Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-14

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

14 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] GOLF - SECOND PRO-AM TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN ISTANBUL - FAMOUS SOCCER PLAYERS PLATT, GILLESPIE AND JOHNSON TO STRIKE THE FIRST BALL

[02] BILKENT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONTINUES ITS ANATOLIA TOUR IN SIRNAK

[03] TURKEY'S DEFENSE EXPENDITURES - EVALUATION PUBLISHED BY WAR ACADEMIES COMMANDERSHIP SAYS: ''TURKEY CAN'T SAVE ON DEFENSE EXPENDITURES''

[04] NAME OF BASRI DIRIMLILI, FORMER SOCCER PLAYER AT FENERBAHCE CLUB, TO BE GIVEN TO AN AVENUE IN LEFKE IN THE TRNC

[05] SANTA CLAUS FOUNDATION REQUESTS THE RETURN OF BONES OF SAINT NICHOLAS TO TURKEY IN ORDER TO PLACE THEM IN GRAVE AT DEMRE

[06] BLAST IN FRONT OF ISTANBUL UNIVERSTY ... - A HAND MADE BOMB EXPLODES INJURING 4 PERSONS INCLUDING ONE POLICEMAN - BUS BELONGING TO RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE DAMAGED BY BLAST

[07] TEXTILE EXPORTS - 166 MILLION US DOLLARS IN EXPORTS MADE FROM GAP REGION IN SEVEN MONTHS

[08] TURKEY'S CREDIT NOTE - DUFF AND PHELPS TO DISCLOSE TURKEY'S CREDIT NOTE ON 17 AUGUST

[09] HIKMET CETIN, SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT, RECEIVES SOLOMON, CHAIRMAN OF REGULATION COMMITTEE OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - CETIN: ''DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RELATIONS WITH THE US WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD'S PEACE AND STABILITY''

[10] BLAST IN FRONT OF ISTANBUL UNIVERSTY ... - POLICE DETERMINES THE IDENTITY OF INJURED PEOPLE AT BLAST

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

[12] ITO AND WUHAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL

[13] OPERATION IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION - 13 SEPARATIST TERRORISTS KILLED - THREE SECURITY FORCES DIE

[14] FLOWER CARPET HAVING TURKISH MOTIFS AT BRUSSELS CITY CENTER

[15] IMF'S TURKEY REPORT DISCLOSED ...

[16] GERMAN TOURIST FALLS OVER A PRECIPICE

[17] INTERNATIONAL CRISIS AND IMKB ... - SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, CONSULTATION FIRM: - ''A HEADLONG DECREASE ISN'T EXPECTED IN IMKB'' - ''IMKB WILL BECOME THE MOST ATTRACTIVE STOCK EXCHANGE IN PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGES''

[18] COMMEMORATION CELEBRATIONS FOR HACI BEKTAS-I VELI ... - PRESIDENT DEMIREL, PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT, BAYKAL, LEADER OF CHP AND SEVERAL MINISTRIES TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS

[19] GIANT ORGANIZATION THE SAME AGE AS REPUBLIC ... - IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR PROMOTES REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO THE WORLD AND BRINGS WORLD TO TURKEY

[20] SECOND PHASE OF PEACE MOVEMENT TO BE CELEBRATED IN THE TRNC ...

[01] GOLF - SECOND PRO-AM TOURNAMENT BEGINS IN ISTANBUL - FAMOUS SOCCER PLAYERS PLATT, GILLESPIE AND JOHNSON TO STRIKE THE FIRST BALL

On the first day of the tournament, the group of Nicklaus Hamilton, Lawrie Rochester and Joe Carr came in first place with the 148 fault points.

Jason Harney, Sue Spencer and Ken Powers came in second place while John Watson, Karyn Dallas and Terry Squires came in third place at the tournament.

David Platt from England, Gary Gillespie from Scotland and David Johnson from England, the world-famous soccer players, will strike the first ball on Friday.

[02] BILKENT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONTINUES ITS ANATOLIA TOUR IN SIRNAK

More than two thousand people watched the concert in Sirnak last night.

Halil Ulusoy, the Governor of Sirnak, Besir Tatar, the Mayor of Sirnak, and other senior officials were in attendance at the concert. Addressing the concert, Prof. Dr. Ersin Onay, the Dean of the Bilkent University Music and Theatrical Arts Faculty, said that they are very pleased with the Anatolian people who show great interest in the concerts.

