture gave a loan-guarantee for the debts from 90 days to three years in the exports of American agricultural goods to Turkey such as cereals, high-protein foodstuffs, cotton and wool.

The statement said that the Turkish importers used more than 240 million US dollars of the loan within the scope of the GSM-102 loan-guarantee programme in the 1998 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, it said that a loan-guarantee of 40 million US dollars, which was provided by the US Department of Agriculture for the 1998 fiscal year within the framework of the ''GSM-103'' programme, was continuing.

Pointing out that a three to seven-year term loan-guarantee was given with this programme and only the live breeding cattle and poultry breeding animals were put into the scope of the programme, the statement said that the GSM-103 programme wasn't being implemented within the framework of Turkey's law on the banning of the imports of livestock.

[08] OGUZHAN ASILTURK, INDEPENDENT DEPUTY FROM MALATYA PROVINCE, JOINS THE FP

Asilturk will present the petition to the Parliament on Thursday.

The most recent distribution of seats in the Parliament is as follows:

FP (Virtue Party)................: 143

ANAP(Motherland Party)............: 140

DYP (True Path Party).............: 92

DSP (Democratic Left Party).......: 62

CHP (Republican People's Party)...: 56

DTP (Democrat Turkey Party).......: 22

BBP (Grand Unity Party)...........: 8

MHP (Nationalist Movement Party)..: 2

DP (Democratic Party)............: 1

DEPAR (Changing Turkey Party).....: 1

INDEPENDENT.......................: 14
VACANT............................: 9

[09] THE IS BANK SHARES DELIVERED

A total of 95 thousand people became shareholders of the Is Bank while the requests of 14 thousand people couldn't be met as they didn't make a pre- registration or made a change in their requests in the final registration.

Meanwhile, a total of more than 140 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) of income was provided from the sale of 12.3 percent of the public shares in the Is Bank.

The Privatization Administration Board said that nearly 14 trillion TL was given back to the investors as being ''unmet demands and deduction rates''.

It said that only a 400 million US dollar portion of the foreign request of 1.5 billion US dollars was met.

[10] QUARTERLY BALANCE SHEETS OF BANKS

The Is Bank, Garanti Bank, Yapi-Kredi Bank, Tekstilbank, TSKB (Turkish Industrial Development Bank) and Sekerbank announced that they had a total of 77.8 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) in net profits, while the Turkish Development Bank said it had a loss of 1.3 trillion TL.

The Is Bank had the highest profits with 31.6 trillion TL, while the Yapi- Kredi Bank, which increased its profits from 8 trillion TL to 21.5 trillion TL, became the first bank in the category of profit-increase.

The profits/losses that these seven banks announced in their quarterly balance sheets and the changes are as follows:

(Million TL) CHANGE

NAME OF BANKS Dec 31, 1998 Dec 31, 1997 (percent) ----------- ---------- --- ---

Is Bank 31,612,586 16,400,149 92.76

Garanti Bank 22,244,224 11,668,860 90.63

Yapi-Kredi Bank 21,490,139 8,003,872 168.50

Tekstilbank 2,092,888 1,017,760 105.64

TSKB 1,530,107 844,355 81.22
Sekerbank 214,981 738,000 -70.87

T.Development Bank -1,356,627 97,372 -1493.24

TOTAL 77,828,298 38,770,368 100.74

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

7,000 EURASIAN ENTREPRENEURS
President Suleyman Demirel, who attended the First Economic Summit of the Turkish States held in Istanbul yesterday, said that the Central Asian Republics were trying to develop by using their own enormous natural resources. Demirel noted that Turkey was a key country in the region. He also recalled that 7,000 Turkish businessmen had achieved a trade volume worth 7 billion US dollars in the region and that Turkey had extended credits worth 1 billion US dollars to these countries.

Noting that Turkey should form a ''Eurasian strategy'', Ahat Andican, the Minister of State said that such a strategy would open the way for the private sector. Andican, who also participated in the Summit, stated that 7, 000 entrepreneurs, who could be called ''Eurasian Turks'', were making investments in these countries. He added that Turkey would play an important role in the transfer of capital, in energy distribution and technological investments in these countries.

