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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-02Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>02 DEC 1998CONTENTS
[01] US GOVERNMENT: ''THE ISSUE OF OCALAN IS AN ISSUE OF TERRORISM'' - ''TRYING OCALAN FOR HIS TERRORIST ACTS CONSTITUTES THE PRIORITY FOR US''WASHINGTON D.C., Dec 2 (A.A) - James Rubin, US Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday, ''the issue of Ocalan is an issue of terrorism.'' Rubin also said that trying Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, constituted the priority for the US government.Responding a question on the proposal of Italy and Germany regarding the trial of the bloodshed terrorist Ocalan in an international court, Rubin said, ''we are holding contacts with Turkey, Italy, Germany and international community.'' Rubin also stressed that their contacts were about trying Ocalan under both the domestic laws and international criteria on his crimes of terrorism and humanity. Rubin added, ''trying Ocalan is the important fact for US. To this end, the US government will continue to hold contacts with Italy, Turkey and Germany.'' Rubin also emphasized that ''European Convention'' regarding the struggle against terrorism foresaw the trial of Ocalan in Italy in case he was not extradited to Turkey. Responding a question, Rubin underscored that the issue of Ocalan meant ''terrorism'' for the US government. Rubin added, ''this incident can mean different things to different people. However, it means terrorism for the US, which takes the struggle against terrorism on the top of its political agenda. If a terrorist is responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, then he has to be tried. It is our point of view. Of course, other people can have different point of views.'' The US government calls for the extradition of Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization to Turkey and opposes granting terrorist Ocalan political asylum. A dossier prepared by the security and intelligence units of the US government concerning the terrorist acts carried out by the separatist terrorist organization was also submitted to Italy. [02] MAIN OIL PIPELINE - NATIK ALIYEV, SOCAR CHAIRMAN: ''WE HAVE AGREED WITH TURKEY ON AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACCORD''BAKU, Dec 2 (A.A) - Natik Aliyev, the Chairman of Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR, said on Tuesday that they had come to an agrrement on Baku- Ceyhan main pipeline project with Turkey on an intergovernmental accord.Stressing that only a transportation accord was left between the two countries in his speech in the National Assembly, Aliyev noted that they would come to an agreement on this issue as soon as possible. Emphasizing that the cost of 3.7 billion dolars estimated by the international consortium operation company AIOC was too much for the project, Aliyev said, ''we are taking our figures into account.'' Aliyev also added that the exact cost could not be put forth since the negotiations with Turkey was going on. Aliyev also drew the attention to the fact that the project was affected by the decrease in the prices of oil in the world markets. [03] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''DEPLOYMENT OF MISSILES ON CRETE IS OUT OF QUESTION''PARIS, Dec 2 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, said on Monday that the deployment of Russian S-300 missiles on Greece's Crete island in place for the Greek Cypriot side was unacceptable.Cem told Agence France Presse (AFP) during the West European Union (WEU) meetings that ''our attitude is clear. We can't consent to the deployment of the missiles in our geography, Aegaen Sea. This is their problem, serious results will occur if they make a mistake.'' Following his meeting with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine in Paris, Teodoros Pangalos, the Foreign Minister of Greece, said that deployment of S-300 missiles on Crete was possible. [04] THE SECOND PATROL BOAT IS GIVEN TO GEORGIAGOLCUK, Dec 2 (A.A) - The second patrol boat to Georgia under the bilateral agreement between Turkey was given to Georgia by a ceremony held in the Naval Force Headquarters.In the ceremony to which Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, Commander of Naval Forces attended, General Omar Lekveisvili, Deputy Defence Minister of Georgia, and Admiral Ugur Yigit, Head of the General Staff Logistics Department, signed the protocol under the agreement between two countries. Yigit then recalled that Georgia was in the period of restructuring after the collapse of USSR. Stressing that the relations between the countries would gradually improve, Yigit expressed that Turkey was proud of contributing to the fortification of Georgian Naval Forces. Stating that the military relation between two countries would contribute to the establishment of peace and security in Black Sea, Lekveisvilli thanked Turkey for her support. The ceremony ended when the Georgian personnel entered the boat as the Turkish personnel left the boat. [05] WORLD BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS IN ANTALYAANTALYA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The