Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-14

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

14 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FOREST FIRES IN ISTANBUL - A TOTAL OF 123 HECTARES OF FOREST AREAS DESTROYED

[02] PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ: ''IF WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT ERDEMIR CAN BE SOLD FOR A PRICE LOWER THAN ITS REAL VALUE DUE TO FLUCTUATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES, THEN WE CAN DELAY THIS PROCESS''

[03] 62 FOREST FIRES OCCUR IN 20 PROVINCES ON WEEKEND

[04] CEM, FOREIGN MINISTER IN TEHERAN - CEM: ''TURKISH-ISRAELI COOPERATION IS NOT A MILITARY PACT''

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[08] SECOND EUROPEAN OIL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP HELD - CENGIZ ELBEYE BECOMES WRESTLING CHAMPION

[09] VIOLATION OF TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS - TWO ITALIANS AND PERSON OF ALBANIAN ORIGIN CAPTURED IN GREEK FLAGGED BOAT ARE DEPORTED

[10] DENKTAS TO MEET WITH HOLBROOKE

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 14 SEPTEMBER 1998

[12] DEVELOPMENTS IN ALBANIA - FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUES MESSAGE OF CONDOLONCE FOR HAYDARI, DEPUTY OF OPPOSITION

[13] CULTURAL DONATION FROM JAPAN TO TURKEY

[14] NORWEGIAN MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN ANKARA - JOHNSON MEETS SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS

[15] FOREST FIRES IN WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION - 70 DONUM OF FORESTED AREAS BURN IN ZONGULDAK, BARTIN AND KARABUK IN TWO DAYS

[16] EFFECTS OF CRISIS IN RUSSIA - CELEBI, MINISTER OF STATE: ''WE WANT TO MENTION THAT TURKEY WILL OVERCOME CRISIS WITH MINIMUM DAMAGE''

[17] SYMPOSIUM: ''ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY TANKERS IN TRANSIT THROUGH THE STRAITS''

[18] INTERIOR MINISTER AKTAS TO LEAVE FOR ITALY ON 21 SEPTEMBER

[19] GEN. KILIC, AIR FORCES COMMANDER DUE IN MACEDONIA ON TUESDAY

[01] FOREST FIRES IN ISTANBUL - A TOTAL OF 123 HECTARES OF FOREST AREAS DESTROYED

Three of the forest fires which broke out in Istanbul throughout the day were extinguished and efforts are underway to put out three other fires.

Mehmet Sandikci, Istanbul's Director of Forestry said ''ten fires broke out today in Istanbul. Seven of them have been controlled and put out.'' Sandikci said that the forest fires which broke out in Kartal, Umraniye and Beykoz counties were extinguished and that 30 hectares of forested areas were destroyed in the fire at Kartal, 20 hectares in the fire at Umraniye and 100 decares of woodland in the fire at Beykoz.

Sandikci said that the forest fire at Yakacık, Kartal, broke out in three separate places, but has been completely extinguished. He pointed out that it was obviously sabotage. ''It isn't possible to say the same thing for the other fires at the moment.''

Meanwhile, the fire brigades, Forest Regional Directorate, Gendarme and police teams were mobilized to extinguish the fires. Helicopters were used to extinguish the fires and nearly 100 people were evacuated from the region.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Mayor of Istanbul, who followed the activities voiced his sorrow and said ''if this is a sabotage they are traitorous. They will be captured and receivee the required punishment. This is murder. We should protect our city.'' Some buildings in the district had been evacuated as a precaution, but there were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

[02] PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ: ''IF WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT ERDEMIR CAN BE SOLD FOR A PRICE LOWER THAN ITS REAL VALUE DUE TO FLUCTUATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES, THEN WE CAN DELAY THIS PROCESS''

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Yilmaz said the privatization calendar was continuing and the evaluation and promotion of the activities of the foreign markets will start in the near future.

''However, if we determine that the fluctuations continue in the final stage, then we will review the situation and we can delay the process,'' he said.

Pointing out that the ERDEMIR is the driving force of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Prime Minister Yilmaz said that if they are of the opinion that this economic cycle has intense effects on the ERDEMIR and the Turkish Airlines (THY), then they will delay the process.

''A 48.5 percent share of the ERDEMIR was offered to the public. The Foundation of the ERDEMIR Workers had requested us to increase this amount. We will make a decision in the near future,'' he said.

