Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-04

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

04 DEC 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ITALY'S POLICY OF REDUCING TENSION - BERSANI, ITALIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER, DUE IN TURKEY

[02] TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO EU WARNS: ''TURKEY CAN NOT BE A SATELLITE OF EU'' - ''THE CHIEF TERRORIST SHOULD NOT DETORIATE OUR RELATIONS''

[03] APPLICATION OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS TO THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY - TRN PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE GREEK CYPRIOTS APPLIED TO THE UN TO CHANGE THE AGENDA. THIS GAME WILL BE KICKED BACK AS THE OTHERS'' - ''THE TRICKS OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL NOT REMAIN UNPUNISHED''

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ROMANIA

[05] DENIZKURDU, JUSTICE MINISTER: ''DECISION OF FRENCH COURT REGARDING EXTRADITION OF CAKICI, IS THE ACCEPTION OF TURKEY'S DEMAND FOR THE EXTRADITION''

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ROMANIA

[07] GREECE-TURKISH MINORITY - HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH COMMITTEE: ''GREECE REJECTS EXISTENCE OF TURKISH MINORITY''

[08] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX REDUCES TO 2,535.59 WITH A DECREASE OF 68.91 POINTS

[09] ABOUT SIX BILLION US DOLLAR TRADE REALIZED IN 12 FREE ZONES OF TURKEY IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS

[10] BIRSEN, PRESIDENT OF IMKB: ''TURKEY IS THE 16TH BIGGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD''

[11] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT - TECHNICAL TALKS BETWEEN TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN NEARLY CONCLUDED

[12] FOREIGN BORROWING POLICY FOR 1999

[13] PROSECUTOR GILDAS PAVY: ''IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RELEASE CAKICI ON JAN 17 EVEN IF ASSURANCE DOES NOT COME FROM TURKEY''

[14] ENERGY REPORT OF TUSIAD

[15] ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE IN TRNC ON SUNDAY - 352 NOMINEES TO COMPETE TO ENTER 50-CHAIR PARLIAMENT

[16] DRUG TRAFFICKING OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

[01] ITALY'S POLICY OF REDUCING TENSION - BERSANI, ITALIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER, DUE IN TURKEY

A wrıtten statement of Italıan Industry Mınıstry saıd Bersani, who had contacts with the Italian businessmen and associations in Brazilia and Argentine, stated that contacts wıth the Turkısh authorıtıes were underway to specıfy the program of the scheduled vısıt.

It was reported that wıthın 10 or 15 days a date wıll be specıfıed for Bersanı's vısıt to Turkey.

The government sources noted that Bersani's visit to Turkey would be a significant and concrete step to normalize especially the economic relations between Italy and Turkey and would contribute to Italy's policy of reducıng the crisis between the countries started by arrival of Piero Fassino, Foreign Trade Minister, and Giovanna Melandri, Sports Minister, to Turkey to watch Galatasaray-Juventus match.

[02] TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO EU WARNS: ''TURKEY CAN NOT BE A SATELLITE OF EU'' - ''THE CHIEF TERRORIST SHOULD NOT DETORIATE OUR RELATIONS''

Speaking to ''La Libre Belgique'', the conservative newspaper with high circulation in Belgium, Ambassador Akyol recalled that the issue on Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, was a ''judicial'' one and that Italy had a responsibility of trying the chief terrorist under her own penal codes and under the provisions of the international agreements.

Stating that Ankara was a supporter of the international agreements, Akyol said, ''we, the Turkish government does not want this issue to be carried to the political arenas and does not want it to be harmful for our relations with the European Union (EU).''

Noting that EU's taking initiatives regarding Turkey's southeast problem would mean an intervention to the internal affairs of Turkey which is not a full member of the European Union, Akyol stressed that terrorist chief was brought to Rome with initiatives of several Italian Parliamentarians and that Italy rejected the extradition of Ocalan before they had received the extradition dossier prepared by the Turkish offices.

Pointing out that politicization of this issue constituted a bad example in struggle against international terrorism, Akyol said Germany's attitude in giving up their demand for the extradition of Ocalan was not ''an example attitude'' adding that there was ''a risk of facing another crisis between Turkey and EU in diplomatic relations, which was just out of a recent crisis.''

