Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-07-19

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

19 JULY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] RISE IN WAGES OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND PENSIONERS

[02] REACTIONS TO INCREASE IN WAGES OF CIVIL SERVANTS

[03] EU QUOTAS - TASAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS: - ''IF IT WILL BE LIKE THIS, WE MAY RETALIATE WITH IMPOSING QUOTAS ON SOME GOODS PRODUCED IN EUROPE''

[04] CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES FOR 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION - GAZIOGLU, SPECIAL ADVISER OF TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''NO POWER CAN PREVENT THE TRNC FROM HER INTEGRATION PROCESS WITH TURKEY''

[05] INTERROGATION FOR CILLER'S ASSETS - THE PARLIAMENT ASKED TREASURY FOR INFORMATION ON OZER CILLER'S ASSETS IN THE US

[06] RAFTING TOURISM DRAWS ATTENTION

[07] TURKISH STRAITS AGAIN ON THE TABLE - THE ROUTING SYSTEM IN TURKISH STRAITS WILL BE TRIED TO BE CHANGED BY A WTO REPORT IN INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION ON MONDAY - RUSSIA, WHO WANTS TO CARRY CASPIAN OIL THROUGH THE STRAITS, LEADS THE COUNTRIES WHICH START DISCUSSIONS ON TURKISH STRAITS

[08] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JULY 19, 1998

[09] TRNC-PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY - DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT: ''WE SUFFERED A LOT, BUT WE DID NOT BE A SLAVE TO GREEK CYPRIOTS'' - ''WE TRUSTED OUT MOTHERLAND AND WON'' - ''WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE WITH HOPE''

[10] GENERAL AMNESTY FOR PRISONERS WHO COMMITTED SIMPLE OFFENSES

[11] COOPERATIVE KEY-98 MILITARY EXERCISE STARTS

[12] MEANINGFUL CEREMONY IN MONTREUX

[13] GREECE PREVENTS TURKISH POP-SINGERS TO ENTER INTO THE COUNTRY

[14] PUBLIC INVESTMENTS

[15] KDP RADIO: SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION KILLED 40 CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

[01] RISE IN WAGES OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND PENSIONERS

The increase in the salaries of the public, the Social Security Authority (SSK) and the Social Security Agency for Artisans and the Self-Employed (BAG-KUR) pensioners was decided to be 23 percent for the third quarter and ten percent for the forth quarter.

In accordance with the decision, the lowest wage to be paid for civil servants in July increased to 58 million 966 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) from 49 million 80 thousand TL. The lowest wage in October will be 64 million 957 thousand TL.

[02] REACTIONS TO INCREASE IN WAGES OF CIVIL SERVANTS

''In near future, we will say 'no' to the 20 percent insistence of the government together with pensioners and other organizations. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz does not have right to hand over the dinner tables of civil servants and pensioners to the IMF,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Hasan Hayir, the member of the Executive Board of the TURKIYE KAMU-SEN), said that the preference of the government for the increase in the wages was not moral and ethical, adding, ''the legitimacy of the government has been destroyed.''

Hayir said that they would hold a demonstration in Ankara on 21 July to protest the wage increases.

[03] EU QUOTAS - TASAR, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS: - ''IF IT WILL BE LIKE THIS, WE MAY RETALIATE WITH IMPOSING QUOTAS ON SOME GOODS PRODUCED IN EUROPE''

Speaking to reporters, Tasar recalled that the EU stopped purchasing aquacultural products from Turkey on grounds that the hygenic conditions were insufficient following the controls of the EU Veterinarians Committee in 5-6 different spots.

''The EU's stopping the purchase of aquacultural products was not a political decision. This totally stemmed from the insufficient hygenic conditions of some companies. Following this decision, we carried out the necessary inspections and controls at 162 firms. We determined that most of those companies had really insufficient conditions for hygenic process. We cancelled the health-control documents of those firms and the number of those companies decreased to 42. From now on, we will not permit the companies failed to provide hygenic conditions,'' he stressed.

Tasar said that they invited the EU Veterinarians Committee for a further control.