Prime Minister Yilmaz said that the developments on the IMKB are closely monitored and they determined that the reason for the negative developments on the IMKB was that it is indexed to the foreign and international markets.

''If we are of the opinion that the stock exchange can protect itself from these effects with internal arrangements, then we will make these arrangements,'' he mentioned.

Touching on the crisis continuing in the Far East and Russia, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that this crisis had much more destructive effects on the countries excluding Turkey and the Turkish economy proved that it can protect its dynamism.

''There are serious signals that this crisis may increase more and may be long-lasting. The government makes efforts to keep the probable effects of this crisis at the minimum level. We will make further decisions if it is necessary,'' Prime Minister Yilmaz said.

Responding to a question about Mahmut Yildirim, nicknamed ''The Green'', Mesut Yilmaz said, ''we got some information. We examined them and we determined that they weren't true. We will publicly announce on Saturday the government's actions, performances and operations against gangs and the Mafia.''

[03] 62 FOREST FIRES OCCUR IN 20 PROVINCES ON WEEKEND

The names of the provinces, the number of forest fires occurring on the weekend and the forested lands destroyed in hectares according to the announcement of the Ministry of Forestry are as follows:

Number of Forest Destroyed

Province  forest fires   (Hectares)
--------- ------------ ---------------
Adana		 1	  7.00
Adapazari	 2	 13.00
Amasya		 1	  0.50
Ankara		 5	  5.00
Antalya		 2	  0.02
Balikesir	 1	  0.05
Bolu		 1	  0.20
Bursa		 1	  2.00
Canakkale	 4	  6.32
Denizli		 1	  2.50
Eskisehir	 1	 16.00
Isparta		 1	  0.20
Istanbul	15	135.93
Izmir		 6	  6.81
Kahramanmaras	 1	  0.20
Kastamonu	 3	  0.62
Kutahya		 2	  0.65
Mugla		 8	  3.00
Sinop		 3	  0.26
Zonguldak	 3	  2.50
		--	------
Total		62	202.76

202.76 hectares is equivalent to 501 acres.

[04] CEM, FOREIGN MINISTER IN TEHERAN - CEM: ''TURKISH-ISRAELI COOPERATION IS NOT A MILITARY PACT''

Cem staged a joint news conference together with Kamal Harrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, following bilateral talks in Teheran.

Addressing the joint news conference Harrazi said that during the talks, bilateral relations as well as regional problems were discussed and that the concerns of the two countries related to the Afghanistan problem in particular were discussed in detail.

Harrazi said there were mutual points as well as the differences of opinion.

Kamal Harrazi said, ''we have disclosed our concerns related to the Turkish- Israeli military education cooperation. We have conveyed this not only as ours, but the concern of many countries in the region. This is one of the differences of opinion between the two countries.''

Harrazi also said that he would accept the invitation of Cem and visit Turkey.

Cem pointed out that he conveyed clearly during the meeting that Turkish- Israeli relations were in no way a military pact and that it didn't have objectives directed at a third country or a group of countries.

Bilateral security, economic and cultural relations were discussed during the meeting in which the sides also decided to hold regular meetings at the foreign ministry level twice a year.

Cem pointed out, ''I share the sorrow of the Iranian people and express condolonces for the martyrs of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Turkey knows this sorrow as many of our diplomats have been killed by terrorism. We are now working for the establishment of a world where there is no terrorism.''

Stressing that the security commissions took effect, Cem said these commisions convened seven times and that they discussed the border security problems. Cem also said that Turkey and Iran reciprocally used mutual efforts to develop relations.

Cem pointed out that the functioning of these committees were also important for Iran as well as Turkey, adding ''because we think that the separatist terrorism, aimed at our country, use the territories of our neighbours. We think of taking joint measures against this.''

Cem said that Turkey's concerns related with border security were disclosed to the Iranian side in detail and added that Turkey submitted a detailed plan to develop this cooperation. Cem said they decided to establish a regular consultation mechanism between Turkey and Iran and stressed that the details of the issue will be determined during Harrazi's visit to Turkey and that an important step will be taken.

Cem said that during the contacts, bilateral relations were discussed and that the Afghanistan issue was also discussed.

