Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-20

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

20 DEC 1998

CONTENTS

[01] BERSANI, THE ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY ON MONDAY

[02] STATE MINISTER CELEBI: ''BEYDAG DAM IS A 13 TRILLION LIRAS PROJECT AND WE PLAN TO CONCLUDE IT IN 2000''

[03] SINAGRA, TURKEY'S LAWYER: ''OCALAN HAS TO STAY IN ITALY AS LONG AS THE EXTRADITION CASE OF OCALAN IS COMPLETED''

[04] GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER: ''WE MUST HAVE A REALIST FOREIGN POLICY''

[05] ATUN, FORMER SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT: - ''TURKEY, WITH HER MODERN STATE STRUCTURE, CONSTITUTES A BASIC MODEL FOR CENTRAL ASIAN AND ISLAMIC COUNTRIES''

[06] THE SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THE ITALIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN PUT IN ARCHIVES

[07] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONFISCATE 5.3 TONS OF HASHISH, 3.7 TONSOF HEROIN AND 604 KG OF COCAINE IN OPERATIONS THIS YEAR

[08] TANASKOVIC, YUGOSLAVIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''INTELLECTUAL PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY HOPE FOR STRENGTHENING THE FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE BETWEEN TURKEY AND YUGOSLAVIA''

[09] HERCUS, UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS: ''ESSENTIAL AND SINCERE PROGRESS WAS RECORDED IN SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY''

[10] ATAY, THE HONOURARY CONSUL OF TRNC IN ANTALYA: ''HUNDREDS OF TURKS INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT MASSACRE WHICH STARTED ON DECEMBER 21 1963''

[11] TAK, THE TURKISH CYPRIOT NEWS AGENCY CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT

[12] TURKEY TO HOST THE SCIENCE OLYMPIADS

[01] BERSANI, THE ITALIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY ON MONDAY

Bersani and the accompanying delegation will meet with Yalım Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade and Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara.

The two delegations will take up problems that are seen between the two countries in the field of industry and commerce.

The negative attitude of the Italian government concerning the extradition of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK to Turkey had affected the commercial relations between the two countries.

[02] STATE MINISTER CELEBI: ''BEYDAG DAM IS A 13 TRILLION LIRAS PROJECT AND WE PLAN TO CONCLUDE IT IN 2000''

Celebi visited the same day Atilla Sahin, the Head Official of Kiraz county of Izmir. Sahin said in the meeting that the Odemis-Kiraz motorway should be enlarged, the Odemis Organized Industry Zone should be concluded as soon as possible and the construction of the Beydag Dam should be accelerated.

Pointing out that they attached importance to the Odemis Organized Industry Zone, Celebi said, ''we will focus especially on this region.''

Noting that they launch initiatives for the construction of the motorway between Odemis and Kiraz counties, Celebi said, ''the Beydag Dam project is a 13 trillion TL project. We are planning to conclude this project in 2000. We are thinking to finance this project by making cooperation with Japanese firms.''

[03] SINAGRA, TURKEY'S LAWYER: ''OCALAN HAS TO STAY IN ITALY AS LONG AS THE EXTRADITION CASE OF OCALAN IS COMPLETED''

Addressing a press briefing the same day, Sinagra said that Italy's mentioning of sending the terrorist chief away from Italy is against law.

Noting that the transfer of documents concerning the extradition of the terrorist chief to the Court of Appeal is expected, Sinagra stressed that the Italian officials are responsible for this delay. Sinagra pointed out that the extradition of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK to Turkey for the crimes that don't necessiate death penalty is possible.

Recalling that his crimes such as international drug smuggling, robbery, collecting money illegally, attack on citizens, encouragement of illegal immigration do not foresee death penalty, Sinagra said ''the file sent by the Turkish government is very impressive and it was prepared by a perfect way.''

''Now the most important concern is the opportunity he has to escape to anywhere,'' said Sinagra, adding that the Italian government seeks for such an opportunity and it will probably say that ''unfortunately we will not examine the extradition request.''

Noting that Italy will violate the European Convention on Extradition of Criminals, the European Convention on European Struggle, the Italian Code of Criminal Procedure by such an act, Sinagra said that this will also harm the Turkish-Italian friendship.

''The thing that must be done by Italy should be keeping Ocalan under control as long as the Italian court of appeal completes the legal procedure concerning the extradition request of Turkey and not to encourage his escape,'' Sinagra said.

''If Ocalan, the terrorist chief escapes without the conclusion of this case, Italy will be responsible for that and she will lose her credibility in the international arena,'' he added.

