Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-11-08

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

08 NOV 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TALABANI, THE PUK LEADER ARRIVES IN TURKEY - TALABANI: ''THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF WASHINGTON AGREEMENT IS GOING FINE''

[02] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN IN BULGARIA

[03] WEF TURKEY MEETING STARTS IN ISTANBUL

[04] BARZANI-TALABANI MEETING ENDS

[05] BARZANI-TALABANI MEETING - SALIH, PUK REPRESENTATIVE TO WASHINGTON D.C, THE US: ''THERE CAN'T BE ANY PKK CAMPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ UNDER THE WASHINGTON AGREEMENT''

[06] JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETINGS BETWEEN PARLIAMENT AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO START ON MONDAY

[07] REPRESENTATIVES OF 29 MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TO SEEK FOR JOINT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

[08] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND STATE MINISTER: ''OUR STRUGGLE WITH GANGS UPSETS AND MAKES SEVERAL CIRCLES JEALOUS''

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 8 NOVEMBER 1998

[01] TALABANI, THE PUK LEADER ARRIVES IN TURKEY - TALABANI: ''THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF WASHINGTON AGREEMENT IS GOING FINE''

Massaud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), who is also in Ankara came together with Jalal Talabani, the leader of the PUK on Sunday.

Responding to questions of journalists while waiting for Barzani; Talabani said that he came to Ankara to improve relations with Turkey and he aims at correcting several misunderstandings.

Talabani pointed out that ''the implementation process of the Washington Agreement is going very fine,'' adding that he will take up issues concerning the implementation of Washington Agreement with Barzani.

Noting that he will always be loyal to the Ankara process, Talabani said that he will stay in Ankara for three or four days and meet with Turkish officials.

High ranking officials of PUK and KDP are also present at the meeting between Barzani and Talabani.

[02] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SEZGIN IN BULGARIA

Ismet Sezgin met with Ahmet Dogan, the leader of the Rights and Freedoms Movement, which is the third biggest political power at the Bulgarian Parliament, and other officials of the Rights and Freedoms Movement.

Stressing the importance of providing friendship, peace and cooperation from an atmosphere of enmity and hostility, Ismet Sezgin said, ''from this perpective, the kinsmen living in Bulgaria have undertook a mission to act as a friendship bridge between Turkey and Bulgaria.''

Recalling that Petar Stoyanov, the President of Bulgaria, during his official visit to Turkey, had expressed his sorrow over the events in the past, Sezgin said that the new Bulgarian government launches great initiative to diffuse the problems of the minorities.

Ahmet Dogan, the leader of the Rights and Freedoms Movement, said that the ''bridge concept'' constitues the basis for the Movement. When asked whether or not he consdired as sufficient the rights that the Turks gained, Dogan said, ''we have a lot of things to do.''

Prior to his meeting with the Rights and Freedoms Movement's Executive Board, Deputy Prime Minister Sezgin visited the Turkish Ziraat Bank's branch office in Sofia.

Bank officials briefed Sezgin on the activities of the branch office. They said the office, which was established with a capital of 10 million German marks, collected a total of 1 million US dollars of deposit in four months, adding that two third of the office's total customers was composed of the Turkish pople.

[03] WEF TURKEY MEETING STARTS IN ISTANBUL

WEF issued a statement saying that all of the sessions and discussions of the two-day meeting, which started at the Ciragan Palace, will focus on business world, adding that especially the form of the economic reforms, which were proposed to the government by the Turkish business world to increase the competition power in global market, the movements, which are expected at the budget deficit, the struggle against inflation, the financial reforms, the Central Bank's monetary policies, the relations with the European Union (EU), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Region and their applicability will also be discussed.

The statement said President Suleyman Demirel; Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz; Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of State; Gunes Taner, the Minister of State responsible for economy; Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP); Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP); Gazi Ercel, the President of Central Bank; Ugur Bayar, the Chairman of the Privatization Administration Board; Vladimir Kossov, the Minister of Economy of Russia; and Muharrem Kayhan, the Chairman of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), are expected to attend tomorrow's session on ''Determination of Priority for Global Competition''.

[04] BARZANI-TALABANI MEETING ENDS

Hosyar Vebari, member of the KDP politburo said that ''the meeting was positive and constructive.''

Talabani, the leader of the PUK who came to Ankara on Saturday evening, met with Massuad Barzani, the leader of the KDP, who has been holding contacts in Ankara since last week.

''The gathering of the two Kurdish leaders constitutes the continuation of the agreement signed between the two parties in Washington D.C, the US on September 17,'' said Vebari.

Noting that the two leaders exchanged views concerning the methods of improving relations with Turkey during the meeting, Vebari said that the two leaders attributed importance to joint efforts to install an atmosphere of peace and stability in Northern Iraq.

Barzani, the KDP leader is expected to leave Ankara the same day, while Talabani, the PUK leader will start his official contacts in Ankara on Monday.

[05] BARZANI-TALABANI MEETING - SALIH, PUK REPRESENTATIVE TO WASHINGTON D.C, THE US: ''THERE CAN'T BE ANY PKK CAMPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ UNDER THE WASHINGTON AGREEMENT''

Responding to questions of journalists after the meeting held between Jalal Talabani, the leader of the PUK and Massuad Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Ankara held on Sunday, Salih stated that the two Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq signed the Washington Agreement on September 17, 1998 which aims at installation of an atmosphere of peace and stability in the region.