The Bilkent Symphony Orchestra had previously given concerts in Siirt, Batman and Mardin.

A giant mobile stage is being used for the concerts.

[03] TURKEY'S DEFENSE EXPENDITURES - EVALUATION PUBLISHED BY WAR ACADEMIES COMMANDERSHIP SAYS: ''TURKEY CAN'T SAVE ON DEFENSE EXPENDITURES''

The evaluation, prepared by Naval Staff Senior Colonel Yilmaz Aklar, the Chairman of the Department of Administration at the Naval War Academy said that the sources which the US and European ally countries saved from defense expenditures, especially after the end of the cold war and abolishment of the Russian threat, were allocated to the welfare and economy of their countries.

The evaluation said there was no change in Turkey in a period where the hot wars were replaced by regional crises and that these crises intensified at the borders. It said ''Turkey's neighbors which were seven in the beginning, increased to 13 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.''

The evaluation said that Greece, one of the neighboring countries, assumes a hostile attitude and pointed out that neighbors in the East and Southeast are far removed from democracy and other neighboring countries are trying to make a transition to contemporary democracy.

It said that the neighbors at all the borders, are going through serious political, economic and military crises, adding that clashes which also affect Turkey will continue.

The evaluation said that the Turkish Armed Forces will assume more assignments in this period. The activities will cover aid for natural disasters, struggles against drug trafficking, evacuation of civilians and humanitarian and security aid. It pointed out that ''under all these conditions, it is clear that Turkey can't save on the defense expenditures'' and added ''when the domestic threat is taken into consideration, it is obligatory to establish national military strategies.''

The study and evaluation said that 150 billion US dollars which was determined as the share allocated to the Turkish Armed Forces for the coming 25 year period won't be adequate.

[04] NAME OF BASRI DIRIMLILI, FORMER SOCCER PLAYER AT FENERBAHCE CLUB, TO BE GIVEN TO AN AVENUE IN LEFKE IN THE TRNC

Abdullah Kigili, the Deputy Chairman and Spokesman of the Fenerbahce Club, pointed out in his written statement that the name of Basri Dirimlili will be given to an avenue on 14 August, Lefke's Day of Liberation.

Turkan Kaner, the sister of the legendary soccer player and his daughter Esra Dirimlili will also attend the ceremony.

[05] SANTA CLAUS FOUNDATION REQUESTS THE RETURN OF BONES OF SAINT NICHOLAS TO TURKEY IN ORDER TO PLACE THEM IN GRAVE AT DEMRE

Noting that priests from Bari smuggled the bones of Santa Claus from his grave at Demre in 1087, Karabulut claimed the bones back on behalf of humanity whose hearts are full of love.

Stressing that the restoration and maintenance activities continue at the church where Santa's grave is located at Demre,

Karabulut added, ''we believe that you will return the bones of Saint Nicholas back to the grave at Demre where they belong.''

[06] BLAST IN FRONT OF ISTANBUL UNIVERSTY ... - A HAND MADE BOMB EXPLODES INJURING 4 PERSONS INCLUDING ONE POLICEMAN - BUS BELONGING TO RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE DAMAGED BY BLAST

Four people including one policeman, were injured by the blast. They were taken to several hospitals.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the blast occurred near a bus belonging to the Rapid Deployment Force. The bus was damaged by the blast.

Hasan Ozdemir, the Chief of the Security Department in Istanbul, came to the scene of the explosion in order to make observations.

[07] TEXTILE EXPORTS - 166 MILLION US DOLLARS IN EXPORTS MADE FROM GAP REGION IN SEVEN MONTHS

A total of 115.1 million US dollars in exports were realized from the region in the same period last year.

The share of textiles in the region's exports increased 55.7 percent which was 32.2 percent in the first seven months of 1997.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Romania, Syria, Belgium, Italy, Jordan, Spain, France, Lebanon, the US, Israel, Portugal, Greece, Algeria and the Russian Federation are among the countries to which Turkey made textile exports.

[08] TURKEY'S CREDIT NOTE - DUFF AND PHELPS TO DISCLOSE TURKEY'S CREDIT NOTE ON 17 AUGUST

A statement of the IBAR/Duff and Phelps Turkey said that Turkey's credit note will be disclosed from New York.