Meanwhile, Ajay Chibber, the World Bank Director for Turkey, said that the Turkish economy was the most dynamic economy in the Eastern Mediterranean and that with an average growth rate of five percent, Turkey had a strong position in exports. Chibber noted that Turkey played a significant role in the development of economic cooperation among the economies of the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia. /Hurriyet-Sabah/

DEMIREL: ''ECONOMIC BORDERS BEING LIFTED''
The 23rd Economists' Week organized by the Istanbul University, Faculty of Economy started yesterday. Delivering an opening speech, President Suleyman Demirel said that people were living in a world where economic borders were being lifted. Demirel added: ''The Turkish economy will receive its share from these developments''. /Hurriyet/

ISMAIL CEM IN BULGARIA
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister has begun his mini-Balkan tour to Bulgaria and Romania. During the first day of his two-day visit to Bulgaria, Cem met yesterday with his Bulgarian counterpart Nadezhda Mihaylov. Bilateral relations, Bulgaria's NATO membership, bilateral investments, security in the Balkans, the Kosovo issue, and a NATO-framework peacekeeping force were the top issues on the agenda of the two ministers.

Later in the day, Cem met with members of the Bulgarian Parliamentary Commission on Foreign and Integration Policies, and with Bulgaria's National Security Council. He then opened an exhibition on Ataturk at the Bulgarian National Library. /All papers/

IMF TO DISCUSS TURKEY IN JULY
An IMF delegation headed by Martin Hardy, the Chairman of the Turkey Desk, which has been holding contacts for two weeks, left Ankara yesterday. Two separate reports to be prepared by the delegation will be presented to the IMF Executive Board in the second half of July. A report on ''Recent Economic Developments'' will explain developments in the Turkish economy. The second report, an ''Experts' Report'', will include policies and suggestions about future projects. /Hurriyet/

''TURKEY IS IMPORTANT''
Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, said in a conference on the Middle East that the Turkish-American relations were very important for them. She recalled that during the last meeting with her Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, they had stressed the importance of these relations. Regarding the Cyprus issue, Albright said that they were in favor of a bi-communal federation on the island. /Sabah/

GREEK CYPRIOTS TO PURCHASE 18 S-300 MISSILES
It is reported that the Greek Cypriots are going ahead with the purchase of 18 S-300 missiles from Russia. Yannos Kranityotis, the Undersecretary of the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday to the Simerini newspaper published in Greek Cyprus that the number of S-300 missiles that will be deployed in Greek Cyprus will be 18 and he als claimed that these missiles weren't a threat to Turkey. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
The US government's Trade and Development Agency is organizing an energy conference in Istanbul between May 27-29, aimed at introducing to the regional countries involved the American companies interested in projects worth 20 billion US dollars in the Black Sea, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Representatives of 13 countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkmenistan and the Ukraine will participate at the conference which will be hosted by the Turkish government. /Milliyet/

TURKEY, GEORGIA HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES
The first Turkish-Georgian joint sea manoeuvres, planned during the Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi's visit to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi last month, have been staged in the Black Sea. The exercises were Turkey's first joint military manoeuvres with a former Soviet Republic country. /Milliyet/

ASILTURK JOINS THE FP
Oguzhan Asilturk, the Malatya Independent Deputy, joined the Virtue Party (FP) yesterday. Thus the number of FP seats in the Turkish Parliament reached 143. /Hurriyet/

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

MILLER TO VISIT CYPRUS AT THE END OF MAY
Thomas Miller, the US Coordinator to Cyprus, will visit Cyprus again at the end of this month. It is expected that high-level meetings between the representatives of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island will be held in June. /Sabah/

BIRDAL IS RECOVERING
Akin Birdal, the Chairman of the Human Rights Association (IHD), who was shot and taken to hospital on Tuesday, is recovering. Meanwhile, a draft decision regarding Turkey prepared by political groups in the European Parliament has been put on the agenda of an ''urgent issues'' session of the European Bureau of the Assembly. Daniel Lequertier, the French Ambassador to Turkey, has described the attack on Birdal as ''treacherous''. /Sabah/