World Three-Band Billiards Championship started on Tuesday in southern Antalya province.The championship, which was held also in Antalya last year, is taking place at the Royal Resort Hotel in Goynuk region in Kemer county of Antalya. A total of 116 players from 27 countries will compete in the six-day championship. The World Rank players will join the championship following the qualifying rounds to end in the fourth day of the championship. Turkish player Semih Sayginer, Switzerland's Blumdahl Torbjorn and the Netherlands' Dick Jaspers are the champ candidates. [06] PREMIER YILMAZ ADDRESSES TO ITALIAN TELEVISION: ''WE CAN'T ACCEPT A PERSON WHO COMMITTED CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND WHO KILLED CIVILIANS TO BE TREATED AS A GUEST IN ITALY''ROME, Dec 2 (A.A) - Premier Mesut Yılmaz said on Tuesday that Turkey can't accept Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK, who committed crime against humanity and who killed civilians, to be treated as a guest in Italy.Addressing to RAIUNO, the Italian television channel, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz responded to questions about the position of Abdullah Ocalan, the separatist terrorist organization PKK and the Galatasaray-Juventus football match which will be played on Wednesday. Noting that he knows that the Italian Constitution prohibits the death penalty and he respects the Italian Constitution, Yılmaz pointed out that he is ready to assure guarantees saying that Turkey will not sentence the terrorist chief to death penalty. ''Italy can try him, this is permitted by your justice,'' said Premier Yılmaz, adding that Turkey rejects the idea of ''international court'' which is not foreseen under any convention. Stressing that Italy or Germany should try the terrorist chief, Premier Yılmaz addressed to Italian nation and said ''you should put yourself in the place of Turkish people.'' Responding to questions about Galatasaray-Juventus match, Yılmaz said that sports and politics were mixed with each other in a meaningless way. [07] UZBEKISTAN CONTACTS OF THE TURKISH PARLAMENTARIAN DELEGATION - DELEGATION MEETS HALILOV AND CORAYEVTASKENT, Dec 2 (A.A) - Turkish parlamentarian delegation presided by Hasan Korkmazcan, Deputy Parliament Speaker, continues to hold contacts in Taskent on Tuesday, where they arrived on Monday to make searches on the cultural wealth of Uzbekistan.Turkish parlamentarian delegation met with Erkin Halilov, the head of the Uzbek Upper Parliament, Hayrettin Corayev, Culture Minister and Rustem Halmuradov, Deputy Education Minister. In his meeting with Halilov, Korkmazcan said that Turkish parliament was ready to help in every aspect to Uzbek parliament. Noting that it was very useful to join the parliaments of Central Asian Turkish Republics as the parliaments of the Mediterrenean countries came together, Korkmazcan said, ''as you all know, Arabs did not come together after they gained their independence. They can not come together despite their oil and other natural resources. We, the Turkish people should not make the same mistake.'' Halilov also said that he wanted strong cooperation between the parliaments of two countries. Stressing that he was pleased by seeing the Turkish delegation in Uzbekistan, Halilov added, ''my father grew us with respect and love for Turkey. We are hearing the word ''Turkish'' since we were small. However, it was a crime to even pronounce the word ''Turk'' in the Soviet era. My father used to cry when he heard the word ''Turk.'' [08] GAP REGION EXPORTS 484 MILLION DOLLARS OF ANIMAL AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN 11 MONTHSGAZIANTEP, Dec 2 (A.A) - The exports of agricultural and animal products from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first eleven months of 1998 decreased 14.2 percent to 484 million 36 thousand US dollars, it was reported on Wednesday.The region exported 563 million 513 thousand US dollars of animal and agricultural products in the same period last year. Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Unions, told the A.A correspondent that 13 million US dollars of animal products, 142 million 626 thousand US dollars of grain-cereals, 50 million 410 thousand US dollars of dried fruits and 278 million US dollars of textiles products were exported in the first eleven months of this year. [09] CORLEONE, ITALIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY: ''OCALAN CAN STAY IN ITALY AFTER DECEMBER 22''ROME, Dec 2 (A.A) - Franco Corleone, the Undersecretary of Italian Ministry of Defence, said that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, could stay in Italy after the compulsory date of December 22- when 40 days of Ocalan's being in Italy finish- until a law suit was filed about him under Italian laws.Corleone also stated that Ocalan could be extradited, could be granted political asylum or ''could be tried in an international court'' as Massimo D'Alema, Italian Prime Minister, had put forth on Tuesday. Stressing that time would solve Ocalan dispute, Corleone claimed that ''if Turkey wants to protect her relations with the European Union, (EU) she should stop polemics.'' Meanwhile, Guiseppe