Noting that Turkey was of the opinion that the war in Afghanistan should be stopped immediately and a coalition should be established in which all forces will participate, Cem pointed out that the best thing that should be done at the moment was to activate the UN and have it take a serious interest in the incident.

Cem said that the commissions which will be established by the UN and other international institutions should go to Afghanistan to observe the incidents in Afghanistan ''incidents develop dangerously'' he added.

Cem said that the Cyprus issue was discussed during the talks, adding ''I have told them that Turkey won't leave the Turkish Cypriots in an atmosphere of enmity like a hopeless minority. I have told them that we should listen more to the requests of the Turkish Cypriots and be more senstive towards their sufferings. I have told them that the proposal of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for conferederation should be evaluated carefully.''

Cem also stressed that solution proposals which will be revealed on Cyprus should be acceptable to the two sides.

Speaking about their talks on Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict, ''all the regional countries, especially Turkey and Iran, are responsible for saving the Azerbaijani territory which is under Armenian occupation and oppression.''

Pointing out that these two countries live in a difficult region and that they should understand and evaluate each other very well, Cem said ''because developments in our countries affect each other a lot.''

Cem said that during his meeting with Mohammad Khatami, the Iranian President, he disclosed Turkey's concerns related to security and that Khatami told him ''your security is our security.''

Cem said ''we attach importance to this approach and I believe that our relations will be further improved and this positive atmosphere will be maintained if we approach with this understanding.''

[05] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

FOREST FIRES IN ISTANBUL
Efforts are continuning on the part of the firefighters from Maltepe and Kartal to extinguish a forest fire which erupted in Istanbul's Maltepe district yesterday. Mehmet Sandikci, the Regional Director of the Istanbul Ministry of Forestry, stated yesterday that it had become certain that a blaze in Istanbul's Beykoz District had been started intentionally at six different locations. The fire, finally put out yesterday, destroyed 150 hectares of forest. Sandikci added that the reforestation process had already begun in Beykoz to restore to the region to its previous beauty. /All papers/

YILMAZ OPENS ERDEMIR PORT FACILITIES
''The goal is to make the ERDEMIR port one of the top five facilities in Europe'' said Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz yesterday. Speaking at the opening of the Black Sea's ERDEMIR port auxiliary facilities, the construction of which began in 1990, Yilmaz stressed the importance of maritime trade and the iron and steel sectors for the country's economy. He also said the government had decided to implement the most up-to-date measures possible in order for the country to take its rightful place in the world. The Prime Minister also pointed out that the government was determined to provide for the full privatization of the Eregli Iron and Steel Plant (ERDEMIR), which will serve as a model for other privatizations. /All papers/

CEM IN IRAN
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, who is currently visiting Iran, has accused Greece of restarting the Crusades against Turkey. He was referring to a meeting last week in Teheran bringing together the Iranian, Greek and Armenian foreign ministers. Cem held a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Harazzi, in Teheran yesterday and said Greece was trying to ''recruit Muslim soldiers to take part in the new Crusades''. Harazzi denied that the tripartite meeting was anti-Turkey or that Iran had sour relations with Turkey. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who received Cem, was unhappy with Ankara's military cooperation with Israel, Iranian television reported. Khatami also extended to President Suleyman Demirel an invitation to visit Iran. Cem told Khatami that Demirel also expected the Iranian president in Turkey to participate at the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. /All papers/

NECDET CALP DIES
The former chairman of the now-defunct Populist Party (HP), Necdet Calp, died yesterday after sufferring a heart attack. Calp was the founding chairman of the HP, which was established in 1983 and merged in September 1985 with the Social Democracy Party, which then became the Social Democrat Populist Party. /All papers/

SCHOOLS OPEN TODAY
The 1998-1999 school year starts today for 13 million students and 500,000 teachers, with Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of National Education, advising students, parents and teachers about some new changes in procedure, it was reported over the weekend. The ministry has renewed its focus on the importance of studies since the institution of the eight-year compulsory education scheme. /All papers/

RADIO-COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
The World Radio-communications Conference (WRC) will be held in Istanbul in 2000. It is expected that the conference will be attended by nearly 2,500 people who will contribute almost 20 million US dollars to Turkey's economy. The conference will last for five weeks. /Hurriyet/