''INCLUDE TURKEY IN THE EU''
Bill Clinton, the US President, who went yesterday to Germany for an official visit, asked the European Union (EU) to take Turkey into the EU. Clinton said that the EU should evaluate Turkey's membership application according to the standards applied to the other Central European countries. /Cumhuriyet/

OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST
Four more PKK members were killed during security operations being conducted in the Tanin region of Sirnak Province. Ten PKK members were also captured in the Bismil, Hazro, and Kulp Counties of Diyarbakir Province and Nusaybin County of Mardin Peovince. According to military sources, operations will continue in the region. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH-GREEK JOURNALISTS IN PARIS
Turkish and Greek journalists met between 12-13 May in Paris. The meeting was organized by UNESCO, which announced 2000 as the ''year of peace''. Bilateral problems in the media, professional ethics and principles, the foreign policies of the Turkish and Greek governments and the PKK terror organization were some of the topics discussed during the meeting. A final communique prepared by senior UNESCO officials was issued at the end of the meeting, declaring that dialogue between Turkish and Greek journalists would be sustained and that the UNESCO would create the necessary opportunities for these meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY DENOUNCES INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS
Turkey has denounced the recent nuclear tests conducted by India. Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said on Wednesday, ''as a country which was one of the first to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Turkey views the recent nuclear tests conducted by India as a worrisome development.'' /All papers/

[13] ARMED ATTACK AGAINST BIRDAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION - BIRDAL IS RECOVERING - 10 SEPARATE FINGERPRINTS ARE INVESTIGATED

Dr. Tevfik Ali Kucukbas, the Chief Surgeon of the Sevgi Hospital told journalists that Birdal is recovering, he started to have pur&eacute;ed food and he can talk to people.

''In respect to the vital risk, he is getting better. If his health improves within one-two days, we will take him out of the Intensive Care unit to a regular unit,'' adding that his brain is functioning well.

Meanwhile the investigation of the armed attack against Akın Birdal continues. No conclusion has been made yet concerning the fingerprints and bullet cartridges that were found in the room where Birdal was shot.

Ten separate fingerprints were found during the investigation carried out after the attack at the Human Rights Association building. These fingerprints were compared with the fingerprints registered at the police.

Noting that the comparison hasn't ended, the police officers said that the fingerprints found in the room don't match with the ones registered at the police, adding that the examinations at still continuing.

Police completed the ballistics examination of the empty cartridges found in the room, which belonged to two separate guns.

Officals said that the guns used in the attack weren't used in another crime.

The butts of cigarettes which were found in the room are also being examined.

Meanwhile, Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister said that ''Birdal could have been shot by several people who are supported by foreign sources. One of the assailants has almost been determined.''

Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior said, ''the atmosphere of peace in Turkey made some people uneasy,'' adding that no organization has declared responsibility for the attack.

Demonstrations held all over Turkey to protest the attack against Birdal continue. Police took 10 people into custody, who held an illegal demonstration to protest the incident in Ceyhan County of Adana Province.

Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, visited Birdal in his room at the hospital.

[14] GULER, THE GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY: ''THE A.A IS NOT A STATE INSTITUTION''

Addressing a panel at the Gazi University, Guler stated that the A.A. was established by Ataturk three years before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey, adding that the A.A. has an indispensable place in Turkey with its 20 offices in Turkey, 13 offices abroad and 400 employees.

Noting that the agency aims to transmit news in a rapid and objective way, Guler said that the Turkish media can't broadcast or publish news without the A.A. ''The media takes the photographs, the news and the information from the A.A.,'' said Guler, adding that the A.A. won't give any concessions from its perception of correct, objective and rapid journalism.

[15] THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT - TURKISH, AZERBAIJANI AND GEORGIAN DELEGATIONS CONVENE IN ISTANBUL TO FIX THE SCHEDULE FOR CONSTRUCTION

The delegations started negotiations on Wednesday and will hold a press conference at the end of the meetings on Friday.

The preparations for the pipeline, which will pass via Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, will be concluded in the coming days with an agreement stating an intergovernmental common view among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia for the implementation of the project.

The framework of the agreement will be determined and the document of the agreement will be set up at the meetings in Istanbul.

The Azerbaijani delegation is led by Abid Sherifov, the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, and the Georgian delegation is led by Giorgi Chanturia, the Chairman of the Georgian National Oil Company.

