Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-13

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

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

13 DEC 1998

CONTENTS

[01] EU VIENNA SUMMIT - FM: ''THE VIENNA SUMMIT HAS NOT BROUGHT AN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TURKEY'S CANDIDACY STATUS''

[02] SEMINAR ON ''EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURKEY''

[03] ECONOMIC MEASURES PACKAGE

[04] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS LEAVES TURKEY - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE TWO STATES HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON CYPRUS, LATER THE TWO STATES CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT BY NEGOTIATING HOW TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND''

[05] EU VIENNA SUMMIT

[06] GUNPOWDER PRODUCTION FACILITY PROJECT

[07] A MEETING AMONG TURKISH, GREEK, TURKISH CYPRIOT AND GREEK CYPRIOT BUSINESSMEN STARTS IN ISTANBUL

[08] ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES PROPOSE TO MODERNIZE TANKS

[09] FIFTH EUROPEAN CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP - LADIES' NATIONAL TEAM BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMP

[10] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOLD DEMONSTRATION IN THE NETHERLANDS TO PROTEST TERRORIST PKK AND ITALY

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND PREMIER YILMAZ INAUGURATE THE NATURAL GAS TRANSFORMATION POWER STATION

[01] EU VIENNA SUMMIT - FM: ''THE VIENNA SUMMIT HAS NOT BROUGHT AN ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TURKEY'S CANDIDACY STATUS''

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a press briefing that the ''strategy'' directed at preparing Turkey for full membership has been confirmed, but the summit did not bring an additional development compared to Cardiff Summit decisions and the report of the EU Commission dated November 5, 1998.

''Therefore the approach of the EU Commission which takes up Turkey at the equal basis with other candidates has not been confirmed at the required level,'' Utkan said.

Necati Utkan stated that ''in this situation, our relations with the EU will be carried out within the framework of the earlier statements issued by our government and the foreign ministry.''

Noting that the inability of the EU in not making the candidacy of Turkey legally binding, prevents the development of the relations at the desired level, Utkan stated that ''it will be to the benefit of the two sides to bring this issue to a conclusion as soon as possible.''

[02] SEMINAR ON ''EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURKEY''

The ''Seminar on European-Mediterranean Partnership and Opportunies for Turkey'' was held on the same day in southern Antalya province.

Addressing the seminar, Tugrul Arat said, ''this is not a choice, this is the issue of the country's geography. Turkey is a European country and she has kilometers of shores to the Mediterranean. An important step was taken with the Customs Union. Such kind of steps should continue. Today, this partnership doesn't bring a yield for Turkey. However, Turkey won't face troubles if this partnership, which was planned to achieve success in 2010, is realized.''

Akay Armagan, the Chairman of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO), said for his part that the European-Mediterranean partnership should be evaluated by Turkey.

Recalling the targets foreseen in the ''European-Mediterranean Declaration'', which was approved three years ago, Armagan said that the process aiming at strengthening the relations between the European Union (EU) member countries and the Mediterranean countries started in accordance with those targets.

Pointing out that two new elements namely ''Politics and Security Zone'' and ''Social, Cultural and Human Issues'' were included in the relations between the EU and Mediterranean countries by recent developments, Armagan stated that this partnership including new elements should be evaluated by Turkey.

[03] ECONOMIC MEASURES PACKAGE

Stressing that those measures will enlive the economy and increase the domestic demand, Celebi said, ''the most important thing in the stability programme implementations is to enable the country enter into the process of growing based on exports.''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Isin Celebi said, ''there is a search for stability during the process where you cut the inflation by 40 points, where the balance of payments and current transactions account became positive and where the ratio of exports meeting imports increased and where you provided the internal and external balances, and the most important thing is that the competitive power of Turkey in international markets is increasing despite the global crisis.''

''In order to achieve a success in the stability programme, a process of growing based upon exports should start. Besides, the tempo of production should continue at a specific level,'' Celebi stressed.

Noting that Turkey recorded a positive growth despite the global crisis, Celebi said that Turkey should continue to increase the exports in order to continue the tempo.

''We should support the exporters. This will increase the domestic production, productivity and rate of capacity use. As a result of these, the growth rate will increase. This is the basic point of the issue and we are carrying out this,'' Celebi mentioned.

Celebi stated that Turkey had increased her export amounts in ten months but the export prices reduced as the world prices dropped.