[06] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

1 BILLION US DOLLARS FOR THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE
The General Directorate of Highways has decided to construct the third Bosphorus Bridge with a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. It also decided that the Canakkale Bridge will be constructed with foreign credits worth 400 million US dollars. It is expected that the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge will cost nearly 1 billion US dollars. The General Directorate of Highways will open a tender at the international level regarding the Bosphorus Bridge. /Hurriyet/

600 MILLION US DOLLARS WORTH OF INVESTMENTS FROM TUPRAS
It was reported that the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TUPRAS) will complete six projects by the year 2002, which will cost 603.1 million US dollars. Ergun Kuran, the General Director, noted that the TUPRAS aimed at further developing in technology in the world oil sector and especially in the European Union (EU). /Hurriyet/

717TH COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONIES FOR ERTUGRUL GAZI
Demirel participated in the 717th commemorative ceremonies for Ertugrul Gazi in the Sogut District of Bilecik yesterday and delivered a speech and said, ''we will forever safeguard this beautiful country presented to us by our ancestors''. /Hurriyet/

SOME 1,200 MAKE PILGRIMAGE TO NORTH
Some 1,200 Greek Cyriots crossed the UN-patrolled buffer zone yesterday to make a pilgrimage to a monastery in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). But 50 others, who refused to ask the Turkish Cypriots for permission to make such a trip, staged a quiet protest at the buffer zone, where the UN guards didn't allow them to pass without proper permits. This year's daylong pilgrimage to the monastery was only the third organized since the 1974 Turkish intervention. /All papers/

HOSPITAL FOR PKK TERRORISTS
According to the Greek Cypriot Simerini newspaper, the Greek Cypriots are going to establish a hospital for the PKK terrorists at the Syrian-Iraqi border. The paper also quoted an interview with Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK leader, confirming the hospital news. It is known that the Simerini newspaper financially supports the ''Kurdistan Cooperation Committee'' at southern Cyprus. /Milliyet/

KIVRIKOGLU IN COPENHAGEN
Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, went to Copenhagen, Denmark, yesterday to attend the NATO Military Committee meetings. Kivrikoglu and the other chiefs of general staff from 16 countries were received yesterday by the Danish Queen Margrethe II and later they attended a banquet given by Christian Hvidt, the Danish Chief of General Staff, at the Tivoli Park. Official meetings will start today. /Milliyet/

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN TURKEY
A weekly economy magazine, Para, announced that 700 foreign enterprises are interested in investing in Turkey through the franchising system. The magazine listed the names of the enterprises and their investment areas from food, ready-to-wear, international hotel chains, computers, tourism to construction. Noting that 3,500 US dollars would be enough to establish an enterprise in Turkey, Para also published an internet address for detailed information; Web:http://franchise.org. /Sabah/

GREEKS FIRE AT TURKISH BOAT
Firing shots in the air, Greek soldiers aboard a coastal security board harassed yesterday a Turkish boat fishing in international waters near Ayvalik. After having escaped from the Greeks, the fishermen informed the Turkish Coastal Security forces, which arrived there and found that the Greek boat had disappeared withdrawing to the Greek territorial waters. /Cumhuriyet/

MINISTER OF HEALTH IN DENMARK
Halil Ozsoy, the Minister of Health, went yesterday to the Danish capital of Copenhagen to attend a meeting of the World Health Organization. /Cumhuriyet/

OCALAN CALLS ON GREEK CYPRIOTS TO SUPPORT PKK
In an exclusive statement to the ''Simerini'' newspaper and ''Sigma'' television in the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the PKK terrorist organization called on the GCA and Greece to jointly struggle against Turkey. Asked about thr S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, Ocalan said that he had approved the efforts by the Greek Cypriots to install missiles on the island. /Cumhuriyet/

THREE ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS
Two Italians and one Albanian aboard a boat with a Greek flag anchored in the territorial waters of Turkey were arrested yesterday by the Turkish gendarmerie in the Menderes District of Izmir. /Cumhuriyet/

[08] SECOND EUROPEAN OIL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP HELD - CENGIZ ELBEYE BECOMES WRESTLING CHAMPION

This year, Cengiz Elbeye, the Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Champion, won the championship.

A total of 42 wrestlers from Turkey, the Netherlands and some European countries attended the championship organized by the Turkish House Association in Amsterdam.

Addressing the ceremony held upon the start of the matches, Erkurt Onat, the Turkish Consul General to Rotterdam, said that he believed the friendship between the Turkish society and the European countries is intensified when these kinds of cultural values are brought to Europe.