The Baku-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline Project will cost 2.5 billion US dollars, except for the financing expenditures and the crude oil, according to the feasibility studies of the German PLE company.

The pipeline will start from the Sangachal Terminal Station near Baku, Azerbaijan, and will end in Ceyhan via Georgia and following the Erzurum- Erzincan-Kayseri route.

The total length of the pipeline is planned to be 1,730 km. A total of 468 km of the pipeline will be in Azerbaijani territories; 225 km in Georgia and 1,037 km will be in Turkish territories.

The capacity of the pipeline was foreseen to be 45 million tonnes per annum, but this amount can be increased to 50 million tonnes. Besides, the project studies for increasing the annual capacity to 60 million tonnes are continuing.

[16] TORTURE ACCUSATION ABOUT 15 POLICE OFFICERS

The members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission made examinations in the Sanlıurfa prisons on March 28. Suphi Dildas, one of the prisoners told the commission members that he was tortured at Sanlıurfa Police Station before being arrested.

The doctor in the delegation examined Suphi Dildas and later photographs were taken of his body, which was badly hurt.

Noting that five-six officers tortured him, Dildas said that he could remember these officers if he sees them.

The indictment calls for imprisonment of the police officers for up to five years and dismissing them under Article 243/1 of Turkish Penal Code.

[17] BOMB ATTACK ON KUSTEPE POLICE STATION - NO INJURIES

The bomb exploded at a distance of 20 meters from the station, breaking the windows of the station.

Officials said that there were no casualties or injuries.

The experts found a second bomb before it exploded and rendered it ineffective.

Officials said the investigation is underway.

[18] KOSOVO ISSUE - ANKARA PLEASED WITH THE OPENING OF THE DOOR FOR DIALOGUE - ''THE TURKISH MINORITY SHOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIALOGUE''

The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that Turkey had supported since the beginning, that the bloodshed in Kosovo should stop and a peaceful solution should be found, stressing that the representatives from the Turkish minority should also participate in the meetings which would continue in Pristina after the meeting in Belgrade.

''Turkey hopes this dialogue process will reach a positive result in a short time. Turkey believes this dialogue process will contribute to the peace and stability in the region,'' the statement said.

Richard Holbrooke and Robert Gelbard, the US Representatives, stated on Wednesday that Slobodan Milosevic, the President of Yugoslavia, and Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of the Albanians living in Kosovo, accepted to hold a meeting in Belgrade.

It was reported that the delegations from the two sides would hold at least one meeting once a week after the meeting between Milosevic and Rugova.

[19] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' - DEMIREL URGES ARAB COUNTRIES NOT TO PERMIT THEMSELVES TO BE MISLED BY WRONG INFORMATION AND PROVOCATIONS

At a conference on ''the World and Turkey in May 1998'', Demirel briefed about his meeting with Tunisian President.

Stating that Tunisian President said he knew Turkey's power and problems, Demirel said, ''but whenever we meet in the Arab League, we hear speeches against Turkey. What will Turkey do in Iraq? Will Turkey cut off the water flowing to Syria? What does Turkey want to do by cooperating with Israel? We all hear these, and these cause resentment against Turkey. And I told him (the Tunisian President) that we briefed about all of these issues to the leaders of the aforementioned countries, and they all found us to be right. We asked the leaders of the Arab League not to permit themselves to be misled by the misuse of Arab solidarity with wrong information and provocations. Then it will be unjust. Listen to the story from our side as well!''

''I asked (What is the position of Turkey in Northern Iraq? Do you really believe that Turkey will occupy and annex Northern Iraq?) (They try to mean that), he (the Tunisian President) replied. Well, then! Do they also tell you that 10 thousand people were killed in Turkey? (No), he said. Five thousand soldiers, and five thousand civilians were killed. These were the soldiers and people of Turkey. These were Muslims. If the ones who tell you all that stuff are Muslims, then they should also tell you that these Muslims were also killed by terrorists.''

''In the meeting in Teheran, I told the representatives of 56 countries, 'look, these things also happen here, and you don't even mention it, but then you come and complain about us. What am I going to do? Congradulate the ones who killed my people and my soldiers and offer them flowers?'''