Emphasizing that Turkey's exports were raised in real term, Celebi said, ''Turkey increased her exports by ten percent, but the prices in the world decreased by five percent. Thus the exports increased five percent in real term.''

Stating the cost of a stability programme and such a decrease in the inflation absolutely have a bill, Celebi said, ''we are carrying out a fine adjustment to solve these problems. Actually, this kind of adjustment should be made in every 3-4 months. Our three-month programmes were prepared within the framework of the requirements regarding budget discipline and monetary programme.''

[04] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS LEAVES TURKEY - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE TWO STATES HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED ON CYPRUS, LATER THE TWO STATES CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT BY NEGOTIATING HOW TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND''

President Suleyman Demirel met with TRNC Denktas the same day.

Noting that the world has to recognize the two states on the island, President Demirel stated that these two states can later decide how to live on the island through negotiations.

President Demirel stressed that the policies that are carried out by Turkey and TRNC have been approved by the Turkish Cypriot people during the last elections.

Rauf Denktas said that the world has to evaluate well the election results, adding ''if the Greek Cypriot side gives up her claim of being the owner of the whole Cyprus, there is the opportunity of constructing cooperation bridges between the two sides on the island.''

Pointing out that he came to to Turkey for an ocular surgery, Denktas said that ''TRNC exists, it is a republic which is 15 years old and it can't be ignored with her democracy. There is only one thing that can be said to the Greek Cypriot side: she is not the government of the Turkish Cypriot side.''

President Demirel said in his part that Cyprus is a national matter for Turkey, adding that ''governments come and governments go, but the Cyprus issue, which is a national matter can't be given up. Recalling that efforts are launched to find a political solution on Cyprus, President Demirel said that a protocol was signed between Turkey and the TRNC, President Demirel said Turkish and TRNC Presidents signed a protocol in 1997.

''There are two states on Cyprus and this is a de facto situation and we told this to the world. These two states can live in a confederation or decide on another choice. But we don't think that the de facto situation dictates another solution. This is the political side of the event. The attempt of the European Union to start negotiations with the Southern Cyprus has changed all the parameters concerning the Cyprus question. I ask to EU countries, with whom they will negotiate. There are more than one Cyprus on the island. If the EU says that the other Cyprus should also negotiate with them, it should also determine the status of Turkish Cypriots. As long as these are not told, the relations of Europe with Cyprus makes the Cyprus question more difficult,'' said Demirel.

Noting that TRNC has been isolated from East Mediterranean, President Demirel said that more than 180,000 Turkish origined Muslim people are subject to a separate treatment and to prevent this Turkey decided to give all kinds of economic assistance to Cyprus.

[05] EU VIENNA SUMMIT

The results of the Vienna Summit didn't satisfy Turkey but France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, which accept Turkey as the 12th candidate, put forward their attitude clearly during the summit supporting Turkey's membership.

An official at the Foreign Ministry told the A.A correspondent that Turkey hadn't been included in the first draft of the summit decision, but Turkey was included in a separate paragraph after the initiatives of the countries which support Turkey's membership.

''The paragraph in question talks about the membership preparation strategy not Turkey's preparation for membership. But, the additional paragraph says that there is a different strategy for Turkey's preparation. Turkey is different and is a more important country than other candidates,'' the official said.

Pointing out that Turkey was luckier than other candidate countries, the official said that Turkey, which starts to compete within the Customs Union, had a political problem not an economic problem concerning the relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU).

The official recalled that Turkey decided not to discuss Cyprus, Greece and human rights issues in the relations with the EU until the formation of a legal basis.

Stating that Cyprus had always been considered as a part of the EU's expansion process, the Foreign Ministry official said, ''thus Cyprus is included in a summit decision for the first time. Now, Cyprus is taken up in a separate paragraph. The issue is left to the initiative of the UN. It transfers the solution of this issue to the UN.''

Noting that the EU invited Turkey to the Summit in Vienna, the official said, ''they launched several initiatives. They told us come and attend the summit. They told us that they wanted to be sure before an official invitation. But we informed them that we wouldn't attend. Because, our participation in that summit without a legal basis wouldn't bring any profit to us.''

[06] GUNPOWDER PRODUCTION FACILITY PROJECT

Officials at the MKE said that a total of five international companies were bidding at the tender for the facility which was foreseen to be constructed with nearly six trillion Turkish Liras of investment.

