Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-08

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

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

08 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - SEZGIN, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT SYRIA HAS BEEN SAID''

[02] NINTH INTERNATIONAL ANTALYA SECURITY AND COOPERATION CONFERENCE TO START ON 9 OCTOBER

[03] THE US IS PLEASED ABOUT THE AGREEMENT REACHED AT JOINT DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS

[04] PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO LIFT THE PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY OF KALEMLI, THE FORMER PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

[05] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY - STATE MINISTER CELEBI: - ''ANTI- INFLATION PROGRAMME WILL ALSO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES ON THE 1999 AGENDA''

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - MOUSSA, THE EGYPTIAN FM PHONES CEM AND GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE VISIT TO SYRIA

[07] STATE MINISTER TANER TO PROCEED TO NEW YORK

[08] KOSOVO PROBLEM - KARAYALCIN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION: ''THE INCIDENTS IN KOSOVO STEM FROM THE EFFECTIVE POLICY OF MILOSEVIC AND PASSIVE POLICY OF THE WEST''

[09] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - IRANIAN FM KHARRAZI TO VISIT ANKARA

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 8 OCTOBER 1998

[11] FM SUGGESTS CITIZENS AND TURKISH TRANSPORTATION FIRMS WHICH GO ABROAD NOT TO USE THE YUGOSLAVIAN ROUTE

[12] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS A COOPERATION MESSAGE TO MALI - MALIAN-TURKISH COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION TO IMPROVE

[13] TURKISH-MOLDOVAN FIRST TERM JEC MEETINGS START IN KISHINEV

[14] DRUG OPERATIONS IN GAZIANTEP - NARCOTICS OFFICIALS SEIZE 45 KG OF HEROIN HAVING MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY 340 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[15] GIANT INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS IN ENERGY - AGREEMENT RELATED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW NATURAL GAS PLANTS SIGNED

[16] TENSION WITH SYRIA - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''WE CALL SYRIA TO STOP HOSTILITY AGAINST TURKEY, OTHERWISE TURKEY CAN REACT HOSTILE TOWARDS HER'' - ''FROM NOW ON WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL EVALUATE CAREFULLY WHAT WE SAY''

[01] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - SEZGIN, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT SYRIA HAS BEEN SAID''

Responding to the questions of journalists about the Syrian crisis, Sezgin stated that Prime Minister Yılmaz said the necessary things at the Parliament and before and after the Council of Ministers' meeting which convened the same day.

''We have conveyed our views about Syria both to the internal and foreign public opinion. It is time to wait now. We are waiting for the behaviour and attitude of Syria,'' added Sezgin.

[02] NINTH INTERNATIONAL ANTALYA SECURITY AND COOPERATION CONFERENCE TO START ON 9 OCTOBER

Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, will address the opening speech of the conference's first session. In the first session, the Turkish and foreign participants will state their points of view about international security and cooperation. In the second session of the conference, the papers will be submitted and discussed.

The conference will conclude following the closing session on 10 October.

Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense; Hasan Korkmazcan and Kamer Genc, the Acting Speakers of the Parliament; Lord John Gilbert, the Minister of Defense of Britain; Victor Babiuk, the Minister of Defense of Romania; Janusz Onyszkiewicz, the Minister of Defense of Poland; Luis De Plug, the Chairman of the West European Union (WEU); Kurt Waldheim, the former President of Austria and former UN Secretary General; and Sergio Balanzino, the Deputy Secretary General of the NATO, will attend the two-day conference.

[03] THE US IS PLEASED ABOUT THE AGREEMENT REACHED AT JOINT DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS

The US Embassy in Ankara thanked the Turkish government which played a constructive role in overcoming the conflict.

The statement noted that the agreement foresees an increase in the salaries of workers by 20 percent, a bonus of 400 US dollars four times a year, improvement of their social rights and a collective payment of 800 US dollars.

[04] PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO LIFT THE PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY OF KALEMLI, THE FORMER PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Before the voting, Bulent Akarcalı, a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP) recalled that Mustafa Kalemli, who is also a deputy from the ANAP, requested the Parliament to lift his parliamentary immunity, adding ''Kalemli wants that because he wants to be tried and acquitted.''

Addressing the Parliament, Kalemli said that ''I ask the Parliament to lift my parliamentary immunity in order to clarify the claims put forward concerning the construction of the Parliament Hall.''