Demirel also stressed that Turkey didn't create the crisis in Northern Iraq, but she suffered from this crisis.

Stating that Northern Iraq is still being used as a base by the terrorists, Demirel said, ''if there is an Iraqi authority in Northern Iraq, then our interlocutors should be them. But there is no authority. When there is no authority, the terrorists infiltrate Turkey from this region, and kill the soldiers waiting at the border. We entered into Northern Iraq 8-10 times. If we really had the thought of occupying Northern Iraq, we wouldn't withdraw from Iraq.''

''My view is this. There is a problem of the Mosul Province. The Mosul Province was within the borders of the National Pact of 1920. The Lausanne Treaty didn't give Mosul Province to Iraq. It left it to a referendum. It was very clear what happened in the referendum. What happened to Turkey was that when those who wanted to stir Turkey's domestic affairs put Turkey in a difficult position during the Sheikh Said rebellion, the issue was taken to the other side. The question is not Turkey's entrance into that region, but is that there is such an anxiety in the minds. This is a problem coming from history and our geography,'' he said.

[20] VURAL, THE TURKISH REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN: ''THE PARAMETERS CHANGED ON CYPRUS''

Holding a press briefing, Vural stated that the UN and UN Security Council have a spiritual responsibility to prevent the occurrence of any negative development on Cyprus, adding that the S-300 missiles have the effect of disturbing the balance on the island.

Noting that the Cyprus question is more difficult than the Bosnian problem, Vural pointed out that the internal and external balances on the island are very important. The internal balance means the balance between the two communities on the island and the external balance means the balance between Turkey and Greece.

Stressing that the EU upset these balances on the island by commencing full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, Vural said ''the external balance has been upset and the parameters have changed. The internal balances were affected by that.''

Responding to the questions of journalists about the developments in Kosovo, Vural said, ''if the Kosovo problem isn't solved, all the regional countries will be affected by this crisis. Turkey is concerned about a possible migration flow from Albania to Turkey if the crisis spreads.''

Noting that the First World War erupted in the Balkans, Vural said that Turkey thinks the Kosovo problem can only be solved if the national borders are maintained and if maximum autonomy is provided for Kosovonian people.

Responding to a question about the situation in Iraq, Vural said, ''Iraq has to abide by the UN Resolutions and she should be rewarded when she abides by them.''

[21] AGCA, THE ASSAILANT IN THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST THE POPE: ''I WOULD LIKE TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE VATICAN WHEN I AM FREE'' - ''I DON'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE EXTREME RIGHTIST GROUPS IN TURKEY ANYMORE''

Responding in prison to the written questions of journalists, Mehmet Ali Agca said that his past is full of lies, his future isn't known, but he wishes to be free.

''I wounded the Pope, I didn't kill him. Those who kill people are free, but I'm not, although the Pope forgave me. I think no other prisoner in Turkey has suffered like me here for 17 years. Being a citizen of the Vatican is a great privilege in the world. I would like to be an honourary envoy of Turkey to the Vatican,'' said Agca, adding that he wants to hug the Pope in front of the whole world, when he is free.

Responding to another question about his connection with the extreme rightist groups in Turkey, Agca said he doesn't have any connection with them any more.

[22] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' (2) - DEMIREL: ''EVEN THE EXCESS OF THE WATER THAT TURKEY WILL USE IN 30-40 YEARS WILL WASH ALL OF SYRIA 10 TIMES''

Demirel said at a conference on ''the World and Turkey in May 1998'' that those who set forth the accusations that Turkey may cut off the water flowing to Syria have no idea about the facts.

Stating that Damascus demands half of the water flowing from Turkey to Syria, Demirel said that even the excess of the water that Turkey will use in 30-40 years will wash all of Syria 10 times.

Demirel said that ''you ask Turkey if she is going to cut off the water flowing to Syria, and I ask if one garden, one tree in Syria is dried up.'' ''We ask Syria and Iraq how much soil do you have, and how much water do you need. But Syria says I want half of this water. We say we won't let your gardens be dried up. Just tell us how much water you need, and we will allocate that amount. But she says no. She wants rights over water. Then I ask, what is your share of the snow in the Palandoken Mountains. The water you want is this. The soil isn't yours, the water isn't yours. Nobody can give his resources which may be necessary tomorrow.''