The names of the companies are as follows: Santa Barbara (the US), Omnipol (Czech Republic), Ludan (Israel), Primex (the US) and Dott Mariano (Italy).

[07] A MEETING AMONG TURKISH, GREEK, TURKISH CYPRIOT AND GREEK CYPRIOT BUSINESSMEN STARTS IN ISTANBUL

Problems of environmental pollution, communication on the island and particularly the water problem in the Greek Cypriot side will be taken up during the meeting namely ''Economic Cooperation and Reciprocal Interests.''

Richard Holbrooke, the US President's Special Representative to Cyprus and Special Coordinator Thomas Miller participate in the meeting, which will be held by the initiatives of the US and by contributions of the Oslo International Peace Research Institute and Colombia University.

Officials said that the meeting does not have a political character, adding the businessmen will take up the issue of implementation of projects concerning the solution of the daily problems on the island.

Holbrooke is expected to hold a press briefing at the end of today's part of the meeting.

[08] ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES PROPOSE TO MODERNIZE TANKS

The Israel Military Industries (IMI) proposed upgrading Turkey's 1,000 M-60 type tanks by presenting a modernization package to the Land Forces Commandership.

The Land Forces is still evaluating the proposal of Israel, which has the second biggest M-60 type tank fleet after the US.

Officials said the upgrading activities would necessitate an expenditure worth 1-1.5 million US dollars.

[09] FIFTH EUROPEAN CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP - LADIES' NATIONAL TEAM BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMP

In individual category, Sibel Ozyurt ranked fourth, Nuray Surekli ranked fifth, Turkan Erismis ranked 11th and Ayfer Yigit ranked 22nd but the national team including these four sportswomen became the European champ.

Men's running category will start the same day.

[10] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HOLD DEMONSTRATION IN THE NETHERLANDS TO PROTEST TERRORIST PKK AND ITALY

Thousands of people carrying Turkish flags convened at the ''Malieveld'' square in The Hague, chanting the slogans which condemn the European countries supporting and protecting the world's bloodiest terrorist Ocalan responsible for the deaths of 30 thousand innocent people.

Sabri Kenan Bagci, an official from the Arrangement Committee which organized the demonstration, stressed that the PKK is a separatist terrorist organization and requested the Dutch authorities to ban the terrorist PKK's activities also in the Netherlands after Germany and France.

''Italy is obliged to extradite chief terrorist to Turkey and the terrorist in question should be put on trial in Turkey. We request the Dutch authorities to make researches about the separatist terrorist organization and submit the results to the Dutch Parliament. There is not a Turkish- Kurdish separation issue in the Netherlands, there is a separatist terrorist organization problem,'' he stressed.

Meanwhile, a group of people, who attended the demonstration, laid a black wreath in front of the Italian Embassy in the Hague.

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND PREMIER YILMAZ INAUGURATE THE NATURAL GAS TRANSFORMATION POWER STATION

Addressing the ceremony, Premier Yżlmaz said that the immediate completion of energy investments is the only way to have a say in the information age, adding that the energy investments can't be completed by sole sources of Turkey. Yżlmaz stressed that alternative energy sources have to be considered and nuclear power stations have to be constructed as soon as possible.

Noting that they launch efforts to make the private sector deal with energy investments, Yżlmaz said that this power station is a good sample of the one realized by the private sector in the field of energy.

Yżlmaz stated that the power station costed 600 million dollars, it was realized by the build-operate-transfer model and it will produce 500 megawatts of electricity annually.

Stressing that the power station was completed within two and half years and it did not bring any burden to the state, Premier Yżlmaz pointed out that the power station won't also harm the environment. Yżlmaz added that this power station is the biggest investment that was realized by the US after the ones realized by her in the defense industry.

President Suleyman Demirel said in his part that industrilization cannot take place without energy, adding ''the energy need brought us to a difficult situation, efforts were launched to overcome the bottle neck and the power stations that were opened are promising.''

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of the Energy and Natural Resources said in his part that Turkey progresses in the way to modernization, adding that the natural gas power stations which were realized by build-operate- transfer system will be transferred to the state after 20 years.

Mark Parris, the US Ambassador and Richard Morningstar, the Energy Consultant of the US President Bill Clinton said in his part that Turkey is an ideal country for energy investments.

The Electiricity-Natural Gas Combined Transformation Power Station was constructed by the partnership of the British Midlandst firm and Turkish Gama Firm.

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