''We were right in the issue of the limitation on imports of meat. We have such a right in accordance with international agreements. We made this decision by taking into consideration the health of our people. The relations will become again normal when the health conditions are improved. However, it is wrong to stop purchasing tomatoes, hazelnuts and watermelons from Turkey as a retaliation,'' he added.

[04] CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES FOR 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION - GAZIOGLU, SPECIAL ADVISER OF TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''NO POWER CAN PREVENT THE TRNC FROM HER INTEGRATION PROCESS WITH TURKEY''

Addressing the conference, which was arranged by the Beyoglu Municipality in Istanbul within the framework of the fifth ''Cyprus Peace Operation Activities'' organized within the context of the 24th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, Ahmet Cemal Gazioglu said that the Cyprus Peace Operation, which was staged in 1974, brought peace to the island.

''Today, there are two communities and states, which live in peace, on Cyprus. The western countries, which are running after an artificial and temporary solution that may cause re-occurance of bloodshed, intercommunal clashes and mass-graves on the island, should realize that there are two states on Cyprus and should understand that the permanent peace lies upon this reality,'' he emphasized.

''The application of the Greek-Cypriot administration to the EU for membership was illegal. This administration does not represent the Turkish Cypriots and will never be the representative of us. The western countries should know and see this reality,'' he stressed.

''There is not a different solution. Peace will be brought to the island if the world sees this reality. Following this step, no power can prevent the TRNC from her integration with Turkey. President Suleyman Demirel and President Rauf Denktas openly announced to the world their resolve in this issue with their latest declaration on 23 April 1998,'' he added.

[05] INTERROGATION FOR CILLER'S ASSETS - THE PARLIAMENT ASKED TREASURY FOR INFORMATION ON OZER CILLER'S ASSETS IN THE US

The letter, asking for the information be given by July 20, stated that Ozer Ciller, the husband of DYP leader and former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, is among the shareholders of Marmara Holding (MARSAN).
Stating that MARSAN set up a firm with the title GCD in the US, the letter asked if MARSAN or Ozer Ciller has informed the Undersecretariat of the Treasury concerning that they set up, purchased, or took over a firm in the US.

The letter also asked information if the procedures related to the establishment of a firm were followed fully, and the Treasury was informed about these procedures, or not.

Asking whether Ozer Ciller or MARSAN transfered capital abroad, the commission wanted the documents related to the transfer in the letter.

The letter pointed out that 400 thousand US dollars were transfered by means of Demirbank, and Demirbank informed the Treasury about this transfer. Stating that the Parliament Interrogation Committee was later informed by the Treasury that it has the documents related to this transfer, the letter asked for clarification that how such an information can be given to the parliament on documents which do not exist.

[06] RAFTING TOURISM DRAWS ATTENTION

The Kopru Stream running through the Koprulu Canyon is the most favorite rafting place of the rafters. A total of 150 thousand rafters are expected to travel the Kopru Stream, which hosted more than 30 thousand tourists in the previous month, with rafts until the end of the season.

The tourist agencies said that the native tourists started to arouse interest in rafting and that they would host nearly 25 thousand native tourists till the end of the season.

The foreign exchange income from the rafting tourism is estimated to be more than 12 million German marks.

The rafting, which is performed in the 12 km of tough waters of the Kopru Stream, takes nearly three hours.

[07] TURKISH STRAITS AGAIN ON THE TABLE - THE ROUTING SYSTEM IN TURKISH STRAITS WILL BE TRIED TO BE CHANGED BY A WTO REPORT IN INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION ON MONDAY - RUSSIA, WHO WANTS TO CARRY CASPIAN OIL THROUGH THE STRAITS, LEADS THE COUNTRIES WHICH START DISCUSSIONS ON TURKISH STRAITS

Some countries who presented reports and proposals forcing Turkey to change the traffic regulations in the Straits in previous meetings, now will try to enlarge their ''front'' by a report prepared by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The criticism against Turkey will be expressed under the article of the agenda titled ''routing of the ships and ship reporting system.''

When this article is discussed, the countries including Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Greek Cypriot administration, and led by Russia, will take a report they managed to make WTO prepare as a base to their thesis.

Turkey will also be criticized by not taking a concrete step concerning the radar system which she said it will be implemented in the shortest period of time.