Later the report of the Constitution and Justice Joint Commission was voted on and the Parliament decided to lift Kalemli's parliamentary immunity.

[05] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY - STATE MINISTER CELEBI: - ''ANTI- INFLATION PROGRAMME WILL ALSO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES ON THE 1999 AGENDA''

Addressing the Parliamentary General Assembly, Isin Celebi said that shortly after the crisis in the world markets, Turkey took the necessary measures and carried out an expenditure discipline.

Pointing out that Turkey took great care following the crisis and during this process, they targetted to decrease the inflation to around 50 percent from 90 percent, Isin Celebi said, ''it has been clearly seen that our measures brought results.''

Noting that they are aware that the world will experience a serious recession next year, Celebi said, ''Turkey will continue her anti-inflation policy in 1999. We targeted to decrease the inflation to around 30 percent.''

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - MOUSSA, THE EGYPTIAN FM PHONES CEM AND GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE VISIT TO SYRIA

Sermet Atacanlı, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, told the A.A that Moussa, the Egyptian Foreign Minister phoned Foreign Minister Cem at 18:00 local time on Wednesday and gave information about their contacts in Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian President, together with Amr Moussa, came to Ankara on Tuesday and met with President Suleyman Demirel. Mubarak and the accompanying delegation left for Damascus, the capital of Syria the same day together with the file submitted by Turkey and gave the file to Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian President, at the airport.

Atacanlı said that Ismail Cem once again explained the views of Turkey about the tension with Syria on the phone to Moussa, noting that terrorism is the only problem between Turkey and Syria.

[07] STATE MINISTER TANER TO PROCEED TO NEW YORK

Taner, who met with Michel Camdesus, the Chairman of the IMF, also held contacts with the representatives of several banks and financial organizations like the Nomura Int, West LB, Credit Suisse First Boston, Vereins Bank, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Nordic Investment Bank and the Bank Boston Securities.

Taner, who will participate in the IMF-World Bank Governors' Committee meeting on Thursday, will later proceed to New York.

During his contacts in Washington, D.C., Gunes Taner stressed that the Turkish economy was advancing in accordance with the determined targets and she has a ''powerful structure'' to protect herself from the crisis affecting Asia and Russia.

Within the framework of the Staff Monitoring Agreement between Turkey and the IMF, an IMF delegation will pay a visit to Turkey next week.

The IMF officials said that the Turkish economy didn't deviate from the targets included in the agreement.

The IMF, in its latest report, defined Turkey's anti-inflation programme as ''successful''.

[08] KOSOVO PROBLEM - KARAYALCIN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION: ''THE INCIDENTS IN KOSOVO STEM FROM THE EFFECTIVE POLICY OF MILOSEVIC AND PASSIVE POLICY OF THE WEST''

Addressing a conference on Kosovo, Karayalcın said that the UN Security Council adopted two basic principles about the Kosovo problem, one of them is an embargo on weapons and the second one is the starting of negotiations by ending the clashes in Kosovo. Karayalcın stated that the UN sanctions aren't implemented in Kosovo.

Noting that Serbians violate human rights in Kosovo, Karayalcın stated that the number of people who migrated to neighbouring countries from Kosovo reached approximately 300,000.

Pointing out that the conflict can be solved by protecting the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia and the autonomous structure of Kosovo, Karayalcın stated ''if necessary, countries should resort to military intervention.''

Luis Maria de Puig, the Chairman of the Western European Union (WEU) Parliamentary Assembly said that the WEU has been closely monitoring the Kosovo conflict from the beginning. Noting that Serbians are against the intervention in Kosovo, but the WEU wants

Kosovo to have its autonomy, Puig pointed out that they suggested to their governments, which are WEU members, to prepare for an military intervention if necessary.

[09] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - IRANIAN FM KHARRAZI TO VISIT ANKARA

The diplomatic sources said that following the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's contacts in Ankara and Damascus to remove the tension, the Kharrazi will hold contacts with both Turkey and Syria within the framework of Iran's goodwill mission.

The diplomatic sources said the visit of Kharrazi, who is expected to arrive in Ankara late on Thursday, can be delayed to early Friday according to the schedule of his contacts in Damascus.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Kharrazi left Teheran early on Thursday for Damascus.