Sinagra said that Oliviero Diliberto, the Italian Minister of Justice will give the last decision concerning the extradition request of Turkey.

Responding to a question about the possibility of establishment of an international court, Sinagra said that ''Italy has to abide with laws, she has to either extradite Ocalan or put him on trial in Italy.''

[04] GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER: ''WE MUST HAVE A REALIST FOREIGN POLICY''

Addressing a seminar namely ''foreign policy in Turkey,'' Gurel stated that such a realistic foreign policy which takes into consideration the final targets should be formed.

Noting that Turkey is open to interventions from outside and she has political and structural deficiencies, Gurel stated that these factors cause negativeness in foreign policy.

Pointing out that Italy and Germany defend the view that there is a ''Kurdish problem'' in Turkey, Gurel said ''we told them that they should not consider our problems within the framework of their historical experience, because there is hostility against foreigners, ethnic clashes in their history. However the problem in Turkey should be taken up from the perspective of relative regional underdevelopment. If the EU countries don't make a distinction between terrorism and human rights, we can't accept their socalled solutions. Then our relations are hurt.''

Prof. Dr. Cem Eroglu from Ankara University said in his part that the 1982 Constitution is one which should be lifted. ''The only way that can diffuse the crisis is through democratization, we have to overcome the tension by making the state more democratic. We have to make the state be subordinate to the citizens.''

[05] ATUN, FORMER SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT: - ''TURKEY, WITH HER MODERN STATE STRUCTURE, CONSTITUTES A BASIC MODEL FOR CENTRAL ASIAN AND ISLAMIC COUNTRIES''

Addressing a panel discussion on ''Turkey From the Point of View of Our Foreign Friends in the 75th Anniversary of the Republic'', Hakki Atun said that the Turkish Cypriots are the children of a society who believe that they will exist only with Turkey.

Stressing that Turkey is the element of balance in a very critical region like the Middle East, Mediterranean and Central Asia, Atun said, ''Turkey and the TRNC have powerful ties. Our destiny has a very close relation with Turkey. For instance, we catch cold if Turkey sneezes.''

Noting that Turkey and the TRNC pursue foreign policies which are totally congruent in the issues of the solution of the Cyprus issue and the European Union (EU) membership, Atun stated that they will speed up the existing integration process with Turkey if the membership of Greek Cypriot side to the EU is accepted.

''Of course, this process will be based on international agreements. Thus we will continue our existence as a state,'' Atun stressed.

Emphasizing that the ''Italy crisis'' and the similar problems in international platform emerged during the period when Turkey was weak, Atun said, ''we want Turkey to be a powerful and stable country. The Turkish Cypriot nation knows that all of their problems will be solved by the help of Turkey.''

[06] THE SUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THE ITALIAN MINISTER OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN PUT IN ARCHIVES

Sinagra had filed a suit against Diliberto claiming that the latter misused his authorities by influencing the decision of the Rome court of appeal which changed the imprisonment of Ocalan, the terrorist chief to ''compulsory residence'' on November 19.

The Prosecution of the Court in Rome requested the suit brought against Diliberto to be kept in archives while submitting the file to the Court on Ministers (which controls the tasks of ministers).

Meanwhile Sinagra said that he was waiting for such a result and he will apply to the Court on Ministers within 10 days to oppose the decision.

Massimo D'Alema, the Italian Premier earlier said that the government extended support to the Italian Minister of Justice and the possibility of a crime was baseless.

[07] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS CONFISCATE 5.3 TONS OF HASHISH, 3.7 TONSOF HEROIN AND 604 KG OF COCAINE IN OPERATIONS THIS YEAR

The Directorate General of Security's Department of Struggle Against Smuggling and Organized Crimes issued a statement saying that a total of 2, 928 operations were launched against drug smugglers between January 1 and December 16, 1998 in Turkey.

In these operations, a total of 5,348 kg of hashish, 3,766 kg of heroin, 604 kg of cocaine, 694 kg of basemorphine, 123 kg of opium, 7,961 kg of acidanhydrite and 733 thousand of synthetic drugs like captagon and extacy pills were seized.

Officials detained 5,172 Turkish people and 293 foreign people in connection with drug smuggling. Meanwhile, a total of 15 drug smugglers, who clashed with securtiy forces, were killed during the operations, and a total of 684 people are still wanted on charges of having connection with drug smuggling.