Turkey will answer these critics stressing that she has the sole authority to arrange and implement the passage rights from the Straits and their priorities as the only country who has shores to the Straits. Turkish delegation will also stress that all steps were taken for the tender concerning the radar system.

Turkey also will try to tell the countries other than Russia and its supporters that the thesis of Moscow and its supporters have ''political and economic'' reasons, and the leading reason is that Moscow tries to improve the chance of Novorossisk to carry Central Asian and Azeri oil.

[08] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JULY 19, 1998

The Council of Ministers ratified the ''Turkish-Italian Land Transportation Joint Commission Meeting Protocol'' signed in accordance with the International Land Transportation Agreement.

KAHRAMANMARAS - Security forces killed on Saturday three terrorists in southeastern Kahramanmaras province.

Security forces launched an operation at the skirts of the Berit Mountain near Suleymanli region in Kahramanmaras, killing three separatist terrorists.

The operations in the region are underway.

REYHANLI - Narcotics officials seized on Saturday 14 kg 605 grams of heroin hidden in a lorry trying to enter Turkey from the Cilvegozu Border Gate on the Syrian border.

Narcotics officials, at the check-point, found 14 kg 605 grams of heroin in the hidden compartments of the lorry.

Officials said the market price of the heroin was 300 billion Turkish Liras.

EDIRNE - Veyis Gungor, the Agha of the Netherlands Oil Wrestlings, said on Saturday that the second Europe Oil Wrestling Championship will take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 13 September.

ANKARA - The Prime Ministry Electronic Administration System, which constitutes the first step of the Public-Net Project foreseeing the gathering of the public computer networks under single structure, was adjudicated.

The NOSI Computer and Consumer Goods Limited Company won the tender of the system of which studies are being carried out by the Prime Ministry Chairmanship of Development of Administration, for 535 billion Turkish Liras.

GAZIANTEP - The exports of dried apricots from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Region in the first half of 1998 increased 25.6 percent to 17 million 964 thousand US dollars, it was reported on Sunday.

A total of 6 thousand 996 tonnes of dried apricots were exported in the first half of 1998.

The dried apricots were exported to France, Britain, Italy, Germany, the US, Australia, Israel, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

[09] TRNC-PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY - DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT: ''WE SUFFERED A LOT, BUT WE DID NOT BE A SLAVE TO GREEK CYPRIOTS'' - ''WE TRUSTED OUT MOTHERLAND AND WON'' - ''WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE WITH HOPE''

Denktas told the Bayrak Radio anad Television on the occasion of 24th Anniversary of 20 July, the Peace and Freedom Day of TRNC, that the past cannot be wasted by forgetting, and he looks at the future with hope.

Denktas said, ''Between 1963 and 1974, the cleaver of the Greek Cypriots was on our throats... We kept our heads upright, we trusted our motherland and we won.''

Defining the July 20 as ''rebirth'', Denktas said Turkish Cypriots worked side by side to overcome all difficulties in the last 24 years, and saw the birth of the Republic.

Denktas said, ''knowing well that there will be no turning back to the past, it is our duty to prepare the future by the same unity, solidarity, and belief.''

Stressing that their existence, liberation, and efforts to strengthen economy, are based on close relations with Turkey, Denktas said the Turkish Cypriots are foreseen to benefit from all opportunities given to farmers and industrialists in Turkey. ''Opening new fields of employment for our young people is our duty, our debt to our martyrs,'' he said.

Denktas said that he is very hopeful for the future, stressing that they entered 1998 under very good circumstances.

Emphasizing that bringing water from Turkey to TRNC is an historical event, Denktas said, ''this will be followed by a project which foresees bringing water through pipelines under the sea.

Denktas also stressed that the investments will create employment facilities for the young people, and the universities in the TRNC are very important for the TRNC economy. Denktas also said that these universities can be considered as a big opportunity to bring together the young people of the TRNC and Turkey.

[10] GENERAL AMNESTY FOR PRISONERS WHO COMMITTED SIMPLE OFFENSES

Sungurlu told A.A correspondent that he would not make a comment in favour of or against the issue.

''The Motherland Party (ANAP) can't know the attitude of the Parliament. At this moment, I also can't make any evaluation or comment about the issue,'' he added.