The DCR considered the ''Staff Monitoring'' agreement which Turkey made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in particular, and the economic program aimed at decreasing inflation, as positive. Expectations are intensifying that Turkey's credit note won't be changed and its economic view which is ''stagnant'' will change and be upgraded to ''positive impression.''

The DCR specified Turkey's credit note as BB (-) on 11 March 1997 and transformed its negative impression to ''stagnant'' and removed Turkey from the ''credit monitoring'' status.

The Standard and Poor's, another international rating organization transformed Turkey's credit note which was at the ''B'' level from ''stagnant'' to ''positive'' on 11 August.

[09] HIKMET CETIN, SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT, RECEIVES SOLOMON, CHAIRMAN OF REGULATION COMMITTEE OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - CETIN: ''DEVELOPMENT OF OUR RELATIONS WITH THE US WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD'S PEACE AND STABILITY''

Addressing the meeting, Cetin reminded that there are good and comprehensive relations between Turkey and the US. He stressed, ''development of our relations with the US will contribute to world peace and stability.''

Cetin also added, ''I believe that we should make the relations between the parliament and the US Congress more frequent and more regular.''

[10] BLAST IN FRONT OF ISTANBUL UNIVERSTY ... - POLICE DETERMINES THE IDENTITY OF INJURED PEOPLE AT BLAST

Faculty of Literature this morning, it was reported on Friday.

Hakki Satir (aged 19) is still under medical treatment at the Haseki Hospital.

Abdullah Aktas, Yilmaz Yesilarmut and Policeman Vedat Bostanci were discharged from hospitals after their medical treatment was concluded.

Security forces have begun to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile Hasan Ozdemir, the Chief of the Security Department in Istanbul, has warned all security units concerning the attack that targeted the security officials.

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

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

TURKEY-TRNC COOPERATION
A protocol, which foresees cooperation in various issues between the Bayrak Radio-Television of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Black Sea Television was signed yesterday by Serdar Denktas, the TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Sukru Sina Gurel, Hasan Gemici and Refaettin Sahin, the Ministers of State. /Cumhuriyet/

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE
The Central Bank foreign exchange reserves increased by 595 million US dollars during the first week of August. Foreign exchange reserves, which totalled 25,711 billion US dollars on 31 July, rose to 26,306 billion US dollars on 7 August. Meanwhile, Turkey repaid 122.6 million US dollars in foreign debts between 3-12 August. Foreign debts paid since the beginning of this year have amounted to 7 billion US dollars. /Milliyet/

TURCOMANS PROTEST BARZANI
The Iraqi Turcomans protested against Massoud Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) yesterday, laying a black wreath in front of the party's office. A crowd of 50 Turcomans gathered at the KDP representation headquarters in Ankara, shouting slogans against Barzani and asking Ankara to take urgent steps to defend the Turcoman rights. The Turcoman leaders, Mustafa Kemal Yaycili and Feridun Hurmuzlu were among the protestors. The Iraqi Turcomans claim that in an effort to eradicate the Turcoman presence in Northern Iraq, the KDP attacked the Turcomans in Arbil. /All papers/

TURKEY RECEIVES FOUR BIDS FOR EREGLI CONSULTANCY
Turkey has received four bids in a tender to choose an adviser for the privatization of its sole flat steel maker Eregli Demir

Celik Fabrikalari (Eregli Iron and Steel Plants), the privatization administration said in a statement. Bids were received from the following companies: Bankers Trust, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Co Ltd.-ING Barings, HSBC and Salomon Smith Barney. The bidders will present their proposals by 17 August, the administration said.

INTERNATIONAL ATATURK OIL PAINTING PORTRAIT COMPETITION
An international competition for the ''Ataturk Oil Painting Portrait'' on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey will be jointly organized by the International Herald Tribune and the Milliyet daily newspaper. The competition will also be supported by the Kenan Evren Education, Culture and Nature Foundation. /Milliyet/

FOREIGN CAPITAL PERMITS INCREASE
A total of 22.4 percent of the foreign capital permits have been given by Turkey to French investors. According to the Undersecretariat of the Treasury data, the OECD countries such as the US, the Netherlands and Germany follow France. The total foreign capital permits given by Turkey since the beginning of this year until the end of July amount to 23,245 billion US dollars including 5,200 billion US dollars for French firms. /Cumhuriyet/