''But then there comes the understanding, if you don't give me water, then I will make the bandits kill your citizens. Does this comply with civilization and humanity? Does this comply with Islam?''

Demirel also said that he asked Tunisia, Algiers, and Morocco, and the UAE if they are harmed by the relations between Turkey and Israel, and the answer was 'no.'

Stating that Turkey's relations with Israel aren't better than the relations with Egypt, Palestine, and Jordan, and many other Arab countries, Demirel said that Turkey signed military training agreements with 28 countries, including 9 Arab countries, and a cooperation agreement on the defence industry with 18 countries, including 4 Arab countries, not only with Israel. Demirel stressed that nobody was harmed by these agreements.

Demirel also said that the Iranian President also told him in a meeting in Germany that they were disturbed by the relations between Turkey and Iran. ''Then I ask them why? They say we don't like Israel.''

[23] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MAY 14, 1998

The Northern Iraqis Adil Muhammet Ali (27), Recper Abdulkadir Said (22) and Celal Ahmet Mahmut (25), who escaped to Greece from the Ipsala Border Gate, got into the container of a lorry they believed would go to Athens.

The Northern Iraqis were captured when the lorry entered Turkey.

The investigation is underway.

GAZIANTEP - A total of 698 billion Turkish Liras (TL) was spent in the last four months for the Belkis-Nizip Pumped Irrigation Project, which was included in the irrigation investments in the scope of the Southeastern Anatolia project (GAP), it was reported on Thursday.

An allowance for a total of 1.4 trillion TL was allocated this year for the project foreseeing the irrigation of 12 thousand hectares of land with the water to be drawn from the Euphrates River with the pumping system.

The project is planned to be concluded in 2000.

AGRI - Security forces captured on Thursday a total of 16 Bangladeshis trying to enter Turkey illegally from the Turkish-Iranian border.

Officials said these Bangladeshi people would be deported.

KOCAELI - The studies related to the ''special health insurance'' foreseen in the collective bargaining of the Lastik-Is (Tyre Employers') Union signed with the Goodyear, Brisa and Pirelli plants are nearly concluded, it was reported on Thursday.

The Union officials said that they were discussing the last details with the employees.

KAYSERI-NEVSEHIR - Ahmet Bayram, the Chairman of the Union of the Tourism Entrepreneurs in Cappadocia, said on Thursday that Turkey would be saved from her image of being the least expensive country for spending holiday if the ''Touristic Hotel Managers' Union'' Law goes into effect.

Bayram told the A.A correspondent that the Parliamentary Commission was discussing the draft law, adding that the Law had a vital importance for Turkish tourism.

ANKARA - The General Directorate of Rural Affairs will realize 91 trillion 482 billion Turkish Liras in infrastructure services in the rural areas this year, it was reported on Thursday.

The General Directorate of Rural Affairs will repair the roads in villages, build bridges and make investments in potable water.

EGIRDIR - The Egirdir Environmental Education Foundation is pleased with the ''Blue Flag'' given by the European Jury for the Altinkum Beach, it was reported on Thursday.

Omer Sengol, the Mayor of Egirdir, said that the people living in Egirdir were showing sufficient fastidiousness to prevent pollution in Egirdir Lake.

ISTANBUL - Eryetis Kurtaral, the Chairman of the Body Building Federation, said on Thursday that the target of the National Team was to receive a medal in the European Championship in the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade between May 29 and June 1.

Kurtaral said that their target was to be the champion in the World Championship to be organized in Izmir between November 12 and 16.

EDIRNE - The Edirne Provincial Directorate of Tourism opened on Thursday a ''Tourism Information Directorate'' at the Edirne Border Gate to give service for the foreigners.

A total of three officials, who can speak at least three foreign languages, will work at the Directorate.

[24] IMPORTANT NAMES IN EXPORTS - UNDERSECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE GIVES 32 COMPANIES THE STATUS OF FOREIGN TRADE CAPITAL COMPANY - 32 COMPANIES MAKE TOTAL EXPORTS OF 5.3 BILLION US DOLLARS IN 1997

Officials from the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade said that the 32 companies made total exports of 5.3 billion US dollars and realized an average of 25 percent of Turkey's exports.