[09] VIOLATION OF TURKISH TERRITORIAL WATERS - TWO ITALIANS AND PERSON OF ALBANIAN ORIGIN CAPTURED IN GREEK FLAGGED BOAT ARE DEPORTED

Pietro Polombo, the captain of the ship, Giovanni Vociano, the passenger in the ship and Cristo Ziu, the Albanian citizen, who were in the Greek flagged ship, namely ''Thomas-II,'' were interrogated by the Republic Prosecutor.

The two Italians who didn't have passports and the Albanian, who has a passport, in their interrorgation said they sailed off from Greece to go to Samos Island, but they lost their direction following a technical failure in the electrical system of the ship and that they anchored Turkish territorial waters without knowing.

[10] DENKTAS TO MEET WITH HOLBROOKE

President Denktas earlier announced that during his visit to New York, he will meet with Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the UN, to brief him on the confederation proposal and the latest situation on Cyprus.

Pointing out that he will attend the meeting to be held on 1 October in the aegis of the UN, Denktas said that he will hold contacts with the persons with whom Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek-Cypriot administration, will meet.

Clerides will also be in New York for the UN General Assembly activities.

After wrapping up his contacts in New York, Denktas will hold several meetings in Canada and Washington, D.C.

In the US, the TRNC President Rauf Denktas will also meet with the representatives of Islamic countries and mass-media organizations.

[11] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 14 SEPTEMBER 1998

Officials said these people were detained on charges of making propaganda of the terrorist organization at several mosques.

ISTANBUL - Kamer Genc, the Acting Speaker of the Parliament, left on Monday for Thailand to participate in the World Union of Parliaments meeting.

Genc will also meet with the speakers of the parliaments of several countries.

HOUSTON - Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources visited on Monday the Turkish stand at the energy fair after participating in the opening ceremony of the 17th Congress of the World Energy Council.

Ersumer, who visited the Turkish stand which was represented by 20 Turkish companies, also watched the ''Turkish Ministry of Energy and Resources Horse Race.''

[12] DEVELOPMENTS IN ALBANIA - FOREIGN MINISTRY ISSUES MESSAGE OF CONDOLONCE FOR HAYDARI, DEPUTY OF OPPOSITION

The Foreign Ministry statement said that Turkey wants the person responsible for the assasination to be captured soon and asked on Albanian people to be calm.

The statement said that Turkey sincerely wants the tense atmosphere to become eased before reaching dangerous dimensions and wants stability and tranquility to be preserved.

The statement said it was very important to overcome the tense atmosphere without losing respect and belief in democracy, adding ''Turkey expects the Albanian people to be in unity and expend efforts to preserve peace and order in the country. Turkey will always continue to support Albania.''

The statement also said that the required measures are taken by Turkish Embassy in Tirane to provide for the security of the Turkish citizens living in Albania against the recent developments, adding that there were no Turkish citizens who received harm during the incidents.

[13] CULTURAL DONATION FROM JAPAN TO TURKEY

Addressing the signing ceremony at the Foreign Ministry, Goker said that Turkey and Japan, which are located in the western and eastern parts of Asia, are two friendly countries. Goker said that the agreement was a product of a past of one hundred years and thanked the Japanese Government for the donation.

Toyama, the Japanese Ambassador said that the agreement aimed at improving the relations between the two countries.

Within the framework of the donation, the Japanese Government will give approximately 40 million Japanese yens to provide audio-visual equipment for the language laboratories. The Cultural Center had been opened by President Suleyman Demirel in May 1998.

Within the framework of the cultural donation aid program which started between Turkey and Japan in 1983, a total of 540 million Japanese yens were given to Turkey.

[14] NORWEGIAN MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN ANKARA - JOHNSON MEETS SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS

No statement was issued following the talks of Johnson with Ecevit and Aktas.

Hilde Johnson and an accompaning delegation, was received by Hikmet Sami Turk before meeting with Ecevit and Aktas. Speaking after the meeting with the Norwegian delegation Turk said that they exchanged information.

Noting that Norway and Turkey were two ally countries, Turk said that the ministers of the two countries held reciprocal visits within this framework.

Turk said that during the meeting they exchanged information about the developments recorded in Turkey in the field of human rights, adding that the meeting was extremely beneficial.