DEMIREL APPROVES GOVERNMENT DECISIONS
A decree which reduces the withheld tax rate from 12 percent to 6 percent has taken effect after being published in the Official Gazette yesterday. The decree has relieved the Turkish banking sector which requested the Ministry of Finance and ministers responsible for the economy to reduce the withheld tax on the grounds that it will lead to an increase in the interest rates. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Gunes Taner, the Minister of State Responsible for the Economy, and Zekeriya Temizel, the Minister of Finance, agreed to reduce the tax after a meeting held last week. President Suleyman Demirel approved yesterday a decision by the Council of Ministers which reduces the value added tax rate in the tourism sector services from 23 percent to 15 percent. Demirel also approved a decree related to a 40 million 497.6 thousand US dollar loan from Italy to be used for a purification project for the Izmit Gulf. /Hurriyet/

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE WORKS TO CONFORM AGREEMENTS WITH EU
The Ministry of Justice's European Union Coordination Department has prepared a project for developing expert courts for

''intellectual and industrial rights'' in 12 locations in Turkey. The department will submit the project to the EU to jointly implement the project. The department will also prepare a project for the ''consumer rights court''. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS IN PAKISTAN
Five Turkish construction firms are implementing various projects in Pakistan and 10 other Turkish firms have won tenders and started investing in this country. The economic relations between Turkey and Pakistan, improved by a Pakistan Trade Mission's visit to Turkey in 1997 and efforts by the Turkish-Pakistani Joint Economic Commission, have reached their zenith in 1998. /Sabah/

TWO PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
In a clash with PKK terrorists in the district of Pulumur near Tunceli Province, two PKK terrorists were killed yesterday. The PKK terrorists abducted two shepherds and stole 170 animals in the Kumcati District of Sirnak Province. Security forces also apprehended three persons alleged to support the PKK terrorist organization in the Tercan District of Erzincan Province. /Sabah/

[12] ITO AND WUHAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL

Addressing the signing ceremony, Dundar Ucar, the Acting Chairman of the Executive Board of the ITO, said that Istanbul and the ITO have a special place in the history of culture in the world and requested the chambers of commerce to work more actively.

Cao Hengsheng, Acting Chairman of Wuhan Chamber of Commerce, reminded that the Wuhan Chamber of Commerce is an official organization and represents the chambers of commerce in China, stressing that they have more than 20 cooperation agreements with the foreign chambers of commerce.

Hengseng noted that he believes the protocol will contribute to the economic and commercial relations between Turkey and China.

[13] OPERATION IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION - 13 SEPARATIST TERRORISTS KILLED - THREE SECURITY FORCES DIE

Officials from the Governor's Office of the State of Emergency Region told the A.A correspondent that three security forces died in the clashes with the separatist terrorists.

Security forces also captured two terrorists at Ergani County of Diyarbakir Province and at Beytussebap County of Sirnak Province.

Operations are underway in the region.

[14] FLOWER CARPET HAVING TURKISH MOTIFS AT BRUSSELS CITY CENTER

Nearly 700 thousand begonias were used in the carpet that is 77 metres long and 24 metres wide.

Etienne Statemas, an Environmental Architect, said that the flower carpet will adorn the historical public square for three days.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the flower carpet, Claude Michel, a Member of the Town Council, pointed out that these interesting and beautiful motifs come from northeastern Anatolia.

[15] IMF'S TURKEY REPORT DISCLOSED ...

Following the contacts of the IMF officials in Turkey, a report was prepared within the context of Article 4 of the consultation studies. The report approaches positively the three-year program of the government and the efforts to reduce high inflation and the interests in domestic borrowing to 30 percent.

The report stressed that the Turkish economy continued growing in a healthy manner and that Turkey had a good working balance of foreign payments. It also said that the public sector could meet the foreign credit requirements in a stable manner.

The report said that an increase in the foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank continued and included positive statements such as activities of the international capital market aimed at Turkey were continuing.

The report pointed out that issues like ''chronic high inflation, extensive public deficits, the short-term foreign debt burden for foreign debts'' remained as the greatest problems.

The report said that the Turkish government had prepared a three-year program recalling that inflation will be reduced to 50 percent by the end of this year, to 20 percent in 1999 and to one digit figures in 2000.