The officials from the Iranian Embassy in Ankara said that Kharrazi will meet in Damascus with Faruq al-Shara, the Foreign Minister of Syria.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Khatemi, the President of Iran, who announced on Wednesday that they were ready to mediate in the removal of the tension, has talked on the phone with the President Suleyman Demirel and the Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 8 OCTOBER 1998

Addressing a press conference, Izzet Gucyener, the Turkish Consul General in Leipzig, said that Turkey was very pleased with that decision, stressing, ''the friendship obtains strength with such initiatives.''

Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism, and Fermani Uygun, the Undersecreatry of the Ministry of Tourism, are expected to attend the Leipzig Tourism Fair.

BONN - Turkey is represented by more than three thousand books published by 75 publishing houses at the 50th International Frankfurt Book Fair, it was reported on Wednesday.

A total of 6,760 stands from 52 countries are particiating at the fair opened on Tuesday by Roman Herzog, the President of Germany.

LEFKOSA - Ann Hercus, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Deputy Special Representative to Cyprus, returned on Wednesday to the island after wrapping up her contacts in Ankara and Athens.

Speaking to reporters at the Larnaka Airport, Hercus said her meetings with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and with Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister, were ''constructive'', they made the preparation for the negotiations with the sides on the island.

Hercus said that the contacts with the sides will be closed to the press and the TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the Greek-Cypriot side leader Glafcos Clerides are of the same opinion.

ANTALYA - Halina Kobeckaite, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Turkey, said on Wednesday that they wanted to expand the existing high-level diplomatic relations between Turkey and Lithuania to cultural and social relations.

Kobeckaite, who arrived in southern Antalya province to participate at the ''Ninth International Antalya Security and Cooperation Meeting'' organized by the Turkish Atlantic Council, met with Husnu Tuglu, the Governor of Antalya, and with Ali Zeybek, the Acting Mayor of Antalya.

Kobeckaite, in these meetings, said that they launched initiatives to continue the diplomatic and eonomic cooperation between the two countries on the cultural and social issues as well.

Pointing out that a total of two thousand Lithuanian tourists visited Turkey this year, Ambassador Halina Kobeckaite said the Lithuanian tourists preferred Turkey for her natural beauties and culture.

[11] FM SUGGESTS CITIZENS AND TURKISH TRANSPORTATION FIRMS WHICH GO ABROAD NOT TO USE THE YUGOSLAVIAN ROUTE

The Foreign Ministry said that this suggestion was made by taking into consideration the general security atmosphere in the Yugoslavian Federal Republic.

''The public opinion knows the fact that clashes which continue in the Kosovo region and which threaten the regional security have come to the stage of a possible intervention by the international society,'' added the statement.

[12] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS A COOPERATION MESSAGE TO MALI - MALIAN-TURKISH COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION TO IMPROVE

Foreign Ministry stated that in his message President Demirel celebrates the Malian National Day by stressing the fact that Turkey wishes to improve cooperation in every field with Mali concerning particularly economic and commercial relations.

President Demirel also invited Konara to Turkey due to the celebrations which will be held for the 75th foundation anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.

The Turkish delegation which held contacts in Mali up to 30 September, included Mufit Ozdes, the Turkish Ambassador to Libya and Ergun Olgun, the Presidential Undersecretary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
During the Turkish delegation's contacts in Mali, the officials from the two countries decided on the visit of a Malian delegation to Turkey in order to sign cooperation agreements on commerce, economy, technology- science.

Another Malian delegation was invited to Turkey to sign a cooperation agreement on training between the Malian Gendarmerie and the Turkish Gendarmerie. The Turkish officials also decided to open a Turkish Honourary Consul in Bamako, the capital of Mali, to give scholarships to Malian students, to hold vocational training courses to Malian experts in tourism and the environment. The TRNC will also give scholarships to Malian students.

[13] TURKISH-MOLDOVAN FIRST TERM JEC MEETINGS START IN KISHINEV

The Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade issued a written statement saying that the Turkish delegation was being led by Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State, and the Moldovan delegation was being led by Ion Tanase, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Moldova.

During the meetings, the sides will seek the opportunities to solve the problems preventing the commercial and economic relations between the two countries and to further improve the relations.

During the JEC meetings, the issue of the ''irrigation project to be implemented in Comrat, Vulcanesti and Chadirlunga cities of Moldova where mostly the Gagavuz Turks are living'' will be discussed.