Stating that Turkey would say ''no'' to the EU if necessary, Akyol said, ''in case Turkey-EU relations are in a crisis, the Turkish government will be prevented from defending EU values and its faithfulness to EU.''

Emphasizing that Turkey was putting an end to the ''terrorism'' in her southeastern region and that this would facilitate the investments to be held in the region which would contribute to the establishment of peace and prosperity in the region, Akyol stressed that Belgium should not shelter the terrorist organization and its subsidiaries such as Med-tv.

Noting that the full membership of Turkey to EU was ''a long period'' like the other candidates, Akyol said, ''I warn the ones who want to make Turkey a satellite of EU. When the dimensions and the industry potential of Turkey is taken into consideration, she can not be a satellite. To this end, Turkey is knocking the door of the EU.''

[03] APPLICATION OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS TO THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY - TRN PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE GREEK CYPRIOTS APPLIED TO THE UN TO CHANGE THE AGENDA. THIS GAME WILL BE KICKED BACK AS THE OTHERS'' - ''THE TRICKS OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS WILL NOT REMAIN UNPUNISHED''

Addressing a news conference Denktas said Greek Cypriots took every kind of decisions against the Turkish people in the meetings and forums related with Cyprus in which the Turkish Cypriots did not attend, adding that one of these forums was the UN General Assembly and the decisions taken under the UN did not give them right to speak.

Stating that they were not bound to the decisions taken under the UN General Assembly in every opportunity, Denktas stressed that Greek Cypriots had firstly applied to the General Assembly in 1983.

Recalling that he had given Spiros Kiprianu, then-leader of the Greek Cypriot side, the message that ''do not leave the negotatiation table and do not go to this forum. If you apply to the UN, you can not find Turkish Cypriots in the same status when you return'', Denktas emphasized that Kiprianu applied to the General Assembly together with Greek Cypriot politicans and had issued the decisions in the Assembly that ''the whole of Cyprus Island belonged to the Greek Cypriots and that Turkish Cypriots were minority and could only have minority rights on the Island.''

Stressing that Kiprianu called them as a minority in the negotiations, Denktas said, ''the result was the foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). We did what we said. Kiprianu could not find us in the same status.''

Denktas said as they continued to negotiations as two equal sides within the framework of the UN Security Council decisions, Kiprianu invited them to negotiations in minority status and pointed out that ''the result of this was the decleration of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. We have kept our promise, he could not find us in the same status.''

Denktas also added that the biased decisions can be taken in a General Assembly without the inclusion of the Turkish side yet that this time they would do their best not to leave the Greek Cypriots alone and that they would try to express their ideas and that they would try to show how the Greek Cypriots ended the legal partnership government and how they started the war and how they committed inhumane acts against the Turkish Cypriots by the documents.

Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriots will see that the things they did will not remain unpunished. We will announce our voice. We will go on till we make them sorry. The Greek Cypriots do not have and will never have a right to govern us and to be the legal government of the Island.

Emhasizing that the Greek Cypriots divided the Island into two by counterfeit acts and that this separation could never be over as the Greek side continued like this and that they could never again build cooperation between the two parts, Denktas noted that the proposal of the confederation will build cooperative bridges between the two states.

Pointing out to the fact that the Turkish Cypriots left as refugees two or three times in the last 25 years, Denktas said. ''we will never be a refugee again. Everyone, especially the Greek Cypriots should keep this fact in mind. The main reason for applying to the EU is to urge us to migrate once again. They think that they can reach their former place under the help of the name of human rights.''

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ROMANIA

''International community has been conditioned to the vıew that the clashes and violance in the Balkans are destiny. Proving that those specifications were not true on the eve of the 21st century, is the primary duty of all of the countries in the region,'' Demirel stated.

President Suleyman Demirel was given ''Honorary Doctorate'' by the Bucharest University with a ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, President Demirel said, ''we are living in a period in which the information became the most strategical concept, this period is called as the information age.''

''I attach great importance to the cooperation between Turkey and Romania in the fields of education, science and culture and other fields. I believe this cooperation will be the determining factor for the joint preparation of our two countries for the 21st century,'' he stressed.

''The Euroasian geography, which includes also our region, is facing a considerable transformation and change in every field. We are going throught a restructurion period in which the seas will be connected to each other and the publics will set up more close relations,'' Demirel noted.