Ayala, another Undersecratary of the Italian Defence Ministry, noted that trying Ocalan in Italy was more realistic than the proposal of trying him in an international court. [10] ARTIST'98- 8TH ISTANBUL ARTS FAIR ACTIVITIES - A PAINTING EXHIBITION IS HELD IN WHICH THE WORKS OF YUCEL DONMEZ, A.A CORRESPONDENT TO CHICAGO, ARE PRESENTISTANBUL, Dec 2 (A.A) - A painting exhibition is being held within the framework of ''Artist-98- Eighth Istanbul Arts Fair'' in which the works of Yucel Donmez, A.A correspondent to Chicago, are presented, it is reported on Tuesday.In the painting exhibition held in the TUYAP (Tum Construction and Marketting Corporation) Exhibition Gallery in Tepebası by the contributions of TUYAP and the Association of Arts Galleries in Istanbul, the works of Lutfu Culcul and Maria Kilicoglu are also being presented. [11] WALL STREET JOURNAL: ''OCALAN CAN'T BE TRIED BY AN INTERNATIONAL COURT''NEW YORK, Dec 2 (A.A) - Wall Street Journal, one of the leading newspapers of the US, noted that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK can't be tried by an international court, it is reported on Tuesday.Comparing Ocalan with Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean dictator, the newspaper pointed out that Ocalan, the terrorist chief has constituted a big and dangerous gang in Germany where two millions of Turkish people live. Noting that there is not any international court that can try Abdullah Ocalan, Wall Street Journal pointed out that the UN meeting that was held in Rome this year accepted the establishment of a court on war criminals, but there isn't any established court yet. The paper added that even if there was such a court, the judges who would sentence the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK could not be protected and they could face with the retaliation of the PKK terrorists. [12] DECISION OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERSANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The Council of Ministers annuled temporarily the implementation of ''Agreement on Mutually Lifting Of Visas'' signed in 1972 between Turkey and Afghanistan, it was reported on Wednesday.In accordance with the Council of Ministers' decision published in the Official Gazette the same day, the reason for the temporary annulment of the agreement in question was to ''protect public order.'' The decision said visa exemption will be given to diplomatic passports of Afghanistan in accordance with the reciprocity principle. The Foreign Ministry said the reason for that decision was the internal chaos in Afghanistan. Officials said the change had a characteristc of ''precationary measure.'' [13] THE ARTISTIC WORKS AND VALUABLE BELONGINGS OF JEWS PLUNDERED BY NAZIS - TURKEY PROVES THAT SHE DID NOT BUY THE ''GOLD'' OF JEWSWASHINGTON D.C., Dec 2 (A.A) - The fact that the Jewish gold usurped and plundered by the Nazis were brought to Turkey was proved to be false in an international conference in Washington D.C., it is reported on Wednesday.''Nazi Gold'' matter was handled in the Washington Conference concerning the artistic works and the valuable belongings of the Jewish and other people with different nationalities usurped in the Nazi era. Stuart Eisenstat, US Deputy State Secretary, claimed in the report of July 1998 that the valuable belongings of the Jewish people were brought to ''impartial'' Turkey. However in Washington Conference, Einsenstat said, ''Turkish experts made a comprehensive investigation'' after seeing the documents of Turkish government on this issue. Stuart added that Turkish Central Bank put forth a detailed investigation and that it could not find ''a single evidence'' regarding the plunder of the Jewish gold. Turkey bought gold from Switzerland during the World War II, not from Germany. The gold came via Germany due to the difficulties in the war time. Turkey ''never'' had gold deal with Germany during the war time. Turkish government returned the German belongings captured during the World War II as the war ended. Totally 44 countries and the representatives of 13 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the World Jewish Congress (WJC) attended the Conference. The conference aims at providing an international concensus on the return of the artistic works and valuable belongings that were usurped and plundered by the Nazis, to the ones who could remain alive from the Jewish genocide or to their relatives. The Foreign Ministry, State Ministries, Turkish Central Bank and Jewish Turkish citizens delegations presided by Sevinc Dalyanoglu, General Directorate of Multilateral Economic Relations of Foreign Ministry, represent Turkey in this conference. [14] TENDER FOR SECURITY NETWORK AT STRAITS ANNULLEDANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The tender for the installation of ''Full-Automatic Computerized Vessel Traffic Control'' system, which will provide security at the Istanbul and Canakkale Straits, was annulled, it was reported on Wednesday.A total of 13 domestic and foreign companies got specifications for the tender to which only two firms submitted bids. Thus the Maritime Undersecretariat cancelled the tender while the officials