The Turkish side will request the Moldovan side to fulfill the necessary legal proceedings concerning the issue.

The Turkish Eximbank will provide a loan of 15 million US dollars for the project in accordance with the agreement between the two countries.

The sides will also discuss the issues of ''the improvement of cooperation in the regular and rapid exchange of information'', ''establishment of a direct contact among the Turkish and Moldovan banks'' and ''development of cooperation in the field of standardization''.

Following the meetings, the First Term JEC Meeting protocol, which will include the issues to be agreed on by both sides, is expected to be signed in Kishinev on 9 October.

[14] DRUG OPERATIONS IN GAZIANTEP - NARCOTICS OFFICIALS SEIZE 45 KG OF HEROIN HAVING MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY 340 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

Addressing a press conference, Resat Altay, the Director of the Gaziantep Security Directorate, said that acting on a tip-off, the narcotics officials found the drugs in a house.

Altay added that Hasan Yildiz, Abdullah Yildiz, Mehmet Nezir Aslan, Abdurrahman Turk, Osman Arslan, Yasar Tas, Mustafa Turk, Kenni Yildiz and Hanim Yildiz were taken into custody.

The investigation concerning the drugs is underway.

[15] GIANT INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS IN ENERGY - AGREEMENT RELATED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW NATURAL GAS PLANTS SIGNED

Addressing the signature ceremony related with the construction of the Natural Gas Transformation power plants in Adapazari, Gebze, Izmir (Aliaga) and Ankara which has a power of 4,530 megawatt, Yilmaz mentioned about this difference and showed France as an example.

Yilmaz said that France was a country that can be compared with Turkey with her population and geography, adding ''per capita electricity production in France is 8,000 kilowatt hours and 1,500 kilowatt hours in Turkey. Motorways in France is 10,000 km per person and 1,600 km in Turkey.''

Yilmaz pointed out ''we are obliged to make an investment worth 800 billion US dollars in the fields of energy, harbours, motorways and telecommunications to close this gap.

''But it is clear that this investment can't be realized with the opportunities of the state. We should activate the opportunities of the state as well as the possibilities of the private sector and foreign capital to close this gap'' Yilmaz stressed.

Yilmaz said that when the energy power plants which will be realized with the build-operate-transfer model take effect, it will meet 20 percent of Turkey's annual energy production.

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the established power capacity which Turkey reached in her 75 years old past is 21,000 megawatts, pointing out that the power plants will be made with a privatization model which won't produce a burden on the state and budget.

He said that when the power plants which will be realized with the ''build- operate-transfer'' model take effect, it will meet 20 percent of Turkey's annual energy production. Yilmaz pointed out that the cost of the investments of the natural gas power plants was approximately three billion US dollars and that 30 percent of this will be paid for by the companies and that 70 percent will be paid for with foreign credit.

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz stressed that power plants in Bursa, Cayirhan, Kangal, Marmara Ereglisi, autoproduction installations and hydroelectic power plants are added to these investments, it will be true to say that there is an ''energy reform'' going on in Turkey. He also said when all these activities are concluded, the per capita energy production in Turkey will be 4,000 kilowatts in the year 2005.

[16] TENSION WITH SYRIA - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''WE CALL SYRIA TO STOP HOSTILITY AGAINST TURKEY, OTHERWISE TURKEY CAN REACT HOSTILE TOWARDS HER'' - ''FROM NOW ON WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL EVALUATE CAREFULLY WHAT WE SAY''

Responding to questions of the journalists after the presidency meeting of the Western European Union Assembly, Cem stressed that Turkey has done nothing that could damage the relations with Syria.

Cem pointed out, ''the Turkish nation cannot endure such a hostility any more. Only friendship can improve the relations between the two countries, not hostility. From now on we hope that everyone will evaluate carefully what we say. We believe that Syria will establish positive, clear and friendly relations which are suited to neighbouring countries.''

Reminding that he held telephone conversations with Kamal Kharrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, several times, Cem noted that Kharrazi may come to Turkey on Thursday night or tomorrow. He stated that Kharrazi shares the same goodwill and friendship with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in order to ease the tension between Turkey and Syria.

Noting that the latest developments on the issue were also discussed at the presidency meeting of the Western European Union Assembly, Cem told the reporters that he expressed how Turkey suffered from the terrorism that claims thousands of innocent lives.

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