Pointing out that the Caspian is connected to the Black Sea and the Black Sea is connected to the mediterranean Sea with energy transportation lines, transportation corridors and communication networks, Demirel said, ''the level of prosperity in our region will increase when the Caspian basin oil and natural gas sources worth eight trillion US dollars are extracted.''

''Xenophobia, ethnic nationalism, racism and new types of racism, terrorism, organized crimes, money laundering, arms and drug smuggling and environmental pollution are the threats. A country doesn't have the ability to solve these problems alone. Thus international cooperation in struggle against these problems should be more effective,'' Demirel emphasized.

''The real friendship between the states become clear if they have the mutual respect, will for understanding each other, effort for increasing cooperation and desire for realizing solidarity in difficult conditions. Nations get closer with their senses not with the agreements. Our countries, which share common history, are determined to built together their future, '' President Demirel added.

President Demirel also met with Romanian Parliament Speaker Ion Diaconescu and Petre Roman, the Senate Chairman.

Prior to the meeting, Demirel said Turkey and Romania don't have any problem and they try to keep the relations warm with high-level visits, adding that there is the necessary political will for the development of cooperation.

Pointing out that Turkey and Romania feel responsible for securing peace and stability in the region, Demirel recalled that the two countries continue the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) process.

In the last day of his two-day official visit to Romania, President Demirel met at breakfast with former Romanian President Ion Iliescu.

Demirel said the trade volume between Turkey and Romania has nearly reached one billion US dollars.

Touching on the two countries' relations within the framework of the BSEC, Demirel said Turkey and Romania don't have any political problem.

[05] DENIZKURDU, JUSTICE MINISTER: ''DECISION OF FRENCH COURT REGARDING EXTRADITION OF CAKICI, IS THE ACCEPTION OF TURKEY'S DEMAND FOR THE EXTRADITION''

Speaking at the live ''On the Agenda'' program in a private tv channel, Denizkurdu said he has not yet received the written text of the decision of French Court on Cakici but that the summary of the decision was conveyed to him by the Turkish embasssy.

Noting that French Appeals court decided for extradition for two two files out of five without any condition, Denizkurdu said the court, regarding the other three files, said they decided for the extradition of Cakici on condition that he will not be given capital punishment.''

Denizkurdu added, ''This decision is the acception of the Turkey's demand on the extradition. Otherwise, the French Court of Appeals would reject the extradition demand and Turkey would have to appeal the decision.''

Denizkurdu added, ''if the lawyers of Cakici do not oppose the appeal of decision it will become definite.''

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN ROMANIA

Romanian President Emil Constantinescu said Romania supports Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU), stressing that this was a message to the West.

Constantinescu held a dinner in the honor of President Demirel who currently pays a two-day official visit to Romania.

Addressing the dinner, President Demirel said that the high-level visits reflected the real level of relations between Turkey and Romania.

''We follow with pleasure Romania's efforts to strengthen her democracy and establish the market economy together with its all institutions and rules since 1989 and apprecıated contrıbutıon of good relations between Romania and her neighbors to stability in the region,'' Demirel mentioned.

Demirel said he believed Romania, which targeted to integrate wıth Europe- Atlantic structures on the basis of free market economy and pluralist democracy based on human rights and freedoms, will absolutely achieve her targets.

''From this perspective, the Turkish Parliament has mentioned in the law it ratified recently concerning the approval for Czech Republic's, Hungary's and Poland's memberships to the NATO, that it attaches great importance to Romania's membership to NATO and that Turkey supports this membership. Parlıament has called our government to launch initiatives to this end. A state's entering a reform process with its all institutions and structures is a troublesome issue. I belive the countries, which stand those troubles and make self-sacrifice in order to reach a higher prosperity level, will achieve their targets at the end,'' President Demirel stated.

Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel opened the ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Square and Ataturk Bust'' in Bucharest.

After wrapping up his contacts in Bucharest, President Demirel proceeded to Constanza.

President Suleyman Demirel and the accompanying delegation will return to Turkey late on Friday.

[07] GREECE-TURKISH MINORITY - HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH COMMITTEE: ''GREECE REJECTS EXISTENCE OF TURKISH MINORITY''

1999 report, issued by the Committee, in its part related with Greece, said ''The government continues to refuse the existence of Turkish minority although majority of Moslems identify themselves as Turkish.''

The report said ''Greek Government continues to ban having Turkish words in the names of minorities and the institutions belonging to them.''