said the tender will be renewed in February 1999. The US Lockheed and German Atlas Electronik and its Turkish investor partner Simkon companies bid for the ''turn-key delivery'' construction tender for the network planned to be installed at the Straits with a 40 million US dollars of investment. [15] ANTIQUES FROM THE OTTOMAN ERA DRAW THE ATTENTION IN US - THE SNUFF-BOX WITH SULTAN ABDULMECIT'S TURA ON IS SOLD AT 28.000 DOLLARSNEW YORK, Dec 2 (A.A) - The antiques from the Ottoman Empire era were sold in an auction held in New York, it is reported on Wednesday.The snuff-box with enamels and diamonds which was a production of Switzerland from the collection of Frank Sinatra, the American singer, drew the most attention among the swords, gold-plated watches, hand-print korans, silver cups, rifles, porcelain plates and caftans. An anonymous person bought the snuff-box with Sultan Abdulmecit's tura on, at a price of 28.000 US dollars in the auction called ''Silk Road''. A golden watch with enamels on was sold at a prize of 10.500 US dollars, whereas an Ottoman caftan was sold at a prize of 600 US dollars and a ceramic lamp from the Seljuk era was sold at a prize of 4000 US dolars. Speaking to A.A correspondent about the auction, Rafi Portakal, the owner of the auction house, said that this auction was just a beginning and that the antiques from the Ottoman era would be introduced to the American peeople by the auctions held in every three months from now on. [16] THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK TO BE EXPLAINED TO THE WORLD BY CDs - IZMIR TRADE CHAMBER PREPARES CDs BY USING THE ARCHIVES OF GENERAL STAFF AND TRTIZMIR, Dec 2 (A.A) - Izmir Trade Chamber prepares a CD which lasts for 10 minutes showing the bloody activities of the separatist terrorist organization PKK which has been continuing for 15 years by using the archives of the General Staff and the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), it is reported on Wednesday.Ekrek Demirtas; the Chairman of the Izmir Trade Chamber told A.A correspondent that Turkey could not explain the true story about the separatist terrorist organization PKK and she faces with troubles with European countries due to this fact. Noting that the need to explain the facts to the world about the terrorism in Turkey has increased, Demirtas said that ''it is said that the separatist terrorist organization which has killed innocent people including women, children for long years could stand on its feet by drug smuggling. However this siutation could not be explained to Europe and other countries. Now we have recognized the need to promote ourselves abroad. We prepare the CD in English by the images that we have taken from the General Staff and TRT. We will send these CDs to the leading commerce chambers of the world, voluntary institutions and media institutions and our consulates abroad.'' Pointing out that the world countries will see the real face of the separatist terrorist organization PKK from the photos and information that will be included in the CDs, Demirtas added that the public support behind the terrorists will end and the information that will be presented in the CDs will also be transferred to internet pages. [17] TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY - ABOUT ONE MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS COME TO TURKEY IN OCTOBERANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The number of the foreign tourists who visit Turkey increased 9 percent in October 1998 but decreased 2.2 percent in the first ten months of 1998 compared to the figures of the last year, it is reported on Wednesday.The figures of State Statistics Institute (DIE) showed that more than one million foreigners came to Turkey in October 1998. Last year this figure was 949.270. Totally 67 percent of the foreigners who came to Turkey preferred air travel, 16.1 percent of them preferred sea travel and 0.9 of them preferred railway in accordance with the figures of October 1998. The DIE figures put forth that the foreign tourists who came to Turkey were mostly the citizens of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. 61.7 percent of the tourists came to Turkey in October was from European members of the OECD countries and 8.6 percent of them was from other OECD countries. Ten percent of the foreigners to Turkey was from European countries other than the OECD countries, 8.5 percent of them was from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and 1.1 percent from African countries. Germany was again on top of the list of the countries from which tourist arrived to Turkey in October 1998, with a percentage of 31.7. Britain with a percentage of 10 and US with a percentage of 6.3 followed Germany. [18] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE IN ROMANIA ON THURSDAYANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel will pay an official visit to Romania between 3-4 December upon an invitation from Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, it was reported on Wednesday.Addressing a weekly press conference, Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of Foreign Ministry, said that the official visit