The report also said that an increase in the Gross National Product (GNP) should be kept around four percent to reach targets in the inflation program.

Recalling that the program in question could only be realized by having a strong financial structure, the report said that privatization incomes should be used as a means to lessen public deficits and mentioned ''a close link should be established between money and financial policies.''

The report also requested an improved tax system, decreasing of subsidies aimed at agriculture, starting of activities aimed at the improvement of the financing problem in the social security system and also wanted the banking sector to be strengthened.

The report pointed out that the Turkish Government had worked hard to decrease the interest burden in order to increase the credibility of the program.

[16] GERMAN TOURIST FALLS OVER A PRECIPICE

The incident occurred when Peter Wilkens (39) who was touring in the rocky region at the Ulupinar Region, fell over a precipice. Wilkens, who fell from a height of 40 meters, died on the spot.

[17] INTERNATIONAL CRISIS AND IMKB ... - SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, CONSULTATION FIRM: - ''A HEADLONG DECREASE ISN'T EXPECTED IN IMKB'' - ''IMKB WILL BECOME THE MOST ATTRACTIVE STOCK EXCHANGE IN PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGES''

Officials from the firm told the A.A correspondent that the IMKB won't be affected by the economic crises in the Asian and Russian stock exchanges because of Turkey's economic structure.

Noting that in spite of Turkey's economic situation being better compared with the other countries, the crisis and uncertainty in the developing markets overshadow the positive developments in Turkey, officials pointed out,''the IMKB has been influenced by all the global movements recently. The company structure of the IMKB has also determined the influence of the crisis, but even the smallest improvement in the international markets will be positively reflected on the IMKB. The liquidities of the Turkish companies aren't excessive, therefore, the selling trends in the markets affect the stock exchange quickly. The IMKB can face a headlong decrease and fall below 3000 points if China declares a great devaluation.''

Officials also added that the IMKB will become the most attractive stock exchange during the process of improving of the international stock exchanges, adding, ''the stable macroeconomic structure of Turkey and cheap share prices make the IMKB one of the most attractive stock exchanges.''

[18] COMMEMORATION CELEBRATIONS FOR HACI BEKTAS-I VELI ... - PRESIDENT DEMIREL, PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT, BAYKAL, LEADER OF CHP AND SEVERAL MINISTRIES TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS

President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State, Deniz Baykal, the Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), several ministers and representatives of the political parties will attend the celebrations that have been held at an international level for eight years.

Demirel is scheduled to attend the foundation-laying ceremony of the Haci Bektas Culture Center.

[19] GIANT ORGANIZATION THE SAME AGE AS REPUBLIC ... - IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR PROMOTES REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO THE WORLD AND BRINGS WORLD TO TURKEY

The foundation of IEF was laid in 1923 with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. The IEF, which is the same age as the Republic, has promoted Turkey to the world and brought the world to Izmir.

The fair which was established in the burned area of Izmir following the Greek occupation, today plays a leading role in culture-art and tourism.

The Izmir Fair is among the first three of the 73 general trade fairs in the world and competes with the German and Italian fairs.

Although the economic trends changed in the world, the Izmir Fair has adjusted to the new conditions and managed to maintain its importance and existence.

The fair will take place between 26 August and 3 September with the participation of 39 countries and 1400 companies 276 of which have applied from abroad and will continue at the national level between 3-10 September.

India will be the honorary guest this year. Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Pakistan and Indonesia were earlier elected as honorary guest as they were the most faithful participants at the fair.

[20] SECOND PHASE OF PEACE MOVEMENT TO BE CELEBRATED IN THE TRNC ...

The celebrations will be held at Serdarli, Gazimagusa and Lefke which gained freedom during the movement.

Martyrs who were massacred by the Greek Cypriots in Maratag, Sandallar, Atlilar and Taskent Villages, will be commemorated.

Turkey began her second peace movement in the TRNC after the three guarantor countries, Turkey, Britain and Greece, couldn't reach an agreement at the peace negotiations in Geneva following the first Peace Movement on 20 July 1974.

The Turkish troops captured Timbu, Meric and Serdarli on 14 August, Magosa on 15 August, and Mirtu, Guzelyurt and Lefke on 16 August. The cease-fire was declared at 6:00 p.m. on the same day in Cyprus.

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