Turk said that they also mentioned about a program regarding prison administration, adding that these programs were an example of a productive cooperation.

[15] FOREST FIRES IN WESTERN BLACK SEA REGION - 70 DONUM OF FORESTED AREAS BURN IN ZONGULDAK, BARTIN AND KARABUK IN TWO DAYS

A total of 70 donum (17.5 acres) of forested areas were destroyed because of the fire which was caused by stubble last weekend.

The Regional Directorate of Forestry officials said there has been an increase in fires in the first eight months of this year when compared with last year.

[16] EFFECTS OF CRISIS IN RUSSIA - CELEBI, MINISTER OF STATE: ''WE WANT TO MENTION THAT TURKEY WILL OVERCOME CRISIS WITH MINIMUM DAMAGE''

Addressing a panel discussion on ''the Economic Crisis in Russia and its Effects on Turkey'' organized by the Ankara Chamber of Industry, State Minister Celebi said that they took into consideration the developments in the world and the crisis while preparing the programme and budget for 1999.

Noting that those preparations continue and will conclude in October, Celebi said that Turkey will overcome the crisis with a minimum of damage and loss.

''I want to state that we are ready to realize an intense cooperation with Russia at the highest level,'' he said.

Stressing that Russia's overcoming the crisis, even if it may take a long time, is very important for peace both in the world and in the region, Celebi said, ''we will support the shuttle trade in every field. I define the shuttle trade as the Anatolian tigers' door opening to the world.''

''We earlier recognized the Asian crisis. While we were preparing the programme and budget for 1999, we realized the deepness of the Asian crisis and we carried out our studies and activities by taking into consideration these factors,'' he stated.

''Providing the stability of the macroeconomic balances became the first point. Turkey, in this atmosphere of crisis, put forward a stability programme which provides for the stability of the macroeconomic balances and increases the competitive power. We earlier announced that these decisions, as offered in those days, shouldn't be in the form of a shocking package and for the first time, we entered with a 50 percent inflation target. We proposed that the inflation can't be decreased in a short time. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acceptd this after February 1997. We knew this issue better than the IMF experts. We stated that our programme was the best programme in an atmosphere of crisis,'' Celebi said.

Pointing out that the Turkish economy continues its line with a 4-5 percent growth rate, Celebi said that this was an important rate while there are serious restrictions in the world trade.

Noting that they pursue a conscious export strategy development policy, Celebi said, ''we reviewed the free trade agreements with twelve countries. We have established a market having a population of 250 million. The electronics and automotive by-industry shared 15 percent in the exports. We realized product-diversification in textiles and ready-to-wear. All of these were the success of Turkey.''

Stating that the volume of trade between Turkey and Russia excluding the shuttle trade reached four billion US dollars, Celebi said that half of this amount was composed of imports.

Recalling that they made a programme in 1997 by taking into consideration the crisis, Celebi said, ''we targeted to decrease inflation to 50 percent, we provided external balances and the growth rate is 4-5 percent despite the global crisis.''

[17] SYMPOSIUM: ''ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY TANKERS IN TRANSIT THROUGH THE STRAITS''

The written statement related to the issue said that Imren Aykut, the Minister of the Environment, will participate at the opening ceremony of the symposium.

The symposium, where internationally famous speakers will participate, will last for three days.

[18] INTERIOR MINISTER AKTAS TO LEAVE FOR ITALY ON 21 SEPTEMBER

The Ministry of the Interior Press Bureau said that Aktas will sign the ''Cooperation Agreement Between the Turkish and Italian Governments for Struggling Against Terrorism, Organized Crimes, Laundering of Illegal Earnings, Drug and Psychotherapeutic Substance Smuggling and Human Smuggling'', which makes the existing cooperation between the two countries in the field of security more comprehensive.

The agreement was initialed in Istanbul on 26 July 1998.

After meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano, Aktas will return to Turkey on 23 September.

[19] GEN. KILIC, AIR FORCES COMMANDER DUE IN MACEDONIA ON TUESDAY

The General Secretariat of the Air Forces Commandership said in a statement that Gen. Kilic will be in Macedonia between 15 and 17 September to represent the Turkish Armed Forces during the Cooperative Best Effort-98 maneuvers, which is one of the military exercises performed to provide a general perception of cooperation on the subject of preserving peace with the Partnership for Peace countries.

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