Noting that human rights violations continue in the year 1988, the report said those violations were particularly forwarded to Turkish and Macedonian minorities.

Human Rights Watch Committee said the violations stemmed from the limitations put on the freedom of expression and religious prayers and mentioned that nearly 60,000 people, most of them Turkish origin, were excluded from Greek citizenship due to the implementation of Article 19 of Greek Citizenship Law.

The report which also mentioned about the pressures put on the people, said Abdulhalim Dede, a citizen, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment terms on grounds that he put antenna on his house without permission. ''However'', the report said ''almost all the 3,000 radio stations, active in Greece, use antenna without permission.''

Human Rights Watch Committee report said Abdulhalim Dede was exposed to this treatment because he is Turkish origin.

[08] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX REDUCES TO 2,535.59 WITH A DECREASE OF 68.91 POINTS

At the close of the first session, the financial index decreased 109.50 points to 3,188.96, the industrial index reduced 26.70 points to 1,900.86 and the services index dropped 46.19 points to 3,522.45.

The financial shares lost 3.32 percent in value, the industrial shares lost 1.38 percent in value and the services shares lost 1.29 percent in value compared with Thursday's second session close.

A total of 56 of the 280 shares gained in value, 160 shares lost in value while the prices of 64 shares didn't change.

The trading volume in the morning session was 32.4 trillion Turkish Liras.

[09] ABOUT SIX BILLION US DOLLAR TRADE REALIZED IN 12 FREE ZONES OF TURKEY IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS

The Foreign Trade Undersecretariat officials pointed out that the highest trading volume was realized in Istanbul Deri Free Zone, which showed an increase by 134 percent compared to the figures of the same period in last year.

The mentioned free zone reached to 1 billion 906 million US dollars- trading volume this year.

Mersin Free Zone Trading Centre became the second zone in the list by realizing 1 billion 508 million US dollars trading volume.

The trading volume of Agean Free Zone reached to 1 billion 216 million US dollars by an increase of 7 percent compared to the figures of last year.

The trading volume of Antalya Free Zone was 139 million dollars with a nine percent decrease compared to last year, while the trading volume of Mardin Free Zone reached to 10 million dollars with an increase of four percent compared to last year.

148 million dolar trade was realized in Menemen Free Zone and 47 million dollars trade volume was realized in Trabzon Free Zone.

İstanbul-Thrace Free Zone trading volume was 7.1 million dollars, that of Samsun Free Zone was 1.4 million dollars and Eastern Anatolian Free Zone 476.000 dollars.

Rize Free Zone was the last of the zones with the realization of 399.000 dollars of trading volume.

[10] BIRSEN, PRESIDENT OF IMKB: ''TURKEY IS THE 16TH BIGGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Birsen said the IMKB showed fluctuations in parallel to the world's economic conjuncture, adding, ''we see that there's a more optimistic atmosphere now and this pleases us.''

Pointing out that there were expectations for a great recession in the world economy, Birsen said, ''now, there aren't any people talking about such an intense recession. The interest policy pursued especially in the US has an important effect on the gradual decrease in the interest rates.''

Pointing out that the European economies were in good structure except unemployment rate due to concordance to the Maastricht standards, Birsen said the increase in the inflation was prevented due to lower oil prices and some specific initiatives started for the rehabilitation of banking system due to the crisis in Japan.

Noting that the share of foreign capital in the transaction volume at the IMKB again increased to about 45 percent, Birsen said, ''this is a good signal. We see an additional investment of one million US dollars in October and this proved that their attitude has changed.''

''Some uncertainties about the government are diffused. The effect of expectations in the market on the bourse has dropped relatively. The IMKB was showing unexpected reactions against some news in the past. Now, the reactions become mild, '' he stated.

[11] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT - TECHNICAL TALKS BETWEEN TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN NEARLY CONCLUDED

The remaining articles will be discussed at the meeting in Baku on 9 December.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, said that they will leave for Baku on 9 December before the announcement of the route of main export- line for the Caspian oil on 12 December.

Yigitguden said the Azerbaijani delegation and they discussed almost 90 percent of the issues mentioned within the framework of the Baku-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline project.

Pointing out that the negotiations about the commercial issues were discussed in detail, Yigitguden stated that they will take up the remaining issue in Baku on 9 December.