of President Demirel will be paid within the framework of institutionalized political dialogue which was decided to be held two times a year at the presidential level between Turkey and Romania. Atacanli said that the opportunities to further improve the Turkish- Romanian relations and regional and international issues concerning the two countries will be discussed during the meetings to be presided by Demirel and Constantinescu. Sermet Atacanli added that President Demirel will hold contacts in Tulcea region where mostly Turks live and visit the historical Babadag Mosque, which was restored by the contributions of the Turkish Religious Foundation. [19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL EXPECTED TO VISIT GULF COUNTRIESANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel is expected to visit the Gulf countries, it was reported on Wednesday.Responding to a question during his weekly press conference, Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said that Turkey, as a country in the region, attaches great importance to relations with the Gulf countries, adding that President Suleyman Demirel is expected to pay routine visits within that framework. Atacanli didn't give detailed information about the date of his visits. [20] EFFECT OF CUSTOMS UNION IN TWO YEARSANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The thesis, regarding Customs Union which Turkey realized with the European Union (EU), that ''Turkish producers will not be able to compete with EU producers and go bankrupt and that Turkey will receive very big harm from customs union'' is not confirmed.A study issued in October edition of Foreign Trade Magazine, which is the publishing organ of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, it was stressed that it was not absolutely possible to say whether or not Customs Union is in favor or against Turkey as of the stable effects. The study said economy of Turkey was transferred to development stage following April 5, 1994 depression yet added it was not clear if this was realized because of high devaluation or with the effect of Customs Union. The study also said the assumptions that, public will suffer loss of income as the customs tariffs will be lifted, were not realized also. It said the indicators that have been observed did not confirm the thesis that Turkish producers will not be able to compete against strong EU producers and will go bankrupt and that Turkey will receive harm from the customs union. The study said Customs Union could be in favor of Turkey in long term as of the dynamic effects and pointed out that ''domestic market, young population, natural resources and its strategic geographic location may turn Customs Union in favor of Turkey.'' [21] INFORMATION BOOKLETS FOR BUSINESSMENANKARA, Dec 2 (A.A) - The Foreign Ministry issued booklets to encourage the Turkish businessmen who want to make business in China, Macedonia and Vietnam, it was reported on Wednesday.Addressing his weekly press conference, Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said that they targeted to contribute to the ecnomic and commercial development in Turkey with those booklets. The booklet on ''China'' includes preferable tax implementations for foreign capital companies. The booklet on ''Macedonia'' includes the economic situation in that country and her economic and commercial relations with Turkey, incentive measures regarding foreign capital firms, privatization programme, taxation, accounting and calculation control mechanisms. The booklet on ''Vietnam'' includes tax incentives for foreign capital firms, foreign capital law and rules and regulations for the implementation of it. [22] FC JUVENTUS ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL - JUVENTUS GREETED WITH FLOWERS AND APPLAUSEISTANBUL, Dec 2 (A.A) - Italy's FC Juventus was greeted with flowers and applause as they arrived in Istanbul for a rescheduled European Champions' League Group B match with Galatasaray, it was reported on Wednesday.Mustafa Sarigul, a member of the Executive Board of Galatasaray Football Club, greeted Juventus with flowers, saying ''welcome.'' Juventus, which arrived in Turkey after one-week delay over security concerns, was welcomed by applause. Galatasaray fans at the airport chanted ''Galatasaray, the Champ, and Turkey, Turkey'' while no unpleasant event was recorded. The reporters showed great interest to Zinedine Zidane, a French player of Algerian origin, and Didier Deschamps, a French player, as they had expressed concern at playing in Istanbul. [23] HOLBROOKE AND MILLER TO VISIT ISTANBUL AND ATHENSLEFKOSA, Dec 2 (A.A) - Richard Holbrooke, the US President Bill Clinton's Special Representative to Cyprus, and Thomas Miller, the US State Department Special Coordinator to Cyprus, will pay visits to Istanbul and Athens in December 1998, it was reported on Wednesday.Holbrooke and Miller will attend the meetings in Istanbul between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot, and between Turkish and Greek businessmen. The US diplomats, who will later proceed to Athens to hold talks with Greek officials, won't visit Cyprus. 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