[11] COOPERATIVE KEY-98 MILITARY EXERCISE STARTS

The Cooperative Key-98 Military Exercise will be carried out until 24 July at the airbases in Ankara, Konya and Kayseri.

Turkey, the US, Portugal, Italy, France, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Moldova will participate in the exercise actively. A total of 16 countries are participating in the exercise with a total of 681 personnel.

A total of 38 airplanes including 29 combat planes and 9 support planes, five helicopters and one NATO NAEW plane will participate in the exercise. Turkey will join the exercise with four TF-16 planes, three C-130/160 planes, one TCN-235 CASA plane and one 1UH-1H helicopter and provide personnel support for the direction and control of the military exercise.

The Cooperative Key-98 will be directed and controlled by the Southern European Allied Air Forces Commandership in accordance with the directives of the Southern European Allied Forces Commandership.

Turkey, as the host country, will be responsible for the coordination.

[12] MEANINGFUL CEREMONY IN MONTREUX

The 62th anniversary celebration of Montreux Agreement signed in July 20, 1936, will be realized within the framework of 75th anniversary of Turkish Republic.

Guests from Turkey and Switzerland will attend the reception which will be hosted by Taner Baytok, Turkey's Ambassador to Switzerland.

The fashion, music and dance shows will be performed during the celebrations.

[13] GREECE PREVENTS TURKISH POP-SINGERS TO ENTER INTO THE COUNTRY

The pop-singers and their 14 people team were not permitted to enter into Greece by Greek customs officials.

Özgür Aras, the menager of the pop-singers, said that Greek customs officials asked for cigarette and wine from them, and claimed that the visas in their passports are not valid, and insulted them.

Stating that an open air concert is organized in Komotini city of Greece, and the tickets were sold days before, Aras said, ''we called the Consulate of Greece in Turkey and they said there is no problem in our visas, and we can enter into Greece without any problem. But we could not pass the Greek customs officials, and had to come back.''

Ebru Aydın also said that she had prepared songs in Greek for this concert. We were going there to break the ice, but the Greek customs officials did not give us this chance, she said.

Harun Kolcak also pointed out that his grandfather was born in Komotini. ''That's why going to Komotini had a different meaning for me. Now I am trying to calm dowm by taking pills,'' he said.

[14] PUBLIC INVESTMENTS

The State Planning Organization's temporary Public Investments Report nominal realizations statistics showed that the transportation- communications sector took the first place in the public investments although the share decreased to 36.2 percent last year from 41.2 percent in 1992.

The transportation-communications sector was followed by the energy sector with 15.2 percent last year. The share of this sector in the total public investments in 1992 was 16.2 percent.

The education sector took the third place last year with 13.1 percent while it was at the fifth place in 1992 with 8 percent.

The investments in the health sector increased by 64 percent because the share of this sector increased to 4.6 percent last year from 2.8 percent in 1992.

The share of the agricultural sector increased to 12 percent from 9.8 percent. This means that the investments in this sector increased by 22 percent.

Meanwhile, the investments in the housing sector decreased by 77 percent; the investments in the mining sector reduced by 53 percent and the amount of investments in the manufacturing sector declined by 49 percent between 1992 and 1997.

The share of the housing sector in the total public investments between these years decreased to 0.3 percent from 1.3 percent; the share of the mining sector reduced to 1.8 percent from 3.8 percent and the share of the manufacturing sector declined to 3 percent from 5.9 percent.

The share of the tourism sector in the total public investments during the same period decreased to 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent.

[15] KDP RADIO: SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION KILLED 40 CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

The KDP radio said that a group of separatist terrorists set fire to five villages in Northern Iraq and killed 40 people, mostly women and children.

The KDP radio said that the separatist terrorist PKK was killing tens of people in Northern Iraq each day and that the biggest obstacle in front of the peace in Northern Iraq is the existence of the terrorist PKK in the region.

The KDP political experts stressed that the terrorist PKK staged its latest attacks while David Welch, the Assistant Secretary responsible for the US State Department's Near-east Affairs, and the accompanying delegation were holding contacts in Erbil with the Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq.

Experts said that those attacks were the proof of the separatist terrorist PKK's efforts to create tension in the region and to destroy the peace negotiations.

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