Following the agreement, which was signed on 29 October between Turkey and Azerbaijan, the negotiations about the conditions started in Istanbul on 6 November.

John Leggate, before turning over his post to David Woodward, the Chairman of the Azerbaijani International Operation Consortium (AIOC), said in a press conference that the cost of the project was 3.7 billion US dollars, claiming that the project gave a 12 billion Us dollars loss.

Turkey announced that the Baku-Ceyhan project will cost 2.3-2.5 billion US dollars.

[12] FOREIGN BORROWING POLICY FOR 1999

The target of three billion US dollars foreign borrowing, which will be realized within the framework of bond-issue at international markets, will be dependent on borrowing conditions at international marktes.

Officials from the Treasury told the A.A correspondent that they will start to search the appropriate markets for borrowing over US Dollar, German Mark and Japanese Yen.

Stressing that the total foreign borrowing corpus and interest repayment will be 14 billion US dollars in 1999 , officials said the domestic borrowing sources will be used to meet that repayment.

Half of this total is composed of loans obtained from the private sector.

Meanwhile, Treasury foresees to borrow a three billion US dollars project financing loans next year within the framework of external project credits.

[13] PROSECUTOR GILDAS PAVY: ''IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RELEASE CAKICI ON JAN 17 EVEN IF ASSURANCE DOES NOT COME FROM TURKEY''

In Thursday's hearing, Aix-En Provence Court, responded positively to the three files coming from Turkey on condition that Turkish government will give assurances to French government that capital punishment will not be implemented.

Responding to the question of A.A correspondent if Cakici would be released if Turkish Government does not give such a guarantee, Prosecutor Pavy said ''release of Cakici is not possible. If guarantee is not given, than he would be extradited to Turkey to be judged on the other two files of crimes in which capital punishment is not wanted.''

The Prosecutor pointed out that under the international agreements, Turkey can not judge Cakici on the three files which calls for his capital punishment, without giving the guarantee in question.

French Prosecutor recalled that Cakici's lawyers have the right to apply to Appeals Court within five days.

[14] ENERGY REPORT OF TUSIAD

''Turkey may have troubles in coming months if the winter will be hard and it won't rain sufficiently,'' Prof. Dr. Ultanir stressed.

The Union of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) report on ''Evaluation of Turkey's Energy Strategy On the Eve of the 21st Century'' was announced the same day with a press conference.

Addressing the press conference, Prof. Dr. Ultanir stated that the development and growth in Turkey are based on the healthy supply of energy demand.

Pointing out that the energy consumption per person in Turkey was below the world average, Prof. Dr. Ultanir emphasized that the energy problem in Turkey stems basicly from the insufficient financing.

[15] ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE IN TRNC ON SUNDAY - 352 NOMINEES TO COMPETE TO ENTER 50-CHAIR PARLIAMENT

A total of 120.758 voters will cast votes in 501 ballot boxes and elect new members out of 352 candidates.

15 Deputies from Lefkosa, 13 from Gazimagosa, nine from Girne, seven from Guzelyurt and six from Yeni Iskele will be elected.

Public surveys revealed that no party is capable of coming to ruling by itself, yet Dervis Eroglu, Prime Minister and leader of National Unity Party (UBP) claimed that they will come to ruling as one party.

Meanwhile, Rauf Denktas, President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) called on people to cast votes to prevent unexpected results from the elections.

[16] DRUG TRAFFICKING OF SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

Last year, narcotics officials seized in 1997 a total of 45 tonnes 714 kg 539 grams of drugs worth 116 million 634.5 thousand German Marks in operations against drug trafficking in connection with the terrorist organization.

Narcotics officials took into custody 551 people in their operations against 140 drug smuggling events.

Officials seized 2 tons 455 kg 550 grams of heroin, 13 tons 357 kg 817 grams of hashish, 4 tons 255 kg 714 grams of base-morphine, 2 tons 125 kg 258 grams of indian hemp, 22 tons 440 kg of acetic anhydride, 100 grams cocain, 10 thousand each amphetamine, 1 tons 80 kg of sodium carbonate during their operations against drug trafficking in connection with the terrorist PKK organization.

In addition to these, in 45 operations against the terrorist organization, security forces seized 7 tons 235 kg hashish, 1 million 484 thousand roots of indian hemp, 63 kg 375 grams of heroin and 33 kg base-morphine in the shelters of the terrorist organization.

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