Claiming that the Washington Agreement is a good agreement for not only themselves, but also for neighbouring countries, Salih said that ''Turkey is our powerful neighbour, we can't keep her away and our improvement of relations are to the interest of both sides.'' Salih pointed out that the visit of Talabani to Turkey is a sign that shows that PUK wishes to improve her relations with Turkey.

Responding to a question, Salih said that Iran is also a powerful country in the region and they can't isolate this country and other neighbouring countries from the developments in Northern Iraq.

Noting that their main targets in the region is installation of democracy and peace, Salih said that the future of Iraq has to be decided by the Iraqi people.

Responding to a question saying that Turkey is uneasy about the expressions concerning an federative order that will be installed in Northern Iraq, Salih said that the agreement is very clear concerning this issue and they don't aim to establish an independent Kurdish state in the region. ''We favour a federative order in Iraq, this will solve the security problems of the region,'' Salih said.

Salih said that the deadline that is foreseen under the Washington Agreement to solve the problems between the two Kurdish parties is going on fine.

Jalal Talabani will start his official contacts in Ankara on Monday.

[06] JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETINGS BETWEEN PARLIAMENT AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO START ON MONDAY

The latest situation of the Turkish-European Union (EU) relations will be discussed and evaluated at the JPC meeting, which will be presided by Bulent Akarcali, the Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy from Istanbul, and by Pieter Dankert, the European Parliament Socialist Group member from the Netherlands.

The Turkish Parliamentary delegation members will hold bilateral contacts with the European Parliament members during the two-day meeting.

The JPC meetings will be concluded on 10 November with a joint press conference.

[07] REPRESENTATIVES OF 29 MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY TO SEEK FOR JOINT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Gregory H. Laughlin, the Spokesman of the Patton Boggs firm, issued a written statement saying that the representatives of those 29 multi- national companies, which carry out activities in the fields of construction, finance, insurance and textiles, will arrive in Turkey on 9 November. The representatives will be received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and will meet with government officials and the representatives of the private sector and seek for joint investment and cooperation opportunities.

Laughlin said in his statement that Turkey offers important investment opportunities for multi-national firms.

Stressing that Turkey is a close ally of the US, Laughlin said that Prime Minister Yilmaz'z reforms in economy and the developments in economy have turned Turkey into a country which is appropriate for investing.

The representatives, who will visit Turkey for a week, will also hold contacts with the Foreign Ministry officials and examine the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

[08] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND STATE MINISTER: ''OUR STRUGGLE WITH GANGS UPSETS AND MAKES SEVERAL CIRCLES JEALOUS''

Addressing a press briefing the same day, Ecevit stated that Turkey follows the success of Italy in her struggle with the gangs.

Noting that the former coalition governments did not capture even one mafia boss and did not struggle with gangs, Ecevit, who is also the leader of the Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) stated that ''commencement of a different process today seems to upset several circles and makes them jealous.''

Stressing that the government in Turkey struggles with the gangs in a resolved and effective manner for the first time in Turkey, Ecevit said that many mafia connected incidents are being solved and mafia bosses are in a position today to give an explaination for their crimes.

Recalling that reforms in the field of education and tax were adopted in Turkey, Ecevit said that people extend great support to the reforms.

Stressing that the government is resolved to register the unrecorded economy, Bulent Ecevit said that this will be to the interest of both workers and employers who abide by rules. Ecevit added that they prepare a draft law on labour insurance and do their best for the approval of it by the parliament.

''We hope another draft law on amnesty, which is prepared by us, will be submitted to the parliament as a government proposal,'' said Ecevit, adding that ''investigations and examinations are being carried out concerning 45 big gangs and their 348 members have been arrested,'' said Ecevit.

Responding to questions about the extradition of Alaattin Cakıcı; a notorious mafia boss who was captured in Nice city of France, to Turkey, Ecevit said that ''the crimes committed by Cakıcı in Turkey are more important than the crimes he committed in Western European countries. In this respect we hope the French officials to accept the extradition of Cakıcı to Turkey. As you know our Minister of Justice had visited France and several European countries to discuss this issue. I could not get any information from him yet on his return to Turkey, I hope he has good news.''

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 8 NOVEMBER 1998

The six-member delegation led by Forsyth concluded its six-day visit covering Sanliurfa, Mardin and Adiyaman provinces included in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

LEFKOSA - The official propaganda period concerning the general elctions, which the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will have on 6 December, will start on 9 November, it was reported on Sunday.

A total of 352 candidates including two independent candidates will vie for being the new 50 members of the TRNC Parliament.

ANKARA - The delegation led by Mohammad Barkad, the Minister of Trade and Industry of Djibouti, arrived on Sunday in Turkey.

The Djiboutian delegation, which will hold official contacts to improve the trade between the two countries, will leave Turkey on 11 November.

ISTANBUL - The seminar on ''Training of Agriculture and Food Administrators In Mediterranean Countries'', which was organized by the Center of International Higher Etudes of Agriculture in Mediterranean (CIHEAM) and which will be hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will start on 9 November, it was reported on Sunday.

Mustafa Tasar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will address the opening speech of the two-day seminar at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel in Istanbul.

Jose J. Godinho-Avo, the Chairman oof the CIHEAM; Lakhdar Brahimi, the Deputy Secretary General of the UN; Andre Dubois, the Honorary General Director of the European Community Foreign Affairs; Adel Al-Baltagy, the General Director of the International Arid Agricultural Lands Research Center, and the representatives of the World Bank and OECD will attend the seminar.

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