[08] TANASKOVIC, YUGOSLAVIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''INTELLECTUAL PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY HOPE FOR STRENGTHENING THE FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE BETWEEN TURKEY AND YUGOSLAVIA''

The ''True Path Turkish Culture and Fine Arts Association'', which was established by the Turkish people living in Kosovo, rewarded Dr. Irfan Unver Nasrattinoglu, the General Director of the Folklore Researches Institute, and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Isen, the Chairman of the Gazi University Turkish Language and Literature Depurtment, with the ''Suleyman Brina Turkish-Balkan Culture Award''.

Addressing the reward ceremony held at the Yugoslavian Embassy in Ankara, Tanaskovic stated that the association unites the cultures and histories of the two countries with its researches and activities.

[09] HERCUS, UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS: ''ESSENTIAL AND SINCERE PROGRESS WAS RECORDED IN SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY''

Addressing a press conference at the Ledra Palace in the buffer zone, Hercus said that the process should continue.

Pointing out that she would propose to cut off the process if there won't be a further development in the shuttle diplomacy, Hercus stated that she didn't inform a leader about the other leader's statements and that the two leaders were faithful to the principle of ''secrecy''.

Hercus stated that the attention was paid to the Security Council which would convene in New York this week, and to the decision the Security Council would make.

Meanwhile, Hercus will leave for New Zealand early on Monday. Ann Hercus, who will continue her talks when she returns to the island, will meet on 12 January with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek-Cypriot administration, and hold a meeting on 14 January with Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

[10] ATAY, THE HONOURARY CONSUL OF TRNC IN ANTALYA: ''HUNDREDS OF TURKS INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT MASSACRE WHICH STARTED ON DECEMBER 21 1963''

Atay told A.A correspondent that the armed phase of the Greek Cypriot side's ''Akritas Plan'' which aimed at annihilating the Turkish Cypriot side started with ''Bloody Christmas'' on December 21, 1963.

Noting that EOKA, the Greek Cypriot terrorist organization which aimed at unification of the island with Greece (enosis), killed hundreds of people, urged 6000 Turkish people living in 33 villages to leave their homes and killed 400 Greek Cypriots who did not accept Enosis.

Stressing that the terrorist Greek Cypriots committed genocide on December 21, 1963 in Atlılar, Murataga and Sandallar villages where only children, women and old men were living, Atay said EOKA destroyed these villages completely and hundreds of Turkish people including children, women and old people were killed till March 4, 1964.

''They wish the withdrawal of the Turkish soldiers, thus they will eliminate the Turkish people from the island. The world stays indifferent to the developments on the island,'' he added.

[11] TAK, THE TURKISH CYPRIOT NEWS AGENCY CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT

TAK, which was set up on 21 December 1973, is celebrating its 25th foundation anniversary by several activities.

TAK, in its bulletin on Sunday, issued a statement concerning its establishment anniversary.

The statement said, ''the TAK was established within a similar atmosphere which led to the establishment of the Anadolu Ajansi (A.A) on 6 April 1920 by the great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with the aim of heralding the voice of Turkey to the world.''

''Anadolu Ajansi, which was established upon a circular issued by Ataturk on 6 April 1920, became the news agency which announced the founding of the Turkish Parliament to the world on 23 April 1920. And ten years after its establishment, the TAK took part in the history by transmitting the news of the founding of the TRNC to the world.

The most luxurious device at the TAK when it was established was a typewriter given as a gift by the Union of Farmers. The Anadolu Ajansi started to function as a news agency with a typewriter it obtained from the Osmanli Bank. A.A, which is one of the five biggest news agencies in today's world, uses hi-tech equipments.

A.A and TAK, which have common destiny, continue to cooperate in exchange of news and continue to be the voice of the Turkish Cypriot nation,'' the statement said.

TAK, which also cooperates with Reuters, AFP, AP and IRNA, is the biggest news source of the TRNC press. TAK, which opened a web-site at Internet, gives free news and photograph service to the dailies published in the TRNC.

[12] TURKEY TO HOST THE SCIENCE OLYMPIADS

Turkey will have the opportunity to host the science olympiads for the first time by the decision of the International Scientific Olympic Committee. The computer olmypiad will be hosted in Turkey in 1999.

Turkey is preparing for the olympiads which will take place between 9-16 October 1999 in southern province of Antalya and she takes into consideration the fact that students from 53-85 countries participate in scientific olympiads. Turkey expects 78 countries at the least to participate in the olympiads.

Turkey has prepared a web-site in Internet to give information about the touristic sightseeings of Turkey and southern province of Antalya and also an invitation is made in the web-site for the participation of countries in the scientific olympids.

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