In accordance with the regulation this title is given to the companies which have paid capital and reserves totalling 20 billion US dollars and exports more than 50 million US dollars in a calendar year.

This title provides credit to the companies for obtaining loans and in customs transactions. Companies with the title of ''foreign trade capital company'' have priority in benefiting from the state aids for exports.

The companies which have been given the title are as follows:

''Ak-Pa Textile Exports and Marketing, Baskan Food Industry and Marketing, Borusan Exports, Imports and Distribution, Bosch Industry and Trade, Cam Marketing, Cebi Metal Industry and Trade, Colakoglu Foreign Trade, Diler Foreign Trade, Ekom Eczacibasi Foreign Trade, Exsa Export Industry Products Sales and Research, GSD Foreign Trade, GSD Holding, Habas Industrial and Medical Gasses, Icdas Istanbul Steel and Iron Melting Industry, Intermet Exports, Imports and Trade, Izmir Leather Foreign Trade, Kibar Foreign Trade, Mercedes-Benz Turk, Nergis Holding, Petkim Petrokimya Holding, Pro- Eks Foreign Trade, Promeks Foreign Trade, Raks Foreign Trade, Ram Foreign Trade, Tema Foreign Trade, Textile Industrialists Foreign Trade, Turk Pirelli Tyre, Ucel Rolling Industry and Trade, Vestel Foreign Trade, Volkswagen Electricity Systems and Yasar Foreign Trade.''

[25] UAE DELEGATION CONTACTS IN TURKEY - EL QASSIMI, MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND TRADE, VISITS TOURISM MINISTER GURDAL

Fahim Bin Sultan El Qassimi, the UAE Minister of Economy and Trade who is in Turkey to attend the meetings of Turkey-UAE Joint Economic Commission (JEC), visited Gurdal today.

Addressing the meeting, Gurdal said that the 21st century will be the century of friendship and peace. He noted that the efforts of the commission will provide profits both for the economy and the friendly relations.

El Qassimi said that there are deep historical links, joint beliefs and similarities between Turkey and the UAE, pointing out that he believes these joint points will create a productive cooperation in tourism.

Noting that the tourism cooperation between the two countries should be encouraged, El Qassimi wanted the transports between Turkey and the UAE to be improved and the Civil Aviation Agreement to be renewed.

[26] REPAYMENTS OF THE FOREIGN DEBTS

Officials from the Central Bank told the A.A correspondent that

3.8 billion US dollars was repaid for the Treasury, 114.5 million US dollars for the Central Bank, 828.2 million US dollars for the documentation, book, publishing and membership payments of the administrations with an added budget and for the payments of the National Defence Ministry and Defence Industry and 45.8 million US dollars for the Turkish Defence Fund up until May 13.

[27] CONFERENCE ON ''THE WORLD AND TURKEY IN MAY 1998'' - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS ARE SENSITIVE DUE TO THE ISLETS AND ROCK ISLANDS IN THE AEGEAN''

Demirel also said people of Turkey didn't have problems with the state and between themselves ''but, there will be if you create instigations, so we tell them to keep away.''

Addressing the conference on ''the World and Turkey in May 1998'', Demirel said there were the problems of Western Thrace, arbitration of the islands and the six miles problem between Turkey and Greece.

Demirel said that a problem will be created if Turkey is confronted with a fait accompli on the question of the islets, adding ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Republic of Turkey has made a statement which said that war was murder unless there is a vital necessity. This isn't a weakness for us as we have a strong power. We will determine when we will show this. Time, place and enemy should be chosen well. Turkey's patience isn't due to its weakness. I'm not threatening anybody. I say this in a friendly manner and peacefully.''

Mentioning the Cyprus problem, Demirel said there was a ''de facto'' situation on Cyprus, adding ''if there is peace on Cyprus for 24 years, this is the achievement of the Turkish army. There are facts that you can't ignore.''

Speaking about the Turkish-European Union (EU) relations, Demirel said there was a dead end in these relations and pointed out that Turkey has an industry having competitive power and that she has been a part of the Customs Union for two years.

Recalling that Turkey sold 60 percent of her goods to Europe, Demirel said that Turkey had made an agreement in 1960 to enter the EU.

Demirel said Turkey's human rights issue was criticized, this is not a state policy. ''They say you have imprisoned journalists, give me their names. They have nothing to do with journalism, they have links with the separatist terrorist organizations.''

Demirel said that the issue was presented as the ''Kurdish problem'' and pointed out that ''preserving Turkey's indivisible territorial integrity is in question.''

Demirel said, ''We will carry out relations with Europe with calmness, but with a patient and talented diplomacy. I believe that common sense will prevail.''

Responding to a question about the future of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline Demirel stressed that this issue has a strategic importance more than an economic one. He said that the Caspian oil has a value of four trillion US dollars and that with the natural gas this amount increases to eight trillion US dollars. Demirel said they would construct and improve the Turkish republics with this money.

Demirel said that he met with the Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev two days ago and that they expect 2,100 km pipeline project to take effect in October. Demirel said Turkey's natural gas need would be 50 billion cubic meters in 2010, pointing out that the Turkmen gas has the capacity to meet this.

When asked what kind of a strategy Turkey would follow in Northern Iraq, Demirel said this problem was an international one and that Turkey defended Iraq's territorial integrity more than Iraq did.

Demirel said he didn't believe that this problem will be solved before Iraq makes peace with the world and stressed that it shouldn't be forgotten that there are Turkmens in the region.

Demirel said that the diplomatic measures continue against Syria, adding that ''we say you support terrorism and they say they don't. Of course, they are supporting it, but there is no necessity to think of military measures at the moment.''

When asked if Israel was a threat for Turkey, Demirel said none of the countries surrounding Turkey would be a threat for us, even if some of them unite.

[28] BLACK SEA OLYMPIC GAMES - PREPARATIONS TO BE CONCLUDED FOR THE GAMES

Besides Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Ukraine, Romania and the Russian Federation will participate in the Games and the first of these games will take place in the Black Sea Trabzon Province in the summer of 1999.

Yucel Seckiner, the Minister of State Responsible for Youth and Sports will chair the committee of the organization, which will be realized aimed at providing a pre-preparation period for the Olympic Games and to increase the dialogue between the countries having shores on the Black Sea.

The Black Sea Olympic Games will take place two years before the Olympic Games and once every four years.

The branches of athletics, weight lifting, archery, handball, soccer, volleyball, boxing, swimming, marksmanship, basketball, tae kwon do, rythmic gymnastics and judo will take place at the Black Sea Olympic Games.

The Black Sea Olympic Games is expected to contribute to the economy of the neighboring provinces.

[29] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN: - ''DEPLOYMENT OF THE S-300 MIISLES ON CYPRUS WOULD BE CRAZY''

Addressing the journalists at the Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Economy and Policy neither the NATO nor the other states want a crisis in the region when the entire world is working on the new security and stability plans.

Stating that the S-300 missiles, which will be deployed by the Greek Cypriot side in the Baf region, will threaten Turkey, Sezgin pointed out that Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will take all the necessary measures against the subject missiles.

Noting that the Turkish Government works for a peaceful policy, Sezgin added, ''We defend that the sides should come together and discuss the problems peacefully.''

Sezgin said that it is unacceptable that one of the two states which are members of the NATO, an alliance founded for peace, wants ''war'' against the other.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots hold the issue of the missiles on the agenda for some compensations, Sezgin told the reporters, ''We produce our own weapons. The countries from which we will buy weapons that we can't produce, will be the countries defending the same thesis with us.''

[30] GENERAL KARADAYI'S VISIT TO RUSSIA

It is expected that a '' Memorandum of Mutual Understanding'' will be signed by the chiefs of staff of both countries at the end of the visit.

Karadayi will meet with Igor Sergeyev, the Russian Minister of Defence, Anatoli Kvasnin, his Russian counterpart and Andrei Kokosin, the Russian Secretary of the Security Council.

According to the Russian sources, the issues of the current situation of bilateral military cooperation and possible developments in this field, expansion of the NATO, the security of Europe and Southern Europe will be discussed during Karadayi's meeting in Russia.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article